Spiritflight Continent and Azure Mist Continent truly were different now. Had he not still been worried about Su Jiu, Xia Jue would almost have wanted to investigate this place thoroughly.
Moreover, in the days before he left the sect, the Misty Immortal Sect had seemed rather restless as well. Still, its internal turmoil would likely continue for some time, so it posed no immediate concern.
On their way to Jade Sun City, the party encountered a group of sect disciples being hunted down. Their pursuers were masked men in black, not demonic cultivators, but bona fide Dao cultivators.
Xia Jue and the others heard the man at the front cry urgently, clutching his blood-soaked shoulder, "We are disciples of the Flowing Radiance Sword Sect! Please lend us your aid, fellow Daoists!"
Seeing that Xia Jue and his companions were no weaklings either, a man in black was unwilling to invite further complications. "We're only hunting disciples of the Flowing Radiance Sword Sect. Don't meddle in matters that don't concern you."
The leading disciple knew passing cultivators were unlikely to meddle in such affairs. Clinging to his last shred of hope, he said, "In that case, you needn't help us, fellow Daoists. Please hurry to the Flowing Radiance Sword Sect and request reinforcements for Jade Sun City."
At the mention of Jade Sun City, the disciples behind Xia Jue tensed, their hands unconsciously settling on their sword hilts.
Xia Jue asked thoughtfully, "Who were you going to Jade Sun City to support?"
The man in black sensed something was amiss. Unwilling to let them converse further, he slashed straight at the disciple speaking to Xia Jue. The Azure Jade Flute flashed in Xia Jue's hand, knocking the attacker's sword away.
The man stared at Xia Jue, his expression wavering between shock