Li Yuan had just left the secret chamber when he looked up and saw his three senior brothers, Xuandu, Guangchengzi, and Duobao, who had already emerged from seclusion.
The three of them seemed to be chatting with Yuanhuang.
"Hahaha, good, good, good! My son being able to join a Sage's sect is his good fortune. If he ever disobeys, just beat him. That'll settle it."
Kong Xuan raised his head and stared at Yuanhuang's profile, his eyes filled with the foolish confusion of an innocent college student.
"Father, are you really my father?"
Yuanhuang actually pondered seriously for a moment before replying.
"Half your father, I suppose. You were born from the Pre-Heaven Five Elements Qi, plus your mother and me. It was a stormy night..."
Li Yuan's eyes widened, and he hurried forward to interrupt him.
"Senior, I think there's no need to continue. You really don't have to go into such detail."
Duobao had been red-faced as he pricked up his ears to listen.
After being interrupted, his face grew even redder. He coughed twice.
"Right, Senior Brother is right. Huh, why does it feel like Senior Brother has gotten stronger again?"
As soon as he said this, Guangchengzi and Xuandu also focused their gazes on Li Yuan.
"Junior Brother is exceptionally gifted. Improving his strength is as easy as drinking tea and water."
"As expected of Senior Brother. It seems Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and attaining the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit won't be far off either."
Yuanhuang remained as enthusiastic as ever with his invitation.
"Young friends, you have come from afar. Why not stay at the Southern Blazing Undying Volcano for a few more days?"
Li Yuan smiled and waved his hand.
"No, no. The Dragon Race helped us greatly, so the Demon Court will likely hold them accountable."
"We should go mediate the conflict between the Dragon Race and the Demon Court first."
"Now that Kong Xuan has entered a Sage's sect, the Demon Court presumably won't have any more ideas about the Phoenix Race."
With matters having been put so plainly,
Yuanhuang, an old hand who had survived since the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation, nodded slightly.
"Since that is the case, I shall not keep you any longer. My son is in your care."
"Oh, right. I actually have another son who has yet to be born. How about taking him with you as well?"
At those words, Li Yuan and Xuandu looked at each other.
How were they supposed to take away a son who had yet to be born?
Li Yuan, however, came to his senses and recalled memories from his previous life.
Legend had it that Kong Xuan was later suppressed by Zhun Ti and became the Peacock Great Wisdom King of the Buddhist Sect.
He also had a biological younger brother called the Golden Winged Great Peng.
That was right, the very Golden Winged Great Peng whose magical treasures had all been smashed through by Brother Monkey during the Journey to the West Tribulation.
Kong Xuan had transformed the Pre-Heaven Five Elements Qi into his Innate Divine Ability, but when Li Yuan looked at the Golden Winged Great Peng...
It was as though his cerebrum had failed to develop and his cerebellum had atrophied. He had refined the Yin-Yang Energy into a natal magical treasure.
While everyone was still stunned, Yuanhuang suddenly pulled out a bird egg as large as a person.
Guangchengzi stared at the bird egg and sucked in a cold breath.
"Senior, could this... this be the son you mentioned?"
Li Yuan was also somewhat dumbfounded. Wouldn't it be finished if it got bumped around on the road?
"No, can you first explain where you pulled that out from?"
Yuanhuang, on the other hand, wore an enthusiastic smile as he persuaded them.
"This brat has thick skin and tough flesh. Just take him with you."
Xuandu repeatedly waved his hands with a bitter smile.
"Senior, we understand your intentions, but we truly can't."
He sized up the enormous bird egg, revealing a smile uglier than crying.
How the hell could anyone tell that it had thick skin and tough flesh?
Kong Xuan stood nearby, shook his head, and sighed softly.
"Heh, is that something a real father would do?"
Li Yuan quickly followed Xuandu's lead and tried to persuade him.
"Senior, I see Yin-Yang Energy coiling around this child. He must have an exceptionally blessed foundation."
"I advise you, when this child is born, be sure to have him transform the Yin-Yang Energy into an Innate Divine Ability. Do not turn it into a magical treasure."
