The atmosphere in the reception hall suddenly grew delicate.
Sun Li's gaze was like a pair of icy blades, fixed firmly on Chen Ming's face, as though he meant to catch even the slightest change in his expression. The pressure of a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator seeped out almost imperceptibly, enveloping the entire hall and making the air feel heavier.
The hand holding Chen Ming's teacup did not tremble in the slightest. He lowered his head, gently blew on the steam rising from the tea, and took a sip. Then he unhurriedly set the cup back on the table and looked up to meet Sun Li's gaze, his expression calm.
"Elder Tu Li?" Chen Ming adopted a suitably thoughtful expression, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, Elder Sun, but I don't know this Elder Tu Li. I did spend some time in these waters two years ago, but that was because the Star Palace was hunting me, and I fled all the way here. I could barely look after myself, let alone spare any attention for anyone else's movements."
"The Star Palace was hunting you?" Sun Li raised his brows slightly, seemingly surprised by this explanation.
"That's right."
Chen Ming gave a bitter laugh, a trace of helplessness in his voice. "Two years ago, the Star Palace suddenly dispatched a large fleet of warships and swept through every inch of the waters where I was staying. My meager cultivation wasn't even enough to fill the gaps between their teeth. All I could do was flee for my life, and I barely escaped alive. It's embarrassing to admit, but that escape left my vitality badly depleted. It took me more than half a year of recuperation to recover."
His account was half true and half false. The Star Palace really had