Three months later, in the Council Hall atop Digu Pass Peak in Earth Pass City, the atmosphere was somewhat solemn.
Spirit Crane True Person stepped half a pace forward and said gravely, "Elder Qing, First Seat Jingxin of Cold Mountain Temple stated that Abbot Hanshan was cultivating in seclusion and receiving no visitors. He would therefore bring the disciples under him to attend the ceremony."
Recalling the stench of rotting corpses he had encountered in the Yin Corpse Hall on Earth Corpse Island, Songshan True Person still felt his stomach churn with nausea. He, too, frowned as he spoke:
"Deputy Sect Master Yin Shi said much the same, claiming that the Three Corpses Devil Lord's ritual refinement of the Three Corpses Great Art had reached a critical juncture, making it truly inconvenient for him to leave seclusion."
Xu Jiuling steeled himself and cautiously stepped forward, saying respectfully, "Reporting to the Hall Vice Lord, when I reached the Azure Sun Sect, its Sect Master, Qingyangzi, likewise remained in seclusion.
"I made inquiries everywhere. Even the Grand Elder seemed to be absorbed in cultivation. Only Second Elder True Person Mu Rong agreed to lead a party here, and he also said he would prepare generous gifts."
Roughly half the time it took to drink a cup of tea passed.
Only then did Qing Chen speak, his voice as calm as water, betraying neither joy nor anger. "So, you failed to meet even one of these three Sect Masters?"
Most of the little good cheer the affairs of the World Inside the Tower had brought him had now dissipated.
None of the Sect Masters of the Three Great Sects had shown themselves?
Clouds of suspicion could not help rising in Qing Chen's heart, and certain thoughts grew wildly like weeds.
According to reports