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

Dijiang witnessed the birth of space from the creation of heaven and earth.

The moment chaos was cleaved apart, the four directions and the top and bottom became distinct, and space came into existence.

Zhu Jiuyin saw the origin of time.

In the instant the world was created, the past, present, and future were distinguished, and time began to flow.

Zhu Rong saw the essence of fire.

The power that created the world is the purest fire, the fire of creation, the fire of destruction, and the source of all things.

Gonggong saw the origin of water.

In the beginning of time, the clear and the turbid separated. The clear air that rose to become the sky and the turbid air that sank to become the earth were the two forms of water. The light and clear air rose to become air, and the heavy and turbid air sank to become liquid.

Xuanming saw the root of the ice.

In the beginning of time, when Yin and Yang were not yet stable, cold and heat alternated. The most extreme cold was the power that solidified the world.

Houtu saw the earth's compassion.

The pure rise to become the heavens, while the turbid sink to become the earth. That sinking turbid air carries all things and encompasses everything; this is the essence of the earth.

Jumang, Rushou, Qiangliang, Xizi, Shebishi, Tianwu... Each of the Ancestral Witches saw the origin related to their own innate laws in that scene of creation.

Those origins were profound mysteries they had never touched before, the core secrets of the Great Way of Power.

The scene repeated itself over and over again. Pan Xuan fully revealed his imprint, allowing the twelve ancestral witches to watch and comprehend it repeatedly.

I don't know how much time passed.

Pan Xuancai put the image away. His eyes returned to their normal color, and the Pangu Palace returned to calm.

The twelve ancestral witches remained silent for a long time, their eyes still lingering with the shock of the creation of the world.

After a long while, Dijiang let out a long breath, his voice trembling slightly:

"Father God created the heavens... So that's how it is. I only knew before that the Great Way of Power was the source of strength, but I didn't know that the source of strength was the coexistence of creation and destruction."

Zhu Jiuyin slowly said, "Time... it turns out that time was born at the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth."

I used to only know how to manipulate time, but I never thought about what the essence of time is.

Today, witnessing the Father God create the heavens, I finally understand that time does not exist independently; it is one with space, with all things, and with heaven and earth.

Zhu Rong wiped his face and grinned, "Fire... so fire isn't meant to burn. Father God's axe strike was the purest form of fire."

That wasn't fire of destruction, it was fire of creation. I only knew how to use the Southern Ming Fire to burn enemies, but I never imagined that fire could also create.

Gonggong, unusually, did not mock him, but said in a low voice, "Water is the same. The distinction between clear and turbid is the essence of water."

I used to only know how to use weak water to submerge everything, but I never thought that water could also sustain all things.

Xuanming coldly said, "Ice... is not just cold. When Father God created the heavens, Yin and Yang were not stable, and cold and heat alternated."

That extreme cold is the power that freezes the heavens and earth and stabilizes the four poles.

I only knew how to freeze enemies with ice before, but I never thought that ice could also be used for protection.

Houtu said softly, "The earth...bears all things and encompasses everything. When the Father God created the heavens, the pure rose and the impure sank."

That sinking, turbid air is the very essence of the earth. I used to only know the earth's weight, but not its compassion.

The other Ancestral Witches also spoke up, sharing their insights. Everyone gained a great deal from the Creation Diagram, and their understanding of the Great Dao of Power deepened.

Pan Xuan stood aside, quietly watching all of this, feeling gratified.

This creation diagram was a gift from the Father God Pangu, and sharing it with the Twelve Ancestral Witches was something he had long wanted to do.

Houtu suddenly looked at Pan Xuan and said softly, "Brother Pan Xuan, thank you. You showed us the scene of Father God creating the world. We will remember this kindness."

Pan Xuan shook his head and smiled, "Sister Houtu, you're too kind. We're all family, why be so formal?"

Dijiang nodded and said, "Brother Panxuan is right. We're family, no need for such formalities."

He paused, then said, "The effects of the Heavenly Enlightenment Light are still present, and the insights gained from the Heavenly Creation Diagram are still fresh."

"Taking advantage of this opportunity, let's brainstorm and think of ways to solve the problem of other ancestral witches lacking primordial spirits."

Upon hearing this, all the ancestral witches fell silent.

The lack of a primordial spirit is the greatest flaw of the Wu tribe and the greatest regret in the hearts of all the ancestral Wu. Because Houtu absorbed less evil energy, she was able to give birth to a primordial spirit with the help of Pan Xuan's divine wisdom.

However, the other eleven Ancestral Witches absorbed too much evil energy, and the Heavenly Enlightenment Light could not reach their original souls; they still do not have primordial spirits.

Dijiang said in a deep voice, "Houtu was able to give birth to a primordial spirit because she absorbed less evil energy."

"The evil energy we absorbed was too heavy, and our souls were suppressed too deeply, beyond the reach of the Heavenly Enlightenment Light. But this does not mean that we will never possess a primordial spirit."

Zhu Rong scratched his head and said, "But besides the Heavenly Enlightenment Light, what other way is there for us to give birth to a primordial spirit? I've racked my brains for all these eons and still can't figure it out."

Gonggong frowned and said, "Indeed. Without a primordial spirit, one cannot comprehend the Heavenly Dao, nor can one break through to the realm above the Primordial Golden Immortal. This is our greatest bottleneck."

Xuanming coldly replied, "Houtu possesses a primordial spirit because she absorbed less malevolent energy. We absorb more malevolent energy; does that mean we're destined to lack a primordial spirit?"

The ancestral witches discussed among themselves, but none of them could come up with a good solution.

