Wen Yinyue stopped, frowning coldly at her. Li Muzhan smiled, "Miss Jiang, pressing me so hard, what is it you truly seek?" As he spoke, he lightly tapped his index finger forward.

With a sharp whoosh, a surge of finger force erupted, causing the air to ripple as it shot straight toward Jiang Nan.

Jiang Nan raised her hand and tapped out in response. With a faint pop, the two streams of finger force collided mid-air, emitting a crisp sound.

In the open space between them, the fallen leaves swirled as if caught in a great gale.

She let out an "Oh," her bright eyes narrowing, and tapped her index finger out again.

Another crisp pop sounded as Li Muzhan followed suit, tapping his own finger. Ripples spread across the air as the two forces met and dissipated into nothingness.

Li Muzhan’s advantage lay in the purity of his internal energy, which barely managed to repel the Changbai Sword Finger.

Jiang Nan snorted: "Little monk, your finger technique is not bad. Is this the Vast Sea Divine Finger?" Li Muzhan chuckled, "Indeed. The Changbai Sword Finger lives up to its fame!" Jiang Nan curled her lips and scoffed: "Little monk, there’s no need to flatter me. Whether my Changbai Sword Finger is worthy of its name or not is not for you to judge!" Li Muzhan said, "Miss Jiang, we have no prior enmity.

Why the relentless pursuit?" Jiang Nan glared with her bright eyes and huffed: "Little monk, step aside and don't meddle. I am not looking for you; I am looking for Wen Yinyue!" Li Muzhan laughed, "If my senior sister has a matter, this junior brother is happy to assist. If you wish to fight my senior sister, you must defeat me first."

Jiang Nan’s face darkened sharply, and she said coldly, "Good.

Little monk, you court death, and I shall grant your wish!" With those words, she drew her sword, and before Li Muzhan could speak, she thrust forward. It seemed casual, yet the sword light flashed like lightning, arriving instantly, radiating a bone-chilling coldness across the distance.

Li Muzhan twisted his body, drawing his own sword, casting a continuous curtain of sword light before him—solid and imposing like a mountain. This was the Eight Swords of Mountain Suppression.

"Little monk, this is not your Vast Sea Sword Art!" Jiang Nan’s sword light carried an oppressive chill, as if capable of freezing a person solid, she sneered coldly.

Li Muzhan smiled, "That remains to be seen, Miss Jiang, whether your skill can force me to use the Vast Sea Sword Art!" She laughed coldly, "What an arrogant little monk! I am in a good mood today, madam, and did not intend to kill you, but since kindness is unappreciated, prepare to die!" The words had barely faded when the cold light intensified, the longsword piercing the continuous sword light, already reaching Li Muzhan's chest.

Li Muzhan was surprised inwardly, but his hands were not slow.

He swung his sword in front of him, using the spine of his blade to block the tip.

A sharp clang rang out, echoing incessantly.

Li Muzhan retreated a step, feeling his arm go numb. He quickly switched his sword to his left hand, bracing for the tempestuous onslaught of sword light, forced to keep backing away.

Hmph, ding, ding, ding—the crisp sounds of metal clashing were ceaseless, like rain drumming on banana leaves.

Li Muzhan was inwardly awed. He had not expected this delicate, slender girl to possess such astonishing internal power and formidable swordsmanship. He was clearly no match for her, truly worthy of being the beloved daughter of the Changbai Sword Sect Leader.

He sighed internally. Since venturing into the martial world, he had experienced a streak of strange fortunes, leading to rapid progress.

However, whenever he encountered true masters, he often came up short—a truly frustrating pattern.

Fortunately, he possessed the Adamantine Indestructible Divine Art,

and the Heaven-Gazing Divine Illumination Scripture, giving him ample confidence and the foundation to start anew if necessary.

Coupled with his transcendent and easygoing temperament, he did not dwell on temporary setbacks, thus remaining perpetually composed. Otherwise, anyone else suffering these frustrations

would have long since gone mad.

While his thoughts raced, he parried Jiang Nan’s attacks. Her sword was like a raging storm and thunderclap, yet also like a crushing mountain, each strike pressing him until he could barely breathe.

