Chapter 343: The Heart of Pangu, Hou Tu Enters Youming!

According to Fuxi’s original plan, the Qilin needed to bear heaven and earth, ultimately becoming part of the Great Luo Dao Fruit, thereby seizing the opportunity to touch the Great Luo breakthrough and achieve transcendence.

As of now, half of this plan has been completed.

The Five Element Qilin Kings have indeed undergone transformation alongside Nüwa’s growth, becoming part of the Great Luo Dao Fruit.

But they have not yet fully escaped the influence of Nüwa’s Dao, and cannot completely transcend the Shanhai World.

This has led to the current awkward situation—leaving means the prior investment is sunk, but staying means this transcendence may still be years or even eons away.

“Perhaps we can cooperate with Nüwa.”

After a moment’s thought, Baihu Shenjun said: “The Great Luo Universe is itself one of the Great Luo Dao Fruits. The mighty can self-create a world; the lesser can be contained within a mustard seed, possessing infinite transformative potential.”

“It doesn’t matter if the achievements of the Earth Element Qilin and others cannot be taken out—we can simply bring the entire world back with them.”

“As long as Nüwa is willing to cooperate with our Qilin Clan, we can channel some resources into the Shanhai World, aiding its continued transformation and further accelerating the advancement of the Earth Element Qilin and others.”

“Exactly!”

Bai Ze nodded and said: “We might also try to court Nüwa as an ally.”

“The Five Element Qilin are Great Luo Sovereigns within the Shanhai World; in a sense, the Shanhai World is their Dao domain.”

“If Nüwa is willing to grant certain permissions—or bring the Shanhai World into the Honghuang, letting it wander the battlefield and absorb enemies into its realm—then the Five Element Qilin can complete their encirclement and defeat.”

“This would also effectively utilize Great Luo combat power.”

As long as the mind doesn’t falter, solutions always outnumber difficulties.

Around the issue of the Five Element Qilin’s combat effectiveness and transcendence, the Qilin Clan’s Shenjun engaged in an innovative discussion, each offering ideas.

“Besides these five Daoists, we have other Daoists cultivating the Earth and Wood Dao, having formed a vast Great Thousand World.”

“We must also discuss how to assist them in achieving their most critical transcendence.”

The Qilin Clan currently lacks a portion of its top-tier combat strength and naturally needs to continually replenish fresh blood.

Recruiting scattered cultivators is one aspect; cultivating our own people is another.

Speaking of this, all the Shenjun turned their gazes toward the silent [Changsheng Shenjun] Zhenyuanzi.

“Dao friend, do you have any good strategies?”

As the originator of the Earth and Wood Dao, [Changsheng Shenjun] Zhenyuanzi had the most authority to speak.

“The final refinement of the Earth and Wood Dao still requires a bit more time.”

Seeing all eyes upon him, Zhenyuanzi spoke calmly: “Don’t worry—I plan to visit the Shanhai World soon, thoroughly study the state of the Five Element Qilin Kings, and upon returning, I will deduce the next steps.”

“I can’t promise it will make our Qilin Clan soar overnight, but at least we can cultivate a few high-level cultivators to fill the gaps.”

“That’s good, that’s good!” Shi Qilin and others were very satisfied.

In truth, does Zhenyuanzi currently not know the method of Dao transcendence?

Of course not.

The Earth Immortal Dao is merely an advanced version of the Earth and Wood Dao.

Simply replicate how Earth Immortals achieve Great Luo transcendence within the Qilin Clan.

But wouldn’t that directly expose Zhenyuanzi as an infiltrator of the Immortal Dao?

Although the emergence of Earth Immortals may have raised suspicion among some Qilin elites, as long as there’s no concrete proof, he can continue playing both sides.

Exposing his identity early offers Zhenyuanzi no advantage whatsoever.

【Let’s delay for now—this Earth Immortal Dao must be transmitted, but not directly. We need to study an improved strategy.】 Zhenyuanzi thought.

Helping the Qilin Clan cultivate strong cultivators is something he must assist with.

After all, helping the Qilin Clan now is helping the future Earth Immortal lineage—and helping Zhenyuanzi himself.

【The solitary path of Dao is not the Honghuang’s hallmark. Only when more Dao friends seek the Dao together, achieving mutual benefit, can development continue!】

Zhenyuanzi, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, wants more Earth Immortals to walk this path in the future.

Who exactly becomes an Earth Immortal doesn’t matter.

In the west of Honghuang, Kaiming Mountain.

Hou Tu erected twelve altars.

Each altar bore the sacred name of a Wu deity.

Hou Tu transformed into a human form with a serpent tail, seven arms sprouting from her back, each holding a seven-colored artifact, while her front two hands cradled a Dihuan Cauldron.

“O profound Earth Yuan, all things draw life from you!”

A resonant, ancient tone echoed through Kaiming Mountain as Hou Tu lifted the Dihuan Cauldron, drawing in seven-colored light from the boundless spacetime.

These lights, like fireflies piercing the void, converged and fell into the cauldron, gradually coalescing into the shape of a transparent heart.

Looking at this transparent heart, Hou Tu smiled faintly—a radiant, brilliant smile.

“Come!”

Her seven arms behind her moved like a peacock dancing; from each of the twelve altars, a drop of essence blood floated forth and merged into the cauldron.

“Thump… thump… thump…”

Moments later, the powerful, rhythmic beating of a heart echoed like war drums, as if the pulse of the earth itself.

