As Jiang Ling's words fell, an uproar erupted outside the mountain gate!
These conditions were stricter than those of many major sects.
Inside the gate, the disciples each had their own thoughts.
The outer disciples secretly rejoiced at having joined early, sparing them from climbing the terrifying celestial staircase that loomed before them.
Hua Yuntian was also stunned by the feat of creating something out of nothing, but he quickly sneered inwardly: "Merely intimidating spatial formations or illusions! A true powerhouse would never care about such trivial tricks!"
Gritting his teeth against the pain in his face, he walked up to Jiang Ling, struggling to maintain the last shred of his dignity, and asked in a deep voice:
"The sect main hall has been erected, but I wonder where the disciples will reside? Additionally…"
His gaze swept over Jincancan, who was preening its magnificent feathers on Jiang Ling's shoulder, and his brows furrowed into a tight knot.
"Disciple has a question and seeks Master's guidance. Since I am the Second Disciple, may I ask—who is the Senior Brother? Why have we not met him?"
He deliberately emphasized the words "Senior Brother," his tone dripping with dissatisfaction and doubt.
He refused to believe that such a shabby sect could have someone more qualified to be the First Disciple than himself.
All eyes—including those of the nine outer disciples—immediately focused on Jiang Ling.
Right! At the Grand Opening Ceremony, only the Second Disciple and nine outer disciples were recruited. Where was the mysterious Senior Brother?
Upon hearing this, an extremely strange, playful smile spread across Jiang Ling's face.
He slowly raised his hand and gently patted Jincancan on his shoulder.
"Oh? You wish to meet your Senior Brother?"
Jiang Ling looked at Hua Yuntian with a grin, then, under the confused gazes of Hua Yuntian and all the disciples, announced loudly:
"Jincancan, come. Meet your Second Junior Brother, Hua Yuntian."
"From now on, you must take good 'care' of your junior brother."
"Cheep!"
Jincancan obligingly let out a clear, prolonged chirp. It hopped gracefully down from Jiang Ling's shoulder, strode proudly over to Hua Yuntian, and came to a stop before him.
Its magnificent golden feathers shimmered brightly in the sunlight, its Mid Foundation Building Realm aura emanating unreservedly. Its glazed eyes looked down at Hua Yuntian from above, filled with scrutiny, disdain, and a hint of imperceptible mockery.
It even deliberately raised the wing that had just slapped Hua Yuntian's face.
A deathly silence fell over the scene.
Time seemed to stand still.
Hua Yuntian's expression shifted instantly—from confusion to shock, then to utter disbelief, and finally to a deathly pallor.
His pupils contracted to pinpricks. Struck as if by heavenly thunder, his body trembled violently, and he stumbled back two steps!
"You mean… this is the Senior Brother?"
His voice turned shrill and strained. He pointed tremblingly at the golden rooster, which stood proudly before him, looking at him as if he were garbage.
"The Senior Brother… is a chicken?! "
Hua Yuntian lost all composure and let out a roar.
His worldview, outlook on life, and values were subjected to an unprecedented impact.
This lousy sect—its master was a mortal, and now its Senior Brother was a chicken?
This was the biggest joke in the cultivation world!
He, a mighty Tribulation Transcending powerhouse, had to call a chicken "Senior Brother"?
Unbearable humiliation! A farce of cosmic proportions!
Overwhelming absurdity and unprecedented disgrace crashed over Hua Yuntian like a tsunami.
He felt like a complete fool!
All his previous anger and frustration seemed ridiculous in the face of this truth.
It was as if all the pride and dignity from both his lives were being pressed into the dirt and ground repeatedly with the dirtiest sole.
"Exactly!"
Jiang Ling looked utterly理所当然, even a little proud. "Jincancan is a divine blessing, an omen of the Primordial Beginning Sect's revival! As the junior brother, you must respect your senior brother from now on."
"Cheep!"
Jincancan was displeased by Hua Yuntian's outburst. It let out a threatening low chirp, raising its wing slightly as if ready to deliver another round of "loving discipline."
