Returning to Kunlun, Subduing the Qilin

After bidding farewell to Candle Dragon, who promised a generous reward in the future, Di Jiang left the East Sea. The frustration of returning empty-handed was quickly replaced by a more pressing thought.

Di Jiang stood in the clouds, gazing down at the vast land, his mind racing.

"The Dragon Clan is out for now. The only ones left with substantial backing are the reclusive Qilin and Phoenix clans."

As this thought arose, Di Jiang immediately recalled a special region he had vaguely sensed with his divine sense while passing by Kunlun Mountain – Qilin Cliff! Surrounded by pure energy and carrying a dense, peaceful aura of the earth, it was undoubtedly the Qilin clan's secluded home!

"Going to the Qilin clan isn't just about begging for Spiritual Treasures, but more importantly, for the Earthly Fortune!"

He remembered the saying from his past life, "Sky Demons, Earth Witches." In this epoch, the Witch Clan governed the land and should be suppressing the Earthly Fortune! However, during the ancient Dragon-Phoenix tribulation, it was the Qilin clan that held dominion over the land and suppressed the Earthly Fortune!

Although the Qilin clan's strength is now less than one percent of what it was, and they have long lost the qualification and ability to suppress the Earthly Fortune, forcing them into seclusion, the source of their prestige and the favor of fortune, stemming from the beginning of creation and symbolizing the "orthodox lineage of the earth," still remained with the Qilin clan, not completely dissipated. As long as the Qilin clan rises again, the Earthly Fortune will return to them!

And Di Jiang had previously guided Candle Dragon to unite the myriad races and establish the Demon Clan. If successful, the Demon Clan's fortune would be boundless.

"If Candle Dragon, that old fox, persuades or forcibly subdues the Qilin clan! And if the Qilin clan, with their residual Earthly Fortune prestige, joins the Demon Clan, it would mean the Qilin clan could rise with the Demon Clan's fortune. The authority over the Earthly Fortune that rightfully belongs to our Witch Clan's Mount Buzhou lineage would then flow to the Demon Clan! This diminishing of ours and their growth would have endless future troubles!"

This potential threat made Di Jiang instantly vigilant. He would never allow what rightfully belonged to the Witch Clan to be taken by future rivals!

"I must seize this opportunity while the Three Pure Ones are away from Kunlun and the Qilin clan is weak, and be the first to sever the residual Earthly Fortune prestige and fortune's favor from the Qilin clan, transferring it to myself!"

This thought flashed through his mind like lightning, giving Di Jiang a new goal and a sense of urgency. Spiritual Treasures were important, but the authority over the Earthly Fortune, which concerned his fundamental fortune, was even more crucial!

"There's no time to delay! I must settle this before Candle Dragon contacts the Qilin clan!"

Di Jiang transformed into a golden light that tore through space, accelerating towards Kunlun Mountain even faster than before!

Having learned from the dragon palace trip, Di Jiang was no longer hesitant. His goal was clear – subdue the Qilin clan and sever the future trouble of the Earthly Fortune! This once dominant race in the Primordial World, even in its weakened state, possessed influence and residual authority that could not be underestimated. If they joined the future Demon Clan, they would surely become a major threat.

With a flicker of his form, Di Jiang arrived deep within Kunlun Mountain, outside Qilin Cliff, shrouded in auspicious clouds and radiating a dense, peaceful earthly aura.

This cliff was not merely a blessed land, but a small world created by the ancient overlord, the First Qilin, before his demise, using his supreme divine abilities and origin as the Qilin clan's final pure land for seclusion.

This small world was perfectly integrated with the main body of Qilin Cliff, incredibly sturdy, with its own self-contained laws. Even with his Primordial Golden Immortal cultivation, forcefully breaking through would require considerable effort and create too much commotion, easily alerting others.

"Courtesy before force," Di Jiang instantly decided on his strategy.

Di Jiang stood outside Qilin Cliff, not releasing his oppressive aura, and spoke loudly!

"The Lord of Mount Buzhou, Di Jiang, has come to visit the Qilin clan. I request an audience!"

Di Jiang deliberately mentioned Mount Buzhou. He believed that for the Qilin clan, Mount Buzhou held extraordinary significance! It was Pangu's spine, the center of the Primordial World, and a symbol of their ancient glory and former ancestral land! This identity alone was enough to garner the highest level of attention from the Qilin clan.

Indeed! Not long after Di Jiang's voice faded, ripples appeared in the space outside Qilin Cliff, and the sturdy barrier of the small world voluntarily opened a portal.

Immediately, a surge of fiery, pure, auspicious blood energy erupted from within. A burly middle-aged man with a resolute face, clad in crimson immortal robes and surrounded by phantom flames, strode out, accompanied by a group of Qilin tribesmen of varying strengths.

The crimson-robed man at the forefront was a mid-stage Golden Immortal, the undisputed strongest of the current Qilin clan and their current patriarch – Fire Qilin! However, the others were Grand Unity Golden Immortals, indicating that the Qilin clan now only had one Golden Immortal!

Upon emerging, Fire Qilin's gaze immediately locked onto Di Jiang. Although he couldn't discern Di Jiang's exact cultivation, the unfathomable Dao rhythm that seemed to blend with the surrounding heavens and earth, and the faint aura of Mount Buzhou emanating from Di Jiang that made his bloodline tremble with a sense of familiarity, filled him with awe!

