At some unknown point, the clouds and mist that had surrounded the Heaven-Connecting Tower had dispersed.
This made the radiance emanating from the entire Heaven-Connecting Tower all the more dazzling.
Although those far away could not make out what stood at the tower's peak, they could see a halo even brighter than the Heaven-Connecting Tower itself.
It was like a second sun suspended in the sky, so dazzling that people could barely keep their eyes open.
Xia Jue stood beneath the Heaven-Connecting Tower, holding the Jade Flute in his hand and bathing in its radiance...
Just then, an unexpected voice rang out behind him.
"Xia Jue, are you really not going to shelter from this light?" A trace of worry colored the voice.
"No. There's no need." Xia Jue smiled and looked at the newcomer behind him. "How is Master?"
"I've already taken him back to the Azure Tide Sect."
Xia Jue nodded. "Sorry for the trouble." With that, he raised his hand to seize the other man's face, only for him to dodge, already prepared.
"Xia Jue! Are you trying to seal away my memories too!?"
Xia Jue withdrew his hand and stared blankly at its slight transparency. Then, as though nothing had happened, he tucked it back into his sleeve and placed his hands behind his back. "I was merely testing your reflexes."
"Feng Qi, if I truly intended to seal your memories, do you think you could dodge me?"
Feng Qi pressed his lips together, his expression heavy. "In the past, of course I couldn't have. But now, that's not necessarily true." He paused, then abruptly raised his head to meet Xia Jue's eyes. "You have very little demonic qi left to use now, don't you?"
Xia Jue smiled. "You understand me better and better... That's good.