Chapter 1416: Rectification (I)

A cold wind rushed toward them as Ning Wan arrived riding the snow. She landed nearby and looked slightly surprised when she saw Li Ximing, giving him a small nod in greeting.

Tinglan glanced at her a moment longer, then came back to herself and said softly, "Since Zhaojing has already made the decision, it would not be proper for me to say much more.

"Our Purple Smoke Gate was once called Purple Smoke Temple. It was merely a small temple in this region; we possessed a bit of Dao lineage and were nominally attached to Wanglin Upper Sect as a subordinate temple. In those days, the Origin Mansion governed the land; Jiangnan saw little turmoil; and the cultivators of our temple often descended the mountain to travel.

"Later, our Ancestor Taixu returned after completing his studies and proclaimed his divine ability to heaven and earth. Only then was Purple Smoke Gate established as a legitimate lineage of the Supreme Yang. The Dao of Radiance Under Heaven that our gate possesses is not a remnant of the Supreme Yang inheritance. Its origin is far more ancient. The technique itself is written as Radiance Under Heaven, not Bright and Clear Heart. It was originally left behind by an ancient Li Family cultivator who fled south in times of calamity."

Li Ximing listened carefully as she continued, "The spiritual qi required must be gathered day by day from the first bright wisp of morning radiance. When harvesting the qi, various spirit items are used to refine it, allowing it to be produced from within. Thus, it differs from the arts commonly used in Jiangnan, since it uses the White-Penetrating Method. It is suitable for all four seasons and the collection time is not long.

"Our gate currently has three copies prepared. Even if we added a few more, it would not take long. As for what Purple Smoke Gate wants..."

Tinglan sighed softly before saying, "The situation today is difficult to speak of. Although Purple Smoke Gate still holds this technique, it is tied to a rebellion from years past. No one cultivates it anymore, and leaving it has become a taboo. It would be better to exchange it for another Purple Mansion Realm technique. That would at least provide another path."

Li Ximing nodded inwardly. The two sides were allies and would have to face the northern situation together. Naturally, neither side would complicate matters. This was undoubtedly the most suitable arrangement.

He hesitated slightly. In truth, his family did not have many techniques they could exchange with Tinglan. Even though they were allies, the Radiant Essence Scripture was not suitable to trade away. Of the publicly known Purple Mansion Realm techniques they possessed, there was only the Aged Courtly Path Scripture, the Scripture of the Body Guarding Tiger Pass, the Heavenly Lustrous Gold Sutra, and the Profound Light Mountain Chasing Scripture.

The Scripture of the Body Guarding Tiger Pass belongs to the Cui Family. The Golden Tang Gate techniques have already been shared with the Azure Pond Sect and Xiukui Dao Gate. Purple Smoke Gate likely does not lack them either...

Sure enough, Tinglan said softly, "The Aged Courtly Path Scripture belongs to the Jade True lineage. I heard that it ended up on the lake after the Jiang Family fell, while the Yu Family of those days entered Yuanwu Peak. I once heard some seniors mention it in passing conversation. At the time it was already said that the qi had long been cut off, leaving only empty sighs.

"Now, the Jade True nature is shining brightly once more. I have heard that your esteemed family can already cultivate this path and has even devised a method to gather its qi..."

Li Ximing smiled and replied, "This is not difficult. It is just that Dust of the Court is scarce. Although my family has used many methods to assist the process, the nearest batch will still take more than two years. If fellow Daoist gives me a portion of Bright-Clarity Vital Qi, then when that portion of Dust of the Court is produced two years from now, it will be sent to Purple Smoke Gate."

Tinglan naturally knew that Dust of the Court was rare. In fact, it was worth far more than Bright-Clarity Vital Qi. The Li Family did not possess much of it either. Otherwise Li Queyi, who cultivated at Purple Smoke Gate, would have long ago practiced the Aged Courtly Path Scripture. Who would not cultivate a complete Purple Mansion Realm Dao lineage if it was available? Naturally she would not give only a single portion. She simply nodded, taking it as the matter being settled.

Ning Wan listened quietly from beginning to end. As a cultivator of the Azure Pond Sect, she naturally knew that the Azure Pond Sect had a hand in the destruction of the Jiang Family. Although disciples of the Azure Pond Sect could not cultivate this technique, the Dao Collection certainly held a portion of it in secret. She simply did not wish to spoil another's arrangement.

Once the exchange was agreed upon, Tinglan rode the wind away to retrieve it. Li Ximing had already read the Aged Courtly Path Scripture, so he did not need to gather spiritual qi and could simply recite it silently. He quickly took the opportunity to voice the doubt in his heart, "I saw that Tinglan spoke of it with great restraint... That rebellion must have been a major matter."

Ning Wan seemed somewhat regretful as she replied, "You should not blame her. The matter is extremely complicated and difficult to speak of. I know a few vague details at least, so I can explain a little.

