"Dressing formally but the Spiritual Treasure must be informal; this is called the balance of yin and yang, which is the Dao!"

"If the Spiritual Treasure is informal, then it makes sense to set up some informal arrays, right? This is called the birth of Dao."

"When the Demon King ventures out, naturally he should have thousands of demon soldiers soaring and drumming in accompaniment, flags waving, and drums beating, roaming the vastness of space... No suitable followers? No problem, I still have some followers in my Taisha Heavenly Palace."

"Like this, like that… with this, our plan to make a debut is perfect!"

In the Great Dao True Realm, Demon Ancestor Luo Hou looked at Xuanqing who actively proposed expansion ideas.

He let out a long sigh.

"Why do I feel like under the leadership of the 'Second Demon Ancestor,' the future of our Demon Path will be in darkness?"

For some reason, Luo Hou suddenly felt that this great undertaking of the Demon Path isn't necessarily a must.

In the Primordial Southern Heaven, Undying Volcano.

At the Phoenix Platform, amidst the Jade Towers, surrounded by ethereal Spiritual Energy like a light veil, Divine Light flows between the invisible Laws; Phoenix soar, birds sing and dance.

"Sister?"

"Eh? Where did sister go?"

An exceedingly beautiful figure emerged from the void, radiant with Immortal Light.

Her feet clad in Cloud Shoes, her long and straight legs as white as cream, covered in a blazing long robe with wide sleeves, hiding her graceful form.

Her features were not gentle, but rather cold, with deep-seated phoenix eyes like fiery abysses, a heroic spirit lingered between her brows, and her three thousand strands of hair fluttered like dancing flames.

This deity is the Phoenix Clan's Vermilion Bird, Innate True Name Ling Guang.

Also one of the Taixu Nine Heavens, the Red Cloud Goddess.

"Strange? Did sister go out to play again?"

Vermilion Bird made a round at the Phoenix Platform but did not see Yuan Huang.

She approached the Parasol Tree in front of the Secret Realm.

The Innate Parasol Tree was currently cultivating, dazzling and striking Innate Spiritual Breath circulating in the void like a rainbow across the sky or like celestial rivers, just like a true Phoenix soaring, elegantly dancing, splendidly beautiful.

Among the thousands of branches and leaves of the Parasol Tree, countless worlds suspended, shimmering like stars.

Within these worlds dwelt the thousand descendants of the Phoenix Clan - Phoenix, Vermilion Bird, Qingluan, Honghu, Yuan Chu, Roc, White Crane, Rain Swift, Bifang, Chong Ming... all resided within.

Protected by the Innate Spiritual Breath, each juvenile followed the guidance of Qi, cultivating alongside the Innate Parasol Tree.

"Parasol, have you seen my sister?" Vermilion Bird asked.

"Not yet."

The Innate Parasol Tree, calm and composed, while observing the young ones' progress, replied to Vermilion Bird, "I haven't seen Ah Huang for a long time, I don't know where she has gone."

Vermilion Bird frowned slightly, "Sister is really out of line, as the Clan Leader, she's often not within the clan, and she doesn't even send any news?"

"Clan Leader? Do we Phoenix Clan have such a thing?"

The Innate Parasol Tree leisurely said, "Our Phoenix Clan has five Ancestors, ten Elders. Three Ancestors are traveling abroad and hardly return; out of the twelve, only Qingluo (Qingluan Clan Leader) and Qingchen (Chong Ming Clan Leader) are diligently working."

"Qingyu (Rain Swift Clan Leader) occasionally comes back to check, and then goes off to the North Sea with Qingyuan (Yuan Chu Clan Leader)."

"Cough cough, this issue, I remember it was discussed in the last major meeting." Vermilion Bird looked slightly sheepish; although she wasn't completely inactive, she had been quite lax in her responsibilities.

"Yes, you still remember there was a major meeting."

The Innate Parasol Tree sounded melancholic: "But these meetings are generally called by me, the clan development plans are made by me, I also teach the clan's cultivation practices, it's also me who turns away those who wander over to Tian Nan..."

"Plus the collection of Spirit Roots and Spiritual Treasures, finding Innate Treasures, opening of various realms… There's too much to tell."

"If it wasn't for Ah Huang remembering she is the Clan Leader every time she returns, informing me about the development principles and overall plans, I think our Phoenix Clan might as well be renamed 'Parasol Clan'."

Essentially, it was the Innate Parasol Tree that managed the whole of Tian Nan.

This great steward single-handedly supported the entire region.

Yuan Huang, the Clan Leader, had it extremely easy.

Aside from attending meetings in Taiwei Constellation, jotting down some development principles for her own Spirit Root, she focused on researching various extraordinary Divine Skills.

Then it was about scouring various sacred places for treasures.

Vermilion Bird also felt a bit guilty seeing how hardworking the Innate Parasol Tree was.

So she promised, "When sister returns, I'll definitely stop her, keep her in Tian Nan, and then give you a vacation."

"A long vacation!"

"You said the same thing last time." The Innate Parasol Tree was not very enthusiastic.

"But Ah Huang should be returning soon; I received some things a while ago, haven't fully figured them out yet."

"What things?" Vermilion Bird was curious.

"Merit."

A radiant Parasol Leaf drifted into Vermilion Bird's palm.

"Ah Huang said these are items made by the Fire Deity Heavenly Dao, possessing many miraculous effects; she also brought me some Merit Spiritual Treasures."

The Innate Parasol Tree relayed the information about Merit to Vermilion Bird.

