Houtu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Houtu (后土)
Alias(es)	Earth Ancestral Witch; Empress Houtu; Supreme of the Earthly Dao
Species/Race	Ancestral Witch; descendant of Pangu
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Witch Race; Netherworld Underworld; Earthly Dao
Occupation/Role	Controller of the Earthly Dao; founder and governor of Reincarnation; ruler of the Underworld
Status	Active 188
First Appearance	Chapter 22

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Earth Ancestral Witch	22	Senses Pangu’s bloodline aura in Qing Xuan and recognizes his unusual connection to the Witch Race.
Primordial Spirit — Mystic Immortal	26 27	Becomes the first Ancestral Witch to birth a Primordial Spirit after Qing Xuan purifies her innate malevolent energy with the Pure World White Lotus.
Primordial Spirit — Grand Unity Golden Immortal	27	Reaches Grand Unity after a thousand years of Qing Xuan’s Dao preaching; her Primordial Spirit remains fragile and requires careful cultivation.
Law of Reincarnation comprehension	54	Emerges from seclusion with a Grand Unity Primordial Spirit and comprehends the Law of Reincarnation.
Primordial Spirit — Quasi-Sage	88	Her Primordial Spirit has reached the Quasi-Sage realm by the time she establishes Reincarnation.
Late-stage Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal	88	Thirty percent of the Great Dao Merit from founding Reincarnation reconstructs her body into a Merit Saint Body and elevates her cultivation.
Controller of the Earthly Dao	89	The Earthly Dao Origin Divine Seal grants authority over the earth, the Netherworld, and Reincarnation.

Background / History

Houtu is the Earth Ancestral Witch and the youngest of the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Because she was born later than her siblings, she absorbed less innate malevolent energy and retained a gentler, more contemplative nature than most of the Witch Race. 23

She first encounters Qing Xuan after sensing Pangu’s bloodline on him near Buzhou Mountain. His use of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique and Heaven and Earth Manifestation convinces Houtu and Xuanming that he may be another descendant of Pangu. Houtu eagerly accepts him as a younger brother and brings him to Pangu Hall. 22 23 24

When Qing Xuan finds the Pure World White Lotus in the Witch Race treasury, Houtu volunteers to undergo its purification first. After twenty thousand years of purification, she becomes the first Ancestral Witch to shed her malevolent energy and birth a Primordial Spirit. 26 27

Under Qing Xuan’s guidance, Houtu cultivates her newly born Primordial Spirit and later comprehends the Law of Reincarnation. Her connection to the earth and sympathy for the countless dead after the Ten Golden Crows’ devastation lead her to understand that the Great Desolation lacks an ordered path for souls after death. 54 85 86

At the Netherworld Sea of Blood, Houtu vows to establish Reincarnation. She transforms her body into the Six Paths of Reincarnation and becomes the Netherworld Underworld, creating an ordered cycle of life, death, karmic judgment, and rebirth. Qing Xuan’s preparations allow her to preserve her consciousness and reconstruct her body rather than becoming a mindless rule of the world. 87 88

Following the awakening of the Earthly Dao, Houtu rejects Hongjun’s demand that she remain only a confined symbol of the Underworld. With Qing Xuan’s support, she resists Heavenly Dao pressure, establishing the coexistence of the Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Human Dao. 89

Appearance

Houtu is described as stunningly beautiful, with a compassionate and all-encompassing bearing tempered by the untamed wildness distinctive of the Witch Race. 22

• Her usual demeanor is gentle and approachable, in contrast to Xuanming’s cold and icy presence. 22
• After embodying Reincarnation, her skin appears jade-like and carries faint flowing Golden Light of Merit. 88
• Her left eye reflects mountains and rivers, while her right eye manifests the Six Paths of Reincarnation. 88
• Her post-transformation palace dress is condensed from Golden Light of Merit. 88

Personality

Houtu is compassionate, reflective, and unusually thoughtful among the Ancestral Witches. She is deeply affected by the suffering of wandering souls and devastated lands, ultimately choosing to establish Reincarnation for the benefit of all beings. 23 85 87

She is fiercely protective of her Witch Race family. When Jieyin and Zhunti manipulate Gong Gong and Zhu Rong into conflict, Houtu immediately confronts the Western Sages; when they deny responsibility, she devastates Mount Sumeru as punishment. 92 93

Houtu places profound trust in Qing Xuan, both as her younger brother and as the one who enabled her to birth a Primordial Spirit. Her affection for him becomes explicit when she kisses his cheek before his departure from Pangu Hall. 26 28

Abilities & Skills

Earth and Reincarnation Laws

Houtu governs the power of earth and later comprehends the Law of Reincarnation. Her authority encompasses the land of the Great Desolation, the Netherworld, wandering souls, and the cycle of death and rebirth. 54 89

• Connects earth veins to provide sustained support to Witch Race warriors. 73
• Soothes innocent souls killed during the Witch-Demon conflict. 73
• Establishes karmic rebirth through the Heavenly Dao, Asura, Human, Animal, Hungry Ghost, and Hell Paths. 87
• Uses the Law of Reincarnation to send Fuxi and later Chi You into the Human Dao for reincarnation. 131 168
• Draws Hongyun’s remnant soul from its vessel and assists its passage toward reincarnation. 149

Primordial Spirit

Houtu is the first of the Twelve Ancestral Witches to possess a Primordial Spirit, born after Qing Xuan purifies the innate malevolent energy within her. 26 27

