"That's excellent," Li Muzhan chuckled. "Staying at the Grandmaster realm indefinitely was getting a bit dull! ... But did she mention whether or not she can counter a Sacred Artifact?"

"I don't know," Li Yubing shook her head. "It never occurred to me."

Li Muzhan sighed, shaking his head. "A pity, a real pity! ... Alright, let's head back!"

With an arm around Li Yubing, he flickered and vanished, reappearing momentarily in her room before returning to his own wooden cabin. Feng Mingxue was seated cross-legged on the couch, circulating her internal energy.

Seeing Li Muzhan enter, she quietly opened her bright eyes and looked at him calmly. Li Muzhan suddenly felt a familiar pang; this expression was just like the one she wore the very first time he had met his Shijie (Senior Sister).

She had finally managed to sever the threads of emotion, her state of mind now flawless and perfectly integrated, having reached the Grandmaster realm. Their shared past romance, it seemed, had finally dissolved.

The thought brought him a sense of loss. He wasn't heartless toward his Senior Sister; he had merely suppressed his feelings, unwilling to reveal them lest it disrupt the tacit understanding between master and disciple.

Now that she had cleanly severed that lingering thread of ambiguity, Li Muzhan felt both regret and disappointment, mixed with a sliver of unwillingness, as if the finest thing he possessed had been taken away.

"Shijie," he said, walking over with a smile.

Feng Mingxue inclined her head slightly. "Finished?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "I got it. Shijie, take it quickly!"

He drew out a jade casket from his robes, opened it, and offered the Lingzhi mushroom to Feng Mingxue. She nodded gently, saying nothing more, and took the fungus piece by piece, placing them into her cherry-like mouth.

Li Muzhan watched her lips, feeling a secret stirring of desire, which he quickly suppressed. They were fated not to be together; since their connection had dispersed, there was no need to force anything.

Yet, a residual unwillingness lingered in his heart, a yearning to win back his Senior Sister's affection.

After consuming the Lingzhi, Feng Mingxue closed her eyes again, settling her breath and beginning the process of refining the mushroom's potent medicine. Waves of surging power emanated from her body.

Li Muzhan sat nearby to guard her. Although this area was remote, it posed little threat to a Grandmaster. Grandmasters often favored exploring secluded spots, hoping to discover hidden treasures.

Such places were typically inaccessible to ordinary people, often yielding rewards. While these gains might seem minor, they were still a source of enjoyment. Therefore, he had to remain vigilant; if anyone disturbed her now, the Senior Sister would likely be unable to defend herself. Swallowing an entire Lingzhi in one go meant the medicinal power was intensely aggressive; managing it alone would be difficult enough, leaving her no capacity to notice intruders. His presence here was to prevent her from losing control of the energy surge.

After the time it took to steep a cup of tea, white vapor began to swirl around Feng Mingxue, enveloping her entirely, making her resemble a snowball that seemed to grow progressively thicker.

Li Muzhan watched quietly, his eyes sharp and fixed on her.

After a while, the snowball rolled larger and larger, becoming more condensed, until it suddenly burst apart, transforming into wisps of light smoke that drilled into Feng Mingxue’s brow.

Li Muzhan applauded with a smile. As expected of his Senior Sister—her comprehension was astonishing. She had now completely absorbed the Lingzhi's power.

The strength derived from one Lingzhi was a significant boost for him, but for Feng Mingxue, who had just ascended to the Grandmaster realm, it was even more so.

Feng Mingxue slowly opened her eyes. Her bright pupils were as deep as bottomless wells, seemingly capable of sucking in a person’s soul. Li Muzhan praised her softly, smiling. "Congratulations, Shijie, your cultivation has advanced greatly."

Suddenly, Feng Mingxue pursed her lips and let out a light laugh. "Junior Brother, thank you so much!"

Li Muzhan was taken aback, not expecting her to suddenly display such a bright smile. This laugh was different from her previous gentle expression; it seemed to transport them back to their old days, filled with the same unspoken connection, hinting faintly at past intimacy.

Li Muzhan stared at her in surprise. "Shijie, you...?"

"Nothing, I just realized something," Feng Mingxue shook her head and chuckled lightly. "Junior Brother, is this Arctic Sacred Realm truly that miraculous?"

Having personally consumed the Lingzhi and felt the surge in power, she grew eager, wishing to catch up to Li Muzhan lest she become a burden to him.

Li Muzhan nodded. "This place is indeed a superb realm for advancing cultivation, but it is equally dangerous. One could lose their life at any moment. These Spirit Beasts show no mercy; there is only slaughter."

"Mmm, then I want to go in and see," Feng Mingxue nodded.

Li Muzhan deliberated for a moment. "If you truly wish to enter, you must carry my jade talisman. Do not try to be reckless; these Spirit Beasts are all stronger than you."

"All stronger than me?" Feng Mingxue looked at him with a playful smile.

