The sun gradually slanted westward, and the autumn breeze brought refreshing coolness.
The sparring matches before Clear Abyss's main hall had more or less ended. The true sect leaders, mighty experts, and great heroes—those who had received invitations from the start—were all ushered into the main hall.
Some had visited Clear Abyss Sect before. Standing before the hall and gazing at the sect, now transformed beyond recognition, they could not help but feel sentimental.
"Back when Clear Abyss Sect was at the height of its power, it already possessed the bearing of a great sect capable of anchoring an entire province. Yet later, it voluntarily petitioned His Majesty, asking only to guard the imperial tombs in Purple Sun Prefecture."
"Now, it has regained a few traces of the grandeur recorded in history."
Penglai Sect, which had dwelled overseas for generations, had unexpectedly sent representatives this time as well.
Penglai had a long history, its lineage traceable to before Great Shang. Though its foundations were profound and its origins mysterious, it had always stood alone beyond the seas and rarely involved itself in the affairs of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
The speaker was a woman in green robes, dressed like a Daoist nun. Her eyes were a gentle blue, and her voice was especially pleasant to hear.
Her name was Bai Jing. She was Sect Master Tantai's sword attendant, and though she sat in the seat of honor, no one from the other sects found it inappropriate.
"Miss Bai is right. Things have truly changed with each passing day. This old man's last visit to Clear Abyss Sect was more than ten years ago."
Elder Xu of Cloud-Crossing Sword City looked relaxed, a sword cradled in his arms, his eyes carrying the weathered sorrow of bygone years.
"Bullshit. You