After resting for a while, the three women rose again. Li Muzhan smiled, "I know a trick; would you like to hear it?" "Tell us quickly!" Xiaoyuan exclaimed joyfully, stamping her foot in playful annoyance.

Li Muzhan grinned, "Rest before you get tired, not after. This will significantly delay the onset of fatigue." "Hmph, I thought it was some profound secret!" Xiaoyuan shot him a look, pouting, "Sister, why don't we secretly circulate our inner energy? No one will know anyway!"

Mei Ruolan shook her head. "That thought is forbidden... No matter what, we must adhere to the rules. If we cannot follow the precepts of the Canghai Sword Sect, it's better not to join at all." Xiaoyuan stuck out her sweet tongue, "Alright, alright, I was wrong." Mei Ruolan glanced at her sideways and said softly, "Let's try Zhanran's method!" With that, the four started climbing again. After a hundred steps, they stopped before feeling exhausted.

Li Muzhan laughed, "Look at the scenery around you. Broaden your mind, and worldly concerns will vanish. Doesn't that sweep away fatigue?"

The three women followed his suggestion and surveyed the surrounding rugged, imposing landscape. They gradually became lost in it, forgetting themselves and the world. When they snapped back to reality, their exhaustion had completely disappeared.

Thereafter, they adopted this method: stopping every hundred steps, taking a moment to observe the surroundings for about fifteen minutes, and then proceeding another hundred steps.

They repeated this cycle. Though it seemed like a simple technique, they found it surprisingly effective. Fatigue no longer plagued them; instead, they felt relaxed and at ease. Xiaoyuan laughed sweetly, praising Li Muzhan. The method Li Muzhan described was straightforward, something anyone could conceive, yet few actually thought of it. It wasn't about intelligence, but about possessing that unhurried, composed mindset.

When disciples first came to join a sect and ascend the mountain, they were always driven by eagerness, wishing to reach the summit in one go, unable to quiet their minds for deep thought.

Furthermore, most believed this ascent was a test of their perseverance and will by the Canghai Sword Sect. Thus, they pushed themselves relentlessly, scrambling upward, determined to conquer the climb in one sustained effort to prove their unyielding resolve and worthiness. With such a mindset, how could they consider pacing themselves, conserving energy to walk further and slower, delaying fatigue?

They walked slowly, pausing after every hundred steps for a brief rest, then proceeding another hundred. The stone steps seemed infinitely long, stretching without end, but by taking them a hundred steps at a time, they knew they would eventually reach the top.

The temperature gradually dropped, and the air thinned. They were slowly approaching the clouds. Xiaoyuan found the experience novel, crying out in excitement, occasionally waving her hand to stir the surrounding mist.

Mei Ruolan didn't stop her, letting her laughter flow, while she herself observed the surroundings. Up here, structures began to appear on both sides—palaces everywhere, solemn and imposing.

It was difficult to imagine the immense human and material resources required to build these palaces, transporting construction materials from the base of the mountain being no small feat. Li Muzhan smiled, "Miss, do you find the construction of these places too taxing on manpower?"

Mei Ruolan nodded and sighed, "Indeed. Transporting these things is difficult even for us. How could ordinary people endure it? Are they all martial artists?" She was unsurprised by Li Muzhan's ability to see through her thoughts.

Li Muzhan chuckled, shaking his head, "Miss, you've misunderstood. It's actually not difficult... Just station one person on every step and pass the materials up sequentially. Or, one person every three or four steps, or even five or six steps—as long as there are enough people, it can be done." Mei Ruolan shook her head and smiled wryly; she truly had been obtuse not to consider such a simple method, despite being considered intelligent.

She secretly sighed. In front of others, she prided herself on her sharp intellect and foresight, yet before Zhanran, she felt utterly clumsy, just as others must feel in her presence.

