Li Muzhan was usually placid and reserved, gentle and composed, lacking aggression, possessing a somewhat passive nature, primarily because he was indifferent to worldly affairs; aside from family and friends, nothing could stir his emotions, and he usually couldn't be bothered even if cursed at.

Su Yunyun was the exception; upon seeing her cool and detached demeanor, like that of an immortal fairy, he couldn't help but want to tease her, to tempt the celestial being into worldly thoughts—a flaw inherent in men.

Faced with his mockery, Su Yunyun’s cerulean eyes shimmered, like ripples on water, as she merely gazed at him, utterly unfazed.

Her expression remained still, but her heart was far from calm. She had thought that with her subtle maneuvering, surrounded by the warlords of Eastern Chu, he stood an almost certain chance of death, or at the very least, would suffer severe internal injuries even if he survived.

Strike while the iron is hot; attacking him now would guarantee success.

Yet here he stood, brimming with vitality and spirit, utterly unharmed internally. The situation had slipped entirely from her control.

Since that was the case, she could only resort to force. Thankfully, she had made thorough preparations, summoning the experts from the Yu Han Palace.

She sighed inwardly, a flicker of regret crossing her face, then waved a hand: "Granny Wang, slaughter them all without mercy!"

"Yes, Young Palace Mistress!" an austere old woman nodded grimly.

As the words fell, a white blur flashed, and she was instantly before Li Muzhan, staring at him with grim intensity, while the other seven crone-like figures moved, surrounding Li Muzhan.

The eight positioned themselves according to the Eight Trigrams formation, slowly drawing their long swords, from which a chilling, biting cold emanated.

……………………………………

Li Muzhan glanced over them. This old hag was clad in white, her hair pinned up high. Her face showed few wrinkles, making her appear around forty, but her eyebrows were frosted with a white rime, radiating the gloom of old age; it was clear she was well past fifty.

A profound coldness, chilling to the bone, clung to her features.

Li Muzhan spared her a quick look, then turned with a smile: "Mistress Su, what is the meaning of this? Given our acquaintance, why resort to killing and fighting? We can discuss anything calmly."

Su Yunyun replied coolly, "Can your death be subject to discussion?"

Li Muzhan rubbed his nose: "Why must you take my life?"

"Don't feign ignorance!" Su Yunyun gave a faint sneer.

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed: "Alas... Is being soft-hearted a crime? I refrained from causing you any harm back then, not disrespecting our former ties. Does Mistress Su show no regard for that goodwill?"

Su Yunyun gazed deeply at him, then waved her hand: "Granny Wang, spare his life!"

"Yes!" the white-robed old woman nodded, then immediately shouted, "Set the array!"

"A single sword illuminates ten thousand cold mountains!" The group shouted in unison, and immediately, sword light surged forth, filling the space they enclosed with a snow-white radiance, like a pool of frigid water.

Li Muzhan and Chi Ying were instantly engulfed by the brilliant white light, their forms hidden.

"Ding, Ding-ding-ding-ding..." Clear, crisp sounds rang out continuously, faster and more urgent than rain drumming on banana leaves.

A silver torrent spiraled around Li Muzhan, like a protective silver dragon, shattering every invading shard of sword light; not a single one got through.

Chi Ying lightly scraped the ground, snorting, casting a disdainful sidelong glance at the surroundings.

…………………………

Su Yunyun tightly pressed her red lips, her eyes flashing.

The round-faced middle-aged woman whispered, "Miss, this Monk Mingkong truly has skill. Granny Wang and the others...?"

Another woman with an oval face laughed, "Senior Sister Li, rest assured. The Eight Extremes Sword Array has never failed!"

The round-faced woman started to speak, then stopped, shaking her head silently.

Su Yunyun did not turn around, maintaining her focus on Li Muzhan, her brow gradually knitting with gravity.

Li Muzhan swung his blade slowly and deliberately, a faint smile still lingering on his lips... His long saber employed clumsiness to conquer skill, and slowness to overcome speed, making it impossible for the eight old hags' lightning-fast sword light to breach his defense.

