As dusk settled, Li Muzhan sat in a tavern, watching the sunset through the window. He had occupied this same spot for days, observing the constant flow of people passing by, which afforded him a feeling of being detached from worldly affairs.

He hadn't stayed here solely for this contemplation; more importantly, he was gathering intelligence. No one knew of Zheng Zicong's demise; the public's attention was fixated on the arrival of emissaries from the Dragon Mountain Sect.

Seated in the tavern, Li Muzhan clearly understood that the mission to hunt down the traitor was being led by the Four Talents of the Dragon Mountain Sect, proclaimed to be the sect's most outstanding disciples.

Among these four disciples was Liu Biyun. Li Muzhan was surprised by her fame; she was considered a leading figure among the younger generation of disciples.

Li Muzhan silently nodded to himself. Liu Biyun was comparable in skill to Palace Master Qin Yeqiu; in the martial world, she truly ranked as a top-tier master. For a mere disciple to achieve such standing was indeed worthy of the title 'heroic talent.'

He wasn't rushing to meet Liu Biyun; meeting her now would only bring trouble. It was best to avoid anyone from the Dragon Mountain Sect for the moment. Although he had originally intended to settle scores with the Dragon Mountain Sect disciples this time, he now had to change his plan. He might deceive the sect, but he couldn't deceive Liu Biyun, and he certainly didn't wish for conflict with her.

He kept wondering if Huang Zongqi would agree, and if he could truly hold back the [Placeholder for sensitive term]. If he could truly block the [Placeholder for sensitive term], then his own perfect plan might never come to fruition.

Huang Zongqi was immensely ambitious; Li Muzhan suspected he wouldn't resist the temptation of the [Placeholder for sensitive term]. He only feared Huang might hatch some other scheme, in which case Li Muzhan would have to resort to ruthless measures.

As he pondered these matters, he simultaneously considered how to deal with the Dragon Mountain Sect. The Purple Robe Palace couldn't remain hidden in the valley forever. Even with his newly imparted sword techniques, emerging under new guises would still be a tremendous blow to their morale.

For disciples of the Palace to be unable to hold their heads high, forced instead to swallow their pride, would deeply damage their spirit, making any future achievement difficult.

It was unfortunate that the Dragon Mountain Sect was too powerful; he hadn't yet reached the pinnacle of invincibility. Even if he were invincible, a sect with the depth of the Dragon Mountain Sect couldn't simply be overthrown; their foundation was too profound.

The only path was to leverage external forces—to provoke a conflict between the Dragon Mountain Sect and the Lin-Hai Pavilion, adding fuel to the fire himself. Alternatively, he could watch from the sidelines.

Plucking chestnuts from the fire was no easy feat; miscalculating could lead to being burned. This required extreme caution—careful, careful, and even more careful. If the Purple Robe Palace were implicated, the fault would be immense.

More critically, there was the demonic artifact, the Sect Master's Seal of the Myriad Saints Sect. Obtaining it seemed nearly impossible; he was utterly stumped. The only viable course was to enhance his own strength. As his martial arts grew stronger, his opportunities would naturally increase. Attempting to seize the demonic artifact with his current power would be imprudent—it would be seeking his own death.

This world was a forbidden ground for Grandmasters. Having arrived here, he, a Grandmaster, needed to proceed with the utmost circumspection. Forget about seizing artifacts; his own survival required constant vigilance to avoid disaster. Not until his martial arts reached a certain level could he consider the matter of the demonic artifact.

He paused, shaking his head. This world remained perilous, demanding constant attention. Because there was no Gang Qi (Aura/Aura Energy), his internal Nei Qi couldn't be projected externally, rendering his life exceptionally fragile. Even experts feared a woodsman's axe. Unprepared, even someone unskilled in martial arts could kill a martial arts master with a simple kitchen knife… As his mind wandered, a clear, childlike voice suddenly reached his ears: "Esteemed young master, is your surname Li?"

Li Muzhan turned his head to see a sweet-faced little girl, perhaps seven or eight years old. She was lively and charming, her large eyes fixed intently on him.

