When the alarm sounded, White Snow was teaching Tie Xiaoqi to use Star Phoenix Flame to light a fuse.
It was a shrill sound of metal scraping against metal... an alarm Old Ironhead had fashioned from a discarded axle, sounded only when Star Demons attacked in force.
But this time, it wasn't Star Demons.
"Teacher Bai!" Tie Xiaoqi pointed at the cavern entrance, her little face deathly pale. "Up in the sky... so many flying boats!"
White Snow rushed out of the cavern, her golden pupils narrowing to pinpoints.
Twelve Black Flying Boats blotted out the sky above Iron Bone Stockade. Dark red star patterns belonging to the Stars Pavilion were engraved on every hull, and the decks were packed with black-robed cultivators whose eyes gleamed with cold gray light beneath their masks.
On the leading flying boat stood a stooped, hunchbacked old man. His long, gray-white eyebrows hung down to his cheeks, and the cuffs of his washed-out gray robe were frayed.
Mo Huaigu. Grand Elder of the Star-Locking Hall.
His gaze crossed hundreds of yards and landed squarely on White Snow.
"The Star Phoenix Alliance." His voice was as hoarse as a broken bellows. "The Pavilion Master has decreed... rogue cultivators who band together shall be deemed rebels. Rebels shall be executed."
As his final word fell, all twelve flying boats opened their cabin doors. Hundreds of black shadows poured out, every black-robed cultivator gripping dark red chains... Spirit-Binding Chains.
"Form up!" White Snow roared, golden flames erupting around her. "Everyone, take your drill positions!"
The rogue cultivators rushed out of the cavern entrances. The bearded man carried a giant shield of scrap iron, the female leader from Broken Blade Cliff drew her broken sword, and the old man from Sandstorm Pass shakily raised a formation flag without