Primordial Era: I am a treasure trove, full of magical treasures.

"Brother Xuanbao," Houtu's voice was gentle, yet carried a certain timelessness, "Recently, I have often been restless, as if something is calling to me... that feeling is like my mission."

Houtu's gaze fell upon the vast and boundless primordial land outside the Pangu Palace, her eyes seemingly piercing through the mountains and rivers. "I seem to feel that the primordial world created by Father God is incomplete, as if there is something I need to do?"

Xuanbao felt this was exactly what he expected; the underground passage was about to emerge, and Houtu's senses had indeed detected it! Xuanbao remained expressionless and asked, "Sister Houtu, is there anything incomplete in your perception of the primordial world?"

Houtu frowned slightly, her eyes growing even deeper: "Indeed. I wield the Law of Earth, and am closest to the land. Lately, when I meditate, my mind often involuntarily sinks into the depths of the earth's veins. I 'see' that the earth bears all things, nurtures all living beings, and brings birth, aging, sickness, and death, endlessly cycling through the cycle. However, after death, the souls of living beings have nowhere to belong, drifting aimlessly, either gradually dissipating into the world, or being eroded by malevolent energy, transforming into fierce spirits that haunt the living... Over time, malevolent energy accumulates in the world, and vengeful spirits wail, greatly harming the stability of the primordial world. The world has yin and yang, growth and storage, but it lacks a 'resting place' for souls to find peace and re-enter the cycle."

She paused, her voice tinged with uncertainty and confusion: "This feeling is becoming clearer and clearer, as if it were my duty, or... an unfinished link in the creation of heaven and earth by the Father God. But I don't know what to do. The call seems to come from the deepest part of the earth, or as if it originates from the very source of my bloodline."

Xuanbao sighed inwardly, the time was approaching. He pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "What Sister Houtu felt may have touched upon the fundamental order of the primordial world. Heaven, Earth, and Man are the three realms. The Heavenly Dao hangs high, governing the operation of the rules; the Human Dao first arose, enacting the rise and fall of civilizations; and the Earth, with its profound virtue, bears all things and nurtures all living beings. This cycle of life and death should indeed be borne and straightened by the Earth. This may be the responsibility of the 'Earthly Dao,' but the Earthly Dao is hidden and not yet manifest, still lacking a pivot to awaken and manifest it."

"A tunnel? A nexus?" A flicker of understanding crossed Houtu's eyes, only to be replaced by confusion. "What should I do? Merge myself with the Dao? Like my teacher?"

"It may not be the Dao that is being united with it." Xuanbao shook his head. "Master Hongjun is united with the manifested Heavenly Dao. The Earthly Dao is dormant and may need an opportunity, a vessel, to guide it out of ignorance and establish the rules and space for its operation. The 'destination' that Sister feels may be the key."

Xuanbao hinted but didn't spell it out directly. Some things require Houtu to understand for herself to gain great merit and opportunities; if others reveal them, things might change. Besides, Xuanbao has already given the direction.

Houtu fell into deep thought, her earth-yellow Daoist aura unconsciously flowing around her, resonating with the earth beneath her feet, causing the Pangu Palace to tremble slightly. The other Ancestral Witches, seeing this, though not understanding the specifics, knew that Houtu seemed to have a major enlightenment or opportunity, so they all lowered their voices and silently protected her.

After a long while, Houtu slowly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination: "I understand... that call is for me to use myself as a guide to create a place for all souls in the primordial world to return to, to establish an order of life and death, and to perfect the virtue of the earth. This is my mission, and also... my destiny."

Houtu remained calm, her eyes filled with deepening sorrow, yet also with an unwavering resolve: "This matter concerns the very foundation of the primordial world; once it begins, there is no turning back. However… there are still concerns in my heart." Her gaze swept over her eleven elder brothers and sisters beside her. The Wu tribe did not cultivate the primordial spirit, only the physical body and the laws. If she were to undergo reincarnation for this body, merging with the Dao of Earth, perhaps…

Dijiang seemed to sense something, his brows furrowing as he stepped forward: "Sister, what exactly did you sense? We are brothers and sisters, and we should share any difficulties we face!"

"Big brother..." Houtu sighed softly, slowly expressing the vague vision in her heart—the sense of a soul adrift, the incompleteness of the earth, and her own mission. She did not mention the specific method of "transforming into reincarnation," only saying that it was her responsibility to perfect the earth and benefit all living beings, which might require her to make great sacrifices, and once it began, she might never be the same as before.

After the ancestral witches heard this, the hall fell silent. Although they were rough and boisterous, they were not stupid. The unspoken meaning in Houtu's words, combined with her recent strange behavior and her resolute expression at this moment, gave them an ominous premonition.

Zhu Rong, with the most impatient temper, roared, "What mission or responsibility! If anything happens to you, sister, we don't need this mission! What does the fate of all the souls of the primordial world have to do with my Wu clan? That's for the Heavenly Dao and those sages to worry about!"

