In the passage of time unnoticed by him, half a month felt like the blink of an eye. As dusk settled on this particular day, he awoke from his meditation to the sound of a soft knock at the door.

Li Muzhan quietly rose and opened the courtyard gate. Standing outside was Qin Yeqiu, clad in purple, her face pale and stern.

Li Muzhan gestured her in, "Senior Sister?"

Qin Yeqiu never sought him out without serious cause; something major must have occurred, and at this juncture, it could only concern the Dragon Mountain Sect!

The thought flashed through his mind in an instant. Qin Yeqiu walked directly to the small pavilion and sat, her voice soft. "Junior Brother, I didn't disturb your seclusion, did I?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I just finished my meditation. Is the Dragon Mountain Sect coming?"

"A young fellow took your jade token and went to Qingmei Town to find Senior Brother Feng," Qin Yeqiu said, pulling a letter from her sleeve and handing it to Li Muzhan. "This is the message he delivered; he said it was urgent."

Li Muzhan frowned as he took it, guessing it was from Liu Biyun. Only Liu Biyun possessed the means to use his jade token to find Qingmei Town; no one else could.

"Whose letter is it?" Qin Yeqiu asked.

Li Muzhan broke the seal. Inside were only two words: "Eagle Flies."

He sighed, shaking his head, and looked up. "Senior Sister, the Dragon Mountain Sect truly intends to move against us. Tell everyone to prepare to depart, and the sooner the better."

"The Dragon Mountain Sect is really making a move?" Qin Yeqiu's brow furrowed, her expression grave.

Li Muzhan nodded. "Nine times out of ten."

"How do you know?" Qin Yeqiu glanced at the letter.

Li Muzhan replied, "Senior Sister, it’s from a friend of mine."

"From the Dragon Mountain Sect?" Qin Yeqiu inquired.

Li Muzhan confirmed, "Yes."

"Hmph. It must be that Liu Biyun, isn't it?" Qin Yeqiu scoffed softly.

Li Muzhan nodded helplessly. "It is."

Qin Yeqiu frowned. "Is her word reliable? ... Does she know your true identity?"

Li Muzhan replied, "I've already told her."

"You are quite frank!" Qin Yeqiu knitted her brows, pondering. "She knows you are from the Purple Robe Palace. And she still helps you?"

Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "Perhaps she simply cannot stand the way the Dragon Mountain Sect conducts itself."

"In my opinion, she has feelings for you, hasn't she?" Qin Yeqiu snorted.

Li Muzhan paused in thought, then slowly nodded. "Perhaps... It’s a pity she is a disciple of the Dragon Mountain Sect; sooner or later, we will be facing the blade."

"Very well, I won't pry further. This news isn't mistaken, is it?" Qin Yeqiu took a deep breath, her tone serious.

Li Muzhan stated, "I believe she wouldn't joke about something like this. Everyone should retreat first. It's better to make an extra trip now and cover our tracks than to be exposed later. Caution prevents great error!"

Qin Yeqiu nodded slowly. "Mmm. I will arrange their departure immediately."

Li Muzhan added, "Senior Sister, the two of us staying behind is sufficient. There is no need for Master to come."

"I fear Master might not agree," Qin Yeqiu worried.

Li Muzhan considered it. "How about we trick Master and the others?"

"Sigh..." Qin Yeqiu sighed, shaking her head. "I considered that, but I couldn't find a way to make Master and the others leave."

Li Muzhan smiled. "I happen to have a method."

"Tell me about it," Qin Yeqiu urged.

Li Muzhan explained, "We simply seal off the news; we don't let Master and the others know... In reality, the Dragon Mountain Sect does not know the exact location of our Purple Robe Palace."

"That is true," Qin Yeqiu acknowledged with a nod.

When Liu Biyun sought out the Purple Robe Palace previously, she only knew its general vicinity. She had to call out loudly; if she had known the exact location, there would have been no need for that.

Li Muzhan reasoned, "As long as we don't expose ourselves, they won't find Master's place."

"That is too dangerous," Qin Yeqiu mused.

Li Muzhan chuckled. "Not necessarily. We are quite far from Master's location. Besides, Master and the others are unaware of the Dragon Mountain Sect's intentions."

"...Fine, let's try it," Qin Yeqiu deliberated for a moment before slowly nodding.

The group began to move, packing their belongings. They left one by one under the cover of night, remaining still during the day, appearing outwardly calm so that outsiders could detect nothing.

Li Muzhan returned to his seclusion and study. He was resolved to stay behind, his heart unperturbed by the departure of the others. As if utterly unaware of the outside world, he tuned out all distractions, focusing solely on perfecting his martial arts, determined to create a sword technique that offered both rapid mastery and devastating power.

