Chaosheng felt a surge of dejection. He had always believed his clan was on the same level as other major clans, only to discover they were being viewed as "clowns" by others. If only he knew the meaning of the word, he would have thought precisely that.
Hesitating, Chaosheng no longer cared about the outcome of the battle between the lower-ranked members of the two clans. He instantly retreated into the Sacred Mountain Marsh, activating the Four Seas Divine Talisman to request the presence of the Dragon Clan's Patrol Supreme. With the current strength of the Dragon Clan, who in the Primordial World wouldn't show them some respect?
As for his own dignity, he hadn't even considered it would have any effect on that ancient Supreme.
On Xishan, the elder with black markings was extremely cautious. He spoke slowly, "Supreme Xuanwu, my Black Lizard clan was foolish and overstepped. We beg for your forgiveness. Our clan will never again invade Xishan by half a step."
The massive turtle's head blinked its cloudy eyes slowly, opening and closing, as if to emphasize its words. Then it said, "This is for the best."
"For the best?" The giant blue python on the turtle's back flicked out a tongue that stretched for ten thousand li. The faint aura of malevolence on its tongue brushed past the faces of the veiled woman and the black-marked elder, the murderous aura of countless fierce beasts it had devoured making their hearts tremble.
"Since they were in the wrong first, they must make amends. After all, we are elders to these little snakes of Xishan; we should offer them some apology," the giant python's narrow, snake-like eyes swept over the two with a chilling gaze.
The veiled woman remained silent, neither humble nor arrogant. She did not know how terrifying the fierce beast before her was, and thus did not show excessive fear. However, the black-marked elder was acutely aware of how formidable Supreme Xuanwu was.
He quickly said, "Supreme, rest assured, your junior will definitely offer an apology that will satisfy the Xishan clan."
Xuanwu nodded and said, "Since that is the case, I hope you will keep your promise. I shall invite a..." He paused mid-sentence, then turned his head. "A witness is precisely what I need. You've arrived."
As his words fell, a distant eastern horizon surged like a vast ocean, flashing to appear above Xishan, tearing through the black net of the veiled woman's Black Rhinoceros. A youth in blue robes descended from the sky.
A pair of dragon horns grew from the newcomer's forehead. Although he was of the Dragon Clan, his aura was restrained and extremely gentle. Upon seeing Xuanwu, he ignored the expectant elder and instead stepped forward, his voice warm and respectful. "Dragon Clan's Lan Kui pays respects to the Supreme."
"Mm, you little dragon are quite rare. Unlike those old dragons who are short-tempered, you are quite good," the turtle's head nodded with satisfaction.
The snake's head, filled with curiosity, suddenly stretched out and coiled around the blue-robed man once. "He seems reliable, so it will be him. Little golden snake, you tell him. Whatever apology you want, tell this little dragon."
The turtle's head seemed to realize Lan Kui might not understand, and explained, "The Black Lizard clan has injured the bloodline of my old friend's kin, so he must make amends. You will be a witness to this. How about it?"
Lan Kui's face remained gentle and calm, but inwardly, he was extremely displeased with the Black Lizard clan. It was one thing to provoke this small clan, but to provoke the emergence of this ancient beast was another matter entirely.
"Naturally, I am willing."
Granny Huageng stepped forward and bowed, "Many thanks to all seniors for witnessing." With that, Granny Huageng concentrated her mind and said, "Our small clan has little strength and dares not offend the Black Lizard major clan again. However, since Supreme Xuanwu has spoken, our clan will take a piece of spiritual land."
Upon hearing this, the black-marked elder breathed a sigh of relief. "Little friend Huageng, rest assured. I will immediately order the Azure Lizard clan to retreat and cede fifty million li of land to the east as Xishan territory."
Granny Huageng, however, smiled and said, "Senior is too generous. We do not need so much. I have a method to measure the spiritual land." With that, Huageng said, "Qing'er, come."
Qing Ling's heart skipped a beat, but he still stepped forward. He emerged in the presence of the four great beings.
He quickly bowed, "Greetings to Senior Xuanwu, greetings to Senior Dragon Clan, greetings to the two seniors of the Black Lizard major clan." After all, politeness never hurt.
