"Hm—?" Cheng Suzhen’s expression shifted, her smile vanishing as she frowned. "Guanhai, are you challenging Senior Brother Mei?"

Li Muchen nodded. "Yes."

Cheng Suzhen furrowed her brow in thought. "Why do you want to challenge Senior Brother Mei?"

Li Muchen replied, "I heard he has mastered the strengths of two great schools; naturally, I must experience them firsthand!"

Cheng Suzhen scrutinized him, as if trying to peer into his soul, and mused, "Guanhai, tell me honestly, do you have some enmity with Senior Brother Mei?"

Li Muchen shook his head. "I hold no grudge against Mei Daoling, but I disapprove of him and want to see what kind of person he truly is. Furthermore, I am more eager to see the extent to which the martial arts of two sects can be integrated! The Wansheng Sect’s techniques are unique, especially with their rapid initial progress, yet they harbor later dangers. Meanwhile, the Longshan Sect’s methods are orthodox, balanced, and peaceful. Perhaps they can counteract the flaws in the Wansheng Sect’s cultivation method, right?"

"I don't know," Cheng Suzhen shook her head. "I haven't seen the Wansheng Sect's martial arts. It’s also possible the two schools' arts clash, like fire and water that cannot coexist."

Li Muchen chuckled. "Then has Mei Daoling suffered a qi deviation?"

"No," Cheng Suzhen sighed. "Perhaps Senior Brother Mei hasn't cultivated the ultimate secret arts of the Wansheng Sect."

Li Muchen smiled, shaking his head. "Does Master believe that?"

"Fine, you imp. If you want to challenge him, then challenge him. But Senior Brother Mei has been at Xixin Cliff all these years; I don't know what his temper has become. You must be careful!" Cheng Suzhen glared at him with exasperation.

Li Muchen smiled. "These past years spent on Xixin Cliff have allowed him to thoroughly refine his martial arts. For a hermit cultivator, is there a better place for seclusion than Xixin Cliff?"

Cheng Suzhen pouted charmingly. "You say it so easily! Seclusion is one thing, but he didn't have to choose Xixin Cliff. That place is truly not for mortals!"

Li Muchen stated, "Hardship and difficulty further ignite the fighting spirit, Teacher—Master, what level has his martial arts reached?"

"No one knows," Cheng Suzhen shook her head. "Senior Brother Mei is not like Xiao Jing. Xiao Jing can challenge those above her generation, but she is young, after all. Senior Brother Mei is different."

Li Muchen nodded and smiled. "I understand. I will be careful!"

Seeing his mind was made up, Cheng Suzhen stopped persuading him. After some thought, she said, "It seems I must go see Martial Uncle Cheng. You rest for now. Take a few days off, and don't challenge him until Biyun has recovered!"

Li Muchen nodded. "Understood."

"I'm leaving!" Cheng Suzhen, though delicate and graceful, possessed a decisive temperament. She rose from the swing immediately and gracefully departed the rear garden.

For the following three days, Liu Biyun consistently avoided Li Muchen, almost as if she had vanished. Li Muchen inwardly smiled, not forcing the issue, understanding the nature of the marrow-cleansing process.

He quietly contemplated the Meteor Sword Style, replaying the movements in his mind, analyzing the changes in posture to deduce the underlying cultivation method.

This was by no means easy. Li Muchen, drawing upon his extensive knowledge of swordsmanship and rich experience, painstakingly deduced the world from a drop of water. Concurrently, he studied the secret manuals in his mind, constantly refining his Nine-Form Sword Style.

One evening, as the sun dipped low and the sunset painted the rear garden in magnificent crimson hues, staining his clothes red as well, he sat quietly atop the rockery, watching the dying light.

Footsteps sounded. He turned to look, and Liu Biyun approached, clad in a light apricot-yellow silk robe, her eyes sparkling, appearing more radiant and captivating than ever. Her entire aura had undergone an inexplicable transformation, shining so brightly that it was difficult to gaze directly at her.

