Chapter 335: 335. Chapter 335: Plans, Qionggui's Death

335. Chapter 335: Plans, Qionggui's Death

It is precisely for this reason that back then I decided to assign the Xifang Dalu to the twelve ancestor witches.

First, the witch clan did not engage in production, yet possessed formidable military strength; they seized much land from the eastern clans, turning perfectly good spirit mountains into pasture.

Not to mention that the Heavenly Court could collect little tax from them, and even the fine spirit mountains were left to waste, which is truly regrettable.

Second, Jieyin and Zhunti were short-sighted and unwilling to cooperate with the Heavenly Court's dispatch, which annoyed us, so we simply handed over the Xifang Dalu to the witch clan.

The Xifang Dalu is impoverished; doing so both restricts the witch clan's future, confining them to one place without affecting the Heavenly Court's foundation in the wilderness, and allows the Eastern Continent to return to peace.

It also allowed us to mildly punish Jieyin and Zhunti to display the Heavenly Court's dignity; even to this day, that original decision still serves the Heavenly Court's purpose.

Otherwise, you would think that in the wilderness, a newly born witch clan could not possibly have received such favor.

Qi revealed a faint smile, shook his head helplessly, and said:

"I never expected the witch clan to harbor the thought of raising rebels to strengthen themselves; the result was that they awaited the Immortal Court, only to end up suffering the consequences themselves."

Everyone present wore an expression of 'so that's how it is,' never having imagined that the witch clan's entry into the West originally concealed such a secret.

Jishen suddenly frowned slightly, perplexed, and asked: "Even in the past, using the witch clan's strength to contend with an Immortal Court was already difficult to fully accomplish, forcing them to merely share the West with it; facing such a mighty Heavenly Court, how could they possibly be so foolish?"

Jishen found it hard to understand; although he knew something about the witch clan, the twelve ancestor witches, though strong, facing the Heavenly Court with the strength of a single clan is like striking a stone with an egg.

Considering strength at every level, the witch clan has no chance of victory; they are not foolish people, so how could they act foolishly? Qi gave a slight smile and began to explain:

"Whether wise or not, rebellious or not, it is the circumstances that dictate; it is not up to them to decide—whether future sages or the Heavenly Court, they need such an opponent."

"Only they, after breaking the Heavenly Court, would still be unable to control the wilderness; and now, in the wilderness, only they are still worthy of being observed."

The gods suddenly understood, grasping the reasoning, and Qi continued to speak: "This time summoning you all here is precisely to find a way out for the gods during the great calamity, which should be sought in Chaos."

The Four Rivers and Eight Streams water gods immediately thought of the Demon Realm and the Qilin Realm, understood Qi's plan, and Qixiang could not restrain himself, asking:

"Your Majesty Qi, creating a world is not difficult for us, but leaving the wilderness requires repaying the karmic debts owed—how is that to be resolved? And how does it relate to the great calamity?"

The Four Rivers and Eight Streams water gods focused their gaze on Qi, fully attentive, eager to hear his next words, daring not to miss the slightest detail.

Qi spoke: "You have an appearance; do you not know that during the great calamity is the best time to clear away karma, to discard one's true form and sacrifice oneself for benevolence?"

"One day, when we can unravel the mystery of the womb, that will be the day of our return; then we shall retrieve our fleshly bodies, regain our authority, free of burdens, and thus be at ease."

"As for how to preserve the true spirit, solve the riddle of the womb, and place the fleshly body and authority together, there is no need for me to teach you further."

"With preparations already made, if one still falls into the mortal realm or perishes in the great calamity, that too is your fate; do not blame others."

The Four Rivers and Eight Streams water gods all nodded; as the highest deities of the wilderness water system, if they act as Qi said, then indeed this calamity is destined for them.

Qi turned his back to everyone, gazing at the distant water color on the horizon, and spoke again: "During this period, you need to transfer whatever must be moved to Chaos as soon as possible; I have already prepared the reasons for you, and the method to transform Chaos into innate spiritual qi will be transmitted shortly."

"As for how to consider the aftermath, that ultimately remains for you to decide; as the shared lord of the wilderness water system, a descendant of the Ancestral Dragon, I have previously done little, but today I have fulfilled my benevolence and righteousness."

"Please take care of yourselves; I need a moment of tranquility, and you may choose to stay or leave as you wish."

