As the light appeared, a streak of green energy from the south entered the divine lamp, flickering incessantly.
Qing Ling smiled. He had obtained a treasure, and also good fortune.
Whether it was his imagination or not, his luck had been improving with each step he took.
Perhaps, he was bearing more and more of the world's destiny, with the ebb and flow of tribulation favoring him, allowing fortune to arrive when disaster should have struck.
Regardless, he had begun his journey from north to south.
Step by step, he traversed the ancient land, where the vastness of mountains and rivers paled in comparison to the passage of time.
Carrying the lamp, he walked through the northern lands and arrived at the battlefield where the Dragon tribe had invaded the Qilin tribe.
However, the great battle had already ceased.
The Dragon tribe had invaded billions of miles of Qilin territory, specifically the resource-rich lands of the East.
Though the Qilin were enraged, they could only endure.
Here, hundreds of millions of sea creatures were stationed, belonging to the Octopus tribe, one of the seven royal families. This tribe not only consisted of octopuses but also starfish, and all invertebrates of the sea were under their command. They were vast in number and each possessed peculiar divine abilities.
On this battlefield, there were more than twenty Great Experts, and the founder of the Octopus tribe, Patriarch Ba Li, a Heaven and Earth Great Expert, presided over the area.
The Qilin tribe had also deployed a considerable force. With the departure of the Azure Dragon Ancestor, the combat power of both tribes was now comparable, and neither would expend troops on futile efforts.
As Qing Ling approached, he saw a colossal water wall spanning north and south. The water tribe's army was actually housed within this wall, resembling a massive river on land.
A Dragon elder, a Great Luo Golden Immortal, emerged and asked from afar, "Who goes there?"
Qing Ling replied, "Qing Ling of Xishan Snake Tribe, in the East Barrens, a subordinate god under the Azure Dragon Ancestor."
Upon hearing that he was a subordinate god of the Azure Dragon Ancestor, the old Golden Dragon's face broke into a smile. After discreetly confirming the truth, he greeted Qing Ling warmly, "So, it is Fellow Daoist Qing Ling returning from your travels. If you have time, why not come into the waters to observe?"
Qing Ling returned his smile, "That was my intention. However, I have a fortuitous opportunity that I cannot delay. I regret I must decline your kind offer."
The old Golden Dragon, unperturbed, said, "Indeed, opportunity is paramount. Since that is the case, Fellow Daoist, please pass through."
With that, he waved his sleeve and sent out a palm strike. Dragon patterns flickered, and myriad mystic patterns flowed, conjuring a massive river and revealing a passage.
After expressing his gratitude, Qing Ling walked into the waterway and headed south.
He saw how cautious the Dragon tribe was, and the atmosphere between the three tribes was already tense. The conflicts and friction were deepening daily, and perhaps in a few tens of Yuanhui, it would be impossible to contain.
A sense of urgency arose in Qing Ling's heart. For himself, for Xishan, and for all snake tribes, preparations needed to be made.
But for now, he had more important matters to attend to.
Qing Ling gazed at the increasingly majestic silhouette of Mount Buzhou, his heart trembling. Mount Buzhou, the foremost divine mountain of heaven and earth. He was finally here.
He walked step by step, his Primordial Spirit gradually imprinting the contours of Buzhou, which had remained unchanged for millennia, and slowly sketching them out.
Qing Ling walked for a full hundred thousand years.
Observing the mountain for a hundred thousand years, gazing at it for a hundred thousand years, and sketching it for a hundred thousand years, the grandeur of Buzhou was etched into Qing Ling's Primordial Spirit.
To see a mountain was to see a person.
To see Buzhou was to see Pangu.
That unyielding will, standing tall between heaven and earth, its eternity was his lifespan, and the vastness of the world was the breadth of his heart.
The sun and moon were its eyes, Buzhou its spine, the earth its body, Kunlun its head, Sumeru its feet. This world was Pangu.
Qing Ling paused at the foot of the mountain, his divine consciousness deeply moved for a long time.
A glance spanning ten thousand years.
He murmured, "Buzhou, I have finally arrived!"
But just as this solemn and reverent moment unfolded, a scream suddenly echoed from afar.
"Ah!"
Then the earth began to shake violently.
Qing Ling's eyelids twitched. He looked in that direction, his Primordial Spirit extending a million miles.
He saw a group of "people" being pursued by a giant, fat insect. There were only twelve of them, mostly robust young men and two maidens, clad in clothes woven from plants, their limbs exposed. Each stood a thousand zhang tall, and their movements made the earth tremble like mountains.
