Though the night was deep and heavy, the Purple Smoke Blessed Land was bathed in brilliant light.
Strands of purple qi coiled and rose like silken threads, filling the air with ethereal immortality. It surged and receded like the tides, while rows of peaks emerged one after another from the thick purple clouds. Pillars of dharma light shot straight into the heavens, illuminating the land with radiant brilliance.
At the very center, exquisitely beautiful pavilions and towers floated above the purple qi. A Daoist Master in a white robe traced with golden patterns glided forward on a beam of light, followed by a younger man with the bearing of a refined scholar. The purple qi parted around them, revealing a long and crystalline staircase of purple jade.
Disciples of the Purple Smoke Gate, even those who did not recognize the Daoist Master, bowed low as he passed and did not rise until he had gone far ahead. The sight made Li Ximing nod inwardly, thinking, The Purple Smoke Gate truly lives up to its ancient heritage. Its discipline and propriety are most rigorous.
This visit was not only about the matter concerning Profound Peak Gate; there were many areas where the two sides needed to speak and grow acquainted with. Li Ximing had never intended to come alone. Most of his direct descendants were either in seclusion or recovering from injuries, while the few remaining had major responsibilities to oversee. After much deliberation, he decided to bring Cui Jueyin along.
Those guest cultivators would only embarrass us if they were brought along. Ding Weizeng may be competent, but he’s injured, and more importantly, lacks tact and has never seen the greater world. This direct heir of Chongzhou, Cui Jueyin, is the most suitable.
Just then, a female cultivator riding on a cloud streaked toward them. Her feathered robe was a pale yellow, and the silk ribbons at her waist fluttered elegantly in a cascade of colors.
“Greetings, Daoist Master Zhaojing!”
The female cultivator saluted, and the Daoist Master in the white and gold robe responded with polite courtesy, “Is Daoist Master Tinglan present?”
Li Ximing had exchanged letters with the Purple Smoke Gate days earlier and confirmed that Daoist Master Tinglan had indeed returned before making this visit. The question was merely a formality, and the yellow-robed cultivator replied, “Our Daoist Master returned to the blessed land half a year ago. She had planned to leave on the twenty-second day, but after reading your letter, she decided to remain for a few more days and sent this junior to await your arrival.”
She led the way forward as the purple mist billowed and spread. Li Ximing turned his head slightly and spoke softly, “This is the Purple Smoke Immortal Gate, of the Green Pine Supreme Yang Dao lineage.”
He spoke these words to Cui Jueyin, who followed behind. The young man stood upright, gazing in slight amazement at the purple qi flowing through the mountains. He answered respectfully and felt much more at ease inside.
Cui Jueyin was a stranger to the inland realm, but even after only a year or so in seclusion, he had learned at least a little about the three sects and seven gates. That Li Ximing, a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, took the time to explain this showed he regarded Cui Jueyin as his own junior. Were he just an ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm subordinate, he would never have been given such attention.
The three continued deeper inside and descended into a palace floating atop the purple qi. The purple qi was even denser here, as spiritual energy surged in abundance. Beneath their feet, a peculiar current of spiritual qi seemed to flow along the steps and drift away like smoke.
Though the Purple Smoke Gate was only one of the seven gates, its heritage was profound. Its gate grounds, famed as a blessed land, were magnificently splendid. Chongzhou Island was considered a fine place, yet it was far inferior to the Purple Smoke Blessed Land. Cui Jueyin could not help but gaze in reverence.
The Purple Essence Dao lineage was exceedingly rare in the outer seas. Devil cultivators could still occasionally be found there, but a righteous lineage suffused with such celestial grace had never appeared. As Cui Jueyin’s gaze swept over the drifting purple qi, he found it ever more profound and wondrous.
The yellow-robed cultivator led them to the summit, but no palace awaited them there, only a smooth, translucent platform of purple jade. The purple qi had taken on a faint golden hue as it weaved and flowed beneath their feet.
Then a soft laugh rang out. “Greetings, Daoist Friend Zhaojing!”
Li Ximing looked and saw a woman standing on the platform. Unlike the usual purple-robed attire of Purple Smoke Gate members, she wore an autumn-yellow silk gown embroidered with bright and striking butterfly patterns. Her features were delicate, her brows slender, and a touch of cyan at the corners of her eyes accentuated her beauty.
