The deacon disciple's heart gave a jolt, his gaze settling on the young man in black robes. The stranger had arrived without a sound, and seemed to have been there for a long time already. Everyone had simply been blind in both eyes and heart, failing to notice him.
"This is...?!"
As his gaze swept over the stranger's face, Xiao Lingchen's pupils contracted slightly. Though he was only a minor deacon in the outskirts of Upper Mound and had never seen the Tribulation Deliverance Sect Master in person, he had seen his portrait.
The man before him looked almost exactly like the portrait.
Gulp.
Xiao Lingchen swallowed and was about to step forward to pay his respects, but a voice beside him beat him to it.
"Disciple Ning Chu pays his respects to the Sect Master."
The voice was quiet, yet it struck Xiao Lingchen's mind like a thunderbolt. His neck stiff, he slowly turned his head and stared at Ning Chu in shock, only to see him bow with perfect composure.
Xiao Lingchen could scarcely believe it. This boy from the mortal world actually recognized the Sect Master?! Before he could recover from his shock, Chu Mo's faintly amused voice reached his ears.
"Rise."
Chu Mo nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Ning Chu, and smiled. "Your aptitude is quite good. Since you've joined the sect, come with me for now."
"Yes." Ning Chu nodded and followed Chu Mo, who had turned to leave. Radiance enveloped them, and just before their figures vanished, he looked back at Xiao Lingchen with a long, meaningful gaze.
His chest tightened, and his heart stopped dead!
Cold sweat poured down Xiao Lingchen's back. Though the blazing sun shone overhead, he felt as if he had plunged into deepest winter. His hands and feet