Confused.

This was the most accurate portrayal of Wu Wang at that moment.

The surrounding Heaven and Earth had solidified, time had come to a halt. His mother had not finished shouting the word 'escape,' that large star had been directly obscured, and before him stood this... this...

For a moment, Wu Wang could not find the right words to describe the figure before him.

The other's stature was quite tall, seemingly ten feet high. Although he appeared as an ordinary person, he gave Wu Wang the illusion of facing the boundless universe.

The Heavenly Emperor.

The current ruler of the Great Wilderness, the victor of the ancient divine war, the architect of the current heavenly order. He had appeared before Wu Wang in such an unremarkable way.

What should I say?

Bowing was out of the question; it involved his own stance and principles. But showing some respect to the strong was also the custom of the Great Wilderness.

"Wu Wangzi pays his respects to Senior."

Wu Wang cupped his fists, his posture upright and proud.

Emperor Shun wore a faint smile, a hint of amusement in his eyes as he said, "Your composure is quite good."

"Since Senior has revealed himself, even if my composure were poor, I could not escape with my life."

Emperor Shun's figure swayed slightly. Wu Wang then noticed that beneath him, the Heavenly Emperor had a golden serpent's tail. This serpent's tail dissolved into a pale golden light, transforming into a pair of feet shod in cloth boots. He took two steps forward and asked, "Do you think I am here to kill you?"

Me? Emperor Shun's use of 'I' is surprisingly modern.

Wu Wang let out a sigh of relief and chuckled. "How could a young man from the Human Domain like myself be worthy of Senior's personal attention?"

Emperor Shun asked, "Son of the Ice God, friend of Shen Nong. Why should I not act against you?"

A jolt of fear shot through Wu Wang's heart, his nerves stretched taut.

Heaven Palace knows my mother's identity?

He forcibly composed himself, taking the initiative to probe while keeping his voice as calm as possible. "If Heaven Palace already knows my mother's identity, why would it allow the Northern Wilderness to reach its current state?"

"Merely the Candle Dragon's machinations," Emperor Shun said, his patience seemingly abundant, his voice gentle. "If not for my apprehension regarding the Star Dao your mother currently wields, I would not have gone to such lengths to trap you in an instant. Let us speak plainly; I have no fondness for riddles. I seek you today to have you persuade your mother not to withdraw the Star Dao. So, Son of the Ice God, you need not fear that I will erase you."

Wu Wang's expression betrayed no emotion as he replied solemnly, "In that case, this junior thanks Senior for sparing his life."

"Mm."

Emperor Shun acknowledged and walked past Wu Wang, his gaze sweeping over the streets on either side. Wu Wang pondered for a moment, glanced at the Sanxian Daoist who stood like a clay sculpture, and then followed Emperor Shun, strolling forward. The pedestrians on the street remained frozen in that single instant, yet the scene was so vivid, not in the least bit strange, as if they would all spring back to life in the next moment.

Unwilling to remain passive, Wu Wang asked, "If the Heavenly Emperor is so concerned, why did you not stop my mother initially?"

"Timing," Emperor Shun said slowly. "At that time, over a hundred banished criminal gods were stirring up trouble outside Heaven and Earth. I could not leave, and my watch over the various Great Daos slackened. It was then that your mother made her move. Using her status in the Sun Ritual, she forcibly seized control of the Star Dao, shattering the Star God's consciousness. By the time I realized it, the deed was done. Indeed, in ancient times, it was always these goddesses who were the most ferocious in their duels. Heh heh… Isn't that amusing?"

Emperor Shun tucked his hands into his sleeves and turned to look at Wu Wang, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

Do you think you're funny? Wu Wang nearly retorted but his reason prevailed. He could only manage a strained smile.

It seems Emperor Shun is unaware of the changes within the Star God's Dao.

Wu Wang chuckled. "Does Senior believe I can persuade my mother?"

