Chapter Seventeen: The Witch Tribe
According to the legends of the Great Wilderness, Zhun Ti and Jie Yin were considered outsiders, not true disciples of the Mystical Sect, and thus not favored by Hong Jun. However, Luo Hou’s self-destruction devastated the West, for which Hong Jun also bore responsibility. To repay the karmic debt owed to the West, Hong Jun granted them two sage positions.
Yet, to settle karma, wouldn't one sage position suffice? Li Tian narrowed his eyes, a thought stirring within him: if he could remove one of Zhun Ti or Jie Yin, he could spare a sage position, and perhaps he could claim it for himself. If Hong Jun were pleased, might he bestow that position upon Li Tian directly?
But then Li Tian shook his head. Eliminating one would mean a deadly feud with the Western Sect—a last resort, unless he could rid both... Yet in that case, who knew to whom Hong Jun would repay the karmic debt? Too many variables.
“What if, due to some circumstance, one of them missed the teachings at Purple Cloud Palace and thus failed to secure a position? What would happen then?” Li Tian mused, quietly deducing the possibilities, and found this approach feasible.
But how could he prevent them from attending the teachings at Purple Cloud Palace? This troubled Li Tian; when Hong Jun imparted his wisdom, they would surely sense the opportunity and would not miss it for anything. No matter what else occupied them, they would set it aside.
...
On their journey, Zhun Ti and Jie Yin sought to display their compassion before Li Tian’s group. Whenever they encountered injustice, they intervened and used the Treasure Banner to convert evildoers.
Whenever this happened, Li Tian would offer lavish praise, feigning reverence, which greatly pleased Zhun Ti and Jie Yin. Several times, they hinted at inviting him to join, but Li Tian deftly changed the subject, leaving them frustrated.
Yet their eagerness revealed their hypocrisy. Once, an elderly member of the demon race was near death; Zhun Ti, wishing to save him, casually killed a passing thousand-year-old medicinal spirit, unaware of the consequences. Another time, they rescued a dying great demon without concern for the demon’s overwhelming karmic burden... Such acts could hardly be called true benevolence.
Their desire to perform good deeds led them to neglect the essence of matters, often turning good intentions into folly. They were, in truth, still too naive.
Nu Wa and Fu Xi were no fools; they saw through Zhun Ti and Jie Yin’s nature. Especially their method of converting evildoers—it twisted personalities, leaving Nu Wa and Fu Xi inwardly chilled.
But seeing Li Tian converse amiably with Zhun Ti and Jie Yin, they could not discern his true intentions. Fu Xi, trusting Li Tian, believed he had his own plans and said nothing more.
Nu Wa, however, worried secretly: Had Li Tian been bewitched by their strange methods? But surely not—Li Tian’s cultivation was the highest, and if she herself had not been swayed, how could he? Yet, with the heart of a young girl, she couldn’t help but let her thoughts wander, several times almost voicing her concerns, but always holding back.
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Most of Li Tian’s thoughts each day were devoted to scheming against Zhun Ti and Jie Yin. Noticing Nu Wa and Fu Xi’s occasional distance from the pair, he realized they, too, saw through their hypocrisy and so paid little heed, unaware of Nu Wa’s worries.
One day, the group arrived at a demon tribe. Seeing the chaos around them, they stopped to inquire.
Soon, they learned from the tribe’s residents that, in recent days, “monsters” had appeared—each possessing immense strength, causing havoc, and abducting many demon folk each time before departing. Fear and unrest spread throughout the region.
Li Tian listened carefully. When he heard, “Those ‘monsters’ have black skin, stand more than twenty feet tall, and cry out ‘Wu, Wu, Wu,’” he immediately thought of the Wu Tribe.
“Could it be that, just as the three great tribes decline, the Wu Tribe is poised to rise?”
Frowning, Li Tian questioned the locals for more details, and the more he heard, the more convinced he became.
After pondering, inspiration struck: If these were truly the Wu Tribe, perhaps he could use their hand to eliminate one of Zhun Ti or Jie Yin...
If he handled it carefully, it should not be difficult. However, he wondered: what cultivation level were the Twelve Ancestor Wus at now? In later myths, they each possessed quasi-sage powers... If so, he would need to be cautious. One quasi-sage he might not fear, but twelve? If he miscalculated, he could lose himself in the process.
Moreover, he couldn’t let both Zhun Ti and Jie Yin perish—at least one must remain...
While he contemplated, Zhun Ti boldly declared that he and his companions could rid the area of the “monsters,” instantly winning the demons’ gratitude.
Li Tian’s eyes brightened. If he could send Zhun Ti alone into the Wu Tribe’s lair... wouldn’t it be effortless to “dispose” of him? He doubted Zhun Ti could survive entering the Wu Tribe's stronghold, even if they had not yet begun their rise.
Narrowing his eyes, Li Tian found the plan sound. He had long disliked Zhun Ti, and without him, the Western Sect would hardly flourish under the wooden-faced Jie Yin. Li Tian saw no possibility that Jie Yin could match Zhun Ti’s cunning and trickery.
After a brief consideration, Li Tian smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist Zhun Ti, these minor monsters should be easy to eliminate. Why not go yourself while we rest here and await your triumphant return?”
Zhun Ti and Jie Yin had always sought to impress Li Tian, so Zhun Ti seized the opportunity without hesitation, smiling, “Very well. You may await my good news.”
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“Be careful, brother. Do not let your guard down,” Jie Yin cautioned.
“Don’t worry, brother,” Zhun Ti replied with a smile, then mounted his auspicious cloud and set off in the direction pointed out by the tribe’s residents.
Watching Zhun Ti depart, Li Tian couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. He hadn’t expected it to be so easy. Knowing Zhun Ti would likely not return, Li Tian began to consider leaving himself.
He pondered, recalling the jar of Immortal Drunk he still had in his storage ring...
Zhun Ti, flying swiftly, soon encountered the “monsters” described by the tribe’s residents. He followed them and came upon a massive palace.
“Palace of Pangu. How dare these mere monsters claim the name of Pangu?” he muttered, landing before the main gate and gazing at the plaque above the entrance.
“Who’s there?” came a voice from within.
Inside the Palace of Pangu, twelve men and women of various appearances sat cross-legged around a gigantic, blood-red heart. Hearing the commotion outside, they all opened their eyes. The leader, clad in pale yellow robes, softly called out.
“Hm?”
Hearing the voice from within, Zhun Ti was startled—just a single word had filled him with dread. His mind raced; immediately, he mounted his cloud and prepared to flee. If nothing else, Zhun Ti excelled at escaping.
...