Where the Heavenly Court's territory bordered the Buddhist Sect's, mountain ranges stretched on without end.
One treacherous pass closest to the Nine Provinces' Heavenly Court border was called Azure Firmament Cascade.
Cold springs tumbled down in tiers from a thousand-foot precipice, pounding the expanses of blue-black rock below.
Mist rose, filling the entire valley.
Neither the Heavenly Court's decrees nor the Buddhist Sect's teachings held sway here. Only the wind mingled with the thunder of mountain waters, never ceasing, day or night.
Just above Azure Firmament Cascade, three figures swept leisurely across the sky.
Two men and one woman, their auras brimming with power-all were formidable cultivators who had already entered the painting realm. Long Zhi.
Yet even with their cultivation in the painting realm, the three remained quite cautious as they traveled through this place.
There was no other reason.
The true ruler of the area around Azure Firmament Cascade was the Azure Firmament Grotto.
Its Azure Firmament Cave Master had even reached wandering void sea perfection.
Even if the Heavenly Court considered this place an uncivilized backwater.
An expert at wandering void sea perfection commanded ample respect from anyone, wherever they might be.
As the three traveled in silence.
Suddenly.
One of the men, with a face like polished jade, a silk headcloth, and a crane-feather cloak, frowned slightly and looked toward the woman beside him. "Fellow Daoist Long."
"Tell me honestly, how confident are you that we can bring the Azure Firmament Grotto into the fold?"
At his words.
Long Zhi's expression stiffened slightly.
But now that they had reached Azure Firmament Cascade, she could hardly keep making things up.
After a moment's hesitation, she could only answer honestly, "To tell you the truth, only fifty percent."
"Fifty percent?!"
Upon hearing this.
The man's expression changed, and