Dustfinger pondered, the wine goblet held aloft in his hand for an age. “The familial cultivation you speak of, good Serpentine, pertains perchance to the Astral Domain of Luo Tian?” demanded One-Serpentine, his interest piqued. Wang Lin nodded, whereupon One-Serpentine continued, “This Luo Tian is peculiar indeed. That a domain steeped in familial tradition could flourish so defies belief, were it not the word of the Cultivation Alliance itself.”

“This assault from Luo Tian, their victory in the northern borderlands of the Alliance, speaks to a power not to be underestimated.”

Even as he spoke, thunder boomed in the distance, a ravenous storm gathering, swallowing the silver moon in its inky embrace. A dampness permeated the air, and in a blinding flash of lightning, the heavens unleashed their fury. Torrents of rain lashed against the earth, and a spectral mist began to rise from the sodden ground.

The exquisite maiden named Ling’er gasped, rushing to the edge of the pavilion, her eyes wide with wonder.

Dustfinger’s musings were shattered by the thunder’s roar. He started, then shook his head. “The whims of Tians 운 Star’s weather, especially in these late months, are capricious. One moment, stars pierce the velvet sky; the next, a deluge descends from a shroud of clouds.”

One-Star, the purple-robed elder, nodded in agreement. “Indeed. It is akin to the temperament of a volatile mage – unpredictable and elusive.”

Their words struck a chord within Wang Lin. He stiffened, his gaze snapping to the sky beyond the pavilion. The goblet in his hand faltered, his mind reeling. The fog that shrouded the mystery of Bai Wei abruptly parted, as if torn asunder by an unseen hand! “Like the temperament of a volatile mage, unpredictable and elusive…” “Bai Wei once said that in a few months, the weather of Tians 운 Star would shift drastically, a unique spectacle of shifting sun and shadow.”

“These words, seemingly commonplace, carry profound meaning! The fluctuating weather reflects the capricious nature of my master, Tians 운 Zi, echoing the myriad intertwined facets I have glimpsed within him!” Wang Lin’s sudden agitation startled Dustfinger and his companions. They exchanged bewildered glances, unable to fathom his thoughts. A heavy silence descended.

One-Star’s words had cleared the mists of confusion. Wang Lin’s mind now raced with clarity, dissecting Bai Wei’s every word and gesture. A faint thread of truth began to unravel.

“In the rear mountains, an unknown hand planted a White Yang tree, fabled never to bloom, yet it flowered, bearing blossoms not of white, but black. They withered after merely three breaths, dissolving into mist… Alas, if only that flower could be revived.”

“There lies meaning veiled in plain sight! ‘White Yang tree’ speaks of Bai Wei himself! The tree’s fruitless nature signifies his inability to become a woman, being born a man… Then, the black blossoms that bloomed hint at a forced corruption, a transformation against his nature, turning man into woman!” “The flower’s fleeting life of three breaths speaks of his imminent demise! He seeks my aid!” “Therefore, when I inquired about his techniques, he feigned distress, hoping to deepen my confusion, leading me back to ponder his earlier words. And then, he whispered the secrets of the Dual Desires Immortal Art!” “The strange sigil wrought by the flow of Yin Qi within him remains hidden until Bai Wei utters the phrase ‘Dual Desires Immortal Art,’ a subtle reminder he hoped I would heed!”

“All of this, combined with the earlier remark about the ever-shifting weather of Tians 운 Star… he fears Tians 운 Zi. My master is most likely the architect of his predicament!”

“This is the true reason he summoned me forth from the Tians 운 Sect!” Wang Lin rose abruptly, bowing deeply to the three sages. “Esteemed companions, pressing matters call me hence. I must take my leave. Farewell!” With that, Wang Lin seized Xu Liguo, shoving him into his storage pouch, and vanished in a blink, leaving the bewildered sages to ponder the cause of his sudden departure.

