Phoenix Perch Mountain, Fuxi and Nuwa's cave dwelling.
At first, they had expected an ordinary discussion of the Dao. To their surprise, as they discussed it, they continually compared insights and exchanged ideas. Their understanding deepened, and the rich Dao resonance that emerged would have spread beyond Phoenix Perch Mountain if not for the mountain's protective formation.
Before long, a large number of low-level beings had gathered outside Fuxi and Nuwa's cave. Some had taken form because of the Dao resonance produced by their discussion, while others had already taken form and been drawn there by the resonance.
Inside the cave, various laws converged, forming a multicolored Auspicious Cloud that floated among them.
When they came to, they all looked in surprise at the Auspicious Cloud of Laws that had formed inside the cave.
"I wonder what we should do with this Auspicious Cloud of Laws."
Yuanshi asked. The Three Pure Ones had also produced an unusual phenomenon when they discussed the Dao together, but this was the first time they had encountered an image formed from Dao resonance.
"My suggestion is that we move it beyond Phoenix Perch Mountain, break it apart, and let it fall across the Primordial World. Whoever is fated to receive it can have it."
Fuxi made his proposal. An image given substance by the laws held no particular use for them, but to Innate Beings who had yet to reach even the Golden Immortal realm, it would be immensely precious.
"I think that's a good idea. How about we use the area within a hundred thousand li of Phoenix Perch Mountain as our boundary and see how the other Innate Beings develop after absorbing our insights into the laws? Then, after an epoch, we can return here and observe the Dao again."
Randeng made the suggestion. He had learned the idea from Hongjun and Luohu: one could pass one's Dao on to other Innate Beings to test one's understanding. This was known as observing the Dao.
After considering it, they felt it would be another way to test their cultivation, so they all agreed with Randeng's proposal.
Working together, they sent the Auspicious Cloud of Laws high above Phoenix Perch Mountain, then shattered it.
The portion of the Auspicious Cloud containing Randeng's Annihilation Law was absorbed by a Shore Grass, which developed intelligence. Yuanshi's Law of Order was absorbed by a cloud in the sky, which also gained intelligence. As Tongtian's Gengjin Law fell to the ground, it was obtained by a Many Treasures Rat that had gained intelligence.
The Auspicious Clouds formed from the laws of the others were absorbed by various other beings, each receiving its own good fortune.
Randeng gazed thoughtfully at the Shore Grass that had absorbed the resonance of his Annihilation Law. It was a Low-grade Innate Spiritual Root with an ordinary origin. He wondered how it would change after an epoch.
However, Randeng had only thought of Hongjun and Luohu's practice of preaching the Dao. He had overlooked the fact that they were both Saints and naturally had no fear of the karma involved in passing on the Dao. On the contrary, they could even draw nourishment for their own paths from that karma.
If Zhunti, who cultivated the Law of Karma, had been there, he would have seen that the Innate Beings who absorbed the resonance of the various laws had already become entangled in karma with the corresponding cultivators.
But that was a matter for later. Once their discussion of the Dao ended, they each took their leave. The Three Pure Ones were returning to Kunlun Mountain to continue digesting what they had gained from their travels. Houtu, meanwhile, invited Randeng to visit the Witch Clan, saying that Dijiang and the other Ancestor Witches wanted to thank him.
So Randeng flew with Houtu toward the southern part of Buzhou Mountain, where the Witch Clan lived.
Along the way, however, Randeng noticed that Demon Clan tribes had already begun settling and expanding their territory on the northeastern side of Buzhou Mountain.
The reason Randeng could tell that these settlements belonged to Demon Clan tribes was that each tribe had erected a huge stone statue in its center. It depicted Di Jun.
Randeng didn't consider the matter from the perspective of the way of fortune. After all, Di Jun was only at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm and didn't seem all that concerned with cultivation. Randeng assumed Di Jun had ordered every tribe to erect a statue simply to promote his image.
It wasn't until they reached the southern part of Buzhou Mountain that they began to see Witch Clan tribes. This was Randeng's first time seeing the Witch Clan.
