Pan Xuan expounds the Martial Dao

Within that creation of heaven and earth, Di Jiang saw the birth of space.

The instant chaos was cleaved apart, above, below, and the four directions became distinct, and space came into being.

Zhu Jiuyin saw the origin of time.

The instant heaven and earth first opened, past, present, and future became distinct, and time began to flow.

Zhu Rong saw the essence of fire.

The power that split heaven and earth apart was the purest fire-the fire of creation, the fire of destruction, the source of all things.

Gong Gong saw the origin of water.

When heaven and earth first opened, the clear and turbid separated. The clear qi that rose to become heaven and the turbid qi that sank to become earth were two forms of water: the light and clear rose as vapor, while the heavy and turbid sank as liquid.

Xuan Ming saw the root of ice.

When heaven and earth first opened, yin and yang were not yet stable, and cold alternated with heat. That most absolute cold was the power that froze heaven and earth solid.

Houtu saw the compassion of the earth.

The clear rose to become heaven, and the turbid sank to become earth. That sinking turbid qi bore all things and embraced everything. This was the essence of the earth.

Jumang, Rushou, Qiangliang, Xizi, Shebishi, Tianwu... every Ancestral Witch saw an origin related to their own Natal Law within that vision of heaven and earth being created.

Those origins held depths they had never touched before, the innermost mysteries of the Great Dao of Strength.

The images repeated again and again. Pan Xuan revealed his imprint in its entirety, letting the Twelve Ancestral Witches watch and contemplate it over and over.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Only then did Pan Xuan withdraw the images. His eyes returned to their normal color, and peace returned to Pangu Hall.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches remained silent for a long time, the awe of that creation of heaven and earth still lingering in every pair of eyes.

At length, Di Jiang let out a long breath, his voice carrying a trace of a tremor:

"Father God's creation of heaven... so that was how it happened. Before, I only knew that the Great Dao of Strength was the source of power. I never knew that at the source of power, creation and destruction actually coexisted."

Zhu Jiuyin also spoke slowly. "Time... so time was born when heaven and earth first opened.

"Before, I only knew how to manipulate time, but never considered what its essence was.

"Only today, after seeing Father God create heaven, did I understand that time does not exist independently. It is one with space, with all things, and with heaven and earth."

Zhu Rong wiped his face and grinned. "Fire... so fire isn't just for burning. That axe stroke of Father God's was the purest fire.

"That was not the fire of destruction, but the fire of creation. Before, I only knew how to burn enemies with the Southern Illumination Divine Flame. I never considered that fire could also create."

For once, Gong Gong did not mock him. He said quietly, "Water is the same. The separation of the clear and turbid is the essence of water.

"Before, I only knew how to drown everything with Weak Water. I never considered that water could also bear all things."

Xuan Ming said coldly, "Ice... is not merely cold. When Father God created heaven, yin and yang were not yet stable, and cold alternated with heat.

"That absolute cold was the power that froze heaven and earth solid and stabilized the four poles.

"Before, I only knew how to freeze enemies with ice. I never considered that ice could also protect."

Houtu said softly, "The earth... bears all things and embraces everything. When Father God created heaven, the clear rose and the turbid sank.

"That sinking turbid qi was the origin of the earth. Before, I only knew the earth's weight and depth, but not its compassion."

The other Ancestral Witches also spoke in turn, sharing their insights. Each had gained a great deal from the World-Creation Diagram, deepening their understanding of the Great Dao of Strength.

Pan Xuan stood to one side, quietly watching it all with gratification in his heart.

This World-Creation Diagram was a gift Father God Pangu had given him. Sharing it with the Twelve Ancestral Witches was something he had long wanted to do.

Houtu suddenly looked at Pan Xuan and said softly, "Pan Xuan's younger brother, thank you. You have shown us the vision of Father God creating heaven. We will engrave this kindness in our hearts."

Pan Xuan shook his head with a smile. "You're being too courteous, Sister Houtu. We're family. Why draw distinctions between us?"

Di Jiang nodded. "Brother Pan Xuan is right. We're family. There's no need for such formalities."

He paused, then continued, "The effects of Heavenly Enlightenment Wisdom Light are still present, and our insights from the World-Creation Diagram are still fresh.

"Why don't we seize this opportunity to pool our wisdom and think of a way to solve the other Ancestral Witches' lack of primordial spirits?"

At these words, all the Ancestral Witches fell silent.

Having no primordial spirit was the Witch Clan's greatest flaw, as well as the greatest regret in every Ancestral Witch's heart. Because Houtu had absorbed less baleful qi, she had developed a primordial spirit with the help of Pan Xuan's Heavenly Enlightenment Wisdom Light.

But the other eleven Ancestral Witches had absorbed too much baleful qi. Heavenly Enlightenment Wisdom Light could not reach the origins of their souls, and they still had no primordial spirits.

Di Jiang said gravely, "Houtu was able to develop a primordial spirit because she had absorbed less baleful qi.

"We have absorbed too much baleful qi, and our souls are suppressed too deeply for even Heavenly Enlightenment Wisdom Light to reach. But that does not mean we can never possess primordial spirits."

Zhu Rong scratched his head. "But aside from Heavenly Enlightenment Wisdom Light, what other way is there for us to develop primordial spirits? Over all these origin cycles, I've racked my brains and still come up with nothing."

Gong Gong also frowned. "Indeed. Without primordial spirits, we cannot comprehend the Heavenly Dao or break through to realms above Primordial Origin Golden Immortal. This is our greatest bottleneck."

Xuan Ming said coldly, "Houtu has a primordial spirit because she absorbed little baleful qi. Since we absorbed more, are we simply destined never to have primordial spirits?"

