Li Muzhan asked, "Are there any rare treasures that can greatly boost internal energy upon consumption?"

"Oh yes, quite a few actually," Xu Xiaorou replied.

"Do we have any at Star Lake Retreat?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Xu Xiaorou nodded. "We do. The Foundation Cultivation Pills are one such example... However, pills that boost power too much are unsuitable. All things carry both Yin and Yang, possessing both positive and negative aspects. Overly strong medicinal power carries great toxicity, which most people cannot withstand. It’s best if they are refined into pills first."

Li Muzhan sighed. "It seems he must have taken some miraculous elixir too."

Xu Xiaorou scoffed. "When it comes to miraculous elixirs, who can compare to our Retreat? Unless one has consumed the Grand Supreme Origin Pill from Sea-Sky Palace, or the Golden Core Sword Pill from North River Sword Sect."

"Does Three Smiles Hall have no such elixirs?" Li Muzhan asked.

"Three Smiles Hall..." Xu Xiaorou tilted her head in thought, then shook her head. "No."

Li Muzhan sighed. "Hall Master Lin holds a high and powerful position; obtaining these should not be difficult for him, right?"

"That's hard to say!" Xu Xiaorou shook her head. "These miraculous elixirs are unique, secret collections and cannot be passed on to outsiders."

Zhang Qiaoyi suddenly interjected, "If Three Smiles Hall doesn't have them, what about the Lin Family?"

Xu Xiaorou paused, then slowly nodded. "I almost forgot about the Lin Family. Yes, Hall Master Lin is a descendant of the Lin Family, so that's different!"

"The Lin Family?" Li Muzhan asked.

Xu Xiaorou hurried to explain. "You don't know the Lin Family?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I think I've heard of them, but I don't know much, only that they are very formidable."

"The Lin Family is incomparable!" Xu Xiaorou clicked her tongue in admiration. "In the martial world, there are four great sects: our Retreat, North River Sword Sect, Three Smiles Hall, and Sea-Sky Palace—all excelling in their own fields, hard to separate. But in the entire Southern Territory, there are only two great noble families: the Lin Family... and the Fang Family."

"That powerful?" Li Muzhan was astonished.

Naturally, he had heard of the Lin Family while in White Cloud City, but people usually mentioned them only briefly before moving on, as if it were a taboo subject, which only piqued Li Muzhan's curiosity all the more.

However, no one would reveal more; they would always gloss over the topic and change the subject, leaving him quite frustrated. He could only keep his questions buried in his heart.

Even with his formidable martial arts, he could not compel a person's thoughts, nor could he resort to torture. Moreover, pretending to be a local of White Cloud City, he couldn't afford to ask too many probing questions.

"Hmph, what did that Lin fellow rely on to become the Southern Hall Master of Three Smiles Hall?" Xu Xiaorou pouted.

Li Muzhan smiled and asked, "Was it because of the Lin Family?"

Zhang Qiaoyi shook her head. "Rou'er, that's unfair. Hall Master Lin's martial arts are truly outstanding, and he performs his duties as Hall Master exceptionally well. The fact that the Southern Hall now surpasses the Northern Hall is entirely due to his efforts."

"Isn't it just because the Lin Family helped him?" Xu Xiaorou snorted dismissively.

"While family ties certainly helped a bit," Zhang Qiaoyi conceded, "it was Hall Master Lin’s own merit that allowed him to rise."

.............................................. He Ruoshui watched the lake surface quietly. The ripples shimmered, and a cool breeze swept past, bringing the lake’s fresh coolness that invigorated the spirit.

She sighed softly. "The Lin Family is powerful. Many who wished to oppose Hall Master Lin hesitated because they feared repercussions from the Lin Family, which is why he could grow so strong. Senior Sister Zhang, Rou'er is not entirely wrong in saying that."

"Hmm, that's true enough," Zhang Qiaoyi nodded.

Li Muzhan frowned. "So, you mean we can't touch Junior Brother Lin either?"

