Master Abbess Zhuzhao snorted, "Those two are useless, only getting worse with age! ... PS: When I first took charge of Canghai Mountain, it was just me and those three. Later, you rose up and our strength greatly increased. Now that Jingren and the others are gone, it’s just a minor drain on our vitality, nothing major!"

"Master, there were only the three of you initially?" Wen Yinyue asked, astonished.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao nodded. "With your Grand Martial Ancestor backing us from behind, we had plenty of confidence. Don't let the mild manner of your Martial Aunt fool you; she kills without blinking. She hasn't descended the mountain all these years, focusing on cultivation and purging her killing intent. Back in the martial world, she had quite a fearsome title."

"What title?" Wen Yinyue inquired.

"Abbess Juehu (Absolute Lineage)," Master Abbess Zhuzhao stated.

A faint smile touched Wen Yinyue’s pale face; the title alone sounded brutally sinister, clearly belonging to no gentle soul.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao continued, "I'm just strong on the outside but weak within; I shout a lot, but when it comes to the real action, I can't bring myself to be ruthless. Your Martial Uncle is also useless; despite looking cold, he’s soft-hearted... Only your Martial Aunt never flinched when taking a life, keeping the petty villains in awe."

Her gaze drifted into the distance, the corners of her lips lifting slightly as she recalled days gone by.

"I truly didn't mean to..." Wen Yinyue shook her head.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head and chuckled, "Age grinds away all the spirit. Look at them; a few deaths and they fall ill. Truly useless!"

Wen Yinyue countered, "Martial Aunt and Martial Uncle treated Junior Brother Lu and the others like their own flesh and blood; they are simply overcome with grief."

Master Abbess Zhuzhao sighed, "Generals often fall in battle. Once you enter the martial world, you must expect to die by the sword. Did they expect to die peacefully in bed? ... Dying early or dying late, it's all the same death. Why dwell on it!"

Wen Yinyue shook her head. "If it were me who died, Master wouldn't be so casual about it."

Master Abbess Zhuzhao let out a long sigh. "That is true; how many can truly see through life and death!"

She sighed again and huffed, "Even if you are extraordinary, you are still only one person; a single pillar cannot support the edifice. If Zhanran were here, that would be something!"

Wen Yinyue responded, "With Junior Brother here, they wouldn't have been ambushed!"

Master Abbess Zhuzhao smiled. "He has become a General now; that is quite an achievement."

"Junior Brother's strategy is profound; being merely a General is nothing extraordinary," Wen Yinyue stated.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head. "Yinyue, don't underestimate the Generals in the military. The martial arts they train in are often even more formidable than those of our Canghai Sword Sect. It's an undeniable fact that military martial arts far surpass those practiced in the civilian sphere."

"Junior Brother's martial arts must have advanced greatly," Wen Yinyue mused.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao nodded. "Yes, and if my count is right, he should be returning soon. Once he becomes a General, he will have fulfilled the mission set by your Grand Martial Ancestor."

"I wonder how furious Junior Brother will be when he returns," Wen Yinyue murmured.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao instructed, "When he gets back, you two will descend the mountain together and investigate."

"Mm," Wen Yinyue agreed.

As the two were speaking, a young maiden rushed in, panting breathlessly, "Sect Leader, Eldest Senior Sister, Senior Brother Zhanran is back!"

Master Abbess Zhuzhao sprang to her feet. "Zhanran?"

"Yes, Senior Brother Zhanran has reached the base of the mountain."

The beautifully featured girl nodded eagerly.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao slowly sat back down, regaining her composure, and waved a hand. "I see."

…………

The moment Li Muzhan stepped onto the stone steps of Canghai Mountain, he sensed something amiss. The entire mountain was shrouded in an atmosphere of deep sorrow and gloom, a melancholy so thick it felt like dark clouds.

