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Qilin Star Field, Ripple Orchid City.
Zhao Chongguo led her ten Qilin Cubs smoothly into the Star Kingdom’s capital. The magnificent Weiyang Palace was simply like a wonderland. Thick mist spread everywhere, and as far as the eye could see, there were pavilions, mountains and lakes, alternating one after another row upon row. It was like a reclining qilin. Blue and green light was eternal in Ripple Orchid City, lasting from antiquity to now.
In the Qilin Star Kingdom, the meaning of the “Weiyang Palace” was peace and longevity, that there were no disasters or catastrophes. Legend said that this palace was constructed on a star leyline that had the most abundant spiritual influence among the Three Thousand Star Fields. The entire palace was filled with an eternally youthful air, and the people residing within could obtain indestructible power.
However, the Weiyang Palace was strictly guarded. Even a Lord Of Heaven would be utterly destroyed if they dared to be so bold as to approach. Without Qilin Martial Emperor’s permission, people could only stare at this Longevity Palace from afar.
The Qilin Pavilion’s Eleven Officials were no exceptions. After Zhao Chongguo brought her ten Qilin Cubs to the Ripple Orchid Pavilion, she briefed them on the palace’s entry procedures.
“You will first stay at Ripple Orchid City today. Tomorrow, the Martial Emperor will host a banquet. At that time, you will follow me into the palace.”
“Chamberlain Of Military Farms” Zhao Chongguo swept her eyes over her chosen ten Qilin Cubs. Her gaze finally rested on two mysterious women. One was clad in green clothes and wore a headband. Her eyes were picturesque, and she was very unconstrained. The other wore a mask, but her rhinoceros armor and skintight clothing accentuated the young woman’s beautiful figure.
“Many thanks to my lady for the tips.” Everyone answered.
“Ripple Orchid City’s laws are strict. You must not cause trouble. Prepare for today, then follow me into the palace tomorrow.” Zhao Chongguo instructed them, and then she had her deputy general pass out a Qilin Cub plaque carved with “Zhao” to everyone. Afterwards, she boarded a carriage and headed west. That place was the residence for the Qilin Pavilion’s officers, and it was constructed very gorgeously and with imposing majesty.
Lifting one’s head, one could see a towering limestone statue.
“I will go prepare for the Qilin Hunt. You had best also prepare.” Qingyi said. She turned and walked into the city.
Chen Mo’s eyes sent her departing figure off as he sunk into contemplation. Sensing someone stare at him, he looked around.
A woman immediately averted her gaze. Then, she nonchalantly walked someplace else in the city.
“That was a Star Warrior just now.”
As Chen Mo pondered, a clear and bright voice interrupted his thoughts.
Yan Yu walked over. Among the ten Qilin Cubs, he and Chen Mo were both Earthly Immortal and appeared a bit incongruous. The others basically ignored them.
“Brother Yan, are you interested in her?” CHen Mo smiled.
Yan Yu’s face was stern. In Star World, being a Star Warrior signified cultivation of Star Energy, which meant one was like a Star General. Also, a beautiful female Star Warrior was even more likely to be a Star General. No matter how bold he was, he would not dare harbor any such thoughts towards a Star General.
“Brother Mo, you had better look out. Star Generals are usually solitary. If she sought out Brother Mo, then she definitely has something sinister planned.” Yan Yu kindly said.
“What would she plan to do with an Earthly Immortal like me.” Chen Mo shrugged.
Yan Yu also felt bewildered, “This means that Brother Mo is truly incredible, to actually be able to become a Qilin Cub.”
“Brother Yan, aren’t you also an Earthly Immortal, didn’t you also pass?” Chen Mo meaningfully looked at him.
“I prepared for this trip to the Western Fields over many years, and my Ten Thousand Souls Rebirth Path has a secret technique. Although I am only Earthly Immortal, I am capable of facing a Universe Origin cultivator.” Yan Yu brimmed with self-confidence.
Chen Mo furrowed his brow. Apparently, Yan Yu had some kind of trump card. This was only natural. To be able to stand out among the Qilin Cubs, he naturally had outstanding talent. There could not possibly be any mediocre cultivators that took advantage of crises for their own gain. It was known that even the average Lord Of Heaven would not necessarily be able to obtain qualifications to be Qilin Cub.
