Chapter 8: The Purple Mist Technique

The internal sect competition this time could be considered quite successful. At the very least, it allowed the Seven True Ones of Quanzhen to discern the levels of these disciples—not merely in martial skill, but in overall aptitude. This competition enabled the Seven True Ones to identify the primary candidates for cultivation and determine the future development paths for most disciples. It also provided firsthand data for their upcoming teaching plans. Naturally, the responsibility for teaching ultimately fell to Tan Chuduan, Liu Chuxuan, and Hao Datong. Wang Chuyi and Qiu Chuji still had some worldly affairs to attend to and could not remain long at Chongyang Palace.

Qiu Zhiqing followed Ma Yu toward the back hall of the Daoist temple. The little panda, naive and curious, popped its head up and caught Ma Yu’s attention.

“What is this creature? A dog?” Ma Yu asked curiously, pointing at the panda. It was no wonder Ma Yu mistook it; it did bear some resemblance to a small dog, except for its unusual coloring.

The panda seemed slightly offended and let out two disgruntled “mmm” sounds. Ma Yu’s curiosity only grew; he reached out to touch the “dog’s” head and remarked on its pleasant texture.

Qiu Zhiqing, embarrassed, tucked the panda into his robe and explained, “Master, this was given to the disciples earlier by Brother Li and others. They said the little one’s parents were tragically lost, and seeing it all alone and helpless, they brought it here for the disciples. It’s not a dog—it’s a bear.”

“Oh? A black-and-white bear?” Ma Yu chuckled. One should have no illusions about the flow of information in ancient times; even Ma Yu had never seen such a creature before. It must indeed be a spirit from some deep forest! If not for the increasing number of refugees settling in the depths of the Qinling Mountains with Quanzhen’s help in recent years, he would never have imagined encountering a giant panda in such a place. Amusingly, he had initially thought it was an iron-eating beast but found no record of such in any book he had read. Still, calling it a bear was not wrong.

After a few steps, Ma Yu’s voice came again: “Now everyone outside knows you like little animals. That’s unbecoming!”

Oh no, the little secret was out! To test how much Ma Yu actually knew, Qiu Zhiqing cautiously asked, “Should I live a more austere life from now on?”

Without stopping his steps or turning his head, Ma Yu replied, “Yes, that’s best! Also, inform your friends—they’re not children anymore. Be more cautious in the future. That little girl is a disciple of the Ancient Tomb Sect. Although we have deep ties with her, it’s best not to get entangled too much. When you return, copy the ‘Fifteen Treatises on Establishing the Quanzhen Sect’ ten times. I’ll inspect it tomorrow morning.”

Having said that, he paid no further attention to Qiu Zhiqing behind him and left on his own.

Qiu Zhiqing stood there dumbfounded. Seeing Ma Yu walk away, he felt an urge to run after him and argue, but then remembered he was his master. Even his ever-running cultivation method paused momentarily. He muttered to himself, “Did Master misunderstand? We only crave her jade summit nectar, absolutely no other thoughts… Pah, that can’t be—she’s only eleven or twelve, starting cultivation takes three years at least, and the highest… Besides, I haven’t seen the little girl in half a year! What’s that old Daoist thinking about every day?”

Though displeased with his master’s lack of respect for age, Qiu Zhiqing felt his body was honest. The internal competition had ended by midday. After lunch and tidying the Sutra Library, he was looking forward to the evening’s reunion dinner.

Who knew he would be assigned the task of copying the “Fifteen Treatises on Establishing the Quanzhen Sect” ten times? Fortunately, it wasn’t a lengthy text, or he might have struggled.

Returning to the Sutra Library after completing the copying, Qiu Zhiqing began cleaning. The library was secluded and seldom visited, so he wanted to finish early to prepare for the large evening session. As usual, he picked up the duster he had wielded for ten years and began applying the Quanzhen Sword Technique to clean.

The Seven True Swords, the first sword is “Wind Wave,” with moves evoking wind and waves—representing the Daoist heart and growth.

The second sword embodies the desolate mood, often named after autumn wind and rain—symbolizing weather and life’s frequent hardships.

The third sword is “Star and Moon,” broadening the chest or deepening solitude—training not the sword but the heart.

The fourth sword is “Mist,” signifying confusion and obscurity—this represents the path of the Dao.

The fifth sword is “Sorrow and Snow,” symbolizing the restraint and release of emotions, expressed through extreme evasion and eruption—gathering and releasing—nurturing and training.

The sixth sword is “Flowers and Grass,” embodying the beauty and brilliance of blooming flowers and their falling, as well as the tenacity and sharpness of grass—representing flora and the human world.

