Zhong Bixuan lay unconscious. Her jade-like face was pale, her dark eyebrows subtly furrowed, making her appear exquisitely pitiable.

Below her left breast, near the ribs, was a wound the size of an infant's fist, revealing her viscera, and one could vaguely see a blood-red heart beating within.

Seeing this, no one dared to move. Zhao Jinsheng and Xu Jingying were already sunk in despair, staring tragically at Zhong Bixuan, silent, their faces utterly blank.

Li Muzhan stepped forward, checking her breath—faint, almost imperceptible.

He let out a soft breath; as long as there was breath, there was hope.

Li Muzhan said, "Senior Sister Xu, help Senior Sister Zhong sit up cross-legged."

Xu Jingying’s glazed eyes flickered, turning to him, fixing on him for a long moment before moving again, "Junior Brother Zhanran, Senior Sister Zhong she..."

Li Muzhan frowned. Suddenly, a sharp shout rang out, like a blow delivered to the crown of the head, and everyone instantly sobered.

Xu Jingying shivered, as if seized by a sudden chill, and quickly said, "Junior Brother Zhanran?"

"Senior Sister Xu, if we delay any longer, she truly won't be saved!" Li Muzhan urged.

Xu Jingying's bright eyes flashed, and she immediately stared at him, "Senior Sister Zhong can still be saved?!"

Li Muzhan replied, "I will try. Logically, I can extend her life for three days. Then, we must return to the sect to ask Master for further treatment, and she will surely be brought back to health!"

Xu Jingying bit her lip and nodded firmly, gently helping Zhong Bixuan sit up.

Li Muzhan turned and asked, "Senior Brother Zhao, do Master and the others possess the art of bringing the dead back to life?"

"Yes! Yes!" Zhao Jinsheng quickly nodded, anxiously saying, "Hurry and treat Senior Sister Zhong... Sect Leader Martial Uncle and Eldest Senior Sister both know the **Yang Creation Art, which can snatch souls back from the Halls of Yama!"

"That's good!" Li Muzhan nodded; otherwise, he had planned to send Senior Sister Zhong to Yingyue Nunnery.

He sat down cross-legged behind Zhong Bixuan and performed the Crane Soothing Oil Nurturing Art.

The effect of the Crane Soothing Oil Nurturing Art was immediate. Zhong Bixuan instantly regained some color, her breathing stabilized, and her dark eyebrows smoothed out, as if she were in a deep, peaceful sleep.

Seeing this, everyone finally breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Zhao Jinsheng asked, "Junior Brother Zhanran, is this the Crane Soothing Oil Nurturing Art?"

Li Muzhan studied Zhong Bixuan, then nodded. "I hope Senior Brother keeps this secret. This art is the exclusive secret technique of Yingyue Nunnery; if anyone learns that it was stolen, we must pursue the matter severely."

"Understood," Zhao Jinsheng quickly agreed, sighing, "With such a miraculous technique, it’s like gaining several extra lives!... We owe you greatly this time; otherwise, Senior Sister Zhong..."

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile. "I mistakenly injured Senior Sister Zhong. I only hope she has the fortune of a blessed person and is not in grave danger."

Zhao Jinsheng reassured him, "As long as she can hold on until we reach the mountain, her life will surely be safe."

"Then let's hurry!" Li Muzhan urged.

Zhao Jinsheng shook his head. "We must first go to the Helian family estate before returning to the mountain... How about this: we split up. You and Senior Sister Xu return to the sect, and Senior Sister Mei and I will go to the Helian estate."

Li Muzhan immediately shook his head. "That's not appropriate!... Senior Brother Zhao, let's return to the sect first, and then invite several Senior Brothers and Sisters to accompany us."

Zhao Jinsheng pondered for a moment. "Alright then. You, Senior Sister Xu, and Senior Sister Mei go together. I will make the trip to the Helian estate alone!"

