Across the eastern and western reaches of Heavy Mountains, ridges rose and fell, peak upon peak.
Throughout the region, beast roars shook the heavens and battle cries rang out on every side. Panicked herds of Monster Beasts fled everywhere.
Some died trampled in their scramble, some were slaughtered by cultivators, and some perished crashing into formation barriers. Severed limbs littered every patch of ground in sight, while blood ran unchecked through the dense forests, gathering into streams.
It was not only flesh and blood. Amid the flying gore, scattered spiritual energy quietly rose, throwing the surroundings into chaos.
The Great Void.
Hazy and indistinct, its outlines dim.
Several figures stood above the clouds, brilliant colored light shimmering around them. Their eyes remained fixed on the depths of the Great Void as they whispered among themselves.
"It's begun!"
"After all this time spent arranging things, after pushing out batch after batch of firewood, it ought to come down now."
The Purple Mansion cultivators spoke in turn, delight showing on every face.
At this, a True Person wore a yearning expression and spoke in a dreamy tone:
"A Grotto-Heaven... They say the Azure Corner Sect's Dao Canons number in the thousands, vast as a sea of mist. I wonder whether we might enter and take a look. That alone would make this journey worthwhile..."
"Tch, how could it be that easy?"
Someone scoffed, finding the notion fanciful.
"This is a Grotto-Heaven! Without a True Lord taking action, Azure Corner Heaven cannot descend. The Sandalwood Locust Palace is merely a little extra slipping through our betters' fingers..."
"Otherwise, with our strength alone, even if every living creature beneath Heavy Mountains died out, believe me, neither you nor I could so much as touch a corner of the Grotto-Heaven!"
"Ah!"
Some sighed softly, while