"Since that's the case, our Demon Clan will not interfere with the Witch Clan, and vice versa. We'll each develop independently and work together for the benefit of the Primordial Wilderness!"
He said this aloud, but inwardly, he sneered.
Not contend? Who are you trying to fool? Once your Witch Clan clears the baleful qi, repairs the ley lines, gains more merit, and grows stronger, will you really be willing to settle for less?
Taiyi was still displeased, but Di Jun had spoken, so he could only snort coldly and say no more.
Nuwa and Fuxi stood to one side without interrupting.
Wu Ming nodded slightly. "That's for the best. I hope our two clans can coexist peacefully and work together to contribute to the development of the Primordial Wilderness."
With that, he led the Twelve Ancestor Witches away.
Watching the Witch Clan leave, Taiyi could not help saying, "Big Brother, are we really letting them go just like that? Zhurong was far too arrogant!"
A trace of severity flashed through Di Jun's eyes, but quickly faded. He said in a deep voice, "There's no hurry."
"The Witch Clan is powerful, and they have Father God Pangu's legacy and merit protecting them. Now is not the time for an all-out war. Let them clear the baleful qi and repair the ley lines first. That will also count as cleaning up the courtyard for my Demon Clan's future unification of the Primordial Wilderness."
He looked toward the vast Heaven Court and at the countless members of the Demon Clan who had submitted below. His eyes were filled with ambition.
"Pass down my order. Organize the Heaven Court, divide the departments, and confer titles upon the Demon Gods! Within a thousand years, I want the Demon Clan's banners planted throughout the stars of the universe!"
"Yes, Big Brother!" Taiyi replied, his fighting spirit soaring.
After leaving the Heaven Court, they headed back toward Buzhou Mountain.
Zhurong was still grumbling. "Big Brother, why did you stop me just now? You should've let Taiyi see what I, Zhurong, am capable of. What a joke! He got a little merit and really started thinking he was something special?"
Gonggong chimed in, "Exactly! Big Brother, you're far too easygoing!"
"That Di Jun and Taiyi obtained so much merit, even more than we did when Establishing the Clan! Why should they get that?"
"Clearing the baleful qi and repairing the ley lines are exhausting, thankless work. They just wag their tongues and say they'll manage heaven and earth, and merit comes raining down as if it costs nothing!"
"The Heavenly Dao is too unfair! It's clearly taking sides!"
Qiangliang, Shebishi, and the other Ancestral Witches were also filled with indignation. Clearly, they could not let go of the fact that the Demon Clan had obtained more merit.
Wu Ming did not slow his steps. His voice was calm, revealing no joy or anger.
"What meaning is there in fighting with them over a momentary grievance?"
He turned his head and glanced at his emotionally agitated younger brothers and sisters.
"The Heavenly Dao is favoring the Demon Clan and supporting them in fighting our Witch Clan. That much is obvious."
"If you rush over and fight Taiyi now, what will it accomplish even if you win?"
"Will it make the Heavenly Dao take back the merit it gave the Demon Clan? Or will it give our Witch Clan an additional share of Destiny?"
Zhurong was momentarily speechless. He opened his mouth, but could not find anything to say in rebuttal.
That was right. So what if they won? Other than venting their anger, it would be completely useless.
Wu Ming continued, "What we need to do now isn't clash head-on with them. We need to hurry, fulfill our oath, clear the baleful qi, repair the ley lines, accumulate merit, and increase our strength."
"As long as our Witch Clan's merit is profound enough and our Destiny is prosperous enough, the Heavenly Dao will have its reservations and won't dare to easily bring a calamity down upon our clan."
Dijiang, the Space Ancestral Witch, frowned and asked, "Big Brother, what about the Demon Clan? Are we just going to let them develop? They have obtained the Heaven Court and merit, and they're uniting the countless demons with great ambition. In the future, I'm afraid..."
The corners of Wu Ming's lips curved upward. "The Demon Clan wants to rule all living beings and establish order? Heh. The Primordial Wilderness is so vast, and there are countless unruly individuals."
"The Primordial Wilderness has never been a place where anyone could become dominant simply by wishing to stand alone at the top."
"But..." Houtu was somewhat worried. "The Demon Clan is powerful, and they have the Heaven Court as their foundation. What if they clash with our clan in the future..."
"Conflict is unavoidable, but we may not be their only opponents."
"The Primordial Wilderness is a lively place. There's no shortage of people who want to play the leading role."
"We only need to do our own part well."
"Don't forget, that Dao Ancestor in Zixiao Palace once personally conferred the title of leader of the male immortals upon someone."
"That One is currently above the East Sea, gathering quite a number of immortals and gods."
Thoughts turned in Wu Ming's mind. Of course, he still needed to provide East Prince Gong with some appropriate assistance. Otherwise, he would not be able to contend with the Demon Clan.
The Twelve Ancestor Witches suddenly understood.