Li Muzhan frowned. Senior Brother Zhao's stubbornness was truly life-threatening; the path was clearly dangerous, yet he refused to avoid it.

Zhao Jinsheng smiled faintly. "Junior Brother Zhanran, I know the road ahead is dangerous, but Sect Leader Martial Uncle commanded that it must be completed, no matter what. Danger or no danger, we cannot delay because of it."

Li Muzhan fell silent, unable to offer a rebuttal.

Zhao Jinsheng continued, "I also know the danger, but if we martial artists cannot maintain firm resolve and fearlessness, shrinking back when faced with trouble, we will lose spirit and momentum, making future achievement impossible. Better to live fiercely for a day than to be weak for a lifetime."

Li Muzhan sighed and cupped his hands. "Senior Brother Zhao, I have learned a valuable lesson!"

Zhao Jinsheng waved his hand with a smile. "My mind is slow, and I don't think things through clearly, not nearly as well as you, Junior Brother Zhanran. But the matters of the world are often simple and clear; there's no need to overthink them."

Li Muzhan nodded, offering no argument.

Everyone has their own perspective. Although they inhabit the same world, each person's world is unique to them.

Senior Brother Zhao found worldly affairs simple because his insight into the human heart was too shallow; he did not understand the peril or complexity of human nature. Since affairs are conducted by people, how could they possibly be simple?

However, everyone has their own way of living; there is no need to force them to conform to one's own.

Li Muzhan sighed. "Senior Brother Zhao, we absolutely cannot go to the Helian family estate."

"Junior Brother Zhanran, no matter what, I must go," Zhao Jinsheng insisted, shaking his head.

Li Muzhan shook his head repeatedly. "Senior Brother Zhao, alas... The matter with the Helian family is because I killed two young masters from the Li household, and the Li household is subordinate to the Helian family. Therefore, the Helian family will help capture me. Moreover, the Helian family is subordinate to the Changbai Sword Sect, and our Canghai Sword Sect is an adversary to the Changbai Sword Sect. This arrangement puts us in the position of sheep surrounded by wolves."

Zhao Jinsheng shook his head, looking somewhat confused.

Li Muzhan explained, "As the foremost family in the Northwest, the Helian family certainly has adversaries?... If I were an enemy of the Helian family, I would never pass up this opportunity... Killing us and framing the Helian family—wouldn't that be brilliant?"

"Hmm..." Zhao Jinsheng pondered thoughtfully.

"The Helian family might think: rather than letting others frame us, it's better if we strike first, kill them ourselves, and claim others framed us," Li Muzhan added.

Zhao Jinsheng frowned, hesitating. "That wouldn't happen..."

Li Muzhan questioned, "Senior Brother Zhao, you've wandered the martial world for quite some time now, yet you still don't grasp the treachery of human hearts?"

Zhao Jinsheng slowly nodded, his expression crestfallen, and he sighed, "Indeed. Although what you say sounds incredible, it isn't impossible..."

"And that's just the most rudimentary tactic," Li Muzhan said, shaking his head. "If they were more ruthless, the Helian family could kill some people first and frame us. Then what?"

Zhao Jinsheng's face changed instantly, his eyes blazing. "Junior Brother Zhanran, what should we do?"

"Let's return to the sect," Li Muzhan sighed, shaking his head. "Master has also underestimated the severity of this matter. We must go back immediately and report to Master and the others so Master can decide what to do."

"Since things have come to this, that's the only way..." Zhao Jinsheng slowly nodded.

Li Muzhan let out a huge sigh of relief. Persuading Senior Brother Zhao to change his mind had been as difficult as climbing to heaven.

He told Zhao Jinsheng and the two women to follow behind while he hoisted Zhong Bixuan onto his back. He activated the Burning Art, consuming his internal energy to generate tremendous propulsion, and vanished instantly.

Zhao Jinsheng and the two women watched for a long moment. They had expected Li Muzhan to flicker and reappear a dozen yards away, but this time, he vanished completely, causing them a brief moment of alarm.

