Li Muzhan was overjoyed. After thanking him, he left Cloud-Embracing City alone and headed back to Star Lake Hermitage. Along the way, he practiced the Ancient Qi Cultivation Technique incessantly, making great strides, his internal energy deepening further.

Li Muzhan was privately curious: who now possessed deeper internal energy, himself or Senior Brother Xia? He was eager to know, wishing he had wings so he could challenge Senior Brother Xia immediately.

He engaged his movement technique; his internal energy flowed endlessly, like a wisp of smoke. Ignoring any shock he might cause, he moved swiftly in broad daylight, sticking to the lesser paths where he encountered few people.

At this time, although there were skirmishes on the borders between nations, the interior of each country was peaceful, and the populace lived securely. However, bandits were an unavoidable menace, and traversing such minor roads required true skill.

Most of the people encountered were martial artists themselves, or accompanied by escorts. These martial artists noticed Li Muzhan’s passage, each one utterly astonished.

Li Muzhan paid them no mind. When he grew tired from running, he would stop to regulate his breathing for a while, using either the Void Qi Guiding Art or the Scrutinizing Heaven and Man Illumination Sutra, before continuing his journey.

Ten days later, he returned to Star Lake Hermitage from the Sea Heaven Palace.

Star Lake was as tranquil and vast as ever, stretching boundlessly, a seamless expanse of white where water met sky, leaving the beholder feeling reduced to a minuscule, insignificant particle.

Li Muzhan relished this feeling, as if his entire being had become clear, merging with the lake water itself.

He stood by the shore, gazing into the clear wind for a long time, then suddenly let out a long, piercing cry. Within moments, a small boat drifted leisurely toward him.

It appeared slow, but its speed was incredibly swift; though it looked small at first glance, it reached him in the blink of an eye, revealing a delicate young woman in a white gown, possessing a gentle and refined demeanor.

Li Muzhan cupped his hands and smiled: “Senior Sister Bai, it is your watch.” Senior Sister Bai steered the small boat to the shore, reached up to smooth a strand of hair near her temple, and smiled back at him: “Junior Brother, Junior Sister Xu has been mentioning you these past two days. Why such a late return!” Li Muzhan leaped onto the boat and snatched the oar: “Senior Sister Xu and the others have returned?” Senior Sister Bai nodded, smiling: “Yes, they came back just a few days ago, and even brought back the remains of a Grand Accomplisher. We’ve all had a look!”

“And the Lake Master has returned as well, I presume?” Li Muzhan asked, beginning to row. The small boat shot out like an arrow loosed from a bow, skimming the lake surface with snake-like speed.

“Yes, the Lake Master is back too.” Senior Sister Bai nodded. “I heard you killed Lin Ping? You’ve provoked the Three Smiles Hall. Well done, Junior Brother, you’ve made a name for yourself!” “Alas…” Li Muzhan sighed, shaking his head as he rowed.

Senior Sister Bai laughed: “Why the sigh? Everyone is marveling at your audacity, your careful planning, and your formidable martial arts. We’ve long been fed up with the Three Smiles Hall, but never had the chance to act. You’ve just vented our collective frustration!”

The rise of the Three Smiles Hall was a recent affair. It was not originally a major sect, but with the appearance of its new Hall Master, it grew increasingly powerful, developing in recent years into one of the foremost great sects.

………………………………………… The newly risen power was arrogant and sharp, bearing an air of surveying the world with disdain, unwilling to bow to anyone. This inevitably led to conflicts with the disciples of Star Lake Hermitage.

They held a transcendent status and had never suffered such slight, thus they held a deep resentment toward the Three Smiles Hall. However, since they were not yet worthy of being taught a lesson, they dared not act rashly, merely pretending not to see or hear anything. This, in turn, allowed the Three Smiles Hall to become even more brazen.

Li Muzhan’s intervention this time served to severely deflate the arrogance of the Three Smiles Hall, venting the accumulated anger of his peers, who were all quite grateful.

As for retaliation from the Three Smiles Hall, being disciples of Star Lake Hermitage, they secretly hoped for it; it would give them a worthy outlet for their skills, saving them from excessive boredom.

In the course of their conversation, the small boat, like an arrow freed from the string, reached the island in moments, stopping at the Star-Dropping Pavilion. Li Muzhan leaped gracefully into the structure.

As soon as he landed in the pavilion, a woman emerged from the two-story waterside pavilion across the curved corridor. Clad in snow-white robes, graceful and ethereal, she reached him in a swift passage: “Junior Brother Li, the Lake Master requests your presence!”

Li Muzhan smiled: “Thank you, Senior Sister Guo. What is the Lake Master doing?”

Senior Sister Guo studied him with a gentle smile: “The Lake Master is reading. Hurry inside.” Li Muzhan followed her into the waterside pavilion. Leng Wushuang was seated in the high-backed chair, holding a scroll, her expression serene and peaceful.

Hearing the footsteps, she looked up and set down the book, her clear gaze settling on Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan cupped his hands and smiled slightly: “Lake Master.”

“Hmm, it seems you didn't suffer at the Sea Heaven Palace.” Leng Wushuang appraised him and nodded faintly. “You didn't fight?” Li Muzhan chuckled: “It was alright; we sparred twice.” “And you won both times,” Leng Wushuang stated calmly.

Li Muzhan nodded: “Yes, by sheer luck.”

Leng Wushuang raised a delicate eyebrow: “You mastered the Qi Exchange?” Li Muzhan laughed and nodded, a hint of pride in his voice: “Lake Master sees all. My Nine Revolutions Qi Refining is complete; I have already exchanged the Qi.” “Nonsense!” Leng Wushuang frowned and snorted, rising to her feet.

