Qing Ling felt he had done enough for the demon race, from the plans for their initial establishment, guiding Bai Ze onto the path of destiny, personally delivering the Four Seasons Scroll to the Heavenly Court, to persuading Kun Peng, Bai Hu, and the Dragon clan to meet the Demon Emperor.
He had also put in effort in many smaller aspects for the demon race. He was worthy of the title "Demon Ancestor."
Even if he was honored as the Wood Master by the Wu clan, the Five Emperors would never find fault with him.
Qing Ling had observed all paths in the myriad worlds, gaining profound insights. However, to achieve enlightenment and break through in an instant was a futile dream.
At his level, sudden enlightenment and breaking through realms were illusions. Only through steady, step-by-step cultivation, refining oneself as if for ten thousand years, could there be a moment when quantitative change leads to qualitative transformation.
Three Yuanhui later, Qing Ling returned from the myriad worlds, re-seating himself on the Jianmu.
During his time observing the Dao in various heavens, many significant events had transpired.
For instance, Laozi had severed his second corpse after ten thousand years of treading the Dao.
The Five Emperors of the Heavenly Court, excluding Nuwa who had long since severed her second corpse, had all severed their second corpses, their demon race's might suppressing all other races.
This also showed all the Immortals the terrifying power of destiny when one was blessed by fortune. Without the immense luck of the demon race, the Five Emperors could never have progressed so rapidly!
The reason that many cunning and powerful beings joined the Heavenly Court was that the primordial great power, the titan of the Primordial World, Ancestor Kun Peng, had personally joined the Heavenly Court and was conferred the title of Heavenly Demon Master, the Master of Ten Thousand Demons!
The position of Demon Master was highly respected. Even the Five Emperors had to address him as Demon Master and show him courtesy. Even the Twelve Demon Kings, second only to the Demon Emperor, treated the Demon Master with the respect due to a junior.
Seeing that this old fossil, who always kept to himself, was willing to enter the world and partake in the karma of the Wu and Demon races, other old timers were drawn towards the Heavenly Court. One by one, great powers were enfeoffed as Heavenly Demon Saints, controlling their respective domains, revered by all demons.
In addition, Yuan Shi and Tong Tian, among the Three Pure Ones, also severed their second corpses. Tong Tian, however, was fishing in the East Sea with his sword heart and hooked a colossal golden turtle. This turtle willingly submitted to him and transformed into a massive island, becoming Tong Tian's secluded abode. After accepting a few Immortals who came seeking guidance, he could not bear to see them depart in disappointment, so he began to lecture on the Great Dao and impart its methods on Jin Ao Island.
Subsequently, Tong Tian returned to Kunlun with several disciples.
Yuan Shi, upon hearing of this, also made a trip to the East Sea.
In the Zixiao Palace, among the three thousand guests, various great powers, even those with inferior aptitude and lacking fortune, began preparing to sever their corpses and cultivate the Dao. Some of the most outstanding among them progressed at the same pace as these top deities, though their advancements remained unknown.
Qing Ling returned to the peak of Jianmu, re-entering a period of arduous cultivation. Although limited by Jianmu's inability to break through the twenty-eighth heaven to bear the universe's pressure, Qing Ling's current Dao comprehension and Nascent Soul realm were likely equivalent to half a step into Hunyuan!
Moreover, his current chaotic self, after absorbing countless Four Symbols energies, already possessed magical power comparable to that of a quasi-saint who had severed their second corpse!
If his chaotic self and his Primordial World self were to merge, he would possess the strength to fight even the Ancestral Dragon of the thirty-third heaven in the past, even if he could only avoid defeat for a little longer.
He recalled the time when he first witnessed the Ancestral Dragon display his might. With a single punch, he had suppressed all the great powers of the Primordial World, whether they were terrestrial or supreme beings. Who would dare to face the majestic dragon's might head-on?
Qing Ling shook his head, ceasing to dwell on the past. A single thought of yesteryear could evoke too many memories.
He glanced at the four ancient tribes of the Eastern Wilderness below Jianmu. The Xi Shan Ancient Serpent Clan now had a fourth great power. In addition to Ke, the clan leader, and Elder Yuan Kui, and Qi in the Heavenly Court, there was now Xuan Feng, a rare wind spirit.
