Chapter 169

The Six Paths Palace Master took the eighteen Palace-Guarding Heavenly Kings and left.

Translation: "The Six Paths Palace Master took the eighteen Palace-Guarding Heavenly Kings and left."

The Six Paths Palace Master took the eighteen Palace-Guarding Heavenly Kings and left.

Before he left, he announced before countless Wa Valley people that the Six Paths Palace and the Wa Valley would be allied forever.

Translation: "Before leaving, he announced in front of countless people of Nüwa Valley that the Six Paths Palace and Nüwa Valley would be eternally allied."

In an instant, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

Translation: "For a moment, the crowd erupted in an uproar."

To outsiders, the Wa tribe's strength comes from their complex marriage network, countless in-laws and the powers behind those in-laws, making the Wa tribe appear as a colossal entity.

Translation: "In outsiders' eyes, the strength of the Nüwa Clan comes from their complex marriage network, countless in-laws and the forces behind those in-laws, making the clan appear as a colossal entity."

But the Wa tribe's own strength is often underestimated by many.

Translation: "However, many people underestimate the Nüwa Clan's actual strength in their hearts."

Even in many people's minds, the Wa tribe—a matriarchal clan with unusual customs—is seen as weak, easily crushed with a slap, needing only a little respect on the surface, while no real importance is given to them otherwise.

Translation: "Even in many people's hearts, the Nüwa Clan, a tribe that reveres women and has unusual customs, is seen as very weak, easily destroyed with a flick of the hand, needing only a little respect on the surface, while other aspects need not be taken seriously."

But the Six Paths Palace and the Wa Valley have formed an eternal alliance?

Translation: "But the Six Paths Palace and Nüwa Valley forming an eternal alliance?"

The Six Paths Palace, mighty and domineering in battle, perfectly compensates for the Wa tribe's greatest weakness. With the Wa tribe's endless connections and the Six Paths Palace's terrifying combat power and extreme cohesion, they truly make an ideal partnership.

Translation: "The Six Paths Palace, mighty in battle and overbearing, perfectly compensates for the Nüwa Clan's greatest shortcoming. The Nüwa Clan, with endless connections, plus the Six Paths Palace, terrifying in combat and extremely cohesive, truly makes an excellent pair."

Because the deaths of Gong Sun Yuan, Gong Sun Ying, and Gong Sun Xiong cost the Gong Sun family a huge amount of resources, they had originally wanted to find an opportunity to cause trouble for the Wa Valley, but after the Six Paths Palace Master's public announcement, the Gong Sun family obediently retracted the claws they had just extended.

Translation: "Because of the deaths of Gongsun Yuan, Gongsun Ying, and Gongsun Xiong, and having lost a large amount of resources, the Gongsun family originally wanted to find an opportunity to cause trouble for Nüwa Valley, but with the Six Paths Palace Master's public announcement, the Gongsun family obediently retracted the claws they had just extended."

Afterward, Wa Mu conveyed the news about Gong Sun Sheng to the Gong Sun family through the Gong Sun family's internal in-laws who were married into the Wa tribe.

Translation: "Afterward, the Nüwa Matriarch, through the Gongsun family's internal relatives by marriage to the Nüwa Clan, spread the news of Gongsun Sheng's matter to the Gongsun family."

The Gong Sun family was alarmed and immediately launched a strict internal investigation.

Translation: "The Gongsun family was shaken and immediately launched a strict internal investigation."

News about the Chosen One was also transmitted via the Wa Valley's network to all major powers in the surrounding regions, and at the same time, images of Wa Yue and Gong Sun Sheng spread, with Wa Mu posting a sky‑high bounty for Wa Yue.

Translation: "The news about the Heaven-Chosen Person was also transmitted via Nüwa Valley's connections to the major powers of the surrounding regions, and at the same time, the images of Nüwa Yao and Gongsun Sheng spread, with the Nüwa Matriarch posting a sky-high bounty on Nüwa Yao."

Above the Wa Valley's dome, the illusory sun shed a faint glow.

