"The Ruo Shui River is too thin, and the space above the river is similar to the Nanyu Forbidden Land. It's impossible to fly. If we want to enter the cave, we can only find a way to cross the river!"
Noticing Zhang Xuan's worry, the Phoenix Emperor said.
"Crossing the river?"
Su Yin was speechless. "Even a feather can't float. How can we cross it?"
"Don't worry about that!"
The Phoenix Emperor said, "The first time I came here, I was also stumped. I pondered for a long time before I found a solution. The buoyancy of Weak Water is so strong that not even hair can float, but it doesn't mean that it can't float anything! "
Seeing that he was prepared, Su Yin heaved a sigh of relief and looked over curiously.
The Phoenix Emperor continued, "In the lower reaches of the Ruo Shui River, there is a tree called 'Deer Li'. It blossoms every three hundred years and bears fruit every three hundred years. Each leaf of this tree has a radius of one zhang. As long as we cut it off, we can use it as a boat to carry us into the cave!"
"Lu Li?" Su Yin was confused.
Having grasped the Great Dao of Medicine and Great Dao of Agriculture, he had gained a deep understanding of many medicinal herbs and plants in the Immortal World. Nevertheless, he had never heard of this name before.
Phoenix Emperor: "It's a plant unique to the land of Northern Yuan. No one in the Immortal World should have heard of it. Even I only found out about it now. This kind of deershell tree has been extinct since ancient times. Moreover, only Ruoshui can grow it. Furthermore, it doesn't grow by the shore but in the river. Its color is similar to the river, making it difficult to detect with one's Spiritual Perception. Only by utilizing the [Fangwu Fish] can one find it … Forget it, there's no point in saying anything more. I'll bring you there! "
The Phoenix Thearch didn't say anything else. He took a step forward and walked to the riverside. With a flip of his wrist, a fishing rod and fishing line appeared in his palm.
The fishing line was as thick as a metal chain, and the hook was even more exaggerated. It was like an iron rod, and it was perfectly straight without any curve.
Could it be that he meant … fishing with a straight hook?
Just as Su Yin was feeling strange, Phoenix Thearch bit his fingertip and dripped a drop of blood onto the hook. He lightly flung the fishing line towards Ruoshui and landed in the middle of the river.
Su Yin's mouth twitched.
The water was so clean that it was almost transparent. Whether there was a fish or not, one could see it at a glance … Could it really be fished up?
Su Yin was puzzled, but he couldn't bring himself to ask. He could only sit quietly and wait.
Xiao Wu also tilted his head, full of curiosity.
"You should be able to transform into a human now, right?"
Su Yin took advantage of this gap to look at the parrot on his shoulder.
Feng Qiqiu was only an ordinary First Stage Saint, yet he could transform into a human, so this one could certainly do the same.
"Yes, but I don't think it's necessary. Parrots look better. Humans don't even have fur, and they need to wear clothes. It's too troublesome …" Xiao Wu pursed its lips.
"Uh!" Su Yin was speechless.
Humans occupied this era, so they felt that humans were the most agile. To other animals, humans were the most cumbersome.
They couldn't run as fast as horses, couldn't fly as fast as birds, couldn't swim as fast as fish and prawns, could freeze to death without clothes, and could fall sick when the weather changed …
No matter how one looked at it, it was completely incompatible with this world. It was like a foreign species.
As the man and bird spoke, the river water began to boil. The Phoenix Emperor's expression was grave. He tossed the hook upwards and a large transparent fish was hooked. It bit onto the blood essence on the hook and continuously sucked on it, refusing to let go no matter what.
"There really is?" Su Yin was surprised.
This fish was transparent, and its internal organs were clearly visible. When it melted into the water, it was like liquid. If one didn't look carefully, they wouldn't have noticed it.
The Phoenix Emperor pulled the hook up and shook it gently. The large transparent fish landed on the grass.
Strangely, when this fish touched the ground, it immediately turned into a dark green color, as if it had turned into a stalk of grass.
"Color Changing Fish?" Su Yin was stunned.
It was a strange fish that could change its color according to the environment.
"Uncultured. You're the Color Changing Fish. Your whole family is called Color Changing Fish.
I'm the Color Changing Fish! "Upon hearing Su Yin's words, the fish was displeased and snorted.
"This …" Su Yin's mouth twitched.
A fish not only could change its color, it could also speak. He just didn't know how it tasted …
"Senior Tooth Fish, please don't blame him. My friend is young, so it's not surprising that he doesn't know you. Since you've eaten my blood, it means that you've agreed to my request. I hope you can lead us to the Deer Shell Tree!"
The Phoenix Emperor hurriedly said.
"Deer Shell Tree?" The Tooth Fish looked arrogant. "Give me three drops of your blood!"
The Phoenix Emperor frowned. "Three drops?"
"That's right. There are two of you and one of you. That's three drops … Otherwise, no way!" The Tooth Fish said.
The Phoenix Emperor hesitated for a moment before nodding his head. "Alright!"
After which, he flicked his finger and two more drops of blood flew over.
"That's more like it …"
With a satisfied grunt, Zhigo's thick tail swung violently on the ground and plunged into the water. The next moment, it turned transparent again and disappeared without a trace.
"Oh no, it escaped …"
Su Yin frowned.
He had given the blood too early. It seemed like the other party had already escaped. With a transparent body and water, it would be difficult to catch it.
"Don't worry. The Tooth Fish is also known as the Trustworthy Fish. As long as it agrees, it won't escape!"
