Entrustment

Tinglan carefully cupped the purple-gold orb in her hands. It was icy cold to the touch. Though it felt no different from a mundane object, it was a priceless treasure that everyone in this realm coveted. No grade could be detected from it, nor could any magic power be felt within—there was only a heavy, solid weight. Cradling the purple-gold orb, she stood facing the brilliant morning glow in the sky. As the golden dawn reflected off the purple sphere, it actually caused the throne upon the Purple Platform to shine with light. Her surroundings gradually grew brighter. This Purple Platform cave abode, sealed for so many years, finally stirred with sound. Tinglan stepped into the void and unexpectedly found herself inside a diminutive cave abode. She had no idea where this cave abode was anchored. Inside, purple and gold lusters flickered in a vast expanse of purple haze, leaving only a jade seat and a small pedestal. This small pedestal was about a palm's breadth square, carved from a single piece of purple jade. Although its markings were intricate, they showed a pale purple hue concealed deep within the stone. It looked quiet, elegant, and serene. In the very center lay a circular hollow groove that reflected a faint, pale-white gleam. Tinglan took a step forward and set the Purple Qi Immortal Origin Profound Veil into it. As the divine ability flickered in her hand, a wisp of faint purple light finally leapt from the pedestal and flew straight between her brows. At the same time, the Huizi Mingxuan Array of Ziyan Blessed Land finally resonated with a sense of harmonious unity. Tinglan stood quietly, gradually mastering this incomparably formidable array bit by bit. Small though this jade pedestal was, it was the nexus of Ziyan Blessed Land—the array disk of the Huizi Mingxuan Array left behind by Taixu! Although Tinglan had held sole charge of Ziyan Gate for many years, she had never possessed the qualifications to govern this array. She had only possessed the right to enter, exit, open, and close it. Only by obtaining either the dharma treasure, the Purple Qi Immortal Origin Profound Veil, or the Taixu Purple Qi Scripture could one truly earn the array's recognition! Now that Zimu had departed and this dharma treasure had fallen into her hands, Tinglan had finally stepped into this precious sanctuary that once only the Grand Masters of the Wen and Kan clans were eligible to enter. Yet her heart was rife with worry... 'Can it truly be so dire...?' The Sun lineage had dominated Jiangnan for so many years, always sitting back to watch the clouds rise and fall, occupying an exalted status where they merely waited for Violet Palace Masters of other lineages to pay their respects. In their prime, if they wished to summon the other Violet Palaces of Jiangnan, they could do so with nothing more than an immortal edict. Though they had weakened somewhat now, it was merely because the Grand Masters of several sects were of similar ages, causing their periods of vulnerability to coincide. Moreover, Chi Buzi viewed Qingchi's Sun lineage as an encumbrance—a truly untimely circumstance. Otherwise, the dignified Sun lineage would never have been reduced to such a momentary state of weakness. Had Zimu not spoken these words himself, Tinglan would have treated any talk of catastrophic trouble befalling the Sun lineage as a laughing matter. 'It is laughable in a way... Hengzhu and Xiukui regard themselves as branch palaces of Yuanfu, while my Ziyan and Wanyu cling stubbornly to the ancestral legacy—at least the direct lines refuse to practice that ingenious method of extending one's path. Originally, Qingchi was the only one capable of producing a Grand Master in short order.' 'Still... every sect has a retreat... My sect and Hengzhu have blessed lands, Sword Sect has the mountains of Great Xiyuan, and Xiukui has its mountain temples. Even if Martial Uncle is right, it merely signifies the end of the Sun golden age...' Her gaze grew somewhat somber as she examined the jade pedestal before her. Purple qi, dense enough to condense into misty clouds, swirled around her. Tinglan turned her gaze toward the immortal seat nearby. The immortal seat was not towering; rather, it appeared delicate and exquisite, evidently once belonging to an owner of petite stature. Tinglan stepped back, bowed in solemn greeting first, and only then walked around the seat. Strangely enough, the moment she walked behind the immortal seat, all light dimmed to pitch-black darkness. Yet how could ordinary obscurity hinder the vision of a Violet Palace? With a sweeping glance, Tinglan discovered several lines of elegant calligraphy inscribed upon the back of the seat: "Cultivate truth and attain immortality; be neither hasty nor outspoken. Seek the ultimate realm of purple qi, and sleep embracing the female principle." These twenty characters seemed to possess an uncanny charm, holding Tinglan's gaze transfixed. Her eyes were deep in thought, as if gaining a deeper understanding of Zimu's words. But as the female Master took a step away, a sharp, twisting pain tore through her chest. A suffocating pressure rushed to her nostrils, and her vermilion lips trembled as she began to cough: "Cough... cough, cough..." Tinglan coughed continuously until her head spun. Finally, she spat a gust of gray vapor from her dry throat into her cupped hand. She opened her left palm and squinted. It was actually a handful of incense ash. A great chill gripped Tinglan's heart. Suppressing the violent urge to cough, she retreated from the back of the throne, shaped her hand into a blade, and forcefully gouged at her chest. *Thump!