Outside Luoling Mountain, the sky was clear and vast.
Suddenly, the north wind rose, the clouds gathered, and a torrential rain fell, washing away the filth of the myriad snakes in the mountain.
Qing Xuan watched the great rain descend upon his ancestral land in the distance, his silence profound.
At the foot of the mountain, the Hook Snake, Tian Gou, ran in a panic, "Old Ancestor! Disaster! Someone is attacking our ancestral land!"
Qing Xuan glanced at him, a light smile on his lips, "What makes you say that?"
"Ah?" Tian Gou tilted his head, his tiger-like brow furrowed, "The signs of wind and rain approaching clearly indicate ill fortune!"
Qing Xuan shook his head, tapping his forehead lightly, "Wind and rain are already upon us. Moreover, who told you that wind and rain signify someone plotting mischief? The approaching party is an enemy, not a friend. Go and inform all clan members to be on alert. I will descend the mountain to meet this visitor."
Qing Xuan unfurled the Azure Nether Umbrella from his sleeve and walked into the downpour, the torrential rain raising mist and concealing him in the wind and rain.
Upon hearing this, Tian Gou hurriedly transmitted his voice to the four divisions, "Enemy attack! Prepare immediately!"
The people of the four divisions and eight branches of Luoling Mountain became solemn, their movements orderly. They regrouped like an army, showcasing the strict laws and disciplined formations of the clan.
Tian Gou was one of the few snake tribes personally taught by Qing Ling in the ancient lands of Xi Mountain. The ancient military formations of Xi Mountain had been tempered by countless battles of myriad beasts during the Dragon-Phoenix era, making them truly formidable and not mere superficial displays.
By the time Tian Gou descended the mountain, hundreds of thousands of snake warriors had already gathered. Three leading generals greeted him, asking, "Tian Gou, what has happened?"
"Indeed! Where is the Old Ancestor?"
"What clan is the enemy?"
Tian Gou shook his head, "The Old Ancestor said the visitor's intentions are uncertain and they might be an enemy. Furthermore, the Old Ancestor has personally descended the mountain, indicating the visitor's formidable power."
A sense of unease settled in everyone's hearts as they looked towards the mountain from beyond the raging storm.
Outside the mountain, the rain continued to patter. Amidst the wind and rain, Qing Xuan saw a woman.
The woman was clad in a white robe, her long hair falling to her shoulders. Her face was beautiful and elegant, possessing an ethereal and otherworldly aura.
Qing Xuan stood with his umbrella, smiling, "A mere being who has just entered the Great Luo realm, what is your reliance?"
The white-robed woman heard this but was not angered, "Entering the Great Luo realm, even if newly, is still Great Luo. Senior's late Great Luo stage is also Great Luo. In the same realm, there is no fundamental difference, nor is it the gap between Quasi-Sage and Great Luo."
"Indeed, there is no fundamental difference," Qing Xuan replied calmly. "But who mighty being stands behind you?"
The white-robed woman chuckled lightly, "North Beacon Xuan Mountain, Thirty-Eight Divisions!"
Qing Xuan had once visited Zhen Yuan Zi's mountain and read the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*. It recorded that the North Beacon Mountain, bordering the Eastern Sea, was the first mountain in the fourth mountain range of the East!
"My apologies!" Qing Xuan smiled and said, "I have heard that the Thirty-Eight Divisions are in the north, opposing Ancestral Witch Xuan Ming and Ancestral Witch She Bi Shi, protecting a land of peace. They are indeed mountains of great virtue. However, what brings you, friend, to my Luoling Mountain Snake Tribe today?"
The white-robed woman clasped her hands and bowed deeply, "The Wu tribe is powerful. The Twelve Ancestral Witches lead countless Wu tribe members to slaughter the myriad beast tribes. We, the myriad races, are but food for the Wu tribe, resulting in countless lives perishing by their mouths. My North Beacon Xuan Mountain has heard that you, Senior, are a renowned and ancient mighty being, the ancestor of myriad snakes. Therefore, we wish to invite you to join my North Beacon Xuan Mountain and become the Thirty-Ninth Division!"
