Sparring

Five years later.

Barren Cloud Heavenly Palace.

Inside the main hall, the Barren Cloud Palace Lord was discussing affairs with the six Peak Lords.

"The fighting on the front lines is fierce, and our equipment is suffering heavy losses. The gods have asked us to forge a batch of weapons and armor as soon as possible," the Barren Cloud Palace Lord said.

"Leave that to Azure Crane Peak," one of the Peak Lords said.

Azure Crane Peak specialized in the six arts, and was responsible for all matters of weapon forging.

The Barren Cloud Palace Lord nodded. "Good. We've also received intelligence that the Barren Ancient World recently dispatched a group of Netherworld Soul Demons. To keep them from infiltrating our positions, our sound-art cultivators will have to take the field and oversee the battle."

Everyone turned to look at a young woman.

She sat cross-legged on a chair, holding a jade flute of deep green in her hands.

She was none other than Luo Bingli, Peak Lord of Mystic Sound Peak.

Back when the new disciples had first joined the sect, she had been the female cultivator who stood atop the mountain and played her flute to break the demons.

Luo Bingli smiled. "No problem. Leave this to me."

The Barren Cloud Palace Lord asked, "How many people are you planning to take?"

Luo Bingli considered it. "Five should be enough."

The Barren Cloud Palace Lord shook his head. "Sound-art cultivators are scarce, and hard to train. Don't take too many with you."

"Then I'll take only two," Luo Bingli said.

The Barren Cloud Palace Lord nodded.

He turned to a cultivator beside him and instructed him, "Peak Lord of Perching Cloud Peak, take a group of people with Peak Lord Luo. You'll be responsible for their safety."

The