To the east of Xishan lies the territory of the Green Lizard clan. Beyond that is the ancestral land of the Black Lizard high clan and its over a dozen subordinate races, spanning nearly a billion *li*, far exceeding the Xishan clan territory by hundreds of times.
This is the power of a high clan!
To the east of the Black Lizard high clan lies the coast of the East Sea, and to the south is the ancestral land of the Giant Crocodile high clan. Grandma Hua Geng and Qing Ling flew eastward from the border of the two clans, crossing over to the East Sea.
The Black Lizard high clan and the Xishan Snake clan were far from friendly, their relationship strained by ancient grievances, a complex web of animosity.
Grandma Hua Geng, carrying Qing Ling, flew straight into the sky, ascending through one heavenly layer after another. The sky was vast and boundless, deep and endless.
Even with Grandma Hua Geng's Taiyi cultivation, it took her several months to fly with Qing Ling through the first heavenly layer, flying non-stop for months on end. It was exceedingly monotonous.
He finally understood why later immortal beings often had mounts. The world was simply too vast, unfathomably so.
The three-zhang golden flower beneath Grandma Hua Geng’s feet bloomed, emitting golden light that enveloped them both, warding off the void winds of the first heavenly layer. Ordinary Heavenly rank cultivators would find it impossible to move an inch in these pervasive winds.
After several months, Qing Ling, standing on the golden flower, looked eastward and saw a line where the sea met the sky. He asked Hua Geng, "Grandma, are we nearing the East Sea?"
Grandma Hua Geng, who had been sitting cross-legged, opened her eyes and looked. "Indeed. Another ten million *li* and we will reach the East Sea coast. The sea is the domain of the Dragon clan. The sea races are far more powerful than all the thousand clans of the East Wasteland combined, a hundredfold. Be extremely cautious when acting in the East Sea!"
Qing Ling nodded in acknowledgment, naturally knowing how to conduct himself. The closer they got to the East Sea, the stronger the sensing in his primordial spirit became. Grandma Hua Geng also opened her eyes frequently, as if deducing something.
After flying another ten million *li*, the spiritual flower beneath their feet descended, plunging out of the first heavenly layer and towards the nine heavens below.
This was Qing Ling’s first time seeing the East Sea since arriving in the Primordial World!
The territory of the paramount overlords of this era.
The vastness of the East Sea was, of course, immeasurable. The moment Qing Ling laid eyes on it, an ancient, powerful aura of immense pressure washed over him, assailing his mind.
The East Sea was a boundless expanse of churning waves. There were stretches of calm, thousands of *zhang* high waves, countless sea birds circling in the sky, and schools of fish swimming contentedly in the sea below. In the distant depths, sea dragons emerged, and true dragons soared through the sky. The terrifying aura of top predators struck fear into all living things. Giant whales swam by, their backs breaching the water. Eight-tentacled sea monsters appeared on the surface, preying on their catch... Thousands of races thrived here, countless beings living under the rule of the Dragon clan.
Along the coast, tens of millions of islands were scattered like pearls on a cyan brocade, or like a colossal map of mountains, rivers, and islands, spread across the east.
Grandma Hua Geng watched Qing Ling’s dazed expression and couldn’t help but smile. "The first time I came to the East Sea, I was just like you."
Qing Ling snapped back to attention, taking a breath. "Possessing such natural treasures and abundant resources, it is indeed worthy of the Dragon clan."
The two of them descended, walking on air towards the myriad islands of the coast.
These islands, large and small, were inhabited by numerous minor races, but no major clans. The islands were dispersed and numerous, with complex and intermingled powers.
And for the past ten thousand years, the region of the myriad islands had become even more intricate. Many powerful Golden Immortal Venerables from various races had descended, and even the presence of Taiyi cultivators had been noted.
All of this was due to the anomalies on Myriad Pearl Island!
As soon as Qing Ling and Grandma Hua Geng entered the East Sea, they knew where the opportunity lay. It was Myriad Pearl Island. They were not the only ones sensing this, as no less than a million beings across the land had perceived the opportunity. However, only tens of thousands had arrived.
