Time passed, and Ren was getting bored.
He had refined every last material in the courtyard.
By Yun Zhongzi's method, refining that much material would probably have taken centuries. Ren had finished it in just a few months.
Of course, the Mortal World held far more materials than that. Ren had simply worked so fast that the next batch had yet to arrive.
With nothing left to refine, he had no idea what to do.
As for Yun Zhongzi, perhaps the blow had been too much for him. He had shut himself away to forge artifacts and would not even let Ren watch. Ren's many secret refinement methods had clearly shaken him. He was afraid Ren would outdo him again while he worked.
What could Ren say to that?
He sipped his tea and kindled wisps of black flame at his fingertips, shaping them idly as though playing with them.
Footsteps suddenly approached, and Ren put the flames away. It was not yet time to reveal the Nihility Devouring Flame.
When he looked up, Jiang Ziya was slowly making his way over with a cane.
A year ago on Kunlun Mountain, Jiang Ziya had still been able to laugh and talk with ease. Now he leaned on a cane, looked frail with age, and was wreathed in Death Qi. He seemed to be clinging to his last breath.
Ren hurried to his feet. "Uncle Ziya... what brings you here? And your health..."
Before he could finish, Jiang Ziya waved a hand. "Ah... my time is nearly up. It's only natural for my body to weaken."
He smiled as though he had made peace with it, but a trace of loneliness remained in his eyes.
Ren shook his head, unsure what to say. "Did you come to see Uncle Yun Zhongzi?"