Wen Yinyue’s jade face was icy cold, her expression solemn as she gazed into the void. Her delicate hand slowly closed in the air, her entire body radiating a sacred aura.
In the void, a massive lotus began to slowly unfurl, towering as high as the jade statue behind her. As it bloomed, it gradually shrank, becoming dense and solid, finally condensing into a palm-sized object of white jade, crystal clear and seemingly substantial. It zipped suddenly and burrowed into the center of her back.
Mistress Bizhao frowned and snorted, “Truly reckless! Utterly reckless!”
Her robes fluttering, Mistress Zhumei used her internal energy to suppress her movement and asked, “Second Junior Sister, what is Yinyue doing?”
Mistress Zhuzhao shook her head, her face showing utter disapproval, “This girl is making a scene, actually using the Jade Lotus.” “Is this Yinyue’s ultimate, hidden technique? I’ve never seen it before!” Mistress Zhumei smiled, staring at Wen Yinyue with a face full of curiosity.
Mistress Zhuzhao shook her head again, “The power of this move is immense, but it causes great trouble afterward. It’s just like a secret art that burns potential; she’ll need a long period of recuperation!”
“Let’s see the power it holds!” Mistress Zhumei chuckled. “To subdue Zhanran, it all depends on her now!”
Li Muzhan remained motionless, watching Wen Yinyue perform the art with a slight smile.
A white jade lotus burrowed into her back. Her bright eyes flashed, and her whole person instantly transformed. Her skin became like white jade, translucent and smoothly lustrous, mirroring the jade statue behind her.
Li Muzhan smiled and reached out again to grab her.
Wen Yinyue’s delicate hand flashed, her fingers pointed like a sword, tapping the Laogong acupoint on Li Muzhan’s palm.
Li Muzhan morphed his claw into a fist and struck out. With a dull thud, his pale fingers and the fist made a muffled sound several inches apart. The air vibrated, as if ripples were spreading across a water surface.
Li Muzhan did not budge. Wen Yinyue stepped back one pace, her jade face paling slightly, yet growing even more luminous.
Flames danced in Li Muzhan’s pupils, and he let out a chuckle, “Senior Sister is indeed extraordinary. Again!”
Wen Yinyue remained expressionless. A lotus shadow flashed beneath her feet, seemingly real, and she instantly appeared at the main entrance, about to step out. But before she could, Li Muzhan was already blocking her way.
“Zhanran,” Mistress Zhuzhao moved sideways, standing between Li Muzhan and Wen Yinyue, frowning and humming softly, “If you keep acting up, I will become truly angry!” Little Li Muzhan smiled, “Master, please forgive me. I shall capture Senior Sister and then ask for your pardon!”
Mistress Zhumei moved to stand beside Mistress Zhuzhao, completely blocking the entrance, and sternly called out, “Zhanran, this behavior is utter treason! You injured your Third Martial Aunt; why don’t you hurry over to check her injuries?”
Li Muzhan laughed, “Martial Aunt, Third Martial Aunt is fine!”
Mistress Zhumei snorted, “Nonsense! Look at your Third Martial Aunt—her internal organs are displaced, and she’s bleeding from her mouth and nose—and you call that fine?!”
Li Muzhan smiled without speaking, leaning forward to look at Wen Yinyue, “Senior Sister, please!”
Wen Yinyue’s dark brows furrowed. With a cold snort, she flashed suddenly and appeared before the western window. She slapped the window open and darted out.
Li Muzhan laughed heartily and flashed after her, blocking her path. The two were now outside the Wuji Hall.
Below them on the training ground, a crowd of people were practicing, mostly inner disciples. Sword light flashed, figures danced, and their stances and movements were all exceptional.
The sudden appearance of the two startled everyone. It wasn't that they lacked concentration, but the event was too bizarre—someone had broken the window of the Wuji Hall, an act that shook the world!
