The sensation felt by those witnessing someone they believed dead, especially someone who died right before their eyes, was overwhelmingly complex: surprise, fear, and utter disbelief mingled in the air.
Li Muzhan lifted his gaze, his eyes passing over a hundred zhang distance, first resting on Guo Siyuan’s face before shifting to the beautiful woman in yellow robes.
Her melon-seed face was fair and exquisitely delicate, like a lotus just breaking the water’s surface; there was no trace of aging upon her. If not for a shadow of worldly sorrow etched between her brows, one might have mistaken her for a young matron under thirty.
Her bright eyes, like clear water, met Li Muzhan’s gaze. She spoke softly, “A distinguished guest enters the gate. I am Huang Yueying. I wonder what business the Young Hero Li of the Yunxiao Sect has here?”
Li Muzhan advanced slowly, silent, while Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Brother Wu followed closely in his footsteps, traversing the street until they reached the open ground before the main hall.
Though he spoke no word, an invisible pressure radiated outward, slowly reaching the main hall. They all felt a sensation of suffocation, as if a massive mountain had settled upon their heads.
Huang Yueying’s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly; sensing trouble, she glanced at Guo Siyuan, signaling him. He nodded, turned, and tried to leave, only to find himself unable to move; his body instantly froze rigid.
His expression darkened dramatically. Motionless, his eyeballs darted frantically, searching for a solution, but his internal nei li felt utterly foreign, rampaging within him as if threatening to escape his very flesh. His blood Qi surged; initially, only his movement was restricted, but now darkness began to flicker before his eyes, and he was on the verge of collapsing.
Li Muzhan’s cultivation had increased vastly now. The Sacred Artifact was not worn in vain; its tempering effect was superb, and coupled with his nascent Xiang Shen Chu Li (Body-Embodiment Separation), he had made a qualitative leap. Within a hundred meters, the space was under his absolute command.
Within this hundred-meter sphere, he was the god of this domain, achieving Tian Ren Xiang He (Harmony between Heaven and Man). Transformation was merely the flicker of a thought, determining a person’s life or death.
Unless one’s cultivation surpassed his own, resistance was futile. Guo Siyuan’s level of mastery was insufficient; he was obediently manipulated, no different from a wooden puppet.
Huang Yueying turned to look at her son. Seeing he made no move, just stood there blankly, only his eyes moving, she frowned. “Yuan’er, why aren’t you going?”
Guo Siyuan desperately tried to signal with his eyes but found himself unable to utter a sound.
Huang Yueying stared at him, her brow deeply lined, and a glimmer of understanding dawned—her son had been ambushed. She stepped forward and lightly pressed his chest, preparing to unblock his xue dao (acupoints) and investigate the abnormality.
Thump! A dull sound echoed. She was sent flying backward.
She flipped once in the air and landed gracefully, but just as she regained her footing, an invisible force struck her. With another dull thump, her delicate body staggered but she managed to stand firm.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Li Muzhan approached, clapping his hands together, a smile playing on his lips. “Madam Guo displays truly marvelous martial arts. I am impressed! Truly impressed!”
Huang Yueying’s face was ashen, as if coated in white ash. Her bright eyes flickered as she stared intently at Li Muzhan. “You are the one causing trouble?”
Li Muzhan nodded. “Madam Guo, retribution has arrived at your doorstep!”
“What did you say?” Huang Yueying frowned. “What retribution?”
Li Muzhan said calmly, “Madam Guo should recognize my two senior brothers, shouldn't you?”
“Never seen them,” Huang Yueying shook her head dismissively.
Li Muzhan turned toward Guo Siyuan, smiling faintly. “Young Valley Master Guo, I hope you are quite well?!”
Guo Siyuan let out a deep breath—Hoo—finally able to speak. He sneered coldly, “Li Wuji, you have immense courage to dare trespass into our Luoxia Valley!”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “A mere Luoxia Valley? Trespassing is nothing! … Our Yunxiao Sect has always been benevolent and sought no undue fame. It is unfortunate that some people lack propriety and mistake our goodwill for fear!”
