The silence in the courtyard of White Lotus Peak was absolute, heavy with the lingering scent of lightning and scorched earth. Above, the sky was slowly clearing of the purple tribulation clouds, but the ambient spiritual pressure of the grand Peak Masters still hung thick in the air. Sect Master Jun Tianya stood on the stone veranda, his silver-and-azure robes catching the first light of dawn. He looked up at the figures hovering in the air, their expressions a mix of awe, calculations, and intense reluctance.
"Return to your peaks," the Sect Master commanded, his voice carrying the deep resonance of his cultivation, spreading across the mountains like rolling thunder. "Calm your disciples. Address the sword hum. Do not allow wild rumors to spread outside our borders."
