Li Muzhan lashed out with a punch, slamming directly into Shangguan Hong’s chest. This strike carried the essence of Leng Feng’s divine fist from long ago, piercing space itself to land its blow.

"Bang!" "Bang!" They struck each other almost simultaneously, both sent flying backward.

Li Muzhan’s punch was imbued with colossal internal energy, and Shangguan Hong’s palm strike was equally overwhelming. Both struck and were struck at the same instant.

They were thrown back two zhang each, landing precariously on the tips of tree branches, which swayed a few times before settling.

Li Muzhan coughed up another mouthful of blood, a smile on his face. Shangguan Hong also gasped and spat blood, staining the white gauze veiling her face a startling crimson.

"Tch." She tore off a strip of her pristine, snow-white inner garment—a simple piece of white cloth.

She unbound the veil and replaced it with the white strip. Li Muzhan finally saw her face.

It was a delicate, porcelain-white melon-seed face, framed by elegant eyebrows and phoenix eyes, with a straight nose. She was clearly a woman of strong will, possessing an independent spirit unswayed by others.

The word "Peerless Beauty" flashed through Li Muzhan’s mind.

Such looks were truly beyond compare. Without the gauze, she could charm every man in the world. Lan Mei’er and Zhang Jinglan were rare beauties, but compared to Shangguan Hong, they paled, losing all luster, like a ** beside a peony.

Shangguan Hong secured the white cloth and looked up, her voice faint. "Every man who sees my face must die. Little monk, am I beautiful?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Exceedingly so."

Shangguan Hong gave a faint, cold smile. "Isn't beauty what you men desire most in women? If Jinglan weren't so beautiful, would you like her?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I don't know."

"You’re honest enough!" Shangguan Hong snorted, a cold laugh following. "If Jinglan weren't so beautiful, if she became ugly, you would have fled long ago!"

Li Muzhan chuckled. "Perhaps. Appearance is certainly the first impression. To overvalue it, or to scorn it, are both extremes. Senior, you are being overly harsh."

"Hmph!" Shangguan Hong’s eyes flashed coldly. "I don't need you to lecture me!"

She sneered, "This time, Jinglan should be far away now. It’s time for you to depart!"

She vanished and suddenly materialized before Li Muzhan, her palm smashing toward his chest—instantaneous, allowing no time to react or evade.

Li Muzhan neither dodged nor blocked. As her palm grazed his chest, he unleashed a ferocious punch, displaying the Divine Fist once more.

"Bang!" "Bang!" Both were sent flying out simultaneously, exactly as before.

Shangguan Hong swayed slightly, drifting back two zhang, landing lightly on the treetop with seeming ease, unharmed. Li Muzhan’s punch, however, felt wrong as it landed; it was like striking empty air.

Yet, the palm strike to his chest, though seemingly light, felt like a heavy hammer blow, piercing him to the core.

…………

Li Muzhan spat blood again, sighing inwardly. He would need to replenish his blood later; he seemed to have come today just to take a beating.

However, with every mouthful of blood he expelled, he used the opportunity to eject the built-up internal force, preventing lasting injury to his body. Once the blood was expelled, his organs returned to normal.

His mastery over channeling internal energy was profound, allowing him this feat. Anyone else struck by such force would have vomited blood and died.

His ability to endure without serious harm came from two factors: first, the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill protected his body, its energy membrane greatly weakening the corrosive invasion of the palm force; second, his absolute control allowed him to skillfully redirect the damage.

"Brat, take another of my palms!" Shangguan Hong cried out softly. She flickered and reappeared before Li Muzhan, her jade palm shooting out, astonishingly fast, like lightning.

Li Muzhan gave a light laugh and punched, also closing the distance to Shangguan Hong.

Shangguan Hong’s left palm was already waiting. It collided with his fist while her right palm struck Li Muzhan’s chest. Li Muzhan soared backward, sliding over ten zhang.

"Crackle," branches snapped. Li Muzhan fell from the tree, the pine top shearing off a significant section. Looking utterly disheveled, he landed on the thick, soft grass, executed a clumsy roll, and managed to spring up onto another nearby pine, planting his feet on the treetop as he wiped blood from his mouth.

"Your life is quite resilient. Take this next palm!" Shangguan Hong flashed forward, her jade palm striking again.

Suddenly, Li Muzhan flickered away, appearing behind her, and drove a punch straight into her back center.

Shangguan Hong’s movement was even faster. Her punch hit empty air, like striking water, causing internal chaos.

Li Muzhan’s zhenqi circulated with impossible speed, completing a full orbit instantly, returning him to normal. He flickered away, vanishing from his spot. Shangguan Hong immediately appeared, her jade palm striking only empty space.

At that moment, Li Muzhan appeared behind her again and lightly tapped her back with his index finger, soundlessly.

Shangguan Hong uttered an "Eh," and swept her silken sleeve—a crisp pop, like a small stone dropping into a deep well. Her sleeve fluttered.

But the force of the finger strike did not abate, hitting Shangguan Hong directly. Her sleeve was already moving; there was no time to deploy another defense, so she had to take the strike head-on.

"Bang!" A dull thud echoed. Shangguan Hong drifted backward, the tree branches beneath her feet shattering one by one, as if shaved by a sharp blade, showering leaves and twigs downward.

Li Muzhan smiled and turned to leave.

Shangguan Hong staggered back a few steps, her blood churning, letting out an angry snort. She hadn't expected this little monk to be so troublesome; subduing him in one move proved exceedingly difficult.

He seemed impervious to injury. No matter how heavy the force, he would only vomit blood, but after vomiting, he looked as good as new, suffering no real harm.

This situation was truly despair-inducing, forcing one to wonder what secret arts he was holding back.

…………………………

Li Muzhan had covered several tens of zhang in a blink and was about to exit the forest. He let out a long, heaven-shaking cry while airborne. The entire Jade Dragon Mountain echoed with it.

Shangguan Hong sneered and instantly appeared behind him. "Good! Shout louder! Lure out those long-nosed Taoists from the Shangqing Temple—I'll kill them all!"

Li Muzhan let out a cold laugh. "Senior Shangguan is too arrogant. The people of the Shangqing Temple all possess supreme martial arts; they aren't so easily slain!"

"Then we shall see!" Shangguan Hong replied coldly.

Li Muzhan ran a short distance, then suddenly pointed north. "Look there! Someone is coming!"

"Save your tricks!" Shangguan Hong scoffed.

"What trick?" A sound of imposing authority boomed, and then two blue blurs flashed. Two Taoists in blue robes stood before Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan was overjoyed. "Qingxuan Daoist Priest!"

Qingxuan stood beside a middle-aged Taoist, bowing respectfully. "Master Mingkong, you’re here too!" He quickly added, "Master, this is the Mingkong Master I mentioned... Master, this is my teacher, Daoist title Fengling, who presides over the Shangqing Temple." Li Muzhan clasped his hands in a salute. "Greetings to True Man Fengling!" This True Man Fengling was dignified, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a face like polished jade. Faint purple energy seemed to hover around his features, and his eyes gleamed with intense divine light, his aura intimidating. He stood utterly still, like an unmoving mountain.

Daoist Fengling waved a hand, assessed Li Muzhan with a glance, and said sternly, "You are Mingkong?"

"This junior is Mingkong," Li Muzhan replied respectfully, feeling a chill. Standing before this man felt like facing towering peaks, immovable and radiating awe.

Daoist Fengling studied him a few more times and nodded. "Hmm, not bad."

Daoist Qingxuan spoke seriously, "Master, he is here as a guest of our Shangqing Temple... Master Mingkong is the disciple’s life-saving benefactor!" Li Muzhan inwardly sighed when he heard this. Who said honest men couldn't speak well? These few sentences had effectively backed Daoist Fengling into a corner.

Daoist Fengling nodded, his eyes flashing, purple energy swirling around his face. He looked coldly at Shangguan Hong. "Shangguan Hong, you have the gall to trespass on our Jade Dragon Mountain? Do you think the Shangqing Temple is so weak that you can bully us at will?"

Shangguan Hong chuckled, shaking her head. "Fengling, you long-nosed nuisance, you're still the same—aggressive and overbearing!"

"Get out now, or don't blame me for being impolite!" Daoist Fengling said coldly, his expressionless face the blue of his Daoist robes billowing as if he were an inflated ball.

Shangguan Hong sneered. "Fengling, you long-nosed fool, don't push things too far!"

