Beneath the alien skies of Tian Yun, at the churning tide-pools of the Eastern Sea, a multitude of cultivators gathered, awaiting the celestial tide’s opening.

There, Ling Tian-hou, astride a crimson Qilin, heard the words of the Sun-named, purple-robed man. A flash of jubilation sparked in his eyes.

Yet, he pressed no further, instead drawing nearer to claim a position overlooking the swirling vortex of the tide below.

As the last of the latecomers arrived, Ling Tian-hou frowned, his gaze lifting from the tide to scan the distant void.

He was not alone. The old man seated upon a gourd, a wrinkle creasing his brow, also gazed into the endless expanse, as if expecting some arrival.

Only Tian Yunzi remained impassive, his countenance unchanging, patiently awaiting the appointed hour.

As time trickled by, murmurs arose amongst the gathered cultivators. Some, privy to whispers carried on the astral winds, possessed fragments of knowledge. But most knew little, and wondered what event could merit the presence of such powerful sorcerers.

At the very crest of this rising tide of speculation, Tian Yunzi suddenly looked up, a knowing glint in his eyes.

“He comes…”

Moments after Tian Yunzi’s perception, the Sun-named man too, turned his gaze outward. Ling Tian-hou had enlightened him, and a hint of admiration now touched his heart.

“To have danced with Tian Yunzi for so long, he can be no weakling.”

After the Sun-named man came Ling Tian-hou, the elder perched upon his gourd, the village maiden-like enchantress, and finally a lone, black-clad figure, shunned by all within a hundred paces. These four simultaneously turned their eyes towards the stars.

Only then did the remaining ancient masters and sparse scattering of lesser cultivators follow suit.

Across the void, a strange, howling sound echoed, gradually permeating the consciousness of all those gathered. Then, a gasp rippled through the crowd. Those who beheld the approaching sight were stunned to their very core.

Advancing at breakneck speed through the celestial expanse, a behemoth strode, its four limbs pounding against the unseen pathways of the stars! It was easily a hundred feet tall.

“A Gigantaur mount!” Someone cried from the throng, recognizing the beast’s race.

“This is no mere Gigantaur. Look at the mark upon its brow. It is of the royal bloodline!” Among the throng, those learned in the ways of the outer realms identified Leiji’s true status.

“The master who commands a Gigantaur mount must be a sorcerer of great power. Who could this be?”

“Such a colossal Gigantaur must possess its innate divine abilities. The beast alone is formidable. Its master must be extraordinary!”

“Perhaps,” another mused, “his ties to the Gigantaur run deeper than his cultivation. He may possess little power himself.”

The murmur of the crowd swelled into a veritable roar, whipped into a frenzy by the beast’s arrival.

As the Gigantaur drew closer, those who had not yet discerned his riders finally caught a glimpse. One look was enough to make them gasp.

Four figures were initially visible. All were Nirvana Scryers, and three of these were famed throughout Tian Yun.

“The Dust Dao Trinity!”

“Each of the three has reached the Nirvana Scryer realm! They move as one, a fearsome force that even the most advanced cultivator hesitates to face.”

“Why are they riding a Gigantaur? Could this mount be theirs?”

“And beside them, a wide headed sorcerer. I’ve never seen him before, but his cultivation is also Nirvana Scryer!”

“Four Nirvana Scryers! Any one of them can unleash a storm, they are figures that most can only look up to. What mystery could be unfolding here?”

As more cultivators glimpsed those upon the Gigantaur’s back, the murmur died, replaced by a stunned silence.

Even Ling Tian-hou and the others were taken aback, a keen light sparking in their eyes.

Behind the Dust Dao Trinity and the wide headed sorcerer, as Leiji continued his approach, a red-robed elder came into view. A mountain of flesh, his sheer bulk radiated a tremendous power, while his nascent Nirvana cultivation sent shivers down the spines of lesser beings.

“Floating Wind!”

The fleshy Elder Floating Wind’s name was well known across Tian Yun. His arrival sent ripples of shock throughout the crowd.

“Floating Wind has become Wang Lin’s ally?” The old man on the gourd blinked, his eyes barely perceptible. The Dust Dao Trinity and the wide head were of little concern, but Floating Wind was a different matter altogether.

Beside Floating Wind stood a silver clad woman, her eyes intelligent and sharp, exuding an almost tangible aura of keenness, like shears capable of severing the very threads of fate. “Another Nascent Nirvana cultivator!” Again, the crowd erupted.

