He drew his foot back, pulling his shoulder free from the sword, and a spray of blood erupted. He quickly drew his right sword, tapping the hilt against his left shoulder a few times to seal the pressure points. He looked up again, and the smile on his face froze. He saw a hole punched clean through Li Muzhan’s left shoulder, a small tear in the gray monk's robe, but inexplicably, no blood followed.

Recalling the sensation of the blade just now, it had felt like striking withered grass—it wouldn't pierce. He had assumed the blade had struck bone after penetrating the flesh, but now it seemed that was not the case.

Li Muzhan was entirely unaffected. He lunged with his left sword, pressing Tong Pingyi, and thrust with his right; the tip of that blade stopped inches from Ma Shouzhen, startling him into stumbling back several paces. Li Muzhan recalled his swords and stood still, saying calmly, "Venerable Seniors, let us end it here!"

Ma Shouzhen glanced at Tong Pingyi, then stared at Li Muzhan for a moment before suddenly sheathing his sword and stating gravely, "We concede defeat today. Thank you for showing mercy!" Li Muzhan smiled faintly and turned to look at Tong Pingyi.

Tong Pingyi's expression shifted, sharp glints flickering in his small eyes. After a moment, he too sheathed his sword, huffing, "Well done, Twin-Sword Monk Zhanran. Truly extraordinary!"

"You are too kind," Li Muzhan replied mildly. He returned to the table, sheathing his longsword, then turned, clasping his hands in a bow. "Venerable Master Lu, I apologize for disturbing your birthday banquet. I am ashamed and dare not linger here. I shall take my leave now!"

Old Master Lu was startled and quickly waved his hand. "Stay, stay a while longer! Master, you must remain for a time. This old man still wishes to hear the Master expound the Dharma!" Li Muzhan gave a slight smile. "I shall pay my respects another day. For now, I must depart!" As he spoke, holding one longsword in each hand, he bowed to the assembled crowd and walked slowly toward the exit. The onlookers instinctively parted to create a path, stunned into silence by Li Muzhan’s martial prowess.

They had presumed him to be a rising talent, perhaps slightly inferior to top masters like the Sect Leader of Juedao Gate or the Flying Monkey King, but now it seemed the exact opposite was true. Li Muzhan walked slowly out, passing through the crowd, exiting the main hall, and vanishing from their line of sight in the blink of an eye.

“Buzz…” The hall erupted into chaos, people murmuring everywhere.

Someone could not help but ask, "Sect Leader Lin, who exactly is this Master Zhanran?"

Lin Qiongying paid no mind. Her bright eyes, clear as autumn water, remained fixed on the direction Li Muzhan had disappeared. After a moment of thought, she abruptly turned, executing a graceful curtsy. "Venerable Master Lu, and your son, I must also take my leave!"

Old Master Lu, saddened by Li Muzhan's departure, quickly protested, "What is this, Sect Leader Lin? It is rare for you to visit this old man; why the hurry to leave?"

Lin Qiongying smiled gently. "Master Lu, Zhanran seems to fear implicating you, so he left first. As for me, I have matters to attend to with him. I shall not stay long today... Wishing you, Master Lu, a lifespan as vast as the Eastern Sea and blessings as high as the Southern Mountains!"

Old Master Lu sighed, "Ah... very well, very well. Master Zhanran’s Buddhist insights are profound; it is a great pity not to hear his teachings. A great pity!" Lin Qiongying smiled, nodded, and swept away in a lingering waft of fragrance. “Buzz…” The crowd began to discuss again.

Tong Pingyi and Ma Shouzhen seized this opportunity to slip away, vanishing without a trace. Their movement was so swift that others pretended not to see them, not daring to obstruct their path. Although these two had been defeated, the might of their martial arts still sent shivers down the spines of the onlookers, who privately conceded they could not match them.

Li Muzhan left the Lu Residence and headed north toward the edge of the city.

