"Mount?"
Qing Huan shook his head inwardly.
"He is, after all, the Crown Prince of the Qilin Clan; how could he be made into a mere mount?"
"Now that you have accepted my greetings, please summon the Four Unlike to meet me."
Qing Huan accepted the treasures and divine soil, and said calmly.
Yes! Yes!
The Fire Qilin responded repeatedly, and with a grab from afar, ripples spread through the space, and a young man with Innate Dao Body, dressed in Xuanhuang Daoist Robe and still with a childlike face, was brought before Qing Huan.
The Four Unlike had clear eyes, tinged with a slight bewilderment and a hint of timidity.
His cultivation aura... clearly indicates he's only at the initial stage of the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm?
A barely perceptible hint of doubt flashed in Qing Huan's eyes. Was this truly the direct descendant of the Primeval Qilin?
With such noble bloodline, why did he only reach the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal in cultivation?
The Karma Shackles of the Dragon-Han Calamity are so severe! This Four Unlike, without any karmic burdens... shouldn't be at this level!
"Hurry up and pay your respects to the teacher!"
The Fire Qilin gently patted the boy's shoulder, its tone filled with expectation and urgency.
The Four Unlike awaken from a dream, and hurriedly tried to kneel down in worship.
With a slight flutter of his green robe, the Qilin Staff landed steadily in the arms of the Four Unlike. "This is your father's heirloom; today it is returned to its rightful owner."
Qing Huan's voice was calm and brooked no argument.
The four-legged creature respectfully accepted the treasure with both hands. Four Unlike the warm touch of the magical artifact in its palms, it was overwhelmed with emotion and bowed deeply.
"Your disciple kowtows in gratitude for your generous gift, Master! I will certainly serve you diligently and follow you in your spiritual practice from now on."
His voice carried a hint of nervousness and restraint typical of young people.
The Fire Qilin never expected that Qing Huan would be willing to give this magical treasure to the Four Unlike...
"Good."
A hint of satisfaction flashed in Qing Huan's eyes. Restraint is fine, sincerity is what matters.
"Rise, and from this day forth return with me to Yingzhou. All things, including the Qilin, are severed from the past. Remember them firmly in your heart."
Qing Huan's words were full of profound meaning, and he gave his final instructions.
"Your disciple will obey your orders!"
The Four Unlike solemnly responded.
Seeing this scene, the Fire Qilin, which had been weighing on its heart for millennia, suddenly felt a huge weight lifted from its chest.
With the existence of the Four Unlike, the bloodline of the Qilin will never cease in the Primordial Wilderness!
"Fellow Daoist Fire Qilin"
Qing Huan turned his gaze to the scorching old Qilin.
"I have a method that may slightly reduce the overwhelming karma of your clan. It all depends on whether you, fellow Daoist, are willing to spare no expense."
A faint smile played on Qing Huan's lips. As for the matter of the Western Earth Veins, even if he couldn't monopolize the great Merit, sharing a portion would still be an opportunity.
"Oh?!"
The Fire Qilin's dim eyes suddenly flashed with a terrifying light, and its breathing became rapid.
"Qing Huan, please speak frankly! The Qilin Clan is already at its wit's end. As long as we can gain Thread of Life, what is there to lose? We are willing to spare no effort, even if it means using the entire strength of our clan!"
The dawn of karmic relief is just around the corner; even if it means being shattered to pieces, seize it.
"Very well! Since you are so resolute, I will speak frankly."
Qing Huan nodded.
"Among the Qilin Clan, there must be many with the bloodline of the Earth Dao Laws. They can be made to sacrifice themselves to repair and fill the broken earth veins in the west, transforming them into a foundation of Auspicious Blessings."
Heavenly Dao's way is impartial; Merit will surely descend. The Karma Shackles borne by your clan will naturally loosen somewhat. How much courage you possess is up to you, fellow Daoist."
The Fire Qilin's scales trembled slightly with excitement!
It's not just the Earth Qilin Clan; even sacrificing half of the Qilin bloodline would be worthwhile if it could bring about this Thread of Life!
He suddenly bowed deeply, his head almost touching the ground:
"The Qing Huan Qilin Clan will never forget Fellow Daoist Qinghuan's kindness in saving us! We will serve you with our lives, even unto death!"
