Houtu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Houtu 10
Alias(es)	Empress Ping Xin of the Netherworld 99
Species/Race	Earth Ancestral Witch; formerly one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches 10 99
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Formerly the Witch Clan; the Netherworld and Earth Dao 99 100
Occupation/Role	Founder and ruler of the Six Paths Samsara; Earth Dao authority 99 100
Status	Active; merged with the Earth Dao as Empress Ping Xin 99 100
First Appearance	Chapter 10

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Pangu Marrow integration	13	Successfully integrated Qing Xuan's drop of Pangu Marrow into her Ancestral Witch True Body; it began nourishing her remnant soul toward a complete Primordial Spirit.
Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal	27	Broke through after Qing Xuan recreated the Dao Ancestor's sermon.
Reincarnation Law comprehension	63	Her cultivation manifested six illusory vortices cycling life and death, marking her first contact with the Reincarnation Law.
Empress Ping Xin / Earth Dao	99 100	Manifested the Six Paths Samsara, received Great Dao merit, completed the Netherworld, and merged with the awakened Earth Dao.

Background / History

Houtu was the Earth Ancestral Witch among the Twelve Ancestral Witches and a Pangu descendant. Before meeting Qing Xuan, she had repeatedly sought sparring matches with Nuwa; Nuwa described having fought her for two hundred years because of Houtu's enthusiasm for battle. 10

She encountered Qing Xuan after he obtained a drop of Pangu Marrow. Houtu sensed that the marrow was her opportunity and accepted Qing Xuan's wager: if she lost, she would guide him to Nine Heavens Breathing Soil; if she won, she would receive the marrow. 10 Qing Xuan defeated her by anchoring the Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler—an artifact carrying Pangu's imprint—in the ground, making it impossible for her Earth Law to move. Houtu conceded rather than deny the loss. 11

Although Qing Xuan had won the bet, he gave Houtu the Pangu Marrow and asked her to lead him to the Creation Green Lotus. Houtu accepted the gift with lasting gratitude and used the Witch Clan's Shrink Ground to Inch technique to bring Qing Xuan and Nuwa to the lotus. 12 After integrating the marrow, her remnant soul began developing toward a complete Primordial Spirit. 13

When the Sanqing tried to claim the Creation Green Lotus, Houtu openly challenged their claim to Pangu's legacy, accusing them of never honoring Pangu and declaring that she would teach them a lesson on his behalf. 13 She battled Yuanshi Tianzun with Earth Law and her Ancestral Witch True Body, but was injured by his long-range Fly Whisk attacks and nearly resorted to burning her Ancestral Witch Essence Blood. 14

Appearance

Houtu first appears as a yellow-clad woman. After becoming Empress Ping Xin, she is described in an elegant long dress with a gentle, water-like bearing. 10 110

• Can manifest an immense Ancestral Witch True Body for combat and travel. 12 14
• Her hands gather earth-yellow Earth Law when using her innate authority over terrain. 10 11
• Carries a notably gentler demeanor in later appearances as the Netherworld's ruler. 110 120

Personality

Houtu is initially direct, proud, and highly combative. She challenges Nuwa as soon as they meet and readily accepts Qing Xuan's wager, confident that her Earth Law can manipulate any terrain. Even after being outmaneuvered, she acknowledges defeat without evasion. 10 11

Her reverence for Pangu and loyalty to the Witch Clan are central to her identity. She considers destroying Buzhou Mountain for Pangu Marrow unfilial, and she confronts the Sanqing because she believes they have failed to honor their shared origin. 13 17

Beneath her forceful nature, Houtu is deeply compassionate. Witnessing souls trapped in the Nether Blood Sea leads her to accept the apparent cost of her own life in order to establish reincarnation for all beings. 98 She is also steadfastly loyal to Qing Xuan and Nuwa, valuing them above her own cultivation. 120 140

Abilities & Skills

Earth Law

As the Earth Ancestral Witch, Houtu possesses innate mastery over the Great Dao Earth Law.

• Can flatten mountains, raise plains into peaks, and split the earth into ravines at will. 11
• Manipulates surrounding earth as a combat weapon, raising stone walls and imprisoning opponents beneath giant rocks. 14
• Her Earth Law could not move the Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler because the artifact bore Pangu's will. 11
• Uses Earth Escape to travel rapidly across the Primordial World. 79

Ancestral Witch True Body

Houtu can manifest her Ancestral Witch True Body, greatly amplifying her physical strength and Earth Law.

• Its immense strength lets her contend directly with powerful cultivators such as Yuanshi Tianzun. 14
• The larger body is comparatively slow and vulnerable to sustained long-range attacks. 14
• She can carry others while using her clan's movement techniques. 12

Shrink Ground to Inch

A Witch Clan secret technique used for long-distance travel.

• On Buzhou Mountain, each step covered several miles despite the mountain's Pangu Pressure. 12
• Outside Buzhou Mountain, the technique is capable of crossing vastly greater distances. 12

Primordial Spirit and Spiritual Sense

Pangu Marrow and Qing Xuan's assistance allowed Houtu to compensate for the Ancestral Witches' lack of a complete Primordial Spirit.

