Chapter 742: Dan and Array

Although night had fallen, the Purple Mist Blessed Land was brightly lit. Here, purple mist, like fine threads, spiraled upwards, creating an ethereal, almost immortal atmosphere. It surged and receded like tides, with peaks appearing and disappearing one after another amidst the thick purple clouds. The light from the array formations shot straight into the sky, illuminating the surroundings.

In the very center, pavilions and buildings floated above the purple mist, exquisitely beautiful. A True Monarch, clad in a white robe with golden patterns, arrived, riding a beam of light. Behind him followed a junior, resembling a refined scholar. The purple mist on both sides automatically parted, revealing a long, translucent staircase made of purple jade.

Even if the disciples of the Purple Mist Sect encountered on both sides didn't recognize the True Monarch, they all bowed their heads in respectful salute, only straightening up after the True Monarch had departed. Li Ximing observed this, nodding silently to himself.

‘The Purple Mist Sect indeed has a long heritage and strict etiquette,’ he thought.

This visit was partly about the matters concerning the Profound Peak Sect, but there were many other topics for the two families to discuss and become familiar with. Li Ximing had never intended to come alone. However, his direct lineage members were either in secluded cultivation or recovering from injuries, and the remaining one or two were needed to manage important affairs. After much consideration, he decided to bring Cui Jueyin.

‘Those few guest cultivators would be an embarrassment to bring along,’ he mused. ‘Although Ding Weizeng was qualified, he had sustained some injuries. Moreover, he lacked a certain finesse and hadn't seen much of the world. Therefore, Cui Jueyin, a direct descendant from Chongzhou, was the most suitable choice.’

Just then, a female cultivator riding on a cloud sped towards them. She wore a pale yellow feathered robe, and colorful silk ribbons fluttered elegantly from her waist.

“Greetings, True Monarch Zhaojing!” she hailed.

After the female cultivator performed her salute, the True Monarch in the platinum-white Daoist robe responded rather courteously and asked:

“Is True Monarch Tinglan present?”

Li Ximing had corresponded with the Purple Mist Sect some time ago to confirm that True Monarch Tinglan had returned to Purple Mist before making this trip. He was merely looking for an opening for conversation. The yellow-robed female cultivator then replied:

“My True Monarch returned to the Blessed Land half a year ago. She was originally scheduled to leave on the twenty-second, but after reading your letter, True Monarch, she decided to stay for a few more days. She sent this junior to await you here,” she explained.

As she led the way, the purple mist surged and spread. Li Ximing turned his head and softly murmured:

“This is the Purple Mist Immortal Sect, following the Green Pine Sun Daoist tradition.”

He said this to Cui Jueyin, who was following behind. The young man stood straight, looking with slight surprise at the purple mist in the mountains. He respectfully affirmed, feeling greatly relieved.

Cui Jueyin was unfamiliar with the region. However, even if he kept a low profile for a year or two, he was certainly aware of the Three Sects and Seven Gates. Li Ximing, as a Purple Mansion cultivator, only mentioned this because he regarded Cui Jueyin as one of his own juniors. If he were merely an ordinary Foundation Establishment subordinate, why would he receive such attention?

The three continued deeper, landing on the palace complex floating above the purple mist. The purple mist grew denser, and the spiritual energy was immense. Beneath their feet, a special kind of spiritual energy seemed to flow along the steps, dissipating like smoke.

Although the Purple Mist Sect was only one of the Seven Gates, its foundation was far from shallow. Its mountain gate, known as a Blessed Land, was exquisitely magnificent. Chongzhou Island was also a good place, but it paled significantly in comparison to this Purple Mist Blessed Land. Cui Jueyin observed it with considerable awe.

Purple Qi Daoist traditions were exceedingly rare overseas. While demonic cultivators were occasionally seen, such ethereal, righteous sects were unheard of. Cui Jueyin's gaze swept over the swirling purple mist, finding it even more profound and powerful.

The yellow-robed female cultivator led them to the highest point. There were no longer any grand palaces, only a smooth, translucent purple jade platform. Here, the purple mist already showed faint hints of bright yellow, swirling around their feet.

It was then that a laugh was heard:

“Greetings, Fellow Daoist Zhaojing!”

Li Ximing saw a woman standing on the platform. Unlike the usual purple attire of the Purple Mist Sect members, she was dressed in a vibrant autumn-fragrance yellow satin gown with butterfly patterns, looking dazzling. Her face was delicate, her eyebrows fine, and her eye corners adorned with blue markings, enhancing her beauty.

‘This True Monarch Tinglan… seems to be quite fond of dressing up,’ he mused.

