Chapter 44

Houtu suddenly burst into loud laughter.

"What a fanciful notion! You want me to clean up your mess? What does the Western Teachings have to offer in exchange?"

Her laughter was uninhibited and brazen, clearly finding the proposal utterly absurd.

An Ancestor Witch indeed possessed the power to move mountains and overturn seas—

But why should she?

"Little brat, go back to your Western Teachings and play!"

"Don't think you can run wild across the prehistoric world just because you have Saints for masters. Get lost while you still can, and stop obstructing my view!"

"Others may fear your two masters, but I do not take them seriously."

With that, she flicked her sleeve and turned to step into a spatial rift.

Lu Tian continued calmly, "Senior, I do not merely wish to ask you to restore the Earth Veins."

"If possible, I also hope you can relocate a Witch Clan tribe to settle in the west."

"Absurd!"

Had anyone else been present, they would certainly have berated Lu Tian for his wild delusions!

This man had truly lost his mind!

Houtu turned around, her gaze turning ice-cold.

She had not wished to bully the weak and had already given Lu Tian a chance.

It seemed this man was determined to seek death.

"Youngster, do you think that because you became a Saint's disciple and gained some fame on Kunlun Mountain, you can spout nonsense here?"

"Today, I will make you understand that everything you have gained through cultivation is nothing but an illusion."

A cold gleam flickered in Houtu's eyes.

She had decided to teach Lu Tian a proper lesson.

Lu Tian fell silent.

He secretly thought:

Are all the Witch Clan members this...

Dull-witted?

Earlier, he had deliberately beaten around the bush, intending to test just how simple-minded the supposedly dim-witted Witch Clan truly was.

Now, it seemed...

The Witch Clan really did speak and act with blunt straightforwardness!

"Does Senior not wish to know what I intend to offer in exchange?"

"I know the Demon Clan is forging a weapon to deal with the Witch Clan. Once it is completed, it will certainly change the course of the Witch-Demon War!"

Lu Tian hurriedly transmitted his voice.

This time, he did not dare beat around the bush again.

Houtu indeed stopped and asked suspiciously, "How do you know this?"

Lu Tian gave a bitter smile. "It would not hurt to tell you, but you must agree to two conditions."

"First, send a Witch Clan tribe to the west to multiply and thrive."

"This would both preserve a branch of the Witch Clan in the west and forge a good connection for the future."

"Once the Witch-Demon War ends, the Witch Clan that remains in the west can be used to persuade Houtu to establish the Six Paths of Reincarnation."

"Second, I ask Senior to help restore the western Earth Veins. Merit is useless to you, so you might as well give it to this junior."

Houtu readily agreed.

Restoring the Earth Veins was no more than a trivial matter to her.

Seeing her agree so readily, Lu Tian secretly regretted it.

Had he known, why would he have bothered testing her?

He immediately told her everything that had happened after leaving Kunlun Mountain, including infiltrating the Heavenly Court and what he had discovered among the human race.

Houtu's chest heaved violently. Only after taking deep breaths for a long while did she calm herself, then she shouted angrily at Lu Tian, "Say what you mean! Stop going in circles around me!"

"All your roundabout nonsense makes my head hurt!"

Lu Tian stood there in a daze.

He suddenly felt that Houtu, the Ancestor Witch whose fame shook the prehistoric world and the future Earthly Dao Saint Empress Pingxin...

Was perhaps a little too reckless?

"You go back first."

"I should return to the Witch Clan as well. In a few days, I will bring people to the west. We will wait until we have discussed how to deal with those ** from the Demon Clan."

Houtu waved her hand impatiently and turned to enter the spatial passage.

Before Lu Tian could say anything, the passage had already closed.

He shook his head helplessly and descended through the air.

This time, Jieyin and Zhunti had led the others away first, leaving only Lu Tian behind.

There was naturally a deeper meaning behind this.

First, he was to find a way to meet Houtu and persuade her to help the west restore its Earth Veins.

Second, he was to head for Buzhou Mountain.

Ever since calculating the timing of the Witch-Demon calamity, Lu Tian had known that Buzhou Mountain was about to collapse.

This greatest Blessed Land of the prehistoric world would soon cease to exist.

After leaving the Western Teachings, he had traveled through Kunlun Mountain and the Heavenly Court, then escorted the human race westward...

Burdened by so many matters, he had never been able to make the journey.

Now that time was pressing, Lu Tian decided to set everything else aside and head straight for Buzhou Mountain.

Perhaps he might find a supreme treasure along the way, something comparable to the Pangu Banner or the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation!