The Phoenix Emperor said. "The ancestors of the Four Mythical Beasts were able to come here from the end of the Ruo Shui River and leave successfully because of them."
Su Yin nodded his head.
Since the Phoenix Emperor was so confident, it might be true.
A river that couldn't float on water and a fish that could change its color … This Northern Yuan was completely different from the other places in the Celestial Realm. It gave off a strange feeling.
Walking to the riverside, Zhang Xuan grabbed the water from the Ruo Shui River and grabbed it.
Driving his strength, Su Yin opened his palm. Immediately, he felt a sharp pain. The water from the river seeped into his palm. In the next moment, the water in his palm was also brought out. His skin began to dry up, as though it was being burned by flames.
Su Yin was stunned.
The Phoenix Emperor was right. Not only could the water penetrate one's palm, it could also dehydrate one. It was truly terrifying.
Zhang Xuan's glabella jolted. The energy from the Origin Energy Pearl surged into his body, restoring his dehydrated palm to its original state. Even though he could still resist the water, he didn't dare to use his hands to grab the water anymore.
He took out a pot and a bowl to fill it up. As long as he picked it up, the water would flow out. It was as though the pot that he used to hold water had become a funnel.
"Weak Water is too thin. Ordinary containers are no different from funnels to it. Only a ladle can scoop it up … Of course, it can't be carried away much. This is the so-called 'Weak Water of Three Thousand Weak Water', but only a ladle can be taken away!"
Seeing Zhang Xuan's actions, the Phoenix Emperor explained.
Zhang Xuan took out a ladle and filled it up. Indeed, it stopped leaking.
"Everything has its weakness …" Su Yin sighed helplessly.
Regardless of whether it was his pot or his palm, the density of the water was definitely higher than that of the ladle. However, the Ruo Shui could only be filled with the ladle.
Zhang Xuan kept the ladle of water into his storage ring.
Even though he didn't know what it was for, as a Weapon Saint and Poison Saint, he had to take some of it with him. Otherwise, it would be troublesome for him to find it when he needed it.
Right after he kept the ladle of water, the surface of the river began to ripple once more. Following which, the translucent fish from before dived out from the bottom of the river. Opening its mouth, it spat something forward.
A thick mist spurted out from its mouth and landed on the surface of the water.
The figure of a huge tree was revealed.
Its entire body was transparent, reminiscent of glass. Its leaves were huge, and each of them was at least a zhang in radius.
"I'm only responsible for bringing the tree over. Whether you can cut it down or not is up to you …" The Fangwu Fish bellowed coldly. In the next moment, it dived back into the water and disappeared.
Chuckling softly, the Phoenix Monarch stretched her hand forward.
Three sword qi burst forth, and the leaves were sliced off. At this moment, the mist spurted out by the Fangwu Fish disappeared along with the translucent Deershell Tree. It was as though it had never appeared in the first place.
"It's a success!"
The Phoenix Monarch heaved a sigh of relief. She turned around and instructed, "One leaf each. The leaves will bring us into the cavern!"
Su Yin turned to look at the leaves.
They were still translucent, but the surface of the leaves was filled with tiny bugs. It was an extremely bizarre sight.
"These bugs are called Li! They are able to float on the surface of the Ruo Shui. If we want to cross the river, we can only rely on them. Furthermore, they live on the Deershell Tree … "Understanding Zhang Xuan's doubts, the Phoenix Monarch explained. She leaped onto one of the leaves.
Su Yin and Xiao Wu followed suit.
While they were in the air, they could feel that the space above the river had been sealed, preventing them from flying.
As their feet came into contact with the leaves of the Deershell Tree, the tiny bugs below immediately crawled against the current and swam swiftly toward the cavern.
"Nothing is too strange in this vast world …" Su Yin exclaimed.
Regardless of whether it was the Ruo Shui, the Deershell Tree, the Fangwu Fish, or Li, they had all broadened his horizons. He was filled with disbelief.
Going against the current, they quickly entered the cavern. Not long after they entered, the space shook, and the Phoenix Empress and Feng Qiqiu also arrived at the riverside.
"What should we do?" Feng Qiqiu asked as she looked toward the depths of the cavern.
They had arrived earlier, but they were afraid that the Phoenix Monarch would discover them. Thus, they had seen the actions of Su Yin and the others clearly.
"We can only repeat their actions. Otherwise, we won't be able to enter!" the Phoenix Empress said.
Recalling her father's actions, Feng Qiqiu made a straight hook and started fishing. Not long after, the Fangwu Fish appeared again. It said the same thing and gave the same blood. After a set of procedures, they indeed cut off two leaves.
Smiling, the mother and daughter pair were about to jump onto the leaves and swim against the current when they heard a faint laughter.
"Thank you, both of you. I'll take these two leaves with me first …"
Their bodies stiffened as they felt their bodies being restrained. The next moment, the figure of a young man appeared on the surface of the river. Who else could it be but Xue Qianqiu!
"You …"
They didn't expect someone to beat them to it after preparing for so long. The Phoenix Empress and Feng Qiqiu were furious.
However, at the same time, they were also filled with shock.
To be able to restrain them so easily without them noticing, what kind of strength was this?
"This Xue Qianqiu has probably reached the sixth grade …" The Phoenix Empress trembled slightly as she watched the young man getting further and further away. She wanted to chase after him, but she didn't dare to.
