Could he integrate this inner force with his sword and spear? Perhaps even, taking it a step further, unify the Yongquan point with his spirit—becoming "one entity"—and command it continuously to absorb the Earth's jingqi, eliminating the need for the motionless squatting posture.

The Yongquan was a part of his own body; surely, it would be easier to merge with than a sword or a long spear. At this thought, he was overjoyed. Suppressing his excitement, he slowly began to experiment. He maintained the Crouching Dragon Stance, slowly concentrating his spirit onto the Yongquan acupoint, simultaneously visualizing the Yongquan point in his mind merging completely with his physical self.

He even considered that, by using this method, he could eventually temper his entire body, tightening the connection between spirit and flesh. If he succeeded, practicing moves would no longer be so arduous. However, compared to these possibilities, the immediate priority was uniting the Yongquan point with his spirit so he could freely manipulate it to absorb the Earth's jingqi and enhance his cultivation. Unknowingly, darkness had fallen. He suppressed his eagerness, withdrew his spirit, slowly stood up, and thrust his spear toward the sky three times. Chiiing, the light whistle was several degrees stronger than before. This half-day of Crouching Dragon Stance yielded remarkable results; his inner force had greatly improved.

He slowly retracted his spear and let out a soft whistle through pursed lips. The sound of hooves immediately followed, and Red Shadow rushed forward in an instant. With a sharp xiyu sound, the horse halted abruptly, rising onto its hind legs and pawing the air a few times.

Li Muzhan smiled, recognizing the horse was playing with him. This Red Shadow was mischievous, much like a child, occasionally acting up and engaging him in games. He walked forward, patted its neck, and vaulted onto its back. Red Shadow shot out like an arrow, weaving through the tents, agile as a dragon, reaching the stables in a flash. Li Muzhan dismounted and personally groomed the horse, then fed it fine grain, played with it for a while, and left the stables to return to his own tent.

Inside the tent, Zhao Shengli lay sprawled out, unmoving, as if paralyzed; the others were the same, all utterly exhausted, as if they had just survived a major battle. When Li Muzhan entered and saw them, he laughed: "Head Zhao, what happened? Why are you all so tired?" "Ah, don't even mention it!" Zhao Shengli struggled to sit up, rubbing his mouth with effort, "My mouth! It's rubbed raw!" Li Muzhan chuckled: "Everyone was very enthusiastic!" "Every single person who came over made me explain everything again. I could recite it backwards by now!" Zhao Shengli groaned, letting out a rough sound. He grumbled: "At first it was fun, but later it became maddening. Yet, I couldn't stop—otherwise, I’d have offended everyone!" Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. It was the principle of not fearing scarcity but inequality. If he told no one, perhaps everyone would be annoyed, but not intensely so. But if he told this person and not that one, the trouble would be immense. Why tell others but not himself? Did it mean he was looked down upon? If that happened, it would directly create enmity—the loss far outweighed the gain. Zhao Shengli understood this basic social etiquette and could only endure it bitterly, using the thought of going into battle to console himself: no matter how bitter or tired, could it compare to facing the enemy? Under this self-encouragement, he managed to persist, though his voice was now somewhat hoarse.

Li Muzhan washed up and lay on the couch, letting out a comfortable groan. Though his physique was powerful, after everything he had done, he still felt fatigued. Even with a strong spirit, after this session of visualization, cultivating the technique of object-self unity, he felt somewhat drained. This method of cultivation consumed immense spiritual energy; another person would find it nearly impossible to practice.

The Yellow Dragon Flying Sword technique was created by the Old Ancestor of the Penglai Wang family, yet no one could master it. After Li Muzhan learned it, he devised this unique cultivation method, proving superior to his predecessors—the blue emerging from the plant and surpassing the plant itself. Wang Xiue created the Yellow Dragon Flying Sword driven by a torrent of resentment; it was an unintentional achievement. Worried about the decline of the Wang family and furious over the Holy Snow Peak's plunder of the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Sutra, she poured all her anger and anxiety into her sword strikes day after day. After decades, she unintentionally mastered this single sword technique. Had it been anyone else, lacking such potent grievance or such decades of unyielding persistence, they could not have achieved this sword form. Li Muzhan succeeded due to his formidable spirit and a unique cultivation method inspired by the Divine Illumination Sutra of Observing the Heavens—it was also a stroke of luck.