Fire Qilin dared not show any disrespect. He stepped forward and solemnly clasped his hands in greeting to Di Jiang:

"The current patriarch of the Qilin clan, Huoyun, along with the elders, welcomes the Lord of Mount Buzhou! Your presence brings glory to our Qilin Cliff!"

He directly used the honorific "senior," adopting an extremely humble stance. This was not only because of Di Jiang's unfathomable cultivation but also because the title "Lord of Mount Buzhou" held special significance for the Qilin clan.

Seeing Huoyun's tactfulness, Di Jiang was pleased and nodded slightly. "Patriarch Fire Qilin, there is no need for such formality. I have come today on important business to discuss with your clan."

"Please, senior!"

Huoyun stepped aside, respectfully ushering Di Jiang into the final sanctuary of the Qilin clan – the small world of Qilin Cliff, formed from the body of the First Qilin.

Stepping into the small world of Qilin Cliff, the internal spiritual energy was abundant, auspicious light shone everywhere, exotic flowers and strange plants covered the ground, and numerous young Qilin auspicious beasts frolicked among them, creating a scene of peace. However, it couldn't hide the overall sense of seclusion and twilight that permeated the place.

Di Jiang had no interest in admiring the scenery of this small world, nor did he intend to engage in pointless pleasantries. After taking his seat with Huoyun in the main hall and being served spiritual fruits and immortal wine by the attending Qilin tribesmen, Di Jiang got straight to the point, his gaze calm yet carrying an undeniable authority as he looked at Huoyun:

"Patriarch Huoyun, my time is precious, so I will be direct. I can use my divine abilities to move your Qilin Cliff and the entire small world back to Mount Buzhou, allowing your Qilin clan to return to your ancestral land and be under my protection, free from all external disturbances and potential threats."

"However, in exchange – the Qilin clan must hand over the Earthly Fortune you control!"

This statement was like a thunderclap! The Qilin elders standing by were instantly shocked. The Earthly Fortune, the symbol of the Qilin clan's past glory and their last lingering obsession!

However, as the patriarch, Huoyun, though inwardly shaken, did not show much panic. After all, he had experienced the ancient tribulation and survived the mountains of corpses and seas of blood – he was a seasoned Golden Immortal!

His knowledge and temperament far surpassed ordinary beings. The Qilin clan was now weak, and this residual Earthly Fortune prestige was like a child carrying gold through a busy market, bound to attract covetous eyes sooner or later. He just hadn't expected the first visitor to be such a powerful Lord of Mount Buzhou.

Huoyun remained silent for a moment, his mind rapidly weighing the options. Di Jiang's proposal, though seemingly domineering, also offered the Qilin clan a way out. Returning to Mount Buzhou was also a deep desire of the Qilin clan, their homeland after all!

And being under his protection would indeed greatly alleviate the Qilin clan's current survival pressure, at least freeing them from the constant worry of being annexed or purged by other forces.

As for this Earthly Fortune, they certainly couldn't hold onto it. Rather than having it forcibly taken by a potentially more ruthless opponent in the future, it was better to do a favor now and exchange it for a relatively stable place to reside and a powerful backer.

"You see clearly, senior!" Huoyun rose and clasped his hands, speaking unhurriedly!

"The current state of my Qilin clan truly no longer has the fortune to bear the weight of this Earthly Fortune. Your willingness to exchange protection for the Earthly Fortune is already a great kindness to my clan."

"However, the source of this Earthly Fortune is not an intangible thing. In the past, His Majesty the First Qilin refined the authority of the Primordial World's Earthly Fortune into our clan's supreme treasure – the Qilin Seal. This seal is the vessel of the Earthly Fortune."

As he spoke these words, Huoyun's heart bled. The Qilin Seal was a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure! It was also a clan-protecting treasure re-forged by the First Qilin with his own fortune and divine abilities, possessing infinite power and extraordinary significance! To hand it over now, how could he not feel pain?

But he looked up into Di Jiang's unfathomable eyes, felt the heavy pressure emanating from him like Mount Buzhou, and recalled the various rumors about the mysterious power of this Lord of Mount Buzhou in the Primordial World!

He knew he had no room to bargain. Offending this one would likely mean the Qilin clan couldn't even keep their last refuge.

Alas, no matter how good a treasure is, one needs to be alive to enjoy it. To gain the protection of such a powerful being in exchange for the continuation of my clan, it might not be a bad thing! Fire Qilin lamented inwardly, finally making up his mind.

Huoyun bowed deeply to Di Jiang. "Since Senior needs it, my Qilin clan is willing to offer the Qilin Seal, and we only ask that Senior uphold your promise and protect our Qilin clan!"

As he spoke, a flash of light appeared in Fire Qilin's hand, and an ancient, heavy seal, radiating immense earthly energy and auspicious light, slowly materialized. The seal depicted a Qilin coiled upon it, covered in Dao patterns. This was none other than the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure that carried a portion of the Primordial World's Earthly Fortune—the Qilin Seal!

Di Jiang looked at the seal, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly; this Fire Qilin was quite sensible.

"Good!" Di Jiang took the Qilin Seal, feeling the vast power of the earth veins within it and that unique authority over fortune. He nodded.

"My word is my bond. I will cast the spell immediately to help you all return to Mount Buzhou!"

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