Li Muzhan smiled and nodded: "My surname is Li. Who are you looking for, little sister?"

"Then are you Young Master Li Guanhai?" the girl tilted her head.

Li Muzhan nodded: "Yes, I am Li Guanhai."

"This is a letter for you," the girl labored to pull a letter from her bosom and carefully handed it to Li Muzhan, as if terrified of damaging it.

Li Muzhan casually took it, asking with a smile, "Little sister, who sent this letter?"

"A very handsome big brother," the girl replied, smiling.

Li Muzhan asked, "Was he wearing clothes like mine?"

The girl tilted her head to look at Li Muzhan, then nodded: "Yes, you two are dressed the same, but that big brother was much better looking than you!"

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile and nodded: "Indeed, he is better looking. Do you need anything else?"

The girl shook her head: "That big brother asked me to deliver this letter for you, and he promised me two pieces of candy."

Li Muzhan chuckled and pulled out a small piece of silver, offering it to her: "Take this silver and go buy candy, alright?"

The girl immediately beamed, snatching it up: "Thank you, Young Master Li!"

Li Muzhan waved his hand: "Go play, and buy candy with your guardian!"

"I won't! My mother would never let me buy candy!" The girl pouted, wrinkling her nose in a small huff.

Li Muzhan looked at the spirited, quirky little girl with affection but didn't say more, simply waving her off. He then tore open the envelope, eager to see what trickery Huang Zongqi had planned.

Inside were only a few characters: an address. He shook his head with a slight smile, rose, tossed a piece of silver to the waiter, and then slowly made his way downstairs.

He knew the Four Talents of the Dragon Mountain Sect had arrived in Feiyu Town. Though he had considered meeting Liu Biyun, he decided against it; if all Four Talents were present, he might reveal his hand.

It was thanks to Liu Biyun sending him the message earlier that he was able to warn the Purple Robe Palace in advance and escape safely. Had he been even a moment slower, he would have been in grave danger. Gu Dongting’s saber techniques were too formidable. If they hadn't withdrawn ahead of time, and he had been entangled in a fight with Gu Dongting, he might not have managed a clean exit, possibly risking his life.

He felt both fondness and gratitude toward Liu Biyun and could not allow her to be endangered.

Thinking these thoughts, he ambled out of Feiyu Town, heading south toward a pine forest. As he reached the edge of the woods, the setting sun had stained the entire expanse crimson... He stopped abruptly at the border of the pine forest, frowning as he stared into the trees. He sensed danger and certainly would not proceed further.

He frowned, watching for a moment, then sighed and shook his head: "Young Hero Huang, I truly didn't expect you to take this step! ...Hmph, come out!"

There was no movement in the surroundings. Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head: "Young Hero Huang must think I was bluffing. Ten men—you certainly think highly of me!"

"Young Master Li possesses formidable skill!" Huang Zongqi slowly emerged from the woods, clapping his hands lightly. He smiled faintly: "To detect ten men lurking within."

Li Muzhan shook his head: "Why must Young Hero Huang resort to this?"

Huang Zongqi's expression turned serious, and he said sternly: "Young Master Li, hand over the secret manual, and we will let you leave. We only want the manual, not your life!"

Li Muzhan countered: "Not my life? ...I doubt that very much. The moment I hand over the manual, you'll all move to kill me. Anyone can use such low tactics; put them away."

Huang Zongqi frowned: "Young Master Li, what sort of people do you think we in the Lin-Hai Pavilion are? My word has always been absolute; I would never go back on my promise!"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head: "Why does Young Hero Huang engage in such grand rhetoric? Isn't this just a case of breaking a promise for personal gain?"

"I never agreed to Young Master Li's terms," Huang Zongqi smirked triumphantly: "I only said I would consider it, I never agreed. Did I?"

Li Muzhan’s brow arched, and he laughed, nodding: "I didn't expect Young Hero Huang to have such cunning. So you planned to deal with me all along, with no sincerity whatsoever!"