“Your Servant shall go prepare now. Should there be a chance, let us help each other again.” Yan Yu cupped his fist, his attitude very amicable.
Chen Mo saw he was warmhearted as well and returned the salute.
Chen Mo looked at this vast Ripple Orchid City. He had long heard of every trait of the Sixteen Star Marquis’ capital cities. They were Star World’s most prosperous trade centers, and normally, many valuable materials from very remote Star Fields would appear in the capital. The Qilin Star Kingdom’s ore was especially famous. Chen Mo heard this place’s forging arts were considered very advanced.
He already knew the Book Of Casting like the back of his hand, but he wondered how the Qilin Star Kingdom’s casting arts were.
Thinking about it, Chen Mo decided to first go look at Ripple Orchid City’s casting shops and auction houses, to see whether or not he could find any new or strange items.
“Qilin Star Kingdom’s ‘Forging Holy Pavilion’ is renowned throughout the world. Can it be that you unable to forge even this tiny rock?”
As Chen Mo wandered the streets, he suddenly heard a disappointed voice from inside a shop. He walked closer and looked. In front of the courtyard of a famous Forging Holy Pavilion, a young woman dressed in a purple long skirt stood tall, negotiating something with the Forging Holy Pavilion’s master smith.
The Forging Holy Pavilion was the Qilin Star Kingdom’s number one casting shop. Their ‘Qilin Forging Arts’ were very famous, and they were somewhat reputable among blacksmiths. However, it appeared at this moment, the Forging Holy Pavilion’s smiths had met with trouble.
“We do not hide anything from the Lady. This ‘Sobbing Qilin Stone’1 can only be forged by the hands of a master blacksmith. The slightest mistake will destroy the entire thing. This Pavilion’s only senior blacksmith is currently not in the Qilin Star Kingdom. We honestly do not dare assume this risk.” That blacksmith helplessly said. “If the young miss is not afraid of the risk of damage, Your Servant is willing to try.”
The girl was vexed. She had gone through much trouble to obtain this Sobbing Qilin Stone, and she knew this stone was precious. Damaging it was too regretful.
“Can it be that you have no other methods, Master Blacksmith?”
“Honestly, Your Servant has no other solutions for the Sobbing Qilin Stone.” The master blacksmith gazed at this stone, helpless.
The girl spoke to him a while longer. In the end, she had no choice but to leave the Forging Holy Pavilion.
Walking into an alleyway, the girl looked at the stone in her hand with worry: “How is this thing any good. The Ancestral Master said that the Qilin Star Kingdom’s famous smiths can forge the Sobbing Qilin Stone. If he is not here right now, what do I do.”
“Young lady.”
A warm voice called out to her from behind.
The pruple skirted girl turned around to see a young man walk towards her.
“Hm?”
Chen Mo saw that the girl in front of him was wearing a face veil. She was somewhat ethereal, her eyes bright and pure.
“Are you calling me?” The young woman wrinkled her brow and asked with vigilance.
“Your Servant just saw you seek out a blacksmith to forge that Sobbing Qilin Stone.” Chen Mo said.
“How does this concern you.”
“Young lady, presumably you are forging the Sobbing Qilin Stone to use against a qilin in the Yuanshou? Your Servant has learned forging techniques before. May Your Servant be so bold as to try.” Chen Mo offered his services.
“What skills could an Earthly Immortal like you possess.” The young girl scoffed.
“Your Servant is also participating in this Yuanshou. The Young Lady can be at ease.” Chen Mo showed his Qilin Cub plaque.
“Zhao Chongguo’s Qilin Cub.” The girl widened her beautiful eyes and scrutinized Chen Mo: “The Chamberlain Of Military Farms’ Qilin Cub requirements are quite strict. That an Earthly Immortal like you is able to obtain it, indeed you are outstanding…Is this truly your Qilin Cub plaque?”
“Of course.”
