Chapter 671: Houtu: My Rules Are the Rules

"Strange, I actually feel familiar with the auras of those three Taoists below. Could it be?"

Houtu looked puzzled, sensing the aura of Karma from the Sanqing, an aura distinct from that of the Twelve Ancestral Witches.

"When Pangu fell in those days, his body transformed into the world. His left and right eyes became the Taiyin and Taiyang, his spine became the heaven-supporting Buzhou Mountain, his navel and blood became the Nether Blood Sea, his source Ancestral Blood became the Twelve Ancestral Witches, and most uniquely, his Primordial Spirit split into three, becoming the Sanqing," Xuanzang said.

"Sanqing? These are legendary big shots of Taoism, the Ancestors," Wang Wu said.

Her world also had rumors of the Sanqing, but she had only heard their names and had never seen them.

Xuanzang shook his head and smiled: "That is not the same. The Honghuang Sanqing were transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit.

As the Ancestors of the Taoist gate, the Sanqing Heavenly Venerables are either separate or a trinity; they once opened the heavens and split the earth. They are mythical existences, unknowable and unsearchable. Their status is equal to, or even transcends, Pangu."

"?" Wang Wu.

"So these are the Honghuang Sanqing, not the mythical Sanqing," Houtu said.

"Not necessarily. Such existences might have left behind Cloning in all worlds. One thought is ten thousand thoughts, or they may be each other's Cloning," Xuanzang said.

Once one reaches the realm of a Saint, one is already beyond the material, omniscient and omnipotent, capable of sensing all heavens and myriad worlds, and infinite space-time.

It is not easy to distinguish who is stronger or weaker.

"Is that so? But it looks like these Sanqing have run into trouble. Offending the fierce beast Hegemon Taotie, it will be hard to escape," Houtu said.

"Taotie! It looks like it would taste delicious, but it's a pity I can't beat it," Xiao Shi said.

"You really dare to think, Shi Laoliu. I admit your cultivation has improved rapidly recently, but if you want to deal with this kind of Honghuang Hegemon, go cultivate for another hundred thousand years," Anlan said.

"However, should we help? After all, they are the Sanqing, the big shots of the future," Wang Wu said.

"I am indifferent. Houtu, what do you think?" Xuanzang asked.

"I don't know, but it's quite amusing to see the Sanqing getting beaten."

Houtu's mouth curled up slightly, looking a bit dark-bellied.

Down below, facing the frantic siege of tens of thousands of fierce beasts, the Sanqing brothers fell into a crisis.

Taotie's eyes were blood-red, its body like a majestic mountain, carrying a baleful aura that covered the sky and sun, while black lightning tore through the firmament around it.

Suddenly, the Hegemon Taotie struck. It reached out a claw from the sky, and as it descended, this claw, resembling that of a demon god, felt infinitely large.

The earth shattered instantly, a radius of one hundred thousand miles turned into an abyss, and countless living beings evaporated in an instant. This was just a casual strike from Taotie, yet it was world-destroying.

Clang!

A golden pillar of light shot straight into the clouds. A nine-story pagoda shone in the Void, filling the heavens with Xuanhuang Qi. Outside of it, all laws were warded off, and all evils retreated.

"This is the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Ling Long Pagoda!"

Xuanzang recognized the pagoda immediately. This pagoda was the companion treasure of Taiqing, carrying the Qi Luck of the opening of the heavens, and was the number one defensive supreme treasure of Honghuang, a peer to the Chaos Bell.

"What dense Xuanhuang Qi!" Houtu showed a hint of surprise.

Xuanhuang Mother Qi is the source Qi from when the heavens and earth first opened, and it is also a supreme treasure for refining artifacts.

The Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Ling Long Pagoda absorbed a vast amount of Honghuang Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Qi, becoming a unique supreme treasure, the pinnacle of defense.

Inside the Mysterious Yellow Pagoda, the Sanqing worked together to drive their magic power, using the pagoda body to resist Taotie.

