Do You Want to Practice the Purple Mist Manual?

Liang Fa was genuinely frightened.

Junior Disciple Brother had just rushed past in a whirlwind, saying he was going to practice.

And now he came rushing back out in the same whirlwind, running while brandishing the iron sword in his hand like some clawing, flailing beast.

How could such a strange sight not worry Liang Fa?

Forgetting all about his own training, he took off after Ji Boying.

But he had not expected Ji Boying to run so fast. On the mountain paths of Mount Hua, he simply could not catch up.

All he could do was shout in terror.

The sound reached Ji Boying's ears, leaving him with a head full of black lines.

He hurriedly turned back.

"Third Senior Brother, don't shout, don't shout! What are you yelling for?"

Ji Boying hastily stopped Liang Fa from shouting.

Liang Fa said nothing, merely looking Ji Boying up and down.

Only when he saw that Ji Boying's eyes were bright and alert, his mind clear, did he finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Junior Disciple Brother, you're all right?"

Ji Boying's face darkened.

"Senior Brother, what could possibly be wrong with me?"

"But the way you were running all over the place and waving your limbs around just now was terrifying. I thought you'd suffered a qi deviation."

"Come on, Senior Brother, I was seriously practicing, not suffering a qi deviation."

Liang Fa shook his head and fell silent for two seconds.

"Ah... Junior Disciple Brother... when practicing, you can't rush things. Besides, your progress is already incredibly fast. All of us senior brothers and sisters feel ashamed in comparison."

Ji Boying felt a little choked up. Third Senior Brother clearly did not believe him and only thought he was on the verge of a qi deviation.

"Senior Brother, don't worry. It wasn't a qi deviation, really. I was just practicing normally. This method lets me improve very quickly."

"But what kind of skill can you possibly practice by running and jumping around wildly, waving your sword at random?"

Liang Fa could not understand.

"I just received a lightness skill from Master. I'm practicing that."

"I've never seen anyone practice a lightness skill like that."

Ji Boying scratched his head helplessly, then could only wave a hand and say, "I'm a genius. You understand? If a genius says it can be practiced this way, then it can be practiced this way. You can't master it, but I can."

Liang Fa was rendered speechless.

It felt as though he had been stabbed through the heart. So this was the peculiar quirk of geniuses?

With the misunderstanding cleared up, there was not much else to say.

"Senior Brother, don't start shouting and yelling again. I'm only practicing normally. If any other senior brothers or sisters are surprised, help explain it to them too. Don't add fuel to the fire."

After giving Liang Fa a few instructions, Ji Boying turned and ran off again.

Watching Ji Boying run and jump about wildly, still waving his arms and sword around, Liang Fa remained utterly unable to understand.

He could only sigh inwardly.

Alas, he could not make sense of it. Perhaps this was what it meant to be a genius.

Ji Boying only wanted to immerse himself in the thrill of his martial arts improving at breakneck speed. He had not wanted to pay Liang Fa any mind.

But Liang Fa meant well and was worried for him. More importantly, if he shouted loudly enough to stir up a commotion, even Old Yue might be alarmed, and that would inevitably bring another round of trouble.

Ji Boying had already figured it out: Old Yue now treated him purely as a precious treasure and simply would not let him go down the mountain.

If anyone went before Old Yue and said Ji Boying might have suffered a qi deviation, then even if it was nothing but hearsay, even if the chance was minuscule, Old Yue would still panic and rush over in a blazing hurry to check on him.

Then, after examining him over and over and finding nothing wrong, Old Yue would still be too worried to rest easy and would caution Ji Boying not to train so desperately anymore.

It was an entirely foreseeable possibility.

The very thought of it made Ji Boying feel troubled.

Better to nip this trouble in the bud ahead of time.

Now that he had given Third Senior Brother a warning, if the other senior brothers had questions later, Third Senior Brother could help explain.

"Proficiency +1"

"Proficiency +1"

"Proficiency +1"

As Ji Boying ran and swung his sword, watching his internal martial arts, swordsmanship, and lightness skill all increase, he felt indescribably exhilarated.

"Hehe. This method really works."

Ji Boying looked toward Falling Goose Peak in the distance.

"Charge!"

Name: Ji Boying

Skills: Mount Hua Breathing Technique: Mastery (588/600), Stone Splitting Jade Breaking Fist: Mastery (358/600), Rising Sun Vitality Sword: Mastery (269/800), Golden Wild Goose Technique: Proficient (424/600), Mount Hua Swordplay: Perfected

Talent: Skill Simplification. Spend Simplification Energy Points to simplify skills.

Energy Points: 0. The system automatically restores 1 Energy Point every month. Resets automatically at midnight on the first day of each month.