The end of the stone steps led to a great hall, solemn and magnificent, set against a sky washed clean and blue. The hall seemed embedded in the azure void, or perhaps suspended in the air, on the verge of taking flight. Before the hall, at the foot of the steps, stood two lifelike stone lions, looking ready to pounce at any moment.

Beside the stone lions stood two disciples in green robes, their waists girded with long swords, standing motionless. At a glance, were it not for the fluttering hems of their garments, one might mistake them for further stone carvings. Seeing the four appear, one green-robed disciple turned, ascended the steps, and went to the west side of the hall, where he forcefully struck a large bell. "Dong—...dong—...dong—...dong—"

Four strikes of the great bell echoed through the valley, lingering long after, spreading an ineffable ancient aura, as if emanating from antiquity itself.

The four were startled. Suddenly, a group of disciples rushed out from the hall, streaming down the steps. They stopped abruptly before the stone lions, parting into two lines, left and right. The disciples on the left were clad in black, their chests broad and powerful—they were the female disciples, each radiating heroic spirit. The disciples in green robes on the right stood tall and imposing—they were the male disciples.

The two lines of disciples stood rigidly still, eyes straight ahead, like statues. Then, a clear, resonant voice drifted out, "The four new disciples await audience!"

Mei Ruolan and the others stepped forward, inwardly astonished that they, as newly admitted disciples, were receiving such a grand reception, as if they were honored guests. "Miss, let's go," Li Muzhan said with a smile, extending his hand.

Though the three women felt fatigued, it was not severe, and they could still manage. Smiles graced their beautiful faces; they had finally ascended this seemingly unreachable peak, tasting a unique kind of satisfaction.

Their spirits had undergone a baptism, fostering a belief: no matter how high the mountain, as long as one is willing to climb, finds the right method, and remains patient and calm, the summit can always be reached. Mei Ruolan straightened her garments, Xiaoyuan helped her, and then helped Gong Qingyun adjust hers. [Mei Ruolan personally helped Li Muzhan adjust his attire. Li Muzhan smiled and accepted it calmly.] The four proceeded up the steps slowly, finally entering the great hall. The disciples lining the steps exuded a chilling aura, hinting at unspoken deadly intent; the faint-hearted might find their legs giving way. Being seasoned killers themselves, the four were unaffected and entered the hall directly.

The hall was vast and open, capable of holding four or five hundred people. To the south, a massive white jade statue stood majestically, its feet touching the floor and its head reaching the crossbeam. Such an enormous sculpture possessed an imposing presence, instantly making one feel insignificant.

Li Muzhan couldn't help but be drawn in. The white jade was crystal clear and smooth, radiating a soft luster. The statue depicted a woman with exquisite features; her eyes were made of gems, sparkling brightly, making her look vividly real.

At first glance, she seemed to come alive, meeting them with a slight smile, appearing approachable yet simultaneously radiating an untouchable distance. "Ahem!" A clear cough broke Li Muzhan's reverie.

Li Muzhan looked up. The purple carpet was solemn and weighty. Below the jade statue, twelve chairs were arranged in a row. Seated on them were twelve women, the two in the center being middle-aged nuns.

On either side of the chairs stood a line of people: men to the left and women to the right. Zhao Jinsheng, whom they had encountered earlier, stood on the left, smiling at them. "Master!" Mei Ruolan knelt down, followed by Xiaoyuan and Gong Qingyun. Li Muzhan bowed deeply, pressing his palms together in salute, choosing not to kneel, and took a moment to observe.

The central nun was slender and graceful, her eyebrows slanted elegantly towards her temples, possessing phoenix eyes that seemed to smile yet held an intimidating severity.

The nun beside her was plump and rosy, her face radiating gentle kindness. Her bright eyes sparkled brilliantly, exceptionally spirited, like a deep pool of still water reflecting shimmering ripples.

She was fingering a strand of prayer beads with her left hand, smiling warmly as she beckoned with her right, "Ruolan, rise... Come quickly to your Master's side."

