Zhao Zihe stared at Li Muchan and Yan Lengsi, his eyes sharp, trying to see through them. He suddenly asked, "Are you truly people of Dayuan?" Li Muchan smiled, "Brother, you don't believe it?

... Besides, what is there about Dayuan worth pretending to be?" Zhao Zihe said, "Dayuan and our border is sealed, guarded by the elite Black Hawk Cavalry.

How did you get through?" Li Muchan chuckled, "If we didn't have such small skills, how would we dare come to your sect to seek guidance?" Zhao Zihe asked suspiciously, "You really crossed the Black Hawk Cavalry blockade?" Li Muchan laughed, "The Black Hawk Cavalry is nothing special... Brother, have you ever seen the Black Hawk Cavalry?" "Young Master speaks with such great arrogance," Zhao Zihe's lips curled slightly, his face displeased.

He was secretly furious in his heart. The Black Hawk Cavalry was composed of elite disciples from major sects, each highly skilled in martial arts, firm in resolve, and fiercely loyal—truly heroes among the Western Zhao people.

Zhao Zihe held the Black Hawk Cavalry in deep reverence. Hearing this Dayuan person, Li Muchan, denigrate them so, he couldn't hide his anger, and said coldly, "Judging by your tone, Brother, it seems you've crossed swords with the Black Hawk Cavalry?" Li Muchan smiled but did not answer.

Yan Lengsi tugged at Li Muchan's sleeve, looked at him twice, and showed a questioning expression. He didn't understand.

They clearly intended to snatch the Guyuan Pill, so why brazenly challenge the Lingshan Sect instead of sneaking in? Wasn't this alerting the enemy?

Li Muchan pulled him aside, walked some distance away, and whispered, "Little Yan, aren't you feeling strange?" Yan Lengsi glanced at Zhao Zihe in the distance and nodded cautiously, "Yes, can this really work?" "Courtesy before force, operating openly—this method is the best and leaves fewer repercussions," Li Muchan smiled. "Let's try first; if it doesn't work, we'll reconsider." Yan Lengsi whispered, "What if it goes wrong, and this precious saber is lost?" Li Muchan chuckled, "If we can't succeed, I wouldn't have the face to ask for this precious saber anyway." "Alright then, be careful." Yan Lengsi saw the certainty in his expression and nodded, choosing to trust him.

The two walked back to Zhao Zihe's side. Zhao Zihe stood with his arms crossed, coldly appraising them.

Seeing them return, he sneered, "How can you prove you are people of Dayuan?" The slander against the Black Hawk Cavalry had stirred up his anger, which he had no way to vent, so he had to find another pretext. In recent years, the Lingshan Sect rarely accepted challenges.

They would only invite someone up the mountain for a spar if they were truly famous and respected, not merely seeking renown. As for those wanting to use the Lingshan Sect to make a name for themselves, they politely declined.

Li Muchan smiled, "We cannot." Zhao Zihe snorted, "Since you cannot prove it, you are impostors. In my opinion, you should descend the mountain quickly and avoid embarrassing yourselves." Li Muchan smiled, "Although the Black Hawk Cavalry is nothing special and their skills are ordinary, they win by sheer numbers.

It wasn't easy for us to make this trip; how could we return so easily?" "Silence!" A nameless fire surged up, and Zhao Zihe could no longer suppress it. It rushed straight to his mind, and he shouted out a sharp reprimand.

Li Muchan secretly laughed inwardly but let his expression turn cold, saying coldly, "What, Brother? Are you perhaps trying to take advantage of us being strangers here to teach us a lesson?" "You speak too boldly!" Zhao Zihe took a deep breath, realizing he had been rash, but unwilling to concede, he said coldly, "If you want to ascend our Lingshan, you must first get past me!" Li Muchan sneered, "The Lingshan Sect, such a great and expansive sect, showing such demeanor.

Excellent. Truly, seeing is not as good as hearing, I am truly impressed." Zhao Zihe coldly stated, "This has nothing to do with our Lingshan Sect.

It is because of your insolent words that I am acting this way, don't blame me." Li Muchan began to laugh, shaking his head, "In what way was my speech insolent?" "Hmph, you slander the Black Hawk Cavalry. You deserve death!" Zhao Zihe gritted his teeth and snorted.