He had mastered the essence of the Duan Yue Saber Technique, giving him astonishing defensive power. Though the eight old hags' sword arts struck with formidable force, like thunder and lightning, Li Muzhan remained unmoving as a mountain.

The core of the Duan Yue Saber Technique lay in its mental cultivation method, rendering a numerical advantage useless against it. Li Muzhan’s insight into this essence stemmed from the Ruthless Sleeve.

His spirit was exceptionally strong, his observation minute, allowing for exquisite internal visualization and minute control over his internal energy, far surpassing common practitioners. This mastery allowed him to bring the Ruthless Sleeve to perfection, transcending its original limits.

His command over energy manipulation was absolute; the essence of the Duan Yue Saber Technique resided entirely in this control. For anyone else, lacking his internal sight and precise energy manipulation, achieving this level would take at least two or three decades.

The first stance of the Duan Yue Saber Technique was a single, fiercely unyielding killing move, transforming internal energy into supreme Yang, invincible to all things; one strike could cleave even a mountain.

The second stance was purely defensive. Its mental cultivation method was extraordinary, internal energy flowing between hardness and softness, like a rotating Yin-Yang fish, ceaselessly cycling. It turned yielding when met with rigidity, and became resilient when met with softness, constantly shifting between the two states to maintain equilibrium and absorb the opponent's force, converting it into his own.

The subtlety of this single stance's mental method alone surpassed many top-tier cultivation techniques. The Duan Yue Saber's fame in Western Zhao was no accident.

Under this mental framework, even facing numerous encirclements, as long as his movements were swift enough, he never needed to worry about insufficient internal energy; he could always hold his ground.

Another person facing the frenzied storm of the Eight Crone’s attacks might have been overwhelmed, as their sword strikes were too fast. But Li Muzhan possessed immense strength and incredible hand speed, which perfectly countered them.

Thus, he held the defense, remaining rooted like a mountain against their furious assault, appearing instead utterly composed and at ease.

He even had the leisure to turn and look at Su Yunyun.

Su Yunyun’s face was veiled in white gauze, revealing only eyes as vast as an ocean. As they met his smiling gaze, a slight clenching of her red lips was faintly visible.

"Miss, shall we join the fray?" the round-faced middle-aged woman suggested.

Su Yunyun shook her head: "Aunt Li, forget it. I shall handle this myself!"

The two women nodded silently; it was best if the Young Mistress took action personally.

…………

She extended her hand, and the round-faced middle-aged woman presented a sword. Its sheath was wrapped in green sharkskin, ancient and weathered, unremarkable at first glance, yet growing more noble and solemn the longer one looked.

The scabbard bore no further adornment. The hilt was two inches longer than a standard sword hilt. She reached out her right hand, resting it on the hilt, and with a soft hum, drew the blade.

Instantly, a clear light flashed. The sword in her hand was like a pool of autumn water, shimmering gently, as if alive and imbued with sentience, struggling earnestly to break free from her jade-like hand and surge out.

Su Yunyun held the blade against her chest, her left hand forming a sword seal, staring motionless at the arena.

With the sword in hand, Su Yunyun’s entire aura underwent a transformation. The fragile, delicate woman transformed into a vast, snow-covered mountain permeated with biting cold.

Her presence became mountain-like, profound and immense, radiating heavy majesty and pressure.

Li Muzhan’s senses were sharp. Though the Eight Crone’s sword techniques were mysterious and their pressure enormous, it was far inferior to Su Yunyun’s. The Su Yunyun standing now was terrifyingly potent.

Every hair on his body shot up instantly, a tidal surge of alarm bells ringing in his mind, compelling him to flee instantly.

Trusting his instincts, he decided instantly. He employed the Lamp-Lighting Technique, his internal energy burning fiercely, his body swelling as if about to float.

He suddenly threw his head back and let out a furious roar.

The roar sounded like thunder, exploding deafeningly in everyone's ears, causing their vision to swim. Under the turbulence of their surging blood and qi, their movements momentarily stalled.

