Li Muzhan entered the main hall, where more than two dozen gazes snapped toward him, scrutinizing him step by step as he approached the middle-aged woman.

Li Muzhan cupped his hands. "Greetings, Senior Wang. I request that you keep my identity confidential."

"Oh—?" The middle-aged woman arched an eyebrow, her face icy and devoid of pleasantries. She slowly nodded. "Yes, that suits me perfectly."

Li Muzhan felt a strange stirring in his heart. This woman was truly Wang Xiue, yet she appeared so young, as if two decades younger than his grand-uncle, who was of a similar age.

She wore a velvet jacket over a pleated skirt, exuding the poise of a noblewoman, her radiance undimmed, hinting at the breathtaking beauty of her youth.

It was a pity, however, that her expression was frigid, her gaze like frost, and a palpable chill radiated from her, keeping others at a distance, entirely lacking the warmth of an elder.

Li Muzhan mused inwardly. His grand-uncle appeared to be in his early sixties, while Wang Xiue looked barely fifty. Logically, women aged faster, but here the opposite was true; clearly, she possessed a profound secret technique capable of preserving youth.

Wang Xiue’s gaze was sharp and severe as she examined him from head to toe without speaking. The surrounding figures dared not utter a word either, all appraising him silently.

They wondered what scheme their Old Ancestor was plotting. She had summoned them to meet an important guest but deliberately withheld the visitor's identity.

The young man possessed an air of refined elegance, but the Wang family was one of the few paramount clans in the world. They had encountered countless high officials, powerful nobles, and colossal merchants; this individual was not overwhelmingly exceptional among them.

After a long pause, Wang Xiue finally spoke, her tone indifferent. "Is the old fellow doing well?"

Li Muzhan stood composed under the scrutiny of the crowd, cupped his hands, and offered a slight smile. "The Grand-Uncle is in excellent health."

"Hmph, as long as he isn't dead!" Wang Xiue scoffed coldly. "His debt isn't paid off; he won't find death that easy!"

The onlookers pressed their speculation: this person clearly belonged to the same generation as their Old Ancestor—a caliber of figure that could be counted on one's fingers in the entire world.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "The Grand-Uncle sent me to deliver a message. Since the letter has been conveyed, this disciple must take his leave. I dare not impose further!"

As he started to step back, Wang Xiue abruptly looked up and said lightly, "Wait a moment!"

Li Muzhan raised his eyes to meet her clear, cold gaze.

"This is the letter from the old fellow!" Wang Xiue waved her hand gently. A plain note and a small ebony sword resting on the Eight Immortals table lifted into the air and shot toward Li Muzhan with a whoosh—swift as lightning, arriving in an instant, betraying an incredibly deep cultivation of internal energy.

Li Muzhan chuckled. With a flick of his right sleeve, the Ruthless Sleeve activated, instantly arresting the motion of the two items, transforming extreme speed into absolute stillness.

The paper and the sword hung suspended in the air. Li Muzhan tucked the wooden sword into his robes and examined the note. After only a couple of glances, a wry smile crossed his face. He hadn't expected his grand-uncle to send him on such a mission.

The letter stated that he was sent regarding an old case involving Saint Snow Peak.

Li Muzhan was tasked with representing the Wang family to challenge the foremost expert among the younger generation at Saint Snow Peak, to settle the score and reclaim the Wang family's secret martial art—the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture.

This entire affair had originated sixty years prior. Unfortunately, throughout those six decades, no one from the Wang family had managed to defeat a disciple of Saint Snow Peak, a source of deep regret for both the family and himself.

Since the loss of the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture was intrinsically linked to Lan Chunhe, the grand-uncle harbored a lingering resentment, which was why he pushed Li Muzhan so hard.

With the Scripture lost, the Wang family’s power waned considerably; without Wang Xiue holding the line, they would have long ago lost their aristocratic standing. Conversely, Saint Snow Peak grew ever stronger with it.

Over sixty years, the Wang family had sent forth numerous disciples, yet none could overcome the disciples of Saint Snow Peak. Reclaiming the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture had become Wang Xiue’s persistent heartache.

Wang Xiue glanced at Li Muzhan, watching him effortlessly halt the two objects with a sleeve wave. A hint of a smile touched her ice-cold face, and she nodded lightly.

A true master reveals themselves in action.

Her previous move, seemingly casual, contained immense latent internal power. The fact that he could stop it with such seeming ease demonstrated astonishing martial attainment.

At such a young age, possessing such world-shaking internal energy explained why the old fellow had filled the letter with verbose demands, shamelessly insisting on washing away sixty years of shame.

Wang Xiue suddenly waved her hand. "All of you, leave!"

"Grandmother…" A handsome middle-aged man rose, hesitant.

With refined eyebrows, bright eyes, and a nose like a sharp blade, he carried the imposing air of one accustomed to giving commands—undoubtedly a man of distinguished bearing.

