Xuandan Taiyin

East Sea, Chunyi Dao. A streak of white light sped across the sea, scattering a soft, drifting glow of Taiyin light. The young Real Person wore a white crescent-embroidered robe with flowing wave motifs, ethereal, untainted by the mortal dust, and utterly dashing. Yet his expression was anything but bright, even tinged with a heavy gloom. There were no obvious injuries on his person, save for his divine abilities being somewhat dimmed—clearly having just pulled back from a tremendous battle. This man was none other than Real Person Chehong, who had rushed to reinforce Tangdao. Real Person Chehong was the newest generation of Violet Palace to emerge from Chunyi Dao, as well as the emblem of the sect reaching its greatest pinnacle in nearly three hundred years—boasting four Violet Palaces in a single lineage. He himself was a top-tier genius, keen of mind, so how could he fail to see through the present situation? His Chunyi Dao claimed a Taiyin inheritance while also proclaiming itself part of the Taiyang orthodox lineage. However, the six branches of Chongming's Taiyang orthodoxy in Jiangnan had never truly recognized them, and years ago had even sought to ostracize them. Chunyi's founding patriarch, Jie Qun, had clearly hailed from Qingsong Abbey, yet whenever anyone brought it up back then, people of the Taiyang orthodoxy either stayed silent or dismissed it outright as a baseless rumor. After all, Patriarch Jie Qun's Daoist title did not conform to their naming convention, nor had he ever attained Perfected Monarch... The cultivators of Chunyi Dao naturally kept to their own business and rarely ventured out to dispute the matter, but it was impossible not to harbor a trace of resentment in their hearts. In recent years, the Taiyang orthodoxy had gradually softened its stance and tone, while Chunyi reached the peak of its power. When Chehong ascended Ziyan Blessed Land, Tinglan had explicitly acknowledged them as fellow disciples. That had undoubtedly let out a long-held breath of grievance. While Chehong outwardly said he held no grudge and went all out to offer aid without reservation, wearing a solemn expression on his face, in his heart he could not help feeling immensely vindicated: 'How did you treat our lineage back then? And how does our lineage repay you now? This is the true magnanimity of the Taiyang orthodoxy! Every single time you call us "fellow disciples" today, you are slapping the faces of your own predecessors who refused to acknowledge and looked down upon our sect!' Yet gratifying as it felt, after such a grueling battle, Kuiqi's demise still left Chehong's heart weighed down with sorrow, leaving him at a loss for words. What was more, while he had given his all in the battle at Mount Tangdao, Chunyi Dao as a whole could hardly be said to have gone all out; they had merely done what was expected out of solidarity among the righteous path. 'If the Old Real Person did not step forth, Mount Tangdao was doomed to fall. He is advanced in years, clinging to life only through a few secret Taiyin arts... How could Chunyi ignore the threats from Chijiao, Jingyi, and the other factions just to send the old man over...?' With a heavy heart, he flew along and soon reached the mountain's edge. He saw a Real Person riding the wind toward him, seemingly having waited for him for a good while. Seeing him return, the visitor's face lit up with hopeful anticipation, and he stepped forward with a smile: "Brother Xi Chang!" "Ah, it is Senior Ji'an! What a rare guest!" One called the other "brother," while the other addressed him as "senior"—a contrast that laid bare their relative standing and age. Chehong cupped his hands in a slight bow, and the two walked together into the mountain. Sitting beside a table in the hills, they caught up on old times. After a short while, Ji'an shook his head: "This time... I came all the way from the North Sea just to ask about a place to settle down!" Chehong's expression shifted, and he asked, "How could it have come to this? Senior has always conducted yourself uprightly and enjoys quite a reputation among the Violet Palaces. Where would those five sects find the audacity?" Ji'an quietly shook his head. Though advanced in years, this Real Person put on no airs. He replied, "It is not entirely because of them. The Five Sects of Gongdu have orthodox roots; so long as I don't provoke them, they don't bother with me. Brother might not know, but it is because of something else! "Right now in Cangzhou, Kanshui runs unbridled, surging across all four quarters. I cultivate Lihuo, which is utterly ill-suited to it. I originally thought to endure it day by