79: Chapter 79 The Birth of the Ancient Qilin Emperor

Inside the Willow Deity's room, however, the atmosphere was gentle and warm.

The Willow Deity looked at Chu Tianjiao, her face full of maternal affection, as if gazing upon her most beloved child. She called softly, "Tianjiao, come to my arms."

Upon hearing this, Chu Tianjiao did not hesitate in the slightest. He went straight over, nestling into the Willow Deity's full, soft, and warm embrace. The familiar scent of plants and trees, along with a faint aura of life essence, enveloped him, instantly relaxing his tense mind.

Leaning against the Willow Deity, he felt her soft form and the continuous flow of life-giving energy being transferred to him, filling his heart with contentment.

He never would have imagined that the Willow Deity would truly regard him as her foster child. To have gained an Immortal King Titan as a foster mother out of the blue was like a pie falling from the sky.

Without a hint of refusal, Chu Tianjiao accepted this doting with a clear conscience, fully immersing himself in the feeling of being the Willow Deity's child.

Being cherished and protected by an Immortal King like this, free from being exploited by Xiao Nannan and from constant fear and anxiety, was far more comfortable than being Xiao Nannan's husband.

Feeling the warmth and obedience of Chu Tianjiao in her arms, the Willow Deity's eyes grew even more affectionate. She reached out, gently stroking his forehead. The Dao principles at her fingertips tenderly smoothed away the weariness between his brows, her maternal radiance almost overflowing.

She looked down at the young man in her arms, her voice as soft as the evening breeze skimming the lake's surface. "Alright, it's getting late. Time to sleep."

With that, she rose gently, cradling Chu Tianjiao, and walked slowly towards the bed. She carefully laid him down, then lay beside him, drawing him gently into her embrace as if protecting a treasure.

Nestled in the Willow Deity's arms, feeling the warmth of her embrace and the faint scent of plants and trees, Chu Tianjiao's eyelids grew heavy. Before long, he fell into a deep sleep, a contented smile on his face, clearly sleeping very soundly.

The Willow Deity looked down at his sleeping face, a gentle smile gracing her lips. Her fingertips lightly brushed through his hair, caressing the top of his head, a soft maternal light swirling in her eyes.

...

Meanwhile, in the Northern Region, deep within the Ancient Mine of Primordial Beginning, a deathly, oppressive silence reigned. The Law of the dark forest was on full display here.

Ever since Chu Tianjiao, disguised as the Stone Emperor, had lived a second life by devouring a fellow Supreme and his power approached that of the Fierce Empress, the Supremes of the various forbidden zones had all begun to harbor ulterior motives.

If the Stone Emperor could do it, why couldn't they?

Yet, the few warnings left behind by the Stone Emperor back then had also made them all wary. As fellow Supremes trapped at the Peak of the mortal path, thirsting for longevity, each desired to devour others' Origins to extend their lives, and each feared becoming the one devoured.

Thus, the atmosphere within the Ancient Mine of Primordial Beginning grew increasingly tense. The moment any Supreme showed the slightest sign of their Origin drying up, they would be surrounded by wolves. Former Fellow Daoists of the same level had now become mortal enemies.

Amidst this deathly, oppressive silence, in the deepest part of the Ancient Mine of Primordial Beginning, a piece of Immortal Source sealed for millions of years suddenly trembled slightly.

In the next second, an overwhelmingly powerful aura shattered the Immortal Source's seal. The pressure of an Ancient Emperor swept through the entire mine, causing all the dormant Supremes to shudder in their hearts and open eyes that had long been closed.

The Immortal Source shattered, and a figure of a middle-aged man stepped out.

He wore ancient, majestic robes, his face handsome. A faint, auspicious Kirin aura swirled around him. Although he had cut his own Dao foundation to slumber for eons, the imperial majesty that looked down upon the world was still unmistakable.

"It's the Ancient Kirin Emperor!"

"How did he break the Immortal Source? Does he intend to emerge?"

"Has he gone mad? The Fierce Empress is still in the world, having lived a third life. Last time, she annihilated a Supreme with a casual strike. For him to emerge now, is he tired of living?"

Shocked Divine Thoughts crisscrossed within the Ancient Mine of Primordial Beginning. All the Supremes stared fixedly at that figure, their eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.

The Ancient Kirin Emperor was an Emperor who had attained the Dao in the Ancient Era, possessing formidable strength. He was also the most unique existence among the forbidden zones.

He had cut his own Dao foundation and retreated into a forbidden zone, never once initiating a Dark Turmoil, never devouring a wisp of the lifeblood of living beings. He had slumbered for eons, seeking only to wait for the road to immortality to open, so he could take his two children into the immortal realm and grasp a thread of longevity.

