The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 1190: Settling The Matters Of Purple Smoke Gate (I)

Li Zhouluo walked in front, introducing several cultivation spots on the island to When Wu. When Wu was very courteous, nodding repeatedly as he replied, “I have heard of this place. It was rumoured that this was once a marketplace, and my master cultivated here as well. My master once remarked to me how good this place was, and that several key spots were not inferior to my blessed land.”

Li Quewan listened carefully, but noticed Li Quexi walking so quickly beside her that she almost moved a full step ahead. She was practically following When Wu. Curiosity stirred in her voice as she asked, “Senior brother, how does this place compare to Shepherd Peak?”

When Wu answered cheerfully, offering a vague reply, “Shepherd Peak is the second peak of the blessed land, and its spiritual qi is abundant enough to rank among the best in Jiangnan. But according to my master, when she cultivated in this marketplace, the finest spot here was not inferior to Shepherd Peak.”

Pingya Island was indeed good. Its spiritual energy was rich and balanced everywhere, especially compared to the lakeside. But Li Zhouluo naturally knew it could not compare to Purple Smoke Blessed Land, let alone the immortal Shepherd Peak.

When Wu’s wording was tactful. The island at the heart of the lake had once been able to rival Shepherd Peak, but after the great battle to exterminate the Chen Family remnants and the many years tormented under the forbidden formation, it had long lost much of its former strength.

Li Zhouluo laughed and said, “There is naturally no comparison to be made. A blessed land belongs to the Green Pine Supreme Yang Dao lineage and has a thousand years of heritage. My family cannot compare at all.”

Since Li Zhouluo put it that way, When Wu could only swallow his awkwardness and reply, “Your esteemed family rose from humble beginnings, carrying forward the disposition and aspiration of the elders. My Purple Smoke lineage has long admired you as well.”

The girl in front walked ahead. Since Li Quewan was not the main host, it would be improper for her to walk ahead of the guest, and the tugging on her hand became awkward. She had no choice but to let go and held only her other younger sister Li Queyi by the hand.

When they arrived at Li Quexi’s home, Li Zhouluo and When Wu brought the girl into the courtyard amid cheerful laughter and polite flattery. Li Quewan stayed outside with Queyi, choosing not to enter.

She straightened her sister’s collar and said gently, “Your sister Quexi is still young and does not understand much. She is not yet of the age to wear hairpins. This is the stage when vanity grows easily, so how could we expect her to handle things perfectly? Once she is in the blessed land, there may not be many to guide her. If you get the chance to see her, you should remind her a bit more.”

“Elder Sister…” Although Li Queyi was adorable, she was still older and spoke gently, “I saw the blessed land along the way. Purple Gale Peak does not have it easy. It formed a connection with our family by chance, and the gate likely did not wish to slight our goodwill, so they truly accepted my sister. I am only an extra pretext. Once we enter the gate, our positions will differ, and she may even need to look after me out of sisterly affection. Even though I am a few years older, it would not be my place to lecture her.”

Although Purple Smoke Gate upheld ancient customs and did not divide inner and outer disciples, distinctions in strength existed everywhere, and thus many ranks naturally emerged. Li Quewan understood this in her heart and sighed inwardly, Sister Quexi is still a child. She thinks her innate ability is exceptional and that being chosen by a high-level cultivator is something she earned herself. She does not realize it is due to a Daoist Master’s relationship. If Queyi had been born three to five years later, this would have nothing to do with her at all.

Li Quewan waited for a moment, then lifted her gaze. Having cultivated a perception eye-technique, her vision was excellent, and she spotted Li Xuanxuan and Lingyanzi strolling not far away. They had clearly followed along.

She quickly pulled her sister forward and smiled. “Greetings, elder. Greetings, senior.”

Lingyanzi nodded repeatedly as Li Queyi also addressed her master. Seeing the heavy atmosphere between the two elders, Li Quewan, as the older sister, quickly stepped in to ease the mood, “It is truly my sister’s good fortune to be guided by senior. If she encounters any difficulties in the gate, or if our family has failed to provide sufficient resources, she is young and shy and may not dare to speak. Please write to us, senior.”

Ordinarily, once someone joined an immortal gate, the family would allocate resources with discretion; there was no notion of whether it was enough. But Lingyanzi had to fight for his own Foundation Establishment Realm resources in his youth. The poverty of Purple Gale Peak was obvious. If Li Queyi’s family supplied her resources, she could share more with her senior brothers and sisters, naturally earning greater goodwill.

