The bright moon hung high in the sky. The night was deep and still.
Tap, tap, tap...
Light, orderly footsteps sounded within Peach Blossom Valley.
Figures emerged from their rooms one after another, all heading toward the peach grove at the valley entrance without prior arrangement.
At the foot of South Mountain in Peach Blossom Valley, inside a square stone house.
A mass of Black Smoke appeared out of thin air in the middle of the room, rapidly spinning and expanding until it formed a doorway as tall as a person.
Chen Mu stepped out expressionlessly, strode to the entrance, and yanked open the heavy wooden door.
Moonlight filtered through the thin clouds, spilling across the ground and into Chen Mu's eyes.
At that instant, Chen Mu's unfocused pupils abruptly contracted.
Pop!
A faint sound echoed from deep within his mind.
Colorless Flame suddenly rose from between Chen Mu's brows.
Screech!
With a brief, shrill cicada cry, the emerald-green markings on his forehead seemed to catch fire, turning into black-red ashes and vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Chen Mu shuddered and came back to his senses.
Staring at the doorknob in his hand, he instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
So close!
Just a little closer!
If not for the Delusion Seven Emotions Flame...
Chen Mu's heart pounded wildly. He took several deep breaths, but they did nothing to calm him.
Only after a long while did he steady himself somewhat and look outside the stone house.
At that moment, scattered figures were walking along the mountain path toward the edge of the peach grove, utterly unaware.
Under the moonlight, he could vaguely make out several familiar faces. They had never spoken, but they had crossed paths in the training grounds before.
But now...
"Didn't that Elder