The mingled scents of cooking, wine, and savory dishes filled the hall, overlaid by the din of conversation—a cacophony few scholars could tolerate.

Li Muzhan’s heart remained as still as water; though the outside world clamored, he was inwardly tranquil.

After slowly finishing a cup, he frowned and shook his head. “Great Hero Bai, does this mean the female disciples of Xinghu Xiaozhu are essentially preparing dowries for others?… That seems unlikely, by rights.” The middle-aged man chuckled. “Heh heh, that’s what I heard, though I can’t guarantee if it’s true or false.”

Li Muzhan inquired, “The women from Xinghu Xiaozhu who marry—do they lose their martial arts?” The middle-aged man surnamed Bai shook his head. “After marrying and focusing on their husbands and children, they never show their faces in public. Whether they still possess martial arts, truly no one knows!”

Li Muzhan toyed with the white porcelain cup, utterly perplexed, sensing the situation was far from simple.

In this era, women held a low status. Although many women in the martial arts world surpassed men—like those from the Canghai Sword Sect, the Shengxue Peak, or Xinghu Xiaozhu—it couldn't alter the general trend. If the disciples of Xinghu Xiaozhu truly faced a fate where upon marriage, their internal energy was completely surrendered to their husbands, leaving them with none, the outcome would certainly be dire. Not every man was grateful, and true affection was a rare commodity.

He shook his head and laughed dismissively.

In the time it took to exchange these words, the middle-aged man surnamed Bai gulped down two large bowls of Gaoshan Qing, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and laughed heartily. “Young Master Li, what are your profound insights?” Li Muzhan exuded a languid composure, smiling faintly. “Xinghu Xiaozhu accepts disciples under extremely strict terms. How did Young Master Lin manage to join?”

The middle-aged man surnamed Bai laughed. “Young Master Lin is a heavenly genius! In terms of innate talent, he is the foremost among the Southern Altar members. Joining Xinghu Xiaozhu is hardly strange!” “I have long heard of Young Master Lin’s great name, but regrettably, I’ve never had the chance to meet him.” Li Muzhan shook his head.

The middle-aged man surnamed Bai chuckled. “If you wish to meet Young Master Lin, it’s not difficult—just join the Southern Altar!” Li Muzhan shook his head. “With my third-rate skills, how could I possibly enter the Southern Altar!”

The middle-aged man surnamed Bai picked up the jar and refilled the large bowl, laughing. “With the blade work you displayed, Young Master Li, entering the Southern Altar is more than enough!” Li Muzhan smiled. “My blade work is still lacking; I had hoped to apprentice under a renowned master of the blade—but alas, I haven't found the door.”

The middle-aged man surnamed Bai laughed. “A master of the blade? Old Hero Sun in the city… Old Hero Zhao are both experts. Why not apprentice under them?” Li Muzhan shook his head. The middle-aged man surnamed Bai continued, laughing, “That’s true. Young Master Li, your blade work is formidable enough; perhaps you should just aim for Xinghu Xiaozhu! Their sword techniques are peerless.”

Li Muzhan sighed, offering a wry, bitter smile.

He had once resolved firmly never to enter Xinghu Xiaozhu. Canghai Mountain was rich in yin energy, attracting many beauties—it seemed like wading through a field of flowers. But if those beauties were aloof and uninterested, disinclined to pay him any mind, they wouldn't be quite so charming. Fortunately, after arriving at Canghai Mountain, he quickly became the sect leader's disciple and ascended rapidly, avoiding the scorn and slight regard of a legion of beautiful women.

His purpose in coming to Baiyun City was to get close to Lin Ping and find an opportunity to slay him. He hadn't anticipated that Lin Ping would actually enter Xinghu Xiaozhu.

…………………………………………”,…………………………………… Alas… Man proposes, Heaven disposes! He pondered deeply, his brow furrowed incessantly.

