Houtu suddenly stepped forward, startling everyone present.
"Little sister, don't talk nonsense! Come back!"
Dijiang shouted.
Nuwa was a powder keg now. One wrong word, and she would strike immediately.
And Houtu was now the Witch Clan's hope.
If Houtu were killed, the Witch Clan would be utterly finished.
So even if Dijiang had to sacrifice every other Ancestral Witch in battle, he could not let the slightest harm come to Houtu.
Unfortunately, Houtu was just as stubborn. Once she made up her mind, she would not easily change it.
Having chosen to step forward, she would not obediently retreat at Dijiang's command.
Besides, after she had said something like that, Nuwa would never agree to pretend nothing had happened, even if Houtu wanted to.
Nuwa stayed her hand.
But the tribulation clouds in the sky did not disperse.
"Houtu, is what you said true?"
Seeing that Nuwa had calmed down somewhat, Houtu nodded earnestly.
"I know someone who might be able to save Fuxi."
At those words, Nuwa snorted coldly.
"Hmph! Houtu, do you know what you're saying? Do you even know who I am? Even I dare not claim I can bring him back to life."
Nuwa was a Sage herself, and she was deeply versed in the Dao of Creation.
But because of the Witch Artifact, Fuxi's primordial spirit had already been destroyed. Only a wisp of his true spirit remained.
How difficult would it be to bring him back to life?
Only an immensely powerful treasure capable of nourishing the true spirit could possibly save him.
Nourishing the true spirit, not the primordial spirit-there was a fundamental difference between the two.
The true spirit was the source of every living being.
Only with a true spirit could a primordial spirit be born.
It could be said that the true spirit was the very foundation of a living being.
A supreme treasure capable of nourishing the true spirit was itself something beyond belief.
Such treasures were exceedingly scarce in the Primordial World, almost impossible to find.
And Fuxi's true spirit had already begun to disperse. It could only hold on for a little longer, even with Nuwa's intervention.
Thus, even Nuwa believed Fuxi was beyond saving.
As for the Dao Ancestor, he had already merged with the Heavenly Dao. Even if Nuwa sought him out, he might not agree to see her.
That was precisely why Nuwa was so furious.
The Witch Clan had killed her elder brother outright, leaving him not even a chance at reincarnation. They were truly vicious, showing no regard whatsoever for her, a Sage.
Yet Houtu remained entirely earnest.
"Saint Nuwa, I would not dare deceive you. I truly do know someone. I can stake my life on it. If he cannot save Fuxi, I am willing to offer my life in atonement."
Hearing Houtu's words, Dijiang and the other Ancestral Witches could no longer stand by.
"You mustn't, little sister! Even if every one of us dies, we cannot let anything happen to you!"
"Exactly! You are the hope of our Witch Clan!"
All the Ancestral Witches grew agitated.
Houtu, however, shook her head.
"Brothers, say no more. My mind is made up."
Watching their emotional display, Nuwa spoke in an icy voice.
"Your life in compensation? Hmph. My elder brother is dead. If he cannot be saved, I will make your entire Witch Clan pay for his life. Naturally, that includes all twelve of you."
Nuwa thought Houtu was trying to whittle a grave matter down to something trivial.
"Empress Nuwa, to tell you the truth, I have already comprehended my own path to Sagehood. Given enough time, I too can become a Sage."
As she spoke, Houtu released that trace of Sage might, still not entirely pure.
Nuwa's expression shifted as she sensed it.
She knew Houtu was not lying.
Seeing that Nuwa said nothing, Houtu continued.
"So, Saint Nuwa, I beg you to give me a chance. If Fuxi cannot be saved, I am willing to exchange my life for his. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Seeing how certain Houtu was, Nuwa finally began to believe her.
After all, someone on the verge of becoming a Sage should not be treating her own life as a joke.
"Very well. In that case, tell me who can save my brother. I will seek him out myself."
Houtu shook her head.
"Your Majesty, this person is a hidden master living in seclusion. I can only take you to him in person. I cannot reveal his name. Please forgive me."
Nuwa frowned, but after a moment's thought, she offered no objection for her elder brother's sake.
Besides, she was a Sage, deathless and indestructible. Why would she fear a trap?
"Very well. We will do as you say. Lead the way."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Houtu bowed in thanks, then turned and walked up to Dijiang, swiftly slipping something into his robes.
Immediately afterward, she turned and flew toward Kunlun Mountain.
Seeing this, Nuwa waved away the thunderclouds, then transformed into a streak of light and followed her.
As the Witch Clan gazed at the restored sky, they all felt as though they had survived a catastrophe.
Gonggong sighed in wonder.
"To think our little sister knows a hidden master! What great fortune for our Witch Clan. I wonder when they'll return. When they do, we must ask who that master is. Perhaps we can bring him into our Witch Clan. Then we would never have to fear the Demon Tribe again. A Sage's power is truly terrifying."
"Exactly. Facing the lightning in Nuwa's hands just now, I felt that even I couldn't withstand it."
Recalling the scene, the other Ancestral Witches nodded in agreement.
Yet no matter how the Ancestral Witches around him chattered away, Dijiang remained silent.
As the leader of the Ancestral Witches, he had not said a single word the entire time.
Only after a long while did Dijiang slowly speak.
"Return to Pangu Hall. I have something to say."
Hearing Dijiang's grave tone, everyone paused, but no one objected.
They all followed Dijiang back to Pangu Hall.
"Eldest brother, what couldn't you say outside? Why did we have to come back?"
Zhurong was puzzled.
"Yes, eldest brother. Our little sister will be back soon. After such a terrible ordeal, who would have thought we could turn peril into safety? When she returns, we must celebrate for her."
Gonggong chimed in as well.
"Our little sister will not return. I called you inside so you could discuss who can be trained to become the next Ancestral Witch."
The moment Dijiang spoke, the hall fell silent.
Pangu Hall was so quiet that even a falling needle could have been heard clearly. The deathly silence was terrifying.
Only after a long while did everyone recover.
"Eldest brother, what nonsense are you talking about? Our little sister only went to take care of something. How could she not return?"
"Exactly! She was so certain that the master she knows could save Fuxi. This matter has already been settled. Don't talk nonsense!"
Everyone spoke in agitation.
But Dijiang said nothing. He merely took from his robes the bottle Houtu had given him before leaving.
Then Dijiang slowly opened the jade bottle.
Inside the jade bottle, a dozen or so drops of Houtu's blood essence lay quietly.
The hall fell silent once more.
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