Li Muzhan guessed that the central nun was Abbess Zhuzhao, and the adjacent nun was Abbess Zhumei, Mei Ruolan's teaching master. Mei Ruolan stood up and approached Abbess Zhumei gracefully, whispering, "Disciple has arrived late, please forgive me, Master."

Abbess Zhumei took her hand and laughed into her hair, "Not late, not late... actually a bit earlier than I expected!"

She studied Mei Ruolan and chuckled, "It has been hard on you, rushing all this way. Despite the travel fatigue, you managed to ascend the mountain in one go. You've brought honor to your Master."

As she spoke, she turned to the right and asked, "Junior Sister, what do you think?" Abbess Zhuzhao let out a clear laugh, like jade beads rolling on a platter, sounding as youthful as a young girl.

She scrutinized Mei Ruolan closely and said, "Congratulations, Senior Sister, for taking such an excellent disciple; your legacy is secure!" Abbess Zhumei laughed and nodded, "In your opinion, Junior Sister, can she enter the Inner Sect directly?" Abbess Zhuzhao glanced around at the others and asked, "Senior Sisters, Junior Sisters, what do you say?" "She can," the assembled women nodded one after another. "Wait a moment," suddenly a woman waved her hand and smiled slightly, "Ruolan can enter the Inner Sect directly, but the rest of them must follow the rules." Li Muzhan glanced down. This woman appeared to be in her thirties, tall and slender, dignified and graceful—certainly a beauty.

However, among this row of women, only these three could truly be called beauties; the others, though possessing distinguished temperament and unique qualities, were not conventionally beautiful. Compared to the abundance of beauties at the Yuxian Sect, they fell far short.

Abbess Zhumei swept her gaze over Li Muzhan, Xiaoyuan, and Gong Qingyun, nodding once. "Yes. Ruolan was previously my registered disciple, and her foundational martial arts have reached a sufficient level. She can enter the Inner Sect immediately... The other three should first enter the Outer Sect and only proceed to the Inner Sect once they have mastered the foundational arts. Isn't that right, Ruolan?" Mei Ruolan hesitated briefly, then nodded, "Whatever Master decides."

Abbess Zhumei smiled broadly, clearly very pleased with Mei Ruolan. She pointed at Li Muzhan, "Ruolan, who is this little Master?"

Mei Ruolan quickly replied, "Master, this is my personal guard, Zhanran... His understanding of Buddhist scripture is profound; he was invited to participate in the Yingyue Dharma Assembly and has successfully cultivated the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill." A murmur swept through the assembled figures, their expressions changing as they exchanged glances.

Abbess Zhuzhao immediately stood up, laughing, "Ruolan, you say this little Master Zhanran participated in the Yingyue Dharma Assembly?"

Mei Ruolan shook her head, "Abbess Xueyin greatly praised Zhanran's Buddhist wisdom and sent an invitation, but Zhanran declined." "Today is a joyous day for our Canghai Sword Sect!" Abbess Zhuzhao chuckled lightly, studying Li Muzhan, and pressed her palms together, "Little Master Zhanran, greetings."

Li Muzhan returned the salute with clasped hands. "This junior left the monastery to enter the world and seek the pinnacle of martial arts. I sincerely follow Miss in seeking entry to the Canghai Sword Sect and hope you will accept us!" His bearing was extremely humble; though the world revered Buddhist teachings and respected monks, he did not consider himself superior.

Abbess Zhuzhao giggled softly, "Very well, we will naturally accept you... However, the sect rules are strict, and no one can violate them. Zhanran, although your status is different, you must first enter the Outer Sect before proceeding to the Inner Sect." "Yes," Li Muzhan assented.

Abbess Zhuzhao glanced at Gong Qingyun and Xiaoyuan, saying with a smile, "You two little girls have good dispositions; cultivate diligently."

The two girls bowed respectfully.