A Pawn's Passage

Clearly, the Heluo God possessed a true body and belonged to the ranks of deities. As such, she could hide within her divine kingdom to evade heavenly tribulations, allowing her to remain in the world for hundreds or even thousands of years.

With her powerful true body, even if her divine power was insufficient, she still would not enter the First Death.

She had truly found a loophole in the rules of the Heavenly Dao.

However, all of this depended on there being no external enemies. It was like an isolated kingdom shutting its doors and amusing itself in seclusion. If an external enemy appeared, that would be another matter entirely.

Wu Luo and the others could also do the same and prolong their existence, but there was one problem. The end of the era was approaching, so they would not be able to cling to existence for many more years. They had no choice but to fight for a way out, which was why the Ancient Immortals kept stirring up trouble.

Qi Xuansu suspected that whatever the Heluo God wanted from him was also related to this matter.

Come to think of it, after making a trip through the Southern Continent, Qi Xuansu had somehow become highly sought after. Whether it was the orthodox deity Ixchel or the evil deity Heluo God, both had their eyes on the Daoist Order behind Qi Xuansu, hoping to rely on the Daoist Order to seek transcendence.

It was only because the Daoist Order did not wish to wage large-scale wars abroad and remained primarily focused on development. If the Daoist Order truly wanted to expand its forces and was willing to spare no expense, recruiting four or five deities would hardly be a problem.

Yet Qi Xuansu could only complain inwardly. Did they really think he was Great Sage Yan? Back then, Great Sage Yan had been the Great Sage of the Zhengyi Sect responsible for matters concerning ghosts and gods. At the same time, he had also been an envoy with the Holy Xuan’s full support behind him. Only with all this had he been able to facilitate True Lord Taiyin’s submission to the Daoist Order. Qi Xuansu did not possess anywhere near that level of authority now. Perhaps once Sage Donghua rose to power, or Qi Xuansu himself took power, there might be some possibility. The history books might even add a line saying that he had pushed the matter through despite all opposition.

Setting aside the fact that the Heluo God was an evil deity, even if she wanted to seek help from the Daoist Order, she would certainly have to take a place behind Ixchel in the queue.

However, Qi Xuansu could not simply say that he lacked the authority, nor could he shut down the discussion outright. He did not mind making a few empty promises in exchange for his freedom. Once he escaped this predicament, he could weigh his options. Though Qi Xuansu believed in keeping his word, circumstances had to be judged on a case-by-case basis. He could not die here just because he did not want to lie to the Heluo God, nor could he help the Heluo God achieve her goals merely for the sake of keeping a promise.

What Qi Xuansu feared was that the Heluo God would make him enter into a contract. Elder Xu and Zhou Mengyao were cautionary examples, both having suffered losses they could not speak of. Elder Xu had been forced into a mutual sacrifice with Elder Zhang, while Zhou Mengyao was unable to make a move against Madam Qi. This showed just how binding such contracts were. Even Immortals could not disregard them, much less Qi Xuansu, who was not even a Pseudo-Immortal.

At this moment, the Heluo God finally spoke. “It doesn’t matter whether they are my people or my food. We can call them my subordinates for the time being. You exterminated my subordinates, so you owe me an explanation.”

Qi Xuansu replied, “To tell you the truth, I was only acting under orders. There are many things over which I have no control.”

The Heluo God did not believe him. “Don’t try to deceive me. After devouring those you call the humanoid insects, I can obtain their memories. I know exactly who you are. You are an envoy of the Daoist Order. Your master has a chance of becoming the seventh-generation Grand Master, while you yourself may contend for the position of eighth-generation Grand Master. Even if you must follow orders, they would merely be orders from your master. What could possibly be beyond the control of you two master and disciple? You are simply using the lives of my subordinates as stepping stones for your own advancement.”

Qi Xuansu had not expected the Heluo God to possess such an ability. For a moment, he did not know what to say and could only give a dry laugh. His thoughts raced before he said, “Back then, the humanoid insects colluded with the Buddhist Sect and the Holy Court to establish the Nanyang Federation of Daoist Expulsion, massacring numerous disciples of the Daoist Order. This is a blood feud of the deepest kind. As the saying goes, even a feud spanning ten generations may still be avenged. It is therefore only natural that I should exterminate the humanoid insects.”

