He approached the two old men, sighed, clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, fingered his prayer beads with his left hand, and chanted scriptures softly, sending their souls to peace.

His countenance was solemn and dignified, his skin luminous, as if carved from white jade. As his lips moved, each word emerged perfectly round, clear, and full, drifting into the ears of the assembled women.

Though they had struck the blow, they were not afraid, but neither did they anticipate the sheer power of the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, which had actually slain these two top-tier experts. Overwhelmed with excitement, they chattered incessantly. Then, Li Muzhan’s deep, resonant voice cut through, and they slowly ceased their movements, turning to look at him.

Word by word, each syllable struck them as if landing directly on their hearts. Their moods grew heavy, sinking lower and lower, and the smiles vanished from their jade-like faces, replaced by solemnity and reverence.

They were disciples of the Daoist tradition and did not believe in Buddhism, yet at this moment, not a single one felt anything less than profound awe. No one dared to joke anymore; they simply gazed at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan's figure seemed to swell slowly, vast as a mountain, forcing them to look up, yet he also radiated a golden light that made it impossible to stare directly at him.

A quarter of an hour later, Li Muzhan stopped chanting. He opened his eyes, a flash of golden light vanishing instantly, and let out a long, soft sigh. He turned to Zhou Wuxian and said, "Junior Sister Zhou, though they were enemies, death demands respect. They should be laid to rest peacefully." "Yes," Zhou Wuxian nodded.

Still immersed in the preceding solemnity, she spoke no idle words. She summoned the other women, and they dug a pit on a nearby slope, cut down two trees to fashion a makeshift coffin, and buried the two old men.

They buried them but erected no tombstone, wishing to avoid trouble. Li Muzhan did not want the Helian family to learn that their people had died at the hands of the Jade Immortal Sect.

If they were to find out, even though the Jade Immortal Sect was powerful, with the girl in the yellow dress providing support, they would likely suffer grievous losses; the Helian family’s strength was by no means simple.

During his time staying with the Jade Immortal Sect, practicing the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation with the women, he had developed genuine affection for them, viewing them as close friends. He could not bear the thought of any one of them fading away.

After the burial, he began searching along the path they had taken, hoping to find some marker, but discovered nothing. It seemed the two deceased men had been too arrogant and neglected to leave any signs. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief and ascend the mountain with the women.

Following this incident, the women became even more addicted to their training. Every day they clung to Li Muzhan, desperately honing the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, and their progress was incredibly swift.

Li Muzhan benefited greatly as well. His Heavenly Pivot Sword Style, Heavenly Measure Sword Style, and Heavenly Jade Sword Style all became perfectly mastered. Compared to practicing alone, sparring with them yielded results that were immeasurably superior.

Two days later, Lin Qiongying returned.

She was quite surprised to find Li Muzhan there, but her shock immediately turned into overwhelming joy. She swiftly pulled him into the main hall, ushering everyone else out, and urgently asked, "Zhanran, you agreed?!" Her bright eyes stared intently at him, her chest heaving violently, her breath heavy.

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed, "Senior Lin, I have disappointed you. I came this time at someone’s request, not for that matter—"

The radiance immediately faded from Lin Qiongying’s face, her expression turning dim. She sighed, sat back in her chair, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and slowly set it down. "Who requested it? What is the matter?" Li Muzhan felt apologetic and smiled slightly, "Daoist Zheng from Chaoyang Mountain. Senior Lin, do you know him?" "Daoist Zheng?" Lin Qiongying thought for a moment, then suddenly started, recognizing him. "Daoist Zheng Mengbai?!" Li Muzhan nodded. "Daoist Zheng asked me to deliver a letter."

Lin Qiongying said, "Daoist Zheng is a predecessor of our sect who has always hidden away on Chaoyang Mountain. I never expected you to run into him. Where is the letter?" Li Muzhan pointed to his bare head and smiled, "It's here. Bring paper and brush." Lin Qiongying personally went to the window-side desk, prepared the inkstone, and readied the paper and brush.

Li Muzhan picked up the brush and finished writing in a single breath, filling three hundred sheets of paper with flowing script. After finishing, he gently blew on it and smiled, "Because the matter is of great importance, and because agents of the Helian family are pursuing me, this was the only recourse." Lin Qiongying nodded absently, her bright eyes fixed on the plain paper, her face filled with surprise. Li Muzhan laughed, "Senior Lin, the letter has been delivered, I should take my leave!"

Lin Qiongying started, then quickly said, "What’s the rush? It’s rare for you to visit. Stay a few days before you go!"

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled, "I have already kept Senior waiting for several days. If I delay further, the people at my residence will worry. Let's forget it for now!"

"Since you are here, you listen to me. I will send someone to deliver a message!" Lin Qiongying waved her hand, speaking decisively, leaving no room for argument.

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled wryly, agreeing with a hint of hidden delight.

He genuinely enjoyed the atmosphere here—a crowd of beauties, pleasing to the eye—which brightened his spirits.

Moreover, he could spar in swordplay, compensating for the deficiencies in his own techniques. At the Mei Estate, very few could match the women’s swordsmanship. Practicing here was far better than at the Mei Estate.

Practicing here for ten days was equivalent to two months at the Mei Estate. He was starting to become quite comfortable and reluctant to leave.

One day, while he was practicing the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation with the women on the training ground, a young maid approached and announced that a woman named Gong Qingyun had arrived from the base of the mountain. Li Muzhan started, suddenly realizing that nearly a month had passed. A month—it was like flowing water, gone in an instant.

