Houtu: I Favor Outsiders? Do You Want Our Witch Clan to Go to War with the Three Pure Ones?

"Qingyuan?"

Houtu gazed thoughtfully at the tall, handsome youth before her, his features refined and pleasing to the eye.

She said coolly, "Could you be the First Disciple of the Intercepting Sect that Senior Brother Yuanshi once mentioned? He said your origins were lowly and unworthy of heavy responsibility, and he always wanted Senior Brother Tongtian to replace you as the inner sect's first disciple. Yet now I see your origins are far from ordinary—could it be that the other disciples of the Intercepting Sect are so outstanding as to surpass you?"

"It must be that Senior Uncle Yuanshi placed too high hopes on me, and I have failed him."

Qingyuan replied respectfully.

The Twelve Ancestor Witches were Primordial Wilderness demons formed from Pangu's essence blood and the Heaven Opening Turbid Qi.

They too bore the blessings of the Heaven Opening.

They were of the same generation as his master, Sect Master Tongtian.

He naturally showed them respect.

"This matter is a misunderstanding. My Witch Clan's people accidentally injured you. What compensation do you want?"

Houtu's beautiful eyes flickered.

She watched the youth.

Strange, it was.

The beings of the Primordial Wilderness had heard of the Ancestor Witches' reputation and always feared them, but this child showed no fear—instead, there was an indescribable respect and sincerity, which was very odd.

She had never had dealings with the Intercepting Sect's disciples before.

Why would Qingyuan respect her so much?

"Ancestor Witch, that Demon Race just said this man was planning to ambush our Witch Clan..."

"Shut up!"

Xiang Liu wanted to argue further.

But Houtu cut him off sharply, "The Intercepting Sect disciple was merely passing through here. You fell for the Demon Race's scheme and harmed an innocent. If this disciple hadn't had skill, he would have been killed by you. Apologize to him at once!"

Xiang Liu looked unconvinced.

With a dark face, he stammered out an apology to Qingyuan.

Then he turned aside, sulking in silence.

"Qingyuan, what compensation do you want?"

Houtu's voice softened, which only stoked Xiang Liu's inner fury.

Ancestor Witch, why are you so harsh with me yet so kind to an outsider?

"It was merely a misunderstanding. Aunt Houtu need not blame Xiang Liu."

Qingyuan shook his head, but Houtu waved her hand, sending over a shower of Immortal Gold Divine Materials and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Most were rare treasures of the Primordial Wilderness, top-grade for alchemy or artifact forging—and there was even a Ginseng Fruit!

"This matter is ultimately my Witch Clan's fault. Take these as your compensation. Go back and rest well. If you feel any discomfort, come find me at Buzhou Mountain!"

With that.

Houtu also gave Qingyuan an ancient bronze token. "With this, no one in the Witch Clan will stop you!"

"Thank you, Aunt Houtu!"

Qingyuan bowed gratefully, then accepted all the items.

He sighed inwardly.

The things Houtu had given him—even an ordinary Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal might not possess them.

Indeed, one should never underestimate the great powers of the Primordial Wilderness.

Even if the Witch Clan did not cultivate Primordial Spirit techniques or divine abilities and had no use for such things, that didn't mean the Ancestor Witches wouldn't collect them.

"Do you have no other requests?"

Houtu asked curiously.

Qingyuan pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "To be honest, this humble one does have a request."

"Speak freely."

Houtu nodded gently.

But Jiu Feng and Yi beside her looked displeased.

Xiang Liu sneered directly, "What a greedy brat. Ancestor Witch, you've already given him plenty, and look, the boy still isn't satisfied. Sure enough, a demon is a demon, just a little..."

"Shut up. Qingyuan is an Innate Divine Being, not a demon."

Houtu slapped Xiang Liu flying, then said gently, "What is your request?"

"Aunt Houtu, this junior came out to seek opportunities and took in disciples on behalf of my master along the way. But the Primordial Wilderness is vast and perilous. I have no confidence in safely escorting these junior brothers back to Kunlun Mountains. I ask Aunt Houtu to help send them back. This junior is deeply grateful!"

Qingyuan bowed deeply, his tone sincere.

This surprised Houtu somewhat.

She stared at Qingyuan for a long time, then asked again, "Is that your only request?"

"Only this request." Qingyuan nodded seriously.

"Good."

Houtu pointed a single finger at Yuan Hong and the Seven Righteous.

