Northern Sea, Cold Gate.
Eternal darkness, violet radiance hidden within.
Le Yu's destruction and Water Transformation's return to its rightful place had happened seven years ago.
Universal Salvation had greatly expanded its teachings, sending disciples ashore to quell the disasters alongside the Daoists of the Upper Firmament. Through the combined strength of "Water Transformation" and "Sky Thunder," most of the calamities within the former territory of Li had been temporarily subdued.
A dragon had emerged in the east, and spring and autumn no longer mingled, yet the solar terms remained in utter disarray.
But none of this affected the Northern Sea.
Above this sea stretched endless wind, thunder, and cold. Human traces were scarce, land nowhere to be seen; only boundless glaciers rose and sank in its waters. The domain of the Cold Gate was colder and darker still, untouched by sun or moon, with day and night indistinguishable, let alone any solar terms.
Its only source of light was lightning. Since the Thirty-Six Shock Thunders had begun their cycle, this place had at least gained some illumination, though it could not light all the darkness of the Cold Gate.
Today was unusual. The thunder had ceased.
A Shock Thunder cycle could often last thirty-six years. Just over half that time had passed, with more than a decade remaining; it should never have stopped so soon.
Age-old darkness and desolation shrouded this place once more. Across ten thousand miles of sea, there was not a trace of vitality, not a single living creature.
This did not last long. Ripples stirred in the great marsh within the Thunder Pivot, and countless bolts of lightning rose like dragons and serpents. At last, they converged into a brilliant violet light, immediately followed by a boom like the Heavenly Drum.
High in the sky,