"Daoist Candle Dragon, this is Pangu Hall, formed from the heart of Father God Pangu. It can sever cause and effect and conceal the secrets of heaven, keeping us beyond Heaven's notice and Hongjun's sight. It is an ideal place for us to discuss the Dao and cultivate in seclusion," Tongtian said with a smile.
"Bzz!"
The instant Candle Dragon stepped into Pangu Hall, a rich wave of Five Elements Essence Qi surged toward him.
The Five Elements Essence Qi washed over him, so dense it seemed almost solid.
The sharpness of metal, the life force of wood, the softness of water, the blazing heat of fire, and the weight of earth intertwined. Together, they formed visible ribbons of colored light that drifted through the hall. Even with each breath, it felt as though he were inhaling and exhaling the Innate Five Elements Origin.
Candle Dragon instinctively gathered his magic power to ward it off, only to see the Five Elements Essence Qi circle him gently before slowly seeping into his limbs and bones.
When he looked up, the sight inside the hall shook him to his core.
Pangu Hall contained a world of its own. Above him, a firmament formed from Chaos Residual Qi revolved slowly, drawing in from afar the boundless light of the Sun, Moon, and Stars in the Primordial World Starry Sky.
Beneath his feet lay distinctive divine soil, shimmering with Earthly Fiend Tainted Qi and nourished by the remaining vitality of the Blood Pool and Pangu's Residual Might.
Beside the Blood Pool stood a pine tree nearly a thousand zhang tall, its branches towering proudly. Its needles reflected five colors, corresponding to the Five Elements, and each leaf held a trace of the Great Dao's aura.
Nearby, the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Five Elements Pagoda radiated five-colored light. Its tiers were layered one upon another, etched with the law patterns of the Five Elements Great Dao. A precious orb hung from its peak and each of its four corners, taking in every trace of Innate Spiritual Qi as it flowed through the hall.
And that was without even mentioning the Innate Spiritual Roots scattered throughout the place.
The golden radiance of Prosperous Fruit, the divine glow of Jiao Pears, and the pink shimmer of Longevity Peaches adorned the hall. Even the air carried the fragrance of Dongting Biluochun!
"At the height of its power, the Dragon Race ruled the Four Seas and led all scaled creatures, gathering rare treasures from across the world. Yet even it never possessed such wealth. This truly is a supreme treasure land worthy of the heart of Pangu!"
Even a well-traveled figure like Candle Dragon couldn't help but marvel at the sight.
When the Dragon Race was at its height, the precious Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots of the world had yet to emerge. So even with Ancestral Dragon's formidable strength and domineering nature, there was only so much he could do without the right resources.
Besides, as far as cultivation environments went, the East Sea had merely absorbed the aura of Pangu's most yang essence. How could it compare to Pangu's heart?
What Candle Dragon didn't know was that although Pangu Hall was wondrous, these spiritual roots hadn't grown there from the beginning. Xuanyuan and Tongtian had found them in various places of opportunity.
"Boom! Boom! Boom..."
As Candle Dragon marveled at the sight, waves of mighty Earthly Fiend Tainted Qi swept in from the rear of the hall.
Candle Dragon whipped around. Deep within the hall stood twelve figures, each towering 129,600 zhang tall, their blood energy soaring into the sky.
That familiar Earthly Fiend Tainted Qi came from the same source as the aura he had sensed on Kuafu and Da Yi, the founders of the Witch Ancestor Tribe, at Purple Skies Palace.
Moreover, their aura and bloodline fluctuations clearly surpassed those of Kuafu and Da Yi, as though they were the latter's superior source.
Candle Dragon vaguely sensed the relationship between the Witch Ancestor Tribe and these powerful beings before him.
Still, he didn't ask. Instead, he resolved to draw closer to the Dragon Race in the future and build good relations with them.
With more than ten powerful beings in their ranks, the Witch Ancestor Tribe had terrifying strength and potential.
"Brothers and sisters, this is Daoist Candle Dragon. He has come at the invitation of my elder brother and me."
When Xuanyuan saw the Ancestral Witches awaken, he introduced Candle Dragon to them.
Tongtian then introduced the Twelve Ancestral Witches to Candle Dragon one by one, explaining that they had been formed from Father God's blood essence and were all of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage.
Hearing this, Candle Dragon grew solemn. He was even more convinced by what Xuanyuan had told him earlier: Proving Dao by Law was the proper path.
"I've long heard of you. I must also thank you for looking after my two brothers."
"We haven't forgotten the kindness you showed us when you gave us your blood essence."
After learning that Candle Dragon was a guest invited by Xuanyuan and Tongtian, the Twelve Ancestral Witches greeted him warmly, exchanging introductions and pleasantries.
