Jeweled towers and shell pavilions, mist curtains and cloud windows.
The heavenly palace was magnificent, with foundations of gold and steps of white jade, ten thousand streams of rosy cloud soaring majestically above it and a thousand layers of red mist wreathing it.
Beneath the lofty pavilion where Tong Xuan sat facing the gold-robed elder, there was only a boundless sea of clouds. None could tell how far it stretched, as though it reached all the way to the corners of heaven, beyond the clamor of mortal life, transcending the mundane world.
Hearing Tong Xuan speak, the gold-robed elder could not help shaking his head and sighing.
"With your exalted standing, senior brother, what could you possibly need to discuss with a scale-clad creature like me?
"Could it be that Fellow Daoist Shan Jian of your esteemed school wants to take his blade to us nonhuman beings again, and you've come to give me a warning out of consideration for our old friendship?"
"Junior Fellow Disciple Shan Jian...
"He has a stubborn disposition. His resolve hasn't changed since he first entered the Dao, so at least he's remained true to his course."
Tong Xuan sounded somewhat helpless. "But my visit today has nothing to do with him.
"Shan Jian has been fighting those Perfected Persons of Changwen Heaven again lately. Both sides are thoroughly engrossed, so he has no time to turn his attention back to Xudu Heaven."
The gold-robed elder's expression shifted slightly, his two long eyebrows rising. He was about to speak when a loud belch cut him short.
He turned to look.
A long table of blue jade, originally laden with wine and exquisite dishes, now held nothing but empty plates and bowls.
A crafty-looking old yellow dog lay sprawled on his back atop the table, his