The Duzun and Chizun pondered for a moment, then nodded in approval.
Chili Venerable, however, said, "Holy Son, what you say makes sense. However, if our clan prematurely initiates a war of extermination, and we suffer too many losses among the Chihuo and Lingban tribes, our strength will be greatly diminished. Even if we win, the other six tribes might act ahead of time. By then, a fully prepared enemy will face our exhausted army, leading to heavy losses!"
Qing Ling smiled and replied, "Ancestor elder, what you say is reasonable. Therefore, we must achieve a swift victory. After winning, we will rely on Xishan's foundation to set up formations in the territories of the two tribes. With my power as the God of Spring, the borderlands between the two tribes and Xishan will be turned into a desolate land, forming a barrier.
I believe that with the Golden Immortal Venerables of the clan present, we should not be at a disadvantage in terms of Golden Immortal combat power."
Ku Venerable raised an eyebrow and said, "Even if the Golden Immortals of the various tribes arrive, they will not be able to stop our Xishan Venerables!"
Qing Ling shook his head and said, "Not necessarily. While these tribes do not have anyone who can contend with the clan leader, it does not mean the Black Lizard Upper Clan is devoid of talent! At that time, the Black Lizard Upper Clan might deploy Golden Immortal combat power. Therefore, elders, be extremely careful during battles and do not pursue the enemy.
As for the movements and marches of the Xishan army, and the various strategic locations within the territories of the two tribes, I have already drawn up a complete map. Everyone, please take a look!"
With that, Qing Ling waved his hand, and countless spiritual lights floated up, converging in the air to form a giant map hundreds of feet wide. It was precisely the map of the territories of the Chihuo Toad and Lingban Hyena tribes. The map not only marked the terrain and crucial points but even indicated enemy deployment, traps, and spiritual items! This precious map was obtained at the cost of hundreds and thousands of reconnaissance puppets.
Even Grandma Hua Geng exclaimed upon seeing the map, "Excellent, excellent! A marvelous map! With the assistance of this map, our clan will surely annihilate the two tribes with overwhelming force!"
Meanwhile, countless miles away, at the border between the Chihuo Toad tribe's territory and the Southern Chimu Toad tribe's territory, above a forest, the Chihuo Toad tribe leader, Clan Leader Chi Hun, was conversing with an old woman in the void, speaking with a degree of respect.
Chi Hun sighed, "Friend Chi Xun, the friendship between our two tribes far surpasses that of the other fifty toad tribes. Now, as my tribe faces this life-or-death crisis, I implore your assistance. After all, if our tribe is destroyed, Xishan, which is rising, will directly confront the Chimu Toad tribe."
"Worry not, friend. With the Black Lizard Upper Clan already taking action, Xishan, no matter how defiant, will never rise. Annihilation is imminent," the old woman reassured him.
Clan Leader Chi Hun looked distressed, "If that were truly the case, would I still come to you, friend, to beg for help?"
"Oh? Could it be that Clan Leader Chi Hun has no confidence in the Black Lizard Upper Clan?"
"Not at all, not at all. I have used our clan's heritage, sacrificed ten thousand ancient souls to the sun, and divined the path of our Chihuo Toads. Do you know the result?"
"What is it?"
"Green flames fill the sky, toad corpses litter the plains, blood stains a thousand miles, tribe destroyed, species extinct!"
"What? Are you sure the divination is correct?" the old woman's expression changed drastically, and she questioned him.
"Impossible. Our clan's divination method involves the spirit of the sun and encompasses destiny, numbers, and calamities. There will be no major errors," Clan Leader Chi Hun said with sorrow.
The old woman's face darkened. The Chihuo and Chimu tribes were originally one. To prevent them from becoming too powerful, they were separated into two tribes, but their kinship remained. If they stood by and watched the Chihuo tribe be annihilated, they, the Chimu, would also find it difficult to remain aloof.
"How do you wish for me to assist you?" She was a Venerable in the late Golden Immortal stage. By clan seniority, she was practically a half-elder to Clan Leader Chi Hun.
