Grandmaster Zhuzhao stood at the temple entrance. Seeing Wen Yinyue emerge, she quickly called out, "Yinyue, why are you stunned?!"

Wen Yinyue immediately turned her head, her eyes wide. "Master, my junior brother has gone mad!"

Li Muzhan was already close by. He glanced at Grandmaster Zhuzhao for a moment, then surged toward Wen Yinyue with a look of fury, moving with lightning speed.

He reached out to grab her. A lotus flower flashed beneath Wen Yinyue’s feet, and she instantly retreated. Li Muzhan’s hand stretched out unnaturally, clinging to her like an inescapable shadow.

Not daring to make contact, Wen Yinyue unleashed her movement technique, retreating and shifting like a bolt of lightning. Yet, she could not outpace Li Muzhan. With one stride, he always positioned himself in front of her, forcing her to constantly evade.

Just as Wen Yinyue tried to slip past again, her wrist was caught.

"Nonsense!" Grandmaster Zhuzhao sharply chided, her delicate face clouding over. "Zhanran, stop!"

Li Muzhan’s motion stalled for an instant, but he immediately continued, pulling Wen Yinyue close into an embrace. Wen Yinyue slapped her other palm against his chest with a dull thud, like hitting a tightly stretched drum skin.

Li Muzhan showed no reaction; his head drew close, intending to kiss her.

Grandmaster Zhuzhao moved sideways, placing herself in front of him. She gripped his wrist and yanked hard, but he remained rooted to the spot. She paused, looking toward Wen Yinyue.

Wen Yinyue quickly explained, "Master, his strength is immense now; it’s useless."

"What shall we do?" Grandmaster Zhuzhao asked.

Seeing her deliberately blocking him, Li Muzhan hesitated momentarily before sweeping his hand out to press against Grandmaster Zhuzhao’s shoulder.

Grandmaster Zhuzhao grunted, "Impudent boy, wake up!"

Wen Yinyue urgently interjected, "Master, Junior Brother has suffered Zou Huo Ru Mo (cultivation deviation)! What do we do?"

"Subdue him first!" Grandmaster Zhuzhao huffed. Her figure flickered, and she appeared behind Li Muzhan, pressing towards his back in an attempt to seal his vital points.

But the inner force she channeled vanished as if sunk into the mud, yielding no response whatsoever.

Grandmaster Zhuzhao let out a soft sigh of surprise. Unprepared, Li Muzhan’s body convulsed, and a massive surge of power erupted outward. She was instantly flung out, landing beyond the entrance of the Wuji Hall. Only then did Grandmaster Zhuzhao grasp the terrifying extent of his power. Fortunately, though the blow seemed heavy, he hadn't used his full force; she was unharmed. At this moment, he had still shown restraint.

Grandmaster Zhuzhao let out a clear whistle and swooped in again, determined to stop Li Muzhan from kissing Wen Yinyue, inwardly shaking her head: this little disciple was truly a lecherous brat!

Pulled by Li Muzhan, Wen Yinyue found herself completely immobilized, as if struck by an electric current, her entire body numb and weak. She wanted to resist but lacked the strength, forced to watch powerlessly as Li Muzhan brazenly leaned in, his large mouth about to meet her crimson lips.

She was both furious and indignant, biting her lip. If she managed to capture him, she vowed to teach him a harsh lesson, making sure he never entertained such improper thoughts again.

Grandmaster Zhuzhao abruptly intervened, standing before them, her bright eyes blazing as she stared fixedly at Li Muzhan, shouting, "Zhanran! Zhanran! Wake up for me!"

Two orbs of cyan flame burned fiercely in Li Muzhan’s pupils. He stared blankly at her for a moment, then suddenly laughed softly. "Master, your disciple acted carelessly just now; I deserve death! I shall certainly offer a formal apology with thorns tomorrow!"

With that, he pulled Wen Yinyue and made to leave.

Grandmaster Zhuzhao observed that his expression seemed normal, save for the flickering flames in his eyes. In all other respects, he appeared as usual. She understood that her little disciple had suffered cultivation deviation, driven by a single, overriding impulse.