Huang Zongqi said grimly: "Hmph. It's you who lacks sincerity, Li Guanhai. Enough idle talk. There’s no need to stall for time; do you have backup?"

Li Muzhan shook his head: "I have no backup. I just want to understand why Young Hero Huang is doing this!"

"If it were you, wouldn't you do the same?" Huang Zongqi shook his head: "To be frank, I have no other choice. It’s the fault of the innocent man possessing a treasure—blame your bad luck for obtaining that thing!"

Li Muzhan sighed, shaking his head: "It seems a fight is unavoidable. You intend to kill me to seize the manual, is that it?"

"If you hand it over, we save ourselves the trouble; we wouldn't have to kill you!" Huang Zongqi stated grimly.

Li Muzhan shook his head: "Since I have seen the manual, how could you possibly allow me to live?"

Huang Zongqi said sternly: "You are overthinking this. The Dragon Mountain Sect's manual cannot be cultivated just by reading it. Without understanding the foundational inner cultivation methods, it's impossible to practice. The manual is just scrap paper!"

Just as Li Muzhan was about to speak, a voice emerged from the woods: "Junior Brother Huang, why waste words? Just kill him outright!"

Li Muzhan's brow twitched, and he turned toward the trees. A stout, powerfully built middle-aged man walked slowly forward. His yellow robe billowed slightly despite the lack of wind, indicating considerable cultivation.

Li Muzhan assessed him with a nod: "It seems Young Hero Huang was well prepared. To send such a figure to surround and kill me—you truly hold me in high regard!"

Huang Zongqi replied: "Your martial arts are formidable, but even a hero cannot withstand a crowd. There are eleven of us; you cannot win this fight. Why bother?"

Li Muzhan shook his head and laughed: "Even if I cannot win, I must fight. How could I casually surrender the secret manual of the thirty-six arts of the Dragon Mountain Sect? Enough pleasantries, let's fight..." The burly man scrutinized Li Muzhan from head to toe, shaking his head with a smile: "What spirit! Junior Brother Huang, look at him!"

Huang Zongqi gave a wry smile, then said seriously: "Senior Brother Li, this is not by choice; I truly do not wish to kill anyone!"

"Enough, we aren't outsiders, why speak so formally!" The burly man waved his hand and chuckled: "I know you don't want to kill, but what can be done if this fellow is so obtuse? We can only kill him. He can only blame his poor judgment and refusal to yield; don't pin it on yourself!"

Huang Zongqi smiled: "Senior Brother Li speaks wisely!"

The burly man shot him a sidelong glance and shook his head: "You, you are truly a hypocrite!"

Huang Zongqi smiled dismissively: "Senior Brother Li, this Li Guanhai isn't a bad person, just overly cunning. If possible, perhaps we shouldn't kill him?"

The burly man erupted in fury and roared: "Damn it, can you stop dawdling, you [Expletive deleted]! If you won't kill him, I will!"

Without waiting for Huang Zongqi to respond, a flash of light erupted from his waist, and his sword lunged sharply toward Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan sighed, shaking his head: "Young Hero Huang, it seems you haven't brought the manual with you?"

"What do you think?" Huang Zongqi replied with a slight smile.

Li Muzhan sighed again: "Young Hero Huang, I truly do not wish to kill anyone. If you change your mind now, our previous arrangement still stands!"

Huang Zongqi offered a slightly defiant smile: "Is that so?... Then it depends on your ability. If you can defend yourself, we can proceed as planned!"

Li Muzhan dodged the burly man’s sword thrust while shaking his head and sighing: "Truly, one refuses to weep until facing the coffin. Forcing me to kill... then I can only be impolite!"

As he spoke, he suddenly flashed behind the burly middle-aged man and brought his palm down. With a dull thud, the burly man flew backward.

It was as if the man hadn't noticed Li Muzhan's sudden appearance, showing no sign of defense, allowing Li Muzhan's palm to strike his back unhindered. Yet, upon landing, he remained motionless.

