Returning to Zixiao Palace

Bai Jing had just finished loosening up when Kuafu walked over and said, "Senior Bai Jing, the Ancestral Witches request your presence at Pangu Hall."

Bai Jing immediately followed Kuafu to Pangu Hall.

"Looks like you've all come to a decision," Bai Jing said with a smile.

Di Jiang did not waste words. "Our Witch Clan cannot possibly submit to the Demon Clan. If the Demon Clan declares war on us to contend for providence, then the Witch Clan does not mind fighting them."

"So, the Witch Clan is preparing to place its bet on the Human Path?"

Di Jiang shook his head. "Our Witch Clan is born able to absorb baleful qi, clear the earth veins, and safeguard the Earthly Path. This should be the duty Father God Pangu left to our Witch Clan. Since we are Pangu's orthodox descendants, we naturally will not abandon the responsibility Father God gave us. Therefore, the Witch Clan chooses the Earthly Path. From today onward, we Twelve Ancestral Witches will take turns leading our clansmen across the Primordial World to clear the earth veins, in hopes of reviving the Earthly Path."

"Fellow Daoist, your righteousness is admirable."

Di Jiang shook his head. "What bullshit righteousness? Our Witch Clan clears the earth veins not for the living beings of the Primordial World, but for Father God Pangu."

"I believe one should judge deeds, not intentions. The Witch Clan's clearing of the earth veins benefits the living beings of the Primordial World. That is an objective fact."

Di Jiang clearly did not want to waste any more words with Bai Jing on this matter. He waved a hand. "Enough, enough! Brother Bai Jing, aren't you going with my little sister to Zixiao Palace to hear that old man Hongjun expound the Dao? It's about time. You should set out."

Bai Jing nodded and looked toward Houtu.

Houtu gave Bai Jing a slight nod. Then the two left Pangu Hall together and headed for Zixiao Palace.

At their current speed, they arrived at Zixiao Palace in less than a thousand years.

This time, Houtu and Bai Jing arrived neither early nor late, and happened to run into the sibling pair Fuxi and Nuwa.

Last time, Bai Jing had merely caught a distant glimpse of the Mother Saint of the human race and had not had a chance to speak with her. This time, however, the siblings came directly over to greet them.

"Fellow Daoist Houtu, it has been a long time. How has Xuanming been lately?" Nuwa asked with a smile.

A flicker of surprise crossed Bai Jing's heart at Nuwa's question. Nuwa addressed Houtu as Fellow Daoist Houtu, yet called Xuanming directly by name. The difference in familiarity was obvious.

Did Nuwa actually have a close relationship with Ancestral Witch Xuanming?

Houtu answered calmly, "Sister Xuanming is well. It is only that our Witch Clan has recently been busy sorting out the earth veins, so Sister Xuanming had no time to come and listen to the Saint's teachings."

Nuwa smiled. She knew that Xuanming had most likely not come because, lacking a primordial spirit, she would not understand the Saint's teachings. Houtu had only said that to save the Saint's face.

"Fellow Daoist Houtu, is this person also from your Witch Clan?" Nuwa glanced at Bai Jing and changed the subject.

"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, you misunderstand. Fellow Daoist Bai Jing is not a member of our Witch Clan, only our friend. Fellow Daoist Bai Jing, these are Fellow Daoist Fuxi and Fellow Daoist Nuwa."

"I am Bai Jing. Greetings, Fellow Daoists."

Fuxi was likewise skilled in divination and calculation. After sizing Bai Jing up, he knew that Bai Jing had transformed from the Twelfth-Grade Pure World White Lotus. He praised him, "Fellow Daoist Bai Jing, your foundation is extraordinary!"

"I cannot compare to the deep blessings and fortune of you two Fellow Daoists."

Bai Jing chatted intermittently with Fuxi, while Nuwa and Houtu conversed quite pleasantly.

At that moment, the brothers Dijun and Taiyi arrived outside Zixiao Palace.

Nuwa frowned, a trace of displeasure appearing between her brows.

