Qing Ling smiled and replied, "Daoist friend, you truly embody the Dao."
As he spoke, he glanced at a grey-robed woman behind Lao Tzu. The woman's long, flowing hair danced in the night breeze. Her expression was as calm as water, yet her eyes held an unyielding resolve.
Lao Tzu, neither pleased nor saddened, asked, "Does the Dao Master not also embody the Dao?"
Qing Ling shook his head. "I embody the Dao for the world's wood Dao."
Lao Tzu fell silent. After a long pause, he replied, "I embody the Dao for myself."
Qing Ling had already ascended to the pinnacle of the wood Dao. The wood Dao had no further demands of him, and he now embodied it for the evolution of the world's wood Dao.
Lao Tzu had not yet severed his two corpses, still seeking the Great Dao of Taiji for himself. His pursuit of the Dao was for his own small self.
Qing Ling smiled, "Since Daoist friend has no interest in this stone spirit, why not let it depart?"
Lao Tzu shook his head. "Though this stone spirit's heart for the Dao is firm, it is also somewhat misguided."
As he spoke, the grey-robed woman in the distance showed hesitation on her face.
Qing Ling chuckled, "Very well. Since Daoist friend has no intention, I shall see her on her way."
With a gentle flick of his sleeve, moonlight like water flowed, carrying the grey-robed woman towards the southeast.
*Crack!*
The sword-bearing Taoist raised his hand, and a meteorite fell into his palm.
The Taoist chuckled, "A mere stone spirit, yet rather intriguing. Would you be willing to become my disciple?"
The stone spirit landed and took human form, transforming into the grey-robed woman. She said excitedly, "Disciple Shi Ji, greets Master!"
In the distance, the elder furrowed his brow.
Qing Ling remarked, "You seek the Dao of Nature, yet you belittle this stone spirit. Naturally, there is a flaw in your harmony."
The elder sighed and said no more.
Seeing this, Qing Ling clasped his hands and said, "Since that is the case, I shall continue my journey. Farewell."
Lao Tzu stood and returned the gesture, "Will Dao Master always embody the earth Dao in the future?"
Qing Ling paused his steps. "Naturally, no."
"That is good. We Sanqing and Dao Master share a close affinity. I only hope my second brother does not develop obsessions." Lao Tzu breathed a sigh of relief and said no more.
Qing Ling continued on his path, unconcerned, but inwardly he mused that Yuanshi was now interested in him.
He might become Yuanshi's great tribulation from the outside.
One who followed destiny, another who sought only himself, disregarding the Heavenly Dao. It seemed that in the mysterious workings of heaven, he had been arranged for.
Qing Ling pressed onward, reaching the Ancestral Witch Gonggong's tribe and planting a metasequoia seed.
Gonggong did not stop him, for the wood seeds Qing Ling planted in the four tribes benefited all four great Witch tribes and were harmless, bringing blessings to countless witches.
Afterward, he arrived at the Northern Wall tribe within the twenty-eight domains of the Demon race.
Upon his arrival, he happened to witness the Heavenly Emperor's decree descending.
Golden light blazed from the heavens, auspicious clouds spread for miles, the Heavenly Gate opened wide, illuminating all directions.
Shang Yang, clad in white angelic robes, stood among a throng of demons. With a wave of his hand, the golden brilliance of the great sun filled the sky.
"The Guardian Demon Saint of the Northern Wall domain in the lower realm has come to receive the decree."
Immediately, a group of powerful demons flew out from the Northern Wall domain, led by a handsome, tall, and imposing man.
The demons bowed, and the imposing man knelt on one knee, "I, Ying Zhao, Guardian Demon Saint of the Northern Wall domain, respectfully welcome the Heavenly Emperor's decree!"
Shang Yang slowly unfurled the imperial yellow decree in his hand and solemnly proclaimed, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Heavenly Emperor decrees:
To Ying Zhao, Guardian Demon Saint of the Northern Wall domain in the lower realm, who has guarded the lower realm for one hundred thousand years, protected myriad demons, slain the great witch Qi Jin, and vanquished over a hundred Witch Venerables, thus enhancing the prestige of our Demon race.
Hereby, Demon Saint Ying Zhao is enfeoffed as Demon King, ranking below one Ancestor and four Emperors, commanding all demons, and serving as the Heavenly Conquest Demon King!
By Imperial Order!"
Ying Zhao loudly responded, "Ying Zhao accepts the decree and thanks the Heavenly Emperor!"
As his voice faded, the imperial yellow decree shone with golden light. The destiny of the Demon Heavenly Court descended, and Ying Zhao's aura grew significantly stronger, instantly reaching the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.
