“The situation isn’t yet irreconcilable,” Second Elder said. “We just used some tricks to make him capitulate. If we apologize and investigate, I’m sure that he’ll eventually give us the inheritance. But if we use more extreme methods, we’ll be going down the path of no return.”
“No one is immune to greed, not even the Alabaster Group,” the third elder said, shaking her head. “I say we need to take the risk. If the inheritance is in our hands, we can find a way to apologize. But if we lose it, we’ll likely never see it again.”
“This is too much,” the fourth elder said disapprovingly. “I don’t believe Master would make friends with a person of bad character. We should do as Second Elder said and apologize.”
“Agreed,” the fifth elder said.
“And once again, we’re at an impasse,” the grand elder said. “Seventh Elder?”
The middle-aged seventh elder sighed and stood up. He looked to a painting of the late Fan Yong, which was hanging above the fireplace. “I agree that we must obtain the inheritance,” he said after some time. His expression turned hard, almost foreign to the others. “Use all means necessary, First Brother.”
The second elder erupted into a coughing fit. He fought off the fifth elder as she tried to support him and finally caught his breath. “If you have all decided on this course of action, I’ll be recusing myself. I’ll go visit my grandchildren before you all run this sect into the ground.” The older man looked like he’d aged a hundred years, and he trembled as he walked out of the cave.
“Let’s all return to our immortal caves and make our preparations,” the grand elder said. “In two hours, the six of us will join forces and use our full power to break down his will. His soul may suffer damage, but it’s a small price to pay for our heritage.”
Chapter 36
The illusion in Zi Long’s chambers shattered as the door opened. A familiar man walked into the dimly lit room, forcing Zi Long to give up on cultivating for the time being. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Mu Qian?” he asked.
“There’s good news and there’s bad news,” Mu Qian said, taking a seat beside the cross-legged Zi Long. “The good news is that your friends are in Violet City. It’s only a matter of time before they enter the sect.”
“And what’s the bad news?” Zi Long asked. It wasn’t the first time they’d spoken since they’d surrounded him in illusions.
“The elders have decided that desperate times call for desperate measures,” Mu Qian said. “In two hours, they’ll be using the Death Wishing Soul-Laceration Art to force you to give up Master’s inheritance. They figure it’s easier to have it in their possession and apologize to the Alabaster Group for any transgressions.”
Zi Long chuckled wryly. “Who would have thought that Brother Fan’s disciples would stoop so low. Tell me, who was in favor of this plan?”
“The grand elder, the third elder, and the sixth elder,” Mu Qian said. “I confess that I also voted for this solution.”
Zi Long raised an eyebrow.
“It was inevitable that the plan would proceed, since the grand elder was going to force the issue. Rather than have them do it behind everyone’s backs, I wanted to know the timeline. As a result, we now have a precious two-hour window. I’ve come here to help you escape.”
“While escaping sounds nice, I’d hate to damage your reputation,” Zi Long said, inspecting Mu Qian’s expression for any signs of deception.
“It’s only right that I help Master’s friend,” Mu Qian said solemnly. “Now, please hurry, every minute I stay in your cave arouses suspicion.” He then took out a violet object from his bag of holding. It was a crystalline mask, an object that Zi Long had seen before.
His eyes narrowed. “How did you get Brother Fan’s essence-concealment mask?” he asked.
“It was the item I chose from his bag of holding when we divided his possessions,” Mu Qian explained. “I thought it might pull me out of a bind one day, but who would have thought that I’d have to use it so soon?”
He tossed the mask to Zi Long, who traced his finger over the familiar item while inserting a wisp of heart force inside it.
“I want to escape, but I need to do something first,” Zi Long said. “Perhaps you can help me with it.”
“I’ll do anything I can to help,” Mu Qian said.
“The one who murdered Brother Fan likely wanted the violet key,” Zi Long said. “As such, I suspect his true goal was accessing the palace. Since that’s the case, I want to verify what he was after. I want to speak to the sect’s guardian spirit.”