In recent years, Dijun and Taiyi had sought out the siblings more than once, all to tie them to the Demon Clan's war chariot.

Yet Fuxi and Nuwa had never relented. The Dragon-Phoenix-Qilin Tribes had once been so glorious in ancient times, but what had become of them in the end? That was still fresh in everyone's mind. How could the siblings possibly join the Demon Clan so easily?

Yet as though he had not seen Nuwa's displeasure, Dijun directly began speaking with Fuxi.

Bai Jing wisely stepped away. After Hongjun's third lecture at Zixiao Palace, he intended to seize the Eastern Green Lotus Treasure-Colored Banner. It would not do to make enemies at such a time.

However, what Bai Jing had not expected was that just after he left Fuxi's side, he heard someone call out behind him, "Fellow Daoist Bai Jing, please wait."

Bai Jing turned around and found that the ones calling him were actually the Three Pure Ones.

"Fellow Daoist Bai Jing, it has already been a hundred thousand years since we parted at Penglai Immortal Island. Congratulations on your advancement in cultivation," Tongtian said with a smile.

Bai Jing was somewhat bewildered. He did not recall having any interaction with the Three Pure Ones on Penglai Immortal Island! Previously, they had merely been acquaintances who nodded to each other. What did the Three Pure Ones mean by acting as though they were old friends reuniting?

Still, following the principle that one should not slap a smiling face, Bai Jing politely greeted the Three Pure Ones before saying, "Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoists. I have been in seclusion these past years and was fortunate enough to make a breakthrough. I cannot compare to you three Fellow Daoists."

"You are too modest, Fellow Daoist. With your foundation, the Great Dao will surely be within reach in the future," Yuanshi Tianzun said with an admiring expression.

Bai Jing felt somewhat proud to have his foundation praised by Yuanshi Tianzun, who valued origins above all else. At the same time, he silently gave thanks once more to Great God Pangu and the Chaos Green Lotus, who had bestowed upon him his current foundation.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yuanshi Tianzun finally got to the point. "Fellow Daoist Bai Jing, I saw that you collected quite a few spirit materials and ores on Penglai Immortal Island. Are you refining artifacts?"

Bai Jing immediately understood. No wonder the Three Pure Ones had come looking for him—it was because of this.

Yuanshi Tianzun had always been skilled at artifact refinement. After becoming a Saint, he had also gained profound comprehension of the Dao of artifacts. At present, Yuanshi Tianzun should have already begun to explore artifact refinement.

Since this involved his own method of attaining the Dao, Bai Jing naturally would not tell the truth. Without hesitation, he chose to follow Yuanshi Tianzun's lead.

Thus, Bai Jing nodded. "I am indeed quite interested in the Dao of artifact refinement, so I collected more spirit materials and ores."

Yuanshi Tianzun smiled faintly. "I, too, have some interest in the Dao of artifact refinement. After the Saint finishes expounding the Dao, would Fellow Daoist be willing to discuss the Dao with me?"

Bai Jing had cultivated beneath the Creation Jade Disc Fragment containing the Dao of artifacts for two yuanhui and had gained some understanding of the Dao of artifacts. He simply had never personally refined anything. However, discussions of the Dao were mostly centered on theoretical knowledge, so Bai Jing was certainly not afraid of discussing the Dao with Yuanshi Tianzun.

Thus, Bai Jing nodded in agreement.

After the two sides chatted for a while longer, the atmosphere grew increasingly harmonious. At that moment, Laozi spoke. "Fellow Daoist Bai Jing, you previously collected many immortal materials and ores on Penglai Immortal Island. My second brother lacks some materials for artifact refinement. I have two Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs here. Could I exchange them with Fellow Daoist for some artifact-refining materials?"

"Why not?" With that, Bai Jing waved his sleeve, and twenty pieces of different spirit materials and ores tainted with chaos qi appeared before Yuanshi Tianzun.

Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes lit up upon seeing these materials. All twenty pieces were rare immortal treasures. The materials alone were worth more than two Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs, not to mention that they were all tainted with chaos qi. In terms of value, even three Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs would likely fall short.