The birthday ceremony is the proper ritual of the Mysterious Moon Sect. Apart from the priests conducting the ceremony and the disciple devotees, only the most devout believers are qualified to participate.
Of course, as an outer disciple of the Rifting Earth Sect, Yu Ci could secure an observer’s seat—provided he wasn’t averse to trouble.
Yu Ci had no intention of inviting trouble or joining the commotion. He didn’t even step into the main hall; instead, he went to stand before the “Xuan Yin Tradition Stele,” arranged in a neat row on either side, to admire the legend inscribed there about the Immortal Xuan Yin’s enlightenment.
Biographies of immortals under heaven are mostly much the same, and the Xuan Yin legend was no exception. With its enigmatic story laced with moral preaching and the occasional flowery phrase meant to cultivate an immortal aura, it wasn’t particularly remarkable.
However, on the second stele on the west side there was a string of words that caught the attention of those with a keen eye. Essentially, it recounted how the Immortal Xuan Yin, before attaining enlightenment, encountered the “Rakshasa King,” engaged in a discourse with him, discovered some ultimate truth, and then suddenly became enlightened.
What caught Yu Ci’s attention were those two characters: “Rakshasa King.”
In fact, it probably referred to the Rakshasa Demon King.
Before coming to Cliff City, Yu Ci had done his homework and had a good grasp of the various factions within the city. Among them, the Mysterious Moon Sect and the Pure Water Altar were of particular interest. In his view, the Pure Water Altar’s means of concealing its true nature were remarkably effective—the intelligence from the Rifting Earth Sect hadn’t uncovered any deep background, treating it as just an ordinary sect. But the Mysterious Moon Sect made no secret of the power backing them.
The East Sea Rakshasa Sect, one of the ruling powers of the Blood Demon Restricted Realm, was founded by an astral projection of the Rakshasa Demon King. And that Rakshasa Demon King was one of the two chief culprits who, during the fierce battle in the Sky Rift Valley, disrupted the valley’s ecosystem and unleashed rampant demons.
Although there was no evidence that the Rakshasa Demon King had acted intentionally at that time, the calamity was already upon them, and naturally, the Rakshasa Demon King ended up with a grudge against the Rifting Earth Sect.
Actually, calling it a grudge might not be entirely accurate. The Rifting Earth Sect still held some apprehension toward this otherworldly ruler, and the Rakshasa Demon King was notoriously indolent—constantly in search of excitement, quick to abandon the old for the new, playful and forgetful, at least on the surface. If the Rifting Earth Sect were to launch a grand campaign to demand retribution, cutting a swath all the way to the deepest parts of the Blood Demon Restricted Realm, and if the two sides clashed fiercely until one perished, that fellow might inexplicably end up asking, “What exactly have you come here for?”
Just the thought of that scene was terrifying…
That was how Li You had vividly described the Rakshasa Sect in the past—and it was the common consensus among those in the cultivation world regarding the temperament of the Rakshasa Demon King.
What a strange fellow indeed. With such a temperament, how on earth did she manage to build up such a vast empire in both the cultivation world and the Blood Demon Restricted Realm? And how did she come by such a fearsome reputation?
Anyway, there was no doubt that the power behind the Mysterious Moon Sect was the Rakshasa Sect. Moreover, due to the incident in the Sky Rift Valley, further communication between the two sides was nearly impossible—which is why, even after establishing itself here for ten years, the Mysterious Moon Sect could only develop its following among ordinary people.
As Yu Ci carefully scrutinized the stele for any references to the Rakshasa Demon King, he completely forgot that his own striking attire was drawing frequent glances from others—and it wasn’t long before it caught someone’s attention. Finally, just as he turned around to take another look at the inscription, someone called out to him.
“Fellow daoist, please come along.”
Yu Ci turned around to see that the caller was a middle-aged woman, no longer young but with a kindly face. Her speckled white hair was simply tied up and draped over her head, and she wore a loose robe—the typical attire of a transmission immortal teacher from the Mysterious Moon Sect. Recognizing her, Yu Ci said, “So it’s Master Ming Lan.”
The visitor was none other than Master Ming Lan, the chief transmission immortal teacher of the Mysterious Moon Sect. Though the two had never met before, Master Ming Lan’s gaze swept over Yu Ci’s face and then glanced at the birdcage he was carrying. Concluding that he was a stranger, she couldn’t help but ask in puzzlement, “Fellow daoist, have we met before?”
