The Holy Path of the Primordial World Shines Brightly

Chapter 125 Acquittal, Fighting Fire with Fire (Please Subscribe)

When the Wu tribe's power in the Kunlun Mountains was mired in a quagmire.

Buzhou Mountain.

The stronghold of the Wu tribe.

"I'm innocent!"

At this moment, Feng Xi is crying out for justice.

He stated that he was innocent.

There was absolutely no falsification of accounts!

All expenses and income, every single payment, are perfectly fine!

There was no embezzlement or bribery!

"So how do you intend to explain this?"

Houtu, the Ancestral Witch, had an amused expression on her face. She kicked a small box next to her, which contained the embezzled funds mentioned in the anonymous tip-off letter, which had already been found during the search.

"Splash!"

The box tipped over, revealing a dazzling golden light—the unique color of the Xuanhuang Merit Coins.

Houtu casually picked up one and waved it in front of Feng Xi, "Pretty generous, huh!"

"Cough cough cough..." Feng Xi blinked, then blinked again, "My lord, please listen to me, I can still explain this a little."

"As the Minister of Foreign Affairs of my Great Witch Clan stationed in Kunlun Mountain, I have a little bit of personal hobby... I like gambling on stones and dreaming of getting rich overnight."

"I admit that this is a slight shortcoming and flaw in my personal conduct... but I neither delayed official business nor embezzled public funds, so it really can't be considered a major mistake!"

Feng Xi is resourceful and quick-witted, fabricating reasons on the spot.

"Similarly, I was incredibly lucky and suddenly became rich overnight... that doesn't mean I embezzled!"

"It really is a windfall," Houtu said with a playful smile, emphasizing the four words. "So you knew it was a windfall too?"

Feng Xi shrank back, not daring to speak. Her kneeling figure on the futon looked weak, pitiful, and helpless.

"Do you remember what I said when I appointed you to this position?" Houtu leaned forward slightly, extending a finger to tap Feng Xi's forehead between his eyebrows, her tone tinged with disappointment. "I told you not to embezzle, not to embezzle, and this is what you did?"

Feng Xi leaned back after being poked, her eyes darting around as she racked her brains trying to figure out how to exonerate herself.

"You young man, you always like to be impatient for quick success," Houtu continued her lecture. "Whatever you do, you're always thinking about getting more and faster, and in the end, you often end up on a path of no return... Isn't it better to just work honestly and diligently?"

"If you achieve results, how could I possibly skimp on your salary and bonuses?"

"They insist on taking a shortcut!"

"Ugh!"

The ancestral witch Houtu sighed with an air of maturity, "Is getting rich overnight by going against one's conscience really that appealing?"

Feng Xi suppressed the words "It smells so good!" that were about to slip out, and made an agreeing expression on his face. His perfect acting skills deeply reflected his inner remorse and unease, and his deep self-blame after doing something wrong.

Houtu glanced at it and scoffed, "Don't try to act tough with me."

"You little rascal, with your cunning and scheming approach to the reincarnation strategy, I don't believe you have much remorse or ulterior motives."

"You've already been marked as a cunning and scheming person in my eyes... so I don't expect you to have any sincere intention to admit your mistakes."

Feng Xi's expression froze.

This is awkward.

His gaze toward Houtu held a hint of resentment.

In all honesty, he was a loyal subject who even paid out of his own pocket to design firewalls to address vulnerabilities in order to ensure the smooth development of Houtu Zuwu's reincarnation business... but here he received such a heartbreaking answer?

To view it with prejudice?

Can you call that scheming?

Wasn't it all for the sake of serving the Wu clan that they painfully abandoned their moral bottom line?

Feng Xi felt that her life was like a coffee table, filled with tragedies and tableware.

"Alright, stop looking at me like that," Houtu said leisurely, crossing her arms in front of her. "Do you have anything to say about this?"

"With this pile of irrefutable evidence, what's your defense?"

"I don't think that anonymous report makes any sense. It can't be said that I falsified accounts, embezzled funds, or accepted bribes..." Feng Xi muttered. "Look, I used benefits to win over the Three Pure Ones, is that okay? It's normal diplomatic work, isn't it?"

"Judging from the results, you did a very good job." This was Houtu's fair assessment.