The Ancestral Witches all discussed it, but none could think of a good solution.

Pan Xuan stood to one side, listening quietly, but his thoughts were moving in another direction.

In the novels from his previous life, there had been a system of power that suited the Witch Clan extremely well: the Martial Dao.

The Martial Dao cultivated neither the primordial spirit nor magical power, only the body and the will.

Cultivated to its utmost, the Martial Dao could use the will to commune with heaven and earth, the body to contend with laws, and vital blood to break through every obstacle.

The will of a Martial Dao expert could condense into "Martial Dao Will." Though it was not a primordial spirit, it could serve a similar function.

Communing with heaven and earth, comprehending laws, breaking through realms.

Wasn't this a path tailor-made for the Witch Clan?

A plan gradually took shape in Pan Xuan's mind. He raised his head, looked at the Ancestral Witches, and slowly spoke. "Elder brothers and sisters, I have an idea."

All the Ancestral Witches looked at him.

Pan Xuan walked to the center of the hall and stood with his hands behind his back. His gaze swept over each Ancestral Witch, his voice steady and solemn:

"The Witch Clan has no primordial spirits because baleful qi suppresses our souls, preventing them from condensing spiritual light.

"But that does not mean the Witch Clan cannot commune with heaven and earth or comprehend laws.

"What a primordial spirit can accomplish need not be accomplished by a primordial spirit alone."

Zhu Rong froze. "Brother Pan Xuan, what do you mean? Without a primordial spirit, what other way could there be to commune with heaven and earth?"

Pan Xuan smiled faintly, a glimmer flashing through his eyes. "The Martial Dao."

"The Martial Dao?" The Ancestral Witches exchanged looks. The term was utterly unfamiliar to them.

Pan Xuan nodded and continued, "The Martial Dao cultivates neither the primordial spirit nor magical power, only the body and the will.

"The body bears heaven and earth, and the will communes with laws. Cultivated to its utmost, the Martial Dao allows the will to condense into 'Martial Dao Will.' It is not a primordial spirit, but it can achieve a similar effect.

"It can commune with heaven and earth, comprehend laws, and break through realms."

He paused, his voice growing even more solemn. "The Witch Clan is born with powerful bodies and steadfast wills. These physiques are practically tailor-made for the Martial Dao.

"If we can create a Martial Dao suited to the Witch Clan, one that every member can cultivate, then the flaw of having no primordial spirit will cease to be a flaw!"

After hearing this, all Twelve Ancestral Witches were stunned.

Cultivating neither the primordial spirit nor magical power, only the body and the will-wasn't this exactly what the Witch Clan had always been doing?

It was just that they had never systematized this path or developed its theory, never elevated it to the height of a "Dao."

A glimmer flashed through Houtu's eyes. "Pan Xuan's younger brother, you mean... creating an entirely new path of cultivation?"

Pan Xuan nodded. "Exactly. In the Primordial World, cultivators cultivate their primordial spirits, refine magical power, and comprehend the Heavenly Dao.

"Although this path is orthodox, it is not the only path.

"The Witch Clan has its own strengths: powerful bodies, steadfast wills, and abundant vital blood.

"If we can bring these strengths to their utmost and create a cultivation path belonging to the Witch Clan, then the flaw of having no primordial spirit will cease to be a flaw. It might instead become an advantage for the Witch Clan."

Zhu Rong's eyes widened. He slapped his thigh and laughed heartily. "Brother Pan Xuan, how does that mind of yours work? Why couldn't I think of this!"

Even Gong Gong showed a rare look of wild joy. "Cultivating no primordial spirit, only the body and the will... this truly is the path best suited to the Witch Clan!

"Over all these origin cycles, we have only been thinking about how to remedy the flaw of having no primordial spirit. We never considered that we could cultivate without one!"

Even Xuan Ming's icy voice carried a trace of excitement. "The body bears heaven and earth, and the will communes with laws... if this path proves viable, the Witch Clan will no longer be at the mercy of others."

Di Jiang rose, excitement filling his resolute face. He looked at Pan Xuan and said gravely, "Brother Pan Xuan, this idea of yours could be called a splitting of heaven and earth.

"If you truly can create the Martial Dao and free the Witch Clan from the shackles of having no primordial spirit, you will have rendered the greatest service to our clan!"

Pan Xuan shook his head with a smile. "You praise me too highly, Brother Di Jiang. I have only offered an idea. Actually creating the Martial Dao will still require all of us brothers and sisters to work together."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each Ancestral Witch:

"The path of the Martial Dao is unprecedented. No one has walked it before. We must build it from nothing, deducing it step by step and creating it step by step.

"This will require time, patience, and countless attempts and failures.

"But I believe that with the Witch Clan's physiques and the wisdom of all you elder brothers and sisters, we will certainly be able to make this path viable."

Houtu said softly, "Pan Xuan's younger brother is right. The path of the Martial Dao truly requires us to pool our wisdom and work together to deduce it."

She looked at the Ancestral Witches. "Elder brothers, the effects of Heavenly Enlightenment Wisdom Light are still present, and our insights from the World-Creation Diagram are still fresh.

"Why don't we take this opportunity to begin deducing the Martial Dao?

"Since Pan Xuan's younger brother proposed this idea, let him first explain the framework of the Martial Dao. Then we can build on that foundation, adding to it and refining it."

Di Jiang nodded. "Houtu is right. Brother Pan Xuan, since you proposed the Martial Dao, you must already have some ideas in mind. Tell us, and we will examine them together."

Pan Xuan pondered for a moment, gathered his thoughts, and slowly began. "The Martial Dao takes the body as its foundation, the will as its core, and vital blood as its driving force. Its cultivation is divided into several levels-"