Chapter 971: Chapter 990: Houtu Compromises
The change was sudden, moments ago, Ye Xuan had a harmless smile, but in the blink of an eye, he became sinister and terrifying, as if ready to devour someone.
"Heavenly Emperor Ye, don’t misunderstand, I truly don’t know where Zhu Jiuyin and Emperor Jiang are," the Saint replied.
Hou Tu’s expression changed dramatically, hurriedly explaining, while the Reincarnation Holy Light surged around her, clearly fearing Ye Xuan would make a move against her.
Fear, a deep fear from the heart, this was Hou Tu’s feeling towards Ye Xuan.
It was because Nuwa’s death was too tragic, and Ye Xuan was the instigator of it all. Although Hou Tu was a Heavenly Dao Saint, claiming to be undying, Nuwa’s fate was a warning not to underestimate Ye Xuan in the slightest.
"I am a reasonable person. I helped you become a Saint in the past, and you fulfilled my three conditions. But during the Heavenly Mending grand event, you allied with Yuanshi Tianzun and others to ambush me. It’s time to settle those accounts today."
Rumble!
Ye Xuan slowly stood up, an all-encompassing murderous intent emanating from him, with strands of black lightning circling around him, causing the entire Witch Clan Temple to shake violently, as if it might collapse at any moment.
With the Heavenly Dao Fourth Tribulation, Ye Xuan’s cultivation surpassed Hou Tu’s by a considerable margin. His physical body was indestructible, and his magic was formidable. Moreover, he had the Heavenly Punishment Halberd and the Silent Annihilation Battle Armor. At this moment, his world-shattering killing intent caused Hou Tu to tremble, casting a grave look at Ye Xuan.
"Heavenly Emperor Ye, I really don’t know where Zhu Jiuyin and Emperor Jiang are; why must you press me so hard?" Hou Tu suppressed her anger and explained to Ye Xuan.
"You have only two choices: either tell me the whereabouts of Emperor Jiang and Zhu Jiuyin, or today I will wipe out your Witch Clan lineage, including you, the Heavenly Dao Saint."
Cold and ruthless, sinister and venomous, Ye Xuan’s words were like icy winds from the Nine Heavens sweeping through, causing Hou Tu and several Ancestor Witches to shiver involuntarily, intense fear rising in their hearts.
So strong, terrifyingly strong.
Hou Tu vividly remembered that during the Heavenly Mending grand event, Ye Xuan’s cultivation was on par with hers and Nuwa’s, but now he directly oppressed her with his aura, making it hard for her to breathe. How did Ye Xuan advance to such a level in such a short time?
Could it be that being a Saint isn’t the end of cultivation, and there’s a higher realm?
Suddenly, a massive question emerged in Hou Tu’s mind. But before she could ponder further, Ye Xuan’s emanating killing intent snapped her back to alertness.
"Heavenly Emperor Ye, please hold your hand!"
Hou Tu shuddered, hastily pleading with Ye Xuan, her earlier dignity as a Saint nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, have you made up your mind?"
Ye Xuan chuckled slightly, sitting back down, while Hou Tu’s expression shifted, finally settling into helplessness.
It wasn’t that Hou Tu didn’t want to kill Ye Xuan, but she was no match for him. Even if she activated the Dutian Twelve Gods Slaughter Formation, it would be futile, unless the Ancient Twelve Ancestor Witches were gathered to manifest Pangu’s True Body. Otherwise, no one in the Witch Clan could resist Ye Xuan.
"Heavenly Emperor Ye, it’s not impossible to meet Emperor Jiang and Zhu Jiuyin, but you must agree to one condition of mine." Hou Tu contemplated for a long time, then spoke to Ye Xuan.
"Heh!"
Ye Xuan laughed coldly and said, "Do you think you are in any position to bargain with me?"
Ye Xuan was so dominant, he didn’t even regard the Heavenly Dao Saints. Hou Tu’s fists clenched slightly, her teeth biting in secrecy, but she knew she couldn’t act rashly, for she and the Witch Clan couldn’t afford to offend Ye Xuan now.
"Heavenly Emperor Ye misunderstands, this condition is actually the key to finding Emperor Jiang and Zhu Jiuyin," Hou Tu explained slowly.
