Zhao Jinsheng, Xu Jingying, Zhong Bixuan, Mei Ruolan, and Li Muzhan—a party of five—left the Mei Residence, exited Jinyang City, and headed due west.

Zhao Jinsheng’s bearing was spirited, commanding respect in his every glance. If he remained silent, his youthful vigor and shining presence made him look every bit the heroic young swordsman. But the moment he spoke, his façade cracked; he became fussy, garrulous, and utterly lacking in the decisive, swift heroism one expected of a true hero. Lacking that heroic aura despite possessing the outward appearance of a hero, Li Muzhan often sighed inwardly, considering it a genuine pity. If Senior Brother Zhao could only rid himself of this tiresome habit of nagging, he would surely be the dream lover of countless maidens. Xu Jingying had always been indifferent. She spoke very little throughout the journey, and even with Li Muzhan’s mind-reading sensitivity, he sensed almost no internal fluctuation from her, as if she were practicing the Miao Lian Sutra as closely as he was. Li Muzhan managed to elicit from Zhong Bixuan that Xu Jingying practiced the Su Yu Gong.

Canghai Divine Art, Su Yu Gong, and Miao Lian Sutra—these were the three supreme mental cultivation methods of the Canghai Sword Sect, known as the "Three Peaks Standing Together." Among them, the Miao Lian Sutra held the central position, passed down through a single lineage. Gaining entry into the Miao Lian Sutra was akin to scaling heaven, but once achieved, progress was meteoric, granting immediate, immeasurable power that far surpassed the other two arts. The Su Yu Gong and the Canghai Divine Art were easier to begin but agonizingly difficult to master, though their ultimate power was also infinite, just a shade beneath the Miao Lian Sutra. However, the successors to these two arts were numerous, meaning strength in numbers. Abbess Zhumei, as the most senior sister, cultivated the Canghai Divine Art. Abbess Zhuzhao ranked second, practicing the Miao Lian Sutra. Li Zhuyue was third, cultivating the Su Yu Gong. Li Muzhan had witnessed Senior Sister Wen Yinyue’s Miao Lian Sutra. It was unpredictable, impossible to defend against, allowing complete control over one's emotions—a true Buddhist marvel, which he greatly admired. Though he hadn't seen the Canghai Divine Art in its entirety, he had witnessed Mei Ruolan’s Canghai Art, which served as the foundational technique for the divine art and was already profound. Therefore, despite never having seen the Su Yu Gong, he dared not underestimate it in the slightest. The five traveled swiftly along the main road, employing their movement techniques. Zhong Bixuan and Mei Ruolan matched stride for stride; both were at the same level in the Canghai Divine Art, and their Talan Yin movement speeds were nearly identical. Li Muzhan kept pace with Mei Ruolan as well; though he could move faster, he chose not to advance ahead of her. Ahead, Zhao Jinsheng and Xu Jingying walked side-by-side, speaking not a word, their robes fluttering—they truly looked like a perfect, matched pair. Li Muzhan noticed Zhong Bixuan glancing toward the front intermittently, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. He smiled inwardly, understanding her feelings; she was clearly smitten with Zhao Jinsheng. He was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected Zhong Bixuan to harbor feelings for Zhao Jinsheng. Li Muzhan chuckled, “Senior Brother Zhao, Senior Sister Xu, I have an idea: how about we spar lightly while we travel?” Zhao Jinsheng turned his head to look over, smiling, “What sort of idea is that?” Li Muzhan said with a sly grin, “I’ve also practiced several sword styles. While they might not compare to the sect’s techniques, I trust they aren’t inferior. How about a friendly exchange?” Zhao Jinsheng laughed, “You really want to test your swordsmanship against me?” Li Muzhan nodded with a smile, “I hope Senior Brother will deign to guide me!” Zhao Jinsheng was an eager man and readily agreed, “Wonderful! Then let’s walk and fight. I’m keen to see what kind of swordsmanship Junior Brother Zhanran has.” Li Muzhan drew his dull, iron sword, holding it upright before his chest, pointing the tip at Zhao Jinsheng, “Senior Brother, I invite you—!” Zhao Jinsheng also drew his blade, smiling broadly, “Very well, make your move!”

