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

Inside the Pangu Hall, thirteen people were immersed in the cultivation of the Dao.

The Ancestral Witches slowly integrated their respective phenomena and laws into their physical bodies, while Pan Xuan used the Righteous Qi Technique to harmonize the power of merit and primordial chaos within his body, comprehending the fusion of his own Dao and his physical body.

His cultivation had reached the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, only one step away from the Primordial Golden Immortal realm, but he was not in a hurry to break through.

On the path of martial arts, a solid foundation is paramount; he must take each step steadily and firmly.

Time flows by, oblivious to the changes in the outside world.

On this day, Pan Xuan was concentrating with his eyes closed when suddenly the entire Pangu Palace began to tremble violently.

The tremor was unlike any other before; it was not an earthquake, nor was it an external impact, but a vibration from the very depths of the origin of heaven and earth.

The tremor contained an indescribable power, as if the entire primordial world was undergoing some kind of fundamental change.

Pan Xuan suddenly opened his eyes.

At the same time, the twelve Ancestral Witches also awoke from their cultivation, looking at each other in shock.

"This is...?" Zhu Rong's eyes widened, and flames involuntarily surged around him.

Di Jiang's expression was solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "The world has changed. A new force has replaced the original order."

Zhu Jiuyin opened his cloudy old eyes, the power of time surging wildly as he tried to see what was happening.

A moment later, his expression turned extremely grim: "The Great Dao... has retreated. In its place is the Heavenly Dao."

"The Way of Heaven?" the ancestral witches asked in unison.

Zhu Jiuyin slowly said, "The rules of heaven and earth have changed."

Previously, the Great Dao ruled over everything, but now the Great Dao has retreated and the Heavenly Dao has emerged, becoming the new ruler of the world.

This power... is more concrete, clearer, and also more... rigorous than the Great Dao.

Pan Xuan was shocked; the Heavenly Dao had manifested itself.

He walked to the entrance of the Pangu Temple and looked up at the sky.

Above all, a purple aura rose from the east, stretching across the sky for 30,000 miles.

Within that purple aura lay a supreme majesty and mystery, as if a being above heaven and earth was announcing his arrival to the entire primordial world.

Purple clouds rise from the east, stretching for 30,000 miles.

Flowers rained down from the sky, and golden lotuses sprang from the ground.

In the sky, countless golden petals fluttered down, each petal containing pure spiritual power.

On the earth, golden lotuses emerged from the soil, each lotus exuding a profound Taoist charm.

The entire primordial world was shrouded in this strange phenomenon.

Those petals and lotus flowers are not physical entities, but rather the embodiment of the laws of heaven and earth, the Great Dao's recognition and celebration of that being.

A voice came from the heavens, peaceful and profound, yet carrying an undeniable majesty, resounding throughout every corner of the primordial world:

"Lying high in the nine heavens, I found the true Tao on my futon."

Beyond the mysteries of heaven and earth, I shall be the supreme leader.

Pangu gave birth to Taiji, from which Yin and Yang and the Four Symbols followed.

One path is passed down to three friends; two teachings, Chan and Jie, are divided.

The leader of the Xuanmen (mysterious sects) transformed from a single breath into Hongjun.

The sound shook the entire primordial world.

Countless creatures looked up at the sky, their eyes filled with awe and shock.

Hongjun has become a saint.

Saints—that's a realm that has never existed in the primordial world.

Surpassing even the Primordial Golden Immortal, surpassing all great powers, living as long as heaven and earth, shining as brightly as the sun and moon.

The aura emanating from the east far exceeded the limits of what the ancestral witches could perceive.

Although Dijiang and the others were already Hunyuan Golden Immortals, they still felt a deep sense of oppression when facing that aura.

That was a crushing defeat in terms of realm, an insurmountable level.

The voice rang out again, this time a declaration to the entire primordial world:

"Three thousand years from now, I will preach the Great Dao in the Purple Cloud Palace beyond the Chaos. Those who are destined may come and listen to my teachings."

As the sound faded, the purple aura slowly dissipated, and the celestial flowers and golden lotuses gradually disappeared.

But that shock lingered in the hearts of every living being for a long time.

Inside the Pangu Hall, the thirteen people remained silent for a long time.

Zhu Rong was the first to speak, scratching her head and saying, "Hongjun has become a saint? He's going to preach? This... this is too much of a commotion."

