bookbashuk Chapter 109 The Recruitment of the Primordial Qilin
Chapter 109 The Recruitment of the Primordial Qilin
Chapter 109 The Recruitment of the Primordial Qilin
The Daoist aura receded slowly like the tide, and the Qilin Hall returned to tranquility. Only the profound aftertaste continued to flow silently, as if drawing a perfect conclusion to this exhilarating discussion.
The air is filled with the rich essence of the Earth element and the gentle auspicious energy, which calms the mind.
The First Qilin wore a heartfelt and warm smile, a genuine joy born from finding a kindred spirit and inspiring each other on the path of enlightenment.
He did not order anyone to serve him immortal tea and spiritual fruits. At their level, such external things were no longer necessary. The spiritual satisfaction brought by discussing the Dao itself far surpassed everything else.
He simply sat in a relaxed posture, and the profound and peaceful Taoist aura that naturally flowed around him was already the highest level of hospitality.
For a moment, no one spoke in the hall; only the unique tranquility and harmony that came with the discussion flowed through it.
The three Primordial Golden Immortals were all silently savoring the gains from their recent clash of the Great Dao, digesting the sparks of wisdom that had been generated.
A moment later, seeing that the time was right, Shi Qilin's gaze became more solemn and earnest. He looked at Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun with clear and sincere eyes, and slowly spoke. His voice was still gentle, but it naturally carried the demeanor and weight of a clan's emperor: "Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, Fellow Daoist Hongyun." He addressed the two of them again, his tone more serious than before.
"In this discussion, the profound cultivation, outstanding concepts, and unique understanding of the Great Dao of the two fellow Daoists have truly amazed and deeply impressed the First Qilin. In the vast primordial world, those who can be like the two fellow Daoists, not only possessing extraordinary strength but also having an open mind and a bright path in the Dao, are truly rare talents."
He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two men. Seeing their calm expressions and deep eyes, devoid of any impatience or aversion, he felt somewhat reassured and continued with his pre-prepared speech: "Our Qilin clan, from the day of our birth, has been born with the benevolent and profound fortune of the primordial land. What we seek is not to become kings and enslave all living beings, but rather to use our own strength to protect the peace of this primordial land, to regulate the earth's veins, to harmonize all things, so that all living beings may find their place and share in peace. This aspiration is witnessed by Heaven and Earth."
The first Qilin spoke with an undeniable sincerity. He tried to clarify the Qilin clan's ideology in order to resonate with the positions that Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun might hold.
"Judging from the conduct of the two fellow Daoists, whether it is Daoist Zhen Yuanzi preaching the Dao in the West to benefit all living beings, or Daoist Hongyun's carefree and uninvolved nature, neither of them are the kind of vicious, ambitious people who intend to stir up the primordial world and start an endless calamity."
On the contrary, these two fellow Daoists should also possess a sense of compassion and responsibility towards this world and all living beings.
His words were both praise and a test, an attempt to draw Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun into the realm of "order."
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The "peaceful" camp.
Having laid the groundwork, the Qilin took a deep breath and finally revealed its true intentions, uttering its long-awaited words of recruitment. Its voice was clear and powerful, echoing throughout the palace: "Therefore, I here, in the name of the Qilin Clan's Emperor, sincerely invite you two fellow Daoists to join my Qilin Clan!"
Upon hearing this, although they had expected it, Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun still raised their eyebrows slightly, exchanged a glance, and saw a hint of understanding and contemplation in each other's eyes.
They didn't immediately refuse or question, but listened quietly, waiting for Shi Qilin to state his terms. This calmness only made Shi Qilin feel that the two were unfathomable.
Seeing that the two did not immediately object, Shi Qilin's spirits lifted, knowing there was hope. He immediately offered what he considered to be the most sincere bargaining chip, speaking with utmost solemnity: "If you two fellow Daoists are willing to condescend to join my Qilin clan, your status will be second only to me, Shi Qilin! You will be equals to me, sharing the honor of an emperor, and jointly wielding the power over beasts. All decrees of my clan will require the joint approval of both of you!"
He first clearly defined the supreme position, which was almost a division of clan power.
