"Eldest Brother," Yuanshi said, a trace of complexity in his eyes.
"I never expected Fellow Daoist Qing Huan to possess such profound fortune.
The Dao Ancestor personally bestowed him a cushion and placed him ahead of us. The fact that he possesses an Innate Supreme Treasure further confirms what the Dao Ancestor said: that he is one blessed with immense Luck."
There was no attempt to conceal the envy in his words.
Taishang Laojun stroked his beard and nodded, his gaze profound.
"There is a fixed destiny in the unseen. Fellow Daoist Qing Huan's attainments in the Yin-Yang Great Dao, the depth and mystery of his insights, are indeed above mine.
When we have the time, the three of us brothers should pay a visit to Zhongnan Mountain and discuss the Dao with Fellow Daoist Qing Huan."
"Eldest Brother is right. Opportunities are decreed by fate and cannot be forced.
As Pangu Orthodox, our opportunities will not be lacking either.
An Innate Supreme Treasure may be good, but without fate, it is useless."
Sect Master Tongtian nodded in agreement as well. Though envy lingered in his eyes, he was far more open-minded.
...Five thousand years passed...
Qing Huan and Houtu crossed the endless void and finally returned to the Primordial Wilderness, standing amid the gale winds beyond the Thirty-three Heavens.
"Fellow Daoist Houtu."
Qing Huan looked at the valiant Ancestral Witch beside him, a teasing smile curling at his lips.
"I wonder, when the Purple Sky Palace next opens to teach the Dao, will you still go listen?"
"Are you mocking my Witch Clan for lacking primordial spirits, making listening to the Dao pointless?"
Houtu's delicate brows immediately furrowed, and a flicker of displeasure crossed her face.
"Ah, Fellow Daoist, do not misunderstand!"
Seeing that she had taken it seriously, Qing Huan hurriedly waved his hands.
With a thought, a flash of radiance appeared above his head, and the Seven Symbols Treasure Umbrella silently emerged. An invisible, mysterious aura instantly spread outward, concealing all heavenly secrets in the surroundings, as though they had become independent of the Primordial Wilderness.
Only after doing all this did Qing Huan lower his voice, a hint of mystery entering his tone.
"Fellow Daoist Houtu, I... may truly have a method that can help your Witch Clan make up for the deficiency in your primordial spirits!"
His words paused slightly. His right thumb, index finger, and middle finger unconsciously rubbed together a few times, the gesture exactly like a shrewd merchant hinting at a "price."
"You... are you telling the truth?!"
Houtu's body trembled violently, her beautiful eyes widening in an instant as disbelief nearly burst forth from them.
Overwhelming joy struck her mind, causing her to completely overlook Qing Huan's subtle gesture as she anxiously pressed on.
"What method is it? Please enlighten me at once, Fellow Daoist!"
She was frantic with anxiety, staring intently at Qing Huan for fear of missing even a single word.
Qing Huan could not help curling his lips inwardly.
This Ancestral Witch Houtu really... doesn't understand the meaning at all.
He calculated inwardly.
Fine. It seems I'll have to personally visit the Witch Clan's Treasure Vault and pick through it, to see whether there are any useful Innate Spiritual Treasures or Innate Spiritual Roots...
"Ahem..."
Qing Huan cleared his throat and said solemnly.
"Fellow Daoist Houtu, do not be hasty. This method is no trivial matter. It is somewhat defiant of heaven and cannot be carried out easily by my strength alone. The cost will be immense.
Therefore, I will not reveal it for free. There must be a price in exchange."
"A price?"
Houtu knitted her brows tightly and said urgently,
"Just name it, Fellow Daoist! So long as my Witch Clan possesses it, we will not be stingy!"
Qing Huan raised one hand and spread open all five fingers.
"Five Innate Spiritual Treasures, or equivalent Innate Spiritual Roots or heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Beyond that..."
He paused again, his tone becoming especially grave.
"The Witch Clan must owe me a 'great Karma'! What do you say?"
He stressed the words "great Karma" heavily.
The urgency on Houtu's face was instantly replaced by solemnity.