In truth, Qing Ling had no intention of having the Xi Shan clan join the demon race. After all, the serpent lineage led by Qing Xuan joining the demon race was already sufficient.
The Xi Shan clan was growing stronger, and besides remaining in the Eastern Wilderness, they were accumulating fortune to guide the destiny of the First Ancestor of Ten Thousand Snakes, so that he might return to the great era.
Once this Ancestor Tai Geng returned, he would no longer be indebted to Xi Shan.
He harbored affection for Xi Shan, but that was different from his karmic debt to them.
Thinking of Tai Geng, Qing Ling's mind stirred. He rose from Jianmu and quietly walked onto Tai Chong Peak of the Xi Shan ancient clan.
A vast mountain cliff resembled a plaza, situated halfway up the mountain. A tree trunk, dozens of feet in circumference, stood upright in the center of the cliff's ground.
A giant ancient tree grew here. Its crown spread three thousand zhang wide, its branches and leaves so lush they resembled a green sea of leaves. A gentle breeze caused only the leaves to ripple like green waves.
A colossal python, its body covered in gold and green spots, coiled among the branches and leaves of the ancient tree. Though the python was hundreds of feet long, there was no sign of it transforming into a dragon or flood dragon.
This was a very primitive, ancient giant python.
It was coiled in a ball, its eyelids closed, lost in slumber.
Few had set foot here for a long time. With the development of the Xi Shan serpent clan and the transmission of immortal teachings, divination and deduction techniques were no longer uncommon. This ancient beast, which could only be consulted with sacrifices, naturally fell out of favor.
Qing Ling stepped on the ground covered in fallen leaves, making a rustling sound.
It was very quiet here, as if it were detached from the world, a peaceful haven.
Only the ancient tree and the ancient serpent accompanied each other in the mountains, remaining as peaceful as they were at the beginning, regardless of the changing winds and clouds outside.
The mountain breeze blew, and leaves fell like rain, lifting the hair behind him, just as when he was a small beast who had just ascended to the Heavenly tier and came seeking this great beast for divination.
The serpent’s closed pupils flickered. It slowly woke up and, seeing the person approaching, the giant python’s head, devoid of facial expression, showed a hint of surprise.
"Zhan Mu, it has been a long time," Qing Ling said with a smile like a spring breeze, amidst the falling leaves of the ancient tree.
The ancient serpent stared at him, somewhat astonished, and slowly said, "Should I address you as Ancestor, or Dao Master?"
Qing Ling waved his hand, "It is but a name."
Upon hearing this, the ancient serpent slowly raised its massive head. Its scales shifted, causing countless green leaves to sway. It extended its snake head, approaching Qing Ling.
A colossal python head and a minuscule human figure faced each other, separated by a zhang.
"I, Zhan Mu, have not seen a supreme great power in a very long time."
Qing Ling smiled faintly, "As long as you are willing to step into the Great Luo realm, you will naturally see them often."
Zhan Mu was stunned and shook its head slightly, "You know as well as I do, I am an ancient savage beast. I cannot absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, how can I cultivate the Great Dao?"
Qing Ling glanced at the ancient tree behind it with a half-smile, "Zhan Mu, you can deceive supreme great powers for a while, but you cannot deceive them forever.
As long as you wish, let alone Great Luo, even becoming a terrestrial great power will only take an instant for you.
After all, with a physical body comparable to an Ancestral Wu, it would not be difficult for you to discard the heavenly and earthly Dao power."
Zhan Mu's cold, vertical pupils revealed surprise.
"So you discovered it. But I thought I had hidden it so well that even the Heavenly Dao could not see through it. Why could you?"
Qing Ling sighed, "As my cultivation increases, I naturally understand the power of Ancestor Tai Geng more clearly.
Then why did Ancestor Tai Geng take a mere savage beast, comparable to Tai Yi, as the great beast to protect his clan? And your divination techniques, though seemingly ordinary, can form their own lineage independently of the Heavenly Dao.
Furthermore, from Ancestor Tai Geng to this day, after thousands of Yuanhui, even if one were to remain reclusive, the accumulated karmic tribulations would make it impossible for even a Great Luo Golden Immortal to survive!"