Wang Lin, his countenance serene, betrayed no shift even upon learning of the utter desolation of the First, Second, and Seventh Heavenly Bull Cavities. In truth, the echoes of their ruin had resonated within him for months prior.

“A most clandestine stratagem?” Wang Lin furrowed his brow, a sliver of doubt flickering within his eyes.

“I am but a humble messenger, dispatched to deliver this charge. Its precise nature remains veiled to me. I implore you, noble friend, hasten to the Returning Unity Sect via the teleportation array. Four messengers in total have been dispatched, each bearing tidings to a separate Heavenly Bull Cavity.” With a flourish, the Envoy Ouyang conjured a jade slip from the ether, flinging it towards Wang Lin.

“Contained within this slip are three activations of the teleportation array, and the precise location of the formation etched in detail. Waste no time, I beseech you, for I am bound by other tasks. Farewell!” A shadow of unease flickered across Envoy Ouyang’s face as he bowed deeply to Wang Lin and vanished in a roar of escaping wind.

The swiftness of Envoy Ouyang’s arrival and departure, carried on it, a palpable sense of tension gripping the cultivators of the Heavenly Bull Continent amidst this war. Wang Lin, steeped in contemplation, lowered his gaze to the jade slip.

From the earth, several streaks of light erupted, coalescing behind Wang Lin into Yan Luan and other sky-reaving cultivators. They regarded Wang Lin, their silence a heavy shroud.

At long last, Wang Lin secured the jade slip, turning to face Yan Luan and the others. He offered them a respectful bow.

“Noble companions, our paths, though intertwined for these past months, must now diverge. Should fate weave our destinies together once more, perhaps we shall fight as one in the heart of the Heavenly Bull Continent.

Farewell!” Wang Lin’s gaze swept over Yan Luan, unhesitating. He turned, taking a single stride towards the heavens. Ripples of energy surged beneath his feet, and with a blink, he was gone.

Wang Lin’s departure was swift, unburdened. He was not born of this land, his arrival and departure mirroring the wind – a transient touch, leaving scant trace upon its passing.

Yan Luan and the others watched him fade into the distance, their expressions a mosaic of emotion. The memories of the past months, etched deep within their hearts, would forever be a part of their journey.

On the morrow, all the cultivators within the Third Heavenly Bull Cavity, guided by Yan Luan and their allies, emerged from the earth palace, abandoning the Extreme Sky Plains. They journeyed towards the location described by Envoy Ouyang, a thousand streaks of light slashing across the sky.

And with that, the defense of the Third Heavenly Bull Cavity came to an end.

The Returning Unity Sect, one of the two most formidable factions within the Heavenly Bull Continent, resided amongst the Nine Sects and Thirteen Schools of the Eastern Lands, and it may not have been the strongest, but it was certainly not the weakest.

The Returning Unity Sect encompassed a vast swathe of the Heavenly Bull Continent. Upon the slopes of countless mountains, ancient halls and ornate balustrades were constructed, wreathed in a thin, mystical mist. The sight evoked an ethereal beauty.

The sect’s structure resembled a multi-tiered vortex, one layer encircling the other, reaching out to the horizon.

Like the Grand Soul Gate, the Returning Unity Sect boasted a massive number of disciples, and in a Sect of such magnitude, one could be assured that there was no shortage of those who were powerful.

Ten thousand leagues east of the Returning Unity Sect, a formation erupted in radiant light, illuminating the heavens and bathing the earth. This abrupt display roused the attention of the Returning Unity Sect, and scores of streaks flew from their mountain, hurtling towards the origin of the formation.

Within the swirling light, a figure garbed in white slowly materialized. The form was indistinct, features yet unformed. But as the figure took shape, dozens of streaks, a contingent of warriors from the Returning Unity Sect, descended upon the location of the figure and encircled it.

“Identify yourself, and present your waybill jade!” a chilling voice commanded. The speaker was a man in his middle years, his cultivation at the latter stage of the Sky Profound. Donned in a Five Elements Daoist robe, he narrowed his eyes at the figure within the formation, his gaze like sharpened steel.

The ten cultivators that surrounded him also wore the Five Elements Daoist robes of the Returning Unity Sect, their faces drawn and grave, waiting for the newcomer’s waybill jade. As it was now a time of war, they were duty-bound to slay anyone who could not produce one, if necessary.

When at last the figure was clear and unmistakable, and the cultivators from the Returning Unity Sect recognized the mark of the Heavenly Bull emblazoned on the right side of his face, the warriors visibly started, and leapt backwards by several paces.

They keenly sensed, radiating from Wang Lin, an aura that sent shivers down their spines. They were not strangers to the Heavenly Bull, and they had felt that aura before, on two seperate occasions in the previous day.

“We greet the Heavenly Bull Envoy! Pray tell, from which Cavity do you hail, and to which sect do you belong?” The man who had spoken with such icy sharpness was now cordial, bowing with clasped hands. His comrades echoed his gesture.

They held a deep respect for the envoys who had successfully protected the Heavenly Bull Cavities. Even though in their estimation, Wang Lin’s cultivation was of no great significance, they believed, like Envoy Ouyang had, that anyone capable of defending a Heavenly Bull Cavity during the onslaught of the Green Devil Continent must be someone who possessed exceptional traits.

