This Nephew Should Probably Be Discarded

As he spoke, Xuanxiao reached out a finger and gently tapped it on Houtu's forehead.

"This is the Spiritual Vein Devouring Savage Qi Art, which I specially created based on the characteristics of your Witch Clan. Once you learn it, you'll be able to resolve the problem of savage qi."

After Houtu absorbed the Spiritual Vein Devouring Savage Qi Art, a look of pleasant surprise immediately lit up her face, and she said happily, "Thank you, Second Uncle. You're so good to me!"

When Dijiang and the other Ancestral Witches saw how delighted Houtu was, they couldn't help but look curiously at Xuanxiao and Houtu.

Seeing this, Xuanxiao said in exasperation, "Alright, you all have a share. With this Divine Ability, don't go around causing trouble for me anymore. When you have nothing to do, go to all corners of the Primordial Wilderness and help me purify the world's savage qi and sort out the earth veins. Consider it a contribution to your Father God." With that, Xuanxiao lightly pointed at the tops of the Ancestral Witches' heads, transmitting the method of the Spiritual Vein Devouring Savage Qi Art into their minds.

"Heh heh, this savage qi now looks kind of tasty to me." As Zhurong spoke, he unconsciously swallowed his saliva.

Xuanxiao explained helplessly, "I've already lifted the Thunder Nightmare Heart Curse from within you, so you won't loathe savage qi anymore. Moreover, the Spiritual Vein Devouring Savage Qi Art I just passed on to you not only allows you to become more attuned to the earth veins but also lets you use yourselves as furnaces to transform the devoured savage qi into spiritual qi. This will greatly aid your cultivation."

"So you're saying we can eat this savage qi now?" Shebishi stared at the savage qi swirling around them, swallowed his saliva, and asked impatiently.

It wasn't just Shebishi; the other Ancestral Witches also looked at Xuanxiao with eager anticipation, their eyes revealing an undisguised longing.

Xuanxiao looked at the Ancestral Witches in this state and was utterly speechless.

He'd said so much, and all they cared about was whether they could eat the savage qi.

"You can eat it! From now on, go ahead and eat it boldly. Eating savage qi will only benefit you, never harm you." Xuanxiao looked at the Ancestral Witches with a face full of disdain.

"Heh heh heh..." Hearing the satisfactory answer, the Ancestral Witches immediately let out a bout of foolish laughter, then, as if eating spicy strips, they began stuffing handful after handful of the savage qi from the void into their mouths.

Watching the Ancestral Witches like this, Xuanxiao mused to himself: With brains like theirs, they could actually trade blows with the Demon Race and even gain the upper hand—it seems they rely purely on their monstrously tough bodies, comparable to spiritual treasures, and just brute-force their way through everything.

If it came down to strategy, they'd probably be outwitted and crushed by the Demon Race.

Thinking this, Xuanxiao couldn't help but sigh once more.

"Maybe I should just disown this nephew."

He felt that since his birth, today was probably the day he'd sighed the most.

But even if every Ancestral Witch was a "simpleton," they were still his nephews. As their Second Uncle, he had to help them no matter what and absolutely couldn't let them repeat the tragic fate he remembered.

"This is my Disciple, Gou Chen. Your time of birth and your strength are both inferior to his. From now on, when you see him, address him as Senior Brother." Xuanxiao said, pulling Gou Chen beside him and introducing him to the Ancestral Witches.

"Greetings, Junior Brothers and Junior Sister." Gou Chen smiled warmly and greeted the Ancestral Witches gently.

The Ancestral Witches heard Gou Chen's words, looked him up and down, and said, "Even if you are Second Uncle's Disciple, becoming our Senior Brother isn't that easy."

Gou Chen's lips curled slightly, and he asked with interest, "Oh? Then I wonder, Junior Brothers and Junior Sister, what would it take for you to acknowledge me as your Senior Brother?"

"Beat us, and we'll acknowledge you as our Senior Brother." Dijiang stared straight at Gou Chen and declared loudly.

"That works. My strength is a bit above yours, so I won't bully you—all of you come at me together." Gou Chen said with an easy smile.

Seeing the confident expression on Gou Chen's face, the Ancestral Witches couldn't help but shiver in unison and muttered quietly, "Sigh, this Gou Chen really is Second Uncle's Disciple—that expression is exactly like Second Uncle's."

"What's the matter? Junior Brothers and Junior Sister, not making a move? Does that mean you acknowledge me as your Senior Brother?" Gou Chen looked at the motionless Ancestral Witches and deliberately teased them.

"He's not Second Uncle, and his strength is only a bit above ours. There are twelve of us—what's there to fear from him!" The Ancestral Witches shouted as they swarmed toward Gou Chen.

"Ah!"

Before long, the Ancestral Witches were all knocked to the ground by Gou Chen.

"Your cultivation has reached the late stage of Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal!" The twelve Ancestral Witches stared at Gou Chen in shock, their bodies twitching. They never expected that Gou Chen had been hiding his true strength all along.

They were only at the peak of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal. If Gou Chen were at the early stage of Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, they might still have a chance to contend, but with his strength at the middle stage of Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, they were completely outmatched.

"Gou Chen, you sly devil—who taught you to be so petty?" Xuanxiao said, both annoyed and amused, as he watched the Ancestral Witches get taught another lesson.

Hearing Xuanxiao's words, Gou Chen stole a glance at him and thought to himself, "Who else would I have learned this from if not you?"

"Oh, so it was you scheming against us!" The Ancestral Witches finally caught on after hearing Xuanxiao's words, and their faces flushed with anger.

Facing the furious Ancestral Witches, Gou Chen showed no concern at all and said calmly, "The challenge was your idea, and I even let all twelve of you come at me together. It's your own lack of strength—who can you blame for that?"

The Ancestral Witches hesitated at Gou Chen's words, thinking to themselves, "What he says does make sense... Could we have misunderstood him?"

Seeing the Ancestral Witches' expressions, Xuanxiao felt nothing but embarrassment and said irritably, "Enough. Since you're outmatched, just obediently acknowledge Gou Chen as your Senior Brother. Don't stir up any more trouble."

"Greetings, Senior Brother." The Ancestral Witches, now convinced by the beating, exchanged glances and then called out to Gou Chen in unison.

"Since your matters here are settled, come with me. I'll take you to meet your three other brothers." Xuanxiao looked at the Ancestral Witches and said helplessly.

"What brothers do we have!" The Ancestral Witches were stunned by Xuanxiao's words, even pausing in their savage qi-eating.

Gonggong cautiously looked up at Xuanxiao and asked, "Second Uncle, could you be mistaken? Since our birth, there have only been the twelve of us. We've never heard of any other brothers. Second Uncle, you haven't been tricked by someone, have you?"

Xuanxiao shook his head with a smile and patiently explained, "There's no mistake. You were formed from the heart's blood of your elder brother, while your three other brothers—Taiqing Laozi, Yuqing Yuanshi, and Shangqing Tongtian—were formed from your elder brother's Primordial Spirit. You share the same origin, so they are also your brothers."

"Then Second Uncle, take us to see them quickly—I want to spar with them!" The twelve Ancestral Witches' eyes lit up at this news, and they grew wildly excited.