Shi Tian Zhizun remained silent for a long time, unable to make up his mind.
The Earthly Path was too weak, and it concerned the Great Dao. He had to be extremely cautious and consider it thoroughly.
After a considerable pause, he finally looked up and said, "Allow me to return and ponder this matter. I will give you my decision in ten thousand years."
Qing Ling felt a subtle joy in her heart and replied with a smile, "Of course. I will eagerly await your return, elder brother."
A refusal was not given outright, which meant there was hope. After all, the Earthly Path was indeed weak. Although its future seemed promising, there were too many uncertainties, and no one could guarantee success.
However, if Shi Tian Zhizun were to join the Earthly Path, it would gain the acknowledgment of a supreme being, leading to significant advancements in both strength and authority over heaven and earth.
Shi Tian Zhizun nodded, then continued, "This second matter also concerns the Heavenly Path."
"Still the Heavenly Path?" Qing Ling countered, "Has the Heavenly Path revealed any secrets that you have discovered, elder brother?"
"Indeed," Shi Tian Zhizun's expression turned grave. "When Mu Gong perished, you took his physical body and vital energy, while a cloaked Daoist took his primordial spirit and true essence.
Afterwards, I searched the Dead Sea for Mu Gong's Great Luo Dao Repository Realm. After several explorations, I finally located it."
As he spoke, his face darkened completely, an expression of terrifying gloom.
Qing Ling's heart stirred, and she asked, "Did something unusual happen? Was it the work of the Heavenly Path?"
"Precisely. Mu Gong's Great Luo Dao Repository Realm, which was a medium-tier world, has been completely integrated into the Primordial World, becoming a subordinate plane within it!"
Qing Ling looked perplexed. "Although it has become a subordinate plane of the Primordial World rather quickly, it was likely to happen eventually."
"No! You are unaware of the deeper secret," Shi Tian Zhizun said solemnly. "I sent a wisp of my divine sense to investigate this realm.
To my astonishment, I discovered that the world Mu Gong constructed had been entirely absorbed by the Heavenly Path. It has even been taken control of and is now fostering life."
"Are you suggesting that the Heavenly Path is controlling the Great Luo Dao Repository Realm of a fallen great being, and then creating life within it? Perhaps, by controlling these smaller worlds, it aims to gain more authority over heaven and earth, and the luck of sentient beings, thereby competing for control of the Primordial World?"
Shi Tian Zhizun nodded. "Yes, that is my conjecture. In this manner, with each additional great being that perishes, the Heavenly Path's strength will increase by a notch. With this ebb and flow, in the long run, the Heavenly Path will quietly triumph and control the world."
Qing Ling's mind flashed back to the Dragon-Han Cataclysm and the war between the three tribes. She had always believed it was Luo Hou's scheme to instigate conflict among the three tribes, using the immense number of sentient beings and the malevolent energies of great beings as a foundation to set up the Immortal Vanquishing Sword Formation.
She had never imagined that Hongjun's Heavenly Path also wished for as many great beings of the three tribes to perish as possible. Luo Hou had personally delivered a great gift to Hongjun's Heavenly Path.
Qing Ling's thoughts settled. "Thank you, elder brother, for informing me. I will relay this matter to Ancestor Qing Long immediately."
"Good. This matter is of great importance. Exercise extreme caution. I shall take my leave now and will return in ten thousand years to pay my respects," Shi Tian Zhizun said as he departed.
Qing Ling nodded and smiled as she saw him out of the Eastern Wilderness.
Returning to the summit of Jianmu, Qing Ling called out, "Come forth quickly, all of you."
As her voice echoed, divine lights descended from all directions, revealing the figures of four individuals.
The four bowed in unison, "We pay our respects to the Dao Master."
Qing Ling observed the four for a moment and nodded. "Very good. Your Five Energies and Three Flowers are nearing completion. The realm of Great Luo Golden Immortal is within your reach."
The four beamed with joy. "Thank you, Dao Master, for your praise."
"From this day forth, you four shall lead your respective subordinates and focus diligently on cultivation. The four directions of Dugong will be sealed for a period," Qing Ling said to them with a smile. "You have endured for countless years, and it is time for you to cultivate in peace."
