CHAPTER 223: CHAPTER 220: THE GREAT KYLIN EMPEROR_1

Young Qilin Peak. This was the mountain where generations of Saint Heirs of the Kylin Holy Land resided. The environment was beautiful, its foot connected to several spiritual energy veins, making the Spiritual Energy incredibly dense.

"The Qin Dynasty’s Divine Court, Qin Wudao!" Shen Youlin stood at the summit, hands clasped behind his back. He watched the clouds gather and disperse, a flicker of interest in his eyes. An old man with white hair stood behind him, his eyes glinting with a supreme aura, identical to the gaze that had been surveilling Qilin Tour Peak.

"The Old Blind Man once said that every Dao Domain in the primordial continent would give birth to a being with a special physique to compete for the Immortal Realm. The East Ancient Domain produced the Solar Divine Body. Elder Pei, do you think this Qin Wudao possesses a special physique?" Shen Youlin asked casually, though a hint of curiosity laced his tone.

"Saint Heir, could Qin Wudao possibly be a new Supreme Kunlun?" Elder Pei speculated. The Old Blind Man’s divination skills were unparalleled in the East Border; he was unlikely to be mistaken. From this, one might conclude that Qin Wudao did not possess a special Divine Body. Yet, to break through into the Saint Realm before the age of eighteen without a special Divine Body was practically impossible! Throughout history, among the glittering stars of powerful individuals, only the Supreme Kunlun had been able to rival special physiques with a mere mortal body.

"Impossible. While the Supreme Kunlun indeed had a mortal body, his era was a golden age of cultivation, rich with countless formidable martial arts legacies!" Shen Youlin stated firmly. "Moreover, ancient records indicate that the Supreme Kunlun was slow in his youth. He only gained his legacy and rose to prominence in his thirties, after which his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, allowing him to dominate an entire era! Qin Wudao is not the Supreme Kunlun. He must possess a Divine Body!"

Despite his confident assertion, Shen Youlin’s inner doubts did not lessen. If Qin Wudao did possess a special physique, then counting the fallen Chu Jiangqiong, the East Ancient Domain would have produced two individuals with special Divine Bodies.

"Saint Heir, the Old Blind Man once prophesied that the fall of a Divine Body would herald the dawn of a prosperous age. According to our investigations, the Hidden Dragon List appeared on the very day Chu Jiangqiong died. And the most peculiar detail is that Chu Jiangqiong was killed by Qin Wudao!" Elder Pei reported, cupping his hands.

In a single day, the Kylin Holy Land had thoroughly investigated the events in the East Ancient Domain, a testament to the strength of their intelligence network. This also reflected the Kylin Holy Land’s firm grip on the East Ancient Domain. Their influence was pervasive.

Things are getting more and more interesting! Shen Youlin’s eyebrow twitched slightly, and the corners of his mouth curled into a strange, cold smile, his eyes turning icy and filled with boundless killing intent.

Whether Qin Wudao possessed a special physique or not was irrelevant. In his mind, Qin Wudao was already a dead man. The title of First Prodigy of the East Border could only belong to him—it *had* to be his.

"Saint Heir, shall we dispatch the men from Battle Qilin Peak?" Elder Pei, having watched Shen Youlin grow up, naturally understood his thoughts. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he spoke. Battle Qilin Peak was the militant arm of the Kylin Holy Land, comprising six thousand powerful experts, each commanding an army of ten thousand, their combat strength unparalleled.

"There’s no need. Why would I require others to eliminate someone I intend to kill myself?" Shen Youlin shook his head. A Kylin phantom materialized behind him. Spiritual light gathered in his right hand, and with a sudden thrust forward, the Void before him shattered completely.

"Congratulations, Young Master, on your breakthrough to the late stage of the Saint Realm!" Elder Pei exclaimed, momentarily stunned, then overjoyed.

While Qin Wudao was breaking through into the Saint Realm, Shen Youlin had also achieved a breakthrough, advancing from the middle stage to the late stage of the Saint Realm.