"The path of Radiance Under Heaven was transmitted by Purple Gale Peak. At that time, Purple Gale Peak was at the height of its prosperity. It had even had a disciple in its history who achieved the rank of Daoist Master, with the Dao title Tingqian."

"When Tingqian achieved the rank of Daoist Master, his master Daoist Master Yuanjing was in seclusion while guarding the sect. The two Daoist Masters Zipei and Zimu had also gone out for personal affairs. One fled to the Eastern Sea, while the other disappeared without even a trace. For a time, he ended up in charge."

Ning Wan found it difficult to continue and said quietly, "At that time Purple Gale Peak faintly showed the momentum of becoming the foremost peak. Daoist Master Tingqian was powerful himself, and he even had a disciple beneath him who was also an exceptional genius. Yet after he achieved his divine ability, he indulged in his nature and acted against all order, forcing her[1] and several disciples to dual cultivate with him. Astonishingly, not a single person in the entire Purple Smoke Gate spoke a word."

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Ning Wan's voice was almost inaudible now. She turned her head and sighed before continuing, "When Daoist Master Yuanjing emerged from seclusion, he first heard that a new Daoist Master had appeared and was delighted. Yet he was immediately shocked speechless. When he summoned people to question them, they all said that it had been of their own will, each weeping uncontrollably. But a Fate Divine Ability was involved, so who could know the truth within? They borrowed Xiukui Dao Gate's spirit artifact to examine the matter, yet the Fate Divine Ability proved somewhat sinister, entangling matters further and revealing even more scandals.

"After those scandals circulated for a time, the rest was no longer accessible to outsiders. It was only heard that Tingqian was executed, the woman[2] killed herself in fury, and Daoist Master Yuanjing fell into despair. Later he perished in the west, and the matter faded into silence."

Li Ximing was shaken by what he heard, his brows tightly furrowed.

Aside from the muddleheaded Chi Wei in his later years, the moral standards of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage were undoubtedly higher than those overseas. The lower ranks were another matter, but at the very least, appearances had to be maintained. The earlier the era, the stricter it had been. Yet this matter was truly difficult to speak of...

Daoist Master Chengyan of Changxiao Gate did something even more excessive... yet it only became a passing joke to others... If a Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master truly wished to pursue dual cultivation, there would be no need for such extremes... The matter was probably being understated. That female cultivator was an important direct descendant of the Kan[3] and Wun[4] Families.

"That rebellion at Purple Smoke Gate must have caused a break in their lineage. It also directly affected two Purple Mansion Realm figures and a Purple Mansion Realm seed. Otherwise the Grand Daoist Master would not have needed to travel to the lands of Qi to take Tinglan, an outsider who joined halfway, as a disciple..."

The two fell into a tacit silence. After a long while, Tinglan returned riding Purple Essence. She took a jade slip and a jade bottle from her sleeve and handed them to Li Ximing, her expression much calmer.

"Please."

Li Ximing accepted them calmly. With a sweep of spiritual sense, he saw the title within.

Sovereign Insight Illuminating Heart Scripture.

This technique was indeed fourth grade, the same level as the Aged Courtly Path Scripture. Li Ximing put it away first and expressed his thanks. The two Daoist Masters then began discussing matters in the mountains, as Ning Wan said, "The Emptiness Dao has retreated, but they will certainly return. The Great Desire Dao has been struck painfully and may not be able to send strong figures for a time. Yet the factions behind the Emptiness Dao have tested our strength and will not give up. In the end, they will come again.

"However, their withdrawal has left the north completely empty. The temples have no one left. Whether monks or Master Monks, not a single one remains. Only the common people are slowly moving north across the land. These people... are difficult to deal with.

"We certainly cannot send people to occupy those lands. Even if we did, it would only scatter our strength. If we ignore it, there are plenty of devil cultivators in the north and countless people will likely die. But if we bring them into Jiangbei..."

Ning Wan seemed worried as she replied, "These people all revere the Buddhist Dao. They are not even afraid of taking their own lives. Bringing them here would likely create trouble and only increase bloodshed."

Li Ximing understood her concern. White River Stream was already short of people, so he asked, "Could your Fate Divine Ability perhaps save them..."

Both women shook their heads at the same time, and Ning Wan replied, "This has nothing to do with mystical influence. They sincerely believe that suffering in this life leads to happiness in the next. They believe falling into the Devil Dao will certainly send them to hell. They are not under any mystical control."

1. This 'her' is referring to one of the female disciples. ☜

2. Referring to one of the disciples. ☜

3. Surname of characters like Kan Ziyan, Kan Ziyu and Kan Xuyu (Daoist Master Zipei). ☜

4. Surname of characters like Wun Wu and Wun Qingzhou (Daoist Master Zimu). ☜