Yuqingzi has three junior brothers, all of whom learned their basic skills under his tutelage, taught by him, guided hand-by-hand from the beginning. Although called junior brothers, they are more like disciples.

Except for the youngest brother from Xuandu who, during the Mystic Sect rebellion, was severely injured by the surprise attack of the Gang Fist, causing his Taoist Body to undergo Soldier Disintegration once. After reincarnation and cultivation, his powers were a generation behind, so compared to the disciples of Thunder Ancestor, he resembled a grand-disciple more. Therefore, he is particularly cherished and cared for by his senior brothers, inheriting the Supreme Dao and becoming a sort of group favorite, whereas the other two are not good people at all.

Ahem, that’s not what Chen Xuantian said, but it’s what Lingxu said.

Hmm, from the fragmented description and side profile left in Lingxu’s memory to Peng Ju, it’s apparent their relationship as senior brothers and junior brothers is extremely poor, as if they’ve parted ways, never speaking to each other, and completely severed their ties.

To elaborate, as the first disciple of Thunder Ancestor and the inheritor of the Mystic Sect, Lingxu was the head of Mystic Sect, leader of Hu Temple, first under heaven, and could have executed the Third Void plan thousands of years ago. Yet years passed with reincarnation and Soldier Disintegration, Split Souls and avatars, and only until today did he take action, clearly to guard against his junior brothers.

Of course, the wariness is mutual, and for Lingxu to be so cautious, those two junior brothers are naturally exceptional talents, knowing each other’s hidden cards and skills intimately. Furthermore, having emerged from countless cycles of selection and training from the endless battlefield of Xuan Demons for thousands of years, they are the most elite among the Mountain Men, not someone to be easily underestimated.

Let’s put aside Penglai and focus on Da Fanzi, who was once Thunder Ancestor’s leading vanguard, most skilled in the art of surprise attacks on camps. Now reincarnated as Emei’s senior brother Cang Bi, they have met before, twice actually, not just once in Suiyang, even in Huangfu Yi’s dreams he appeared, evidently not the pure brute type but a strategic player, adept at manipulating from behind the scenes.

Back when they met in the array, Cang Bi immediately exposed Chen Xuantian’s identity, leading Emei’s forces to retreat, giving way to the senior brother; otherwise, given Chen Xuantian was as disheveled as a spinning top tied by Cang Long, any further fighting might have resulted in disaster.

Therefore, Chen Xuantian deduces, although Lingxu verbally claims during the Xiaoyao chaos, the three brothers reincarnated out of fear of Nan Hua, the situation from the Netherworld Spring suggests the old bastard likely spouted nonsense in front of Tie Dan. There’s probably more hidden (a dramatic reveal), needing the main storyline to unlock.

However, it is evident that Da Fanzi and Ziwei Zi, despite receiving Thunder Ancestor’s inheritance, chose not to, instead departing from the Supreme Dao, one to Emei to establish a new venture, the other to Penglai to develop there, maintaining a distant relationship with the Nine Peaks of Cloud Platform throughout. Although their schemes are unclear, it’s likely they have calculated Lingxu’s plans.

Yet from the current situation, Emei and Penglai don’t seem to have exposed Lingxu’s true face while maintaining world stability and fulfilling their duty to guard, neither have they opposed the Immortal Alliance’s grand plan to rebuild the Cloud Platform Third Void. It suggests the two possibly retain a sense of belonging to the Mystic Sect, with the core conflict centered mainly around opposing the surrender to the company.

Why oppose? Simple, revenge.

In the old days, Thunder Ancestor’s team was practically experimental machines, nearly completing the final step to achieve great success, entering the second generation mass production stage.

Why abandon being South Heavenly Gate’s lackeys, forsake salary and official status, downgrade from company employees to wild animals, to ally with monkeys from the mountain opposing the Immortal Palace, were they full?

No matter the reasons, being forced until the hatred runs deeper than the sea, who among them would abandon everything, raise a flag, and rebel?

And, not to mention this battle hasn’t truly ended, winning in the end means what? Doesn’t this rebellion bring sacrifices, sorrow, pain?

How many people in this world can really let go of hatred and move forward?

Thus, the Mountain Men are such by nature; even knowing the Great Void will return, the Taiji will perish, it is still necessary to clear debts and slaughter enemies till their clans are wiped out, peel their skin, tear their bones, eat their meat, drink their blood, until it’s returned to dust, that’s called karma, that’s called a relieved heart.

Thus, fifty years later, Lingxu’s act of siding with the company is certainly seen as thorough betrayal by these Mystic Sect comrades, and inevitably there will be a battle. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

However, though anticipated, since this future hasn’t truly occurred yet, the senior brothers and junior brothers haven’t reached the final moment to resolve their karma for now.

But from Lingxu being cautious enough not to expose any flaws, recruiting the Nine Peaks to form an Immortal Alliance, allying with the Immortal Palace to support Sword Sect as external aid, and the opposing two actively preparing, forming alliances, and recruiting thugs.

Fifty years later, on Yun Tai Peak, there is sure to be an internal explosion-style inner war within Mystic Sect, by then truly earth-destroying, skies collapsing, mountains crumbling, who knows how many of the nine major sects will fall.

Of course, the skills of the two junior brothers are taught by him, and it’s well known Lingxu is so sly, so timid, so cautious and careful, yet now he is confidently proclaiming himself as number one, boldly stepping out to compete as the leader of Mystic Sect. If that final showdown comes, he likely isn’t entirely unprepared, possibly holding another trump card and killer move aside from the Youquan Dao.