East Sea, Golden Turtle Island.
After the tribulation fire of the Investiture of the Gods blazed up, the Twelve Golden Immortals had pressed upon the mountain gate, Zhao Gongming had returned from certain death, and the Three Xiao had unfurled the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation before the battle lines. Since then, these Saint Daoist Grounds, where ten thousand immortals had once come to pay homage, had not seen a single day of clear sunlight.
Sect Master Tongtian remained in seclusion.
Disciples passed along the stone steps in the mountains, even the faint rustle of their robes brushing the moss growing more subdued.
The Chan Sect and the Western Teachings drew closer step by step. The killing intent hanging over everyone's heads battered the cliffs again and again with the night tides.
Before Biyou Palace, Daoist Duobao sat cross-legged in vigil, the blue bricks beneath his knees darkened by morning dew.
Golden Spirit Holy Mother, Wudang Holy Mother, and Turtle Spirit Holy Mother stood behind him, their hems lifting in the sea breeze before quickly settling back into place.
No one spoke.
They were all waiting for that door to open again.
Sunlight swept past the eaves time after time. Deep within the palace gates, the Shangqing Saint's Dao breath grew fainter by the day.
The hall was unsettlingly empty.
Duobao rested his palms on his knees. The sea breeze rolled up his cuff, exposing a length of raised vein at his wrist.
Master has been in seclusion too long.
So long that whenever he thought of it, his chest grew heavy and stifled.
Could that confrontation with Yuanshi Tianzun truly have wounded his Sage origin?
A low sigh escaped Duobao's throat, its final note quickly dissolving into the surf.
Has the Interception Sect truly come to this?
Before the