Su Ming arrived at Spirit Beast Peak on a clear afternoon. Unlike the quiet, isolated peace of White Lotus Peak, the main staging grounds of the beast peak were in a state of chaotic bustle. Disciples in green-and-brown robes ran back and forth across the wide stone plazas, leading various spiritual mounts, loading heavy carts with bags of specialized feed, and checking the containment arrays on transport cages. The air was thick with the scent of raw earth and animal musk, filled with the distant screeches of eagles and the heavy, rhythmic thuds of stomping beasts.
Su Ming walked past a row of massive transport cages toward the central administrative hall, where the peak stable manager, Elder Han, was directing a group of junior disciples. Su Ming caught the elder's eye, stepped forward, and offered a polite hand-salute.
"Greetings, Elder Han," Su Ming said. "I am Su Ming of White Lotus Peak."
