Li Muzhan looked at Xu Suxin in surprise. They didn't seem to know formations; how could they set one up?

He watched as the women scurried about in what initially seemed like chaos, but in a blink, they formed a circle, each woman in her proper place, moving with an unhurried precision that possessed a certain grace. "Let's go! I want to see who these people are!" Xu Suxin waved her hand, huffing, "The Lu family has gone too far! Let's teach them a lesson!"

"Teach them a lesson!" the women chorused.

With a great boom, a large doorway opened beside the main hall. The women, arrayed in their formation, poured out of the hall in an instant. Curious, Li Muzhan followed closely behind them.

Emerging from the hall, they followed a mountain path outward, soon reaching a smooth expanse on an outer peak. Opposite them stood the iron chain bridge. On the other side of the bridge stood a crowd of people—about a hundred men in tight, blue tunics. Li Muzhan took a quick look: they all appeared to be around forty years old, with profound cultivation levels, certainly no weaker than the women.

Li Muzhan frowned. It seemed the Lu family was serious this time, intending to wipe out the Moli Palace. These experts were all Grandmasters, with fully half of them at the peak of the Grandmaster realm.

A Grandmaster was not easily found; in an average sect, one Grandmaster was a rare talent. Yet here, the Lu family could muster over a hundred of them—truly a display of immense power.

Seeing the women emerge, the faces of the hundred-plus middle-aged men shifted slightly. A square-faced man stepped to the very front, sneered, and waved a hand. "Cross the bridge!"

Xu Suxin snorted, "Set up the formation!"

She glanced back at Li Muzhan with a look of gratitude. If Li Muzhan hadn't told them to come out promptly, they would have been too late; resisting once the enemy crossed the bridge would have been far more troublesome. By seizing the initiative, they had doubled their efficiency. With the bridge blocking the advance, the enemy couldn't charge head-on and would have to come in waves, giving them ample opportunity to respond methodically.

With sharp cries from the women, they dispersed and quickly formed a semi-circular array, standing before the iron chain bridge, waiting for the opposition to advance.

At that moment, three middle-aged men gracefully floated onto the chain bridge. Xu Suxin stepped forward, flicked the tip of her sword, and lightly touched the iron chain.

A light ting, like the cry of a crane, sounded.

The three men on the bridge shuddered violently, then froze stiffly, sliding directly off the chains and plummeting downward, vanishing from sight.

The square-faced man at the opposite end was startled, his expression changing, before he let out a cold laugh. "Well done, Moli Palace, you have some skill. Again!"

Another three men floated onto the bridge. Xu Suxin repeated her actions, her long sword tracing a gentle arc as it lightly pierced the chain, producing that familiar soft ting.

The three men roared, slamming their palms down hard on the chain. With a dull thud, the chain swung wildly before momentarily halting in mid-air and then slackening softly.

The three middle-aged men were unharmed and continued to charge forward. Xu Suxin frowned; they had already found a countermeasure. They were certainly troublesome.

She let out a soft hum and drew her sword again. A crisp ting sounded, followed immediately by three simultaneous thuds as the men struck the chain again. The chain swung wildly once more.

It was like two waves meeting head-on. Then the chain shuddered, the three men trembled, and they struggled to stabilize themselves.

Seeing the unfavorable situation, the square-faced man behind them waved his hand, and three more men floated onto the bridge, quickly moving behind the first three to support them.

Ting... Xu Suxin pierced the chain with her sword again.

The six men roared in unison, thumping the chain with their palms. The chain swung wildly, rolling toward Xu Suxin. She took a step back.

She knew they had neutralized her technique; she couldn't use it again. She had to concede, retreat a step, and pull back into the formation, waiting for them to approach.

Bang! The six men struck the chain with their palms simultaneously, then slid forward. In moments, they reached the edge and were about to step off the chain bridge onto the solid ground of the peak.

"Draw swords!" Xu Suxin cried out sharply. Instantly, flashes of sword light erupted. The six middle-aged men were blinded, unable to track the countless sword tips. In the blink of an eye, they were pierced by swords and collapsed.

Li Muzhan watched clearly from behind them—it was truly a volley of ten thousand swords, leaving no room or opportunity to evade; their only option was a direct defense.

Unfortunately, their direct defense failed to guard their entire bodies. Once one sword was blocked, they immediately exposed flaws, and the remaining sword lights surged in without mercy. Li Muzhan shook his head. If it had been him, he could have spun into a tight sphere to defend himself. Their swords were fast and dense, but their power was insufficient to withstand his swings; blocking them would not be difficult.