At this moment, only Li Ximing and Tinglan were openly sizing each other up. Neither the Purple Mist cultivators nor Cui Jueyin dared to directly meet the gaze of a Purple Mansion cultivator. Unsure what True Monarch Tinglan was thinking, Li Ximing simply replied with a smile:

“You are too kind, Fellow Daoist,” he began. “I had heard that your Daoist title was exceptionally beautiful, but now that I see you in person, you are indeed an immortal fairy.”

True Monarch Tinglan chuckled and nodded in thanks. Only then did she reply:

“I am originally a cultivator from the Northern Qi region,” she said. “Our attire there is somewhat different from that of Jiangnan. I hope Fellow Daoist does not find it strange.”

Li Ximing suddenly realized, and instantly understood:

‘A cultivator from the Qi region?’ he thought. ‘It seems True Monarch Tinglan is not from the Kan family... The Qi region is the Gao family's territory. Surely... she isn't a Gao family member, is she?’

While Li Ximing was still pondering, True Monarch Tinglan had already spoken, her voice soft:

“My surname is Yi. I was originally a rogue array master from Bolie Commandery. With the guidance of my master, True Monarch Zipei, I cultivated my divine ability here in the Blessed Land.”

Li Ximing nodded. True Monarch Tinglan continued:

“I have been traveling extensively these past years and haven't often been in the sect,” she said. “I only saw your letter upon my return, which made Zhaojing wait for so long...”

Li Ximing didn't believe a word of it.

‘When Changxi was alive, he visited Purple Mist several times, but couldn't find a single person,’ Li Ximing thought. ‘Even when my family sent people to inquire, there was no response... Now that Changxi has fallen, and a battle took place on the river, our territory has shifted to Fenshan Ji Commandery, and suddenly, people can be found.’

True Monarch Tinglan, a rogue cultivator who received personal transmission from Zipei and broke through to the Purple Mansion realm, was no simple character. Li Ximing didn't take offense; after all, avoiding risks and gaining the greatest benefits was something everyone desired. He simply replied:

“It's no delay,” he said. “Seeking the elder's whereabouts is the primary objective.”

Hearing this, True Monarch Tinglan simply smiled and nodded, saying no more. She raised her sleeve and gave a gentle sweep. Immediately, a table appeared on the jade platform, seemingly one with it. On the table was a jade pot, its tea boiling and white mist billowing from its spout.

“Please!” she gestured.

The two took their seats. Tinglan asked:

“Zhaojing, did you seek me concerning your esteemed family's array formations?”

Tinglan provided a good opening. Li Ximing, who already had this in mind, nodded and said:

“My family has recently ascended to an immortal clan, and we indeed lack a Purple Mansion-level spirit array,” he explained. “The Purple Mist Sect is a major sect for array formations, and True Monarch, you are an array master. Therefore, I came to seek your guidance.”

Tinglan glanced at him and smiled:

“You are not bad yourself, Fellow Daoist.”

In truth, Li Ximing had only recently broken through to the Purple Mansion realm, and his alchemy skills could not truly be considered masterful. Tinglan also lacked the ability to set up a Purple Mansion array on her own. This exchange brought a smile to both their faces, and they stopped complimenting each other. Li Ximing then spoke seriously:

“Please enlighten me.”

Tinglan nodded and softly said:

“The key to a grand Purple Mansion array lies in three points,” she began. “First and foremost, the spiritual artifacts within the array; second, the foundation of the array formation; and finally, the divine abilities and magic power of the array-laying cultivator...”

“The foundation of an array includes spiritual energy, earth veins, the Void, and the positions within the array,” she continued. “While extremely expensive, for cultivators like us, it's often not the main issue. The difficulty often lies in... the scarcity of suitable spiritual artifacts for array deployment, and the fact that the divine abilities of the array-laying cultivator... may not be able to fully communicate with and unleash the wondrous uses of various spiritual artifacts.”

Li Ximing pondered for a moment. He then looked at Tinglan and said:

“Your esteemed family would first need to provide a Purple Mansion-level spiritual artifact, and then invite me to examine it,” she explained. “If it's decided, I also have one or two friends who can help. It would take approximately three to five years for the array to be ready for use.”

She paused, evidently having immediately thought of the Profound Peak Mountain Gate. She poured tea for Li Ximing and said:

“If there's an existing Purple Mansion array that can be relocated, that would be very different,” she explained. “I would still need to visit your lake to examine it and sort out the earth veins. In critical areas, we might need to fill lakes or open mountains. Though it might be troublesome for a while, it would be very quick to set up and wouldn't cost too much.”