* Gray smoke billowed out as a large plume of incense ash erupted from her viscera, spraying outward in a radiant spray. Mingling with the purple-gold clouds, it created an eerie harmony. 'It's... the True Monarch's handwriting!' Tinglan's form dissolved into thick purple smoke and drifted away. Wisps of purple smoke flew toward the jade pedestal, recombining into a jade-white hand that snatched the dharma treasure. Only then did her figure gradually return to normal, while the billowing incense ash ceased its eruption and slowly dissipated. "Cough... cough..." She let out two final coughs before her condition stabilized, and color returned to her pale face. Tinglan immediately knelt down and kowtowed nine times. Everything before her slowly faded away. A solid sensation returned beneath her feet, and the purple-gold bead vanished from her hand. Yet Tinglan was not flustered; instead, she let out a slow sigh of relief. The Purple Qi Immortal Origin Profound Veil had returned to the purple-gold illusory realm, and Tinglan had already secured the array's recognition. She could return to the illusory realm from this Purple Platform at any moment. As for whether the dharma treasure remained in her grasp, it hardly mattered anymore... She had no occasion to retrieve it to fight enemies, nor would she ever remove it from the blessed land. With lingering fear, she descended from the platform and stood alone beside the steps, gazing out at the ethereal clouds: 'In that case... securing the Li clan's support is even more vital than I imagined. At the very least, Li Zhouwei and Li Ximing... will be two Violet Palaces—one an alchemist, and the other a genius whose combat strength is by no means inferior to Hengli.' 'As for Ning Wan... I can strive to win her over, but there is no need to aid her in every matter. The True Monarch went north to wound the Buddhists; losing in the north and compensating in the south conforms to the rules, but I never received the slightest word regarding the Shitang affair. That shows the girl remains guarded against me...' Tinglan stood quietly upon the steps. The morning glow had long since faded. Calming her thoughts, she gazed into the distance. North of the river, dark clouds stretched endlessly, and the torrential rain fell without pause. "Someone come!" She called out softly. A purple-robed cultivator rushed up from below. Tinglan asked, "How fare things in the north?" This man bore a striking resemblance to Wen Wu. He replied respectfully, "Everything is under control. Daoist Bai's ambitions have grown and can no longer be checked. Fanyun has been forced into steady retreat, with their repeated pleas for aid yielding nothing... Pingwangzi does not dare abandon that land and flee, so with no other choice... he can only remain besieged day after day." "Just a few hours ago, Daoist Bai pushed his way into the main array and captured Pingwangzi alive. Accusing him of refining infants into dharma implements and denouncing him as an unpardonable demon, he now holds him imprisoned." Tinglan asked, "Oh? He could concoct such an accusation? How much truth is there to it?" The purple-robed man answered immediately, "I fear it is indeed true..." Tinglan nodded thoughtfully. The purple-robed man looked slightly awkward and lowered his voice, "There is one more matter... Word came from the outer seas that Li Zhouwei of the Li family has appeared at our Xinyu Market..." "That is good news." Tinglan smiled faintly, but seeing his unnatural expression, she took another look at him. The man promptly replied, "He ran into Miss Li Queyi of the Li family while she was harvesting qi. Supposedly, he waited for quite some time." Tinglan's expression turned slightly sour, and she frowned. "The other day it was said she was to be transferred to the outer seas. Qianli mentioned it to me, suspecting the Li clan had their own arrangements, and since Zhaojing and the others were also in the outer seas, an order was sent down to let her decide everything for herself... How did she end up harvesting qi all of a sudden?" She looked directly at him and asked, "Wen Wu has always had a silver tongue; we cannot rely solely on his word. As his elder brother, have you clarified the circumstances independently?" The purple-robed man nodded hurriedly and answered, "This Queyi has a gentle and timid temperament, while Lingyanzi is muddled and incompetent, unable to control anything. The disciples beneath him were