"I will push you too far!" Daoist Fengling said coldly, raising both palms.

……………

Li Muzhan gasped inwardly. He hadn't expected Daoist Fengling to be so hot-tempered, ready to fight the moment he spoke, having deeply offended Shangguan Hong.

From their words, it was clear Shangguan Hong and Daoist Fengling knew each other. It made sense; as leaders of rival sects, they couldn't not know one another—perhaps their relationship was forged in conflict.

Shangguan Hong sneered. "Oh? Then let's spar a bit and see who is stronger after all these years!" As she spoke, she stepped back, her expression suddenly grave.

Daoist Qingxuan edged closer and whispered, "Master, have you seen Miss Zhang and the others?" Ever since arranging lodging for Zhang Jinglan and the others, he had been uneasy, constantly worried about them—whether they had quarters, how they cooked, how they ate. He secretly blamed himself for his poor planning and lack of preparation, worrying that Miss Zhang and the others might encounter danger. Any outing for them carried the risk of discovery.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "No need to worry. Jinglan has already escaped. I was here trying to stall Senior Shangguan; you all finally arrived, otherwise, my little life would have ended."

"That dangerous?" Daoist Qingxuan glanced over. Shangguan Hong and Daoist Fengling stood facing each other, eyes locked, motionless as if petrified.

Li Muzhan sighed. "This Sect Leader Shangguan possesses incredibly high skill and is ruthless. If you hadn't appeared, I’d already be reporting to the underworld!"

Daoist Qingxuan shook his head. "My Master says that if a woman encounters Senior Shangguan, it is considered a fortune; they often receive protection. But if a man runs into her, it's fraught with killing intent; they often barely escape with their lives... Senior Shangguan enjoys killing men the most."

Li Muzhan offered a wry smile. "My luck is poor; I ran into this harbinger of doom."

"Master, surviving her attack is something to be proud of," Daoist Qingxuan laughed.

"Bang!" A dull thud shook the ground slightly. Li Muzhan turned to look. Shangguan Hong and Daoist Fengling had each retreated a step.

Shangguan Hong chuckled lightly. "Fengling, you haven't improved much. You truly disappoint this seat!"

"Hmph, the feeling is mutual!" Daoist Fengling snorted, slowly raising both palms. With a sudden leap, he dove downward, resembling a fierce tiger descending a mountain or a fierce eagle seizing a rabbit.

Shangguan Hong smiled faintly and met him calmly, like drifting white clouds, crashing directly into Daoist Fengling.

"Bang!" Their four palms collided.

Shangguan Hong accelerated her descent, like a meteor plummeting to earth, while Daoist Fengling flipped in the air, regaining altitude.

After landing, Shangguan Hong pushed off the ground and soared up again, catching up to Daoist Fengling. She clapped both palms, intending to capitalize on his lack of stable footing and land a heavy blow.

"Hmph!" She immediately groaned in frustration. Daoist Fengling, still airborne, suddenly swayed and floated back a zhang, deftly avoiding her double palm strike.

With both palms striking nothing, Shangguan Hong was greatly vexed. She should have realized this fellow always held something back; he wouldn't be hit so easily. Missing this strike meant losing the advantage; once he landed, she wouldn't find such an opportunity again.

The more she thought, the more frustrated she became. Suddenly, she flickered and appeared directly in front of Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan shoved Daoist Qingxuan aside, stepped forward, and thrust a palm out fiercely, meeting Shangguan Hong’s jade palm head-on.

"Bang!" With a muffled impact, Li Muzhan flew backward, tumbling several times in the air, spurting a stream of blood before drifting gently to the ground.

Through that spurt of blood, he managed to dissipate the internal force, returning to normal.

However, despite his strong physique, these few mouthfuls of blood left him feeling somewhat weak; after all, physical robustness could not entirely replace internal energy.

Though he carried medicinal pills, most were for restoring qi and vitality, not specifically for blood replenishment.

Since he possessed the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, he was usually unafraid of physical injury. It was truly unexpected to spit blood repeatedly against such a formidable master. He made a mental note: next time, he absolutely needed to bring more blood-replenishing pills; they were vital at critical moments.

Daoist Qingxuan quickly pulled a porcelain vial from his robes, crushed a pill, and brought it to Li Muzhan's lips, gesturing for him to swallow.