"Thank you for your willingness to help. This crisis is too perilous. The envoy from the Black Lizard Upper Clan is too arrogant and underestimates the strength of us minor tribes. They do not realize that any tribe that can establish itself in the Eastern Wilderness is not simple. They are likely accustomed to their status as an upper clan, looking down on others, and are offering no real assistance, merely empty words.
Therefore, I believe it is time for our two tribes to reunite. This time, even King Lingchan will have nothing to say. All the members of both tribes will be under your command, and our Chimu tribe will absolutely not disobey."
The old woman pondered for a moment and said, "Very well! Our two tribes were originally one. Since that is the case, let our tribes merge their names and revert to the name Chiling Toad tribe. When..."
"Who is hiding and eavesdropping?" Halfway through her sentence, the old woman suddenly looked down at a towering ancient tree.
Beside the ancient tree, a small puppet just peeked its head back, hiding behind the ancient tree, not daring to move.
However, Clan Leader Chimu, being a late Golden Immortal Venerable, would not let go of the slightest suspicion. She immediately pointed a finger, and the towering ancient tree turned to ash, along with the small puppet hiding behind it, which was also burned to ashes.
Clan Leader Chi Hun's face changed in shock and he said, "This... could it be that someone overheard?"
"No, this Chimu forest is a secret place of our clan, capable of isolating divine sense. However, since eavesdropping has occurred, we cannot rule out even the slightest possibility of leakage. You must now go and gather your clan members, convey the order to merge, and prepare for migration. I will also gather my clan members to discuss and then immediately lead my people to meet you!"
"Alright, I will return to the clan and gather the members now." Clan Leader Chi Hun suddenly thought of something and said, "However, that traitor Mo Chan has already allied himself with the Black Lizard Upper Clan's envoy. His descendants are the most numerous in the clan, and I fear he will not agree to the merger."
The old woman's face creased, then she sneered, "It matters not. Such a person is useless to bring back to the clan. Since he wishes to associate with the powerful, there is no need to spare him. And since they are his descendants, there is no need to spare them either. As long as your lineage remains, the Chihuo bloodline will not be broken. In other words, as long as our Chi tribe exists, the Chiling Toad bloodline will not be broken!"
......
Xishan, thousands of snakes slithered, and millions of spiritual snakes gathered. The peak lords of the East, West, North, and South gathered the Heaven rank clansmen. From the Tai Chong Peak, Heaven rank clansmen emerged, and the clansmen guarding the four directions rushed to Xishan.
The Xishan army of millions of spiritual snakes was divided into two routes. One route, led by Chili Venerable, Chizun, and Ku Venerable, with over 150 Heaven rank clansmen, ten thousand Earth rank clansmen, and five million spiritual snake soldiers, set off westward towards the Lingban Hyena tribe.
The other route, led by Qing Ling and Duzun, set off southward towards the Chihuo Toad tribe, with a hundred Heaven rank, ten thousand Earth rank, and five million spiritual snake soldiers.
This was already ninety-nine percent of Xishan's total clansman forces, not including the spiritual snakes, as Xishan had nearly a hundred million spiritual snakes living there, but only ten million were mobilized for combat.
Grandma Hua Geng remained at Xishan to oversee. Whichever side encountered problems, with her Taiyi realm speed, she could arrive in moments.
The great sun rose, and the morning light illuminated the boundless mountains and rivers. On the land of Xishan, millions of snakes emerged in unison, their movements like tides, their presence like a sea. As far as the eye could see, the vast land was filled with countless snakes, vipers, pythons, spiritual snakes, and half-snake people, mixed together in innumerable numbers!
At the very front of the snake swarm, a thousand-zhang blue python slithered forward. Upon its massive snake head stood a young man in red, gazing towards the south. The rising eastern sun illuminated him, with millions of snakes forming an escort behind him. The King of Ten Thousand Snakes, commanding an army.