Bai Fu could not help but ask, "Then, Dao Master, will we also be confined within Dugong and forbidden to leave?"
Qing Ling raised an eyebrow. "What? Do you wish to leave?"
Bai Fu quickly shook his head, saying he dared not.
Qing Ling then smiled. "If you wish to travel, it is not impossible. However, you must first master one of my divine abilities."
Upon hearing this, the four were overjoyed and quickly bowed. "Thank you, Dao Master, for bestowing this knowledge upon us."
Qing Ling chuckled. "Rise. You four have followed me for a long time, contributing both merit and hardship. It is time for me to repay your efforts."
"I cultivate the Wood Dao as my fundamental Great Dao, supplemented by the Golden, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Ice, Life, Death, Withered Prosperity, Time, Blood, and Taiji Yin-Yang Daos. You may each choose one of these fourteen Great Daos, and I will impart a supreme divine ability to each of you."
Hei Bao was beside himself with joy and scratched his head. "May I ask, Dao Master, which of these Daos is the easiest to cultivate?"
Qing Ling replied, "Of the Three Thousand Great Daos, each is profound and abstruse. There are no shortcuts or easy paths."
Hei Bao's expression dimmed, and he nodded. "Your subordinate knows his mistake."
Seeing his dejected look, Qing Ling added, "If you are willing, I can teach you the Slaughter Dao. Your own cultivation leans towards combat, and by practicing the Slaughter Dao and walking the path of slaughter, even a weaker aptitude will not be an impediment."
Hei Bao's eyes lit up, and he quickly bowed. "Thank you, Dao Master."
Hei Bao was the one with the weakest foundation among the four Guardian Emissaries. While he possessed the bloodline of a mystical beast, it was ultimately inferior to the innate divine origins of Bei Xu and Bai Fu. Even You's puppet body, nourished by numerous spiritual treasures, was superior to his.
Bei Xu then spoke. "I wish to seek the methods of the Withered Prosperity Great Dao from the Dao Master."
Although Qing Ling was somewhat surprised, she nodded. It was her own choice.
You, having been nourished by the Purple Nether Lotus for tens of Yuanhui, possessed not only intelligence comparable to ordinary beings but also exceptional wisdom.
You hesitated slightly. "Dao Master, I wish to seek the methods of the Time Dao."
Qing Ling looked at him and smiled. "Granted."
Bai Fu considered for a moment and said, "Dao Master, may I be taught the methods of the Blood Dao?"
Qing Ling nodded. "Naturally."
"Hei Bao, I shall impart to you a supreme divine ability known as the Ten Absolute Heavens and Earth. This is a technique I comprehended from the Ten Absolute Heavenly Lamp, a divine ability of absolute slaughter. When cultivated to perfection, the Ten Absolutes will emerge, annihilating heavens and earth, scattering miasma and fortune. With one absolute's existence, all ten absolutes shall be present. This allows a divine ability to become a Dao."
"Bei Xu, I shall impart to you a supreme divine ability, the Nine Transformations of Withered Prosperity. When cultivated to perfection, you can transform nine times between withered and prosperous states. This is a life-preserving art. This allows a divine ability to become a Dao."
"You, I shall teach you the Tai Yin Xuan Guang. By condensing threads of time from the Tai Yin of the Nine Heavens' moon essence, it can be used as an offensive divine ability, but it cannot become a Dao through the divine ability."
"Bai Fu, I shall impart to you the Myriad Spirits Blood River. By drinking the blood of myriad spirits and gathering them into a blood river, you can form a bloody world to suppress all beasts. This allows a divine ability to become a Dao."
As her words fell, Qing Ling's primordial spirit ascended, and four beams of light instantly merged into the primordial spirits of the four, transmitting the knowledge through divine means. This was something that could only be understood spiritually and could not be conveyed through words.
These supreme divine abilities were the visualization diagrams she used when comprehending each Dao. The every move of great beings in heaven and earth carried the momentum of the world.
Each of her learned methods, when cultivated to its extreme, became a supreme divine ability. Before reaching perfection, they could only be considered minor divine abilities. Furthermore, with the exception of You's divine ability, all others allowed their practitioners to cultivate into a Dao, thus embarking on the path of Great Dao.
Qing Ling sensed that the era of peace and tranquility in this world was drawing to a close.