After Li Hongfang put on the tactical goggles equipped with situational analysis, the mirage beast's fog illusion no longer had much effect on her. Just as even the most formidable martial arts could be brought down by a single gunshot, many methods of ancient beasts were no longer particularly effective in the modern age.
The mirage beast's signature ability was its fog illusion. Once even that signature ability no longer worked, its threat was greatly reduced.
In many other worlds, the mirage beast's fog illusion was like a mage's magic. Once magic ceased to work, the mage was left with only a frail body and little means of self-defense, requiring warriors for protection. Many early settings were like this.
If a protagonist arrived in such an otherworld, they would often cultivate both magic and martial arts. The mirage beast was such a protagonist. Even if its fog illusion no longer worked, it still possessed an immensely powerful physical body.
Liu Chang'an's knowledge of the mirage beast was not limited to legends.
When many people heard legends, even if they yearned for them, they would not seek out the truth behind them. Mortal lives were too frail, time was too short, and there was no need to pay every price for something illusory.
"Do you know Dongfang Shuo?" Liu Chang'an asked Li Hongfang.
"I do. Every dynasty had its share of extraordinary people, and Dongfang Shuo was an eccentric of the Han Dynasty. Legend says he encountered immortals."
Li Hongfang at least publicly carried the identity of a Song painting collector, so she knew something about traditional history and culture. Besides, having started out as a tomb robber, she might not have been particularly interested in official histories, but she knew far more about folk legends, unofficial histories, and miscellaneous tales.