Lately, the major sects of the Azure Realm were still being besieged and harassed by demonic cultivators, no different from usual.
The greatest change was probably that the sun in the sky had grown increasingly red, almost completely swallowing its original golden radiance.
Under that red light, the earth was also coated in a dark crimson hue. In short, it could hardly have looked more eerie.
Of course, it was not as though nothing good had happened during this time.
For some unknown reason, quite a few ancestral elders who had gone away to temper themselves had recently returned to their sects.
Some had wandered outside for over a thousand years, their existence all but forgotten. Others had even been presumed dead by their sects' disciples.
Yet, unexpectedly, they had all returned practically overnight.
Inside the Azure Tide Sect's Heavenly Origin Hall, far more people were present than at previous meetings, yet scarcely anyone dared to speak.
That was because, besides the sect master, elders, and peak masters, several seniors from Cloudmist Peak were also present this time.
After the other Dao Lords had left for the Nightfall Cold Pool, Dao Lord Yuxiu and Dao Lord Cao Yin had remained stationed on Cloudmist Peak, occasionally appearing before others when something important happened.
Like now.
At present, two elderly men whom everyone found unfamiliar sat below the sect master in Heavenly Origin Hall. Even the sect master himself did not recognize them.
Only Dao Lord Yuxiu and Dao Lord Cao Yin looked as they always did, maintaining their usual indifference.
"Eight hundred years have passed, and you two are actually still alive." Dao Lord Yuxiu picked up the tea beside her and took a small sip.
Ning Hai, who had likewise lifted his teacup, did not have nearly so steady a