Soon, Gong Qingyun was invited up. She was clad in snow-white robes, her skin delicate, her features exquisite, completely untainted by dust or the haze of travel. "Senior Sister Gong, you’ve arrived," Li Muzhan said somewhat awkwardly. Gong Qingyun nodded faintly. "The Young Mistress ordered me to come and hurry you along." "Alright," Li Muzhan murmured, nodding.

Zhou Yuxian and Li Yuqi looked at Gong Qingyun with subtle hostility. Li Muzhan quickly introduced the women. Gong Qingyun responded coolly, her expression distant.

Li Muzhan turned to the others. "Junior Sisters, I must be going back."

"Brother Zhanran, stay a few more days!" The women insisted on retaining him, chattering with various suggestions. Gong Qingyun frowned subtly. Lin Qiongying, who was practicing the inner cultivation method Li Muzhan had brought in a secluded chamber, heard Li Yuqi’s report and floated into the main hall to greet Gong Qingyun.

In Lin Qiongying's eyes, the small Mei Estate was insignificant, but now that Mei Ruolan had entered the Vast Sea Sword Sect, it could not be ignored. This time, after hearing Li Muzhan out, Lin Qiongying did not press him to stay further. When Li Muzhan told her he intended to join the Vast Sea Sword Sect, she shook her head repeatedly. "Zhanran, you’ve gone down the wrong path! Why would you join the Vast Sea Sword Sect and subject yourself to such grievance?" Li Muzhan smiled, "I also wish to see what the Seven Great Sects are like." Lin Qiongying remained unconvinced: "In the Vast Sea Sword Sect, men hold little status!" Li Muzhan chuckled, "Your sect is entirely female, and men have no status, yet I’ve managed quite well here, haven't I?"

Lin Qiongying pursed her lips into a slight smile, glancing at him: "Our Jade Immortal Sect does not accept male disciples. If a man practices the Jade Immortal Sect’s inner cultivation, he risks becoming neither man nor woman!" This was precisely why Lin Qiongying had never suspected him of secretly learning the cultivation technique.

Lin Qiongying continued, "Old Nun Zhuzhao is utterly obstinate and holds a deep-seated aversion to men. You will suffer much grievance in the Vast Sea Sword Sect. Why bother?" Li Muzhan replied, "I have no choice. My swordplay is inadequate, and I lack a renowned master. I can only seek instruction from the Vast Sea Sword Sect."

"Isn't there Commander Zheng?" Lin Qiongying asked.

Li Muzhan shook his head: "I practice Buddhist arts; Daoist Zheng practices Daoist arts. They cannot be cultivated concurrently, so I can only look on helplessly."

Lin Qiongying burst into laughter, shaking her head. "You truly are unlucky! Running into Daoist Zheng was a stroke of great fortune, yet you can't partake of it!" Li Muzhan smiled, realizing he hadn't left entirely empty-handed. The Lamp-lighting Art was a supreme marvel, multiplying his inner strength several times over. How could he be ungrateful? The only real concern was that his offensive moves were not sharp enough. Even with immensely powerful inner force, he would just be beaten if he encountered a master.

Li Muzhan finally bid farewell to the women. They were reluctant to see him go and urged him to return soon, threatening to visit him at the Mei Estate if he didn't! Gong Qingyun and Li Muzhan descended the peak in the round basket. Li Muzhan looked up at the mountain peak, piercing the clouds, half obscured by white mist. Recalling the fragments of the past month, he felt a pang of melancholy. Gong Qingyun sneered, "Junior Brother certainly has a way with women!" Li Muzhan stroked his small beard and started walking, smiling, "It’s not that I have a way with women; it’s that they are easy to get along with! They've been on the mountain, untouched by the world's corrupting influences—innocent and kind!" Gong Qingyun followed closely behind him, pursing her lips, her jade face tight, and let out a soft hum.

Li Muzhan chuckled and, wisely changing the subject, asked with a smile, "Senior Sister, how has it been at the estate lately? Is the Helian family still causing trouble?"

Gong Qingyun's expression instantly sobered. She nodded: "It's the same old story. The Helian people have left, and the Fifth Young Master of the Wang family has also gone. However, the Bai family has become quite rampant, seemingly bolstered by the Helian family’s support." Li Muzhan frowned and snorted, "The Bai family!" Gong Qingyun said, "The Young Mistress told you not to bother with the Bai family, just let them run wild for a while." Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow, "Is the Young Mistress planning to strike?" Before leaving, besides dealing with the hidden threat, this aligned perfectly with Mei Ruolan's nature. Gong Qingyun shook her head: "The Young Mistress doesn't plan to deal with them yet." Li Muzhan’s mind raced: "She means to use the Bai family as a whetstone?"

Gong Qingyun turned, looking at him with surprise. Seeing him looking back with a half-smile, she turned away and scoffed, "How could I possibly know the Young Mistress's thoughts?!" Yet, she sighed inwardly; indeed, the Young Mistress understood Zhanran best.

When Mei Ruolan had first voiced this intention, she had smiled and said that in terms of intelligence, no one in the estate could surpass Zhanran. Even she and Gong Qingyun, clever as they were, were far behind him. She cited only one example: Zhanran instantly grasping her intention.

Xiao Bo and she had been unconvinced and resolved to watch and wait. The two traveled swiftly, and five days later, as evening approached, they returned to Jinyang City. Upon entering the residence, Li Muzhan was immediately summoned by Mei Ruolan and told he was leaving. Li Muzhan quickly went back to say goodbye to his family and Daoist Zheng. On the morning of the third day, Mei Ruolan, Xiao Yuan, Gong Qingyun, and Li Muzhan departed from the Mei Estate.