Water Ancestral Witch Gonggong and Fire Ancestral Witch Zhurong were perhaps destined to be natural rivals because their elemental attributes clashed.
Whenever one of them opened his mouth, the other would rack his brains for a reason to argue.
Thus, Chen Xuan had no chance to interrupt before Gonggong and Zhurong started fighting outright. In the end, they even walked outside and began competing with their respective divine abilities.
The other Ancestral Witches showed no unusual expressions, making it clear that they had long since grown accustomed to these two.
At that moment, Dijiang walked over to Chen Xuan and said, "When I watched Brother Chen Xuan fight Xingtian, I noticed that the cultivation art you used was very similar to our Witch Race's Witch Mantra.
"It seems that Brother Chen Xuan shares a tremendous affinity with our Witch Race. Would you be willing to join us and rule the Great Desolate Land alongside the Witch Race in the future?"
Chen Xuan could not help but freeze. He knew better than anyone what fate awaited the Witch Race.
If he truly formed immense Karma with the Witch Race, would he also perish during the Witch and Demon Great Calamity?
That was Chen Xuan's first thought. After all, nothing mattered more than staying alive.
Seeing Chen Xuan standing there in a daze, Dijiang continued, "Sooner or later, this Great Desolate world will belong to the Witch Race. And you, Brother Chen Xuan, are destined to rise to glory alongside us."
After letting out a sigh, Chen Xuan shook his head. "Thank you for your kind offer, Ancestral Witch Dijiang, but I fear I do not have such good fortune.
"I am the chief disciple of the Three Pure Ones Sect, so there are times when I cannot act as I please. Besides, I am naturally free-spirited and have little interest in the struggles of the Great Desolate Land.
"However, if the Witch Race ever has need of me, Chen Xuan, I will certainly do everything in my power and help however I can."
Chen Xuan had merely been making excuses, yet Dijiang showed no anger. Instead, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Then it is settled. If we ever need to ask Brother Chen Xuan for help, I hope you will not refuse."
After speaking, Dijiang took something from his person and handed it to Chen Xuan.
Chen Xuan accepted it and saw that it was a complete set of Witch Mantra cultivation arts. He could not help looking at Dijiang in confusion.
Houtu smiled and said, "There is no need to be so surprised, little brother. Since eldest brother has given it to you, just accept it. Perhaps it will help with your cultivation."
If Chen Xuan continued to refuse now, it would seem rather ungrateful. He immediately nodded and tucked the complete set of Witch Mantras into his robes.
At the same time, Chen Xuan sighed helplessly to himself. It seemed that he had thoroughly formed Karma with the Witch Race after all.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches remained in the Hou Tu Tribe for a full one hundred and twenty years. Every ten years, one Ancestral Witch would instruct Chen Xuan in the Witch Mantra corresponding to that Ancestral Witch's element.
After an entire one hundred and twenty years, Chen Xuan had finally mastered the complete set of Witch Mantras. He had also merged them with the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique he had cultivated.
At the same time, Chen Xuan successfully reached the fifth revolution of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique and became a Grand Golden Immortal cultivator.
As the saying went, no feast lasted forever. On this day, Chen Xuan came to bid farewell to the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
"Over these past hundred years, I have received the careful guidance of all the Ancestral Witches. I have now completely mastered the Witch Mantras of all twelve elements.
"It is also time for me to continue traveling through the Great Desolate Land, as Grand Uncle Master instructed. When the opportunity arises, I will surely come personally to thank you."
Hearing that Chen Xuan was leaving, all Twelve Ancestral Witches showed reluctance. Houtu in particular shed tears of parting.
"Who knows when we will meet again after you leave? Little brother, you must not forget Sister Houtu," Houtu said, taking Chen Xuan's hand.
Chen Xuan nodded firmly. "Sister Houtu, there is no need to be so sad. Grandmaster's second lecture is about to begin. We will meet again at the Purple Cloud Palace."
After saying this, Chen Xuan once again bid farewell to the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Then he had Daoist Duobao lead the Plate-Horned Ox as they departed Houtu's tribe.
Watching Chen Xuan's receding figure, Dijiang said, "We simply cannot comprehend the Dao teachings spoken by Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
"After all, the Witch Race cultivates only the fleshly body, not the primordial spirit. Going there would merely waste our time. But to keep our appointment with Brother Chen Xuan, we will enter the Purple Cloud Palace again in a thousand years."
Chen Xuan never could have imagined that the Twelve Ancestral Witches, who had originally decided not to return to the Purple Cloud Palace to hear the Dao, would choose to go again because of him.
After leaving the Hou Tu Tribe, Chen Xuan began traveling across the Great Desolate Land. In the blink of an eye, a hundred years passed.
Over those hundred years, Chen Xuan swept through the land like a locust plague. Not a single heaven-and-earth spiritual root he came across was left where it had grown.
Everywhere he passed was left barren, with one large pit after another. At the same time, Chen Xuan reaped an abundant harvest.
One day, Chen Xuan unknowingly arrived at Mount Buzhou, and immediately felt the urge to climb it.
He descended from the clouds with Daoist Duobao and set out on foot up Mount Buzhou. They walked for more than twenty years, yet had no idea how far they still were from the summit.
"Eldest Senior Brother, Mount Buzhou is far too high. If we keep walking like this, we probably will not reach the summit for eight hundred or even a thousand years," Daoist Duobao said with a miserable expression.
"And you have the nerve to complain? You have been riding on my back the whole time, haven't you? The one doing the real work is Immortal Master and me," the Plate-Horned Ox said disdainfully to Daoist Duobao.
Having been scorned by the Plate-Horned Ox again, Daoist Duobao pulled out his ox-driving whip. The Plate-Horned Ox immediately fell silent, terrified that he would soon be beaten until he mooed again.
Chen Xuan had already grown used to these two. One had a foul mouth, while the other had itchy hands.
Still, they did add quite a bit of amusement to Chen Xuan's travels.
Suddenly, Chen Xuan seemed to sense something. He said directly to Daoist Duobao, "Lead him and continue slowly. I will be back shortly."
After speaking, Chen Xuan's body transformed into a cloud of water mist. He used the Profound Origin Wave Transformation Art and vanished from where he stood.
When he appeared again, he had already arrived in a mountain hollow filled with abundant spiritual energy.
Several figures stood before Chen Xuan. They were his master, Tongtian, along with his two uncle masters.
His Sister Nüwa was also there, along with several people Chen Xuan had never seen before.
He did not dare delay and hurried forward to bow. "Disciple Chen Xuan pays respects to Master and the two Uncle Masters."
The Three Pure Ones nodded and told Chen Xuan to dispense with the formalities. Then they continued watching every movement within the mountain hollow.
Chen Xuan then bowed to Goddess Nvwa and said with a smile, "Sister Nüwa, you are becoming more and more beautiful."
Goddess Nvwa immediately burst into giggles, repeatedly praising Chen Xuan for knowing how to talk.
This made Master Tongtian, standing nearby, shake his head helplessly and glare fiercely at Chen Xuan.
"Since you are here, it is your opportunity. Stand quietly to the side. You will receive some benefits shortly."
Before you continue