"So, during this process, I didn't intentionally submit false financial statements, did I? The profits and expenses were exactly as they were... right?"

"Yes." Houtu nodded.

"Then you see... doesn't the charge of falsifying accounts become untenable?" Feng Xi tried to exonerate herself.

"Hmm... I'd say you passed this one, right?" Houtu laughed. "What about taking kickbacks and accepting bribes?"

"That's even less plausible!" Feng Xi argued vehemently. "Even if this money came from the Three Pure Ones, it can't be considered a kickback or bribe. It should be considered a consulting fee, a reward for my personal advice!"

"First of all, who are the Three Pure Ones? Although some people say that I deliberately offered a high price to bribe them... I really don't know how ridiculous that is?"

"Those three Celestial Venerables possess immense merit from the creation of the world, and their wealth is unparalleled in the entire primordial world. How could I possibly bribe them with my meager interests?"

"If you gave someone else the same amount of money, do you think the Three Pure Ones would agree? They'd probably just kick them out on the spot, right?"

"Similarly, would a venerable celestial being like this lower himself to give me a kickback simply because we've made this deal?"

"That's impossible!"

Feng Xi explained each point logically and with evidence.

Houtu remained silent, but did not nod in agreement, though there was a slight truth to it.

"Therefore, this charge is untenable!"

"So, why do you think this money ended up in your hands?" Houtu smiled. "Since you've already said so much, give me a reasonable answer, okay?"

Houtu looked at Fengxi with a half-smile.

However, this was no challenge for Feng Xi.

Having bought enough time, Feng Xi had already prepared her explanation in her mind.

"Naturally, this advisory fee was specially granted by the Three Pure Ones (the Heavenly Venerable Ones) because of my contributions to the spread of Taoism!"

Feng Xi's mouth is a deceitful devil.

"These three Celestial Venerables, feeling grateful for the flourishing of Taoism during my tenure... especially the Celestial Venerable Lingbao, who took a great step forward on the path of teaching without discrimination!"

"Therefore, it's perfectly reasonable for me to receive such a windfall!"

"Then why don't they just openly present you with a banner and explain everything?" Houtu raised an eyebrow.

"Of course it's because it's not something that can be seen in the light!" Feng Xi said matter-of-factly. "After all, the methods used in this process were not very honorable. The Three Pure Ones wanted to get benefits, but didn't want to appear to be deeply involved, and didn't want to have a direct relationship with us temporary workers."

"Therefore, we had no choice but to operate behind closed doors and settle the payment privately!"

Everything has come together.

It was as if that windfall was indeed due to the reason he claimed.

It was not a conspiracy with Yu Chen, but rather a way of repaying Lingbao Tianzun's appreciation and further expanding the Daoist lineage!

As she spoke, Feng Xi herself became a little confused.

Perhaps... this is really the truth?

After all, it seems that Yu Chen's own interests alone cannot shake the will of Lingbao Tianzun behind him.

When the two contradict each other, what does Yu Chen mean?

At crucial moments, only the thoughts of Lingbao Tianzun matter.

This is in the best interests of the Heavenly Venerable!

"Yes...that must be it!"

Feng Xi pondered, "It must be the service fee or consulting fee that Lingbao Tianzun gave me!"

As for why that consulting fee was the same as the amount recorded on the paper that Feng Xi had picked out during the unexpected moment?

Ok……

This is a coincidence!

This must be a coincidence!

Houtu silently looked at Fengxi.

Feng Xi's self-defense was logically consistent and well-organized, which made Feng Xi both laugh and cry.

"That was fantastic."

"To completely clear you of any suspicion."

"Although I know that as long as I use the Soul Searching and Heart Observation technique on you, I can uncover the little secret hidden in your heart, and everything will be revealed..." Houtu said, making Feng Xi's heart tremble, "Right and wrong, black and white, will all be revealed."

In this primordial world, uncovering the truth is far too easy.

A quick and easy soul-searching technique.

Even dark thoughts and treacherous intentions will be exposed.

Even if you try to exchange glances or have a telepathic connection with someone, it won't make any difference.

"But thinking about it, I'll pass." After making Feng Xi anxious for a while, Hou Tu smiled and continued, "If you can deceive everyone with the evidence and clues you provide, then that's your skill."