Such sensed opportunities involved the destiny and luck of every living being. Destiny and luck were complementary; long destiny meant great luck, while greatly misfortune luck could very well lead to tribulation and the end of one's destiny.
When the heavenly materials and earthly treasures or treasures causing this anomaly emerged, they emitted ethereal innate Dao patterns that dispersed in all directions. Those with affinity, destiny, and luck could sense it.
Clearly, the destiny of Qing Ling and Grandma Hua Geng lay in this place!
This place was originally the ancestral land of the Spiritual Shell clan. The island itself was only ten thousand *li* in circumference, and Spiritual Shell tribesmen had long nurtured spiritual pearls here.
Tens of thousands of years ago, the spiritual energy of this island suddenly overflowed, even causing a spiritual energy tide that alerted the nearby clans. Although the Spiritual Shell clan tried their best to conceal it, the news of spiritual light appearing on the island still leaked out, attracting countless cultivators, and even members of the sea races.
Fortunately, the clan leader of the Spiritual Shell clan made a decisive move. Not only did they abandon this island, but they also abandoned over ten surrounding small islands, migrating their entire clan to avoid disaster.
Now, only tens of thousands of cultivators lingered here, awaiting the emergence of the spiritual treasure.
Qing Ling and Grandma Hua Geng arrived outside Myriad Pearl Island. Looking at the mixed crowd of cultivators, Hua Geng sighed, "If the Spiritual Shell clan were a high clan, this opportunity would bring them fortune. Ultimately, it is a matter of strength."
"What Grandma says is very true. The strong prey on the weak; that is the truth of the Primordial World," Qing Ling echoed with a sigh, then asked, "Are we outside the island, or going inside?"
At this moment, they stood ten thousand *li* outside the island, observing the cultivators hidden beneath the nearby islands, the foreign races, and the Golden Immortal Venerables floating in the sky above the island. A rough estimate revealed no less than a thousand individuals. With Qing Ling only at the Heavenly rank, he felt a bit intimidated.
Grandma Hua Geng chuckled. "If you came alone, you would definitely be hiding. But with me accompanying you, there's no need to sneak around. Even if you don't trust your own strength, surely you trust mine, old woman? Let's go to the island."
Grandma Hua Geng took the first step, and Qing Ling, after a moment of awkwardness, followed suit and stepped onto Myriad Pearl Island.
The moment he stepped onto the island, Qing Ling felt at least a thousand divine senses probing him.
Grandma Hua Geng, walking ahead with her staff, felt the probing from the surrounding cultivators. She snorted coldly, and her Myriad Snake Mysterious Staff gently struck the ground. A grand wave of golden light swept out in all directions, like hundreds of golden flowers blooming. The dazzling golden light, sharp as swords, swept through the surroundings, annihilating those divine senses. Many cultivators were affected by the golden light, their eyes dazzled and their minds struck as if by lightning.
"At least a late-stage Golden Immortal master!"
"What? This person's strength is so formidable. Could it be someone from another high clan has arrived?"
"Who knows? In any case, this person is not to be trifled with. Let’s keep our distance."
...
The cultivators in all directions retreated. Even those near Grandma Hua Geng parted ways. Even cultivators who had been meditating felt as if they had shifted to a different area, daring not to provoke her.
Qing Ling watched this scene with emotion. True powerhouses didn't need to hide. But if he had come alone, he might have retreated after just a few glances. While the opportunity was marvelous, the danger was even greater.
But with Grandma Hua Geng accompanying him, he only needed to act as her attendant and observe.
In this era where Grand Unity reigned supreme, ordinary beings might never see the true form of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal in their entire lives. Therefore, the Taiyi realm was undoubtedly considered a master among the clans, whether in small clans or high clans.
Qing Ling followed closely behind Grandma, walking towards the center of the island, where twelve gates of light were arranged. In front of each gate sat a group of cultivators. Two factions had even occupied four mystical gates of light, guarding them with immense power that made surrounding cultivators dare not express their anger.