Leading them was a youth, who stood ten thousand zhang tall, dressed in hempen clothes. His muscles bulged, radiating explosive power.
However, these giants were mere specks in the face of the million-zhang-long, fat insect.
Though the fat insect appeared crude, it was an ancient, exotic beast capable of devouring anything. Its hide was incredibly thick, rendering the giants' punches ineffective.
Qing Ling understood and chuckled. The future renowned, tempestuous Wu tribe was being chased by a mere insect. These Wu people had no cultivation or Primordial Spirit; judging by their outward aura alone, most were Golden Immortals and Taiyi Immortals, with the leading youth in hempen clothes comparable to a nascent Great Luo. It was indeed difficult for them to contend with this colossal insect that had survived for nearly a thousand Yuanhui.
He initially had no intention of intervening. Though there was no Wu-Demon conflict at present, he couldn't rule out the possibility of the Wu people's hot temper causing trouble.
But seeing that a few of his tribesmen were about to be caught, the youth in hempen clothes quickly turned back and roared. His body rapidly expanded to eighty thousand zhang, resembling verdant bamboo, with the body of a bird and the face of a human, standing on two dragons.
The giant insect squirmed and stopped, sizing up this giant slightly smaller than itself. Then, it suddenly opened its maw, emitting a terrifying suction force, with wisps of divine laws entangling the giant.
The bird-bodied, human-faced giant quickly stamped his feet on the ground, summoning an endless expanse of giant trees to protect himself. He even diverted his attention to summon giant trees to shield the other eleven tribesmen.
The giant roared, "Why aren't you all leaving quickly!"
The eleven frantically said, "Sir!" For a moment, they hesitated.
The giant glared at them again and said, "If you don't leave now, don't even think about seeing me!"
Only then did the eleven dare not linger and fled.
However, the giant seemed to be severely injured. In just a few dozen breaths, his face turned pale, and the giant trees he summoned were all devoured by the monstrous insect.
Qing Ling pondered for a moment, then took a step forward, waving his sleeve. A chaotic, sharp light pierced into the giant insect's maw.
"Roar~"
Instantly, the giant insect cried out in pain as if injured, and the suction force in the heavens and earth dissipated.
The giant insect opened its enormous eyes and glared furiously at Qing Ling.
Qing Ling smiled. His Life and Death Eyes spun, Life and Death Samsara entering his gaze. The Blood Dao returned to the Wood Dao, a single seed growing, blooming, and withering.
The giant insect watched in terror as blood-red flowers bloomed and withered on its body, only to bloom again in greater numbers.
Qing Ling pointed a finger, time flowed, and the "God-Slaying" that had entered the giant insect's body instantly erupted. The Four Symbols Chaotic Force tore through the colossal beast's body.
The giant insect roared and quickly burrowed into the earth, fleeing.
Qing Ling did not pursue. Though it was an ancient beast, it possessed Great Luo strength. Repelling it was easy, but destroying it was difficult!
Behind him, the giant instantly retracted his colossal form, his face incredibly pale. Yet, he still shouted loudly, "Thank you for your assistance!"
Qing Ling smiled and said, "A mere trifle. May I ask your name, fellow daoist?"
The youth laughed heartily, "I have no Daoist name. I am Ju Mang, a Wu person of Buzhou."
Qing Ling's heart settled. It was as he expected. "So, you are Brother Ju Mang."
Just then, a fluctuation suddenly appeared from behind. A figure emerged from the void, roaring, "You cultivator! Do not harm my brother!"
As he spoke, spatial forces heavily crushed down, pressing towards Qing Ling.
Qing Ling was startled. The Mityan Rope flew up, instantly connecting and stabilizing ten thousand miles of space.
Ju Mang hurriedly said, "Big Brother, stop! Do not harm our benefactor."
Upon hearing this, the spatial turbulence slowed. A middle-aged man emerged, seemingly understanding. He chuckled awkwardly, "It was my haste."
As he spoke, the surrounding space returned to calm.
Qing Ling waved his hand and said gently, "It's alright. May I ask your name, elder brother?"
Ju Mang quickly said, "This is my eldest brother, Di Jiang. He was just anxious, which is why he attacked you."
Di Jiang chuckled awkwardly and said in a gruff voice, "Haha, I, Di Jiang, am indeed rough. I apologize to you."
Qing Ling couldn't help but find it amusing. The Wu tribe's temper was indeed fiery, but they were also genuinely forthright.
"Brother Di Jiang was also anxious for Ju Mang's safety, so naturally, I am not angry."
"Brother, if you have no other matters, would you care to join our Wu tribe for a feast? As thanks for your assistance," Di Jiang said heartily.
