Li Muzhan sighed, "However, the secretive methods of Tianji Valley are indeed a major threat. Even if we cannot eliminate them entirely, we must find a way to uncover their secrets and bring them under our control."

He suddenly frowned. Leng Wushuang asked, "What is it?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, a sharp pain flaring again in the region of his spleen. He managed a bitter smile. "It seems I need to resolve the poison first... Is the Lake Lord alright?"

"Mhm." Leng Wushuang nodded. Under the effects of the Huanyang Pill, the poison dissipated as rapidly as snow meeting hot water.

Li Muzhan said, "Mo Yunshan’s palm strike carried poison; we must find a way to neutralize it."

Leng Wushuang asked, "How long can you hold out?"

Li Muzhan considered it. "One or two days should be manageable."

"That's good then. I can treat your injuries tomorrow."

Li Muzhan nodded. "No rush. With the Lake Lord here, my little life is certainly not in jeopardy... Regarding the Sanxiao Hall, what are the Lake Lord’s plans?"

Leng Wushuang fell silent for a moment, then shook her head.

Li Muzhan understood her difficulty. Sanxiao Hall was not Tianji Valley; it was a behemoth. Once hostilities commenced, the entire Xinghu Xiaozhu would be plunged into slaughter.

If the two factions fought, even a victory would be a Pyrrhic one, with other neighboring factions watching eagerly, ready to swoop in and wipe out the victor.

Thus, when two major powers clashed, they would never engage in all-out war, only localized skirmishes, carefully controlling the scale to prevent escalation.

Moreover, once a conflict began, the blood feud would not end with the current generation; it would pass down through generations, stacking hatred upon hatred, eventually resulting in the annihilation of one side after several lifetimes.

For any sect, the goal was development. Appropriate levels of fighting could boost morale and strength, but excessive conflict became a grave threat that required strict management.

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed, "It’s a pity my martial arts aren't strong enough to rid our Xiaozhu of that Lin fellow!"

Leng Wushuang replied, "You won't need to handle this. I will send someone over."

Li Muzhan nodded. "Lake Lord, even you must not intervene, or the trouble will become immense... Regardless, that Lin must be removed. Lin Ping harbors such deep hatred for our Xiaozhu that he cannot be spared either."

"Mhm." Leng Wushuang nodded in agreement.

The night was deep, the moonlight brilliant. The two slowly made their way out. As they reached the mouth of the cave, Zhang Qiaoyi and the other two women were pacing anxiously, like ants on a hot pan.

Hearing the movement, the three immediately turned and looked over. Seeing them, they hurried forward.

"Lake Lord!" Zhang Qiaoyi asked with concern.

She could tell they were both injured; the fact they were walking out slowly instead of using Qinggong could only mean injury.

Her eyes swiftly swept over Li Muzhan, radiating concern.

.................................................. Xu Xiaorou rushed forward, taking Li Muzhan’s arm. "Junior Brother Li, what's wrong? Your complexion is poor... Are you hurt?"

He Ruoshui also looked over with concern.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly and asked, "Where are Brother Song and his wife?"

"They are standing guard outside," Xu Xiaorou replied, quickly scanning him up and down. "Where are you injured?"

Li Muzhan said, "It's nothing serious. I took a palm strike, but it won't kill me—just a bit of suffering!"

"Really?" Xu Xiaorou asked doubtfully.

She turned to Leng Wushuang. "Lake Lord... Are you injured too?"

Leng Wushuang replied, "I am fine... Inside was the lair of Tianji Tower. The Tower Lord, Mo Yunshan, has been slain. It was he who wounded Li Zhu."

"That wretched old man! I hope he died painfully!" Xu Xiaorou snorted hatefully.

The group continued walking out, exchanging words.

Leng Wushuang stated, "Most of Tianji Tower's forces have relocated this time. You must be wary of retaliation from the remaining members; do not let your guard down."