Observing Zhao Jinsheng’s relaxed demeanor, Li Muzhan knew his senior brother didn't take him seriously, prompting a slight smile. Even the most modest person harbored some pride. Zhao Jinsheng thought to himself that while he might concede to Junior Brother Zhanran in movement skills, his swordsmanship was surely top-tier. Junior Brother Zhanran likely stood no chance. Li Muzhan suddenly surged forward, his movement startlingly quick, and lunged toward Zhao Jinsheng with a simple, direct thrust. Zhao Jinsheng blocked the incoming attack, intending to gauge his opponent’s true strength. “Clang…” A sharp ring echoed amidst a shower of sparks, lingering in the air. They briefly paused their steps, then immediately resumed their forward momentum, the intensity of their swordplay escalating rapidly until their flashing blades filled the space around them. “Clang, clang, clang…” A continuous stream of sharp noises, like jade beads rolling across a jade plate. For a time, their rapid attacks met rapid counter-attacks, neither gaining a clear advantage. “I didn’t expect this little monk’s swordsmanship to be quite good!” Zhong Bixuan remarked, observing them, then turning to smile at Mei Ruolan. Mei Ruolan nodded, “Zhanran originally specialized in the sword. It’s just that the sword arts available at my residence were common; they truly held him back.” Zhong Bixuan nodded in agreement, “Mmm. If this young monk had joined our sect from the start, perhaps he’d be close to Second Senior Brother by now!” Mei Ruolan smiled, “Not as good as First Senior Brother?” “First Senior Brother?” Zhong Bixuan looked surprised, then shook her head repeatedly, “Of course not. First Senior Brother is incredibly formidable!” “Senior Sister Zhong, among all the senior sisters and brothers in our sect, who possesses the strongest martial arts?” Mei Ruolan inquired. She had been entirely focused on cultivating the Canghai Divine Art and was poorly informed about sect affairs, always looking for an opportunity to gather clarity. “That would be Senior Sister First, naturally,” Zhong Bixuan replied. Mei Ruolan looked surprised, “Not First Senior Brother?” “Hee-hee, First Senior Brother—?” Zhong Bixuan burst into laughter, shaking her head, “First Senior Brother is far beneath First Senior Sister; they aren't even operating on the same level… It is said that First Senior Sister’s skill is second only to the Sect Master himself, perhaps even a step above our own master!” Mei Ruolan’s delicate eyebrows lifted slightly, her face full of astonishment. Zhong Bixuan chuckled softly, “It’s not surprising, who wouldn't be strong when practicing the Miao Lian Sutra? The Miao Lian Sutra is an ultimate divine technique. Unlike ours, which demands slow, painstaking effort that kills you with exertion, the Miao Lian Sutra allows for rapid advancement.” Mei Ruolan asked, “Can our Canghai Divine Art compare to the Miao Lian Sutra?” “It cannot,” Zhong Bixuan shook her head. “Unless you can reach the ninth layer, don’t even think about surpassing the Miao Lian Sutra. In our Canghai Sword Sect, the Sect Masters have always come from the Miao Lian Sutra lineage.” “I see… So, Senior Sister First will be the next Sect Master?” Mei Ruolan asked. Zhong Bixuan nodded, “That is certain.” As the two spoke, Xu Jingying listened quietly to the side, observing Li Muzhan and Zhao Jinsheng.

