CHAPTER 1354: CHAPTER 484: HONGJUN’S INNER CONFLICTS

"But when I shattered the Creation Jade Disc, that fellow revealed his true colors. He had plotted for countless ages, just waiting for this moment.

"With the shattering of the Creation Jade Disc, the Great Powers of heaven and earth lost the possibility of Hedao. If I died, the Creation Jade Disc would find another Great Power to Hedao, all to hasten the fulfillment of the Heavenly Dao. The Creation Jade Disc was the first treasure brewed by the Heavenly Dao, and the primordial form of the Heavenly Dao was the egg that enveloped the Pangu God.

"At that time, I didn’t understand.

"By this point, I had already exited the stage, and heaven and earth ushered in a period without any Saint-level powerhouse or force in command. I completely became his vassal.

"When the Ancestral Dragon and Primordial Phoenix fell, he could destroy this heaven and earth at will.

"I can’t tell you what he schemed, but I can be certain, he just wants the Essential Source Object left after this heaven and earth becomes silent.

"Whether I can ultimately transcend depends on whether he grants it to me.

"He seldom speaks falsehoods to you all, because he doesn’t need to. He occupies complete initiative; he is confident that this heaven and earth is irredeemable.

"Sometimes I must lie to you all because I don’t know how to explain these things to you.

"The timing of the birth of the Six Saints is under his control. Only with his approval could I present the Hongmeng Purple Qi.

"He asked me to seal Haotian because he didn’t want the Heavenly Court established too early, lest the Heavenly Dao develops and fulfills too quickly.

"I agreed to all of this just for the chance to transcend."

Houtu lightly bit her lip: "Teacher..."

"Then, as if mocking me, he suddenly takes Li Ping’an as a disciple, and wants to transcend together with him, even letting Li Ping’an step into the Semi-Saint Realm for smooth transcendence!"

In Hongjun’s eyes appeared an air of hostility:

"I have miserably fawned behind him for countless ages, suffering great humiliation, all for this opportunity to transcend!

"Yet he has humiliated me so!

Then, his hostility dispersed, leaving only a bitter smile:

"Ultimately, this is my own fault; I have been manipulated by him step by step, and now even the God-slaying Spear has been taken by him.

"Houtu, you are actually the most perceptive, so no wonder you noticed something.

"This is my obsession and unwillingness.

"But in one thing, you should not fault me... I have tried to rectify my mistakes, calling you all to listen in ancient times, hoping the Witch Clan and Monster Clan wouldn’t go to war. You might recall, have I not always been in favor of letting Emperor Jun and Eastern Emperor be more approachable to you all?

"But it was all in vain, the conflict was still inevitable. Everything proceeded as the Transcender’s story dictated, even if some variables appeared, they were overridden by the grand trend.

"And these actions I’ve taken, I dared not anger the Transcender.

"I gradually became disillusioned; hence what I said last time I went to see you, not wanting to return.

"I did not deliberately break my word, the circumstances forced my hand."

Houtu asked: "Teacher, have you appeared this time just to urge me to use the Ancestral Witch’s battle body to establish the Six Paths of Reincarnation and complete the Heavenly Dao?"

"Not only that."

Hongjun replied:

"In the Chaos Sea, I secretly did some things away from the Transcender, returning this time intending to calculate the death of the Xuanyuan clan, letting the Human Race quickly return to the Heavenly Court."

Houtu:...

Hongjun smiled bitterly:

"Of course, this is not a good thing; Xuanyuan is true to the Human Race and heaven and earth.

"But there truly isn’t much time left; the return of the Six Saints will nearly trigger the Dao Immortal Tribulation, which is the Investiture of the Gods Cataclysm, and this heaven and earth will enter the countdown.

"Li Ping’an really does have some ability, even thinking to use Southern Continent deities to break the predicament, my scheme is accomplished, now the Human Race trusts him, and the Xuanyuan clan has not fallen, and will quickly return to Fire Dragon Cave.

"Speaking in mortal words, I am already twisted up, like twisted into a pretzel."

"But Houtu, the matter of the Six Paths of Reincarnation is urgent; today there are countless deaths in the Sea of Blood, and you need to accomplish this.

"I don’t know how many chances this heaven and earth still has... After today, I must find ways to mend the rift between me and the Transcender..."

Houtu sighed: "Teacher, I already understand your plight and difficulty, today I shall complete heaven and earth and the Heavenly Dao."

"I’m sorry."

"Hmm, hmm," Houtu gently shook her head, "Living beings need me, and this is not really dying."

"There’s one more thing."

Hongjun said solemnly:

"You must act quickly, when the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc is established, the Heavenly Dao can greatly approach fulfillment.

"In the great battle on the other side of Xuan Capital City, I don’t understand what calculations the Transcender has, but Kunpeng is indeed a piece arranged by him.

"The Transcender intends for this heaven and earth to more clearly head toward destruction, and he also intends for there to be more Essential Source Objects of Heaven and Earth, so that what he ultimately gains will be more.

"We cannot always count on Li Ping’an to create miracles. If necessary, I will defy his will and let Taiqing appear."

Houtu nodded slightly.

She asked, "Teacher, is transcendence really that important?"

Hongjun sighed: "We’ve already come this far, it’s hard to turn back, only to continue onward... I’ve said my piece to you, my heart feels much more at ease."

Houtu rose to see him off, Hongjun’s apparition disappeared along with the surrounding mist.

Houtu regained her senses to find herself standing before her seat, surrounded by the high ministers of the Heavenly Court and the great witches of the Witch Clan watching her.

Qin Da asked loudly: "Ancestor, what happened?"

"Nothing," Houtu replied, "Are we almost at the Sea of Blood?"

Qin Da was full of regret: "Almost, but we came late, it seems the battle has ended over there, only that old fellow Minghe is sitting on the Sea of Blood refusing to die."

"Alas," Houtu softly said, "The suffering of all beings, today I shall act according to the Heavenly Dao."

The many witches were puzzled, as Houtu has already sat down, a warm yellow precious light emerging from her forehead, two Great Daos intertwining, embedding within the Vast Wilderness Heaven and Earth.

Houtu sighed slightly within her heart.

’Teacher, in your confessions, ultimately didn’t mention a single living being.’