Upon hearing Chi You's explanation, the eyes of most of the surviving Witch Clan in the hall, including the Great Witch like Xing Tian, lit up instantly!
The long-standing gloom in my heart, the humiliation of defeat, and the confusion about the future seemed to be suddenly dispelled by a bright light!
The Empress Houtu and the Saint Xuanming have not forgotten them!
Their previous inaction was perhaps due to the restrictions imposed by their Sainthood, which prevented them from interfering.
But now, they are secretly plotting to support Chi You in his quest for the Human Emperor. With their support, the revival of the Witch Clan is hopeful!
"So that's how it is! So that's how it is!" Xing Tian exclaimed excitedly, pounding his chest. "I knew the ladies wouldn't abandon us!"
"The Human Emperor's Fortune returning... Fortune... revitalizing the Witch Clan... yes!"
"Eldest Brother Chi You, we are willing to leave the mountain and fight alongside you!" The other Witch Clan Warriors were filled with fervor and high spirits.
Even some of the tribesmen who had been despondent had their hopes rekindled in their eyes.
After the Witch-Demon War, they did not choose to join the Youming Reincarnation, nor did Houtu summon them to the Netherworld Underworld. This had left them extremely disappointed. Now, that disappointment was instantly replaced by immense anticipation.
However, amidst the fervent atmosphere of renewed passion among the many Witch Clan disciples, one person remained remarkably calm: Jiu Feng.
Her brows furrowed slightly, but she was not swayed or swayed by Chi You's words.
She knew that everyone inside the palace had been guarding the Pangu Hall for a long time and had accumulated too much resentment in their hearts, so it would be good to take this opportunity to vent.
After everyone had vented for a while and their emotions had gradually calmed down, her clear voice rang out, like a bucket of cold water, slightly cooling down the heated atmosphere:
"The return of Chi You and his brothers, along with the possible decrees of the two Holy Venerables, Houtu Xuanming, is indeed tremendously good news."
Her words confirmed Chi You's identity and the speculation, reassuring everyone. But then, her tone turned serious:
"However, the revival of the Wu tribe is by no means something that can be achieved overnight simply by Chi You and his brothers ascending to the throne of the human race."
In the Primordial World, the grand scheme of heaven and earth and the will of Saint were the fundamental determinants of Qiankun.
In ancient times, the Twelve Ancestral Witches of our clan were incredibly powerful. They controlled the Dutian Divine Fiends and could condense the Pangu True Body, making them almost invincible in the Primordial World.
Later, the Ancestral Witch Houtu and Xuanming Ancestral Witch successfully attained enlightenment, but what was their fate?
Her gaze swept over the crowd, filled with deep sorrow. "Even the mighty Ancestor Witch Dijiang, Zhujiuyin Ancestral Witch, and even Di Jun and Tai Yi, ultimately perished and their Daos vanished. All of this was because they were caught in the Whirlpool of the Saint's game and became victims of the Heavenly Dao Tribulation Cycle."
If this crucial issue cannot be resolved, the revival of my Witch Clan will remain merely a pipe dream.
Jiu Feng's words struck everyone like a heavy hammer, evoking the lingering fear of that painful memory, and everyone's excitement was slightly suppressed by reason.
She looked at Chi You, her eyes sincere yet carrying a subtle hint of admonition:
Chi You, you were reborn Human Clan, and you wish to become the Human Emperor. You want to use the Human Race's fortune to benefit my race. This ambition is commendable.
This matter may be the work of two holy beings, but the future is uncertain, so please take good care of yourself.
Since you've come here today, you must be hoping to gain everyone's support.
From a personal perspective, if any of my brothers and sisters in the Pangu Hall are willing to follow you out of the mountains to help you, I, Jiu Feng, will not stop them.
If they could lend a helping hand on your path and give the Witch Clan a chance for the future, that would be a great achievement.
At this point, Jiu Feng looked around and saw that Xing Tian, Wind Master, Rain Master and other warlike figures immediately showed excitement and were eager to try.
But Jiu Feng immediately changed the subject, her tone becoming extremely serious:
"However, as the younger sister of the Qiangliang Ancestral Witch, and also the current head of the Pangu Hall, from this perspective, my duty is to protect the Fire Seed Bloodline the Witch Clan within this palace!"
I cannot, and will not, place the last hope of my entire community on a battle with an uncertain outcome, fraught with the peril of a game between Saint!
The Witch Clan cannot endure such a calamity again!
"Stay here, guard the Pangu Hall, protect this last foundation, continue the Bloodline and heritage of the Witch Clan, and you will also be responsible for the future of the Witch Clan!"
Both paths require careful planning.
Those who stayed behind were not cowards, but rather a different kind of protector.
