33 Iron Feather Daoist Leaves His Legacy, Qi Tian Flies into the Ancient Sect
Ten days later, Qi Tian left the Misty Valley.
He stood atop a thousand-beast-king-tier Iron Feather Flying Crane, dressed in a dark blue robe, his long hair flowing in the wind, his gaze sharp and piercing.
The number of Iron Feather Flying Cranes under his command had now exceeded a thousand. Among them, there were more than a dozen hundred-beast kings, but only a single thousand-beast king.
With such a force, combined with Qi Tian's own battle strength—restrained at the peak of Rank Three—he could easily defeat most early Rank Four Gu Masters.
Back in the Merchant City, Qi Tian had once barely managed to defeat a Rank Four early-stage Gu Master, Yan Tu, when he was at the peak of Rank Three. But now, facing someone of similar strength, victory would come much easier.
What truly pleased Qi Tian, however, was a particular inheritance he had discovered during his exploration.
This legacy belonged to a Rank Five Gu Master. But what intrigued Qi Tian wasn't the inheritance itself, but rather the identity of the Gu Master who left it behind.
That Gu Master was Iron Feather Daoist, an elder of the Immortal Crane Sect, a highly esteemed figure.
After passing several tests, Qi Tian obtained the inheritance and learned the reason why Iron Feather Daoist had left it behind.
Iron Feather Daoist had undertaken a crucial gathering mission assigned by his sect, venturing deep into the Misty Valley.
However, after completing the task, he encountered danger and suffered fatal injuries. His mighty flock of ten thousand flying cranes was left leaderless after their king perished, and a new crane king emerged through competition.
Before dying, Iron Feather Daoist used the remaining flock to set up a series of trials. Qi Tian had to go through numerous hardships to pass them and inherit the legacy.
Through this, Qi Tian also gained further insight into a past battle that had taken place within the valley.
Since this flock of cranes was originally wild, the strength of that mysterious Strength Path Gu Master must have been substantial. If they had ventured so deep into the Misty Valley, they likely had some kind of map or intelligence from a Gu Immortal's prior exploration—just like Qi Tian himself.
"If that's the case, then there may be deeper secrets behind this event. However, it's not relevant to me at the moment. I'll investigate it further on my next expedition."
Regarding the inheritance, it contained five or six Rank Four Gu worms, each of exceptional quality. Originally, Iron Feather Daoist had also possessed two Rank Five Gu worms, but unfortunately, they had been destroyed in battle.
"With this inheritance, joining the Immortal Crane Sect will be much easier."
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The Central Continent stretched for millions of miles, its abundant primeval essence nurturing countless heroes, both righteous and demonic.
And the ones who ruled over this vast land were the Ten Great Ancient Sects—at least until the outbreak of the Five Regions War.
For Qi Tian to establish himself in the Central Continent, dealing with these sects was inevitable.
The Misty Valley lay in the southern part of the Central Continent, precisely within the Immortal Crane Sect's sphere of influence. As one of the Ten Great Ancient Sects, the Immortal Crane Sect possessed deep foundations and a multitude of Gu Immortals.
Gaining the identity of an Immortal Crane Sect disciple would be highly advantageous to Qi Tian's plan to seize the Fox Immortal Blessed Land. Even after achieving immortality, the status of being an Immortal Crane Sect disciple would still be beneficial.
More importantly, unlike the other four regions where powerful clans ruled, the Central Continent was dominated by sects.
Clans relied on blood ties to cultivate their members, ensuring loyalty through kinship. But sects were different—hierarchy was determined by master-disciple bonds rather than family lineage. Sects recruited anyone with sufficient talent and character, allowing outsiders to join.
It was this distinction that gave Qi Tian the confidence to infiltrate the Immortal Crane Sect.
Of course, he wouldn't join through the normal selection process—that would take far too long. Without years, or even decades, of effort, reaching the rank of an elite disciple would be impossible.
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The Ranks Within the Immortal Crane Sect
1. Outer Disciples
2. Inner Disciples
3. Elite Disciples
4. True Inheritors
5. Elders
6. Sect Leader
7. Supreme Elders
As one advanced through the ranks, positions became increasingly scarce. True Inheritors and Elders were particularly rare, requiring exceptional strength and unwavering loyalty to the sect.
Unlike clans, where loyalty was assumed, sects required rigorous testing. The higher the position, the more intense the scrutiny.
Qi Tian's goal was to become an elite disciple, as the upcoming battle for the Fox Immortal Blessed Land would be fought among the elite disciples of the Ten Great Ancient Sects.
With Iron Feather Daoist's legacy as his backing, Qi Tian had a solid reason to join the Immortal Crane Sect. Although the sect accepted talented individuals, they still conducted background investigations on new disciples. Having this inheritance would make the vetting process far smoother.
With his talent and strength, he could likely start as an inner disciple and then work his way up.
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The Memory of Iron Feather Daoist
A dense mist filled the air, and waves of clouds churned across the sky.
ROAR!!!
A thunderous bellow shattered the silence.
The beast was over ten feet long, with the head of a horse, the body of a serpent, and the claws of an eagle. It soared through the clouds—a Cloud Flood Dragon!
BOOM!!!
The Cloud Flood Dragon crashed into the flock of cranes like a tiger among sheep. The Iron Feather Flying Crane King bravely engaged the beast, fighting desperately to protect its master.
Covered in metallic feathers that gleamed like armor, the crane demonstrated extraordinary defense. With the support of its flock, it managed to entangle the Cloud Flood Dragon.
"Iron…" Iron Feather Daoist let out a sorrowful cry.
He and this crane king had fought side by side for years. But this time, there was no escaping death.
"What is joy in life? What is fear in death? Only regret that I cannot return to my sect and complete my final mission." Iron Feather Daoist chuckled bitterly, his laughter soon turning into blood-choked coughs.
"My death is insignificant, but I hope that someone will inherit my legacy and return to the sect in my place."
With a final, defiant laugh, his voice gradually faded. Tears welled in his eyes before his breath ceased entirely.
---
Back at the Immortal Crane Sect, the sect leader personally received Qi Tian.
"To think that Iron Feather Daoist perished in the Misty Valley, yet even in his final moments, he never forgot his duty to the sect. A man as steadfast as iron—truly a great loss," the sect leader sighed.
Then, turning to Qi Tian, he continued, "Qi Tian, your talent is remarkable, and your aptitude in Beast Mastery is exceptional. Since you inherited Iron Feather Daoist's legacy and fulfilled his final wish, would you be willing to join the Immortal Crane Sect?"
Without waiting for a reply, the sect leader added, "You already have peak Rank Three cultivation and command a thousand-beast army. This alone surpasses most of our elite disciples. However, our elite and true inheritor positions are strictly limited, and loyalty must be tested through missions.
"I can grant you inner disciple status immediately. If you complete enough missions and prove your loyalty, you will qualify for the elite disciple tournament in eight years."
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For Qi Tian, this was an ideal arrangement.
He had concealed his Rank Four strength due to regional suppression. His mastery of Beast Mastery was at the Master Level, but he had deliberately downplayed it, displaying only near-Master proficiency while taming the crane flock.
In a major sect like this, genius disciples were not uncommon. His talent was impressive but not overwhelmingly shocking.
Unlike Fang Yuan, who had to avoid sects at all costs due to the danger of Spring Autumn Cicada being discovered, Qi Tian had no such vulnerabilities. His secrets—his rebirth, Blessed Land ownership, and plans for the future—could all be hidden.
For now, joining the Immortal Crane Sect was a calculated move. The sect held many rare Gu, including the Relic Gu, which he sought.
For his long-term plans, this was the best path forward.