Nearly one epoch has passed since the end of the Dao-Demon Tribulation conflict. During this long period, the Primordial World ushered in a long-lost peace. Although the Evil Qi permeating the heavens and earth had not completely dissipated, it had thinned out considerably.
During this time, Zhou Ming was not idle either.
He often left Pangu Hall to collect the Evil Qi left behind from the Dragon Han and Dao-Demon Tribulation tribulations in the Primordial World, refining it for the Twelve Ancestral Witches to serve as their "nourishment" for growth.
With a continuous supply of energy and the operation of the Nine Revolutions Qi Cleansing Art, the Twelve Ancestral Witches' transformation process was greatly advanced.
Not only were their Physical Bodies powerful, but more importantly, they all successfully condensed their Primordial Spirits.
Although these Primordial Spirits were still somewhat weak compared to their Physical Bodies, far inferior to those Innate great deities who were born with Primordial Spirits, this was undoubtedly a huge Breakthrough.
This meant that the Wu Clan was no longer the reckless race that only Cultivated their Physical Bodies and did not understand the ways of heaven!
Looking at the twelve powerful-looking younger brothers and sisters before him, whose eyes still held a hint of nascent innocence, Zhou Ming was filled with emotion.
Of course, while helping his younger brothers and sisters, Zhou Ming's own Cultivation never lagged.
With the Karma gained from refining Evil Qi and his continuous comprehension of the Law of Force, his Cultivation steadily improved.
Finally, not long ago, he reached the Peak Realm of Grand Unity Golden Immortal!
At the same time, his refining of the dao source divine pearl progressed further, successfully refining thirty Innate Restrictions within it.
This was already the limit that could be reached in the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm.
To go further, he would need to step into the Primordial Golden Immortal Realm.
"Grand Unity Peak… it's still not enough."
This level of strength, in the future great tribulation of the Wu and Demon Clans, in an era where Saints would emerge, would still be like an ant.
Hongjun was about to attain Dao, and Purple Cloud Palace was about to begin its lectures.
The Wu Clan needed resources, needed Luck, and needed to quickly improve its overall strength to seize a glimmer of hope in the upcoming era of great contention!
He had to start planning! He couldn't continue to stay in Pangu Hall and Cultivate in seclusion.
"Come here, all of you." Zhou Ming said in a deep voice.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches immediately gathered around, looking at Zhou Ming in unison.
"Big Brother, what's the matter?" Zhurong, the most impatient among them, asked in a booming voice.
Zhou Ming looked at them, his expression becoming serious.
"Now that the Primordial World is initially settled, and the Dragon Han and Dao-Demon Tribulation tribulations have ended, it is a great opportunity for our Wu Clan to emerge and accumulate strength."
"Continuing to stay in Pangu Hall, while safe, is like looking at the sky from the bottom of a well, making it difficult to truly grow stronger."
"Therefore, I have decided to divide our forces into three groups and begin planning for our Wu Clan!"
Upon hearing that they were to leave Pangu Hall, many Ancestral Witches showed excitement and eagerness in their eyes.
They were naturally active and had long been curious about the world outside the hall.
Zhou Ming raised his hand, signaling them to calm down, and continued:
"Dijiang, you lead Liang, Tianwu, and Xizi to travel throughout the Primordial World. Your main task is to collect various Heaven And Earth Treasures!"
"As long as they are Magic Treasures and Spiritual Roots, whether Innate or Acquired, as long as they are of some value and can be obtained, bring them all back to Pangu Hall!"
"Remember, our goal is to collect resources, not to compete and fight. If you encounter someone who is unreasonable, avoid them if possible, and try not to conflict with other forces. If you can't win, run. Safety first!"
"Yes! Brother!" Dijiang patted his chest and grinned, looking very confident.
He was born with control over the Law of Space; in terms of escape, if he claimed second, no one would dare claim first.
Next, Zhou Ming looked at Zhu Jiuyin, the Ancestral Witch of Time: "Zhu Jiuyin, you lead Jumang, Rushou, and Yazi to the Western Land."
Zhou Ming's mind stirred, and the dao source divine pearl emerged from between his brows.
"This is the supreme treasure, the dao source divine pearl, left by Father God." He handed the dao source divine pearl to Zhu Jiuyin.
"Your mission is to go to the West."
"The Western Land was previously devastated by Rahu's self-detonation, its Spiritual Veins were destroyed, and Evil Qi and resentment proliferated. Your journey there is to use the dao source divine pearl to sort out the Western Earth Veins and absorb and refine the Evil Qi there. Firstly, this can improve your Cultivation, and secondly, it can accumulate Karma for our Wu Clan."
"Brother, rest assured, we understand." Zhu Jiuyin nodded, his expression calm.
