Qilin Mountain.
Though called a mountain, it was in truth a vast island. However, this island was covered with towering peaks, each more rugged and majestic than the last. Ancient trees and rare blossoms grew in profusion, while spiritual herbs and fruits were astonishingly abundant, constantly releasing waves of fragrant spiritual essence that thickened the surrounding ambient Qi. At a glance, the entire place resembled a celestial paradise.
Rare and exotic beasts roamed freely through the forests.
Where the qilins congregated was a place known as Thousand Stone Forest. Despite the name, it wasn't a true forest but a cluster of tall, straight stone peaks. Each peak stood upright like an ancient tree, forming a strange, surreal landscape. The qilins had carved dwellings and even built palaces into the mountainsides.
Atop the tallest peak was a grand platform, upon which stood an enormous palace. A plaque above the palace doors bore three bold characters: Qilin Palace (麒麟宫). The walls of the main hall were covered with murals, each depicting qilins in vivid, lifelike scenes. The artistry conveyed a sense of divine spirit and vitality—one could even feel an invisible pressure radiating from them.
At this moment, inside the Qilin Palace—
A Qilin King sat upright on the throne, cloaked in royal qilin robes that exuded an aura of solidity and weight. His presence was infused with dense Earth Elemental Qi; his bloodline marked him as an Earth Qilin, naturally imbued with the power of the earth's heaviness and stability. Standing on solid ground, he could draw endless strength from it. His defense was nearly impenetrable. The Earth Qilin was considered one of the most terrifying existences within the element of earth.
Apart from the Earth Qilin King, several other powerful qilin figures were also gathered in the hall.
Unlike the Dragon Palace, the number of strong cultivators among the qilins was limited—only seven or eight true powerhouses. The rest were newborn qilins who had recently undergone transformation through the Qilin Blood Pool's sacred dew. These young ones were still cultivating within Qilin Mountain, receiving the clan's inheritance and copious resources. Given their bloodline, rapid growth and transformation was expected. Some could mature to a high level in record time.
The Qilin Blood Pool was itself a sacred land for cultivation among the qilins. Training there produced results with half the effort. These newly awakened qilins were born at the Life Diagram Realm, a testament to the power of the qilin bloodline.
They were born with an unreachable starting point.
The Qilin King's expression was serious. Before him, shifting images flickered rapidly through the air before coalescing into a glowing memory jade orb (留影珠), its divine light fading. The orb had recorded the earlier scenes and intelligence, transmitted by the qilin clan's informants.
"Everyone, what are your thoughts on the Great Yi Dynasty?"
The Qilin King asked in a calm but weighty tone.
One of the elders responded solemnly, "Based on what we've learned, the Emperor of Yi has married two dragon princesses—one from the Bohai Dragon Palace and one from the Vast Sea Dragon Palace. They are now kin by marriage. The dragon clan is able to share in a portion of Great Yi's fortune and destiny. Given the strength Great Yi has already displayed, if they fall entirely into the dragon clan's sphere of influence, the entire Hanhai Region could become a domain ruled by dragons alone."
A heavy silence fell over the hall.
It was understood that just as the dragon clan's elders could not intervene, neither could the qilin elders. Bound by the same laws, only the newly emerged younger generation could act. Even with a year of growth, the young qilins still lagged behind the overwhelming strength required to challenge the battlefield dominated by Great Yi. Facing them would be an immense challenge—not something taken lightly.
Under no circumstances could Great Yi be allowed to side fully with the dragon clan.
"Xue'er, I'm afraid this time, you must marry into Great Yi and wed the Emperor. We absolutely cannot let Great Yi fall under the dragon clan's sway. Moreover, that emperor is a human monarch of unparalleled talent. In the future, he may well be our backup path."
The Qilin King turned toward a girl standing nearby.
She was dressed in a dark palace gown, poised and elegant. Her hair, unusually, was pure white—not with any sign of age but imbued with a mysterious charm. Combined with her graceful figure, she resembled a living work of art. Her aura was cool, pure, and noble—like a maiden descended from the heavens.
Her beauty was astonishing. Her black eyes were like deep pools, drawing in all who looked into them. She exuded mystery, making others instinctively want to uncover the secrets within her.
