Agreement Reached, Witch Race Moves, Demon Court Worries, Zixiao Schemes

Zhu Jiuyin took a deep breath, his expression once again turning serene and indifferent. "I have said what needed to be said, and as for what I did not say, I believe you all have likely guessed most of it by now."

"Now, you only need to tell me whether the Witch Race will lie low or not, and whether the promise you made to me—that I would hold the highest decision-making power—still stands."

Dijiang gritted his teeth. "This is a matter concerning the entire Witch Race. Even I dare not decide it alone. Let us, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, make the final determination together."

"We shall proceed by the principle of majority rule. Cast your votes: those who agree with Zhu Jiuyin's proposal and acknowledge that he shall henceforth hold the highest decision-making power, raise your hands. Those who oppose his opinion and do not acknowledge his authority, do not raise your hands!"

After speaking, Dijiang glanced at the surrounding Ancestral Witches and was the first to raise his hand. "I am the Space Ancestral Witch, Dijiang. I agree!"

The moment Dijiang's voice fell, Houtu was the second to declare her stance. "I am the Ancestral Witch of Earth, Houtu. I agree!"

"I am..."

In the end, excluding Qiangliang, Zhurong, and Gonggong, even Shebishi—who had initially hesitated to stand on Zhu Jiuyin's side—chose to agree this time.

Seeing that Shebishi had also chosen to stand with Zhu Jiuyin, the expressions of Qiangliang and the other two shifted.

They exchanged glances, then looked at Zhu Jiuyin, who still had not raised his hand and was watching the three of them with indifference. They gritted their teeth.

"I am the Ancestral Witch of Thunder, Qiangliang. I agree!"

"I am the Fire Ancestral Witch, Zhurong. I agree!"

"I am the Water Ancestral Witch, Gonggong. I agree!"

From this moment on, excluding Zhu Jiuyin, every Ancestral Witch present had declared their stance, choosing to agree with his proposal and acknowledging that he would henceforth hold the highest decision-making power.

Zhu Jiuyin took a deep breath and slowly raised his own right hand. "I am the Time Ancestral Witch, Zhu Jiuyin. I agree!"

The Ancestral Witches might have had hot tempers, icy demeanors, or combative spirits, but they were never people who broke their word.

Once they agreed, they would execute the decision without compromise, and the will of the Twelve Ancestral Witches was the supreme will of the Witch Race.

Then, the various factions of the Primordial World began to panic.

They saw that following an order issued from within Pangu Hall, the entire Witch Race began to rapidly abandon their previously expanded territories and gather swiftly at the Ancestral Land of the Witch Race at the foot of Mount Buzhou.

The Demon Court.

"Big Brother, what exactly are these Ancestral Witches doing? I have a feeling these brainless brutes are up to something, and something big at that!"

Facing Tai Yi's question, Di Jun could not help but furrow his brows.

Clearly, he did not know what the Witch Race intended with such a massive mobilization.

"Could it be that the Ancestral Witches and the Witch Race are unwilling to accept their defeat in the previous war, and thus wish to defy the will of the Dao Ancestor? Are they gathering the strength of their entire race to wipe out our Demon Race in one fell swoop?" Kunpeng's eyes darted around as he proposed his theory.

As soon as these words were spoken, the high-ranking members of the Demon Race, including Nuwa and Fuxi, nodded involuntarily and in unison.

Under normal circumstances, no one in the entire Primordial World would dare to defy the will of the Dao Ancestor, Hongjun.

But the problem was, these Ancestral Witches were not ordinary people.

Given their past conduct, the act of defying the Dao Ancestor's will was something that could very well happen.

After all, if the Witch Race exhausted all their strength to annihilate the Demon Race's leadership, or even just took a step back and killed Di Jun and Tai Yi, what then?

Who else but the Ancestral Witches possessed the Merit of Opening the Heavens?

Had they not heard that even the Dao Ancestor, Hongjun, had said the Ancestral Witches were not to be provoked lightly?

