Qing Ling quickly bowed and said, "Many thanks, Main God."
"You don't even ask what it is?" The Azure Dragon clone asked with a hint of surprise.
"Since it is bestowed by the Main God, it must be beneficial and harmless. I completely trust the Main God," Qing Ling admitted honestly. "After all, I am merely Heaven rank, and my very existence is controlled by the Main God due to my divine essence. My life and death are but a fleeting moment for a senior like you."
The Azure Dragon clone chuckled heartily. "Indeed, you are direct. I detest those who beat around the bush."
Qing Ling felt a sense of relief. While he wasn't fully versed in the intricacies of the Dragon clan, he was not entirely ignorant.
Within the Dragon clan, there were different lineages and sub-races, each with their own internal conflicts. However, they all pledged unwavering loyalty to the Ancestor of All Dragons, the Dragon Ancestor!
And it was not mere hearsay that dragons were lustful; the Dragon clan had produced countless princes and descendants, giving rise to a vast array of species. The Dragon clan had made immense contributions to the biodiversity of the Primordial World.
Beyond the pure-blooded true dragons, the next tier was the Jiao Dragon lineage. Below them, there were Dragon Turtles, born from unions with tortoises, Dragon Shells from combining with shellfish, Dragon Snakes from intermingling with serpents, and Dragon Lobsters from pairing with crustaceans. Even the fish of the East Sea carried the bloodline of the Dragon clan. Moreover, with the sacred sons of the myriad races marrying into the Dragon Palace, an unknown number of new species with dragon bloodlines had been created.
Consequently, the sheer number of dragons meant frequent internal strife and disputes over interests.
Excluding the Fifth Ancestor, whose existence remained unknown to most, the Four Great Ancestors were the crucial links that bound the Dragon clan together.
The Dragon Ancestor served as a spiritual leader, wielding supreme authority and overseeing the entire Dragon clan.
The Black Dragon Ancestor, the eldest, acted as the patriarch of the entire clan, safeguarding the interests of ancient Dragon species.
The Azure Dragon represented the military faction, the force of conquest. This clone, judging by its imposing aura, was no less formidable than the twelve Dragon clan elders and was one of the Four Great Generals of conquest.
The Candle Dragon represented the dragon clan's taboos, sins, and karma.
The Fifth Ancestor, the most mysterious, never revealed itself. Yet, legends within the Dragon clan spoke of this lineage existing through mystical means, akin to priests and diviners, guiding the Dragon clan.
The long sword hanging at the Azure Dragon clone's waist suddenly unsheathed. The boundless sharpness of the Azure Wood sword qi, unleashed the moment the blade was drawn, made Qing Ling feel as though he was about to perish by that very strike.
Fortunately, the sensation lasted only an instant. The cyan sword light split into two, and the terrifying aura, no longer directed at Qing Ling, transformed into a virtual sword domain that enveloped the two of them.
The Azure Dragon clone then spoke, "You must have heard rumors of our Fifth Ancestor."
"This junior has heard a little."
"Hmm, do you know why the Fifth Ancestor is known only by name, and why even the Great Luo Golden Immortals of the Dragon clan have never seen them?"
"This junior does not know." Qing Ling simply listened attentively.
Seeing this, the Azure Dragon clone spoke directly. "Our fifth Ancestor is the White Dragon Ancestor. She is a supreme being at the thirtieth heaven of Great Luo Golden Immortal, whose black and white dragon eyes are the most terrifying.
Her white eye can glimpse the ephemeral future, while her black eye can trace the past.
She can survey all of past and future with unfathomable divine abilities. However, due to her heaven-defying talent, her eyes are nearly blind, and her origin is extremely weak. Despite being a powerful being at the thirtieth heaven, she lives a life less fortunate than an ordinary being.
For she is the Ancestor of Dragons, and to receive such supreme honor and destiny, she had to pay a great price. She willingly peered into the future for the Dragon clan, even if it meant immense suffering.
Of the entire Dragon clan, only we Four Great Ancestors know her true condition. Now, you are one of them."
Qing Ling, still reeling from the shock, was jolted by the last sentence and quickly offered a fawning smile. "This junior will absolutely not speak of this."
"Hmm, I believe you," the Azure Dragon clone said. "But this will not affect the soul restriction I am about to place on you."
Qing Ling's heart immediately panicked. He opened his mouth to speak but dared not utter a word.
"Rest assured, I will only seal your memories of our conversation. It will not affect you in the slightest," the Azure Dragon clone said with a wry smile. "What? Do you think I would harm you?"
"This junior would not dare," Qing Ling replied helplessly.
"Since I said this is your great fortune, then it is fortune," the Azure Dragon clone stated solemnly. "The White Dragon exhausted her entire lifespan, half her life's effort, and even sacrificed nearly half her primordial spirit to glimpse a scene of the future.
'The dragons fight in the wilderness, their blood turns dark yellow. Dragon corpses litter the plains, the four seas are without a master.'
Qing Ling couldn't help but be astonished by the White Dragon Ancestor's formidable talent. To glimpse a scene involving the Heavenly Dao of the future, even at such a precious cost, spoke volumes of the strength of her Great Dao!
Moreover, it bore a striking resemblance to the future of the Dragon clan that Qing Ling already knew.
The Azure Dragon clone continued, "Although the White Dragon's glimpse was merely one of countless possible futures, it indicates this is a highly probable outcome."
"Although our Dragon clan appears powerful, dominating the four seas and suppressing the Phoenix and Qilin races, in reality, those peerless, immensely powerful beings, along with the Phoenix and Qilin clans, have already formed an implicit alliance.
Our clan is overpopulated, and various hidden dangers have already emerged. While the tribulation qi and death qi on that Golden Dragon of Fortune were suppressed once again, they will only grow heavier next time. To suppress them again will require a broader fortune. And broader fortune necessitates conquering more vast territories!