"Your mother was originally without flaw. Born from the frozen ice, she cultivated for countless eons to attain the god position of the Ice God. But this time, she exploited the fissure created when the Dao of Fire was withdrawn, sending her divine spirit back to the Great Wilderness. She became a member of the Human race, plotted the Sun Ritual, and gave birth to you. You are your mother's vulnerability."

Emperor Shun stopped before a teahouse, stepped inside, and sighed. "Constructing order is often far more difficult than destroying it."

Wu Wang pondered for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. "Senior seems quite wary of the Candle Dragon."

"I am not wary of the Candle Dragon I once banished, but of the will of Heaven and Earth that he now represents."

Emperor Shun casually sat at a corner table by the window. An idea sparked in Wu Wang's mind, and he sat down opposite the Heavenly Emperor. The two of them seemed like old friends reuniting after a long separation, everything unfolding naturally.

Emperor Shun exhaled a gentle breath. Within it, Yin and Yang, the Eight Trigrams, and the Five Elements evolved—a mere wisp of an illusion, yet it nearly overwhelmed Wu Wang's Dao heart.

What level of Dao Realm is this?

Emperor Shun's voice grew even more mellow as he spoke, "To this day, the Human Domain has seen three Human Emperors. The one I admire most is Emperor Fu Xi. Innate Gods are born amidst the Great Dao, intimately connected to it. Though they can control the Great Dao, they do not comprehend why. Emperor Fu Xi's Eight Trigrams of Yin and Yang interpret how Heaven and Earth exist, operate, and transform—how profoundly mysterious it all is. The Dao of the Eight Trigrams of Yin and Yang reveals the inherent opposition between order and chaos.

"Looking back, each transition between divine eras has been merely an alternation between chaos and order. At the culmination of the ancient divine wars, it was the Star God who fought to the death to expel the Candle Dragon from the Outer Sky. I then used my own Great Dao to activate hundreds of Dao rules, constructing the order of Heaven and Earth and establishing the Heaven and Earth Seal with the Dao of Order. From that moment, the seed of order sprouted within my Great Dao. Conversely, the seed of chaos had already taken root and begun to flourish within the Candle Dragon.

"If the original conflict between myself and the Candle Dragon was merely a contest for the divine authority to establish the order of Heaven and Earth, then our next confrontation will be a battle between the two most primordial wills in existence. The Candle Dragon's return will inevitably trigger a new divine era. The Northern Wilderness, the Human Domain, even this very place—all will be reduced to ashes."

Wu Wang paused, staring at Emperor Shun. "That sounds like merely your perspective, Senior."

Emperor Shun seemed puzzled. "You can articulate the principle of the Dao giving birth to one, one giving birth to two, and two giving birth to three. Can you not grasp the reasoning here?"

Wu Wang: ...

"I understand some of it, certainly, but not entirely," Wu Wang said earnestly. "Could it be that Senior is not confident in protecting the order of Heaven and Earth from the Candle Dragon?"

Emperor Shun replied, "As I just said, construction is far more difficult than destruction, and safeguarding is harder still. I am confident I can seal them once more, but the order I have painstakingly built will be destroyed in our ensuing battle."

Wu Wang asked, "Do you mean you want my mother to betray her own principles?"

Emperor Shun said, "I can allow your mother to replace the Star God and return her Ice God body to the mortal realm. The Northern Wilderness and the entire Northeastern Region of the Great Wilderness will be granted to you and your mother. The condition is that the Ice God's Dao of Ice must replace the Dao of Fire, embedding itself into the foundation of order."

"Then…"

"There is no need to refuse hastily. Simply convey this message to your mother." A Divine Light flickered in Emperor Shun's eyes, an unintentional display of his authority.

