Qing Ling nodded and said directly, "Main God, Shitian Supreme visited me that day and mentioned two things. The first is..."
Qing Ling relayed everything to the Azure Dragon Ancestor. In this world, if there were anyone who would not harm him, it would naturally be Granny Hua Geng and Qi.
Then, there was the Azure Dragon himself, who shared the same divine status as him and was also a God of Spring.
The Azure Dragon remained silent for a long time after hearing this.
Qing Ling continued, "Main God, you probably don't know one other thing. In the Eastern Wilderness, the ancestor of the Tianjun Salamander tribe might be a clone of Hong Jun!"
He only said "clone," but dared not say "good corpse" among the three corpses. For how could he, a mere Heaven and Earth Great Power, glimpse the methods of a supreme being's path to enlightenment?
"What?" The Azure Dragon Ancestor exclaimed for the first time, "Are you certain of what you say?"
Qing Ling nodded. "I am at least ninety percent certain."
The Azure Dragon's voice was grave. "Then it seems to be true. Hong Jun is truly cunning! Wait here for a moment. After I speak with my elder brother, I will release you."
Qing Ling agreed with a nod.
He took the opportunity to tour the Azure Dragon's Great Luo Dao Treasury realm.
Myriad trees flourished and competed, trees as vast as mountains or seas, the endless wood of the Great Thousand Worlds. Though heaven and earth had limits, the wood knew no end. Here, boundless vitality was accumulated.
Such immense vitality meant that even if he stood still and was eroded by Shitian Supreme's death qi, it would likely take over a thousand Yuanhui.
Moreover, the ancient trees here were imbued with spirit. If the master willed it, life would cycle infinitely. Other than the power of a Hunyuan, which could shatter it with brute force, there was likely no other means in heaven and earth to destroy it.
No wonder the later Azure Dragon could suppress the Eastern Pole. Even Hong Jun and Luohu could do nothing to such a vitality-defying Azure Dragon.
Though infinite vitality meant no fear of perishing, it had also become a shackles that prevented the Azure Dragon from advancing further. Each step forward required an immeasurable accumulation of vitality, and each advancement likely required hundreds or thousands of Yuanhui.
As Qing Ling pondered, he thought of his own Great Luo Dao Treasury realm, a Middle Thousand World. With mountains and rivers within, vast oceans without, and the dome of heaven and the earth, it was a miniature Primordial World, a billion times smaller.
He too required immense accumulation for each step forward. Although not as terrifying as the Azure Dragon, it was no easy task.
He wondered how much spiritual energy would be left in heaven and earth after the Dragon-Han Great Tribulation for ancient beings like them to cultivate.
Not long after, the Azure Dragon's voice suddenly echoed from the sky: "You may come out."
A shimmering portal appeared before him.
Qing Ling stepped through.
He found himself no longer on Azure Dragon Divine Mountain, but in an ancient cave.
An elder, radiating majestic dragon might, looked at him.
"Roar~"
A noble golden dragon soared through the universe, its divine essence traversing time and space, traversing the void, and journeying through the primordial chaos. Its dragon might was boundless; wherever it was, even heaven and earth seemed to yield slightly.
"Such a powerful being!"
This was Qing Ling's inner thought.
Unlike Hong Jun and Luohu, whom he had seen on Mount Buzhou, Zulong was an overtly magnificent existence.
"Qing Ling greets Senior Zulong."
Though Zulong appeared old, he was vigorous and full of energy. He nodded lightly. "Not bad. Your foundation is not weak. You are worthy of being his subordinate deity."
Beside him, the Azure Dragon smiled faintly. "That is only natural. It is rare to receive my elder brother's praise."
Zulong looked at Qing Ling and, restraining some of his might, said with a smile, "You are still the Lord of the Earthly Path?"
Qing Ling nodded. "Yes, but the Earthly Path does not seem to suit me. I am merely its temporary steward."
Zulong nodded. "That is fine. Since the Azure Dragon has brought you to see me, it means you are absolutely trustworthy.
I have summoned you here today to entrust you with a matter."
Qing Ling was startled but maintained a calm expression and said respectfully, "Please speak, Senior."
If the Azure Dragon were not present, he might have pondered it further.
Zulong raised a hand, and a golden divine bead appeared, imbued with immeasurable profundity. Dragon patterns covered it, and an aura of authority emanated from it as if naturally formed.
"This bead is called the Dragon Gate, one of my Dragon race's supreme treasures. However, it possesses no offensive or defensive capabilities.
The Azure Dragon has told me that you are someone he wishes to protect, and I have agreed. You face no great danger.
You must carry the Dragon Gate and ensure that no fourth person knows of it, not even heaven and earth. If, one day, my Dragon race declines, you will merge this bead into the water veins, and it will be the hope for our race's continuation."
Qing Ling was greatly shaken. His palm trembled slightly as he accepted the divine bead and said solemnly, "Qing Ling will do his utmost."
Beside him, the Azure Dragon chuckled. "Elder brother, you only offer hardship and no reward. How can he be wholeheartedly dedicated?"
Zulong glared at the Azure Dragon but then waved his hand, and a black stone fell.
"Take this."
Qing Ling accepted it without looking and quickly expressed his thanks. Zulong's出手 would never be inferior.
The Azure Dragon led Qing Ling out of the Myriad Dragon Ancestral Cave. Though they traveled only ten thousand miles, it felt as if Qing Ling had traversed billions of miles.
The Azure Dragon said, "The Ancestral Cave is the center of spatial folding, especially where my elder brother resides. It is shielded by primordial chaos, and even heavenly secrets cannot penetrate it."
After leaving the Ancestral Cave and the oppressive aura, Qing Ling smiled. "Thank you, Main God, for securing benefits for me."
The Azure Dragon glanced at him and sighed. "I am looking out for your life.
Do you know, my Dragon race has laid down over a thousand contingency plans, yet it is extremely difficult for even one or two to succeed.
Consider this: if my Dragon race were to decline, how powerful would the entity causing that decline be? Even the full might of the Dragon race could not remain secure. How many of you seeds could escape?"
Qing Ling's heart grew cold. If the Dragon race truly fell as he understood, and the Dragon race had ties with Hong Jun, what good fate awaited him and them?
Qing Ling took a deep breath and said, "Thank you, Main God, for your guidance. I will be extremely careful."
"Hmm, with your Jianmu essence, I have the highest hopes for you and that Wu tribe boy among these individuals."
"Wu tribe?" Qing Ling was curious but did not inquire further.
The Azure Dragon continued, "Now that you have become a Heaven and Earth Great Power, the Xi Mountain Snake tribe should become the eighth great royal clan.
When you return to the Eastern Wilderness, you will command the major upper clans."
Qing Ling hesitated. "I am not skilled in such matters."
"It is fine. I will have Saintess Bai Long issue a decree to those upper clans, and they will naturally obey. With your intelligence, what can you not learn?" The Azure Dragon said with a half-smile, "Besides, this is merely preparing in advance.
When I give the order, that clan will vanish from heaven and earth."
Qing Ling looked uncertain. "Would that not anger..."
"No, they plotted first. Even if they suffer a loss, they can only swallow it. You may proceed as you wish then."
Qing Ling sighed inwardly. It seemed he was destined to be unable to escape. "Yes, Main God."
"Also, you need not address me as Main God anymore."
"What?" Qing Ling was startled and could not help but ask.