What was more terrifying was that each of her subsequent strikes was stronger, faster, and heavier than the last, the pressure mounting relentlessly, intending to crush him completely.

Li Muzhan sighed inwardly. Could it be that she was unleashing the Vast Sea Divine Sword, wave piling upon wave? Wen Yinyue stood beneath a pine tree, observing.

Her bright eyes were like calm water, her jade-like fingers idly tracing a few pine needles against her palm as she watched without apparent concern.

Seeing Li Muzhan struggling to hold on, she nodded slightly and said flatly, "Junior Brother, that is the Blizzard Storm Sword. If you only defend, defeat is inevitable."

"Yes, Senior Sister!" Li Muzhan responded, then switched back to his right hand, his sword light weaving a continuous, layered defense, like overlapping peaks and towering mountains.

Since cultivating the Vast Sea Divine Art, the power of the Eight Swords of Mountain Suppression had grown immensely. In terms of defense alone,

it was no longer inferior to the Heaven and Earth Sword Art, and since this technique used a single sword, he naturally preferred it.

Only now did he realize how far he still was from mastering it.

His breathing was extremely rapid; the circulation of his internal energy far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Wave after wave alleviated the numbness, otherwise, his longsword would have long since flown from his grasp.

Seeing that the Eight Swords of Mountain Suppression were insufficient, he shook his head in frustration, feeling he had not grasped the essence of the technique—this set of swords must possess far greater power than what he was currently showing.

His sword light suddenly flared, and he abruptly drew an arc before himself.

A crisp pop sounded as the air ruptured, scattering the surrounding cold air.

Jiang Nan’s momentum momentarily faltered, then immediately resumed her furious assault, her electric light surging, cold energy radiating everywhere.

Li Muzhan ignored everything else, continuing only to draw arcs before him. Explosions sounded one after another, forcing the air in front of him to burst open, creating pockets of vacuum.

When Jiang Nan’s sword stabbed forward, it would pause momentarily upon entering the vacuum, its sharp edge blunted, the continuous momentum broken, making layered accumulation impossible.

As he executed the technique, he became increasingly adept.

The individual arcs merged into clusters of pure, clear light, resembling a collection of round mirrors blocking the longsword.

Li Muzhan sought not to attack, only to avoid error, drawing his circles regardless of the incoming technique.

One side unleashed the Savage Blizzard Sword, the other executed a move personally taught by Master Zhuzhao, resulting in a stalemate, neither gaining advantage. In a blink, a quarter of an hour passed.

Li Muzhan possessed deep internal energy and enduring vital currents.

Jiang Nan’s internal energy was deeper, but her vital currents lacked the same longevity; once her sharp edge was lost, her aggression waned.

Li Muzhan laughed coolly, "Miss Jiang, why don't we stop here?" "Death!" Jiang Nan bit her lip, her face utterly stubborn.

She let out a cold laugh.

Her sword light suddenly surged, cold energy flooding out like a tide. The sword light flashed with incredible speed, catching Li Muzhan entirely off guard, and it pierced his left chest.

The longsword pierced his body. Li Muzhan’s expression remained unchanged. He struck the sword with his right hand, channeling three types of pure internal force from his Vast Sea Divine Art surging inward.

Jiang Nan was greatly surprised, and her movement froze momentarily.

She felt half her body go numb from the impact.

Li Muzhan's left hand simultaneously struck her chest. Upon contact, he sensed something unusual and momentarily softened his blow.

The touch was soft yet elastic, gentle yet fine. Through the thin layer of clothing, he realized he had struck a vital point on her feminine body. Without shifting his focus, he expelled his internal energy.

Jiang Nan flew backward, her face etched with astonishment.

"Junior Brother!" A faint green shadow flickered.

Wen Yinyue appeared, a faint, delicate fragrance preceding her arrival.

Wen Yinyue supported him, her bright eyes clear and placid.

Looking at the longsword protruding from Li Muzhan’s chest, her delicate brows furrowed. She reached out and grasped Li Muzhan's wrist, sending a thread of internal energy like a fine line into him, circulating once around his heart area.

Li Muzhan sighed internally. Seeing himself so grievously wounded, yet his Eldest Senior Sister remained utterly unperturbed, he understood she neither took him nor his injury too seriously.

