Li Muzhan smiled faintly, "Senior Brother Li, I'm new here. Could you tell me where an outer disciple starts working?" Li Zongheng cast him a sidelong glance, "Hmph, do nothing, and someone will find you!" "I see." Li Muzhan nodded, smiling, "Since I've come to your door, is it not proper hospitality to invite me in for a seat?" Li Zongheng squinted at him dismissively, "I need to practice; I don't have time for you!" With that, he shrank back and slammed the door shut with a bang, his footsteps clattering away. Li Muzhan shook his head with a smile, turned, and returned to his small courtyard.

After sitting for a moment, there was a light, rhythmic knock at the door. Li Muzhan knew instantly it was a woman and rose to open it. Upon opening it, he was met by four exquisite, beautiful faces: it was Mei Ruolan, Abbess Zhuzhao, Abbess Zhumei, and another young lady.

This maiden was clad in a shimmering green silk robe, possessing an oval face, skin like congealed fat, and long, phoenix-like eyes that flowed with an inner light, giving her an air that was both alluring and icily distant—a palpable aura of cold elegance washed over him.

Li Muzhan inwardly compared her to Mei Ruolan. Though both possessed cold beauty, they were different; Mei Ruolan was cool, dignified, and gracefully distinguished. This woman was seductive yet aloof, the two temperaments blending like fire and ice, creating a violent shock that made it hard to calm the heart. Fortunately, his composure was profound; he merely glanced, his eyes sweeping over her before settling on Abbess Zhuzhao. ∽●r&qu;●●■●●●●●r&qu;0 ●●~ ●●r&qu;●●~∽■● He cupped his hands in salute: "Sect Leader, Revered Mistress, this disciple greets you!"

Abbess Zhuzhao waved her hand, smiling before assessing him, "Zhanran, no need for formalities. Are the robes ready?" "Yes, they have been delivered." Li Muzhan nodded, stepping aside, "Sect Leader, Revered Mistresses, please come in!"

He invited the four inside, exchanging a knowing look with Mei Ruolan. Her languid eyes seemed to speak, and since their minds were connected, he could faintly hear her thoughts, something along the lines of, "It's fine."

Mei Ruolan was deeply aware of Li Muzhan's ability to perceive hearts, knowing he could understand her unspoken message. The five entered the small pavilion courtyard and sat down. Then, Mei Ruolan and the other maiden went to arrange the wooden table for tea, leaving only the two Abbesses with the young man in the small pavilion. Abbess Zhumei asked gently, "Zhanran, Ruolan mentioned you have practiced the Adamantine Indestructible Divine Art? Li Muzhan nodded, "Yes, this disciple has reached the fourth level."

"That is extraordinary!" Abbess Zhuzhao chuckled softly, her gaze flowing, intoxicatingly charming, "After the divine monk Huiguo, the Adamantine Indestructible Divine Art is passed down again. I truly never expected it to reappear in the martial world after several centuries!" "It was merely due to my disciple's fortunate confluence of events," Li Muzhan replied with a slight smile.

To have mastered the Adamantine Indestructible Divine Art was indeed remarkable; excessive humility would only appear false, so he offered only a brief, mild acknowledgment.

Abbess Zhuzhao smiled faintly, "Practicing external arts gives an outer disciple a huge advantage... That little fellow Zongheng has a decent set of hardening techniques, but his power is quite common; yet he manages to act tyrannically among the outer disciples!"

Abbess Zhumei nodded, chuckling softly, "Indeed. If this little fellow's heart isn't malicious, he's just unruly. When he reaches the inner sect, he'll have plenty to suffer for." "I can't wait to see it!" Abbess Zhuzhao laughed heartily, covering her mouth with her sleeve like a mischievous young girl. Abbess Zhumei shook her head, "You, you really aren't charitable!"

Abbess Zhuzhao chuckled again, "Senior Sister, I speak out of kindness!! Rather than let the little fellow cause trouble outside, it’s better he receives a long lesson within the sect!" "Forget it, I can't argue with you." Abbess Zhumei shook her head helplessly. Abbess Zhuzhao laughed for a moment longer, then turned, "Zhanran, I need to seal your internal energy." "Yes," Li Muzhan replied composedly.

