On the outskirts of Fulóng Ridge, atop an unnamed hill.
Di Xing stood on a grayish-white boulder, leaning against a pine tree as he looked toward Fulóng Ridge in the distance, sprawled like a crouching Black Dragon.
"Mr. Gongsun has the ability to suppress Calamity Demons. The Hongdu Dean will surely think highly of him."
"The Great Hong Dynasty is too small. Only in Great Zhou can sir's talents be fully put to use."
"By then, Incense Vital Qi and the secret arts of the Dragon Locking Institute will be his to use and study as he pleases."
"Mr. Gongsun must be very happy too." Di Xing wore a broad smile.
"Though I made this decision behind sir's back, he surely won't blame me."
"After all, I'm doing this for his own good!" Di Xing was brimming with confidence.
At the summit of Fulóng Ridge.
Chen Mu looked at the expressionless middle-aged man opposite him and dearly wished he could kill that bastard Di Xing.
He had only told Di Xing and Yunshan about the name Gongsun Sheng recently.
Yunshan was still serving as a temple keeper in Zhang'an County. Only Di Xing, who had traveled alongside him, knew that he intended to cross Fulóng Ridge.
"Di Xing told me that you can suppress Calamity Demons, that you are a rare talent worthy of courtesy and great responsibility." The Black-robed Middle-aged Man, the Hongdu Dean, spoke calmly.
"Is what Di Xing said true?"
Di Xing had recommended me to Great Zhou's Dragon Locking Institute?
He thought he was doing it for my own good, so he hadn't touched the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed. That didn't count as betrayal?
Fuck!
You don't even know I'm a Qi Refining cultivator... though it seemed he really didn't know.
Chen Mu's face twitched.