Purple Fire

When Chen Mo woke from his coma, a faint ray of morning sunlight happened to shine through the window and fall across his face.

He slowly opened his eyes and flexed his fingers. The agonizing pain he had imagined did not arrive. Instead, a sense of abundant strength flowed through his body.

The pleasant fullness made him spread himself out like a starfish and stretch lazily. But as the bedding slipped from his body and its lingering faint fragrance reached him—

Chen Mo jolted upright, then slapped his forehead.

"What exactly happened last night?"

His memories suddenly returned. He recalled that two bottles of Accompanying Purple Crystal Source had not been enough to awaken a single particle, so he drank another bottle. Then, three bottles had been too much.

He had only refined half of the third bottle. The remaining half of its energy had raged through his body, and because his Dou Qi had been completely exhausted, his body could not endure it, causing him to pass out.

As for what happened afterward, he had no idea at all.

Yet his subconscious kept telling him that whatever had happened later was enough to leave him endlessly reminiscing.

"Was it her?" A graceful, elegant figure suddenly appeared in Chen Mo's mind.

"Sigh, it's a shame the system doesn't have a recording function. If it did, replaying it would definitely tell me what happened last night." A despondent gloom slowly crept across Chen Mo's face.

"Forget it. I'll find a place first and get a feel for my current strength."

At the same time.

"Sect Master, there is no need to say any more. The Top Five is the greatest concession the Council of Elders can make. Besides, you agreed to this condition yesterday afternoon." Yun Leng looked at Yun Yun, who had convened the Council of Elders once more atop the steps.

The white-robed elders beside Yun Leng also nodded in agreement.

"Great Elder, there is one thing you must understand. I am not discussing this with you. I am merely informing you." Yun Yun's tone was firm.

"Sect Master, you must not act willfully. The Council of Elders was left behind by the old Sect Master. In all major matters concerning the Misty Cloud Sect, the Council of Elders has the right to decide."

"Besides," Yun Leng suddenly said coldly, "didn't the Sect Master say that Chen Mo had already reached one-star Dou Shi at only sixteen years old?"

"If that is true, then with such exceptional talent, he is not much inferior even compared to the Young Sect Master. Why should the Sect Master be worried? Or was what you said false?"

"Of course it is true. However, Yan Ran has already reached Seven-star Dou Master, and there are quite a few four-star and five-star Dou Masters among the younger generation of Inner Sect Disciples. Chen Mo has only just arrived, yet he is expected to compete with the younger Inner Sect Disciples for the Top Five. Isn't that rather poorly considered?"

"Then what does the Sect Master mean?"

"Outer Sect."

"No. Sect Master, you must understand that this decision concerns your Direct Disciple. Once he becomes one, he will become the face of the Misty Cloud Sect. In the future, he will even have the right to contend for the position of Sect Master."

This was the first time Yun Leng had felt the Sect Master's unyielding attitude. At the same time, he was astonished. Just what was Chen Mo's background?

The other elders also tried to persuade her earnestly.

However, after what had happened last night, Yun Yun had already made up her mind. This meeting would settle the matter once and for all.

Back Mountain of the Misty Cloud Sect.

In fantasy novels, whether it was a family, a sect, or even some supreme holy land, there was always a Back Mountain within its grounds.

The Misty Cloud Sect was no exception.

Chen Mo asked the maid who attended Yun Yun where he could find a quiet place to cultivate, and she told him the location and the general route.

Everything went smoothly. There was no getting lost, no one coming out to act arrogant and get slapped in the face like in other novels.

Other than the female disciples constantly staring at him because of his looks, Chen Mo reached the Back Mountain without incident.

The so-called Back Mountain was actually the side peaks of Misty Cloud Mountain. There were numerous side peaks here, all connected to Misty Cloud Mountain, so they were collectively called the Back Mountain.

On an unnamed mountain peak.

Clouds and mist lingered here. It was quiet and peaceful, carrying a faint feeling of an immortal realm.

Chen Mo stood atop a huge boulder and began to train.

"Use Qi to draw forth the god..."

Drawing upon the abundant Dou Qi within him, Chen Mo silently recited the cultivation technique's incantation and practiced each move and stance. His body became a blur, appearing in every direction as the Qi Cyclone within him spun faster and faster.

"Underworld God's Spear."

Chen Mo stretched out his right hand, and a spear roughly ten feet long, condensed from Underworld God's Power, appeared before him.

He could clearly see the change in the spear. It was no longer half-illusory, but was transforming toward solidity.

Most importantly, a faint cluster of Purple Fire surrounded the part near the spear tip where Thunder Snake flickered.

"This must be the Purple Fire of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. If so, then I should have a Seed of Fire in my body as well."

Chen Mo stared blankly at the cluster of Purple Fire. His heart suddenly stirred. His left hand slowly clenched, then abruptly opened as he softly said, "Come out."

As his words fell, a tiny purple flame slowly rose from his palm.

"So beautiful. Now let's test its power."

He tossed the flame in his left hand toward the spear in his right.

With a bang, the spear was enveloped in purple flames. He swung both arms and slashed out with the spear. Accompanied by the eruption of the strength of two giant elephants within his body, a current of air instantly gathered around the spear, vaguely taking the shape of a giant elephant.

"Moo!"

As the giant elephant let out a cry, the spear struck a massive boulder not far away. With a boom, the boulder instantly exploded, scattering stone fragments everywhere.

The spot struck by the spear tip was even reduced directly to powder.

A fierce wind howled past, making the leaves around him rustle.

Even the insects chirping all around fell silent when the aura of Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Force awakened within Chen Mo's body, as though they had sensed the threat of death.

"The power isn't bad, but it's still not enough."

Chen Mo glanced at the mess he had created around him and frowned slightly. Although it carried a faint trace of the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Force, it was still far from the Prison Suppressing Might described in the cultivation technique.

It was still lacking something.

"Again!"

"Bang!"

"No, again!"

"Bang!"

"Still no. Again!"

"Again!"

"..."

He did not know how long he trained. He only knew that when all the Dou Qi in his body had been exhausted and the sun had vanished, he finally collapsed in exhaustion.

"Why is it always just a little short? Do I really need to get struck by lightning?"

"No. I'm not that much of a masochist."

"Maybe I should go back and ask Sister Yun Yun what day there will be thunder."

"That's right. I'll just ask casually."

Inside the palace.

"Rain?"

"Yes, and it would be even better if there were strong winds and lightning."

"What do you want that for?"

"Nothing. I'm just asking."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"There will not be any rain anytime soon."

"No way!" Chen Mo's expression changed. What was he supposed to do now?

Yun Yun did not pay much attention to Chen Mo's expression. Instead, she looked somewhat excited. "I have good news for you."

"What is it?"

"For this Sect Competition, you only need to place in the Top Ten among the younger generation of Inner Sect Disciples."

"Σ(д;)"