The slovenly old man's expression turned solemn, and he answered gravely, "The Great Talisman Sect has made no move yet, but our two Dharma Lineages have made inquiries far and wide and finally caught wind of something.
"The Foundation Establishment True Person coming this time is one of the Great Talisman Sect's ten True Disciples. His name is Lou Zhenxiao."
Song Chou shuddered, alarm flashing in his eyes. "The ruthless fellow who declared he would cultivate Five Fates, gather all Five Phases, and seize first place at the Cinnabar Essence Dharma Assembly?"
The slovenly old man nodded with a bitter smile. "Precisely! You and I ought to address him respectfully as 'Cloud-Severing True Person.'
"He's a veritable killing star. Back when he cultivated at Mingcang Great Marsh, he already held the position of chief administrator of the Lower Courtyard's Punishment Hall.
"Last year, while touring Bluefall Cliff of the Southern Sea, something angered him, and he personally wiped out five Gate-Clan Dharma Lineages. Not even a Sect-tier lineage was spared."
Song Chou forcibly suppressed the urge to flee at once and asked hesitantly, "What has he come to Northern Ridge for? Sealing three thousand li with a single talisman-does he mean to purge corruption and uproot Dharma Lineages as a warning to others?"
Seeing Song Chou so terrified, the slovenly old man secretly rejoiced. At last, this fellow had tasted what it meant to have his courage scared out of him.
"If the True Person meant to mete out punishment on behalf of the Dao Lineage, why would he have waited until now? Lou Zhenxiao has now cultivated three phases. Xin Metal,
"Gui Water, and Ding Fire have all reached perfection.
"If he made a move, apart from our two ancestors being able to hold him off for a while,