Late at night.

Ji Boying lay on his bed, breathing deeply, yet he was not asleep.

He stared at his panel.

"I've worked hard for a month. The Mount Hua Internal Cultivation Method is almost perfected. In another half month or so, the Rising Sun Sword should be perfected as well. The Golden Wild Goose Technique's proficiency is already quite high too. By now, I can hang two feet above a sheer cliff face."

Ji Boying was quite satisfied with the progress he had made over the past month.

"It's just that most of my energy has gone into internal cultivation, Lightness Skill, and swordplay. My Fist Technique has progressed rather slowly; otherwise, it should have been perfected by now."

"But it doesn't matter. I've only been practicing it on the side. It will definitely reach the perfected realm this month."

Ji Boying folded his hands beneath his head and stared at the cultivation method, which was only twelve proficiency points short. The longer he looked, the more anxious he grew.

"No, I can't keep looking at this. I can't covet comfort and ease—I'll push it straight to perfection."

Ji Boying immediately sprang up from the bed with a carp leap.

He did not even get out of bed, instead sitting cross-legged atop it.

For the first time in a long while, he actively began circulating the Mount Hua Breathing Technique.

This had only happened during the period when he had first come up the mountain and stayed with Old Yue. Although he could cultivate with every breath in and out, Old Yue would always find it displeasing if he did not sit in meditation for a while.

It was like an employee who had clearly finished their work and was sitting idle—just looking at them would irk the boss.

After coming to Mount Hua, he had been assigned this little courtyard, where no one disturbed him.

Moreover, because he had already simplified the Mount Hua Internal Cultivation Method, his internal strength grew with every breath.

Thus, he had never again made a point of practicing internal cultivation.

After all, every moment, he was already in a state of earnest meditation and cultivation, with his progress constantly increasing.

But now, looking at the Mount Hua Internal Cultivation Method and seeing that only a dozen or so proficiency points remained, Ji Boying could no longer hold himself back.

He simply abandoned sleep and began meditating to cultivate in earnest.

Naturally, there were benefits to doing so.

With every breath, he circulated his internal cultivation method at full force, gaining one point of proficiency.

Then, by actively driving the Mount Hua Internal Cultivation Method, he gained another point of proficiency.

This allowed his internal cultivation method to progress at double speed.

Ji Boying sank his mind into his Dantian, his awareness stretching on unbroken, his breaths long and deep.

Immersed in cultivating qi, he had no idea how much time passed.

He only felt the warm current of the Mount Hua Internal Cultivation Method slowly flowing through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

Gradually, it became ever more vibrant with life.

It seemed to make the gurgling sound of spring water.

Like a stream, it leapt lively through the mountains.

The water flowed and flowed, until at last its head and tail joined as one.

His breaths above and below merged perfectly with his qi channels, continuing without end.

"Whew..."

Ji Boying let out a long breath, lasting thirty or forty breaths' worth of time.

His qi channels had become frighteningly long.

A faint white mist could be seen escaping from his nose and mouth. It was not yet late autumn, so such a sight was quite rare.

Clearly, this was a sign that his internal strength cultivation had borne fruit.

Ji Boying calmed his qi, finished his cultivation, and opened his eyes.

They seemed to gleam brightly within the dark little room.

Ji Boying stretched his body after sitting for so long, and a series of crackling sounds rang out from head to toe.

His internal strength had achieved success; qi filled his body's channels, stretching his entire frame open.

It was like a person working out and evenly training every muscle in their body, thereby straightening their sinews and bones so they would be less prone to problems like kneecap displacement and wear, anterior or posterior pelvic tilt.

The same principle applied now.

Ji Boying trained internal energy, not muscles.

With his qi channels brimming, every part of his body was supported by strength. His posture became naturally more balanced and proper.

An indescribable joy welled up in Ji Boying's heart.

This was the first time he had cultivated an internal cultivation method to perfection.

"Different—it really is different!"

Ji Boying sensed the state of his body, delight filling his heart.

"Don't be fooled by the fact that this internal cultivation method required less proficiency than the Rising Sun Sword. When a move-based martial art reaches perfection, it merely feels like enlightenment pouring over one's head—your mind is filled with knowledge of the sword technique, and you form some muscle memory for executing moves."

"But when an internal cultivation method reaches perfection, not only do countless insights appear in your mind, your whole body feels light, your spirit complete and your qi abundant. This sensation of ease is truly difficult for move-based martial arts to rival."

Ji Boying smiled, then thought of Old Man Feng again.

"Sure enough, cultivating qi is the orthodox path."

