The Jianmu tree towered into the celestial zenith. Qing Ling stood at the highest point of heaven and earth. The higher he stood, the more he saw, and the clearer he understood the myriad complex karma and taboos between heaven and earth.
Therefore, Qing Ling had more reservations and acted with greater caution.
If Qing Ling had truly acted on impulse and fought for the demon race at the cost of his life, the Wu clan, who had already suppressed two Ancestral Witches, could have fought him until the heavens and earth darkened. He might have even killed a few Ancestral Witches at the cost of severe injuries.
But if he had done so, he would have fallen deeply into the calamity between the Wu and Yao races. Once the killing tribulation began, it could not be stopped. With the killing tribulation in his heart, he would kill heaven and earth.
It was a matter of "pulling one hair and the whole body moves!" No matter how invincible he was, could he be an enemy to all the powerful beings in the Primordial World? If he took one reckless step, he would be ensnared in the tribulation by those who calculated heaven and earth, and killed without shedding blood.
Therefore, Qing Ling had always been calm and cautious. He was born in the Primordial World, a world that was perilous step by step, where one wrong step could lead to eternal damnation!
Not to mention the great demons in the demon race who harbored prejudice against him, there were many in his own protectorate clan who felt their Dao Master was too cautious, even thinking him cowardly.
But if he hadn't stood at such a height, observing the heavenly and earthly forces, contemplating the principles of the universe, and leading all matters, Xishan, Duguan, Jianmu, and even the entire demon race would have faced eternal doom.
Qing Ling sighed. The height brought a chilling loneliness.
His path was still long. The thirty-three layers of heaven, with the last two layers being the most arduous.
Qing Ling entered seclusion once more. The wood dao, related to Buzhou Mountain, transformed from virtual to real, appearing behind him, absorbing the wood dao power from heaven and earth bit by bit.
He was squeezing out the great Dao masters and cultivators of the wood dao in the world, but there was no other way. The competition for the Great Dao was like this.
Within one Dao, fellow cultivators contended.
Outside of one Dao, opposing Daos fought for survival.
Among the three thousand myriad Daos, a thousand Daos competed for glory.
On the path of cultivation, contention never ceased.
Qing Ling's primordial spirit mobilized the wood dao Buzhou Mountain. Ninety percent of the world's wood dao converged here. When it reached ten percent, his thirty-three layers of heaven would be complete.
At that time, his future self and past self would merge with his present self, or merge with his Primordial World self, or merge with his chaotic self. Then, the chaotic and Primordial World selves would merge as one. His primordial spirit realm would synchronize with his magic power realm, reaching the Hunyuan realm, and he would prove the Dao of Hunyuan Da Luo Golden Immortal!
However, at present, both his future self and past self were entangled with karma, and could not yet merge with his present self.
As long as karma persisted, he naturally could not return to his main body, otherwise, the karma of his clones would entangle his main body.
All of this required the right timing.
Ten thousand years later, someone from the Wu clan arrived.
Di Jiang and Zhu Jiu Yin personally came. Outside Duguan, they announced loudly but did not step into Duguan even half a step!
Duguan had now become a forbidden zone for all powerful beings in the world. No one dared to trespass into the land of Jianmu guarded by Qing Ling.
"The Wu clan's Di Jiang has come to fulfill the agreement with the Dao Master of the East Wilderness!"
On the Jianmu tree, Qing Ling pointed his finger, and Houtu and Gou Mang were thrown out of the Duguan area.
Di Jiang and Zhu Jiu Yin rejoiced inwardly and hurried forward to greet them. However, they discovered that vine-like chains still bound their feet!
Qing Ling transmitted his voice, "Since the Ancestral Witches have arrived, my sincerity has been shown. It is time for the Wu clan to pay."
Di Jiang said coldly, "Does the Dao Master of the East Wilderness think our Wu clan are people who break their promises? Take this!"
Zhu Jiu Yin stepped forward and with a flick of his wrist, fifteen drops of the water of time flew out. In the center of these drops, fifteen drops of ancient and immortal blood were encapsulated. Among them, three drops were exceptionally potent, their immortal aura unable to be completely concealed even by the law of time.
Qing Ling turned a ray of light into a bridge and caught the fifteen drops of Pangu's blood. Then, with a wave of his hand, the Jianmu chains binding Houtu and Gou Mang were released.
"Since it is done, the four Ancestral Witches may leave."
