Chapter 742: Light Purple Shade Under the Trees
After leaving the Dusk Mountain Range, Lolan Hill did not return directly to the Xiangyu Sect but first went to the Dusk Continent.
Compared to the Dusk Mountain Range, the scenery here seemed even more special.
As Lolan Hill flew over the undulating Dusk Mountain Range, rugged peaks stood tall on the ground. These mountains were not the soft undulations one might expect, but rather like pillars of stone piercing the earth.
Unlike the barren Dusk Mountain Range of the past, here the trees were lush. Below each peak, layers of light purple trees stretched out, creating a beautiful scene.
In the Dusk Continent, a special kind of tree was widespread. Its leaves were small and round, appearing lavender purple, much like lavender. In the summer breeze, they emitted a unique faint fragrance. Walking through the dappled shade of these purple trees brought a sense of comfort and lightness.
Under the tall canopies of these light purple trees, wide avenues extended in all directions. Occasionally, bustling towns and markets could be seen hidden beneath the tall tree crowns. People lived in harmony, leading a pastoral life.
Lolan Hill’s shoe tip lightly touched a clear pond, then she leaped gracefully upward into the intertwining branches of tender green and light purple. She then moved through the towering canopy.
Actually, aside from the high-standing peaks, the Dusk Continent should be considered a forest plain, with green and purple foliage covering the land.
The sounds of insects and birds filled her ears, while the wind played through her hair. Scenery after scenery unfolded before her eyes.
There were clear ponds where pebbles could be seen at the bottom, deer grazing in the woods lifting their forked antlers and calling out, small wooden houses in a town beside a large tree emitting wisps of smoke, flocks of birds flying alongside her, red-beaked and blue-winged, with white down on their chests and bellies, curious and chirping.
Accompanied by these innocent and curious birds, Lolan Hill felt as if she had become one of them, wandering through the forest, witnessing this lively scene.
After a joyful flight, Lolan Hill found herself arriving at the campsite of the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace without realizing it.
She landed on a high branch and looked up at the towering peak above.
The rugged peak was covered with shrubs, grass, and purple trees whose roots dug into the crevices of the rock. Their branches swayed in the wind, partially obscuring the large characters on the cliff face.
‘Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace’
Five large characters inscribed in purple, carved into the cliff face. The carved rock was clear and delicate, with a subtle beauty in the deep purple hue.
Lolan Hill continued to look up and finally saw the palace buildings clinging to the steep cliff, resembling suspended walkways. Not only this peak, but several others were similarly adorned, suggesting that these structures together formed the complete Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace.
Below these peaks, the dense purple forests still thrived, revealing several clustered towns. The houses in the forest appeared and disappeared under the shade, exuding a tranquil and comfortable atmosphere.
Lolan Hill sat on a horizontal branch, her two feet wearing light green laced sandals. Her fair calves peeked out from under her skirt, gently swinging in the air as she surveyed the campsite, looking for the main entrance or gate.
Finally, she sighed softly and jumped from the branch, gliding like a white bird toward a small town. Since she couldn’t tell much from afar, it was better to ask someone directly.
On the streets of the town, a few pedestrians walked by. Shops on the sides sold local specialties and daily necessities.
“Excuse me, is anyone here?”
The door of a quiet porcelain shop was gently knocked.
“There is, there is, please come in,” a man who had been napping in a wooden chair woke up, slightly startled at seeing the young lady, but quickly recovered and greeted her warmly.
“Are you here to buy porcelain?” he asked.
“Yes,” Lolan Hill nodded. She liked the beautiful porcelain in this shop and thought it would be nice to take some back to the Western Continent. She also wanted to ask how to get to the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace.
“You’ve come to the right place,” said the man in his thirties, beginning to introduce the items.
The shop was filled with various sizes and types of porcelain, almost everything imaginable, including many purely decorative pieces. What made these porcelains different was the abundance of purple, with nearly eight out of ten being purple. However, the purple designs were not monotonous.
“Look at this one, dyed with rare purple reeds,” he took out a half-meter-high curved vase, its cool glaze a pale purple that seemed to brush over a white background, revealing hints of the original white.
These subtle hints of light white not only did not detract from the beauty but added a natural comfort, making people feel at ease.
Little Lolan nodded, a bit worried about the money, and asked about other vases.
