Spirit Mountain.
Five figures gathered above Spirit Mountain at the same moment.
Luohu, Yang Mei, and Karma came from the western horizon.
Hongjun and Destiny arrived from the direction of the Underworld.
They hovered there in silence, divided into two clearly separate groups, like the Jing and Wei rivers running distinct.
Luohu, Yang Mei, and Karma stood together.
Hongjun and Destiny stood on the other side.
Hongjun's gaze fell first on Karma. He sized up that brand-new Dao Body, then gave a slight nod.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Karma. Your Dao Body has been reforged; the Great Dao lies within reach."
Karma nodded faintly.
"Thanks to all of you."
The words were neither cold nor warm.
Luohu chuckled when he heard it, then glanced at Destiny. That body likewise radiated an unfathomable aura of the rules of destiny.
"Fellow Daoist Destiny, I trust you've been well since we last met."
On the other side, Yang Mei looked at Destiny.
"Fellow Daoist Destiny, congratulations on your return."
Destiny cupped his hands toward the two of them.
"Many thanks for your concern, Fellow Daoists."
The five of them stood atop the ruins of Spirit Mountain just like that, only a few steps separating them from one another.
A subtle tension permeated the air.
The invisible standoff between Karma and Destiny was almost visible to the naked eye.
Their eyes met, and neither spoke.
Luohu and Yang Mei exchanged a glance.
Hongjun spoke at just the right moment.
"Fellow Daoists."
His voice was neither high nor low, carrying the intent to mediate from the middle.
"I will not judge the grudges of the past."
"But right now, we have a common enemy."
"Zhou Ming and the others may return from Chaos to the Primordial Wilderness at any moment."
"If you two Fellow Daoists spend