"This is good stuff!"

Vermilion Bird's eyes sparkled, "With the Fire Deity Heavenly Dao, it can significantly enhance the strength of our clan!"

"Yes, this Merit is very effective in assisting Enlightenment, strengthening Qi Fortune, guiding cultivation, and incubating juveniles!"

The Innate Parasol Tree shared several experimental cases it tried.

Vermilion Bird listened intently, excitement flickering across her stunning face.

"But, this thing has its drawbacks too."

The Innate Parasol Tree said, "Being too useful isn't good either; the clan members might become overly reliant on it, nurturing their desire for leisure over time, thinking that having Merit alone will solve all problems."

"That's a very valid point," Vermilion Bird nodded lightly.

"So, in promoting this Merit, we must also implement a corresponding punishment system, encouraging prudence, guiding correctly, to best utilize the Fire Deity Heavenly Dao."

"Exactly, you and my Daoist friends share the same idea."

Innate Parasol Tree expressed approval: "It's just that I still haven't figured out how to set up this punishment system."

"We still have to wait for Yuan Huang to return, to seriously study the Fire Deity Heavenly Dao, then we can have better ideas."

"Then let's wait for sister to come back."

In the following period, Vermilion Bird stayed at the Phoenix Platform.

She, along with the Innate Parasol Tree, taught the youngsters cultivation, while also pondering over the matters of Qi Fortune Merit.

"By the way, Wutong."

Vermilion Bird looked at her own Spirit Root and asked, "You mentioned earlier that you have made some knowledgeable Daoist friends."

"But it seems like I've never seen you interacting with them?"

"There's no need for face-to-face interaction."

Innate Parasol Tree replied, "I have many Daoist friends. Everyone is busy, and some are not in the Primordial realm or prefer not to show themselves, so we usually communicate online."

"Online communication?" Vermilion Bird heard a new term and was a bit confused.

"Online communication, you can understand it as conversing through the air in a virtual world."

Innate Parasol Tree patiently explained to Vermilion Bird, "This term was coined by one of our Daoist friends."

"In the past, I only had a few friends, like Ginsengfruit, Yellow Mid Lee, and others. It wasn't until recently that I met a Daoist friend from the Other Shore who led us to form a mutual aid committee."

"What kind of mutual aid committee?" Vermilion Bird heard another new term, looking puzzled.

"All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds Spirit Root Mutual Aid Committee."

"It means mutual aid and exchange among Spirit Roots under the heavens, an idea proposed by the committee president, the Daoist friend from the Other Shore."

Vermilion Bird, bewildered, felt this "All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds Spirit Root Mutual Aid Committee" sounded very impressive.

"Of course, the name we publicize outwardly is another: Palace of Darkness, signifying the idea of 'all myriad things under the thick canopy.' Since we are all Spirit Roots, it also encapsulates the meaning of lush and flourishing."

Innate Parasol Tree said joyfully, "I am a founding member of the Palace of Darkness."

"Is your president also a Spirit Root?"

"Of course."

Innate Parasol Tree said matter-of-factly, "How can one be our president if they're not a Spirit Root?"

"Our president's codename is 'Other Shore Great Power', and this codename, upon calculation, is indeed a Spirit Root."

"Indeed." Vermilion Bird did the calculation on the spot, and it really was a Spirit Root, an Innate Spirit Root at that.

"Right?"

"Can I take a peek into your committee?" Vermilion Bird grew curious about the organization.

"No!"

Innate Parasol Tree said firmly, "You are not a Spirit Root, what's the purpose of joining our committee?"

Vermilion Bird smiled awkwardly, "Just curious."

"Curiosity doesn't suffice, we have our principles," declared Innate Parasol Tree.

"Alright then." Vermilion Bird didn't persist.

"But—"

Innate Parasol Tree then said, "Our committee headquarters, also known as the Palace of Darkness, you can't join."

"But there's a workaround, you could sneak into the 'Woody Family' without much issue."

"How so?" Vermilion Bird immediately became interested.

"Disguise yourself as a Spirit Root!"

Innate Parasol Tree came up with an idea, "Find a Spirit Root in the clan and simply disguise yourself."

"Can that work?"

Vermilion Bird acted quickly, performing a flamboyant turn and transformed into a Vermilion Fruit Tree.

Innate Parasol Tree was stunned at first, then it took a moment to respond.

"...Aren't you a bit too skilled at this?" It had reason to suspect that this wasn't Vermilion Bird's first time doing this.

"So, how do we sneak into the 'Woody Family'?" Vermilion Bird was enthusiastic.

"Wait a moment, let me apply."

Innate Parasol Tree started an application at the headquarters "Palace of Darkness."

[Green Parasol]: Is everyone here?

[Other Shore Great Power]: Caught Green Parasol!

[Little Mulberry]: Caught Green Parasol! +1

[Tour Guide Immortal]: Scattering the formation.

[Three Flowers Empress]: Meow~~

[Moon Moon Child]: Empress is being mischievous again.

[Big Li]: What's up, Green Parasol?

[Bamboo Sword]: Everyone's here.

...

As Innate Parasol Tree burst into chat, lurking members all popped up.

————

Direct Link: [Monthly ticket][Recommendation Ticket]

ps: Yuan Chu: yuān chú, one of the five Phoenix birds.

"Among those resembling a phoenix, the mostly red one is a phoenix, the mostly green one is a Qingluan, the mostly yellow one is Yuan Chu..."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.