After speaking for a while, his spirit slowly waned again. His eyelids fluttered open and shut, barely managing to stay open before closing quickly, as if his upper and lower lids possessed a powerful magnetism.

"Enough, Zhanran, rest some more." Abbess Zhuzhao waved a hand, pressing him back onto the couch, covering him with the quilt, and sighed, "It will be like this for the next two or three months."

Li Muzhan managed a slight smile, his eyes already closed.

In the past, whenever he used the Great Bright King Sutra, aside from the first time when he was weakened for over two months, subsequent uses allowed him to recover using the Contemplation of Heaven, Man, God, and Illumination Sutra.

The Contemplation of Heaven, Man, God, and Illumination Sutra was marvelous, especially adept at restoring spirit, but with Abbess Zhuzhao and Wen Yinyue both present, he was too lazy to employ it; their martial arts were sufficient for self-protection.

He wanted to truly experience what the aftereffects of the Great Bright King Sutra felt like, and understand the root cause, so that he could overcome this residual affliction. If he could master it completely, he could deploy the Great Bright King Sutra limitlessly in the future, unlocking endless benefits.

Seeing him sink into a deep slumber, Abbess Zhuzhao sighed, "He will suffer greatly. This fatigue is bone-deep; he will find everything dull and life utterly pointless."

"Master, is it that serious?" Wen Yinyue's delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Abbess Zhuzhao sighed again, "One must pay for what one gains; manna never falls from the sky. The power of the Great Bright King Sutra is immense, and the cost is equally high. Fortunately, Zhanran is exceptionally gifted; he can mitigate the influence of the Great Bright King Sutra and avoid being assimilated into a cold, emotionless Bright King."

Wen Yinyue nodded, "I’ve noticed that when Junior Brother performs the Great Bright King Sutra, he becomes terribly cold for a long time before recovering."

"Yes, that's why we don't let him use it often," Abbess Zhuzhao nodded. "If he uses it too much, he will transform completely—numb, icy, devoid of all emotions and desires."

"Junior Brother is much better now," Wen Yinyue offered.

"Indeed. He can suppress the will of the Great Bright King now, likely thanks to his Buddhist concentration practices," Abbess Zhuzhao murmured. "He has finally passed the first hurdle."

Wen Yinyue frowned, "Master, what else can the Great Bright King Sutra do?"

Abbess Zhuzhao let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head. "Besides affecting the spirit, it consumes lifespan. What is being overdrawn is not just jing, qi, and shen, but also the vital breath of life."

"...Does Junior Brother know this?" Wen Yinyue asked.

Abbess Zhuzhao nodded, "How could he not?"

"He clearly knows, yet he still uses it recklessly!" Wen Yinyue bit her lower lip, her expression one of vexation.

Abbess Zhuzhao sighed deeply, "He might have already seen through the veil of life and death, and thus doesn't care much."

Wen Yinyue gazed at Abbess Zhuzhao, her brows knitted, "Master, command Junior Brother—strictly forbid him from ever using the Great Bright King Sutra again!"

Abbess Zhuzhao pondered for a moment. "Hmm... very well. When he wakes, I will speak to him! He used it too severely this time; it has cost him five years of life, minimum!"

Wen Yinyue frowned and bit her lip, her face a picture of anger.

…………………………………………

In his haze, Li Muzhan slowly regained consciousness, sensing the carriage moving.

"You're awake?" Abbess Zhuzhao's voice was soft.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, "Master, how long have I slept?"

"A full day," Abbess Zhuzhao replied, touching his cheek. "How do you feel?"

Li Muzhan laughed heartily, "Full of vigor!"

Abbess Zhuzhao lightly slapped his shoulder. "Smooth talker! Get up, wash your face, walk around a bit, eat something, and then sleep again."

Li Muzhan agreed, and Abbess Zhuzhao slowly helped him sit up. Although she was a slight woman, possessing inner force, lifting him was nothing; she could have tossed him across the room effortlessly. But she didn't; instead, she supported him slowly. Abbess Zhuzhao understood that being yanked up by a woman, no matter who she was, would be uncomfortable for any man, even if she was Zhanran's Master.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Master, your injuries are nothing serious, right?"

"Nothing at all," Abbess Zhuzhao replied casually, glancing at him. "Zhanran, I want to give you an order. Will you obey?"

"Yes, Master’s command—how would your disciple dare to disobey!" Li Muzhan replied with a laugh.

"Good then..." Abbess Zhuzhao nodded, her smile fading slightly as she spoke solemnly, "From this moment forward, you are forbidden from using the Great Bright King Sutra!"

Li Muzhan froze for an instant, then shook his head with a wry smile, "Master, although the Great Bright King Sutra has its drawbacks, it can save my life at critical moments. To discard it entirely..."

Abbess Zhuzhao's delicate face hardened. "Hmph! If you didn't have the Great Bright King Sutra, given your cleverness, you wouldn't have gotten into such trouble in the first place!" With the Great Bright King Sutra, you become reckless!"

Li Muzhan began, "Master..."

Abbess Zhuzhao huffed, "Just like this time. Without the Great Bright King Sutra, would you have dared to storm Five Peaks Mountain? If you had retreated earlier, there would have been no danger!"

Li Muzhan could only offer a bitter smile; he hadn't expected his Master to pull rank like this. Although the Great Bright King Sutra did diminish his lifespan, his Indestructible Vajra Divine Art gave his body tremendous resilience, and his potent internal energy offered nourishment. Even with some lifespan shaved off, he would likely live longer than the average person.

"No more nonsense!" Abbess Zhuzhao’s apricot eyes widened. "Tell me, if I issue the order, will you obey?"

