Seeing the young woman speak, Gong Xinghe's expression softened slightly as he nodded. "Fu'er, tell us — what's this method you have?"
The young woman smiled at his words. "Father, have you forgotten? Under my guidance, there is a disciple who has cultivated the Thousand Illusion Liuli Art."
This young woman and Gong Xinghe turned out to be father and daughter, and both were Void Return Stage Three powerhouses. Such a situation was far from unusual on the Dark Star, since Void Return Stage Three represented the absolute limit of cultivation for warriors in this region. It was quite common within many major sects for father-and-son pairs, or master-and-disciple pairs, to share the same cultivation realm.
Judging by the way Gong Xinghe addressed this young woman and by her words, she could only be Gong Aofu — the very one Dai Yuan had told Yang Kai about, who resided at Wanren Peak.
"Thousand Illusion Liuli Art..." The moment those words left her mouth, a trace of wariness surfaced in the depths of Gong Xinghe's eyes. The other elders showed similar reactions, as if something unpleasant had been recalled; their expressions grew complicated.
"The junior who lives on Thousand Illusion Peak?" Gong Xinghe asked lightly, the strange look in his eyes quickly suppressed.
"That's right." Gong Aofu gave a slight nod.
"Where is she now?" Gong Xinghe asked.
"She appears to be heading this way — she must have seen what's going on here." As she spoke, Gong Aofu turned her gaze to the side, where a streak of azure light was rapidly approaching.
The group waited a brief moment, and the azure light arrived overhead, paused, and resolved into a graceful figure.
However, when the assembled crowd made out the newcomer's face, they all showed varying degrees of surprise.
The one who had arrived was, of course, Dai Yuan, who had hurried over. She seemed to have already known that so many senior members and elders of the sect would be gathered here, for she showed not the slightest hint of panic. First she gave a measured but not overly deferential bow to Gong Xinghe, saying, "Disciple Dai Yuan of Thousand Illusion Peak greets the Sect Leader!"
Gong Xinghe nodded faintly without saying much.
Only then did Dai Yuan bow to Gong Aofu and offer her greetings to the assembled elders and seniors.
Gong Aofu's fine brows furrowed slightly as she swept her Divine Sense over Dai Yuan's body. "Yuan'er, what have you been doing these past few days? Your vital essence and blood seem somewhat depleted," she asked, suspicious.
Dai Yuan lowered her head. "This disciple encountered a minor setback during cultivation, but it is nothing serious. There is no need for Master to worry."
Though she said this, her expression was detached — as though she were merely going through the motions, mechanical and rote.
Seeing this, Gong Xinghe frowned slightly, though he didn't remark on her attitude. "Your master says you have a way to investigate the situation beneath Liuli Mountain. Is that so?"
"Investigate Liuli Mountain?"
"Yes. We suspect that a restriction formation underground has been damaged, but we cannot tell whether it was deliberately sabotaged or simply deteriorated on its own. We need you to take a look and see if there's a problem."
"The sect has raised and nurtured me. Now that my abilities are needed, Dai Yuan will certainly not refuse!" she replied evenly.
At these words, Gong Aofu opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words came. She simply said, "In that case, please make your investigation and report back to us."
"This disciple obeys!" Dai Yuan showed no hesitation. She immediately closed her eyes and activated her technique. Soon, from her slender body burst forth the same Liuli divine radiance that erupted from Liuli Mountain — though these rays were but a minuscule fraction of the mountain's own. The radiance shimmered around Dai Yuan for a moment, then transformed into a streak of luminous haze that shot outward and plunged into Liuli Mountain in the blink of an eye.
At this, many elders who had never witnessed the Thousand Illusion Liuli Art before showed expressions of keen interest. Because Liuli Mountain repelled the Five Elements and possessed the power to bind the body and restrain the soul, even those whose cultivation far surpassed Dai Yuan's had been unable to project their Divine Sense or use any means to investigate what lay beneath the mountain.
Yet now, Dai Yuan — who possessed only a Saint King Stage Three cultivation — had accomplished it effortlessly. Their interest was matched by a measure of shock.
They knew of the Thousand Illusion Liuli Art, of course, and they knew the dangers of cultivating it. After a brief moment of contemplation, they turned their attention away from Dai Yuan and quietly waited.
After what felt like an eternity, the beam of light that had plunged into Liuli Mountain suddenly reappeared, rushing back into Dai Yuan's body.
At this, every senior figure of the Liuli Sect turned to gaze at Dai Yuan, awaiting her answer.