They could have easily crushed them like ants, but instead, they were given a way out.
It could even be said that if Han Xuanji had truly intended to kill them, none of them would have escaped.
This is the "gratitude of not killing".
Moreover, Han Xuanji not only did not hold their previous rudeness against them, but also earnestly gave them a way out: to go to Chaos and create a new world... This was not a dead end; in fact, it could be said that it preserved the dignity and the flame of the Witch Race.
After all, he was a Hunyuan Wuji being with considerable strength, and it wouldn't be difficult for him to maintain his position in the Chaos. Although he was subject to supervision and nominally had to obey the Heavenly Court, from another perspective, if any Chaos enemies invaded, they could also seek help from the Immortal Realm.
Thinking about it that way, Di Jiang felt that this choice wasn't bad.
Di Jiang slowly closed his eyes. After a few breaths, when he opened them again, his eyes were clear. Although he still possessed the majesty of Ancestral Witch, he had gained a touch of calmness and... a rare Qi Ingestion.
He took a small step forward, not in an attacking stance, but in an extremely ancient manner, a gesture of respect from primordial beings to the powerful. He lowered his head slightly, a gesture he had never shown to anyone, including the Dao Ancestor. His voice, somewhat hoarse yet exceptionally clear, echoed across the silent Nether Sea:
" Mystic Heaven Dao Venerable..."
He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, before finally letting out a deep, heartfelt sigh:
"Your abilities are Divine Ability; Di Jiang is completely convinced."
Upon hearing this, all was silent.
Even the waves of the Nether Sea seemed to freeze for a moment.
Many cultivators in the Immortal Realm were incredulous to see the Ancestral Witch bowing her head.
I thought these Ancestral Witch would never bow down.
In their minds, these legendary Ancestral Witch were known for their recklessness and arrogance, and driving them out of the immortal Immortal Realm was tantamount to killing them.
Supreme Deity Ziwei and Imperial Lord of Orthodox Thunder exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes, but then felt it was only natural.
It seems that even the ancient overlords like the Ancestral Witch possessed a degree of rationality in the face of absolute power.
Even the Heavenly Emperor nodded slowly, firstly pleased that these Ancestral Witch were sensible, and secondly admiring Han Xuanji for so easily arranging things for the Ancestral Witch, whom even the Dao Ancestor found difficult to deal with.
The reaction from the Mystic Heaven Dao Palace was much calmer.
They thought this was normal.
"That's how it should be. So what if it's Ancestral Witch?"
Li Taiqing nodded in satisfaction.
In his view, what did a mere Ancestral Witch matter compared to his master's power?
"Yes, having witnessed Master's power, who wouldn't be impressed?"
Jiang Hao seemed to recall the day when he first met Han Xuanji. He recognized the other's extraordinary nature at a glance, and after only a few interactions, he was completely convinced of his abilities.
Han Xuanji possessed a certain charm that commanded respect.
Xiao Hong wasn't too surprised to see this; in fact, she was secretly pleased.
He hadn't come here to show off, after all, he was once a dignified ancient Devil God, a terrifying being renowned throughout the ancient times. Now he was someone else's spirit pet, and if his old acquaintances saw him, they would probably laugh at him.
But now he has no such intention at all.
So what if you, the Ancestral Witch, are arrogant?
They still obediently kneel down and submit.
Di Jiang raised his head, looked at Han Xuanji with a complicated expression, and continued:
" The Dao Venerable Master possessed boundless Law Power, yet he did not rely on his strength to bully the weak or exterminate them all."
Instead, it left our people with a chance to survive and a way out... Such magnanimity puts Di Jiang to shame."
The admiration in his words was genuine; it came from the bottom of his heart.
This is the "wisdom" that has emerged after countless ages of suppression.
Years of imprisonment had long since worn down his edges; his previous assertiveness was more of a venting of frustration, and with Han Xuanji beating him up, that venting was finally over.
"We choose the first path."
