"Snow Ginseng!" Li Yujiao exclaimed, turning around. "Senior Brother Zhanran, we have such good luck! This is Snow Ginseng!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "I don't know much about herbs, but I find its tenacious life force admirable."

Li Yujiao shook her head with a sigh. "Snow Ginseng... To refine Snow Ginseng Pills, one needs regular ginseng, but this Snow Ginseng is far superior, even better than Snow Lotus Flower. This single root must be five or six hundred years old. It doesn't even need refinement; just consuming it directly could boost internal energy."

"That powerful?" Li Muzhan asked.

Li Yujiao nodded. "Naturally!" But it requires Yin-natured internal energy; if one's energy is overly Yang, consuming it could actually be harmful."

Li Muzhan chuckled. "Then you should swallow it and see what happens."

Li Yujiao hastily shook her head. "To consume it directly would be a complete waste of a heavenly treasure! Refined into Snow Ginseng Pills, the efficacy is extraordinary—one pill could add a year or two of internal energy!"

Li Muzhan laughed. "Alright, deal with it as you see fit."

Li Yujiao turned to leave. "Senior Brother Zhanran, I’ll go back for my jade knife. Snow Ginseng cannot touch iron."

Li Muzhan said, "Why go through such trouble? Just use your hands to lift it."

Li Yujiao shook her head. "Hands won't work either; hands carry Yang energy, which would diminish its potency. It’s most fragile right after being unearthed, like a newborn infant."

Li Muzhan smiled. "By the time you make a round trip, who knows what trouble might arise. Forget it, leave it to me. What should we put it in?"

Li Yujiao looked around, then suddenly crouched down and began gathering snow, as if intending to build a snowman.

She channeled her internal energy, patting and pressing the snow with her small hands. Soon, a crystal-clear ice casket appeared, about an arm's length long and as thick as four palms stacked together.

Her internal energy was intensely Yin and cold; under her control, the white snow was condensed into solid ice, forming this exquisite and lovely casket. She even traced a few cloud patterns on it with her fingers, making it more aesthetically pleasing.

Li Yujiao clapped her small hands, examining the ice casket, and nodded in satisfaction. "Senior Brother Zhanran, if we wrap the Snow Ginseng in mud and place it here, it should be fine."

Li Muzhan chuckled. "You are quite nimble-fingered."

Li Yujiao smiled faintly. "I get bored being alone on the mountain, so when practicing martial arts gets tedious, I mold things for fun."

Li Muzhan shook his head, catching the loneliness beneath her words. A girl in her prime, yet leading such a desolate life. Nothing in this world comes without a price; her profound martial arts demanded significant sacrifice.

Li Yujiao asked, "Senior Brother Zhanran, how will you extract the Snow Ginseng?"

Li Muzhan smiled, squatted down, and slowly moved his right hand closer. He stopped half a foot above the ground, curled his five fingers slightly, and a small mound instantly rose from the earth.

Li Yujiao laughed out loud. "Such impressive finger force!"

………………………………

She was a true connoisseur. The moment she saw Li Muzhan’s action, she recognized it as internal energy penetrating the exterior.

Her eyes widened. Projecting internal energy outward wasn't difficult; control was the challenge. Once internal energy leaves the body, it’s like an untamed wild horse, exceedingly hard to govern.

Li Muzhan held his hand flat and slowly bent his fingers, one by one, like an invisible small spade digging the earth. Soon, a small pit appeared, subtly revealing the root system.

Li Yujiao offered advice from the side, cautioning him on what to avoid—never touch the fine roots, and it would be best to extract the Snow Ginseng along with its surrounding soil.

Li Muzhan nodded. First, he dug a square fissure, expanding it slowly inward. A small peak, like a miniature mountain, formed around the Snow Ginseng. As Li Muzhan dug, the peak grew ever leaner.

After nearly half an hour, Li Muzhan stopped and smiled. "It's done. Digging further might damage the roots."

Li Yujiao tilted her head in thought, then fashioned a new ice casket, twice the size of the first one, and carefully transferred the Snow Ginseng, soil and all, inside.

She let out a long breath, clapped her small hands, and smiled triumphantly. "Senior Brother Zhanran, mission accomplished! You truly are amazing!"

Internal energy piercing the exterior, yet he manipulated it with such ease and precision—subtle and profound, as if operating within his own body. She was nowhere near his level.

Li Muzhan laughed. "It’s this big; how will you carry it back?"

"I’ll just carry it," Li Yujiao replied, examining the snow within the ice casket. "No matter how large, I can manage. I have never seen such fine Snow Ginseng in my life!"

The two returned satisfied, gliding over peak after peak. As they approached Changbai Sword Peak, Li Muzhan suddenly halted.

Li Yujiao ran a short distance ahead, then turned back to look at him.

Li Muzhan said, "Junior Sister, we cannot bring this back to Changbai Sword Peak. We should find a place to hide it first, and only retrieve it when we depart."

Li Yujiao paused, then instantly understood, nodding repeatedly.

She was exceptionally intelligent and grasped the implication immediately. If they brought it back, the Changbai Sword Sect would certainly be greedy; Snow Ginseng was not mere Snow Lotus Flower, and they would never give up such a treasure willingly.

Li Yujiao quickly nodded. "Right, right, let's find a spot to conceal it."

They then found a cliff face and dug a small hollow in the middle, placing the ice casket inside and covering it up, making it untraceable.

They made a marker, exchanged a knowing smile, then ascended the cliff face and glided over several peaks back to Changbai Sword Peak, returning to their respective courtyards.

By this time, it was noon, the sun bright overhead. After lunch, she visited Li Muzhan's courtyard, and they sparred in martial arts. The afternoon passed quickly.

The next day, the betrothal ceremony began.

