The warning from the Blood-Shedding Qilin had barely faded when Ye Ling arrived near the Yuan Long, seeing its true form.
It was a cyan divine dragon, but its body was covered in decaying flesh, and most of its scales had fallen off, the once beautiful scales now dull and lifeless.
"My lord, don't go any further, it's dangerous!"
Seeing Ye Ling about to step into the swamp, the Blood-Shedding Qilin rushed forward to stop him, its voice becoming noticeably sharper.
Ye Ling stopped and looked back at the anxious Blood-Shedding Qilin, asking, "What is it?"
The Blood-Shedding Qilin quickly replied, "My lord's strength is indeed sufficient, and the Yuan Long would not be your opponent. However, this swamp is not that simple. It can absorb a person's cultivation, and it absorbs the upper limit directly. If you step into it, my lord, there will be no turning back!"
"It can absorb a person's cultivation? And the upper limit?"
Hearing the Blood-Shedding Qilin's words, Ye Ling's eyes flashed with surprise. He hadn't expected such a strange swamp to exist on Earth.
Curiosity piqued, Ye Ling squatted down before the swamp and reached out to touch the mire below, wanting to test its power.
As the Blood-Shedding Qilin had said, the moment Ye Ling touched the swamp, he felt his spiritual energy being continuously absorbed by it, eventually flowing into the Yuan Long.
This was only with one finger touching the swamp. If he were to truly fall into it, the amount of spiritual energy absorbed would undoubtedly be much greater!
However, the swamp could not absorb Ye Ling's cultivation limit, only his spiritual energy.
"This swamp is indeed peculiar. I fear that even a ninth-grade Red Dust Immortal would be stripped bare if they stumbled into it," Ye Ling said after experiencing the swamp's effects. He withdrew his hand, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the Yuan Long in the center of the swamp.
The Yuan Long was still thrashing in the swamp, letting out occasional sharp cries as if stimulated by something.
The swamp could also absorb souls, so Ye Ling couldn't perceive what was truly beneath it at the moment.
But he was certain that it wasn't the swamp itself that absorbed cultivation, but some secret treasure beneath it.
Seeing Ye Ling staring at the Yuan Long, the Blood-Shedding Qilin swallowed nervously and whispered, "My lord, this Yuan Long doesn't seem to intend to attack us. Perhaps we should leave?"
It truly didn't want Ye Ling to approach this peculiar swamp.
If even a portion of Ye Ling's power were absorbed by the Yuan Long, then the Jianlong Divine Mountain would truly have no place for them, father and son.
Currently, there were few divine mountains in China where demons could reside, and Jianlong Divine Mountain was one of them.
The outside world was the domain of humans, and for the Blood-Shedding Qilin to survive long-term, it could only remain within the divine mountains.
If this place were completely occupied by the Yuan Long, any other demons here who refused to leave would be swallowed by the swamp!
Furthermore, the swamp's range would expand as it absorbed more power.
If Ye Ling's power were fed into it, let alone Jianlong Divine Mountain, the surrounding cities would be submerged by the swamp!
The Blood-Shedding Qilin wasn't worried about human safety. Its child had been so deeply tormented by Kong Xuhan that if Ye Ling hadn't warned it, it might have even slaughtered the surrounding cities for revenge after settling its child.
However, if the swamp consumed human cities, chaos would inevitably erupt in the mortal realm.
At that time, various cultivators who subdued demons and vanquished evil would emerge, which would not be good for their demon race, and it would surely mean their own demise.
Ye Ling could see the Blood-Shedding Qilin's concerns and said, "Don't worry, if I don't wish it, this swamp cannot seize my power. What you fear will not happen."
"There seems to be something beneath this swamp. I want to retrieve it and take a look."
"My lord..."
Hearing Ye Ling's words, the Blood-Shedding Qilin knew it couldn't dissuade him and could only retreat to the rear in silence. However, its expression clearly indicated its continued worry.
The young Qilin on the Blood-Shedding Qilin's back then said to Ye Ling in a childish voice, "My lord, Father said the swamp is very dangerous. Can you not go?"
Ye Ling looked at the rather cute young Qilin, which was scarred from Kong Xuhan's torment, and smiled, shaking his head. He enveloped the young Qilin with his spiritual energy, completely healing its injuries.
Ye Ling took the young Qilin from the Blood-Shedding Qilin's back, placed it on his shoulder, and rubbed its head, saying with a smile, "Don't worry, this swamp cannot harm me."
The young Qilin seemed to enjoy Ye Ling rubbing its head. It stretched its body and sat on Ye Ling's shoulder like a small dog, incredibly obedient.
It blinked its large eyes and said, "But Father always said this swamp is very scary."
The Blood-Shedding Qilin, seeing its child's injuries completely healed, was overcome with excitement. All its doubts vanished, and it prostrated itself before Ye Ling once more.
"My lord's kindness, this humble one will never forget!"
Previously, although Ye Ling had saved its life, the injuries on its child's body were still a huge problem.
Its child had been continuously drained of essence and blood by Kong Xuhan, damaging its foundation. It was basically impossible to recover, and whether it could cultivate in the future was uncertain.
Moreover, its child's inability to cultivate was a minor issue. Given its current condition, it was uncertain if it would even survive to adulthood!
Although the Blood-Shedding Qilin hadn't said it before, it had been deeply worried about its child's future, filled with extreme anxiety.
But now, it felt that all the injuries within its child had been completely repaired, and even the damaged foundation had been replenished!
It could be said that Ye Ling's casual gesture had eliminated all hidden dangers within its child!
Its child would be able to cultivate smoothly and grow to adulthood!
This was truly saving its child's life!
The Blood-Shedding Qilin was ecstatic, its gratitude towards Ye Ling surging. Its last shred of resentment towards humans vanished at this moment.
Looking at the excited Blood-Shedding Qilin, Ye Ling calmly said, "Don't get so worked up. I simply like this little fellow, and saving it was merely out of my own whim."
Ye Ling always preferred to deal with matters of benefit when saving people.
If he owed someone a favor, he would help to repay it.
If he didn't, those seeking help would have to pay a corresponding price to repay the favor he extended.
However, there was another category, like the young Qilin, whom Ye Ling genuinely liked and was willing to save without any expectation of return.
Hearing Ye Ling's words, the Blood-Shedding Qilin's heart stirred, and it quickly said, "If my lord truly likes my son, you can take him as a spirit pet!"
Ye Ling was a super powerful being. If its child truly became Ye Ling's spirit pet, then their entire clan would ascend to heaven and attain salvation!
Moreover, its child's future prospects would be boundless.
For this, the Blood-Shedding Qilin wished Ye Ling would take its child immediately!
"Spirit pet..."
Ye Ling looked at the young Qilin sitting obediently on his shoulder and murmured, "That's not a bad idea."
Ye Ling looked at the Blood-Shedding Qilin and asked, "What is its name?"
The Blood-Shedding Qilin replied, "Our Qilin usually get names after they reach adulthood. My son has not yet reached adulthood and has no name."
"However, if my lord takes him as a spirit pet, my lord can bestow a name upon him."
"For us, a name is a contract. If my son receives a name bestowed by my lord, he will follow my lord for life and never betray you."
Ye Ling held the young Qilin in his hands, gazing at its incredibly beautiful dark red scales, and pondered for a moment.
"Very well, your name shall be Di Zhui."