"Earth Immortal?" Ye Tian asked.
He then asked Han Ningshuang, "Did Old Han set up any formations here?"
Han Ningshuang shook her head. "Grandpa was very secretive when building this place. The workers could only work at night, and none of us were allowed on the mountain. So, I don't know what Grandpa did here back then."
Then she asked, "Ye Tian, have you discovered something?"
Ye Tian nodded. "There are hidden mysteries on this mountain. Old Han is no simple man!"
Han Ningshuang asked, "How is it full of hidden mysteries?"
Ye Tian smiled. "You'll know when we go up."
The two continued to ascend. As they reached the mountainside, thick white mist suddenly rose around them, carrying a faint sweet fragrance.
Ye Tian's heart stirred. He observed his surroundings and said, "This seems to be a Mist Formation."
Han Ningshuang's eyes widened. "Mist Formation? My grandfather built it?"
Ye Tian nodded. "Most likely. Although the Mist Formation isn't a very advanced formation, it requires at least Human Immortal cultivation to build."
Han Ningshuang exclaimed, "Is my grandfather a Human Immortal? That can't be right. If he were a Human Immortal, he wouldn't have passed away."
Ye Tian said, "That is indeed strange."
After observing for a moment, he took Han Ningshuang's hand and led her three steps to the left, then four steps back. They continued this pattern of moving forward, backward, and sideways. After walking for over a hundred steps, the surroundings suddenly opened up. The mist vanished, revealing a large mansion.
The mansion was built on the mountaintop, covering several acres and utilizing the natural terrain. A living spring gushed from a large rock, flowing through the courtyard and forming a small stream that meandered down.
Ye Tian scooped up a handful of spring water and felt a distinct spiritual energy within it. He drank the water and felt the spiritual energy was quite pure.
They arrived at the mansion gate, which was closed. Han Ningshuang went to push it open, but Ye Tian stopped her.
"What's wrong?" she asked, puzzled by his action.
Ye Tian replied, "This gate has its ways. You must knock first."
Saying that, he held the bronze ring on the left and gently knocked twice. Immediately, the large gate slowly swung open.
Han Ningshuang covered her mouth. "Ye Tian, what would have happened if I had pushed the door directly?"
Ye Tian said, "If you had forced the door open, everything in this courtyard would have been arranged differently."
Stepping over the threshold, Ye Tian noticed several old trees growing behind the door, with some mushrooms growing beneath them. Strangely, even though the place had been uninhabited for a long time, there were no weeds.
Entering the living room, Ye Tian found an envelope on a wooden table. It was addressed in small, elegant script: "To my granddaughter Ningshuang, for your eyes only."
Upon seeing the handwriting, Han Ningshuang's tears immediately welled up. She softly said, "This is my grandfather's letter!"
Ye Tian said, "It seems Old Han had made arrangements long ago. Ningshuang, you should read it."
Han Ningshuang opened the envelope. Inside, there were over a thousand characters. The letter stated that his lifespan was nearing its end. Despite his efforts to change his fate, he had ultimately failed. He hoped that Han Ningshuang and her brother would live good lives. The last sentence asked Han Ningshuang if there was a noble person by her side. If so, she should give the second letter in the envelope to him.
Han Ningshuang quickly opened the envelope and found a thin letter inside. She took out the letter and handed it to Ye Tian, saying, "This is the letter my grandfather left for you."
Ye Tian was surprised. He took the letter and carefully opened it. It read: "Young friend, thank you for taking care of the Han family and my granddaughter Ningshuang. This place is a spiritual脉 I discovered when I was thirty. I attained enlightenment and cultivated here, barely reaching the Earth Immortal realm. Unfortunately, I lacked guidance, and my cultivation went awry. I used formations to suppress the spiritual脉, but spiritual energy still leaked out. By the time you read this letter, I will surely be no more. I bequeath Jiuhua Mountain Villa to you as a token of my gratitude for your future care of the Han family. The specific arrangements for the formations here are in the study. Additionally, the study contains some cultivation classics I treasured, which I hope will be useful to you."
After reading the letter, Ye Tian sighed softly. "Your grandfather was indeed an Earth Immortal."
Han Ningshuang could hardly believe her ears. "Grandfather was an Earth Immortal? But why didn't I know?"
Ye Tian replied, "Although he was an Earth Immortal, his cultivation unfortunately encountered problems. Later, even with his full efforts to extend his life, he couldn't hold on. It's truly a pity!"