Zhu Yifu turned his head and glared at him. Li Muzhan chuckled, "You know I could dispatch them as easily as turning my hand, but I’m simply too lazy to act. I want to cultivate a force, which is why I’m wasting breath arguing with you." Zhu Yifu fell silent, his expression shifting through various hues.

Li Muzhan smiled, said no more, and rose as if to leave.

"Wait!" Zhu Yifu said in a deep voice, "I agree!"

Li Muzhan clapped his hands and laughed, "A truly wise decision!... Zhu Yifu, good, you shall be my registered disciple. Why don't you pay your respects to your master now?"

"Pay respects to my master?" Zhu Yifu started, momentarily stunned.

Li Muzhan smiled. "What? You don't wish to become my disciple?"

"This..." Zhu Yifu hesitated.

If they were merely using each other, it would be one thing; at worst, they could renege later. But to formally become master and disciple—that was different.

Li Muzhan said, "Being my disciple wouldn't be burying your talent, would it? I am, after all, a Grandmaster."

"You are a Grandmaster?" Zhu Yifu frowned, staring at him.

Li Muzhan chuckled. "Don't believe me? ... You think I'm too young, so I can't possibly be a Grandmaster?"

"Are you... are you Li Wuji?!" Zhu Yifu's face changed drastically.

Li Muzhan let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. "I thought you were a smart man. How can you be so muddled, only realizing it's me now?!"

"I was only responsible for guarding the main headquarters; I never saw you," Zhu Yifu shook his head, staring intently at Li Muzhan's face with a strange expression.

Li Muzhan smiled. "You've heard my great name, haven't you? Don't tell me every member of your Wentian Sect hates me to the bone?"

"That's right," Zhu Yifu slowly nodded. "You killed hundreds of our disciples. We can never share the sky with you!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "You attempted to assassinate our Sect Master; naturally, we couldn't stand idly by. As assassins, survival was never likely."

Zhu Yifu snorted coldly. "But without you, they would have succeeded in killing Yi Xingzhi!"

Li Muzhan countered, "Once you killed the Sect Master, it would have led to the annihilation of your entire sect! ... The foundation of the Yunxiao Sect is not something your Wentian Sect can compare to!"

"I really didn't expect it was you!" Zhu Yifu said gravely. "I cannot agree."

"That's fine too. If you won't agree, I'll just go out and slaughter them all—that's less trouble!" Li Muzhan turned and headed toward the great hall's exit.

"Wait!" Zhu Yifu urgently commanded.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "You're being foolish. At this stage, do you still have a choice?"

"Fine, I agree!" Zhu Yifu nodded forcefully.

Li Muzhan sat down on the meditation cushion. After Zhu Yifu kowtowed nine times, Li Muzhan nodded. "Good. You are now my initiate disciple. My identity in Xihua is the monk Zhanran, Abbot of Miaolian Temple. Your Dharma name is Jicheng, and you are my fourth disciple."

"Yes, Master," Zhu Yifu nodded, resignation heavy in his tone.

Li Muzhan said, "Though you are reluctant, now that you have entered my gate, you must abide by the rules. Otherwise, I will take your life and wipe out the entire Wentian Sect!"

"Yes, Master," Zhu Yifu’s expression calmed.

Li Muzhan smiled. "You, you. To be able to enter my lineage is your destiny, yet you wear the face of someone who has been wronged... it’s truly..."

"Master, must I stay by your side?" Zhu Yifu asked.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Your mission is to become the Sect Master of the Wentian Sect. Once you achieve that, if you still wish to follow me, first find a disciple to inherit the Sect Master position."

"Yes, Master." Zhu Yifu inwardly pursed his lips; following him around? A fool's dream!

Li Muzhan saw his expression and read his thoughts as easily as reading the palm of a hand. He smiled; his current attitude would naturally change later.

Li Muzhan declared, "Now, I will teach you the true Heavenly God Possession Art."

Saying this, he lightly tapped his thumb onto the center of Zhu Yifu’s brow. Zhu Yifu tried to evade but was too slow. He felt a blur before his eyes, followed by a colossal 'boom' as a gigantic shadow tore through the void, descending to stand in the air and look down upon him.

The shadow was boundless, blotting out the sky and covering the sun, but it slowly condensed, finally resolving into a single silhouette, perfectly mimicking Li Muzhan.

While he was still reeling, Li Muzhan sat cross-legged in the void, forming a hand seal like a Buddha, and recited an incantation. The words flowed out like pearls, continuous and resonant, slowly branding themselves deep within his mind.

The incantation was repeated again and again, imprinting layer after layer, seemingly destined to be unforgettable for eternity.

