Core Formation Ceremony!

Half a month earlier.

In a stretch of mountains in the eastern Jade Cauldron Domain.

A young man emerged from the magnificent Cloud Black Hall.

As he stepped out, a young woman hurried to meet him.

"Senior Brother, see? I told you! This time, you can take me out to have fun."

The young Senior Brother shook his head. "This trip isn't for fun. We have serious business."

"I don't care! I finally get to go out, and I've heard it's wonderful out there." The young woman wheedled at him. Ignoring the Evasive Lights coming and going around them, she slipped her arm through his.

The young Senior Brother sighed. "Not yet. Let me tell my mother before we leave."

"Mm-hmm. Huan Er will listen to Senior Brother."

Before long, the young man rode a white cloud down onto a small mountain not far from the Sect Master's main peak.

As they passed through the mist and drew closer, an elegant courtyard came into view.

Inside, faint sandalwood incense drifted through the air, accompanied by the barely audible tapping of a wooden fish.

The man paused. Before he could speak, a gentle voice called out.

"Is that Yuanjiang?"

Qin Yuanjiang answered and entered the courtyard.

Soon, the familiar face of his mother, Murong Qinglian, appeared before him. Dressed in plain white, she held prayer beads in one hand and tapped a wooden fish with the other.

"Mother, your son pays his respects."

Seeing his mother like this, Qin Yuanjiang felt an inexplicable ache in his heart.

He had thought that bringing her to the Fallen Cloud Sect would let him care for her and give her a peaceful old age.

But some things could not be contained within the simple words "family happiness."

His mother had never been domineering, but