He couldn't see a resolution to the feud with the Lu family, after all, he had killed so many of their people. However, seeing Huai Ren's confidence, he wouldn't be the one to pour cold water on their spirits.

Perhaps relying on the prestige of the Northern Wasteland Holy Land would be enough to suppress the Lu family’s lingering resentment. No matter how strong the Lu family was, they were but a child next to the might of the Northern Wasteland Holy Land.

He first took his leave and returned to Floating Cloud Palace to inform Leng Chaoyun that he would be heading to the Northern Wasteland Holy Land and might be out of contact for a while. Leng Chaoyun frowned, the two of them seated in the main hall: "The Northern Wasteland Holy Land?" "Has the Palace Master heard of it?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile.

Leng Chaoyun nodded gently: "I've long admired its reputation, a pity I don't have the qualification to go there!" Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow: "Qualification?" "Only Grandmasters are qualified to enter the Northern Wasteland Holy Land," Leng Chaoyun sighed, glancing at him. Li Muzhan’s brow twitched slightly: "And what if a non-Grandmaster tries to enter?" "Hmph, a non-Grandmaster simply cannot get in!" Leng Chaoyun shook her head firmly.

Li Muzhan asked: "Why?" Leng Chaoyun snorted: "The Northern Wasteland Holy Land is situated on the Great Grasslands, teeming with countless ferocious beasts. Influenced by the Holy Land, these beasts grow unusually robust, far surpassing those elsewhere.

A non-Grandmaster wouldn't even get close before being devoured!" Li Muzhan chuckled: "Beasts that formidable?" "Hmph, even an average Grandmaster, lacking experience, wouldn't dare step carelessly onto those grasslands," Leng Chaoyun shook her head. "If you were going alone, I would advise you to give up immediately." Li Muzhan smiled: "People from the Northern Wasteland Holy Land are accompanying me; otherwise, I wouldn't know the way either.

There's no need to worry." "Who is worried?!" Leng Chaoyun shot him a look. "I'm worried you'll end up as fodder for the beasts and shame me!" Li Muzhan laughed: "Yes, yes, I wouldn't dare disgrace you.

I am going with Palace Master Li this time, and with the protection of those from the Northern Wasteland Holy Land, there will be absolutely no issue." "Let's hope so. Are they reliable?" Leng Chaoyun inquired.

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded: "Their cultivation is profound. If they wished me harm, they wouldn't need such elaborate measures; they could simply take me down!" Leng Chaoyun asked: "When will you return?" Li Muzhan shook his head: "The journey there will take several months.

If quick, three or four months; if slow, perhaps a while longer. However, I won't stay too long.

Even if I must remain there, I will return to inform everyone." Leng Chaoyun glanced at him, her tone flat: "Once Grandmasters go to the Holy Land, they generally don't return. I suspect you will be the same." Li Muzhan smiled: "No, I have ties that hold me here." Leng Chaoyun snorted irritably: "That’s true enough.

In the eyes of a notorious philanderer like you, beautiful women are more important than martial arts prowess!" Li Muzhan chuckled heartily: "Only the Palace Master truly understands me..." After chatting for a while, Li Muzhan took his leave, flashing instantly to the Dugu Residence in Tianjing, appearing directly in Dugu Jinghua's small courtyard. Dugu Jinghua was waiting for him, and as soon as she saw him appear, she ran over.

Li Muzhan pulled her into his arms, embraced her, and carried her inside the house. After an intimate exchange of affection, he held her close and recounted the events, omitting any mention of his injuries.

He only told her he was heading to the Northern Wasteland Holy Land and might be gone for some time. "The Northern Wasteland Holy Land?" Dugu Jinghua turned to look at him.

Her delicate and exquisite face was inches away. Li Muzhan kissed her, nodded, and confirmed: "The Northern Wasteland Holy Land sent three Grandmasters to invite me.

It was not a request I could refuse." "Congratulations, Sir!" Dugu Jinghua’s face bloomed into a smile. The Northern Wasteland Holy Land was the sacred ground for martial artists.

As a leader among the Four Great Clans, she naturally understood its significance. For a Grandmaster, failure to enter the Holy Land meant stagnation in advancement, whereas entering the Holy Land offered opportunities for great leaps forward.

The Northern Wasteland Holy Land was a paradise for Grandmasters, but not every Grandmaster was granted entry; it required a measure of luck, along with innate talent. For Li Muzhan to be invited by the Holy Land was truly the highest honor—a cause for great celebration.

She certainly couldn't stand in his way. Li Muzhan smiled: "I, too, wish to see the Northern Wasteland Holy Land for myself.