Those who venture out must understand that the road ahead is fraught with peril, and that life and death are left to Heavenly Mandate.
Upon hearing Chi You, Chi You felt anxious. He needed the combat power of Jiu Feng, a top-tier Great Witch, and even more so, he needed her prestige as Qiangliang's younger sister to unite the people:
Jiu Feng, I know you have concerns.
But without your power, without the full support of the Pangu Hall, how could I possibly contend with Xuanyuan, who has the Yuanshi Tianzun as his backer?
This is a rare opportunity; to revive the Witch Clan, we need to gather...
Jiu Feng raised her hand to interrupt Chi You, her gaze seemingly piercing through time and space, returning to the battlefield of the Tribulation Cycle.
As the younger sister of the Qiangliang Ancestral Witch, she knows things that most people don't.
She revealed to Chi You a secret known only to the Witch Clan Ancestral Witches:
The complex power struggles between Chi You and others are beyond our current comprehension.
Did you know that when the two races were locked in a bloody battle and the Ancestral Witch were in dire straits, even though Empress Houtu had become a Holy Venerable, she was unable to directly intervene due to various reasons, such as the Heavenly Dao constraints and the unstable foundation of the newly established Earthly Dao?
This is the helplessness and danger of the Saint's predicament.
She subtly revealed a harsh reality, hoping to bring everyone to a more sobering level.
"The question of who will become the Human Emperor involves the distribution of Fortune of the Way of Man by the sages."
Your involvement presents both an opportunity and a formidable crisis for you and the Witch Clan.
I cannot let the entire tribe rush into the heart of this giant wave and gamble everything with you. Dividing the bets and having a way out is the only way to survive.
Her meaning was very clear: she would not hinder Chi You's plan, but she would not stake everything on it, and as the person in charge, she would not personally get involved.
She chose to remain at the Pangu Hall, guarding the last hope.
She understands and respects Chi You's mission, but she must also fulfill her own duty of protection.
Jiu Feng's calm analysis and clear statement completely calmed the heated atmosphere in the Pangu Hall.
Everyone understood their current situation and the significance of the two choices.
Some powerful Great Witch and elite warriors, such as the Wind Master and the Rain Master, whose fighting spirit remained undiminished, stood behind Chi You without hesitation.
They were eager to fight again for the future of the Witch Clan under Chi You's leadership, and to respond to the arrangements of the two holy sages, Houtu Xuanming, with practical actions.
Another group, whether elderly, burdened with the responsibility of caring for the weak and passing on their skills, or those who, having experienced the devastation of the final battle, preferred a more peaceful existence, remained silently in place. They looked at Chi You and the others with complex expressions, and finally turned to Jiu Feng, expressing their willingness to stay and guard the Pangu Hall.
Of course, there are also people like Xing Tian, who, although yearning for battle and glory, also understand the responsibility that Jiu Feng bears. After thinking it over for a long time and struggling with his inner thoughts, he still chose to accompany Jiu Feng to guard the Pangu Hall.
Xing Tian looked at Chi You and said in a deep voice, "Chi You, back in the battlefield, Dijiang ordered Jiu Feng to lead the rest of us back to the Pangu Hall, hoping to preserve us. Although I really wanted to fight alongside you, Jiu Feng is right. Dijiang's entrustment was not only Jiu Feng's responsibility, but also one I needed to shoulder. So I decided to stay and protect the others."
Chi You sighed upon hearing this, but still understood his thoughts and nodded at him.
Looking at the hundreds of elite Witch Clan Warriors behind him, led by Wind Master and Rain Master, he felt regretful that he had not been able to secure Jiu Feng's full assistance, but obtaining these powerful men was already the greatest gain of this trip.
He also understood Jiu Feng's predicament and foresight, and knew that her choice was the right one for the Witch Clan as a whole.
So he stopped insisting and instead solemnly performed an ancient Witch Clan ritual for Jiu Feng and all the remaining clansmen.
He clenched his right fist and pounded it heavily on his left chest, then bowed slightly.
Chi You understood what Chi You Jiu Feng had said.
The Pangu Hall is the Witch Clan sacred land, and also our last foundation. It's good that you and Xing Tian are here to guard it. The Witch Clan has a way out, and we have no worries about the future.
To all my brothers and sisters who are staying behind, take care!
Protect our roots!
Then he gestured to the crowd behind him and said, "
Brothers who are willing to follow me, Chi You, out of the mountains, let's go!
Go and fight for a future for the Witch Clan!
After we have achieved great deeds and established our careers, we will surely return to this place to comfort our Ancestral God!
"Roar!" Wind Master and the others responded with a low battle roar.
Jiu Feng watched Chi You and his warriors depart, a surge of emotion welled up within her, but her voice remained calm:
Go forth, Chi You.