Li Muzhan nodded with a pained smile, "Since Master has commanded, your disciple must comply. However, Master, in moments of life and death, surely I can still use it?"

Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head firmly. "You cannot use it, even then!"

"Master..." Wen Yinyue couldn't help but murmur softly.

…………

Abbess Zhuzhao stared at Li Muzhan, unblinking. "Zhanran, from now on, you are absolutely forbidden from using the Great Bright King Sutra, even at the point of death. Do you agree?"

Li Muzhan nodded, his smile strained, "Yes."

Abbess Zhuzhao snorted, "If you have nothing to rely on, perhaps you will be more cautious. A true gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall. With your current martial arts skill, escaping should be no problem."

Li Muzhan nodded in agreement. While his skill might not be peerless, he was certainly a first-rate master. If he truly intended to flee, deploying the Lantern Burning Technique would suffice. Moreover, his intuition was astonishing, allowing him to anticipate danger and escape.

As they spoke, they slowly exited the carriage. They were beside an official road, barren on both sides with little cover. The roadside fields were covered in a thin layer of snow, on the verge of melting completely. An old coachman was carefully tending to the horses pulling the carriage, feeding them choice fodder and pouring out some water. Seeing Li Muzhan descend, he nodded with a smile but said nothing.

Abbess Zhuzhao supported him as he stepped down. Li Muzhan said with a smile, "Master, you don't need to; I can walk."

"Enough, don't pretend you're fine. Walk slowly for a few steps." Abbess Zhuzhao still held his left arm with both hands.

Li Muzhan laughed, "I am not so frail that I can't walk a few steps, Master."

"So much nonsense!" Abbess Zhuzhao huffed, sparing him a sidelong glance. "You are weak now; you must not overexert yourself, lest you leave a permanent ailment!"

Seeing her resolute expression, Li Muzhan said no more. The two walked slowly for about twenty steps, then turned back. The sunlight was bright, but the wind was harsh. A gust of northerly wind blew past, and Li Muzhan shivered involuntarily.

"Cold?" Abbess Zhuzhao felt it immediately.

Li Muzhan nodded. His inner force was abundant, his warm, vital energy flowing through his body like a vast river, yet it could not repel this chill. He should have been impervious to heat and cold, but now a mere cold breeze penetrated straight to his heart. It felt like a weakness and coldness stemming from his very bones; even with an ocean of inner force, it seemed blocked by a layer, unable to help—a very strange sensation.

"See? Now you truly understand the might of the Great Bright King Sutra!" Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head, supporting him as they walked back. "Let’s not stay in the wind any longer; let's go inside!"

They re-entered the carriage. After the brief exertion, as soon as Li Muzhan was back in the warm confines of the carriage, he broke out in a cold sweat, feeling deeply unwell.

Wen Yinyue was sitting with furrowed brows, deep in thought, her hands moving lightly in the air. Seeing them enter, she stopped and glanced at Li Muzhan, frowning. "Junior Brother, are you cold?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "Yes, it was a bit chilly outside."

Wen Yinyue looked at him, pity stirring in her heart. Her Junior Brother, who was supposed to be immune to the elements, could now be afflicted by a slight breeze. She imagined how uncomfortable he must feel.

Abbess Zhuzhao helped him lie down and covered him with the quilt. "Rest a while longer. You will be stronger after these few days pass."

……………………………………………………………………

Li Muzhan was utterly listless but couldn't bear the weakness any longer. He attempted to cultivate the Contemplation of Heaven, Man, God, and Illumination Sutra, lying down and visualizing. It took considerable effort before he finally entered the divine vision space of the Heaven, Man, God, and Illumination.

Within the divine vision space, the moonlight was dim, falling in threads and wisps. As his visualized form solidified, these threads of moonlight slowly settled upon him, bringing an immediate, pleasant warmth. It felt as if he were soaking in a hot spring. After an unknown amount of time, he woke again. The carriage was pitch black; Wen Yinyue and Abbess Zhuzhao were both gone.

He rose slowly, finding a small amount of strength returning. He supported himself along the carriage wall to descend. Before him was a small, dilapidated hut. A bonfire blazed in front of the building. The horse and the coachman were off to one side, while Abbess Zhuzhao and Wen Yinyue sat meditating on the other, the firelight illuminating their fair faces.

Hearing the movement, the two women opened their eyes. Abbess Zhuzhao quickly called out, "Zhanran, don't come down!"

Li Muzhan approached with a beaming smile. "Master, surely I am not so delicate yet!"

"That rascal loves to pretend he's fine!" Abbess Zhuzhao glared at him, then hurried back into the carriage, fetching a felt cap to place on his head. She supported him again. "It's too cold outside; be careful not to catch a chill."

Li Muzhan chuckled, "That would truly be a joke." For him, a dignified martial arts master, to catch a simple cold—it was indeed laughable.

He sat down next to Wen Yinyue, inhaling the faint, delicate fragrance. "Master, traveling this fast, when will we reach the mountain?"

"A month should be enough," Abbess Zhuzhao said as she sat down too.

Just as they were speaking, the sharp sound of galloping hooves suddenly broke the stillness of the night, growing clearer as they approached. In moments, they were right there. With several long neighs of "Hee-yee-yee," five fine steeds reared up.

The five riders were clad in tight, black uniforms, head to toe. Their expressions were indifferent. Their black warhorses seemed to merge with the night wind.

Wen Yinyue frowned slightly; the five figures were staring intently at her face.

Li Muzhan cleared his throat lightly, cupping his hands. "What business do five valiant gentlemen have here?" Dressed in a thick padded coat and wearing a felt cap, he appeared somewhat bulky, hugging himself tightly—hardly resembling a martial artist.