eager to advance to Foundation Establishment and wanted to borrow things from her..." At this, Tinglan understood. She gave a cold sneer. "Muddled and incompetent? Not necessarily. He is hardly a simple figure. He walked out of the grotto-heaven with utter composure, and not even a Violet Palace could pry a word from his mouth. With a single claim that it might be connected to the True Monarch, he shielded everything... On the surface, he acts like a gluttonous fool, yet in the end, he could still break through to Foundation Establishment at over a hundred years of age. You claim he cannot control his disciples today—in my eyes, he simply chooses not to." "Do you even realize whose descendant he is?" The man dared not speak further. Tinglan's anger subsided, and her mood shifted as she sighed, "Very well... If he wishes to remain in seclusion, let him. After all, he has suffered his share of hardships in this life. There is no need to trouble him over the Li family's affairs." "Should we... recall Wen Wu?" the man asked. Tinglan replied, "No need. There is no one more suited than him. He will handle things properly. Several disciples of Ziqi Peak have entered seclusion, leaving no one to take over the matter anyway. Let us await further word from the Li family." Dismissing the man, she let out a breath and rode the purple qi aloft, flying toward the array's exterior. Passing through layers of thick clouds and mist, she escaped into the Great Void, only to freeze abruptly. The Great Void was dark, hollow, and boundless. Not far away stood a woman. The woman wore yellow robes and a veiled hat with hanging white gauze. She stood silently, her fair hands hanging down, partially concealed beneath pale-yellow sleeves, holding two interlocked golden rings. Merely by standing in the infinite Great Void, vermilion hues cascaded on either side of her, churning into silver and settling into leaden shades. Tinglan took a slight step back and said respectfully, "Greetings, Master Qiushui. May I ask what instructions the Grand Master has brought in visiting our Ziyan Blessed Land?" Master Qiushui's gaze penetrated the veiled hat to fall upon her face. She said softly, "I came to pay my respects to Senior Zimu." Tinglan felt a flicker of shock, but being clever, she realized the truth at once: 'She cultivates the Complete Dan and is innately adept at observing shifts in material properties. It seems the Huizi Mingxuan Array stirred and was detected by her...' This meant Qiushui was not inside the grotto-heaven at all, but right in the vicinity of Jiangbei. Perhaps it was for the sake of the True Monarch's reincarnation—or worse yet, she might have been lingering near the mountain gate all along... These Grand Masters on the verge of breakthrough were each more terrifying than the last. At the peak of Violet Palace, Qiushui was someone whom perhaps only Zimu could match in combat. Tinglan offered a bow and answered, "The Grand Master has arrived a step too late. Martial Uncle has already departed." "Oh?" Qiushui seemed somewhat surprised. She said softly, "Daoist Qingzhou is formidable after all." Wen Qingzhou was Zimu's full name, a name few knew nowadays, and fewer still could address him as Daoist Qingzhou. Tinglan did not know whether she meant she had failed to anticipate Zimu's departure or that Zimu had slipped away beneath her very eyes unnoticed. She merely bowed, only to hear the woman before her continue: "A few years ago, he obtained the female water Pure Tianyi Element and began to set his affairs in order. I wondered whether Qingzhou had secured that female water; I had intended to lend a helping hand. Since he declined to see me, he must have full confidence in himself..." "Still, it is good. Only a few of that generation remain in this world today. I hope he can achieve success..." A melancholy air lingered between her brows, as though she had merely come to speak a few words of blessing. With True Monarch Duijin backing Master Qiushui, all matters were surely arranged for her. She was the most outstanding figure of the Zhang clan in recent centuries, and she had encountered the successor of the immortal palace. Tinglan could only feel envy. After Tinglan offered thanks on her martial uncle's behalf, Qiushui said: "Once the True Monarch's matter concludes, I shall return to the grotto-heaven. But now that Ning Wan has succeeded in her breakthrough, Tiaoxiao... Tiaoxiao's affairs... I must still see to them." Master Yuansu had once shared an entanglement with Master Qiushui, and they had nearly become Dao companions back then. That matter had once been considered a great joyous event between Jinyu and Qingchi, stirring quite a sensation. Even when Situ Tang was injured by dragons in the outer seas—causing Tangjin Gate, with its father and two sons all in Violet Palace and its fortunes rising, to suddenly plummet and be toyed with like a puppet stage by Qingchi and Jinyu for over a century—it bore the shadow of Master Qiushui venting spite on Yuansu's behalf after Situ Tang killed the Three-Eyed