Chapter 35

Dijiang and the other Ancestral Witches nodded slightly. Without further ado, they took a Bloodline Pill from the vessel and tossed it to Hou Hao. "Take it and see if you can break through."

"Yes, sir!"

Hou Hao caught the pill with both hands and swallowed it without hesitation.

Gulp—

In an instant, the medicinal power erupted. Hou Hao's blood and qi churned, innate turbid qi burst forth, and his aura steadily climbed.

"It really works!"

"It actually succeeded!"

The Twelve Ancestral Witches could not conceal their delight. With their insight, they naturally saw that Hou Hao's bloodline power was rapidly strengthening. At this rate, he was highly likely to break through to the realm of a top-tier Great Witch.

A trace of bitterness flashed through Xing Tian's eyes. Though it vanished in an instant, Tai Cang caught it keenly. The corners of his lips rose slightly as he looked toward Hou Hao and waited for the result.

"Break!"

About an hour later, Hou Hao's blood and qi, along with his turbid qi, had reached their peak. With a low shout, his aura suddenly shattered its restraints, and his might surged dramatically.

Though he remained in the Great Witch realm, his imposing presence could faintly rival that of a Quasi-Saint. Unfortunately, the medicinal power was quickly exhausted. Hou Hao ultimately stopped at the early stage of top-tier Great Witch, still some distance from veteran powerhouses like Xing Tian.

"It worked!"

"The bloodline shackles truly can be broken!"

"Top-tier Great Witches... From now on, our Witch Clan will be able to continuously produce top-tier Great Witches!"

The Twelve Ancestral Witches beamed with joy, even cheering like children. The significance of mass-producing top-tier Great Witches was extraordinary—each possessed combat power capable of contending with a Quasi-Saint, while their Great Witch true forms were weapons of war. If they obtained several hundred pills, the Witch Clan sweeping through the Demon Race and reigning supreme over the primordial world would no longer be a fantasy!

"I broke through!"

"I really entered this realm!"

Hou Hao ignored his weakness, unable to contain his excitement. He had never imagined that a single pill could break through his limits. When he looked at Tai Cang, gratitude and respect naturally appeared in his eyes. Without this man, his bloodline aptitude might never have allowed him to touch the top-tier threshold in this lifetime.

"Interesting."

"After this, the Witch Clan will probably treat me as an honored guest."

Tai Cang mused inwardly, though his expression revealed nothing. If he had not suddenly thought of this plan back when he sought Ancestral Witch essence blood, how could today's situation have come to be?

Only one person in the area remained silent—Xing Tian lowered his head, fury and unwillingness intertwining in his eyes like flames.

Having witnessed Hou Hao's breakthrough, Xing Tian completely believed in the Bloodline Pill's effects. Yet the attitude of the Twelve Ancestral Witches made him understand that he would never be given such pills.

Xing Tian secretly clenched his fists. After glancing at the Twelve Ancestral Witches from the corner of his eye, he had already made up his mind.

"Ancestral Witch Dijiang!"

Tai Cang stepped forward at the right moment. "The Bloodline Pill's effects have been verified. Shall we continue the testing?"

"No need."

Dijiang came back to his senses and decisively waved a hand. Hou Hao's successful case was enough to prove the value of the Bloodline Pill. This news would soon spread throughout the Witch Clan and surely ignite the enthusiasm of countless Great Witches.

He put away the remaining two pills and turned to Tai Cang. "Fellow Daoist Tai Cang, you truly keep your word! The effects of these Bloodline Pills are most satisfying. Might you continue refining them for us?"

Zhu Jiuyin and the other Ancestral Witches all looked over expectantly. A mere few pills were far from enough to meet their needs. Only Tai Cang could provide them with more help. After all, in the primordial world, apart from Tai Cang, only the saint Laozi had mastered this method. Yet Laozi stood opposed to the Witch Clan and would never lend them a hand.

"My pleasure."

Tai Cang readily agreed. He also needed a great many Bloodline Pills—both to fulfill his agreement with Xing Tian and for his own cultivation. Whether it was the strengthening effect on one's bloodline or the power of laws contained within them, he found them impossible to part with.

"However, before we continue refining them, Ancestral Witch Dijiang, please fulfill our transaction first." Tai Cang reminded him, "The pills have already been refined. When will you provide your essence blood?"

"I'll give it to you now!"

Without hesitation, Dijiang took out three drops of essence blood and explained, "One drop is the agreed payment. Please use the other two to refine six Bloodline Pills, Fellow Daoist."

This immediately drew responses from the other Ancestral Witches. Zhu Jiuyin was the first to step forward. "I'll trouble Fellow Daoist Tai Cang to refine nine for me!"

