The Guixu surged, and the souls of tribesmen who had fallen in various places over the years were all received into the Guixu.
An elder in the northern sky arrived quietly, standing high in the sky, his smiling face already unfurled before he even arrived.
"Congratulations, Daoist Qing Ling, on achieving Da Luo!"
The newcomer was none other than the ancestor of the Mountain River Giant Ape clan, the old ape Shan Kun.
"Thank you, Daoist, for your congratulations." Qing Ling returned the courtesy with a smile. Facing this old neighbor with whom he had lived for a long time, he naturally treated him with respect.
In Qing Ling's eyes now, the old ape's cultivation had reached the ninth level of Da Luo Golden Immortal, and he might even be stepping into the tenth level.
"I saw long ago that Daoist possessed extraordinary talent. It seems this old man's judgment was not wrong." But as soon as he finished speaking, he turned his gaze towards the southeast.
"Daoist, we have another guest."
A young man in a gray robe, walking amidst swirling mist, arrived above the skies of Xi Mountain. He bowed to Qing Ling and said with a smile, "From the Great Crocodile clan, Ju Wu Te has come to congratulate Daoist on achieving Da Luo Golden Immortal and enjoying immeasurable lifespan."
Qing Ling returned the bow, a benevolent smile on his face, and said, "Thank you, Daoist!"
In the south, the ancestor of the Tian Jun Salamander clan arrived. A Daoist, entirely clad in white robes, stepped out of the void and said, "Congratulations to Daoist on achieving Da Luo."
"Thank you, Salamander Ancestor!"
Even though he knew the other party was Hong Jun's good corpse, Qing Ling pretended not to know. This Dao Ancestor had his reasons for concealing his identity, and it would be courting death if he exposed it.
Darkness appeared in the east, and Ancestor Hei Wen arrived with a smile, cupping his hands and saying, "Congratulations to Daoist on stepping into the realm of the great powers!"
Qing Ling did not harbor any animosity towards him due to him being the ancestor of the Black Lizard clan, and still returned the smile and bow.
The ancestors of the four Great Clans of the Eastern Barrens had all arrived. Counting Xi Mountain, it could be said to be a meeting of the five titans of the Eastern Barrens!
Qing Ling smiled and said, "Since all my fellow Daoists are present today, and you are all senior experts who have walked the path of great powers ahead of me, I venture to invite you all into my Four Seasons Divine Diagram for a chat, to discuss the grand situation of the Eastern Barrens. Would you all agree?"
Old ape Shan Kun was the first to nod, saying, "Indeed, the leaders of our five clans are all here. It is better to act now than to delay."
Qing Ling's face showed a benevolent smile towards the old ape. With a sweep of his long sleeve, a divine diagram slowly unfurled, spreading across the sky, with the seasons revolving.
Old ape Shan Kun took the first step in.
Hong Jun's good corpse hesitated for a moment before stepping in.
Ju Wu, after casting a few displeased glances at Ancestor Hei Wen, also stepped into the divine diagram.
Qing Ling then said to the last one, Ancestor Hei Wen, "Daoist, are you not entering?"
Ancestor Hei Wen's heart tightened, and then he chuckled with a carefree air, "I shall enter with Daoist!"
Qing Ling did not dwell on it further, merely smiling as he watched the five Da Luo Golden Immortals enter the divine diagram together.
Within the diagram, under a towering ancient tree, by a stone round table, five great powers gathered.
Although Qing Ling was the most junior, as the host, he naturally took the initiative to speak.
"Fellow Daoists, the five of us are the great clans occupying territories in the Eastern Barrens. In recent years, disputes between our clans have been constant, and through internal strife, countless members of our tribes have been killed or injured.
Therefore, I propose that here today, you four, who represent the will of your respective clans as Da Luo ancestors, might as well take this opportunity to discuss matters."
As soon as his voice fell, Ancestor Ju Wu let out a cold snort, looking displeasedly at Ancestor Hei Wen. "If we are to speak of disunity among clans, it is the arrogance of the Black Lizard clan!"
Ancestor Hei Wen chuckled, "Daoist, your strength is inferior, and your clan's power is declining. It is only right that you yield territory.
After all, might makes right."
