The black cloud filling the sky swept off toward Xihong.

Liu Shiqian and Chiyang watched Sect Master Shen go, and only after a long while did they look away.

"Quick, let's see what it is!"

Chiyang did not even care about his injuries. He hurried to stick his head in, his heart full of feeling.

Say what you like, the wisest choice old Liu ever made was to remain when the other elders left, back when the Nanyang treasured site came back into the world.

That one choice had now saved his life twice.

First the three White Jade Capital great demons in the Immortal's Cave, then that deer demon and bat demon matching the Dao-merging realm just now… Damn it all, just talking about it was frightening. Against odds like that, never mind a mere Clear-Moon Sect elder, even an immortal sect's Sect Master fresh to Dao-merging might not have survived.

And old Liu had come out with even lighter wounds than last time.

Yet after a life-saving favor like that, Sect Master Shen acted as if nothing had happened. He had not even stayed to hear a word of thanks. He had left without a care in the world, and had given old Liu a gift on top of it.

"Why wasn't it me who went to the Nanyang Sect back then?" Elder Chiyang's mouth twisted in frustration.

"……" Liu Shiqian looked away and carefully unfolded the golden booklet in his hands. At once he saw a guiding ray of golden light shoot off toward Xihong.

He read the writing on it carefully and murmured, "The Ten Thousand Forms Pavilion?"

Chiyang thought for a moment, and some doubt came into his eyes. "That seems to be a newly risen immortal sect, a power that deals in gathering information. What kind of gift is that… Wait. Could Sect Master Shen have reached out to them, had them collect intelligence on the South Dragon Palace, and sent you to fetch it?"

At that thought, Chiyang smacked his lips again and again.

Not even their own sect treated its elders this…