Houtu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Houtu (后土)
Alias(es)	Ancestor Witch Houtu; Ancestor of the Underworld Path; Lord of Reincarnation; Great Virtue Empress Houtu; Houtu Pingxin; Sun Deity
Species/Race	Ancestor Witch; one of the Twelve Ancestor Witches
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Wu clan; Twelve Ancestor Witches; Underworld Path / Earthly Dao
Occupation/Role	Protector of the Wu clan; Lord of Reincarnation; controller of the Underworld Path’s authority; Sun Deity of the Primordial World
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Quasi-Saint Dao Fruit	2	Already a mighty figure of the Primordial Desolation, though originally possessing only an incomplete, damaged wisp of Primordial Spirit.
Complete Primordial Spirit	2	Chen Xuan’s coexistence mends her fragmented Primordial Spirit, granting her complete Primordial Spirit perception.
Complete Primordial Spirit revealed	30 31	Publicly demonstrated through simultaneous control of numerous innate spiritual treasures, overcoming the Wu clan’s innate limitation.
Slaughter True Body	30 34	A divine-demon Dharma form condensed through Houtu’s vital blood and calamity-sha blood qi; its killing power is comparable to a Hun Yuan Sage.
Slaughter True Body enhanced by destiny	37	Merges with the Wu clan’s Golden Dragon of Destiny after sacrifices of essence blood, severely injuring Taiqing, Yuanshi, and Jieyin.
Fortune and Merit Golden Body	44 45	The Slaughter True Body recovers and transforms under the gathered fortune of the Human race and other primordial races.
One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones	46 47 53 55	Chen Xuan acquires and cultivates Taiqing’s divine ability through Houtu’s body, then manifests a Grand Pure Sage phantom during the battle with Di Jun and the Sages.
Sun Deity	80 81	Ascends as the Sun Deity of the Primordial World after gaining authority over the Sun Star.
Lord of Reincarnation	87 97	Establishes the Six Paths of Reincarnation through an alternative foundation of primordial divine lotuses rather than sacrificing her Ancestor Witch body; the Underworld Path subsequently produces Six Reincarnation Sages.
Earthly Dao power / God-Demon Fist	113	As Lord of Reincarnation and representative of the Earthly Dao, shatters Hongjun’s Sword of Heavenly Dao’s Divine Punishment with the God-Demon Fist and forces him to concede defeat.

Background

Houtu is the youngest sister among the Twelve Ancestor Witches and a central protector of the Wu clan during the Wu-Demon Calamity. Unlike the other Wu, she is gentle, compassionate, and deeply troubled by the suffering of wandering souls in the Underworld. Before Chen Xuan’s arrival, she faces an impossible choice: remain with the Wu clan or abandon her Ancestor Witch body to establish the Six Paths of Reincarnation. 1

Her original incomplete Primordial Spirit is both a personal limitation and a longstanding regret of the Wu clan. She previously traveled alone to Zixiao Palace in search of a way for the Wu to cultivate Primordial Spirits, but found no answer. 2 31

Chen Xuan transmigrates into and coexists with Houtu, mending her Primordial Spirit. After learning from him that Hongjun’s push for her to become Reincarnation is allegedly intended to suppress the Underworld Path and doom the Wu clan, Houtu rejects the transformation and entrusts Chen Xuan with control of her body. 2

Although Hongjun’s intended fate requires Houtu to surrender her body and true spirit to Reincarnation, Chen Xuan eventually devises an alternative: the Six Paths are established with primordial divine lotuses as their foundation. Houtu therefore retains her Ancestor Witch body while attaining the position of Lord of Reincarnation and becoming a major representative of the Earthly Dao. 87 88 97 113

Appearance

Houtu is portrayed as a graceful and peerlessly beautiful woman with a gentle bearing, though her appearance is frequently marked by anxiety, tears, or fierce resolve during the calamity.

