In the secret chamber at the edge of the forbidden zone in Qingxu Temple's rear mountain, Tang Xiaoqi sat cross-legged.
Half a month had passed since that fierce sect defensive battle. Surface wounds were being repaired, but the cracks in his heart were far from healed. Master's figure dissipating into starlight, father Xu Zhan's final resolute gaze, like nightmares, gnawing at his heart day and night. If not for the jade pendant at his chest constantly sending a cool sensation, he would have been drowned by this overwhelming grief and self-blame long ago.
At this moment, he was not circulating energy to heal wounds nor breaking through to a higher cultivation realm. He was only "looking," internally observing deep within his dantian at that mass of cyan light that had followed him since the night Xulan Manor fell through all experiences - the Purification Origin.
Before, it was more like a tool, a weapon of immense power that needed careful control. Wherever his mind moved, cyan light flowed, cleansing demonic energy, healing wounds, with endless marvelous uses. But Xiaoqi always felt he hadn't truly understood it - like a child wielding a divine weapon, knowing how to use it but not why it worked.
Until... he witnessed Master using his soul as guidance, transforming into stars to reinforce the array. Until... he faced his father once again controlled by demonic thoughts, feeling that trace of painful struggle belonging to "Xu Zhan" deep within those icy pupils. Until... his father, to not be a burden to him, to create a sliver of hope for him, resolutely summoned the power the demon had nurtured for a hundred years within his body, reverse purifying, perishing together with the demon's split soul, his spirit scattered.
That extreme grief, mixed with helpless anger, and finally understanding his father's true intent for sacrifice, feeling relieved yet heavy - all kinds of emotions, like a storm wave, repeatedly impacting his Dao heart.
In this extreme turmoil of emotions, the jade pendant at his chest grew unprecedentedly hot, and the Purification Origin within his dantian also became turbulent. It no longer merely responded to his spiritual energy but seemed to possess its own pulse, resonating with his heartbeat, with every breath carrying grief and joy.
A clear chime resounded in his mind - not a real sound, but a vibration from the depths of his soul. In Xiaoqi's "vision," that cyan glow began slowly and firmly rotating, and at its center a point of even purer, deeper light gradually brightened.
No longer simply dispersing and destroying.
He "saw" in the starlight where Master dissipated what was contained was not destruction but the deepest reluctance to leave and guardianship over the sect and disciples. That starlight merged into the mountain protection array, becoming vitality to nourish the ruined sect.
He "saw" his father's final "sacrifice purification light" was not pure hatred for demonic energy. Its core was expectation for this son's future, a strong wish that he could live and continue forward, a blessing of "rebirth" transcending hatred.
"Purification... is not only the path of destruction."
An understanding like lightning cut through the fog in his heart. The essence of purification is "expelling evil and supporting the righteous," is "removing the coarse to preserve the refined." Expelling evil is to support righteous energy. Removing the coarse is to preserve and even promote purer "vitality."
He remembered in the secret realm using the jade pendant's faint light to revive the Tranquil Heart Grass. Remembered quietly dispelling toxins for fellow disciples after the beast wave. Remembered at the exit of the Misty Cloud Secret Realm saving disciples entangled by demonic vines with basic purification arts.
Those minor experiences now intertwined with Master's and father's heroic sacrifices, converging into a torrent, washing away his original, shallow understanding of purification power.
"Demonic energy, toxins, filth - these are 'evil,' these are 'the coarse.' But the will of living beings to survive, the faith of teachers to protect, the tireless sacrifice of kin... these are what should be 'supported in righteousness,' what should be preserved and strengthened - the 'righteous' and the 'refined.'"
"The Purification Origin's core of power should not merely be 'rejection' and 'clearing,' but 'protection' and 'rebirth'!"
This thought like a seed falling to earth, instantly taking root and sprouting, perfectly matching his guardianship sword heart tempered by hardships yet increasingly resilient.
