The Qiankun Mirror Really Played Itself to Death

In Eastern mythology, the Qilin is a symbol of auspiciousness and the incarnation of benevolence and virtue.

It does not trample on living grass or step on insects and ants. It holds the principle of not killing and can distinguish between good and evil, loyalty and treachery.

Today, in this forgotten Demon Realm, you saw a demon with the figure of a Qilin, looking exactly like the myths and legends.

"Auspicious Clouds Descend!"

A blood-red cloud emerged beneath the Qilin's feet, making his speed as swift as lightning, darting left and right, his figure difficult to discern.

"Benevolent Divine Fist!"

The Qilin's arm swelled, resembling a heavenly pillar, and with one punch, it smashed Huo Feihuo deep into the earth's crust!

"Virtuous Trample!"

The Qilin's feet grew to a massive size and stomped down viciously, driving Huo Feihuo, who was already smashed into the crust, even deeper underground!

"Eyes of Good and Evil!"

The Qilin's eyes erupted with red and green divine light, shooting deep underground like two lasers. Huo Feihuo's agonizing screams echoed from beneath the earth.

Attacks between soul bodies were actually just different forms of energy impact. It seemed like they were turning the world upside down, but that was only because the energy was so massive, rather than being physical attacks.

"Truly an auspicious beast!"

You couldn't help but give a thumbs up.

A realm's Dao Protector was truly invincible!

Looking again at the Shen family patriarch...

Tsk tsk, completely useless.

The Shen family patriarch wasn't actually the contemporary Dao Protector of the Human Realm; he was merely the first generation. After his natural lifespan ended, someone else took up the mantle of Dao Protector.

Strictly speaking, the Shen family patriarch failed completely because he suffered a backlash from the possession attempt right at the start, which was incredibly bad luck.

Huo Feihuo still put up a stubborn resistance for a while.

The Qilin soul had been tortured for thirty thousand years. Although it could still execute its techniques, it no longer possessed its former divine might.

The Qilin soul also had no way to completely eradicate Huo Feihuo, so it could only pierce the dark chains previously used to suppress it into Huo Feihuo's soul.

"Let me go! You old fogey! If you have the guts, fight me in a fair duel! What kind of trick is using these soul-binding chains!"

"Shut up! Fair and square? How does your Dragonkin race have the nerve to talk about being fair and square?!

Colluding with spies to steal our Great Dao Immortal Artifacts!

Taking advantage of our weakness, plotting against me, and sneak attacking the Young Master!

Every single thing you've done has nothing to do with being fair and square!

Just stay here and sink into eternal oblivion!"

Huo Feihuo panicked.

"No! I was just responsible for standing guard! I still have to go back and get married! Don't trap me here!"

Your mind spun, and you stepped forward, saying,

"If you are willing to reveal the Dragonkin's next plan, I can let you go."

The Qilin soul's expression looked grim; it seemed he didn't want to agree to your approach.

But you gave him a reassuring look.

Rest assured, whether he spoke or not, there was no way you were going to let him go.

Unexpectedly, this Huo Feihuo was quite loyal. He resolutely refused to speak and asked you to change the condition.

You had wanted to coax some intelligence out of him, but it seemed you could only give up.

"Little friend of the Human race, you brought the Young Master to find me this time because you want to return to the Human Realm, right?"

"Exactly. Didn't you say before that there was a way to return to the Human Realm?"

"The rifts leading to the Human Realm that Lord Demon Emperor opened back then using the Great Dao Immortal Artifacts were all closed by me during the retreat. However, there is still one rift left for transmitting intelligence, it's just..."

The Qilin soul hesitated to speak.

"Just what? Do you need some resources to support it? Tell me, I might have them on me."

The resources you looted from the Shen family and the Star Power Profound Realm still had some leftovers, which might come in handy.

"It's nothing, I suppose it won't be an issue. I'll take you there, little friend."

"Then thank you very much!"

You entered the Nine Provinces Cauldron and followed the Qilin soul, flying toward the rift between the two realms.

Behind you, Huo Feihuo roared in the ancient city ruins.

"Let me out—"

On the way.

"Little friend of the Human race, since you are human, do you not harbor resentment toward my Demon race? Aren't you worried that I am deceiving you and might harm you instead?"

You smiled.

"The Demon race is already in this state, what point is there in harming me? As for the hatred from thirty thousand years ago, that's probably not something I need to dwell on right now.

I'm actually more curious as to why the Demon Emperor had to launch the realm war. Is it really as Tiger General said, that by defeating all the Void Realms, the entire race could ascend?"

"Lord Demon Emperor didn't explain everything to me back then. I believed in his foresight and wisdom and supported him unconditionally, that's all.

Time casts a layer of fog over history. If you wish to uncover the truth, you must pierce through this fog, which I fear will be very difficult..."

As the Dao Protector of the Demon race, this great demon with Qilin bloodline knew quite a lot.

You chatted with him along the way and learned a lot of information.

For example.

"What? This guy is really dead?!"

"You can't use 'dead' to describe a Great Dao Immortal Artifact. It's 'destroyed'—its body ruined and its spirit extinguished."

You looked at the Universe Mirror, which originally only had half its mirror surface, was cracking inch by inch, and had been smoking for several years.

"I'm seriously speechless! This guy was too crazy! I just asked you to help me escape the star field, did you have to teleport us so far?! You played yourself to death!"

After hearing you recount your experience in the star field, the Qilin beast thought for a moment and said,

"Your Water Element Immortal Artifact was already unstable due to its damage. It probably didn't intend to come to the Demon Realm either; it lost control during the spellcasting process.

Even if it were in perfect condition, you couldn't let it cast a spell on its own to cross the world barriers. There are too many accidents that could happen.

Even Lord Demon Emperor had to gather all five Great Dao Immortal Artifacts and personally control them to cross over freely."

Every Void Realm has five Great Dao Immortal Artifacts representing the Five Elements.

The Demon Realm is accustomed to calling them Immortal Artifacts of a certain element.

"Senior, there's one more thing I'd like to ask for advice on..."

You explained Da Chun's situation.

Hearing this, the Qilin beast couldn't help but reveal an admiring expression.

"The artifact spirit of this Wood Element Immortal Artifact seems to have taken that step..."

"Which step?"

"Great Dao Immortal Artifacts are still artifacts. Ultimately, they need to cooperate with a user to unleash their full power. The artifact spirits seem to have self-awareness, but in reality, they have an instinct to 'follow'.

To put it bluntly, they don't have much of a mind of their own.

The so-called 'that step' refers to the artifact spirit birthing true self-will, having the ability to decide its own life."

Why did these words sound so familiar?

You turned your head to look at the Myriad Soul Banner.

"Kid, what are you looking at your grandpa for?"

You gave the Myriad Soul Banner a punch.

The Qilin laughed.

"Indeed, the artifact spirit of your Myriad Soul Banner has also reached this step. It is not a Great Dao Immortal Artifact, and its time of birth is not considered long among immortal artifacts, yet to have such comprehension is truly rare."

The Myriad Soul Banner used its banner surface to make an arms-akimbo pose.

"Kid! Your buddy told you a long time ago!

I, the Myriad Soul Banner! Am the greatest, most powerful, and ballsiest immortal artifact in history!

What Great Dao Immortal Artifacts? Just mutts on the side of the road!

[ "Once I outlive you and regain my freedom, I will..." ]

[ You kicked him aside. ]

[ "Senior, does the incompleteness of the Nine Provinces Cauldron's artifact spirit have anything to do with it possessing a true will of its own?" ]