Houtu Pretends to Be Lu Jun's Guard

Lu Jun, who was herding the stars, paused for a moment upon hearing this.

Turning his head, he saw a gigantic figure standing in the distance at the boundary between the Great Desolation World and the Chaos World.

"Senior, were you sent by Uncle to protect me?"

Lu Jun called out, without stopping his guidance of the Star Embryos.

A wisp of Chaos Qi was rapidly refined by the Sun Divine Fire and merged into a newly born Star Egg that shimmered with a faint watery blue light.

He had completely mistaken Houtu's identity.

It was hardly his fault. There were no shortage of enormous beings among the Demon Race.

Moreover, she carried none of the Witch Race's filthy, baleful aura of blood and qi. On top of that, she had altered her appearance somewhat, making her even less recognizable to him.

At his words, the tightly drawn string in Houtu's heart eased slightly. As expected, he had not seen through her identity.

More importantly, he had even provided her with a perfectly reasonable identity.

She had been wondering how to explain her abrupt approach to this Demon Race prince. Now, it seemed she would not even need to trouble herself with inventing an excuse.

"That is correct. I was sent by the Eastern Emperor to protect the Sixth Prince."

Houtu deliberately kept her voice low and steady, lending it the respectful reliability expected of a guard.

Her enormous body stood silently at the border between Chaos and the Great Desolation, like a boundary marker that had existed since time immemorial.

The Turbid Qi of the earth beneath her feet spread naturally, providing her with perfect concealment.

Having received her answer, Lu Jun was instantly reassured.

Uncle Eastern Emperor truly had thought everything through.

He continued guiding the growth of the Star Embryos, his tone carrying a hint of apology.

"Please make yourself at ease, Senior. I cannot spare myself right now. These little ones are at a critical stage of nurturing, and I cannot divide my attention."

Houtu nodded slightly. "No matter. The Eastern Emperor sent me here to protect the Sixth Prince. I will not interfere with whatever the Sixth Prince is doing."

Yet her gaze had long since pierced through the chaotic flows of energy, locking firmly onto Lu Jun and the flickering Star Embryos around him.

She carefully observed every one of Lu Jun's movements.

She watched him weave like a nimble craftsman between the violent Chaos Gas Flows and the relatively gentle Great Desolation Star Power.

She watched him precisely seize, sort, and enlighten.

She watched every successful "planting" leave an imprint upon those newborn stars—an imprint belonging to the Golden Crow, to the sun, and to Lu Jun himself.

The answer was crystal clear, beyond all doubt: he truly was Herding the Stars of All Heavens!

He was actively expanding the boundaries of the Great Desolation's starry sky!

Houtu's heart as an Ancestral Witch pounded violently, every beat bringing deeper shock and an inexpressible shame.

What kind of sight had she witnessed upon the Great Desolation earth only moments ago?

Wherever the Witch Race's iron hooves went, living beings were left in misery, Vengeful Souls filled the fields, and the earth wept blood!

That was destruction. That was plunder. That was madness, driving the world Pangu Father God had opened toward an abyss of rot.

And what stood before her now?

This prince of the Demon Race, this descendant of the Golden Crow, was doing the exact opposite!

He was creating, building, expanding the borders of Father God's world!

She knew full well what the stars meant.

The "membrane" around the Great Desolation World, formed of countless stars, was a barrier protecting the world.

More than that, it was the lifeline that transformed Chaos and nourished the Great Desolation!

The Sun and Moon were the pivot of Yin and Yang, while the Stars of the Heavens were nodes of energy.

The birth and growth of every star infused the Great Desolation World with fresh life.

They transformed more of Chaos's power into gentle Star Power, scattering it across the Great Desolation and nourishing all things.

This was unquestionably an act of immense merit!

That hazy yet noble layer of golden light around Lu Jun was the Heavenly Dao's recognition and reward for this deed—the genuine Golden Light of Merit!

The stark contrast was like an icy carving knife, viciously scraping across Houtu's heart.

What was the Witch Race doing?

They were slaughtering without end, creating boundless resentment, squandering the fortune and blessings Father God had left behind!

They called themselves Pangu's True Lineage, took pride in it, fought the Three Pure Ones for fame and profit over it, and shared in the Heaven-Opening Merit.

But what tangible contribution had they ever made to the Great Desolation World?

Other than demanding the earth's power, hunting living beings without restraint, and spreading the flames of hatred throughout the Great Desolation.

Had they ever thought of "protecting," "building," or "giving back" to this heaven and earth transformed from Father God?

No!

Not a trace of it!

Compared to the Demon Race... no, compared to the young Demon Race prince before her, the Witch Race truly did not deserve it!

The thought was like a poisoned thorn, plunging deep into Houtu's soul and bringing unprecedented pain.

That pride born of her bloodline, that pride in being Pangu's True Lineage, now seemed so hollow, pale, even laughable!

That pride had blinded the Witch Race, making them wallow in the thrill of revenge and the struggle for power.

They had forgotten the true duty of the Sons of the Earth—to uphold the order of heaven and earth, to protect the world's life force.

Boundless guilt flooded over her in an instant like an icy tide.

She had failed Pangu Father God!

She had failed the scarred earth beneath her feet!

A tremor rose from the depths of her bloodline, as though Father God's gaze had pierced through time and space, watching her—and the entire Witch Race—with disappointment.

The wailing souls upon the earth, the resentment and deathly aura that lingered without dispersing—all of it had become irrefutable proof of the Witch Race's sins.

The thought of Incarnation Reincarnation, of completing heaven and earth and purifying the Great Desolation, had never been so clear, so intense, as though it were about to burst from her body.

It made her want to turn and leave at once, to rush toward that final destiny and pay with herself to redeem the Witch Race's monstrous sins.

Yet, at the very instant that resolute thought was about to become action, some inexplicable force held her back.

Her gaze focused once more on the Golden Figure weaving among the embryonic star-seas.

Complex emotions churned within Houtu.

It was this variable that had allowed Tai Yi and Di Jun to see the hope of One Attainment, Eternal Attainment.

It was this variable that had made Zhen Yuanzi firmly believe that the Demon Race would take an entirely different path in the future.

Not only did he possess the miracle of Nirvana Rebirth, he was now undertaking the great endeavor of opening up the starry skies.

The power, temperament, and vision he displayed were far beyond those of an ordinary Primordial Unity Golden Immortal. He even seemed to have faintly transcended the Demon Race's inherent limitations.

There seemed to be some grander, more profound Dao path borne within him.

What exactly was so special about him?

And what kind of Dao was his?

Her fierce curiosity overwhelmed the resolve that had nearly erupted from within her.

Before throwing herself into reincarnation, she wanted to hear for herself the views of this Demon Race prince who had stirred the winds and clouds.

Thus, Houtu drew a deep breath, and her voice rang out once more.

"Sixth Prince, I have watched you Herding the Stars of All Heavens, bringing countless conveniences and benefits to the Great Desolation World. This is an act of immense merit."

"Compared to you, the Witch Race now knows only slaughter. We truly are unworthy of being enemies with the Demon Race."

At last, she asked the question that had been circling in her heart, her burning gaze fixed on Lu Jun's back.

"What do you think of this?"

Caught off guard by the question, Lu Jun was first stunned. Then, he seemed to think of something.

His expression turned grave, and his tone grew somewhat cold.

"Senior, could it be that the Demon Race now all believes the Witch Race is unworthy of being our enemy?"