He recognized that in this world, swordsmanship still held the supreme advantage. However, swordsmanship was notoriously difficult to master—the saying went, three years to master the saber, ten years to master the sword. This world lacked firearms, and national wars were non-existent; all turmoil stemmed from martial arts experts.

The saber was easy to learn but hard to perfect, and its power relied heavily on the sharpness of the blade. Since saber techniques focused on hacking and slashing, in a direct clash, the stronger opponent won. Practicing the saber was paradoxically more perilous; if the blade broke upon impact, one was left utterly defenseless, making it inferior to palm or fist techniques.

Swordsmanship required superior comprehension; otherwise, it was better to train in fist or leg arts. Given equal aptitude, cultivation base, and age, fist and palm masters often held a clear edge over sword masters.

Li Muzhan excelled at swordsmanship. While the Purple Robe Palace's sword techniques were considered refined in this world, they fell far short in his eyes. He intended to improve them, making them easier to practice and more formidable.

Creating a new sword form was arduous for others, but not for him. This ability stemmed from the teachings of his grandmaster, Lan Chun, who had instructed him in dissecting the Nine Forms of Canghai Sword Arts back in the Canghai Sword Sect.

The martial arts of this world differed from those of his previous two worlds, yet possessed certain similarities. He fused the sword principles from all three worlds and ultimately forged a set of Nine Forms of Swordplay.

These nine forms were deceptively simple, yet when combined casually, they unleashed terrifying power.

One morning, Li Muzhan was practicing the sword forms in the courtyard when Qin Yeqiu arrived again. She did not knock but instead drifted gracefully over the wall, landing before him in a swirl of purple silk.

Li Muzhan stopped his movement. He smiled. "Senior Sister. Have they arrived?"

"Soon?" Qin Yeqiu nodded slightly, sighing. "Only about a hundred li away."

Li Muzhan announced, "Senior Sister, I have created the Nine Forms of Swordplay!"

Saying this, he walked toward his quarters and quickly returned with a thin booklet, handing it to Qin Yeqiu.

Qin Yeqiu took it, frowning. "At a time like this, you have the leisure for this? ... Cultivating your skills is the serious business."

Li Muzhan laughed. "With my current martial arts, escaping is more than enough. The immediate priority is to give Senior Brothers and Sisters simpler, superior sword forms—to give them hope, so their morale doesn't plummet and their fighting spirit wither."

There was a classic saying from later generations: when the hearts of the people scatter, the team becomes hard to lead. Though simple and blunt, it was an irrefutable truth; morale and the people's will were paramount.

"Senior Sister, just look at it," Li Muzhan gestured to the booklet.

Qin Yeqiu shook her head with a hint of helplessness. He truly was calm under pressure. At this critical juncture, instead of urgently practicing, he was creating martial arts. Martial arts were not so easily invented; later disciples often couldn't even fully grasp the techniques of their predecessors, let alone innovate upon them.

She understood Li Muzhan's intentions, but if the new sword forms proved inadequate, it would only further erode morale. She sighed. "There's no need. Junior Brother, we should discuss how to meet the challenge first."

"How many are coming?" Li Muzhan glanced at her, then dropped the subject, speaking gravely. The Dragon Mountain Sect's arrival was indeed the immediate concern.

Qin Yeqiu replied, "Four."

Li Muzhan's eyebrows rose, and he laughed. "Is the Dragon Mountain Sect being overly arrogant?"

"Fewer numbers make them more dangerous," Qin Yeqiu countered, shaking her head. "The Dragon Mountain Sect will not underestimate us. Even if they slight their opponents, they still respect them. They absolutely won't hold back; they will use their full strength."

Li Muzhan pondered. "In that case, these four must all be peak experts?"

"Precisely!" Qin Yeqiu stated seriously. "So, Junior Brother, you must be extremely careful. Self-preservation comes first; do not engage them head-on."

Li Muzhan nodded slowly. "Does Senior Sister know their backgrounds?"

"No," Qin Yeqiu sighed, shaking her head. "The reason the Dragon Mountain Sect is so powerful is their deep reservoir of masters. They have many peak experts, yet they are highly mysterious and rarely show themselves."

Li Muzhan concluded, "If that is the case, we can only adapt as circumstances demand."

"At the critical moment, do not try to show off. Retreat first," Qin Yeqiu cautioned with concern.

Li Muzhan smiled. "I understand."

Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly, and he frowned. "Guests are arriving. Let's go down to meet them."

"...They are here?" Qin Yeqiu knitted her brows.

Li Muzhan nodded, beckoning with his hand. The Zhaoxia Sword resting on the stone table instantly flew into his grasp. Qin Yeqiu looked at him in astonishment; this display revealed profound internal energy, far surpassing her own.

