In the upper courtyard outside the fiery forge, a warm autumn breeze was blowing across the cedar terraces. Mount Cangxuan hovered majestically above the cloud sea, bathed in the strange, copper-colored twilight cast by the encroaching gray blight in the upper high sky. Below the floating mountain, the vast expanse of the mortal continent seemed to hold its breath in fragile, scared silence.
Lin Xiao perched comfortably atop a sturdy cedar barrel filled with aged persimmon wine. He was still in his natural blue slime form, swaying gently from side to side like a contented swinging weight. Within his semi-clear sapphire core, tiny threads of gold, purple, and electric blue drifted in lazy spirals around his Primordial Void Dantian, still digesting the effervescent leftovers of the void shard.
Surrounding the barrel in a wide semicircle stood the leadership of the Myriad Spirit Safe hall. Su Ling’er, her nine snowy-white tails curled attentively around her knees. Tie Shan, his massive bear arms crossed over his broad chest, still staring at Lin Xiao with wide, respectful awe. Xiao Hei, sitting on his haunches with his ears pricked forward. Sword Saint Gu Qingfeng, idly twirling a dry willow twig between his fingers. And Patriarch Lu Feng, who had just stepped off a transit carriage with ink-stained fingers and a ledger clutched tightly against his ribs.