Translation: "Above the dome of Nüwa Valley, the False Sun emitted a faint glow."

Wu Tie gazed at the hazy illusory sun, and according to the knowledge passed down from Old Tie, it should now be dawn in this world.

Translation: "Wu Tie looked at the hazy False Sun, and according to the knowledge passed down from Old Iron, it should now be 'dawn' in this world."

In the ancient world Old Tie spoke of, the word 'dawn' is inseparable from beautiful concepts like sunrise, morning glow, and fresh morning breeze; Old Tie said it was the most exquisite sight in the world.

Translation: "If it were in the ancient world Old Iron spoke of, the word 'dawn' would be inseparable from beautiful terms like morning light, morning clouds, fresh morning breeze, and so on. Old Iron had said that it was an absolutely beautiful scene in the world."

But what Wu Tie saw was the Wa Valley bathed in the light of the illusory sun.

Translation: "But what Wu Tie saw was Nüwa Valley bathed in the light of the False Sun."

Green cliffs covered in vines rose above the black stone ground, where neat stone towers stood in orderly rows. A gust of wind swept in from the passageway, carrying the sounds of early‑rising maidservants in the towers preparing breakfast.

Translation: "Green, vine-covered cliffs; on the black stone ground, neat stone towers stood in orderly rows. A fierce wind blew from the passageway, bringing the sounds from the stone towers of early-rising maidservants preparing breakfast."

In the distance, a 'ding‑ding' striking sound could be heard.

Translation: "In the distance, a 'ding-ding' striking sound could be heard."

Some mine slaves were already at work… the Wa Valley still maintains several mining teams, because the valley is surrounded by several vast, ultra‑pure precious‑metal veins, and about half of the gold used in the Wa Valley's gold‑snake‑stone coins comes from these teams.

Translation: "Already, mine slaves were at work…… Nüwa Valley still kept several mining teams, after all, there are several vast, extremely high-purity precious metal veins around Nüwa Valley, and half of the gold used in the gold snake stone coins minted by Nüwa Valley comes from these mining teams."

The Wa Valley treats its mine slaves well, so their work enthusiasm is also good.

Translation: "Nüwa Valley treats its mine slaves well, so the slaves' work enthusiasm is also not bad."

Early in the morning, mine slaves begin working, and the monotonous, grating 'ding‑ding' echoes between the cliffs, giving the Wa Valley's dawn a strange burst of energy.

Translation: "Early in the morning, mine slaves began working; the 'ding-ding' striking sound echoed back and forth between the cliffs, monotonous and piercing, giving the 'morning' Nüwa Valley a hint of inexplicable vitality."

He lifted his cup, took a sip of the sweet brew made from honey‑root vines, and Wu Tie said in a low voice: 'I am preparing to leave… Black Serpent Domain, Golden Death Spirits… I have scores to settle with them.'

Translation: "He lifted his water cup, took a sip of the sugar water boiled from the roots of the honey-root vine, and Wu Tie said in a low voice: 'I am preparing to leave…… Black Snake Domain, Golden Dead Spirits…… I have some scores to settle with them.'"

Wu Tie's eyes filled with the scene of that day.

Translation: "Wu Tie's eyes filled with the scene of that day."

Wu Yin and Wu Copper collapsed, covered in blood.

Translation: "Wu Yin and Wu Tong collapsed, covered in blood."

Wu Zhan was blown to pieces by a bolt of lightning.

Translation: "Wu Zhan exploded into fragments in a bolt of lightning."

Wu Jin likewise vanished in a flash of intense light, as that hideously ugly woman rushed forward and Wu Tie was knocked into a turbulent, dark‑current pool.

Translation: "Wu Jin likewise vanished in a flash of strong light; that ferociously ugly woman rushed forward, and Wu Tie was struck into the turbulent, surging waters."

Yet that also became Wu Tie's greatest fortune in his lifetime.

Translation: "Although that also became Wu Tie's greatest fortune in this life."

But Wu Tie's heart was seized by a sudden, sharp pain.