His Shè Lì had matured. At a glance, it seemed no different from his Xīn Zhū, yet it possessed other divine abilities, allowing him to perceive things normally invisible, much like the Buddha’s Heavenly Eye.

He quickly activated his Eye of the Void and saw his Master and Eldest Senior Sister in the Wuji Hall, speaking in low tones. In a small courtyard, Mei Ruolan lay on a couch, eyes closed as if asleep, with Gong Qingyun and Xiaoyuan sitting beside her, dozing lightly.

Then he scanned for his two friends, who were practicing martial arts in another small courtyard.

He let out a breath of relief. Though unsure exactly what had transpired, he proceeded upwards step by step. He began encountering the outer disciples; most paused briefly before hurrying to pay their respects.

Li Muzhan lightly nodded, his hand stroking his prayer beads as he advanced slowly. His Xīn Tōng activated, and in an instant, he understood what had happened. He was stunned.

The Five Tigers of the South Court—the five top elite male disciples—were all wiped out!

He hadn't interacted much with the Eldest Senior Brother and the others and wasn't close to them, but he was familiar with Zhao Jinsheng.

Zhao Jinsheng had a handsome appearance, was slightly garrulous, warm-hearted, and always eager to help others. Li Muzhan vividly remembered meeting him down the mountain, but now, he would never see him again!

Shock gave way to fury. A chilling murderous intent surged from the bottom of his heart, soaring like a dragon ascending to the heavens, rushing straight to his mind. His monk's robes billowed violently, and a cold air seemed to swirl around him.

Li Changfa, tall and immensely strong, had been at the Canghai Sword Sect for just over a month and was already familiar with almost everything about the sect.

He was walking down the path alongside a simple, honest youth, carrying iron buckets between them. The bright sunlight warmed his body, making him feel languidly comfortable.

Looking down the mountain, the stone steps stretched straight down, making the people below appear smaller and smaller. He recalled how he had felt dizzy and nearly tumbled down the first time he saw such a view.

It was different now. Looking down, a sense of pride and arrogance inexplicably rose within him.

He spoke in a low voice to the honest youth, "Senior Brother Gao, I heard some news; I wonder if it's true."

The honest youth smiled faintly. He had thick eyebrows and large eyes, wore a brown robe, and was as tall and strong as Li Changfa, but his demeanor exuded stability, making him seem considerably older.

"What bit of gossip have you picked up now?" Senior Brother Gao asked with a smile, shaking his head. "Junior Brother Li, you truly have a nose for trouble; you can dig up any story!"

Li Changfa grinned proudly, "Heh heh, I have many friends, so naturally, I have much news. I'm curious about everything. Our Canghai Sword Sect is truly vast!"

"Indeed," Senior Brother Gao agreed.

Li Changfa asked, "Senior Brother, the five strongest experts in our South Courtyard, known as the Five Tigers of the South Court, right?"

"Mm," Senior Brother Gao nodded. "The Five Tigers of the South Court actually ought to be six tigers, including Senior Brother Zhanran, who is a newcomer."

"Is that so? Too bad I haven't met any of them. But I heard the Five Tigers of the South Court have all perished."

He lowered his voice, afraid others might overhear.

"Hm—?" Senior Brother Gao's face changed, and he frowned. "Who told you that? Nonsense!"

"This news is almost certainly true," Li Changfa whispered. "That Senior Brother swore on it; it’s absolutely confirmed. No one would dare lie about news like this."

"Preposterous!" Senior Brother Gao snorted dismissively. "The Five Tigers of the South Court are all top experts. The last time they descended the mountain, it was with Eldest Senior Sister... If those five, plus Eldest Senior Sister, had faced Nangong Sidao, they would have had a fight on their hands!"

Li Changfa lowered his voice further, "It seems only Eldest Senior Sister and Senior Sister Mei escaped. Everyone else died. They say they encountered some mysterious master."

"Really?!" Senior Brother Gao asked, frowning.

