C17 Number One in the World

As Nuwa reached enlightenment and ascended to sainthood, Houtu and Dayi finally approached Buzhou Mountain.

"Dayi, when we meet the elder, do not reveal your true form. Just follow my lead," Houtu instructed with a hint of concern.

"Understood!"

Dayi responded with reverence, his curiosity piqued.

He had firsthand experience with the power of the ten Golden Crows, a force even the Ancestral Witch could not contend with. Could the sage they sought truly vanquish these formidable beings?

In a courtyard halfway up Buzhou Mountain, Zhang Yan lay sprawled on his bed, his mind in a fog.

This was his first bout with alcohol in the ancient times, and it had bested him.

"Such potent liquor!" he exclaimed, rubbing his temples. He was about to drift back to sleep when voices from outside the courtyard caught his attention.

"Members of my clan, we pay our respects to the elder!"

Ping Xin?

Zhang Yan's interest was piqued; the memory of the striking young woman was vivid in his mind. He quickly rose and stepped outside, where he was greeted by Ping Xin in her black dress.

At the same moment, Houtu and Dayi laid eyes on Zhang Yan.

Joy spread across Houtu's face, while Dayi looked utterly astonished.

Lacking a Yuan Spirit and devoid of magical powers, Dayi, as a rare sharpshooter among the Wizard Clan, possessed a natural clairvoyance.

He could see at a glance that the young man in white was exceedingly frail, even more so than the Wizard Clan's newborns.

How could such a man be revered as a sage by the Ancestral Witch?

Had they been misled?

"Please, come in and sit down," Zhang Yan invited them.

Distracted by her concerns for the Wizard Clan on the battlefield, Houtu absentmindedly followed Zhang Yan into the courtyard and took a seat.

"What seems to be the trouble?" Zhang Yan inquired.

"We're besieged by ten peculiar flying creatures that we can't defeat, so we've come seeking your guidance," Houtu explained, striving to sound casual. She had noticed during her last visit that this overly youthful elder spoke and acted just like any ordinary person.

If she were to speak frankly, not only would the elder refuse to assist her, but their prior friendship might also sour.

"..."

Zhang Yan found himself at a loss for words. He had thought it was something trivial, just a few birds and beasts.

But upon reflection, he realized this was the harsh reality of the ancient world.

Beyond the long-heralded myths and divine races, this era was dominated by raw-flesh eaters and blood drinkers, with countless small tribes struggling to survive amidst immortals, demons, devils, and gods.

Take the Tranquil Heart Clan, for instance. Unaware of the existence of bows and arrows, they were at their wits' end over a mere handful of creatures, prompting them to seek guidance.

"Ah, the suffering of all beings is profound," Zhang Yan lamented with a compassionate sigh.

Houtu, visibly distressed, implored, "Elder, please instruct me on how to fend off the enemy!"

"It's quite straightforward!"

Zhang Yan didn't delay; lives were on the line. He produced the Stone Bow and a handful of arrows, handing them to Houtu, "Draw this bow and let these arrows fly. Any bird or beast will become your quarry."

Houtu was ecstatic, examining the bow and arrows with great interest, yet finding no hint of magic, she began to doubt.

Dayi, unable to contain his skepticism any longer, scoffed, "Elder, if you're unwilling to aid our clan, just say so. We won't pester you. But please, spare us these deceitful games."

Houtu's face fell, and she rebuked sharply, "Yi, show some respect!"

"But it's true!" Dayi protested loudly, "How can such a simple bow and arrow ensure our clan's victory?"

Unruffled, Zhang Yan knew that skepticism often greeted unfamiliar innovations until their worth was proven.

"If this bow proves unhelpful, then I shall intervene personally. How does that sound?"

Dayi sneered with contempt, "Given your frail appearance, how could you possibly contend with the Fierce Bird?"

At that, Houtu's demeanor darkened, "Enough! Silence!"

Dayi, catching the stern look on Houtu's face, reluctantly closed his mouth, though his eyes remained fixed on Zhang Yan with an air of defiance.

"My fellow clansmen were unaware of your capabilities and spoke out of turn. Please accept our apologies!"

Zhang Yan dismissed the concern with a casual wave of his hand and turned to Dayi, "While I may not match your strength, when it comes to the art of hunting, there's no one under the heavens who can equal me!"

"Not even the sages!"

His bold proclamation left Dayi momentarily speechless. The best in the world? Such a claim was something not even the Ancestral Witch of their clan would dare to make.

After all, there are mighty beings between heaven and earth whose mere names, once spoken, allow them to perceive everything and from whom one cannot hide.

Houtu was thrilled. Was the elder about to take action? At this moment, she found herself hoping that the Stone Bow she held would fail to work.

"Off you go!" Zhang Yan gestured dismissively, "Your clan is in peril; it's time you returned!"

After exchanging farewells with Houtu and Dayi, Zhang Yan watched their figures recede down the mountain, a slight smile on his face:

"Cultivators feed on the essence of the heavens and refine their spirits, and saints are no different. What need have they for hunting? Without their intervention, my hunting prowess is unsurpassed."

Kun Peng, who had witnessed the entire exchange, was taken aback. It was the first time he realized his master had a somewhat wicked sense of humor...

"Is the Wizard Clan esteemed by this individual?"

Who was Kun Peng? Even caged, his perception was extraordinary, and he could immediately recognize Houtu as an Ancestral Witch.

Before his confinement, he had heard about the conflict between the Wizard and Demon Clans in the Dark North. The Demon Clan had sought him out to be a Demon Master precisely because of the threat posed by the Wizard Clan's Twelve Ancestral Wizards.

The thought made Kun Peng break out in a cold sweat. Had he actually accepted the role of Demon Master, he would now be at odds with the very person before him.

"Curse that Dijun and Taiyi! Next time I encounter them, I'll capture them and present them to my master as a delicacy!"

Meanwhile, far away, Dijun and Taiyi, along with other powerhouses of the Demon Court, waited in vain for Kun Peng's return, eventually signaling the retreat.

Elsewhere, Houtu and Dayi, having departed from Zhang Yan's courtyard, once again took off at breakneck speed, the Stone Bow in tow.

At the front lines, where Wizards and Demons clashed, the battle between the Ten Great Golden Crows and the Eleven Ancestral Witches had escalated to a fever pitch. Empowered by Hongjun's sacred might, the Golden Crows unleashed a ferocity reminiscent of their father, Dijun, forcing the Ancestral Witches into a relentless retreat.

"Pfft!" Gonggong coughed up blood once more. As it has been since time immemorial, water and fire are eternal adversaries. Amidst the overwhelming inferno of the Ten Great Golden Crows, Gonggong bore the brunt of the injuries among the Ancestral Witches.

Dijiang swiftly intervened, rescuing Gonggong, but his own condition was dire, his body marred with scorched wounds.

Surveying the battlefield, Dijiang's heart sank. Despite their valiant efforts, the residual heat from the Golden Crows' flames had claimed the lives of countless Wizard Clan members. Now, a mere fraction remained amidst the carnage.

Despair filled the eyes of the leader of the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Was this the day their people would meet their end?

Just then, two piercing whistles reached Dijiang's ears. He turned to see Houtu and Dayi, weary from their journey.

A flicker of hope sparked within Dijiang at the sight of them, but it quickly died when he realized they were alone, with no reinforcements in sight. The heart of the Ancestral Witch, which had just begun to stir with hope, plummeted once more.

"Has my younger sister failed?" Dijiang let out a bitter chuckle. Indeed, they were up against a saint working in the shadows against the Wizard Clan.

Even someone with the ability to touch the sky would not dare to intervene, unless they too were a saint.