Zhang Tie's expression did not change after hearing this, but a trace of chill flashed through his eyes.
The next moment, his vast divine sense surged forth like a tidal wave. Xia Rui immediately felt his entire body sink, as though burdened by an enormous weight. Even breathing became difficult, and all color drained from his face.
In barely two breaths, the terrifying pressure abruptly vanished.
Zhang Tie stood with his hands behind his back, calmly watching the other man slump to the ground and gasp for air.
"F-Fellow Daoist, your abilities are astonishing..." Xia Rui tremblingly offered up a jade slip. "The task details are within. I shall await you here."
Zhang Tie accepted the jade slip and briefly examined it. It contained not only the meeting time and location, but also secret codes and a detailed map. He weighed the warm jade piece in his hand and grinned. "Captain, rest here for now." Before his words had faded, he had already turned into a streak of dark light and vanished beyond the horizon.
Two days later, beside a rippling lake, Zhang Tie concealed himself amid the dense shade of a weeping willow. As he quietly waited for the next day's appointment, he suddenly sensed three auras racing over from the Shadow Clan's territory. Cautious, he did not probe them with his divine sense and merely hid himself deeper among the branches and leaves.
A little over ten breaths later, three young men whose appearances were no different from humans landed beneath the tree. The leader had a high, straight nose and spoke in a low voice. "According to the information obtained through soul-searching, the human spy will appear here tomorrow. Ying Ye and I will be responsible for capturing him. Ying Lou, seize the opportunity to possess his