16: The mount came to my door on its own initiative?

Now, not only did the ending designed by the Heavenly Dao for the three clans fail to occur, but it was also vastly different from Its design.

Ancestor Dragon, Yuan Feng, and the First Qilin did not fall.

Instead, because they withdrew from the Great Desolation and made oaths, they obtained a portion of the authority of heaven and earth.

The responsibilities of governing the water veins, governing the earth veins, and regulating the Yin and Yang of the Great Desolation were precisely that authority of heaven and earth.

And the three clans did not completely decline either.

The three clans actually retained nearly half of their elites.

In terms of high-end combat power, they still kept several Grand Elders.

How could the Heavenly Dao not be shaken? Because It had been struck into a slumber by the great dao thunder, the overall trend had changed.

It even lost a portion of the authority of heaven and earth.

It could truly be said that It tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice.

And the cause of all this began with Taiqing leaving Kunlun and taking the pangu banner and the chaos bell with him.

However, regarding all this, the Heavenly Dao, Hongjun, Taiqing, and the three clans of Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin...

...none of them knew that it was because of Taiqing's unintentional actions alone that the outcome of the Dragon-Han Calamity was completely changed.

However, the three clans were aware of the Karma behind their ability to retain most of their elites.

After completely merging into the water veins of the Four Seas, the earth veins of the Great Desolation, and the Undying Volcano, the three clans gained control over a portion of the authority of heaven and earth.

Coupled with the calamity qi being completely expelled from their bodies, they were no longer affected by it.

Ancestor Dragon, Yuan Feng, and the First Qilin understood the Karma involved.

“This Karma must be repaid.”

This was the only thought in the minds of the three experts—Ancestor Dragon, Yuan Feng, and the First Qilin—at this moment.

Although Taiqing's actions were unintentional, he had saved most of the three clans' members and the three experts themselves.

He even allowed them to obtain a portion of the authority of heaven and earth.

But the fact remained that all of this was related to Taiqing.

The reason they could live and control a portion of the authority of heaven and earth was also due to Taiqing's unintentional actions.

At this time, Taiqing was somewhat bewildered after hearing the oaths of Ancestor Dragon, Yuan Feng, and the First Qilin.

He was even more confused, especially after seeing the outcome for Ancestor Dragon, Yuan Feng, and the First Qilin.

“Shouldn't Ancestor Dragon, Yuan Feng, and the First Qilin have used their bodies to suppress the Four Seas and the Undying Volcano, or transformed into Qilin Cliff?

Wasn't their final end supposed to be no different from falling, leaving only their true spirits to reside in the world of the Great Desolation?

How is it that they seem to have gained benefits instead?

Governing the water and earth veins and regulating Yin and Yang—no matter how you look at it, that's the authority of heaven and earth!

Why did the Heavenly Dao have no reaction at all? Letting Ancestor Dragon, Yuan Feng, and the First Qilin obtain such massive benefits so easily?

Is this the punishment for causing boundless slaughter and the Destruction of the Great Desolation?”

Because he, Taiqing, had left.

Old Thief Hongjun's schemes against the Three Pure Ones failed, and instead, he caused the Heavenly Dao to be struck into a slumber by the great dao thunder.

The Heavenly Dao didn't even have the ability to stop Ancestor Dragon, Yuan Feng, and the First Qilin.

Moreover, the three experts had sworn to the Great Dao; though the Great Dao did not hand down any mantras, it vibrated slightly.

This indicated that the Great Dao also agreed with the oaths made by Ancestor Dragon, Yuan Feng, and the First Qilin.

The Heavenly Dao dared not say anything more.

“Also, those three clans actually retained most of their elites, even keeping over half of their clan Elders?

What on earth happened to this Great Desolation? It seems a bit different.”

This was a change entirely caused by his own efforts.

However, Taiqing stopped thinking about things he couldn't figure out.

His top priority was still to head quickly to the Eastern Sea to find the Three Immortal Islands and Breakthrough to the Hunyuan Golden Immortal Realm.

“Greetings, Great Master.”

Just as he reached the foot of Mount Buzhou, Taiqing's path was blocked by a massive Ink Jade Qilin.

