Chapter 1307: Entrust (II)

These Grand Daoist Masters on the verge of a breakthrough were each more terrifying than the last. At the moment, Qiushui, who stood at the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm, could likely only be matched by Zimu in combat.

Tinglan saluted and replied, "Grand Daoist Master, you are a step too late. My martial uncle has already departed."

"Oh?" Qiushui seemed somewhat surprised and said softly, "Fellow Daoist Qingzhou is truly formidable."

Wun Qingzhou was Zimu's full name. Very few people knew it now, and even fewer could address him as Fellow Daoist Qingzhou. Tinglan did not know whether Qiushui meant that she had failed to calculate Zimu's departure, or that he had left under her gaze without her knowing.

She merely saluted, only to hear the woman before her continue, "He obtained the Valley Water Heavenly Origin Essence a few years ago and began making preparations. I do not know whether Qingzhou obtained that Valley Water, but I had originally intended to lend some assistance. Since he did not see me, he must have had confidence in himself...

"That is also good. Now only a few remain in this world. I hope he can succeed..."

There was a trace of melancholy between her brows, as though she had come only to offer a few words of blessing.

The Dui Metal True Monarch stood behind Daoist Master Qiushui, so all matters had surely been arranged for her. She was the most outstanding figure of the Zhang Family in recent years and had encountered the inheritor of an Immortal Mansion as well. Tinglan could only feel envy.

She thanked her on behalf of her martial uncle, and Qiushui said, "After the matter of the True Monarch is settled, I will return to the grotto heaven. But Ning Wan has now successfully broken through, and Tiaoxiao[1]... Tiaoxiao's affairs... I still need to look after them."

Daoist Master Yuansu had been entangled with Daoist Master Qiushui, and they had nearly become Dao companions back then. This matter was once regarded as a great joyous event for the Golden Feather Sect and the Azure Pond Sect. It had also caused quite a stir for a time.

There was an incident where Situ Tang had been injured by the Dragon Clan in the outer-sea, causing the once flourishing Golden Tang Gate, with three Purple Mansion Realm cultivators across father and sons, to suddenly fall. They were toyed with by the Azure Pond Sect and the Golden Feather Sect for over a hundred years, carrying traces of Situ Tang killing the Three-Eyed Mount Tiao Beast and Daoist Master Qiushui venting anger on Yuansu's behalf.

Although it later came to nothing due to the matter of Li Jiangqun, as a disciple of Zipei, Tinglan had naturally heard a little about it. Yet this kind of matter was most taboo, and she dared not say a single word as she listened to the Grand Daoist Master before her continue, "Back then, Tiaoxiao and Zipei were also very close friends. It was Tiaoxiao who brought me to meet her. The three of us share a bond, and now, both by sentiment and by reason, we should look after the Ning Family.

"This is also why I sought you out. You can fulfill your master's final wish, and you can also satisfy what I entrust to you."

Tinglan felt slightly relieved and saluted as she said, "Please give your instructions, Grand Daoist Master."

Qiushui took out a palm sized mirror from her sleeve, concealing it in her hand, and said softly, "With Yuanxiu dead, whether it is the Monarch Calling Command Golden Talisman or the Huai River Map, no one knows where they ended up. Yuanxiu might not give them to her, yet there are many who covet these items. When necessary, I ask that you lend some help.

"After all, my family is not of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage. There are some things that my fellow disciples and I truly cannot intervene in. Once we help even a little, it will immediately bring consequences a hundred or a thousand times greater. I can only entrust this to you."

She revealed the mirror in her palm. It was round, small, and delicate, yet it flickered with silvery white lightning. Qiushui said solemnly, "My ancestors once stormed the Thunder Palace and obtained this treasure from within. It was originally a matched pair, but the other piece was later lost, leaving only this single one. Even so, its power is not to be underestimated. I entrust this spirit artifact to you as compensation."

A spirit artifact from the Thunder Palace!

In the present age, spirit artifacts from the Thunder Palace were furiously sought after. For one, their power was immense and their mysteries endless. For another, they usually carried no lingering consequences, since the Thunder Palace had fallen so many years ago.

"It is only a matter of offering some care. There is no need..."

Tinglan had only just replied when Qiushui interrupted, "If you do not accept it, where is the sentiment for providing care? Moreover, you would also lack the strength to do so."

Though Qiushui's words were unpleasant, they truly persuaded Tinglan. In the past, she might still have thought of refusing, but her martial uncle Zimu's words had stripped away her sense of security. This spirit artifact became all the more important as she quietly calculated.

Tinglan accepted the item. "I will certainly not fail the Grand Daoist Master's trust."

Only then did Qiushui show a hint of a smile, as though she had fallen into thought. She lowered her hands, and the two golden rings slid from her wrists into her hands again, producing a crisp sound.

She rose upon the surging crimson sea. Tinglan felt a surge of emotion in her heart. She finally lifted her head and asked, "Grand Daoist Master, your cultivation has already reached the utmost peak. For the past three hundred years, none have matched you. I wonder when you will seek the Golden Core, so that we juniors may witness the elegance of the Whole Pill."

Qiushui merely smiled and shook her head. She transformed into mercury like liquid and departed into the great void, leaving behind a drifting line, "It is all still too early."

————

The world within the mirror.

White snow drifted down in the Supreme Yin Manor. The round pool in the small courtyard shimmered with white light. The white bricks on the ground were clean and bright, while four jade white lamp pedestals stood within, emitting a hazy white glow.

A youth with a smooth forehead and pale green eyes stood beside the white round pool. With his hands tucked away, he stood at the pool's edge and craned his neck to peer inside, waiting for ripples to rise in the water and a faint glimmer of light to appear.

