The Fuxi Bagua Diagram, First Clash Between East and West?

Unlike the others, Ice Fairy knew the entire sequence of events from beginning to end. She also knew Tianshen Technology had withheld the full truth, using Asura as bait to draw out Lu Yuan before moving in for the final kill. Being exceptionally sharp, she had deduced the purpose behind their actions almost immediately. Yet even so, Ice Fairy had never anticipated that Tianshen Technology would actually discard Asura for the sake of those Westerners. Clearly, their cooperation had reached a profound level, or they would never have made such a move. Looking at the online discussions, nearly all domestic Awakened harbored immense outrage over the matter. However, Tianshen Technology remained dead set on its course, offering no response whatsoever. In the end, Ice Fairy sought out the highest authority at Beidou Biology—its actual controller, who happened to be her relative. In truth, Ice Fairy’s own background was far from simple; she was connected to a prominent figure in the government. Because of this, her standing among the Five Great Awakened was remarkably secure, especially when compared to Asura, who was nothing more than a puppet on a chessboard. "So from the very beginning, those Western cultists were the ones who stirred up trouble?" The controller of Beidou Biology was a woman in her forties named Ji Yuzhen. Well-preserved, with delicate skin and an elegant air, she was an Awakened herself, and quite a formidable one at that. "Yes, Aunt. When we carried out our mission in Shennongjia, the reason we gained so little was because these people tried to plunder everything by force." Ice Fairy spoke up, recounting everything that had transpired that day. After all, Tianshen Technology had only announced that Lu Yuan had killed people, omitting the cause entirely. With many online unaware of the truth, she believed it was time to speak out. At the very least, it would apply pressure on Tianshen Technology to some extent. "Rourou, do as you propose." Ji Yuzhen pondered for a moment before continuing, "Certain things must be made known to the public. And this shall serve as our final warning to Tianshen Technology." As she spoke, an air of authority surfaced between her brows, revealing the bearing of someone in power. Yet her words startled Ice Fairy, who seized upon the most crucial point. "A final warning? Aunt, what do you mean?" "Tianshen Technology has crossed the line." "The higher-ups are deeply displeased with them and are already gathering strength to eradicate them." Ji Yuzhen continued, "Originally, they were still contemplating what pretext and method to use against Tianshen Technology. Now, they have one." Evidently, both Beidou Biology and Zhendan Academy—two factions with official backgrounds—had long set their sights on Tianshen Technology. It was merely that they could not act recklessly before. After all, it was a massive faction. Uprooting it would be troublesome and could even spark chaos. Now, however, Tianshen Technology’s conduct had incited outrage among both the public and the Awakened. At a moment like this, Ice Fairy speaking the truth would be like adding fuel to the fire. "So that's how it is. I understand." Ice Fairy nodded. Certain domestic factions indeed needed to be reined in. "By the way," Ji Yuzhen suddenly asked, "do you think that Lu Yuan will show up?" Tianshen Technology's trap was plainly aimed at Lu Yuan, as Asura was already in their grasp and could be executed at any time. She was very keen to know whether this member of the Five Great Awakened possessed the courage to step forward. After all, this time he would face not only Tianshen Technology, but also the apostles of the Western Church. Combined, their power was overwhelmingly formidable. "I think he will appear," Ice Fairy replied after a brief thought. Having had considerable contact with Lu Yuan, she knew he was not a man to tolerate the slightest threat. Once crossed, he would invariably strike back with thunderous force. From the very beginning of her acquaintance with him, that was how he had acted. Therefore, Ice Fairy gave an affirmative answer. In fact, she had obtained Lu Yuan's contact information back at Ancient Mount Shu. When Tianshen Technology released their announcement, she had immediately tried to call him, but the call failed to connect. That told her he was almost certainly still inside Shennongjia, where there was no signal. Even if he remained unaware of the situation for now, Ice Fairy was certain that once he found out, he would come. "Oh?" Ji Yuzhen smiled faintly. "In that case, things will get interesting." "However, nothing must happen to this Lu Yuan. The higher-ups regard him with great importance. If he truly comes, we must provide assistance at the crucial moment." Ice Fairy nodded in agreement. She understood that Beidou Biology and Zhendan Academy shared the exact same stance on this matter. Lu Yuan had burst onto the scene out of nowhere, drawing attention from all sides. Though overbearing, everything he did aligned with the objectives of the two officially backed factions. After all, both Wuzhou Group and Longevity Genetics were factions that needed suppressing. She even understood that the higher-ups wished for such a person to emerge—someone capable of breaking the deadlock. Soon after, the two ended their conversation. Without delay, Ice Fairy issued a public statement. She revealed