As soon as he vanished, the townsfolk reacted and rushed towards the Yuanxin Temple. At that moment, Jikong and Jing'er, who had been hiding in the cellar, emerged to greet the crowd.

The ferocious beasts in the main hall lay still, seemingly asleep. Seeing this, everyone instinctively took a step back, daring not to enter.

They then pressed Jikong and Jing'er for answers, asking where Master Zhanran had gone, confirming it was him just moments ago, and demanding to know what exactly had transpired.

Jikong recounted the entire sequence of events. The crowd then understood everything, followed by bursts of praise. They were astonished that Master Zhanran, so young, possessed such profound Buddhist mastery and immense divine power, capable of truly dissolving conflict and pacifying malevolence through his Dharma. They had always assumed such tales in the scriptures were exaggerations, mere legends. Now, having witnessed it firsthand, they were completely convinced and filled with sincere admiration.

Their faith strengthened, Li Muzhan returned to Floating Cloud Mountain and immediately sat cross-legged on his couch, keenly observing the ongoing solidification of his Xiang Shen (Image Body).

Even across such a vast distance, the power of faith transmitted without hindrance, proving far more steadfast than any internal energy.

While monitoring the Xiang Shen's transformation, Li Muzhan marveled at the miraculous feeling of his body being enhanced—not just his spirit growing stronger, but his physical form developing in tandem.

The cultivation method he practiced was already supremely esoteric, the Huan Yu Jing (Jade Circulation Scripture) possessing the power to cleanse marrow and refine the body. Coupled with the foundation laid by his previous techniques, the robustness of his physique was rarely matched in the world.

Upon mastering the Huan Yu Jing, his body had nearly reached the zenith of human potential, becoming incredibly resilient, nearly invulnerable to blades and swords—yet further progress had become agonizingly difficult.

Now, under the influence of the Xiang Shen, his body was strengthening once more, achieving another breakthrough beyond the hundred-foot pole. The difficulty of this single step was even greater than cultivating the Huan Yu Jing.

He sat cross-legged on the couch, quietly savoring the sensation of growing stronger. He had found the path to advancement: like the Buddha seeking followers, that was what he must do.

By the afternoon, he was bored being alone on the mountain. Leng Chaoyun hid in the main hall and refused to come out. Only Xiao Yan came to see him.

However, Xiao Yan had turned into a silent gourd, hesitant to speak much in his presence. She answered whatever Li Muzhan asked, frequently glancing towards the main hall.

Li Muzhan smiled wryly and shook his head. Standing at the summit, Li Muzhan pointed toward the hall: "Xiao Yan, did Palace Mistress Leng issue a gag order, forbidding you from speaking to me?"

Xiao Yan chuckled, nodded, and helplessly spread her hands.

Li Muzhan remarked, "Palace Mistress Leng is too petty. Am I really that wicked? Am I truly judging a gentleman with the heart of a villain!"

Xiao Yan pursed her lips and chuckled, "Miss said you are full of schemes, and that one must be careful; she said you must be quite formidable to trick the favored disciple of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden Sect away!"

Li Muzhan stroked his light mustache and shook his head helplessly.

Xiao Yan looked toward the hall again and whispered, "Are you truly involved with Hai Yulan privately?"

Li Muzhan coughed lightly and spoke gently, "Forget it. You are still young; it's better if you don't talk about such things."

"Who's young!" Xiao Yan immediately puffed out her chest and huffed, "I am seventeen!"

Li Muzhan laughed, "Give it two more years."

Xiao Yan rolled her eyes at him and huffed, "So old-fashioned! ... Do you want to go down and play? There's nothing interesting here to see, but there are many things nearby, and there are hot springs too!"

"Oh—?" Li Muzhan chuckled, "Hot springs?"

Xiao Yan replied, "Yes, there's a spring in that small valley over there; it’s great fun. Sometimes we all go there at night to play."

"Would it be convenient for me to go now?" Li Muzhan asked.

Xiao Yan tilted her head thoughtfully, "There shouldn't be anyone there. Shall we go?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "Never mind. I can't bathe, so going would only make me envious. Do you have any books here? I want to look at some books to pass the time."

Xiao Yan looked disappointed, "What kind of books do you want to read? Miss has many books, but she treasures them dearly and doesn't lend them to others."

Li Muzhan glanced at Xiao Yan, realizing this little girl was already concealing mischief; she had set a trap and was waiting for him to fall into it.

She was resentful that both she and her Mistress had been bested by him, so she wanted revenge. Truly, one must not offend women; retaliation would come swiftly.

He smiled faintly and asked, "How about reading some books on strategy? Books on how to see through ambushes and avoid being struck from the blind side."

Xiao Yan started, looked at him, and Li Muzhan gazed at her with a subtle smile, "Palace Mistress Leng must have such books, right?"