Zhao Shengli turned and asked: "Monk, just how formidable are you?" Li Muzhan sighed and shook his head: "Nothing much. This is just a method to unlock potential. It's better not to use it. I was reckless today, acting on impulse, I shouldn't have used it." "Unlock potential?" Zhao Shengli and the other three looked at him expectantly. Seeing their ignorance, Li Muzhan decided to share some secret arts for unlocking potential, revealing only their potency and consequences, not the specific methods. The four listened, gasping in admiration. They hadn't known such marvelous techniques existed; if they could learn them, wouldn't their power increase, and their chances of survival on the battlefield multiply?

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed: "This technique should not be used often; it shortens one's lifespan. Sticking to diligent, honest cultivation is the proper path. The price for these secret arts is too high." Zhao Shengli frowned: "So, Monk, you also paid a steep price?" Li Muzhan smiled: "It doesn't matter. When something confronts you, you cannot turn away. For that moment of pride, it was worth it!" Ma Daikun sized him up and shook his head: "You get worked up too!" Cai Yuzhang laughed: "Exactly! I always thought you disdained these trivial disputes of ego. This is what makes you seem like a real young man!" Li Muzhan smiled: "If it were about myself, it wouldn't matter. But for our Galloping Cavalry Camp, for us few, how could I not get angry?" Zhao Shengli roared with laughter: "Haha, Monk, you’re much more lovable!" Feng Dakun grunted: "Finally touching the mundane world, showing some human warmth!" Li Muzhan shook his head with a wry smile and said no more. Cai Yuzhang asked: "Head Zhao, how much silver do you think we'll earn this time?" Zhao Shengli laughed heartily: "What's your estimate? At least a hundred taels, surely?" Li Muzhan shook his head: "Head Zhao, if my estimation is correct, there won't be any silver this time." "What?" Zhao Shengli's eyes widened. The others stared too, full of shock and disbelief.

Li Muzhan explained: "Last time was minor skirmishing, a fight born of pride. This time is different. If there were real rewards, the Commandant would have to show restraint..." "If we don't go through the Hall of Clear Statutes this time, it won't count as official!" "Damn it! So all that effort was for nothing!" Zhao Shengli shot up, scoffing defiantly, "Monk, don't talk nonsense!" Li Muzhan smiled and remained silent. Cai Yuzhang said slowly: "Head Zhao, the Monk has a point. We might truly get no reward this time. Let's give up that thought!" "Alas..." Zhao Shengli lamented dramatically, tilting his head to the sky in feigned sorrow, provoking laughter from Li Muzhan. "Monk, don't laugh! You might not care, but look at me! I don't know which bastard struck me—my eye still hurts!" Zhao Shengli glared at Li Muzhan while rubbing his eye.

His eye was bruised from taking a blow, and the sight was somewhat comical. However, he was injured fighting the Flying Cavalry Camp men. The others wouldn't laugh at him; instead, they admired and envied him, wishing it had been them instead. The grudge between the Galloping Cavalry Camp and the Flying Cavalry Camp was deep-seated; whenever they clashed, the Galloping Cavalry was usually suppressed. This time, to gain such honor was to become a hero for the entire Galloping Cavalry Camp. In the army, heroes were paramount. Not only did they earn respect, but it also increased their chances for future meritorious service and promotions. This, in turn, elevated the status of the entire Galloping Cavalry Camp in the eyes of the Commandant and increased opportunities for distinction. Every soldier understood these stakes, which is why they treated Zhao Shengli and the others with such warmth and deference.

