Golden Mane Kirin

After collecting all five Emperor Formation Fragment, Ren Xiaoyao did not immediately head to the Boundary Sealing Gate. He knew that with his current cultivation at the late-stage Earth Immortal realm, even with the aid of the complete Emperor Array, he would still struggle against Late Heavenly Immortal Demon General and the massive Demon Realm army. As the Emperor Array circulated within his dantian, it faintly pointed to an unknown Secret Realm — the Creation Secret Realm, where, according to legend, High Antiquity treasures capable of helping people break through realms were hidden.

Riding the Undying Phoenix and Purple Lightning lightning eastward, the closer they got to the Creation Secret Realm, the purer the Spiritual Qi of the world became. Unlike the Mistveil Secret Realm, the Spiritual Qi here carried a gentle vitality, and the vegetation along the way was lush and verdant, with exotic flowers Rare Flowers and Exotic Herbs emitting a refreshing fragrance. The Secret Realm Entrance was hidden atop a mountain shrouded in clouds and mist, with Seven-Colored Rosy Clouds floating above the entrance. Ancient runes flowed within the light, subtly resonating with the Emperor Array within their dantian.

This is a glorious land.

It is full of miracles.

An unparalleled mystery.

"This is the Creation Secret Realm." Ren Xiaoyao landed with a somersault. The moment his feet touched the ground, he felt a warm, moist Spiritual Qi surge into his body from the earth, flowing through his meridians and instantly easing his tense nerves, invigorating his spirit. Purple Lightning and the Undying Phoenix followed closely behind. Purple Lightning lowered its head and sniffed the grass on the ground. The Spiritual Qi on the grass made it let out a joyful dragon roar, and the breath it exhaled from its dragon nostrils made the surrounding flowers and grasses sway gently. The Undying Phoenix flapped its wings, and the crimson -Golden Flame intertwined with the surrounding Spiritual Qi, emitting a faint halo. Wherever the halo passed, withered flowers bloomed again. As soon as they stepped into the Secret Realm, a Spiritual Qi so dense that it was almost impenetrable rushed towards them like a tide. The Spiritual Qi energy contained wisps of the Power of Creation, which wrapped around them like a tangible substance. Inhaling it made the Emperor Power in their dantian slightly agitated, and their meridians relaxed. Even the minor damage left by the previous battle was slowly repaired. Inside the Secret Realm... It was a scene of ethereal beauty: Sky-Piercing Ancient Tree blocked out the sun, their trunks so thick that several people would need to encircle them. Glowing vines twined around the trunks, adorned with star-like Flower Buds Flower Buds occasionally burst open, releasing a refreshing fragrance imbued with invigorating spiritual energy. A clear stream flowed gently, its waters crystal clear, its bottom covered with colorful pebbles. Spiritual Spirit Fish, shimmering with light, floated in the stream, Spirit Fish transparent bodies leaving trails as they swam. Colorful watermarks touched the rocks on the shore, where emerald moss sprouted. In the distance, mountain peaks were shrouded in mist, which flowed like a veil. Occasionally, Immortal Crane would fly out from the mist, emitting clear cries. Atop the mountain, a Glass Palace could be vaguely seen, constructed of seven-colored Glazed Ice that refracted brilliant light under the sun. Within the light lay a faint Daoist aura, and the aura of a supreme treasure emanated continuously from the palace, drawing living beings closer.

As they journeyed, agile Spiritual Beasts darted out from the forest from time to time—there were palm-sized Spirit Fox covered in snow-white fur, with bushy tails and eyes that shone like rubies; there were Spirit Butterflies with wings that shimmered with iridescent colors, scattering specks of spiritual light as they fluttered; and there were short, round Treasure Seeking Mouse, their noses constantly twitching, filled with curiosity about the Emperor Formation Fragment at Ren Xiaoyao's waist. They were entirely white, their eyes sparkling with a pure, innocent intelligence. Seeing that Ren Xiaoyao and his companions did not attack, but instead curiously gathered around, the Spirit Fox using their fur... A fluffy tail gently brushed against his trouser leg, Spirit Butterflies perched on his shoulder fluttering its wings, and Treasure Seeking Mouse circled around Purple Lightning's claws. Ren Xiaoyao circulated his Emperor Power, emanating a gentle aura. Sensing this goodwill, the Spiritual Beasts grew even closer. Spirit Fox ran ahead to lead the way, occasionally looking back; a swarm of Spirit Butterflies formed a colorful path in the air; and the Treasure Seeking Mouse used its sharp claws to clear away the weeds blocking their way. Guided by them, the three of them made their way smoothly and soon arrived at the Glass Palace. Only then did the Spiritual Beasts reluctantly stop and watch them walk towards the palace.