Li Muzhan and Zhao Jinsheng dueled with great enjoyment. The continuous ringing of metal—clang, clang, clang, clang—was incessant as their flashing sword lights moved without pause. Li Muzhan cycled through his sword styles one after another: first the Qiankun Sword Style, then the Zhenyue Eight Swords, followed by the Tianshu Sword Style, Tianji Sword Style, and Tianxuan Sword Style. Each style possessed its own power, yet they seemed diminished against Zhao Jinsheng. Zhao Jinsheng employed only a single set of techniques, weathering every change with constancy. His movements were unhurried and broad, appearing leisurely, yet they were actually extremely fast, as evidenced by the dense, continuous clanging sound. Zhao Jinsheng was inherently benevolent, content to only touch and withdraw. In a genuine fight, Li Muzhan would have been struck within ten exchanges. Whenever Zhao Jinsheng landed a blow, his tip would make contact and immediately retract. Li Muzhan concentrated deeply, employing three functions simultaneously: executing his sword moves, meditating on the fight, and refining his own swordsmanship. By the time dusk fell upon a small town, his skill had improved considerably. As twilight enveloped the wilderness, the four arrived before the town. Li Muzhan sheathed his sword, clasping his hands together, “Many thanks to Senior Brother Zhao for the instruction!” “Junior Brother Zhanran’s comprehension is truly astounding; I am impressed!” Zhao Jinsheng smiled, also returning his sword. The three women smiled, admiring Zhao Jinsheng’s composure. By deliberately feeding moves to Li Muzhan, his guidance was akin to instructing a personal disciple. Li Muzhan was an outer disciple, and although he had been taken in by the Sect Master, his initial martial arts instruction still came from the core disciples, making him nearly equivalent to one. The five rested in the small town for the night. In the inn, Li Muzhan sparred with Xu Jingying and Zhong Bixuan as well. Li Muzhan did this for two reasons: firstly, to enhance his own swordplay, and secondly, to gain a clear understanding of the three women’s martial abilities, to have the situation well in hand—a subconscious action, as if holding the ultimate wisdom. However, being the lowest in rank among the five, his opinions held little weight. The next morning, they resumed their rapid travel along the main road, then abruptly turned onto a narrow path—a shortcut that bypassed a massive mountain. For ordinary travelers, the mountain was too high, the road too difficult, making it a daunting prospect. Furthermore, entering the Hexi region meant encountering bandits everywhere, making a detour a sensible choice. For the five of them, however, there was no fear. Before turning onto the shortcut, Li Muzhan tried once more to persuade Zhao Jinsheng against taking it, cautioning that the Hexi bandits could not be taken lightly, and avoidance was best; they should stick to the main road.

This statement drew peculiar glances from Zhao Jinsheng, Xu Jingying, and Zhong Bixuan. Zhong Bixuan let out a soft huff, “Junior Brother Zhanran, you don’t seem cowardly, so why fear them? A bunch of petty thieves—how formidable could they truly be?” Li Muzhan smiled, “Senior Sister Zhong, the thieves in Hexi are all accomplished fighters! The competition among the greenwood factions in Hexi is fierce; without genuine ability, one cannot gain a foothold!” “A thief is a thief. If they were truly skilled, they wouldn’t resort to thievery!” Zhong Bixuan waved her hand dismissively, clearly unconvinced. If their relationship hadn't improved over the past two days, she would have already called Li Muzhan a coward. Xu Jingying glanced at him, shook her head, and said nothing. In total, the words Xu Jingying had spoken to Li Muzhan since they descended the mountain barely numbered ten sentences. Zhao Jinsheng said, “Junior Brother Zhanran, caution is understandable, but taking this route saves us a full day’s travel.” Li Muzhan said earnestly, “Senior Brother Zhao, think twice! We should proceed to the Helian family as discreetly as possible this time; no grand display.” Zhao Jinsheng laughed, “It doesn’t matter. If we run into bandits, we can simply use our movement skills to evade them.” “Senior Brother Zhao, if we run into them, wouldn’t it be better just to clean them up on the spot? Why bother dodging?” Zhong Bixuan pouted, casting a disdainful look at Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan sighed, shaking his head helplessly. He realized further words were useless; his position was too low, and even if he had established some authority, it held little sway. Mei Ruolan interjected, “Senior Brother Zhao, losing a day won't matter. Last time we passed through Hexi, we encountered a band of thieves who were truly ferocious.” “Junior Sister Ruolan, you are perhaps too cautious!” Zhong Bixuan snorted. Zhao Jinsheng pondered for a moment, then decided, “Let’s take the small road. If we return a day late, the masters and senior uncles will worry for an extra day… Let’s go!” Zhong Bixuan cheered, “Senior Brother Zhao is wise!” With that, she shot another glance at Li Muzhan, pouted, clearly showing her contempt. Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head, saying no more. Xu Jingying glanced at Li Muzhan, her eyes flickering with thought. The group finally turned onto the narrow path. Before them loomed a towering mountain, piercing the clouds, shrouded in thick mist and swirling purple haze. When they reached halfway up the slope, they suddenly froze, straining their ears. Faint screams carried to them on the wind. “Not good, hurry!” Zhao Jinsheng’s expression shifted; he turned into a wisp of smoke and sped along the narrow trail, vanishing from sight in an instant. Zhong Bixuan’s eyes widened; she looked beside her, but Li Muzhan was already gone. Xu Jingying frowned, “Let’s go see what’s happening.” “Right, quickly, quickly!” Zhong Bixuan urged, shaking her head, “The little monk’s reaction wasn’t slow after all!”