This Daoist Master Tinglan... it seems she has a taste for adornment.
Only Li Ximing and Tinglan regarded one another directly. Neither the Purple Smoke Gate cultivators nor Cui Jueyin dared look straight at a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Uncertain of Daoist Master Tinglan’s thoughts, Li Ximing simply smiled and replied, “You are too courteous, Daoist Friend... I had heard your Dao title was most elegant. Now that I see your true self, you are indeed a fairy.”
Daoist Master Tinglan let out a small laugh, nodded in thanks, and replied, “I am originally a cultivator from the Qi region in the northern lands. Our attire differs somewhat from that of Jiangnan... I hope Daoist Friend does not mind.”
Li Ximing suddenly understood, and clarity dawned in his heart, A cultivator from Qi region? Then this Daoist Master Tinglan is likely not of the Kan Family... The Qi region is Gao Family territory. Surely... she isn’t of the Gao Family herself?
While Li Ximing was still speculating, Daoist Master Tinglan spoke gently, “My surname is Yi. I was once a rogue formation master from Bo Lie Prefecture. It was under the guidance of my teacher, Daoist Master Zipei, that I cultivated divine abilities here in the blessed land.”
Li Ximing nodded, and Daoist Master Tinglan continued, “I have been traveling constantly these past years and have seldom been within the gate. I only saw your letter after returning, and I must apologize for keeping Daoist Friend Zhaojing waiting...”
Li Ximing did not believe a single word.
When Changxi was still alive, he visited Purple Smoke Gate several times and never saw even a shadow of them. Even when we sent our people to inquire, there was no reply. Yet now that Changxi has fallen, the battle on the river has concluded, and the matter of splitting Shanji Prefecture has risen, suddenly she can be found.
That a rogue cultivator like Daoist Master Tinglan had received Zipei’s personal teachings and broken through to the Purple Mansion Realm showed she was no ordinary person. Li Ximing did not take offense. After all, everyone wished to avoid risk and seize the greatest benefit.
He merely replied, “It delays nothing... finding the traces of our predecessor remains the foremost task.”
Daoist Master Tinglan only smiled and nodded without further comment. She raised her sleeve and swept it lightly across her body. A table instantly materialized on the jade platform, seamlessly part of it. Upon it rested a jade teapot, the tea inside boiling as white steam billowed from its spout.
“Please.” The two sat down, and Tinglan asked, “Zhaojing, have you come to see me regarding your family’s formation matters?”
Tinglan had offered a good opening, and Li Ximing had indeed come with that in mind, so he nodded and said, “My family has only recently ascended to the rank of an immortal family and indeed lacks a Purple Mansion Realm spirit formation. Purple Smoke is a major gate of formations, and you are a great master of the art, so I have come to seek your guidance.”
Tinglan glanced at him and said with a smile, “Daoist Friend is not lacking either.”
In truth, Li Ximing had only just broken through to the Purple Mansion Realm, and his alchemy was far from that of a true grandmaster. Tinglan herself did not have the ability to arrange a Purple Mansion Realm formation on her own either. Her remark brought a hint of shared amusement to both their faces, and Li Ximing spoke solemnly, “I ask for your instruction.”
Tinglan nodded and spoke softly, “The key to a Purple Mansion Realm grand formation lies in three aspects. First and foremost are the spirit items within the formation. Second is the foundation of the formation itself. And lastly, the divine abilities and mana of the formation master...
“The foundation refers to the spiritual energy, the earth veins, the great void, and the positional nodes within the formation. Although they are extremely costly, they are often not the true obstacle for people like us. The real difficulty lies in the fact that spirit items suitable for formations are few in number, and the formation master’s divine abilities may not be sufficient to draw out and harness the full potential of those items.”
Li Ximing thought this over as Tinglan continued, “Your family will first need to secure Purple Mansion Realm spirit items, then invite me to inspect them. If everything is settled, I have one or two friends who can assist. In about three to five years, the formation should be ready for use.”
She paused for a moment; clearly, her thoughts had also turned to the matter of the Profound Peak Mountain. She poured tea for Li Ximing as she said, “If there is an existing Purple Mansion Realm formation that can be relocated, then the situation would be quite different. I would still need to visit your lake, study the earth veins, and either fill in the lake or open the mountains in key locations. It will take some effort in the short term, but the setup will proceed much faster and without excessive expense.”