day, but it has only grown more ferocious by the day. A few days ago, even the Six Manifestations Lihuo on my Mount Baier nearly had its spiritual qi broken. Were it not for the array's spiritual fire anchoring it, Mount Baier would have reverted to a Kanshui territory!" His words brought a cold glint to Chehong's eyes. Lowering his brows, he asked, "Then what does Senior intend to do?" Ji'an said, "When I was young, I met a senior who cultivated Kanshui. I passed my mountain over to his descendants, and I plan to relocate to the East Sea." Chehong understood, but Ji'an went on with great relish, "When I passed through the Hetian Sea, the Mount Dayang Dharma assembly had just concluded, and I met an old friend. He told me he heard good news from a report within Dayu Dao—there are traces of the *Book of Dali* at Lake Wangyue! Held by a Violet Palace immortal clan." "Mm..." Chehong took a casual sip of his tea and said, "I know. Not just the *Book of Dali*, but also *Audience at the Heavenly Gate*, and even a Complete Dan lineage. Supposedly, none of their grades are low." "Ah?!" Ji'an pressed with some urgency, "I heard they are an immortal clan that produced two Violet Palaces within a century, and according to the timeline, they cultivated those methods even before their Violet Palace breakthroughs. Every single one of those arts is exceedingly rare today. Could... could they have obtained a Daoist treasury?!" Chehong remained calm as he brewed the tea and answered, "Mingyang and Lihuo... You are not the first person to notice this. How do you think those things came about? That clan has a genius blessed with the Mingyang karmic mandate... a Mingyang Destiny!" At this point, a faint smile appeared on his face: "As for that friend of yours... how many Buddhist cultivators can ever be trusted? Senior had best be careful!" Ji'an nodded in enlightened realization, though his hand rested lazily upon the teacup, showing no real surprise. Clearly, he had deliberately come to probe for news. Chehong knew this as well, and shook his head, saying: "You cultivate Lihuo, so reasonably speaking, drawing closer to foster ties could yield some benefits. However, there are risks as well..." Yet before he could finish, the jade pendant at his waist gleamed softly. Chehong's expression changed. Excusing himself, he transformed into a streak of Taiyin light and soared up, descending into the great array where chilly snow drifted thick and fast. There, he saw a jade pool bathed in snow-white moonlight, its waters rippling gently. By the pool sat two figures, while a third stood waiting. The middle-aged man in the primary seat wore a moon-white Daoist robe; he was his clan's senior, Real Person Fuxuan. The guest in the secondary seat had jade-green eyes and wore azure robes, leisurely and relaxed, exuding an airy celestial grace, his cultivation exceedingly profound. Chehong's eyes lit up with delight, thinking to himself: 'That Chi fellow has arrived!' The man before him was none other than Qingchi's Great Real Person, Chi Buzi! The one waiting at the side was naturally the elderly man surnamed Xi who had accompanied him. At this moment, the old man looked pale and frail, yet his expression bore joy and relief. Ever since Chi Buzi had taken Chunyi's people to the East Sea, Real Person Fuxuan had fretted over the matter every single day, mentioning it to him multiple times. Now seeing him return so soon, Chehong was overjoyed as well, and his tone became courteous: "So it is the Great Real Person." No one brought up the matters at Mount Tangdao. Chi Buzi clearly did not care in the slightest. Smiling faintly as he sat there, he shook his head and said, "Now that Fellow Daoist has arrived, I won't waste words. Please retrieve those two treasures of mine." Chunyi Dao had no intention of coveting his spirit artifacts, and they were promptly brought to the table, held in Chehong's hands at the side. Chi Buzi cast a calm glance over them and nodded quietly. Both Violet Palaces kept their gazes firmly fixed upon him. Clearly, if he did not produce something worthwhile this time, Chunyi would never obediently hand them back! Chi Buzi, however, said languidly, "I ought to have returned much earlier. It just so happened... when coming out, that place was chanced upon by a Lianmin!" At these words, both of them grew exceedingly tense. Real Person Fuxuan frowned at once, suspecting he was making excuses. Chehong glanced covertly at the old man beside him and saw that he, too, had an expression of deep, lingering dread. Only then did Chi Buzi smile and say: "I won't say more for now. Let Fellow Daoist have a good look!" He gave his