Category Five Black-tier beast, Savage Wind Peng.
A Savage Wing Peng was twice as large as a Divine Gale Peng and much tamer. It was also faster, requiring only half a day to reach Lingwu City from the Nine Devil Mountains.
All the Grand Elders and even Dongfang Xuanxiao used the Savage Wind Peng as transportation.
Tens of Savage Wind Peng were flying high in the sky, casting large shadows on the ground. The people walking down below thought that the sun was being blocked, but when they looked up, all they saw were the massive birds.
Only those with a higher status had the privilege to ride Savage Wing Pengs.
Long Chen was currently sitting on the back of the Savage Wind Peng at the forefront. Accompanying him were Dongfang XUanxiao and Yin Mengyao. As for Dongfang Tianyu, he was currently riding the same one as Chu Yunyao.
Liu Yuan and Liu Lan were riding the one that Gu Batian was on.
Now that Long Chen had entered the inner family, he would be supporting Liu Yuan and Liu Lan so at the very least he wouldn’t get chased out.
No one had expected such massive events to take place when they first left for the Nine Devil Mountains.
Dongfang Xuanxiao was currently sitting silently at the front, while Long Chen and Yin Mengyao were talking at the back.
“Long Chen, did you know that once we conclude the ceremony to join the inner family, we have to refer to Dongfang Xuanxiao as ‘stepfather?’” Yin Mengyao suddenly asked.
“What?” Long Chen was shocked. No one had told him about this.
Long Chen was uncomfortable with calling someone his stepfather because he already had a father in his heart, Long Qinglan.
“You really didn’t know?” Yin Mengyao was surprised too.
“Is that a rule?” Long Chen was confused. Dongfang Xuanxiao had indeed treated him well, and if it was the rule, then he would indeed have to follow it when he joined the inner family.
“It is the rule. But there are benefits too.” Yin Mengyao was more than happy to accept it. Her parents had died when she was young, so she was excited to have someone this strong as her stepfather.
“Those that enter the inner family through the qualifiers must first be added to the family register of the Lingwu family. There are no disciples and masters in the inner family, only fathers and sons or fathers and daughters. Since we are joining the inner family, we are naturally being accepted as the stepson and stepdaughter of Dongfang Xuanxiao. You must never reject it. This will allow us to obtain protection from Dongfang Xuanxiao like a real father. We will also be able to obtain a lot of resources.”
Long Chen understood now. With Dongfang Xuanxiao as his stepfather, he would be under his protection.
“I am more than happy to be his stepson if he’s that strong.” Long Chen was fine with it. He had seen how strong Dongfang Xuanxiao was.
“You really don’t know how lucky you are. Almost everyone from the outer family wants to become Dongfang Xuanxiao’s stepchildren.”
“Why?”
“You’ve seen his temperament, right? He’s cold to outsiders but kind to the people close to him. Didn’t you see how he saved you even after you killed Chu Yunxi and Jin Sheng’en?”
Long Chen was indeed satisfied with Dongfang Xuanxiao’s character. But for some reason, no matter how brave he was, he would still be suppressed by Dongfang Xuanxiao.
“More importantly, he doesn’t have a wife and children. Now that we’ve become his stepchildren, our positions will be very high!”
“He’s not married?” Long Chen couldn’t believe it. Even though Dongfang Xuanxiao looked young, he was actually in his forties. Not being married at his age meant that his romantic life was tumultuous in the past!
Just as Yin Mengyao had said, since Dongfang Xuanxiao didn’t have children of his own, his stepchildren would be able to monopolize all his love. Their position and ranking would be the same as the other inner family youths!
“Does that mean we can do anything we want?” Long Chen’s eyes were glimmering.
“Lord Xuanxiao’s generation should be second only to the Patriarch and some of the Elders. There are four people in his generation, with the codenames Wind, Rain, Cloud, and Mist. I’ve heard that Lord Xuanxiao has not been given any responsibilities, but he is the strongest among all of them. If the Patriarch and the Elders are not at the scene, then the four of them are the strongest fighters.”
“The strongest …” Long Chen was receptive to the idea of becoming Dongfang Xuanxiao’s stepson. It was not like he was recognizing someone else as his true father, plus he admired Dongfang Xuanxiao’s strength and character. Long Chen felt like his luck had finally turned for the better with Dongfang Xuanxiao taking care of him.
“Long Chen, do you remember the Star Devil Prison?” Yin Mengyao suddenly asked.
