360: Return to the clan

Closed-door Disciple?

Fang Ningyan caught this key piece of information and her gaze swept over the stunningly beautiful young woman before her once more. If that was the case, was this young lady the Junior Sister of that Young Master Ye and Young Master Li?

To see through their predicament with a single glance, this young woman's insight was truly exceptional.

A vague feeling arose within her.

A thought gradually took shape in her mind: Although in the Flame Continent nowadays, the world often placed the Dao Seeking Sect and the Yin Shen Sect on equal footing with the other Sects, based on her own interactions, the Dao Seeking Sect's foundation seemed far more profound and unfathomable than even the Three Great Sects of the Rain God Continent.

"Immortal Revered Master, you are too kind."

Fang Ningyan responded gently, "Given our current appearance, it is only natural for others to feel wary."

However, Shu Shichan stepped forward, her curious gaze landing on Fang Ningyan's lower serpent body. Her Peach Blossom Eyes blinked, and her words instantly broke the tension: "Can I touch your tail? The scales must feel really smooth."

"This girl... has such a..."

Qi Yue helplessly slapped her forehead and, with a wave of her fair hand, instantly pulled Shu Shichan back.

Although she had long known this Little Girl had a flighty personality, she could never predict what she would say next.

Considering that Shu Shichan was a Disciple personally accepted by the Sect Master, Qi Yue swallowed the words "eccentric nature" that were on the tip of her tongue. Instead, she apologized to Fang Ningyan, saying, "Her temperament is... unconventional. I hope you all won't take offense."

"Visitors are guests. Since you have come all this way to visit, why not enter the Sect first for a chat."

Upon hearing this, Su Yue was about to speak up in her Revered Master's defense. But when she looked up, she saw a flicker of amusement in her Revered Master's eyes.

Fang Ningyan was taken aback for a moment before snapping back to reality. Ever since she had taken on this Half-Demon form, this was the first time someone had looked at them with such clear, unadulterated curiosity. Whether it was Steward Song on the ferry or the many Cultivators they had encountered after arriving in the Flame Continent, even if they hadn't said much, she could clearly sense the varying degrees of strangeness and rejection in their eyes.

But the curiosity in this young woman's eyes was pure, devoid of any malice.

She gently shook her head, declining with a smile. "Entering the Sect won't be necessary. Please accept this small token of our gratitude, Immortal Revered Master."

At that very moment, a white-robed figure accompanied by several others instantly appeared outside the Mountain Gate. It was Chen Xuan and his group, having just returned from the Rain God Continent.

"Greetings, Sect Master." Qi Yue and the others quickly bowed upon seeing them.

Qin Tianxing and Wang Er also cupped their hands in greeting. "Greetings, Senior Chen."

"No need for such formalities!"

Although he said that, Chen Xuan still quite enjoyed the feeling. "What's the situation here?"

Shu Shichan, who was still restrained in mid-air by spiritual power, saw Chen Xuan and her eyes instantly lit up. She waved her arms and cheered loudly, "Welcome back, Revered Master, triumphant from slaying demons! Welcome back, Revered Master, for averting catastrophe! Where's my gong and drum? Elder Qi Yue, let me down! How can we miss my gongs and drums to cheer on such an important moment!"

Seeing this scene, Ye Hao couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Having been away training for a while, I actually do miss Sixth Junior Sister's... unconventional antics a little."

Leng Yimei, on the other hand, curiously sized up Fang Ningyan's group. Her gaze swept over the Half-Demons, not bothering to hide a trace of disdain. Then she turned to look at the imposing and magnificent Mountain Gate of the Dao Seeking Sect, thinking to herself: This desolate, barren place actually hides such an impressive Sect. Finally, her eyes settled on the cheering Shu Shichan. She found the young woman charmingly lively, and looking at her more, she even felt her appetite improve a bit.

Meanwhile, Fang Ningyan and the other Half-Demons were frozen in place, staring blankly at a figure in green among the crowd. They called out in unison:

"Xuanxuan!"