She was only at the beginning of the fifth grade. Against a sixth grade, she would definitely die.
"So fast?"
Her body stiffened. Feng Qiqiu also couldn't believe it.
When they went to snatch the Passion Saint's corpse yesterday, this guy wasn't a Saint yet. He was only at the peak of the Sage-to-be. He wasn't even qualified to fight with her. She didn't expect him to reach the sixth grade in just a day … His improvement was too fast!
"Stop sighing. Hurry up and get the leaves. Otherwise, I'm afraid your father will be in danger …"
The Phoenix Empress' expression was ugly.
Although she was angry, she was still worried about the Phoenix Emperor.
"Un!"
Feng Qiqiu was also worried. She repeated the previous steps.
She didn't know if it was because of the Fangwu Fish or because the latter only had seven seconds of memory. As long as she gave it blood essence, it would help her find the leaves.
Soon, the two stepped onto the Fangwu Fish Leaf and sped toward the cave.
…
"With the Qilin Arm, my luck is indeed much better!"
On the leaf, Xue Qianqiu smiled as he looked at the Ruoshui under his feet.
After refining the Qilin Arm, he naturally knew the location of Northern Yuan. However, he didn't know how the Ruoshui would cross over. He didn't expect to meet the Phoenix Empress and the others just as he was worrying.
Although he didn't know why they were here, meeting them ahead of time was enough to show that his luck was extremely good.
The auspicious name of the Qilin was indeed well-deserved.
As for the Phoenix Emperor and Su Yin … they had left earlier. When he arrived, they had already entered the cave, so he didn't see them.
"Let's see where the Qilin Heart is. I'll lure it out and leave after taking it …"
With his hands behind his back, Xue Qianqiu's eyes gleamed.
According to the Qilin Emperor's memories that his teacher had refined, the Qilin Heart was hidden in the depths of Northern Yuan. Only by using the limbs or a part of the Qilin's body could one sense it and summon it.
Other than him, who else in the world could succeed?
It was obvious that he would succeed!
"Bloodline Sense …"
He raised his right hand and shook it.
An illusory figure of a Qilin immediately appeared above the leaf. It roared furiously, and the river seemed to have sensed it. It crashed into the cave, producing a whimpering sound.
"It's indeed inside …"
Sensing something, Xue Qianqiu was agitated.
Qilin Heart, here I come!
…
The cave was slightly dark. Upon entering, one could see the meandering river. It was impossible to see how deep it was, as it was completely blocked by the rock walls.
Standing on the leaf and sensing his surroundings, Su Yin frowned. He didn't dare to let his guard down.
"This place has been sealed for tens of thousands of years. There's no danger here …"
Seeing Zhang Xuan in such a state, the Phoenix Emperor chuckled.
The last time he was here, it was extremely safe. Other than the Ruoshui, Fangwu Fish, and Deer Shell Tree, there was no danger at all.
"Even though my Great Path of Heavens isn't able to divine what's going to happen, I still feel that something is amiss.
That's right, "Su Yin said.
"What is it?" Phoenix Monarch asked doubtfully.
"Someone is coming to deliver something to me!" Su Yin said.
After entering the cave, he had used the Great Path of Heavens to divine a divination.
Indeed, there wasn't much danger, but it was a huge reward. It was as if someone was trying to give him something that he didn't want.
One who was unaccountably solicitous was hiding evil intentions!
Furthermore, there were no other lifeforms here. Who could possibly give him something?
Clearly, something was amiss. No matter what, it was best to be careful.
"This …"
Not expecting Zhang Xuan's divination to be this, Phoenix Monarch was perplexed.
After experiencing the Nanyu Forbidden Land, he knew how accurate and fearsome the Great Path of Heavens was. Since the other party had said so, it couldn't be without reason.
Just that, to rush to deliver something … Was there really such a kind person in the world?
"Master, it seems like … I can sense something. It's similar to my bloodline!"
Just as Su Yin and Phoenix Monarch were feeling nervous, a voice sounded.
It was Dahei in the beast sack!
With a flick of his wrist, Donkey appeared on the leaf where Xiao Wu was standing.
Donkey blinked his large eyes in bewilderment. "It seems like something in the depths of the river has been activated, and it's calling out to me!"
"Calling out to you?" Su Yin was still perplexed when Phoenix Monarch's breathing hastened. "Could it be … the heart of the Qilin Monarch?"
Su Yin looked at Phoenix Monarch doubtfully.
Phoenix Monarch explained, "Back then, Firmament and Yellow Springs besieged the Qilin Emperor and killed him on the Changyang Mountain. After the Qilin Monarch was beheaded, he used his nipples as his eyes and his navel as his mouth to fight against the other party. Even though he eventually lost, he still turned into a fragmented soul and escaped with his heart and his strength. Firmament was infuriated, and they searched for him for three hundred years, but to no avail … In the end, the matter was left unsettled. Back then, I guessed that he might have escaped to Northern Yuan to avoid detection, but to think that it was actually true!
"This heart isn't as simple as it seems. Not only does it contain the Qilin Monarch's lifetime of cultivation, it also carries his purest bloodline. If you can obtain it, your tamed beast will be able to wield strength on par with Xiao Wu for a short period of time!"
Su Yin's body jolted in shock.
If Dahei's cultivation was at grade-6 pinnacle as well, he wouldn't have to worry about the ceremony anymore.
"You didn't notice it the last time you were here?"
