Refining a Clone

"The Law of Reincarnation is indeed extremely important—not just for you, Sister Houtu, but for us, the Sanqing and the Twelve Ancestral Witches as siblings, and for all living beings throughout the boundless Great Desolation World. However, Sister Houtu, do not put too much pressure on yourself. For now, focus on refining the Father God Marrow and emerging into the world as your top priority. There is no rush to comprehend the Law of Reincarnation. I, your elder brother, will also help you grasp it."

Taiqing did not wish to burden Houtu with excessive pressure. After all, she had yet to be born, and saddling her with too much would make him seem like a sanctimonious elder. He had just spoken of protecting his younger siblings, only to immediately pile pressure on them.

"It's fine, Brother Taiqing. I can set aside a portion of my energy to try comprehending the Law of Reincarnation." Houtu was understanding and responsible. As soon as she heard that the Law of Reincarnation concerned the Sanqing and the Twelve Ancestral Witches, she unhesitatingly took it upon herself to grasp it.

"I shouldn't have said anything." Taiqing felt a pang of reluctance. Sister Houtu hadn't even been born yet, and she was already bearing such burdens. He truly was a sanctimonious elder.

"When it comes to the Great Desolation, the one most knowledgeable about the Law of Reincarnation is Ancestor Reincarnation. He is the source of the Law of Reincarnation—the Reincarnation Demon God, one of the top ten Chaos Demon Gods from the Chaos Era. If Sister Houtu could study the Law of Reincarnation under him, comprehending it would be as easy as walking on flat ground." Taiqing immediately thought of Ancestor Reincarnation. He had glimpsed his figure atop Buzhou Mountain back then, and that aura of the Law of Reincarnation had left a deep impression on him.

"No, I must find a way to study the Law of Reincarnation under Ancestor Reincarnation. Once I learn it, I can teach it to Sister Houtu. That way, she won't have to bear so much pressure." Since the pressure on Sister Houtu came from him, Taiqing resolved to relieve it.

As for why Taiqing insisted on seeking out Ancestor Reincarnation to learn the Law of Reincarnation, rather than comprehending it himself and then teaching Houtu—it was because he had already tried. After becoming a Golden Immortal of the Origin, he had not only delved into time, space, the eight trigrams, and the art of divination, but also the Law of Reincarnation, with the intention of passing it on to Houtu. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he could not find even a trace of the Law of Reincarnation in heaven and earth. It was as if the Law of Reincarnation in the Great Desolation had been hidden away.

Taiqing immediately suspected that this was the Heavenly Dao's scheme. The Heavenly Dao had concealed the Law of Reincarnation from the world. Its purpose was obvious—to prevent Houtu from comprehending it. That was why Taiqing was so determined to seek out Ancestor Reincarnation and learn the Law of Reincarnation from him. With the Law hidden, only Ancestor Reincarnation in all of heaven and earth understood it.

Taiqing guessed that the Heavenly Dao would soon use the Conflict between Dao and Demon to eliminate Ancestor Reincarnation, making the sole being who knew the Law of Reincarnation vanish from the Great Desolation. That would ensure Houtu could never grasp it. After all, Ancestor Reincarnation seemed to have faded from the Great Desolation since the Conflict between Dao and Demon. Taiqing suspected the Heavenly Dao had used that conflict to dispose of him.

"It seems I must act quickly. The final battle of the Conflict between Dao and Demon is likely imminent. I must learn the Law of Reincarnation from Ancestor Reincarnation before then—or even protect him during the conflict." A sense of urgency surged within Taiqing.

"At my current level, if I go to seek him as a disciple, Ancestor Reincarnation will surely refuse. Sending an incarnation won't work either, as it shares my same cultivation level."

How exactly should I go about taking Ancestor Reincarnation as my master?

Taiqing stood quietly before the Blood Pool, lost in thought. Houtu, seeing him deep in contemplation, did not disturb him and began cultivating on her own.

