Chapter 29: The Crown of Purple Radiance

Chapter 29: The Baptism of the Purple Mist

Left Cold Zen pondered over the matter, turning it over in his mind, yet he still couldn’t make up his mind. This wasn’t a simple question of mastering a sword technique—it required an immense sacrifice. Even someone as ruthless as Left Cold Zen found himself hesitating at this crucial moment.

For several days, he scoured the archives of the Song Mountain Sect, seeking any clue or hint, but found little of value. Frustrated, he decided to make a personal trip to Fuzhou. He wanted to verify the truth at the Fortune Escort Agency himself, so he could determine whether the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual in his hands was genuine.

After all, this was not the original novel. In the original story, when Left Cold Zen received the manual from Lao Denno, Old Yue had already cultivated it, so Left Cold Zen was certain it was authentic—only to later discover that Old Yue had tampered with it. Now, Left Cold Zen held the original manual, but lacking any precedent, he couldn’t fully trust its authenticity.

Let us leave aside Left Cold Zen's secret journey to Fuzhou and turn our gaze once more to Mount Hua.

On the day after Lao Denno escaped the mountain, Old Yue publicly announced that Lao Denno was now a traitor. He declared that henceforth, any disciple of Mount Hua who encountered Lao Denno should cleanse the sect by any means necessary, and whoever accomplished this would be richly rewarded.

This was inevitable. Previously, while Lao Denno had been lurking within Mount Hua, Old Yue had feigned ignorance to pacify Left Cold Zen, allowing him to do as he pleased. But now things had changed: Lao Denno had openly betrayed his master, a direct affront to Old Yue's authority. No matter how much Old Yue wished to turn a blind eye, it was now impossible.

So he simply issued an order for the cleansing of the sect!

It also served to show Left Cold Zen that, though he called himself the “Gentleman Sword,” he was by no means weak or timid!

Moreover, Old Yue had spent years studying the sword moves carved on the wall behind the Reflection Cliff, mastering the counter techniques of all Five Mountains sword schools. Even if he were to break with Left Cold Zen, he had the strength to stand his ground.

And Old Yue was confident that once Left Cold Zen obtained the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, he would hesitate over whether to castrate himself, might spend time verifying its authenticity, and would need time to cultivate. All this would delay his progress. Before his sword mastery reached its peak, he certainly wouldn’t turn against Mount Hua just because of Lao Denno.

...

Inside the training chamber of Mount Hua, Old Yue and Zheng Jian sat facing each other.

“Jian’er, how is your progress with the Purple Mist Technique?” Old Yue asked. Since he had relinquished his covetous thoughts about the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, he knew that his hopes now rested upon the disciple before him. He couldn’t help but be concerned about Zheng Jian’s cultivation.

Zheng Jian smiled faintly, “Why don’t you guess?”

...

Old Yue nearly jumped up to slap Zheng Jian—guess? What nonsense!

A surge of resentment from Yue Buqun: +500.

Zheng Jian was elated. After so long, Old Yue had finally given him a wave of resentment—and so much at once! Delightful!

“Speak plainly!” Old Yue said coldly. He realized he could never show this mischievous disciple any kindness; give him an inch and he’d take a mile!

Zheng Jian knew not to tease Old Yue too much. He replied, “I’ve mastered the first two levels. Master, please teach me the later ones.”

Old Yue was astonished, “You truly mastered them?”

His disbelief was understandable. Cultivating inner energy was not like training sword techniques—it required time and patience, slow accumulation. Progress was gradual, whereas sword training allowed for rapid advancement. This was the main reason the Sword School’s strength surpassed the Qi School in the struggle between the two, but in fact, once inner energy was fully cultivated, its power could exceed that of sword techniques.

Old Yue had cultivated the Purple Mist Technique for decades, barely reaching the fifth level and still far from mastery. Yet Zheng Jian had succeeded in the first two levels within a single year. Old Yue was unsettled.

Seeing Old Yue’s expression, Zheng Jian said nothing more. He immediately circulated the Purple Mist Technique, and a haze of purple energy appeared on his face, leaving Old Yue speechless.

“So be it. I had always planned to pass the Purple Mist Technique on to you eventually. Since you’ve already mastered the first two levels, I’ll teach you the entire manual now. But remember: the Purple Mist Technique is our sect’s supreme inner energy cultivation method. It must not be passed to outsiders! If ever you betray this rule, I will cleanse the sect, even at the cost of my life!”

Zheng Jian agreed at once.

Old Yue pondered, then took a thread-bound book from his robe and handed it to Zheng Jian. “This is the complete Purple Mist Technique. Memorize it here; do not take it away. We must avoid another loss. If our sect’s top martial arts leaked out, I’d have no face before the ancestors in the afterlife.”

Zheng Jian was silent. He certainly couldn’t tell Old Yue that he’d intentionally left the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual behind. He set to work memorizing the Purple Mist Technique in the secret chamber.

For a full day and night, Zheng Jian neither ate nor drank, but finally committed the entire Purple Mist Technique to memory. He reviewed it several times to ensure not a single word was missing, then returned the manual to Old Yue.

Old Yue was gratified and said urgently, “Very good. Cultivation is not accomplished in a day. Now that you’ve memorized it, go rest. From now on, you must practice diligently every day and never slack off.”

Zheng Jian agreed, though he thought to himself, “Others need decades to master this method, but I have my cheat...”

Leaving the chamber, Zheng Jian finally felt hungry. He rushed to the kitchen, rummaged for food, and ate his fill, feeling revived.

...

“Damn, I was starving…”

Returning to his room, Zheng Jian lay down and focused his mind into the Resentment System.

His resentment point balance had increased again. Checking the exchange shop, he found that the Purple Mist Technique item had changed.

“Purple Mist Technique, full mastery via baptism, price: 1500 resentment points.”

It had originally cost 3000 points, but now that Zheng Jian possessed the full manual himself, the baptism price had been halved.

“Fifteen hundred points, sparing decades of bitter cultivation—tsk, tsk, this is the best value for exchange…”

Seeing that he had enough points, Zheng Jian chose to redeem without hesitation.

Instantly, an indescribable sensation flooded his body. His mind was suddenly filled with new understanding of the Purple Mist true energy, intoxicating him.

He didn’t know how long the experience lasted, but when Zheng Jian awoke from the baptism, he felt the Purple Mist true energy within him had become incredibly pure.

“Ugh… why does it smell so bad!” Zheng Jian’s nose twitched. Looking down, he saw that his body was covered in a layer of black filth—he knew he had undergone the cleansing of impurities.

Without delay, Zheng Jian darted out into the night, heading straight for the mountain spring.

After a thorough wash, his skin became smooth and delicate—so much so that even women would envy him. Such was the benefit brought by mastery of the Purple Mist Technique: all impurities within were swept away!

“So comfortable...”

...

The first update is delivered. Please vote; there’ll be more tonight.

(End of Chapter)