Qing Ling felt a pang of emotion. He would eventually have to leave Xi Shan, to step out from under the protective wings of Xi Shan and undergo the baptism of the vast Primordial World.
Here in Xi Shan, he was merely like someone undergoing training in a novice village. True growth would only come from experiencing the reality of the Primordial World! But not yet.
Xi Shan returned to tranquility, with all snakes resuming their respective positions. Not all the Golden Immortal venerables took up residence in the Five Peaks Cave Heavens; the cave heavens still required nurturing to fully recover. Only those of the Heavenly rank entered the cave heavens for secluded cultivation to break through.
When those of the Heavenly rank stepped into Golden Immortal realm, the heavenly dao could be infused into the Xi Shan Cave Heavens to enhance their dao power.
Granny Hua Geng led Qing Ling into the depths of Xi Shan, beneath the ten-thousand-zhang abyss, to a secret ancestral ground.
An underground world enveloped by a grand golden formation, guarded by the heroic souls of Xi Shan's ancestors from the Guixu, and protected by a supreme sealing formation personally laid out by Old Ancestor Tai Geng.
Before the formation, Hua Geng said to Qing Ling, "Qing'er, there is only one way to enter our ancestral land: by holding the Myriad Serpent Profound Staff in my hand. Otherwise, only those above the tenth heaven of Da Luo could break through the formation to enter."
Qing Ling's eyes held immense curiosity for this ancestral land. Even he, a congenital deity, could not sense any anomaly within it. He nodded, "Granny, is this Myriad Serpent Profound Staff the symbol of our clan's lineage?"
"Indeed. To hold my profound staff is to be the clan leader! This is the inheritance of the Tai Geng lineage." With that, Granny Hua Geng's profound staff flew up and darted into a resplendent golden light, triggering countless streams of light that caused the formation to reveal a portal of light. "Let's go."
Hua Geng stepped in first, followed by Qing Ling. The moment he stepped through the portal of light, he felt a sense of spatial weightlessness, accompanied by an immensely powerful force hidden within the formation, making Qing Ling tremble inwardly and dare not act rashly.
As the blinding golden light vanished, Qing Ling found himself standing in an ancient stone cave.
On the walls of the stone cave, treasures were placed. A casual glance revealed at least several hundred items, each encased in golden mystical patterns that sealed their aura, making it impossible to discern their quality.
Granny Hua Geng said to him, "This is where our clan's treasures are stored. It contains spiritual treasures, congenital spiritual treasures, formation secret arts, precious talismans, all representing our clan's heritage. Every item here is a spiritual treasure of excellent quality; any one of them could serve as a prized possession for other smaller clans."
Qing Ling's eyes widened in astonishment, and he murmured, "So many?"
"Heh heh, this is only a small portion," Hua Geng said with some pride. "Back then, Ancestor Tai Geng comprehended the Great Dao of Gold and refined the Ten Directions Illumination Dharma Eye, which could seek out treasures from all over the world. Naturally, he collected many.
When Xi Shan was at its peak, this place held ten thousand spiritual treasures. Alas, the war with fierce beasts depleted more than half of the clan's heritage, and countless spiritual treasures, even congenital spiritual treasures, were destroyed in the conflict.
Xi Shan once had twelve congenital spiritual treasures; now there are only four. These four are hidden amongst these five hundred and nineteen spiritual treasures.
As you are the Saint Child of Xi Shan, you may choose one treasure. It will depend on your destiny. Whichever one you choose, I will bestow it upon you, whether it be one of the four congenital spiritual treasures or any other spiritual treasure."
Qing Ling's heart leaped with joy, "Thank you, Granny. Then I shall choose!"
Hua Geng waved her hand and said generously with a smile, "Choose."
Qing Ling walked into the stone cave. The cave walls were made of some kind of profound gold, incredibly hard. In the hundreds of small cavities carved into the walls, ancient spiritual treasures were stored.
There were swords, sabers, spears, halberds, bells, tripods, mirrors, towers, beast armor, serpent scales, and all sorts of extremely rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures. However, they were all sealed by golden mystical patterns, isolating their auras. Even he, a congenital deity, could not sense which one among these over five hundred items was a congenital spiritual treasure.
Granny Hua Geng watched the momentarily bewildered Qing Ling and couldn't help but smile as she reminded him, "Stunned, aren't you? Let me tell you more. Among these five hundred and nineteen items, three hundred and three are exquisite spiritual treasures refined by Grand Unity cultivators and roughly refined by our clan's Da Luo supreme beings. Each one is a treasure to ordinary Golden Immortal venerables.
