Above the heavens, the Tribulation Clouds had yet to disperse.
But an invisible force suddenly smoothed them flat, turning them into a mirror that spanned the sky.
Then ripples spread across its surface.
A Seven-Colored Rainbow Bridge rose out of thin air. Its span was not solid, but condensed from misty spiritual energy and the manifest power of laws.
At the crest of the bridge, clear light gathered.
Then a lean, tall figure gradually came into focus.
He wore the Zhou Tian Star-Dipper Robe, countless flecks of starlight flickering and flowing across it.
His fingers were long as jade chopsticks, and every nail glimmered.
Barefoot, he walked upon the rainbow light. With each step, an illusory twelve-petaled jade lotus mark bloomed beneath his foot; when he lifted it, the mark faded, and when he set it down, another appeared.
At that moment, the people on Azurewood Peak had no time to mourn Zhu Fuxian. Even Shi Yuan, the Earth Vein Abyss Lord, stilled his vicious roars and looked utterly respectful.
The others followed suit, cupping their hands and bowing as they called out:
"Greetings, Dao Lord Xuan Yan!"
Xuan Yan lowered his gaze. There was no sorrow or joy in it, no good or evil, only an indifference unchanged since time immemorial. "Grain Lord Zhu Fuxian failed his Tribulation Transcendence. He has died, and his Dao has perished.
"From this day forth, Spirit Cultivator Xu Changqing shall succeed him as Grain Lord.
"Let this be announced to the entire sect!"
"Who's Xu Changqing?"
"Old Xu became Grain Lord?"
"That name sounds so familiar!"
Many people throughout the Dongting Immortal Sect witnessed the scene.
In Red Maple Valley, Ruo Qunshuang and the others were beside themselves with excitement.
At the Spirit Field Core, Flower Elder, Zhang Su, Rong Yan, and the