"I want six!"

"Please, Fellow Daoist..."

Looking at the essence blood of the Twelve Ancestral Witches floating before him, Tai Cang's lips curled up slightly. With a wave of his hand, he collected it all into jade bottles.

"No problem." He readily accepted. "I will complete the refinement as soon as possible. However, the current materials may not be enough, so you will need to prepare another batch."

The plan had gone perfectly. Tai Cang calculated that after refining this batch of pills and refining Dijiang and Zhu Jiuyin's essence blood, his cultivation should reach the great perfection of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. Then, he could leave this place.

At that time, he would certainly trigger ninefold tribulations. He had to obtain the Supreme Three Flowers secret art from Laozi in advance.

"No problem!"

Dijiang and the other Ancestral Witches agreed without hesitation. They immediately turned and walked outside, ordering, "Xing Tian, Hou Hao, quickly gather men and follow us to the treasury to move the heavenly materials and earthly treasures."

"Yes, sir!"

"Yes, sir!"

Xing Tian and Hou Hao answered in unison and hurried after them. Before leaving, Xing Tian exchanged a meaningful glance with Tai Cang. The corners of both their lips lifted before quickly returning to normal.

After the Ancestral Witches left, Tai Cang immediately began his work.

Though the side hall was not large enough to refine all the Bloodline Pills, the materials were sufficient to complete most of them.

With a low shout, Tai Cang swept his hand, drawing the mountain-like pile of heavenly materials and earthly treasures into the Three-legged Cauldron for refinement. Once all the materials had turned into spiritual liquid, he took out Dijiang's essence blood, added two drops, and immediately began refining.

Time passed, and several months vanished in the blink of an eye.

That day, Tai Cang formed hand seals and gave a sharp cry. Twelve Bloodline Pills flew out of the cauldron.

He swiftly placed nine pills into one vessel and set the remaining three aside. On closer inspection, the other vessel already contained dozens of pills refined from the essence blood of different Ancestral Witches. Even after giving Xing Tian one of each kind, the remaining pills would still be enough to transform his bloodline and elevate him to the realm of a top-tier innate divine being.

At last, it was complete.

Muttering to himself, Tai Cang took out a new bottle and carefully selected twelve pills to place inside. He then put away the portion belonging to himself. As he rose to store the cauldron, he looked toward the hall doors. "It is time to leave."

The Witch Clan's value had been thoroughly squeezed dry. After this transaction, the Twelve Ancestral Witches would surely continue seeking him out.

At that thought, Tai Cang smiled. He had gained greatly this time. If he refined Bloodline Pills again in the future, he would make the Ancestral Witches pay an even greater price.

Creak—

The hall doors opened, and Tai Cang stepped outside.

"Fellow Daoist Tai Cang!"

Xing Tian and Hou Hao, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately came forward and cupped their hands. "Fellow Daoist, have you finished refining them?"

"Indeed."

Tai Cang nodded, his gaze passing over the two of them. He said to Hou Hao, "Please notify the Twelve Ancestral Witches that the Bloodline Pills are complete and ready to be collected. With matters here concluded, it is also time for me to take my leave."

"Understood!"

Hou Hao did not suspect anything. He cupped his hands and raced toward Pangu Hall. This concerned the Witch Clan's future, so he did not dare delay in the slightest.

"Fellow Daoist Tai Cang!"

After Hou Hao had gone far away, Xing Tian stepped forward, unable to conceal his excitement. "Did the plan go smoothly?"

At that moment, Xing Tian was deeply uneasy. Although he knew Tai Cang had promised that the later batch would be greater in number than the first, he could not help worrying before receiving the pills.

Having seen the Bloodline Pill help Hou Hao advance to a top-tier Great Witch, a blazing desire ignited in Xing Tian's heart. He desperately wanted the pills Tai Cang had promised him so that he could use them to assault the Ancestral Witch realm.

"Great Witch Xing Tian, there is no need to worry."

Tai Cang took in everything, a faint smile on his lips. With a flip of his hand, he took out a jade bottle prepared long ago and pressed it into Xing Tian's palm. "These are twelve Bloodline Pills refined from Ancestral Witch essence blood. Once you refine them all, you will surely enter the Ancestral Witch realm. As for how many laws you can comprehend, that will depend on your own fortune."

Xing Tian's throat bobbed as he stared fixedly at the jade bottle in his hand.

Tai Cang had truly refined even more Bloodline Pills and given him a full twelve! Thinking of how these pills could help him break through to the Ancestral Witch realm and comprehend laws, Xing Tian's face flushed red and his blood boiled.

After a long while, he calmed himself and solemnly put away the jade bottle. Cupping his hands, he said in a deep voice, "If you ever have need of me in the future, Fellow Daoist, Xing Tian will not refuse even death!"

