When Huang Xiao first met Yan Zhong two years ago, his own cultivation was truly unranked, so Yan Zhong had seemed to him an expert of unfathomable strength.
A few months ago, his cultivation had already reached First-Class. When he looked at Yan Zhong again, he could sense that the man's strength was at the Peak Realm, and specifically Low Peak.
Over these past few months, several fortunate encounters had greatly advanced his cultivation. He could now say that even Low Peak experts were no match for him. Yet the feeling Yan Zhong gave him now was entirely different, nothing like the aura a Low Peak expert should possess.
Even Xu Wuyu fell short of such an aura. It should have been the sort of aura possessed by the Third Deputy Standard-Bearer of the Golden Banner Guard.
Such a heaven-and-earth transformation in cultivation in just a few short months left Huang Xiao stunned.
It seems he concealed his strength! Huang Xiao thought.
What other explanation could fit?
But that isn't right either. If he was hiding his strength, wouldn't capturing Zhang Hu on Zhongnan Mountain have been as easy as turning his hand? After all, Zhang Hu carried the secret of the Heavenly Demon Canon. He couldn't possibly have let Zhang Hu go. How strange! Huang Xiao wondered again. Something still did not add up. For a time, guesses churned through his mind, but none offered a reasonable explanation.
Still, with Yan Zhong there, Huang Xiao felt considerably more at ease. Even if, as Hong Yi had said earlier, the Remnant Demon Sect might send some old fellows over, with an expert like Yan Zhong present, there were probably few who could harm the Princess.
"Thank you in advance for your efforts over the next few days, Retainers. Please, take