They looked odd, wanting to step forward, but the eight people already occupied their positions; adding more would only crowd them, leading to mutual obstruction and diminishing their power.
They watched anxiously, and someone called out, "Senior Sister Yang, put some strength into it!"
Yang Ying’s face flushed scarlet, her lips tightly pursed, silent, her sword flashing like bolts of silk. The sword light grew ever more intense, drawing cheers from the assembled women.
It wasn't just the swordplay; their profound inner strength cultivation was what lent such might to their movements.
Yang Ying showed no sign of triumph, her delicate brows furrowed as if facing a difficult problem. The light from her longsword intensified, brilliantly sharp as lightning.
Her sword momentum increased, yet her speed slowed, and the same was true for the seven swords surrounding her.
They felt as if they were mired in a swamp, every movement laborious, with the difficulty increasing. If this continued, they would exhaust themselves without Li Muzhan even needing to act.
She tried to struggle, but the moment she channeled her inner power, the obstructing force increased. Even exerting all her might yielded no benefit, at best making her sword shine brighter, yet it remained slow as a tortoise.
Anxiety rising in her heart, she cried out sharply, "Everyone, come up!"
The women paused momentarily, then drew their swords. Over thirty maidens surged forward, some leaping into the air, others crouching low, all thrusting towards him.
Sword tips swarmed like bees; there was no place for Li Muzhan to hide around his body.
"Well met!" he laughed heartily, his palms moving with sudden swiftness.
The women’s robes fluttered as their longswords whistled—shua shua shua shua—and flew from their hands, soaring away like fish returning to the sea, circling around Li Muzhan as they rotated near him.
The women, suddenly empty-handed, instinctively stepped back, staring fixedly at Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan slowly waved his palms. The thirty-odd longswords orbiting around him danced according to the movement of his hands, appearing at a glance like a silver dragon in flight.
Yang Ying bit her lip, glaring intensely at Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan chuckled, gently guiding his palms. "Ding. Ding ding…" A flurry of crisp sounds erupted as the thirty-odd longswords fell and plunged into the ground, forming two large characters: "Cang Hai."
"Junior Sister Yang, esteemed Junior Sisters, I yield," Li Muzhan said, hands clasped behind his back with a smile.
Yang Ying gnawed her lower lip, her expression complex. Her bright, intelligent eyes flickered for a long moment before she sighed deeply, "Senior Brother’s divine technique; this humble woman admires it!"
Li Muzhan smiled. "I suppose I was taking advantage of the younger ones; it’s nothing."
Yang Ying asked, "Senior Brother Zhanran, is that the Canghai Nine Palms?"
Li Muzhan nodded with a smile. "Indeed."
Yang Ying said, "It is truly marvelous and unpredictable. To be defeated by this palm technique is no disgrace."
Li Muzhan smiled but said nothing.
Some of the women asked, "Senior Brother Zhanran, have you met the Grand Martial Uncle?"
Li Muzhan nodded. "Yes, the Grand Martial Uncle’s bearing is magnificent."
The women chattered, asking all manner of things: his age, what food he usually liked, what martial arts he had practiced before, and what level of the Canghai Divine Art he had reached.
Li Muzhan answered them all with composure, showing no hint of impatience, which earned him silent praise from the maidens.
Finally, Li Muzhan called out loudly, "Esteemed Junior Sisters, I came here to spar with you all on the Canghai Divine Art. As for other martial skills, I fear I am not as good as you all."
Yang Ying asked, "Senior Brother Zhanran, what level has your Canghai Divine Art reached?"
Li Muzhan replied, "The Sixth Layer."
"Ah—?" The women exclaimed in unison.
The later stages of the Canghai Divine Art grew exponentially harder. Most of them were still at the First Layer, with Yang Ying being the strongest at the Third Layer.
The Sixth Layer was a distant dream, something they could only look up to.
Yang Ying shook her head and sighed, "How long have you been practicing...?"
