Chapter 11 - Gong Gong is Ruthless Too! The Wu Race Takes Action!
Di Jiang’s question set the course. This was a compromise, a subtle acknowledgment of Chu Xuan’s earlier suggestion, as though to reassure him.
Zhu Rong and the others accepted this plan. As Wu Ancestors, dealing with this was well within their power, even if Donghuang Taiyi’s cultivation was formidable. While this was, at its core, a clash of the Heavenly Tribulation Dao, Donghuang Taiyi’s power came only from six Dao fruits. They had seven Da Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruits at their disposal which made this outcome almost assured.
This time, Hou Tu didn’t oppose the plan. Since it targeted only the Yao race and specifically Donghuang Taiyi, she had no objections. Still, Hou Tu looked at Chu Xuan with a trace of concern; this tribe member who had only recently appeared was still a mystery.
Hou Tu let out a faint sigh. It was time to act.
Watching Hou Tu’s gaze, Chu Xuan kept his composure, merely noting how considerate he had been. He wasn’t doing this for himself but for the Wu race. If Hou Tu’s hesitation stemmed from doubts about him, it would be understandable, but everything he did was for the Wu race’s survival.
In the future, the Wu race will face extinction. Even Chi You, who carried their bloodline, would fall. Only Hou Tu would remain, trapped in the reincarnation cycle, neither fully alive nor fully dead. Compared to that fate, his vicious schemes were a small price to pay.
He shared the same fate as the Wu race and he was determined not to perish with it. Whatever infamy he had to bear or hardship he had to bring upon the Primordial Realm, it would all be worth it.
This situation is definitely in Hongjun’s favor for now, Chu Xuan reflected. He’s using the general trend as his tool. Even if someone senses something is off, they won’t have grounds to challenge him.
He decided then that he would have to harden himself further, giving the Wu Ancestors no reason to hesitate. Chu Xuan began to focus on preparing the strike against Donghuang Taiyi.
As the Sovereign of the Heavenly Tribulation Dao, he had control over all aspects of the Heavenly Tribulation Dao. This made him better equipped than other Wu Ancestors, who only managed single paths, to handle this backlash. He only needed the support of a few Dao fruits from the other Wu Ancestors. With enough of them, he might even reach Quasi-Saint strength.
Donghuang Taiyi would see what was coming for him.
Chu Xuan sank into the depths of the Heavenly Tribulation law, allowing himself to sense its vastness through his own Dao mastery. Using this connection, he tapped into a faint ancestral energy within the Dao of Heavenly Tribulation, attuning himself to its flow.
He sat in silence, becoming one with the Heavenly Tribulation Dao.
Standing at the edge of this Dao, he could feel the subtle tremors from beyond its boundary, as though a terrifying presence was inching closer, drawing power from the Heavenly Tribulation Dao. Amid this mist, Chu Xuan sensed a scorching heat, a searing aura belonging to the Great Sun Law, a power that could only be Taiyi’s.
With the support of the six other Dao Ancestors, Chu Xuan was able to match even this Quasi-Saint power. If he was alone, it would have been impossible.
“The Heavenly Court’s Dao fruit mainly acts as a functional key,” Chu Xuan explained. “If we weren’t stationed here, Taiyi might actually have a chance to control part of the Heavenly Tribulation Dao. He could adjust it, much like we’re doing.”
Hearing this, the six incarnations of the Ancestors of the Heavenly Tribulation Dao around him—Qiang Liang, Xi Zhi, Gong Gong, Zhu Rong, Tian Wu, and She Bishi—appeared visibly shaken.
For once, it was Gong Gong who spoke first, his expression calm but firm. “That’s about the extent of it,” he said. “The Heavenly Tribulation is an instrument of Heaven’s Dao. Even though we created it through our own deductions, Heaven’s Dao dilutes our control by adding its own power. Adjusting the Heavenly Tribulation’s strength is manageable, but lessening it takes tremendous effort, even for us. If the Yao race thinks they can alter the Heavenly Tribulation to protect their followers, they’re mistaken. Not even we, as combined Dao Ancestors, could accomplish that on a large scale. At most, we can secure a limited number of exemptions. Heaven won’t allow too many to escape its laws.”
Gong Gong’s words seemed shockingly ruthless, even to Zhu Rong, who usually opposed him but couldn’t deny the truth of what he’d said.
“Honestly, I agree with little brother Chu Xuan,” Gong Gong continued, supporting Chu Xuan’s ruthless plan. “The Wu race is too few in number to concern ourselves with the survival of all races. If our people achieve the Dao, what do other races matter?”
His rare show of support for Chu Xuan stunned the other Wu Ancestors. Zhu Rong, usually hotheaded, looked at Gong Gong with surprise, feeling as if he was seeing him in a new light.
Yet, to Chu Xuan, Gong Gong’s ruthlessness was no surprise. After all, in ‘the past,’ Gong Gong was the one who had once struck Buzhou Mountain, tore the heavens and flooded the world in his rage.
This was no ordinary calmness; it was the restraint of a flood waiting to be unleashed.
With Gong Gong’s backing, Chu Xuan knew he had a powerful ally. The two exchanged respectful words, and Gong Gong even entrusted his Dao Fruit to Chu Xuan for the upcoming assault.
The other Wu Ancestors looked on in shock. Zhu Rong, unable to stay silent, asked, “Are you really considering following this plan?”
Gong Gong responded calmly, “Our Wu race is strong enough. Why should we worry? Once we achieve the Dao, the other races won’t matter.”
Zhu Rong, known for his fiery temper, found himself unusually calm around Chu Xuan, as he felt that his temper was not that bad.
However, sensing Zhu Rong’s unease, Gong Gong appeared to hesitate, making Zhu Rong shiver involuntarily. But Chu Xuan shook his head and dismissed the plan, which surprised everyone.
“The Yao race isn’t worth the Wu race incurring such a heavy karmic burden,” he said. “The Wu race has greater challenges ahead; we don’t need to expend our resources here.”
The other Wu Ancestors frowned. “Challenges ahead? Who could stand against us?”
Before they could dwell further on this ominous prediction, the Pangu Hall trembled, and their expressions turned solemn.
“It’s time to act!”