Elder An slowly nodded. "It's a last resort, but we must try!"

He immediately continued, "Eldest Miss, your internal energy is intensely Yin. You need someone who has cultivated Yin internal energy as well!"

"Qingyun, come here!" Meruolan beckoned Gong Qingyun over.

Gong Qingyun had been lost in thought, her gaze distant and hazy, her spirit seemingly departed. Only when she heard her name did she turn her head, her expression utterly bewildered.

Meruolan beckoned again, "Qingyun, come here for a moment!"

Gong Qingyun finally heard clearly. Under the scrutiny of everyone present, she slowly walked over, her demeanor cold and stubbornly resistant. Her lower lip was bright red, her soft cherry lips bitten until they bled.

Jin Kaitai turned his head away from her, gritted his teeth, but said nothing.

After all, in sparring, blades and swords have no eyes; accidents are inevitable. No one wished for this outcome, and it could only be considered a slip-up.

Meruolan spoke in a gentle voice, "Qingyun, follow Elder An's instructions."

"Yes, Miss." Gong Qingyun nodded lightly, glancing down at Li Muchen. Her eyes flickered, and the expression on her delicate, melon-seed-shaped face was complicated.

"Don't get distracted!" Meruolan chided with a slight frown.

Gong Qingyun quickly gathered her thoughts and turned toward Elder An.

Elder An stroked his three strands of clear beard and pondered for a moment. "Eldest Miss, your internal energy is pure. Inject it into the sword so that when you withdraw it, there will be minimal bleeding."

Meruolan slowly nodded, placing her right hand on the hilt of the Yaoguang Sword, her expression grave.

Elder An then instructed, "Miss Qingyun, channel your internal energy into his body to slow his heartbeat."

Gong Qingyun nodded and slowly placed her hand over the position of Li Muchen's heart.

Li Muchen suddenly opened his eyes, looked up at Gong Qingyun, then at Meruolan. His eyes were clear and piercing, almost tangible, tranquil as the water of a bright lake.

Gong Qingyun gazed at him with a complex expression, staring questioningly into his eyes.

Meruolan smiled and said softly, "Master Zhanran, we must withdraw the sword now. Bite down and endure!"

Li Muchen lightly bowed his head and smiled faintly, composed and calm.

Everyone felt a pang of sorrow in their hearts. Such a prodigy, rising like a comet, was about to fall like one too. Truly, heaven envied such talent. To face death with such composure was beyond the reach of ordinary people!

Meruolan closed her hazy, bright eyes, her expression solemn and grave. She slowly channeled her energy; the precise control of its intensity was critical—too much would worsen the injury, too little would be useless.

Gong Qingyun looked deeply at Li Muchen one last time, then also closed her eyes.

Jin Kaitai glanced at Cai Xiuping and the others, then at Meruolan. He stamped his foot heavily, turned, hoisted Li Mufeng onto his back, and left the high platform.

Gong Qingyun, with closed eyes, meticulously injected her internal energy, replaying the moments of their clash. She kept dwelling on that final move, filled with doubt.

Li Muchen had relentlessly attacked, pressing forward with fierce determination. She had been forced into a purely defensive posture, which infuriated her; in any conflict, she was always the aggressor, never having been reduced to such a pathetic state.

After hundreds of exchanges, driven to desperation, she ignored Li Muchen’s thrusting sword and launched her own, intent on mutual destruction—to see who was fiercer.

His sword moved a fraction faster. The tip reached her, the chill sinking in, but just as it was about to pierce her body, he suddenly faltered, and it was he who was struck by his own attack.

At that moment, he had managed a faint, bitter smile. What exactly had happened?

With his speed, he could have easily struck her or smoothly dodged her sword. Why had the situation devolved like this? What was going on?

She felt an overwhelming urge to grab Li Muchen by the collar and demand a full explanation.

Elder An and Meruolan were grave, and the crowd looked downcast, yet she remained full of confidence, believing Li Muchen would not die so easily.

The crowd below craned their necks, watching the platform tensely. Yu Chi Ming even forgot to struggle, staring with wide, fixed eyes. The vast practice field was utterly silent, quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

Elder An, who had been holding Li Muchen's wrist, suddenly spoke, "Young man, we must withdraw the sword now!"

Li Muchen smiled and nodded.

"Eldest Miss, withdraw the sword!" Elder An commanded in a deep voice.

A flash of clear light, and the Yaoguang Sword left his body. Li Muchen’s frame shuddered; he let out a muffled groan, and blood immediately surged from his mouth, gushing like a spring, his throat rattling audibly.

Meruolan’s hazy gaze sharpened as she looked towards Elder An.

Elder An’s face was heavy with regret as he looked at Li Muchen, shaking his head and sighing, "Eldest Miss, my efforts are in vain."

Sorrow touched Meruolan’s face as she let out a long sigh, looking at Li Muchen. She paused, startled to see his eyes still bright, calm, and composed, showing absolutely no trace of tension or fear.

Li Muchen gave a wry smile internally. He hadn't expected them to be so reckless; this action had pushed him into the most perilous situation!

Ignoring everything else, he slowly closed his eyes and began his inner contemplation.

Gong Qingyun suddenly placed both palms on Li Muchen's back, trying to stop his convulsions.

Her face was as pale as paper. She whispered urgently, "Miss, save him! Save him quickly!"

Meruolan sighed, her gaze growing even more distant.

"Miss! Miss!" Gong Qingyun called softly, staring fixedly at Li Muchen’s face. Blood poured violently from his mouth, and his spasms grew increasingly violent.

"...Qingyun, let it go..." Meruolan managed to say, her voice rough and hoarse, as if someone else were speaking.

"He will be fine! He will be fine!" Gong Qingyun murmured, still clinging to a fierce certainty that Zhanran would not die!