His voice was hoarse from excitement.
"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. We've only known each other for a short time."
With a light flick of his Qing Huan robe sleeves, five glistening water droplets, shimmering with the iridescent colors of the Sun, Moon, and Stars and brimming with boundless vitality, hovered before the Fire Qilin.
"These are five drops of the Three Lights Divine Water. I offer them to you to save your life, fellow Daoist. Consider this my last token of gratitude to the Qilin Clan."
The Great Dao to supremacy cannot be achieved simply by having the heart of a bodhisattva, but even the hardest heart can contain a subtle, almost imperceptible warmth.
"This...!"
The Fire Qilin's pupils dilated violently, and it nearly suffocated. The number one healing elixir in the Primordial Wilderness! Its preciousness far exceeded imagination.
With this divine object protecting him, and by sending the Earth Qilin to replenish his meridians, he could not only greatly reduce the backlash of karma, but also ensure his own life was completely safe! He was overwhelmed with immense joy.
"Hehe, Fellow Fire Qilin, my master and I will take our leave first; there's no need to mention farewell again."
Before Qing Huan could finish speaking, his figure, along with the Qilin Four Unlike, vanished like a bubble atop Qilin Cliff.
The wind was cold on the cliff top. The Fire Qilin stood there for a long time, its eyes burning with tears. The weariness and despair accumulated over thousands of years turned into hot tears that rolled between the grooves of its scales.
Heavenly Dao... in the end, did not abandon Qilin! Betting on Qing Huan has become the only way out of this desperate situation!
Above the Gale Wind of the heavens, the clouds surged like waves.
Qing Huan and the Four Unlike sat cross-legged on the clouds, drifting leisurely towards the South Sea.
"What kind of cultivation do you practice, you Four Unlike?"
Qing Huan asked, his voice piercing through the wind.
"Reporting to the teacher."
The Four Unlike creature stood upright, its eyes clear yet unable to conceal its nervousness.
"This disciple is naturally drawn to the Great Dao of Fire, therefore I will focus on cultivating the Fire Element Laws."
"The Way of Fire... I have some knowledge of it."
Qing Huan nodded slightly.
"When we return to Yingzhou, I will expound this doctrine to you."
After he finished speaking, a strange flame, seemingly weak yet containing the power to scorch the heavens and boil the seas, leaped into his palm.
The flame was neither gold nor red, but possessed an indescribable aura of purity and Destruction, with a sense of law and runes seemingly destroying at its core.
Gazing at that wisp of flame, the Qilin Four Unlike terrified!
The essence of this flame is a thousand times more profound and domineering than the Innate Qilin Sacred Flame that Uncle Fire Qilin is so proud of!
"Teacher, could this... be one of the Ten Great Innate Divine Fires?"
The Four Unlike slipped out of his mouth, his voice trembling with disbelief.
"No."
Qing Huan tapped her fingertips lightly.
"This is something I came to understand by chance, so let's call it 'Innate Divine Li Fire' for now."
As soon as he finished speaking, the wisp of flame containing the essence of supreme fire transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the Four Unlike.
Buzz--!
A vast, pure, and seemingly primordial fire law essence, originating from the very beginning of Chaos Creation, instantly exploded within the Four Unlike's consciousness!
Not only did it deepen his understanding of the Great Dao of Fire, but a primal force also quietly cleansed his limbs and bones, causing his blood to throb faintly, and his aptitude to improve accordingly!
Overwhelmed with indescribable emotion and ecstasy, he bowed deeply once more.
"Disciple... kowtows to thank Master for bestowing upon me the great grace of teaching!" At this moment, he was absolutely certain that becoming a disciple was the greatest Creation of his life!
"Um?"
Qing Huan's gaze suddenly turned downwards, piercing through layers of clouds and landing deep within a rugged and strange stone forest.
"Innate Grand Formation is hidden here? If I hadn't already reached the Quasi-Sage and hadn't impulsively tried to deduce it for a moment, I would have almost missed it."
A strange light flashed in Qing Huan's eyes.
"Without any divine guidance, nor any connection of the heart... it seems our fate is truly shallow. However,"
A slight smile curved his lips. "Since it has caught my eye, then it is my destiny."