Within the dantian, that cyan glow suddenly expanded, the originally gentle light becoming blazing yet strangely without any burning heat, instead filled with warm and grand vitality. The deep light at the center completely stabilized, like a cyan heart beating powerfully, each beat sending out rings of ripples containing complex Dao rhythms.
Xiaoqi, divinely inspired, no longer tried to "control" it but opened his heart, pouring in his guardianship ideals - remembrance of the departed, responsibility to the living, hope for the future - without reservation integrating into it.
The Purification Origin vibrated joyfully, as if finding its true master, finding the ultimate direction for its power to flow. It was no longer merely energy suspended in the dantian but began deeper-level integration with Xiaoqi's meridians, bones, blood, and even the depths of his spirit and soul.
An unprecedented feeling of clarity spread through his entire body.
He unconsciously raised his hand, a wisp of cyan light circling his fingertip. This cyan light was different from before, no longer merely pure and flawless but seemingly containing the trajectory of stars' birth and death, the cycles of grass and trees' withering and flourishing, and more importantly containing a firm yet gentle "will."
He subtly moved his mind, guiding this wisp of cyan light toward a pot in the corner of the secret chamber with a spiritual plant that had become wilted from the earlier demonic energy exposure.
The cyan light descended without intense energy fluctuation, like spring rain silently permeating into the plant. The next moment, visibly to the naked eye, the plant's leaves unfurled, becoming verdant and lustrous again, even more vibrant than before, faintly emanating a layer of weak spiritual light.
Xiaoqi could clearly sense that wisp of cyan light not only dispersed the faint residual death energy within the plant but also stimulated its inherent life potential, granting it stronger vitality. This was the power of "rebirth."
He then turned his gaze inward toward some subtle hidden injuries and stagnant qi from days of grief and exhaustion. Without consciously circulating techniques, as the Purification Origin flowed past, those hidden injuries and stagnation melted like ice and snow. Not only were injuries healed but his mind became clearer and more steadfast.
It even began spontaneously tempering the spiritual energy within him, quietly removing impurities from rapid advancement or pill residue, making his spiritual energy more pure and refined.
Its range of ability, no longer limited to external demonic energy and toxins. Inward, it could nourish himself, temper spiritual energy, stabilize the mind, heal "wounds" arising from within. Outward, it was no longer simply purification and destruction but could also stimulate vitality, support righteous energy.
Its applications were no longer limited to several fixed forms of passive defense or active attack but became more "nimble," seemingly possessing simple spirituality, able to evolve forms and effects more suitable for the current situation following Xiaoqi's intentions.
Not knowing how much time passed, the surging cyan light within the secret chamber gradually condensed inward, finally completely drawing back into Xiaoqi's body.
He slowly opened his eyes. Deep within his gaze, as if two cyan flames flickered and vanished, then returning to calm yet more deep and clear than before.
His cultivation realm had not advanced, still at the peak of Qi Refinement middle stage. But he clearly knew he had become completely different.
The Purification Origin completed its first true "transformation." It was no longer merely an external treasure power that needed to be wielded but truly began becoming part of his "Dao," integrating with his original intention of protection.
He spread open his palm. That jade pendant that had accompanied him until now rested quietly in his palm, its color seeming more warm and moist, inside seeming to have cloud-like cyan light slowly flowing.
"Father, Master..." Xiaoqi murmured softly, gripping the jade pendant tightly. His fingertips slightly white from force, yet his gaze unprecedentedly firm: "I understand your sacrifices. Destruction is not the end - protection and rebirth are where meaning lies. I will continue down this path, carrying your share as well."
He stood up. Within the secret chamber wind arose without wind, a serene yet grand aura naturally emanated. Though the road ahead remained full of thorns, the demon's threat like a sword hanging overhead, Qingxu Temple's reconstruction a long and arduous task, at this moment his heart was filled with power - a power originating from understanding, from faith, from the transformed "Purification Origin's" power.
This power would guide him on this cultivation road full of difficulties, walking farther and more steadily.