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

"Qingyuan?"

Houtu studied the handsome young man before her, tall and slender with striking features, as if deep in thought.

She said lightly, "Could you be the First Disciple of Intercepting Sect that Senior Brother Yuanshi once mentioned? Senior Brother Yuanshi said your origins were lowly and that you were unfit for great responsibility. He had always wanted Senior Brother Tongtian to replace you as the chief inner disciple. Yet seeing you today, your origins are quite extraordinary. Could the other disciples of the Interception Sect truly be so outstanding?"

"Senior Uncle Yuanshi must have thought too highly of me. I have let him down."

Qingyuan answered respectfully.

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

They likewise bore the blessings of Heaven Opening.

They belonged to the same generation as his master, Sect Master Tongtian.

He naturally had to show them respect.

"This matter was ultimately a misunderstanding. Someone from my Witch Clan accidentally injured you. What compensation do you want?"

Houtu's beautiful eyes flickered.

She watched the young man.

It was strange, really.

Whenever Primordial Wilderness beings heard the name of an Ancestral Witch, they were invariably fearful and terrified. Yet this youth was not afraid at all. Instead, he carried an indescribable respect and sincerity toward her. It was quite peculiar.

She had never interacted with any Interception Sect disciples before.

Why was Qingyuan so respectful toward her?

"Lord Ancestral Witch, that Demon Race member just said this person was planning to ambush our Witch Clan..."

"Shut up!"

Xiang Liu still wanted to argue.

But Houtu sternly rebuked him. "The Interception Sect disciples were merely passing through this place. You were plotted against by the Demon Race and injured innocent people. Had this Interception Sect disciple not been capable, you would have killed him long ago. Hurry and apologize to him!"

Xiang Liu looked utterly unconvinced.

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

Then he turned his head away and fell silent in sullen resentment.

"Qingyuan, what compensation do you want?"

Houtu's voice softened, making Xiang Liu even more enraged inside.

Lord Ancestral 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, and a pile of Immortal Gold Divine Materials and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures flew over. Most were rare treasures of the Primordial Wilderness, top-grade materials for alchemy and artifact forging. There was even a Ginseng Fruit among them!

"This matter was ultimately the fault of my Witch Clan. Take these as compensation. Rest well after you return. If you feel any discomfort, come find me at Buzhou Mountain!"

After saying that,

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

"Thank you, Aunt Houtu!"

Qingyuan gratefully cupped his hands in salute and accepted everything.

He sighed inwardly as well.

The things Houtu had given him were likely possessions that even ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortals might not have.

Sure enough, one should never underestimate a Primordial Great Power.

Although the Witch Clan did not cultivate Primordial Spirit spells or Divine Abilities and had little use for such items, that did not mean the Ancestral Witches did not collect them.

"Do you have no other requests?"

Houtu asked curiously.

Qingyuan pondered for a moment before cupping his hands. "Now that you mention it, this junior does indeed have one request."

"Speak freely."

Houtu nodded gently.

But Jiu Feng and Yi at the side were both somewhat displeased.

Xiang Liu directly mocked, "What a greedy brat. Lord Ancestral Witch, you have already given him enough. Look at him, still not satisfied. As expected, a demon is a demon, not even a bit..."

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

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

"Aunt Houtu, this junior left the mountain to seek opportunities and accepted disciples on behalf of my master along the way. But the Primordial Wilderness is perilous and boundless. This disciple is not confident that I can bring my junior brothers back to Kunlun Mountains safely. I ask Aunt to send my junior brothers back to Kunlun Mountains. This junior is deeply grateful!"

Qingyuan gave a deep bow, his tone sincere.

This surprised Houtu somewhat.

She watched Qingyuan for a long while before asking again, "That is your only request?"

"That is my only request." Qingyuan nodded seriously.

"Very well."

Houtu pointed one finger at Yuan Hong and the Seven Righteous.

Then the Plum Mountain Seven Righteous were swallowed by the earth and vanished without even being able to make a sound.

Seeing the Plum Mountain Seven Righteous sent back to Kunlun Mountains,

Qingyuan finally relaxed inwardly.