The palace gates were tightly shut, their surfaces carved with patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers, each imbued with profound Daoist principles. Touching the gate with one's fingertips, one could feel a faint pulse of spiritual energy flowing beneath the runes. Ren Xiaoyao attempted to infuse the gate with his Emperor Power; the moment the Emperor Power touched it, the patterns on the gate seemed to come alive, instantly lighting up. Golden light flowed along the lines, and the gate creaked open with an ancient sound, as if a colossal beast slumbering for millennia was awakening. The palace interior was spacious and solemn, the floor paved with polished white jade, its surface reflecting the Glassy Light of the dome. The walls were inlaid with luminous crystals, which emitted a soft glow, illuminating... The entire palace was illuminated; a faint Sandalwood Incense filled the air, mingled with the Spiritual Qi emanating from the Seven-Colored Creation Pearl. Floating on the central platform was a fist-sized pearl, its entire body a seven-colored jewel, its surface shimmering with a soft light containing a rich Power of Creation — the Seven-Colored Creation Pearl, a Creation Treasure! But at that moment, the temperature within the palace plummeted, the Spiritual Qi in the air began to stir slightly, and faint golden patterns appeared on the white jade ground, converging towards the platform. A subtle, majestic aura slowly rose from the ground, alerting both Purple Lightning and the Undying Phoenix. Lightning crackled around Purple Lightning, and flames flickered at the tips of the Undying Phoenix's wings.

Just as Ren Xiaoyao was about to step forward to retrieve the pearl, the palace floor suddenly trembled violently. With a deafening roar, a golden crack appeared in the ground below the platform, and a dazzling golden light shot out from it. The light, imbued with the oppressive aura of Ancient Divine Beast, instantly filled the entire palace. Ren Xiaoyao felt a tightness in his chest, his breathing becoming labored. Purple Lightning and the Undying Phoenix involuntarily took a half-step back, their eyes filled with solemnity. The golden light gradually coalesced into a massive Guardian Beast —resembling Qilin, over three zhang long, its body covered in layers of golden scales. Its body shimmered with Glazed Ice, spiritual light, each scale like a meticulously crafted magical Law Treasure, radiating an aura of indestructibility; atop its head grew a pair of crystal-clear horns, entwined with golden cloud patterns, flowing with pure spiritual power; its golden eyes were like two small suns, their gaze carrying an awe-inspiring majesty and an inviolable vigilance—it was none other than the High Antiquity Guardian Beast — the Golden Mane Kirin! The moment it appeared, it exuded a terrifying pressure of Mid-stage Heavenly Immortal, the pressure pressing down on Ren Xiaoyao and his companions as if it were a tangible force. The crystals within the palace trembled slightly under the pressure, and fine cracks appeared on the white jade on the ground.

"Human, halt! This is Creation Treasure, not to be taken by anyone but the destined one!" The Golden Mane Kirin- haired Qilin spoke in human language, its voice carrying an undeniable authority. Ren Xiaoyao cupped his hands and said, "Junior Ren Xiaoyao, in order to resist the Demon Realm army, I need to break through my cultivation level. I humbly request your permission, senior!" A hint of disdain flashed in the Golden Mane Kirin's eyes. "With your cultivation at the late stage of Earth Immortal, you think you can take the Creation Pearl? You'll have to get past me first!"

