Houtu's declaration in the Sea of Blood resonated throughout the Primordial Era, her words heard clearly by all living beings. Yet, they were bewildered by what Ancestral Witch Houtu was attempting.
As Houtu's words faded, the entire Primordial Era trembled. Immediately, a colossal image appeared in the sky, depicting the Ancestral Witch Houtu herself!
"Sea of Blood!"
"Houtu!"
The beings of the Primordial Era, gazing at the immense celestial projection, grew even more confused. They couldn't comprehend the Ancestral Witch Houtu's erratic actions, yet they watched intently.
Under their gaze, Houtu's proud Ancestral Witch physique began to crumble at a visible rate.
However, this physical form did not dissipate. Instead, it continuously extended and expanded. Before long, Houtu's body, above the Sea of Blood and under the watchful eyes of the Primordial Era, transformed into a vast great world.
Within this great world, the void rippled, revealing six dark, gaping holes that exuded a terrifying aura.
The beings of the Primordial Era were perplexed, unsure of what this was. At this moment, Houtu's voice echoed again.
"Today, I, Houtu, shall establish the Underworld and embody the Six Paths of Reincarnation. From this day forth, the souls of the living shall have a destination."
"The Six Paths of Reincarnation, based on the sins and merits of sentient beings, are divided into the Upper Three Paths and the Lower Three Paths."
"The Upper Three Paths are the Heavenly Path, the Human Path, and the Asura Path. These are the Three Virtuous Paths. Those who perform good deeds, accumulating immeasurable merit, shall enter these three paths, enjoying bliss and even achieving the status of Immortals and Gods."
"The Lower Three Paths are the Animal Path, the Hungry Ghost Path, and the Hell Path. These are the Three Evil Paths. Those who commit evil and wreak havoc shall enter these three paths after death, suffering to repay their misdeeds."
After announcing the purpose of the Six Paths of Reincarnation to the beings of the Primordial Era, Houtu's voice continued.
"Now that the Six Paths of Reincarnation exist, and the souls of the living have a destination, there must be a Netherworld and a Underworld to verify the good and evil deeds of beings during their lives, and to determine their destination within the Six Paths!"
As Houtu's words concluded, a colossal city materialized out of thin air within the great world, emanating an eerie and terrifying aura.
Above the immense city gate, the characters "Ghost Gate Pass" flowed with profound Daoist principles, exuding immense power and majesty.
Looking within, various structures also appeared, such as the Yellow Springs Road, the Bridge of Forgetfulness, the Wangxiang Terrace, and the eighteen layers of hell, too numerous to count.
"The Netherworld and Underworld are complete. The departed souls of the Primordial Era shall return to their rightful places!"
As Houtu's final voice faded, Yin energy surged throughout the Primordial Era. Countless lonely souls and wandering spirits, as if summoned, began to flock towards this Netherworld and Underworld.
The beings of the Primordial Era, witnessing the colossal image between heaven and earth and listening to Houtu's pronouncements, finally understood the role of the Netherworld and Underworld. They bowed deeply towards Houtu in the sky.
Ancestral Witch Houtu, sacrificing her physical body to embody the Six Paths of Reincarnation—what immense compassion and tragic heroism!
It must be remembered that the Wu clan cultivated only the physical body and not the primordial spirit.
Now that Houtu had become reincarnation, her physical body was gone. How could her true spirit be preserved?
This was Ancestral Witch Houtu, sacrificing herself to complete the Primordial Era!
Such selflessness for the sake of heaven and earth, such a grand feat, deserved the gratitude of billions of beings in the Primordial Era, and was truly worthy!
Patriarch Styx, watching the residual souls at the edge of the Sea of Blood all surge towards the Netherworld and Underworld, and seeing Houtu's figure disappear, sighed.
"Alas, Houtu was too foolish. Did she truly believe she could achieve sainthood this way? However, her great compassion, I deeply admire!"
Amidst his sigh, Patriarch Styx also felt a sense of relief.
Fortunately, he had only promised to cede half the Sea of Blood if Houtu achieved sainthood.
Now that Houtu was gone, he no longer had to fulfill such a celestial vow. To him, this was a great stroke of fortune.
Xu Fang, observing Patriarch Styx's silent self-congratulation, offered a wry smile.
"Fellow Daoist Minghe, you think it's over? This is far from it!"
"Not over yet? Fellow Daoist Xu Fang, do not frighten me. I am not easily scared..."
Patriarch Styx began to retort to Xu Fang, but his words trailed off mid-sentence. For above the Netherworld and Underworld, Houtu's primordial spirit projection appeared.
"Houtu sacrificed herself. The Earthly Dao of the Primordial Era, moved by her tragic compassion, bestows merit to preserve her true spirit from dissipation!"
A majestic voice echoed within the Netherworld and Underworld. Immediately, an immense amount of merit surged from within, landing upon Houtu.
Houtu's primordial spirit, enveloped by merit, began to solidify continuously. In a short while, it had completely solidified, indistinguishable from Houtu before her sacrifice. Her cultivation realm also surged at this moment.
"Primordial Earthly Dao? What is this?"
"No way, does such a thing truly exist? Then what is the Heavenly Dao?"
"This is fake, right? Why have I lived for so long and never heard of such a thing?"
The beings of the Primordial Era chattered amongst themselves, especially the powerful old ancestors, who were utterly shocked.
They were immensely powerful and had lived for so long in the Primordial Era, yet they had never heard of such a thing!
When did this happen? Why were they not informed of such a fundamental update to the common knowledge of the Primordial Era!
At this very moment, in the Purple霄 Palace, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's eyes suddenly opened, a divine light flowing within them.
"Interesting. This one has finally emerged, intending to use Houtu's embodiment of reincarnation as a catalyst for her own emergence. How can I let you have your way?"
As these thoughts arose, a majestic voice resonated throughout the Primordial Era.
"Houtu has perfected the heavens and earth. The Heavenly Dao, moved by her compassion, bestows merit to help her coalesce her true spirit and prevent its dispersal!"
Immediately, countless merits from the horizon converged, forming golden clouds of merit that streamed towards the Netherworld and Underworld beside the Sea of Blood, falling around Houtu.
Patriarch Styx, watching the merits fly over the Sea of Blood, nearly had his eyeballs pop out. This was the ultimate tantalizing sight of merit passing by one's doorstep without entering.
Meanwhile, the beings of the Primordial Era, observing the merits from both Heaven and Earth converging around Houtu, were filled with envy.
Regardless of where this Primordial Earthly Dao had emerged from, both Heaven and Earth were now bestowing this merit.
If Houtu absorbed all this merit, let alone maintaining her true spirit, achieving sainthood would be well within her grasp.
Furthermore, with such a convergence of celestial merit, if Houtu were to achieve sainthood, her foundation would be even more profound than that of Nuwa, who had recently attained hers!
However, under the astonished gaze of the entire Primordial Era, Houtu did not immediately accept the Heavenly Dao merit. Gazing at the Heavenly Dao merit so close at hand, she immediately used the Earthly Dao merit to block it.
"I have embodied reincarnation and perfected the heavens and earth. I shall be an Earthly Dao Saint. Heaven, Earth, and Man shall stand together. What need have I for Heavenly Dao merit?"
Houtu cried out loudly, her aura erupting, pushing the Heavenly Dao merit aside. She continued to absorb the Earthly Dao merit.
She firmly remembered Xu Fang's words and would not debase herself to become subservient to Dao Ancestor Hongjun, allowing the Earthly Dao to be suppressed by the Heavenly Dao.
However, these words instantly widened the eyes of all beings in the Primordial Era, startling them!