Stockpile Provisions, Build High Walls, and Bide Your Time

Zhu Rong's eyes widened. "A calamity that could wipe out our entire clan? Brother Pan Xuan, aren't you making it sound a little too dire?"

Xuan Ming said coldly, "Let him finish."

Pan Xuan gave a slight nod, walked to the middle of the hall, and pointed outside. His voice rang out, clear and strong:

"Brothers and sisters, allow me to analyze the current state of the Primordial World."

The Ancestral Witches fell silent, listening intently.

Pan Xuan stood with his hands behind his back and began slowly:

"Right now, the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans stand as three powers in the Primordial World, each vying for supremacy.

"The Dragon Clan rules the Four Seas and commands the aquatic races of the world. Its members number in the hundreds of millions, and its ranks are filled with powerful experts.

"The Phoenix Clan rules the skies, with all birds paying homage. Its might is formidable.

"The Qilin Clan rules the land, with all beasts submitting to its authority. Its advance is unstoppable.

"Each of these three clans has a foundation that will endure as long as Heaven and Earth, and the strength to sweep across the eight directions."

He paused, then continued, "The three clans have waged war against one another in their struggle to become the Primordial World's overlord. Their fighting has never ceased.

"The Dragon and Phoenix Clans have clashed, the Phoenix and Qilin Clans have fought, and the Dragon and Qilin Clans have battled. Their wars have darkened the sky and dimmed the sun and moon.

"The flames of war between these three clans have engulfed the entire Primordial World."

Zhu Rong muttered, "We all know that. The Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans have been fighting back and forth for countless epochs, and they still haven't settled anything."

Pan Xuan nodded. "Exactly. The three clans are evenly matched, and none can overcome the others. That's why this struggle for supremacy has lasted so long.

"But that is also why the situation in the Primordial World is so delicate."

He turned to face the Ancestral Witches, his voice growing grave. "Brothers and sisters, think about the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans. Each has hundreds of millions of members, and their influence stretches across Heaven and Earth. What about our Witch Clan?"

He held up one hand, spreading his fingers. "How many members does our Witch Clan have?

"The Twelve Ancestral Witches, along with the Great Witches and ordinary clan members you brought out of the blood pool—that still only amounts to..."

He did not finish, but everyone understood what he meant.

Compared with the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans, the Witch Clan's numbers were a mere drop in the ocean.

Di Jiang said gravely, "Brother Pan Xuan, you mean..."

Pan Xuan replied solemnly, "I mean that the reason our Witch Clan can currently maintain a foothold in the Primordial World without attracting the attention of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans is precisely because our numbers are small, our power is limited, and we keep a low profile.

"Pangu Hall is protected by the blessings Father God left behind. It can conceal our Witch Clan's aura and make it difficult for the outside world to sense us.

"The three clans are busy fighting one another and have no attention to spare. That's what has given our Witch Clan a chance to catch our breath."

He paused, then raised his voice sharply. "But what would happen if we rashly created a large number of clan members?"

The Ancestral Witches exchanged glances.

Pan Xuan continued, "If large numbers of clan members were born, their auras would inevitably leak out.

"Pangu Hall may be able to conceal us, but as our numbers grow, our people will have to go out, search for resources, and cultivate.

"When that happens, the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans will inevitably notice our Witch Clan."

He walked to the center of the hall, his gaze sweeping over each Ancestral Witch.

"Brothers and sisters, think about it. If the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans discovered that another powerful race existed in the Primordial World, one that belonged to none of their factions, what would they do?"

Zhu Rong blurted out, "Naturally, they'd try to bring our Witch Clan over to their side!"

Pan Xuan shook his head. "They might try to recruit us, but it's far more likely they'd wipe us out first."

The Ancestral Witches' expressions changed.

Pan Xuan's voice was calm and clear. "The struggle for supremacy between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans has reached its fiercest point.

"None of them wants a new variable to emerge.

"Our Witch Clan may not have many members, but the Twelve Ancestral Witches are among the strongest beings in Heaven and Earth, and the Great Witches are formidable fighters as well.

"If our forces joined any one of the three clans, it would upset the balance between them."

He paused, then continued, "So the most likely outcome is this:

"The three clans would temporarily set aside their own conflicts and join forces to wipe out our Witch Clan first.

"Once they had eliminated us, they would resume their struggle for supremacy. And then our Witch Clan would face utter ruin."

The moment he finished speaking, silence filled Pangu Hall.

Zhu Rong's mouth hung open, and even the flames around him stopped flickering.

A grave look appeared on Gong Gong's shadowed face.

The chill around Xuan Ming intensified as she pondered Pan Xuan's words.

The other Ancestral Witches also looked solemn.

Di Jiang remained silent for a long while before slowly nodding. "Brother Pan Xuan, you make sense.

"We were so focused on strengthening our clan that we never considered the risks behind it.

"The Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans are powerful. If they really noticed our Witch Clan, the consequences would indeed be endless."

Zhu Jiuyin opened his cloudy old eyes. His voice was hoarse and distant:

"Pan Xuan's analysis matches certain fragments I've seen through the power of time.

"If our Witch Clan rashly revealed ourselves to the Primordial World, it would indeed bring disaster."

Houtu said softly, "Little Brother Pan Xuan, what do you think we should do?"

