Reason!

No one could listen to Shi Yi's inner thoughts.

Just as there was nowhere to voice the bitterness in his heart.

Shi Yi was not Shi Hao, able to find joy amid suffering. Nor was he the original Shi Yi. He was Shi Yi from the Azure Blue Planet—same name and surname, yet not the same person.

In his previous life, he had died in a brutal nuclear war.

In this life, he had reincarnated as someone with the same name and surname.

Before the age of six, he had enjoyed every luxury and honor.

After turning six, he awakened the memories of his previous life.

Perhaps the two of them had originally been the same person—the same person in different spacetime, different parallel histories, parallel universes, and parallel worlds.

Otherwise, how could Shi Yi, an Innate Saint with Double Pupils, have his identity and name taken over by an outsider? The only one who could kill him was himself.

The next day.

Stone Village, beneath the Willow Tree.

After sending Aunt Hu's daughter, Hu Niu, away, Shi Yi came alone beneath the Willow Deity's true body, the Willow Tree.

He had no particular strengths. His only virtue was probably having no shame. Whenever something came up—or even when nothing did—he would get close to a powerful backer, cultivate their relationship, and chat about everyday matters.

Something strange happened today. Before Shi Yi could even speak, the Willow Deity took the initiative to speak to him. It felt rather like pursuing a girl for a thousand days and finally moving the goddess.

That was not to say Shi Yi was a simp.

Though his actions did resemble one somewhat, his core principles were entirely different. He would not abandon an entire forest for the sake of one Willow Deity.

"Shi Yi, do you know why your Qilin Treasure Technique is incomplete?"

The Willow Deity's voice was calm, carrying a trace of gentleness. That gentleness was not for Shi Yi; she was merely in a good mood today, so her tone held a touch of warmth.

Not long ago.

The Willow Deity had sensed her vitality slowly reviving. Yet without the right opportunity, she had remained half-dead. Today, the vitality of her true body had finally been completely restored.

Unceasing Growth.

It was her special ability, and also the crucial reason she had survived after being betrayed by her own people. Unceasing Growth had preserved the final sliver of her source vitality.

From this day onward, her strength would recover at a geometric rate. Given enough time, it would not be impossible for her to return to the Immortal King Realm.

Of course.

Even if her strength recovered at a geometric rate every day, it would still take no less than a hundred thousand years.

Unless she entered the Original Gate and went to the Boundary Sea in search of opportunities, only then might she recover to the Immortal King Realm within ten thousand years.

What was the Immortal King Realm?

A single drop of blood could remain undying for several eras. With a flick of a finger, they could destroy an entire realm. They could conceal the secrets of heaven themselves, and merely speaking their True Name would alert them.

Unless they were continuously worn away by power of the same level or higher, these Immortal Kings were destined to live forever, their bodies imperishable and their souls indestructible.

What was the Original Gate?

The Original Gate was a gateway born alongside Chaos before heaven and earth were created. It led to the Boundary Sea, which was formed from countless great worlds and vast universes.

Within the Boundary Sea lay countless opportunities. Even experts at the level of Immortal Kings flocked there, though no one knew what darkness lay hidden at its end.

What was the Boundary Sea?

In different worlds and universes, it had different names.

The Endless Chaos Sea, the Infinite Multiverse—here, it was called the Boundary Sea.

"Because the Qilin True Blood used during my baptism was incomplete?"

Shi Yi scratched his head. He did not understand why his Qilin Treasure Technique was incomplete. During his baptism, he had thought it was because the True Blood was incomplete.

"No. Your Qilin Treasure Technique is incomplete because your Double Pupils only saw the Kirin Steps, not because the Qilin True Blood was incomplete. It is because that Flame Kirin's bloodline was impure."

"A true Qilin is one of the Ten Ferocious. Shi Yi, above pure bloodlines are the ancient ones, and above them are the Ten Ferocious. Every race among the Ten Ferocious possesses the power to destroy heaven and earth upon reaching adulthood."

The Willow Deity's words greatly broadened Shi Yi's horizons. For the first time, he understood the true hierarchy of ferocious beasts—things that the people of the Eight Regions of the Lower Realm could never know.

In the Great Wilderness, ferocious beasts were divided into Prehistoric Ferocious Beasts, Desolate Variants, Ancient Descendants, and Pure-Blooded Ferocious Beasts. The ranks were distinct; even a cub of the latter could crush the former.

But in the Upper Realm, above the bloodlines of Pure-Blooded Ferocious Beasts were ancient ferocious beasts, and above them were the pure-blooded Ten Ferocious. Each step was a whole new heaven, and the shackles of bloodlines were an uncrossable chasm.

Ancient ferocious beasts and Ancient Descendants were essentially the same.

Both were mixed-blood descendants of pure-blooded Ten Ferocious and Pure-Blooded Ferocious Beasts.

Simply put.

Pure-blooded Ten Ferocious were above ancient ferocious beasts, the latter being mixed-blood descendants of the former.

Pure-Blooded Ferocious Beasts were above Ancient Descendants, the latter being mixed-blood descendants of the former.

