sinovels Chapter 107 The Beginning of the Dao and the Qilin
Chapter 107 The Beginning of the Dao and the Qilin
Chapter 107 The Beginning of the Dao and the Qilin
He quickly weighed his options. The other party clearly harbored no hostility; otherwise, they wouldn't have communicated so formally, nor would they have controlled their aura so calmly.
The two were both Golden Immortals of Hunyuan, one of whom even he couldn't see through. Their strength was definitely not to be underestimated, and was probably even above his own.
To antagonize such beings would be unwise, and disastrous for the Qilin clan, which seeks auspiciousness and peace. Conversely, if they could use this opportunity to make friends or engage in a high-level discussion, it might greatly benefit their own breakthroughs and the future development and fortune of the Qilin clan.
With this in mind, Shi Qilin had already made up his mind. With a thought, a gentle divine thought filled with auspicious will was transmitted out of the cave.
Before long, a Qilin clan elder, also dressed in a brown robe, with a calm and steady demeanor, a kind face, and a cultivation level of at least a Great Luo Golden Immortal, strode into the cave and respectfully bowed: "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"
"Distinguished guests have arrived. Elder Panshi, take my token and respectfully welcome Zhen Yuanzi and fellow Daoist Hongyun from Wanshou Mountain into the Qilin Hall. Do not show them the slightest negligence."
As the Qilin gave the order, a token engraved with a Qilin stepping on clouds, exuding a strong earthy essence and a rich auspicious aura, flew toward Elder Panshi.
"Two distinguished guests? And they're at the Primordial Chaos Realm?" Elder Pan Shi's heart skipped a beat. He solemnly accepted the token with both hands, his expression stern. "This old minister accepts the decree! I will certainly treat them with the highest courtesy and dare not be disrespectful."
After speaking, Elder Panshi quickly left the cave. With a flicker, he transformed into a steady stream of yellowish-brown light, as if merging into the earth, and sped off towards the direction where Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun were located outside Qilin Cliff.
Outside Qilin Cliff, Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun stood quietly waiting, their expressions serene. They could clearly sense countless gazes, some curious, some gentle, and some slightly wary, cast upon them from the shadows of the mountains and forests, from the clouds—the Qilin clan members silently observing.
Unlike the dragons' scrutinizing majesty and the phoenixes' implicitly proud inquiry, these gazes mostly carried a simple scrutiny and curiosity, without much aggression, which was in line with the legend of the Qilin clan's benevolence and non-contention.
They didn't have to wait long. Gentle ripples, like waves, appeared in the void before them. A stable and wide path of earthen-yellow light extended out from within Qilin Cliff like a bridge, reaching their feet. Dao patterns appeared and disappeared along the path of light, emanating a reassuring aura.
Immediately afterward, Elder Panshi walked steadily along the path of light, his figure solid. Upon arriving, he respectfully bowed and spoke in a deep and sincere voice: "I am Panshi, an elder of the Qilin Clan. I have come by order of our Emperor, the First Qilin, to welcome fellow Daoists Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun. Our Emperor is already waiting in the Qilin Hall and cordially invites you two to come inside for a chat."
Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun exchanged a glance and nodded slightly. Zhen Yuanzi replied calmly, "Thank you for leading the way, Elder Panshi."
"Fellow Daoists, please follow me." Elder Panshi stepped aside to invite them, his posture humble yet not arrogant. He then turned and led Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun onto the peaceful path leading to the depths of Qilin Cliff.
Passing through layers of majestic mountains and swirling clouds imbued with powerful Earth Laws and auspicious restrictions, a colossal stone palace, not resplendent in gold and jade, yet immensely grand, seamlessly integrated with the entire Qilin Cliff mountain, exuding an aura of antiquity, solemnity, benevolence, and tranquility, suddenly appeared before one's eyes.
The palace gate is not made of wood, but is carved from a single piece of "Ten Thousand Years of Empty Blue Stone". The three ancient and weathered characters "Qilin Hall" are naturally engraved on it with the patterns of the Great Dao, and the Daoist charm flows.
Stepping into the hall, one is immediately struck by the spaciousness and the high, lofty dome, supported by a natural vein of "Earth Refined Gold" mineral that emits a soft yet stable yellow light. The walls are not adorned with murals, but rather with naturally formed Qilin-shaped Daoist patterns and maps depicting the primordial earth's veins, exuding a primitive and profound beauty.
The entire hall is not overly decorated, yet it naturally exudes a profound Taoist charm and auspicious atmosphere that calms the mind and dispels distracting thoughts.
At the head of the hall, on a large and heavy throne made of the purest Nine Heavens Breath Soil mixed with Wu Earth, the First Qilin sat upright, with a gentle smile on his face and benevolent and wise eyes looking at Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun who walked in calmly.
He did not deliberately exude an aura of power, but his natural imperial demeanor and primordial Daoist charm were impossible to ignore.