"I don't know. I'll have to ask," Xiao Yan hurried to say.

Li Muzhan chuckled, "Then Palace Mistress Leng certainly must have books on setting up ambushes, right?"

Xiao Yan's heart fluttered guiltily, and she feigned indignation, "Why are you like this? Always thinking of setting traps! Can't a real man act openly and honorably?"

Li Muzhan laughed heartily, "I want to act honorably, but I fear someone might be laying an ambush to harm me."

"Who would harm you? You think too much!" Xiao Yan rolled her eyes, turned, and said, "I'll go ask the Mistress if she'll lend you a book!"

With that, she darted away, pushed open the main hall door, and went inside. A moment later, she came out, pouting, "Fine! Miss agreed. Follow me!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Thank you, Miss Xiao Yan."

Xiao Yan glanced sideways at him, huffed, "Thank you for what? Just don't speak carelessly!"

She realized too that Li Muzhan had seen through her scheme. Though she didn't know how he figured it out, as soon as she told her Mistress, she would certainly be scolded.

Li Muzhan smiled reassuringly, "Miss Xiao Yan, rest assured, I won't say an extra word."

"Hmph, that's more like it!" Xiao Yan complained, then turned, swaying her slender waist toward a side hall on the east. She pulled a key from her robes, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. Just as one foot crossed the threshold, she turned to instruct, "Be gentle with them; don't mess them up, and absolutely do not damage any books!"

"Yes, understood," Li Muzhan replied with a smile.

He entered the hall and saw rows of towering bookshelves, rising straight up to the ceiling beams, so high they looked as if they might collapse at any moment. The shelves were laden with volumes, creating an overwhelmingly grand spectacle.

There were six rows of these colossal shelves, with about a dozen bookcases in each row. The entire hall was filled with books, and a rich fragrance of ink permeated the air.

Li Muzhan commented, "Has Palace Mistress Leng read all these books?"

Xiao Yan replied proudly, "These are only a portion. Miss has already read them all."

Li Muzhan nodded in admiration, "I truly didn't expect this."

Seeing his look of awe, Xiao Yan grew even prouder, boasting gleefully, "Miss has loved reading since childhood. This is just one room; there are four other side halls filled with books, not to mention the Secret Archives in the main hall—humph, you certainly haven't read more books than Miss!"

Li Muzhan nodded, "Truly rare!"

Xiao Yan huffed, "You can read these books to your heart's content, just don't ruin them! If any are damaged, Miss certainly won't let you off lightly!"

Li Muzhan waved his hand, "Miss Xiao Yan, feel free to do as you wish. I'll be fine by myself."

Xiao Yan watched him gaze intently at the books and knew he was also a lover of reading. At such times, the most irritating thing was being interrupted—just like her Mistress.

She let out a slight huff, turned, and walked away, breathing a sigh of relief.

For the next few days, Li Muzhan remained immersed in the sea of books. These books covered every imaginable subject, including even some martial arts manuals.

However, the martial arts manuals were rather superficial, unworthy of Li Muzhan's notice. He focused instead on the bizarre anecdotes, geographical surveys, and astronomical texts.

He always felt his understanding of this world was insufficient, and to fully comprehend it required books; his solitary exploration could never suffice.

Time flew by as he read voraciously. Before he could finish reading one morning, while buried deep in the collection, Xiao Yan entered, "Young Master Li, someone is looking for you."

Li Muzhan started, set down the volume he was holding, and immediately activated his Eye of the Void, then smiled, "Alright."

He stepped out of the hall, glanced back at the library with reluctance, and headed to the central main hall. There, sitting on the couch, radiant in fire-red robes with skin white as jade, was Leng Chaoyun. Opposite her, seated in a chair, was a blue-robed youth with a face like jade and an air of refined elegance—it was Gu Cheng.

"Senior Brother Gu, you came in person?" Li Muzhan said with a smile upon entering.

Gu Cheng stood up, smiled, and cupped his hands, "Junior Brother Li, you are truly here! ... The Sect Master entrusted me with a letter to deliver."

They were extremely close and familiar, so they skipped unnecessary pleasantries. Gu Cheng pulled a letter from his robes and handed it to Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan gave a slight nod to Leng Chaoyun and took the letter.

He broke the seal and began reading immediately. After quickly finishing several pages, he folded it away, looked up, and smiled, "Senior Brother, you must have had a hard journey?"

He could tell that although Gu Cheng was spotless, there was still a trace of weathering about him, clearly indicating a rapid journey without any delays.

Gu Cheng smiled, "It was nothing. Since you've received the letter, my mission is complete. You aren't leaving yet, are you?"

Li Muzhan nodded, "I plan to stay a few more days."

