Just as thunderous explosions shook Jinan Prefectural City and flames surged like dragons, someone in the Dao Lord Hall atop Jade Emperor Peak, a hundred li away, sensed something as well.
His eyebrows swept into his temples, and his eyes were deep as abysses. He looked no more than thirty and wore a purple Daoist robe. Holding a long stick of incense in both hands, he placed it in the burner before the shrine.
Fragrant smoke wreathed the lifelike statue enshrined in the hall. It wore ceremonial robes bearing twelve emblems beneath a black Daoist robe patterned with clouds, one hand resting on a sword and the other holding a seal, its bearing supremely majestic.
After offering incense, the purple-robed Daoist sat cross-legged on a cushion, formed a hand seal below his navel, and lowered his eyes, entering meditation and returning to the origin.
An unknown span of time passed in that hazy, dreamlike state before the purple-robed Daoist suddenly opened his eyes. At that very moment, the incense in the burner burned out, and flecks of ash fell.
The purple-robed Daoist slowly rose, bowed to the statue, and left the Dao Lord Hall. With a sweep of his gaze, he saw a woman in a plain white Daoist robe standing on the cliff with her hands behind her back, looking up at the night sky.
Mountain winds brushed past her. Her black hair fell like a waterfall, her features were clear and upright, and an aloof, lofty grace surrounded her, untouched by worldly dust.
Hearing his footsteps, the white-robed woman spoke without turning. "Nearly two hours have passed, haven't they? Win or lose, if even one of them survived, they should have returned with word by now."
The purple-robed Daoist nodded. "Indeed."
The woman in white asked, "In terms