Remember, whether you are Human Clan or your heart belongs to the Witch Clan, the gates of the Pangu Hall will always be open to your fellow human beings.
I hope you... will take good care of yourself and not betray your Bloodline and True Spirit.
If things don't go smoothly...
She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.
Chi You took one last deep look at Jiu Feng and Pangu Hall, then turned around and led the crowd out of the now-open palace doors.
The heavy stone gate slowly closed behind them, separating the inside from the outside and symbolizing the beginning of two different paths.
Inside the hall, Jiu Feng stood gazing at the tightly closed gate for a long time.
Chi You led this newly acquired power back to the tribe.
Considering that these people were to be used as his trump card to deal with any potential members of the Chan Teachings who might appear on Xuanyuan's side, he arranged for them to stay in his forbidden cultivation Forbidden Ground. They would cultivate diligently there on weekdays and then be at his command when necessary.
However, considering that each member of the Witch Clan was a top-notch warrior, Chi You did not want to let them waste their time in the Forbidden Ground.
Next, aside from leading his troops to conquer the Witch Person tribe in the Southern Region every now and then, he would have his trusted generals take turns entering the Forbidden Ground for training during his free time.
He quickly conquered most of the Witch-Human Witch Person tribe in the Southern Region and subsequently established extremely high prestige among them.
Because he was of mixed blood with both the Witch Clan and Human Clan, and because his cultivation and strength recovered quickly, he was extremely powerful in martial arts and gained widespread recognition among the Witch-Human.
His desire to seize the Human Emperor and thereby bring the Witch-Human back to the Human Clan was greatly appreciated by most of Witch-Human. Moreover, within the Jiuli, he treated all Witch-Human equally without discrimination. These actions gradually won over the Witch-Human, and their loyalty to Chi You was extremely high.
While Chi You Chen Du was subduing the Witch-Human, Xuanyuan had been acting as Shennong's successor in governing Chendu for quite some time.
Many tribes had become accustomed to Xuanyuan's leadership, and Xuanyuan gradually built up his prestige and established his own faction.
However, Xuanyuan also had a headache: how to deal with Chi You and his Jiu Li Tribe.
According to information gathered by the You Xiong Tribe, although Shennong chose him as the successor to the Human Emperor, Chi You did not seem to have given up. It appears that he did not take any drastic actions, but he was secretly accumulating power.
Previously, Chi You had hidden himself very well, so the Youxiong side had not been able to find out much information. They only knew that a large part of the Jiuli's affiliated tribes had undergone a purge, and some tribal leaders who originally wanted to align themselves with the Youxiong after the Human Emperor's position was confirmed had all mysteriously disappeared.
Upon learning this news, Xuanyuan became more vigilant towards Chi You and Jiuli, and sent more people to investigate. However, Jiuli was an impenetrable fortress, making it difficult to gather any useful information.
However, as Chi You continued his conquests of the Witch Person tribe, the scope of which eventually expanded, news eventually spread. Only then did Xuanyuan realize that Chi You was using this method to expand his power, thereby avoiding direct confrontation with the Human Emperor Shennong and also lulling himself into a false sense of security.
The problems of the Witch Person tribe have a long history. In the beginning, in order to struggle for survival between the Witch and Demon Clans, the Human Clan sought refuge under the Witch Clan.
Because the two races have similar appearances, Witch Clan, if they do not reveal their Witch Clan true form, are both Dao bodies like the Human Clan, this gives the two races more recognition and a sense of closeness.
Later, there was some communication between the lower levels of the two tribes, and the Witch-Human were gradually born. This was highly valued by the Witch Clan, who believed that it provided another means of propagating the ordinary members of their tribe.
Later, as the Demon Clan used Human Clan as materials to forge the Witch Slaying Sword, the Witch Clan discovered that Human Clan might have a certain restraining effect on the Witch Clan. So they watched as Human Clan were slaughtered, and even fueled the flames. At this time, in order to ensure the survival of their race, many Witch-Human abandoned their Human Clan identity based on their Bloodline and directly joined the Witch Clan.
Of course, some joined other Human Clan in the resistance, but the actions of the other Witch-Human eventually caused the Human Clan to develop a negative view of the Witch-Human as a group, and a sense of estrangement began to grow.
Many things happened afterward that deepened the rift between the two sides, and eventually the main body of the Witch-Human began to drift apart from both the Human Clan and Witch Clan.
Now, Chi You has subdued the Witch-Human Clan with his own ideals and military force. Although this is a good thing from the perspective of the Human Clan development, the Witch-Human have become Chi You's base of operations. For Xuanyuan, this is a real headache and a very troublesome matter to deal with.
Regardless of how things unfolded, as time passed, Shennong finally reached the moment of his perfect Merit, and Xuanyuan was about to Human Emperor.