Supreme Master - Chapter 17: Ancestors?

Translator – Misty

Chapter 17: Ancestor?

Riding on a horse and chatting with Ouyang Ye, Gu Qingfeng finally arrived at the foot of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect’s mountain as the sun set.

In front of him was a majestic mountain range, resembling a fiery red dragon lying there, as splendid as a streak of clouds at sunset. This is why the sect was named the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect.

Gu Qingfeng faintly remembered that the mountain range looked like clouds and mists because the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect occupied a rare Fire Spirit Vein. The spiritual energy contained in this vein was far superior to ordinary spiritual energy, making it a precious resource. Leveraging this rare Fire Spirit Vein, the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect had cultivated many experts over thousands of years.

Looking over, the mountain range was still the same as it was five hundred years ago, but the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect had changed significantly. Compared to the past, the current Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect was much more imposing, with majestic buildings scattered across the mountains, especially various powerful arrays, dazzling to the eyes.

Ouyang Ye mentioned that the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect now had “Three Mountains, Six Halls, Nine Peaks, and Twelve Courtyards” with over ten thousand disciples. This was just the disciples; the sect also had twenty-four sub-factions, with even more members.

This made Gu Qingfeng genuinely admire the sect.

The inheritance of a sect is not a trivial matter. The effort involved is beyond what others can imagine. Many ancient sects have declined over time, which Gu Qingfeng had seen a lot. Especially a hundred years ago, there was a major calamity, but the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect not only survived but became even stronger.

At the foot of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect’s mountain was a green lawn, where many disciples were gathered. They were either joking around or sparring in martial arts.

Along the way, many disciples greeted Ouyang Ye, calling her “Senior Sister.”

“You seem quite popular,” Gu Qingfeng observed.

“Of course,” Ouyang Ye replied proudly. “I am an inner sect disciple.”

Gu Qingfeng smiled and didn’t say much. He had spent a few years in the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect when he was young and knew the rules well. The lowest were the menial workers, followed by outer sect disciples, and inner sect disciples had a higher status. Besides, there were core disciples, whose status was even more noble.

Regarding the rules of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect, what struck Gu Qingfeng the most was that seniority didn’t matter in the sect. Even if one had been in the sect for over thirty years, if still an outer sect disciple, they had to address inner sect disciples as senior brothers and sisters.

Moreover, if an outer sect disciple encountered problems in cultivation and sought guidance, they had to offer tributes; otherwise, the teaching masters wouldn’t bother with them.

This was just for the outer sect disciples. As for the menial workers, they had no status and not even the right to seek guidance. Gu Qingfeng had a deep understanding of this; remembering his years as a menial worker in the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect was still bittersweet.

Despite the difficulties, the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect was the place where he started his cultivation journey, and it held many unforgettable memories.

Returning to the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect after five hundred years, Gu Qingfeng felt complex emotions, especially seeing the youngsters sparring on the lawn, bringing back a flood of memories.

While reminiscing, a commotion arose from the lawn, followed by a sharp cry. Looking up, he saw what seemed like a ball of fire soaring in the sky. Upon closer inspection, it was a large, crimson bird, about a meter long when its wings were spread. As it soared, it resembled a phoenix reborn from fire.

Gu Qingfeng, having seen much of the world, recognized that this was no ordinary bird but a rare spirit bird called the “Flaming Sun Fierce Bird.” Its ancestors were Vermilion Birds, so it had a noble lineage. Most notably, this bird was highly sensitive to the aura of fire spirits, making it perfect for finding fire attribute spirit veins.

“You guys at the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect are really something, raising a Flaming Sun Fierce Bird. This creature is quite rare, where did you get it?”

In the ancient times, Flaming Sun Fierce Birds were nearly extinct, and Gu Qingfeng had seldom seen them. He was quite surprised to encounter such a rare bird at the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect.

