First Arrival at Qilin Cliff

After briefly staying in Concentric Valley, the Patrol Team set out once more, continuing toward Qilin Cliff.

Eager to return home, the group traveled much faster than they had on the way there. Mo Xuan, having been away from home for many years and now finally about to return, was especially excited. From time to time, he bragged to Lin Yan about how beautiful Qilin Cliff was and all the fun things there were to do.

Ao Ye was somewhat unconvinced and did his best to invite Lin Yan to visit his Dragon Palace, solemnly swearing that the Dragon Palace was definitely far more fun than Qilin Cliff.

The two kept bickering over whose home was better, insisting that Lin Yan make a judgment. Thoroughly annoyed, Lin Yan did not want to get involved in their squabbling, so he sank his consciousness into the Heaven and Earth Bead to comprehend the Heaven and Earth Laws within.

And so, Lin Yan followed the Patrol Team across who knew how many thousands of miles of mountains and rivers. At last, they reached the Kirin Clan's core sacred land—Qilin Cliff.

"Lin Yan, look! Qilin Cliff is right ahead!" Mo Xuan's excited voice rang beside him, waking Lin Yan from his comprehension of the Heaven and Earth Laws within the Heaven and Earth Bead.

Lin Yan opened his eyes. Beyond a vast Sea of Clouds the color of pale gold, the scene before him suddenly opened up.

Although Mo Xuan had described the beauty of Qilin Cliff to him countless times, he was still overwhelmed by the sight before him.

The so-called "Qilin Cliff" was not truly just a single cliff, but an incomparably vast, majestic, endlessly rolling mountain range.

Within the mountains, countless peaks pierced the heavens like sharp swords. Some were a warm, jade-like profound yellow, some were a noble deep purple, and some were as blood red as fresh blood. Yet regardless of their color, treasure light faintly flowed across every mountain body.

Every mountain was covered in Primeval Forests so lush they defied belief. Ancient trees towered into the sky, Vines Like Dragons wound through the woods, and exotic flowers and herbs filled every corner.

Beneath the mountains lay countless enormous Spirit Veins. The Spirit Qi they released spread through the air, so dense it nearly became tangible. Amid mist and flowing haze, it gathered into lakes or hung down like waterfalls, refracting seven-colored rosy radiance beneath the sunlight.

Between the mountains, broad and surging Spirit Rivers flowed endlessly. Their waters came in every shade—some green as jade, some brilliant as Molten Lava—and silently nourished all things along their banks as they wound onward.

From time to time, beautifully shaped Spirit Fish and Water Beasts with gleaming scales leaped from the surface of the river, splashing up blossoms of spiritual light and water as they fell.

Countless Spirit Birds with brilliant feathers and varied forms soared freely through the skies. There were Sun Divine Kites, their wingspans stretching dozens of zhang and their entire bodies wreathed in faint Golden Flames; Cold Moon Spirit Kites, ice blue all over with crystalline tail feathers trailing behind them; and flocks of Green Cloud Sparrows, whose clear calls sounded like Chimes and Jade Bells.

They sometimes swept over Mountain Peaks and sometimes circled above Spirit Rivers, dancing gracefully and freely through the air.

Countless Spirit Beasts also roamed the land. Among those Lin Yan recognized were Jade Horned Rhinoceroses with jade horns, Crystal Armored Tapirs that loved to eat Quartz Veins, and lively Red-eyed Long-armed Apes... All of them were gentle Spirit Beasts whose intelligence had only just awakened.

There were also many Strange Creatures he had never seen in any illustrated guide. Some looked adorably clumsy, while others were exceptionally majestic, but without exception, Spirit Qi wreathed their bodies and their eyes were clear. They were vastly different from the frightened and helpless Spirit Beasts commonly seen in the Primordial Wilderness.

Most breathtaking of all was the mountain peak at the center of this land. It towered into the clouds, its summit unseen, as though it pierced through heaven and earth itself. Lin Yan needed only to glance at it from afar to feel a vast, ancient, imposing aura tinged with a trace of sharpness rush toward him.

One side of the mountain peak had been carved into countless enormous black-gold rock pillars, platforms, and Suspended Islands, as though fashioned by uncanny craftsmanship. The other side seemed to have been cleaved down the middle by some supreme force, yet remained firmly standing as a ten-thousand-zhang sheer cliff. Its surface was smooth as a mirror, with natural Dao Patterns faintly flowing across it and emanating a majestic pressure capable of suppressing the eight desolations and six directions—that was the true core of this mountain range: Qilin Cliff!

The peak of Qilin Cliff disappeared into ethereal spiritual clouds, making its exact appearance impossible to discern. Only thick streams of Auspicious Qi, as large as dragons, could be seen cascading down like waterfalls, nourishing the myriad living beings below.

