The Tizong Shu (Ascension Technique) was simply an application of internal energy, effortless for him, involving merely a few acupoints on the legs—far simpler than the Wuying Jian Xinfa (Shadowless Sword Heart Method).

He mastered it instantly upon learning.

Halfway home, he was already able to deploy the Tizong Shu.

One stride covered the distance of three, allowing him to move with long, swift steps, reaching his home in only a third of the usual time.

Arriving at the doorway, his body felt pleasantly warm, his blood energized; it was more comfortable than ordinary walking.

Pushing the door open, he found his parents and elder sister-in-law, Zhao Yiyi, seated in the courtyard.

“San’er, why are you only just returning!?” Madam Qin rose to greet him, chiding softly.

Li Muzhan laughed, “Mother, why were you waiting for me? ...

We were having a feast at the Chaoran Tower tonight.” Li Zhuzi grunted, “Impudent boy! You’re feasting on delicacies while your mother worries herself sick at home—truly heartless!” Li Muzhan set down the wooden box in his hands, drew Madam Qin close by her slender waist, and chuckled, “It was my fault.

… Mother, have you eaten yet?” Though Madam Qin was over forty, her figure remained trim, her waist nearly as fine as that of his elder sister-in-law, Zhao Yiyi.

Li Muzhan gestured to the wooden box again, “I brought back some fine dishes.

Shall we heat them up?” “By the time you returned, we’d have starved to death!” Li Zhuzi grumbled irritably.

Zhao Yiyi stepped forward, picked up the wooden box, and smiled, “Little Uncle, we’ve already finished eating, but there’s still some rice left for you in the pot.” Li Muzhan smiled, “That’s wonderful, Sister-in-law, please bring it out.

I’m still hungry.” “You still haven’t eaten your fill after a banquet at Chaoran Tower?!” Madam Qin asked with a laugh, batting his hand away, and huffed, “Stay away from me, you reek of wine!” Li Muzhan brought his hand to his mouth and blew out a breath; indeed, the smell of alcohol was strong.

Zhao Yiyi soon brought four dishes, setting them before him, ladled a bowl of millet congee, and handed him chopsticks.

Li Muzhan was indeed not full, as he had been forced to use only his left hand to pick up food, making every bite difficult.

Now, he was genuinely a bit hungry.

“San’er, why are you using your left hand for chopsticks?” Madam Qin inquired.

Li Muzhan replied, “I practiced my swordplay too vigorously with my right hand; it’s a bit painful.” Madam Qin said with concern, “Diligent practice is good, but you must pace yourself; don’t injure yourself.” Li Muzhan nodded while bringing food to his mouth with his left hand.

At this moment, his left hand was far more agile than it had been at the Chaoran Tower.

Picking up food was still a strain, but he could finally manage one piece at a time while chatting.

Zhao Yiyi watched from the side, finding it awkward.

Seeing that Li Muzhan could only use one hand, and thus couldn't hold his bowl while using chopsticks, she picked up the bowl herself.

“Little Uncle, let me help you!” “Thank you kindly, Sister-in-law!” Li Muzhan made no pretense of refusal, nodding cheerfully, and extended his mouth, whereupon Zhao Yiyi brought the bowl forward and fed him a sip of the millet congee.

Madam Qin shook her head and reached out to take the bowl: “Let me do it, Yiyi!” “Mother, no need, I’ve got it!” Zhao Yiyi deftly dodged her, smiling, “Little Uncle has quite an appetite.” “Indeed, his practice these days has increased his appetite!” Madam Qin stopped insisting, smiling sweetly, “Eat more, grow a bit taller yet!” Li Muzhan gave a wry smile, “Mother, I’m not planning to marry; what’s the point of growing tall?” Madam Qin huffed, “You still need to grow tall even if you don't marry! … Look at your elder brother, he’s a head taller than you.

How can you be such a scrawny man!” Li Muzhan shook his head, took another sip of congee, and laughed, “Elder Brother is so handsome and imposing; I can’t compare.

