Recognition of the Ancestral Witches

Pan Xuan was neither anxious nor angry, and his tone remained calm:

"Ancestral Witch Zhu Rong, there is no need to be angry.

May I ask, Ancestral Witches: when the Father God created heaven and earth, transforming his body into all things, aside from his essence blood becoming the Twelve Ancestral Witches, was there anything else?"

Zhu Rong choked on his words and looked toward Di Jiang.

Di Jiang pondered for a moment. "When the Father God transformed his body into all things, aside from us Ancestral Witches born from his twelve drops of essence blood, his primordial spirit also became the Three Pure Ones...

But the Three Pure Ones were born from his primordial spirit and are different from us. Yet you claim to have been born from noble righteous qi?"

"Precisely." Pan Xuan nodded. "When the Father God opened the heavens and fell, a breath of noble righteous qi burst from his chest and soared into the sky. It was the supremely great and unyielding qi of integrity, benevolence, and the teaching of all things that the Father God upheld throughout his life.

This qi merged with the merit of opening the heavens, then drew forth the first wisp of Profound Yellow qi from when heaven and earth had first formed. The three became one, and after countless years, gave birth to me."

He paused before continuing, "Though I was not born from essence blood or produced from the primordial spirit, my origin is likewise the Father God.

If you Ancestral Witches do not believe me, you may sense the aura within me and see whether it shares the same origin as yours."

Di Jiang gave him a deep look, then closed his eyes and released his divine sense into the layer of Profound Yellow qi.

The other Ancestral Witches followed suit.

Pan Xuan opened his body and mind, allowing their divine senses to inspect him.

He knew that any trace of resistance at this moment would cause misunderstanding. Only by being utterly sincere could he earn the trust of these Ancestral Witches.

After a long while, Di Jiang opened his eyes.

On that chaotic, faceless head, light seemed to flicker. A complicated look flashed through his eyes. "It truly shares the same origin as us... and is even purer than us."

"What?" The Ancestral Witches were shocked.

Zhu Jiuyin nodded as well. "That is indeed the case.

The Father God's aura on it contains not the slightest impurity. It is so pure... as if it had just been stripped from the Father God himself."

A strange light flashed through the eyes of Xuan Ming's ferocious beast form. The chill around her receded somewhat as she slowly said:

"No wonder its aura was so gentle. So it was the Father God's noble righteous qi. I had not considered that before."

Joy flashed through Houtu's eyes, and her snake tail swayed lightly. "Then does that mean it truly is our sibling?"

Di Jiang fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding. "Judging by its aura, that is indeed so."

Zhu Rong scratched his head. Even the flames atop his beast head dimmed somewhat as he looked at Pan Xuan awkwardly.

"Well... I didn't mean to curse at you just now. Don't take it to heart."

For once, Gong Gong did not mock Zhu Rong. Instead, he scrutinized Pan Xuan from head to toe, his python head nodding slightly.

"Born from noble righteous qi? No wonder your aura is so peaceful, nothing like us, brimming with murderous intent."

Xuan Ming also nodded faintly. "Since you were born from the Father God's righteous qi, you are our brother. Do not take offense at my saying I would pierce you earlier."

Pan Xuan hastily replied, "Sister Xuan Ming, you are too serious. The situation was unclear before, so it was only natural for you all to act cautiously."

His words both praised the Ancestral Witches' temperaments and explained why he differed from them, leaving the Twelve Ancestral Witches quite pleased.

Di Jiang's expression eased as well, and the aura around him visibly softened.

He examined Pan Xuan and asked, "Since you possess intelligence, why did you pretend to be dead earlier?"

Pan Xuan gave a wry smile. "I had only just awakened, and my consciousness was still muddled.

Then I saw twelve Ancestral Witches surrounding me, each with such terrifying auras. I was frightened and did not dare make any rash move, so I pretended to be dead to protect myself.

If I caused any offense, I ask the Ancestral Witches to forgive me."

"Hahaha!" Zhu Rong burst into laughter, and his flames danced along with it.

"You little thing are quite honest! Afraid of us? You should be! The twelve of us really are frightening!"

