Blue Crystal Fruit (1/3)

Zhou Heng put away the Fire God Furnace. If he had no intention of silencing them, he did not want anyone to learn of this exotic treasure's power.

The people ahead stopped. After Zhou Heng, Black Donkey, and Bing Xiulan walked forward for a while, only some thirty feet separated them from the others.

"Greetings, Senior Lian!" Zhou Heng cupped his hands in salute. Out of consideration for Lian Jingxiang's gracious treatment, he retained a measure of politeness toward Lian Youhao. Otherwise, he would never have bothered with someone like this.

—But this man's cultivation had actually risen by a notch. Had he encountered some fortuitous opportunity here? But he clearly should not have had the time!

Lian Youhao was initially stunned. He knew Zhou Heng, but the Zhou Heng from before had not looked like this child! A person's face and build could change, but their bearing could not. He still recognized Zhou Heng, yet merely snorted and put on lofty airs.

"Brother Lian, this youth is?" someone beside him asked.

"Just a retainer of my Lian Family!" Lian Youhao said with great disdain.

At his words, the others too revealed contemptuous expressions. A retainer meant a Rogue Cultivator, someone from some wild and unorthodox background, or perhaps a minor clan—certainly someone without any backing.

These people were all Sunflare Kings, though none stood out from the rest. The reason they had arrived ahead of Zhou Heng was likely because nothing had delayed them on the road, and they had headed straight for Dragon-Taming Hall all the way!

Thus, they had traveled swiftly, but that also meant they could not possibly know what had happened these past few days. For instance, the resounding achievements of the five young supreme prodigies in One Sword Shatters Heaven, or that Zhou Heng