Li Muzhan retracted his palm and shook his head: "I am quite disappointed. I expected the Lin-Hai Pavilion's sword arts to be supreme; this level of skill is hardly worth mentioning. If the rest are like this, I see no need for anyone else to come forward and seek death!"

"Fine palm technique!" Huang Zongqi's expression shifted drastically, and he stared intently at Li Muzhan.

He knew Li Muzhan was powerful, but not this powerful. That single strike was sudden yet mysterious, possessing a sense of natural completion without a trace of aggressive intent.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly: "High praise, high praise. This is the Mountain-Severing Palm (Duan Yue Zhang). I request your guidance!"

"You mastered the Mountain-Severing Palm?!" Huang Zongqi walked over to the burly man, squatted down, and felt for a pulse. His face immediately darkened—the man had stopped breathing! A seemingly gentle palm strike had ended his life... Li Muzhan smiled gently: "Although the Mountain-Severing Palm is one of the thirty-six arts, its fundamentals are not difficult to grasp. I practiced it for a few days out of boredom, having nothing else to do. Unexpectedly, I mastered it. Not bad for its power, right?"

"Truly worthy of the thirty-six arts!" Huang Zongqi grunted coldly, his face somber.

Li Muzhan continued: "One palm severs the mountain, one palm severs the meridian. The key to this palm technique is yielding force—truly exquisite. Fortunately, it harmonizes well with my internal cultivation method, so it didn't take much effort."

"Li Guanhai, your methods are vicious!" Huang Zongqi stated grimly.

Li Muzhan shook his head: "Likewise. If my martial arts were inferior, I would be the one dead now!... There are nine others in the woods. Shall they all come out?"

"Since that is the case, let us see your true skill!" Huang Zongqi sneered: "Senior Brother You, everyone, let’s attack together!"

"Sigh..." A languid voice sounded, immediately followed by a middle-aged man floating out of the woods. His green robe was faded but clean, and he was handsome but somewhat unkempt. He shook his head: "Given my temperament, I would have swarmed him long ago. Is Old Li really dead?"

Huang Zongqi nodded slowly: "Senior Brother You, Senior Brother Li has no breath left!... Regardless, we must kill him and seize the Mountain-Severing Palm manual!"

"No problem!" The middle-aged man waved his hand listlessly and smiled: "To manage to kill Old Li, he must have some real ability. Everyone, come out!"

As he spoke, eight more men emerged from the woods. They were all middle-aged, their appearances varied, but their expressions were exceptionally cold. They stared silently at Li Muzhan, as if looking at a corpse.

Li Muzhan frowned. These men were actually the Hidden Blades (An Jian)! This Huang Zongqi had some ability to persuade them to act. As far as Li Muzhan knew, the Hidden Blades were a secret force of the Lin-Hai Pavilion, answering only to the Pavilion Master. How could Huang Zongqi command them?

He glanced at Huang Zongqi, who seemed to understand his thoughts and sneered: "Li Guanhai, you are formidable, but it’s a pity we aren't pushovers either!"

Li Muzhan sighed, realizing he had underestimated the Lin-Hai Pavilion. It seemed Huang Zongqi had been exposed, and someone in the Pavilion had noticed his inconsistencies.

The green-robed middle-aged man waved his hand and smiled: "No need to keep you in the dark. It was the Huang brat's incompetence; he tried to sneak the manual out, and we discovered him. A quick interrogation revealed you. The little fellow was quite clever to think up this scheme! ...You intended to acquire both manuals simultaneously, didn't you? Lure Huang Zongqi with the Mountain-Severing Palm manual, then kill him to get the Lin-Hai Pavilion’s manual. Quite a clever plan!"

Li Muzhan frowned, glanced at Huang Zongqi—so that was it. He had been exposed. It wasn't that he could truly block the [Placeholder for sensitive term]; Li Muzhan had overestimated him.

He shook his head and sighed. Huang Zongqi clearly hadn't told the whole truth; he hadn't revealed his sword techniques to them, which is why they only sent ten men.

