"Do you recognize this arrow, Ninth Miss?" Li Muzhan asked. Dugu Jinghua’s expression turned grave as she fixed her gaze on him.

"What is unusual about this arrow?" Li Muzhan paused for a moment. "It was fast, truly lightning-fast, and it made one's spirit dazed.

I didn't have time to evade before it struck." "It must be right…" Dugu Jinghua shook her head and sighed, forcing a bitter smile. "The God-Shattering Arrow.

There is only one in the world that uses it." Li Muzhan frowned. "Are they truly experts from the Inner Palace?" "Yes." Dugu Jinghua's expression grew solemn and heavy, and she nodded slowly.

"It is the unique hidden weapon of the Heavenly Dragon Guard. The Heavenly Dragon Guard is one of the four guards of the Royal Family." Li Muzhan shook his head and chuckled.

"So there are actually Inner Palace masters showing up. Interesting!" Tang Tianming looked somewhat gleeful.

"I say, Li Wuji, you still don't know how formidable the Heavenly Dragon Guard is, do you?" Li Muzhan smiled. "I just fought them.

What do you think?" Tang Tianming closed his mouth sullenly and snorted, "You escaped this time, but you might not be so lucky next time!" Li Muzhan gave him a smiling glance that sent a chill down Tang Tianming’s spine, prompting him to quickly turn his head away. Tang Tang shot a fierce glare at Tang Tianming.

Her eldest brother must have taken the wrong medicine; constantly offending people. He deserved to be taught a lesson; he was just spoiled rotten by their father!

Li Muzhan sighed helplessly. "I nearly fell for it this time.

Four Heavenly Dragon Guards, plus four eminent monks. Truly..." He now understood why he hadn't sensed the danger—it was because those four eminent monks had concealed it.

They carried sacred artifacts that suppressed the surrounding space, preventing him from sensing them. "How old were those eminent monks?" Dugu Jinghua asked.

Li Muzhan replied, "About the same age as the Four Holy Monks of your Four Great Families." Dugu Jinghua's face darkened. She glanced at the others...

and sighed. "Some things cannot be spread.

Just listen and forget you heard!" Tang Tang quickly said, "Auntie, rest assured, we definitely won't speak carelessly." As she spoke, she glanced at Tang Tianming. Tang Tianming snorted, mentally cursing girls for siding with outsiders...

He raised a finger to the sky and swore an oath, "I absolutely will not speak carelessly, or may heaven strike me down and may I die a terrible death!" Dugu Jinghua nodded with satisfaction. "It seems the Emperor himself gave the order." Li Muzhan pondered.

"Is it because of those four eminent monks?" Dugu Jinghua sighed. "Without the Emperor's order, the eminent monks do not emerge.

These monks usually cultivate at the Heavenly King Temple and do not see outsiders." "Heavenly King Temple?" Li Muzhan smiled. "Do you mean the Heavenly King Temple outside the city?" He was interested in Buddhism.

When he usually inquired about the famous sites and ancient relics of Tianjing City, he tended to focus on Buddhist matters. Although Buddhist sects generally remained secluded, there was a Heavenly King Temple in the south of the city.

The incense at this Heavenly King Temple was quite strong, but regrettably, it only housed ordinary monks who merely recited sutras and cultivated their minds, not involving themselves in martial arts. Dugu Jinghua explained, "There are two Heavenly King Temples.

One is within the palace... and one is outside the palace.

Most people don't know the secrets of the Heavenly King Temple. The monks in the palace's Heavenly King Temple are the most elite eminent monks, possessing profound Buddhist wisdom and mighty divine powers; they are supported by the Emperor and his consorts...

The outer Heavenly King Temple is supported by high officials and nobles." Li Muzhan mused. "Is there something strange about the Heavenly King Temple outside the city too?" "The ordinary people only see the common monks who do not practice martial arts; they are the Outer Court disciples.

Every single Inner Court disciple is a great monk who cultivates divine powers," Dugu Jinghua stated. Tang Tianming’s eyes widened.