"No, we cannot sit here and wait for death. The most urgent priority is to hurry to the Purple Cloud Palace and seek the protection of the Dao Ancestor!"

The more Tai Yi listened, the more he believed Kunpeng's theory might be true, and he immediately urged Di Jun to run toward the Purple Cloud Palace.

Di Jun had the heart to refuse, but in the end, he did not struggle, for Di Jun was afraid as well.

Although running to the Purple Cloud Palace the moment trouble arose was detrimental to the dignity of a Heavenly Emperor, one could never be too careful.

If the Ancestral Witches were to manifest the True Form of Pangu again, he and Tai Yi, even with the Chaos Bell, would likely be beaten to a pulp!

After all, the Chaos Bell was powerful, but Tai Yi had not yet fully refined it.

The movements of the Ancestral Witches and the Witch Race could naturally not be hidden from Hongjun, who resided in the Purple Cloud Palace yet observed the entire Primordial World.

Hongjun pondered for a moment, but in the end, he chose not to intervene.

When it came down to it, whether it was the Ancestral Witches or the Witch Race, they were merely gathering; they had not yet truly struck against the Demon Race.

Under these circumstances, what could Hongjun do?

As long as the Ancestral Witches committed no wrong, if Hongjun were to strike at them directly, he would face the Great Dao Thunder Punishment.

Going against the Great Dao was something Hongjun truly dared not do.

However, Hongjun was still Hongjun; he quickly thought of a solution.

"If I am not mistaken, the living beings of the Primordial World, including the Three Pure Ones, must be filled with apprehension, or even fear, toward the Ancestral Witches and the Witch Race."

"Since there is apprehension and fear, then I shall simply make use of it."

With his scheme set, Hongjun waited quietly for Di Jun and Tai Yi to arrive.

With Hongjun easing the way, it did not take long for Di Jun and Tai Yi to arrive before the Purple Cloud Palace.

Facing Di Jun and Tai Yi, who were pleading desperately for Hongjun to intervene, Hongjun did not even open the doors of the Purple Cloud Palace.

However, he left them with a single sentence: "Those who follow the Dao receive much support; those who lose the Dao receive little. Return now!"

With a wave of his hand, Di Jun and Tai Yi were teleported back to the Demon Court.

"I believe the Dao Ancestor's words must hold a profound meaning!"

Tai Yi pondered carefully before offering his opinion.

Yet, this was undoubtedly a correct but useless statement; after all, anyone who wasn't a fool understood that Hongjun would not speak without purpose.

Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, Di Jun said in a deep voice, "The problem now is, what exactly does the Dao Ancestor mean by this!"

"This..."

At this moment, even Nuwa and Fuxi could not help but knit their brows.

Finally, it was Kunpeng who stepped forward: "Your Majesties, as well as Empress Wa and Emperor Xi, this humble subject has an idea."

"Speak," the four replied in unison.

Under the gaze of Di Jun, Tai Yi, and the others, Kunpeng spoke slowly: "Is it possible that our Demon Race also has friends, and these friends could serve as our external aid? If we can invite enough external support, would that not align with the holy decree of the Dao Ancestor regarding 'receiving much support'?"

Clap!

"Good, very well said!"

At this moment, Di Jun was so excited he could not help but clap in praise.

Beside him, Tai Yi, Fuxi, and Nuwa also nodded repeatedly.

"The Demon Race intends to hold a Dao Discussion Assembly at the Heavenly Court and has invited us to attend. Second Brother, Third Brother, what are your thoughts?"

Laozi held the invitation personally delivered by Baize, asking Yuanshi and Tongtian beside him with a meaningful smile.

Yuanshi let out a cold snort: "Hmph, Di Jun and Tai Yi have a clever scheme. It is called a Dao Discussion, but in reality, they want to use us as external support."

Tongtian could not help but sigh: "We have no choice but to go. After all, we are the direct disciples of our Master. If the Ancestral Witches clearly intend to defy the Master's will and we, as his disciples, do not intervene, would that not make us the laughingstock of the Primordial World?"

"Then we shall go," Laozi concluded firmly.