After Qing Ling returned, she focused solely on teaching her disciples, imparting knowledge and resolving their doubts, without mentioning the impending catastrophe.
Inside the Fu Luo Palace, the tall and imposing Qi stood beside Qing Ling. "I've heard that the Three Sages are already in the Outer Heavens discussing the Investiture of the Gods. Aren't you going to make your move and lay out your plans?"
Qing Ling, reclining on a cloud bed, chuckled. "Qi, why don't you call me 'Older Brother' anymore?"
Qi's face flushed slightly. "You are a Saint now; you should be more solemn."
Qing Ling eyed Qi with amusement, looking him up and down. "Qi, you've finally grown up."
Qi's gaze wavered. "Older Brother will always be Older Brother, and Qi will always be Qi."
Qing Ling smiled and stood up, intending to tuck his long hair. She found that he had grown taller than her, and the hand she raised paused for a moment.
Just as she was about to retract it, Qi unexpectedly crouched down, half-kneeling before her. His voice, slightly hurried, spoke, "Please, Older Brother, comb my hair for me, just once, as a coming-of-age ceremony."
Qing Ling's smile deepened at the corner of her eyes. "You are still that same Qi."
With that, Qing Ling raised her hands, gathered Qi's flowing hair, and as if gathering his past innocence, his helplessness, she smoothed the hair on the side of his chiseled face. Her hands passed through his hair, touching his head. The big-headed child from so long ago was now a handsome and upright man, her closest kin, who had accompanied her for thousands of yuanhui, his heart unchanged through countless ages.
Under the lamplight and candle shadows, they were incredibly close, as if their hearts were connected.
After a long while, Qing Ling took a scale from herself, which transformed into a jade hairpin, and tied up Qi's long hair. She whispered, "There."
Qi slowly stood up. Clad in red, with blood-red eyes and a long saber on his back, his hair bound by the jade hairpin, he was as handsome as a god, yet he seemed like a god of war.
"Greetings, Elder Brother."
Qing Ling's eyes held a look of relief. "Good. Let's go to the Demon Realm."
Qi asked no further questions and simply nodded.
The two of them walked out of the Fu Luo Palace together and entered the Demon Realm.
Outside the palace, Hua Ze, busy watering flowers, looked on with curiosity. "Why has Little Martial Uncle-Ancestor changed?"
Hua Shuo nonchalantly replied, "He just had his hair done, what's so strange about that?"
"Hair done?" Hua Ze sniffed disdainfully. "What do you know?"
In the Demon Realm, at the Wa Huang Palace, Nu Wa, who had been meditating with her eyes closed, opened them. "Ling Zhu Zi, we have guests. Go prepare some tea."
Ling Zhu Zi nodded in agreement.
In the Demon Realm, on the Central Ancestral Tree Star Island, lived the three great ancestral clans of the demon race: the Xi Shan Snake Clan, the Shan He Great Ape Clan, and the Great Crocodile Ancestral Clan.
There were originally four great ancestral clans. Unfortunately, over four hundred yuanhui ago, the Black Lizard Ancestral Clan was annihilated by more than ten Demon Saints in a period of demon clan upheaval. Although their bloodline still survived and propagated, they could never reclaim their status as an ancestral clan.
Qing Ling and Qi arrived at the Xi Shan clan territory. Without disturbing the clan members, they ascended directly to the mountain peak.
Zhan Mu, sensing their arrival, immediately emerged from his cave dwelling, followed by Ke.
Upon seeing Qing Ling, Zhan Mu's eyelids twitched. "Greetings, Saint," he said.
Qing Ling smiled. "No need for formalities. Daoist Zhan Mu, you have reached the peak realm. It seems your cultivation recovery is not far off."
Zhan Mu's lips twitched. If you hadn't schemed against me and taken my Chaos Spiritual Root, I would have long since recovered my full cultivation. But one must bow to circumstances. "Thank you for your concern, Saint."
Qing Ling moved past Zhan Mu and looked at Ke, smiling. "Ke, it's been a long time. You've also entered the Great Power realm."
Ke smiled faintly. "It's thanks to a Saint like you that I've achieved this today."
Qing Ling sighed. "This is all due to your diligent cultivation. If you ever need anything in the future, Fu Yu Mountain is always open to you." With that, a piece of jade fell into Ke's hand. "This is the key to the treasure vault and the medicinal garden. Help yourself if you need anything. There's no need for politeness between us."
Ke chuckled, covering his mouth. "Then I shall accept it shamelessly."
