A Mount Comes Knocking?

Now, not only had the Heavenly Dao's planned outcome for the three clans failed to occur, it had also diverged drastically from Its design.

Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Beginning Qilin had not fallen.

Instead, by withdrawing from the Primordial Wilderness and making their vows, they had gained a portion of heaven and earth's authority.

The duties of governing the Primordial Wilderness's waterways, overseeing its earth veins, and regulating its yin and yang were precisely authorities of heaven and earth.

Nor had the three clans declined completely.

They had actually retained nearly half of their elite forces.

As for their top-level combat strength, several great elders had also remained.

How could the Heavenly Dao not be shaken? It had been struck into slumber by Great Dao Thunder, only to find that the greater trend had changed.

It had even lost a portion of its authority over heaven and earth.

It truly had tried to steal a chicken, only to lose the rice used to bait it.

And the cause of all this began with Taiqing leaving Kunlun with the Pangu Banner and Chaos Bell.

Yet neither the Heavenly Dao, Hongjun, Taiqing, nor the dragon, phoenix, and Qilin Clans knew that Taiqing's inadvertent action alone had completely changed the outcome of the Dragon-Han Calamity.

However, the three clans did know why most of their elite members had been preserved.

After completely merging with the Four Seas' water veins, the Primordial Wilderness's earth veins, and Undying Volcano, the three clans had gained a portion of heaven and earth's authority.

Moreover, the Calamity Qi had completely left their bodies, and they were no longer affected by it.

Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Beginning Qilin thus understood the Causality involved.

"This Causality must be repaid."

This was the only thought in the minds of the three mighty figures—Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Beginning Qilin.

Though Taiqing had acted unintentionally, he had saved most of the three clans' members and rescued the three of them as well.

He had even allowed them to gain a portion of heaven and earth's authority.

Yet the truth was that all of this was related to Taiqing.

The reason they had survived and gained control over a portion of heaven and earth's authority was also Taiqing's inadvertent act.

At this moment, Taiqing was somewhat dumbfounded after hearing the vows of Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Beginning Qilin.

When he saw their eventual fates, he became even more confused.

"Shouldn't Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Beginning Qilin have used their bodies to suppress the Four Seas and Undying Volcano, while Beginning Qilin became Qilin Cliff?

"Wouldn't their final outcome have been no different from death, leaving behind only their true spirits entrusted to the Primordial Wilderness's heaven and earth?

"Why did they seem to have gained benefits instead?

"Managing water veins and earth veins, regulating yin and yang—no matter how I looked at it, those were authorities of heaven and earth!

"Why did the Heavenly Dao not react at all, allowing Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Beginning Qilin to obtain such enormous benefits so easily?

"Was this the punishment for stirring up boundless slaughter and destroying the Primordial Wilderness?"

Because Taiqing had left.

Old Thief Hongjun had failed in his scheme against the Sanqing, only to implicate the Heavenly Dao and have it struck into slumber by Great Dao Thunder.

The Heavenly Dao simply did not have the ability to stop Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Beginning Qilin.

Moreover, the three mighty figures had sworn their oaths to the Great Dao. Though the Great Dao had not issued any true words, it had stirred slightly.

This showed that the Great Dao also approved of the vows made by Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Beginning Qilin.

The Heavenly Dao naturally did not dare express any objection.

"And the three clans actually preserved most of their elite forces, even retaining more than half of their clan elders?

"What exactly happened to this Primordial Wilderness? It seemed somewhat different."

This change had been caused entirely by him alone.

However, Taiqing stopped thinking about matters he could not figure out.

His most urgent task was still to hurry to the Eastern Sea, find the Three Immortal Islands, and break through to the Hunyuan Golden Immortal realm.

"Greetings, Great Master."

The moment Taiqing reached the foot of Buzhou Mountain, a massive Ink Jade Qilin blocked his path.

The Ink Jade Qilin was black and white in color, carrying the elegant air of an ink-wash painting.

It was like an Ink Jade Qilin that had stepped straight out of an ink-wash painting from Taiqing's previous life.

