The Twelve Ancestral Witches had transformed from the essence blood left behind by Great God Pangu. Their origins were no worse than those of the Three Pure Ones.
This was also the source of the Ancestral Witches' greatest pride; some of them even thought too highly of themselves.
With such a mindset, there was naturally no talk of being "incomplete." Now that Houtu had brought it up, even Fang Xun's mind trembled.
"I realized this issue long ago. I even prepared to have my brothers and sisters hunt down the Three Pure Ones together and refine their primordial spirits for our own use."
Fang Xun was startled. Twelve against three—if they added the Twelve Heavenly Gods and Demons Great Array, it actually seemed possible...
Damn it, who came up with that idea? Fang Xun looked at Empress Houtu before him.
"In the end, I gave up. We are all Father God's children. We should not slaughter one another."
Good thing you gave up, or I wouldn't dare imagine what the Primordial Wilderness would look like now!
Fang Xun inwardly grumbled. The Empress Houtu before him had completely overturned his impression of her. The Witch Clan's intelligence had probably all been allocated to her. Fortunately, none of their brutality and battle-lust had been allocated to her.
Ye Fan: "I have to say, I'm rather looking forward to this bizarre development."
Ji Ning: "A path I never imagined."
Hong Yi: "Putting everything else aside, if they truly refined the Three Pure Ones, the Witch Clan's primordial spirit problem could probably be resolved perfectly."
Meng Qi: "I never expected you to be this kind of Empress Houtu. But I seem to like you even more now. Of course, you can't touch my Three Pure Ones!"
Ye Fan: "I think it could work too. After all, both sides are Pangu's children. Even if Great God Pangu knew, he might not necessarily bring down an axe. As for Hong Jun, it's uncertain whether he would stop them."
The Chat Group grew lively as well. Some stirred up trouble, while others offered theoretical support. Yet not one of them gave Fang Xun a reasonable suggestion. The air was filled with merriment.
These bunch of troublemakers... Fang Xun gritted his teeth.
"In our incomplete state, we do not even have the chance to attempt Reverse Proof of Wuji or Three Corpses Attainment. We can only gamble on the path of Merit Sainthood."
Houtu spoke helplessly again. This was the fundamental reason the Witch Clan had joined this Great Luo Dao Struggle.
"I troubled myself over this for a long time. I even sought out your Teacher specifically, but your Teacher recommended you to me."
"Fellow Daoist, please teach me." After explaining herself, Empress Houtu even addressed Fang Xun as a fellow Daoist and bowed to him.
"Don't!" Fang Xun's eyelid twitched. He hurriedly stepped aside. Empress Houtu could be considered his Teacher's close friend; he did not dare accept such a bow.
"I'll speak as best I can, and you may listen as best you can." Fang Xun sighed softly.
"As expected, this method works very well on you." Empress Houtu suddenly revealed a radiant smile.
"Your Teacher taught me that. Otherwise, even if you were willing to speak, I couldn't be sure you meant it."
Fang Xun: ...
"What the Witch Clan needs to do is actually very simple." Fang Xun shook his head slightly, no longer dwelling on that matter as he began discussing the Witch Clan.
Empress Houtu listened quietly.
"Do what you swore to the Heavenly Dao that you would do: guard the Primordial Wilderness, unwavering through countless ages."
"The Primordial Wilderness was created by Great God Pangu. He surely wished for it to develop eternally. So long as you become part of that legacy, at the very least, the Heavenly Dao will not reject the Witch Clan."
"Be a Guardian, not a plunderer or a destroyer."
From the perspective of hindsight, both the Witch and Demon Tribes had ultimately violated the oaths they had sworn to the Heavenly Dao.
Both had claimed they would protect the Primordial Wilderness. The Demon Tribe had even explicitly said it would enlighten the beings of the Primordial Wilderness. Yet what were the atrocities they later committed against the human race?
Were humans not beings of the Primordial Wilderness?
"It's too difficult." Empress Houtu fell silent for a while before slowly shaking her head.
"The Heavenly Dao has revealed that the Witch and Demon Tribes are destined to battle, and Merit Sainthood must also be fought for."
In that case, both tribes would sink into the mire of war. Once they did, they would no longer be able to control themselves.
"Then reduce such Yinguo as much as possible. Instead, protect some weaker races and gain Heavenly Dao Merit."
Houtu nodded, then shook her head. She looked at Fang Xun helplessly. "It seems like you said something, yet it also seems like you said nothing."
Did Empress Houtu not know such things herself? Did Empress Nuwa not know them?
"Knowing is easy; doing is hard." Fang Xun said only those four words. Empress Houtu's expression turned solemn as she listened attentively.
"Second, can you beat up all your brothers and sisters?" Fang Xun asked bluntly, leaving Empress Houtu slightly stunned.
"That... would be somewhat difficult." Houtu calculated for a moment before answering.
"Difficult? Then you must do it anyway!" Fang Xun's tone grew heavier, as though he had gained a little confidence.
"Only the wise can save the Witch Clan. The ideal outcome is for you to turn the Witch Clan into a one-person rule, where a single word from you suppresses Zhu Rong and Gong Gong until they dare not speak!"
"Isn't the Witch Clan warlike? You only need to beat your brothers and sisters half to death, and they'll listen to you."
Empress Houtu frowned slightly, but soon seemed to realize something. She looked at Fang Xun. "You truly have no respect at all for Great Luo Supremes."
He dared to directly call Zhu Rong and Gong Gong by name. If not for this Time-Space cycle constructed by Houtu, those two Great Luo Supremes would have sensed Fang Xun immediately!
Even incomplete Da Luo were still Da Luo. The Ancestral Witches could suppress Time-Space with their physical bodies and cross the river of ages!
No, Empress Houtu, your train of thought is jumping around a little too much. You're even more quick-witted than I am! Of course, without such an active mind, she probably would not have thought of hunting the Three Pure Ones...
"Forgive my bluntness, but Zhu Rong is utterly stupid. Attacking the Heavenly Court and obstructing the Demon Emperor may sound good, but he completely failed to consider the Dao Ancestor of the Purple Cloud Palace. It's too stupid."
Fang Xun did not answer. Instead, he looked outside and casually threw out a shocking statement. Zhu Rong should still be causing trouble outside the Heavenly Court.
Yet at that moment, Fang Xun suddenly thought of something. His body stiffened for an instant. Turning to look at the calm-faced Empress Houtu, he forced a smile. "The Ancestral Witch Zhu Rong outside wasn't arranged by you, was he, Your Majesty?"
Zhu Rong had come attacking, and then Empress Houtu came to find him. Could this be...
"It was not arranged by me. He attacked the Heavenly Court first and tied down the two Demon Emperors, which gave me the idea of coming to see you." Houtu's expression remained calm.
Mm! I absolutely believe you! Fang Xun nodded heavily.
As for the other possibility, he did not dare think about it!
"And then? Continue." Empress Houtu urged.
With that attitude of yours, I'm afraid you'll squeeze my brain dry and then kill me...
"Ahem. I think you must first accomplish the second point. Otherwise, there is no need to discuss what comes after."
Fang Xun's expression turned serious as he tried to make Empress Houtu understand the importance of this point.
"The Witch Clan must have a sufficiently wise leader if it is to have a future!"
Houtu remained silent for a long time, then broke into a smile.
"Honestly, this is something I truly never considered."
Empress Houtu grasped the Great Dao of Earth and was usually gentle and benevolent. She had not even put the plan to hunt the Three Pure Ones into practice. How could she ever have thought of beating her brothers and sisters half to death and centralizing power through violence?
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