Xuefeng sat cross-legged on the moss-carpeted ground, his breath slow and even as tendrils of Spirit Qi flowed from the luminous stones surrounding him. The air smelled faintly of pine and damp earth, the canopy overhead swaying gently in the breeze. Dappled sunlight flickered across his face, but in his focused state, he barely registered the world around him.
Then, without warning, Ling's voice sliced through the calm like a blade. I've found the Nightmare Lair.
His eyes snapped open. Already? A flicker of satisfaction curled his lips, but it vanished when Ling added, We're not alone though. There's a group of cultivators already engaged in battle inside the cave.
Xuefeng's smile faded. Damn. If they didn't move quickly, their entire mission could be for nothing.
