After contemplating retreat, Old Ancestor Tianqilin no longer had any will to fight. A vast surge of energy erupted from his skeletal arm, blasting Li Yuanba back several steps.
"Kylin Step!" Old Ancestor Tianqilin yelled internally. A red light appeared on the soles of his feet, suffused with a profound energy, and he shot towards the distant horizon.
A single stride could cover ten thousand miles! Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs Novᴇ(l)Fɪre .ɴᴇt
"Don’t you run!" Li Yuanba’s eyes widened. How could he let an opponent he’d finally encountered escape so easily? He gripped his twin Pounding Drum Hammers, ready to give chase.
"General, do not pursue!" Zhuge Liang, observing the battle, discerned Li Yuanba’s intentions and hastily called out.
Li Yuanba was the only Imperial Realm Martial Artist in the Imperial Capital. Zhuge Liang wasn’t certain whether Old Ancestor Tianqilin was genuinely fleeing or trying to lure the tiger from the mountain. To be safe, it was better for Li Yuanba to remain on guard.
"Hmph, he got off easy!" Li Yuanba, not daring to disobey Zhuge Liang’s command, cast a resentful glance at Old Ancestor Tianqilin’s retreating figure. He then flew towards the Imperial Palace, carrying his twin Pounding Drum Hammers on his shoulder, under the admiring gazes of the crowd.
"Your Majesty, I have driven off the invading enemy!" Li Yuanba announced respectfully upon entering the Imperial Hall, his face wreathed in a boyish grin, a stark contrast to his earlier imposing aura.
"You’ve worked hard!" Qin Wudao said with a smile. Just as his words fell, he sensed a vast current of Fortune flowing in from afar. It was incredibly potent, far denser than all the Fortune accumulated previously.
The Fortune Golden Dragon, coiled within the Sea of Fortune, suddenly opened its eyes. It let out a joyous roar, visibly thrilled, and devoured the influx of Fortune in a single gulp.
The next moment, the azure Fortune enveloping it grew even richer, now no less than the Fortune of the Canghai Ancient Court at its zenith.
For the Fortune of a Divine Court to rival that of an Ancient Court was unprecedented on the Primordial Continent.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty!" Witnessing such a dense surge of Fortune, the civil and military officials deduced that a great victory had been won on the front lines. Their faces flushed with excitement as they offered their congratulations.
Many of the old ministers, in particular, were moved to tears of joy.
They had never imagined they would one day witness the Qin Dynasty defeat an Ancient Court, especially with a Holy Land’s intervention.
"A joy to be shared! A joy to be shared!" Qin Wudao said with a hearty laugh. A stronger nation benefited not only him but everyone in the Qin Divine Court, from high officials and nobility down to the common folk.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. For occupying the Canghai Dao Domain, you are rewarded with Bian Que, the God of Medicine. Do you wish to summon him?"
Hearing the system’s prompt, the smile on Qin Wudao’s face deepened. As long as he summoned the Medical Sage and the Medical King, he could defy fate and break the curse afflicting Guo Jia.
That day, a festive atmosphere enveloped the Qin Divine Court. However, the Kylin Holy Land, countless miles away, was plunged into a deathly silence.
In just a single day, the Holy Land had lost its former vibrancy. Even the most cheerful disciples had suppressed their smiles, their expressions solemn as they frequently glanced towards Young Qilin Peak.
Since Shen Youlin’s disappearance, a palpable tension had gripped all the disciples; they were jumpy and suspicious, as if powerful enemies lurked in the shadows.
At the summit of Young Qilin Peak, the Kylin Great Emperor had pieced together Old Master Pei’s body. Gazing at the whip marks on the neck, he sank into deep thought. After a long while, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"Sect Master, have you discovered anything?" Lin WuFeng asked urgently, standing behind him.
"The ones who took my son... it should be the Eternal Temple!" the Kylin Great Emperor stated gravely, his iron fists clenched as an overwhelming Evil Qi erupted from him.
Lin WuFeng’s eyes widened in shock. He too had heard of the Eternal Temple’s formidable reputation. They were enemies of all Holy Lands, powerful and elusive, and had a penchant for collecting specific items.
What exactly they collected, he did not know.
