He left the small courtyard and, following Mei Ruolan's instructions, slowly descended three levels until he stopped before a large courtyard, giving it a brief appraisal.

This courtyard was vast, spanning several acres—nearly half the area of this entire level, perhaps ten times the size of his own small residence.

The main gate was broad, without a threshold, and bustling with a constant flow of disciples in blue robes, each carrying burdens balanced on shoulder poles. Every one of them was brimming with vitality and possessed a noble bearing. Li Muzhan nodded in approval; the demeanor of disciples from a major sect was indeed different.

As he stood observing, a sharp shout suddenly rang out: “Get out of the way! Stop blocking the road for me!”

Li Muzhan turned to see Li Zongheng, straining under a pair of water buckets, sweat pouring from him, white mist rising as if he had stepped out of hot water. “Senior Brother Li, what a coincidence,” he said with a smile. Li Zongheng was startled, and a splash of water sloshed out of his buckets.

He quickly regained his composure, coughed, and glanced around at the surrounding disciples, then sneered, “Little monk, are you here to fetch water too?” Li Muzhan nodded. “Yes, I’ve just arrived; starting with water duty seems appropriate.” “Hmph, very good!” Li Zongheng grinned triumphantly. “Hey, Little Monk, aren’t you quite arrogant? Dare you race me?” Li Muzhan asked with a smile, “Race what?” “Just fetching water. We’ll see who carries it faster!” Li Zongheng declared. Li Muzhan pondered this, looking at him with a half-smile.

Li Zongheng immediately followed up: “If you’re scared, I won’t force you. From now on, when you see me, you will honestly call me ‘Boss Li,’ got it?!” Li Muzhan smiled. “If I lose, I will certainly call you Boss Li when I see you next.” “Hmph, deal!” Li Zongheng nodded proudly. Li Muzhan smiled sweetly, “But what if you lose?” “Me lose?!” Li Zongheng scoffed, letting out a string of cold laughs as he mockingly fixed his gaze on the monk.

Li Muzhan smiled sweetly, “If you lose, from now on, when you see me, you will call me Boss Li. How about that?”

Li Zongheng opened his mouth, then suddenly his eyes darted sideways. He snorted, “Little Monk, has the Master looked for you?!” Li Muzhan nodded. “Yes. My internal strength has been suppressed by the Jìmìe Suǒyuán Shù (Nirvana Origin-Locking Art); I cannot channel my gōng.” “Hahahaha!” Li Zongheng burst out laughing. He quickly added, “Alright, if I lose, from this day forward, I’ll call you Boss!” Li Muzhan smiled and extended his left palm. “It’s settled. Let’s seal it with a palm strike!”

“Hmph!” Li Zongheng slammed his palm hard against Li Muzhan’s, then shouldered his water buckets and walked inside. “Follow me!”

Li Muzhan glanced at him with a smile and followed him into the courtyard.

This was a Sìhéyuàn (courtyard house), but the center was wide open, containing only about twenty large vats. These vats were massive, requiring two men to embrace, and taller than a man, arranged in a plum blossom pattern, forming eight distinct plum blossoms in total. Li Zongheng strode into the courtyard and shouted loudly, “Senior Brother Yang! Senior Brother Yang! Hurry up!” “Coming, coming!” A round, chubby young man rushed out from a room. He was fair and plump, with a kindly, genial face, resembling a wealthy gentleman, immediately inspiring a sense of intimacy. Li Zongheng set down his water and pointed at Li Muzhan. “Senior Brother Yang, this Little Monk is new!”

With that, he poured the water into one of the vats.

Senior Brother Yang turned to Li Muzhan, his round face beaming. “A new junior brother, and one who has taken the tonsure! I haven't even asked your monastic name yet?” He was very courteous. Li Muzhan returned the gesture with a slight bow. “Senior Brother Yang, greetings. I am Zhanran.” Senior Brother Yang nodded with a smile. “So, Junior Brother Zhanran. Are you a newly admitted outer disciple?” “Yes,” the monk confirmed.

“Welcome, welcome!” Senior Brother Yang was very warm. “The three trials for outer disciples—the first two are rigorous tests of the tendons and bones. Most people cannot endure the hardship and fail to become inner disciples, which is truly regrettable!” Li Muzhan smiled. “I hope Senior Brother Yang can offer guidance.” “Hmph, Senior Brother Yang, why waste words on him? Just give him the buckets!” Li Zongheng interjected, hands on his hips, sounding impatient.

Senior Brother Yang did not get angry, simply smiling. “It still needs to be explained clearly... Junior Brother Zhanran, to begin, you use wooden buckets. Fetching two buckets a day is the requirement. After ten days, add one bucket; after a year, you switch to iron buckets... Junior Brother must prepare for hardship and must not slack off.”

“Yes, thank you, Senior Brother Yang,” Li Muzhan nodded.

Li Zongheng kept urging him on, but Senior Brother Yang remained unruffled, ensuring everything was explained until Li Muzhan shook his head, indicating he understood. Only then did Senior Brother Yang bring out a shoulder pole with two wooden buckets, each about half a man’s height.

Senior Brother Yang smiled reassuringly. “Go ahead, Junior Brother Zhanran, don’t rush. After you finish one trip, come back and tell me... Remember, no clever shortcuts, or you’ll be expelled from the mountain immediately. Look at Senior Brother Li here; he wouldn’t dare to be lazy.” Li Muzhan nodded and left the courtyard with Li Zongheng.

The two walked down the stone steps. Li Zongheng moved incredibly fast, nearly jogging down, his legs agile and strong, charging through—truly reckless.

