Back in his room, Ye Wen, with practiced ease, immediately began circulating his internal energy to restore his Neili. Once his essence, energy, and spirit reached their peak, he urged the Purple Haze True Qi toward the index finger of his right hand.

This time, the circulation of True Qi was different from before. When his internal energy was weaker, even with perfectly clear meridians, there was inevitably some loss and stumbling along the way. Ten parts of Neili reaching the finger ring would at best leave seven or eight parts. This was only because the meridians leading to this right index finger had been used repeatedly, making them infinitely smoother than other channels.

If Ye Wen casually swapped the ring to another finger, perhaps less than half of the full Neili would remain, making the summoned item even more troublesome for him.

Now, with all his internal power converted entirely into Purple Haze True Qi, Ye Wen found that there was no longer any sensation of obstruction during its movement. While this was partly due to the general clearing of most meridians after piercing the Gate of Heaven and Earth’s Profundity, the fact that the True Qi had become stronger and more condensed was undeniable—ordinary obstacles couldn't stop it. In the end, sending the full ten-tenths of his power to the ring resulted in nearly all of it being swallowed.

"Maybe something good will come out this time?"

His entire cultivation base was drained, leaving behind only a sliver of basic True Qi lingering in his Dantian. This residual energy could never be depleted; it was practically Ye Wen's vital True Qi. As long as this foundation remained, his True Qi could recover no matter how much was consumed. If even this residual energy were absorbed, it would be tantamount to having his entire internal cultivation ruined.

Every time he initiated a summoning, Ye Wen had to be cautious. Later, he realized the ring was quite miraculous—just when the process reached its final stage, the ring would automatically cease its draw. It seemed to possess a deep understanding of what was happening inside Ye Wen's body.

After circulating the Purple Haze Divine Art for a while longer to recover slightly, Niu Wen opened his eyes. Having summoned items numerous times, he was no longer in a rush to check what he had obtained.

"I’m much calmer now than I was initially!" he praised himself shamelessly. Ye Wen brought the thin booklet that had appeared on his hand close to his face. The four large characters that greeted his eyes startled him: The Purple Haze Heavenly Net.

"How did this thing show up? This technique doesn't seem particularly powerful, does it?" In truth, ever since achieving mastery in the Purple Haze Divine Art, Ye Wen had been hoping to obtain a potent combat skill to complement his massive reserve of internal energy. He would accept anything—fist, palm, saber, or sword techniques. He just feared obtaining another purely internal cultivation manual, which, setting aside any potential conflict, would consume too much time to master for him to bear.

He had secretly hoped for something like the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms or the Six Meridian Divine Sword—powerful arts that wouldn't conflict with his current practice and could instantly boost the user's combat strength.

As for the Nine Swords of Dugu or the Heart-Sorrowing Palm, he hadn't seriously considered them. Dugu Nine Swords demanded a freakish level of comprehension; Ye Wen wasn't sure he could grasp the meaning of those nonsensical verses. The Dragon-Subduing Palms, which could be practiced by simply following the instructions, were far more practical for increasing sheer strength.

The Heart-Sorrowing Palm required the Nine Yin Manual as its foundation; without it, several moves were unusable. Ye Wen didn't believe the ring would be generous enough to grant a palm technique and simultaneously gift the required accompanying manual. Even more exasperating, the palm technique demanded a specific emotional state to grasp its profound intent—the sheer annoyance factor of this requirement was barely less than the Lion’s Roar Bomb.

Why had Ye Wen burned the Lion’s Roar Bomb? Because he didn't need the manual to know how to execute the technique; the problem was that he fundamentally couldn't comprehend the underlying principle. If he understood that, he could probably figure out the Raging Tiger High Flight Carriage as well.

"I wish it had sent me even a movement art!" he muttered under his breath, opening the manual to study it closely. Regardless, this Purple Haze Heavenly Net was still a high-grade manual. Whether he could cultivate it or not needed to be assessed first. Even if he couldn't practice it, gaining insight from such profound material would be helpful.

