My All-Heavens Chat Group-Chapter 539 - 2 Houtu’s Decision_1

"Tongtian, what exactly is going on here?"

As Grandmaster Hongjun spoke, Lord Taishang, Primeval Lord of Heaven, Zhunti Jieyin, Haotian, Yaochi, and other powerhouses turned their gazes toward Sect Hierarch Tongtian.

The scene from moments before had been too shocking. Especially the terror of the Lord of Hongmeng; it exceeded their imagination.

Facing everyone’s gaze, Sect Hierarch Tongtian, who had ascended to the rank of Supreme One, suppressed the excitement in his heart. Looking at them, he slowly began to speak, "As you all have seen, I fortuitously received an opportunity and have come to know of the great Lord of Hongmeng!"

"To convey the Lord of Hongmeng’s teachings and perform sacrificial rituals for him will earn one rewards from the Lord of Hongmeng himself."

Grandmaster Hongjun nodded, for he had already speculated as much in his heart, then asked, "What about Nuwa and the others—what’s their circumstance?"

Sect Hierarch Tongtian said, "Sacrificial rituals naturally require Sacrifices. Sacrifices can be of many kinds: treasures, rare birds and exotic beasts, or women of great destiny or those chosen by fate."

"Nuwa, the Jinling Saint Mother, and the others are such women, chosen by fate and blessed with great destiny. When they are offered up as Sacrifices, they will receive the Lord of Hongmeng’s Nature, and their cultivation level will soar."

"The Nuwa who descended into our world just now hails from a major world beyond our World of Primordial Chaos."

"When she was offered up as a Sacrifice, she only possessed the cultivation level of a Quasi-Saint, but after being sacrificed, she attained the power you saw just now!"

"HISS!"

Cold air was drawn in collectively by those present.

The might of Lotus Lantern, Nuwa, had already been witnessed by them. No one expected that the original Lotus Lantern, Nuwa, was merely a Quasi-Saint. The enhancement was simply heaven-defying.

At the same time, they also thought of Goddess Nuwa, the Jinling Saint Mother, and the others they had seen just before. Goddess Nuwa had the cultivation level of a Saint. Having offered herself up just now, her cultivation must surpass that of the Lotus Lantern, Nuwa who had just descended, akin to a meteoric rise to the heavens.

"Sect Hierarch Tongtian, can I offer myself as a Sacrifice too, even if just as a rare bird or exotic beast?" Kunpeng Ancestor couldn’t wait to speak.

He thought of that power surpassing Grandmaster Hongjun. Even if the price to pay was immense, he was willing. Moreover, in his view, the cost of offering oneself was nothing more than becoming a servant to the Lord of Hongmeng, serving the Lord of Hongmeng henceforth. To gain such tremendous power, if all he had to do was pledge loyalty, in his eyes, it was well worth it.

"You may!" Sect Hierarch Tongtian nodded. Kunpeng Ancestor, as a rare bird and exotic beast, would certainly make for a fine Sacrifice.

"Very well, very well, I shall offer myself as a Sacrifice!" Kunpeng Ancestor was overjoyed, his eyes brimming with excitement.

With his level of cultivation, offering himself would at least put him on the same level as the Jinling Saint Mother and the Wu Dang Saintess.

"Sect Hierarch Tongtian, how exactly is one determined to be a woman of great destiny or one chosen by fate? Would I count as one?" Queen Mother of the West’s red lips lightly parted. She too was an ancient power within the World of Primordial Chaos, her seniority not less than Nuwa’s. In the beginning, her strength even exceeded Nuwa’s. She was lauded as the World of Primordial Chaos’ foremost Fairy. But Nuwa was ordained a Saint by the Taoist Grandmaster. Her creation of humans led to her sainthood, and ever since then, the chasm between her and Nuwa was as deep as the heavens themselves. Now, having witnessed the unimaginable, heaven-defying Nature Nuwa received after being sacrificed, she could hardly suppress the tumult in her heart.

"One chosen by fate bears the destiny of a realm. You should qualify as such," said Sect Hierarch Tongtian.

"I see." Queen Mother of the West nodded, yet deep in thought about whether she should offer herself as a Sacrifice.

If Queen Mother of the West counts as one chosen by fate, this palace should also be eligible, Yaochi thought. As the reigning Empress Mother, my status and standing are not inferior to Queen Mother of the West’s. The idea of offering herself took root in her mind.

Subsequently, Grandmaster Hongjun and others posed many questions, and Sect Hierarch Tongtian patiently provided answers to them all.

