Chapter 219: Inquiry

Chapter 219: Inquiry

Within the Purple Sun Sect, at the Hall of Historical Records!

Not about past lives, but past events.

The name means "remembering the past to guide the future," and it houses records of various events from the jianghu.

Beside the desk, Wei Ziyi flipped through the records, feeling a faint headache coming on.

Unable to help herself, she glanced again at Su Mo, who was sitting not far away:

"Are you really sure that there are records about the Whale Devouring Skill in the Purple Sun Sect?"

Su Mo nodded. "I'm sure."

This information came from Yang Yizhi. If it had been anyone else, Su Mo wouldn’t have been so certain.

However, when it came to Yang Yizhi, Su Mo trusted him completely.

Not just because of his identity, but more importantly, his character.

He never speaks unless he’s sure.

But after looking at Wei Ziyi, he sighed. "Keep searching."

"Mm..." She sighed softly, flipping through another stack of books.

Su Mo, on the other hand, felt somewhat helpless.

He didn’t blame Wei Ziyi for losing patience. It had been a full seven days since they started searching through the archives in the Hall of Historical Records.

Since Su Mo exorcised the Five Ghosts of the Heavenly Demons from Li Zhengyuan, eight days had passed.

The first day was mainly spent with Li Zhengyuan asking him various questions.

These questions weren’t just about Su Mo’s martial arts skills, but more about his life.

Li Zhengyuan was way more interested in Su Mo’s life than he expected.

Afterward, Su Mo met the various elders within the Purple Sun Sect.

They were mostly of the same generation as Su Mo’s father.

They treated Su Mo like family.

What made Su Mo feel a bit awkward was that these elders, taking their seniority for granted, occasionally brought up stories about Su Tianyang when he was younger.

The other protagonist in these stories, besides Su Tianyang, was Duan Song.

For example, as recorded in the notes, there were multiple instances where Su Tianyang pushed Duan Song into a pile of manure.

There was also the time when Su Tianyang was practicing footwork on top of water jars. His steps slowed a bit, and he ended up bumping Duan Song into a water jar.

Another time, the two went up the mountain to collect pine nuts. Duan Song hid in a cave, enduring hunger for three days. When he was found, he said in terror that there were child-eating demons on the mountain.

A more outrageous story involved the two practicing martial arts by the river. A giant fish actually snatched Duan Song and dragged him into the river!

It was only after a full day and night that they returned, and after that, the way they looked at Su Tianyang carried a mix of petulant grievance and resentment, as if she were a young girl pouting.

Su Mo’s scalp tingled as he thought about how Duan Song had survived so much yet remained unharmed—it was nothing short of remarkable.

In their conversations, the things said about Su Tianyang mostly revolved around him being a little imp, clever, and slyly mischievous.

When it came to Duan Song, they flat-out called him clueless.

These people had grown up with Duan Song, and with no filter in their speech, they didn’t hold back, giving no face to Duan Song.

Therefore, it was Duan Song who felt even more uncomfortable than Su Mo.

After Su Mo reported the matter of the Whale Devouring Skill to Li Zhengyuan, Li Zhengyuan brought him to the Former Affairs Pavilion.

"Remember the past and learn for the future; this place is not the martial arts library. It doesn’t contain any secret manuals, but it holds records of the experiences of Purple Sun Sect disciples traveling the jianghu, serving as valuable lessons for future generations.

Hence, it is named the Former Affairs Pavilion.

Li Zhengyuan told Su Mo that if there were indeed any records of the Whale Devouring Skill, it should be here.

Su Mo immediately entered to look, and Wei Ziyi volunteered to help.

At the beginning, even some of the uncles and elder masters from the Purple Sun Sect joined in to help search.

However, after a couple of days, they started to lose interest.

The first to run was Duan Song.

After that, the other elders found excuses to leave, leaving only Su Mo and Wei Ziyi to continue their efforts for the Whale Devouring Skill.

However, by this point, their search had still yielded no results.

If it weren’t for Yang Yizhi’s reliable reputation, Su Mo might have doubted his own memory.

"In the past few days, there has been news from down the mountain."

Wei Ziyi, while flipping through a book, mentioned something to Su Mo:

"Liu Suifeng has already challenged the Distant Mountain Sword Sect."

"Hmm?"

Su Mo put down the book he was holding and casually picked up another. "What was the result?"