Wu Wang pondered for a moment, then smiled. "Senior, you truly astonish this junior. If this comes to pass, the Candle Dragon's divine faction will wane, Heaven Palace will replenish the extracted Dao of Fire, and the Heaven and Earth Seal will be stabilized once more. At that point, Heaven Palace could strike without restraint, annihilating the Human Domain in an instant. So, what truly concerns you is not the Candle Dragon, but the Human Domain's potential to defend itself even after the Candle Dragon's return."

Emperor Shun smiled but said nothing.

Wu Wang continued, "May I interpret your silence as agreement?"

"Ultimately, you persist in viewing this world from the perspective of the Human race," Emperor Shun sighed softly. "Wu Wangzi, how much do you truly understand about the Dao of Living Beings?"

Wu Wang honestly shook his head.

Emperor Shun leaned back slightly, his right hand slowly emerging from his sleeve. The hand, slender and exquisitely formed as if carved from fine jade over countless eons, pointed a finger towards Wu Wang's forehead.

In the next instant, everything around them dissolved into streaks of light and vanished. Wu Wang felt as if he had leaped from one painted scroll into another.

This was a boundless, grey world. Overhead were only Stars, sky, and clouds; below, a barren expanse like a desert. The two of them were still seated opposite each other, the wooden table and bench now strikingly real.

Emperor Shun did not speak, but a light flickered in his eyes, and Wu Wang seemed to hear a voice:

*Living beings, born between Heaven and Earth, originated in the tranquility of all things.*

Something caught Wu Wang's attention. He turned to see a vast grey sea in the distance, its waters seemingly full of impurities. Yet, within it, a faint wisp of green floated, bobbing up and down. In the blink of an eye, the landscape transformed. The green wisp sprouted, and the sea seemed to gain something new.

"The Dao of Life was born from this," Emperor Shun said slowly.

The birth of a Great Dao? Great Daos are born from within Heaven and Earth, not coexistent with them? Wu Wang's expression was one of shock, but Emperor Shun's voice continued to resonate beside his ear, "Among the countless Great Daos, the Dao of Life is the most unique. It does not merely interpret some existing rule within Heaven and Earth; rather, it permits living beings to be born and to perish. Indeed, the resonance of this Great Dao with many others gave birth to us."

The surrounding lights flickered, and an immeasurable span of time seemed to pass. When the scene resettled, the sea was dotted with green, and the land too was tinged with it. A bright, diffuse white light filled the space between Heaven and Earth, still only Stars, sky, and clouds. But from a cluster of clouds, a figure emerged—a mere silhouette, faceless, curiously observing this world.

"She perished," Emperor Shun said. "She was but a weak Innate God. It was because of her weakness that she was the first to arrive."

Wu Wang gazed at the silhouette, sensing its Great Dao, its essence. Profound insights welled within him, yet they were like drifting mist, utterly elusive. It was as if a colossal hand were turning the pages of a scroll, image after image flowing past. The world gradually teemed with activity. Figures appeared in the sky and on the land, some resembling the Innate Dao form, others bizarrely shaped. They remained independent, without any interaction.

Finally, war erupted, then vanished in a flash. The Innate Gods learned how to wage war. They began to mature rapidly, forming groups and allegiances. Then followed a stream of light and shadow, conveying a vast amount of information. Wu Wang felt as if his forehead were about to split open, but he gritted his teeth and endured, unwilling to show any sign of distress before the Heavenly Emperor.

The vision abruptly ceased. Wu Wang gripped the edge of the table, gasping for breath. A bone-chilling wind swept past, so cold that even his current physique shivered.

"Look. Your mother will be born in a few more epochs," Emperor Shun said with a smile.

Wu Wang looked up to see only an iceberg, and at its edge, a delicate little flower in bloom.

Emperor Shun tucked his hands back into his sleeves. Before Wu Wang could look longer, Heaven and Earth spun, Stars flared and died, and they were released from this Illusionary Realm.

He was still the inconspicuous attendant in Jiuhuang City, still caught within that infinitely stretched instant. Wu Wang clutched his forehead, unable to suppress a few muffled groans.

