By the time the purge of Falling Stone City ended, the sun had climbed to its midday height.
Its scorching rays beat down, baking the little city until the air felt stifling.
Thousands of miles away, Crimson Cloud City presented an entirely different scene.
Crimson Cloud City was one of the major cities in southern Azure Cloud Prefecture. In prosperity, it was second only to Azure Cloud Main City.
Its streets were broad, its buildings stood shoulder to shoulder, and every shop sign along the road looked grander than the last.
Cultivators came and went through the streets, including plenty of experts in the Heaven Immortal Realm.
At the center of the busiest market district in the east of the city.
There stood an imposing elixir shop.
The shop occupied a vast plot, rose three stories high, and had two stone beasts guarding its entrance.
Above the doors hung a gilded plaque bearing five large characters: "Song Clan Spirit Elixir Pavilion."
This was the Song Family's principal business in Crimson Cloud City.
The Song Clan Spirit Elixir Pavilion sold elixirs and bought all kinds of spiritual ingredients for refining them.
Every half month, it also held a small auction.
Customers streamed through its doors year-round, making it one of the Song Family's most important sources of income.
But today.
A sudden force shattered that bustle.
First, the air inside the shop abruptly grew heavy.
It was as if something invisible had sealed the entire Song Clan Spirit Elixir Pavilion off from the outside world.
Then.
Three figures stepped out of the void and landed firmly before the pavilion's doors!
The man in front wore a dark purple brocade robe. His features were regular: Liang Siji, lord of Azure Cloud City.
Behind him stood two trusted subordinates, both at the late