Su Mu was in the Human Ancestral Hall, thinking about what to do next, when the authority of the Eastern Ghost Emperor trembled in his mind and a voice sounded: "Su Mu, come to the Underworld. I have something to discuss with you."
That voice... Is it Empress Houtu? Su Mu wondered. What could have prompted Houtu to summon me in person?
Su Mu rose and headed for the Underworld.
As he entered the Underworld, the ghost soldiers along the way all saluted him. "Greetings, Lord Ghost Emperor." Su Mu nodded in reply to each of them.
When he reached the entrance to Pingxin Hall and was about to bow in greeting, Houtu's voice came to his ears. "There's no need to bow. Just come in."
Su Mu slowly pushed open the heavy doors and stepped into Pingxin Hall.
A faint sandalwood fragrance filled Pingxin Hall. Soft light fell across the floor, lending the place a peaceful and serene air.
Su Mu came to the center of the hall and looked toward Houtu. "Empress Houtu, is there something you need my help with?" His voice was calm and firm, carrying a reassuring strength.
Empress Houtu smiled faintly, her eyes revealing her appreciation and trust in Su Mu.
She let out a soft sigh, then slowly said, "Su Mu, ever since my people withdrew from the Primordial Era, the members of the Witch Race have lived in the Underworld. But the Underworld is a place for ghosts, and living here does our people more harm than good."
Su Mu frowned at her words. Though he didn't know why the Witch Race and the Underworld couldn't coexist peacefully, Houtu's tone made it clear that this was no trivial matter.
Houtu continued, "The Underworld is filled with heavy yin energy, while the people of the Witch Race have abundant yang energy in their bodies. When the two meet, our bodies suffer tremendous harm.
"If this continues, the bodies of our people will grow weaker and weaker, eventually leading to their deaths."
Only then did Su Mu understand how serious the matter was. He couldn't help asking, "Then why don't you leave the Underworld?"
Houtu gave a bitter smile. "We want to leave the Underworld and return to the Primordial Era, but there's no longer any place for the Witch Race there."
A wave of sorrow welled up in Su Mu's heart. That was true. The Witch-Demon Tribulation had completely stripped both the Witch Race and the Demon Race of their right to live in the Primordial Era.
"Empress Houtu, what do you have in mind? If there's anything I can do, I'll help you."
"Su Mu, I want some of the Witch Race to be reborn into the Human Race." Houtu looked at Su Mu expectantly.
"That can be done. With a human identity, they'll be able to enter the Primordial Era," Su Mu said firmly.
"There's something else. I foresaw that the Human Sovereign will need to raise an army and wage war. Could Chi You contend for the position of Human Sovereign?" Houtu asked.
Su Mu considered this for a moment before answering. "Empress Houtu, Chi You can contend for the position of Human Sovereign. But victory and defeat are common in war. If he loses, he must give up his ambitions and devote himself entirely to the Human Race.
"There's one other crucial point: those reborn from the Witch Race as Witch-Humans must not harm the Human Race. That's our bottom line. Otherwise, the Ancestral Land will intervene."
"Very well, I agree. The Witch-Humans reborn from the Witch Race will be members of the Human Race, and they will never harm it.
"After this is settled, the Underworld will owe you a karmic debt." Houtu made her promise to Su Mu solemnly.
Su Mu nodded. He knew that if Houtu made a promise, she would keep it.
Houtu and Su Mu then began discussing the practical details.
They decided to select some gifted descendants of the Witch Race and send them through the Six Paths of Reincarnation to be reborn as humans.
"Su Mu, after the War of the Witches and Demons, only a few Great Witches remained: Xing Tian, Xiangliu, Jiu Feng, Chi You, and Feng Bo and Yu Shi," Houtu said.
"What happened to the Eleven Ancestral Witches? How much of their strength have they recovered?" Su Mu asked Houtu.
"My brothers and Elder Sister Xuan Ming all self-destructed, perishing alongside Demon Emperor Di Jun, Eastern Emperor Taiyi, and several Demon Saints.
