The carriage was spacious, with twin beds on either side and a narrow aisle just wide enough for one person down the middle, featuring large Liuli windows. The interior was neither stuffy nor dark; the light was mellow, though it was undeniably hot.
This world had long possessed glass, known as Liuli. Though not as transparent as later generations’ glass—it resembled frosted glass—it was far more useful than paper.
None of the three were sweating. Li Muzhan’s internal power (Neili) was profound, and with the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill (Jingang Buhuai Shengong), he was already impervious to cold and heat. Lin Qiongying, Zhou Wuxian, and Xian Xiu practiced cold-attribute mental techniques, so the heat did not trouble them.
Seeing this, Li Muzhan simply circulated the Grand Yin True Scripture (Taiyin Zhenjing). In moments, the temperature inside the carriage plummeted, becoming several degrees cooler than the outside air.
Lin Qiongying looked on in surprise. “Zhanran, don’t you practice purely Yang energy techniques?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Besides Yang skills, I also practice soft, yielding mental techniques. I learned both sets out of sheer curiosity back then.” Lin Qiongying frowned slightly, shaking her head. “Improper, highly improper.” “Oh?” Li Muzhan asked with a knowing smile.
“Practicing like that is very unsuitable,” Lin Qiongying stated, frowning. Zhou Yuxian’s bright eyes regarded him, followed by a gleeful sidelong glance at Li Muzhan. “I ask for the elder’s guidance,” Li Muzhan conceded.
Lin Qiongying pondered for a moment. “The purer the Neili mental technique, the better. The concept of balancing hardness and softness is actually a misconception.” Li Muzhan’s eyebrow twitched up. “Please elaborate, Elder.” Lin Qiongying spoke slowly. “Yin and Yang mutually generate; do you understand?” Li Muzhan nodded. “Yes, the primal Qi divides into Yin and Yang, and they can transform into one another.”
Lin Qiongying smiled faintly. “It is good that you understand this! Take me, for instance. I practice soft, yielding techniques, but once a certain level of mastery is reached, extreme Yin generates Yang. At that point, the internal energy naturally achieves a balance of hardness and softness! As for you practicing two sets simultaneously, that is a grave error; they will inevitably clash, like water against fire! Even if you manage to harmonize them, how can dividing your focus between two techniques compare to specializing in just one?” Li Muzhan smiled. “So that is how it is.”
Seeing his expression, Lin Qiongying knew he hadn’t taken her warning to heart. She could only sigh helplessly. Perhaps he would only understand this after suffering a setback himself!
Li Muzhan chuckled internally. For others, specializing in one path was certainly best, but for him, the ability to use both hands—to cultivate two mental techniques concurrently—made practicing only one seem like a waste.
Moreover, up to this point, his internal energy had not broken through. The Neili in his Dantian was neither purely Yang nor purely Yin; the change only occurred after traversing specific meridians.
He dimly realized that this was likely due to the marvel of the Heavenly Origin Breathing Technique (Tianyuan Tunana Shu); the internal energy he cultivated was different from ordinary people’s, akin to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
An hour passed swiftly. Li Muzhan’s expression abruptly shifted; the color drained from his face, leaving it bone-white and terrifyingly pale.
The purple Dan (elixir core), which had been twice its normal size, suddenly shrank, becoming only half its original volume. In ten in and one out, it had shrunk fourfold.
It floated motionless in his Dantian, its luster dim and subdued, lacking the previous flowing, radiant splendor, as if devoid of vitality.
His entire body felt hollow and painful. His acupoints and meridians felt as if they were being sawed by knives, no different from the suffering of a thousand cuts.
Lin Qiongying, who had been closely watching his expression, rushed forward when she saw the change. “Zhanran, what is wrong? Has your old injury flared up?” Li Muzhan grit his teeth and forced a smile. “It’s back!” Lin Qiongying immediately asked, “Is it serious?”
