Chapter 54: Restoration of the Earth Vein

For the primordial beings, the term "vein" refers to the network through which blood circulates according to the body's physiology.

The earth veins, as the name suggests, are the pathways within the vast primordial land. By harnessing these veins, the malevolent energy deep within the earth and the innate spiritual energy above ground circulate together, purifying the malevolent energy into innate spiritual energy that nourishes all life upon the land.

When Rahu detonated the earth veins of the Western region, it caused a rupture, halting the circulation. Not only did the generation of innate spiritual energy cease, but the malevolent energy surged uncontrollably, overwhelming the creatures inhabiting that land.

Confronted with such terrifying malevolence, the nearly saintly figures Jieyin and Zhunti were naturally powerless. Even if both had attained sainthood, repairing the earth veins under such conditions would require immense effort and several primordial epochs to accomplish.

But the Witch Clan was different.

From birth, the Witch Clan absorbed vast amounts of malevolent energy. For them, malevolent energy was like innate spiritual energy was to the primordial saints.

The Witch Clan simultaneously absorbed the overflowing malevolence to refine their bodies while repairing the earth veins — a process remarkably effortless for them.

Hence, it is evident that the Witch Clan has been intrinsically linked to the earth’s veins since birth.

Bai Jing could not assist in repairing the earth veins. Though his path resembled that of the ancestral witches, he was not of the Witch Clan but a primordial saint, and malevolent energy was something he instinctively avoided.

Therefore, Bai Jing could only guard the path alongside the witches, preventing any careless interlopers from disrupting their work.

Unnoticed, a millennium passed.

As the Witch Clan engrossed themselves in repairing the earth veins, the two from the West appeared.

Bai Jing was unsurprised to see Jieyin and Zhunti. After all, the West was their domain. Since the Witch Clan was aiding in repairing the Western earth veins, Jieyin and Zhunti were indebted to them in terms of karmic ties.

Moreover, having just faced a great battle with the Lich Clan and suffering heavy losses, it was only fitting for Jieyin and Zhunti to arrive bearing gifts to pay their respects.

The ancestral witches were reluctant to engage with Jieyin and Zhunti. More precisely, they bore ill feelings toward any disciple of Hongjun, which naturally left the matter to Houtu.

Houtu, unwilling to face the two alone, summoned Bai Jing to accompany her.

When Jieyin and Zhunti saw Bai Jing by Houtu's side, their expressions immediately soured.

The memory of Bai Jing shattering half of Zhunti's body and forcibly seizing the Wood Spirit Pearl after the Purple Cloud Palace’s Third Lecture was still vivid.

Throughout this primordial epoch, Jieyin and Zhunti had labored to cultivate, aspiring to become saints and reclaim their honor against Bai Jing.

Now reunited, they both instinctively gauged Bai Jing’s cultivation.

The more they looked, the grimmer their expressions grew, as they discovered Bai Jing’s physical form had reached the late stage of the Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal.

Their own progress paled in comparison: Jieyin had only just broken through to the late stage of Quasi-Sainthood, and Zhunti still had some distance to cover.

How had Bai Jing caught up with them so quickly? He lacked the Hongmeng Purple Qi!

While Jieyin and Zhunti scrutinized Bai Jing, he too evaluated them.

Their cultivation speeds were roughly as he expected; Jieyin was even slower than Nuwa, and Zhunti lagged further behind.

Judging by their shameless nature, once they attained sainthood, they would likely brazenly seek trouble with Bai Jing.

Thus, these two served as one of Bai Jing’s motivations to cultivate diligently.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Houtu hurriedly spoke, “Esteemed friends, have you come to discuss matters?”

After casting a deep glance at Bai Jing, Jieyin replied, “Friend Houtu, I have heard of the conflicts between the Witch Clan and the Demon Clan, with many witches wounded by demons. I am deeply concerned and have brought some spirit fruits to replenish your energy. Though our Western land is barren, and the quality may be lacking, please do not disdain this humble offering.”

“Your kindness is much appreciated, friend Jieyin.”

“Friend Houtu, may I ask how much longer it will take to repair the Western earth veins?” Zhunti inquired.

“Approximately twenty thousand years,” Houtu replied.

Upon hearing this, a faint smile crept onto Jieyin and Zhunti’s lips.

Only twenty thousand years to complete the repair of the Western earth veins was excellent news indeed.

“Friends, do not be so quick to rejoice. I do not believe your Western earth veins will be restored so easily,” Bai Jing interjected, freezing their smiles.

“Bai Jing, what do you mean by that?” Jieyin asked sternly.

“The Witch Clan gains merit from repairing the earth veins, which strengthens their overall power. This is absolutely intolerable to the Demon Clan. Now that the veins are nearing restoration, do you think the demons will stand idly by?” Bai Jing explained.

Hearing this, Jieyin and Zhunti understood his meaning immediately.

Houtu added, “Friends, Bai Jing has accompanied us here to guard against the Demon Clan.”

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances and said, “Friend Houtu, rest assured, my brother and I will be vigilant against the demons. Should they dare to cause trouble, they will not escape our wrath.”

Houtu nodded with a smile.

After bidding farewell to the two Western visitors, Houtu examined the spirit fruits they had brought and sighed.

“Is there too few spirit fruits?” Bai Jing asked.

Houtu said nothing but handed over the space pouch containing the fruits. Bai Jing inspected it and was instantly speechless.

There were many spirit fruits — ten thousand in total — but the quality was poor. Most were mid-grade fruits borne from postnatal spiritual roots, only a hundred were high-grade postnatal fruits, and a mere ten were innate spirit fruits, all of low quality.

Such spirit fruits were decent resources for Taiyi Golden Immortals but utterly useless for Da Luo Golden Immortals, let alone cultivators beyond Da Luo.

“No wonder Jieyin said their Western land was barren. The truth was right here!” Bai Jing remarked wryly.

Houtu had not expected Jieyin and Zhunti to be so stingy and was momentarily at a loss for words.

She tucked the spirit fruits away and returned to her task of tending the earth veins.

Unnoticed, twenty thousand years passed.

During this time, the Witch Clan diligently repaired the Western earth veins. As Bai Jing had predicted, the Demon Clan would not allow the witches to complete the repair and gain vast merits without interference.

The demons sent many of their kin to disrupt the witches covertly, but all were repelled by the Western duo and Bai Jing.

One day, just after Bai Jing had defeated another group of troublemakers, the Western land trembled. In the next instant, a golden lotus burst forth from the earth, radiating boundless merit that coalesced into an endless sea of gold.

Witnessing this, Bai Jing immediately realized that the Western earth veins had been restored.