In Stone Village, the morning sun streamed through the crystal-clear branches, scattering dappled light across the ground.
In the courtyard, tea fragrance curled through the air.
Several stone stools surrounded a stone table, but those seated around it were no ordinary people. They were terrifying beings powerful enough to make all of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands tremble.
The True Phoenix Woman, dressed in a Five-Colored Feather Robe, held a tea cup and slowly surveyed everyone present.
Her gaze passed over the True Dragon, clad in Azure Gold War Armor and brimming with the vigor of a dragon; the Female Kunpeng, dressed in golden armor and radiating heroic spirit; and finally came to rest on the Willow Tree's peerless manifestation, rooted in the void.
An unreal feeling, as if she had been transported to another life, welled up in her heart.
"I never thought I would truly see all of you again, fellow Daoists."
The True Phoenix spoke softly, her voice as clear and melodious as a phoenix's cry, yet filled with endless weariness.
"During the Immortal Ancient War, heaven and earth shattered. I thought you had all perished in that dark era, reduced to dust."
The battle had been too cruel. Some of the Ten Fiends had died, others had been crippled, and the Ancestor Spirit had charged alone into Foreign Territory, her fate unknown.
Who could have imagined that old comrades would reunite in a small mountain village in the Eight Lower Realms?
"Indeed. The world has changed beyond recognition."
The True Dragon set down his wine bowl and laughed heartily, though his eyes were slightly red. "If Daoist Ye hadn't possessed such heaven-defying means and reversed life and death, us old fellows would probably exist only in a few lines of ancient texts."
As he spoke,