"This time, the Distant Mountain Sword Sect sent their acting sect leader to fight.

"Liu Suifeng was reportedly involved in a grueling battle, emerging victorious but not without sustaining injuries."

Wei Ziyi glanced at Su Mo. "The swordsmanship of the Distant Mountain Sword Sect is indeed outstanding. Among the Seven Great Sects, their sword techniques are considered the best. However, when it comes to their acting sect leader, it is said that his martial prowess is no less than that of the sect leader. But if we’re being honest, he may not necessarily be able to defeat my master."

Su Mo smiled. When it comes to martial combat, one must consider the right time, place, and conditions.

The martial skills of the Third Palace Master, Yun Jiuying, are naturally formidable, but they are precisely countered by Liu Suifeng’s Sky Rainbow Interrogating Heart Sword technique.

Given the matchup, it’s no surprise that Liu Suifeng emerged victorious, though at a cost.

Su Mo wasn’t very familiar with the martial arts of the Distant Mountain Sword Sect, but he imagined they didn’t have the same kind of emotional scar as the Third Palace Master, which was why Liu Suifeng was caught in a fierce battle.

Just as we're talking about this, Su Mo couldn't help but ask, "Is the swordsmanship of the Distant Mountain Sword Sect even superior to Cold Moon Palace?"

"Although Cold Moon Palace uses swords, they also have other martial arts, each with its own specialties."

"Overall, my Cold Moon Palace is still the best, but solely in terms of swordsmanship, we do fall short."

Wei Ziyi smiled calmly, "You have a close personal relationship with Liu Suifeng. This time, he got injured. Aren't you worried that he won't make it to Tianqu City?"

"Not worried."

Su Mo shook his head, "Lord Liu's martial arts are unparalleled. Even if he's injured, it's just another refinement of his sword skills. I believe that after this battle, his swordsmanship should be even more honed."

"…That's right."

Wei Ziyi sighed, "Even though your Purple Sun Sect hasn't been very active in the jianghu lately, they still have their fingers on the pulse of the jianghu... As soon as Liu Suifeng was injured, some people saw an opportunity to strike."

"They set up an ambush for Liu Suifeng near the Distant Mountain Sword Sect."

"The person who made the move was quite renowned and highly skilled."

"As a result, Liu Suifeng single-handedly defeated them, leaving them in disarray."

"His reputation and martial prowess have grown even more with each challenge he takes on."

"With this momentum, the Tianqu Sword Contest is going to be a real spectacle."

"Even if Wan Zangxin isn't his match, the Liu Suifeng by then will be highly anticipated."

Hearing this, Su Mo's brows furrowed slightly.

Liu Suifeng's true goal was not to compete with Wan Zangxin at the Tianqu Sword Contest.

His real target was the Youquan Cult.

However, it was really not the time to talk about this now.

If the Youquan Cult became aware, who knows what the outcome would be.

Shaking his head, he didn't dwell on it, but at that moment, a sudden realization hit him.

"Oh!"

Wei Ziyi suddenly exclaimed. Su Mo was startled and looked up at her.

"Did you think of something too?"

"Think of what?"

Wei Ziyi opened the book in her hand and pointed it towards Su Mo, "Look at this!"

Su Mo's heart stirred, and he immediately went over to Wei Ziyi, taking the book into his hands. Following the text, he indeed saw the words 'Whale Devouring Skill.'

Letting out a long breath, he said to Wei Ziyi, "Well done, well done. Alright, you've lost your usefulness again."

"...Are you looking to die?"

Wei Ziyi glared, "Let me see as well."

Su Mo didn't refuse. After all, it was just a casual joke, not to be taken seriously.

They immediately began examining the book's contents in detail.

According to the book, the Whale Devouring Skill originated from the Southern Sea.

The Southern Sea is vast, with expansive waters.

Martial arts in the Southern Sea are just as diverse and flourishing as in the Eastern Wilderness, equally impressive in their variety.

There is also a distinction between righteous and evil paths in these martial arts.

A remarkable figure was inspired by the sight of a whale consuming everything in its path and created the Whale Devouring Skill.

The original intention was to emulate the whale, taking all things into the body and converting them into qi.

He used his acupoints as containers, ingesting objects and converting them into qi through the extraordinary meridians, which proved surprisingly effective.

