C13 Wizard Clan

Hongyun hastily waved his hands with an awkward smile, declining the offer.

"No need for that. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I do know a thing or two about chopping wood."

With that, he gestured, and logs split into quarters as if by magic.

"Oh," Zhang Yan nodded, a touch of envy in his voice. "Cultivation sure has its perks. You don't even have to lift a finger to chop wood."

Hongyun gave a nervous chuckle, too intimidated to respond.

Driven by his anxiety, Hongyun worked swiftly, and in no time, all the firewood was neatly split.

The Heaven Opening Axe Spirit in Zhang Yan's grasp vibrated with suppressed energy. Since its last task was interrupted by that girl from the Wizard Clan, it seemed as though this mortal had all but forgotten its existence.

Now, just as it glimpsed a new beginning, its purpose was usurped.

"You dare to take over my job, Cloud?" the Axe Spirit's indignation boomed like thunder inside Hongyun's mind.

With a splutter, Hongyun spat out a mouthful of blood, his face stricken with fear.

The Kunpeng, silent in its cage until now, nearly burst into laughter at the scene.

It began to think that maybe being caged wasn't so bad after all.

Zhang Yan jumped at Hongyun's sudden outburst of blood.

"Hold on, I'll brew some medicine for you!"

"No, no, please!" Hongyun, eager to leave, managed a strained smile. "Senior, I assure you, my wounds have healed. See for yourself!"

He hopped on the spot a few times to prove his point, though the bloodstain at the corner of his mouth undermined his convincing act.

Zhang Yan looked on, uncertain. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Absolutely!" Hongyun insisted, conjuring a wisp of purple mist in his hand. "Senior, words can't express my gratitude for your lifesaving grace. This is the least I can offer to show my thanks. Please, don't look down on it and accept it."

"Grandmist Purple Qi!"

The Kunpeng, previously enjoying the spectacle, went wild at the sight of the purple mist, bouncing frantically within its cage, its eyes blazing red.

To Zhang Yan, however, the Grandmist Purple Qi was nothing more than an attractive strand of ribbon. Without overthinking, he accepted the gift.

"Alright then."

Relief washed over Hongyun as Zhang Yan nodded. Disregarding the tumult caused by the Axe Spirit and Kun Peng, he promptly excused himself.

"I have urgent matters to attend to, so I must take my leave now."

With those words, and without waiting for Zhang Yan's approval, he turned on his heel and departed.

The courtyard was simply too much for him; his heart couldn't bear the terror. Time to leave!

Zhang Yan watched, taken aback by his swift exit. In just a moment, Hongyun had vanished from sight.

"He's moving like he's fully healed."

Zhang Yan tossed the axe back into the corner nonchalantly. The firewood was split, so the axe could wait to be sharpened another time.

"Ahhh!"

The Heaven Opening Axe Spirit let out a furious roar.

"This ribbon is quite beautiful. My sister might fancy it..." Zhang Yan glanced at the Grandmist Purple Qi in his hand, musing to himself.

To Kun Peng, these words struck like thunder from a clear sky. The Grandmist Purple Qi was the essence of sanctification, and he was considering giving it to a young girl?

The Kun Peng's heart ached as if it were bleeding.

"Ahhh!"

The Kun Peng's roars of rage echoed, yet to Zhang Yan's ears, they transformed into the shrill cries of an eagle.

Unfazed, Zhang Yan secured the purple ribbon and approached the caged Kun Peng. The stick that had silenced the Kun Peng's roars was once again in his hand.

The eagle's incessant screeching suggested its wildness hadn't faded; a good thrashing should do the trick.

"Awoo! Awoo! Awoo!"

The eagle's piercing cries ceased, replaced by the wails of a child.

The wrathful bellows of the spirit and the infantile cries sent chills down the spines of all creatures passing by Buzhou Mountain, prompting them to take a wide berth.

Long after, tales circulated among the creatures near Buzhou Mountain of a supreme demon that lured prey with the cries of its young, only to capture and devour them.

...

As two flowers bloom, each on its own branch.

While Zhang Yan disciplined the Kun Peng, Hou Tu heard his prophetic admonition and hastened to the battlefront of the conflict between the Wizard Clan and the demons.

On the front lines of the battle between the Wizard Clan and the Wizard Demons, within the Pangu Hall, the eleven great Ancestral Witches sat with grave expressions. The conflict had reached a deadlock, with neither side able to gain the upper hand.

"Report: Ancestral Witch Hou Tu has arrived."

As the announcement echoed, Hou Tu entered the hall. The eleven Ancestral Witches inside were visibly elated, rising to greet her.

Zhuh Rong exclaimed, "Sister, you've finally come around! United, the Twelve Ancestral Wizards can surely annihilate those Demon Race scoundrels!"

The others voiced their agreement. Hou Tu, the youngest among them, had always been reluctant to join the fight, and they had refrained from pressing her. Now that she had reconsidered, it seemed an ideal turn of events.

With urgency in her voice, Hou Tu said, "Brothers, I have urgent news!"

Dijiang, the leader of the Twelve Ancestral Wizards, was a figure of composure. Sensing something amiss in Hou Tu's demeanor, he silenced the others, "What's happened?"

Without a word, Hou Tu gestured, and a surge of magical power coalesced, striking the hall's wall with a resounding crash. Silence enveloped Pangu Hall once more.

Only Dijiang maintained his composure, staring at the white mark on the wall, then turning incredulously to his sister. "Is this... magical power?!"

With a thunderous "Boom!" Dijiang's utterance seemed to break an invisible bind, and the Ancestral Witches transformed with excitement.

Zhuh Rong morphed into a creature with a human body and a beast's head, clad in red scales and armor, with fire snakes in her ears and a fire dragon at her feet. She let out a skyward roar, flames billowing from her mouth and nostrils.

Shen Mangqing appeared as a bamboo-like entity, with a bird's head atop a human body, mounted upon a wooden dragon.

Gonggong took the form of a python-headed human, signaling the reveal of their true, formidable selves...

The Candle Dragon...

...

Each Ancestral Witch was brimming with excitement, their true forms revealed, their sun-like eyes all fixated on Houtu.

Born from the flesh of Pangu, the Ancestral Witches were the cherished offspring of the earth, their might reaching the heavens. Yet, they lacked a primordial spirit and the ability to cultivate—this was an acknowledged truth among all ancient tribes.

But now...

One of the Ancestral Witches had actually managed to cultivate mana. Should this method become widespread within their race, the Demon Clan, currently vying for dominance of the world, would be...

No more than chickens and dogs in comparison!

Dijiang's voice resonated with gravity, "Little sister, have you truly cultivated mana?"

Houtu gave a slight nod.

"Hahahaha, Father Pangu above, have you finally bestowed your blessing? The heavens and earth are now looking upon our clan with favor!"

Upon Houtu's confirmation, even the composed Dijiang couldn't contain his laughter.

"Little sister, you must have endured countless hardships to cultivate mana in defiance of the heavens."

Houtu felt a bit bewildered by his words; it hadn't been difficult at all, merely the effort it took to sip a cup of tea.

"This time, little sister, you've earned great merit for our Wizard Clan!"

With a wave of his hand, Dijiang silenced the Pangu Hall, though the air remained thick with elation.

"Tell me, little sister, what reward would you ask for? There is nothing I would deny you!"

Houtu had been waiting for just this moment.

"Can I really ask for anything?"

Dijiang's laughter rang out, "Your brother never deceives."