Besides...

He had yet to obtain the second stage of Luohu's inheritance.

Once he returned to the west, he needed to acquire that inheritance as soon as possible.

Only then could he rise to an even greater level when the final Witch-Demon battle erupted.

With his plans settled, Lu Tian focused on traveling.

The Demon Clan's flying vessel was indeed convenient.

Within the Ancestor Witch Hall of the Witch Clan.

The twelve Ancestor Witches had gathered for a discussion.

Houtu was recounting the information Lu Tian had revealed, her face dark.

The other Ancestor Witches endured their impatience and listened to the end.

The moment she finished speaking, several Ancestor Witches slammed their hands on the table and began cursing!

"**! Who's coming with me to storm Lingxiao Palace and pluck every feather off those two firebirds!"

"I told you the Demon Clan was full of no-good bastards! Let's wipe out those beasts today!"

"Why are we wasting words? Di Yi, hurry up and open a portal! We'll all charge in together!"

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"

The Ancestor Witches clamored noisily, wishing they could immediately rush into the Heavenly Court and slaughter Di Jun.

Di Yi's temples throbbed as he listened.

He slammed the table and roared, "Shut the hell up, all of you!"

"Keep arguing, and get out there to fight each other one-on-one!"

His voice was truly thunderous—

It actually overwhelmed the Ancestor Witches' heated clamor.

"Use your pig brains! Since Di Jun showed himself after the Peach Banquet, it means that thing must have been completed."

"We do not even know what it is yet. What if we rashly charge into the Thirty-Third Heaven and get surrounded?"

Di Yi swept his gaze over everyone in irritation.

These reckless brutes truly gave him no peace of mind.

"How many times have I told you? Use your brains! Use your brains!"

As soon as he finished speaking.

One of the Ancestor Witches below muttered, "We never had that thing to begin with. What do we need it for?"

Crack!

Di Yi failed to control his strength—

The stone table in the Ancestor Witch Hall split in two.

Houtu spoke at that moment. "Then come up with an idea. We will all listen to you."

That statement finally received everyone's agreement.

Thinking was too troublesome. It was better to leave everything to Di Yi.

Di Yi let out a long sigh.

"I have no solution either. Houtu, when you go to the west, ask Jieyin and Zhunti about it along the way."

"Those two bald donkeys are smarter than us."

Houtu answered faintly.

She merely needed to pack and prepare to head west another day.

Lu Tian drove the flying vessel through the sea of clouds. After a thousand years, he finally caught sight of Buzhou Mountain's outline.

He had gained a few items over those years.

Unfortunately, with his current standards, ordinary treasures no longer caught his eye.

At the very least, it had to be a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure with some special function before it could draw his attention.

Such opportunities could only be encountered by chance. To obtain one in merely a few thousand years would require heaven-sent fortune.

From afar, Lu Tian could already sense Buzhou Mountain's extraordinary presence.

Its pressure was no weaker than Kunlun Mountain's.

Kunlun Mountain appeared majestic because the Three Pure Ones resided there, supported by Sage's Might.

But Buzhou Mountain's majesty was entirely natural!

It had been formed from Pangu's spine, holding up the heavens and standing upon the earth. It was truly the greatest divine mountain of the prehistoric world.

Even with Lu Tian's abilities, reaching Buzhou Mountain's summit was nearly an impossible fantasy.

Everyone knew that Buzhou Mountain's pressure increased exponentially with altitude, and at its summit, it rivaled a Saint's pressure. This divine mountain, praised as the greatest Blessed Land of the prehistoric world, concealed who knew how many Innate Spiritual Roots and rare treasures!

When the flying vessel tore through the clouds and entered Buzhou Mountain's territory, Lu Tian's pupils suddenly contracted.

A smile that rose from the depths of his soul spread across his face.

[ Ding! The host has arrived at Buzhou Mountain, the greatest Blessed Land of the prehistoric world, and has received a system reward: Chaos Bead ]

The Chaos Bead!

Ripples actually spread through Lu Tian's Dao heart. Though he calmed them in an instant, for someone of his level, that alone showed how deeply shocked he was.

This was a peerless treasure ranked among the Chaos treasures!

The bead contained a Chaos world within. Not only could it obscure heavenly secrets and evade the Heavenly Dao's detection, it was also a supreme treasure coveted by every transmigrator. Countless thoughts flashed through Lu Tian's mind in an instant—compared to its ability to conceal heavenly secrets, the undeveloped Chaos world within was the truly priceless treasure!

