When he saw Xu again, Chi—the burly man in a dark red bodysuit who had once encountered Confusion alongside Xu—was shaken to the core.
She had actually survived falling into the hands of that fearsome Devil Ancestor?!
"Xu?! Weren't you—"
He started to say something, but the Saint Venerable raised a hand and stopped him before he could get two words out.
The people standing behind the Saint Venerable looked a little surprised.
Xu, however, remained completely calm. She turned and began leading the group onward.
Perhaps she had seen too many Dao Attainers in the Great Profound Realm. By now, she could face the Saint Venerable with a relatively even mind.
Before long, Xu led the group to a great hall in the Sword Sect's inner grounds, where visiting guests were received.
Several streaks of light happened to descend from the sky, transforming into figures.
At their head was a white-robed sword cultivator carrying a long sword. He was carefree and elegant, audacious and unrestrained.
His gaze swept casually over the group behind the Saint Venerable.
In an instant, every transcendent except the Saint Venerable felt their hearts seize and a chill creep down their backs, as though an unrivaled divine weapon, sharp beyond compare, were pointed at the space between their brows.
Their expressions turned grave at once.
Even the Saint Venerable was somewhat surprised, but only somewhat. They quickly returned to normal.
Cheng Kong smiled freely and cupped his hands in greeting.
"This junior, Cheng Kong, pays his respects to Senior Saint Venerable!"
"Mm."
The Saint Venerable nodded slightly, then swept their gaze over Cheng Kong and the people behind him.
Their eyes passed over everyone else in an instant, lingering a little longer only on Hong Qianqian.
A Dao Attainer's bloodline...
For a brief moment, they