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

The twelve Ancestral Witches stood in the open space in front of the Pangu Palace, each occupying a position according to the orientation of the Dutian Divine Fiend Array.

Dijiang stood in the due east position, with the power of space surging.

Zhu Jiuyin stood in the due west position, where the power of time flowed.

Zhu Rong stood in the due south position, and the Nanming Fire burned fiercely.

Gonggong stood in the due north position, the power of the Weak Water as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

Xuanming stood in the northeast direction, his icy power chilling.

Houtu stands in the southwest, where the power of the earth is abundant.

Jumang, Rushou, Qiangliang, Xizi, Shebishi, Tianwu.

The twelve ancestral witches each occupied a region, each activating their own innate laws.

"All Heavenly Gods and Demons—Rise!"

With a loud shout, Dijiang commanded the twelve Ancestral Witches to unleash their full power simultaneously.

The twelve laws of power merged into one at that moment, transforming into a chaotic pillar of light that shot into the sky.

Within that pillar of light, a phantom was slowly coalescing.

At first, it was just a vague outline, like a wisp of mist before the chaos was cleared.

But soon, the outline became clearer and clearer, more and more solid.

It was shaped like a human, towering to the heavens and standing for countless miles.

That was a phantom of Pangu.

The phantom slowly took shape, holding a huge axe in its hand. It was the phantom of Pangu's Axe, and chaotic energy surged endlessly on the axe blade.

The moment the phantom fully took shape, an unimaginable pressure emanated from it, enveloping the entire Pangu Palace.

Houtu stood in the center of the formation, and the primordial spirit in her Niwan Palace lit up.

With a thought, her primordial spirit connected with the phantom of Pangu.

The illusory figure's eyes, which were originally just a chaotic blur, suddenly lit up, as if they had gained a trace of sentience.

With the blessing of Houtu's primordial spirit, the phantom of Pangu became more solid and more real.

The giant axe in its hand became clearer, and the chaotic energy on the axe blade surged even more violently.

"Brother Panxuan, I'm ready." Houtu's voice came from within the formation, calm yet firm.

Pan Xuan nodded and said in a deep voice, "Sister Houtu, step out of the Pangu Palace and proclaim this to Heaven and Earth."

Houtu activated her primordial spirit, and the phantom of Pangu slowly moved towards the gate of the Pangu Palace.

The gates of the Pangu Temple slowly opened.

The phantom of Pangu emerged from the palace and set foot on the primordial land.

The moment the phantom of Pangu stepped out of the Pangu Palace, an unimaginable aura surged into the sky from the direction of Buzhou Mountain and spread in all directions.

That aura was vast, ancient, and boundless, containing the power to create the world, causing the entire primordial world to tremble.

Beyond the chaos, within the Purple Cloud Palace.

Hongjun sat high on the cloud bed, surrounded by purple aura, his aura as deep and profound as an abyss.

Below him, countless cultivators sat cross-legged, their expressions respectful, waiting for the sage to expound the Great Dao.

The Three Pure Ones sat in the front row, along with Jieyin, Zhunti, Dijun, Taiyi, Fuxi, Nuwa, Zhenyuanzi, Hongyun, Styx, Kunpeng... Almost all the powerful beings in the prehistoric world who could be named gathered here.

Just as Hongjun was about to speak, his brows twitched slightly.

He sensed a powerful aura emanating from the direction of Buzhou Mountain.

That aura contained the power of Pangu, yet it also carried a completely new will.

Hongjun's gaze pierced through the chaos and the primordial wilderness, landing in the direction of Buzhou Mountain.

A barely perceptible ripple flashed in his eyes.

Other powerful beings also sensed that aura.

The three Qings exchanged a glance, each seeing doubt in the other's eyes.

They were closest to Pangu, and they were more familiar with the power of Pangu contained in that aura than anyone else.

But within that aura was a power they had never seen before.

That was the power of the Witch Clan, the power of the Twelve Ancestral Witches.

"The Witch Clan... what are they going to do?" Taiqing Laozi muttered to himself.

Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun frowned slightly: "This aura... they are summoning the illusory image of the Father God."

A glint flashed in the eyes of the Supreme Lord of the Heavenly Clarity: "Summoning the illusory image of the Father God? What are they going to do?"

Inside the Purple Cloud Palace, countless cultivators whispered among themselves, speculating about the unusual activity in the direction of Mount Buzhou.

Meanwhile, in front of Buzhou Mountain, the phantom of Pangu had already left the Pangu Palace.

The phantom stood tall, reaching for millions of miles, its giant axe radiating chaotic light.

Houtu's primordial spirit merged with the illusory image; her will became the illusory image's will, and her voice became the illusory image's voice.

The phantom of Pangu stood before Mount Buzhou, facing the primordial land, and roared to the sky.

The roar was like the first thunderclap at the beginning of creation, spreading throughout the four seas and eight wastelands, reaching the nine heavens and ten earths.

