"Scree!"
The Great Peng let out a piercing cry that rang through the clouds.
Hearing it, everyone on Dragon Tooth Mountain looked up. A dark shape raced through the sky, soon arriving overhead before slowly descending.
Only then did they see that it was a Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc, over ten feet long with a wingspan of nearly thirty feet, carrying Fang Qianyuan and a dainty maid.
Fang Qianyuan sat astride the roc, his White Brocade Cloud-Pattern Robe splendid and luxurious. His features were resolute, his bearing cool and aloof, with the proud air of a favored son of heaven.
At the sight of him, everyone inwardly voiced their admiration.
What a Sect Elite, what an outstanding talent of this age!
As an elite disciple whom the Azure Cloud Sect was nurturing with particular care, Fang Qianyuan's appearance and bearing no longer showed any trace of his origins as a poor orphan. Anyone would have assumed that he had been born into wealth and privilege, pampered from childhood.
As the saying went, station shaped one's bearing, and nurture shaped one's body. The sect spared neither authority nor expense, granting him membership and standing, office and power, engaging renowned teachers for him, providing fine clothes, and even assigning him maids and attendants.
Everything was done to mold a truly elite disciple.
By now, their efforts had clearly borne fruit. People from every quarter felt a measure of approval at their first sight of him.
Fang Qianyuan swept out a hand. The Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc turned into a streak of mystic light that fell into his palm, then vanished into his body.
Only then did he calmly nod in greeting to everyone before turning east and cupping his hands. "Honored elders, Qianyuan has arrived."
"Good. Eleven o'clock will soon be upon us. Make