They all knew that Senior Brother Zhanran had gone from an outer disciple to a core disciple in less than a year. No wonder he had been specially promoted and selected to become a core disciple.
While there were many geniuses in this world—such as the few core disciples, and even more so the Eldest Senior Sister—they had never seen a genius like Senior Brother Zhanran.
It was likely that in the entire history of the Canghai Sword Sect, there had never been such a figure.
Li Muzhan slightly waved his hand. "My inner strength foundation was already quite deep before I joined the sect. If I had started from scratch, I might be similar to you Junior Sisters."
Yang Ying pouted, unconvinced, knowing he was being modest to comfort the others.
Li Muzhan added, "The Canghai Divine Art places the greatest importance on artistic conception. Everyone, do not solely focus on arduous practice. Try to observe nature more and appreciate the subtle workings of the world."
"Senior Brother Zhanran, I heard you gave Junior Sister Xiaoyuan a painting, and after viewing it, her practice of the Canghai Divine Art became twice as effective with half the effort. Is that true?" a young woman asked, tilting her head.
Li Muzhan nodded. "That is correct... I have made some more paintings. They are in the dining hall. Everyone might benefit from contemplating them carefully; perhaps you will gain something."
Another maiden asked, "Senior Brother Zhanran, are there any other shortcuts?"
Li Muzhan shook his head. "There are no shortcuts in martial arts practice; diligent training combined with comprehension is essential. Especially for the Canghai Divine Art, both are indispensable. Hmm... Esteemed Junior Sisters, I shall speak the truth, though I suspect you will not enjoy hearing it."
"Whatever you have to say, Senior Brother Zhanran, please speak freely," Yang Ying said with a faint, knowing smile.
Li Muzhan slowly stated, "Since you insist, I will be blunt: None of you have grasped the true essence of the Canghai Divine Art. If you continue this way, you will be stuck at the Third Layer for life."
"Ah..." The women expressed shock, their eyes turning towards him in disbelief.
Li Muzhan merely smiled. "Do you all disagree, Junior Sisters?"
Yang Ying appeared thoughtful, saying lightly, "Senior Brother Zhanran, what do you mean by that?"
Li Muzhan explained, "You Junior Sisters only know how to practice the form, maneuvering your inner breath, but you do not turn inward to examine yourselves, nor do you understand the changes in the natural world. Gathering together all day is certainly lively and pleasant, but it lacks deep contemplation. Continuing this way, the Canghai Divine Art will halt at the Third Layer."
Yang Ying asked, "Senior Brother Zhanran, does this mean it is best to practice the Canghai Divine Art alone?"
Li Muzhan replied, "That is correct. It is best to cultivate alone, thinking while practicing; progress will be much faster."
A month passed in the blink of an eye. One morning, Li Muzhan arrived at the pine forest in the back mountains. The Grand Martial Uncle, Lan Chunhe, stood there in a yellow robe, hands clasped behind his back.
He inwardly groaned in distress and hurried his pace, sighing inwardly. He was already an hour early, but he had still managed to be late.
As he approached and was about to form the handsigns of respect, a yellow shadow flashed before his eyes, and a palm shot toward his chest.
This palm strike was incomparably swift. He had no time to evade and could only meet it with a counter-palm strike. His inner power, smooth as water, instantly surged into his right palm to meet the attack.
With a muffled thud—peng—his monk's robe billowed violently. Chi— His feet scraped along the ground, sliding backward nearly twenty feet.
"Grand Martial Uncle..." Li Muzhan stabilized his churning internal energy and quickly called out.
Lan Chunhe snorted, "Stinking boy, late again!"
With that, the yellow shadow flashed behind Li Muzhan, pressing his right palm down.
Li Muzhan twisted his body to dodge sideways, then smoothly curved his movement, wrapping around Lan Chunhe's wrist. Lan Chunhe grunted, flipped his wrist and pressed down; their palms collided. Li Muzhan was forced back another step, his whole body’s energy surging.
