Hearing this, the giant python's massive head shook, as if sighing, "This is also a matter of helplessness. Although I can evade the rules of heaven, I cannot escape the covetousness of those with intentions."
"What is your relationship with Patriarch Tai Geng? Could it be that you are His clone, or perhaps akin to the Three Corpses?" Qing Ling gazed at the giant python for a few moments before directly asking the question that weighed on his mind.
Zhan Mu did not reply, only his pupils flashed, and light entered Qing Ling's eyes.
An ancient whisper echoed in Qing Ling's primordial spirit, sounding like a telepathic transmission yet also resonating as if by his ear, but it was none of the voices he had ever perceived.
An ancient and mysterious Dao sound reverberated.
"I am the divine demon true body of Tai Geng, one of the Nine Great Tai Gods. My form and spirit are now separated; my primordial spirit perished to avert calamity, but my physical body survives. After countless eons, my primordial spirit will rise again in the river of destiny, and my form and spirit will reunite." Da Feng Novel Network
Zhan Mu's pupils flickered, and this voice dissipated.
Qing Ling asked in surprise, "Then are you the self-aware consciousness generated by this physical body?"
Zhan Mu nodded and said, "The transmission just now was the ancient true self transmitting to the future, and then the future self of today released the ancient sound. This is the only evidence that has survived by exploiting the chaos of cause and effect in space and time!"
Qing Ling smiled cryptically, "Then won't you dissipate when the true self returns? How could you be willing?"
A trace of peculiarity appeared in Zhan Mu's eyes, "Indeed. I will dissipate.
But the former me would naturally be willing. The current me, however, is unwilling."
"Oh? Why?" Qing Ling's face remained impassive as he awaited its words.
Zhan Mu sighed, "If the true self returns before Hongjun's harmonization with the Dao, then it is naturally the true self. But if the true self returns after Hongjun's harmonization with the Dao, then it will no longer be the true self, but merely a chess piece of the Great Dao.
I have sensed that the harmonization of Hongjun with the Dao will not exceed a hundred Yuanhui. Thus, I am naturally unwilling to give up this body."
Qing Ling asked in surprise, "How do you know about Hongjun's harmonization with the Dao?"
Zhan Mu sneered, "Even if the true self died, one of the Nine Great Tai Gods' origins scattered with the true self's primordial spirit. The Nine Great Tai Gods' origins are indispensable.
Hongjun can only harmonize himself with the Heavenly Dao to fill that missing origin."
Qing Ling was silent for a long time and said, "But the destiny of the Xi Shan clan will summon Patriarch Tai Geng back."
Zhan Mu coiled its serpentine head and retracted, smiling, "Then in this world, I, Patriarch Zhan Mu, shall suffice. Are you willing to assist me?"
Qing Ling sighed, "Let's wait a little longer. If Patriarch Tai Geng cannot return after Hongjun harmonizes with the Dao, then I will establish you as the patriarch of the snake clan."
Zhan Mu nodded, "If that is the case, then to inherit his destiny, you will no longer owe the true self any karma."
Qing Ling heard this and said, "If my matter is accomplished, I will send you and Xi Shan out of the Heavenly Dao. In this way, it will be considered repayment of His favor."
With that, Qing Ling turned and left, no longer showing any sadness.
Whether Tai Geng returned or not had little impact on him. It was merely a matter of repaying the favor he owed to the patriarch's descendants.
He returned to Jianmu, sat down again, and entered seclusion.
His seclusion was to comprehend the starry sky.
The starry universe was the twenty-eighth heaven, vast like another primordial chaos, devoid of time, sensation, or direction.
Endless stars of various sizes revolved around their primary stars, their movements following intricate and boundless patterns, imbued with infinite profoundness.
Even with Qing Ling's primordial spirit at the thirtieth heaven, comprehension and deduction proceeded step by step, requiring an immeasurable amount of time.
Therefore, he had supported the emergence of the demon race.
What he valued was never the demon race's destiny or the reverence of myriad demons, but rather using the hands of Di Jun and Tai Yi to achieve his goals.