• Exquisite, peerless face and beautiful eyes. 1
• Fair, jade-like hands and a delicate physique. 1 27
• Long, waterfall-like hair when Chen Xuan manifests overwhelming power through her body. 13
• Often described as tearful or visibly distressed when facing threats to the Wu clan. 1 21 27
• Her gentle and vulnerable bearing remains apparent even when she faces Hongjun’s World-Ending Millstone and believes she may be leaving final words to Chen Xuan. 62

Personality

Before Chen Xuan takes control, Houtu is gentle, serene, compassionate, and reluctant to fight. She is profoundly affected by the deaths of Wu warriors and the sight of billions of wandering souls without refuge. 1 5 6

She is also loyal to the Wu clan and unwilling to let her people become pawns of Hongjun or the Heavenly Dao. Once convinced that the Wu clan is being manipulated, she becomes willing to bear extreme consequences alongside Chen Xuan, including the risk of destroying the Dutian God-Demon Array. 2 12 21

Houtu remains anxious around direct confrontations with Sages and can revert to a timid, tearful demeanor when left to negotiate alone. Her trust in Chen Xuan, however, becomes nearly unconditional as their shared struggles continue. 27 31 37

Her compassion remains a vulnerability the Heavenly Dao attempts to exploit: at the Sea of Blood, the immense number of displaced souls nearly drives her to establish Reincarnation prematurely. Chen Xuan recognizes the outside influence and stops her from acting rashly. 81

Despite her fears, Houtu ultimately accepts Chen Xuan’s alternative plan to establish the Six Paths without sacrificing herself, showing that her desire to save wandering souls and her resolve to preserve the Wu clan can coexist. 87 97

Abilities & Skills

Ancestor Witch Physique

As one of the Twelve Ancestor Witches, Houtu possesses an exceptionally powerful physical body and contributes to the Wu clan’s greatest formation.

• One of the indispensable twelve members required for the complete Dutian God-Demon Array. 1 6
• Her survival prevents the Wu clan from permanently losing a key component of the formation. 29 31
• Protected by the Underworld Path’s will due to her destiny as its future lord. 3 5

Complete Primordial Spirit

Chen Xuan’s presence repairs Houtu’s incomplete Primordial Spirit, granting her an ability considered unattainable for the Wu clan.

• Enhances her perception and spiritual completeness. 2
• Allows her to refine and wield spiritual treasures. 30
• Enables simultaneous control of numerous innate spiritual treasures with extraordinary precision. 30
• Fills the Wu clan’s most notorious innate deficiency. 31

Formation Deployment

Houtu participates in and, under Chen Xuan’s guidance, deploys several world-shaking formations.

• Twelve Capital Celestial Evil Spirit Array / Dutian God-Demon Array — formed with the Twelve Ancestor Witches and capable of manifesting a Pangu True Body. 6 17
• Great Array of the Stars — used against Jieyin and later detonated as part of the escalating conflict. 8 28
• Pangu Inheritance Great Array — draws calamity and slaughter qi to restore the Wu clan’s formation and destiny. 16

Slaughter True Body

A blood-red Dharma form tied to Houtu’s vital blood and accumulated calamity-sha blood qi.

• Possesses slaughter power comparable to a Hun Yuan Sage. 34 36
• Can battle multiple Heavenly Dao Sages simultaneously. 36
• Is strengthened through sacrificed Ancestor Witch essence blood and the Wu clan’s Golden Dragon of Destiny. 36 37
• Publicly executes Jieyin using its power. 39
• Instantly kills Eastern Emperor Taiyi upon its appearance. 34
• Continues to contend against five Sages during the Wu-Demon conflict. 55

Underworld Path Protection

Houtu’s destined connection to Reincarnation and the Underworld Path makes direct action against her dangerous even for Hongjun.

• Hongjun refrains from killing her because of the karmic backlash associated with the Underworld Path. 3
• The Underworld Path’s will is said to protect her from those who attempt to harm her. 5
• Her fate as future Lord of Reincarnation is central to Hongjun’s attempts to force her transformation. 11 41
• After the Six Paths are established through an alternative method, she becomes Lord of Reincarnation without surrendering her Ancestor Witch body. 87 97

Great Memory Restoration Technique

A Wu clan secret technique used to expose a target’s past actions.

• Reveals past conduct when the target is near death. 23
• Used against Taiqing Laozi after he denies accusations of deceiving humanity. 23

One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones

A supreme divine ability originally associated with Taiqing Laozi.