“That one might suit your taste; it’s dyed with chengzi (crimson),” he introduced another type of purple porcelain, which had a hint of light red in its purple. At first glance, it might not seem special, but closer inspection revealed the hidden crimson, giving it a vibrant and intricate appearance, very beautiful.
“This seems pretty good too,” Little Lolan thought her wallet might not hold out.
“Don’t rush, feel free to choose. Our shop is a century-old establishment, and we have the highest quality. Even the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace recognizes us.”
In this era, great sects held high social status, and their endorsement naturally added credibility.
After circling around, Lolan spotted several vases displayed below and curiously asked, “What color is this? It seems quite special.”
“This is called Night Purple, the deepest purple approaching black,” the shopkeeper carefully placed a vase on the table.
The vase was a deep color, almost black, but upon closer inspection, it was a finely detailed deep purple, exuding a dignified elegance.
“Hmm, this seems quite nice too,” Lolan’s eyes showed her appreciation. Though she didn’t pursue fame and wealth, she had her own little interests, such as the depth of color captured in glazed ceramics. In the forest, she often made things she liked.
“This one, this one, and this one,” Lolan decided to buy three sets of each style.
“Alright, please wait a moment,” the shopkeeper happily invited her to sit, then carefully retrieved the porcelains, bringing a wooden box from the back room with compartments for storage.
After placing the porcelains inside, he added a bag of dried flowers to cushion them, then closed and locked the box.
“Where do you want this delivered? I can call a carriage for you,” the shopkeeper realized Lolan wasn’t from around here and inquired about her lodging.
“No need, I’m going to the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace. Just tell me how to get there,” Lolan finally revealed her identity.
Seeing the yellowish token, the shopkeeper was surprised, then nervously wiped his forehead.
“Miss comes from the Xiangyu Sect, no wonder you have such grace. As for payment, give what you think is appropriate. Both the Xiangyu Sect and the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace are one family, and we townsfolk receive much support from the great sects.”
Initially, he thought the girl was naive and planned to ask for a higher price, but now he realized her origins were extraordinary, so he stopped.
“No need to be so formal,” Lolan shook her head slightly. She didn’t want to take advantage, and besides, she truly liked the porcelain.
Such craftsmanship required effort and dedication, and if they didn’t earn enough, the artisans might lose motivation to continue.
Moreover, she didn’t think being an Extraordinary Being meant she deserved special treatment. Compared to hardworking people, perhaps their efforts weren’t any less, and she merely had better talents and conditions.
After asking her questions, Lolan took out three gold plates and handed them to the shopkeeper.
“How can this be? These aren’t anything special, I really can’t accept this amount,” the shopkeeper hesitated.
Even if he sold his goods at a higher price outside, adding them up wouldn’t reach three gold plates, yet the girl offered three.
“It’s nothing, take it. I hope to see such beautiful porcelain again next time,” Lolan smiled, waved, and flew up into the sky under the tree shade with the wooden box.
Watching her distant figure, the shopkeeper stood in front of the empty space for a long time, holding the three gold plates, feeling an odd sensation welling up in his heart.
When did he start using such mercantile language? Perhaps it was after his father passed away, when he had to take over the shop. Unfortunately, his skills didn’t measure up to his father’s.
Later, he had to learn from external experiences, renovate, and hone his sales tactics, but his skills barely improved. There were only a few varieties. Back in his grandfather’s time, there were over a hundred types of porcelain in this workshop.
Although many came to buy over the years, it was mostly just transactions, inevitably involving haggling and compromises. Finally, after much effort, he felt those buyers just wanted to appear cultured, while he had to fabricate stories to embellish.
This time, however, was different. Not only was there no haggling, but the buyer even gave extra. Clearly, she truly loved the porcelain.
A faint sense of pride and satisfaction arose in his heart.
“Ah, I must be losing my mind. Better go tidy up,” he muttered, but his steps unconsciously paused at a dusty cabinet. Opening it, he saw a few old notebooks with familiar scribbles, notes from when he was young, learning from his father.
Had it really been so long since he last looked at them? Maybe he should practice again. Perhaps he’d encounter another generous customer next time.
Fingering the dusty notebook, he sat back on the wooden chair and began reading quietly, no longer napping.
(End of Chapter 742)
