Houtu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Houtu (后土)
Alias(es)	Ancestor Witch Houtu; Empress Houtu; Earthly Dao Spokesperson; Lord of the Underworld
Species/Race	Ancestor Witch; descendant of Pangu
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Witch Clan; Underworld
Occupation/Role	Creator and ruler of the Underworld; Earthly Dao Saint; overseer of the Six Paths of Reincarnation
Status	Active
First Appearance	5

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Incomplete Ancestor Witch	13	Her earth origin was incomplete at transformation, leaving her weaker than the other Ancestor Witches and giving her a notably peaceful temperament.
Earthly Dao Saint / Earthly Dao Spokesperson	256	Proved the Dao by establishing the Underworld, Nine Springs Abyss, Eighteen Layers of Hell, and Six Paths of Reincarnation. Received the Book of Humans, condensed the Primordial Fruit Status, and formed an indestructible Primordial Unity body.

Background / History

Houtu was the youngest of the Twelve Ancestor Witches. Because her earth origin was incomplete when she transformed, she was initially weaker than her siblings, though they cared for her deeply. Her incomplete origin also contributed to her mild and peaceful nature. 13

Nuwa was Houtu's first friend. When Nuwa and the Ancestor Witches were close to fighting at Buzhou Mountain, Houtu intervened alongside Fuxi to prevent the conflict from escalating. She later became close to Bai Chen and Xuanming, frequently spending time with them despite Nuwa's jealousy. 6

Bai Chen gave Houtu a portion of Innate Breathing Soil, which she could refine to strengthen her Law of Earth. However, as an Ancestor Witch without a Primordial Spirit, she could not directly activate the treasure. 14

Bai Chen eventually led Houtu to the Nether Blood Sea so that she could find her opportunity to Prove the Dao. After observing the Asura Clan's creation, Houtu realized that her destiny was to establish a realm where the souls of deceased beings could gather. 247 253 254

Personality

Houtu is compassionate and strongly attached to her family. She feared that failure during her Dao-proving attempt would leave the Witch Clan without the ability to form the Pangu True Body, but chose to proceed because she could not abandon her siblings, Bai Chen, or her clan. 254

Though initially innocent and cheerful, Houtu is not foolish. Over time, she becomes more perceptive, politically shrewd, and willing to use her authority to protect the Witch Clan's interests. She recruits Ancestor Minghe under the guise of settling karma, maintains contingencies for the Witch Clan, and aggressively negotiates for Merit and Fortune. 25 257 258 514

She is protective of Bai Chen despite his constant mischief, often carrying him on her shoulder, defending him in disputes, and providing assistance when he asks. At the same time, she has learned to recognize his schemes and does not always trust his motives after becoming a Saint. 256 267

Abilities & Skills

Law of Earth

Houtu's inherited Law of Earth is her foundational power as an Ancestor Witch.

• Refined Innate Breathing Soil to strengthen her Law of Earth. 14
• Used the Law of Earth, inherited Heaven-Opening Merit, and her own magical power while evolving the Eighteen Layers of Hell. 255
• Her incomplete earth origin initially left her weaker than the other Ancestor Witches. 13

Underworld Creation

Houtu's Dao-proving feat was the creation and completion of the Underworld.

• Led the Twelve Ancestor Witches in summoning the Pangu True Body to create the Underworld. 254 255
• Oversaw the formation of the Nine Springs Abyss and the Eighteen Layers of Hell. 255 256
• Established the Six Paths of Reincarnation, allowing souls to enter rebirth. 256
• Her creation awakened the Earthly Dao and completed a missing part of the Primordial Era. 256

Earthly Dao Authority

As the Earthly Dao Spokesperson, Houtu possesses authority over the Underworld and powers exceeding ordinary Saints.

• Condensed the Primordial Fruit Status and gained an indestructible Primordial Unity body after Proving the Dao. 256
• Her released power caused the Heavenly Court to tremble and forced Di Jun, Eastern Emperor Taiyi, Fuxi, and Xihe to bow. 324
• Can summon talismanic chains from the Eighteen Layers of Hell to bind offenders and drag them into the Underworld. 508
• Restored Hongyun's shattered Primordial Spirit True Spirit almost instantly and arranged his reincarnation through the Human Path. 458
• Declared herself the law of the Underworld while permitting Hongyun's exceptional reincarnation arrangement. 459

Pangu True Body and Witch Clan Formation

Houtu remains central to the Witch Clan's use of the Twelve Capital Celestial Evil-Slaying Formation.

• Called upon her siblings to form the Pangu True Body during the creation of the Underworld. 254
• The Pangu True Body used the Sky-Opening Axe and Earth-Splitting Strike to shape the Underworld and carve the Nine Springs. 255
• Prepared Postnatal Ancestor Witches and the Du Tian Shen Sha Banner so the Witch Clan could continue forming the Pangu True Body after she shed her original Ancestor Witch body. 258

Saint-Level Combat Power

Houtu's power rises dramatically after becoming the Earthly Dao Spokesperson.

