Houtu's Request...

"Being accepted under my master's tutelage was also my good fortune."

"Senior Houtu truly overpraised me."

Faced with Houtu's praise, Jing Chu did not become conceited and lose sight of himself. Instead, he spoke with great humility.

"What a modest youngster."

"Have Brother Taiqing, Brother Yuqing, and Brother Shangqing been well lately?"

Houtu revealed a faint smile, somewhat surprised by Jing Chu's humility.

One had to know that most beings of the Primordial World cared deeply about their origins. Those with noble origins were usually exceedingly proud. For Jing Chu to possess origins that ranked among the finest even among Innate Divine Beings, yet remain neither arrogant nor impetuous, was truly rare.

"My master and my two martial uncles are naturally all well. They are currently immersed in the path of Sainthood."

"Thank you for your concern, Senior."

Though Houtu had no Primordial Spirit, she was likewise one of the three thousand guests of Purple Cloud Palace. Naturally, she knew that the Three Pure Ones possessed Primordial Purple Qi and would be able to become Sages in the future.

Hearing Jing Chu's words, she nodded slightly, longing appearing in her beautiful eyes.

A Sage—what a lofty realm that was. As an Ancestral Shaman born for battle, no matter how gentle she was, she was still filled with yearning for such a realm.

Yet born without Primordial Spirits, the Witch Clan was destined to be unable to absorb Primordial Purple Qi and become Sages.

During his time with Houtu, Jing Chu discovered what made this Ancestral Shaman different. She was exceedingly gentle toward the sons of the Witch Clan, even willing to set aside her status and dance alongside the Witch Clan warriors.

Under such a mode of interaction, the Witch Clan warriors of the Houtu Tribe revered their own Ancestral Shaman all the more.

Even the Great Shaman Kuafu was filled with reverence for Houtu.

Though Jing Chu had not spent long with Houtu, he had also felt this senior's warmth.

After staying in the Houtu Tribe for several days, Jing Chu intended to leave. Although he was very interested in the Witch Clan's methods of tempering the fleshly body, directly asking for them would be far too presumptuous.

Yet just as he bid farewell to Houtu and Kuafu, Houtu, who had not spoken, looked at Jing Chu once more.

Her beautiful eyes continuously appraised Jing Chu's body before she fell into thought. Only after pondering for a long while did she speak with a pleading expression.

"Jing Chu, there is something I wish to ask of you."

"If you are willing, I am willing to owe you a karmic debt. If you are unwilling, I will naturally let you leave."

Looking at Houtu before him, a being whose strength could absolutely rank among the top three of the Twelve Ancestral Shamans, Jing Chu was very curious what matter would require his help.

Surely she wasn't planning to borrow his true body to fight the Demon Race?

The very thought was impossible. Besides, the Witch Clan itself could not use spiritual treasures.

To them, his true body was simply a toy set out in the open, something one could look at but not play with.

"Senior Houtu, please speak plainly. If there is anything this junior can help with, I will certainly not stand by with folded arms."

"But if this junior is unable to help, I ask that Senior not blame me!"

Jing Chu was rather tempted by Houtu's karmic debt. Thus, even knowing this favor might be dangerous, he was still willing to hear her out.

"Fellow Daoist Shangqing truly has deep fortune, to have taught such a mature and steady disciple as you."

"The matter I need your help with is not dangerous. I merely need you to make a trip to Five Villages Temple."

"I recently obtained some information. It is said that Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi, the rulers of the Demon Court, intend to join forces with the Demon Master Kunpeng to seize the Primordial Purple Qi in Fellow Daoist Hongyun's possession."

"Zhen Yuanzi, master of Five Villages Temple, is Hongyun's close friend. This time, I hope you will go to Five Villages Temple and inform Zhen Yuanzi that he must be cautious."

Zhen Yuanzi, Hongyun, Kunpeng, Dijun, Donghuang Taiyi!

As one renowned figure after another of the Primordial World came from Houtu's mouth, Jing Chu could not help falling into deep silence.

It was not that he feared danger. He was simply somewhat surprised that these words would come from Houtu.

As the only being who was not Hongjun's disciple yet had obtained Primordial Purple Qi, Hongyun would naturally be watched by many.

Especially Kunpeng, with whom he had karma!

Back at Purple Cloud Palace, Hongyun had yielded his seat, causing Kunpeng's place to be forcibly taken away and costing him the Primordial Purple Qi.

Thus, karma had been forged, leading to Hongyun's fatal tribulation.

This was originally something destined to happen in the future of the Primordial World. He simply had not expected the Witch Clan to be involved as well.

But on further thought, the Witch Clan's involvement seemed only natural.

As the foundation of attaining the Dao, Primordial Purple Qi was something that could allow one to become a Sage.

If either Dijun or Donghuang Taiyi obtained such a treasure, it would surely pose an immense threat to the Witch Clan.

Once one of them became a Sage, the entire Witch Clan would fall into a thoroughly precarious state.

No matter how powerful the Twelve Heavenly Gods Fiendish Formation was, even if it was rumored to condense a Pangu True Body, it could only contend with a Sage for a short time.

And once the Twelve Ancestral Shamans were held back, the entire Witch Clan would be wiped out in an instant by countless Demon Race powerhouses, slaughtered until not one remained.

Therefore, having Zhen Yuanzi protect Hongyun and prevent the Primordial Purple Qi from being snatched away was indeed something the Witch Clan should take part in.

Only, the final outcome did not seem particularly good. Hongyun still died, yet the Primordial Purple Qi did not fall into the Demon Race's hands either.

It even fled completely, vanishing from the Primordial World and becoming the sole foundation of attaining the Dao whose whereabouts were unknown!

"Very well. If Senior does not find this junior too weak, this junior is willing to make a trip to Five Villages Temple on Senior's behalf."

"However, with Senior's or Brother Kuafu's strength, either of you could casually travel to Five Villages Temple. Why do you need my help?"

He did not quite understand. Kuafu could casually shatter space and travel through spatial turbulence across the Primordial World.

Not to mention Houtu. For her, reaching Five Villages Temple was likely a matter of an instant. Since that was the case, why did she need his help?

"Kuafu, I, and even most of the tribe's people cannot leave the tribe for long. Once we leave, the entire tribe will be completely overturned."

"Even the Witch Clan and Demon Race will erupt into a great war in an instant."

Jing Chu's heart immediately tightened. So that was it. Since the Witch Clan had made preparations, how could the Demon Race possibly have made none?

Setting their sights on the Witch Clan's tribespeople was naturally only logical.

Houtu was certainly not afraid of the Demon Race. Since she was avoiding war at this time, there had to be some reason.

That was why she needed his help, even willing to directly owe him a karmic debt.

Since that was so, Jing Chu felt that he could offer a little help.

"Since that is the case, this junior is willing to make a trip to Five Villages Temple for Senior!"

Jing Chu cupped his hands and immediately spoke to Houtu with great seriousness.

"Good!"

Upon hearing Jing Chu's words, a hint of a smile bloomed across Houtu's face.

Then a point of immortal light condensed in her hand. The next moment, it shot directly into Jing Chu's mind.

"I saw that you seemed interested in Kuafu's physical body. Since that is so, I shall give this to you."

The immortal light unfolded within Jing Chu's sea of consciousness. It was astonishingly a method for the Witch Clan to temper the Dao body.

Its name was the Nine-Turn Origin Art!