The three women looked over in unison, their eyes bright.

Li Muzhan stroked the boat's edge and said slowly, "When the three Senior Sisters were attacked last time, the assassins from Tianji Tower—I would never believe the Lin Family had no hand in it!"

Xu Xiaorou snorted. "They were definitely behind it!"

"Rou'er, stop spouting nonsense!" Zhang Qiaoyi immediately glared at her, then gave Li Muzhan a meaningful look.

Li Muzhan saw it clearly and smiled. "Senior Sister Zhang, rest assured. Although I have the intent to kill, I understand the gravity of the situation and will not act rashly."

Xu Xiaorou giggled. "Senior Sister Zhang, you worry too much! Even if Junior Brother wanted to kill someone, he'd have to leave the lake first. He's still aiming for the Sixth Rank, who knows when he’ll reach it? Perhaps that Lin Ping fellow will suffer a qi deviation by then!"

Li Muzhan chuckled. "If Senior Sister Xu curses him so fiercely, Junior Brother Lin will surely survive, or else it would be a shame!"

"Hehe, that would be excellent!" Xu Xiaorou beamed with delight.

Zhang Qiaoyi watched the two of them and shook her head helplessly. This Junior Brother Li looked honest and sincere, but his mouth was skilled at charming people to death. If anyone else had spoken to her like that, Rou'er would have long since fallen out with them, but she specifically enjoyed hearing it from him.

Li Muzhan smiled. "But Senior Sister Xu, you underestimate me too much. Reaching the Sixth Rank shouldn't be that hard for me, right?"

"Hehe, not hard?" Xu Xiaorou laughed again.

"I plan to reach the Sixth Rank this year!" Li Muzhan stated.

"Pfft!" Xu Xiaorou burst out laughing again, her rowing arm losing strength. Li Muzhan noticed, stepped forward to take over the oars, and said while rowing, "My internal energy improved significantly during my last seclusion."

Xu Xiaorou shot him a sidelong glance, sat down opposite the other two women, and said with a smile, "Deeper internal energy is useless! A bull has great strength, but what good is that?"

Zhang Qiaoyi said, "Junior Brother’s internal energy has indeed improved a lot, but it's about the same as ours—not quite top-tier yet. Your rate of progress is truly astonishing."

She sighed inwardly about the marvel of the Ancient Qi Cultivation Art... Junior Brother practiced for one year and achieved what took her ten years of hard work. If this pace of progress continued, he might have a chance to become a Ninth Rank disciple in a few years.

Xu Xiaorou added, "Your internal energy might be comparable to ours, but what about your forms? Forms cannot be achieved through trickery; they require solid honing!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "If the three Senior Sisters help me, I plan to work hard on practicing the Mountain Severing Saber Technique!"

………………”…………”………………………………

The three women agreed. They rowed the small boat to the lakeside and entered a pine forest. They found a clearing XXX light-footed, quickly treading out a small circular area.

It happened to be a grassy patch where an old pine tree, struck by lightning, had died. They pushed it over, creating a flat space.

Xu Xiaorou’s steps were light, yet her strength was considerable; the ground she trod became depressed by half an inch, compact and smooth—like a training ground.

"Come on!" Xu Xiaorou drew her sword and pointed it diagonally at Li Muzhan, smiling sweetly.

She held her sword with such grace and beauty that she was indescribably lovely and moving.

Li Muzhan slowly drew his saber. "Senior Sister Xu, be careful—my saber is very heavy!"

"Less talk, let’s go!" Xu Xiaorou waved her left hand invitingly.

"Watch my saber!" Li Muzhan suddenly stepped forward. His long saber transformed into a streak of lightning, instantly appearing above Xu Xiaorou's head, too fast for a normal reaction.

Xu Xiaorou let out a delicate laugh, twisted her slender waist, and drifted like a willow catkin, narrowly evading the strike. Simultaneously, she swept her long sword upward diagonally.

