The moment he stepped into the Mei Manor, he saw the tranquil lake, a mirror reflecting the azure sky and drifting white clouds.

The air was moist and fresh; a gentle breeze drifted by, cool and invigorating against his face.

All his body’s one hundred and eight thousand pores suddenly opened. Li Muzhan marveled inwardly: Such a fine place, simply being here is a pleasure!

He walked slowly, his left hand manipulating his prayer beads, advancing one step to turn one bead, neither hurried nor slow. His expression was serene and solemn. His wide, grey monastic robes billowed gently as he proceeded along the lakeside, beneath the weeping willows, toward the Tian Shu Courtyard, exuding an air of detached, transcendent grace.

Two youths approached him, clad in neat, dark-green silk tunics, radiating capability and sharp focus. They were disciples of the Kai Yang Courtyard, about twenty years old, both brimming with masculine energy.

The pair, who had been chatting and laughing, suddenly altered their expressions upon seeing Li Muzhan. Their voices immediately lowered. They stole a glance at him, and when their eyes met his, they quickly averted their gaze, their expressions strange.

Li Muzhan joined his palms in greeting, offered the two a slight smile, and continued walking without pausing, pretending not to notice anything unusual.

The three soon passed one another. Li Muzhan, possessing deep internal energy and superior hearing, faintly caught their hushed exchange: "Is that Zhan Ran from Tian Shu?"

"It must be him; we don't have any other monks in Mei Manor."

"He looks quite ordinary, yet he managed to defeat Senior Sister Gong—you really can't judge a book by its cover!"

"He hasn't been in the manor for two months, yet he’s already in Tian Shu. He's a true monster!"

"Everyone in Tian Shu is a monster, their talent is enough to make anyone jealous. Ah... it’s all down to our parents for not granting us good foundations!"

"Heh heh, if Senior Sister Gong heard you say that, she’d happily send you for reincarnation!"

"Senior Sister Gong is busy training to regain her standing; she has no time to bother with us!"

"He’s a monk, so I guess we worried for nothing!"

"Heh heh, monks can’t marry wives—wonderful, truly wonderful!"

As they moved further away, their voices faded into indistinct murmurs. Li Muzhan collected his thoughts and paid them no more mind, though he understood that he had indeed made a name for himself.

Though he walked at a leisurely pace, his speed was not slow, and he soon arrived at the Tian Shu Courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, he saw two flashes of cold light under the scholar tree, flickering and contracting in the sunlight, constantly colliding, accompanied by sharp dinging sounds and shouts—it was quite lively.

Li Muzhan smiled; it was Third Senior Brother Cheng Xiaofeng sparring with Fourth Senior Brother Yu Chi Ming, while Eldest Senior Brother Zhao Yu Zhen and Second Senior Brother He Nanshan stood by, watching with smiles.

Beneath the central old scholar tree, the sunlight dappled the ground in patches of light and shadow.

All four wore matching royal-blue martial tunics made of shimmering silk, which highlighted their youthful vigor and extraordinary heroism.

Hearing the footsteps, the sword lights instantly retracted, and the two combatants leaped back, turning to look over.

"Haha, Little Fifth Brother is here! Come quickly, come quickly!" Yu Chi Ming wiped the sweat from his brow, laughing heartily, waving his hand energetically.

"Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother," Li Muzhan greeted them, joining his palms in salute, calling them out in turn, walking over slowly with a composed smile.

Zhao Yu Zhen, his face as fine as jade, his spirit soaring, waved a hand, signaling him not to be so formal, and smiled, "Little Fifth Brother, has your injury healed?"

"I am well now," Li Muzhan replied with a smile.

His right hand had healed quickly, and then his left hand had been injured, but now that too was mended. The skill of the Kong He Tian You technique was truly miraculous, certainly living up to its reputation as a secret inherited solely by the Ying Yue Nunnery.

"Haha, Little Fifth Brother, Gong Qingyun has already announced that she wants to settle the score with you in the Little Tournament. No one else is allowed to interfere—that girl is quite tenacious!" Yu Chi Ming said impatiently.

He looked Li Muzhan up and down, then jokingly punched him in the shoulder socket, laughing loudly, "Good lad, you look quite refreshed, like you’ve been living well!"

"Senior Sister Gong... she wishes to?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile.

Yu Chi Ming chuckled, "Little Fifth Brother, has Gong Qingyun taken a liking to you? ... Wait, no, you’re a monk!"

"Fourth Senior Brother, be careful with your words. If Senior Sister Gong hears such nonsense, she’ll fight me to the death!" Li Muzhan laughed, shaking his head.

Yu Chi Ming quickly countered, "Little Fifth Brother, I’m not speaking nonsense!" He looked towards Cheng Xiaofeng, "Third Senior Brother, tell him!"

