Indeed, befitting of an elder statesman.

Wu Wang looked at the Cloud Mirror before him, a hint of sentimentality in his eyes.

The Cloud Mirror showed throngs of Divine Guards arriving through the sky, innumerable Human Domain cultivators gathered above and below. The Human Emperor sat quietly upon a cloud high in the sky, his back toward the beings of the Human Domain, yet exuding an overflowing sense of security. Experts from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion and Four Seas Pavilion arrayed their forces below.

This time, there was no unrest among the people, no wicked spirits or demons to be seen. With a formidable enemy ahead and a great battle imminent, it seemed everyone had smoothly found their rightful place, following behind Shen Nong, eyes fixed on the Lin Family a hundred miles away.

The Heavenly Palace Divine Guards could only contract their battle lines, gathering near the Lin Family's estate. The Evil God Qiong Qi's whereabouts were unknown, and it seemed its control over the Lin Family's private soldiers had weakened, as more and more Immortal Soldiers suffered in agony, enveloped in dark auras.

As for the Innate Gods who had arrived, they gathered outside the great wall, lamenting how the Human Emperor had suddenly appeared, forcing them to abandon a tremendous advantage. Gods continuously visited that palace in the clouds, urging the Head Manager not to contend with the Human Emperor. It was clear the Human Domain was truly enraged by Lin Nuhao's rebellion and intended to eradicate the Lin Family directly. The Head Manager had yet to give a straightforward response to this situation.

Dozens of Transcendent cultivators, on the verge of burning their own Great Dao and reaching their life's end, now stood closer to the Human Emperor, chests puffed out and heads held high, standing proud.

The Cloud Mirror's image slowly shifted, casting light on the boundless Immortal Soldiers scattered across heaven and earth. Interestingly, whenever the Cloud Mirror focused on the Human Emperor, the Grand Elder beside Wu Wang would subconsciously lean forward; but when the mirror's image shifted to other areas, the Grand Elder would straighten up again.

Activating this Cloud Mirror was not an easy task. The Annihilation Sect was too far from the Lin Family's region, beyond the spatial threshold the Grand Elder could control. Luckily, Wu Wang had by his side an Evil God empowered by the Heaven Palace with the attribute of 'control of Heaven and Earth.' It had to be said, the Whistling Serpent's skill in broadcasting via the Cloud Mirror was quite impressive.

The Grand Elder remarked, "The Lin Family truly doesn't understand the gravity of their actions, stirring up such a commotion."

Ji Mo and Le Yao, who had just arrived, nodded in agreement.

Ji Mo frowned. "The final assault is about to begin. Brother Lin..."

Ling Xiaolan said indifferently, "His Majesty will make his own decision. At this point, it's not for us to worry about a friend's troubles."

"Indeed, I am aware," Ji Mo said with a wry smile. "But based on what we know of Lin Qi, it's very likely that he is now being held hostage by his own father, Lin Nuhao..."

Le Yao interjected, "No one can choose their birth; the same applies to Lin Qi. Husband, you should trust your friend. He will surely make the right choice when faced with righteousness."

Ji Mo shook his head. "It's just that I feel Lin Qi has a rather unyielding nature, which is why I'm so worried. Brother Wuwang?"

Wu Wang, seated on a soft couch, did not respond, simply gazing, lost in thought, at the Cloud Mirror before him.

When he heard the name Lin Qi, a scene unfolded in his mind:

The Lin Family's Stone City was directly shattered, leaving behind a lake mixed with blood.

'Last time,' Wu Wang spent most of his time contemplating and understanding the Great Dao, trying to figure out what the Heavenly Emperor truly intended to do. At that time, not knowing whether Lin Qi was alive or dead, Wu Wang's attention was drawn to the Head Manager, who was barely clinging to life. What followed was the death of the Head Manager, and within a very short time, the cosmic order was upgraded. Back then, the Human Domain, the Human race, and all beings between heaven and earth faced harsher destinies. Even if Lin Qi had survived the previous battle, what then? The fundamental issue now was that the Heavenly Emperor offered no way out.

Wu Wang leaned back. Lin Suqing brought over an incense burner, emitting tendrils of blue smoke that had a calming effect.

Amid crisp chirping, a Blue Bird landed beside Wu Wang, looking up at him.

Involuntarily, faint images bloomed in Wu Wang's mind; it was the scene where he, holding the Yan Emperor's command token, conversed with Senior Shen Nong.

"What exactly are Emperor Fuxi's Yin Yang Eight Trigrams? What, Wu Wang, are you testing me now?"

Shen Nong chuckled for a while. His Majesty the Human Emperor, who was somewhat displeased by the Lin Family's affairs, was indeed amused by Wu Wang at that moment.

But Wu Wang spoke seriously, "Indeed. I would like to ask Your Majesty, do you still remember the several scriptures I left in the Scripture Hall? If Your Majesty remembers, I ask that you answer my question earnestly."

The Yan Emperor's phantom, formed by the flames of the command token, frowned slightly upon hearing this.

Shen Nong said, "Since you ask in such a manner, I can indeed allow you to comprehend…"

"There's no need for comprehension, Your Majesty. Just speak plainly!"

"You are a persistent one! Very well, very well!"

Shen Nong shook his head and slowly explained to Wu Wang the variations of the Yin Yang Eight Trigrams and the Five Elements cycle.

After listening, Wu Wang pondered for a moment, and layers of enlightenment began to dawn on him. The Human Emperor's lecture was truly extraordinary.

But Wu Wang suppressed these insights, keeping his Primordial Spirit's expression as profound as possible.

He said, "The Innate Eight Trigrams, Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements—do they contain Emperor Fuxi's understanding and description of Heaven and Earth?"

"Correct," Shen Nong replied slowly. "Your few scriptures are like the final piece of the puzzle."

Wu Wang continued, "Do they explain how Heaven and Earth can operate, and how they *should* operate?"

"That statement is indeed true."

"The current cosmic order—is its foundation still the hundreds of Great Daos, with Divine Spirits defining the rules of Heaven and Earth?"

Wu Wang paused for a moment, then said, "God said, 'Let there be something,' and so it was. Are Innate Gods merely manifestations of the will of the Great Dao, each governing one or more rules, weaving together the Dao of Order, thus realizing the current cosmic order?"

Shen Nong replied slowly, "Wuwang, don't beat around the bush. Speak plainly."

Assume... I mean, just assume...

Wu Wang spoke slowly, "The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two give birth to three, and three give birth to all things. All things in Heaven and Earth progress from simplicity to complexity, and so do the rules of Heaven and Earth. Although the current cosmic order seems relatively complete, and Heaven and Earth are somewhat stable, this is the result of the intertwining of numerous Great Daos. In other words, the current cosmic order lacks a core. Whether it's chaos and order, or Yin and Yang, if the Dao of Order could originate from this core and extend outward, then hundreds of Great Daos would all revolve around a balance of Yin and Yang. Would the cosmic order become stronger? Would this world be more stable? And if so, would Ancient Gods like the Candle Dragon be directly isolated from Heaven and Earth, leaving the Heaven Palace free from worry?"

Wu Wang's Immortal Platform, which housed his Primordial Spirit, suddenly fell silent for a while.

Shen Nong spoke slowly, "Emperor Shun seeks to merge the Dao of Life."

"Not just that," Wu Wang said. "When we all focused on the threat my mother posed to the Heaven Palace, feeling that the Heaven Palace had no way to break the deadlock and could only temporarily win over my mother to quickly reclaim the Dao of Fire, Emperor Shun's line of thinking might have been completely different from ours. This ruler should understand... in this game, whoever is passive loses half their chance of winning. Senior, think back. Hasn't the Head Manager been experiencing continuous problems in recent years? How could an Innate God who has controlled the Lifespan Dao for so long, one who has survived since ancient times, be so easy to deal with? Sometimes, we even subconsciously feel that this Innate God is not all that remarkable. His condition is definitely not normal."

"Emperor Fuxi's Eight Trigrams Picture..."

Shen Nong closed his eyes and sighed lightly. "This is a secret of the Human Domain. Today, I'll reveal it to you. Emperor Fuxi didn't leave behind a corpse. What he left to the Human Domain were three great formations, capable of protecting the last vestiges of the Human Domain's power in its most perilous moments. Success was tied to the Dao of Fire, and so was failure. The Dao of Fire bound Emperor Fuxi, preventing him, who had already thoroughly understood the principles of Heaven and Earth, from taking that final step forward. Emperor Fuxi's method for saving the Human Domain was exceedingly magnificent: to re-enact the Heaven and Earth Dao, advancing from the primordial Dao, using the Yin-Yang Diagram to derive the principles of all things in Heaven and Earth."

"That matches my understanding," Wu Wang said. "The Yin Yang Eight Trigrams are the blueprint drawn by Emperor Fuxi for the new cosmic order."

Shen Nong's illusory figure burst with Divine Light. "Now..."

"Emperor Shun has definitely comprehended Emperor Fuxi's Eight Trigrams Picture!" Wu Wang stated firmly. "That Sleep god inadvertently revealed that the God of Death has been constantly suffering backlash from living beings and has been replaced numerous times. Thinking about it conversely, doesn't it mean Emperor Shun has been conditioning the Dao of Death all along? Life and death can also correspond to Yin and Yang. These two Great Daos need only resonate continuously to complete a closed loop of life and death, and then draw upon the power of countless living beings in the Great Wilderness World. To build the order upon living beings, yet be independent of them; by this, suppress the Nine Wildernesses of the Great Wilderness. The stronger the power of living beings, the more stable Heaven and Earth become... The Hundred Races of the Great Wilderness, along with our Human race, account for only a small part of all living beings. These were the words Emperor Shun used when he tried to persuade me last time he sought me out... Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"

"I will personally deal with the matter of Lin Nuhao," Shen Nong declared solemnly. "If that Head Manager still attempts to forcibly intervene in my presence, all that you have said will be verified."

Wu Wang breathed a sigh of relief, knowing His Majesty Shennong had been convinced.

Subsequently, Shen Nong also pointed out a problem Wu Wang had previously overlooked.

"Emperor Shun's schemes probably don't end there. The Young Master has always been on the fringes of the Heaven Palace's order."

Shen Nong said in a low voice, "But as the Head Manager began to decline, her presence in the Heaven Palace suddenly started to rise significantly. Behind this too lies the shadow of Emperor Shun. Wuwang, do you know, the Young Master initially had little loyalty to the Heaven Palace, yet she is close to the Head Manager, her brother. Given the choice, the Young Master would definitely support the Head Manager. But the Young Master's weakness is her own nature. Emperor Shun probably wants the Young Master to abandon her support for the Head Manager. He would then use the Head Manager's wanton persecution of living beings as a pretext to force the Young Master to take the Head Manager's Great Dao, thereby facilitating the return of the Dao of Life... Thus, the recent unusual occurrences involving the Heaven Palace and the Head Manager can all be explained. With this rebellion of the Lin Family, Emperor Shun seems to be setting his plan in motion, intending to convince the Young Master to merge the Dao of Life and, furthermore, to obey his commands in the future. To make the Young Master completely lose faith in the Head Manager, perhaps the Head Manager will later go on a rampage, destroying living beings."

As Shen Nong reached this point, he couldn't help but let out a slight sigh.

Wu Wang asked, "Then why couldn't the Lifespan Dao have swallowed the Reproduction Dao?"

"Reproduction is the foundation of all living beings. Or perhaps, the Head Manager, while serving the Heaven Palace, had already riddled the Lifespan Dao with countless flaws. Maybe, when the Heavenly Emperor ordered the Head Manager to govern the Hundred Races with the Lifespan Dao, the plan to sacrifice the Head Manager to perfect the Dao of Life was set in motion long ago. It strikes like thunder from a clear sky; the depth of the Heavenly Emperor's scheming is truly astounding. This time, it's also thanks to you for thinking so deeply."

Wu Wang was speechless.

Was that thinking deeply? That was reliving it, being blasted back through time!

"Senior, there is no time to lose..."

"Good." Shen Nong said, "You stay safely in the Annihilation Sect. There's no need to come to the northwest."

Wu Wang added, "If Lin Qi has not committed any outrageous acts, I humbly request Your Majesty to spare his life."

"Spare him? And what then? Alas, what a waste of a fine talent."

The flame of the Yan Emperor's command token flickered slightly, and the phantom of His Majesty Shennong vanished.

Wu Wang also sighed in relief. He had waited at the Annihilation Sect for half a day, for Ji Mo and Le Yao to arrive, and through the Cloud Mirror, he had witnessed the current situation in the northwest.

He truly is a respected senior.

In just half a day, he had summoned forces from all over the Human Domain, deploying a military presence several times that of the Heaven Palace, putting immense pressure on the northwest of the Human Domain. Anyone would assume the Human Emperor was furious and intended to execute the disloyal and unjust.

However, in reality... more than half of this grand display was prepared for the successful capture of the Head Manager.

Behind the Cloud Mirror, Wu Wang murmured, "Could this directly scare the Head Manager away?"

The Grand Elder spoke in a gentle voice, "That depends on whether the Innate God truly regards death as a return home, whether he is fearless in the face of life and death."

A hint of a smile appeared on the faces of the few people in the room.

The Sleep god, who still hadn't left, now held a small plate, lounging with one leg crossed over the other, cracking Spirit Melon Seeds, leisurely watching the unfolding scene with eyes full of anticipation.

He laughed. "Maybe the Head Manager is so annoyed by all the living beings that he actually wants to have a go with the Human Emperor?"

No sooner had the Sleep god finished speaking than the smile on his lips froze. Wu Wang also widened his eyes and frowned.

Within the Cloud Mirror, dozens of Great Daos appeared in the northern sky.

That Head Manager... had actually launched an attack.

Stunned, Wu Wang stared at the gradually unfolding battle within the Cloud Mirror, genuinely shocked. He racked his brains, constantly pondering, and even after an hour, he still couldn't understand what the Head Manager was relying on to dare lead Heaven Palace Divine Spirits and Divine Guards into the Human Domain at this time. The Human Emperor himself had appeared! Old Master Shennong had surely intended for the Head Manager to retreat in the face of such difficulty.

But the Head Manager's thoughts seemed to be: I can win! This is a sure thing! I'll scatter you in moments and turn Shennong's ashes to dust!

Is this... false courage from drinking cheap wine?

Watching within the Cloud Mirror, a great battle had already erupted in the northwest. Once the battle began, bloodshed and sacrifice were inevitable. However, because the Human Domain had amassed a vastly superior force, the Heaven Palace's side was clearly at a disadvantage.

As soon as the battle started, the Lin Family's estate was quickly razed to the ground. Dozens of Transcendents attacked in unison, giving Lin Nuhao no chance to react.

But then, the very strange situation that Wu Wang had missed 'last time' began to unfold.

Initially, with the help of several Innate Gods, the Head Manager, unleashing his full Divine Power and Divine Skills, barely managed to hold back the Human Emperor. With every living being that perished, a faint wisp of light would fly towards the Head Manager and merge into his body. Even when Shennong, the Human Emperor, was on the verge of suppressing him, the Head Manager's body would suddenly surge with Divine Power, repeatedly turning perilous situations to his advantage, and he grew stronger as the battle raged on.

Sixty percent of the Heaven Palace's Divine Guards had fallen, and they were on the brink of complete collapse. The Human Domain's side also paid a heavy price, as numerous cultivators willingly sacrificed themselves in life-and-death struggles against the Heaven Palace's Divine Guards.

The Head Manager's divine body, however, was gradually expanding, his Divine Power rapidly increasing, his combat strength briefly matching that of Shennong, the Human Emperor. Within the Head Manager's body, another Great Dao began to manifest, appearing to be... the Dao of Death!

Within the Head Manager's body, besides the Lifespan Dao, there was also the hidden Dao of Death!

Four hours after the battle erupted, the one-sided situation reversed. The experts of the Human Domain attempted to suppress the Head Manager, but because the Human Emperor had ordered him captured alive, their actions were constrained, resulting in significant casualties.

The scene was...

The Head Manager's divine body swelled to several hundred zhang high, still enveloped in simple robes. His left face wore a cold smirk, while his right face held a faint smile. Twelve great stars circled him, and several Great Daos flickered in and out of visibility around his form. He sat cross-legged, his right hand holding a flower raised before him, his left hand sweeping forward. A morbid, gray haze rose between Heaven and Earth, specks of light emerged from the ground, and from all directions came the screams of living beings. Intermittently, one could hear the chanting of scriptures, cold laughter, and low murmurs from Heaven and Earth, as countless phantoms drifted over, merging into the Head Manager.

"All beings return to quiescence; all beings return to me." The Head Manager gazed at Shennong before him, the smile on his lips tinged with mockery. "Shennong, did you truly believe I was injured by you last time because I was no match for you? Hahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha! I am the Head Manager, wielder of Lifespan, comprehender of life and death! All creatures of Heaven and Earth belong to me! I am the ultimate in this Heaven and Earth!"

ROAR!

A sudden roar came from above. The Head Manager looked up abruptly to see a ten-thousand-zhang-long Fire Dragon diving down with a furious cry. Shennong's face was ashen, his hair and beard fluttering. He pressed a large hand down towards the Head Manager. The Fire Dragon surged, and deep in the sky, the silhouette of the Yin-Yang Diagram appeared.

Fire like thunder!

The Head Manager's divine body was smashed directly into the ground, entangled by numerous fire serpents. His enormous divine body rapidly deflated like a leaking balloon... and dark spots began to appear on it.