He felt an immense amount of time pass, perhaps a hundred years. Slowly, he returned to awareness, opening his eyes to find the light in the main hall bright and soft. He was seated cross-legged on the cushion, and Li Muzhan was gone.

He looked around and saw a plain slip of paper weighed down by a jade pendant on a surface ahead.

He picked up the jade pendant, glanced at it twice, then looked at the slip. After reading the note with a frown, he slowly set it down, rubbing his palms together gently. The slip instantly disintegrated into fine white powder that drifted down.

Watching the powder flutter to the floor, his expression changed. Finally, he slowly rose, left the great hall, and moved swiftly toward the south, eventually slipping into a house and disappearing down a secret tunnel.

When Li Muzhan returned to the Heavenly God Hall, Li Yubing was sitting there, lost in thought—slender and elegant, like an immortal maiden.

Seeing him enter, she looked up and smiled brightly, "How did it go?"

Li Muzhan nodded with a smile, "Mission accomplished!"

"You actually convinced him?" Li Yubing raised a delicate eyebrow. "Those Wentian Sect fellows are hard as rock; how could you persuade one?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "I offered a little sweetening."

"You certainly paid a price!" Li Yubing shook her head and smiled. She understood Li Muzhan had imparted martial arts to the man. For a martial artist, the greatest incentive was martial arts.

Li Muzhan laughed. "I've planted a tree; we'll see if it grows into timber!"

Li Yubing smiled. "That's good. I was truly relieved that we don't have to make enemies of those people."

Li Muzhan said, "We should retreat immediately. They will attack soon... In fact, their target isn't the manuals; it's the Heavenly God Hall."

"These Heavenly God statues?" Li Yubing pointed behind her.

Li Muzhan nodded. "These statues are the focus of their faith, crucial ritual tools for practicing the Heavenly God Possession Art. We should leave them behind to avoid truly provoking them."

"That’s wise." Li Yubing nodded. "Those people are fiendishly strange; it’s best not to provoke them. By the way, did you find out what's going on?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "He doesn't know either. Never mind; the Sect Master will have a way to handle it!"

"That’s true," Li Yubing agreed. "Your Yunxiao Sect has hidden depths; you likely have other top experts. You shouldn't worry too much."

While they were speaking, Feng Mingxue and Xu Suxin arrived, having finished copying the manuals. The manuals could be split in two: half copied, half original, with everyone taking a share.

So, the group took a small path out of the Tiandao Alliance and headed toward their respective sects.

Upon reaching his sect, he escorted everyone back to the rear before immediately departing, as if fleeing, because he sensed Fu Feihong was waiting on Hengbo Island.

He knew Fu Feihong was waiting for him, demanding an answer—a truly troublesome prospect. His only option was to flee; thirty-six stratagems—fleeing was the best.

He knew this action was hardly manly, but under the circumstances, he genuinely had no other choice. If he could stall for time, perhaps inspiration would strike and he could find a solution.

Moreover, as time passed, events would change, perhaps creating an opportunity to realize his desire to marry all the women.

The time was not yet ripe for a direct confrontation. Offending Fu Feihong would lead to no peace for him; avoidance was the better course.

Thinking this, he arrived at the Floating Cloud Palace.

Atop the Floating Cloud Palace, the setting sun painted the entire peak a golden red.

As soon as he appeared, he saw Leng Chaoyun standing quietly, motionless. A cool breeze stirred her robes; her red gauze chemise billowed as if ready to be swept away by the wind.

Seeing she wasn't channeling energy, just standing there as if deep in thought, Li Muzhan chuckled. "Palace Mistress Leng, long time no see."

Leng Chaoyun did not turn her head, facing away from him, and said faintly, "Mmm."

Li Muzhan smiled. "What is the Palace Mistress pondering?"

"Nothing," Leng Chaoyun clearly did not want to engage him, but he smiled, unconcerned. "It's windy outside, Palace Mistress. Perhaps you should go inside."

Leng Chaoyun remained silent, choosing not to speak at all.

Li Muzhan approached and stood beside her. A faint, subtle fragrance drifted into his nose. Li Muzhan quietly admired it; this delicate scent was certainly not perfume.

"Does the Palace Mistress have something weighing on her mind?" Li Muzhan asked gently.

Leng Chaoyun turned her head to glance at him. From this close, inhaling her light fragrance, he could not clearly see her face, but he could tell her skin was like congealed fat and white jade, her eyes like autumn water—truly enough to make a person lose self-control.

Li Muzhan turned his head away from her bright eyes and smiled faintly. "We are friends, after all. The Palace Mistress might as well tell me."