Translation: "But Wu Tie's heart was seized by a sudden sharp pain."

Wu Jin is struggling desperately in the Wa tribe's ancestral land, hoping to revive Wu Zhan, Wu Yin, and Wu Copper; even Wa Mu does not know when Wu Jin will emerge.

Translation: "Wu Jin was desperately struggling in the Nüwa Clan's ancestral land, striving for the chance to revive Wu Zhan, Wu Yin, and Wu Tong; even the Nüwa Matriarch does not know when Wu Jin will be able to emerge."

The Wa tribe's ancestral land is unfathomable; some who enter for three to five days return lucky with great treasures.

Translation: "The Nüwa Clan's ancestral land is unfathomably mysterious; some people who enter for three to five days return lucky with great treasures."

Others are trapped inside for three to five years, not even managing to pull out a single hair.

Translation: "Others are trapped inside for three to five years, not even managing to pull out a single hair."

Still others wander there for a hundred years of misfortune and come away with nothing.

Translation: "Still others, unlucky souls, drift in the Nüwa Clan's ancestral land for over a hundred years, ending up with nothing at all."

Of course, there are also extremely fortunate ones who, forced into seclusion for hundreds of years in the Wa ancestral land, acquire ancient inheritances and return transformed from nobodies into beings of heaven‑defying power.

Translation: "Of course, there are also extremely fortunate ones who, forced into seclusion for hundreds of years in the Nüwa Clan's ancestral land, obtained some ancient inheritances; upon returning, they transformed from obscure nobodies into heaven-defying powerhouses with miraculous abilities."

Who knows when Wu Jin will be able to turn back?

Translation: "Who knows when Wu Jin will be able to turn back?"

Wa Mu herself does not know either.

Translation: "The Nüwa Matriarch herself is not clear either."

"Big brother, you're giving it your all… I am too." Wu Tie muttered lowly: "You're striving for our father, second brother, and third brother; I must do what I ought to do. Golden Death Spirits? They took that name, so I will certainly make them live up to it."

Translation: "\"Big Brother, you are struggling…… I am too. \" Wu Tie muttered lowly: \"You are struggling for Father, Second Brother, Third Brother; I must do what I ought to do. Golden Dead Spirits? They used that name, so I will certainly make them live up to it. \"

After a quarter hour, inside the Wa Palace, Wu Tie met Wa Mu.

Translation: "After a moment, inside Nüwa Palace, Wu Tie saw the Nüwa Matriarch."

Wa Mu listened quietly to Wu Tie's request, remained silent for a long time, then said softly: "The Wa tribe has its laws; some of them, even I as the matriarch, cannot violate."

Translation: "The Nüwa Matriarch listened quietly to Wu Tie's request, remained silent for a long time, then softly said: 'The Nüwa Clan has its rules; some rules, even I as the matriarch, cannot defy.'"

"The Wa tribe never will, and cannot, actively involve itself in disputes with external forces." Wa Mu looked at Wu Tie and said softly: "So I cannot mobilize the Wa tribe's strength to give you any help."

Translation: "\"The Nüwa Clan has never and cannot actively involve itself in disputes with external forces. \" The Nüwa Matriarch looked at Wu Tie and said softly: 'Therefore, I cannot mobilize the Nüwa Clan's strength to give you any help.'"

Wu Tie nodded.

Translation: "Wu Tie nodded."

Having stayed in the Wa Valley for many days, he learned from Wa Qing'er about the Wa tribe's countless messy rules.

Translation: "Having lived in Nüwa Valley for many days, from Nüwa Qing'er he had long known the Nüwa Clan's many chaotic rules."

Many of those rules seem utterly bewildering to Wu Tie, yet they are the precepts left by the Wa tribe's ancestors, which even Wa Mu cannot break.

Translation: "Many rules, Wu Tie finds completely baffling, but they are the precepts left by the Nüwa Clan's ancestors, which even the Nüwa Matriarch cannot violate."

