"Our elder brother is right. The Primordial World was created by Father God. As his bloodline, we enjoy his blessings and fortune. It's only a matter of time before our bodies become saints."
Zhurong spoke, his tone arrogant and utterly unconcerned.
Houtu gently shook her head. "That's not necessarily true. When I went to Purple Heaven Palace this time, I saw many powerful figures. For one, there are the Three Pure Ones, who, like us, call themselves the Pangu Orthodox Lineage."
"They're blessed with great fortune and shouldn't be underestimated. Their strength is already no weaker than mine. Given time, they might threaten the fortune of our Witch Clan."
She spoke solemnly. Her trip to Purple Heaven Palace had not been without gain.
"Little sister, I think you're worrying too much. Those three only inherited Father God's primordial spirits. How could they deserve the title of Pangu Orthodox Lineage?"
"Don't forget, Father God's greatest strength was his physical body. What does a primordial spirit amount to?"
Gonggong laughed, utterly disdainful.
Houtu could only grunt in response, unable to refute him. After all, it was only her own feeling.
The Three Pure Ones were strong, but there were only three of them, while the siblings numbered twelve!
Perhaps she was overthinking things.
Just then, Xuanming, who was close to Houtu, pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Actually, little sister isn't wrong. Although we siblings are blessed by nature and enjoy Father God's grace, we mustn't let our guard down."
"Our top priority should be to grow stronger, just in case."
At her words, the Ancestral Witches stirred, finding Xuanming's argument quite reasonable.
"The Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans have fallen. This world ought to be ruled by our Witch Clan. Otherwise, we'd be letting Father God down for creating it."
Qiangliang, the Thunder Ancestral Witch, was imposing, his voice ringing through the entire hall like thunder.
"Precisely. Over the years, our Witch Clan has accumulated enough strength. It's time to rule the entire Primordial World."
Zhu Jiuyin spoke calmly, yet his words were domineering.
The Ancestral Witches who had remained silent nodded to themselves. Even the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans had once ruled the world.
As Pangu's Orthodox Lineage, were they not entitled to rule it too?
Dijiang, eldest of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, swept his sharp gaze over them and asked in a low voice, "Is this what you all think?"
The Ancestral Witches exchanged glances. None spoke, but they all nodded firmly.
Dijiang understood. After a brief silence, he spoke slowly.
"You're all right. The time has come. Our Witch Clan has no rivals now. Perhaps this, too, is Father God's blessing, making our clan so prosperous and powerful."
"Since that's so, we mustn't disappoint Father God. Unifying the Primordial World will be the finest way to repay him."
At his words, the Ancestral Witches' blood surged, as if answering his call.
Perhaps this was Father God guiding them from beyond.
"Starting today, expand quickly and seize territory until we occupy the entire Primordial World."
Dijiang rose to his feet and announced it loudly.
All the Ancestral Witches voiced their agreement. Only Houtu hesitated. In the end, she couldn't help interrupting.
"Elder brother, if we do this, won't some of the living beings resent us and join forces against us?"
She voiced her worry, prompting laughter from the Ancestral Witches.
"Little sister, you're overthinking it. Those feathered and horned creatures are a chaotic rabble. Who could unite them? And even if someone did, they'd be nothing but a disorganized mob, no match for us."
Zhurong scoffed, as if he'd just heard the biggest joke in the world.
The members of the Witch Clan shared the same roots, so naturally they stood as one.
But those feathered and horned creatures were a hodgepodge of all kinds. Out of ten thousand living beings, eight thousand were different from one another.
How could they ever unite?
"Zhurong is right, little sister. There's no need to worry at all." This time, even Xuanming didn't side with Houtu.
In her view, Houtu was simply overthinking things, even showing a touch of cowardice.
She'd gone out and learned nothing, except to become timid and hesitant.
That was hardly the way of their Witch Clan.
"Maybe I am overthinking it," Houtu murmured. She felt she had little grounds to argue and spoke without conviction.
"Enough. Since no one objects, return to your own tribes and make preparations for war."
Dijiang waved a hand as he gave the order.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches returned to their respective tribes. The entire Witch Clan sprang into action. Their warriors were born for battle and had long been itching for a fight.
Led by the Great Witches of their respective tribes, they began sweeping outward, seizing territory and plundering resources.
Because the Witch Clan possessed turbid energy, they couldn't absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Everyone except the Ancestral Witches needed food. And so, the Demon Clan became the Witch Clan's ideal source of provisions—at least until the Human Race appeared.
The Witch Clan's expansion and attacks naturally met fierce resistance. Battles raged between the two sides, leaving severed limbs everywhere and rivers of blood. Gradually, a thin layer of baleful energy shrouded the Primordial World.
Meanwhile.
Powerful figures gathered at Mount Buzhou, quietly awaiting the treasure's emergence.
"Hum!"
Suddenly, a beam of light shot skyward, accompanied by an astonishing aura.
Brilliant radiance illuminated the universe. Auspicious light and precious energy reflected off the mountain, turning it into a world of gold.
A Gourd Vine swallowed and exhaled seven-colored spiritual rain as it appeared from thin air, constantly transforming in myriad ways, its powerful fluctuations spreading everywhere.
"It has finally appeared."
Laozi stroked his beard and smiled, a flash of delight crossing his eyes.
The three brothers had only recently returned when they sensed that an opportunity meant for them lay here.
Now that the treasure had appeared, judging by its aura, it had to be an extraordinary Innate Spiritual Treasure.
"Haha, this treasure seems destined for the West!"
In another direction, Jieyin and Zhunti clapped their hands and laughed. They had returned from Purple Heaven Palace but hadn't hurried back to the West. They hadn't expected to encounter a treasure's emergence—but what else could that mean, if not that it was destined for them?
It seemed this treasure wanted to return to the West with them!
Nuwa and her brother Fuxi, Hong Yun, and the other powerful figures all looked delighted. They could clearly see seven glittering gourds hanging from the Gourd Vine.
With seven gourds, surely one of them would belong to each of them, right?
At that moment.
In a corner of Mount Buzhou, two golden figures were peeking out, eager to make their move.
"Elder brother, is the treasure you sensed over there?"
"That's right. I can feel it. This treasure is very important to me." Di Jun nodded firmly.
That was the way fate worked. In the Primordial World, if a treasure was meant for you, you could sense it even from the ends of the earth. If it wasn't yours, you could miss it even when it was right in front of you.
Di Jun and Tai Yi had traveled through the Primordial World for a thousand years, and without realizing it, they had arrived at Mount Buzhou. The reason was that Di Jun had sensed a treasure here was fated to be his.
"Then it's settled. I'll keep them busy while you grab it and run."
Tai Yi said in a low voice.
Before you continue