Thunderous, synchronized impact of thousands of boots charging up marble stairs.
The white marble steps leading up to the high terrace of Sovereign Peak echoed with the deafening cadence of five thousand commoner disciples, sword masters, and liberated miners.
What had once been pristine white stone was now stained dark red with dried blood and etched with dark, writhing cultist glyphs that pulsed with a faint, sickly purple light.
At the front of the commoner legion walked Ye Chen and Lin Xi, flanked by Senior Brother Bai, Han Ping, and Elder Mu.
Ye Chen carried his colossal, rusted broadsword over his right shoulder, his gray tunic open at the chest, the silver white lock of hair at his temple catching the pale torchlight.
Lin Xi walked with her twin ancestral rapiers drawn, her dar
