Golden-red fire blazed atop the white jade Heavenly Stele of the High Lofty Peaks. Liu Xiaowen's voice flickered into existence, then vanished without sounding again.
"Xiao Wen?"
Xu Xuan called several times, but the other side did not seem to hear him. Only after a long wait did a voice sound again, speaking in broken fragments:
"Dragon Palace... True fire... Zhang Yu is... sent by the Liao people..."
The voice lasted only an instant before cutting off. The Bing Fire Dao markings no longer showed any supernatural power, emitting only a faint glow. Xu Xuan's heart sank inch by inch, yet he could not make sense of Xiao Wen's words.
"So there really is a connection to the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea."
Xu Xuan sighed softly. He had anticipated this long ago. The pearl Zhang Yu had brought back then had been rich with dragon qi, practically announcing the connection outright. Tiantuo said nothing, looking thoughtful as he listened. For a moment, man and demon both fell silent, unsure where to begin.
"I wonder what this Heavenly Stele does?"
Xu Xuan looked up at the various Dao markings above. Now, only the Bing Essence of the Thunder-Shock Altar was lit, and he had no idea what purpose it served. The only thing he could feel was that his connection to his two disciples seemed to have deepened considerably.
"Perhaps its functions will fully manifest only once you reach the Purple Mansion realm."
Tiantuo examined it all around, but he, too, failed to discern the purpose of this Heavenly Stele.
As Xu Xuan pondered these matters, his brows furrowed and his movements slowed slightly. He said quietly:
"The Fire Crow is leaving."
He lowered his head and focused his gaze. Now that his dragon body had emerged from seclusion,