In a massive tower set to touch the sky. At its peak were thirty-seven seats. Twenty to the left of one, sixteen to its right.
Only thirty-one seats were filled and arguing could be heard throughout the room.
The view, however, was beautiful. As one could see through the walls of this sky room.
"We lose more and more people every day. Yet here you are countering everything I bring up and offering nothing."
Giving one a beautiful view of the clear Spring skies. And if one possessed eyesight comparable to those who gathered in that room. Then they could see the lush fields that spread out from the tower.
"You may have counted yourself a genius in the past. But here you sit among equals. The ideas you take seconds to weave and spit out. Anyone of us here can think of."
Added to the lush decorations of the room and the vast array of colorful plant and flowers this room was truly a "garden in the sky."
"No plan we make will matter. Lu Chan died like a dog. We will soon follow."
And as the sound of a hammer striking a metal table rung out. Only two people were able to calmly let their mind take in the scenery. A black-haired man whose eyes were like a crystal ocean. His expression one of forlorn grief.
And the austere gray-haired man by his side. Whose eyes danced with flickering light. On his face was such raw concern for the youth by his side. One would think they were grandchild and grandfather.
"Lu Chan saved this land. He did so twice! He has sacrificed more. And he has sacrificed longer than any of us."
For a while, the austere man kept his peace. Watching what the youth watched. The clouds that drifted by this, "sky garden."
"And he died like a dog. They swarmed him and then they beat him to death. When they were done they dug through his robes to rob whatever he held. Then they cut off his head and left his body where it laid. He died like a dog."
"I will smelt your essence in my forge!"
A thunderous roar rang out in the room. A massive black hammer wrapped in blinding silver light swung forth. The wind in the room quickly gathered and an equally massive spear met the hammer.
The sound of grinding metal spilled forth. Rampant energy raged across the room. Deep wounds appeared throughout the floor and ceiling. The items in the room seemed to be pressed out of existence. And the glass around the room shattered.
None of those gathered were affected by the clash. Their robes and the objects near them showed no signs of change. In fact, most of them paid no heed to the Clash.
"Xuan Yi," the austere man said. His eyes no longer flickering but returning to a calm grey. "I know it is hard, but you must remain focused. Must I remind you our world is at stake."
Xuan Yi's eyes became their original black. He glanced once at the clash. The spear had begun to crack under the hammer's might. Before facing the man, who sat in the highest position in the room.
"I know, it is not my intent. But now I feel not just my Brother's death but the complete death of my Clan. And so, my heart beckons me to grieve. And Senior, I cannot resist. Not this time."
Though there were no tears in Xuan Yi's eyes. Those who heard him felt the raw sorrow in his words.
"Make your decisions, Senior, I will follow. But as I am now. I cannot trust my input to be… what it once was."
A self-deprecating smile flickered across Xuan Yi's face. But even that was dropped quickly as if it was too much effort. Then the light faded from his eyes as crystal clear waters filled it. Once more becoming the ocean that would draw one in.
A sigh escaped the austere old man. And a brocade fan formed of light appeared in his hand. With a soft but quick effort, he spread it open.
The spear shattered, and blades of wind tore through the tower. What looked like gashes appeared in the sky. And the top of the tower began to fall.
Bright light soon filled the room. And the hammer was stopped by a pillow of light. While the knives that had formed from the broken spear were caught by a pillow of its own.
The upper half of the tower, however, broke off. Beginning a rapid descent with its thirty-one passengers. These passengers though ignored this change, except one.
A bald, wrinkly, old man with a long beard that curled on the floor, farted in his sleep.
In what seemed to be an instant the room was restored to how it was before the clash. Except now there were rows of complaints going on throughout the room.
But the bald old man who was the recipient of all these. Was deep asleep with a satisfied smile.
"Think of it as your senior brother punishing you for being so rowdy."
"It was a good punishment. I understand his intent. We all suffer together."
"Someone farts on you and you say its good?"
"You, you know what I meant."
"Enough, we gathered with a purpose. Not to argue, fight or joke."
"Why not allow the distraction? Its obvious none of us have any bright ideas."
"Little sister is right. We can't all be serious all the time."
"And then what? While we sit here unable to think of anything. Those who believe in us. In this alliance of geniuses. Are throwing their lives away trying to hold back an encroaching tide."
"Wearing our minds thin will only result in us bringing up desperate solutions."
"Is it…"
"No, a desperate solution is not better than inaction."
"You're being too hard on us. It's not inaction, we're just delaying."
"By sacrificing lives."
The room quieted down at that. Then;
"If only the Sage Emperor was here."
At those words, all in the room could feel the raw killing intent seeping into the air.
On the right side of their leader. A youth who had been still as if sleeping. Opened his eyes and one could see deep darkness seeping in his original golden eyes.
"You do not have the right to speak that name."
The voice was cold, and each word was slowly said. And when the sentence was said. The youth's eyes had gone fully black.
Coils of shadow began to seep in from the corner of the room. Then a beam of light fell down illuminating the room and banished it.
"Ning Yao, those who have wronged your brother are long dead. You sit among allies can you not put away your old hatred?"
What answered their leader's question was silence, silence, and eyes that leaked darkness.
And so, the old man heaved another deep sigh.
"The Divine Lands have fallen. The Barren Lands have fallen. Powers greater than ours have fallen. And all our world has now, is us. We must weather this storm together or be divided and die like dogs."