Chapter Ninety: The Cycle of Six Realms

“So, it is Fellow Daoist Minghe.” Houtu greeted Minghe and then began to speak slowly. “I wish to perform a great deed of merit here in the Sea of Blood. This will benefit you as well, Fellow Daoist Minghe. Would you be willing to offer your assistance?”

Before arriving at the Sea of Blood, Houtu had no particular aim in mind, merely following her heart and naturally coming to this place. Yet gazing upon the boundless, steaming blood, she understood.

Father Pangu transformed into the Great Desolation, but the cycle of reincarnation was missing, rendering the world incomplete. As the Ancestor Witch of the Wu Tribe, born from Pangu’s blood essence, she felt it her duty to aid Father Pangu in perfecting the world.

“It is time, and it is fate.”

Houtu harbored no reluctance in her heart. Sacrificing herself to fulfill the endless lives of the Great Desolation—she felt no regret.

Minghe could not know Houtu’s thoughts, but sensing through the mysterious workings of fate, he understood that what Houtu intended would also benefit him. After a brief pause, he stepped back and spoke softly, “If this is a deed of great merit, Minghe has no reason to hinder it. Please proceed, Fellow Daoist Houtu.”

“Thank you for your support, Fellow Daoist Minghe.” Houtu nodded, offered her thanks, and then vanished to the center of the Sea of Blood.

Gazing at the countless living souls swirling around her, her eyes grew resolute. Looking up at the sky, she spoke slowly, “O Way of Heaven above, I am Houtu, Ancestor Witch born of Pangu’s blood essence. I have observed that the Great Desolation is lacking: souls have nowhere to rest, the dead drift aimlessly, resentment breeds, and evil energy accumulates. I now vow to transform myself into the cycle of reincarnation, providing a place for souls to be reborn, dissolving the world’s evil energy, and governing the laws of life and death. May the Way of Heaven grant my wish!”

As her words faded, a consciousness descended from the void. Instantly, Houtu’s body began to disintegrate, returning to its most primal form—Pangu’s blood essence.

At the same time, the Nether Book, which Houtu had obtained millennia ago at the Cliff of Treasures, revealed itself, hovering in midair with an ancient gleam.

“This book...?”

Houtu’s consciousness recognized the ancient tome as a crucial part of forming reincarnation. No wonder she never understood its purpose, yet always felt it was important.

Meanwhile, in the ancestral halls of the Wu Tribe—the Pangu Hall—the heart of Pangu, worshipped for countless years and now nearly withered, was moved by the Way of Heaven.

As Pangu’s blood essence, transformed from Houtu’s body, merged into the heart, it quickly regained vitality, enveloped the ancient book, absorbed the endless blood of the Sea, and began to change...

As the boundless Sea of Blood slowly evaporated, a massive vortex formed, unleashing a powerful suction!

In an instant, countless souls wandering the Sea were drawn in, and randomly reborn...

At once, the evil energy of the entire Sea of Blood was swept away!

Simultaneously, the evaporation revealed vast stretches of dark, blood-red land, equal in size to the Heavenly Realm.

“This cannot be.”

Houtu’s consciousness, now residing within the vortex of reincarnation, saw countless souls randomly reborn and felt uneasy. After some thought, she spoke, “Reincarnation should be divided into six paths: the Path of Heaven, the Path of Humanity, the Path of Asura, the Path of Animals, the Path of Hungry Ghosts, and the Path of Hell!”

As her words fell, the massive vortex of reincarnation split into six, each corresponding to a different route for rebirth.

“Henceforth, those with great merit in life shall enter the Path of Heaven, reborn as spirits of the world, free and unrestrained;
those next in merit shall enter the Path of Humanity, reborn as humans;
those whose sins outweigh their merit shall enter the Path of Animals, reborn as beasts, livestock, or spirit plants;
those who slaughter and wreak havoc shall enter the Path of Asura, reborn as Asura;
those with extreme transgressions shall enter the Path of Hungry Ghosts, becoming hungry ghosts, unable to reincarnate;
those burdened with karmic debts shall enter the Path of Hell, suffering all manner of punishment, and only after their karmic debts are resolved may they be reborn.”

With this explanation, the Six Paths of Reincarnation truly took shape.

In that moment, a mass of merit, not inferior to the merit earned by Nuwa in creating humanity, descended from the heavens. Half flew to the Heavenly Court, falling upon Li Tian, while the other half settled upon Minghe, as compensation for the loss of most of his Sea of Blood.

The remaining nine-tenths were all infused into the Six Paths of Reincarnation and into Houtu’s consciousness.

Receiving such vast merit, Houtu realized that her consciousness was gradually sublimating under its influence... slowly transforming into a primordial spirit!

Houtu was both surprised and delighted. She had been prepared for sacrifice, but now, having formed a primordial spirit, did this mean she could also be reborn?

Yet, as more merit poured in, Houtu suddenly awoke to the truth.

This merit was to make her a Saint!

To become a Saint—who in the Great Desolation does not desire this?

Houtu was no exception.

But she understood that if she chose to become a Saint, she would forever remain within the Six Paths of Reincarnation, eternally maintaining its order!

Otherwise, should the Six Paths collapse, the karma would be enough to consume all her merit!

Originally, in the history of the Great Desolation, Houtu had chosen to become a Saint. Though she became indestructible through countless calamities, she lost her freedom and had to eternally guard the Six Paths of Reincarnation, never at leisure.

But now, Houtu chose a different path.

She had already used about two-tenths of the merit she received. Seeing this, Houtu quickly severed the flow of merit into her primordial spirit, then poured the remaining merit entirely into the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

Instantly, within the Six Paths, a set of self-operating rules emerged... akin to an intelligent program or the spirit of a magical artifact.

“In this way, I too can be reborn.”

Houtu’s primordial spirit emerged from the Six Paths of Reincarnation, a smile appearing on her face.

“Fellow Daoist Houtu is truly noble, transforming herself into reincarnation. Minghe is deeply impressed.”

Minghe, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward, cupped his hands in gratitude.

The establishment of the Six Paths of Reincarnation also solved the issue of the Asura Tribe’s inability to reproduce.

Henceforth, any soul entering the Path of Asura would automatically become an Asura... Over time, the Asura Tribe would thrive, and Minghe would no longer need to periodically create new members to replenish their ranks.

Though Minghe felt some pain at losing much of his Sea of Blood, overall he was pleased, especially with the half portion of merit as compensation.

...

Meanwhile, after receiving half the merit in the Heavenly Court, Li Tian knew that Houtu had successfully transformed herself into reincarnation.

His gaze pierced through countless barriers, looking toward the location of the Six Paths. Seeing that Houtu now remained as a primordial spirit, he paused in surprise. After understanding the circumstances, a smile appeared on his face.

It seemed Houtu wished to reunite with Fuxi.

He immediately teleported to the Palace of the Empress, smiling as he approached Nuwa.

“Nuwa, let’s go. Come with me to revive Fuxi.”

“To revive my brother?”

Nuwa looked up, stunned at his words.

So quickly? Had the method to revive her brother been found?

“You’ll know when we get there.”

Li Tian smiled, took Nuwa’s hand, and did not explain further.

...