Purgatory Mountain

This secret manual was actually a fist technique.

When he opened the first page and let his eyes sweep over the densely packed small characters, Luo Zheng finally understood. This was a translation of Devil Race script.

The so-called Devil Race script translation was text translated from the written language of the Devil Race.

Could this actually be a cultivation technique practiced by the Devil Race?

That was indeed what the text stated. This Heavenly Devil Body Refining Art was a cultivation technique specifically designed for the Devil Race.

The Devil Race's cultivation techniques placed extremely high demands on the strength of the physical body.

After undergoing body refinement, the human body would certainly become much stronger, but compared with the Devil Race, human physical strength was on an entirely different level.

The physical strength of a human in the Bone Refining Realm was roughly comparable to that of a four- or five-year-old child of the Devil Race. The difference could be seen from this alone.

But after being tempered, Luo Zheng's physical body was comparable in strength to a High-Grade Profound Artifact.

For the vast majority of humans, this was an insurmountable threshold. But for Luo Zheng, it could not have been more suitable.

Luo Zheng tucked the Heavenly Devil God Fist away and left the tomb.

Just as he stepped out of the tomb and entered the Heaven-Ranked Technique hall, he discovered that an old man in white had appeared inside.

The old man stood with his hands behind his back, exuding extraordinary bearing. His eyes were bright and sharp.

"Although the Heavenly Devil God Fist is powerful, it places extremely high demands on the body and is exceedingly difficult to cultivate. The fact that you made it here proves that your soul is far stronger than an ordinary person's. If your soul is powerful enough, you could cultivate techniques such as Dark Meditation or Blood Devil Kill. Why choose the difficult-to-master Heavenly Devil God Fist?"

The old man stared at Luo Zheng and spoke indifferently.

"I saw that this technique was placed at the very back of the Heaven-Ranked Technique hall. I figured it must be even more powerful than Heaven-Ranked Techniques..." Luo Zheng answered truthfully. That was indeed what he had thought.

Luo Zheng's honest answer took the old man by surprise. The old man then shook his head and said, "That isn't wrong. The two secret manuals in the tomb chamber are indeed far more powerful than Heaven-Ranked Techniques. But the one suited to you is the best one. Surely you understand that principle, young man. I think you should return this Heavenly Devil God Fist and choose another one."

From the old man's tone, it seemed he was not very willing to let Luo Zheng take the Heavenly Devil God Fist away. But since Luo Zheng had taken a liking to it and had not violated any rules, he naturally had no intention of returning it. Thus, Luo Zheng could not be bothered to answer the old man's question directly. Instead, he asked, "Far more powerful than Heaven-Ranked Techniques? Since I was young, I've heard that all the world's techniques are divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. How could this Heavenly Devil God Fist be more powerful than a Heaven-Ranked Technique?"

The old man smiled faintly, as if he had seen through Luo Zheng's ploy. "Since you don't want to return the Heavenly Devil God Fist, then so be it. As for the Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow grades you mentioned, those are classifications passed down by the people of the world. The mysteries of the world we inhabit are boundless. How could it possibly be restricted to the four words 'Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow'? This is a Saint-Ranked Technique from the Devil Race."

A Saint-Ranked Technique!

Luo Zheng was startled as well. He had thought Heaven-Ranked Techniques were already the pinnacle, but he had never expected that there were actually Saint-Ranked Techniques above them.

Seeing Luo Zheng's reaction, the old man laughed again. "The higher you stand, the farther you can see. A Saint-Ranked Technique may not be the strongest technique."

"Could there be techniques even more powerful than Saint-Ranked Techniques?" Luo Zheng pressed.

This time, the old man did not answer directly. He merely said, "When it comes to such things, what matters is still the human heart!" The old man pointed to his chest, then continued, "Forget it, let's not discuss this. Since you've obtained the Heavenly Devil God Fist and insist on cultivating it, I won't stop you. When this book was placed here, no one expected an Outer Sect Disciple to actually take it away. Since you've obtained it, it can be considered fate. But this technique involves too much. If anyone outside asks which technique you took..." The old man stretched out a hand, and a book flew out of a wooden cabinet in the Heaven-Ranked Technique hall. "Just say you chose this one."

He took the technique and glanced at it. His eyes immediately lit up. Three large characters were written on the Heaven-Ranked Technique: Spirit Shocking Thrust.

Every random secret manual in this hall was a Heaven-Ranked Technique. Luo Zheng had never expected that one opportunity would allow him to take two techniques out. His heart was practically laughing crooked.

After thanking the old man, he strode toward the exit of the Heaven-Ranked Technique hall.

But then the old man called out, "Wait. Aren't you curious who I am?"

"Curious?" Luo Zheng stopped and suddenly slapped his forehead. "I still don't know your name, Elder..."

"Enough, enough. Your act is far too fake." The old man was caught between laughter and tears. This brat clearly had not taken him seriously at all. He continued, "Although the Azure Cloud Sect is large, if you are no mere fish in a pond, we will meet again sooner or later."

Luo Zheng gave a dry chuckle upon hearing this, then turned and left.

After Luo Zheng departed, the old man stood there for quite some time. Finally, he sighed and murmured toward the empty air, "I never thought that manual would still be taken away after all these years. If this isn't the will of Heaven, I doubt even you would believe it."

Luo Zheng naturally did not hear those words. Even if he had, he would not have understood their meaning.