“This…” Mu Qian said, his eyes widening. “My apologies, but I can’t help you with this request. You might not know this, but the palace is dangerous. All direct disciples know that those who enter the palace for the first time must undergo a heart trial. Only those who pass the trial can speak with the guardian spirit, for only they are worthy of wielding the sect’s protective treasure and contracting the guardian spirit.”
“How long does the heart trial take?” Zi Long asked.
“It takes no time at all to outsiders, but an eternity for the trial taker,” Mu Qian said. “The consequences of failing the test are frightening. The guardian spirit will devour a piece of your soul, forever weakening your potential. Escaping with a damaged soul would be much too difficult.”
Zi Long sighed. He placed the violet mask on his face, and his presence vanished. Mu Qian, seeing that he had disappeared, walked over to the door and exited his chambers. The guards saluted as he passed them. He headed to his own cave.
I’m going to the palace, with or without you, Zi Long said to Mu Qian just before he passed the path to his cave. Then, unsure of what the seventh elder would do, he ascended the spire.
Chapter 37
Yue Bing bit her lip as she waited in a small building within the Violet Heart Sect. True to his word, Sword Master Jin had contacted the second elder, and they’d walked into the sect without a problem.
Still, she was nervous. Not because she’d have to treat the man—her recent experiences had given her enough confidence—but because of the rumors she’d heard. Zi Long was under house arrest, unable to leave the spire where the elders resided. The means they’d brought to bear against him were either frightening and inhumane or docile and gentle. Both rumors seemed recent, like someone had spread them on purpose. Just in time for her arrival on the mountain.
The first step is to improve rapport, Yue Bing thought. Everything else will fall into place once the second elder is treated.
The clock ticked, and after a quarter hour, the single door leading to her empty room creaked open. An older man in a violet cloak entered the room.
“Brother Yan, thank you for agreeing to meet me on such short notice,” Sword Master Jin said, embracing the man.
“We’re life-and-death brothers,” the second elder said. “Even with the sect on lockdown, how could I bear to refuse you entry?” Then he frowned. “You look different today. You look younger, healthier. What happened?”
Sword Master Jin gestured to Yue Bing, Luo Xuehua, and General Zhang. Both Luo Xuehua and General Zhang were wearing disguises, making it difficult to recognize who they were. “This is Dr. Yue, and these two are her associates. I’m eternally indebted to Dr. Yue, as she recently treated my injuries.”
“No wonder you look so hale and healthy,” Elder Yan said. “I sincerely hope that she managed to add at least several years to your lifespan. I might be dying soon, but now I’ll die a happy man.”
“You misunderstand me,” Sword Master Jin said. “By treated my injuries, I mean she cured them. Completely healed them. There is no residual damage to my lifespan, and I have a century ahead of me. Knowing the severity your condition, I immediately brought her here.”
Elder Yan started trembling. He stood there as though he’d been struck by lightning. “Impossible!” Elder Yan whispered. “Even Grandmaster Gu couldn’t do anything for me. You’d better not be lying to this old
man—my heart can’t take it.”
“How could I possibly joke about your life?” Sword Master Jin said, placing his hand on the older man’s shoulder. “Dr. Yue, please meet my good friend Yan Che.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Yue Bing said, bowing. “Sword Master Jin wasn’t joking when he said you’d suffered the brunt of the damage. I can tell that your affliction is far more severe than his was. Not only did it harm your soul, but it shaved several hundred years off your lifespan. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re not just a foundation-establishment cultivator like everyone thinks, but a core-formation cultivator.”
“That’s right,” Elder Yan said, smiling lightly. “I’m an early-core-formation cultivator. If it wasn’t for my injury, I’d be the strongest man in the sect.” He sighed. “If you can figure this much out, I’m sure you can also determine that my injury is incurable. I’m much worse off than Brother Jin was, so there’s no need to waste your precious time on these old bones. I’m happy enough that Brother Jin is safe.”