Di Jiang's voice became firm, and he said in a deep voice:
"Leading the Witch Race, we withdrew from the Immortal Realm, went to Chaos, and created our own world."
From then on, he strictly adhered to the agreement between the Dao Venerable and the Heavenly Court, remained law-abiding, and never disturbed the Immortal Realm.
All our past misdeeds stemmed from our arrogance and conceit. Only today, with the Dao Venerable's enlightenment, do we realize that there are heavens beyond heavens.
As he spoke, he bowed his head again, this time as a formal submission and promise representing the entire Witch Race:
" The Witch Race thanks the Dao Venerable Master for sparing their lives and for his magnanimity."
This kindness... will be forever etched in the memory of the Witch Race. We, the Ancestral Witch, are willing to lead the Witch Race as a bridgehead to the Immortal Realm. Whenever an enemy comes, we will be the vanguard. If the Dao Venerable has any requests, we will never refuse."
Upon hearing this, many cultivators in the Immortal Realm nodded secretly, sensing the sincerity of the Ancestral Witch.
The eleven Ancestral Witch behind him, though their expressions varied—some were somber, others indifferent—ultimately did not object. They all followed Di Jiang, bowing slightly in Han Xuanji's direction to express their respect and submission.
Even Gonggong, who had the most violent temper, simply pursed his lips and did not voice his objection.
They were proud Ancestral Witch, but not fools who were out of touch with reality or lacked common sense. To be defeated by such a figure and to receive such a punishment, they... Qi Ingestion.
Han Xuanji looked at the bowed Di Jiang and the other Ancestral Witch, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his eyes.
If these Ancestral Witch don't heed his advice, he might not be able to control the force of his attack.
If you're lucky, you might survive and re-enter the Reincarnation Purgatory. If you're unlucky...
Han Xuanji nodded slightly:
"Very well. If that's how it is, then it shall be so. Within a hundred years, the Witch Race must complete their relocation. The vast Chaos Realm will provide you with a place to roam freely."
"Take care of yourself."
As he finished speaking, the invisible pressure that had enveloped the heavens and earth quietly dissipated.
Even the Nether Sea seemed to brighten up a bit.
The Ancestral Witch also breathed a sigh of relief; Han Xuanji's oppressive aura had truly made them feel incredibly suffocated.
However, in that seemingly settled moment, when everyone's hearts were slightly relieved—
A sudden change has occurred!
Above the Nether Sea, the wind and waves raged, and the Land of Reincarnation underwent unimaginable changes, the source of which pointed directly to the lowest level of the Reincarnation Purgatory, the place where the Lord of Myriad Voids was imprisoned.
Cracks appeared on the Chaos Purgatory Suppression Stele.
Immediately afterwards, the slightly bright sky Nether Sea was suddenly stained with an ominous gray-white, which was not cloud or mist, but a strange hue that made people feel empty inside.
The wind stopped.
The waves subsided.
But a kind of "dead silence" and "chaos" that was even more unsettling than raging storms spread like a plague.
In the Nether Sea, countless remnants of souls and spirits that had been mired in darkness for countless years seemed to be summoned by some irresistible force or disturbed by some primal force. They emitted sharp and piercing cries and drifted uncontrollably toward the Immortal Realm.
Moreover, the order of the entire Land of Reincarnation began to visibly distort. Some originally stable reincarnation channels appeared and disappeared intermittently, becoming unstable. The Yin and Yang energies became disordered and intertwined, giving rise to bizarre scenes full of paradox.
Immediately, the Heavenly Emperor realized the seriousness of the problem and transmitted his voice to Han Xuanji:
"Fellow Daoist Han is the Lord of Myriad Voids... The Chaos Purgatory Suppression Stele is related to the very origin of the Immortal Realm in the Immortal Realm. If the Lord of Myriad Voids were to escape, it would likely cause chaos in the Immortal Realm's reincarnation system!"
The Land of Reincarnation.
"Hehehe... Hahahaha!"
The Devil Ancestor laughed wildly:
" Han Xuanji! Have you foreseen my true backup plan?"