The mountain carriage passed through the passage left open in the Spiritual Light Barrier and slowly descended.
Dozens of figures had already lined up in formation on the plaza before the main gates of the Spirit Plant Bureau.
At their head stood a middle-aged man in a dark green robe. His face was lean, his temples streaked with gray, and a jade tablet carved with Spirit Runes hung at his waist.
This man was the Bureau Chief of the Spirit Plant Bureau, Lu Yan.
Behind him stood six elders and more than a dozen stewards. Further back were some of the Spirit Plant Bureau's official disciples, men and women, young and old.
These people had been discussing just what background this newly arrived personal disciple possessed, but now they all fell silent.
The instant the mountain carriage landed, Fire Phoenix folded her wings and let out a low cry as the flames around her gradually receded.
Kong Ling circled once in the air before landing behind Xu Changqing. Her seven-colored tail feathers spread behind her, casting the plaza's bluestone ground in a dazzling wash of flowing light.
Lu Yan's gaze swept over the two spirit birds, and his pupils contracted slightly.
Spirit Transformation realm spirit birds.
One was a Fire Phoenix, while the other was a peacock.
The cultivation of those two spirit birds alone already surpassed that of most people present.
He quickly withdrew his gaze, revealing a perfectly measured look of respect as he led everyone three steps forward in unison.
"Bureau Chief Lu Yan, together with the stewards, elders, and disciples of the Spirit Plant Bureau..."
"Greetings, Personal Disciple Xu!"
Dozens of people clasped their hands in salute at once. Their voices rang out in neat unison, echoing across the plaza.
Xu Changqing rose from the mountain