Pan Xuan stood aside, listening quietly, but his mind was wandering in another direction.

In the novels of my past life, there was a power system that was extremely compatible with the Wu Clan: martial arts.

Martial arts do not cultivate the primordial spirit or refine magical power; they only cultivate the physical body and refine the will.

When martial arts are cultivated to their ultimate level, one can communicate with heaven and earth with one's will, resist the laws of nature with one's physical body, and break through all obstacles with one's vital energy.

The will of a martial arts master can be condensed into a "martial arts will," which, although not a primordial spirit, can play a similar role.

To communicate with heaven and earth, to comprehend the laws, and to break through realms.

Isn't this the path tailor-made for the Wu tribe?

Pan Xuan gradually formed a plan in his mind. He raised his head, looked at the ancestral witches, and slowly said, "Brothers and sisters, Pan Xuan has an idea."

All the ancestral witches looked at him.

Pan Xuan walked into the hall, stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over each of the Ancestral Witches, his voice steady and solemn:

"The reason why the Wu tribe has no primordial spirit is because their souls are suppressed by evil energy and cannot condense spiritual light."

But this does not mean that the Wu tribe is unable to communicate with heaven and earth or comprehend the laws of nature.

What the primordial spirit can do, is not necessarily something only the primordial spirit can do.

Zhu Rong was taken aback: "Brother Pan Xuan, what do you mean by that? Without a primordial spirit, how can one communicate with heaven and earth?"

Pan Xuan smiled slightly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "Martial Arts."

"Martial arts?" The ancestral witches looked at each other, the term was extremely unfamiliar to them.

Pan Xuan nodded and continued, "Martial arts do not cultivate the primordial spirit or refine magical power; they only cultivate the physical body and refine the will."

The physical body bears the weight of heaven and earth, and the will communicates with the laws. When martial arts are cultivated to their peak, the will can condense into the 'Martial Will'. It is not the primordial spirit, but it can achieve similar effects.

It allows one to communicate with heaven and earth, to comprehend the laws of nature, and to break through realms of cultivation.

He paused, his voice becoming even more solemn: "The Witch Clan is born with strong physiques and unwavering wills; it's practically a physique tailor-made for martial arts."

If a martial art suitable for the Witch Clan can be created, allowing every member of the Witch Clan to cultivate it, then the deficiency of lacking a primordial spirit will no longer be a deficiency!

The twelve ancestral witches were all stunned after hearing this.

Not cultivating the primordial spirit, not refining magical power, only cultivating the physical body and refining the will – isn't this exactly what the Witch Clan has been doing all along?

They just never systematized or theorized this path, and never elevated it to the level of "Tao".

A glint flashed in Houtu's eyes: "Brother Panxuan, do you mean... to create a completely new path of cultivation?"

Pan Xuan nodded: "That's right. In the primordial world, cultivators cultivate their primordial spirit, refine their magical power, and comprehend the Dao of Heaven."

This path is certainly orthodox, but it is not the only path.

The Wu tribe has its own advantages: strong physical bodies, unwavering will, and vigorous blood and energy.

If these advantages can be maximized, and a cultivation path unique to the Wu Clan can be created, then the deficiency of lacking a primordial spirit will no longer be a deficiency, but may instead become an advantage for the Wu Clan.

Zhu Rong's eyes widened, and he slapped his thigh, laughing loudly, "Brother Pan Xuan, what's wrong with your brain? How come I never thought of that!"

Gonggong rarely showed such ecstatic joy: "Not cultivating the primordial spirit, but only cultivating the physical body and will... this is indeed the most suitable path for the Wu clan!"

"Throughout these eons, I've been thinking about how to compensate for the lack of a primordial spirit, but I never imagined that one could cultivate without a primordial spirit!"

Xuanming's icy voice also carried a hint of excitement: "The physical body bears the weight of heaven and earth, and the will communicates with the laws... If this path can be followed, the Wu Clan will no longer be subject to others."

Di Jiang stood up, his resolute face filled with excitement. He looked at Pan Xuan and said in a deep voice, "Brother Pan Xuan, your idea is truly groundbreaking."

"If you can truly establish a martial arts path and free the Witch Clan from the shackles of lacking a primordial spirit, you will be the greatest contributor to the Witch Clan!"

Pan Xuan shook his head and smiled, "Brother Dijiang, you flatter me. I only mentioned an idea. To truly establish martial arts, we still need the joint efforts of all of you brothers and sisters."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each of the Ancestral Witches:

"The path of martial arts is unprecedented; no one has ever walked it before. We must start from scratch, deducing and creating it step by step."

This takes time, patience, and countless attempts and failures.

But I believe that with the physique of the Wu tribe and the wisdom of my elder brothers and sisters, this path will surely be traversed.

Houtu said softly, "Brother Panxuan is right. The path of martial arts does indeed require collective wisdom and our joint efforts to deduce its meaning."

She looked at the ancestral witches: "Brothers, the effects of the Heavenly Enlightenment Light are still present, and the insights gained from the Heavenly Creation Diagram are still fresh."

Why don't we take this opportunity to begin deducing the martial arts?

Pan Xuan's younger brother proposed this idea, so he first explained the framework of martial arts, and we then supplemented and improved upon it.

Dijiang nodded and said, "Houtu is right. Brother Panxuan, since you have brought up martial arts, you must already have some ideas in mind. Tell us, and we will discuss them together."

Pan Xuan pondered for a moment, gathering his thoughts, and slowly spoke: "Martial arts are based on the physical body, centered on willpower, and powered by qi and blood. The cultivation of martial arts is divided into several levels—"