Suddenly, the Baihui acupoint on the crown of his head opened, and a drop of sweet dew descended slowly from the sky, landing on the lotus. The receptacle rapidly absorbed it, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Having absorbed the dew, the nine petals emitted a soft, internal glow, light swirling across their surfaces, crystalline and translucent. After a while, the radiance gradually receded, and everything returned to normal.

The nine petals had undergone a subtle transformation; their texture was stronger, more lifelike.

At some unknown point, the sun overhead had morphed into a waxing crescent moon, casting a gentle, silvery radiance that made the lotus appear even more pristine and flawless. The lake surface shimmered, and the water grew ever clearer.

In that moment, his body felt as though it had dissolved into the lake water, and his heart became the lotus, bathed in the soft, silver moonlight—a state of profound tranquility that made him wish to remain there forever.

After an unknowable duration, his vision suddenly brightened, the serene tableau shattering into fragments and dissipating. His sight was once again enveloped in darkness.

He slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was clear and gentle, mirroring the waxing moon above. A moment later, the brightness slowly faded, returning to its ordinary state.

Li Muzhan let out a long breath, releasing his hand seals. He tilted his head back to gaze at the sky, utterly motionless.

The moonlight, like flowing water, bathed his body, cool and comforting, seeming to solidify, truly becoming pure water.

A gentle, slow breeze caressed his skin, causing every pore to unfurl. Turbid air exhaled, pure air entered—an ineffable comfort, the breeze carrying the scent of green grass.

The surroundings were utterly silent and peaceful; even the insects seemed to be asleep, ceasing their chirping, leaving only the whisper of the wind rustling the tips of the grass.

His heart was filled with serenity and harmony; he felt that everything around him had become exceptionally clear and vivid, as if a layer of thin paper had been pierced, revealing reality in its true form.

He silently examined himself and suddenly understood the change within.

His five senses were sharpened, and his mind felt clearer, as if glass had been thoroughly rinsed in water, or a dust-covered leaf had been washed clean.

His thoughts were unusually nimble, swift as lightning, instantly recalling the image of the lake from his contemplation—clear, bright, and pure, just like the water of the Ming Lake in the Mei residence. His mind now resembled that lake, flawless and transparent.

This morning, he had already felt smarter; this must be the effect of the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing. This confirmed that the path he was taking was correct.

He let out a long breath, a surge of excitement rising within him. It seemed this Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing was a method for refining the spirit. Who knew what he would become if he continued practicing?

It was just a pity that he could only practice once a day; the sweet dew descended from the heavens at the Zishi hour, and after the dew, the contemplation would quickly shatter, preventing further cultivation.

Inspiration sprang forth like a fountainhead. He suddenly wondered what would happen at noon, since the sweet dew fell at midnight to nourish the lotus.

Could it be that sweet dew also descended at noon, condensing into a Celestial Being? Would the interplay of Yin and Yang complete this diagram of the Celestial Being's Divine Illumination?

As this thought arose, his heart began to pound. He felt there was a high probability of it.

He longed for time to fly, for dawn to break so he could test his conjecture at midday. He took a deep breath, suppressing the urgency, settling his spirit into stillness, and then resumed his sword practice.

Alas, heightened senses and a clear mind offered no aid to physical agility; he still needed diligent practice to forge these abilities into instinct.

The next morning, after eating at home, he went to the Mei residence. In the Tianshu Courtyard, He Nanshan and the other two were practicing their swordsmanship. Seeing him arrive, they all stopped.

In their eyes, Li Muzhan was the junior apprentice brother, whom they were obliged to look after. But in Li Muzhan’s eyes, they seemed like children—amusing and interesting.

Having lived for over fifty years across two lifetimes, experiencing life and death, and undergoing reincarnation—he had encountered all manner of things ordinary people would deem unbelievable. Furthermore, he had to maintain the secret of his rebirth, which unconsciously made him more profound.

Reborn into this world, his view of everything differed from that of ordinary people. Trifles that others found mundane, he found flavorful; major events that others considered momentous, he dismissed with a slight smile.

His heart often stood unconsciously on high ground, looking down upon everything around him, like viewing a scene through a mirror. This transcendent state of mind allowed his Zen meditation practice to advance at astonishing speed. Though young, he had already reached the First State of Samadhi, a feat that stunned the world; even figures like the Divine Nun Xueyin admired and praised him.

Li Muzhan constantly strove to suppress this condescending attitude, knowing it was an illusion. In this world, he was not intrinsically superior to others. He constantly attempted to blend in and appear ordinary.

The way He Nanshan and the others treated him made Li Muzhan extremely grateful, allowing him to experience the beauty of human nature and the joy of living.

By their usual habit, they would all be out practicing their skills at this hour; clearly, they were waiting for him. He made no ceremony of it, directly drawing his sword and executing a sequence of movements.

The forms were standard and precise, without the slightest error, greatly astonishing the trio, who offered effusive praise.

