Primordial Era: The Witch Clan's Dog-Headed Strategist

As the grand formation dissipated, the immense and overwhelming pressure within the Pangu Palace slowly dissipated.

The Heart of Pangu continued to beat steadily above the dome, each pulse resonating with the laws within the palace.

But the resonance was no longer as intense as when the phantoms merged; instead, it returned to its usual gentleness and solemnity.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches and the Three Pure Ones each regulated their breathing, recovering the essence, blood, and primordial spirit power consumed in activating the great formation.

But the atmosphere in the hall was completely different from before.

That subtle sense of closeness did not disappear with the dissipation of the phantom; on the contrary, it became clearer, like the lingering feeling of blood relatives reuniting after a long separation.

Dijiang sat upright in the main seat, his eyes slightly closed, and the power of space around him flowed endlessly.

He could clearly feel that the gap left by the severed restriction deep within his true spirit was slowly healing.

The healing process is completely different from what it used to be.

Previously, there was an invisible barrier between the true spirit and the physical body, and his will could only perceive the Heavenly Dao through the medium of the law deities.

Now that the barrier has been removed, direct communication between the spirit and the body is possible for the first time.

Although this is only the beginning, and although it will take a long time for the primordial spirit to be born, the door has already been opened.

It is not that the deities of the laws replace the primordial spirit, but that the true spirit itself has the potential to condense the primordial spirit.

This is a hope that the Wu tribe has never had before in countless years.

Zhu Jiuyin's perception was clearer than Di Jiang's.

He is the Ancestral Witch of Time, and his mastery of the laws of time allows him to perceive changes in himself more acutely than others.

After the restriction deep within his true spirit was severed, he could vaguely "see" a new connection forming between his true spirit and his physical body.

The connection was still very weak, like a tender sprout just breaking through the soil, but it was indeed growing.

Time was no longer simply a law before him, but began to possess a quality that could be "touched" by his true spirit.

This is the prototype of the primordial spirit.

Zhu Rong doesn't have such delicate feelings.

He just felt comfortable all over, his mind was much clearer than usual, and everything looked fresh to him like never before.

He couldn't help but grin, which made Gonggong look at him with a puzzled expression.

Xuanming's face remained cold, but a faint warmth had appeared in her otherwise icy aura.

That was a natural change brought about by the disappearance of the barrier between the physical body and the will after the shackles of the true spirit were removed.

Jumang, Rushou, Qiangliang, Xizi, Shebishi, and Tianwu each had their own insights, but their personalities differed, and so did their ways of expressing them.

Houtu sat to one side, quietly sensing the changes in her brothers.

She was the only one among the Twelve Ancestral Witches who had already given birth to a primordial spirit, so her senses were more acute than anyone else's.

She could clearly sense that the shackles deep within the souls of her eleven older brothers and sisters had been severed.

Their auras are undergoing an extremely subtle change.

It is no longer a simple interweaving of physical strength and divine laws, but has gained an extremely faint trace of "spirituality".

This spirituality was remarkably similar to the one she first sensed in the divine light of enlightenment, only more immature and weaker.

She knew that it would take her brothers a long time to truly condense their primordial spirits, but at least they now had a chance.

Seeing that the twelve Ancestral Witches had basically recovered and the Three Pure Ones' auras were as stable as before, Pan Xuan stood up and walked to the center of the hall.

His gaze swept over the three Qing, his tone frank and solemn:

"Fellow Daoists, the marks have now been removed, the shackles have been broken, and the restrictions within the Primordial Purple Qi have been exposed."

The Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) are responsible for enlightening and educating, while the Wu tribe (Wuzu) is responsible for purification.

However, the task of moral education cannot be accomplished by the Three Pure Ones alone.

The path to purification is not something the Witch Clan can undertake alone. I have a suggestion; I wonder if the three of you would be willing to hear it?

Taiqing Laozi slowly nodded: "Fellow Daoist Panxuan, please speak."

Pan Xuandao said: "Since its inception, the divine system has been..."

The Wu clan is the foundation, the Dragon clan is the water god, the Qilin clan is the mountain god inspector, the Phoenix clan is the sky god, and the Blood Sea Styx is the blood sea god.