"I am just waiting for that mad dog to come, to have a bit of amusement here. Now that Immortal Fairy Shaohui has handed in that technique and gone to the Immortal Pavilion to cultivate, there is one fewer person I can see..."

This was naturally Dangjiang. Although Dangjiang's status was inferior to Shaohui's, he was nonetheless a split soul of the Seven Lives Maha Jinlian. Shaohui, by contrast, was merely the soul of a demonic creature at the early Purple Mansion Realm. Over time, if one truly compared them, aside from her attainment in the Lesser Yin path, Shaohui really could not match Dangjiang in other aspects.

Thus, no matter which Dao lineage Dangjiang took up, as long as its grade was not too high, he could revise and adjust it, erasing its roots. Shaohui found this rather taxing. Aside from focusing on modifying Lesser Yin lineages, she was also studying in the pavilion to deepen her cultivation.

Dangjiang naturally did not know the details. He only knew that Shaohui had gone to serve in a higher Immortal Pavilion, leaving the place empty again, without even someone to talk to. Thus, when the command token in his hand lit up, he hurried over without delay.

He waited and waited until the murmur of chanting finally arose. The youth immediately withdrew his head, turned to the other side, and lifted his chin, only to see a man in green robes with golden tassels slowly emerge from above the pool.

The man looked very young, with pale green eyes, wide sleeves and loose robes as well as long hair hanging freely.

"Grand Daoist Master Chi!"

Chi Buzi slowly opened his eyes, swept his gaze around, then let it settle on the youth before him. He stepped down from the pool and said casually, "Lord Dangjiang!"

Dangjiang loved hearing those words. He nodded repeatedly and laughed as he said, "So which unlucky fellow have you caught this time?"

"A foolish peacock that did not know its place..."

Chi Buzi had clearly come having earned merit, yet his expression did not look good at all. He appeared weighed down by worries as he replied, "It is still that wretched peacock temple from last time. This time I caught another one and brought it back. The higher ups will surely explode in anger, and the next place will have to be changed..."

He observed the other's expression, sighed, and continued, "Yuanxiu failed his breakthrough and even turned into a demonic aberration. He had many schemes, yet he died miserably."

Dangjiang had once shared a body with him and naturally knew Yuanxiu. He curled his lip and said, "So it was that rigid old fellow. He even sought the Golden Core recklessly, no wonder he died so miserably."

Chi Buzi seemed distracted, as though burdened by extremely heavy worries. Whether intentional or not, someone as deep minded as him showing such absentmindedness made Dangjiang sense that something was wrong.

He lowered his voice and said, "Why did you come up this time? Just this one peacock does not seem enough to exchange for that Purple Mansion Realm technique. There was no real need to make this trip..."

Dangjiang naturally hoped that Chi Buzi would come every time, so at least he would have someone to talk to. Yet Chi Buzi always placed the pursuit of immortality above all else and refused to waste time on anything unnecessary. If he came up, there had to be a reason.

Sure enough, once Dangjiang asked this, Chi Buzi immediately spoke. His face darkened as he growled, "A few days ago, I went to Shu Land to take a look. There is a severe drought stretching for a thousand kilometers. The heavens do not send rain, and the springs have dried up. It is a sign that Pristine Water no longer prospers."

Dangjiang was immediately puzzled when he heard this and said, "Is that not a good thing? The one above your head wishes all Pristine Water cultivators were wiped out. If not for cutting off all inheritances and offending the Underworld's judiciary, he would show no mercy at all. If he were to suffer some injuries, it would be just right for you to make a few small moves..."

Chi Buzi shook his head slightly and said in a deep voice, "Is this a place for speaking?"

The courtyard was empty and bare, without even a table or chair, clearly not a place for conversation. Dangjiang led him out and into a small side courtyard.

Once the gate was shut, Chi Buzi finally spoke, "Whether Pristine Water is injured more or less has little effect on me. But since signs of Pristine Water have appeared, it is likely that the struggle of these past years has reached a critical juncture. He may be returning."

Dangjiang froze for a moment and said softly, "If he returns, then he returns. You do not cultivate Purifying Dew anyway. When the time comes, you can cultivate Morning Cold Rain instead. Could he really suspect you? Even if he comes back, he should lower his guard even more once he sees your Dao is already severed..."

Chi Buzi's expression darkened as he said quietly, "You do not understand. You do not understand what kind of person Pristine Water is. I have entered Pristine Cadence Heaven. He is a petty True Monarch, a sinister figure whose eyes miss no details. Such a person would not let go of even the slightest doubt..."

Dangjiang grew suspicious as he listened. Looking at his gloomy expression, he asked, "What do you intend to do?"

Chi Buzi looked at him with a focused gaze. His tone was chilling as he replied, "I have entered his Pristine Cadence Heaven. Whether I live or die, and the progress of my cultivation, are all within his sight. When he returns from the Outer Heavens, every clear pool under heaven will be his adherent. I have cultivated Chougui Hidden Form. If he returns, he may take notice of me."

Dangjiang was even more confused and shook his head. "Chougui Hidden Form is not Purifying Dew. The technique exists and there is no lack of spiritual qi. So many people cultivate it across the world. There is nothing strange about you succeeding. Is he going to investigate every single one?"

Chi Buzi slowly shook his head and said quietly, "I did not use the Profound Method of Continuation, yet I still succeeded. To Pristine Water, where this Purple Mansion Realm technique came from and where it goes is worth investigating."

Those turquoise eyes were utterly calm. His hands, pressed against the table, tightened its grip as he said in a low voice, "If I were him, I would investigate. That alone is enough."

1. This is Daoist Master Yuansu's name. ☜