The Eastern Sea, the Great Void.
Scarlet lightning coalesced into a heavenly bridge. A youth in white robes stood at its center, holding a dark red chain that descended into the depths of the Great Void. It seemed to be dragging something heavy; the slightest tug set off a thunderous rumble.
A pair of sandalwood horns rose from his forehead, and a few white scales covered his wrists. He gazed quietly downward. Behind him, a man knelt on one knee, his expression resolute, without uttering a word.
Beneath the scarlet bridge lay a dense mass of golden-white light. It rose and shifted, forming a chaos cavern from which the Mandala Divine Pattern spread.
Layer upon layer of scarlet chains intertwined, binding the chaos cavern. A Grand Talisman was affixed to it, dark throughout and exuding an unfathomably heavy pressure. The aura of vast water spilled in all directions, and inscribed upon it were the words [Sea-Calming].
Dongfang Guanji stepped forward and pulled the chain in his hand, hauling an enormous object out of the Great Void. Amid thunderous crashes, lightning and fire illuminated the darkness.
From behind him, Liu Xiaowen could see it clearly: a silver cauldron as large as a room. Mystical crane patterns adorned its surface, depicting a one-legged bird with blue-green feathers and red markings. It inevitably reminded Liu Xiaowen of his own Disaster-Flame Crane.
Layers of precious, true-red flames burned over the artifact. Liu Xiaowen's pupils contracted slightly. Having worked under True Person Radiant Refinement all these years, he had acquired some knowledge. This was a Purple Mansion Spirit Artifact, and one of the true fire path at that. Its power was extraordinary.
"Go!"
Dongfang Guanji gave a soft command. Treating the Grand Talisman and the many chains as though they did not exist, the silver