After hearing this, Han Li fell silent, lost in thought.
"Seven-Star Lunar Body."
Daoist Xie suddenly spoke up, his tone carrying a note of surprise.
"Fellow Daoist Xie, you've heard of this physique as well?" The Ancestor of the Long family was slightly taken aback and couldn't help but ask in return.
"I once heard my former master mention it. This physique is quite special — even in the True Immortal Realm, it is relatively rare." Daoist Xie quickly recovered his wooden expression and replied.
"To be able to forge a False Immortal Puppet, Fellow Daoist Xie's former master must have been a mighty being of the Immortal Realm — his words naturally cannot be wrong. In the Spirit Realm, while few people know of the Seven-Star Lunar Body, for certain powerful existences it is indeed not something worth keeping secret. But precisely because of this, I have placed such importance on Linglong. After all, with the Seven-Star Lunar Body, even without entering the Spirit Cleansing Pool or consuming the Purified Spirit Lotus, she still has a sliver of a chance of advancing to the Mahayana stage." Ancestor Ao Xiao sighed ever more deeply as he spoke.
"With the Seven-Star Lunar Body, one does indeed have slightly better prospects when advancing to Mahayana." After delivering this sentence expressionlessly, Daoist Xie fell silent.
At this point, Han Li finally emerged from his contemplation and asked Ancestor Ao Xiao: "Based on what Senior Ao Xiao has said, it seems even you have no solution to Linglong's current problem. Yet your tone suggests otherwise. I wonder — how might I be of help?"
"Good — I knew Fellow Daoist Han was not one to forget old bonds. After learning that the Heart-Severing Art is actually unsuitable for the girl Ling'er, I racked my brains and indeed came up with a method that could minimize the technique's effects, and might even have a chance of rendering it completely ineffective. However, it will require Fellow Daoist Han to put in considerable effort." Ancestor Ao Xiao was overjoyed upon hearing this and eagerly spoke.
"I am all ears, Senior. As long as it is something this junior can accomplish, I will not refuse." Images of his time with Silver Moon in the mortal realm flashed through Han Li's mind. He took a deep breath and immediately made his promise.
"Brother Xie, I need to speak with Fellow Daoist Han privately for a moment. I hope you won't mind stepping out briefly." Ancestor Ao Xiao did not immediately state his request to Han Li, but instead first spoke to Daoist Xie with an apologetic air.
Hearing this, Daoist Xie's wooden face shifted slightly, and his gaze swept casually over Han Li.
Although the contract he had established with Han Li did not stipulate that he must obey every one of Han Li's commands, on the foundation of Han Li nearly every few days providing a drop of the mysterious Green Liquid, this False Immortal Puppet still unconsciously tended to defer to his wishes.
"Brother Xie, it would be best for you to step out for the time being." After a moment's thought, Han Li also nodded toward Daoist Xie.
Whatever Ancestor Ao Xiao was about to say might touch upon the secrets of Silver Moon's heritage, and he truly did not want one more person to learn of it.
Even if that person was merely a sentient puppet.
Daoist Xie gave a slight nod, rose from his chair without a word, and drifted lightly out of the hall.
Once he had stepped outside, the hall door flashed with a faint white light and closed on its own.
After taking a few more steps under the watchful eyes of several puppet guards, Daoist Xie arrived at the side of Zhu Guo'er, who had been waiting outside the entire time.
Hearing the footsteps, Zhu Guo'er turned around. Upon seeing it was Daoist Xie, a look of delight immediately appeared on her face.
……
Several hours later, the hall door finally flashed with white light once more and opened.
A figure flickered and Han Li emerged, his brow slightly furrowed, looking as though his mind was weighed down with thoughts.
"Let's go. Senior Ao Xiao has already arranged a quiet chamber for us. We'll ride this ship straight back to the allied forces' main camp first." Han Li's gaze swept over Daoist Xie and Zhu Guo'er. His expression returned to normal, and he spoke in a level tone.
Then he turned and headed for the stairwell leading to the deck below.
Daoist Xie naturally had no objection whatsoever and immediately followed.
Zhu Guo'er, on the other hand, blinked her large, bright eyes, her mind filled with curiosity about what Han Li and Ancestor Ao Xiao had discussed so secretly in the hall. But she naturally dared not actually ask, and could only follow along with a belly full of guesses.
……
More than half a day later, in an empty chamber on the second floor of the tower ship.
Han Li sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his hands forming seals, perfectly still. Threads of golden light shimmered continuously across his body — he was clearly circulating his spiritual energy in meditation.