"Ancestor Qilin?"

"Impossible, right?"

"How could this be?"

Hearing Fairy Miao Yuan's words, everyone present was stunned, finding it somewhat unbelievable.

Yu Yuan's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at the middle-aged man.

After having his identity revealed by Fairy Miao Yuan, the middle-aged man did not retort but instead smiled warmly at her, "You must be that little bird from the Phoenix Clan, right?"

With these words, there was no longer any doubt among the crowd.

This middle-aged man truly was the Earth Emperor from the Ancient Times, the Ancestor Qilin who reigned over all terrestrial beasts!

He was a character that existed only in legends!

He was the supreme being deeply engraved in the memories of generation after generation of Immortal Gods, recounted by word of mouth!

Legend has it that after Pangu created Heaven and Earth, the Four Great Chaotic Elements merged to give birth to three Chaos Divine Beasts: Ancestor Dragon, Primordial Phoenix, and Ancestor Qilin.

These three Divine Beasts were born out of destiny, naturally possessing strength on par with Primordial Quasi-Saints. Upon transformation, they followed their instincts to propagate life.

The Ancestor Dragon evolved the Dragon Clan that reigned over scaled creatures and ruled the oceans; the Primordial Phoenix evolved the Phoenix Clan that reigned over the birds and controlled the skies; the Ancestor Qilin evolved the Qilin Clan that reigned over the terrestrial beasts and mastered the land.

An era came upon the Primordial World where it was co-ruled by these three clans.

Among the three, the Qilin Clan was the weakest, often at a disadvantage in the clashes among the clans; hence, they allied with the Phoenix Clan to counter the Dragon Clan.

The three major clans battled each other fiercely for the title of the supreme ruler of the Primordial World.

Subsequently, in the conflicts between the Dao and the Demons, spurred by the provocation of Demon Ancestor Luo Hou, the first calamity of the Primordial World erupted. Countless lives perished tragically, and the major roles played by the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans also met with profound karma.

It was a struggle where there were no winners.

All three clans were greatly weakened, with Ancestor Dragon, Primordial Phoenix, and Ancestor Qilin each paying a painful price of death and their Dao dissipating to atone for their clans.

To everyone, it seemed that the Ancestor Qilin had perished eons ago.

Yet now, he truly appeared before them all, leaving people shockingly confounded.

Was it resurrection after death or had he never died at all?

No matter which answer, it was somewhat difficult to accept.

"Wait a minute..."

Yu Yuan suddenly had a thought, turned his head toward Fairy Miao Yuan, and exclaimed, "If even such an antique recognizes you, then doesn't that mean you are also..."

Fairy Miao Yuan was momentarily stunned, then quickly grasped what he implied, her eyes filled with murderous intent, "What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing..." Yu Yuan laughed heartily towards the sky and then muttered softly to himself, "They say a woman who is three years older brings fortune; a woman who is three thousand years older takes her place among the Immortal Class. So for a woman who is three hundred Yuan older..."

Fairy Miao Yuan glared fiercely at him, a blush of embarrassment crossing her pale alabaster face, tinged with a hint of annoyance.

At that moment, the middle-aged man in splendid attire looked toward Fairy Miao Yuan with a smile, "The Ancestor Qilin has already fallen, his flesh turned to stone. I am merely a lingering obsession he formed just before death.

However, if you intend to stop me, I don't mind letting you experience the might of the Qilin!"

As he spoke, a silver-white long sword appeared in his hand, the blade emitting a cold light.

Fairy Miao Yuan's expression turned serious; her flowing gown fluttered in the wind, elegant and graceful like a petal, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance of flowers.

Her attitude was clear.

The "Ancestor Qilin" swung his sword, and the sword light transformed into an Exotic Beast with a dragon-like head and scaly body, rushing at Fairy Miao Yuan with a fierce momentum.

She extended her delicate hands, faint pink glows emerging from her fingertips.

Illusions of fresh flowers bloomed out of thin air, blocking the attack.

Flower petals fell like rain. Fairy Miao Yuan waved her sleeves elegantly, as though dancing amidst the petals, drawing countless petals to form a Divine Dragon, lunging at the "Ancestor Qilin".

In the meantime, her Daluo Divine Needle, integrated into the petal-formed Divine Dragon, shot silently towards him.

The "Ancestor Qilin" swung his sword to sever the petal-spun Divine Dragon, then slightly shifted his posture to dodge Fairy Miao Yuan's Daluo Divine Needle.

However, the Daluo Divine Needle was incredibly agile, swiftly turning around to strike at him after the miss.

"That does have some skill."

The "Ancestor Qilin" scoffed coldly, his hands forming seals, a beam of golden light rising from his body, surrounding him with a splendid multicolored light barrier.

The gold light flickered, exuding a powerful protective force.

Fairy Miao Yuan waved her delicate hand continuously, countless petals like a torrential rain of swords, shot towards the golden barrier accompanied by the Daluo Divine Needle.

The golden barrier trembled, enduring the onslaught of sword-like petals, yet unable to be penetrated by the dense defense.

With a swing of his sword, the "Ancestor Qilin" released a wave of golden energy, unleashing a formidable force that instantly swept away the array of flower petals and sent the Daluo Divine Needle flying.

Fairy Miao Yuan's complexion shifted, and she quickly waved her delicate hands, conjuring a vibrant and colorful light barrier in front of her.

A golden energy blast collided head-on, clashing with a dazzling light barrier and unleashing a blinding glare.

In the deafening roar of the explosion, Fairy Miao Yuan was blasted hundreds of miles away, while "Origin Qilin" merely took a few steps back before stabilizing his stance.

Seeing this, Yu Yuan slightly raised his eyebrows.