Li Muzhan felt increasingly puzzled; he couldn't read her intentions now, though with the Boundless Brightness Sutra, he could faintly perceive her closeness.

"Yes, any Spirit Beast that appears before you intends to hunt you down to enhance its own cultivation. Spirit Beasts have keener senses than us and can perceive cultivation levels," Li Muzhan confirmed.

Feng Mingxue frowned. "Isn't that too dangerous?"

Li Muzhan laughed. "It is indeed dangerous. Fortune favors the bold; there’s no other way about it... There is no such thing in the world as gaining advancement without taking risks."

Feng Mingxue asked, "Are you the same, Junior Brother?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "I have my trump cards, so I don't fear them. I’ve killed quite a few."

Feng Mingxue nodded slowly. She was aware of Li Muzhan's trump card; it was indeed an inescapable ultimate move. Only someone who truly possessed immunity to flying blades could possibly survive.

But was there anyone in the world truly immune to flying blades? These weren't ordinary darts; they were supposedly capable of piercing anything, impossible to evade—a truly unparalleled and inexplicable secret art.

"Very well, I'll go in and take a look. If there’s real danger, I’ll notify Junior Brother immediately." Feng Mingxue rose from the couch, her snow-white robe stirring though there was no wind.

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded. "Then Shijie must be careful and never let her guard down."

"Mhm, I understand." Feng Mingxue nodded slightly, inquired about the location of the Arctic Sacred Realm, and floated out of the small wooden cabin. Li Muzhan watched her leave, shaking his head.

Li Yubing arrived silently at his side, smiling sweetly. "Wuji, your Senior Sister is quite the character! ... You like her, don't you?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "Yes, I like Shijie very much, but she is like an immortal being, truly unworthy of me."

Li Yubing pursed her lips and chuckled lightly. "You don't mean that. She doesn't like you, does she?"

Li Muzhan sighed. "Yes, Palace Mistress guessed correctly."

"Heh-heh-heh," Li Yubing laughed coquettishly, shaking with mirth.

Li Muzhan gave her an exasperated look. "Palace Mistress, what is so funny about that? Does every woman in the world have to like me!?"

"Heh-heh, this is karma!" Li Yubing continued to giggle incessantly, shaking her head repeatedly. "Even you have moments where you're utterly defeated!"

Li Muzhan protested. "Palace Mistress, my appearance is ordinary, I have no outstanding merits. What is there for a woman to like? It’s normal that Shijie doesn't care for me!"

"Hmph, it's good you realize that!" Li Yubing stifled her laughter, shooting him a sidelong glance. "I hear that Miss Hai and a Miss Song from the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden Sect also like you. Women of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden Sect are the hardest to impress—you might as well call them stone maidens. It must have been difficult to capture her heart!"

Li Muzhan explained, "It was just a matter of coincidence. I saved her, so she developed feelings for me."

"Oh, so that's how it is; no wonder," Li Yubing nodded. "But don't be discouraged, your martial arts are quite good."

Li Muzhan said irritably, "I don't need the Palace Mistress to worry about me!"

Li Yubing pursed her lips, shaking her head with a slight smile. "How about we just let Xin'er marry you!"

Li Muzhan quickly waved his hands. "Let's forget it. I don't want to attract any more women!"

"Heh-heh, I heard your Sect Mistress treats you very poorly, is that true?" Li Yubing chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "You have quite the nerve, and terrible luck, to provoke Fu Feihong’s disciple! She's no easy person to deal with—very fiery!"

Li Muzhan sighed heavily. "Palace Mistress, please don't bring her up!"

Although Fu Feihong no longer forced him now, every time he returned to the Sect, he rushed in and rushed out quickly, precisely to avoid seeing Fu Feihong. Even if she didn't outwardly pressure him, any encounter would inevitably lead to nagging—something he couldn't defend against.

If you can't fight them, hide. Even as a Grandmaster, he was helpless against Fu Feihong; he could only avoid her, seeing her as little as possible, and if he did meet her, he would pretend to be deaf and mute.

Li Muzhan’s expression suddenly changed. He flickered and vanished from the spot, reappearing instantly within the Arctic Sacred Realm, right in front of Feng Mingxue.

In front of Feng Mingxue was a silver wolf, its eyes gleaming sharply, lunging at her. It aimed to snap at her throat in a single bite.

Feng Mingxue was lying on the snow, unable to move, her face pale. Her long sword lay two zhang away. She was clearly about to perish beneath the wolf's jaws.

Li Muzhan gave a low grunt and casually tapped the air. With a crisp pop, the silver wolf was flung into the air. Li Muzhan instantly flashed behind the wolf and brought a palm strike down.

His comprehension of the Void-Splitting Sword Intent was deepening, and he wielded it with practiced ease. The strike was delivered without allowing the wolf a chance to dodge, hitting its back directly.

With a dull thud, the silver wolf was sent flying again. It let out a howl, spitting a beam of white light from its mouth while airborne—incredibly fast.

