Xue Jianming, however, knew nothing of this. By now he had become a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow, his heart gripped by a boundless dread. For all that he was a master of Great Perfection in the Golden Core stage, his divine sense had seen no true improvement—it was the weakest link in his whole cultivation, and he could not help but fear.

When Wei Zhao's gaze swept toward him, Xue Jianming gave a violent start. Fearing the man might harbor some evil intent, he hastened to force out a smile and said, "Thank you for your help."

So he said with his lips, while in his heart he wished only to find some way to do away with Wei Zhao as quickly as possible—returning kindness with ingratitude. This creature was a textbook white-eyed wolf.

"No need. I wasn't here for you anyway," Wei Zhao said with a curl of his lip.

"Then... let us part ways here..." Xue Jianming spoke with the utmost caution and vigilance, terrified that Wei Zhao might suddenly strike at him. To be sure, Bing Wushuang—"one of his own"—was still present, and he hardly believed that Wei Zhao, a mere Great Perfection Foundation Establishment cultivator, could best him, a master of Great Perfection in the Golden Core stage. But what he had just witnessed was far too astonishing; this creature simply could not be measured by common sense.

Sure enough, Wei Zhao had no intention of letting him go so easily. He stretched out a hand to block the way. "Hold on."

"What do you want?" Xue Jianming was instantly on guard as though facing a great enemy, and at the same time he desperately shot looks at Bing Wushuang, hoping Bing Wushuang would join him in dealing with Wei Zhao. Even though they had each harbored their own schemes while fighting the Primeval Giant Lizard just now, they were both men of the Center at bottom, and he trusted that Bing Wushuang would not go so far as to turn on him over a matter of principle—for that would be tantamount to betraying the Center.

Little did he know that Bing Wushuang was not his ally at all, but Wei Zhao's. He had truly overthought it.

"Where is Leng Leng?" Wei Zhao fixed him with an unfriendly stare. Though what had happened after they entered the Primeval Giant Lizard's territory was beyond his knowledge, he could be certain that before that, Xue Jianming had been hunting Leng Leng all along—of that there was no doubt.

If Leng Leng were safe and sound, well and good. But if any mishap had befallen her, Wei Zhao would not let Xue Jianming off today.

"She fled long ago," Xue Jianming answered hurriedly.

"Truly?" Wei Zhao was half convinced at best. He turned to the Sleeping Lotus clone not far away and instructed, "Look into it."

Xue Jianming was taken aback at this, and only then did he finally notice the unfamiliar face beside Duanmu Yu. He could not help wondering privately where this person had come from—he had some impression of every Ancient disciple taking part in the trial, and this one was not among them. Moreover, Wei Zhao had actually told him to look into Leng Leng's matter—how was he supposed to do that?

At this, Bing Wushuang stepped forward to corroborate. "Leng Leng did indeed escape. I watched her go with my own eyes."

"Is that so?" Wei Zhao let out a slight breath of relief. It went without saying that Bing Wushuang must have saved Leng Leng from Xue Jianming's clutches. Just then the Sleeping Lotus clone spoke as well. "The woman got away safely. She has already joined up with that group from before."

"Good, then," Wei Zhao nodded.

"I can go now, can't I?" Xue Jianming dared not linger. Without waiting for Wei Zhao's answer he withdrew at once, and at the same time complained to Bing Wushuang, "Aren't you going to take down your blasted cage?!"

Bing Wushuang frowned at the words. He glanced at Wei Zhao, and only after seeing no objection did he wave his hand to withdraw the Heartless Ice Threads.

Without a moment's hesitation Xue Jianming executed Traceless Snow Tread, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye. To him, the Wei Zhao before him now seemed far more worthy of dread than even the Primeval Giant Lizard.

Wei Zhao gazed thoughtfully in the direction the creature had fled. In truth, for daring to raise a hand against Leng Leng and the others alone, this thing deserved death a hundred times over. It was only that Wei Zhao's present strength and realm were too low—how easy could it be to deal with a master of Great Perfection in the Golden Core stage?

Of course, if it truly came to a fight, it was not impossible. After all, he had Bing Wushuang, another Great Perfection Golden Core master, on his side. The crux of the matter was that Wei Zhao himself was now at the end of his rope and could not lift a hand.

Yet Wei Zhao betrayed not the slightest sign of it. He kept his expression light and unconcerned as ever, and looking at Bing Wushuang he asked, "What is the story with this creature? It seems there is something he does not want us to know?"

On reflection, Xue Jianming's behavior just now had been highly abnormal. That he was shaken by Wei Zhao's astonishing methods was true enough, but he was, after all, a master of Great Perfection in the Golden Core stage, and nominally Bing Wushuang was still on his side. There was no need whatever for him to fear Wei Zhao, still less to put on such a fleeing posture. There had to be something behind this.

"Indeed. From the moment he entered this Ancient Trial Ground, his movements have been furtive the whole way. I found it very strange myself, so I have been following him all along—only I have yet to figure out his purpose," Bing Wushuang nodded. It was precisely for this reason that he had been able to save Leng Leng in time; otherwise, with the Ancient Trial Ground so vast, how could such a coincidence have come about?

"He did not notice you?" Wei Zhao was somewhat surprised. Both were masters of Great Perfection in the Golden Core stage; even if Bing Wushuang's foundation ran deeper, it should not have been possible to trail him the whole way undetected. Xue Jianming was no ordinary man, after all—his perception could not be that dull, surely?

"I have this." Bing Wushuang raised his hand, and at his fingertip there was unmistakably an invisible ice thread, stretching all the way toward the direction Xue Jianming had fled. Without question, the other end must be on Xue Jianming himself.

"No wonder." Wei Zhao understood at once. With this Heartless Ice Thread as a guide, Bing Wushuang needed only to trail far behind; there was no need to come within range of the other's perception at all. So long as Xue Jianming never discovered this little trick, he could never escape his tracking.

"Then I..." Bing Wushuang asked for instructions.

"Do as you see fit. Keep watching him—it suits me well, since I am uneasy about this creature too." Wei Zhao waved a hand. Since Xue Jianming dared to raise a hand against Leng Leng and the others, having done it once, a second time would be hard to avoid. With Bing Wushuang keeping an eye on him on his behalf, that hidden danger could be nipped in the bud. Besides, if Bing Wushuang were to follow him constantly, it would be a troublesome thing should outsiders catch sight of it.

"Fine." Bing Wushuang assented, but did not leave at once. Instead he turned his gaze to the others present, beginning with Fei Yangnian, who was nearest.

At this moment Fei Yangnian was staring at him and Wei Zhao in astonishment, plainly dumbstruck by the relationship the two had just displayed. Should Bing Wushuang not have been Wei Zhao's adversary? How was it that he now seemed rather to be Wei Zhao's subordinate lackey? (To be continued.)