"Very well, I shall depart first; I have a few small matters to attend to," Gu Cheng said, turning to cup his hands toward Leng Chaoyun, "Palace Mistress Leng, I take my leave."

Leng Chaoyun gave a slight nod, "No need to see me out."

Li Muzhan smiled, "I'll escort Senior Brother out. Let's go."

Leng Chaoyun cast a sidelong glance at him but said nothing, watching them leave quietly. Afterward, she let out a soft huff. This Li Wuji was indeed thorough and overly cautious. What kind of person was she to resort to such faithless behavior? He underestimated her too much!

She felt a hidden anger, but her expression remained serene and untroubled.

"Junior Brother, how many days do you plan to stay?" Gu Cheng asked Li Muzhan with a frown. They were standing at the edge of the cliff, watching the white clouds drift by. Gu Cheng glanced back at the hall and sighed, "It's clear that Palace Mistress Leng is no easy person to deal with."

He knew Li Muzhan's temperament; though he appeared warm, he was inherently proud. Palace Mistress Leng was the same. When two such proud individuals meet, it's easy to guess what might follow.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Don't worry, Senior Brother. I will be careful."

Gu Cheng advised, "She is a woman. Yield to her if you can and don't stoop to her level. If a real fight breaks out, the consequences will be serious."

Li Muzhan nodded and smiled, "The Sect Master also instructed this in the letter. Rest assured, I won't argue with her over trifles."

"That's good then!" Gu Cheng relaxed, smiling, "What are you staying here for?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "I don't know yet. It's a long story. I'll tell you the details another day, Senior Brother."

"Alright," Gu Cheng nodded, patted his shoulder, "Junior Brother, just bear with it for a while."

This Palace Mistress Leng clearly radiated coldness and rigidity, unlike Junior Sister Feng. Though Senior Sister Feng was cold, hers was a detached indifference, caring nothing for worldly affairs and wishing only to be left alone.

This Palace Mistress Leng's coldness was different; it was a look of condescension toward all beings, a cold scrutiny. Everyone in her eyes seemed to be a subordinate. It was truly uncomfortable—an extreme form of arrogance, implying no one deserved her smile.

And Junior Brother Li, who became a Grandmaster at such a young age, possessed unrivaled pride. How could he tolerate her arrogance in his presence? A contest between them was inevitable.

Thinking of this, he became worried again. Sooner or later, trouble would erupt between them if they stayed together. He needed to report this to the Sect Master soon.

Li Muzhan saw his expression shift between dark and light and guessed his thoughts. He smiled, "Senior Brother, stop worrying. I know what I'm doing!"

Gu Cheng sighed and shook his head, "I hope so. The Floating Cloud Palace is immensely powerful; though we do not fear them, it is best not to provoke them."

"I know, I know," Li Muzhan nodded helplessly, then quickly added, "Senior Brother, why don't you rest in my room for a while? There's no rush to go back."

Gu Cheng shook his head, "I truly have other matters. Well then, I'm leaving!"

He patted Li Muzhan's shoulder, leaped into the air, his blue robes fluttering like a bird shooting away.

Li Muzhan watched him land safely, waved in acknowledgment, and then vanished like a wisp of smoke.

He stood on the cliff edge, facing the wind, and after a moment's thought, turned and returned to the main hall.

Leng Chaoyun sat quietly on the couch in the hall, seated sideways with her legs crossed, her waist straight, appearing elegant and composed. She was looking down in thought, her black hair framing a neck as white as ivory.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and cast a gaze upon him, clear as still water: "Are you relieved now?"

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded, "We can begin."

Leng Chaoyun stated, "You must swear a solemn oath not to speak of what you see to anyone else."

Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow and laughed, "This sounds as if I am the one asking for your favor."

"If you do not swear, I cannot trust you," Leng Chaoyun replied.

Li Muzhan pondered, noting her determined expression, and frowned, "Palace Mistress Leng, what about the restrictive enchantments you placed on them?"

Leng Chaoyun also frowned, "You knew about that long ago?"

Li Muzhan countered, "I swear the oath if you remove their restrictions, how about that?"

Leng Chaoyun stared at him, her bright eyes clear as water. After a long pause, she huffed, "You are quite dedicated to them. It won't be your responsibility after the restrictions activate anyway, so why bother?"

Li Muzhan replied, "I cannot treat human lives as trifles like you, Palace Mistress Leng."

"Don't be overly modest. Aren't there already quite a few who died by your hand?" Leng Chaoyun retorted.

She possessed extensive intelligence on Li Muzhan. The Floating Cloud Palace was an ancient sect spanning thousands of miles, different from the Cloud Heaven Sect; its disciples were scattered across the globe, possessing keen intelligence networks.

Li Muzhan smiled, "I never kill the innocent."

