After recuperating in the wilderness cave dwelling, Qing Ling continued his journey.
He had already covered more than half of the distance.
The sun hung high, the sea of clouds stretched endlessly, verdant mountains were visible in the distance, and small lakes appeared tranquil nearby. Beauty was everywhere, as was slaughter.
In the Primordial World, there was no shortage of beautiful scenery. But true immortal realms were rare.
There were no towering palaces adorned with jade, no clouds swirling around celestial beings, no white cranes soaring or celestial deer bowing.
True immortals, or rather, those who had attained true immortality, were almost non-existent.
Crystal-clear lakes mirrored the blue sky and white clouds, like polished mirrors. Tall mountains stood beside the lakes, yet monstrous beasts lay dormant, giant pythons lurked at the bottom, and predatory birds perched on the peaks, their killing intent palpable. If any creature entered, they would either be devoured or become the devourers.
Therefore, in this era, it was not suitable for immortals seeking carefree existence, but rather for those pursuing survival. Whether it were these beasts with undeveloped intelligence or the great cultivators of Golden Immortal and Taiyi realms, all were focused on survival.
Qing Ling traversed countless mountains and crossed myriad waters, sometimes traveling underground, sometimes soaring through the sky, and at other times flying into the higher heavens to hasten his journey.
The first heaven was the nine heavens of fierce winds, the second heaven was filled with profound cold, the third heaven with burning flames, the fourth heaven with boundless seas, the fifth heaven was metal, the sixth heaven was wood, the seventh heaven was earth, the eighth heaven was thunder, and the ninth heaven was the void.
Even Taiyi great cultivators would expend considerable effort to cross these nine heavens, let alone the thirty-three heavens above. Only those of Da Luo Golden Immortal cultivation could enter lightly.
Qing Ling merely traveled through the layer of fierce winds in the nine heavens. Many cultivators did the same, as harnessing the winds of heaven allowed for swift and effortless travel.
Passing through dust and wind, he had grown weary of even the most beautiful scenery. He thus focused solely on guarding his surroundings and accelerating his progress.
Until, one day, Bai Fu’s voice again warned him: Danger ahead!
Qing Ling stopped abruptly. Although this premonition was unpleasant, it was far better than facing the danger head-on.
He looked up at a vast lake ahead, stretching for tens of thousands of miles. The lake water was black and chaotic, and prolonged staring induced fear.
Though Qing Ling did not know the exact danger, the absence of any living creatures around the lake indicated its abnormality.
He immediately veered off course, flying tens of thousands of miles to the side, preparing to take a detour.
But then, Bai Fu suddenly spoke again, "Venerable Divine, there is also some unknown terrifying existence in this direction."
Qing Ling was startled. Frowning, he looked at a valley ahead. A stream of Yin spirit energy occasionally emanated from it, transforming the surrounding tens of thousands of miles into a desolate and utterly Yin land.
"Then let's take another detour!"
Qing Ling then flew another tens of thousands of miles. This time, he instinctively chose to bypass it again, without Bai Fu’s warning. Ahead stood a stone palace faintly exuding a Da Luo aura.
He directly flew away for another more than twenty thousand miles. Seeing a ring of mountains ahead, he asked, "Bai Fu, you should not sense anything now, right?"
Bai Fu furrowed its brow, then flew up, emitting a peculiar frequency of vibration that radiated forward. It said slowly, "This time, it should be fine."
Qing Ling raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but smile, "Why 'should be fine'?"
Bai Fu’s expression turned slightly bitter, "Because ever since entering this place, my heart has been unsettled. Danger is everywhere, and the energy currents here are extremely complex. I cannot be certain."
Qing Ling nodded. "Indeed. This is the most perilous stretch of the chaotic lands. Since danger is pervasive, let's proceed in this direction."
With a flash of his divine light, Qing Ling transformed into a streak of light, rapidly crossing the sky for hundreds of thousands of miles.
And just as Qing Ling thought he was finally safe, his light entered a circle of mountains and he could no longer fly out.
Qing Ling’s expression turned grim. He surveyed the surroundings. It was a ring of nine mountains, their geological veins subtly arranged in a Nine Palaces formation. This was likely a grand mountain formation!
Just as he still held onto a glimmer of hope, the continuous mountain peaks in front instantly parted, revealing a single towering peak in the center. At its summit stood a person, one hand behind their back, robes fluttering, their appearance as dazzling as the sun.
Standing at the apex, overlooking all beings, like the sun illuminating all life, making the heavens and earth lose their color. A brilliance that none could ignore, a charm that none could resist.
If the moon in the sky possessed the beauty of the Chang'e fairy that could captivate heaven and earth, then this person before him was like the rising sun in the firmament, yin and yang, a marvel of heaven and earth.
The person raised their eyebrows and saw the stunned Qing Ling. Surprise flashed in their eyes, and their voice, carrying the warmth of the sun, spoke leisurely.
"Fellow Daoist, it has been a long time!"
Qing Ling was startled. After recalling for a long time and confirming that he had never met this person before, he slowly retreated and said, "Senior, have you made a mistake? I do not recall meeting you."
"Heh heh, fellow Daoist has forgotten?
By the East Sea, on Miao Zhu Island, the Ding Hai Shen Zhu!"
Qing Ling's mind instantly awakened. Although he was seeing this person’s appearance for the first time, upon closer inspection, there was a faint resemblance.
It was strikingly similar to that Phoenix Clan Holy Son, Qu!
Because he had suspected back then that the other party might have been possessed by a powerful being, he was surprised to see him again today, and it seemed this was his true form.
This unreserved demeanor, this calm and composed air, suggested that he had calculated Qing Ling's passage through here long ago and intended to kill him to eliminate a potential threat.
Qing Ling's face stiffened. Even if the opponent was strong, they only possessed Taiyi cultivation. Even with a divine sense from the main body, it would not be too powerful, otherwise, the Phoenix Clan's Da Luo Supreme would not be blind.
With his current strength, he could contend with even a Taiyi cultivator. If they fought, as long as the opponent did not summon their main body, he should be able to escape.
As for defeating Qu, Qing Ling dared not even consider it. Not to mention whether he himself had the strength to defeat him, but even if he did, if the powerful being who dared to scheme against the Phoenix Clan held a grudge, his end would be certain!
Seeing Qing Ling's prolonged silence, Qu spoke again, "What, still haven't remembered? Do you need me to say more?"
Qing Ling regained his composure and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I did not expect Senior to remember me, a mere Heavenly rank cultivator back then."
Qu smiled, like a sun blooming before Qing Ling, blinding his eyes with light. "Naturally, I remember. I will not forget the kindness of that day.
Everyone, come out."
A chill ran down Qing Ling's spine. The opponent had called for backup? This was truly overkill! Was he so afraid that Qing Ling would not die?
He saw the surrounding clouds shift, and the nine mountains rose high. On each mountain sat a Taiyi great cultivator in meditation. Qu stood at the center of the formation, completely blocking Qing Ling's escape route.
However, the scene that followed astonished Qing Ling immensely.
"To dare traverse such a desolate place alone, truly bold," exclaimed a young man in white, surprised.
"Since he has come, we cannot let him leave," said a female cultivator in red with a cold expression.
"Naturally. Since he has entered the formation, regardless of his connection to this matter, we cannot let him go," a hunched old man in grey robes said sinisterly.