After flipping through the entire manual, Ye Wen discovered that the description of the Purple Haze Heavenly Net's cultivation methods and verses was far less than he expected, because this art wasn't a purely internal technique at all.

"It’s more accurate to call it a method for applying internal energy than an internal cultivation technique. While it possesses a unique method of circulation, this method exists solely to propel the special effects of the Purple Haze Heavenly Net and does not affect the user's fundamental internal cultivation!"

Recalling details about this technique from the original novel, Ye Wen could remember very little. He only recalled that the sole practitioner, Heavenly Monarch Xi Ying, was killed by one of the story's protagonists. Although the martial art was touted as miraculous, its combat record was unremarkable—perhaps his tragedy stemmed from being an antagonist to the main characters.

If Ye Wen hadn't stumbled upon a forum post about this technique while idly browsing in his previous life, he wouldn't even recall which fictional work it came from.

That post debated whether this wondrous art, Purple Haze Heavenly Net, was self-created by Xi Ying or if it was inherent to the Heavenly Demon Codex.

In the original work, the esteemed author had penned a passage that left readers utterly conflicted. One chapter claimed Xi Ying had comprehended the Heavenly Demon Codex and created a unique art called Purple Haze Heavenly Net, which was marvelous and highly praised by the Yin Queen. Five chapters later, it abruptly stated that Xi Ying mastered the Purple Haze Heavenly Net from the Heavenly Demon Codex, a technique no one had mastered in three hundred years, making his power formidable.

What utter nonsense!

Ye Wen recalled this now and was curious about how the technique was classified. After flipping back and forth, he finally found a single line at the beginning: Originating from the Demonic Sect's treasured volume, the Heavenly Demon Codex.

"This ring is cheating!"

Whether Xi Ying had created it by studying the Codex or learned it directly from the Codex, it still originated from the latter. Yet, the ring chose such an ambiguous answer.

"Speaking of which, why didn't it just give me the entire Heavenly Demon Codex?"

Ye Wen suddenly asked his ring in irritation, though he knew the action was idiotic. If the ring had produced the entire Heavenly Demon Codex at once, he wouldn't be vexed about martial arts. The Codex contained countless peerless skills; mastering even one would take a lifetime.

More importantly, the Heavenly Demon Codex contained martial arts capable of achieving Void Shattering. Ye Wen didn't know if Void Shattering existed in this world, but the possibility of accessing such a thing naturally sparked his curiosity.

Letting his mind wander astray, Ye Wen steered his thoughts back to the Purple Haze Heavenly Net. After thoroughly reading it, Ye Wen was pleasantly surprised to find he didn't need to worry about compatibility between the two martial arts; he could utilize the Purple Haze Heavenly Net entirely through his Purple Haze True Qi.

The magic of the Purple Haze Heavenly Net lay in its ability to affect an enemy's movements using focused energy, as if weaving a net around them, slowing their actions significantly. This naturally put the opponent at a disadvantage. Using the terms common in the online games Ye Wen played, it was like applying a negative status effect to the enemy—slows and sluggishness, reducing even ten parts of their strength to barely seven. Of course, the effect on a master would diminish according to their power level.

If it were only this, Ye Wen wouldn't be so pleased, because if the Purple Haze Heavenly Net was limited to this, it would merely be an auxiliary technique, hardly worth such excitement.

What excited him was that he could extrapolate more capabilities from the subtle application techniques described in the manual.

According to the manual, when practiced to a profound level, the Purple Haze Heavenly Net could affect anyone within a certain radius of the user, trapping them as if stuck in mud, unable to break free. However, this required immense internal energy—something even Ye Wen couldn't achieve now. Thus, he focused not on that, but on how minute, refined control could yield greater combat power.

For instance, the moment an enemy attacked, he could guide his energy to deflect that specific strike elsewhere. Since it was a net, it should have the properties of a net. Ultimately, the Purple Haze Heavenly Net was a method for manipulating energy projection, so achieving this theoretically should be possible.

Alternatively, he could weave an energy net around himself. While this would drastically shorten the effective range, it would be far more potent. Since enemies are constantly moving, one could never guarantee that their Purple Haze Heavenly Net energy projection would cover the target. But if woven around oneself, the opponent would be forced to collide directly with the energy barrier.