"Then let’s hear it," Ye Xuan frowned and said.
"Has Heavenly Emperor Ye turned Zhu Rong the Ancestor Witch into Pangu Essence Blood?" Hou Tu sighed softly and asked.
"Indeed!"
Ye Xuan nodded slowly. In those days, he did turn Zhu Rong into Pangu Essence Blood, even using Tribulation Immortal Devouring to swallow his Ancestral Witch Divine Fire.
Hearing Ye Xuan’s admission, Hou Tu’s heart settled. She then said, "Heavenly Emperor Ye should know that we, the Ancient Twelve Ancestor Witches, are formed from Pangu Essence Blood and belong to the same origin. Only by gathering our Ancestor Witches’ power can we sense the whereabouts of Emperor Jiang and Zhu Jiuyin."
"So you’re saying that if I return Zhu Rong to your Witch Clan, you can find the whereabouts of Emperor Jiang and Zhu Jiuyin?" Ye Xuan murmured.
"Correct, only by uniting our Ancestor Witches’ power can we summon the other Ancestor Witches back to the Witch Clan, and then Heavenly Emperor Ye can certainly meet Emperor Jiang and Zhu Jiuyin," Hou Tu asserted confidently.
"Alright."
Ye Xuan wasn’t one to belabor the point. Whether what Hou Tu said was true or not, she wouldn’t dare play tricks in front of him.
Buzz!
A drop of Pangu Essence Blood appeared in Ye Xuan’s hand. This drop of Ancestor Witch Essence Blood instantly transformed, taking the form of Zhu Rong’s body. However, Zhu Rong was unconscious, his state of life or death unknown.
Back then, when Ye Xuan devoured his Ancestral Witch Divine Fire and transformed him into Pangu Essence Blood, Zhu Rong suffered greatly. If not for the need to find Emperor Jiang and Zhu Jiuyin today, Zhu Rong would likely never reappear in the world.
"Quickly awaken."
Hou Tu coldly ordered, sending a point of Holy Light towards Zhu Rong’s forehead, causing Zhu Rong’s eyelids to twitch as he slowly opened his eyes.
"Ye Xuan, you dog! I will kill you," Zhu Rong roared upon waking, still immersed in the catastrophe he faced years ago. Seeing Ye Xuan in front of him, he was driven mad and threw a punch at Ye Xuan.
"Stop."
Hou Tu’s expression changed slightly, flicking her sleeve to send Zhu Rong flying. Zhu Rong then fiercely stared at Hou Tu, subsequently frozen in place.
"Hou—Hou Tu, why are you here?"
"Your—your cultivation?"
Noticing the Heavenly Dao Saint Light circling around Hou Tu, Zhu Rong shouted excitedly, demanding Hou Tu join him in destroying Ye Xuan.
But Hou Tu’s following words doused Zhu Rong’s inner flames like a bucket of cold water, secretly transmitting him the message that tens of thousands of years had passed since he was suppressed.
Hou Tu briefly recounted the events of these tens of thousands of years to Zhu Rong, warning him not to provoke Ye Xuan, or the Witch Clan would face a great calamity today.
"You—you actually attained an unconventional path...and...you killed Nuwa?"
Zhu Rong looked at Ye Xuan with a face full of terror, unable to believe what he had heard.
In Zhu Rong’s memory, Ye Xuan was at most a Quasi-Saint, but now he had attained an unconventional path and even Heavenly Dao Saints feared him greatly.
Silent, speechless, and gradually becoming cautious, Zhu Rong’s current mood reflected his immense dread as he silently stood behind Hou Tu, his face filled with bitterness.
If Hou Tu and others were to consider Ye Xuan’s strength as expected, then Zhu Rong felt deeply unsettled.
When he had first met Ye Xuan, they were of similar strength, but in less than a hundred thousand years, Ye Xuan had surpassed him by leaps and bounds, becoming someone he could only look up to.
"Heavenly Emperor Ye, I will now summon the Ancient Twelve Ancestor Witches back, please."
The doors of the Witch Clan Temple opened, inviting Ye Xuan to leave. Clearly, Hou Tu was eager to fulfill her promise to Ye Xuan and expedite the departure of this formidable figure.