Yan Lengsi returned one step ahead. By the time Li Muzhan arrived, everyone was on the training ground, watching him approach with smiles.

Li Muzhan met their beaming gazes with a wry smile, walked over, and bowed, "Elder Ji, Elder Li, I dare not accept such praise."

"Haha, little monk, impressive!" Elder Li clapped him hard on the shoulder and burst into laughter, "Far more skilled than we were back then!"

A purple-faced elder beside him looked at Li Muzhan with great admiration, a smile spreading across his face; "Elder Li, don't be unconvinced, the little monk is indeed far superior to us!"

Elder Li glared with his small eyes and snorted, "Do I need you to tell me!"

The purple-faced elder laughed heartily, "In my opinion, you're just jealous, aren't you? Haha—hahaha—" Everyone else roared with laughter, utterly delighted.

Li Muzhan struggled to suppress a grin; what they said was true, Elder Li's clap had not been light!

"Nonsense! No matter how skilled he is, he is still my disciple!" Elder Li's face flushed red as he grumbled angrily.

The elder from before chuckled, "You only hold the title. What martial arts have you taught him?"

Elder Li retorted, "Didn't I pass on the 'Duan Yue Saber' to him? Otherwise, how could he have succeeded so easily? Stop trying to sow discord in my master-disciple bond!"

"Hahaha..." Everyone laughed along, shaking their heads repeatedly.

The purple-faced elder guffawed, "Given the little monk's intellect, even without the 'Duan Yue Saber,' he would have found a better way. In short, Elder Li, you are miles behind!... All you know is to grab, grab, grab, charge headlong, and your brain isn't sharp, making us work like dogs back then to remember our website, Shushu.net!"

"Rubbish!" Elder Li rolled his eyes disdainfully and snorted, turning to grin at Li Muzhan, "Ignore these old fools!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Elder Li, the 'Xuan Jin Saber' is mine now, right?"

Elder Luo, who had been smiling kindly all along, finally spoke, "Mingkong, you did excellently this time, spectacularly well; you surprised everyone!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Elder Ji overpraises me."

Elder Ji laughed, "Brave and resourceful, possessing extraordinary courage, with a subtle grasp of human nature—truly a rare talent! ... Mingkong, this time's Solid Yuan Pills—give five to Young Yan, the rest are yours."

Li Muzhan immediately shook his head and said with a smile, "That cannot be! ... Elder Ji, let's do this: I'll keep one bottle, Young Yan will keep one bottle, and the remaining bottle you elders can keep."

Elder Ji smiled, "We are all old bones; these things won't be of much use to us."

"That is true," Elder Ji nodded, chuckling, "If we take more, the increase in internal energy is limited, although it can certainly strengthen the body."

"Then that settles it!" Li Muzhan smiled, "It is best for all you seniors to remain robust and healthy!"

Elder Li waved his hand, "To live long and not die is to be a rogue! ... I'm tired of lingering; living so long..." Finally, under Li Muzhan's forceful insistence, they kept one bottle, and Yan Lengsi absolutely refused to take so many, keeping only ten pills.

In the end, Li Muzhan obtained thirty Solid Yuan Pills.

Li Muzhan requested leave from Elder Ji to return to his residence in Tianlong City to rest for a few days. Elder Ji granted him ten days off.

Li Muzhan went to the Cavalry Camp to retrieve Chi Ying and galloped back to Tianlong City.

Zhao Shengli and his group were practicing vigorously on the training ground, having made a fortune again. Li Muzhan left the horse and the armor and equipment to them.

Seeing Li Muzhan return to Tianlong City, they were extremely envious, but sadly, without Li Muzhan, getting leave for themselves would be very difficult; it simply wouldn't be approved.

Li Muzhan smiled farewell to the crowd and returned to the Ming Residence in Tianlong City.

It was still early, around mid-morning, and the streets of Tianlong City were still sluggish, as if just awakening. Though prosperous, the pace of life here was slow.

When Li Muzhan arrived back at the Ming Residence, Wen Yinyue was sitting cross-legged practicing in the water pavilion in the backyard. The white gauze curtains swayed softly in the gentle breeze.

He stepped along the water corridor and entered a water pavilion, sitting down in front of Yinyue.

Wen Yinyue opened her eyes, glanced at him, and said faintly, "You're back?"

"Mm, alright." Wen Yinyue replied softly, scrutinizing Li Muzhan, "You've made some progress."

Li Muzhan smiled and explained the whole affair. Wen Yinyue frowned slightly, "Why didn't you tell me first?"

Li Muzhan said, "Senior sister, don't worry; the old masters were following closely behind; it wasn't dangerous."

"Were they really following?" Wen Yinyue seemed able to read his mind.

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded; they had followed him into Western Zhao, and followed him all the way out of Western Zhao, but they hadn't been trailing behind during the battle on the Great Grassland. That was why Li Muzhan dared to use the 'Canghai Shenzhao'; otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to reveal it, as outward projection of finger force immediately indicated non-military, civilian martial arts.