"Huh?" Feng Xi asked, puzzled.

"Human nature..." Houtu smiled. "If such methods were used on you in the pursuit of evidence, setting a precedent, will they be used on others in the future?"

"To be so harsh just because of an anonymous letter of complaint... If the water is too clear, there will be no fish, and the hearts of the Wu tribe will also be scattered."

"After all, it's hard to say about the lower-level witches, but are those high-ranking witches' underlings truly devoted to the witch clan without any ulterior motives?"

"Should we also have our soul searched and our hearts examined?"

"If we really do that, laying everything out in the open, will we still need to fight against the demon race and the Heavenly Dao?"

"First, it caused quite a stir within the clan; counting from the top three rows, about seven or eight out of ten have to be removed!"

Houtu explained.

The stronger you are, the more choices you have, and the less you're tied to one thing.

Always having a way out, always having leeway—this is what disloyalty is all about.

There are many powerful individuals who straddle both sides, those who are involved with both the Witch Clan and the Demon Clan... If you push them too far, they can't transfer their assets and will fight you to the death.

Even if one were to implement a dictatorship based on divine will, it would have to wait until after unification.

Leave people with nowhere to go, then slowly concoct the scheme!

"Right now, everything is just going through the motions and looking at the actual physical evidence," Houtu said leisurely. "If the relevant Da Luo responsible for tracing back through time and space doesn't obtain any irrefutable evidence that you've presented, then you've passed this test."

"If you can't even handle this simple method? I wouldn't even trust you with that level of intelligence to hold such an important position."

Houtu's words are very true.

So stupid, why bother with fake accounts and embezzlement?

"Your Majesty Houtu is wise!" Feng Xi immediately began to sing praises, "You have a broad mind and great virtue, your name will be praised for eternity... You set an example by your own conduct, and you will certainly not regret today's decision in the future!"

It's good that they don't search souls!

He was also worried about how to explain the loopholes in the cycle strategy if they were discovered.

"Don't be too happy yet," Houtu Ancestral Witch said with a faint smile. "There are some things you'd better do less of."

"If you walk by the river often enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet."

"Even if you manage to get away with it this time, next time... you might not be so lucky."

"The fact that someone anonymously reported you, especially when you are protected by an innate spiritual treasure and have your divine will blocked from being detected, indicates that a Grand Luo Immortal is watching you closely, and this Grand Luo Immortal is very likely from the demon race camp."

Feng Xi was startled.

"No way?" He swallowed hard, instantly feeling that the future was going to be difficult.

"What do you think?" Houtu retorted. "You've made such a big fuss in Kunlun, and the results have been quite good. It's impossible not to attract interested people."

"So, you'd better be more careful."

"I understand!" Feng Xi frowned, lost in thought.

Then, he suddenly looked up, his expression grave. "I suspect something bad is about to happen in the Kunlun Mountains!"

"Knocking me down isn't the end; it's just the beginning!"

"Oh?" Houtu was somewhat surprised, yet also approving. "You're quite good. There really is a problem there."

"It's said that the problem is quite serious."

"Is that so?" Feng Xi lowered her head, pondering seriously.

Both of them remained silent.

The heavy silence was broken only by the sound of steady footsteps.

Feng Xi looked up and saw the Xuanming Ancestral Witch. She walked into the hall and nodded to Houtu.

"The results of this little guy's investigation are in."

"Oh? How is it?" Houtu asked.

"You were quite clever in taking the kickbacks, leaving no loose ends," Xuanming said calmly. "That box of merit coins belongs to Lingbao Tianzun."

"Lingbao told me that there was a time when he was in a playful mood and lived a carefree life. He deliberately left a treasure chest containing a sum of merit coins and placed it in the gambling stone shops of his disciples and grand-disciples to see which lucky little fellow would find it."

"There was no intention to deliberately give someone unexpected wealth."

"This is too fake," Houtu said calmly. "It must be something done by reversing the timeline!"

"Yes, I also think it's fake." Xuanming smiled. "But since this method of forgery has been produced, then it must be real."

The great Luo reverses cause and effect, and the truth and falsehood are often not important.

"Unless we forcefully intervene and intercept them... but there's really no need."