Li Muchan raised an eyebrow, "I was merely stating the truth. How does that become slander?

The Black Hawk Cavalry is indeed not great; they have been killed by us Dayuan people many times, routed and flowing backward." "Take my sword!" Zhao Zihe was enraged, drew his sword, and stabbed out, a flash of cold light slicing through the air. Li Muchan stepped back one pace and called out loudly, "What an overbearing disciple of the Lingshan Sect!" His voice boomed like thunder, echoing across the entire Lingshan.

"Junior Brother, stop!" Suddenly, a long shout rang out, seemingly distant yet close, the sound right next to the ear, though the person was nowhere in sight. Li Muchan looked up.

On the distant mountainside, a figure in azure garments descended swiftly, like a wisp of light smoke. It was Zhao Dong, who had gone to report their arrival.

Zhao Zihe was just about to retract his sword when Yan Lengsi suddenly stepped forward and struck out with his palm. With a crisp clang, like metal striking metal, the gleaming cold sword carved an arc in the air and embedded itself in the ground twenty feet away, leaving only the hilt exposed.

Zhao Zihe's face changed, and he stepped back, holding his hands in a defensive posture, his eyes like an eagle's, fixed on Yan Lengsi. Yan Lengsi snorted, shook his head, and retreated to Li Muchan's side, a hint of astonishment on his face.

He hadn't expected a disciple of the dignified Lingshan Sect to be so weak. The sword felt soft and powerless; one palm strike sent it flying.

It was too easy. If all Lingshan disciples were like this, there would be no need to worry; they could just rob them directly.

On their way here, they had heard many people talking about the Lingshan Sect, all speaking of them with reverence and awe, saying the disciples were highly skilled. He had been worried about failing the mission.

If they failed, the precious saber would have to be returned to their Master. To obtain such a saber only to lose it again—he couldn't bear it, and the Monk definitely wouldn't feel good either.

That would be his fault. No matter what, he had to find a way to get the Guyuan Pill back.

Zhao Dong arrived like a gust of wind, having witnessed the entire scene. His expression shifted slightly; he looked at Yan Lengsi, then at Zhao Zihe, and said gravely, "Junior Brother Zhao, why did you strike at our guests so casually?" "Tenth Senior Brother, they slandered our Black Hawk Cavalry," Zhao Zihe said indignantly.

Zhao Dong frowned and asked blandly, "What exactly happened?" Li Muchan smiled and said, "It's serious. I only spoke a few truthful words, and this Brother immediately drew his sword.

I truly didn't expect that." "My junior brother is young and impetuous; I apologize for the offense," Zhao Dong said with a polite smile, cupping his fist. Li Muchan inwardly smiled; this one had a deeper reserve.

He smiled, "It's nothing major, just a difference in perspective... Even though the Lingshan Sect is strong, does it have to dictate what others think?" "Heh heh, Brother, you jest," Zhao Dong smiled and shook his head.

"However, our Eldest Senior Brother has a decree that he does not wish to have any dealings with the State of Dayuan, so we can only offer our apologies." Li Muchan smiled, "If that's the case, you mean you don't wish to engage with us?" Zhao Dong smiled, "Our Lingshan Sect enjoys making friends through fellowship, but when it comes to the Dayuan Kingdom, it is different... You two should please yourselves." Li Muchan smiled, "What if I insist on a spar?" "That's easy to arrange.

If you can reach the mountaintop, we will naturally agree," Zhao Dong said with a beaming smile. "Our Lingshan Sect rarely spars with outsiders nowadays.

Those who wish to challenge us on the mountain must first conquer the mountain path. If you can succeed in reaching the summit, you will naturally be qualified to spar in martial arts." Yan Lengsi snorted, "Isn't that too despicable...

If we struggle all the way up the mountain until we are exhausted, who will have the strength left to fight?" Li Muchan smiled, clapped his hands, and nodded, "That is indeed a problem." He had originally planned to provoke them, incite trouble, and then strike first to establish dominance, drawing the attention of the Lingshan Sect so they could genuinely start fighting. He hadn't expected there to be another way; this was acceptable too.