Seeing Li Muzhan and Wen Yinyue, the crowd was even more astonished. One was the pure and pristine Eldest Senior Sister, someone to be admired from afar, like an icy goddess.
The other—the fastest person in centuries to pass the trials, taken as a direct disciple by the Sect Master, rising overnight to become a living legend.
They all wanted to see what made this little Zhanran so special to earn such favor from the Sect Master.
The Canghai Sword Sect was divided into four primary techniques: the Canghai Divine Art, the Suyu Art, the Miaolian Sutra, and the Dragon-Serpent Ascension Formula.
The four martial arts of the Canghai Sword Sect were all peerless marvels, each capable of establishing supremacy in the world. The Dragon-Serpent Ascension Formula and the Canghai Divine Art were equally potent and formidable.
The Dragon-Serpent Ascension Formula could only be cultivated by men, while the Canghai Divine Art and the Suyu Art were reserved for women. They demanded extremely high innate talent, making their mastery exceedingly difficult.
The most challenging was the Miaolian Sutra, which required even higher aptitude. It was often passed down through a single line of succession, and those who cultivated the Miaolian Sutra were invariably the Sect Masters of the Canghai Sword Sect.
The practice of the Sect Master's lineage being single-file had become an unspoken, conventional rule. This time, the Sect Master had broken rules repeatedly for this Zhanran—first, by promoting him directly into the inner sect as a direct disciple, and second, by breaking the tradition of the Sect Master’s lineage being single-file.
The crowd was greatly amazed. Who was this Zhanran that commanded such favor from the Sect Master?
Li Muzhan chuckled, “Senior Sister, where are you going?”
Wen Yinyue knew his mind was unclear, so she wasted no words. A lotus shadow flashed under her feet, and she vanished abruptly, reappearing a hundred meters away, heading straight for the cliff edge.
Everyone felt a momentary blur before their eyes; Wen Yinyue was already a hundred meters distant. They gasped internally—the Eldest Senior Sister’s lightness skill was this profound? They were only just realizing it now!
They heard a sound—Li Muzhan took a stride, and in the next instant, he stood before Wen Yinyue. The onlookers experienced a momentary illusion, as if his step was incredibly light, and the ground beneath him had shortened.
Li Muzhan blocked her path, laughing, “Senior Sister, are you planning to jump off the cliff?”
Wen Yinyue thrust out her palm, instantly closing the distance to Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan shifted, and she struck only an afterimage. With another flash, he was already behind her.
Wen Yinyue struck out with her other palm from behind her elbow, twisting her body. She instantly reappeared, and Li Muzhan met her with an outstretched palm.
With a dull thud, a muffled sound echoed. The eardrums of the onlookers throbbed painfully, rendering them almost deaf.
As they watched the dazzling, blinding flurry of moves, marveling at their unparalleled speed—a single move from either combatant would have been impossible for them to withstand—the sound of their palms meeting resonated.
This collision struck their ears like a great bronze bell tolling. It didn't just hurt their ears; their blood and energy were agitated, making them feel unwell, their chests tight with nausea.
Li Muzhan remained perfectly still, while Wen Yinyue retreated another step.
Two sharp whistles sounded. Mistress Zhuzhao and Mistress Zhumei transformed into twin streaks of white light, their long swords aimed precisely at the center of Li Muzhan’s back, striking him in an instant.
Li Muzhan took a precise step sideways, narrowly avoiding the attack.
The two landed, one on the left and one on the right. One’s sword light flowed continuously, like surging waves, while the other’s sword emitted lotus blossoms that drifted as they struck toward Li Muzhan. Wen Yinyue’s palms, adorned with lotus energy, pressed gently toward him.
Caught in the combined assault of three people, enveloped by sword light and palm shadows, Li Muzhan stepped lightly and appeared behind Mistress Zhumei. With a casual sweep, he snatched her sword away and tossed it aside. The long sword transformed into a streak of lightning, embedding itself directly above the plaque of the Wuji Hall, quivering like a snake.
