With that, Wang Chonglou extended two fingers. Beyond the cliff, his gesture parted the Sea of Clouds, carving a ravine of unknowable length through it.
"This is my Finger Profound."
"The Finger Profound is meant to connect with heaven's will. Yours connects with the heart instead, Perfected Chonglou. No wonder you mastered the Great Yellow Court, which no one at Wudang has been able to cultivate in the century since."
Wu Xuantian looked into Wang Chonglou's eyes, still as drifting clouds. "What did you see, Perfected One?"
"Master, you are untouched by worldly dust. When you came up the mountain in early winter, I saw Xi Xiang clearly for the first time. Just now, I borrowed your presence to cast a divination."
"What did it tell you?" Wu Xuantian asked.
"Black Tortoise shall rise. I shall see Zhenwu, and Zhenwu shall see Wudang."
"And what does that mean?" Wu Xuantian asked.
Wang Chonglou laughed. "You did come from the Wu Family Sword Tomb, Master, and you know exactly what I mean. They say Huang Longshi's greatest talent among his three distinctions is divination. You cannot be far behind him."
"Huang Longshi? I'm nowhere near him at divination. Why else would I ask you, Perfected Chonglou?"
"Wudang has declined," Wang Chonglou said, "but we still have eyes and ears in the world. Liyang is about to go to war with Western Chu."
The grass on the cliff grew wildly, rising nearly an inch each day. The pine tree Wu Xuantian had leaned against had found new life in its old age. In just a few days, its trunk had thickened so much that one person could no longer wrap their arms around it.
Atop Taizhen Palace, several of Wudang's senior uncles had gathered in a rare meeting, including Wang Xiaoping,