Primordial Wilderness Strife Arises, Witch Clan Seeks to Establish Itself

The Three Pure Ones were the first to rise and leave, transforming into three streams of clear qi that vanished beyond the palace gates in an instant.

Di Jun and Tai Yi exchanged a glance, golden light flashing around them as they turned into two long rainbows, speeding away—not toward the Primordial Wilderness, but deep into Chaos.

Nuwa and her brother Fuxi also departed unhurriedly, their steps composed.

Zhen Yuanzi walked up to Wu Ming, clasping his hands in a formal salute.

"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, This Humble One and Fellow Daoist Hongyun take our leave first."

Hongyun also cupped his hands.

Wu Ming nodded slightly. "Take care, both of you."

Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun departed together, their figures soon swallowed by Chaos.

Only Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestor Witches remained in the hall.

"Big Brother, we..." Dijiang stepped forward, looking at Wu Ming.

"Let's go. Back to Buzhou Mountain."

Time in the Primordial Wilderness is unrecorded; cultivation knows no years.

Nearly ten thousand years had passed since the second preaching of the Dao.

Atop Buzhou Mountain, before Pangu Hall.

Twelve towering figures stood, their auras heavy and condensed, threads of law power flickering around them, distorting the surrounding space.

They were the Twelve Ancestor Witches.

"Big Brother, why have you summoned us?" Dijiang stepped forward, his voice deep.

The other Ancestor Witches also looked at Wu Ming, questions in their eyes.

Ten thousand years of digestion, aided by the Dao Origin Divine Pearl and the Fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation, had deepened their understanding of Hongjun's preached Dao and the application of laws.

Though none had taken that critical step into the Golden Immortal of the Origin realm, their mastery of their own laws had undoubtedly advanced by more than one level.

Wu Ming stood up, his gaze sweeping over these future pillars.

"Ten thousand years have passed. You have all digested what you gained from Hongjun's preaching."

Gonggong rumbled, "Some of that old Daoist's talk was pretty obscure, but when I compared it to my own laws, it had some use."

Zhurong grinned. "Right! That Method of Slaying Three Corpses—I found it boring. Much more satisfying to directly control the laws!"

Wu Ming nodded. "Hongjun preaches the path of Immortal Dao. It differs from our Witch Clan's path."

"But the Great Dao has three thousand paths, all leading to the same destination. His Dao still offers us reference points."

He paused, shifting his tone. "Over these ten thousand years, the Sha Qi of the Primordial Wilderness has gradually grown. Have you noticed?"

The Twelve Ancestor Witches nodded in unison.

Houtu spoke softly, "Indeed. When I traveled the Primordial Wilderness, I saw killing and conflict everywhere. Those great powers would destroy entire clans just to seize spiritual treasures."

Qiangliang snorted. "Those fellows are nothing but trouble!"

Zhujiuyin said in a low voice, "Innate Spiritual Treasures stir hearts. Hongjun made clear that slaying the Three Corpses requires relying on spiritual treasures—the higher the grade, the better. Naturally, it drives everyone to fight over them."

Wu Ming said, "Hongjun's preaching divided the paths to enlightenment. Among them, the Method of Slaying Three Corpses requires Innate Spiritual Treasures as anchors."

"Now in the Primordial Wilderness, conflicts between powers large and small over Innate Spiritual Treasures are endless, slaughter rising on all sides."

"Many great powers haven't even decided which path to take, but that doesn't stop them from grabbing the treasures first."

"This endless strife has sharply increased the negative emotions and Sha Qi in the Primordial Wilderness."

"If this continues, it will harm the Primordial Wilderness—and harm our Witch Clan even more."

The Witch Clan was naturally attuned to Sha Qi, but that didn't mean they wanted to live in a world thick with killing intent and malice.

Excessive Sha Qi would cloud the mind and breed chaos.

"Big Brother, what do you mean?" Dijiang asked.

Wu Ming looked around, speaking solemnly. "I have discussed this with Fellow Daoist Zhou Ming. The Sha Qi breeding in the Primordial Wilderness over these ten thousand years is actually an opportunity for our Witch Clan."

Gonggong was puzzled. "Sha Qi? That stuff only makes us more restless. How is it an opportunity?"

"Sha Qi erodes the Primordial Wilderness, driving the nature of all living things into chaos—it is a great disruption to the order of heaven and earth," Wu Ming explained. "This is a sickness of the Primordial Wilderness."

