Qilin Blood Pool
On a high slope outside the city, Yun Yun stood with her hands behind her back, calmly looking down at Heavenly Qilin City in the distance.
Two days have passed since Qin Yu infiltrated the area.
There was no unusual activity, no riots, and no alarms in the city, which was a good sign.
As Yun Yun was pondering this, her gaze suddenly sharpened, and she looked towards a certain spot in the city.
An aura at the Dou Emperor level rose from the direction of the palace, moving at great speed, heading straight for her.
The man was roughly at the level of Two-Star Dou Emperor, not particularly strong, but he was clearly there for her.
Yun Yun placed her hand on the sword hilt, her fighting Dou Qi quietly circulating around her.
She'd be prepared if the other party had ill intentions.
The figure quickly arrived above the high slope. It was a middle-aged man dressed in a prince's robe, none other than Lin Feng, who had been talking with Lin Yi in the side hall earlier.
Lin Feng didn't get too close. Instead, he stopped a few feet away from Yun Yun, cupped his hands slightly, and said very politely:
"My friend, I am Lin Feng, Prince of the Heavenly Qilin Empire. May I ask if you are passing through this place, or...?"
Yun Yun's expression remained unchanged, and she responded calmly:
"Just passing through your country, stopping for a brief while."
Lin Feng glanced at her, sensing Yun Yun's strength Five-Star Dou Emperor, his heart trembled slightly, but he did not show it on his face.
He pondered for a moment, then asked:
"Where do you come from, my friend?"
"Jia Ma Empire, Misty Cloud Sect."
Lin Feng breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this.
The Jia Ma Empire is separated from the Heavenly Qilin Empire by several countries, Yun Yun came here alone, so it's highly unlikely that she's an enemy.
"I see. If you don't mind, you can stay in the city. Although Heavenly Qilin City isn't exactly magnificent, it still has places to accommodate guests."
"No need, I'll just enjoy the scenery here and then leave."
Yun Yun shook her head slightly, and Lin Feng didn't press the matter. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they took their leave.
As he turned around, Lin Feng still had a hint of doubt in his eyes, but Yun Yun was, after all, Five-Star Dou Emperor, and he couldn't forcefully interrogate her about anything.
Confirming that the other party has no malicious intent is already the best outcome.
Yun Yun watched Lin Feng's figure disappear from sight and breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Feng's appearance at this time can be seen as making things convenient for Qin Yu.
Although Qin Yu's unpredictable and stealthy methods probably don't require this little gap, more space is always better.
She turned her gaze back to Heavenly Qilin City and waited patiently.
Qin Yu was unaware that Lin Feng had just left the city to meet Yun Yun; he was currently traversing the depths of the Heavenly Qilin Palace.
The further in you go, the thicker the palace walls become, as if the entire palace is deliberately isolating this area from the outside world.
The senses of the Treasure-Seeking Sacred Body grew stronger and stronger. Finally, Qin Yu stopped in front of a secluded courtyard surrounded by high walls.
In the center of the courtyard stands a stone palace with its doors tightly closed. The doors are dark blue and covered with intricate patterns.
Qin Yu took a few steps closer and tried to push the palace door.
It remained completely still.
Upon closer inspection, Qin Yu discovered that the palace was protected by an extremely strong layer of defense, making it virtually impossible to force open from the outside.
Even with his brute strength at the Dou Emperor level, it would probably take him quite a bit of effort to break it open, which would inevitably alarm the entire palace.
Qin Yu withdrew his hand, took two steps back, leaned against a pillar, and squinted at the tightly closed palace door.
If it won't open, then just wait.
From the previous conversation between Lin Feng and his son, it can be confirmed that although Lin Yi was extremely unwilling, he could not escape the fate of being immersed in the Blood Pool.
Moreover, Lin Feng had already made his point clear, and given the current situation of the Heavenly Qilin Empire, this matter couldn't be delayed for too long.
Qin Yu simply found a comfortable position and sat down in the shade by the pillar, then used the Waiting Formula.
Over the next three days, Qin Yu toured the entire Heavenly Qilin Palace.
Thanks to the incredible effect of the Extra Character, he could move through the palace as if it were empty.
He had stolen pastries from the imperial kitchen, stolen medicinal herbs from the Medicinal Materials Vault, and even entered the emperor's bedroom to see what the emperor of the Heavenly Qilin Empire looked like.
The old emperor was more haggard than he had imagined, his temples were gray, a deep frown lined his brow, and his hands trembled slightly as he reviewed memorials.
However, even while strolling around, Qin Yu never let his eyes off the stone palace.
On the evening of the third day, movement finally came from the direction of the stone palace.
Qin Yu leaped down from a rockery in the corner of the Imperial Garden and silently darted toward the location of the stone hall.
In the distance, he saw three figures standing in front of the palace gate.
Lin Yi stood directly in front of the palace gate, his expression still not good, but much calmer than three days ago.
At least, there's no longer that restless feeling of constantly on the verge of exploding.
Lin Feng stood beside him, his face grave.
If Lin Yi weren't the only remaining member of the Imperial Family's younger generation, Lin Feng wouldn't have wanted his son to participate in the trials of the Qilin Blood Pool.
Beside the palace gate stood a frail, white-haired old man.
The old man was hunched over, his breath so weak it was almost imperceptible, but his eyes still shone slightly, suggesting he might live for a few more years.
"Lin Yi."
The white-haired old man spoke slowly, his voice aged yet full of authority:
"Ready?"
Lin Yi's Adam's apple bobbed, and he turned to look at Lin Feng, who silently patted him on the shoulder.
Lin Yi took a deep breath and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace:
"... Ready."
The white-haired old man didn't ask a second question. He raised his right hand, gently traced a line on his fingertip, and a drop of dark red blood congealed on his fingertip before he flicked it.
The drop of blood drifted towards the palace door and landed right in the center of the door panel.
The moment the blood droplet merged with the gate, the patterns on the surface of the palace gate suddenly lit up, and a dark blue light spread rapidly along the patterns.
With a heavy scraping sound, the door slowly opened to both sides.
A strong, rusty, bloody smell wafted out from inside the door.
Qin Yu was standing by the door, and the moment the palace door opened, he slipped inside.
Upon entering the hall, Qin Yu finally saw the true appearance of the Qilin Blood Pool.
The pool is an irregular oval shape and occupies most of the space in the palace.
Viewed from above, the outline of the entire pool resembles the head of Qilin with its mouth wide open.
The slightly raised edges on both sides resemble a beast's jaws, and the pool water is located precisely in the center of that "mouth".
The liquid in the pool was a thick, dark red color, like a stagnant pool, exuding an ominous aura.
Qin Yu could clearly sense that the energy contained in the Blood Pool was extremely vast, but it was also filled with extreme anger and violence.
Under these circumstances, it would be a miracle if anyone from the Heavenly Qilin Empire could pass the test!
Just then, the sound of the palace doors closing came from behind.
Qin Yu turned his head and saw Lin Yi standing at the door, his face pale, as if he were facing an abyss into which there was no escape once he stepped in.
Qin Yu stood in the shadows, silent, watching him quietly.
Lin Yi clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and walked step by step toward the Blood Pool.