Yue Bing shook her head. “Your injury is worse than his, but in my eyes, the treatment is no different. It’s just that… your chances of success are lower than his.”
Elder Yan’s eyes flickered. “How much lower?”
Yue Bing put her hand to her chin and thought for a moment. “If you had a strong body like Elder Jin, one hundred percent,” she said. “Unfortunately, you never trained your body before your confrontation with Mo De. Further, it seems like, due to the poison, you weren’t strengthened by your core qi after you broke through to core formation. I’m afraid the odds are no better than forty percent. To be blunt, you will die if I fail.”
Elder Yan’s expression turned pensive. Sword Master Jin, who had been standing to the side, looked rather apologetic. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know your condition was so bad,” Sword Master Jin said. “If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have suggested she come here.”
“I’m glad you brought her,” Elder Yan said. “The current elders no longer require me. They don’t listen to my advice and are taking risks with the sect’s destiny. There’s nothing I can do to help them with my strength. However, If I could recover my previous cultivation…” His eyes lit up. “It’s not too late to salvage the situation! This procedure, how long will it take?”
“My method is special,” Yue Bing said. “Success or failure will be determined within three hours.”
“Three hours…” Elder Yan said nervously. “Could it be faster?”
“I could cut the time in half, but then your odds would only be twenty percent,” Yue Bing said. “I highly recommend that we take our time with this.”
“If you can heal me in an hour and a half, I will forever be in your debt,” Elder Yan said. “And if it takes any longer, I may as well be dead. The consequences will be catastrophic.”
Yue Bing thought of a possibility. Is Zi Long in trouble?
“Please,” Elder Yan implored. He wasn’t a man waiting to die, but someone filled with hopes and expectations.
“All right,” Yue Bing said. “Let’s get started.”
Chapter 38
Atop the violet spire sat the Violet Palace. Despite being the most important building in the sect, its entrance was unguarded. A thick violet bubble encapsulated it, repelling anyone who might have any thoughts of forcefully entering the premises. Only the key in Zi Long’s possession could allow them to pass through it and enter its hallowed halls.
“Once you insert the violet key, you must rotate it clockwise six times, counterclockwise seven times, and clockwise another nine times,” Mu Qian instructed as they walked up to the gate. Beside him, the invisible Zi Long took out a violet object and began following the instructions. Various glyphs lit up on the mystical black door, filling the obsidian surface with violet light. “The first six rotations represent the six desires, while the next seven represent the seven emotions.”
“And what of the last nine?” Zi Long asked as he completed the first cycle. The door lit up with a faint circle, where the representations of many inner demons surfaced.
“The last nine represent the nine states of being,” Mu Qian explained. “The five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water; creation, also known as propagation, represented by wind; destruction, also known as judgment, represented by lightning. These are the first seven, the most easily identified.”
“And the last two?” Zi Long asked as he finished the seven counterclockwise rotations.
“The last two states of existence are theoretical,” Mu Qian said. “While the others are represented by tangible natural phenomena, these are not. That’s why the eighth state of being is origin. It’s the beginning, and possibly also the end. As for the last one, it’s very important for heart-force cultivators like ourselves.”
“Heart,” Zi Long said softly.
“Exactly,” Mu Qian confirmed.
“My teacher once said that emotions interact with reality,” Zi Long said. “Even the elements are strengthened by it. How is that possible unless emotions and desires are tangible as well?”
Mu Qian chuckled. “Your teacher is wise. Heart force is the manifestation of emotions and desires. Without it, illusions are nothing more than an empty shell. But with it, they become something more; they straddle the line between creation and destruction and redefine reality.”
“Who would have thought that the mere act of turning a key would so rife with symbolism,” Zi Long thought out loud. “It makes me wonder what Brother Fan’s killer was after. Perhaps there’s something inside that would tempt even a rune-carving cultivator.”
