Li Yi and the other two spent a considerable amount of time at Buzhou Mountain. They engaged in discussions about the Great Dao with the twelve Ancestral Witches. Each Ancestral Witch possessed profound insights into their respective Great Dao and, being formed from Pangu’s essence blood, their physical bodies were immensely powerful. Li Yi and his companions benefited greatly from these exchanges.
Li Yi also gained exposure to the Great Dao of Space and Time from Dijiang and Zhujiu Yin.
By using the Great Dao of Wuwei as a basis for deduction, Li Yi finally began to grasp the essence of Space and Time.
During his stay in Pangu Hall, Li Yi dedicated almost all his time to comprehending the Great Dao of Time and Space.
His hard work paid off. With his focus solely on the Great Dao of Time and Space, Li Yi mastered spatial jumping and temporal acceleration.
In terms of cultivation, Li Yi advanced from the early stage of Hunyuan Golden Immortal to the middle stage, reaching the peak of the middle stage.
Yuan Shi and Tong Tian also reaped significant rewards, their cultivation progressing greatly, and both reaching the realm of Hunyuan Golden Immortal.
Feeling that they had overstayed their welcome in Pangu Hall, Li Yi and his companions bid farewell to the twelve Ancestral Witches.
Upon learning of their departure, the twelve Ancestral Witches made earnest efforts to persuade them to stay, as they too had greatly benefited from the discussions.
However, Li Yi and his companions were resolute in their decision to leave. Seeing that they could not be persuaded, the twelve Ancestral Witches escorted them out of Buzhou Mountain. As they reached the outskirts, Li Yi stopped and said:
"Fellow Daoists, please halt. Though we have traveled a thousand miles together, we must now part. We shall meet again. Farewell."
Yuan Shi and Tong Tian also bid their goodbyes:
"Esteemed ones, please return!"
With that, the three turned and departed. The twelve Ancestral Witches called out:
"May your journey be smooth!"
Only after the three had disappeared from sight did the twelve Ancestral Witches return to Pangu Hall.
Back in Pangu Hall, Zhurong spoke up:
"Elder Brother, do you truly believe the Sanqing are here to befriend us?"
Before Dijiang could reply, Gonggong interjected:
"We are all of Pangu's lineage, so it should be genuine. Besides, regardless of their intentions, we have all gained from this exchange. It has not been in vain, has it?"
After Gonggong finished, Zhurong scoffed:
"I was asking Elder Brother, not you. Why are you butting in!"
"Zhurong, are you looking for a fight?"
"Bring it on, are you afraid I won't accept!"
As their argument escalated and they were about to engage in a physical confrontation, Dijiang let out a thunderous roar:
"Enough! Haven't you two fought enough? Ever since you two gained sentience, you've been either fighting or on the verge of it. Is that not enough?"
Gonggong and Zhurong fell silent under Dijiang's fierce outburst. Dijiang continued:
"Can't you two be more like the Sanqing? You are brothers, yet the difference is vast!"
Zhujiu Yin quickly intervened:
"Elder Brother, please do not be angry. These two have always been like this. They are like fire and water, you know this."
The other Ancestral Witches also chimed in:
"Yes, Elder Brother. Second Brother speaks the truth. Please do not be too upset!"
Seeing everyone trying to appease him, Dijiang sighed:
"It is precisely seeing the harmony among the Sanqing brothers that angers me. You call them brothers, and these two are also brothers, yet they are either fighting or bickering all day long."
The more Dijiang spoke, the more enraged he became. He glared at Zhurong and Gonggong and ordered:
"You two, get out and reflect on yourselves!"
Zhurong's fiery temper flared, and he retorted:
"Fine, we'll leave! Hmph!"
With that, he stormed out. Gonggong also left without a word.
Hearing Zhurong's words, Dijiang was seething. He said to the other Ancestral Witches:
"Look at him, does he still respect me as an elder brother?"
The other Ancestral Witches quickly tried to comfort him:
"Elder Brother, do not pay him any mind. You know Zhurong's temperament."