After the howl, Houtu's voice came from the phantom, solemn and majestic, each word like the clash of metal and stone, resounding throughout heaven and earth:

"The Great Dao is above! Father God Pangu is above! The primordial world bears witness! The Heavenly Dao is our witness!"

Her voice resonated throughout the heavens and earth.

That voice contained the entire will of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, the Witch Clan's reverence for their Father God, and their promise to Heaven and Earth.

Within the Purple Cloud Palace, countless cultivators reacted with varying expressions upon hearing this voice.

"The Great Dao is above? The Great Dao has already retreated, yet they still swear oaths to it?" Some cultivators whispered among themselves.

"Heavenly Dao bears witness? They have Heavenly Dao bear witness, yet they don't mention Hongjun Daozu at all?" A cultivator frowned.

"The Wu Clan... truly only reveres Pangu and disregards others." One cultivator shook his head.

The Three Pure Ones remained silent, their gazes deep and unfathomable.

They could feel the solemnity and sincerity in that aura, as well as its pride and indomitable spirit.

The Wu tribe has never been a race subservient to humans.

Di Jun and Tai Yi exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

If the Wu Clan truly succeeds in establishing itself as a clan, it will undoubtedly become their greatest adversary in the future.

Jieyin and Zhunti clasped their hands together, chanted softly, and remained calm.

Hongjun remained seated high on his cloud bed, his expression unchanged.

His gaze pierced through the chaos, landing in the direction of Mount Buzhou, on the towering phantom of Pangu.

There was no anger or surprise in his eyes, only a deep, unfathomable calm.

Houtu's voice continued to echo between heaven and earth:

"Now there are twelve ancestral witches, descendants of the father god Pangu, born from the essence and blood of the father god, who hold the fundamental laws of heaven and earth."

"Given the imperfections of Heaven's Way, the instability of the primordial world, and the unfulfilled will of the Father God, my heart is filled with remorse."

"We are willing to establish the Wu Clan, to carry on the will of our Father God, and to shoulder the responsibility of protection. We will use the Pangu Temple and the Primordial Measuring Ruler to suppress the destiny."

"From this day forward, the Wu tribe shall guard Mount Buzhou."

"Formed from the spine of the Father God, a pillar supporting the heavens, it will never fall."

"From this day forward, the Wu tribe will purify the primordial land."

"Formed from the flesh and blood of the Father, the foundation of all things, forever unblemished."

"From this day forward, the Witch Clan will complete the Heavenly Dao."

"The will of the Father God is the essence of the order of heaven and earth, which will never be broken."

"In the name of the descendants of Pangu, we swear an oath to the Great Dao, to our Father God, to Heaven and Earth, and to the Dao of Heaven:"

As long as the Wu tribe exists, Mount Buzhou will not fall.

With the presence of the Wu tribe, the primordial land remains unpolluted;

"With the existence of the Witch Clan, the deficiencies in the Heavenly Way can be remedied."

"This oath is witnessed by Heaven and Earth, and testified to by the Great Dao!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the heavens and earth trembled.

On Mount Buzhou, a beam of chaotic light shot into the sky, intertwining with the light of the phantom of Pangu.

Within that light, the faint phantom of the Father God Pangu appeared, looking down at the Twelve Ancestral Witches with eyes full of satisfaction.

On the vast, ancient land, countless mountains and rivers seemed to sense something, emitting a deep resonance.

That was the resonance of the Father God's bloodline, the response of heaven and earth to the oath made by the Wu tribe.

The power of Heaven descended from the sky, transforming into a golden pillar of light that enveloped the phantom of Pangu and the twelve Ancestral Witches.

Within that pillar of light lay the witness and recognition of the Heavenly Dao upon the oath of the Witch Clan.

Inside the Purple Cloud Palace, countless cultivators watched this scene with varying expressions.

One of the cultivators whispered, "The Witch Clan... what are they trying to do? Establish a new clan? Weren't they already one clan?"

One cultivator shook his head: "It's different. In the past, the Witch Clan consisted of the Twelve Ancestral Witches and their clansmen. They didn't have a formal clan name, nor did they swear an oath to heaven and earth."

Now they have officially established their clan, proclaiming to heaven and earth that they are about to formally step onto the stage of the primordial world.

One cultivator sneered, "Establishing a clan is fine, but why talk about 'completing the Heavenly Dao'? The Heavenly Dao has flaws; do you think they can fix them?"

A cultivator chimed in, "That's right. Dao Ancestor Hongjun has already become a saint; matters of the Heavenly Dao are naturally presided over by him. The Wu Clan is overstepping their bounds and overestimating their own abilities."

However, some cultivators remained silent, their gazes deep and unfathomable.

They could feel the solemnity and sincerity in the oath of the Wu tribe, and they could also feel the undeniable power in the phantom of Pangu.

Among the Three Pure Ones, Laozi, the Supreme Pure One, shook his head slightly and said in a low voice, "The Witch Clan... is still so reckless. How can matters of Heaven be resolved simply by making an oath?"

Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun coldly said, "They have always been like this. They only honor the Father God."

Now that the Heavenly Way has been revealed, they still want to swear oaths to the Great Way; it's utterly absurd.

The Supreme Lord of the Heavenly Clarity had a different opinion. His gaze was deep, and he said softly:

"Although the Witch Clan is reckless, their oath... does indeed have some merit."

The primordial world was created by the father god Pangu, and it is our duty as descendants to protect it.

The Three Pure Ones are manifestations of the Father God's primordial spirit, while the Witch Clan is manifestations of the Father God's essence and blood. In terms of responsibilities, they certainly have a part to play.

Yuanshi Tianzun frowned: "Tongtian, what do you mean by this?"

The Tongtian Sect Leader shook his head: "It doesn't mean anything. I just feel that although the Witch Clan's actions were reckless, they were not entirely without reason."

Lao Tzu said calmly, "Whether it makes sense or not, matters of Heaven are governed by Heaven itself."

The Wu tribe wants to complete the Heavenly Dao, but they must see if the Heavenly Dao accepts it.

Inside the Purple Cloud Palace, there was much discussion.

Di Jun whispered to Taiyi: "The Wu Clan is established and announced to Heaven and Earth."

From then on, this primordial world had one more rival.

Tai nodded, his gaze solemn: "The strength of the Witch Clan should not be underestimated."

The twelve Ancestral Witches are all powerful beings, and they also possess the Great Array of Heavenly Gods and Demons, which can summon the phantom of Pangu.

This force is one that neither you nor I dare to underestimate.

Di Jun sneered: "No matter how strong they are, they are nothing more than a bunch of brutes without a primordial spirit."

Without a primordial spirit, one cannot truly comprehend the Dao of Heaven, and will ultimately find it difficult to achieve great things.

Taiyi remained silent, only gazing at the pillar of chaotic light soaring into the sky from the direction of Buzhou Mountain, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

Jieyin and Zhunti clasped their hands together and chanted softly. Zhunti asked gently, "Senior brother, what do you think of the Witch Clan's actions?"

After a moment of silence, Jieyin slowly said, "The Wu Clan are descendants of Pangu, and it is indeed their duty to protect the primordial world."

Although their methods were somewhat...direct, their intentions were genuine.

Zhunti nodded: "Senior brother is right."

"When they restored the western ley lines, I knew the Witch Clan was no ordinary people. Though they acted rashly, their hearts were sincere."

Jieyin said softly, "Sincerity...sometimes, sincerity is more important than intelligence."

Before Mount Buzhou, the phantom of Pangu gradually receded, transforming into a beam of chaotic light that disappeared into the Pangu Palace.

The twelve Ancestral Witches put away the Great Array of Heavenly Gods and Demons and each stepped out of the array.

Pan Xuan stood at the entrance of the Pangu Palace, looking at all this, his heart filled with countless emotions.

Establishing the Wu tribe, proclaiming to heaven and earth, and taking on the responsibility of protecting the primordial world—this was the first step he envisioned.

By getting ahead of Hongjun, the Wu Clan officially stepped onto the stage of the prehistoric world and took the initiative.

Hongjun wanted to merge with the Dao, so the Wu clan was established first;

Hongjun wanted to mend the heavens, so the Wu tribe took on the responsibility of mending the heavens first.

In this way, the Wu tribe was no longer a chess piece on Hongjun's chessboard, but a chess player playing against Hongjun.

As for how to truly complete the Heavenly Dao, Pan Xuan already had a plan in mind, but that's a matter for later.

The most important thing right now is to let the world know that the Witch Clan has arrived.

The twelve Ancestral Witches put away the great formation and walked out of it, their faces showing exhaustion, but their eyes shone with an unprecedented light.

Zhu Rong laughed heartily, "Brother Pan Xuan, your method really works! I can feel that the Heavenly Dao is indeed responding to us."

Gonggong nodded and said, "That's right. Just now, the power of the Heavenly Dao descended, and my Water Law has gained another layer of connection with Heaven and Earth."

Houtu said softly, "Brother Panxuan, there is now a greater connection between my primordial spirit and the Heavenly Dao. It's as if... I have become a part of the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Dao has become a part of me."

Pan Xuan smiled slightly: "Brothers and sisters, this is the meaning of establishing the clan."

Once the Wu Clan officially assumes the responsibility of protecting the primordial world, the Heavenly Dao will recognize us, and our laws will resonate with the Heavenly Dao.

This is the first step; there will be more to come.” Di Jiang said in a deep voice, “Brother Pan Xuan, you said there are other arrangements for completing the Heavenly Dao. What are those arrangements?”

Pan Xuan shook his head and said, "This matter needs further consideration. My brothers and sisters have just established their clan, so please rest for a few days. After you have recovered, I will discuss this with you in detail."

The ancestral witches all nodded and returned to their respective Pangu Palaces to rest.

Pan Xuan also turned and walked to his quiet room, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes and concentrated, feeling the changes in the Heavenly Dao.