"Before that, I had appointed them as the Ten Palace Yama Kings and Meng Po, so their true spirits were preserved. Though the Underworld's merit had been used to give them physical bodies, they had only reached the Golden Immortal Realm," Houtu said sadly.
Su Mu furrowed his brow, then relaxed and said to Houtu, "Empress Houtu, you should be glad that the Eleven Ancestral Witches survived the Great Tribulation. As long as they're alive, there's hope. Their cultivation can still be improved. Having them alive means your brothers and sisters are still with you."
"Su Mu, you're right. I was too attached to appearances. I should be content that my brothers and sisters are still here."
Once everything was ready, batches of Witch Race descendants set out on the path to reincarnation, beginning new lives as members of the Human Race.
As for Chi You, he carried the hopes of the Witch Race and entered the struggle for the position of Human Sovereign.
He possessed tremendous strength and determination, and was bound to make waves in the contest.
East Sea.
In the Crystal Palace, Candle Dragon sat in the seat of honor, staring blankly ahead like a statue.
His eyes were empty and unfathomable, as though he were looking through everything before him at a distant past or future.
Perhaps he was reminiscing about past glory, or pondering what path to take in the days ahead.
The Four Seas Dragon Kings waited respectfully at his side, their eyes full of reverence and anticipation.
They knew Candle Dragon was their leader, the pillar of their spirit.
They hoped he would lead them toward a more glorious future and bring them greater honor and prosperity.
"Ao Guang, I've already made a plan for the Dragon Clan's future," Candle Dragon said, looking at the four dragons.
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"Ancestor, what is your plan? All of our descendants will await your orders."
Candle Dragon said, "I plan to have the entire Dragon Clan join the Human Race."
"What?" Ao Guang, Ao Qin, Ao Run, and Ao Shun cried out in shock.
Ao Guang said, "Ancestor, please think this through. Our Dragon Clan was once one of the great powers of the Primordial Era!"
Ao Qin hurriedly added, "Exactly, Ancestor. Though our Dragon Clan has fallen, as the saying goes, even a starving camel is bigger than a horse. What's more, our Dragon Clan's foundation is as unfathomably deep as the endless sea. Why should we join another race?"
Ao Run said, "Ancestor, our Dragon Clan was once one of the great powers. If we join another race, won't the myriad beings of the Primordial Era laugh at us?"
Ao Shun added, "Ancestor, let's think of another way."
"Enough. I've already made up my mind," Candle Dragon said slowly. "The four of you will come with me to the Human Ancestral Land to visit the Martial Ancestor. If we can join the Human Race and gain its destiny, the destiny will dispel the Karma weighing on our Dragon Clan."
"Human Race Destiny..." the four dragons murmured. "If we can truly gain the destiny of the Human Race, we can resolve our Dragon Clan's Karma."
"We will obey your command, Ancestor," the Four Seas Dragon Kings replied in unison.
Once the decision was made, Candle Dragon led the Four Seas Dragon Kings to the Human Ancestral Land.
Outside the great formation surrounding the Human Ancestral Land, Candle Dragon said to the human guards, "I am Candle Dragon of the Dragon Clan. I've brought the Four Seas Dragon Kings to request an audience with the Martial Ancestor of the Human Race."
When the human guards heard that the visitor was the Dragon Clan's ancestor, accompanied by the Four Seas Dragon Kings, they hurried to the Human Ancestor Hall to report it.
When Su Mu heard Candle Dragon had arrived, he was surprised. "What does Candle Dragon want?" Though puzzled, he still ordered someone to escort them inside.
Candle Dragon followed the attendant into the Ancestral Land. The five dragons looked at the dense Human Race Destiny and martial destiny there, their hearts stirring with excitement.
The Four Seas Dragon Kings thought, The Ancestor really does have foresight.
When Su Mu saw Candle Dragon and the Four Seas Dragon Kings enter the hall, he rose to greet them. "Senior Candle Dragon, your visit to our Human Race truly brings honor to us."
