The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings Chapter 2325 - 2270–2271: Accepting the Invitation? Will of the Demon God 2

The Leader of the Witch God Sect, being a seasoned Daoist Monarch, commands immense power, and as the head of the Ancestral Witches, he has overseen the Witch Deity Teaching for endless ages, wielding profound sway inside it.

Houtu Ancestor Witch has dwelled in the Nether Yin Department of the underworld for a long time and serves as a Venerable in the Heavenly Court, plus sharing origins with the Innate Demon God alongside Zhu Jiuyin Ancestor Witch, which draws her naturally nearer to them, rendering it tough for the Witch God Sect Leader to press them too hard.

In contrast, Ju Mang Ancestor Witch, raised entirely within the Witch Deity Teaching, finds his whole sphere of influence eclipsed by the Witch God Sect Leader, and he even once fled from the Witch Deity Teaching in a past event.

Despite attaining the status of Dao Lord, he continues to face constraints from the Witch God Sect Leader, powerless to block numerous schemes and aims of the leader.

Particularly since the Fire Virtue Star Lord took on the role of Fire Ancestor Witch Zhu Rong, drawing ever tighter to the Witch God Sect Leader, even Houtu Ancestor Witch and Zhu Jiuyin Ancestor Witch struggle against the mounting strain.

While Ju Mang Ancestor Witch harbors no desire to topple the Witch God Sect Leader's authority, as a Dao Lord and an Ancestral Witch of the Witch Deity Teaching, he must assert his position, refusing outright to simply follow the crowd.

Prior to his rise as Dao Lord, he followed the Witch God Sect Leader's directives; if that pattern persisted after becoming Dao Lord, the achievement would ring hollow.

At present, through partnering with King Zhuanlun and pulling him into alliance, he gains the chance to amplify his clout inside the Witch Deity Teaching. True balance of power might elude him, yet he avoids being a mere mouthpiece for others.

The Witch God Sect Leader, naturally, perceives Ju Mang Ancestor Witch's underlying motives but views them without concern, considering them an inevitable development.

To speak plainly, he observed Ju Mang Ancestor Witch's growth from the beginning. While outsiders might misjudge his nature, how could the Witch God Sect Leader fail to grasp it?

In essence, if Ju Mang Ancestor Witch were the type to accept subservience and control, he never would have risked seizing the Witch Deity Teaching's vital secrets and fleeing years ago.

During that episode, though it stemmed partly from the leader's own designs and deliberate leniency, without Ju Mang Ancestor's boldness, such a move would never have happened.

Far from opposing this trait, the Witch God Sect Leader actually values it. The Witch Deity Teaching, unlike the ruthless Demonic Way, fosters rivalry among disciples, wary of those without drive.

Were he in Ju Mang Ancestor Witch's place, the Witch God Sect Leader would mirror that mindset, pushing to preserve autonomy, resisting easy dominance by anyone, not even a long-standing Daoist Monarch.

The Witch God Sect Leader harbors no dread of rivals, brimming with unshakable faith in his prowess to overpower any who rise against him.

If apprehension of threats and loss of status gripped him, why would he have cultivated Ju Mang Ancestor Witch and aided his path to Dao Lord?

In truth, he reigns unchallenged within the Witch Deity Teaching. No matter the sect's overall advancements, his portion remains the greatest. The rise of additional powerhouses only swells his own benefits.

Zhu Jiuyin Ancestor Witch stayed quiet, realizing from their words that both favored embracing King Zhuanlun's overture, influenced in part by an earlier pact.

Aware of that pact's existence, had the other side lacked the credentials to claim Dao Lord status, it would have been cast aside, with no consequences.

Yet with those credentials now in hand, the pact holds firm. Ignoring it would mean violation and repercussions. Besides, if news leaked out, it would tarnish the Witch Deity Teaching's reputation.

Even in a realm where might rules, as long as the Witch Deity Teaching stays mighty, foes can't touch them directly, but upholding honor and adhering to customs proves essential. Deviating from those silent codes would leave them shunned.

Moreover, as the Witch God Sect Leader pointed out, a Dao Lord versed in the Laws of Reincarnation, fresh to the rank though he be, offers substantial aid that's hard to deny.

From Zhu Jiuyin Ancestor Witch's viewpoint, he inclines toward endorsing this proposal as well.

As for King Zhuanlun, his attainment of Dao Lord in the Laws of Reincarnation would simply introduce another rival to Lady Pingxin, stirring only faint emotions, not amounting to betrayal.

Though all stem from Innate Demon Gods, fostering some affinity, in the end, the Demon Gods' blades clash in rivalry, each holding distinct views, goals, and stakes.

The mightier the Demon God grows, the more pursuits of self-interest dominate, sidelining bonds of affection.

In the past, Zhu Jiuyin allied with the King of Reincarnation and others solely to plot and chase eternal life, venturing into this age, driven not by faith but strategy.

Even here and now, sporadic encounters arise only from crossing paths with old acquaintances in this strange epoch.

Should shared gains spark future partnerships, like those with Houtu Ancestor Witch, bonds could deepen into solid alliances, with reciprocal backing turning reliable.

Still, Lady Pingxin showed no eagerness to join forces with him, preferring ties with Houtu Ancestor Witch and Taisu Yuanjun among her fellow female cultivators.

Thus, upon reflection, when genuine stakes emerge, Zhu Jiuyin Ancestor Witch won't shift his designs for such trivial ties.

For the sake of immortality, he orchestrated the fall of the Innate Demon God era, where countless Demon Gods fell to schemes. Their naivety doomed some to personal subjugation by Zhu Jiuyin. Would he now fret over Lady Pingxin?

Besides, it just adds one more foe to his cultivation road, without guaranteeing Lady Pingxin's defeat by King Zhuanlun's Dao Lord ascent.

As Ju Mang Ancestor Witch noted, the path of cultivation brims with endless barriers, trials, and unforeseen rivals ahead.

Ascending to the peak demands navigating a trail riddled with hurdles, far from an easy ride.

Even for him, scarce as Time Dao practitioners are, it doesn't preclude others from probing the Time Laws.

That offshoot of the Jade Emperor grasped Time Authority via the Golden Crow Dharma Form, while Great Emperor Ziwei, through the apparent Path of the Celestial Stars, engaged the Time Dao as the stars of all heavens revolve.

Now, the emerging prodigy Xuan Lingzi wields a Great Tao infused with epochal might.

Though presently outmatched by him and posing no real peril, the unknowns of tomorrow remain unpredictable.

One day, they could emerge as his foes.

To claim the heights, vanquishing every challenger proves mandatory; only thus can the true apex be seized.

"Agreed!" Zhu Jiuyin murmured the two words softly, his expression neutral, his mind calm.

As though he hadn't fretted over Lady Pingxin moments before.

Upon witnessing Zhu Jiuyin Ancestor Witch's nod of consent, the Witch God Sect Leader and Ju Mang Ancestor Witch shared a look and nodded mutely in return, offering nothing further.

Even without Zhu Jiuyin Ancestor Witch's backing or approval, they could have aided King Zhuanlun's rise to Dao Lord.

That said, they'd prefer to avoid it if possible, since it risked splintering alliances inside the Witch Deity Teaching, a setback particularly ill-timed at present.

Yet these three, without realizing it, bypassed the considerations of Imperial Honors Houtu. Given her close bond with Lady Pingxin, this choice might breed discontent.