On steps like these, a single slip could mean a fall from which it would be hard to recover, potentially tumbling all the way down the mountain, risking his life. Li Muzhan followed closely behind. Although he couldn't use his internal energy, his physical strength alone surpassed that of ordinary men.

He was born with immense natural strength, further enhanced by practicing the Jīngāng Bùhuài Shéngōng (Indestructible Diamond Divine Art), which had tempered his marrow and muscles, making him extraordinarily robust. Even without using nèilì, he was equivalent to a master who had cultivated for over a decade.

They reached the bottom of the mountain and turned west, arriving at a valley where a great river roared, pouring out of the valley and heading west, its sound like a roaring tiger.

Down in the valley, more than a dozen disciples in blue robes were drawing water. They all bowed to Li Zongheng, calling him ‘Boss Li,’ showing considerable respect. Li Zongheng tilted his chin up, nodding with full arrogance, clearly enjoying the display of authority.

Li Muzhan smiled inwardly, shook his head, ignored him, filled both buckets at the riverbank, shouldered them, and started straight up the mountain.

Li Zongheng quickly followed, filled his own buckets, and stayed right behind Li Muzhan, his mouth curved in a triumphant smirk as he eyed the monk’s back.

He had been defeated yesterday, and upon reflection, he blamed it on the fact that the Little Monk’s internal energy hadn't been sealed. He was extremely unwilling to accept that loss. Now that his internal energy was suppressed, how could the monk possibly compete with him?

His mouth curved upward again, breaking into a wide grin. He pictured himself strolling leisurely while the little monk panted heavily behind him like a dying dog.

Thinking of this filled him with vigor. He let out a loud shout and strode forward powerfully, catching up to Li Muzhan in a flash. He had been here for a year, and his body had been sufficiently tempered; lifting the yoke felt effortless, light as nothing. His legs were powerful, allowing him to cross two steps at a time.

In moments, he caught up to Li Muzhan and surged past him, chuckling, “Little Monk, you won’t make it!”

Li Muzhan smiled, exerted force with his legs, and sped up as well. The two raced side-by-side up the mountain, leaving the onlookers dumbstruck.

Seeing them approach, the other disciples moved aside, looking at them as if they were mad. Once the pair passed, murmuring erupted, praising the new junior brother’s power. Others sighed, lamenting that the junior brother did not know the immensity of the heavens and earth; 'Madman Li' was not someone to be provoked. If he were easily handled, he wouldn't rule supreme, suppressing every outer disciple into silence.

As he walked, Li Zongheng kept turning to check Li Muzhan’s expression. Seeing him composed, breathing evenly, he was astonished and, refusing to believe it, pushed harder, increasing his speed even more. There was no wind on the path of stone steps to the north, yet both their robes fluttered as if caught in a gale. In the time it took for an incense stick to burn, both had returned to the grand courtyard, having ascended in one continuous, powerful rush without pausing halfway. Li Muzhan was slightly ahead, with Li Zongheng right behind.

Because he had surged too hard at the beginning, Li Zongheng felt his reserves fail at the final stretch. His ox-eyes widened, veins bulging on his forehead. He gritted his teeth, trying desperately to accelerate.

But it was no use. Li Muzhan’s speed kept increasing. Seeing himself being left behind, Li Zongheng roared in frustration, his speed suddenly spiking, allowing him to catch up to Li Muzhan once more.

Li Muzhan expressed surprise, glancing back at him. He laughed, “Senior Brother Li, it’s just a game; why push yourself so hard?!”

Li Zongheng ground his teeth, his facial muscles twisted into a fierce, terrifying mask. He roared, “Nonsense!” and then accelerated again, desperately charging toward the courtyard entrance.

Li Muzhan smiled, slowed his pace slightly, letting him rush ahead, then followed closely. They entered the main gate one after the other. Li Zongheng reached the water vats, unable to check his momentum, and slammed straight into them.

Li Muzhan gently set down his yoke, pushed off the ground, rushed to Li Zongheng’s side, placed both hands on his shoulder pole, and pressed down.

Li Zongheng stopped instantly, rooted to the spot like a stake, his wooden buckets swaying violently, spilling more water. Li Muzhan smiled placidly. “Boss Li, congratulations, you win!”

Li Zongheng was drenched in sweat, his blue robe soaked and dripping. His face flushed crimson as he glared at Li Muzhan. “Little Monk, you know when to yield!” Li Muzhan smiled, calm and detached.

Li Zongheng was displeased, knowing the Little Monk had let him win. He scoffed, “I already carried two loads of water before; otherwise, you’d have been left at the bottom of the mountain long ago!”

Li Muzhan chuckled softly and ignored him, turning to pour his water into the vat. He reported to Senior Brother Yang and then continued back down the mountain.

Li Zongheng stamped his foot in impotent anger, completely frustrated. He threw his water buckets down and quit the chore, returning to his small courtyard to retrieve the stone locks, which he began wrestling with vigorously. Li Muzhan, however, carried twenty loads of water in one continuous effort, which stunned Senior Brother Yang into losing his smile.

He stared at Li Muzhan for a moment, then sighed. “Since that is the case, you’ve passed the first trial directly. Go chop firewood. If you clear a courtyard’s worth in one day, you pass!”

Although Li Muzhan knew this seemed ostentatious, he understood that while one could be low-key in the martial world, in the Canghai Sword Sect, remaining inconspicuous meant missing out on many opportunities. He began chopping wood the next day.

For him, this was child’s play. His strength was prodigious; wielding the axe was as delicate as threading a needle. With a gentle stroke, any piece of wood, no matter how knotty, split cleanly in two.