The State of the Continent

That was a difficult question to answer.

Bai Xiaowen decided not to answer it directly. "We haven't seen each other for years, but we've been working toward the same goal all along. Ahan, I can't tell you now, but you'll know someday."

Anyone else might have lost Affection Level for saying that, but Bai Xiaowen could say it to Ahan without a problem.

A little mystery was part of being a prophet.

Ahan had no doubts. He studied Bai Xiaowen for a moment and said, "Dio, it seems these three years have tempered you, too. You've grown strong enough to meet the old entry requirements for the Sword of Blazing Fire adventuring party."

Bai Xiaowen pursed his lips. Are you sure that was a compliment?

Still, the Sword of Blazing Fire had required its members to be Level 7 Boss Tier fighters. That was reasonable for an adventuring party renowned across the continent. Ahan, its deputy leader, had been a Level 8 Rare Boss even then.

"You've grown stronger even faster."

Bai Xiaowen took a closer look. Three years of hardship had made Ahan's aura far more formidable, to the point that Bai Xiaowen could no longer gauge its depths. He tried using Insight, but received a notice that the target could not be detected.

Leaving aside the unusual circumstances in the Netherwhite Ghost Domain, Bai Xiaowen had encountered that result only once before when using Insight on someone from the Spirit Realm: Gu Yulian, the young mistress of Blood God Palace in the Sword Song Plane.

Judging by his aura alone, Ahan was stronger than Zuo Yunxuan of the Sword Song Plane. He was even approaching the level of Yin Fei, Ming King, and Qiankun Zhenren—undoubtedly among the strongest fighters on the Awakened Plane.

Ahan chuckled at the praise.