"We wouldn't stoop to a war of attrition," Zhao Zihe sneered. Zhao Dong chuckled, "You two misunderstand.

The disciples on the mountain path are all our third-generation disciples; their martial arts are the lowest tier. If you cannot defeat these disciples, there is no need to trouble the Senior Brothers, Masters, or Uncles." "Oh—?" Li Muchan smiled and nodded.

"Moreover, once you reach the summit, we will naturally arrange for rest. The spar can take place the next day or the day after, ensuring you fully recover," Zhao Dong said with a smile.

"What if one is injured?" Yan Lengsi asked. Zhao Dong replied, "If you are injured, we have potent elixirs.

We will heal you before fighting again." Zhao Zihe pursed his lips, "If you can be injured by a third-generation disciple, what face do you have left to continue sparring?" Li Muchan smiled, "That is true. Very well, we will try conquering the mountain path." "Good," Zhao Dong smiled and nodded.

Suddenly, he pursed his lips and let out a sharp cry, a sound like a crane's call, soaring straight into the clouds, clear and high, audible across the entire Lingshan. After the cry faded, the two men flashed aside, clearing a path.

Zhao Dong gestured with his hand, pointed to the side, and said, "Gentlemen, please ascend the mountain. Be careful along the way." Li Muchan and Yan Lengsi exchanged a glance and stepped onto the mountain path.

This small path was truly difficult to traverse; it was a winding goat track, utterly inconsistent with the status of a major sect. Logically, the venerable Lingshan Sect, one of the great sects of Western Zhao, similar to the Canghai Mountain of Dayuan, should have a wide path capable of accommodating several people walking abreast.

Poor transportation would lead to many inconveniences. On both sides of the path were strangely shaped stones and dense trees, perfect for hiding people.

Yan Lengsi was quite excited and quickly said, "Monk, I'll clear the path ahead!" Li Muchan smiled, "Alright." He was best suited for leading the way; as long as he closed his eyes, no one could hide. But if Little Yan wanted to lead, that was fine too; they were just third-generation disciples, their cultivation wouldn't be that high.

Yan Lengsi walked in front, with Li Muchan trailing a stretch of ten feet behind—not too far to be unable to help, yet leaving enough space for him to employ his martial arts. Being too close might hinder his movements.

Li Muchan still kept his eyes closed, his Void Eye gazing down, observing the surroundings within a three-mile radius. Almost the entire Lingshan was covered in his perception.

He saw the situation on the mountain: continuous structures, yet all nestled within the forest, blending perfectly with the dense greenery. Some disciples even lived directly in the trees.

Although both sects lived on mountains, Canghai Mountain and this place were entirely different. The Lingshan Sect possessed the true essence of nature, integrating with it.

No wonder they excelled at alchemy; they were truly extraordinary. At the summit stood a palace, ancient and simple, looking more like a Daoist temple.

The courtyard was vast, with a small platform erected, resembling an altar. Sitting on this platform was an old man with white hair and beard, his face youthful and rosy, radiating the vigor of a crane.

Hundreds of people sat below him, listening to the old man speak with focused expressions. Li Muchan shook his head.

This scene looked like a sermon. It seemed he had arrived at an inconvenient time, which explained why they rejected his challenge.

"Bang!" Yan Lengsi suddenly thrust out a punch, colliding with a long sword. The sword immediately flew away, and the person wielding it was flung back, crashing into the woods.

Yan Lengsi pouted. That person had suddenly rushed out, attempting a sneak attack, but his martial arts were too poor, making too much noise.

Who would fall for that? Yan Lengsi turned around and laughed, "Their martial arts are too poor.

Are they not afraid of disgracing the Lingshan Sect by showing this off?" Li Muchan smiled, "They will get stronger. This might be the weakest disciple; don't rush." "Alright, watch me, I'll rush straight up!" Yan Lengsi suddenly felt a surge of heroic spirit, laughed heartily, increased his pace, his speed dramatically increasing, surging forward like a gale.

As he sped up, the few people ahead were caught off guard. Some rushed out too early, others too late, all exposing themselves prematurely and being dealt with by Yan Lengsi one by one, cleanly and effortlessly.

