Qing Ling raised his eyebrows and retracted his jade wrists, his wide sleeves covering his arms, before looking at the three from the East Sea who had arrived first.
On the blue tide, an old man in black robes regarded the figure at the top of the Jianmu with a scrutinizing gaze.
Behind him stood a middle-aged Daoist and a beautiful young woman, who also sized up Qing Ling.
Qing Ling raised his hands slightly, bowed, and looked at the three with a smiling face, saying in a gentle voice, "Greetings, three fellow tribesmen."
The black-robed old man leading them, leaning on a staff, said with a slightly raised tone, "This ancestor is Yuan Kui of the Sea Serpent royal clan."
The middle-aged man behind him stepped forward, deliberately emphasizing, "I am Yuan He, an elder of the Sea Serpent royal clan."
The young woman in palace attire replied melodiously, "Sea Serpent royal clan, Yuan Su!"
Qing Ling nodded and said calmly, "I am Qing Ling of the Xi Mountain Serpent clan, and also a subordinate deity under the first ancestor of the Azure Dragon. I am the Serpent Ancestor."
Elder Yuan Kui's eyes turned slightly cold, and a faint gleam flashed in his turbid eyes. "Since you are a subordinate deity of the First Ancestor, you naturally belong to the divine body, not the serpent clan.
Daoist friend, you should hand over our clan's possessions. The position of the First Ancestor of all serpent clans in this world is not something you can accept."
Qing Ling smiled. In the second heaven, amidst the falling snow, his green robes revealed his handsome face, his three thousand strands of hair dancing in the wind.
His smile was faint, but he was smiling nonetheless.
"Let us discuss it after the Daoist friend from Fengqi Mountain arrives."
Qing Ling did not respond, but simply said these words.
Yuan He, the middle-aged man, frowned and was about to speak, but Yuan Kui stopped him with a gesture and said, "We shall wait until our fellow clan member from Fengqi Mountain arrives." (Da Feng Novel Network)
Golden light flashed in the sky, and Granny Hua Geng walked into the snowstorm, standing beside Qing Ling. She bowed to Yuan Kui and said, "Senior Yuan Kui, your great name has long been known throughout the four seas. It is now my honor to meet you."
Yuan Kui's expressionless face could not help but soften a little. After all, one does not strike a smiling face, and they were fellow clansmen.
Although there was a conflict of interest, there was still kinship.
Behind Yuan Kui, Yuan He and Yuan Su also bowed. Hua Geng, being astute, knew the strength of the Sea Serpent royal clan. This old man with ink-green hands was the current strongest of the serpent clan, a terrifying existence at the eighteenth heaven of Great Luo Golden Immortal, a heavenly being, the ancestor of the Sea Serpent royal clan, a great power that had existed for hundreds of Yuanhui.
Yuan He, Yuan Su, and Yuan Jing were the three Great Luo ancestors of the Sea Serpent royal clan. All three were at the tenth heaven of Great Luo Golden Immortal. Yuan Jing might have stayed behind to guard the clan.
Granny Hua Geng exchanged a glance with Qing Ling. They did not communicate telepathically, as it was best to avoid unnecessary actions in the presence of a heavenly being.
However, through their exchanged gaze, Qing Ling knew that Granny Hua Geng wanted him to remain calm and not panic.
Qing Ling had already made up his mind; he would not back down from what belonged to him.
In the sky, Profound Yellow light and rainbow colors arrived side by side. A simple and honest burly man and a woman in red walked over.
"Teng Ni greets all fellow tribesmen."
"Teng Tu greets all fellow tribesmen."
The two bowed to the five people present.
Yuan Kui's face finally showed a smile. "Teng Ni, Teng Tu, I haven't seen you two for a long time."
The woman in red, Teng Ni, smiled charmingly. "Ancestor, please don't blame us. We have to guard the Divine Mountain and cannot leave. The Primordial World is becoming increasingly chaotic, and Fengqi Mountain cannot do without us. We will return to the mountain shortly."
Yuan Su could not help but ask curiously, "Sister Teng Ni, has the divine being of Fengqi not yet been born?"
Qing Ling, who had been ignored, felt a stir in his heart. Could the divine being gestured to by Fengqi Mountain be the great gods Nuwa and Fuxi?
