Water vapor veiled the entrance to Illusory Water Valley like gauze.
Several disciples of Magnetic Essence Peak looked especially overbearing in the glow of magnetic essence spiritual light. The young cultivator leading them held a Magnetic Essence Short Halberd, its tip pointed straight at Han Li's nose. "By order of the Hall Master, Illusory Water Valley is designated forbidden ground effective immediately. Anyone entering without permission will be charged with 'Stolen Cultivation Technique' and 'Unauthorized Secret-Realm Exploration.' At best, your cultivation will be crippled; at worst, you will be expelled from the Star Palace!"
The three disciples behind him spread out in a triangular formation. Magnetic essence spiritual power condensed into pale cyan armor over their bodies; clearly, they had come prepared.
Zi Ling stepped forward, her Plain Silver Hairpin swaying slightly. The lingering power of the Star-Illusion Maze Formation gathered into a pale silver halo around her. "Senior Brother, we accompany Han Li, a direct disciple of the Twin Saints. We came here to gather star-pattern grass on his masters' orders. The Twin Saints once said that water spirits and illusions intertwined within Illusory Water Valley, making it suitable for practicing formations. Why has it suddenly been sealed off?"
Her voice was cool and clear, yet carried an implicit challenge-a direct disciple of the Twin Saints was a "walking command token" within the Star Palace. What ordinary disciple would dare obstruct one?
The young cultivator's expression stiffened before he sneered. "A direct disciple of the Twin Saints? Why haven't I heard that Magnetic Essence Peak has acquired a Water Essence Direct Disciple? Even Master Ling Yuling only took Senior Brother Chu Tianhe as his disciple before entering seclusion! You two must be impostors trying to steal resources from the secret realm under the Twin Saints' name!"
As he spoke,