"Really?" Dugu Jinghua replied, "In a few more years, when you take over as the family head, you will naturally know these things." Tang Tianming rubbed his nose and fell silent. Those words were incredibly annoying, clearly telling him he wasn't qualified to know such things, that he wasn't on the same level as her.

Dugu Heng said, "So there are such mysteries. I truly hadn't noticed." "Heavenly King Temple…" Li Muzhan murmured to himself.

Dugu Jinghua warned, "Sir, you absolutely must not try to probe the reality of the Heavenly King Temple... Once you enter, you won't get out.

We once sent people there, even top masters, but alas, they vanished without a trace; the person disappeared entirely." "Monks practice compassion; would they kill people?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile. Dugu Jinghua revealed a cold smile.

"Although the Buddhist sect forbids killing, they do not object to subduing demons. Anyone who obstructs the righteous path is considered a demon, and they are eliminated." Li Muzhan shook his head.

"These monks are truly not to be underestimated. What do the Four Holy Monks at your residence do usually?" "The small courtyard where the Four Holy Monks reside is a forbidden zone; outsiders are not allowed in," Dugu Heng said resentfully.

"Even I am not permitted to enter." Dugu Jinghua explained, "The Four Holy Monks constantly guard the Danxin Iron Scroll. No one is allowed near them.

Only at a moment of life or death can they be asked to act." Li Muzhan asked, "Ninth Miss, you don't know their background?" Dugu Jinghua shook her head. "They are ascetics who spend the entire year in seclusion.

I have only met them a few times." "...Forget it then." Li Muzhan waved his hand helplessly. "I will be more careful next time.

The Zhu family can summon the Heavenly Dragon Guard; their capability is considerable!" Dugu Jinghua frowned. "It's likely the doing of Noble Consort Zhu.

She is becoming increasingly favored. I wonder what the Emperor means by this action—is it a warning to our Dugu Family?" Li Muzhan smiled.

"Is it because you sheltered me that the Emperor is displeased?" Dugu Jinghua mused. "The Emperor's actions never have just one layer of meaning.

On the surface, it appears he indulges Noble Consort Zhu and sends people out, but there is a deeper implication within." Li Muzhan suggested, "Perhaps it is to show goodwill to the Four Great Families, preventing others from threatening them?" Dugu Jinghua shook her head. "The Emperor wishes the Four Great Families would perish!" Li Muzhan chuckled.

"That may not be the case. Your existence stabilizes the martial artists of the world.

If you were gone, the martial world would inevitably become turbulent. That might not be what he desires." "Sigh..." Dugu Jinghua shook her head.

"The Emperor's actions are unfathomable. He is sometimes absurd and sometimes shrewd, making it impossible to guard against him." Li Muzhan laughed.

"That is precisely his brilliance—unpredictable and ever-changing... Alright, now that I know they are the Heavenly Dragon Guard, let this matter drop.

We will treat it as if it never happened." "Sir, can you swallow this insult?" Dugu Jinghua pursed her lips and smiled. Through their recent interactions, she had faintly grasped Li Muzhan's character: gentle and broad-minded, he wouldn't bother with minor issues, but he was not someone who could be bullied.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "The Emperor is the boss; what choice do I have?

If I truly provoke him, he could just dispatch a hundred or eighty Heavenly Dragon Guards and a hundred or eighty eminent monks, and I really wouldn't be able to escape." If eminent monks carrying sacred artifacts were deployed, even though he was at the Grandmaster realm, he truly couldn't deal with a hundred or eighty Heavenly Dragon Guards. That God-Shattering Arrow was too sinister.

The sky was getting late. Tang Tianming urged Tang Tang, who was reluctant to leave, but they could only depart.

Dugu Heng wished he could stay by her side one moment longer, so he escorted them back. Dugu Jinghua could only helplessly dispatch more guards to follow him.