He then turned to Huang Yueying with a sigh. “Madam Guo manages the household with skill. Luoxia Valley is kept in excellent order under your care, standing as an equal against the Fenglei Gate. Truly, a heroine unmatched by men; I admire you!”
“High praise,” Huang Yueying replied coldly.
She glanced around, signaling subtly. Li Muzhan shook his head and chuckled. “Madam Guo need not waste her effort. There are still many esteemed elders within the valley, I presume. I truly do not wish to cause offense. The mistakes made by you and your son should not implicate others, correct?”
“Li Wuji, what do you intend to do?!” Huang Yueying scoffed coldly.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “The disciples of our Yunxiao Sect have always conducted themselves with rectitude and rarely make enemies. If we do, it is due to upholding justice and aiding the oppressed. No one has ever dared harm the disciples of our Yunxiao Sect before. Luoxia Valley has the most audacity; not only did you ambush my two senior brothers, but you murdered them. I genuinely wonder who gave you such gall!”
“Is the Yunxiao Sect superior to the Heavenly King himself?” Huang Yueying sneered disdainfully. “The foremost sword sect in the world—how truly powerful and awe-inspiring! I simply refuse to believe it!”
Li Muzhan sighed. “Madam Guo resorts to such measures because your precious son has made a grave error, and now you must cover the mistake with further mistakes, is that it?”
Shaking his head, Li Muzhan looked at Guo Siyuan and sighed again. “I wonder why the late Valley Master Guo, a man of heroism, produced such an imbecile as you!”
He continued his lament. “The saying goes that failure to teach is the father’s fault. Valley Master Guo passed too early, and you have been utterly spoiled by your mother, believing that in this vast world, Luoxia Valley reigns supreme, is that right?”
“Li, shut your mouth!” Huang Yueying sharply rebuked.
Li Muzhan continued, “The root of this entire matter lies with the Jiutian Xuannü Sect, doesn't it? Because you tried to overshadow me there and ended up embarrassed, you held a grudge, is that right?”
Guo Siyuan grit his teeth, hatred burning in his eyes. “Correct! You are my nemesis. I cannot live happily until you are gone!”
Li Muzhan said, “And so you sent assassins to the capital to murder me. Sadly, you did not know that I was accompanying the Ninth Princess at the time. By attacking me, you simultaneously attacked the Ninth Princess. Following my Sect Master’s teachings to be benevolent, I suppressed the Ninth Princess’s wrath. Otherwise, your Luoxia Valley would have already been leveled by experts from the Imperial Household!”
“Yuan’er…?” Huang Yueying’s expression shifted subtly, and she glared at Guo Siyuan. “Is this true?”
The faces of everyone else present also changed hue. No matter how formidable Luoxia Valley was, it could not stand against the Imperial Household experts, who were profound beyond measure and countless in number. Luoxia Valley stood no chance whatsoever.
Guo Siyuan snorted. “So what if it’s true? It’s a pity that cursed fellow Li lives too long; he simply won’t die!”
“Nonsense!” Huang Yueying scolded him.
“Mother, this fellow deserves to die. I never expected him to have the Princess guarding him!” Guo Siyuan complained indignantly.
Li Muzhan smiled, shaking his head. “I did not expect that Luoxia Valley, instead of showing gratitude, would escalate things by ambushing and attempting to kill my two senior brothers. I truly do not know if Luoxia Valley has eaten tiger gall to dare behave thus!”
Just as Huang Yueying was about to speak, Li Muzhan shook his head. “Did you never consider that our Yunxiao Sect possesses such means? … Luoxia Valley is a sect with a deep heritage; surely you possess that much common sense? … Alas, it seems Valley Master Guo departed in haste and failed to give clear instructions.”
Huang Yueying’s face turned icy, her lips pressed tight.