In the next instant, the Plum Mountain Seven Righteous couldn't even make a sound before they were directly swallowed by the earth and vanished without a trace.

Seeing the Plum Mountain Seven Righteous sent back to Kunlun Mountains, Qingyuan breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

With Yuan Hong and the other six present, to be honest, the journey to Wuyi Mountain had consumed far too much time. He'd also had to expend energy looking after them along the way, and he himself was merely a minor Golden Immortal.

Though his foundation was extraordinary, the Primordial Wilderness of this era held far too many great powers.

Di Jun and Tai Yi had established the Heavenly Court, categorizing all beings as the Demon Race, and had ignited war with the Witch Clan.

Countless powerful races of the Primordial Wilderness had been swept into the turmoil. On top of that, the Tribulation Qi of Heaven and Earth ran rampant, clouding the Spiritual Platforms of countless living beings and driving them into slaughter.

Just like earlier—he'd been dragged into the war between the Witch and Demon Clans.

If not for the Plum Mountain Seven Righteous being there, he could have simply transformed into a rainbow and fled.

With that divine ability, even ordinary Primordial Unity Golden Immortals couldn't catch him. Add to that his protective treasures and the sheltering luck of the Intercepting Sect, as long as he didn't run into reckless, thick-headed fools like the Witch Clan, no great power would have hysterically chased him down.

The Seven Righteous had gone to Kunlun Mountains.

Now he could act much more freely.

Houtu then said, "That request hardly counts as one. Just now, Xiang Liu nearly killed you—that's a heavy karmic debt. Do you have any other requests? Speak freely."

"This junior truly has none."

"Truly none?"

"Mm..."

Qingyuan pondered for a moment, then said, "Since the master-aunt asks, this junior does have one immodest request."

"Oh? Speak?"

Houtu smiled gently.

But it made Xiang Liu and the other great witches sneer coldly.

Heh heh, this brat finally can't hold back and wants to make an outrageous demand, huh?

What a greedy, cunning little bastard.

"This junior has heard that the Witch Clan has taken in the human race. I would ask the master-aunt to instruct your people to treat the humans with gentleness and care from now on. Beyond that, this junior has no other requests."

Qingyuan bowed deeply and said solemnly, "I entrust this to you, master-aunt!"

"I heard you had some dealings with Senior Sister Nuwa, but I didn't expect them to run so deep—that you would trade a life-and-death karmic debt for us to look after the humans a little?"

Houtu was somewhat surprised.

But she agreed nonetheless.

As for Yi, Jiu Feng, and the other great witches, they didn't stop her either.

The human race was weak—merely an Acquired Race. Compared to them, the Primordial Wilderness had countless powerful Primordial Races, exotic species, and ferocious beasts. Humans even resembled the Witch Clan somewhat, making eating them feel awkward.

Looking after them or not didn't matter much.

"This junior is willing. I will not make a great stir over today's matter in the future."

Qingyuan replied respectfully.

"Good. I grant this request." Houtu nodded.

"Thank you, master-aunt. This junior takes his leave!"

Qingyuan bowed once more, then transformed into a white rainbow and vanished between heaven and earth.

After he disappeared, Xiang Liu said somewhat discontentedly, "Great Ancestral Witch, why did you favor that brat so much? He didn't even die—why keep giving him benefits?"

"Shut up! You nearly killed the First Disciple of the Intercepting Sect. Are you saying the Witch Clan wants to go to war with a Saint?"

Houtu scolded sternly.

The great witches only cultivated their physical bodies and Sha Qi; they couldn't see the thick, soaring holy sect luck on Qingyuan's body, nor the deep wheel of merit and fortune. These were signs that only a virtuous, pure, and moral being of the Primordial Wilderness would possess!

What's more, he was the First Disciple of Shangqing.

Killing this man would surely enrage a Saint!!

Right now, the Demon Race was restless, waging war across the Primordial Wilderness to subdue all races, clashing frequently with the Witch Clan.

One day, the Witch and Demon Clans would go to war!

The Demon Race had the backing of the Demon Sect's Saint. If they also offended the Saint of Shangqing, how could the Witch Clan find peace?

As everyone knows.

The Three Pure Ones are one.

If Shangqing makes a move, will the other two sages stand idly by?

To move against the First Disciple of the Intercepting Sect is to offend three venerable sages. Paying a small price to dispel such a grave karmic debt would be an immeasurable bargain, yet Xiang Liu and his ilk are blind to this...