As soon as the words fell, the Golden Mane Kirin stomped the ground, its golden hooves slamming into the earth with immense force. With a deafening roar, the palace floor trembled violently, and the white jade tiles cracked open with fine lines. Countless golden rays of light burst forth from the earth, condensing in mid-air into three-foot-long, sharp spiritual spikes. The spikes were covered with fine runes, resembling a dense forest of shimmering golden swords, swarming towards Ren Xiaoyao and sealing off all his escape routes. Ren Xiaoyao used the Cloud Treading Steps to their Movement Method, his figure weaving through the spikes like a ghost. When his toes touched the tips of the spikes, they trembled slightly, leaving behind trails of... At the same time, he shouted to Purple Lightning and the Undying Phoenix, "Help me hold them back!" Purple Lightning raised its head and let out a dragon's roar that shook the palace, spewing out a bolt of purple lightning as thick as a bowl. The lightning coiled around the Golden Mane Kirin's limbs like a nimble snake, trying to restrict its movements. The Undying Phoenix flapped its wings, and countless crimson -Golden Flame feathers shot like sharp arrows towards the Golden Mane Kirin's eyes and horns—its relatively vulnerable parts. The three instantly engaged the Golden Mane Kirin in battle. Within the palace, spiritual light, lightning, and flames intertwined and collided, erupting in deafening roars. The sound waves made the crystals on the walls tremble.

The Golden Mane Kirin's strength far surpassed that of the previous Po Suo Demon General, reaching the Mid-stage Heavenly Immortal realm. Its golden scales possessed the defensive talents of Ancient Divine Beast. These scales, layered upon each other, resembled the finest armor, each shimmering with Glazed Ice light, its surface flowing with faint Defense Runes. Purple Lightning bolts, crackling with power, struck the scales, producing only a sizzling sound, leaving faint scorch marks that were quickly repaired by the scales' own spiritual light; the Undying Phoenix's crimson -Golden Flame... Its fur, sharp as a knife, could only leave shallow white marks on its scales before vanishing without a trace. Even more terrifying was the golden spiritual light it spewed from its mouth, containing pure destructive power that condensed into Light Spear several feet long. Each spear, accompanied by a whistling sound, shot towards Ren Xiaoyao like a meteor. The Light Spear struck the Emperor Power shield with deafening booms, causing the Emperor Mark on the shield's surface to flicker violently and even develop tiny cracks. The rate at Emperor Power was consumed accelerated dramatically. In the midst of the fierce battle, the Golden Mane Kirin suddenly swung its tail... Ba, its golden tail feathers lashed out at Ren Xiaoyao like a steel whip, the scales on the tail feathers standing on Sky-Rending Strike, accompanied by a sharp, tearing sound. Ren Xiaoyao swung his Carefree Sword to block, and the instant his sword collided with the tail feathers, a tremendous force traveled through the blade, forcing him back five steps. Five shallow footprints appeared on the white jade ground beneath his feet, his arm went numb, and a trace of blood even seeped from his tiger's mouth. Ripples spread across the sword, and his Emperor Power nearly dissipated. Seeing that conventional attacks were ineffective, the Golden Mane Kirin raised its head and let out a deafening roar, "Divine Ability!" " —Heaven and Earth Manifestation!" As soon as the words fell, its body rapidly expanded, instantly growing from three zhang long to over ten zhang, standing in the palace like a small mountain. The golden scales all over its body also grew larger, shimmering with even more dazzling spiritual light, and its pressure increased several times over, causing the entire palace to shake violently, and crystals on the walls to fall one after another. The enlarged Golden Mane Kirin raised its huge hoof and stomped down on Ren Xiaoyao with a world-destroying force. Before the hoof even landed, the pressure had already pressed a huge hoofprint into the ground.

