193: Chapter 193 The Ancient Qilin Emperor's Visit to Relatives

In the distance, within the Undying Mountain.

Chu Tianjiao sat beneath the ancient tea tree of enlightenment, watching the scene in the Water Mirror, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"The Old Maniac has gone. Ye Fan's path will be easier to walk."

Xiao Nannan nestled beside him, looking at the figure standing in the great hall within the Water Mirror, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"Big Brother, he will definitely become stronger and stronger."

Chu Tianjiao nodded. "Mm. He will."

...

Fire Lin Cave.

In the depths of a mountain range stretching for ten thousand miles in the Northern Region of the Eastern Wasteland, an ancient Immortal Cave was built against the mountain.

This place was once the legacy left behind by the Ancient Kirin Emperor during the Ancient Era. Countless tens of thousands of years had passed, and the glory of the past had long since faded, but the Bloodline of the Kirin Clan still continued on this land.

Deep within the Immortal Cave, in a secluded courtyard, two young figures sat facing each other.

Huo Linzi sat cross-legged on a bluestone in the courtyard, eyes closed, regulating his breath. A faint golden light circled his body; that was the power of the Kirin Clan Bloodline circulating. His aura was deep and restrained, like a dormant volcano—calm on the surface, but concealing world-destroying power within.

Three years ago, he had just awakened from the Divine Source, and his cultivation was only at the Four Poles Secret Realm. Today, three years later, he was already standing at the threshold of the Half-step Great Power.

First Heaven of the Sendai Realm, Half-step Great Power.

This speed was top-tier in any era. But he did not show off; the outside world did not even know that such an Imperial Son existed in Fire Lin Cave. He was just silently Cultivating, silently becoming stronger, waiting for the day he should emerge into the world.

Huo Liner sat opposite him, resting her chin in her hands, watching her brother Cultivate in utter boredom.

Her cultivation was significantly lower than her brother's, only at the eighth transformation of the Dragon Transformation Realm. But among her peers, this was already an extremely outstanding achievement. One must know that she had only awakened for three years; being able to reach this step relied not only on the Bloodline of the Kirin Clan, but even more so on her own talent and hard work.

"Brother, how much longer are you going to Cultivate?" Huo Liner asked boredly.

Huo Linzi did not answer, keeping his eyes closed.

Huo Liner curled her lips, stood up, walked around the courtyard, sat back down, stood up again, and walked around again.

"So boring…"

She sighed and looked up at the sky.

Three years ago, their father sent them to Fire Lin Cave and then left. In these three years, she had been Cultivating, Cultivating, and Cultivating every single day. Although she improved quickly, she really missed her father.

She didn't know where her father was now, what he was doing, or if he missed them.

"Brother, when do you think Father will come to see us?" Huo Liner asked.

Huo Linzi opened his eyes, looked at his sister's longing expression, and a flash of tenderness crossed his eyes.

"I don't know. But Father said he would come."

Huo Liner bit her lower lip and didn't speak again.

Just at this moment—

A gentle voice rang out in the courtyard.

"Liner, Linzi."

Huo Liner's body stiffened suddenly.

She turned her head abruptly to look in the direction the voice came from.

At the courtyard entrance, a familiar figure was standing there.

A middle-aged man, with a handsome face and a steady demeanor, wearing a simple robe, with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. He just stood there, watching them, his eyes filled with love.

Ancient Kirin Emperor.

"Father!"

Huo Liner shrieked, and her whole body, like a bolt of lightning, threw itself directly into the Ancient Kirin Emperor's embrace.

"Father! You finally came! I missed you so much!"

Her voice was choked with sobs; she wrapped her arms tightly around her father's waist and buried her face in his chest.

The Ancient Kirin Emperor held his daughter, gently patting her back.

"Father missed you too."

Huo Liner raised her head from his embrace, her eyes red, but she wore a brilliant smile.

"Father, why did you only come now? It's been three years! Do you know how much Brother and I have missed you?"

The Ancient Kirin Emperor smiled and rubbed her head. "Father had things to attend to; isn't I here now?"

Huo Liner snorted and buried her face back in his embrace. "Don't take so long next time!"