Abbess Zhuzhao smiled, "Don't be nervous. My Nirvana Imprint Cessation Art is harmless; it just wraps up your internal energy to keep it from flowing out." "Sect Leader, please proceed," Li Muzhan said with a smile. "Truly the bearing of a high monk... Senior Sister, should you do it, or shall I?" Abbess Zhuzhao chuckled lightly. Abbess Zhumei replied, "You should do it yourself." "Good, then I shall!" Abbess Zhuzhao nodded with a charming smile. ∽●r&qu; 0 ●●r&qu;●●■●●●●● 11●r&qu;●● As the two women brought over the trays, Li Muzhan and the other two stood up and moved into the inner room; they followed, holding the tea cups, into the western chamber.

Li Muzhan sat cross-legged on the couch, and Abbess Zhuzhao sat behind him, cross-legged. Her pair of bright, delicate eyes immediately took on a solemn, dignified air, light flowing, resembling a Bodhisattva statue in a temple.

After regulating her breath for a moment, Abbess Zhuzhao's fair, slender fingers pointed toward Li Muzhan's back. Finger by finger, from top to bottom, from left to right, she formed a circle, enclosing the area of his Dantian.

At first, Abbess Zhuzhao's movements were relaxed, and her expression calm. Later, however, her delicate willow brows furrowed, tighter and tighter, white vapor steaming from her head. Abbess Zhumei and the other maiden watched Li Muzhan with astonishment.

Clearly, this Zhanran was unusual. Abbess Zhuzhao was having great difficulty employing the Nirvana Imprint Cessation Art; there was only one explanation: Zhanran’s internal energy was profound. Just as they thought, Abbess Zhuzhao encountered trouble.

Initially, when she sent her internal energy to the surrounding acupoints, she felt nothing unusual. But as she neared the Dantian, the situation changed drastically. The internal energy sent by her finger vanished instantly, like a clay ox sinking into the sea. She felt Li Muzhan's Dantian was like an unfathomable ocean, and the internal energy, once it approached, was directly drawn in and merged within, indistinguishable. To try and contain it was utterly impossible; as soon as the energy touched it, it was instantly dissolved, like paper meeting fire.

After quite some time, she let out a long breath and slowly opened her eyes. Her bright eyes shimmered with brilliant light, possessing a captivating power. Abbess Zhumei rushed to ask, "Sect Leader, what happened?" Abbess Zhuzhao looked at Li Muzhan in astonishment and shook her head, "Senior Sister, my Nirvana Imprint Cessation Art failed. Hm—?" Abbess Zhumei looked confused. Abbess Zhuzhao examined Li Muzhan again and chuckled lightly, "Zhanran's internal energy is very strange; I couldn't bind it." Abbess Zhumei glanced at Li Muzhan, frowned, and said, "Let me try." Having spoken, she sat behind Li Muzhan, regulated her breath for a moment, and began to guide her fingers. Moments later, her brow furrowed, her face showing strain, and white vapor steamed from her head, so she slowly ceased her effort. ~∽●●●r&qu;●●■●●●●●r&qu;●●■●●11////●r&qu;●●//●r&qu;●●■●●●●●● She opened her eyes, shook her head, and sighed, "Truly formidable!" The two exchanged a look; Abbess Zhumei gave a wry smile, "It seems we must resort to the last measure."

"Mm, let's try it then," Abbess Zhuzhao nodded, laughing, glancing at Li Muzhan with keen interest.

Both women sat behind Li Muzhan, facing each other, their foreheads nearly touching, as if competing in an internal energy contest. The light on their faces grew brighter, glowing like white jade.

When a clear light completely enveloped both their faces, they separated their foreheads and each pointed a finger toward Li Muzhan's back.

