The Old Dragon spoke with a soft chuckle, his words striking like a sudden thunderclap. He had seen through the veil in an instant: the Ling Xiao standing before him was not the true body. He spoke with a hint of posturing, as if to prove his own formidable sight.
As the words echoed, the living beings who heard them were paralyzed, their minds seemingly detonating on the spot.
"He is already this ridiculous, and it is actually just a single Clone?!"
"Then how powerful must his true body be?"
They were beyond shocked. Suddenly, they thought of the mighty experts who had already fled after being defeated by Ling Xiao. If they knew the one who had trampled them was merely an Incarnation, would their mentalities collapse entirely?
Even Dijun and Taiyi stood in a dazed stupor. After all this time, the Third Brother who had come to their aid was merely a Clone?
Yet, it made sense. Their Third Brother was still the same—a homebody who refused to leave the Sun Star if he could help it.
But this was simply too strong. They had believed the gap between them and Ling Xiao was narrowing, that it was no longer so absurdly wide.
Now, it appeared the chasm had only grown larger!
...
Ling Xiao was slightly surprised. He had not expected the Old Dragon to pierce his concealment, which proved the elder's magic power was indeed extraordinary.
"So what if it is? Do you believe you have seen through my secrets? Are you trying to show off your strength?"
"Do you truly want me to engage you with all my might?"
He sneered, refusing to be drawn in. If the Old Dragon attempted any deceptions, he would simply summon his true body and begin a wholesale slaughter.
His domineering words caused the Old Dragon's mouth to twitch. The elder hurriedly waved his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist, Fellow Daoist, I have no intention of fighting."
"I am old now, and I have long since grown weary of the cycle of killing. I cultivate a mind of peace and never strive for supremacy."
He spoke with an air of detached tranquility, looking very much like a being beyond the mortal coil.
Upon hearing this, the Dragon Clan Chief, Ao Zhan, shot the Old Dragon a look of bewilderment, as if he could not believe the elder's sudden shift in character.
Ling Xiao spread his hands, his voice level and cold. "Your Dragon Clan took the initiative to provoke us. You cannot simply declare a cessation of war and expect to walk away, can you?"
The Old Dragon offered an awkward smile. In truth, they had planned to make a grand entrance, sweep through the competition, and seize the treasure. Under normal circumstances, no living being would have been their match. They simply hadn't accounted for an anomaly like Ling Xiao.
He could not gauge Ling Xiao's true cultivation. He only knew this was an Incarnation and could not be certain of the body's depth, so he was unwilling to take the risk.
The Dragon Clan was no longer the hegemon of old. Following the ancient catastrophe, they were forced to be extremely vigilant; a single mistake could lead to the extinction of their race.
"Fellow Daoist Ling Xiao, it was all a simple misunderstanding. From this day forward, these three immortal islands belong to you. You may command the Dragon Clan in the surrounding sea as you see fit; do not stand on ceremony. Consider it compensation from my Dragon Clan."
"Later, the Dragon Clan and the Golden Crow Clan will be as one family... Haha... is that not a wonderful outcome?" The Old Dragon chuckled, looking as harmless as a common beast.
"Who is family with you? There is nothing wonderful about it!" Dijun immediately objected. There were only three in their Golden Crow Clan, each an elite among elites. How could they be lumped together with the Dragon Clan?
"Enough. This matter is over. In the future, no one is permitted near the Three Immortals Island without our permission."
Ling Xiao waved his hand, signaling the Dragon Clan to depart. The Old Dragon's strength was unfathomable; there was no profit in a pointless struggle. Besides, he had already secured everything he desired.
"Very well. Fellow Daoists of the Three Crows, we shall be neighbors from now on. Feel free to visit my Dragon Palace whenever you have the time!"
The Old Dragon laughed, reaching out to sweep Ao Zhan and the other dragons into his palm before sinking silently into the seabed.
"Indeed, he has significant skill!" Ling Xiao's eyes flickered. Just that single movement was enough to confirm that the Old Dragon's methods were truly extraordinary.
"Truly a cunning old loach..."