"The Witch Clan are descendants of Pangu, bearing the duty to guard the Primordial Wilderness."

"Big Brother, what do you plan to do?" Dijiang asked.

"I intend to Establish the Witch Clan." Wu Ming uttered three words.

"Establish the Witch Clan?" Zhurong jumped up first, his voice booming. "Big Brother, are you joking? We were born as the Witch Clan, blood descendants of Father God Pangu—why do we need to 'establish' it again?"

"Exactly!" Gonggong agreed. "We are the Witch Clan. Do we need to prove it to anyone?"

The other Ancestor Witches also looked confused.

In their view, the existence of the Witch Clan was a matter of natural law—they were the Pangu Orthodox Sect. Why go through the trouble of "Establishing the Clan"? That seemed like something only weak clans would do.

Wu Ming had anticipated this reaction.

He calmly explained: "This 'establishing' is not that 'establishing.'"

"It is not to declare our existence, but to make clear to this Primordial World, to the vague Great Dao, and even to the Heavenly Dao, the positioning and path of my Witch Clan."

"Positioning? Path?" Qiangliang frowned. "My Witch Clan controls laws, tempers our flesh, and follows the will of Father God—isn't that our path?"

"It is, but it's not enough." Wu Ming shook his head.

"Hongjun divided four paths to prove Dao, which seems to give all beings a choice, but in truth, it hides his schemes."

"Proving Dao by Force is indeed difficult; no one in the Primordial World has succeeded."

"Proving Dao by Severing Three Corpses requires an Innate Spiritual Treasure, and the Saint positions have long been predetermined."

"Under the Heavenly Dao, aside from the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti, no one can become a Saint through this path. If my Witch Clan walks this road, there is absolutely no chance of Sainthood."

"Proving Dao by Merit seems feasible, but what counts as great merit? The standard is set by the Heavenly Dao—vague and elusive."

"Only Proving Dao by Law best matches our foundation. But Hongjun also said this path has been mostly blocked, making it extremely difficult."

Wu Ming paused, then continued: "Why is it difficult? Because the Heavenly Dao does not permit it! The Saint positions are fixed, and the Heavenly Dao does not wish for any more powerful beings beyond its control to appear."

"If my Witch Clan wishes to walk the path of Proving Dao by Law, we cannot merely cultivate in seclusion. We must gain the recognition of Heaven and Earth, gather the clan's Destiny, and thereby break through the Heavenly Dao's restrictions!"

"Establishing the Clan is the first step."

"We must proclaim to the Primordial World that my Witch Clan is not only the descendants of Pangu but also a part of this Primordial World!"

"At the moment of Establishing the Clan, in the name of Pangu's descendants, we will swear an oath to Heaven and Earth."

"An oath?" Qiangliang frowned. "What is the oath for?"

Wu Ming's gaze sharpened: "The Witch Clan shall take it upon itself to cleanse the Primordial Sha Qi and regulate the Primordial Earth Veins, contributing to the development of the Primordial World!"

"With this oath, we will gain the recognition of Heaven and Earth, receive merit, and condense the Destiny of my Witch Clan!"

The hall fell silent.

The Twelve Ancestor Witches were all intelligent beings. With Wu Ming having spelled it out so clearly, how could they not grasp the deeper meaning?

"If Big Brother says so... then I agree." Houtu was the first to speak.

Zhujiuyin also nodded: "Retreat in order to advance, gain merit and Destiny, protect the clan, and pave the way for Proving Dao by Law... This plan is feasible."

Dijiang pondered for a moment, his gaze firm: "Since Big Brother says so, then let's do it."

Zhurong scratched his head. Though he still found it troublesome, he understood it was to counter the "Heavenly Dao's restrictions" and for "Proving Dao by Law," so he no longer objected.

"Fine! Whatever Big Brother says, we'll do it!"

Gonggong snorted but said nothing more, effectively conceding.

Seeing this, the other Ancestor Witches nodded in agreement one after another.

"Good." Wu Ming saw his goal achieved. "Since no one objects, we will choose an auspicious day, right here at Buzhou Mountain, before Pangu Hall, to formally establish my Witch Clan!"

"This matter should not be delayed. Let it be set for a hundred years from now!"

"Yes, Big Brother!" the Twelve Ancestor Witches answered in unison.