Teng Ni nodded, then said proudly, "But it should be soon. Furthermore, the divine being of Fengqi is fully nurtured, and its Dao rhythm is extraordinary. It is likely a primordial great god, and may become a Great Luo Golden Immortal as soon as it is born!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked. To be born as a Great Luo Golden Immortal at the very beginning, what kind of origin would that be? What future achievements would it entail?
Yuan Kui's face twitched slightly. If such a great god were to be born, Fengqi Mountain might not be much inferior to the Sea Serpent royal clan.
Although they did not have a heavenly being presiding over them, the foundation of the Fengqi Mountain clan was absolutely immensely powerful, and even he harbored some reservations.
Qing Ling spoke at the opportune moment, "Today, the three branches of our serpent clan gather in one place, which is a fortunate event! I, Qing Ling of the Xi Mountain Serpent Ancestor, have been fortunate to inherit the position of the first generation Serpent Ancestor of the world from the first ancestor Tai Geng. I am now the Serpent Ancestor.
I hope all fellow clansmen will live in harmony in the future and extend the lineage of the serpent clan."
Qing Ling took the lead in seizing the opportunity to announce the name of the First Ancestor. The faces of the three from the Sea Serpent royal clan among those present showed a hint of anger. The fact that even with their ability to maintain composure as Great Luo Golden Immortals, they were provoked, indicated the severity.
The two from the Teng Serpent clan, however, were surprised for a moment. The woman in red then smiled and said, "Congratulations, Daoist friend."
Teng Tu, who had been silently and discreetly standing beside her, also cupped his fist in greeting, "Congratulations, Daoist friend."
Elder Yuan Kui was even more startled and said, "Teng Ni, Teng Tu, you two actually..."
Teng Ni quickly explained, "Ancestor, please do not be angry. Allow me to explain."
Elder Yuan Kui's expression was uncertain for a moment. He ignored the two from the Teng Serpent clan and said coldly, "The position of Serpent Ancestor must be held by someone who is complete in strength, cultivation, and seniority.
You are a Great Luo in the second heaven. In terms of seniority, cultivation, and strength, you are inferior to many of your predecessors. How dare you accept the mark of the First Ancestor? Hand it over to me."
Granny Hua Geng immediately spoke out, "Our clan's great being Qing Ling, has reached the realm of Great Luo and ascended one hundred and eight thousand steps of the Dao Ladder. Few in the Primordial World can achieve this! His potential far surpasses that of your Sea Serpent royal clan.
In terms of bloodline, our Xi Mountain lineage received the blood of the dragon race and does not need to pursue the Great Dao by transforming into a dragon, which is far superior to your Sea Serpent royal clan.
Moreover, this mark was personally bestowed by the remnant soul of the First Ancestor and has already merged with the primordial spirit. Even peak great beings cannot remove it.
Senior Yuan Kui, this mark is destined to belong to our Xi Mountain!"
Yuan Kui's face turned dark as he growled, "Xi Mountain is merely a branch of the serpent clan, long in decline. It has neither the virtue nor the strength to bear this responsibility. What ability does it have to dare to be the ancestor of all serpents?
Teng Ni, give me one last answer. What is your decision?"
Teng Ni's expression tightened slightly, but she still stepped forward and said, "We dare not defy your divine might, Senior. However, our Teng Serpent clan has decided to establish a separate clan, belonging to no one outside the clan."
"What?"
Not only Hua Kui and Hua Su's trio, but even Qing Ling was greatly surprised.
Did the Teng Serpent clan want to break away from the serpent clan?
Yuan He stepped forward to stop her, "Daoist Teng Ni, do not be impulsive. We serpent clans all belong to the same lineage. If you leave, the destiny of our serpent clan will further decline, and our serpent bloodline may face the predicament of extinction."
Teng Ni shook her head. A flicker of struggle and hesitation crossed her face, but she then said, "Everyone, please rest assured. Although our Teng Serpent clan will no longer have the name of serpent clan in the future, its descendants will remain. The serpent bloodline will never be severed!"
Even Qing Ling was reluctant to see the Teng Serpent clan separate from the serpent clan, but this seemed to be the general trend of the world, which could not be altered.