She was Mo Xue, princess of the Hanhai Qilin lineage.
But Mo Xue wasn't an ordinary qilin. She was a variant bloodline: the Obsidian Jade Qilin (墨玉麒麟). Her body shimmered with a deep jade-black luster, with a stark contrast of pure white at her neck, like flawless jade. She was born immune to all evils, her constitution without blemish—a true living jade beauty, and one who possessed a top-tier dual cultivation physique.
"All is as Father commands," she said after a moment of silence.
No matter what, the Great Yi Dynasty was a worthy alliance. Moreover, winning over Great Yi was one of their highest priorities. Although she had never met Yi Tianxing, she had heard of him. Any woman, at the very least, would have a good first impression of such a figure—certainly not disgust or resistance.
Whether she could influence Yi Tianxing, however, was uncertain. The dragon princesses hadn't made any major headway either, though the shared fortune from their union remained unaffected.
It was still a successful alliance.
Great Yi had become a strategic power that all three ancient clans now had to win over. At least until the Heavenly Dao Seals were broken, it was imperative to keep them close.
"Very well. Once you enter the Great Yi palace, you don't need to scheme on behalf of our qilin clan. Just live peacefully as a royal consort, and if possible, bear a child for the Emperor—that will be more than enough. What matters most is your well-being. If you're happy, then I am content."
The Qilin King's voice softened.
He didn't want his daughter to whisper political manipulation into Yi Tianxing's ear. No ruler liked their consorts meddling in state affairs. That was the biggest taboo in the imperial court. Doing so might bring short-term gain, but would damage her long-term standing in Yi Tianxing's heart.
He was no fool. While this was a political marriage, he still wanted his daughter to be truly happy.
"Yes, Father. I understand," Mo Xue replied gently.
"Make your preparations. On the third day of the third lunar month, you will depart. The Emperor himself won't come—he cannot leave the territory of Great Yi—but according to their envoys, a military delegation will receive you at the border. You will also be joined by a phoenix princess, which means the royal palace of Great Yi will now include the daughters of the dragon, phoenix, and qilin clans. Act accordingly when the time comes."
Meanwhile, in Wutong Grove—
This island was filled with towering phoenix trees (梧桐树), each one ancient and brimming with spiritual resonance. On their vast branches, flocks of spiritual birds had built nests and begun to thrive.
The avians permitted to reside here were all of powerful bloodlines, many of them kin to the phoenix race.
For instance, the Qingluan clan (青鸾).
These noble birds, with forms resembling peacocks but larger than chickens, had brilliant plumage. Male birds had extraordinarily long tail feathers with many eye-like red and white patterns on their wings, giving them an unmistakably phoenix-like appearance. In ancient times, the red-colored ones were called "phoenix," while the blue ones were called "luan." They were omens of peace and celebration.
The Qingluan lived on the outer edges of Wutong Grove. Further in resided the Vermilion Birds (朱雀)—also close kin to the phoenix, but ones who had undergone mutation to become a new lineage.
Each Vermilion Bird was wreathed in blazing fire, flames so fierce that touching them would reduce most things to ash.
At the very heart of Wutong Grove stood a colossal phoenix tree, its thick canopy blotting out the sky. The entire tree glowed fiery red, its leaves resembling tongues of flame fluttering in the wind.
Atop the tree crown sat a majestic phoenix nest, constructed with artistic flair—resembling the famed "Bird's Nest" Olympic stadium from ancient China. Its materials were anything but ordinary: Blackgold Phoenix Tail Grass (乌金凤尾草), a rare spiritual plant known for its exceptional toughness. Once matured, even divine weapons could barely cut it.
Crucially, a single stalk could be severed, but when two or more were entwined, their strength multiplied—as if their Dao auras fused, reinforcing one another. When thousands of strands were woven together, they formed a nest nearly impossible to destroy.
This nest wasn't just massive—it was also a formidable artifact. Forged from the Blackgold Phoenix Tail Grass, it offered incredible resistance to divine arts and magical powers. Even the True Fire of Nirvana used in phoenix rebirth couldn't harm it; in fact, it would temper the nest, making it even stronger.
The older the nest, the more powerful it became—on par with supreme treasures.