The hall was carpeted in celebratory red, a cheerful scene. On the north wall hung a massive character for 'Longevity,' beneath which rested two plates of longevity peaches. Each was the size of a fist, alternating crimson and pale, their colors so vivid they looked artificial. Feng Shisheng bowed deeply. "Master, please take a seat. Wait but a moment, and I shall report to my master right away." "Very well, much obliged." Li Muzhan sat down and nodded.

Feng Shisheng turned and rushed out, nearly tripping over the threshold. He stumbled out in his haste. Li Muzhan pretended not to notice, turning instead to examine the peaches.

Feng Shisheng glanced back, looking apologetic toward Li Muzhan. Seeing him focused on the peaches, he let out a long sigh of relief and shot away like a streak of smoke.

Li Muzhan looked closely; the peaches were real. His senses were far superior to ordinary men's, and even from this distance, he could catch whiffs of a faint, sweet fragrance, causing his mouth to water involuntarily.

He shook his head with a wry smile. Traveling at full speed all the way, fearing he would be late for the birthday banquet, he had finally arrived two days early. The journey had been relatively peaceful; he hadn't encountered any more masters from the Helian family.

That made sense. To travel from the Northwest to the Southern Reaches, even with unparalleled Qinggong, would take time. Longshan Yesou and Ding Sheng would have had to hurry back first, then dispatch others—it would likely take at least one or two months. By that calculation, he would meet them on his return journey after attending the banquet.

Just then, footsteps sounded, and a young maidservant brought tea. She was poised and graceful, offered a brief instruction to drink, and then retreated lightly. The footsteps sounded again, heavy as an elephant’s, arriving with a thud-thud-thud-thud. "Heh heh, have the people from the Mei Manor arrived?" he chuckled as he stepped fully into the hall.

Li Muzhan rose, offered a clasped-hand salute, and smiled slightly. "Greetings to Master Lu. ...I am Zhan Ran. The Third Miss was unable to come and specially dispatched me to offer my felicitations on your grand birthday."

The old man was tall and stout as a barrel, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, a prominent nose, and noticeable bags beneath his eyes. He was squinting and chuckling heartily, dressed in a black robe, looking full of spirit.

Master Lu wore a string of prayer beads on his left hand. He returned the salute with clasped hands. "Heh heh, greetings, little monk! Please sit, please sit! How is the Third Girl?"

Behind Master Lu followed two people: one was the Feng Shisheng from earlier, with a pointed face, eyes betraying a hint of roguishness mixed with sharp wit, and the other was a young man whose face was as flawless as jade, possessing a refined and scholarly air, smiling gently at him. "She is well, the Third Miss remains as she always is." Li Muzhan nodded, withdrawing a letter from his robes. Feng Shisheng quickly stepped forward to receive it, opened it, and then handed it to Master Lu.

Seeing how cautious and meticulous Feng Shisheng was, Li Muzhan mused inwardly that Master Lu’s life was likely not peaceful; he seemed to be treading on thin ice. Master Lu took the letter and read it quickly. He let out a long sigh. "The poor girl..." Li Muzhan drank his tea in silence.

Master Lu tucked the letter away, extended his hand, and Feng Shisheng quickly offered the empty envelope. Master Lu placed the letter back inside and stored it in his robes. He offered a clasped-hand salute. "It is truly the fortune of three lifetimes that Master Zhan Ran could come!" Li Muzhan smiled gently. "Master Lu, there is no need for such courtesy. You are the Third Miss's maternal grandfather, making you my elder..." "Heh heh, I dare not, I dare not," Master Lu waved his hands repeatedly.

He then inquired about matters at the Mei Manor, which Li Muzhan related in detail, naturally reporting only the good news, omitting mention of the Bai or Li family affairs.

Master Lu then asked several questions concerning Buddhist doctrines. Li Muzhan answered each one clearly and concisely, making profound insights accessible. Master Lu's smile never faded; he felt every word was a precious pearl, clearing away the fog and revealing the truth—truly a high monk. Unconsciously, they talked for an hour, going through several cups of tea.