The rules of this world differed from his original one; internal energy could not leave the body. Li Muzhan’s feat was possible because his spirit and internal energy were fused, a foundation built by the Sword Control Classic. In this world, his internal energy could manifest externally due to the Classic's unique methods, allowing his inner power to merge with his spiritual might, lending him considerable force. Combined with his Void-Breaking Sword Intent, his confidence grew, unlike the initial caution he maintained.

Seeing this display bolstered Qin Yeqiu's confidence slightly. The two employed their movement techniques, drifting down to the foot of Purple Haze Mountain like two wisps of smoke.

As they reached the edge of the forest at the mountain base, they saw four men in deep sapphire robes walking toward them. When their eyes landed on the pair, their gazes sharpened almost physically.

Li Muzhan scrutinized the four: two elders and two middle-aged men. The elders were powerfully built, their muscles bulging as if straining against their clothes. The two middle-aged men, however, appeared somewhat slender, resembling scholars—frail to the point where a strong gust of wind might knock them over.

They suppressed their auras completely, giving no hint of martial practice. If not for their piercing gazes, detecting their power would have been difficult, especially the two middle-aged men who looked like sickly scholars, raising concerns about their physical endurance.

Li Muzhan clasped his hands in a salute and spoke gravely. "Do the four Seniors seek entry to the Purple Robe Palace?"

"Indeed. Kindly announce our arrival," stated one of the middle-aged men, who had a sallow complexion.

Li Muzhan smiled. "No announcement is necessary. This is our Palace Master, Qin Yeqiu. Seniors have arrived at an opportune moment; we were just preparing to leave the mountain."

"You are Qin Yeqiu, the Palace Master of the Purple Robe Palace?" The sallow-faced man frowned, studying Qin Yeqiu. He glanced toward the other three, who also examined her, slowly nodding.

Li Muzhan snorted internally, realizing they had already been informed of Qin Yeqiu's appearance. The Dragon Mountain Sect truly lived up to its reputation—its informants were everywhere.

Qin Yeqiu stated coolly, "Who are you, and what business do you have with me?"

"This elder and his company are disciples of the Dragon Mountain Sect!" the sallow-faced man announced sternly.

Qin Yeqiu pondered for a moment. "Is this regarding Wan Chongshan?"

"It is!" the sallow-faced man slowly nodded. "Wan Chongshan is a renegade of our sect. After leaving, he committed many injustices. You killing him is a small matter; the problem is that Wan Chongshan carried something important, which you greedily retained. That was unwise!"

Qin Yeqiu frowned. "The last time your sect's disciples came, I already explained everything clearly!"

"She is easy to fool, but you won't fool us!" the sallow-faced man sneered.

Qin Yeqiu shook her head calmly. "What I said was the truth."

The sallow-faced man sneered again. "You knew what Wan Chongshan was hiding, and that is why you killed him, correct?"

Qin Yeqiu retorted, "Wan Chongshan deserved death at the hands of anyone!"

"Hmph. So you claim to be upholding justice?" the sallow-faced man scoffed repeatedly, disdain evident. "Don't think we don't know you small sects—you act only for profit. Upholding justice is a complete joke!"

Qin Yeqiu frowned. "Killing Wan Chongshan was indeed rooting out a menace!"

The sallow-faced man stated sternly, "Very well. Then hand over what you took from Wan Chongshan, and we can let the matter rest."

Qin Yeqiu questioned, "Your Dragon Mountain Sect covets something from a scoundrel as well?"

The sallow-faced man replied, "Treasure belongs to the virtuous! ... Palace Master Qin, if you still refuse to hand it over, don't blame us for taking drastic measures!"

Qin Yeqiu stated calmly, "Wan Chongshan only had a few medicine vials and two sets of old clothes. I gave the vials to Miss Liu, and the old clothes were burned long ago. I possess nothing else. Forcing me is useless."

"Two sets of old clothes were burned?" The sallow-faced man stared intently at her.

Qin Yeqiu asked, "What else would I do with them?"

The sallow-faced man sighed, shaking his head. "Alas... We did not wish to destroy the Purple Robe Palace, but Palace Master Qin, you are too stubborn. Since that is the case, you cannot blame us for being ruthless!"

Qin Yeqiu frowned. "What do you intend to do?"

The sallow-faced man shook his head and sighed. "Leave no fowl or dog alive!"

"Is this how the Dragon Mountain Sect conducts itself?" Qin Yeqiu laughed coldly. "If you cannot obtain what you desire, you resort to slaughter, disregarding righteousness or evil, caring only for profit!"

