Houtu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Houtu (后土)
Alias(es)	Ancestral Witch Houtu; Empress Ping Xin; Wu Ping Xin
Species/Race	Ancestral Witch; descendant of Pangu 144
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Witch Clan (formerly); Underworld and the Six Paths of Samsara 144
Occupation/Role	Creator and guardian of the Six Paths of Samsara; Lord and later Ancestor of the Earthly Dao 144 276
Status	Exists as Empress Ping Xin; harmonized with the Earthly Dao 144 276
First Appearance	Chapter 20, The Dragon Clan's Arrogance, An Appointment with Goddess Houtu

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Grand Unity Golden Immortal	26	Her cultivation is described as equivalent to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm before the major calamities.
Peak Half-Saint; Saint-level strength within the Six Paths	144	After transforming into Samsara, she severs the Three Corpses and comprehends the laws of Samsara. Outside the Six Paths, she is limited to Peak Half-Saint strength.
Harmony with the Earthly Dao	275 276	Merges with and becomes the Ancestor of the Earthly Dao, directly challenging Hongjun’s control of the Heavenly Dao.

Background / History

Ancestral Witch of the Witch Clan

Houtu is one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, the leaders of the Witch Clan descended from Pangu’s bloodline. The clan was born from the blood pool within Pangu Temple and cultivates its physical body rather than a Primordial Spirit. Houtu frequently mediated the disputes of her fellow Ancestral Witches and worried deeply for the clan’s future. 21 77

She first meets Chen Xuan and Nuwa in a bamboo forest. Though initially unable to see through Chen Xuan’s origins, she becomes curious about his promised “mysterious place” and later generations. 20 21

Learning of the Witch Clan’s Fate

After experiencing knowledge of the future, Houtu reveals that the Witch Clan is fated to become a sacrifice in a future calamity. She attempts to change minor trends by promoting exchange between the Witch and Demon races, including proposing a co-lord to govern the Primordial World, but Di Jun’s rise causes the plan to fail. 51 52 77

Determined to secure outside support for her people, she grants Chen Xuan Ancestral Witch blood and teaches him the Witch Clan’s body-refining path. She later entrusts him with the Nine Revolutions Profound Art, hoping his strength will become a safeguard for the clan. 27 77 78

Transformation into Samsara

Houtu repeatedly resists Hongjun’s efforts to make her transform into Samsara, torn between compassion for suffering souls and the knowledge that doing so would separate her from the Witch Clan. She refuses Immeasurable Daoist’s promises of techniques, treasures, and merit, instead seeking a way to protect her people from the consequences. 137 140

After the collapse of Buzhou Mountain and the devastation of the Witch-Demon conflict, Houtu recognizes that the wandering dead require a true destination. She exploits Immeasurable Daoist’s urgency to obtain Gui Shui Peaches, then proceeds to Yin Mountain and the Sea of Blood to establish the Underworld on her own terms. 143 144

By transforming her body into the Six Paths of Samsara, she gives souls a cycle of rebirth, purifies resentment and malevolent energy, and establishes the Underworld. She renames herself Ping Xin and declares that she will maintain the order of the Six Paths. 144

Appearance

Houtu is first seen as a beautiful ancient goddess in a flowing green robe, with thick black hair and a dignified presence. 20

• True form — Human body with a serpent tail; seven hands behind her back, two hands before her chest, and a soaring serpent held in her hands. 28 144
• Dharma Idol — An immense Ancestral Witch Dharma Idol capable of encompassing heaven and earth. 27
• After Harmony with Dao — Appears in a purple immortal robe with six revolving halos behind her, representing the powers of Samsara, Creation, Yin and Yang, karma, and fate. 276

Personality

Houtu is compassionate, kind, and highly protective of the Witch Clan. The suffering of wronged souls profoundly affects her, yet she initially refuses to abandon her identity and responsibilities as an Ancestral Witch merely to follow the expected course of fate. 137 140

She is also direct and forceful when the Witch Clan or Underworld is threatened. Her failed attempt to unite the Witch and Demon races leaves her disheartened, but it does not weaken her resolve to find a path for her people. 52 77

Despite her divine stature, Houtu is playful and easily won over by good food. Chen Xuan’s grilled dragon meat makes her eager to learn cooking, and she adapts enthusiastically to aspects of later-generation life, including modern food, television, and slang. 21 30 32

Abilities & Skills

Ancestral Witch Physique

As an Ancestral Witch, Houtu possesses an overwhelmingly powerful physical body and does not cultivate a Primordial Spirit.