In the center, surrounded by the twelve gates of light, was a hundred-zhang lake. Within the lake, twelve streams of spiritual light faintly corresponded to the twelve gates.
Grandma Hua Geng leisurely tapped her staff as she walked forward. The increasingly dense crowd of cultivators spontaneously made way for them. As they advanced, all eyes were upon them, especially Qing Ling's peerlessly charming face, which captivated the attention of all present.
Grandma Hua Geng truly possessed the air of a dignified elder appearing on the scene, her expression calm, showing no fear, seemingly detached from the world. She was quite like the Golden Flower Granny from the martial arts novels in Qing Ling’s memory!
A group of cultivators guarding the three gates to the east and south of the gates stood up. Their leader was a middle-aged man with a benevolent face, dressed in a green robe, possessing late-stage Golden Immortal cultivation. Behind him stood three Golden Immortal Venerables and dozens of great Heavenly rank beasts.
The green-robed man saw Grandma Hua Geng and immediately stood up, laughing heartily. "So Patriarch Hua Geng has also arrived. It has been some time since we last met. Do you still remember Xuan Jiu, Grandma?"
Grandma Hua Geng's usually placid face showed a hint of surprise. She then smiled. "Oh? Little fish Xuan Jiu, this old woman is not entirely senile yet, of course, I remember. I didn't expect you to become the patriarch of the Green Fish clan. I haven't had the chance to congratulate you yet."
"Hahaha, it's kind of you to remember, Grandma. Xuan Jiu will never forget your life-saving grace from back then. Oh my, Grandma has also come for the spiritual treasure of Myriad Pearl Island. However, you've only come alone..." Xuan Jiu glanced at Qing Ling beside Grandma Hua Geng, startled by his appearance. He then considered that this could be considered a useful "person" and changed his tune. "Oh, and this junior from your clan, the two of you. Competing for the Sea and Sky Gate will be somewhat difficult. Xuan Jiu is willing to join forces with you, Grandma, to guard this gate together and share its treasures."
Grandma Hua Geng couldn't help but laugh. "You're still thoughtful, kid. However, this old woman won't share the treasure with you. We'll just snatch one and guard it."
Xuan Jiu was stunned, shocked by Grandma Hua Geng's bold declaration.
Even the cultivators at the other eleven gates of light showed dissatisfaction and looked in their direction. As for the crowd of cultivators a hundred *li* away from the gates, they looked on with great interest. Those who caught each other's eyes whispered amongst themselves, discussing Grandma Hua Geng's identity, all with renewed vigor as they watched the twelve gates of light. Witnessing the battles of Golden Immortal Venerable masters was an opportunity for them; even if it wasn't a great opportunity, it was still an opportunity.
"Hmph, what an arrogant statement. Hua Geng, this is not your Xishan! This is not a place where you can act with impunity!" In front of a gate of light to the west and south, a short, extremely thin old man, resembling a dwarf, snorted sarcastically.
Qing Ling glanced and immediately knew which clan this person belonged to. Because behind the dwarf elder stood someone familiar – the saintess Miao of the Black Lizard high clan, who was now a Golden Immortal Venerable!
Grandma Hua Geng was unperturbed. "Hei Jie, after how many epochs are you still stuck? I think your time is near, and your mind has become muddled, making you speak nonsense. This is not my Xishan territory, is it your Black Mountain territory, where you can act with impunity?"
Grandma Hua Geng suddenly emanated a powerful aura of fierce wind, causing strong gales for a thousand *li* around, whipping up sand and stones. An unyielding sharpness pressed directly towards the over twenty people from the Black Lizard high clan.
The dwarf elder named Hei Jie raised his hand and suppressed it. The gale was immediately halted. He stood up, his sinister pupils more venomous than a viper's, staring fixedly at Hua Geng. A terrifying aura also rose from him, and a battle seemed imminent.
If others from the Black Lizard high clan had come, Hua Geng would not have been so confrontational. But these two were old enemies.