The key clicked as it completed the last of the nine rotations. A circle of runes lit up between the six desires circle and seven emotions circle. Green, red, brown, gold, and blue runes lit up for each of the five elements. They were connected by a white circle and a black star. In the center was a gray dot, while a violet mist hovered around it. Everything seemed to originate from the gray dot. At the same time, they originated from the purple mist as well.
The door pulsed lightly as the last of the runes lit up. A fissure appeared in the middle of the black door, allowing it to swing open. Meanwhile, the violet barrier at the door faded. Zi Long removed his mask and stepped into the palace beside Mu Qian.
“Prepare yourself,” Mu Qian said. “The Violet Palace isn’t somewhere just anyone can enter. I will try my best to pass the violet heart’s trials, but I’m afraid I’m far too lacking. Ultimately, everything rests on your abilities.”
“Thank you, Mu Qian,” Zi Long said, bowing lightly. When he straightened his back, looking around, he realized that his surroundings had completely changed. A jade arch lay before him, and beside it, a violet mist appeared. Thought it greatly resembled agglomerated heart force, it felt strange, foreign even. It wasn’t an ownerless entity, but something with an independent will.
“Welcome, challenger,” the violet mist said as Zi Long walked closer. “It has been thirty years since anyone entered this place. In order to proceed further, you must pass two tests. The first one is to pass through this arch. If you can’t even do that, don’t even think about approaching the violet heart.”
The mist disappeared, leaving a confused Zi Long.
“Is it some sort of aptitude test?” he thought out loud as he walked toward the gate. His incandescent force detected nothing remarkable about it, and the jade runes etched on its surface seemed archaic. Try as he might, he couldn’t make heads or tails of its function. Concerned, he stopped in front of the gate and pondered whether he should proceed.
“Surely the guardian spirit wouldn’t kill trial challengers, would it?” Then again, given that this was the most sacred place of the Violet Heart Sect, death was a very real possibility.
But if I don’t take any risks, I won’t discover Brother Fan’s murderer, Zi Long thought. Therefore, he steeled his resolve and walked forward. The moment he stepped through the arch, his entire body froze as a jade substance appeared all o
ver it.
It’s evaluating my merit glow, Zi Long realized. Off to the side, a golden scale had appeared. The jade merit glow entered one side of the scale, causing it to become lopsided. Off to another side, an ochre cloud representing sin charged in. This wasn’t his sin, of course, but sin from an external source. It poured in until the scales equalized.
A jade character appeared over the scale before it disappeared. Zi Long’s body unfroze and completed its single step through the gate. His surroundings shimmered, and he appeared within the entrance hall of the Violet Palace. Simultaneously, Mu Qian appeared beside him. A brooch that he’d been wearing crumbled to dust, but he was otherwise unharmed.
“That examination is far too strict,” Mu Qian said, shaking his head. “If it wasn’t for this merit-endowment treasure, I wouldn’t have passed.”
“Surely you can’t have committed too many sins,” Zi Long said, his jade eyes scanning the man from top to bottom. Though he didn’t have a jade aura, neither did he have an ochre glow. He was like a blank slate, a perfectly neutral existence.
“I haven’t committed many sins, but neither have I accumulated much merit,” Mu Qian said. “I’ve spent virtually all my time cultivating. How could I have done any good deeds while I was at it?”
He has a point, Zi Long thought. If it wasn’t for Master forcing us to fight devils early on, who knows how little merit we’d have accrued? “What’s next?” he asked, changing topics.
“Next is the test of aptitude,” Mu Qian said. “The prerequisite is cultivating one of the three sect-protecting techniques. To move forward, one must either make significant progress in one of the techniques or achieve mastery. Age, cultivation, time… the violet heart will take everything into account.”
“Then this hallway…” Zi Long said. A large corridor had appeared, leading deep within the Violet Palace. A bright purple light appeared at the other end of it.
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