Chapter Twenty-Four: The Twelve Ancestral Witches

In the cavern deep beneath Mount Buzhou, the new generation’s Kirin clan chief, Jade Kirin, lingered as usual, gazing blankly at the nearly tangible mass of primordial turbid energy. There was little to do—within the clan, his only duty was to implant the divine incantations into the souls of his kin, leaving them to comprehend the mysteries on their own. After that, he found himself idle.

But on this day, the primordial turbid energy began to rise. Previously, the sealing formation left by the Kirin Ancestor could suppress it with a mere input of magic power, but now, it had lost all effect. The turbid energy relentlessly battered the great seal, and Jade Kirin struggled bitterly to maintain it.

Although the Kirin clan had withdrawn from the stage of history, they still held significant influence in the vast primordial world. Their power was tightly guarded within Mount Buzhou, their final sanctuary, so Jade Kirin was determined to risk his very life to prevent the spread of this force.

Above Mount Buzhou, twelve stars of baleful energy shrouded the entire mountain range.

In the end, the primordial turbid energy broke free of its prison, escaping the Kirin Ancestor’s seal and emerging into the world. Twelve pillars of primordial turbid energy appeared in the cavern. At this sight, Jade Kirin thought with despair, “My clan is finished.”

In the struggle against the primordial energy’s seal, Jade Kirin had exhausted all his magic, left with only profound understanding of the Dao—his cultivation, but no power to wield it.

The surging turbid energy gradually contracted, transforming into a series of strange beings. These were the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Upon their birth, the lingering resentment and baleful energy left uncleansed by the Dragon-Han Calamity surged forth from every corner of the primordial world, converging upon Mount Buzhou and becoming the vital force that shaped the Ancestral Witches.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches were formed from twelve drops of blood from Pangu’s heart after he split heaven and earth, merged with primordial turbid energy, while the Three Pure Ones were born from Pangu’s three primordial spirits and the pure energy of creation. These witches were of great power; they had not appeared during the Dragon-Han Calamity, but emerged in its aftermath, drawn by the world’s baleful energy.

Upon their birth, the Twelve Ancestral Witches possessed the cultivation of early-stage Grand Golden Immortals, which left Jade Kirin stunned. What did it mean to be favored by the Dao? He had struggled for countless years, only to be surpassed by these beings at the moment of their birth. Jade Kirin thought back to his own struggles against fate, his relentless pursuit forward, but compared to them, it was no wonder.

“I have the virtue of perseverance,” Jade Kirin consoled himself, then turned his gaze toward the twelve strange figures born of the turbid energy.

The first had the form of a yellow sac, crimson as a fire, with six legs, four wings, and no face—this was Emperor Jiang. Emperor Jiang gently fluttered his wings, prideful of his mastery over space, a legacy from Father Pangu himself; he was the Ancestral Witch of Space.

The second, with a body green as bamboo, had a bird’s form and a human face, riding two azure dragons beneath his feet. This was Gou Mang. He glanced down, chuckled, and where his feet stood, the earth turned from yellow soil to a verdant grassland, displaying his power over life—the Wood Ancestral Witch of the East.

The third had a human face and tiger’s body, golden dragon scales draping his form, wings on his shoulders, a yellow serpent coiled around his left ear, and rode two golden dragons. This was Ru Shou, with a divine axe and shield formed from baleful energy at his sides—his power the Metal Ancestral Witch of the West.

The fourth bore a python’s head and human body, covered in black scales, clad in a black and grey robe, a seal in his right hand, feet upon a black dragon, and a green python coiling around his arm. He noticed the dry earth and considered summoning water, but refrained lest it disrupt his brothers’ transformations, so he quietly washed the grime from his body. This was Gong Gong, the Water Ancestral Witch of the North.

The fifth had a beast’s head and human body, red fish scales, fire serpents coiled around his ears, a banner in his left hand, and stood upon a fire dragon. This was Zhu Rong, the Fire Ancestral Witch of the South. With a fiery temperament from birth, he frowned at Gong Gong’s bathing but said nothing, though from the start he had looked down upon Gong Gong, sowing seeds of future conflict. Absorbing the turbid energy quietly, he closed his eyes.

The sixth had eight heads with human faces, a tiger’s body, and ten tails; this was Tian Wu, the Wind Ancestral Witch. All the world’s breezes stirred at his presence. Seeing his brothers meditating, Tian Wu closed his eyes and immersed himself in his own Dao.

The seventh held a serpent in his mouth and left hand, a drum in his right, with a tiger’s head, human body, four hooves, and long elbows; this was Qiang Liang, Lord of Thunder, innately commanding lightning. Thunder rumbled from his body, causing Di Jun and the others to glare at him, whereupon Qiang Liang quieted and meditated.

The eighth had a human face and bird’s body, blue serpents hanging from his ears, a red serpent in his left hand, and a hammer in his right; this was Yue Zi. Searing electricity filled the air, then calmed as he awaited the emergence of the other Ancestral Witches.

The ninth had a human face and serpent’s body, all a vivid crimson; this was Candle Jiuyin, gliding serpent-like across the ground. To aid the others’ transformation, he cast a spell to form a circle, manipulating the flow of time within.

The tenth had a human face and beast’s body, ears like a dog’s, blue serpents on his ears, and a small box in his right hand; this was Shebi Corpse. Seeing the overcast skies outside Mount Buzhou, he displayed his power—altering the weather—making the skies instantly clear.

The eleventh had a human body with a serpent’s tail, seven arms on her back, two on her chest, both holding soaring snakes; this was Houtu, one of the few female Ancestral Witches. Seeing her brothers comprehending the Dao, she glanced at Candle Jiuyin, who governed time, and smiled knowingly. She then sent the primordial turbid energy from the depths to her brothers using her power over earth.

The twelfth was a fearsome giant beast, her body covered in bone spines—this was Xuan Ming. The youngest, she wept for lacking the power to take human form. Though the sky was clear, rain began to fall.

The other Ancestral Witches emerged from their realizations, understood the situation, and channeled turbid energy to Xuan Ming, helping her to take shape as a young maiden, who smiled and greeted her brethren.

Witnessing the transformation of the Ancestral Witches, Jade Kirin could not help but worry for himself. What was he to do?

“Big brother, the Kirin Ancestor tried to seal us with a formation. If it hadn’t been for the baleful energy created by the war of the three tribes, who knows when we would have emerged? We should drive these creatures from our Father Mountain, restoring its green sky,” Zhu Rong declared.

From the moment they were born, the Ancestral Witches regarded Mount Buzhou as their father, and cherished it deeply.

“No, we have no wish to interfere in your affairs. We only ask that you spare our clan,” Jade Kirin pleaded with the Ancestral Witches.

“The Kirin clan was birthed by fate and should not be wiped out. Let them guard our Father Mountain, but they must never take a step beyond its borders,” Gou Mang said to Emperor Jiang, winking at the others.

The Ancestral Witches nodded in agreement. Emperor Jiang said to Jade Kirin, “See to your own conduct.”

No matter how grateful Jade Kirin was, with a wave of Emperor Jiang’s hand, Jade Kirin fell silent, left the cavern, and walked out into the world.