"Reincarnation? Netherworld? Blood Sea.

Wait, the Blood Sea!"

Thinking of reincarnation, Taiqing's mind involuntarily turned toward the Blood Sea.

Because Houtu had transformed herself into the cycle of reincarnation and opened the Underworld right there in the Blood Sea.

"The Blood Sea! Ancestor Minghe!"

Speaking of the Blood Sea, one could not avoid mentioning Ancestor Minghe.

He was known for saying, "As long as the Blood Sea does not dry up, Minghe will not die."

Because the Blood Sea was vast, Minghe had refined countless Blood God Clones and stored them within the Blood Sea.

Destroy one of his clones, and he still had countless others.

Taiqing couldn't help but think of the art of clones.

"The avatars summoned by One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones won't work, but I can certainly refine a clone."

Although Taiqing could not refine countless Blood God Clones like Minghe, refining a single clone was still within his ability.

Moreover, wasn't the material for refining a clone already right in front of him?

This massive Blood Pool before his eyes could provide the materials for his clone.

If the Ancestral Witches could use this Blood Pool to create the Witch Race, then why couldn't he, Taiqing, use it to create a clone?

Taiqing hesitated no longer and immediately sat cross-legged before the Blood Pool.

A figure identical to Taiqing, radiating an aura of eternal indestructibility, as stable and serene as a golden sun, appeared above his head.

This golden sun-like figure was none other than Taiqing's Primordial Spirit.

In the Primordial Wilderness, a Golden Immortal already possessed the traits of sharing the heavens' lifespan and being eternally indestructible.

Taiqing's Primordial Spirit, Physical Body, Laws, and Magic Power were all at the Early-stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal level.

His Primordial Spirit was countless times more powerful than that of a Golden Immortal, so naturally, its aura of eternal indestructibility was extremely strong.

Deep within that golden, eternally indestructible Primordial Spirit, one could see a glittering golden pagoda, a diagram of yin-yang fish, and a fly whisk.

These were naturally Taiqing's Companion Treasures: the Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, the Taiji Diagram, and the Taiyi Fly Whisk.

Of course, there was also the Twelve-petal Pure World White Lotus and the High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Weak Water Cup.

However, because these two spiritual treasures were not Taiqing's Companion Treasures, they were not at the center of his Primordial Spirit.

Taiqing formed a sword with his fingers and cut off a small fragment of his Primordial Spirit.

A heart-wrenching pain spread throughout every part of Taiqing's Primordial Spirit.

"Brother Taiqing!"

Houtu cried out in alarm when she saw Taiqing cut off a fragment of his Primordial Spirit.

She knew all too well the agony of a wounded Primordial Spirit.

Her own Primordial Spirit had been constantly eroded by Innate Fiendish Energy before.

"It's fine, Sister Houtu, no need to worry."

Taiqing forced himself to speak through the intense pain.

It was just a bit of wind and frost. Sister Houtu and the others had to endure this kind of pain every moment. He, Taiqing, could bear it.

Having cut off a fragment of his Primordial Spirit, Taiqing quickly began refining the Pangu Marrow.

As the Pangu Marrow was refined, Taiqing felt his Primordial Spirit soar with pleasure.

That sensation could only be described as ultimate bliss.

And the place where he had cut off the fragment of his Primordial Spirit was rapidly recovering.

By refining only a tiny amount of the Pangu Marrow, the spot where he had cut off his Primordial Spirit was completely restored.

The Pangu Marrow truly was the most miraculous of rare treasures.

Taiqing hesitated no longer and placed the severed fragment of his Primordial Spirit into the Blood Pool.

His hands swiftly formed seals as he began refining his clone.

Within the Blood Pool, a figure slowly took shape. First came the bones, then the meridians, flesh, and skin appeared in succession.

A young man bearing an eight or nine out of ten resemblance to Taiqing quickly took complete form within the Blood Pool.