The vastness of the dan tian world was immeasurable. Though the spiritual water had matured, now forming a grand lake a hundred thousand zhang wide, its surface was utterly still, like a mirror reflecting a transparent sky and an empty, mirrored water. Only a tender sprout, the Dao vine, slowly grew in the heart of the lake, nurtured by the spiritual energy.
His magic power had surpassed what the Heaven tier could possess, yet it still hadn't reached the Golden Immortal standard his body was defined for.
Qing Ling sat alone, calming his mind, returning to a state of serene tranquility.
At the very least, his combat strength could now rival that of an ordinary Golden Immortal Venerate, enabling him to better survive in the Primordial World.
Qing Ling had not forgotten his original intention; survival was the root of everything. Even though he now possessed Golden Immortal combat strength, it was only what he *thought* was Golden Immortal combat strength.
Fighting beyond his level was something he only resorted to in moments of life-or-death peril. Any confrontation, win or lose, carried the risk of annihilation. Thus, Qing Ling was extremely cautious, never gambling his life or risking it.
Qing Ling stood up, straightened his robes, and stepped out of the stone dwelling. He passed through the waterfall, taking a breath of the pure and fresh spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Hundred Spring Valley was rich in wood element energy, and the descending waterfall channeled water and spiritual energy. Beneath the pond, the earth river subtly connected, making the water spiritual energy even more potent. Situated at the foot of Xi Mountain, the earth element spiritual energy of the mountains was also exceptionally abundant.
The confluence of water, earth, and wood elements within Hundred Spring Valley had created such mystical spiritual substances as three-element spiritual water and three-element spiritual energy.
Beneath the water, You darted out, transforming into a giant fifty zhang tall. Its eyes were vacant, its appearance resolute, and it stood behind Qing Ling, its aura clearly having reached the Heaven tier.
This was Qing Ling's first Heaven tier puppet, also serving as his tribulation-crossing avatar. During his tens of thousands of years of secluded cultivation, he had continuously nurtured the puppet's physical body with primordial energy. It was thanks to the profound nature of this energy that such a Heaven tier puppet had come into being.
When Qing Ling stood upright, he only reached the lower edge of You's thick calves. He patted You's sturdy calf and chuckled, "Such a large frame will be too conspicuous when we go out."
As he spoke, his hand seals shifted, and he softly commanded, "Receive!"
The colossal puppet instantly shrank, transforming into a beam of spiritual light that entered his brow. It remained as always, ready to take blows for him at any moment.
Qing Ling walked out of Hundred Spring Valley. The valley entrance was sealed by a massive spiritual stone, fully twenty zhang high. Every time Qing Ling entered or exited, he merely waved his sleeve, and the stone would move back and forth.
Except for the brief appearances during the five hundred-year minor spring and the three-thousand-year major spring, he hadn't ventured out to observe Xi Mountain closely for a long time.
The spiritual energy of Xi Mountain seemed to have become even denser than before, although there were now more Heaven tier clansmen here.
Along the way, Qing Ling encountered only Heaven tier clansmen. Regardless of age, they would immediately bow in greeting upon seeing him, respectfully saying, "Greetings, Sacred Son."
This made him somewhat unaccustomed, giving him the peculiar sensation of a leader inspecting his domain. Such were the clansmen of Xi Mountain—cold and indifferent to the outside world yet extremely bound by rules. They entrusted all their warmth to Xi Mountain, hence their ruthless and unfeeling demeanor towards anything beyond it.
Reaching the mountainside, the colossal wooden beast guarding the entrance to the vast plaza still slumbered. It had been asleep for over fifty thousand years. Above the plaza, the sky-obscuring giant trees grew even more verdant.
Qing Ling shook his head and continued up the mountain. A hundred new cave dwellings had been opened on the mountainside, each representing a Heaven tier clansman.
It seemed Xi Mountain's development far exceeded his expectations.
Qing Ling walked all the way to the summit altar. This place had become the meeting ground for the clan leader and elders, while the clan caves on the mountain served as gathering places for the various factions of Heaven tier clansmen.