"Solid Yuan Pill..." Wen Yinyue murmured for a moment, then nodded, "I've heard Master mention it."

Li Muzhan said, "It's of little use to us martial artists, but greatly beneficial for military martial arts."

For martial artists, although the Solid Yuan Pill could increase power, the effect was generally mediocre; hard practice achieved better results. But for military martial arts, it was invaluable. Martial artists' internal energy was constantly expended and projected directly outside the body, whereas military internal energy never left the body, circulating within, consuming very little.

He paused in thought, stood up, and moved to the writing desk, starting to grind ink.

Wen Yinyue rose from the couch and tapped his wrist, "Let me do it!"

Li Muzhan smiled and let go. Wen Yinyue quickly ground the ink for him, then picked up the brush and handed it to him.

Spreading a sheet of plain paper, Li Muzhan lifted the brush and paused in contemplation for a moment, then his writing flowed like a dragon, finishing in one swift motion. He put the brush down and blew gently on the paper.

Wen Yinyue took it and scanned it, "A prescription?"

Li Muzhan smiled, "This is the formula for the Solid Yuan Pill. Have Master see if she can refine it."

"Mm," Wen Yinyue slowly nodded.

Li Muzhan pulled a porcelain bottle from his robes and smiled, "Here are these thirty Solid Yuan Pills. Senior sister, you keep ten."

"What use would I have for this stuff?" Wen Yinyue shook her head.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Take them back for Master to study, and besides, this stuff is good for the body."

"Mm," Wen Yinyue accepted it, found a porcelain bottle, and placed ten pills inside.

She returned the bottle, "When will you become a general?"

Li Muzhan shook his head with a wry smile, "I've entered the inner camp this time; I'll likely need some training. Becoming a general won't happen anytime soon."

Gagus moved, and suddenly said, "Senior sister, I want to go back for a visit."

The more Li Muzhan thought about it, the more excited he became, his face alight. He said enthusiastically, "If I sneak back, and Great-Granduncle finds out, I'll run back too."

Once the decision was made, Li Muzhan grew anxious. He quickly gave instructions to Xiao Ya, then altered his appearance significantly.

He disguised himself as a refined, worldly young master. Wen Yinyue donned a veil, her graceful figure and alluring charm only heightening curiosity about her true appearance.

The two left Tianlong City and headed southeast toward Canghai Mountain.

Employing the technique of 'Suo Di Cheng Cun' (Shrinking the Ground to an Inch), he covered a hundred meters in an instant—his speed was terrifying.

Yinyue's lightness skill was no less impressive; she drifted like clouds, appearing leisurely, yet her speed was astonishingly fast.

Li Muzhan gave up 'Suo Di Cheng Cun' and moved side-by-side with Wen Yinyue using 'Fu Guang Lue Ying' (Glancing Shadows). They traveled non-stop for three days and three nights, finally reaching Canghai Mountain.

Li Muzhan's spirit was vigorous; his body was protected by the 'Jingang Buhuai Shen Gong' (Diamond Indestructible Divine Skill), so he felt no fatigue. Wen Yinyue was the same, her body like lotus and jade, emitting a faint fragrance. After traveling for three days and three nights, she showed no sign of weariness, her expression still serene, her body immaculate, standing elegantly like a lotus flower. Li Muzhan quietly admired her.

In the early morning.

As the disciples passed by them, their feet never stopped; they would often bow and respectfully call out, "Senior Eldest Sister," "Sixth Senior Brother."

Li Muzhan had already changed back into his original appearance—a moon-white monk's robe, his forehead smooth and bright as a mirror.

Li Muzhan nodded occasionally in return. He did not linger, quickening his pace. In an instant, he arrived at the imposing and magnificent Wuji Hall.

Inside the Wuji Hall, the huge jade statue still stood solemnly. Standing beneath the statue was Master Zhuzhao, looking at the entering Li Muzhan with a charming smile.

"Master!" Li Muzhan, filled with joy, stepped forward to pay his respects.

Master Zhuzhao was as graceful as ever, clad in a jade-white monk's robe, her figure slender, her aura ethereal, appearing to be around thirty, her face radiant.

"Little fellow, how dare you return?" Master Zhuzhao stepped forward to help him up, examining him from head to toe, and pouted with a smile, "Aren't you afraid of being scolded by your Martial Uncle-Master?"

Li Muzhan laughed, "Disciple missed Master too much; I came back to see you even at the risk of punishment."

Master Zhuzhao chuckled delightedly, overjoyed.

"Sit down and talk," she patted Li Muzhan's shoulder, and the three sat on rush cushions.

After sitting down, Li Muzhan accepted the tea offered by a little girl and slowly recounted his experiences since parting, briefly and concisely, eliciting frequent praise from Master Zhuzhao.