Gong Gong rolled his eyes.

"Stop flattering yourself. He wasn't afraid of just you. He was afraid of all of us!"

Houtu stepped forward. Her human-faced, snake-bodied true form approached Pan Xuan, and her seven hands swayed gently without the slightest hostility. Her eyes were full of warmth.

"You need not be afraid. Since you came from the Father God, you are our sibling.

The Witch Clan values bloodline above all else. From now on, you are our brother."

Warmth welled up in Pan Xuan's heart. Ancestral Witch Houtu's compassion and kindness truly lived up to her reputation.

In this perilous Primordial World, having such an elder sister was his good fortune.

"Thank you, Sister Houtu," Pan Xuan said sincerely.

Houtu was slightly startled, then smiled. "You call me Sister? Good, good! I, Houtu, have a younger brother now!"

Seeing this, the other Ancestral Witches gathered around as well.

"I am Di Jiang. What is your name?" Di Jiang asked.

Pan Xuan pondered for a moment. "I only just gained intelligence and have not yet chosen a name.

If you Ancestral Witches do not mind, how about Pan Xuan?

Pan is taken from the Father God's name, to show that I do not forget my roots. Xuan is taken from the Profound Yellow qi, to show my origin."

"Pan Xuan..." Di Jiang savored the name, then nodded. "A good name! From this day forth, you shall be called Pan Xuan and be our brother!"

"That's right, brother!" Zhu Rong carelessly swung a claw over, nearly sending Pan Xuan flying. "If anyone bullies you from now on, just give them my name, Zhu Rong!"

Pan Xuan steadied himself and gave a wry smile. "Brother Zhu Rong, please show mercy. This body of mine cannot withstand your slaps."

The Ancestral Witches burst into laughter.

Gong Gong squeezed forward and shoved Zhu Rong aside. "Get out of the way. Don't smash Brother Pan Xuan!

Brother Pan Xuan, I'm Gong Gong. We should get close from now on. Don't bother with that hot-tempered fellow Zhu Rong."

"Gong Gong! What do you mean by that?" Zhu Rong snapped.

"What do I mean? Exactly what I said!"

Xuan Ming gave the two of them a cold glance, and the chill around her stirred slightly.

"What are you arguing for? Brother Pan Xuan has just awakened and needs rest. What sort of behavior is this?"

Zhu Rong and Gong Gong immediately fell silent, not daring to continue their quarrel.

Watching this scene, a strange feeling welled up in Pan Xuan's heart.

So these were the Twelve Ancestral Witches.

To outsiders, they were decisive killers and fearsome overlords of the Primordial World;

But here in Pangu Hall, before their own people, they were merely a group of straightforward, bickering brothers and sisters.

And he, Pan Xuan, a transmigrator, had somehow become their brother.

Fate truly was wondrous.

Houtu seemed to sense his emotions and softly asked, "Pan Xuan, what is wrong?"

Pan Xuan came back to himself and shook his head. "Nothing. I just feel... having brothers and sisters feels really good."

Houtu smiled faintly and gently stroked the layer of Profound Yellow qi.

One of her seven hands moved with particular tenderness. "From now on, we are all your brothers and sisters."

Pan Xuan nodded, silently making a vow in his heart:

Since he had transmigrated to the Primordial World and become the brother of the Twelve Ancestral Witches,

Then he would surely live well, protect these brothers and sisters who sincerely cared for him, and carve out a world that belonged to them in this Primordial World.

Just then, Di Jiang suddenly spoke.

"Pan Xuan, since you were born from the Father God's noble righteous qi, do you possess inherited memories? Do you know what divine abilities you have?"

Pan Xuan took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions as he began searching through those vast, smoke-like inherited memories.

A moment later, he opened his eyes. An irrepressible flash of delight passed through his golden dragon pupils.

"Brothers and sisters, within my inherited memories, I have three innate divine abilities."

Though Pan Xuan's voice still sounded somewhat immature, it now carried a little more steadiness.

"These three divine abilities complement my origin perfectly. They are a match made by heaven."