Mutual Reference, Life and Death as One

Although First Kirin wanted Four-Unlike to make a clean and righteous break from the Kirin Clan, Four-Unlike had no intention of following First Kirin's wishes.

He was the Young Qilin Lord of the Kirin Clan. It was only right that he shoulder the Kirin Clan's future.

This was his pride!

Watching this scene, Xuan Yin did not know how to speak. A father planned for his son, while a son plotted for his father. If word got out, it would be considered a fine tale.

But reality was this cruel. Though Four-Unlike possessed the cultivation of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, he had no ability to shake off the Karma accumulated by the Kirin Clan!

Anyone could speak pretty words, but putting one's words into practice was no easy matter.

After some thought, Xuan Yin took a Kirin Horn radiating the true intent of mystic yellow from his sleeve. It had flown out of Kirin Cliff when he merged Kirin Cliff into the Qilin Blessed Land. Its material was extraordinary; if more Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were added during refinement, it might even be forged into a Top-grade Houtian Spiritual Treasure!

His reason for seeking out Duobao Daoist this time was also to consult him on the art of refining treasures.

However, seeing Four-Unlike's expression, Xuan Yin still took the initiative to say, "This Kirin Horn is the only part of Senior First Kirin that was not assimilated by heaven and earth. Fellow Daoist, you may keep it as a memento."

"There is no need."

Four-Unlike shook his head. "This was a transaction between you and Imperial Father. Since Fellow Daoist has earned a Sage's favor and was even able to sign a Heavenly Dao Divine Contract with Imperial Father, you must be one blessed by great fortune. I am merely somewhat disappointed."

Though burdened by karmic force, Four-Unlike had never complained. He simply felt that First Kirin did not believe he could support the Kirin Clan, that he, the Young Qilin Lord, had never been acknowledged by him.

He took out a Jade Talisman and placed it in Xuan Yin's hand. "This is my token. If Fellow Daoist has need of anything, you may contact me through this Jade Talisman."

With that, he left without looking back.

He had stopped Xuan Yin not to cause trouble, but merely to resolve the doubts in his heart!

Xuan Yin did not dwell on it. Putting away the Kirin Horn and Jade Talisman, he transformed into a streak of azure Rainbow Light and fled toward Duobao Daoist's Cave Abode.

After leaving, Four-Unlike went straight to Primordial Heavenly Venerate. "Greetings, Sage. Four-Unlike wishes to return to the Kirin Clan. I fear I will no longer be able to serve the Sage in the future. I ask the Sage to grant permission!"

"Granted!"

Primordial Heavenly Venerate did not refuse. Endless karma flickered through his eyes. "The heavens move according to constancy, yet some changes are also a good thing for the Primordial World!"

In the eyes of a Sage, Four-Unlike's fate was laid bare within the River of Time and Space. Yet now, with Four-Unlike deciding to return to the Kirin Clan Ancestral Land, his originally predetermined fate had undergone a slight change.

A large jet-black seal appeared in his hand. Solemn and ancient, it surged with Innate Undying Spiritual Light. It was unmistakably the Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Qilin Seal!

"This Qilin Seal was the treasure your father voluntarily offered me when he asked me to protect you! Now that you wish to return to the Kirin Clan, it would not be appropriate for me to continue holding it!"

"From this day forth, you are no longer my mount. Outside, you may call yourself an outer disciple of the Exposition Sect!"

"Go!"

As the spiritual treasure First Kirin had once used to suppress the fortune of the Beast Lineage, the Qilin Seal was naturally extraordinary. It contained forty-eight Innate Restrictions and could be considered among the finest spiritual treasures beneath an Innate Supreme Treasure!

Yet in a Sage's eyes, a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure merely had some value!

The core philosophy of the Exposition Sect was to expound the profound principles of the Heavenly Dao. Since the ordained course of fate had changed, Primordial Heavenly Venerate naturally did not mind investigating it.

He also wanted to see what Four-Unlike before him would become in the future.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Four-Unlike was overjoyed. He had thought his actions would anger the Sage, yet not only did the Sage not blame him, he even bestowed the Qilin Seal upon him and accepted him as a Registered Disciple of the Exposition Sect.

An immortal light descended from the Nine Heavens. In less than a moment, more than half the shackles of karmic force around Four-Unlike's body were severed.

As the immortal light descended, Four-Unlike's original beast form transformed into an Innate Dao Body, while a wisp of Jade Purity Immortal Light circulated within the auspicious cloud above his head.

