It was early morning, and the training ground in the West Courtyard bustled with activity, the male disciples below the Fifth Rank drilling with intense focus, each absorbed in his own practice.

Suddenly, a young woman entered through the main gate. Clad in a lake-green silk robe, "lithe and graceful, with a beautiful countenance," a faint smile graced her lips—it was Xu Xiaorou.

Upon entering the courtyard, her bright gaze swept the surroundings until it settled upon Li Muzhan's room. She walked over gracefully, pausing beneath the plum tree just beside the window.

As she approached, she sensed whether anyone was inside; disappointed, she shook her head.

Meng Shichao, shirtless, approached, "his shoulders gleaming with oil, muscles coiled like taut ropes." He grinned amiably, "Senior Sister Xu, looking for Junior Brother Li?"

Xu Xiaorou asked, "He hasn't returned yet?"

Meng Shichao shook his head. "Not yet. Care to come inside and rest for a bit?" "No, thank you." Xu Xiaorou shook her head in disappointment and turned, departing with a gentle sway.

Meng Shichao watched her exquisite silhouette vanish at the doorway and sighed. A youth in a blue shirt poked his head out, grinning and waving his hand. "Hey, snap out of it! Senior Brother Meng, everyone's gone!"

Meng Shichao snapped back to attention and glared at the blue-shirted youth. "You insolent brat, only nonsense comes out of your mouth!"

"I say, Senior Brother Meng, since you like Senior Sister Xu, why don't you make a move quickly, before someone else claims her!" the youth bantered playfully.

Meng Shichao shook his head and sighed again.

"Is it because of Junior Brother Li?" the blue-shirted youth inquired.

Meng Shichao sighed. "Forget it. I understand. Senior Sister Xu has eyes only for the best; she wouldn't notice Li Muzhan either!" "But I thought Senior Sister Xu cared a lot about Junior Brother Li!" the blue-shirted youth widened his eyes, utterly unconvinced.

Meng Shichao smiled. "For someone like Senior Sister Xu, unless you can earn her admiration and deep respect, it's hard to catch her eye. Li Muzhan is still a bit short of that; it feels more like a sibling bond."

"Oh, I see. Senior Brother Meng, you really are insightful!" The blue-shirted youth realized the truth with a flash of understanding, looking him up and down. "Knowing so much about women's minds—impressive, impressive!" Meng Shichao shot him an irritated glance. "Don't talk nonsense. I'm just guessing wildly. Who knows if it's true or false, right or wrong?!" "Hehe, I couldn't figure that out even if I racked my brains!" the blue-shirted youth admitted with profound feeling.

Meng Shichao cast him a sidelong glance, shook his head, and walked away.

The blue-shirted youth scratched his head, then also departed to practice his martial arts, thinking that securing a place away from this grand courtyard—perhaps building his own waterside pavilion on the lake—would require much more effort.

Xu Xiaorou left the great courtyard listlessly. On the path leading down the mountain, two figures stood: Zhang Qiaoyi and He Ruoshui, both dressed in identical white robes, their sleeves fluttering elegantly.

Seeing her dejected state, Zhang Qiaoyi smiled. "He still hasn't emerged from seclusion?" Xu Xiaorou replied glumly, "Mm, he knew we were coming back, yet he chose to enter seclusion. Is he hiding from us?"

"Stop overthinking. Let's go wander by the lake," Zhang Qiaoyi said, shaking her head and smiling.

…………………………………………, the three women ambled along the path downward. Reaching the dock at the foot of the mountain, they boarded a small boat. Xu Xiaorou took the oars and slowly propelled them out onto the lake.

Xu Xiaorou felt listless and dispirited. She had been so excited about seeing Junior Brother Li upon her return, only to find he was in seclusion and she couldn't meet him.

She had been back for five or six days, visiting the great courtyard daily, yet still no sign of Junior Brother Li. She had asked the Lake Mistress, but even she didn't know when he would emerge.

