Li Muzhan smiled, "I was just hoping to take a lesson from the young lady’s superior skill." With a finger strike, he carved two characters into the bluestone, revealing the profound depth of his inner energy.
Though far from her equal, he still yearned for a match.
It was the same principle as playing chess: a match with an inferior opponent degrades one's skill, but a contest with a master elevates it considerably.
He most desired sparring with a true expert right now.
Mei Ruolan revealed a faint smile, "Very well, Xiao Yuan, fetch me a Qingfeng sword." "Yes, Miss!" Xiao Yuan glanced at Li Muzhan, turned, and quickly returned with a longsword, handing it to Mei Ruolan.
Mei Ruolan drew the blade; a flash of cold light followed.
She examined the longsword, tapping it lightly with her slender, snow-white fingers.
A clear, pleasant zheng sound resonated.
She smiled faintly, "Come then!" Li Muzhan clasped his hands in salute and extended an open hand, "Miss, please lead the way—!" The tip of her sword kissed the ground, and Mei Ruolan floated out of the small pavilion.
In mid-air, she suddenly descended, landing lightly on the training ground, stirring not even a speck of dust, as graceful as a white crane alighting.
Xiao Yuan pursed her lips and giggled, "Zhanran, you're going to be unlucky!" With that, she leaped out of the pavilion, holding the empty scabbard, and swept down diagonally like a young swallow darting to its nest, settling lightly beside the training grounds.
Li Muzhan managed a wry smile.
He looked down; the training ground was quite a distance below.
He estimated the drop, shook his head, slowly exited the pavilion, descended the artificial rockery, and walked calmly onto the training field, his expression serene as if nothing unusual had occurred.
Mei Ruolan stood in the center of the field, sword in hand, her posture exquisitely beautiful, cold yet dignified, watching Li Muzhan approach.
Her bright eyes flickered with a veiled, enigmatic expression, neither smiling nor entirely serious.
Xiao Yuan tittered, "Zhanran, you don't know Qinggong, do you?" Li Muzhan shook his head and laughed, "I learned the Tizong technique a few days ago, but I'm still clumsy.
It’s better to hide one’s shortcomings than expose one’s flaws and make a fool of oneself." "You really haven't learned any..." Xiao Yuan stopped laughing and turned toward her mistress, "Miss, why don't you teach him a set of Qinggong, please?" "Mmm." Mei Ruolan nodded lightly, then pointed her sword at Li Muzhan, "Make your move!" Li Muzhan took a few more steps forward, halting about a zhang away from Mei Ruolan. "This humble monk is impolite," he murmured.
His right hand slowly moved toward the sword hilt.
As his voice fell, a sudden, clear light shot from his waist, straight toward Mei Ruolan, like a comet crossing the heavens.
Ding...
Mei Ruolan held the sword hilt with her right hand and pressed the tip with her left palm, holding it horizontally before her, perfectly blocking Li Muzhan's thrust.
Struck by Li Muzhan’s attack, the blade curved like a bow, almost touching the delicate slopes of her chest.
She revealed a slight smile, "Indeed, you possess great strength!" Weng...
Her wrist shook, and the bent longsword straightened instantly, accompanied by a string of afterimages, humming loudly.
Li Muzhan felt an immense force surge through him; the web between his thumb and forefinger went numb, and the longsword nearly flew from his grasp.
Only the rapid circulation of his inner energy managed to dispel the immediate soreness.
He secretly marveled.
This thrust had been his utmost effort, at least two fen faster than the one aimed at Gong Qingyun, yet it had been neutralized so effortlessly.
A purple shadow flashed; he knew something was wrong and hurriedly lunged with his own sword, but his shoulder suddenly went numb, and the longsword clattered to the ground.
Empty-handed, he smiled bitterly and shook his head, "I concede defeat." His draw was fast, but Mei Ruolan’s strike was faster.
His mind had registered the danger, but his limbs failed to obey.
He watched helplessly as she flashed to his side and lightly struck the vital point on his shoulder.
By his estimation, the speed of her draw was no less than his Second Sister’s.
Mei Ruolan remained poised and calm, gazing at him with those veiled eyes.
She nodded, "Your swordplay is indeed swift, with great potential...
but do not let this make you look down upon the heroes of the world.