His body felt swollen, as if he were a mountain or a massive peak; his internal energy surged like a vast, rolling river, threatening to break its constraints at any moment and consume him whole. He sighed inwardly. This She Shen Da Fa (Life-Sacrificing Great Art) was indeed potent; without it, he would surely have been defeated today.

The sun blazed high overhead, unbearably hot—even hotter here than by the Eastern Sea. The surrounding air felt oppressive, as if stifling breath itself.

He moved his feet rapidly, his spirit intensely focused inward. His Zidan (Purple Elixir) had doubled in size, showing signs of breaking through the Dantian, yet strangely, the Dantian itself felt nothing. A thought stirred in his mind, and he suddenly recalled the words of Daoist Priest Zheng of Chaoyang Mountain: the Elixir and the Body must be unified... Within all his meridians, purple energy surged mightily, revolving in tandem with the spinning Zidan.

He deeply relished this feeling and wished it could last forever, but he knew that an hour later, weakness would claim him.

At that point, compared to his current state, it would be the difference between heaven and earth; should he encounter a true master, defeat would be inevitable.

He unleashed his movement technique, resembling a streak of flowing light. The scenery before him rushed backward at incredible speed, blurring into streaks of shadow that were impossible to focus on clearly. Had his vision and spirit not been exceptionally strong, seeing such a phenomenon would have instantly induced dizziness, nausea, and uncontrollable vomiting.

While rushing forward, he glanced down at his shoulder. The hole remained, and there was a red mark on his skin, but the skin itself was unbroken—it felt no worse than a scorpion's sting.

He mused silently. This Jingang Buhuai Shengong (Indestructible Vajra Divine Art) was truly miraculous. The fact that it hadn't functioned earlier wasn't due to its inadequacy but because his internal energy had been too weak. Though the Jingang Buhuai Shengong was profound, it possessed weaknesses; one needed to choose the right opponent to withstand strikes directly. It was not effective against everyone. While it could handle those with less power than himself, it could not withstand a direct clash with those whose cultivation surpassed his own. However, nothing in the world was absolutely perfect, and he understood this, feeling content enough.

In a flash, he was out of the city. Following the official road north, he charged toward a high mountain, intending to find a secluded place to hide before the effects of the She Shen Da Fa wore off. "Zhanran... Zhanran..." A soft, melodious call sounded from far behind him. Li Muzhan frowned; he recognized Lin Qiongying's voice.

He pondered while continuing his pace, covering another li in moments, yet the voice behind him still drifted, persistent and unwilling to give up.

He shook his head and finally stopped, calling out, "Sect Leader Lin..."

His voice drifted out, wave-like, traveling slowly until it reached her ears.

"Wait for me!" Lin Qiongying's voice sounded again.

Li Muzhan stood still. He was in a stretch of woods bordering the wide official road. There were few people around, and the trees blocked the wind, making the intense sunlight feel stiflingly hot.

Soon, Lin Qiongying floated toward him, arriving before him and giving him a smiling sidelong glance. "Why are you running away...? There aren't any wolves chasing you!" Li Muzhan laughed. "Sect Leader Lin, I am currently a plague upon this place. It is best if you keep your distance from me."

Lin Qiongying pursed her lips and chuckled dismissively. "Helian Clan? Hmph, I doubt they would dare approach my Jade Immortal Sect!"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "The Helian Clan is the foremost power in the Northwest. Even if you, Sect Leader, do not fear them, it is wisest not to provoke them needlessly. Creating enemies for no reason is foolish!"

Lin Qiongying laughed. "Alright, you little monk, you aren't old but you are exceedingly prudent. Are you lecturing me now?" Li Muzhan chuckled in response, then asked, "Sect Leader Lin, did you need something?"

Lin Qiongying shook her head, smiling vaguely. "Nothing much, I merely wanted to invite you to be a guest at my Jade Immortal Sect... Now that Zhanran, you have made a name for yourself across the land and ascended to the ranks of the top masters, I naturally must cultivate a good relationship with you, hoping you will look after my disciples in the future!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Sect Leader Lin, you are being overly formal. Even if I don't visit the Jade Immortal Sect, how could I not be kind to your disciples if I meet them?" He paused. "Perhaps another day!" "Don't try to fool me with 'another day'!" Lin Qiongying shot him a look. "It is rare for you to visit Tiannan; who knows when you'll be back!"

Li Muzhan considered this and smiled. "Sect Leader Lin, I won't hide it from you, but I am currently injured and need a quiet place to heal."

"Injured?" Lin Qiongying frowned, examining him, then shook her head with a smile. "You can't be joking. You don't look injured at all!" Li Muzhan grew serious. "I am suppressing it now; once it erupts, I will have no power to fight back."

Seeing he was not joking, Lin Qiongying quickly offered, "Then come to our sect to heal! I guarantee you peace and quiet, undisturbed. The Helian Clan wouldn't dare come there!" Although Li Muzhan was reluctant to owe her a favor, he finally nodded.

That scene in the hall had greatly changed his opinion of Lin Qiongying. Both Tong Pingyi and Ma Shouzhen were absolute masters; Lin Qiongying couldn't withstand a single move from them. In such a situation, she had stepped forward without fear to shield him. Regardless of the outcome, that favor alone was immense. "Let's go!" Lin Qiongying’s bright eyes sparkled with overwhelming joy.

She suddenly paused. "Wait a moment. You wait here while I fetch a carriage!" "Alright," Li Muzhan agreed.

A quarter of an hour later, the sound of rapid horses' hooves and the rumbling of wheels echoed from the south as a carriage approached along the main road, stirring up billowing dust. The carriage was pulled by two magnificent white horses, utterly without a single stray hair, looking spirited and extraordinary.

A young woman in white sat on the carriage, her robes flowing, a silk scarf fluttering over her face, her jade-like features partially revealed. Li Muzhan recognized her at a glance: it was Li Yuqi. White horses pulling the carriage, the maiden dressed in snow-white silk—under the scorching sun, she brought a distinct sense of cool relief. Li Muzhan, who had been sitting cross-legged on a tree, floated down when he saw her.

Li Yuqi pulled the reins, looking at him from the carriage. Her eyes showed a mixture of delight and shyness. She dared not meet his gaze, turning her head to whisper, "Master..."

Lin Qiongying's voice drifted from the vermilion carriage compartment: "Zhanran, get in!"

Li Muzhan bowed to Li Yuqi and stepped into the rear compartment, pushing open the window, where he immediately froze.

The compartment was bright and softly lit. Lin Qiongying sat inside, and beside her was another woman, clad in white like snow, her gaze icy cold. It was her senior disciple. Li Muzhan knew this disciple was named Zhou Yuxian.

"Greetings, Miss Zhou," Li Muzhan said, clasping his hands in greeting.

Zhou Yuxian let out a cold sneer, glaring at him. Seeing her master look over, she bit her lip and offered a perfunctory bow in return. "Senior Brother Zhanran, please come in!"

Li Muzhan smiled. That address of 'Senior Brother' was clearly forced, evidently compelled by Lin Qiongying.

"Junior Sister Zhou is too polite," he accepted the title readily and without pretense. "You..." Zhou Yuxian's bright eyes narrowed, about to speak.

Lin Qiongying interrupted her, instructing sternly, "Xian'er, Zhanran is injured and cannot be agitated. You must rein in that bad temper of yours!" "...Yes, Master!" Zhou Yuxian replied slowly, grinding her teeth.

Lin Qiongying smiled. "Zhanran, we will take the carriage for this journey. Do not worry; no one will see you entering our sect." Li Muzhan sighed in relief. "That is best!" Saying this, he entered the carriage and sat beside Lin Qiongying, opposite Zhou Yuxian.

Lin Qiongying shook her head and chuckled. "You are more cautious than I am, underestimating our Jade Immortal Sect too much!" "Caution is never wrong," Li Muzhan replied with a smile. The Sect Leader Lin was indeed meticulous; this method allowed him to relax, free from the worry of implicating the Jade Immortal Sect.

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