Zhou Ming continued climbing toward the higher reaches of Buzhou Mountain with Zhurong, Gonggong, Xuanming, and Houtu.
The higher they went, the heavier and more immense the pressure from Pangu's Will became.
It was as if every step carried an invisible divine mountain on their shoulders.
"Phew... ha... Big Brother, the pressure up here... is way too much!" Zhurong panted heavily, the veins on his forehead bulging.
Gonggong, meanwhile, said nothing. He climbed upward one footprint at a time, huffing and puffing, clearly nearing his limit.
Xuanming and Houtu's pretty faces were even paler. Their delicate bodies trembled slightly, and every step was extraordinarily difficult.
Zhou Ming glanced back at them. He, too, felt immense pressure, but his realm was higher, and his resistance to this will pressure was much stronger.
"How far is this?" Zhou Ming said in a deep voice. "This is what Father God's spine transformed into, containing the supreme power with which Father God created the world!"
As he climbed, he silently calculated in his mind.
Buzhou Mountain really was a good place.
The higher they went, the denser Father God's Will became, and the better it was at tempering their bodies and wills. In the future, he would have to make his younger siblings come and climb more often.
It could temper their wills and, incidentally... help them "build a relationship" with Father God's Will.
If Father God's Will happened to be in a good mood one day, or was moved by their "filial devotion" and dropped down a few more treasures, they would make a killing!
At this thought, Zhou Ming's gaze involuntarily drifted toward Gonggong, who was craning his neck and stubbornly climbing upward.
However, I have to keep an eye on this blockhead, Zhou Ming muttered inwardly.
I absolutely can't let him crash into this pillar supporting the heavens and break it.
He made up his mind. In the future, he had to give Gonggong some special "attention" and absolutely could not let this hardheaded fellow follow the old path of crashing into and breaking the heavenly pillar.
"Hang in there, everyone!" Zhou Ming encouraged them.
"The higher we go, the greater the benefits for us!"
"Carefully sense Father God's Will. It will help us comprehend the Great Dao and awaken the potential hidden deep within our bloodlines!"
Finally, following the vague guidance of that will in his mind, Zhou Ming stopped in an area where the will pressure had almost solidified.
"It should be somewhere around here!"
"Search carefully, everyone. Father God said that the Fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation is somewhere nearby!"
"Look for something? You got it!"
As soon as he heard that they were looking for a treasure bestowed by Father God, Zhurong's spirits immediately lifted. Most of his fatigue from climbing vanished, and he began looking around enthusiastically.
Gonggong also shook his head and swept his sharp gaze over every inch of the mountain rocks.
Xuanming and Houtu were even more meticulous. They bent down and carefully examined the patterns on the rocks.
The four Ancestral Witches searched for quite some time, but did not even turn up a decent stone, let alone any Fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation.
"Big Brother, there's nothing here?" Zhurong scratched his head in frustration.
Zhou Ming frowned, once again calming his mind and trying to communicate with the indistinct Pangu's Will.
After a moment, his eyes suddenly snapped open, and he pointed toward the edge of the platform.
"Over here, beneath that inconspicuous bluestone!"
He pointed toward a blue rock at the edge of the platform. It was utterly unremarkable and even somewhat weathered.
Zhurong and Gonggong immediately rushed over. Braving the pressure of Pangu's Will, they worked together to move the bluestone aside.
Sure enough! Beneath the bluestone lay a jade-colored fragment only the size of a palm. Its edges were incomplete, yet it quietly rested there, suffused with profound Dao Rhythm!
The space around the fragment seemed to become unreal. Vaguely, phantoms of Great Dao laws appeared to be forming and fading within it!
The Fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation! It recorded the mysteries of the Three Thousand Great Daos and was one of the supreme treasures at the very peak of the Primordial Wilderness!
"Quick! Give thanks to Father God!" Zhou Ming reacted the fastest. He immediately turned toward the summit of Buzhou Mountain and bowed deeply and respectfully once more.
This time, he was not putting on an act. His gratitude came from the bottom of his heart.
Father God really does care about us! Zhou Ming thought happily. This "Cry Mountain" plan was a tremendous success!
Zhurong, Gonggong, Xuanming, and Houtu hurriedly followed him in bowing and giving thanks.
"Thank you, Father God!"
Zhou Ming did not dare delay. He immediately mobilized the power of the laws within his body, condensing it into an invisible hand. It wrapped around the Fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation and isolated every trace of its aura.
This thing was far too important. Not the slightest trace of its aura could leak out. Otherwise, Dao Ancestor Hongjun of the future would probably sense its existence immediately.
It was fine within Buzhou Mountain and Pangu Hall, where Father God's aura could conceal it. Once they left this area, however, things would be difficult to predict.