Innate Spiritual Treasures and Innate Spiritual Roots were no difficult matter for the Witch Clan, which had occupied Buzhou Mountain for countless years and possessed abundant stores.
But this "owing a great Karma"... she understood its weight. It was absolutely no small matter.
It concerned the Luck of the entire Witch Clan and a promise for its future. It was not something she could decide alone.
"As for the spiritual treasures and spiritual roots Fellow Daoist requires, my clan will do its utmost to gather them. But this 'great Karma'..."
Houtu revealed a troubled expression and hesitated.
"This matter is of great importance. I must return to Pangu Temple and discuss it with my brothers before I can give Fellow Daoist an answer. I hope you will forgive me."
She added, scrutiny in her eyes,
"Please also tell me plainly, Fellow Daoist, just how much is this method worth? After all, even a Sage..."
Qing Huan seemed to have expected this and replied calmly.
"No matter. To show my sincerity, and also to save time, I shall accompany you to the Witch Clan.
You can gather the Twelve Ancestral Witches and reach a decision as quickly as possible."
His gaze swept over Houtu, his tone resolute with an unspoken bottom line.
"I can guarantee you this: if this method succeeds, it can help at least two Ancestral Witches of your clan successfully Complete Primordial Spirits!
As for more... I dare not make rash claims."
He had long weighed the pros and cons in his heart: the Witch Clan would harvest Heavenly Dao Merit, so conventional methods would not work.
The only possibility was to make use of the thin strands of Great Dao Merit obtained from Heaven-Opening that each of the Twelve Ancestral Witches possessed!
By guiding and gathering it, completely purifying the most stubborn turbid baleful energy at the depths of two Ancestral Witches' bloodline origins, there might be a sliver of hope.
"Really?!"
The light in Houtu's eyes blazed brightly once more.
The despairing answer she had received from Hongjun was now ignited into new flames of hope by Qing Huan's decisive words, "at least two."
"Good! Fellow Daoist, you are truly righteous!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Houtu grabbed Qing Huan's arm, her expression excited...
"There is no time to lose. Fellow Daoist, return to Pangu Temple with me at once! Whether it succeeds or fails, my Witch Clan will be deeply grateful!"
...Meanwhile, in the north of the Primordial Wilderness...
Demon qi filled the air, while baleful qi surged skyward.
The new leaders of the demon race, brothers Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, were recruiting troops and expanding their power here.
Demon God Bai Ze, who understood all things and possessed extraordinary wisdom, stood atop the clouds. His gaze pierced through layers of Karma mist and clearly saw the brilliant, sunlike imperial Luck and destiny above Di Jun and Tai Yi's heads.
"Heavenly Mandate!"
Bai Ze no longer hesitated. He flew forward and respectfully bowed to Di Jun and Tai Yi.
"Bai Ze is willing to lead the northern demon race in loyalty to Your Majesties, the two Demon Emperors! I will help Your Majesties restore the demon race and unite all demons of the Primordial Wilderness!"
Seeing this renowned sage voluntarily pledge allegiance, Di Jun was overjoyed and laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! With Fellow Daoist Bai Ze's wholehearted assistance today, we are like tigers with wings! The growth of our demon race is just around the corner!"
Bai Ze's wisdom would prove crucial in the future struggle for supremacy.
"Your Majesty overpraises me."
Bai Ze responded humbly, wisdom glinting in his eyes. Yet his words were not empty flattery.
"With Your Majesties leading all beneath heaven, possessing supreme treasures, harboring lofty ambitions, and gathering the Luck of all demons in the Primordial Wilderness, the day is not far off...
When our demon race flourishes and its Luck reaches the heavens, Your Majesties may not be unable to ascend, like the Dao Ancestor, to that supreme and sacred realm...!"
...The towering Buzhou Mountain, sacred land of the Witch Clan...
Following Houtu, Qing Huan rode a beam of escaping light. With a single thought, they crossed an unknown number of millions of miles and soon arrived before that magnificent divine hall, ancient and weighty, as though connected by blood to the Primordial Earth itself—Pangu Temple.
The divine hall was ancient and majestic, suffused with the terrifying pressure of Heaven-Opening.
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