Tiaoshan Beast. Although it had later come to nothing due to the affair involving Li Jiangqun, Tinglan, as Zipei's disciple, had naturally heard of it. Yet such matters were strictly taboo, and she dared not utter a single word. She listened as the Grand Master before her spoke: "Back then, Tiaoxiao and Zipei were also very dear friends. It was Tiaoxiao who brought me to meet her. The three of us shared bonds of friendship, so whether by reason or sentiment, the Ning family ought to be looked after..." "That is also why I sought you out. You can fulfill your master's dying wish, and it also aligns with what I entrust to you..." Tinglan let out a slight sigh of relief and bowed. "Please give your command, Grand Master!" Qiushui drew a palm-sized mirror from her sleeve, concealing it within her hand as she whispered, "With Yuanxiu dead, neither the Qingjun Zhi Jin Fu nor the Huaijiang Map has surfaced, and their whereabouts remain unknown. Yuanxiu might not have given them to her, but many covet these items. When necessary, please lend her a hand." "After all, my clan does not belong to the Sun lineage. There are things that my fellow disciples and I cannot easily step forward to help with; a single gesture would immediately bring consequences a thousandfold... I can only entrust this to you." She displayed the mirror in her palm. It was round, small, and charming, yet it crackled with silver-white lightning. Qiushui said solemnly: "My ancestors stormed the Thunder Palace and obtained this treasure. Originally a pair, the other was later lost, leaving only this single mirror. Yet its power is not to be underestimated." "I entrust this spirit implement to you as compensation." 'A spirit implement of the Thunder Palace!' In this day and age, spirit implements from the Thunder Palace were exceedingly sought after. For one, their might was immense and their wonders boundless. Secondly, they rarely carried hidden troubles—after all, the Thunder Palace had fallen so many years ago... "It is merely looking after them a bit... There is really no need..." Just as Tinglan began to demur, Qiushui cut her off: "If you do not accept it, where would the sentiment to care for them come from? More to the point, you would lack the strength to do so." Though Qiushui's words were blunt, they genuinely swayed Tinglan. Earlier, she might have entertained thoughts of declining, but Martial Uncle Zimu's words had stripped away every shred of security from her heart. As she secretly weighed her prospects, this spirit implement became all the more crucial. "I will certainly not fail the Grand Master's trust." Tinglan accepted the item. Only then did a faint smile appear on Qiushui's face. Seeming lost in thought, she lowered her hands, and the two golden rings slipped from her wrists back into her palms, producing a crisp chime. Qiushui rose upon a surging crimson sea. Tinglan, filled with emotion, finally raised her head and asked, "The Grand Master's cultivation has already reached the absolute pinnacle, unmatched for three hundred years. I wonder when you will seek the Golden Core... so that this junior might behold the splendor of the Complete Dan..." Qiushui merely smiled and shook her head, dissolving into mercury within the Great Void and leaving behind a fleeting remark: "It is all too early." *** Within the World within the Mirror. Snow fell thick and fast in Taiyin Palace. In the small courtyard, the circular pool shimmered with white light, its surrounding white tiles pristine and bright. Four jade-white lampstands stood within, casting a hazy white glow. Beside the white circular pool stood a youth with a smooth forehead and pale-green eyes. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he leaned over the pool's edge, peering into the water until ripples stirred and a faint gleam of light surfaced. "Waiting for this mad dog is the only amusement in this place... Now that Immortal Maiden Shaohui has handed in that art and gone to cultivate in the immortal pavilion, there's one less person to see..." This person was, naturally, Dangjiang. Though Dangjiang's status fell short of Shaohui's, he was at least a split soul of the Seventh-Life Mahā Jinlian. Shaohui was merely the soul of an early Violet Palace beast. Over time, when truly compared, Shaohui could not measure up to Dangjiang in anything outside the cultivation of the Shaoyin path. Thus, no matter which lineage's inheritance Dangjiang obtained, so long as its grade was not excessively high, he could modify it and erase its roots. Shaohui found this task more arduous; aside from specializing in modifying Shaoyin inheritances, she also had to study within the pavilion to increase her attainment. Dangjiang naturally knew none of the fine details. He only knew that Shaohui had taken up a post in a higher immortal pavilion, leaving that place vacant once more without a soul to talk to. Consequently, the moment the token in his hand lit up today, he had rushed over without delay. After waiting for a while, a murmuring chant of scripture finally