Yun Xuanxuan was also completely taken aback. She never expected to encounter Sister Fang and her former companions right after returning to the Sect with her Revered Master. She had originally planned to settle in at the Sect first, then use going out to train as a pretext to find a way to meet them.

After listening to Qi Yue's concise summary, Chen Xuan quickly grasped the whole situation. He looked at Yun Xuanxuan, Fang Ningyan, and the others, speaking in a calm tone. "Don't just stand there at the Mountain Gate. Visitors are guests, come into the Sect first." He paused, then added, "I'm sure you have a lot to catch up on. No need to stand on ceremony here."

"Yes, Revered Master." Yun Xuanxuan bowed respectfully in response.

Revered Master?

Utter astonishment filled the faces of Fang Ningyan and the others. They asked in unison, "Xuanxuan, you..."

"That's right, Sister Fang." Yun Xuanxuan nodded with a faint smile. "I have already joined the Dao Seeking Sect. Many things happened in the Rain God Continent after you left. I'll tell you all about it in detail later."

"I thought as much."

Fang Ningyan's gaze swept over her friend's arms. The once-obtrusive bird wings were now gone, and her entire person looked no different from a normal human. The stone that had been weighing on her heart finally settled, and she said with relief, "Fortunately, this time, Heaven finally opened its eyes."

On the other side, Shu Shichan, who had been clamoring about gongs and drums, instantly fell silent. She stared at Yun Xuanxuan as if struck by lightning.

She remembered clearly that her Revered Master only had six Disciples. How did a Senior Sister suddenly appear?

Chen Xuan was the first to step into the Sect, with everyone else following closely behind.

When Fang Ningyan's group felt the dense, water-like Spiritual Qi within the Sect, they were all dumbfounded. Each thought to themselves: Have I been Cultivating a fake path all these years?

"This... this..."

Leng Yimei stammered for a long time, unable to form a complete sentence. But in her heart, she was already scheming: Once her Senior Brothers and Sisters arrive, she must find a way to seize this precious land of the Immortal Realm.

And she would capture that Man in White Robes, making him watch her eat all sorts of delicacies in front of him every day, forcing him to pay the price for his actions.

Chen Xuan asked casually, "Has that girl Wanqing returned?"

"Reporting to the Sect Master, Wanqing has returned to the Sect on time and is currently in seclusion Cultivating. Should I summon her?" In front of Chen Xuan, the dignified authority Qi Yue had cultivated from her high position instantly faded, replaced by a gentle, submissive demeanor, like a noblewoman ready to receive orders at any moment.

Chen Xuan waved his hand. "No need, I was just asking."

The group did not head to the solemn Sect Main Hall but instead went to a scenic Courtyard. Chen Xuan felt the main hall was too formal. Since these people were close to Xuanxuan, it would be more comfortable to chat and reminisce here.

Shu Shichan quietly tugged on Chen Xuan's sleeve. Her Peach Blossom Eyes were misty, looking particularly pitiful. "Revered Master, am I no longer your closed-door Disciple?"

"Ah, I almost forgot to introduce you." Chen Xuan raised his hand in a gesture and said to everyone, "This is Yun Xuanxuan, my newly accepted seventh Disciple."

"Qi Yue, remember to record this in the Sect's genealogy later."

"Yes, Sect Master!"

"Greetings, Miss Yun."

Wang Er immediately cupped his hands and greeted with a smile.

"To be personally accepted as a Disciple by Senior Chen, you must possess talent that is one in ten thousand."

Qin Tianxing was momentarily stunned. He instinctively glanced at Wang Er beside him, a sudden sense of crisis rising within him: Could it be that I taught this junior brother too well, and now he has met his greatest rival in the competition for the Great Dao?

This is truly The student surpassing the master!

Chen Xuan reached out and gently patted Shu Shichan's head, shaking it slightly. "From now on, you'll be the Sixth Senior Sister. You'll have to act a bit more like a Senior Sister."

Yun Xuanxuan respectfully bowed. "Greetings, Sixth Senior Sister."

But when she looked up, she noticed that this newly recognized Sixth Senior Sister didn't seem very happy, though she couldn't quite figure out why.