"Oh?" Qing Xuan raised the handle of his umbrella. His eyes in the rain were calm and without waves. He looked at the bowing woman and said, "Do you wish to offer courtesy before force, friend?"
"This junior absolutely does not wish to see this happen."
"If you do not wish it, then it must be done. We shall discuss this matter later!"
The white-robed woman sighed, straightened up, pointed with her right hand, and said, "Then I must offend."
The wind and rain transformed. The torrential downpour softened into water. The light rain pattered ceaselessly, each drop falling onto the dark green umbrella paper, flowing along the umbrella ribs and down, gathering into streams.
The white-robed woman took a step forward. Ripples stirred in the water at her feet. She formed hand seals, converging them into a powerful formation.
The raindrops in the plane of space momentarily froze, suspended in mid-air.
The next moment, ten thousand drops of rain fell, ten thousand killing blows descended! Each drop of rain was a surge of killing intent, each gust of wind a blade. Ten thousand falling rains, ten thousand descending blades, the killing intent amplified, converging into a potent force, permeating all directions, stopping all killing!
Qing Xuan smiled, standing alone amidst the rain formation, letting the wind and rain rage, the killing intent encasing the formation.
"This killing formation is profound. But it is not something you can comprehend."
Qing Xuan raised his umbrella. The Azure Nether True Qi from the umbrella shot upwards, transforming into nine heavens upon nine heavens, thirty-three heavens manifesting in the mortal world! Rain fell, wind blew, swords pierced, blades slashed. Entering within ten feet of him was like entering the thirty-three heavens! Amidst the killing intent of wind and rain, Qing Xuan moved freely. He glanced at her and said, "Unfortunately, it cannot stop me." With that, he turned and walked away, his green robe flowing, not a single drop of rain wetting him.
Seeing this, the white-robed woman changed her hand seals, intending to alter the formation. However, a slender hand landed on her shoulder, halting her movements.
"Shang Yang, desist."
The white-robed woman froze. Upon hearing the voice, she abruptly ceased her actions, bowed deeply, "Adult, it is my subordinate's inadequacy in handling affairs!"
A figure in black robes appeared beside her, smiling, "It is nothing. It is fellow Daoist Qing Xuan's profound cultivation, not your fault."
Qing Xuan heard this, halted his steps, and looked at the newcomer.
"North Beacon Mountain, Xu Ri, greets fellow Daoist Qing Xuan."
"Qing Xuan greets fellow Daoist."
"Fellow Daoist, you truly refuse to join my North Beacon Mountain?"
"May I ask, fellow Daoist, who is the mighty being behind North Beacon Mountain? The ten Great Luo elders of the Thirty-Eight Divisions cannot stop two Ancestral Witches!"
Xu Ri heard this and smiled, "Behind North Beacon Mountain, what if it is me?"
Qing Xuan shook his head, smiling, "A mere Three Corpses body would not possess such courage."
"Oh? I underestimated fellow Daoist."
"Heh heh, although I have not severed my corpses, I was one of the three thousand guests in Zixiao Palace. I still possess this much discernment."
Xu Ri heard this and said, "Then I shall no longer conceal it from you, fellow Daoist. I am the evil corpse of the Sun God Emperor Jun. North Beacon Mountain not only has its ten Great Luo elders and thirty-eight divisions, but it also shines under the light of myriad stars, and it is also where fellow Daoist Nu Wa of Phoenix Perch Mountain resides."
Qing Xuan nodded, "Indeed, a mighty being of great talent! I am impressed."
"Then may I ask your intentions?"
Qing Xuan smiled, "If I join your North Beacon Mountain, what benefits shall I gain? What rewards shall I receive? Without profit or advantage, why should I join?"
Xu Ri heard this and was not angered at all. Instead, he said, "Such candidness puts me at ease, fellow Daoist. The grand trend of heaven and earth, if embraced, can lead to an unprecedented ascent! Do you dare, fellow Daoist?"