Pan Xuan smiled faintly and was about to answer, but Qiangliang suddenly spoke up:

"Brother Pan Xuan, according to what you're saying, are we supposed to hide inside Pangu Hall and do nothing, watching the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans fight for supremacy?"

Xizi nodded as well. "Exactly. Are we supposed to just sit here and wait for death?

"Once the three clans decide a victor, that victor will rule the Primordial World alone. Wouldn't our Witch Clan then have to face an even more powerful enemy?"

Pan Xuan shook his head, a glint appearing in his eyes. "Of course we shouldn't do nothing."

He walked to the center of the hall and stood with his hands behind his back. His voice held the composure of someone who had everything under control.

"Brothers and sisters, I believe the struggle for supremacy between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans is both a crisis and a tremendous opportunity for our Witch Clan."

"An opportunity?" Zhu Rong's eyes widened. "What opportunity could there be in all that fighting?"

Pan Xuan smiled. "Brother Zhu Rong, hear me out."

He raised one finger. "First, the struggle for supremacy between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans has filled the Primordial World with baleful energy.

"To ordinary creatures, this energy is poison. To our Witch Clan, it is nourishment.

"You were all born by absorbing baleful energy, so you naturally understand this."

The Ancestral Witches nodded.

The Witch Clan cultivated by absorbing the baleful energy of Heaven and Earth. The heavier the baleful energy, the faster the Witch Clan could cultivate.

Pan Xuan raised a second finger. "Second, the wars between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans will inevitably cause casualties.

"If those who fall in battle aren't recovered in time, their bodies will be left scattered throughout the Primordial World.

"Those corpses will contain the bloodline essence and physical strength of the three clans' experts."

He looked toward the blood pool.

"Our Witch Clan has the Pangu Blood Pool. If we can recover those corpses and cast them into the blood pool, they can be turned into nourishment, increasing the pool's power.

"The stronger the blood pool, the stronger the Witch Clan members we create in the future."

The Ancestral Witches' eyes lit up.

Pan Xuan raised a third finger. "Third, and most important:

"The struggle for supremacy between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans will inevitably leave all three sides badly wounded.

"The three clans are evenly matched, and none can destroy the others. This war will go on indefinitely.

"The longer it lasts, the greater the losses each clan will suffer. By then..."

His voice suddenly rose, carrying an inspiring force. "By then, all three clans will be like arrows at the end of their flight, while our Witch Clan will have been quietly building our strength and restoring our energy.

"Once they're exhausted and battered, we'll make our move. Then our Witch Clan will rule the Primordial World!

"That is my plan: stockpile provisions, build high walls, and bide our time before claiming the throne."

Pangu Hall fell utterly silent.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches looked at Pan Xuan, their eyes filled with shock and admiration.

His words had laid out the situation in the Primordial World with astonishing clarity and mapped out the Witch Clan's future in meticulous detail.

How could Ancestral Witches who knew only how to charge headlong into battle ever have considered such things?

Zhu Rong was the first to spring up. He slapped Pan Xuan on the shoulder, nearly knocking him off his feet.

"Excellent! Brother Pan Xuan, how did your brain grow like that? How come I never thought of any of this?"

Pan Xuan steadied himself and gave a wry smile. "Brother Zhu Rong, go easy."

For once, Gong Gong did not argue with Zhu Rong. Instead, he pondered aloud, "Stockpile provisions, build high walls, and bide your time before claiming the throne... Brother Pan Xuan, those nine characters are exactly right.

"We should build our strength and wait for the right moment. When all three clans have been badly wounded, then we strike. That is the safest course."

Xuan Ming said coldly, "He's right.

"Rather than risk disaster by creating clan members now, we should secretly gather the three clans' corpses and absorb the baleful energy to strengthen the blood pool.

"Once the time is right, we can create a large number of clan members all at once."

Houtu nodded. "Brother Pan Xuan is absolutely right.

"What our Witch Clan needs most right now isn't a larger population, but the right moment and a stronger foundation.

"The day the three clans are exhausted from fighting will be the day our Witch Clan rises."

Di Jiang rose to his feet, his resolute face filled with determination.

"Good! We'll do as Brother Pan Xuan says.

"Starting today, our Witch Clan will act in secret. We'll absorb the baleful energy of Heaven and Earth to cultivate while gathering the bodies of the three clans' fallen and casting them into the blood pool.

"When the three clans have wounded one another, the day will have come for our Witch Clan to rule the Primordial World!"

He looked at Pan Xuan, admiration filling his eyes. "Brother Pan Xuan, you not only gave Houtu her primordial spirit, but also showed our Witch Clan the way forward.

"You are truly our Witch Clan's lucky star!"

Pan Xuan shook his head with a smile. "You flatter me, Brother Di Jiang. I merely offered a few words. You brothers and sisters are the ones who will have to do the work."

Houtu stepped forward and gently patted his shoulder, her voice warm and soft. "Seeing the way forward is more important than blindly throwing yourself into work. Brother Pan Xuan, you are truly a great talent."

Pan Xuan looked at the Ancestral Witches, who had sincerely accepted him, and felt a warm current rise in his heart.

He knew that from this moment on, his standing within the Witch Clan had changed completely.

He was no longer merely a little brother who needed protection, but a strategist who could devise plans and show the Witch Clan the way forward.

He would use his wisdom to change the Witch Clan's fate.

And the path of "stockpile provisions, build high walls, and bide your time before claiming the throne" was the first path he had chosen for the Witch Clan.