The methods employed within the Forbidden Palace were beyond the knowledge of outsiders; the more mysterious they were, the more potent they seemed, and no Grandmaster had ever been heard of breaching its confines.
Li Muzhan frowned. “Senior Sister, do you sense the strangeness here?”
“It feels a bit oppressive,” Feng Mingxue nodded, surveying their surroundings. “Like the sky is about to burst open with rain. I thought it was just my imagination; you feel it too?”
Li Muzhan replied, “Indeed, something is pressing down on the spirit. It seems they truly possess a Sacred Artifact capable of restraining a Grandmaster!”
His perception was far deeper. Where Feng Mingxue felt only a subtle pressure, like storm clouds gathering overhead, he felt as if he couldn’t draw breath. An invisible force surged around them, rolling in waves, intent on consuming and crushing him, as if a colossal beast crouched nearby, watching with baleful eyes.
The sensation was utterly real. Though he knew it was illusory, his body reacted instinctively, urging him to turn tail and flee, to get as far away as possible, triggering an instinctual alarm.
“Then what should we do? Should we still sneak in to take a look?” Feng Mingxue asked.
Li Muzhan pondered for a moment. “To come all this way and leave without investigating would be far too anticlimactic. I’ll go in and see.”
“I’m coming too!” Feng Mingxue insisted immediately.
Li Muzhan frowned. “Senior Sister, perhaps you should wait outside. It might not be peaceful in there.”
“Am I just going to be a burden?” Feng Mingxue huffed.
Li Muzhan quickly shook his head. “Senior Sister’s martial arts are superb; how could you be a burden? … It’s just that if a real fight breaks out, we might both have to run for our lives.”
“You run your race, I have my own escape route!” Feng Mingxue declared.
Li Muzhan’s brow lifted. Feng Mingxue continued, “After returning to the sect, I specifically sought out an ultimate escape technique called the Fading of Splendor.”
Li Muzhan chuckled. “Fading of Splendor?”
Feng Mingxue explained, “This is one of the Cloud Heaven Sect’s most guarded secrets. Most disciples don’t learn it, and neither of us had bothered to learn it.”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “I truly never learned it.”
Feng Mingxue laughed. “You possess a more advanced movement technique, so you never needed it. As for me, I focused solely on the Sword Guidance Scripture, so I skipped it too. Now that I’ve learned it, it’s quite impressive.”
Seeing Li Muzhan’s skeptical look, Feng Mingxue suddenly flickered, her form becoming indistinct, like a swirl of distorted light and shadow, instantly appearing ten zhang away, as swift as lightning.
“How about that?” Feng Mingxue asked proudly.
Li Muzhan slowly nodded, replaying the preceding moment in his mind, analyzing her movement technique. The instantaneous virtualization and reappearance ten zhang distant—this Qinggong was indeed extraordinary, surpassing even his Minor Teleportation.
Feng Mingxue asked, “If I stay close, I won’t hold you back, will I?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Alright, we’ll stick together. But we must be ready to retreat instantly if necessary. We absolutely cannot press on blindly. The Zhu family must have top-tier experts.”
“Could there really be Grandmasters?” Feng Mingxue laughed, shaking her head.
Li Muzhan countered, “Not necessarily not. The foundation of these great clans is too deep; with abundant resources, cultivating masters becomes easier.”
Feng Mingxue pursed her lips and smiled. “I was planning to tell you to be careful, but now you’re warning me. Fine, enough talk, I understand. Let’s go!”
Li Muzhan gently gathered her slender waist, and the two of them vanished in a flash, reappearing inside the high walls of the Zhu Manor, pressing themselves against the stonework. He took a deep breath, and a hint of color returned to his pale complexion.
Noticing the change in his face, Feng Mingxue frowned. “What’s wrong? Are you injured?”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “It’s nothing. That oppressive aura is astonishingly powerful. Whatever is causing it, we must ascertain the truth. Let’s proceed slowly.”
Feng Mingxue gave a slight nod. She only felt a mild discomfort from the sensation of being overshadowed by storm clouds.
With Li Muzhan leading and Feng Mingxue close behind, they stepped into the grove connected to the courtyard wall. It was planted with peach trees, though alas, it was not the season for blossoms.
Li Muzhan moved with extreme caution, pausing frequently to make a gesture. Feng Mingxue nodded, carefully placing her feet in his exact tracks, not daring to misstep.
She knew the Zhu Manor must be riddled with traps, perhaps even formations. Everything they saw might be false, but formations were useless against a Grandmaster, so following him was certainly the right course of action.
After walking barely thirty paces, the scenery shimmered violently, transforming into a marsh. Thankfully, Li Muzhan was breaking the path ahead, and she followed closely behind.
