Qing Ling left the East Sea and traveled to the East Wasteland.
The ten-thousand-year period had arrived.
Shi Tian Supreme must make his choice.
In the Death Desert, a desolate expanse of sand stretching endlessly, Qing Ling traversed the flying ashes and dust, arriving before Shi Tian Supreme. He asked with a smile, "Elder Brother, have you made up your mind?"
Shi Tian Supreme said lightly, "You are quite punctual. Before I even went to seek you, you came to see me."
"That is only natural. Matters concerning the Great Dao cannot be taken lightly. Elder Brother, you may state your decision."
Shi Tian Supreme asked with a half-smile, "If I were to join the Earth Dao, what would my status be?"
"Just below the Lord of the Earth Dao."
"Below you?"
"No, it would be the true Lord of the Earth Dao, not me," Qing Ling replied. "For you and I, our titles remain the same."
"Then what can the Earth Dao offer me?"
Qing Ling had a premonition. Shi Tian Supreme was already considering joining the Earth Dao; this was merely a negotiation of terms.
"The Earth Dao can protect you, Daoist Friend, from any harm under the Heavenly Dao, no matter when!"
"No matter when?"
"No matter when!" Qing Ling nodded again.
"Good, then I, Shi Tian, shall join the Earth Dao!"
Qing Ling's face broke into a joyous smile, "Thank you, Elder Brother! From this moment forth, we are truly friends of the same Dao!"
Shi Tian Supreme also smiled, "So this is the meaning of the term Daoist Friend. Friends of the same Dao, excellent."
Qing Ling chuckled, "Elder Brother, shall we go to the realm of the Earth Dao now? Perhaps I can present Elder Brother with a great gift!"
"Oh? A great gift? What great gift?" Shi Tian Supreme asked curiously with a smile. "Then I must go and see. Let's go!"
Qing Ling pointed to the ground, and the earth split open, leading directly to the Yellow Springs of the Earth Dao.
"Elder Brother, follow me."
Qing Ling led the way, with Shi Tian following closely behind. They stepped into the Yellow Springs.
Within the Yellow Springs, the Yin and Earth energies were so dense they formed water. The Yin energy was absolute, with a vast, unending river flowing.
Shi Tian Supreme exclaimed, "What potent Yin energy! For those who cultivate the Great Dao of Yin, this is a supreme treasure."
Qing Ling smiled, "Once you join the Earth Dao, you can take as much as you desire."
Shi Tian Supreme chuckled happily, "Excellent, excellent!"
They walked along the river, crossing the Yellow Springs and arriving at the River of Forgetfulness. Blood-red shore flowers bloomed on both banks, exuding a dreamlike beauty. To the west lay an endless sea of blood, extending westward.
At the confluence of the River of Forgetfulness, the Yellow Springs River, and the sea of blood, stood a stone. Two Dao patterns grew on the stone, named "Three Lives."
Qing Ling said, "Elder Brother, make your oath upon the Three Lives Stone, and then you shall enter the Earth Dao."
Shi Tian Supreme nodded, his expression solemn. "I, Shi Tian, now vow to enter the Earth Dao with my body and become a supreme power of the Earth Dao!"
The Earth Dao sensed this, and the land vibrated. Mountains and rivers rejoiced. The Earth Dao was strengthened by this.
Shi Tian Supreme, empowered by the Earth Dao, could now resist the calculations of the Heavenly Dao. His fortune was integrated into the Earth Dao, and the will of the Earth Dao was divided within him.
Qing Ling clasped his hands and said with a smile, "Elder Brother, from now on, we are both great powers of the Earth Dao. For the sake of the Earth Dao's plans, we must work together with one heart!"
"That is only natural," Shi Tian Supreme said with a smile. "It is also to resist the schemes of that old fellow Hongjun."
With his concerns greatly reduced, he inadvertently revealed more than he intended.
Qing Ling smiled and said, "Elder Brother, the great gift I have prepared for you is located at the deepest part of this realm."
"Oh? Could it be an Earth Dao treasure?"
"Nay, it is more precious than any Earth Dao treasure. It is a Dao opportunity, and it will require your utmost effort, Elder Brother," Qing Ling said with a smile.
Shi Tian Supreme's expression turned serious. "Very well, since it is a Dao opportunity, I shall go and investigate it!"
As he spoke, he stepped into the heart of the Earth Realm.
Qing Ling did not leave, but stood by the Three Lives Stone, waiting. He was also protecting Shi Tian Supreme.
