Tinglan lifted the purple-golden orb with utmost care. It was icy cold to the touch. Though it felt no different from an ordinary object, it was a supreme treasure coveted by all in this realm. No rank could be probed from it, nor could any magical power be sensed within—only a heavy, solid presence in her hands.
Cradling the purple-golden orb, she rose and stood facing the brilliant morning glow spanning the sky. Reflected and refracted by the purple orb, the golden sunrise actually caused the throne upon the purple dais to radiate light.
Everything around her grew brighter. This purple-dais cave dwelling, sealed for many years, finally stirred with activity. Tinglan stepped through the void and surprisingly arrived inside a small, compact cave dwelling.
Where this cave dwelling was anchored was unknown. Inside, purple-golden lusters flickered amidst a boundless expanse of violet mist, housing nothing more than a single jade seat and a small pedestal.
The pedestal measured roughly a palm in width and length, carved from a single whole block of purple jade. Although its patterns were intricate, they showed a faint violet hue, concealed deep within the stone and presenting a serene, elegant appearance. At its very center sat a curved, circular groove reflecting a faint white glow.
Tinglan took a step forward and placed the Purple Qi Immortal Origin Mysterious Barrier into the groove. As divine ability flickered from her hand, a wisp of faint purple light finally leapt out from the pedestal and flew straight into the space between her eyebrows.
At the same time, the Huizi Mingxuan Grand Array of Ziyan Blessed Land finally imparted a harmonious sense of complete accord, like water blending with milk. Tinglan stood quietly, steadily taking control of this peerlessly powerful grand array step by step.
Small as this jade pedestal was, it was the pivotal hub of Ziyan Blessed Land—the formation plate of the Huizi Mingxuan Grand Array left behind by Taixu!
Though Tinglan had overseen Ziyan Gate alone for many years, she had never possessed the qualifications to control this array, having only the authority to enter, exit, open, and close it. Only by obtaining either the Dharma treasure Purple Qi Immortal Origin Mysterious Barrier or the Taixu Purple Qi Book did one truly gain the qualifications to 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 True Persons of the Wen and Kan clans were qualified to enter. Yet her heart was filled with anxiety...
*Is the situation truly this dire...?*
For so many years, the Radiant Yang lineage had reigned supreme over Jiangnan, accustomed to watching clouds rise and fall from on high, occupying an exalted status where it awaited True Persons of Purple Palace from other lineages to pay court. At its peak, summoning any other Purple Palace in Jiangnan required nothing more than an immortal decree.
Though it was somewhat weakened today, that was merely because the Grand True Persons of several sects were of similar age, causing their periods of decline to coincide. Moreover, that Chi Buzi treated Qingchi's Radiant Yang lineage as a burden. Such an unfortunate confluence of circumstances was the only reason the dignified Radiant Yang lineage had fallen into such temporary frailty.
Had these words not come directly from Zimu's own mouth, Tinglan would have treated any claim of disaster befalling the Radiant Yang lineage as a joke.
*It is laughable in a way... Hengzhu and Xiukui regard themselves as branch halls of the Yuan Palace, while my Ziyan and Wanyu cling stubbornly to the ancestral instructions—at least the direct lineages refuse to tread the ingenious path of extension. Originally, only Qingchi had the capability to produce a Grand True Person in a short time.*
*Yet... every sect has a way of retreat. My clan and Hengzhu have blessed lands; Sword Sect has the various mountains of Great Xiyuan; Xiukui has its mountain temples. Even if Martial Uncle is right, it merely means the golden age of Radiant Yang is coming to an end...*
Her gaze lowered pensively as she examined the jade pedestal before her. Purple qi, thick enough to condense into misty clouds, swirled and tinted around her. Tinglan turned her gaze toward the immortal seat beside it.
The immortal seat was not grand or towering; rather, it appeared dainty and delicate, evidently tailored for an original master of petite stature. Tinglan stepped back, performed a solemn bow, and only then began walking around the seat.
Strange to say, the moment she stepped behind the seat, all light faded away, turning pitch black. Yet how could mere darkness impede the vision of a Purple Palace cultivator? Tinglan swept her eyes across and discovered several lines of elegant calligraphy inscribed on the back of the seat:
"Cultivate truth and attain immortality thereafter; be neither rash nor speak; seek the ultimate realm of purple qi, embrace the female principle and slumber."
These twenty characters seemed to possess an enchanting power that held Tinglan's gaze captive. Her eyes brimmed with contemplative thought, as if she had gained a deeper understanding of Zimu's words. But as the female True Person shifted a step aside, a sharp pang of wrenching pain struck her chest. A suffocating tightness surged into her nasal passages, and her vermilion lips trembled as she began to cough:
"Cough... cough, cough..."
