The Foolish Lad in Houtu's Eyes

Lu Xuan spent five full centuries finally arriving at the foot of Buzhou Mountain. Thinking back on the five centuries spent traveling, he could not help but let out a sigh.

"If I have the chance when I reach the Ancestral Witch Hall to meet the Twelve Ancestral Witches, I must get my hands on Dijiang's Space Law. Otherwise, this travel speed is simply too slow."

Thinking this to himself, Lu Xuan began to climb Buzhou Mountain on foot. This was not because he lacked the means to use evasion techniques, but purely out of respect for Pangu.

Before Hongjun preached in Zixiao Palace, even a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal would not dare to use evasion techniques on Buzhou Mountain.

However, following the conclusion of Hongjun's third sermon in Zixiao Palace, the cultivators of the Primordial World all practiced the methods passed down by Hongjun, and Pangu's presence was gradually fading.

Especially after Laozi and Primordial Heavenly Venerable attained the Dao and became saints, it was likely that even a Golden Immortal could use evasion techniques to ascend Buzhou Mountain.

The meager pressure remaining on Buzhou Mountain today existed only because the Twelve Ancestral Witches had always honored Pangu as their Father God.

Otherwise, Buzhou Mountain would have long since become an ordinary immortal mountain, and that last trace of Pangu's pressure would have dissipated entirely.

Just as Lu Xuan was climbing Buzhou Mountain on foot, he had already been spotted by Ancestral Witch Houtu from within the Ancestral Witch Hall.

"Since when did the Demon Race become so well-behaved? To actually climb Buzhou Mountain on foot—this is hardly the style of the Demon Race."

Ever since the Demon Race discovered the Heavenly Court at the summit of Buzhou Mountain, the frequency of their travel to and from the mountain had increased significantly.

Moreover, most of them traveled using evasion techniques, at most avoiding the areas occupied by the Witch Race. It was almost unheard of for anyone to climb on foot.

Thus, Lu Xuan's actions thoroughly caught Houtu's attention. In the end, she walked directly out of the Ancestral Witch Hall and headed in Lu Xuan's direction.

Lu Xuan was in the middle of his journey when he suddenly saw a woman in yellow robes appear ahead, so he prepared to ask her how to get to the Ancestral Witch Hall.

Just as he was about to speak, Lu Xuan recalled his experience meeting Tongtian and could not help but mutter to himself, "A woman in yellow robes appearing on Buzhou Mountain—could she be Houtu?"

"Regardless of whether she is or not, I must treat her as Houtu. I cannot afford another incident like the one with Tongtian; that would be too embarrassing."

"Besides, the tempers of the Twelve Ancestral Witches are not as good as Tongtian's. A single misstep and I won't be here to seek fortune on Buzhou Mountain, but to throw my life away."

Thinking of this, Lu Xuan bowed respectfully to the woman in yellow and then spoke in a deferential tone, "Might this fellow Daoist be of the Witch Race?"

After sizing Lu Xuan up, Houtu spoke, "You are of the Demon Race, yet you dare to enter the territory of my Witch Race. Are you not afraid of being skinned and having your tendons pulled?"

Although the Witch-Demon Clans had not yet reached the point of mortal enmity, the friction between the two clans was increasing day by day.

The Witch Race, in particular, often treated the Demon Race as food. Therefore, Lu Xuan entering the Witch territory alone was not much different from delivering a meal to someone's doorstep.

Houtu's words reminded Lu Xuan of one thing: he was indeed suspected of being a member of the Demon Race.

So, he spoke directly to Houtu, shaking his head, "Fellow Daoist, please do not misunderstand. I am certainly not of the Demon Race."

"Surely one cannot be labeled a member of the Demon Race simply because I am not of the Witch Race or the Human Race? If that were the case, how many in this Primordial World would not be demons?"

Houtu was actually amused by Lu Xuan's words and let out a soft laugh, "I have never seen anyone so eager to distance themselves from the Demon Race."

Lu Xuan replied with a helpless expression, "I have to be eager. The Demon Race does not understand the mandate of heaven; sooner or later, they will reap what they sow. I do not wish to follow them and bear the burden of karma for nothing."