Li Muzhan, Wen Yinyue, and Li Yujiao spent the morning sparring in the small courtyard. Li Yujiao's Snow Flower Divine Sword was astonishingly potent, possessing a profound mystery that greatly benefited Li Muzhan.

The Vast Sea Divine Sword of the Vast Sea Sword Sect and the Snow Flower Divine Sword of Saint Snow Peak were both supreme sect-guarding sword arts, roughly equal in power. Li Yujiao had mastered the Snow Flower Divine Sword, but her proficiency was still building; its true power would only grow stronger in the future.

Even so, as she executed the forms, it was enough to dominate the martial world.

Li Muzhan countered the Snow Flower Divine Sword with the Vast Sea Divine Sword. Sword Qi crisscrossed the courtyard, suffused with a biting coldness that made the temperature drop noticeably below the outside air.

Just before noon, someone knocked at the door. A disciple in white robes drifted in. "Lady Wen, Master Zhanran, Lady Li, it is starting. The Sect Leader requests the three of you proceed to the Feixian Hall."

Li Muzhan and Li Yujiao ceased their match, changed their attire. Li Muzhan donned a dull grey monk's robe, deliberately inconspicuous. Wen Yinyue remained in her lake-green silk dress, while Li Yujiao changed into a moon-white silk dress. Both women donned veils—white silk as pure as snow, their faces subtly obscured.

The trio left the courtyard and headed west, soon arriving before the Feixian Hall.

The area around the Feixian Hall was alight with festive joy. Lanterns were hung, and red paper decorations were everywhere, dressing the surroundings in crimson. White-robed disciples bustled back and forth, all smiling.

"They look like they are celebrating their own engagement," Li Yujiao remarked dismissively, shaking her head.

Li Muzhan smiled. "The Changbai Sword Sect forming an alliance with the Penglai Pavilion is indeed cause for celebration; the disciples of both sects will gain considerable prestige."

"Utterly tedious," Li Yujiao snorted lightly.

Wen Yinyue said calmly, "Our sect will follow suit for the engagement concerning yours; it is customary."

"I would never marry!" Li Yujiao glared at her.

Wen Yinyue responded, "You will eventually become the Head of Saint Snow Peak, so naturally, you cannot marry, and neither can I. But what about the disciples of your sect and mine? Will they also remain unwed for life?"

"They choose whomever they like; I won't concern myself," Li Yujiao retorted.

Wen Yinyue shook her head. "And if they fall in love with disciples from an enemy sect? If a disciple from my sect fancies someone from the Trapped Sky Island, or a disciple from your sect likes someone from the Wang family, what then?"

Li Yujiao frowned, considered it, and shook her head.

If such a situation truly arose, it would indeed be disastrous. Under no circumstances could they be permitted to marry; the loss to the sect would be too great, absolutely unforgivable!

Li Muzhan laughed. "Future Grand Leaders, stop dwelling on such cheerless topics. Let's go in!"

The two women shot him a look and slowly moved forward, entering the Feixian Hall.

The Feixian Hall was vast, capable of holding nearly a thousand people. Though many were present, it did not feel crowded. Besides the members of the Seven Great Sects, there were also some second-tier factions.

The leaders of these factions had mostly come in person, showing sincere respect. If they had only sent their direct disciples, as the Seven Great Sects had, the Changbai Sword Sect would certainly not have been placated.

In the center, a Grand Master's chair was situated, where Sect Leader Nie sat enthroned, holding a teacup in one hand and stroking his beard with the other, smiling broadly. His gaze radiated vitality and spirit.

Before him were two rows of high-backed pearwood chairs, one row on the left and one on the right, extending from him toward the hall entrance. Each row held about a hundred chairs, presenting an imposing and magnificent spectacle.

……………………………

When the three entered, only the first three seats among the two long rows of high-backed chairs remained empty. The other two hundred seats were almost entirely filled.

Li Muzhan shook his head; it seemed they were the last to arrive, perhaps giving the impression of putting on airs.

Under the gaze of over two hundred people, the trio advanced slowly. Li Yujiao and Wen Yinyue kept their veils drawn, meeting the stares of the crowd calmly, their eyes clear and unshifting.

Li Muzhan followed behind the two women, his left hand gently moving his prayer beads, his right hand held in a single-palm salute, nodding to the assembly—the composed demeanor of a high-ranking monk.

People murmured softly, creating a buzzing sound that reached his ears as hushed whispers.

"Who are they?"

"You don't know? That's the Cold Lotus Fairy!"

"I've heard of the Cold Lotus Fairy long ago, but which one is she?"

"The tall one in the green dress. The other one is the foremost master of Saint Snow Peak—also highly remarkable!"

"And that monk?"

"Brother Li, you joke. You don't even know him?"

"Indeed, I do not."

"Double Sword Monk Zhanran! The one who defeated Master Xinjue of the Luotuo Temple!"

"Ah, it's him!"

Li Muzhan inwardly shook his head. His reputation had truly preceded him. No wonder so many people challenged famous experts—it was clearly the quickest route to fame.

When the three reached the front, Sect Leader Nie stroked his beard and chuckled, rising to his feet. "Lady Wen, Lady Li, Master Zhanran, you are quite late. You will have to forfeit three cups of wine later!"

Li Muzhan joined his palms and smiled. "We arrived late, Sect Leader Nie, please forgive us."

Sect Leader Nie waved his hand. "Just joking... Hidden Hero, you may begin."

"Yes, Master," Nie Yinxia, standing beside him, replied respectfully and stepped out. Soon, the sounds of flutes and stringed instruments drifted in from outside, and the hall instantly grew lively.

The formerly quiet hall became animated. People began whispering to one another, the buzzing sound rising again.