Nuwa and Fuxi wandered through Mount Buzhou, taking in the ruined landscape. Eventually, Fuxi felt he had seen enough scenery and couldn't help but ask.
Not long ago, he had heard his sister say she was close to Achieving Sainthood (achieve sainthood). Fuxi thought it was truly imminent, but after arriving at Mount Buzhou, his sister had simply started wandering aimlessly again. He had no idea what she was up to.
It was a bit of a letdown. Next time, please don't say anything until you're absolutely sure.
"My chance for Sainthood lies in the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. This was the site of the Innate Gourd Vine; perhaps by coming here, I can understand how to take the final step."
Nuwa spoke solemnly, walking to the spot where the gourd vine once stood. It was now empty, the soil long since excavated, yet Nuwa stared at the void as if the Innate Gourd Vine were still planted there, perfectly intact.
Fuxi nodded and said calmly, "You previously used Karma to slay your corpses; your chance for Sainthood must also involve Karma."
"But how much Karma would it take to make you a Saint?"
Nuwa nodded slightly. "I know that, but I don't know what action will generate enough Sainthood Karma."
"The chance lies in the Breathing Soil, but you can't exactly conjure an Innate Gourd Vine and plant it back, can you?" Fuxi joked, making a bold assumption.
"No, but it is related to the Gourd Vine," Nuwa replied seriously, her brows furrowed in thought.
Restless, she gazed out across the vast land. The scene was one of total wreckage. The Wu Clan tribes around Mount Buzhou were in shambles, and the Living Beings they had once oppressed were beginning to retaliate. The world was filled with strife and suffering.
"The Wu Clan reaching this state is thanks to Fellow Daoist Ling Xiao."
"It's truly a pity... if Fellow Daoist Ling Xiao hadn't perished, he would be a Saint by now. Perhaps he could have given you guidance," Fuxi said, looking at the Wu tribes and lamenting Ling Xiao's fate.
Nuwa withdrew her gaze, her voice low. "Perhaps Ling Xiao has not truly fallen."
She said only that and fell silent.
Fuxi shrugged. Looking down at the earth, the fighting continued unabated. The Witches were everywhere, and even without the Twelve Ancestral Witches, they remained stubborn to the bone. They were either fighting or on the way to a fight.
"These Witches... all they know is conflict. They are bloodthirsty by nature, causing endless suffering for all living things."
"Ever since the Wu Clan became dominant, the number of Living Beings in the Honghuang World has been steadily decreasing," Fuxi said helplessly.
He spoke casually, but Nuwa's eyes flickered with a strange light. In that split second, the Primordial Violet Qi pulsed again, providing clear guidance.
The Violet Qi was the foundation of Sainthood; its guidance was never wrong. What did Fuxi's words mean? The population of the world is decreasing... the Witches are too bloodthirsty...
Nuwa began to calculate the Heavenly Secret, focusing her mind on the meaning of the Violet Qi. A moment later, she finally reached enlightenment.
"My Sainthood Opportunity... is to create a new race?"
"To bring life back to the Primordial Great Earth, to make Living Beings flourish, maintain order, and follow the natural harmony?"
The current beings of the Great Desolation, though gifted with innate power, reproduced far too slowly. This was true for both the Wu and the Yao Race. Once a Great Calamity struck and wiped them out, recovery was incredibly difficult.
Nuwa's thoughts became crystal clear. The path was manifest. She knew her Karma was to fill the void of life in the world by creating a brand-new race.
But what kind of race should she create?
Nuwa's brow furrowed again. she shared her thoughts with Fuxi, who asked tentatively:
"Create some more Yao?"
"No," Nuwa immediately disagreed.
She turned and began to walk away from Mount Buzhou, wandering across the Primordial Great Earth. She knew the method for her Sainthood; she only lacked the final blueprint for this new race. Nuwa intended to observe the infinite beings of the world to find the inspiration for the race that would make her a Saint.
Meanwhile, in the East Sea at Zifu Island.
"Styx! You filthy thing! You still haven't given up on the Primordial Violet Qi!" East King Duke, with only half a body floating in the void, barked at the blood-red silhouette before him.
"Hehe. That treasure was originally mine; you only obtained it by luck. You didn't even have the courage to face me directly, relying instead on the Wu Clan's momentum. Allowing you to live until now is already an act of supreme mercy."
"Now that the Twelve Ancestral Witches are gone, I'd like to see who can save you!"
Styx sneered. The Yuantu and Abi twin swords drifted beside him, radiating a boundless Killing Intent.
The Duke's expression shifted. Styx's killing intent made his heart falter; he didn't know where this "filthy thing" got such a massive amount of murderous energy. He was already no match for Styx at full strength, and now, with half a body, victory was impossible.
On Zifu Island, the Immortal Court (Immortal Court) had collapsed into ruins, smashed apart by old enemies long ago. Queen Mother of the West had already led the remaining Immortals away to establish her own sect. He had no help left. In truth, even if she were here, she likely would have joined Styx in killing him. No one could resist the temptation of the Violet Qi.
"Styx, to tell you the truth, it's not that I don't want to give it to you. The Primordial Violet Qi has already been refined by me; it can't be taken out. I hope you can understand!"
The Duke spoke with a look of "sincerity." Even in this crisis, he didn't want to give up his prize for nothing.
"I understand your [EXPLETIVE]!" Styx roared, not believing a word of it.
Buzz!
The twin swords struck out. Styx stepped onto his blood-red lotus and charged. A tidal wave of Killing Intent kicked up waves for ten thousand miles, causing all of Zifu Island to shake.
Squelch!
Blood splattered the void. In a single exchange, the East King Duke was wounded. The breath of death descended; he was in an unprecedented crisis.
"Today, I shall let you experience the meaning of despair to vent the hatred in my heart!" Styx laughed cruelly, feeling an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.
The Duke was truly in despair. Styx's killing intent was absolute; he didn't just want the Qi, he wanted the Duke's life. It was a dead end!
Just then, a woman draped in nine-colored divine light slowly approached.
Nuwa?
The Duke was overjoyed. "Fellow Daoist Nuwa! I have a strand of Primordial Violet Qi here! I am willing to gift it to you if you will only save my life!"
Styx's face also grew solemn, and he became wary.
But to their surprise, Nuwa seemed to be in a trance. She passed by in a flash and vanished over the horizon, as if she hadn't noticed them at all.
"This..." The Duke pointed at the direction she left, stunned.
"Hahahaha!" "East King Duke, accept your fate!"
Styx laughed and unleashed his full power. After a world-shaking battle, he finally pulverized the remaining half of the Duke's body. A purple streak of light tried to escape, but Styx snatched it into his hand.
"The Primordial Violet Qi is finally mine..."
Styx looked at the Qi in his hand with a satisfied smile, but his expression quickly turned to confusion.
"Wait... this Violet Qi seems to be missing a segment?"
"Where is the other half?!"