The Great Peng Bird Panicked: Are You a Saint's Disciple? Gaining Phoenix Essence Blood and Nirvana True Fire Upon Taking a Disciple...

"Please, stop hitting me! I admit I was a bit harsh just now!"

"Not the face! Don't hit the face..."

On Wuyi Mountain.

A section shrouded by a vicious sword formation echoed with pitiful cries for mercy.

A massive Golden Peng bird.

Wailed and begged in agony—where was its usual imposing demeanor now?

Seeing the youth dare to strike him.

The Great Peng Bird actually felt something called 'fear' stir within its heart.

No wonder.

The Golden-winged Great Peng was a Primordial Exotic Species born when Primordial Phoenix, on the verge of death from severe injuries at the end of the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation, sensed the union of the Great Dao and Heaven and Earth—the very first Golden-winged Great Peng in the world, with pure bloodline and supremely high status, a little ancestor even within the Phoenix Clan.

Because no one dared to discipline it.

The Golden-winged Great Peng's temperament grew increasingly arrogant, unruly, and moody.

Simply put, it was a spoiled brat.

Ordinarily, relying on the Phoenix Clan's emblem of identity on its body, few in the Primordial Wilderness were willing to provoke the Phoenix Clan.

Even though the Phoenix Clan had withdrawn to suppress the southern Immortality Volcano, and had passed the leadership of the Flying Birds to the Vermilion Bird to also suppress the Four Poles, their status remained untouchable.

This had fostered the Great Peng's arrogance.

All along, it had smooth sailing, never encountering anyone truly formidable.

If it couldn't win.

It could just spread its wings and flee to summon reinforcements.

But this time, it met a real tough one.

Couldn't win in a fight, couldn't escape, wasn't intimidated by threats, and even dared to personally lay hands on it.

How could it not be afraid?

As Qingyuan punched and kicked, he also shattered the Golden-winged Great Peng's inner pride, filling it with an indescribable terror. By the end, it didn't even dare to speak, curling up with its head in its claws.

"Hah... your hide is really thick!"

After beating it a while longer.

Qingyuan stopped, panting, and said coldly, "I'll give you a chance. If you're willing to become my disciple, I'll spare you. If you're not willing, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Your cultivation level is lower than mine! What right do you have to take me as a disciple?"

"The right that I just beat you until you cried."

"Shut up! That was just the wind blowing dust into my eyes—I wasn't crying!"

The Golden-winged Great Peng shrieked as if stepped on its tail, but when it met Qingyuan's icy gaze, it cowered again and muttered, "You want to be my teacher? Do you even know who I am? I am Primordial Phoenix..."

"Shut up!"

Before the Great Peng could finish.

Qingyuan cut it off and corrected, "Not teacher. Master."

"You dare to be my master? I am the Golden-winged Great Peng, son of Primordial Phoenix, backed by the Phoenix Clan! Aren't you afraid of the Phoenix Clan coming to cause you trouble if you take me in?"

The Great Peng still had some pride.

Though its face was bruised and swollen.

The arrogance in its eyes stood out, exceptionally cocky.

"And do you know who I am?" Qingyuan countered.

"Heh, I don't care who you are. I only know that in the Primordial Wilderness, few have a bigger background than me."

The Great Peng raised its eyebrows proudly and declared, "If you've got the guts, tell me your origin."

"I am Qingyuan, the first disciple under Sect Master Tongtian, the Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun, and Senior Disciple Brother of the Jie Sect."

Qingyuan replied calmly, but it stunned the Golden-winged Great Peng. Its mind buzzed, and it said in disbelief, "Wh-what? What did you just say? You're a Saint's First Disciple?"

"Mm."

Thud~

The Great Peng was dumbfounded.

It collapsed on the spot, its face ashen.

It's over.

It's completely over!!

Just now, it had threatened this man, saying it would make his entire family pay. Good heavens... was it threatening a Saint??

If the Phoenix Clan found out...

"He'd probably have to be dismantled into parts and sent to Kunlun Mountain as an apology, right???"

"Just now, I recall you saying something about making me pay the price, about wiping out my entire sect?"

Qingyuan watched with a smile.

The Roc's mind went blank. He quickly shook his head and denied it: "No, no, you misheard. Absolutely not."

"Just now, you said I wasn't qualified to take you as a disciple?" Qingyuan looked at him with a half-smile.

"Master above, please accept your disciple's three bows!"

Thud!

The Golden-Winged Roc transformed into a humanoid form with a roc's head, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed respectfully.

Meeting someone you can't beat and whose background outshines yours is like being violated by life—when you can't resist, you just lie back and enjoy it.

Moreover.

The Roc felt an inexplicable emotion inside.

Even though he had been thoroughly beaten, he couldn't help but feel reverence and fondness instead of hatred—only a desire to understand this man and draw closer to him.

