At the words "reinforcements," Ji Yuan seemed to remember something, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"I only know a little about Formations. How could I possibly be called reinforcements? You flatter me, Brother Zhao."
As Ji Yuan spoke, he stroked his beard, every inch the seasoned Daoist.
"Whatever you say, you saved my life. May I ask your name, fellow Daoist?"
Zhao shook his head, looking like a man who would never budge once he had made up his mind.
"No need for formalities. You can call me Chang Geng."
"Chang Geng? Good name. I'll call you Elder Brother Chang from now on, and you can just call me Old Zhao."
Ji Yuan's lips twitched at the form of address.
Zhao seemed not to notice. He turned to look at the spot where he had sat for who knew how many years, lingering fear plain in his eyes.
"That illusion was terrifying. If you hadn't come to save me, Elder Brother Chang, I might have sat there until I died."
Hmm?
Died sitting there?
Ji Yuan seemed to catch something in those words. He immediately released his Divine Sense, sweeping it across the desert ahead.
If things were as Zhao said, there ought to be quite a few cultivators' bones and Storage Bags in that desert.
So why hadn't he seen a single one?
Ji Yuan guessed that the Formation was concealing them.
Perhaps he would only see them after entering it.
Or had Xing Shuang and the others, who had gone in earlier, picked them up?
Ji Yuan couldn't help wondering.
"Huh? Old Zhao?!"
A familiar voice came from behind him, followed by a jumble of footsteps.
Clearly, Xing Shuang and the other two had finally passed through the first layer of the illusion and reached