Li Muzhan twisted his waist and slashed horizontally—the saber edge traced an arc, moving even faster—striking the long sword with a sharp "clang."

Xu Xiaorou trembled, her lotus-like feet stepping twice, instantly moving out of the range of Li Muzhan's saber thrust, causing his third strike to lose its target.

Li Muzhan pressed the attack, his saber movement quicker, like a white rainbow shooting toward Xu Xiaorou.

Xu Xiaorou cried out sharply and stepped forward. Her sword tip turned into a point of cold light, precisely tapping the spine of the saber, producing another crisp sound that momentarily slowed Li Muzhan’s momentum.

"Good!" Li Muzhan exhaled forcefully. The saber edge accelerated again; twisting his waist and stepping forward, he brought down another strike, like a flash of electric light.

The saber and sword met back and forth. For a time, they were locked in fierce combat, and Li Muzhan surprisingly maintained the upper hand. Every strike was incredibly fast and heavy, forcing Xu Xiaorou into a purely defensive stance.

In the blink of an eye, they exchanged over twenty moves. Xu Xiaorou cried out sharply, "You're infuriating me! Not showing your power makes people think you're a sick cat! Take this sword strike!"

Her swordplay suddenly changed, becoming continuous like fine rain, omnipresent—a sky full of bright, soft sword light, cascading down like an inverted waterfall, blocking the space between her and Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan's saber strikes were like lightning, heavy and forceful, but they couldn't pierce this dense net of swords, like a mosquito hitting a spider web, the room for maneuvering slowly diminishing.

As he swung his saber, he inwardly frowned, surprised by how formidable Senior Sister Xu's swordplay was. Her sword seemed to possess a sticky force emanating outwards; with every swing, the viscosity around the blade intensified.

He had wielded his saber freely at first, but now it was as if he were stuck in a quagmire; every strike required extreme effort.

………………………………",………… After another twenty-odd exchanges, Li Muzhan's movements grew slower. Suddenly, he called out, "Senior Sister Xu, be careful, I'm about to use my ultimate move!"

Xu Xiaorou’s spirits lifted. "Bring it on!"

Li Muzhan's eyes narrowed slightly, and his entire demeanor suddenly shifted. His long saber seemed to lighten instantly; holding it, he swung it gently.

"Thud..." Saber and sword met, emitting a muffled sound, not the clash of metal, but a strange sound, like stone hitting wood.

Li Muzhan stepped back one pace, and Xu Xiaorou also stepped back one pace, her delicate face filled with surprise.

She stared wide-eyed at Li Muzhan and snorted, "Fine! You have such skills too! Again!"

Li Muzhan stood solemn and stern, saying in a deep voice, "Take another one of my saber strikes!"

He swung again, the saber emitting a brilliant light. Xu Xiaorou flicked her wrist lightly, the sword body trembling, buzzing like a swarm of bees, the blade moving like a nimble snake.

"Thud..." another muffled sound. Li Muzhan remained rooted to the spot, but Xu Xiaorou retreated a step, staring up and down at him in astonishment.

Ji Muzhan maintained a stern face, his long saber pointing diagonally. "Senior Sister Xu, how was that?"

"You brat, you've really improved!" Xu Xiaorou chided, returning her sword to its sheath. "No more comparing!"

Li Muzhan retracted his saber, a smile appearing on his face. "Senior Sister Xu, how was my Mountain Severing Saber Technique practice?"

Xu Xiaorou gave him a sidelong glance. "Not bad. You can beat me now!"

Li Muzhan quickly smiled and said, "I naturally know you were holding back, Senior Sister!"

"Hmph, I wasn't holding back!" Xu Xiaorou snorted irritably, turning her head. "Senior Sister Zhang, his saber technique is indeed strange. Why don't you try?"

Zhang Qiaoyi smiled and nodded. "Alright. It seems Junior Brother has grasped the essence of the Mountain Severing Saber Technique."