He believed that storing qi in the acupoints would give him an endless supply of energy from his acupoints during battle, while his opponent could only rely on the qi from their lower dantian.

This would give him an unbeatable advantage in combat.

Afterward, he continued to experiment step by step, dedicating half his life to the effort, and eventually created half of the Whale Devouring Skill.

As for why the latter half was never completed, it was because the individual who developed the first half was ultimately overwhelmed by the immense qi within him.

He was ultimately torn apart by the overwhelming power, leaving no trace behind.

He mastered storing the energy but couldn't control its transformation.

Since then, this martial art has circulated in the Southern Sea, passing through many hands.

Each person gained different insights from it.

In the world of martial arts, a technique used righteously will be righteous, and if used for evil, it becomes evil.

One group named this skill the Whale Devouring Skill.

They believed that those who practiced this skill could convert qi at an astonishing rate.

The flesh, filled with qi, was considered a highly potent elixir.

Therefore, they specifically captured people stranded at sea, forced them to practice this skill, seeking only their flesh for elixirs without pursuing a cure.

They allowed the practitioners to eat excessively, eventually imprisoning them.

After their bodies burst, they collected the remains to refine elixirs, naming the product "Human Pill."

Later, it seemed that the term "Human Pill" attracted too much covetousness and displeasure from some self-righteous individuals.

So, they renamed it "Transformation Elixir."

This group relied on the Transformation Elixir to catalyze numerous experts who wreaked havoc across the Southern Sea, committing all sorts of atrocities.

Their despicable methods eventually sparked widespread outrage.

The experts of the Southern Sea hunted them down and exterminated the entire sect at sea.

In the end, the sect vanished without a trace.

The record stops here suddenly.

Su Mo and Wei Ziyi exchanged glances, realizing the text didn’t explain what to do after mastering the Whale Devouring Skill.

It didn’t say how to avoid dying from your body exploding.

Wei Ziyi flipped through a couple more pages, and her eyes sparkled with excitement:

"There’s more information here."

Su Mo had already read it and frowned.

"The following describes how those who were forced to practice the Whale Devouring Skill eventually resolved the issue.

"It says that there were people in the South Sea who could use silver needles to break open the acupuncture points, dispersing the internal energy built up from practicing the Whale Devouring Skill.

"Thus, saving their lives."

"Looks like you’ll need to head out to sea sooner or later."

Wei Ziyi looked at Su Mo, her eyes gleaming. "The South Sea is huge, and I’ve always wanted to explore it. What if we invite Sister Yang to come along? We could all set sail together."

Su Mo glanced at her. "You have time for that?"

"This..."

Wei Ziyi was caught off guard by his question and let out a heavy sigh.

She didn’t.

As the eighth leader of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, she only had the chance to return to East City to watch the Tianqu Sword Contest because of a message from her sect.

Otherwise, with the busy affairs of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, how could she find the time to wander around?

For a moment, she could only sigh regretfully.

She glanced at Su Mo again and suddenly asked, "It seems you’ve gained something too. What did you think of?"

Su Mo put away the book, looked at the cover, which clearly read "South Sea Anecdotes," and couldn’t help but grin.

Putting it in his chest, he said, "I’m not telling you."

"..."

Wei Ziyi’s small fist clenched with a crisp sound, but before she could do anything, Su Mo had already stepped out of the former affairs pavilion.

"You’re still not telling me?"

Wei Ziyi came to her senses. "Do you believe me if I tell Sister Yang that you’re bullying me?"

Su Mo didn’t bother to respond.

With quick steps, he had already left the former affairs pavilion.

……

……

In the sect leader's small courtyard, Li Zhengyuan tucked the hem of his robe at his waist.

Rolling up his sleeves, he held a small hoe in his hand, digging into the soil to plant the seeds.

He casually scooped a ladle of water from the nearby bucket and moistened the soil.

After pouring the leftover water back into the bucket, he stood up and stretched a bit.

Looking at his work in the garden, he was quite satisfied.

Although he was the sect leader of the Purple Sun Sect, he wasn’t some caricature from movies and TV shows.

He didn’t spend all day sitting in the grand hall, with a pondering expression on his face, plotting schemes or pondering life-and-death decisions.

After all, the sect leader was also human. When he had free time, tending to the soil and growing vegetables brought him joy.

