Night descended, wrapping the entire Black Flame Mountain Range in darkness. At the edge of the mountain range, however, Black Flame City remained brightly lit, enveloped in a festive atmosphere.

　　Every faction of certain clout in Black Flame Province had sent their elite disciples to Black Flame City. Their goal was naturally the currently unowned essence flame vein.

　　Although they knew that the biggest slices of the pie would definitely end up in the hands of the four overlord sects, just a tiny slice from a vein of such an immense scale was already a sizable haul for them.

　　Thus, numerous factions swarmed towards this mountain fringe city, turning it exceptionally lively.

　　    ...

　　*Creak*

　　Zhou Yuan pushed open his room door and stepped onto the corridor. As he looked down from above, he found that the giant building was currently abuzz with activity.

　　He leaned against the banister with interest. This was the first time he had been outside after coming to the Shengzhou Continent for so long, since he had basically spent all his time holed up in the Cangxuan Sect for training.

　　As such, this was his first real view of the scenery in the Shengzhou Continent.

　　While Zhou Yuan was tasting the lively atmosphere, the faint sound of rus.h.i.+ng wind was suddenly heard as a sharp force ruthlessly stabbed towards his back.

　　Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly at this moment, while his body instantly etherealized.

　　With a single step, the force brushed past his body as Zhou Yuan sent a strike towards a certain direction behind him. Genesis Qi surged as the sound of air being torn apart was heard.

　　However, Zhou Yuan was a little surprised to realize his fist had landed on empty air, before he quickly sniffed a whiff of fragrance.

　　"Not bad. You've grown much stronger in half a year." A tinkling laughter sounded. Zhou Yuan raised his head to look, and found a young lady in a black dress seated on the banister beside him. Her fair and slender feet swayed slightly, the snow-white calves a dazzling sight to behold.

　　It was Zuoqiu Qingyu.

　　"Your speed… is very amazing." Astonishment flitted across Zhou Yuan's eyes. The speed at which Zuoqiu Qingyu had avoided his attack earlier was not the least be slower than his advanced Ethereal Form.

　　It seems that Zuoqiu Qingyu had also been quite lucky after entering the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.

　　"Since my battle power is not as insane as yours, I should focus on a way to protect myself." Said Zuoqiu Qingyu with a wide grin, before she gracefully leaped into the air and appeared beside Zhou Yuan.

　　"Looks like you're doing pretty well for yourself in the Cangxuan Sect. I almost can't believe you managed to partic.i.p.ate in a mission of such calibre."

　　Although she was not familiar with the rules of the Cangxuan Sect, a mission like the Black Flame Province was surely something that only the elite members of the sect would be allowed to partic.i.p.ate in. Since Zhou Yuan had reached this level in merely half a year, he was obviously doing quite well for himself in the sect.

　　"I'm just doing what I can." Zhou Yuan chuckled. "The truth is… that everyone takes me as a freeloader for this mission."

　　Zuoqiu Qingyu placed an elbow on the banister as she propped up a cheek with her hand. Her lovely body leaned slightly to the side, accentuating her astonis.h.i.+ngly slender legs, as she displayed a wide smile and said, "Guess you'll be giving everyone a huge shock in the end."

　　"So much faith in me?" Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh. Even Li Qingchan did not have much expectations of him, and only hoped he wouldn't be a burden. He had not expected Zuoqiu Qingyu, whom he hadn't seen for half a year, to say such words.

　　"I'm only flattering you, did you really believe me?" However, Zuoqiu Qingyu laughed teasingly in response.

　　Zhou Yuan could only roll his eyes.