Another thing that Arthur noticed about her, apart from her looks and the lack of tattoos, was that her body was still shackled and at the level of someone at the peak of the first mortal coil.
This meant that she didn't cultivate her life force after advancing to the fourth mortal coil and didn't establish any foundation that enhanced and forged her body.
So she was just an energy-refining cultivator. This too was perfectly normal for the elders of the Purple Flower sect.
In fact, it was pretty common for most of the world to only cultivate one path even if they were part of a sect. It was partly to focus their efforts and mostly because they didn't have cultivation techniques that cultivated both the body and internal energy at the same time.
Arthur is very familiar with the people of the Purple Flower sect, so he knew that if she had cultivated her body, she wouldn't have looked like a harmless flower. She would have looked entirely different because of the poison that will be present in her body.
The flying ship stopped before her, and Arthur stepped out of it to meet with her. The two of them exchanged greetings.
Her voice was cold as she said, "Greetings, fellow daoist. I am glad to see you arrive safe and sound."
She said that she was glad, but it didn't show on her face at all. Her face was placid and cold while speaking, but Arthur didn't mind because her behavior was completely normal.
He returned the greeting. "Greetings, fellow daoist. I, too, am glad that I arrived safely."
Then Arthur introduced himself, saying, "I am Daoist Lightning Tyrant. I have been sent by the patriarchs of my sect to oversee the exchange team on their behalf."
She also introduced herself. "I am Daoist Pale Shadow. I am to be your main liaison officer for this trip. My duty right now is to lead you to the welcoming hall."
Arthur said, "OK. Let's go."
Instead of leaving, she looked around and behind Arthur. When she didn't see what she wanted to see, she asked him, "Excuse me, are you the only golden core elder on this trip?"
Arthur nodded and replied, "Yes, I am."
Then asked playfully, "Is there a problem? Am I not good enough?"
She shook her head and replied coolly, "It is not exactly a problem. It is just that I expected more golden core elders to participate in the exchange program."
Arthur explained, "The other elders are busy, and the patriarchs thought one golden core elder was good enough for the mission."
She said with the same monotonous tone, "If the noble patriarchs of your sect believe that you alone are enough, then I guess that will have to do."
Then she said, "In that case, let us be on our way."
During the short conversation, she maintained the same facial expression and the same tone of voice. In fact, it is more accurate to say that there was no expression on her face and she was emotionless during the whole conversation.
This behavior was the stark opposite of Arthur's animated face and rich tone of voice. Her behavior wasn't because she didn't like Arthur, though. It was because she only cultivated the path of energy refining.
Those who cultivate only the path of body refining are oftentimes too emotional, prone to emotional outbursts, and find it difficult to be rational. The people that cultivate only the pathway of energy refining are the opposite of this.
The people that cultivate only the path of energy refining have a mind that is more powerful than their body. Since emotions are a result of chemical reactions in the body and since the body is being suppressed by the mind, cultivators of the pathway of energy refining are always rational.
It is not that she doesn't have feelings and is incapable of expressing her feelings. Her body is still alive and well, so she can still experience various feelings like joy and sadness.
But her mind has grown to the extent that those feelings have become muted. Her emotions also can't influence her decision-making anymore.
She has become a creature of rational thinking and logic. So even though she was surprised and perhaps miffed by the fact that the Blood Skull sect only sent one golden core elder, it didn't show on her face or in her body language or tone of voice in any way.
Only people like Arthur who cultivate both paths can maintain a balance and have some of the benefits of both sides. The others with only one path are usually extreme in terms of their behavior.
Daoist Pale Shadow led them to a large hall in the city outside the sect. There a banquet would be held to welcome them.
The people of the Purple Flower sect who went to the Blood Skull sect for the exchange program would also receive a welcoming banquet. Storm Hawk had been preparing one before he left the Blood Skull sect.
The only difference between the situation on the two sides is that there will be only one golden core elder from the Blood Skull sect on each side of the exchange, while there will be two golden core elders on each side of the exchange program.
Daoist Pale Shadow wasn't the only golden core elder receiving them. There was another golden core elder that was a male.
The second golden core elder had a green body and green hair. This indicated that he had cultivated his body.
This suspicion was confirmed when the second elder was outspoken and expressive. He was the stark opposite of the demeanor of Daoist Pale Shadow.
Daoist Pale Shadow looked like someone capable of looking on coldly without any ripple of emotion as her sect and family are destroyed and butchered.
On the other side, this new golden core elder looked like the person who would destroy someone's sect and murder their entire family simply because he thought someone looked at him in the wrong way.