As Li Muzhan reported to Yi Xingzhi, his mind was elsewhere, still dwelling on the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword—its sheer power was astonishing, and its mental cultivation methods endless in complexity.

Yi Xingzhi sat before a campfire, and seeing his distraction, he chuckled, "Wuji, what's wrong? Did you take a loss?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Sect Master, do you know of the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword?"

"The Grand Luo Heavenly Sword?" Yi Xingzhi paused, then slowly nodded. "The ancestral divine sword of the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden Sect. I've only heard the name; never seen it."

Li Muzhan smiled. "So the Sect Master hasn't seen it either. I count myself fortunate to have witnessed it."

"Really?" Yi Xingzhi’s smile broadened, firelight dancing across his face. "Tell me about it then, what does this Grand Luo Heavenly Sword look like? I've heard of it for ages but never had the chance to behold it. I asked Feihong, but she refuses to say a word, calling it a sect secret that cannot be disclosed."

Li Muzhan said, "This Grand Luo Heavenly Sword isn't a single blade; it's an entire sword technique!"

"Oh?" Yi Xingzhi became even more interested, laughing. "You’ve experienced it?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "Just now. It is truly formidable, living up to its reputation as the ancestral divine sword!"

Yi Xingzhi chuckled. "Did Sect Master Zhao really make a move? Were you unharmed?"

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled. "Nearly injured. Sect Master Zhao was certainly determined to reclaim her honor; she almost succeeded!"

"What methods did she use? Did she use the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword?" Yi Xingzhi asked quickly.

Li Muzhan nodded. "First, she used a Sacred Artifact to suppress me, then she summoned four Ancestral Masters, and then she deployed the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword. Its power was extraordinary; I nearly fell for it!"

"One move after another—that's Sect Master Zhao's style," Yi Xingzhi laughed, tossing a log into the fire. "Tell me about this Grand Luo Heavenly Sword!"

Li Muzhan explained, "The assembled disciples condense their sword intent into a single blade; that is the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword. In truth, it’s nothing mystical, but outsiders don't know that, so they find it mysterious."

"The sword intent of many people forming one sword?" Yi Xingzhi pondered, shaking his head. "Truly profound...! That's not something just anyone can accomplish."

Li Muzhan nodded. "It requires a special method. Too bad we can't learn it!"

"Forget it, it's nothing major, just a combined attack technique," Yi Xingzhi waved his hand, clapping in disappointment. "I thought it was some supreme treasure sword!"

Li Muzhan countered, "It can certainly be called a treasure sword. This sword is exceedingly strange; its chilling aura assaults the senses. Most people touching it would instantly freeze solid!"

"That powerful?" Yi Xingzhi gave a faint, uninterested smile.

Seeing his reaction, Li Muzhan said no more, knowing Yi Xingzhi hadn't taken it to heart.

Only after suffering a direct blow would one understand the sword's true might. Because his spirit was strong and his internal energy exceptionally pure, he managed to withstand one or two strikes.

For anyone else, a direct clash with the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword would result in immediate petrification into an ice sculpture, leaving no chance to employ martial arts at all. The power of the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword was evident.

Since it was condensed from the collective sword intent, it contained both internal energy and spiritual power. It damaged with internal force while simultaneously confusing the mind with illusions. When the two merged, it was truly impossible to defend against.

Because Li Muzhan was a step above, none of that power could truly manifest against him. The Sacred Artifact suppressed his Grandmaster realm outwardly, but inwardly, he remained a Grandmaster, allowing him control over himself.

As he was speaking with Yi Xingzhi, Hai Yulan approached. She glanced at Li Muzhan and whispered, "Sect Master Yi, Master has summoned him over."

Yi Xingzhi quickly waved him off. "Go on, go on. Speak carefully."

"Yes," Li Muzhan rose and followed Hai Yulan.

Hai Yulan slowed her pace and assessed him. "Were you injured?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "I'm fine."

Hai Yulan asked, "Did the Sect Master give you a hard time?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "She made a move, but it was alright. I managed to handle it, and I witnessed the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword!"

Hai Yulan paused, surprised. "The Sect Master actually used the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword? How many people were involved?"

Li Muzhan replied, "All the disciples."

Only those who had experienced the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword understood the implication of her question. Li Muzhan estimated that the sword's power was linked to the number of participants and the cultivation level of each disciple; the more people and the deeper their cultivation, the stronger the sword's might.

Hai Yulan's expression shifted slightly, and she turned to him. "You really aren't hurt? ... It’s fortunate you are a Grandmaster; otherwise..."

Li Muzhan smiled. "Actually, I'm not a Grandmaster right now. Sect Master Zhao brought out a Sacred Artifact that suppressed my Grandmaster realm. I ended up facing the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword as a mere Master!"

Hai Yulan's face changed again, and she scolded him, "Why do you scare me like that! ... The Sect Master was truly ruthless; she was clearly intent on killing you!"

She tightly pursed her red lips and huffed out a breath, sounding somewhat resentful.

Li Muzhan nodded. "Isn't that the truth? I estimate if she could kill me, she wouldn't hesitate!"

Hai Yulan shot him a look. "It's all your fault for provoking the Sect Master. You won't have an easy time from now on!"

Li Muzhan laughed. "If I hadn't provoked her, how would Senior Fu have married the Sect Master? ... Sect Master Zhao is deeply calculating. She’s deliberately dangling Senior Fu to keep the Sect Master hooked. In my opinion, if this continues, the Sect Master and Senior Fu will truly drift apart; she had no choice but to resort to such desperate measures!"

Hai Yulan rolled her eyes. "Hmph, you claim good intentions, but my Master doesn't appreciate it! ... Is Martial Uncle Li really a spy?"

Li Muzhan nodded slowly. "Nine times out of ten, it's true."

"It's hard to believe!" Hai Yulan sighed and shook her head. "Who can we trust anymore?"

Li Muzhan replied, "Such things are unavoidable. We can't start guarding against everyone because of this. ... The Heavenly Dao Alliance is terrifying; who knows how many disciples they have scattered across various sects!"

"What exactly are they trying to achieve?" Hai Yulan frowned.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I will slowly investigate the Heavenly Dao Alliance later and tell you about it then."

"Be careful," Hai Yulan warned, her brow furrowed with worry. "The Heavenly Dao Alliance is so profound and their methods so potent; you must not be careless."

Li Muzhan smiled. "I know. Don't worry."

He arrived at the palanquin. A fire had also been lit in front of it, where Fu Feihong was seated. Hao Xuemei sat beside her, and Hai Yulan soon joined them.

Fu Feihong looked up and gestured opposite her. "Sit."

Li Muzhan sat across from her. In the firelight, her skin appeared rosy, charming and radiant.

"Well, did you send her back?" Fu Feihong asked.

Li Muzhan nodded. "Yes."

"And did you meet with the Sect Master?" Fu Feihong continued to inquire.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Yes."

"There was no fight?" Fu Feihong asked. "The Sect Master is not one to swallow insults; revenge is never delayed past sundown. She must have looked for trouble with you, right?"

Li Muzhan nodded with a smile. "Yes, she used the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword."

Fu Feihong scrutinized him up and down, pursing her lips into a smile. "It seems you weren't injured... Not bad, not bad. To be unharmed under the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword, you truly deserve to be called a Grandmaster."

Li Muzhan chuckled. "The Grand Luo Heavenly Sword truly lives up to its fame!"

Fu Feihong nodded proudly. "Of course. The Grand Luo Heavenly Sword possesses infinite might. What you experienced is likely not even its strongest form! ... If the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword were useless, our Nine Heavens Profound Maiden Sect wouldn't hold its current status!"

Li Muzhan's eyebrow twitched. "Not the strongest?"

"Did the hidden Ancestral Masters all emerge?" Fu Feihong asked.

Li Muzhan replied, "Four of them emerged."

Fu Feihong smiled faintly. "It seems the Sect Master still showed restraint. We have twenty-five hidden Ancestral Masters in total. If all of them performed the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword together, could you withstand it?"

Li Muzhan drew a sharp breath, shook his head with a bitter smile.

He truly didn't dare claim he could endure it. While numerous opponents were useless against him in other martial arts, the Grand Luo Heavenly Sword was different. With its sword intent condensed, its power was overwhelming. Even as a Grandmaster, he couldn't withstand an extremely potent sword intent. Pure internal energy was useless against a Grandmaster, but pure spiritual power was not.

Those four hidden masters were all peak Grandmasters. The combined palm force they generated gave him significant insight, and he nearly suffered a setback, but unfortunately, their palm strikes still fell short of posing a genuine threat.

Fu Feihong concluded, "So don't blame the Sect Master. Although she appears fierce, she is kind-hearted at her core."

Li Muzhan merely chuckled and shook his head without speaking.

Fu Feihong gave him a look. "You'll know once you spend more time together! ... Speaking of pleasantries, how is Martial Sister Li?"

Li Muzhan replied, "Sect Master Zhao suppressed her; she should be alright."

"Did you find out?" Fu Feihong asked.