Xu Xiaorou pursed her lips. "Last time, it was our carelessness. They won't trick us again. Don't worry, Lake Lord, if they don't come, fine. If they do, they are just sending themselves to death!"

Leng Wushuang said coolly, "I hope you are not speaking boastfully!"

Xu Xiaorou retorted, "When have I ever spoken boastfully? Just watch, Lake Lord!"

Leng Wushuang said no more. Zhang Qiaoyi asked, "Lake Lord, are these the culprits?"

Leng Wushuang nodded. Zhang Qiaoyi smiled. "It seems Junior Brother Li’s tracking skills are truly profound!"

Li Muzhan laughed lightly. "A bit of luck, perhaps."

Leng Wushuang commented, "Li Zhu’s tracking technique shows glimpses of the divine; it truly transcends the mundane and is very useful."

After some more talk, Li Muzhan’s expression subtly changed. Leng Wushuang frowned. "It’s acting up again?"

Li Muzhan nodded with a wry smile. Leng Wushuang said, "Let's go. Find somewhere to rest. Once I stabilize my internal energy, I will treat your injuries as soon as possible."

"Lake Lord, what injury did Junior Brother Li sustain?" Zhang Qiaoyi’s face also changed.

The need for the Lake Lord to personally heal him clearly indicated the injury was severe.

Li Muzhan reassured her. "Senior Sister Zhang, it’s nothing much. Mo Yunshan practiced a poisonous palm technique; it’s just a minor inconvenience. With the Lake Lord stepping in, there will be absolutely no problem."

Zhang Qiaoyi slowly nodded. Since the Lake Lord possessed the power to bring the dead back to life, there was little to worry about.

The group left the valley. After walking a few miles, they spotted a dilapidated temple and went in to rest. Leng Wushuang seized the opportunity to regulate her breath.

Li Muzhan also sat down cross-legged, but instead of cultivating the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing, he began practicing the Ancient Qi Cultivation technique.

Wisps of Earth Qi drifted toward his spleen, rapidly absorbed, like a long-parched land meeting sweet dew. The absorption was much faster than before, with greatly increased efficiency.

Previously, when cultivating Qi, the Earth Qi would condense, and upon reaching the spleen, only a portion would remain, while the majority drifted away, meandering through the body before slowly vanishing.

He did not know the reason, as if the spleen lacked sufficient magnetic attraction to hold the Earth Qi.

The situation now was entirely different. As soon as the Earth Qi approached, it instantly plunged into the spleen without a trace of dissipation—something utterly unprecedented.

Threads of Earth Qi nourished the spleen, and the intense pain seemed to lessen slightly. His spirit lifted, and he focused more intently on his breathing; the pain grew weaker and weaker.

Unconsciously, a long time passed. When he awoke, he found the surroundings bright—it was daytime. He was still in the process of breathing, and wisps of Earth Qi continuously drilled into his spleen.

He examined himself internally. His spleen felt warm, as if wrapped in a pool of warm water, an indescribably comfortable sensation. The original, violent pain had long since vanished.

He was overjoyed. It seemed the spleen was no longer in great danger—previously, when he looked inward, a mass of black energy enveloped his spleen; now, it had completely disappeared.

The Earth Qi continued to gather, but instead of burrowing into the spleen, it began to circle around it, much like the flesh surrounding a peach pit.

Without the previous dissipation, the Earth Qi accumulated at an astonishing speed. Overnight, it had gathered to the size of an egg—a faint yellow mass of energy.

Li Muzhan mused to himself that this turn of events seemed to be a blessing in disguise. Not only had the poison been dispelled, but his cultivation had advanced significantly.

The previous Earth Qi was merely an ephemeral wisp; now it was an egg-sized mass—an incomparable difference. A thought stirred in his mind, and a wisp of Earth Qi swiftly flew out, landing in his palm.

Li Muzhan willed it again, and another surge of Earth Qi flowed into his hand, several times thicker than the first. He rejoiced inwardly; this collected Earth Qi truly obeyed his will completely.