• Her Primordial Spirit initially manifests at the Mystic Immortal realm. 27
• Qing Xuan guides it into her Purple Mansion and preaches the Dao to strengthen it. 27
• Her early Primordial Spirit is vulnerable; excessive Dao preaching or releasing it carelessly could injure it. 27
• It later reaches Quasi-Sage cultivation before she establishes Reincarnation. 88

Earthly Dao Authority

After Reincarnation is established, the Earthly Dao Origin Divine Seal recognizes Houtu and elevates her into the Earthly Dao’s supreme authority. 88 89

• Commands immense Mysterious Yellow Qi and the will of the earth. 89
• Controls Reincarnation, the Netherworld, and the earth at an inconceivable level. 89
• Resists Hongjun’s Heavenly Dao pressure with the Earthly Dao’s power. 89
• Works in concert with Qing Xuan’s Human Dao power, forming a force that even the Sages cannot ignore. 90

Combat Prowess

Although defined by compassion, Houtu is capable of overwhelming force when her family is threatened. 92 93

• Materializes a colossal Mysterious Yellow palm carrying the weight of the Western Great Desolation. 93
• Defeats Jieyin and Zhunti despite their use of the Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit, Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, dream technique, and Bodhi Grand Formation. 93
• Collapses half of Mount Sumeru and severely injures both Western Sages. 93
• Joins Qing Xuan and Nuwa in the battle against Hongjun in the Chaos. 188

Equipment / Divine Authority

• Earthly Dao Origin Divine Seal — Manifested above Houtu after the awakening of the Earthly Dao; grants Mysterious Yellow Qi and authority over the Earthly Dao. 88 89
• Six Paths of Reincarnation — Formed from Houtu’s transformation; governs the destinations of all souls according to their accumulated karma. 87
• Merit Saint Body — Her reconstructed body, formed when Great Dao Merit enters her Primordial Spirit after the establishment of Reincarnation. 88

Relationships

• Qing Xuan — Her acknowledged younger brother, trusted guide, and romantic interest. He helps her birth and cultivate her Primordial Spirit, supports her establishment of Reincarnation, and stands beside her against Hongjun. 26 28 88 89
• Xuanming — Elder sister and fellow female Ancestral Witch; she accompanies Houtu when investigating Qing Xuan’s Pangu bloodline. 22 24
• Di Jiang and the other Ancestral Witches — Her siblings and the core of the Witch Race. Houtu later appoints them as the Ten Kings of Hell through essence-blood clones. 24 90
• Old Ancestor Styx — Initially opposes the establishment of Reincarnation at the Sea of Blood; he accepts after Qing Xuan offers him the position of Lord of the Asura Path. 87 90
• Hongjun — Opposes the independent awakening of the Earthly Dao and attempts to confine Houtu to the Underworld; retreats after facing the combined Earthly and Human Daos. 89
• Jieyin and Zhunti — Western Sages who scheme against the Witch Race. Houtu defeats and humiliates them after they incite conflict between Gong Gong and Zhu Rong. 92 93
• Fuxi — Houtu uses the Human Dao path of Reincarnation to send his true spirit into the Feng Gun Tribe. 131
• Zhenyuanzi — Grants Houtu respect as Empress of the Underworld while seeking her aid in reincarnating Hongyun’s remnant soul. 149

Story Role / Major Arcs

Acceptance of Qing Xuan

Houtu identifies Qing Xuan’s Pangu bloodline, supports his recognition within the Witch Race, and treats him as her younger brother. 22 24

Birth of the Witch Race’s First Primordial Spirit

She serves as Qing Xuan’s first subject for the Pure World White Lotus purification process, proving that the Ancestral Witches can overcome their primordial-spirit deficiency. 26 27

Comprehension of Reincarnation

Following the destruction caused by the Ten Golden Crows, Houtu travels the devastated Great Desolation with Qing Xuan and realizes that lost souls need an ordered destination. 85 86

Establishment of the Underworld

Houtu creates the Six Paths of Reincarnation, becomes the Netherworld Underworld, awakens the Earthly Dao, and establishes the Underworld’s divine system alongside Qing Xuan. 87 88 90

Conflict with Heavenly Dao and the Western Sages

She defies Hongjun’s attempted restriction of the Earthly Dao, then punishes Jieyin and Zhunti for plotting against the Witch Race. 89 92 93

Guardian of Reincarnation

Houtu oversees major reincarnations connected to the Human Race and Witch Race, including Fuxi, Hongyun’s remnant soul, and Chi You. 131 149 168

Notable Quotes

“I shall transform my body into the Six Paths of Reincarnation!”
— Houtu 87

“From this moment on, life and death will have order, and reincarnation will never cease!”
— Houtu 87

“The awakening of the Earthly Dao is the manifestation of the will of all beings and the earth in the Great Desolation, and cannot be unilaterally decided by the Heavenly Dao.”
— Houtu 89

Trivia

• Houtu is the youngest of the Twelve Ancestral Witches and therefore absorbed the least innate malevolent energy at birth. 23
• She is one of only two female Ancestral Witches, alongside Xuanming. 22
• Her establishment of Reincarnation increases the Witch Race’s Destiny because she retains her identity as an Ancestral Witch rather than losing herself to the Underworld’s rules. 88
• She contributes Wutu Mother Qi as a prize for the competition between the Heavenly Origin Sect and Intercepting Sect. 115