Li Changfa nodded vigorously. "It shouldn't be wrong!"

Senior Brother Gao’s face darkened, and he fell silent.

Li Changfa said, "Will our Canghai Sword Sect retaliate violently now?"

"Uh..." Senior Brother Gao frowned, deep in thought.

The two descended another dozen steps when Senior Brother Gao shook his head. "It seems the Sect Leader will have to take action personally. Against a master like that, numbers are useless."

"What a pity; the Canghai Sword Sect has suffered a major loss of vitality this time," Li Changfa also sighed.

Senior Brother Gao nodded. "Yes, a huge loss of vitality! The Five Tigers of the South Court and the Six Sisters of the North Court were meant to be the future pillars of our Canghai Sword Sect!... The fame of the Five Tigers of the South Court was not just talk. If you haven't seen them, you can't understand how powerful they were..."

Li Changfa lamented, "It's a pity I joined the mountain so late; I wasn't born at the right time!... I wonder if the Sect Leader can defeat that person!"

"If only Senior Brother Zhanran were here..." Senior Brother Gao sighed to the heavens.

Li Changfa perked up. "How does Senior Brother Zhanran compare to Senior Brother Lu and the others?... I asked everyone about Senior Brother Zhanran, and they all become secretive but look utterly worshipful. Is he really that formidable?"

Senior Brother Gao brightened up and smiled. "Senior Brother Zhanran is very mysterious. We outer disciples know little. I have a friend who is an inner disciple; he accidentally mentioned that even the Five Tigers of the South Court combined wouldn't be Senior Brother Zhanran's match!"

"That powerful!" Li Changfa exclaimed excitedly.

Senior Brother Gao chuckled. "According to him, Senior Brother Zhanran is even more formidable than Eldest Senior Sister. He is truly the foremost expert in our Canghai Sword Sect!"

"The foremost expert!" Hearing this, Li Changfa became even more animated and quickly asked, "Why don't we ever see Senior Brother Zhanran?"

Senior Brother Gao smiled. "Senior Brother Zhanran cultivates diligently, spending most of his time in seclusion, or he descends the mountain to handle affairs. We rarely see him..."

"Senior Brother, have you met Senior Brother Zhanran?" Li Changfa asked.

Senior Brother Gao nodded proudly.

"Then what does Senior Brother Zhanran look like?" Li Changfa inquired.

"His appearance? ... It’s rather ordinary, but his bearing is gentle, possessing the demeanor of an accomplished eminent monk," Senior Brother Gao described.

Li Changfa suddenly understood. "So, Senior Brother Zhanran is an ordained monk!"

"That’s right." Senior Brother Gao nodded, then suddenly froze, rubbing his eyes as he stared down the mountain.

……………………

Li Changfa, full of curiosity, was pondering the appearance of Senior Brother Zhanran. Seeing Senior Brother Gao staring intently, he followed his gaze and saw that everyone descending the mountain stopped and bowed respectfully when they passed a certain person.

From that distance, lacking internal energy, he strained his eyes to see. This person was a monk; his tonsured head shone brilliantly in the sunlight, and his jade-colored robes billowed as if ready to take flight on the wind.

"Who is that, Senior Brother Gao?" Li Changfa tugged at Senior Brother Gao’s sleeve.

Senior Brother Gao stared blankly into the distance, murmuring, "Senior Brother Zhanran... Senior Brother Zhanran has returned!"

"Is that Senior Brother Zhanran?" Li Changfa asked quickly.

Senior Brother Gao turned to him. "Indeed, that is Senior Brother Zhanran! Let's hurry!"

The two quickened their pace, soon arriving before Li Muzhan.

As they drew near, they felt an immediate pressure, as if plunged into a surging flood. Their steps faltered, and they nearly fell, but their stable footing helped them stand firm.

"Senior Brother Zhanran!" Senior Brother Gao bowed respectfully.

