Some mountain peak far away from Eight Palaces Town.
The quiet mountain forest should have been a fine hiding place for birds and beasts, but at some sudden moment—
"Rustle—"
Forest birds took flight in alarm, and beasts scattered in panic.
Branches whipped and leaves fell as a great flock of dark birds burst into the air.
Only then did a horrified cry emerge from within the dense woods.
"Ba! Zu! Nan!"
Fallen leaves returned to the forest, striking the White Robes, Red Robes, and gray-robed figures who had yet to earn the white-and-red robes. Hundreds of people, who should have stood as still as stakes, shuddered wildly as one.
"The Eighth Sword Immortal?!"
No one could remain composed. Even their breathing quickened.
This force stationed at Five Luminaries Mountain in the eastern corner of Eight Palaces Town was one of the four major control zones of the Nation-Covering Sky Shroud.
This team, composed of Holy Spirit Hall White Robes, Red Robes, and gray-robed Holy Spirit Guards, had received the finest training.
Even at the most desperate of times, they should never have lost their composure so thoroughly, all at once abandoning their focus on the Nation-Covering Sky Shroud.
Yet when the masked man confronting Moonless Sword Immortal in Eight Palaces Town spoke through the light screen in the central courtyard, not a single person could stay calm.
"H-he-he... what did he say? Ba Zunan?!"
"Isn't that the fucking Eighth Sword Immortal?"
"Wasn't the Eighth Sword Immortal supposed to be dead?"
"Is this guy another one of those fanatics impersonating the Eighth Sword Immortal?"
"You've got to be fucking kidding me!"
"Huh?!"
The crowd erupted.
They stared at one another, their faces full of shock and their eyes brimming with disbelief.
But words that would ordinarily have been dismissed as