"I will use my own strength to accomplish this." Wu Tie said solemnly: "I will destroy the Golden Death Spirits and avenge my father. Then…"

Translation: "\"I will use my own strength to accomplish this. \" Wu Tie said in a low voice: 'I will exterminate the Golden Dead Spirits to avenge my father. Then…'"

Wa Mu narrowed her eyes at Wu Tie and asked: "Then what? Return to the Wa Valley? The Six Paths Palace Master told me that if you wish, he will grant you a rank equal to palace master and assign the Great Dragon City for you to govern. I think it's worth considering… I will help you pick a fine Wa woman for you to settle down with peace of mind…"

Translation: "The Nüwa Matriarch narrowed her eyes at Wu Tie: 'Then what? Return to Nüwa Valley? The Six Paths Palace Master told me that if you are willing, he will grant you a status equal to that of a palace master and assign the Great Dragon City for you to govern. I think it's worth considering…… I will help you pick a good Nüwa woman, so you can settle down in peace……'"

Wa Mu beamed: "The witch girl is a well‑behaved lass, but even when hatched from an egg she always lacks a little… If you properly have a few little girls, I will look after them for you."

Translation: "The Nüwa Matriarch laughed brightly: 'Wu Nu is a good girl, but having hatched from an egg…… she always lacks something…… You should properly give birth to a few little girls, and I will help you look after them.'"

Wa Mu smiled until her eyes turned into slits: "Your little sister used to be fun as a child, but now she's growing up—ah, she's not as fun as before. And she's still a few years away from marriage… I've been itching these past years… Hurry up and have more little girls; that would be great."

Translation: "The Nüwa Matriarch smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits: 'Your little sister was quite fun as a child, but now she's gradually growing up; alas, she's not as fun as she was in childhood. Yet she is still a few years away from marriage…… During these years, I get itchy…… You had better quickly have a few more little girls; that would be nice.'"

Wu Tie's face turned strange; he gave a dry cough and said softly: "My older brothers aren't married yet, I'm not in a hurry… Well, after I wipe out the Golden Death Spirits… will the Wa tribe open its ancestral land again in twelve years?"

Translation: "Wu Tie's face turned strange; he gave a dry cough and said softly: 'Big Brother and the others aren't married yet, I'm not in a hurry, not in a hurry…… Well, after I exterminate the Golden Dead Spirits…… When will the Nüwa Clan next open its ancestral land? Is it in twelve years?'"

Wa Mu nodded: "Every twelve years is a cycle; the ancestral land opens once every twelve years—that's the rule, followed by all the Wa tribe's branches."

Translation: "The Nüwa Matriarch nodded: 'Opening once every twelve years, the ancestral land opens every twelve years; this is the rule…… a rule followed by all major branches of the Nüwa Clan.'"

"Then, after I destroy the Golden Death Spirits, I will wait until the Wa tribe opens its ancestral land again and come back." Wu Tie laughed: "Your father saved the Gray Master; you should know… he told me, 'Reading ten thousand scrolls is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles; a man ought to venture out more.'"

Translation: "\"Then, after exterminating the Golden Dead Spirits, I will wait until the Nüwa Clan opens its ancestral land again and then return. \" Wu Tie laughed: 'The Grey Master rescued by Father, you should know…… He once told me that reading ten thousand volumes is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles; a man ought to venture out more.'"

Wa Mu's red‑pursed lips twisted sharply; she gave Wu Tie a once‑over and snorted coldly: "A man? Have you even grown a full beard? Man… heh, that's exactly what your father used to say—when he ran off with your elder brother back then, he said the same thing: a man shouldn't rely on a woman to get by."

Translation: "The Nüwa Matriarch's red lips curled sharply; she gave Wu Tie an up-and-down glance and snorted coldly: 'A man? Have you even grown hair yet? Man…… heh, these words are exactly like your father's…… Back then, when he ran off with your elder brother, he said the same thing: a man cannot rely on a woman to make a living.'"

Frowning, Wa Mu said calmly: "Well, since you're leaving, you can't just go like that… Come see me again in three days."