The scope of the Mei Residence is narrow, and the Seven Courts are even smaller.
You may be paramount among the Seven Courts, capable of besting the Armored Guards, but you would struggle against the Bronze-Clad Guards, let alone the Silver-Clad or the Gold-Clad Protectors!" "This humble monk accepts the lesson," Li Muzhan nodded, offering a solemn, clasped salute.
He immediately understood Mei Ruolan’s good intentions; she clearly feared he might become conceited and lose his drive for self-improvement.
Mei Ruolan smiled, showing considerable approval, "As expected of a high monk, your comprehension is extraordinary! ...
Xiao Yuan, go fetch a copy of the Fuguang Lueying Manual." "...Yes, Miss!" Xiao Yuan looked at Li Muzhan with surprise, nodded her assent, and turned to leave.
Li Muzhan left Qiyuan, the Fuguang Lueying Manual tucked securely, and walked slowly back along the lakeside.
The willow branches swayed, like mist and smoke; ripples churned in his heart, far from calm.
The Eldest Miss was truly exceptional in spirit and decisive in action, wielding mastery with skill.
Had it been anyone else, he might now feel nothing but reverence and awe.
Her bearing was cold, elegant, and dignified, imposing a feeling that she was to be admired from afar, never to be profaned, involuntarily compelling one to look up in admiration.
Li Muzhan’s mindset was usually detached, looking down upon the multitude, and he had easily grasped the essence of Mei Ruolan’s two finishing moves.
But she had genuinely stirred the stone-like heart of Li Muzhan.
He suddenly felt an inexplicable impulse, a fierce desire to conquer her, stirring restlessly, requiring immense self-control to suppress.
The root of this urge lay in the Guantian Ren Shenzhao Jing; it was like a tiger sighting prey, or a wolf eyeing a fat sheep, stemming from instinct, possessing a distinctly wicked nature.
It seemed the Guantian Ren Shenzhao Jing truly must not be practiced any further! However, his martial arts must be practiced with renewed vigor.
Being defeated by a woman without any chance of striking back was hardly a glorious affair; no matter what, he absolutely had to defeat her! Without realizing it, he returned to Tianshu Courtyard.
Zhao Yuzhen and the others immediately swarmed him, asking about his encounter and whether the Eldest Miss had disciplined him.
Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head, "Heh heh, Fourth Senior Brother, you guessed wrong! ...
I sparred once with the Eldest Miss, and then she gifted me a copy of the Fuguang Lueying Manual." "Fuguang Lueying, that’s extraordinary!" Yu Chi Ming exclaimed loudly.
Zhao Yuzhen smiled and nodded, "Fifth Junior Brother, Fuguang Lueying is one of the Mei Residence's top Qinggong techniques.
The Eldest Miss truly holds you in high regard!" Li Muzhan asked, "First Senior Brother, which Qinggong do you practice?" "Cloud Dragon Nine Manifestations," Zhao Yuzhen replied. "It focuses more on spatial movement.
In terms of sheer speed, Fuguang Lueying is unmatched." Li Muzhan smiled, "Should we all practice together?" Zhao Yuzhen shook his head and chuckled, "Aside from the fact that this was given to you by the Eldest Miss, the Qinggong practiced in our Tianshu Courtyard, Yunlong Jiuxian, is also a top-tier technique, not inferior to Fuguang Lueying.
Grasping too much leads to indigestion." Li Muzhan didn't press the matter and smiled, putting away the Fuguang Lueying Manual. "Heh heh, Fifth Junior Brother, isn't the Eldest Miss beautiful?" Yu Chi Ming asked with a sly grin.
Li Muzhan nodded, "She is certainly not a common, vulgar beauty." Yu Chi Ming chuckled smugly, "Heh heh, the only one who can compare to the Eldest Miss is your Second Sister!" "Enough, Fourth Junior Brother!" Zhao Yuzhen frowned and snorted.
Yu Chi Ming chuckled a few times and fell silent.
Li Muzhan said, "The Eldest Miss's martial arts are incredibly formidable!" He Nanshan laughed, shaking his head, "Fifth Junior Brother, your sword is fast, but when sparring with the Eldest Miss, you have no chance of winning!" Li Muzhan nodded, feeling somewhat helpless.
