Scarlet Firmament Province.
The Southern Region.
Several guards stood in a square atop a tall mountain.
Their cultivation was not particularly high. Apart from one female cultivator in the early Void Refinement realm, the rest were all Nascent Soul and Spirit Transformation cultivators.
An array platform stood in the center of the square.
Suddenly, dazzling silver light blazed from the platform.
The guards' attention was immediately drawn to it, but they showed little surprise, clearly accustomed to the sight.
"Martial Aunt Liu, it's been less than ten years since the last transfer. Has the Primordial Origin Sect already gathered another twenty people?" A young male Nascent Soul cultivator with slick hair and a powdered face sidled up to the Void Refinement woman and spoke with affectionate familiarity.
The woman addressed as Martial Aunt Liu wore heavy makeup, but even that could not conceal the weathering left by the years. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were clearly visible despite the obvious layers of powder piled over them.
Still, with her ample bosom and full hips, she retained a measure of mature charm.
Martial Aunt Liu showed no aversion to the powdered-faced man's approach. Instead, she moved toward him herself.
Their heads were almost touching, giving the impression of lovers rubbing ears and temples together.
"Who knows? Perhaps it's just a coincidence."
Martial Aunt Liu answered distractedly, moving her body a little closer still.
Feeling that soft body almost leaning into his embrace, the powdered-faced man immediately withdrew his attention from the Teleportation Array and began flirting with his martial aunt as though no one else were present.
The others in the square acted as if they saw nothing of the pair's intimacy, merely staring fixedly at the array platform.
Several breaths later.
A figure suddenly appeared within the