"Elder brother, thanks to your Ling Long Pagoda, otherwise we would have been slapped to death by Taotie," Tongtian said gratefully.

"Isn't this all the trouble you caused?" Yuanshi said irritably.

"Although the Ling Long Pagoda is my companion treasure and has powerful defense, Taotie's magic power is not something we can compare to. I fear we cannot hold out for long,"

Taiqing said; he was not as optimistic as Tongtian.

"Elder brother, with the Mysterious Yellow Pagoda, we are innately in an invincible position," Yuanshi said.

"Not so. All things in heaven and earth are mutually generating and mutually restraining; solitary Yin cannot exist without Yang, and solitary Yang is difficult without Yin," Taiqing said.

"With the Ling Long Pagoda there, it seems Taotie cannot do anything to the Sanqing. We don't need to intervene," Houtu said.

She had intended to intervene at the last moment, considering they were all of the Pangu lineage, but clearly, it was unnecessary.

Hearing this, Xuanzang said: "Not so."

"For a cultivator, the first stage of cultivation is to cultivate magic power and store magic power.

But when magic power is equal, one cannot distinguish high from low.

Thus, magic treasures come into being, which is the second stage of cultivation: refining magic treasures and nurturing magic treasures.

Magic treasures provide a huge bonus to a cultivator and can even determine success, failure, life, and death."

"Well said," Houtu nodded.

Like the Honghuang Great Abilities such as themselves, if they were to fight in the same realm, there would be no result for thousands of years, but with magic treasures, the result would be quick.

"Since Xuanzang Sheng Seng says so, there must be something else above the second stage of cultivation," Qing'er said.

Xuanzang smiled: "Naturally. This third stage is quite special, called Divine Ability.

Any cultivator will have one or two trump cards for self-preservation, but they are far from Divine Abilities.

Divine Ability is a spell awakened through self-realization, often possessing incredible or even miraculous power, capable of turning the world upside down with ease.

For example, Xiao Shi's Supreme Bone Divine Ability, Qing'er's Sword Dao Divine Ability, and Houtu's Law Divine Ability.

Therefore, for a cultivator, magic power is less than magic treasure, and magic treasure is less than Divine Ability.

Just like the situation with the Sanqing, although they are relying on the defense of the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Ling Long Pagoda.

But Taotie is a fierce beast Hegemon, and such an existence naturally possesses innate Great Divine Abilities."

As he finished speaking, Taotie indeed opened its blood-red maw, which was enough to swallow the sky. A terrifying power of Devour was released from within, forming a black-and-white Black Hole. Around it, all things were devoured and decomposed.

This is one of Taotie's Divine Abilities: Devour.

It contains the power of the Devouring Law, devouring all things and annihilating all things.

Even though the Sanqing were controlling the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Ling Long Pagoda, they felt at this moment that their connection to the Ling Long Pagoda was gradually being severed.

Before long, the Ling Long Pagoda would be eaten by Taotie.

Of course, given the grade of the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Ling Long Pagoda, Taotie would be unable to digest it.

But without this treasure for self-protection, the Sanqing would be nothing but fish on a chopping block.

"Elder brother, I cannot hold on any longer." Tongtian's face was flushed red as he exerted his magic power to the limit.

"The only plan now is to use that one divine ability. Elder brother, you decide." Yuanshi said.

Taiqing's face revealed a look of difficulty, his eyes struggling.

As the Primordial Spirit of Pangu, the Sanqing, like the Twelve Ancestral Witches, also possessed life-saving divine abilities, though they never used them lightly.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches gather to summon the Pangu True Body with the Dutian Divine Array!

The Sanqing can naturally also use a secret technique to merge and briefly summon the Pangu Primordial Spirit Dharma Image to descend!

It is just that the price is too high; not only would their realms fall after use, but they would also fall into a period of weakness.

Just at this moment, a large golden bell descended from the sky, smashing directly onto the head of Taotie and suppressing it beneath the bell body!

"This is?"

The Sanqing witnessed this scene, their eyes widened to the extreme.