Emperor Shun observed this with a smile. He spoke again, his voice reaching Wu Wang's ears, echoing from the Immortal Platform within Wu Wang's God's Mansion. Wu Wang felt as if he were seeing that vast, primordial expanse of Heaven and Earth once more…

"Do you understand now? What are living beings? Merely adornments upon Heaven and Earth. What is the Human race? Simply a rather fortunate species among the myriad spirits. In my eyes, the Human race is no different from grass and trees, summer cicadas no different from flood dragons, and Divine Spirits no different from fungi."

Emperor Shun's voice was calm and unhurried, like that of an elder sitting in the cool shade of a tree on a sweltering summer day, expounding the principles of the universe to Wu Wang. A flicker of confusion appeared in Wu Wang's eyes.

Emperor Shun continued, "The cultivation methods of the Human Domain are, in essence, a search for resonance with the Great Dao. But humans cultivate the self, hoping to pierce the ultimate truths of Heaven and Earth with their own Dao. This is nothing more than an attempt to supplant the Divine Spirits, thereby plundering the vital essence of Heaven and Earth to empower themselves. If this persists, it will inevitably lead to the decline of Heaven and Earth, a waning of all life. You are simply influenced by the Human Domain, viewing Heaven and Earth from a human-centric standpoint."

"What is wrong with a human-centric view?" The confusion in Wu Wang's eyes faded. He first murmured to himself, then smiled. "For you, Senior, you are an Innate God, the embodiment of the will of order that exists between Heaven and Earth. Naturally, you consider Heaven and Earth as fundamental. The current order of Heaven and Earth is under your control; thus, to maintain this order is to maintain yourself. What position are you in to persuade me to abandon a human-centric view and see Heaven and Earth as you do?"

Emperor Shun stated, "Without Heaven and Earth, where would living beings find their sanctuary? Heaven and Earth are fundamental; this is the ultimate principle of the Great Dao."

But Wu Wang countered, "If I did not exist within this Heaven and Earth, what meaning would Heaven and Earth hold for me? However, I firmly believe that living beings are born *of* Heaven and Earth, not *above* it."

"Since ancient times, all beings have deluded themselves into believing they could transcend Heaven and Earth, yet Heaven and Earth have never been altered by them."

"Has not the Dao of Life changed this Heaven and Earth?"

"That is merely superficial, like the colorful robes you and I might wear. What bearing do they have on our true selves?"

"Senior, the impact of living beings on Heaven and Earth is far more than superficial!" Divine Light surged in Wu Wang's eyes. "Senior, you should understand this more thoroughly than I. If the ancient records I have read are true, then you defeated the Candle Dragon by harnessing the rapidly expanding Power of Living Beings. By reaping this power, you swiftly accumulated Divine Power, thus gaining the opportunity to expel the Candle Dragon. Why, then, do you disparage living beings today? Without them, Heaven and Earth would be a silent, dead expanse of mere earth, stone, cloud, and wind. What significance would such a world hold? Heaven and Earth provide a haven for living beings, and living beings, in turn, imbue Heaven and Earth with vitality. The two are interdependent; there is no inherent hierarchy of superior or inferior."

A faint smile touched Emperor Shun's lips as he gazed at Wu Wang. In that instant, Wu Wang felt a sudden chill creep up from the depths of his heart, as if the Heavenly Emperor before him had, for a fleeting moment, considered erasing him from existence.

The Heavenly Emperor has emotions. Clearly, he also possesses the seven emotions and six desires.

Wu Wang: …

He decisively shifted the topic. "Please forgive my bluntness, Senior," Wu Wang said. "There is something I do not understand. Since you sought me out and chose not to kill me, why did you then permit the gods of Heaven Palace to act against me?"

"Their actions against you are to maintain the order of Heaven and Earth," Emperor Shun replied. "My seeking you out is also to safeguard that same order."

