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

"Let's go out and take a look," Dijiang said.

The thirteen people walked out of the Pangu Palace and arrived at the foot of Mount Buzhou. Pan Xuan stood in the middle of the ancestral witches, his gaze piercing through the clouds and mist of the mountains, looking at the mountain peak outside Mount Buzhou.

On the mountain peak, Jieyin and Zhunti sat cross-legged, hands clasped together, golden light flowing around them. Sensing the presence of the Wu tribe members, they opened their eyes and stood up.

"Fellow Daoist Jieyin, Fellow Daoist Zhunti," Dijiang's voice was deep and powerful, echoing through the mountains, "You two have come from afar, may I ask what brings you here?"

Jieyin clasped his hands together and bowed slightly: "Emperor Jiang, fellow Ancestral Witches, and Fellow Daoist Panxuan, we apologize for our intrusion."

Zhunti also bowed and said, "We have just returned from listening to the teachings at Zixiao Palace. We passed by Buzhou Mountain and remembered your kindness in repairing the Western Earth Veins. We have come to pay our respects and express our gratitude."

Dijiang nodded slightly: "You two are too kind. It was Brother Panxuan who suggested repairing the Western Earth Veins back then, and we were just doing our part. You two don't need to be so polite."

Houtu said softly, "Fellow Daoists, please come into the Pangu Palace for a chat."

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, and Jieyin said, "We shall respectfully comply."

Thirteen people, accompanied by Jieyin and Zhunti, entered the Pangu Hall.

Inside the Pangu Palace, the Twenty-Four Petals of Creation Lotus slowly rotated beneath the dome, casting a chaotic light. That light enveloped the entire palace, filling Jieyin and Zhunti with an indescribable sense of solemnity and reverence. They could sense that the lotus contained the aura of their father god Pangu, intimately connected to the destiny of the Wu Clan.

"What a magnificent Pangu Palace!" Jieyin exclaimed. "No wonder it is the foundation left by the Father God."

Zhunti nodded and said, "The Twenty-Fourth Grade Creation Lotus... the fortune of the Wu Clan is indeed as stable as a mountain."

The group took their seats in the main hall. Dijiang sat in the main seat, with the other ancestral witches on either side, and Panxuan beside Houtu. Jieyin and Zhunti sat in the guest seats, their hands clasped together, their expressions respectful.

Dijiang cut to the chase: "Fellow Daoists, how was the sermon at Zixiao Palace? What did Dao Ancestor Hongjun say?"

Zhunti added, "The Dao Ancestor said that three thousand years later, he will begin the second sermon to expound the Way of the Quasi-Sage. The third sermon will expound the Way of the Sage. After the three sermons, the Dao Ancestor will unite with the Way of Heaven to make up for the deficiencies of the Way of Heaven."

Dijiang frowned slightly: "To merge with the Heavenly Dao? To complete the Heavenly Dao?"

Jieyin nodded: "That's right. The Dao Ancestor said that the Dao of Heaven is flawed, and it is necessary to unite with the Dao through the body of a sage in order to make it complete. The Dao Ancestor's actions are out of compassion and to seek the well-being of the primordial world."

Upon hearing this, the ancestral witches all had different expressions.

Zhu Rong snorted coldly: "Complete the Heavenly Dao? Didn't our Wu Clan say we wanted to complete the Heavenly Dao? Why does Hongjun also want to complete it?"

Gonggong frowned: "The Dao Ancestor merged with the Dao to complete the Heavenly Dao. Doesn't this conflict with the previous actions of my Wu Clan?"

Houtu said softly, "The Dao Ancestor merged with the Dao to complete the Heavenly Dao, which seems to overlap with the responsibilities that my Wu Clan undertook when it was founded."

Dijiang remained silent, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

Pan Xuan's heart was filled with turmoil. He knew that Hongjun's merging with the Dao was not about perfecting the Heavenly Dao, but about seizing its power and becoming the ruler of the primordial world. But he couldn't say these words aloud, at least not now.

The guide, seeing the solemn expressions of the ancestral witches, said softly, "You need not worry. The Dao Ancestor's union with the Dao to complete the Heavenly Dao is an act of compassion. The establishment of the witch clan to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the primordial world is also an act of righteousness. The two are not in conflict."

Zhunti also said, "That's right. The Dao Ancestor's union with the Dao is to complete the laws from the level of the Heavenly Dao; the Wu Clan's protection of the Primordial World is to maintain the world from the level of the Earth. The two complement each other and are not contradictory."