He recognized her and knew he could not harm her, yet he was stubbornly set on disrespecting his senior martial sister. Clearly, this junior disciple harbored improper desires for Yinyue in private.

She recalled the Great Bright King Scripture (Da Ming Wang Jing). Though she had not cultivated it, she understood the method.

The Great Bright King Scripture had a perilous stage: the Bright King descends from the void to possess the body. At this point, the cultivator must subdue the Bright King and draw its essence into the core, merging it with the seed.

This stage was the most grueling. The divine consciousness of the Bright King from another dimension was terrifyingly powerful; subduing it required an even stronger will.

If one’s resolve wavered even slightly, not only would they fail to command the Bright King, but they would be suppressed by it, losing their rational mind entirely. The body would then be controlled solely by the subconscious—the deepest level of consciousness, usually suppressed, only surfacing fleetingly during sleep.

When the subconscious takes control, it is like sleepwalking; rational restraints vanish, allowing one to act upon things they might only think of during the day but would never dare attempt. In this state, unrestrained by logic and unconcerned with consequences, actions stem purely from impulse, much like in a waking dream.

Clearly, her little disciple had fallen into this state. In his subconscious, he still respected her as Master, but he held lustful desires for his senior martial sister and was now acting on them.

Grandmaster Zhuzhao was overcome with remorse, her face paling.

She knew this critical juncture and had planned to aid him with her great disciple, helping him subdue the Bright King. She had never expected him to progress so quickly; what she thought would take years had happened in just over a month. She had been careless and failed to offer timely assistance.

Now, the Bright King had possessed him. Under the impact of that immense will, the fact that he hadn't immediately become an imbecile or died was already a stroke of sheer luck!

Just then, two figures drifted in: Grandmaster Zhumei and Li Zhuyue entered the hall and witnessed the scene: Li Muzhan gripping Wen Yinyue’s right wrist, Grandmaster Zhuzhao blocking the exit, her expression grim, radiating a chilling aura.

"What’s happening, Second Sister?" Li Zhuyue stepped forward, glancing coolly at the two. Grandmaster Zhumei chuckled. "Second Sister, what has little Zhanran done? Has he fallen for Yinyue and tried to elope, only for you to catch him?"

Grandmaster Zhuzhao forced a thin smile. "Eldest Sister, Third Sister, don’t just watch the show! Help me subdue Zhanran!"

The two paused, glancing at Li Muzhan. At this moment, Li Muzhan stared fixedly at Wen Yinyue, gripping her delicate wrist tightly, ignoring the words of the three women.

Grandmaster Zhumei saw the distress on her face, her smile vanishing. She asked, "Second Sister, if you can't control Zhanran, what about Yinyue? Has the little fellow turned into a demon?"

Grandmaster Zhuzhao shook her head. "He was cultivating the Great Bright King Scripture. He suffered cultivation deviation at the final step. He has become the Bright King now! It is all my fault! All my fault!"

"This boy!" Grandmaster Zhumei’s expression was astonished as she sighed. "Second Sister truly has unerring insight; you weren't wrong about this little fellow. He actually mastered the Great Bright King Scripture?"

Li Zhuyue also stared at Li Muzhan in surprise, appraising him before sighing, "For Zhanran to reach this level and suffer deviation... what a pity! What a terrible pity!"

Grandmaster Zhuzhao's face darkened further, a cold aura emanating from her. She huffed, "Subdue him first, then we'll see if he can be salvaged. Attack!"

"Attack!" The two figures drifted forward to confront Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan suddenly flickered, releasing Wen Yinyue, and dodged Grandmaster Zhuzhao, meeting the two women head-on with his palms.

His movement was ghostlike; his strikes were like lightning, arriving instantly. Grandmaster Zhumei and Li Zhuyue had no time to change their technique before colliding with his palms.

Bang! Both women were sent flying backward.

Li Muzhan’s feet remained unmoved. He turned and grabbed Wen Yinyue again, starting to walk out of the Wuji Hall. Wen Yinyue offered no resistance, allowing him to hold her.