As things stood, if he intended to kill Lin Ping, his only path lay through Xinghu Xiaozhu. Once Lin Ping joined, he wouldn't be able to leave for a significant time; infiltrating Xinghu Xiaozhu for assassination would be courting death. Xinghu Xiaozhu was not the Changbai Sword Sect.

“Great Hero Bai,” Li Muzhan asked, “how does one enter Xinghu Xiaozhu?” The middle-aged man surnamed Bai looked surprised. “Oh? Young Master Li also wishes to join Xinghu Xiaozhu?” Li Muzhan offered a wry smile. “Besides Xinghu Xiaozhu, where else can one learn such exquisite blade techniques?”

“Hmm, that is true. If you seek blade techniques, Xinghu Xiaozhu is the place,” the middle-aged man surnamed Bai agreed, nodding his head before tilting it in thought. “However, entering Xinghu Xiaozhu is not easy.” Li Muzhan smiled. “How does one get in?”

The middle-aged man surnamed Bai explained, “There is a branch academy in the city called Xingyue Xiaoyuan. If you wish to join the main sect, you must go there for an assessment… Heh heh, I went there myself once.” “Oh?” Li Muzhan raised his thick eyebrows.

The middle-aged man surnamed Bai elaborated, “Anyone under eighteen is eligible. They’ll have you perform a few moves, you copy them, and then they examine your physique. It’s very simple.” “I see…” Li Muzhan nodded slowly.

The middle-aged man surnamed Bai shook his head and sighed. “The test is simple, yet very few pass. In the past decade and more, only Young Master Lin in our Baiyun City succeeded!” “Then I must give it a try,” Li Muzhan said with a smile.

The middle-aged man surnamed Bai nodded eagerly. “Yes, try it! Perhaps you really can get in!” As he spoke, he picked up the large bowl and drained it with a gulp, letting out a satisfying breath before reaching for the wine jar to refill it.

While the two were talking, the surrounding patrons had quieted down. As soon as he finished speaking, someone else chimed in—a sharp-faced, scrawny middle-aged man laughed. “Which one of us here hasn't tried?” The surrounding crowd burst into laughter. “We all tried! We all tried!” One burly fellow shook his head and sighed. “That fellow Li Ermazi was the unluckiest; he saw a pretty young girl and couldn't resist showering her with sweet talk, and as a result, his martial arts were crippled… Tsk tsk. The young ladies of Xinghu Xiaozhu are indeed beautiful, but they are flowers with thorns.”

“He brought that upon himself. Who doesn't know that people from Xinghu Xiaozhu are not to be trifled with? Even the Southern Altar, with all its power, treats them with utmost respect and dares not offend them?” the middle-aged man surnamed Bai sneered. A honest-looking middle-aged man laughed kindly. “Young Master Li, you must be careful. Failing the test is nothing, but offending one of the beauties… you’ll suffer the consequences!” “Heh heh, thank you all very much!” Li Muzhan clasped his hands and smiled.

…………………………………………, Xingyue Xiaoyuan was situated in the southwest of Baiyun City. Li Muzhan exited Yanfei Tower, turned west, and walked along the busy street through the surging crowds until he reached a large manor.

With his Void Eye, he looked down: the residence comprised four courtyards. The first was the main hall and a training ground; behind that were two smaller courtyards, and finally, a garden. It spanned nearly a hundred mu, magnificent in scale. He shook his head—this was hardly a ‘small courtyard.’

The plaque above the main gate bore four large characters: “Xingyue Xiaoyuan.” The calligraphy was elegant and spirited, composed yet ethereal. Li Muzhan recognized it instantly as the handiwork of a woman.

Dressed in a sapphire blue long robe, with the Bìshuǐ Saber belted at his waist, he stood with his hands behind his back, gazing upward, taking in the sight. A gust of wind lifted the hem of his robe, making him appear aloof and extraordinary, possessing a unique air.

The side gate on the right opened with a creak. A delicate, refined young girl emerged, petite and exquisite, her bright red attire especially striking. Her large, bright eyes blinked a few times. “Are you here for the assessment?” Li Muzhan lowered his gaze from the plaque, smiled, and nodded. “Precisely. I wish to join Xinghu Xiaozhu.”