Mei Ruolan shook her head and sighed. "He used a secret technique to stimulate his potential."

"Similar to the secret technique in the Heaven Demon Dismemberment Great Law?" Zhao Jinsheng inquired.

Mei Ruolan nodded. "He must have had an extraordinary encounter; he understands a technique of this nature."

"Alas... why did he have to..." Zhao Jinsheng shook his head and sighed. The Canghai Sword Sect also possessed such secret techniques, which were never used unless facing certain death.

Li Muzhan burned his internal energy. Simultaneously, he propelled the Heaven Yuan Inhalation Technique, causing his internal power to surge violently into the raging fire. His dantian felt scorching hot, and the four meridians in his lower body also burned intensely.

His speed reached its absolute limit; his vision blurred, and he could only focus on the distant horizon.

In the early morning, Li Zongheng and Song Wenbin were making their way up the mountain together, carrying water.

Li Zongheng, swaying slightly under the weight of his carrying pole, walked alongside Song Wenbin, sighing. "Alas... I wonder when Zhanran will return... That kid left the mountain without a word. When he gets back, I must give him a good talking-to... I’m truly envious!"

Song Wenbin nodded. "Genius disciples are indeed different; they can descend the mountain whenever they please. We can only dream of that—we must at least enter the inner sect."

His tone was also laced with envy. Descending the mountain was akin to a bird flying out of its cage for them—the heavens wide and the earth vast, freedom beckoning. The yearning for freedom was inherent in human nature.

Li Zongheng mused, "I heard that Zhanran's skills were already formidable before he came up the mountain, not inferior to inner sect disciples. I wonder if that’s true."

Song Wenbin responded, "It must be true; otherwise, Sect Leader Martial Uncle wouldn't have let him leave the mountain."

"That boy is truly a monster..." Li Zongheng shook his head.

The two continued their ascent, clouds drifting by, purple mist swirling. The sun had not yet broken the horizon, and the world was utterly tranquil, the air exceptionally fresh.

Song Wenbin suddenly turned, exclaiming in surprise, "Zongheng, look, isn't that Zhanran?"

The two turned to look and saw a figure staggering up the mountain, his steps heavy and labored. Every step seemed an immense effort. Steam rose off his entire body as if he had just stepped out of boiling water.

"It is Zhanran!" Li Zongheng nodded quickly. "Hurry and check on him!"

The two dropped their wooden buckets and sprinted down the slope. In the blink of an eye, they reached the base of the path and arrived before Li Muzhan. They were both shocked.

Li Muzhan’s complexion was sallow, and his skin, once like white jade, now looked dry and rough, as if he had aged several years in an instant. His eyes were unfocused, and his grey monk's robe clung to his body, dripping water, making him appear on the verge of collapse.

"Zhanran! Zhanran!" the two called out in alarm, rushing to support him.

Li Muzhan shoved them away abruptly and said in a low, urgent voice, "Quickly, quickly go summon Master... the Sect Leader!"

Li Zongheng immediately responded, "Right, right! Wait here a moment, I'll go call the Sect Leader!"

Saying that, he pushed off with his legs and shot forward like a leopard, covering two steps with one bound, accelerating rapidly. From a distance, he truly resembled a black panther.

Song Wenbin supported Li Muzhan and glanced at his back. He saw that Zhong Bixuan was tied to his back, with a cloth bundle separating her chest from Li Muzhan's back, preventing direct contact.

Seeing that Zhong Bixuan was deeply asleep, Song Wenbin quickly asked, "Zhanran, Senior Sister Zhong was injured?"

Li Muzhan remained utterly still, like a wooden carving. Every pore on his body was open as he desperately circulated the Heaven Yuan Inhalation Technique, keeping his entire focus fixed on securing his sarira (relic), preventing it from scattering.

He had completely shut himself off from the external world, paying no further attention to it; his senses were closed, and Song Wenbin's words were entirely inaudible to him.

