Dong Wang Gong's mind was greatly shaken, his soul in a panic as he looked towards the sound of the bell.
Qing Ling, however, seized the moment as the intent of life and death surged in his eyes. A single glance swept out, the void trembled, and the light of life and death fell into Dong Wang Gong's primordial spirit, growing and branching in an instant. A Luosheng flower, as vibrant as blood, was about to bloom.
"Mu Gong, you have lost!"
Dong Wang Gong's expression grew serious. He took a step forward, shaking heaven and earth, intending to break free from this sealed realm.
Qing Ling, with a smile on his face, reached up and rolled back his sleeves. With a distant finger point, he unfurled his palm, the clouds parting and mist thinning.
"Blossom!"
The Luosheng flower, hastily suppressed within Dong Wang Gong's body, trembled violently. It devoured more than half of his primordial spirit and magical power, blooming at the call!
Qing Ling raised his palm. Clouds and mist roiled within it. He exhaled softly, and the clouds dispersed, the mist clearing. A Luosheng flower, blooming with world-shaking beauty, instantly appeared in his palm.
He reached out and plucked the flower from afar.
Holding the flower, Qing Ling's face showed a faint smile.
Dong Wang Gong's Dao and magical power within him had been devoured by the Luosheng flower, leaving him weaker than an ordinary quasi-saint.
Huang Long, the Ancestor of all things, surged forward with waves as tall as mountains, encircling Dong Wang Gong.
Qing Ling did not intervene, but instead looked down at Penglai Immortal Island. A single glance revealed the withering and stillness of life and death, the setting of time. Hundreds of immortals had perished, with only flowers blooming everywhere.
Flowers bloomed among the corpses on the island, death and flowers intertwined, night and stars illuminating them, a rare romance.
The myriad immortals of Penglai Island scattered and fled. Qing Ling waved his hand, and the Eastern Desolation army halted. The Green Jade Umbrella covered the army, and lotuses descended, healing them.
Dong Wang Gong had been defeated, and there was no need to spill more blood.
After all, Penglai Immortal Realm was a place that all immortals in heaven and earth once yearned for, a symbol of immortal belief.
Dong Wang Gong abandoned his physical body and rushed out of Huang Long's Nine Abysses Dao Domain, fleeing westward.
Huang Long wanted to pursue, but Qing Ling stopped him, smiling without speaking.
Dong Wang Gong fled across the void, his heart filled with endless rage and sorrow, giving rise to a sense of powerlessness.
In this life, he could only hide and scurry, barely surviving!
As he contemplated the sorrows of his life, his primordial spirit suddenly dodged, looking ahead.
"Zheng~"
A zither note pierced the void. A figure sat on a cloud, a zither resting on his knee. His fingers plucked lightly, like a distant wind stirring his long hair. His face was divine, captivating.
"Dong Wang Gong, where are you going? Why not sit down and listen to Fu Xi play a tune, 'Sorrow of the Dao,' perhaps?"
Dong Wang Gong's expression changed, and he angrily asked, "Xi Huang, are you destined to be my eternal enemy?"
Fu Xi shook his head and said, "I merely wish to play a tune with fellow Daoist."
Dong Wang Gong's face flickered with changing emotions. He suddenly shot straight towards the west.
Fu Xi's zither music changed, and a realm of a thousand sounds appeared behind him. Once within, one would fall into the abyss of the Dao of Sound.
Dong Wang Gong's face changed drastically. He instantly turned back and flew south.
A wave of sorrow arose in his heart. He, a dignified immortal king, was now being blocked by a junior.
However, as he neared the southern continent's edge, a towering figure appeared before his eyes.
A brilliant sun rose, the Sun Essence Wheel and Sun Mirror blocking his path.
Di Jun, clad in imperial robes, stood before the sun and said, "This path is blocked!"
Dong Wang Gong's expression turned angry, but seeing that Di Jun's aura was far superior to Fu Xi's, and likely close to the second corpse, he retreated in anger and headed north.
Dong Wang Gong's heart descended into terror. Had the Five Emperors of the Demon Race surrounded him? In the north, who would it be...
He traversed hundreds of millions of miles north and south, arriving in the north.
