"That's what I should be saying," Li Yubing chuckled. "Zhanran, why don't you speak first!"

Li Muzhan sighed, resigned. "I truly didn't intend to say more, but if the Palace Mistress insists on pressing me, I have no choice but to speak!"

Li Yubing smiled faintly. "Tell me then, what manner of strange wind resists even your Gangqi? Truly bizarre! Zhanran, your cultivation has advanced again, hasn't it?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "The last battle with Tong Tianshu, though costly, resulted in a breakthrough after I entered seclusion. It was a blessing in disguise, in a way."

"With your level of attainment, you could travel the world," Li Yubing said with a knowing smile. "Yet there is still wind you cannot resist—that is indeed curious. I absolutely must experience this kind of wind."

Xu Suxin quickly interjected, "Master, I wish to see it as well!"

Li Yubing nodded. "Yes, it's good to see it, lest you become arrogant about the world's immensity."

Li Muzhan sighed and shook his head. "I suspect Miss Xu might not enjoy the trip! It is the stronghold of the Spring Wind Sect. Does the Palace Mistress know?"

"Spring Wind Sect?" Li Yubing frowned, pondering for a moment. "I seem to recall something, perhaps I heard it mentioned occasionally, but I don't recall the details clearly now."

Li Muzhan supplied, "The Spring Wind Sect, whose dual cultivation techniques are infinitely marvelous."

"It's them?!" Li Yubing's expression shifted slightly, and she snorted. "The Spring Wind Sect that was wiped out by the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Sect, right?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "Precisely."

Li Yubing's delicate brows knitted together, and she huffed. "Why would you want to go there?! What are your intentions? Do you harbor designs on acquiring their dual cultivation arts?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Purely out of curiosity."

"Hmph, I doubt that. Just curiosity?" Li Yubing sneered. "You men all have the same despicable character. Even if it's dual cultivation, it's nothing more than a depraved art for selfish gain!"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Palace Mistress, your words are biased. The Great Art of Dual Cultivation is a righteous, ancient method passed down. It is only through distortion and rumor that people hold such prejudice. Who has truly witnessed the Great Art of Dual Cultivation?"

"Still need to ask?!" Li Yubing scoffed. "I remember it clearly! I know the whole affair from a hundred years ago!"

Li Muzhan countered, "It was merely one or two corrupt individuals!"

"Hmph, was that Grandmaster a corrupt individual?" Li Yubing pouted and shook her head. "A mere corrupt person cannot become a Grandmaster! If a Grandmaster descended to such a state, what hope is there for others who practice cultivation?!"

Xu Suxin hastily asked, "Master, what state did he fall into?"

Li Yubing glanced at her and snorted. "Children shouldn't pry into such matters!"

Xu Suxin quickly protested, "Master, since when am I a child? Surely listening won't hurt?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Indeed, Palace Mistress may hold Miss Xu in too low regard! I shall explain. That Grandmaster of the Spring Wind Sect attempted to use a disciple of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Sect as a Dinglu (cauldron), infuriating the disciples. They subsequently unleashed the Great Overarching Heaven Divine Sword to slay the Grandmaster and, in the process, eradicated the entire Spring Wind Sect."

"Dinglu?" Xu Suxin asked, startled. "What is a Dinglu?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "A woman serves as the cauldron (Ding), cultivating the Jing, Qi, and Shen. Hence, she is called a Dinglu."

"Treating a woman like that!" Li Yubing said coldly. "Such people deserve to be killed!"

Li Muzhan sighed and shook his head. "I suspect the Spring Wind Sect was wronged. The dual cultivation method is not merely an art of extraction; the world has misunderstood it."

"What is the difference?" Xu Suxin inquired.

Li Yubing shot Xu Suxin a look devoid of warmth, noting that the girl felt no blush or racing heart—hardly the demeanor of a typical woman!

Li Muzhan elaborated, "Extraction is selfish harm; the Great Art of Dual Cultivation benefits both parties—how can it be called a wicked art? Even as a Dinglu, her martial arts would also be enhanced!"

"Now you are defending the Spring Wind Sect?" Li Yubing remarked tartly.

Li Muzhan nodded. "Yes, I feel the Spring Wind Sect was deeply wronged, and I suspect the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Sect was mistaken."

"It's a pity there are no Spring Wind Sect members left now; they were almost entirely wiped out, and their lineage broken. For over a hundred years, no disciples have been heard of," Li Yubing said with a slight pout.

