The man's forehead oozed fine beads of sweat as he threw the Short Spear to the ground, clasping his hands together and saying:
"The junior, Gongsun Jing, has seen the senior."
That person seemed to glance at him casually, and Gongsun Jing immediately felt as if a terrifying pressure was assaulting him like an overwhelming wave, his face paling. He didn't know how much time had passed when he seemed to hear the man hum indifferently. His consciousness finally returned to reality, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the ground, gasping like an ox, with sweat pouring down his forehead.
A cold voice arose, seemingly laced with mockery, though it was unclear whether it was amused or displeased:
"Not bad, you do have some backbone."
Gongsun Jing, panting heavily, replied:
"Se, senior flatters me..."
Catching his breath, he didn't dare to look at the man in the blue shirt, suppressing the terror in his heart, and spoke in a low voice:
"I just don't know why the senior has brought the junior here, for what matter..."
As he spoke, a shiver ran secretly through his heart.
Such abilities to instantly change the scene and teleport thousands of miles couldn't be…
He quickly suppressed the thought, not daring to let his mind wander further.
The man on the other side chuckled coldly and said offhandedly:
"The world is about to change, I have been in deep contemplation and wish to enter the fray."
The voice paused as if considering something, and meanwhile, Gongsun Jing's mind was tumultuous, his thoughts in disarray. Just then, he heard that cold voice speak again:
"I have not trodden in the mortal world for a long time, I need you to gather some information..."
Hearing this, Gongsun Jing felt somewhat relieved. Collecting information was common for intelligence organizations, but the methods of the man before him were unheard of.
The man casually added: "You could also handle some minor affairs for me, and there will be rewards."
Gongsun Jing verbally agreed, but he was resolved not to do it. This sort of old monster was too difficult to predict, and he was better off staying as far away as possible. At that moment, the man's robe flicked lightly, and suddenly the scenery changed, and they were on top of a high peak.
The surrounding landscape was majestic, with towering mountains guarding either side of the peak, the sky overcast with clouds, and eagles circling the ravines, their cries mournful. Gongsun Jing's face changed slightly, his heart filled with horror. Proverbs about the mystical abilities to travel incredible distances in an instant echoed in his mind, buzzing loudly, leaving him barely composed.
As he was still reeling from shock, the man suddenly said:
"Since this is your first time here, I will give you a little something to start."
Suddenly, with a sweep of the robe, he found himself in a strange corridor. Feeling uneasy, suddenly candles on both sides brightened the area, and a figure appeared in front of him. The figure was grand, with an extraordinary demeanor.
He held a broken Spear but possessed a spirit of solitary courage, a fierce intent to fight that came flooding towards him, making Gongsun Jing's heart shiver, his pupils dilate, and his scalp tingle with both fear and the exhilaration of having encountered a matchless master from his own lineage.
The person holding the Spear raised his eyes slightly and locked onto the shaking figure of Gongsun Jing. His body slightly lowered, he took swift steps forward, one person exhibiting the might of thousands, his charge echoing the vigor of an army.
His voice was husky, carrying the unique rugged heroism of a Border Pass War General.
"What regrets are there in chasing invaders for thousands of miles, when one is willing to lay bones in a hundred thousand graves."
The sky was faintly lighting up over North Martial City.
Gongsun Jing sat like an automaton in his seat.
Reflecting on the events of the previous night still sent his blood racing, and he recalled again what the masked man had said, with considerable fear, sitting here after wrestling with his thoughts all night.
Perhaps he had already made his choice; the sleepless night was just to deceive himself.
Outside, someone knocked on the door, delivering a secret report.
Clenching the secret report in his hand, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind.
The man wanted information gathered, and tasks handled... no matter what, the greater the power, the more convenient it would be. He had to seize everything in this upheaval!
He had said they would meet monthly, and by next month, he had to have sorted things out!
He clenched his fists tightly, and then thought of a name that the blue-robed man had mentioned last night, a title that seemed even superior to his, and the notion of such a Master being not the strongest filled him with awe. He exhaled sharply, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the secret report, looking at the page that was just turned.
Constellation Ranking List, the 247th position.
Fufeng, Book Guardian, Wang Anfeng.
He was initially slightly startled, then he had an epiphany.
Wang Anfeng, that must be the young man who had screwed up his plans. He had been somewhat concerned before, but now with other pressing matters weighing on him, he completely dismissed this junior from his mind, his thoughts churning as he remembered the 'esteemed person' revealed by the man in blue. Fear and excitement mixed, he murmured softly:
"Leader of the Six Paths..."
PS: This world does not have Buddhism, but for ease of understanding, it is assumed that the concept of the Six Paths of Reincarnation exists.