On Su Che's side, the Yellow Heaven Sect, Divine Firmament Sect, and East Sea Sword Palace were faintly showing signs of joining forces. Naturally, the other factions were each busy with their own schemes.
At White Deer Grotto, Zhongjia of the "Hundred-Step Horizon" turned left and right, shaking off the spies from the Imperial Demon Hunters and the Night Pacification Bureau. He then rode the wind straight up to a towering mountain. This mountain linked to the southeastern waterways and drew in the mighty river to the north; it was truly a place where spiritual essence gathered and natural beauty flourished.
At the summit stood a tiny temple, long since fallen into ruin. Not to mention cobwebs and moss, only a few broken bricks could vaguely be seen amid the wild grass, while two remnants of old plaques hung among the vegetation.
Master Zhong, clad head to toe in black leather, stood atop the mountain with the howling wind in his ears.
"I have never heard of any reason to build a temple on a mountaintop."
A figure suddenly rose from beneath the earth. It was the mysterious Yue Luan. Killing intent churned covertly in his eyes, and he had long since sealed off the surrounding space.
"There may be no such logic in worshipping gods, but if one is paying respects to the Dharma-Ending Lords, there could be nothing more fitting."
A delicate voice rang out. A woman wore robes like rosy clouds, her body veiled in green gauze, dewdrops on jade seeming to hide in shy embarrassment. Her hair was piled high like black clouds spread across the sky. She was Zhen Ping'er, the renowned courtesan of the Zhu Hua Troupe.
She leaned languidly against a tree, her eyes brimming with amusement.
"Mortals worship the vault of heaven,