Huageng said, "He is our clan's Holy Son. Today, whatever area his dan tian's spiritual energy can cover will belong to our clan's territory. What do the two seniors think?"
"This..." The Black Lizard ancestor's brow twitched. After the Xishan Grotto-Heaven was established, he had seen extremely powerful fluctuations of magic power in that direction, which this person had caused.
"How vast can the dan tian of a mere Heavenly Rank little snake be? Are you, Daoist Black Mark, unwilling to part with this mere spiritual land?" Lan Kui asked with a smile, urging him on.
This remark sent a tremor through the black-marked elder. At this moment, Supreme Xuanwu, an ancient Supreme being, was beside him. The first Xuanwu in existence, its turtle head was gentle and calm, while its snake head was active and bloodthirsty. Every million years, the two heads would swap dominance. It seemed his luck wasn't too bad; the turtle head was clearly in control of the will.
The most important thing was to send this malevolent god away quickly! "Alright, little friend, please proceed."
Qing Ling was stunned and looked at Granny Huageng's expectant eyes. He hadn't expected Granny to be so bold, and to use this opportunity to gain recognition from several great powers, perhaps with ulterior motives.
However, he did not shrink back. He stepped forward and said, "This humble snake will show its flaws."
As he stepped out, both the Xuanwu turtle and snake heads' eyes flashed with surprise. Their minds were connected, and they both wondered inwardly why Fu Chun (Assistant Spring) God had fallen to Heavenly Rank. However, Xuanwu did not speak. It was the master god of winter, and where it passed, ice formed. It had a natural conflict with the Azure Dragon, the god of spring. Moreover, it had lived for too long and seen too many gods to be surprised.
The master god of winter was a dispensable position for it, and an Assistant Spring God offered no benefit to it.
Qing Ling walked eastward, standing beside Xishan. The phantom of his five qi manifested within his chest, and the two flowers of heaven and man bloomed. Since Granny had given him this opportunity, he had to give his all.
Within his dan tian world, his immense spiritual power surged forth, exuding an endless aura of azure clouds that covered the east, continuously and without end.
For an ordinary person to release their dan tian's sea of qi would be extremely dangerous for Heavenly Rank or Golden Immortal existences. Once scattered, their spiritual power would be lost.
However, in the presence of several Great Luo existences, especially Supreme Xuanwu, there was naturally no danger.
Boundless azure energy spread, ten thousand li, ten thousand li, and then ten thousand li again. The azure energy connected heaven and earth, spanning eastward like the manifestation of the Spring God, like the arrival of the spring season, covering the eastern horizon.
The veiled woman's expression turned grim. She watched as the azure clouds, which had already surpassed Xishan and were spreading eastward, continued to fly onward without any sign of weakness. They crossed Xishan, covered the territory of the Azure Lizards, hundreds of thousands of li of spiritual land, millions of li of spiritual land, fifteen million li, two million li!
A full two million li in radius was enveloped by endless azure clouds.
Although his dan tian contained a sea of spiritual power spanning twenty million li, the sea of qi within the dan tian world could not be equated to the Primordial World.
The veiled woman and the black-marked elder froze. Although these two million li of territory were small for the Black Lizard clan's homeland, they housed three branch clans and nearly a hundred million people. Relocating them would inevitably be a headache.
Xuanwu's turtle head nodded, "Not bad. Although I was born a Golden Immortal, my nascent dan tian was only a few dozen times larger than yours, little green snake."
Qing Ling smiled, "I dare not compare myself to the Supreme." Internally, however, he was extremely shocked. To think that an ancient being like Xuanwu, a Supreme being of heaven and earth, had such a vast dan tian.
"Alright, since this matter is settled, I should be going," the turtle's head said unhurriedly. "Ancestor Tai Geng once told me that after him, Xishan could be weak, could bleed, but could never be destroyed. In the future, when the clan faces a life-or-death crisis, summon this token. Even if I am in slumber, the Assistant Winter God will be alerted."
With that, Xuanwu did not wait for a reaction from anyone and turned to leave. However, the snake head on its back suddenly turned, its narrow, icy eyes reflecting a world of ice and snow. Ten thousand streams of frigid qi and wind and snow roared, entering the hearts of the veiled woman and the black-marked elder. For an instant, they felt a chill that even their Great Luo Dao hearts were frozen ten thousand feet deep.