that she had been present during that encounter in Shennongjia, that the Western cultists had provoked them first by attempting extortion and initiating violence, that Lu Yuan had only struck when pushed past endurance, and that Asura had tried to mediate, only for the Westerners to refuse to listen, resulting in those consequences. The moment this news broke, it was seized upon immediately, once again igniting a massive wave of discussion across the internet. "What? So that's the truth! Those Westerners are despicable!" "To come to our territory and act so arrogant!" "Good riddance! Had I been there, I would have struck too!" "Tianshen Technology must give an explanation! Those who kill must be prepared to be killed!" As one of the Five Great Awakened, possessing a pristine reputation and countless supporters, Ice Fairy's words carried immense credibility. Before long, countless people directed their fury straight at Tianshen Technology, demanding an explanation. Crowds even gathered outside Tianshen Tower in Shanghai. Yet Tianshen Technology's upper echelon made no concessions. They simply issued an announcement stating that the trial in one month would proceed as scheduled, and that no one could prevent it. It was overbearing and arrogant. This only fueled the public's rage, sparking further condemnations. However, it had little real effect; Tianshen Technology’s sheer strength remained intact, and public outrage alone could hardly shake them. Naturally, Beidou Biology and Zhendan Academy were pleased with this public response, as it was precisely the outcome they had hoped for. As time passed, the affair became known to more and more people, spreading far and wide and drawing ever-increasing attention. Tianshen Technology's reputation plunged to an all-time low. Meanwhile, people wondered whether Lu Yuan would actually appear when that month was up. Some had already deduced that the move was a trap laid for Lu Yuan, as the scheme was too blatant. Furthermore, someone had managed to snap photographs confirming that the Western Church's eleven remaining apostles had all arrived at Tianshen Technology. In an instant, everyone realized that Asura was merely the bait, and that the true target was Lu Yuan alone. With the involvement of the eleven apostles, many elevated the matter further, viewing it as the first clash between East and West in the New Era. Previously, both sides had been adapting to the New Era, unable to spare attention for anything else. Now, as time progressed and supernatural power was gradually mastered, the calm could no longer hold. Lu Yuan and those eleven apostles were all Awakened standing at the forefront of the age. If they crossed paths, coupled with the recent incident, a battle was inevitable. Thus, only one question remained: Would Lu Yuan, one of the nation's Five Great Awakened, actually appear? Some believed he would not. Tianshen Technology combined with eleven apostles possessed far too much power—a force formidable enough to hunt down mutated beast kings. Showing up would be perilous in the extreme. Yet others held a different view. They believed Lu Yuan's strength was unfathomable. After so much time, he had surely advanced further, perhaps already reaching the Shackle Realm. Coupled with the fortune he had obtained at Ancient Mount Shu's Sword Mountain, he undoubtedly ranked among the strongest Awakened of the present era. Above that tier stood only the King of Humanity, who had held back the beast tide single-handedly and slain eight mutated beast kings in succession. In short, opinions varied, and everyone anticipated the arrival of that day. Meanwhile, Zhendan Academy and Beidou Biology were also mobilizing in secret. Whether Lu Yuan came or not, though they cared, was not their primary concern. Regardless of his choice, the two factions were bound to strike at Tianshen Technology to exert deterrence. During this period, the overall situation grew increasingly delicate. Deep within Shennongjia, in a secluded area. The Golden-Winged Great Peng perched atop a boulder, its wings folded. Not far from it lay the colossal corpse of a mutated beast that had broken fourteen shackles in life, an exceedingly formidable creature. It lay crumpled on the ground, every bone in its body shattered, presenting a gruesome sight. A short distance past the beast stretched a vast lake. The lake spanned a wide expanse, and viewed from above, its shape bore a striking resemblance to a bagua diagram. Its waters were unfathomably deep, entirely bottomless to the eye, yet extraordinarily tranquil. Even standing on the shore, one could sense the extraordinary nature of the place. *Master has been down there for more than ten days. Why hasn't he come out yet?