From afar, Qing Ling gazed at the majestic heavenly power and couldn't help but sigh. Below the Demon Emperor were Demon Kings, and above Demon Saints were Demon Kings. This Demon King position was akin to the Ten Great Demon Commanders.
As the era progressed, figures renowned throughout eternity gradually emerged.
Qing Ling passed through the Demon race's domains. Various tribes lived intermingled, and natural predator-prey relationships existed.
However, once a demon reached the Earthly Demon realm, they could no longer engage in internal strife and united against external threats.
Outside the demon domains lay a super formation that protected the entire region. Within the formation, five demon cities served as the formation's eyes and the gateways to the demon territories.
Before the demon cities, piles of bones lay layer upon layer, comprising the remains of both demons and the dust of witches returned to the earth.
The development of tribal civilization far surpassed the primitive era of the three tribes. The progress of the times could be seen in these insignificant individuals, like ants.
Qing Ling journeyed through the demon domains, the formation spanning billions of miles. Four cities were located in the four cardinal directions, with a central great city housing the Guardian Demon Saint.
Each of the four regional demon cities was guarded by several Demon Venerables, countless Earthly Demons and Heavenly Demons, and a vast number of powerful demons, ensuring strict security.
Whether it was the towering cities or the super formations, they were all defenses against the impending attacks of the Witch race.
As Qing Ling passed, the wood Dao flourished within the demon domains, requiring no further promotion from him.
Therefore, he traveled south, passing through the Zhurong, Jumang, and Dijiang tribes, then westward through the Rushou, Tianwu, and Zhujiuyin tribes, finally arriving at the Houtu tribe.
Houtu personally stood outside the great hall awaiting his arrival, even though the visitor was the Demon Ancestor.
Qing Ling had caused no harm to any witch or demon on his journey; instead, he had brought immense benefits to countless witch tribes. Even the Twelve Ancestral Witches harbored internal conflicts and thus turned a blind eye to his observation of the Dao Ancestral Witch Hall.
At this moment, Qing Ling was the Ancestor of the Wood Dao, spreading it throughout the world.
As for the Demon Ancestor, he had already disappeared when Qing Ling entered the grand epoch.
He had practiced the Dao for tens of thousands of years, passing through eleven Ancestral Witch tribes, planting pine, fir, cypress, peach, rattan, thorny vines, willow, and plum, bamboo, and chrysanthemum.
Houtu, seeing the traveler from afar, bowed respectfully, "You have labored, Dao Master."
Qing Ling smiled and said, "There is no need to observe the Ancestral Hall of Earth."
Houtu blinked in surprise and asked, "Why is that?"
"Because I now preside over the Earth Dao," Qing Ling said with a smile, gesturing with his hand. "I have a flower called Orchid, planted in the fertile earth, which can gather the essence of the land."
An orchid bloomed before the Ancestral Witch's great hall, its ethereal blue light reaching deep into the earth.
Houtu bowed deeply, "Many thanks, Dao Master."
Qing Ling chuckled, "How do the Ancestral Witches perceive the Earth Dao?"
Houtu pondered for a moment, then replied, "The Earth Dao and the Great Earth should be one. However, I observe that many immortals who cultivate the Great Earth Dao are unable to comprehend the Earth Dao; the Great Earth Dao and the Dao of the Earth are two separate entities."
Qing Ling shook his head. "The Earth Dao is not one of the Three Thousand Great Daos, but one of the Three Daos.
The Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Human Dao are the foundations of the Primordial World's three Daos. Beneath the Heavenly Dao lie the Three Thousand Great Daos, and the Earth Dao, like the Human Dao, should also encompass numerous Great Daos."
Houtu let out a soft laugh. "But even you, the master of the Earth Dao, are subservient to the Heavenly Dao. How can there be three Daos standing in parallel?"
Qing Ling replied, "I merely act as a regent for the Earth Dao, not its true master. The Earth Dao is not yet complete; it still lacks that final fundamental element!"
Houtu's expression changed. "Are you referring to the Pangu Great Dao?"
"Indeed. The Heavenly Dao possesses the Pangu destiny of the Sanqing, and thus the current will of the Primordial World is tilted. If the Earth Dao were to receive the Pangu destiny, the Heavenly and Earthly Daos would undergo a transformation." Qing Ling looked steadily at Houtu. "As the Ancestral Witch of the Great Earth, you are connected to the脉 of the Great Earth, making you the most suitable person for the Earth Dao!"
Houtu shook her head. "It is absolutely impossible. I, Houtu, was born an Ancestral Witch and will die to return to the heavens and earth. I will never abandon my Witch tribe."