The Ancient Kirin Emperor nodded with a smile. "Alright. I won't take so long next time."

Huo Linzi also stood up and walked to his father.

He did not throw himself forward like his sister, but just stood there, looking at his father.

But his eyes were filled with excitement.

"Father."

His voice was very soft, but it carried an irrepressible emotion.

The Ancient Kirin Emperor looked at him, his eyes filled with gratification.

"Three years unseen, you've grown taller and become stronger."

He reached out and gently patted his son's shoulder.

The corners of Huo Linzi's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a smile.

The Ancient Kirin Emperor released his daughter and walked to the stone table in the courtyard to sit down. Huo Liner immediately followed, sat beside him, and wrapped her hands around his arm, as if afraid he would run away. Huo Linzi also sat down opposite them, looking at his father.

"Let Father see how much you have progressed in these three years," the Ancient Kirin Emperor said.

He looked at Huo Linzi, his gaze lingering on him for a moment; then a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, which immediately turned into gratification.

"First Heaven of the Sendai Realm, Half-step Great Power. Not bad, very not bad."

Huo Linzi nodded. "Three years of arduous Cultivation were not in vain."

The Ancient Kirin Emperor looked at him, his eyes filled with pride. "Your Foundation is very solid, and your aura is steady. Being able to avoid showing off or boasting—this Heart-Nature is even rarer than cultivation."

Huo Linzi did not speak, just quietly looking at his father.

The Ancient Kirin Emperor looked at his daughter again. "Liner, let Father see you."

Huo Liner released his arm, sat up straight, puffed out her chest, and looked proud.

"Father, I've also progressed a lot!"

The Ancient Kirin Emperor's Divine Thought swept over her, and the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.

"Dragon Transformation Realm, eighth transformation. From the Four Poles to the eighth transformation of the Dragon Transformation Realm in three years—this speed is top-tier in any era."

Huo Liner smiled proudly. "Of course! I am Father's daughter, after all!"

The Ancient Kirin Emperor smiled and rubbed her head. "However, your brother is already a Half-step Great Power; you must keep working hard."

Huo Liner curled her lips. "Brother is just a freak; I can't compare. But among my peers, I'm already very impressive! The eighth transformation of the Dragon Transformation Realm—if placed in those Holy Lands of the Eastern Wasteland, I could also rank in the top few."

The Ancient Kirin Emperor nodded. "Indeed. Neither of you has disappointed Father."

He paused, looking at the two children, his eyes filled with love.

"These three years have been hard on you."

Huo Liner shook her head. "It's not hard. As long as I can become stronger, no amount of hardship is worth mentioning."

Huo Linzi also shook his head. "Father, don't worry about us. We are living very well in Fire Lin Cave; the Elders take good care of us, and the cultivation resources are plentiful."

The Ancient Kirin Emperor nodded. "That's good."

He took two jade bottles from his robe and handed them to the two children respectively.

"These are what Father brought for you. One bottle is Qilin essence blood, which can temper the Physical Body and increase Bloodline purity. The other bottle is the Life Essence of Senior Willow Deity, which can save your lives at a critical moment."

Huo Liner took the jade bottles, her eyes sparkling. "Father, Qilin essence blood? Is it the essence blood of our Kirin Clan?"

The Ancient Kirin Emperor nodded. "It is what Father has accumulated over these years. Although your Bloodline is pure, it still needs further tempering. This bottle of Qilin essence blood will allow your Bloodline to reach a higher level."

Huo Liner carefully put away the jade bottles, then threw herself forward and rubbed against her father's embrace again.

"Father is the best!"

Huo Linzi also put away the jade bottles, looking at his father, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Father."

The Ancient Kirin Emperor waved his hand. "What are you thanking me for? You are Father's children; if Father doesn't give it to you, who would I give it to?"

He paused and looked at Huo Linzi.

"Linzi, your cultivation is already at the Half-step Great Power; have you thought about when you will emerge into the world?"

Huo Linzi was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"No rush. I want to settle down for a while longer. Half-step Great Power is just the beginning; I want to build a more solid Foundation."

The Ancient Kirin Emperor nodded. "Not bad. Neither arrogant nor rash—this is the Heart-Nature that one who achieves great things should have."