“What do you mean ‘where did you get it’? You really have a way with words,” Ouyang Ye said, slightly annoyed, then explained, “The Flaming Sun Fierce Bird came to our Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect on its own decades ago. It’s now a treasure of our sect.”

“It came on its own?”

Gu Qingfeng speculated that the Flaming Sun Fierce Bird must have been bred after the calamity that led to the revival of all things. Its attraction to the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect might be due to its sensitivity to the fire aura, especially since the sect possessed a rare fire attribute spirit vein.

The great revival after the calamity was truly remarkable, even nurturing the nearly extinct Flaming Sun Fierce Bird from ancient times.

“They are usually very calm and stay at Fire Cloud Peak, rarely coming out. I’ve been in the sect for two to three years and have never seen it fly in the sky. What’s happening today?” Ouyang Ye wondered, looking up at the soaring Flaming Sun Fierce Bird. “So beautiful… just like the legendary phoenix, huh… Oh no!”

Ouyang Ye’s expression changed drastically as she realized the bird was flying towards them. Without a second thought, she instinctively leaped up and fled. Realizing that Gu Qingfeng was still standing there, she turned to go back for him, but it was too late.

As the Flaming Sun Fierce Bird rushed over at high speed, Ouyang Ye yelled out, “What are you doing standing there, you fool? Run!”

Seeing that Gu Qingfeng didn’t move, Ouyang Ye thought he was frozen in fear. Watching the bird approach rapidly, her heart stopped, and she held her breath, eyes wide open in shock.

She didn’t know why the bird suddenly appeared today, why it was targeting Gu Qingfeng, or what terrible thing was about to happen. She thought Gu Qingfeng might be eaten or burned to death.

However, when she saw the Flaming Sun Fierce Bird fly around Gu Qingfeng joyfully, her heart finally settled.

But why was the bird circling around him, and why did it seem so excited and happy, chirping loudly?

Ouyang Ye couldn’t understand. She had visited Fire Cloud Peak occasionally over the past two years to see the Flaming Sun Fierce Bird, but it had always been quiet and listless. Why was it so excited and joyful upon seeing Gu Qingfeng today?

Not just Ouyang Ye, but all the disciples on the lawn were equally dumbfounded.

Gu Qingfeng stood quietly, looking puzzled and squinting at the Flaming Sun Fierce Bird. He hadn’t expected the bird to approach him.

Could it be sensing the aura of the Nine Serenities fire on him? After ascending to the position of Emperor of Nine Serenities, Gu Qingfeng had tempered his body with the Nine Serenities fire, and every part of him contained its essence.

It seemed unlikely that the bird could sense the Nine Serenities fire on him.

Remembering the Vermilion Bird, Gu Qingfeng suddenly realized and chuckled, shaking his head. It must be because of the Vermilion Bird’s lineage in the bird. The Nine Serenities fire was one of the ancestral fires of the world, having nurtured many powerful beings, including the Vermilion Bird. Thinking of how he had tempered his body with the Nine Serenities fire, he wondered…

“Could this little guy be mistaking me for its ancestor, the Vermilion Bird?”

Watching the Flaming Sun Fierce Bird happily circling around him, Gu Qingfeng shook his head with a smile.

The bird, as if understanding him, chirped even more excitedly.

By now, the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect’s lawn was crowded with disciples, and senior members of the sect also appeared, watching the scene in disbelief.

“Who is this person?”

“I don’t know, probably not a disciple of our Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect. Seems like he came with Ouyang Ye.”

“Why is the Flaming Sun Fierce Bird circling around him?”

“Heard that the bird is very sensitive to the fire aura. Could this guy have a rare fire spirit root?”

“And it must be a high-grade one.”

“Maybe he has a Fire Spirit special physical constitution!”

“Look, even Elder Mu De is here!”

As an elder in a white robe, holding a Buddhist dust whisk, appeared, everyone respectfully greeted him as Elder Mu De.

Hearing the name Elder Mu De, Gu Qingfeng was startled and turned to look.

(End of Chapter)