Aside from the Twelve Ancestral Witches, most members of the Witch Clan looked like enlarged versions of the Innate Dao Body, though each Ancestor Witch's tribe had its own distinct features.
Houtu told him that the tribes whose members were scarlet all over and marked with flame patterns belonged to Zhurong. Those with burly builds and dark yellow skin belonged to her own tribe.
Randeng had thought Houtu was already tall enough in her ordinary form, standing a full zhang tall. He hadn't expected that most members of her tribe would be three or four zhang tall.
No wonder the Three Pure Ones had called the Witch Clan a bunch of big, dumb brutes.
With Houtu leading the way, Randeng flew unimpeded over the Witch Clan's territory until they reached a magnificent palace at the foot of Buzhou Mountain.
"This is Pangu Hall, the sacred ground of the Witch Clan. It is also a spiritual treasure."
Houtu introduced it to Randeng. The Twelve Ancestral Witches had been born from the blood pool inside Pangu Hall.
Randeng knew, of course, that Pangu Hall had formed from Pangu's Heart. It was a spiritual treasure that Great God Pangu had left to the Witch Clan to help them reproduce and strengthen their bloodlines.
But the Witch Clan clearly hadn't discovered its function yet. They regarded it as sacred only because they had been born there.
At the entrance to Pangu Hall, a cool and beautiful Witch Clan woman blocked their way. Green snakes hung from her ears, and a pair of blue wings grew from her back.
Randeng knew this was Xuanming, one of the Ancestor Witches. Of the Twelve, only two were women. Houtu was standing beside him, so this had to be the Ancestor Witch of Rain.
"Little Sister Houtu, is this fellow Daoist Randeng?"
Xuanming spoke in a cool voice, like snow just beginning to melt atop a lofty mountain.
Randeng cupped his hands and bowed to Xuanming.
"I am Randeng of the West. Greetings, fellow Daoist Xuanming."
Xuanming nodded slightly, then turned and walked into the hall.
"Big Brother and the others are waiting inside. Come in."
Randeng and Houtu followed Xuanming into Pangu Hall.
Inside, he saw ten Ancestor Witches, each with a different appearance. The one at their center, who seemed to lead them all, had four wings on his back. He radiated authority even without showing anger, and a dense aura of the Space Law surrounded him. He had to be Dijiang, the leader of the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
"Are you Randeng? Did you give Little Sister the spiritual root and the method for raising spirit beasts?"
The Ancestor Witch to Dijiang's left spoke. His skin was scarlet, his body covered in red scales, and flame patterns marked his entire form.
"Zhurong, don't be rude to fellow Daoist Randeng. He has done our Witch Clan a kindness."
Dijiang reprimanded him. The main war faction among the clan was led by Zhurong and several other Ancestor Witches. They had long wanted to wage war against the two Golden Crows of the Demon Clan, believing that their Witch Clan should rule the Primordial World in place of Father God Pangu.
"Both the spiritual root and the method for raising spirit beasts that fellow Daoist Houtu has came from me. What do you have to say about that, fellow Daoist Zhurong?"
Seeing the hostility on Zhurong's face, Randeng showed him no deference. He had gone out of his way to help the Witch Clan, only to be met with a hostile attitude.
He released the pressure of his mid-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal cultivation, focusing it into a single line that bore down on Zhurong.
Zhurong grunted and staggered back two steps under the pressure. He clearly hadn't expected Randeng to be so ruthless and decisive.
A hint of surprise flashed through Dijiang's eyes as well. He clearly hadn't expected Randeng to be more powerful than he was, or to be so assertive.
Dijiang cupped his hands and bowed to Randeng.
"Zhurong cultivates the Law of Fire, so he has a hot temper. I hope you'll forgive him, fellow Daoist."
Randeng snorted and said nothing.
Houtu stepped in to smooth things over.
"Big Brother, weren't we supposed to invite fellow Daoist Randeng here to thank him? Hurry and bring out the gift."
Randeng was curious, too. What sort of thanks would the Twelve Ancestral Witches give him? A spiritual treasure, or a spiritual root?