Houtu drifted down from the firmament, beckoned with one hand, and the Chaos Bell shrank to the size of a palm, hovering in her palm as she said calmly:

"Taotie, give me a little face, do not make things difficult for them?"

Taotie roared, stood up, stared fixedly at Houtu with its eyes, and actually spoke in human language:

"Pangu bloodline, Ancestral Witch!"

Startlingly, Taotie recognized Houtu's identity, and it also knew the identities of the Sanqing.

However, the Sanqing had eaten its egg, and this could not be let go just like that.

The Sanqing had Great Luck protecting their bodies; Taotie knew that destroying the Sanqing might incur the backlash of the Heavenly Dao, but for the sake of the egg that took hundreds of thousands of years to be born, it had to kill the Sanqing.

"Ancestral Witch."

Taiqing's face revealed a look of confusion; this was the territory of Kunlun Mountain, and weren't the Ancestral Witches at Buzhou Mountain? How could one be here?

"It is actually an Ancestral Witch? Is it not rumored that Ancestral Witches are born burly, with green faces and fangs, and are rough and unbearable?" Yuanshi said.

"Yuanshi, what nonsense are you speaking. This Ancestral Witch is clearly so beautiful; the rumors are all fake." Tongtian said.

"..., addressing your brother by name, Tongtian, you have quite the nerve." Yuanshi said with a dark face.

At this time, Taotie looked at Houtu, and an echo came from its mouth:

"Ancestral Witch, I advise you to meddle less in other people's business. When I fought the Ancestral Dragon back then, you didn't even know where you were?

These Sanqing ate the egg that took me hundreds of thousands of years to give birth to, almost causing my descendants to face extinction; they must pay the price."

"Taotie, we brothers did not intentionally eat your egg. There is a misunderstanding in this." Taiqing explained.

If he had known it was a Taotie egg, how could he have eaten it?

The Karma involved in this was too great!

"A misunderstanding, is a single word of misunderstanding enough? Hmph!"

Taotie was murderous, rushing straight into the nine heavens.

Houtu frowned; according to what Taotie said, it was indeed the Sanqing who were at fault. For a fierce beast like Taotie, giving birth to offspring was too difficult. Just as it said, it only gave birth to a few after hundreds of thousands of years, and they might not even successfully hatch, yet they were eaten by the Sanqing for the most part.

"Taotie, then what do you want?" Houtu did not make a move, but asked instead.

"Naturally, to eat them. They have Pangu Merit on their bodies; by devouring them, I will naturally also have Merit and be favored by the Heavenly Dao. In that case, perhaps I can give birth to offspring again and propagate my clan." Taotie said.

Back then, in order to compete for the position of Hegemon of Heaven and Earth, the war between Taotie, the Ancestral Dragon, and the Qilin almost caused the entire clan to be wiped out; their descendants withered, with less than one in ten remaining, and many were mixed-blood creatures with too little potential.

Although Taotie hid in the Honghuang, it had never given up on competing for the position of Hegemon of Heaven and Earth.

Seeing that Taotie was impervious to reason, it was useless to just talk.

Then she could only make a move and beat it until it submitted.

"The world was opened by Father God, and all living beings were born within it because of Father God.

Although the Sanqing have faults, they are, after all, descendants of Father God.

Taotie, you want the descendants of Father God to pay with their lives; that is impossible."

Houtu hovered in the firmament, holding the supreme treasure of Chaos, the Chaos Bell, in one hand, and a gray bone filled with an ancient and simple aura in the other.

This gray bone was nothing else; it was transformed from the Pangu Spine, and it was also a magic treasure obtained by Houtu from the Chat Group Mall.

"Ancestral Witch, who do you think you are facing? I am the ancient Hegemon, Taotie!"

As the words fell, Taotie fell into complete madness, opening its huge mouth to devour her.

Houtu's expression was compassionate, but the Chaos Bell and the Pangu Spine were frantically pounding Taotie.

Regardless of which of these two treasures was taken out alone, they were supreme treasures capable of dominating the Honghuang, and now that they were both in the hands of an Ancestral Witch, one could see their power.

