When the last wisp of Pure Yang true qi was drawn from his meridians, Wang Chong circulated the Innate Pure Yang Art. The true qi generated through the transformation of Harmonizing Yin and Yang held not half a speck of impurity, consisting purely of true and unified pure Yang!
Wang Chong could not help bursting into hearty laughter. Once this wisp of Innate Pure Yang qi emerged, it immediately began to snowball, nourishing and expanding itself while repelling all foreign true qi, refusing to accept even the slightest impure yin qi ever again.
Wang Chong had chosen a path of bold, relentless progress, gambling that he could cross the hurdle of Harmonizing Yin and Yang; back then, however, he had no idea how to completely purge the dross of yin.
Using the Holding-Candle Swordplay twice to repel formidable foes and twice exhausting his true qi completely had sparked a flash of insight, leading him to devise such an unconventional method. He did not need to slowly cultivate his true qi to pure Yang at all. All he had to do was pour every bit of true qi in his body into the blade, discarding both pure yang and impure yin alike. Once the true qi was utterly drained, the newly generated true qi would be Innate Pure Yang.
On Mount Wudang, there might well have been seniors who knew of this path, but anyone who had realized this secret would likely not teach it lightly to the younger generation. They would inevitably temper a junior's temperament first, waiting until they were sure of obedience before truly imparting it. Or perhaps those seniors had merely stumbled across this hurdle by accident without understanding it themselves—knowing what happened without knowing why—unable to form a complete body of experience to pass down to others.
All in all, through this method, Wang Chong had properly and uprightly crossed the second realm of the Innate Pure Yang Art and stepped into the third realm—Reaching Heaven and Coiling Earth!
Having cultivated the Innate Pure Yang Art to the realm of Reaching Heaven and Coiling Earth, the true qi poured into the blade was drawn back wisp by wisp as if pulled by a lodestone. However, under the melting power of the pure Yang true qi of Reaching Heaven and Coiling Earth, the yang dissolved and the yin vanished. Only pure Yang qi flowed back into his internal force, while all the impure yin qi was incinerated away. Innate Pure Yang true qi soon flooded his meridians, vast and inexhaustible.
Cultivated to the third realm of Reaching Heaven and Coiling Earth, the Innate Pure Yang Art had reached its absolute limit: supremely vast, supremely unyielding, supremely yang, supremely fierce, and supremely violent!
All three realms of the Innate Pure Yang Art allowed one to begin cultivating the Pure Yang Sword Forging Scroll, yet the quality of the Pure Yang sword qi forged differed across each.
That cultivated in the realm of Dispelling Yin to Generate Yang was called Yang Fire Sword Qi; that in the realm of Harmonizing Yin and Yang was called Pure Yang Divine Sword; and that in the realm of Reaching Heaven and Coiling Earth was called Innate True Fire Sword Threads!
In terms of pure sharpness alone, True Fire Sword Threads could be said to destroy anything in their path.
Wang Chong loosened his limbs. Just as he was about to sheathe the long sword, he discovered that after bearing the full brunt of his true qi, the blade had undergone a subtle transformation. It seemed imbued with spirituality, and channeling true qi into it felt far smoother than before. Overjoyed, he muttered to himself, "You didn't have a name originally, but since you aided my cultivation, let you be called Panlong!"
With a casual flick of his wrist, the newly named Panlong Sword let out a soft whine. Even though Wang Chong knew full well that the sword's hum was due to his own particular technique rather than true sentience in the blade, he still could not help taking a deep liking to it. Flicking the blade, he began to sing: "Drunk and wild, men raise a din; in greed, wrath, folly, and love, they sing of wandering free..."
This song, "Mortal Men," was composed by an ancient, long-standing musical group from the world he had transmigrated from.
Wang Chong had heard many songs by that group, but this one remained his favorite.
He had only sung a few lines when the little maid Yu Zao entered carrying a food tray. On it were several steamed buns and four dishes, their mouthwatering aroma whetting the appetite.
Wang Chong stopped casually humming his tune. He held out his hands, letting Yu Zao wipe them thoroughly with a damp towel before she pressed a pair of chopsticks into them, and only then did he happily dig into the meal.
Yu Zao sat beside him, faint dark circles under her fox-like eyes, showing that she clearly had not slept well the previous night.