Li Muchen smiled. "Biyun, finished?"

Liu Biyun smiled softly, pursing her lips. "Yes, Big Brother."

Li Muchen observed her and chuckled. "You truly are different!... That process must have been uncomfortable?"

Liu Biyun blushed, saying with a feigned pout, "Big Brother, please don't mention it!"

Li Muchen laughed and patted the stone beside him. "Come, sit here!"

Liu Biyun leaped lightly, landing beside him with a faint scent of fragrance, settling on the stone next to him. They sat side-by-side on the rockery, bathed in the sunset's red glow, a scene of ineffable harmony.

Li Muchen reached out and touched her slender wrist. "Has your internal energy increased?"

He quickly withdrew his hand and smiled. "Slightly, but your meridians are thicker and more resilient now. Cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds in the future."

"Mm," Liu Biyun nodded gently, lowering her head in silence.

She knew that expressing thanks would only wound Li Muchen’s feelings, yet she didn't know what else to say, filled with both gratitude and sweetness.

Li Muchen smiled. "You can start practicing the Thirty-Six Arts now, can't you?"

Liu Biyun nodded excitedly. "Big Brother, I can cultivate the Tongming Art now! Later, as long as I accumulate merit, I can practice the other supreme arts."

Li Muchen smiled broadly. "Biyun, practice diligently. Become the foremost disciple of the Longshan Sect someday, and take the position of Sect Master!"

"Sect Master?!" Liu Biyun startled.

Li Muchen nodded. "Biyun, you know I have always wished to resolve the enmity between the Longshan Sect and the Zishang Palace. Once you become the Sect Master, that can naturally be achieved!"

"Big Brother, I can't..." Liu Biyun hesitated.

Li Muchen smiled. "There’s no need to force it. Once your martial arts are formidable, your words will carry weight. The Longshan Sect respects strength, doesn't it?"

"That is true," Liu Biyun nodded slightly, though a hint of disappointment settled in her heart. So, this was why Big Brother gave her the Marrow Cleansing Pill...

Li Muchen saw through her small thoughts and shook his head with an amused smile. "Biyun, stop overthinking things! Regardless, you cannot be lazy. You must cultivate your martial arts well. I have made quite a few enemies, and none of them are easy to deal with. It's hard to guarantee they won't target you."

"Big Brother, I understand," Liu Biyun lowered her exquisite head.

Li Muchen sighed, taking her jade hand, and spoke softly, "Biyun, are you worrying needlessly? Do you feel I am too calculating?"

"Th-this... no," Liu Biyun hastily shook her head.

Li Muchen patted her arm, sighed, and gazed at the setting sun, speaking slowly. "Actually, for a long time, I dared not approach you. It wasn't because of the difference in status, but because I feared implicating you!"

Li Muchen continued, "I was constantly worried that I wouldn't be able to protect you, and instead, I would bring disaster upon you. If you hadn't followed me, as a disciple of the Longshan Sect, you would have faced danger, yes, but the Sect would offer protection. By following me, your danger increased exponentially!"

"How could that be?" Liu Biyun whispered.

Li Muchen shook his head. "I enjoy challenges, and I love martial arts. This path has made me offend many masters. If they resort to insidious tactics, they will target you. I have always been deeply fearful, terrified I couldn't guard you."

"Big Brother, you worry too much," Liu Biyun murmured.

Li Muchen sighed. "Worrying a bit extra is never wrong. If you were truly harmed because of me, I would deserve a thousand deaths and never be forgiven!"

Liu Biyun wanted to speak more, but Li Muchen waved his hand. "Later, I realized that no matter how capable I am, I cannot be by your side twenty-four hours a day. Relying on others is not as good as relying on oneself. To protect you well, your own martial arts must become superior. How could I, an outsider, do better than the Longshan Sect at teaching its own?"

"This time, obtaining the Marrow Cleansing Pill allows me to finally rest easy!"