"The Qilin Monarch's heart is hidden very well, such that only the Qilin Monarch's body can sense it. As for your tamed beast, even though it contains the Qilin Monarch's bloodline, logically speaking, it shouldn't have been able to sense it either … I'm also curious as to why you were able to trigger it! "Phoenix Monarch frowned in bewilderment.
Back then, the Qilin Monarch had left his heart intact in order to preserve the future of the Qilin Tribe.
Even though Dahei's bloodline carried the Qilin Monarch's bloodline, it was simply too thin. Even if he could sense it, he shouldn't have been able to sense it from so far away.
Even as a fellow divine beast, he couldn't figure out what had happened.
All he could say was that he was simply too lucky.
Su Yin asked, "I'm curious. What realm did the Qilin Monarch reach back then? Why did Firmament and the others want to kill him? "
Phoenix Monarch replied, "The Qilin Monarch was the strongest of the Four Divine Beasts. He was only half a step away from becoming a Master of the Laws, and he was the strongest expert of the Ancient Era. As for why he was besieged, it was because of your teachers!"
Su Yin was taken aback. "My teachers?"
Phoenix Monarch replied, "He revered the Human Dao, and he believed that the human race would definitely prosper. He even said that he would be willing to become the Human Sovereign's mount if he were to appear … That was why he was besieged by Firmament and the Yellow Springs …"
Su Yin was rendered speechless.
He didn't think that his thirty-six teachers would be able to pull such a powerful expert to their side. It seemed like the ancient war was even more terrifying than he had imagined.
"Don't think too much about it. The Qilin Monarch's heart is calling out to you. Let's find it and refine it as soon as possible lest something unexpected happens …" Phoenix Monarch said.
Su Yin nodded. Then, he turned to Dahei and said, "Sense the location of the heart!"
"Alright!" Dahei nodded.
There were many passageways in the cavern. Sensing the direction of the bloodline calling out to them, they steered the leaves forward slowly. Soon, a dark-red rock that was floating on the surface of the water appeared before them. Upon closer inspection, they could see the ripples on the surface of the water.
Su Yin frowned. "Is this the Qilin Monarch's heart?"
Phoenix Monarch nodded. "The water is so thin that almost nothing can withstand it. However, this rock is able to stand on it. It's very likely that it is. Dahei, smear the Qilin blood in your body on it and see if you can assimilate it! "
Donkey nodded. A droplet of blood essence flew toward the rock, and it was absorbed in the blink of an eye. In the next moment, the rock began to vibrate even faster, as if its heartbeat was accelerating.
"How is it?" Su Yin asked.
Donkey shook his head. "I don't feel anything … I can't assimilate it either!"
"Your bloodline is too thin. Continue!" Phoenix Monarch said.
Knowing that it was for his own good, Dahei didn't waste any time. He continued to drip more blood essence onto the rock. After a dozen drops, he was already starting to feel a little weak.
As for the rock, its vibrations became even more intense. The surrounding water surged like a tidal wave, and the faint sound of drums could be heard. It was as if countless soldiers were lying in ambush beneath the water.
"My bloodline is still too thin. I can't even break the seal on the surface …"
Phoenix Monarch frowned. "Unless there's a way to make it even purer!"
"This …"
A bitter smile appeared on Su Yin's face. "There are two ways to improve one's bloodline. The first is to find enough blood essence for it to assimilate. The second is to find the carcass of a mythological beast and assimilate it into one's body. However, both of these methods are nearly impossible …"
The Qilin Emperor had been killed ten thousand years ago, and his bloodline and flesh had long been taken away by Cang Qiong and the others. Where could he find it?
If he couldn't find it, he wouldn't be able to assimilate Dahei's heart. He had found a peerless treasure, but this was the result. He was extremely frustrated.
"Indeed …" Phoenix Monarch pondered for a moment, but he couldn't think of a better idea. He could only sigh helplessly. "If only the carcass of the Qilin Emperor was here …"
"That thing is incomparably valuable. There's no way Cang Qiong would take it out …" Su Yin shook his head and sighed. Just then, he heard the sound of flowing water, as if something was swimming over from behind.
Su Yin's eyes narrowed. Phoenix Monarch's eyes also narrowed.
Wasn't there no one here?
"Hide behind the rock!" Su Yin pointed.
There were no stairs in the cave that could be climbed, and they couldn't fly. The only place to hide was behind the rock.
Phoenix Monarch and Donkey nodded at the same time. With a sway of their bodies, they hid behind the rock.
Just as everyone was in hiding, they heard the sound of flowing water getting louder and louder. A figure circled around the corner of the cave and appeared in their line of sight.
"Xue Qianqiu?"
Su Yin was stunned.
The person who appeared in front of him was none other than the Child of Wealth. But … wasn't he severely injured by him? Why would he suddenly appear here?
Furthermore, his aura was surging, and he was filled with energy. He was much stronger than him!
"Fifth Grade Sage!"
Su Yin's pupils shrank as he narrowed his eyes.
The reason why he was able to achieve a breakthrough so quickly was because he had assimilated more than ten sets of the Sage's carcass and comprehended more than ten rules of Dao. Wasn't the other party's improvement too fast?
In just four hours, not only had he recovered from his injuries, but his cultivation had also reached the level of an item. This fellow's talent was unparalleled!
It was no wonder why he was able to win the favor of the Cangqiong Saint.
"Haha, I've searched high and low for you, only to find it by chance!"
