Li Muzhan returned to the small courtyard, feeling fortunate. It was best that no one came to disturb him.

He appeared relaxed and at ease, but that was only surface deep; he could multitask, devoting a portion of his mind to the Nine Palms of the Azure Sea, pondering how to transmute them into a sword technique. Swordplay and palm techniques were fundamentally different.

Though a sword is an extension of the hand, the sword and the hand each excel in their own domain—the blade is sharp, the hand flexible. To transform one into the other required more than merely swapping moves; otherwise, he wouldn't need to labor over it himself.

He immersed himself in contemplation, considering the fusion of the two. The more he thought, the more profound the flavor became.

The sword techniques he had previously learned began to manifest as palm strikes, and the palm techniques he had mastered transformed into sword forms. As they cross-referenced each other, his comprehension deepened.

However, the Nine Palms of the Azure Sea appeared simple, yet upon closer study, they revealed endless subtlety. To convert them into a sword style was incredibly difficult.

Each time he thought he had succeeded, a moment's reflection revealed its inadequacy. Thus, he kept revising and refining, exhausting his mental energy repeatedly, yet failing to truly translate the Nine Palms of the Azure Sea into a proper sword art.

He was not in a rush, though. His grand-uncle had given him a month, and he was confident he could achieve it within that timeframe.

At dawn, Li Muzhan suddenly awoke on his cot. He disengaged his seal, stepped down, and pulled open the door.

It was early autumn; the days were long, the nights short, and the sky had brightened early. He stepped out to open the courtyard gate, and there stood Xiao Yuan and Gong Qingyun.

Xiao Yuan’s bright eyes were wide as she scrutinized him. "Zhanran, you’re really up?" Li Muzhan smiled.

"You two are late." "Hmph, we were just afraid you hadn't woken up yet," Xiao Yuan pouted, squeezing past his arm and entering the courtyard. A faint, delicate fragrance washed over him, and a soft resilience traveled from his arm to his core.

He shook his head and smiled. This girl Xiao Yuan was becoming more alluring, yet her nature remained casual, and her guard far too low.

Gong Qingyun glanced at him, nodded slightly, and entered the small courtyard. Li Muzhan regarded her in turn and nodded.

"Senior Sister Gong is much better." Gong Qingyun revealed a hint of a smile and shook her head. Xiao Yuan bounded into the small pavilion and plopped down, laughing.

"Sister Gong is reassured now that she's seen you; she finally stopped striving for improvement and went to sleep last night!" Gong Qingyun shot her a look, smiled, and said nothing. The three settled into the pavilion.

Xiao Yuan then scurried out and returned with a small red clay stove. "Senior Sister Gong, what level are you currently stuck at?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Gong Qingyun replied, "The third layer. I can't break through, I'm just short of something." Li Muzhan nodded.

"Yes, that’s already extremely fast. Have you been staring at that painting continuously?" Gong Qingyun's talent was indeed exceptional; otherwise, as a woman, she wouldn't have surpassed all the disciples of the Mei Manor to become the foremost expert, nor would she have earned Mei Ruolan's favor and diligent cultivation.

"Mmm," Gong Qingyun confirmed. Li Muzhan asked, "Have you gained any insight?" Gong Qingyun let out a bitter laugh.

"It’s hazy, indistinct, and quite tormenting." Li Muzhan nodded in sudden realization, understanding why she looked so haggard. She had become stuck on a minor point, like chasing a fleeting moment of inspiration that vanished the instant it arrived, making it incredibly hard to recapture.

For ordinary people, a thought flashes and disappears; trying to grasp it again is immensely difficult, easily leading to restlessness. The more elusive it became, the more unwilling they were to yield.

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then said, "Then let's go look at the Azure Sea Panoramic View." "Alright," Gong Qingyun agreed. Xiao Yuan chimed in, "I’m stuck at the third layer too." Li Muzhan smiled, observing the two women.

Their cultivation was not mediocre; a faint glow shimmered on their skin, their internal energy having reached a respectable level. The Divine Art of the Azure Sea was truly marvelous.

Especially for women, it nourished the skin. Even those of ordinary appearance, if they cultivated the Divine Art of the Azure Sea for a long time, would develop a touch of ethereal grace, stirring the heart.

Women are made of water, and the Divine Art of the Azure Sea imbued them with further aqueous softness, naturally enhancing their beauty. In the morning, he went with Xiao Yuan and Gong Qingyun to the North Yard training grounds.

They sat by the stone table, and still, no one approached them. Li Muzhan remained calm and self-possessed, still deeply immersed in his work, while his other thoughts were dedicated to deducing the Nine Swords of the Azure Sea.

As he refined the process, his understanding of both the sword and palm arts grew deeper. After an hour, he left directly and headed to the Hall of the Limitless.

In the Hall of the Limitless, only the two women remained: Abbess Zhuzhao and Wen Yinyue, both sitting on meditation cushions, with the tall jade statue behind them. Li Muzhan entered directly; he no longer needed announcement.

He visited so frequently that Abbess Zhuzhao had simply ordered that he not be announced in the future. Amidst the faint scent of sandalwood, Abbess Zhuzhao wore a simple grey monastic robe, while Wen Yinyue wore a dark green long gown.

Abbess Zhuzhao heard the sound, opened her eyes, released her hand seals, and smiled faintly. "Zhanran, how is the teaching going?" Li Muzhan shook his head.

"My junior sisters won't pay attention to me; there's nothing I can do." Abbess Zhuzhao chuckled lightly. "Little fellow, you are always resourceful and adept at managing affairs.

Why aren't you finding a way? Are you trying to be lazy?!" Li Muzhan sighed.

"This cannot be forced; we must take it slow." "Mmm, that is fine too," Abbess Zhuzhao nodded. "Why have you come now?" Li Muzhan said, "Master, I wish to learn the method of Guanding (Empowerment by Pouring)." "Guanding?" Abbess Zhuzhao looked him over and smiled.

"Who are you planning to empower?" Li Muzhan replied, "After thinking about it recently, I feel that the Divine Art of the Azure Sea is best and most swiftly transmitted through Guanding." "Oh..." Abbess Zhuzhao's expression shifted, deep in thought. Wen Yinyue furrowed her delicate brows, also appearing contemplative.

Abbess Zhuzhao pondered for a long moment, then sighed and shook her head. "It's a pity.

Guanding requires profound Buddhist cultivation, and although I practice Buddhist mental techniques, my cultivation is insufficient to perform it." Suddenly, she looked up. "Eh?

Little fellow, can you perform Guanding?" Li Muzhan shook his head. "Disciple does not know the Guanding technique; I don't know if it's possible, but I wish to learn." Abbess Zhuzhao nodded.

"Mmm, this Guanding method is essentially a Dragon-Slaying Art; it's not needed at all. Come back tomorrow, and I will teach it to you." Li Muzhan agreed and then withdrew.

The next day, he left the North Yard training grounds and arrived at the Hall of the Limitless. Only Abbess Zhuzhao was present.

She imparted a section of incantation to Li Muzhan—the Guanding method. However, the Guanding method used the spirit as a conduit; it required an incomparably formidable spirit, something most eminent monks lacked the ability to execute.

Previously, when Li Muzhan studied the Contemplation of Compassion, he specifically sought out Moon-Reflecting Nunnery because the Divine Nun Xueyin possessed deep cultivation and could perform the Guanding ritual. Li Muzhan’s current spirit, however, was capable of executing it.

He practiced for several days until he finally mastered it and could perform the rite.