Li Muzhan had kept his eyes closed the entire time, perfectly aware of the movements behind him. As Abbess Zhuzhao and Abbess Zhumei performed the Nirvana Imprint Cessation Art, he clearly perceived them internally; the moment their internal energy entered his body, it was instantly absorbed by his Dantian, merging into the misty vapor.

He was also surprised, having never been aware of this suction force before.

Subsequently, the two women injecting their power together created a very different result.

As the two streams of internal energy entered his body, they behaved like opposing poles of Yin and Yang, generating a peculiar suction that entangled them, counteracting the pull of Li Muzhan’s Dantian.

As they approached the Dantian, the two streams merged into one, transforming into clear lake water that hovered just outside the hazy mist. Though wisps and threads constantly dissolved into the mist, it would take some time for it all to vanish completely. The two women slowly withdrew their palms, let out a long breath, and opened their eyes, their divine light flickering before gradually receding. The two exchanged a look, and Abbess Zhuzhao chuckled, "What powerful internal energy. Zhanran, is this truly the Adamantine Indestructible Divine Art?" Li Muzhan opened his eyes and smiled, "It is." "Worthy of being the supreme divine art of Buddhism," Abbess Zhuzhao said, scrutinizing him. "Every month, you must consolidate it again, or else it won't be contained!" Li Muzhan smiled, "Thank you for your concern, Sect Leader."

Abbess Zhuzhao waved her small hand and said coquettishly, "Stop calling me Sect Leader. Call me Master!" Li Muzhan paused, then rejoiced, cupping his hands in salute, "This disciple pays respects to Master!"

Taking a woman as a master felt a bit unusual, but this woman was the Sect Leader of the Canghai Sword School, a supreme master in the martial world, so it was different; the capable are to be revered as teachers.

Seeing him salute, Abbess Zhuzhao laughed sweetly, clearly pleased, and waved her hand, "Enough formalities! Come, meet your Eldest Senior Sister!" She pointed to the cold and alluring maiden, "Wen Yinyue is my only direct disciple." Li Muzhan bowed and greeted Wen Yinyue.

Wen Yinyue swept him with her alluring eyes, gave a faint cupped-hand salute in return, and said, "Junior Brother need not be so polite. I hope you will work hard in your training and not bring shame upon Master." Li Muzhan inwardly thought that this Eldest Senior Sister did not seem very friendly towards him.

Abbess Zhuzhao said, "Zhanran, according to tradition, all male disciples must apprentice under the Third Junior Sister. You have broken tradition. Don't mention this to anyone else until you enter the inner sect!"

"Yes, Master," Li Muzhan nodded.

Abbess Zhuzhao smiled brightly, "Zhanran, when you enter the inner sect, hold a proper apprenticeship banquet! You can't make us wait too long, you know!" Li Muzhan cheerfully agreed.

Mei Ruolan showed a trace of a smile, happy for him. She hadn't expected his fortune to be so great, but she understood—Zhanran was benefiting from the light of the Adamantine Indestructible Divine Art.

Although he was accepted under Abbess Zhuzhao's tutelage, he remained an outer disciple, needing to pass through the trials one by one to enter the inner sect himself; Abbess Zhuzhao would not assist him.

When they left, Mei Ruolan stayed behind.

She told Li Muzhan that the Sect Leader's lineage only had Eldest Senior Sister Wen Yinyue, because the Dao she cultivated, the Profound Dao Scripture, was incredibly divine and difficult, demanding extremely high requirements for comprehension, spiritual roots, and aptitude. Ordinary people could not cultivate it. For such a massive sect as the Canghai Sword School, with over a thousand disciples, to have only one practitioner showed how difficult it was.

Although the Canghai Sword School had three main lineages—the Marvelous Lotus Sutra, the Canghai Divine Art, and the Plain Jade Technique—the Marvelous Lotus Sutra remained the most potent and the absolute orthodox foundation of the Canghai Sword School.

Mei Ruolan gave him some final instructions. Now that they were in this place, she and Li Muzhan had grown much closer; she seemed to have shed a massive burden, becoming much more cheerful. After seeing her off, Li Muzhan also left the small courtyard and headed down to report to the Outer Affairs Office.