"Big Brother..." Liu Biyun looked up, her bright eyes fixed on him, feeling both guilty and deeply moved. She hadn't expected him to think so far ahead and so deeply, bearing such responsibility. Compared to him, those senior and junior brothers seemed as childish as toddlers!

Li Muchen smiled. "If you become the Longshan Sect Master, it would be best. With the protection of the guardians, I can be even more at ease, right?"

"Big Brother, rest assured. I will certainly work hard!" Liu Biyun tightly pressed her cherry lips together.

Li Muchen smiled and patted her fragrant shoulder. "Don't overwork yourself. Relax, practice hard, that's enough."

"Mm!" Liu Biyun nodded firmly.

"What are you two doing!" A sharp, slightly jealous voice rang out from behind them. Li Muchen turned with a smile, startling Liu Biyun, who glared back at Cheng Suzhen with a flushed face. "Master, you scared me half to death!"

Cheng Suzhen snorted. "If you haven't done anything wrong, you shouldn't fear a sudden knock. Why are you so jumpy?"

She stood gracefully beneath the rockery, hands on her hips, glaring at the pair. Li Muchen and Liu Biyun drifted down. Liu Biyun blushed with embarrassment, while Li Muchen smiled and asked, "Master, what was the result?"

"Mm, Senior Brother Mei accepted the challenge," Cheng Suzhen reported.

Li Muchen smiled. "Master, thank you for your trouble. When is he agreeing to fight?"

"Ten days from now," Cheng Suzhen replied.

Li Muchen's brow twitched slightly. "Ten days?"

"What, can't you wait ten days?" Cheng Suzhen teased. "I went to Xixin Cliff to see Senior Brother Mei. I truly didn't expect..."

"Master, what didn't you expect?" Liu Biyun quickly inquired.

Cheng Suzhen shook her head. "I assumed Senior Brother Mei, being confined to Xixin Cliff, would be unkempt and disheveled. Who knew it would be the complete opposite!"

Li Muchen looked over curiously, and Liu Biyun urged her not to keep them in suspense.

Cheng Suzhen sighed, shaking her head. "Senior Brother Mei looked spirited, his clothes neat and spotless. Truly unusual—to maintain such fastidiousness in a place like that!"

Li Muchen asked, "How is his cultivation?"

"I couldn't gauge the depth," Cheng Suzhen replied, shaking her head. "I only felt he was unfathomable. Senior Brother Mei has certainly not been idle these years; he must have been rigorously practicing martial arts."

"Master, how can one not train on Xixin Cliff? If one doesn't train, how can one endure it?" Liu Biyun interjected.

Li Muchen pondered. "Is there any trace of the Wansheng Sect's cultivation method?"

Cheng Suzhen stated, "The Wansheng Sect's arts are complex and ever-changing; who could possibly recognize them? ...Guanhai, you must be careful. Senior Brother Mei is not easily provoked!"

Li Muchen nodded slowly. "I understand."

The next morning, Li Muchen and Liu Biyun left the grand residence together to tour the Longshan Sect grounds, which Li Muchen found fascinating.

The morning mist lay like thin gauze, and the air was exceptionally fresh.

Li Muchen and Liu Biyun strolled slowly, passing through a dense pine forest, arriving at a cliff edge overlooking a vast expanse of white mist, making it seem as if they stood suspended within a boundless sea, the distant scenery obscured.

Li Muchen and Liu Biyun stood side-by-side at the edge, observing the magnificent sea of fog. Li Muchen smiled. "What a magnificent sight!"

"It's much better when the sun rises," Liu Biyun chuckled.

She wore a green shirt, matching the color of Li Muchen's attire, but on her, it appeared exceptionally elegant, delicately lovely, and endearing.

"Mm, I imagine it turns a golden hue?" Li Muchen surveyed their surroundings. A gentle breeze blew, and the white mist slowly rolled, transforming into various indistinct patterns.

Liu Biyun replied, "Yes, sunrise is spectacular. Every time I watch it, I feel moved. The world is so vast, and humans are so insignificant!"