Leng Chaoyun said faintly, "I am thinking about how to become a Grandmaster as soon as possible."

Li Muzhan asked, "What does the Palace Mistress plan to do once she becomes a Grandmaster?"

"Stop letting the Floating Cloud Palace be bullied," Leng Chaoyun looked at him.

Li Muzhan laughed. "For the Palace Mistress to say that, it sounds as if I am the one bullying the Floating Cloud Palace. That's truly unfair!"

"You know perfectly well whether you have bullied us or not," Leng Chaoyun retorted.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Let it go. Let me, someone who has been there, offer a word or two?"

"I'm all ears," Leng Chaoyun conceded.

Li Muzhan sighed helplessly. She clearly wanted to hear, yet she acted reluctantly. He decided not to quibble with her.

Li Muzhan said, "Palace Mistress, you wish to become a Grandmaster to protect the Floating Cloud Palace from bullying. That is the driving force behind your martial cultivation, correct?"

Leng Chaoyun nodded slightly.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Unfortunately, what causes success also causes failure. What must be let go must be let go."

"What do you mean?" Leng Chaoyun turned to look at him, her clear eyes like water, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, appearing indescribably charming.

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. "The Palace Mistress should comprehend this for herself."

Leng Chaoyun frowned and huffed. "Speak clearly. Don't just trail off halfway!"

Li Muzhan sighed and shook his head. "Alas... it’s useless even if I tell you."

"Tell me quickly!" Leng Chaoyun insisted with a huff.

Li Muzhan sighed again, shaking his head. "You are too attached. That is why you will never become a Grandmaster!"

"Nonsense! I will definitely become a Grandmaster!" Leng Chaoyun frowned angrily.

Li Muzhan advised, "If you want to break through to Grandmaster, you must first let go—let go of everything."

"I can let go," Leng Chaoyun asserted.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Can you let go of your attachments? Can you stop caring about the Floating Cloud Palace?"

"..." Leng Chaoyun fell silent, her delicate brows tightly knitted.

Li Muzhan smiled. "See? You have too many restraints. Every additional restraint creates another layer of cocoon around your heart, preventing you from merging with Heaven and Earth."

Leng Chaoyun challenged him. "When you broke through to Grandmaster, did you let go of everything? ... Could you let go of all those women?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "Yes, I let go of everything back then."

"What a heartless person!" Leng Chaoyun snorted, her red gauze shifting. "For them to have such unwavering devotion to you, they must truly have been blind!"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Palace Mistress Leng, you are too hasty. I haven't finished speaking."

"Speak!" Leng Chaoyun huffed angrily.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "The timing of my breakthrough to Grandmaster was coincidental. At that time, my Senior Sister and Miss Hai and I encountered a giant serpent—it was so long and thick it was almost sentient. I was injured then, and they couldn't defeat the snake either. Facing the possibility of all three of us being swallowed, I finally abandoned everything, cast them aside, and dove into the serpent's belly, intending to perish with the beast."

Leng Chaoyun was silent, then finally said coldly, "Is that true?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Why would I lie about this? To be honest, I had neither looks nor talent—just an ordinary boy. How could I possibly earn the favor of Miss Hai and my Senior Sister?... That initial moment was perhaps the root cause, which is why they tied their hearts to me and never left."

"Repaying a life-saving grace with their bodies," Leng Chaoyun scoffed.

Li Muzhan nodded. "Exactly. Who knew that the foolish have their own luck? That one moment of selflessness on my part happened to shatter my perception of all worldly things, achieving true liberation, and merging with the serpent's spiritual energy, finally propelling me into the ranks of the Grandmasters."

"Truly, the foolish have their own luck!" Leng Chaoyun shook her head.

Li Muzhan laughed. "Let's call it the reward for a good person. Though it was luck, I entered the Grandmaster realm and gained some enlightenment."

Leng Chaoyun paused, considering. Her opinion of Li Muzhan's perspective shifted somewhat. Few men would sacrifice themselves for their women.

It seemed easy to others, not hard to accomplish, but when facing absolute peril, the instinct for survival often overrides affection, sometimes even fostering selfish thoughts. Dying together on the road to the underworld wouldn't be lonely—few men would be like him, choosing to die alone so that the women could live.

Leng Chaoyun thought of her own father. She felt a surge of complex emotion. Though young at the time, she remembered clearly the scene: when faced with life and death, her father’s proclaimed love for her mother vanished; he abandoned her mother to steal his own survival, yet he ultimately could not escape, perishing in the belly of a fish.

