Li Muzhan shook his head— also vanished, the three appearing simultaneously halfway up the mountain. Li Muzhan called out loudly, "No need to run anymore; he is beyond saving."

"Li Wuji, if Tai'a suffers the slightest harm, I will kill every single disciple of the Yunxiao Sect to avenge him!"

Li Muzhan’s expression darkened. With a flicker of movement, he abruptly appeared before the two, sneering, "What arrogance, threatening to kill all my Yunxiao Sect disciples!"

Jian Zhimiao sneered back, "Release Tai'a, and we’ll call it even!"

Li Muzhan stated, "Jian Tai'a must die, and you cannot live either."

"Hmph, then we shall see who dies first!" Jian Zhimiao flicked his hand casually, and Jian Tai'a flew out, landing silently on the snow a hundred meters away, drifting down as lightly as a feather.

Li Muzhan glanced at Jian Tai'a and shook his head; he figured the man couldn't escape, even with the internal force injected, the restriction he placed on him would prevent movement.

Jian Zhimiao's face was grim, his green robe slowly puffing up like a balloon as he gently levitated, hovering in the air.

Once steady, the gloom on his face slowly receded, replaced by an expression of calm serenity, watching Li Muzhan quietly like a Buddha, compassionate and tranquil. Suddenly, he flicked his thumb toward Li Muzhan—Chii—a light whistle, and a burst of finger force instantly reached Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan didn't even have time to react. Peng! With a dull thud, he was thrown straight back, slamming into the slope behind him, disappearing into the snowdrift.

Peng! Li Muzhan shot out, not a single flake of snow clinging to him, already having been repelled. Li Muzhan had not anticipated that his finger force would be so fiercely rigid and domineering, so swift and sudden, as if it had bypassed the constraints of time and space, striking him the moment it materialized.

Chii! Peng! Jian Zhimiao pressed his thumb again. The finger force erupted and already collided with Li Muzhan, giving him no moment to react.

Li Muzhan sighed inwardly; upon first seeing Jian Zhimiao, he should have struck lethally immediately. Every Grandmaster is not a fluke; each possesses a decisive ultimate move. His own ultimate move was the flying dagger, guided by the Void-Piercing Sword Intent, integrated with the Sword Control Sutra, amplified by various blade intents, condensed into a single strike—world-shaking, possessing the greatest lethality in instantly taking a life. But if the execution lacks suddenness, once preparation is made, success is difficult. Grandmasters are not so easily killed. The first time against Hu Yu was due to underestimation, his own extraordinary performance, and the fact that Hu Yu had just fought a fierce battle with Li Yubing, draining most of his spirit. Killing the second Grandmaster, Tong Tianshu, was achieved using the Heavenly Gang God-Slaying Array; that couldn't count as his own skill; he had taken a huge advantage, and even though the final battle for the primal spirit was extremely brutal, luck played a part. Only this time, relying on the devouring of primal spirits, his cultivation had greatly increased, so he intended for a straightforward victory, not relying on luck or surprise attack. He hadn't expected that these Grandmasters should not be underestimated; this gentle finger strike, breaking through space and time, was utterly unavoidable, truly possessing infinite power, leaving him no time to react. Fortunately, his cultivation had surged, and his protective Gang Qi had become even more solid due to the heightened spirit. Though he took the full force of the finger strike, relying on the Gang Qi and his mastery of force deflection, he sustained no serious injury.

...

"Good, good, you certainly have some skill, no wonder you boast such grand words." Jian Zhimiao slowly nodded, as if he had become a different person, deploying his moves lightly, his face filled with benevolent pity.

Li Muzhan called out, "What finger technique is this?"

"The Great Compassion Finger," Jian Zhimiao replied gently, "Don't worry, this finger does not kill, it only injures, so it's no matter."

Li Muzhan laughed, "This finger injures, and then the palm force kills!"

"Heh heh, it's good that you understand," Jian Zhimiao chuckled softly, "In my view, it’s better to save your effort. Release the restriction on Tai'a first, and this old man can grant you a path to survival."

Li Muzhan shook his head, "You grant me a path to survival, but I won't grant you one!" He rubbed his hands together, and instantly a long sword condensed from the white snow took shape. He swung the sword, and immediately came the crisp sound of Ding ding ding ding… like jade beads falling onto a jade plate. Though the sword formed of snow seemed soft, after his manipulation, it was several times harder than ice, and enveloped by his sword intent, it was no different from a divine weapon. This Great Compassion Finger, while fast, was not domineering; it was mellow and gentle, only serving to send people flying. His protective Gang Qi was enough to block it without injury.