"What fine fortune. You actually cultivate the Law of Yin Yang. Why have you blocked my path?"

As Taiqing looked at the exceptionally imposing Ink Jade Qilin before him, his heart stirred.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have such a stylish Qilin as a mount?

Furthermore, the Ink Jade Qilin was highly compatible with the laws he cultivated.

"Great Master, please know that you have shown favor to my Qilin Clan.

Beginning Qilin Old Ancestor sent this lesser one to serve as your means of travel.

From this day forward, this lesser one shall follow Great Master and serve as your mount to repay this favor."

Under Taiqing's stunned and puzzled gaze, the Ink Jade Qilin bent its knees and knelt before him.

Then it spoke words Taiqing could not understand.

"Shown favor to the Qilin Clan? When did I ever show favor to the Qilin Clan?

"Didn't I merely climb Buzhou Mountain?

"That Fire Qilin even attacked this poor Daoist."

Though he was full of doubts, Taiqing simply could not suppress the corners of his mouth.

He had said it—he, Taiqing, was the protagonist. He had merely climbed Buzhou Mountain, yet he had not only received guidance from Pangu Father God and obtained Pangu Marrow.

Now, a mount had come right to his doorstep.

And it was an Ink Jade Qilin he rather liked, one compatible with his own laws.

With the attitude that it would be a waste not to accept it, Taiqing reluctantly accepted the Qilin Clan's goodwill.

He would reluctantly accept the Ink Jade Qilin as a mount, then.

If the Ink Jade Qilin knew what Taiqing was thinking, it would surely shout, "What do you mean, reluctantly? The corners of your mouth are practically reaching your ears!"

"Reporting to Great Master, this lesser one does not know what favor it was. The clan leader did not explain in detail either, only saying that Tian Ji must not be revealed.

If it were spoken aloud, the Qilin Clan might suffer a great calamity. I ask Great Master for forgiveness."

"So be it. Since that is the case, I shall not press the matter."

Taiqing had not expected that the inexplicable favor he had shown the Qilin Clan would actually involve Tian Ji.

Taiqing did not press further. Since it involved Tian Ji, if it were revealed, he himself might also suffer punishment.

Although it was his first time riding a mount, Taiqing adapted perfectly and nimbly leaped onto the Ink Jade Qilin's back.

This was what Taiqing called reluctant? His body was certainly honest.

"Do you have any other unfinished business within your clan? Once we leave, I fear you will not be able to return for a long time."

Since the Ink Jade Qilin was willing to become his mount, Taiqing could not simply treat it like an object and order it about casually.

"Reporting to Great Master, the clan's affairs have already been settled. Wherever Great Master wishes to go, this lesser one will carry you there."

The Ink Jade Qilin had not expected Taiqing to show such concern for it.

In this Primordial Wilderness, many great powers did not treat their mounts this way.

It seemed that the Ink Jade Qilin had made a good choice.

"Very well. In that case, we shall head toward the Eastern Sea.

I intend to travel through the Eastern Sea."

Since the Ink Jade Qilin had said so, Taiqing no longer stood on ceremony. After pointing out the direction, he closed his eyes and meditated.

"By your command, Great Master. We shall depart at once."

Carrying Taiqing, the Ink Jade Qilin transformed into a streak of light and sped toward the Eastern Sea.

The Ink Jade Qilin's cultivation was not weak. It was at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level, and its travel speed was no slower than Taiqing's own.

This allowed Taiqing to free up his time and cultivate atop the Ink Jade Qilin's back.

Though he could not raise his realm, he could comprehend laws.

The deeper his comprehension of laws, the greater the improvement he would gain after making a breakthrough.

However, even laws could not break through the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

Taiqing had chosen the Law Path to Sainthood, so laws were naturally his highest priority.

Taiqing had possessed the Grand Unity Golden Immortal-level Law of Yin Yang from the moment he was born.

Now, he intended to comprehend the Five Elements Law and use yin and yang to transform into the Five Elements.