He was overjoyed; the long-standing problem of his weak internal energy was finally resolved. With this surge of neili, he now possessed the foundation required to master the martial arts manuals.

Xu Xiaorou drifted in, carrying a water bladder and bringing with her a faint, delicate fragrance.

Seeing the joy on his face, Xu Xiaorou laughed, "Junior Brother Li, dreaming of marrying a beautiful bride, are we? Looking quite content?"

Li Muzhan chuckled, "And the Lake Mistress and the others?" Xu Xiaorou tossed the water bladder to him, smiling sweetly, "The one surnamed Song has already left. The couple had urgent matters and couldn't delay. Seeing you practicing, they didn't want to disturb you and left a letter." Li Muzhan laughed, "Where did they get paper and brush?" "You can't judge by appearances; these two are quite cultured. They carried their writing implements with them," Xu Xiaorou shook her head, looking utterly unimpressed.

Li Muzhan mused, "Brother Song is indeed extraordinary." "The Lake Mistress mentioned he's a well-known figure in the North as well," Xu Xiaorou added, "They call him Song the Vajra."

Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow: "Song the Vajra?" Xu Xiaorou continued, "He possesses external mastery so complete that blades and spears cannot pierce him. After perfecting the external arts, he turned inward—a rare genius. The Lake Mistress truly feels it's a pity for him." "A pity for what?" Li Muzhan pulled out the stopper and took several long gulps.

Xu Xiaorou said, "The Lake Mistress feels that with his caliber, if he practiced a superior art, his achievements would be phenomenal; he could rank among the top-tier masters."

"Hmm, that is a shame. If he had joined our sect, he might have reached the Ninth Rank master level," Li Muzhan nodded.

Xu Xiaorou replied, "Exactly!"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "Few are as fortunate as I." Xu Xiaorou pursed her lips and giggled, "Hehe, good that you know it! You looked terrifying last night; you've finally recovered. Did the injury heal?" Li Muzhan smiled, "Not entirely. I still need the Lake Mistress to take a look."

Xu Xiaorou darted out a hand, grasping his right wrist. She pressed three fingers to his pulse, closing her eyes to observe silently—her expression solemn, radiating a chilling aura.

Li Muzhan smiled, gazing at her face. Her features weren't exquisitely carved, but when seen together, they became instantly vibrant: delicate, pretty, and quite pleasing to the eye. Her skin was fine and fair, seemingly fragile enough to break with a touch. The thin skin above her nostrils, like a cicada's wing, subtly fluttered as she breathed, and he couldn't resist the urge to reach out and touch it.

A moment later, Xu Xiaorou opened her eyes and released his wrist. She looked up, meeting his bright gaze, and startled momentarily before rolling her eyes at him: "Junior Brother Li, why are you staring like that!" Li Muzhan sheepishly withdrew his gaze and smiled, "Well?" Xu Xiaorou laughed, "Nothing serious! It seems the Ancient Qi Cultivation Art is truly miraculous!" Li Muzhan nodded, "It is..."

The Ancient Qi Cultivation Art was indeed amazing. He was considering learning all Five Formulas immediately; in the future, should any of his internal organs be injured, he could use the corresponding formula for mending—its efficacy would be extraordinary.

………………

Xu Xiaorou retrieved a plain sheet of paper from her embrace and handed it to him. "Here, this is the letter from Mr. Song."

Li Muzhan took it and opened it. The delicate, neat script came into view—clearly a woman's handwriting. The message was earnest: they were forced to leave due to urgent business and couldn't say goodbye properly; they apologized and invited him to visit Jiangshan as their guest, promising to await him, and they included their address.

Li Muzhan smiled after reading it and tucked it into his robes.

Xu Xiaorou asked, "Did he say anything significant?" Li Muzhan shook his head, "He invited me to visit the North of the River." Xu Xiaorou immediately cautioned, "The North of the River is not a place one should go lightly! The Jiangbei Sword Sect is there!"

Li Muzhan asked, "Can disciples of our Little Hermitage not go to the North of the River?" Xu Xiaorou retorted, "We can go, but you cannot! If you run into someone from the Jiangbei Sword Sect, you won't stand a chance, and you'll disgrace us!"

Li Muzhan managed a wry smile, "Senior Sister Xu, couldn't you phrase that more delicately?" Xu Xiaorou burst into laughter, "Who told you to look at people so sneakily!" ... "Alright, you've just joined and your martial arts are low, so I won't blame you. Besides, you can't leave until you reach the Sixth Rank. Once you're there, visiting the North of the River will be fine."

Li Muzhan shook his head, "Sixth Rank, alas..."

Xu Xiaorou cheered him up, "Don't worry. We originally thought since you were practicing the Ancient Qi Cultivation Art, you'd be a late bloomer, requiring ten years to reach the Sixth Rank. But now, your progress is so fast, it won't take that long!" "Let's hope so," Li Muzhan conceded.

As they chatted and laughed, Zhang Qiaoyi drifted in, her moon-white silk robe spotless. "Junior Brother Li, are you all right now?" Her expression was solicitous, her bright eyes clear.