As she spoke, she reached out, grasped his wrist, and placed two fingers on his pulse, closing her eyes to examine it. Her face grew progressively darker, capable of dripping water. Li Muzhan merely smiled and allowed her to proceed.
Zhou Yuxian looked on curiously, glancing between Lin Qiongying and Li Muzhan. She also sensed that Li Muzhan’s injury was grave and that his life might be in danger.
She glanced at Li Muzhan, her brow furrowed, thinking him annoying. If he was hurt, he should find a place to heal, why bother his Master and cause her worry? It made her feel awkward too!
Then she immediately felt she was being too harsh and unfeeling. If her Second Junior Sister found out, she would certainly lecture and nag, forcing her to plead for mercy until her head ached. A moment later, Lin Qiongying opened her eyes, frowning. “What a strange injury!”
She felt Li Muzhan’s vital energy receding rapidly, as if he were an old man whose lamp was burning out, moments from stepping into the Netherworld.
Her expression grew solemn. “Zhanran, turn around, I will help you heal!”
Li Muzhan shook his head with a faint smile. “Sect Master Lin, there is no need. This injury must recover slowly; internal energy is of no use.” “Nonsense! Turn around!” Lin Qiongying snapped impatiently, her brow furrowed.
Li Muzhan smiled and painstakingly turned around. Every part of him felt as if cut by knives. He sighed inwardly; anyone else enduring such agony would never dare use that self-sacrificing method again.
However, since he had endured pain twice as severe when training the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, he naturally did not take this minor suffering to heart.
Lin Qiongying slid off the right bed and sat behind Li Muzhan. She placed both palms on his Dantian (back center), closed her eyes slightly, and began circulating her power to help him heal. After a moment, she opened her eyes and withdrew her hands. Zhou Yuxian, curious, asked in a hushed voice, “Master…?” Lin Qiongying ignored her, frowning in deep thought, seemingly troubled by an unsolvable problem.
Zhou Yuxian dared not ask again and looked at Li Muzhan. She saw his face was deathly pale, and unnoticed by her, a faint layer of dark energy was shrouding his face.
Zhou Yuxian’s heart leaped—this was a sign of impending death! Li Muzhan turned back, smiling faintly. “Sect Master Lin, there is no need to waste your energy.” “What kind of injury is this?” Lin Qiongying’s eyebrows drew tight with annoyance. “Your body cannot accept internal energy; it’s like a pierced leather sack!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Sect Master Lin, it’s alright. Find a secluded place; I need to enter seclusion and meditate for a few days to heal.” “You have a way?” Lin Qiongying asked, frowning.
Li Muzhan nodded and smiled. “I have practiced Zen meditation techniques since childhood. Though they don’t help in combat, they are wonderfully effective for healing. I won’t die!” “…Very well!” Lin Qiongying hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She turned around. “Xian'er, go fetch Qi’er and find a discreet location!” “…Yes, Master!” Zhou Yuxian glared fiercely at Li Muzhan and drifted out.
Li Yuqi did not enter either. Only Lin Qiongying and Li Muzhan remained in the carriage. He slightly closed his eyes, swayed as he sat on the couch, formed a hand seal (Jiyin), and remained motionless.
Lin Qiongying asked anxiously, “Zhanran, are you truly alright?”
Li Muzhan opened his eyes and smiled. “Rest assured, Sect Master Lin. At the fastest, seven or eight days; at the slowest, half a month, and it will stabilize… However, if I need to fight someone, it will take a while…” Lin Qiongying stated, “Don't worry, rest here with me; no one can break in!” “It can only be so,” Li Muzhan agreed with a helpless smile. Lin Qiongying quickly said, “Alright, stop talking, close your eyes and conserve your spirit.” Li Muzhan nodded and obeyed, closing his eyes.
After a while, Li Yuqi’s husky, sensual voice drifted in from outside. “Master, is this place suitable?” Her voice was very low, as if afraid of being overheard.
