At this thought, Zhu Lingyun vanished from where he stood and appeared behind a middle-aged man the next instant.
The middle-aged man wore a fitted gray outfit, blending seamlessly into the dense forest around him.
He was crouching behind a patch of grass, using the thick, tangled vegetation to conceal himself as he observed his surroundings.
His eyes were narrowed slightly, keeping his gaze from becoming too sharp or too exposed.
He observed his surroundings only through the corners of his eyes.
His aura was restrained, fused with the grass and trees.
Through Zhu Lingyun, Chu Zhiyuan had observed him for some time and greatly admired this man's ability to conceal his aura.
This man's secret art was formidable, and his cultivation was around the fourth transformation of the Venerable Realm.
This level had already met the standard for Heavenly Sword Sect disciples descending the mountain. Among other martial sects, he would be considered a rare expert.
He had silently advanced between two groups of Imperial Court experts, slipping into the encirclement right under their noses.
Even after breaking through the blockade, he continued forward with extreme caution.
The moment Zhu Lingyun suddenly appeared, he jolted awake and was about to move.
But Zhu Lingyun was faster. Before he could act, the mental attack had already arrived.
The middle-aged man's eyes tightened. Then his gaze turned vacant, and he closed his eyes.
Zhu Lingyun placed a hand on his shoulder, and they vanished together. The next instant, they appeared atop a mountain.
The mountaintop was covered in jagged, strange rocks, like a stretch of reefs by the sea.
Zhu Lingyun placed him in a crevice between the rocks, then vanished.
The next instant, he appeared behind a three-man team, his palms forming seals.
A mental attack instantly knocked the three