The time around the New Year was short enough as it was, and his prolonged seclusion was irritating. She thought, It would be perfect if he only came out after we’ve left again!

Thinking this, she angrily rowed the oar with force. The small boat shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, zipping over a dozen zhang in an instant.

"Rou'er, what's wrong?" Zhang Qiaoyi turned to ask.

She stood with her hands behind her back at the bow of the boat, her pale yellow sleeves fluttering, a few strands of her dark hair lifting in the breeze. She smiled warmly at Xu Xiaorou. "Who are you angry with?" He Ruoshui, dressed in a black gown, serene and composed, smiled slightly. "Who else could it be but Little Junior Brother!"

"Senior Sister He, who said I'm angry with him!" Xu Xiaorou shot her a sidelong glance.

He Ruoshui pursed her lips into a smile. "Besides Little Junior Brother, who else could make you this vexed, Rou'er?!"

Zhang Qiaoyi laughed. "Junior Brother Li entering seclusion is a good thing. You know he's eager to leave the lake. Once he's out, how about we invite him to White Cloud City with us?"

Xu Xiaorou's bright eyes instantly lit up. "Really?" Zhang Qiaoyi smiled. "What do you think?" "Wonderful, wonderful! Let Little Junior Brother come to our place!" Xu Xiaorou nodded quickly.

Zhang Qiaoyi turned to look at He Ruoshui. He Ruoshui smiled faintly. "You two decide; I don't mind either way."

"If you don't like it, we won't press the matter," Zhang Qiaoyi said kindly.

"Mm, if he likes going, then he can go," He Ruoshui agreed.

Xu Xiaorou quickly declared, "It's settled then! I'll go talk to the Lake Mistress!" "You need a proper approach, or the Lake Mistress won't agree," Zhang Qiaoyi advised.

Xu Xiaorou looked puzzled. "The Lake Mistress won't agree?"

Zhang Qiaoyi nodded. "He is the Lake Mistress's most cherished treasure. They say that once the Ancient Qi Cultivation Technique is mastered, it grants immortality!" "Heh, immortality!" Xu Xiaorou pouted, letting out two cold snorts. Zhang Qiaoyi chuckled. "You haven't seen it, but don't assume it doesn't exist. Maybe it really can grant eternal youth. Even if not immortality, living several extra years should be possible."

"I don't believe it!" Xu Xiaorou shook her head.

He Ruoshui stated calmly, "The Lake Mistress is wise beyond measure. How could she be fooled by falsehoods?"

……………………………………………………, while the three were talking, Xu Xiaorou turned the oars and slowly headed toward the central waterside pavilion. They reached the Falling Star Pavilion, jumped onto it, and were about to enter the hall to find Leng Wushuang.

Leng Wushuang suddenly appeared, stepping out of the main hall. Seeing the three women, she said flatly, "Let's go. We'll find Li Zhu on the mountain."

The three were startled. Xu Xiaorou was overjoyed. "Lake Mistress, has Little Junior Brother emerged from seclusion?"

"Mm," Leng Wushuang nodded. She floated down onto the lake, walking across the water's surface as if on level ground, heading swiftly toward the dock. Without setting foot on the path, she plunged directly into the woods.

The three women followed closely, entering the forest together, traversing the canopy. After a while, they reached the mountaintop. Crossing over, they arrived at a cave facing south.

This cave was situated on a sheer cliff face, hidden beneath a large boulder, obscured by green vines, making it extremely difficult to discover—entry was impossible without superb Qinggong.

Leng Wushuang drifted down directly, bent mid-air, and lightly slipped into the cave. The three women followed suit and found Li Muzhan inside, wearing a beaming smile.

The stone chamber was somewhat dim, but the air was fresh, and the faint, gurgling sound of flowing water could be heard, creating an atmosphere of profound tranquility.