After Zhurong and Gonggong emerged, Zhurong immediately bristled upon seeing Gonggong and snapped:
"It's all your fault! You made me get scolded by Elder Brother!"
Gonggong sneered:
"Because of me? Heh! Don't you have any idea why Elder Brother is angry?"
Already filled with frustration, Zhurong could not tolerate Gonggong's sarcasm any longer and threw a punch at him.
Gonggong was no pushover. After blocking Zhurong's attack, he retaliated with a punch of his own.
Both men were brimming with pent-up anger, and the more they fought, the fiercer they became, their blows growing increasingly severe.
As they continued their brawl, they began to utilize the power of their Great Daos.
Zhurong, who mastered the Great Dao of Fire, enveloped his fist in flames. Gonggong was not to be outdone, summoning a stream of water to encase his fist.
Their punches met with equal force, neither able to overpower the other. Thus, Zhurong summoned the Great Dao of Fire, and Gonggong summoned the Great Dao of Water.
Zhurong, riding the Great Dao of Fire, charged towards Gonggong. Gonggong, mounted on the Great Dao of Water, rushed towards Zhurong. The two Great Daos collided in mid-air, erupting in a massive explosion.
Inside Pangu Hall, the Ancestral Witches groaned in unison. Zhurong and Gonggong had only been out for a short while, and they had already caused such a commotion.
Dijiang's expression turned extremely grim, and Zhujiu Yin's face darkened as well.
Seeing them leave together, the other Ancestral Witches knew their elder brothers were angered and followed closely behind Dijiang and Zhujiu Yin.
Upon emerging, Dijiang and Zhujiu Yin found that Zhurong and Gonggong had no intention of stopping their fight.
Zhurong lunged towards Gonggong, but before he could get far, he found himself back in his original position. Zhurong realized it was his second brother, Zhujiu Yin, intervening with his temporal reversal ability.
Knowing the fight was now impossible, Zhurong stood in place, glaring resentfully at Zhujiu Yin.
Gonggong also charged at Zhurong, only to find himself unable to move. Gonggong recognized this as his elder brother Dijiang's spatial cage.
As Gonggong and Zhurong were thus restrained by Dijiang and Zhujiu Yin, Houtu, the Ancestral Witch of Earth, stepped forward and addressed them:
"Eighth Brother, Ninth Brother, why are you two always like this!"
Zhurong and Gonggong tilted their heads away, refusing to look at each other, and said in unison to Houtu:
"Little Sister, do not interfere!"
Helpless, Houtu turned to Dijiang and Zhujiu Yin and said:
"Elder Brother, Second Brother, please help me seal the powers of Eighth Brother and Ninth Brother."
Dijiang and Zhujiu Yin, though unsure of Houtu's intentions, complied.
Once Zhurong and Gonggong's powers were sealed, Houtu immediately used the power of the earth to form a rope.
Houtu then said to Dijiang and Zhujiu Yin:
"Elder Brother, Second Brother, please release Eighth Brother and Ninth Brother!"
Upon Houtu's words, Zhurong and Gonggong regained their mobility.
Houtu immediately cast the rope, tying one end to Zhurong's foot and the other to Gonggong's. As Houtu's magic took effect, the two were drawn closer and closer, until their feet were bound together.
With their feet tied, Houtu clapped her hands and said to Zhurong and Gonggong:
"Eighth Brother, Ninth Brother, when you two can get along, I will untie you and ask Elder Brother and Second Brother to restore your powers."
Dijiang and Zhujiu Yin rejoiced at this. Houtu, being the youngest of the twelve Ancestral Witches, was beloved by all. Had it been another Ancestral Witch tying Zhurong and Gonggong, a fight might have ensued.
As expected, Zhurong and Gonggong, upon seeing the face they least wished to see right in front of them, groaned in misery and urged Houtu to release them.
Houtu, however, ignored their pleas and returned to Pangu Hall on her own.
Zhurong and Gonggong then turned their gaze to the other Ancestral Witches, who, as if oblivious, also returned to Pangu Hall.