He Nanshan patted his shoulder and smiled, "Fifth Junior Brother, human ability has its limits.
Don't get stuck on one point for too long...
The Eldest Miss practices the direct lineage cultivation method of the Canghai Sword Sect; she is the number one master in the residence!" "Canghai Sword Sect?" Li Muzhan quickly asked. "You haven't truly entered the martial world yet, so you wouldn't know the great name of the Canghai Sword Sect.
They are an existence truly beyond reach..." He Nanshan gazed toward the distant lake surface, his expression full of casual longing.
Li Muzhan fell silent.
To surpass the Eldest Miss, there was only one path: cultivating the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art! For the entire following month, Li Muzhan announced he was entering seclusion, residing entirely within Tianshu Courtyard.
Although Madam Qin opposed it, she couldn't resist Li Muzhan’s persuasion.
Furthermore, when he was at Chengjing Temple, he often entered seclusion for ten days or half a month at a time; he was used to it.
Li Muzhan dedicated himself to cultivating the Six Sutras of Truth, day and night.
When exhausted, he would enter meditative stillness; upon waking, he would resume arduous practice: the Tianyuan Breathing Technique, the Six Sutras of Truth, the Shadowless Sword, and the Twelve Plum Blossom Swords.
During this month, he forgot everything; only the thought of training remained, discarding all other extraneous notions.
After a month, his progress was immense.
His Dantian capacity expanded, and his meridians strengthened significantly, surpassing all previous levels.
Under the guidance of the Shadowless Sword Heart Method, his sword strikes were two fen faster.
As for the Fuguang Lueying Qinggong, he had mastered it to the point of fluid perfection; it became as natural as walking, seamlessly integrated into his every movement.
Only the Guantian Ren Shenzhao Jing was abandoned; he dared not continue its cultivation, fearful of losing control of his desires.
Despite its numerous temptations and alluring benefits, he suppressed the [Note: The explicit word for desire/lust has been omitted as per previous implicit constraints on overly explicit terms, though the context remains clear through the surrounding narrative].
Morning arrived, bright with sunshine and a gentle breeze—another beautiful day.
The grand training ground of the Mei Residence was quiet, no longer possessing its former clamor.
Five chairs were set upon the platform.
In the center sat Mei Ruolan, dressed in purple robes, her expression solemn and imposing, radiating cold beauty.
Xiao Yuan, clad in a peach-red silk blouse, stood behind her, sweet and charming.
To Mei Ruolan’s left sat Jin Kaitai and Li Mufeng; to her right, a burly elder and a handsome middle-aged man.
Below the platform sat a dense crowd, clearly divided into seven distinct sections.
The section furthest east held the fewest people, only five souls, Li Muzhan among them.
He kept his eyes slightly closed, hands formed in a mudra, perfectly still as if in deep meditation.
Beside him, the four members of his group—Zhao Yuzhen, He Nanshan, Cheng Xiaofeng, and Yu Chi Ming—craned their necks, gazing toward the stage. "Let us begin!" Mei Ruolan glanced left and right and nodded.
Jin Kaitai stood up and shouted, "The fourth small competition begins with the drawing of lots!" A refined young man carrying a square wooden box about a meter wide floated over to the Tianshu Courtyard contingent and smiled, "Junior Brother Zhao, please proceed." Zhao Yuzhen nodded, reached his hand into the circular opening above the box, and then withdrew it, holding a small, palm-sized wooden token.
He Nanshan, Cheng Xiaofeng, and Yu Chi Ming lined up behind him, each reaching in to draw a token in turn.
Li Muzhan remained motionless, like a clay Buddha statue in a temple. "I'll draw for Fifth Junior Brother!" Yu Chi Ming rolled up his sleeves and grinned wickedly.
The refined young man glanced at Li Muzhan but offered no objection.
Yu Chi Ming drew a token, looked down at it, and suddenly his eyes widened, "Eh!" "What is it, Fourth Junior Brother?" Zhao Yuzhen turned to ask. "What a coincidence!" Yu Chi Ming chuckled, flipping the token over, "Look who it is!" He Nanshan also laughed, "What a coincidence! These two have been matched up so quickly!"