Nuwa and Yuanshi's Reckoning!

Nuwa heard this and turned around, ready to stir up trouble, only to see two streaks of light darting away.

She couldn't help but curl her lip.

"Running fast, are they? But can they outrun me?"

With that, she prepared to give chase.

But behind her, Fuxi stood up and spoke.

"Sister, don't bother chasing them. Don't you still need to return and see your Master?"

Nuwa suddenly remembered the most pressing matter. Right, she had to go back first.

"Next time, I'll be waiting at the gates of Purple Cloud Palace. Those two can just wait to die!"

After saying this, she stood up and glanced at the Three Pure Ones beside her.

"Oh, right, Yuanshi, weren't you going to come back with me? Said you wanted to take a punch from my Master. Coming or not?"

Yuanshi's face twisted in panic, and he dared not speak recklessly.

But beside him, Laozi stepped forward.

"Daoist Nuwa, this time my younger brother was the one at fault. As his elder brother, I apologize once more. Can you spare him this once?"

Nuwa looked at Laozi, a faint smile curling at her lips.

"Taishang Laozi, champion of quietude and inaction—just as my Master said, it's not quietude and inaction, but rather doing nothing without restraint. Why didn't you speak up back then? Now that the reckoning's here, you put on a grand front. This karmic debt won't be settled so easily. Your second brother here still needs to come with me."

Laozi's expression shifted, but he quickly recovered, then spoke to Nuwa.

"Daoist, why must you be so relentless?"

"Relentless? Am I giving you too much face, talking to me like that?"

Watching this scene, Hongjun felt a headache coming on. If Yuanshi really went, he might end up dead.

But if he didn't go, he'd be pressured like this. The matter was indeed tricky.

Then, as if struck by a thought, he spoke.

"Nuwa, you took many of my treasures before, and I said little. Let Yuanshi go this time, and the karmic debt from taking those treasures will be cleared."

Nuwa felt a bit annoyed. This old man was really something.

But what he said wasn't wrong—she had indeed taken many of his treasures.

Still, if you leave treasures lying around so easy to take, how could she resist?

Now he was bringing it up here.

"That won't do. Either Yuanshi fights me, and after that, this karmic debt is settled."

Hearing this, Yuanshi's face twisted again.

He was an orthodox descendant of Pangu, one of the Three Pure Ones. If he fought Nuwa, he'd likely be ground into the dirt. If word got out, his face wouldn't look too good.

From then on, everyone would know that Yuanshi had provoked Nuwa and gotten beaten black and blue in Purple Cloud Palace.

He'd lose all his face.

At the thought, anger flared on his face.

"Nuwa, don't push your luck!"

Nuwa waved a hand and turned to look at Hongjun.

"See? I gave him a way out, but he won't take it. Guess I'll have to go back to my Master."

Yuanshi was about to speak when Hongjun let out a helpless sigh.

"Fine. Then settle it with a duel outside my Purple Cloud Palace. But do not let killing intent take hold."

Nuwa paid this no mind, already scheming in her heart how to finish Yuanshi off.

Thinking this, she strode toward the door. On the way, Houtu came up beside her.

"Greetings, Daoist Nuwa."

Nuwa looked at Houtu. The other had no Primordial Spirit fluctuations, but her blood energy was abundant.

There was even a faint trace of Sha Qi on her.

Putting the clues together, she guessed the other's identity.

"You're from the Witch Clan?"

Houtu smiled faintly as the two walked out slowly, continuing their conversation.

"Indeed. I am Houtu of the Witch Clan."

"So you're Ancestor Witch Houtu. I've heard much of you."

"And what brings you to me?"

Houtu was about to speak when something seemed to occur to her. She turned back to look at Purple Cloud Palace.

"Daoist, wait a moment. I have a question for the Sage."

After speaking, she turned and went back into the palace. Nuwa, somewhat curious, followed along.

Yuanshi was just about to ask the Dao Ancestor why he had agreed to this matter.

But then a woman walked in and began to ask.

"Sage, does my Witch Clan have a Method to Attain Dao?"

Hongjun breathed a sigh of relief. The Witch Clan was bound to ask this question.

He had almost thought this issue would just be glossed over.

Hongjun's expression turned serious as he slowly began to speak.

"The Witch Clan does not cultivate the Primordial Spirit, nor comprehend the Great Dao. How can you attain the Dao?"

Houtu was stunned at these words, then a trace of bitterness appeared at the corners of her mouth.

Though the Witch Clan's physical bodies were formidable, if Sages were to appear in this world, their status would inevitably shift.

And her elder brother harbored grand ambitions, believing that the world was opened by Father God and should be ruled by the Witch Clan.

If Sages were to intervene now, how could her brother's ambitions be fulfilled?

She sighed inwardly, then turned and walked out with some disappointment.

Nuwa, hearing this, thought it over. Perhaps her master could manage it.

Besides, the Daoist Canon seemed to contain a solution. If this woman were to take her master as a teacher, it might just work.

But then she glanced at Houtu's face and felt that bringing this one back might be a bit dangerous.

Though Houtu was not as beautiful as her, her gentle temperament was far better than that bunch of dullards in the Witch Clan.

If she brought her back, she might end up competing for favor.

She was her master's most beloved disciple—this was a line she could not cross.

Having thought this through, Nuwa nodded, then turned her gaze directly to Yuanshi.

"Yuanshi, come out quickly. Once we're done fighting, I need to go back. Don't waste my time."

With that, she walked outside.

Houtu let out another sigh.

"Daoist friend Nuwa, I only approached you because I admired your courage back then and wished to befriend you."

Nuwa nodded. Everyone else was avoiding her at this moment, but Houtu had come forward to speak. This friend seemed worth having.

"Alright, then Daoist friend Houtu, from now on we are friends."

With that, she stepped out of the Purple Cloud Palace and stood waiting in the Open-air Dojo for Yuanshi to come out.

Inside the palace, Yuanshi began to ask.

"Sage, why would you allow the two of us to fight? If I go to her master, a mere Golden Immortal, could he possibly kill me?"

Hearing this, Hongjun couldn't help but give this bold man a thumbs-up.

Many dared to say such things, but if they actually took a punch, they'd understand—they really could die.

"Her master is not a Golden Immortal. She only said that to downplay it. That is a reclusive Great Power. If he threw a punch, you might well die. I am saving you here."

Yuanshi was stunned at these words, while Laozi beside him nodded calmly—he had already guessed.

Nuwa and her master had likely met Hongjun before, and even fought him.

And Hongjun had lost—badly.

Otherwise, in the palace just now, Nuwa's actions would have gotten her killed outright, not merely temporarily suppressed.

And she was even allowed to continue listening to the Dao.