Primordial Era: Cultivation level equals the sum of the Jie Sect's total; the Three Pure Ones a

Xuandu stood in the center of the Pangu Hall, his green robes fluttering slightly, his gaze calmly fixed on Dijiang's gloomy face.

He then spoke slowly, his voice calm, yet each word clear:

"Fellow Daoists, you have misunderstood."

"I was referring to the Wu Clan joining the Jie Sect, not to the Ancestral Wu."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.

The ancestral witches frowned, their anger still burning, but a hint of doubt appeared in their eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Di Jiang asked in a deep voice, as dark red spatial laws appeared around him, poised to strike like a venomous snake.

Xuan Du stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the towering Buzhou Mountain outside the hall. His gaze seemed to pierce through the mountain, reaching down to the countless Wu tribe youths training, their blood and qi surging to the heavens.

"The sons of the Witch Clan are born with strong physiques and powerful blood and qi, making them the best candidates for cultivating martial arts."

He slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Dijiang:

"Our Jie Sect's martial arts, which temper and refine oneself and tap into one's potential, are similar in principle to the Wu Clan's method of proving the Dao through force."

"If the young men of the Wu clan can join the Jie Sect and cultivate martial arts, their strength will surely reach a higher level."

"Even if the Witch Clan wins this decisive battle against the Lich, it will be a Pyrrhic victory."

Xuan Du paused, his voice turning cold:

"If we are defeated... the bloodline of the Witch Clan may be in danger of being extinct."

"At that time, the reincarnation mark left by Fellow Daoist Houtu, although it is a way out, will ultimately not be a pure Wu clan after reincarnation."

"Instead of doing that, it's better to make plans sooner rather than later."

Jumang frowned deeply:

"Does Fellow Daoist Xuandu mean... that my Wu Clan youths should join the Jie Sect?"

"good."

Xuan Du nodded:

"Join my Jie Sect, enjoy the sect's fortune, and cultivate the true meaning of martial arts."

"During the great calamity, the Intercepting Church protected them, preventing their bloodline from being severed."

"And you ancestral witches are still the masters of Buzhou Mountain and the leaders of the witch clan."

"This move is not an annexation, but... an alliance."

Zhu Rong sneered:

"That sounds nice! If the sons of my Wu clan join the Jie Sect, whose orders will they listen to? Yours, Xuandu's, or mine?!"

Xuan Du's gaze remained calm:

"As disciples of the Jie Sect, we naturally obey their commands."

"But the bloodline of the Wu clan will continue, and the lineage will never be extinguished; this is the bottom line."

"The Jie Sect will not interfere in the internal affairs of the Wu Clan, and the Ancestral Witches will remain the leaders of the Wu Clan."

"Both sides get what they need."

Qiang Liang stepped forward, lightning crackling around him:

"We, the sons of the Wu tribe, would rather die in battle than live under the roof of others!"

Upon hearing this, Xuandu shook his head and said:

"Fellow Daoist Qiangliang, you are mistaken."

"Joining the Jie Sect is not about living under someone else's roof, but rather... it provides an extra path to survival."

"The young men of the Witch Clan are practicing martial arts in the Jie Sect, and their strength is improving, which is also an aid to the Witch Clan."

"not to mention......"

His gaze swept over the assembled ancestral witches:

"After the Great Calamity, if the Witch Clan still exists, these young men will remain the pillars of the Witch Clan."

"If the Witch Clan suffers misfortune... they will be the spark that keeps the Witch Clan's bloodline alive."

"This is... taking precautions."

After he finished speaking, the Pangu Hall fell silent.

The expressions of the ancestral witches changed, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

Anger, resentment, struggle, hesitation... all intertwine and cycle.

How could they not know that Xuandu's words made sense?

The final battle against the Lich King is extremely dangerous.

Even with Xuandu restraining Yuanshi and the Jie Sect restraining some of the demon race, the chances of the Wu Clan winning are still slim.

The Great Array of Heavenly Gods and Demons is incomplete, while the Great Array of Heavenly Stars is fully activated... With one side gaining and the other losing, the situation of the Witch Clan is precarious.

If we lose...

The bloodline of the Wu tribe is truly in danger of being extinct!

Even if there is the mark of Houtu's reincarnation, will the Wu clan still be the Wu clan after reincarnation?

But if the sons of the Witch Clan were to join the Jie Sect...