The Ink Jade Qilin was black and white, appearing very much in the style of traditional ink wash painting.

It was like an Ink Jade Qilin that had stepped out of an ink wash painting from Taiqing's previous life.

“What good fortune, to have actually cultivated the Yin-Yang Law. I wonder why you are blocking my path?”

Looking at the very stylish Ink Jade Qilin in front of him, Taiqing's heart stirred.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have such a stylish Qilin as a mount?

Furthermore, the Ink Jade Qilin was quite compatible with the Law he cultivated.

“May the Great Master know that you have shown kindness to our Qilin Clan.

Old Ancestor First Qilin sent me here to serve as the Great Master's means of travel.

From now on, I will follow the Great Master and serve as your mount to repay this kindness.”

Under Taiqing's shocked and confused gaze, the Ink Jade Qilin knelt before him.

Then, it spoke words that Taiqing could not understand.

“Kindness to the Qilin Clan? When did I show kindness to the Qilin Clan?

Didn't I just climb Mount Buzhou?

The Fire Qilin even attacked me.”

Although he was puzzled, Taiqing simply couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth.

He knew he, Taiqing, was the protagonist; just by climbing Mount Buzhou, he not only received instructions from Father Pangu and obtained pangu marrow essence...

...but now, a mount has even delivered itself to his doorstep.

And it was an Ink Jade Qilin that he quite liked and was compatible with his own Law.

Following the principle of not refusing a free gift, Taiqing reluctantly accepted the Qilin Clan's gesture of goodwill.

He would reluctantly take the Ink Jade Qilin as a mount.

If the Ink Jade Qilin knew what Taiqing was thinking, it would surely cry out: “What do you mean 'reluctantly'? You can't even hide that grin!”

“Reporting to the Great Master, I do not know what the kindness was. The Clan Chief did not explain in detail, only saying that the Secrets of Heaven must not be revealed.

If spoken aloud, our Qilin Clan might face a great calamity. Please forgive me, Great Master.”

“Very well, in that case, I will not press further.”

Taiqing hadn't expected that the kindness he had mysteriously bestowed upon the Qilin Clan would involve the Secrets of Heaven.

Taiqing stopped asking; after all, it involved the Secrets of Heaven, and if revealed, he might also suffer punishment.

Although it was his first time riding a mount, Taiqing was very well-adapted and jumped onto the Ink Jade Qilin's back with great skill.

This is what Taiqing called 'reluctant'? His body was certainly honest.

“Do you have any unfinished business in your clan? Once we leave, you probably won't be able to return for a long time.”

Since the Ink Jade Qilin was willing to be his mount, Taiqing couldn't be inconsiderate and just order it around at will.

“Reporting to the Great Master, clan affairs have been properly handled. Wherever the Great Master wishes to go, I will carry you there from now on.”

The Ink Jade Qilin hadn't expected Taiqing to be so concerned about it.

In this Great Desolation, many mighty beings would not treat their mounts this way.

It seemed its choice was not bad.

“Alright, in that case, we shall head toward the Eastern Sea.

I intend to travel around the Eastern Sea for a while.”

Since the Ink Jade Qilin said so, Taiqing no longer stood on ceremony; he pointed out the direction and then closed his eyes to meditate.

“As you command, Great Master. Departing now.”

Carrying Taiqing, the Ink Jade Qilin turned into a streak of light and sped toward the Eastern Sea.

The Ink Jade Qilin's cultivation was not low, being at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level; its traveling speed was not inferior to Taiqing's own.

This way, Taiqing could free his hands to Cultivate on the Ink Jade Qilin's back.

Although his Realm could not be raised, he could comprehend the Laws.

As long as his comprehension of the Laws was deep enough, the enhancement he would gain after a Breakthrough would be greater.

However, even with the Laws, he couldn't break through the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm.

Since Taiqing chose to walk the Path of Dao Attainment through Law, the Laws were naturally of the utmost importance.

Taiqing had mastered the Yin-Yang Law at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm since birth.

Now, he prepared to comprehend the Five Elements Law, transforming Yin and Yang into the Five Elements.