Lin Qiongying floated out of the carriage. The carriage soon stopped, and she lifted the curtain to return. “Ziran, come out and see if this spot works?” Li Muzhan opened his eyes, untangled himself from the couch, and stepped out of the carriage to examine the surroundings.
They were deep within a grove of trees. Before them stood a temple, but it was a ruin, dilapidated and crumbling. Both doors were missing, and inside, the Buddha statues had broken limbs and missing legs, their faces obscured by cobwebs. Lin Qiongying surveyed it. “Though somewhat desolate, its advantage is the quiet.” Li Muzhan nodded. “It’s very good; we’ll take this spot.” “Alright, Xian’er, Qi’er, tidy up!” Lin Qiongying commanded. “Yes,” Li Yuqi replied cheerfully. Zhou Yuxian secretly shot Li Muzhan another glare.
Li Muzhan pretended not to see, smiling faintly. “I must enter seclusion and meditation; I don't know when I will wake. I must trouble Sect Master Lin to guard me.” “Yes, naturally,” Lin Qiongying replied. She had been observing the surroundings, then turned her gaze back to Li Muzhan. “What would you like to eat?” Li Muzhan shook his head. “When I enter meditation, I do not need food.”
Lin Qiongying raised an eyebrow in surprise, thinking to herself, As expected of a true master of the Buddhist path, his cultivation is extraordinary; he can already abstain from grains. Martial artists cannot achieve this.
Soon, the two women had tidied the temple. Lin Qiongying chopped down a tree with her sword and fashioned a makeshift bed for his meditation.
After cleaning, the women’s pristine white robes were covered in gray dust, revealing the filth and disorder of the temple. As they emerged, Zhou Yuxian glared fiercely at Li Muzhan again.
Li Muzhan continued to pretend not to see. Lin Qiongying placed the makeshift bed opposite the row of Buddha statues. Li Muzhan sat upon it, formed a hand seal, and quickly entered meditation.
Despite the agonizing pain in his body, like being flayed by knives, he rapidly entered the Visualization of Heaven and Man’s Illumination Sutra (Guan Tianren Shenzhao Jing). The manifested body appeared upon the lotus, and his spirit plunged into the two Heart Pearls.
The Heart Pearls transformed into a vertical eye at his brow, and the manifested body formed a hand seal. Instantly, a column of moonlight rose, connecting in a moment to the full moon and the manifested body. At this point, his body felt as if immersed in a hot spring; the pain subsided significantly, offering a comfort so profound he almost groaned.
Lin Qiongying stood outside the temple and stated in a deep voice, “Xian’er, you go to the east. Qi’er, you go to the west. Hold your positions and let no one approach!”
Zhou Yuxian pouted. “Master, do we need to be this careful? If someone comes, we’ll hear them right here!” Lin Qiongying’s bright eyes widened, and she sharply chided, “You girl, are you asking for another scolding?!”
Zhou Yuxian lowered her head and stuck out her tongue.
Lin Qiongying snorted. “Listen up! Keep your spirits up and do not let anyone disturb Zhanran, or every one of you will be sent to the back mountain to face the wall for ten or eight years—don’t even think about coming back!” Zhou Yuxian was startled and quickly murmured, “Yes, Master.”
Lin Qiongying said irritably, “You silly girl, you don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth! Lord Zhanran is magnanimous and doesn’t argue with you, yet you become so demanding!” Zhou Yuxian lowered her head and dared not speak. Li Yuqi whispered softly, “Master, Zhanran… is he…?” Lin Qiongying replied curtly, “He’s fine! He has astonishing skills and many secret methods, not—" “I’m not worried…” Li Yuqi murmured embarrassedly, her voice like the buzz of a gnat. Lin Qiongying looked at her with amusement and shook her head.
On the fifth day, Li Muzhan slowly awoke and gradually withdrew from the Visualization of Heaven and Man’s Illumination Sutra. He suddenly noticed something amiss; the Heart Pearls had actually undergone a change.