arose. The youth promptly pulled back his head, turned to the side, and lifted his chin. A man in green robes with golden tassels gradually surfaced from the pool. The man appeared quite young, with pale-cyan eyes, wide sleeves, loose robes, and unkempt long hair. "Grand Master Chi!" Hearing this, Chi Buzi slowly opened his eyes. He surveyed the surroundings, fixed his gaze on the youth before him, stepped down from the pool, and said casually: "Lord Dangjiang!" Dangjiang loved hearing this title. Nodding repeatedly, he grinned. "Which unfortunate bastard did you drag in this time?" "A foolish peacock who didn't know its place..." Though Chi Buzi had come to claim merit, his expression was far from pleasant. Seeming burdened with heavy thoughts, he answered, "Still that wretched peacock temple from last time. Having snatched another one back, the higher-ups will surely blow their tops. Next time, I'll have to switch locations..." Observing the other's expression, he let out a sigh and said, "Yuanxiu failed his breakthrough and even turned into an evil monstrosity... He had grand notions, but died a wretched death." Chi Buzi offered a brief explanation. Having once shared a body with him, Dangjiang naturally knew of Yuanxiu. Curling his lip, he said, "So it was that rigid old fellow. Trying to seek the Golden Core recklessly—no wonder he died so miserably." Chi Buzi seemed distracted, as if weighed down by grave worries. Whether by design or not, a man of such profound calculation appeared noticeably preoccupied, which Dangjiang immediately picked up on. Lowering his voice, Dangjiang asked: "Why did you come up this time? A single peacock hardly seems enough to exchange for that Violet Palace cultivation art... There was no real need for this trip..." Dangjiang naturally wished Chi Buzi would come up every time so he would at least have someone to converse with. But Chi Buzi prioritized seeking immortality above all else; he refused to waste a moment on idle matters. For him to come up, there had to be a reason. Sure enough, when Dangjiang asked, Chi Buzi spoke at once. His expression darkened, and he murmured in a low voice, "A few days ago, I went to inspect the Shu region. A drought stretches for thousands of li, no rain falls from the heavens, and springs have dried up. It is an omen of Lushui's decline." Hearing this, Dangjiang felt surprised. "Isn't that a good thing? That fellow above you wishes nothing more than for every Lushui cultivator to drop dead. Were it not for offending the Netherworld by severing all inheritances, he would show no mercy! If he suffered some injuries, it would be the perfect opportunity for you to make your moves..." Chi Buzi shook his head slightly, his tone deep and solemn. "Is this a proper place to talk?" The courtyard was barren, lacking even tables or chairs—clearly unsuitable for conversation. Dangjiang led him out to an adjoining small courtyard. Once the courtyard gate was shut, Chi Buzi finally spoke: "Whether Lushui is injured more or less matters little to me. But now that an omen of Lushui has appeared, it suggests the battle of these past years has reached a critical juncture. He may be returning!" Dangjiang was taken aback and whispered, "If he returns, so be it... You aren't cultivating Calamity-Washing Dew. When the time comes and you cultivate Chaohanyu instead, could he still suspect you? Even if he returns... seeing your Dao path severed, he should lower his guard even further..." Chi Buzi's face remained grim as he replied in a hushed tone, "You don't understand... You don't know what kind of person Lushui is... I have entered Luyu Heaven. He is a petty True Monarch, an insidious character from whose sight nothing escapes, no matter how trivial... Such a person... such a person will never let the slightest doubt slip by..." Dangjiang grew suspicious upon hearing this. Looking at Chi Buzi's dark expression, he asked, "What do you intend to do?" Chi Buzi stared at him intently, his tone chilling as he answered, "I have entered his Luyu Heaven. Whether I live or die, every ounce of progress in my cultivation is laid bare before his eyes. Once he returns from beyond the heavens, every clear pond under the sky will be his partisans." "I have mastered Chougui Cang. If he returns, he might take notice of me." Dangjiang was even more bewildered and shook his head. "Chougui Cang is not Calamity-Washing Dew. The cultivation art still exists, and spiritual energy is plentiful. So many people in the world cultivate it, so your mastery of it is hardly a surprise. Can he possibly investigate every single person?" Chi Buzi slowly shook his head and said in a low voice: "I did not employ the ingenious method of extending one's path, yet I still succeeded. To Lushui, where this Violet Palace cultivation art came from and where it leads is well worth investigating." His green eyes fixed upon Dangjiang with absolute coolness. Gripping the table tightly with both hands, he murmured: "Were I in his place, I would certainly investigate. That alone is enough."