A hundred paces later, the view shifted again, becoming a roaring bonfire. A searing heat washed over them, as if trying to roast her alive, making her instinctively want to turn back.
Li Muzhan’s steps remained slow and deliberate, yet imbued with unyielding resolve. She took a deep breath, suppressing the chaos in her mind, recognizing this as a Soul Shaking Technique.
They proceeded another thirty steps before Li Muzhan stopped. She crept closer and whispered via sound transmission, “Junior Brother, what is it?”
Li Muzhan replied with a bitter smile. “An incredibly powerful expert. Have we been discovered?”
“So quickly?” Feng Mingxue was astonished.
Li Muzhan sighed. “I didn’t expect the Zhu family to be this vigilant, stationing such a character at the outermost layer!”
He had harbored a slight hope that the Zhu family maintained a loose exterior with tight security inside, but to encounter a top-tier expert the moment they entered was unexpected. He felt a distinct threat.
He drew a deep breath and looked calmly toward the front-left. A figure flickered, and a man in black robes materialized before them. At that very moment, all Feng Mingxue could see was a bank of flames engulfing them; the burning sensation was intensely real.
The old man in black seemed to tread upon the flames as he slowly approached, a cold sneer fixed on his face.
Li Muzhan assessed him from head to toe: a short stature, a withered face etched with wrinkles like aged pine bark, sparse hair, and eyebrows and a beard as white as snow. His eyes were dull, devoid of light, suggesting a man at the end of his candle, liable to collapse at any moment.
Li Muzhan frowned. He hadn't anticipated the Zhu family possessing such a profound master, whose cultivation depth clearly exceeded a hundred years.
In terms of sheer cultivation depth, Li Muzhan was slightly inferior. However, Grandmaster status wasn't solely granted by depth of cultivation; it required enlightenment. Without that insight, even the deepest cultivation would stall at the Grandmaster realm. Judging by this elder’s profound cultivation, he clearly lacked that final enlightenment, hence remaining below the Grandmaster threshold, yet such individuals were often more perilous, perpetually close to a breakthrough.
Li Muzhan dared not underestimate him; his instincts screamed repeated warnings: this man was extremely dangerous.
“Senior Sister, if things turn sour, you leave first!” he whispered, turning to her.
Feng Mingxue’s expression shifted slightly. “We can’t beat him?”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “I wouldn’t say that. Fifty-fifty, perhaps.”
The overwhelming pressure surged in waves, battering his spirit like massive breakers. Li Muzhan, possessing a formidable spirit, held firm, erecting a barricade to block the psychic assault.
This undeniably inhibited his performance. Within ten zhang, he was typically the sovereign, achieving unity between man and heaven; under this potent mental interference, it was difficult to maintain, effectively forcing him back to the Grandmaster realm.
Grandmasters were not invincible. When he was merely a Grandmaster, he believed they could roam unimpeded, unmatched in the world. Only upon achieving the realm did he realize how narrow his view had been. Indeed, one thing always countered another; there truly existed entities capable of restraining a Grandmaster.
Li Muzhan risked entering the Zhu Manor precisely because he knew it was dangerous, wanting to discover what item could suppress him and whether he could find a way to neutralize that restraint.
The venture was proving difficult. Although the three outer formations had been broken, they had been discovered. Progressing further would require overcoming this elder first.
The old man’s dim eyes swept over both of them before finally settling on Li Muzhan. He shook his head and sighed. “Young man, you’ve wandered into the wrong place. Go back now!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Senior, what manner of expert are you, to guard the gate for the Zhu family with such profound cultivation?”
“This old man is a disciple of the Zhu family. Aged and confused, what else would I be doing but guarding the gate?” The old man in black shook his head with a slight smile, sighing. “Bringing such a fair and lovely lady on such a perilous outing is hardly wise. Return.”
Li Muzhan stated, “The Zhu family is indeed imposing; to have an expert such as yourself guarding the door! Then perhaps we should exchange a few moves. I have long admired the fame of the Zhu family’s Divine Dragon Hand!”
The old man sighed and shook his head. “Alas... young people these days never learn until they face the coffin. Very well, let us begin!”
Li Muzhan stepped forward before him, slowly pushing out his right palm, intending to test the elder’s cultivation.
The old man in black did not disappoint. With a silent flick of his sleeve, Li Muzhan’s expression subtly changed, followed by a sharp pop as he was sent smoothly flying back a full zhang.
He kept his gaze fixed on the elder. Feng Mingxue could also tell that Li Muzhan had been at a disadvantage. This elder’s century of accrued cultivation was no trifling matter.
The Zhu family’s cultivation methods were likely no less potent than those of the Cloud Heaven Sect, and he had cultivated for an entire century. No matter how profound Li Muzhan’s foundation or how fast his cultivation speed, he could not easily match a hundred years of accumulated practice.