Behind the thousand-zhang blue python, five hundred-zhang giant pythons slithered, their heads adorned with red banners. The banners had a blood-red base, symbolizing the countless battles and bloodshed, with the four peaks of Xishan guarding the main peak Tai Chong as the only emblem on the banner.
This was the tribal flag of the Xishan snake tribe. The spiritual snakes marching below all aspired to plant the blood flag of the snake tribe on every inch of enemy territory!
Qing Ling mused that perhaps one day, the flag of Xishan could be planted on every inch of the Eastern Wilderness!
Duzun walked onto You, who had transformed into a thousand-zhang spiritual snake, and looked at Qing Ling, who appeared calm with a distant gaze. He couldn't help but sigh, "To have the courage to become a commander of an army, with the lives of millions of snakes in one's hands, is not about excitement, but about a responsibility as heavy as a mountain. A single mistake in word or deed could mean the lives of tens of thousands of fellow clansmen. Qing Ling, are you certain that the Chihuo Toad tribe does not have many Golden Immortal Venerables?"
The voice of the person beside him pulled Qing Ling back from his distant thoughts. He smiled lightly, "Or, if an extra Golden Immortal Venerable appears, would you be afraid?"
Duzun laughed heartily, "Afraid? I have never feared even a Grand Unity Supreme Being, what have I to fear?"
Qing Ling nodded and said, "Rest assured, if there truly are extra Golden Immortal Venerables, I will handle them. Clan Leader Chi Hun has already led his clansmen and a portion of their heritage to the territory of the Chimu Toad tribe. Mo Chan and that Black Lizard Upper Clan Venerable alone are not to be feared.
In a tribal war, what is terrifying is not powerful enemies, but powerful and deep foundations! Without the Chihuo tribe's heritage, Mo Chan and his descendants will all return to the heavens and earth!"
Duzun's heart trembled. He knew that Mo Chan Venerable had almost captured Qing Ling years ago. A single thought could have led to the complete annihilation of his lineage.
Qing Ling inwardly sneered. Years ago, he had grovelled and begged Mo Chan Venerable, seeking survival amidst death. Now, the roles were reversed.
For the powerful beings who had wronged me, no matter how strong they are, as long as I live well and grow stronger, one day I will reclaim my lost dignity from the humbleness of the powerful!
Meanwhile, in the south of the Eastern Wilderness, within the territory of the seventy-seven salamander tribes, at the Tianjun Salamander tribe's territory, twelve Golden Immortal Venerables sat cross-legged around a Tianjun disk.
All twelve wore white bamboo hats and loose white robes, making it impossible to discern their figures or faces.
One of them chuckled lightly, "In the north of the Eastern Wilderness, a mountain snake wishes to become a sky-devouring python. The ancient Black Lizard has lost a limb. The Mountain River Giant Ape sits calmly in the Northern Wilderness. The Eastern Crocodile eyes the Black Lizard. A hundred toads leap together, beasts in the west stir, and the hundred and fifty-six yuanhui of tranquility in the Eastern Wilderness have begun to be disrupted!"
Another voice, a crisp maiden's voice, said, "Divine descent from the heavens, gods appear, remnants of fierce beasts, a thousand tribes in chaos, ten thousand fortunes manifest!"
An ancient elder's voice, deep and muffled, as if speaking with a mouth full of ancient stones, spoke strangely, "My Tianjun Mountain has been silent for thirteen hundred yuanhui. Finally, this unparalleled opportunity has arrived! The seventy-seven salamander tribes should also be unified!"
Another old woman's voice cackled sinisterly, "The Dragon tribe unified the ten thousand races and occupied the four seas, forcing our divine race into eternal escape. This prosperous age of the Dragon tribe will see us become the first link of decay!"
The twelve Golden Immortal Venerables in white robes, white scarves, and white bamboo hats all spoke in unison: "Eternal Salamander, Tianjun Divine Mountain, Buzhou's End, Myriad Worlds Cosmos, Divine Demon Boundless, Primordial Unity!"
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