He observed Huang Zongqi, noticing his grim expression and intense stare, which made Li Muzhan laugh. This Huang Zongqi was truly a master actor, a man consumed by ambition... Li Muzhan smiled: "My plan was sound, but you weren't far behind. How did you discover him trying to sneak the manual out?"

The green-robed middle-aged man shrugged listlessly: "The Dragon Mountain Sect's lesson was a stark reminder for us. All our manuals are accounted for; no one can carry one out of the Pavilion!"

Li Muzhan nodded in sudden realization: "It seems the incident with the Dragon Mountain Sect served as a wake-up call, leading to stricter surveillance of your disciples!"

"Precisely!" The green-robed man nodded: "However, while the Huang brat is somewhat wicked, he hasn't reached the point of betraying the Pavilion. He was merely misled by greed, and once he kills you, he'll be forgiven."

Li Muzhan shook his head: "Only you all know about this matter. Has the Pavilion Master been informed?"

"Why bother telling the Pavilion Master about such a trivial matter?" the green-robed man smiled lazily: "If we successfully obtain the secret manual, the Pavilion Master will certainly be pleased."

Li Muzhan laughed and shook his head: "You are just like Young Hero Huang. You all wish to obtain the Dragon Mountain Sect's manual so you can cultivate even more profound sword techniques, right?"

"That’s right!" The green-robed man nodded: "The Flying Immortal Sword Technique (Fei Xian Jian Fa) is the most exquisite sword art in our Lin-Hai Pavilion. Who wouldn't wish to cultivate it!?"

Li Muzhan asked: "Flying Immortal Sword Technique?"

The green-robed man sighed: "The Flying Immortal Sword Technique hasn't been seen in the world for a long time. The opportunity to cultivate it is exceedingly rare, and the technique itself is incredibly difficult, to the point where most people in the world don't even know it exists—a true tragedy!"

Li Muzhan smiled: "After saying all that, do you have some other point to make?"

The green-robed man snapped irritably: "My point is this: Hand over the manual, and we won't bother with you. Once we have the Dragon Mountain Sect's manual, we can learn the Flying Immortal Sword Technique!"

Li Muzhan asked: "What if I refuse?"

"Then we'll take it from your corpse!" the green-robed man grunted.

Li Muzhan shook his head: "To be honest, I had already entertained the thought of killing someone to take their manual, so the manual itself is not my primary concern. It’s useless to kill me for it."

"Hmm—?" The green-robed man frowned: "You don't have the manual?"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head: "If you were in my shoes, would you carry the manual?"

The green-robed man sized him up, then smiled slightly: "It doesn't matter. We will capture you; we don't believe you won't talk!"

Li Muzhan laughed: "That remains to be seen based on your skill!"

"Attack!" The green-robed man waved his hand, and the remaining eight men floated forward, surrounding Li Muzhan. They positioned themselves precisely at eight cardinal directions, occupying the formation of the Eight Trigrams.

Li Muzhan knew this world lacked the I Ching or genuine array formations, but they possessed combined attack methods whose power was considerable and should not be underestimated.

Li Muzhan allowed them to surround him, wishing to see the true power of the Lin-Hai Pavilion's sword arts. A sword technique capable of dominating the world couldn't be poor; regrettably, he had never witnessed the Lin-Hai Pavilion's true prowess... Clang... Eight sword lights flashed simultaneously, then enveloped Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan drew his sword—Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang... the continuous clash of metal rang out incessantly, like rain drumming on banana leaves.

Huang Zongqi watched the scene intently, trying to gauge the extent of Li Muzhan’s abilities. Li Muzhan stood firmly rooted, wielding his sword with a single hand, yet managing to block the momentum of all eight opponents. He appeared calm and composed, showing no hint of panic.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly as he observed the sword stances of the eight men. Their swordsmanship was indeed exquisite, befitting a major sword sect, and they all displayed the characteristics of skilled masters. Moreover, they were employing strange and unorthodox sword styles. Facing anyone else, they would have been fatally struck after barely two parries.

The green-robed middle-aged man scrutinized Li Muzhan, nodding: "Excellent ability, excellent sword work! ...Little Huang, come here!"

