Li Muzhan shook his head and let out a soft laugh. "Alas..."

He had indeed faced death just moments ago. Had Leng Wushuang not arrived, his spirit would have departed his body, bidding farewell to this world. He was deeply grateful to her.

"How does it feel?" Leng Wushuang looked down into his eyes. Her irises were sharply defined—clear and deep, like a pool of autumn water, transparent yet concealing fathomless depths.

Li Muzhan nodded, smiling. "This world is truly beautiful!"

Leng Wushuang frowned. "You! If you can't win, you should just run. Why force yourself?"

Li Muzhan chuckled. "I wanted to run, but these fellows were too fierce. By the time I thought of retreating, it was too late. I could only fight head-on, taking one down for every one I lost!"

Leng Wushuang shook her head. "I thought you were a seasoned and steady person!"

Li Muzhan laughed. "Lake Master, during this trial, I finally touched the shadow of Blade Intent. You should congratulate me!"

"Oh?" Leng Wushuang raised an eyebrow, her clear eyes flashing. Her gaze momentarily stirred something within him, and she smiled faintly. "That is indeed worthy of celebration!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "It was right before my death, when I suddenly let go of everything, that I felt the Blade Intent... Truly, putting down the butcher's knife leads to immediate enlightenment!"

"That is the feeling!" Leng Wushuang nodded. "Chunyu Yueyun also comprehended Blade Intent between life and death."

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile. "Lake Master, you didn't intentionally put me through a brush with death, did you?"

Leng Wushuang glanced at him and nodded. "Correct. I did it intentionally."

"Sigh..." Li Muzhan shook his head, a bitter smile on his face, at a loss for words.

Leng Wushuang continued, "The precipice between life and death is what best unlocks human potential and most easily leads to the comprehension of Blade Intent. If you still could not grasp it, you would have to abandon the Duanyue Blade Technique."

"Is that so..." Li Muzhan nodded, acknowledging the logic, then immediately shook his head. "However, not everyone can endure that transition between life and death."

Leng Wushuang said calmly, "Your spirit is immensely powerful; you can bear it."

Li Muzhan sighed, shaking his head, and fell silent.

Leng Wushuang instructed, "You have lost a great deal of blood and will need time to recover. Go back and rest well; stop thinking about the Duanyue Blade Technique for now."

Li Muzhan agreed, slowly closing his eyes. He felt exhausted. Having gone through the cycle of life and death had drained his spirit severely; he could no longer sustain himself.

Watching him close his eyes and drift off to sleep, Leng Wushuang's gaze flickered.

Having faced death, he remained this calm, showing not a trace of ecstatic joy. He was truly an anomaly. For anyone, no matter how composed, the shift from death back to life should trigger wild elation; the feeling of rebirth is profoundly impactful.

Yet, Li Muzhan remained as placid as ever. Such tenacious spirit was rare, not inferior to her own. She admitted that if the situation were reversed, she wouldn't possess such composure. She felt a measure of admiration.

................................

Li Muzhan awoke to the night. He suddenly sensed something amiss and sat up quickly. "Awake?" Leng Wushuang asked softly.

A faint moonlight filtered through the window, casting the room into soft shadow, yet it could not obscure Li Muzhan's sight. Leng Wushuang's slender figure was clearly visible.

"Lake Master, you should rest," Li Muzhan said.

Leng Wushuang replied lightly, "I'm fine. Are you feeling better?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "I'm much better now. How long did I sleep?"

"Two days and one night," Leng Wushuang replied.

Li Muzhan stretched languidly and laughed. "No wonder I feel so refreshed."

He moved to get out of bed, but Leng Wushuang stopped him with a hand. "The wounds have just scabbed over; moving too much is ill-advised."

Li Muzhan laughed. "What are a few minor wounds? Lake Master, shouldn't we return quickly?"

"No hurry," Leng Wushuang said.

Li Muzhan paused, then immediately understood, and laughed. "Is the Lake Master planning to take action personally?"

Leng Wushuang offered a faint smile. "I already dealt with them yesterday evening."

Li Muzhan's eyes widened, and he laughed, asking, "The Lake Master actually wiped them all out?"

Leng Wushuang nodded. "Mmm."

"Didn't the Lake Master intend to leave a few alive to keep everyone on edge?" Li Muzhan asked.

Leng Wushuang stated, "They had already lost their sanity and were intent on attacking Star Lake."

Li Muzhan suddenly realized. If they had attacked Star Lake, it would have been pure self-destruction. Rather than waiting for that, it was better to strike first.

