Heaven Sect, Elder Hall.
It stood at the summit of the main peak of the Sky Dome Mountain Range, built entirely from thousand-year-old Mystic Cyan Stone.
From the outside, the whole structure glowed with a cold, austere sheen, imposing beyond measure.
Yet at this moment, inside the great hall, voices stirred and drifted.
In the spacious hall, dozens of inner sect disciples had gathered.
At the head of the hall, five sandalwood chairs were lined up in a row, occupied by five elders whose auras were calm and deep.
Their expressions were tranquil, their gazes occasionally sweeping over the disciples below with a trace of scrutiny too faint to notice.
"Hey, Elder Pei suddenly sent word to summon us. What's this about? Do any of you know?"
"Looking at this lineup, it doesn't really seem like an inner sect lecture!"
Below, a sharp-featured disciple spoke to his companion in a low voice.
Beside him stood a tall disciple.
"It is strange. There are hundreds of inner sect disciples, yet only a few dozen came today!"
"Could it be to reward disciples whose cultivation has improved recently?"
Their conversation was overheard by a round-faced disciple nearby, who let out a snort of laughter.
The two looked over and saw the round-faced disciple's expression turn serious as he lowered his voice.
"You're both wrong!"
"Elder Pei summoned us here today because of the loosening of the Secret Realm's seal half a year ago!"
The two immediately perked up when they heard this.
"How so?"
The round-faced disciple slowly explained.
"Half a year ago, Elder Pei once privately asked me whether I was willing to take part in a mission. The rewards were extremely generous..."
"..."
After he explained the whole story, the other two froze.
"Explore the seal? They want us to