For an ordinary person, mastering this single sword move to this degree in one day would not be surprising, but coming from Li Muzhan, it was marvelous.

Yuchi Ming sheathed his long sword and pulled Li Muzhan over to sit on the veranda. "Come, come, Fifth Brother. Tell us, did you suddenly have an awakening? Did your hands and feet become more agile after waking up?"

Li Muzhan sat down under the eaves, shaking his head with a smile. "I didn't sleep. I practiced all night."

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by, creating ripples across the lake that rolled toward them. The long sapphire robes of the three masters billowed, while Li Muzhan's grey monk's robe fluttered gently; all of them looked spirited and vibrant.

"You practiced all night without sleeping?" Yuchi Ming asked tentatively.

He Nanshan chuckled. "Fifth Brother must be joking. Look how energetic you are, more so than us! You don't look like you stayed up all night!"

Li Muzhan replied, "My concentration replaces sleep. One hour of sitting is sufficient."

Yuchi Ming's head wobbled like a rattle drum. "Sitting meditation for one hour is equivalent to a full night's sleep?"

Li Muzhan nodded.

"That magical?" Cheng Xiaofeng raised an eyebrow.

Li Muzhan said, "Entering Samadhi is a deep rest, superior to sleeping."

Yuchi Ming shook his head vigorously. "No! No! Practicing internal force is also a form of stillness, right? Why do I just get more tired the more I practice?"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. "Fourth Brother, cultivating internal force is different from entering Samadhi."

"How is it different? Aren't you just sitting there motionless!" Yuchi Ming huffed dismissively.

Li Muzhan smiled.

"What is the difference, Fifth Brother? Tell us," He Nanshan prompted with a smile.

The three stared at his face, adopting expressions of eager anticipation.

Li Muzhan sighed, realizing he had to explain simply. The three immediately became curious about his Samadhi skill and wanted him to teach them.

Li Muzhan held nothing back and explained the basic methods for entering meditation, concluding, "Cultivating stillness is refining the mind. The mind is like a restless ape, the intent like a wild horse—formless, intangible, impossible to pin down. Internal energy cultivation is refining Qi, which is much simpler... To settle the heart, there is no alternative but to spend a large amount of time in seated meditation. Once the mind is completely quiet, it will be like the water of this bright lake, reflecting everything. It feels wonderful."

Yuchi Ming interrupted him. "Then how long did you practice, Fifth Brother, before you could substitute meditation for sleep?"

Li Muzhan paused to think. "From when I began cultivating stillness at the age of four, it took me thirteen years to achieve detachment from the Desire Realm."

"Thirteen years?!" Yuchi Ming exclaimed in disbelief.

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. "I don't have much talent for the sword, but my aptitude for Buddhist cultivation seems quite good."

He Nanshan and the other two exchanged glances, shaking their heads with wry smiles.

Yuchi Ming scoffed, "Forget it!... With that much time, I’d rather cultivate internal energy. Thirteen years of hard work, and I’d be a martial arts master!"

Li Muzhan smiled and said no more.

Outsiders could hardly comprehend the profound joy of cultivating the Dao, a pleasure that surpassed even the ecstasy of intimacy. Of course, the beginning was arduous—monotonous, tedious, driving one to distraction. But if one gritted one's teeth and persevered, reaching a certain level would bring ultimate sweetness after bitterness.

However, these subtle beauties were ineffable; words were too pale and impoverished to capture them fully.

"It seems we should stick to sleeping honestly," He Nanshan chuckled, stroking his short beard. "Fifth Brother's future is limitless; this is cause for great joy!"

"I accept Second Brother's auspicious words," Li Muzhan replied with a smile.

Cheng Xiaofeng nodded slowly, deep in thought.

Others needed three or four hours of sleep, while Fifth Brother only required one hour. The remaining two or three hours could be used for practice.

Excluding eating, sleeping, and minor chores, one could genuinely dedicate only four or five hours a day to practice. Fifth Brother practically gained double the time compared to others; one year of his cultivation equaled two for everyone else.

He was only at the stage now, so he was weak, but in seven or eight years, Fifth Brother would catch up to them.

"Haha, Fifth Brother, you must look out for me in the future!" Yuchi Ming laughed heartily, overjoyed.

Li Muzhan laughed in return. "With my aptitude, looking out for Fourth Brother seems highly doubtful!"

He Nanshan chuckled. "No rush, no rush, take it slow!"

As the four were chatting and laughing, someone suddenly entered, carrying a long sword nearly as tall as his body. It was Master Cheng from the Sword Forging Hall.

He entered without greeting He Nanshan and the others, walking directly up to Li Muzhan and handing him the sword. "Come, Zhanran, try this sword!"

Li Muzhan smiled and accepted it, examining the scabbard—a dark grey sheath that blended seamlessly with his monk's robe, easily causing it to be overlooked.

He then noted that the scabbards of the other three were all dark green, distinct from his.