Granny Huageng quickly bowed to see them off. Lan Kui also bowed in farewell. All the ten thousand snakes of Xishan bowed in farewell, while only the veiled woman and the black-marked elder stood stiffly, their Dao hearts frozen, their primordial spirits instantly sealed by fifty percent.
Lan Kui saw this and said, "Two Daoist friends, do not forget your promise. Saint Xuanwu's snake head merely turned back; if both turtle and snake heads had turned back, it would have meant the freezing of heaven and earth for ten million li."
The black-marked elder snapped back to his senses, sighed, and said, "Many thanks to Daoist Lan Kui for the reminder. This is my Black Lizard clan's misfortune. Farewell!"
As his words fell, he instantly aged considerably. "Hei Fei, let's go."
The veiled woman turned back with resentment, staring coldly at Huageng and Qing Ling. Heiwen, however, did not spare another glance at the Xishan clan.
They respected and feared only Xuanwu; the Xishan snake clan could not enter the eyes of the great beings.
Lan Kui clasped his fist in a salute and sighed, "Two Daoist friends, please depart."
Black light flashed, and the two Great Luo Supremes tore through the void and departed. Great beings had the aspirations of great beings; since they had acknowledged it, they would abide by it.
The nearly broken courage of the ten thousand snakes of Xishan slowly recovered.
Huageng stepped forward and said, "Many thanks to Senior Lan Kui of the Dragon Palace."
Lan Kui smiled and said, "It is only natural. After today, Xishan can at least enjoy peace for several Yuanhui. This is your clan's opportunity."
This Great Luo expert of the Dragon Clan showed no arrogance, his temperament as gentle and flowing as water, making it difficult not to feel a sense of goodwill.
Huageng shook her head and said, "Senior is correct, but my clan's ancestor may still have enemies. If not for the clan's perilous situation today, I would never have resorted to this move."
Lan Kui smiled lightly and said, "No matter what, Xishan is a subordinate clan of our Dragon Clan. Clan Leader Huageng need not worry."
"By the way, after the Battle of Myriad Beasts in the next Yuanhui, it will be our clan's Sacred Rite of Myriad Races. At that time, all Holy Sons from races within the Dragon Clan's territory will need to attend. Holy Son of Xishan, please be sure to attend the Sacred Rite." By the end of his sentence, Lan Kui was speaking directly to Qing Ling.
Granny Huageng pondered for a moment and asked, "Senior, is it that a high-ranking expert of the Dragon Clan has summoned him?"
Lan Kui shook his head and said, "I cannot be certain. However, your Xishan clan is truly fortunate, to have Fu Chun (Assistant Spring) God as your Holy Son."
"Senior saw through it?" This question was asked by Qing Ling.
"Hehe, if I couldn't see through it, I wouldn't be a Great Luo," Lan Kui said with a light laugh. "Qing Ling, is it? 'Qing' for name, divine spirit's honored essence, Qing Ling. Fu Chun God. You have a great connection with one of our clan's elders."
"Is it the Master of Spring God? I have always sensed a fellow deity of mine in the distant eastern sea."
"Indeed. However, our clan's elder is currently in slumber while breaking through, and cannot be disturbed. Otherwise, I would take you to the Ten Thousand Dragon Cave right now."
Qing Ling's heart stirred, and he boldly asked, "Then may I ask, is my Master God the Four Dragon Ancestor, the Azure Dragon of the East?"
Lan Kui's expression changed and he said, "Remember this, never speak of this again."
"Qing Ling will keep it in mind."
Lan Kui nodded, extended his hand, and a blue dragon scale exuding powerful dragon might appeared, making all the snakes of Xishan uneasy, their bloodline suppression difficult to control.
Only Qing Ling, with his divine body, was unaffected. He accepted the item gifted by Lan Kui.
"Remember to bring my dragon scale when you attend the meeting. Perhaps you will see your Master God at the Sacred Rite of Myriad Races. If you face a life-or-death crisis, you may use this scale to summon me, though I may not be able to arrive," Lan Kui said with a light laugh, then turned and flew into the sky, disappearing into the sea.
Qing Ling nodded and looked towards the distant eastern sea, as if facing an endless journey.