Feng Mingxue found it strange that Li Muzhan was toying with Zhu Wu like that, but she asked no further questions. Her junior brother must have his reasons, reasons an outsider couldn't grasp.
However, this ball of silver dragon power was formidable, similar in some ways to a flying sword, and easier to control. If one’s proficiency in the Yujian Jing (Sword Control Scripture) was lacking, this could serve as a substitute.
This offered immense benefits to the disciples of the Yunxiao Sect; they could use it to practice the Yujian Jing, and with increased familiarity, their mastery of the scripture would deepen.
But this was his own martial art, interest reserved for the original master; it couldn't be easily taught to others—a pity. Her bright eyes swept over Bai Da and the other three. They were still bound by iron chains, eyes closed, perfectly still, like corpses. She could sense their vitality, however, growing stronger, meaning they must be cultivating. She sighed in relief, deciding to deal with rescuing them later, and turned her gaze back towards Li Muzhan.
By this time, hundreds of exchanges had occurred. Suddenly—Li Muzhan flashed, instantly appearing behind Zhu Wu. Before Zhu Wu could react, a palm struck the middle of his back.
“Boom!” Zhu Wu shot forward, slamming into a burly, bare-chested man before crashing heavily against the wall. “Waaah!” He spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes wide open, fixed glaringly on Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan sighed, “Young Master Zhu Wu, your Divine Dragon Hand technique lacks power.”
“Nonsense!” Zhu Wu cursed furiously, yet his strength failed him. “Waaah!” He spat more blood, pointing a trembling finger at Li Muzhan, shock etched on his face. “You… you…”
Li Muzhan nodded. “And what do you think of the power of my Divine Dragon Hand?”
“How could you…?” Zhu Wu’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Li Muzhan chuckled. “The Zhu family’s Divine Dragon Hand is indeed exceptional. Thank you for the demonstration!”
“How can you know…?” Zhu Wu pointed, unable to believe it.
Li Muzhan sighed. “Only Young Master Zhu Wu would be capable of ripping out a living heart. What has made you so utterly brutal? I should repay you in kind, but alas, I lack the heart to do it. Depart in peace.”
Zhu Wu suddenly let out a dry, rattling laugh.
Li Muzhan smiled faintly. “You’re thinking of the masters from Phoenix Island… aren’t you?”
“You won’t escape!” Zhu Wu glared, his eyes filled with venomous hatred. He sneered coldly, “If you can escape Phoenix Island, you won't escape our Zhu family’s pursuit. I’ll wait for you on the road to the Yellow Springs!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Then wait you shall, though it might be a very long wait.” Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed. “The Zhu family is quite formidable… I am eager to see.”
“You truly aren’t afraid of our pursuit?” Zhu Wu sneered, glancing sideways at him, reaching out to dust the ash from his brocade robe. He snarled with hatred, “We have experts like clouds in the sky… we will certainly kill you!”
Li Muzhan laughed. “Then come, by all means. I, too, wish to meet the masters of the Zhu family. The Four Great Clans—what a renowned name!”
“You…” Zhu Wu pointed at him, gritted his teeth, and suddenly collapsed to his knees. Feng Mingxue’s bright eyes widened, staring in astonishment.
Zhu Wu looked up, his face plastered with fawning smiles. “Great Hero, spare my life, and I shall surely repay you!”
Li Muzhan smiled gently. “Young Master Zhu Wu, how could I possibly spare you? If I let you live, you would surely have me killed afterward… wouldn't you?”
Zhu Wu quickly insisted, “The Great Hero worries too much! Just spare my life, and I will pledge my service to the Great Hero, running errands and bowing before you, never complaining!”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “I cannot trust you.”
“Does the Great Hero have any restraints, perhaps a binding technique or poison, that could subdue me first? That way I would surely not dare harm the Great Hero again, right?” Zhu Wu suggested.
Li Muzhan laughed. “Now that is a good idea.”
Zhu Wu nodded eagerly, smiling broadly. “Spare my life, and I can use the strength of our family to help the Great Hero! Give me any command, and I dare not refuse!”
Feng Mingxue tilted her head, finding Zhu Wu utterly shameless. His sycophantic smile was the complete antithesis of his previous arrogance, as if he were a different person. The shift was too rapid, too jarring. To save his own skin, he would say anything, throwing away all pretense of honor.
Li Muzhan nodded. “Very well.”
Zhu Wu nodded frantically, smiling obsequiously. “Thank you, Great Hero, thank you! I will repay the Great Hero’s mercy tenfold!”