Li Muzhan smiled. "After separating from the three Senior Sisters last time, the Lake Master sent me alone to challenge the people from Tianji Tower. I almost died once before I achieved a slight realization."

"Oh?" The three women instantly looked curious, their eyes lighting up. Li Muzhan then recounted his previous experience to the three of them. They listened with great tension, occasionally shaking or nodding their heads, finally letting out long sighs of profound emotion.

Li Muzhan laughed. "If the Lake Master hadn't arrived, the three Senior Sisters wouldn't have seen me again!"

"You really are lucky to have survived!" Xu Xiaorou patted her high chest.

He Ruoshui shook her head. "Fortunately, the Lake Master arrived in time."

Zhang Qiaoyi smiled faintly and remained silent. Seeing this, He Ruoshui looked thoughtful. Xu Xiaorou quickly asked, "Senior Sister Zhang, what is it?"

Zhang Qiaoyi smiled and turned to ask Li Muzhan, "Junior Brother, do you think the Lake Master was secretly following us?"

Li Muzhan chuckled slyly.

Zhang Qiaoyi shook her head and smiled lightly. "You sly little fellow—you are quite cunning!"

…………………………………………",………… Xu Xiaorou patted the boat deck. "The Lake Master must have been following us secretly! Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence? But the Lake Master truly went to great lengths!"

He Ruoshui pursed her lips and smiled. "Junior Brother has supreme talent; it is worth the Lake Master spending effort to cultivate him!"

Li Muzhan laughed and shook his head. "Senior Sister He, I am not that arrogant!"

Xu Xiaorou snorted. "You can barely block my sword; you are far behind Senior Sister Zhang! Let's spar, let's spar!"

Li Muzhan smiled, drew his long saber, and said, "Senior Sister Zhang, please go first!"

Zhang Qiaoyi chuckled and nodded. "Very well, I shall experience Junior Brother's Mountain Severing Saber Technique. The Mountain Severing Saber Technique is a Super-Grade martial art... Watch my sword!"

Saying this, she suddenly thrust her sword out, instantly reaching Li Muzhan's chest.

Li Muzhan raised his saber to block in front of his chest. The sword tip struck the saber body with a continuous, lingering "ding..." sound. Li Muzhan stepped back, then brought down a slashing strike.

The two began fighting. Li Muzhan used the Mountain Severing Saber Technique directly; the saber movements appeared light and unsubstantial, seemingly lacking power. However, Zhang Qiaoyi, in the midst of it, experienced something entirely different.

She hadn't expected her Junior Brother's comprehension of the saber technique to reach such a level—effortless control. A seemingly light strike actually contained tremendous, strange power that made her palm tingle, almost causing her to drop her sword. As she fought, she circulated her internal energy to dispel the numbness, but the effect was minimal. Every strike was overwhelming and domineering, like a raging storm washing over her, making it hard to breathe.

This wasn't just profound internal energy; it was an inexplicable aura, formless yet tangible, piercing the heart—something internal energy alone could not dispel.

This was the so-called Saber Intent! She hadn't expected Junior Brother to grasp Saber Intent in such a short time—a realm that countless famous saber masters fail to reach in a lifetime.

The Lake Master’s discerning eye was indeed correct; this Junior Brother was truly extraordinary!

She admired this inwardly but didn't hold back her offense. Her sword light dotted the air like scattered stars, the cold sword aura stern as a chilling wind, making one's heart turn cold.

In the time it took for fifty exchanges, Li Muzhan suddenly leaped back a full (about 3.3 meters) and laughed. "Senior Sister Zhang has excellent swordplay; I concede!"

"Hehe, you're still far behind!" Xu Xiaorou clapped her hands and laughed.

Li Muzhan shook his head with a wry smile. Although he possessed Saber Intent, his actual forms were severely lacking. He glanced down; a sudden breeze blew past, cool and refreshing. Dust motes lifted from his outer garments, revealing a few small holes that exposed his moon-white under-robe.