Ding, ding, ding ding… The sword danced, blocking the incoming finger force from reaching him; the Gang Qi emanating from Li Muzhan's snow sword completely shielded him. Jian Zhimiao, suspended mid-air, frowned slightly, nodding gently, "Your swordsmanship is excellent, worthy of a Yunxiao Sect disciple, but sadly, it's useless—just futile struggle!" With that said, he clasped his hands together, then brought his thumbs together, pointing one at Li Muzhan—Chii—a beam of white light shot straight down.

Peng! The snow sword in Li Muzhan's hand instantly exploded. This ray of white light was about as thick as a thumb, appearing solid, shattering Li Muzhan's snow sword directly. Li Muzhan felt this finger force was overwhelmingly rigid and fierce, unlike the mellow quality of before.

"What finger technique is this?" Li Muzhan felt it didn't resemble the Great Compassion Finger. He waved his hand, and amidst swirling snow, another silver dragon formed.

"The Great Wrath Finger!" Jian Zhimiao hung in the air, his face contorted in ferocity, letting out a harsh grunt. He brought his palms together, aligned his thumbs, and pointed at Li Muzhan again—Peng! The silver dragon's head was pierced. But after the piercing, the white light seemed exhausted and failed to reach Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan beckoned again, and another silver dragon flew up, lunging toward Jian Zhimiao.

Jian Zhimiao coldly sneered, tapping his thumb—Xi—a sharp crack, and the silver dragon's forehead exploded. But Li Muzhan's other silver dragon was already upon him. Jian Zhimiao flashed aside a away, evading the silver dragon, and pointed again, shattering the forehead of the second dragon. The two silver dragons plummeted, just like real dragons whose life force was severed by a blow to the head. Jian Zhimiao aimed to pierce the forehead not randomly, but because he sensed a point of divine essence within the dragon's head—presumably the spirit Li Muzhan had imbued it with. This strike pierced that spiritual point with his exquisite finger force, causing the silver dragon to lose control; though it could still be manipulated by Qi, it lost its agility and power.

Li Muzhan grunted, sweeping both hands outwards, and two more silver dragons rose. The two falling dragons in the air suddenly flickered and regained their nimbleness. The four silver dragons lunged at Jian Zhimiao, positioning themselves at four different points. Simultaneously, Li Muzhan pulled out four jade talismans from his robes and flung them toward the four silver dragons. The four talismans fell into the respective dragons. Li Muzhan then drew out a small box from his robes and slowly opened it. A massive, surging power erupted, forming a force as immense as a mountain range, pressing down directly. Jian Zhimiao’s expression changed drastically—Peng! He crashed onto the ground. The four silver dragons also fell, shattering into dust, while the four jade talismans floated in the air. Li Muzhan took out a talisman from his robes and pressed it to his brow. The talisman glowed brilliantly, then quickly dimmed, and the four talismans in the air flashed before disappearing, as if merged into the void.

Li Muzhan smiled. Jian Zhimiao looked bewildered, then his expression shifted. He moved his feet quickly, but he was walking in circles, traversing a ten-meter radius repeatedly. After the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, Jian Zhimiao’s face turned grim. He stopped, standing perfectly still for a long while, then suddenly leaped upwards, soaring into the sky.

Li Muzhan shook his head; this Four Symbols Dragon Trapping Array was not so easily broken. He shook out four more jade talismans from his robes, tossing them into the air to hover around Jian Zhimiao. The jade pendant stuck to his brow flashed, and then the four floating talismans vanished.

Li Muzhan stopped paying attention to Jian Zhimiao and walked slowly toward Jian Tai'a. Jian Tai'a was utterly stunned. Seeing him approach, he rolled over and knelt in the snow: "Great Master Li, Ancestor Li, spare me!"

Li Muzhan frowned and took a step back, "Don't waste your efforts. Try to be a better person in your next life!"

Jian Tai'a frantically shook his head, "No, no, please spare this dog's life, I swear I'll never offend again!"

Li Muzhan asked, "Did those young women you killed also beg for mercy like that?"

Jian Tai'a froze, his expression changing slightly.

Li Muzhan sighed, "When have you ever spared them? ... Forget it, I won't torment you further. Accept death!" Saying this, he brought his palm down. Before Jian Tai'a could speak another word, Pa! his head shattered like a melon, leaving no chance of survival. This manner of death directly destroyed his primal spirit; even if he could be saved, it would be useless, and in this condition, revival was impossible—cracked skull, no recovery.