Of course, Yu Ci wouldn’t say, “I’ve seen you many times in the Divine Map,” so he just smiled slightly and replied, “I have long heard of Master Ming’s reputation; it’s a pleasure to meet you today.”
Not giving Master Ming any room for further speculation, he introduced himself, “Rifting Earth Sect, Yu Ci.”
At that moment, Master Ming Lan was a bit surprised, but her smile quickly returned as she said, “So you are fellow daoist Yu. Just the other day, news came from your sect saying that you would handle matters in Cliff City—I didn’t expect you to arrive today.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Big matters are handled by Master Xie anyway; I’m merely assisting.”
Yu Ci knew that it was Yu Zhou who had earlier helped prop him up, and under such circumstances, groups like the likes of Sun Light Sect wouldn’t dare to feign ignorance to his face. Nonetheless, his words remained impeccably careful. After a brief, understated remark, he smoothly shifted the conversation to the birthday ceremony of the Immortal Xuan Yin, complimented the event, and then changed the subject again:
“Your sect has taken root here for ten years, and its affairs are flourishing. What do you think of this Cliff City?”
Master Ming Lan’s gaze fixed on his face, as if trying to uncover his thoughts. In the end, she smiled again and said, “Under your sect’s governance, things are very peaceful and comfortable. But compared to the vast expanse of the cultivation world, perhaps for daoists like you, it might feel a bit cramped. As for others, they might have a completely different perspective…”
Her answer was indeed smooth-talking—though one couldn’t help but wonder who she meant by “others.”
Yu Ci also smiled, “Indeed, everyone is different. Come to think of it, I have met your cult’s master once before, but I wonder what master Chi Yin thinks about it?”
“I suppose the master would be happy to discuss this matter with you, fellow daoist. Why don’t you wait until the ceremony is over, and then speak with the master in detail?”
“‘I’m happy to discuss it, but there’s plenty of time ahead—no need to rush.’
With Yu Ci’s current status, he could be regarded as the representative of the Rifting Earth Sect, so having Immortal Chi Yin come out to greet him wasn’t a big deal. However, his decision to enter the Mystery Seeking Palace was merely spur-of-the-moment, driven more by a desire to probe.
Judging from the intelligence provided by the Rifting Earth Sect and his observations in the Sky Rift Valley, it seemed that the Thousand Spirit Gate, the Mysterious Moon Sect, and the Pure Water Altar had reached some tacit understanding against the Sun Light Sect—at least on the level of Cliff City.
This was an area he could work with, so he didn’t hesitate to show a little of his intent.
As for Immortal Chi Yin, he would have to deal with her sooner or later, so there was really no need to rush.
After Ming Lan nodded, Yu Ci took his leave.
Watching his figure depart through the palace gate, Ming Lan stood for a moment before heading toward the central courtyard. The closer she got, the clearer the sound of sutra chanting became; the swirling vital energy felt almost tangible, like layers of tide rolling in. As she walked among them, feeling the devotees’ sincere hearts, Ming Lan closed her eyes and silently recited the scriptures in response.
In this realm, aside from the Buddha and the Dao Lord—nearly abstract symbols—the other four Divine Lords possess immortal bodies and wield boundless divine power. Although the realm is vast, as long as the devotees’ intentions are sincere, the Divine Lords can resonate with them; if they so wish, they may even be taken as patrons to channel divine will. The span of billions of miles can be bridged in an instant. From this perspective, the Divine Lords are all-knowing and all-powerful.
After more than a hundred years of cultivation, Ming Lan had continually bathed in both grace and might, her devotion to the Divine Lords utterly flawless. Because of this, she could afford to forgo further opportunities for refinement—letting her youth fade while still harboring a deep inner joy.
At that moment, seeing the pure-hearted devotion of the assembly’s devotees filled her with delight. However, as she stepped into the central courtyard and saw the figures leading the chanting at the assembly altar, her brows furrowed. Not lingering any longer, she bypassed the crowd of chanting and prostrating devotees and made her way deeper into the palace.
After passing through two courtyard sections—where the chanting had gradually been muffled by high walls and bamboo groves and where few people trod—the atmosphere grew increasingly serene. Well acquainted with the layout, Ming Lan navigated the winding corridors a few times until she spotted two female attendants standing silently at the doorway.
