The Vermilion Turtle Supreme’s expression cleared, and he sized up the newcomer before saying, “Though only at the eleventh level of Great Luo Golden Immortal, you bear more authority over heaven and earth than peak mighty beings. I am curious how you achieved this.”
“Forget it, who reaches the stage of heaven and earth mighty beings without a few fortunate encounters?”
Qing Ling smiled and stood respectfully to the side. “Thank you for your praise, Supreme. I have come today with the thick skin to request a favor.”
“Request me? Countless people seek me out in this world, yet most never even get to see me.”
“It is only because you are called Snake Ancestor and I grant favor for the sake of an old friend that I meet you. Speak of your matter.”
Qing Ling had already gained a slight understanding of the Vermilion Turtle Supreme. Of the turtle and snake moieties within the Vermilion Turtle, the turtle head was primary, and the snake head secondary. Thus, the turtle head spoke first, followed by the snake head.
The turtle head held only a sliver of affection for him, while the snake head's bond was deeper.
Understanding this, he first bowed respectfully to the Vermilion Turtle Supreme, inclining his body in a deep bow before speaking, “My Xi Mountain Snake Clan has been in decline since the fall of our ancestor Tai Geng. It is only thanks to your continued care in consideration of an old friend that we have survived in the Primordial World.
But now, I, your descendant, have become a heaven and earth mighty being and can barely lead the Xi Mountain Snake Clan to establish a foothold on the Primordial land. Therefore, today, I shamelessly implore you to lend me a hand. From this point onward, Xi Mountain will no longer trouble you with its concerns.
I, your descendant, now bear the authority of the Spring God. Furthermore, by deducing the sequences of Spring and Winter, I have derived the sequences of Summer and Autumn, transforming the dual sequences of Spring and Winter into the four seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
Although Summer and Autumn have not been proclaimed to heaven and earth, they have already been deduced by me. Once all four sequences are gathered, I shall become the God of the Four Sequences of the Primordial World, governing the weather and natural laws of heaven and earth!”
“Four Sequences! I have never heard of this before. You can actually deduce temporal sequences comparable to those naturally formed by heaven and earth. Truly, I have underestimated you.
However, you have spoken in circles. Are you not simply seeking the Winter Divine Spark from me?”
“If one can truly deduce the Four Sequences and become the god governing weather and temporal laws, that would be a great fortune. In the future, you might even rival Brother Tai Geng!”
Qing Ling quickly said, “I have only come to request this of you. Whether you grant it or not, I am deeply grateful.
As for rivaling Ancestor Tai Geng, I dare not even imagine such a thing.”
“Though the Divine Spark of the God of Winter aided me greatly in my early path to enlightenment, it truly serves no purpose for me now. However, it is a divinely appointed spark, recognized by heaven and earth.”
“This young fellow can actually deduce three sequences. It seems that in the depths of destiny, there is a will for the Four Sequences to unite. We elders might as well fulfill this wish.”
Qing Ling was overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, senior, for your benevolent gift. I will never forget your great kindness and virtue, Supreme.”
“Hey, wait a moment, I haven’t agreed yet, and you’re already speaking so quickly.”
“What? What’s wrong with me looking after the descendant of an old friend? If it weren't for Brother Tai Geng back then, you and I might not have become one. Such great kindness cannot be repaid even with supreme treasures.
Now, his descendant comes to ask for this small matter, and you are still hesitating. Do you, as an elder, have any shame?”
The turtle head awkwardly interjected, “I never said I wouldn’t give it. Why are you getting so agitated? I’m an old woman who has lived for nearly ten thousand kalpas…”
“Old woman? Are you looking down on me because I’m old? Fine, you actually dislike me now. Back in the Chaos Tide, who was it that shamelessly begged me? Which old tortoise was it that knelt and begged me…”
Qing Ling watched in astonishment as this peerless elder, renowned throughout antiquity, bickered like ordinary dao companions. It was truly an eye-opener.
Just then, a cold wind suddenly blew from the horizon. A goddess in white emerged. Upon seeing the Vermilion Turtle Supreme engrossed in their argument, she immediately cleared her throat softly.
“Lord God, we have a guest here.”
Her cool, indifferent voice pierced the air like an bone-chilling frost, calming the mind.
The Vermilion Turtle Supreme immediately stopped, finally remembering the outsider present. He regained his composure.