Seeing the three women, Li Muzhan's smile widened even more. "Senior Sister Zhang, Senior Sister He, Senior Sister Xu, you've returned!"

Xu Xiaorou huffed, "You still recognize us!"

Li Muzhan smiled wryly. "I truly don't know what time it is now... Is the New Year almost here?"

"You have been in seclusion for nearly a year. That is rare," Leng Wushuang noted.

Li Muzhan let out a long breath. "A year? Time truly flies!"

"What level have you reached?" Leng Wushuang inquired.

"Not bad. I've reached the third layer," Li Muzhan said with a smile.

Leng Wushuang also showed a hint of satisfaction. "Not bad!"

Among the four women, she best understood the difficulty of the Ancient Qi Cultivation Technique. Every step was like walking under a heavy burden, with no possibility of cutting corners. Only after filling every xue point could one advance to the Dantian, requiring genuine, arduous effort, accumulating Qi bit by bit—there was no other way.

That he could accumulate enough Qi in one year meant his progress was astonishingly fast, undoubtedly achieved through several times the hardship others endured. It was truly remarkable.

Xu Xiaorou asked, "Junior Brother Li, what Rank are you now?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I'm probably still below the Sixth Rank."

"Oh." Xu Xiaorou looked slightly disappointed, then secretly chuckled. To reach the Sixth Rank in a year—she admitted she was being too hasty; such things weren't common.

"Alright, let's go up to talk," Leng Wushuang suggested.

She floated up, rising above the cliff edge. The three women, Zhang Qiaoyi, He Ruoshui, and Xu Xiaorou, turned to look at Li Muzhan. Xu Xiaorou offered, "Junior Brother Li, shall I carry you?"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. He drilled out of the cave with the three women and floated up to the cliff top.

…………………………………………", ... His Qinggong was elegant and composed, the spirit of the Flying Immortal Steps fully evident. The three women cast looks of admiration; a year apart, Little Junior Brother had indeed undergone a metamorphosis, his advancement immense.

Once they reached the top of the cliff, Leng Wushuang said, "Go back first. Get some proper rest for a while."

With that, she drifted off the cliff edge and vanished in moments.

Li Muzhan turned to the three women and smiled. "Senior Sister Zhang, Senior Sister He, Senior Sister Xu, let's go play on the lake. I most need some fresh air."

"Great!" Xu Xiaorou exclaimed happily.

Zhang Qiaoyi smiled. "Shouldn't you rest for a bit?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I've rested enough in the cave; I just want to clear my head."

"Alright." Zhang Qiaoyi agreed. Xu Xiaorou excitedly urged, "Hurry, hurry! Let's go out on the lake and have a good talk!"

The four floated down the cliff, initially dropping straight down, then suddenly slowing in the air, drifting gently until they landed in a dense stretch of woods. Emerging from the trees, they reached the lakeshore.

Boarding the small boat, Xu Xiaorou voluntarily took the oars and quickly propelled them far out.

"Senior Sister Zhang, is White Cloud City still well?" Li Muzhan sat on one side, while Zhang Qiaoyi and He Ruoshui sat on the other.

Zhang Qiaoyi replied with a smile, "It's fine."

"Has that Lin fellow been causing trouble?" Li Muzhan asked.

Zhang Qiaoyi shook her head. "He wouldn't dare cause trouble openly; our small residence isn't easy to provoke either."

He Ruoshui added, "It’s actually safest in White Cloud City."

Li Muzhan sighed. "If Master Lin can tolerate it, I fear Young Master Lin might not be able to..."

Zhang Qiaoyi reported, "Young Master Lin also went into seclusion once. Since emerging, his internal strength has greatly increased; he seems like a different person."

Li Muzhan's brow immediately furrowed. "Internal strength greatly increased?"

Xu Xiaorou pouted, rowing furiously with a resentful grunt. The boat suddenly accelerated and shot forward. She snorted, "Who knows what foul things he consumed! It's truly infuriating!"