The Three Pure Ones were the first to rise and leave. They transformed into three streams of Clear Qi and vanished outside the palace gates in an instant.
Di Jun and Taiyi exchanged a glance. Golden light flashed around them, and they transformed into two streaks of light that sped away. Their destination was not the Primordial Wilderness, but the depths of Chaos.
Nuwa and her brother Fuxi also departed, their steps unhurried.
Zhen Yuanzi walked up to Wu Ming and performed a formal bow.
"Daoist Friend Wu Ming, Fellow Daoist Hong Yun and I will take our leave first."
Hong Yun also cupped his hands.
Wu Ming nodded slightly. "Take care, fellow Daoists."
Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun left together, their figures soon disappearing into Chaos.
Only Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestor Witches remained in the hall.
"Big Brother, we..." Dijiang took a step forward and looked at Wu Ming.
"Let's go. Back to Buzhou Mountain."
In the Primordial Wilderness, years were not recorded; in cultivation, time had no meaning.
Nearly ten thousand years had passed since the end of the second lecture on the Dao.
At the summit of Buzhou Mountain, before Pangu Hall.
Twelve towering figures stood there, their auras solemn and heavy. The power of their Laws flickered faintly around them, causing the surrounding space to distort slightly.
They were none other than the Twelve Ancestor Witches.
"Big Brother, why have you summoned us here?" Dijiang stepped forward and asked in a deep voice.
The other Ancestor Witches also looked toward Wu Ming, their eyes filled with questions.
After ten thousand years of digesting their gains, along with the assistance of the Dao Origin Divine Pearl and the Fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation, they had gained a deeper understanding of the Dao Hongjun had taught and of how to use the Laws.
Although none of them had taken that crucial step into the realm of Primordial Golden Immortal, their control over their respective Laws had undoubtedly improved by more than a little.
Wu Ming rose and swept his gaze over these future pillars of the world.
"Ten thousand years have passed. You have all digested what you gained from Hongjun's lecture."
Gonggong said in his deep, booming voice, "Some of what that old Daoist taught was indeed profound, but when compared against our own Laws, it's still somewhat useful."
Zhurong bared his teeth. "Exactly! That so-called Sever Three Corpses is boring just to hear about. How could it compare to directly controlling the Laws?"
Wu Ming nodded. "Hongjun's lecture covered the path of Immortal cultivation, which differs from the path of our Witch Clan."
"But there are three thousand Great Daos, and all roads lead to the same destination. His Dao still has something we can learn from."
He paused, then changed the subject. "Over these ten thousand years, the baleful energy in the Primordial World has gradually increased. Have you noticed?"
The Twelve Ancestor Witches nodded in unison.
Houtu said softly, "Indeed. When I traveled through the Primordial Wilderness, I found killing and conflict everywhere. Those powerful beings were willing to annihilate entire clans just to compete for spiritual treasures."
Qiangliang snorted. "Those people are such a nuisance!"
Zhujiuyin said in a low voice, "Innate Spiritual Treasures stir the hearts of men. Hongjun made it clear that Severing Three Corpses requires spiritual treasures as aids, and the higher their grade, the better. Naturally, this has driven everyone to fight over them."
Wu Ming said, "In his lecture, Hongjun divided the paths to Prove Dao. Among them, the Method of Slaying Three Corpses requires Innate Spiritual Treasures as its foundation."
"Now, throughout the Primordial Wilderness, conflicts between forces large and small are erupting without end as they compete for Innate Spiritual Treasures."
"Many powerful beings have yet to decide which path to take, but that hasn't stopped them from snatching the treasures first."
"This endless fighting has caused the negative emotions and baleful energy between Heaven and Earth in the Primordial Wilderness to increase sharply."
"If this continues, it will harm the Primordial Wilderness—and harm our Witch Clan even more."
The Witch Clan was naturally compatible with baleful energy, but that did not mean they enjoyed living in a world shrouded in baleful energy and filled with murderous intent.
Excessive baleful energy would affect the mind and breed chaos.
"Big Brother, what do you mean?" Dijiang asked.
Wu Ming looked around at them and spoke solemnly. "I discussed this with Daoist Friend Zhou Ming. Over these ten thousand years, the baleful energy developing in the Primordial Wilderness is actually an opportunity for our Witch Clan."
Gonggong was somewhat puzzled. "Baleful energy? That stuff only makes us more restless. How could it be an opportunity?"
"Baleful energy is corroding the Primordial Wilderness, causing living beings to become increasingly chaotic by nature. It is a tremendous disruption to the order of Heaven and Earth." Wu Ming explained, "This is an illness afflicting the Primordial Wilderness."
