The Attitudes of the Three Clan Leaders

Di Jiang stood on high ground, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. Only after confirming that no spies from the three clans were nearby did he speak in a deep voice:

"That's about enough for today. This battlefield has been cleared; it's time to move on to the next one. Zhu Rong, Gong Gong, hurry up."

Zhu Rong and Gong Gong did not dare delay. In a few swift movements, they gathered the remaining corpses and returned to the others.

The thirteen figures turned into a streak of light and vanished beyond the horizon.

Scenes like this had continued across the Primordial World for many years.

The battlefields of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans were scattered throughout heaven and earth, and the thirteen traveled back and forth among them.

They never approached battlefields where fighting was still underway. They always waited until the battles had ended and the three clans had withdrawn before appearing.

Nor were they greedy. They only collected the corpses of ordinary clan members left behind, never touching the elite bodies taken away by the three clans.

Their movements were secretive and their actions low-key. They never came into conflict with any clan.

Whenever patrols from the three clans happened to pass by, they would avoid them in advance and never reveal their tracks.

But no secret could remain hidden forever.

Over the years, they collected more and more corpses and absorbed increasingly dense baleful energy. Their movements were bound to draw notice.

Some independent cultivators active around the edges of the battlefields would occasionally see the thirteen figures moving about among the ruins.

Once the news spread, more and more people learned of it.

At first, some believed that some reckless faction was profiting from the war, hoping to fish in troubled waters amid the great conflict of the three clans.

But when people learned the identities of those thirteen figures, everyone fell silent.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches were twelve terrifying beings formed from Father God Pangu's essence blood.

Their mighty reputations had been sung across the Primordial World for countless years.

Although the Witch Clan was weak and had few members, the strength of the Twelve Ancestral Witches themselves was something no one could ignore.

As for the thirteenth person—the gentle young man protected in the center by the Twelve Ancestral Witches—no one knew his origins.

Some guessed that he was a disciple taken in by the Twelve Ancestral Witches, while others speculated that he was a newly born great witch of the Witch Clan.

Others said that he was merely an ordinary junior whom the Twelve Ancestral Witches had brought out to see the world.

But regardless, with the Twelve Ancestral Witches protecting him, no one dared test his true capabilities.

Once the news spread, the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans naturally learned of it as well.

Dragon Clan.

Within the East Sea Dragon Palace, deep beneath the vast sea, a majestic palace forged from coral and crystal stood tall.

Ancestral Dragon, leader of the Dragon Clan, sat upon the dragon throne, exuding boundless dragon might.

"The Twelve Ancestral Witches?" Ancestral Dragon's voice was low and imposing, like an undercurrent in the deep sea. "They are collecting the corpses of clan members fallen in battle?"

A Dragon Clan scout knelt below the hall and answered respectfully, "Reporting to Clan Leader, that is correct.

"The Twelve Ancestral Witches have brought along a young man of unknown origin and have been appearing around the edges of the battlefields between our clan, the Phoenix Clan, and the Qilin Clan.

"They only collect the corpses of ordinary clan members left behind, never touching the elite bodies our clan has taken away."

Ancestral Dragon fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "The Twelve Ancestral Witches... formed from Father God Pangu's essence blood. They are indeed not to be underestimated. Have they interfered with our clan's battles?"

The scout shook his head. "Never. They only appear after our clan has withdrawn and never interfere in the fighting."

Ancestral Dragon nodded slightly. "In that case, there is no need to concern ourselves with them.

"Now that our clan is locked in confrontation with the Phoenix Clan and Qilin Clan, we are at a critical juncture. It would be unwise to make another powerful enemy.

"Though the Twelve Ancestral Witches have few clan members, each of them is a top-tier expert. If we force them to stand against us, it would only bring trouble."

After a pause, he added, "Pass down the order: do not concern yourselves with those thirteen people.

"As long as they do not interfere with our clan's battles or touch the bodies of our elite, let them do as they please."

The scout accepted the order and withdrew.

Ancestral Dragon remained seated upon the dragon throne, his gaze unfathomable as he pondered something unknown.

Phoenix Clan.

