Chapter 23: Primordial Spirit of the Earth Mother

Upon hearing Emperor Cang’s proposal, the Twelve Ancestral Witches exchanged uncertain glances.

Emperor Jiang spoke, “Cang, are you suggesting that these powers of merit should not be used to refine innate treasures or roots, but instead, should be fused into the bodies of our Witch clan? Perhaps this could help us generate primordial spirits and greatly enhance our potential?”

“Indeed!” Candle Nine Yin replied. “If it is truly possible to wash away karmic burdens and cultivate more promising witches, that would certainly be better than nurturing innate roots or treasures.”

“Exactly so!” Candle Nine Yin continued, “Let each of our twelve tribes select a group of clansmen, fuse the merit into them, and observe whether this method succeeds.”

The Twelve Ancestral Witches nodded in agreement.

Emperor Cang’s face turned urgent, his expression pale. “This method must not be used!”

“Oh?” Ancestor Witch Houtu was taken aback. “Cang, do you mean something different?”

“Of course that’s not the way!” Emperor Cang replied respectfully. “This era is one of fierce competition, even merit clouds surpassing god-demon grade have appeared in seven colors. This alone shows the uniqueness of our time—perhaps even greater figures, those of the Chaos Demon God level, may emerge.”

“This is our Witch clan’s best opportunity to strive for greatness, to climb to the very summit. We must spare no cost, nurture the strongest, and create an unrivaled powerhouse.”

“Ordinary witches are weak; even if a few arise now, it’s only hope. Who knows when they would mature?”

Emperor Cang spoke, “Our acquisition of the seven-colored merit clouds is a stroke of fortune—perhaps in a single epoch, only one such chance will come. How can we squander such precious merit on ordinary warriors who cannot grow swiftly?”

The Twelve Ancestral Witches were no fools; each possessed keen insight.

Hearing Emperor Cang’s argument, they immediately understood.

Emperor Jiang said, “Cang, you mean we should gather all merit power to nurture a single Ancestral Witch, allowing one of us twelve to awaken a primordial spirit?”

“Correct!” Emperor Cang affirmed. “For the Witch clan, the birth of a primordial spirit—or the proliferation of offspring possessing primordial spirits—is crucial. Yet for any race or great order, the supreme one matters most. The seven-colored merit clouds are vital; they must not be wasted. Perhaps, with their aid, we could create an Ancestral Witch with a primordial spirit, who might one day surpass even the realm of god-demons!”

“With me, Emperor Cang, and a Primordial Spirit Ancestral Witch, why worry that our clan cannot produce future generations with primordial spirits? The continuation of our race is a matter for the ages; there is no need for haste. But the supreme one is the very foundation of the clan—time is of the essence!”

“What do my fellow Ancestral Witches think?”

“Excellent!”

After a long discussion, the Twelve Ancestral Witches nodded in succession.

Ancestor Witch Gonggong said, “I also find Cang’s words reasonable. However, there is only one portion of the seven-colored merit clouds, and twelve of us. Who among us should receive this fortune?”

Ancestor Witch Zhurong declared, “It certainly can’t be Gonggong!”

Gonggong was furious. “Why not me?”

Zhurong replied, “Gonggong, your temper is explosive, always fighting fiercely. Even if you gain merit and wash away karma, you’d merely accumulate more through strife.”

“And Gonggong’s wisdom is lacking!”

Zhurong continued, “To nurture the strongest, we need one with divine wisdom and unprecedented comprehension, with hope for further breakthroughs. Can Gonggong provide that?”

Gonggong laughed in exasperation, “I may not be suitable, but Zhurong, you aren’t much better!”

Zhurong mused, “I’m not the most outstanding, but I’m still a bit stronger than you, Gonggong!”

Some of the Twelve Ancestral Witches argued; others pondered silently.

Eventually, the Wood Ancestral Witch, Jumang, stepped forward. “Among us twelve, the most gifted is surely our elder brother, Emperor Jiang. Although he is the Space Ancestral Witch, innately attuned to the spatial path, he has long surpassed its boundaries, entering the chaos path and comprehending portions of the chaos way. Spatial and chaos combined, his power and potential are multiplied!”

Candle Nine Yin said, “Xuanming, Jumang, you two are not lacking either. Xuanming entered the ice and snow path through rain, then grasped slaughter, wielding several paths alone—your power ranks among the top five.”

“Jumang, you started with wood, then understood the way of life. Your combat strength may be modest, but no other Ancestral Witch can match your support abilities.”

Xuanming added, “Candle Nine Yin, you are even more formidable. Though you cultivate only the time path, time is supreme, space rules, and the way of time alone is invincible!”

Emperor Jiang deliberated, “Among the twelve, for innate talent, we must mention our younger sister, Houtu.”

“Houtu’s innate path is earth virtue, which she used as a foundation to evolve two paths: one of life, one of death. These two oppose each other, yet perhaps could merge. She has touched upon the rudiments of yin-yang, time, and space. Her path hints at integration, but lacks the final catalyst.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

If the Twelve Ancestral Witches truly compared talent and potential, Emperor Jiang and Houtu were undeniably the strongest.

Emperor Jiang had comprehended the chaos method.

Houtu’s life and death paths opposed and were on the verge of merging.

In other words, either Emperor Jiang or Houtu could be chosen.

The others knew in their hearts they fell short compared to these two.

Ultimately, after further deliberation, the Twelve Ancestral Witches decided to choose Houtu for the experiment, though they hoped to first select a witch as a test subject to avoid wasting the vast merit.

This decision was made because Houtu would merge her bloodline with Emperor Cang’s, nurturing descendants possessing primordial spirits. If merit could be used to wash away karma, their chances for cultivating a supreme one and proliferating primordial spirit witches would both be enhanced.

Emperor Jiang, though he had embarked on the chaos path, found it too lofty; he saw no clear way ahead, and faintly sensed the road was blocked by another, preventing progress.

For example, the Space Demon God Yang Mei!

Emperor Cang breathed a long sigh of relief.

He had originally pondered how to persuade the Twelve Ancestral Witches to relinquish their merit and support Houtu’s ascension.

For Houtu was the clan’s greatest hope.

Yet he did not expect Houtu’s prestige to be so high; he had no need to exert himself. All eleven other Ancestral Witches compromised, willingly offering their merit to cultivate this supreme one.