The Four Rivers and Eight Streams water gods exchanged glances, then bowed and departed hastily back to their water mansions.

Inside the pavilion by the pond, Qi gazed at the water of this pool; countless lotus leaf and lotus flower type spiritual roots grew wildly within, starlight still hung down, and the scenery of mist locking the azure clouds remained as before.

After a long while, Qi finally sighed: "Such scenery, I do not know how many more days I can behold it; if there were a choice, who would wish to leave this wilderness?"

"The myriad worlds—hehe, how could a world created by one's own power compare to the wilderness capable of bearing the mixed-element Dao fruit?"

"It is simply heaven's will; it does not accommodate us gods. If so, then do not blame me for seeking a way to survive."

The consciousness of Yunmeng Ze appeared; compared to before, it is now considerably weaker, the suppression of the Heavenly Dao growing ever stronger—once all the sages return to their positions, Qi does not know how much longer Yunmeng Ze can endure.

All he can do now is, while the sages have not yet returned, to make early plans; perhaps later, when the opportunity ripens, he can bring Yunmeng Ze along as well.

Meanwhile, in the heavenly realm, Di Jun also began to disperse the myriad star gods; their schemes far surpass Qi's, for Di Jun intends to take the entire starry sky away from the wilderness.

As for Fuxi, his thought is simpler; he merely wonders whether he can try to take the God-Heaven away, after all, with the Nine Heavens being so vast, moving the entire heavenly realm would be overly difficult.

The God-Heaven occupies the smallest area, though it is the essence of the heavenly realm, yet the difficulty of taking it away is undoubtedly much less.

After all, its size is only one-twentieth of the wilderness; compared to moving the entire heavenly realm, taking only the God-Heaven and the accumulated assets of the Heavenly Court is obviously more feasible.

In the deep pool beneath the Cangnan River, the two giant pythons Wusheng and Qionggui entwine their necks, red and pinkish-white light interweaving over their bodies.

Yin and yang qi continually entwine around them; the scene is lascivious, yet it also reveals a hint of purity.

And the qi of Wusheng and Qionggui, while their necks are entwined, gradually rises, advancing toward completion.

Their gazes are unfocused; Qionggui, as ever, shows bewildered ignorance within the haze, while Wusheng's unfocused gaze conceals complex emotions.

There is both hatred and love, both obsession and clarity, like maternal affection, yet also like desire, like hatred, yet also like pity.

Qionggui, unaware of any of this, remains immersed, unable to extricate herself.

Finally, their qi reaches the peak of completion; the haze in their eyes vanishes, leaving only a frenzied look.

Their cultivation also gradually approaches that of a Golden Immortal; upon reaching completion, the three flowers atop their heads begin to bloom, and the five qi in their chests condense into form. Yet at this critical moment, a formless, substance-less qi silently seeps into their bodies, entering their seas of consciousness.

In Qionggui's eyes, Wusheng now appears ever more beautiful, ever more captivating, making her want to sink into him.

"Wusheng" smiled in his eyes, his jade hand lightly brushed, his fair toes peeking out, slightly curled, his attire half-concealing, half-revealing, his arms embracing Qionggui's neck, he whispered in her ear: "Qionggui, my good child, how brave you are—mother truly loves you to death."

A black aura flickered in Qionggui's eyes, yet her body clung to "Wusheng" in a delirious embrace; she could not speak, only smiling foolishly.

"Wusheng's" hands gradually exerted force, making Qionggui somewhat unable to breathe; his power slowly bound her, rendering her immobile.

Qionggui felt somewhat puzzled, not understanding why "mother" would do something that caused him discomfort; he softly asked:

"Mother, Qionggui feels unwell; could you not use so much force? Qionggui can't catch his breath."

The "mother" Wusheng in Qionggui's eyes exerted even greater force, his gaze revealing cruelty and hatred; Qionggui grew more perplexed, and with difficulty asked:

"Mother, why do you look at the child with such, such eyes? Is the child not your most beloved?"

"Wusheng's" voice brimmed with hatred, mixed with a hint of venting: "Qionggui, my good child, do you still remember the person who scolded us when we first came to this place? He should have been your relative or teacher from a past life."

"For your own reincarnations, you replaced the child I was meant to bear; you killed him, you killed my true child!"

"He had not yet seen the light of day, yet in the womb he suffered your poisonous hands; you, these murderers of my child, took his place, keeping me in the dark!"