Gonggong, unusually agreeing with Zhurong, said in a low voice, "That's right! Sister, you are the ancestral witch of my Wu tribe, inheriting the bloodline of our father god, wielding the law of earth, and protecting the land and our people is your responsibility! Why bother with that damned question of where the soul will rest?"

The ancestral witches, including Xuanming, Jumang, and Rushou, also spoke out to dissuade them, creating a tense atmosphere.

Xuanbao stood quietly to the side, offering no words. This was an internal matter for the Wu Clan, a decision Houtu had to make herself. She would only offer a reminder or assistance at this crucial juncture.

Houtu looked at her brothers, who were overcome with concern, her eyes filled with a mixture of warmth and sorrow. She slowly shook her head, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable strength: "I understand my brothers' feelings. However, this is not merely an external matter. Once this thought arose, it was etched into my Dao heart like a brand, resonating with the laws of my bloodline. If I were to forcibly ignore it, my path of cultivation would come to an end, my mind would be uneasy, and I would be unworthy of the authority and responsibility bestowed upon me by the Father God to control the earth. Moreover, this matter... may also be a glimmer of hope for my Wu clan, and even the entire prehistoric world, to escape some great calamity in the future."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the vast expanse of heaven and earth outside the hall: "Have my brothers ever considered where those dissipated souls, those accumulated resentment and anger, will ultimately find their way? Over time, will this erode the ley lines that support this primordial world, the very earth that nurtured us? My Wu clan was born here, grew up here, and is inextricably linked to the earth by blood. If the earth is harmed, how can my clan remain unscathed?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the ancestral witches shifted. They were all highly powerful beings, and they could vaguely sense that a discordant "turbidity" had been slowly accumulating in the world in recent years, though not as clearly and profoundly as Houtu. If this "turbidity" was related to wandering souls and the accumulation of resentment…

Dijiang, as the eldest brother, pondered the matter most deeply. He looked at Xuanbao: "Brother Xuanbao, you are knowledgeable and insightful. In your opinion, what exactly does Houtu mean by 'perfecting the earth and establishing a place for souls to return to'? Whether it succeeds or not, what impact will it have on her?"

Xuanbao remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "What Sister Houtu sensed touched upon the fundamental order of the primordial world. If this succeeds, an unprecedented act of merit will descend, enough to benefit all living beings and stabilize the primordial world. Its specific form... I cannot fully describe it. It may manifest as an independent Great Thousand World, guiding all souls and restoring the order of life and death, which is called 'Reincarnation.' As for Sister Houtu herself..." Xuanbao looked at Houtu, "The merit is immeasurable. Perhaps she can use this opportunity to break through the limits of the Ancestral Witches and attain the path of sainthood. However, this process may require Sister Houtu to use her own origin, or even her true form as a guide, to merge with the unmanifested 'Earthly Dao.' I cannot predict what will happen afterward, but she herself will certainly be subject to Reincarnation for a long time."

Xuanbao naturally wouldn't reveal everything he knew. He had put in a lot of effort in terms of finding a way to escape from the world underground, and he had many backup plans for this.

Xuanbao was still very confident that he could protect Houtu when she was reincarnated. As for whether Hongjun would still require her not to leave the underworld, that was still unknown, so all he could say was that.

"Body merge with the earth? Imprisoned in the cycle of reincarnation?" Qiang Liang, with his fiery temper, roared, "What's the difference between that and imprisonment? How can you do this to my sister!"

Houtu raised her hand to stop Qiangliang, and bowed slightly to Xuanbao: "Thank you for your frankness, Brother Xuanbao. I am already prepared. To merge with the earth is perhaps my destiny. If I can use this body to mend the heaven and earth created by the Father God, so that all living beings have a place to rely on and the primordial world is in order, even if I am eternally imprisoned in the cycle of reincarnation, I will have no regrets."

Houtu's gaze swept over the ancestral witches, her voice gentle yet firm: "Besides, Brother Xuanbao also said that this is a great merit, which may help me break through the shackles of the ancestral witches. Brothers, there is no need to worry too much. This may not be a dead end, but a new beginning."

Having said this, the ancestral witches knew that Houtu had made up her mind. They knew this younger sister; she appeared gentle, but was extremely opinionated, and once she made up her mind, it was difficult to change it.

Dijiang sighed deeply, stepped forward, and patted Houtu's shoulder forcefully: "Since it is your path, your wish, your brothers... support you. Whatever you need, the Wu Clan will do everything in its power to help!"

The other ancestral witches, though their expressions were somber, all nodded in agreement. The witch clan valued relationships and respected courageous individuals who dared to take responsibility. Houtu's wish was for the sake of the primordial world, for the order of all spirits, and perhaps even to eliminate future threats to the witch clan. Despite their deep reluctance, they had no choice but to support her.

Houtu's eyes glistened with tears as she nodded emphatically, "Thank you, brothers."

Xuanbao spoke up at the opportune moment: "Since Sister Houtu has made up her mind, this matter should be handled sooner rather than later. However, the opening of the cycle of reincarnation is a major event that will shake the very foundation of the primordial world. We need to find a place that is connected to the core of the earth, yet relatively independent and stable, so as not to have too wide an impact. Moreover, there may be strange phenomena or even calamities during the process, so we need to be fully prepared."