Finally, Zhou Ming's gaze fell on Zhurong, Gonggong, Xuanming, and Houtu.
These four had relatively more distinct personalities, especially Zhurong and Gonggong, who were naturally at odds, while Xuanming and Houtu were the only two female figures among the Twelve Ancestral Witches, with relatively more delicate minds.
"Zhurong, Gonggong, Xuanming, Houtu."
"You four, come with me to a place."
"Where are we going, Big Brother?" Zhurong asked curiously.
"We are going to… climb Mount Buzhou!"
"Climb a mountain?" Zhurong and Gonggong exchanged glances, a bit confused.
Mount Buzhou was right outside Pangu Hall, what was there to climb?
"Of course, it's not just a simple mountain climb." Zhou Ming explained, "Mount Buzhou was transformed from Father God's spine, and his powerful will still remains on the mountain."
"Our purpose in going there is, firstly, to pay homage to Father God's legacy and comprehend his mighty power, and secondly…"
He changed his tone, looked at the four, and his expression became somewhat "profound and unfathomable."
"We are going to… communicate with Father God's will."
"Communicate?"
Xuanming blinked, a little puzzled.
Houtu also looked bewildered.
"Yes, communicate." Zhou Ming nodded, lowering his voice, "Once we are on the mountain, you all must follow my lead, especially…"
"Xuanming, Houtu, listen carefully."
"When we get close to the place where Father God's will is strong, you two are to… cry!"
"Ah? Cry?" Xuanming was stunned, and Houtu's face turned red, feeling a bit at a loss.
"Yes! Just cry!" Zhou Ming said decisively, "You must cry miserably! Cry heartbreakingly! Cry so that those who hear are sad and those who listen shed tears!"
"Just think about how difficult it is for our Wu Clan right now, having nothing, not even a decent protective Magic Treasure. Think about how those Innate great deities always shine with treasure light when they go out, while we can only rely on our fists…"
"And think about Father God, how he toiled to create this Primordial World, exhausting himself, and in the end, even sacrificed himself, yet we, his children, are living so miserably…"
Zhou Ming spoke more and more excitedly, as if he himself was about to cry.
"In short, just act as wronged as possible! As pitiful as possible! We must make Father God's will feel our 'filial piety' and 'hardship'!"
"As the saying goes, the crying child gets the milk!"
"Although Father God's will does not have complete emotions, he always has a special fondness for us, his descendants, who were transformed from his essence blood."
The more miserably we cry, the more Father God's will will feel for us. Maybe if he's happy, *snap*, a few Innate Spirit Treasures will drop, or he'll impart some powerful Cultivation Techniques, wouldn't we be rich?"
Xuanming and Houtu were both stunned.
Zhurong and Gonggong's eyes widened even more, suspecting they had misheard.
Make them, the dignified Ancestral Witches, cry? What kind of thing was this?
"Big Brother, are you sure? Why cry?" Zhurong couldn't help but exclaim.
"Exactly, our Wu Clan sheds blood but not tears!" Gonggong also said, sticking out his neck.
"Ahem!" Zhou Ming cleared his throat and said earnestly: "This is not ordinary crying, this is a strategy, understand? A strategy!"
"Think about it, we are transformed from Father God's essence blood, we are Father God's children, right?"
"Father God has fallen, how miserably do we orphans live, not even having a decent protective Magic Treasure!"
"If we go to Father God's will and cry to him, acting a little wronged and pitiful, Father God's lingering will might soften and give us some good things, wouldn't he?"
Zhou Ming tried his best to explain his "wisdom" from a later generation in a way they could understand.
"…"
Zhurong, Gonggong, Xuanming, and Houtu looked at each other, feeling that what Big Brother said seemed to make some sense, but also felt something was odd.
Making them cry miserably to gain benefits… This operation, why did it feel so… un-Wu Clan?
"In short, trusting me is not wrong!" Zhou Ming made the final decision, "At that time, follow my lead, especially Xuanming and Houtu, you two prepare your emotions well, and make sure to cry with genuine feeling, like pear blossoms bathed in rain, understand?"
Xuanming and Houtu nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Zhurong scratched his head: "Big Brother, this… will it work?"
"Whether it works or not, we'll know by trying!" Zhou Ming said decisively, "It's better than just waiting! Our Wu Clan has a weak foundation and started late. To develop quickly, we must take an unconventional path!"
"Okay! Big Brother, we'll listen to you!"
"Cry, then! For the Wu Clan!"
Zhou Ming nodded with satisfaction. Very good, the ideological work was done.
Next, it remained to be seen whether this "Crying Mountain" plan could succeed!
"Alright, prepare yourselves, and depart immediately!"