Li Muzhan stepped toward him, extending a finger to strike, but paused suddenly. He gently pinched, and between his index and middle fingers, he held a slender needle, nearly invisible unless scrutinized closely.
This needle was about the length of a thumb, thin as a strand of hair, entirely colorless, appearing as if condensed from ice. It was invisible in the air, perhaps catching a glimmer of light only when struck by the sun.
Li Muzhan smiled. “How could a disciple of the Zhu family lack some means of self-preservation?”
Zhu Wu suddenly sprang up, leaping toward Li Muzhan in mid-air, sneering, “Clever boy, you do have some skill if you could evade that! Now, take my real Divine Dragon Hand!”
As he spoke, he drove forward with immense force. With a muffled thud, the air before Li Muzhan seemed to explode, and a fierce power rushed toward him.
Li Muzhan smoothly retreated a meter to evade it, only to see a canopy of palm shadows descending. Unable to discern the true attack amidst the illusion, Li Muzhan flashed again, dodging once more.
His footwork was exquisite, narrowly avoiding both strikes. “Wooo…” A furious roar tore from Zhu Wu’s throat, like the enraged bellow of a true dragon—rough and deep, completely contrary to his usual shrill voice. It sounded as if it hadn't originated from his own body.
“Woo…” His right palm transformed into a spectral dragon, lunging viciously at Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan felt a genuine inability to evade; this palm strike was impossibly fast, seeming to tear the very air, arriving instantly before his chest.
Left with no choice, Li Muzhan met the attack with his own palm.
“Bang!” The dull impact sent waves of surging blood through the onlookers. Feng Mingxue fared better, but she glanced at Bai Da and the others; they seemed unharmed. She breathed a sigh of relief and watched the confrontation.
Li Muzhan stepped back one pace, his face pale. Zhu Wu’s face was equally pale, yet he did not yield an inch, sneering coldly, “Good, good! To withstand a single strike of my Divine Dragon Palm—you are the first. Now, take another!”
Li Muzhan stated calmly, “Do you still have the strength for another?”
Zhu Wu gave a cold laugh, pulling a small porcelain vial from his robes, pulling the cork, and downing the contents in one go. Immediately, a formidable surge of energy erupted from his body.
The medicine took effect with terrifying speed. Zhu Wu’s brocade robe billowed outward, slowly inflating like a balloon. He began to walk slowly toward Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan frowned. The Zhu family disciples were clearly not easy to kill; their tricks were endless. Anyone else would have been slain and escaped by now.
Li Muzhan frowned, recognizing this as Divine Dragon Powder, capable of spurring one dragon’s worth of power—immensely potent, but using it meant rendering oneself a cripple thereafter. This Zhu Wu was truly ruthless, hard not only on others but also on himself; his mentality was severely twisted.
“Wooo…” The dragon’s roar issued from his mouth again. His figure blurred, and an entire stream of shadows manifested before Feng Mingxue.
She gasped in alarm, trying to evade, but it was too late. She watched helplessly as his reddened palm swung toward her chest, but suddenly, a force tugged her waist, wrenching her sideways nearly a foot.
“Smash!” The stone chamber shook violently. Zhu Wu’s palm missed her, slamming instead into the stone wall, punching clean through it. A sliver of sunlight streamed in from the outside.
Li Muzhan shook his head. Zhu Wu stood motionless, his right palm embedded in the stone, seemingly stuck there in contemplation.
“He…?” Feng Mingxue sensed that Zhu Wu’s life force was extinguished.
Li Muzhan nodded. “Worthy of a Zhu family disciple. A venomous brute.”
He turned to the other three bare-chested men. “Kill yourselves. I’ll grant you a swift end.”
“Snap!” Three dark, brown whips lashed out. Li Muzhan shook his head, flicked a finger, and a bloody hole appeared in the center of each of the three men’s foreheads. They slumped down slowly.
Feng Mingxue asked, “How did he die?”
Li Muzhan explained, “He used a secret method to catalyze his potential and drank something to boost it. The final strike killed him—it was a mutually destructive technique. Don't move!”
Feng Mingxue was just about to strike Zhu Wu’s corpse with a palm to ensure his final repose when Li Muzhan stopped her.
“What is it?” Feng Mingxue turned to look at him.
Li Muzhan sighed. “Do not touch him.”
“What’s wrong?” Feng Mingxue was confused. Even if he were poisoned, it wouldn't matter; she wouldn't touch him, only use internal energy from a distance.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “He enacted a strange secret art. If you touch him, he will explode, taking this entire room with him.”
