At this moment, next to him, stood a young woman around eighteen or nineteen years old, dressed in a light green attire with a short sword at her waist. She appeared charming but had a slightly arrogant air in her expression. She seemed to notice him and, with a hint of displeasure, whispered.
"Hey! Are you that new 'Yun Qing' Array Master? Why are you so late? Almost missed the hour, aren't you afraid of the City Lord's wrath?"
The incarnation looked up, mimicking the slightly aloof yet cautious tone of the man in the portrait, responding neither humbly nor overbearingly.
"I was engrossed in studying the Secret Realm Fragment Map and momentarily lost track of time. The City Lord is eager for talent and will surely understand that I did it to better complete the exploration mission. Moreover, in unraveling the Secret Realm restrictions, it's not to brag, but there's probably no one in the team who can surpass me."