Dijiang slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The Wu tribe is proud and of the true lineage of Pangu. For millions of years, they have never bowed their heads to anyone.

Even when facing a sage, they dared to stand tall and resist with their strength!

Now... they are being asked to send their clan's young men into the Jie Sect?

This is worse than killing them!

"What if we... are unwilling?"

Dijiang slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing Xuandu.

Xuan Du's expression remained unchanged:

"Then we shall do as you all wish."

"In the Lich War, I will still intervene to restrain Primordial."

"The Jie Sect will also restrain some of the demon race's power."

"But...that's all."

He paused, his voice calm yet icy:

"The victory or defeat of the Witch Clan is none of my concern."

"Whether the bloodline of the Witch Clan is severed or not is none of my concern."

"I have repaid the kindness of Fellow Daoist Houtu."

"The rest... whether they live or die, depends on your choices."

The last eight characters were like ancient ice falling to the ground, freezing the very soul!

All the Ancestral Witches trembled!

They could clearly sense that Xuandu's words... were not a threat, but a statement of fact.

If the Wu tribe refuses, he will only fulfill the most basic promise and restrain Yuanshi.

As for whether the Wu clan is dead or alive... that's none of his business.

This is what chills them the most.

Xuandu... doesn't care about the survival of the Wu Clan at all.

All he cared about was whether the witch clan could be used by him!

"you......!"

Zhu Rong gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with flames.

But Dijiang raised his hand to stop him.

Dijiang stared intently at Xuandu for a long while, then suddenly laughed.

His laughter was hoarse, tinged with endless self-mockery:

"Well... well, Xuan Du is quite something."

"Hou Tu is right, you... are indeed a businesswoman."

Xuan Du nodded slightly:

"Cultivation in the primordial world is essentially a transaction."

"I'm offering my chips, gentlemen... to decide whether to proceed with the trade."

Dijiang slowly rose to his feet, and dark red spatial laws swirled wildly around him, causing the entire Pangu Palace to tremble slightly.

"What if my witch clan...is willing to trade?"

He spoke slowly and deliberately:

What can you offer?

Xuan Du's gaze narrowed slightly, and he slowly said:

"Protected by the Jie Sect, inheriting the true essence of martial arts, and blessed by destiny."

"During the great calamity, ensure the continuation of the Wu clan's bloodline."

"After the Great Calamity, if the Witch Clan still exists, these young men will remain the pillars of the Witch Clan."

"If the Witch Clan suffers misfortune... they will be the spark that ignites the future. When the time is right, the Witch Clan can be rebuilt."

Dijiang remained silent.

The other ancestral witches also remained silent.

The conditions offered by Xuandu... are indeed tempting.

The Jie Sect is now at the height of its fortune, its martial arts are flourishing, and it is further strengthened by the presence of the Sage Tongtian, whose Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation is awe-inspiring throughout the primordial world.

If the young men of the Wu clan can join the Jie Sect and receive the true teachings of martial arts, their strength will surely increase dramatically.

During the great calamity, the protection of the Jie Sect indeed provided an extra chance of survival.

Can......

"We, the sons of the Witch Clan... must retain our Witch Clan identity."

Dijiang slowly opened his mouth, his voice hoarse:

"After joining the Jie Sect, you may learn martial arts and abide by the rules of the Jie Sect."

"But... they are still the witch clan."

"The Jie Sect must not force them to switch allegiance, nor should it compel them to become enemies of the Wu Clan."

"This is... the bottom line."

Xuan Du nodded:

"Can."

"The identity of the Witch Clan and the inheritance of their bloodline are matters that the Jie Sect will not interfere with."

"As long as they do not violate the rules of the Jie Sect or harm its interests... they are still children of the Witch Clan."

Dijiang took a deep breath, his eyes flashing wildly.

Upon hearing this, Xuandu was overjoyed and said:

"good."

Then his gaze swept over the ancestral witches:

"The final battle between the Lich Kings will take place in three days."

"I will show myself and restrain the Primordial One."

"The Jie Sect dispatched some disciples to restrain the demon race's Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Formation."

"As for the matter of the Wu Clan's sons joining the Jie Sect..."

He paused:

"It's not too late to join in three days, during the final battle."

Upon hearing this, Dijiang and the other ancestral witches were taken aback.

The decisive battle will take place in three days?

What does Xuandu mean by this?