Leng Wushuang glanced at him. Talking with him was comfortable; he grasped points immediately, needing no lengthy explanation. It felt as if their thoughts were telepathically linked.

"Lake Master, surely there were no stragglers left behind?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Leng Wushuang shook her head. "There shouldn't be, unless some were hiding elsewhere, in which case there's nothing I can do."

Li Muzhan remarked, "The Jintian Tower cannot be underestimated; they truly have quite a few masters!"

Leng Wushuang nodded. "Their foundation is deep, but regrettably, the path they chose limits their development."

Li Muzhan shook his head and laughed. "When the straightforward path is sealed off, the only way to develop is by taking such routes. They can only blame their bad luck for running into us!"

"Mmm, that's true," Leng Wushuang did not disagree.

In the current martial world, where grand sects flourished, it was exceptionally difficult for a minor faction to grow unless an unparalleled master emerged who could dominate all rivals, forcing acknowledgment. Without such martial might, the established great sects would erect countless barriers to prevent any rise.

After a few more pleasantries, Li Muzhan insisted on leaving immediately to return to Star Lake Lodge. He claimed that after experiencing death, he felt as if he hadn't seen Star Lake in ages.

Leng Wushuang agreed. The two set off that very night, using lightness skills to travel under the starlight and moonlight. Li Muzhan noticed a small, fist-sized mass of yellow energy lingering near his Spleen meridian.

................................ Li Muzhan knew this was the internal energy injected by the Lake Master, Leng Wushuang. He smiled wryly. This mass of inner power could not regenerate naturally; using it depleted the reserve, requiring new Tuna (breathing/absorption) practice to replenish. This near-death experience was precisely due to its depletion.

He was accustomed to the Tianyuan Tuna technique, which allowed him to replenish his inner force anytime, never fearing exhaustion. Now, facing this constraint, he felt profoundly unaccustomed.

When his inner force was abundant, he never needed to worry about conserving it. This time was different; he had to conserve every bit, making one unit stretch to cover the need for two.

He activated the Feixian Step, constantly striving to comprehend ways to conserve inner force, aiming to achieve maximum effect with minimum expenditure.

Simultaneously, while moving at speed, he performed Tuna, quickly guiding his mind into the state of Unity of Heaven and Man. He entered this state effortlessly, multitasking: one part of his focus drove the Feixian Step, another maintained the meditative state of Unity, and the third focused on Tuna, practicing the Ancient Qi Refining Art.

This method showed some effect. Although the yellow energy gained through Tuna was less than what he achieved in seated meditation, it was more than enough to sustain the Feixian Step.

The yellow energy derived from Tuna re-colored the energy mass that had faded to colorless, deepening its hue. Li Muzhan felt the yellow energy within the mass flow into his Spleen meridian, leaving behind colorless energy.

It seemed as if the Spleen meridian had expelled the yellow energy, exhaling waste gas, but these colorless energies proved exceptionally potent for driving his internal methods.

He did not fully grasp the mechanism. The Ancient Qi Refining Art seemed simple—one only needed to memorize the absorption formulas, paying no mind to the rest—yet it held infinite subtleties, making true understanding difficult.

Traveling side-by-side, Leng Wushuang glanced at Li Muzhan. She couldn't detect that he was mentally dividing his focus for Tuna, but she sensed something strange about his state, a pure intuition.

She looked again and faintly realized Li Muzhan was breathing in the manner of the Ancient Qi Refining Art during his movement, and her heart tightened.

This Ancient Qi Refining Art was no minor technique. Its power was immense, but so was the backlash if one faltered, risking qi deviation and severe consequences.

This Li Zhu was truly reckless! Without achieving the Unity of Heaven and Man state, Tuna yields little effect; one cannot obtain pure Gui Qi (Earth Qi), rendering the effort pointless.

It would be one thing if he failed to draw out Earth Qi, but if he managed to draw out Gui Qi without being in the Unity state, that would be serious.

The Qi drawn in this manner would not be true Earth Qi, but Earth Qi transformed from Fire Qi. Once obtained by the Spleen meridian, it would harm the Spleen.

Fire exists as Yang Fire and Yin Fire. Yang Fire is true fire; Yin Fire is a peculiar type, often derived from Heart Fire—a manifestation of spirit that is more insidiously damaging.

What people commonly call 'getting heated'—chapped lips, toothache, sore eyes, inflammation, and swelling—are all caused by Yin Fire. If the Spleen meridian is burned by this Yin Fire, the consequences are severe.

............................................

She privately blamed Li Muzhan for his recklessness but did not stop him. She wanted to see how far he could push it. It was fortunate that she was beside him, able to guard his spirit and correct any misstep. If anyone else were present and he ran into serious trouble, they would be helpless.