Qing Xuan paused, then smiled, "Fellow Daoists, please enter the mountain and take a look?"
Xu Ri laughed heartily, "Your hospitality is greatly appreciated, we shall gladly accept!"
Qing Xuan led the way. With a wave of his sleeve, the wind and rain ceased. A seven-colored rainbow bridge arched across the sky after the rain. The mountains and wilds were fresh, the dust washed away, and the forests were unstained by the mortal world.
Seeing Qing Xuan approach, the four divisions immediately bowed solemnly, "We respectfully welcome the Old Ancestor!"
Qing Xuan raised his hand, "Rise." Then he said to the two behind him, "These are the armies of my snake tribe!"
Xu Ri nodded in praise, "Such powerful formations! Truly worthy of being the mountain of myriad snakes!"
Qing Xuan waved his hand and smiled, "In terms of formations, I am ashamed before you, fellow Daoist. You may all disperse, we have honored guests, not an enemy invasion!"
The snake tribesmen then withdrew, their formations dispersing. The three ascended the mountain, reaching the summit of Luoling Mountain.
Shang Yang bowed respectfully, "I have offended Senior greatly just now, please forgive me!"
Qing Xuan waved his hand, "It is nothing, nothing. If I lacked strength, I would naturally not have met fellow Daoist Xu Ri. Observing fellow Daoist Shang Yang's killing formation, I am reminded of a treasure."
"May I ask what item you are reminded of, fellow Daoist?"
"The River Diagram and Luo Script!"
Xu Ri's eyes flickered, then he smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist truly knows much. The River Diagram and Luo Script are this venerable one's protective treasures, a supreme innate artifact with thirty-six layers of Dao prohibitions. Shang Yang's innate divine ability, coupled with the killing formation I deduced, is enough to trap a Great Luo Golden Immortal. Yet, fellow Daoist moved as if in an unobstructed realm; even a peak Great Luo would pale in comparison."
Qing Xuan merely said, "It is that fellow Daoist Shang Yang did not exert full effort; fellow Daoist praises me too highly."
Xu Ri shook his head, "Fellow Daoist's strength is extraordinary. Legend has it that over twenty Yuanhui ago, you fought alongside fellow Daoist Nu Wa against an Ancestral Witch. You and fellow Daoist Nu Wa have some acquaintance, and if you were to join North Beacon Mountain, you would certainly be a great asset!"
Qing Xuan glanced at Shang Yang behind him and said with a half-smile, "Then if I join North Beacon Mountain, what will my status be?"
Xu Ri, hearing this, understood and smiled, "With your divine abilities, you would naturally be only below the three of us, equal in rank to fellow Daoist Fu Xi!"
"And in the future?"
"In the future? How far into the future does fellow Daoist refer to?"
"Naturally, from now on!"
Xu Ri fell silent for a moment, then said solemnly, "Just as in the beginning!"
Qing Xuan's heart felt at ease upon hearing this, and he said, "Then from now on, my Luoling Mountain Snake Tribe will be one of the Thirty-Nine Divisions of North Beacon Xuan Mountain!"
Xu Ri's face lit up with joy, "My North Beacon Mountain shall surely not fail fellow Daoist's trust!"
"However," Qing Xuan frowned, "Currently, my tribe cannot yet openly declare our stance to the myriad races. Luoling Mountain is located in the southwest. To the west is the current Ancestral Witch Xiu Shu, to the south is the Fire Ancestral Witch Zhu Rong, and to the north, we directly face the Earth Ancestral Witch Hou Tu. If we declare ourselves immediately, it may arouse the suspicion of the Wu tribe. After all, our tribe is located in the north, while North Beacon Mountain is in the north. Even from Phoenix Perch Mountain, it is separated by Buzhou Mountain. If an Ancestral Witch were to personally arrive, I might be able to resist them for a while. But without strong reinforcements nearby, disaster could descend in an instant."
Xu Ri smiled and said, "No matter, no matter! Since fellow Daoist has joined my North Beacon Mountain, you naturally have our protection. One in the south, one in the north, one in the open, one in the dark; it should be so!"