Chapter 31: The Witch Race is Special, Xuanqing’s Drunkenness

Throughout the Great Flood, in terms of innate racial talent, the Witch Race stood unmatched.

Their natural gifts were the envy of countless races. While ordinary cultivators must attune to heaven and earth—studying mountains, rivers, and natural phenomena to grasp the Great Dao—the Witch Race differed entirely. They were born with the Dao embedded in their very flesh. The more powerful their physical bodies became, the more Daos they could carry. Their bodies did not merely endure the Dao—they birthed it. It was as if their physical form bred avenues of power spontaneously. This kind of talent caused endless envy and jealousy.

Even Laozi once lamented,

“Indeed, the Great Dao of your Witch Race arises naturally. No wonder you need not listen to the Dao.”

“Brother Laozi… what brings you here this time?” Emperor Jiang smiled as if they were old friends. “Do not tell me you’ve found another divine relic left behind by Father God and want to trade again?”

Laozi nodded slightly. “You could say that. After all, we Three Purities were each born of the remnant soul of Great God Pangu. It’s only natural that we feel an affinity toward the treasures he left behind in the Floodlands.”

“Well said. Come, set a banquet. I want to catch up with my eldest brother properly.” Emperor Jiang beamed, clearly anticipating another beneficial deal.

Xuanqing followed silently behind his master, daring not to speak. He could only follow closely and behave cautiously.

…

As they walked into the Witch Tribe’s domain, Xuanqing felt a strange, pressing energy emanating from the mountains themselves. It made him deeply uncomfortable.

Emperor Jiang noticed and frowned slightly. “Brother Laozi, what’s wrong with this little one? His flesh is so fragile.”

“Xuanqing is my disciple,” Laozi replied calmly. “He was born of elixirs and lacks physical robustness. However, he is cultivating the Nine Revolutions of Xuan Gong. Over time, his body will strengthen.”

“Oh?” Emperor Jiang raised a brow. “He’s cultivating the Nine Revolutions Xuan Gong passed down by Father God? Now that’s a fine body-refining method. He’d best cultivate diligently—his current frame wouldn’t even make a decent toothpick.” He chuckled, eyeing Xuanqing.

Xuanqing’s body stiffened. What? Could it be that the Witch Tribe also consumed elixirs? He had originally assumed that, since they did not rely on spiritual energy, his pill-formed body would be safe among them. Yet now it seemed even here, he could be at risk of being eaten.

Emperor Jiang seemed to read his thoughts and laughed heartily. “Haha! Relax, child. Our Witch Tribe doesn’t eat pills—but a few here and there wouldn’t hurt.”

Xuanqing blushed with embarrassment and edged closer to Laozi. Laozi only stroked his beard and smiled faintly. “You jest, Taoist Di Jiang. This disciple of mine is not yet accustomed to such jest.”

Emperor Jiang laughed again but said no more.

From that moment, Xuanqing made sure never to stray near him again.

Back when he visited the Violet Sky Palace—his master’s realm—he was already watched by countless guests. Now, in the Witch Tribe, it was the same. Is there no safe place left in the Floodlands?

…

Soon, they arrived at the heart of the Witch Tribe.

A group of large men were washing down a beast the size of a small mountain, then heaving it whole into a cauldron to boil. Several other similar beasts were being roasted on open flame nearby.

The scene was primitive and fierce—Xuanqing felt as if he had stepped into a tribe of savages.

He turned to Laozi in confusion. “Master… I thought cultivators like us no longer needed to eat food. Why does the Witch Tribe still eat?”

Before Laozi could reply, a Witch beside them spoke with a grin. “You’re still young, brat. We of the Witch Race cultivate using Rage Qi. Rage Qi can temper the flesh, but it cannot replenish what is lost. That’s why we feast on Flood Beasts—to replenish qi and blood, to strengthen the body.”

Xuanqing blinked but still did not fully understand. The Witch offered no further explanation, and Laozi simply turned his gaze away.

More Ancestral Witches appeared, all similar in stature and aura to Di Jiang.

“Laozi… it’s been a long time,” one of them said with restrained politeness.

Laozi gently nodded. “Fellow Daoist Candle Jiuyin, indeed it has.”

So this is the Ancestral Witch, Candle Jiuyin, Xuanqing thought.

…

Laozi and Xuanqing were soon seated. Platters of fine wine and some spiritual fruits were brought forth—a respectful gesture, perhaps recognizing that their guests did not partake in roasted flesh.

Xuanqing was surprised. The Witch Tribe brews wine? Not only that—they even knew to serve spiritual fruits, clearly accommodating their Taoist guests.

The Witch Clan members gorged themselves on meat like wild beasts. Xuanqing watched, both intrigued and repulsed.

Laozi sipped his wine calmly, chatting with Di Jiang. Xuanqing, too, took a tentative sip.

The taste was sweet, almost like fruit wine. But soon, his cheeks flushed red, and his mind felt foggy. What a potent aftertaste!

He tried running his cultivation method to refine the spiritual essence from the wine—but oddly, the drunkenness only deepened.

Seeing his condition, Laozi paid no mind and continued his discussion. “Emperor Jiang… I came this time seeking a certain type of spiritual root. Ideally, something extreme in quality—symbiotic in nature, and containing mutually exclusive Great Daos.”

Emperor Jiang scratched his head. “That’s quite the ask. There are very few spiritual roots like that. But I recall a Five Elements Divine Tree. It produces rootless branches containing the Five Elements Great Dao, and the elements complement each other. It might suit your purpose.”

“A fine spiritual root indeed,” Laozi nodded, “but unfortunately, it’s only top-grade. Not supreme.”

“Extreme-grade, mutually exclusive, and symbiotic?” Emperor Jiang muttered. “Brother Taiqing, you sure don’t ask for much…”

He fell into deep thought. Meanwhile, Candle Jiuyin and Laozi continued idly chatting.

…

Xuanqing, however, was growing increasingly uneasy. He had only drunk a little, yet the intoxication deepened instead of fading. He ran his cultivation method again, but the effect only worsened. What kind of wine is this?

Just then, Zi Yun’s voice echoed in his mind:

“This wine contains the Great Dao of Wine. The Dao of Wine holds the power to intoxicate other Daos. The more you refine it, the deeper the intoxication. If you wish, you may comprehend this Dao. But to do so, you must abandon one of your current Daos and inscribe the Dao of Wine in its place.”