Family

Central Province.

Inside the Phoenix Feather Sect's mountain gate in the Chaotic Land.

The solemn and awe-inspiring atmosphere of the peerless Sect, which used to be, had long since vanished.

It was replaced by a harmonious and humorous ambiance.

Right in the middle of the mountain gate, beneath the Golden-Winged Divine Bird totem that had stood for thousands of years.

A group of Cultivators, coming and going, greeted each other with clasped hands.

"Good morning, One Thousand Three Hundred Fifty-Second Senior Brother!"

"Oh! Isn't this my good Ten Thousand Three Hundred Seventy-Second Junior Brother! Have you had your morning meal?!"

Outer Sect deacons of the Three Yang Realm and respected Elders of the Returning to One Realm stood together, regardless of their status.

Young Cultivators of forty or fifty years old and ancient thousand-year-old beings with pure white hair and beards chatted happily.

In the square, people coming and going, regardless of gender, age, status, or position, all greeted each other.

Ever since Zhong Qing incorporated the Phoenix Feather Sect.

After he registered over ten thousand members with high overall cultivation and talent as Named Disciples.

From top to bottom, this vast Phoenix Feather Sect no longer cared about hierarchy or status.

Even if Sect Leader Feng Buqun arrived in person, everyone would merely clasp their hands and call him Senior Brother.

This peculiar scene greatly astonished the other Sects who had come to visit the Phoenix Feather Sect today.

Whenever other Schools inquired, Sect Leader Feng Buqun would stroke his beard and speak with a profound look on his face.

"A Sect is a family, why should there be so many rules and regulations in a family?"

For a time.

A beautiful story spread throughout the Chaotic Land, about how the Phoenix Feather Sect, from top to bottom, was of one mind and treated each other with respect.

But in reality, what exactly was going on?

This goes back to a few days ago when Zhong Qing was strolling around the mountain gate.

A Three Yang Realm Named Disciple greeted Zhong Qing.

He had just called out "Hello, Master!" to Zhong Qing when he saw his 12th Elder coming around the corner.

"Hello, Junior Martial Uncle!"

According to the old seniority, he blurted it out subconsciously.

No sooner said than done, the 12th Elder leaped over and gave him a big slap.

Damn it, you call him Master, but you call me Junior Martial Uncle?!

What does that make me to Master?!

Am I even alive anymore?!

That night, the Phoenix Feather Sect held an overnight meeting.

It was unanimously decided that everyone in the Sect, from top to bottom, would address each other as Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers, based on their seniority under Zhong Qing.

As long as someone was Zhong Qing's Named Disciple, even if they were just a boiler attendant.

They could call Sect Leader Feng Buqun Senior Brother!

Because of this, the Phoenix Feather Sect's mountain gate was exceptionally congested today.

For no other reason, you'd encounter Senior Brothers with every step forward, and a pile of Junior Brothers with every step back.

There were too many greetings to exchange!

And at this moment.

In the Divine Bird totem sculpture right in the middle of the Phoenix Feather Sect, a figure was sitting cross-legged upon it.

It was Zhong Qing.

Zhong Qing held the swallowing sky gourd, which contained all the good wine of the Phoenix Feather Sect.

Taking a sip of wine, Zhong Qing looked at the respectful scene within the mountain gate below, his face showing approval.

A Sect, this is the feeling it needs.

Why bother with hierarchical relationships? It's meaningless!

At this moment, Xiao Ga transformed into a streak of light and flew over, obediently squatting beside Zhong Qing.

The current Xiao Ga was no longer the dusty, bald young bird it once was.

Changing almost daily, it had already grown to a size almost comparable to a Qilin.

Its entire body's feathers shimmered with colorful light, and even though it was mutated, it bore some resemblance to the magnificent Divine Bird totem below.

"Master! I'm back!"

Xiao Ga's eyes darted around.

Yesterday, Feng Buqun awkwardly came to him.

He said he hoped Xiao Ga would go out more and show itself, so that other forces in the Chaotic Land could see the Phoenix Feather Sect's current situation with the Divine Bird returning to the Sect.

