Witch Clan Holy Land

Ten Thousand Witch City, Houtu Tribe's encampment.

Li Su accepted the High Priest's invitation and stayed temporarily. He was arranged to stay in a simple stone house constructed from natural giant rocks, located near the tribe's edge. The surrounding environment was relatively quiet, filled with a peaceful and profound earth aura, which was quite beneficial for his comprehension of Wu Earth Essence and Bedrock Dao Rhythm.

In return, he also began to fulfill his promise and assist the Houtu Tribe.

He did not choose to go to the fiercely contested front lines. Instead, relying on his mastery of formations and that sliver of Guardian Dao Rhythm, he was mainly responsible for assisting in maintaining the defensive formations and healing barriers within the tribal area and nearby urban districts.

This task was not difficult for him; it was even a different kind of cultivation.

The formations of the Witch Clan were different from those of the Xuanmen, and even from the formations he had comprehended himself. They focused more on channeling the earth's pulse, Bloodline Power, and the power of the Ancestral Witch totems. They were rough and direct, yet their power could not be underestimated.

Using Minor Chiliad Array Analysis as a foundation, combined with his own understanding of formations, Li Su could often offer ingenious suggestions for improvement, making the formations operate more efficiently and stably. This earned him admiration from the Witch Clan priests in charge of formations.

When treating the wounded, he activated the faint Guardian Dao Rhythm emanating from the damaged Jade Pendant. It could, to a certain extent, soothe the patient's pain and accelerate healing.

Although the effect was far inferior to the true healing techniques of a Great Witch, it still earned him considerable goodwill within the Houtu Tribe.

Many Witch People began to affectionately call him "Stone Bamboo" or "Guardian Bamboo."

One day, the High Priest summoned Li Su again.

"Little friend Mo Xing, you've worked hard recently," the High Priest said with a smile. "Observing your aura, you seem to have gained considerable insight into our Witch Clan's Great Dao of Earth, and your cultivation has also advanced further."

"This junior is ashamed. I have benefited from the environment here and the guidance of my Witch Clan friends, gaining only a little," Li Su said humbly. After refining the Wu Earth Essence, he indeed felt more attuned to the earth, and his Bedrock Rune had grown considerably. His cultivation had completely stabilized at the peak of Earth Immortal, only a hair's breadth away from Celestial Immortal.

The High Priest nodded and pondered for a moment before saying, "You carry the 'Buzhou' resonance, possess the treasure of Wu Earth, and are fated with our tribe's Great Dao of Earth. I can make an exception this once and allow you to enter the Bedrock Altar outside the outer area of our Ancestral Witch Hall to comprehend for one day. It contains the will and Dao marks of Ancestral Witch Houtu and many Great Witches of earth, which might help you advance further. However, whether you gain anything depends on your own fortune."

Ancestral Witch Hall! Bedrock Altar! Li Su's heart trembled. This was the core of the Witch Clan! Even if it was just the outer altar, it was an immense opportunity! It seemed his efforts during this period and the goodwill generated by the Oathkeeper Jade Pendant had played a crucial role.

"Thank you, High Priest, for your great kindness! This junior will definitely cherish this opportunity!" Li Su bowed solemnly.

Under the High Priest's arrangement, Li Su followed a taciturn Witch Clan priest through layers of guards in the Houtu Tribe and arrived before an ancient, magnificent, and colossal stone hall. The hall was entirely built from an unknown yellow divine stone, exuding an aura of antiquity, profundity, compassion, and majesty. This was the Ancestral Witch Hall of Houtu. He did not enter the main hall but was led to a smaller, open-air altar beside it.

The altar was composed of nine enormous bedrock slabs inscribed with countless ancient Witch characters. In the center was a constantly flickering, condensed, earth-yellow halo—the Primordial Energy of Earth!

As soon as he stepped within the altar's range, an unimaginably heavy pressure surged towards him! It was as if the weight of the entire Primordial World was pressing down on him! Simultaneously, countless chaotic and majestic fragments of will flooded his mind—the grand will of Ancestral Witch Houtu, who pitied all living beings and transformed into reincarnation; the tenacious battle intent of Great Witches throughout the ages, conquering heaven and earth and protecting the tribe; and the most devout faith and prayers of countless Witch Clan people to the earth and the Ancestral Witches...