The Divine Path Network is centered on Mount Buzhou, covering the vast wilderness, including mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, and the heavens.

However, there has always been a gap in the Shinto system: education.

Mountain gods and water gods govern the earth's veins and water veins, while sky gods govern celestial phenomena and weather. However, all living beings need guidance in their spiritual practice, and the profound truths of the Great Dao need to be taught.

This is the duty of education and moral guidance, and it is also the responsibility of the Three Pure Ones.

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over the faces of the three Qing, "As the Lord of the Divine Path, I formally invite you three fellow Daoists to join the Divine Path system and take on the responsibility of educating all living beings."

The three fellow Daoists hold a position at the pinnacle of the divine path, on par with the Twelve Ancestral Witches. They are not subject to the control of any righteous deity and are directly responsible to the pinnacle of the divine path.

Taiqing Laozi did not answer immediately, but looked at his two brothers.

Yuqing Yuanshi placed the Pangu Banner across his lap and pondered for a moment.

Taiqing Laozi's expression remained unchanged, except that the flow of Yin and Yang energies in his eyes accelerated slightly.

Shangqing Tongtian was straightforward and spoke directly: "Fellow Daoist Panxuan, you have asked us to join the divine system and take on the responsibility of education."

How exactly is this responsibility of education and moral guidance exercised?

"Are we to establish altars and preach like Hongjun, and to accept many disciples, or is there another set of rules?"

Pan Xuan said, "The divine system is different from Hongjun's Xuanmen."

Hongjun's teachings were established by preaching and accepting disciples to build a lineage of sages, transmitting his way of the sages from top to bottom.

The teachings of the Shinto system spread throughout the primordial world through the Shinto network.

The mountain and water gods will bring the path of cultivation to every mountain range and every river, so that all living beings can comprehend the Great Dao on their own while protecting the primordial order.

The duty of the three fellow Daoists is not to become a Dao Ancestor as lofty as Hongjun, but to serve as the source of the Way of Education, integrating the ultimate principles of the Great Dao into the rules of the Divine Dao.

To preach the Way is to impart the wisdom of the Great Way to all beings who are willing to cultivate themselves.

It elucidates the Great Dao, transforming complex and profound laws into an easy-to-understand path of cultivation.

Seize a glimmer of hope.

To open a path to the Great Dao for those beings suppressed by the Heavenly Dao.

The three fellow Daoists each performed their duties and fulfilled their responsibilities, allowing the way of education to take root and sprout within the divine system, eventually covering the entire primordial world.

After listening, Taiqing Laozi slowly nodded:

"It is not an imitation of Hongjun, but a unique style of its own."

Based on the divine network and with the way of education as its lifeblood, it allows all living beings to comprehend the Great Dao on their own while protecting the primordial world.

This idea is truly ingenious.

He paused, his gaze lingering on Pan Xuan for a long time. "Very well. The Three Pure Ones are willing to enter the path of divinity."

Pan Xuan bowed respectfully, his tone sincere and solemn: "The three fellow Daoists are deeply understanding and righteous; Pan Xuan thanks them."

With the addition of three fellow Daoists, the divine system becomes a complete order of heaven and earth.

Mountain gods and water gods govern heaven and earth, while the way of teaching governs all living beings; only when the two are united can there be true peace in the primordial world.

Everyone in the hall knew that the next step was the most crucial one: to proclaim it to the Great Dao.

When the Wu tribe established its divine path, the twelve ancestral Wu swore an oath to the Great Dao, and the Great Dao bestowed down the divine laws.

When the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin clans entered the divine path, Pan Xuan conferred their titles with the Starry Divine Seal, which was recognized by the Heavenly Dao.

When Styx entered the divine path, he was also enshrined with the Star Seal, and the God of Blood Sea's Law Deity was born accordingly.

Now that the Three Pure Ones have entered the realm of gods, they are in charge of teaching and guiding.

The significance of this investiture was unlike any previous one.

Their inclusion signifies that the Shinto system has evolved from simply protecting order to a complete order of heaven and earth.

There are mountain gods and water gods who govern heaven and earth, and there are sovereigns who teach and guide all living beings. Heaven and earth and all living beings are within the realm of the gods.