Secretly, she also held a glimmer of expectation, wondering if Li Muzhan could achieve what others could not, perhaps genuinely reaching the state of Unity of Heaven and Man while in rapid motion.

A person who has died once might develop any strange power; this was especially true given his exceptionally strong spirit and deep foundation.

Having recited the Vajra Sutra since childhood and maintained constant, effortless meditative stillness, he had unconsciously walked the path of Buddhist cultivation, achieving a solid and steady foundation—a path most likely to yield divine abilities.

Having died once, experiencing destruction and rebirth, perhaps he had achieved enlightenment? There was a strong possibility he had gained a supernatural ability.

Li Muzhan sank into the Unity of Heaven and Man state; his sensitivity sharpened immensely. Furthermore, the recent near-death experience had provided significant aid to his spiritual advancement.

His Sarira seemed to shrink, becoming more condensed; his spirit solidified like a blade. He unintentionally employed the Mind Reading technique and heard Leng Wushuang's inner thoughts.

He was overjoyed. If he could manifest some supernatural power because of this, so much the better. The Void Eye was something he absolutely wanted to reveal, but deliberately refrained from doing so.

Not revealing it was better than revealing it. Even if she discovered the Void Eye later, she would assume he developed it during this incident and wouldn't suspect its true origin. This alone was sufficient protection; it would not implicate Canghai Mountain.

One part of his mind contemplated this thought, another part remained immersed in the Unity of Heaven and Man state, and the third part urged the Feixian Step forward. The three streams operated independently without interference.

He noticed his ability to multitask was growing stronger, his focal points more distinct and clear, each separate yet connected, as if he truly possessed several hearts—hearts that were independent of one another, each capable of remaining utterly calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before them.

As dawn broke, the two arrived before a large city. The gates were still closed. Li Muzhan stopped, merging his three consciousnesses back into one, and turned to look at Leng Wushuang.

Leng Wushuang stared at him, her clear gaze seeming to penetrate to the bottom of his heart. "You were performing Tuna on the road... Really... How did it go?" Li Muzhan smiled. "It was fine." "Let me check." Leng Wushuang reached out and placed her fingers on his right wrist.

They stood before the city gates, the towering structure looking down upon the pair in the morning light.

The city wall was perhaps twenty feet high—a sheer barrier for ordinary people, but hardly an obstacle for martial arts masters. It would have been simplest for them to leap over.

However, martial artists generally avoid such conspicuous acts unless absolutely necessary. Living within the secular world, adhering to laws was important.

..................................., Leng Wushuang examined the energy mass in Li Muzhan, nodding. "Mmm, it's fine. No anomalies."

Li Muzhan laughed. "This is one of the gains from this journey—achieving Unity of Heaven and Man while actively moving. Rest assured, Lake Master, I know the dangers."

"Performing Tuna outside of the Unity state brings endless harm; you don't understand that," Leng Wushuang shook her head.

Li Muzhan smiled. He actually understood perfectly.

Just now, using the Mind Reading technique, every thought and intention of Leng Wushuang was reflected in his mind's lake with perfect clarity. But now, it had failed again. Her spiritual cultivation was too deep; he admired her greatly.

"Lake Master, shall we climb over the wall to enter?" Li Muzhan asked.

Leng Wushuang shook her head. "Let's find a place to rest and enter the city when it opens at dawn." Li Muzhan nodded. The two entered an apricot grove and sat cross-legged on a branch. Li Muzhan resumed his Tuna, as the effect was optimal at this time.

They were situated deep within the grove, a distance few common people would venture. It was quiet, and with Leng Wushuang nearby, Li Muzhan entered his meditation without worry.

This time, he first entered the Tianren Shenzhao Diagram to reach a meditative trance, then began his Tuna. Through internal observation, wisps of yellow energy drilled into the energy mass, merging with it and slowly causing it to grow.

The mass darkened: faint yellow, then bright yellow, then golden yellow, finally turning a deep, dark yellow.

He suddenly jolted. The fist-sized energy mass began to spin rapidly, spiraling downward directly into the Yongquan point (Kidney 1). The point throbbed intensely, and the Huiyin point became rigidly erect, hard as iron.

A thought flashed through his mind, filling him with elation—he had broken through the first layer!

The yellow energy entered the Yongquan point, then traveled down his legs to the Yongquan point again. The Yongquan point warmed and leaped, and a surge of yellow energy rushed back upward into the Huiyin point.