"Not only that," the Qilin continued, its voice laced with temptation, "our Qilin clan has existed since the beginning of time. Over hundreds of millions of years, we have accumulated vast amounts of cultivation resources, rare and precious natural treasures, and unique grotto-heavens and secret realms that are unparalleled in the primordial world."
Even the deepest and most subtle secrets and methods of understanding the primordial land's veins—all of this is completely open to you two fellow Daoists, available for your use without any reservation!
Resources, knowledge, and secret realms are the most fundamental needs of cultivators. The First Qilin opened almost all of the Qilin clan's treasure troves.
"I and the entire Qilin Clan are willing to devote all our strength to protecting you two fellow Daoists, searching for opportunities for you, and helping you overcome obstacles on the path of the Great Dao, go further, and climb to the supreme peak of Hunyuan!" In the end, he made a promise of the entire clan's support.
This offer is undeniably generous! Status, power, resources, and assistance—it encompasses almost everything a cultivator could imagine.
Especially for newly ascended Hunyuan cultivators like Hongyun, and those like Zhenyuanzi who aspire to reach the pinnacle of the Great Dao, the full support of a top-tier clan is incredibly tempting.
The reason why the First Qilin spared no expense to win them over, while the Dragon Clan's Ancestral Dragon and the Phoenix Clan's Primordial Phoenix did not make similar offers after their discussions, lies in the deep differences in their imperial nature and character.
The Way of the Ancestral Dragon is the fusion of the vastness and boundlessness of water with the absolute hegemony of the imperial way.
He believed that "all land under heaven belongs to the king; all people within the borders are his subjects." His imperial way was to be supreme, to control everything, and to be above all things.
What he needs are subjects and generals who are absolutely obedient and follow his orders without question, rather than "fellow Daoists" or "allies" who can rival him or whose power might even threaten his unique position.
In the eyes of the Ancestral Dragon, no matter how strong Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun were, they were still "outsiders". If they could not completely kneel down and submit, they could only be objects to be cooperated with cautiously, used when necessary, or guarded against. There was absolutely no way to let them enter the core of the Dragon Clan's power and share his authority.
The Way of the Primordial Phoenix is a combination of the violent destruction and immortal rebirth of fire, and the proud imperial way.
The phoenix is born noble, and the true meaning of Nirvana emphasizes its transcendence and eternity.
She possesses an inviolable pride and absolute confidence in the power of her own bloodline.
She has an extremely strong desire for control, a clear distinction between races, and finds it extremely difficult to tolerate "outsiders" who are of equal status to her or who may even share the Phoenix Clan's fortune and glory.
Her path leans more towards relying on her own supreme magical power and the collective strength of the Phoenix Clan's bloodline. She lacks sufficient trust in absorbing top-tier external experts and worries that it might dilute the pure bloodline and will of the Phoenix Clan.
Cooperation is possible, but integration into the core? Absolutely not.
The First Qilin, however, is entirely different. His imperial foundation stems from the earth's thickness, stability, support, and nurturing, evolving into benevolence, auspiciousness, and protection. He is inherently kind and gentle, dislikes conflict, and values "harmony," "co-prosperity," and "long-term stability."
He believes that true strength does not stem from the absolute authority of one person, but from the power of the collective and internal unity.
He is willing to treat people with sincerity and win them over with virtue. By sharing power and resources, he can gather like-minded strong people to jointly strengthen the Qilin clan, cope with the unpredictable future of the prehistoric world, and realize the "peaceful and prosperous world" in his heart where all things are in harmony and all living beings are at peace.
In his view, Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun were powerful, had firm beliefs, and their ideals were not tyrannical. They were the perfect partners to rely on for support and to practice the Great Dao together.
Paying a huge price to win them over will not only greatly enhance the Qilin clan's top combat power and foundation, but also allow us to better realize the clan's ideals by leveraging their wisdom and strength.
Inside the hall, silence fell once more after the conditions for the First Qilin were revealed. The air seemed to freeze.
The First Qilin gazed intently at Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun with unwavering sincerity and anticipation, awaiting their response.
His heart involuntarily quickened; if this deal could be reached, the future of the Qilin clan would be completely different.
The choices made by Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun will not only concern their own paths to enlightenment, but will also subtly influence the delicate balance of the future tripartite balance of power among the three races of the prehistoric world.
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