He suddenly recalled the Virtual-Real World he had painstakingly cultivated. Over the years, he had allowed it to evolve naturally, and it had now reached its peak state. Countless Vajra Clan members fought and multiplied within it, continuously providing Lu Tian with merit, insights into the true meaning of the Blade Dao, and comprehension of laws.

If he could graft the Virtual-Real World into the Chaos Bead...

Using the Chaos world as its foundation, he could turn the virtual into reality!

At that time, not only would attaining enlightenment and becoming a Saint be possible, even standing shoulder to shoulder with Dao Ancestor Hongjun would no longer be a fantasy! A terrifying gleam burst from Lu Tian's eyes. This was a genuine opportunity for the Great Dao.

There were countless beings in the prehistoric world with the potential to become Saints: Di Jun and Taiyi controlled the Heavenly Court, Styx commanded the Sea of Blood, Kong Xuan's Five-Colored Divine Light could brush away anything, Zhen Yuanzi held the Earth Book, Daoist Duobao had inherited Tongtian's true teachings...

But how could becoming a Saint be so easy? Talent was merely the threshold; one also needed destiny's favor. The Dream Path Enlightenment Method, the Virtual-Real World, and Saint-level comprehension he had acquired before could increase his chances, but they did not count as a true Opportunity for Enlightenment.

Only a destiny-granted opportunity like Nuwa creating humanity, or the merit of opening the heavens inherited by the Three Pure Ones, could be considered a near-certain foundation for becoming a Saint!

Even a Chaos Demon God with perfect foundations might not necessarily attain enlightenment and become a Saint.

But the Chaos Bead was different. If Lu Tian could truly use it to open a world comparable to the prehistoric world, his path to enlightenment would surely be unobstructed!

With the Chaos Bead in hand, Lu Tian immediately felt refreshed in both mind and spirit.

This was a legendary Chaos treasure!

Though he had long heard that it was standard equipment for transmigrators, holding it in his palm still made it impossible to suppress the surging excitement in his heart.

If he told his masters about this...

Lu Tian could practically foresee their stunned expressions.

However, he would not be foolish enough to do so—not because he feared Jieyin and Zhunti, but because its origin was simply too difficult to explain.

Was he supposed to claim that he had casually picked it up while wandering around Buzhou Mountain?

Anyone who heard such an absurd excuse would shake their head!

Clouds and mist swirled around Buzhou Mountain's summit. Lu Tian raised his head but could not see its end.

After pondering for a moment, he decided to leave.

He had already obtained the greatest opportunity. There was no meaning in remaining here any longer.

Could he really expect to pick up another top-grade spiritual treasure from Buzhou Mountain?

After traveling the prehistoric world for hundreds and thousands of years, he had encountered no further opportunities besides the Nine Dragon Fire Cover.

Moreover, Buzhou Mountain had long been picked clean by the generation of the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti.

Rather than waste time, it was better to focus on refining the Chaos Bead.

The flying vessel broke through the clouds and headed west. Sitting cross-legged inside the cabin, Lu Tian brought out the Vajra Scepter.

Vast Sage's Might swept across the surroundings, frightening the living beings along the way into fleeing in panic.

The undisturbed journey went exceptionally smoothly, allowing him to focus on refining the supreme treasure.

At the foot of Spirit Mountain, as Lu Tian climbed the steps, he suddenly sensed an approaching presence.

"You're finally back!"

Houtu came racing over on a streak of escape light, the pressure of an Ancestor Witch forcibly holding back the saintly Dao Charm.

Such headlong recklessness truly suited the Witch Clan's temperament.

After the discussions at the Ancestor Witch Hall, she had hurried to the Western Teachings to discuss an important matter.

Yet Jieyin and Zhunti had merely waved their hands and put her off. "Wait until Lu Tian returns before discussing it!"

After waiting atop Kunlun Mountain for nearly ten thousand years, a trace of anxiety had appeared between Houtu's brows.

Ten thousand years were no more than the flick of a finger to an Ancestor Witch.

But the secret treasure the Demon Clan was refining weighed on the hearts of the entire Witch Clan, and over the years, Ancestor Witches had come to Spirit Mountain in an endless stream to seek her out.

Even she had been unable to resist wanting to personally search for the missing Lu Tian.

But the eastern lands of the primordial world were vast and boundless. Where could she find that figure in azure robes?

Even Jieyin and Zhunti, as saints, had been unable to divine even the slightest trace of him!

Then, one day, the sea of clouds suddenly churned, and that familiar figure finally returned upon the clouds.