Zhang Qiaoyi’s swordplay was exquisitely precise. In that short time, she had pierced his outer robe in several places. Had it been anyone else, they might not have noticed, but it couldn't escape the sharp perception of Li Muzhan.

Zhang Qiaoyi retrieved her sword and asked with a smile, "Junior Brother, you grasped Saber Intent?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "After experiencing a life-and-death situation, I touched upon a doorway into Saber Intent."

"Not bad, truly not bad!" Zhang Qiaoyi nodded repeatedly, remarking with emotion, "You have truly set foot on the right path. As long as you practice diligently, your achievements will not be small."

……………………………………

She knew that experiencing life and death was immensely beneficial to a person; it was the same for her. After surviving a brush with death, her spirit had been tempered, and her entire being felt renewed.

Her own swordplay had advanced so much partly because of that prior life-and-death experience, as if she had seen through everything, leading to a higher comprehension of martial arts.

"You grasped Saber Intent too? I really couldn't tell!" Xu Xiaorou clicked her tongue in admiration.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Though I grasped Saber Intent, my saber forms are still too poor. I hope the three Senior Sisters can guide me!"

Zhang Qiaoyi nodded. "Yes, let's spar more. Your comprehension is excellent, and you will improve quickly."

The New Year was approaching, and the festive atmosphere at the Retreat grew stronger by the day, but the four of them paid no heed, staying in the small grove by the lake all day, sparring.

On the surface, it looked like they had left the lake to visit Xiushui City for recreation, but no one knew they were hiding here, diligently practicing their martial arts.

Li Muzhan’s comprehension and memory were exceptionally high; the same set of martial arts became less effective against him over time. Fortunately, the three women practiced several different sword styles.

The three women fed him moves using different sword styles, making it increasingly difficult for him to win. Li Muzhan focused purely on the subtlety of his saber forms, refraining from using Saber Intent.

Li Muzhan's saber technique improved by leaps and bounds, and the three women's swordplay also saw great progress. They stimulated and promoted each other, benefiting one another.

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed. Li Muzhan could now fight Xu Xiaorou to a draw, relying purely on saber and sword forms without using internal energy.

He still couldn't defeat He Ruoshui, and even less so Zhang Qiaoyi. The subtleties of the two women's sword moves were exquisite; even though he was familiar with them, he couldn't defend against everything.

It was like the same set of brush strokes: some people could write beautiful characters, while others wrote poorly. Their sword forms were masterful; Li Muzhan could remember them, but their application remained brilliantly fluid, and he still couldn't counter it.

One evening, as the four rowed the small boat back, Xu Xiaorou laughed. "Junior Brother, with your current martial prowess, you can build a waterside pavilion on the lake!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "How far can I go?"

"Naturally, to the Sixth Rank!" Xu Xiaorou snorted. Li Muzhan smiled sheepishly. "That would be best. Senior Sister Xu, help me find a spot."

"Alright, build it right next to ours!" Xu Xiaorou said happily.

Zhang Qiaoyi glanced at her. "Rou'er!"

Xu Xiaorou pouted. "Senior Sister Zhang, I don't care what others say!"

Zhang Qiaoyi shook her head. "Let Junior Brother decide for himself!"

"Junior Brother, do you agree?" Xu Xiaorou turned to ask.

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. "Nothing could be better!"

"I knew Junior Brother would agree! How about that?" Xu Xiaorou grinned triumphantly at the other two.

He Ruoshui turned her head away, a blush coloring her cheeks. Zhang Qiaoyi shook her head with a wry smile.

Xu Xiaorou, being impulsive and energetic, rushed off as soon as they returned to the lake to find the Deputy Master, Leng Wushuang, to announce that Li Muzhan had reached the Sixth Rank and wished to build a waterside pavilion.

Leng Wushuang sparred a few moves with Li Muzhan and then agreed. Just like that, Li Muzhan officially became a Sixth Rank disciple.