Upon seeing her approach, the two bowed in greeting. With a smile still on her round face, Ming Lan asked, “Is the Master inside?”
“The Master is taking a short rest in the inner room,” they replied.
Knowing well Ming Lan’s status within the sect, the two stepped aside quietly to open the door, and she stepped in.
Inside, the room was divided into two sections by a beaded curtain. Through the curtain, one could see the drifting smoke from a half-body-high hill censer. (G: The hill censer 博山爐 is a type of Chinese censer used for burning incense.)
A gentle, warming fragrance filled the space; the moment one entered, a comforting warmth spread over the body, as if even the innermost organs were suffused with its soothing aroma—a truly delightful sensation.
In the outer room, a delicate maid in a green gown with twin buns was still on duty. Spotting Ming Lan, she greeted her in surprise before whispering, “The Master has just performed the ‘Deity Worship Ritual’ in the inner room and has gone to sleep.”
Ming Lan nodded slightly without a word, lifted the beaded curtain, and entered the inner room.
There, from the incense burner with its crane-like spout, wisps of smoke curled upward. About a zhang ahead stood a multi-tiered step-bed, intricately crafted from aloeswood by skilled artisans from the East Sea, adorned with gilded carvings on the outside and featuring a series of small corridor chambers within. At its center lay the bed itself, attended by several maidservants—some squatting, others standing—adding to the richly splendid scene.
Behind layers of delicate gauze curtains, the slender figure reclining on the bed appeared only in vague outlines. By its side, another maid massaged the Master’s legs and feet to ease any fatigue.
Taking in the scene, Ming Lan spoke softly, “Master, are you well?”
After a moment of silence, a voice with a metallic resonance emerged from behind the curtain: “Ah, it is Master Ming; please, have a seat.”
As soon as the words faded, the maid in green from the outer room brought over an embroidered cushion and placed it before the bed.
Ming Lan thanked her and sat down, now only about a zhang away from Immortal Chi Yin behind the curtain.
Without waiting for further words from Immortal Chi Yin, Ming Lan continued, “Just now, a disciple of the new branch of the Rifting Earth Sect came by…”
After recounting her conversation with Yu Ci, she added, “This Yu Ci, though young, is truly extraordinary. Earlier, in the Sky Rift Valley, he got into a feud with the Sun Light Sect that drew Tu Du to personally pursue and try to kill him—yet he managed to escape. In turn, Tu Du was lured into a demon-infested area and returned gravely injured. The man is remarkably resourceful and shrewd. Now he has suddenly become an external disciple and has come to take charge of matters in Cliff City. I suppose he intends to make a significant move…”
“Overseeing matters in Cliff City is Old daoist Yu Zhou, and the one handling affairs nearby is that odd fellow Xie Yan. What use is an external disciple like him?”
After hearing Immortal Chi Yin’s response, Ming Lan furrowed her brows slightly. Before she could say more, a cold tone emerged from behind the curtain.
“With the visit of that girl Murong, the chaos has been pacified, and the two Divine Lords have reached a tacit understanding. The matter of the Sky Rift Valley is now settled. When the ten-year term expires, I will return to the East Sea to continue my cultivation. As for the trivial matters here, pass them on to my successor—do not trouble me again!”
Ming Lan fell silent for a moment before asking, “And what about the matter we agreed upon earlier?”
“That matter?” came the reply.
In an instant, Immortal Chi Yin seemed to forget her earlier impatience; a light, laughing tone came from behind the curtain:
“Of course, I will settle it. After years of being cared for, before I return to the East Sea, I’ll ensure he ends up utterly ruined—consider it my token of gratitude.”
Enjoy reading Ask the Mirror? Then please show your support if you can.This chapter was released on goblinslate by translator Goblin. Your support makes Goblin translate more. So, do the right thing please.
Want to read more? Become a Ask the Mirror ($5 per month) member at Goblinslate Patreon and get Five or More Advance Chapters immediately, then stay 5 or more chapters ahead of the regular release for the month! Or, become a CN WN Bundle ($10 per month) member and have access to all the CN webnovel advance chapters on Goblinslate. Get more chapters by sponsoring chapters at BuymeaCoffee.
Check out my other projects: