"Your disciple pays her respects, Master." At her words, Zhang Hong and Li Xiaoya hurried forward, and Zhang Hong bowed gracefully as she spoke with respect.
"My respects, Senior Sister," Li Xiaoya said, also bowing respectfully.
"Mm, dispense with the formalities." Seeing Li Xiaoya offer such a formal bow as well, Liu Yulan faltered. She glanced at him, then at Zhang Hong, a trace of surprise crossing her face before it vanished. Raising a hand, she spoke without betraying her thoughts.
"Yes," the two replied respectfully.
"Ah, Hong'er, let your master take a look." Liu Yulan beckoned to Zhang Hong as she spoke.
"Yes, Master." Zhang Hong's lovely face flushed. She glanced at Li Xiaoya, then stepped forward and held out her fair, delicate wrist. Liu Yulan lightly rested her hand on Zhang Hong's wrist, and a faint blue light immediately wreathed her hand.
"Ah, just as I thought! Hong'er, your magic power has indeed reached the core condensation great perfection peak!" Liu Yulan exclaimed in delighted surprise. She paused, then smiled knowingly. "It seems Junior Brother Li had something to do with this?"
"He did have a little to do with it..." Zhang Hong answered bashfully, her face crimson and her voice barely audible.
"What do you mean, a little? I had a great deal to do with it, Senior Sister!" Li Xiaoya said with a chuckle from beside her.
"Now, Junior Brother Li," Liu Yulan said, pointing to the middle-aged cultivator before her, who had been smiling silently all this time. "This is your Third Senior Brother, Dongfang Yi. He is also Master's disciple."
"Ah, so you're Third Senior Brother! Greetings, Third Senior Brother!" At first, Li Xiaoya had assumed this man was merely a Golden Core Stage Cultivator from the same sect. To think he was actually