Wang Chong chuckled and asked, "Is there anything happening today?"
Yu Zao replied, "Master Xuan Gang searched both men and found hawk letters on them. It turns out they were also planning to launch a surprise attack on His Highness the Prince of Yan. Now, both the bodies and the letters have been taken away by officers from the Pengshan County Yamen. They were effusive in their gratitude and will likely report the achievement for credit.
"Other than that, there's nothing much. Only that my young mistress sent a letter saying they are currently staying at Divine Constable Li's Daoist temple."
Wang Chong gave a dumbfounded chuckle and lowered his head to keep eating. After a moment, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Has Master Xuan Gang entered closed seclusion again?"
Yu Zao answered, "No, he just seemed a bit off and ate two extra bowls of rice today. Did Young Master have something to ask him?"
Wang Chong gave an affirmative grunt and said, "The man I killed named Wen Ducheng used a chilling finger technique. I wanted to ask Master Xuan Gang if he recognized it."
Yu Zao replied, "Not only did Master Xuan Gang recognize it, he even mentioned it to me. What that man used was indeed the Ice Soul Finger."
Wang Chong said in surprise, "It really was the Ice Soul Finger?"
Yu Zao said, "This maidservant has already written to my young mistress. The Su family will certainly send someone to verify it. Master Xuan Gang possesses formidable martial arts and hails from a prestigious sect; he could never mistake it."
Wang Chong pondered for a long time, thinking to himself, 'There's new progress in the White Chrysanthemum case. Later, I'll write a letter to Divine Constable Li to mention this to her.' Although the Pengshan County Yamen would certainly report upward as well, a letter written by someone who had personally experienced the encounter like Wang Chong carried entirely different weight.
Having filled his belly, Wang Chong was just about to go looking for Monk Xuan Gang when he heard Wang Dong's voice calling out, "Young Master, someone is here to visit!" The book boy came running, breathless and far from dignified.
Wang Chong knew that the night before, this book boy had bravely charged forward into danger, running around Pengshan County for half the night though failing to catch up with him. He might not be very clever, but his loyalty was genuine, so Wang Chong was especially indulgent with him. "Don't be in such a panic," he said. "Whatever it is, take your time.
"Who has come?"
Panting, Wang Dong replied, "It's the constables from the various prefectures. They say they've come to pay their respects to their superior officer."
Wang Chong let out an "Oh," understanding immediately. He was the Director of the Tongzhou Department of the Ministry of Justice and Chief Constable of the Sixteen Prefectures of Tongzhou. In theory, all penal judicial offices and constables in Tongzhou fell under his jurisdiction, so it was only natural for them to pay their respects to their chief officer.
Taking Wang Dong with him, he first went to the main hall to wait, then had the boy usher everyone inside. In just a moment, several dozen people dressed as constables followed Wang Dong in, dropping to their knees in salute upon seeing Wang Chong.
Wang Chong smiled faintly and said, "There is no need for this, colleagues. Whatever business brings you here, let us keep it brief."
These constables were thoroughly intimidated. Although Wang Chong had neither background nor deep roots in Tongzhou, he had been handpicked by the Prince of Yan, was a sworn brother of the Chrysanthemum-Killing Alliance, and associated with no commoners—only the scions of high officials and dignitaries—not to mention being well-acquainted with Li Qingge, one of the Three Great Constables. On their way here, they had further heard that this superior officer of theirs had slain Nalihai, Eldest Senior Brother of the Qingshan Sect, and struck down Wen Ducheng, the Fourth Divine General of the eighteen grassland tribes. What was more, under the siege of four top masters, he had killed two and repelled two. Such a battle record carried a truly terrifying, awe-inspiring renown.
Before arriving, these constables had already agreed among themselves to avoid offending their immediate superior at all costs.
An elderly constable said with utmost deference, "Director Wang, we originally intended to ask for your guidance on how to thoroughly investigate the White Chrysanthemum case. But we just heard that you have slain two more perpetrators tied to the White Chrysanthemum case. Your methods are truly miraculous; we are thoroughly ashamed, lagging far behind."
...Innate Pure Yang Art: Previously, this Art held its silence, but now that I've reached Reaching Heaven and Coiling Earth, what should you all call me?...
Chapter 56