Chapter 00200: The Sect Master of Purple Mist Valley
# The Sect Master of Purple Mist Valley
Chapter 200
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 200: The Sect Master of Purple Mist Valley
Guan Wei returned quickly, and Liu Yinzhu wasted no time.
She immediately steered the flying ship straight toward Purple Mist Valley.
"Elder Liu, you're back," Elder Jia Sha, who had been waiting at the sect's entrance, hurried forward as he saw Liu Yinzhu's flying ship descend.
"Elder Jia, you've worked hard," Liu Yinzhu said politely.
After everyone disembarked, she stored the flying ship.
Jia Sha scanned the group, his gaze settling on Yan Mei.
Ding Huan appeared to be an ordinary mortal, walking at the back, so only Yan Mei seemed to fit the description.
Just as Jia Sha was about to greet Yan Mei, mistaking her for Ding Huan, Liu Yinzhu spoke up.
"Elder Jia, this is Daoist Ding Huan, and this is Daoist Yan Mei and Lao Liu. You should already know Fairy Guan Wei. Please take them to rest for a while. I need to see the sect master immediately."
Jia Sha broke into a cold sweat.
Thankfully, Elder Liu had spoken in time, or he would have made a huge mistake.
"Brother Huan, I didn’t expect Purple Mist Valley to be so beautiful, and I don’t even see a valley," Yan Mei couldn’t help but remark as they entered Purple Mist Valley.
Compared to Purple Mist Valley, the spiritual energy of West Wind City was like garbage.
Even Guan Wei was shocked.
She had been here once before but had never entered the inner sect.
Now that she was inside, she felt that Purple Mist Valley's grandeur surpassed even that of the Moonlight Sect.
She couldn’t understand why Purple Mist Valley's status was far inferior to the Moonlight Sect.
"Daoist Ding, Fairy Wei, Daoist Yan, please come in," Jia Sha said politely, standing outside the guest hall of Purple Mist Valley.
Lao Liu rolled his eyes.
"Am I not invited?"
Jia Sha was startled.
This beast could talk?
Then he remembered Elder Liu Yinzhu's words and quickly added, "Daoist Lao Liu, please come in as well."
Even Yan Mei gave Lao Liu a disdainful look.
This guy was really too childish.
...
"Sect Master, I’m back..."
After having Elder Jia Sha take care of Ding Huan and the others, Liu Yinzhu immediately headed to Purple Mist Peak.
Her words trailed off as she stared in shock at Sect Master Gu Mo lying on the bed.
Was this even a living person anymore? It was more like a skeleton wrapped in skin.
His head was completely skeletal, though his eyes were still intact.
"Sect Master, you..."
Liu Yinzhu couldn’t hold back her tears.
Since she had joined the sect, the sect master had always treated her with great kindness.
Now, seeing him in such a state was heartbreaking.
"Yinzhu, you’re back. Did you find Ding Huan..."
Gu Mo's voice was barely audible.
"I found him. He’s waiting at the sect. I came to see you first," Liu Yinzhu said, suppressing her grief.
She knew the sect master didn’t have much time left.
Seeing that the sect master could barely speak, Liu Yinzhu continued, "On our way here, we were intercepted by Can Ping from the Twin Soul Sect. I was no match for him, but Ding Huan killed Can Ping..."
"Is Ding Huan already at the True Core stage? Then we can’t let him..."
Gu Mo couldn’t finish his sentence, too weak to continue.
Liu Yinzhu quickly explained, "No, he’s at most just reached the Foundation Establishment stage. When he fought Can Ping, he chose the perfect moment to strike. And that spear technique he used was something I’ve never seen before. Ding Huan’s ability to kill Can Ping was more about seizing the opportunity and understanding Can Ping’s psychology. Sect Master, should I bring Ding Huan to see you now?"
"Good, good..."
Gu Mo managed to say weakly.
Ding Huan hadn’t been sitting for long when Liu Yinzhu arrived at the guest hall.
"I’m sorry, Daoist Ding. I never told you the purpose of my search for you," Liu Yinzhu said apologetically as soon as she entered.
Ding Huan smiled.
"Sister Yinzhu, feel free to speak your mind."
