Chapter 73: Leaning Against the Tree, Drinking Wine, Admiring the Purple Blossoms

The bright moon hung like a mirror in the sky, while cascades of violet blossoms tumbled down like waterfalls. Su Fan couldn’t help but smile as he strolled into the rear garden. The violet-flowered trees grew close together, their blooms lush and abundant. Moonlight spilled down, casting inky shadows across the ground that resembled a serene landscape painting—every stroke and line exuding a refreshing elegance, otherworldly and refined.

Su Fan ambled along the flagstones between the violet trees, drawing in the heady fragrance of the blossoms with each deep breath. He murmured softly, “If Ruoyu were here, she’d surely love this place.” With a sigh, he found a spot upon the stone steps and sat down, perhaps thinking of that graceful figure’s peril, or perhaps lamenting that the affections of yesterday, once so full, had scattered and faded under the caprice of fate.

With a helpless smile, Su Fan drew a wine jug from his storage pouch. He preferred swallowing his liquor down in great gulps, disdaining the cultured sipping of the refined. Such elegance was not his way. Mouthful after mouthful of fiery spirits burned down his throat, the heat spreading through his body as he leaned against a towering violet tree. Who knew how many years this tree had stood here, so thick that it would take five men to encircle it. How many seasons had its blooms graced the air? Had anyone before him ever leaned here, drinking deeply and admiring the violet flowers?

A gentle breeze brushed his cheek, and a single violet petal fluttered down. Su Fan raised his finger, letting the petal land lightly upon it before placing it upon the ground. “Qianzi Celestial Phenomenon,” the phrase flashed through his mind. Recalling the two mystical arts the elder in violet had displayed, Su Fan’s heart stirred. He formed a spell gesture with his hand, and instantly the surrounding blooms seemed to shudder, filling the air with a rustling sound.

Yet no violet mist appeared, nor any purple light. With a sigh, Su Fan muttered, “How could such a wondrous technique be within my grasp? Perhaps I was too hopeful.” His hand stilled, and suddenly the sky was filled with petals, descending like a rain of violet. Su Fan’s gaze sharpened as he shouted, “Why shouldn’t I be able to learn such a miraculous art?”

With that cry, he leaped to his feet, swiftly weaving spell gestures. The violet petals swirled toward him, gathering into his hands, and with a sweep of his fingers, they wove around him like a violet ribbon. With a low shout, the petals froze in midair, unmoving—suspended like a purple mist, pierced here and there by moonbeams casting lavender shafts of light.

Returning to the tree, Su Fan sat once more and sighed, “It’s still not enough. Why?” As he settled, the petals lost their cohesion and drifted gently to earth, some landing on his shoulders and hands. He brushed them aside and continued to drink.

When the first rays of purple dawn pierced the sky, the clouds blushed with color. Su Fan gazed at the carpet of fallen petals, each still beaded with dew. An ant, trapped beneath a droplet, struggled for its life. After a long battle, one of its legs broke, yet it fought on. As the droplet shrank, the ant finally wriggled free, limping toward its colony.

Suddenly, a divine sense touched Su Fan’s mind. He rose at once and strode out of the garden. It was the summons of the elder in violet, instructing him to wait at the front courtyard.

In the front courtyard stood a cultivator in red. With a glance, Su Fan guessed he was a disciple of the Red Sect. Su Fan offered a respectful salute and stood to the side, his gaze distant, unwilling to converse with one of such obvious arrogance.

The young man in red swept his eyes over Su Fan with contempt and said coldly, “By seniority, I am considered your elder brother. Is this how the Violet Sect treats its guests?”

Su Fan smiled inwardly. The Red Sect’s disciples were many, but most were impatient and rash—fatal flaws for those on the path of cultivation. Such a temperament would surely hinder their prospects.

He once more offered a salute and said with a smile, “I am Su Fan. May I ask your name, Senior Brother?”

The young man ignored him, replying instead, “It seems the rumors among the disciples about you are false. With your aptitude, how could you possibly have achieved any of those feats?”

Still smiling, Su Fan repeated, “Senior Brother, I am asking your name.”

The youth spun around, glaring into Su Fan’s razor-sharp eyes. Their gazes met—Su Fan still smiling, while a flicker of fear passed through the other’s expression. “Su Fan, what do you want?” the red-robed youth stammered.

Su Fan dropped his smile. “Our Violet Sect is poor, and we have not prepared a feast to welcome you. If this is an offense, I ask your forgiveness.”

The young man’s cultivation was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, not enough to trouble Su Fan. Were it not for his Red Sect status, Su Fan wouldn’t have bothered with even a greeting.

Unable to retort, the youth stood stiffly, though the look of disdain never left his eyes.

