The Alliance's disciples were either meditating and regulating their breath in the Cultivation Rooms or resting in the side halls. From time to time, the footsteps of night patrol disciples lightly echoed through the corridors before vanishing into the whimpering night wind.
Everything seemed so peaceful, as though this were merely one of the Heavenly Dao Alliance's countless ordinary nights.
Yet that tranquility did not last long.
High above the Heavenly Dao Alliance, in the void merely several hundred zhang from the sect-protecting formation, thirteen figures silently emerged from the darkness.
Not a trace of true qi radiance leaked from their bodies. Even their breathing and heartbeats had blended into the night wind, as though they had always been part of this darkness and cold.
Long Aotian stood at the very front of the group.
He wore a golden robe, his face cold and stern. A pair of golden Dragon Pupils emanated faint pressure in the night.
Beside him stood two young prodigies whose auras were not the slightest bit inferior to his.
The one on the left was named Xiao Yichen, a challenger who had cleared the West Academy's Heavenly Stairway. His sword-like brows slanted toward his temples, and faint azure wind-attribute true qi circulated through his pores. Though he stood utterly still, his robes fluttered despite the absence of wind.
His strength had always ranked among the top three in the West Academy!
The one on the right was named Chu Jinghong, a challenger who had cleared the Southern Academy's Heavenly Stairway at the Mystic Sanctuary. His demeanor was steady and reserved.
His status in the Southern Academy was extremely high, and he was vaguely regarded as its number one. During this joint campaign against the Southern Region, he had personally slain the sect master of a top