Li Muzhan had indeed hit the critical point. Huang Yueying was initially unfamiliar with martial world affairs and paid them little mind. It was only after Valley Master Guo’s death, in her effort to protect her son from any harm by the new Valley Master, that she applied herself to managing Luoxia Valley. She was capable and shrewd, handling affairs justly and peacefully, earning the loyalty of many. However, her foundation was inherently shallow, leaving her ignorant of certain matters.
The old guard within the Valley posed a latent threat, whom she had slowly cleared out, pushing them into secluded cultivation in the inner valley—which was what led to this current disaster.
Li Muzhan stated, “I can tolerate your assassination attempt on me, but I cannot allow you to harm my senior brothers. Madam Guo, this vengeance must be exacted, but I do not wish to implicate too many. You two should carry it out yourselves, lest the entirety of Luoxia Valley be buried with you!”
“What arrogance!” Huang Yueying sneered coldly.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Whether my words are arrogant, Madam Guo should know well… Young Hero Guo, in your next life, remember to keep your eyes sharp and your heart broad, so you won't suffer such losses again!”
He stared at Guo Siyuan and sighed lightly, clenching his fist softly.
Pfft! Guo Siyuan spat out a jet of blood and collapsed limply.
“Yuan’er!” Huang Yueying cried out in shock.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Madam Guo, you should depart too, to accompany your precious son!”
With that, he lightly clenched his fist once more. Pfft! Huang Yueying also spurted a stream of blood and fell limply, lying beside Guo Siyuan.
Everyone nearby stared with wide eyes, aghast at him.
Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Brother Wu were also utterly bewildered, as this peculiar, death-dealing technique—without closing the distance, without delivering a punch or palm strike, directly taking a life—seemed unknown to the Yunxiao Sect.
Li Muzhan turned to the remaining disciples of Luoxia Valley. “Guo Siyuan ambushed my Yunxiao Sect disciples, and Madam Guo murdered my Yunxiao Sect disciples. Their crimes are unforgivable. Now that the principal culprits are dealt with, this matter ends here. I do not wish to involve too many others. If any of you are unsatisfied, you may make your move… If there are any true masters present, feel free to summon them. I await their presence here!”
Saying this, he stepped into the main hall, Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Brother Wu following closely behind.
“Junior Brother Li, let’s leave this place. It’s a den of trouble,” Senior Brother Zhou advised before even sitting down, his gaze fixed on the hall entrance.
They were Zhou Zhiheng and Wu Feifan, both senior brothers to Li Muzhan, and moreover, fellow disciples from Hengbo Island, sharing a close bond.
Li Muzhan smiled. “Don’t worry, Senior Brother Zhou. I intended to meet the absolute masters of Luoxia Valley and completely suppress them into submission. Only then will they behave, and this matter will be truly concluded.”
“That is far too reckless,” Zhou Zhiheng replied helplessly.
Wu Feifan chuckled. “Junior Brother Li, what was that technique just now?”
Li Muzhan laughed. “Just ordinary means, nothing special.”
“It seems Junior Brother Li has truly become a Grandmaster,” Zhou Zhiheng remarked.
Li Muzhan nodded. “Yes.”
Wu Feifan’s eyes widened. “Is that true? … I thought it was just rumor, baseless talk!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “The Sect Master always wished to keep it a secret. ‘The tree that stands tallest in the forest is prone to the wind.’ Besides, he does not wish our Yunxiao Sect to draw too much attention.”
Zhou Zhiheng and Wu Feifan nodded in unison. Having two Grandmasters in the sect would indeed draw excessive scrutiny, contradicting the Sect Master’s long-held doctrine of low-key moderation.
“Junior Brother Li, I never expected you to truly reach Grandmaster status. With Junior Sister Feng, our Yunxiao Sect may soon have three Grandmasters! Ha ha…” Wu Feifan beamed, turning to Zhou Zhiheng. “Senior Brother Zhou, if we have three Grandmasters, why must we still keep our heads down?”
