"However, as the words fell, several Heavenly Tier elder snakes called out in unison, "Venerable Huo, Chieftain, wait a moment."
The three elders, close to their twilight years, stopped the three Golden Immortal Venerables. They addressed them not as clan elders, but as venerables, because these elders were of the same generation as the Golden Immortal Venerables and possessed extraordinary seniority.
Granny Hua Geng's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and she chuckled, "Several of you, what are your opinions?"
One elder, whose hair was nearly gone, spoke with a trembling voice, "Chieftain, are the private discussions of the clan members just now true? Although Qing Ling is a primordial deity, he is an ill omen to our Xi Shan. The positions of the Holy Son and Holy Daughter are of paramount importance; we implore you to consider them carefully."
As he spoke, the elder turned to Qing Ling and said, "Qing Ling, do not bear any resentment. After all, this concerns the eternal prosperity of our clan. We elders, on the verge of death, have our entire lives invested in the clan. Our words may be harsh, but do not let them create a rift between us."
Qing Ling quickly smiled and said, "The words of the elders are indeed reasonable. You all consider the well-being of the clan, working tirelessly and dedicating yourselves to the clan and Xi Shan. Qing Ling only feels admiration and has no other intentions."
With a few well-chosen words, he soothed the hearts of the elder clan members, making them appear much more amiable.
Chi and Rong, standing nearby, understood that without this rumor, they would never have been able to compare with the noble status of Qing Ling, a primordial deity.
Yet, they still did not step back. Each had their own ambitions and would not give up easily until the very last moment.
Although Qing Ling had appeased the elder snakes and eased the atmosphere, many in the clan still harbored doubts about him. After all, many of their relatives and kin had died in the War of Ten Thousand Beasts, and the rumors easily planted seeds of suspicion in their hearts.
However, more than a hundred Earth Tier clan members still regarded him with immense respect. The title of God of Spring was etched in their hearts, taking root and blossoming over thirty thousand years, now standing as a towering tree. He could be considered to have a group of loyal and devout followers.
Just as Qing Ling was about to speak again, Ke, standing beside him, interjected, "Fellow clan members, please lend an ear to Ke."
All eyes turned to Ke, who exuded a pure and detached aura.
Granny Hua Geng nodded, "Speak."
Ke bowed and said, "Indeed, the rumors within the clan before were substantial. However, if it weren't for Qing Ling breaking through the Heavenly Tier elder Chi Li's confinement, how could he have encountered the opportunity to break through to the late Golden Immortal stage?
The surrounding four clans fear us because Qing Ling, using his authority as the God of Spring, incubated the myriad snakes of Xi Shan. It is through his summoning of spring and dispelling of winter for thirty thousand years that Xi Shan has gradually grown stronger. Consequently, the surrounding four clans fear our clan's advancement, not our disregard or slaughter!
Furthermore, Qing Ling alone guarded the eastern border, single-handedly defeating ten Heavenly Tier beings and repelling the Lizard clan's army. He single-handedly dismantled the eastern front. Otherwise, Xi Shan would not be fighting on two fronts but would be besieged on three!
Moreover, since Qing Ling was born into the clan and raised in Xi Shan, even in countless epochs before, the Chieftain had never broken through to the Taiyi realm. After his birth, in just over thirty thousand years, two Golden Immortal Venerables within the clan achieved breakthroughs.
Myriad legends say that primordial deities possess extraordinary destiny, bringing blessings to the land they inhabit, turning mountains into immortal peaks, and lakes into spiritual bodies. They possess heaven-defying fortune that allows them to turn calamities into blessings! Throughout the thousand clans of the Eastern Barrens, not a single primordial deity has emerged. Only in the Dragon clan's Eastern Sea does a primordial deity, a Great Luo ancestor, awe the myriad races and command the eight directions!"
Ke, who was usually reticent, had spoken so much in one breath. What truly shook the hearts of the clan members was Ke's final statement: the Dragon clan's primordial deity, a Great Luo ancestor, commands the myriad races and governs the eight directions!
