Since joining the Rootless Sect and becoming a low-level eunuch apprentice, Xiao Wuchen's life has been taken up with hard work and a desire to learn martial arts. He knows this is only the start of his future path of revenge, and he must master power as soon as possible. He focuses all his attention on a basic method of cultivating internal energy called "Purple Qi Ascendant". This is a very old method that involves using the purple qi of the east at sunrise every morning. "System, make 'Purple Qi Ascendant' more proficient!" With a thought, the green progress bar on the system panel starts jumping rapidly: Martial Arts: "Purple Qi Ascendant" (Basic Internal Energy) Level: The lower the Mortal Proficiency, the better. If you cultivate every morning, you nourish your meridians and enhance the purity of your internal energy. Consumption: 500 points [Martial Arts Experience]
Xiao Wuchen feels a warm and pure flow of energy surge into his dantian (a vital energy point in Chinese medicine), flowing along several delicate meridians in his body. This flow of energy made his previously dulled acupoints feel much better, as if all his fatigue had gone. In just three days, with the system's help, he had reached the level of "complete mastery" in this cultivation method, which usually took months of hard work to begin with! When he sat in meditation again at dawn, he could clearly feel wisps of pale purple energy being drawn into his body with each breath, condensing into a pure internal energy in his dantian. This made him full of energy, his body light, and he even made a slight whistling sound when he walked. "Very good, I've entered the realm of internal energy cultivation; at least I have the ability to protect myself," Xiao Wuchen thought to himself.
The Rootless Sect's Internal Examination
Although the Rootless Sect is a castrated faction, its focus on martial arts is much stronger than outsiders might expect. Each month, we have an internal examination to choose disciples who have the potential to join. Those who pass are given better treatment, more advanced martial arts techniques, and even the chance to become a student of a senior member of the community.
On the day of the exam, the large training ground was filled with apprentices who had not yet reached the top. Their faces showed that they were nervous, excited, and, more importantly, unsure about what would happen next.
Xiao Wuchen was at the end of the line. He looked at the centre of the training ground, where three military officers in dark blue robes like eunuchs stood, looking serious. They were responsible for recording the scores.
[Examination Content]:
Basic Internal Strength Test: Use your body's energy to light the incense and check that it is stable and pure.
Test of Lightness, Skill and Movement Going round the plum tree, testing how fast and nimble they are.
When it was Xiao Wuchen's turn, he breathed in deeply and focused the energy of the "Purple Qi Comes from the East" technique into his fingertips.
He gently touched his index finger to the burning incense in front of him, slowly using his inner energy. Normally, it would be very hard for an ordinary person to keep the incense burning brightly, but with Xiao Wuchen's help, the incense not only didn't stop burning, but instead produced plumes of blue smoke that rose straight up like swords. These smoke plumes burned at several times the normal rate, but were still extremely stable.
"Such pure internal energy!" The military officer in charge of the test looked surprised and wrote the word "Superior" heavily in the record book.
In the test of the lightness skill, he used the flow of energy inside his body to move as lightly as a swallow. His footwork was the basic "Flying Swallow Through Willows".
The Steward's Secret Plan to Keep Evil at Bay
Just as Xiao Wuchen finished his lightness skill test and moved to the edge of the arena, he did not notice that a wooden window in a tall pavilion on the north side of the training ground had been pushed open a little.
Inside the pavilion, the light was low and only one person was standing there.
He wore a black robe with gold thread, and the bottom of the robe had majestic flying fish patterns sewn on it. He wore a black hat made of gauze, with black veils hanging down on both sides of the brim. These veils covered most of his face, revealing only a pale but slightly sickly chin.
This person was the most powerful martial arts teacher of the Rootless Sect – the Evil-Repelling Steward.
(The first time the Steward appeared, he was mysterious and scary)
He didn't say anything, but his sharp, hawk-like eyes, looking through the narrow space in the window, saw Xiao Wuchen in the crowd.
"This lad's inner strength is very pure, much better than his friends'." His voice was rough and deep, and sounded like he was in charge.
A young eunuch serving beside him bowed and said, "Chief Steward, this man is named Xiao Wuchen. He has recently been recruited and is a new apprentice."
Chief Steward Bixie ignored him, his eyes still fixed on Xiao Wuchen, which made him look dangerous.
"He's got talent. If he can go further, it'll be interesting. But..."
He slowly raised his hand and gently shook it, to tell the young eunuch to close the window again.
"Whether he can adapt to the environment of the Rootless Sect, whether he can withstand heavier training, we'll have to wait and see."
The window closed and the pavilion fell silent, as if nothing had happened. But Xiao Wuchen didn't know that the most powerful eunuch in the Rootless Sect was watching him.