A sage… what kind of realm is that? It sounds even higher than a Primordial Golden Immortal.”

Gonggong said in a deep voice, "The aura of a sage is indeed far beyond that of a Primordial Golden Immortal. That is a level that is beyond our comprehension."

Di Jiang's expression was solemn as he slowly said, "There are indeed higher realms above the Primordial Golden Immortal."

Hongjun's ability to become a saint demonstrates that he indeed possessed extraordinary abilities. However, his teachings on his own path are irrelevant to us.

Houtu said softly, "He said that he would preach in the Zixiao Palace outside the Chaos three thousand years later, and those who are destined can come."

Brothers, shall we go?

Upon hearing this, the ancestral shamans immediately began to discuss it amongst themselves.

Zhu Rong was the first to shake his head: "Go where? He's a Taoist, we're a Wu tribe. Our paths are different, so we can't work together. His way may not be suitable for us."

Gonggong nodded and said, "I also think we shouldn't go. Hongjun is a man of deep thoughts, hard to fathom. His preaching may not be for any good purpose."

Xuanming coldly replied, "I won't go. We have our own martial arts; why should we listen to his?"

Qiangliang, Xizi, and others also shook their heads, expressing their opposition.

They were originally ancestral witches formed from the essence of Pangu's blood, and were born with pride, unwilling to listen to the teachings of an outsider.

But Houtu had a different opinion. She said softly, "Brothers, since Hongjun has become a saint, his understanding of the Heavenly Dao must far surpass ours."

Listening to his teachings might not be a bad thing. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory. Even if you don't follow his path, it wouldn't hurt to learn about it.

Dijiang remained silent, instead turning to Pan Xuan: "Brother Pan Xuan, what do you think?"

Pan Xuan remained silent. His gaze pierced through the gates of the Pangu Palace, looking into the distance, lost in thought.

In the memories of later generations, Hongjun's preaching was a major event in the primordial world.

But Pan Xuan knew that the Wu Clan had its own path and did not need to follow others' paths.

He turned around and looked at Houtu, his voice steady and sincere: "Sister Houtu, Pan Xuan thinks you should not go."

Houtu was slightly taken aback: "Brother Panxuan, aren't you going either?"

Pan Xuan walked into the hall, stood with his hands behind his back, and glanced at each of the Ancestral Witches. He slowly said, "Brothers and sisters, we, the Witch Clan, follow our own path of martial arts."

This path was deduced by us, fueled by merit, based on willpower, and guided by the Great Way.

It suits the physique of the Wu tribe, its origins, and its future.

He paused, then continued, "Hongjun's Dao is the Dao of cultivators, the Dao of the primordial spirit, and the Dao of laws."

It is completely different from our martial arts.

Listening to his teachings will not only be of no benefit, but may also disturb our resolve and cause us to doubt our own path.

He looked at Houtu and said earnestly, "Sister Houtu, you have a primordial spirit, so you might find that Hongjun's Dao has something in common with your cultivation."

But Pan Xuan believes that precisely because of this, you should not go.

Your path is to unite the laws of earth with the primordial spirit and the physical body—a path never before seen.

Hongjun's Dao will only distract you and lead you astray from your own path.

Houtu remained silent.

Pan Xuan continued, "Moreover, Hongjun preached the Dao, setting a three-thousand-year deadline, in the Zixiao Palace outside the Chaos."

Why didn't he talk about it in the primordial era? Why set a time limit?

This may well involve a selection process.

The audience he wants is those who are willing to follow him and accept his path.

We, the Wu tribe, have always been independent and self-reliant, and have never been dependent on others.

"If you go, you'll be a dwarf."

Zhu Rong laughed loudly, "Brother Pan Xuan is right!"

When have we, the witch clan, ever bowed our heads? To listen to his teachings would be to admit that his teachings are superior to ours.”

Gonggong nodded, "No, we won't go. We haven't finished our own path yet, why should we listen to others?"

Xuanming coldly said, "Houtu, what Brother Panxuan said makes sense."

Your path differs from your brothers', but it is your own. Don't listen to others, lest you disturb your peace of mind.

Houtu looked at Pan Xuan, then at her brothers, and after a long while, nodded gently: "Brother Pan Xuan, my brothers, you are right. I did not think things through. I will not go."