“Ah—?” Feng Mingxue’s bright eyes widened, staring blankly at the motionless Zhu Wu.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “It’s hard to believe unless you witness it firsthand, isn’t it? When we leave, I’ll let Senior Sister see the power firsthand.”
Li Muzhan turned and shouted, “Bai Da, stop pretending to be dead! Get down here!”
The four men, Bai Da included, struggled lightly, instantly dropping to the ground. They were still weak, their hand and foot tendons having been severed—that vicious Zhu Wu had disabled them before attempting to extract information.
Li Muzhan examined them briefly. “Can you walk?”
“Young Master…” Bai Da lowered his head in shame. “We can walk!”
Li Muzhan sighed. “Forget it. You were unlucky enough to run into a Zhu family master. Let’s go!”
Bai Da and the others truly had terrible luck. First, Hai Yulan had severed their tendons, and just as they were recovering, Zhu Wu did it again.
Fortunately, their foundations remained intact. Under the circulation of Li Muzhan’s pure internal energy, their injuries healed rapidly, reaching seventy or eighty percent recovery in that short time.
The four of them glared hatefully at Zhu Wu, then slowly followed him out. The small hut was near the sea, and stepping outside led directly onto the sandy beach.
“Senior Sister,” Li Muzhan looked toward a small boat in the distance.
Feng Mingxue gave a slight nod, reached out, and pulled; Hu San and Zhao Si flew upward, hovering and moving with her. Li Muzhan reached out and tugged Bai Da and Li Er; they floated as if propelled by wind, lightly reaching the small boat.
As the boat pulled away from the shore, a muffled rumble sounded. The stone hut trembled, and the very ground seemed to shake, before the structure slowly collapsed, stones tumbling down.
Feng Mingxue gasped, sighing. “What kind of martial art is this? So utterly dominant!”
The sheer destructive force of that explosion was something even her junior brother’s fists and palms couldn't achieve—truly terrifying. If they had been inside the hut, survival would have been impossible!
She glanced at Li Muzhan, realizing her junior brother truly seemed omniscient. Even such a hidden secret of the Zhu family was known to him, and he even seemed to know the Divine Dragon Hand. Had he truly obtained the manual for it?
A slight, cool breeze brushed his face. Li Muzhan laughed. “Senior Sister, you want to learn the Divine Dragon Hand?”
“You really got it?” Feng Mingxue’s bright eyes widened slightly.
Li Muzhan nodded slowly. “Although I don’t know if it’s the authentic version, I obtained a cultivation manual that can activate the Divine Dragon Hand. Shall I demonstrate it for you?”
“Perhaps not. It wasn't easy for you to acquire; I shouldn't take such a huge advantage!” Feng Mingxue shook her head.
Li Muzhan smiled. “Senior Sister still treats me like an outsider; that truly hurts my feelings!” Feng Mingxue rolled her eyes. “Stop with that routine, Junior Brother. How exactly did you obtain the Divine Dragon Hand?” Li Muzhan chuckled. “That cannot be told!” “Fine, if you won't say, then don't mention the Divine Dragon Hand either. Practice it by yourself!” Feng Mingxue gave a slight, reproachful glare.
Li Muzhan clarified, “It’s nothing, really. I derived the core method through extrapolation, so it’s not entirely accurate. The power won't be comparable to the true Divine Dragon Hand.”
“Will killing Zhu Wu cause trouble?” Feng Mingxue asked, tilting her head.
She had grown noticeably more spirited around Li Muzhan, reverting to a young girl rather than maintaining her previous cold demeanor.
Li Muzhan replied, “Whether it causes trouble or not, I couldn't let him live. He deserved what he got for what he did to Bai Da and the others!” “Are you worried about the Zhu family, Senior Sister?”
Feng Mingxue said, “The Four Great Clans are not powerful by chance; they have maintained their heritage for hundreds of years since the founding of the dynasty!”
Bai Da spoke up miserably, “Young Master, we’ve implicated you again. We are so useless!”
Li Muzhan shot them a look. “How long have you been practicing martial arts? Why the rush? When we return to the Yunxiao Sect, you must train diligently. You are forbidden from coming out until you master your skills!”
The four men nodded fiercely. “Yes, Young Master! We will train desperately and not shame the Young Master!”
Having suffered misfortune after misfortune, their resolve to strive harder intensified; they wished they could return to the Yunxiao Sect immediately to begin rigorous training.
Li Muzhan warned them, “The most dangerous mindset for cultivation is this desire to reach the peak instantly—skipping food and sleep, neglecting everything, risking your very lives! Wait until your excitement has cooled and your enthusiasm has settled before you begin your real practice!”