Li Muchen laughed, shaking his head. "Gaining enlightenment by observing the sunrise—did you gain any insights?"

"Ah?" Liu Biyun paused, then smiled. "Can one truly gain enlightenment by watching the sunrise?"

Li Muchen laughed. "I have done it."

Liu Biyun looked at him in surprise. "Really?"

Li Muchen smiled broadly and shook his head. "Why would I lie to you? The Morning Glory Art was comprehended precisely that way."

Liu Biyun glanced around and whispered, "The Zishang Palace's Morning Glory Art was indeed superb, but didn't it become lost later on?"

Li Muchen smiled. "My Senior Sister, Senior Brothers, and I managed to rediscover it through combined effort."

"That's truly amazing!" Liu Biyun exclaimed in admiration.

Suddenly, she cried out happily. "Ah, look, look! The sun is coming up!"

After watching the sunrise, the two turned back towards the residence for a meal, talking as they walked. Dragon Mountain Sect disciples passed by occasionally, their gazes toward the pair now peaceful, lacking the previous strangeness.

Li Muchen smiled, feeling as though he had truly become a disciple of the Longshan Sect. They had evidently accepted him. He shook his head, smiling. "Biyun, what supreme arts can you cultivate now?"

"I need to think carefully," Liu Biyun replied. "I’ll discuss it with Master, and then Master can consult with a few Martial Uncles about which one would be best to start with."

Li Muchen smiled. "The Thirty-Six Arts—your Longshan Sect is truly extraordinary. How do you learn them?"

Liu Biyun explained, "We go to the Divine Mechanism Pavilion to view the manuals, then return to study them closely. We can also seek guidance from our Martial Uncles or Grandmasters."

"They will teach you?" Li Muchen asked with a smile.

Liu Biyun nodded. "Of course! We can ask anyone we want. Although everyone has their own master, disciples are free to consult with the elders, and the elders cannot hoard knowledge."

Li Muchen let out a long sigh. Liu Biyun quickly asked, "What is it, Big Brother?"

Li Muchen shook his head. "I didn't expect the Longshan Sect to be like this..."

Liu Biyun asked, "Is it not right?"

Li Muchen smiled. "When you ask them for guidance, they truly hold nothing back?"

"How can they hold nothing back at all?" Liu Biyun shook her head. "But hearing another perspective makes it easier to understand, and even if they hold back some minor details, it doesn't matter much."

Li Muchen nodded slightly. The stone from another mountain can be used to polish one's own jade—it was indeed true.

The two returned to the grand residence. Cheng Suzhen was already waiting at the table, inviting them to eat. After the meal, Li Muchen returned to his room to cultivate, and Liu Biyun also prepared to begin her practice.

Li Muchen consciously kept his distance; after all, these were the Thirty-Six Arts, and he was not yet officially a member of the Longshan Sect.

However, he opened his Void Eye to examine the location of the Divine Mechanism Pavilion. It was situated on a lake as well, but not the same lake as the Divine Martial Pavilion. Looking from his position, the Divine Martial Pavilion was to the west, and the Divine Mechanism Pavilion was to the east.

Li Muchen sat on his couch with a smile. Now that he knew the location of the Divine Mechanism Pavilion, everything was manageable. He wasn't in a rush to view the Thirty-Six Arts manuals; he could come later. If the Divine Martial Pavilion was easily accessible, the Divine Mechanism Pavilion shouldn't be difficult either.

Ten days passed in a flash. Li Muchen had just awakened when Liu Biyun arrived to wait for him. After helping him prepare water and serving him as he washed up, they hurried to the training grounds in the woods.

The training grounds were sparsely populated. Disciples of the Longshan Sect, unaware of the details of the challenge, were absent. Old Jin, Old Xu, Old Bai, the beautiful middle-aged woman Cheng Yanhua, and Cheng Suzhen were all present.

Facing them stood a middle-aged man in gray robes, standing quietly as if fused with his surroundings, exuding an indescribably elegant bearing. (To be continued)