He didn’t sense any malice from Liu Yinzhu, and there was no enmity between them.
There was no reason for her to wait months just to plot against him.
Whether Ding Huan agreed or not, Liu Yinzhu knew she had to speak.
"Daoist Ding, our sect master was severely injured half a year ago and is now on the brink of death. After hearing about you, he wished to meet you."
Ding Huan was stunned.
The sect master of such a large sect like Purple Mist Valley had sent Elder Liu Yinzhu to wait for him in West Wind City for half a year, just to meet him?
Was there some mistake? He had only just created the Great Universe Technique.
There was no way the sect master could know about it.
"Daoist Ding, I know this is a bit sudden..."
Seeing Ding Huan remain silent, Liu Yinzhu quickly added.
Ding Huan stood up.
"Since I’m here, please lead the way, Sister Yinzhu."
If it was just a meeting, he didn’t mind.
He also wanted to stay in Purple Mist Valley for a while.
As they walked out of the guest hall, Liu Yinzhu whispered, "Ding Huan, our sect is currently facing internal and external troubles. The sect master asked me to act as the temporary sect master, but I know I’m not cut out for it. So I recommended you..."
Ding Huan looked at Liu Yinzhu in surprise.
"Sister Yinzhu, are you joking? I’m someone with trash-level talent that even small sects wouldn’t want, and my cultivation is low. You want me to be the sect master of Purple Mist Valley?"
Liu Yinzhu said seriously, "If I had any doubts before, I’m now certain that you are the most suitable person to be the sect master of Purple Mist Valley."
Ding Huan chuckled, not bothering to respond.
With internal and external troubles, there was no way he could take on the role of sect master.
He had his own path to follow.
How could he be tied down as the sect master of Purple Mist Valley?
In everyone’s eyes, having Ding Huan as the sect master of Purple Mist Valley would be elevating him ten thousand times over.
But Ding Huan wasn’t interested in such an elevation.
If he hadn’t created the Great Universe Technique, he might have been anxious and stayed here.
But now, his goal was to find more resources.
As soon as Ding Huan arrived at Purple Mist Peak, he was shocked.
The concentration of spiritual energy here was no worse than sitting on a Divine Crystal Vein.
No wonder everyone wanted to be the sect master.
The sect master’s residence was perfect for cultivation.
"Sect Master, Ding Huan is here," Liu Yinzhu called out outside Gu Mo’s cave dwelling on Purple Mist Peak.
After a while, a weak voice replied, "Come in."
Ding Huan didn’t use his divine sense.
When he entered the bedroom and saw the sect master of Purple Mist Valley lying on the bed, he was stunned.
This was truly skin and bones, no exaggeration.
It seemed as if all the flesh and blood had disappeared from the sect master’s body.
"Daoist Ding, I can’t get up. Please forgive me..."
Despite his difficulty speaking, Gu Mo still managed to say a polite word.
Ding Huan, who was now cultivating the Great Universe Technique, had a special cycle within it designed to deal with cosmic toxins.
At a glance, he could tell that Gu Mo was poisoned, and the poison was familiar.
It was the poison from Hidden Sword Mountain.
When had this old man gone to Hidden Sword Mountain?
Thinking of Ji Xinting, who had been at Hidden Sword Mountain for who knew how many years, this old turtle was still alive and even capable of harming others.
The old turtle’s near-death state wasn’t due to the poison of Hidden Sword Mountain but because of that sword.
It seemed Sect Master Gu was not as strong as Ji Xinting, far from it.
"Sect Master Gu, no need to be polite. You can speak later," Ding Huan said, knowing that Gu Mo would likely ask him some questions to assess whether he was suitable to be the sect master.
But Ding Huan really didn’t want to go through such a tiring conversation.
The poison from Hidden Sword Mountain could kill Gu Mo, but for Ding Huan, it would only take a few breaths to resolve.
"Ding Huan, you..."
Seeing Ding Huan speak so casually, Liu Yinzhu was momentarily stunned.
Didn’t he see that the old sect master was on the verge of death? What did he mean by "speak later"?
Ding Huan walked to Gu Mo’s side, placed his hand on Gu Mo’s wrist, and activated the Great Universe Technique.