"When the vegetable leaves mature and bear fruit, I'll pick them and let my great-granddisciple taste the vegetables I’ve grown. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?"

At the thought, Li Zhengyuan smiled, stroking his beard. Just as he was about to continue his work, he heard footsteps.

"Great master."

Su Mo's voice came from outside the door.

By the time Li Zhengyuan looked up, Su Mo had already arrived in the yard. Seeing Li Zhengyuan working in the field, Su Mo didn’t say much. He kicked off his boots and stepped into the field barefoot.

Casually taking the hoe from Li Zhengyuan's hand, he began to help with the work.

"Mo'er, you know your way around a garden too?"

Li Zhengyuan was somewhat surprised.

Su Mo smiled and said, "I’ve read about it in books and have a basic understanding."

In fact, in his previous life, he had been a child from the countryside, spending his days playing and getting into trouble in the fields.

Though the adults pampered him and didn’t let him do any heavy lifting, he had been influenced by his surroundings and childhood memories, so he was naturally familiar with these tasks.

Li Zhengyuan laughed heartily and said, "Traveling far and wide and reading extensively, it’s great to see you applying what you’ve learned—those books weren’t just for show.

"Hmm... Have you found any leads on the Whale Devouring Skill?"

"Yes."

Su Mo nodded and said, "It seems I’m being directed to the South Sea once more; I’ll have to make another trip there in the future."

"The South Sea."

Li Zhengyuan thought for a moment and then nodded, saying, "The South Sea is a different challenge from the Eastern Wilderness, but with your skills, you can go anywhere.

"The South Sea won’t stand in your way.

"It’s just a pity that the Three Great Demon Sects are watching East City with greedy eyes; otherwise, I’d like to accompany you on that trip."

"…I wouldn’t want to put you through the trouble of traveling, Great Master."

Su Mo was about to scatter a handful of seeds into the soil.

Seeing this, Li Zhengyuan immediately said, "That’s too much; a little less will do."

Su Mo put some seeds back, picked out a few, and looked at Li Zhengyuan, who nodded approvingly, signaling that it was just right.

Too many seeds in the soil will compete for nutrients, making it hard for them to sprout. If only one or two come out, wouldn't all the effort be in vain if none of them make it?

Therefore, three or five seeds should suffice. Once they sprout, we can see which ones grow the strongest.

Leave one and remove the rest, so the nutrients can be directed to that one seed, allowing it to grow robustly.

"Actually, I came this time with something I wanted to ask Grandmaster."

As Su Mo planted the seeds, he spoke up.

Li Zhengyuan picked up the watering can and poured some water, smiling as he said, "Mo'er, you still act so formally with your Grandmaster? Whatever it is, just say it straight out."

Su Mo pondered for a moment and glanced at Li Zhengyuan:

"Grandmaster... these past few days, while wandering around Purple Sun Sect, I noticed that the disciples here are all full of vigor and vitality.

"My peers have also shown remarkable martial arts skills.

"But I don't understand why, in recent years, there haven't been many disciples from our sect going down the mountain?"

Li Zhengyuan looked at him and smiled lightly, "Mo'er, I suspect you have more than just this question on your mind?"

"…Yes."

Su Mo nodded, "My father returned to the sect twice. The first time, he handed over the Snakehead Sword Seal that my grandfather entrusted to him before his death.

"At that time, my father must have explained everything he had encountered, hoping the sect would provide protection.

"Only then was a disaster averted."

"The second time, after he returned to the sect and then came back to Sunset City, his personality changed drastically.

"Great master… I venture to ask, what did my father find out in the sect back then?"

Su Tianyang's transformation didn't happen overnight.

The first change happened after he met Tong Yun.

The second change occurred after he returned to the Purple Sun Sect again…

This question had been on Su Mo's mind since the first day he arrived at the Purple Sun Sect.

But it wasn't until today that Su Mo finally asked.

"Do you suspect that the reason the Purple Sun Sect has few disciples walking the jianghu (the world of martial arts) is related to your father's situation?"

Li Zhengyuan looked at Su Mo, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Su Mo shook his head. "I don't know, which is why I'm asking."

"Wait for me a moment."

Li Zhengyuan nodded and went inside.

A moment later, he returned with something in hand.

Su Mo recognized it—the sealed message box that Duan Song had retrieved from the Purple Sun Escort Agency."