"Merit!" At the sight of that immense merit golden cloud-even larger, in Gungun's memory, than those that had appeared when Nuwa, the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti attained sainthood-Gungun immediately turned its gaze away from Zixiao Palace and toward the cloud, clenching both bear paws into fists.
Houtu's physical body had not vanished completely. There was still a chance. There was still a chance!
With that thought, Gungun, now stripped of the demon god's power and left with only its original cultivation, knitted its brows and swept its gaze across the vast Primordial World. Then it raised both arms and pressed its bear paws heavily together. Wisps of merit emerged from its body and flew toward what remained of Houtu's flesh.
At the same time, Gungun opened its mouth, its voice resounding far and wide. "Heavenly Dao above! I, Gungun, have witnessed the suffering of all living beings and the calamities that befall their souls. I am willing to follow Ancestral Witch Houtu and stand guard over reincarnation! Today, I make a great vow: I swear to deliver every being in the Six Paths and save them from all suffering. My only wish is that the Ancestral Witch's true spirit remain unchanged, forever Houtu!"
Boom!
As Gungun's voice fell, the sky shook once more. Another merit golden cloud appeared and descended toward Gungun. Together with the merit already descending toward Houtu, its golden radiance shone so brilliantly that no living being could keep their eyes open.
Within that golden light, six enormous vortices silently appeared. They swiftly drew together and fused into a Netherworld Realm. Within it, structures took shape one after another: the Ghost Gate, the Yellow Springs Road, the Flowers of the Other Shore, the River of Forgetfulness, the Bridge of Helplessness...
Meanwhile, the vengeful spirits that