Every movement of a Sage accorded with Heaven's Will, and his actions were naturally extraordinary. Primordial Heavenly Venerate might not be able to retrieve First Kirin's True Spirit from the depths of the Heavenly Dao's origin, but paying some price to sever part of Four-Unlike's shackles of karmic force was effortless!

"This disciple thanks Teacher!"

Seeing this, Four-Unlike's expression grew even more respectful as he once again kowtowed to the Sage.

This time, however, the Sage did not respond. With only a slight raise of his hand, Four-Unlike was transported to the white jade plaza outside Jade Void Palace.

After sending Four-Unlike away, Primordial Heavenly Venerate's gaze settled upon Upper Clarity Peak. "Though a trace of change is surprising, it cannot escape the Heavenly Dao's restraints. The Great Dao is fifty; heaven derives forty-nine, with one escaping. Can one truly seize that sliver of life?"

The way of the Exposition Sect lay in expounding the Four-Nine Heavenly Dao, using one's own heart in place of heaven's heart. The way of the Jie Sect lay in education for all and seizing that sliver of life. Perhaps to the short-sighted, the two were irreconcilable as fire and water, yet like yin and yang between heaven and earth, while opposing one another, they also served as points of reference that reflected each other's Dao.

Without understanding the Four-Nine Heavenly Dao, how could one speak of seizing that sliver of life? Without comprehending the profundity of that sliver of life, how could one use one's own heart to replace heaven's original heart?

Thus, although the ways of the two Sages were entirely different, they were Dao companions to one another. That was why, before the beginning of the void, they had forged the karma of the Three Pure Ones as one!

Meanwhile, Xuan Yin was consulting Duobao Daoist about treasure refinement and lightning techniques. He did not yet know that his unintentional actions had caused the originally surging Great Trend of the Heavenly Dao to deviate slightly, nor did he know that the Sage of the Exposition Sect had cast a gaze upon him.

"Martial Brother truly has fine fortune!"

Though they had not met for over a thousand years and Xuan Yin was still only at the Heavenly Immortal realm, Duobao Daoist could see that a qualitative change had already occurred in his Dao Fruit.

Then he looked at the Kirin Horn Xuan Yin had brought out and smiled. "Though I have only a rudimentary grasp of treasure refinement, I can currently refine no more than mid-grade Houtian Spiritual Treasures. This Kirin Horn of yours is made of extraordinary material and naturally contains Dao rhythm. If you wish to refine it into a Magic Treasure, it would be best to ask Teacher to act!"

Though he said this, he did not withhold anything in response to Xuan Yin's questions. He even personally took out some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures from his collection that were suitable for refining treasures, demonstrating the methods of refinement for Xuan Yin.

"Thank you, Martial Brother, for clearing up my doubts!"

Xuan Yin hurriedly bowed to him, then stepped forward to ask about lightning techniques.

After obtaining the Primordial Origin, Sect Master Tongtian had passed down a lightning divine ability to him—the Tai Xiao Divine Thunder!

After the previous preaching of the Dao, he had already gained an initial grasp of it, but he knew that he had yet to comprehend the mysteries of the Tai Xiao Divine Thunder.

Hearing this, Duobao Daoist immediately smiled. "Martial Brother, why not demonstrate it first?"

Rumble!

Xuan Yin did not hesitate. The Primordial Origin manifested, brewing an ultimate intent of destruction as he directly unleashed several bolts of Tai Xiao Divine Thunder powerful enough to shatter the void.

Seeing this, Duobao shook his head. "Lightning is the mechanism of heaven and earth, the authority of life and death. Though Martial Brother's lightning technique contains mighty heavenly majesty, it lacks a trace of vitality! You must know that life and death are originally one. If you cannot comprehend the vitality and creation contained within lightning techniques, you will naturally find it difficult to unleash the power of the Tai Xiao Divine Thunder!"

As he spoke, Duobao Daoist moved his thoughts, unleashing a Divine Firmament Lightning Technique. The intent of life and death revolved, unexpectedly evolving a trace of the mysteries of the Tai Xiao Divine Thunder.

When he had become a disciple, what he had obtained in Yu Yu Heaven was precisely the Divine Firmament Origin.

Divine Firmament was the highest among the Nine Heavens, supreme and most exalted, with the ability to command the Nine Heavens. It complemented Duobao Daoist's cultivated Dao perfectly.

"Yes!"

"Life and death are one!"

A sudden realization arose in Xuan Yin's heart. Solitary Yang Does Not Grow; Solitary Yin Does Not Grow. How could lightning techniques pursue only ultimate destruction?