Having taken over ten thousand members of the Phoenix Feather Sect as Named Disciples, Zhong Qing also felt it was inappropriate to completely disregard the affairs of their mountain gate.

Although he didn't accept Feng Buqun's offer to yield his position, it was still appropriate to let Xiao Ga help with some things.

Besides, wasn't Xiao Ga originally from the Phoenix Feather Sect?

"Master! Can you let Big Brother out to play with me for a while?!"

Xiao Ga's eyes darted around, looking undisguisedly at the totem on Zhong Qing's arm.

In the totem space, Qilin Xiao Hei whimpered: "Master! Please let me out!"

"I swear, I won't take Xiao Ga to play with Young Misses anymore!"

Zhong Qing narrowed his eyes upon hearing this.

These two troublesome little things.

He wondered if they had been staying in the Phoenix Feather Sect for too long and learned from that Elder.

Qilin Xiao Hei had actually learned to flirt.

Xiao Hei would take Xiao Ga, one transforming into an ordinary small dog and the other into a gray-feathered small bird.

When they had nothing to do, they would sneak into nearby towns.

It wasn't just sneaking in; they would specifically go to places in the markets where there were many Young Misses.

These two guys, relying on their extremely deceptive appearances, captured the hearts of many Young Misses!

If he hadn't discovered a red lipstick mark on Xiao Hei's face that day, he would still be in the dark!

Zhong Qing sighed, waved his hand, and Qilin Xiao Hei shot out from the space.

"Big Brother, Big Brother!"

As soon as the Qilin appeared, Xiao Ga immediately spread its wings, overjoyed, its shimmering feathers glistening in the sunlight.

The reflected sunlight directly illuminated the entire mountain gate even more brightly.

And as soon as Xiao Hei was released, its four hooves touched the ground.

With a magnificent shake of its head and horns, its entire body erupted with fiery red light, making it even more dazzling.

This Qilin and this Divine Bird, atop the Phoenix Feather Sect's mountain gate totem, truly complemented each other!

In the mountain gate square, all the Sect members stopped to watch this scene.

And Sect Leader Feng Buqun, oh no, to be precise, he should be Seventeenth Shixiong Feng Buqun.

He was among the Sect members, stroking his beard, his face full of spring delight.

Who would have thought that the great crisis of the Divine Bird's loss that day would ultimately turn into this scene?!

Not only did the Divine Bird return, but there was also an even more terrifying Divine Beast, the Fire Kirin, standing at the peak of the mountain gate.

Most importantly, he and his group had become Zhong Qing's Named Disciples!

Feng Buqun fully believed.

The future of the Phoenix Feather Sect would become even more brilliant!

Xiao Hei and Xiao Ga, one dog and one bird, soared and circled, arm in arm.

"Hoo!"

Zhong Qing closed his eyes and exhaled.

While swallowing a mouthful of mellow wine, he also recalled the matter of his Disciples.

He had originally thought that the combined cultivation of these more than ten thousand Named Disciples would be reflected back to him one-to-one.

But in reality, it wasn't.

Instead, only their newly increased cultivation would be reflected back to him.

So while ten thousand people sounded like a lot, and many had recently made Breakthroughs, in reality, they hadn't brought him much cultivation in the short term.

In that case, he would have to find time in the future to help them improve their cultivation.

At the same time, upon careful thought, the truly valuable Disciples were still Personal Disciples.

Involuntarily, Zhong Qing's eyes flashed.

"You two, watch the house here!"

Whoosh!

Zhong Qing's figure transformed into a streak of light and disappeared from the mountain gate.

...

Chaotic Land.

A precipitous valley with lush trees and beautiful scenery.

The valley's cliffs were filled with Yao Beast corpses, ranging from the Three Yang Realm to Myriad Laws Realm Fifth Layer, visible everywhere.

Within this Spiritual Qi-rich valley, all the Yao Beasts from top to bottom had been slaughtered.

Amidst a scene of Death Qi.

A tall, clear-faced woman in a sky-blue long dress was sitting quietly on a stone platform.

Evidently, the entire valley's killing intent originated from her.

This was precisely Liu Yun, who had an extraordinary background.