Ancestral Witch

Biodata

Power Progression

Houtu also proposes Dao Integration for all twelve, each through a different Dao, but the proposal itself does not establish that they have attained it 342.

Background / History

The Ancestral Witches were born from Pangu's essence blood and regarded themselves as his orthodox descendants. Their ancestral seat, Pangu Hall, was formed from Pangu's heart. Their shared lineage underpinned both their authority over the Witch Race and their rivalry with the Three Pure Ones over the title of Pangu's True Lineage 49 114 167 406.

After the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation, the Witch Race used its powerful bodies to hunt other beings as blood food. Zhen Yuanzi identifies this predation as the original cause of the Witch–Demon conflict: Di Jun and Tai Yi gathered the threatened races into the Demon Race for self-preservation. Houtu acknowledges that these accusations concern deeds her own race committed 40.

Their later transformation changes their institutional role. Rather than remaining unrestricted protectors of their bloodline, they become embodiments and administrators of Reincarnation's laws. The Witch Race subsequently relocates to the Netherworld, serving as Yin Soldiers and soul-reaping messengers 114 116 127 591.

Members and Great Dao Domains

Personality

Most of the Ancestral Witches initially respond to threats with pride, anger, and violence. They fiercely protect their race, dismiss other beings as prey, and treat warnings about their future as insults. Their reaction to Zhen Yuanzi's prediction is to threaten his temple rather than examine his argument 40 49 50.

Houtu stands apart as a comparatively gentle, reasonable, and diplomatic member. She investigates suspicious developments personally, confronts her siblings over their slaughter, and persuades them to prioritize survival and responsibility over saving face. Di Jiang and Zhu Jiuyin become important supporters of her plans 39 49 52 75.

Their rebirth grants clear Primordial Spirits, allowing more deliberate reasoning and Great Dao deduction instead of reliance on instinct. Sainthood also imposes procedural restraint, though it does not erase their pride or desire for revenge: they later beat Jieyin and Zhunti together for manipulating the Witch–Demon War 110 114 132 382 383.

Abilities & Skills

Ancestral Witch Physique

Their original True Bodies possess exceptional strength and durability, making them a standard for elite physical combat 5 13.

• Golden Crows who undergo Nirvana gain bodies capable of rivaling Ancestral Witches and confronting their divine weapons 5 9.
• Their former bodies are described as capable of manifesting ten-thousand-zhang true forms 114.
• Their Merit-forged replacements are more complete and powerful than their original True Bodies 110.

Great Dao Law Control

Each Ancestral Witch controls a fundamental law connected to the earth's operation. Houtu recognizes that these seemingly separate powers collectively form essential components of the Earthly Dao 68.

• Their combined powers repair earth veins, stabilize land, restore vegetation, and revive the damaged West 75 76.
• After rebirth, their laws operate with greater clarity and control; Ju Mang's wood power encompasses the cycle of growth and decay 110.
• Later authority acquisitions expand their influence from physical phenomena into rules, concepts, Karma, and Destiny 514.

Twelve Heavenly Gods and Demons Array

The twelve combine their powers through an array inherited from Pangu's path of Opening Heaven and Earth 563.

• They prepare the array while restoring the West in anticipation of a possible confrontation with the Western Sages 76.
• After losing their original blood essence, they can no longer summon Pangu's true flesh-and-blood form. In the Underworld, the array instead manifests a Yin Soul Pangu 167.
• This manifestation wields an axe formed from Netherworld Qi and Killing Qi, cuts into the Chaos–Netherworld boundary, and converts chaotic elements into yin-attributed land 167.
• Houtu later identifies the array as the means to unify their Great Daos and pursue the creation of a new heaven and earth; this is presented as their chosen future path 563.

Reincarnation Authority

As Earthly Dao Saints, they hold partial authority over Reincarnation and maintain the Underworld's order 110 114.

• Their collective sacrifice establishes the Reincarnation disk and helps form the Ghost Gate, River of Forgetfulness, Bridge of Helplessness, Hall of Judges, and Eighteen Levels of Hell 105.
• Their administration judges souls according to their deeds and Karma, assigning rebirth or punishment 114.
• They cannot freely intervene in disputes among living beings. Judgment must follow the Karma recorded in the Book of Life and Death 114.
• Their obligation to guard Reincarnation also constrains the Witch Race's freedom to leave the Netherworld 591.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ancestral Witch divine weapons — Weapons whose strikes threatened Golden Crows before Nirvana gave them comparable physical durability 5.
• Primordial Measure Ruler — A Heaven-Opening Merit Supreme Treasure that stabilized Pangu Hall and supported the Witch Race's reproduction. Later exchanged through Laozi for Heavenly Dao authority 315 368 406.
• Book of Life and Death — Reincarnation's supreme record of fate, merits, and sins; Di Jiang consults it to seek a lawful basis for punishing Kun Peng 114.
• Collected Innate Spiritual Treasures — Gathered primarily to repay Lu Jun's help rather than meet their own needs. Their collection includes treasure gourds and three Five Directions Banners by Chapter 132 127 130 132 135.

Relationships

• Pangu — Revered as Father God. Their lineage, ancestral hall, and understanding of their duty all derive from him 49 114 563.
• Lu Jun — Former enemy whose guidance helps Houtu discover the Witch Race's new purpose. They regard their resulting sainthood and rebirth as a debt to be repaid 68 129 135 168.
• Di Jun and Tai Yi — Leaders of their former mortal enemies. Relations shift from open warfare to truce, negotiation, and later cooperation 8 9 62 290 597.
• Zhen Yuanzi — Warns Houtu about the Witch Race's impending destruction and later contributes the Earth Book to complete Reincarnation's foundation 40 114.
• Hongjun — Approves and assists their transformation with Heavenly Dao Merit. Later relinquishes authorities suited to their laws, enabling further growth 105 514.
• Jieyin and Zhunti — Temporary allies whose manipulation drives the Witch Race toward mutual destruction with the Demon Race. The Ancestral Witches later exact revenge 15 52 382 383.
• Three Pure Ones — Rivals over Pangu's orthodox lineage and potential competitors around Buzhou Mountain. Their relationship includes both collective fighting and subsequent cooperation 167 178 406.
• Great Witches and Lesser Witches — Their original subjects and descendants; later serve the Underworld as Yin Soldiers and messengers 107 116 591.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Notable Quotes

“We are willing to merge with the Dao alongside Sister Houtu!”
“To perfect the Earthly Dao!”
“For the Wu Clan!” 105

“Father God never said we could only be trapped within this world he created!” — Houtu 562