In the next moment, the toxins in Gu Mo’s body rapidly transformed into a black line and were drawn away by Ding Huan.
Gu Mo stared at Ding Huan in shock.
He knew his condition better than anyone.
If someone had told him that his poison could be cured, no matter how convincingly they spoke, he wouldn’t have believed it.
The poison had not only penetrated his flesh and bones but had also seeped deep into his marrow.
Because he had been continuously circulating his cultivation to stay alive, the poison had even filled his sea of consciousness.
This kind of poison wasn’t something a small-time cultivator like Ding Huan could handle.
Even the greatest medical immortal from the Ascension Realm wouldn’t be able to cure it.
But what was he feeling now?
All the toxins attached to his bones and skin were being drawn away by Ding Huan.
He even felt as if he were in a vast universe, where the toxins were being annihilated.
Gu Mo sighed.
If he had met Ding Huan when he was first poisoned, perhaps his poison could have been removed.
But now, the poison wasn’t just in his bones and skin.
Even more terrifying, it had penetrated his marrow and sea of consciousness.
No one could cure that.
Just as he was about to tell Ding Huan to stop, his sea of consciousness trembled slightly.
Then, the toxins in his sea of consciousness and marrow were also drawn away as a black line.
What kind of technique was this?
"You can start cultivating now," Ding Huan suddenly said, still drawing away the toxins from Gu Mo’s body.
Gu Mo didn’t hesitate and immediately began circulating his cultivation technique.
As he did, the remaining toxins hidden in his meridians were brought out.
After just a few cycles, Ding Huan released Gu Mo’s wrist.
Then he casually tossed aside a black sphere.
"Sister Yinzhu, this is the toxin from Sect Master Gu’s body. Please dispose of it," Ding Huan said, pointing to the black sphere he had thrown aside.
"You cured the sect master’s poison? Is he recovered?" Liu Yinzhu asked in disbelief, looking at Ding Huan.
Ding Huan smiled.
"I happened to know how to cure this poison, and I got a bit lucky."
Gu Mo, however, said excitedly, "Thank you, thank you. Yinzhu, the poison in my body is truly gone. With some rest, I’ll recover fully."
In fact, a hint of color had already returned to Gu Mo’s face.
"Sect Master Gu, you should cultivate now. I’ll step outside," Ding Huan said, leaving the room.
He knew Gu Mo would have things to discuss with Liu Yinzhu.
"Yinzhu, this Daoist Ding is truly extraordinary. He..."
After Ding Huan left, Gu Mo said in amazement.
Liu Yinzhu was also excited, her tone filled with self-reproach.
"I was so foolish. Even Guan Wei knew to ask Ding Huan for help, but I didn’t think to ask him to cure your poison."
Gu Mo’s voice was filled with excitement.
"It’s not your fault. Bringing Daoist Ding to Purple Mist Valley is a tremendous boon for our sect. It’s simply..."
Gu Mo couldn’t find the right words, his skeletal face making a somewhat comical expression.
Liu Yinzhu also said excitedly, "Ding Huan’s insight is far greater than mine. He could lead Purple Mist Valley..."
Gu Mo waved his hand.
"Now that I’m better, we need to make some changes to our plans."
Seeing Liu Yinzhu’s puzzled expression, Gu Mo didn’t explain further.
Previously, he had wanted Ding Huan to be the sect master in name, with Liu Yinzhu handling the actual duties.
The main reason was that Liu Yinzhu truly couldn’t meet his expectations, and after his death, Purple Mist Valley would likely collapse.
As for Elder He of Purple Mist Valley, while strong, he didn’t care about the sect’s survival.
Another reason was that Ding Huan’s low cultivation made him easy to control.
Additionally, Gu Mo hadn’t had the chance to assess Ding Huan or choose anyone else.
Ding Huan had managed to outwit Qu Yue Mountain at the Qi Refining stage and was familiar with Liu Yinzhu, so Gu Mo had no choice but to choose him.
He had even left a secret will for Liu Yinzhu and Jia Sha, fearing that things might spiral out of Liu Yinzhu’s control.
But now that he was better, that secret will was no longer necessary.
Some dark matters were best left unknown to Liu Yinzhu.
(End of Chapter)