• Easily captures Bai Chen after Proving the Dao, where previously he could evade her attempts to catch him. 256
• Detected Jieyin and Zhunti immediately despite their attempt to conceal their auras; they concluded that her strength greatly exceeded theirs. 277
• Dismissed the Grand Pure One Laozi as unqualified to challenge her, citing both her superior cultivation and status. 390

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Book of Humans — Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure bestowed by the Earthly Dao upon Houtu after she Proved the Dao. 256
• Book of Life and Death — One half of the Book of Humans; used with the Millennial Reincarnation Brush to suppress the Underworld's fortune. 256
• Millennial Reincarnation Brush — The other half of the Book of Humans; used to stabilize the Underworld. 256
• Du Tian Shen Sha Banner — Used as part of Houtu's contingency for creating Postnatal Ancestor Witches and preserving the Witch Clan's formation. 258

Relationships

• Bai Chen — Close friend, adviser, and frequent source of trouble. He guided her toward her Dao-proving opportunity and spent his Merit and Fortune to help preserve her during the Underworld's creation; Houtu later protects and rewards him. 6 254 256 354
• Nuwa — Houtu's first friend and later political rival. Their friendship deteriorates through competition over Bai Chen, the Witch-Demon conflict, and disputes surrounding Fuxi. 6 303 452 453
• Xuanming — Elder sister and close companion. Houtu often spent time with Xuanming and Bai Chen, and Xuanming supported her throughout the Witch Clan's major affairs. 6 238
• Dijiang and the Twelve Ancestor Witches — Her elder siblings and the core of the Witch Clan. They helped Houtu form the Pangu True Body and contributed their Heaven-Opening Merit to her Dao-proving effort. 254 256
• Ancestor Minghe — Lord of the Asura Path under Houtu. She appointed him to settle the karmic debt created by establishing the Underworld over the Nether Blood Sea. 257
• Dao Ancestor Hongjun — Fellow Dao Spokesperson. They agreed that Saints would not directly intervene in the conflict between the Witch and Demon Clans. 257 258
• Sect Master Tongtian — A wary counterpart in later negotiations. Houtu pressured him into granting the Witch Clan a share of the Five Emperors' Merit and Fortune. 513 514
• Fuxi — Political enemy whose past as the Demon Emperor made him a target of Houtu's judgment. She publicly exposed his role in the Demon Clan's slaughter of humans. 452 453

Story Role / Major Arcs

Dao-Proving and the Underworld

Houtu's central arc is her effort to fill the Primordial Era's missing earthly order. With the Twelve Ancestor Witches, Bai Chen's Merit and Fortune, Pangu Essence Blood, and the borrowed Four Swords of Zhu Xian, she establishes the Underworld and becomes the Earthly Dao Spokesperson. 250 254 255 256

Rule of the Underworld

Following her ascension, Houtu establishes the Six Paths' hierarchy. She appoints Ancestor Minghe as Lord of the Asura Path and Bai Chen as Lord of the Beast Path, while using the Book of Life and Death and Millennial Reincarnation Brush to stabilize the Underworld. 256 257

Witch Clan Protector

Though restricted from openly entering the Witch-Demon struggle, Houtu develops measures to preserve her clan. She creates Postnatal Ancestor Witches, recruits the Asura Clan through Minghe, supports the Witch-Human Race, and considers using indirect intervention to save her siblings. 258 362 397 400

Buzhou Mountain Calamity

Houtu reluctantly joins the Ancestor Witches in praying for Buzhou Mountain's destruction after confirming that its collapse is inevitable. During the resulting catastrophe, she helps suppress the Primordial Great Land and Underworld, blocks the celestial rift with the Treasure Distribution Rock, and assists in preventing further devastation. 376 385 387 388

Human Race and Reincarnation Affairs

As ruler of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, Houtu becomes deeply involved in the Human Race's later development. She exposes Fuxi's past as the Demon Emperor, investigates unlawful reincarnations, restores Hongyun's true spirit in exchange for future merit, and demands shares of the Merit and Fortune tied to the Five Emperors. 452 458 507 514

Notable Quotes

“Earthly Dao above, I, Houtu, shall Prove the Dao and become a Saint, the spokesperson for the Earthly Dao!” 256

“I am the ruler of the Underworld. I created the entire Underworld, and I am the law of the Underworld!” 459

Trivia

• Houtu initially considered Bai Chen to be “fat” and was the first to confirm that his round belly was not merely fur. 5
• Bai Chen's use of Huai Wood Fruits to enhance his body was identified by Houtu, despite his insistence that eating the fruits counted as cultivation. 239
• She is repeatedly described as the youngest and most doted-on member of the Twelve Ancestor Witches. 13 125
• Houtu's ascension was so consequential that killing her before she established the Underworld would have incurred catastrophic karma and left the Primordial Era incomplete. 282