Who did this?

Originally, as long as they were willing to follow Zhong Qing to the Upper Realm, regardless of their cultivation level, he would accept them all.

Furthermore, while Xu Songnian didn't possess any special Physique, as the Young Sect Master of the Yuhua Immortal Sect, his talent was the highest among all his Named Disciples. Of course, Zhong Qing wouldn't refuse. He nodded and said, "Since that's the case, you may stay by Revered Master's side."

Xu Songnian's face lit up with joy. He bowed his head and saluted, "Yes, Revered Master."

Xu Qianfeng, watching from the side, felt both joy and a touch of sadness.

His joy was naturally because his son was following a True Immortal to the Upper Realm, with boundless prospects, a decision he fully supported.

His sadness, on the other hand, was partly because he didn't know when he and his son would meet again after this separation, and partly because his son was going to the Upper Realm so early while he himself had to remain in the Second Heaven. If he couldn't Breakthrough to True Immortal, then he would never have the chance to go to the Eighth Heaven in this life.

If not for the responsibilities he still bore, who among cultivators wouldn't want to see a higher realm?

The group entered the main hall, where Yu Weichen was already waiting on the main seat with a slight smile. Seeing Zhong Qing enter, he rose to greet him.

"Little Friend Zhong, you've arrived."

"I didn't expect Little Friend to act so decisively. I thought it would take at least a hundred or eighty years, but it was over in the blink of an eye."

Zhong Qing thought to himself, if I made you wait another hundred or eighty years, I might not even be in the Nine Heavens anymore, but he still smiled faintly and said, "It was just some trivial matters. Brother Yu, let's go to the Upper Realm now."

Yu Weichen laughed heartily, "It seems Little Friend Zhong is also a bit impatient. Good, let's go."

He enthusiastically stepped forward and walked out of the hall hand-in-hand with Zhong Qing.

At this time, tens of thousands of Disciples of the Yuhua Immortal Sect were already waiting outside. Seeing Zhong Qing and Yu Weichen emerge from the hall, everyone quickly followed closely.

Countless people streamed out of the Yuhua Cave Heaven in a mighty procession. Zhong Qing looked up at the high firmament above his head and asked.

"Brother Yu, are we just flying straight up?"

Yu Weichen laughed, "That won't do. To go beyond the Second Heaven, there's a heavenly barrier. We need the Guardian's permission to pass. They have always been guarding in the Secret Realm above the clouds."

As he spoke, he looked at the Disciples following behind Zhong Qing and said, "As for Little Friend Zhong's Disciples, it's best to have them enter your Small World. The journey to the Eighth Heaven is long, and there are many checkpoints along the way. Some places have special environments, and even if they can pass, their cultivation might not be able to withstand it."

Although Zhong Qing didn't think Lin Feng, Du Hao, and the others, who had been infused with his power, would be unable to withstand any environment, he still instructed his Disciples to enter his Small World one by one, and at the same time, he asked curiously, "Brother Yu, since the Upper Realm has checkpoints and not everyone can pass, is it acceptable to bring others like this?"

Yu Weichen laughed heartily, "What's wrong with that? Little Friend Zhong, we are True Immortals!"

"The checkpoints block mortals, not us and those close to us."

"Compared to the Lower Realm, the Eighth Heaven has fewer living beings, richer Spiritual Qi, and a more stable space, making it more suitable for Cultivation."

"As the saying goes, 'when one person attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.' Almost every True Immortal who goes to the Eighth Heaven brings their close relatives."

"For example, when I went to the Eighth Heaven back then, I brought all the close Disciples of my lineage with me, which is why the Yuhua Immortal Sect also exists in the Upper Realm."

"Of course, it can't be called an Immortal Sect there, but rather the Yuhua Sect, because in the Eighth Heaven, 'Immortal Sect' isn't a title that can be used casually."

Only then did Zhong Qing understand why these True Immortals of the Upper Realm were so indifferent to the Second Heaven, to the point that even the Old Ancestors of the Four Great Immortal Sects didn't take the Dao lineages of the Second Heaven seriously.

For example, even when Ling Tian was about to be annihilated, he didn't think to ask his Old Ancestor for help.

The reason the Shangqing Ancestor descended was because he broke the Shangqing Cave Heaven.

It turned out these old fellows had long since taken their own people up.

For them, the Four Great Immortal Sects of the Second Heaven were just branch sects with a slight connection, helping them guard the Cave Heavens left in the Lower Realm and monitor the situation in the Lower Realm.

"Little Friend Zhong, let us set off now!"

Under the gaze of countless people, the two ascended into the sky.

Tens of thousands of Yuhua Disciples bowed down one after another.

"Farewell, Old Ancestor! Farewell, Immortal Zhong!"

This sound was like a great bell, instantly spreading across hundreds of millions of miles around. For a moment, countless living beings in this realm knew that those two True Immortals had already ascended to the Upper Realm!

However, the influence left by Zhong Qing was only just beginning to ferment in the Second Heaven.

...

Yu Weichen and Zhong Qing ascended continuously, crossing the airspace of the Second Heaven in the blink of an eye and arriving beneath the heavenly barrier, in the Secret Realm among the clouds.

From a great distance, Zhong Qing saw a gigantic hole appear in the heavenly barrier above.

At this moment, a massive Formation light curtain enveloped the hole, and streaks of flowing light merged into the surroundings of the hole, slowly repairing it.

Upon first seeing such a large hole, Zhong Qing was also startled.

"My goodness, what a big hole!"

"What happened?"

Yu Weichen shook his head, "I don't know either. When I descended earlier, I noticed this hole and was quite surprised. But at that time, I was busy descending to find you, Little Friend, so I didn't have the leisure to inquire. Now is a good time to ask the Guardian."

As the two flew closer, Zhong Qing also noticed three figures who were manipulating the Formation, refining Immortal crystals, and repairing the heavenly barrier.

It seemed these three were the Guardians of the Second Heaven that Xu Qianfeng had mentioned earlier.

The other party also noticed the two approaching and immediately raised their Qi in vigilance. Upon seeing that it was Yu Weichen, they relaxed.

"So it's Brother Yu. You've only been in the Lower Realm for a few days, and you're already returning? And this is..."

The three's gaze also fell upon Zhong Qing.

Yu Weichen smiled slightly and said, "This is Little Friend Zhong Qing. He has just recently ascended to True Immortal. My descent this time was to guide him."

The three were surprised upon hearing this, "A New True Immortal?"

They had been stationed in the Second Heaven for so many years, how had they not noticed a New True Immortal?

However, thinking about it, it wasn't very strange. After all, these days they had been fully focused on repairing the heavenly barrier, busy day and night, so they naturally wouldn't notice the movements in the Lower Realm.

Moreover, this Zhong Qing, who was said to be a New True Immortal, still had the aura of a Great Emperor emanating from him, which was why they had misjudged him.

If it were in the past, facing a New True Immortal who looked so young, they would probably have been interested in inquiring or making friends.

But now they simply didn't have the energy, so they could only nod hastily to Zhong Qing in acknowledgment.

"So it's Little Friend Zhong. Are you joining the Immortal Alliance? Welcome, welcome. We are busy right now, please forgive us for the inadequate hospitality."

Zhong Qing nodded, "No problem."

Then he asked curiously.

"Sirs, why did this heavenly barrier break open with such a large hole?"