Journey to the West: With a supernatural understanding, he entered Fangcun Mountain at the beginning
Chapter 16 - The Xuanming Body of the Taiyi Golden Immortal

Chapter 16: The Xuanming Body of the Taiyi Golden Immortal

Qin Chuan, intrigued, asked, “May I inquire what kind of trade the Lady wishes to make? My cultivation is still shallow…”

It is always wise to leave room for retreat in one’s words. His gaze remained fixed on the drop of blood in Lady Pingxin’s palm, glowing with radiant brilliance. Within it, he sensed a vast, majestic power, as if boundless vitality brewed within.

In the shadowy valley, underworld flowers slowly became cloaked in a thick layer of frost, releasing a strange yet beautiful cold fragrance. Mist rose from the valley waters, and a fine drizzle began to fall.

[You have observed the Ancestral Witch Xuanming’s blood and comprehended the fifth Heaven-Level Divine Power: Command Wind and Rain.].

Xuanming’s blood?

The Wu tribe, born in the Great Desolation, stood with feet planted on the earth and their heads reaching for the heavens. They neither worshipped the heavens nor the underworld, but revered only Pangu.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches of ancient times were born from Pangu’s essence blood. They were uniquely favored by heaven, cultivating not the primordial spirit but instead possessing unimaginably powerful physical bodies. Each Ancestral Witch wielded a distinct law of nature.

Every Ancestral Witch was a supreme powerhouse, just beneath the level of Saints. Even in the present Three Realms, they could rival any great divine being.

Xuan means north, and Ming means dark. The north is associated with water, and water’s yin nature manifests as cold. Thus, Ancestral Witch Xuanming was also known as the Witch of Rain and the Witch of Ice.

If Qin Chuan could refine this drop of blood—or even just a fraction of it—he might instantly attain the level of Taiyi Golden Immortal and perhaps gain the unmatched physical strength of the Wu tribe.

As a human cultivator, Qin Chuan’s greatest shortcoming had always been his physical body. Even the most advanced protective techniques of the Buddhist or Daoist sects couldn’t compare to the inherent might of a Wu tribe body.

Lady Pingxin gazed at the drop of blood in her hand, a trace of nostalgia flickering in her eyes. Smiling, she said, “There is no need for you to offer anything in return now. When you have achieved something in the future, I will ask a favor of you. If you agree, I’ll give you this drop of blood now—and help you refine it personally.”

“Of course, the favor will be within your capabilities.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan cupped his hands.

“In that case, I have no reason to refuse. However, I’ve heard that the Ancestral Witches do not cultivate the primordial spirit. If I refine this drop of blood, will it conflict with my current cultivation?”

If refining the blood required abandoning the primordial spirit path, it wouldn’t be worth it—no matter how powerful the Wu tribe’s body was. Without the primordial spirit, reaching the realm of Hunyuan (Primordial Unity) would be impossible, a price far too high.

Lady Pingxin laughed softly. “You truly have high ambitions. If any of the other Ancestral Witches helped you refine this, your primordial spirit would indeed be destroyed. But with my assistance, it won’t be a problem.”

As she spoke, a wisp of glowing light emerged from her brow—it was pure primordial spirit power.

Qin Chuan’s eyes lit up with joy. “Then I thank you sincerely, Lady!”

Lady Pingxin nodded. “Then let’s begin.” With a simple wave of her hand, the drop of blood flew toward Qin Chuan’s forehead.

He exhaled a cold breath as an extreme chill swept over his body—like plunging into an icy hell. His primordial spirit froze, and his physical body endured the pain of rain eroding stone. For a moment, Qin Chuan even suspected that Lady Pingxin might be harming him, but then he realized she had no need to do so. In the underworld, if she had ill intentions, not even the Bodhi Patriarch could save him.

Lady Pingxin watched as Qin Chuan’s entire body became encased in ice, transforming him into a statue. She smiled faintly. “Feel the power of the Wu tribe well.”

Qin Chuan slowly opened his eyes. The world gradually came into focus, though his soul hadn’t fully awakened. Suddenly, his eyes shot open wide, and he instinctively shouted, “What the hell?!”