From beginning to end, the most important thing about the demon race in his eyes was the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Formation, which would shock all races in the future!
...
In the East Sea, at the mouth of the Yellow River.
A colossal Dragon Gate rose between the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. Above the magnificent Dragon Gate, nine beings, half-serpent, half-dragon, soared through the clouds and mist. In their half-serpent forms, they navigated the river's currents, entering the sea, where they would fully transform into dragons.
But at the mouth of this vast Yellow River, the mighty river's waters churned, waves surged, and torrents rushed.
A middle-aged Taoist priest stood facing the sea, a golden lamp before him flickering and humming. Its golden flame swayed unsteadily with the ocean winds, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.
In the distance, thunderous roars, like heavenly thunder, emanated from nine flood dragons that had undergone the Dragon Gate's trial. They had reached the river's currents and were about to enter the sea to transform into dragons, to return to the sea and command the winds and rain!
But the middle-aged Taoist priest pointed a finger at the golden lamp, and a flame detached from it, landing in the sea.
Instantly, infinite clouds and mist ascended, as if half of the Yellow River's water had been vaporized.
The mouth of the Yellow River became dry, not a drop of water visible.
The nine flood dragons, who had arrived by water, were all shocked and momentarily stunned.
One of the leading flood dragons asked, "May I ask which senior is present? We have cultivated the true dragon body through immense hardship and are on the verge of completion. We implore the senior to show compassion to us who defy heaven and struggle for survival!"
The middle-aged Taoist priest raised an eyebrow at the words and said indifferently, "Defy heaven? Struggle for survival?
You are so weak, mere ants harboring delusions."
The nine flood dragons were both shocked and angered. Shocked by the opponent's power to evaporate the Yellow River for ninety thousand li, and angered by his contempt.
The nine flood dragons roared, shaking the vast ocean. They soared into the sky, moving through the clouds. The mist descended, and heavy rain poured down, gathering in the dry riverbed.
"Senior, though our strength is small, our will to defy heaven and struggle for survival will never waver. We implore the senior to allow us passage!"
"We implore the senior to allow us passage!"
"We implore the senior to allow us passage!"
The nine flood dragons roared. Although their words were pleas, they were filled with strong confidence and an unyielding resolve.
The middle-aged Taoist priest chuckled and said, "Very well, then I shall give you an opportunity.
As soon as the Yellow River's water level is restored, I will let you pass.
However, regardless of whether you succeed or not, I will help you transform into dragons. Henceforth, you shall be my subordinate entourage!"
"Roar~"
The nine flood dragons roared furiously, their cries shaking the heavens, stirring up three thousand li of tidal waves. Beings within a million li trembled in fear.
Amidst the torrential wind and rain, the nine flood dragons desperately summoned the wind and rain to fill the Yellow River.
The Yellow River endured wind and rain for ten years, and the nine flood dragons soared for ten years, summoning the wind and rain with their blood. The vast Yellow Riverbed was indeed filled, and the Yellow River flowed, connecting with the sea.
Exhausted, the nine flood dragons fell into the river. However, they still moved forward step by step, water currents carrying them. Behind them lay the muddy river water of a thousand li, and before them, the boundless ocean. They moved towards the sea!
"Ang~"
As the nine flood dragons stepped into the sea, the vast ocean's destiny enveloped them. The dragon bodies obtained after crossing the Dragon Gate completed their evolution. True dragons soared into the sky, soaring through the azure expanse.
The middle-aged Taoist priest reached out and grasped the void, instantly controlling the nine true dragons.
Even though they had transformed into true dragons, they were only equivalent to the Golden Immortal realm. How could they be a match for this mighty being?
"Defy heaven?" The middle-aged Taoist priest chuckled and shook his head. "How can you defy heaven before me, Yuanshi? How can heaven be defied?
Since heaven cannot instill reverence in you, I shall.
From now on, you shall be my subordinate true dragons. You will serve as my mount, riding the innate spiritual treasure, the Chaotic Agarwood, and shall be known as the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage!"
The nine dragons roared and howled, their sounds shaking the firmament. But with a wave of Yuanshi's hand, they were flung to the earth, falling into the dust.