Li Changfa quickly followed suit. "Senior Brother Zhanran."

He covertly sized up Li Muzhan, thinking that this mysterious Senior Brother Zhanran did indeed have an ordinary appearance, not handsome, yet captivating. The monk seemed to emit a light, enveloped in a pure aura that made it difficult to look directly at him.

Li Muzhan recovered his focus, nodded, and asked, "Junior Brother Gao is about to be promoted to the inner sect, correct?"

He restrained his internal energy, and the two men immediately felt their bodies settle, regaining control. Possessing perfect memory, he recalled the names of every disciple.

Senior Brother Gao’s face lit up, and he chuckled bashfully. "Almost there."

"Stop slacking off and enter the inner sect quickly," Li Muzhan advised with a sigh.

"Yes..." Senior Brother Gao nodded hurriedly.

Li Muzhan turned his gaze to Li Changfa. "This Junior Brother is new, I presume?"

Li Changfa quickly replied, "Senior Brother Zhanran, I joined last month. My name is Li Changfa."

"Junior Brother Li possesses immense strength and exceptional talent," Senior Brother Gao praised.

Li Muzhan lightly nodded. "If your talent is good, you must strive even harder, lest you betray Heaven's gift, and instead shoulder the vital responsibility of reviving Canghai Mountain."

"I will heed your guidance, Senior Brother!!" Li Changfa nodded firmly.

"Let's get going..." Li Muzhan nodded and floated upwards.

…………

"Senior Brother Zhanran is incredible!" Li Changfa sighed after Li Muzhan had gone some distance.

Senior Brother Gao chuckled. "Naturally. Senior Brother Zhanran has cultivated to the point of projecting internal energy as a protective shield. I almost couldn't stand firm!"

"Yes, I almost made a complete fool of myself," Li Changfa quickly agreed.

Senior Brother Gao said thoughtfully, "I wonder how high Senior Brother Zhanran's martial arts have reached. We must work desperately hard! Let's go!"

"Go!" Li Changfa declared with renewed vigor.

Li Muzhan suppressed the surging killing intent and walked slowly toward the Wuji Hall.

"Greetings, Master, Senior Sister," Li Muzhan stepped into the hall and clasped his hands in respect.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao examined him, a smile appearing on her face. "Sit down and talk. Young man, you’ve actually developed some of the mannerisms of an eminent monk, don't you think, Yinyue?"

Wen Yinyue nodded with a faint smile.

Li Muzhan sat on the cushion opposite them and smiled. "Master, how have you been lately?"

"How could I be well!" Master Abbess Zhuzhao glared at him irritably, snorting, "I don't believe you can't see that something is wrong!"

Li Muzhan said calmly, "It's about Senior Brother Lu and the others losing their lives, isn't it?"

"You already know?" Master Abbess Zhuzhao asked.

Li Muzhan nodded. "I heard the disciples discussing it privately and grasped the general situation."

"These gossips..." Master Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head and asked, "Why did you return so suddenly?"

Li Muzhan explained, "I have achieved the rank of General, and the Imperial Court granted me a General's Residence in the capital. I secretly slipped back... What exactly happened?"

"Good! You finally succeeded. Not bad, not bad!" Master Abbess Zhuzhao nodded, smiling.

"Master?" Li Muzhan stared at her.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head and sighed. "Alas..."

Wen Yinyue spoke, "Junior Brother, it is my incompetence that I failed to protect our junior brothers."

Li Muzhan frowned as he looked at her pale face, feeling tenderness in his heart, though his tone remained detached. "Sister’s injuries aren't serious, are they?"

Master Abbess Zhuzhao huffed, "How are they not serious? She nearly lost her life, and that was after taking the Creation Pill!"

She added, "You, boy, hearing of Jingren's death, haven't even blinked an eye!"

Li Muzhan smiled slightly. "Master, I am a monk. After cultivating for so long, I have gained some insight... Life and death are like traveling by carriage; you shift from one place to another. Death is the beginning of life; it's nothing to fret over."

