In the primordial era: the Wu tribe ceased its struggle for supremacy, and Hongjun collapsed!

Chapter 54 Yuanshi gave in and apologized.

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun's already pale face, weakened by exhaustion, instantly flushed crimson, as if he had suffered a profound humiliation. He abruptly stepped forward, pointing at Dijiang and roaring, "Dijiang! How dare you be so arrogant! We, the Three Pure Ones, are the manifestations of the Father God's primordial spirit, and are the true descendants of Pangu!! Elder brother, do not stop me! Today, I will perish with him!"

"Second brother, shut up!"

Lao Tzu suddenly turned his head, let out a sharp shout, and his eyes revealed an unprecedented severity.

Yuanshi Tianzun was stunned by Laozi's rare rage and swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue, but his bloodshot eyes were still fixed on Dijiang, and his chest heaved violently.

Laozi turned his head, took a deep breath, and looked at Dijiang again. His tone was calm, but it lacked some of his arrogant arrogance and instead showed more compromise: "Fellow Daoist Dijiang, today's matter was indeed caused by my second brother's somewhat extreme actions. The Black Bear Tribe has already submitted to the Witch Clan and is under their protection. We should, out of consideration for our shared lineage as descendants of the Father God, give them some face. Let's drop this matter here."

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi felt as if struck by lightning.

"Elder brother! What are you saying?!" Yuanshi Tianzun could hardly believe his ears. As proud as he was, bowing down and admitting his mistakes to the Wu tribe was already the limit. How could he possibly admit that those "furry and horned creatures" whom he despised the most were qualified to remain on Kunlun Mountain?

Laozi ignored Yuanshi's loss of composure and instead directly transmitted his views into Yuanshi's mind through his primordial spirit: "Second brother! Wake up! Dijiang alone is already difficult to resist. Dijiang has eleven younger brothers and sisters who are no weaker than him. If Dijiang summons them, then—even if the three of us brothers don't die today, our foundations will be damaged! The Dao Ancestor's three lectures are imminent, and the opportunity to become a saint is right before our eyes. Are you going to sacrifice the supreme Dao of the Three Pure Ones for a moment of anger, for the sake of a bunch of ants?!"

Lao Tzu's words were like heavy hammers, striking the proud heart of the Primordial Celestial Venerable.

Yuanshi Tianzun clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, blood dripping from between his fingers onto the white snow of Kunlun Mountain—a horrifying sight. His heart was in turmoil, roaring with rage. He considered himself the true descendant of Pangu, regarding all living beings in the primordial world as mere weeds, yet now he was being forced to yield to the black bear he despised most. This spiritual humiliation was far more painful than the blows Dijiang had delivered to his body.

However, Lao Tzu was right.

The great path lies ahead, spirit follows. To lose hope of sainthood for the sake of a mere dough would be true folly.

Yuanshi Tianzun closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the cold air of Kunlun Mountain. When he opened his eyes again, the madness and anger in them had been forcibly suppressed to the deepest part of his eyes, replaced by a chilling coldness and restraint.

"Elder brother is absolutely right." The voice of the Primordial Celestial Venerable was terribly hoarse, as if squeezed out from between his teeth. "Today's matter was due to my—lack of consideration. Since the Black Bear tribe is an vassal of the Witch Clan, then—"

Let them be. The foothills of Kunlun Mountain are vast and boundless; it wouldn't hurt to give them a place to live.

After saying these words, Yuanshi Tianzun seemed to have exhausted all his strength. He didn't look at Dijiang again, turned around and transformed into a stream of light, rushing towards the heavily injured Tongtian. After helping him up, he flew into the palace without looking back.

He feared that if he looked at it any longer, he would lose control of his murderous intent and rush forward to fight desperately.

Laozi watched Yuanshi's departing figure, sighed inwardly, then turned to Dijiang and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Dijiang, my second brother has already stated his position. Let this matter end here. The Black Bear Tribe can move back to its original location at any time, and the Three Pure Ones will not interfere further. As for the Black Bear Tribe's losses, this is the Three Pure Ones' compensation, which will be given on behalf of Fellow Daoist Dijiang."

After saying that, Laozi took out several gourds, which contained the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir he had refined, as well as some collected spiritual roots.

Dijiang looked at the Three Pure Ones who had given in and curled his lip. In his opinion, the Three Pure Ones just needed to be taught a lesson.