Li Muzhan nodded. "She is indeed a mole. ... Too bad there’s no hard evidence, and Sect Master Zhao might not believe it either. Let's drop it for now; she's no longer a threat."

"It seems she really meant to kill me!" Fu Feihong huffed.

The rest of the journey was smooth sailing because Li Yubing cleared obstacles secretly, sending away two separate groups of people who tried to interfere.

Two days later, they finally arrived at Hengbo Island, and the grand ceremony commenced, a magnificent spectacle.

Li Muzhan was uninterested in such matters, so he returned to his small courtyard. Li Yubing also arrived at his courtyard and sat in the pavilion, shaking her head. "Zhanran, things look grim!"

Dressed in snow-white robes, she was serene and elegant, resembling the Bodhisattva Guanyin, sitting quietly and sighing, possessing an air of compassionate sorrow.

Li Muzhan asked, "Palace Mistress, have you confirmed their identities?"

"Yes, they are undoubtedly from the Heavenly Dao Alliance," Li Yubing nodded, picking up her teacup for a sip. "They not only understand the Divine Spirit Possession Technique but also the Sacrificial Ritual."

Li Muzhan's eyebrow jumped. "The Sacrificial Ritual?"

Li Yubing explained, "That's the one you saw—the one where they detonate their bodies to ignite their Primordial Spirit."

Li Muzhan mused, "Why would the Heavenly Dao Alliance target our sect? One is in Xihua, the other in Dali—they seem completely unrelated."

Li Yubing shrugged. "Who knows what the Heavenly Dao Alliance is about? They are always secretive; no one has figured out their ultimate goal!"

Li Muzhan asked, "I want to uncover their true foundation. Where should I start looking?"

Li Yubing thought for a moment. "The Heavenly Dao Alliance is certainly troublesome! ... How about this: let's first visit their original location and see if we can find any clues. Nobody knows where they are right now!"

Li Muzhan nodded. "Then I'll have to trouble Palace Mistress Li."

"Are you still speaking so formally to me?" Li Yubing shot him a look. "But you must disguise yourself so your identity isn't revealed. Shall we investigate together?"

"That sounds good!" Li Muzhan nodded with a smile. With two Grandmasters moving together, the Heavenly Dao Alliance wouldn't stand a chance, right?

Li Yubing smiled playfully. "Zhanran, which young lady do you fancy?"

Li Muzhan stroked his small beard. "Palace Mistress Li, please don't joke!"

Li Yubing grinned. "Is it your Martial Sister or that Miss Hai? ... I noticed that Miss Hao, too!"

Li Muzhan quickly waved his hands. "Palace Mistress Li has misunderstood; that Martial Sister Hao is not one of them!"

"I noticed the way you look at her; she's clearly harboring worries!" Li Yubing shook her head with a smile. "This girl seems cheerful, but what a shame!"

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile. "Palace Mistress Li, please don't meddle!"

Li Yubing shook her head. "Fine, I won't pry into your affairs for now. ... Your Sect Master is quite the romantic, marrying a wife even at her advanced age!"

Li Muzhan replied, "The Sect Master is deeply devoted; that's why she was delayed."

"Men can be devoted?!" Li Yubing shook her head. "Men are no good!"

Li Muzhan offered a wry smile. "Palace Mistress Li, isn't that too absolute a statement?"

"Men are no good—that statement is absolutely correct," Li Yubing pointed at him. "Including you, Zhanran, you aren't much better. Looking at the bowl while thinking of the basin, wishing you could marry every woman under the sun!"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I'm not that greedy!"

"What's the use of hiding things from me?" Li Yubing huffed. "I can see right through you!"

As the two were talking, footsteps suddenly sounded. Li Muzhan flicked his sleeve, and Feng Mingxue stood outside the door. Dressed in robes as white as snow, her face was like rosy clouds, and her bright eyes gazed at him clearly.

"Martial Sister?" Li Muzhan asked in surprise. "Have you been drinking?"

Feng Mingxue pursed her lips into a smile. "Yes, a little."

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile. "More than a little; you're drunk, aren't you? ... Come inside and rest!"

"No need," Feng Mingxue waved her hand, turning to look at Li Yubing, then back at Li Muzhan. "And this is...?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Martial Sister, this is Palace Mistress Li from Moli Palace; I introduced you earlier."

"Palace Mistress Li... My apologies," Feng Mingxue quickly bowed in salute, swaying slightly. Li Muzhan instantly moved to her side to support her. "Martial Sister is drunk; please go rest for a bit!"

