Over the years, many geniuses had been killed by traitors who had sided with the World Will.
A talent as outstanding as Fang Chen had surely caught those traitors' attention.
It was said that for every genius from the Outer Heavens they killed, the traitors received a reward from the World Will. The greater the genius's talent, the greater the reward.
Once everything was ready, Fang Chen patted his chest. "Little Crane, wake up!"
Throughout the thousand-plus years Fang Chen had spent refining the Meteor Tear, Little Crane had slept in his robes without waking once.
At Fang Chen's call, Little Crane woke and crawled out of his robes.
Fang Chen looked Little Crane over. Its colors were more vivid than before, and the Dao Patterns on its body had grown denser and more pleasing to the eye. Its strength had clearly improved a great deal over the past thousand-plus years.
Little Crane brightened when it saw Palace Mistress Lingxin. "Daoist Friend Lingxin, it's been a long time!"
Palace Mistress Lingxin knew how formidable Little Crane was. She smiled. "It has, Fellow Daoist Crane!"
Fang Chen said, "Little Crane, Senior Chaos sent Daoist Friend Lingxin to help us manage Mantis Mountain and Golden Cicada Ridge. We're ready to head to the Land of Ending now. Sorry for the trouble, but could you take us out of here?"
With members of the Five Great Families watching Fang Chen outside, only Little Crane could take them away without anyone noticing.
"Of course!"
It turned to Palace Mistress Lingxin. "Daoist Friend Lingxin, we're off to the Land of Ending. Until we meet again!"
"Until we meet again!"
Palace Mistress Lingxin nodded to Little Crane.
Little Crane's wings trembled lightly, and it plunged into the void and vanished.
A short while later, Little Crane