Wang Xiue waved him down, her voice firm. "Relax. This young man is a friend, not an enemy. There is no need to be so tense."

"...Grandmother, are you sure there's no mistake?" the handsome man inquired carefully.

Wang Xiue's face hardened. She glared at him and snorted. "You are being too fussy, earning ridicule! ... Out! Get out!"

"Yes, yes, your son takes his leave." The handsome man hastily complied.

He turned back, cast a look at Li Muzhan, offered a slight, polite bow, and swiftly departed the great hall.

Li Muzhan watched them go, smiling and nodding, exuding a warm, amiable aura that immediately inspired good feelings.

Wang Xiue withdrew her gaze and sighed, shaking her head. "Alas... one generation is worse than the next! Worse than the next! A bunch of useless, disappointing descendants!"

Li Muzhan smiled without commenting.

Wang Xiue composed herself, the coldness on her face melting into a smile. "You are Zhanran, aren't you?"

"Yes, Senior. Disciple Zhanran pays his respects!" Li Muzhan removed the small skullcap he wore, revealing his shaven head, tucked his folding fan back into his sleeve, and offered a formal bow with palms pressed together.

"Good, good! A hero emerges from youth!" Wang Xiue said kindly.

Her demeanor now was utterly transformed, showing a benevolent peace, the previous icy exterior completely vanished.

Li Muzhan replaced his skullcap and chuckled. "This disciple dares not claim such a title. I merely practice swordsmanship under the Grand-Uncle, and my mastery is still far short."

Wang Xiue smiled faintly. "If the old fellow values you, you cannot be ordinary. ... Though he is a scoundrel, his judgment is not poor."

Li Muzhan smiled but remained silent, unable to offer a reply.

Wang Xiue declared, "Very well. First, let's spar a bit, old woman to young man, so I can see how far your training has progressed."

With that, she vanished and suddenly reappeared before Li Muzhan, gently tapping out with her palm.

Li Muzhan drew his folding fan from his sleeve and lightly poked it out, using the fan as a sword—a perfectly timed, sublime thrust. Wang Xiue seemed to guide her palm toward the strike.

She swiftly changed her palm into fingers, forming a rigid sword point, and jabbed toward the fan.

The folding fan bang-ed open, meeting her two fingers. The painted landscape of the fan surface collided silently with her fingertips, and both retreated a single step.

"Excellent!" Wang Xiue exclaimed, examining Li Muzhan from head to toe.

Though she knew Li Muzhan possessed deep internal power, she had not anticipated it being this profound—this astounding.

She inquired, "Are you practicing the Dragon Serpent Ascending Art?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "The Vast Sea Divine Art."

Wang Xiue sighed in amazement. "For a man to reach this level practicing the Vast Sea Divine Art—it's an anomaly! A true anomaly!"

Being familiar with Lan Chunhe, she was naturally not unacquainted with the martial arts of the Vast Sea Sword Sect. She knew that most male disciples of the sect practiced the Dragon Serpent Ascending Art; few practiced the Vast Sea Divine Art. Even if they did, they rarely reached the pinnacle; compared to female practitioners, it was an effort that yielded half the results for double the trouble—not worth the trade-off. They were better off cultivating the Dragon Serpent Ascending Art.

The Dragon Serpent Ascending Art was also a potent technique: easy to start, difficult to advance, but if mastered, its power, though slightly inferior to the Vast Sea Divine Art, was still sufficient to dominate the martial world.

Li Muzhan smiled gently. "This disciple is merely fortunate."

Wang Xiue nodded, smiling. "You possess superb internal energy and refined swordsmanship. Not bad. It seems the Wang family has hope for revival!"

Li Muzhan asked, "I heard Master mention there seemed to be some dispute with the Nangong Family?"

"Hmph, the Nangong Family, bullying others too much!" Wang Xiue sneered.

Li Muzhan asked for the details, and Wang Xiue explained them patiently.

It began as a minor incident: an unworthy disciple of the Nangong Family acted tyrannically, was witnessed by a member of the Wang family, who intervened to uphold justice. A fight ensued, and the Wang family disciple accidentally killed the Nangong disciple.

This was a catastrophic offense. The Nangong Family erupted in fury, arriving aggressively, demanding the handover of the killer. When the Penglai Wang Family refused, conflict erupted, escalating gradually.

Li Muzhan listened, lost in thought, his silence profound, punctuated only by a soft sigh.

Such a situation indeed left no other choice. The Penglai Wang Family could not hand over the person, or their prestige would instantly collapse, leading to internal fracture and the disintegration of the vast clan. For the Nangong Family, failing to protect even one disciple and being unable to exact revenge for a death would mean a devastating loss of authority. To restore their dignity, they could only seize the killer from the Penglai Wang Family and avenge their disciple.