He was plotting a grand event, one that would change the balance of heaven and earth.
Although Qing Ling was born late and could not change much during the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, there was much potential for the Earth Dao.
The Earth Dao had emerged a kalpa earlier because of him. Perhaps this was the crucial factor in the shifting cosmic tides.
Deep within the Earth Realm lay the core of the realm, formed from the origin of the primordial god Pan Gu's lesser yin. It was composed of the Ghostly Qi, capable of devouring the souls of living beings and dissolving their physical forms.
Shi Tian Supreme, however, was a great power who cultivated the Dao of Death and the ultimate Yin. His death energy might combine with the Ghostly Qi to create a new form of cosmic energy. Furthermore, Shi Tian Supreme could use this opportunity to forge a new Great Dao!
There were countless minor Daos, and many had attempted to forge them. But the Great Daos were fixed, each one an embodiment of the universe's profound mysteries, and their creators were almost nonexistent.
However, Qing Ling believed that Shi Tian Supreme could succeed.
He stepped forward, manifesting the will of the Earth Dao. He stabilized the Ghostly Qi in the depths of the Earth Realm. The will of the Earth Dao converged upon him and then divided to Shi Tian Supreme's form in the deep recesses of the realm.
Shi Tian Supreme was already at the deepest part of the Earth Realm. The wheel of the Dao of Death manifested behind his head, its black light swirling. His death energy intertwined with the boundless Ghostly Qi, forging a new path through their conflict.
However, it was evident that this path was not an easy one. Shi Tian Supreme's Dao of Death was merely unsuppressed; any other possibilities seemed too weak.
Meanwhile, in the southwestern wilderness, on Wang Snake Mountain, a gathering of large and small serpents had occurred. The King Snake here was the Pan Jin King Snake, a Taiyi-level cultivator. Having bred for over a million years, it had millions of descendants. In this chaotic region, they had claimed a mountain peak, unwilling to return to their ancestral land.
This night, dark clouds obscured the moon, and the land was shrouded in darkness. Beasts and insects battled in the shadows, their struggles never ceasing.
At the foot of the mountain, two Golden Immortal Venerables guarded the mountain. One was a young girl in red, the other a burly man in black. A palpable affection seemed to exist between them. In front of dozens of Heavenly-tier snake-people, they flirted and exchanged loving glances.
All the Heavenly-tier male and female snake-people were filled with a restless yearning. They were all of the King Snake lineage, each acting wantonly, seeking only to follow their desires. Mating was their instinct. Furthermore, after Qing Ling Snake Ancestor became the sole God of Spring, the sexual desires of all snake races had greatly intensified.
Just as the two Golden Immortal Venerables embraced, the girl giggled, and the burly man panted, a sound was suddenly heard.
"Ding~"
"Clang~"
"Ding~"
A series of golden bell sounds rang out, approaching from afar, unhurriedly.
The two Golden Immortal Venerables were in the midst of their amorous encounter. The burly man couldn't help but roar, "Who is hiding and playing tricks? Come out and accept your death!"
"Dingling~"
The only response was the ringing of bells.
All the snakes began to scan their surroundings, perceiving the land for a thousand miles, but found nothing.
Though the burly man appeared reckless, he possessed a keen intellect. He knew that someone with unusual abilities had arrived. He said to the scantily clad girl, "Hong Sha, this person can conceal their form and transmit sound. They are likely no friend. Why don't we report to Old Ancestor first?"
"Humph~" the girl replied with displeasure, "Look at you, such a coward. Where did the boldness you showed towards me just now go?"
The burly man scratched his head and said with a silly smile, "That boldness is only for you."
"Ding-dang~"
The girl was about to speak again when suddenly the sound of golden bells intensified. From the darkness ahead, a dim light appeared.
Beneath the dim lamplight, a figure in green, carrying a lantern, slowly approached. He was barefoot, with golden bells tied to his ankles. With every step, the bells on his feet would chime, their sounds echoing into the darkness around them.
"Little snakes, do you want to go home?"
A clear and ethereal question came from the person behind the lamplight.
The burly man felt a chill and asked, "Senior, what brings you here?"
The man in green stepped forward a few more paces, causing the Heavenly-tier snake-people to retreat.
The lamplight was raised slightly, illuminating the face of the man in green. He had a delicate and handsome visage, but his eyes held an inexplicable expression.
"To send you home, little snakelets."