Nine hundred feet below the clouds, in the sunlit volcano bowl of the Demon Trial Valley, an air of tense, solemn ceremony had dropped upon the dark rock plaza.
The three huge Water-Scrying Mirrors floating between the elders’ marble platforms shone with clean, enchanted liquid silver clarity. Hundreds of spectators—patriarchs of minor clans, inner court deacons, and thousands of eager young students—sat in respectful rows on the stone benches. They murmured in admiration as they watched the heroic exploits of their favorite young masters.
Grand Elder Meng of the Azure Cloud Sect sat upon his carved rosewood armchair, a fine china cup of steaming dragon-well tea resting gracefully between his withered, ringed fingers.
On the central mirror, the glow of Floor Fifty was displayed in vivid, breathtaking detail. Senior Brother Lu was locked in a majestic, desperate duel against the three-headed Ashen Gorgon, his azure sword-light tracing brilliant calligraphy through the air as he coughed blood and fought for the honor of the southern provinces.
“A amazing display of martial virtue,” Grand Elder Meng murmured, nodding with deep paternal satisfaction. “Young Lu has reached the fiftieth tier in less than ten hours of trial initiation. At this rate, he will surpass the record of the Seventh Patriarch and claim the sacred treasures of the middle bounds by dawn.”