"In the future, he will surely be fated with our Humanity Sect. Even if he does not enter Master's tutelage, he may become a disciple under This Daoist or one of my senior brothers."
Yuanhuang's brows rose. He was first stunned, then laughed in surprise.
"Heh, that's incredible. How did you know I was planning to have my second son transform the Yin-Yang Energy into a natal magical treasure?"
Upon hearing this, Kong Xuan instantly shot to his feet, his feathers bristling as he rebuked him.
"If you dare waste Second Brother's talent like that, I won't acknowledge you as my father!"
Yuanhuang hurriedly smiled apologetically.
"Yes, yes, Father will listen to you."
This scene left Li Yuan and the others dumbfounded once more.
What a picture of fatherly love and filial piety.
"Still, for my son to catch the eye of the Humanity Sect is also his blessing. I will definitely keep a close watch on him, hahaha."
After saying that, Yuanhuang casually placed the bird egg atop the volcano, where it was scorched by the blazing Undying Magma.
Li Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"No wonder Yuanhuang's two sons were both exceptionally gifted. With an environment like this, how could they not become successful if they survived and cultivated?"
He shook his head, casting aside the stray thoughts, and said with a smile.
"Since that is the case, we shall take our leave first. Thank you, Senior, for your hospitality these past few days."
Yuanhuang nodded slightly and said softly.
"Until we meet again."
On the way to the East Sea, Duobao asked curiously.
"Junior Brother Kong, has Senior Yuanhuang always had such... unconventional ideas?"
He seemed unable to find a complimentary word to describe it.
Kong Xuan sighed and replied.
"Father said cultivation was supposed to be like this. He directly threw me into magma to swim."
"Later, he discovered that I cultivated the Five Elements Great Dao and fished me back out."
Duobao nodded slightly and muttered thoughtfully.
"This behavior is rather similar to Master's."
"He directly threw Jinling, Guiling, Wudang, and me into the Immortal Execution Sword Formation, saying that the Four Direct Disciples should challenge the Immortal Execution Sword Formation for some experience."
"He even said that others would not have the opportunity even if they wanted to challenge it."
Li Yuan raised his brows when he heard that and thought to himself.
Third Martial Uncle is pretty absurd too. Now I have a concrete reason why Junior Brother Duobao transformed into Buddha.
At the same time, within the Eight Scenery Palace, Laozi and Yuanshi stared intently at Tongtian with scrutinizing gazes.
Tongtian turned his head away rather awkwardly.
"What kind of looks are those, Brothers? I wasn't wrong, was I? The Four Swords of Immortal Execution are quite good for tempering disciples."
Yuanshi immediately began to rebuke him.
"So this is how you teach your disciples?!"
"Is this the proper way to guide disciples in cultivation?"
"You do not even know how to be a teacher, yet you want the Interception Sect to have ten thousand immortals come to pay homage?"
Tongtian replied weakly.
"Ten thousand immortals coming to pay homage is impressive."
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Laozi and Yuanshi each summoned their Pre-Heaven Treasures, the Taiji Diagram and the Pangu Banner.
The two exchanged a glance, then suddenly spoke in unison.
"Beat him!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Aah! Aah! Aah!
"Brother, dear Brother, stop hitting me! Believe it or not, I'll summon the Four Swords of Immortal Execution and fight back!"
"Come, come, come. Let your elder brother show you what One Qi Transforming into Three Purities means!"
"Stop hitting me! Li Yuan and the others are gone!"
Laozi stopped at once. He glanced at the bruised and swollen Tongtian, then began calculating on his own.
His brows furrowed slightly as he said softly.
"The remnant soul of Fellow Daoist Dong Wanggong has led them into the Immortal Court Secret Realm."
Tongtian climbed to his feet and rubbed his swollen left cheek.
"Didn't he perish?"
Laozi pondered for a moment.
"Perhaps he saw Li Yuan's understanding of the Great Dao of Fire Law?"
"Forget it, let them play on their own. Second Brother, let us continue."
Aah! Aah! Aah!
Before you continue