Qing Ling was momentarily stunned, then thought that most of the Wu tribe consumed the flesh and blood of beasts, and he might end up eating something he shouldn't.
"Thank you for your kind offer, both of you, but I must ascend Mount Buzhou and cannot turn back midway."
"Ascend Buzhou?" Di Jiang exclaimed. "Not just anyone can ascend Buzhou!"
Ju Mang also said, "Indeed. Only innate beings closely related to Father God can avoid being repelled by Father God's divine might."
Qing Ling understood and replied, "So, I was unaware that the divine mountain had such a rule.
However, I happen to be an innate being as well, transformed from a wisp of Pangu the Great's green hair. I believe I will not be repelled by Pangu the Great."
Ju Mang's eyes flashed and said, "I wondered why I felt a sense of familiarity looking at our benefactor. So you are also a transformation of Father God's form."
Qing Ling shook his head and smiled, "Not so. I am a wisp of green hair that was scattered by the chaotic energy before Pangu the Great perished. Therefore, I am not his remnant form, but rather related to life, hence I am the God of Spring."
Di Jiang's heart stirred and said, "This brother has remarkable divine abilities. Since we all come from Pangu, we feel a kinship. May I know your name?"
Qing Ling smiled and replied, "Qing Ling, the God of Spring of Dugguang, East Barrens."
Di Jiang laughed, "Excellent! If fate allows, we shall meet again. I will take my third brother back to recuperate now."
Qing Ling continued to smile amiably, "Brother Ju Mang's recovery is important, and it cannot be delayed."
Ju Mang had more to say, but Di Jiang grabbed him, waved his hand, and turned to leave.
Qing Ling watched the two Ancestral Witches depart, feeling a slight relief.
It was indeed good that he had emerged earlier. Even the twelve Ancestral Witches were merely at the several layers of Great Luo at this time, falling behind him by half a realm.
On the other side, Ju Mang said indignantly, "Big Brother, why did you leave so abruptly without thanking him?"
"Hmph! Are you truly stupid, or are you pretending to be?" Di Jiang shot him a glare. "That cultivator is not of our Wu tribe, but is the God of Spring. You are the Wu of Wood, in charge of spring. This person has profound cultivation. If he harbors ill intentions towards you and tries to seize your Wood Ancestral Mark, what will you do?"
Ju Mang was taken aback and said, "He just helped me escape danger moments ago. If he had bad intentions, why would he intervene?"
"Alas!" Di Jiang sighed. "Even so, you cannot interact too much with him. Our Wu tribe has just emerged, and this world is in the era of the three tribes. Even if we hide in Buzhou, we must avoid the sharp edge of the Qilin tribe. Everything requires utmost caution."
Ju Mang fell silent for a moment. Among their twelve brothers and sisters, aside from their eldest sister, Hou Tu, it was their eldest brother, Di Jiang, who was the most resourceful. Next was himself, who was more level-headed. The others were all prone to violent tempers, and how could they think of such complicated matters?
He also said, "While that may be true, he did save me once. I must repay him."
On the other side, Qing Ling continued on his journey. He knew that since the Wu tribe had emerged, Ancestral Witch Hou Tu had likely also been born.
However, the twelve Ancestral Witches were not yet his equal, and Hou Tu might not yet have the ambition to rule the Earth Dao. The Earth Dao would be established when it was meant to be. He did not need to worry.
Qing Ling looked at the majestic Buzhou before him and took his first step.
"Rumble~"
His Primordial Spirit seemed to tremble as if the heavens and earth were shaking. The simple and unadorned Great Dao of Strength from the ancient era was like an axe that cleaved heaven and earth, directly striking his Primordial Spirit.
Fortunately, Qing Ling's Primordial Spirit emanated innate spiritual light. He had also transformed into a divine statue with a human body and a snake's tail, connecting with Pangu's aura. The strike upon his Primordial Spirit gradually vanished, and the confinement of Mount Buzhou slowly weakened.
Seeing this, Qing Ling steadied his mind and continued to ascend step by step.
However, as he ascended, three figures emerged from East Kunlun and also began to ascend Mount Buzhou step by step.
With every step Qing Ling took, his Primordial Spirit trembled slightly. The unyielding belief of Pangu the Great was infecting the descendants of Pangu, who were innate spirits.
He was sensing His grandeur, His power, His fearlessness, His supreme presence in the primordial chaos.
He was not Pangu, yet on this mountain, he sensed a trace of Pangu's emotions.
Even a strand of green hair had its own destiny. Qing Ling had no inheritance from Pangu, but he had his own destiny.