Whoosh-
The sea breeze swept across Golden Scale Island, scattering the last lingering fluctuations of spells.
At the center of the island, the hall that had once belonged to the Golden Scale Sect exuded a solemn air in the dusk.
This Pseudo-Nascent Soul sect had known better than to linger. Long before the two armies descended, the entire sect had relocated, avoiding a towering calamity that might have wiped it out.
Hum-
A pale golden soundproofing barrier rose outside the hall, followed by an iron-gray protective dome.
The two layers of restrictions overlapped, completely isolating the interior from the outside.
Yue Hanshan lowered the hand with which he had formed the seal. Even someone at the Nascent Soul Peak would have to expend some effort to peer through the barrier laid down by this Circuit Inspector of Heavenly Abyss Pass.
The hall's layout was simple, but spacious enough.
The chief seat at the northern end stood empty.
Yue Hanshan stood in the center of the hall without demur.
Though he did not sit, he naturally carried the air of one presiding over the proceedings.
Below him, two rows of red sandalwood chairs lined the left and right sides.
Abbot Hui'an had already taken the foremost seat on the left. His eyes were closed in repose as he slowly rolled his Buddhist Prayer Beads between his fingers. Wuchen and Yuan Chen sat behind him, their expressions composed.
The foremost seat on the right remained empty.
"Sect Leader Qing, please take the seat of honor."
A soft, alluring yet dignified voice rang out.
Guanyin Tower Master stepped gracefully forward and, with respect, personally showed Qing Chen to his seat.
This gesture brought a subtle change to the eyes of quite a few Nascent Soul True Lords in the hall.
The corner