After a short exchange between the voices, Bo Lie King Gao Fu, cultivator of True Flame, stepped forward, stroking his beard, and said, “I’ve long heard that Daoist Master Qiushui cultivates the Whole Pill Dao of Lead and Mercury. The transformations of elemental essence in this Dao are beyond us, might we ask for a demonstration?”
“Very well.” Daoist Master Qiushui nodded gently. She raised a hand, palm up, and released two faint golden gleams. One ascended and transformed into brilliant golden light, while the other descended into vermilion red. She spoke softly, “Azure and emerald blend as one, forming pure and bright Converging Water, capable of revealing the shattered remnants.”
She extended one finger forward and gently rested another finger upon it. The remaining three fingers were slightly curved as she pointed toward the dark blue Converging Water below, respectfully saying, “Behold the radiance of the embraced Supreme Unity.”
Chengshui Tomb had already been submerged by Converging Water. The terrain below them was especially low, with nothing left above the waterline. It looked like a small lake, the dark blue water opaque and jewel-like.
But once the Daoist Master gestured, the black clouds reflected on the water’s surface began to shift. Li Xuanfeng looked closely and saw a broken cliff reflected in the water, with scattered pavilions and towers, and billowing white clouds drifting to and fro.
The reflection grew increasingly vivid. The Converging Water beneath their feet had turned into a mirror, revealing a limited yet clear realm.
Daoist Master Qiushui withdrew her hand and said softly, “Let each of you send someone into the water.”
“What a divine ability...”
Daoist Master Qiushui had performed this with effortless grace, without the slightest strain. Even after letting her hand fall, the reflection remained perfectly stable on the water’s surface.
The Merciful Ones remained silent, while only Bo Lie King Gao Fu praised, “A most ingenious divine ability.”
Si Boxiu watched silently, tilting his head slightly before taking a golden talisman from his robe. It was only two fingers wide and etched densely with radiant markings. He handed it to Li Xuanfeng and said solemnly, “This is the Summon Golden Talisman. It can summon golden energy to aid in battle, but lasts no more than an hour. Its effects may be weaker in this realm, so use it wisely.”
He turned around and pointed out the three behind him, “This is Si Yuanli. These two are Chi Tianxing and Chi Fuju.”
Si Yuanli was the middle-aged man, who was already at the late-stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. The other two were youths. Chi Tianxing had a calm demeanor and nodded politely, while Chi Fuju was equally well-mannered and pleasant in appearance.
Yuan Xiu said gravely. “Once he enters the water, I entrust his safety to you two.”
Lingu Rao and Li Xuanfeng immediately responded in unison, “We obey the Daoist Master’s order!”
The group descended from the clouds into the water with a wave of Yuan Xiu’s sleeve. Li Xuanfeng felt a moment of darkness followed by sudden brightness, and then nothing beneath him.
He channeled mana to ride the wind. Mist swirled ceaselessly below his feet. There was no sun or moon above, only an endless white haze. The black clouds, Converging Water, the Merciful Ones, and the Daoist Masters were all gone, leaving only vast skies and a chilling wind rushing toward him.
Looking into the distance, he saw a cliff rising steeply into the sky, adorned with staggered pavilions and towers. Ning State favored deep blues and glazed jewels, so it was no surprise to see these buildings constructed with black and dark blue hues. Colored glass twinkled in the distance, presenting a scene of rich splendor.
Li Xuanfeng paused briefly and looked around, but only found Si Yuanli beside him.
The middle-aged man was riding the wind, surveying the area. His green robe fluttered, and a jade-green longsword had already appeared in his hand. Seeing Li Xuanfeng looking over, he cupped his fists and said, “Apologies for the trouble, fellow Daoist!”
Yuan Xiu clearly has his own agenda!
Li Xuanfeng didn’t need to think long. Lingu Rao was certainly with the two Chi Family members and had separated the moment they entered the realm, leaving him with Si Yuanli. Li Xuanfeng found it hard to believe that this wasn’t orchestrated by Si Boxiu.
