Our Wu Clan Will Never Seek Hegemony

"Since that is the case, then the Demon Race and the Wu Clan shall keep to separate waters and never trespass upon each other, each developing on its own and contributing together to the Primordial Wilderness!"

Though he said so aloud, he was sneering inwardly.

No conflict? Who were they trying to fool? Once the Wu Clan had cleared away the Baleful Intent, sorted out the earth veins, gained even more Merit, and grown stronger, would they truly be content?

Though Taiyi was still displeased, Di Jun had spoken, so he could only snort coldly and say no more.

Nuwa and Fuxi remained to one side without joining the conversation.

Wu Ming nodded slightly. "That would be for the best. I hope our two races can coexist peacefully and jointly contribute to the development of the Primordial Wilderness."

With that, he led the Twelve Ancestral Witches away.

Watching the Wu Clan's retreating figures, Taiyi could not help saying, "Big Brother, are we just letting them leave like that? That Zhu Rong was so arrogant!"

A flash of severity passed through Di Jun's eyes, but it quickly vanished. He said in a deep voice, "No rush."

"The Wu Clan is powerful, and they have Pangu's legacy and Merit protecting them. Now is not the time for an all-out war. Let them clear the Baleful Intent and sort out the earth veins first. They can consider it sweeping the courtyard clean for our Demon Race's future unification of the Primordial Wilderness."

He gazed at the vast Heavenly Court, then at the countless demon beings below who had submitted to him, his eyes brimming with ambition.

"Pass down the order: reorganize the Heavenly Court, divide the departments, and confer the titles of Demon Gods! Within a thousand years, I want the Demon Race's banners planted across all the stars of the firmament!"

"Yes, Big Brother!" Taiyi answered, his fighting spirit soaring.

After leaving the Heavenly Court, on the road back to Buzhou Mountain.

Zhu Rong was still grumbling. "Big Brother, why did you stop me just now? We should have let that Taiyi learn how formidable I, Zhu Rong, am. What the hell does he think he is? He gets a bit of Merit and really thinks he's some grand dish?"

Gong Gong added, "Exactly! Big Brother, you're too good-tempered!"

"That Di Jun and Taiyi received so much Merit—more than we did when our clan was founded! Why?"

"We clear the Baleful Intent and sort out the earth veins—every one of those is backbreaking drudgery! They just move their lips, say they want to govern Heaven and Earth, and Merit rains down on them like it costs nothing!"

"This Heavenly Dao is far too unfair! It plays favorites!"

Qiang Liang, She Bi Shi, and the other Ancestral Witches also wore resentful expressions. Clearly, the matter of the Demon Race receiving more Merit still rankled them deeply.

Wu Ming did not slow his pace. His voice was calm, betraying neither joy nor anger.

"What meaning is there in contending with them over a moment's temper?"

He turned his head to look at his emotionally agitated younger brothers and sisters beside him.

"It is plain for all to see that the Heavenly Dao favors the Demon Race and supports them in contending against our Wu Clan."

"If you rush up now and fight Taiyi, even if you win, so what?"

"Can you make the Heavenly Dao take back the Merit it granted the Demon Race? Or can you make our Wu Clan gain another share of Fortune?"

Zhu Rong choked on his words. He opened his mouth, yet could not utter a single rebuttal.

That was right—what would winning accomplish? Other than venting their anger, it would be useless as fart.

Wu Ming continued, "What we need to do now is not clash head-on with them, but seize the time to fulfill our oath: clear the Baleful Intent, sort out the earth veins, accumulate Merit, and increase our strength."

"So long as our Wu Clan's Merit is deep enough and our Fortune flourishing enough, the Heavenly Dao will have reservations and will not dare lightly send calamities down upon our Wu Clan."

Di Jiang, the Ancestral Witch of Space, frowned and asked, "Big Brother, then what about the Demon Race... Do we simply let them develop? They have gained the Heavenly Court, gained Merit, and are uniting all demons. Their ambitions are immense; in the future, I fear..."

The corner of Wu Ming's lips curved upward. "The Demon Race wishes to rule over all living beings and establish order? Heh heh, the Primordial Wilderness is so vast—how many unruly and unyielding people are there?"

"This Primordial Wilderness has never been a place where anyone can dominate alone simply because they wish to."

"But..." Houtu was somewhat worried. "The Demon Race is powerful and has the Heavenly Court as its foundation. If they clash with our clan in the future..."

"Conflict is unavoidable, but we may not be their only opponents."

"This Primordial Wilderness is very lively. There is no shortage of people who want to be the protagonist."

"We only need to do what we must."

"Do not forget: the Dao Ancestor of Purple Cloud Palace personally bestowed upon someone the title of Head of Male Immortals."

"That person is currently over the Eastern Sea, gathering quite a number of immortals and gods."

Thoughts turned in Wu Ming's mind. Naturally, they still needed to give East King Duke some appropriate help; otherwise, he would not be able to contend against the Demon Race.

Only then did the Twelve Ancestral Witches come to a sudden realization.

