On the Eve of Seclusion

Su Yao turned around and looked at the two of them:

"But now that we are about to go into seclusion to seek the Purple Mansion, this matter can no longer be put aside and needs to be clarified. If he still agrees, we will discuss opening the secret realm with him after we have successfully completed our seclusion; each of us will take what is within. If he refuses, then there is nothing more to say. He will then take my decree and send it to the Dragon Palace of the South Sea."

Upon hearing this, Zilin nodded in agreement.

Yang Xiu asked again:

Do you know what kind of secret realm it is?

Su Yao shook his head. "I haven't been able to verify the specifics of this secret realm. I later inquired with the mountain gods and local deities nearby, and they roughly speculated that it was left behind by the Witch Department that first occupied White Sand Mountain. After the Witch Department was destroyed, the Lu Household received some of its legacy, which allowed them to rise to power. It's likely that the Lu Household has some of the Witch Department's bloodline. However, some mountain gods hold a different view: the Witch Department was not the original owner of this secret realm; they were just outsiders who accidentally discovered this place. One thing is certain, though: the area around Cibi Lake was once the territory of the Witch Department. And the Lake God of Cibi Lake has been a deity here for many years; he has probably already discovered something deep within the water palace."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu nodded:

"I see. Then we should issue a warning. We'll discuss everything after we've obtained the Purple Mansion."

Zilin then laughed:

"The three of us are all missing one Secret Method. Let's wait for the envoy to return, and then go into seclusion to perfect the final Secret Method."

Su Yao and Yang Xiu nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Then Su Yao said:

"Then we shall each return to await the messenger's return."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu and Zilin immediately nodded.

Su Yao gave a few more instructions, and then the three of them went their separate ways.

The wind subsided in the evening.

The lights in Golden Ao Mountain gradually illuminated the night mist.

Su Yao sat alone in his cave abode, the sound of the water from Cibi Lake faintly audible outside. Yang Xiu stood with his hands behind his back by the window of Zhenliu Residence, gazing at a few flickering stars in the sky, the golden bell in his hand occasionally emitting a very soft, crisp sound. Zilin leaned against the railing of Shuyu Xiaozhu, a purple flute held to his lips, a melodious and gentle flute tune spreading through the night mist, it was hard to tell whether it was an old tune or a new one.

The stream was silent, only the bamboo tips swayed slightly.

Before Lu Daoyuan's escape light from Cibi Lake appeared on the horizon, the night breeze in the mountains already carried a hint of dampness.

Springtime deepens in the cave abode, its rocks shrouded in moss; a ten-year-old promise lies buried deep within.

Across the lake, ripples rise as smoke begins to gather; around the steps, springs murmur as night begins to break.

The stars gradually shift beyond the heavens, while the Sword Book remain locked in their sheaths, dusty and unused.

Who will report the news of the immortal source? Let us not trace our way back up the vast waves.

Like fleeting clouds, winter has passed and spring has come; three years have gone by, Su Yao's cave abode on the back mountain of Golden Ao slowly opened.

Su Yao stepped out of the cave abode, looked at the vast world outside, and couldn't help but exhale a breath of stale air.

Then a rainbow light appeared between his eyebrows, rapidly enlarging.

Immediately afterwards, his entire body was enveloped in rosy light, and in a moment the rainbow and rosy light intertwined, transforming into a feather robe that looked like it was made of Rainbow Clouds, Su Yao then wore.

It is precisely the Immortal Foundation "Draped in Rosy Radiance," or perhaps the Immortal Foundation "the Rosy Cloud Feather Wanderer"!

Since the discovery of the Rainbow Clouds Path by the Ancestor Yun Zhongzi, all the True Lord, Immortals, and Heavenly Venerable Venerables of Qixia Temple before attaining enlightenment first cultivated the Draped in Rosy Radiance, and then, during the Foundation Establishment, used Secret Method to elevate the Draped in Rosy Radiance into the Rosy Cloud Feather Wanderer, and finally sought the Purple Mansion Divine Ability.

As for the majority of those Purple Mansion attained the Purple Mansion realm, most of them failed to fully cultivate the Nine Secret Method during the Foundation Establishment. Only after achieving the Purple Mansion did they attain the Divine Ability "Rosy Cloud Feather Wanderer," while during the Foundation Establishment they were merely Draped in Rosy Radiance.

Three years ago, Su Yao decided to break through to the Purple Mansion here. After the envoy retrieved the necessary spiritual items and elixirs from Qixia Mountain, he began to cultivate the final secret Secret Method in seclusion. Now, three years later, the final Secret Method has finally been completed.