His steps grew faster, and the goat track gradually widened, becoming much easier to traverse. Dense woods flanked the path, obscuring the surrounding scenery.

Li Muchan, with his Void Eye, faced no obstruction and could look down upon Lingshan. It was indeed a place of abundant beauty; viewing it from the treetops must be marvelous.

Unfortunately, they practiced military martial arts. Even if they possessed Qinggong (lightness skill), they prioritized speed over lightness, seeking swiftness like a galloping horse.

Yan Lengsi paid no mind to the scenery; he remained fully concentrated, wary of increasingly difficult opponents. It was then he realized the Lingshan Sect truly lived up to its reputation.

At first, he thought it easy, believing the sect's fame was undeserved. Now he understood; there were indeed masters here.

Initially, he dispatched them in one move each, but now, for every opponent, it took thirty to forty moves. Following this trend, by the time he reached the summit, he might not be able to defeat them anymore.

Li Muchan watched him gradually struggle but felt no inclination to help, observing coldly. In the time it took to drink one cup of tea, they had covered one-sixth of the path—which was quite fast.

However, the further they ascended, the more time it took. In the same amount of time, they might not cover another sixth of the path.

At this rate, without his help, it might take until noon to reach the summit. Thinking this, he shook his head, bent down, and picked up a wooden stick from the roadside, about ten feet long, similar to a staff.

He honed it with the Broken Peak Saber until it was smooth and pliable, looking presentable. Suddenly, a green shadow flashed by.

A person lunged from the side of the path, waving a long sword and thrusting fiercely at Yan Lengsi, employing vicious moves and agile footwork. Yan Lengsi possessed great strength, but his moves lacked refinement.

They were direct and straightforward, suitable for battlefield formations, but disadvantageous against martial artists; he suffered many setbacks due to the lack of finesse. Although Yan Lengsi's cultivation vastly surpassed his opponent's, due to his rough martial arts, he couldn't defeat the man immediately and was locked in a stalemate.

This person's Qinggong was excellent, his movements swift. Despite insufficient strength, he compensated with light, quick footwork and refined swordplay, matching Yan Lengsi evenly.

Yan Lengsi's brute force was rendered ineffective because the opponent was cunning, seeming familiar with this tactic, relying on precise strikes to avoid solid defense, leaving him frustrated and powerless. Just then, a staff suddenly thrust from behind him.

With a muffled thud, it struck the man squarely in the waist, sending him flying into the woods, disappearing from sight. Yan Lengsi turned to look; Li Muchan was smiling at him.

"Monk…" He hesitated for a moment. Li Muchan laughed, "If the two of us work together, we can save some time, right?" Yan Lengsi nodded, then scratched his head and laughed awkwardly a few times, "Hehe, won't this be an unfair victory for us?" "If the two of us challenge together, we should naturally fight together," Li Muchan explained.

Hearing this, Yan Lengsi considered it, found it reasonable, and nodded firmly. As a result, their speed increased dramatically.

Yan Lengsi led the front, Li Muchan covered the rear. Yan Lengsi engaged head-on, blocking and absorbing the firepower, allowing Li Muchan to deliver a decisive blow opportunistically.

Li Muchan used a staff and controlled his force. Often, just as the opponent's strength waned, he would suddenly poke, tap, strike, or knock them flying.

Although he tried not to use full force, being hit by such a blow was certainly not pleasant; it instantly dropped them, leaving them little chance to retaliate. Yan Lengsi watched, clicking his tongue in admiration, "Monk, your martial arts are incredible.

If the two of us fought, I wouldn't last a few exchanges." Li Muchan chuckled, "Before I joined the military camp, I practiced staff techniques, and later spear techniques. You practice wide-sweeping techniques; we are not on the same path.

It's hard to definitively say who is superior." "Monk, you are just trying to comfort me," Yan Lengsi shook his head. Li Muchan laughed, "This is the truth.

In one-on-one combat, you might not be as good as me, but if you are on the battlefield fighting enemies, you have the greater advantage." This statement was half true and half false. Such martial arts were indeed suitable for battlefield fighting, but only if both practitioners shared the same level of cultivation.