Logically, given her cultivation, alcohol entering her system would cause her internal energy to circulate quickly, dissipating the effects. Unless she drank too fast or too much, it was hard for her to get drunk.

Feng Mingxue pushed away his supporting hand. "No need, I'll sit for a while and chat with Palace Mistress Li."

Li Muzhan smiled wryly. Seeing her like this, though her speech was clear, she was utterly different from her usual self. Others wouldn't notice anything amiss, wouldn't realize she was intoxicated.

"That sounds fine; let's chat," Li Yubing said with a smile. "Zhanran praised you highly to me, saying you've mastered the Huan Yu Sutra and have one foot across the threshold of the Grandmaster realm. He admitted his true comprehension isn't as good as yours."

Feng Mingxue let out a series of clear giggles, shaking her head repeatedly.

Li Muzhan smiled bitterly. The usual Martial Sister would only offer a pursed-lip smile or a light laugh, never such unrestrained mirth.

Li Yubing smiled slyly. "Isn't that true? Is he lying?"

"Hmph, he's just lying to deceive people!" Feng Mingxue’s laughter abruptly cut off as she snorted. "One foot across the threshold, and I don't know when the other will follow! ... As for comprehension, who could compare to him!"

Li Muzhan urged, "Martial Sister, you really should go back and rest."

Feng Mingxue shot him a look. "Are you trying to silence me, afraid I'll speak the truth?"

Li Muzhan sighed helplessly. "What do you want to say, Martial Sister?"

"You see the Sect Master like that, do you feel ashamed?" Feng Mingxue huffed.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Ashamed of what?"

Feng Mingxue snorted heavily. "Ashamed of the Sect Master's devotion! ... Think about the Sect Master, and then think about yourself, Li Wuji. You should be ashamed!"

Li Muzhan conceded, "Yes, yes, Martial Sister, I am quite ashamed. Too greedy!"

"Hmph, it's good that you know!" Feng Mingxue nodded firmly.

By now, Li Yubing also realized Feng Mingxue was quite drunk, observing her curiously. From her appearance, there was absolutely no outward sign of intoxication.

Li Muzhan could only humor her, saying with a smile, "Martial Sister, it’s all my fault. You should go back and rest. We can talk about whatever you need to say tomorrow!"

"No!" Feng Mingxue shook her head and huffed. "I’ll forget what I need to say tomorrow."

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile. "What is it you need to say, Martial Sister?"

"I need to talk about your philandering habits!" Feng Mingxue huffed. "You like every woman you meet, wanting to favor them all. When will this end!"

Li Muzhan stroked his small beard, looking embarrassed. "Martial Sister, you exaggerate!"

"I'm not exaggerating at all. Tell me if I'm wrong!" Feng Mingxue huffed, raising her slender left hand, plucking at her delicate fingers one by one. "First Miss Song, then Miss Hai, and now I see another Palace Mistress Leng. Martial Brother, your skills are growing!"

Li Muzhan quickly interjected, "Martial Sister is mistaken; I have absolutely no involvement with Palace Mistress Leng!"

"Hmph, she's so beautiful, how could you not like her?!" Feng Mingxue sneered sideways at him.

Li Muzhan countered, "How would I know if she's beautiful or not? I can't see her face clearly."

Feng Mingxue pouted. "You’ve seen so many beauties; you can't tell if someone is beautiful or ugly at a glance?"

Li Muzhan sighed. "Martial Sister, you truly misunderstand. My relationship with Palace Mistress Leng is rather special—we are enemies."

"Hmph, I think enemies will turn into lovers!" Feng Mingxue retorted impatiently. "You scoundrel, liking every person you see, what about Miss Hai? What about Miss Song?"

Li Muzhan touched his nose, feeling awkward and helpless. Li Yubing glanced sideways at him and snorted, "Zhanran, I didn't realize. You truly are this much of a rake!"

Li Muzhan managed a wry smile. "Palace Mistress Li, please don't join in the fun!"

"They say alcohol reveals the truth; isn't Miss Li correct?" Li Yubing scoffed.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Martial Sister is truly mistaken!"

"Mistaken about you and that masked young lady? What about the previous two?" Li Yubing asked.

Li Muzhan shot back irritably, "Palace Mistress Li!"

Feng Mingxue continued, "If you break their hearts by being so fickle, aren't you afraid of retribution someday?!"

Li Muzhan quickly said, "Martial Sister, stop cursing me. Please go back and rest now."

Without waiting for Feng Mingxue to say more, he reached out to strike her vital point to knock her unconscious. Unexpectedly, Feng Mingxue reacted with extreme swiftness, even faster than usual, twisting lightly to narrowly evade the move.