• Acquired after Taiqing drops the technique during battle. 46 47
• Chen Xuan cultivates the technique while Houtu independently delays the Sages. 53
• Can manifest a Grand Pure Sage phantom to assist in battle. 55

Sun Star and Reincarnation Authority

Following the Wu-Demon Calamity, Houtu gains authority extending beyond the Wu clan’s terrestrial domain.

• Ascends as the Sun Deity of the Primordial World and gains authority over the Sun Star. 80 81
• Establishes the Six Paths of Reincarnation using primordial divine lotuses rather than her own body. 87 97
• Stands as the Lord of Reincarnation and a representative of the Earthly Dao against Hongjun’s Heavenly Dao. 97 113
• Uses the God-Demon Fist to shatter Hongjun’s Sword of Heavenly Dao’s Divine Punishment. 113

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Taiji Diagram — used to shield Houtu and the Ancestor Witches from the Dutian God-Demon Array’s self-destruction. 30
• Demon-Slaying Sword — formerly the Witch-Slaying Sword; repurposed using billions of vengeful human souls and used to devastate Demon clan forces. 32
• Numerous innate spiritual treasures — controlled through her complete Primordial Spirit. 30
• Complete Golden Core Method — obtained from Taiqing and sent to the Human race’s ancestral land after Houtu exposes the incomplete version’s flaws. 25
• One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones — divine ability acquired after Taiqing drops it in battle. 46 47
• Chaos Bell — used to block Di Jun’s surprise attack with the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife. 55
• Karmic Fire Red Lotus — acquired from Old Ancestor Minghe as repayment for a karmic debt. 85

Relationships

• Chen Xuan — Symbiotic cohabitant within her body. He mends her Primordial Spirit, advises her against becoming Reincarnation, and frequently assumes control during battle; Houtu deeply trusts and admires him. 2 8 27 37 Their bond continues to deepen as she follows his instructions to delay the Sages while he cultivates, and together they establish the Six Paths without sacrificing her body. 53 87 97
• The Twelve Ancestor Witches — Her fellow Wu clan leaders and siblings. Their ability to form the Dutian God-Demon Array depends on all twelve surviving. 1 6 31
• Hongjun — Primary adversary. He repeatedly pressures Houtu to transform into Reincarnation, while Houtu and Chen Xuan accuse him of plotting against the Wu clan and Underworld Path. 1 2 11 41 After becoming Lord of Reincarnation, Houtu’s shared body defeats Hongjun in battle and compels his retreat. 113
• Taiqing Laozi — Enemy Sage confronted over the Golden Core Method and humanity; Houtu later uses the Great Memory Restoration Technique against him. 15 23 Chen Xuan later acquires Taiqing’s origin through Houtu’s body and cultivates the One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones ability associated with him. 53
• Yuanshi Tianzun — Enemy Sage who suppresses the Wu clan’s destiny and later condemns Houtu’s Slaughter True Body. 15 16 34 Houtu destroys his Yuxu Palace with a single sword strike during her wager with Hongjun. 63
• Tongtian — A conflicted opponent who respects Houtu’s defiance and attributes his breakthrough to her words, though he initially fights under Hongjun’s command. 18 19 49 He later provides a strand of his Supreme Pure One origin to repay a karmic debt, and ultimately abandons his Saint Dao Fruit and Primordial Purple Qi in defiance of Hongjun. 53 74
• Jieyin — Western Sage opposed by Houtu’s formations and later publicly executed through the Slaughter True Body. 8 39
• Zhunti — Western Sage who attacks Houtu and is injured instead; later exposed as an instigator behind the ten-suns disaster. 4 6 8
• Nuwa — Exposes Zhunti’s role in instigating the Wu-Demon conflict and mourns the Wu clan’s apparent destruction. 8 29 She remains concerned when Hongjun personally moves to suppress Houtu. 61
• Old Ancestor Minghe — A Sea of Blood cultivator who owes Houtu a major karmic favor. He yields the Karmic Fire Red Lotus after she reveals that the Heavenly Dao, rather than a lack of Primordial Purple Qi, bars his sainthood. 85
• Human race — Beneficiaries of Houtu’s actions; their ancestors later lend their race’s fortune to aid her and the Wu clan. 25 43 The Huaxu Tribe later hails her as a protector after she defeats Hongjun and safeguards Fuxi’s future. 113
• Fuxi — Houtu protects the Huaxu Tribe and resolves to guide the extraordinary child, who is destined to become the Human race’s Human Sovereign. 113