Furthermore, the future Demon Emperor of the Sun Star had not yet been born, so all living beings did not know of the Chaos Bell, and Taotie did not know the power of the Chaos Bell either!

After only a few exchanges, Taotie was suppressed by the Chaos Bell, and its Quasi-Saint body was also smashed to pieces by the Pangu Spine, looking miserable.

"Stop hitting, stop hitting. Lady Houtu, I will not seek revenge anymore." Taotie hurriedly begged for mercy.

If this continued, it would very likely be beaten to death by the seemingly gentle and beautiful Houtu.

"Too powerful!"

Tongtian swallowed his saliva, his mouth dry. As fellow descendants of Pangu, why was the Ancestral Witch Houtu so powerful that she suppressed Taotie in just a few moves?

And the bone she held in her hand, this magic treasure was quite unique, but why did it have a sense of familiarity?

At this time, the melon-eating Xuanzang, Anlan, Qing'er, and Shi Laoliu all appeared together.

"Sister Houtu, you are truly too powerful." Shi Hao praised, his admiration overflowing in his words.

Anlan's heart was pounding wildly; such a powerful fierce beast as Taotie was actually beaten into this state by Houtu.

According to his estimation, if Taotie's strength were placed on the Highland, it would probably eat an Ancestor in one bite.

"It seems that Houtu's strength has improved significantly during this period; I am not as good." Xuanzang said.

"Xuanzang, you are joking; how could I hit you?"

Houtu asked in return, which made Xuanzang feel a chill in his heart.

"Sister Houtu, what should we do with Taotie? Should we eat it?" Shi Hao asked.

"???" Taotie.

"It is stubborn and refuses to listen, so let's stew it," Houtu said casually.

"Alrighty then." Shi Hao's smile grew even brighter.

Taotie could no longer remain calm and hurriedly said:

"Houtu Niangniang, although you gave me a beating, that does not mean you are right.

So, please give me a chance. Besides, if you kill me, the Taotie clan will have no descendants left."

Taotie tried its best to use the toughest tone to say the most cowardly words.

"So be it if they are extinct; your clan only knows how to Devour and destroy, keeping you around is just a disaster," Wang Wu said.

"You weak creature, what status do you have to dare speak to me like that?" Taotie retorted.

"That is my friend," Houtu said.

"Oh, then I have offended you." Taotie hurriedly lowered its head, appearing very humble.

At this moment, the Sanqing brothers walked over and bowed together, saying:

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Houtu, for your help."

Taiqing stepped forward, glanced at Taotie, and then said:

"Fellow Daoist Houtu, this matter was the fault of us Sanqing first, please spare Taotie's life."

Houtu was quite surprised and said: "Fellow Daoist Taiqing, it is not impossible to let Taotie go, but if it causes you trouble again later, I will not intervene."

"Houtu woman, I promise not to seek revenge on Sanqing," Taotie said immediately upon seeing this.

Taiqing's expression was calm as he continued:

"Taotie, the Karma of today will surely be repaid in the future. We Sanqing brothers owe you a debt of Karma, and we will certainly repay you in the future."

"Fine, I shall wait for your Karma."

Taotie transformed into a trail of black smoke and fled; if it did not leave now, it might be kept behind.

As for revenge, he did not want to think about it for the time being.

This is Honghuang, where there is no morality, only the rule that the strong are respected; strength is the only truth.

As for right or wrong? Whoever has the bigger fist is right.

"This is Xuanzang, Wang Wu, An Lao Liu, Shi Laoliu..."

Houtu introduced them to Sanqing, and both sides bowed, the atmosphere peaceful.

Xiao Shi, however, noticed something strange about Sanqing; under those loose Taoist robes, they did not have human legs, but actually had a tail.

"Sister Houtu, the Sanqing brothers don't have legs!" Xiao Shi said.

"???" Sanqing.

I spent the day at the hospital yesterday and didn't have time to update; I will make up for it later.