Li Muzhan chuckled: "Miss Li, there is no need to practice the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art from the beginning. It is indeed arduous, but one can take a shortcut..."

"How to take a shortcut?" Li Wudi quickly inquired.

Li Muzhan said: "Only practice the fifth layer. Miss Li is here to cure an illness, not to practice martial arts. There is no need to practice the preceding layers..."

"Can one directly practice the fifth layer?" Li Wudi was doubtful.

As a martial arts master, the moment he heard Li Muzhan's words, he found it bizarre. Martial arts manuals traditionally required gradual progression, practicing the earlier stages before the later ones; if the former failed, the latter was out of the question.

It was like building a house; how could one erect the upper stories if the foundation wasn't laid? It was pure fantasy.

Li Muzhan said: "This is just a thought of mine. I will try to guide Miss Li through the cultivation method of the seventh layer of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art using my internal energy."

"Can that work..." Li Wudi scratched his head and turned to look at Wen Yinyue.

Wen Yinyue remained silent, deep in thought. After a moment, she nodded.

……………………………………………………

Fairy Leng Lian had long been famous, holding far greater prestige in the martial world than the Twin Sword Monks. Relatively speaking, Li Wudi placed more trust in Wen Yinyue.

He had not yet witnessed Li Muzhan's martial prowess, and Wen Yinyue was his senior sister.

Having made up his mind, he said in a deep voice: "Very well, then I must ask Young Hero Zhanran to try. Even if it yields no result, this old man will be eternally grateful!"

Wen Yinyue replied lightly: "Rest assured, Junior Brother never undertakes anything he isn't sure about."

"That's wonderful, wonderful." Li Wudi was overjoyed.

Li Muzhan smiled: "Then let's find a quiet room where no one can disturb us. Miss Li, you have practiced martial arts before, haven't you?"

"Yes, I have..." Li Xiaoshui nodded gently, her large eyes sparkling.

Li Muzhan continued: "Since you have practiced martial arts, it will be easier. Absolutely no one can disturb us; in this state, you will be very vulnerable. If anyone interrupts, neither of us can bear the consequences..."

"Yes, yes, rest assured! With this old man here, no one will dare disturb you!" Li Wudi thumped his chest, full of confidence.

Li Muzhan glanced around, then shook his head: "Senior Sister, you stay with Elder Li."

"Mm, I will..." Wen Yinyue nodded.

Li Wudi's face flushed: "Young Hero Zhanran, do you not trust this elder?"

Li Muzhan smiled: "Elder, please don't misunderstand. Caution is the mother of safety. I will be fine, but if Miss Li is harmed, I could never atone for it even in death!"

Li Wudi chuckled: "My daughter isn't that delicate, hehe..."

Li Muzhan's words had struck a chord. For him, his own life mattered little, but Xiaoshui could not suffer any mishap; she was more important than himself.

……………………

The four left the main hall, passed through two courtyards, and arrived at the back to find a quiet room. All four entered simultaneously—Wen Yinyue and Li Wudi sitting behind Li Muzhan and Li Xiaoshui.

Li Xiaoshui sat cross-legged on a cushion, her delicate face flushed. Li Muzhan sat behind her, his eyes slightly closed, his palms resting on her back.

Li Xiaoshui had never been close to any man other than Li Wudi since childhood. Li Muzhan sitting behind her made her feel awkward.

Li Muzhan spoke with his eyes closed: "Miss Li, please treat me as your father for now. This matter is crucial. You must relax completely, you must not have any resistance whatsoever, and you must trust that I have no intention of harming you. It will be very painful when the energy begins to circulate—you must endure it."

Li Xiaoshui nodded lightly: "Mm, I will."

"Very well, I am starting now," Li Muzhan said gravely.

His internal energy gently flowed from his palms into Li Xiaoshui's body. Her true qi surged, and though not profoundly deep, it was quite pure, clearly reflecting her innocent mind. Li Muzhan was quite satisfied; such internal energy was easiest to guide. What he feared most was internal energy that was deep but muddled and impure, requiring excessive effort.

Li Wudi stared fixedly at his daughter's face, his heart suspended mid-air, swaying back and forth. He occasionally looked at Li Muzhan's face, then back at Li Xiaoshui's.

Wen Yinyue said calmly: "Elder Li, rest assured. Zhanran never makes mistakes."

"Heh heh, very true. It is my concern that clouds my judgment." Li Wudi retracted his gaze, shaking his head with a wry smile: "Please forgive me, Miss Wen, for making you witness my lapse..."

Wen Yinyue smiled faintly: "A hero's distress over family matters, sentimentality for children—it is only human nature, nothing to laugh at."

Li Wudi sighed with a bitter smile: "Alas... This old man only has this one precious daughter, and yet her health is so poor. For such a filial and good daughter, how can Heaven be so cruel? Did I perhaps commit some sin in a past life, forcing my daughter to repay it now!"

Wen Yinyue calmly replied: "With Junior Brother here, Miss Li will surely be safe..."

Li Wudi nodded forcefully, saying with deep emotion: "As long as my daughter can be cured, this old man would gladly break into pieces to repay such a great kindness!"

Wen Yinyue shook her head: "Elder Li need not go that far."

Their voices were low, like the sound of gnats, barely audible to outsiders. Li Muzhan ignored the distractions, and Li Xiaoshui, being a martial artist herself, could also suppress extraneous thoughts.

Time flew swiftly, a quarter of an hour passing in a blink. Wisps of white vapor emerged from Li Muzhan's head, swirling above him, soon condensing into a mass of white clouds.

Li Xiaoshui's delicate body trembled, her face crimson, clearly suffering intensely. Li Wudi clenched his fists, wishing he could take her place.