She had heard Xu Xiaorou's laughter and knew Li Muzhan’s injury wasn't serious.

Li Muzhan smiled, "I'm fine. Has the Lake Mistress woken up?"

Zhang Qiaoyi replied, "Yes. Let's go eat outside!" The three walked out into a verdant pine forest where birds chirped incessantly. The air was fresh, tinged with a light mist.

He Ruoshui was tending a bonfire where six slightly browned, oily roe deer were roasting. Her fair, jade-like hands moved with exceptional dexterity, turning one here, then another there, with an effortless composure. Her expression was focused and serene, as if everything else had vanished, leaving only the deer before her.

Across from her, Leng Wushuang sat cross-legged on a white cushion, clad in snow-white robes, her eyes slightly lowered, her bearing as dignified and serene as a Guanyin statue.

Li Muzhan glanced over and faintly saw a shadow of Abbess Zhuzhao overlapping with Leng Wushuang; their auras while meditating were strikingly similar—solemn, sacred, and inviolable.

A gentle breeze arrived, carrying an enticing aroma. Li Muzhan’s stomach rumbled loudly. Xu Xiaorou turned and pursed her lips, laughing, "Sister He's cooking is amazing, isn't it?" Without waiting for Li Muzhan's answer, she added, "Sister He's skills are among the best in our Little Hermitage. You're in for a treat!"

Li Muzhan laughed, "What about you, Senior Sister Xu?" "Me? Not bad either!" Xu Xiaorou puffed out her chest and huffed.

Zhang Qiaoyi looked back and teased, "Xiaorou, you dare boast like that!"

"Senior Sister Zhang!" Xu Xiaorou exclaimed with charming indignation.

…………………………

The three approached. He Ruoshui looked up, fixed her gaze on Li Muzhan, saw his complexion was ruddy, and a slight smile touched her lips. "Almost ready!"

She opened a small box beside her. The palm-sized container was divided into eight tiny compartments, each holding a different colored powder. She delicately picked up a bit of powder with her fair fingers and sprinkled it over the roasting meat. Immediately, a pungent, exotic aroma filled the air, and Li Muzhan's stomach growled even louder.

Leng Wushuang opened her eyes. "Li Zhu, come here." Li Muzhan reluctantly tore his eyes from the roasting meat and walked over, sitting down on the soft cushion placed opposite her.

"Turn around," Leng Wushuang commanded.

Li Muzhan turned his back to her. He felt a pair of hands rest on his back. His senses were sharp; even through his clothing, he could feel the coolness and softness of her hands.

A chilling energy burrowed inward, reaching his spleen in an instant. Upon contact with the earthy mass of neili there, Li Muzhan’s body shuddered; the two forces collided with an explosive impact.

A thick surge of energy rushed forward. Just as the two forces were about to detonate, a surrounding aura swiftly enveloped them, wrapping them up before slowly retreating. Li Muzhan let out a long breath; if those two masses of energy had exploded, he would have suffered greatly.

"Is your injury healed?" Leng Wushuang asked coolly, her palms still pressed against his back.

Li Muzhan nodded. "I circulated my breath all night, and it actually neutralized the poison."

"Hmm, that is a bit strange," Leng Wushuang murmured.

She then released a thin stream of neili that traveled rapidly throughout his body, completing a full circuit in moments, examining every part. Li Muzhan secretly relaxed; the sarira above his head was completely hidden, undetectable by inner force probing.

Leng Wushuang whispered to herself, "It truly is a bit peculiar."

Then, she separated another stream of neili and directed it to investigate the egg-sized earthy mass. This time, the two forces did not clash but rather mingled harmoniously, becoming one. Li Muzhan felt his spirit lift; it was as if the earthy energy had increased slightly.

Leng Wushuang released another stream of neili, which merged in. The earthy mass gained a bit more substance. Li Muzhan observed internally with clarity, feeling the subtle change; although the increase in earthy energy was small, he could distinctly perceive it.

Leng Wushuang released another stream of neili, more than double the previous one, which merged into the earthy mass, causing it to grow slightly larger.

"Interesting!" Leng Wushuang remarked lightly.

"Lake Mistress, let's eat first. The heat is just right; it won't be good if it gets cold," Zhang Qiaoyi called out.

Leng Wushuang withdrew her palms. "We'll talk later. Eat first."

……………………

The bonfire had died down. All six roe deer were glistening golden-brown, highly aromatic, making Li Muzhan's mouth instantly water.

"Junior Brother Li, here." He Ruoshui handed him one deer, giving one to each of the others.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Both for me?"

He Ruoshui pursed her lips and smiled, "You didn't eat last night, you must be starving. Two should be enough, right?" Li Muzhan quickly nodded, "Enough, enough! Thank you, Senior Sister He!" He Ruoshui smiled and shook her head, retreating to stand with the other three women. Li Muzhan immediately brought the meat to his mouth. It was tender as butter, the fragrance bursting in his mouth—truly exquisite. He wished he could swallow it all in one gulp, yet he was reluctant to end the enjoyment. With every bite, he felt a conflict—eager yet cautious.

