A Thought

"After all, the gale winds of the Chaos howled past like razor-sharp blades. One careless mistake, and you'd be slashed all over, severely affecting both travel speed and safety."

Houtu looked up at the Precious Umbrella overhead, and a surge of gratitude rose in her heart.

Yet this Precious Umbrella also frightened her. After all, it was a Spiritual Treasure capable of breaking through an Ancestral Witch True Body.

"Fellow Daoist Houtu, why did you come alone? Why haven't the other eleven Ancestral Witches come?"

Qing Huan was somewhat puzzled. Such a major matter was at hand, yet the Witch Clan had sent only Houtu.

"Our Witch Clan has no primordial spirits. Even if they came, I fear they would find it difficult to take in the teachings.

"Although I came alone, I also wished to ask the Sage whether there is any way to resolve the Witch Clan's lack of primordial spirits."

Houtu gave a helpless, bitter smile. The Witch Clan lacked primordial spirits; even if all of them came, it might not benefit their listening to the Dao much. Still, she felt they ought to try, to find a way forward for the Witch Clan.

"Mm."

Qing Huan nodded.

"Fellow Daoist Houtu, everything has its ordained course. You need not worry too much over this matter."

Making the Witch Clan develop primordial spirits was as difficult as becoming a Sage.

Yet Qing Huan had a bold idea in mind, one that might be worth trying.

Thinking it over, Houtu should possess a True Spirit. Otherwise, how could she have gone to the Netherworld Sea of Blood and transformed herself into reincarnation?

After Pangu opened the heavens, the True Spirit origins of the Twelve Ancestral Witches had been affected by Turbid Qi, which was why they could not cultivate primordial spirits.

To remove the baleful aura from Houtu's body, he would need a Spiritual Treasure containing Xuanhuang Qi, with a treasure such as the Karma Red Lotus assisting her—or else rely on Merit to wash away the baleful aura covering her body.

After that, he would need to find a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure of the earth attribute to protect her True Spirit, then slowly have her primordial spirit reside within it for cultivation.

Moreover, Houtu should not continue cultivating within the Witch Clan. The Witch Clan's baleful aura was too heavy, and it was itself the Protagonist of Heaven and Earth in this Tribulation. Once Calamity Qi entered her body, it might affect her mind.

It was simply not easy to find a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure of the earth attribute. Judging from the current situation, only the Apricot Yellow Banner among the Innate Five Directions Banner was a Spiritual Treasure containing the Law of Earth.

But the Apricot Yellow Banner was currently in Dao Ancestor Hongjun's hands...

Forget it. Once Hongjun finishes teaching the Dao at Purple Sky Palace, I'll go to the Witch Clan and trade this information for a few Spiritual Treasures!

Qing Huan silently made his calculations.

Several thousand years later, everyone gradually arrived outside Purple Sky Palace, creating a lively scene.

Qing Huan and Houtu slowly descended before Purple Sky Palace as well.

The palace before them seemed like a divine miracle within the Primordial World, with Xuanhuang Qi flowing endlessly like a lively celestial river.

It stood tens of millions of zhang high, and its width was even more astonishing. Even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal could strain their eyes into the distance and still fail to see its end.

The three characters "Purple Sky Palace" seemed to have condensed from the fruits of the Dao itself. Every stroke appeared to contain the ultimate truths of the Great Dao.

It also seemed as though the Great Dao itself had manifested in an unfathomable form. The depth of the Dao rhythm it contained far surpassed any Blessed Land possessed by the living beings of the Primordial Wilderness.

"Tsk, tsk. As expected of a Sage. This is how a true man ought to live."

Qing Huan could not help praising it enviously.

"Hahaha! Well said—this is how a true man ought to live. Fellow Daoist Qing Huan, it has been some time."

Tongtian deeply agreed with Qing Huan's words. He too longed to possess such an imposing palace as his Dao Field.

At that moment, the Three Pure Ones brothers walked toward him.

"Fellow Daoists Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian, you three arrived quite quickly!"

Qing Huan smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

"We only just arrived as well. May I ask who this person beside Fellow Daoist Qing Huan is?"

Laozi lightly waved his whisk as he spoke.

