Chapter Eighteen: The Army Besieges the Temple of the God of Food

Mount of the God of Food, Temple of the God of Food.

Every moment, countless immortals, gods, demons, and spirits flood into the Temple of the God of Food, bringing an endless stream of business.

A fiery qilin, nine thousand feet tall and wreathed in blazing divine flames, charged towards the temple atop a billowing cloud of fire spanning a hundred thousand miles. Like a scarlet bolt of lightning, its arrival was fierce and overwhelming.

The guests, just about to enter the temple, stared in shock as the massive fire qilin barreled toward them. One after another, they transformed into flashes of divine light and wisely fled, their minds filled with a single thought: Something momentous is happening! The Fire Qilin Army, one of the Nine Divine Armies, has mobilized!

All races of the primordial world, regardless of their size or strength, possess both overt and covert powers. The guiding principle among them is clear: to survive, one must conceal their true depths from others.

The Qilin clan is one of the three dominant forces of Central Wilderness.

The Qilin clan’s public strength is formidable and well-known throughout the primordial world. Especially for those living within the Qilin City, knowledge of the clan’s power is essential—ignorance may prove fatal.

The Qilin clan commands nine Divine Armies: the Destiny Qilin Army, Time Qilin Army, Space Qilin Army, Light Qilin Army, Dark Qilin Army, Fire Qilin Army, Water Qilin Army, Wind Qilin Army, and Earth Qilin Army.

Except for the Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire Divine Armies, the others cannot be mobilized without the patriarch’s order.

In the first grand hall, the chief steward, Hun Jing, was as busy as ever.

Suddenly, Hun Jing sensed a powerful force approaching the temple and quietly extended his divine sense beyond its walls.

“The Fire Qilin Army? Trouble is coming!” Hun Jing, unsurprised, detected the unmasked presence of the Fire Qilin Army and frowned slightly.

Looking at the menacing Fire Qilin Army, Hun Jing narrowed his eyes, recalling the third son who had been fiercely reprimanded by the temple master.

“If memory serves, the Fire Qilin Army is commanded by the Great Elder of the Qilin clan, and the third son is indeed his offspring.” As the Fire Qilin Army drew nearer, Hun Jing’s gaze took on a bloodthirsty glint.

“Prepare for battle.” The stern voice of Hun Jing sounded in the minds of countless patrolling guards and hidden sentinels. They drew their weapons, eyes blazing with murderous intent, and rushed toward the first grand hall.

Hun Jing then issued orders to the stewards of each level, instructing them to evacuate the guests and ready themselves for combat.

Finally, Hun Jing discreetly sent a distress signal to the temple master in the subterranean Devouring Hall.

Upon receiving Hun Jing’s command, the stewards began to evacuate guests and arrange for attendants and servants.

“Honored guests, the temple is about to face an assault from the Fire Qilin Army. Please depart swiftly.” The divine voices of the stewards echoed through every hall.

In an instant, countless divine lights flashed from the rooms, streaming toward the temple’s gates and scattering in all directions.

A thunderous roar erupted—the nine-thousand-foot fire qilin, standing atop its hundred-thousand-mile sea of flames, let out a ferocious bellow toward the Mount of the God of Food.

The vast fire cloud gradually revealed the Fire Qilin Divine Army within.

The Fire Qilin Divine Army consisted of a hundred thousand main gods, over a hundred god kings, and could slay god lords.

A hundred thousand Fire Qilin Guards, clad in fire-scale armor and wielding Fire Qilin divine spears, gazed coldly at the temple, their martial presence oppressive and deadly.

The army split into four divisions, surrounding the temple completely.

Within the central hall of the Fire Qilin Army, two special divine generals stood.

One was a young general, armored in Fire Qilin scales. Though his cultivation was only at the main god level, his presence among god kings marked him as someone of distinguished status.

This young general was none other than the third son of the Qilin clan’s Great Elder.

He gazed at the Temple of the God of Food atop the mount, his eyes venomous and ruthless, wishing nothing more than to burn the temple that had humiliated him to ashes.

Ever since the third son had tried to annex the temple only to be shamed by its master, he had become a laughingstock among the Qilin clan.

The dignified third son of the Great Elder, unable to seize even a modest temple—such disgrace to his father and the clan.

Driven by his father’s fury, he was sent into the Fire Qilin Army, enduring its harsh training and torment, a living hell.

Whenever he suffered, he remembered the temple master, and his hatred for the temple grew ever deeper.

Until one day, summoned by his father, he finally saw his chance for revenge.

“Kihuo, I now grant you an opportunity for vengeance. Do not disappoint me!” Remembering his father’s admonition, Kihuo’s rage toward the temple grew ever harder to contain.

“How is it? Any problems?” Despite the seething fury in his heart, Kihuo maintained composure, turning to the black-armored divine general beside him.

This was the first lesson he had learned in the Fire Qilin Army: always remain calm.

The black-armored general, another special figure, nodded, then looked at the temple, took out a black cup, sensed for a moment, and spoke calmly: “No issues. We can proceed.”

Had Nan Luo been present, he would surely have recognized this black-armored general as Black Moon, who had narrowly escaped death at his hands.

Though Black Moon had survived by luck, each day since had been a torment.

Whenever Black Moon closed his eyes, he recalled his brother, Black Ming, who had chosen a brutal death to protect his sibling.

Driven by hatred and the desire for power to take revenge, Black Moon sought out his brother’s master, the Great Elder of the Xuanming Black Serpent clan, hoping to become his disciple.

Previously, both Black Moon and Black Ming had vied for the chance to apprentice under the Great Elder.

Regrettably, the elder chose only Black Ming, ignoring Black Moon.

Struck by this blow, Black Moon became estranged from his brother and went alone to guard the waters of the Northern Sea.

Now, facing Black Moon’s request, the Great Elder unexpectedly agreed to accept him as a disciple.

Under the elder’s guidance, Black Moon’s strength grew rapidly, yet he remained only a main god, far from avenging his brother.

More frustrating, the Xuanming Black Serpent clan scoured the Northern Sea but failed to locate Nan Luo.

Just as Black Moon was losing hope, his master found him and offered a chance for revenge.

“Black Moon, I have found the murderer who slew Black Ming—Nan Luo.” The elder, seated upon his throne in the Earth Hall, spoke calmly.

Hearing that Nan Luo had been found, a flush of red rose on Black Moon’s pale face. He knelt before the elder, crying out in excitement, “Master, please grant me permission to avenge my brother!”

“Of course. That is precisely why I give you this opportunity.” The elder replied calmly, observing the excited Black Moon.

Black Moon raised his head respectfully. “Master, what may I do?”

When the excitement faded, the clear-headed Black Moon knew his own limitations and sought guidance on his role.

The elder gave him an approving look, thinking to himself, “A promising talent. Too bad…”

“Nan Luo is currently in Central Wilderness. I require your divine soul to lock onto him. Will you do it?” The elder produced a cup, tossing it before Black Moon, his voice calm and imposing.

This cup, called the Soul-Chasing Cup, allowed one’s divine soul to be placed within, disregarding all distance and obstacle, to pinpoint any being desired, at the cost of one’s own soul.

Black Moon gazed at the black cup, hearing countless souls wailing within, and felt a sudden, bone-deep chill.

Yet, remembering his brother’s brutal death, a searing heat rose in Black Moon’s heart, igniting boundless rage.

“I am willing!” Black Moon suddenly grasped the Soul-Chasing Cup, his black eyes clear as divine water, and spoke calmly.

From now on, updates will be posted at ten o’clock in the evening.