In the instant that the bald cultivator entered the central temple region, Meng Hao opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder at the man.
The man's gaze also came to fall upon Meng Hao, and he smiled.
It was a gentle smile, filled with seemingly boundless warmth. It caused the wounds of all the mortals down below to begin to heal. Even the cultivators trembled as they felt their qi and blood flourishing.
The man proceeded forward, smiling, to appear directly in front of Meng Hao.
"Meng Hao," he said, "you managed to commandeer the blood crystal and flee the Third Nation. It seems you have the qualifications to be awakened. There's no need for you to remain in this fabricated world. Come with me to see the true Heaven and Earth. Then you will understand... the truth."
The mastiff halted in midair, growling and glaring vigilantly at the bald cultivator. There was something familiar about this man's aura, and something terrifying and stifling.