"Let's go! Down the mountain! Back to Pangu Hall!"
Upon returning to Pangu Hall, Zhou Ming did not linger at all. He went straight into the deepest part of Pangu Hall and carefully placed the Fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation there. It was the place with the densest Pangu aura in the entire hall, and also the safest place.
Only after finishing all this did he finally relax completely.
"All right." Zhou Ming turned around and looked at the four Ancestral Witches, who were still somewhat excited and curious.
"Go cultivate properly and consolidate what you gained from climbing Buzhou Mountain this time."
"Most importantly, calm your minds and try to comprehend the inheritance imprint Father God left deep within your bloodlines!"
"That is where the true foundation of our Witch Clan lies!"
"Yes, Big Brother!" the four answered in unison. Each found a place and impatiently began secluded cultivation.
Zhou Ming also sat down cross-legged and began organizing his gains and planning his next steps.
He had obtained the Fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation. He also had clear leads regarding the Pure World White Lotus. Although he needed to borrow Zhen Yuanzi's Earth Book to find it, he at least had a direction now.
It seemed that once that future Earth Immortal Ancestor was born, he absolutely had to find a way to build a good relationship with him.
Time flowed on. In the blink of an eye, ten thousand years passed.
On this day, space outside Pangu Hall rippled slightly.
Dijiang returned with Qiangliang, Tianwu, Xizi, and Feng, all travel-worn.
Close behind him, Zhujiuyin also led Gou Mang, Rushou, and Yanzi into the hall.
After ten thousand years apart, the Twelve Ancestral Witches had finally gathered in Pangu Hall once more.
Zhou Ming also awoke from secluded cultivation. Looking at his younger siblings before him, he nodded in satisfaction.
Ten thousand years of traveling and cultivation had allowed them all to grow considerably. Their auras were more condensed, their eyes held less naivety, and they had gained a measure of composure.
"Big Brother! We're back!" Dijiang strode in, his voice booming.
"It's good that you're back. You've all worked hard." Zhou Ming spoke gently.
"Tell me about your situations first."
Dijiang stepped forward first and waved his large hand. Various items flashing with treasure light piled up in a corner of the hall.
"Big Brother, look! We gained a great deal this time!" Dijiang thumped his chest and spoke as if seeking praise.
"Various unusual spirit roots, rare ores, top-grade materials for refining artifacts, and quite a few powerful treasures!"
Zhou Ming swept over them with his Divine Thought and nodded slightly.
Although most were merely acquired items of uneven quality, they were still quite good.
Several had reached the Innate level. Though they were only low-grade and mid-grade, they were already extremely rare gains for the Witch Clan as it currently stood.
"Not bad. You did very well. You've worked hard." Zhou Ming praised them.
"It was only right! For the Witch Clan!" Dijiang grinned. He was delighted to be able to share Big Brother's burdens.
On the other side, Zhujiuyin, who had remained silent all this time, also stepped forward. He respectfully returned the Dao Origin Divine Pearl to Zhou Ming.
"Big Brother, we followed your instructions and traveled through the lands of the West, using the Dao Origin Divine Pearl to organize the ley lines and absorb and refine the baleful energy."
"The baleful energy and resentment in the West were incredibly heavy, making the process quite difficult. However, we accumulated a great deal of merit in the process, all of which has been stored inside the Dao Origin Divine Pearl."
Zhou Ming accepted the Dao Origin Divine Pearl and extended his Divine Thought inside. He saw a vast and pure force of merit gathered within the pearl's inner space. Although it could not compare with the legendary vastness of Nuwa creating humanity or Houtu establishing Reincarnation, it was still an enormous fortune!
"Very good!" Zhou Ming nodded in satisfaction. "This merit will greatly benefit the future development of our Witch Clan!"
With the Twelve Ancestral Witches gathered once more, Pangu Hall immediately became lively.
Thirteen figures stood solemnly in the center of the hall.
"Brothers and sisters." Zhou Ming looked at the twelve Ancestral Witches before him, whose auras had grown increasingly powerful, and his expression turned serious.
"Now, the baleful energy between heaven and earth in the Primordial Wilderness is gradually settling, and a new era is about to arrive."
"Our Witch Clan must also make plans for the future."
"For now, our foremost task is to increase our strength!"
"We must quickly awaken the inheritance imprint Father God left deep within our bloodlines and raise our cultivation realms!"
"As for those few Innate Spiritual Treasures Dijiang and the others brought back..."
"I will distribute them appropriately according to the laws each of you controls and your actual needs, prioritizing those who need them most."
Under Zhou Ming's arrangements, the Witch Clan once again entered a period of painstaking cultivation.