Ancestor Hei Wen showed no respect for Ancestor Ju Wu, as in his eyes, the latter was merely a cultivator at the third level of Da Luo Golden Immortal, and he, a tenth-level being, was more than enough to suppress him.
Old ape Shan Kun remained silent, not siding with either of them.
Ancestor Xuan Ji, who was Hong Jun's good corpse and the Da Luo of the Salamander clan, sighed and said, "Clan warfare is the genesis of death and despair. It is best not to engage in war if it can be avoided."
Qing Ling nodded in agreement, "As Daoist Xuan Ji said, the weakening of clan power is only one aspect.
What is even more terrifying is that the conflict between the Dragon and Phoenix clans is gradually intensifying, and the Dragon-Phoenix War will not be far off in the future!"
Upon hearing this, the four present changed color.
Old ape Shan Kun was the first to lose his composure, and blurted out, "What does Daoist mean by this? Please elaborate!"
"Yes, Daoist, please speak plainly. This matter concerns the survival of our clans!" Ancestor Ju Wu on the side also could not help but become a little anxious.
Qing Ling sighed and said, "Everyone, this matter concerns the grand trend of heaven and earth. It can be discussed within my Four Seasons Divine Diagram. Once we leave the diagram, I will claim to have said nothing."
The others understood and nodded one after another.
"Please believe me, fellow Daoists, in the not-too-distant future, at the latest in thirty to fifty Yuanhui, the Phoenix clan will declare war on the Dragon clan!
And we in the Eastern Barrens are at the junction of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin clans, with an extremely high strategic position.
But for the Dragon clan, the sea is their territory. At that time, the Eastern Barrens will either be completely annihilated by the Phoenix clan, or become a battlefield for the Dragon and Phoenix clans, and our clan inheritances will be severed!"
Ancestor Hei Wen frowned deeply and said, "Does the Phoenix clan have the courage? The Dragon clan is nearly half as powerful as the Phoenix clan."
Qing Ling shook his head and said, "What if the Qilin clan is added? The Phoenix and Qilin combined against the Dragon clan, even with a hundred Da Luo experts from the Dragon clan, it would be difficult to resist the two clans."
Ancestor Hei Kun and Ancestor Ju Wu gasped, their hearts filled with shock.
Ancestor Xuan Ji, however, asked, "Daoist, are these words without origin?"
Qing Ling's heart stirred, and his expression turned solemn. "As you all know, I once borrowed the might of the Jianmu tree to suppress a powerful Phoenix clan expert. These words were glimpsed from his primordial spirit."
In reality, these words did not come from Chongming Divine Bird, but were the last secret message Qu had imparted to him before leaving.
"The shortest is thirty Yuanhui, the longest is fifty Yuanhui. The three clans will inevitably have a war. Prepare early, and if you encounter danger, you can ascend to the Sun Star to save your life!"
Qing Ling absolutely did not trust Qu's good intentions. Perhaps if he encountered danger, Tai Yi would save him on the Sun Star, but more likely, he would be forced into submission by Tai Yi!
During the Witch-Demon era, Tai Yi had recruited many demon clan experts, using force when persuasion failed. He truly feared that after escaping the Dragon-Phoenix calamity, he would fall into the Witch-Demon calamity.
Upon hearing Qing Ling's words, the expressions of several ancestors were shaken, at least on the surface.
After all, the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin clans were the rulers of heaven and earth. Once a war broke out, the entire world might be destroyed. Let alone their humble Eastern Barrens?
Qing Ling added, "Although thirty to fifty Yuanhui is a long time, for us, it is merely like closing our eyes for a few more periods of cultivation. Even if the great war has not begun after thirty to fifty Yuanhui, it is obvious to anyone with eyes that a war between the three clans is inevitable!
And our Eastern Barrens region happens to be the junction of the three clans. If the Phoenix and Qilin clans join forces, the Eastern Barrens will surely fall!
We are still engaging in internal conflict. If the Phoenix clan attacks first, I fear our tribes will be wiped out in an instant."
The ancestors present were all seasoned great powers. Qing Ling's words were something they had already considered, but in their minds, the Dragon-Phoenix war was still at least a hundred Yuanhui away from breaking out.
They had never expected the war to be so early.
Moreover, such confidential information, from the moment they heard it, Qing Ling had pulled them onto his ship, making them accomplices!