Unaware that there was someone behind the rock, Xue Qianqiu walked into the cave and saw the beating heart before him. His eyes lit up in agitation. Grabbing at the air, four thick claws materialized on his right hand, and he flew into the air like a massive Qilin.
"This …" Su Yin was stunned. "Qilin Arm?"
"He forged the four limbs of a Qilin into his own right arm … It must be the Cangqiong Saint's help. With his strength alone, it's impossible for him to succeed!" Phoenix Monarch nodded.
The two of them were the strongest experts in the world, so how could they not see what was going on?
"I see …" Su Yin widened his eyes in realization.
As expected of the victor ten thousand years ago, Xue Qianqiu's teacher sure had a lot of treasures!
On the other hand, all that was left was a pile of bones. More importantly, he had to search for it himself. There wasn't even a hint for him to do so …
After grabbing at the rock a few times, Xue Qianqiu saw that it didn't budge at all. He immediately understood what was going on. With a flick of his finger, he sliced open the Qilin Arm, and fresh blood immediately gushed toward the rock.
Tzzzzz!
As soon as the two came into contact, the rock seemed to have sensed something, and it began to tremble in excitement.
Xue Qianqiu continued infusing fresh blood into the rock, and in just ten breaths, he had already infused more than a hundred droplets of his blood essence into the rock.
At this moment, even though Xue Qianqiu was a grade-5 Sage, he still felt a little light-headed.
Boom!
It was at this moment that the rock seemed to have finally acknowledged Xue Qianqiu as its master. With a resounding boom, it burst open from the middle, and a massive heart floated into the air. The beating of the heart carried a unique aura.
It was as if the world was breathing.
With just a look, Xue Qianqiu could tell that even if he didn't assimilate the rock, he would still be able to raise his cultivation swiftly just by observing it for a short period of time.
More importantly … this was the heart of the Qilin. Once I assimilated it, I would be able to bring about a surge of fortune. By then, I wouldn't have to fear Su Yin at all!
"My luck has indeed improved significantly with the Qilin Arm!"
Xue Qianqiu roared in agitation, "Assimilate!"
His right hand transformed into a Qilin hoof, and he grabbed at his heart again.
Hu!
Just as the claws were about to land on the Qilin Heart, the latter abruptly vanished. With a whoosh, he vanished from the spot and shrank down, burrowing into one of the donkeys at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"This …"
Xue Qianqiu was stunned on the spot.
How dare a donkey snatch my possession? You're courting death!
With a furious roar, the claws came crashing down on the Qilin Heart. Space was torn apart in an instant, and the immense pressure exerted on the Ruoshui River caused it to groan softly.
He was truly enraged!
The Qilin Heart would determine whether he could achieve a breakthrough to grade-6 or not. He couldn't afford to lose it!
Hu!
Just as the claws were about to land on the Qilin Heart, a sword suddenly appeared and pierced right toward him.
The Sword Intent morphed into 108 surges of sword qi and clashed with the claws of the Qilin Heart.
Si la!
Xue Qianqiu felt a sharp pain in his palm, and fresh blood seeped out once more.
"A grade-5 pinnacle Saint artifact …"
With a livid face, Xue Qianqiu recognized the tier of the sword. It had already reached grade-5 pinnacle, and it was on par with him.
"Su Yin …"
Xue Qianqiu clenched his fists tightly.
Upon seeing the sword and the Sword Intent, Xue Qianqiu immediately knew who was here. Turning around, he saw the young man and the Phoenix Monarch standing on two tree leaves with smiles on their faces.
"Xue gongzi, I trust that you have been well," Su Yin greeted.
It was no wonder why the Way of Heavens showed that someone was willing to gift him a treasure for free. He was still perplexed by the situation earlier, but upon seeing the young man before him, he immediately understood.
Alright, there should be no problem at all.
"I'll kill you!"
Not to mention, the other party had just snatched his Qilin Heart. With a furious roar, the arm of the Qilin tore through the air and charged toward Zhang Xuan.
Even though his cultivation was only at grade-5 pinnacle, through the four limbs of the Qilin and his Way of Heavens, he was able to exert a cultivation comparable to a grade-6 cultivator!
"As expected of the chosen one. Incredible!"
Su Yin narrowed his eyes in astonishment.
Xue Qianqiu sure was lucky. Every time he fought, he would grow stronger and obtain more treasures. It was fortunate that his True Dragon Sword and Heaven Measuring Ruler had improved significantly, or else he would have surely suffered a loss today!
"Phoenix Emperor, there's no need for you to interfere!"
Seeing that the Phoenix Emperor was a little worried, Su Yin let out a low shout. He thrust out his True Dragon Sword, and in the blink of an eye, his sword qi formed a thin curtain in the air.
After comprehending the Way of Sword Saint, he was able to use all sorts of sword techniques. This sword technique was a famous defensive sword technique called Luqi Sword Technique.
Luqi was a type of thin silk that was as light as muslin, and it was the thinnest and thinnest in the entire Celestial World.
When the wind was weak, it could not raise feathers; when an arrow was at the end of its flight, it could not enter the luqi.
Even if an arrow shot from a strong bow was shot extremely far away, it would not be able to penetrate the extremely thin luqi when its strength was exhausted.
The curtain formed by the Luqi Sword Technique had such an effect. It looked thin, but in reality, it could exhaust the opponent's strength, making it impossible for him to advance.
As expected, before Xue Qianqiu's strength could reach Zhang Xuan, it had already dissipated.
