Upon seeing Xu Fang in person, the Ink Jade Qilin quickly cupped his hands in greeting.
"We had no idea Daoist Master Xu Fang would grace us with his presence, a grave oversight on our part. Please do not hold it against us!"
"Indeed, indeed. No one has ever found our Qilin Cave Heaven before. To have an actual visitor, Daoist Master Xu Fang, forgive our impudence!"
The Ink Jade Qilin bowed respectfully, apologizing repeatedly. The Qilin tribesmen behind him also bowed with utmost respect, their faces filled with reverence.
Xu Fang was a great benefactor to the Qilin tribe, having retrieved the Qilin Seal and the Qilin inheritance for them. He had bestowed upon them a gift of renewed life, how could they dare to be remiss?
Xu Fang did not make things difficult for them. After a few pleasantries, he entered the Qilin Cave Heaven with the Ink Jade Qilin.
The Golden-Winged Great Peng and Ao Xue marveled at the elders' unfathomable divine abilities, which were truly omnipotent. They had actually managed to locate the Qilin Cave Heaven.
Their gazes towards Xu Fang grew even more admiring. Seeing Xu Fang depart, they quickly followed.
Xu Fang and the Ink Jade Qilin walked and chatted, unaware of the unusual stir within his magic treasures at that very moment.
Inside the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda, all the magic treasures had manifested in human form. They looked at the Ding Hai Divine Pearl, cowering in the corner, with confusion.
"Ding Hai Divine Pearl, aren't you usually quite spirited? Why aren't you acting up now?"
"Exactly, what's wrong with you? Are you even capable? You scrawny thing!"
"What are you shrinking for! Get up and party!"
The magic treasures spoke one after another, attempting to rouse the Ding Hai Divine Pearl from its state.
However, no matter whether it was through goading or scolding, the Ding Hai Divine Pearl remained huddled in the corner, unwilling to move, muttering to itself.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Wasn't that fellow finished?"
"If it's still around, what does that make me? Oh no, could this be the old man's scheme for soul-possession and rebirth!"
The magic treasures shook their heads and sighed at the Ding Hai Divine Pearl's nonsensical ramblings.
What was wrong with this fellow? They had only come to the Qilin Cave Heaven, yet it was acting as if it had encountered some great terror.
However, the Ding Hai Divine Pearl was solely preoccupied with its own muttering, and the other magic treasures could not extract any useful information, so they reluctantly gave up.
Never mind, perhaps it was just an intermittent bout of madness in a magic treasure, and it would pass in a while.
Outside, Xu Fang and his group, under the enthusiastic welcome of the Qilin tribesmen, entered the Qilin Cave Heaven, drawing the attention of countless Qilin tribesmen.
"Qilin tribesmen, pay respects to our great benefactor, Daoist Master Xu Fang!"
"Daoist Master Xu Fang, we have long heard of your name. We are eternally indebted for your role in the rebirth of our Qilin tribe!"
"Daoist Master Xu Fang, please do not leave. Tonight, my family will prepare a feast to welcome you!"
The Qilin tribesmen knelt before Xu Fang, offering countless words of gratitude, their faces filled with adoration.
Xu Fang, with great effort and the assistance of the Ink Jade Qilin, finally managed to persuade these Qilin tribesmen to stand up.
However, even after standing, they still refused to leave, gazing at Xu Fang with such reverence, their hearts brimming with emotion.
Xu Fang felt a sense of helplessness, forced to endure this attention from the masses, and thus let them have their way.
Looking around, the Qilin Cave Heaven was vast and boundless, so immense that it could be considered a small world in itself, truly worthy of being the Qilin tribe's stronghold.
"However, I can't help but feel... this Qilin Cave Heaven seems to possess a certain inexplicable aura?"
Xu Fang's heart was filled with doubt, but this feeling soon faded as the Ink Jade Qilin welcomed them into the Qilin Grand Hall.
Before they could even settle, a surprised voice rang out.
"Senior, Senior! Is it really you?"
As the words fell, a figure rushed in from outside the door. It was the little Qilin, whom they had not seen in a long time. Seeing that Xu Fang was indeed in the grand hall, he was overjoyed.
"Senior, I knew you wouldn't forget me!"
The little Qilin was so happy he began to weep, gazing at Xu Fang, who smiled faintly. Years had passed, but the senior's charm remained as captivating as ever!
"Oh ho, it seems the senior is indeed more favored than us older brothers and sisters. You only have eyes for the senior and none for us!"
"Indeed, we should have stayed outside, not been here!"
Two voices chimed in. The little Qilin looked towards the source of the voices and saw the teasing expressions of the Golden-Winged Great Peng and Ao Xue. He quickly replied.
"How could I, Blacky the Qilin, forget my elder brothers and sisters? Elder brothers and sisters, I've missed you dearly!"
As the little Qilin spoke, he immediately pounced forward, embracing the Golden-Winged Great Peng and Ao Xue tightly.
The Ink Jade Qilin watched this scene with relief.
"Alas, this little one hasn't been this happy in a long time."
"Yes, after so many years, he's finally shown such a smile!"
Xu Fang smiled, watching quietly. Hearing the Ink Jade Qilin's words, he naturally knew that the little Qilin had been thinking of them since they parted.
However, Xu Fang's smile soon froze. He quickly transmitted a message, asking.
"What's going on? Isn't it usually very lively?"
"I don't know either! Little Xu, you'd better see for yourself!"
The Measuring Heaven Ruler said with a hint of helplessness.
Ever since entering the Qilin Cave Heaven, the Ding Hai Divine Pearl had been behaving strangely. They had thought it would improve, but its condition only worsened, forcing them to inform Xu Fang and disturb his joyous reunion with the little Qilin.
"Is that so? I'd like to see what's going on."
Xu Fang transmitted his message and immediately focused his consciousness to inspect the situation within the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda.
Indeed, within the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda, the Ding Hai Divine Pearl had transformed into a human form. It lay on the ground, rolling and crying and laughing, all the while chattering incessantly.
"Hahaha! I knew that old fellow wouldn't be destroyed so easily. So he was planning to scheme against me like this!"
"Wuwuwu! Alas, for my Ding Hai Divine Pearl, brilliant for a lifetime, to ultimately fall to such a fate?"
Xu Fang looked at the Ding Hai Divine Pearl's state and felt speechless. What madness was it exhibiting here!
"It's just acting crazily! But it feels like something within this Qilin Cave Heaven is making it panic, or perhaps affecting its sanity?"
"Yes, but what else is here besides the Qilin tribesmen? Oh, right, there's also a broken bead?"
"You're not going to tell me that a broken bead has driven the Ding Hai Divine Pearl of my Xu Fang's Treasure Group into such a frenzy, are you?"
The magic treasures discussed amongst themselves. Listening to their words, Xu Fang suddenly had an epiphany and quickly glanced at the treasure map beside him.
Indeed, the treasure map showed that within the Qilin Cave Heaven, besides the various treasures belonging to the Qilin tribe, there was an unclaimed item: a broken bead.
"It can't be? A single broken bead has driven you to this state?"
Xu Fang shook his head. The Ding Hai Divine Pearl was, after all, a primordial spirit treasure. To be driven into a frenzy by a broken bead, how could one possibly reason with it?
However, Xu Fang soon shook his head again, his expression growing serious as something occurred to him.