Tinglan's tea was surprisingly good, at least far better than Li Ximing's or True Monarch Changxi's. Li Ximing took a sip of tea and, noticing Tinglan's excessive enthusiasm for the matter, asked:

“So it takes this long?” he inquired. “I had thought Fellow Daoist could simply assist, but it requires such significant effort...”

Tinglan had been waiting for him to say this for a while. She simply replied:

“Zhaojing, do not worry,” she said. “I also need Fellow Daoist to lend a hand and help me refine a pill.”

“Alchemy?” Li Ximing repeated.

Li Ximing frowned.

“Can your divine abilities not refine it?” he asked.

For a Purple Mansion cultivator, simply forming a hand seal and kneading a bit would allow anyone to concoct some pills. If it required Li Ximing's intervention, this pill was certainly no ordinary item.

At his question, Tinglan nodded lightly but didn't speak. She then turned to the yellow-robed cultivator from the Purple Mist Sect and said:

“Dan Ying, take this young friend to look around the Blessed Land.”

Cui Jueyin immediately understood. Seeing Li Ximing's nod, the two quickly departed. The purple mist on the ground closed around them. Only then did Tinglan speak again:

“Those of us who use divine abilities for alchemy can only concoct pills for Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation,” she explained. “Unlike you who cultivate the Dao of Alchemy from an early age, our ascension involves balancing Yin and Yang through the Greater Void. If we exert ourselves fully in alchemy for too long, our divine abilities will inevitably affect our Ascending Yang Residence, unbalancing Yin and Yang. I even have to rely on Hengxing to exchange for better Suiyuan Pills; these more potent ones are simply beyond my capabilities.”

She took out a jade slip. With a casual gesture, she unlocked its secrets, placed it on the table, and smiled:

“Please take a look, Fellow Daoist... and see if it can be refined.”

Li Ximing hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise. He took it and began to read.

“The Heavenly Unity Quintessence Pill.”

As expected, this was a Purple Mansion-level pill, quite profound. It required the extremely valuable Purple Mansion spiritual artifact, Boundless Water-Fire, as a harmonizer. It also needed sixteen thousand two hundred refinements using divine abilities, before being formed into a pill with Heavenly Unity Pure Essence as its core.

Upon reading this, Li Ximing secretly gritted his teeth.

‘Oh, you Purple Mist Sect... truly wealthy and powerful!’ he thought. ‘Even if Tinglan isn't from the Kan family, she's so generous. Both Boundless Water-Fire and Heavenly Unity Pure Essence. If I could acquire even one of them, I'd be overjoyed for three days straight...’

The other main ingredients of the pill were not recorded. Only the auxiliary ingredients, general refining methods, and descriptions of the pill's refining difficulty were written. There was no description of the pill's effects either. However, Li Ximing was an alchemist after all, and upon reading it, he already had an understanding:

“It's a Yin Water Spirit Pill that extracts and gathers essence,” he murmured. “Not exactly a righteous path...”

He pondered for a moment. Then asked:

“I must also ask, True Monarch,” he inquired, “are there any spiritual artifacts like Jueyin or Xiqi among the main ingredients?”

“Naturally, there are none!” Tinglan replied immediately.

Tinglan heard that he didn't immediately refuse, sensing a possibility. Her attitude improved considerably, and she smiled:

“I had already thought of that!” she exclaimed. “It's precisely because of the Yin Water, which conflicts with Hengzhu, that Fellow Daoist Hengxing dared not refine this pill for me. If there were anything like Jueyin in it... I wouldn't dare ask Fellow Daoist to intervene either.”

Li Ximing now understood why she didn't seek out True Monarch Hengxing. After pondering for a while, he thought to himself:

‘The difficulty of this pill is unprecedented,’ he mused. ‘Fortunately, the challenge lies in refinement; at worst, fewer pills will be formed, and it will take more time. It's not an insurmountable divine ability challenge, so it's not impossible to refine.’

He thought for a moment. Then confirmed:

“Do you possess Boundless Water-Fire, Fellow Daoist?”

Tinglan nodded and ordered someone to bring a large stone box from down the mountain. She opened it with her divine ability. From it, she took out a clay pot, no larger than a palm, with a smooth surface adorned with many golden-white patterns.

As soon as the pot was taken out and placed calmly on the table, it appeared unremarkable to the naked eye. However, within Li Ximing's spiritual sense, it was as if thunder had erupted. He perceived water and fire interwoven on the pot, and spiritual energy seemed to flee from it as if from a calamity. In the Void, a peak abruptly materialized.