"Senior!" Wu Wang's voice echoed in Shennong's mind.

Shennong said, "No need to rush. I have already captured him."

However, just as Shennong's voice faded, a peculiar Dao rhyme appeared between Heaven and Earth. For an instant, time seemed to stretch infinitely... The Head Manager's divine body below suddenly began to grow faint.

Shennong's brows furrowed. His five fingers formed a claw, reaching for the Head Manager's divine body. The ten-thousand-zhang-long Fire Dragon roared again, causing the very land of the Human Domain to tremble.

The next moment, from the crater where the Head Manager had been smashed, only one hand, two legs, and half a torso remained... The Head Manager's Great Dao, along with that strange Dao of Death clinging to his divine body, had vanished.

Shennong's figure flashed, instantly pursuing them to an unknown location.

「Annihilation Sect, Sect Master's residence.」

Wu Wang stumbled, having risen in his haste, but now he sat back down.

He understood. He understood all of the Heavenly Emperor's calculations.

This Heavenly Emperor must have deceived the Head Manager, saying something like, Why not let the Lifespan Dao merge with the Dao of Death? Isn't death the ultimate end of lifespan?

Isn't the Head Manager like an old man seeking longevity by hanging himself—courting death because he has lived too long?

[His Majesty Shennong has gone after him.]

This scene replayed in his mind. After he 'awoke,' everything had changed; and due to his intervention, the situation was completely different.

But in the end...

Indeed, he was striving to change everything, while the Heavenly Emperor was also working hard to ensure the Head Manager's death became a fait accompli. This was a game of wits. There was no fixed 'script and lines,' but there was a fixed trajectory, and an 'ending' towards which events were constantly being guided. Although Senior Shennong could decisively suppress the Head Manager, he couldn't strip the Dao of Death from the Head Manager's body in a short time. The Heavenly Emperor would not sit idly by; he would surely choose the right moment to act.

"Alas—" Wu Wang sighed softly, a sense of resignation washing over him. The Lin Family's rebellion, and the Heaven Palace sending troops to protect them, had become the Heavenly Emperor's opportunity to make his move.

[The Heavenly Emperor's goal is to use the Head Manager's madness to persuade the Young Master, to have the Dao of Life—which had split into the Lifespan and Reproduction Daos—upgrade the cosmic order.]

"Sect Master, what's wrong?" the Grand Elder asked softly from the side.

Wu Wang's eyes were filled with desolation. He said slowly, "I don't know if there will be a second miracle."

As soon as he finished speaking, layers of distracting thoughts arose within him, and the bottlenecks on his Cultivation path multiplied.

Between Heaven and Earth, two large stars—one black and one white—ascended. From the Nine Wildernesses of the Great Wilderness, endless green glimmers of light arose; this was the Power of Living Beings of the world...

The Emperor had acted directly; it could not be stopped.

"AH!" Wu Wang suddenly let out a terrible scream as a drop of fresh blood shot from his forehead.

「Seven days of contemplation in the Sleep God Hall.」

Wu Wang opened his eyes, his face suddenly paling. He turned his head and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, the Dao rhyme around him noticeably weakening.

"Young Master!"

"Brother, what's wrong with you?"

Lin Suqing's face turned white with fright. The Sleep god was also taken aback; he had only used a little of the power of his god position. How could he have caused Wu Wang such a severe injury?

"Time is short, don't ask!" Wu Wang wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes shining with a fierce light. He shot to his feet and dashed towards the door of the Sleep God Hall.

The toll was double that of the 'last time.'

Perhaps the entire world hadn't rewound; perhaps a drop of his Essence Blood had been bizarrely sent back to this 'time node.' But who did it, and why, were currently unimportant. To stop the Heavenly Emperor, to prevent the upgrade of the cosmic order, to continue providing the Human Domain with a path of hope, and... he had to protect his mother. If the cosmic order completed its upgrade, his mother would inevitably be dealt with by Emperor Shun, and the Bear Hug Tribe would be reduced to ashes!

Outside the Sleep God Hall, Xiao Jian, who had rushed over, nearly collided with Wu Wang and was startled by the sharp, almost terrifying look in Wu Wang's eyes at that moment.

"Daoist Brother, the Lin Family has rebelled!"

"You knew already?"

"Whistling Serpent! Grand Elder!" Wu Wang called out firmly, a torrent of thoughts already forming in his mind. A sudden throb of pain from his forehead transformed into a low growl from his lips.

Emperor Shun, you absolutely must not win!

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