The First Demon of the Chan Sect-Chapter 289 - 235: Houtu Seeks Opportunity

In the distant southern reaches of the Primordial Continent, the air was filled with a desolate and spacious moonlit sky.

After leaving Mount Buzhou, Houtu headed south, wishing to explore the depths of the Blood Sea.

Along the way, the once abundant mountains, waters, and Spirit Grass Immortal Roots were destroyed in the war between the Witch and Demon Clans, leaving the Primordial Land even more barren. However, there were wild beasts rampaging everywhere, and occasionally some Humans who had escaped calamity could be seen living peacefully, creating a sight of its own interest.

Feeling a faint guiding force in the great beyond, Houtu continued southward. Along the way, she witnessed spectral ghosts drifting about, led by the power of Yin Evil towards the Netherworld Blood Sea.

It was hard to tell how long she had traveled, but as the palpitations in Houtu’s heart subsided, a sudden change in the scene before her eyes revealed a mystical vision.

Below Mount Buzhou, armies from the Witch and Demon Clans were locked in fierce battle. The two forces, like torrential rivers of iron and blood, clashed violently, soaked in hues of blood red. The blood rain corroded the Earth, and innumerable Witches and Demons fell together, their crimson blood staining the Heaven and Earth. The desperate wails of Cultivators before death shook the ground, the land mourned with them, and all beings wept alongside.

A Witch Cultivator with a Magic Treasure piercing through his chest let out a fierce roar and detonated his Ancestor Witch True Body, dragging surrounding Demons into the abyss with him, perishing together.

On the vast battlefield, this was just a microcosm; even more brutal combat continued.

In the sky, above the endless stars, the leaders of the Witch and Demon Clans contended. In an empty Great Formation, a black void exerted infinite pressure. A muscular Demon God, exuding a powerful aura, brandished a giant axe, furiously cleaving through the Void.

The terrifying Star Power cascaded down like a waterfall. Soon, the Demon God was bathed in blood, the axe in his hands buzzing continuously. Suddenly, Taiyi, with the Chaos Bell above his top of the skull, appeared abruptly behind the Demon God. The immense Chaos Bell radiated bright purple light, smashing directly onto the Demon God’s Heavenly Spirit.

The Demon God roared and swung his giant axe fiercely, striking upon the Array.

With a "boom," the Array shattered, and the Demon God split into twelve, transforming into the Twelve Ancestor Witches.

The Twelve Ancestor Witches did not cease, but conjured their Ancestor Witch True Bodies to battle against Di Jun and Taiyi once more. The fight turned Heaven and Earth dark, and obscured the sun and moon.

Suddenly, a mysterious metal in Di Jun’s hand struck an Ancestor Witch, and a piercing scream shook Houtu’s heart. She knew this was the True Body of her elder brother, Zhu Rong. A pain from deep within her soul spread across her heart.

Heaven and Earth Cracking, a heavy rain inundated the sky. The battle went on, and the blood rain kept falling.

With tearful eyes, Houtu wished to close her eyes and avoid this torment. But the cries of battle still rang in her ears, and the thick scent of blood was still pungent. With her eyes closed, horrific images naturally emerged in her mind.

After a long time, the vision gradually faded, and Meng Po, donning a crimson Daoist robe, appeared before Houtu.

In front of Meng Po floated a shimmering red Mirror, known as the Asura Extinguishing Immortal Mirror, containing Prohibition Laws that could break seals and lift bans. Moreover, it could generate illusions. Meng Po used this world within the mirror to deduce the conflicts between Witches and Demons, guiding Houtu into it.

As a Witch, Houtu couldn’t cultivate the Great Dao, but as a transformation of Pangu’s Essence Blood, she naturally had a perception of this world. Having sensed the eventual downfall of Witches and Demons in Meng Po’s display, she felt a sense of desolation considering how formidable both clans were, and that they were destined to fall.

Houtu addressed the Daoist before her with a bow: "Witch Houtu, pays respect to Netherworld Saint. May the Saint live forever without decline!"

Knowing Li Qingming’s temperament well, Meng Po dared not accept Houtu’s bow. Should Houtu become Li Qingming’s Daoist couple one day, and if Li Qingming were to come back and settle scores, Meng Po would lose far more than gained.

Meng Po sidestepped Houtu’s bow, saying, "Fellow Daoist Houtu, please spare the formalities! What are your thoughts on the scene you just witnessed?"

Houtu shook her head in confusion, tears flowing down her beautiful face, and bowed again: "May I ask Netherworld Saint, is there a resolution to this situation?"

Meng Po, with a helpless expression, gently lifted Houtu up with one hand, saying, "The Heavenly Dao moves in cycles, the Calamity has arrived, there’s a predestined outcome. The Demon Race may have made modest contributions to the Primordial, yet they refuse to cultivate virtue and seek to destroy the protagonist of the next Calamity. This is the cause. The Witch Tribe, spawned from the Pan Gu God, fought for Heaven and Earth’s Qi Fortune for years, causing devastation in the Primordial Heaven and Earth. This is the effect. The combination of both leads to the inevitable fall of the Witch and Demon Clans. Even if your Witch Tribe wishes to stop, the Demon Race and various Saints won’t agree. This is an unsolvable situation, a dead end!"

Upon hearing this, Houtu felt more desolate: "Is the Heavenly Dao unwilling to spare my Witch Tribe? Bearing the Heaven Creation Merit of Pangu’s opening of the world, is that not enough to preserve my entire tribe?"

After pondering for a while, Meng Po replied, "The Heaven Creation Merit of Pan Gu God can naturally protect your Witch Tribe from extinction. However, under the Great Dao there is always a glimmer of hope. If the Witch Tribe does not strive for it, what good is the Heaven Creation Merit then?"

