Between South Pass One and Second Southern Pass.
An unnamed hill.
A thin blood-red streak tore across the sky, racing from west to east.
The wind abruptly died.
Ji Yuan landed steadily on a black rock atop the hill, his robes swaying gently in the breeze.
The Dream Butterfly on his shoulder seemed to sense the presence of strangers. It fluttered its wings, then settled down again.
He looked up.
Two figures stood side by side before him.
One wore blue robes and had a gentle face.
The other wore black robes and had graying hair. His aura was so faint he looked almost mortal.
They stood together without hostility or any intent to fight to the death.
Instead, they looked like old friends gazing across the southern wasteland, their expressions calm.
"Brother Ji."
Tian Wenjing and Spirit-Communing High Person cupped their fists in greeting.
"Fellow Daoists Tian and Spirit-Communing."
Ji Yuan returned the greeting.
Then, without beating around the bush, he asked, "Fellow Daoists, how did you come to be here together?"
Tian Wenjing froze for a moment, then looked at Ji Yuan and gave a wry laugh.
"What, Brother Ji? Did you think we ought to be locked in a fight to the death?"
Ji Yuan nodded without hesitation.
"Yes."
Spirit-Communing High Person had crossed three continents to reach the Desolate Ancient Continent precisely to settle matters with Tian Wenjing in a final battle.
That was why Ji Yuan found it so strange to see them standing together, neither the worse for wear.
At that, Tian Wenjing's smile slowly faded. He looked toward the southern wasteland and sighed.
"At first, that was exactly the case."
Ji Yuan raised an eyebrow and pressed him.
"And then?"
Spirit-Communing High Person answered from beside him.
"When I first arrived on the