Within the Domain of Southern Bright Flame, atop the Sacred Parasol Tree worshipped by countless birds, Primordial Phoenix, leader of the Phoenix Clan, sat at the crown of the tree. Flames surged around her, while the eyes of the phoenix glimmered with wisdom.

"The Twelve Ancestral Witches?" Primordial Phoenix's voice was clear as a phoenix's cry, carrying a hint of scrutiny. "What are they collecting those corpses for?"

The Phoenix Clan scout replied respectfully, "This subordinate does not know. Once those corpses are taken away by them, there is no further news of them.

"Furthermore, they absorb baleful energy at the edges of the battlefields.

"That baleful energy is poison to ordinary living beings, yet to them, it seems like a great tonic."

Primordial Phoenix pondered for a moment, a sharp glint flashing through her phoenix eyes. "The Witch Clan cultivates through baleful energy, so that is nothing surprising.

"As for those corpses... perhaps they have some special use for them. However—"

She paused, her tone calm. "The war between our clan, the Dragon Clan, and the Qilin Clan has reached a crucial point. It would be unwise to invite unnecessary complications.

"Since the Twelve Ancestral Witches have neither interfered with our battles nor touched the bodies of our elites, there is no need to concern ourselves with them.

"Pass down the order: do not bother with those thirteen people."

The Phoenix Clan scout accepted the order and withdrew.

Primordial Phoenix sat upon the Sacred Parasol Tree, her gaze passing through the Southern Illumination Divine Flame toward the distant horizon.

The war of the three clans had already lasted for countless epochs. She vaguely sensed that the turning point of this war might soon arrive.

As for those thirteen people, as long as they did not get in the way, they could do as they pleased.

Qilin Clan.

At the foot of Mount Buzhou, upon Qilin Cliff where countless beasts paid homage, Primordial Qilin, leader of the Qilin Clan, sat atop the cliff. A mountain-like pressure radiated from his body.

"The Twelve Ancestral Witches?" Primordial Qilin's voice was steady as the earth, carrying a trace of contemplation.

"They too were nurtured beneath Mount Buzhou. By that reckoning, they have some connection to me. Have they committed any excessive acts while collecting those corpses?"

The Qilin Clan scout shook his head. "No. They only collect the corpses of ordinary clan members left behind and never touch the elite bodies our clan has taken away.

"Moreover, they never interfere in battle and conduct themselves with extreme discretion."

Primordial Qilin nodded slightly. "The strength of the Twelve Ancestral Witches cannot be underestimated. Since they have not gone too far, there is no need to hold it against them.

"The war between our clan, the Dragon Clan, and the Phoenix Clan is at a critical stage. It would be unwise to make new enemies."

After a pause, he added, "However, we must still keep watch on their movements. If they show any unusual behavior, report it immediately."

The scout accepted the order and withdrew.

Primordial Qilin sat upon Qilin Cliff, his deep gaze fixed on the distant heavens and earth.

The three clans had fought for supremacy for countless epochs, suffering innumerable casualties without ever deciding a victor.

He vaguely sensed that the course of this war might change because of certain variables.

Could those thirteen figures wandering along the edges of the battlefields be one such variable?

He did not know. But at least for now, they had shown no threat whatsoever.

None of the leaders of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans gave orders to stop the thirteen from acting.

The reason was simple: the confrontation among the three clans had already reached a fever pitch.

No clan wished to offend a faction with twelve top-tier experts at such a time.

Though the Twelve Ancestral Witches had few clan members, each was a terrifying existence at the late stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. Such strength was enough to alter the course of any local battle.

If the Twelve Ancestral Witches were forced to stand against them and joined any one clan, the balance among the three clans would be broken.

When that happened, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Moreover, those thirteen truly kept a low profile. They never interfered with battles and only collected the corpses of ordinary clan members left behind.

To the three clans, those corpses were things they could take or leave.

The elite bodies had already been taken away. As for the rest, it did not matter if they were abandoned.

Rather than offend the Twelve Ancestral Witches over such insignificant matters, it was better to turn a blind eye and let them do as they pleased.

Thus, this strange sight continued across the Primordial World.