Chapter 33: Revisiting Fuxi and Nuwa

Seeing the twelve Ancestral Witches looking at him with expectant faces, Di Cang naturally knew what they wanted to know. However, there were still matters regarding civilization that needed to be addressed.

With utmost respect, Di Cang explained to the twelve Ancestral Witches, “What we call civilization is to draw upon the strengths of all, to cast aside the old and bring forth the new—that is, to develop and create! For instance, where once there were no geographical maps, today we have created them! Where once there was no written language for our people, today it is established.”

He went on, “The emergence of the Divine Map and the Witch Script is not the end, but merely the beginning. Our tribe numbers two hundred and forty million, each with their own talents. If everyone devotes themselves to deep contemplation and diligent study, it will not be difficult to learn from one another, innovate, and create even more treasures capable of moving the Great Dao and drawing down its merit!”

“Well said!” Though Emperor Jiang, the lead Ancestral Witch, felt it might not be as easy as Di Cang claimed, since Di Cang said that through this the tribe could reap great merit, what harm was there in letting the people try? As long as resources were plentiful, the cultivation of the clan would not be hindered.

Thus, the civilization and institutional system of the witches began to take shape, little by little.

When all was settled, the twelve Ancestral Witches asked what the final method should be.

Di Cang replied solemnly, “The last method is Fortune.”

“Fortune?” Emperor Jiang smiled and said, “We have prayed to the heavens and obtained the True Forms of the Five Sacred Mountains, and have forged countless divine seals. Are these not methods of fortune?”

Di Cang smiled and shook his head. “Those are merely means of utilizing the power of fortune; relying on them alone does not constitute the true path of fortune.”

“The true path of fortune is this,” Di Cang said. “When neither gods nor demons can shake your foundation, when even Heaven's Dao cannot bring down a great calamity, when the Great Dao cannot bestow or punish at will—only then can it be called an unshakable foundation through the ages, only then is it truly the way of fortune. The myriad divine seals are but minor arts.”

At these words, the twelve Ancestral Witches all looked on with curiosity.

Xuanming, one of the Ancestral Witches, smiled and asked, “Di Cang, this so-called path of fortune you speak of—how exactly should we proceed?”

Di Cang explained, “In the primordial world, nearly every race possesses its own racial fortune, which must be stabilized by a Primordial Spiritual Treasure or even a Primordial Supreme Treasure. The Dragon tribe, for instance, uses the Supreme Dragon Pearl to suppress their fortune; the Phoenix tribe uses the Supreme Five Elements Plume. Yet as these tribes grew stronger, their treasures were no longer sufficient to contain their swelling fortune, and thus calamity befell them.”

“If our witch tribe were but a small, secluded power, not rivaling the former might of the dragon, phoenix, and qilin, then a single supreme primordial spiritual treasure would suffice to anchor our fortune. But,” Di Cang sighed, “we undertake great deeds. If we wish to forever govern the primordial world, not only do we lack a primordial supreme treasure, but even if Xing Tian’s Heaven-Cleaving Axe were to fully evolve into such a treasure, it might still be insufficient to suppress the fortune of our tribe and our faith. Therefore, we must plan ahead.”

The twelve Ancestral Witches exchanged glances, not particularly convinced.

Gonggong, another Ancestral Witch, voiced his doubt: “Is such a treasure for suppressing fortune truly so important?”

Houtu asked, “If we must have such a thing, what should our tribe do?”

Di Cang replied, “We must do three things to resolve this with all our strength.”

The twelve asked as one: “What are these three things?”

“First,” Di Cang said, “we must help the Heaven-Cleaving Axe complete its transformation as soon as possible. Although the Purple River Star Sand, the material used by the Nine Heavens to forge acquired spiritual treasures, is hard to come by, if I am not mistaken—now that Emperor Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi have just established the Celestial Court and are in need of talent—they will surely use all the resources of the Nine Heavens to win over the heroes of the world. If we can trade with such people, we may obtain a great quantity of Purple River Star Sand to help Xing Tian’s treasure advance further.”

Di Cang not only provided the general direction, but also pointed out several individuals—Ji Meng, Ying Zhao, Bai Ze among the Ten Demon Gods.

“If we can invite some powerful allies of our tribe to contact ten innate gods and demons and trade with generous gifts, we should have some confidence in obtaining enough Purple River Star Sand from their hands, to help the Heaven-Cleaving Axe become the first and only primordial supreme treasure of the witch tribe.”

Hearing this, Emperor Jiang frowned and said, “The ten innate gods and demons you mention are indeed well known; before our tribe rose to rule the land, each of them was a power in their own right, and countless lesser races looked up to them. When we emerged, they realized they could not contend and have lain low ever since. In fact, there is some enmity between us and them. Moreover, all ten have reached the Da Luo realm and are formidable; few of our allies can match them. If we bring treasures to visit them but do not reveal our tribe’s involvement, we may provoke their ire or even be robbed or killed. That would be unwise.”

Di Cang considered, then asked, “What about Fuxi and Nuwa, who also reside on Mount Buzhou?”

The twelve Ancestral Witches exchanged looks.

Houtu said, “Those two are highly capable and each possesses a supreme primordial spiritual treasure. Especially Nuwa’s Lotus of Creation—even though it is only a supreme spiritual treasure, it rivals all but a handful of primordial supreme treasures, such as the Chaos Tower, the Three Great Opening Treasures, and the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation. With their help, the Ten Demon Gods would surely show some respect, and even if those gods harbored ill intentions, there would be nothing to fear.”

“Excellent!” At the mention of Fuxi and Nuwa, all were delighted.

Having settled the plan, they all set off together to visit the pair at Xuanhuang Peak.

Di Cang followed the twelve Ancestral Witches and, for the second time, met Fuxi and Nuwa, who also lived on Mount Buzhou.

When the group arrived, Fuxi calculated with his fingers and smiled, “By my reckoning, the day has not yet come for the innate gourd vine to bear fruit. Might I ask if your visit today concerns some urgent matter with which my sister and I might be of assistance?”

The twelve Ancestral Witches, ever direct and unversed in subtlety, did not beat around the bush.

Emperor Jiang said bluntly, “We wish to obtain a large quantity of Purple River Star Sand to forge a treasure. However, due to the tense relations between our tribe and the Nine Heavens, we dare not go there ourselves to trade. We hope you two might help us with this matter. Would that be possible?”