Although I Progressed Quickly, My Foundation Is Solid Too

Watching Qin Yu and Yun Yun leave, Lin Can held on for a long time, but finally his vision went black and his body leaned straight back.

Several Imperial Family princes hurriedly helped him up, but Lin Can didn't even glance at them, his eyes fixed on the Blood Pool that had become ruins.

An outsider, right before their eyes, took away the Qilin Inheritance of their Heavenly Qilin Empire.

The most tragic thing is that they didn't even have the courage to resist.

Because nobody wants to die.

A Seven-Star Dou Emperor and a Five-Star Dou Emperor —this is not something the current Heavenly Qilin Empire can contend with.

"Lin Yan... why hasn't he come back yet?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged man dressed in dark brown military uniform appeared above the palace.

The man was tall and strong, with a square face and a fierce, battle-hardened air about him. He was Lin Yan, who guarded the border of the Heavenly Qilin Empire.

He is also the strongest being in the Heavenly Qilin Empire at present.

Lin Yan landed in the courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the mess of rubble and bloodstains. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

"I'm late."

Lin Can stood up unsteadily, pointed at the ruins, and said in a hoarse voice:

"Lin Yan! Do you know what just happened?!"

"Someone infiltrated the Blood Pool and stole the entire Qilin Inheritance right under our noses! If you had returned half an hour earlier..."

"This happened right under your noses, so why didn't you stop that person?"

Lin Yan interrupted him directly, his tone calm:

"Even flying at full speed, it would take me four days to get from the border to Heavenly Qilin City. The message they sent me five days ago means I've already done my best to get back today."

"You!"

Lin Can was so choked by his words that he almost couldn't catch his breath, and several Imperial Family princes nearby immediately chimed in:

"General Lin Yan, this is such an important matter, you should have returned as soon as possible, even if it meant risking your life!"

"Yes, if you had been there, would we have just stood by and watched the murderer swagger away?"

"Guarding the border is important, but with such a major incident happening to the Imperial Family, can't you prioritize things?"

Everyone chimed in, each offering their own opinion, getting more and more excited as if they considered Lin Yan the sole culprit behind this farce.

Lin Yan stood there, listening to the accusations, a cold smile appearing on his lips, but he never uttered a word in rebuttal.

He recalled the year the Qilin had just perished.

His father was Prince Tianlin at the time. After the Qilin died, Lin Yan's father immediately proposed that the Qilin should be buried with the highest honors, leaving its body intact to appease its soul, burning incense and making offerings so that future generations would remember the kindness of the sacred beast.

But nobody listened to him.

In the eyes of that group of people, every part of the Qilin was a bargaining chip that could be exchanged for power.

Lin Yan's father argued his case forcefully, but in the end, he received a transfer order that banished him from Heavenly Qilin City and demoted him to the border.

They even went so far as to call it "guarding the nation's gates to demonstrate their loyalty."

From then on, Lin Yan's father never set foot in Heavenly Qilin City again, until he died of illness at the border.

Lin Yan himself took over his father's duties and guarded the border for decades.

He has been following the news of the sudden deaths of members of the Imperial Family over the years.

From initial heartache to later numbness, and now to feeling completely unmoved when hearing such news.

He had returned to Heavenly Qilin City many years ago and personally sought out the then Emperor Lin Huan, urging him to return the remains of the Qilin to their rightful place and end all of this as soon as possible.

Lin Huan readily agreed at the time, but completely forgot about his words as soon as he turned around.

Since then, Lin Yan has never mentioned the matter again.

At this point in his recollection, the cold smile on Lin Yan's face finally transformed into an undisguised mockery.

He slowly raised his gaze, sweeping it over the still-chattering members of the Imperial Family, his tone quite casual:

"You're asking me why I took so long to come back?"

"Because while I was on my way back, the Netherworld Empire attacked again, so I went back and stayed for a day to quell the chaos before setting off again."

"Would you be satisfied if I lost the border and then came back?"

The courtyard fell silent for a moment. Someone opened their mouth as if to say something, but was silenced by Lin Yan's cold gaze.

Lin Can's face alternated between pale and flushed. He knew Lin Yan was right, but he just couldn't accept it.

He needs someone to take the blame, someone who can give everyone a place to vent their anger.

Lin Yan saw through his thoughts and made his stance clear with a cold laugh.

He didn't say anything more, just straightened his collar which had been ruffled by the wind, and turned to walk out of the courtyard.

Where are you going?

"Go back to the border; there's no point in me staying here anyway."

Lin Yan said without turning his head.

"Lin Yan! The empire is now in dire straits..."

Lin Yan suddenly stopped, turned his head, and his voice carried a long-suppressed resentment:

"Lin Can, do you remember what my father said back then?"

"It was you people who insisted on dismantling the Qilin's corpse, saying that the Qilin was a treasure trove and should be put to good use."

"I know about what you've been through all these years, but please forgive me, I only have two words for you."

"Serves you right."

After saying that, Lin Yan spread his Battle Qi Wings and left the Heavenly Qilin Palace.

The courtyard was deathly silent.

Lin Can stood silently in place, his cloudy eyes fixed on the direction where Lin Yan had disappeared, without saying a word.

Everyone around them kept their heads down, and no one spoke.

Meanwhile, Qin Yu and Yun Yun were already quite far from Heavenly Qilin City.

After leaving Heavenly Qilin City, the two flew straight towards the Jia Ma Empire.

Yun Yun stood beside Qin Yu Qin Yu, staring intently at his profile, her eyes filled with envy.

Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?

Noticing Yun Yun's gaze, Qin Yu turned his head and asked in confusion.

"I've cultivated diligently for so many years to reach the level of Five-Star Dou Emperor, and you, on the other hand, have already surpassed me after only a short time as a Dou Emperor."

"If you refine another Emperor's Extreme Pill and consume it, will you directly reach the Nine-Star?"

Qin Yu smiled and did not deny it.

He had just been thinking about this too, but he couldn't take the Emperor's Extreme Pill right now.

The power of the Qilin Inheritance had just been integrated into his body. Although it appeared to have been completely refined on the surface, the power of that bloodline was still continuously transforming his body.

Only after the transformation was completed could Qin Yu's strength Seven-Star Dou Emperor be considered completely stable.

If we rush things now, the results may be counterproductive.

"That's not how it works. Don't be fooled by my rapid progress in cultivation; my foundation is also very solid."

Yun Yun's expression froze instantly, and she glared at him fiercely.

Reflecting on the past few months, Qin Yu couldn't help but smile.

The power of the volcano, the legacy of the Qilin, and two super-large experience packs instantly boosted his level.

Qin Yu's ability to fully absorb the Qilin's inheritance in just five days is largely due to the Fusion Monster's skill.

"Let's go to Gemer Volcano; I need to get myself in shape."