"Indeed." Houtu nodded. "Then let's just let this matter rest."

"The case of Feng Xi's falsification of accounts and acceptance of bribes is hereby declared closed, and he is acquitted!"

"Reasonable compensation will be provided for any damage to reputation, emotional distress, or work interruption caused during the case." Hou Tu made the final decision, setting the tone, and the relevant documents will be subsequently sent to the person in charge.

"The Ancestral Witch is virtuous!" Feng Xi praised loudly.

Neither of the two ancestral witches paid him any attention; they simply continued talking to themselves.

"I have bad news for you," said the Ancestral Witch Xuanming. "The turmoil at Kunlun Mountain is escalating."

"Is that so?"

Houtu frowned, turned to look in the east, as if observing or listening.

A moment later, she let out a soft breath.

"I hate those scheming and wicked guys the most."

"If war breaks out in the future, we must take down all the top strategists of the demon race if we find an opportunity!"

Houtu clenched her fist. "Not a single one of them can be spared!"

The indignant tone revealed a sense of defeat behind the scenes.

Clearly, this ancestral witch seems to have suffered quite a bit in this regard over the years.

"This is not easy." Xuanming shook his head. "Those demon strategists are all extraordinary and powerful."

"Bai Ze, Di Jun, Fu Xi... they are either demon generals or demon emperors, none of them are easy to kill."

"It's alright, we can wait patiently, there will always be an opportunity." Houtu waved her hand. "As for now..."

"Things have become so complicated. If all else fails, I'll use the power of the Great Luo to cleanse the minds and perceptions of those beings..." Houtu's eyes turned cold. "I'll defeat their schemes with force!"

Even in the vast universe, with the rise of numerous powerful beings and the emergence of a multitude of administrators, no single entity can stand out alone.

But as long as you're willing to pay the price, many things can be resolved.

Cognitive distortion, altered thinking!

The counterattack planned by the demon race appeared to be a grand operation, but in reality, it was fraught with hidden dangers and spread at an alarming rate, giving the small witches stationed in Kunlun a major headache, as they felt that it was impossible to eradicate the virus.

But as soon as a Great Luo enters the arena, it distorts thinking, causing the subconscious of countless beings there to block out relevant cognition, resulting in sensory aphasia...

okay.

The problem is solved.

What rumors? They'll be gone in a minute.

"But this only treats the symptoms, not the root cause." Xuanming shook his head. "We have Daluo, and the demon race also has Daluo."

"We can distort it, and they can restore it."

"Moreover, this effectively puts our forces at a disadvantage...that's the most troublesome part!"

"Whichever side's Ronaldo is forced to intervene first will lose the initiative..."

"Our opponents used a tactic, using inferior forces against superior ones, which negated some of our peak combat strength... We've suffered a huge loss!"

"When these small things accumulate, our Wu clan's peak power will be constrained by a bunch of trivial matters, and in the end, won't the overall situation be completely controlled by the other side? We were already a little lacking in peak power to begin with."

Xuanming's words made Houtu somewhat worried and a little irritable.

At this moment, Feng Xi, who had been keeping a low profile, hesitated and asked, "Um... could I know what the problem is?"

"Perhaps I have a way to alleviate this?"

"Oh right, I almost forgot about you." Xuanming's eyes lit up, and a jade slip materialized in the void, appearing before Feng Xi with a hint of expectation. "Take a look, have you come up with any ideas?"

Feng Xi read intently, pondering in her mind. After a long while, she hesitated before speaking, "Um... I think we could fight poison with poison?"

"If you're talking about making the same thing to spread it, then forget it," Xuanming waved his hand.

Once she heard the phrase "fight poison with poison," she lost all hope.

"Uh... I'm a very pure witch, I won't start a car." Feng Xi looked at Xuanming Ancestral Witch with a strange expression, as if she wanted to say that his brain circuits were really unique... but considering their fists, she swallowed her words.

"Oh? What kind of poison will you use to fight the poison?"

Feng Xi remained silent for a moment.

Then he spoke.

"Food and sex are human nature; they are instincts."

"But there are also those who acquire it later in life, and who can stand shoulder to shoulder with it."

"That is..."

(End of this chapter)