"How our Dragon Mountain Sect operates is not for a minor palace like yours to comment on!" the sallow-faced man sneered coldly. "Especially the Purple Robe Palace, which is about to be exterminated!"

"A pity you arrived a step too late," Qin Yeqiu replied with a shake of her head.

The sallow-faced man frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Qin Yeqiu smiled faintly. "Our Purple Robe Palace disciples left long ago! ... If we cannot afford to offend you, we can afford to hide!"

The sallow-faced man’s face darkened, and he sneered, "What cunning women! ... Aren't you the Palace Master? Capturing you will suffice. I don't believe they won't come to save you, their Palace Master!"

Qin Yeqiu stated calmly, "I have already issued orders forbidding anyone to come to my rescue. They won't fall for your trap!"

The sallow-faced man turned to the other middle-aged man, who had a square face and a slightly purplish complexion, radiating cold detachment and arrogance. He looked solemn.

With a grim expression, he said slowly, "If we cannot destroy the Purple Robe Palace, killing their Palace Master serves the same purpose. Make your move!"

"Understood!" The sallow-faced man nodded respectfully.

Li Muzhan swept his gaze over the square-faced man and said gravely, "Your Dragon Mountain Sect isn't just after Wan Chongshan's belongings; you are here to establish dominance, aren't you?"

The square-faced man gave a faint smile, looking at Li Muzhan. "That is correct!"

Li Muzhan challenged, "If you truly wish to establish dominance, go destroy the Myriad Saint Sect; that would be real ability. Using our small sect to assert yourselves—the Dragon Mountain Sect is truly disappointing!"

The square-faced man glanced at Li Muzhan and smiled faintly. "Destroying the Myriad Saint Sect is not easily done. Establishing dominance through you isn't meant to intimidate the Myriad Saint Sect, but to send a message to the smaller sects. You are sufficient for that purpose."

Li Muzhan asked, "Aren't you afraid that our Purple Robe Palace disciples will secretly strike back at you?"

The square-faced man laughed and shook his head. "Heh heh, there are countless sects who wish to deal with us secretly; the Purple Robe Palace is hardly the only one."

Li Muzhan sighed. "So, you are determined to kill us today?"

"You can only blame your bad luck for leaving a step too early to avoid meeting us," the square-faced man shook his head with feigned regret.

Li Muzhan turned to his Senior Sister. "Senior Sister, shall we strike for the kill?"

"...Let's go," Qin Yeqiu deliberated, then shook her head.

Li Muzhan looked deeply at the four men, sighing. "Senior Sister, go!"

Their figures flickered, turning into two streaks of light that darted toward the forest behind them. Just as they were about to enter the woods, four beams of sword light shot toward them, enveloping the pair.

Li Muzhan drew his sword. With four crisp clangs, the four beams of light dimmed immediately. They sliced through the net of swords and plunged into the forest.

"Pursue them!" The square-faced man's expression instantly darkened, and he let out an angry snort. He hadn't expected Li Muzhan to shatter the encirclement with a single sword strike; the strength of his swordsmanship and the depth of his cultivation were beyond his estimation.

As the sword lights faded, revealing four elders also clad in sapphire robes, their faces grim. Seeing the square-faced men pursue the others, they also rose to follow.

Li Muzhan and Qin Yeqiu moved like lightning. Li Muzhan said while moving, "I didn't expect them to have a contingency plan; we almost fell for it!"

Qin Yeqiu's expression was grim. The hundred-mile radius around the Purple Robe Palace was said to be filled with informants, yet they were still deceived. The Dragon Mountain Sect was indeed extraordinary; even with their power, they acted with such caution.

Li Muzhan glanced back. "Senior Sister, they are catching up. Let me handle it!"

Qin Yeqiu looked back, her expression changing slightly. They were using Flowing Light Electric Flash, a top-tier movement technique, yet the Dragon Mountain Sect's movement skills proved superior; they were visibly closing the distance.

She reached out helplessly. Li Muzhan took her delicate hand, and their speed suddenly increased, pulling them ahead of the square-faced group once more.

The distance between the two groups widened, but the Dragon Mountain Sect members immediately redoubled their efforts and caught up again. Their movement techniques and internal energy cultivation were both exquisite.

Li Muzhan laughed. "This is quite interesting!"

Qin Yeqiu urged, "Hurry and shake them off."

She knew Li Muzhan wasn't using his full strength; he was drawing them away to avoid alarming Miaoxiang Peak. They had already crossed several mountains, and Miaoxiang Peak was now out of earshot.

"Hmph, where do you think you're going!" A cold snort suddenly rang out near their ears, causing their bodies to freeze momentarily. The sound struck their chests like a hammer blow.