Tinglan coughed violently for a long time until the world spun around her. Finally, she spat out a stream of grayish air from her parched throat, which landed in the palm covering her mouth.
Opening her left hand and squinting at it, she saw that it was actually a handful of incense ash.
A deep chill gripped Tinglan's heart. Suppressing the overwhelming urge to cough, she retreated from behind the throne, flattened her hand into a blade, and forcefully gouged at her own chest.
*Bang!*
Billows of gray smoke erupted as a large plume of incense ash forced its way out of her internal organs, spraying outward in radiating bursts and mingling with the purple-golden mist, looking bizarrely harmonious together.
*It is... calligraphy written by the True Monarch!*
Tinglan's figure instantly dissolved into thick purple smoke and drifted away. Wisps of purple smoke flew toward the jade pedestal, coalescing back into a jade-white hand that took hold of the Dharma treasure. Only then did her body slowly return to normal, and the billowing incense ash ceased its eruption, gradually dispersing.
"Cough... cough..."
She let out two final coughs before her breathing steadied. Color returned to her pale face. Tinglan immediately prostrated herself and struck her head against the ground nine times in reverence.
Everything before her gradually faded, and a solid footing returned beneath her feet. The purple-golden bead in her hand vanished, yet Tinglan showed no panic, letting out a slow breath of relief.
The Purple Qi Immortal Origin Mysterious Barrier had returned to the purple-gold illusory realm, and having gained the grand array's recognition, Tinglan could return to that illusory realm from this purple dais at any time. Whether the Dharma treasure was held in her hand was no longer important... She would have no opportunity to take the Dharma treasure out to face enemies, nor would she ever remove it from the blessed land.
Stepping down from the dais with lingering dread, she stood alone beside the steps and gazed out at the ethereal mist:
*In that case... securing the Li clan's support is even more vital than I imagined. Li Zhouwei and Li Ximing... will be two Purple Palaces: one an alchemist, and the other a genius whose prowess in battle is not inferior to Hengli.*
*As for Ning Wan... I can strive to win her over, but there is no need to aid her in everything. The True Monarch went north to strike the Buddhists; making up in the south for what was lost in the north accords with the rules, yet I never received the slightest whisper regarding Shitang. That shows the young woman still harbors wariness toward me...*
Tinglan stood quietly upon the steps. The morning glow had long since faded. She gathered her thoughts and looked into the distance: over Jiangbei, dark clouds stretched without end, and torrential rain fell ceaselessly.
"Someone, come here!"
At her soft call, a purple-robed cultivator from below quickly hurried up. Tinglan asked:
"How is the north?"
The man's features bore a strong 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, crying for aid multiple times to no avail... That Pingwangzi dares not abandon this place and flee, leaving him no choice... but to hold out day after day, trapped.
"Just a few hours ago, Daoist Bai breached his main array and captured Pingwangzi alive. Proclaiming that Pingwangzi refined infant spirits into magical implements and was an unforgivable arch-demon, he has now imprisoned him."
Tinglan asked:
"Oh? He could concoct such a charge? How much of it is true, and how much false?"
The purple-robed man answered immediately:
"I fear it is indeed the truth..."
Tinglan nodded thoughtfully. The purple-robed man hesitated in slight awkwardness before murmuring:
"There is one more matter... Word came from overseas that Li Zhouwei of the Li clan appeared at our Xinyu Market..."
"That is good news."
Tinglan smiled slightly, but noticing the strange expression on his face, she gave him a closer look. The man promptly answered:
"He ran into the Li clan's young lady, Li Queyi, while she was harvesting qi. Word is he waited for quite a while."
Tinglan's expression changed. Frowning, she said:
"A few days ago, there was word of her being transferred overseas. Qianli mentioned it to me, suspecting the Li clan had their own arrangements, and since Zhaojing and the others were overseas, I sent orders leaving everything to her own judgment... Why has she ended up harvesting qi at this time?"
Looking directly at him, she asked:
"Wen Wu has always been smooth with his words; one cannot simply take his word alone. As his elder brother, have you investigated the situation properly from the sidelines?"
The purple-robed man nodded hurriedly and answered:
"This Queyi has a gentle, docile temperament, while Lingyanzi is muddle-headed and inept, unable to manage anything. The disciples beneath him were eager to advance to Foundation Establishment, so they sought to borrow things from her..."