In a few days, I will go into seclusion to seek the Purple Mansion.

Then he went to the cave abode where Yang Xiu and Zilin were cultivating their Secret Method, which was not far below. Seeing that the two had not yet come out of seclusion, he headed towards the Embracing Rosy Clouds Hall first.

Upon arriving at the palace, two boys and Lu Yuan were on duty.

The three immediately bowed in respect, Su Yao said:

"No need for formalities. Where are Yunhe and the others now?"

Lu Yuan stood up and replied:

"Most of the instructors are currently in seclusion. Ziyan Yunhe and Siyi are still at White Sand Mountain, while Instructor Yunhe just returned today."

Upon hearing this, Su Yao nodded and said to the Spirit Wood Child beside him:

Go Yunhe.

The boy obeyed and went downwards.

Su Yao then looked at Lu Yuan, observed him for a moment, and said:

"Not bad, after thirteen years of cultivation, you've already reached the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement."

Lu Yuan bowed again and said:

"They can't compare to Senior Brother Ren Han and Junior Brother Zichuan."

Su Yao didn't say much upon hearing this, only saying:

"They each have their own fortuitous opportunity and opportunities, and you have fortuitous opportunity too. There's no need to be overly humble."

Lu Yuan said upon hearing this:

"Disciple understands."

Su Yao nodded, said nothing more, and went into the hall.

After Su Yao was seated, Liu Yunhe hurriedly entered the hall. Seeing that Su Yao's body was still radiant and his demeanor was otherworldly, Liu Yunhe knew that Su Yao had already mastered the nine Secret Method and achieved the perfect Immortal Foundation for immortality.

He immediately bowed, his voice several decibels higher than usual:

"Congratulations on your mastery of the Daoist Secret Method! We eagerly await the day you achieve Divine Ability, ascend the Void Stepping Platform, and take charge of the Qixia Mountain."

Su Yao laughed and scolded upon hearing this:

"You're so smooth-talking. It's too early for you to take charge of the sect. Tell me first, have there been any unusual developments in the past three years?"

Liu Yunhe stopped joking and reported seriously, "Reporting to Daoist, everything is fine in the mountains. After Fellow Daoist Lu returned from Cibi Lake, the Lake God has only sent a team to guard the vicinity of White Sand Town, and has not made any further moves. Xuan Yan, Mo Li, and Ying Qi have also been informed that the three of you are about to go into seclusion. The reincarnation of that True Lord has been missing since entering the cave heaven, but the more than 100,000 miners he left behind have taken root in the Longchuan, cultivating the land themselves, and the imperial court has not sent troops to wipe them out. However..."

Su Yao frowned upon hearing this and asked, "But what?"

Liu Yunhe said in a low voice, "It has been three years since the late emperor passed away. At that time, it was only a little over a month before the civil and military officials in Jiankang City decided on the late emperor's temple name. But now, three years have passed, and the crown prince has not yet issued an edict to announce his ascension to the throne, change the era name, or grant a general amnesty. Moreover, news came half a month ago that the crown prince's carriage is still in Qingzhou and has not yet returned to Jiankang."

Upon hearing this Su Yao looked puzzled, but this was not his place to worry about, so he said:

"There's no need to worry about this; just seal off the mountain gate if necessary."

After chatting for a few more minutes, the group sent Liu Yunhe away.

More than three months passed, Zilin and Yang Xiu still hadn't emerged from seclusion. Su Yao decided not to wait any longer. After giving all the instructions, he began to adjust his state in a newly built quiet room in the back mountain, preparing to seek the Purple Mansion.

He placed the Nine Heavens Auspicious Cloud Banner beside the cave abode as the base of the formation, setting up a separate array to protect the place.

He sat down cross-legged and slowly closed his eyes.

Outside the stone gate, the sound of Cibi Lake remains the same, and the lights in the mountains still shine.

After nine cycles of cultivation, the rosy robes rise.

The sword is hidden away, the wind has ceased and the rain has stopped.

I've heard of the road beyond the clouds to the Jade Capital, where the Milky Way seems to turn and a thousand sails dance.

The earth's veins have changed with the dragon and tiger, and the will of Heaven has not permitted the crossing of the Dipper and the Ox.

The deep caves and ravines are shrouded in mist and ancient moonlight.

When we meet again in the future, after the calamity, and talk of Golden Ao again, the Purple and Green will still flow like a thread.