The little Qilin looked at the scene before him. Even though he didn't want to believe it, he had to accept the cruel reality.
"No need for that, child. It is a fortune for both of us that you could come here and meet me."
The First Qilin spoke to comfort the little Qilin, then looked at Xu Fang and nodded at him.
"We also need to thank fellow Daoist Xu Fang. If you hadn't helped the little Qilin, he wouldn't have arrived here to see me."
"I dare not, I dare not. You are too kind."
Xu Fang stood up and waved his hands repeatedly.
Setting aside the First Qilin's status and position, just considering his age, Xu Fang dared not compare himself to such a being. To be called "fellow Daoist" was truly an honor he could not bear.
Moreover, compared to the Ancestral Dragon, this First Qilin was clearly more polite.
Thinking of the Ancestral Dragon, Xu Fang looked at the First Qilin before him and couldn't help but grumble in his heart.
"So all you old fellows like this 'dead but not entirely dead' trick, huh!"
But then again, it made sense. They were all leaders of their respective clans. Even at the brink of death, they would not readily depart, always wanting to leave something for their descendants.
"Fellow Daoist Xu Fang, please don't say that. I have been here for I don't know how many years, and no Qilin tribesman has ever come here. I am about to dissipate."
The First Qilin spoke, "If it weren't for fellow Daoist Xu Fang, I fear I would not have been able to rest in peace even in death!"
When the First Qilin knew his time was short, he transformed his body into Qilin Cliff, sealing the Qilin clan's supreme treasure there, along with their heritage.
"I thought the Qilin Cliff, being formed from my body, would surely be visited by members of the Qilin clan for offerings and the like. But through all these years, I haven't seen any tribesmen come here!"
The First Qilin sighed. If no one came soon, he truly wouldn't be able to hold on any longer, and the Qilin clan's supreme treasure and heritage would be sealed here forever, unable to be accessed again.
"This is hardly the Qilin tribesmen's fault."
Xu Fang said, "After the war of the three clans, all three were far from their former glory and struggled to survive in the Primordial Era. The Qilin tribesmen were unable to reach this place to visit you!"
"Alas! To think that the once glorious three clans have all fallen so low. It is truly lamentable!"
The First Qilin sighed. In the past, during the conflict of the three clans, they had been at their peak, with all beings submitting to them.
But now, as Xu Fang and the little Qilin had said, the ones making waves in the Primordial Era were the inconspicuous Witch and Demon clans.
"Never mind, let's not dwell on that."
After a period of deep reflection, the First Qilin knew it was futile to dwell on the past. The most crucial thing now was to ensure the Qilin clan received their heritage. Even if they couldn't rise again, it would at least guarantee their survival in the Primordial Era.
The First Qilin's gaze fell upon the little Qilin.
"Child, are you ready to receive the heritage of the Qilin clan?"
"Huh?"
The little Qilin was still feeling sorrowful. Hearing this suddenly, he was immediately flustered.
"Clan Leader, I can't, I can't, I'm not qualified!"
The little Qilin vehemently refused three times, trying his best to decline.
"Perhaps, Clan Leader, you could wait? I will go and find the two princes, Mo Yu Qilin, and you can impart the heritage to them?"
The little Qilin still felt he was not qualified and insufficient for such a great responsibility.
The First Qilin shook his head and patted the little Qilin's shoulder.
"Your ability to enter this place is proof of our karmic connection. While Mo Yu Qilin are of my bloodline, the responsibility of revitalizing the Qilin clan will likely fall on you."
Even with the First Qilin's words, the little Qilin continued to shake his head.
"Clan Leader, I believe my bloodline is impure, and I am not qualified. Why not wait for the two princes?"
"There isn't enough time. This Qilin space can only be opened once. You are the only candidate, the destined one!"
The First Qilin shook his head. These words startled the little Qilin, who then felt remorseful.
"Is it that I have wasted this one chance?"
"Child, do not think this way. Your arrival here is by destiny, and the destiny of the Qilin clan rests upon you."
The First Qilin spoke. Seeing that the little Qilin was still hesitant, his expression suddenly darkened.
"Could it be that you wish for the Qilin clan's heritage to be severed?"
"Weren't you just repeatedly talking about revitalizing the Qilin clan? Were you lying?"
The First Qilin's face turned stern, and his tone became extremely severe.
Seeing this, the little Qilin could no longer refuse. Gritting his teeth, he spoke.
"Alright! I promise you, Clan Leader, that I will obtain the heritage of the Qilin clan and definitely bring it back to the Qilin clan to revitalize it!"
Hearing the little Qilin's words, the First Qilin finally nodded with satisfaction.
Seeing this, Xu Fang knew that what followed concerned the Qilin clan's heritage. He bid farewell and left the place.
The First Qilin watched Xu Fang leave, nodded gratefully, and immediately began imparting the Qilin clan's heritage to the little Qilin.
Light then flashed behind him. Xu Fang did not look back, and following the guidance of the treasure map, he soon arrived at a location.
He saw a large seal floating above a high platform, emitting a faint glow.
After activating the Qilin space, it was not as sealed as he had seen before.
With the treasure within reach, Xu Fang had no intention of claiming it. Instead, he sat cross-legged and waited quietly.
Not long after, the First Qilin and the little Qilin appeared there.
Seeing Xu Fang waiting there, the First Qilin repeatedly nodded and praised him.
"Fellow Daoist Xu Fang truly has a gift for sensing treasures. I am impressed!"
Xu Fang smiled. It was just a matter of navigation; it was not worth mentioning.
The First Qilin said no more. With a wave of his hand, the Qilin Seal fell into his grasp.
The First Qilin examined the Qilin Seal in his hand, his expression complex, filled with wistfulness, melancholy, and joy.
Xu Fang and the little Qilin watched from the side.
After a long while, the First Qilin finally came back to his senses, looked at Xu Fang and the little Qilin, and smiled apologetically.
"My apologies, I was momentarily lost in thought."
"Fellow Daoist Xu Fang, rest assured, the Qilin clan will not forget your kindness for helping us so greatly this time."
The First Qilin expressed his gratitude to Xu Fang once more, then looked at the little Qilin.
"Remember what I told you just now. Be sure to convey it to the Qilin clan."
The little Qilin nodded solemnly. The First Qilin sighed.
"Dust to dust, earth to earth. What has passed will pass, and it cannot be changed."
"Little Qilin, take this Qilin Seal. The future of the Qilin clan rests upon you juniors."
The First Qilin said, handing the Qilin Seal in his hand to the little Qilin. The little Qilin wiped away his tears and respectfully accepted it with both hands.
"Rest assured, I will remember the Clan Leader's teachings!"
"Good!"
The First Qilin nodded, quite satisfied, and completely handed the Qilin Seal over to the little Qilin.
The moment the Qilin Seal left his hand, the First Qilin's figure began to dissipate at a visible speed!