Qing Ling, hidden in the mortal world, saw this scene and smiled to herself, "It's getting more and more interesting."
Not only was the Wu Clan involved, but there was also a subtle division between the Three Teachings. Houtu would never have acted without reason, so there must be a pusher behind this.
Regardless of who it was, Qing Ling's influence remained minimal.
Qing Ling slowly traversed the myriad heavens, returning to the Four Great Continents. This was his last indulgence in the vast mortal world in the years to come. Sages did not enter the mortal realm; he was already an exception.
He watched the Envoys of the Hall of All Beings pursue and hunt down an evil cultivator who had blood-sacrificed an entire world. He saw the Twelve Planes each follow their own paths, and he saw countless worlds teeming with life and prosperity. Qing Ling felt a faint joy in his heart.
The heavens and earth were vast, the myriad worlds boundless, and the living beings too numerous. In such a world, there was no absolute fairness, no absolute peace. Countless beings died every moment, yet this was still a beautiful Primordial World.
Because countless beings were born every moment, every world had its own order and laws suitable for them, and every living being's effort and reward could be realized.
Qing Ling felt that he, the Sage of All Beings, had found the culmination of himself, reaching his endpoint.
However, there was still one matter: maintaining this era of great prosperity, seeking solutions to avoid the calamities of the immeasurable tribulation, and preventing everything from returning to chaos when the immeasurable tribulation arrived.
If the immeasurable tribulation were to come, and everything returned to the primal chaos, then all the sacrifices, struggles, wind and rain, and legendary stories of countless generations in this Primordial World would turn to nothing, unremembered and unknown. How tragic that would be.
Qing Ling did not wish for the immeasurable tribulation to arrive. Otherwise, who would remember Pangu's creation of the world by sacrificing himself to become all things? Who would know of the ancient overlords like the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin that roamed the seas? Who would admire the Great Compassion of Dao Ancestor Hongjun in merging himself with the Dao of Heaven? Who would remember the blood of countless Wu and Yao that stained Buzhou Mountain? Who would be grateful for Nuwa's great kindness in creating humans and mending the heavens with her tears?
There were also the bloody tears and struggles of successive Human Emperors and countless sages, the era of the Investiture of the Gods with its myriad immortals, and the countless insignificant beings in every era who were unremembered.
Qing Ling felt he could not betray the name "All Beings." It had nothing to do with compassion or kindness, or a motherly or fatherly heart, but rather the pursuit of his own Dao. This was a Dao, not just a sentiment.
Qing Ling felt the heavens and earth, and a trace of emotion stirred in his heart, a touch from the heavens and earth. Perhaps, tens of billions of eons ago, a great being with the same quest for the Dao had created heaven and earth here, initiating countless stories.
Qing Ling's primordial spirit and consciousness gradually blurred, and he seemed to become a Dao, an embodiment of the Dao.
The spiritual power within his body rapidly decreased, and the laws of the Dao expanded. There were no sage's words that moved the heavens and earth, no astonishing merits of Xuanhuang, only the silent thought of a sage, stirring the heavens, the earth, and all beings unconsciously, guiding them to merge into the Dao of All Beings.
Qing Ling discovered that he had entered a new realm, a realm beyond the sage, where there were no further distinctions. How far or how high he had traveled was known only to himself.
At this point in time, Qing Ling was conversing with himself – the me from the past, the me from the future, and the me of the present. His Dao power even extended to the jurisdiction of reincarnation, reuniting with my past and future selves.
Within the cycle of reincarnation, Houtu was startled. She sensed that some karma was being withdrawn from the Great Dao of Reincarnation, meaning her Great Dao of Reincarnation was no longer effective for that departing "entity."
She deduced through her primordial spirit across the myriad worlds but could not find the whereabouts of this "entity."
On the World Tree, myriad branches stretched into the depths of the universe, into the deeper chaos. The World Tree was no longer just a tree; it was more fitting to call it a universe of chaos.
Even a Taiyi Golden Immortal would not be able to traverse the World Tree to its end within an immeasurable tribulation.
The World Tree's branches were lush, and each of its myriad branches grew myriad more. Each branch and each leaf contained the Great Dao of Wood, Stars, Void, and Life, making them supreme treasures.
Yet, no one took them. Not only could the ants not take them, but the great powers dared not, and even the sages would not.
The six sages, plus Houtu, all looked up at the World Tree, their hearts filled with deep awe. They all knew that Sage Qing Ling had advanced further.
Qing Ling chuckled. In doing so, he had exposed his presence. No matter where he went, the sages would be watching him.
Previously, he had torn through time and space while the sages were not paying attention, taking Kong Xuan and merging with the aura of all beings, thus making it impossible for the sages to find him.
But now, with his form falling into their sight, he could no longer hide.
Qing Ling no longer concealed his presence and leisurely walked towards the East Sea.