「Amidst widespread anticipation!」

Finally, the day of the East Border Grand Ceremony arrived. One powerful expert after another flew out from the depths of the Kylin Holy Land, their auras capable of destroying heaven and earth.

"By decree of the Great Emperor, all invited factions are to proceed to Kylin Square!" A majestic voice resounded through the nine heavens and ten earths, lingering for a long time. No matter how far one stood, it sounded as if whispered right beside one’s ear.

"Proceed!"

In the sky above Qilin Tour Peak, the Void rippled continuously as a troop of iron-clad cavalry appeared, gesturing towards the west.

The leaders of the various king-level forces, leading their talented disciples, sped westwards, leaving trails of afterimages. As far as the eye could see, there were well over a hundred thousand people. Qin Wudao and his contingent moved among them.

After traveling for four hours, a square suspended in mid-air came into view. It was crafted entirely from spiritual jade, translucent and exquisitely beautiful. In the center of the square stood a Kylin statue. It had the head of a dragon, antlers of a deer, eyes of a lion, back of a tiger, waist of a bear, scales of a snake, a tail like an ox, and hooves like a horse. A faint, ethereal flame flickered around the Kylin, making it seem incredibly lifelike, as if it might spring to life at any moment.

Guided by a guard, Qin Wudao arrived at the area designated for king-level forces, situated at the very edge. Slightly closer to the center was the area for ancient-level forces. At the very heart of the square were dozens of high platforms, upon which stood disciples of the Kylin Holy Land, all clad in Kylin robes, their bearing extraordinary. Above these platforms, a throne was suspended, like the moon surrounded by stars, overlooking everyone present.

Before long, Kylin Square became crowded. The king-level and ancient-level forces had all arrived, numbering over two hundred thousand people in total.

「The Great Emperor has arrived!」

Instantly, the winds and clouds surged, and even the blazing sun in the nine heavens seemed to dim. All the light in the world converged upon a towering figure. His seven-foot-tall frame gave the illusion of being taller than the sky and more substantial than the earth.

"We respectfully greet the Great Emperor!" Everyone in Kylin Square rose simultaneously to pay their respects. Regardless of whether they belonged to the Kylin Holy Land, their faces showed reverence. This was the awe inspired by a supreme expert. Even the Semi-Emperors from the ancient-level forces dared not show the slightest disrespect in the presence of the Kylin Great Emperor. The might of the Great Emperor was thus evident.

"Everyone, please rise," the Kylin Great Emperor said with a smile, seating himself upon the imperial throne. His sharp eyes scanned everyone present. He wore a Kylin king robe and a Kylin crown. Countless Dao Rhymes enveloped him, radiating such an intense brilliance that no one could look directly at him for long.

"This East Border Grand Ceremony has been convened primarily to offer an opportunity to all the factions of the East Border," the Kylin Great Emperor began slowly after his gaze swept the assembly. "As you all know, among the Five Territories, the East Border is the weakest. In the upcoming contest for the Immortal Road, we face the highest probability of elimination. To change this grim reality, I have paid a great price to find a sliver of hope, a lifeline!"

Hearing this, everyone’s expression turned solemn. Geographically, the primordial continent was divided into the East Border, West Border, North Territory, South Territory, and the Middle Region. Among these five major regions, the East Border was the weakest, possessing only a single Holy Land. Next was the North Territory, with three Holy Lands. As for the strongest, the Middle Region, it boasted an astonishing twelve Holy Lands—a result of the fierce competition among the All Clans. This number surpassed the total count of Holy Lands in the other four territories combined.

The primordial continent also had its share of regional prejudice. For a long time, those from the East Border had been looked down upon by outsiders. Especially during the Great Dao Ceremony, held once every hundred thousand years, they were so ridiculed they felt utterly humiliated, unable to hold their heads high.

"This lifeline," the Kylin Great Emperor continued, "is the legacy of the Supreme Kunlun..." As he uttered the name "Supreme Kunlun," he stood and bowed towards the nine heavens, a gesture of respect for the Supreme Immortal Realm.