When Zhao Jinsheng reached the scene, his eyes flew open, and he gritted his teeth at the sight before him. The scene was horrific: near two overturned carriages lay over a dozen corpses—old men, women, and children—all gruesomely beheaded. Blood pooled on the ground, the stench overpowering, and crows cawed from the nearby woods. In the grass clearing before those woods, the sound of clashing steel—clang, clang, clang, clang—never ceased. Flashing sword light illuminated the surroundings: over fifty men had surrounded Li Muzhan. Surrounded by more than fifty opponents, Li Muzhan remained perfectly composed and fluid. He wielded a black sword in one hand and a green blade in the other. The two swords formed a circular barrier of light that completely encased him, operating as one seamless, impenetrable shield. No matter how fiercely the fifty-plus men attacked, Li Muzhan merely held his vital core guarded; not a drop of water could penetrate. Zhao Jinsheng scanned the area, let out a furious roar, “Junior Brother Zhanran, I am here!” He threw his long hair back with a mighty shout and charged into the melee. His sword light was like lightning, thundering like a storm; every strike brought down an opponent. No one could withstand Zhao Jinsheng for a single move. Those who were struck fell but were not fatally wounded, suggesting Zhao Jinsheng was deliberately showing restraint. Li Muzhan called out loudly, “Senior Brother Zhao, why keep these villains alive? We should kill them all!” Zhao Jinsheng shook his head, gritting his teeth, and slowly spoke amidst the thunderous flashes of his sword, “Killing them would be too easy for them, wouldn't it?” Li Muzhan sighed and shook his head, saying no more. His sword technique abruptly changed; the defensive light barrier transformed into two arcs of silver brilliance, descending like twin full moons into the throng. Anyone struck by the silver light was sent flying. He employed the Imperial Arrow Technique, channeling immense internal force into his swords. Any blade he touched unleashed a torrent of surging internal power, like a dam bursting—pure brute force overwhelming resistance. Those with deep internal power might withstand it, but anyone weaker was doomed; he dispatched foes even faster than Zhao Jinsheng. Before the fifty-odd men could react effectively, they were all downed. Zhao Jinsheng nodded to him, his jade-like face grim, “Junior Brother Zhanran, it was fortunate you held them off!” Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed, “It would have been difficult to annihilate them all by myself. It was all thanks to Senior Brother Zhao’s intervention.” In that short time, the three women, including Xu Jingying, arrived. Zhao Jinsheng approached a middle-aged man, pressing his sword tip against the man’s throat, “Who are you people?” The middle-aged man sneered and turned his head away. “Ugh!” He made a muffled sound as his right arm separated from his body. Zhao Jinsheng pointed his sword tip at the man’s left shoulder and asked calmly, “Who are you?” “Pah!” The man’s facial muscles contorted hideously, looking like a raging ghost staring at Zhao Jinsheng. Zhao Jinsheng made a light sweep; his left shoulder followed the right, blood gushing from both stumps, quickly soaking the ground and sending a wave of metallic scent toward them.