"Then they were innocent?" Leng Chaoyun narrowed her bright eyes and sneered, "Are the Floating Cloud Palace disciples who died by their swords innocent?"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Floating Cloud Palace disciples who died by their swords?"

Leng Chaoyun faltered, then suddenly huffed, "Forget it, I agree to your terms!"

She suddenly recalled that the Floating Cloud Palace disciples who died by their swords had been saved by him. Therefore, it meant those women hadn't taken the lives of any Floating Cloud Palace disciples; their lives could be spared.

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded, raising a finger toward the heavens to swear a venomous oath: never to repeat what he witnessed today, or face utter ruin, never to transcend reincarnation.

Leng Chaoyun studied him closely for a while, feeling his oath sounded a bit strange.

Li Muzhan smiled back, offering no explanation. In truth, for him, this was indeed a devastating oath; if broken, life would be worse than death.

Leng Chaoyun’s bright eyes were deep and boundless, seeming to draw in a person's soul. Li Muzhan’s heart remained as still as water as he met her gaze unflinchingly.

After a long silence, Leng Chaoyun was the first to break the gaze, turning her eyes away, "I'll trust you this once!"

She called out loudly, "Xiao Yan! The four of you guard outside. No one is allowed in, no matter what happens, do not step into this hall!"

"Yes," Xiao Yan and the other three responded, turned, left the hall, and closed the door.

The hall instantly quieted, leaving only Li Muzhan and Leng Chaoyun. Li Muzhan watched her as Leng Chaoyun gracefully floated up, ascending slowly like a wisp of red cloud, moving to the upper floor.

A moment later, she floated down, holding a small, dark wooden box. Her slender hand made the box appear even whiter than jade.

Li Muzhan stared intently. The square box looked ancient, devoid of outer carvings or luster. At a glance, it appeared black, but upon closer inspection, it was purplish.

He gazed at it, unable to see through it. The interior was pitch black. Even as a Grandmaster, he could not discern what lay inside; it seemed to exist as its own isolated dimension, sealed off.

A smile touched his lips, piqued by curiosity.

"This is the box?" he pointed.

"Yes," Leng Chaoyun replied softly, placing it gently on the couch. She shifted her gaze from the box to Li Muzhan, "A secret manual is hidden inside, left by the Second Generation Ancestor. To this day, no one knows what manual it is."

Li Muzhan grew even more curious and laughed, "The Second Generation Ancestor must have been a great figure if successive disciples couldn't guess its contents?"

Leng Chaoyun shook her head, "They couldn't guess, nor had anyone seen it."

"So no one has opened it?" Li Muzhan asked.

Leng Chaoyun explained, "No one has opened it. It requires not only extremely deep internal energy but also the simultaneous injection of two types of inner energy: one Yin and one Yang."

Li Muzhan smiled, "Did your Master and previous seniors not seek help?"

Leng Chaoyun frowned, glanced at him, and huffed, "I had a fortuitous encounter in my youth that forged my current cultivation, which already surpasses that of my Master."

Li Muzhan caught the implicit meaning, "You mean the disciple surpassed the master? ... Were your Master and the others not sufficiently powerful?"

Leng Chaoyun glared at him sideways, "It's useless if my Master and the others had sufficient cultivation; the male disciples in the Palace were simply inadequate."

Li Muzhan laughed, "Your Palace's cultivation method is likely best suited for women. Men's progress is slow; you can't blame them for being inadequate!"

"Enough small talk. Let's begin," Leng Chaoyun commanded.

Li Muzhan asked, "Is merely injecting internal energy sufficient?"

"Correct," Leng Chaoyun nodded. "It's very simple."

Li Muzhan smiled, "If it's that simple, why did previous generations fail? I don't believe they couldn't find help, someone like me."

Leng Chaoyun's delicate brows furrowed, and she gave him an impatient look. Her right palm, white as jade, pressed onto half of the box, leaving the other half clear, her eyes gesturing for Li Muzhan to place his hand there.

Li Muzhan guessed that Leng Chaoyun was extraordinary; she was likely the most outstanding among all generations of disciples, having refined the Floating Cloud Palace's method to its peak.

This explained why her blade energy could wound him, despite him being a Grandmaster—her skill was undeniably profound, though her comprehension prevented her from advancing to the Grandmaster realm, similar to Senior Sister Feng's situation.

Just as Li Muzhan extended his right hand, Leng Chaoyun commanded, "Left hand!"

Li Muzhan switched to his left hand, placing it near her slender hand, leaving a slight gap between them to avoid accidental physical contact that might lead to conflict.

Leng Chaoyun's brow was intensely serious, "We must succeed in one attempt. No medicinal pills are allowed. If we cannot persist, we will fail, so conserve your inner energy carefully."

PS: This is the first update for today. Yesterday was too intense, and I feel listless writing today. My condition isn't good; I'll make up for it tomorrow.