Sha Wujing immediately called out in all four directions, "Senior brothers and sisters, do it again just as before!"
With the experience of the first round, the four quarters no longer fell into disorder.
The ingredients gathered on the first return remained where they had been placed.
In the west, a drop of golden liquid hovered where Wukong had stood before. Its surface trembled slightly, reflecting a glimmer of platinum light.
In the east, the tree's shadow held the red lotus aloft on a branch. Only one layer of petals had opened, and its roots were still short. Once it left the flames, it stopped growing.
The four quarters moved again.
Little White Dragon rose along the Kan water, while A-Hu descended from the Li fire. They crossed through the central palace, and Wukong also left his position in the west, plunging headfirst into the black waters of the north.
Bajie turned south.
The tree's shadow followed behind him, sinking into the crimson flames with him.
"On the second return, still fetch metal from Kan and seek wood within Li."
"Bring what you obtain back to your own positions."
"Do not disrupt the sequence."
As Sha Wujing finished speaking, his feet sank downward.
Yellow earth supported the four quarters. The Clear Qi above continued to rise, while the turbid qi below was pressed deep into the earth.
The black waters in the north parted in two.
Several drops of platinum lay hidden on the bottom, appearing and disappearing with the waves.
Wukong passed through the water and brought those drops of golden liquid out with him, gathering them in his palm.
When he returned to the west, the first drop of golden liquid hovering there immediately came to meet him.
Old and new touched.
The drops quickly fused into a