Seeing that Lu Xuan's words did not seem false, Houtu asked, "If you are not of the Demon Race, then why have you come to Buzhou Mountain?"

Lu Xuan answered without hesitation, "I have come to Buzhou Mountain this time to go to the Ancestral Witch Hall, meet the Twelve Ancestral Witches, and present them with a stroke of fortune."

Lu Xuan's words caused Houtu to burst into another fit of giggles, "You, a mere Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, dare to spout such nonsense—that you have a stroke of fortune to offer the Twelve Ancestral Witches?"

"If you truly had such ability, you should focus on improving your own cultivation first. It will not be too late to see the Twelve Ancestral Witches once you reach the Quasi-Sage level."

As she spoke, Houtu waved her hand at Lu Xuan. Lu Xuan instantly felt the earth beneath his feet surge, and the Houtu before him grew further and further away.

In just a moment, Lu Xuan was sent back to the foot of Buzhou Mountain. Decades of climbing had been completely wasted in that instant.

Furious, Lu Xuan stomped his feet on the spot, "I've seen unreasonable people, but never anyone this unreasonable."

"However, judging by her methods, she must possess the ability to control the earth. It seems she is indeed Ancestral Witch Houtu of the Twelve Ancestral Witches."

Having confirmed the other party's identity, Lu Xuan stepped onto Buzhou Mountain once more. He continued to climb on foot, without using any evasion techniques.

Just like that, Lu Xuan climbed for another few decades and finally returned to the spot he had reached previously. To his surprise, he saw the yellow-robed Houtu once again.

At this moment, Houtu was looking at him with a full smile, her right hand slowly lifting. One could easily imagine what would happen next.

Lu Xuan spoke directly, "Wait! If I am not mistaken, you must be Ancestral Witch Houtu of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, right?"

Houtu slowly lowered her arm and looked at Lu Xuan, saying, "I did not expect you to have some insight to be able to recognize this Ancestral Witch."

"Since that is the case, I will give you a chance. Let us see what kind of fortune you intend to offer our brothers."

Seeing Houtu lower her hand, Lu Xuan finally let out a long breath. After calming his nerves, he spoke to Houtu.

"I have three purposes for this trip: first, to help the Witch Race solve the problem of reproduction; second, to resolve the issue of the Twelve Ancestral Witches being unable to cultivate their Primordial Spirit; and third, to request a drop of essence blood from each of the Twelve Ancestral Witches."

Once these words left Lu Xuan's mouth, Houtu doubled over with laughter again, "You are still stubborn even when I call your words nonsense. Are these problems something you can solve?"

"You even have the audacity to open your mouth and ask for a drop of essence blood from each of us siblings. Do you know how precious the essence blood of an Ancestral Witch is?"

As she spoke, Houtu raised her right hand again, intending to repeat her trick and send Lu Xuan back to the foot of Buzhou Mountain.

Seeing this, Lu Xuan was thoroughly enraged. Even if he was a monkey, he couldn't just be toyed with for no reason, could he?

But his anger lasted only for a moment before it dissipated completely. After all, so what if she toyed with him? Who told him his cultivation was inferior? Would he rather fight her?

Helpless, Lu Xuan could only say, "Stop! If you send me down the mountain again, your Witch Race will be finished. I absolutely will not tell you that the union of the Human Race and the Witch Race can allow the Witch Race to flourish and multiply."

Lu Xuan's words finally caused Houtu to lower her raised right hand. At the same time, she could not help but mutter to herself.

"Is this little fellow a fool? He says he won't tell me, but hasn't he already said it?"

Little did she know, Lu Xuan was feeling quite smug inside, even thinking to himself, you little girl, if I couldn't even handle you, wouldn't I be a laughingstock to every other transmigrator?

In truth, Lu Xuan had not spoken out of turn due to panic; he had said those words quite deliberately. His goal was to capture Houtu's attention.

After all, compared to increasing the reproductive power of the Witch Race, enabling the Twelve Ancestral Witches to cultivate a Primordial Spirit was the true key.

The result did not exceed Lu Xuan's expectations, as Houtu did not send him down the mountain. Instead, she scrutinized him with a curious expression before finally asking him directly.

"Are you truly going to the Ancestral Witch Hall to see my brothers? You are so foolish, aren't you afraid they will bully you?"