Huang Zongqi quickly moved before the green-robed man: "Senior Brother You."

The green-robed man asked languidly: "Are you certain you don't know this fellow's background?"

"Senior Brother You, I truly don't know!" Huang Zongqi nodded vigorously, his face a picture of distress: "When I was dealing with those two from the Dragon Mountain Sect, he suddenly intervened, causing me to return empty-handed. I knew he was strong, but I didn't realize he was this formidable!"

The green-robed man asked slowly: "You don't even know which sect he belongs to?"

"I honestly don't," Huang Zongqi hastily shook his head: "I heard he was from Qingmei, so I checked there; he is indeed from Qingmei, but unfortunately, I don't know who his master is."

"Qingmei..." The green-robed man frowned in thought, then waved his hand: "Forget it. We won't worry about his origins. Based on this swordsmanship alone, he is a formidable opponent. Our secret manual absolutely cannot fall into his hands, just like the Mountain-Severing Palm—he actually mastered it! Truly, we cannot underestimate him!"

"Yes, Senior Brother You, I absolutely will not give him the manual!" Huang Zongqi nodded obediently.

The green-robed man glanced at Huang Zongqi and shook his head: "Just you alone, or even the two of you combined, wouldn't be able to defeat this fellow. In my opinion, we should keep our distance from him!"

"Yes, Senior Brother You," Huang Zongqi nodded meekly.

The middle-aged man in blue robes appraised him, shaking his head. "Little Huang, your ambition is significant.

But your martial arts are lacking, your methods are insufficient—you are far from ready. This time you stumbled upon us; next time, you might not be so lucky.

Report this directly, and you'll lose your skin even if you escape death!" "Yes, Senior Brother You." Huang Zongqi quickly nodded. "Thank you for your generosity, Senior Brother You, for giving me this chance this time!" "It's good that you understand!" The middle-aged man in blue waved his hand.

"Enough talk. Watch how I take him down!" As he spoke, he flashed forward, instantly plunging into the eight-man sword formation.

Then, he brought his longsword down like splitting Mount Hua, the blow aimed directly at Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan smoothly evaded, colliding squarely into the chest of one man, sending him flying.

The man had intended to swing his sword, but Li Muzhan's movement was too swift. The blade had barely risen before Li Muzhan knocked him away.

He soared over ten feet into the air before crashing heavily into the pine woods... Li Muzhan instantly occupied the position of the eight men.

The middle-aged man in blue leaped into the center, intending to swing his sword, but the other seven men now became unforeseen obstacles. With a chorus of "Clang, clang, clang, clang," as the seven men swung their swords at Li Muzhan, they inadvertently blocked the path of the middle-aged man.

Furthermore, the swords of the seven men were uncoordinated, having lost their original tacit understanding. Li Muzhan's sword tip transformed into a shimmering blur of light, meeting the incoming blades one by one with sharp metallic ringing.

Huang Zongqi’s eyes widened. He stared at Li Muzhan in disbelief.

He knew Li Muzhan’s swordsmanship was superior, often capable of winning with a single strike, but he hadn't expected it to be so exquisitely strange and profound, able to calmly ward off the combined assault of eight senior brothers. He glanced again at the middle-aged man in blue.

His lips were pressed tight, the previously languid expression completely gone; he glared at Li Muzhan as if the latter were the murderer of his father. Huang Zongqi shook his head.

Senior Brother You was still too careless. This Li Guanhai’s swordsmanship is truly outstanding; Senior Brother You is no match for him at all.

He had worried whether Li Guanhai could fight ten men single-handedly, but now it seemed he worried for nothing—Senior Brother You and the others truly stood no chance. Li Muzhan spared a glance for Huang Zongqi, smiled slightly, and suddenly his sword light surged, resulting in a bright chorus of ringing metal as the longswords in the hands of the middle-aged man and the eight others were sent flying.

"Huh—?" They stared wide-eyed at Li Muzhan, helpless, and took a step back. Li Muzhan smiled.

"The swordsmanship of Linhai Pavilion is indeed good, but it’s a pity you all wield it improperly. What a waste!