Li Muzhan glared fiercely at him, then turned and walked toward Jian Zhimiao. Trapped in the array, he had no chance of escape. However, even suppressed, a Grandmaster is still a Grandmaster, possessing immense vital energy; wearing him down would not be easy. Unless the Heavenly Gang God-Slaying Sword was deployed, killing him purely with an array was impossible. He contemplated this, extended his right palm, and a tiny, crystal-clear knife suddenly appeared in his palm. He gazed at the small blade for a moment, picked it up, and pressed it against his brow. The knife slowly brightened, shining brilliantly, as if directly illuminated by the sun, then the blade began to change: first the tip vanished, then the body, then the hilt, until it disappeared completely.

Li Muzhan sat cross-legged on the snow, forming hand seals, fingers straight as arrows; one finger pointed toward the distant Jian Zhimiao, the other pressed to his brow.

Chii—a spurt of blood light burst from Jian Zhimiao's chest. He slowly sat down, looked down at his chest, and a jet of blood shot out, then quickly stopped. His expression returned to normal. Li Muzhan frowned; this Jian Zhimiao was truly bizarre. He was pierced through the heart, yet he could seal it; his essence, energy, and spirit were completely restrained, allowing him to suppress the injury. From Jian Zhimiao, he understood the might of a Grandmaster—their life force was incredibly potent. Killing Hu Yu with one strike had truly been a matter of luck!

Chii! The blade light flashed, and another jet of blood light burst from Jian Zhimiao's chest, immediately followed by Chii chii—two more streaks of blood light appeared. The blood light flashed and was instantly suppressed. Jian Zhimiao seemed to possess some secret method allowing him to control his body freely; despite being struck by the blade, he remained unharmed.

Li Muzhan slightly pursed his lips, impatience rising. The blade light flickered—Chii chii chii chii! The light flashed repeatedly, and several streaks of blood light burst from Jian Zhimiao's body before being suppressed again. Li Muzhan pulled out several jade talismans from his robes and finally set up the Heavenly Gang God-Slaying Array. Once the array activated, Jian Zhimiao remained seated, motionless, as if turned into a statue.

Li Muzhan sat quietly, retracting the flying knife, ceasing the immediate effort. But he understood that although Jian Zhimiao had suppressed his injuries, he was not unharmed; the Void-Piercing Blade Intent remained within his body, and it would not be easy to expel. With the Void-Piercing Sword Intent inside and the Heavenly Gang God-Slaying Array outside, Jian Zhimiao was trapped by both internal and external forces, making survival difficult. Li Muzhan currently had no immediate means other than a war of attrition. A Grandmaster's vital energy, however mighty, had its limits; he couldn't sustain such severe injuries for long. Moreover, Li Muzhan sensed a faint danger and couldn't approach too closely. Jian Zhimiao must have been hiding a final trump card, a mutually assured destruction measure he wouldn't use until the last moment. Duels between Grandmasters were avoided precisely because of this final move. Li Muzhan was grateful he possessed the Sarira, which could suppress a Grandmaster; otherwise, if they resorted to mutual annihilation, the power would be terrifying, and he might not survive.

Time slowly passed. Jian Zhimiao sat motionless on the ground like a statue. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and then large snowflakes began to drift down. Jian Tai'a's corpse was soon covered by snow, and the marks left by the battle between Li Muzhan and Jian Zhimiao were also veiled by the snow, as if the surroundings were draped in a curtain. Li Muzhan sat cross-legged in the snow, utterly still, yet no snow dared to alight upon him. Within the Heavenly Gang God-Slaying Array, there was also no snow falling, as if it had become its own world. Li Muzhan suddenly opened his eyes and glanced at Jian Zhimiao. In this weather, the power of the Heavenly Gang God-Slaying Array would be enhanced. If things continued this way, one night would be enough for the array to deplete more than half of Jian Zhimiao's vital essence and spirit. By then, Jian Zhimiao might be unable to suppress his injuries.

...

The night passed quickly. As dawn broke, Li Muzhan slowly rose and began practicing a set of slow-moving fist forms on the snow. Surrounded by the white expanse, the scene was tranquil and pristine. Halfway through his routine, his expression subtly changed. The Eye of the Void opened, and he saw a group of people floating and flying, gliding without touching the ground, rapidly approaching his location. Li Muzhan frowned; judging by their demeanor, they were coming for him. A thought flashed through his mind: Jian Zhimiao must have sent a signal; these were his accomplices. Li Muzhan shook his head helplessly. He considered for a moment, flashed once and vanished, and flashed again to appear inside the valley of the Tiandao Alliance, arriving at the Celestial God Hall. Li Yubing, clad in a snow-white silk robe, was sitting on a meditation cushion, gazing intently at the Celestial God across from her, scrutinizing the figure as if trying to burn it into her memory. Upon Li Muzhan's sudden appearance, she turned her head, "Why didn't you return last night?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "Don't even mention it. Come with me for a moment; I need the Palace Master's help!"