But they were different. These female disciples of Moli Palace possessed unique cultivation methods. Perhaps their overall cultivation wasn't as high as the middle-aged men's, but the moment they engaged, the men's movements would inevitably stiffen, creating an opening.

"Advance!" the square-faced man commanded coldly. "All of us! I want to see how formidable their sword formation truly is!"

Saying this, he jumped onto the chain himself, and the rest of the middle-aged men charged forward, crossing the bridge front and back simultaneously. In moments, they were right in front of Xu Suxin and her disciples.

Xu Suxin and the others hadn't expected such boldness and were momentarily caught off guard. Moreover, only four men were at the very front, but they managed to hold the line. Especially that square-faced man—his internal power was unimaginably deep; as he swung his long sword, he blocked their attacks, intercepting the assault of the sword formation.

In that single moment of delay, the middle-aged men behind them were about to surge forward. Li Muzhan let out a light laugh and flicked his ten fingers simultaneously.

Chish-chish-chish-chish... Streams of finger force shot out. With a series of dull pongs, the men, including the square-faced leader, were sent flying backward.

After being sent flying, some managed to grab the chains, preventing a fall. Others dropped into the empty air, having no purchase, and could only fall off the cliff.

Below was a dark, bottomless abyss. Those who fell in were certain to die; no level of Qinggong could save them. They knew this beforehand, and seeing their comrades fall fueled their hatred.

However, without their leader, the rest could only charge blindly, desperate to reach the peak and solid ground, where they could truly unleash their might.

Unfortunately, Li Muzhan’s finger force was terrifyingly sharp and incredibly accurate. It targeted the men charging at the front one by one. None could evade or withstand it; all were flung away, either slamming into the chains or plummeting into the abyss.

Xu Suxin glanced at Li Muzhan from time to time. She hadn't expected him to intervene. It seemed a little beneath the dignity of a Great Grandmaster. If it were her Master, he would never have done this; he would have let them all cross first, then annihilated them in one glorious stroke—a fair fight, unlike this method.

But this way was certainly less effort and safer. One couldn't definitively say which approach was better.

Her thoughts churned, but her sword movements did not cease. One sword followed the next in an unbroken stream, repelling the surging middle-aged men. She blocked every single one, and even the most formidable ones were sent flying back by the finger force.

In a short while, Li Muzhan stopped. Not a single one of the hundred-odd middle-aged men escaped being knocked into the abyss; not a shadow remained.

Li Muzhan clapped his hands and shook his head. "The Lu family doesn't have many experts, after all."

Xu Suxin pursed her lips and smiled. "Thank you very much, Young Master Li!"

Li Muzhan waved his hand. "I'm just glad you don't think I'm taking advantage, kicking them while they're down!"

His methods bordered on sneak attacks, especially for a master of his caliber. Most people watching wouldn't find it pleasant to witness.

Xu Suxin replied, "Young Master Li’s methods are fierce, perhaps, but they save effort and are certainly safer."

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. "I'm relieved you see it that way. You all can retreat now; I'll go check on Palace Master Li."

"Alright." Xu Suxin nodded, understanding that they were no help now and shouldn't linger to watch, lest an opponent try to capture one of them as leverage.

Seeing them withdraw, Li Muzhan shook his head with a faint smile. These young girls were still too inexperienced; they needed significant tempering before they could be truly useful. Palace Master Li had spoiled them too much, keeping them overly protected, which had resulted in a lack of ruthlessness.

But perhaps this was for the best. With more experience over time, they would naturally mature. It wasn't good for them to become completely hardened while so young.

Li Muzhan floated onto the chain bridge, gliding across. He found it amusing but quickly ceased playing. He leaped directly down, descending gracefully.

His steps were light, his robes billowing, as if he were riding the wind. In moments, he reached the base of the cliff. He eased his descent, circling like a mighty eagle before stopping beneath the peak to observe.

Li Yubing and a black-haired elder were locked in intense combat, both striking with their palms. The resulting gusts of wind roared like muffled thunder, making the ears ache.

Li Muzhan watched from a treetop for a while, then shook his head. "Palace Master Li, you've been fighting too long. Why not take a rest?"

Li Yubing frowned. "Why are you here?"

Li Muzhan replied, "Just passing by and happened upon this commotion. The Lu family certainly has deep pockets—they hired a Great Grandmaster!" He then addressed the black-haired elder. "I am Li Wuji. Might I ask who you are, sir?"

"Hmph, Yan Luo, that old ghost!" Li Yubing snorted. "At his age, he comes to bully a young woman like me. It's truly outrageous!"

Li Muzhan chuckled. "Senior Yan, in my opinion, we should cease hostilities. Why insist on a victor? Even if Palace Master Li and I joined forces, we might not defeat Senior Yan."

The black-haired elder had a square face and a long, flowing beard, with phoenix eyes, possessing a distinguished and dashing air. He must have been handsome in his youth; even now, he was elegantly unconventional.

He moved his palms and said calmly, "Li Wuji? ... How is it that you, so young, have reached the Great Grandmaster realm? This old man, Yan Luo, is eager to hear!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "If you wish to hear, then let's stop fighting and sit down to talk, how about it? ... We Great Grandmasters are rare in this world; why must we ruin our harmony!"

"Heh heh... I was entrusted by someone to take Palace Master Li's life. I truly cannot decline. I must offend you!" Yan Luo smiled and shook his head.

Li Muzhan frowned. "May I ask whom you were entrusted by?"

"Brother Lu," Yan Luo chuckled. "We have a bond of life and death. Since you killed the Lu family's Great Grandmaster, I had to step in!"

Li Muzhan observed, "It seems Senior Yan and the Lu family are aligned."

"You could say that," Yan Luo nodded. "If Brother Lu hadn't helped me, I, Yan Luo, would have met the true King of Hell long ago. How could I still be enjoying myself?"

"So, there is no room for negotiation?" Li Muzhan frowned.

Yan Luo laughed lightly. "If you can defeat me, then of course there is room for discussion."

Li Muzhan sighed and shook his head. "Palace Master Li?"

Li Yubing snorted, "I don't need your help. I can manage him alone. It's just that I've been too lazy to deliver a killing blow to an old man like him!"

Li Muzhan laughed. "I've seen enough. I might as well act directly. If the two of us join forces, Senior Yan won't stand a chance!"

Li Yubing shook her head. "I can do it by myself!"

Li Muzhan shrugged helplessly and stepped back, seemingly withdrawing from the battlefield between the two. As he turned, he suddenly flung something, catching a fleeting gleam of light.

Ding... Yan Luo slammed a palm forward, and a small, crystal-clear dagger materialized before him, which then vanished instantly.

Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow, shook his head, and smiled faintly.

Yan Luo erupted in fury. "You vile thief! Take this palm strike!"

He suddenly crossed several dozen zhang, appearing before Li Muzhan, and brought his palm down. Li Muzhan flickered and vanished, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Yan Luo clutched his shoulder and stumbled back a step. Only then did blood spray forth. Li Muzhan’s flying dagger had aimed for a vital point, but he hadn't expected Yan Luo to be so resilient, managing to deflect it with a palm strike.

However, Li Muzhan's flying dagger was not so easily foiled. After being blocked, the dagger diverted its path diagonally and still pierced his shoulder, passing straight through before vanishing.

Li Yubing stamped her foot and chastised, "Li Wuji!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "It wasn't wrong for me to lend a hand, Hall Master Li. Since he came to take our lives, why should we be polite?"

He hadn't used lethal force earlier and had only watched to gauge Yan Luo's true strength while gaining some experience. Upon hearing Yan Luo’s words, the killing intent stirred in him. If others do not infringe upon me, I will not infringe upon them; if others seek to kill me, I shall kill them first. This was his unwavering code of conduct.

Li Yubing scoffed, "I want to deal with him myself. You don't need to meddle!"

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled. "I don't think Hall Master Li can handle him. This Senior Yan’s cultivation is truly formidable. Even the two of us joining forces might not be enough."

"Hmph, don't you have other tricks?!" Li Yubing glanced at him, speaking sharply.

Yan Luo flashed once more in front of Li Muzhan, coldly demanding, "Boy, give up your life!"

Li Muzhan laughed, dodged, and instantly reappeared two zhang away, saying cheerfully, "Sir has quite a temper. Why the rush, why the rush?"

"You despicable brat! Take this palm strike!" Yan Luo flashed forward again, striking out.

Li Muzhan shook his head helplessly but did not dodge. He met the attack with a palm strike of his own. Bang—both staggered a step, Li Muzhan retreating while Yan Luo remained solidly planted.

Li Muzhan exclaimed in admiration, "Good cultivation! Take another strike from me!"

He swung his right palm down as if it had transformed into the Giant Spirit Palm, becoming immense, gathering the very essence of heaven and earth. The strike brought a change to the world itself.

Yan Luo frowned, staring intently at the right palm, and slammed his own palm upwards. A tremendous boom resonated, causing Li Yubing to grimace as she felt her blood surge.

She looked at Li Muzhan with a frown. He was clearly young, his cultivation not far from her own, yet he produced such immense power.

Li Muzhan smoothly slid a zhang away. Two deep trenches were carved into the ground. Li Muzhan lightly shook his feet free and stepped onto solid ground, though the trace of mud clinging just above his ankles did not disappear.

"Good lad, truly fine skill. To reach this level at such a young age is rare indeed, but unfortunately, you will perish here today!" Yan Luo praised him, shaking his head.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior Yan, those are the exact words I intended to say to you. It's not easy to cultivate to this realm at your advanced age; why invite death?"

"Hmph, you invite your own death!" Yan Luo sneered. "You dare oppose the Lu family? You are courting trouble!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "So what if it's the Lu family? They are merely an aristocratic house. To disregard Great Grandmasters so openly only deserves a lesson!"

"Ignorant child! Do you think Great Grandmasters are the absolute pinnacle of experts in this world?" Yan Luo shook his head, sighing, and glared at Li Muzhan with repeated cold smiles.

Li Muzhan laughed. "Oh? Are they not?"

"Hmph, truly ignorant!" Yan Luo scoffed. "It seems your knowledge is severely limited!"

Li Muzhan said, "Then I shall listen with deference!"

Yan Luo continued, "Did you think the Lu family was that simple? Do you think Great Grandmasters willingly serve others so easily?"

"Then why would a Great Grandmaster willingly serve them?" Li Muzhan frowned and asked.

Yan Luo snorted, "Because the Lu family is a branch lineage of the Northern Wasteland Sacred Land!"

"Northern Wasteland Sacred Land?" Li Muzhan frowned, looking toward Li Yubing, noticing that she too was frowning, equally confused.

Li Muzhan asked, "What manner of divine place is the Northern Wasteland Sacred Land?"

Yan Luo shook his head. "That's why I call you shallow and ignorant. To be a Great Grandmaster and never have heard of the Northern Wasteland Sacred Land—it's rather pitiful!"

Li Muzhan confessed, "I truly haven't heard of it. This is the first time I've heard you mention it. This Northern Wasteland Sacred Land sounds extremely powerful, then?"

"Hmph, the Northern Wasteland Sacred Land consists entirely of Great Grandmasters. Do you think that's not powerful?" Yan Luo huffed.

Li Muzhan's eyebrows twitched, and he smiled subtly. "Then Senior Yan, are you also a member of the Northern Wasteland Sacred Land?"

"Me—?" Yan Luo shook his head and snorted. "I wish I could enter, but not just anyone can join the Northern Wasteland Sacred Land!"

Li Muzhan inquired, "What is so good about this Northern Wasteland Sacred Land?"

"There are realms above the Great Grandmaster, but the mortal world offers no further cultivation methods. The Northern Wasteland Sacred Land does!" Yan Luo snorted. "Don't you wish to advance further?"

"Advancing beyond Great Grandmaster..." Li Muzhan slowly nodded. "That is indeed a huge temptation. What lies one step beyond Great Grandmaster?"

"The Longevity Realm," Yan Luo stated slowly.

Li Muzhan frowned. "Longevity?"

Yan Luo nodded. "Precisely! ... Great Grandmasters have a lifespan of five hundred years, but they will eventually die. If one achieves the Longevity Realm, they can share the span of heaven and earth, never to perish!"

Li Muzhan laughed and shook his head. "There are no immortal beings in this world!"

Yan Luo snorted, "Though the physical form decays, one can reincarnate the Yang Spirit, achieving a form of immortality."

Li Muzhan frowned. "And how does one enter the Northern Wasteland Sacred Land?"

"One needs a token from the Northern Wasteland Sacred Land," Yan Luo replied.

Li Muzhan slowly nodded. "So, you mean the Lu family possesses a token from the Northern Wasteland Sacred Land?"

"Correct!" Yan Luo nodded. "If I can kill both of you, I will obtain the token of the Northern Wasteland Sacred Land and gain entry for cultivation!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "It's a pity; we won't have the chance."

"Since you offended the Lu family, you absolutely have no chance left!" Yan Luo shook his head, his gaze filled with pity.

For more novels, visit storyread.net.