Houtu nodded: "I already have a feeling in my heart. The place where the call is strongest is in the far north of the primordial world, at the edge of the Netherworld Blood Sea. There seems to be a strange place that is closely connected to the depths of the earth, and it may be a place to rely on."

Xuanbao's heart stirred at the thought of "By the Blood Sea," referring to the territory of the Styx Ancestor. Xuanbao naturally knew that Houtu established the cycle of reincarnation by the Blood Sea, and that there was also an Asura realm within the Six Paths of Reincarnation. The reasons behind this were truly difficult to fathom.

"In that case, I will accompany my sister on this journey and do my best to help," Xuanbao said.

Houtu looked at Xuanbao gratefully: "Thank you for your trouble, little brother."

Di Jiang said, "We will go together to protect my sister!"

Xuanbao shook his head: "Brother Dijiang, my brothers, this matter is not suitable for a large-scale mobilization. Sister Houtu has merged with the Earth Dao and opened the cycle of reincarnation, which is in accordance with the will of Heaven and Earth. The commotion will be significant, and there will surely be heavenly secrets revealed at that time. All the saints and even the great powers of the primordial world will sense it. If we go with a large force, it may arouse suspicion and cause unnecessary complications. It would be better if I accompany Sister Houtu to go ahead to investigate and prepare. My brothers, you can stay at Buzhou Mountain and closely monitor the movements of all parties in case of unforeseen circumstances. It will not be too late to provide support when the time is right."

The ancestral witches, upon hearing this, agreed. Houtu's opening of reincarnation was a great merit, but it might also infringe upon the interests of certain beings, attracting obstruction. The main force of the witch clan needed to maintain its deterrent power while also guarding against the demon race or other forces taking advantage of the situation.

With the agreement reached, Houtu and Xuanbao did not delay any longer. They bid farewell to the ancestral witches and quietly left Buzhou Mountain.

The two possessed profound cultivation, capable of shrinking the distance to an inch, and soon arrived at the far north of the primordial wilderness. In the distance, they saw an endless blood-red ocean, its waves surging, a foul wind blowing, and malevolent energy and resentment condensing into a tangible red-black mist that shrouded the sea. Within it, countless twisted and wailing phantoms of souls could be vaguely seen, which was the Netherworld Blood Sea.

On the edge of the Blood Sea, closer to the land, lies a strange gray area. The land is barren and lifeless, yet unlike the filthy and malevolent aura of the Blood Sea, it exudes a sense of emptiness and desolation. The spatial structure here also seems unusually fragile, with tiny spatial cracks frequently appearing and disappearing.

"This is it." Houtu stopped, gazing at the gray area. Runes of law flowed in her eyes, faintly echoing the faint pulse emanating from the depths of the earth beneath her feet. "I sense that a primordial vein from the depths of the earth is approaching the surface here, and the space here is unusual. It seems somewhat detached from the main body of the primordial world, yet not completely severed. This is the perfect place to establish a 'land'."

Xuanbao's divine sense swept over the area and also sensed its peculiarity. The resentment and malevolent energy of the Blood Sea was filtered and subsided by an invisible force of the earth's veins, and the gray area seemed to be a natural "loophole" or "interface," connecting the primordial land with some deeper "nothingness."

"This place is indeed a crucial point." Xuanbao nodded. "Sister, would you like to meditate and sense the area first to determine the method of opening it up?"

Houtu sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and an earth-yellow Daoist aura emanated from her body, resonating with the earth beneath her feet and even the edge of the Netherworld Blood Sea deeper within. She began to deeply communicate with the will of the "Earthly Path" in the darkness, clarifying the specific steps of her own mission.

Houtu sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and an earth-yellow Daoist aura emanated from her body, resonating with the earth beneath her feet and even the edge of the Netherworld Blood Sea deeper within. She began to deeply communicate with the will of the "Earthly Path" in the darkness, clarifying the specific steps of her own mission.

Xuanbao set up concealment and protection formations on the periphery to isolate himself from external detection. At the same time, he carefully examined the direction of the earth's veins and the spatial structure of the area, and mentally deduced the auxiliary means that might be needed.

As time passed, the Daoist aura emanating from Houtu grew increasingly intense, gradually merging with her surroundings. Behind her, a vast, illusory image faintly emerged: the expansive earth bearing all things, the birth, growth, aging, and death of living beings; souls leaving their bodies, drifting aimlessly, ultimately merging into a sea of ​​blood or dissipating into the world, causing resentment to accumulate, and the earth's burden to grow heavier day by day… The illusory image shifted, finally settling on a gray area, where a blurry portal slowly opened. Behind the portal, six passages seemed faintly visible, each leading to a different destiny…

Xuanbao knew that Houtu was resonating with the Earth's Dao. Xuanbao quietly protected her, while slowly spreading his own understanding of the laws of creation, life and death, and space, forming a gentle field to help Houtu stabilize her mind and deepen her understanding.