Desolate Variants were above Prehistoric Ferocious Beasts, the latter being mixed-blood descendants of the former.

It was worth noting.

Pure-blooded Ten Ferocious, Pure-Blooded Ferocious Beasts, and Desolate Variants.

There was no bloodline connection whatsoever between the three.

In other words.

A Prehistoric Ferocious Beast could never advance all the way into a pure-blooded Ten Ferocious. At most, its bloodline could awaken and turn it into a Desolate Variant. Naturally, an Ancient Descendant could never become a pure-blooded Ten Ferocious either.

This world had no tale of a carp leaping through the dragon gate. The strong were strong, and the weak were weak. As an ant, one was destined to remain an insignificant ant for life.

As for that woman from Later Generations who defied heaven with the body of a mortal.

Throughout all ages, there had only ever been one like her.

"Willow Deity, I understand. That Flame Kirin was no ordinary Pure-Blooded Lifeform. It was an ancient ferocious beast, a mixed-blood descendant of the pure-blooded Ten Ferocious. But in the memories within its True Blood, it believed it possessed the complete Qilin Treasure Technique!" Shi Yi asked in confusion.

"Shi Yi, have you considered that it may not have known what the complete Qilin Treasure Technique looked like either? It believed the Qilin Treasure Technique it inherited was complete. In the memories within its True Blood, did you ever see it use any Qilin Treasure Technique other than the Kirin Steps?" The Willow Deity's voice remained calm and unruffled.

"I did not."

Shi Yi shook his head. Three years ago, during the Flame Kirin True Blood Baptism, he had indeed not seen it use any Treasure Technique other than the Kirin Steps in the memories from before its death.

"The complete Qilin Treasure Technique consists of four techniques combined as one: the Kirin Steps, Qilin Fist, Qilin Foot, and Qilin Markings. What you possess is merely the incomplete Kirin Steps," the Willow Deity said.

"Willow Deity, you understand the Qilin Treasure Technique?" Shi Yi asked.

"The Ten Ferocious Precious Techniques? I know a little," the Willow Deity said blandly.

"Willow Deity, forget the other Ten Ferocious Precious Techniques. Could you tell me a little about the Qilin Treasure Technique?" Shi Yi's eyes were full of anticipation.

No one knew.

He had a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although the Kirin Steps, one-quarter of the Qilin Treasure Technique, were already powerful, the incomplete Qilin Treasure Technique always left an indescribable regret in his heart.

At this question.

The Willow Deity fell silent for a while. Just as Shi Yi began to feel disappointed, her voice rang out in his mind once more, briefly explaining the Qilin Treasure Technique to him.

"The Kirin Steps, also known as the Kirin Nine Steps. Each step rises to another heaven. With nine steps, one can crush the entire Great Wilderness. But with your current strength, taking two steps is already your limit."

"The Qilin Fist. A single Qilin punch can send blood energy surging into the heavens and turn heaven and earth upside down. Even the force of the punch can tear apart the Azure Sky."

"The Qilin Foot. With one Qilin step, one can travel ten thousand miles in an instant, leaving neither shadow nor trace. If one is determined to flee, no one can catch them."

"The Qilin Markings. Covered in Qilin markings, one becomes indestructible and immune to all techniques, born into an invincible position."

"Shi Yi, you cannot expect me to teach you the complete Qilin Treasure Technique. I can only give you a rough explanation. You can only obtain the complete Qilin Treasure Technique from a pure-blooded Qilin of the Ten Ferocious."

At this point.

Noticing the eager look in Shi Yi's eyes, the Willow Deity continued, "Shi Yi, there is no need to ask me where you can find a pure-blooded Qilin of the Ten Ferocious. If you are fated, you will naturally encounter a true pure-blooded Qilin of the Ten Ferocious in the future."

If he had the fate, he would have the chance to meet one.

If he did not, then he would never meet one!

Since the Willow Deity had put it that way, Shi Yi could not keep pressing her or forcefully question her. If he did, he would not be building their relationship—he would simply be making himself annoying.

"Willow Deity, could you briefly restore your humanoid Law Body?" Shi Yi changed the subject.

"Reason!" The Willow Deity was as sparing with words as ever.

"Willow Deity, you have treated me so well. You taught me to cultivate the Original True Understanding and explained the secrets of the Upper Realm to me. This junior, Shi Yi, is not someone who does not know gratitude. I have always wanted to find a chance to properly thank you."

Shi Yi felt no embarrassment as he bowed deeply to the Willow Deity, as though they were performing a husband-and-wife bow in advance.

"It is enough that you have such intentions."

This time, a trace of gentleness entered the Willow Deity's voice, and that gentleness belonged to Shi Yi alone.

As she had said.

She needed no one's offerings or gratitude. The tributes Stone Village offered year after year held no value to her, but she was satisfied that they had such intentions.

Shi Yi was the same. Helping him grow, teaching him to cultivate the Original True Understanding, and telling him the secrets of the Upper Realm were merely because she found him interesting and not annoying.