"I was completely unaware of this, and even was bewitched by your honeyed words, giving myself to you—how splendid, eh?"

"You murderers, you killed my child and deceived me out of my body, does that make you proud? Is that so!"

Wusheng's voice grew increasingly harsh; this unfamiliar appearance made Qionggui feel fear from the depths of her heart. Listening to Wusheng's words, Qionggui hastily defended herself: "Mother, it's not like that! I have never deceived you! I don't even know that person! This isn't true!"

"Mother, you must believe me! Believe Qionggui! Qionggui has never been proud of this! Moreover, she has never deceived Mother! My feelings for Mother are only love!"

Wusheng's appearance, however, became even more ferocious, shouting sharply: "Shut up! You are not my child! I am not your mother! Your love makes me feel nauseous! Based on deceit and slaughter, such a cruel thing—you actually call it love!"

Qionggui grew increasingly bewildered; the figure of "Wusheng" before her was no longer human, but turned into a white-jade-like giant python, waving its bloody maw, inspiring dread.

The giant python coiled around Qionggui's body; even a slight movement made her feel as if her bones were being crushed, unbearable pain, and she let out a painful howl.

Meanwhile, Wusheng's expression grew ever more delighted, leaving Qionggui puzzled while a thought of giving up arose in her heart.

Yes, that is Mother after all; if I truly were as Mother said, having killed and replaced Mother's true child, how anguished would Mother be?

Qionggui, you love your mother so deeply—how could you bear to see her sink into this pain? Give in; just die like this, and consider it as paying with your life for Mother's child, which would also be an atonement.

Qionggui's consciousness sank ever lower, as if gradually drowning in water, losing all strength.

Yet, at the brink of death, Qionggui suddenly awoke, her mind repeatedly asking: Mother once loved me so deeply—how could she bear to do this?

Perhaps this is not the real Mother? Yet her scent, her appearance, are so familiar—how could I misremember?

Qionggui lingered in hesitation, but Wusheng grew ever more urgent, her eyes full of malice, seeming to sense Qionggui's resistance; Wusheng then spoke: "Qionggui, my good child, you will not go against Mother's will, will you? You have harmed Mother and taken the place of her true child—should you not atone?"

"Someone so full of sin and deceit as you—should you not die? Can you bear Mother's great grudge and yet not avenge it?"

"Can't you just die quietly!"

Wusheng's serpent body coiled ever tighter, leaving Qionggui unable to move at all; he felt his bones completely shattered, his life nearing its end.

Gazing at the mother before her, Qionggui also seemed moved by those words, her strength of resistance growing ever weaker.

The giant python opened its bloody maw, starting from the feet, gradually swallowing Qionggui whole; to Qionggui, this was unheard of, and she offered no resistance at all.

Only after the giant python had completely devoured Qionggui did she realize that death felt like this—endless darkness and pain—but thinking of her mother's gaze, she felt no desire to resist at all.

And in this descent, the black aura in Qionggui's eyes gradually spread, until it permeated her entire body; her breath grew ever weaker, until she vanished from sight.

After Qionggui's breath had completely vanished, a formless, substance-less black qi flew out from her body, heading straight for the demon realm within Chaos.

Compared to when it first descended, its size was undoubtedly much greater, and its revealed strength had already reached the Golden Immortal Realm.

As for Wusheng, at this time she too was immersed in it; in Wusheng's eyes, the person intertwined with her had long since changed appearance.

No longer Qionggui, but the black snake with whom she had once sworn an oath; gazing at the black snake before her, Qionggui sensed that a vital energy seemed to exist within her abdomen.

After the two gradually separated, Wusheng felt the vital energy in her abdomen, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes as she looked at the black snake before her, seemingly resigned, she said: "You have won; I still carry a pregnancy, the offspring you have long dreamed of—it seems it will not be long before it is born."

The Black Snake then laughed loudly:

"'It seems I ultimately had the upper hand, but we were originally one entity, so there's no need to feel sad about this—we are merely reuniting after being separated for many years.'"

Wusheng responded indifferently:

"'You need not console me; as long as I wait for the child's birth, I will fulfill my promise—after all, as you said, we are merely returning to unity.'"

The Black Snake and Wusheng wandered together in the riverbed until they found a deep pool, where they finally settled down.

Under the bright moon, Wusheng Night finally arrived at the time of childbirth. (End of chapter)