"Junior Brother Zhanran, you know him?" Zhao Jinsheng asked.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I don't recognize him, but trouble never comes without reason. He's clearly here to cause trouble and block our path."

Zhao Jinsheng nodded. "Indeed, makes sense... But can you manage him alone?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "If I can't win, I run. I won't stubbornly fight to the death. You go ahead, so at least some of us escape. That way, I have no worries."

Zhao Jinsheng shook his head and chuckled. "Junior Brother Zhanran, calculating defeat before the battle, while cautious, certainly diminishes our own spirit and builds up the enemy's!"

Zhong Bixuan snorted. "Exactly! Look at him, all dried up. He can't be that formidable!"

Li Muzhan waved his hand. "Enough, Senior Brother Zhao, you must leave quickly. Don't stop. We'll discuss things when we reach the Helian household!"

Zhao Jinsheng laughed and shook his head. "If I let you handle something like this, what face would I have to see anyone? Let me do it!"

Zhong Bixuan chirped sweetly, "Senior Brother Zhao, let's all go together! There's strength in numbers. We'll knock him down first!"

"That’s sound reasoning!" Zhao Jinsheng cheerfully agreed, his face showing approval.

Li Muzhan pressed his palm to his forehead, speechless.

Mei Ruolan said lightly, "Zhanran, this isn't the Mei Residence. You don't have to shoulder everything. With your senior brothers and sister here, you don't need to trouble yourself!"

"That’s right, Junior Brother Zhanran," Zhao Jinsheng quickly nodded in agreement.

Li Muzhan sighed, nodded, and said no more.

He secretly blamed himself: his martial arts were too weak to command respect, so others wouldn't listen to his words. He couldn't blame them; if he were in their shoes, he wouldn't heed the orders of someone with inferior skill and lower seniority.

The five moved forward slowly, approaching the old man.

This elder was gaunt, yet he wore a long grey robe that hung loosely, as if a garment draped on bare branches, billowing gently in the breeze.

The elder had a heart-shaped face, a small nose, and tiny eyes, but his gaze was sharp as lightning, piercing and compelling.

He stood with his arms crossed, assessing the five from head to toe, finally resting his eyes on Zhao Jinsheng's jade-like face. "You are from the Canghai Sword Sect, aren't you?"

Zhao Jinsheng cupped his fist. "Precisely. I am Zhao Jinsheng of the Canghai Sword Sect. May I ask your esteemed name, and for what instruction you await us here?"

He chose courtesy before force; despite sensing ill will, propriety could not be abandoned.

"My surname is Li," the elder said slowly, his sharp gaze lingering on Li Muzhan. "And you are the Dual-Sword Monk Zhanran?"

Li Muzhan brought his palms together and smiled. "That is me."

The elder studied him, smiling and nodding. "Good. Very good. I have finally found you!"

"What matter brings you here, Senior?" Li Muzhan asked with a faint smile. "Senior, are you perhaps from the Li family of Phoenix Cry City?"

The elder raised an eyebrow slightly. "The little monk is indeed clever. I am indeed a guest elder of the Li Estate."

Li Muzhan arched an eyebrow, smiling. "With your martial prowess, Senior, how could you stoop to being a mere guest elder of the Li Estate?"

"I have a separate connection to the Li family. As for why I am at the Li Estate, that is unnecessary to discuss," the elder waved a hand dismissively. "I am here today to take your life."

Li Muzhan chuckled. "So, it's about me!"

The elder sighed. "You killed the heir of the Li Estate, severing the line of the Li family. As a descendant of the Li family, this vengeance must be exacted. Be careful!"

With that, his body flickered, his five fingers splayed open, striking directly toward Li Muzhan's chest.

Li Muzhan swayed, evading the strike. Simultaneously, four long swords shot out—a feint to rescue the primary target—like four streaks of lightning weaving a cage around the elder.

The elder turned his five fingers into claws and swept them lightly.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang..." His fingernails struck the four long swords in succession.

The bodies of the four stiffened, their arms going weak. The swords nearly slipped from their grasp. The elder's mastery was terrifyingly profound.

Zhao Jinsheng stepped back, sighing inwardly. This time, fate was truly unkind; they kept running into peak experts. His own martial arts felt useless, which was truly vexing.

He had encountered such a master only once in the past several years, yet now, emerging this one time, they ran into several at once. Truly bad luck.

The elder dealt with the four with one hand while targeting Li Muzhan with the other.

Li Muzhan’s form flickered, dodging the five fingers, but he hadn't anticipated the fingers suddenly lengthening; his arm snapped forward inches, barely catching him.

Li Muzhan recoiled, drawing his sword. With a soft hiss, the claws raked past, leaving a slit in the fabric over his chest. His body hair instantly stood on end.