“The Grand Soul Gate. Wang Lin. Third Heavenly Bull Cavity. The Extreme Sky Plains.” Wang Lin returned the bow.

“Envoy, please! The Sect Master has decreed that all envoys arriving must be escorted to the Grand Hall at the sect’s heart,” the man indicated with his hand.

Wang Lin inclined his head, gazing towards the far away Grand Soul Gate. This was not his first visit to this place, for in the Realm of the Caves, he had once sensed the presence of the Returning Unity Sect through a channel deep within the Wind Immortal Realm.

What was more, he would be meeting old friends within the walls of the Sect.

Stepping out of the formation, he was accompanied by the man and the other cultivators of the Returning Unity Sect as they flew towards the Grand Soul Gate.

Before they could fly out of the radius of the formation, the formation suddenly burst forth with even brighter and blinding light, lighting up the surrounding heavens and illuminating all within.

This unexpected change immediately drew the attention of Wang Lin and the others, who were stopped in their tracks, their faces contorted. The man’s face had darkened once again as his gaze locked onto the formation.
It was not long before the maiden’s form was fully revealed. She was a cultivator clad in robes of deepest violet, seemingly young in years, and blessed with surpassing beauty. An aura of serene tranquility emanated from her, causing her to appear as a true immortal, descended from the heavens themselves.

Upon her fair cheek, on the right side, rested the image of a celestial bull, a sign of her lineage. Yet, far from diminishing her allure, this mark added a touch of captivating mystique.

“From the Gate of Tranquil Life, Tang Jia, of the Sixth Celestial Bull Chamber, a humble offering from Cang Ming Mountain…” the maiden spoke softly, her gaze sweeping over the assembled throng. It lingered a moment longer upon Wang Lin, though her expression remained one of placid composure.

The instant Wang Lin beheld this woman, his eyes narrowed in sudden recognition. He studied her features intently, a vague familiarity tugging at his memory, yet he could not quite place it.

Tang Jia, noticing the intensity of his stare, arched a delicate brow, regarding him with a calm inquiry. “From which chamber does this Daoist hail?” Her voice was as melodious as the song of a lark, pleasant to the ear.

“The Third Celestial Bull Chamber,” Wang Lin replied slowly, his gaze still fixed upon her face, searching his memories for the source of this strange familiarity.

He could ascertain with certainty that she was not a soul reborn from the Realm of the Caves.

However, such scrutiny, in the eyes of the maiden, was most impolite. Her brow furrowed once more, and a hint of displeasure flickered within her gaze.

“Has this Daoist perhaps encountered Tang Jia before?” she inquired, her voice cool and measured.

“Nay, I have not, but there is a certain familiarity to your countenance,” Wang Lin murmured, realizing that his earlier scrutiny might have been ill-mannered. He offered a small, apologetic smile, and lowered his gaze.

Hearing his words, Tang Jia’s disdain deepened. She had heard similar phrases countless times in her life, and now categorized Wang Lin as nothing more than a lecherous rogue. Without another word, she transformed into a streak of violet light, soaring toward the Gui Yi Sect.

Wang Lin rubbed his nose, catching the strange look upon the face of the middle-aged man beside him, and then followed after the departing violet streak towards the Gui Yi Sect.

Soon, the assembled group was hurtling through the heavens for thousands of leagues, entering the domain of the Gui Yi Sect. Guided by the middle-aged man, they passed through the sect’s vast protective array and flew toward the central hall.

Ahead, a violet flash indicated that Tang Jia was familiar with this place, and she made directly for the grand hall at the center.

After half an hour, Wang Lin saw before him an immense plaza. At its heart stood a gargantuan bell, inverted upon the ground, radiating a palpable aura of immense power.

Beneath the bell, two cultivators sat in meditative postures. One was an elder, his hair the color of snow, his face gaunt and grim. He sat with eyes closed, oblivious to the world around him. On his right cheek, the sigil of a celestial bull pulsed faintly, emanating the rich essence of a celestial bull spirit.

The other was a youth, his expression indolent and carefree. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could perceive a glint of sharp intelligence within his eyes. He seemed at ease, but should his face harden and his eyes blaze, he would be transformed into a being of terrifying power.

Upon his right cheek, too, shone the symbol of a celestial bull.

As Tang Jia arrived, the youth glanced at her with a look of disinterest. Then, with sudden and violent force, he jolted upright, his indolent mask shattering to reveal an expression of utter shock. His eyes fixed, not upon the violet-robed maiden, but upon the figure approaching behind her! The white-haired, white-clad Wang Lin, guided by several of the Gui Yi Sect members.

Wang Lin, too, beheld him!

Tang Jia was startled by the youth’s dramatic reaction. She knew him, knew his status within the Gui Yi Sect, his reputation throughout the Celestial Bull Continent. She had seen him often, radiating arrogance and power, yet never had she witnessed such a display of emotion.

Confused, Tang Jia instinctively turned, beholding the figure she had so recently dismissed with contempt.