You fart

Snowflakes drifted and a cold wind howled!

Inside the main hall of the small courtyard, charcoal fires burned brightly.

Zhong Qing, meanwhile, was off to the side, warming wine and brewing tea!

Quite a few people had gathered in the hall!

Feng Buqun, Phoenix Tian, Phoenix Yingtian, Phoenix Aotian, Lin Feng, Su Ye, Du Hao, Kylin Xiao Ga, and the Twelve Demon Generals were all present.

Feng Buqun had simply come to report on work to Zhong Qing.

Although Zhong Qing didn't directly manage affairs, he still needed a concrete understanding of his Disciple’s cultivation levels.

Every so often, Feng Buqun would compile a report on the cultivation progress of the Phoenix Feather Sect Disciples and present it to Zhong Qing.

As for the others, they had all come to freeload food and drink.

Not long ago, Zhong Qing had received ten thousand rewards from the System.

Among them were several Saint-Grade teas of extremely high quality.

The weather was now bitterly cold, and although cultivators at Zhong Qing's level were long past fearing extreme cold or heat.

Still, in this weather, warming a pot of tea and pairing it with a sip of wine was undoubtedly a great pleasure.

The Saint Tea was extraordinarily remarkable; once steeped, it emitted a shimmering glow and its fragrance wafted for miles.

The first to show up were the Kylin and Xiao Ga!

Those two, with their keen noses, followed the scent right over.

Next to arrive were the Twelve Demon Generals, followed by Feng Aotian and his two descendants, and then several True Disciples.

After they had each tasted it once, they were unwilling to leave.

Every day they would come over for a sip or two.

The small living room was filled with people!

Everyone gazed intently at the teapot on the fire, each one drooling like a hungry wolf.

Zhong Qing smiled!

These fellows!

“Drink up!”

He pulled out a set of tea utensils from his storage space!

After distributing the tea to everyone, they, already impatient, took their cups and gulped it down.

Especially the Kylin and Xiao Ga, who devoured it ravenously, much like Zhu Bajie eating a ginseng fruit, slurping it down in one gulp.

Even the tea leaves were licked clean.

Afterward, their large, dark eyes looked pitifully at Zhong Qing.

The latter laughed and scolded, “Help yourselves!”

“Thank you, Master!”

Both were ecstatic, immediately beaming and downing another cup!

After two cups, they clutched their round bellies, not daring to drink any more.

Saint-Grade spiritual items were simply too high-grade for their current cultivation levels.

Two cups were already their limit.

Any more, and their bellies wouldn’t be able to hold it.

The others, however, sipped slowly and carefully.

Everyone drank tea and chatted, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

Carrying a hint of human warmth!

Just then, a knock came from outside the door: “Master, the two Vice Deans of Inheritance Academy, Deputy Dean Meng Zhengfei and Vice-Dean Ning Hao, request an audience!”

“Inheritance Academy?”

Zhong Qing’s motion of drinking tea paused involuntarily.

Zhong Qing had naturally heard of this force.

However, he and this Inheritance Academy had never had any dealings.

What were they here for?

Feng Buqun, who was beside him, noticed his Master’s confusion.

He smiled and explained, “Master, I mentioned to you earlier that Prodigies on the Heavenly Dao Rankings can not only gain qualifications to study at the Fengtian Hall in the Central Continent Heaven Realm, but also receive rewards from the Fengtian Hall.”

“These rewards are given by the Fengtian Hall based on ranking and talent after these ranked Prodigies enter the Fengtian Hall.”

“The Inheritance Academy is responsible for escorting the ranked Prodigies into the Fengtian Hall.”

“The two Vice Deans of Inheritance Academy coming to our Phoenix Feather Sect together this time is likely to discuss with Master when the Heavenly Dao Institute Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers will depart for the Fengtian Hall.”

“Is that so?”

Zhong Qing murmured!

As for whether the Heavenly Dao Institute Disciples should go to the Fengtian Hall, that depended on their personal wishes.

Zhong Qing also didn't want to offer too many opinions.

After all, everyone had their own path to walk.

He could cultivate this group of Disciples for a time, but he couldn't cultivate them for a lifetime.

In his opinion, the Fengtian Hall, being the largest force in the Central Continent, was also a good stage.

Thinking of this!

Zhong Qing said to the Disciple conveying the message outside the door, “Please invite them in for a chat!”

“Yes, Master!”

After the Disciple outside the door respectfully responded, he transformed into a streak of light and departed directly.

Not long after!

A knock sounded again!

“Master, the two distinguished guests have arrived!”

With a casual wave of his hand, Zhong Qing sent out a gentle force, and the tightly closed inner hall and outer courtyard doors swung open.

