Outside Pangu Hall, on Mount Buzhou.
After climbing out of the pit and returning with Houtu and the other Ancestral Witches, Gungun had been sprawled here, basking in the sun.
As for its Vermilion Bird Banner, it had long since put it away in the small world it carried with it. When it did, however, it discovered something new in that world: a treasure map. Needless to say, it must have been a system reward. As for the reason, Gungun could not be bothered to think about it or ask.
Buried in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains is a Warrior God Battle Axe of peerless might. A battle axe... hmm, not my style, Gungun thought as it looked at the treasure map before it.
It was an adorable iron-eating beast. Even in the age of declining magic, it would still be an exceedingly precious creature. It had claws for fighting, bamboo if those failed, and, as a last resort, it could squash its enemies to death with its backside. Swinging an axe around would really damage its cute image.
With that thought, Gungun spent only two seconds considering the matter before abandoning any intention of following the map to find the treasure. It used the map as a pillow cover, rested its head on the ground, and went to sleep.
Who would have thought that, barely moments after it fell asleep, footsteps would suddenly sound? A burly young man with loose, disheveled hair strode over. He was not particularly handsome, but his face was resolute. Seeing Gungun asleep here, he paused, then greeted it. "Brother Gungun."
"Hmm?" Hearing his voice, Gungun rolled over from its belly onto its back and opened its eyes. Looking at the burly young man beside it, it said casually, "Oh, it's Great Shaman Xingtian. The Ancestral Witches only went inside a little while ago. You might have to wait some time before you can see them."
The Witch Race had strict rules: only Ancestral Witches could enter Pangu Hall. Even Xingtian, a Great Shaman, could only wait outside for them to emerge. That was also why Gungun was sleeping out here rather than inside.
"Thank you for letting me know." Although Xingtian greatly disliked Gungun's slothful manner, its titles-an Ancestral Witch's battle pet, a Great Immortal, and the first iron-eating beast in all creation-were still quite intimidating. Thus, he was willing to treat Gungun as an equal and show it the necessary respect.
"No need to thank me. Next time you're out fighting, if you spot any spirit fruit, just bring some back for me. Yaaawn..." Gungun waved a paw as it spoke, then yawned again.
"All right." Xingtian nodded without refusing.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed the sheet of parchment beneath Gungun's head. What was that?
"Brother Gungun, what's that under your head?" Xingtian asked, pointing at the treasure map.
"Huh? Oh, it's a treasure map showing the location of a Warrior God Battle Axe. Interested?" Gungun blinked, lifted its head, and picked the map up off the ground as it asked him.
"The Warrior God Battle Axe? May I have a look?" Xingtian repeated the name, a gleam flashing in his eyes, and held out his hand to Gungun.
"Mm, sure. If you want it, you can have it. It's too far away anyway, and I wasn't planning to go." Gungun spoke indifferently, then handed the treasure map straight to Xingtian.
Xingtian took the map and examined the route marked on it, along with the description of the Warrior God Battle Axe in the upper right corner. It said that, although the Warrior God Battle Axe was a weapon rather than a magical treasure, it possessed peerless might and could cleave mountains and sunder seas. Only a true brave warrior could wield it.
A true brave warrior... isn't that me? Xingtian thought. His heart began pounding. He did not ask where Gungun had obtained the map, nor whether it was genuine. He simply cupped his hands in thanks. "Thank you, Brother Gungun. Once I obtain this battle axe, I'll be sure to bring back spirit fruit and spirit wine to share with you."
"Spirit fruit?" At those words, the drowsy Gungun perked up a little. A humanlike expression of pain instantly appeared on its face, and it spoke in a voice as faint as a thread. "Thank you, Great Shaman. To tell you the truth, Ancestral Witch Houtu and I encountered the Demon Emperor today. I... was injured. Only Ginseng Fruit,
Yellow Central Plums, or nine-thousand-year-old Ren Water Flat Peaches can heal me. If you could help me..." "Brother Gungun, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave. When the Ancestral Witches come out, sorry for the trouble, but please tell them that Xingtian has completed the task they assigned him. Farewell." Seeing Gungun's blatantly fake expression and hearing its frightening request, Xingtian's face twitched. Before it could finish, he hurriedly cut in.
With that, he hastily turned and left.
Ginseng Fruit, Yellow Central Plums, nine-thousand-year-old Ren Water Flat Peaches-damn it, this fat bastard really has the nerve to ask!
And injured, too? The way you were lazing around, ready to fall asleep, didn't look remotely like you were hurt. Do you think I'm Ancestral Witch Houtu, so easily fooled by you?
Hmph!
That was what Xingtian thought.
Watching Xingtian stride away, Gungun was dumbfounded. What's going on? You take my treasure map and won't even give me a chance to finish speaking?
Ah, you're so inconsiderate. No wonder someone will chop your head off in the future, Gungun lamented inwardly, shaking its head.
Then, without chasing after Xingtian, it dropped its head back onto the ground with a thump, rested its paws on its big belly, scratched it, and settled comfortably into sleep.
If he would not help, so be it. One day, the great god Gungun would get to eat those three kinds of fruit.
Meanwhile, inside Pangu Hall.
The Ancestral Witches had already reached a conclusion about Eastern Emperor Taiyi snatching Ao Yue from Houtu.
Either Taiyi had done it to bring Ao Yue under his command, or he wanted to use Ao Yue to bring the Dragon Race under his command-or he wanted both.
If Taiyi truly fulfilled this ambition, the Demon Race's strength would increase enormously, which would be detrimental to their Witch Race. They therefore needed to prepare early, perhaps by befriending other races or attacking the Demon Race ahead of time.
At this point in the discussion, Houtu suddenly thought of something and asked Zhu Jiuyin, "Sixth Brother, you're the Ancestral Witch of Time. Can you see whether Ao Yue will join the Demon Race in the future?"
Hearing his youngest sister's question, a red gleam flashed in Zhu Jiuyin's eyes as he gazed into the river of time. Soon, his eyes returned to normal, and he shook his head. "Ao Yue possesses a supreme destiny no less exalted than the Ancestral Dragon's. I cannot see his future."
"Then, when you looked through the river of time before, did you see any scenes of Taiyi appearing around Mount Buzhou?" Houtu continued.
"No. If I'd known he was coming, I would have prepared an ambush long beforehand. How could I have let him leave unharmed? Little Sister, why do you ask?" Zhu Jiuyin asked Houtu.
"I... no, it's nothing. I was just asking. I thought that if we could foresee the Demon Race's movements, we could strike first and subdue them," Houtu said.
Hearing this, all the Ancestral Witches in the hall nodded, then turned their gazes toward Zhu Jiuyin. You're the Ancestral Witch of Time. How can you fail to see anything at all? Put some effort into it and find something useful!
"I..." Under the combined gazes of his brothers and sisters, Zhu Jiuyin suddenly felt a mountain of pressure bearing down on him.
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