Upper Firmament Heaven, before Rainbow Hall.
The great formation that had lain silent before the hall for many days suddenly released a bright radiance. From the five pits where great jars had once been placed, faint gleams suddenly shot skyward, accompanied by waves of sound descending from above.
Daoist Tian Hong had been scattering medicinal powder into the pill furnace within the hall. Sensing the disturbance, he stepped outside and looked up. Thick bolts of lightning flickered and raced across the formation like golden serpents dancing, while peals of thunder rolled without end.
Soon, rain and dew emerged, falling in a fine drizzle into the formation's hub. These streams of rain, as heavy as liquid mercury, gathered toward the center and finally sank into the central pit. After several breaths of silence, there came a tremendous boom, and a vast current of vital light rose into the sky, plunging deep into the boundless void.
As Daoist Tian Hong gazed upward, golden light flashed beside him, and Solitary Yangzi appeared at his side. He too had been alerted by the changes in the formation and had come over.
Daoist Tian Hong said, "Fellow Daoist Solitary Yang, judging by this, Fellow Daoist Ying Chong is about to return."
Solitary Yangzi said slowly, "According to our earlier calculations, there should have been roughly three months until his return. It seems to have come somewhat earlier than we expected."
Daoist Tian Hong did not find this strange. "I do not wonder at it. Fellow Daoist Ying Chong had already made preparations beforehand, and once the formation guided him, he would surely know that we were calling him back. If he himself sensed nothing amiss, he would certainly find a way to follow this force and descend back into the world sooner."
Solitary Yangzi nodded.