As for the suggestion to write a letter, it was to save Lingyanzi, as a master, from losing face by asking his disciple for resources. This gave him an easy way forward, he could simply request them from the Li Family.

Understanding this clearly, Lingyanzi nodded slightly and said, “Her senior brothers and sisters are all good people. Queyi will not be mistreated on my peak.”

Li Xuanxuan walked with his hands behind his back, no longer in the same cheerful mood from earlier. Li Zhouluo soon approached and led Lingyanzi and Li Queyi to meet her family elders.

When all arrangements were settled, When Wu prepared to return to the gate with his people. As the two families exchanged reluctant farewells, When Wu strode to Li Xuanxuan’s side and said with a smile, “May elder follow me into the hall for a detailed discussion.”

Li Xuanxuan understood immediately, dismissed those around him, and entered the hall with him. The man spoke politely, “Elder, Daoist Master Zhaojing left a Purple Mansion Realm formation at our gate’s Daoist Master’s residence. She was supposed to come to the lake to set it up after receiving the Daoist Master’s pills. Now that the Daoist Master is away, the matter has been delayed…”

“Purple Mansion Realm formation?!”

Li Xuanxuan froze, his heart pounding. His grandson had not communicated much with the family after becoming a Daoist Master, yet he had secretly left behind a Purple Mansion Realm grand formation.

The elder was thrilled and asked, “What does the Daoist Master intend?!”

When Wu replied softly, “My master consulted the Daoist Master. Since the Daoist Master Zhaojing had not returned and this is a critical moment, she decided to take some time to come to the lake first and set up the formation.”

Li Xuanxuan was now both shocked and overjoyed. He hesitated. “Our Daoist Master has yet to return and cannot give a response. Daoist Master Tinglan shows such great kindness… Moongaze… feels deeply anxious and grateful, hardly knowing what to do!”

Whatever deal Li Ximing and Daoist Master Tinglan had made, whether it included pill refinement or not, no one mentioned it. But it was wholly unexpected for Daoist Master Tinglan to personally come to arrange a formation at the lake.

When Wu answered, “This matter has been on our Daoist Master’s mind for a long time. I followed my master that day to meet her in person. She sighed repeatedly, saying that Changxiao’s actions were unexpected. She spoke of miscalculating and her failure to help him. Setting up this formation first is her way of making amends.

“Our Purple Smoke Blessed Land follows the righteous Dao, unlike those migrants from the outer-sea. Elder need not worry.”

Seeing the elder nod, When Wu added, “There is only one matter to clarify for you. Our Daoist Master is busy with urgent business, so it will take about a year. When this period passes, the Capital Immortal Dao will withdraw.”

As soon as When Wu conveyed the message, Li Xuanxuan had a clear grasp of the situation. The man continued, “Since the two young ladies have entered the blessed land, the gate rules must be respected. They are women, but this does not hinder the continuation of an immortal family’s lineage. However, their marriages are to be decided by them and by the blessed land. They are now members of our Purple Smoke Gate, and we cannot allow them to be pledged away in political marriages.”

“This is only natural.” Li Xuanxuan lowered his voice, the tone slightly hoarse, and said, “Such practices have mostly fallen out of favour on the lake since my younger sister’s precedent. Unless both parties are truly willing, I have blocked many such intentions. When Qinghong and Minggong later succeeded in their cultivation, there were elders as examples, and the family no longer imposed restrictions based on gender. It is only that the Veiled Yin is faint, and few girls are born with a natural affinity for cultivation, so it appears as though men are more numerous.”

Li Xuanxuan understood that Purple Smoke Gate was dominated by female cultivators, so he was more cautious with his words. After his careful explanation, When Wu nodded lightly, clearly well-informed, and continued, “Although the blessed land follows ancient customs, most things must be fought for by one’s own effort. The young lady will inevitably suffer some grievances. Please forgive us for that.”

He was referring to none other than Li Queyi. When Wu alone waited on the spirit boat as the group left. He was utterly silent, without the slightest impatience. Li Queyi stood beside Lingyanzi, who was familiar with the Li Family, and so his position was more towards the front than on the way here. Li Quexi, however, stood at the front of the boat, eyes reddened, drawing the attention of all and appearing radiant.