Seeing his vacant, scattered gaze, Song Wenbin's heart clenched. He worried that Li Muzhan had also suffered some injury. Although Senior Sister Zhong was lovely and greatly respected, seeing her hurt saddened him, but Li Muzhan's state was far more worrying to him; his heart rose into his throat.

Suddenly, a moon-white shadow flashed before his eyes. After a moment of surprise, he quickly clasped his hands in greeting, "Sect Leader!"

Abbess Zhuzhao, clad in a moon-white monk's robe, waved her hand and gazed intently at Li Muzhan. Her dark eyebrows were tightly knitted, but she made no move, merely watching Li Muzhan and Zhong Bixuan.

A yellow shadow flashed, and Abbess Zhumei, in a yellow monk's robe, appeared beside her.

Song Wenbin quickly bowed, "Greetings to Eldest Martial Aunt."

Abbess Zhumei smiled and spoke gently, "No need for formalities. When did you discover them?"

Song Wenbin respectfully reported, "Reporting to Eldest Martial Aunt, just now... Senior Brother Zongheng and I were carrying water up the mountain when we casually turned our heads and saw Zhanran."

"Hmm, truly an alert and good child," Abbess Zhumei nodded approvingly.

Song Wenbin felt a surge of relief but remained tense, quietly asking, "Eldest Martial Aunt, Sect Leader, is Zhanran alright?"

Abbess Zhumei replied gently, "Zhanran is currently at a crucial point in circulating his energy; he must not be disturbed. He is fine."

Song Wenbin let out a long breath just as Li Zongheng came running back, panting heavily, sweat pouring down his body.

Abbess Zhuzhao glanced at Li Zongheng, pursing her lips in a soft smile. "You are the arrogant Li Zongheng? Not bad; you truly have some skill."

Li Zongheng scratched his head awkwardly and quickly asked, "Sect Leader, is Zhanran alright?"

"He is fine, but this girl Zhong is in peril," Abbess Zhuzhao stated.

"Ah, Senior Sister Zhong she...?" Li Zongheng’s momentary relief vanished, and his worry returned.

Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head. "If it weren't serious, Zhanran wouldn't have risked his own life to bring her back."

"Pfft!" Li Muzhan suddenly moved and spat out a jet of blood.

Abbess Zhumei and Abbess Zhuzhao rushed to support him, untying the straps binding Zhong Bixuan to his back. Abbess Zhumei gathered up Zhong Bixuan, while Abbess Zhuzhao held Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan’s eyes were clear and sharp, his gaze piercing.

"Zhanran, what happened?" Abbess Zhuzhao asked.

Li Muzhan quickly explained, "Master, Senior Sister Zhong was struck in the chest by an arrow; her life hangs by a thread!"

"Hmm, rest assured. As long as she hasn't drawn her last breath, she won't die!" Abbess Zhuzhao patted his shoulder and turned to look at Zhong Bixuan.

Abbess Zhumei unbound the white cloth, glanced at the wound, and sighed. "Martial Sister, let's go up and discuss this further!"

Holding Zhong Bixuan, she moved; Abbess Zhuzhao supported Li Muzhan. The four floated upward gracefully.

Li Muzhan waved at Song Wenbin and Li Zongheng, smiled, and followed the two Abbesses up the mountain.

Watching the four disappear, Li Zongheng and Song Wenbin were intensely curious about what had transpired.

Inside the main hall, Abbess Zhuzhao inquired, "Zhanran, where are Jinsheng and the others?"

Li Muzhan replied, "Senior Brother Zhao and the other two are behind. I rushed back first to ensure Senior Sister Zhong's injury was not delayed."

"With such a severe injury, she logically should have perished long ago..." Abbess Zhuzhao examined Zhong Bixuan's wound.

Li Muzhan explained, "Master, I helped Senior Sister Zhong perform the Crane Soothing Oil Nurturing Art."

"Ah, that explains it," Abbess Zhuzhao nodded.