A joke

As the sun set, the horizon was a fiery red, red like blood.

A gentle evening breeze blew, bending the surrounding plants and trees.

Wu Zhao and his two brothers looked at Zhong Qing.

“Sir, it is time for us three brothers to leave!”

“We know Sir is very strong, but the Phoenix Feather Sect has dominated the Chaotic Land for countless years. Its strength is also extremely powerful.”

“The Mystic Realm Mine is just a small part of the entire Phoenix Feather Sect.”

“Given the Phoenix Feather Sect’s way of doing things, they will definitely investigate the Mystic Realm Mine incident to the very end.”

“Once they track it back to Sir, they will certainly not let it go easily.”

“Therefore, please take care from now on.”

“Try to keep a low profile.”

As Wu Zhao spoke, he advised with a solemn expression.

“Thank you!”

“I will be careful.”

Zhong Qing nodded.

Zhong Ying glanced at the fiery clouds on the horizon: “After this parting, I don’t know when we will meet again. I hope there will be a chance to drink and chat with Sir in the future.”

Zhong Qing smiled and said: “That day will come. Take care on your journey.”

“Take care!”

The three left, treading under the setting sun, and in a blink of an eye, they leaped into the sky, disappearing into the ends of the world not long after.

At this moment, Xiang Fei looked at Zhong Qing solemnly.

“Brother, I am very happy to have met you on this trip.”

“I originally thought that if we could cross the Dragon Gate together, we might be able to venture into Central State as companions.”

“But now it seems, that’s probably not going to happen.”

“You and I are, after all, people from two different worlds. You are highly skilled and resourceful. In the future, you might even become famous throughout Central State.”

“I’m off. Perhaps one day, I will hear your name somewhere else!”

Xiang Fei waved his hand, also bidding farewell to Zhong Qing.

Zhong Qing asked: “Brother Xiang, where are you going?”

Xiang Fei smiled and said: “The world is vast, and I will make my home wherever I go.”

“I originally planned to see the beautiful landscapes of Central State after crossing the Dragon Gate. Now, it can be considered a wish fulfilled.”

As he spoke, he gave Liu Yun a strange look.

He leaned down and whispered into Zhong Qing’s ear: “When you said you wanted to take this Senior as your Disciple, I thought you were joking.”

“But after seeing the Qilin you raised, I suddenly felt that it’s not impossible between you two.”

“If one day you truly manage to take this Senior as your Disciple, and we have a chance to meet, you must tell me.”

“This Senior is so aloof and proud, I really want to see what she would be like as someone’s Disciple?”

As Xiang Fei spoke, he suddenly felt a chill down his neck.

A gaze full of Evil Qi was staring at him motionlessly.

He shivered.

“Brother, take care!”

“I’m off to explore Central State!”

He didn’t need to look to know who the owner of the gaze was.

Xiang Fei hastily cupped his fist at Zhong Qing, then fled as if escaping.

“This guy!”

Zhong Qing watched his departing figure, wanting to give him some means of self-preservation, but unexpectedly, the other party darted away so quickly.

Within a few breaths, the person was gone.

“A person like this, and you’re willing to call him brother? Aren’t you afraid of lowering your own standing?”

A voice tinged with three parts of anger pulled Zhong Qing’s thoughts back.

He looked at this future precious Disciple.

Then he said loudly: “When making friends, one befriends the person, not their status. If they can gain my approval, whether they are a high and mighty Emperor-level expert or a common beggar, they are all equal to me.”

Liu Yun gave Zhong Qing a meaningful look.

After pondering for a moment, she said: “Although you are very special, and some of your methods are inscrutable even to me.”

“But if I’m not mistaken, you are currently only in the Myriad Laws Realm, right!”

“For your age, being able to cultivate to the Myriad Laws Realm indeed qualifies you as an unparalleled genius.”

“However, you absorbed the Phoenix Feather Sect’s Spirit Mine, broke their grand formation, and released tens of thousands of mine slaves.”

“It can be imagined that next, you will inevitably face the Phoenix Feather Sect’s thunderous assault.”

“While Myriad Laws Realm strength is good, it is far from being a match for the Phoenix Feather Sect.”

“Even if you have the Qilin to protect you, the Qilin is still young. It might be able to run rampant in the Myriad Laws Realm, but once it encounters a Returning to One Realm expert, it absolutely cannot ensure your safety.”

“Therefore, facing the Phoenix Feather Sect this time, you are definitely in a life-or-death situation.”

“I never say the same thing twice.”

“But for you, I can make an exception once.”

“Submit to me, and I can protect your safety.”

She stood proudly on the ground, with her hands clasped behind her back.

“Those who can follow me, their future achievements will be at least that of a Supreme!”

“Power, prestige, and strength will be within reach.”

“Even looking at the entire Central State, you will be a towering figure in the eyes of the world.”

“Not to mention the future, next I will go retrieve a small Treasure Trove left from my previous life.”

“Supreme Divine Weapons, Advanced Treasure Medicines, Emperor-grade, Venerable-grade Spirit Pills, even Saint-Level Cultivation Methods are all available.”

“As long as you are willing to follow me, I can grant you thirty percent of the good fortune within it.”

“Moreover, by following me, you won’t have to worry about being hunted by the Phoenix Feather Sect.”

“I can temporarily mask your Qi, preventing the Phoenix Feather Sect from finding you.”

“And you won’t need to hide for long. As soon as I retrieve the Treasure Trove, I will quickly be able to Breakthrough the Myriad Laws Realm and become a Returning to One Realm expert.”

“Once I become a Returning to One Realm expert, the so-called Phoenix Feather Sect can be destroyed with a flick of my hand.”

Liu Yun spoke a lot in one breath.

Clearly, she genuinely wanted to take Zhong Qing for her own use.

And Zhong Qing also listened patiently.

He had to admit, this Disciple was truly arrogant.

He hadn't even opened his mouth about taking her as a Disciple, yet she wanted to subdue him and make him submit.

He raised his head, his gaze directly meeting Liu Yun’s.

“What if I say, the Phoenix Feather Sect cannot do anything to me?”

“Haha!”

Liu Yun laughed.

She shook her head, confidently stating: “That’s impossible!”

“You are too confident!”

“Myriad Laws Realm and Returning to One Realm are completely different concepts.”

“The gap between them cannot be bridged by talent alone.”

“Moreover, the Phoenix Feather Sect has more than one Returning to One Realm expert.”

“If you were given some time to grow, perhaps you could be fearless of the Phoenix Feather Sect.”

“But as you are now, you absolutely cannot be their opponent.”

Zhong Qing did not argue with her.

“Then let’s wait and see!”

He knew arguing was useless.

Since Liu Yun said it was impossible, he would prove with his actions that many things in the world are not impossible.

“Alright, I’m very curious to see where you get your confidence from.”

“And what means you have to withstand the Phoenix Feather Sect’s pursuit!”

As she spoke, she was already preparing to leave.

Just as she knew it was impossible for her to become Zhong Qing’s Disciple.

Zhong Qing’s attitude also indicated that he would not submit to her.

At this point, staying here was meaningless.

The cultivation world was dangerous; she needed to retrieve the Treasure Trove immediately and strengthen herself.

Only by being stronger could she have more confidence when traveling the world.

Watching Liu Yun’s receding figure, Zhong Qing called out loudly: “If the Phoenix Feather Sect cannot do anything to me, will you be my Disciple?”

In the high sky, Liu Yun did not send back any reply.

As if he was telling a joke.

...