Ren Xiaoyao's pupils contracted sharply. The Golden Mane Kirin, after its transformation into the Heaven and Earth Manifestation, became even more imposing. The moment its hooves landed, the surrounding air was compressed, creating an invisible pressure. He quickly dodged to the side, the hooves scraping against the hem of his clothes before striking the ground with a deafening crash, creating a crater several meters deep in the white jade floor, sending shards of stone flying. "This can't go on. The Qilin's defense is too strong, and it can still unleash Divine Ability divine powers. A prolonged battle will deplete my Emperor Power." Ren Xiaoyao's mind raced, his gaze fixed on the relatively sparse scales on the Golden Mane Kirin's chest. That area—its weak point in the flow of its energy. He abruptly took half a step back, his feet stomping on the ground in a mysterious footwork. His hands rapidly formed hand seals, Emperor Power flowing from his fingertips. The complete Emperor Array within his dantian operated wildly, and purple-gold Emperor Power erupted from every pore of his body like a volcanic eruption, forming a thick golden Light Cocoon on his surface. The cocoon shimmered Light Cocoon Emperor Mark, radiating immense pressure. "Purple Lightning, condense lightning into a blade! Senior Phoenix, gather flames into wings!" he shouted, his voice carrying the awe-inspiring Emperor's Might. Purple Lightning looked up upon hearing this. A dragon roar that shook the palace resounded, and lightning surged around it. Countless purple arcs of electricity converged into a lightning blade over ten feet long, crackling and containing Power of Destruction. The Undying Phoenix flapped its wings, and crimson -Golden Flame condensed into a pair of broad fiery wings, burning fiercely and radiating a scorching aura, before drifting behind Ren Xiaoyao. Ren Xiaoyao reached out and grasped the lightning blade. The fiery wings on his back suddenly unfolded, and the Emperor Power, lightning, and fire perfectly merged within him, forming a new power. His momentum surged to its peak in an instant, distorting the surrounding air. "Lightning Sword Fusion - Emperor Flame Break!" He stepped onto the Cloud Treading Steps, his figure transforming into a Tricolor Streamer, charging towards the Golden Mane Kirin's giant claw. The thunderous blade in his hand, imbued with Emperor Power and flames, slashed out a dazzling Sword-Ray over ten feet wide. The Sword-Ray contained the pressure of the Emperor Array and the life force of the Creation Secret Realm. Wherever it passed, the air tore apart, forming a vacuum zone. Even the runes on the palace walls trembled. With unstoppable momentum, it pierced straight towards the Golden Mane Kirin's chest.

Sensing the terrifying power contained within the Sword-Ray, the Golden Mane Kirin's golden eyes flashed with a hint of solemnity. It abruptly curled its body, its golden light surging, its scales rising like tiny shields, forming an impenetrable Golden Shield. Ancient runes flowed across the shield's surface, moving as if alive, radiating an aura of indestructibility. With a deafening roar, the Sword-Ray's edge slammed into the shield. The collision of golden and tri-colored light created a shockwave that spread outwards like a tsunami, cracking the jade floor of the palace, churning the surrounding Spiritual Qi into turbulent currents, and causing the crystals on the walls to tremble violently, nearly detaching themselves. The Sword-Ray, carrying the power to World Creation, after a brief stalemate with the shield, actually pierced through it, leaving a shallow wound on the Golden Mane Kirin's chest. Golden blood gushed from the wound. The liquid seeped out and dripped onto the ground, instantly transforming into a golden lotus flower. As the lotus bloomed, it emitted a rich Spiritual Qi, making the surrounding air fresh. The Golden Mane Kirin let out a deafening roar, its voice filled with pain, yet it did not attack again. It looked down at the wound on its chest, where golden spiritual light was slowly healing it. Then it looked up at Ren Xiaoyao, the wariness in its eyes gradually fading, replaced by a hint of recognition and satisfaction. "Not only can you invoke the power of the Emperor Array, but you can also fuse different elemental powers so exquisitely. More importantly, you have a great sense of righteousness in protecting both realms. It seems you are the destined one to wield the Creation Pearl as prophesied in High Antiquity times." It slowly retreated to a corner of the palace, its massive body curling up, its golden eyes fixed on Ren Xiaoyao, its gaze filled with expectation, indicating that he could take the Seven-Colored Creation Pearl.

Ren Xiaoyao stepped onto the high platform, paved with millennia-old warm jade. The jade was warm and cool to the touch, its surface engraved with intricate Ancient Runes. Nourished by the Spiritual Qi of the Secret Realm, the runes emitted a faint spiritual light. Touching the runes with his fingertips, he could feel the Ancient Inheritance aura contained within, as if his ancestors were whispering in his ear. He cautiously reached out his hand, and the moment his fingertips touched the Seven-Colored Creation Pearl, the pearl trembled slightly and landed in his palm. The pearl felt warm and smooth to the touch, as if it contained a vibrant life force, gently pulsating in his palm. The frequency of its pulsation gradually synchronized with his heartbeat, creating a wondrous resonance. The moment he touched it, an extremely pure Power of Creation surged into his body like a river bursting its banks, flowing rapidly through his meridians. Wherever it passed, the meridians were widened and strengthened, and the residual damage from the battle was instantly repaired. The Power of Creation rushed straight to his dantian, where the Emperor Power instantly boiled wildly, surging like boiling water. Not only that, but a swirling vortex of Emperor Power was formed. The originally indestructible barrier of his realm began to loosen slightly under the impact of the Power of Creation and the Emperor Power, emitting a low "humming" sound. Even spiderweb-like fine cracks appeared on the surface of the barrier. He sat cross-legged, placing the Seven-Colored Creation Pearl in front of his dantian. The pearl floated half a foot in front of him, emitting a dazzling seven-colored light that enveloped his entire body, forming a semi-transparent seven-colored Light Cocoon light, with tiny specks of light flowing on the Light Cocoon. The Power of Creation, the Emperor Power, the Thunder Force, and the Nirvana Flame merged together within his body, forming a deep four-colored torrent. The torrent surged endlessly through his meridians, and each time it flowed through his dantian, it carried a tremendous force to impact the barrier of his realm. Each impact caused the barrier to shake violently, and the cracks on the barrier increased and widened. Under the repeated scouring of the torrent, the meridians became wider and more resilient, and even his divine soul became more solid under the nourishment of this power.

