'Why do I have to go to Mount Dao? What is awaiting me there?' Zhelan pondered as he sauntered on the streets of Utira.

After ordering Tian Ma to prepare for his departure the day after, he left the palace right away with the intention of taking a look around the kingdom. However, all his thoughts were fixed on the majestic Mount Dao and he could not focus on anything else.

Zhelan was so lost in his thoughts that he was oblivious to the curious looks around him. The people around him had stopped to stare at the strange man in the kingdom and kept whispering to themselves.

Even though he had become a harmless human, Zhelan was still dressed in the clothes he had worn the day he had been punished. His robes were made of some of the finest silk, one that the people of Utira had never seen, not even on their king.

Whispers erupted everywhere and the people could not stop speaking about the stranger, who even their king feared. Word about Tian Ma personally welcoming the young man had spread all around the kingdom and the people were filled with admiration towards the formidable stranger.

Zhelan kept strolling, not knowing where he was going. It was only when he heard loud cheers from a mob that he came out of his thoughts and frowned at the sight of the crowd around him. They were looking at him strangely and he felt oddly uncomfortable seeing their gazes.

In his displeasure, he quickened his pace to escape from the crowd, only to stop suddenly when he felt a strong aura from somewhere around him, the aura he was all too familiar with.

'A middle-level stage four cultivator.' Zhelan mused, his lips arching up immediately and his eyes wandered around in search of the person desperately. The one power Zhelan still had after being reduced to the powerless human was his ability to sense cultivators near him and their ranks.

If it was the previous him, a middle-level cultivator was not even worthy of his attention. But that could not be said the same in his current predicament. Amidst the humans, the presence of a cultivator gave him a strange kind of happiness and hope, as though he was meeting his family after a long time.

Excited and with a motive in mind, Zhelan started to search for the person he had in mind. But it was difficult considering the crowd around him. The humans followed him everywhere he went and as time passed, Zhelan sensed the person to be moving away from him. The distance between them only widened much to his dismay.

Zhelan frowned and glared at the obnoxious people around. Their sight only made him despise them all the more and he clenched his fists tight in his rage. And the people cowered in fright on seeing the stranger glower and took a step away from him.

Their actions somehow appeased Zhelan and he once again focused on the cultivator. Although the distance between them was considerably huge, he could still sense the person and he kept walking excitedly, at times even running desperately lest he should lose them.

It was the second person of his kind he was meeting in Utira, although he had only met the first man when he was in forced unconsciousness. Zhelan was frantic to meet someone of his kind and he could not let the amazing opportunity escape from his clutches.

Seeing him hurry, the people gave way much to his relief. At least he did not have to worry about the humans being a hinderance to his plans.

'Where did the person go?' Zhelan halted for a moment and looked everywhere. Even though he could still sense the man's aura, he could not discern where the man exactly was. In the crowd, it was too difficult for him to move and search at the same time.

All of a sudden, his eyes sparkled and his face brightened up considerably. The powerful aura, instead of reducing, was increasing as moments passed. It was as though the person was strolling somewhere close by and Zhelan could not control his exhilaration. He beamed in delight and stood where he was as he waited in his place, not caring how terrified the people around him had become after seeing the changes in his moods and expressions. It was more volatile than anything they had seen.

Zhelan did not care about the people and their sentiments.

Zhelan followed the aura of the person, not knowing who he was following, and gradually, they moved away from the crowd and shifted to a deserted alley.

At first, Zhelan did not notice the bizarre situation and he kept treading even though there was no one within his sight. But soon, when he did not hear any noise, he perceived the oddity of the situation and he stopped, his brows furrowing in apprehension.

'Where did the person go and where am I?' He wondered, his eyes turning dark instantly. However, his thoughts lasted only for a few moments when a voice interrupted him immediately after.

"I see that you have been following me for quite some time now."

Zhelan heard a man's voice and the next instant saw someone flying in the air before he landed swiftly and perfectly in front of him.

Zhelan stared wide-eyed at the man who had appeared before him out of nowhere. He was utterly impressed by his abilities and his eyes twinkled in appreciation.

"That was brilliant." He uttered, not hesitating with the praises and the man just smiled at him faintly.

"May I know why you were following me, Young Master..." The man stopped for a moment and his lips arched up into a smirk. "Xie Zhelan."

"Do you know who I am?" Zhelan was dumbfounded and he stared stupidly at the man before him.

The man seemed to be in his early twenties. Yet, his brown eyes looked wiser than all the people Zhelan had ever met in his life.

"I do. Everyone knows about you, every cultivator in the world, Young Master. Your truth is not a secret anymore."

Zhelan stood speechless and observed the man in front of him. Instead of a sword, which the usual cultivators like him used, he was carrying a saber. Moreover, his gait was formidable and awe-inspiring, and a strange thought entered his mind, one which Zhelan could not fathom.

"May I know who you are and what you are doing in the human world?" The words escaped Zhelan's lips before he could stop them. Yet, he was not apologetic and waited for the man to reply.

However, all he got in return was the man's silence and his scrutinizing eyes.

Nobody spoke for quite some time before the man let out a sigh and relaxed his shoulders.

"I am Liu Yang and I am here in search of someone."

"Who?"

"One who can return me what I lost."

"And, what is that?" Zhelan tilted his her in confusion and observed him.

"That..." Liu Yang smiled and shook his head lightly. "My cultivation levels."