Seeing Shi Lan's reaction, Yan Ling shrugged slightly, a blush creeping onto her face. "Sister Shi, I'm sorry. I've been kept at Qingling Peak by Master all this time. To help me heal my damaged meridians, Master broke my leg and reattached it. My brother's cultivation is too low, and he's too old. The Peak Master is afraid he'll hinder his Foundation Establishment, so he's keeping him confined and not allowing him to leave the Peak, so..."

She paused, then a hint of joy appeared on her face. "Now that my leg is healed, I came to see you as soon as possible."

Shi Lan nodded in agreement with her statement, then tilted her head to look behind her; it was empty.

It seems her leg has really healed.

"Congratulations, your path will be clear from now on."

Yanling smiled, stretched out her delicate hand, and said, "This is for you."

Upon closer inspection, Shi Lan realized it was a miniature array plate.

"This is……"

Yanling said, "This is something I just figured out recently. If you don't mind, please accept it."

Shi Lan smiled and said, "Thank you, but I'd rather not."

Yanling hurriedly asked, "Sister Shi, are you still angry with me?"

Shi Lan shook her head. She was just a passerby here, and Yan Ling and she had only met by chance and walked together for a while. There was no question of any strong emotions between them.

Yanling stomped her feet in frustration, shoved the array plate into Shi Lan's arms, released a paper crane, mounted it, and rode away.

“Sister Shi, I’ve heard about it. You destroyed the spiritual vein, and the sect leader punished you by sending you to explore ancient ruins. My cultivation level isn’t high enough, and my master won’t allow me to go. This array plate can conceal your presence. My master said that even Foundation Establishment cultivators rarely see through it. If you take this with you, it will at least give you an extra means of survival.”

Yan Ling's voice drifted from afar. Shi Lan, clutching the array plate, gazed at the shadow in the sky and silently approached the open space of the Foreign Affairs Hall. (To be continued.)