Only Li Muzhan, Feng Mingxue, and Dugu Jinghua remained in the small pavilion, sitting quietly around the round table, gazing at the crimson, silk-like lake outside, wrapped in silence. The setting sun dyed the lake a vibrant red, coloring everything around—the trees, the hills, the water—in hues of scarlet.

Li Muzhan picked up his tea cup, took a small sip, and said, "Ninth Miss, if you have something to say, please do." Dugu Jinghua sighed, her expression heavy, and slowly said, "Sir, since the Emperor has intervened in this matter, it has escalated. You should start thinking about a retreat." "The Emperor will kill me?" Li Muzhan asked.

Dugu Jinghua shook her head and sighed. "Sir, you don't know the Emperor's temperament; he is the proudest and most stubborn.

Once he resolves to send the Heavenly Dragon Guard to kill you, and they fail, he will feel he has lost face. How can the Emperor’s face be disregarded?

He absolutely must kill you." Li Muzhan frowned. "Is there a way to resolve this?" Dugu Jinghua thought for a while, then shook her head.

"I can only think of one method: feigning death." "Feigning death to escape, shedding the cicada's shell?" Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "It won't last long.

I can't just leave and truly wander the world!" Feng Mingxue's face changed; it became heavy and solemn. Dugu Jinghua insisted, "The Emperor will absolutely not allow you to live!" Li Muzhan asked, "Can his mind not be changed?

Is there no one who can speak to him?" "No way," Dugu Jinghua shook her head and sighed. "Even if he knows he is wrong, the Emperor will persist to the end, especially with Noble Consort Zhu involved..." Li Muzhan started to laugh, turning to Feng Mingxue.

"Senior Sister, it seems I’ve run into real trouble." "Junior Brother, you should hide!" Feng Mingxue’s face was taut; she was in no mood to smile. Li Muzhan shook his head and laughed.

"No rush!... Since the Emperor is like this, then don't blame me for being impolite!" "Sir, you must absolutely not act rashly!" Dugu Jinghua quickly warned.

"Opposing the Emperor leads to no good end. The Inner Palace is filled with masters; no sect can match them." Li Muzhan frowned.

"I am just worried about implicating my sect..." With his Great Teleportation Art, it would be hard to catch him, but the monk might escape, yet the temple could not. If the Emperor failed to capture him and flew into a rage, venting his anger on the Cloud Heaven Sect, his sin would be immense!

"Then the only option is to feign death and escape," Dugu Jinghua concluded. Li Muzhan inquired, "What excellent method is there?" Dugu Jinghua pondered.

"Find someone to impersonate you, then release news that Sir was gravely wounded and died, discovered in the wilderness, his remains gnawed by wild wolves." "Can that fool the Emperor?" Li Muzhan shook his head. Dugu Jinghua promised, "Leave that to me.

I will find a way." Li Muzhan smiled. "No wonder the Emperor is wary of the Four Great Families.

It seems this can fool him. But the Emperor is also a suspicious person, isn't he?" Dugu Jinghua smiled faintly.

"If he can't find a solid vulnerability, he can't do anything to us!" Li Muzhan frowned. "Since the Emperor has such power, why hasn't he dealt with your Four Great Families?

Those Heavenly Dragon Guards have astonishing cultivation, certainly no less than the masters of the Four Great Families." Dugu Jinghua smiled sweetly. "He can deal with one family, but he cannot deal with four.

If he truly moved against them, the Four Great Families would never stand by idly." "What if they don't stand by idly?" Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow. Dugu Jinghua smiled faintly.

"Storm the Imperial Palace and install a new Emperor!" "The marvel of the Danxin Iron Scroll?" Li Muzhan asked, surprised. Dugu Jinghua nodded slowly.

"The fundamental reason the Emperor remains wary of our four families is the Danxin Iron Scroll. It is not just a talisman; it is four swords hanging over his head." Li Muzhan stood up, leaning against the window lattice to gaze at the beautiful scenery outside, shaking his head with a sigh.

"No wonder the Emperor treats your four families this way. Anyone would react the same way.