Translation: "Frowning, the Nüwa Matriarch said calmly: 'Well, since you're leaving, you can't just go like that…… Come find me again in three days.'"

With a slight smile, Wa Mu said softly: "Your elder brother entered the ancestral land, and I don't know; my divination skills may or may not be reliable—if something happens to him… when you go out to train, you should at least have some extra means to protect yourself."

Translation: "With a slight smile, the Nüwa Matriarch said softly: 'Your elder brother entered the ancestral land, and I don't know either; my divination skills may or may not be effective—if something happens to him…… When you go out to train, you ought to give yourself more means of self-preservation.'"

Wu Tie stood there stunned, then laughed as he pulled out everything the Six Paths Palace Master had given him to trade for those scriptures, without asking Wa Mu what she wanted them for, and walked straight away.

Translation: "Wu Tie stood there dazed, then laughed as he produced everything the Six Paths Palace Master had used to trade for those scriptures, not asking the Nüwa Matriarch what she wanted them for, and directly left."

Three days later, under Wa Mu's guidance, Wu Tie entered the deepest chamber of the Wa Palace, the hall equipped with a teleportation array.

Translation: "Three days later, under the Nüwa Matriarch's guidance, Wu Tie entered the deepest level beneath Nüwa Palace, inside the great hall equipped with a teleportation array."

Via the teleportation array, Wu Tie followed Wa Mu to a vast cavern world three thousand li beneath the Wa Valley.

Translation: "Through the teleportation array, Wu Tie followed the Nüwa Matriarch to a vast cavern world three thousand li beneath Nüwa Valley."

On a high platform built of five‑colored earth in the center, dozens of Wa tribe elders had gathered, wearing black robes and holding scepters of bone, jade, or wood, their solemn gazes fixed on Wu Tie.

Translation: "On the high platform made of five-colored earth in the center, dozens of Nüwa Clan elders had already gathered, wearing black robes and holding scepters of bone, jade, and wood, their expressions solemn as they looked at Wu Tie."

"Don't ask, don't speak—very few Wa tribe males are ever allowed to come here." Wa Mu whispered to Wu Tie: "I have used a privilege your grandmother never exercised, added the treasures the Six Paths Palace Master gave you, plus the private reserves I borrowed from your great‑grandmother, great‑great‑grandmother, and great‑great‑great‑grandmother…"

Translation: "\"Do not ask, do not speak; very few males of the Nüwa Clan can come here. \" The Nüwa Matriarch quietly instructed Wu Tie: 'I have exercised a privilege that your grandmother never used, adding the treasures given by the Six Paths Palace Master, plus the private funds I borrowed from your grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother……'"

Wa Mu's face twitched slightly; she sighed and reached out to touch Wu Tie's cheek.

Translation: "The Nüwa Matriarch's face twitched slightly, she sighed, and reached out to touch Wu Tie's cheek."

"I owe so much… how can I ever repay it…" Wa Mu looked at Wu Tie pitifully: "Those old ladies—I owe them money, I worked them to death, and when they die the debt is gone, so that's that."

Translation: "\"I owe so much…… how can I ever repay it……\" The Nüwa Matriarch looked pitifully at Wu Tie: 'Those old ladies…… I owe them money, having worked them to death; when a person dies, the debt disappears, so that's fine.'"

I also cleaned out the private stashes of your aunts Wa Yin and Wa Jiao; many of them are younger than me, I can't stand their talk. This money must definitely be repaid. Wa Mu narrowed her eyes, let out a heavy sigh: "But, it's good, fortunately you have your little sister…… If I can't clear it, let Xiao Xi repay it slowly……"

Wu Tie's face was pitch black as he looked at Wa Mu.

On the high platform, several elders who looked somewhat old coughed heavily.

Saying that to their faces is fine; everyone knows Wa Mu's temper.

But in front of Wu Tie this junior... it's no big deal for Wa Mu to complain a few words to her son, but as the matriarch of the Wa clan, you can't be too unreliable, can you?

