The Sunset Hall was a place where only cultivators who held the position of Grand Elder of the Yan Yue Sect across the generations were permitted to reside. Not only was it invariably built atop a Spirit Eye, but the hall was also layered with restrictive formations. Aside from a scant few elders, no one could approach the hall without the Grand Elder's permission.
At this moment, a streak of red light roughly a foot long came flying in from the distance. It circled several times outside the Sunset Hall's restrictions before, with a clean swoosh, slipping unimpeded through into the great hall.
The red light pierced through several layers of faint restrictions, made a few turns, and flew into a side chamber.
There, a woman with delicate features sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion with her eyes closed. Her skin was snow-white and cold as ice, and she appeared to be in her early twenties. A faint aura of yin chill radiated from her body.
The red light shot directly in front of the woman. As though she had been expecting it, the woman slowly opened her eyes, furrowed her brow, and waved her hand at the red light.
Instantly, the red light transformed into a fist-sized fireball that landed squarely in the woman's palm.
The cold-faced woman stared at the flame, expressionless and silent. Then, with a flip of her hand, the fireball was extinguished.
"What is that girl playing at, requesting to see me on her own initiative? But since her tone has softened, I may as well go and take a look," the woman murmured to herself.
She was clearly a woman of decisive action. In the next instant, she transformed into a white rainbow and shot outward. Moments later, she had left the Sunset Hall and was heading off in a specific direction.
Before long, the woman arrived at Nangong Wan's cave dwelling. Her radiance dimmed, and she descended to the ground.
She took a brief survey of her surroundings. Everything appeared normal. The restrictive formations outside the cave dwelling were still incomplete and showed nothing out of the ordinary.
Only then did she relax. She walked directly to the cave dwelling's main entrance, raised her hand, and struck the stone door with a white spell seal. The door swung open by itself.
The pale woman did not stand on ceremony. She walked inside at an unhurried pace.
"Grand-Master!" Someone had long been waiting behind the stone door. The moment the woman entered, that person performed a deep bow of greeting. Based on her figure and appearance, it was the young girl in the yellow robe.
"Your cultivation seems to have improved somewhat since our last meeting. It seems the pills I gave you have been consumed." The cold woman glanced the yellow-robed girl over casually, spoke in a flat tone, and then slowly made her way deeper into the cave dwelling.
"This disciple thanks Grand-Master for the pills! Without them, how could I have progressed so quickly." The yellow-robed girl dipped her head slightly and followed close behind as she replied.
"Good that you understand. Has Nangong Wan been behaving herself inside the dwelling? Any unusual behavior?" the woman asked.
"None. Apart from meeting with one disciple today, Grand-Master Nangong has not done anything out of the ordinary," the girl reported methodically.
"I already heard about that from your Junior Master Lan's voice transmission talisman. That disciple apparently delivered some kind of gift. They should have left by now?"
"That disciple was only a low-ranking steward within the sect. He departed a little over half a day ago. However, after Grand-Master Nangong received the gift, she seemed to become somewhat displeased," the girl continued respectfully.
"Oh? What sort of gift could put your Grand-Master in a foul mood?" The woman's expression shifted slightly at this.
"Nothing remarkable — just a silver sword artifact. But when Grand-Master Nangong saw the sword, she appeared quite unsettled." The yellow-robed girl lowered her head further, but her words remained clear and precise.
"Perhaps it was from some loose cultivator your Grand-Master Nangong befriended during her travels. That would be perfectly normal." The cold woman was briefly startled, but after a moment's thought, a trace of surprise crossed her face.
"That must be it! Grand-Master Nangong sat alone deliberating for a while after receiving the silver sword, and only then did she suddenly send a voice transmission talisman requesting to see you, Grand-Master."
"To think that something could make my dear Junior Sister Nangong change her mind — that is rather unexpected!" Nangong Wan's senior sister seemed to grow curious.
"Continue to keep watch over Grand-Master Nangong's every move. The high-grade spirit talismans I gave you should be undetectable given her current state — most of her magical power has been sealed. As long as you handle this matter well, I will reward you generously." The Grand Elder of the Yan Yue Sect issued her instructions in a nonchalant manner.
As she spoke, the two of them were approaching the entrance to the main hall.
"As you command, Grand-Master! Grand-Master Nangong is waiting for you inside the hall!" the yellow-robed girl replied in an extremely soft voice. She then guided the woman to the entrance of the hall.
The cold woman had intended to follow her usual cautious habit and carefully scan her surroundings before entering the hall.
But the moment she appeared at the entrance, a voice came from within.
"Senior Sister! Come in. The matter you asked me to consider — for the sake of our sect, I am willing to agree. But there is one condition. You must make me a promise first."
Nangong Wan's voice was casual, extraordinarily calm.
Yet upon hearing this, a flash of surprise and delight crossed her senior sister's face. Without a second thought, she strode forward, saying with relief: