Wait a minute, where is my master?

As the words fell, the people present had yet to react when just a fraction of a moment later, as Ji Ye was halfway through presenting his gift, he suddenly exclaimed in shock.

"Four Symbols...no, Taoist, you said that within those red clouds is one of the Four Divine Monarchs, Vermilion Bird!??"

In his astonishment, Ji Ye even forgot to use honorifics.

"Yes, earlier I only sensed her aura, but now I have checked with Spiritual Sense, and it is indeed her."

After Jin Xu finished speaking, he turned his face to look at the few people nearby and found that each of them had their mouths slightly open, their eyes expressing sheer astonishment.

"Disciple, is this one here to seek revenge, or perhaps to..."

Tianxing Taoist was the first to regain his composure, his voice hesitant as he asked Jin Xu after glancing at the still-gathering red clouds above,

He knew exactly what his disciple had been up to, venturing into the Four Symbols Great Thousand Realm to seek out that golden-robed lady's master.

And now, shortly after his disciple had returned, one of the Four Divine Monarchs, the Vermilion Bird, had followed right on his heels.

"Let's hope my precious disciple didn't stir up trouble with the so-called master and incidentally dealt with three of the Four Symbols Great Thousand Realm's Divine Monarchs."

"Otherwise, why would one of them come searching here?"

Tianxing Taoist speculated with unease in his heart.

After hearing his master's words, Jin Xu hesitated slightly and after assessing the bolshie girl's behavior and actions, he said uncertainly,

"Well, she might be here for the buns."

What??????

This response baffled everyone present.

And at that moment, the red clouds in the sky, having gathered to a certain extent, began plummeting straight towards the direction of the martial arts field in Shangjing City.

"Lady Queling, please lower your temperature. The mortal citizens in the city will catch fire!"

Seeing the rapid descent of the red clouds and the increasingly intense heat, Jin Xu hurriedly transmitted his voice towards the sky.

Of course, the Taoist did not feel the heat himself; his judgment that the temperature was rising came from the forehead of the Ten-thousand-year-old Heart Calming Willow incarnation on the door, which had begun to sweat profusely.

Aside from Tianxing Taoist, everybody else, upon hearing Jin Xu directly addressing one of the Four Divine Monarchs, felt even more shocked.

And what shocked them even more was that after Jin Xu shouted those words, the temperature of the rapidly descending red clouds did indeed decrease.

"Sisss!"

The red cloud effortlessly passed through the City Protection Array of Shangjing and landed precisely in front of the Taoist on the martial arts field, then transformed into a tiny fiery-red bird the size of a palm.

"Jin Xu, I need a favor from you,"

The fiery-red bird, standing on a blazing flame, said in a clear voice.

"Exotic Fragrance Bun?"

The Taoist responded, speaking out of habit in line with the customs of the Snow Wolf Clan.

"No, let's talk about that next time when I switch to a body that has taste buds," the fiery-red bird replied with a tone of regret, then solemnly continued,

"I came to the Nine Provinces Realm because I've realized something. Given your power, you are bound to enter there one day. So I want to ask you, if one day you ascend, could you deliver this item to my master for me?"

Having spoken, the fiery-red bird opened its mouth.

Out came a red jade box, a fiery-red feather, and a Recording Ball from its beak.

"This box is for my master; inside the Recording Ball are my master's appearance and name. He had achieved eternal youth in his cultivation, so his appearance shouldn't have changed much. Of course, even if his appearance has altered, given my master's talents, he will surely make a name for himself in the Upper Realm. You can find him by that name."

"Oh right, I can't let you help for nothing; the red feather is a storage spiritual treasure. Inside, I have put some of the cultivation resources and interesting objects I've collected over the years from the Four Symbols Great Thousand Realm. Even if you don't need them, they could be useful for friends or descendants,"

Having finished speaking, the fiery-red bird looked eagerly at Jin Xu, its dainty claws bouncing on the ball of flame.

Jin Xu, looking at the three objects floating before him as well as the restless 'spunky girl,' said after a brief thought,

"Alright, I'll help you out with this, but I can't promise when I'll go to the Upper Realm."

As he spoke, the Taoist placed each of the three objects floating in front of him into his storage bracelet.

"It's alright, you just have to go; thank you so much. Oh, and this letter too—your brother and Lao Bai headed to Cloud Ash Valley as soon as you left. It seems like they went to fetch the diary left by my master, and I have to secretly inform him,"

The fiery-red bird spoke, and from its mouth, it spat out a letter of unknown material, earnestly holding it in its beak to hand it over to Jin Xu.

After watching him receive and store it in his storage magic item,

she hastily said, "Alright, I came down quietly; I should head back now. I'll come to visit you when I have time later. Also, everyone is welcome to visit the Four Symbols Great Thousand Realm."

Without waiting for the echo of her words to fade, the fiery-red bird then transformed back into a red cloud, exiting through the hole opened in the array moments ago, heading back to the Four Symbols Great Thousand Realm.

"She truly lives up to the name Vermilion Bird, with all her comings and goings so full of fiery energy,"

As he watched her disappear, Jin Xu remarked softly.

Then he looked down to find that aside from his master, everyone else present was watching him with complex looks in their eyes.

Tianxing Taoist thought to himself: "I had already had high regard for Jin Xu, but this, this..."

The Old Dean thought to himself: "How has Tianxing, that sly old fox, managed to gain such a disciple!?"