Just from the color of the scabbard, Li Muzhan sensed Master Cheng's thoughtfulness.

"Ching..." The long sword slid out of the scabbard with a clear, lingering sound.

Li Muzhan lowered his head to examine the blade. It was dull and unadorned. Looking closely, hidden patterns faintly shimmered within the dark metal, winding from the guard to the tip like a cluster of wisteria vines coiling around the sword.

"Ding..." He flicked the blade with his finger, his face filled with admiration.

Master Cheng’s tightly drawn face broke into a smile. "I forged this sword myself; I spent the entire night on it. It wasn't wasted effort!"

"Thank you, Master Cheng," Li Muzhan replied, joining his palms in a respectful bow.

Master Cheng waved his hand and sighed. "You are a man of the cloth; I hope this sword draws little blood."

Saying this, without waiting for Li Muzhan to speak, he turned and walked away with a sigh and a shake of his head.

The three masters watched him leave; the smiles on their faces slowly faded. Even though Master Cheng maintained a stern face and ignored them, they retained their smiles.

Yuchi Ming quickly leaned in. "Let me see, let me see!... When does Master Cheng personally forge our entry-level Qingfeng swords!"

Li Muzhan handed the sword over. The three examined it in turn, all offering praise; it was clearly far superior to their own blades—indeed worthy of a master's hand.

Afterward, Jin Kaitai arrived and led him out of the Tianshu Courtyard to the willow trees beside the lake. Amidst the gentle breeze, he practiced the first stance of the Twelve Plum Blossom Sword Styles.

Seeing Li Muzhan execute the move skillfully, Jin Kaitai was highly satisfied, then proceeded to teach him the second move.

This time, similar to before, Li Muzhan's coordination was clumsy. He spent over an hour painstakingly correcting his movements until they reached a standard form.

Li Muzhan returned to the Tianshu Courtyard. He Nanshan and the other two were still practicing, still waiting for him.

"Fifth Brother, did you learn the second stance?" He Nanshan asked with a smile, stopping his sword forms under the large locust tree as he saw him enter.

Li Muzhan nodded and smiled. "Yes... Second Brother, I expended too much mental energy just now. I’d like to sit in meditation for a while. Do you know of a good place?"

Yuchi Ming leaned in. "Then let's go to the Quiet Garden!"

"The Quiet Garden?" Li Muzhan asked.

He Nanshan chuckled. "We have a small garden behind us, belonging to the Tianshu Courtyard. Others cannot enter. It’s the best place to practice internal energy; no one will disturb you."

"Good!" Li Muzhan nodded.

"Let's go, I'll take you!" Yuchi Ming said, turning to leave.

Li Muzhan bowed and smiled to He Nanshan and Cheng Xiaofeng, following behind Yuchi Ming. They walked about a hundred meters west and arrived at a garden.

The two yellow wooden gates of the garden were currently shut, secured by a large brass lock, the size of two palms, gleaming in the sunlight.

Yuchi Ming pulled a key from his robes, opened the lock, and pushed the gate inward, turning back as he walked. "Fifth Brother, the key to this courtyard is in your room... You haven't stepped inside your room yet, have you?"

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. He had been too busy these past two days, focused entirely on sword practice, with no time for anything else; he hadn't yet set foot in his own quarters.

Though described as a small garden, upon entering, he realized it was quite large—the size of four or five Tianshu Courtyards combined—featuring artificial hills, lush, dense trees, winding, secluded paths, and a babbling, clear, bright stream making a soft sound underfoot.

This Quiet Garden was laid out with extreme elegance, bearing a striking resemblance to the Suzhou garden style of later eras.

Yuchi Ming asked, "What do you think of this garden?... This was designed by the Third Lady!"

"The Third Lady's design?" Li Muzhan exclaimed in surprise, looking around.

Before entering the Mei residence, he was already thoroughly familiar with everyone in the household and their relationships. To advise his elder brother, he needed detailed knowledge of every key figure. He knew that the Third Lady, Mei Songwan, was the sister of the Mei family patriarch. She was originally betrothed to the renowned Prince of Penglai but became a waiting widow.

This Third Lady, Mei Songwan, possessed astonishing talent, surpassing everyone in the Mei residence; she was master of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, yet showed little interest in martial arts.

Yuchi Ming chuckled. "Fifth Brother, you take your time exploring. Find a spot to sit in meditation. I won't disturb you. I'm leaving now!"

With that, he waved his hand and strode away briskly.

Li Muzhan glanced at the sky; the sun was nearing its zenith. He had no leisure to admire the scenery of the Quiet Garden. He ascended an artificial hill and sat in the five-cornered small pavilion atop it.

He intended to practice the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing to confirm his hypothesis.

The pavilion was supported by three vermilion pillars. From this vantage point, he could overlook the entire Quiet Garden. The view was lush and green, a refreshing breeze blew by, and his heart felt content.

There were several floor cushions on the pavilion's bench, suggesting this was a frequent spot for those in the Tianshu Courtyard.