The two exchanged blows, displaying the full extent of the Canghai Nine Palms. Li Muzhan exerted every ounce of his ability, employing three skills simultaneously: channeling the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill while utilizing the Canghai Divine Art.
In moments, a hundred moves had passed.
Li Muzhan was struck occasionally, though never on vital points, his blood and energy churning each time. Fortunately, his Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill had improved significantly, preventing internal injury.
The Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill was now at the Fourth Layer, refining flesh and skin; the inner power attached itself between the muscles and flesh, connected to them as if adding a layer of ethereal membrane.
When struck, the incoming force would instantly make the membrane ripple outward like water waves, dissipating the palm force into nothingness. His internal energy, pure as water, formed a dense and tough membrane, extremely effective at neutralizing force.
Lan Chunhe’s inner strength was profound, but his purity was similar to Li Muzhan’s. After one palm strike, most of the force was neutralized; the remainder drilled into his body, but the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill kept his organs resilient, resulting in no injury.
After a hundred moves, Li Muzhan had been struck a dozen times, and Lan Chunhe’s strikes grew heavier, as if determined to injure him. Li Muzhan exerted his utmost, pushing the Canghai Nine Palms to their limit.
In the blink of an eye, another hundred moves passed. Li Muzhan’s robe billowed, and the wild grass beneath the pine trees swayed ceaselessly, as if swept by a strong wind.
"Good boy, not bad comprehension!" Lan Chunhe struck Li Muzhan’s chest again, muttering, but he did not relent, his palm techniques growing faster.
At this point, he stopped using the Canghai Nine Palms and switched to other styles—a dazzling, chaotic array of methods.
Unknowingly, five hundred moves went by. White vapor steamed from Li Muzhan’s head, his robe billowing, his eyes flashing with lightning as he looked around, his presence imposing.
Lan Chunhe’s aura was like a mountain, his eyes sharp as lightning. Every strike carried immense power, his palm force surging like a tide. Li Muzhan, like a tiny boat, stubbornly resisted.
"That’s enough!" Lan Chunhe snorted coldly and stepped back.
The surging inner force instantly dissipated. Li Muzhan let out a long breath, his robe slowly settling, the lightning in his eyes gradually receding, restoring their clear depth.
"Grand Martial Uncle," Li Muzhan performed a proper salute.
Lan Chunhe sized him up, snorting, "Stinking boy, you haven't been slacking off after all."
"Your disciple dares not," Li Muzhan smiled. "How is the Canghai Nine Swords?" Lan Chunhe inquired.
Li Muzhan shook his head, forcing a wry smile. "Your disciple is incapable; I have only managed to form one sword technique."
"Oh—?" Lan Chunhe’s lips curled up, seemingly in derision. He said flatly, "Big talk. Show me your practice!"
"Qiang..." Li Muzhan drew his sword, thrusting suddenly at Lan Chunhe; the sword light was like lightning.
Lan Chunhe immediately retreated, letting out an "Yi," drawing out his right palm with incredible speed, but he had to stop halfway, otherwise, he would collide with the sword tip.
Li Muzhan pressed the attack relentlessly, the sword tip never leaving Lan Chunhe, like maggots clinging to bone.
Lan Chunhe shifted several times but could not evade. In the end, relying on the Canghai Nine Palms, he forcefully knocked Li Muzhan’s Dragon Cry sword away.
Li Muzhan floated through the air, caught the Dragon Cry in mid-air, and sheathed it, then smiled, "Grand Martial Uncle, what do you think?"
"Hmm, finally showing some promise!" Lan Chunhe nodded, examining him. "This one sword form has some merit... Go into seclusion!"
Li Muzhan froze.
Lan Chunhe frowned and snorted, "You are usually distracted by many trivial matters; you are too scattered. Starting tomorrow, you will enter seclusion to study the Canghai Nine Swords!"
Li Muzhan said, "Grand Martial Uncle, the Canghai Nine Palms is too subtle; the best way to comprehend it is through sparring with others."
"I will spar with you," Lan Chunhe said coldly.