Our clan has fallen into a cycle. If even one link breaks, while it may not shake our foundations, our prosperous fortune will gradually decline from its peak. Over time, tribulations will rise, fortune will wane, calamities will grow, and destinies will fade. The future of our Dragon clan... alas.
Therefore, I have taken notice of you and planted a chess piece in advance, waiting for the future."
"Me? What merit do I possess? You think too highly of me," Qing Ling immediately understood something and hastily declined.
The Azure Dragon clone sighed. "No rush. I hope this chess piece of yours will never be needed. When you are called upon, it will mean our clan is on the brink of annihilation.
You are the Auxiliary God of Spring, a deity born from death, bringing forth new life, possessing extraordinary fortune. Furthermore, you have not been integrated into our clan's fortune, and your Xi Shan lineage will protect you.
You only need to be a Saint Son of Xi Shan, remaining unknown. With my blessing on your clan's fortune and without merging into our Dragon clan's tribulation qi, you will always have a sliver of hope for survival.
If, after eons, our Dragon clan is no longer glorious, and we are no longer in existence, perhaps by then, you, who will have become an unparalleled powerhouse, will know what to do."
As a Dragon clan Ancestor, he found it difficult to utter words of seeking help from others, a testament to his pride and the indomitable spirit of the Dragon clan.
Qing Ling was stunned for a long time before asking, "Senior, why do you believe my future is so promising?"
The Azure Dragon clone said with a smile, "You yourself may not, but if the Auxiliary God of Spring and the God of Spring unite, becoming the dual deities of spring and winter in heaven and earth, such a divine foundation, combined with your not-inconsiderable wisdom, how far can you possibly fall in the future?"
Qing Ling was shocked. "Could it be that the Main God he..."
"Such a divine rank is more of an impediment than assistance to someone like me, who is close to the Great Dao. You need not worry.
I am still in seclusion in the Ten Thousand Dragons Cave and cannot see you. Seeing you is equivalent to the Main Body seeing you. I have said all that needs to be said. As an Auxiliary God, you cannot refuse."
Qing Ling nodded. "Thank you, Senior. I harbor not a single complaint. To be a chess piece is far better than not even being considered one. For me, this is an opportunity."
The Azure Dragon clone nodded in approval. "Good, your awareness is high. Since that is the case, I shall offer you a bit more guidance. The reason you were not born as a Golden Immortal is not because the divine authority of heaven and earth is weak, but because your authority is incomplete. You will understand once you achieve Golden Immortal status."
Saying this, he flipped his hand and presented a reddish withered branch.
Seeing Qing Ling's confusion, he lightly said, "Fusang branch. Your divine essence is Yin, and the Main God's is Yang. Forged from this divine wood, it will pave the way for the future transmission of your divine essence."
Qing Ling quickly took the withered branch, which looked no different from an ordinary twig, and cherished it, storing it away as a treasure.
The Azure Dragon clone chuckled. "You are indeed discerning."
"Alright, I have said all that needs to be said. Now, you should sleep."
With that, he flicked a finger and touched Qing Ling's forehead. Qing Ling was completely unable to resist and drifted into a deep slumber.
The Azure Dragon clone extended his hand and, with a sword finger, imposed a sharp sword intent that sealed the memories in Qing Ling's primordial spirit concerning the White Dragon and their conversation today.
Silence reigned within the sword domain. The Azure Dragon clone recalled his sword, dispelling the Feng Xun sword domain. The summit of Azure Dragon Sacred Mountain once again became discernible within heaven and earth.
The mountain wind blew again, billowing the general's battle attire. The sword's sharp edge gleamed with cold steel. The worry in his eyes vanished, replaced by eyes filled with unbridled battle intent.
...
When Qing Ling slowly awoke, he found himself lying on Granny Hua Geng's Golden Element Flower Cloud. Du and Chi were by his side, looking at him with smiles.
"Awake?" Granny Hua Geng's voice transmitted from ahead.
Qing Ling shook his somewhat cloudy head, unable to answer immediately.
Venerable Chi chuckled. "He seems awake, but not fully conscious."
The twelve Heaven rank clan members behind him all smiled.
Qing Ling closed his eyes and circulated his primordial spirit, letting his cultivation power flow through his body. His thoughts began to clear. He had been knocked unconscious by the Azure Dragon clone, and his memories were sealed. The conversation on Azure Dragon Sacred Mountain would be buried deep within him.
Now, it appeared he was on his way back to his clan.
Qing Ling nodded, no longer minding the teasing from his clan members. "Now I am truly awake."
Hearing this, Granny Hua Geng smiled and gestured to Venerable Du.
Du immediately took out a ball of light. Within the light was another fruit of the Huang Zhong Li! He confirmed his own Huang Zhong Li was not missing from his sleeve, so this one...
Venerable Chi covered her mouth and chuckled. "This was secretly given to Granny by that Great Luo Golden Immortal, Jing Mo, when you were sent down from Azure Dragon Sacred Mountain.
Tsk tsk tsk, it takes tens of thousands of years for only ten fruits to ripen. This must be the esteemed being's hard-earned stock. Quickly tell me, have you hooked up with any Dragon maidens from the Azure Dragon lineage?"
Qing Ling froze for a moment, then chuckled. "Clan sister, you think too much. I am the Saint Son of Xi Shan, why would I think of clinging to a Dragon maiden?"
Venerable Du watched for a while, then said with a half-smile, "Then perhaps you have hooked up with a Great Luo True Dragon!"
Qing Ling hesitated. He had directly connected with one of the five Great Ancestors of the Dragon clan, which could indeed be considered hooking up with a Great Luo True Dragon.