Within the boundless Cloud-Heaven Realm.
Spiritual Qi was as liquid, incomparably abundant, suspended high in the sky, visible to the naked eye like banks of clouds, as though this were the immortal realm.
Seven continents lay within the realm, surrounded by oceans.
In the southeast of one of them, Huanyu Continent, numerous sects stood.
Foremost among them were three great sects.
They were the Myriad Phenomena Sect, the Longevity Sect, and the Wandering Immortal Temple.
The Three Sects gathered in one place, forming mutually supporting horns. Their disciples treated one another as brothers; though three sects in name, they were one in truth.
One fellowship with three Tribulation Crossing cultivators-their might shook the surrounding lands, and none dared underestimate them.
But since the previous great calamity from beyond the boundary, the Three Sects' grounds had been destroyed, and their losses had been grievous. Patriarch Myriad Phenomena, Chongyuanzi, one of their three patriarchs, had also suffered severe injuries and remained in seclusion.
On this day, at the Myriad Phenomena Sect's long-silent place of seclusion, the cave abode's doors slowly opened. An Emaciated Old Man emerged, looking haggard. Raising his head toward the sky, he faintly heard delighted voices coming from the Daoist grounds deep within the boundary membrane. His eyes were blank, and he felt faintly puzzled. He summoned the child attendant guarding the entrance and asked in confusion:
"Child, what happy occasion is there outside?"
The child attendant looked up blankly. His cultivation was insufficient, and he could not hear the "happy occasion" the other spoke of at all. His eyes darted, and he hurriedly said:
"I'll fetch the sect master!"
The Emaciated Old Man nodded slightly.
The child attendant ran off, shouting:
"The patriarch is awake! The patriarch is awake!"
At this guileless display, the Emaciated Old Man could