The sea breeze blew continuously, sometimes strong, sometimes light, with unending wind and clouds and unceasing waves.
He inadvertently saw a disciple of the Jie Sect, a long-eared one, crouching in a crack of a rock on an island with flowing springs and colorful clouds. His eyes were wide and red.
What was he looking at? Merely a lingzhi mushroom that had gained sentience, soaking in the water.
As Qing Ling thought this, he suddenly realized that the myriad things he saw were no longer the same.
Before, he saw Chang Er Ding Guang Xian, who served under Tong Tian, peeking at Lingzhi Xian bathing. Now, he saw something more fundamental.
Qing Ling smiled and stepped through the clouds, leaving behind a single sentence that echoed across the island.
"One always seeks to entertain oneself, yet everything is filled with substance."
As soon as these words were spoken, Lingzhi Xian's face became flustered. She quickly put on her clothes and scanned her surroundings. With a reach, she grabbed a rabbit by its long ears, her eyes flashing with anger, "Chang Er! Are you looking for death!"
With his ears held aloft, the rabbit stammered in a panic, "Ah, Senior Sister, Senior Sister, listen to me, I didn't do it on purpose, I was just..."
In the Biyou Palace, Tong Tian's face instantly darkened. "Go summon Chang Er."
Beside him, the expressionless Wu Dang twitched her lips and said, "Yes."
Chang Er, though forced to remain in his rabbit form and held by Lingzhi Xian, thought about the true words he had just heard. He pondered them repeatedly. Although he didn't know which great being had spoken them, he felt the words held profound mystery and subtly pointed towards his true heart.
Along the way, Lingzhi Xian encountered Wu Dang Sheng Mu. After paying her respects and explaining, she said indignantly, "Senior Sister, it's good you're here. I was just about to bring this shameless creature to Master."
Wu Dang looked at the rabbit dangling its head with its ears held, and couldn't help but laugh, "So, the rabbit is in heat."
Upon arriving at Biyou Palace, after a few bowed greetings, Tong Tian roared, "Chang Er, reveal yourself at once!"
Ding Guang Xian shivered and quickly crouched on the ground, shaking his head. He knew that if he transformed into his human form, he would face severe punishment. If he remained in his weak rabbit form, he might receive leniency.
Tong Tian sneered, "Since you will not even listen to my words, then you shall be expelled!"
"What!" Ding Guang Xian froze as if struck by lightning. The other disciples were also somewhat incredulous. Peeking at a fellow disciple's body was not such a grave offense, especially since they were all immortals with cultivated Dao hearts.
Lingzhi Xian also felt it was too harsh and said softly, "Master, Junior Brother Chang Er did not do it intentionally. Please..."
"Silence!" Tong Tian sneered, "If he disobeys me today, he may defy my commands in the future. If this matter is not dealt with, it will eventually cause trouble."
Duo Bao, standing aside, felt helpless. It was just that the Sage of All Beings had seen him and he had lost face, so his Master's temper flared up. When he calmed down, he would surely find another excuse. After all, his Master had been plucking Junior Brother Chang Er's rabbit fur for tens of eons; he was accustomed to it.
This situation, he thought, was for him, the eldest disciple, to resolve. What a burdensome fate.
After internally grumbling, Duo Bao then said with a soft smile, "Master, Junior Brother Chang Er has admired Senior Sister Lingzhi for a long time. This is, after all, a matter of romantic feelings between junior disciples. Master need not be angered."
Tong Tian glanced at Duo Bao, his voice softening slightly, "How do you, as the eldest disciple, usually instruct them?"
Duo Bao chuckled foolishly beside him, not responding.
Just then, the rabbit crouching on the ground suddenly transformed into human form, knelt on the ground, and bowed his head, "Disciple knows his mistake, please punish me, Master.
But disciple has a wish, and begs Master to fulfill it!"
Tong Tian let out a scoff, "What? You made a mistake and still want rewards?"
"Disciple dare not," Chang Er said firmly. "It is just that disciple does not wish to have regrets in his heart."
As he said this, he slightly raised his head and glanced at Lingzhi Xian behind him. "Disciple begs Master to agree to allow me and Senior Sister Lingzhi to become Dao companions!"
"What did you say!" Lingzhi Xian exclaimed in shock, "Junior Brother Chang Er, what nonsense are you talking about!"
Everyone was taken aback by this turn of events.
Lingzhi Xian looked at Chang Er in front of her with some anger, but in her heart, she thought that although Junior Brother Chang Er was usually annoying, he was indeed handsome, often showed her favor, and when she broke through to Taiyi, he had braved the nine heavens' thunder tribulations to shield her from disaster...
Thinking this, Lingzhi Xian's ears turned redder and redder.
Tong Tian saw this scene, his heart paused, and he looked towards the easternmost reaches of the sea. That figure, he pondered, what exactly did that person intend to do?