Seeing this, Senior Sister Guo quietly retreated, glancing back at Li Muzhan as she left. Few people could elicit such a strong reaction from the Lake Master.

The Lake Master was generally unperturbed by anything; even the greatest matters would only elicit a calm decree of punishment, never anger. For the Junior Brother to provoke the Lake Master to such a degree was an achievement in itself.

Li Muzhan suppressed his smile, feigning confusion as he watched her.

He actually knew why she was angry: the Nine Revolutions Qi Refining Art was inherently perilous; his success had been nothing short of miraculous, having skirted death.

……………………………………………… Leng Wushuang frowned: “Don’t assume you will be lucky every time. The Nine Revolutions Qi Refining Art demands one forge life from the brink of death; so many have perished on that threshold. What you did was treating your own life like a child’s game!”

Li Muzhan quickly nodded: “Yes, I regretted it afterward, but I was impulsive then, acting on a surge of inspiration. I felt I could achieve it, so I began the cultivation.”

“……” Leng Wushuang fell silent for a moment, observing him.

Leng Wushuang had experienced Li Muzhan’s intuition before; it was indeed marvelously accurate. Since it was born from a sudden, intense urge, it could not be dismissed; such moments often held celestial secrets.

Furthermore, Leng Wushuang possessed extraordinary spirit and sharp intuition; she too had experienced that sudden, profound surge of inspiration, recognizing it as a peculiar, highly effective intuition carrying great potency.

“Enough. It is fortunate you succeeded!” Leng Wushuang waved her hand, rising and walking out of the waterside pavilion into the Star-Dropping Pavilion. Li Muzhan followed her, a faint, ethereal fragrance reaching his nose.

Leng Wushuang sat by the stone table and said calmly: “No wonder you managed to retreat unharmed. With the Qi Exchange complete, your internal energy is as pure as water, and your power greatly increased.” Li Muzhan replied: “Yes. Not only did the internal energy transform, but my meridians were expanded. My cultivation has leaped forward, incomparable to before.”

“Good. That’s what matters,” Leng Wushuang nodded.

Li Muzhan smiled: “Are there other levels after this?” Leng Wushuang replied: “Reaching this stage means you’ve truly entered the hall. Following this are the other four elements of Qi: Earth Qi having solidified, then Wood Qi, then Fire Qi, then Metal Qi, and finally Water Qi. Cultivating these four Qi to this level constitutes minor accomplishment… Cultivating further beyond that is the true method for achieving longevity.”

Li Muzhan smiled: “I request the Lake Master transmit the remaining four formulas to me.” Leng Wushuang nodded: “Very well. I shall impart the incantations for the remaining four formulas to you now. You can practice them sequentially; there should be no further problems.” The cultivation of the other four Qi was largely similar to that of Earth Qi. Although the incantations differed, the underlying principle was the same. Moreover, since the body had been nourished by Earth Qi, the process would be easier. The first elemental Qi is the hardest to cultivate, as the body struggles to adapt. Once adapted, it can accommodate the other four Qi.

After she finished speaking, she immediately began to transmit the cultivation incantations for the remaining four Qi. Though there were many, Li Muzhan possessed the ability of instant recall and naturally memorized them all.

An hour later, Leng Wushuang finished her instruction and then inquired about the harvest from the Sea Heaven Palace—whether he had seen Meng Qiuxia and what her attitude had been.

Li Muzhan recounted the entire affair without concealment, including his own thoughts on the matter.

“Lake Master, in my view, this was not a honey trap set by the Sea Heaven Palace. Senior Sister Meng is worthy of Senior Brother Xia. Her heart is luminous, and her character is strong and independent—a truly rare and exceptional woman, not some common, superficial beauty. The Lake Master should grant them her blessing,” Li Muzhan stated.

Leng Wushuang looked at him with a half-smile: “It seems Meng Qiuxia is indeed remarkable; even you have been captivated by her. Rare! Rare!” For someone as spiritually strong as Li Zhu, moving his heart was exceedingly difficult.

………………………………”………………”,……, Li Muzhan smiled: “Lake Master, you should meet her; perhaps you would change your mind… It is a pity, though, that she is currently confined to Sorrowless Cliff, suffering the bitter winds, and cannot come to pay her respects to the Lake Master.”

“Why such severe punishment?” Leng Wushuang asked; she was aware of the Sorrowless Cliff at the Sea Heaven Palace.

Li Muzhan replied: “It is because of Senior Brother Xia.” Leng Wushuang frowned and snorted: “Colluding with an enemy?” Li Muzhan nodded: “Yes.” Leng Wushuang gave a faint smile and shook her head, her face radiating clear disbelief.

A moment later, she asked: “How could you discern that she harbored no other intentions, that it wasn't a honey trap?” Li Muzhan smiled: “If I couldn’t see that, wouldn’t I be unworthy of being a Star Lake disciple?” “You don’t believe me, Lake Master?” Leng Wushuang shook her head.

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment: “I have some sensitivity to the human heart, but it is not very effective on those with strong spirits. It suffices for ordinary people.” “Would you like to test it?” Leng Wushuang smiled.

Li Muzhan nodded: “Very well!” Leng Wushuang summoned Guo Xiaoxia and asked Li Muzhan how he wished to test it. Li Muzhan said with a smile: “Please ask Senior Sister Guo to fetch brush and ink.”

While she went to fetch them, Li Muzhan said: “Lake Master, it is best that this ability of mine remains unknown to others.”

Leng Wushuang nodded, understanding his concern.

Li Muzhan continued: “Ask Senior Sister Guo to think of an object in her mind, then write it down. I will write down what I perceive, and we can compare the two. How about that?”

“Yes, we shall do that,” Leng Wushuang agreed.

Guo Xiaoxia brought the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and placed them on the table, then turned to leave, but Leng Wushuang called her back.