Qing Ling smiled wryly and, leaving Zhan Mu behind, walked into the mountains with Ke and Qi. She took one last look at Xi Shan and its clansmen. After all, Qing Ling had originated from here. Xi Shan had sheltered his youth and provided him with the starting point of his Great Dao. Xi Shan would always hold a warmth in his heart, regardless of clan changes or the absence of old friends.
Seeing several Da Luo Demon Saints among the clansmen, Qing Ling was at ease. With Zhan Mu, a peak expert, holding the fort, Ke, a Great Power, and Bai Ze, the Demon Emperor, watching over them, Xi Shan would not decline.
Qi remained, teaching the clansmen.
Qing Ling departed from Xi Shan and ascended to the Wa Huang Palace within Wa Huang Heaven.
Jin Feng had been waiting at the palace gate for a long time. She greeted Qing Ling and led him into the Wa Huang Palace.
Nu Wa rose and smiled. "It is fitting to celebrate your return, fellow Daoist."
Qing Ling shook his head. "You are too kind, fellow Daoist."
They both took their seats, and Ling Zhu Zi served fragrant tea. "Martial Uncle, please try this. It is brewed from tea leaves grown from a Chaos Spiritual Root from beyond the heavens, using over a hundred yuan of celestial dew. Its form is shaped by the Wood of Creation. Even a Da Luo Golden Immortal would find it difficult to bear."
"Oh?" Qing Ling smiled. "Is it truly as divine as you say?"
Ling Zhu Zi giggled playfully. "Last time, Saint Tai Qing came, and the Empress didn't even bring it out."
Qing Ling smiled, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. The tea entered his body, but there was no tea fragrance. The Great Dao of Creation flowed through him. Life and death flickered, cycles alternated, yin and yang were created. The profound meaning of the Dao seeped into his heart. Such profound meaning was beyond compare, even to the finest tea aroma.
"This tea is excellent. Does it have a name?"
Nu Wa also took a sip. "Shen Tian Tea."
"Shen Tian?" Qing Ling was surprised. "Fellow Daoist, are you about to enter the calamity? The Investiture of the Gods calamity does not involve you much."
Nu Wa smiled enigmatically. Qing Ling pondered for a moment. Chaos Spiritual Root? He thought of the gods and demons from beyond the heavens and asked, "Is it the calamity of foreign gods and demons that forces you to enter the fray?"
Nu Wa nodded. "This calamity must be entered. Otherwise, if the Human Dao's momentum is lost in the future, I fear I will not be able to protect the demon race. What are your plans, fellow Daoist? The Three Sages are currently scheming in the Outer Heavens." She spoke the latter part with a hint of displeasure.
Upon hearing this, Qing Ling sighed. "With mountains and seas in my heart, I am calm and boundless. If my heart is as pure as ice, I remain unruffled."
Nu Wa pondered for a moment, remaining silent.
Qing Ling, however, continued, "Which side do you intend to bet on, fellow Daoist?"
Nu Wa suddenly smiled lightly. "Naturally, I will follow the will of heaven. The Daoist divine immortal calamity, the struggle between the Chan and Jie sects. In a situation of one weak and one strong, I will choose the weak to oppose the strong. It is best if both sides are heavily injured. Even if one wins, it will be a Pyrrhic victory. The Daoist sect will not decline, and how can the demon race prosper?"
During the ancient Wu-Demon War, when the Three Sages blocked their path and the Golden Crow wreaked havoc, who was not involved? Now, Nu Wa was doing what the Three Sages had done before. However, while the Three Sages' actions had only angered the demon race, Nu Wa was doing the same, even making Yuanshi indebted to her.
Nu Wa and Qing Ling both understood that the Investiture of the Gods was the final great calamity. Even with differing stances, there was no need for explicit explanation. Their unspoken understanding ensured no misunderstandings. Nu Wa knew that Qing Ling's Dao of All Beings aligned with the Jie sect, so she would naturally support Jie. She would assist Chan. Without her assistance, the Jie sect might have achieved great success, leading to a less than ideal outcome. If the Daoist sect did not decline, how could the demon race flourish?
Nu Wa and Qing Ling exchanged glances, and with a helpless smile, Qing Ling said, "I must say, fellow Daoist, we truly have a tacit understanding."
Nu Wa couldn't help but laugh. "Then we shall have a bout at that time!"
Speaking with intelligent people required little explanation. Speaking with a Saint, who was even more intelligent, required only a glance for everything to be understood.