Among them, the one who seemed closest to him was the Time Ancestral Witch, Zhu Jiuyin.
Last time, Xuanyuan had obtained a drop of Candle Dragon's blood essence and, after studying it, passed it on to Zhu Jiuyin. This had cut by more than half the time it would take Zhu Jiuyin to reach Grand Unity Golden Immortal Perfection.
"Bzz."
Just as a peaceful atmosphere settled over Pangu Hall, Zhu Jiuyin's body suddenly trembled!
The Earthly Fiend Tainted Qi that had been calmly circling him abruptly surged. Ripples of time appeared in his scarlet vertical pupils, and the bloodline carrying the Time Law, which flowed steadily within him, flared beyond his control. A vast temporal fluctuation spread out from him in every direction.
"Hmm?"
The instant the temporal fluctuation appeared, Candle Dragon raised his head with a cry of surprise. As his lunar and solar eyes opened and closed, his red robe tore apart and vanished, revealing his true form: a dragon thousands of li long.
Zhu Jiuyin's bloodline of the Time Law had resonated wondrously with the Time Great Dao he cultivated!
In an instant, the two forces of time converged inside Pangu Hall, and the scene within changed dramatically.
Beside the Five Elements Pagoda, the spirit plants grew at incredible speed, only to wither in the blink of an eye. The needles of the Five Needles Pine fell, then flew backward onto its branches. Even the air alternated between stillness and rapid motion.
The mysteries of the Time Great Dao manifested one after another throughout the hall: time stopped, flowed backward, and accelerated.
"This is..." Space Ancestral Witch Di Jiang stared wide-eyed.
"Fourth Brother, could this be a resonance of the Great Dao? A fusion of laws?" Tongtian asked uncertainly after a moment's thought.
Something like this had happened with the Five Elements Ancestral Witch as well.
They had encountered an opportunity that suited them both, allowing them to cultivate together with results far beyond what either could achieve alone.
"It's somewhat different. Still, Daoist Candle Dragon and Brother Zhu Jiuyin seem remarkably well suited to each other!"
Xuanyuan shook his head, then nodded, as an insight began to dawn on him.
In his memories, Candle Dragon and Zhu Jiuyin had always shared some common ground. In legends, they were the same deity—a creator-level dragon god who controlled day, night, and time.
Candle Dragon placed greater emphasis on the form of a "dragon." He was described as "human-faced and serpent-bodied, red in color, with upright eyes," a more concrete image often associated with the act of "holding a candle to illuminate the Netherworld."
Zhu Jiuyin emphasized the mysterious power and temporal function represented by "Nine Yin." He was renowned for his ability to "make it day when he opened his eyes, night when he closed them, winter when he breathed out, and summer when he breathed in," a more symbolic portrayal.
One emphasized appearance, the other attributes.
Of course, the two powerful beings in the Primordial World couldn't possibly have come from the same source.
But watching what was happening before him, Xuanyuan knew his memories weren't baseless.
In a sense, Candle Dragon and Zhu Jiuyin were even more compatible than the Five Elements Ancestral Witch, as though they were two incarnations of the same being.
"Second Brother has already reached Grand Unity Golden Immortal Perfection. I wonder if this opportunity will help him advance even further." Houtu looked on expectantly.
"Heh, if Second Brother succeeds, one of us will have become a Mixed-Origin Golden Immortal!"
"He'll definitely succeed. His Nine Revolutions Profound Technique has already reached the thirty-sixth level of the fourth revolution. He's only one step away from the fifth!"
The Ancestral Witches discussed it among themselves, their faces full of anticipation.
Xuanyuan and Tongtian exchanged a glance. Then they took out the Enlightenment Tea Tree and planted it beside the Five Needles Pine. Their action naturally surprised the other eleven Ancestral Witches.
After the two explained, Di Jiang and the others marveled at the brothers' deep blessings. Then they sat cross-legged beside the two Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots and circulated the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, striving to draw out the laws within their bloodlines.
It was clear that Xuanyuan and Tongtian's gains, as well as Zhu Jiuyin's opportunity, had spurred them on.
And so, Pangu Hall once again fell silent.
Yet though the hall was quiet, undercurrents swirled outside Purple Skies Palace in Chaos.
Meanwhile, Kuafu and Da Yi had once again come face-to-face with the fellow disciples Jie Yin and Zhun Ti.
"Hehe, fellow Daoists, please wait. I have something to ask you."
Daoist Jie Yin wore a false smile and gave a respectful salute as he stepped into Kuafu and Da Yi's path.
His actions also drew the attention of the powerful beings who had yet to leave.
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