Several hundred miles outside Xiading Market Ward, the sun sank in the west. Ning Lin walked slowly alone with his back to the sunset, his black shadow stretching far ahead of him.
Suddenly, that shadow writhed like a monstrous snake. A moment later, it bent and rose upright, and a dark figure with a human head and a serpent's body appeared before him.
Ning Lin grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "Ah, Ye Zun, have you had enough sleep?"
The serpent-bodied shadow stiffened. "Enough nonsense. How did your recruitment go? They didn't suspect you, did they?"
Ning Lin chuckled. "How could they? I really am from the Xiemen Kingdom, and I really did begin cultivating thanks to a fortuitous encounter. It's just that nobody knows my fortuitous encounter was meeting you and your people, Ye Zun."
The shadow said gravely, "Human Rank cultivators are numerous, but they cannot affect the overall situation, so that is of little concern. Earth Rank Experts, however, can earn merit and rise through the ranks as Alliance members, even entering its upper echelons. That is why they are investigated rigorously from the outset."
"If your background weren't the simplest in the organization, and your innate ability the best suited to concealing me, I truly wouldn't feel at ease letting you carry out this mission!"
"But the otherworlds concern the prospects and future of the countless trillions of living beings in our native world. They also concern the development of the warrior path and the changes to come. If we are to obtain sufficient resources, we must actively throw ourselves into this torrent of our times..."
He looked at Ning Lin again, a little more expectation entering his voice. "Do your best."
"Whoa, Ye Zun, don't you trust me? I'm seriously impressive!" Ning Lin stretched