Lu Xuan had spent a full five hundred years traveling before he finally reached the foot of Buzhou Mountain. Thinking about how long the journey had taken, he couldn't help sighing.
"If I get the chance to meet the Twelve Ancestral Witches at Ancestral Witch Hall, I'll have to get Dijiang's Space Law one way or another. Otherwise, traveling is just too slow."
With that thought in mind, Lu Xuan began climbing Buzhou Mountain on foot. It wasn't that he couldn't use an escape technique; he simply did so out of respect for Pangu.
Before Hongjun lectured on the Dao at Zixiao Palace, not even a Daluo Golden Immortal could hope to use an escape technique on Buzhou Mountain.
But after Hongjun's three lectures at Zixiao Palace, all the cultivators of the Primordial World began practicing the methods he had taught, and Pangu's presence gradually faded.
Especially after Laozi and Primordial Heavenly Venerable attained sainthood, even a Golden Immortal could probably use an escape technique to ascend Buzhou Mountain.
The little pressure that remained on Buzhou Mountain was there because the Twelve Ancestral Witches had always revered Pangu as their Father God.
Otherwise, Buzhou Mountain would have long since become an ordinary immortal mountain, and the last trace of Pangu's pressure would have vanished completely.
As Lu Xuan climbed Buzhou Mountain on foot, Ancestral Witch Houtu had already spotted him from Ancestral Witch Hall.
"Since when has the Demon Race been so well-mannered? They're climbing Buzhou Mountain on foot. That's not like them at all."
Ever since the Demon Race had discovered the Heavenly Court at the summit of Buzhou Mountain, they had been coming and going from the mountain more and more often.
Most of them used escape techniques, only bothering to avoid the areas occupied by the Witch Race. Almost none climbed the mountain on foot.
So Lu Xuan's actions caught Houtu's attention. In the end, she left Ancestral Witch Hall and headed in his direction.
Lu Xuan was making his way up the mountain when he spotted a woman in a yellow robe ahead. He was about to ask her how to get to Ancestral Witch Hall.
Just as he was about to speak, he remembered his encounter with Tongtian and couldn't help thinking, A woman in a yellow robe, here on Buzhou Mountain. Could she be Houtu?
Whether she is or not, I'd better treat her as Houtu for now. I don't want another embarrassing encounter like the one with Tongtian.
Besides, the Twelve Ancestral Witches aren't as easygoing as Tongtian. One wrong move, and instead of coming to Buzhou Mountain to seek an opportunity, I'll be here to lose my life.
With that, Lu Xuan gave the woman in yellow a respectful salute, then spoke deferentially. "May I ask if you are a fellow Daoist of the Witch Race?"
After looking Lu Xuan over, Houtu said, "You're a member of the Demon Race, yet you dare enter Witch territory. Aren't you afraid we'll peel your skin and pull out your tendons?"
The Witch-Demon Clans had yet to reach the point of fighting to the death, but clashes between them had grown increasingly frequent.
The Witch Race, in particular, often treated the Demon Race as food. So Lu Xuan entering their territory alone was hardly any different from delivering a meal.
Houtu's words finally reminded Lu Xuan of something: he really did look like he might belong to the Demon Race.
So he immediately shook his head and said, "Fellow Daoist, please don't misunderstand. This poor Daoist is no member of the Demon Race."
"Just because I'm neither Witch nor Human, does that mean I have to be a demon? If that were the case, how many people in the Primordial World wouldn't be demons?"
Houtu burst out laughing at Lu Xuan's words. "I've never seen anyone so eager to distance himself from the Demon Race."
Lu Xuan gave a helpless smile. "I have to be. The Demon Race ignores the Heavenly Mandate, and sooner or later they'll suffer the consequences. I don't want to shoulder Karmic Retribution for their sake."
Seeing that Lu Xuan didn't seem to be lying, Houtu asked, "If you're not of the Demon Race, what have you come to Buzhou Mountain for?"
Without hesitation, Lu Xuan replied, "I came to Buzhou Mountain to visit Ancestral Witch Hall and meet the Twelve Ancestral Witches. I intend to offer them an opportunity."
His words made Houtu laugh again. "You're only a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, yet you dare make such a boast and offer the Twelve Ancestral Witches an opportunity?"
"If you really have that ability, you should focus on improving your own cultivation first. Come back to meet the Twelve Ancestral Witches when you've reached the Quasi-Sage realm."
As she spoke, Houtu waved her hand at Lu Xuan. The earth beneath his feet suddenly surged, and Houtu grew farther and farther away.
In just a moment, Lu Xuan had been sent back to the foot of Buzhou Mountain. The decades he had spent climbing had all gone to waste.
Lu Xuan stomped furiously on the spot. "I've met unreasonable people before, but never anyone this unreasonable."
"Judging by her abilities, she must be able to control the earth. She must be Ancestral Witch Houtu, one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches."
After confirming her identity, Lu Xuan set off up Buzhou Mountain again. He climbed on foot once more, without using any escape techniques.
And so Lu Xuan climbed for another few decades, finally returning to the spot where he had stopped last time. To his surprise, the woman in yellow was there again.
Houtu was watching him with a broad smile. She slowly raised her right hand, and it was obvious what would happen next.
Lu Xuan immediately spoke up. "Wait. If I'm not mistaken, you're Ancestral Witch Houtu, one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, aren't you?"
Houtu slowly lowered her arm and looked at Lu Xuan. "I didn't think you had much sense, but you actually recognized me."
"Since you did, I'll give you a chance. Let's hear what kind of opportunity you intend to offer my brothers and me."
Seeing Houtu lower her hand, Lu Xuan finally let out a breath. After calming himself, he spoke.
"I came here for three reasons. First, to help the Witch Race solve its problem with reproduction. Second, to solve the Twelve Ancestral Witches' inability to cultivate their Primordial Spirits. Third, to ask each of the Twelve Ancestral Witches for a drop of their blood essence."
At his words, Houtu laughed so hard she doubled over. "You boast so shamelessly, and still refuse to admit it. Do you really think you can solve these problems?"
"And now you're making outrageous demands, asking each of us siblings for a drop of our blood essence. Do you know how precious an Ancestral Witch's blood essence is?"
As she spoke, Houtu raised her right hand again, intending to use the same trick and send Lu Xuan back to the foot of Buzhou Mountain.
Seeing this, Lu Xuan was truly enraged. Sure, he was a monkey, but that didn't mean she could keep messing with him for fun.
But his anger lasted only an instant before it vanished completely. So what if she was messing with him? His cultivation was too weak. Why not just fight her, then?
Helpless, Lu Xuan could only say, "Stop! If you send me down the mountain again, your Witch Race is finished. I definitely won't tell you that humans and the Witch Race can have children together, allowing your people to flourish."
At last, Lu Xuan's words made Houtu lower her already raised hand. At the same time, she couldn't help thinking, Is this little fellow stupid? He says he won't tell me, but he's already told me everything.
Little did she know that Lu Xuan was secretly pleased with himself. You little girl. If I can't even handle you, other transmigrators will laugh at me.
Lu Xuan hadn't blurted it out in desperation. He had deliberately said it to make Houtu take him seriously.
After all, compared to increasing the Witch Race's ability to reproduce, allowing the Twelve Ancestral Witches to cultivate their Primordial Spirits was what really mattered.
And things went exactly as Lu Xuan had expected. Houtu didn't send him down the mountain. Instead, she eyed him curiously before finally asking, "You really want to go to Ancestral Witch Hall and meet my brothers? You're so foolish. Aren't you afraid they'll bully you?"
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