His pupils contracted violently, and he even took an involuntary step back.
"Could you be..."
A tremor of utter surprise crept into his voice.
But the old man did not look at him. He merely walked slowly up to Chi Yao, studied the girl, then nodded.
"Not bad. Her natural gifts are indeed astonishing—a rare piece of uncut jade. A seedling like this mustn't be ruined here..."
His voice was aged and hoarse, yet carried an indescribable resonance.
Then he turned toward Lan Tuo Kang.
His gaze was calm, as though he were looking at an ordinary person,
but from Lan Tuo Kang's perspective, he felt as if an ancient, savage beast had fixed its eyes on him. Every hair on his body stood on end.
"This 'fellow Daoist'..."
The old man spoke slowly:
"Unfortunately, this old man is also interested in the girl."
As he spoke, he took a token from inside his robes.
The token was bronze-colored throughout, engraved with the ancient characters for "Heavenly Court," and exuded an aura of distant antiquity.
"The Ancient Heavenly Court Token. So it really is the God Organization..."
At the sight, Lan Tuo Kang's pupils contracted again.
The old man looked at him and said mildly:
"Since she came from the Outer Domain, she shall now return there with me. That will bring things full circle."
With that, he swept his broad sleeve.
Whoosh...
In an instant, an invisible force enveloped Chi Yao.
Chi Yao felt her vision blur, and she fell into a chaotic space, losing consciousness. It was the old man's Universe in the Sleeve.
Then the old man turned, leaned on his bamboo staff, and walked out of the bamboo grove, step by step.
Tap... tap...
His steps were slow, but carried a strange rhythm, as if he