Hearing only this much, Tinglan understood. She gave a cold sneer and said:
"Muddle-headed and inept? Not necessarily. He is hardly an ordinary character. Emerging unhurried from the grotto-heaven, not even a Purple Palace cultivator could pry anything from his lips. With a single remark claiming it might concern the True Monarch, he protected everything... Outwardly, he appears gluttonous and useless, yet he managed to break through to Foundation Establishment when he was already around a hundred years old. You claim he cannot control his disciples today; I'd say he simply chooses not to.
"Do you not even consider whose descendant he is?"
The man dared say no more. Tinglan's anger subsided, her mood shifting as she sighed:
"Very well... If he is in seclusion, let him be. After all, he has endured his share of suffering in this life. There is no need to trouble him over the Li clan's affairs."
"Should we... recall Wen Wu?" he asked.
Tinglan replied:
"No need. There is no one more suitable than him. He will handle things properly. Most of the disciples on Ziqi Peak have entered seclusion, leaving no immediate loose ends. Let us await further news from the Li clan."
She dismissed him and let out a breath. Then, riding purple qi aloft, she flew out toward the exterior of the array. Passing through layers of cloud and mist, she escaped into the Great Void, only to freeze abruptly.
Within the boundless, hollow darkness of the Great Void, a woman stood not far away.
The woman wore yellow robes and a veiled bamboo hat with white gauze draping down. She stood silently, her fair hands hanging down, partially concealed by pale yellow sleeves as they clasped two interlocking golden rings.
Merely standing in the infinite void, vermilion hues cascaded from both her flanks, churning into silver and settling into leaden shades. Tinglan took a slight step back and said respectfully:
"Greetings, Real Person Qiushui. May I ask what instructions the Grand True Person brings to our Ziyan Blessed Land...?"
Real Person Qiushui's gaze penetrated the veil, settling upon Tinglan's face as she said softly:
"I came to pay respects to Senior Zimu."
Tinglan felt a jolt of alarm, but being sharp-witted, she realized at once:
*She cultivates the Complete Core and inherently excels at the transmutation of material properties. It seems the Huizi Mingxuan Grand Array stirred, and she detected it...*
This meant Qiushui was not inside the grotto-heaven, but right here in the Jiangbei region—perhaps for matters concerning the True Monarch's reincarnation. Or, to entertain a more frightening thought, perhaps she had been waiting near the mountain gate all along...
These Grand True Persons on the verge of breakthrough were each more terrifying than the last. At present, Qiushui stood at the peak of Purple Palace; perhaps only Zimu could have matched her in battle. Tinglan bowed and replied:
"The Grand True Person has arrived one step too late. Martial Uncle has already departed."
"Oh?"
Qiushui seemed mildly surprised. She murmured softly:
"Fellow Daoist Qingzhou is formidable after all."
Wen Qingzhou was Zimu's full name, a name few people knew nowadays, and even fewer were qualified to address him as Fellow Daoist Qingzhou. Tinglan could not tell whether she meant she had failed to divine Zimu's departure or that Zimu had slipped away right beneath her eyes without her noticing. She simply kept her bow. But then she heard the woman before her say:
"Years ago, after obtaining the female water Tianyi Chun Yuan, he began making preparations. I wonder whether Qingzhou has secured that particular female water. I originally intended to lend a helping hand. Since he chose not to see me, he must have confidence in his own chances...
"Still, it is good. Only a few of our generation remain in this world today. I hope he succeeds..."
A melancholic air hung between her brows, as if she had come merely to offer a few words of blessing.
Behind Real Person Qiushui stood the Dui Metal True Monarch; all arrangements were surely already settled for her. She was the Zhang clan's most outstanding figure in recent years and had crossed paths with the inheritor of the immortal palace. Tinglan could only envy her. After thanking her on behalf of her martial uncle, Tinglan heard Qiushui say:
"Once the matter concerning the True Monarch concludes, I shall return to the grotto-heaven. But now that Ning Wan has successfully broken through, Tiaoxiao... as for Tiaoxiao's affairs... I still need to look after them."
Real Person Yuan Su once shared an entanglement with Real Person Qiushui, and back then they had nearly become Dao companions. At the time, it had been hailed as a grand occasion for Jinyu and Qingchi, stirring up quite a sensation.
Even when Situ Tang was injured overseas by the dragon kind, causing the flourishing Tangjin Gate—which boasted three Purple Palaces between father and sons—to plummet overnight and become a stage manipulated by Qingchi and Jinyu for over a century, that too carried traces of Real Person Qiushui venting spite on Yuan Su's behalf after Situ Tang killed the Three-Eyed Tiaoshan Beast.
