Seeing Xihe’s confusion, Tongtian explained, “During the battle at Lingshan, all Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao were watching. Fellow Daoist, you defeated two of the Dao Ancestor’s registered disciples with a single strike. Though it may have risked offending the Dao Ancestor, it only proved how extraordinary you are.”
“From the Dao Ancestor’s first lecture until now, it has been only twenty thousand years. Fellow Daoist, you have leaped two major realms from Golden Immortal straight to Daluo. Such talent is rare in the Primordial World. The Primordial World values karma, and those scattered immortals you haven’t offended merely wish to form a good affinity with you.”
Xihe shook her head and sighed, “Indeed, with a big fist, the road widens.”
She had previously worried about becoming too arrogant and turning into a public enemy. But the truth proved that if you strike hard enough with one punch, no one dares to utter a word.
“With a big fist, the road widens? Fellow Daoist, what a fine phrase.” Tongtian’s brows were filled with a smile, his black and gold robes accentuating his spirited demeanor without a trace of gloom, truly capturing her attention.
Xihe actually felt a bit of admiration. To be honest, even if she didn’t believe it, if someone told her she would be betrayed by all and suppressed forever, she definitely wouldn’t be able to smile.
“There’s still some distance to Penglai. If you’re in a hurry, fellow Daoist, we can speed up…”
“Hahaha! It’s actually the isolated Three Pure Ones! Back then, you stole my Fire Spirit Pearl at the foot of Mount Buzhou, and that karma remains unsettled. Today, you’ve encountered us brothers and sisters—prepare to die!”
Zhurong, Gou Mang, and Houtu, three Ancestral Witches, appeared. Tongtian hid her behind him, but Xihe glanced at the three and inwardly thought, “This is bad.”
Not to mention that Zhurong’s Fire Spirit Pearl was stolen by her, Gou Mang’s Wood Element Rule and Houtu’s Earth Rule corresponded exactly to the Earth and Wood Spirit Pearls she was seeking. Could it be that their purpose here was the same as hers?
The Witch Clan was the most vengeful, and because they were born without Primordial Spirits, they could hardly use any magical treasures. Spirit treasures that aligned with their Great Dao were practically tailor-made for them, and the three would absolutely not give them up.
“Pah! The Three Pure Ones—truly a bunch of fame-seekers! What, are you out fooling around with a female cultivator, and we just happened to run into you?”
Zhurong was a big fool, but Houtu was not. She immediately said sternly, “Third Brother, what nonsense are you spouting? Apologize to Fellow Daoist Xihe at once. This is the one from Taiyin Star.”
Zhurong was stunned, pointing at her from a distance with fingers thicker than radishes.
“Her? The one who refused to become Hongjun’s direct disciple, went from Golden Immortal to Daluo in less than twenty thousand years, defeated two baldies with a single palm while teaching at Lingshan—the little tiger lady Taiyin Xihe?”
Their faces twitched simultaneously. Houtu angrily said, “Third Brother, what kind of words are these? Fellow Daoist Xihe has no grudge against the Witch Clan. Show some respect.”
Zhurong scratched the back of his head. “Wasn’t I praising her? Just the fact that she dared to refuse Hongjun—I find it satisfying. Alright, little tiger lady… ahem, Fellow Daoist Xihe, right? Today, our Witch Clan won’t harm you. You may leave.”
“Thank you, three Ancestral Witches. Xihe takes her leave!”
Without even glancing at Tongtian, Xihe instantly stepped onto her sword and vanished, moving so fast that even Zhurong was left dumbfounded.
After a long while, he said, “Brothers and sisters… do you feel something’s off?”
Tongtian summoned all Four Zhu Xian Swords. “Nothing’s off. She thinks you’re no match for me. Let’s finish this quickly—I still have to chase after someone.”
Zhurong immediately spat fire. “Seeking death!”
Houtu glanced at the four swords, a flicker of wariness in her eyes. “Third Brother, Fifth Brother, attack together and capture him!”
Listening to the rumbling sounds behind her, Xihe did not look back. With the Zhu Xian Sword in hand, Tongtian could definitely hold off the three. As long as Dijiang and Zhu Jiuyin didn’t show up, Tongtian would be fine.
This was the perfect opportunity for her to search for the treasure while Tongtian kept them occupied.
Tongtian clearly shared her thoughts, having already secretly given her the location.
