North of the Eternal Night Ruins, within the Ancient Underworld Race's sealed lands.
Inside a mountain cave shrouded in pale orange light, an old woman with graying hair sat cross-legged atop a stone pedestal, her entire body exuding a hazy, mist-like white smoke;
The old woman hunched slightly like a devout believer, as though conducting some mysterious ritual.
Beside her stood a young woman in black robes and red silk, dark gold phoenix patterns embroidered along her hem. Two exquisite swords, one black and one red, hung at her waist, while a fiery red maple-leaf-shaped ornament adorned her head. She paced back and forth, visibly anxious and restless.
After a long while.
The old woman slowly opened her clouded eyes and exhaled a mouthful of gray Turbid Qi.
"Grandma~" The girl hurriedly bent down, her face full of concern. "How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
The old woman dispersed the hazy white smoke around her and fondly stroked the girl's head. "Don't worry, Grandma is fine. Grandma merely went back to the Ancient Sect for a look. I had wanted to see whether I could kill a few enemies who didn't know their place, but I unexpectedly came across an interesting person."
"Oh? An interesting person?" The girl smiled sweetly, blinking curiously. "There aren't many people who can catch Grandma's attention. What is so interesting about him? Tell me quickly."
"He..." A profound glint flashed through the old woman's eyes as she sighed meaningfully. "He awakened the surviving portion of the Ancient Sect's grand formation."
After a pause, she added, "More accurately, he repaired the damaged portion of that formation, allowing the grand formation that had lain buried in dust for nearly a century to brim with life once more."
"Such... such a thing happened!?" The girl's eyes