sleeve a gentle shake and produced a stone box from within. This box was carved from Baizhi bluestone, a spiritual material rarely seen except in antiquity, commonly employed as a vessel to store exceptionally high-grade Violet Palace spiritual items! Yet as he brought it out, Fuxuan merely nodded slightly, while Chehong cast his eyes down, a trace of disappointment already creeping into his heart. If one were to ask what Chunyi Dao desired most right now—it was undoubtedly Taiyin Moon Splendor. Chunyi Dao's flourishing state in recent years was closely linked to Taiyin Moon Splendor. This spiritual qi had long become extinct in the world and could only be obtained from ancient ruins and secret vaults. The amount that ever fell into Chunyi Dao's hands had been sparse to begin with, and as various secret realms closed over the years, the volume circulating among Violet Palaces was dwindling further and further... growing increasingly precious... Yet Chunyi Dao's inheritance was complete, which meant its consumption of Taiyin Moon Splendor was immense. A Great Real Person needed to consume at least four portions... Although Chunyi Dao possessed inferior cultivation methods that could barely allow one to forge a divine ability, they were inevitably a notch lower in quality... In the entire lineage, only Old Real Person Yuanshang had cultivated using the Taiyin Moon Splendor left behind by the sect, and even he had used only a single portion. Fuxuan before them had also used a portion of Taiyin Moon Splendor acquired by chance, but could only use it to forge his second divine ability; for the rest, he lacked the blessing... By the time of Chehong and his grandfather, Real Person Guanghou, the sect possessed none of this spiritual qi. After much deliberation, Real Person Guanghou had been made to cultivate Fushui instead. Chehong had not only cultivated an inferior method, but had never even laid eyes upon Taiyin Moon Splendor. To speak of using such a thing for Qi Refinement seemed utterly extravagant—using it to break through to Violet Palace was more like it... While the specifications of this box were certainly top-tier, if what he had retrieved was Taiyin Moon Splendor, it would undoubtedly be stored in a jade bottle rather than kept in this box. Yet just as his mind drifted in disappointment, Chi Buzi pressed a hand against the stone box and lightly flicked out a wisp of aura. *Clang!* Real Person Chehong felt a chilling qi surge skyward. The white-robed Real Person before him abruptly rose to his feet, his breathing turning ragged and heavy in an instant. With a dull thud, the white-robed Real Person slammed one hand down firmly onto the jade table, a mere finger's breadth from the stone box! His eyes snapped upward, his expression intensely grave. In his eyes shone a wild joy mixed with astounded disbelief that verged on losing all composure. He stared fixedly at Chi Buzi across from him, looking as though he might erupt into violence at any second! "Fellow Daoist Buzi..." His voice was slightly hoarse, his eyes faintly bloodshot. "May I examine it closely?" Fuxuan had practiced the sword for years, and his hands were exceedingly well cared for, looking slender and refined amidst the fluttering snowy light. Yet this very pair of hands—which had wielded a sword to slay countless devils and Buddhist cultivators without wavering in the slightest—now rested on the table trembling faintly, seemingly wrestling with the urge to snatch the stone box before him. The green-eyed man seated opposite him showed no surprise whatsoever. From beginning to end, he sat leisurely beside the table, not even lifting a finger, and smiled: "Fellow Daoist, pray calm yourself first." All of this occurred in the spark of a flint. Only now did Chehong stare blankly at the stone box before them. That wisp of aura had been faint to the utmost, fleeting in an instant, and was clearly something only the man before him could properly perceive. *Clang!