Li Muzhan countered, "It's likely some disciples survived; such a tradition is difficult to sever completely."

"You are quite confident. Perhaps you wish to learn their ways?" Li Yubing asked somewhat sharply.

Li Muzhan affirmed, "Precisely."

Li Yubing was astonished. "You truly wish to learn the dual cultivation arts? Zhanran, you are a monk!"

Li Muzhan laughed. "Palace Mistress, you know as well as I do, my status as a monk is a pretense!"

"Heh heh, you're quite the huā héshang (lustful monk)!" Li Yubing laughed, shaking her head. "However, if you wish to cultivate dual cultivation arts, it is truly inappropriate."

Li Muzhan explained, "If only my martial arts improve, it means little. Allowing those close to me to grow stronger together—that is true harmony. Otherwise, in a few more centuries, they will all perish, and I will remain alone in this world, which would be dreadfully dull, wouldn't it?"

"Can men not live without women?" Li Yubing retorted dismissively. "And can women not live without men? I highly doubt that!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Being alone is indeed dull. Doesn't the Palace Mistress feel that way?"

Li Yubing shook her head. "I find being alone quite fine. I still have my disciples; I won't be solitary! Besides, I have friends like you."

Li Muzhan smiled knowingly. "In another two or three centuries, Miss Xu might reach the Grandmaster realm, but the rest of the disciples might not—they won't all be here, and they won't be as close to you then."

"Fine, fine, I promise you, I will go and borrow the Cold Soul Pearl!" Li Yubing waved her hand.

"Master..." Xu Suxin quickly started.

Li Yubing cut her off. "I owe you several favors anyway; consider this repayment! However, even if you borrow the Cold Soul Pearl, you might not get what you wish for. Perhaps the Spring Wind Sect's heritage hasn't been entirely extinguished and remains hidden. You might go there only to find nothing."

Li Muzhan smiled gently. "Why speak of favors? Isn't the Palace Mistress considering me a friend, after all!" Even if it's an empty search, one must try before giving up hope."

"Hmm, that is true," Li Yubing nodded, a smile appearing on her face.

Xu Suxin shot Li Muzhan a glare. He was truly adept at leveraging a small opening. To instantly elevate himself to a seniority level above her felt awkward. Moreover, he sought dual cultivation techniques, which was clearly ill-intentioned. What would a monk want with dual cultivation arts? It would be laughable if word got out.

As they spoke, the three walked out of the valley and saw ten figures already waiting outside. Li Muzhan spotted Feng Mingxue and Gu Cheng among them.

Li Muzhan smiled and walked toward them. "Senior Sister."

Feng Mingxue nodded lightly and cupped her hands towards Li Yubing in a formal greeting. "Palace Mistress Li."

Li Yubing waved her jade-like hand cheerfully. "Miss Feng and all you young heroes need not be so formal. Let us set off!" "Xin'er!"

Xu Suxin nodded and whistled sharply. Instantly, ten women in white robes floated out of the valley. Their attire was similar to Feng Mingxue's, but their aura was somewhat inferior, making comparison difficult.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior Sister, Palace Mistress Li and I will take the lead. You and Miss Xu can follow at a slower pace."

Feng Mingxue frowned and glanced at him, sensing something unusual but asked no further questions, nodding lightly. Xu Suxin, however, rolled her eyes at him dismissively.

Li Yubing pursed her lips, smiled, and nodded. "Very well, let's go then."

The two nodded to the others and then vanished abruptly. Feng Mingxue frowned, looking in the direction they disappeared, then smiled and bowed to Xu Suxin, allowing the two to become acquainted. They planned to travel together toward the Heavenly Dao Alliance valley, a journey of several days. Feng Mingxue inwardly blamed Li Muzhan but could do nothing about it.

Li Muzhan and Li Yubing proceeded side-by-side, drifting northward.

Li Yubing remarked, "Zhanran, at our current pace, it will take us about ten days to reach the destination."

Li Muzhan's brow lifted slightly, and he smiled. "Is there a method to speed things up?"

"No," Li Yubing shook her head. "We must travel bit by bit. The far North lies in lands of ice and snow where virtually no people live."

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile. "Then let us quicken our pace."

Li Yubing agreed. "Very well. I must use my ultimate move. You had better keep up."

Li Muzhan nodded with a smile. "Palace Mistress, please proceed as you wish; I will certainly keep pace."

"Don't boast so quickly, watch carefully now!" Li Yubing curled her lips into a faint smile. Her figure flickered suddenly, splitting into two phantom images that slowly vanished, placing her a hundred zhang away in an instant.