I’ve heard it is magnificent. Seeing is believing; I must witness it firsthand." "Indeed, it is best if you can enter.

However, Sir, while the Northern Wasteland Holy Land is a wonderful place for Grandmasters, it is also fraught with peril," Dugu Jinghua cautioned. Li Muzhan nodded: "I've heard that the beasts there are quite formidable, is that right?" "Precisely," Dugu Jinghua affirmed.

"Sir, do not underestimate them simply because they are beasts. The creatures there are vastly different from those outside—a hundred times more ferocious!" Li Muzhan laughed: "Very well, I shall be cautious!" Dugu Jinghua paused, shifting her body slightly.

Li Muzhan released her as she gave a light laugh: "Wait here for a moment, Sir!" Li Muzhan asked: "What is it?" Dugu Jinghua smiled mysteriously and floated out of the room. A moment later, she returned, holding out her hand.

On her flawless, snow-white jade palm rested a small white jade vial. "What is this...?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile.

"Take this, Sir," Dugu Jinghua stepped forward, took his hand, and placed the vial inside. "Tell me what it is," Li Muzhan chuckled as he pulled the stopper.

Inside were several small, snow-white, flawless pills, each the size of a little fingernail. Dugu Jinghua pursed her lips and smiled: "This is the Snow Flower Pill, a tonic for nurturing the essence.

Its medicinal power is very potent, capable of restoring vital energy, which is exactly what you need right now." Li Muzhan smiled: "Does a Grandmaster require such a thing?" "I know Grandmasters possess infinite inner strength, but their physical bodies can suffer. This restores the body's vital essence.

Even if you are exhausted, taking just one pill will dispel the fatigue... Sir, you will inevitably face fierce battles once you enter the Northern Wasteland Holy Land, and you will need this!" Dugu Jinghua explained.

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Very well, I will accept this." Dugu Jinghua’s face lit up: "Then I can rest easy! Sir, you are so meticulous and always have everything under control.

I have nothing to worry about, as long as you remember that I am waiting here when you advance or retreat, that is enough for me!" Li Muzhan pulled her close and kissed her. After another moment of close, tender whispers, Li Muzhan left the Dugu Residence and returned to Cloud Soaring Sect...

Feng Mingxue was sitting quietly in a small pavilion, sipping tea and staring blankly at the sky. When Li Muzhan suddenly appeared, she turned her head, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Li Muzhan said: "Senior Sister, I did not mean to disturb you; I came to bid farewell." Feng Mingxue, clad in robes as white as snow, replied lightly: "Where are you going?" "The Northern Wasteland Holy Land," Li Muzhan stated. Feng Mingxue scrutinized him with a frown, then nodded: "So, you are finally going there." Li Muzhan entered the pavilion and sat down across from her: "Three people from the Northern Wasteland Holy Land came to invite me.

I cannot refuse. I must go to ascertain the reality of the situation first." Feng Mingxue asked: "Will you return?" Li Muzhan smiled: "Of course I will return...

Senior Sister, what level have you reached in your cultivation?" Feng Mingxue shook her head and sighed: "The second layer." "Congratulations, Senior Sister!" Li Muzhan said happily. "That is truly rare!" Feng Mingxue sighed: "What is there to congratulate?

Once you arrive, I am bound to have my cultivation disrupted!... When do you leave?" Li Muzhan replied: "I must leave immediately.

I wanted to check if there were any matters left in the sect, so I can depart with peace of mind." "It’s not as if you can't return. With your divine abilities, leaving is hard, but returning is easy," Feng Mingxue smiled and shook her head.

"There’s nothing pressing in the sect; rest assured." Li Muzhan nodded: "Please explain to the Madam for me that I am not running away to avoid her." Feng Mingxue snorted and shook her head: "The less you say, the more the Madam is convinced you are avoiding her! ...

But perhaps it's for the best; she probably doesn't want to deal with you anymore!" Li Muzhan was overjoyed: "She won't bother me anymore?" Feng Mingxue nodded: "She seems tired of it, and tired of trying to manage you." Li Muzhan clapped his hands and laughed heartily: "Heaven truly smiles upon me!... I’ll go see Yulan now.

Senior Sister, please continue your practice. Breaking through might lead to further advancement!" "Go, go!" Feng Mingxue waved her small hand dismissively.

Li Muzhan bowed with clasped hands and a smile, then vanished from the pavilion in a flash. In the next instant, he appeared in Wanghai City and found Hai Yulan, explaining the entire sequence of events to her.

This time, he told her everything from beginning to end, asking for her counsel. Hai Yulan was radiant and beautiful, her grace surpassing even that of former days.