Though the matter later came to nothing because of Li Jiangqun, as a disciple of Zipei, Tinglan had naturally heard whispers of it. Yet such affairs were the utmost taboo; she dared not utter a single word, listening quietly as the Grand True Person continued:
"In those years, Tiaoxiao and Zipei were also very close friends, and it was Tiaoxiao who brought me to meet her. There is camaraderie among the three of us. Now, both by emotion and principle, the Ning family ought to be cared for...
"That is why I came to you. You can fulfill your master's dying wish, and at the same time satisfy my entrustment..."
Tinglan felt a slight sense of relief in her heart. Bowing, she said:
"Please give your commands, Grand True Person!"
Qiushui withdrew a palm-sized mirror from her sleeve, concealing it in her hand as she said softly:
"With Yuanxiu dead, whether it is the Qingjun Zhi Jin Fu or the Huaijiang Map, their whereabouts are unknown. Yuanxiu might not have given them to her, but many factions covet them. When necessary, please lend her a hand.
"After all, my clan does not belong to the Radiant Yang lineage. In certain matters, it is truly inappropriate for my fellow sect members and me to intervene. A single gesture of help would immediately trigger consequences a thousandfold worse... I can only entrust this to you."
She revealed the mirror in her palm. Round, small, and exquisite, it crackled with silver-white lightning. Qiushui said solemnly:
"My ancestors stormed the Thunder Palace and obtained this treasure from within. Originally a pair, the other was lost over time, leaving only this single piece, yet its power is by no means to be underestimated.
"I entrust this spirit tool to you as remuneration."
*A spirit tool of the Thunder Palace!*
In today's world, spirit tools of the Thunder Palace were universally coveted. First, their power was immense and their wonders boundless; second, they rarely brought repercussions, since the Thunder Palace had fallen so many years ago...
"It is merely watching over them a bit... there is no need..."
Tinglan had barely begun to protest when Qiushui cut in:
"If you do not accept it, where would the obligation to watch over them come from? Moreover, you would lack the strength to do so."
Though Qiushui's words were blunt, they genuinely moved Tinglan. Earlier, she might have still considered declining, but Martial Uncle Zimu's remarks had thoroughly stripped away her sense of security. As she calculated silently, this spirit tool seemed all the more essential.
"I shall certainly not fail the Grand True Person's trust."
Tinglan accepted the item. Only then did a faint smile appear on Qiushui's face. Seemingly lost in thought, she lowered her hands, and the two golden rings slipped from her wrists back into her grasp, producing a crisp chime.
As Qiushui rose upon the surging vermilion sea, Tinglan felt a wave of admiration. Looking up at last, she asked:
"The Grand True Person's cultivation has already reached the pinnacle, unmatched by anyone in the past three hundred years. Might I ask when you will seek the Gold... so that juniors like me may witness the splendor of the Complete Core...?"
Qiushui merely smiled and shook her head, dissolving into liquid mercury within the Great Void and drifting away, leaving behind a fleeting remark:
"It is all too early."
...
Within the world inside the mirror.
Snow fell softly within the Taiyin Mansion. In the small courtyard, the circular pool shimmered with white light, and the white floor tiles were immaculate and bright. Four jade-white lampstands stood within, casting a hazy white brilliance.
Beside this 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, gazing in until ripples stirred the water and a faint gleam lit up.
"Only waiting for that mad dog to come gives me a bit of fun here... Now Fairy Shaohui has turned in that technique and gone to cultivate in the immortal pavilion, leaving one less person I can see..."
This person was naturally Dangjiang.
Though Dangjiang held lower status than Shaohui, he was at least a divided soul of Seventh-Life Mohe Jinlian, whereas Shaohui was merely the soul of an early Purple Palace demon. Over time, when truly compared, Shaohui could not match Dangjiang in anything aside from her attainment in the path of Shaoyin.
Consequently, no matter which lineage's teachings Dangjiang received, so long as the rank was not too high, he could modify them and erase their origins. Shaohui found this rather difficult; aside from specializing in altering lineages of the Shaoyin path, she was studying in the pavilion to deepen her cultivation.
Dangjiang naturally did not know the details; he only knew that Shaohui had gone to assume duties in a higher-ranking immortal pavilion. That place had become empty once more, leaving him without anyone to talk to. Thus, the moment the token in his hand lit up today, he hurried over without a moment's pause.
After waiting and waiting, the low murmur of chanting finally arose. The youth promptly pulled his head back, turned to the side, and raised his chin. A man in blue robes with golden tassels gradually emerged from above the pool.