Li Muzhan increased his speed, and just as he was about to catch up, Li Yubing executed the same maneuver, instantly moving another hundred zhang. Before Li Muzhan could close the distance, she moved another hundred zhang.

Li Muzhan smiled, then darted forward more decisively, appearing directly beside Li Yubing. Then Li Yubing vanished, and Li Muzhan followed instantly; the moment she disappeared, he disappeared after her.

The speed of their travel became incredibly fast, powered by inexhaustible internal energy. What should have taken ten days was accomplished by the two in a mere three.

On the morning of the third day, they arrived before a mountain range that shimmered like silver, coiled like a dragon of white metal, possessing a majesty that inspired self-effacement.

The surroundings were blanketed in snow, an expanse of white with nothing else visible. The world was monotonously white, yet it seemed to cleanse the mind.

Li Muzhan surveyed the area and pointed toward a massive snow-capped peak opposite them. "Palace Mistress, is it there?"

Li Yubing nodded slightly. Her complexion was rosy; having traveled at high speed for three days and nights, even for a Grandmaster like her, it stirred her vital energies.

Li Muzhan said, "Then I will trouble the Palace Mistress. I shall wait here."

"Yes, do not approach them under any circumstances, or they will surely take your life," Li Yubing warned.

Li Muzhan’s brow twitched, and he chuckled. "Can they kill me?"

Li Yubing nodded seriously. "Grandmasters are not invincible. Their martial arts are peculiar and intensely frigid; Grandmaster techniques may prove ineffective."

Li Muzhan shook his head and chuckled wryly. "Before I became a Grandmaster, I thought Grandmasters were invincible under heaven. After reaching that realm, I found they are just that—Grandmasters. The renown is overstated; it seems anyone can deal with a Grandmaster now!"

Li Yubing smiled faintly. "Actually, the claim that Grandmasters are invincible isn't exaggerated, provided the Grandmaster knows when to retreat. If you can't win, you run, and no one can touch you. If you insist on a death struggle, you are seeking your own demise, and no one can save you!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Then if I cannot win, I shall run."

"Their temperaments are strange; they fight to the death. It is quite troublesome," Li Yubing cautioned.

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment. "Palace Mistress Li, what connection do you have with the Cold Jade Palace?"

Li Yubing smiled faintly. "I have a deep connection with the Cold Jade Palace. The Mo Li Palace was established by disciples of the Cold Jade Palace; our founding ancestress was a disciple there."

Li Muzhan's brow moved slightly, and he smiled. "So we are one family."

"Although our cultivation methods are not exactly the same, they share the same origin and thus have certain similarities, allowing us to communicate," Li Yubing explained.

Li Muzhan laughed. "That's only because you are a Grandmaster, allowing you to converse with them."

"That's rather rude. I'll be right back," Li Yubing patted his shoulder, shook her head with a soft laugh, and vanished from his side in a blink.

Li Muzhan watched her disappearing form until she was completely swallowed by the snow peak. He stood quietly waiting. About an hour later, Li Yubing reappeared, accompanied by a graceful young woman wearing a purple silk gown that stood out vividly against the snow.

Her face was a delicate, snow-white oval, framed by spirited eyes, with faint dimples on either cheek. Her expression held a measure of shyness.

She drifted gracefully as she approached Li Yubing. Li Muzhan looked at her with surprise. Li Yubing smiled. "Junior Sister Shui, this is Li Wuji, a disciple of the Cloud Sky Sect... Zhanran, this is Junior Sister Shui Yuling from the Jade Cold Palace."

Li Muzhan cupped his hands in greeting. "Miss Shui."

Shui Yuling shyly returned the gesture, daring not to look too long at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan looked questioningly at Li Yubing, who smiled. "Junior Sister Shui needs to gain some worldly experience accompanying me; it was the main condition for borrowing the pearl."

Li Muzhan smiled. "Does that mean the pearl was successfully borrowed?"

"Yes, we borrowed it," Li Yubing said, extending her left hand. In her palm rested a sapphire-blue pearl, the size of a dragon's eye.

She handed it to Li Muzhan. "Take it, but be careful. You must circulate your Gangqi to guard yourself constantly."

Li Muzhan took it with a smile, immediately feeling an intense chill burrowing in, aimed directly at his heart. His internal energy intercepted it layer by layer until, reaching his core, the chill finally dissolved into a warm, clear current that flowed through his meridians, transforming into his own vital energy. This current was exquisitely pure; had his internal energy not become increasingly refined, he could never have neutralized it.

