Borrowing the Earth Book

Nuwa noticed the Witch Clan's movements, and Fuxi naturally noticed them as well.

Nuwa was a heaven-ordained saint and had no need to worry about attaining sainthood. Fuxi was different. After the Dao Ancestor's third lecture at Zixiao Palace, he had been searching for a way to become a saint, just like every other great power in the Primordial World who had failed to obtain Primordial Purple Qi.

The Dao Ancestor had once said, "Beneath saints, all are ants."

Fuxi had no desire to become an ant in the eyes of saints—especially not in the eyes of his younger sister.

Just then, Dijun and Taiyi offered Fuxi a method of becoming a saint: gather the Primordial World's providence and attain sainthood through it.

After deducing it for a time, Fuxi decided that the method was feasible and agreed to join the Demon Race.

Originally, Fuxi had not wanted to drag his younger sister into this. If the Demon Race wished to unite the Primordial World and gather its providence, the Witch Clan was an obstacle they absolutely could not bypass.

As the Witch Clan's neighbor, Fuxi knew them fairly well. He knew that the Witch Clan would never submit beneath the Demon Race.

Moreover, his younger sister Nuwa was as close as kin with Xuanming of the Witch Clan, and her relationship with Houtu was also quite good. If Nuwa joined the Demon Race, she would only be caught in a dilemma.

Yet after learning that Fuxi had joined the Demon Race, Nuwa chose to join them without the slightest hesitation.

As much as Fuxi treasured Nuwa as his younger sister, Nuwa treasured Fuxi as her elder brother. From the moment they had taken form until now, they had always been inseparable, like shadow and shape. This sibling bond was precisely the greatest reason Nuwa was willing to join the Demon Race.

Dijun had spared no effort in recruiting Fuxi, even revealing his plan to gather providence and attain sainthood. He had also intended to use this bond between brother and sister to tie Nuwa, a heaven-ordained saint, to the Demon Race's war chariot.

"Brother, are you going to tell Dijun about the Witch Clan's unusual movements?" Nuwa asked.

Fuxi nodded. "There is no possibility of reconciliation between the Demon Race and the Witch Clan anymore. A battle between them is inevitable. Since I have already chosen the Demon Race's side, I cannot know and yet fail to report it."

Nuwa sighed. "Brother, the Demon Race..."

"Nuwa, I understand everything you wish to say. But once the arrow has left the bow, there is no turning back. Besides, I need this opportunity as well." With that, Fuxi transformed into a streak of escaping light and vanished.

Nuwa let out a long sigh, slowly closed her eyes, and continued comprehending the Primordial Purple Qi.

With Primordial Purple Qi, Nuwa's cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. She had now surpassed Fuxi, becoming the first to sever her evil corpse and reach the mid stage of the Quasi-Saint realm.

Among the other six great powers who had obtained Primordial Purple Qi, aside from Zhunti and Laozi, all had likewise severed two corpses and reached the mid stage of the Quasi-Saint realm.

Zhunti's cultivation had been somewhat affected because Bai Jing had shattered half his body with the Primordial Measure of Heaven Ruler. Otherwise, he should have severed two corpses by now as well.

Laozi, meanwhile, had already reached the late stage of the Quasi-Saint realm. Looking across the entire Primordial World, aside from the older generation of reclusive great powers, Laozi and Di Jiang possessed the highest cultivation.

The difference was that Laozi had broken through to the late stage of the Quasi-Saint realm through his own comprehension, while Di Jiang had reached the late stage of the Hunyuan Golden Immortal realm only with the Earthly Dao merit bestowed upon him when he repaired the western earth veins.

Of course, after the third lecture at Zixiao Palace, some great powers without Primordial Purple Qi had also broken through to the mid stage of the Quasi-Saint realm.

Dijun, Taiyi, Minghe, as well as Zhenyuanzi, whom Bai Jing and Houtu were going to visit this time, had all reached the mid stage of the Quasi-Saint realm.

