Chen Qing smiled when he saw Zhang Longhu and cupped his hands. "Brother Zhang, it has been a long time. I hope you have been well."
Zhang Longhu strode forward to greet him, laughing heartily. "Brother Chen! It really is you! I thought I had misheard just now!"
He gave Chen Qing's shoulder a firm pat, but his gaze was involuntarily drawn to the figure behind him.
Xu Min stood quietly to one side. Against the bustling prosperity of Myriad Streams Market, her peerlessly beautiful face seemed all the more otherworldly, utterly out of place amid the worldly clamor.
Undisguised amazement flashed through Zhang Longhu's eyes. Yet as Black Dragon Island's chief disciple, he had seen much of the world. He swiftly reined in his thoughts, merely giving Xu Min a slight nod in greeting without any breach of etiquette.
Then, he turned his attention back to Chen Qing, waves stirring in his heart.
He remembered perfectly well that when they had last met, Chen Qing's potential had been astonishing, but his cultivation had yet to break through into the True Origin Realm.
How long had it even been?
The other man's aura was now deep and weighty, his True Essence vigorous and vast.
Then there were the rumors he had recently heard—rumors about Tianbao Supreme Sect's newly promoted third true disciple...
Suppressing the shock in his heart, Zhang Longhu smiled. "Brother Chen, congratulations on becoming Tianbao Supreme Sect's third true disciple."
The admiration and desire to befriend Chen Qing in his gaze grew even stronger.
In this world, true strength was the only hard truth.
Chen Qing remained composed and merely said blandly, "You are too kind."
After the pleasantries, Zhang Longhu's smile faded as he asked seriously, "Brother Chen, your status is no longer what it once was.