“...Yes.” Bai Da and the others didn't quite grasp the meaning, but since the Young Master commanded it, they would obey.
Feng Mingxue seemed to grasp the implication. She had experienced a bout of Qi deviation once; although it led to rapid advancement and saved by her junior brother, significantly boosting her power, she remained deeply shaken. Being frozen, unable to communicate with the outside world, and waiting alone for death was an experience she wouldn't wish on anyone.
Li Muzhan paused, then sighed. “Forget it. With you all in this state, traveling will be difficult. I’ll just transport you directly!”
He then turned to Feng Mingxue. “Senior Sister, I will send them there!”
“I’ll take them back; you attend to your own affairs,” Feng Mingxue offered.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Never mind, I’ll send them directly. Senior Sister, please keep an eye on things.”
Without waiting for Feng Mingxue to reply, he grabbed Bai Da and Li Er, vanished instantly, reappeared, then seized Hu San and Zhao Si, disappearing again before reappearing one last time.
“Junior Brother, are you alright?” Feng Mingxue asked, noticing his pale face and weak aura.
Li Muzhan managed a wry smile. “Saving effort always comes at a price. Senior Sister, lend me some strength!”
“Alright.” Feng Mingxue agreed without hesitation. The two sat cross-legged on the small boat, letting it drift. They sat one behind the other; Li Muzhan in front, eyes closed, regulating his breathing, and Feng Mingxue behind him, palms pressed against his back.
A steady flow of internal energy poured into his body. Li Muzhan recovered swiftly. After about fifteen minutes, he was back to normal. They both rose, shaking out their robes.
“Junior Brother, what did you do to them?” Feng Mingxue asked, pointing toward a distant small island.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “I paid them no mind. Let them fend for themselves.”
“No need to eliminate them?” Feng Mingxue questioned.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Killing them would be pointless effort. If the Zhu family can trace this, they wouldn't be the Zhu family!”
Feng Mingxue asked, “Aren't you worried at all?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “To tell you the truth, Senior Sister, not only am I not worried, I’m a little excited. I wonder what kind of masters the Zhu family possesses… It’s been a long time since I encountered a real expert.”
Feng Mingxue pursed her lips and laughed. “Junior Brother, you only recently became a Grandmaster, and you’re already feeling lonely for opponents?”
Li Muzhan nodded slowly. “It seems so.”
Feng Mingxue remarked, “Then you should seek out another Grandmaster.”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Grandmasters rarely fight. Once they do, control is lost, and it’s easy to make a fatal mistake.”
“Should we go find Sister Hai now?” Feng Mingxue asked.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Senior Sister, I want to strike first and gauge the Zhu family’s true strength.”
Feng Mingxue exclaimed, “You have quite the nerve! The Zhu Residence in Tianjing?”
“Yes,” Li Muzhan nodded, smiling. “You should go and assist Miss Hai.”
“I’ll go with you!” Feng Mingxue insisted.
Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head without speaking.
Feng Mingxue huffed, “You think I’m a burden!” “Fine, I’ll return to the Sect first. You just take a quick look and don't engage the Zhu family!”
Li Muzhan laughed. “Naturally, I won't fight until I understand the situation... Why don't you go to Miss Hai’s place?”
“Let’s go!” Feng Mingxue huffed, casting him a side-eye. “Are you being dense? With Elder Fu there, going now would just be wasting my time!”
Li Muzhan slapped his forehead lightly—he had forgotten that. Since Senior Sister belonged to the Yunxiao Sect, Fu Feihong would certainly not look favorably upon her, and even if he didn't cause trouble, he wouldn't offer a warm welcome.
He casually placed an arm around Feng Mingxue’s slender waist and vanished, returning to the Sect, and then directly to Hai Yulan’s quarters.
Hai Yulan was reclining on a chaise, reading. Seeing him appear, she smiled faintly, put down her book, and gracefully approached the table to pour him a cup of wine. “What’s happened? You carry such murderous intent!”
Li Muzhan recounted the entire sequence of events. Hai Yulan shook her head. “Young Master Zhu Wu, Li Wuji, you’ve stirred up serious trouble!”
“Tell me about it,” Li Muzhan invited.
Hai Yulan tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and sat down beside him. A delicate fragrance wafted over, instantly filling the room with a certain intimacy.
She sighed, “That Young Master Zhu Wu is a direct descendant of the Zhu family!”
Li Muzhan nodded. “The man was brutal… he enjoyed ripping out living hearts. He deserved to die long ago!”
Hai Yulan sighed. “Yes, but he was clever and cunning, one of the eight direct disciples of the Zhu family who was very active and quite prominent. The Zhu family will never let this rest!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “I never intended to let them rest easily either!”