The elder gave a soft sound of surprise, then laughed. "Little monk, quite exquisite lightness skill!"

Saying this, he dismissed the four, letting both claws descend, encircling Li Muzhan completely.

His fingernails were long and slender, and ten small daggers were affixed to his fingertips—frighteningly sharp, harder than metal. Li Muzhan’s long sword would gain no advantage striking them.

These ten nails seemed like priceless artifacts. Li Muzhan pondered that they certainly weren't his real nails; he must be wearing thimbles, though their strange color made them look fused with his hands.

Zhao Jinsheng and the other three hadn't given up and attacked again with their swords, hoping to ease the pressure on Li Muzhan. They could see that Li Muzhan was already fighting desperately and was moments from collapse.

Seeing this, Zhao Jinsheng said gravely, "Junior Sister Xu, Junior Sister Zhong, activate the Sword Formation!"

"Yes!" The two women responded immediately. Three silver dragons flew out, surrounding the elder in a circle, cutting off his connection with Li Muzhan.

"Hm?" The elder made a sound of surprise. He flicked his ten fingers outwards, pushing each of the three swords away, his expression contemplative.

Li Muzhan braced his long sword on the ground and took a deep breath, watching the action intently.

Zhao Jinsheng shouted across, "Junior Brother Zhanran, stop staring, hurry up and leave!"

Li Muzhan hesitated for a moment, then drew a small bow from his wide sleeve—pitch black and dull, as thick as a thumb. He pulled an arrow from under his arm and nocked it.

The elder's ten fingers struck rapidly, a continuous stream of clinking sounds, like a melody being played.

He watched Li Muzhan with a cold smile playing on his lips.

The three-sword formation kept Mei Ruolan from interfering, so she moved behind Li Muzhan, placing both palms on his back, channeling wave after wave of inner energy into him.

Her inner energy came in tides, each wave slow and gentle, not aggressive, soft as a light breeze. Li Muzhan felt remarkably comfortable.

But as the waves arrived one after another, accumulating from small to large, in a short time, Li Muzhan felt his Dantian swell slightly, reaching a feeling of fullness.

He activated the Arrow Control Art, slowly channeling his internal force into the small arrow.

The small arrow gradually changed color, starting black, then taking on a faint golden sheen, as if brushed with gold dust—quite peculiar.

Li Muzhan fixed his gaze upon the elder, observing every expression, every move, taking it all in. Simultaneously, he circulated the Mind-Reading Technique.

He could manage three tasks at once: employing the Mind-Reading Technique, intensely watching the elder's every minute action, and finally, channeling energy into the arrow using the Arrow Control Art.

His mind operated at an unprecedented speed. Soon, he began to grasp the elder's psychology, feeling as if he could vaguely read his thoughts.

Although the elder's martial arts were high, his internal cultivation lacked any Buddhist or Daoist traces, allowing Li Muzhan’s Mind-Reading Technique to peer into his intentions. Initially, the perception was indistinct and blurry, but as time passed, it became much clearer.

Slowly, he began to vaguely perceive the elder's next move, but he didn't shoot immediately. The small arrow had turned completely pale gold, looking less like it was stained and more like the material itself had transformed into pale yellow.

This strange phenomenon was due to the ceaseless application of the Arrow Control Art, pouring internal power into it until its color changed.

Under the assault of the ten fingers, Zhao Jinsheng and the other two struggled to hold on. If not for the peculiar heart method of the sword formation that could divert force, the elder would have already sent their swords flying.

But now, although the elder's finger strikes were astonishing and left their arms numb, the strength contained in his fingers was invisibly diverted, allowing them to maintain their stand.

This was the wonder of the formation—the Canghai Sword Sect’s Minor Teleportation Array, which was extremely potent. There was also a Greater Teleportation Array, requiring ten or more people, possessing even greater power.

Li Muzhan held the pale-gold small arrow in his hand, motionless, his eyes narrowed as he watched the four figures. Behind him, Mei Ruolan continuously injected inner energy, her expression solemn and serious.

Li Muzhan's slightly narrowed eyes suddenly snapped wide open, his pupils flashing with golden light, and then a beam of golden light shot forth, tearing through the air.

The sound resembled a crane’s cry as it soared toward the heavens.

The golden light sliced through the air, reaching the elder in an instant. At that precise moment, the three swords of Zhao Jinsheng and his companions surged out like lightning, attacking the elder simultaneously.

This strike was the culmination of all their lifelong cultivation—a vow of success or mutual destruction.

The elder was startled. He swept his ten fingers out, flicking at the three swords in turn. The clanging sounded like a sudden downpour on banana leaves, and his body retreated rapidly.

He hadn't expected the inner energy of these three youngsters to be so strange. Though not overwhelmingly strong, it was exceptionally pure and difficult to expel once it infiltrated the body.

