The north of the island was covered in a lush pine forest, with snow among the trees and a tall mountain rising at its heart.
Zhang Yuan passed through Sword Qi Gorge and flew above the forest. After glancing at the closing fissure, he turned his gaze toward the summit of the mountain to the north.
A Foundation Establishment Celestial possessed astonishing eyesight. Even from ten thousand miles away, Zhang Yuan could clearly see someone sitting cross-legged atop the mountain. It was a familiar face, too-though, strictly speaking, he could not be called human.
A True Dragon.
Wenren Qihan, a True Dragon of the South Sea's Wenren Clan. Zhang Yuan had fought him in Dragon Creek City not long ago and successfully driven him back.
Zhang Yuan's gaze sharpened slightly.
Half a month ago, Wenren Qihan had taken his and Cui Zhaowei's sword qi and had his head severed from his body. By Zhang Yuan's reckoning, Wenren Qihan should have needed at least three months to dispel the sword qi and recover fully.
And even if Wenren Qihan had recovered, unless he was an utter fool, he would never have come looking for trouble the moment his wounds healed.
Now, not only had Wenren Qihan recovered ahead of time, he had come to intercept Zhang Yuan again as though he had no idea what death meant. Someone was clearly pulling the strings behind him.
Sitting atop the mountain, Wenren Qihan sensed Zhang Yuan's gaze and opened his eyes. His golden, slit-pupiled eyes were ice-cold as he stared straight at Zhang Yuan, inwardly lamenting his plight.
He had not wanted to come, but under the threats of Immortal Lord Duo Ning the Usurper, he had no choice.
Lower Cultivators had no freedom whatsoever. Even though he was a True Dragon of