Li Muzhan smiled: "It's just a flesh wound; it will heal in a couple of days. We depart tomorrow, do we need to prepare anything?" Zhao Shengli waved his hand: "No preparations needed. Just pack our things and load them onto the horses. We aren't like those infantrymen, bogged down with so much baggage!" Li Muzhan nodded: "How far is it?" Zhao Shengli replied: "Not far, about a hundred li. We'll reach Tenglong City by evening!" The others chatted for a while longer and slowly drifted off to sleep. The day’s events had been winding, and they were utterly exhausted in body and spirit, slipping into deep slumber. Li Muzhan, however, did not rest. In that short time, he had mostly recovered and immediately resumed practicing the art of object-self unity, visualizing the Yongquan in his mind, striving to merge with it.

A night passed, and his progress was slight, but he wasn't worried. This was not something achieved overnight; it required immense spiritual focus to trigger a qualitative change. It might happen in the next second, or it might take a long time—rushing was useless. The next morning, Zhao Shengli and the others rose and began packing, putting all their belongings into chests. These chests were originally for iron armor and weaponry but were now used for daily necessities. The armor and weapons were set aside. When they finished packing, only five chests remained in the tent. They donned their iron armor and strapped on their weapons. "These beds..." Li Muzhan pointed at their cots. Zhao Shengli replied: "Don't worry about them. Someone will pack them up along with the tents. We only need to take our personal gear!" He finished securing his armor and fastened his helmet, his voice muffled. Li Muzhan nodded. Seeing Zhao Shengli now, clad in armor radiating killing intent, his robust figure appeared imposing, utterly different from his usual self. Li Muzhan also put on his armor. He was already accustomed to the metallic scent, but due to his lean build, the armor did not lend him an air of martial heroism; he looked less impressive than Li Baolu. After dressing, they exchanged glances. The group picked up their chests, went to the stables, retrieved their mounts, loaded the chests onto the saddles, and then headed to the training ground. The training ground was already filled with men, each mounted, standing in their designated spots in an orderly fashion. Despite the crowd, it did not appear chaotic. When the others saw Zhao Shengli's group approaching, cheers erupted from the field. People shouted and whistled, clearly still remembering yesterday's fight and the honor brought to the Galloping Cavalry Camp.

Zhao Shengli grinned widely, lifted the visor of his helmet, waved to the crowd, and then returned to his position, sitting ramrod straight. "Two-two-two, well done!" "Iron Head Zhao, you're amazing! I'll buy you drinks another day!" "Two-two-two, hold your ground! You make us proud, true soldiers of the Galloping Cavalry!" The enthusiastic shouts merged into a noisy, lively din across the training ground. Li Muzhan also lifted his visor, breathing in the fresh air, and shook his head. The designation "Two-two-two" left him smiling wryly. Two-two-two meant he belonged to the Second Brigade, Second Unit, Second Squad—the Galloping Cavalry had two brigades, each with two units, each unit with five squads, and each squad with five men. The noise suddenly died down as everyone noticed a benevolent-looking old man approaching the training ground with light steps, stopping before the assembled troops. He was followed by more than a dozen soldiers in black cloaks and iron armor. They wore no helmets, but their faces were grim and intimidating, sweeping over the crowd like fierce raptors. This old man was the Army’s Sima Li, in charge of military registrations, widely known as the 'Smiling Tiger.'