"This seems like a de facto Heavenly Demon Aura Field," he mused. The more he considered how perfectly suited this technique was for his current abilities, the more eager Ye Wen became to start practicing. Fortunately, the initial stages of the Purple Haze Heavenly Net required an amount of Neili that was no longer a hurdle for Ye Wen. Consequently, his early progress was rapid; in less than a single night, he mastered the wonderous skill. His limitation was only that his internal energy wasn't deep enough; although he understood the usage of the final, higher tiers of the Purple Haze Heavenly Net, he lacked the power to manifest them.

Paired with the Purple Haze Divine Art's inherent talent for fine energy control, Ye Wen wielded the Purple Haze Heavenly Net with fluid proficiency, showing absolutely no sign of being a novice.

Simultaneously, when Ye Wen used the Purple Haze Heavenly Net, although purple energy still swirled around him, his skin did not turn purple, perhaps related to his mastery of the Purple Haze Divine Art?

"I thought I’d end up looking like an eggplant again! Unexpectedly, achieving full mastery of the Purple Haze seems to have negated even the visual anomaly of the Purple Haze Heavenly Net!"

Chuckling at his own observation, smoke shifted in his hand, quickly weaving into a large net. He casually cast it toward the teacup on the table, then tightened it. As the cup was caught, he yanked it, and in the blink of an eye, it was in his grasp.

"This technique is good, but this purple energy is a bit too conspicuous!"

Scratching his head, Ye Wen realized this issue might not be hard to solve. If he didn't push his internal power to the absolute limit, the purple energy seemed not to manifest. But that only allowed him to play with inanimate objects and look cool; against an actual opponent, its utility would be almost negligible.

He extended his left hand, and the saber hanging by the bed frame immediately leaped out of its sheath and flew into Ye Wen's hand. After swinging it twice, Ye Wen tossed the sword back, aiming for the scabbard.

His intention was to use the Purple Haze Heavenly Net to control the saber's momentum and guide it directly back into the sheath. However, the difficulty was too high for a beginner like him to control perfectly. Consequently, the tip of the saber slightly missed, striking the scabbard with a clang before bouncing off to the side.

"Hmm... practicing this way, even if imperfectly, can still improve my control over this technique."

After picking up and returning the saber, Ye Wen suddenly noticed that most of his skills seemed to be control-oriented. Both the Purple Haze Divine Art and the Purple Haze Heavenly Net emphasized minute manipulation. Ye Wen felt that Xi Ying's broad, straightforward usage was practically desecrating a marvelous art, wasting its potential.

If mastered correctly, Ye Wen was confident he could achieve effects similar to the Star-Shifting Maneuver or the Great Shift of the Universe. He could even use the Purple Haze Heavenly Net to power the purely health-preserving Tai Chi he knew, turning it into a combat application.

Regardless, Ye Wen had finally acquired a useful technique, one he could use immediately. Plug-and-play functionality was precisely what he desperately needed right now. He almost wished he could summon again, just to see if there were more similar martial arts available.

"Forget it! Grasping too much at once leads to failure. I'll focus on mastering the Purple Haze Heavenly Net until it’s second nature first." Seeing the sun rise, Ye Wen drew his saber once more and threw it backward toward the door. This time, it still missed the scabbard, but it was slightly more accurate than the last attempt.

"Slow and steady practice..." With the Purple Haze Heavenly Net, Ye Wen felt that even if he still couldn't defeat the two elders of the Heavenly Bliss Gang, he could at least ensure his own survival if forced to fight both simultaneously.

While Ye Wen obtained the Purple Haze Heavenly Net and diligently cultivated it, Guo Nu and Pei Wei sat facing each other, frowning in silence.

"Pei Gonglie died on Mount Shu!" Pei Bang spoke the confirmed news first. This information had circulated earlier, but the Heavenly Bliss Gang couldn't be certain of its veracity, so they sent people repeatedly to confirm, finally arriving at a conclusive answer.