Story Role / Major Arcs

Refusal of Reincarnation

Houtu is pressured by Hongjun and the Six Sages to abandon her physical body and become the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Chen Xuan reveals the alleged scheme behind this destiny, causing her to reject the transformation and side fully with the Wu clan. 1 2

Defiance of the Sages

With Chen Xuan controlling her body, Houtu openly insults Hongjun, refuses to bow before Zhunti, and challenges the Western Sages. Her status as the future Lord of Reincarnation prevents Hongjun from acting against her directly. 3 4 5

Wu Clan’s Counteroffensive

Houtu becomes the focal point of the Wu clan’s resistance, directing the complete Dutian God-Demon Array and confronting Hongjun’s mediation decree. The Wu clan subsequently shatters Hongjun’s Dharma body and resists the Sanqing. 6 11 13 16

Dutian Self-Destruction and Return

Rather than submit to the Sages’ terms, Houtu allows Chen Xuan to detonate the Dutian God-Demon Array, triggering a world-ending calamity. She survives through the Taiji Diagram’s protection, returns to halt the Demon clan’s counterattack, and reveals her complete Primordial Spirit. 27 28 29 30

Slaughter True Body Conflict

Houtu’s Slaughter True Body battles the Sages after the array’s destruction. The form is reinforced through essence blood, the Wu clan’s destiny, and later the fortune of multiple races, allowing Houtu to execute Jieyin and continue opposing Hongjun. 34 37 39 43 44

Battle Against Hongjun’s True Body

After the prolonged Wu-Demon conflict, Hongjun personally descends to suppress Houtu and deploys the Heavenly Dao strange treasure known as the World-Ending Millstone. Houtu and Chen Xuan continue to resist, challenge Hongjun to a wager, and expose the wider mechanisms through which the Heavenly Dao controls the Sages. 60 61 63 73 74

Sun Deity and the Sea of Blood

Houtu gains the position of Sun Deity before traveling to the Netherworld Sea of Blood, where she witnesses the overwhelming accumulation of wandering souls. Her compassion nearly leads her to establish Reincarnation according to the Heavenly Dao’s intended script, but Chen Xuan identifies and disrupts the Heavenly Dao’s influence. 80 81

Establishment of the Six Paths

Having gathered primordial divine lotuses, Houtu and Chen Xuan establish the Six Paths of Reincarnation without using Houtu’s body as the foundation. The plan defeats Hongjun’s intended arrangement, grants Houtu the position of Lord of Reincarnation, and leads to the emergence of Six Reincarnation Sages under the Underworld Path. 85 87 97

Lord of Reincarnation

As the Earthly Dao’s Lord of Reincarnation, Houtu protects the Huaxu Tribe and Fuxi from the Profound Gate’s schemes. She defeats Hongjun by shattering his Sword of Heavenly Dao’s Divine Punishment with the God-Demon Fist, greatly increasing the Wu clan’s standing and faith throughout the Primordial World. 105 113

Notable Quotes

“My elder brothers, elder sisters… and the billions of Wu clan warriors… Houtu departs now, and will no longer be of the Wu.” 1

“No matter the outcome, no matter the consequences, I, your junior, am willing to bear them with you, to advance and retreat together!” 12

“We are one, born together, sharing life and death, prosperity and ruin!” 37

Trivia

• Houtu initially considers refining Chen Xuan after discovering that his existence mends her Primordial Spirit, but abandons the thought out of fear and caution. 2
• Her sudden militant behavior repeatedly shocks the other Ancestor Witches, who remember her as gentle and conflict-averse. 5 27
• Hongjun cannot fully deduce Houtu’s nature because Chen Xuan’s coexistence makes the two inseparable in his calculations. 11
• The Human race reveres her as “Great Virtue Empress Houtu” after her actions on their behalf. 43
• Houtu is sufficiently accustomed to Chen Xuan’s extreme reasoning that she recognizes how his “Law Destruction Formula” can make any response from an enemy grounds for punishment. 80
• The successful establishment of the Six Paths does not require Houtu to abandon her Ancestor Witch body, contrary to the fate Hongjun seeks to impose on her. 87 88 97