After Zhou Ming entered seclusion, Wu Ming did not remain in Pangu Hall for long.
Wu Ming left Pangu Hall and headed straight for Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain.
Longevity Mountain was still wreathed in immortal qi, with countless auspicious clouds glowing in the sky.
Zhen Yuanzi seemed to have sensed his arrival long ago and was already waiting outside the temple gate.
Wu Ming pressed down the head of his cloud and landed before Zhen Yuanzi.
"Daoist Friend Wu Ming, it has been a while. I hope you've been well." Zhen Yuanzi rose to greet him, wearing a gentle smile.
Wu Ming bowed to Zhen Yuanzi. "Daoist Friend Zhen Yuanzi, I came to return the Earth Book."
He handed the Earth Book back to Zhen Yuanzi.
Zhen Yuanzi accepted the Earth Book and nodded. "Sorry for the trouble of making you come all this way."
"It was only right." Wu Ming said, "I borrowed your treasure this time and found what I needed. It was all thanks to your assistance. The Witch Clan is deeply grateful."
Zhen Yuanzi waved his hand. "There's no need to be so polite, Daoist Friend. We've known each other for many years. It was just a minor matter, not worth mentioning."
"Please!" Zhen Yuanzi turned sideways and led Wu Ming into the temple.
Zhen Yuanzi personally poured Wu Ming a cup of Spirit Tea.
"Daoist Friend, was your journey smooth?"
Wu Ming picked up the teacup, took a light sip, and nodded. "It was fairly smooth. There were some twists and turns, but in the end, I found what I was looking for."
Zhen Yuanzi was a perceptive man and did not press for details. Instead, he began discussing the general situation in the Primordial Wilderness.
"Alas, the Primordial Wilderness seems peaceful these days, but beneath the surface, undercurrents are surging." Zhen Yuanzi let out a soft sigh.
"On the Demon Clan's side, Di Jun and Taiyi are extraordinary figures. They're unifying the Demon Clan faster and faster. I'm afraid it won't be long before the entire Demon Clan is bound together as one."
"This poor Daoist predicts that within ten thousand years at most, the Demon Clan's power will surely reach its peak."
Wu Ming nodded in agreement. "Daoist Friend, you're not wrong."
"After unifying the Demon Clan and gathering immeasurable Destiny, Di Jun and Taiyi may be able to use the Demon Clan's vast Destiny to advance their cultivation further and enter the mid-stage of the Quasi-Saint realm."
"When that time comes, with the two brothers joining forces and the entire Demon Clan supporting them, I'm afraid there will be few forces in the Primordial Wilderness capable of stopping them."
Zhen Yuanzi looked at Wu Ming and asked tentatively, "The Witch Clan... can't do it either?"
"Daoist Friend, don't forget that the Witch Clan still has Daoist Friend Zhou Ming holding down the fort."
"With Daoist Friend Zhou Ming's unfathomable cultivation..."
In his view, with Zhou Ming present, the Witch Clan should have nothing to fear from the Demon Clan.
Hearing this, Wu Ming merely chuckled and shook his head.
He set down his teacup, his tone calm.
"Daoist Friend Zhen Yuanzi, you've misunderstood."
"My Witch Clan has never once thought of participating in this struggle for supremacy in the Primordial Wilderness."
"Nor do we have any intention of ruling the Primordial Wilderness."
"We Thirteen Ancestral Witches were born bearing the legacy of Father God Pangu. When we established the clan, we swore an oath to the heavens and earth of the Primordial Wilderness."
"The meaning of our Witch Clan's existence is to guard the earth, regulate the ley lines, refine the baleful qi of the Primordial Wilderness, and protect the Primordial Wilderness—not to fight for power and profit or engage in endless slaughter."
"Contend for supremacy? That isn't something our Witch Clan should do."
Zhen Yuanzi's brows furrowed slightly. Looking at Wu Ming's calm face, he slowly said, "Daoist Friend, your intentions are good. I also believe that the Witch Clan has no desire to contend for supremacy."
"But... that may be what you think. The two from the Demon Clan may not think the same way."
"How can one tolerate another's snoring beside one's own bed?"
"The Witch Clan occupies the most vital lands of the Primordial Wilderness, and your strength is so formidable. In Di Jun and Taiyi's eyes, you are the greatest obstacle to their unification of the Primordial Wilderness!"
"Even if you don't provoke them, they will inevitably see you as thorns in their sides and daggers in their flesh!"
"Whether or not the Witch Clan desires to contend for supremacy, the Demon Clan will come knocking sooner or later. You and the Witch Clan... are bound to fight!"
"When that time comes, even if you want to avoid it, I'm afraid there will be nowhere to hide. A great battle will be unavoidable!"
Zhen Yuanzi's tone carried a hint of gravity.
Wu Ming's face still wore a calm smile, as though he was not surprised by Zhen Yuanzi's concerns.
He nodded. "What Daoist Friend said is naturally clear to me."
"How could we not know what Di Jun and Taiyi are thinking?"