He approached the front with a benign smile, cast a sweeping glance, and the clamor on the field instantly ceased, replaced by an eerie silence, as if the air itself had frozen. Li Muzhan found it amusing as he surveyed the surroundings. Everyone kept their mouths tightly shut, afraid that an extra word might draw the Sima Li's gaze. Li Muzhan felt puzzled. Sima Li wasn't supposed to be this terrifying. But seeing the others’ reaction, he supposed he had been mistaken. Sima Li smiled genially, surveyed the men, and then closed his eyes, standing utterly still. The black cloaks behind him were also motionless, only the fabric subtly stirring in the breeze. The training ground was utterly quiet, save for the faint sound of the wind sweeping past. Everyone stood frozen, and even the horses were still. They had been trained to sense the surrounding atmosphere and knew better than to fidget. After a moment, the sound of footsteps approached. Li Muzhan saw Li Luoquan, who had brought him in originally, followed by the Commandant who had overseen his enlistment. This Commandant was young, yet his temples were gray. He possessed a heroic countenance and must have been handsome in his youth. He scanned the crowd in a single, lightning-fast glance. His demeanor now was starkly different from when Li Muzhan enlisted—like a drawn sword, radiating piercing sharpness. With just that glance, the troops instantly straightened, their posture rigid, eyes wide open, summoning their spirit to meet his gaze. The Commandant nodded and called out loudly: "Two-two-two, step forward!" Li Muzhan started, but reacted with lightning speed, stepping out and releasing his reins. Zhao Shengli and the others also moved forward, purely by subconscious training. Zhao Shengli took the lead, Li Muzhan on one flank, Feng Dakun on the other, with Cai Yuzhang and Li Baolu behind them—this was their usual training formation. The five crossed the assembled ranks and strode up to the Commandant, heads high, chests out, eyes fixed straight ahead. "Hmm, truly brave warriors!" The Commandant sized up the five and nodded. "To withstand the Flying Cavalry Camp, you have brought honor to the Galloping Cavalry Camp!" The five stood even straighter, motionless as statues. The Commandant spoke calmly: "Starting today, Xiong Sihai, Shan Xiaohe, and Ma Yiping will be assigned to Two-two-two!" "Yes!" Xiong Sihai and the other two shouted loudly, stepping out and marching to stand behind Li Muzhan’s five, integrating into the formation. The Commandant surveyed the eight men: "Now, Two-two-two is complete. Zhao Shengli will remain the squad leader. Work hard, and strive to earn merit!" "Yes," Zhao Shengli responded loudly, his eyes fixed forward, posture rigid. The Commandant smiled: "Good. This initial patrol scouting mission will be assigned to your squad. Can you complete it?" "We guarantee completion, Commandant, rest assured!" Zhao Shengli declared. The Commandant laughed: "Don't boast. If anything goes wrong, I'll settle accounts!" Zhao Shengli scratched his head and chuckled twice, saying nothing more.

They mounted their horses and galloped away from the training ground, leaving the barracks, and then proceeded south at a gentle canter. Zhao Shengli laughed heartily, his face beaming with joy; clearly, being praised by the Commandant in person had pleased him greatly, and the others shared his happiness, except for Xiong Sihai, who wore an expression of disdain. After laughing for a while, Zhao Shengli noticed Xiong Sihai’s look and joked: "Brother Sihai, what’s wrong? We’re in the same squad now, aren’t you happy?" Xiong Sihai shook his head: "I was the squad leader originally, now I've been demoted a rank. Head Zhao, do you think I should be happy?" "Heh heh, how about you take this squad leader position?" Zhao Shengli teased. "Forget it," Xiong Sihai quickly shook his head and grumbled: "I’m happy that we can be grouped together, but I’m angry at my brother-in-law—he’s too despicable!" "Why is that good?" Zhao Shengli asked, perplexed. "What's despicable about it?" Xiong Sihai huffed: "Every time I earned military merit and became a squad leader, he would pull a stunt, find some pretext, and strip me down to nothing..." Zhao Shengli chuckled: "I’ve heard about that. Sometimes you were wrongly sent to the Hall of Clear Statutes." "Exactly! This brother-in-law of mine is too hypocritical!" Xiong Sihai complained. Zhao Shengli shook his head and laughed: "How could that be? If it were anyone else, you could be tyrannical and enjoy special treatment, but it’s hard to find someone as righteous as the Commandant!" "Pah," Xiong Sihai spat, disgruntled: "He’s just using me as an example—sacrificing me—to gain the respect of the masses and earn a good reputation!" Zhao Shengli paused, thoughtfully considering this. Cai Yuzhang smiled: "So, in a way, that’s true. It’s quite unfair to you!" Xiong Sihai grew angrier: "My brother-in-law actually has the nerve to say that because I am his wife’s younger brother, I am luckier and better off than others, so I should endure some grievances... Ugh! What kind of twisted logic is that!" The more he spoke, the angrier he became, cursing vehemently. Zhao Shengli chuckled: "The Commandant does have a point." "Head Zhao, which side are you on?" Xiong Sihai glared at him. Zhao Shengli smiled: "Brother Sihai, if you weren't the Commandant's brother-in-law, after causing so much trouble, you’d have been beaten half to death long ago, not standing here so proudly!" "Hmph, I can live just fine without his protection!" Xiong Sihai retorted. Zhao Shengli shook his head: "Not necessarily. Look at the Monk—with such martial skill, he remains so low-key, never showing off. If you met someone good like that, you’d have been dealt with already." Xiong Sihai laughed: "A great monk like this, the Galloping Cavalry Camp only has one. If there were many like him across the land, where would we even have a place!" "Haha, that's true!" Zhao Shengli burst out laughing, and Li Muzhan shook his head with a smile.