"Your sword technique is indeed powerful. I might not be able to defeat you at the same level, but … there's a grade-1 difference between us. Let's see how you're going to make up for it!"
Xue Qianqiu's claws did not retreat but continued to press down.
Si la!
The Luqi Sword Technique was torn apart.
Su Yin was only at grade-4 pinnacle whereas Xue Qianqiu was at grade-5 pinnacle. There was a huge gap between every grade-1 Saint.
Even though the True Dragon Sword had also reached grade-5 pinnacle, Zhang Xuan's cultivation was insufficient to bring out its full might.
"It's impossible to make up for the difference of a grade-1 Saint! It's fortunate that I still have my artifacts … "
With a light chuckle, Su Yin flicked his finger, and the Heaven Reckoning Ruler appeared before him.
Hu!
In an instant, Xue Qianqiu's body seemed to have been bound by something, and he was rooted to the spot.
Even though they were at the same cultivation realm, the effects of the Power of Precept and the Water of Northern Underworld were simply too great.
"Unparalleled Sword Intent, slash!"
Knowing that there was no time to lose, Su Yin's eyebrows shot up, and a burst of sword qi descended.
Puhe!
"Ahhh!"
With a cry of agony, Xue Qianqiu's arm was severed once more.
Seeing that his move had succeeded, Su Yin flicked his finger, and several surges of sword qi dived into Xue Qianqiu's arm. In the blink of an eye, the intent harnessed within the sword qi was extinguished.
Huala!
Xue Qianqiu's arm reverted back into four thick Qilin claws, and it fell right before Donkey.
"Assimilate!" Su Yin bellowed.
"Yes!" Knowing that this was an opportunity for it, Dahei dared not hesitate. It stomped its hooves on the leaf, and slowly, it began to fuse with the Qilin's claws.
The two of them came from the same source, and Donkey's body was extremely ordinary. Thus, they were able to fuse together perfectly in the blink of an eye.
Hong long long!
A violent surge of energy coursed through Dahei's body, and in the blink of an eye, it broke through Half-Saint and Half-Saint to become a True Sage.
As a divine beast, it did not undergo any lightning tribulations. In less than three breaths, it had already reached the cultivation of a True Sage.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Su Yin bellowed, "Assimilate the heart!"
Even though Dahei had managed to retrieve the heart with his help, he was still unable to assimilate it. However, with the help of the Qilin's Claws, he was finally able to do so.
"Son! Son!"
Dahei knew that this was a crucial moment, so it raised its head and roared furiously.
Boom!
After entering the heart, Zhang Xuan's bloodline began to surge furiously. The trump card that Ancient Sage Yi Dun had left behind was activated, and some kind of seal was undone. Following which, an incredibly powerful energy surged through Zhang Xuan's body through his meridians.
The Phoenix Monarch had once said that the Qilin God Monarch had sealed his cultivation in his heart during the battle with Cang Qiong and the others. From the looks of it, that was indeed the case.
Furthermore, this energy was not something that could be released by just anyone. It required a specific timing and bloodline.
Dahei was created by Yi Dun using a portion of the Qilin God Monarch's blood, and it fulfilled the requirements perfectly.
The powerful energy swiftly purified Donkey's bloodline and nourished his body, causing his cultivation to soar at a rate visible to the naked eye.
Second rank!
Third rank!
Fourth rank!
…
In just ten breaths, Donkey had already become a fifth rank True Sage, surpassing even Su Yin's cultivation.
"Pu!"
At this moment, Xue Qianqiu had also recovered from the seal. He spurted a mouthful of blood, and his eyes were bloodshot.
"Su Yin, you and I are absolutely irreconcilable …"
With a furious roar, he flicked his wrist, and a jade token appeared in the air. Controlling the leaf, he turned around and fled, seemingly knowing that he was not a match for Zhang Xuan.
How could Su Yin allow Xue Qianqiu to escape? He was just about to chase after Xue Qianqiu when the jade token suddenly exploded in midair. It was as if a dazzling sun had suddenly appeared in a dark cavern.
The jade token harnessed the full might of the Golden Crow Sage. While it did not wield too much offensive power, it was simply too dazzling. Even a sixth rank True Sage would find it hard to focus his attention for a short period of time.
In an instant, Su Yin felt his vision darken, as if he had been blinded.
"This is bad …"
Su Yin did not think that Xue Qianqiu would have such a trump card.
As expected of a genius who had been fighting with him for so long. He sure had a lot of treasures.
"Whoosh!"
At the moment when the jade token exploded, a path suddenly appeared. It looked like Xue Qianqiu had stepped into the river and arrived in front of Dahei in a single step.
At this moment, Donkey was fully focused on refining the heart. He did not notice that Xue Qianqiu was already right in front of him.
"Haha! Su Yin, I've suffered so many losses in your hands. Did you really think that I wouldn't be prepared? When I saw Phoenix Queen and Feng Qiqiu by the river, I guessed that you might be inside. I purposely triggered the heart so that you could refine it … "
Xue Qianqiu reached out his remaining hand toward Dahei. He laughed out loud. "I have my teacher's aura in me, so I can't release the cultivation hidden in the Qilin Heart. Now that you've released your power, I won't hold back! After devouring it, I can reach the peak of the sixth rank and even become the Master of Laws. I can then kill all of you … "
As the most valued disciple of the Cangqiong Saint, how could he be a fool?
When he saw Phoenix Queen and Feng Qiqiu, he guessed that Phoenix Emperor and Su Yin might be inside. Hence, he purposely gave his arm to them so that they could refine the heart!