Li Yubing pursed her lips and smiled, "Caused trouble again?"

Li Muzhan nodded helplessly, "Another Grandmaster!"

Li Yubing smiled sweetly, "Another Grandmaster? You little fellow, quite capable. Who is it?"

Li Muzhan said, "Let's go over there first and discuss it."

"Alright, alright, I'll inform Xin'er." Li Yubing nodded and called out. Xu Suxin swiftly floated over, "Master?"

"Xin'er, I'm going out with Zhanran for a bit; you keep an eye on things here," Li Yubing instructed.

Xu Suxin nodded, glanced at Li Muzhan, "Yes, Master... Master, where are you going?"

Li Yubing waved dismissively, "I don't know yet. We have to deal with a Grandmaster. Alright, we'll talk when I get back. Zhanran, let's go!"

Xu Suxin's face instantly changed, and she hurried, "Master!"

Li Yubing waved her hand, "Enough, enough, I know, I'll be careful!"

Xu Suxin glared at Li Muzhan and huffed, "Master, you shouldn't go!"

Li Yubing shot her a look and urged Li Muzhan, "Hurry up and get going?"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Don't worry, Miss Xu, we'll be careful. This time, we are eliminating a scourge for the people; we have to do it!"

Xu Suxin snorted, tightly pursing her lips without speaking, only staring coldly at Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan felt a chill under her gaze and quickly pulled Li Yubing, vanishing in a flash.

Xu Suxin watched the spot where they disappeared, her red lips tightly pressed, stamping her foot angrily. The moment she heard her Master was confronting a Grandmaster, her heart leaped with terror. Fights between Grandmasters often ended in mutual destruction; few survived, unless both parties stopped moderately or opted for total annihilation. Fortunately, her Master had always been lucky, perhaps because she was a beauty, making the opponents unwilling to deliver a killing blow, allowing her to live this long. But judging by the current situation, it seemed to be a fight to the death, meaning no mercy would be shown, making mutual destruction too likely. The thought of a world without her Master sent a shudder down her spine, fueling her intense hatred for Li Muzhan.

...

The moment Li Muzhan and Li Yubing appeared, Li Yubing exclaimed in surprise, "Jian Zhimiao?"

Li Muzhan asked, "Palace Master recognizes him?"

"Of course, I've fought him before. That fellow is slippery; how did you catch him?" Li Yubing nodded as she observed Jian Zhimiao.

Li Muzhan explained, "I ran into Jian Tai'a, so I drew Jian Zhimiao out. We had to fight."

"Jian Tai'a?" Li Yubing's expression became serious, and she said sternly, "Where is that brat?"

Li Muzhan pointed into the distance, "Already slain."

Li Yubing nodded slowly and snorted, "Good kill! ... The last time I tracked down Jian Zhimiao, I was looking for Jian Tai'a. Jian Zhimiao warned him, and I couldn't catch the kid!"

Li Muzhan stated, "It violates heavenly principles to leave such a villain alive! ... Jian Zhimiao has gathered a group of thugs; I can't handle them alone, so I must ask the Palace Master for help."

"Oh? Where are they?" Li Yubing asked.

Li Muzhan pointed east, "They are rushing this way."

"I'll go intercept them!" Li Yubing nodded, "How long will you need here?"

Li Muzhan pondered, "To be absolutely certain, at least another day."

"That long?" Li Yubing frowned.

Li Muzhan explained, "I know he is hiding a final move; I can't confront him head-on, or else..."

"Mm, understood." Li Yubing nodded. Grandmasters all possess a final move of immense power; once unleashed, no one can escape. She thought for a moment, "I'll go draw them away; you set up an array, how about that?"

Li Muzhan nodded, "That was my intention."

"I'm off then," Li Yubing said, "Will one hour be enough?"

Li Muzhan smiled, "I need to inscribe the array runes this time, so it will be slower."

"Then alright, I'll hold them off for two hours!" Li Yubing stated. Seeing Li Muzhan nod, she waved her hand and drifted away. (To be continued)