Heavenly Yuan

Hongnong.

Beneath a clear blue sky stretching for ten thousand miles without a cloud, a flying beast bore a small pavilion on its back as it came from the south, heading toward the mountains.

Set against the vast sea of mist blanketing the Heaven Origin Mountain range, the flying beast resembled a lone skiff upon an ocean.

Seated beside the window lattice, Yuan Hao gazed at the place in the distance that represented the Sect Alliance's highest seat of power.

This was his first time coming to Hongnong, and also his first time seeing the mountain gates of the Tianyuan Sword Sect, leader of the Sect Alliance.

Though he had long learned of the Heaven Origin Mountain range through the Prime Minister's Mansion's confidential reports, what came from paper always felt shallow. Seeing its magnificence with his own eyes, even Yuan Hao's eyes—accustomed to great storms and towering waves—could not help but fill with admiration.

This was a mist formation that enveloped the entire mountain range.

And the Heaven Origin Mountain range stretched for more than a thousand li.

"What is Young Master Zhou looking at?"

The crisp female voice that suddenly rang out within the pavilion abruptly cut through Yuan Hao's wandering thoughts. Turning back, he saw a woman dressed in the exotic attire of the southern frontier.

Her slender waist was exposed as she reclined upon the bed, an open illustrated book covering her face while she rested. Her features could not be seen. Her legs were slightly bent and crossed, her toes swaying gently through the air, giving her a mischievous, impish air.

As she spoke, sunlight spilled down through the skylight. The woman slightly lowered the illustrated book covering her face, revealing one exquisite pale-green eye beneath it as she stared at him with mild curiosity.