He returned the gesture and the two descended into the clouds. After observing for a while, Li Xuanfeng felt that this strange place resembled neither a grotto heaven nor a sealed world.
He asked softly, “Do you know where this is, fellow Daoist?”
“This is the Great Ning Palace.” Since Si Yuanli would need to rely on him later, he spoke with a gentle demeanor and answered thoroughly, “It’s not comparable to the grotto heavens of True Monarchs, though the naming conventions are quite complex. Some called palaces, others halls, caves, or chambers. The Immortal Mansions once had a formal system to classify such cave dwellings.”
He paused for a moment, noting they still had some distance to descend, then continued in a quiet voice, “To be precise, it was the dwelling of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. In ancient times, spiritual energy was abundant and the world was more complete. My family's Daoist Master says it was a time of ‘complete surplus in all things,’ with treasures everywhere. True Monarchs and Daoist Masters of those eras far surpassed those of today, and there were many who had mastered their divine ability. Power resided with multiple Daoist Masters, not just one per faction.
“When they combined their divine abilities, these figures could create dwellings on dharma artifacts or spirit items that were either large or small. Though not as refined as grotto heavens hidden in the great void, they had their own wonders.
“The Great Ning Palace is one such example.”
Li Xuanfeng thoughtfully looked down at the mountains beneath his feet, and asked, “It’s really that vast? That doesn’t seem right...”
The realm before him stretched beyond sight, making Li Xuanfeng suspicious. If every Purple Mansion Realm cultivator had such abilities, Azure Pond Sect and Golden Feather Sect would have countless such domains, yet he had never heard of them. Yuan Su hadn’t even mentioned it. Something felt off, and he stared intently ahead.
Very perceptive... Si Yuanli secretly sighed in his heart.
But he maintained a smile as he replied, “You’re right... After the changes in heaven and earth, constructing a dwelling with divine arts has become immensely difficult for Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. In ancient times, three or five of them could build a small immortal palace. Nowadays, it might take more than a dozen. Aside from the likes of the Wang, Xie, and Luoxia families, who across the lands still has that kind of power?
“What’s more, today’s immortal palaces are said to be cramped and unimpressive. Few Purple Mansion Realm cultivators are willing to pay the cost.
“As for the Great Ning Palace before us...” Si Yuanli continued softly, “It was constructed in ancient times with the aid of Anhuai Heaven, anchored to a grotto heaven rather than stored within a dharma artifact or spirit item. Then, a True Monarch intervened, which made it possible for such a vast territory to be formed.
“However, now that it’s been opened and connected to the present world, it will begin to collapse within a few months and vanish completely...”
The two finally reached the ground and landed upon pale blue lake water. The blue-black stones beneath were clearly visible. Shallow waters stretched away on both sides, presenting a picturesque scene.
“The Daoist Masters have plotted so carefully because they hope to trace the remains of Anhuai Heaven... While there are many grotto heavens in northern Jiangnan, such as the once-famous Donghua Heaven of the Yuan Prefecture, Anhuai Heaven was among the wealthiest.”
Si Yuanli’s personality, unlike his Daoist Master’s, was gentle and chatty. He smiled and said, “My elder brother is Si Yuanbai. He was once a sword immortal’s disciple and had close ties with your esteemed family...”
“I see!” Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly in acknowledgment. As they flew, they passed a green stone sculpture of a flying fish spouting water every half a kilometer. After dozens of kilometers, they finally saw a long, orderly jade road stretching over the lake. It was black on the outside and white within. The seamless road extended far into the distance.
“What a splendid view.”
Li Xuanfeng’s own home lay by Moongaze Lake, and his family soon to become the sole ruling clan in that region. So when he saw this immortal palace of Ning State, he nodded silently in approval.
Si Yuanli, however, could hardly wait. He picked up speed along the road, his blue robe fluttering as he said with a laugh, “Fellow Daoist Xuanfeng! Ning State is famed for its mastery of True Qi, and the Jiajiang Li Family even supported the nation. There must be many treasures here, we must hurry on!”