In the end, he waved his hand grandly, and verses appeared in the sky, "This is the ’Meditation Method’ passed down by the Lord of Hongmeng. Simply pray, and you shall receive the Lord of Hongmeng’s grace. The first prayer will even grant you a glimpse of the Lord of Hongmeng’s immortal divine body!"

HUMMM... HUMMM...

Just at that moment, the Heavenly Dao quivered, endless rules interwove, with a myriad of auroras and a thousand streams of auspicious colors, presenting a plethora of extraordinary sights. Within these inexhaustible marvels, the image of a sacred and majestic goddess, seemingly embracing all beings with her virtue and carrying the world’s weight, condensed and emerged.

"Houtu!"

"Madam Pingxin!"

Haotian, Yaochi, and the others were surprised; they hadn’t expected Houtu to come. But on second thought, it made sense. With such a momentous event taking place, it was quite normal for Houtu to appear. However, Houtu had transformed herself into the cycle of reincarnation; her true body could not leave the Underworld. Thus, the presence here was just a projection, a divided being without much strength.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Tongtian!" Houtu looked towards Tongtian. "Congratulations on your substantial advancement in cultivation level, a joyous and celebratory occasion!"

"Fellow Daoist Houtu, you haven’t come just to offer congratulations, have you?" Sect Hierarch Tongtian cut straight to the point.

Houtu nodded, not hiding her intent, "Sect Hierarch Tongtian, I wish to know if I can offer myself as a Sacrifice? If I do, can my brothers be resurrected?"

"Fellow Daoist Houtu, you can naturally offer yourself as a Sacrifice. As for whether your brothers can be resurrected, I cannot guarantee it."

"What I can tell you is that the Lord of Hongmeng definitely possesses the power to resurrect your brothers, but I am unclear on how much merit is needed for that."

"Your brothers are no ordinary beings, Fellow Daoist. Even if you offer yourself as a Sacrifice, it might not be sufficient."

"I understand now. Thank you for clearing my doubts, Fellow Daoist." Houtu nodded, her beautiful eyes filled with a hopeful light.

Hongjun’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He felt that the style of Primordial Chaos seemed to have changed. If Houtu were to sacrifice herself, what would become of the Underworld? And it seemed that great divine power wielders like the Queen Mother of the West, Lord Zhenyuan, Minghe, and others were also contemplating sacrificing themselves. Even the Saints Zhunti and Jieyin had eyes that flickered with eagerness. He felt... Doomed! Yet, he dared not stop them.

Not to mention that Tongtian had now ascended to the status of Supreme One, wielding the Chaos Supreme Treasure, the Qingping Sword; Hongjun might not stand a chance against him. If he provoked the Lord of Hongmeng, any subordinate the Lord sent could easily annihilate him. Even the recently sacrificed Jinling Saint Mother, Wu Dang Saintess, Turtle Spirit Saintess, and the San Xiao, if any one of them were sent back, could wipe him out.

"In three months, I shall conduct another sacrificial ritual."

"Those who wish to offer themselves as Sacrifices may come and find me."

Sect Hierarch Tongtian left these words behind and then disappeared from sight. He now needed to organize his thoughts on the insight gained from ascending to Supreme One.

After Tongtian departed, numerous great divine power wielders excused themselves and left.

However, an even greater storm was already brewing. Countless formidable beings dispatched their followers to spread the faith of the Lord of Hongmeng, propagating his doctrine and collecting treasures for the next sacrificial ritual.

The whole atmosphere of Primordial Chaos has completely changed.

Hongjun returned to the Purple Cloud Palace and sat dazedly on his meditation cushion, his eyes filled with a lost gaze.

The times had changed. Should he also sacrifice himself? If he made such a sacrifice, to what realm would he ascend? He would certainly surpass Goddess Nuwa, right? But... once sacrificed, he knew he would definitely be at the mercy of the Lord of Hongmeng. This left him in a difficult quandary.

「In the depths of the Underworld.」

Houtu ordered all ghosts and goblins to worship the Lord of Hongmeng. In an instant, the whole Underworld was filled with prayers to the Lord of Hongmeng, the sound amassing into a torrential river.

Houtu’s gaze flickered resolutely. "My dear brothers, rest assured, I will bring you all back to life."

She would offer herself as a Sacrifice. If her own sacrifice, along with the treasures left by the Witch Clan and the faith of the entire Underworld, weren’t enough to resurrect everyone, she would serve the Lord of Hongmeng and accumulate merits. One day, she would be able to resurrect all of her brothers.

Besides, she believed that with her level of cultivation, if she were sacrificed, she might not even need the Lord of Hongmeng’s intervention and could use her greatly increased power to resurrect her eleven siblings.

...