Dijiang nodded slowly: "What you two fellow Daoists say makes sense. The Dao Ancestor's union with the Dao is his business; the Wu Clan's protection of the primordial world is the Wu Clan's business. Each should perform their duties and fulfill their responsibilities."

Jieyin looked at the ancestral witches, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

Houtu noticed Jieyin's hesitation and said softly, "Fellow Daoist Jieyin, please speak freely."

After a moment of silence, Jieyin slowly said, "Everyone, in Zixiao Palace, many powerful figures have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Wu Clan's previous actions of establishing the clan and completing the Heavenly Dao."

Zhu Rong frowned: "Slight criticism? What slight criticism?"

The guide said, "They believe that the Witch Clan, lacking a primordial spirit, cannot even comprehend the Heavenly Dao, yet they dare to attempt to complete it; it is utterly presumptuous. Now that the Dao Ancestor is about to merge with the Dao, they feel even more that the Witch Clan's previous actions were... mere clowns."

Zhunti added, "We cannot agree with their words. But most people in Zixiao Palace share this view."

Zhu Rong roared in fury: "Clowns jumping around? What are they? My Wu tribe was founded on an oath to the Great Dao, and received its blessings! What right do they have to criticize me!"

Gonggong coldly replied, "A bunch of frogs in a well, how dare they speak ill of the Wu tribe?"

Dijiang raised his hand, stopping Zhurong and Gonggong. He looked at Jieyin and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Jieyin, thank you for telling the truth. What those people say is their business. The Wu Clan does not need the approval of others to act."

Jieyin nodded: "The Ancestral Witch Dijiang is right. We are informing you of this not to anger you, but to let you know that public opinion in Zixiao Palace is not friendly to the Witch Clan. Perhaps we will need to make some preparations in the future if the opportunity arises."

Houtu said softly, "Fellow Daoist Jieyin, Fellow Daoist Zhunti, thank you both for your kindness. The Wu Clan will remember this."

Jieyin clasped his hands together and said, "There's no need for you to be so polite. Back then, you repaired the Western ley lines, allowing our West to regain its vitality. We will always remember this kindness. Today, we are simply repaying your kindness by doing our small part."

Zhunti also said, "If you need anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask. My fellow disciple and I will do our best."

Pan Xuan, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up: "Fellow Daoists, besides the criticisms of the Witch Clan, is there anything else happening in Zixiao Palace?"

Jieyin thought for a moment and said, "When the Dao Ancestor preached, he mentioned the Wu Clan. He said, 'Now the Wu Clan has sworn an oath to take on the responsibility of protecting the Primordial World. The Great Dao bestows blessings, and the Heavenly Dao is perfected. This is the fortune of the Primordial World.' Although it was just a sentence, the Dao Ancestor's attitude towards the Wu Clan was not as contemptuous as that towards others."

Pan Xuan's heart skipped a beat. When Hongjun was preaching, he mentioned the Wu tribe, saying, "This is a blessing for the primordial world"—was this a gesture of goodwill, or appeasement? Or was it a plan for the future?

He didn't think too much about it, and simply nodded, saying, "Thank you for informing me, fellow Daoists."

Jieyin and Zhunti stood up, clasped their hands together, and said, "Gentlemen, we have already informed you of the matter concerning Zixiao Palace. If there is nothing else, we will take our leave. There are still many matters to attend to in the West."

Dijiang stood up: "Fellow Daoists, please take your time. You are welcome to visit Pangu Palace anytime you have free time in the future."

Jieyin nodded: "Definitely."

Zhunti also said, "Take care, everyone."

The thirteen people escorted Jieyin and Zhunti out of the Pangu Palace. Jieyin and Zhunti transformed into two golden rays of light, rising from in front of Buzhou Mountain and flying westward.

Pan Xuan stood in front of the Pangu Palace, watching the two golden lights disappear into the sky, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

After the sermon at Zixiao Palace concluded, Hongjun announced his intention to merge with the Dao. The powerful beings all looked down on the Wu Clan, except for Jieyin and Zhunti, who remembered the Wu Clan's kindness and came to remind them.

The path of the Wu tribe is destined to be anything but smooth.

Hongjun's attainment of the Dao, the disdain of the great powers, and the fact that every calamity to come will be a challenge.

But Pan Xuan was not afraid. Now the Wu Clan had the Pangu Palace, the Twenty-Fourth Grade Creation Green Lotus to suppress their fortune, the Path of Martial Arts, and the Law Gods replacing the Primordial Spirit.

Moreover, he has many other methods to develop the witch clan.