* Fuxuan exhaled a breath. His other hand, which had touched the spirit sword at his waist, slowly loosened its grip. Unfastening the sword, he set it down quietly to the side, yet his eyes could no longer tear themselves away from the stone box as he replied, "This matter is of the utmost gravity. I could not help myself." Even though Chi Buzi made no move to defend it and the peerless treasure before them was within arm's reach—they could even have used this chance to keep his two spirit artifacts—Fuxuan merely sat back down steadily, unable to bring himself to even blink. Chi Buzi looked completely in control, but in truth he was genuinely astonished in his heart: '*Golden Moon Laurel Branch*... to think it was such a formidable spiritual treasure!' After all, in that blessed grotto-heaven it had been used basket by basket without any guarding; any maidservant could simply gather a basketful and deliver it casually to the various palaces. Chi Buzi truly found it hard to reconcile that with Fuxuan's intense agitation before him. He could only stroke his beard and smile: "It seems Fellow Daoist recognizes this item as well... Truth be told, in that entire grotto-dwelling, only this single object is a treasure worthy of the name!" Fuxuan sighed deeply, an indelible melancholy surfacing in his gaze. "Even if that grotto-dwelling was not left by our founding patriarch, it must have belonged to an ancient high cultivator of the Taiyin path. This item has long been extinct in the world... Calling it a mere treasure hardly does it justice!" "Oh..." Chi Buzi wore an inquisitive look. With a light flick of his finger, his divine ability manifested, and the lid of the stone box gradually turned transparent. Within lay a single moon laurel branch, dotted with white blossoms amidst a hazy halo. The cut surface of the branch displayed fine golden spiral grain, exuding a piercing, bone-chilling cold. With his heart wholly consumed by the object before him, Fuxuan was naturally eager to oblige. Deep longing filled his eyes as he murmured softly, "This item is called the *Xuandan Taiyin White Moon Laurel Branch*. It must be an ancient artifact... even rarer than Taiyin Moon Splendor..." Touching upon the secrets of his lineage, even Fuxuan dared not say too much. Chi Buzi nodded quietly, repeating the name over and over in his mind with inward shock. Yet he did not push the stone box across. Fuxuan caught on immediately, turning his head to say: "Chang'er." He had actually addressed Chehong by his given name, showing just how eager he was in this moment. Chehong dared not dally either; he held out the two spirit artifacts in his hands and looked toward Chi Buzi. Seeing the man shake his head, Fuxuan was not surprised. He asked, "This is..." Chi Buzi said softly, "This pertains to what I mentioned earlier. A Lianmin saw it." Hearing this, Fuxuan's expression darkened swiftly. He clearly sensed lingering repercussions, and killing intent surged within him. Fortunately, Chi Buzi added: "Thankfully, that creature's cultivation was not high, and I have already slain him in secret..." "Good!" Chi Buzi was an eminent Great Real Person; when he spoke of slaying someone, it was naturally not as simple as merely sending him back to the Pure Land. Relief was visibly written across Fuxuan's face, and he remarked with feeling, "When Fellow Daoist handles things, one can truly rest easy after all..." The two clearly shared a personal friendship, perhaps even having spent time together in their youth. Chi Buzi adopted a grave look and replied, "The only trouble is that the other party belongs to Cibei Dao, and I cannot afford to tangle with them at present." With that, he reached to his waist and produced a small golden casket. Inside was something rattling with a metallic clatter, perhaps fragments of a precious artifact or something similar. Fuxuan took it without hesitation and answered: "This item will be discreetly arranged so that Cibei divines it was my Chunyi that killed the person. It will not fall upon Fellow Daoist." Chi Buzi nodded with a smile. Both parties knew that Chi Buzi was hardly one to fear a bit of enmity. In truth, this was a subtle way of pinning the matters of this grotto-dwelling onto Chunyi Dao. Even if something were uncovered later and covetous disputes arose, Chi Buzi would not be left defenseless and unable to explain himself... Yet Chi Buzi's intentions went beyond just that; he had his own little scheme: 'I need to offer a sacrifice to the upper powers, but I cannot be too conspicuous. Who goes around harming Lianmin time and again without rhyme or reason? I have already killed so many of them; if there were no clear benefit, it would inevitably arouse suspicion!' From his perspective, this occasion was merely a chance to kill yet another Lianmin with justifiable cause! By seizing this window of opportunity, he not only resolved his cultivation method problem, but also snatched the time to perform another upper sacrifice! Even now, he did not let go. Keeping his hand firmly upon the stone box, his eyes grew somber as he finally revealed his true trump card, his voice resolute and ready to pay any price: "I intend to cultivate another path and seek a different route to survival through reincarnation. I also need your Chunyi Dao... to introduce me to Real Person Puyu of Penglai!"