Outside Green-Sinking Reef lay the island of Longflow.
The daylight was far clearer than usual. The aura of barren earth suffused the island, yet azure trees still sprouted near its southeastern edge. In the shadows of the jet-black main hall at its center, monsters seemed to stir.
Inside the hall.
A man in a black Robe of Law sat quietly. His frame was lean, his yellow eyes glowed like lamps, and great swathes of his body were shrouded in shadow. Had an outsider barged in, they would have thought some monster had made its lair there.
"How are things over at the grotto-heaven?"
He had learned of the grotto-heaven early on from his senior brother. As he posed the question, a gust of ghostly wind spiraled up below him.
Empty-Handed appeared in white robes. His noble face bore a pair of thief's eyes that looked distinctly out of place. Not a trace of aura emanated from him, as though he had become one with the Gloomy Netherworld.
[Boundary Nether Passage] allowed its practitioner to walk the Underworld, pursue souls and seize spirits, and erase their aura. It had arisen from the deeds of ancient Yin Marshals who traveled the world capturing souls, yet in Empty-Handed's hands, it had become a dharma method for petty theft.
"Utter chaos. I couldn't make anything out, but this grotto-heaven probably has little to do with nurturing earth. There are rather more things of wood and fire."
Empty-Handed spoke leisurely. A dark-red fire jade appeared in his hand, its Ding fire aura circulating. Merely looking at it made one feel hot, with ringing ears, raging thirst, and a headache. Two indistinct characters were carved upon it: [Chronic Affliction].
The object had been carved from a portion of purple mansion essence, without any refining, and seemed