“This means that you are aware of what the Sobbing Qilin Stone is used for?” The girl asked. “Then This Young Lady shall test you first. What is this Sobbing Qilin Stone used for.”
Chen Mo naturally knew. There was a deep introduction to the Sobbing QIlin Stone in the Book Of Casting. This stone’s appearance was like it was wrapped in the scales of a qilin. If wind blew upon it, it would issue a sobbing sound, as if a qilin was crying. Thus, it was called the Sobbing Qilin Stone.
Contained inside of the Sobbing Qilin Stone was a piece of translucent jade. Rumor said that if one was to suffer a Holy Beast’s attack, they could use this jade to avoid the Holy Beast’s hostility and save their life. However, to shave away the outer scales and extract the jade was nevertheless an extremely difficult process. The jade and the outer scales had a hidden network of interlinked veins. If the smallest mistake occurred while a blacksmith forged the Sobbing Qilin Stone, the internal jade would lose its spiritual powers and become an ordinary rock.
Even very qualified smiths did not dare guarantee that they could safely extract the Sobbing Qilin Jade.
“Then why would you dare guarantee that you are capable of extracting it.” The girl was unconvinced.
“Should Your Servant fail, Your Servant is willing to compensate you with this treasure, the Ascending Heaven Ruler, Young Lady.” Chen Mo moved his Divine Intent and raised the Ascending Heaven Ruler.
The girl knew from a glance that this Ascending Heaven Ruler was a Heaven Earth level Spirit Treasure. Treasures capable of warping through space were very valuable, and seeing Chen Mo was so stern, she knew he was not joking. Although the Sobbing Qilin Stone sounded capable of warding off a Holy Beast’s hostility, the truth was that it was not so valuable. It was known that Star World’s “Holy Beasts” were existences encountered practically through luck alone. If not for the fact that Qilin Martial Emperor Liu Hongyu was raising a “Holy Beast,” this Sobbing Qilin Stone would be useless.
“What do you want?” The girl was not foolish.
“If I successfully extract the Sobbing Qilin Jade, I hope I can receive half at that time.” Chen Mo smiled.
The girl thought about it. This was apparently a very reasonable request.
“Then hand that treasure of yours to me right now as collateral.”
Chen Mo waved his hand, and the Ascending Heaven Ruler landed in the girl’s palm.
The girl was taken aback that Chen Mo would be so direct. Could it be that this Earthly Immortal actually had the skill to extract the Sobbing Qilin Jade? Even a master blacksmith would not dare be so confident. However, if the Sobbing Qilin Stone could not be processed, it was useless to her anyways. She would rather exchange it for a treasure than keeping it in her possession and turning it into trash.
Any way she considered it, this was a profitable trade.
“Take it.” The girl threw the Sobbing Qilin Stone to Chen Mo: “However, if you fail, do not blame This Young Lady for being merciless.”
“Of course.”
The two of them found a place with verdant hills and limpid waters on the outskirts. Chen Mo held the Sobbing QIlin Stone and carefully scrutinized it. The purple skirted girl fiddled with the Ascending Heaven Ruler as she watched how he would cast it.
The Book Of Casting’s chapter on Strange Stones included an introduction to the Sobbing Qilin Stone. In it were many details on how to extract the stone, summarizing it very comprehensively. Chen Mo used the Bodhi Soul Technique to concentrate and quickly enter the realm of a blacksmith.
The Sobbing Qilin Stone’s tangled and complicated exterior of scales and veins became clear to his eyes, then increasingly distinct. However, this was still not enough to perfectly extract it. Chen Mo gently exhaled. His breath passed over the stone, suddenly emitting the seeming sound of a crying qilin.
This “sob” was the crux to extracting the Sobbing Qilin Stone. After a while, Chen Mo finally found the most intact vein. Then, he snapped his fingers. An alchemical flame shot from his fingertip, but the alchemical flame was insufficient to remove the Sobbing Qilin Stone’s shell. In truth, the reason only true master blacksmiths could forge it was because those at their level would have long already trained a proficient Divine Fire. This type of Divine Fire was extremely helpful in forging.