Di Jiang's brow furrowed with hesitation and he asked, "Does the Dao Master of the East Wilderness forget something?"
Zhu Jiu Yin added, "Return the head of my ninth brother, She Bishi!"
Qing Ling let out a very pleasant laugh, "Then feel free to come and take it."
Houtu's expression changed, and she urged, "Brother, let's leave quickly. We cannot stay here long."
Di Jiang said resentfully, "This old monster, sooner or later... We are leaving!"
The four Ancestral Witches vanished in an instant.
Qing Ling, at the summit of Jianmu, looked towards Kunlun. Two auras had locked onto this place just moments ago.
As they originated from Pangu's lineage, the Ancestral Witches and the Three Pure Ones naturally had some connection.
The Three Pure Ones were not to be trifled with. Whether now or in the future, wielding innate supreme treasures and having severed two corpses, they might even possess inheritances from Dao Ancestor Hongjun. Qing Ling would not provoke them, even though their positions were gradually becoming antagonistic.
If the Three Pure Ones plotted against him, how could he be willing to be fish on a chopping block, and let others be the cleavers?
Time was long, and in the vast expanse of time, there was plenty of opportunity.
Qing Ling took the fifteen drops of Pangu's blood but did not use them.
The Pangu blood given by the Ancestral Witches was something they understood far better than Qing Ling. If he fell into the Wu clan's trap, it would not be good.
He would only use this Pangu blood after the Wu clan was annihilated.
Even, if he had the chance, he would visit Pangu Temple. Others could not go, but Qing Ling, bearing one-tenth of Pangu's destiny, naturally could.
Qing Ling closed his eyes and once again entered the realm of divine wandering.
One hundred thousand years later, on Fengqi Mountain, a golden phoenix spread its wings and flew towards Kunlun.
On Kunlun Mountain, Tongtian descended the mountain to personally welcome Nuwa's visit to Kunlun.
The Kunlun immortal realm, with its towering palaces and halls reaching into the clouds. In the alchemy furnace, dragons and tigers leaped. Lingzhi immortal herbs grew everywhere. Immortal beasts, white cranes, shrouded the heavens, and colorful deer and spirit monkeys competed. Birds and beasts were all extraordinary.
Tongtian stood before the Kunlun boundary monument, with three immortals attending him, newly accepted disciples of Tongtian: Wu Yunxian, Lingyaxian, and Jinguangxian.
Just then, golden clouds rolled in from the horizon, painting the sky with neon lights. The golden phoenix cried out, exuding a fragrant aroma. Flowers bloomed everywhere. Empress Nuwa's grand chariot descended.
Tongtian straightened his back. Although he appeared calm and without power, he was like a sheathed peerless sword, commanding respect.
"Junior Sister Nuwa, you have traveled a long distance. I regret not welcoming you further. Please do not be offended."
The three Taiyi Immortals behind him bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Martial Uncle!"
Nuwa alighted from her golden phoenix phoenix chariot, smiling brightly, "Senior Brother Tongtian is too polite. I have disturbed you. Junior nephews, there is no need for such formality."
Tongtian smiled, "Junior Sister Nuwa's ability to surpass us senior brothers is truly due to extraordinary destiny and fortune. My two elder brothers and I have been waiting for a long time!"
Nuwa smiled and said, "Since that is the case, then I shall climb the mountain and trouble you!"
Tongtian gestured with his hand, ushering her, "Junior Sister Nuwa, please."
The two saints leisurely ascended Kunlun and proceeded to the Three Pure Ones' great hall.
Laozi and Yuanshi were already waiting in the hall.
Nuwa entered the hall and performed a simple bow, "Nuwa greets two Senior Brothers."
Laozi said indifferently, "Junior Sister, you are too polite. Please take a seat."
Nuwa smiled faintly and sat in the honored guest's seat.
Yuanshi asked, "Junior Sister Nuwa, have the injuries you sustained in the Wu-Yao great battle fully healed? Our eldest brother is skilled in alchemy. If your injuries have not fully recovered, he can gift you some golden elixirs for healing."
Nuwa smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. I have fully recovered now." In her heart, however, she scorned him, thinking that if he truly cared about her injuries, he should have sent golden elixirs millennia ago. Now, afterwards, he feigned concern. If it weren't for the matter of her elder brother, she wouldn't have wanted to set foot in this Kunlun, which exuded rules and etiquette from every corner.