At Redwood Ridge's ritual altar, a Purple Canopy hung in the heavens, and starlight blazed, illuminating Southern Guizhou.
A Daoist stood upon the altar, his bearing like an emperor's, his robes like a mantle of stars, his magic like a god's descent, his voice like thunder.
The Daoist surveyed the four directions, sensed the stars, and said, "I have heard that the Northern Dipper has a light of 'Jingming Clarity.' I wish to use it now. Who Can Bring It About?"
The Daoist's inquiry rang out atop the ritual altar and spread like thunder. Though phrased as a question, it carried an air that brooked neither defiance nor neglect.
"Reporting to the True Person: Longevity Palace on Sanyuan Mountain constructed the Northern Dipper Purifying Water Bright Light Black Altar by imperial command and obtained this light. We now respectfully present it."
No sooner had the Daoist finished speaking than Longevity Palace on Sanyuan Mountain, far away in Nanchang Prefecture, Yu Zhang, suddenly erupted with radiance, like a brilliant star fallen to earth, its light shining over Mount Heng and Mount Lu.
A respectful reply rang out. Though it came from Sanyuan Mountain, the voice did not dissipate, traveling beyond Yu Zhang, crossing the lands of Three Xiang, and reaching the ritual altar at Redwood Ridge in the Miao Borderlands. Anyone listening knew at once that the respondent was at least in the Fourth Realm.
At that very moment, a resplendent Black Altar stood within Longevity Palace on Sanyuan Mountain. The Ritual Platform's officiant was Daoist Zhanchang himself.
Star rain was falling atop this Black Altar as well. Here, however, it was far more magnificent than the rain above Northern Dipper Palace's Dipper-Worshipping Altar. Dense and brilliantly radiant, it resembled a dazzling pillar of light, a beacon visible for a thousand