The Water Runs Deep

"..."

At Jin Xuanzi's words, Jiang Yan discreetly drew a breath and tamped down a flicker of emotion.

He had thought the Jingyang Family's guest elder was putting on an air of deep composure. Only now did he realize Jin Xuanzi could barely restrain the chaos of the Talisman Power within him. He had even lost the strength to speak.

With that in mind, Jiang Yan didn't hesitate. He pressed a hand down and seized Jin Xuanzi by the shoulder, surging fire-element Talisman Power through him to suppress the power coursing through his body.

"What astonishing power." Jin Xuanzi was deeply moved. "This... this gentleman has reached the very end of the Talisman Realm. He may already be probing the path to the Wén Realm."

A quarter of an hour later.

Jiang Yan finally let go.

Jin Xuanzi rose with the movement, bowed slightly, and offered his sincere thanks:

"Many thanks, sir. I am Jin Xuanzi of the Jingyang Family."

He introduced himself without prompting.

"Jiang Yan of the White Crane Merchant Association," Jiang Yan replied simply.

Jin Xuanzi gave a slight nod, but didn't rush into pleasantries. He looked around, then lightly stamped his foot.

In an instant, waves rolled through the ground, rippling outward in circles from the two of them like waves spreading across a lake.

Jiang Yan's eyes shifted, but he said nothing.

Jin Xuanzi glanced at him and added:

"One of those two opponents just now wielded a Shadow Secret Technique. He hasn't shown himself, but that doesn't mean he's truly gone. He may still be hiding beneath some nearby shadow."

Jiang Yan understood. Following Jin Xuanzi's lead, he swept out a hand, sending a wave of fire rolling alongside a wave of earth. Everything in their path melted into reddish-brown streams.

After that, the