Houtu fell silent and thoughtfully lowered her head. Recalling the desolate scenes she saw along the way, while she had some insights, she still felt as though a fog had not yet been lifted.

Seeing Houtu’s state, Meng Po did not urge her but only let a flicker of light pass through her eyes, gesturing towards someone behind Houtu and saying, "Fellow Daoist Houtu, who is that behind you?"

Houtu turned her head and saw, approaching from the sky, a figure. The figure was dressed in a green Daoist robe, with refined and cultured features. His steed was a Flying Bear with tiny wings, plump and endearing.

"Qingming Brother!" Houtu called out with considerable joy.

Li Qingming smiled faintly, gently patting Xiong Da’s huge head. Understanding, Xiong Da suddenly accelerated and in the blink of an eye, arrived beside Houtu.

Li Qingming casually set up a barrier, nodding and saying, "Netherworld River, Sister Houtu!"

Netherworld River chuckled, bowing and saying, "Younger brother Netherworld River pays his respect to the elder brother!"

Li Qingming shook his head with a smile, "You’re still so formal!"

Houtu covered her mouth with surprise, watching this bizarre scene unfold. She never imagined that the mighty Asura Sect Leader, the Netherworld Saint, would actually bow to Li Qingming and even call him "elder brother." It was simply incomprehensible. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Li Qingming did not pay attention to Netherworld River and instead turned to Houtu, "Sister Houtu, if you wish to resolve the Witch Tribe’s predicament, you must make a journey to the Netherworld Blood Sea!"

Startled, Houtu’s heart fluttered with trepidation. Ignoring everything else, she took off towards the Blood Sea.

Watching Houtu’s departing figure, Netherworld River asked in a soft voice, "Elder brother, is this really okay?"

Li Qingming replied, "This is the choice of the Great Dao, as well as the mission left behind by the Pan Gu God. Houtu must complete it!"

"But..." Netherworld River hesitated, wanting to say more but stopping.

"I understand your concerns, rest assured! I will not let Houtu perish so easily!" Li Qingming’s eyes sparkled, his face revealing an unspeakable warmth.

...

Houtu sped on her way, and upon reaching the Netherworld Blood Sea, she saw the churning blood sea with countless Evil Souls howling silently above it, biting and devouring each other mercilessly. The spirits of the dead and Evil Ghosts struggled in vain for escape. Visible black waves of light emanated from these souls, riding the blood waves towards the sky.

Li Qingming stood beside Houtu, saying softly, "Sister, have you thought of something?"

Houtu looked mournful, her voice tinged with sobs, "The souls of countless beings from the Primordial Land have all gathered here. There are hundreds of billions from the Human Clan alone. These souls wander atop the Blood Sea every day, ignorantly devouring one another. How can we find a suitable dwelling for them?"

Li Qingming’s expression was somewhat indifferent as he said lightly, "Do you know that the Pan Gu God transformed himself into heaven and earth, yet the Primordial Heaven and Earth are still incomplete, lacking a place for the transformation and rebirth of souls! The Witch Tribe, being transformed from the essence blood of the Pan Gu God and born from the Qi Fortune of heaven and earth, as the direct descendants of the Pan Gu God, has the responsibility to perfect Heaven and Earth, and establish a place for the rebirth of souls!"

Houtu was shaken, tears in her eyes, "Qingming Brother, what is this place for the rebirth of souls?"

A cold divine light flashed in Li Qingming’s eyes as he enunciated clearly, "The Six Paths of Reincarnation!"

Upon hearing this, Houtu felt a tumult in her heart as an endless understanding of Heaven and Earth crashed upon her mind.

After about an hour, Houtu regained her senses from her daze. Although still saddened, her expression was resolute.

"Qingming Brother, Houtu has understood the cause and effect of the Witch Tribe. From now on, I cannot simply wait beside the Witch Tribe. Please, Qingming Brother, take care of the Witch Tribe’s bloodline, do not let it be severed!" Houtu’s expression was filled with sorrow, and her tears fell like broken pearls, dropping down.

Li Qingming’s expression softened, looking at Houtu, "Have you really thought it through, sister?"

Houtu looked at Li Qingming and said faintly, "It seems Qingming Brother knew all along, why did you not tell me?"

Li Qingming fell silent.

Houtu sighed, "Brother may not say it, but I understand! However, my Witch Tribe needs this opportunity, this glimmer of hope. If by sacrificing myself, I could ensure the uninterrupted Qi Fortune of the Witch Tribe. Even if I turn to ash, what of it!"

"Since you have made your decision, as your brother, I will certainly support you fully." After saying this, Li Qingming took out a Jade Bottle from his storage space, speaking earnestly, "Sister, this contains a Sub-Saint Level Primordial Spirit incarnation, which I acquired at a Primordial Meeting some time ago. Although the Witch Tribe does not cultivate the Primordial Spirit, our tribe’s physical bodies are strong and should be able to easily assimilate this incarnation. Once you merge it with your body, you will naturally understand the path here!"

Houtu received the Jade Bottle from Li Qingming’s hand with some surprise, and her heart rejoiced, "He still cares about me, he really does!"

Watching Houtu immersed in joy, Li Qingming suddenly felt melancholic and chanted in a low voice, "At the Ghost Gate, everything comes in twos; beside the broken bridge, Mengpo Soup awaits; Other Shore Flowers and the Three-Life Stone; alas, alas, no fate in this life to cross again; the cycle of life and death, how to cross the past..." (To be continued. If you like this story, please vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile phone users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)