Tinglan said with some hope:

“I do possess this Purple Mansion spiritual artifact,” she said. “However, Boundless Water-Fire repels spiritual energy, and manipulating it with divine abilities is extremely taxing on one's spirit. Does Fellow Daoist have confidence? If this fire is to be used for alchemy, perhaps some pills for clear spiritual consciousness should be prepared.”

But Li Ximing paid no mind to Boundless Water-Fire. With a sweep of his spiritual sense, the Talismanic Qi indeed reacted. As long as it was fire, it could not escape the control of his Talismanic Qi's Valley Wind Fire Incantation. Li Ximing never used spiritual consciousness to control fire, let alone experienced any consumption; otherwise, how could he alone have supported the Li family's pill consumption while also cultivating back then? He simply said:

“As long as the main ingredient is not a cultivator, and it doesn't involve anything that violates my family's teachings, I can refine it,” he stated. “However, my skill is not perfect, so I fear I cannot produce more than three pills.”

“Good!” she exclaimed.

The True Monarch in the autumn-fragrance yellow gown was slightly surprised by his confidence. She speculated inwardly:

‘Mingyang accompanied by Lihuo possesses fire control abilities, yet is not fire itself,’ she mused. ‘Perhaps this gives him an unusual degree of control over Boundless Water-Fire...’

Thus, she gained a bit more confidence in the person before her. True Monarch Tinglan smiled and nodded, then spoke seriously:

“As long as Fellow Daoist can refine the pill for me, and your esteemed family possesses a suitable spiritual artifact,” she declared, “then the array formation for Moon-Gazing Lake will be my responsibility... If... Fellow Daoist intends to relocate the array... that can also be entrusted to me. However, the value would differ, and I would compensate Fellow Daoist with something else.”

Li Ximing possessed a complete Purple Mansion spiritual artifact for pill refinement, but he had no intention of revealing it for now. He first let out a sigh of relief, then raised an eyebrow and said:

“I do have a question,” he said. “True Monarch Chuting of the Lixia Xiao family far surpasses me in alchemy. Why did Fellow Daoist not seek him out? Perhaps you could obtain many more spirit pills and avoid wasting such a precious portion of Heavenly Unity Pure Essence.”

It was important to know that Li Ximing had heard of Heavenly Unity Pure Essence since his Qi Condensation stage. This was a Purple Mansion-level spiritual water that could cleanse immortal foundations and revive the dead, also known as Primal Water. Its preciousness was only slightly less than spiritual artifacts of the Grand Yin Lunar Essence level.

Many spiritual artifacts could save lives at critical moments, but few could truly revive the dead. Moreover, its ability to cleanse immortal foundations could essentially allow an unremarkable cultivator to leap over the dragon gate, making their immortal foundation comparable to that of a direct descendant of the Purple Mansion realm.

Once this pill was refined, the Boundless Water-Fire, used for harmonization, would remain, but the Heavenly Unity Pure Essence would be gone. If it were Li Ximing, he would be heartbroken...

At his question, True Monarch Tinglan shook her head and said:

“I did consider that senior,” she replied. “But I couldn't meet him even if I went, and even if I did, I wouldn't dare to trust him. Even if I gritted my teeth and trusted him, the cost of refining the pill would be astronomically high... That elder is as profound as an abyss, not as approachable as Zhaojing.”

Li Ximing nodded. He still found what she said rather odd.

‘So, it turns out I'm just a readily available substitute,’ he thought, ‘and since I'm asking for a favor, I'm easier to deal with...’

True Monarch Tinglan secretly glanced at him, chuckling twice. She then said:

“Fellow Daoist, please don't overthink this,” she said. “My Purple Mist Sect needs quite a few pills to be refined, and several of my friends also struggle with this. If this matter succeeds, there will be many more pills to refine, and our two families will greatly benefit in the future.”

After Tinglan finished outlining her proposals, Li Ximing gave a series of 'yes, yes, yes' and 'very good' replies. Tinglan pushed the jade slip towards him and said:

“I will give this jade slip to Fellow Daoist first,” she said. “It contains some records and insights on alchemy from my ancestors, which might serve as a reference for Fellow Daoist.”

Li Ximing was indeed quite tempted by the Purple Mansion insights within the jade slip. However, he did not move. He finally understood where the faint sense of oddity came from in his heart:

‘So, Tinglan met me purely for alchemy,’ he realized, ‘and it probably has nothing to do with Shanji Commandery... Kong Guxi, oh Kong Guxi... you're willing to give Shanji Commandery, but she might not even value it! You'll likely have to beg her to accept it!’