The hearts of the clan members pounded faster. Looking at Qing Ling now, their eyes were filled with awe. While the term "Great Luo Golden Immortal" was something they might never utter in their lifetimes, the possibility, even a minuscule fraction, of Qing Ling becoming a Great Luo was enough to deeply stir their souls!
Qing Ling, the center of attention, could only smile faintly, "Clan sister Ke thinks too highly of me. Qing Ling does not possess such great capabilities."
After their shock subsided, those aged elder snakes laboriously raised their heads and asked Granny Hua Geng, "Chieftain, what Ke girl said..."
"Indeed!" Granny Hua Geng calmly uttered these two words. Elder You and the other elders were no less shaken. They immediately said, "We petition that Qing Ling be honored as the Holy Son of our clan!"
As their words fell, Ke also bowed and said, "We petition that Qing Ling be honored as the Holy Son of our clan!"
Beside them, Du quickly grabbed the still-bewildered Qi, bowed, and deliberately proclaimed loudly, "We petition that Qing Ling be honored as the Holy Son of our clan!"
Upon hearing this, over a hundred Earth Tier clan members bowed in unison, "We petition that Qing Ling be honored as the Holy Son of our clan!"
As the calls erupted, the remaining Heavenly Tier and Earth Tier clan members began to follow suit, petitioning in unison. After the clouds parted, they understood the noble value of a primordial deity.
Even Rong and Chi retreated, bowing and petitioning, genuinely acknowledging their defeat.
This was the unity of a clan. A thousand people have a thousand faces; there are bound to be disagreements and grudges. But when it came to matters of clan interest, they were united as one, a thousand snakes with a single heart!
Facing the kneeling clan members, Qing Ling felt unable to stand or bow, and could only look towards Granny Hua Geng.
Granny Hua Geng, standing at the head, exchanged a smile with Venerable Huo and Venerable Chi. With the title of Holy Son, they no longer feared this primordial deity fleeing.
Granny Hua Geng stepped forward and said, "Good! Since all the clan members petition with one heart, let us now ask the Great Beast Zhan Mu to divine the Holy Son's fortune!"
As she spoke, Granny Hua Geng lightly raised the Ten Thousand Snake Xuan Staff she held and tapped it on the ground. A mysterious ripple spread out, and all the snakes present felt a sense of submission.
The next moment, on the towering giant tree on the mountainside of Tai Chong Peak, the Zhan Mu ancient snake, coiled in slumber, jolted awake, understanding Granny Hua Geng's message.
The Great Beast Zhan Mu proclaimed, "Chieftain Hua Geng, this snake, Qing Ling, has already been divined by me nine times. Nine divinations have yielded nine auspicious omens, a destiny second only to Old Ancestor Tai Geng!"
Qing Ling was taken aback. Would this lazy, cunning snake expend its vital energy to divine for him nine times?
Upon hearing the Great Beast Zhan Mu's words, even Granny Hua Geng's eyes flashed with surprise. Venerable Chi clapped his hands and laughed heartily, "Good, good, good! Excellent! Heaven desires our Xi Shan to rise again! The blessings of our ancestors protect us!"
The clan members in the cave followed suit, shouting, "Heaven desires our Xi Shan to rise again! The blessings of our ancestors protect us!"
...
When Qing Ling returned to Hundred Spring Valley, the strange feeling in his heart had not dissipated. The day's events seemed to carry a peculiar aura, as if he had been somehow trapped onto a pirate ship!
He wasn't surprised that Ke had helped him out of his predicament. After all, if he became the Holy Son, he would enjoy outward glory, which would serve to cover up her own brilliance!
This was because primordial deities possessed divine souls protected by heavenly divine seals, making their souls impervious to enslavement. However, primordial exotic species could be enslaved by powerful Great Luo Golden Immortals, who could implant Dao restrictions or even refine their bodies into puppet avatars, with countless such instances.
This was for her own concealment of her origins, for the future of Xi Shan, and perhaps for Qing Ling as well.
Qing Ling had become the Holy Son of the Xi Shan snake clan! He would receive the acknowledgment of the ancestral souls, merge with the fortune of Xi Shan, perform the holy sacrifices, establish his authority as Holy Son, and receive the protection of the Dragon clan's Twelve Ranks...
All of these would become his rights and privileges!"