Among the lotus blossoms and flowing water.
In the pavilion.
Gu Qingshan sipped his tea and asked, "Why are there so many Phase Worlds along this road?"
The talisman said, "Look closely at me."
Gu Qingshan looked intently. The light around the talisman scattered, revealing its true form.
A deep gash ran straight through the talisman, nearly splitting it in two.
"You were badly injured?" Gu Qingshan asked.
"Let's not speak of what happened back then. Our duty is to guard this road and keep outsiders from entering it," the talisman said.
Gu Qingshan thought of the Dragon God and asked, "I have another companion. How is he doing now?"
"He's powerful too—even stronger than the Demon Blade in your hand. If I gave it my all, I could only keep him trapped a little longer," the talisman said.
"In that case, let him go first. I'll catch up with him later," Gu Qingshan said.
"Let him go now? Have you made up your mind?" the talisman asked.
"I have," Gu Qingshan replied.
"All right—"
Before the talisman could finish speaking, ten thousand rays of Rosy Clouds appeared in the sky and swiftly descended toward a spot in the city.
Bathed in the Rosy Clouds, the Dragon God was carried slowly upward into the sky.
It had nearly reached the top when it suddenly stopped in midair and peered anxiously down at the city.
"Can it see me?" Gu Qingshan asked.
"No. Countless laws conceal this place. It can only make out a blur," the talisman said.
"But when it was in the city, it could see the Rosy Clouds. They never appeared until now, so it must know I haven't ascended and left yet," Gu Qingshan mused.
"That's true," the talisman said.
The Dragon God circled back and forth