Rigid

The Teleportation Array beside Mount Tai's main peak lit up with blue light, its Formation Patterns spreading outward in rings like pebbles dropped into water.

Kong Xuan emerged from the light, with Xuan half a step behind him.

The two stepped onto the aerial corridor linking to the main peak.

The corridor was paved with White Jade and three zhang wide. Carved pillars stood every ten paces along both sides, Night-Shining Pearls hanging from their tops and bathing the entire path in bright light.

Below the corridor lay a bottomless abyss. Clouds churned beneath their feet, and occasionally Immortal Cranes flew through the mist, the gusts from their wings making their robes snap in the wind.

Kong Xuan walked ahead, his pace swift, the hem of his robe streaming behind him in the wind.

Xuan followed calmly behind, his gaze resting on Kong Xuan's back.

That figure was drawn taut and straight, his shoulders rigid like a string stretched to its limit.

"Why are you walking so fast?" Xuan asked.

Kong Xuan did not turn around.

"I'm in a hurry."

"In a hurry to see our grandmaster, or in a hurry to avoid me?"

Kong Xuan's steps paused for a moment.

"Why would I avoid you?"

"Then slow down."

Kong Xuan slowed his pace. Xuan took two quicker steps and came alongside him.

The wind on the corridor passed between them, blowing the edge of Xuan's robe against Kong Xuan's arm. The fabric brushed him lightly.

Kong Xuan's arm tensed as though he had been scalded.

Xuan seemed not to notice, his gaze settling on the rolling sea of clouds ahead.

"Didn't you say it was hot at the Volcano crater just now? The wind up here is cool. It'll air you out and cool you down."

Kong Xuan's Adam's