Moments later, the elder in violet approached. Su Fan hurried to greet him. The elder smiled and asked, “Well, how are the flowers in the rear garden?”

Su Fan hesitated before replying, “They bloom beautifully, but…”

The elder waved off his words with a smile, “You do not yet understand the violet flowers. That’s all right. Tomorrow is the Grand Tournament of the Seven Sects. Today, you and I will go together to Scarlet Fir Peak.”

Su Fan nodded, “The Grand Tournament draws so many geniuses. I fear I will disappoint you.”

The man in red, seeing himself ignored, hastened to interject, “I hear the champion of this tournament will gain entry to the Seven-colored Hall today.”

Su Fan had heard of the Seven-colored Hall—he’d learned of it from Steward Zhao. It was said to increase one’s chances of forming a nascent soul. Such a reward was tempting indeed.

The youth continued, paying the elder no heed, “In terms of cultivation among the younger generation, none surpasses the head disciple of the Red Sect, Hong Yuan, first disciple of the sect master of Tianyuan Gate. He is certain to win first place.”

The elder in violet was unfazed by the youth’s arrogance. He shook his head, “I’ve heard that Qin Yu of the Green Sect loves the sword above all and is deeply favored by the Green-robed Elder. Just the other day, he broke through the seventh level of the Green Sect’s Nine-story Trial Tower—he’s not inferior to Hong Yuan.”

The Green Sect’s Nine-story Trial Tower was a testament to a disciple’s strength. The Green Sect trained mostly sword cultivators, whose actual combat prowess was often formidable regardless of their cultivation rank. Only one disciple in their history had ever reached the eighth floor and had since become an inner elder, now wandering the world.

The red-robed youth, realizing his words were out of line, bowed his head and muttered, “You are right, Elder. Qin Yu is indeed a genius, likely to achieve excellent results.” Though he reluctantly admitted Qin Yu’s brilliance, he refused to waver in his reverence for Hong Yuan. Su Fan smiled secretly at this stubbornness.

The elder in violet cast a glance at the youth. “If we speak of geniuses, look to Xiao Lin of the Blue Sect. He has not been a disciple of Tianyuan Gate for long, nor has he trained long, yet his cultivation already rivals Hong Yuan’s—perhaps even surpassing it. That is true genius.”

The youth’s face soured. Hong Yuan was the undisputed prodigy of Tianyuan Gate, a legend in his eyes, yet here the elder dismissed him in favor of another. He could not help but feel disappointed.

Casting a cold look at Su Fan, the red-robed youth sneered, “But what of Su Fan, renowned for his supposed prowess, yet with such mediocre aptitude?”

The elder in violet smiled faintly, “He has already glimpsed some of the mysteries of the Qianzi Celestial Phenomenon. What do you think? How far have you reached in your Red Mist Nine Transformations?”

The youth could not hide his embarrassment and shock. The Qianzi Celestial Phenomenon was a legendary art—over centuries, only the elder in violet had ever mastered it. He doubted Su Fan could truly grasp its secrets. As for the Red Mist Nine Transformations, it was the core technique of the Red Sect, famed alongside the Qianzi Celestial Phenomenon, though its true power was uncertain by comparison.

The Red Mist Nine Transformations had nine levels. The first three were simple introductions—most inner disciples could master them. Beyond the third, progress became difficult; some never broke through in their entire lives. Hong Yuan had reached the sixth transformation, an achievement that placed him among the elite of Tianyuan Gate.

The youth lowered his head and muttered, “I… I have reached the third transformation.”

The elder snorted. “Your mind is unsteady, your pride excessive. If you wish to break through in this life, you must mend these flaws.”

The youth’s face blanched, then flushed red in humiliation. Su Fan was taken aback; the elder in violet was usually kind to younger disciples. Why speak so harshly?

The youth murmured, “You are right, Elder.”

The elder merely brushed his sleeve, stepping skyward and flying off. Su Fan quickly followed, paying the youth no further mind. The red-robed youth stood in silence for a long time before flying off toward the Red Sect’s quarters.

Su Fan looked curiously at the elder. “Why did you deal him such a blow?”

The elder smiled, “I was helping him.”

Su Fan shook his head. “You rebuked him so harshly, yet claim it was for his own good?”

The elder glared at him, “Had I not spoken so, he would never break past his current limits.”

Su Fan fell silent, channeling all his power into flight to keep pace with the elder. After a while, he said, “Those flowers truly aren’t anything special.”

The elder was silent for a moment. “That’s because you have not yet understood. When you do, you’ll find them most fascinating.”

Su Fan replied, “But I haven’t yet grasped the mysteries of the Qianzi Celestial Phenomenon.”

With a wave, the elder drew Su Fan along even faster. “You will, in time.”