Leng Chaoyun's body trembled slightly, her teeth clenched as she spat out hatefully, "What is this you have?" Li Muzhan shook his head. "This is a secret medicine I obtained accidentally. I don't know what it is, so I thought I’d ask you, Palace Mistress Leng, with your vast knowledge, to take a look." Leng Chaoyun snorted. "What exactly are your intentions?!"

Li Muzhan offered a wry smile. "Palace Mistress, what is wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Leng Chaoyun glared at him and huffed, "You truly don't know?" Li Muzhan shook his head with a bitter smile. "Palace Mistress, I genuinely have no idea!"

"This pill is problematic!" Leng Chaoyun's face grew even redder, the rouge tone shifting to a vibrant rose hue, making her look even more exquisitely beautiful and captivating.

Li Muzhan asked, "What kind of problem?"

Leng Chaoyun hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted out, "This is —are you satisfied now?!" Li Muzhan expressed surprise. "?"

He shook his head and managed a rueful smile. "I truly didn't expect that, yet I smell nothing amiss."

"Who knows, perhaps being a Grandmaster renders you immune to all poisons!" Leng Chaoyun snorted, her complexion becoming increasingly flushed, as if droplets of moisture could drip from her skin. Her bright eyes were becoming clearer and more alluring, capable of drawing a soul right out of a body.

Li Muzhan frowned. "If there were truly poison, I would sense it! Is this serious?"

"It won't kill me, just leave quickly!" Leng Chaoyun said hatefully.

Li Muzhan shook his head with a painful smile. "How can I just walk away like this?" "What are you planning to do here?!" Leng Chaoyun said bitterly. "While I still have my senses, hurry and go! Don't appear before me!" Li Muzhan replied, "Any medicine has an antidote; I will cure you!"

"You…" Leng Chaoyun hesitated.

Li Muzhan quickly urged, "With my cultivation, I don't believe I can't neutralize this. Sit down cross-legged and listen to me!" "…Very well." Leng Chaoyun slowly nodded.

She felt deeply uneasy now, an unknown power sustaining her, as if she were about to explode, like an over-inflated ball continually being pumped.

As this energy rushed in, it immediately transformed into an intangible force, driving her forward. Her heart pounded faster. Li Muzhan before her eyes looked indescribably attractive; she had never noticed his handsomeness before, but now she found that while perhaps not conventionally handsome, he was profoundly moving, stirring an intense desire to hold him close.

She startled, such an impulse being utterly alien and bizarre.

Li Muzhan placed both palms against her back, and immediately a surging power flowed from his hands. Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow in surprise; he hadn't expected her internal energy to be so formidable. It hadn't been this strong before; her progress was too rapid.

He took a deep breath and said, "Palace Mistress Leng, do not resist. I intend to perform a Bone Marrow Cleansing to eradicate this pill's poison directly from your core!" "Good!" Leng Chaoyun nodded faintly.

Li Muzhan's palms instantly changed color, becoming as pure and white as fine mutton-fat jade, looking as if they had been carved from genuine white jade. Her body trembled lightly, and a tingling, itchy sensation penetrated deep into her core.

She wanted to moan, but desperately suppressed it. If she made a sound, how could she ever face anyone again? Though she knew nothing of such matters, she understood that moaning signaled weakness, and she could not show weakness before Li Muzhan.

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Li Muzhan said gently, "The Bone Marrow Cleansing will be somewhat painful. Endure it; it will benefit you greatly." "I know. Proceed as you must!" Leng Chaoyun snorted.

Li Muzhan nodded and said no more, immediately letting his inner force surge in, washing through her body. He had already grasped the Floating Cloud Palace's cultivation method; it was exquisite but lacked a method for physical refinement.

The key to the Floating Cloud Palace method was condensing Saber Qi into a refined and pure form, yet it was missing a physical tempering technique, naturally limiting its ultimate achievement.

When Saber Qi reached a certain stage, it became intensely sharp and piercing. If the body couldn't keep up and control the aggressive Saber Qi, one dared not condense it further; even if condensed, the degree of refinement would be limited.

At a profound level, the Saber Qi would become smooth and rounded again—this was the inevitable path for Saber Qi. But if this foundation, the sharpness, was not solid, the eventual roundedness would also be limited in achievement.

Without a body-refining technique, this crucial step was insufficiently solidified, restricting her potential. He shook his head, deciding to remedy this for her.

The sooner she entered the Grandmaster realm, the better. He was confident that even after reaching that level, she would never be his match. This way, he could temper the rising reputation of the Cloud Soaring Sect while simultaneously earning a favor and forging a positive connection—the most advantageous outcome.

Li Muzhan paused, then said gravely, "Palace Mistress Leng, how about I transmit a chant to you?" "What chant?" Leng Chaoyun asked faintly.

Li Muzhan replied, "A chant for body refinement. I have discovered a flaw in your Floating Cloud Palace method; it needs correction to truly be a supreme cultivation technique."

"Hmph!" Leng Chaoyun was displeased.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "If Palace Mistress Leng is unwilling, I certainly won't force the issue."

"Tell me about it then." Leng Chaoyun said, her tone betraying no emotion.

Li Muzhan stated, "Your Floating Cloud Palace method is missing a layer: physical tempering."

"Physical tempering?" Leng Chaoyun furrowed her delicate brows, pondering silently, suppressing the urge to cry out, and striving to maintain clarity despite the creeping numbness and itchiness.

Concentrating on abstract thought helped suppress the sensation, so she didn't reject his words; in fact, she welcomed Li Muzhan speaking more to divert her attention.

Li Muzhan continued, "Haven't you noticed that after practicing to a certain level, you feel a degree of uncontrollability, daring not to cultivate deeper?" Leng Chaoyun snorted. Li Muzhan pressed on, "I wonder if the Floating Cloud Palace method never possessed this layer, or if it was lost." Leng Chaoyun remained silent, lost in thought, yet she vaguely felt Li Muzhan's words held truth. During her own practice, upon reaching the seventh layer, she had indeed felt a loss of control, forcing her to rush into the eighth layer, resulting in insufficient power at the ninth.

When cultivating initially, she had often thought that if she could deepen the seventh layer before proceeding to the eighth, the power of the ninth would be vastly greater. A small gap made a huge difference.

Unfortunately, cultivation couldn't be rushed solely for power; doing so risked disaster. If she truly lost control, no matter how mighty the force cultivated, it would be useless—like a child wielding a large, sharp saber; it might injure others, or it might injure the child itself.

Li Muzhan added, "If Palace Mistress Leng doesn't mind, I happen to possess several body refinement methods."

"I don't need them," Leng Chaoyun stated flatly.

It wasn't that she lacked body refinement techniques, only that she hadn't considered the necessity. She had never doubted the perfection of her Floating Cloud Palace method, believing it untouchable.

However, Li Muzhan’s mention made her realize the anomaly. The Floating Cloud Palace possessed vast treasures and countless secret manuals; finding a good body refinement technique shouldn't be difficult.

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Li Muzhan smiled. "While I am performing the Bone Marrow Cleansing for you, it would be best if you simultaneously practiced the body refinement method. It will yield twice the result with half the effort, allowing you to push the technique to a higher level in one go." Leng Chaoyun pondered for a moment, then huffed, "Wait for me; I'll fetch a manual!" Li Muzhan smiled and nodded, slowly withdrawing his palms. They returned to normal, losing their prior white jade sheen. He smiled, "It had better be quick."

He could sense the ferocity of the drug's effect; it was like a sudden, unstoppable flood, and if his internal energy hadn't been so pure, he could never have suppressed it.

Even now, it was barely manageable; otherwise, the cleansing wouldn't be necessary. Moreover, this medicine was peculiar, drilling directly into the bone marrow, making it difficult to truly dissolve.

Seeing this, he resolved to solve the problem completely. Otherwise, he could have tried to expel the medicinal force, clearing what was outside the marrow—it wouldn't act up immediately, but it would affect her temperament later on.

Being kind to the end, he decided to see this through to the finish, performing the complete Bone Marrow Cleansing to eliminate the root cause and incidentally boost her cultivation.

"I know," Leng Chaoyun replied before gracefully drifting out of the side chamber.

Li Muzhan sat waiting, smiling and shaking his head. This Leng Chaoyun truly was proud, absolutely refusing to accept his favor.

After waiting a while with no sound, he released his Void Eye and saw her kneeling cross-legged on a couch, breathing steadily with her eyes closed. The color on her brow matched the color of her red gauze veil.

Li Muzhan sighed; the pill poison was truly potent, manifesting again. Without his assistance this time, she might not withstand it.

He waited a moment, not rushing to help. Perhaps if she could resist it herself, it would serve as a major tempering opportunity for her.

The onset of this ** was the most severe trial for one's nature. Desire is inherent in humanity, the most difficult part of nature to temper, and targeting it yielded the quickest results.

He observed her through the Void Eye, watching her closely, though perhaps a malicious streak in him enjoyed watching such a proud person suffer embarrassment—it was a form of entertainment.

Under the Void Eye, she swayed, slowly releasing her hands. What had been a seated posture transformed into one where her legs were pressed tightly together. Her long legs, usually hidden beneath the red gauze robe, were initially held still, then slowly clamped and entangled. This sight stirred Li Muzhan’s emotions, and he quickly retracted the Void Eye, appearing before her in a flash.

"Palace Mistress, I must trespass!" Li Muzhan said gravely, bringing a palm down sharply onto the Baihui point atop her head. A surging wave of power shot straight down.

"You—" she managed to utter before losing consciousness.

Li Muzhan shook his head, gently supporting her, and allowed his inner energy to flow in again. His hands resumed their white jade appearance, flawless and crystal clear.

About the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, she slowly woke. The redness on her face had faded slightly, resembling a touch of rouge or the flush of wine, but her bright eyes were clear, like deep, still water.

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"Palace Mistress?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Leng Chaoyun remained silent, uttering not a word.

Li Muzhan remarked, "I didn't expect this pill to be so formidable." "Recite the chant for me," Leng Chaoyun sighed.

Li Muzhan's brow flickered slightly. "I have several cultivation methods, each with its distinct features. Which one does the Palace Mistress wish to choose?" "Say the one you think suits me best," Leng Chaoyun responded faintly, laced with an air of utter despondency.

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Then please listen carefully, Palace Mistress. The Qi of Supreme Harmony flows throughout the body…" His words came out like polished pearls, clear and precise. As he spoke, he circulated his energy, struggling to suppress the surging medicinal power—it was far more arduous than the previous time.

Although the initial force was fierce, he could manage it easily, like restraining a vicious wolf. This time, it was like facing a fierce tiger, and the next time, who knew what it would become.

Leng Chaoyun possessed astonishing comprehension. Upon hearing Li Muzhan's words, she asked several probing questions, which Li Muzhan explained meticulously, clarifying every point. With her intellect, she quickly grasped the essence and began practicing.

As soon as she activated the method, Li Muzhan immediately assisted in accelerating it, like pouring the waters of a great river. By the time Li Muzhan completed the Bone Marrow Cleansing, she had cultivated this body refinement technique, originally nine layers deep, up to the seventh.

The remaining two layers required repeated polishing, long-term dedication, and far more subtle manipulation, like finishing the carving of a jade statue—further refinement was needed to perfect it.

Li Muzhan looked up at the sky; dawn was breaking, a pale white tint emerging. A whole night had passed without him noticing.

Leng Chaoyun quickly returned, having changed her clothes. This time she wore a snow-white silk robe, her skin appearing as pale as jade, blending seamlessly with the white gauze.

Li Muzhan privately admired her; a beauty changing clothes was like changing personages. Dressed in white, she seemed like a celestial being under the moon, untouched by the dust and noise of the mortal world. However, she had replaced the red veil with a white gauze scarf, obscuring her features slightly.

Li Muzhan’s gaze pierced through the common white gauze; the red veil had been the object that blocked his sight, whereas the white one offered no such barrier, allowing him to see her features clearly.

He quickly averted his gaze, not daring to look again. Her features were already imprinted in his mind: a round face, a slightly pointed yet delicate chin, and full, luscious red lips—every feature was beautiful, stunningly so, rivaling Feng Mingxue.

Feng Mingxue no longer concealed her face, but Leng Chaoyun’s partial concealment had a stronger effect, delivering a greater visual impact despite comparable beauty.

"Palace Mistress Leng, I apologize," Li Muzhan said, cupping his hands in shame.

Leng Chaoyun shook her head. Had he done it intentionally, she would certainly have shown displeasure. His previous actions clearly showed it was not deliberate; using the Bone Marrow Cleansing to help her demonstrated his apology and sincerity.

She snorted, "Forget it. Consider us even."

Li Muzhan laughed. "I helped you expel the poison with the Bone Marrow Cleansing, so we are even. But this cultivation chant…"

"What do you want?" Leng Chaoyun huffed.

Li Muzhan said with a sly smile, "The Palace Mistress must agree to one condition."

"Speak," Leng Chaoyun's face darkened, and she said coldly, "I can only agree if it is something I can accomplish."

Li Muzhan clarified, "This method is my own creation; it cannot be passed on to outsiders. Palace Mistress Leng, though you lead a Palace, you cannot teach it to your disciples."

"I agree," Leng Chaoyun slowly nodded.

Li Muzhan beamed. "That’s excellent. Practiced to its extreme, this method can grant eternal youth, and combined with your Floating Cloud Palace method, the power will surely be stronger."

Leng Chaoyun sighed, shaking her head. "If one cannot reach the Grandmaster realm, what use is cultivating strength?" Li Muzhan smiled. "That is true, but with a solid foundation, coupled with tempering one's temperament, the hope of stepping into the Grandmaster realm increases significantly, preventing the tragic fate of dying before achieving one's goal."

"Are there no more conditions?" Leng Chaoyun asked.

Li Muzhan laughed. "What other conditions could I possibly have, Palace Mistress?" "Hmph, you never act without personal gain," Leng Chaoyun pouted. Li Muzhan clearly observed the charming petulance in her expression.

Li Muzhan smiled amiably. "Palace Mistress, you think too poorly of me! I am truly sorry about what happened just now, but I discovered a wonderful aspect of this pill. I wonder if you noticed it?"

"What wonderful aspect?" Leng Chaoyun snorted.

Li Muzhan explained, "As I circulated my energy, I noticed your cultivation level increased significantly, seemingly a side effect of the poison." Leng Chaoyun felt her own energy and nodded faintly with a frown.

Li Muzhan smiled gently. "This must be turning misfortune into blessing. Does the Palace Mistress wish to try again?" "Nonsense!" Leng Chaoyun glared at him.

Li Muzhan chuckled. "If I truly intended to take advantage of your situation, would I use such methods? Palace Mistress, you underestimate me too much!" Leng Chaoyun huffed, "Human hearts are hard to fathom; how would I know! Enough. You should go back and rest; I am leaving!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Why doesn't the Palace Mistress help me determine exactly what this pill is?"

Leng Chaoyun frowned and pondered for a moment. "Where exactly did you obtain it from?"

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled. "I cannot say."

Leng Chaoyun pouted and snorted. "So mysterious. Your origins must be dubious! Did you steal it? Or perhaps seize it?" Li Muzhan laughed. "I acquired it purely by chance; I used no foul means."

"Very well then, I will help you once," Leng Chaoyun nodded. "But you must stand by and watch me. I'm not confident I can suppress the drug's effects!" Li Muzhan nodded. "Agreed."

Leng Chaoyun knitted her brows. "If you won't tell me your origin, it will be hard for me to investigate."

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then sighed. "Forget it. I will tell you. I obtained it from the Spring Breeze Sect."

"The Spring Breeze Sect?" Leng Chaoyun thought for a moment, then suddenly spun around, glaring at him. "The Spring Breeze Sect!" Li Muzhan nodded. "I found the location of the Spring Breeze Sect by accident. A giant tripod remained there, and this pill was inside the cauldron." "You—" Leng Chaoyun’s face darkened. "The Spring Breeze Sect! Hmph, you really are…" Li Muzhan interrupted, "The Floating Cloud Palace participated in the operation to destroy the Spring Breeze Sect, didn't they?"

"That is correct," Leng Chaoyun slowly nodded. "You know this, yet you dare mention the Spring Breeze Sect to me!" Li Muzhan sighed. "I cannot lie to the Palace Mistress. A true man acts openly and has nothing to hide."

Leng Chaoyun took a deep breath, then shook her head. "I cannot help you with this!"

Li Muzhan asked, "Because of the Spring Breeze Sect?"

"The Spring Breeze Sect's method is inherently evil; it deserves annihilation. You obtained this thing from their ruins. If others knew, they would surely attack you collectively!" Leng Chaoyun shook her head.

Li Muzhan smiled. "So what?" Leng Chaoyun snorted. "Though you are a Grandmaster, the Grand Primordial Heavenly Sword Array of the Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden Sect is no joke. Our Floating Cloud Palace also has a method to deal with Grandmasters."

Li Muzhan expressed surprise. "What method does the Floating Cloud Palace possess?" Leng Chaoyun said coldly, "The God-Slaying Saber."

Li Muzhan thought for a moment, then shook his head and laughed. "I've never heard of it."

"Those who have heard of it are all dead," Leng Chaoyun stated. "No one survives the God-Slaying Saber." Li Muzhan chuckled. "Is it like the Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden Sect's Grand Primordial Heavenly Sword Array?" "It is superior to it," Leng Chaoyun insisted.

"It requires several people to execute together, correct?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Leng Chaoyun slowly nodded. "Indeed. Why are you asking such detail? Are your intentions malicious?!"