"Good boy, I can't compare to you!" Master Abbess Zhuzhao huffed.

Li Muzhan looked at Wen Yinyue. "Senior Sister is usually cautious; how did she fall for an ambush?"

In his estimation, very few people in the world could injure Wen Yinyue, and for her to be this badly hurt meant it must have been a calculated sneak attack.

"It wasn't an ambush; that person's martial arts were truly astonishing," Wen Yinyue refuted, shaking her head.

"What exactly happened, Master?" Li Muzhan frowned.

………………

Master Abbess Zhuzhao said, "You imp, staying in the military, you must be ignorant of martial world news... A secret manual has appeared in the martial world, rumored to have been left by Hu Sanshan, the Dragon Slaying Hand, from two centuries ago. Everyone is fighting tooth and nail over it—didn't you know?"

"Hu Sanshan, the Dragon Slaying Hand?" Li Muzhan shook his head.

Though his martial arts were high, he knew very little about such historical martial arts lore.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao explained, "This Hu Sanshan was a grandmaster from two hundred years ago. His martial arts were incredibly profound; he never met his match in his life. He roamed the world with his Dragon Slaying Hand technique; no one could oppose him. It's normal that you wouldn't know."

"Is the Dragon Slaying Hand stronger than the Canghai Divine Carving?" Li Muzhan asked.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao replied, "Slightly stronger."

"I see," Li Muzhan mused, slowly. "Could there be some conspiracy involved?"

For people in the martial world, a secret manual is the greatest temptation. A single manual is enough to throw the martial world into chaos and bloodshed.

If someone harbors malicious intent, using a manual as bait to incite slaughter among various sects could easily weaken the power of the civilian martial world.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao stated, "Regardless of conspiracy or open scheme, it is highly disadvantageous if this manual falls into the hands of other sects."

Li Muzhan sighed. "The Dragon Slaying Hand... Senior Sister, what did that person look like, and what was their technique that made them so formidable?"

Wen Yinyue flashed, suddenly appearing behind Li Muzhan, and lightly patted his back.

Li Muzhan sidestepped subtly, easily evading the touch.

This step seemed effortless but was profoundly subtle, a technique learned from Su Yunyun—a supreme skill of the Yuhan Palace. He had painstakingly deduced it during his journey, and it proved remarkably effective.

Wen Yinyue stopped her move and said blandly, "He used just this one technique to kill Junior Brother Lu and the others consecutively."

"Was his movement speed fast, or were his moves quick?" Li Muzhan asked.

Wen Yinyue nodded. "Both were extremely fast, even a step faster than me."

Her face turned paler as she spoke; that single move had required her full strength to simulate the attacker's speed.

Li Muzhan flashed behind her and lightly patted her back, channeling a burst of internal energy.

He withdrew his palm and turned to Master Abbess Zhuzhao. "Master, such rapid movement skills are rare in the martial world, aren't they?"

Master Abbess Zhuzhao confirmed, "Yes, very few possess them. Both Yinyue and I have ruled out our peers; it must be an unknown master from another school, not one of the other major sects."

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment. "Master, there are four possibilities: one, an enemy of ours; two, a master from the Imperial Court; three, a master from another sect fearing Canghai Mountain’s dominance; or four, a hidden force with sinister intentions."

"Does that mean we have no leads to follow?" Master Abbess Zhuzhao asked.

Li Muzhan stated, "I will descend the mountain again to investigate. Someone dared to kill the people of Canghai Mountain—Hmph!"

Since his arrival, he had maintained an air of detached calm, but this last sentence was spoken with a stern expression, instantly chilling the hall as if a cold wind had blown in.

Master Abbess Zhuzhao said, "No rush. Let's go see the Grand Martial Ancestor first."

"Yes," Li Muzhan nodded. (To be continued)