Within the Huiyin point, the yellow energy swirled, threads and wisps drifting like mist across the land—a truly marvelous spectacle.

Li Muzhan felt joy but did not interrupt; he continued his Tuna.

Wisps of yellow energy entered the Spleen meridian, and slowly another energy mass formed, fist-sized, connecting to the energy in the Huiyin point.

When the fist-sized mass turned dark yellow, it began to flow towards the Huiyin point, much like lake water overflowing into the sea.

Li Muzhan slowly awoke as the bright sunlight warmed him. He turned to look at Leng Wushuang.

Leng Wushuang opened her eyes faintly. "You broke through the first layer?"

"Yes," Li Muzhan nodded.

"You reached Huiyin and opened Yongquan, didn't you?" Leng Wushuang inquired.

Li Muzhan nodded. Leng Wushuang said, "Then I should teach you the second layer of the Heart Method."

Li Muzhan laughed. "There’s a second layer of incantation? I thought the Earth Qi only involved these eighteen formulas."

Leng Wushuang explained, "These eighteen formulas are only the first layer: after 'Cleansing the Qi' (Tao Qi), comes the second layer of 'Drawing the Qi' (Chou Qi), and the third layer of 'Gathering the Qi' (Ju Qi)."

Li Muzhan asked, "Is the third layer not the end?"

"No. After the third layer, you must open the Heavenly Gate (Tian Men) to accept the Earth Qi from the sky. Only at that stage does it become true Qi Refining through Tuna," Leng Wushuang nodded, a slight smile gracing her lips. "However, the stage of cleansing Qi is the hardest; it builds the foundation. After this layer, it becomes easier."

"Easier?" Li Muzhan smiled wryly.

Leng Wushuang smiled back. "Gathering Qi in the third layer is also not simple. You must first open the Minor Heavenly Cycle (Zhou Tian) and then open the Heavenly Gate, requiring years of arduous training."

Li Muzhan quickly asked, "Can I use the Peiyuan Pills?"

Leng Wushuang said, "Don't even think about shortcuts. You cannot use Peiyuan Pills."

"Alas," Li Muzhan sighed, shaking his head. Aided by elixirs wasn't necessarily bad; Daoist alchemy focused on consuming the Golden Elixir to achieve immortality.

Leng Wushuang stated, "This stage demands hard work. You must gather enough Qi before charging the gates; it is the most critical step. You must be able to endure loneliness and commit to the toil."

Li Muzhan nodded and smiled. "Yes. After dying once, what else is there to fear!" Leng Wushuang revealed a radiant, moving smile. "Well said!"

"Lake Master, please teach me the second layer of the Heart Method," Li Muzhan requested.

Leng Wushuang instructed, "The second layer requires stance practice coupled with the Heart Method. You must practice standing, not sitting. You must use a stable stance. When the Qi begins to move, you then move the Qi from Huiyin to Yongquan, and then back out..."

She spoke fluidly, her words like pearls falling, clearly entering Li Muzhan's mind. He memorized it after one recitation. They climbed down from the tree, and she assumed a posture.

Li Muzhan mirrored her movements. She corrected him one by one until he held the posture correctly. Li Muzhan attempted to follow the Heart Method, first guiding the Earth Qi from Huiyin to Yongquan. Instantly, the Yongquan point felt as if struck by electricity, tingling and nearly leaping up.

He banished distracting thoughts. When the Qi reached a certain level in Yongquan, he guided it back to Huiyin. This process was not easy and required immense concentration.

Once this mass of Qi entered Huiyin, it immediately surged upward to the Spleen meridian. The energy mass thinned considerably. Quickly, he expelled a new stream of yellow Qi into Huiyin.

A portion of the Qi dissipated into the meridians, slowly vanishing, causing the energy mass to shrink slightly.

Li Muzhan felt as if the Spleen meridian had become a processing plant—the original Earth Qi combined with the Earth Qi arriving from Yongquan to form new Earth Qi that entered Huiyin.

The Earth Qi coming from Yongquan was indeed different from that in the Spleen, and the Earth Qi in Huiyin was different from both. The same elemental Qi manifested in three distinct forms.

This was truly troublesome. In this short time, after importing three currents of internal flow from Yongquan, the Spleen's Earth Qi was nearly exhausted, requiring him to restart the Tuna process.

He needed to first practice Tuna until the Spleen's Qi was full, then guide the Yongquan Qi to synthesize the new Earth Qi sent to Huiyin. Once the Spleen's Qi was depleted, he had to restart Tuna, repeating the cycle until the Huiyin point was full before the Qi could reach the Dantian.

Li Muzhan felt this method consumed far too much time.

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