The valley was utterly silent.
Only the wind howled past everyone's ears.
The Withered Elder stared blankly at the black-robed young man, shock filling his murky eyes.
His body began to tremble uncontrollably.
"You..."
He looked at Zhang Xiaofan, his voice quavering.
"Who are you, exactly?"
"Why do you possess the Witch God Totem?"
Zhang Xiaofan looked at him, confusion matching the stern expression on his face.
He didn't know why he had unleashed such immense power at the final moment.
Nor did he know what the phantom Taiji Diagram behind him was.
All he knew was that the Witchcraft Fragments in his arms had resonated with the three schools of true techniques within him at the final moment.
"Senior."
Li Xiaoyu, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.
He stepped before the stunned Withered Elder and respectfully cupped his fists in greeting, neither humble nor overbearing.
"This is a long story."
Li Xiaoyu looked at the Withered Elder and spoke calmly.
"Could we sit down and talk it over?"
His words were utterly sincere.
At his words, the Withered Elder fell silent.
He looked at Li Xiaoyu, a complex light filling his murky eyes.
After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Very well."
He waved a hand, a trace of weariness on his face.
"Come with me."
With that, he turned and walked toward the depths of the verdant valley.
The Time-Controlling Clan warriors behind him also put away their weapons and silently followed.
Li Xiaoyu watched the retreating figure and sighed inwardly.
They had finally earned the chance to speak with the other side as equals.
Li Xiaoyu and the others didn't hesitate. They followed the Withered Elder into the unknown depths of the valley.
At the very heart of the valley lay