Kun Province, Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land.
Clouds and mist swirled beneath rosy light that streamed from the heavens. Jade pools lay mirror-still, exotic flowers and grasses carpeted the ground, immortal cranes called softly, and colorful luan birds vied in splendor.
Rich spiritual energy condensed into mist, like heavenly nectar scattered throughout the blessed land's mountains and waters.
In a cultivation world where spiritual energy had run dry, such a blessed land seemed like a paradise on earth.
True Person Rong and Bai Zixi entered the blessed land with Mo Hua, who was sealed in ice.
The mountain gate opened, and a little girl bedecked in gold, stone, and jade pendants came skipping over. She cried excitedly:
"Big Sister Zi Xi, you're finally ba—"
The little girl's smile froze, and her voice cut off.
Behind Bai Zixi, she saw a half-dead young man with features as lovely as a painting. Her vision went dark; the sky seemed to collapse.
"Xiao Ju," True Person Rong instructed, "prepare the Alchemy Room."
"Oh..."
Xiao Ju, as dainty as a carved jade doll, glanced at Bai Zixi, then at the young man. Crestfallen, she turned back to prepare the Alchemy Room.
The Earth Sect elders respectfully took their leave.
Though they held considerable status as Earth Sect elders, they were nowhere near qualified to enter Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land.
For all its dancing cranes and colorful luan birds, its brilliant rosy light and abundant life, the entire blessed land seemed to hold only three people.
True Person Rong, Bai Zixi, and the little girl called Xiao Ju.
With a casual gesture from True Person Rong, four Gold-Stone Puppets rose slowly, lifted the ice-bound bed bearing Mo Hua, and carried him deeper into Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land.
They passed rare flowers and grasses,