The man looked very young, with pale green eyes, wide sleeves, a loose robe, and flowing hair draped over his shoulders.
"Grand True Person Chi!"
At these words, Chi Buzi slowly opened his eyes, swept his gaze across the surroundings, and settled on the youth before him. Stepping down from the pool, he replied casually:
"Lord Dangjiang!"
Dangjiang loved hearing this title. Nodding repeatedly, he grinned:
"Which unlucky bastard did you catch and bring in this time?"
"A tactless, foolish peacock..."
Though Chi Buzi had come to claim merits, his expression was sullen and weighed down by heavy thoughts. He answered:
"Still from that wretched Peacock Temple as last time. Now that another one has been caught, the higher-ups will surely blow their tops. Next time, I will have to switch locations..."
Observing Dangjiang's expression, Chi Buzi sighed and said:
"Yuanxiu failed his breakthrough and even turned into an aberration... He had plenty of schemes, yet met a miserable end."
Chi Buzi casually explained a few details. Having once shared a body with Chi Buzi, Dangjiang naturally knew of Yuanxiu as well. Dangjiang curled his lip:
"So it was that rigid old fellow. Trying to seek the Golden Core so recklessly—no wonder he died so wretchedly."
Chi Buzi appeared absentminded, weighed down by immense worry. Whether intentional or not, for a man of such deep cunning to show such distraction alerted Dangjiang that something was amiss. Dangjiang murmured:
"Why did you come up this time? A single peacock hardly seems enough to exchange for that Purple Palace technique... There was no real need for you to make this trip..."
Dangjiang naturally wished Chi Buzi would come up every time so he would have someone to converse with. Yet Chi Buzi placed the pursuit of immortality above all else and never wasted time on idle visits. There was bound to be a reason for his arrival.
Sure enough, when Dangjiang asked, Chi Buzi spoke at once. With a dark expression, he whispered:
"I went to the lands of Shu a few days ago to see for myself. A thousand li of severe drought, no rain falling from the heavens, springs dried up—it is an omen that Lushui does not flourish."
Hearing this, Dangjiang asked in surprise:
"Isn't that a good thing? The one above your head wishes every cultivator of Lushui were dead. If severing all lineages wouldn't offend the Netherworld Bureau, he wouldn't show any mercy! If he suffered some injuries, it would be the perfect chance for you to make a few discreet moves..."
Chi Buzi shook his head slightly, saying in a low voice:
"Is this a place to talk?"
This courtyard was barren, without even a table or chairs, clearly unsuited for private talk. Dangjiang led him out to a small side courtyard. Once the courtyard gate was shut, Chi Buzi finally spoke:
"Whether Lushui suffers a bit more or less injury matters little to me. But since signs of Lushui have manifested, I fear the battles over these years have reached a critical juncture. He might be coming back!"
Dangjiang froze for a moment, then whispered:
"Even if he returns, so what? You don't cultivate Calamity-Washing Dew, and when the time comes, you'll cultivate Morning Cold Rain. Could he still suspect you? Even if he returns... seeing that your Dao path is severed, he should lower his guard even further..."
Chi Buzi's expression turned grim as he said in a low voice:
"You don't understand... You don't understand what kind of person Lushui is... I have entered Luyu Heaven. He is a narrow-minded True Monarch, an insidious figure from whom nothing escapes, no matter how trivial... Such a person... such a person will never let pass the slightest shred of suspicion..."
Dangjiang grew suspicious upon hearing this. Looking at Chi Buzi's gloomy face, he asked:
"What do you intend to do?"
Chi Buzi stared back at him with a chilling tone:
"I have been inside his Luyu Heaven. My death, my life, the progress of my cultivation—all are under his watchful gaze. When he returns from beyond heaven, every clear pool under the sun will be his adherents.
"I have achieved Chougui Cang. If he returns, he might take notice of me."
Dangjiang grew even more baffled and shook his head:
"Chougui Cang isn't Calamity-Washing Dew. Techniques for it still exist, and spiritual energy is plentiful. So many people under heaven cultivate it; there's nothing strange about you achieving it. Can he investigate every single one?"
Chi Buzi slowly shook his head and murmured:
"I did not use the method of path extension, yet I still achieved it. To Lushui, where this Purple Palace technique came from and where it leads is worth investigating."
Those teal eyes looked over, calm to the extreme. Clenching his hands tightly against the table, he uttered softly:
"If I were him, I would definitely investigate. And that is enough."
Chapter 870