These magnificent mountains and rivers were indeed connected to the Qilin, and they truly harbored a powerful force.
But this was not something a creature in the Blood Moving Realm could perceive. Shi Yi had done so nonetheless. Clearly, his Double Pupils had played a major role.
Worthy of the Double Pupils that shone so brilliantly in the Ancient Era. Their reputation truly is deserved, the Array Formation Golden Spider marveled inwardly.
Then he began recounting an ancient secret to Shi Yi and the little Golden Spider.
"Legend has it that, in primordial times, the Qilin, one of the Ten Fiends, once dwelled here. It built its nest among these vast mountains and rivers, leaving behind a set of ruins.
"The Blood Pool we are heading to is a treasured site within the Qilin Ruins. Terrifying formations suppress that place, allowing only creatures in the Blood Moving Realm to enter and receive the baptism.
"As for the other areas, the forebears of our Primordial Divine Mountains explored them during the Ancient Era. Unfortunately, they gained very little.
"Within the entire ruins, only that Blood Pool holds substantial value."
"Ancestor, are the primordial Ten Fiends still alive?" the little Golden Spider beside him asked.
The Array Formation Golden Spider smiled and shook his head. "They probably perished. Who knows? If they were still around, why have they never shown themselves?
"Still, it is hard to say."
Shi Yi listened quietly.
The Qilin of the Ten Fiends had undoubtedly perished in the Immortal Ancient War, but it had left offspring in the world, along with its legacy and an Immortal Palace.
Those things, however, were all in the Upper Realm.
Whether these so-called Qilin Ruins in the Lower Realm were truly the Qilin's nest remained unknown.
If this was the nest of one of the Ten Fiends, it would surely conceal unimaginable opportunities, just like the Kunpeng Nest hidden in the North Sea, which held boundless opportunities within.
But according to the Array Formation Golden Spider, the Heavenly Gods of the Primordial Divine Mountains had found nothing in this secret realm during the Ancient Era. Thus, this secret realm most likely did not qualify as a nest.
Only by actually entering could he discover the truth.
"Speaking of the Blood Pool, we must mention the effects of its baptism.
"Based on past experience, the baptism's effects vary depending on where you sit within the Blood Pool. Some positions offer stronger effects, others weaker. After all these years, the best positions in the Blood Pool are no longer a secret. Every divine mountain knows them.
"In the past, our clan never held much of an advantage. Our best result was securing two middling positions. But this time, with Yi'er here, everything is different. Our Demon Spirit Lake can try contending for the best positions as well.
"Once you enter the Blood Pool, you must help and watch out for each other. Yi'er, please look after the little one. It is still young and will be at a disadvantage in the struggle for baptism positions."
The Golden Spider in the Array Formation Realm looked at Shi Yi and spoke in an earnest, pleading tone.
Shi Yi did not dare put on airs. Though the two ancestors of Demon Spirit Lake were pouring their efforts into nurturing him and staking their hopes on him, he was ultimately only a creature in the Blood Moving Realm. He had no right to strike a lofty pose before an existence in the Array Formation Realm.
He promptly spoke up and agreed.
"Rest assured, Senior. I will not leave it to fend for itself."
Only after hearing Shi Yi's assurance did the Array Formation Golden Spider feel at ease.
In truth, the little Golden Spider was one of his direct descendants, and he doted on it. Naturally, he wanted to secure it a good position for the baptism.
Before long, the two spiders and the human plunged into the countless mountains and ravines.
Entering these mountains and rivers felt like stepping into a primeval realm. Majestic peaks, hanging springs and cascading waterfalls, ancient trees towering into the sky-Ancient Beasts could be seen everywhere. Birds and beasts, flowers and grasses, insects and fish, everything was present in such bewildering variety that the eye could scarcely take it all in.
Such a place was far from safe. After passing just a few lofty peaks, Shi Yi had already spotted several Primordial Remnants.
Yet opportunities lay hidden amid danger. In such vibrant, primeval mountains, there was naturally no shortage of ancient medicinal herbs growing wild.
"We are almost there."
Suddenly, the Array Formation Golden Spider spoke, reminding Shi Yi and the little Golden Spider to prepare themselves.
Shi Yi nodded. His gaze shifted toward the dense forest below, and he keenly noticed that the number of creatures among the trees was dwindling rapidly. The unseen might emanating from the Qilin Ruins intimidated the Ancient Beasts and all other living things, keeping them from approaching.
The creatures able to roam the nearby area were all outstanding among Ancient Beasts. They absorbed the essence of the sun and moon and had developed intelligence. Faced with the pressure emanating from the Qilin Secret Realm, they felt not fear but longing. Thus, they lingered around its outskirts, seeking a way inside.
The two spiders and the human made no attempt to conceal their movements. Like a streak of golden lightning, they flashed past, charging toward the deepest reaches.
From time to time, powerful Ancient Beasts raised their heads to look at them. Fortunately, the presence of a powerful Pure-Blooded Creature like the Array Formation Golden Spider exerted an innate suppression over these Ancient Beasts, keeping them from acting rashly.
Soon, they approached a mist-shrouded area. The Array Formation Golden Spider stopped flying and slowly descended to the ground. He led the way, with Shi Yi and the little Golden Spider following close behind.
The mist thickened as they walked. After a while, shadowy figures seemed to appear within the haze ahead.
Quite a few forces from the Primordial Divine Mountains had already arrived and were quietly waiting for the others.
The Array Formation Golden Spider's arrival caused no stir. Shi Yi, however, was an unfamiliar human, and the sight of him made several experts from the Primordial Divine Mountains twitch their brows.
"Fellow Daoist, if I recall correctly, your Demon Spirit Lake has two pure-blooded young spiders in this generation, does it not?" an enormous creature asked, its loud voice rumbling.
Behind it stood two Pure-Blooded Younglings of the Chi Dragon clan.
The Array Formation Golden Spider nodded. "Correct. There are two pure-blooded young spiders."
"Rather than nurture your own clan's Pure-Blooded Younglings, you have handed a precious Blood Pool Baptism slot to a human. Your lake certainly is interesting," the adult Chi Dragon said.
The other divine mountain experts were also drawn by Shi Yi's human identity, and they turned their gazes toward him.
But the Array Formation Golden Spider had deliberately protected him with a layer of golden light around his body, which the other creatures could not see through.
"Indeed. Humans are weak by nature and do not belong among Pure-Blooded Creatures. He should not have come here, nor does he deserve a slot," a domineering Pure-Blooded Creature hostile to humans said coldly.
The Array Formation Golden Spider's brows furrowed slightly. He knew that if these divine mountain experts insisted on obstructing them, Shi Yi's Blood Pool Baptism could very well be disrupted.
"This is a matter for my Demon Spirit Lake. You fellow Daoists are stretching your hands far too wide.
"Back in the Ancient Era, the forebears of the Primordial Divine Mountains already allocated everything. Each divine mountain receives two slots, regardless of whether the recipients are Pure-Blooded Creatures or members of its own clan.
"Our other Pure-Blooded Youngling relinquished its slot at the behest of Demon Spirit Lake's two ancestors. If any of you have objections, feel free to take them up with our two ancestors." His tone was somewhat icy. He showed them no courtesy merely because they, too, were Array Formation creatures from the Primordial Divine Mountains.
At his words, the several Array Formation pure-bloods who had spoken earlier immediately fell silent.
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