The Emperor is the master of the world, acting as he pleases; how can he tolerate four swords hanging over his head?!" He then laughed. "No wonder he wants to marry a woman from the Zhu family—it's to win over the Zhu family.

I imagine to depose the current ruler and install a new one, all four families must nod in agreement, right?" Dugu Jinghua shook her head. "Only three families are needed!" "Emperor Ming is truly formidable!" Li Muzhan praised with a shake of his head.

"So, that means one family has already been swayed by the Emperor." His eyebrows shot up, and he suddenly looked toward Dugu Jinghua. "Could it be...

your family?" Dugu Jinghua smiled sweetly. "As expected of Mr.

Li!" Li Muzhan laughed. "This is truly interesting!...

Very well, I will have to trouble Ninth Miss then. It seems I need to change my identity." "Sir should change his identity and alter his appearance," Dugu Jinghua advised.

"Leave Tianjing City first, and find an opportunity to return later." "I won't be returning," Li Muzhan sighed, shaking his head. "The water in the capital is too deep; I'll pass!" Dugu Jinghua quickly urged, "The ultimate concealment is within the court.

Sir, returning under a new identity is far better than staying outside. Isn't that right, Miss Feng?" Feng Mingxue pondered for a moment and nodded.

"That is true." Dugu Jinghua continued, "Once Sir feigns death to escape, the Emperor will not be content and will surely send people to search. There are some extraordinary individuals in the Inner Palace that cannot be underestimated!" Feng Mingxue asked, "What if he hides within the capital then?" Dugu Jinghua replied, "The capital harbors hidden tigers and crouching dragons; it is actually harder to search there." Li Muzhan exclaimed, "It seems it’s the Heavenly King Temple again!" He could deduce that the monks of the Heavenly King Temple, who could mask his perception, must also be able to detect his life force and location.

However, the Danxin Iron Scroll could suppress their sensing—which is why staying hidden in the Dugu Residence was the safest place. Li Muzhan considered for a moment.

"Since that is the case, I will trouble Ninth Miss. Alright, I will leave for a while and then return." "That is best!" Dugu Jinghua smiled sweetly.

Feng Mingxue sighed inwardly. "Junior Brother, are you returning to the sect?" Li Muzhan nodded.

"I need to inform the Sect Master and my Master, and then send Miss Song back to the sect to prevent her from being taken advantage of." "Yes, that is sensible," Feng Mingxue agreed. Li Muzhan smiled.

"Senior Sister, you should stay here for a while first, until I return." "Okay," Feng Mingxue nodded. She knew she wasn't suited to go with him; meeting Song Shuhua would be too awkward.

It was better to stay here and cultivate in peace, avoiding the sight and annoyance. The Dugu Residence was an excellent place for secluded practice, undisturbed by anyone.

A piece of news circulated in Tianjing City... The prodigious disciple of the Cloud Heaven Sect, Li Wuji, was dead, discovered in a desolate valley outside the city.

When found, he was already a mess; his bones had been gnawed by wolves. People once again held the Zhu family in awe, because Li Wuji had previously annihilated half of the Zhu family's top masters, severely damaging their vitality, yet the Zhu family could do nothing to him.

Now that Li Wuji was dead, there was no need to say more—it must have been the Zhu family’s doing. However, strangely, the God-Shattering Arrow appeared at the scene.

The God-Shattering Arrow was a legend, rumored to belong to a mysterious organization, possessing unparalleled power. It seemed the Zhu family had paid a heavy price to hire this organization to kill Li Wuji.

People suddenly understood that sometimes strength wasn't just about having many experts, but also immense financial backing. Money could move ghosts, and money could hire top masters to kill for you!

The true owner of the God-Shattering Arrow was the Heavenly Dragon Guard—this information was known only to a very small circle, and those who knew it never spread it. The Four Great Families all understood that this was the Emperor delivering a killing blow.