The Heluo God’s green eyeball flickered repeatedly, as though she were contemplating his words.

After another moment, the Heluo God spoke again, absolving herself of all responsibility. “My Spirit Realm has been sealed for many years. Whatever they did was beyond my control. They were the ones who offended the Daoist Order. I have never made an enemy of the Daoist Order.”

Qi Xuansu thought to himself, That’s rather convenient to blame her subordinates for everything.

However, Qi Xuansu was at her mercy and could not speak too bluntly, so he could only respond tactfully. “That’s not necessarily true. Would the humanoid insects really dare to act without your orders?”

The Heluo God replied, “Of course. Have you never heard of obeying one’s ruler in public while defying them in private? As a high-ranking member of the Daoist Order, can you truly control everyone beneath you? Can you guarantee that they will not abuse their authority, line their own pockets, or throw their weight around?

Qi Xuansu was immediately left speechless. He truly could not. In fact, even the Holy Xuan could not. Such behavior could only be suppressed to some extent, never completely eradicated. No one could escape this problem.

There were only two people in this conversation, with no third party watching, and Qi Xuansu was still the weaker side. There was no need for him to go against his conscience and make grandiose claims about how the Daoist Order had its own laws and regulations.

The Heluo God would not believe such claims, and neither would Qi Xuansu himself.

This had truly struck Qi Xuansu where it hurt most.

The Heluo God chuckled softly. “Then you should understand my difficulties as well. Those beneath me each have their own thoughts, and human nature is the hardest thing to fathom. I depend on them to sustain me, which means that, in a sense, I have been held hostage by them. Emperor Taizu of the Wei Dynasty once said, ‘We drank from golden cups as one, yet now our blades show no mercy. Wielding my weapon, my heart is torn. For whom should I kill?’”

Qi Xuansu said, “So according to you, Heluo God, you bear no responsibility whatsoever?”

The green sphere of light flickered, seemingly somewhat astonished. “As expected of a distinguished disciple of the Daoist Order’s Grand Master. You were actually able to discern my origins.”

This amounted to an indirect admission. The Insect Queen was indeed a Heluo Fish that had achieved godhood. Although Qi Xuansu did not know her actual name, there was nothing wrong with calling her the Heluo God, just like the Feathered Serpent God.

Qi Xuansu said, “Thank you for your auspicious words, Heluo God. However, my master is not yet the Grand Master. It is still too early to say who will win or lose.”

The Heluo God ignored that point and continued, “I cannot say that I bear absolutely no responsibility. At the very least, I cannot escape responsibility for failing to supervise them properly. However...”

The Heluo God abruptly changed her tune. “To borrow your words, this was also due to historical circumstances.”

Qi Xuansu had not expected the Heluo God to know even this. She had been trapped within the sealed Spirit Realm for many years and had remained completely isolated from the outside world. There was only one explanation. This knowledge came from the humanoid insects’ memories. The Heluo God might have been isolated, but the humanoid insects certainly were not. They operated far and wide and had even infiltrated the inner ranks of the Tawantin Court. They even knew Qi Xuansu’s background in considerable detail, showing just how well-informed they were.

As far as Qi Xuansu knew, other deities, including True Lord Siming, could not obtain the memories of sacrificial offerings through blood sacrifices. Yet the Heluo God could obtain their memories, and they were remarkably complete and coherent, unlike the assorted fragments of memory acquired through soul searching. This clearly had less to do with an Immortal’s divine powers and more to do with the unique nature of the humanoid insects. There had to be some special connection between the humanoid insects and the Heluo God.

Rather than saying that the Heluo God devoured the humanoid insects, it would be more accurate to say that the humanoid insects became a part of the Heluo God.