For the sake of their respective reputations, neither side could yield. The maxim of retreating to find a broader horizon did not apply here; yielding meant losing everything.

Wang Xiue sneered. "Hmph, if the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture were still here, why would we fear the Nangong Family!"

Li Muzhan frowned. "Senior, the Nangong Family has Nangong Sidao. What if he actually decides to intervene in the end...?"

"Intervene and so what!" Wang Xiue scoffed dismissively. "That old dog Nangong Sidao relies on being the world's foremost master to act wantonly in the martial world, but he dares not be too unrestrained in our Wang family!"

Li Muzhan looked at her, his gaze questioning.

Wang Xiue snorted. "Even if I am not his match, forcing a mutual defeat is not difficult for this old woman!"

Li Muzhan nodded slowly, asking no further questions, suddenly recalling that her ultimate technique was the Self-Sacrificing Great Method, which he had once been taught by Mei Songwan.

Li Muzhan stated, "This junior originates from the Mei Residence. If my assistance proves useful, please command me... However, I do not wish to become entangled with the Vast Sea Sword Sect, which is why I came disguised."

"No wonder..." Wang Xiue nodded. She smiled. "Zhanran, you have this sentiment; this old woman accepts your goodwill."

Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior, though this disciple is mediocre and cannot handle truly high-level experts, an extra measure of strength is always beneficial, wouldn't you agree?"

"...Very well, stay close by this old body for now." Wang Xiue slowly nodded. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "You have learned the Canghai Town Sect Swordplay; your technique is already exquisite. I happen to have another set of swordplay here. I might as well pass it on to you. Though it is not as profound as the Canghai Nine Swords, it is still worth practicing."

"This..." Li Muzhan hesitated.

Wang Xiue clarified, "The Nine Swords of the Canghai Sect are miraculous, and even if you learn them, the returns might be limited... The old fellow praised your comprehension endlessly. Let's see how truly astonishing your insight is by practicing my Yellow Dragon Flying Sword!"

Li Muzhan hesitated. A unique secret art, how could it be lightly passed on? Even given his critical mission, teaching him swordplay still felt inappropriate. He even entertained the thought that perhaps this Senior harbored murderous intent—to kill him after the competition to prevent Wang family martial arts from leaking out.

Wang Xiue chuckled. "Rest assured. This Yellow Dragon Flying Sword is something this old woman comprehended on her own; it’s not considered a supreme Wang family secret. It's only one move, so passing it to you is harmless. ... Besides, this old woman is counting on you to bring honor by defeating Saint Snow Peak and reclaiming the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture!"

"Yes!" Li Muzhan pressed his palms together, declining no further.

Wang Xiue snorted. "That old man is too cunning! He wanted you to bring the wooden sword specifically so I would teach you the Yellow Dragon Flying Sword, and he played this trick on me!"

Li Muzhan was reassured and smiled. "This disciple is overwhelmed by the honor."

Wang Xiue stated calmly, "This single sword strike is not easy to master. We shall see your comprehension!"

Then, she reached out her hand and beckoned.

Li Muzhan knew what to do; he flicked his sleeve, and a streak of dark light shot out, landing precisely in her hand.

Wang Xiue held the small ebony sword in her right hand, slowly brought it near her brow, and closed her eyes, motionless. After a long moment, she suddenly flung it outward.

BOOM! It sounded like a clap of thunder on flat ground. The ebony sword was buried up to the hilt in the doorframe of the main hall, its tip protruding outside.

Li Muzhan jumped, his hairs standing on end, his whole body instantly taut. He judged that if this strike had been aimed at him, he would have been utterly unable to dodge it; he hadn't even seen the sword's shadow—one moment it was in Wang Xiue’s hand, the next it was embedded in the doorframe. Looking at its current state, he understood the immense force behind the blow, and the sword's material must also be exceptional, able to pierce a doorframe like iron without sustaining damage. The doorframe itself, by its appearance, was clearly not made of ordinary material; it was solid and tough.

Wang Xiue opened her eyes and asked with a smile, "Zhanran, what do you think of this strike?"

Li Muzhan sighed. "Astonishing! ... No one could evade its cutting edge."

"This is the single strike I created over my lifetime," Wang Xiue sighed, shaking her head. "It's a pity my useless descendants cannot learn it... Their internal power is too weak; even if they learned it, it would be useless!"

She looked at Li Muzhan, her gaze burning with longing. "You are different. Your internal power is profound. If you can master it, you can truly unleash the might of this single strike!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "I hope this disciple will not disappoint Senior."

Wang Xiue huffed. "If you cannot master this move, don't even think about defeating Saint Snow Peak!"

Subsequently, she began explaining in detail. Li Muzhan marveled that this strike was indeed worthy of being the culmination of her life's work. The complexity of this single move surpassed even the Canghai Nine Swords; the application of internal energy was exquisitely intricate, impossible for anyone whose internal energy was impure to execute.