“Mm, follow me.” The little girl in red turned and walked away.

Li Muzhan stepped onto the stone stairs and passed through the side gate, following the girl to a flower bed east of the main hall, through which they entered the central circular training ground.

The training ground was flat and spacious, paved with red earth. Beside it stood an armory rack holding only sabers and swords. In the flower beds surrounding the area, dozens of plum blossoms bloomed, emitting a faint, subtle fragrance. Two swings hung near the edge of the field, swaying gently in the breeze.

The little girl stopped and turned back. “What is your name?” “Li Zhu,” Li Muzhan replied. The little girl said, “Alright, Young Master Li, please wait a moment. I’ll go call my Senior Sister.” “Very well,” Li Muzhan nodded.

The little girl lightly tapped her toes, seeming to float upwards as if treading on a white cloud, drifting into the Moon Gate behind. Li Muzhan narrowed his eyes, praising her silently. Making Qinggong fast is not difficult; making it slow is the true challenge, requiring perfect and fluid control over one’s internal energy. Internal energy is easy to release but hard to contain—the subtleties were beyond outsiders.

Li Muzhan currently could not perform such Qinggong. He had used the Energy Dispersion Art, and all his internal energy was entirely retracted into the Sarira in his mind. Now, there wasn't a trace of inner force in his body; he was empty. When he previously used the Energy Dispersion Art, he intended for his energy to completely dissipate. After the Sarira left his Dantian, it could no longer be stored there. But unexpectedly, the moment he activated the Art, his Dantian channeled directly into his mind, merging with the Sarira in his sea of consciousness. The Sarira itself showed no change. If he reversed the Art, his energy would surge forth, recovering quickly.

………………………………………………

Since he had resolved to kill Lin Ping, he naturally needed to conceal his capabilities and feign an inability to harm him, otherwise, murdering a fellow disciple would invite justifiable execution. More importantly, he needed to mask his original identity; if his Canghai Divine Art were revealed, he could be easily recognized.

The little girl soon returned, followed by two young women—one slender and graceful, the other plump-cheeked and delicate—both possessing attractive, though not top-tier, beauty. Both exuded a gentle and soft aura. The slender girl wore a light green silk robe, her eyes bright and clear; the plump, delicate woman held a faint smile, soft as flowing water.

Li Muzhan clasped his hands. “I am Li Niu. Greetings to you both.” “Young Master Li need not be so formal.” The green-robed girl returned the gesture with a slight bow, smiling faintly. “Young Master Li wishes to join our sect, correct?” Li Muzhan nodded. “I have long heard of Xinghu Xiaozhu’s superior martial arts. I wish to learn blade techniques.”

The green-robed girl glanced at his waist and said, “Young Master Li has practiced the saber before, hasn’t he? Who was your master?” Li Muzhan shook his head with a bitter smile. “I obtained this saber by chance, along with a saber manual. I have purely been practicing on my own; I never formally apprenticed.”

“Oh?” The green-robed girl’s eyes flickered slightly, and she smiled. “I see. Joining our sect is not difficult then. Let Rou’er demonstrate a few saber moves, and you follow her learning. Then I can assess your aptitude.” “Very well,” Li Muzhan nodded.

“Rou’er,” the green-robed girl inclined her head slightly. “Understood!” the little girl replied crisply. She lightly touched her toes and darted toward the armory rack, snatching up a long saber. She twirled it into a flourish before her chest and said sweetly, “Young Master Li, watch closely! I will only perform it once!”

With that, her saber moved like a dragon and snake, every movement deliberate. Her body followed the blade, agile as a dance. Her movements were not fast, allowing for clear observation. The essence and spirit of the forms were perfectly displayed—elegant and enchanting. After two moves, she abruptly stopped, her spirit vibrant.

The green-robed girl commented, “Our sect’s martial arts are divided into nine grades. These are two forms of the first-grade saber technique, the entry-level method. Have you learned them, Young Master Li?”

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