717: Chapter 251 Awakening, Ancestral Witch of the Earth!
717: Chapter 251 Awakening, Ancestral Witch of the Earth!
Nüwa had always been watching over this place.
Li Ping’an felt much more at ease in his heart.
He took the initiative to discuss with Xuan Ming the matter of Houtu’s possession by demons.
At this moment, it seemed that Xuan Ming had also given up on the Western Sect.
She was extraordinarily candid, fearing that Li Ping’an might not save Houtu, and even ordered the Witch Clan’s warriors to gather here, with all ten divisions of the Witch Clan retreating underground to avoid any troubles that might arise later.
After a brief conversation, Li Ping’an had some clues.
Indeed, as Immortal Yuding had said, Houtu’s demonic possession was similar to a Qi Cultivator tainted by Demonic Qi.
Although such a comparison might not be entirely appropriate, Houtu’s condition was not unlike that of the Sea Watch Sect disciple, Bu Linhai, who had been contaminated by the Bull Demon’s Demonic Qi in the past.
However, Houtu’s strength was too formidable; after becoming demonically possessed, she became even more powerful than before.
To help Houtu clear the Demonic Qi was truly a massive undertaking.
“Houtu’s possession happened roughly twenty thousand years ago.
Since then, it has been as if I were in a dream, not knowing where the path ahead lies every day.
The sins of the Witch Clan are all of my own making; why is it she who has to bear them?”
Xuan Ming’s gaze was somewhat unfocused, her voice had turned hoarse, her Innate Dao Body enveloped by emotions of helplessness, sorrow, and frustration.
“Heavenly Emperor, can you help our Witch Clan?”
Li Ping’an’s eyes were clear and sincere as he said, “I am here to assist the Witch Clan and to seek additional support from within it.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty…”
The Witch Clan’s masters, watching from afar and nearby, also breathed a sigh of relief at his words.
Li Ping’an continued, “But before that, I would like to hear from Ancestor Witch Xuan Ming about the interactions between the Western Sect and the Witch Clan, and the extent of their involvement.”
Ancestor Witch Xuan Ming sighed, saying, “The Western Sect has always wanted the Witch Clan to serve them.
Our inability to leave the Northern Kurulu Continent is also due to their constraints.”
“Oh?” Li Ping’an made a gesture indicating her to continue, “I’m eager to hear more.”
Ancestor Witch Xuan Ming counter-questioned, “Do the Heavenly Emperor and the Western Sect not get along?”
“It’s not that we don’t get along,” Li Ping’an smiled casually, “The Western Sect and I have grievances.
I am a person of small-mindedness, I cannot accommodate such adversaries unless they have the ability to replace me as the Heavenly Emperor.
Otherwise, I will fight with them to the end.”
“This matter is a long story.”
Ancestor Witch Xuan Ming continued:
“After Chiyou’s defeat, our Witch Clan, along with the defeated Hundred Clans, fled from the Western Continent to the north, and finally a group of us and some of the Hundred Clans sought refuge under the miasma of the Northern Kurulu Continent.
“Later, we heard that two Hierarchs from the Western Sect offered peace, persuading the Hundred Clans and the Human Race to cease warfare.
Our Witch Clan, along with the Hundred Clans that had taken refuge with us, agreed to return to the lands of the Western Continent together.”
“It was in the sea between the Western and Northern Continents that several disciples of the Western Sect intercepted us.
“The second disciple of the Great Sect Leader of the Western Sect, who called himself the Calamity Lord, revealed his Great Magical Power and demanded that we pledge allegiance to the Western Sect.
All the masters were to swallow the Soul-Locking Pills they crafted.”
“We, the Witch Clan, refused to submit, but we lacked the power to fight the Western Sect once more.
Even if we had defeated those few disciples, there were still two Hierarchs of the Western Sect behind them.
Each Hierarch had pierced through the state of Da Luo, stepping into the ultimate realm, only a step or half a step away from becoming saints.
We, the Witch Clan, had no choice but to retreat once again.
“In this vast world, only the Northern Continent could accommodate us.”
Li Ping’an asked, “Didn’t you consider fleeing to a minor world outside this realm at that time?”
“At that time, we were not aware that beyond our world, there were places where all the elements thrived.
We thought those were nothing more than narrow realms made up of fragments of heaven and earth.”
Ancestor Witch Xuan Ming sighed lifelessly:
“What’s more, the roots of our Witch Clan are in this realm, and we had always hoped that we could flourish again, rise to power, and then march to the Western Continent to reclaim our standing.
“Actually, Houtu had wandered in the world beyond before and wished to lead us away upon her return…
it was I who was too obstinate.”
Li Dazhi, disguised as ‘Mo Wen Di’, said, “Step by step, it’s hard to fathom how Houtu managed to endure it.”
“Her nature has always been gentle and soft, she was bullied by me in her early years and rarely spoke out.”
Ancestor Witch Xuan Ming said with a bitter smile:
“Now, if I could exchange my life for her safety, I willing would do so.
“Later, in order to stabilize the Witch Clan’s proliferation in the Northern Continent, Houtu used her Great Magical Power to manipulate the Great Dao of Earth, revitalizing large areas of the Northern Continent.
“The land of the Northern Continent was polluted by miasma, unsuitable for cultivation.
An increasing number of our Witch Clan needed more food, and many did not have the skills to hunt.
Therefore, Houtu had to continuously expand the Witch Clan’s territory.
Gradually, the Witch Clan’s land became ten sections, and one day, Houtu suddenly let out a mournful cry…
She called out in agony, and I couldn’t help her.
I could only watch helplessly as she fell into the Demonic Path…
“After becoming demonically possessed, Houtu seemed to lose herself completely, but her Great Dao continued to operate, protecting the entire Witch Clan.
She maintained the fertility of the ten lands of the Witch Clan, and places where large trees grew became abundant.
The trees could block the miasma and continuously produce food.
“Our whole clan has strived for ten thousand years, unable to bring Houtu back to normal.
I can feel her Primordial Spirit sinking into a bottomless abyss…
“I went to the Western Sect to plead for help, but the conditions they set were for my entire Witch Clan to serve them.
By then, I knew that the Western Sect was plotting to control the world and manage all spirits.
They harbored a large number of fierce demons, so of course I could not agree.
Since then, every thousand years the Western Sect has visited our land, tempting us with their Twelve-tiered Golden Lotus that could purify Demonic Qi.
to this day, I am at my limits.
If the Heavenly Emperor had come a little later, I would probably have agreed to them by now.