"The Witch Clan are descendants of Pangu, and we bear the responsibility of protecting the Primordial Wilderness."
"Big Brother, what are you planning?" Dijiang asked.
"I plan to establish the Witch Clan." Wu Ming uttered the three words.
"Establish the Witch Clan?" Zhurong was the first to leap up. His voice rang out loudly. "Big Brother, are you mistaken? We were born as the Witch Clan, descendants of Father God Pangu's bloodline. Why do we need to 'establish' it again?"
"Exactly!" Gonggong echoed. "We are the Witch Clan. Do we need to prove that to anyone?"
The other Ancestor Witches also looked confused.
In their eyes, the existence of the Witch Clan was only natural. They were the Pangu Orthodox Sect—why go through the needless trouble of "Establishing the Clan"? That seemed like something only weak clans would do.
Wu Ming had expected this reaction.
He calmly explained, "This 'establishing' is not that 'establishing.'"
"It is not about proclaiming our existence. It is about clearly defining the position and path of our Witch Clan to the Primordial World, to the unseen Great Dao, and even to the Heavenly Dao."
"Position? Path?" Qiangliang frowned. "Our Witch Clan controls the Laws, tempers our bodies, and follows Father God's final wishes. Isn't that already our path?"
"Yes, but it is not enough." Wu Ming shook his head.
"Hongjun divided the paths to Prove Dao into four. It seems as though he gave all living beings a choice, but in truth, there were schemes hidden within."
"To Prove Dao by Force is indeed difficult. No one in the Primordial Wilderness has succeeded."
"To Prove Dao by Severing Three Corpses requires Innate Spiritual Treasures, and the Saint positions were already decided in advance."
"Under the Heavenly Dao, aside from the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti, no one can become a Saint through this path. If our Witch Clan takes it, becoming Saints will be absolutely impossible."
"To Prove Dao by Merit seems feasible, but what constitutes great merit? The standard is determined by the Heavenly Dao, making it vague and intangible."
"Only Proving Dao by Law best suits our foundation. But Hongjun also said that this path had already been blocked for the most part, making it exceedingly difficult."
Wu Ming paused, then continued, "Why is it difficult? Because the Heavenly Dao does not permit it! The Saint positions have been decided, and the Heavenly Dao does not want more powerful beings to emerge beyond its control."
"If our Witch Clan wants to succeed in Proving Dao by Law, we cannot merely bury ourselves in bitter cultivation. We must obtain the recognition of Heaven and Earth, gather the Destiny/Fortune of our clan, and use it to break through the restrictions of the Heavenly Dao!"
"And Establishing the Clan is the first step."
"We must proclaim to the Primordial Wilderness that our Witch Clan is not only descended from Pangu, but also a part of the Primordial World!"
"When we establish the clan, we will swear an oath to Heaven and Earth in the Primordial Wilderness in the name of Pangu's descendants."
"An oath?" Qiangliang frowned. "What are we swearing for?"
Wu Ming's gaze sharpened. "The Witch Clan shall take clearing the baleful energy from the Primordial Wilderness as our duty, regulating the earth veins of the Primordial Wilderness, and contributing to the development of the Primordial World!"
"With this oath, we will obtain the recognition of Heaven and Earth, receive merit, and gather the Destiny/Fortune of our Witch Clan!"
The hall fell utterly silent.
The Twelve Ancestor Witches were all intelligent beings. With Wu Ming explaining matters to this extent, how could they fail to understand the deeper meaning?
"If what Big Brother says is true... I agree." Houtu was the first to state her position.
Zhujiuyin also nodded. "Advance by retreating, obtain merit and Destiny/Fortune, protect the clan, and pave the way for Proving Dao by Law... This plan is feasible."
Dijiang pondered for a moment, then his gaze turned resolute. "Since Big Brother has said so, let's do it."
Zhurong scratched his head. Although he still found it somewhat troublesome, he understood that it was meant to resist the "restrictions of the Heavenly Dao" and pursue "Proving Dao by Law," so he no longer objected.
"Fine! Big Brother, whatever you say, we'll do!"
Gonggong snorted and said no more, which counted as tacit agreement.
Seeing this, the other Ancestor Witches also nodded in agreement.
"Good." Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Wu Ming continued, "Since no one objects, let us choose an auspicious day and formally establish our Witch Clan here at Buzhou Mountain, before Pangu Hall!"
"The sooner this matter is done, the better. Let's set it for a hundred years from now!"
"Yes, Big Brother!" the Twelve Ancestor Witches replied in unison.