Revealing the figures of Deputy Dean Meng Zhengfei and Vice-Dean Ning Hao, as well as the guiding Disciple.

Deputy Dean Meng Zhengfei and Vice-Dean Ning Hao immediately noticed Zhong Qing, who was seated centrally in the living room.

No other reason than that among everyone, Zhong Qing had the most transcendent aura, like a bright moon among the stars.

It was hard not to notice him!

The two only glanced once before averting their gaze.

After all, staring at someone for a long time was not polite behavior.

They already knew of Zhong Qing's extraordinary nature, but they would never dare to offend such a Senior expert.

Immediately after, the two again saw the others in the hall.

This secretly startled them.

They had long known that Zhong Qing was extraordinary, but they hadn't expected that there would even be a creature like a Kylin by his side.

The others also each appeared exceptional.

And in the courtyard, two figures also stood, precisely the two Saint-Grade Puppets Zhong Qing had acquired from the System.

Deputy Dean Meng Zhengfei and Vice-Dean Ning Hao, both Supreme Ninth Heaven experts, faintly sensed a strong Saint might emanating from the Puppets.

This caused their hearts to tighten.

Their postures became even more respectful.

Deputy Dean Meng Zhengfei cupped his fists at the courtyard entrance and respectfully said, “I am Deputy Dean Meng Zhengfei, Vice Dean of Inheritance Academy, and this is my Junior Brother Vice-Dean Ning Hao.”

“Our abrupt visit this time has been presumptuous, Senior, and we ask for your forgiveness!”

Inside the main hall!

Zhong Qing slowly took a sip of wine.

“Distant guests are welcome, there is no talk of being presumptuous.”

“If the two of you don’t mind, please come in and have a cup of tea.”

Hearing this, the two then stepped into the small courtyard.

In the distant Void Realm, Ye Ji’s figure was hidden within it, looking at Zhong Qing’s polite, gentle, and refined demeanor, her entire heart almost melted.

It was only upon seeing Zhong Qing again that her restless heart finally completely calmed down.

She felt like a rootless duckweed that had suddenly found its roots and a place to belong.

The moment she saw Zhong Qing again, she felt as if her entire world had been illuminated.

She even felt that in this life, she didn't need to meet him; as long as she could watch him from afar like this, that would be enough.

If Gu Chenxian were to know that the secret treasure he gave Ye Ji, meant for her to probe Zhong Qing’s background as a cover, was being used for peeping, what would he feel?

Inside the main hall!

As Deputy Dean Meng Zhengfei and Vice-Dean Ning Hao entered.

They sat down, with guests and host separated, and after Zhong Qing poured them a cup of fragrant tea, the two were once again surprised.

With their eyesight, they could naturally discern the extraordinary nature of this tea.

The tea leaves even carried a unique Saint-Grade charm.

So, this was a cup of Saint Tea?!

Waves of astonishment surged in their hearts.

A Saint-Grade spiritual item!

Even the Inheritance Academy, which had been passed down for tens of thousands of years, couldn't produce such a rare item.

Yet now, the Phoenix Feather Sect was actually offering such a rare item to entertain them.

Its profound foundation was thus evident.

After their astonishment, Deputy Dean Meng Zhengfei sat up slightly.

With a serious expression, he spoke to Zhong Qing, “Senior, when my Junior Brother and I came to the Chaotic Land this time, we encountered a mysterious expert from the Asking Heart Sect. This person is extremely powerful; she once single-handedly repelled more than ten Supreme Realm experts from our Inheritance Academy. Her previous goal was to monopolize all the Heavenly Dao Rankings spots!”

“Now, the Heavenly Dao Rankings spots are entirely occupied by the Phoenix Feather Sect, and that mysterious expert has now appeared in the Chaotic Land. I am concerned that she must have entered the Chaotic Land to prepare some kind of retaliation against the Phoenix Feather Sect because Senior foiled her scheme. I hope Senior will make preparations early.”

Hearing this, Ye Ji, hidden in the Void Realm, immediately couldn't sit still.

She had only wanted to come and see Zhong Qing.

How, in the mouths of these two, had it turned into her secretly plotting some scheme against the Phoenix Feather Sect?

Was she, Ye Ji, that kind of person?

How could these two so groundlessly slander her innocence?

What if Zhong Qing, with this preconceived notion, decided she was a cunning bad woman and thus disliked her?

“You’re spewing nonsense!”

In her haste, Ye Ji no longer bothered to conceal herself.

She immediately jumped out, intending to argue with Deputy Dean Meng Zhengfei.

As her voice rang out, dozens of gazes in the scene simultaneously turned towards her.

...