Li Muzhan chuckled, "What grievance? It's just that being weak truly isn't acceptable. I must focus on improving my cultivation!" He smiled warmly at her, causing Yi Xiaoru's face to flush crimson. She shot him a sidelong glance, then gracefully swayed her hips and departed. Li Muzhan let out a hearty laugh and shook his head.

He settled onto the couch, resting his head on his hands as he gazed upward. His thoughts calmed. Though this wooden cabin was simple, living here felt warm and comfortable.

He couldn't quite place why, but even though Gao Jingxuan treated him plainly, without any unnecessary formality, he felt a deep sense of kinship. There was no distance between them whatsoever; he could speak casually, truly feeling as though they were family.

The saying, "People of the same feather flock together," held true. The moment he stepped into the Hidden Sect, his mind settled; he felt none of the outside world's restlessness, as if this place were a tranquil harbor.

The following few days were peaceful. Li Muzhan secluded himself for arduous cultivation, ignoring worldly affairs, which Cheng Lian and the others managed entirely. His mind was wholly dedicated to training.

They all understood the challenges Li Muzhan was facing. Yin Zhaojiang would certainly not let things rest and was bound to cause trouble, and the best opportunity to stir things up was during the wedding. If the grand wedding was ruined, Li Muzhan would lose face and have no reason to remain in the Hidden Sect, thus naturally having to leave Yi Xiaoru, fulfilling Yin Zhaojiang's desires.

Li Muzhan remained sequestered in his room, cultivating strenuously. Although the short amount of time wasn't hugely beneficial, cramming right before a battle might not make him fast, but it would still count for something. Even if it offered no practical gain, it would bring peace of mind, preventing him from being overly anxious.

Ten days later, the wedding commenced.

Gao Jingxuan favored tranquility over excitement and originally planned to invite only a few friends over for a small gathering. However, she could not resist the Sect Master's persuasion and ended up inviting everyone from the Nine Sects.

Of the Nine Sects, representatives from seven arrived—some in greater numbers, some fewer—excluding the Divine Sword Sect. With these people gathered, the atmosphere was quite lively.

As the groom, Li Muzhan had to greet every guest. He accompanied Gao Jingxuan, welcoming each arrival, marveling greatly. It seemed the declaration that the Myriad Saint Sect held experts like the clouds was no exaggeration. Looking at the figures arriving, each one was a master, or at the very least, a first-rate expert, capable of being a pillar in any ordinary martial arts sect.

In the evening, as the sun began to set, he and Gao Jingxuan stood together, their faces nearly frozen into smiles. Even his robust body-tempering techniques couldn't alleviate the ache in his cheeks.

"Are you tired?" Gao Jingxuan turned to look at him and asked with a smile.

She was wearing a bright red silk blouse, which made her skin appear even fairer and more radiant, looking years younger. At a glance, she resembled a stunningly beautiful woman in her early thirties.

Li Muzhan was in a long gown of black satin, with a red flower pinned to his chest and two golden ornaments tucked into his hair—a somewhat strange sight, a unique custom of this world.

Li Muzhan shook his head, "It's just that smiling so much has made my face feel quite strained."

Gao Jingxuan pursed her lips and chuckled, "Greeting people with a smile isn't easy. You don't have to show a full grin; just a little expression will suffice!"

Li Muzhan forced a bitter smile, "I'm just afraid they'll nitpick our etiquette and say the Hidden Sect is lacking in hospitality."

"Hmph, they wouldn't dare!" Gao Jingxuan snorted.

Li Muzhan shook his head, "That's not necessarily true. I see many of these arrivals harbor ill intent. Sect Master, your popularity isn't great!"

Gao Jingxuan shot him a sideways glare, "You cheeky brat, I might have offended quite a few people, but they don't have the guts to oppose me!"

Li Muzhan shook his head with a wry smile, "Sect Master, this isn't a long-term solution. Our strength is still too weak!"