"I have recalled all gang members scattered across Pingzhou back to their sub-headquarters. Let's keep those members from running around needlessly these next few days!" Guo Nu's brow was tightly furrowed.

Pei Wei nodded but said nothing. Initially, he had been quite dismissive of the Gang Leader sending Guo Nu to Pingzhou, believing that his mere arrival would solve the minor troubles there easily. He hadn't expected things to become so much more complicated than anticipated, even resulting in Pei Gonglie, whom Elder Guo had sent to harass the Shu Shan Sect, dying there.

He was confident he could fight Pei Gonglie, but he didn't believe he could defeat that eccentric, mystic fellow, much less kill him.

"Did the Shu Shan Sect use some trickery to kill that lunatic?" This was the prevailing theory, as the title Crimson Sun Divine Monarch carried considerable weight. Many found it hard to believe that a sect which had been obscure in Pingzhou and suddenly surfaced could slay him.

Furthermore, when Ye Wen released the news, he deliberately kept details vague, only stating that Pei Gonglie had come to the Shu Shan Sect to cause trouble and was personally executed by Sect Master Ye Wen on the mountain, omitting any mention of the specific method! This very ambiguity fueled further speculation. Guo Nu had been guessing since he heard the news, and even now, he hadn't reached a conclusion that satisfied him.

If he couldn't satisfy himself, it was impossible to convince others. Thus, Guo Nu had been at a loss for what to do lately. According to his initial estimations, even if the Shu Shan Sect had masters, they shouldn't be a match for Pei Gonglie. Even if they could handle Pei Gonglie, the Crimson Sun Divine Monarch shouldn't have utterly perished on the mountain so spectacularly.

Had Pei Gonglie returned with only moderate injuries, Guo Nu could have gauged the strength of the Ma Shan Sect (implied opponent) based on the injuries, giving him a more direct understanding. If the injuries were light, it suggested both sides were evenly matched, and the Shu Shan Sect possessed some hidden trump card, leading them to withdraw. Guo Nu had researched Pei Gonglie and knew that while the man was eccentric, he wasn't an idiot who would charge into certain death. His madness stemmed from calculated assurance that he could achieve his goal before acting recklessly. Otherwise, given Pei Gonglie's temperament, he would have died countless times already. In this regard, Pei Gonglie shared a resemblance with Guo Nu himself.

If the injuries were severe, it meant the mountain held a master close to Pei Gonglie’s strength but lacked any additional strong individuals, resulting in a brutal clash where neither gained an advantage. In that scenario, Guo Nu wouldn't have been afraid; he might even have considered a direct assault to capitalize on the situation.

But after all his calculations, he never factored in Pei Gonglie dying outright on Mount Shu. How could he possibly estimate the Shu Shan Sect's power now? What level of martial artist could cause Pei Gonglie’s death there? Guo Nu asked himself if he was stronger than Pei Gonglie; if he went to Mount Shu to cause trouble, would he also fail to return?

Pei Wei's thoughts closely mirrored his own. The two sat there stunned, trying to gauge the combat prowess of the Shu Shan Sect and whether the Heavenly Bliss Gang's influence in Pingzhou was truly enough to wipe out this sect.

"Damn it, thinking about this is making my head ache! Why make things so complicated? Why don't I just go to the Shu Shan Sect myself? I want to see if it’s truly a dragon's den or a tiger’s lair!" Saying this, Pei Wei prepared to draw his sword and leave. He intended to personally test the strength of the Shu Shan Sect, not worrying about whether he might die there himself at the moment.

Seeing this, Guo Nu immediately stopped Pei Wei: "Nonsense! How can such a major matter be left to your impulsive behavior? Have your years roaming outside turned your brain to mush?" Although both were among the Four Great Elders, Guo Nu was the chief among them; his title was not merely ceremonial but genuinely placed him a rank above the other three.

Slightly resentful, Pei Wei sat back down after being reprimanded: "Then what can we do? If we don't attack them, are we supposed to just sit here and wait for them to strike us?" Guo Nu remained silent, his head bowed in deep contemplation.