Li Muzhan sensed a shift in the atmosphere and smiled. "So, if you want to become a Grandmaster, Palace Mistress Leng, you still have a long way to go. Most people think the key to advancing from Grandmaster to Grandmaster is deep cultivation leading to a natural breakthrough, or a sudden sudden realization overnight. In reality, they don't understand: the key to becoming a Grandmaster is cultivating the heart, not cultivating qi... From a mere martial artist to a Grandmaster, the entire journey is about how to gain more—deeper internal power, stronger cultivation. But to advance from Grandmaster to Grandmaster, the key is shedding—how to discard and cast everything aside. Diminish it and diminish it again until you approach the Dao. This sentence is the supreme, subtle truth, and I give it to you, Palace Mistress Leng, free of charge!"

"Thank you," Leng Chaoyun gave a slight bow.

Li Muzhan chuckled, feeling almost undeservedly honored. He waved his hand. "Actually, it's nothing much. It sounds easy, but it’s hard to do. Otherwise, there wouldn't be only a few Grandmasters in the whole world!"

"I will achieve it!" Leng Chaoyun declared.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Since your resolve is firm, Palace Mistress Leng can achieve it. The hour is late, and the night wind is cool. You should go inside."

"Have you eaten dinner?" Leng Chaoyun asked.

Li Muzhan shook his head. Leng Chaoyun said, "Then let's eat together."

Li Muzhan laughed. "Then I respectfully accept the invitation."

Having dinner with a beauty was a great pleasure, especially Leng Chaoyun. When she ate, she would lift the corner of her veil slightly, allowing him glimpses of her delicate, glistening jawline—pointed and exquisite, enough to stir the heart and make one lose composure.

Every feature of hers was captivating; she was truly a rare beauty blessed by heaven. No wonder she wore a veil—she was likely too alluring.

They ate in a small pavilion in the rear courtyard. Lanterns hung high, illuminating the area as brightly as day, but with a softer light.

Under this light, the four maids, Xiaoyan and the others, along with Leng Chaoyun, looked exceptionally vibrant. Li Muzhan sat opposite Leng Chaoyun, while Xiaoyan stood behind her.

She occasionally glanced at Li Muzhan, her entire focus fixed on him, forgetting her duty to her mistress. Leng Chaoyun pretended not to notice.

Li Muzhan's attention, however, was entirely on her jawline—delicate, milky white, sharp yet soft—truly a feast for the eyes. He longed to pull the veil aside and see clearly.

Leng Chaoyun seemed oblivious to his burning gaze, eating quietly, chewing slowly, making no sound. Li Muzhan, usually a slow and thoughtful eater, savored his food, but tonight he ate without much taste, his attention consumed by Leng Chaoyun.

After a while, having finished the meal, Leng Chaoyun rose and walked out of the small courtyard, soon arriving at a side hall filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

Li Muzhan followed her in. He pulled out a book, and they began reading while chatting idly about everything and nothing.

Leng Chaoyun drew a volume from a shelf and sat on a couch to flip through its pages. Her slender hand, like white jade polished with mutton fat, glanced up at him. "Have you investigated the origins of that group of people?"

Li Muzhan knew exactly whom she meant. "Yes, I found out. They are from the Wentian Sect."

"The Wentian Sect?" Leng Chaoyun put down her book, her water-like gaze fixing on him.

Li Muzhan explained, "It was founded by the descendants of the Tiandao Alliance."

"The Tiandao Alliance in Xihua..." Leng Chaoyun nodded slightly. "Back then, a power as mighty as your Yunxiao Sect vanished overnight without a trace. No one ever knew why."

Li Muzhan smiled, choosing not to mention what he had discovered about the Tiandao Alliance, as that would only worry her more, make her cling harder to the Floating Cloud Palace, and make it even harder to advance to Grandmaster.

Regarding her ascension to Grandmaster, Li Muzhan was not concerned; he welcomed it. A Floating Cloud Palace led by a Grandmaster would be excellent—at least it wouldn't make the Yunxiao Sect look overwhelmingly dominant.

Li Muzhan continued, "Palace Mistress Leng is quite knowledgeable. Do you happen to recognize this object?"

He pulled the purple box from his robes, then took out the faintly glowing blue pill—the very pill he had retrieved from the great cauldron at the Chunfeng Gate.

Leng Chaoyun reached out, and Li Muzhan handed it to her.

Leng Chaoyun held it up to her eyes, brought it close to the red gauze mask to sniff, and suddenly her expression changed. She turned abruptly to stare at Li Muzhan.

Seeing this, Li Muzhan quickly asked, "What is it, Palace Mistress?"

"You are despicable!" Leng Chaoyun’s cheeks instantly flushed pink, like rouge brushed onto white jade. Her eyes became brighter, holding the depth of autumn water, making her even more captivating and enchanting.