It wasn't out of concern for Fairy Miao Yuan, but rather a belief in Origin Qilin's words.

He must truly be just an incarnation of a persistent spirit, inheriting only a part of Origin Qilin's strength. Otherwise, how could he have been forced back in face of an opponent like Fairy Miao Yuan?

It's not to underestimate Fairy Miao Yuan—rather, it is simply the truth.

At their peak state, the three Chaos Divine Beasts undoubtedly possess the terrifying power to instantly kill the average Quasi-Saint.

At this moment, "Origin Qilin" emanated a formidable aura of oppression, his sword energy flashing like lightning, weaving into a gorgeous mesh of swords, trapping Fairy Miao Yuan securely within.

Although Fairy Miao Yuan was also a Primordial Quasi-Saint, she seemed somewhat overwhelmed by "Origin Qilin's" powerful assault.

Her strongest technique was the Daluo Divine Needle, yet unfortunately, "Origin Qilin" seemed to be well aware of this, consciously guarding against her divine needle and gradually putting her at a disadvantage.

"Stand down. Our clans were once allies, and I do not wish to harm you."

"Origin Qilin" stated indifferently, with a trace of pride flickering between his brows.

Even though he claimed to be just an incarnation of Origin Qilin's persistent spirit, he retained a portion of Origin Qilin's memories, including its ways of conduct and temperament among others.

No sooner had his voice faded than a robust voice rang out.

"Stop boasting, you can't harm anyone!"

Origin Qilin" looked toward the source of the voice and saw his target, Yu Yuan, a disciple of the Jie Sect, smiling as he stepped forward, loudly saying: "Although I don't know why you refuse to rest in peace, leaving behind this incarnation of persistent spirit, making an enemy of my Jie Sect is definitely the worst choice!"

As his words ended, Zhao Gongming, Yun Xiao, Qiong Xiao, and Bi Xiao, the four major outer disciples, simultaneously brought out a corner of an Array Map.

Instantly.

The sky darkened, and the sun and moon lost their light.

…

Inside Biyou Palace, Sect Hierarch Tongtian frowned slightly, speaking softly: "I also exerted effort when Second Brother initially recruited the persistent spirit of Origin Qilin; I never expected he would use it to confront my disciples and grand-disciples today!"

"I also came to propose a truce precisely because I did not wish to see you brothers embroiled in conflict..." Taiching Saint said somewhat helplessly: "The best solution now is to severely punish both Yu Yuan and Nanji…"

"Severely punish Yu Yuan?"

Before Taiching Saint could finish speaking, Sect Hierarch Tongtian's voice suddenly soared eight octaves, interrupting him bluntly: "Impossible!"

With an abrupt change from his previous hesitation, Sect Hierarch Tongtian declared decisively: "No matter what, all of Yu Yuan's actions have been for the sake of our Jie Sect. Not to mention mere changes to the Investiture of the Gods, even if he were to pierce a hole in the heavens, I, as the Hierarch, would have his back!

Now Big Brother asks me to severely punish Yu Yuan, forgive me, but I simply cannot agree!"

"Ah~"

Taiching Saint sighed lightly, apparently dissatisfied with this answer.

"If we do not severely punish the instigators, those who imitate such acts will inevitably emerge one after another, and it will become increasingly difficult for the teachings of Chan and Jie to coexist peacefully; eventually, even you brothers will be coerced by your disciples and followers, forced to confront each other in life-and-death struggles."

Sect Hierarch Tongtian nodded slightly, aware that Taiching Saint's words were true.

The Convocation of Chan and Jie Sect have already become as incompatible as fire and water. If not stopped, disciples from both sects will inevitably see each other as enemies and come to blows.

When it ultimately threatens the foundations of the great teachings, he and Yuanshi Tianzun, as Hierarchs, how could they simply stand by and do nothing?

No matter what, they must take action on this matter!

However, by doing so, the brotherly affection between them would no longer have any room for reconciliation.

"Elder Brother's words are certainly sensible, and I do not wish to create a farce of brotherly strife, but it is Second Brother's disciples who started it, and now he has even dispatched the persistent spirit of Origin Qilin…" Sect Hierarch Tongtian stated earnestly: "Second Brother can severely punish Nanji, but if I am to severely punish Yu Yuan, that I cannot do!"

Taiching Saint frowned slightly, looking displeased, and said sternly: "Since you insist on protecting Yu Yuan, neither the Investiture of the Gods nor the Divine Beating Whip can remain under your and Yuanshi's control."

"Hmm?"

Sect Hierarch Tongtian was momentarily taken aback, then quickly realized, "Is Big Brother planning to personally take charge of the Heavenly Book?"

"Precisely."

Taiching Saint nodded, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness: "When I divided the Heavenly Book into the Investiture of the Gods and the Divine Beating Whip, it was with the hope that you two brothers could cooperate together and improve your relationship—I did not expect it to incite even greater conflict.

It appears I did not consider thoroughly.

To prevent further troubles between your two teachings over the matter of Divine Enthronement, I can only take personal responsibility for it now.

As for Yu Yuan disobeying my orders and plotting to seize the Heavenly Book, I will spare him this time for your sake, but if he re-offends, he will be punished alongside his previous transgressions, with severe discipline!"

Having said this, the old Daoist did not wait for Sect Hierarch Tongtian to reply, and stood up to leave.

Sect Hierarch Tongtian hurriedly got up to see him out, wanting to say something but not knowing how to begin.

He escorted Taiching Saint to the door, watching as the other mounted the back of a blue ox and then drifted away, ascending upon a cloud.

Watching Taiching Saint ride off on the ox, Sect Hierarch Tongtian muttered to himself: "With Elder Brother taking charge of the Investiture of the Gods, there shouldn't be any more problems, right?"

…

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