The Arcane Mountain,

the Serene Yang Sect,

the Ardent Yin Sect,

the Score Note Sect,

the Blue Moon Sect,

the Dreamless Sect,

the Sacred Way Sect,

the Grand Sword Sect,

the Veil Shadow Sect,

and the Beast Call Sect.

The towering red light rose from each of the top ten sects and the regions that they were located in were quickly overtaken by a grim atmosphere. The mood of the world altered as the people realize what was happening.

The changing of the heavens marks the return of an unforgettable enemy! The day that they have all dreaded has finally come!

A dignified air enveloped Mortal Desolate, so thick that it was that people were smothered by it.

…

Serene Yang Sect.

By this point, Hao Boqin has lost his previous cheerful spirit. After seeing the warning from the Arcane Mountain, he left the matters of the sect to the Grand Elder to take care of before making a trip to a remote part of the land. Soon, he arrived in front of a small marbled house that was isolated from the other parts of the sect. There were no other people around as this place was a restricted area, not only for the disciples, but even the Elders would need special permission to come here.

Hao Boqin was currently feeling a little anxious and yet, he dared not disturb the person that was inside the house. He remained silent and waited. As a few hours passed by, the steady aura on his body slightly fluctuated with a sense of restlessness. This was against the nature of the Frost Inflamed Art that he cultivates so he tried to drown himself in tranquility.

Finally, after he waited for another half an hour, a feminine voice came from inside the house. Naturally, it belongs to Hong Tian.

“Sect Master Hao, you’re looking for me?”

Hao Boqin breathed a sigh of relief. He was having thoughts about knocking on the door. Fortunately, that was no longer necessary.

“Yes, Young Lady,” he replied respectfully.

“…Is it about the disturbance in the distance?”

“It is,” Hao Boqin nodded. He glanced in the direction of the Fervid Tranquil Hall where the pillar of light was still rising from. He had given the copper token to the Grand Elder earlier before he seek out Hong Tian.

“Young Lady, that light is a signal from the Arcane Mountain. Once it glows red, it can only mean one thing, that the Graha race is returning.”

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“…”

There was no response.

Hao Boqin didn’t mind and continued, “The Graha has nearly defeated us in the past, it was merely due to the timely arrival of the Great Ancestor of the Arcane Mountain that saved us from that tribulation, otherwise-“

“I am aware of the Graha’s invasion, Sect Master,” Hong Tian calmly interrupted.

Hearing this, Hao Boqin decided to not beat around the bush. He said, “Young Lady, I know you’re from the Upper World. For you to come down here alone, you’re definitely not someone simple. On the account that you and our sect share some karma, I was wondering if…”

If the Grand Elder or anyone else was here, they’d be shocked. The tone in which Hao Boqin was speaking was almost akin to begging. He was the Sect Master of the Serene Yang Sect, when had he ever had to lower himself like this? However, even if they’d witnessed this, they wouldn’t fault him. The previous war was terrible. Even though they hadn’t personally participated in it, the stories that the previous generation told was enough for them to know how awful it was.

War is not a game. Lives will be sacrificed. Whatever help they can get is appreciated.

As Hao Boqin spoke, Hong Tian sighed as she knew where this was going, “Sect Master, I’m sorry. There isn’t anything that I can do. You’re correct, I am from the Upper World but as you can see, I am alone and without any means of communication with the higher realm. I am unable to call for help.”

“… I understand,” Hao Boqin also sighed but this was from disappointment. Seeing as he won’t be able to get the other party’s help, he decided to leave.

He still needed to meet with the other Sect Masters of the top ten sects to discuss their plan of action. He had already wasted enough time and couldn’t afford to waste more.

“Then I need to return to the Sect, farewell, Young Lady.”

As his feet were leaving the ground, Hong Tian’s voice entered his ears.

“If it comes down to it, I will show myself. I do not fear the Graha, but they also do not fear me. I cannot promise anything.”

Hao Boqin stopped. He looked down and slightly bowed before departing.

Inside the marbled house, Hong Tian sat crossed-legged on an ordinary bed. She watched as Hao Boqin flew away without too much change in her expression.

After a moment, she retracted her gaze and frowned.

“The Graha is troubling a minor world just for that person’s Legacy, ridiculous. This matter shouldn’t have been so complicated, it’s all because Han Lan killed him that the Graha is being so persistent. Now, not only is she being hunted by them in the Upper World, even her home world is being targeted.”

“Han Lan, as much as I respect you, your decision to kill such an important member of the Graha race is questionable. But I do not know your circumstance at the time so who knows why you did it.”

“The matter of Mortal Desolate has truly made me realize something.”

“The Graha, obsessed with all things related to their Progenitor. The Celestial, consumed by their hungering addiction. The Primordial Ji Clan, lost from their deep infatuation with their bloodline.”

Hong Tian felt troubled, “Of the four of us, only the Fey remained in the Paralix to continue our mission.”

She raised her head, closed her eyes, and felt weary, “When can I return…? Why does Big Sister get to stay but I must be sent here…”

Hong Tian immediately became unhappy the more she thought about her circumstance.

She opened her eyes and glanced down at her hand, which was holding onto a book with a white cover.

“What a coincidence that a member of both the Fey and Graha fell into the same world.The Serene Yang Sect and Ardent Yin Sect, their Founders managed to comprehend a small part of my Senior’s Legacy to create the Frost Inflamed Art and the Flame of Ice Scripture but that was it. The Legacy itself is still missing. It’s not in the Serene Yang Sect and it’s not likely that it’s in the Ardent Yin Sect. So where could it be?”

After thinking about it for a while, a light flashed past her eyes.

“In Mortal Desolate, there’s only one person that seems capable of taking it.”

Hong Tian stood up and approached a small table that wasn’t too far from her. There, sat an unorganized pile of books. She reached out and grabbed one that was hidden underneath another.

It looked rather old and worn with tears on the spine.

On the cover, it read: Empress Han Lan and the Amber Soul Kingdom.