Purple Lightning and the Undying Phoenix stood guard vigilantly to the side. Purple Lightning was surrounded by thick purple lightning bolts, leaving crackling electrical traces on the ground. Its golden eyes, like searchlights, were fixed on the palace entrance. Its dragon claws paced lightly on the ground, its muscles taut like a fully drawn bowstring, its Dragon Might might subtly radiating, deterring Secret Realm small Spiritual Beasts from approaching the palace. The Undying Phoenix flapped its wings, forming a crimson-gold Flame Barrier around Ren Xiaoyao. Intricate Flame Runes danced on the Flame Barrier, emanating a warm yet majestic aura. This barrier not only Repel Foreign Enemies but also actively drew in the surrounding Spiritual Qi Spiritual Qi, condensing it into a crystalline liquid that was slowly channeled into Ren Xiaoyao's body through the barrier, providing a continuous source of energy for his breakthrough. The Spiritual Qi outside the palace was drawn in by the intense aura of the breakthrough, like... Like rivers flowing into the sea, Spiritual Energy Vortex around Ren Xiaoyao. Spiritual Qi vortex was tens of meters in diameter, filled with a dense, almost tangible white mist. Within this mist, the faint silhouettes of spirit birds darted and cried out, and even thumb-sized Spirit Crystals condensed within the vortex, falling to the ground with a crisp "ding-dong" sound. Ren Xiaoyao closed his eyes, his brows slightly furrowed, his mind completely immersed in the breakthrough. He could clearly feel the four-colored torrents within his body, like galloping horses, relentlessly crashing against the barrier of his realm. Each impact sent waves of tearing pain through his meridians, his soul trembled violently, and he even saw a brief flash of white light before his eyes. But he gritted his teeth and persevered, continuously guiding the power within his body to attack the barrier. Cracks spread rapidly across the barrier like a spiderweb, emitting a "crack" sound. With a soft "crack," the barrier's thickness visibly decreased. As Spiritual Qi poured in, the four-colored torrent grew stronger, its colors deepening, and its impact intensifying. A dazzling golden light began to emanate from his body, interspersed with purple lightning and Golden Flame. His hair stood on end without wind, his robes fluttered, and the surrounding air distorted and swelled, even the warm jade ground beneath him began to heat up, emitting wisps of white steam. Ancient Runes within the palace lit up, resonating with Ren Xiaoyao's aura. As the runes' light flowed, a funnel-shaped Spiritual Qi channel formed above his head, rotating and rapidly drawing in the surrounding Spiritual Qi Power of Principle even emanated from the channel's edges. He knew that once he broke through to the early stage of the Heavenly Immortal, the Emperor Power would transform from a purplish-gold to a pure gold, undergoing a qualitative leap in quality and increasing several times in quantity. His divine soul power and perception range would also greatly improve, leading to a complete transformation in his strength. At that time, he would possess greater combat power when facing the Demon Realm army, and his chances of repairing the Boundary Sealing Gate would greatly increase. The aura of the breakthrough grew stronger and stronger, and the surrounding space began to distort slightly. Even the clouds and mist from the distant mountains were attracted, swirling around the Glass Palace to form a huge cloud and mist vortex covering half a mountain. The Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth seemed to be converging here, and the Spiritual Beasts in the Secret Realm also stopped their activities, looking up at the direction of the Glass Palace with awe and curiosity in their eyes. A breakthrough concerning a leap in strength was about to begin in the Glass Palace of this Creation Secret Realm, and the Principle of heaven and earth seemed to be restless for this breakthrough.