Encountering the Qilin Clan's Fire Qilin

Taiqing focused entirely on traveling, completely failing to notice a fiery figure blocking the path ahead.

A fierce roar burst from that fiery figure, and terrifying laws of fire permeated the void.

Without any explanation, the fiery figure struck directly at Taiqing.

"Hmph! How overbearing the Qilin Clan is."

Taiqing snorted coldly. His accompanying Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Taiyi Fly Whisk, swept through the air.

The Fire Qilin avatar, powerful enough to incinerate an Early-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal, dissipated instantly under the Taiyi Fly Whisk.

Looking again at that fiery figure, it was already charging swiftly toward Taiqing.

Upon closer inspection, its form was identical to the Fire Qilin avatar from moments ago.

This Qilin was none other than Fire Qilin, one of the Five Elements Qilin of the Qilin Clan.

"I thought that with the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans warring on the Western Continent, I wouldn't run into trouble. Unexpectedly, even after reaching Buzhou Mountain, trouble still finds its way to my door."

Taiqing sighed. Such was the way of the world—trouble came unbidden, beyond one's control.

From Kunlun Mountain all the way to Buzhou Mountain, because the three clans were locked in battle on the Western Continent, their high-end combat forces had been dispatched there. That was why Taiqing had encountered no trouble so far.

But the foot of Buzhou Mountain was different. The Qilin Clan's ancestral land lay right at its base. Although the three clans fought near Mount Sumeru on the Western Continent, the ancestral land still required members to guard it.

And so, Fire Qilin, just out patrolling the clan territory, spotted Taiqing approaching their land. The Qilin Clan, long accustomed to domineering ways, could hardly tolerate some unknown creature loitering near their territory.

Without a word, Fire Qilin struck at Taiqing directly.

"Heh heh! You've got some skill, taking my casual strike. State your name. I am Fire Qilin, and I slay no nameless foes."

Seeing Taiqing easily deflect his casual blow, Fire Qilin was surprised. When had the Great Desolation produced such a Grand Unity Golden Immortal? He, Fire Qilin, was a mighty Early-stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal. Though it was a casual strike, it was not something a mere Grand Unity Golden Immortal could withstand.

The three clans vied for supremacy over the Great Desolation, using their clan's Destiny/Luck to rapidly break through to the Hunyuan Golden Immortal realm. Within the Qilin Clan, aside from Beginning Qilin, a Late-stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal nearing perfection, there were also the Five Elements Qilin—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—all Early-stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal great powers.

"Daoist Friend, your Qilin Clan is excessively overbearing. The Great Desolation was created by the Great God Pangu, and any living being may dwell here. This Poor Daoist was merely passing through, yet you attack and threaten to kill. This is far too tyrannical, too damaging to merit and Destiny/Luck."

Taiqing did not reveal his name but instead watched Fire Qilin warily. An Early-stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal was not someone he could contend with. Though he had seemingly taken that strike with ease, Fire Qilin himself had called it a casual blow.

In the Great Desolation World, crossing realms in battle was as difficult as scaling the heavens. Especially when the opponent was at the Hunyuan Golden Immortal level, bearing the word "Hunyuan." Unless one possessed a mighty supreme treasure and the enemy lacked one, crossing realms was nearly impossible. Let alone leaping multiple realms—such a thing simply could not happen.

"Hmph! Overbearing? My Qilin Clan shall lead the Myriad Races of the Great Desolation and claim the supreme seat. What of being overbearing? The Qilin Clan will show you overbearing! Now that my clan is at war with the Dragon and Phoenix Clans, I suspect you are a spy sent to gather intelligence on the Qilin Clan. I have every reason to slay you on the spot! Die!"

Fire Qilin snorted coldly, flames spewing from his nostrils, revealing his fiery temper and fury. Without further ado, he struck directly at Taiqing.