"My two fellow Daoists have come a long way and have had a long journey. I apologize for not being able to greet you properly." Shi Qilin's voice was gentle and deep, like the resonance of the earth itself, which made people feel good and at ease.
Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun entered the hall and, following the etiquette of the primordial era, calmly bowed. Zhen Yuanzi said, "This humble Daoist Zhen Yuanzi (Hongyun) greets Fellow Daoist Shi Qilin. I apologize for my intrusion and for disturbing your peaceful cultivation."
The First Qilin rose from the throne of the Nine Heavens Breath Soil, expressing sufficient respect and returning the greeting with a smile, and waved his hand, saying, "Fellow Daoist is too kind. The presence of you two at my humble Qilin Cliff is an honor, adding three points to the auspicious energy within my cliff. How could it be considered a disturbance?"
His gaze swept over Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun, especially lingering for a moment on Zhen Yuanzi, whose aura was as deep as an abyss. A hint of surprise and respect flashed in his eyes. He then gestured to the guest seats made of warm jade that had been prepared for him. "Fellow Daoists, please take your seats."
The natural energy of the Dao gathered, forming three simple stone benches. The three people sat down as host and guest, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries and the serving of spiritual tea, the First Qilin, like the Ancestral Dragon and the Primordial Phoenix, with the sincerity befitting a benevolent emperor, asked directly, "May I ask what brings you two fellow Daoists to my Qilin Cliff?" His gaze was clear, without much probing, but rather a sincere inquiry.
Zhen Yuanzi remained calm and frank, stating his purpose without concealment: "I dare not conceal anything from you, fellow Daoist. Our main purpose in traveling through the prehistoric world and passing through this treasure land is the same as when we visited the Dragon Clan and the Phoenix Clan: to discuss and exchange ideas on the Dao."
He met the inquiring gaze of the First Qilin, his tone sincere and solemn: "When one's cultivation reaches the level of a Primordial Golden Immortal like you and me, the road ahead becomes increasingly arduous. Every step forward requires immense opportunity and a deeper understanding of the Great Dao. If one closes oneself off and becomes complacent, it will be difficult to grasp the full picture of the Great Dao, and one will easily go astray."
"Fellow Daoist, you primarily cultivate the Great Dao of Earth, while also cultivating the Dao of Auspiciousness and Benevolence. You are able to command beasts and bring peace to a region. You must possess unique insights and profound mysteries."
"I, a humble Daoist, also have some limited understanding of the Dao of the Earth and the evolution of chaos. Fellow Daoist Hongyun, having recently advanced to the Hunyuan realm and attained the Four Symbols' return to their origin, also offers valuable insights into balance and the cycle of birth and death."
"If we can set aside sectarian prejudices, sit down and discuss the Dao, verify each other's learning, and through our different yet fundamental Daoist realms, spark inspiration and enlighten wisdom."
Perhaps, amidst the long and confusing journey, we can illuminate a previously unnoticed shadow for the other person, help them overcome some of the obstacles they've struggled with, and even find a new direction forward.
"For us cultivators who are diligently seeking transcendence, the value of such an opportunity is something that Fellow Daoist Qilin must also deeply understand."
Upon hearing this, Shi Qilin clapped his hands and laughed, his face showing deep agreement and even a hint of anticipation: "Excellent! Excellent! Fellow Daoist's words are truly profound and insightful, and they resonate deeply with me! I have been stuck in my current realm for a long time, often feeling lost and uncertain about the future, struggling to move forward, and having no good solution."
"To have fellow practitioners, especially those of such profound understanding as the two of you, to exchange ideas and verify our understanding is truly a rare and invaluable opportunity!"
He was by nature kind and gentle, disliked fighting, and preferred to improve himself and maintain harmony through communication, cooperation and reflection.
Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun exuded a peaceful and pure aura, and their attitudes were sincere and open. The matters they raised for discussing the Dao were exactly what he wanted to discuss, so naturally he had no reason to refuse them. On the contrary, he was delighted.
"In that case," the First Qilin said with a warm smile, its auspicious aura seemingly becoming even more vibrant, filled with obvious anticipation.
"I will then join you two fellow Daoists in this Qilin Hall, setting aside all external distractions, to discuss the Dao, verify each other's understanding, and explore the mysteries of the Great Dao together, hoping to make progress!"
"That is indeed our wish, but we dare not ask," Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun smiled at each other and replied in unison.
As soon as he finished speaking, the natural Daoist energy flowed within the Qilin Hall, and an invisible barrier quietly rose, transforming this place into a secluded and peaceful sanctuary for Daoist discussions.
A profound discussion about the fundamental nature of earth, the inclusiveness of the land, auspiciousness and benevolence, the evolution of chaos, and the return of the four elements to their origin is about to unfold slowly in this ancient hall filled with profound cultural heritage and a peaceful atmosphere.
Three Primordial Golden Immortals, each holding different philosophies of the Great Dao but all standing at the pinnacle of the primordial world, will once again ignite brilliant sparks of wisdom on their journey to pursue the Great Dao, and their gains may have a profound impact.