Xiao Wuchen did very well in the assessment, so he was put in the first-class apprentices' courtyard and given two beginner's guides to martial arts: *Flowers Bloom to Reveal the Buddha* (basic swordsmanship) - this technique is all about being gentle, fast and exact. The sword strikes like a flower, and can hurt the enemy in an instant; and *Flying Swallow Through Willows* (basic lightness skill) - this is a more advanced level for people who already have a basic foundation. When he returned to the courtyard with the manuals, he was immediately stopped by several tall, older apprentices. The man leading the group, Li San, looked like he was going to be angry. "Oh, isn't this the newcomer who stood out in the assessment? Your *Purple Qi Comes from the East* is quite good. I know you have sensitive skin, so you must have a lot of good products, right?" Li San reached out to grab the manual from Xiao Wuchen's arms. Xiao Wuchen's eyes turned cold. He knew that bullying was common in the Rootless Sect; only the strong earned respect. Without thinking, he switched on the system in his mind: "Practice [Martial Arts Refinement] on 'Flowers Bloom to Reveal the Buddha' and master it right away!" Martial Arts: "Flowers Bloom to Reveal the Buddha" (Basic Swordplay) Level: Intermediate Mortal Proficiency: 0% to 100%
Realm: Mastery Consumption: 300 points [Martial Arts Experience]
In an instant, he learned all the moves and variations of swordplay. Although he didn't have a sword, his whole body changed into a sharp invisible sword! Just as Li San's hand was about to touch him, Xiao Wuchen moved quickly, using the "Willow Catkins Fluttering" technique from "Flying Swallow Through Willows". He quickly avoided the opponent's attack, and at the same time, his hand changed into fingers, using his fingers like a sword. "Whoosh!" He used the move "Offering Flowers Before the Buddha" from "Flowers Bloom to Reveal the Buddha". His fingertips carried a sharp internal energy, swiftly stabbing towards Li San's wrist. Li San was surprised by how quickly and directly the newcomer attacked. The force and angle of the strike were much more powerful and precise than what someone who had just started martial arts could produce. "Ah!" Li San screamed in pain as the finger hit his wrist and left a clear red mark. The pain made him pull his hand back. Xiao Wuchen followed closely, his steps steady, and he circled behind Li San, his fingertips pressing against the carotid artery at the back of his neck. "I don't want to cause any problems, but I'm not scared of them either. From now on, don't say anything." He wasn't shouting, but his voice was still very threatening. Li San was terrified, and was shaking with fear. He could feel that if Xiao Wuchen tightened his grip even a little, he would be pierced. "Yes...yes! I was so stupid! Please spare my life, sir!"
Xiao Wuchen let go, and Li San and his friends quickly ran away from the courtyard.
This battle, which was quick and easy, completely terrified all the low-ranking eunuchs in the courtyard. They looked at Xiao Wuchen with admiration and a bit of excitement.
In the Rootless Sect, strength was the most important thing, and Xiao Wuchen had earned the respect he deserved by being extremely powerful.
Xiao Wuchen sat on his simple stone couch, a faint purple mist swirling around him — the outward manifestation of his internal energy, achieved through minor mastery of the Purple Qi cultivation technique.
With the system's help, he had risen from a martial arts novice to a second-rate expert in just a few months. The internal energy flowing within him was smooth and gentle, like a stream, and each circulation brought a reassuring, yin-like power. He could sense that this power originated from the same source as the techniques practised by most of the eunuchs in the Rootless Sect, but it was purer and more potent.
However, when he attempted to progress beyond minor success, he encountered the most formidable barrier he had faced since beginning his cultivation.
As he tried to channel his internal energy from his dantian into his deeper meridians, it seemed to crash into an invisible, rigid barrier and was violently repelled. Each impact brought with it a suffocating, stagnant sensation.
Xiao Wuchen found this repulsive force extremely contradictory. It seemed to originate within himself: a remnant of impure yang energy incompatible with the yin constitution required by the cultivation method. But what terrified him even more was that, the instant his internal energy was blocked, he seemed to hear a cold, whispering voice from heaven and earth, as if martial arts itself were being rejected by some grand, irresistible force.
He abruptly opened his eyes, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
'Is this the inability of Heaven to tolerate it?' Xiao Wuchen thought in horror. What kind of evil technique is the 'Purple Qi' he cultivates?
Just as his mind reeled, the system's cold warning appeared before his eyes:
'Warning! The host's cultivation technique conflicts with "goodness".'
The Purple Qi Comes from the East is a top-grade yin-type cultivation technique. Its core philosophy is severely at odds with the host's current moral compass.
To cultivate the highest level of Purple Qi Comes from the East, one needs an 'extremely yin' body and, even more importantly, an 'extremely evil' heart. The host's remaining 'goodness' and 'morality' are the fundamental reasons hindering the improvement of internal energy.'
Xiao Wuchen was struck dumb. He had always believed that, once his body had completed the transformation to 'extremely Yin', he would be able to cultivate without hindrance. He never imagined that the requirements for the mind would be even more extreme than those for the body!
This meant that, to break through, he would need not only arduous training, but also to completely abandon his remaining humanity and conscience.
In order to verify his suspicions, Xiao Wuchen sought out Xu Gonggong, the most prestigious and enigmatic elder of the Wugen Sect. He tactfully inquired about his cultivation bottleneck.
Xu Gonggong squinted his cloudy eyes and scrutinised Xiao Wuchen closely. A complex expression crossed his face — a mixture of admiration for his extraordinary talent and apprehension about a great secret.
He sipped his hot tea, his voice hoarse and cold:
'Purple Qi cannot be obtained without pure yin energy. Wuchen, your physical foundation is sufficient, but your heart is not pure enough.'
'This technique was never created for humankind. It follows a ruthless, heaven-defying path.' Xu Gonggong slammed his teacup down, making a crisp sound.
'To break through, you must defy the heavens and abandon all your attachments and inappropriate "good intentions". First, you must transform yourself into a cold stone before the purple aura can flow from the east. Otherwise, this technique will backfire, causing you to wish you were dead.'
Eunuch Xu didn't say another word, but the phrase 'defy the heavens' hit Xiao Wuchen hard. He realised that the catalyst for breaking through the bottleneck wasn't a miraculous elixir, but his own soul.