The seventh sword is the openness attained through understanding the Daoist heart, the carefree spirit after experiencing the mortal world, and the grandeur after gazing upon the starry river.

Together, these seven swords and their seven forms—forty-nine moves in total—represent a person’s cultivation journey. Practicing the sword in this way can induce a meditative state, activating the Quanzhen cultivation method without deliberate effort.

At the same time, the automatic flow of the cultivation method deepens the understanding of swordsmanship. Training swordsmanship is also cultivating the Dao.

This is why the Quanzhen Sect regards the “Quanzhen Cultivation Method” and “Quanzhen Sword Technique” as its true transmissions. Otherwise, wouldn’t the “Nine Yin Manual” be more alluring? It is indeed tempting, but it is not the Dao of Quanzhen. Quanzhen is a Daoist sect; cultivation of the Dao comes first.

However, Qiu Zhiqing had to grumble about his own ancestor: must you be so honest? Even if it doesn’t align with Quanzhen doctrine, placing such a text in the library for disciples to see wouldn’t hurt…

Obviously, this was Qiu Zhiqing’s personal view. Others did not see it that way, such as Hao Datong, who now entered.

“Zhiqing, still using the Quanzhen Sword Technique to clean? You little brat! You really make this old Daoist angry. Just this morning, we invited the Grandmaster to visit. If he saw this, he’d surely give you a good beating!”

Qiu Zhiqing finished cleaning the last corner before stopping. Hao Datong’s arrival had long been audible. For some reason, his senses had greatly sharpened these years, improving both his medical skills and cooking prowess.

“Uncle, please don’t be angry! The Grandmaster sees your cleverness in saving time for cultivation and is surely pleased. He wouldn’t blame you,” Qiu Zhiqing replied.

Hao Datong was momentarily speechless, but these years he had grown used to it. Every time he saw Qiu Zhiqing wielding the duster with sword movements to clean the Sutra Library, he felt an urge to beat him up. A Daoist who cannot properly use a duster is no good…

Yet this little rascal, though his sword skills were uncertain, had practiced his lightness skill to perfection. Originally a sweeping move called “Golden Goose Technique,” he had made it as agile as a sparrow darting through the woods. With such talent and laziness combined, Hao Datong could only admire him.

Not wanting to dwell on the Grandmaster’s matter, Qiu Zhiqing put down the duster and picked up the panda on the table, petting it curiously. “Uncle, it’s only just past noon. Did you come early to see me for something?”

Hao Datong glanced at the black-and-white bundle in Qiu Zhiqing’s arms but did not ask further. Instead, he spoke of his purpose. He took a thread-bound book from his bosom and said, “Senior Brother says your ‘Quanzhen Cultivation Method’ has reached the state of ‘no thought arising’—a self-consistent cycle…”

He looked at Qiu Zhiqing with some envy. After twenty years of hard cultivation, he had only reached a state of cyclic self-operation where thoughts disrupted progress. He hadn’t expected this seemingly unreliable disciple to be so far along the path.

Of course, this did not mean Qiu Zhiqing’s martial skill surpassed Hao Datong’s, only that his cultivation realm was a bit higher.

Handing over the book, Hao Datong continued, “Senior Brother says you have reached the level to comprehend this ‘Innate Skill.’ I have been obsessed with studying the ‘Purple Dawn Qi’ in recent years with little progress. Several senior brothers are too busy, so they asked me to seek your insights.”

Qiu Zhiqing took the book but did not immediately open it. After so many years of cultivation, he had enough willpower. Yet out of curiosity, he asked, “Uncle, as far as I know, with my humble cultivation, I may not yet be able to practice the ‘Innate Skill,’ right?”

To clarify, when Wang Chongyang exchanged “Innate Skill” for “One Yang Finger” with Master Yideng, it was a personal act. Quanzhen has no inheritance of “One Yang Finger,” nor do Yideng’s disciples inherit “Innate Skill.”

There is a form of mutual inheritance when techniques are exchanged, called shared transmission between two sects, such as the later “Two Forms Sword Technique” of Wudang and Kunlun.

Hao Datong sat down, and Qiu Zhiqing hurriedly poured him a cup of tea, standing attentively. Hao Datong was pleased but teased, “Don’t just stand there—sit!”

When Qiu Zhiqing sat, Hao Datong said, “We only want you to contemplate it, not to practice it. Over the years, our study of ‘Innate Skill’ has yielded various gains and greatly benefited our practice of ‘Quanzhen Cultivation Method.’ Senior Brother heard your Dao realm is quite high and thought you might help me refine the ‘Purple Mist Skill’ I am developing…”