"Are these two not contradictory?"

"How could they be?" Emperor Shun's smile was entirely relaxed. "They are unaware that you are the son of the Ice God, nor do they know that the Ice God has seized control of the Star God's Dao. Therefore, I do not believe their actions are wrong in any way. Later, you may continue with your own affairs. I will not interfere in the duel between you and the Head Manager. Consider this a gesture of my sincerity towards you and your mother."

I really want to say, 'Then you might as well return Lin Qi directly.' But as the words reached his lips, Wu Wang understood. Even if I ask, Emperor Shun won't agree.

"You are very astute." Emperor Shun, as if he could see into Wu Wang's heart, smiled. "I cannot betray the trust my followers place in me by unilaterally disrupting their arrangements. In truth, all actions of living beings and Divine Spirits within the order of Heaven and Earth serve as adjustments and refinements to that order."

Wu Wang smiled. "If that's the case, then if the Human Domain were to one day breach Heaven Palace, would that also be a refinement of order?"

"If they can achieve it, then naturally, yes," Emperor Shun stated. "However, my Original Dao is not that of Order. The 'me' standing before you now is an aspect of myself entrusted to the Dao of Order. When my true origin awakens, though I will still be 'me,' maintaining the current order of Heaven and Earth will no longer be my foremost priority."

Wu Wang felt somewhat unable to argue.

Emperor Shun has transcended, yet not completely. It's as if his divinity, Dao nature, and living nature have diverged to some extent. The Heavenly Emperor before me is more akin to a maintainer of order, an incarnation of the order of Heaven and Earth. His primary purpose in coming here is to prevent Mother from withdrawing the Star Dao and to stop the Candle Dragon's return.

Emperor Shun continued, "Returning to the Dao of Life. In this world, living beings are innumerable. The Human race comprises but a thousandth, perhaps even a ten-thousandth, of the Dao of Life. You must learn to step outside the human-centric perspective and re-examine this world."

Wu Wang said, "I do not possess Senior's breadth of vision. I am of the Human race, and ensuring its prosperity is my foremost responsibility."

Emperor Shun countered, "And if the prosperity of the Human race encroaches upon the living space of the myriad other beings, what then?"

Wu Wang retorted, "What then of the Innate Gods arbitrarily taking from and giving to the myriad beings?"

"Do you know of the Dao of Order?"

"Senior, I confess I do not. That is your domain of expertise."

"The Dao of Order in Heaven and Earth exists intangibly, originating from the primal unity." Emperor Shun smiled. "To construct the current order of Heaven and Earth, I extracted three hundred and sixty Great Daos from three hundred and sixty Innate Gods, gathered them, wove them into a net, and then re-bestowed these Great Daos. Thus, the present Dao of Order was born. This Great Dao is not a single thread, but a vast web. Since then, the rotation of sun and moon, the cycle of seasons in all lands—indeed, every aspect of the Human race's existence in the Human Domain—relies on the Power of Order I bestowed. Understanding this, do you still believe Innate Gods do not possess the right to govern Heaven and Earth?"

Wu Wang was silent for a moment.

The order of Heaven and Earth was all orchestrated by this group of Innate Gods… This seems…

Emperor Shun continued, "If Heaven and Earth were to revert to chaos, not one in ten thousand of today's living beings would survive. Whence then the grandeur of the Human Domain? The tranquility of the Northern Wilderness?" Seeing Wu Wang unable to refute, Emperor Shun even began to offer him a line of reasoning: "You can think of it this way: the Dao of Order was woven from individual, primal Great Daos. And Innate Gods are, in essence, the will of the Great Dao. What is wrong with the Great Dao governing living beings?"