"Ashamed,"

Li Muzhan managed a smile.

Wen Yinyue’s lotus-like shadow flickered, and she materialized before Jiang Nan, gently pressing down a palm that manifested illusory lotus blossoms.

"Senior Sister, show mercy!" Li Muzhan called out quickly.

His voice was too loud, causing him to break into a violent fit of coughing, blood surging into his mouth.

Wen Yinyue halted her jade palm, turned to glance at Li Muzhan, then looked at Jiang Nan. Jiang Nan was sitting on the ground, glaring at her fiercely.

Wen Yinyue shook her head and sighed softly. Her lotus shadow flickered again,

appearing beside Li Muzhan. Her slender fingers tapped lightly, sealing several acupoints near his wound.

Wen Yinyue said lightly, "Junior Brother, wounded like this, and you still prioritize cherishing femininity?" Li Muzhan gave a wry smile, "Senior Sister, let's go."

"Mm."

Wen Yinyue glanced at Jiang Nan on the ground. Struck by Li Muzhan’s palm, her injuries were also not minor; blood stained the corner of her delicate lips, her breath ragged, yet her gaze was filled with stubborn defiance as she glared at the pair, showing no submission.

Li Muzhan glanced at her, shaking his head, "Miss Jiang.

If you wish to contend with Senior Sister, you are far too green. Practice for a few more years before descending the mountain!" Wen Yinyue said coolly, "In my opinion, I should have killed you. But since Junior Brother spared you, I will let you off this once. I hope we never meet again."

With that, she placed an arm over Li Muzhan's shoulder, her lotus shadow flickered, and they floated away, vanishing into the dense woods in the blink of an eye.

"Little monk, if I don't kill you, I swear I am no human!" Jiang Nan stared fixedly at the silent woods, clenching her teeth.

Saying that, she struck the ground fiercely, leaving a deep palm print.

She spat out another mouthful of blood, then reached out and slowly rose, staggering away.

Wen Yinyue brought Li Muzhan deep into the forest. There were no paths; weeds and green vines choked the spaces between the pine trees, which stood tall and thick,

soaring straight toward the clouds.

Wen Yinyue waved her flowing sleeve, and the earth and grass churned, undulating like ocean waves. With just one sweep, the debris continued to roll in continuous succession.

Li Muzhan laughed, "Senior Sister, what level have you cultivated your Vast Sea Divine Art to?" "The Eighth Level,"

Wen Yinyue stated calmly.

Li Muzhan sucked in a sharp breath.

Wen Yinyue continued, "Your injury is not too severe; fortunately, your heart meridian was untouched. But even if the heart meridian were injured, it would be fine; we have the Yin-Yang Creation Art."

Li Muzhan exclaimed sharply, "It’s a blessing I was quick-witted enough to shift slightly at the critical moment! This little girl is vicious; she aimed for a killing blow."

"You are reluctant to kill her, but she would readily kill you!" That habit of cherishing beauty must be corrected!" Wen Yinyue said calmly. Her sword light flashed, slicing through a tree as thick as a thigh.

Then, the sword light danced, arranging pieces of wood neatly into a wooden couch.

Li Muzhan chuckled, "Senior Sister, it’s not that I cherish her beauty; she is the bright pearl of the Changbai Sword Sect. Killing her would inevitably lead to a bloody war."

Wen Yinyue’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She glanced at him and remained silent.

Seeing her sheath her sword and sit cross-legged on the wooden couch, Li Muzhan quickly said, "Senior Sister, there's no need to use the Yin-Yang Creation Art. I have practiced the Adamantine Indestructible Divine Art, which is quite effective for healing. I'll manage it myself."

"Mm."

Wen Yinyue nodded and did not insist.

Li Muzhan continued, "It might take a while, so I must trouble Senior Sister to guard me."

Wen Yinyue waved her hand, indicating she understood.

Li Muzhan soon settled into a cross-legged meditative posture. Wen Yinyue sat beside him, her eyes slightly closed. Time flowed like water; an hour passed in a blink.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps was heard.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, a new beginning.

I watched the Spring Festival Gala yesterday, and honestly, it was quite lackluster. I felt it was a waste of staying up late for.

(To be continued) Just a different experience! U