"Hahahaha! Is Old Man Ge Jiu at home?" A burst of loud laughter suddenly rang out, echoing across the entire Li residence, piercing the air and carrying directly inside.

…………………………………… Li Wudi's face changed, and he exchanged a look with Wen Yinyue.

He had guaranteed Li Muzhan's safety, yet this still happened. He whispered: "Miss Wen, you remain here. I will go check!"

Wen Yinyue inclined her head slightly: "Be careful."

"Insolent clowns, they won't leave here alive!" Li Wudi sneered. As he turned to leave, he looked back at Li Xiaoshui, then shot out of the quiet room.

Wen Yinyue's eyes brightened. She drew her Phoenix Cry Sword and rested it across her knees, calmly watching the outside and listening to the commotion. Her internal energy was profound; nothing happening within the entire Li residence escaped her ears.

She heard the clashing of steel and muffled grunts; fighting had already broken out ahead. Clearly, a group of people had besieged the Li residence. Their eyes were bloodshot—the temptation of the Dragon Slaying Secret Tome was too great.

Wen Yinyue shook her head. The previous arrival had deep internal energy and was quite a master, but still far inferior to Li Wudi. Moreover, his spear technique was peerless; even if his internal energy surpassed his, he likely couldn't prevail.

A moment later, Li Wudi returned, carrying his spear. An imposing, chilling aura radiated from him, and the red tassel on his spear looked even brighter, carrying a faint, metallic scent of blood.

Wen Yinyue floated out of the room and whispered: "Many people?"

"About a dozen—all taken care of!" Li Wudi grunted.

Normally, he would simply knock them away and be done with it, too lazy to bother. But this was a critical moment; if his daughter had truly been disturbed, the consequences would be dire!

Wen Yinyue said: "Elder Li, more people will likely come. You should go back inside; leave this to me."

"...Good," Li Wudi nodded, glancing towards the room.

Just then, Li Muzhan's voice drifted out: "Elder Li, Senior Sister, please come in..."

They paused briefly before hurrying into the room. Li Xiaoshui lay slumped on the floor, her crimson gown soaked through. Li Muzhan was seated, hands forming seals, heat steaming from his body, his face somewhat pale.

"Young Hero Zhanran... Are you alright?" Li Wudi noticed Li Muzhan's fatigue.

Li Muzhan shook his head: "Miss Li needs a full day of rest."

"Yes, yes." Li Wudi nodded, stepping forward to help Li Xiaoshui up. Her large eyes blinked rapidly—her spirit was high, but her body felt limp.

"Shuier... How do you feel?" Li Wudi asked with concern.

Li Xiaoshui pouted and smiled: "Father, it's so itchy."

"Itchy? Where is it itchy?" Li Wudi asked quickly.

Li Xiaoshui said: "My back itches, like something is crawling inside. It's maddeningly itchy, but I can't move at all. What an ordeal!"

Li Wudi placed his hand on her spine: "Is it here that it itches?"

"Yes," Li Xiaoshui nodded.

Li Wudi immediately turned to him, deeply excited: "Young Hero Zhanran, this is...?"

…………………………………………………… "... After years of illness, one becomes a skilled doctor." Over these years, Li Wudi had become quite adept at medicine. Hearing Li Xiaoshui's words, he immediately understood: this sensation meant the cultivation was reaching the marrow.

Li Muzhan smiled: "Good fortune favors the virtuous. My method seems to have worked. Though I dare not claim your daughter's illness is completely rooted out, it can be suppressed..."

"Truly... truly..." Li Wudi's voice trembled, unable to speak coherently.

Li Muzhan smiled: "Elder Li, you can consider us family now; there's no need for such formality."

"Yes, yes! Whatever this young hero commands, this old man dares not disobey!"... "This old life of mine belongs to the young hero!" Li Wudi took a deep breath and performed a solemn bow with cupped fists.

Li Muzhan shook his head and laughed: "Elder Li flatters me. Saving lives is simply what those of us who leave home are meant to do. Please say no more of such things!"

"Heh heh, very good, very good..." Li Wudi beamed with joy.

He looked at Li Xiaoshui and laughed: "Shuier, you have hope of recovery! Father made the right choice this time. We will pack up when we return; we are going to Canghai Mountain..."

"That's wonderful!" Li Xiaoshui immediately nodded, hastily rising and running out, her steps still slightly unsteady.

Li Wudi didn't mind. If the disease of Withered Blood could be cured, a little stumble meant nothing. He quickly said: "Young Hero Zhanran, Miss Wen, please wait a moment!"

He turned and went out, returning quickly with a long sandalwood box, about two palms long and one palm wide—quite exquisite and small.

He handed the box directly to Li Muzhan: "Young Hero Zhanran, this is the Dragon Slaying Secret Tome!"

Li Muzhan accepted it without ceremony and smiled: "Then I shall have a look!"

He opened the box. Inside was a scroll of pale yellow silk. Li Muzhan glanced at it, shook his head, and smiled. The item looked much like an imperial edict.

Without hesitation, he reached in and took out the silk scroll. Wen Yinyue breathed a small sigh of relief; she had worried there might be mechanisms hidden inside. The Dragon Slaying Secret Tome had been obtained too easily; she felt it wasn't quite real.

Li Muzhan slowly flipped through it. The silk scroll contained over twenty pages; he finished reading it in an instant, carefully placing it back in the box, closing the lid, and returning it to Li Wudi: "Elder Li, please keep the Dragon Slaying Secret Tome."

Li Wudi stared at Li Muzhan in astonishment, but Wen Yinyue secretly smiled.