"Ah, I nearly forgot the introduction. This is my friend, Ancestral Witch Houtu."

Qing Huan was not sure what the relationship between the Twelve Ancestral Witches and the Three Pure Ones truly was, so he could only introduce her first.

"So it is Houtu of the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Forgive my discourtesy." Laozi smiled faintly.

"You are too polite. Ancestral Witch Houtu greets you all, fellow Daoists."

After speaking, Houtu's expression shifted slightly.

After all, the Twelve Ancestral Witches were Pangu Orthodox. The Witch Clan's Pangu Temple was Invulnerable to All Laws, and no one could peer within. The title of "Pangu Orthodox" could bring considerable Luck, so Houtu could not help feeling somewhat proud.

Qing Huan could also see that Houtu and the Three Pure Ones clearly had little desire to interact with one another.

Just then, two streaks of light shot through the Chaos toward Purple Sky Palace like lightning, their momentum magnificent.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi had a massive ancient bronze bell suspended above his head. Mountains, rivers, the Sun, Moon, and Stars were engraved upon it, and it radiated waves of Dao rhythm.

At that moment, every living being's gaze was drawn toward them.

"I, Di Jun of the Solar Star, greet you all, fellow Daoists."

After landing, Di Jun cupped his hands toward the crowd in salute.

"I, Tai Yi of the Solar Star, greet you all, fellow Daoists."

"What a powerful Spiritual Treasure. Could this be the legendary Chaos Bell?"

Tongtian raised a brow, his eyes filled with amazement.

"That is correct. This is the Chaos Bell, one of the three Innate Supreme Treasures formed from the Sky-Opening Divine Axe."

Laozi nodded with a smile.

"These two fellow Daoists from the Solar Star were born with the aura of emperors. Their bearing of looking down upon the world is truly extraordinary."

Fuxi could not help stepping forward to speak with Di Jun.

Qing Huan stood to one side, deep in thought. Looking at Di Jun, an idea suddenly came to him. Isn't Di Jun a Solar Body?

If the two from the Lunar Star had come as well, perhaps he could befriend them and see whether he could trade Immortal Apricots with Di Jun and Xi He for two drops of essence blood.

If he could then obtain the Lesser Yang and Lesser Yin essence blood of East Prince and Queen Mother of the West, then slay the two Yin-Yang Flood Dragons in the Eastern Sea and extract the origins of their Yin-Yang Qi...

Then, with Innate Yin-Yang Qi, together with Lesser Yin, Lesser Yang, Greater Yin, and Greater Yang—

And after fusing them with the Yin-Yang Origin of his own true body, his Yin-Yang Origin would rise to an entirely new level, and his grasp of the Law of the Great Dao of Yin-Yang would deepen even further.

Perhaps he could become the fastest among these beings to attain Quasi-Sagehood. One step ahead meant staying ahead at every step!

Thinking of this, Qing Huan could not help feeling excited.

"Fellow Daoist Di Jun, you are truly a born emperor. I see in you the bearing of a Heavenly Emperor."

Qing Huan stepped forward and smiled as he flattered him.

In truth, it was not entirely flattery. He was merely revealing future events in advance.

"Oh? And this fellow Daoist is?"

Di Jun was slightly stunned, confusion flashing through his eyes before he swiftly regained his composure. A faint smile formed on his lips as he silently considered the intentions behind this man's actions.

Though somewhat bewildered, anyone who could come to Purple Sky Palace to listen to the Dao was no ordinary figure, and he was willing to befriend them all.

"Fellow Daoist Di Jun, this is Fellow Daoist Qing Huan. He is a mighty Innate Deity who transformed from a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root!"

Fuxi introduced him with a smile from the side.

Upon hearing this, Di Jun and Tai Yi both revealed looks of disbelief.

Transforming from a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root was exceedingly difficult. Yet once such a being succeeded in transforming, its foundation would inevitably be that of a top-tier living being.

"Not at all, not at all. Fellow Daoist Fuxi overpraises me. Of those who could come to Purple Sky Palace, which one is not a mighty Innate Deity?"

Qing Huan smiled and waved his hand.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Qing Huan. We did not know earlier, so please do not take offense."

Di Jun looked at Qing Huan, his eyes full of admiration.