"Junior Uncle Hongyuan."
Wang Zihuai called out from afar. Hearing this, Daoist Hongyuan smiled without a shred of senior airs. Although he was one generation higher than Wang Zihuai, his cultivation realm lagged a step behind, representing the fundamental gap of whether one had attained longevity. The two of them held roughly inverted positions of status within the sect.
Even so, Wang Zihuai maintained the modesty of a junior. This was not for show, but stemmed from genuine, heartfelt respect.
Daoist Hongyuan was an unpretentious and low-key person. As a Void Stepping cultivator, he displayed no capacity for carrying a burden alone within the sect. Yet as time passed, certain traits on him were slowly revealing themselves:
Rigorous execution, timely reminders, precise flaw-patching, and a calm, steady temperament. Several traits combined into one, prompting some fellow disciples who knew him well to sigh, "With Hongyuan alongside, all is worry-free abroad."
He was a reassuring second-in-command.
Going out with Daoist Hongyuan on a matter not led by himself, Wang Zihuai only needed to put on a show and ask a formal question before others, though even this question was completely unnecessary:
"Junior Uncle, is everything prepared?"
"Yes."
Daoist Hongyuan spoke very concisely. Glancing at Han Shuichang's somewhat unsightly expression, however, he added, "Supreme True Incense has been lit in thirty-six locations. It is now circulating with the talisman array, spreading throughout the inside and outside of the sword cave."
Han Shuichang, at the side, was stunned. He knew Daoist Hongyuan was well-versed in the Dao of talisman arrays, especially proficient in the method of void divine intent array-formation. Thus, when the latter requested to inspect and boost the array momentum, he agreed without much thought. Now, however, it turned out not to be so simple.
"What do you mean by this?"