... Young Hero Huang, is our exchange still valid?

Want to trade?" "Fine!" Huang Zongqi said solemnly. "Little Huang!" The middle-aged man in blue frowned.

Though disarmed, he showed no fear, glaring intensely at Huang Zongqi. Huang Zongqi forced a bitter smile.

"Senior Brother You, what choice do we have at this juncture?" The middle-aged man in blue frowned, looking from Huang Zongqi to Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan smiled faintly.

"Young Hero Huang is the sensible one. If you refuse, I will kill these men, one by one.

I don't believe you won't agree!" The face of the middle-aged man in blue immediately darkened as he glared coldly at Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan met his gaze with a smile.

"Does Great Hero You doubt me? Should we test it?" The middle-aged man in blue slowly shifted his gaze.

Li Muzhan had casually killed the junior brother Li earlier; he was clearly a ruthless man who did not take killing lightly. It wouldn't be surprising if he dismissed the lives of his group.

He scoffed inwardly but dared not challenge Li Muzhan further, feeling immense humiliation that ten of them could not handle one person! Li Muzhan smiled gently.

"Young Hero Huang is truly discerning. Hand it over!" Huang Zongqi replied, "If I give you the sword manual, you give me the Duanyue Palm manual?" Li Muzhan nodded.

"I have already mastered the Duanyue Palm; keeping the manual is useless. Trading it for a sword manual would be nice!" "How can you guarantee you won't kill us?" Huang Zongqi asked gravely.

Li Muzhan raised his hand and swore a venomous oath: provided that what he received was the genuine Linhai Pavilion sword manual, he would never harm the ten of them, or he would be struck by lightning and die a terrible death... Li Muzhan's terrible oath brought a sigh of relief from Huang Zongqi, who knew that Li Muzhan could see into his heart and thus knew he held the true manual.

Huang Zongqi pulled out a gray cloth bundle from his robes; it looked unremarkable and drab. He tossed it to Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan caught it and opened it, revealing a silk booklet about twenty pages thick. Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow.

He hadn't expected the manual to be on silk. "This is quite formal," he noted.

Huang Zongqi said, "Although ours is a copy, it is identical to the original." Li Muzhan nodded in satisfaction, flipping through the pages. This was the "Jindian Thirteen Swords," winning through speed, with fierce and exquisite swordplay—a rare and wonderful technique.

Li Muzhan was greatly pleased and nodded, chuckling, "A fine sword art!" Huang Zongqi demanded, "Where is the Duanyue Palm manual?!" Li Muzhan laughed, shaking his head. "Although this Jindian Thirteen Swords is good, unfortunately, it is not a Linhai Pavilion sword art, is it, Young Hero Huang?" "You..." Huang Zongqi exploded in fury.

Li Muzhan shook his head and laughed. "I have long admired the sword arts of Linhai Pavilion, and I know all their names.

This one is not among them!" "Our Linhai Pavilion has countless sword arts; how could you possibly memorize them all!" Huang Zongqi raged. "This manual is our sword art!" Li Muzhan smiled.

"The Cloud-Treading Sword, the Lightning-Chasing Sword, the Raging Tide Sword, the Soft Water Sword, the Boundless Sword... the Jindian Thirteen Swords is not listed among these!" "You..." Huang Zongqi's expression drastically changed.

Li Muzhan smiled. "This manual might belong to Linhai Pavilion, but regrettably, it is not one of the direct lineage sword arts.

Young Hero Huang, you understand, I want the direct lineage sword art of Linhai Pavilion. While this technique is exquisite, it means little!" "The power of this sword art is immense, no less than your direct lineage arts!" Huang Zongqi hurried to argue.

The middle-aged man in blue frowned. "Why are you set on only our direct lineage sword art?

What is your true motive?" Li Muzhan smiled. "I want to see just how profound the sword arts of Linhai Pavilion are, and why everyone claims they are invincible under heaven." "Hmph.

We don't deserve such praise!" the middle-aged man in blue said coldly. Li Muzhan laughed.

