Chapter 17: The Oath of the Great Way
“Of course!”
The Twelve Ancestral Witches, though known for their rough manners, were by no means fools.
They understood well that it was impossible to obtain the power of merit from both Nuwa and Fuxi simply by word alone. Moreover, on this day, the siblings Nuwa and Fuxi had exerted tremendous effort; without them, whether the Innate Gourd Vine could have survived was still an unknown.
After some deliberation, Houtu, one of the Ancestral Witches, spoke, “This time, our Witch Tribe has indeed received a great favor from both of you, and the power of merit is largely due to your contributions. Naturally, we cannot allow you to suffer losses without recompense.”
Houtu continued, “If the Four Symbols Banana Tree advances further, it possesses four Dao leaves, each capable of evolving into a supreme innate treasure. The two of you may select two from these treasures. What do you think?”
Nuwa and Fuxi exchanged glances.
Fuxi gently inquired, “If the advancement fails, and the Four Symbols Banana Tree develops intelligence instead?”
Houtu pondered, looked toward her siblings, and soon made a decision, smiling, “Our Witch Tribe can promise that if the innate deity born from cultivating the Four Symbols Banana Tree advances and reaches the Hunyuan realm, then among its four accompanying supreme innate treasures, the two of you may again each select one. Would that be agreeable?”
Fuxi and Nuwa considered this quietly. Fuxi, ever the kindly soul, was already quite content in his heart to have recently acquired the peerless treasure, the Twelve-Petal Creation Lotus, and desired nothing more.
Besides, even if they received a share of the merit power, it would only be enough to forge two high-grade merit treasures, which meant little to beings of their stature.
If the Witch Tribe's efforts failed and time passed without benefit, neither Fuxi nor Nuwa would harbor any resentment. However, from then on, their dealings with the Witch Tribe would surely become distant and respectful.
...
“Honored Ancestral Witches, Nuwa, and Fuxi!”
Suddenly, as everyone hesitated in indecision, a voice interjected.
Everyone turned to look.
The speaker was none other than Emperor Cang, a junior Witch who had accompanied the Twelve Ancestral Witches five centuries ago to visit Xuanhuang Peak.
Five hundred years had passed.
During those years, Emperor Cang possessed the ancient mirror of time and space, which stored the corpses of Da Luo deities and the Da Luo True Phoenix. Externally, the chaotic realm was flooded with spiritual energy, so dense as to be overwhelming.
Not only was the spiritual energy abundant, but its quality was extremely high, containing the innate patterns of the Dao—pure innate qi, both clear and turbid.
Emperor Cang cultivated the Nine-turn Profound Art, and with such excellent internal and external conditions, his advancement was inevitable.
Thus, in just five centuries, Emperor Cang's Nine-turn Profound Art soared from the peak of the Heavenly Deity realm to the peak of the True God realm. Not only did his cultivation leap forward, but his innate mark awakened to the level of a Da Luo deity, and he gradually developed the bloodline potential to become a Da Luo deity.
Furthermore, Emperor Cang studied the Pangu Pool, the Mirror of Time and Space, and the Twelve-Petal Creation Lotus, refining the innate Dao patterns from these treasures into his primordial spirit embryo. The embryo condensed the power of innate clear qi, its strength increasing daily, and he gradually forged it into a “Creation Golden Pill,” which radiated endless golden light and voraciously absorbed innate clear qi.
Though Emperor Cang's primordial spirit was only at the True Immortal level, his ability to absorb innate clear qi surpassed most Profound Immortals.
It was clear that Emperor Cang's potential in the cultivation of the primordial spirit path was extraordinary.
Seeing Emperor Cang speak, the Twelve Ancestral Witches placed great trust in him. Though not all his suggestions were flawless, Emperor Cang possessed insights that transcended time and space, and the Ancestral Witches respected his vision.
“Cang!” Di Jiang, foremost among the Ancestral Witches, was the first to ask, “What do you suggest?”
Emperor Cang replied, “Honored Ancestral Witches, if we pour all our merit power into cultivating the Four Symbols Banana Tree, it will indeed have a chance to advance, but the risk of failure is greater. Even if the spiritual root takes form, further advancement will be extremely difficult, possibly requiring countless millennia.”
“Thus,” Emperor Cang smiled, “this arrangement is truly unfair to Nuwa and Fuxi!”
“First, we exchanged the Twelve-Petal Creation Lotus for the Innate Gourd Vine, which is already somewhat unequal. The Twelve-Petal Creation Lotus is indeed infinitely powerful, the supreme among innate treasures, but it is only equivalent to two or three ordinary supreme innate treasures. Yet the Innate Gourd Vine, when it blooms and bears fruit, produces seven precious gourds at once. The two friends are at a disadvantage!”
“Second, to help our Witch Tribe heal the Innate Gourd Vine, both have exerted tremendous effort. We must be grateful and show our appreciation!”
“Third, there is a share of merit for both, but it is of great use to us. If we wish to use it, we must likewise make an offering.”
“Therefore,”
Emperor Cang continued, “The future of the Four Symbols Banana Tree is immeasurable. Considering all three points, shall we repay the two by granting them two of the seven precious gourds, which are guaranteed to mature?”
“If the fruits of the Innate Gourd Vine ripen, let the two friends select two first. What do you and the Ancestral Witches think?”
“To select two fruits from the Innate Gourd Vine?”
The Twelve Ancestral Witches exchanged glances and nodded in succession.
Indeed! As Emperor Cang said, Nuwa and Fuxi had contributed three times, both emotionally and logically, the Witch Tribe must show gratitude, and two precious innate gourds were within their tribe's acceptable bounds.
“In that case!” Emperor Cang said, “To ensure mutual trust, let our Witch Tribe swear an oath upon the Dao.”
With that, everyone made vows, and the matter was settled.
...
The Twelve Ancestral Witches absorbed the tri-colored merit cloud and merged it into the Four Symbols Banana Tree, with Fuxi and Nuwa lending their aid as well.
Fourteen mighty beings acted in concert.
Soon, the high-grade innate spiritual root, the Four Symbols Banana Tree, perfectly fused with the power of the tri-colored merit cloud.
The Four Symbols Banana Tree’s strength soared.
Originally, everyone believed there was a great chance the Four Symbols Banana Tree would develop intelligence and transform into an innate deity, with only a small possibility of advancing further to become a supreme innate spiritual root.
Yet, to the surprise of the Twelve Ancestral Witches and Nuwa and Fuxi alike, the patterns on the surface of the Four Symbols Banana Tree quickly evolved and grew, not giving rise to sentience, but instead, its profundity deepened, gradually emanating the Dao rhythm and aura unique to supreme innate spiritual roots.