"East Prince Gong!" Zhurong slapped his thigh, scattering sparks everywhere. "That's right! There's still that fellow!"
"Hahaha! Big Brother, brilliant! Truly brilliant!"
Gonggong also chuckled. "Wonderful! Let them fight among themselves!"
Dijiang and the others nodded as well, increasingly admiring Wu Ming's far-sighted planning.
Qiangliang, Tianwu, and the other Ancestral Witches also nodded repeatedly, their eyes filled with respect as they looked at Wu Ming.
Big Brother was indeed Big Brother. He really did think far ahead!
Dijiang pondered before saying, "Big Brother, you mean that our Witch Clan's focus in the future should be fulfilling our oath, accumulating merit, and increasing our strength, without actively participating in the struggle for supremacy in the Primordial Wilderness?"
"Exactly."
Wu Ming stopped and turned to look at his twelve brothers and sisters. His expression became solemn.
"Remember, our Witch Clan is not taking the path of contending for hegemony over the Primordial Wilderness!"
"What's so good about contending for hegemony over the Primordial Wilderness?"
"Have you forgotten the Dragon-Phoenix-Qilin Calamity?"
"How powerful were the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans? They fought for supremacy over the Primordial Wilderness until heaven and earth collapsed and the sun and moon lost their light!"
"And what was the result?"
"The experts of the three clans were almost completely wiped out. Their Destiny declined, and they bore immeasurable Karma. The surviving members of their clans are still struggling bitterly to repay that Karma, making even cultivation exceedingly difficult!"
"This is the outcome of contending for hegemony over the Primordial Wilderness!"
The Ancestral Witches felt their hearts turn cold as they listened. Although the Dragon-Phoenix-Qilin Calamity had taken place long ago, its brutality remained an indelible shadow in the hearts of the Primordial Wilderness's living beings. They had also heard something of the three clans' fate.
Wu Ming continued, "Our Witch Clan was formed from the Essence Blood of Father God Pangu. We were born in control of laws, with powerful physical bodies. This is our foundation and our advantage!"
"Proving the Dao by Law and Proving Dao by Force—these are the paths best suited to our Witch Clan!"
"Isn't Proving the Dao by Law a far better choice? Why insist on contending for some damn hegemonic position and covering yourselves in Karma?"
Wu Ming pressed further. "Think about Dao Ancestor Hongjun."
"What kind of figure was Dao Ancestor? A heaven-gifted genius with profound roots and foundation. Do you think he never wanted to take the path of Proving the Dao by Law?"
"But what happened in the end?"
"Wasn't it because of the Dao-Devil War? Luohu self-destructed on the Western Continent, destroying the Western Ancestral Vein. Although Hongjun won, he consequently became burdened with enormous cause and effect and Karma."
"With Karma entangling him and blocking his Path of Laws, he ultimately had no choice but to compromise with the Heavenly Dao, become a Saint through Severing Three Corpses, and merge with the Heavenly Dao!"
"Even Dao Ancestor was forced to change paths because of Karma. How much better do you think our Witch Clan's fate would be than that of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans if we also took the path of contending for hegemony and became tainted by boundless Karma?"
"When that time came, forget Proving the Dao by Law—even preserving the Witch Clan's legacy would be a problem!"
"Clearing the baleful qi, repairing the ley lines, and obtaining merit are our means of protecting ourselves and our way of building up our foundation."
"And our ultimate goal is to rely on our Witch Clan's own advantages, comprehend the laws, break through all laws with force, and prove the Hunyuan Dao Fruit!"
His words rang out with force, leaving all the Ancestral Witches deep in thought.
The temptation of contending for hegemony over the Primordial Wilderness was certainly enormous, but the brutality of the Dragon-Phoenix-Qilin Calamity and the twists and turns of Hongjun's path to proving the Dao were laid plainly before them.
Compared with the illusory position of hegemon over the Primordial Wilderness, controlling their own fate and pursuing the peak of the Great Dao through Proving the Dao by Law seemed more tangible and more in line with the Witch Clan's foundations.
"Big Brother is right." Dijiang nodded first. "We were previously too attached to appearances."
Zhujiuyin also slowly said, "Proving the Dao by Law is the proper path. Accumulating merit, stabilizing ourselves, and watching how things develop—this is the best strategy."
Houtu said softly, "We will heed Big Brother's teachings."
Even Zhurong and Gonggong, the most combative of them all, merely scratched their heads and stopped clamoring to cause trouble for the Demon Clan.
"All right. It's good that you understand now." Wu Ming waved his hand.
"After we return, each of you must restrain your clansmen and work twice as hard. Put the matter of accumulating merit into practice."
"The Primordial Wilderness is vast, and there are many opportunities. The era belonging to our Witch Clan has only just begun."
With that, Wu Ming said no more. He flew toward Buzhou Mountain, with the Twelve Ancestor Witches following closely behind.