The Central Sacred Peak towered majestically.
Brownish-yellow Wu Light rose and shifted along its slopes, and hundreds upon thousands of dark peaks thrust up from the earth, standing in grim ranks.
Imperial gates and mysterious palaces, jade halls and golden towers-all were built along the mountain's vast contours, scattered among its precipitous heights. Murmuring golden streams flowed from within, like gilded tears of blood spilling from the mountain.
The celestial manifestations of the four directions turned in response.
Azure sunlight rose in the east, yang essence surged in the south, yin baleful power appeared in the west, and clear frost descended in the north. The four flanking peaks changed according to the sequence of the seasons, their growing manifestations spreading in every direction.
Xu Xuan stood with his sword, his black robes snapping in the wind. Alone beside a cliff, he watched the Wu Light retreat, his eyes as still as deep pools.
The currents of power among the mountains were varied and immense. Most of the Li Kingdom's Immortal Dao cultivators, many overseas Purple Mansion cultivators, and even numerous shapeshifted monsters and Diamond sages were gathered here, quietly awaiting the mountain's opening.
Among this vast gathering, Xu Xuan's spiritual perception alone detected dozens of powerful auras at the Purple Mansion level rising and falling.
Hundreds more dark peaks manifested, their radiance swirling to reveal treasure platforms of differing properties.
Displayed upon them were numerous treasures and spirit artifacts, mostly collected from various traditions during ancient Great Shu's campaigns of conquest. Heavy, hazy earth energy pressed down upon them, proclaiming the glorious martial achievements of the past.
Most striking, however, were the great stretches of profound darkness coiled stubbornly among the peaks. Savage baleful radiance condensed almost into substance, and even spirit treasure-level fluctuations emanated from within-the relics of the