Su Chen sat behind the stone table in robes white as snow, holding a cup of clear tea. The pale green liquid reflected the light filtering through the red leaves overhead.
His face was handsome and looked barely twenty, his expression detached and his bearing unhurried, as though nothing in the world could stir him. His eyes, vast as a sea of stars, moved from Gu Rong to the scholarly-looking Ning Fengzhi beside him.
"Bone Douluo came to break through."
Su Chen's voice was clear as spring water, his pace unhurried, as though he were making casual conversation. "Then what brings Sect Master Ning here?"
Ning Fengzhi had been sitting quietly on the other side of the pavilion. He, too, held a cup of tea, but had not taken a sip.
A faint worry clouded his brow. At Su Chen's question, the hand holding his cup paused. After a moment's silence, he let out a long sigh.
"Immortal Su."
Ning Fengzhi set down his cup and looked up at Su Chen, his gaze earnest and grave. "I came out of concern for Immortal Mountain's long-term future, and for your safety."
Su Chen raised an eyebrow without comment. "I'm listening."
Ning Fengzhi sat up straight and interlaced his fingers over his knees, as he always did when choosing his words. Watching the red leaves drift beyond the pavilion, he slowly began:
"Immortal Su, do you know what the major powers across the continent are saying about Immortal Mountain?"
Su Chen said nothing. He merely took a quiet sip of tea.
"Ever since you drove back Pope Bibi Dong, and your disciples defeated the Papal Hall's Golden Generation and declared their intent to reform the Papal Hall, the entire continent has been shaken. The Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire are