Three figures roared in unison and struck out with their palms. The tall, thin elder at the front thrust both palms forward, while the two behind him covered the back of the man in front with one palm, and the other thrust out toward the rear.

"Whoosh..." A gale howled, engulfing the entire valley entrance in a swirling wind that kicked up sand and stones.

Li Muzhan extended his fingers from his left hand, shooting them toward the three figures, forcing them to meet his attack with their palms. With a sweep of his right sleeve, his internal energy surged forth, silent and invisible.

The fierce wind abruptly died down. Li Muzhan's face grew paler; this single sweep had consumed five or six parts of his internal energy, energy so pure and refined it was almost tangible.

This sweep, however, had not been in vain. It instantly neutralized the palm strikes of the three elders, allowing the two women to seize the opportunity and slip into the valley. The three elders had no time to pursue, as Li Muzhan's finger strikes had already arrived.

With the two women having escaped, the three elders were enraged and felt they had been toyed with by Li Muzhan. They resolved fiercely to ignore the women and focus solely on killing Li Muzhan.

One palm strike followed another, the three attacking simultaneously. Their palm force surged like a tidal wave. Even with the profound purity of his Canghai Divine Finger, he could not withstand such a barrage of power.

Having no other choice, he withdrew his finger strikes and unleashed the Nine Palms of Canghai, simultaneously employing the Ruthless Sleeve. Against the overwhelming force, he either yielded, guided, compressed, braced, or pressed the incoming energy, utilizing all manner of subtle maneuvers, weaving and swaying like a dancer on a tightrope.

This exertion drained him immensely. His Tianyuan Breath Circulation Technique could not be maintained, and in that short span, only three or four tenths of his internal energy remained.

Seeing this, Li Muzhan gritted his teeth, laughed heartily, and his figure flashed suddenly. After two sweeps, he reappeared ten zhang away, blood staining the corner of his mouth—he had taken two strikes.

His figure flashed again, moving another ten zhang until he had slipped into the valley and vanished.

During this process, the three elders, whose backs were touching, had slightly less maneuverability and couldn't keep up. They could only watch him flee, enraged, unleashing palm strikes one after another.

Li Muzhan's movements were elusive, but he was still struck several times. Intense pain shot through his back as if struck by massive stones; each blow threatened to dislodge his viscera, bringing blood rushing up.

He spat out two streams of blood, his pace unwavering. He twisted around, launching finger strikes to impede their pursuit. In a flash, he escaped, caught up with the two women, and they sped forward together without daring to pause for even a step, terrified the three elders would catch them.

Li Muzhan knew that if these three elders caught up, he would have only one path: to burn his internal energy. But burning his energy would make the days ahead excruciatingly difficult.

Though his internal energy was currently deep and pure, moments where it depleted were rare. But once depleted, recovery would not be easy, requiring days of arduous cultivation. In their current precarious situation, every day delayed meant one more day in danger, while his rivals would certainly not allow him the luxury of days of recovery.

He performed an internal scan. The vast lake of energy was now reduced to only two or three tenths, having shrunk by more than half—a great lake had become a small pond. At the center of the pond, a crystal sphere slowly rotated, emitting a faint, almost imperceptible golden light.

"Martial Uncle, are you alright?" Wang Shuangfeng asked, turning back as they hurried along, her expression anxious as she fixed her gaze on Li Muzhan's mouth.

Li Muzhan wiped the corner of his mouth, erasing the last trace of blood, and chuckled, "These three are very peculiar and powerful. The Three Wonders of Luochuan—I will pay them a visit again when your martial arts have improved!"

Li Yujiao frowned, "These three strange old men have such high martial arts; why haven't we heard of them? Sister Wang, have you heard of them?"

Wang Shuangfeng averted her gaze and shook her head, "No." "Martial Uncle, you're injured. Should we stop and rest, meditate, and regulate our breathing?"

Li Muzhan shook his head and laughed, "It's nothing, just a minor injury. We cannot stop; if they catch up, it will mean total annihilation!"

"It's fine, don't you still have the Great Bright King Sutra?" Li Yujiao said with a grin, also looking away from his mouth.