Considering the Saint Heir’s disappearance, a bold thought surfaced in Lin WuFeng’s mind: Could it be that the Eternal Temple collects the heirs of major powers?
It was no wonder he entertained such a speculation. The Kylin Holy Land had no prior interaction with the Eternal Temple, much less any grievances. Moreover, why abduct the Saint Heir and not an ordinary disciple? This was why he dared to form such a bold hypothesis.
"Master, what should we do next? How can we rescue the Saint Heir?" Lin WuFeng asked respectfully. Now that they knew Shen Youlin had been abducted by the Eternal Temple, they surely had to devise a plan to rescue him.
"It will not be easy!" The Kylin Great Emperor frowned deeply, his mind in turmoil as he paced back and forth. He knew very well that the Kylin Holy Land’s strength was far inferior to that of the Eternal Temple.
The most frustrating part was that he didn’t even know where the Eternal Temple was located.
Lin WuFeng stood behind him, not daring to utter a word.
"You are dismissed for now," the Kylin Great Emperor said in a deep voice about fifteen minutes later. "I must make a trip. During my absence, you will oversee all matters within the Holy Land." He then tore open the Void, preparing to depart.
"Master, the Eternal Temple is immensely powerful! Please, do not act recklessly!" Lin WuFeng cried out in concern.
"Rest assured! I am going to find someone. He should have a solution!" The Kylin Great Emperor waved his hand, his form entering the fissure in the Void, and then vanished completely.
"Attendants, give Old Master Pei a dignified burial!" Lin WuFeng ordered. After watching the Kylin Great Emperor leave, he bowed three times to Old Master Pei’s remains before departing Young Qilin Peak. With the Kylin Great Emperor’s hasty departure, many matters requiring Lin WuFeng’s immediate attention were left behind.
For instance, should they seek vengeance against the Qin Divine Court for the death of the Fire Kirin Emperor?
With a heart full of worries, Lin WuFeng arrived at the Kirin Hall, ready to attend to daily affairs. But no sooner had he sat down than a fiery red silhouette flew in.
"Greetings, Old Ancestor!" Lin WuFeng quickly rose and bowed respectfully. Noticing the injury on Old Ancestor Tianqilin’s arm, he asked with concern, "Old Ancestor, should we summon an Alchemist?"
Old Ancestor Tianqilin shook his head and said gravely, "No need. I’m not that delicate. Where has the Master gone?"
"Reporting to Old Ancestor, the Saint Heir was abducted by the Eternal Temple. The Master has gone to find a solution!" Lin WuFeng explained.
"Reckless! As the leader of a sect, how can he just leave on a whim!" Old Ancestor Tianqilin fumed slightly. Then, his brow furrowed. What exactly are the Eternal Temple’s intentions in abducting the Saint Heir?
After pondering for a long moment, Old Ancestor Tianqilin still couldn’t figure it out. He then instructed Lin WuFeng, "During this time, I’ll have to trouble you with the sect’s affairs!"
"It is my duty!" Lin WuFeng quickly affirmed. He hesitated for a moment before carefully asking, "Old Ancestor, what about the Qin Divine Court? The Fire Kirin Emperor has fallen. Should we seek revenge?"
"You say the Fire Kirin Emperor has fallen?" Old Ancestor Tianqilin was aghast, and a terrifying aura emanated from him.
"Correct. The Master sensed that the Fire Kirin Emperor was in mortal danger and rushed to his aid, but he was a step too late. It was precisely during this time that members of the Eternal Temple infiltrated the Holy Land and abducted the Saint Heir!"
Under the immense pressure, Lin WuFeng stumbled backward repeatedly, his face flushed crimson, feeling a sense of suffocation.
"We must not act rashly to seek revenge. We shall wait for now!" Old Ancestor Tianqilin glanced at his mangled arm and said, his voice laced with resentment.
But what use was resentment now?
If they were to retaliate against the Qin Divine Court, their only option would be to awaken the old ancestors from the Fifth Era. However, the Immortal Opportunity has not yet descended. Emerging prematurely would likely nullify all their prior efforts.
After careful consideration, he decided it was best to wait.
In truth, he had overlooked a critical question: even if they awakened an old ancestor from the Fifth Era, could that ancestor truly defeat Li Yuanba?