I was just making up techniques… how did all of you become Emperors? Chapter 617: The Three Ancestors of Hongyuan
Previously on I was just making up techniques… how did all of you become Emperors?...
In the wooded mountains, next to a flowing brook, Cao Youqian prepared a barbecue rack and expertly grilled some dragon flesh. Sizzling noises echoed as the enticing scent of the cooked dragon meat wafted through the air.
Close by, the Thunder Qilin caught the smell and couldn't help but salivate. Gazing at the enormous head of the demon dragon nearby, it grumbled, “Little demon dragon, I didn't expect your flesh to smell this good. If I'd realized sooner, I'd have nicknamed you the Fragrant Dragon.”
Pa!
Cao Youqian couldn't resist and smacked the Thunder Qilin on its head. “You rascal, do you want to eat this dragon meat or not? Stop talking such rubbish.”
“Yes,” the Thunder Qilin answered.
Not wanting to pass up such a treat, it closed its mouth right after and waited silently.
A short while later, Cao Youqian handed the grilled dragon meat to the Thunder Qilin. He pulled out some sacred wine from his storage ring, devouring big chunks of meat and gulping down the drink, appearing utterly relaxed and unrestrained.
Before long, though, Cao Youqian noticed the Thunder Qilin eyeing him. He glanced over and questioned, “Big Lei, why are you staring at me that way?”
The Thunder Qilin stayed silent, merely gulping down saliva while fixating on the wine jug in Cao Youqian’s grasp.
“So you crave good eats and fine liquor too. Alright, I'm feeling generous today, so I'll let you sample the best wine around.”
Cao Youqian grabbed a bowl, poured it full, and passed it across. The Thunder Qilin inhaled the potent fragrance and drained the bowl in a single swallow without pause.
Once the wine hit its stomach, the Thunder Qilin displayed a rare expression of pure delight. Licking its lips, it remarked, “Brother Qian, what’s this stuff? How can it taste so amazing?”
Cao Youqian chuckled and replied, “This is sacred wine, crafted by my master. For you to taste it is fortune earned across eight lifetimes.”
“Can I get another bowl?”
The Thunder Qilin batted its huge, lantern-like eyes as it asked, somehow looking surprisingly adorable.
Cao Youqian rolled his eyes. “Forget it. With your build, one bowl's the max you can handle. Better stuff yourself with more hot dragon meat now, or you might miss out later.”
“No way, that's impossible.”
As the Thunder Qilin talked, a sudden dizziness hit it. The Cao Youqian in front of it doubled into four images, and it broke into laughter. “Brother Qian, how come you're four people now?”
Cao Youqian instinctively rubbed his brow and grumbled, “I shouldn't have given you even one bowl. My mistake.”
“I can drink more.”
Right then, the Thunder Qilin acted like a tipsy child, chattering nonstop.
Cao Youqian snapped in annoyance, “You pest, don't make me smack you when I'm in such high spirits.”
“Go ahead, strike me if you've got the guts.”
After that one bowl, the Thunder Qilin felt like it owned everything and paid no heed to Cao Youqian. As it spoke, it chomped down on a huge piece of dragon meat, which made Cao Youqian burst into laughter.
Cao Youqian ignored the inebriated creature. Arrogant as he was, he wouldn't stoop to hitting someone soused.
Moments ticked by. After a few silly drunken outbursts, the Thunder Qilin slumped to the ground and dozed off, allowing Cao Youqian to savor the feast in peace by himself.
The night went by without incident. At dawn the following day, the Thunder Qilin blearily woke up and spotted Brother Qian already in cultivation. It scratched its head on reflex and mumbled, “What went down last night? My head's pounding so bad.”
Cao Youqian shot it a scornful look. “With your weak tolerance for booze, don't bring up such a shameful thing. Next time, just stick to the kids' drinks.”
“Oh.”
The Thunder Qilin answered meekly as bits of memory from the night before flashed in its thoughts. It grasped why Brother Qian had said that, and knowing its own idiotic behavior, it wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.
“Anyway, you know the location of that demon dragon's den, don't you?”
Cao Youqian inquired gravely. Having already subdued a Half-Saint Realm demon dragon, he had no intention of skipping its hoard, or the whole journey would be pointless.
“I do. I'll guide you there immediately.”
Thinking of the demon dragon's demise, the Thunder Qilin's earlier annoyance faded away, giving way to sheer happiness.
Cao Youqian climbed onto the Thunder Qilin's back. “Show the path.”
“Got it.”
The Thunder Qilin lumbered toward the demon dragon's hideout. During the trip, neither the man nor the qilin ran into any threats.
This left the Thunder Qilin feeling dull, so it idly wondered, “Brother Qian, you took down that demon dragon so swiftly yesterday. Weren't you worried its ancestor might show up for revenge?”
Cao Youqian scoffed, “That beast might boast of being the Dragon Ancestor's direct descendant, but if it really had high rank in the dragon race, it wouldn't end up bullying folks in a backwater like this. Plus, it had zero treasures on it, proving—like you—that it doesn't rate much with its own kin.”
Hearing that, the Thunder Qilin sighed in resignation. “Brother Qian, must you be so blunt and cutting?”
“Haha…”
Cao Youqian couldn't suppress his amusement. “I'm just stating facts. No surprise my master says folks hate the truth—it's often too harsh.”
“…”
The Thunder Qilin had nothing to say, then probed, “So, Brother Qian, you're the pupil of some big shot in your lineage?”
“Exactly. Back in my family and with my master, I was always the cherished one.”
As Cao Youqian mentioned this, recollections of his early days in the sect and clan filled his mind.
“So how come you got banished like me too?”
With that, the Thunder Qilin twisted its neck with a smirk, its smug face practically begging for a punch, implying they were both rejects.
Pa!
Cao Youqian whacked the Thunder Qilin on the forehead and chuckled, “You little punk, still got the nerve to tease me. I'll let you in on it: I'm my master's right-hand man. I ventured out to explore the world's wonders and discover its hidden gems. Even facing a Witch God or Demon God, the gifts from my master would let me slip away safely.”
“But what about the Three Ancestors?”
The Thunder Qilin blurted out without thinking.
“Which three?”
Cao Youqian had never come across that phrase before.
“You can't be serious, no way. Brother Qian, you really don't know? The mightiest powers now are the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Three Ancestors. They outrank even Witch Gods and Demon Gods.”
As the Thunder Qilin explained, a proud gleam lit its features. Among beasts in this realm, the Qilin clan stood supreme.
“I'd dash back to the sect. My sect's elders would surely handle those so-called Three Ancestors. Anyway, would such grand figures bother with a nobody like me?” Cao Youqian responded.
“Fair point.”
The Thunder Qilin didn't buy that Brother Qian's sect housed anyone who could challenge the Three Ancestors head-on. Humans ranked as the frailest race, with plenty relying on demon clans for shelter, and even their Witch Gods being the feeblest versions.
As the man and qilin chatted, they reached the demon dragon's lair.
The Thunder Qilin halted and announced, “Brother Qian, the Five Elements Mountain up ahead is where the demon dragon lived.”