Cheng Xiaofeng smiled faintly, "Little Fifth Brother, you might not have heard, but Gong Qingyun once said that she would only marry a man whose martial arts surpassed hers!"

Li Muzhan suddenly understood, shaking his head with a wry smile, "But I am a man of the cloth."

He Nanshan burst out laughing, "Haha, Little Fifth Brother, even though you are a monk, you are the only one among the Seven Courtyards who can defeat her—no one else! How can people not make assumptions?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, offering another wry smile.

Zhao Yu Zhen asked gently, "Stop messing around! ... Little Fifth Brother, how is the cultivation of your foundational technique progressing?"

Li Muzhan smiled, "I suppose I’ve gotten a foothold... Eldest Senior Brother, thank you for teaching me the Ti Zong Shu; traveling is certainly much faster now."

Zhao Yu Zhen replied, "Gong Qingyun’s movement technique is supreme. The Ti Zong Shu is too crude, nowhere near a match for her. Ask the Commander to teach you something more profound."

"Alright," Li Muzhan nodded.

Yu Chi Ming beckoned, chuckling, "Come, come, Little Fifth Brother, let’s spar a bit. See if you’ve been slacking off these past few days!"

"Good!" Li Muzhan agreed immediately.

Following the solidification of the white light upon the lotus flower, his spirit grew stronger, guiding his internal energy ever more rapidly. He now only devoted two hours a day to cultivating the Six Volumes of True Sutras, making swift progress.

The Six Volumes of True Sutras were truly extraordinary; now, he felt his meridians were much sturdier, making him seem like a different person entirely compared to before.

This only increased his anticipation for the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing, but because the refinement method was peculiar, he feared taking premature steps. He suppressed his eagerness with his accumulated resolve and finally returned to the Mei Manor.

Seeing his prompt agreement, Yu Chi Ming shouted excitedly, drawing his sword with a loud laugh, "Come on, let me see your real skills, Little Fifth Brother!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Fourth Senior Brother, then I won't hold back!"

With that, a clear light flashed at his waist, and the tip of his sword was suddenly at Yu Chi Ming's chest.

Yu Chi Ming cried out in surprise and withdrew his steps to evade. His footwork was exquisite, allowing him to narrowly dodge the blade’s tip, though his left shoulder was grazed with a shallow cut.

Fortunately, it only tore the silk tunic and did not break the skin.

Unexpectedly swift was Li Muzhan’s strike. Yu Chi Ming’s fighting spirit was roused; he roared, his long sword whistling as if a fierce gale had swept past, enveloping Li Muzhan.

A sharp wind struck his face, making it difficult to keep his eyes open. Li Muzhan took a deep breath, letting the cool internal energy flow rapidly through his hand's Shao Yin meridian, mitigating the discomfort.

His monk's robe billowed and snapped, making him look as if he stood on a mountain peak against a biting gale.

Once Yu Chi Ming unleashed his sword momentum, it became a relentless torrent. His long sword commanded the great wind; as he swung it, a powerful gale followed, howling and swirling with astonishing force.

Li Muzhan’s sword was incredibly fast, flashing streaks of clear light that stayed tightly around Yu Chi Ming’s front.

One like a raging wind, the other like clear water, the two entangled, locked in an inseparable contest.

The leaves of the scholar tree were swept by the sword wind, rustling down in a flurry, spinning as they fell. Upon making contact with the clear sword light, they instantly dissolved into powder.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang..." The continuous ringing sounds were incessant, like jade beads rolling across a tray.

"Stop!" Yu Chi Ming yelled suddenly, his sword light retracting. He leaped back a full yard, waving his hands, "No more, no more!"

"Fourth Senior Brother, you lost!" Cheng Xiaofeng smiled.

Yu Chi Ming’s eyes widened, and he glared at Cheng Xiaofeng, huffing, "This kid’s grip strength is utterly immense!"

He sheathed his sword and vigorously shook his hand, trying to dispel the numbness.

He thought to himself, Little Fifth Brother’s strength is too great; one direct clash, and his tiger’s mouth went instantly numb. But his sword was too fast; he couldn't afford not to meet the force head-on. If they had fought much longer, he wouldn't have been able to hold his sword—that would have been a total humiliation!

Li Muzhan chuckled, returning his sword to its sheath, "I relied entirely on brute force. In terms of finesse of technique, I am far behind Fourth Senior Brother."

Yu Chi Ming waved his hand in annoyance, "Don't try to flatter me! Lost is lost!"

He Nanshan clapped his hands and sighed, "When parting from an acquaintance for three days, one should regard him with new eyes! ... Little Fifth Brother, you have merged the Wu Ying Sword with the Mei Hua Twelve Swords!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Yes, I tried using the heart method of the Wu Ying Sword to activate the Mei Hua Twelve Swords."

