The wind and snow cut like knives, carving up the ashen sky.
A golden figure, looking somewhat battered, tore through the void and staggered to the ground. It was none other than True Lord Jinyan.
His face was pale, his breathing unsteady. A charred sword wound, deep enough to expose bone, ran across his left shoulder, where wisps of black qi tangled with golden flames.
The void rippled, and Cang Ming appeared nearby, reaching out to steady Jinyan.
"What happened? How did you end up like this? Did you fail?"
A flash of shame, anger, and lingering fear crossed True Lord Jinyan's face. He gritted his teeth. "Don't ask! I was sure no one could detect my concealment technique, but somehow that brat Fang Mo noticed me. That old bastard Tian Luo struck viciously. If I hadn't reacted quickly and forced my way out at a cost, I might really have been left behind!"
"What?" True Lord Cang Ming's golden eyes narrowed. "He saw through even your Golden Feather Breath Concealment Technique? That Fang Mo... really does have some tricks."
Jinyan gritted his teeth.
"That brat is strange. He glanced at me, and I didn't think anything of it at the time. I never expected he'd actually spotted me!"
True Lord Cang Ming looked at the wound on Jinyan's shoulder. He reached out and grabbed, drawing out a stream of black blood. Jinyan grunted, but his complexion improved considerably.
True Lord Cang Ming sealed several of his acupoints, his expression grave.
"Your injuries are serious. Looks like you won't be able to act."
True Lord Jinyan gritted his teeth.
"I'll be fine. That old bastard Ye Wuming probably won't get away without losing a layer of skin this time!"
"Ye Wuming?" True Lord Cang Ming's voice rose in disbelief. "He