Eastern Saint Garrison.
Inside a vast palace at its highest point.
Traces of the palace's former splendor and magnificence could still be discerned.
But now, it held nothing but rows of meditation cushions.
Spare and plain.
At the head of the hall, Ning Daohuan, Sect Master of the Heavenly Gate Sect, sat cross-legged on a cushion, resting with his eyes closed.
Several cushions below him, close to his seat, were also occupied.
Soon, figures filed into the great hall from outside.
Some aloof, some wild, some cold and stern, some lewd and sinister, some proud, some brimming with righteousness...
Lu Yuansheng was among them, near the rear.
They took their seats one after another.
Only when every cushion in the hall was occupied did Ning Daohuan finally open his eyes.
Brilliant light flashed from them.
In that instant, everyone felt as though the entire hall had dimmed for a moment.
They all lowered their heads respectfully.
"May the Sect Master enjoy peace and well-being!"
Ning Daohuan accepted their greeting without demur, swept his gaze over them, and said:
"I have summoned you elders today to discuss our sect's recent stalemate with the five sects of the Chen Kingdom."
Silence greeted him from below.
When no one spoke, Ning Daohuan frowned slightly and looked toward the back of the gathering.
"Yuansheng, explain the current situation."
Hearing his name, Lu Yuansheng hurriedly rose and raised his hands in salute to Ning Daohuan.
"As you command, Sect Master."
Then he cleared his throat and said quietly:
"As you all know, since the battle at Water-Controlling City, the other four sects of the Chen Kingdom, besides the Eastern Saint Sect, have stopped concealing their hostility toward us. Over these past few years, they have blocked the spread of the Incense Dao from the east,