However, Dijiang did not continue to make moves; he had already achieved his goal. He had established his authority, regained his face, reclaimed his underlings' territory, and even received compensation.

"Since you three Pure Ones have admitted your mistake, then let's end this matter here. But remember this: on this primordial land, if you ever dare to harm anyone protected by my Wu Clan again, it won't be me coming here alone next time."

After saying that, Dijiang reached out and put the item away, then turned around and stepped into the spatial rift.

"Sizzle!"

The spatial rift slowly closed, and Kunlun Mountain returned to its tranquility. Lao Tzu stood quietly in place, without uttering a word.

He waved his hand and put away the Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, his figure gradually merging into the void, leaving only a barely perceptible sigh drifting away in the wind.

In the far north, in the primordial wilderness, in treacherous swamps.

The poisonous miasma still lingered, and the muddy water still reeked. The Black Bear tribe members huddled on a few barely dry boulders, enduring the torment of hunger and injury. Many cubs were on the verge of death, emitting weak cries of agony.

Xiong Ba knelt by a mud puddle, his eyes gazing blankly south. Several days had passed since the Earth and Rock Envoy left, but there had been no movement from the Witch Clan.

"As expected—the Witch Clan is unwilling to offend the Three Pure Ones for the sake of our small tribes," Xiong Ba thought, his heart filled with despair.

He knew that he seemed to have given a lot, but not much. Just as the entire Black Bear tribe fell into silence, a deafening roar suddenly came from the sky.

"Where is the Black Bear tribe?!"

The sound was like a thunderclap, instantly dispelling the heavy poisonous miasma above the swamp.

Xiong Ba shuddered and abruptly raised his head.

In the sky, the great shaman Xing Tian stood proudly amidst the clouds. Beside him stood Tu Yan.

"Great Envoy! Great Shaman!" Xiong Ba tumbled and crawled out of the mud, raised his head and shouted, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

Xingtian descended from the clouds and landed before Xiong Ba. Looking at the pitiful group of black bears, a flicker of pity crossed his eyes, then he loudly proclaimed, "Xiong Ba! By the decree of the Ancestral Witch Emperor Jiang! The Three Pure Ones have bowed their heads in repentance and promised never to expel you again! Now, immediately gather your people and follow this Great Witch back to Kunlun!"

"boom!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt from the heavens, exploding in the minds of all the Black Bear tribe members.

After a brief silence, a thunderous, tidal wave of celebration erupted.

"The Three Pure Ones—have bowed their heads?!"

"We can go back? We can go back to Kunlun Mountain?!"

"The Ancestral Witches are mighty! Long live the Witch Clan!!!"

Countless members of the Black Bear tribe wept with joy. Ignoring their injuries, they embraced each other wildly, rolling and roaring in the mud, releasing the fear, despair, and frustration that had been building up in their hearts for days.

Xiong Ba stood there dumbfounded, two streams of tears welling up in his eyes and flowing down his rough cheeks, dripping into the foul-smelling muddy water.

He suddenly knelt down on both knees and kowtowed three times in the direction of Buzhou Mountain, each time creating a deep crater in the ground.

"Father God above! Ancestral Witch, have mercy! My Black Bear clan will forever be a vassal of the Witch Clan. If we have any disloyal intentions, may we be destroyed by heaven and earth!" Xiong Ba's voice was hoarse and resolute as he made the most vicious oath.

Then he stood up, wiped away his tears, turned to his people, and roared with a thunderous roar: "Children! Pack your bags! We're going home!"

Escorted by Xingtian and Tuyan, the Black Bear tribe embarked on their journey home in a grand procession.

When they returned to the familiar plains at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains, the sight before them brought tears to their eyes.

The boulders shattered by the divine thunder of the Primordial Celestial Venerable are still there, and the charred trees still emit a pungent smell of burning, but the rich innate spiritual energy in the air makes them feel as if they have returned to their mother's embrace.

Xiong Ba was the first to rush forward, pounce on the ground, and frantically kiss the earthy soil, as if he were kissing the most precious treasure.

"I'm home—I'm really home—"

He raised his head and looked up at the towering, ethereal Jade Void Palace. The awe he once held in his eyes was gone, replaced by deep contempt and disdain.

"What Pangu lineage, what Three Pure Ones, they can't even compare to a single finger of my Wu clan's ancestral witch! From today onwards, we will only believe in the Wu clan and only worship our ancestral witch!" Xiong Ba swore through gritted teeth.

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