Chapter 135

After the Crooked River Water Mansion, the sudden shift in the Scaled Tribe's attitude inflicted heavy losses on the Beastfolk of the Crooked River Basin, and the various attacks left them suffering terribly.

In Mist Mountain, Yun Qing was also caught off guard by the sudden change.

"What on earth is happening? Isn't this just a feud between the Flying Cloud Ferry Wolf Tribe and the Crocodile Tribe? How could it suddenly become like this in just a hundred years?"

The voice filled with anger echoed throughout the cavern; amidst Yun Qing's fury, everyone present trembled, daring not to make a sound.

The Qilin's aura permeated the air, as if distorting it; the deathly silence made it hard for those present to breathe.

"Speak up—when exactly did the situation become this dire, and what changes occurred in the meantime?"

Yun Qing strove to calm her violent emotions, restrained her aura, and tried to make her tone as gentle as possible.

"Just a few decades ago, the situation suddenly turned grave, spreading from near the Flying Cloud Ferry to the entire Crooked River Basin."

"But the situation wasn't this bad until not long ago, when many members of the Scaled Tribe went to the Crooked River Water Mansion; after they returned, it became what we see now."

Yun Qing's anger flared up again, and all we heard was her shouting:

"Stupid! Such a large-scale gathering affecting the whole Crooked River Basin, and I didn't get a hint of news."

"I don't believe their movements could be so secret; it's just that you lot, knowing but not reporting, are oblivious to the danger."

Everyone present dared not speak, enduring Yun Qing's outburst while waiting for her anger to subside.

After Yun Qing finished scolding, she began to consider how to respond; now that a member of the Dragon Clan has intervened, involving both tribes, any unilateral response would be too much for her to bear, even though she is the child of the Primordial Qilin.

She secretly thought:

The Crooked River Dragon King, though merely a tributary dragon lord of the Yangtze, has already cultivated to the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, holding high status and authority among the dragons.

If it weren't because the Crooked River Basin borders the Qilin Clan's territory, he wouldn't have come here to serve as this tributary dragon lord; someone like him would likely have the authority to act as he pleases.

Even if a serious problem arose, the worst outcome would be some punishment and loss of influence; the Dragon Clan would not easily abandon him.

Although I am the daughter of the Primordial Qilin, I still have more than ten elder brothers and sisters, plus many younger siblings; in terms of standing and importance within the clan, I may not match a Great Luo Dragon King.

Starting a border conflict is a responsibility she cannot bear; after a moment's hesitation, Yun Qing said:

"Issue orders to the Beastfolk within the Crooked River Basin: have them temporarily avoid the enemy's sharp edge and retreat to the Mist Mountain territory; how to deal with them will be decided after I report to the clan."

As Yun Qing finished speaking, her heart bled continuously; she knew her prestige here was utterly ruined.

Years of painstaking effort have gone up in flames, but right now the most important thing is to preserve herself; as for how things stand on Mist Mountain, she can no longer attend to it.

"Please withdraw first."

Yun Qing's voice was full of weariness; the Beastfolk under her command changed their attitude slightly, silently withdrawing without a word.

Many, upon returning to their tribes, began to loudly complain, after all the Beastfolk of the Crooked River Basin are numerous; coming to Mist Mountain meant losing their interests.

Military Mountain.

Upon receiving Yun Qing's message, Huo Qilin raised his brows slightly and said to the attendant beside him:

"My sister has always been proud and arrogant; how could such a minor difficulty stop her?"

The attendant beside him dared not speak, for Huo Qilin's contempt was utterly undisguised.

Seeing them reluctant to speak, Huo Qilin boredly curled his lip.

"Send a message to Yun Qing, saying that Fourth Brother said: let her act freely; if the sky falls, someone will step up."

"If the situation becomes too dire, I will intervene."

Although Huo Qilin dislikes Yun Qing, he will not let her be bullied by outsiders; his disdain is aimed only at her past arrogance.

In Huo Qilin's view, arrogance without strength is merely asking for suffering.

"Yes."

The attendant then dared to reply.

After Yun Qing received the reply, her listless demeanor faded and she regained some vigor.

"Now that I have Fourth Brother's support, the situation is not utterly hopeless; as long as the Crooked River Dragon King does not intervene, I still have a chance to prevail!"

"Issue the order: all Beastfolk in Mist Mountain, any Scaled Tribe members within the Crooked River Basin—kill them!"

Instantly, countless Beastfolk roared in response.

In the sky.

All of Yun Qing's changes and the contents of the message fell into Qi's sight; he murmured:

"Fourth Brother? It seems Huo Qilin will arrive; we must make preparations first—this grand play has only just begun, these petty skirmishes are merely seasoning."

"However, Military Mountain? It's a bit far; we'll need to take a few more steps."

Qi's form vanished from the spot, yet heaven and earth showed no change, as if he had never appeared.

Qi began to walk through Military Mountain, continually gathering the aura left behind by Huo Qilin; in the perception of the purified Great Dao, any minute change would be sensed by Qi.

Qi walked in Military Mountain for a thousand years before obtaining a piece of red jade no longer than two inches; inside it is stored the Huo Qilin aura he collected over those years.

"It's not much, but it will suffice—just don't disappoint me, Huo Qilin."

"Otherwise, the person destined to face this calamity will have to change."

Since learning that the one possibly heading to the Crooked River Basin would be Huo Qilin, Qi has given up hope on the Crooked River Dragon King, for Huo Qilin's fame spreads far and wide, making him a renowned expert in the wilderness.

If such a person were to act against him, it would be too dismissive of outsiders; thus this time Qi can only sigh for the Crooked River Dragon King.

Qi stepped forward, his figure gradually fading in Military Mountain; since the preliminary preparations are complete, the subsequent matters also require Qi to act.

Qi took out another piece of beautiful jade, equal in size to the red jade but entirely azure, within which is stored the aura of the Crooked River Dragon King.

Qi slightly opened his mouth and spat out a strand of divine fire, melding the two jades together until the Crooked River Dragon King's aura had wrapped the Huo Qilin aura, at which point the process was complete.

By then, Qi had left the Crooked River Basin for over two thousand years; the hostilities between the two sides had only slightly eased, and with neither side deploying a Great Luo Golden Immortal, the situation seemed rather dull.

Qi would not simply let them play around; by giving a little guidance, he prompted each side to create several tragedies, turning what had been a somewhat calm situation into a sudden intensification.

Meanwhile, Qi began to calculate the timing of his move, for secretly striking without detection is always harder than outright slaughter.

(End of Chapter)