Gao Jingxuan sighed, "There's nothing to be done about that; cultivation isn't achieved overnight. Besides, even if we became masters, there would only be four or five of us—how strong can we really be?"

Li Muzhan pondered, "Has the Sect Master considered recruiting more disciples to bolster our influence?"

Gao Jingxuan shook her head and sighed, "It's useless. Our Hidden Sect's cultivation method suits women, and the progress isn't fast. Those three disciples of mine have exceptional aptitude; such disciples are hard to find!"

Li Muzhan nodded resignedly and said no more.

———— A discerning master is hard to find, and gifted disciples are even harder to find. Seeking a disciple with good aptitude is extremely difficult. The martial atmosphere in this world is thriving, not only with the Myriad Saint Sect, Dragon Mountain Sect, and Seaside Pavilion, but also countless smaller sects. These minor sects are varied and innumerable, like the branches and leaves of a great tree—the Myriad Saint Sect being the trunk, and these small sects being the foliage.

It is not easy for these small sects to survive; it is a hundred times harder than for the Myriad Saint Sect and the others. They need to continuously unearth talent and maintain their peak strength just to stay alive.

These minor sects have almost monopolized local talent. Some promising individuals are recruited by small sects before the major ones even discover them. This leaves the great sects feeling helpless, as much fine jade is wasted this way. For an individual's cultivation path, establishing a strong foundation is paramount; once the foundation is unsound, retraining is a hundred times harder than starting from scratch for someone with no knowledge at all.

Consequently, sects hidden deep in the mountains and forests, like the Hidden Sect, suffer from a shortage of talent. To acquire truly exceptional people requires destiny.

Li Muzhan didn't fully understand these intricacies, but he knew that good disciples were rare. The same martial art yields vastly different results when practiced by different people, just as it was with him.

"Be careful, the one surnamed Tang has arrived!" As he was pondering, Gao Jingxuan's voice suddenly reached his ears. He looked up to see a group slowly approaching.

The man leading them was powerfully built—not necessarily tall—but every step he took was exceptionally steady, as if he were integrated with the earth.

Li Muzhan’s brow twitched slightly. This man possessed profound cultivation, not just internal energy, but more importantly, spiritual cultivation. Among everyone he had ever met, this man’s spiritual cultivation was the strongest, even slightly surpassing the Four Elders of the Dragon Mountain Sect. Though not quite equal to his own, it was close. With such attainment, he would be a Grandmaster in the secular world, and his internal energy cultivation was like a vast ocean, far exceeding Li Muzhan’s!

He felt a chill in his heart. Hearing Gao Jingxuan mention the surname Tang, he immediately guessed this man was Tang Tianyu, the Sect Master of the Myriad Saint Sect.

———— Li Muzhan carefully observed Tang Tianyu: a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, giving him an aura of righteousness that would make it impossible to suspect he was the leader of the foremost heretical sect.

Four people followed Tang Tianyu: two elders and two youths. The two elders were clad in black, moving like ghosts, almost without sound, easily missed if one wasn't paying close attention.

Li Muzhan understood they practiced a unique mental technique, likely some sort of secret art that maximized the concealment of one's aura. He was quite adept with such techniques and recognized their profound cultivation upon sight—not inferior to his own!

Li Muzhan inwardly shook his head. He had thought that after these days of training, using the Sword Forging Divine Art to temper his body and boost his internal energy, he would finally have the foundation to contend with anyone. Unexpectedly, it still wasn't enough. The cultivation of these two black-clad elders was on par with his own. If a fight broke out, even with his exquisitely refined swordsmanship, he dared not claim certain victory; as Tang Tianyu's personal guards, they surely possessed secret arts of their own.

Behind the two black-clad elders were the two younger men: one was his acquaintance, Yin Zhaojiang, and the other was a youth with thick eyebrows and large eyes, appearing simple and honest, looking around with an expression of curiosity—clearly someone without guile, a simpleton.