The two women flew back to their positions, shouting in mid-air, "Good boy! Truly formidable!"

"Draw your swords!" Grandmaster Zhuzhao commanded.

The three women formed a 'Pi' shape around Li Muzhan, simultaneously unsheathing their swords. The blade light flashed like lightning, like silver dragons soaring, sharp as arrows, lunging at Li Muzhan.

Grandmaster Zhuzhao instructed, "This kid’s skin is thick; strike hard, just don't kill him!"

Grandmaster Zhumei lightly laughed. "Second Sister, you possess the Yin-Yang Creation Art; even if he wanted to die, it wouldn't be possible!"

Grandmaster Zhuzhao’s face relaxed, and a smile appeared. "That’s true. Life or death is secondary; subdue him first!"

Li Zhuyue chuckled softly, and with a flash of sword light, she stabbed Li Muzhan’s back.

Li Muzhan, focused only on pulling Wen Yinyue out, ignored the incoming sword and was struck. His steps did not falter as he tried to move out, but Grandmaster Zhuzhao blocked him, forcing him to stop.

Li Zhuyue halted her sword, pausing in surprise that she had struck him so easily.

Then, her smile vanished, replaced by astonishment: the tip of her sword would not pierce him, as if striking tough hide. Under pressure, the long sword actually bent.

She withdrew the sword and thrust again at the same spot—still no penetration.

Refusing to believe it, she withdrew and struck a third time, still finding no purchase.

Li Muzhan had stopped directly in front of Grandmaster Zhuzhao, his expression appearing conflicted. After being struck several times by Li Zhuyue, he suddenly took a step and turned sharply toward her. The pupils of his eyes flashed bright, and the cyan flames leaped, instantly creating several afterimages. His large hand arrived before Li Zhuyue.

Li Zhuyue saw the danger and hastily blocked with her sword.

Palm met steel. The sword bent, unable to halt the hand’s progress. His large palm pressed against Li Zhuyue’s heaving chest, and she was sent flying backward.

With a dull thud, she smashed into the southern wall of the Wuji Hall, embedding herself within it, utterly still.

"Third Sister!" Grandmaster Zhumei and Grandmaster Zhuzhao cried out simultaneously.

Li Zhuyue, trapped in the wall, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, her face the color of pale gold, her gaze unfocused and vacant.

"Impudent boy! You dare use such vicious force!" Grandmaster Zhuzhao roared in anger. The lotus shadow flashed beneath her feet, and she instantly appeared before Li Muzhan, lunging with her sword.

Li Muzhan shifted sideways, creating several blurry afterimages, avoiding the sword light, then snatched up Wen Yinyue and started to leave.

Grandmaster Zhuzhao’s movement technique was incredibly fast; she suddenly stood at the threshold of the hall, her sword light shimmering like a silver lotus blooming, the person and the blade acting as one, sealing the entrance.

If Li Muzhan wished to pass, he would have to defeat her first.

He shook his head, stepped forward into the mass of sword light, and swept his palm out. The sword light vanished instantly, like sound abruptly cut off, and Grandmaster Zhuzhao’s sword was now held in his hand.

Grandmaster Zhumei thrust her sword toward him, angrily chastising, "Good boy! You've truly rebelled!"

Li Muzhan casually parried with the captured sword. Clang! Grandmaster Zhumei’s sword flew from her grip. She stared, stunned, not expecting Li Muzhan to be this formidable.

Li Muzhan tossed the sword away casually; it flew back and slid smoothly into the scabbard at Grandmaster Zhuzhao's waist. He clasped his hands in a salute, laughed softly, and said, "Master, your disciple was rude. I bid you farewell!"

With that, he pulled Wen Yinyue and prepared to walk out.

"Transform!" A delicate shout suddenly rang out. Wen Yinyue’s robes billowed, shaking off his hand.

A great wind roared through the hall, causing the monastic robes of Grandmaster Zhuzhao and Grandmaster Zhumei to whip violently.