• Pangu Marrow nourished her remnant soul toward a complete Primordial Spirit. 13
• Qing Xuan used Three Lights Divine Water to help her condense her first thread of Spiritual Sense. 63
• Her Spiritual Sense enabled her to perceive the veins and interconnections of all things. 63

Reincarnation and Earth Dao Authority

Houtu's ultimate authority comes from her transformation into Empress Ping Xin and her merger with the Earth Dao.

• Manifested the Six Paths Samsara, providing a destination for souls after death. 99
• Uses the Twenty-Four Petal Samsara Purple Lotus to suppress the Netherworld's destiny. 99
• Awakened the Earth Dao, which thereafter jointly governs the Primordial World's rules with the Heavenly Dao. 100
• Oversees Netherworld affairs, including reincarnation matters and the appointment, assessment, and promotion of Netherworld gods. 120 178
• Commands the Netherworld Ghost Fire and can provide its origin flame. 110 116

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Twenty-Four Petal Samsara Purple Lotus — Suppresses the Netherworld's destiny and supports the awakening of the Earth Dao. 99
• Six Paths Samsara Plate — Held by Houtu upon completing the Six Paths Samsara. 99
• Book of Life and Death — A spiritual treasure that descended from beyond the heavens during the establishment of Samsara. 99
• Judge's Brush — Descended alongside the Book of Life and Death and was claimed by Houtu. 99
• Eighteen-Level Futuo Tower — One of several Netherworld spiritual treasures found in Houtu's possession. 40
• Three Lives Stone — Netherworld spiritual treasure. 40
• Wangxiang Terrace — Netherworld spiritual treasure. 40
• Sin Mirror Terrace — Netherworld spiritual treasure. 40

Relationships

• Qing Xuan — Initially a wager opponent, then her benefactor and closest confidant. He gave her Pangu Marrow, guided her cultivation, and devised the plan that prevented her from being trapped by the Heavenly Dao after establishing Samsara. Houtu has unspoken but acknowledged feelings for him. 12 98 99 120 140
• Nuwa — Sparring partner, close friend, and sworn-like sister. Nuwa repeatedly protects Houtu, worries over her sacrifice, and maintains a warm relationship with her despite knowing Houtu's feelings for Qing Xuan. 10 14 98 99 120
• Fu Xi — Ally in the creation of Samsara. Fu Xi supported Houtu at the Nether Blood Sea and helped ensure Old Ancestor Ming He did not obstruct her transformation. 98 99
• Di Jiang and the Witch Clan — Her elder brother and original clan. Houtu cared deeply for the Witch Clan's survival, but severed her karma with it upon becoming Empress Ping Xin. 17 81 99
• Hong Jun — Political adversary. Hong Jun intended to bind Houtu permanently within Samsara, but her oath to the Great Dao and awakening of the Earth Dao prevented his plan. 98 99 101
• Old Ancestor Ming He — Initially obstructed her entry into the Nether Blood Sea. Her creation of Samsara instead gave him the merit and opportunity needed to become the Netherworld's guardian. 98 99 100

Story Role / Major Arcs

Creation Green Lotus Conflict

Houtu guided Qing Xuan and Nuwa to the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and the Creation Green Lotus after losing their wager. She later confronted the Sanqing over their attempt to claim the lotus, fighting Yuanshi Tianzun and condemning the brothers' lack of reverence for Pangu. 12 13 14

Search for the Witch Clan's Future

As conflict between the Witch and Demon Clans escalated, Houtu sought a path to preserve her people. Qing Xuan urged her to travel the Primordial World and understand her own place within it rather than rely only on increased cultivation. 62 81

Her developing spiritual sense and repeated visions of six paths brought her into contact with the Reincarnation Law. The Netherworld spiritual treasures she had acquired increasingly resonated with the Sea of Blood, drawing her toward her destiny. 40 42 63 64

Manifestation of Samsara

At the Nether Blood Sea, Houtu witnessed human souls being used by Old Ancestor Ming He to create the Asura Clan. Unable to accept their suffering, she chose to manifest Samsara even after learning that the conventional path would leave her imprisoned within it forever. 98

Following Qing Xuan's plan, she swore to the Great Dao rather than the Heavenly Dao, gave Qing Xuan a drop of her essence blood containing her memories, seized the treasures born from Samsara, and reformed as Empress Ping Xin. 98 99 Her transformation established the Six Paths Samsara, completed the Netherworld, severed her karma with the Witch Clan, and awakened the Earth Dao. 99 100

Netherworld Administration and Investiture of the Gods

As Empress Ping Xin, Houtu manages the Six Paths of Reincarnation and sought Qing Xuan's aid in establishing a dedicated department for reincarnation matters. 120

During the Investiture of the Gods negotiations, she demanded the Netherworld's authority to appoint its own gods. Hong Jun accepted that Netherworld positions should be invested through the Earth Dao, while Houtu retained control over their stipends, promotions, and assessments. 178

Dao Injury and Recovery

Houtu and Nuwa were severely injured while protecting Qing Xuan. Houtu later awakened to find that her cultivation had fallen to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin realm, but dismissed the loss as unimportant compared with Qing Xuan's safety. 139 140

Notable Quotes

“If it can alleviate the suffering of all beings, what does it matter if Houtu dies?” 98

“Great Dao above, today I, Houtu, am willing to manifest Samsara with my body, to relieve the suffering of all beings.” 99

“From this moment on, Houtu is no more a Witch.” 99