The Qilin Emperor was killed by his teacher. There must be a backup plan in the heart to prevent his teacher from refining it. If he tried to refine it himself, he might suffer a backlash … Hence, even if he managed to snatch the heart, it would be difficult to take it for himself in a short period of time.
With this Donkey, things were different!
The power in the heart was released. In other words, as long as he refined this donkey, he would be able to refine the Qilin Emperor. Breaking through to the sixth rank would be a piece of cake!
Everything was going according to plan.
As for how Ruoshui arrived in front of Blackie when she couldn't fly … Previously, she had taken two leaves from the Phoenix Queen. She had used one of them and secretly hid the other between her and the donkey. That was how she could easily arrive in front of Blackie.
Su Yin's expression turned ugly when he heard what Xue Qianqiu said.
As expected, he could not underestimate anyone, especially this person.
However, he was not nervous because … a faint snort was heard.
"Idiot!"
A parrot standing on Dahei's head reached out its claws.
The world changed color. Before Xue Qianqiu could even react, he felt the power that he had used to attack the donkey shattering inch by inch. Following which, a surge of scorching flames gushed forth, incinerating his hair and clothes.
At the same time, his internal organs were severely injured. Blood kept spurting out of his mouth and nose.
"It's … the Undying Phoenix? A peak sixth-rank Saint? How is that possible? Who are you? "
Xue Qianqiu felt like he was going crazy.
From the moment he entered, he had started planning. Everything was perfect. If nothing went wrong, he would be able to refine Dahei and break through to the sixth rank Saint!
At that time, he would be able to kill Su Yin and the others.
His plan was flawless, and he was about to succeed. However, he did not expect the small parrot standing on the other party's head to be a phoenix!
Moreover, it was a peak sixth-rank Undying Phoenix!
Wasn't this bloodline extinct?
When did it pop up? More importantly … shouldn't someone with such a noble bloodline be proud of him? To make him look like a parrot … Was there something wrong with his head?
"Me?" Hearing Xue Qianqiu's question, the parrot tilted its head and looked at Xue Qianqiu seriously. "My name is Xiao Wu. You can call me Brother Wu … Un, the mysterious Brother Wu!"
"Pu!"
Mysterious your head!
Frenzied, Xue Qianqiu exerted his strength and tore apart the leaves beneath his feet. At the same time, he leaped onto his own leaf and drove it out of the cavern.
With the protection of a peak sixth-rank Undying Phoenix, it was impossible for him to capture Donkey. On top of that, Su Yin and the Phoenix Monarch were also around him. Needless to say, he had failed once more. If he did not escape now, he might never be able to do so again.
Even though he was at a disadvantage, he still had the courage to cut his own wrists.
Besides, as long as he was still alive, there was still a chance for him to make a comeback. What was there to be afraid of?
His movements were swift, and he destroyed a leaf to escape. In the blink of an eye, he was already more than a hundred meters away.
"I'm safe now …" Xue Qianqiu heaved a sigh of relief.
The speed of the leaves in the Weak Water was about the same. Under the circumstances where no one could fly, it would be impossible for the other party to catch up to them once they were more than a hundred meters away.
As long as he escaped from this place, he could capture the Phoenix Monarch and Feng Qiqiu as hostages.
This was the reason why he didn't kill the two of them previously!
Driving the leaf, Zhang Xuan was just about to speed up when the claws of the phoenix came crashing down on his head. His face turned livid. Raising his head, he saw that the parrot that had been on the donkey's head a moment ago was now hovering above his head, attacking him relentlessly!
Xue Qianqiu was in disbelief. "Flying is forbidden above the Weak Water. You … How are you able to fly?"
The parrot looked at the other party disdainfully as if looking at a fool. "I know how to fly!"
Flying was forbidden above the Weak Water. Cultivators who relied on their strength to fly could only swim by stepping on leaves. However, the parrot was different. It knew how to fly from the start. Was it that difficult to do so?
"Pu!"
Being looked down upon by a bird, Xue Qianqiu couldn't hold back anymore. Blood spurted from his mouth, and he nearly fainted.
Ignoring the other party, the parrot pressed down once more.
Huala!
The leaves below were torn apart, and Xue Qianqiu was struck once more.
He was only at the fifth rank, an entire realm lower than Xiao Wu. On top of that, his arm had been severed, and his blood essence had been depleted. How could he possibly withstand the attack? Putong! He fell into the water.
Feeling the water seeping into his body, his heart, and his lungs, Xue Qianqiu fell into despair.
"I can't die here. I still have to kill Su Yin!"
In a moment of desperation, a thought popped up in his mind. "The passing of time is fleeting, unwilling to part with day and night …"
In the instant of his death, he gained a deeper understanding of the Dao of Time.
"The flow of time is unavoidable. It's the same for the Weak Water …"
Hong long!
In an instant, the extinguished Dao of Time released a blinding light. Xue Qianqiu, who was on the verge of death, suddenly regained his strength. In the blink of an eye, he had regained his peak strength, and he charged toward the depths of the Weak Water.
Huala!
A tall and slender figure charged out from the bottom of the Weak Water and flew out of the cavern.
After comprehending the connection between the Weak Water and Time, he was able to fly above the Weak Water River. However, his injuries were simply too severe. He still wasn't a match for the Undying Phoenix, Phoenix Monarch, and Su Yin. Thus, he chose to avoid them for the time being.
