The instant Li Ling saw Yellow Cloud True Person, he inwardly rejoiced that, for safety's sake, he had not brought his wife along.
Yellow Cloud True Person knew the Ninth Princess's aura well. Even after she had transformed her Dao Body, Yellow Cloud True Person might still recognize her spiritual traits. One look, and their cover would probably be blown on the spot.
If she then traced the Ninth Princess's identity back to him, even the tiger skin of True Person Zixu that he wore as a disguise might be exposed.
Guilty conscience aside, Li Ling's smiling, unhurried bearing was undeniably convincing. The unique Nascent Soul standing within his soul was on full display, making everyone present feel the aura of an exalted expert wash over them.
He formed a hand seal, nodded slightly with neither servility nor arrogance, and said warmly, "Greetings, fellow Daoists."
"He truly lives up to his reputation as a Day Wandering expert. This Dao resonance... I fear he has already touched the Spirit Transformation realm!"
"I sensed a trace of Yang Spirit aura. Was it because of the tribulation he underwent recently? Rumor had it that Senior Zixu went into hiding to recover afterward. Now that I've seen him, I know how wrong that was. He doesn't look injured at all."
"Enough. An exalted senior like him was unfathomable to begin with. Probing him with Spiritual Consciousness is discourteous. We must not pry any further!"
A sweep of Spiritual Consciousness allowed cultivators to learn basic information about one another. They could fully confirm that this was the exalted senior of the rumors.
Yin Changming was visibly excited, seemingly rather proud to be the one introducing him. He said to Li Ling, "Senior Zixu, allow me to make the formal introductions. This is the Island Master