It wasn't just a matter of strength and essence blood. The Wu Clan had flourished thanks to the Ancestral Shamans' protection.
Seeing Hou Yi become so obedient, most of Houtu's anger dissipated. She had always been gentle by nature; it was just that Chu Xuan had stirred up her emotions lately.
Looking at Hou Yi before her, and even Kuafu, who stood nearby and respectfully greeted her,
she thought to herself,
Now this is what a proper member of the Wu Clan should be like!
As for Chu Xuan...
He doesn't look like a member of the Wu Clan at all!
Chu Xuan smiled. He had naturally noticed Houtu's gaze, but now that he had proven himself, he no longer cared.
If a Poisonous Scholar of the Wu Clan wasn't a little arrogant, what kind of Poisonous Scholar would he be?
His mind was full of schemes and stratagems. He was like a pearl in the dark of night; there was no hiding his personal charisma!
After a moment's thought, Chu Xuan spoke directly to Houtu.
"Kuafu and Hou Yi will both become powerful members of our Wu Clan in the future. They're good witches who care about the clan, just like me. I ask the Ancestral Shaman to reward them!"
He made no effort to conceal his intentions. Instead, he directly asked Houtu for a reward.
Kuafu and Hou Yi, standing nearby, felt their hearts pound.
This guy was way too bold!
Hou Yi had thought himself bold enough, but he hadn't expected there to be an even more daring expert!
What shocked them most, however, was that Houtu merely gave Chu Xuan a helpless look before nodding.
"Very well. I'll grant you two drops of Ancestral Shaman Essence Blood. I hope you'll become pillars of our Wu Clan in the future!"
As she spoke, Houtu immediately took out two drops of essence blood and sent them toward Hou Yi and Kuafu.
It was obvious that neither drop was Houtu's own essence blood.
One contained the aura of space, while the other carried a rich Wood Aura.
Chu Xuan recognized at a glance that they came from Dijiang and Jumang.
It was normal for the Ancestral Shamans to possess one another's essence blood. After all, there were always meritorious members of the tribes with different affinities who needed to be rewarded.
Houtu also had an excellent eye for talent. The Space Essence Blood was not only from a Quasi-Saint, but was also perfectly suited to Hou Yi, who had recently become a Great Witch. It would even help him comprehend archery. Jumang's essence blood, meanwhile, suited a member of the Wu Clan like Kuafu, who excelled in endurance.
Hou Yi and Kuafu were overjoyed. They bowed respectfully in thanks.
Then, with admirable tact, they withdrew to refine the Ancestral Shaman Essence Blood.
They could tell that their friend had become an entirely different person after being summoned by the Ancestral Shaman.
And the Ancestral Shaman's attitude toward him was quite unusual, too. Who else could get an Ancestral Shaman to grant them essence blood with just a few words?
"No wonder this guy has the Ancestral Shamans' aura about him!"
Hou Yi sighed.
Kuafu, however, angrily punched Hou Yi.
"It's all your fault! If you hadn't stopped me from going with Chu Xuan, I might have gotten the same opportunity!"
Hou Yi mumbled, looking a little embarrassed.
He had always been steady and cautious. He'd figured that if Chu Xuan could see the problems with the Demon Clan, the Ancestral Shamans could see them, too. Chu Xuan was a new member of the Wu Clan, but if old members like them joined in his antics, they might be punished by the Ancestral Shamans.
Who would've thought there really was an opportunity waiting for them? Damn it!
After the two left, Houtu looked at Chu Xuan helplessly.
"That should do it, right? Are you leaving now?"
Chu Xuan was just about to nod.
Suddenly, his gaze shifted toward a certain direction, and he shook his head.
"It seems we have guests!"
Houtu's eyes flickered, and a rare smile blossomed across her face.
"So it's little sister Nuwa. What a rare visitor!"
Layers of space opened before them, and two grand, divine figures emerged from within.
One was handsome and graceful, the other as beautiful as jade. As they walked forward, the mysterious Dao Image of a serpent's body faintly took shape behind them, like the Dao itself, like a dragon.
The beautiful woman—Nuwa—spoke first, sounding a little dissatisfied.
"I've told you before: you're the younger sister!"
Clearly, the two had a good relationship.
That was only natural. The Wu Clan's main stronghold lay beneath Buzhou Mountain, while Nuwa and Fuxi had long lived on the mountain.
Both were Great Divine Ability Users. Even though it was difficult for a Great Luo Golden Immortal to cross Buzhou Mountain in a short time, they were still neighbors.
Besides, they were both rare female Great Divine Ability Users. It was only natural that they knew each other well.
Chu Xuan stood silently to one side, pretending to be Houtu's attendant as he curiously studied the two familiar yet unfamiliar Great Divine Ability Users.
They're both household names. More importantly, one will be a Future Saint, and the other a Saint Emperor of the Human Race.
Is there anything about them worth scheming over?
As a qualified strategist of the Wu Clan, Chu Xuan had begun to consider how he might use them the instant he saw the two.
The main thing was, they were both extremely valuable.
However, just as Chu Xuan was secretly studying the two Great Divine Ability Users without saying a word,
Fuxi, who had arrived afterward, took an interest in him and asked curiously,
"May I ask who this fellow Daoist is?"
"It's quite remarkable that you were able to call out our whereabouts just now!"
His tone was calm, as if he were simply curious, but Chu Xuan instantly sensed a kindred spirit.
A spy. He's testing me. This guy's no good!
Well, well, well. He's using his good relationship with his sister and the Ancestral Shaman to openly come here and test me, is he?
Chu Xuan immediately grew wary.
He hadn't forgotten that this Future Saint Emperor of the Human Race only became its Saint Emperor after dying once.
Before that, he had been the Demon Clan's Emperor Xi!
Although Fuxi hadn't yet joined the Demon Clan, the time was fast approaching.
That only made Chu Xuan more cautious.
Chu Xuan quietly gave Houtu a look. She immediately became alert. She didn't understand Fuxi, but she understood Chu Xuan.
A being as intelligent as Chu Xuan wouldn't suddenly give her a warning unless something was wrong.
"Fuxi? Nuwa?"
Houtu's delight at seeing old friends immediately faded by half, though she still smiled as she spoke.
"Fellow Daoist Fuxi, allow me to introduce him. He's a junior of our clan named Chu Xuan. He has some talent, so I've kept him by my side to teach him."
"I was just about to send him out to gain experience, but then I happened to run into you two!"
With a few simple words, Houtu explained Chu Xuan's identity and placed him among the younger generation, drawing a distinction between him and Fuxi.
Fuxi, however, didn't seem to care about any of that. Instead, after hearing Houtu's explanation, he fixed his gaze on Chu Xuan and continued speaking.
"I see!"
"But Chu Xuan, you seem rather extraordinary. My younger sister and I didn't conceal ourselves, but even so, an ordinary Taiyi Golden Immortal wouldn't have been able to detect us!"
As he spoke, Fuxi sounded somewhat impressed.
"How truly talented the Wu Clan is!"
"First, the Great Witch Hou Yi drove back the Demon Clan's Heavenly Emperor, and now you have such a talented Taiyi Golden Immortal!"
Fuxi had clearly come with his attention fixed on Chu Xuan, which surprised him.
But after thinking it over, he quickly understood why.
He was too conspicuous. The clash between the Wu and Demon Clans had ended only recently, yet Houtu had suddenly brought a nobody like him along. No matter how you looked at it, something seemed off. Ordinary powerhouses wouldn't pay attention to an ant of the Taiyi Golden Immortal level.
Before you continue