Unconsciously, both deer were completely consumed. He looked at his empty hands and sighed, "Sister He, your culinary skill is truly peerless!"

He Ruoshui wiped her hands with a white cloth and shook her head, "My cooking isn't top-tier."

"Are there better cooks?" Li Muzhan asked. He had never tasted roast meat so delicious and was filled with astonishment.

He Ruoshui smiled faintly, "There are many whose skills surpass mine in the Lake."

"At most, ten people," Xu Xiaorou retracted her handkerchief into her sleeve, patted her stomach, and sighed contentedly, "I'm completely full!"

Zhang Qiaoyi frowned, "Rourou, mind your manners!"

Xu Xiaorou stuck out her tongue briefly and quickly added, "Junior Brother Li, Senior Sister Han's cooking is excellent!"

"Senior Sister Han?" Li Muzhan inquired, his brow knitting slightly.

Xu Xiaorou laughed, "The Senior Sister Han Yuzhu that you luckily managed to defeat!"

"Her?" Li Muzhan's brow furrowed.

Xu Xiaorou smiled, "You can't judge a book by its cover. Sister Han seems cold, but her cooking is exquisite, even better than Sister He's!"

"Hard to tell..." Li Muzhan shook his head.

Xu Xiaorou explained, "Sister Han is a bit strange. She dislikes socializing; she spends all day immersed in her own world—practicing martial arts, cooking, flower arranging, playing the zither. She has a flavor of noble solitude."

Zhang Qiaoyi intervened, "That's enough, Sister Han isn't that odd. Which one of us in the Lake isn't peculiar?"

Xu Xiaorou giggled, "The three of us aren't!" Zhang Qiaoyi shot her a look and shook her head.

Li Muzhan watched the two women with a gentle smile, then glanced at He Ruoshui.

……………………

Perhaps the reason these three were sent to Baiyun City was precisely because they were relatively 'normal'; otherwise, there were Seventh and Eighth Rank disciples available for deployment. Geniuses are often oddities; that was not a big deal, but rather made things more interesting.

After eating, the group sat around chatting, not in a hurry to depart. Leng Wushuang, meanwhile, sat cross-legged with her eyes closed, seemingly already deep in meditation. The three women spoke without restraint, not bothering to lower their voices because Leng Wushuang was present.

The disciples of Xinghu Little Hermitage knew Leng Wushuang’s temperament; generally, they could act and speak freely as long as they did not violate the Lake's rules. Only on matters concerning the Lake's affairs would she offer a few sparse words. Usually, she was too lazy to speak much, leaving the disciples to their own devices. They also knew Leng Wushuang possessed profound concentration; they didn't need to whisper, as they wouldn't disturb her.

Half an hour later, Leng Wushuang suddenly opened her eyes. "Li Zhu, come and sit here."

Li Muzhan stifled his smile, rose, and walked to her side, sitting on the cushion and gazing at her. Her skin was warm, as if a soft glow flowed beneath the surface, truly like fine mutton-fat jade.

Leng Wushuang frowned. "Turn around!" This Li Zhu had daring and strong spiritual awareness; she felt an almost unmanageable pull.

Li Muzhan reluctantly turned his back. She was the sort of beauty who looked lovely at first glance but grew more captivating the longer one looked, her eyes like a cold pool one longed to dive into and explore thoroughly.

Li Muzhan felt a pair of soft hands placed on his back, and a surging inner force shot directly into him, drilling toward his spleen with frightening speed and ferocity that startled him. However, this influx of energy immediately merged with the egg-sized mass of yellow qi, integrating smoothly as if snow melted into water, rapidly transforming into yellow energy and increasing the size of the mass.

Subsequently, the surging inner force continued to pour in, and the yellow qi mass grew larger and larger. After an indeterminate amount of time, it expanded to the size of a fist. However, the larger the mass grew, the slower its expansion became. Once it reached fist-size, it ceased growing larger. Even as surging neili merged into it, it no longer increased in size but instead deepened in color. The initial pale yellow deepened, and deepened again, until it became bright yellow.

After achieving the bright yellow hue, no further change occurred. When surging energy entered, it was no longer accepted but instead flowed around his body in circulation, as if lost, turning circle after circle, never finding a place to settle. This inner force eventually flowed away from his back, retreating. Li Muzhan understood that this was clearly the Lake Mistress Leng Wushuang deliberately helping him, bolstering his neili. It was similar to the technique of guanding (), directly channeling inner force into the body to forcefully raise his power level.

The soft hands lifted. Li Muzhan opened his eyes, turned, and said, "Thank you, Lake Mistress!"

Leng Wushuang shook her head. "I can only take you this far. The rest of the work is up to you."

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. Leng Wushuang’s expression remained unchanged; injecting so much neili seemed to have no effect on her at all. Li Muzhan secretly marveled at her inscrutability, which only sharpened his resolve. He was determined to become the greatest under heaven; if he couldn't surpass the Lake Mistress, how could he claim to be number one? Why could this mass of yellow qi no longer absorb the incoming energy? This made him intensely curious.