In the Azure Realm, a year had slipped by before anyone realized it.
Several old men stood on the Heavenly Secret Sect's Distant Lookout Platform, gathered around the enormous Compass atop it and pointing out various details.
Hongguang's expression was the darkest of them all, and even Yun Jing had lost some of his usual easygoing air.
The casual indifference in his eyes was gone, replaced by a stern chill.
One of the old men said, "No matter how you look at it, this is a sign that great turmoil is about to sweep the world."
Another shook his head in disagreement. "You said it yourself: about to. That could mean a hundred years from now, a thousand years from now, or even longer. I think it may be too early to worry."
"It isn't too early. You saw the Message Talisman the Azure Tide Sect sent the Sect Leader a few days ago. The Heavenly Demon Sect seems to be making major moves lately, taking over certain inconspicuous little cities and villages across the Nine Provinces Continent. Things are somewhat better on the Azure Mist Continent. Though not all of them are involved, several major sects have joined forces to clear out these outsiders. Cultivators traveling abroad can also rush to help as soon as they discover a city occupied by demonic cultivators.
"As far as I know, the situation on the Shangyin Continent seems fairly manageable too.
"But the Spiritflight Continent seems to be in the worst shape of all."
"That Spiritflight Continent... ah." It was a sect whose very mention made people sigh.
Hongguang waved a hand. "Enough. Stop sighing over other people's affairs for now. Fifth, calculate A Ling's location again."
The old man who had been sighing immediately grew solemn and began making calculations while