Purple Smoke Blessed Land.
Purple mist drifted ethereally, clouds smoke blanketed the mountain peaks. Since Li Xuanfeng was personally brought back by a Daoist Master, the cultivators of the Purple Smoke Gate treated him with great courtesy and arranged a cave dwelling for him on the main peak.
Although his Dao lineage had nothing to do with the Purple Essence, the area at least had an abundant spirit vein and rich spiritual energy, which greatly benefited his cultivation. Had he cultivated here earlier in life, he might have broken through a few years sooner.
Unfortunately, my path of cultivation is gradually coming to an end , thought Li Xuanfeng.
Li Xuanfeng's cultivation method only allowed him to reach the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. It lacked the chapters to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm. His cultivation had slowly reached a bottleneck, just like Tang Shedu and the like, stuck in the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Even if he had time to practice secret techniques, he had no matching cultivation method to accompany them. Li Xuanfeng could only regulate his breath to the peak and slowly practiced footwork techniques and perception arts.
After a few days of cultivation here, Daoist Master Yuan Xiu soon arrived with his people, openly tearing through the skies above the blessed land. Li Xuanfeng, who was cultivating in the mountains, looked up and saw a man being carried in Yuan Xiu’s hand. Upon closer look, it was Ning Heyuan.
To be cautious, Daoist Master Zipei summoned Li Xuanfeng. Upon returning to the cave filled with fluctuating purple qi, he saw three Daoist Masters seated in a circle, with Ning Heyuan standing dazed in the center.
The impact of Ning Tiaoxiao’s death on Ning Heyuan was far beyond what Li Xuanfeng had experienced. Yuan Su’s place in Ning Heyuan’s heart was likely greater to how Li Tongya once regarded the Li Family. Li Xuanfeng saw him standing respectfully, yet his eyes were vacant, as if his mind was elsewhere.
Just as Li Xuanfeng stood still, Zipei spoke up and asked, "Li Xuanfeng, is this person a descendant of Yuan Su’s lineage?"
Seeing Li Xuanfeng nod in response, Zipei turned to Daoist Master Pu Yu, who performed a divination. The result was roughly accurate, so Zipei took out a small seal from his sleeve and said softly, "Ning Heyuan!"
"This junior is here," replied Ning Heyuan, nodding respectfully. Zipei placed the seal in her palm, seemingly lost in some old memories. After a moment of thought, she said, "Yuan Su never liked hearing about the past, and perhaps never spoke of it to you. Since I preserved this item for him, I must also tell you of its origin, so you know whose grace you are receiving."
As she finished, Daoist Master Pu Yu nodded slightly, while Yuan Xiu turned his face away and remained silent. Li Xuanfeng silently understood in his heart, I’ve always heard that this one from the Purple Smoke Gate was at odds with Yuan Su. But it seems they knew each other in the past and simply had a falling out... In the end, she still helped him preserve much.
Zipei spoke softly, "This seal is the Xinyou Lucid Marsh Seal, forged from Xinyou Profound Metal, Tai Pristine Essence, and Langya Jade. It is an ancient seal, and sealed within it is the Pristine Water Feathered Serpent.
"This ancient seal was originally a dharma artifact of a Purple Mansion Realm great demonic beast under the Feathered Serpent. Later, it was defeated by a senior from the Moonlight Origin Mansion and came into the hands of the Immortal Mansion, where it was refined by moonlight.
"Eventually, it came into the possession of Daoist Master Donghua of the Immortal Mansion, who then gifted it to Ning Tiaoxiao."
Daoist Master Zipei spoke clearly and without reservation. Li Xuanfeng listened quietly from the side and understood everything.
The attitudes of the Three Sects and Seven Gates toward Daoist Master Donghua had always been ambiguous. Publicly, they credited him as a beneficiary of the Immortal Mansion’s legacy, but many rumors claimed he was actually a direct inheritor.
Now, with a firsthand account from someone who had personally witnessed those events, it was a clear confirmation. It was one that contradicted the official records of the sect. Ning Heyuan didn’t dare speak further and accepted the seal with both hands.
Zipei spoke softly, "This treasure... both Qiushui and I used it back in the day. There are twelve incantations. I will now pass them to you, remember them well."
Si Boxiu stood with his hands behind his back, his rigid face cold and expressionless. He simply flicked his sleeve and vanished into the great void.
Daoist Master Pu Yu also nodded in farewell. The jade seal in Ning Heyuan's hands radiated brilliant light as streams of azure water manifested around him, and golden-blue light flowed by his side. His eyes were tightly shut, as if communicating with the seal.
Daoist Master Zipei finished passing on the incantations, listened carefully for a moment, then flicked her sleeve and said, "Now that you’ve received the treasure, go back and cultivate it well."
The two only felt a blur before their eyes as they were swept out of the blessed land by a wave of her sleeve. Looking around, they had arrived at Libu Prefecture, on the easternmost edge of the Azure Pond Sect. It was right at the border with the Purple Smoke Gate, and below them, the streets bustled with noise and bright lights.
Ning Heyuan and Li Xuanfeng both rode the spirit wind in midair to steady themselves. Ning Heyuan held the seal close to his chest, still processing what had just happened, and muttered, "Why did it happen so fast?"
He muttered to himself, unclear whether he was speaking of Zipei's methods or Yuan Su. Li Xuanfeng stood silently behind him and then saw Ning Heyuan speak with a slightly trembling voice, "Brother-in-law, do you have any other affairs to attend to...? Or will you return to the sect with me?"
Ning Heyuan gripped the dharma seal tightly to the point where his fingers turned pale. His eyes shone brightly in the night as he fixed his gaze on Li Xuanfeng's expression.
Li Xuanfeng remained as composed as ever, neither arrogant nor servile, and said softly, "I await the family head's instructions."
With Yuan Su only just deceased, Li Xuanfeng's stance meant everything to Ning Heyuan. This seasoned cultivator didn’t need to do anything, just standing behind him gave Ning Heyuan confidence.
He immediately breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "If brother-in-law has matters to handle, feel free to go on your way... but if not, then return with me to the Ning Family."
Li Xuanfeng nodded and rose into the air with him. Ning Heyuan made small talk along the way and only after confirming that Li Xuanfeng’s demeanor hadn’t changed did he finally feel at ease.
Ning Heyuan paused for a moment and asked, "Did the Daoist Master leave any final words or messages?"
Li Xuanfeng gave a quiet nod and replied in a low voice, "Do not dare to hate."