Traveling swiftly, an island shrouded in white mist appeared faintly visible, surrounded by graceful white cranes and swirling clouds—truly an Outworld Immortal Island.
As Xihe landed on the island, she immediately sensed the formation.
Feeling relieved that both restrictions were still in place, she hurried to the location of the Earth Spirit Pearl.
Perhaps her luck had run out, for as soon as she obtained the Earth Spirit Pearl, she was surrounded by Minor Demons and Immortals. Whether they thought a Female Immortal would be easy to deal with or not, these reckless fools dared to claim that those who saw it deserved a share.
Releasing her Daluo cultivation, Xihe unhesitatingly annihilated the Minor Underlings and headed straight for the second restriction.
Before she could even break it, several voices rang out from behind: “How dare you kill my disciples!”
Xihe rolled her eyes, her expression filled with impatience. She quickly shattered the restriction, retrieved the Wood Spirit Pearl, and without giving anyone a chance to speak, unleashed her Divine Power: Dharma Form Heaven and Earth, crushing them all.
Covered in Malevolent Energy, she made her way back to reunite with Tongtian.
In her past life, Xihe was originally a Demon—not exactly heinous, but certainly no good person, which was why she had been struck by lightning.
Now, having arrived in the Primordial World, a place ruled by strength, she held nothing back. In her view, those weaker than her who dared to snatch her treasures were simply seeking death, and killing them was no fault.
Yet she forgot that she was the Taiyin Goddess, an image of an aloof, solitary deity. Her earlier trip to the Western Region to promote Yin-Yang Bliss had already been enough to shock people, and now, returning to Tongtian’s side covered in Malevolent Energy, the three Witch Clan members instinctively halted their actions.
Tongtian, however, paid no mind. With a flick of his sleeve, he brushed away the bloodstains splattered on Xihe’s robes and naturally took her hand. “Did you get them?”
The commotion earlier couldn’t be hidden, and Xihe nodded.
“Hand over the Wood Spirit and Earth Spirit, or I, Zhurong—”
Xihe raised her eyes, cutting him off. “Tongtian alone is enough to hold you back. Add me to the mix, and are you sure you’re a match?”
Zhurong’s eyes blazed with fury. “Little Tiger Lady! I spared you earlier, and now you dare! If you have the guts, bring out that enlarged version of yours and face me! My brothers and I aren’t afraid of you!”
Xihe narrowed her eyes. “No need for more words. I have no intention of making enemies of the Witch Clan. I heard your clan has recently clashed fiercely with the Demon Clan, with heavy casualties on both sides. It seems the Demon Clan intends to oppose you long-term, led by the Golden Crows?”
Houtu’s expression shifted slightly as she stepped forward to restrain the hot-tempered Zhurong.
“What does Fellow Daoist Xihe mean?”
Xihe replied calmly, “Your Witch Clan is born without a Primordial Spirit, unable to wield treasures. Even the Five Element Spirit Pearls are merely tools to deepen your mastery of laws—their usefulness is not indispensable.”
“But the Golden Crow brothers of the Taiyang Star will soon become great enemies of the Witch Clan. I have a Fusang Tree Sprig, which I can gift to you to study the Golden Crows’ Taiyang True Fire. If you make a breakthrough, it will become a Killing Weapon against the Golden Crows in the future. How about settling our karma this way?”
Houtu was overjoyed and immediately bowed. “If what you say is true, the Witch Clan owes you a great debt. I see you seem intent on collecting the Five Element Spirit Pearls. The Witch Clan is willing to offer the whereabouts of the Metal Spirit Pearl to forge a Good Affinity with you.”
Xihe smiled. Success without effort!
As for whether this act betrayed the Golden Crows, she didn’t care. Strengthening herself and her sister and securing the Taiyin Star were the top priorities for surviving the Tribulation of Measurement!
With a wave of her sleeve, the surrounding temperature rose, and a branch burning with flames appeared.
Houtu delightedly accepted it. The three Ancestral Witches bowed to her and Tongtian before hurrying back to the Witch Clan.
Tongtian was in an excellent mood, toying with the soft little hand, his smile so wide it seemed his lips might split.
Slap! Suddenly, a palm struck his cheek.
Xihe glared angrily. “Had enough of groping?” Her mind had been preoccupied with serious matters earlier, and she had forgotten that this scoundrel had been kneading her hand all along.