Li Su grunted, his eight-zhang bamboo body instantly bent under the pressure, his bamboo joints creaking. The Profound Star Swirl Body Protection automatically activated to its limit, barely preventing him from collapsing. He hurriedly stabilized his mind, fully activating his "Bedrock Rune" and the Wu Earth Essence he had just refined, strenuously resisting the pressure and attempting to understand and absorb the earth Dao and bedrock true intent contained within the fragments of will.

Pain! But it was accompanied by immense gains! Here, his understanding of "heaviness," "bearing," "resilience," "compassion," and "protection" improved at an unprecedented speed! The Wu Earth Essence was refined and absorbed at an unprecedented speed, completely integrating into his bamboo body, merging seamlessly with his original "Bedrock Rune" Dao Rhythm, making it more complete and powerful! His bamboo body's color became deeper, as if forged from billions of years of Profound Yellow divine stone. Its weight increased dramatically, yet it formed a wondrous connection with the earth beneath his feet, drawing in energy ceaselessly. His divine sense was fiercely tempered under the pressure, becoming more condensed.

After an unknown period, as he gradually adapted to the pressure at the altar's edge, the damaged Jade Pendant in his embrace suddenly emitted a gentle, milky white light on its own! This light was not strong, but it carried a peculiar power of comfort and purification. The violent and majestic fragments of Witch Clan will around him, upon contact with this white light, became much gentler. The negative emotions like killing intent, brutality, and resentment contained within them were quietly purified. Only the purest earth Dao principles and protective intentions remained, making them easier for Li Su to absorb and understand! Even the Primordial Energy of Earth in the center slightly shifted towards the white light, releasing a wisp of extremely pure primordial energy into the white light. It nourished the damaged Jade Pendant, and the cracks on its surface seemed to slightly diminish!

[Absorbed Dao Rhythm from the Ancestral Witch Hall's Bedrock Altar, Bedrock Rune greatly improved, proficiency increased to Advanced!] [Physical strength greatly increased, Earth affinity greatly increased, gained weak control ability over Earth power.] [Oathkeeper Jade Pendant absorbed Earth Primordial Energy, received weak nourishment, Guardian Dao Rhythm slightly recovered.] [Divine sense strength increased, resistance to mental impact increased.]

System prompts sounded one after another. Li Su was both surprised and delighted, never expecting this "Oathkeeper" Jade Pendant to have such a miraculous effect! It could purify fragments of will, help him comprehend better, and even draw upon the Primordial Energy of Earth! He dared not waste this precious opportunity and focused all his efforts on comprehending and absorbing.

A day passed in the blink of an eye. When the High Priest arrived to escort him, Li Su awoke from his deep contemplation.

He felt as if he had undergone a complete transformation. Although his cultivation hadn't broken through, his foundation had become incredibly solid. His understanding of "Bedrock" and "Guardian" had reached a new height, and his strength had more than doubled!

More importantly, the jade pendant seemed to have formed a deeper connection with him.

Leaving the Ancestral Witch Hall area and returning to his stone house, Li Su immediately went into seclusion to digest his gains.

However, on the third day of his seclusion, a sudden change occurred in the sky above Ten Thousand Witch City!

Woooo—Woooo—Woooo—

A desolate and urgent horn blast suddenly echoed throughout the entire city! This was the highest-level alert horn!

Immediately after, an incredibly terrifying Yao energy, like a tangible dark cloud, rolled in from the distant horizon, covering the sky and blotting out the sun!

Within the Yao cloud, banners fluttered, and the figures of countless Yao soldiers and generals appeared and disappeared. Furthermore, a heart-stopping pressure locked onto the entire city!

"Enemy attack! The Yao army is attacking the city!" Panicked shouts instantly spread throughout the city.

Li Su abruptly opened his eyes and rushed out of the stone house. He saw that the sky was already covered by the Yao cloud, its massive shadow cast down.

Deafening roars and battle cries came from the direction of the city walls. The protective light screen of the city's defense array flickered violently, clearly under fierce assault!

War had finally reached Ten Thousand Witch City!