"Excellent! Excellent!" He Nanshan praised.

Zhao Yu Zhen smiled, "Little Fifth Brother truly possesses Heaven's gifted talent!"

"Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, you flatter me," Li Muzhan replied with a smile.

Cheng Xiaofeng drew his sword, a faint smile on his lips, "Little Fifth Brother, come, let’s exchange a few moves!"

He had been standing by watching everyone with a relaxed, indifferent demeanor, but the moment he spoke, his entire presence shifted, becoming sharp and piercing like a drawn blade.

Li Muzhan accepted the challenge with a smile.

Among the four Senior Brothers, the Eldest was steady and capable, fair and authoritative; the Second was deeply reserved, with a gentle demeanor; the Third was proud and sharp; and the Fourth was honest and straightforward—each possessing their own distinct style.

He knew that while the Eldest Senior Brother’s praise was sincere, the Second and Fourth might accept it, but the Third Senior Brother would surely be unconvinced.

"Zing..." A clear, sharp sound rang out as Cheng Xiaofeng drew his sword.

He moved suddenly, sliding like a taut line gliding across ice. He pushed his long sword forward levelly; amidst his serene air, the sword tip reached Li Muzhan’s throat.

A cold light flashed at Li Muzhan’s waist, and with a sharp "ding," the two swords deflected each other.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang..." A continuous string of crisp ringing followed.

Cheng Xiaofeng’s swordsmanship was ethereal, like drifting clouds, imbued with a sense of dashing elegance. It didn't seem fast, yet the clamor of clashing metal was denser than the sound of rain hitting banana leaves.

Zhao Yu Zhen and the other two stared intently at the center of the exchange, watching the two streams of clear light constantly collide—too fast to discern the blades, hearing only the rapid-fire dinging.

A moment later, Cheng Xiaofeng retreated gracefully, shaking his head with a wry smile, "Little Fifth Brother, you have won!"

Li Muzhan returned his sword to its sheath, smiling as he joined his palms in salute, "Third Senior Brother, I am indebted to your generosity."

"Heh heh, Third Senior Brother, did you get a taste of it?!" Yu Chi Ming laughed gleefully, enjoying the schadenfreude.

Cheng Xiaofeng glanced at him, then told Zhao Yu Zhen and He Nanshan, "Little Fifth Brother’s physical strength is extraordinary; it cannot be met head-on. My hand is already numb."

"No wonder then..." He Nanshan chuckled.

Yu Chi Ming grabbed Li Muzhan’s sleeve and laughed conspiratorially, "Little Fifth Brother, tell me, how did you gain such tremendous strength!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "I don't know either; it seems I was born this way."

Although his fellow disciples were friendly, he did not wish to reveal the Twelve Great Strengths to others.

The Twelve Great Strengths were the only link he had to his previous life; their significance was too unique for him to share with outsiders.

Furthermore, the miraculous efficacy of these Twelve Great Strengths ultimately relied on his Zen cultivation. His elder brother, Li Mufeng, had practiced them for several years simply to strengthen his body, with results no better than ordinary martial arts; the moment he entered the Mei Manor and learned proper martial arts, his brother had immediately abandoned them.

If he told his Senior Brothers, and they found little effect, it would only raise suspicion that he was being evasive, thus causing unnecessary trouble—it was better not to mention it.

Having lived over fifty years across two lifetimes, he understood human nature quite well.

"Ah... why don't I have such great strength!" Yu Chi Ming raised his arm, clenched his fist tightly, sighed mournfully, and shook his head repeatedly.

Zhao Yu Zhen stated, "Little Fifth Brother, you are now considered the top master of our Tian Shu Courtyard!"

"Eldest Senior Brother, I dare not accept such a title!" Li Muzhan paused, quickly waving his hands in refusal.

Zhao Yu Zhen waved back, smiling, "Little Fifth Brother, although your techniques are crude, your advantage lies in the speed of your sword combined with infinite power. That offsets twenty to thirty years of hard cultivation. This title of top master is by no means an exaggeration."

While they were talking, a young girl suddenly entered.

She was wearing a peach-red silk blouse, her bright eyes curved, possessing a sweet countenance, appearing about fifteen or sixteen years old, yet her figure was full, like a perfectly ripe peach, truly captivating.

She stood on the steps with a stiff face, looking coldly at the group.

"Miss Xiao Yuan!" Yu Chi Ming called out immediately, rushing forward with a face full of smiles, "Does the Eldest Miss have any instructions?"

Miss Xiao Yuan shot him a sideways glance, her pretty face drawn tight, and snorted, "Which one of you is Zhan Ran?"

"This humble monk is Zhan Ran," Li Muzhan stepped forward, joining his palms in a respectful salute.