Southern Capital.
This imperial capital had been burned to ashes. Its once-imposing vermilion gates and magnificent palaces had all become flying dust; only the ruins remained to hint at their former splendor.
Xu Xuan sat in the Great Void with his sword in his arms, quietly watching the scene before him.
High above, a vermilion halo enveloped the summit of an Immortal Mountain: Liyang Heaven and Double Radiance Mountain.
Once, this grotto-heaven had remained hidden from sight. Now, with the True Lord fallen and the spirit pivot concealed, the entire grotto-heaven was rapidly hurtling toward its fall, about to scatter into countless points of light.
A wisp of blue-black demonic qi appeared in the distance. A handsome man in black robes emerged, seemingly searching for something. Only after spotting a glimmer of thunderbolt did he approach.
It was Nangang!
As a True Person of the Wu Clan, he had naturally been invited here to witness Liyang Heaven's fall.
This True Person was at the middle stage of dai xi and had always been on good terms with Xu Xuan. Yet now, exhaustion showed plainly on his face, and he bore injuries as well.
The two met and exchanged greetings.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on perfecting the Five Arts!"
Nangang forced a smile, but sorrow lingered in his eyes.
Xu Xuan shook his head, leaving the subject aside, and asked instead:
"Why isn't Treading Crow with you?"
In the past, the man had always brought along a black tiger, a magical artifact with exceptional spiritual awareness that loved playing with Cinnabar Thunder. Now, however, it was nowhere to be seen.
"Dead."
Nangang's brows drew together, as though the words were difficult to speak. Slowly, he said:
"Disaster struck the clan. Our ancestor dissolved himself, and the [Colorless World Gate] fled. Then came