Finally, the refined young man reminded him, and Master Lu snapped back to awareness, laughing. "Look at me, completely lost in conversation, I forgot the Master's arduous journey! My apologies, my apologies! Young man, please escort Master Zhan Ran to the Winter Courtyard!"

"...Yes, Master!" Feng Shisheng was quite surprised. He quickly nodded his agreement. "Master Zhan Ran, please follow me!"

Master Lu said, "Hearing a word from the Master, my reading of the sutras has truly been in vain. I am deeply impressed! Master, please rest. I shall come to bother you later."

Li Muzhan smiled, clasped his hands, rose, and opened the wooden box. "This is what the Third Miss entrusted me to deliver: two Buddha statues and one volume of the Diamond Sutra."

Master Lu casually glanced at the white jade Buddha statues and set them down. Then he picked up the silk cloth containing the Diamond Sutra text, his face beaming. "The Third Girl truly has such a thoughtful heart!" Li Muzhan smiled and followed Feng Shisheng out of the hall, walking eastward to a small courtyard.

The courtyard was not large, but it was serene: a flowerbed, a bamboo grove, a small pavilion, a rock garden, and a stream—it possessed everything. Though small, it was perfectly complete. Li Muzhan surveyed it with a nod, praising inwardly the person who designed this courtyard; they must possess great vision and skill.

"Is the Master satisfied?" Feng Shisheng asked with a beaming smile, then quickly added, "Our manor has four courtyards—Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—specifically prepared for honored guests." Li Muzhan smiled. "Master Lu is too hospitable." Feng Shisheng chuckled. "Heh heh, our Master holds Buddhism in high esteem and has always shown great respect to those who have taken the monastic vows."

Li Muzhan smiled slightly, sensing that Feng Shisheng was slightly unconvinced, perhaps feeling that Li Muzhan was too young to receive such honor. "This one will suffice," Li Muzhan said, entering the courtyard. "No need to trouble you further, little brother." "...If the Master needs anything, you may pull that rope, and someone will immediately attend to your needs," he pointed to a length of rope in the corner of the wall. Li Muzhan nodded. "There is a garden outside. The Master can go there to relax; it’s very close, just one turn east out of the courtyard." Feng Shisheng added. Li Muzhan nodded with a smile and said no more. Seeing this, Feng Shisheng stopped dithering and took his leave. As dusk settled, Li Muzhan finished his meditation, stepped out of the small courtyard, and proceeded to the adjacent garden.

This garden had a circular layout, with a central circular flowerbed where a hundred blossoms bloomed, emitting a faint fragrance. A small path led from the center, winding around lush grass.

Several chairs and round tables were set beside the path for rest, or perhaps tea, reading, or a brief nap. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sunset hues dyed the flowers a magnificent, brilliant gold.

Li Muzhan rubbed his beads, strolling through the grounds. After one circuit, he sat down beside a stone table, facing the setting sun, squinting contentedly. Suddenly, a light cough sounded. Li Muzhan opened his eyes, a flash of purple light fleetingly visible. He realized he hadn't detected this person approaching at all; the newcomer's internal power far surpassed his own, which piqued his curiosity greatly.

What he saw was a Daoist priest clad in an eight-trigram robe. His face was like white jade, his eyes like brilliant stars, his nose like a hanging liver, his mouth as if painted vermilion, and three strands of clear beard hung beneath his jaw, flowing as if he were an immortal. Li Muzhan guessed the man was about forty years old, possessing striking charisma—among all the people he had met, he was perhaps the most impressive. Li Muzhan offered a clasped-hand salute and smiled slightly without speaking. "Is the monk residing in the Winter Courtyard?" the middle-aged Daoist asked with a respectful bow and a smile. Li Muzhan nodded. "Yes. Where does the Senior reside?" "The Spring Courtyard." The middle-aged Daoist chuckled, shook his head, and sighed. "Old Lu's taste—I truly cannot agree with it!" Li Muzhan laughed lightly. "Master Lu is forthright and bold, truly heart-winning." "Heh heh, the little monk certainly knows how to speak!" The middle-aged Daoist stroked his beard and laughed.