For such a neutral Supreme, who adhered to his principles, to shatter the Immortal Source now and directly face the current Fierce Empress—how could this not shock the other Supremes?

The emergence of the Ancient Kirin Emperor was like a massive rock thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing tremors throughout the world and the cosmos.

The pressure of the Ancient Emperor swept across the Northern Region, making even the starry skies tremble. All the major Holy Lands and Imperial Dynasties sensed this terrifying aura, closing their gates and falling silent, not daring to make the slightest move.

Within the Undying Mountain, Xiao Nannan, who had been secluded in her courtyard in bitter Cultivation, suddenly opened her eyes. The formidable imperial pressure around her instantly spread out. Her Divine Thought pierced through the Void Realm, locking directly onto the direction of the Ancient Mine of Primordial Beginning in the Northern Region.

Having already lived a third life, her strength half-stepping into the immortal path, as this imperial pressure unfurled, even the plants and trees of the Undying Mountain bowed their heads.

Inside the Willow Deity's room, Chu Tianjiao, nestled in her embrace, also awoke instantly. The sleepiness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a touch of gravity.

He raised a hand to rub his eyes, his Divine Thought simultaneously spreading out, piercing through the Undying Mountain's barrier to land on the familiar figure of the Ancient Emperor above the Ancient Mine of Primordial Beginning.

"Teacher, leave this to me." Xiao Nannan's voice came through the Formation, clear, cold, and resolute. Before her words faded, her figure vanished from the courtyard. With a single step, she traversed endless space, appearing in the sky above the Ancient Mine of Primordial Beginning.

Dark clouds churned across the sky. The Ancient Kirin Emperor stood atop the black clouds, his auspicious Kirin aura and Ancient Emperor's pressure intertwining, sweeping in all directions.

Xiao Nannan, clad in white robes, her figure graceful, stood in the Void Realm. Her imperial pressure spread out, confronting the Ancient Kirin Emperor's imperial pressure from afar, not yielding in the slightest.

Having lived three lives, her foundation far surpassed that of ordinary Emperors. At this moment, her aura was deep and steady. Just by quietly gazing at her opponent, she exuded an awe-inspiring presence.

Xiao Nannan's gaze fell upon the Ancient Kirin Emperor. She slightly furrowed her brows, instantly detecting his true body's Origin. A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes. "A Kirin?"

She hadn't expected that this emerging Ancient Emperor's true form would be the rare Kirin Clan, the Supreme race among Ancient Divine Beasts.

The Ancient Kirin Emperor looked up at the white-robed woman before him. Sensing the profound and unfathomable imperial pressure emanating from her, his heart instantly tightened. A trace of wariness flashed in his eyes, yet he maintained the composure of an Emperor. His tone was gentle, without a hint of hostility:

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist. I have no intention of disturbing the world. My emergence this time is solely to find my two children. I ask for your convenience."

He could clearly sense the formidable strength of the current Emperor before him, hence his particularly humble tone.

"You are the Ancient Kirin Emperor?" Xiao Nannan's surprise deepened. Memories of the ancient secrets her teacher had once told her flashed through her mind, recalling that Emperor from the Ancient Era who, as a Kirin, had attained the Dao and protected the beings of his domain.

Chu Tianjiao had spoken to her about the Supremes of the various forbidden zones, but he had reserved particular praise for this Ancient Kirin Emperor, saying he was one of the rare neutral Supremes who had not been tainted by bloodshed and adhered to his principles, slumbering for eons only for his children, a truly remarkable figure.

"Indeed, it is I." Seeing that the other recognized him, a hint of surprise flashed in the Ancient Kirin Emperor's eyes. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"My teacher once told me about you." Xiao Nannan's tone softened slightly, her imperial pressure receding a bit.

"You have never initiated a Dark Turmoil, and in your time, you also protected the myriad beings and spirits. You can be considered a rare, sensible person. Since it is for your children, I permit you to emerge to search for them."

Her tone shifted, her aura gathering once more, carrying an unmistakable warning:

"But remember, if you dare commit any act that harms the beings of this world, even without my intervention, the Cultivators of this world will not tolerate you. You should understand the consequences."

The Ancient Kirin Emperor felt a weight lift from his heart. He cupped his hands and bowed to Xiao Nannan, his tone sincere:

"I thank you, Fellow Daoist. I understand. I will certainly not do anything to harm the beings of this world. I only seek to find my children, then take them to a secluded place to slumber, quietly awaiting the opening of the road to immortality."

With those words, the Ancient Kirin Emperor lingered no longer. He turned, transforming into a stream of auspicious Kirin Qi, and sped towards the direction of the Northern Plains, disappearing from the horizon in an instant.