* The Golden-Winged Great Peng looked at the sky, growing anxious. Naturally, it knew its master could not be in any real danger; his strength was far too formidable. Still, ever since he slew the beast and plunged into the Bagua Lake, he had yet to emerge. Waiting here for so long naturally made it restless, and it wondered whether it should dive in to check. *Gurgle, gurgle—* Just then, a figure broke through the calm surface of the lake. It was Lu Yuan. Protected by his innate pure qi, not even a single strand of his hair was wet. "Master!" Seeing him, the Golden-Winged Great Peng rushed over at once and peered at him. "Master, what did you go down there for?" "Just searching for something. It's in hand now." Lu Yuan smiled, producing a scroll and unrolling it. It was not made of paper, but crafted from some kind of beast hide. On the surface, it appeared unremarkable. Yet once spread open, an image of the yin-yang bagua materialized across the scroll. Unlike ordinary bagua diagrams, this one contained the sun, the moon, and myriad stars, all shifting slowly in an extraordinary manner. When aligned, those celestial bodies seemed to chart an astral path through the cosmos. The Golden-Winged Great Peng was astounded upon seeing it. "Master, what is the origin of this bagua diagram? It looks extraordinary!" "Its origins are immense, so of course it is extraordinary. For this was left behind by one of the three Human Sovereigns—Taihao Fuxi!" As he spoke, Lu Yuan pointed to the only four characters inscribed on the scroll: *Left by the Fuxi Clan.* Hearing this, the Golden-Winged Great Peng went from curiosity to utter shock, completely struck dumb. Not long ago, its master had obtained the legacy left behind by Human Sovereign Shennong, and now he had acquired something from Fuxi as well? Though it was merely a mutated beast, these were two genuine Human Sovereigns. Even within the ancestral inheritance of the Golden-Winged Great Peng clan, such figures were supreme champions of mankind, beings of legend. "Th-this... Master, you...?" The Golden-Winged Great Peng genuinely did not know what to say. It felt that its master was simply too mysterious; practically every venture led him straight to supreme fortunes. Lu Yuan paid no mind to its reaction, instead studying the diagram intently. The full name of the scroll was the Fuxi Bagua Diagram, created by Fuxi himself. It possessed two major functions. The first was deducing the heavens to locate lands of great fortune. In other words, it could help Lu Yuan pinpoint divine items with absolute precision. However, it was limited strictly to objects of divine grade. For ordinary spiritual fruits and mutated herbs, it produced no reaction whatsoever. After all, the rank of the Fuxi Bagua Diagram was extraordinarily high. Naturally, utilizing it was no simple matter either; its power was tied to the user's cultivation. By dripping fresh blood onto it, the stronger the user, the greater the likelihood and reach of discovering divine items. Its second function was charting the correct path across the starry expanse. Regarding that aspect, Lu Yuan knew little. He only recalled that in his previous life, as the global anomalies intensified and the Fuxi Bagua Diagram emerged, a host of extraterrestrial beings fought fiercely over it, until it eventually fell into the hands of a certain exalted figure among them. Now, things were different. Armed with foreknowledge, Lu Yuan had secured it in advance, just as he had done at the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum. Still, one thing struck him as curious: why would a relic of Taihao Fuxi be found in Shennongjia? Though both were Human Sovereigns, they had not lived in the same era. Lu Yuan had puzzled over this earlier, and after obtaining the essence blood left behind by Shennong, the mystery had only deepened. Furthermore, what was the great catastrophe Shennong had mentioned on the stone stele? It seemed that the stronger he became and the more places he explored, the more enigmas arose, none of which could yet be explained. Nevertheless, answers would likely surface eventually. Those extraterrestrial beings certainly knew the truth; otherwise, there would have been no reason for them to descend from the depths of the starry sky—just as they had fought over the Ancestral Dragon Breathing Method and the Fuxi Bagua Diagram back then. Pushing the thoughts aside, Lu Yuan retrieved the Daluo sword core, intending to drip his blood onto the diagram to divine whether Shennongjia held any other divine items. By now, the sword core had absorbed the Western Church's cross scepter. Unfortunately, the scepter contained few rare divine materials, resulting in only a modest increase in the sword's power, which left him somewhat disappointed. Yet there was no helping it. Divine materials were exceptionally rare. If he could find another dozen cross scepters of that caliber, the Daluo sword core might undergo another full metamorphosis. Slashing his palm, Lu Yuan drew blood. Following his bloodline's advancement, his blood had turned entirely golden. As the golden blood dripped onto the Fuxi Bagua Diagram, the sun, moon, and stars upon it began to revolve, bursting forth with dazzling rays of brilliance. Yet after a long time had passed, no reaction followed, suggesting that Shennongjia harbored no further divine items. Of course, this was also related to Lu Yuan's current strength, which could not push the diagram's deductions to their absolute limit to sweep the entirety of Shennongjia. "Forget it." "Some things cannot be forced." Seeing this, Lu Yuan stowed the Bagua Diagram away, understanding that for his current stage, the divine items he possessed were sufficient. Unless his cultivation advanced further, he still needed time to adapt to everything he had acquired. There was no need to obsess over gathering more; he could wait for future opportunities, just as he had with the Human Sovereign's blood. "Let's go. It's about time to leave." Lu Yuan turned to the Golden-Winged Great Peng and stretched his limbs. "I wonder what changes have taken place in the outside world while I've been in Shennongjia."