Before him stood a handsome youth, crowned with the Chaos Heaven and Earth, a celestial sigil of the Dao embedded in his brow. His robes were adorned with the sun, moon, and stars of the primordial chaos.

The youth then transformed into a blazing sun, his aura overwhelming as he charged straight at Qin Chuan.

What was even more terrifying was that the youth’s head was crowned by a floating, mysterious yellow bell. When it rang, the universe sparkled, the heavens dimmed, and all of creation trembled.

“Donghuang Taiyi!”

“Qin Chuan!” The scream wasn’t his own voice, but a sharp, feminine cry. He instantly realized—he could no longer control his body.

With a visualization technique, Qin Chuan swallowed hard. This wasn’t his body! He now had a human face, but a bird’s body. Blue snakes dangled from both ears and coiled beneath his feet.

It was the form of Ancestral Witch Xuanming.

Facing Donghuang Taiyi’s charge, Xuanming manipulated the waters of heaven and earth, condensing them into frost and releasing cold yin energy, which transformed into drifting snow.

As her divine powers erupted, icy rain poured from the sky, bringing an unbearable chill. All living beings shuddered. Her physical body was like a towering mountain, unfazed by any blow, shaking heaven and earth with brute strength.

Not to be outdone, Donghuang Taiyi responded. The Chaos Bell roared continuously, its sound shattering space, as if the end of the world had arrived.

The two battled fiercely. Heaven and earth trembled, the sun and moon lost their light, and the stars dimmed. The wind howled, thunder roared, mountains crumbled, rivers cracked, and even the sky seemed to be falling apart.

At the peak of their struggle, Xuanming blanketed the world in icy rain, while Taiyi swung the Chaos Bell, attempting to break through the glacial realm. When frost collided with the bell, a deafening sound rang out, and space fractured like shattered glass, reflecting countless illusory images.

Qin Chuan’s eyes burned with excitement, and he muttered to himself, “So this… this is what divine power looks like… The true might of an Ancestral Witch…”

Monkey… oh, Monkey… I really wish you could see this!

In the depths of the shadowy valley, the icy rain continued to fall. Suddenly, one of the frozen statues trembled violently. Tiny cracks appeared—signs of rebirth.

At that moment, divine light burst forth, and colorful radiance danced across the valley.

Qin Chuan’s eyes snapped open, his spirit focused. He began preparing for a breakthrough into the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm.

His aura surged violently, like the crashing waves of an endless ocean. Within his soul, divine light churned and rose. His hands moved swiftly, forming seals that changed rapidly. Immortal power surged within him, like a raging torrent, charging straight towards the heavens. In an instant, the surrounding icy rain completely evaporated, transforming into boundless white mist.

Suddenly, the ice sculpture burst into radiant brilliance. The cracks turned into tens of thousands of golden beams, shooting into the sky.

At that moment, heaven and earth changed color. The previously stormy valley was now devoid of cold rain. In its place was a resplendent golden rainbow stretching across the sky. The entire valley was now filled with auspicious light and sparkling spiritual brilliance.

Lady Pingxin nodded in satisfaction. With a wave of her delicate hand, all phenomena faded away. She was about to offer praise when suddenly her expression froze. Her red lips parted slightly in surprise, her face marked with astonishment.

Qin Chuan’s aura had shifted dramatically. All worldly dust and light seemed sealed away. Behind him, a massive phantom of a human-faced, bird-bodied figure slowly emerged and began to solidify.

At that moment, Qin Chuan’s aura surged to an unimaginable level, far surpassing even his earlier breakthrough to Taiyi Golden Immortal.

The true form of Xuanming?

Lady Pingxin stared at Qin Chuan in disbelief. This was entirely unexpected—could this boy’s comprehension truly be so extraordinary?

As the true form of Xuanming took shape, its eyes suddenly opened. A terrifying aura erupted, like a raging storm, shaking even the Netherworld and Underworld themselves.

Beneath the Nine Springs, countless ghosts were stunned into silence. All manner of shadowy beings trembled before this overwhelming might.