Shouyang Mountain.
Eight Sceneries Palace.
Purple clouds swirled as immortal cranes cried out.
Deep within the palace, Laozi sat cross-legged on a cloud bed. The Purple Purity Dao Light around him was as dim as mist, and his withered face was filled with desolation.
He raised his eyes toward Kunlun Mountain.
His gaze, once serene and detached, was now full of conflicting emotions.
Xuandu had gone to Kunlun Mountain.
He had sensed it.
Though that aura was restrained, it could not escape the notice of a fellow Sage.
Now, Yuanshi was heading for Shouyang Mountain.
It had to be because of Xuandu.
Because of the reckoning over Karma.
Laozi slowly closed his eyes.
He did not know what terms Xuandu had proposed.
But he could guess they were no small matter.
For Yuanshi to come all the way to Shouyang Mountain to see him, the terms must concern him.
"Vmmm."
The void rippled faintly.
A figure stepped out of the ripples and landed before Eight Sceneries Palace.
Jade Purity Immortal Light flickered around him, and his face was livid.
Yuanshi.
Laozi opened his eyes and looked toward the figure outside the palace gates. He spoke slowly:
"Second Brother, come in."
Yuanshi drew a deep breath and stepped into the palace.
He stood before the cloud bed and looked at Laozi's ashen face. A hint of conflicting emotion flashed through his eyes.
"Elder Brother."
His voice was hoarse.
Laozi looked at him without speaking.
He simply waited.
Waited for Yuanshi to speak.
After a moment of silence, Yuanshi finally said:
"Xuandu came by."
Laozi nodded.
"I know."
Yuanshi said:
"He named his terms."
Laozi's gaze shifted slightly.
"What terms?"
Yuanshi looked at him and enunciated each word:
"The Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner and the Earth Fire Light Banner."
The moment the