Deep within the Clear Vault Cloud Sea lay a wondrous realm of water and land. Spirit apes leaped across ravines, immortal cranes flew over the waters, and the cloud-lit mountains resembled an ink-wash painting, lending the place an air of immortal freedom and untrammeled ease.
Beneath a peach tree atop the mountain, surrounded by brocade clouds, Qin the Old Daoist sat in the middle, with four people seated around him. Farther out stood one projected avatar after another.
Aside from Daoist Ni, the four included three figures of considerable renown among the reclusive True Law cultivators. Most of the remaining True Law cultivators had sent projected images here; naturally, some had simply declined to come and merely asked fellow cultivators to inform them afterward of what was discussed.
Qin the Old Daoist said, "I had Daoist Ni explain why I summoned you all here. Now, this old Daoist will add a few more words. The Profound Court's sending us into the world is an act of goodwill, but we ourselves must have a plan as well. We cannot keep waiting for the Profound Court to grant us things. If we fight for them ourselves, we will always gain more. What do you fellow Daoists think?"
A stern-faced Daoist across from him said, "Let me mention one matter first. According to the Profound Court's decree, several fellow cultivators went to the Guardian of Rectitude Palace, only for that one to dispatch them to places where evil gods gather. Everyone knows how dangerous those places are. Yet that one now sends only us True Law cultivators, while Profound Method cultivators have not been sent there at all. I say this was deliberate."
Daoist Ni glanced at him. Those words were biased. Yet after giving it some thought, he understood this man's purpose.