Li Muzhan glanced at him, nodded, and swallowed it directly.

A clear fragrance rose from his lower abdomen and quickly flowed through his entire body. He instantly felt revitalized, filled with strength, unafraid of anyone or anything—even death seemed trivial.

He looked back at Daoist Qingxuan, who explained, "This is our temple's marvelous medicine, the Dragon-Tiger Great Elixir. It is best for replenishing both blood and qi. How is it?"

"Remarkable," Li Muzhan confirmed.

"Shangguan Hong, I never expected you to be so base as to ambush a junior!" Daoist Fengling mocked repeatedly, huffing, "Perhaps I should imitate you!"

Shangguan Hong immediately tensed, abandoning the thought of sneaking another attack on Li Muzhan. She floated back to her position opposite Daoist Fengling, sneering, "I do what I please. What business is it of yours?"

"The Heavenly Demon Sect truly has lost all face because of you!" Daoist Fengling shook his head. "And you call yourself a Grandmaster!"

Shangguan Hong smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned. "Fengling, you long-nosed fool, this little monk, though a junior, possesses considerable martial arts. Don't believe me? Watch!"

Daoist Fengling coldly stated, "Enough nonsense."

With that, he flashed forward, lunging at Shangguan Hong. Shangguan Hong no longer met him head-on; she floated and swayed, narrowly dodging his attack, and sent five fingers forward like a sword strike.

As her fingers spun, the motion was graceful and enchanting, like two lotus flowers blooming, drifting from her hand toward Daoist Fengling—a breathtaking sight.

Daoist Fengling’s expression turned solemn, watching the two palm strikes coldly.

Only when the palms reached him did he suddenly push his own palms together to meet the lotus blossoms. They collided with a muffled "Bang!" Both retreated simultaneously, their feet churning the ground, skidding back about ten zhang.

Li Muzhan and Qingxuan’s robes snapped in the wind, as if a fierce gale was blowing, caused by the clash of the two masters' energies. Li Muzhan focused intently on Daoist Fengling’s every move.

Though he hadn't heard of Daoist Fengling before, seeing Daoist Qingxuan’s swordsmanship indicated Fengling’s own prowess; anyone who could teach such a disciple must have profound martial skill. Seeing him now, evenly matched with Shangguan Hong, was truly rare.

He had personally experienced Shangguan Hong’s internal mastery; in a direct confrontation, he was no match—the gap was too wide.

"Bang!" As Daoist Fengling stopped, he immediately pushed off, charging forward again, intending to strike Shangguan Hong while her qi and blood were still unsettled.

But unexpectedly, as he reached Shangguan Hong, a jade palm was already pressing against his chest. He took the strike directly.

"Waaah!" Daoist Fengling spat a stream of blood, his spirit instantly flagging.

Shangguan Hong smiled triumphantly, then flickered and reappeared before Daoist Fengling, raising her palm to strike, aiming to finish him while he was injured.

Li Muzhan suddenly shouted, "Stay your hand!" He slowly extended his thumb, his expression grave, zhenqi hissing out, striking directly into Shangguan Hong.

Shangguan Hong merely smiled and swept her sleeve dismissively.

She secretly thought, though this finger force was remarkable, the little monk’s cultivation was too shallow. It was like possessing a peerless sword technique but having an incompetent swordsman; the power would be lacking.

She sighed inwardly, thinking that if such a finger technique belonged to the Heavenly Demon Sect, coupled with their internal energy, they could dominate the martial world or at least suppress the Shangqing Temple.

The thought vanished as quickly as it came. Just as she was about to deliver the final palm strike to Daoist Fengling, she gasped in surprise and was thrown backward, tumbling in mid-air.

While airborne, she turned to look at Li Muzhan. He was leaning on Daoist Qingxuan's shoulder, smiling faintly, appearing utterly weak and spent.

This single finger strike had required him to pour out his entire accumulated internal energy—a move that would either leave him utterly depleted, incapable of further attack, or succeed in defeating Shangguan Hong.

Shangguan Hong spat a jet of blood mid-air. With a "Bang!" she landed, staggering several steps before finding her footing.

Li Muzhan’s finger force had completely invaded her body, exploding like gunpowder, churning her blood and causing her internal organs to shift, resulting in a serious injury.