Once the Dragon Clan had vanished, Taiyi immediately stepped forward to clear the remnants of the battlefield.
"Fellow Daoists! In the future, these three immortal islands shall be the Dao Field of the Three Crows. No soul is permitted to enter without permission. Please leave."
the crowd of remaining creatures could only sigh with regret, yet they were left with no choice but to depart. If the world's top experts could not overcome the Three Crows, they stood no chance at all.
"Daoist Friends of the Three Crows, congratulations!"
Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun approached, their faces beaming with joy. They even presented three Ginseng Fruits as congratulatory gifts.
They looked at Ling Xiao as if they were observing a monster. To put it simply, they had been rendered almost numb by the succession of shocks.
"You are too kind." Dijun accepted the Ginseng Fruits and distributed them.
"Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, Fellow Daoist Hongyun, feel free to visit the Three Immortals Island to discuss the Dao at any time!" Ling Xiao said with a smile, taking a bite of a Ginseng Fruit. Instantly, his mouth was flooded with a transcendent fragrance—a taste he had never before experienced.
Carried on the sea breeze, there was a faint hint of saltiness.
"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Ling Xiao, I think it would be more fitting to call these three immortal islands 'Three Crows Island'," Hongyun suggested with a grin, appearing quite talented at naming.
In truth, neither he nor Zhenyuanzi had been shy; they had scavenged quite a few treasures during the chaos and felt they should offer something in return.
Beside him, Zhenyuanzi's face was covered in black lines. If you do not know how to speak, then keep your mouth shut. What kind of terrible name is that?
Ling Xiao could not help but laugh. He said casually, "It is all the same... we shall discuss it later."
They then entered the island, traveling and conversing. The Three Immortals Island was far too vast; even with efficient scavenging, it would likely take a millennium to explore it all...
...
Meanwhile, at Yujing Mountain.
After considerable effort, Tongtian finally managed to bring Yuanshi and Laozi back. Laozi was largely fine, but Yuanshi's Origin had been clipped, leaving him seriously wounded.
Compounded by the humiliation of his defeat, he had fainted from sheer indignation several times. It took a long time for his emotions to stabilize.
"Dammit! How could we possibly lose to three Golden Crows? We are the orthodox lineage of Pangu!"
Yuanshi sat cross-legged upon a prayer mat, his aura weak. Faint Dao Marks appeared on his skin—these were the jagged Dao Wounds left behind by Ling Xiao. If they were not treated in time, they threatened to permanently affect his Foundation.
Physical injuries were a minor matter; the psychological trauma was the true poison. He simply could not let it go.
"I underestimated the Three Crows. If I am not mistaken, they are following the path of Attaining the Dao through Laws," Laozi said, his expression grave and solemn.
"Cultivating Laws? No wonder their combat power is so strong!" Tongtian remarked with surprise.
"Hehe. Strong they may be, but their path has already reached its end," Laozi said with a light smile, which left Tongtian confused.
"Eldest Brother, why do you say that?"
"Although they have achieved the rank of Hun Yuan Golden Immortal, it will be extremely difficult for them to take another step forward in the future."
"Tell me, when you attempted to comprehend the Laws, did it feel easy or difficult?"
Laozi looked at Tongtian, a small smile playing on his lips.
Tongtian paused, then admitted, "Difficult. Naturally, it was extremely difficult!"
"Exactly." Laozi nodded. "This proves that the path is a dead end. Even if they can manifest as Hun Yuan Golden Immortals, it will be extremely difficult to advance further!"
"We were transformed from Pangu's own Primordial Spirit. Whether it is our background or our Comprehension Ability, we are the strongest. If even you and I find the path difficult, what hope do the Golden Crows have?"
He analyzed the situation with the air of a man holding every variable under control.
He had long ago attempted to master the Laws, but his progress had been glacially slow. If it was a struggle during the Grand Unity Golden Immortal period, it was an impossibility as a Hun Yuan Golden Immortal. As for Attaining the Dao to become a Grand Unity Golden Immortal through that path, it was—in his mind—an impossibility.