She was living comfortably in Wanghai City. After hearing Li Muzhan's account, she frowned in deep thought, concluding that this trip was not a bad thing and that he should go.

Li Muzhan shared an intimate moment with her, then took his leave... Li Muzhan walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Li Yubing, while Huai Ren and the other two walked ahead.

The pair moved swiftly, faster than a galloping horse, the surrounding scenery blurring past them. They looked around curiously, having now entered the Great Grasslands.

Li Muzhan marveled at the sheer wonder of nature creating such a place. This grassland was several times larger than any he had seen in later ages, stretching to a horizon that seemed nonexistent.

Moreover, there were no roads, only dense forests of green grass. This place shouldn't be called a grassland, but a sea of grass; the blades grew taller than a man.

The five of them raced just above the tips of the grass, the verdant growth resembling jade waves, rising and falling with the wind. The terrain was flat and boundless.

At first, it was tolerable, but later it began to feel like traversing a desert—a touch of despair setting in. There were absolutely no paths across the grasslands.

The three ahead seemed to know the way, moving with effortless grace. They traveled at a relentless pace.

Initially, they had the energy for banter about martial world affairs, but as the non-stop journey wore on, even Grandmasters began to feel the strain of fatigue after a month of constant travel. Li Muzhan, however, felt less affected.

Although his cultivation might have been the lowest among the five, his physique was far more resilient. After suffering a severe injury previously, he had reforged his body, making it even stronger, his bones hard as jade.

Furthermore, his spirit was robust, so this sustained, rapid journey didn't weigh heavily on him. "Huh?" Li Muzhan frowned.

Li Yubing turned to look at him. Li Muzhan smiled: "There are snakes!" Li Yubing’s expression shifted slightly: "Snakes?" Li Muzhan nodded with a playful smile: "Not just one or two—we are surrounded!" Li Yubing’s face darkened: "Where?" Though she was a Grandmaster, she was still a woman, and the innate revulsion for snakes caused her skin to crawl; she became instantly tense.

Just as Li Muzhan was about to speak, with a series of 'chi, chi, chi' whistling sounds, several streaks of yellow light shot toward the five figures. Huai Ren and the other two snorted and struck out with their palms.

With dull thuds—"bang, bang, bang, bang"—the yellow lights materialized. They were as thick as a baby’s arm and about ten feet long.

Despite their girth, they lacked any sense of clumsiness, moving with electric swiftness before vanishing back into the undergrowth. Li Muzhan frowned.

He hadn't expected these snakes to be so formidable. His palm strike felt like hitting iron; it hadn't managed to injure them at all.

Li Yubing also frowned and muttered: "What fierce creatures!" Li Muzhan advised: "Palace Master, use yielding internal energy." Li Yubing nodded, frowning: "That is what I excel at, but their speed is too great." Li Muzhan smiled: "I will handle the first wave, Palace Master Li, you take the second..." Just as they finished speaking, several more yellow streaks shot toward them, fast as lightning, closing the distance instantly. Li Muzhan formed his hand seals and roared, "Mūm!" The sound exploded like a wave, spreading outwards.

Wherever it passed, the yellow streaks paused, revealing their serpentine forms, their cold, sinister eyes chilling the heart. Li Muzhan roared again, "Māh!" The yellow snakes shuddered once more.

Li Yubing sent out several streaks of sword energy, striking them precisely at their vital seven-inch points. Silently, several of the yellow snakes went limp and dropped into the grass.

Li Muzhan showed a smile: "Excellent technique, Palace Master Li!" Li Yubing snorted: "These things are so annoying!" Huai Ren and the other two turned to look at Li Muzhan and Li Yubing, nodding in approval. Huai Ren laughed: "Young friend has formidable skills, and Palace Master Li is also powerful.

Others find these yellow snakes impossible to deal with; we always have a difficult time passing through!" Li Muzhan smiled: "Senior Huai, you can't deal with them either?" "No," Huai Ren shook his head. "Unless we crush them instantly, they are hard as iron.

A direct strike does no damage, and then they vanish before we can give chase." Li Muzhan nodded and smiled: "They are indeed cunning." Huai Ren smiled conspiratorially: "I didn't expect the two of you to coordinate so well. Perhaps we should also—" Li Muzhan laughed: "We fought our way to this level of understanding!...

Senior Huai, thank you!" "Thank me for what?" Huai Ren asked, his small eyes nearly disappearing into the flesh folds of his smiling face. Li Muzhan stated: "If it weren't for Senior Huai's intervention, the Lu family would not have let the matter rest so easily." Huai Ren waved his hand, smiling faintly: "The Lu family is nothing.