The remaining one hundred and seventy-two items were refined by our clan's five Grand Luo ancestors, making them rare treasures even for Grand Unity cultivators.
There are an additional thirty-six items that are ancestral heritage collections, not considered spiritual treasures.
The final eight items include four congenital spiritual treasures, all of them middle-grade congenital spiritual treasures. Our Xi Shan's strength is insufficient to merely seal these spiritual treasures, leaving them for when we rise again to aid in conquest.
The remaining four items are supreme treasures personally forged by Ancestor Tai Geng's lifeblood. Although they are acquired, they are not inferior to ordinary middle-grade congenital spiritual treasures.
You must choose carefully."
Qing Ling was deeply shocked. It turned out that Xi Shan, once one of the ten supreme beings of the Primordial Era, possessed such profound heritage.
He nodded and said with a smile, "Granny, then I shall truly choose freely. You mustn't go back on your word."
Hua Geng chuckled, "Choose to your heart's content."
Seeing this, Qing Ling walked from one end to the other, examining each spiritual treasure and item, going back and forth nine times. He memorized the precise appearance of each spiritual treasure, then stood in the center, closed his eyes, and took out the Mi Tian Rope.
The Mi Tian Rope instantly transformed into nine azure threads that coiled around Qing Ling. The forms of each spiritual treasure filtered through his mind, simultaneously appearing around the small figure of his soul.
Swords, tripods, sabers, shields, ancient banners, spirit pearls, treasure mirrors... they all flashed through his mind.
With thousands of thoughts swirling, he matched all the spiritual treasures with the Mi Tian Rope and finally selected four items!
A green wood long sword, a simple stone pagoda, a bronze mirror, and a string of golden bells.
The long sword exuded sharpness, entwined with immortal vines. It nourished the green vines and hid immeasurable sharpness, and it was extremely compatible with Qing Ling's Wood Dao.
The stone pagoda was ancient, devoid of spirit or light, yet it possessed a faint, indefinable aura.
The bronze mirror was mysterious, reflecting people but not their shadows, with hidden brilliant golden light.
The string of golden bells contained a vast number, each bell extremely ancient. Faint golden chimes vibrated within the stone cave.
Qing Ling's gaze flickered uncertainly. He asked Granny again, "Granny, may I choose one of these four items?"
A flicker of expression crossed Granny Hua Geng's eyes. "Choose."
He desired all four of these spiritual treasures, but could only choose one. While hesitating, a thought flashed through Qing Ling's mind. He looked at the four items, walked to the Green Vine Sword, and said solemnly, "Spiritual treasures have spirits. If you are willing to accompany me, languishing in this stone cave out of sunlight, please give a sign with a flash of light."
...
Several breaths passed, but the spiritual treasure remained motionless.
Qing Ling silently moved to the next item, the stone pagoda.
"Spiritual treasures have spirits, languishing..."
The stone pagoda remained unmoved.
To the next item, the ancient bronze mirror, still no movement.
The last one. Qing Ling felt a bit dejected. This last one must give some response.
"Spiritual treasures have spirits. Languishing for endless ages, if I may see the light of day, I will surely not disgrace the treasure's worth!"
...
Still no response.
Qing Ling stood stunned for a moment, then cast his gaze over the items again. He pointed at the string of golden bells and said, "Granny, I will take this spiritual treasure."
"Oh? Why?" Granny Hua Geng's eyes flashed with surprise as she asked with a smile.
Qing Ling also smiled, "Spiritual treasures have spirits. If they truly encounter a worthy master, they will respond. But none of these four have responded, so I might as well choose the one with the most items!"
Granny Hua Geng smiled, "That is also a valid method. Are you sure you don't want to choose again?"
"No more choosing," Qing Ling shook his head. He had seen the surprise flash in Granny's eyes.
Seeing this, Hua Geng no longer concealed her reluctance and spoke directly, "You have stumbled upon it by chance. The Grand Void Divine Bell is one of the most precious treasures in this ancestral land."
Qing Ling heard this and was inwardly delighted, saying with a smile, "Granny, you promised. You cannot go back on your word."
"Rest assured, since I have spoken, I will not go back on my word. It seems it was fate," Granny Hua Geng said with a hint of absentmindedness in her clouded eyes. "The four items you chose are not ordinary spiritual treasures."