Qi Xuansu said, “According to you, Heluo God, all the wrongdoing was committed by the humanoid insects and had nothing whatsoever to do with you. But the humanoid insects were created by you. That would be like raising dogs without putting them on leashes and allowing them to go out and bite people. Would the dogs’ owner really bear no responsibility?”

The Heluo God replied, “That is why I killed them and ate their flesh. That is the greatest punishment of all.”

Qi Xuansu immediately said, “In that case, there should not be any problem with me helping you kill a few rabid dogs that were running around biting people, right?”

The Heluo God had been resorting to sophistry all along, only to unexpectedly find herself trapped by Qi Xuansu’s own reasoning.

For a moment, the Heluo God did not know how to refute him. However, she had already been wavering between wanting to reason with him and not wanting to reason at all, so she simply decided to abandon the act altogether.

In an instant, Qi Xuansu felt an immense pressure descend upon him, so overwhelming that he felt suffocated.

The Heluo God roared with thunderous rage, “You are wrong!”

Qi Xuansu could almost hear the unspoken meaning behind her words. “Pay up! I’ll kill you if you dare refuse.”

At this point, Qi Xuansu had no choice but to ask, “Heluo God, what do you want?”

The Heluo God said, “From what I know, the Daoist Order is not very peaceful nowadays. The Three Sects are engaged in both open and covert struggles. Just as you said, it is still uncertain who will emerge victorious. If I were to lend you a helping hand, would you repay me once you ascend to the esteemed position of Grand Master?”

Needless to say, this was also something the Heluo God had learned from the humanoid insects’ memories.

Qi Xuansu’s mind raced. The Heluo God had been trapped in the Spirit Realm for a long time, isolated from the world with no one to communicate with. She might be somewhat clumsy when it came to verbal sparring, but she was certainly no fool. She had thought of using the Daoist Order’s cultivation methods to train the humanoid insects while remaining hidden behind the scenes herself. In terms of scheming and calculation, she was no less capable than Chak Chel.

Qi Xuansu tentatively asked, “If I fail to become Grand Master, then naturally, there will be nothing more to discuss. You would not even need to come collecting your debt, Heluo God. The Taiping Sect would deal with me themselves, condemning me beyond redemption and ensuring that I could never make a comeback. But if I do become Grand Master, with the entire Daoist Order at my command, I would effectively be the ruler of the world, capable of turning clouds into rain with a flip of my hand. Wouldn’t you be afraid that I might go back on my word?”

The Heluo God replied, “Of course I would. That is why we must establish a contract beforehand.”

The very thing Qi Xuansu had feared most had finally come to pass. Empty promises were not going to work.

Still, it was not entirely without benefits. After all, the Heluo God had offered her terms. She would lend Qi Xuansu her assistance. He could even use her to counter Zhou Mengyao.

Qi Xuansu was like a company. He himself was the General Manager, while the major shareholder appeared to be the Earthly Preceptor, whose shares were held on his behalf by Madam Qi and Zhou Mengyao. At first, the board of directors had only two members, Zhou Mengyao and Madam Qi, who jointly managed the company. Later, Madam Qi pulled a few tricks and took advantage of Zhou Mengyao’s absence to kick her off the board, leaving Madam Qi with sole control.

However, Madam Qi’s strength alone was limited, and the company eventually encountered a bottleneck in its development. Thus, additional outside capital began pouring in, including the Three Yin Beings, Sage Donghua, the Heavenly Preceptor, the Western Daoist Order, Ixchel, Great Sage Jiang, and others. As more and more capital flowed in, the company developed increasingly well and grew larger. But the number of shareholders also increased, diluting Zhou Mengyao’s stake. It had become extremely difficult for her to regain control of the company through a shareholders’ meeting, leaving her no choice but to resort to less legitimate methods, such as seizing the company seal.

Qi Xuansu was now embodying far more than his own efforts and aspirations.

Now, the Heluo God was also expressing confidence in the company called Qi Xuansu and wanted to buy a stake so that she could wait for her dividends.

For the sake of survival, Qi Xuansu could only reply, “Everything is negotiable.”

The Heluo God expressed her sincerity. “As long as everything is negotiable, I can love the Daoist Order too.”