The constant influx of energy, while not wounding him directly, hindered the flow of his own vital force, causing a strange awkwardness, making his movements less fluid.

Just then, the golden arrow tore through the air.

He tried to dodge, but the three swords trapped his surroundings, making evasion impossible. With a roar of fury, he violently seized one person to shield himself.

Zhong Bixuan's face instantly turned deathly pale as she watched the golden arrow pierce her chest.

The elder was struck in the shoulder, but instead of retreating, he lunged toward Li Muzhan.

Zhao Jinsheng, having wounded the elder’s shoulder, dared not press the advantage. He rushed to support Zhong Bixuan, anxiously crying out, "Junior Sister Zhong! Junior Sister Zhong!"

Xu Jingying quickly patted him. "Senior Brother Zhao, stay calm!"

Zhao Jinsheng took a deep breath and nodded. "Junior Sister Xu, I entrust Junior Sister Zhong to you. I will avenge her!"

At this moment, Li Muzhan’s sword light rained down like a torrential downpour, or mercury spilling across the ground—relentless and unending. Despite his profound skill, the elder was temporarily suppressed.

Zhao Jinsheng charged in, his sword flashes as swift as lightning, every thrust aimed at vital points, seeking to take the elder's life to avenge Zhong Bixuan.

Li Muzhan’s ferocity stemmed from the clear understanding of his arrow's power; Junior Sister Zhong had no chance of survival.

The elder, amidst the flurry of swords, moved lightly like drifting catkins, laughing. "How does it feel to lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot, little monk?"

Li Muzhan's face turned ashen. He had never desired to kill someone so intensely. He said coldly, "Such despicable actions, you shame the title of Senior. Truly a shameless villain!"

The elder smiled and shook his head. "The victor is king, the vanquished is the rogue. Little monk, you are far too pedantic!"

His injured left arm suddenly shot out, his five fingers spreading wide, reaching for Li Muzhan's chest.

Li Muzhan sidestepped, as if anticipating this move, taking half a step forward preemptively. Otherwise, given the elder's speed, evading that grab would have been impossible.

As they closed the distance and exchanged blows, his Mind-Reading Technique grew clearer; he could distinctly know the elder’s wicked thoughts. Anyone else would have been unable to dodge that grab just now.

Seeing this, Zhao Jinsheng relaxed, sensing Li Muzhan would not be at a disadvantage, and turned his gaze toward Xu Jingying.

Xu Jingying sat on the ground, cradling Zhong Bixuan, her delicate eyebrows tightly furrowed, her expression as still as deep water. She stared intently at the ants crawling on the ground.

Seeing her like this, Zhao Jinsheng’s heart sank. He quickly asked, "Junior Sister Xu, is Junior Sister Zhong...?"

"Her heart meridian is injured," Xu Jingying stated calmly.

"Ah—!" Zhao Jinsheng was utterly shocked, his face immediately turning bloodless.

Mei Ruolan walked over, looked down at Zhong Bixuan. Her jade-like face was pale as paper, her eyes slightly closed, making her long eyelashes seem even more pronounced.

She frowned slightly, appearing to suffer even in unconsciousness. The bloody hole in her chest was grim and terrifying to behold.

Li Muzhan knew the power of his arrow best; he knew there could be no hope of survival, but hearing Xu Jingying confirm it finally shattered his resolve.

He abruptly paused his sword attack, allowing the elder's left claw to settle on his shoulder. With a slight push, the fingernails stabbed in like swords, embedding deeply into his scapula.

Li Muzhan grunted in pain, but simultaneously swept his long sword in a move that was both sudden and incredibly fast.

The elder had gripped Li Muzhan’s scapula, never imagining that the person whose scapula he held could still counterattack. It was too late for regret.

He tried desperately to retreat but failed to pull back completely. The tip of the sword grazed across, slicing his belly open, exposing a length of intestine. He hastily clamped his hand over it, his feet churning, retreating desperately.

Li Muzhan felt agonizing pain in his scapula, but he paid it no mind. His body flickered, placing him right in front of the elder, his sword light sharp as practiced silk, blocking all escape routes.

The elder, now wounded, was a different person from before the injury.

"Zhanran, forget him for now, come look at Senior Sister Zhong!" Mei Ruolan suddenly called out.

Li Muzhan froze, his sword momentum slowing slightly. The elder seized the opportunity and fled. A voice carried from a distance: "Brat, the debt for severing the lineage will not be settled lightly!"

Li Muzhan let out a cold laugh, immediately rushing to Mei Ruolan's side. "How is she? How is she?"

"I don't know. Let's see your Crane Control and Oil Replenishment Technique!" Mei Ruolan shook her head.

Li Muzhan nodded slowly, approached Zhong Bixuan, and knelt down to examine her injury.