A giant three-legged cauldron descended from the sky. Nu Wa, with her human body and serpent tail, coiled around the cauldron, smiling without speaking.
Dong Wang Gong quickly retreated. Nu Wa had already slain two corpses and possessed supreme treasures. Even in his prime, he would have struggled to defeat her.
But the east, that was where he had escaped from.
Dong Wang Gong looked around. Above, the River Chart and Luo Shu; below, the mountains and rivers and the Divine Land. To the west, Xi Huang; to the south, the Demon Emperor; to the north, Wa Huang; and to the east... the Eastern Emperor!
The bell rang again, shaking the nine heavens and ten earths. The man whom all beings looked up to emerged from the east.
Simultaneously, Fu Xi in the west played his zither, the Dao of Sound vibrating, Yin and Yang differentiating, and the west wind blew back.
Di Jun in the south burned with the True Sun Fire, capable of incinerating even the void, everything a living flame.
The innate power of creation from the north descended, a gourd vine whip sweeping with creation, severing Yin and Yang.
The sound of the Eastern Emperor's Chaos Bell echoed nine times, destroying time and space, obscuring all light and time.
The Four Emperors stood in the four directions, encircling Dong Wang Gong, sealing him within.
The Four Demon Emperors advanced towards Dong Wang Gong, completely cornering him.
Qing Ling slowly approached, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Four Lords."
Nu Wa smiled and said, "It is but a small matter. Dong Wang Gong, as a former King of Myriad Immortals, it is only fitting that we bid him a grand farewell."
Fu Xi said, "Dong Wang Gong, rest in peace."
Di Jun merely returned Qing Ling's salute, ignoring Dong Wang.
Tai Yi said to Qing Ling, "It is your leniency. If it were me, I would have acted long ago."
Qing Ling shook his head, his smile fading. He sighed, "Mu Gong, we have known each other for over a hundred epochs, and can be considered old acquaintances.
If we were not enemies of the Great Dao, perhaps we could have been friends, discussing the Great Dao of the world together and enjoying the beauty of the Four Seas.
I bid you farewell, Daoist friend, and return to heaven and earth!"
This was the first time Qing Ling had called Dong Wang Gong "Daoist friend," and the first time he had bowed to him.
A warrior can be killed, but not insulted.
No matter how fallen Dong Wang Gong was, he had once commanded the myriad immortals.
Dong Wang Gong's face was filled with despair, yet within that despair, a hint of release arose.
"Since I am defeated, you are now the Master of the Wood Dao. I only hope you will not fail the Wood Dao. After all, that was the Great Dao I pursued my entire life. I hope you will cherish it!"
The Four Emperors attacked in unison. Yin and Yang manifested, the True Sun Fire blazed, the divine light of creation moved heaven and earth, and the sound of the Chaos Bell extinguished the true spirit!
The heavens wept rain, and the mountains and rivers were desolate.
Qing Ling stood in the pouring rain, momentarily silent.
With Mu Gong's demise, Qing Ling's Wood Dao was unified.
Daoists pursue the Dao, fighting against heaven, against earth, against the past, present, and future. All they do is for the "Dao" in their hearts!
Every Daoist has a belief, and their belief is the "Dao" they seek.
Qing Ling suddenly realized that he, unlike these gods and spirits, lacked a deep belief in the "Dao."
Qing Ling remained silent for a long time, then softly said, "Farewell, Mu Gong!"
He had fought with Mu Gong for countless years, and suddenly losing this opponent left him with a sense of bewilderment.
Standing in the relentless rain, feeling the sorrow of heaven and earth, he remained still for a long time, allowing the rain to soak his robes.
Suddenly, a patch of green appeared above him, blocking the rain.
Tai Yi walked to his side, holding the Green Jade Umbrella, shielding him from the falling rain. "You should be happy. From now on, there will be no more enemies of the Great Dao in this world."
Qing Ling chuckled at his words. "Enemies of the Great Dao do not disappear. As long as there are Daoists who have not attained Hunyuan but wish to, the enemies of the Great Dao could be foes, or kin, or anyone in heaven and earth."
"Then you should continue to be the Lord of the Eastern Desolation, the Heaven for the trillions of beings in the Eastern Desolation!"