Li Muzhan let out an appreciative sound. “Magnificent cultivation, I am truly impressed!”
The old man narrowed his eyes slightly, resuming his aged appearance, as if a single gust of wind could scatter him. He shook his head and sighed. “I am old. Young fellow, your foundation is excellent. Go back. This old man does not wish to kill anyone today.”
Li Muzhan pressed on. “I hear the Zhu family possesses a Sacred Object capable of suppressing a Grandmaster. I am extremely curious about its nature; I hope the Senior can enlighten me!”
The old man looked at him, deep in thought.
Li Muzhan smiled. “My interest is purely academic curiosity.”
“Which family’s disciple are you?” the old man inquired.
Li Muzhan smiled slyly. “Senior, you guess. This junior dares not reveal his name, lest I bring trouble upon my sect.”
“So, your sect is not particularly powerful,” the old man nodded. “Such cultivation at your age is rare indeed. Are you perhaps interested in joining my Zhu family?”
Li Muzhan chuckled warmly. “Thank you for the kind offer, Senior. Everything I possess now is thanks to my sect; I cannot be ungrateful.”
“Hmm, you value loyalty. I like that even more,” the old man replied with a gentle smile.
Li Muzhan continued smiling. “Senior flatters me. But seriously, what is this item that can restrain a Grandmaster? I am truly curious.”
“Most people would not be interested in this. There are only four or five Grandmasters in the world. Does your sect perhaps have one?” the old man shook his head.
Li Muzhan insisted, “It is purely curiosity, Senior. I beg your instruction.”
He pleaded gently with a smiling demeanor. Feng Mingxue watched in silent astonishment. It seemed the elder’s cultivation was indeed overwhelming, suppressing her Junior Brother. Although he appeared friendly and gentle now, he possessed an unyielding pride. Considering his status as the youngest Grandmaster in history, how could he lack arrogance? He only used such soft words and flattery when dealing with his Master or her; toward outsiders, he was always aloof and proud.
The old man spoke slowly. “It is no secret. This item is the Danxin Iron Scroll bestowed by Emperor Ming.”
“Oh.” Li Muzhan nodded slowly, wearing an expression of resigned confirmation.
He had guessed this possibility earlier. The four great clans all possessed Sacred Artifacts capable of restraining Grandmasters, and the Royal Family likely had one too. Such an artifact must be exceedingly rare, otherwise, if Grandmasters were universally suppressed, they wouldn’t hold their current standing. Connecting the dots, he thought of the Royal Family. Even with their deep foundations, acquiring such a relic would be difficult for the four clans. The fact that all four possessed one hinted at something unusual, leading his thoughts to the Royal lineage and the Emperor’s Danxin Iron Scroll—he had faintly suspected this.
The old man shook his head. “The Danxin Iron Scroll is the legacy of our ancestors. We successors are incapable, relying only on this. Why is a young man like you so interested in it?”
Li Muzhan replied, “I have always wanted to know what in this world can stand against a Grandmaster!”
“You must have an enemy who is a Grandmaster?” The old man smiled and shook his head. “Making an enemy of a Grandmaster is not wise. Forget about it.”
Li Muzhan snorted. “How can one forget a blood feud?”
The old man sighed deeply. “The power of a Grandmaster is far beyond your imagination. Even with the Danxin Iron Scroll, you cannot defeat one.”
Li Muzhan pressed, “Are there no other ways to deal with them?!”
The old man shook his head. “In terms of martial arts, you cannot defeat them. Their cultivation is immensely deep, and they perceive the laws of heaven and earth. No matter how exquisite your moves, they are useless.”
This point, at least, was sound. The Divine Dragon Hand was peerlessly subtle; outsiders couldn't discern its intricacies, but it did not escape the elder’s clear perception.
Li Muzhan asked, “I heard the Zhu family’s Divine Dragon Hand is mysterious and profound. Can it not overcome a Grandmaster?”
The old man laughed, shaking his head. “Young man, you are too fixated. No matter how superior the martial art, it cannot overcome a Grandmaster. The key lies not in the technique, but in the person executing it.”
Li Muzhan sighed. “So, my only option is to become a Grandmaster myself?”
“Heh heh...” The old man laughed, his voice raspy and unpleasant, shaking his head. “Young man, you have great ambition, very good. Instead of focusing on these side paths, you’d do better to strive to become a Grandmaster!”
Li Muzhan sighed again. “I just fear that by the time I become a Grandmaster, my enemy will already be dead.”
“A Grandmaster lives five hundred years; that should be enough time for revenge,” the old man smiled gently.
Feng Mingxue whispered softly, “Junior Brother, let’s leave.”