The people in the Earth-Ranked Technique hall had already left, and there was no one remaining in the Profound-Ranked Technique hall either.

Having to endure the pressure of the Xing Tian Intent at every moment inside the Heavenly Book Pavilion was certainly no pleasant experience. After selecting techniques suited to themselves, everyone had naturally hurried away.

Luo Zheng was the last person to leave the Heavenly Book Pavilion.

By the time he came out, the trial disciples from the other thirty-two peaks had already left long before.

Only the people from Little Rain Peak remained there.

"Sorry for the wait," Luo Zheng said with a smile after coming out.

"What does it matter? From now on, we'll all be brothers of Little Rain Peak. We'll have to look after one another!" an Outer Sect Disciple said.

All the Outer Sect Disciples in this group who had chosen to enter Little Rain Peak came from humble backgrounds. There was not a single Aristocratic Clan Disciple among them, and their patience was surprisingly good.

Su Lingyun had originally been standing some distance away, gazing at something in the distance. When she saw Luo Zheng come out, she asked with a smile, "Did you enter the Heaven-Ranked Technique hall?"

Only the few people in the Earth-Ranked Technique hall knew that Luo Zheng had entered the Heaven-Ranked Technique hall. Su Lingyun had presumably heard it from another instructor.

When the Outer Sect Disciples of Little Rain Peak heard Instructor Su say this, their eyes instantly widened. They had assumed Luo Zheng had been late because he had taken his time picking and choosing. How could they have imagined that he had actually managed to enter the Heaven-Ranked Technique hall? Just how powerful was his soul?

Luo Zheng thought Su Lingyun was asking him which technique he had chosen. Since the white-robed old man had also given him the Heaven-Ranked Technique Spirit Shocking Thrust, he was about to tell her when Su Lingyun waved her hand and said, "Whatever good technique you picked, don't mention it. At the Azure Cloud Sect, you must learn to keep your secrets. Everyone, hurry up. We need to reach Little Rain Peak before dark."

After everyone assembled, Su Lingyun led them away from the Heavenly Book Pavilion.

They traveled through the Azure Cloud Sect for roughly two hours before a steep mountain peak appeared before them. This was one of the Thirty-Three Peaks—Little Rain Peak.

Rows of orderly pavilions and towers had been built across Little Rain Peak. Shrouded in clouds and mist, it was as beautiful as a celestial paradise.

After bringing everyone up Little Rain Peak, Su Lingyun called over several Outer Sect Disciples and gave them a few instructions before hurriedly leaving, apparently with other important matters to attend to.

One of the Outer Sect Disciples stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Luo Zheng and the others. "My name is Zhou Xian. Welcome to Little Rain Peak. I will be responsible for your affairs from here on."

After exchanging greetings, Luo Zheng and the others followed Zhou Xian to complete the various procedures for entering the sect.

These included exchanging their Disciple Tokens, receiving the clothing of Outer Sect Disciples, and being assigned residences.

After Mo Can received the white robe of an Outer Sect Disciple, he impatiently put it on. His face was filled with pride as he said, "Haha, if I walk around the streets of the Imperial Capital in this white robe, who knows how impressive I'll look? Let's see who still dares provoke me!"

Zhou Xian laughed when he saw this. "It's only a white robe. If you cultivate diligently and become an Inner Sect Disciple, then putting on a black robe will be something worth being proud of!"

Mo Can did not take offense. He laughed and said, "Who knows how many years that'll take?"

"Brother Mo Can, don't sell yourself short. Weren't Inner Sect Disciples promoted from the Outer Sect as well?" Zhou Xian was a warmhearted person and explained the rules for Outer Sect Disciples in meticulous detail.

"The Azure Cloud Sect has many complicated rules, but the most important one is strength!" Zhou Xian said. "All those rigid rules are made for the weak. If you want to leap beyond those restrictions, it's simple. Either possess powerful strength, or possess extraordinary talent that makes others believe you'll become powerful in the future!"

Hearing Zhou Xian's words, Luo Zheng felt a deep resonance. In truth, it was not only the Azure Cloud Sect that was like this. Wasn't it the same in Burning Heaven Imperial City, throughout the entire Eastern Region, and across the whole world? Whoever had the biggest fists made the rules. This was a truth that held everywhere under Heaven.

If he had strength, why would he need to come to the Azure Cloud Sect? With a single word, he could rescue Luo Yan from Purgatory Mountain.

Thinking of Luo Yan, the person Luo Zheng cared about most, he immediately asked, "Brother Zhou Xian, I'd like to ask you something."

Zhou Xian nodded. "Go ahead."

"Where is Purgatory Mountain in the Azure Cloud Sect?" Luo Zheng asked solemnly.

Zhou Xian's brows rose, and his voice grew slightly louder. "Purgatory Mountain? Why are you bringing up that unlucky place?"

"Oh, I just wanted to ask," Luo Zheng said.

"Purgatory Mountain is in the northwest corner of the Azure Cloud Sect. It's an isolated peak. Any sect disciple who commits a serious offense will be locked up there. I've never been inside, of course, but I've heard that the conditions within Purgatory Mountain are extremely harsh. Thousands of our Azure Cloud Sect disciples are locked up there, facing the wall and reflecting on their mistakes!" After saying this, Zhou Xian studied Luo Zheng's expression and asked, "You don't have a friend locked up in Purgatory Mountain, do you?"

Luo Zheng did not answer that question. He only asked again, "Is there any way to enter Purgatory Mountain?"