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The black-robed man was running for his life.
The earlier battle had drained him greatly, and even though his body was at its limit, he didn’t dare stop.
Even now, he had no idea what kind of monster they had just faced.
Although they had done some research beforehand and knew the Holy Son of the True Martial Sacred Ground wouldn’t be easy to deal with, the three of them were all at the peak of God Meridian, and they had trained their fusion technique together for many years. No matter how you looked at it, they should’ve had it in the bag.
He just hadn’t expected to lose so cleanly.
“Damn it, no wonder they offered such a high price,” the black-robed man cursed to himself.
Just then, his pupils contracted and he froze mid-run.
Snow was falling, the wind bitterly cold, and the plains stretched out endlessly.
Xu Zimo stood casually up ahead, smiling as he watched the fleeing man approach.
“No need to be in such a rush, we’ve got plenty of time,” Xu Zimo said with a light laugh.
“Sir, we were blinded by greed. I beg you to let me go,” the black-robed man pleaded quickly.
“Take off your hat and speak to me properly,” Xu Zimo said calmly.
The man hesitated for a moment, then threw off his hat.
He looked to be around forty or fifty years old, had a mustache, short hair, and a scar across his face.
“Unfamiliar face,” Xu Zimo commented.
“My brothers and I are just rogue cultivators. You likely haven’t heard of us, we’re not famous,” the man replied quickly.
“How could someone at peak God Meridian not be famous? I just didn’t bother looking you up,” Xu Zimo said. “Speak honestly. Why did you come to kill me?”
“I’ll tell you. Can you let me go afterward?” the man asked cautiously.
“You think you’re in a position to bargain?” Xu Zimo asked. “Don’t you want revenge for the one who sent you after me?”
“It was the Blood Nether Sacred Ground,” the man finally said, rage and sorrow in his eyes. “Because you killed their Holy Son, you basically ruined their shot at seizing Heaven’s Will in this era. So they wanted revenge.”
“You lot sure have guts,” Xu Zimo said as he stepped closer.
The black-robed man backed away, still keeping an eye on him. “We were blinded by money. But we weren’t the masterminds. I’ve told you everything, please let me go.”
“I’ll deal with the Blood Nether Sacred Ground myself,” Xu Zimo said. “But since you were so close with your brothers, shouldn’t you go keep them company?”
With that, he raised Shadow Tyrant overhead. A blade aura surged out, cleaving the snowy land and splitting the white sky like a canyon.
Seeing this, the black-robed man turned and bolted without looking back.
But just as the blade aura descended, he ran directly into its path.
Heaven and earth sank into silence. Snow flurried violently.
The world was swallowed in a blinding white.
When the snow finally settled again, all was quiet once more.
Xu Zimo’s figure had already vanished, as if nothing had happened at all.
...
“Waiter, bring me a pot of hot wine and a plate of bacon,” Xu Zimo called as he sat by the window.
He brushed the snow from his clothes, enjoying the warmth of the inn before settling into his seat.
After traveling across the wilderness, he had arrived in a city called “Desolate City.”
This was already considered part of the Eastern Continent’s core region, far from the extreme west.
A waiter in gray brought out the hot wine and beef.
“How far is it from here to the Endless Sky Sea?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Sir, once you exit the north gate and pass through Heaven-Jade Mountain, you can take an airship directly to the Endless Sky Sea,” the waiter replied with a smile.
Xu Zimo nodded slightly.
After finishing his meal, night had fallen.
He stayed the night in the city, and at dawn the next day, he set off toward Heaven-Jade Mountain.
The early morning was chillier still.
The night had yet to fully fade when Xu Zimo had just left the city gates. Suddenly, a voice called out from the mist, “Boundless Heavenly Lord...”
He looked toward the hazy darkness and saw a robed Daoist, sword at his waist, slowly walking toward him.
Xu Zimo didn’t pay him much attention and was about to leave.
But the Daoist chuckled lightly and said, “Please wait, benefactor. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“For me?” Xu Zimo looked at the Daoist with surprise.
The two of them had clearly never met, he was certain of it.
“And who might you be?”
“In your presence, I dare not claim any lofty title. My Daoist name is Plain-Minded,” the Daoist smiled. “But you may call me Great Wisdom.”
“Great wisdom hides in plainness?” Xu Zimo chuckled with interest. “That’s an interesting name.”
“My master gave it to me. I dare not disobey,” the Daoist said with a smile.
“So what do you want from me?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Are you headed to the Mortal Dust Palace?” Great Wisdom asked.
“How do you know that?” Xu Zimo frowned slightly.
For him to be waiting here, and to know his destination, was suspicious.
Aside from the Qin Clan, he hadn’t told anyone.
Xu Zimo hated the feeling of being seen through.
“You’d better give me a perfect explanation, or you won’t be leaving today,” Xu Zimo warned.
“Please don’t be angry, benefactor. I’m here to help you,” Great Wisdom said.
“Help me how?” Xu Zimo asked, frowning.
“Whatever your purpose is for going to the Mortal Dust Palace, I can help you with it,” Great Wisdom said.
“You know what I’m going there for?” Xu Zimo asked.
“No,” Great Wisdom shook his head.
“You’re a strange monk. If you don’t know, how can you help?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Just tell me your goal, and I’ll give you an answer,” Great Wisdom smiled.
“I’m looking for the Nirvana-Fire Pearl,” Xu Zimo said.
“The Nirvana-Fire Pearl, one of the Five Spirit Orbs,” Great Wisdom was clearly stunned. Then he smiled. “You truly are extraordinary, benefactor.”
As he spoke, he pulled out a golden bone from his robe.
The bone glowed with golden light. No one knew what creature it came from. It was inscribed with Daoist runes, profound and mysterious.
“The Mortal Dust Palace is vast. Do you even know where the Nirvana-Fire Pearl is?” Great Wisdom asked. “If you’re searching blindly, who knows how long it will take. Why not bring me along?”
“What use would that be?” Xu Zimo asked.
“This bone is a relic from my grandmaster. It can guide us to the Nirvana-Fire Pearl,” Great Wisdom replied.
Xu Zimo’s eyes locked onto the Dao Bone.
Even he couldn’t see through it. It was like a fog, mysterious and obscure, impossible to discern.