When Hou Tu infused her own essence blood into the heart, it transformed from transparent to real, its beat growing stronger still.

“Excellent, excellent!”

Watching the heart pulse vigorously within the cauldron, Hou Tu quietly exhaled in relief.

This was the most tranquil yet most heart-stopping thing she’d ever done since writing her mythological script—forging the heart of Pangu!

【The Wu deities are now past. Now, the Twelve Ancestral Wu, born from Pangu’s essence blood, shall take the stage!】

Hou Tu dared not speak aloud, only whispering silently within.

Even so, she felt a twinge of guilt and cautiously glanced upward—no thunderous punishment descended.

No Pangu’s axe flew down from beyond heaven.

【Excellent—it means Father Pangu has tacitly approved!】 Though immense pressure weighed on her, she could only think this way.

She needed to bolster her own courage.

Without courage, one cannot accomplish great deeds.

“No rush, take it slowly—next, we must summon the souls of several Dao friends.”

Hou Tu took a deep breath, steadying herself.

Fabricating the origin of a primordial deity is simple.

Becoming even stronger is also simple.

The Three Pure Ones have already provided the template—align yourself with the primordial creator, Pangu.

But doing so carries a certain… slight risk.

“After this, I’ll inevitably have to journey to the Age of Opening Heaven.” Hou Tu knew well—great undertakings require evaluation.

The Three Pure Ones only received the blessing of “Pangu’s One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones” after receiving Pangu’s own approval.

What she’s doing now is no less daunting than what the Three Pure Ones did.

She might very well be chopped to pieces by Pangu himself.

“Great God, please spare me—even if you must strike me down, let me first rescue my Dao friends, then kill us all together.”

“Killing just one is dull—let us form a team and find you some entertainment.”

“What I do is not disrespect—it is reverence for Pangu’s Dao, a continuation of Pangu’s life.”

“We inherit your will—of course, if the chance arises, we’ll also take a few convenient benefits from the Chaos Demons.”

“Great God Pangu, please don’t be offended!”

Hou Tu muttered to herself like a psychological affirmation, then closed her eyes and began summoning souls.

“Dust to dust, earth to earth, souls return to Hou Tu!”

BOOM!

Winds and clouds churned across Kaiming Mountain; the seven-colored divine light within the Dihuan Cauldron surged skyward, forming vast, radiant roads stretching into countless spacetimes.

“Ding ling~~”

One of Hou Tu’s hands behind her shook a bell.

She manifested twelve Dao bodies, each stepping along the seven-colored roads into the various spacetimes.

“Souls, return!”

The Youming World, Fengdu Grand Hall.

Countless ghost deities and ghost immortals gathered.

Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, Huanglong, and the Ten Yans were reporting to Xiang Xuanqing.

“Your Majesty, within the Nine Layers of Youming Earth, eighteen Earth Sovereigns have now taken their seats; we have also located all other eligible candidates, and when the time comes, they will ascend to our underworld to assume office.”

Behind the Ten Yans, eighteen ghost deities bowed respectfully: “We pay homage to Your Majesty!”

“Excellent!”

Upon the imperial throne, Xiang Xuanqing wore the imperial crown, solemn and majestic, radiating immense power. The twelve jade pendants obscured his deep eyes; merely sitting there, unmoving, he exuded an aura of supreme dominion over eternity.

At this moment, Meng Wuyou stepped forward, clad in crimson divine robes, holding a jade tablet: “Your Majesty, during the previous cycle of rebirth, countless ghostly souls entered our underworld, filling the Youming World.”

“Through the tireless efforts of our Youming ministers, most souls have either entered the cycle of the Ten Realms or transformed into the Ghost Race.”

“Yet four Great Luo true spirits remain unchanged—indestructible, unyielding. Though their consciousness has not yet awakened, they refuse to cooperate with our underworld. What should we do with them?”

“Since they refuse to cooperate with our underworld, they are rebels clinging to their last stronghold.”

“For such beings, our underworld must employ certain methods to win them over.”

Xiang Xuanqing’s gaze was deep and meaningful: “Invite them to drink our underworld’s special tonic, then send them to Taisha Heaven Palace, and assign them each one of four ‘Cave Paradises’ according to their preferences.”

“Don’t give them anything inferior—only top-tier ones. Best to place them in Alpha-class universes—they’re spacious.”

"When the Great Hong Huang Cycle begins, I will personally escort these few into reincarnation."

"Yes!" Meng Wuyou smiled and withdrew as instructed.

Upon hearing this, countless ghost gods and ghost immortals praised in unison: "Your Majesty’s benevolence is unparalleled; these stubborn and unrepentant beings will surely come to understand our underworld’s kindness toward them and will wholeheartedly cooperate in the future."

"Exactly! Exactly!" As Gaochengzi and the other Underworld Kings heard this, a smile tugged at their lips, impossible to suppress.

We’ve even arranged for you to stay in our Underworld’s “luxury suite”—how could the Fengdu Emperor not be virtuous?"

Keep in mind, these are A-class universes—they’d never get the chance to live there!

"Truly enviable!" the Ten Underworld Kings thought sincerely.

"Ding ling!"

At that moment, a clear chime rang out.

Houtu followed the Soul-Guiding Path and arrived in the underworld.

"Hm? Why is Brother Di Jiang’s soul here?"

Houtu gazed at the towering, pitch-black Ghost Gate, a murmur forming in her heart.

"Will the Ghost Emperor let them pass?"

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(End of Chapter)