Li Muzhan laughed. “The tide rises and falls; the moon waxes and wanes—such things are inevitable. Though we have three Grandmasters now, perhaps in the future, we won't have any. The Sect Master fears that being too arrogant now will make us a target for everyone else, forcing us to pay the debt later.”
“That makes sense,” Zhou Zhiheng conceded.
As the three were speaking, a loud roar sliced through the air: “Young Valley Master! Madam!”
This sharp cry rolled like massive thunder, exploding throughout the entire valley. Dust rained down from the hall ceiling. The depth of the cultivation required was evident, causing Zhou Zhiheng and Wu Feifan’s complexions to shift slightly.
They immediately recalled that Li Muzhan was a Grandmaster. Confidence settled in them; no matter how powerful a mere Master was, facing a Grandmaster meant certain defeat, utterly powerless to resist.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Following heavy footsteps, the ground trembled, and a thin, short old man pushed aside the door curtain and entered.
He looked like a withered tree, gaunt and small. He seemed like he could be blown away by a gust of wind. His small face was heavily wrinkled, his nose and eyes tiny, his lips dry—like a frail elder nearing the end of his days. Yet, in his small eyes, sharp glints of light erupted, almost tangible.
“You are Li Wuji of the Yunxiao Sect?” the thin old man demanded thunderously.
His voice was like a great bell. Zhou Zhiheng and Wu Feifan’s faces changed; their blood Qi became unsettled, and they felt ill, as if their internal energy was about to surge out of control.
Li Muzhan chuckled calmly. “I am Li Wuji of the Yunxiao Sect. May I ask who the senior is?”
His voice was even and clear. Hearing it, Zhou Zhiheng and Wu Feifan felt their blood Qi settle, returning to normal. They looked toward the thin elder with lingering dread—such a withered frame, yet a voice so immense.
The elder sneered coldly. “I am Guo Jian. You killed our Young Valley Master and his wife?”
Li Muzhan nodded. “Indeed. I killed those two. They murdered my Yunxiao Sect disciples and subjected them to severe torture to extract our martial arts secrets. Their crime deserves death. I only killed the principal offenders; that is already giving Luoxia Valley ample respect.”
“Hmph, what an arrogant claim!” Guo Jian laughed coldly. “You kill our people and then claim you showed us respect? We don’t need that kind of respect!”
Li Muzhan smiled faintly. “If it weren’t for the late Valley Master Guo’s heroism, it would have been simpler to wipe out Luoxia Valley entirely!”
“Very well! I would like to see the abilities you possess to utter such arrogant words—to destroy my Luoxia Valley! Heh heh, my Luoxia Valley has been passed down through generations; we have never been destroyed by anyone!” Guo Jian said, laughing in extreme anger.
Li Muzhan said placidly, “That is because previous Valley Masters were intelligent individuals who acted with discretion and caution, never provoking those they shouldn't have provoked.”
“Are you saying the Yunxiao Sect is someone you shouldn't provoke?” Guo Jian squinted at him, curling his lip. “I want to see exactly what is so great about your Yunxiao Sect. Watch my palm strike!”
He thrust out his palm, but found his body did not move. After a brief moment of surprise, he struggled, but his blood Qi stagnated, and his body lost control.
Li Muzhan smiled, shaking his head. “Senior Guo need not waste his effort. You are no match for me.”
Guo Jian glared with fury, making muffled noises, but he couldn't open his mouth. Li Muzhan had sealed his speech, though he hadn't struck his mute point.
Wu Feifan scoffed, “Old man Guo, our Junior Brother Li is a Grandmaster. Even ten of you bound together would be useless. Behave yourself!”
Guo Jian’s small eyes widened even further, staring fixedly at Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan smiled, moved his brow slightly, and Guo Jian was suddenly flung backward, crashing through the door curtain and landing on the open ground before the main hall.
Guo Jian regained control of his body, but his expression was a mixture of shadow and light. He stood frozen in place, staring blankly.
“Third Brother, what is wrong?” A stout old man approached, slapping him on the shoulder. “Why do you look so distraught? Is that boy really inside?”