Over the next several thousand years.
Houtu remained by Hongxuan's side.
Of course.
This time, Hongxuan did not enter seclusion, and his relationship with Houtu was no longer as distant as before.
Instead, they grew ever closer.
They already possessed memories of countless reincarnations. If not for the vast disparity in reality, they would have long since become a couple.
Houtu did not look down on or disdain Hongxuan merely because he was only a Grand Golden Immortal.
Instead, she helped Hongxuan improve his strength at every moment.
This moved Hongxuan even more deeply.
"Hongxuan, are you still studying the secrets of Source Essence?"
"Yes. I have already used divine arts to deduce it. It concerns an immense opportunity."
"The Witch Race's understanding of Source Essence is somewhat one-sided."
Houtu smiled faintly, not angered by Hongxuan's words.
"Have you figured anything out?"
"More or less. Next, I need to verify whether my conclusion is correct."
"Come, I'll show you!"
Hongxuan activated his Illusion-Breaking Divine Eyes, then took Houtu's slender hand and followed the direction in which a faint wisp of essence was flowing.
The relationship between Hongxuan and Houtu was now far different from before.
Houtu did not dislike physical contact between them. On the contrary, she even seemed to anticipate it.
Hongxuan, meanwhile, had instead become the passive one.
Though Houtu appeared gentle and graceful, she was ultimately an Ancestral Witch of the Witch Race. The dominance and directness hidden deep within her gradually revealed themselves.
At critical moments.
Houtu was the one who took the initiative.
Through such back-and-forth interactions, their relationship advanced by leaps and bounds.
However, Hongxuan did not pay much mind to such matters.
Before long, the two arrived before a great formation.
"Hongxuan, this is the formation that prevents Source Essence from leaking out."