Although Chen Mo possessed comprehension no blacksmith could match, his experience was still very deficient. Fortunately, the Bodhi Soul Technique compensated for this. However, the Divine Fire of casting was nevertheless something he could not achieve overnight. This posed not problem to him, though. Chen Mo quietly used Zhongli Mo’s Innate Skill, “Ash Burning,” in combination with the alchemical flame.
The girl watched idly from the side, not at all confident that Chen Mo could extract the Sobbing Qilin Stone.
When she saw the Sobbing Qilin Stone’s rock shell slowly melt, the girl’s expression slowly became astonished.
How was this possible.
Under the Ash Burning Innate Skill, the Sobbing Qilin Stone’s exterior melted like winter snow.
The girl retracted her disdainful expression, and her eyes began to grow earnest. She stared at Chen Mo, her brow wrinkled. She surreptitiously formed hand seals. Purple light wove between her fingertips, as if forming purple stars.
“Hm??”
A bright green light flashed. The girl looked and was immediately stunned.
That piece of unremarkable Sobbing Qilin Stone had already shed its crude appearance under Chen Mo’s forging, revealing the core on the inside. That was a piece of jade about the size of a chicken egg. It was half blue, half green, unlike other jade. This Sobbing Qilin Jade seemed to be made from mist. It surprisingly had an unfathomable and mysterious tint.
A gem made from mist.
The moment she saw this scene, the girl knew that this man truly extracted the Sobbing Qilin Jade perfectly.
“You actually succeeded…You really are a Qilin Cub…” THe girl murmured.
“I hope you don’t mind that I split it in half.” CHen Mo smiled at her.
The young girl had nothing to say. She nodded. “Please do, if you are confident that you will not destroy this jade’s efficacy.”
This was no challenge at all. As Chen Mo forged, his will moved, perfectly splitting the Sobbing QIlin Jade. The jade split in half as if blown by mist.
“Your Distinguished Self is too amazing. A moment ago, Mushuang truly had eyes but was blind.” The girl sighed as she took her half of the Sobbing Qilin Jade.
“Many thanks for the kindness, Young Lady.” Chen Mo said.
“Your Servant is Su Mushuang,2 a disciple of the Violet Immortal Palace. I wonder which master blacksmith you are a disciple of, Your Distinguished Self?” The girl announced her name.
“Your Servant is Mo Chen. Some time ago, Your Servant accidentally learned casting arts from a senior. The rest is unclear.”
“Then that must have been an expert blacksmith. Your Distinguished Self Mo Chen is fortunate, Mushuang is truly jealous.” Su Mushuang smiled. This could explain why Chen Mo had such ability.
“I never thought that Little Sister Mushuang would turn out to be a disciple of the Purple Firmaments Immortal Palace.” Chen Mo indicated his amazement: “I heard that the Purple Firmaments Immortal Palace is very mysterious. It is said you can grasp the numbers of the Purple Rose.”
“That is merely the baseless exaggeration of the ignorant. How can heavenly mysteries be grasped as we please.” Su Mushuang disputed.
Chen Mo did not pursue this question any further.
Having obtained this Sobbing Qilin Jade, he had another safeguard in the hunt for the Holy Beast.
“However, seeing as how Your Distinguished Self is a promising young man, Mushuang actually can give you a divination.”
Chen Mo listened respectfully.
Su Mushuang nonchalantly smiled: “No matter what Your Distinguished Self Mo Chen wants to do in the Western Fields, disastrous omens abound. It is an understatement to say you will make a narrow escape.”
Chen Mo was unfazed: “This ‘Yuanshou’ business naturally could not possibly have a tailwind. Since this is a hunt for a qilin, I actually feel it inconceivable that I would have good luck.”
“Indeed. The qilin is the auspicious portent of Holy Beasts. Hunting it naturally cannot be fortuitous!” Su Mushuang showed a pure white smile. “However, perhaps not so for hunting one kept by a Star Marquis.”
“Hm?” Chen Mo felt there was a hidden meaning to Su Mushuang’s words, but the girl clearly did not want to reveal any more.
“Truly, many thanks this time to Fellow Mo Chen. If you have any questions, please consult me.” Su Mushuang activated a purple light and soared towards the horizon.
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