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed, "I cannot use the Great Bright King Sutra for another month. My body hasn't recovered yet; using it again now, I fear I won't be able to bear it!"

Li Yujiao's expression shifted, "Only once a month?"

Li Muzhan nodded slowly and smiled, "That is the limit; I can barely withstand it. But truly using the Great Bright King Sutra once a month would cause irreversible damage to my body—it would be pure suicide! Once a year would be best, likely leaving no lingering harm!" "Once a year leaves no harm?" Li Yujiao asked skeptically.

Li Muzhan's demeanor did not suggest complete confidence; in fact, he seemed somewhat evasive. Li Yujiao, sharp as ever, noticed it immediately and asked, half-believing, half-doubting.

Li Muzhan considered for a moment, then smiled, "I don't know myself, perhaps so. Let's break out of here first before discussing anything else. There are more people ahead!"

He glanced around. The three of them were in a narrow gorge, filled with the gloom of twilight. Looking up, the sky was only slightly brighter than the light in the gorge; it would soon be dark.

He lowered his head, thought for a moment, recalling the way they had come. He estimated they were still about a li from the end of the gorge, but he suspected an ambush lay ahead, likely waiting at the terminus.

"Someone?" Li Yujiao and Wang Shuangfeng suddenly stopped. Li Muzhan, who had rushed a dozen zhang ahead, quickly retreated, shaking his head, "They are probably waiting for us at the end, resting while we exhaust ourselves!"

"How far?" Li Yujiao immediately asked, drawing her sword. "Hmph, you rest this time, I'll take the vanguard!"

Li Muzhan replied, "About a li ahead!"

Li Yujiao snorted, "I'd like to see what skills these fellows have!"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "You must be careful. This time is different; it's very dangerous. They are all masters; you cannot show mercy in your strikes!"

"Don't worry! I am not you!" Li Yujiao huffed.

Li Muzhan smiled, "We cannot stop. If the pursuers catch up, it will be disastrous—a pincer attack, and we will all surely die!"

"Fine, let's rush forward then!" Li Yujiao exclaimed excitedly, shouting brightly, and darted ahead.

As she charged, she spoke, "I just don't understand. There is only one copy of the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture; why is everyone scrambling for it? Even if they managed to snatch it, what good would it do them?"

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, "The Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture is too alluring; everyone wants to gamble on their luck. Even if they can't obtain it, just laying eyes on it brings endless benefits!"

"Truly overestimating themselves!" Li Yujiao shook her head dismissively, "If they can't get it, that's one thing. But if they actually get it, they will become the target of all attacks, and their lives will be forfeit!"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "Not necessarily. If they had arranged a way to divide the spoils beforehand, they might be able to escape safely. No one is a fool."

The three moved incredibly fast and soon saw the mountain wall in the distance. Beyond the gorge was a towering mountain, its imposing presence making one feel insignificant just by looking at it.

Li Muzhan said in a deep voice, "Don't stop! Feng'er, follow behind Martial Sister Li, and I will guard the rear. Whatever happens, do not stop!"

"Understood!" the two women responded crisply, their hearts heavy.

The valley mouth was rapidly approaching. Just then, a group of people suddenly appeared, blocking the exit, and shouting, "This path is closed, halt!"

The voices were like massive bronze bells, filling the entire gorge, vibrating the air and causing dizziness, testament to the depth of their internal energy.

The expressions of the three changed. Li Yujiao sneered, "Petty thieves, those who block the way die!"

With that, her sword light flashed like a bolt of lightning, piercing directly toward the middle-aged man leading the group, instantly arriving before him.

The middle-aged man's face shifted slightly. He swiftly sidestepped three feet, narrowly avoiding the sword. Li Yujiao's strike was fierce and unparalleled; even before the sword arrived, a chill preceded it, forcing him to avoid a direct clash.

Wang Shuangfeng followed closely behind, while Li Muzhan trailed at the rear, his movements ethereal, as if riding the wind, nonchalant and relaxed, calmly observing the crowd.

His gaze swept over them: there were ten people in total, all middle-aged men. Each possessed restrained vitality and spirit, showing none of the typical demeanor of martial arts masters; they looked like ordinary, non-martial arts practitioners.

Li Muzhan's heart sank, and he inwardly grimaced. He had not expected the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture to hold such magnetic appeal, drawing out these peerless masters one after another. Could there truly be this many experts in the world?!

"Clang!" A sharp sound rang out as Li Yujiao's movement paused to meet a sword.

The sword's owner was a thin middle-aged man, about forty years old, with refined eyebrows and phoenix eyes, his face the color of aged jujube. His eyes had been slightly closed, but they suddenly snapped open, shining with intense light and commanding presence.

He smiled faintly, "Fine swordsmanship!"

Li Yujiao nodded faintly, "Your swordsmanship is not bad either!"

She had always been proud of her profound internal energy, but upon clashing with this middle-aged man, she realized she had been narrow-minded. This obscure middle-aged man’s internal energy was in no way inferior to her own.

She asked calmly, "Who are you?"

The middle-aged man stroked his beard and smiled, "My humble name is not worth mentioning. Leave the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture, and you may pass!"

Li Yujiao shook her head faintly, "With your martial arts, you don't need to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture!"

Her expression was cold, pushing people away, a stark contrast to how she spoke with Li Muzhan—as if she were a completely different person, possessing the aura of an immortal.

The middle-aged man smiled slightly, "I have long admired the great name of the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture and have longed to see it. Since this opportunity is rare, naturally, I cannot miss it. How about this: I only look at it for a few glances, just to satisfy this lifelong wish of seeing the true appearance of the scripture, and I will be content. What do you say?"

Li Yujiao slightly furrowed her delicate eyebrows, her gaze flickered, and she quickly glanced at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan smiled and looked toward Wang Shuangfeng.

Wang Shuangfeng cleared her throat lightly and said, "Sir, you are mistaken. Everyone has been deceived! The Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture has long left our possession; it was secretly sent to Penglai and should have arrived by now."

"Oh?" The middle-aged man raised his refined eyebrow and smiled slightly, "I don't think so. If my guess is correct, the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture is on him!"

Saying that, he pointed at Li Muzhan, his gaze sharp, like cold lightning, stabbing directly into Li Muzhan's eyes, seeming intent on penetrating his very mind.

Li Yujiao maintained a placid expression, devoid of emotion. She had realized that this middle-aged man was extremely cunning; he was testing her to see if the scripture was indeed with them, and how clever Sister Wang was!

Li Muzhan smiled faintly and nodded, "That is correct. The Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture is on my person. If you have the ability, feel free to take it!"

The middle-aged man paused, staring at Li Muzhan with half-belief, half-doubt. Seeing Li Muzhan's faint smile, he felt uncertain.

Another short, stout middle-aged man wiped his face and impatiently called out, "Great Hero Feng, why waste words with him? Just subdue him first!"

The middle-aged man paused, then nodded slowly, "Quite right. Regardless, the three of you must stay behind!" He pointed his long sword forward, "I shall have the honor of experiencing your high skills. Attack!"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head, glancing at Li Yujiao, giving her a signal.

Li Yujiao stepped forward, pointing the tip of her sword, "I would like to see the skills of you fellows!"

With that, her sword light flashed, thrusting forward with electric speed, instantly reaching the man's waist. The middle-aged man quickly parried sideways, and with a "Ding!" sound, both retreated a step.

Li Yujiao advanced again, her sword light continuous, like snow fluttering down—soft yet concealing needles. For a time, she suppressed the middle-aged man, forcing him to retreat continuously.

Li Yujiao's internal energy was immense, and her sword moves were exquisite. Although the middle-aged man was strong, he was momentarily caught off guard and lost the upper hand, finding it difficult to regain control.

In his sleeve, Li Muzhan gently flicked his little finger, sending out a finger strike, silent and subtle, gentle as rain, floating out leisurely like drifting willow fluff, landing on the middle-aged man. This strike was Shaoyin Finger energy—formless and intangible, like a soft breeze brushing the body—something he would never guard against.

At the crucial moment, the middle-aged man's movements faltered. Li Yujiao's sword light struck like lightning, arriving instantly, allowing him no time to dodge. The sword pierced straight through his chest.

Li Yujiao paused, then swiftly drew her sword. The blade, glistening silver-white and chillingly cold, remained unstained by blood. Her gaze was like water as she glanced faintly at the other middle-aged men, "Who else?"

The others frowned, perplexed, unable to understand why Brother Feng had suddenly hesitated, leading to a strike that was tantamount to suicide. However, this one sword blow instantly extinguished the middle-aged man's life; he died before he could utter a word.

They looked at Li Yujiao, frowning deeply, sparks igniting in their eyes, their imposing presence escalating as they revealed their true faces as peerless masters.

Li Yujiao faced them calmly, her heart icy, devoid of sorrow or joy, fear or excitement. She stated faintly, "Who else? If no one, then step aside and stop blocking our path!"

Li Muzhan shook his head helplessly. Facing such experts, the only option was to kill them, lest they become endless trouble later. Moreover, once Li Yujiao engaged her cultivation method, she became cold and merciless and would not hold back.

"Damn it, I'll do it!" A burly middle-aged man stepped forward, wielding a Ghost Head Saber. The blade was mirror-bright, chillingly cold, dazzling to the eye, and radiating a palpable murderous intent that chilled the observers.

Li Yujiao pointed the tip of her sword, "Come then."

The burly man roared, and his saber light flashed like a bolt of silk, cleaving down from above with a sound like thunder. Wang Shuangfeng shuddered, her body hair standing on end.

Li Yujiao snorted lightly. Her body returned to normal. That roar had been startling; an invisible chill had enveloped her body, threatening to freeze her.

She didn't understand what this was, but Li Muzhan did—it was Sha Qi (killing aura), condensed unconsciously from countless killings, much like a pig sensing the butcher's aura.

He shook his head and reminded her gently, "Martial Sister, be careful. This man's killing intent is too heavy; he must be ruthless toward himself and you. Beware of a mutual destruction."

"Understood!" Li Yujiao nodded. Her sword light fell like a flurry of snowflakes, dense and seamless. Though the sword appeared slow, it was incredibly swift, trapping the burly middle-aged man.

The man's face was coarse, his eyes blazing with fierce light, and his Sha Qi was terrifying. He wielded his Ghost Head Saber with such force that the surrounding air grew cold, and the temperature in the valley dropped several degrees.

However, Li Yujiao's sword technique was exquisite, and her internal energy was profound—even slightly superior to his. In that short time, she pressed him tighter and tighter, almost suffocating him.

Li Muzhan, however, frowned deeply. He instinctively felt that this coarse-faced fellow, resembling a butcher, was dangerous. Although his heavy Sha Qi could unsettle the mind, it was useless against Li Yujiao.

Li Yujiao's cultivation method was peculiar; once activated, it was like ice and snow, severing all desires and emotions, leaving only one thought: killing. The Sha Qi could not shake her spirit, so he gained no advantage and was forced into an increasingly tight spot.

Li Muzhan lifted his little finger slightly and gently sent out a finger strike, soft as a spring breeze, lightly brushing toward the middle-aged man, intending to smother the danger in its infancy.

As soon as the finger strike was sent out, the middle-aged man suddenly burst out with a loud roar: "Kill—!"

It was like a sudden clap of thunder! The Sha Qi surged forth, shooting toward Li Yujiao like an invisible arrow. Li Yujiao was already prepared; she only paused momentarily before her sword momentum accelerated, plunging into the middle-aged man's shoulder.

The middle-aged man gritted his teeth, clamped his shoulder around the sword, and swung his saber horizontally like a lightning bolt.

Li Yujiao abandoned her sword and retreated. Just then, Li Muzhan's finger strike arrived. The middle-aged man instantly froze. Li Yujiao, quick to seize the opportunity, flashed forward, drew her sword, and stabbed through his body.

"Ugh—" The middle-aged man groaned heavily, looked down at the sword protruding from his chest, blood bubbling from the corner of his mouth. He let out a grim, cold laugh and suddenly slashed horizontally.

Li Yujiao drew her sword and retreated swiftly. She parried the Ghost Head Saber strike, and the middle-aged man stumbled, falling to the ground, remaining still after a few twitches.

Li Yujiao took several deep breaths. Her water-like eyes swept toward the others: "Who else?"

The middle-aged man had been so ferocious and cruel that it was chilling, yet she remained utterly calm. The remaining eight middle-aged men were somewhat astonished; they hadn't expected such a delicate young girl to possess such cold and hard-hearted resolve.

As her gaze swept over them, they felt a distinct pressure.

A thin middle-aged man said in a deep voice, "Let's all go together! Forget about face; securing the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture is what matters."

The other seven remained silent, exchanging glances, some too ashamed to speak first.

The thin middle-aged man stamped his foot and said solemnly, "There are so many of us, robbing juniors of their things is already disgraceful; another loss of face is nothing. Do you mean we should return empty-handed? That would be a colossal joke; we wouldn't be able to show our faces!"

A handsome middle-aged man stroked his elegant beard and sighed softly, slowly nodding, "Gentlemen, Brother Xiao is right. At this point, there is no turning back. We might as well attack together!"

His face was like a full moon, handsome and imposing; even in middle age, he possessed a charm surpassing that of a handsome youth. Every move he made exuded a captivating quality.

He smiled faintly, and even while saying these words, he was gentle as jade. He smiled toward Li Yujiao and Wang Shuangfeng, with a hint of apology, "We do not wish to take the lives of two young ladies; we merely wish to view the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture. It is purely curiosity!"

Li Yujiao sneered, "Hypocrisy!"

The handsome middle-aged man smiled slightly and shook his head, "No one believes this, yet it is the truth. Alas, what a pity. If we had met at another time and place, we might have been good friends!"

The two women smiled faintly, then turned their heads to look at the others, ignoring him completely, as if completely unmoved by his handsome demeanor.

Li Muzhan sighed lightly, "We can only force our way through!"

At this juncture, Li Muzhan understood there was no path left but to fight desperately. Trying to burn his internal energy was useless; he only had about one-tenth remaining, and these eight men were all peerless experts; he certainly couldn't shake them off. If burning his energy failed, they would be at the mercy of the butcher; he didn't care about his own death, but the two women were beautiful, and falling into their hands would be worse than hell. They all appeared dignified, but their hearts were dark; none were good people. The fate awaiting the two women was easy to imagine—a fate worse than death.

Thinking of this, he sighed, gritted his teeth, and made up his mind.

He suddenly leaped up, landing in a depression on the stone wall—a spot where someone had seemingly tried to dig a hole but stopped after digging shallowly. The depression was currently just large enough for a person to stand, perhaps offering shelter if it rained.

Li Muzhan sat down cross-legged, formed a hand seal, and closed his eyes.

Li Yujiao's expression changed drastically, "Martial Brother, wait! You cannot use it again!" She guessed immediately that Li Muzhan was preparing to use the Great Bright King Sutra. She had clearly stated before that he needed a month before using it again, or his body would collapse from the strain.

Li Muzhan opened his eyes, smiled, and shook his head, "We can't wait that long. I will give it a try. Guard me for a while!"

The handsome middle-aged man smiled, stroked his beard, and shook his head, "Are you perhaps preparing to use some secret technique? Very well, proceed. We will wait for you. We will ensure you are thoroughly defeated!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "I hope you keep your word!"

Li Yujiao and Wang Shuangfeng retreated a few steps, standing beneath the rock wall, their sword tips pointing at the eight men. They were tense, coiled like arrows ready to fly at any moment.

Li Yujiao's heart sank continuously. She understood that her Martial Brother was sacrificing his life to protect the two of them in breaking out. Murderous intent surged within her; she only regretted that her martial arts were insufficient to slay all eight of them with one sword strike!

Wang Shuangfeng bit her lower lip, her bright eyes cold, staring intensely at the eight men.

Li Muzhan was becoming more familiar with the Great Bright King Sutra. In an instant, a vast wave of power pressed down, like a massive stone falling. Everyone's breathing hitched; they had to circulate their energy to resist.

By this time, the sky had become completely dark. As experts with deep internal energy, night was no different from day for them, but they could not see the strange phenomenon in the sky.