Morning arrived slowly over Ji Xia Sect.
Golden sunlight spread across the mountain peaks, illuminating the newly reborn sect like divine fire descending from the heavens. The Celestial Barrier shimmered high above the sect grounds like a vast dome made of liquid light, protecting everything within its boundaries.
Spiritual energy flowed through the air in visible streams, drifting like mist between the halls and courtyards.
What had once been ruins was now something far more magnificent.
Ancient towers carved from radiant stone stood tall against the sky. Jade pathways connected training grounds, meditation gardens, and grand halls engraved with glowing runic patterns.
At the very center of the sect stood the Celestial Founder Hall, the heart of Ji Xia Sect.
Inside that hall stood Yan Fu.
His long white robes drifted gently in the flowing spiritual wind. The Phoenix Crown Spear rested beside him, its golden feather-like engravings glowing faintly with inner fire.
Before him stood Li Fei.
The young disciple's silver hair swayed lightly as he stared around the enormous hall in awe.
"Master… this place feels alive."
Yan Fu nodded slightly.
"It is."
He slowly walked forward, gesturing toward the glowing patterns carved into the floor.
"These are ancient formation arrays awakened by the sect's spiritual veins."
Li Fei knelt down, studying the glowing lines carefully.
"They feel warm."
"They are absorbing the spiritual energy of the mountain," Yan Fu explained calmly.
"The stronger the sect becomes, the stronger these formations will grow."
Suddenly—
A low rumble echoed across the mountains.
Li Fei looked up.
Outside the hall, a massive shadow passed over the courtyard.
Tianlong's enormous body coiled through the clouds above the sect, lightning occasionally flashing between its azure scales.
The dragon had taken residence within the skies above Ji Xia Sect.
Li Fei gulped slightly.
"I still cannot believe Master returned with a dragon."
Yan Fu allowed a faint smile.
"It will become normal."
Just then—
A deep rumbling sound echoed across the courtyard.
Vorath appeared at the entrance of the hall.
The massive black lion stepped inside slowly, its jet-black scales reflecting the sunlight like polished obsidian.
Behind it, Aetherion followed gracefully, celestial light drifting from its mane like floating stardust.
The three guardians had arrived.
Li Fei instinctively stood straighter.
Vorath glanced around the hall before speaking.
"The sect's spiritual veins have stabilized."
Aetherion nodded gently.
"The barrier formations are functioning perfectly."
Tianlong's voice echoed faintly from above.
"The mountain itself is beginning to change."
Yan Fu stepped outside the hall.
Li Fei followed immediately.
The moment they stepped into the courtyard, they both saw it.
The land surrounding Ji Xia Sect was transforming.
Where once barren stone and broken ground had existed, lush spiritual grass now grew across the mountainside. Crystals of condensed energy slowly formed along the cliffs like natural gems.
Even the wind itself carried faint glowing particles of spiritual essence.
Li Fei stared in amazement.
"It's like the mountain is waking up."
Yan Fu nodded.
"That is exactly what is happening."
The rebirth of the sect had awakened the ancient spiritual vein beneath the mountain.
Aetherion slowly walked toward a nearby cliff and lowered its head.
A faint turquoise light flowed from its horn into the ground.
Instantly—
Flowers of pure spiritual energy began blooming along the cliffside.
Each flower glowed softly like a miniature star.
Li Fei's eyes widened.
"Master… those flowers…"
"Spirit Bloom Flowers," Yan Fu said calmly.
"They can accelerate cultivation if refined into pills."
Vorath stepped toward the training grounds.
With a single swing of its massive tail, the ground cracked open slightly.
From the earth below, glowing stones slowly emerged.
Spirit stones.
Natural spirit stones were forming beneath the sect.
Li Fei could barely keep up with everything he was seeing.
Just then—
The system screen appeared again before Yan Fu.
[System Notification]
Sect Development Unlocked
New Feature: Celestial Training Grounds
Yan Fu's eyes narrowed slightly.
The moment he read the message—
The ground in the center of the courtyard began glowing.
Ancient runes spread across the stone floor as a massive circular platform slowly rose from beneath the ground.
The platform was enormous—large enough for dozens of cultivators to train at once.
Golden pillars surrounded its edges, each engraved with glowing cultivation symbols.
Streams of spiritual energy flowed between the pillars like lightning.
Li Fei gasped.
"A training formation?"
Yan Fu nodded.
"This will allow disciples to cultivate several times faster."
Vorath watched the platform with interest.
"Your system continues to surprise me."
Yan Fu stepped onto the platform.
Instantly—
The spiritual energy around him intensified dramatically.
The air itself felt heavier, as if condensed power was flowing through every breath.
Yan Fu turned toward Li Fei.
"Come here."
The young disciple hurried onto the platform.
The moment he stepped onto it—
His body trembled slightly.
"The spiritual energy… it's overwhelming."
Yan Fu placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Control your breathing."
Li Fei closed his eyes and followed his master's instructions.
Slowly…
The spiritual energy surrounding him began flowing into his meridians.
Aetherion watched quietly.
"His celestial body is responding well."
Vorath nodded.
"The Pink Jade Phoenix Emperor Body is rare even among divine bloodlines."
Above them, Tianlong spoke again.
"If trained properly, this child could become extremely powerful."
Yan Fu remained silent as he observed Li Fei.
The boy's body had begun glowing faintly pink as the spiritual energy entered his meridians.
Small phoenix-shaped patterns of energy appeared briefly across his skin before fading again.
Li Fei suddenly opened his eyes.
"Master!"
His voice carried excitement.
"I can feel it!"
Yan Fu nodded calmly.
"Good."
He raised his hand.
The Phoenix Crown Spear appeared instantly within his grip.
Golden flames flickered along its blade.
"Now…"
He pointed the spear toward the sky.
"…watch carefully."
Yan Fu swung the spear once.
The air itself tore apart.
A massive wave of golden flame erupted from the spear, flying across the sky like a phoenix made of fire.
The flames exploded against a distant mountain cliff.
BOOM!
The entire mountain trembled.
Rocks shattered as the phoenix-shaped fire slowly faded into glowing embers.
Li Fei's jaw dropped.
"That was… incredible!"
Yan Fu lowered the spear calmly.
"That was only a fraction of this weapon's power."
Tianlong chuckled faintly from the clouds.
"Your sect will soon become famous if you continue displaying such power."
Yan Fu glanced toward the sky.
"That is inevitable."
Suddenly—
Aetherion's ears twitched slightly.
The celestial guardian lifted its head toward the distant horizon.
"I sense something."
Vorath immediately became alert.
"What is it?"
Aetherion's turquoise eyes narrowed.
"Visitors."
Yan Fu looked toward the distant mountain paths leading to the sect.
Far away, several figures were slowly climbing the steep path toward Ji Xia Sect.
Cultivators.
At least five of them.
Their robes suggested they belonged to another sect.
Li Fei noticed them too.
"Master… are they enemies?"
Yan Fu watched the approaching group calmly.
"Not necessarily."
Tianlong's voice echoed again.
"They are weak."
Vorath snorted.
"Very weak."
Yan Fu turned toward Li Fei.
"This will be a good lesson."
Li Fei blinked.
"A lesson?"
Yan Fu nodded.
"The first rule of rebuilding a sect…"
He rested the Phoenix Crown Spear against his shoulder.
"…is learning how to deal with outsiders."
As the five cultivators slowly approached the massive gates of Ji Xia Sect, none of them realized what awaited them inside.
A reborn sect.
Three divine guardians.
And a master whose ambition reached far beyond the heavens themselves.