The crowd shook their heads, sighing sadly.

Li Muchen suddenly pushed up with his hands and sat cross-legged. Meruolan and Gong Qingyun felt a numbness in their palms as their hands were jolted away.

Li Muchen glanced at everyone, his gaze bright and dazzling, seemingly tangible.

Then, he rapidly formed a series of mudras before him, weaving over a dozen seals in a blink, placing them over his Dantian. He remained perfectly still, then slowly closed his eyes again.

Although his body was convulsing and blood flowed from his mouth, his expression remained serene and self-possessed. As he sat with his eyes closed, an aura of solemn majesty enveloped him, making him look like a temple Buddha statue.

Meruolan sighed, understanding that as a monastic, this signified his passage—that he was preparing for nirvana.

She turned and said, "Xiaoyuan, please fetch Vice Steward Li."

Xiaoyuan, already in tears, was a complete mess. The thought of Li Muchen's tranquil eyes and gentle smile, which seemed imprinted before her, caused a fresh deluge of tears to erupt.

She wiped her eyes, agreed, and floated away like a light breeze, vanishing in an instant.

Gong Qingyun stared blankly at Li Muchen, unmoving, completely lost.

Meruolan glanced at her, lightly patted her back, and sent a stream of cool internal energy to guard her heart meridian, fearing the shock might be too great and settle within her.

Elder An looked at Li Muchen with profound regret. Cai Xiuping and Zhao Faning shared the same look. A generation's genius was about to vanish, and even though they were not close to Li Muchen, they felt a deep sympathy.

Under the pitying gaze of the onlookers, his body gradually calmed; the convulsions ceased, and the bleeding from his mouth stopped, as if all the blood had been drained.

The rising and falling of his chest also gradually stilled. He was finally motionless, his sacred bearing growing more profound, a faint, holy aura emanating from him, causing the onlookers to involuntarily hold their breath.

"San'er..." Li Mufeng whispered hoarsely, stumbling onto the high platform, his face stark white, his eyes blazing red, looking frightening.

In this short time, his appearance had drastically changed, as if he hadn't slept for several days and nights.

Xiaoyuan and Jin Kaitai followed behind. Xiaoyuan's eyes were red-rimmed and swollen with tears, which unexpectedly added a touch of delicate charm and ethereal grace.

Jin Kaitai's face was grim. He walked slowly, step by step, the sharp glint in his eyes suggesting a suppressed volcano ready to erupt at any moment.

Li Mufeng shoved aside Zhao Faning, who was blocking the way, and saw Li Muchen sitting cross-legged, his face utterly devoid of color, completely still, looking dead.

Li Mufeng stared blankly at Li Muchen's face, muttering to himself, "San'er... San'er..."

Upon seeing this, Jin Kaitai resealed his pressure points, causing him to fall back asleep.

Zhao Faning stepped forward, holding an index finger near Li Muchen’s nostril. After a moment, he shook his head with pity and sighed, "No breath!"

"I don't believe it! Li Muchen, get up and explain yourself!" Gong Qingyun screamed. A flash of clear light, and she drew her sword, aiming for Li Muchen's chest.

"Nonsense!" Meruolan moved her hand, and the Yaoguang Sword instantly sheathed itself. Gong Qingyun froze, her vital points sealed.

"Huh?!" Elder An suddenly cried out.

Everyone quickly turned to look.

"Elder An?" Meruolan asked immediately.

Elder An stared at Li Muchen in astonishment, shaking his head. "He seems to still possess a spark of life!"

"Is there still hope?" Meruolan asked.

Elder An’s face was filled with confusion as he stammered, "He has no breath, but his heart is still beating!"

Just as Meruolan reached out, Elder An quickly waved his hand. "Don't move!"

Seeing Meruolan looking at him in confusion, Elder An explained, "He might be performing some secret technique. Let's not disturb him for now; let's wait and see."

With a crisp crack, Jin Kaitai suddenly slapped his forehead hard. "Zhanran doesn't need to breathe through his nose!"

"Really?!" Elder An was momentarily stunned and quickly turned to ask.

Jin Kaitai nodded vigorously. "He told me that while cultivating his Zen practice, he unexpectedly gained this miraculous ability."

"Good! Good!" Elder An clapped his hands, his face breaking into a smile. He turned to Meruolan and said, "Eldest Miss, this young man’s life is safe!"

Meruolan let out a long breath, a smile appearing on her lips. "The teachings of Buddha truly possess inconceivable power!"

Li Muchen had entered such a deep meditative state that there were no signs of him waking up. Though motionless and breathless, his vitality remained, meaning he was still alive.

The practice field was sealed off and heavily guarded.

At the four corners of the high platform stood a middle-aged man, each wearing different attire, but with a silver plum blossom embroidered on their cuffs. Each radiated complete vital energy and possessed an intimidating aura.

On the platform, Meruolan, Jin Kaitai, Xiaoyuan, Gong Qingyun, and the four individuals from the Tianshu Courtyard sat in a circle, Li Muchen resting in the center.

The disciples from the seven courts of the Meru Estate were forbidden from entering the practice field; their morning drills were moved to free practice within their own courtyards.

Jin Kaitai now had no mind for anything else; he remained on the high platform constantly, not leaving even to relieve himself, sleeping there as well.

The others were the same, sitting on cushions in meditation, treating the vigil as a retreat.

Time slipped by. Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The sun climbed to its zenith, scorching the air. Among the group, everyone except Meruolan looked listless.

Meruolan, clad in purple robes, sat upright and cross-legged, exuding an air of elegant composure. Her expression was peaceful and indifferent, her spirit fully intact.

Gong Qingyun’s frame grew thinner, her expression haggard, making her appear even more delicate and lovely.