This time, Fire Qilin was no longer using a casual blow. His mighty Hunyuan Golden Immortal aura enveloped heaven and earth. Terrifying laws of fire, potent enough to burn the void itself, coalesced into a towering Fire Qilin avatar.

Taiqing's expression turned grim. Suffering such unwarranted calamity, fury burned in his heart. But his body reacted swiftly.

The Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Exquisite Pagoda hung above his head, cascading streams of golden light to shield him. The Taiyi Fly Whisk was pushed to its limit, its three thousand whisking strands weaving into a net that bound the Fire Qilin avatar.

Taiqing's entire figure rapidly retreated.

"Now is not the time to provoke friction with the Qilin Clan. This Fire Qilin at the Early-stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal is not someone I can defeat. If I do not retreat now, when will I?"

He activated the Taiji Diagram, concealing his form and aura, and fled swiftly.

Even though he was born from Pangu's Primordial Spirit and possessed a profound Origin, crossing realms to fight was as difficult as ascending to heaven. Though he carried three World-Opening Supreme Treasures, what would defeating the Fire Qilin accomplish? Would he slay the Fire Qilin and invite endless pursuit from the Qilin Clan? Moreover, he had just sensed that within the Qilin Clan's territory, there was more than one aura of a Hunyuan Golden Immortal Great Power. If he brought out his treasures to fight, the hidden Hunyuan Golden Immortal Great Powers would likely join the battle immediately. He was merely a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal now—how could he overcome at least three Hunyuan Golden Immortal Great Powers? And as a Qilin Clan elder, his opponent surely carried an Innate Spiritual Treasure for protection. Even with three Innate Supreme Treasures in his possession, crossing realms to fight was nearly impossible.

"This debt, I will settle with your Qilin Clan sooner or later."

Composing himself, Taiqing concealed his aura and continued hurrying toward Pangu Hall.

At the scene, the Fire Qilin was somewhat stunned.

"What kind of being is this creature? A mere Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, yet able to withstand a strike I put a bit of seriousness into. And it even evaded my Primordial Spirit's detection."

The Fire Qilin was taken aback. He released his terrifying Primordial Spirit power, enveloping the scope of a Great Thousand World. But he could find no trace of Taiqing's figure, so he could only smash an immortal mountain in fury before returning to his clan.

"Big Brother, what happened? Why are you so angry?"

Back in the clan, the Water Qilin saw the Fire Qilin's fiery expression and immediately stepped forward to ask. He had just sensed the Fire Qilin making a move. In the Qilin Clan, the Five Elements Qilin took the Fire Qilin as the eldest, ranked first. There was no discord like water and fire within the clan; on the contrary, due to external pressure from the Dragon and Phoenix Clans, the Qilin Clan members were very united, and the Water and Fire Qilin had an excellent relationship.

"Earlier, I encountered a peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal creature. To my surprise, a serious strike of mine was actually broken by it. Moreover, that Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal creature vanished right under my nose by some unknown method! Hmph! Don't let me, Fire Qilin, find him, or I will strip his tendons, flay his skin, and annihilate his form and spirit!"

He, Fire Qilin, a dignified Early-stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal Great Power, had let a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal escape from under his hand. It was too shameful. If the Dragon and Phoenix Clans learned of this, who knew how many Eons they would mock him.

"What?! A Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal managed to escape silently from under your hand, Big Brother?!"

The Water Qilin was instantly shocked. That was the Fire Qilin! Even he, Water Qilin, dared not claim he could escape unscathed from the Fire Qilin's grasp. A mere Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal had actually fled from the Fire Qilin's hands. How could he, Water Qilin, not be astonished? This was likely the first time such a thing had happened since the world was created.

"Big Brother, that creature most likely holds a great secret. Even more so, it probably carries an Innate Supreme Treasure for protection, which allowed it to escape silently from under your hand!"

After his shock, the Water Qilin quickly realized. A Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, no matter how heaven-defying, could not silently flee from a Hunyuan Golden Immortal Great Power. For such a situation, there were only two reasons.