"Alright, alright, Jincancan. Your Second Junior Brother just joined and doesn't know the rules—teach him slowly."
Jiang Ling held back his laughter, pretending to mediate, but the corners of his mouth curled upward uncontrollably.
Watching Hua Yuntian's world fall apart, seeing him so enraged he was almost about to explode, felt better than getting one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones!
Serves him right for being so arrogant, daring to throw away the things he'd bestowed. Who else should be taught a lesson if not him!
"Ahem!"
He cleared his throat and announced to the still-dazed disciples:
"From this day forth, Jincancan is the First Disciple of the Primordial Beginning Sect. To see him is to see me! Hua Yuntian shall be the Second Disciple. You outer disciples will temporarily reside in the side halls—clean and settle in yourselves. The sect has just been established, and everything is to be built anew. We must work together in harmony!"
"As for you, Disciple Yuntian," Jiang Ling turned to Hua Yuntian, whose eyes were empty as if his soul had been sucked out, and said earnestly, "You must respect your master and uphold morality—and above all, respect your Senior Brother! Hurry and greet him!"
Hua Yuntian: "…"
He looked at the arrogant golden rooster in front of him, then at the benevolent-looking Jiang Ling, and felt a surge of blood rush to his forehead!
"Pfft!"
Overwhelmed by anger and frustration, Hua Yuntian felt a sweetness in his throat. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his vision darkened, his body swayed, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
On his first day joining the Primordial Beginning Sect, he had been slapped by a chicken, pecked on the buttocks, told that the chicken was his Senior Brother, and finally, he'd coughed up blood from anger!
This was definitely the darkest, most humiliating day of Hua Yuntian's two lives!
Jincancan glanced disdainfully at the blood on the ground, letting out a soft chirp of contempt.
Weakling. Already coughing up blood?
Then it raised its noble head, strode gracefully toward the brand-new sect main hall as if patrolling its territory.
Left behind was Hua Yuntian, his Dao heart on the verge of collapse, teetering unsteadily in place.
Watching Hua Yuntian's ashen face, Jiang Ling felt a wave of satisfaction.
Serves you right for being arrogant! Serves you right for looking down on the things I gave you! Deserved!
He turned his gaze to the nine outer disciples, who were trembling with fear, and once again wore a warm, kind smile.
"Now that you've joined the Primordial Beginning Sect, you are the cornerstone of our sect."
With a flip of his wrist, nine brand-new copies of the *Basic Qi Circulation Art* appeared in Jiang Ling's hand.
"This is our sect's foundational cultivation method—one for each of you. Practice diligently and never slack off."
He handed out the booklets one by one.
The disciples hastily took them with reverence. Though they still had doubts in their hearts, seeing Hua Yuntian's fate, none dared to show the slightest dissatisfaction. They chanted in unison: "Thank you, Sect Master, for bestowing the technique!"
Jiang Ling nodded in satisfaction, but watching them hold the booklets—knowing he had to hand them out one by one—he couldn't help but feel a headache.
"Tsk. It would be so much easier if disciples could choose their own techniques, and I could get automatic reimbursements once they do… "
The thought had barely crossed his mind when the system's voice chimed in:
[Ding! Detected the sect is in its early stages and in urgent need of systematic development! Development Quest Triggered: Initial Cultivation of Spiritual Fields!]
[Quest Objective: Reclaim 300 mu of spiritual fields within three days.]
[Quest Rewards: 3000 Points, 1 Primary Spirit-Concentrating Formation, 1 Disciple Quarters, 1 Primary Scripture Repository, 1 Sect Contribution Point System Template!]
[Time Limit: 3 Days!]
"Whoa!"
Jiang Ling's eyes lit up instantly!
It was like falling asleep and waking up with a pillow!
Reclaiming 300 mu of spiritual fields was child's play for him now that he possessed Nascent Soul-level power—he could do it with a snap of his fingers.
This was practically free rewards!