Blood-red light stained half the sky dark red.
Horns sounded from three directions at once, rumbling like thunder and making the ancient forest's silver-gray trunks tremble. White Snow's golden pupils narrowed to two thin slits. She counted at least twelve Foundation Establishment auras to the southeast, while the pressure of a Golden Core Stage cultivator bore down from due north like a mountain.
"A Golden Core elder from the Stars Pavilion." Ningyu's voice was taut as a bowstring. "Mo Wentian is leading them."
White Snow had never heard the name, but judging by Ningyu's white knuckles, he would not be easy to deal with.
The Seventh Elder seized her wing and hoisted her in front of him. The old man's eyes shone with frightening intensity, and his left hand, missing two fingers, clutched a Formation Disk.
"Listen up, you little white dumpling." His words came as fast as a drumbeat. "I'll lay a bewildering formation to the southeast and hold them for half an incense stick. Run deeper in. Keep running until you reach that impact crater."
"I ain't going." White Snow's feathers bristled. "I'm staying with you-"
"Stay, and you'll only be a burden!"
The Seventh Elder slapped her on the forehead. Neither too hard nor too soft-the gesture was exactly the same as when he had slapped Ye Han all those years ago.
"The inheritance is waiting for you." His voice sank, almost pleading. "Go. I promised I'd join you in this madness just this once, and I keep my word."
White Snow stared at him for two breaths. Then she turned and charged into the depths of the ancient forest.
"Old Seven!" she shouted over her shoulder as she ran. **"If you die, I'll take all your Formation Disks apart and make a bird's nest out of