Beneath the Cliff Body, the mountain body had been hollowed out into countless Cave Dwellings, Palace Halls, and Corridor Bridges. These structures were all built from Divine Gold and Precious Jade, their designs ancient and grand, yet perfectly integrated with the cliff itself.

Countless agile Kirin with brilliant scales either rested alone upon platforms jutting from the cliff walls, Inhaling and Exhaling rosy clouds, or traveled in groups of two or three, riding Auspicious Clouds and Golden Flames as they frolicked between the cliffs.

Qilin Cliff and the vast territory surrounding it formed a grand, harmonious scroll painting of a Primordial Pure Land, filled with order and life force. There was not the slightest trace of Malevolent Qi here. Only incomparably dense Pure Spiritual Qi flowed through the land, while all things and Living Beings each occupied their proper places in this paradise-like scene.

"Xiao Mo, this... this is your Qilin Cliff? It's just... so beautiful!" Lin Yan could not help murmuring in amazement.

"Hahaha, that's right. This is Qilin Cliff, the Sacred Homeland of my Qilin Clan. Well, not bad, right?" Mo Xuan proudly raised his head. His Seven-Colored Scales shone brilliantly beneath the auspicious light. Seeing Lin Yan's reaction, he was naturally delighted. Having his home recognized by a friend was the greatest honor to him.

"More than not bad—it's incredible. It's so much better than my Canyon Home." Lin Yan spoke sincerely. Compared with this top-tier Grotto Heaven Blessed Land of the Prehistoric World, his Earth Dragon Community was like an ordinary country estate.

"Hahaha, Canyon Home was only just established, so naturally it cannot compare to Qilin Cliff yet. But after a million years, it will surely become a breathtaking Grotto Heaven Blessed Land as well."

Mo Xuan still felt deeply attached to Canyon Home. After all, part of his own effort had gone into building it, so he did not wish to compare it with Qilin Cliff.

But then he changed the subject and continued, "Our Qilin Clan controls Primordial Earth Virtue. We can use Auspicious Qi to harmonize Yin and Yang and arrange mountains and rivers, while Qilin Cliff is the greatest gathering place of auspiciousness between heaven and earth. So it is definitely far better than Xiao Ye's cold, damp Dragon Palace."

"Hmph! My Deep Sea Dragon Palace governs Myriad Waters. It is vast and magnificent, deep and boundless, and the very essence of the Water Origin Great Dao. How could it be inferior to your tiny Qilin Cliff? Lin Yan, you'll understand once you visit the Dragon Palace and see it with your own eyes. Don't listen to Xiao Mo's nonsense." Although Ao Ye had also been stunned by the beauty of Qilin Cliff, how could he tolerate Mo Xuan's deliberate belittling? He immediately retorted.

Elder Xuan Yue and the Patrol Team members had long grown accustomed to this scenery, so they were naturally not as astonished as Lin Yan. After passing through the Sea of Clouds, they did not stop and instead sped directly toward the towering mountain peak.

The group traveled through layer upon layer of Spiritual Mist and rosy clouds, weaving between the various peaks. Many members of the Kirin Clan and Living Beings from other Subordinate Clans merely glanced at them casually before continuing with their own affairs. Clearly, they were already used to the Patrol Team's return.

Soon, everyone arrived at the foot of the mountain peak. There stood an enormous, exceptionally broad plaza paved entirely with Earthy Gold. At the edge of the plaza rose a majestic palace with an ancient, imposing style. Above its gates hung a plaque inscribed with Great Dao Runes—Earthy Palace.

Before Earthy Palace stood a man and a woman, gazing expectantly into the distance.

The man was tall and powerfully built, with a square face, a straight nose, a broad mouth, and bright, spirited eyes. The pair of jade Qilin Horns atop his head revealed that he was a Kirin in Transformation. He carried an air of steady solidity without losing any sharpness.

The woman was graceful and noble, with peerlessly beautiful features and skin as lustrous white as jade. Her brows and eyes were gentle yet intelligent. Her Qilin Horns were smaller, warm ivory-white, and a peaceful aura that put others at ease surrounded her. At this moment, her gaze toward Mo Xuan was filled with maternal affection and longing.

Elder Xuan Yue and the Patrol Team still had duties to fulfill. After returning to Qilin Cliff, they needed to report to Earthy Palace and hand over their errands first. Lin Yan and the other two were not official Patrol Team members, so they did not need to accompany them.

After the three bid farewell to everyone before Earthy Palace, Mo Xuan led Lin Yan and Ao Ye as they sped toward the two figures below.