And as if that wasn’t enough, behind the silver clad woman, the arrogant figure of Situ Nan, a sneer playing upon his lips, sent another wave of astonishment through the observers!

“A third Nascent Nirvana cultivator!”

“I know him! It’s the famed lord of the Rouge Palace, Situ Nan!”

The village-like beauty frowned, her eyes showing disgust. Though she did not reside on Tian Yun, she had heard of Situ Nan’s infamous reputation. She could not fathom how a powerful Nascent Nirvana cultivator could sink to such depths.

Tian Yunzi gazed at the riders upon the Gigantaur, his expression unreadable.

Three Nascent Nirvana cultivators struck a powerful blow, eclipsing the shock wrought by the four Nirvana Scryers!

“Four Nirvana Scryers and three Nascent Nirvana masters! Who has the influence to gather such a force?”

Leiji slowed, then halted just a short distance away. Wang Lin’s figure slowly materialized before the assembly.

Clad in snow-white robes, his long hair dancing in the wind, a coldness in his gaze, Wang Lin stood calmly amidst the Dust Dao Trinity, the wide head, Floating Wind, the silver-robed woman, and Situ Nan. In that instant, the eyes of countless cultivators converged upon him.

As Wang Lin appeared, the starmink perched upon the Sun-named man’s shoulder suddenly looked up, its intelligent eyes flashing with a strange light, its body trembling slightly. As it was about to leap forward, Wang Lin casually smiled in their direction, giving the purple-robed man a slight bow.

The purple-robed man smiled back, nodding slightly, his attention drawn to his shoulder. He loved the mink, it was raised since it was born, and the strange tremor had caught his attention.

But now, the starmink was calm, back to normal, leaving the purple-robed man confused.

Under the intense scrutiny of the crowd, Wang Lin’s expression did not waver. As Leiji drew near, he turned calmly toward Tian Yunzi and the others, saying, “Wang Lin greets Tian Yunzi and the Sword Reverent. I obtained the invitation and was delayed. Apologies for my tardiness.”

Ling Tian-hou stared at Wang Lin, a hint of fear flickering deep in his eyes. He would never forget that terrible light. Had he not fled so quickly, and realized afterward that the second ray had drawn upon the power of the heavens, he might not be standing there today.

His attitude towards Wang Lin had shifted. He was unwilling to provoke him lightly. He wore a smile and shook his head, “Fellow Daoist Wang is too polite. There is no need for such formality, you may call me Ling Tian-hou.”

His words sparked a fresh wave of murmurs throughout the crowd. Countless incredulous gazes fell upon Wang Lin.

Ling Tian-hou was a sorcerer of the greatest renown throughout Tian Yun, second only to Wu Yunzi. Aside from a handful of ancient monsters, none could claim such a distinction as to be called a Daoist friend.

Ling Tian-hou’s one line was enough to rock the crowd, and send waves of disbelief rippling through the assembly!

Tian Yunzi glanced at Wang Lin, his face unchanged, as if the events of months ago had never occurred. He nodded slightly, saying, “It matters not.”

Wang Lin’s gaze sharpened. Maintaining an air of unconcern, he bowed to the old man upon the gourd and the village maiden-like enchantress. He then cast a knowing glance at the black-clad figure standing alone, offering a brief nod.

The cold, black-clad man returned the bow, his expression still frigid.

“The assembly is complete. Open the Eastern Sea Tide!” Tian Yunzi flicked his sleeve. A ray of rainbow light burst forth, transforming into a palm-sized token. It radiated a blinding light, causing the eyes of most onlookers to water as it shot toward the vortex at the heart of the tide.

This opening was not the natural ebb and flow of the Tide Pool. As such, it did not radiate a surge of suction power. Instead, the moment the token plunged into the depths, a reversed vortex began to churn.

The reversed vortex rapidly expanded, forming a black hole from which emanated the familiar scent of the demon spirit.

“Open the four Immortal Caves to unlock the fifth. I shall lead the way, and await you all within!” Tian Yunzi transformed into a streak of rainbow light, plunging into the black hole, trident in hand.

Wang Lin’s gaze brushed over the trident. He had noted it earlier, and the familiar sensation emanating from the weapon left him certain that it was the very artifact once crafted by Tu Si.