Mountain Passage

A few moments after the Ancestral Dragon faded into Genesis Qi Stars - to the back of the arena, opposite where the stairs ended - a floating path emerged from the clouds that were surrounding the peak.

Taking one final glance down toward the other blessing winners, he smiled at them before turning around. As soon as he did, his expression became one of concern. Whatever he had felt, Julong was willing to bet it had come from where ever the floating path had.

That feeling scared him. It was surely one he would not ever forget.

Taking his first steps onto it, he finally remembered what Cang Xuan had said about Yao Yao. He didn't care for taking it slow, even if he was exhausted. He used what was left of his Genesis Qi, and moved as fast as his body would allow him to. He wanted to see her.

As the stairs finally reached another mountain top, he came across a foresty overgrown path. It was somewhat of a natural wonder, one he didn't take the time to appreciate as he shot down the now wooden stairs in the middle of an alleyway looking gap in a part of the mountain.

It was then that he came across a small resting area on the path, taking the shape of a pavilion. It had just a small table and roof in case of rain. In it sat a figure, one Julong knew all too well, one that relieved him with their very existence. Yao Yao sat there with a wine bottle accompanying her.

Despite it being there, it seemed as those she had not been drinking it, something rather unusual for her. The cup was stationed away from her as she seemed to frantically take small tilts of her head around the area as if waiting for something.

Laying their eyes on one another, her movements stopped, and a small smile came to her face. Such prior actions were unlike Yao Yao. Perhaps she also felt the dread of death he had?

Slowing his pace, he came to a stop in front of the entrance to the small seating area.

"Yao Yao... I'm glad."

For the first time, she moved her hand forth and took a small sip of her wine. She then motioned for him to join her.

"Come here, Julong."

He grinned warmly at her, moving closer to her, taking a seat rather close to her figure. She didn't seem to mind such close proximity from him, shown by her moving slightly closer, trying to hide it from him as if it didn't happen.

"I'm happy that you're alive. I felt your Spirit activate an incredible power, but it wasn't one of dominance, it was one that signified death."

"After I had finished my match, something... attacked me? I felt as if I was going to die, so my Spirit intervened. It is a feeling I don't want to feel again. It was certain death in a way."

As if to comfort him, she gently placed her hand on top of his. She remained straight-faced, not even looking at him as she did, just taking yet another sip of wine from her glass. It was something Julong held in high regard. It was very rare for her to do such things. It brought a gentle, yet affectionate smile to his face as he looked at her side profile.

"Either way, I was more worried about you. Before the contest even started, I could tell that you had been replaced by something, or someone, who ended up being my opponent."

With a nod, she affirmed his statement.

"I found myself here when I entered the Saint Tower. This bottle of wine was sitting here when I arrived. Whoever picked it out has good taste."

He just shook his head. She was really troublesome sometimes. What if the wine had been poisoned? There was no way she could have known, not unless she was able to tell with her Spirit - it was nearly a whole Realm higher than his after all.

"I'm sure you're rather interested in Zhou Yuan's results, would you like to hear them?"

"Of course. I have been the one who has taught him most of what he knows."

He merely chuckled at the information brought upon him. Why wouldn't she be the one to teach him everything.

"Zhou Yuan ended up in second place on the final platform before the peak of the mountain, where he ended up killing Wu Huang, or so I presume. Knowing someone of his stature, he probably has some other means of survival."

He saw her features accentuate in interest.

"That is actually surprising. He would be quite pleased with himself then?"

"From what I saw, he was extremely happy. I would be too though, defeating someone like Wu Huang when behind in experience and Cultivation Realms."

"Well, are you pleased with yourself? I will not act like I was not shown parts of your battle when your Spirit came to your defense against whatever force that tried to harm you. You were fighting a Fourth-Layer Alpha-Origin Expert, were you not? For someone who is merely a Quasi-Alpha-Origin Expert, that is quite the feat."

"There is no need to flatter me, as much as I appreciate it. While I am happy, such thoughts I have not been able to linger on since there were much more pressing concerns."

He looked her in the eyes, and she received his message of concern about her. It was then she realised just how deep his worry ran.

The hand that was gently placed on top of his quickly turned into a wrapped hand, something which he reciprocated.

They sat in silence for a small while, after that just taking in the scenery in each other's company.

It remained as such until unexpectedly, a third figure arrived.

"Wan Julong, and Big Sis Yao Yao?"

The voice was clearly the one that belonged to Zhou Yuan. Julong couldn't help but grin hearing him call Xiaoyao, Yao Yao. It did suit her rather well after all.

"Zhou Yuan?"

Upon hearing Julong's response to Zhou Yuan, Yao Yao immediately untangled her hand from his. Was she perhaps embarrassed?

The aforementioned boy happily ran up to the entrance of the seating area, going right up to Yao Yao and stealing her glass of wine, taking a swig and downing the rest of the glass.

She looked up at him with a deathly look.

"Zhou Yuan, do you wish to die?"

He laughed at her nervously.

"Please don't hit me, I might seriously die. Wu Huang really did a number on me."

Begrudgingly Yao Yao decided not to hit him.

"How did you arrive here?"

Julong decided to break the comically tense atmosphere.

"All of the platforms were given pathways that lead them to different mountain peaks. Though I am confused, why is it that I am on the same peak as you?"

Julong pondered for a moment, it wasn't very hard to deduce the reason why.

"I actually have an idea in regards to that. I'm fairly certain someone wants to formally meet us."

Julong stood up abruptly.

"Come on you two. I don't think it is wise to keep this person waiting."

"Why is that?"

"You'll see when you meet him."

"You've met him already?"

"I have, I've even fought him before. You could say he's the one who bestows the blessings."

Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao nodded. Sitting there was not going to achieve anything anyway. They both got up and followed the winner of the Saint Remains Domain down the continuing path. Just who was it that they were set to meet exactly?

As they neared the end of said path, there was an overhanging cliff edge that appeared in the distance. On it was a stone table with a few chairs. Next to that was an overhanging tree of an ancient-looking origin. It was the person on this overhang that grabbed attention, however. They were just looking into the space that separated the mountains in the range.

Julong perceived a very familiar aura from the person who was looking out over the mountain peaks. It was none other than the one he was competing with not so long ago, only this time, his aura was one that instilled dread into his very being. It was worryingly familiar to what had drawn his Spirit out.

"Cang Xuan..."