The Hollow Sword Gate, Ascending Stars Mountain.
The mountain's main peak was Heaven's Gate, towering straight into the clouds. Whenever the moon waned and the stars shone bright, those who climbed to its summit to watch the heavens saw the celestial lights seeming to plunge into the surrounding mountains.
It was autumn. Dusky clouds drifted above pale reds and deep purples, countless ravines and rocky crags. A young man in gray robes sat upright at the summit with a sword on his back, riding the autumn wind as he gazed across the wilderness.
Qi Wen rose. He had now reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, and Star River on his back shimmered with ever-changing starlight.
An old man in hemp robes stood behind Qi Wen, bent and frail, huddling against the mountain wind.
"Elder Xiang, you needn't stay here with me. There are still affairs in the sect that need your judgment."
"Wen, why lose your temper over them? Let them do as they please. Once the sect master leaves seclusion and achieves Foundation Establishment, their good days will be numbered."
"I'm only angry with myself for failing to keep them in line and letting these households commit such disgraceful acts!"
Qi Wen stood, restrained anger showing on his regular features. The mountain wind grew ever more urgent as the Hollow Sword Gate's current nominal sect master said coldly:
"Colluding with the Wu Clan was bad enough, but they even secretly began refining blood qi, murdering quite a few talented disciples."
"The Hollow Sword Gate is a sect, not the property of the Qi, Liang, and Yuan households. When Patriarch Kongliao appointed my master as sect master, the Liang and Yuan households were already dissatisfied. Now that they see him about to break through to Foundation Establishment, how could