Seeing his composed expression, Li Yubing smiled faintly. "How is it, Zhanran? Can you still bear it?"

Li Muzhan laughed. "What a powerful Cold Soul Pearl!"

"Now you know its might, don't you?" Li Yubing teased. "Can it withstand that hot wind?!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "That remains to be seen. We'll check next time."

"Very well. If it doesn't work, I'll think of another way," Li Yubing agreed. Just then, Li Muzhan's expression shifted abruptly, and he frowned.

"What's wrong?" Li Yubing asked quickly.

Li Muzhan said grimly, "They've run into trouble!"

"Xin'er and the others?" Li Yubing inquired.

Li Muzhan nodded. "I need to go look. Will the Palace Mistress join me?"

"Let's go together!" Li Yubing nodded quickly. "Can you take us with you?" She knew Li Muzhan could transport her, but adding another person increased the difficulty severalfold; traversing thousands of li in an instant was no easy feat.

Li Muzhan replied, "I'll take them one by one."

"Yes, that's best," Li Yubing quickly agreed, smiling. "Junior Sister Shui, we are going somewhere. His speed is fast; how about letting him carry us for a segment?"

"Mmm," Shui Yuling nodded softly, a shy smile appearing.

Li Muzhan noted that Shui Yuling became shy at the slightest provocation, suggesting she rarely encountered outsiders, which fostered this gentle, seemingly fragile nature. However, her cultivation was not weak. Li Muzhan estimated her skill level was similar to his Senior Sister’s—clearly a genius figure not to be underestimated. The Cold Jade Palace capable of producing such an outstanding disciple was clearly remarkable.

He first drew Li Yubing to his waist and vanished with a flicker. When he reappeared, his side was empty. He reached out to Shui Yuling with a smile. "Miss Shui, let's go."

Shui Yuling's face flushed crimson, like rouge on jade. She walked delicately to his side, her graceful body stiff. When Li Muzhan reached for her waist, she trembled slightly, making a subtle movement to resist. Li Muzhan paid it no mind, speaking gently, "We’ll be there instantly."

Shui Yuling felt her vision darken, followed by a blur of distorted light and shadow, an exceedingly strange sensation. But the next moment, her feet met solid ground, and the light returned. They stood before a valley, hearing the clang of metal on metal ringing incessantly.

Li Muzhan released his hold and smiled. "Palace Mistress Li, we must act immediately, or they will initiate the Sacrificial Art!"

"Damn the Heavenly Dao Alliance! How did they discover this place!" Li Yubing snorted, glancing at the disciples currently locked in battle with the Heavenly Dao Alliance members. She suspected someone had tipped them off—perhaps a disciple from the Cloud Sky Sect or the Mo Li Palace had infiltrated the Heavenly Dao Alliance?

Li Muzhan suggested, "Perhaps they always knew. These fellows might be the guardians here."

"Hmm, that makes sense," Li Yubing nodded slightly, relieved.

Li Muzhan asked, "Palace Mistress, shall I make my move?"

"Yes, watch closely!" Li Yubing nodded and snorted. "Teach them a good lesson!"

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. Suddenly, a long cry erupted—a sound like a tiger's roar mixed with a dragon's cry, echoing far across the wilderness. Everyone stopped fighting and turned to look.

Li Muzhan commanded sternly, "If you continue to press us, do not blame us for showing no mercy! Go back to where you came from!"

The disciples, hearing Li Muzhan’s voice, immediately smiled and turned to look at their opponents. These opponents looked entirely ordinary, figures who would blend into any crowd, yet they possessed formidable cultivation that had caused them considerable trouble. There were about fifty middle-aged men, often two against one. Given their higher initial cultivation, Feng Mingxue had only managed to crush her jade talisman under such pressure.

Li Muzhan frowned. "Are you refusing to leave? Then don't blame me for being impolite!"

"You are Li Wuji, aren't you? What right do you have to be impolite?!" one middle-aged man sneered.

Li Muzhan smiled. "I am Li Wuji, and I offer my apologies."

As his words ended, he let out a long, piercing cry, like a white crane soaring into the sky, lingering long after it faded. Immediately following this, another long cry erupted, the two overlapping to create a sound even louder. Li Muzhan was not finished; he unleashed a third cry, which overlapped with the previous two, increasing the power exponentially. (To be continued)