He appraised Li Muzhan with a look, then sat opposite him, clapping his hands twice: Snap! Snap! The sound was crisp.

Soon, a young maid floated over, her features delicate and lovely. She curtsied and said clearly, "Daoist Priest Zheng, Master Zhan Ran, what are your commands?" "Miss Xiaohuan, bring some pastries and tea," Daoist Priest Zheng said cheerfully. Miss Xiaohuan nodded. "Yes. And for Master Zhan Ran?" Li Muzhan smiled. "The same as for Senior Zheng." "Yes," Miss Xiaohuan replied crisply, turned gracefully, and vanished into the depths of the flowerbed. Soon, two plates of exquisite pastries and teacups were brought up, along with some fruit. The watermelon was bright red and crisp green, making one’s mouth water, and the nectarine peaches were so alluring he wished he could devour them in one bite. After setting the items down, Miss Xiaohuan retreated once more.

Daoist Zheng grabbed a nectarine peach and took a large bite. "Come, come, try some! Old Lu has a way with making money; he has plenty of these good things!" Li Muzhan took a slice of watermelon and slowly savored it. Daoist Zheng ate in large mouthfuls, completely lacking in decorum.

He quickly finished one peach and tossed the pit casually into the flowerbed. He picked up another and bit into it forcefully. "Little monk, the skills you practice are very strange. Are you from the Ziyang Sect? Li Muzhan paused, observing him closely, his thoughts racing as he probed his intuition. A moment later, he slowly shook his head. "Ziyang Sect? ...What I practice is the Ziyang Tablet." "Ah, the Ziyang Tablet... Little monk, you have great fortune!" Daoist Zheng paused in surprise, then shook his head, sighing. Li Muzhan asked, "Has Senior heard of it?" Daoist Zheng asked curiously, "The Ziyang Tablet is the foundational legacy of the Ziyang Sect. How did you obtain it?" "It was gifted to me by a Senior," Li Muzhan replied. Daoist Zheng chuckled. "It seems your Senior didn't recognize its true value!" Li Muzhan said, "I am ignorant; I have never heard of the Ziyang Sect."

"Alas..." Daoist Zheng sighed, stroking his beard and gazing at the sunset, a trace of ancient sorrow suddenly showing. "Today, Buddhism is exalted, but the former dynasty revered the Dao. The Ziyang Sect was the true orthodox head of all Daoist schools in the world, striking awe across the realm." Li Muzhan smiled. "The Ziyang Sect was so renowned?"

Daoist Zheng sighed, "Clouds drift and dogs shift; it is no longer so!" Today, the Daoist sects are withered. Of the ten great sects of the former dynasty, scarcely one remains, and those surviving have all withdrawn from the world. The Ziyang Sect, too, has vanished like smoke. Li Muzhan remained silent.

Daoist Zheng continued, "This Ziyang Tablet is the sect-founding divine art of the Ziyang Sect, said to possess immense power. Unfortunately, the only one to achieve mastery was the founding patriarch, the True Man Ziyang!"

He looked at Li Muzhan and smiled. "Little monk, though you are of the Buddhist path, you practice Daoist martial arts. It is rare enough, but to have entered the threshold of the Ziyang Tablet—this is truly bizarre!" Li Muzhan smiled, feeling a deep sense of the history he hadn't known.

Daoist Zheng added, "However, your cultivation of the Ziyang Tablet is far short—you have merely reached the entry level!" "It is said that when the Ziyang Tablet reaches completion, one can activate the Daoist arts of the Ziyang Sect... Alas, the Ziyang Sect is gone now, and its arts are lost. A pity, a pity!" "Are there truly Daoist arts in this world?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile, though he was skeptical.