He is the eldest, so it’s only right he’s a bit taller.” “Nonsense, it’s just because you eat too little!” Madam Qin shot him a look.

Zhao Yiyi, holding the bowl, pursed her lips and smiled, “Mother, a man’s quality has nothing to do with his height.” “How can it have nothing to do with it!” Madam Qin laughed, “Look at why you chose the eldest—wasn’t it because he’s handsome, like San’er? Could you even look twice at someone like him?!” “Mother, look what you’re saying!” Zhao Yiyi blushed, thankfully the moonlight was hazy and others couldn't see clearly, only Li Muzhan could, but he pretended not to notice.

Li Muzhan continued speaking while eating, soon letting out a satisfied burp, and laughed, “I’m full!” He put down his chopsticks, took the bowl from Zhao Yiyi’s hand, and drank the millet congee until it was empty.

After chatting a while longer, he urged his elderly parents to retire to their room, while he returned to his own to meditate and visualize the Tianren Shenzhao Jing (Divine Illumination of Heaven and Man Scripture).

Contemplating the Tianren Shenzhao Jing, he was now adept; after entering samadhi, when he focused his gaze, an image manifested clearly before his eyes.

If he hadn't entered the state of stillness, visualization was impossible.

No wonder Master Jikong could not penetrate its secrets: first, his own depth of meditative concentration was insufficient; second, he would never have thought to only visualize the lake water, the lotus, and the sky.

At the stroke of midnight, a drop of sweet dew descended from above, absorbed by the lotus.

Suddenly, the scene exploded, reverting to darkness once more, marking another cycle of cultivation time passed.

He could clearly feel the lotus petals growing sharper and more real, as if he could pluck them with a reaching hand—so exquisitely beautiful.

The lake water grew clearer and clearer.

He rose from his meditation mat and paced the floor, pondering the Tianren Shenzhao Jing.

Since the celestial being was absent, even though the lotus grew more real and the water clearer, it was not the true Tianren Shenzhao Jing; there had to be a method to follow.

Now, however, he was without a path, just as Master Jikong had failed to comprehend it until his death.

Would he end up like Master Jikong? As he pondered, his right arm suddenly went numb, followed by a dull ache, then another numbness, and another ache, alternating and cycling—the limb felt electrically charged, a stinging numbness that shot straight to his core.

His senior disciple was right! This sensation was indeed agonizing! Li Muzhan gritted his teeth, secretly seeking a method of relief, and quickly thought of a visualization technique.

He imagined himself suspended in the void, feeling detached, realizing that everything was illusory and unreal; his right arm remained intact, and his entire body felt comfortable.

But as time passed, the ache and numbness intensified, evolving into sharp, throbbing pain, as if his right arm were about to explode.

A sudden inspiration struck him, and he immediately visualized the Tianren Shenzhao Jing.

The vision before him instantly dissolved into darkness.

His thoughts felt submerged in thick mud, sluggish and heavy, turning slower and slower, nearly coming to a halt.

Suddenly, a wave of intense pain struck his right arm again.

He clenched his jaw, his will firm, focusing his entire being on visualizing the Tianren Shenzhao Diagram to ignore the pain.

The pain grew fiercer, surging in waves.

He poured his entire spirit into the Tianren Shenzhao Diagram, sinking into the darkness, which slightly lessened the agony.

After an indeterminate time, his vision suddenly flashed, seeming to brighten slightly.

This illumination increased slowly, yet he could perceive it, much like the pre-dawn hours when the deep night begins to recede.

Overjoyed, he quickly stilled the ripples in his mind, reining in his spirit and concentrating his focus on the Tianren Shenzhao Diagram.

The violent pain continued to strike in waves, but his heart was filled with elation, for the scene before him was slowly brightening, as if the day were arriving to drive away the night.

Eventually, the darkness completely dispersed, and a gentle radiance revealed an image before his eyes.

P: I had intended to hold these parts back for tomorrow’s release, but seeing that some readers have sent encouragement votes, I’m releasing them today.

Thank you all for your support.