There was someone from the Northern Wasteland Holy Land who once benefited from the Lu family's kindness. That favor wasn't large, and it should have been repaid by now.

If the Lu family still doesn't know how to behave, we'll have to remind them of the importance of those favored by the Northern Wasteland Holy Land." Li Muzhan laughed: "It seems the Lu family has been quite arrogant, relying on the might of the Holy Land. They should be quiet for a while now." "Let's hope they don't cause trouble again.

The dignity of our Northern Wasteland Holy Land cannot be insulted, but we also value our reputation and cannot allow others to tarnish it," Huai Ren smiled. Li Muzhan smiled: "I believe the head of the Lu family is a smart man; he will understand." "That would be best.

Then I can give an accounting. Forcing me to truly deal with the Lu family would be awkward," Huai Ren nodded and smiled.

"After all, there is still a thin thread of connection." Li Muzhan nodded: "This outcome is best." Li Yubing snorted: "In my opinion, we should just wipe them out! Why such fuss?" Huai Ren smiled and shook his head: "Palace Master Li is too fixated.

You still lack the perspective of a Grandmaster. To a Grandmaster, mortals are like ants; why stoop to their level of petty concerns?" Li Yubing fell silent, turning her gaze around the surroundings.

Suddenly, she pointed her finger, and with a sharp ding, a yellow streak fell from beneath Li Muzhan's feet—another yellow snake attempting a sneak attack... Li Muzhan's Heavenly Dragon Brahma Chant, combined with Li Yubing's sword energy, formed a perfect counter to the yellow snakes.

However, as they traveled north, the yellow snakes grew more numerous and dense. The areas they passed were assaulted by a thick swarm of yellow light projectiles.

A moment of inattention meant the risk of being bitten. Li Muzhan also realized that these yellow snakes could pierce protective barriers; the formidable barriers of a Grandmaster were useless against them, as a single bite was enough.

Huai Ren and the others, possessing deeper cultivation, sent out ripples of internal energy from their vibrating robes, shaking the yellow snakes away, but they did not kill them—these snakes seemed endless, making the effort futile. Li Yubing, however, focused on slaying the snakes, while Li Muzhan used deterrence.

She took advantage of the brief openings to strike and kill, earning continuous praise from Huai Ren and his companions, though they couldn't emulate it. Li Muzhan confined his deterrence to a radius of about one zhang around them, careful not to enter the area himself to avoid being affected.

The power of the Heavenly Dragon Brahma Chant was immense, seeming to act directly on the soul; even with their profound cultivation, they couldn't completely evade it. Li Yubing, however, was unaffected by Li Muzhan's technique.

In fact, Li Muzhan had done this intentionally, partly as a show of strength to Huai Ren's trio, lest they underestimate him. This journey was, in part, an assessment by Huai Ren to gauge Li Muzhan’s actual skill.

Grandmasters possess keen senses that allow them to feel disparities in cultivation, but such readings aren't entirely accurate; cultivation isn't everything. Li Muzhan’s movement technique and endurance impressed them greatly.

After witnessing his Heavenly Dragon Brahma Chant, they regarded him as unfathomably profound. Though his cultivation level was slightly lower, in a real fight, the outcome was uncertain.

That single roar alone had been enough to shock them. More and more yellow snakes surged forward, eventually forming a vast sea, densely packed beyond sight.

It seemed the only way forward was to fly, but these snakes could also fly, intercepting them even in the sky—a truly hopeless situation. Every time Huai Ren's group passed through, they proceeded with extreme caution.

A single unfortunate bite would mean certain death, as the venom of these yellow snakes was so potent that death came before any antidote could be administered. Li Muzhan let out a soft cry: "Palace Master, lend me your strength!" Li Yubing nodded, pressing her palm against his back.

"Senior Huai, be careful!" Li Muzhan warned. He glided lightly over the grass tips, forming hand seals.

If he were clad in a monk's robe, he would look every bit the enlightened high monk. "Mūm...

Māh..." He murmured the sounds, which boomed like great bronze bells. The yellow snakes instantly froze, then dropped into the grass.

They seized the opportunity to glide past, clearing the snake formation before the creatures could react. "Young friend, remarkable skill!" Huai Ren praised.

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head: "It was merely a trick." Li Yubing commented: "Though this move is excellent, it consumes too much mental focus and inner energy!" Li Muzhan nodded: "Indeed, it cannot be sustained for long." Huai Ren laughed: "If it could be sustained, that would be truly astonishing!" Hearing Li Muzhan's low chanting, they felt a strong urge to stop moving, almost compelled to halt in their tracks. The sonic deterrence exerted on the mind was startlingly powerful.

(To be continued...)RQ