"I've long wanted to pay you a visit, Martial Ancestor. I was delayed by matters that needed my attention within the Dragon Clan," Candle Dragon replied.
"Senior Candle Dragon, what brings you here?" Su Mu asked.
"Martial Ancestor, to be frank, we've come to join the Human Race," Candle Dragon said directly.
Su Mu was stunned. In his two lifetimes, he had never encountered a Dragon Clan that wanted to join the Human Race. The Dragon Clan had always been so proud, yet now they actually wished to join the Human Race.
A long while passed, and Su Mu still hadn't spoken. Candle Dragon and the Four Seas Dragon Kings grew anxious.
Ao Guang sent Candle Dragon a voice transmission. "Ancestor, what does it mean that the Martial Ancestor hasn't said anything? Could he be refusing?"
Candle Dragon was uneasy too, afraid that Su Mu might reject them. Ao Qin sent a voice transmission. "Ancestor, hurry and ask the Martial Ancestor!"
Candle Dragon then cautiously spoke up. "Martial Ancestor, would you accept the Dragon Clan into the Human Race?"
How could Su Mu refuse? He was overjoyed. He said to Candle Dragon, "Of course. Our Human Race welcomes the Dragon Clan."
"I'll go notify the Human Sovereign and the Three Ancestors. Please wait a moment."
Su Mu found Fuxi and the Three Ancestors and told them that the Dragon Clan wanted to join the Human Race.
Fuxi said, "Su Mu, although the Dragon Clan is weighed down by Karma, it still has some destiny. Not much, but if it joins the Human Race, it will strengthen our destiny. This can be done, but how should we arrange things for them?"
"We can make the Dragon Clan the Guardian Divine Beast of the Human Race," Su Mu said.
"Good. Let's go to the Training Ground and announce it," Fuxi said.
Su Mu sent someone to invite Candle Dragon and the others to the Training Ground. Looking at the people gathered there, Su Mu took out the Kongtong Seal and declared, "I, Su Mu, Martial Ancestor of the Human Race, hereby appoint the Dragon Clan as the Guardian Divine Beast of the Human Race. Let Heaven and Earth bear witness."
When Su Mu had finished speaking, Primordial Heaven and Earth responded, sending merit down to the Four Seas Dragon Clan. Nine golden dragon apparitions flew out from the Four Seas and entered the Kongtong Seal, leaving their marks upon it. The Human Race and Primordial Heaven and Earth recognized the Dragon Clan as the Guardian Divine Beast.
The destiny of the Human Race flowed toward the Dragon Clan. With this dense destiny upon them, the Karma weighing on the Dragon Clan gradually dissipated.
As merit descended, the Dragon Clan's Karma disappeared completely.
The Dragon Clan erupted in celebration. They streamed out from the Four Seas and circled through the skies of the Primordial Era. At last, they no longer suffered the agony of being consumed by Karma.
They could continue cultivating and developing. How could they not be excited?
They bowed their heads toward the Human Ancestral Land, expressing their gratitude to the Human Race.
Feeling the Karma on him lessen, Candle Dragon wept with joy. He said solemnly to Su Mu, "Thank you, Martial Ancestor. Thank you, fellow Daoists of the Human Race. Our Dragon Clan will never forget the great kindness of the Human Race, and our generations will protect the Human Race forever."
As one of the Dragon Clan's ancestors and a direct participant in the Dragon-Han Tribulation, Candle Dragon still bore Karma. It was impossible to remove it completely; this was Heaven's punishment for the Dragon Clan.
Candle Dragon was overjoyed. He could cultivate again, and pursue that elusive path to the Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
There were also many people in the Human Race who couldn't cultivate. They could worship the Dragon Clan, adopting the dragons as their totems to protect them.
Because of this, people of later generations also called themselves Descendants of the Dragon.
With the Dragon Clan's addition, the destiny of the Human Race rose to yet another level.
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