With a stride, Wang Lin reappeared outside Bai Wei’s chamber. Though he sought not the secrets of Tians 운 Zi, a constant vigilance was necessary to safeguard himself. Understanding Tians 운 Zi was the only true path to self-preservation. Thus, he would unravel the enigma of Bai Wei! But as he materialized, a whisper of a ward touched his senses. The energy was so faint that only his careful observation revealed it.

“Something is amiss!” Wang Lin’s eyes narrowed. He unleashed his spirit sense, probing the room. The ward pulsed, exploding with a sudden surge of power, sending a shockwave crashing against his mind. The boom echoed across the clearing, drawing the attention of Dustfinger and his companions in the distant pavilion. As the echo faded, Wang Lin’s gaze pierced the room’s interior. It was empty! Bai Wei had vanished!

“Bai Wei, with his meager cultivation, could never have escaped this place undetected, nor could he have erected such a ward. He was taken by force!” “His captor must possess power far exceeding even that of the Sages of Dust!” Wang Lin’s face darkened, yet a spark flickered in his eyes. “But if someone spirited him away, why erect a ward to repel prying eyes?” Wang Lin’s lips curled into a grim smile.

A blur of motion, and he stood high above, amidst the storm’s fury. Lightning rent the sky, illuminating the deluge that veiled the world.

He unleashed his spirit sense, sweeping across the land. Finding no trace of Bai Wei, Wang Lin knew the captive remained nearby, concealed by some potent magic.

His right hand weaved a sign, and he intoned, “Summon Rain!” As he completed the incantation, a deafening thunderclap shook the heavens, and the rain around Wang Lin froze in mid-air.

As if an unseen force emanated from his hand, the endless downpour across tens of thousands of leagues came to a standstill.

Even the nascent droplets forming within the storm clouds hung suspended. Closer to earth, the frozen raindrops lingered inches from ground and roof alike. An arcane energy thrummed within each icy sphere.

Power beyond mortal ken coalesced, imbuing each drop with magical might. The clouds roiled with this influx of energy. A wave of shock rippled through Ghost Eye City as powerful cultivators scrambled to their feet. Among them, the Sages of Dust stood aghast, staring upward. “Such power… only a Transcendent Sage could wield such sorcery!” Dustfinger breathed, stunned.

Wang Lin’s eyes gleamed with power. With a sweeping gesture, he commanded the suspended rain to coalesce, erupting in a cacophony of thunder, a storm of frozen water spiraling into a single vortex around him.

The vortex roared, and Wang Lin’s consciousness expanded, infusing the storm. His hands weaved another sign, and he pointed toward the earth. The vortex lunged downward, shattering with a deafening crash. Raindrops scattered, each splitting into countless smaller spheres, each imbued with Wang Lin’s spirit. He became an endless legion of consciousness.

Each shard unleashed its own spirit sense. The range remained unchanged, but the detail of his search increased tenfold.

A flicker of recognition struck him. His senses honed in on a valley several thousand miles west of Ghost Eye City.

He kicked off the air, an explosive boom marking his passage as he streaked toward the valley, a bolt of living lightning.

The distance closed in an instant. A barrier stood hidden in the valley, its energies perfectly muted. Only Wang Lin’s rain-enhanced awareness could have pierced its veil.

Even as he approached, the barrier parted, and a resonant voice called out, “Enter, friend Wang.”

“Bai Wei!” Wang Lin’s calm demeanor hid his shock. The voice was Bai Wei’s, yet utterly different. The previous androgyny was gone, replaced by a deep, masculine timbre. Wang Lin frowned and stepped through the opening into the valley.

Here, the rain did not fall, kept at bay by some unknown enchantment. Dead flowers carpeted the ground, and a palpable chill permeated the air. In the valley’s heart sat a lone figure. It was Bai Wei!

Yet his very essence was changed. The effeminate grace that had been so characteristic was gone, replaced by a rugged resolve. His eyes blazed with power, radiating a palpable coolness.

No trace of the woman remained, only a handsome and resolute man. “Do you find this… unsettling, Brother Wang?” Bai Wei asked softly.