"I simply refuse to believe the Linhai Pavilion sword arts hold any special merit. Look at you lot—you’ve practiced for decades, yet you haven't grasped the essence.

It seems everyone overestimates the sword arts of Linhai Pavilion!" "Nonsense!" the middle-aged man in blue sneered. "Our Linhai Pavilion sword arts are unparalleled in the world, it's just that our disciples are unworthy of inheriting them!" Li Muzhan chuckled.

"What use is the finest sword art if others cannot learn it?" The middle-aged man in blue sneered. "Hmph, the sword arts of our Linhai Pavilion are exquisitely profound.

If only I could learn the Flying Immortal Sword Art, I could truly dominate the world!" Li Muzhan shook his head. "Young Hero Huang, if you try to fool me with this manual, I will start killing." As he spoke, he walked towards the middle-aged man in blue, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, and smiled.

"Young Hero Huang, I can kill him with a single strike. Do you believe it or not?" He smiled sweetly, yet his steps were incredibly steady as he approached, one after the other.

"Wait, I'll give it to you!" Huang Zongqi quickly exclaimed. Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow and turned to look at him.

Huang Zongqi swiftly retrieved another small booklet from his robes—this one, however, was not a silk volume, but an ordinary book, which he tossed to Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan stopped walking, took the booklet, glanced through it, and smiled.

"Boundless Sword?" Huang Zongqi grunted. "This is the sword art I am currently cultivating; it is a direct lineage art of Linhai Pavilion!" Li Muzhan flipped through it once, nodded.

"Now that's more like it... Very well, the Duanyue Palm is yours.

We are now even. If we meet again in the future, we can have a proper contest of swordsmanship!" Saying this, he pulled a booklet from his robes and threw it to Huang Zongqi.

Huang Zongqi caught it and carefully flipped a few pages, then frowned and shook his head. The middle-aged man in blue spoke gravely.

"Little Huang, let me see it!" Huang Zongqi smiled. "Senior Brother You, no need to rush.

Let’s discuss it when we return!" "Impudent boy, you plan to keep it all for yourself?!" the middle-aged man in blue said coldly. Huang Zongqi shook his head and smiled.

"Senior Brother You, where is your mind going? We can't cultivate it anyway; handing it over is all that matters!" "Hand it over!" The middle-aged man in blue extended his hand, glaring fiercely at Huang Zongqi.

Huang Zongqi shook his head gravely. "Senior Brother You, I'll take my leave first!" With that, he turned to go, but the middle-aged man and the eight others suddenly surrounded him, their faces dark, staring fixedly as if eager to kill.

Li Muzhan shook his head with a faint smile. "Young Hero Huang, in my opinion, a wise man avoids immediate peril.

You should give it to them; you will have other opportunities later!" Huang Zongqi grit his teeth and snorted heavily. "There is only one chance, and I must seize it!

... Senior Brother You, if you truly try to snatch this from me, I will report everything to the Pavilion Master!" "You dare!" the middle-aged man in blue sneered.

Huang Zongqi scoffed. "If I can't have it, none of you will either.

Consider that you never received this manual!" Li Muzhan clapped his hands and laughed. "What resolute character!

I admire you, I truly do!" He chuckled inwardly. If he truly possessed such fierce integrity, he wouldn't have compromised with him; this integrity stemmed from ambition, which fueled his fearlessness.

Huang Zongqi glanced at Li Muzhan and snorted. "Young Master Li, is there anything else you require of me here?" Li Muzhan smiled faintly.

"Young Hero Huang, how about we strike another bargain, perhaps another trade?" "Speak!" Huang Zongqi huffed. Li Muzhan said cheerfully, "I will take responsibility for keeping these men here, allowing you to return first." "You plan to kill them?" Huang Zongqi frowned and shook his head.

Li Muzhan shook his head with a gentle smile. "I won't kill them; I will merely detain them, giving you ample time to submit the manual before releasing them." "This..." Huang Zongqi hesitated, glancing at the middle-aged man in blue and the others.

(To be continued)RQ