Tai Cang accepted this calmly. He knew the weight of Xing Tian's promise—this Great Witch had managed to emerge unscathed even from the Tribulation of Witch and Demon. His friendship could endure through several world-calibrating tribulations.

"Fellow Daoist Tai Cang!"

The calls of the Twelve Ancestral Witches came from the distance. After learning from Hou Hao's report, they had hurried over in excitement. This batch of Bloodline Pills held extraordinary significance for the Witch Clan.

Seeing this, Tai Cang stepped forward and cupped his hands. "I have not failed your trust. The Bloodline Pills are complete." With that, he waved his hand and tossed out twelve jade bottles. Dijiang and Zhu Jiuyin each received six, while the remaining Ancestral Witches each received nine.

"They are indeed Bloodline Pills!"

After inspecting them, the Ancestral Witches beamed with joy. These one hundred and two pills meant that the Witch Clan would gain more than a hundred top-tier Great Witches, and their strength would surely soar.

"Now that the transaction is complete, I should take my leave."

Tai Cang was about to depart when Dijiang called out to stop him. "Fellow Daoist, wait!" Hou Hao came over carrying a sandalwood treasure box, which Dijiang personally handed over. "This is a token of our clan's appreciation. I hope you will accept it."

Dijiang raised his hand and opened the wooden box.

In an instant, golden light burst forth, and a piercing hum rang through the heavens. As dark clouds churned overhead, dense merit aura gushed out, and the object in the box released dazzling radiance.

It was actually...

The Houtian Merit Supreme Treasure: the Heaven and Earth Cang Huang Ruler!

Tai Cang's pupils contracted sharply as he stared at the pale golden jade ruler in the box. This treasure shared the same origin as the Heaven and Earth Cang Huang Tower in Laozi's possession. Though it was forged from ninety percent of Canghuang Qi, it likewise contained Pangu's merit from opening heaven and earth. Its power was no weaker than a top-grade innate spiritual treasure, and it also possessed the power of fortune.

One had to know that what the Jie Sect lacked most right now were treasures of fortune. If Sect Master Tongtian obtained this great treasure, even the other saints would likely grow envious. After all, saints could never have too many fortune treasures.

"Ancestral Witch Dijiang, are you truly giving this treasure to me?"

Tai Cang's voice trembled slightly, his gaze still glued to the jade ruler. Its value was immeasurable. If used together with the Twenty-Four Dinghai Pearls, it could even evolve the Twenty-Four Heavens without the Qian Kun Ruler. Thinking of the might Ancient Buddha Randeng wielded across the primordial world through the Twenty-Four Heavens, Tai Cang's heart grew ever hotter.

"Of course." Dijiang smiled, closed the wooden box, and handed it over. "Fellow Daoist, your bloodline shares the same origin as our Witch Clan's. How could such a trifling gift be worth mentioning? We will need much care from you in the future."

The Twelve Ancestral Witches understood this perfectly. Compared to Tai Cang, who could refine Bloodline Pills, even the most precious spiritual treasure was worth parting with.

"Thank you."

Tai Cang solemnly accepted the wooden box, secretly thinking that such generous gifts could only be better in greater number. Still, he knew that in the primordial world, there were very few treasures capable of rivaling the Heaven and Earth Cang Huang Ruler.

Tai Cang put away the wooden box and cupped his hands toward Dijiang and the other Ancestral Witches. "Farewell, Ancestral Witches. Until we meet again." With that, he rose on his sword and flew straight toward the Kunlun Mountains.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches watched him leave, then immediately ordered, "Xing Tian, Hou Hao, quickly gather the Great Witches of every branch. We have important matters to discuss."

"Yes, sir!" The two accepted their orders and departed, knowing that the Ancestral Witches surely intended to use the Bloodline Pills to cultivate elite forces. Xing Tian secretly decided that once he had delivered the orders, he would enter seclusion to cultivate, swearing to use the pills' power to break through to the Ancestral Witch realm.

Demon qi filled the skies above the Kunlun Mountains, while the area around Upper Clarity Palace was even more chaotic. Numerous half-human, half-beast cultivators were fighting and destroying the forests. Tai Cang was secretly alarmed at the sight. The Jie Sect has expanded this quickly already? It seems the Three Pure Ones will soon... What should I do then?

Upon arriving before Grand Clarity Palace, Golden Horn and Silver Horn came forward. "Senior Brother, Master requests your presence in the Alchemy Room." Tai Cang gave them some spiritual fruit before entering on his own. The two young attendants sat on the threshold, savoring the fruit as they lavishly praised their considerate senior brother.