At that moment, within Five Villages Temple on Longevity Mountain, Zhenyuanzi, who had been cultivating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. After making a calculation with his fingers, he called toward the door, "Where are the attendants?"

The Daoist attendants waiting outside saw Zhenyuanzi emerge and hurriedly cupped their hands. "Greetings, Master. May Master enjoy boundless fortune."

Zhenyuanzi nodded. "Rise. Distinguished guests will arrive today. Go inform Fellow Daoist Hongyun, then pick ten Ginseng Fruits."

"Yes, Master."

"Go!"

After bowing to Zhenyuanzi, the two Daoist attendants departed to carry out his orders.

Just as Zhenyuanzi had calculated, Bai Jing and Houtu soon arrived at Five Villages Temple.

Zhenyuanzi personally went outside to welcome them.

Zhenyuanzi was deeply grateful to Bai Jing. Had Bai Jing not lent him a hand, he certainly would not have obtained Treasure-Splitting Cliff, much less perfected his Universe in the Sleeve in a mere twenty thousand years.

When his divine ability had been perfected, Zhenyuanzi's long-held obsession had also been fulfilled. With a sudden realization in his heart, he severed the obsession corpse—the most difficult one to sever—and broke through to the mid stage of the Quasi-Saint realm in one stroke.

Because of this, he owed Bai Jing no small karmic debt.

Thus, when Bai Jing arrived, Zhenyuanzi naturally gave him a warm welcome.

Upon seeing Bai Jing and Houtu arrive, Zhenyuanzi hurried forward and greeted them with a smile, cupping his hands. "Fellow Daoist Bai Jing, Fellow Daoist Houtu, it has been more than twenty thousand years since we parted at Zixiao Palace. Both of your cultivations have advanced considerably!"

"Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist. I have merely remained in seclusion recently, digesting the teachings of the Dao Ancestor, and gained a little understanding by chance. I cannot compare to you, Fellow Daoist," Bai Jing said with a smile.

Houtu merely returned the salute without speaking, watching Bai Jing and Zhenyuanzi converse.

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhenyuanzi led the way and invited Bai Jing and Houtu into Five Villages Temple.

Zhenyuanzi's attendants had already picked the Ginseng Fruits. Hongyun had also paused his cultivation and come to accompany the guests. After all, in a sense, Hongyun could be considered half a master of Five Villages Temple.

The two sides exchanged another round of greetings and pleasantries.

Once the formalities were more or less complete, Bai Jing directly took out the Primordial Measure of Heaven Ruler and concealed the heavenly secrets of this place.

Seeing this, Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun knew Bai Jing was about to discuss serious business, and their expressions immediately turned solemn.

"Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, Fellow Daoist Houtu and I have come to Five Villages Temple to ask a favor."

"Fellow Daoist Bai Jing, speak freely. Thanks to your assistance, I was able to obtain Treasure-Splitting Cliff and perfect my Universe in the Sleeve. I am not an ungrateful man. So long as it is within my power, I certainly will not refuse," Zhenyuanzi declared righteously.

Bai Jing repeatedly waved his hands. "Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, you overstate it. I did not come here to claim repayment for a favor. I merely wish to borrow your Earth Book.

"The Witch Clan inherits the will of the great god Pangu and bears the responsibility of repairing and dredging the Primordial World's earth veins. However, the earth veins of the western lands are somewhat complex, making them exceedingly difficult for the Witch Clan to repair. After more than twenty thousand years, they have repaired only a little over one-tenth.

"Your Earth Book was transformed from the Earth Fetal Membrane and is innately connected to the earth veins. With your Earth Book, the Witch Clan could repair the western earth veins with twice the result for half the effort, and you could also earn a share of merit."

After hearing Bai Jing's words, Zhenyuanzi pondered for a moment before finally agreeing. The Earth Book was his accompanying spiritual treasure, so there was no possibility of lending it out and being unable to retrieve it. Besides, he owed Bai Jing such a great karmic debt and had to repay it eventually. If merely lending out the Earth Book could settle that debt, it was quite a bargain for Zhenyuanzi. The only question was how long Bai Jing intended to borrow it.