She felt something was amiss. This black-robed elder was far too amiable. Faced with two intruders, he displayed no killing intent, but instead engaged them in an enthusiastic conversation.
Li Muzhan glanced at her and nodded. “Alright then, we shall take our leave now, Senior!”
The old man nodded. “Young man, do not dare trespass here again. Next time, this old man will show no mercy!”
Li Muzhan smiled, clasped his hands in farewell, swept up Feng Mingxue’s slender waist, and retreated gracefully. In the blink of an eye, they floated out of the Zhu Manor and sped away, merging seamlessly into the crowd.
Only once they were fully absorbed by the throng did Li Muzhan let out a breath.
The two slowed their pace, abstaining from Qinggong, becoming indistinguishable from ordinary people strolling along the street, mingling casually.
“Junior Brother, what was going on back there?” Feng Mingxue asked.
Li Muzhan sighed. “A terrifyingly powerful old fellow.”
“Why was he so good-tempered?” Feng Mingxue questioned.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “That old fellow is cunningly seasoned.”
“Hmm—?” Feng Mingxue still couldn’t quite grasp it. The old man’s temper was far too kind, patiently conversing with them without a hint of murderous intent.
Li Muzhan explained, “To live long without dying is to become a rogue. He has managed to control his passions and temper; he maintains such a pleasant disposition purely for the sake of the Zhu family.”
“I don’t understand,” Feng Mingxue shook her head. “You broke into the Zhu Manor; you are clearly not welcome. Why wouldn’t he want to make an enemy of you?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Those who breach the Zhu Manor are not necessarily enemies. His cultivation is deep, and mine is not shallow either. Otherwise, he would have struck lethally long ago.”
“You mean, he was hesitant, which is why he was so agreeable?” Feng Mingxue realized suddenly.
Li Muzhan confirmed, “If he truly intended to kill me, I would surely seek revenge after escaping, and the Zhu family would suffer greatly, considering they have so many disciples.”
“It seems being a great family has its drawbacks,” Feng Mingxue pursed her lips and shook her head with a smile.
Li Muzhan cautioned, “Senior Sister, the Zhu family cannot be underestimated. I could not defeat that old man!”
“Hmm—?” Feng Mingxue’s bright eyes widened. He was a Grandmaster!
Li Muzhan sighed. “The Danxin Iron Scroll is indeed formidable; it suppressed my Grandmaster realm. Upon entering the Zhu Manor, I was regressed to the Grandmaster level.”
Feng Mingxue’s eyes widened even further.
Li Muzhan elaborated, “What Senior Sister sensed of the Danxin Iron Scroll’s might was merely the tip of the iceberg. It’s like our heightened senses: the same sound might be faint to others, but to us, it’s like a thunderclap.”
“I understand!” Feng Mingxue nodded. “It is effective against Grandmasters, but has little effect on Grandmasters, and even less on Martial Masters, correct?”
Li Muzhan affirmed with a simple “Mm.”
Feng Mingxue pondered. “If the Danxin Iron Scroll is so potent, what exactly makes it so?”
As she spoke, she stopped, crouching down to examine a pile of small objects displayed on the ground. They were various peculiar trinkets, resembling antiques.
Li Muzhan squatted down beside her and picked up a small, dark Buddha statue, palm-sized, its features obscured by soot—it was cast in bronze.
He let out a soft sound of surprise. This small, dark statue felt rather peculiar.
Feng Mingxue, meanwhile, was intently studying a tiny sword. This little blade was carved from some unknown wood, also palm-length, shorter than a dagger, quite delicate and exquisite. With her sharp senses, she could detect a faint fragrance emanating from the wood.
Li Muzhan remarked, “There must be some hidden mystery within these items; it’s unlikely to be due to the material itself.”
The power emitted by the Danxin Iron Scroll was spiritual force; it couldn’t possibly stem from the material, but rather from human intent.
Feng Mingxue played with the small sword, shaking her head. “There must be some gossip about this, surely? I’ve never heard anything. Shall we ask Ancestor Mo?”
“That’s all we can do. Too bad Ancestor Mo isn't around,” Li Muzhan conceded.
They both stood up. Li Muzhan held the Buddha statue, and Feng Mingxue held the small sword. They weren't interested in haggling with the stall owner; they simply paid and left.
Feng Mingxue said, “Ancestor Mo should return when he hears the news of your advancement to Grandmaster.”
She toyed with the small sword, laughing. “This sword is quite interesting. Can you discern anything, Junior Brother? … Let me see yours!”
Li Muzhan handed her the Buddha statue and took the small sword. He swung it lightly, raising an eyebrow—it made absolutely no sound cutting the air, which was very strange.
A wooden sword should generate more whistling sound than an iron one when swung, yet this blade produced no trace of air displacement.