Xu Tong smiled as he looked at the nine heavens breathing soil in his hand.
If I could combine the nine heavens breathing soil with some other materials and refine four heavenly pillars ahead of time, wouldn't the merit for supporting heaven and earth fall into my hands?
After their last encounter, Hongjun and Xu Tong had both grown more wary of each other.
Xu Tong knew that he was still no match for Hongjun.
To avoid being schemed to death by Hongjun, he still couldn't leave seclusion. He had to keep lying low until he could defeat Hongjun.
Before then, however, since Hongjun was already deeply wary of him, Xu Tong had to acquire as much merit as possible.
Only then would Hongjun have to weigh the consequences before making a move.
After all, he was the Heavenly Dao's spokesman. If he personally killed someone possessed of great merit, the backlash he suffered would be a hundred times worse than that of other cultivators.
His cultivation realm might even regress outright.
The more merit Xu Tong had, the safer he would be.
With that thought, Xu Tong stopped hesitating and immediately began preparing.
Supporting the vault of heaven was no easy task. First of all, the materials had to be chosen with utmost care.
Even with the nine heavens breathing soil, he still needed one other thing to truly replace the Black Tortoise's four limbs.
That was the Core of Buzhou Mountain.
If he could fuse that into the heavenly pillars during refinement, success would be assured.
But at that thought, Xu Tong grew troubled again.
If I remember correctly, the Core of Buzhou Mountain was eventually refined by Heavenly Lord Yuanshi into the supreme treasure, the Heaven-Overturning Seal.
The thought immediately gave Xu Tong a headache.
Unless Buzhou Mountain fell, he couldn't obtain its core.
Refining the heavenly pillars would therefore be impossible.
But if the mountain did fall, others would set their sights on it, and he still wouldn't be able to get his hands on it.
"Surely I can't go knock Buzhou Mountain down myself."
The idea suddenly popped into Xu Tong's head, but he hurriedly shook it off.
"No, no. Absolutely not."
"If I dare show myself and knock down Buzhou Mountain, that fellow Hongjun will stop at nothing to slaughter me."
Xu Tong hastily rejected the idea.
"As expected, plotting to acquire merit from the Heavenly Dao isn't that simple."
"The Heavenly Dao's schemes are woven so tightly. How could replacing its arrangements be so easy?"
Xu Tong sighed, then stopped dwelling on it.
He would do it if he could. If it truly proved impossible, then it simply wasn't destined to be his.
Xu Tong wasn't determined to accomplish this at all costs.
"It's just a pity that this lump of nine heavens breathing soil has suddenly lost its battlefield."
Xu Tong sighed and was just about to put the nine heavens breathing soil away when a voice suddenly reached him from outside the Dao Field.
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, Houtu of the Witch Clan requests an audience. Please come out to meet me."
Still holding the nine heavens breathing soil, Xu Tong froze at the sound.
Looking at Houtu's figure outside the Dao Field, Xu Tong frowned.
"Ancestral Witch Houtu? What has she come here for?"
Xu Tong was puzzled.
Ever since becoming Tongtian, he had remained in the Dao Field, meditating in seclusion. He had never had any dealings with the Witch Clan.
He could understand Hongjun coming to find him, but why had the Witch Clan sought him out too?
Xu Tong pondered for a long time but still couldn't figure out the reason.
Suddenly, Xu Tong noticed the nine heavens breathing soil in his hand.
"Huh? Wait a moment. Buzhou Mountain was formed from Pangu's spine, and the Witch Clan itself was born from Pangu's blood essence and baleful energy."
"If I use the nine heavens breathing soil and obtain enough Ancestral Witch blood essence, perhaps I can refine heavenly pillars capable of supporting heaven and earth without the Core of Buzhou Mountain."
With that thought, Xu Tong performed some deductions and discovered that it really was feasible.
Xu Tong was instantly thrilled.
Looking at Houtu outside the Dao Field, Xu Tong considered for a moment but did not open its gates.
He was currently in seclusion and had to avoid forming any ties with the Witch Clan, the Demon Tribe, or other living beings as much as possible.
When Hongjun had come here, meeting him had been an unavoidable necessity.
But he absolutely would not meet Houtu.
The Witch Clan was currently embroiled in a tribulation. Who knew which stray remark might bring enormous trouble down on his head?
It was better for them to speak like this.
Looking at Houtu outside the great hall, Xu Tong spoke slowly.
"Ancestral Witch Houtu, I am currently in seclusion and cannot conveniently come out. Whatever the matter is, please speak from there."
Hearing Tongtian's response, Houtu paused, and her brows involuntarily furrowed.
I am an Ancestral Witch, one of the Witch Clan's strongest fighters, and can be counted among the rulers of heaven and earth today.
Yet this Tongtian refuses to give me any face. He won't even show himself. This is going too far.
But remembering the threat posed by the Demon Tribe and the purpose of her visit, Houtu ultimately restrained her temper.
Since he was unwilling to show himself, she could only question him like this.
Looking at the gates of the Dao Field, Houtu offered a somewhat reluctant bow.
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, I have come to verify two matters with you. They are confidential, so if it is convenient, please meet with me to discuss them."
"There is no need. I have no secrets here. Whatever you wish to ask, Fellow Daoist, simply say it. If I know the answer, I will naturally tell you."
What a joke. Am I supposed to leave seclusion just because you said a few words?
Even when Dao Ancestor Hongjun came, I merely sent a clone to deal with him.
You, Houtu of the Witch Clan, certainly don't carry that much weight.
Xu Tong curled his lip.
Seeing that Xu Tong remained adamant about not coming out, Houtu was helpless.
Damn it! Why is Tongtian so stubborn? He wouldn't come out when the Dao Ancestor preached, and now that I've personally come to request an audience, he still refuses to show himself!
At that moment, Houtu experienced Hongjun's frustration.
Seeing that he refused to come out no matter what, Houtu had no choice but to speak from outside the Dao Field.
"Very well. Since you are unwilling to meet me face-to-face, Fellow Daoist, I will speak plainly."
"I have come to verify two matters."
"First, may I ask whether Saint Nuwa obtained her nine heavens breathing soil from you?"
After speaking, Houtu looked at the tightly shut gates of the Dao Field.
Seated inside the Dao Field, Xu Tong frowned at Houtu's words.
How does Houtu know that the nine heavens breathing soil came from me?
That shouldn't be possible. Surely Hongjun isn't foolish enough to disclose something like that.
Could Houtu merely be guessing?
How is that possible? I've been in seclusion in the Dao Field all this time and have never interacted with anyone. What could she base that conclusion on?
Xu Tong couldn't make sense of it.
Outside the Dao Field, Houtu continued speaking as though she had guessed Xu Tong's thoughts.
"To be frank, Fellow Daoist, when Saint Nuwa attained sagehood, I wasn't watching the Human Race or Saint Nuwa. Instead, I was watching the nine heavens breathing soil. I discovered that the merit bestowed by the Heavenly Dao for the nine heavens breathing soil went to your Dao Field."
"Please don't try to deceive me, Fellow Daoist. I saw it with my own eyes."
Hearing that, Xu Tong had nothing to say.
Fine, she's an odd one. When a Sage attains sagehood, instead of watching the Sage, you insist on watching the nine heavens breathing soil.
And now I've been caught red-handed. I can only admit it.
"That's right. The nine heavens breathing soil was indeed borrowed from me."
Houtu's eyes lit up at his answer.
"Just as I thought."
"Then, Fellow Daoist, I will ask my second question."
"May I ask whether you know the method by which my Witch Clan can attain the Dao?"
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