“Since that is the case, it is acceptable for you to have the Divine Spark of Winter. However, I must inform you that Bai He, the Assistant God of Winter, shall be the God of Winter eternally and cannot be changed.”
Qing Ling smiled, “Rest assured, Supreme. I will certainly remember.”
Bai He was taken aback, exclaiming, “Why does the Lord God yield this divine position to him?”
“Ah, that is a long story. I once owed this young fellow’s ancestor a great debt. But you need not worry, with me here, this young fellow will not bully you.”
Qing Ling’s heart stirred. From their conversation, he deduced that the turtle represented Yang and the snake Yin. The Vermilion Turtle was the union of Yin and Yang, likely having been a dao couple before their unification. Could this Bai He be a descendant of the turtle and snake?
Glancing casually at Bai He and the Vermilion Turtle, he noticed a definite resemblance.
Bai He’s icy gaze turned towards Qing Ling, her peculiar Ice Soul Eyes piercing him to the bone, sending shivers down his spine.
Immediately, Qing Ling cupped his hands in a salute, “Then, three thousand years from now, in the Vast Wild of Duguang in the Eastern Wasteland, I will seek enlightenment before heaven and earth. At that time, I request that the Vermilion Turtle Supreme bear witness to heaven and earth.”
“Very well. Since I have agreed, I shall not go back on my word.”
“Good boy, I hope to still have the honor of witnessing the peerless grace of Brother Tai Geng from back then.”
The twin heads of the turtle and snake accepted his request. Qing Ling felt a great burden lifted from his heart. The God of the Four Sequences, he was finally about to become one!
After thanking them repeatedly, Qing Ling departed the North Pole. Although the Vermilion Turtle Supreme seemed to have made no demands, he had incurred a great karmic debt with them.
The Vermilion Turtle agreed because of the karmic ties between him and Ancestor Tai Geng.
Qing Ling accepted because he received the favor of the Vermilion Turtle, naturally owing him a debt of gratitude. However, the Vermilion Turtle Supreme might not have much use for Qing Ling’s favor.
But regardless of the karma, regardless of the process, it was all in the past. He was on the verge of success!
Wandering through heaven and earth, returning on the currents of time, soaring ten thousand miles to the azure sky, descending from the nine heavens upon the void.
At this moment, Qing Ling’s heart was like a swimming fish, traversing an boundless ocean, infinite space, freely swimming, thus following its heart.
The mental labor of his six kalpas had finally borne fruit, and now he only awaited his return to claim his reward.
Like a thirsty fish, desperately seeking the great waters and finally finding them, eager to plunge in.
A ray of time stretched north and south; it rose in the northern sky and set in the southeast.
Upon the Jianmu tree, Qing Ling descended, standing on the Azure Jade Parasol. He gazed at the Jianmu beneath the parasol, at the vast and broad Duguang Wilds, his heart filled with excitement. He was finally about to reach that height, a level that even heaven and earth would ponder carefully.
Since achieving the status of a heaven and earth mighty being, he had cultivated very little, focusing solely on the authority of heaven and earth.
It was not that he was obsessed with this authority, the desire to control living beings, but rather he understood deeply that one must act according to the times and circumstances.
If it were the ancient era now, if the conflict between the three tribes had not intensified, and if the Dragon-Han Tribulation were a hundred kalpas later, he would have devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation.
But now, time was of the essence.
If he were to enter cultivation, it would be measured in kalpas. By the time the great tribulation arrived, he would not have much time.
Cultivation, even if slow, as long as one lived, could lead to a higher realm through perseverance.
However, the authority of heaven and earth, if missed in this era, would never be obtained, even for eternity.
This was an era where time was fleeting.
In this era, where the Heavenly Dao was not singular, where Sages had not appeared, and where all dao and sequences had not yet been set, if one did not seek the authority of heaven and earth, then one would have to wait until heaven and earth were settled, until Hongjun achieved enlightenment and the six Sages became Sages, and then contend with the Heavenly Dao’s ruler? To contend with the six Sages?
Then he would merely become an ant trying to overturn the sky, destined to become formless ash in the great tide of history.
But in this era, he possessed sufficient authority over heaven and earth, coupled with his cultivation as a heaven and earth mighty being, and most importantly, the Jianmu supporting the sky, he would be protected from destruction during the tribulation!