To be honest, having Yuan Hong and the other seven with him had consumed far too much time on the journey to Wuyi Mountain. He also had to spend energy looking after them along the way, while he himself was merely a Golden Immortal.

Though his foundation was extraordinary,

there were simply too many Primordial Great Powers in the Primordial Wilderness during this era.

Di Jun and Tai Yi had established the Heavenly Court, gathering all races under the Demon Race, and had already ignited war with the Witch Clan.

Who knew how many powerful races in the Primordial Wilderness had been swept into the turmoil? With Tribulation Qi ravaging heaven and earth, countless beings had their spiritual awareness clouded and entered tribulation to slaughter one another.

Just like earlier, when he had been swept into the war between the Witches and Demons.

If the Plum Mountain Seven Righteous had not been present, he could have simply transformed into a rainbow and left.

With this Divine Ability, even ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortals could not catch him. Combined with the treasures protecting him and the Interception Sect's fortune shielding him, unless he encountered stubborn and reckless beings like the Witch Clan, no great power would frantically pursue him to the death.

The Seven Righteous had gone to Kunlun Mountains.

Now he would be able to act much more freely.

Houtian added, "That does not count as a request. Xiang Liu nearly killed you earlier, and this Karma is too grave. Do you have any other requests? Speak without concern."

"This junior truly has none."

"Truly none?"

"Mm..."

Qingyuan pondered for a moment and said, "If Aunt puts it that way, this junior does have one presumptuous request."

"Oh? Speak."

Houtu smiled gently.

But Xiang Liu and the other Great Witches sneered.

Heh, brat, you finally could not resist making an outrageous demand, could you?

What a greedy and cunning brat.

"This junior has heard that the Witch Clan has taken in the Human Race. I ask Aunt to have your clansmen treat the Human Race more gently and care for them in the future. This junior has no further requests."

Qingyuan bowed deeply and said solemnly, "I beg this of you, Aunt!"

"I heard that you had some acquaintance with Senior Sister Nuwa, but I did not expect it to run so deep. You are actually willing to exchange the Karma of life and death for us to care for the Human Race?"

Houtu was somewhat surprised.

Then she agreed.

As for Yi, Jiu Feng, and the other Great Witches, none of them objected.

The Human Race was weak, merely a Houtian race. In comparison, the Primordial Wilderness had countless powerful innate races, strange species, and Fierce Beasts. Besides, humans were separated from the Witches in terms of taste as well.

Whether they cared for them or not was no great matter.

"This junior is willing. In the future, I will not make a great fuss over today's matter."

Qingyuan replied respectfully.

"Very well, I promise you this." Houtu nodded.

"Thank you, Aunt. This junior shall take his leave!"

Qingyuan bowed once more, then transformed into a White Rainbow and vanished between heaven and earth.

After he disappeared,

Xiang Liu said unhappily, "Lord Ancestral Witch, why are you treating that brat so well? He did not even die, so why have you repeatedly given him benefits?"

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

Houtu rebuked him sternly.

The Great Witches only cultivated their bodies and Killing Aura. They could not see the dense, sky-reaching sacred sect fortune around Qingyuan, nor the thick wheel of blessed karma and merit. These were marks possessed only by virtuous, capable, righteous, and pure cultivators of the Primordial Wilderness!

Not to mention that he was the First Disciple of Shangqing.

If they killed him,

they would certainly enrage a Saint!!

The Demon Race was already stirring restlessly, waging war throughout the Primordial Wilderness and subduing the myriad races, frequently clashing with the Witch Clan.

One day, the Witches and Demons would inevitably wage a great war!

The Demon Race had the Demon Sect Saint behind them. If they also offended Saint Shangqing, how could the Witch Clan live in peace?

Everyone knew this.

The Three Pure Ones were one entity.

If Shangqing moved, would the other two Saints simply stand by?

Touching the First Disciple of Intercepting Sect meant offending three Saints. Paying a small price to eliminate such grave Karma was incomparably worthwhile, yet Xiang Liu and the others could not see past their own blind spots...