Wa Mu grinned, reached out and firmly rubbed Wu Tie's cheek: "I feel so sorry for your big brother; when he went to the ancestral land, Mother couldn't give him this... Well, remember, wipe out the Golden Nether Spirits, not a single gold coin can be spared... Mother here, we owe a lot of debts."

Several elders coughed heavily again.

Wu Tie looked at Wa Mu helplessly; he really didn't know how to respond to this topic.

Wa Mu shook her head with a smile, five-colored divine light shimmering on her body; her two long legs suddenly merged into one, a streak of five-colored divine light whooshed backward, her upper torso gradually swelled, taking on the form of a human torso with a serpent's body.

The edges of her jade-white scales shimmered with strands of five-colored divine light; Wa Mu's voice became sacred and majestic, faintly exuding an inexplicable primordial ancient aura.

Her upper human half now stood about three meters tall; she grabbed Wu Tie's shoulder with one hand, lifted him up as easily as picking up a doll, then floated upward and landed on the high platform, beneath the altar.

"Kneel." Wa Mu barked in a low voice.

Wu Tie obediently knelt before the altar.

The surrounding Elders sang in unison a slow, ancient, and weathered melody; like Wa Mu, they transformed into human torsos with serpent bodies. They raised their staffs and circled the altar, performing a strange sacrificial dance.

On the altar, the statue of a woman with a human torso and serpent's body ignited.

Five-colored flames engulfed the statue, blazing fiercely; five-colored divine light shone in all directions, causing the stone caves within a radius of thousands of miles to shift in light and shadow, bizarre and variegated.

Wa Mu approached Wu Tie, using an extremely ornate and orderly four-character phrase in a strange intonation, she loudly prayed to the statue.

She prayed for the Wa clan's ancestral spirits to bless Wu Tie.

She prayed for the Wa clan's ancestral spirits to protect Wu Tie.

She prayed for the Wa clan's ancestral spirits to unlock Wu Tie's bloodline, granting him greater and more mysterious power.

As Wa Mu's prayer echoed, Wu Tie's blood boiled throughout his body, his blood surging rapidly; every cell twitched. The golden light cluster at his forehead expanded rapidly; from the statue, a strange force crossed space and continually poured into his forehead.

Wu Tie's whole body went rigid; he could no longer sense his own physical existence.

All directions were a sheet of darkness—boundless, heavy, oppressive darkness that suffocated, weighed down, made one despair, and made one feel no trace of existence.

An inexplicable force suddenly erupted.

Then, all light and all colors appeared.

Above was black sky, below yellow earth—heaven and earth, dark and yellow...

Between the newly separated black and yellow, two immensely long streams of light intertwined and flew in. The long streams stretched hundreds of li, then thousands, then tens of thousands of li...

The gorgeous double-helix streams of light spewed five-colored divine light, slamming hard into Wu Tie's body.

Thus, Wu Tie's soul shuddered violently; he seemed to suddenly grasp countless truths, yet also as if he understood nothing.

Wa Mu's stunning face stiffened; she chanted a sacred, splendid prayer, tears glimmering in her eyes as she watched a mountain of treasures fly out from her bracelet, her heart wrenched.

All kinds of cultivation resources, all kinds of supremely precious primordial herbs and fruits, all kinds of heaven-and-earth treasures storing vast pure energy...

Most important of all were the over a hundred supremely precious divine-power relics condensed by the Sixfold Palace Master...

These treasures piled into a small mountain a hundred zhang high; then a stream of five-colored divine flame swept in, all the treasures blazing rapidly within it, quickly turning into wisps of five-colored smoke that merged into the statue of the woman with a human torso and serpent's tail.

Wu Tie's body was enveloped in a cluster of five-colored light, hovering like an egg beneath the statue's feet.

Wa Mu gazed at Wu Tie enveloped in colored light and sighed softly: "Well, as they say outside, we Wa Valley women are a bunch of money-grubbing bloodsuckers, huh?"

Several Wa clan Elders coughed heavily again.

Decorum, decorum! As the matriarch of the Wa clan, saying that is truly indecorous!