Chapter 2445: Ancestor Witch

Along the way, Zu'an saw many familiar places. They looked largely similar to the future Underworld, just with fewer buildings.

There was no Lady Meng beside the Bridge of Forgetfulness.

Gazing at the rolling River of Forgetfulness below the bridge, Zu'an thought of Chu Chuyan, who was still beneath the Bridge of Forgetfulness in his own time. Unfortunately, this was thousands of years in the past, and she was nowhere to be seen.

The defeated Witch clan army fled to the vicinity of the Samsara Platform, finding themselves with nowhere else to go.

This was where all departed souls reincarnated. Any living being entering would also be forced into reincarnation. If the Witch clan were to flee inside, the Asura clan would likely wake up laughing in their dreams.

However, upon seeing the Samsara Platform, Zu'an suddenly remembered a legend, and his expression changed instantly. The Ancestral Witch Princess Ni Huang had mentioned, who protected the Witch clan, couldn't possibly be...

Just then, the Witch clan members ran to the edge of the Samsara Platform and began to wail:

"Your Majesty, save us!"

"The Asura clan intends to wipe us out completely!"

"Your Majesty, because of your moment of compassion back then, our Witch clan is now facing complete annihilation."

Perhaps hearing the countless cries and pleas, a terrifying aura suddenly emanated from the Samsara Platform. The power of this aura was so immense that it set off alarm bells in Zu'an's heart.

The Asura King's face also changed drastically, and he quickly halted the pursuit. The entire Asura army couldn't help but look around nervously, their faces filled with unease.

At this moment, Princess Ni Huang's expression shifted dramatically: "Her aura... how is this possible? Hasn't she already transformed into the Samsara itself?"

Hearing these fragmented words, Zu'an already guessed who the Ancestral Witch was.

It was Houtu, one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches. According to legends, she couldn't bear to see so many wandering souls without a home in the world, so she transformed into the Samsara, allowing the deceased to reincarnate.

Due to her immense merit, people respectfully referred to her as Lady Houtu.

He should have realized it from the start. He had simply thought that Houtu had transformed into the Samsara countless ages ago, and the timeline didn't quite align with the conflict mentioned by the Asuras, leading him to assume it was another Ancestral Witch.

At that moment, the ethereal image of a woman appeared around the Samsara Platform. Her face was indistinct, but one could feel an endless compassion emanating from her, along with the inherent powerful pressure of a supreme being.

The Asura King's expression flickered several times, but then he gritted his teeth and flew directly forward. "Houtu, whether you still intend to protect them or not, I will kill every one of these creatures today!"

He knew that the Asura clan had prepared for this war for far too long. If they failed this battle, they would have neither the resources nor the ability to attempt it again.

Rather than face the complete decline and eventual demise of the Asura clan many years later, it was better to fight to the death now.

As he spoke, the ethereal figure behind him grew increasingly massive. Then, this figure unfurled nine more arms.

This colossal Dharmakaya apparition, with a total of eighteen arms, held weapons or formed hand seals. It appeared less fierce like a typical Asura and more solemn and majestic.

His aura, for a moment, was no less imposing than that of the Houtu apparition opposite him, prompting all the Asura soldiers to cheer.

Zu'an, however, acutely noticed Princess Ni Huang's sorrowful expression. She was biting her lip tightly, her hands clenched inside her sleeves, and her entire body was trembling slightly.

"What's wrong?" he asked, moving closer to her.

Seeing Zu'an, Princess Ni Huang seemed to find an anchor for her emotions. Her eyes instantly reddened, and her voice became choked. In a volume only they could hear, she whispered, "My royal brother has used a secret technique unique to our Asura royal family. He has completely burned his vital essence. Regardless of victory or defeat in this battle, he... won't live much longer."

Hearing her words, Zu'an understood why the Asura King could suddenly double the number of his arms.

Gazing at the Asura King's figure ahead, Zu'an's face immediately showed respect. He truly was a competent king, willing to sacrifice himself for the future of his entire race.

During his previous conversations with the siblings, he had generally surmised the Asura clan's current predicament and knew they wouldn't get a second chance.

It was ironic that not long ago, the Asura King had mocked Ox-Head and Horse-Face for burning their vital essence, only for it to be his turn so soon. The arrangements of fate were indeed unfathomable.

Just then, a change occurred in the arena. The Houtu apparition sent forth a rapidly spinning halo. Upon closer inspection, it looked like a miniature version of the Six Paths of Samsara.

The halo's speed didn't appear particularly fast, yet the Asura King seemed unable to evade it and could only raise his weapon to meet it.

In an instant, the weapon in his hand was sliced in two.

Seeing this, Zu'an's eyes narrowed. A weapon chosen by the Asura King, though not a divine artifact, wouldn't be far off in quality. Yet, who would have thought it couldn't even withstand a single strike?

What exactly was that halo?

The ordeal wasn't over. The halo continued its path, slicing off the Asura King's two hands that held the weapon.

In pain, and both shocked and enraged, the Asura King's other sixteen hands simultaneously brandished weapons and magical artifacts, blasting them towards the halo, attempting to seize the opportunity to strike it down.

With all sixteen of his hands moving in unison, and given his cultivation level, he could form an inescapable net, preventing any object from escaping.

Yet, he still couldn't trap the mysterious halo.

Wherever the halo passed, the weapons in the Asura King's hands shattered, and his arms were severed one by one.

The Asura King let out agonized screams, desperately retreating, but the halo pursued him like a shadow.

In the blink of an eye, seventeen of his hands were severed, leaving only the last one. He stared in despair at the mysterious halo cutting towards him.

The entire Asura army fell silent. Their formidable Asura King, who had just been so imposing, was now gravely wounded with no ability to resist. All the Asuras were plunged into despair and fear.

Not just them, even Zu'an felt a chill run down his spine. Houtu was too powerful, simply too powerful.

Was this the strength of an Ancestral Witch?!

At this moment, Princess Ni Huang frantically clutched Zu'an's sleeve. "Can you save my royal brother?!"

She was out of options now. Her royal brother was the strongest warrior in the entire Asura clan, and he had used a royal secret technique, making his combat power far surpass hers. She wouldn't be able to help at all if she went up there.

After much thought, only he, with his mysterious power, might have a solution.

Zu'an's figure flickered, and he appeared directly before the Samsara Platform. He bowed to the indistinct apparition and said, "Lady Houtu, please show mercy!"

Hearing his voice, the halo stopped merely three inches from the Asura King.

The Asura King was already sprawled on the ground, resigned to his fate and awaiting death.

Seeing that he had truly intervened, Princess Ni Huang was both surprised and delighted. He was actually willing to save her royal brother for her sake.

He's so good to me...

Does he like me?

I like him too...

At this moment, a layer of cold sweat also trickled down Zu'an's forehead. Houtu was too strong, so strong that he felt an extreme sense of danger.

But he had to step forward, not because he had fallen for Princess Ni Huang, but because he needed to understand the current situation of the entire Underworld.

"Who are you, and why do I sense a unique aura from you?" The Houtu apparition seemed to lower its head and look at him, then an ethereal, emotionless voice echoed in his mind.