Li Muzhan twisted away to evade it. Behind him sounded a bang as a large crater exploded. This beam of white light resembled a laser, possessing terrifying power.

Knowing its lethality, Li Muzhan dared not meet it head-on. He flashed and vanished again, reappearing behind the silver wolf, and struck down with his palm once more. Thud! The silver wolf flew away again.

The silver wolf seemed unfazed by Li Muzhan's palm force. In mid-air, it opened its mouth again, and a beam of white light shot toward its mouth—the original beam failed to launch, exploding instead within its jaw.

With a dull bang, the silver wolf staggered, becoming momentarily indistinct, ethereal. Then, Li Muzhan gave a cold snort, and another beam of white light streaked out, striking the wolf on the bridge of its nose.

"Awooo..." The silver wolf roared in fury, and another white light flashed, shooting into its mouth. Instantly, the silver wolf dissipated. Li Muzhan felt a chill across his brow.

Only then did he have the leisure to turn and look at Feng Mingxue. She had already slowly settled into a cross-legged position on the ground, forming hand seals and entering meditation to regulate her breathing.

As soon as Li Muzhan appeared, she relaxed completely, ignoring the outside situation, and focused directly on healing her injuries. Her complexion was as pale as paper.

Li Muzhan approached her from behind and channeled the internal energy of the Returning Jade Scripture into her. In a short while, Feng Mingxue’s complexion returned to a rosy hue, and she slowly stood up.

Li Muzhan asked, "Shijie, what happened?"

"I ran into this wolf not long after I entered," Feng Mingxue shook her head and sighed, feeling disappointed in her own strength. She thought she was powerful enough, but encountering the silver wolf made her realize how weak she still was.

Li Muzhan frowned. "This is the infamous Greedy Wolf. Its body is immensely tough; blades and swords cannot penetrate its hide. To defeat it, one must only strike its weak points—the mouth and the nose are critical."

"I truly didn't expect it to be so fierce," Feng Mingxue admitted. "I took a few hits head-on, and it quickly struck me, freezing the circulation of my internal energy."

Li Muzhan cautioned, "Shijie, you must remember: when fighting these Spirit Beasts, never engage them in a direct confrontation. In a brute-force fight, you have zero chance of winning. You must outsmart them; only cunning offers an opportunity."

Feng Mingxue nodded slowly. "I understand now."

Li Muzhan let out a long breath, looking Feng Mingxue up and down. He nodded. "That’s a relief, that’s a relief."

Feng Mingxue smiled faintly. "Junior Brother, I'm fine. You should go back first."

Li Muzhan said, "Shijie, let's stop here for today. Rest and come back tomorrow!"

She had just survived a life-and-death trial. Even if her body had recovered, her spirit was still unstable; pushing herself further was unwise. It was better for her to rest and contemplate before returning.

Feng Mingxue shook her head. "I am fine. You go back first."

Li Muzhan stared at her, meeting her deep, clear eyes. He gazed for a long moment before slowly nodding. "Since you insist, I shall obey, Shijie! ... Here are the jade talismans."

He pulled two more jade talismans from his robes and handed them to Feng Mingxue.

Feng Mingxue pursed her lips and smiled, knowing she couldn't refuse. She reached out and accepted them. "Alright, you can go back now. I must venture alone at some point."

Li Muzhan gave her one last worried look before nodding helplessly.

After he vanished in a flash, Feng Mingxue stared at the spot where he disappeared, silent for a long time. After a while, her smile faded, and she resumed the appearance of a tranquil, clear spring, slowly heading north.

Back in the small cabin, Li Yubing came to ask what happened. Li Muzhan recounted the danger his Senior Sister had faced. Li Yubing laughed softly. "That's unavoidable. Your Senior Sister might be too focused on cultivation and unfamiliar with life-or-death combat. You need to let go!"

Li Muzhan frowned and nodded slowly. It was true. Since achieving success in cultivation, his Senior Sister had always stayed by his side. Although they encountered danger, he was always there to support her, giving her confidence. She had never truly stood on her own two feet, never faced mortal peril. Such opportunities were rare. If this continued, even as a Grandmaster with high cultivation, it would remain dangerous.

"Wuji, you worry too much about this Senior Sister. She has extraordinary comprehension; her progress will surely be fast, but she needs tempering. This Arctic Sacred Realm is an excellent place for that," Li Yubing smiled.

Li Muzhan gave a bitter smile. "It’s too dangerous."

"If it weren't dangerous, how could it truly be training?" Li Yubing shook her head. "You, my friend, are letting concern cloud your judgment!"

Li Muzhan sighed mournfully. "Fine, it has to be this way!"

Li Yubing chuckled. "Don't worry, look at her—she's not someone destined for a short life!"

Li Muzhan shook his head and said no more. With the jade talismans, she could summon him at any moment; the danger shouldn't be too great.

However, he remained uneasy, feeling powerless to control the situation. Finally, evening came, and Feng Mingxue returned, bringing a Spirit Beast with her.