Heaven Cry Mountain.
Xia Xuanyan looked at the Heaven-Crying Saintess, who seemed almost carved from the same mold as the Heaven Cry Cult Master, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
"Is this your daughter?"
"Yes, and no!" the Heaven Cry Cult Master said calmly. "Xi Yan is a daughter I conceived and bore through a Secret Method, and also the saintess of my cult."
"So that's how it is!" Xia Xuanyan nodded. "I was just thinking—you have devoted your whole life to the Dao, been sincere to the Dao, taken the Dao to its utmost. How could you have married and borne a child?"
"Mother!" the Heaven-Crying Saintess said respectfully to the Heaven Cry Cult Master.
The Heaven Cry Cult Master nodded.
"Xia Jiayu, come with me!"
Xia Xuanyan also nodded.
A moment later.
The three of them once again stepped into the familiar Cave.
They passed through the dim, winding Cave.
The view before them suddenly opened wide.
Ahead, the dome of the Cave hung high overhead, and ghostly blue runes wriggled slowly across the rock walls like living things.
In the very center of the Cave stood an altar.
The altar was piled together from Black Stone as dark and heavy as blood.
The altar was nine levels high, shaped like a flight of steps. Its top was flat, engraved with a complicated Array Diagram.
The center of the Array Diagram bulged upward, forming a platform.
On the raised center of that platform lay a palm-sized Doll.
"Greetings, Cult Master!" When the three appeared, a middle-aged Old Woman immediately came forward to receive them.
"Greetings, Saintess Xi Yan!" The middle-aged Old Woman then bowed to the girl following behind the Heaven Cry Cult Master.
"Greetings, Xia Family Head!" Only last did she greet Xia Xuanyan.
"How