High in the blue heavens, amid towering layers of cloud, ethereal immortal mountains loomed faintly into view. At times, immortal music drifted through the air; at others, cranes soared past.
Deep within the misty clouds, in a place unknown to the world, a disheveled man in tattered yellow robes lay upon the clouds, sobbing. Several black-clothed men knelt behind him.
"Immortal Venerable... Immortal Venerable, save me! Han Ning'er was torn apart by sword qi, and they shattered most of my Earth Immortal Dao fruit. I beg you to grant me spirit medicine..."
"Hmph!"
The man seated upon the cloud dais in the highest heavens gave a cold snort. He wore magnificent, wide-sleeved robes woven from flowing gold, with faint starlight drifting between their folds, as though the Milky Way had spilled over his skin. A purple jade crown rested on his head, and twelve coiling dragon patterns wound around his brow. His eyes were half-closed, his lashes casting boundless shadows beneath them.
Those kneeling in his shadow fell silent as cicadas in winter, trembling despite themselves.
"The world below has so little spiritual energy, yet you cannot even deal with a swarm of ants. What use are you?"
His voice rolled like thunder. Behind him, a gilded throne towered into the clouds, cast from nine-times-refined black iron. Ancient battle patterns of gods and devils were engraved across its surface, every line flowing with a golden sheen.
Behind the throne hung the Chaos Divine Bow, its body curved like the moon. Its string had been forged from a star core frozen when the Heavenly River ruptured, and ten thousand streaks of purple lightning coiled around its body. Though no arrow was nocked, it already gave faint dragon cries. A primordial jade soul adorned each end, separation flame on the left and