Chi Ying let out a long, dragon-like cry and shot out as a streak of red light. It had been waiting for this moment, its shriek laced with elation.

Li Muzhan poured his internal energy into it; the roar did not affect the beast.

"Ding-ding-ding-ding..." Amidst the sharp clashes, Li Muzhan unleashed dozens of strikes in one breath while mounted. The blade light transformed into a vast expanse of cold brilliance, sweeping him forward.

The Eight Crone possessed deep internal energy and exquisite moves, but they had not anticipated this maneuver from Li Muzhan. The sudden roar striking them caused their blood energy to pause—this fleeting instant allowed Li Muzhan’s blade to arrive.

As the Duan Yue Saber descended, their previous strength was spent and new strength had yet to generate, making them unable to withstand its edge. The pervasive cold light suddenly retracted, failing to block Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan, hunched over Chi Ying's back, the man and horse charging straight toward the sword-wielding, motionless Su Yunyun.

Returning to the Great Expanse was the only path; he had to charge straight through. Li Muzhan’s majestic internal energy burned intensely, his jade-colored monk's robes billowing wildly like a mountain peak, the very air around him seeming to warp.

Su Yunyun’s sword strike would be extraordinary; he had never felt such a potent sense of foreboding. He knew he was no match for her, but regrettably, he didn't have time to circulate the Great Bright King Scripture.

The best recourse was to evade the sharp edge temporarily and seek an opportunity to unleash the Great Bright King Scripture. Unfortunately, as her sword form began to materialize, she allowed him no room to retreat; only forward remained.

Su Yunyun pointed the tip of her sword at Li Muzhan. Her eyes, deep as the ocean, were still as water. Her surrounding aura grew increasingly solidified, almost tangible, pushing the two middle-aged women aside.

If he closed his eyes, Li Muzhan would imagine a snow-capped peak standing before him.

Li Muzhan regretted his earlier overconfidence. He hadn't anticipated Su Yunyun was hiding such depth. When he had subdued her initially, although he sensed her peculiar mental cultivation and profound internal energy, he hadn't believed her stronger than him, and he had seized the initiative.

…………

"Zheng..." A dragon-like, clear cry sounded. Li Muzhan felt a blinding flash, and vast snow-light filled his vision, erasing everything else.

He frowned and swung his saber, a torrent of blade light meeting the incoming onslaught.

"Ding-ding-ding-ding..." Amidst countless sounds of clashing metal, Chi Ying pierced through the snow-light and shot into the canyon, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

The sword light vanished. Su Yunyun staggered back two steps, leaning on her sword for support, her hand clutching the area near her right shoulder socket.

A gust of wind blew, tearing the white veil on Su Yunyun's face into tatters, sending them floating into the distance, revealing a pale (yet exquisitely beautiful face.

She stared into the canyon, watching Li Muzhan and Chi Ying disappear.

"Miss, shall we pursue?" the round-faced woman hurried forward to support her.

Su Yunyun pushed her hand away and shook her head: "His life is short; there’s no need to chase..."

Her voice was hoarse, unlike her usual tone. The round-faced woman looked at her worriedly: "Miss, are you...?"

"It's nothing," Su Yunyun shook her head, rapidly tapping several points on her right shoulder with her left hand. Then, she took a deep breath and slowly managed to stand firm, painstakingly sheathing her sword.

The white fabric on her right shoulder was a patch of vibrant, eye-catching crimson.

The round-faced woman kept her arm outstretched, ready to catch the Young Mistress should she collapse.

Su Yunyun gazed at the canyon, saying nothing.

The round-faced woman sighed, "Miss, for someone of his age to possess such martial prowess, to kill him just like that... what a pity..."

The other woman nodded: "Indeed. If he could have submitted to us, he would have been a great asset."

The eight old women walked slowly forward, standing behind Su Yunyun. Their faces were masks of cold frost; having been routed while attacking together, they felt utterly disgraced. (To be continued)

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