The Arrival of the Qilin: Prologue

(center) Prologue (left) Far above the distant clouds, thunder rumbled, and lightning serpentine like long dragons surged through the pitch-black cloud layers. The shattered sky bled light in all directions, with murderous intent spreading everywhere. A blood moon hung directly overhead, bringing endless fear to the world below. A woman hovered in mid-air at the center of the blood moon. Her light red silk garments fluttered slightly in the wind, shrouding her body like a mist, her graceful figure faintly visible. Her black hair cascaded behind her like a waterfall, bathed in blood light. The woman lightly lifted her sleeves, and a delicate, exquisite mirror appeared in her hand out of thin air. After meticulously enhancing her willow-leaf eyebrows with it, the woman smiled in satisfaction. Such a heavenly beauty, yet her smile was incredibly enchanting and terrifying, sending chills down the spine. "Qi, tell me, am I beautiful?" She trembled her full, rounded lips, and her seductive voice slithered like cold, slippery venomous snakes into Qi's ears. A man stood on a thin layer of clouds in the distance. The surrounding clouds had all been dyed a terrifying blood-red, yet the cloud beneath his feet remained pure and sacred white, just like its owner—pure and untainted, disconnected from the world, lest it be defiled by anything. Yes, he was the Qilin. "Go back, Feng," Qi replied calmly, "Perhaps the Dragon Emperor will spare your life." Darkness instantly covered Feng's face, and the mirror in her palm was effortlessly crushed into shimmering dust, scattering in flashes. Cold aura emanated from her, and frost immediately formed in the surrounding air. The earlier seductive demeanor had vanished with the wind, leaving only the icy chill and resolute determination. "I won't." A flicker of loneliness passed through Qi's delicate eyes but disappeared instantly. In his clear, water-like gaze, only an unruffled calm remained. "Is that so… since it's like this…" Qi formed hand seals, fingers moving rapidly in a flurry. Powerful winds whistled as a golden magical seal appeared in the air. Qi reached into it and slowly drew out a weapon. A golden longbow materialized across the sky. A sharp battle aura exploded instantly, and an invisible domain enveloped the sky, his majestic divine power resonating through the soul. Light points danced between Qi's fingers, instantly shaping a golden arrow in his hand. The next moment, the arrow was notched onto the divine bow stretched to its limit. The beast head carved on the bowbit tightly held the arrowhead.The cold light on the arrowhead shot into Feng's fiery red eyes, becoming a flickering strange glow.

"Then, my apologies!"

Arrows drawn and bows taut, he looked at her, and she looked at him.

Feng slightly lowered her head, her voice trembling as she whispered, "You… really won't let me go?"

Qi said nothing, only gripping the arrow on the string even tighter, his eyes flowing with unwavering determination.

"Good! Good! Good, Qilin. You truly will be loyal to the Dragon Emperor!" A shrill laugh mixed with mockery instantly filled Feng's face. "Haha… and rightfully so. Even bringing out the Divine Fire Qi Bow to use against me, it's an honor to die under its arrow."

Feng lowered her voice, her eerie blood-red pupils narrowing to a slit. "But if one of the Four Great Beasts, Qilin, could be my funeral companion… now that would be an honor!"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Feng's figure flickered, merging into the blood moon behind her. The crimson moonlight immediately boiled, and the endless blood-red glow intertwined, forming a massive rune that slowly rotated.

Suddenly, the rune in midair seemed to be drawn towards something and slowly latched onto the blood moon. Both were exactly the same size, and at the moment their edges perfectly aligned, the rotating rune abruptly stopped. A dazzling light erupted from it.

Gentle ripples spread across the surface of the rune moon, and a wing stretched out from the blood moon. At the same time, an incomparably immense, almost otherworldly piercing shriek resounded, shattering the surrounding clouds into fragments.

Qilin quickly shot an arrow. A golden streak of light, radiating sacred arrow energy, shot forward. Wherever it passed, the space was torn open with cracks.

The flying golden arrow collided with the invisible sound wave, blooming a fleeting, beautiful spark in the sky.

A terrifying force surged across the heavens, scattering all the clouds and mist.

In the rain of fire, a massive blood-red shadow stood tall, clad in blood feathers. Under the moonlight, it resembled flames of crimson fire dancing.

"Qilin, do you still not intend to use the Beast Soul Blood Pact?" The Blood Phoenix flapped her wings, and Qilin's figure reflected in her blood-colored eyes. "Do you look down on me?"

Qilin gazed at the Blood Phoenix calmly. After a moment, he softly uttered, "Feng, you're beautiful."

The Blood Phoenix was slightly stunned upon hearing this. But the blush never appeared on her face, quickly replaced by a cold indifference.

"I won't use the Blood Pact. Qilin, you have no chance of winning anyway."And I will not give you any chance.” With that, Feng suddenly spread his wings. A raging aura erupted skyward. (center) “Blood Feather - Demonic Prison Phoenix Dance!!” (left) The blood phoenix transformed into a red blood arrow, soaring into the sky. With a terrifying aura of destruction, it rapidly descended toward the Qilin. Due to the extreme speed, the intense friction with the air generated an incredibly high temperature. Soon, flames of a thousand degrees covered the entire body of the blood phoenix. The fire-bathed phoenix fell straight down like a fireworks display. The Qilin looked up at her. A tear quietly rolled down, instantly vaporized into steam by the scorching air. He silently raised his divine bow, and an invisible arrow formed quietly. Seemingly invisible, yet tangible. The Qilin stared blankly at the phoenix so close at hand; the wildly dancing flames nearly touched his face. Everything seemed to slow down. The phoenix danced wildly in the flames, this spectacular scene forever etched in the depths of the Qilin's memory. He took a careful last look. Released the arrow in his hands. “Whoosh.” (right) To be continued. (left)