Liang Yi followed Yan Ruijiang into the fortified platform.
The interior of the platform was simply arranged, with only a few basic arrays and restrictions. Yet one had to pass through a long stone corridor to enter its heart. Clearly, this was meant to guard against external enemies and facilitate defense. At the same time, if those inside became trapped, it would also be difficult for them to break out.
The two continued into the belly of the platform, where a great hall three zhang high stood. Luminous pearls were set into the ceiling, casting a gentle radiance no different from the daylight outside. In the center stood a slightly raised octagonal platform of gold-bronze and earthly fire, two zhang long and wide, which could both provide warmth and refine pills or sacrificial vessels.
Liang Yi saw two middle-aged Daoists seated in the inner chamber. Neither was a Profound Cultivator, but both were True Cultivators, dressed in the fashion of ancient cultivators.
He did not find this strange. Yan Ruijiang had once been a True Cultivator himself and had never held any sectarian prejudice. It was only natural that he had a few fellow True Cultivators.
Yet when the two True Cultivators saw him arrive, they each rose and said, "Fellow Daoist Yan, we have matters to attend to today. Since Daoist Yan has another guest, we shall take our leave first."
Yan Ruijiang did not try to keep them. He apologized to Liang Yi, saw the two men out, and then returned to personally serve Liang Yi tea.
Liang Yi said, "Why are you doing this yourself, fellow Daoist? Are there not even any disciples here to attend to such things?"
Yan Ruijiang smiled. "I cultivate the Chaos Dao. Who knows when Great Chaos may claim me? Why drag