• The Witch Clan’s body-refining path derives from Pangu’s bloodline. 22 28
• Her physical strength allows her to lift a crashed three-wheeled motorcycle and Chen Xuan with one hand, then leap across a fifty-meter river. 34
• She can teach body-refining techniques and provided Chen Xuan with Ancestral Witch blood to strengthen his body. 22 27

Earthly Dao Authority

Houtu is intrinsically tied to the Earthly Dao and later becomes its controller.

• Before becoming Ping Xin, she identifies herself as one who controls the path of earth. 21
• Her transformation completes a flaw in the Primordial World and establishes an independent Earthly Dao rather than one subordinated to the Heavenly Dao. 144
• Upon harmonizing with the Earthly Dao, she becomes its Ancestor and gains the power to contend with Hongjun. 275 276

Six Paths of Samsara

Houtu’s greatest creation is the Six Paths of Samsara and the Underworld.

• Established the Heavenly Dao, Human Dao, Asura Path, Beast Path, Hungry Ghost Path, and Hell Path as the Six Paths of Samsara. 144
• Draws in wandering souls, purifies resentment, and gives the dead a place to rest and be reborn. 144
• Created the Underworld’s offices, appointing Dijiang as Great Emperor Fengdu and the other Ancestral Witches as the Ten Palace Yama Kings. 144
• Detects interference within the Six Paths, including Ksitigarbha’s covert entry into the Underworld. 190

Great Samsara Technique

After harmonizing with the Earthly Dao, Houtu can deploy the Six Paths as a devastating combat technique.

• Reverses Yin and Yang and disrupts the Five Elements through the power of Samsara. 276
• Fought Hongjun alongside Nuwa in Chaos after he attempted to suppress her new authority. 276
• Previously engaged Yuanshi directly to protect Chen Xuan, preventing him from acting freely against Chen Xuan and the Yin Shang forces. 260

Nine Revolutions Profound Art

Houtu gives Chen Xuan the Witch Clan’s supreme cultivation inheritance.

• The technique is capable of reaching Half-Saint at its ninth revolution. 78
• Houtu personally supervises Chen Xuan’s cultivation in the Pangu Temple blood pool. 78

Relationships

• Nuwa — Close sister and longtime companion. They reunite warmly, tease one another, and later join forces against the Two Saints of the West. 20 190 191
• Chen Xuan — Ally and recipient of her Ancestral Witch blood, body-refining instruction, and Nine Revolutions Profound Art. Houtu repeatedly protects him, including intervening against Yuanshi. 22 27 77 260
• The Twelve Ancestral Witches — Her fellow clan leaders. Houtu bears the burden of learning the Witch Clan’s destined calamity and seeks a path to preserve their future. 21 77
• Xuanming — Sister who supports Houtu’s decisions and helps her withdraw from Immeasurable Daoist’s manipulation. 77 137
• Hongjun — Adversary who seeks to make the Earthly Dao submit to the Heavenly Dao. Houtu’s independent establishment of Samsara and later Harmony with Dao derail his plans. 144 275 276
• Ancestor Minghe — Initially opposes Houtu’s establishment of Samsara because wandering souls sustain the Asura race; he is ultimately assigned to guard Hell. 144
• Dizang — A major Underworld figure whom Houtu acknowledges and guides toward the Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. He protects her merger with the Earthly Dao from Minghe’s interference. 275 320

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Later-Generation Visitor — Travels with Chen Xuan and Nuwa to later generations, where she takes the name Wu Ping Xin and is assigned to farm alongside Chen Xuan. 28 30
• Witch-Demon Reconciliation Attempt — Organizes the culinary competition and proposes selecting a co-lord for the Primordial World in hopes of reducing conflict between the Witch and Demon races. 51 52
• Witch Clan Preservation — Reveals the clan’s destined sacrifice, directs preparations at Pangu Temple, and seeks Chen Xuan’s support through the Nine Revolutions Profound Art. 77
• Rewriting the Calamity — Plans for the Demon Court rather than the Witch Clan to bring down Buzhou Mountain, altering the expected course of the Witch-Demon Great Tribulation. 135 136 143
• Establishment of Samsara — Creates the Six Paths and Underworld, becomes Empress Ping Xin, and ensures that the Earthly Dao remains independent of Hongjun’s Heavenly Dao. 144
• Defender of the Underworld — Confronts the Western Saints after discovering their scheme involving Ksitigarbha’s entry into Hell; she and Nuwa defeat and shave Jieyin and Zhunti. 190 191
• Earthly Dao Harmony — Merges with the Earthly Dao during the conflict against Hongjun, becoming a force capable of opposing the Heavenly Dao’s controller. 275 276
• Underworld Guidance — Receives Dizang as a major power in the Underworld and discusses the future of the Human Dao with him and Chen Xuan. 320

Notable Quotes

“From today onwards, Samsara is established, Ping Xin emerges, and Houtu is no more of the Witch Clan.” 144