Since Li Muchan's cultivation was currently superior, the comparison was different. Yan Lengsi chuckled a few times, saying, "Master and the others always call me slow-witted.

I can't master subtle and delicate techniques, so I can only go out and kill enemies on the battlefield." The two chatted while simultaneously dealing with the Lingshan Sect disciples. With this coordination, their speed increased significantly.

In a short time, they reached the halfway point of the mountain. But once past the halfway point, things suddenly changed.

Instead of one person jumping out, it was now two, sometimes even three, and each one possessed slightly stronger martial arts. Although not overwhelmingly strong, their combined efforts, seemingly versed in combined attack techniques and displaying sharp coordination, possessed considerable power, causing Yan Lengsi to struggle.

Given his cultivation, these Lingshan disciples, though skilled, could not withstand his edge. However, he lacked finesse in subtle techniques, while Lingshan's martial arts were light, ethereal, and elusive.

Dealing with them made him feel increasingly strained; he was completely disadvantaged by the difference in technique. Were it not for his inherent cultivation, he would have been defeated by the Lingshan disciples with his rough fighting style.

With Li Muchan's assistance, their speed did not decrease. Li Muchan stood behind Yan Lengsi, seemingly guarding his back against sneak attacks from behind, lulling the one or three disciples fighting Yan Lengsi into a false sense of security before striking.

His eyes were sharp, and he understood the application of force. He seized the precise moment, delivering a killing blow—a precise strike that sent the opponent flying, instantly robbing them of the ability to fight again.

However, he never intended to kill; he only knocked them away, causing no lasting injury, just momentary pain that prevented them from moving for a short while. Yan Lengsi gritted his teeth and persevered, feeling utterly choked.

Facing these opponents felt like an elephant meeting a mouse; he couldn't bring his strength to bear. Whenever he moved to strike, the opponent would already slip away like the wind.

Fortunately, Li Muchan was there, striking accurately, one staff blow per opponent. Yan Lengsi was full of admiration.

"Monk, what staff technique is that?" he asked curiously. Li Muchan smiled, "This isn't a staff technique; it's a spear technique—the Flying Dragon Spear, the inherited secret art of Instructor Zhang.

It’s a shame I cannot teach it to you." "So it's an inherited secret art," Yan Lengsi displayed a look of regret. He understood the importance of ancestral secret arts; they were the foundation of a family's existence and must never be taught to outsiders, lest the entire lineage face annihilation.

Li Muchan laughed, "When you encounter a situation like this, use the simplest moves possible—the simpler, the better." "Simpler is better?" Yan Lengsi asked, confused. He assumed that when facing intricate techniques, his own moves should also become more complex; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to cope.

Li Muchan’s advice was the exact opposite. Li Muchan smiled, "Overcome complexity with simplicity; overcome their strengths with your own.

You are best suited for simple moves. Do not abandon your inherent advantages to fight against the enemy's strengths." "...Alright." Yan Lengsi hesitated slightly, then nodded slowly.

Although he didn't fully grasp it, he believed the Monk was intelligent and must understand better than himself; there was no harm in trying. As they spoke, two more Lingshan disciples suddenly leaped out.

Both wore green robes, blending with the surrounding colors, camouflaged on the forest floor and grass, invisible even upon close inspection. The two leaped out and immediately lunged at Yan Lengsi with drawn swords, the blades moving like venomous snakes.

Yan Lengsi clapped both palms together, meeting the points of the swords. The two Lingshan disciples were not foolish.

Seeing this, they realized his palm strikes were formidable and unafraid of blades, so they swiftly flicked their swords, twisting them like venomous snakes around his hands, aiming for his chest. Yan Lengsi flipped both palms outward, striking at the body of the swords again, ignoring the tips.

His moves were concise and incredibly fast, forcing the two to change their attacks. In a flash, attacks and parries exchanged, his simple moves secured the initiative everywhere, flowing smoothly.

His previous frustration vanished. He was overjoyed; fighting like this was comfortable.

Unfortunately, Li Muchan suddenly struck again with his staff, sending both men flying. Yan Lengsi hadn't finished enjoying the exchange.

Li Muchan laughed, "Let's keep going!" The two continued upward. Although the opponents' martial arts grew stronger, their speed actually increased.