"But the Demon Clan... still isn't qualified to fight our Witch Clan in a true battle."
Zhen Yuanzi's heart jolted.
What an audacious claim!
Although he knew the Witch Clan was powerful and that it had an enigmatic existence like Zhou Ming, saying that they were unqualified to fight after facing the unified Demon Clan Heavenly Court was still a bit too...
Wu Ming continued, "Daoist Friend, rest assured."
"When that day truly comes, as long as we hit them until it hurts and frighten them badly enough, they'll naturally behave themselves."
"As the saying goes, strike one punch to open the way, so a hundred punches won't come."
"Only by making them personally experience the price of becoming enemies with our Witch Clan will they truly rein in those unwarranted ambitions."
Zhen Yuanzi was slightly shaken as he listened to Wu Ming.
Good heavens. His words sounded casual, but the murderous intent within them was chilling.
Hit them until it hurts? Make them behave?
It seemed that the Witch Clan had long since prepared a response—and was ready to strike hard.
"But... even if you hurt them badly, I'm afraid it still won't eliminate their wariness." Zhen Yuanzi still had some doubts. "As long as the Witch Clan exists, they probably won't be able to rest easy."
Wu Ming set down his teacup and looked at Zhen Yuanzi.
"So after hurting them, we'll also need to prove something to the entire Primordial Wilderness."
"Prove that our Witch Clan truly has no desire to contend for supremacy."
"As long as we make them—and all living beings in the Primordial Wilderness—certain of this, they naturally won't keep hounding our Witch Clan."
"If we don't hurt them, they won't believe us."
"And besides..." Wu Ming paused. "This punch isn't merely meant to intimidate the Demon Clan."
"It's also meant to intimidate the petty schemers in the Primordial Wilderness who harbor ulterior motives."
"To make them understand that although our Witch Clan does not contend for supremacy, we are by no means a soft persimmon that anyone can squeeze!"
Zhen Yuanzi understood.
First, establish authority through thunderous methods, then make their position clear—combining grace with might.
But...
Zhen Yuanzi asked curiously, "Daoist Friend, how do you plan to... prove it?"
How could the Witch Clan prove to the entire Primordial Wilderness that it had no desire to contend for supremacy? This was no easy matter.
Wu Ming smiled mysteriously. "Hehe, as for that..."
"When the time comes, Daoist Friend will naturally know."
Seeing this, Zhen Yuanzi did not press further.
After the two remained silent for a moment, the topic naturally shifted to the future Sages in Zixiao Palace.
"Speaking of which, Daozu accepted the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti—six Daoist Friends—as disciples and even bestowed Hongmeng Purple Qi upon them. This is truly an enormous Creation."
Zhen Yuanzi sighed emotionally. "The position of Sage... Of the countless living beings in the Primordial Wilderness, only these few will ultimately be able to reach it."
"It's just that I wonder which of the six will be the first to take that step and attain Sainthood."
Becoming a Saint!
That was the ultimate realm dreamed of by every great expert in the Primordial Wilderness.
Once someone became a Saint, the entire structure of the Primordial Wilderness would surely undergo earth-shaking changes.
Hearing this, Wu Ming picked up his teacup and took another sip, his movements unhurried.
"Attain Sainthood? Heh, it's not that easy."
"Hongmeng Purple Qi is only a key—the qualification to become a Saint. To truly push open that door, one also needs tremendous opportunity and merit."
"In this poor Daoist's view, those six are still far from attaining Sainthood."
Zhen Yuanzi could tell that Wu Ming's words held a deeper meaning and hurriedly asked, "Oh? Daoist Friend Wu Ming, do you seem to know something?"
"Could it be that you know roughly when they will attain Sainthood?"
Wu Ming shook his head. "This poor Daoist naturally does not know the exact date."
"But..."
He paused before continuing, "What I can say for certain is that the opportunity for them to attain Sainthood has not yet arrived."
"When the time is not right, no matter how hard they cultivate or how many profound mysteries they comprehend, they will be unable to take that final step."
"So the Primordial Wilderness will not see a Saint appear in the short term."
After hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi understood.
It seemed that Daoist Friend Wu Ming had a far greater grasp of the Heavenly Secrets and the general course of events than ordinary people.
Since he said the opportunity had not arrived, it was probably truly not yet time.
This eased his mind somewhat.
At least before the Sages emerged, the situation in the Primordial Wilderness would not completely spiral out of control.
The two chatted idly for a while longer, exchanging some insights on cultivation.
Wu Ming rose to take his leave. "Daoist Friend Zhen Yuanzi, I've troubled you for quite some time. This poor Daoist should also be leaving."
Zhen Yuanzi stood as well. "Take care, Daoist Friend."
He escorted Wu Ming to the temple gate.
"Daoist Friend, if you have free time in the future, come visit my Wuzhuang Temple more often."
Wu Ming nodded. "I certainly will."
With that, he bowed to Zhen Yuanzi, then transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.