The next day.
At the Crimson Flame Sect's main square.
Yan Jing's Golden Core Ceremony proceeded smoothly, with envoys from every nation in the Western Wasteland bringing congratulatory gifts.
As a core formation stage expert, Li Ping was naturally welcomed to a seat of honor.
He finally saw Chixiaozi, the Crimson Flame Sect's grand elder, again. Chixiaozi was as arrogant and swaggering as ever, and the sect's four other core formation cultivators were also present to maintain order.
Among them was Yan Jing's master, True Person Lei.
"Hm?"
Li Ping swept his divine sense over someone beside Chixiaozi and noticed something unusual.
The man wore a pure white robe and a soft white cap, and his face had a sickly pallor. Li Ping had initially assumed he was Chixiaozi's disciple or junior.
Only after probing his aura did Li Ping discover that he was actually a core formation middle stage cultivator.
Since when did the Crimson Flame Sect gain another core formation middle stage cultivator? Li Ping searched his memory carefully but found that he did not recognize the man. Nor was he among the known core formation middle stage cultivators of the Western Wasteland.
Seemingly sensing Li Ping's gaze, the sickly-looking young man looked toward him. Upon seeing Li Ping's face clearly, he flashed a toothy smile.
Yet it was no gesture of friendship. Instead, Li Ping detected a hint of provocation in his eyes.
What the hell? Have I crossed him before? Or is it something else? Li Ping was puzzled.
After a moment's hesitation, his lips moved slightly as he asked Yan Jing, who was nearby, about the sickly young man's background.
With Yan Jing's explanation, he finally understood.
It turned out that this sickly young man was not a native cultivator of the Western Wasteland. Calling