"Su Yin, although you took away my Qilin arm this time, my understanding of the Great Dao of Time has deepened in this life-and-death situation. If nothing unexpected happens, I will soon break through to become a Rank Six Saint, or even a Master of Laws. Just wait for me to kill you!
With a roar, the Dao of Spring and Autumn vanished from sight. Xue Qianqiu was nowhere to be seen.
"This …"
After recovering from the aftermath of the jade talisman's explosion, Su Yin frowned.
As expected of the Son of Destiny. The more danger he faced, the more his potential would be stimulated, allowing him to display greater tenacity and fighting prowess.
"Master, you still can't catch up to him?" Xiao Wu flew over.
"I can't catch up to him anymore!" Su Yin shook his head.
Xue Qianqiu had comprehended the connection between the Weak Water and Time. The Weak Water River was no longer a threat to him. Even if he couldn't defeat Xue Qianqiu, he could just hide in the water.
Instead of wasting time, he might as well give up.
Furthermore, with Xue Qianqiu's constitution, which grew stronger the more he fought, it was best not to make a move without killing him in one blow. Otherwise, who knew how much Xue Qianqiu would improve.
"Phoenix Empress and Feng Qiqiu are here too. Let's go and save Empress Peacock!"
Su Yin grabbed and kept Dahei into his Essence Energy Pearl.
Knowing that Xue Qianqiu had comprehended something and would definitely escape to find a place to improve his cultivation, the Phoenix Monarch nodded and followed closely.
After finding the direction, the two sped up.
Along the way, Su Yin also understood that not all birds could fly. One had to reach the level of Rank 6 to do so.
Because of this, even though the Phoenix Monarch was also a bird, he couldn't fly as freely as Xue Qianqiu.
More than ten minutes later, the two men and one bird arrived at the end of the cave. A huge water screen appeared before them, hanging on the wall like a mural.
On the water surface, there seemed to be thousands of beasts galloping.
"This is the Divine Beast Mural?" Su Yin looked over.
The Phoenix Monarch nodded. "Legend has it that the ancestors of the Four Divine Beasts came from this water screen … Therefore, this is also the origin of us Divine Beasts!"
Su Yin nodded.
Beside the water screen was a small stone platform. On top of it was a coffin. Below it were two trenches with weak water flowing through them.
On top of the coffin was an oil lamp. The flame was the size of a bean. It seemed to have been burning for a long time without being extinguished.
The Phoenix Monarch heaved a sigh of relief. "Xiaoru is in this coffin …"
Su Yin had the leaf come to the shore with some doubts. He walked over. There were no seals or formations in the surroundings. In fact, there weren't any protective measures at all.
This coffin was completely different from the tomb keeper's. It was carved out of wood and didn't have any protection. Wasn't he worried that he would be eaten by the Fangwu Fish?
Even though he had only seen the Fangwu Fish once, he could tell that it was extremely fond of the blood essence of Divine Beasts.
"Even though the Fangwu Fish is fond of the blood essence of Divine Beasts, as long as their bodies are intact, they won't be attacked. I placed Xiaoru here. Firstly, the Ruoshui River is safe. There aren't any pests to harass her. Secondly, the Ruoshui River is a land of death. More importantly … this is the ancestral land of the Four Divine Beasts. Cultivating here is akin to returning to the womb of their mother. "
Knowing Zhang Xuan's thoughts, the Phoenix Monarch explained.
Su Yin didn't say a word. He could also sense that something was amiss.
This place wasn't of much help to humans, but the bloodline of Divine Beasts could indeed nourish one's body and soul.
Walking up to the coffin, Zhang Xuan opened the lid, and a ravishing face appeared before him.
She looked to be in her twenties, and her eyes were tightly shut. Her breathing and heartbeat seemed to be faintly discernible.
"She is Empress Peacock?"
The lady before him bore a striking resemblance to the Phoenix Empress. At first glance, one would have thought that she was the Phoenix Empress when she was younger.
He had been wondering what kind of beauty she was to be able to make the Phoenix Monarch eat her, but to think that she was actually a replica of the Phoenix Empress …
Su Yin was dumbfounded.
This fellow … was interested in this?
Seeing through Zhang Xuan's doubts, the Phoenix Monarch shook his head. "Do you think that I am unreasonable?"
Su Yin felt a little awkward.
The Phoenix Monarch said, "You have never been married, so you don't know about this. In truth, I love the Phoenix Empress very much. When I was young, I was free to fall in love, so I had a good foundation for my relationship with her. However … she is simply too domineering. No matter what I do, she expects me to do as she says. Back then, just because I killed a Phoenix Flower, we quarreled for three days straight. She even apologized to me before the elders, not giving me any face at all …
"I was still able to tolerate it at the start, but as time passed, I really couldn't take it anymore. I was simply too tired!
"No one would think much of it if we quarreled once or twice. However, we quarreled every few days over trivial matters. Just thinking about how we still have tens of thousands of years to live … Who could stand it?
"Thus, I met Xiaoru.
"She is gentle, considerate, and considerate to me. She respects my decisions, values my feelings, and takes care of me in every possible way. She never thinks that I am wrong, and she never asks me to do as she says. Even if I am wrong, she would still point it out tactfully. The time I spent with her wasn't long, but it was the happiest time of my life …"
The Phoenix Monarch sighed.
At this moment, two tree leaves rustled, and the Phoenix Empress arrived not too far away from them.
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