Zhao Huairen was displeased and mocked the Zhu family for breaking their word, saying they were unworthy of being one of the Four Great Families. The Zhu family pleaded injustice; they hadn't acted.

They had stated before that the Zhu family would not intervene, but they couldn't be blamed if others did. They all understood that since the God-Shattering Arrow appeared, it must be the Imperial Heavenly Dragon Guard, and the Heavenly Dragon Guard only mobilized under a direct decree from the Emperor.

Though the Four Great Families were powerful, they truly couldn't openly resist the Imperial Family. The God-Shattering Arrow of the Heavenly Dragon Guard was a threat to all of them, causing deep dissatisfaction.

Unfortunately, they could only pretend to be deaf and mute, lest they couldn't justify their own positions. In this matter, the Zhu family only seemed to profit, but they had no recourse.

They all knew this was the credit of Noble Consort Zhu. The pillow talk was indeed potent, managing to get the Emperor to assist the Zhu family—an unprecedented event.

However, Li Wuji's death was good news. He was too powerful and troublesome, like a sword hanging over their heads; offending him slightly could lead to disaster.

Some people did doubt whether Li Muzhan was truly dead, but thinking of the God-Shattering Arrow, they were reassured. Everyone knew there was no surviving an attack from the God-Shattering Arrow.

Fresh events occurred daily in the martial world, and the news of Li Muzhan quickly faded. Even the most brilliant meteor is still just a meteor; people's attention is easily drawn to new things.

A month later, a tutor was quietly added to the Dugu Residence, one who taught calligraphy to Dugu Mengshu. He appeared to be around forty, looking completely ordinary and unremarkable, yet his calligraphy was astonishing; his brushstrokes moved like swimming dragons, truly unmatched by anyone.

As the sun set, Li Muzhan, Dugu Jinghua, and Feng Mingxue sat in the waterside pavilion. A month had passed in the blink of an eye, and many things had happened during this time.

Dugu Jinghua, clad in an ink-green silk dress, was radiant, a world away from before, like a different person, her complexion glowing. "Since Sir has returned this time, please settle in with peace of mind." Li Muzhan smiled.

"I have no choice but to do so, to wait until the storm passes." Feng Mingxue warned, "Junior Brother, don't think about revenge against the Zhu family; they will find out." Li Muzhan shook his head helplessly. "Alas...

I can only endure it for now and settle this score later. Ninth Miss, has Noble Consort Zhu not left the palace?" "No, as the Emperor's favored consort, she does not leave the palace," Dugu Jinghua nodded.

"It is unwise to move against Noble Consort Zhu." Li Muzhan sighed. "The Four Great Families truly cannot be shaken.

They seem unremarkable on the surface, but their hidden strength is astonishing. I have truly been defeated this time." Feng Mingxue remarked, "You have always had too smooth a path; it's time you suffered a setback." "Yes, my path has been entirely smooth; I have indeed been overly fortunate," Li Muzhan nodded helplessly and sighed.

"I never expected to clash with the Emperor this time." He pondered for a moment. "Ninth Miss, are there any Grandmasters in the Royal Family?" "It seems not," Dugu Jinghua shook her head.

"Any Grandmaster would not accept constraint, and those loyal to the Emperor have never broken through to the Grandmaster realm. Is there some strangeness behind this?" Li Muzhan smiled.

"Those without the heart to reign supreme and unchecked cannot become Grandmasters. Even those loyal to the Imperial Family, once they break through to Grandmaster, will leave, and it is difficult for them to truly break through." "Indeed..." Dugu Jinghua nodded and sighed.

"I have been pondering the mystery behind this and have deduced this... perhaps the Imperial Family suppresses the emergence of Grandmasters." Li Muzhan mused, "The Four Great Families possess the Danxin Iron Scroll, a sacred artifact that suppresses Grandmasters.

The Imperial Family must also have such a sacred artifact. What is it?" He had long been curious about this and fixed his gaze on Dugu Jinghua.

Dugu Jinghua replied, "The Imperial Seal."