"Senior, you are twisting the concepts," Wu Wang suddenly interjected, his expression serious. "The Great Dao and Innate Gods cannot be equated. The Great Dao is pure; Innate Gods are not. As Senior himself stated earlier, a Great Dao that has not given birth to an Innate God is still a Great Dao. Innate Gods are not the will of the Great Dao. The Great Dao simply exists within Heaven and Earth; it is rule, it is the pillar that supports Heaven and Earth, defining them as such. It is these Great Daos that constructed the current order, not the Innate Gods."

Emperor Shun countered, "Yet, if the Great Dao possessed no will, Heaven and Earth would remain without order. It is precisely because the will of the Innate Gods led them to offer their respective Great Daos that the current order exists. You cannot deny the crucial role of Innate Gods in constructing this order."

Wu Wang retorted, "But Senior also cannot deny that the oppression of living beings by Innate Gods grows increasingly severe. Past contributions cannot excuse current wanton behavior."

"See?" Emperor Shun smiled. "There you are again, viewing these matters from a human-centric standpoint."

Wu Wang cupped his fists. "Please do not take offense, Senior. I stand upon the earth, while Senior resides in Heaven Palace. Our perspectives are naturally different."

"Alas," Emperor Shun shook his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips. "Conversing with you has truly brought me some joy. It has been tens of thousands of years since I last spoke with someone thus." He continued, "When you judge Innate Gods, you subconsciously view living beings as flawless. You are not to blame for this. One day, you will understand what I have said today. But you should have realized by now: the Candle Dragon must not be allowed to return."

Wu Wang sighed softly. "I cannot interfere with what Mother intends to do, but I will convey Senior's words to her."

"If she desires more, she may propose anything," Emperor Shun said. "As long as she refrains from acting before I reclaim the Dao of Fire, I can promise to allow her to replace the Star God in the Northern Wilderness afterwards." Pausing here, Emperor Shun looked at Wu Wang and said gently, "Before my falling out with the Candle Dragon, your mother and I were considered friends. Looking at you is like looking at the child of an old acquaintance."

"I am honored by Senior's regard," Wu Wang cupped his fists again, but still added, "It would be even better if Heaven Palace could release my Disciple."

Emperor Shun tucked his hands back into his sleeves and slowly rose. "As I said, I will not interfere in your duel with the Head Manager. Nor should you mention our meeting today to any living soul. If we meet again, it will likely not be the 'me' guided by the will of order. At that time, you might be erased directly. My true self is currently vexed beyond measure by the Candle Dragon and has developed a certain aversion to order… becoming somewhat irritable."

Wu Wang: …

"I believe I understand."

Emperor Shun walked out of the teahouse, heading back the way he had come. Wu Wang's vision blurred, and he found himself standing beside the Sanxian Daoist, as if he had not moved at all. Time around them was about to resume its flow. Emperor Shun's figure, now a human torso with a serpent's tail, was already receding, showing Wu Wang only his back.

Suddenly, he turned his head, looked at Wu Wang, and asked, "The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three give birth to all things… What is this 'one'?"

Pangu? No, that's a myth from my homeland.

Wu Wang thought carefully. "It should signify the concept of existence."

Emperor Shun shook his head slightly and sighed. His form dissolved into a faint golden light and vanished.

Everything around them began to move. The Sanxian Daoist's soft exclamation and the bustling sounds of the crowd rushed in. A moment ago, it was like being in a painting; now, he had stepped out of it.

But Wu Wang stood there, stunned for a while, Emperor Shun's final words echoing in his heart:

*"Your understanding is shallow. It seems you know of its existence but not its true meaning. There exists an ultimate Dao in Heaven and Earth, which is also the primordial Dao. That is the 'one.' Alas, if Fu Xi had agreed to reconcile with Heaven Palace, had trusted me more, and returned the Dao of Fire, I could have spared his life, granted him longevity… How good that would have been. He was so close to touching it then. If one truly comprehends the Dao, what more could one desire?"*

HUM!

The necklace on Wu Wang's chest vibrated intensely, scalding hot.

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