Name: Ji Boying

Skills: Mount Hua Breathing Technique: Perfection, Stone Splitting Jade Breaking Fist: Mastery (358/600), Rising Sun Vitality Sword: Mastery (269/800), Golden Wild Goose Technique: Proficient (435/600), Mount Hua Swordplay: Perfection

Talent: Skill Simplification. Spend Simplification Energy Points to simplify skills.

Energy Points: 1. The system automatically restores 1 Energy Point every month. Automatically resets and refreshes at midnight on the first day of each month.

"Eh, my Golden Wild Goose Technique proficiency has increased too?"

The increase truly was not much, but it had indeed increased.

After giving it some thought, Ji Boying understood.

The Golden Wild Goose Technique had always been able to complement internal cultivation methods.

Now that his Mount Hua Internal Cultivation Method had reached perfection and his internal energy was abundant, it was only natural for the Golden Wild Goose Technique's proficiency to increase as well.

"It's already a new month. I've gained another Energy Point. Tomorrow morning, I can go find Old Yue again and replace my internal cultivation method while I'm at it."

It was late already, past the third watch. Though Ji Boying was excited, he still flung himself backward onto the bed with relish.

Sleep!

Early the next morning, Ji Boying arrived at Sky Lute Gorge once more.

Yue Buqun had also just returned from his morning training.

He saw Ji Boying standing in the courtyard.

Without the slightest surprise, he had long been looking forward to this day in his heart.

Yue Buqun was already used to it. At the beginning of every month, his youngest disciple would come asking him for a martial art.

"What martial art do you want this time?"

Yue Buqun did not even bother with pleasantries as he walked past Ji Boying.

Ji Boying smiled and followed him inside.

"Master, this time your disciple has come to replace my internal cultivation method. My Mount Hua Internal Cultivation Method has already reached perfection."

Yue Buqun had not wanted to be surprised, but time and again, his youngest disciple had broken through his composure.

"Your Mount Hua Internal Cultivation Method has reached perfection?"

Yue Buqun's eyes widened in disbelief.

Having lived so long, Yue Buqun had never heard of any Mount Hua disciple cultivating the Mount Hua Internal Cultivation Method to perfection.

Even before the decisive battle between the Qi Faction and Sword Faction, when there had been so many outstanding senior brothers, senior sisters, martial uncles, and martial uncles of the elder generation, he had never heard of anyone achieving perfection.

That was because cultivating an internal cultivation method to perfection simply consumed too much time—at the very least, decades of painstaking study.

Moreover, Mount Hua disciples often had better choices. Before this internal cultivation method could reach perfection, they would already have switched to the Primordial Chaos Technique or some other profound internal cultivation method.

"Let me see."

Excitedly, Yue Buqun seized Ji Boying's wrist.

Sure enough, he sensed qi channels that ran long and unbroken, clearly a sign that his internal energy had attained success.

He sent a thread of internal energy slightly into Ji Boying's meridians.

It felt soft and yielding, as though it could not bear force. Yet if he tried to press farther in, it became layer upon layer of dense softness, so tightly sealed that not even air could pass through—there was nowhere further to advance.

When Yue Buqun applied the slightest additional force, he felt a repelling force travel to his fingertips and bounce his hand away.

Yue Buqun stared intently at his youngest disciple, his eyes shining again and again with wonder.

"You really have cultivated the Mount Hua Internal Cultivation Method to perfection. Your internal energy fills the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. When faced with outside internal energy, it can already defend itself on its own."

"Good, good! Truly worthy of being an outstanding disciple of Mount Hua."

Yue Buqun threw back his head and laughed heartily.

He himself was an heir of the Qi Faction. Though Ji Boying's influence had gradually made him let go of some of his sectarian bias, the roots were still the roots.

Moreover, he had cast aside sectarian boundaries from a position of lofty superiority, because his youngest disciple had already proven through every angle that qi cultivation was the foundation; there was no need to distinguish between the Qi Faction and the Sword Faction.

Seeing that his youngest disciple's inner strength cultivation had now borne fruit was what made him happiest.

"Judging by your inner strength today, you're only twenty or thirty percent behind your Mistress."

How long had it been? He had originally been so worried about his youngest disciple's safety that he had not dared let him descend the mountain.

But looking at him now, in another three or four months, once the New Year had passed, his youngest disciple's martial arts would surpass his Mistress's by quite a bit.

He might even be able to rival Yue Buqun himself.

Especially since he had mastered the exquisite Lightness Skill left behind by the Quanzhen Sect.

As far as Yue Buqun knew, the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects did not possess any truly profound Lightness Skills.

If Zuo Lengchan wanted to make a covert move and did not descend the mountain personally, but merely sent two or three guardians, they would probably just be delivering themselves on a platter to his youngest disciple.