"Head Zhao, what are we supposed to do?" Li Muzhan asked. Zhao Shengli replied casually: "Nothing much. Scout ahead, check for any ambushes in front. It’s simple!" "Heh heh, this is between Tianlong City and Tenglong City. How could there be an ambush? This is just an easy assignment the Commandant gave us!" Patrolling at the front meant they were much freer than being in the main body of troops and didn't have to manage many details. It truly was a prime task, like going out for a leisurely outing. Li Muzhan nodded. Indeed, Tenglong City was known as the foremost gate, and Tianlong City and Tenglong City were only about a hundred li apart. It was impossible for an enemy army to be positioned between the two cities. The men chatted and laughed as their horses trotted lightly. After covering about ten li, they would start turning back, widening their search radius along the way for any anomalies. Although they knew an ambush was unlikely, they had to perform their duty. It was military discipline; they could not afford to be lazy due to assumption, preferring to expend extra effort and remain cautious. The group soon reached the front of the main column. The first unit there was the Flying Cavalry Camp. Seeing the eight men, every face showed malice, as if they wished to devour them. Zhao Peng ignored them, riding directly to a middle-aged cavalryman to report that there were no ambushes ahead and the march could proceed safely, then he galloped away, and Li Muzhan and the others followed. After proceeding another ten li, this time they didn't need to return fully. Zhao Shengli sent Li Baolu back, and Li Muzhan thought for a moment, deciding to accompany Li Baolu. The two returned to the vanguard, informed a Colonel of the Flying Cavalry Camp, and then headed back.

On the return journey, Li Baolu said: "Monk, you don't need to accompany me; nothing is likely to happen..." Li Muzhan shook his head, his brow furrowed in thought as he observed their surroundings. Seeing his preoccupied state, Li Baolu asked: "Monk, what’s wrong?" Li Muzhan said: "Be careful. There might be danger." Li Baolu laughed: "We’ve checked everything. There’s no one around... Monk, stop being overly alarmed. Unless it's a full cavalry charge, no one dares provoke us!" Li Muzhan looked deeply at him: "Caution is the mother of safety. Better safe than sorry!" Li Baolu felt a chill from Li Muzhan’s stare. He nodded, touched his bow and arrows, and checked the long spear by his saddle, ready to draw it at any moment. The two slowed their horses, moving along the wide official road. The road between Tenglong City and Tianlong City was exceptionally broad, wide enough for ten horses to ride abreast—a rarity elsewhere. Li Muzhan slowly closed his eyes, his spirit rising into the void, looking down upon the area within a thirty zhang radius. Every movement within a hundred meters became clear in his vision. His brow twitched, and he made a slight hand gesture. Li Baolu immediately drew his bow, his entire body tensing, his eyes sharp, scanning left and right—a complete transformation from his usual simple demeanor.