“Zhanran!” A sharp shout rang out. Mei Ruolan floated over, her dark brows furrowed, staring at him, “Zhanran, what is going on?!” Little Li Muzhan turned his head to look at her. In the turning motion, his left hand struck Mistress Zhuzhao’s long sword, while his right hand met Wen Yinyue’s lotus palm, resulting in a crisp clang and a muffled thud.
Li Muzhan smiled, his expression gentle, “Miss, long time no see. How have you been lately?”
Mei Ruolan sensed something was wrong. Zhanran seemed to have become a different person—more unrestrained, his eyes boldly sweeping over her with palpable aggression.
“What has happened?” Mei Ruolan frowned, noticing the green flames dancing in his pupils.
Li Muzhan smiled, “A day apart feels like three years. Miss’s elegance grows ever more captivating!”
Mei Ruolan frowned and snorted, “Nonsense, Zhanran. Stop fooling around; this is not the Mei Estate!” “You cannot be so reckless.”
If they were at the Mei Estate, she could clean up his messes. But now, this was the Canghai Sword Sect, where the rules were ruthless; if he misbehaved here, his life would be in danger.
She worried deeply, a trace of concern showing in her hazy eyes.
Li Muzhan chuckled lightly, “Thank you for your concern, Miss.”
“Zhanran, you must think thrice before acting. Isn’t that what you always preach?” Mei Ruolan said softly, carefully scrutinizing his expression.
While Li Muzhan was speaking with Mei Ruolan, Wen Yinyue whispered, “Master, shall we try the final move?”
Mistress Zhuzhao frowned, pondering for a moment, then shook her head, “Unless it is absolutely necessary, we cannot use it. It is too dangerous.”
“Master,” Wen Yinyue’s dark brows tightly locked.
Mistress Zhuzhao shook her head, “Yinyue, do not rush. Let Martial Aunt and Martial Elder Sister make their move first!”
Saying this, she pursed her lips and let out a clear whistle. It soared upward like a white crane taking flight, its cry clear, piercing, and lingering, causing the entire world to feel refreshed.
As the whistle sounded, a distant, clear cry echoed in reply—long, melodious, rounded, and far more pleasant than Mistress Zhuzhao’s.
Amidst the echoes of the whistle, four grey figures shot up from the roof of the Wuji Hall. They paused high in the air, then descended gracefully, floating down like wild geese landing gently before Mistress Zhuzhao.
“Zhao’er, what is happening?” a middle-aged woman asked softly.
Her face was round like the full moon, kind and gentle, appearing to be around forty years old. Her feminine charm still lingered, her youthful beauty undiminished, and her temperament was tender.
The three women behind her were all in their forties, their appearances ordinary compared to her beauty, but their eyes were clear as water, and a gentle, elegant aura surrounded them, making them quite captivating.
Mistress Zhuzhao approached her and whispered, “Fourth Martial Aunt, my disciple here has suffered a Qi deviation while practicing the Great Bright King Scripture. We need your help to restrain him so we can treat him!”
“You and Yinyue cannot subdue him?” the middle-aged woman asked softly, glancing at Li Muzhan and showing surprise.
Mistress Zhuzhao shook her head with a wry smile, “Even if Martial Elder Sister, Third Martial Sister, and Yinyue combine forces, we cannot hold him down, which is why we had to trouble Martial Aunt!”
At this moment, Mistress Zhumei also approached, bowing in greeting.
Wen Yinyue waved her hand, and the inner disciples floated backward, disappearing in a blink. Mei Ruolan also waved goodbye to Li Muzhan, gave him a quiet instruction, and withdrew.
Li Muzhan watched Mei Ruolan leave, shook his head, and turned to look at Wen Yinyue. As his gaze met her cold stare, he couldn't help but smile.
At this moment, he appeared no different from usual; his expressions and movements were agile, without any stiffness or sluggishness. If not for the two balls of green flame within his pupils, one would hardly notice his strangeness.