"East King!" Zhu Rong slapped his thigh, scattering sparks of fire. "Right! There's that fellow too!"

"Hahaha! Big Brother, brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

Gong Gong also chuckled slyly. "Wonderful! Let them bite each other like dogs!"

Di Jiang and the others nodded as well, growing ever more impressed by Wu Ming's deep foresight.

Qiang Liang, Tian Wu, and the other Ancestral Witches nodded repeatedly, their gazes upon Wu Ming filled with admiration.

Big Brother was Big Brother after all—his thoughts always reached farther ahead!

Di Jiang pondered for a moment. "Big Brother, do you mean that our Wu Clan's focus from now on should be fulfilling our oath, accumulating Merit, and increasing our strength, rather than actively joining the struggle for supremacy in the Primordial Wilderness?"

"Precisely."

Wu Ming halted, turned to face his twelve brothers and sisters, and his expression grew solemn.

"Remember this: our Wu Clan is not walking the path of contending for supremacy in the Primordial Wilderness!"

"Supremacy in the Primordial Wilderness? What's so good about that?"

"Have you forgotten the Dragon-Phoenix-Kirin Tribulation?"

"The Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin Clans were once incomparably mighty! They fought for supremacy over the Primordial Wilderness until heaven collapsed and earth split, until sun and moon lost their light!"

"And what was the result?"

"Their powerful experts were all but wiped out, their Fortune declined, and they bore boundless Karma. Even now, their surviving clansmen are still struggling bitterly to repay that Karma. Cultivating itself has become fraught with difficulty for them!"

"That is the fate of those who contend for supremacy in the Primordial Wilderness!"

The Ancestral Witches felt a chill run through their hearts. Though the Dragon-Phoenix-Kirin Tribulation had taken place long ago, its horrific brutality remained an inescapable shadow in the hearts of the Primordial Wilderness's living beings. They had also heard something of the fate suffered by the three clans.

Wu Ming continued, "Our Wu Clan was transformed from Father God Pangu's Essence Blood. We are born with control over Laws and possess formidable Physical Bodies. That is our foundation—our advantage!"

"Prove Dao with Laws, Prove Dao with Strength—those are the paths most suited to our Wu Clan!"

"Isn't Proving Dao with Laws good enough? Why insist on fighting over some damned title of overlord and staining yourselves with Karma?"

Wu Ming pressed on. "Now think of Dao Ancestor Hongjun."

"What kind of figure is Dao Ancestor? A peerless genius, blessed with profound origins. Do you think he did not wish to walk the path of Proving Dao with Laws back then?"

"But what happened?"

"During the Dao-Demon Conflict, Luohu self-destructed the Western Continent and destroyed the Western Ancestral Veins. Although Hongjun won, he was burdened with enormous karmic consequences because of it."

"With Karma entwined around him, his Path of Laws was obstructed. In the end, he had no choice but to compromise with the Heavenly Dao, attain sainthood through Slaying Three Corpses, and merge himself with the Heavenly Dao!"

"Even Dao Ancestor was forced to change paths because of Karma. Do you think that if our Wu Clan also embarks upon the road of supremacy and becomes tainted with boundless Karma, our end will be much better than that of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin Clans?"

"When that time comes, forget Proving Dao with Laws. Whether we can preserve the Wu Clan's legacy at all will be a question!"

"Cleansing Baleful Intent, regulating the earth veins, and gaining Merit—these are the means by which we protect ourselves and build up our foundation."

"And our ultimate goal is to rely on the Wu Clan's own advantages, comprehend the Laws, use strength to shatter ten thousand techniques, and attain the Primordial Dao Fruit!"

His words rang like stones striking the ground, leaving every Ancestral Witch lost in thought.

The temptation of contending for supremacy in the Primordial Wilderness was certainly immense, but the devastation of the Dragon-Phoenix-Kirin Tribulation and the twists and turns of Hongjun's attainment of Dao lay before them all.

Compared to the elusive position of overlord of the Primordial Wilderness, Proving Dao with Laws—taking control of their own fates and pursuing the pinnacle of the Great Dao—seemed the more solid choice, and one far better suited to the Wu Clan's very foundation.

"Big Brother is right." Di Jiang was the first to nod. "We had been clinging to appearances before."

Zhu Jiuyin slowly added, "Proving Dao with Laws is the proper path. Accumulate Merit, stabilize ourselves, and quietly observe the changes—this is the best strategy."

Houtu said softly, "We will heed Big Brother's instruction."

Even Zhu Rong and Gong Gong, the most battle-hungry among them, scratched their heads and stopped clamoring about going to cause trouble for the Demon Race.

"All right, it's good that you understand." Wu Ming waved a hand.

"After returning, each of you should restrain your clansmen and work twice as hard to put the matter of Merit into practice."

"The Primordial Wilderness is vast, and opportunities abound. The era that belongs to our Wu Clan has only just begun."

With that, Wu Ming said no more. He took the lead and flew toward Buzhou Mountain, with the Twelve Ancestral Witches close behind him.