On Blazing Heaven-Covering Mountain.
With Azure Leaf Sky descending, the Constructive Wood reconnected, and several True Lords clashing in battles that reached the Western Sea, the Great Void above this stretch of ocean had grown increasingly clear. The fire barrier had receded, and people could even travel through it now.
They still had to be careful, however. A careless collision with a lingering wisp of ultimate fire would still hurt.
Just then, the Great Void split open and spiritual energies trembled. A man wearing a black Daoist robe patterned with red clouds emerged and stopped outside the formation, a hint of puzzlement in his eyes.
In past years, he had never seen Dousing Flame activate its great formation like this. Usually, he only needed to land on the mountain and ask Tianxin to announce his arrival, but now he had been barred outside.
After a short wait, someone finally flew out of the true fire energies at the summit. He had snow-white hair and a youthful face, and wore a jet-black Daoist robe with golden patterns.
Liu Xiaowen recognized him at a glance and called from afar:
"Senior Pingxiu, I am Bingxiao."
The other man was a renowned master alchemist of long standing and a close personal friend of his master. By both sentiment and propriety, Liu Xiaowen ought to address him as a senior.
"So you are Sword Immortal Xu's disciple. No need for such courtesy. Come in, come in."
Pingxiu was quite welcoming. Although this was his first meeting with this Bing fire Purple Mansion cultivator, his own master had told him that the man was sincere and upright, and thus easy to get along with.
The two descended together on the wind, entered the main hall, and took their respective seats.
The Eight Trigrams Pill Furnace was