Cao Jinxing said, "These people have grand ambitions."
"Indeed."
Song Chengxi said, "I've searched for Immortal-Grade Manuals for so many years and found nothing. It's as though someone deliberately erased the relevant records and cultivation manuals, leaving later generations with nothing but their names. If Heavenly Secret Twenty-Five leads those old fellows to seize the Great Dao Stele, with their aptitude, Immortal-Grade Manuals will surely emerge. Once they gain a head start, they'll stay ahead at every turn, and the entire Jianghu will become their personal domain. Those old rivals of mine won't spare me, either."
Song Chengxi said nothing about lofty ideals like saving all living beings. His reasons were simple: self-preservation and revenge-the Three Elders of the Star Sect had tried to wipe him out, so he had no reason not to strike back!
The Five Poisons Cult possessed half a Heavenly Book Stele, which naturally drew covetous eyes. Song Chengxi had killed many people to protect it.
Nor was he someone content to fall behind. In fighting over the stele in Pengxuan Grotto-Heaven on Mount Tai, he had made enemies of the Star Sect, foremost of the Three Hidden Sects.
He had few friends, but plenty of enemies.
Proud, exceptionally gifted, and immensely powerful in battle, Song Chengxi would not allow himself to fall behind those old rivals. Nor could he simply wait for them to slay a Divine Beast, greatly increase their power, and come after him.
Song Chengxi said, "Even if the Qilin's lair has no Great Dao Stele, the Qilin itself is one of the world's supreme divine creatures. Ancient texts held by the Five Poisons Cult record that the Divine Beast Qilin belongs to earth and can command 'earth' and 'mountain' among the Eight Qi. Earth governs growth, grants the art of creation