If he sent four or five guardians, even if his youngest disciple could not defeat them, he could still flee—and they certainly would not be able to catch him.

The timeframe Yue Buqun had in mind shortened once again.

When he had first taken in his youngest disciple, he had only thought that, if all else failed, they would flee deep into the wilderness and lie low for twenty years, waiting until his youngest disciple's skills were accomplished before emerging to restore Mount Hua.

Last month, he had felt that in five or six years, his youngest disciple would be capable of standing on his own and helping him revive Mount Hua.

But this month, his youngest disciple had plainly succeeded in cultivating qi.

He could now serve as Yue Buqun's right-hand man.

It was only that Yue Buqun still did not dare put him to use. He had to wait a few more months, until his inner strength grew greater and he truly no longer lost to his Mistress, before he could rest easy.

Now, it seemed that in at most two years, his youngest disciple's martial arts would surpass his own.

When that time came, whom would Mount Hua have to fear?

So long as they did not clash head-on with the Demon Cult, they would likely have no rivals among the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects.

"Youngest disciple, do you want to switch inner cultivation techniques? Do you want the Purple Mist Manual?"

Yue Buqun smiled at Ji Boying.

When had Yue Buqun, the Gentleman Sword, ever shown such a warm smile before anyone else?

"Master, you can pass the Purple Mist Technique on to me? I was originally planning to cultivate the Primordial Chaos Technique."

Ji Boying was rather pleasantly surprised as well.

He had not expected Yue Buqun to already intend to pass Mount Hua Sect's most profound inner cultivation technique on to him.

Ji Boying had never asked about the Purple Mist Manual. It was not that he had no interest in it, but rather that he felt the Purple Mist Manual was a symbol of the sect leader.

It was no longer merely a martial arts manual.

"As long as you can learn it and cultivate it well, you may cultivate whatever you wish. If I can let you cultivate the Purple Mist Technique, what does the Primordial Chaos Technique amount to?"

"Wait here, wait here."

Yue Buqun hurried cheerfully into his room.

Before long, he brought out both the Purple Mist Technique and the Primordial Chaos Technique manuals.

"Here, take them all. You are a martial arts prodigy. The task of reviving Mount Hua will be entrusted to you in the future."

"Actually, the Primordial Chaos Technique is a method for cultivating inner strength, while the Purple Mist Technique is a method for putting it to use. I had long wanted to pass the Purple Mist Technique on to you, but I feared your inner strength was not deep enough. Like a child wielding a great hammer, you could easily injure yourself."

"Then, Master, perhaps I shouldn't cultivate the Purple Mist Technique just yet."

"Mhm, good, as you wish... What? What did you say?"

Yue Buqun only felt that all his cultivated composure had been shattered before his youngest disciple. What Gentleman Sword was he? He was plainly the Startled-and-Flustered Sword.

"Do you know what you're saying? This... this... this is the Purple Mist Manual!"

"Master, I understand that the Purple Mist Manual is formidable, but I feel that my inner strength is not deep enough. I still want to first accumulate deeper inner strength, then learn the method of using it."

But Yue Buqun said, "Your inner strength is only slightly inferior to your Mistress's. It is countless times stronger than mine was when I first cultivated the Purple Mist Technique. It is already enough."

Yue Buqun had never imagined that one day, he would be pleading so bitterly with his own disciple to cultivate the Purple Mist Manual.

It was truly both laughable and exasperating.

"Master, I understand that my current inner strength is enough, but wouldn't deeper inner strength be even better?"

"This disciple gave the manual a cursory look. The Primordial Chaos Technique is divided into nine levels, and this disciple is confident of reaching the third level within one month. I'll cultivate it to completion first; before the New Year, I will definitely achieve great mastery. If I cultivate the Purple Mist Manual then, wouldn't I achieve twice the result with half the effort, with even greater power besides?"

Yue Buqun began imagining such a scene in his mind as well.

With the Primordial Chaos Technique at great mastery, that body of inner strength would already be fierce and vigorous, deep and mighty. Then cultivating the Purple Mist Manual... how powerful would that be?

If he himself had possessed such deep inner strength back then, he surely would have long since cultivated the Purple Mist Manual past the fourth level.

Yet after wasting away so many years, he had only barely broken through the Purple Mist Manual's fourth level. Even when facing Zuo Lengchan, he still lacked confidence.

If he could reach the late stage of the fourth level, then even without breaking through to the fifth, he would be confident of dealing with Zuo Lengchan.

If his youngest disciple could use the Primordial Chaos Technique as his foundation, how long would he need to break the Purple Mist Manual through to the fifth level?