“Of course, once we settle down in the inner family, let’s tell him about it.”
Yin Mengyao was grateful that Long Chen still remembered it.
“Oh, and we are siblings now,” she suddenly said.
“Erm …” Since Dongfang Xuanxiao was going to be their stepfather, that meant they would become step-siblings.
Yin Mengyao raised her fist and threatened Long Chen when she saw him in a daze. “You don’t want to be my brother?”
“I do, of course I do. Please accept my apologies.”
“I also have a younger brother. So he would be your younger brother too.” Yin Mengyao suddenly smiled.
“You mean Mo Xiaolang, that monster?” Long Chen asked.
“He’s not the only monster, you are one too. Both of you are monsters. But I’m happy to have both of you in my life.”
Yin Mengyao smiled at the skies.
“We just need Mo Xiaolang to be with us too.”
***
Long Chen was going to enter the inner city of Lingwu City for the first time.
After bidding Liu Yuan, Liu Lan, and Gu Batian goodbye, he followed Dongfang Xuanxiao into the inner city.
It was not an extravagant place, but the architecture was timeless. Each brick and tile was laid in such a way that they were beautiful but not gaudy.
There weren’t a lot of people in the inner city, but it was not a small place. Besides the few buildings, there were a lot of trees, flowers, hills, and forests. It was a breathtaking place to be in.
Long Chen felt much better after he took a deep breath of the fresh air. It felt especially good after spending so much time in the Nine Devil Mountains.
He and Yin Mengyao followed Dongfang Xuanxiao, and they soon arrived at the residence of the Eastern Azure Dragon family. It was not glamorous, but it was exquisite. Each of the boards used to build the place came from ancient wood that released a weak yet fragrant scent.
The inner city was very quiet. Even though the residence was massive, there were only a hundred or so people living there. Long Chen had walked for a long time but hadn’t run into anyone.
“We in the Lingwu family favor our own survival skills, so we do not have servants and guards. You have to do everything yourself. If you want to eat delicious food, you have to either ask someone to bring it here or go out on your own,” Dongfang Xuanxiao explained to them.
It was because of this particular rule that the entire place was quiet and peaceful, a perfect environment for cultivation.
“I will first take you to my place before meeting the person responsible for the daily activities of the Eastern Azure Dragon family, my brother Dongfang Xuanfeng. I will then take you to the ancestral mausoleum.”
Long Chen and Yin Mengyao soon arrived at a courtyard. There was a small stream and a lot of plants here.
“From here onwards, this is where you will live. It’s up to you how to decorate or live here. Prepare yourselves. I will be back in an hour.”
“Yes.” Yin Mengyao dared not say much and nodded in front of Dongfang Xuanxiao.
Dongfang Xuanxiao looked at Long Chen before he left.
Long Chen and Yin Mengyao smiled at each other. “How do you feel about living with me from now on?”
“Stop it. I’m your sister. Don’t you dare get any funny ideas.” Yin Mengyao chuckled. “Call me ‘sister’ from now on, and as a reward, I will clean your room and the courtyard.”
Long Chen would never turn down such a good deal.
“Man, people with sisters have it good.”
They stayed in their room for a moment before unpacking. An hour soon passed, and Dongfang Xuanxiao returned.
“I live just five hundred meters away from here at the Xuanxiao Pavilion. You can come find me if you need anything.” Even though Dongfang Xuanxiao was a man of few words, he was good with details.
He liked Yin Mengyao for being calm, strong, and kind. As for Long Chen, he was even more surprised by his talent and character.
Although he did not say it out loud, Dongfang Xuanxiao was more than happy to have children their age.
He then took them to the next place.
Yin Mengyao was not very vocal and neither was Dongfang Xuanxiao. Long Chen was the only talkative one out of the trio, but he dared not say anything to Dongfang Xuanxiao.
Hence, their travel was silent.
“There is still competition amongst the members of the family. Tianyu is my elder brother’s son, so you need to be careful,” Dongfang Xuanxiao suddenly warned Long Chen when they were almost at their destination.
Long Chen had seen a lot of it and was already expecting competition where people would do everything in their power to strike at their competitors.
But since Dongfang Xuanxiao had taken the initiative to mention, it meant that he now considered them his own children. It was clear that he was on Long Chen’s side.
They reached their destination and saw a plaque at the top of the building. It read: Xuanfeng Pavillion.
“Enter.” Dongfang Xuanxiao told them.