If Qingyuan knew what the Roc was thinking.

He would surely realize this disciple had Stockholm syndrome.

[Ding! Congratulations to host for taking Yuanfeng's son, the Golden-Winged Roc, as a disciple. Reward: Phoenix Ancestor's Essence Blood, Primordial Yin and Yang Qi, Nirvana True Fire, eight million years of cultivation. Host, keep up the good work!!]

[Disciple Information]

[Character: Golden-Winged Roc]

[Realm: Mid-Golden Immortal Stage]

[Origin: Supreme Primordial Being]

[Talents: Primordial Yin and Yang Qi, Primordial Divine Strength, Bronze Skin and Iron Bones, Roc Golden Eyes]

[Spells: Primordial Qi Sweep, Nine-Pole Sword Feathers, Cloud Journey Ten Thousand Miles]

[Divine Abilities: Chaos Golden Wings, Toying with Heaven and Earth]

[Note: Born from the Phoenix's union with the great Dao's Yin and Yang Qi. Golden wings, whale-like head, starry eyes, leopard-like gaze. Soaring in flight, dragons cower at its laughter. Its whirlwind feathers make all birds hide; its sharp claws strike terror into all beasts!]

[Disciple Golden-Winged Roc's cultivation, talents, and divine abilities have been bestowed upon the host!!!]

Boom!!

In an instant.

Qingyuan's expression shifted slightly.

He felt his own foundation suddenly surge by more than tenfold!

The boost from a mid-Golden Immortal disciple was terrifying, skyrocketing his strength!!

If he fought the Golden-Winged Roc again.

He could probably take him down within ten rounds!

If he fought the Great Wu Xiangliu again, even if he couldn't win, he wouldn't be unable to withstand a single exchange!

Even...

"I actually got the Phoenix Ancestor's Essence Blood?"

"And Nirvana True Fire?"

"Legend says the Phoenix grows stronger with each death and rebirth. With this, I've gained another means of survival."

Taking the Roc as a disciple had boosted his strength immensely.

Qingyuan was overjoyed inside.

He didn't claim the rewards immediately.

Instead, he looked at the Golden-Winged Roc and said, "From now on, you are my fourth disciple. I grant you the Nine Revolutions Mystic Art, hoping you forge a Chaos foundation!"

"I also grant you the Nourishing Origin Pill to heal your injuries, the Qingxuan Sword for offense and self-defense, and the Sword Dao Law of the Ultimate Sword Path to help you train your three thousand six hundred sword feathers!"

Then.

One treasure after another was bestowed.

The system's feedback also rang out.

[Nine Revolutions Mystic Art Essence: Unlocked. Divine Ability Three Heads and Eight Arms acquired!]

[Supreme Purity Nourishing Origin Pill: One pill can revive a dying Golden Immortal!]

[Universe Myriad Sword: As heavy as a great world. Swinging it conjures myriad sword shadows, blending illusion and reality. An extremely heavy sword that can manifest a gravity law field!]

[...]

After receiving it, the Golden-Winged Roc's face lit up with joy. He chuckled, "Master, you're really willing to give me so many good things? I thought after taking me in, you'd just let me run wild."

Noticing so many good things suddenly appear, the Great Peng Bird was overjoyed beyond measure. Grinning, he went over to hook Qingyuan's shoulder and said, "Geez, Master, how do you know so much? And it's actually the Law of Swordsmanship comprehension—if I go back and refine the feathers on my body into three thousand six hundred sword feathers, I can manifest the Heavenly Fiend Earthly Fiend Sword Formation to kill enemies. Maybe then I could even beat you."

Smack!

Qingyuan slapped the back of the Great Peng Bird's head and scolded, "No manners, no proper conduct—don't you have any respect in your heart?"

"From now on, you've joined the Jie Sect and become a disciple's disciple of a Saint, but that doesn't mean you can run wild. If I hear you're causing trouble in the Primordial Wilderness, don't blame me for purging the sect!"

"Master, don't worry. I usually just tease people and snatch a few things—nothing worth killing over."

The Golden-winged Great Peng chuckled.

He was still basking in the joy of obtaining techniques and treasures.

Though he was the Son of Primordial Phoenix, he had never been disciplined since birth.

No treasures, no spells, no divine powers—his Master hit him and scolded him, but he gave plenty!

Looks like sneaking out of the Immortality Volcano in the south was a good thing. Meeting Master was my real fortune. What use was it to stay obediently in the Phoenix Clan's territory like his brother Kong Xuan?

Geez, from now on I can even wave the Saint's banner!

The Great Peng Bird snickered inwardly.

And Qingyuan had no idea what he was thinking.

He scolded, "If there's nothing else, come back to the Jie Sect with me."