Daoist Zheng stroked his beard and smiled faintly. "Daoist arts? It is said they exist, unique to the Ziyang Sect, requiring activation by the Ziyang Tablet. But for hundreds of years, no one has mastered the Ziyang Tablet, so naturally, the Daoist arts cannot reappear. Whether this is true or not, no one truly knows..."

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head; it was as good as saying they didn't exist.

"Little monk, since you have touched the threshold of the Ziyang Tablet, practice diligently. Perhaps you can truly reach completion," Daoist Zheng observed him with a chuckle. Li Muzhan nodded. "Yes, this junior will certainly do his best." "Heh heh, you little monk, you actually dare to think so!" Daoist Zheng laughed and shook his head repeatedly. "Can this junior not achieve it?" Li Muzhan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Daoist Zheng waved his hand. "Well, it's not impossible; effort can achieve anything!" "However," he continued, "for hundreds of years, the Ziyang Sect shone brilliantly, like the midday sun, unstoppable. Talents of peerless genius emerged ceaselessly, yet they practiced the Ziyang Tablet to the deepest levels but always lacked that final step to perfection. Otherwise, they would not have been destroyed by the court... Alas, when heaven intends to destroy a power, it makes it frantic. The previous dynasty severely damaged the Ziyang Sect, striking its foundation, which is why it was replaced by the current one!" Li Muzhan suddenly understood; no one had ever told him these secret histories.

"I hope Senior will offer guidance," Li Muzhan said, offering a clasped-hand salute.

Daoist Zheng's spirit soared, his eyes shining brightly, and he chuckled. "Little monk, you have only just grasped the entry level of the Ziyang Tablet. Without decades of effort, do not expect any achievement." Li Muzhan paused, sighed, and nodded.

"It is said this Ziyang Tablet is divided into four layers. The first layer is Jiedan (Core Formation), requiring the refining of Qi, condensing the spirit, and gathering essence, to internalize the body's vital energy, spirit, and essence, forming a single purple core... This level requires over ten years of arduous cultivation, and also extremely high aptitude and comprehension; lacking either is impossible," Daoist Zheng explained.

Li Muzhan nodded. Although he had achieved instantaneous success in forming the core, it was thanks to over a decade of seated meditation and his Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing.

Daoist Zheng continued, "The second layer is Zhuangdan (Strengthening the Core), requiring the complete transformation of the body's Qi, spirit, and essence into the core, making the core equal to the body."

Li Muzhan was confused. "Core equal to the body? How can the Dantian possibly hold it all?"

Daoist Zheng gave him a sidelong glance. "Hmph, you’re dense. If the Dantian is empty of Qi, what is the 'Sea of Qi'?"

Li Muzhan responded, "Does Senior mean the entire body can become a sea?"

"Mm, teachable boy. With such comprehension, no wonder you can practice the Ziyang Tablet!" Daoist Zheng stroked his beard and smiled, highly approving.

Li Muzhan smiled, shook his head. "I still don't understand how to achieve 'Core equal to the body.'"

Daoist Zheng chuckled and waved his hand. "The specific method of practice, I do not know. Just listen to what I say!"

Li Muzhan shook his head, smiling wryly. "Senior, what comes next?"

"The third layer is Ningdan (Condensing the Core)," Daoist Zheng said, sighing. "One must refine the purple core until it is the size of an egg to achieve a true purple core."

Daoist Zheng said, "The fourth layer is called Yangdan (Nurturing the Core)."

"'Nurturing the Core?'" Li Muzhan frowned, deep in thought.

Daoist Zheng sighed. "As for this step, no one knows anymore. One must comprehend it oneself. Whether one can reach completion depends entirely on this step."

Li Muzhan listened, his spirit soaring. The disciples of the former dynasty's Ziyang Sect were truly formidable; reaching the third layer was already beyond imagining! P: Dear patrons, subscriptions have reached one thousand six hundred. Can we reach two thousand? I beg all of you. D