“What do you plan to do?” Hai Yulan asked.
Li Muzhan replied, “I want to probe the Zhu family… see what their true capabilities are.”
Hai Yulan frowned. “You are incredibly bold! The Zhu family seems to possess methods to counter Grandmasters; otherwise, they would have been eliminated long ago!”
Li Muzhan laughed. “I will be careful. I am eager to witness a method that counters Grandmasters!”
“Then you must be cautious,” Hai Yulan mused, then shook her head. “Perhaps you should bring Sister Feng along! If you get trapped, she can save you.”
Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. “That’s an ominous thing to say!”
“Ominous or not, I insist you bring Sister Feng!” Hai Yulan insisted with a playful pout.
Li Muzhan nodded his agreement.
Hai Yulan smiled slightly, looking at him, then shook her head, puzzling Li Muzhan, who pressed her for an explanation. Hai Yulan refused to say, but unable to withstand his persistent questioning, she finally relented. “I didn't realize you were such a popular figure!”
Li Muzhan laughed. “What do you mean by that?”
“I didn’t realize someone like Sister Feng had fallen for you!” Hai Yulan shook her head.
Li Muzhan said sternly, “Stop talking nonsense!”
Hai Yulan rolled her eyes. “Lying outright! I don't believe you can’t see it. Are you pretending to be dense?!”
Li Muzhan sighed in resignation. “Senior Sister is above petty romantic affairs; her devotion lies only in martial arts.”
“I think Sister Feng is being swept away against her will. She won't be able to focus purely on martial arts anymore!” Hai Yulan sighed softly.
Li Muzhan said, “Alright, stop this talk. I’m leaving!”
“Hmph, you’re feeling guilty!” Hai Yulan persisted, pouting. “Sister Feng is not like me; she doesn't know what men truly are. She holds onto hope, so don't hurt her!”
Li Muzhan retorted impatiently, “Miss Hai, you sound quite disillusioned with men!”
Hai Yulan glared at him. “All you men are greedy and lustful creatures, and you are no exception. Do you dare say you aren't moved by Sister Feng?”
Li Muzhan sighed helplessly. “You…”
Hai Yulan warned, “I certainly don't want Sister Feng to end up like my Master!”
Li Muzhan was silent for a long moment, then sighed. “I will be careful!”
“Alright, you must take Sister Feng with you!” Hai Yulan said with a faint smile. Li Muzhan set down the white jade cup and vanished instantly.
Li Muzhan returned to the Sect, brought Feng Mingxue along, and set off for Tianjing. Feng Mingxue was overjoyed and didn't ask why he had suddenly changed his mind; she was simply pleased to be included.
It took them half a month to reach Tianjing City. They had traveled swiftly, relying on lightness skills that surpassed a galloping horse, which accounted for their rapid arrival.
During the journey, Li Muzhan visited Hai Yulan every two or three days. Each time he returned, Feng Mingxue gave him a cold reception, though over time, she managed to suppress her reactions and maintain an impassive exterior.
They moved forward with the crowd, unconsciously entering the city. After inquiring around, they arrived outside the Zhu family manor to observe. Looking at the simple, large residence, with the words “Zhu Fu” inscribed above the gate, both felt a sense of unreality.
Is this the legendary Zhu Clan? The Zhu Clan of the Four Great Families? It wasn't what they had imagined—no gilded splendor, no luxurious feasting, but rather a stark simplicity. Those coming and going within the compound all wore simple damask robes of purplish-red; not a single person was clad in embroidered silks, and their expressions were stern, utterly devoid of smiles.
"This is really the Zhu Clan?" Feng Mingxue couldn't help but ask.
Li Muzhan sighed, "What a formidable Zhu Clan! It must be them!"
"Isn't this a bit too shabby?" Feng Mingxue frowned and queried.
Li Muzhan chuckled, "It’s just for show. A pity they might have performed the pretense so well that it’s become real!"
Feng Mingxue pursed her lips and smiled, "That's an interesting way of putting it—pretending so long it becomes genuine. Fascinating! But why are they like this?"
Li Muzhan answered, "It’s like serving an emperor; you’re walking a tiger’s path. They must be afraid of His Majesty."
Feng Mingxue nodded, "They only have the Emperor to fear, don't they? The Four Great Families are quite imposing!"
"No matter how imposing, they can't compare to the Imperial Family! Too bad we won't have a chance to see the Imperial secret techniques." Li Muzhan shook his head, earning an eye-roll from Feng Mingxue, who chided him for his reckless audacity in harboring such a dangerous thought.