The summit plaza was even more expansive, featuring a hundred-zhang-high altar. This plaza could accommodate tens of thousands of people for a gathering.
At this moment, only Granny Hua Geng and Venerable Du were present. The vast, empty space made them appear exceptionally small.
Qing Ling stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, Clan Leader. Greetings, Venerable Du."
Granny Hua Geng smiled and motioned for him to rise, but her smile froze as she examined him.
Venerable Du, on the other hand, laughed heartily, "I dare not accept the courtesies of the Sacred Son."
Granny Hua Geng interjected, "What is your realm? I can actually feel the aura of a Golden Immortal emanating from you?"
Upon hearing this, Venerable Du noticed and also began to probe Qing Ling's body. A sweep of his divine sense surprisingly detected a dense wood element Dao rhyme.
He exclaimed in astonishment, "This, little Qing, have you perhaps broken through to Golden Immortal?"
Qing Ling shook his head and replied with a wry smile, "I am still at the mid-stage of the Heaven tier. I have merely borrowed the power of Ancestor Tai Geng to forge a Golden Immortal primordial spirit, thus possessing magic power comparable to that of a Golden Immortal."
"Then why are you still at the mid-stage of the Heaven tier?" Venerable Du asked, incredulous.
Qing Ling sighed and finally said, "Although I have the amount of magic power equivalent to a Golden Immortal, it is far from reaching the quantity required for my body to advance to Golden Immortal!"
Venerable Du gazed at Qing Ling for a long time, as if he were looking at a freak.
Granny Hua Geng, who had been silent for a while, her eyes flashing, said, "This is likely a unique opportunity for innate deities. Mortal bodies have limits, but the Dao bodies of innate deities are nurtured by heaven and earth. Their limits far exceed those of ordinary beings, perhaps even having no limits. This is why you find yourself in this predicament!"
"Indeed, it is as Granny says. Qing'er is precisely in this situation now."
Venerable Du took a while to recover, unsure if it was bitterness or some other emotion, "So, little Qing now also possesses Golden Immortal strength?"
Qing Ling shook his head, "That's an exaggeration. There is definitely still a gap compared to true Golden Immortal Venerates."
Granny Hua Geng nodded. "Perfect timing. I am preparing to go out. Venerable Xu is in seclusion, and Venerable Chi Li is also refining a secret treasure; neither can spare the time. You two shall handle and oversee the clan's affairs in my stead."
Du shuddered slightly, recalling Venerable Xu's ever-receding hairline, and laughed, "Clan Leader, I have not even been a Golden Immortal for ten thousand years. I still need to continue in seclusion to stabilize my realm. Currently, all clan matters are being handled by the four peak lords, and there are no major issues in the clan. Let little Qing handle it alone."
Qing Ling felt a sense of helplessness. The position of clan leader involved a multitude of responsibilities. Those who attained Golden Immortal status would not be shackled by mere power. Moreover, when Golden Immortal Venerates ventured out, it could be for tens of thousands of years, or even an era.
He then said, "Although I wish to share the burden with Venerable Du, I also happen to have matters that require me to go out. I came here precisely to inform the Clan Leader."
"Hmm? What a coincidence? The Clan Leader only just mentioned leaving, and you want to leave too? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Venerable Du questioned anxiously.
"This is destiny!" Qing Ling looked at the agitated Du and smiled. "My primordial spirit senses an opportunity approaching from the East. I've had this premonition since before the Myriad Beast War."
Granny Hua Geng smiled. "Alright, Du, Xi Mountain's future will ultimately fall upon your shoulders. It's not a bad thing to bear it sooner. All affairs of the clan are in order, and there are not too many burdens to carry. You should temper yourself well."
Saying this, she turned around and said to Qing Ling, "Let us go."
"Ah?"
"Ah?"
Venerable Du questioned with a puzzled sound, and Qing Ling echoed his confusion.
Granny Hua Geng chuckled. "My opportunity is also in the East. The Eastern Sea is fraught with danger. With me accompanying you, it will be safer."
Although surprised, Qing Ling followed Granny Hua Geng, riding the clouds and flying straight towards the East, leaving behind a bewildered Du standing alone on the vast plaza.