Yin Mountain.
The north wind howled beneath dim clouds. Only a red sun remained, half-submerged in the west. Its dying light fell between the mountains, illuminating a man in a jade-white Daoist robe. Light from his True Qi gathered beside him, forming the auspicious signs of Tortoise and Snake Entwined, water and fire sustaining each other, and spirit clouds condensing into jade.
An aura of the Purple Mansion Middle Stage faintly emanated from him as he stared toward the far north, seemingly troubled.
"True Person Fu Yun, what refined tastes you have, coming all the way to the front lines. Have you discerned anything?"
Li Fire flashed as someone slowly approached from behind him. The newcomer carried himself with imposing dignity, his cheeks lean, his apricot-yellow royal robe embroidered with cinnabar birds and apricot trees. In standing, he was second only to the emperor.
A slight release of his cultivation aura revealed that he had already reached the Purple Mansion Late Stage, his Li Fire nearing completion. He was the King of Misty Mountain, Song Minglan. Among the most powerful imperial princes of the Great Li Song Clan, only Prince Mount Li, Song Mingli, could compare with him.
His majestic aura spread, deep as the sea, yet Fu Yun beside him paid it no heed and said calmly:
"Wu-Ji intertwined, the earth veins shattered. All the land of the Nine Provinces looked like this back then. True Lord Fangji alone shouldered that burden, until it crushed his spine and he fell, buying peace for all living beings."
"The two earths of Sheji certainly stand a cut above everyone else. They stir up trouble themselves, then leave Gen Earth to clean it up."
A hint of mockery seemed to enter the King of Misty Mountain's eyes as he continued:
"Among the