However, Li Muzhan dared not underestimate the honest-looking youth. His cultivation was not shallow; though inferior to Li Muzhan's, it was by no means beneath Yin Zhaojiang's. Logically, this youth should be the Myriad Saint Sect's top disciple.

Yin Zhaojiang offered a gentle smile, devoid of any apparent resentment, looking toward Li Muzhan with apparent goodwill. Yet, Li Muzhan could sense the fury and murderous intent churning within him. This Yin Zhaojiang was indeed formidable, possessing deep self-control and prudence, but unfortunately, he had run into Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan shook his head inwardly and smiled.

"Heh heh, Junior Sister, congratulations, congratulations!" Tang Tianyu called out from a distance, cupping his hands. He chuckled, "I truly never thought Junior Sister would see this day!"

Gao Jingxuan cupped her hands and snorted, "Senior Brother Tang, that’s an unfair thing to say. Why wouldn't I have this day?"

Tang Tianyu laughed, "Junior Sister, I originally thought you intended to keep your three disciples and never marry them off, but I didn't expect you to hand over your precious apprentice so easily!"

"Senior Brother Tang, you think too little of me!" Gao Jingxuan smiled, her gaze as calm as water sweeping over Yin Zhaojiang's face, then smiling faintly, "Is Zhaojiang quite angry?"

Tang Tianyu chuckled, "How could he not be angry? To watch the person he loves being forcibly taken away—anyone would find that unbearable, especially a spirited young man like him!?"

"Mm, so what do you plan to do, Senior Brother Tang?" Gao Jingxuan asked coolly.

Tang Tianyu smiled, shook his head, "Since things have come to this, what else can be done? Xiao Ru is about to marry. We can't force her hand; a forcibly twisted melon won't be sweet, right?"

"Oh—?" Gao Jingxuan glared at him skeptically and snorted, "Senior Brother Tang isn't someone who gives up easily, is he?"

As far as she knew, Tang Tianyu was a man of resolve; once he set his mind on something, not even nine horses could turn him back. Just as the teacher is, so is the disciple—Yin Zhaojiang was the same!

Tang Tianyu sighed and shook his head, "Human effort has its limits, especially when it comes to matters of the heart between a man and a woman; there's no logic to appeal to. What help can we offer!"

"That's good then!" Gao Jingxuan snorted, "I certainly don't want this happy wedding to be disturbed!"

"Rest assured, I won't act recklessly!" Tang Tianyu smiled, "How could I disgrace Senior Sister Gao's face?"

"Hmph, I hope so!" Gao Jingxuan didn't fully believe him and shot Yin Zhaojiang a cold glance.

———— Li Muzhan had remained standing by, smiling, saying nothing, appearing like an outsider. At this point, Tang Tianyu turned to look at him, observing him for a moment, and smiled, "He is indeed a capable figure. No wonder he captured Xiao Ru's heart!"

Li Muzhan smiled, cupped his hands, "I greet Sect Master Tang. You flatter me, Sect Master!"

"Heh heh, Xiao Ru is the most vibrant flower in our Myriad Saint Sect. It wasn't easy for you to pluck this flower, young man. The young men are all grinding their teeth with jealousy." Tang Tianyu shook his head and chuckled, "You must be prepared. Fortunately, your cultivation is profound enough to withstand it!"

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, "Just luck, luck! Sect Master, please come in!"

"No rush, no rush." Tang Tianyu waved his hand and smiled, "Your name is He Zudao, correct?"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Yes, Sect Master."

Tang Tianyu continued, "Brother He's cultivation is very deep. You must have crossed paths with my useless apprentice?"

Li Muzhan nodded and smiled, "Yes, I sparred once with Brother Yin."

"It's rare that you managed to defeat him," Tang Tianyu chuckled. "That saves me the trouble of talking. My apprentice, though young, has quite the arrogance—he has a temperament that suggests he is number one in the heavens, and I am second. You shocked him awake; in a way, I should thank you!"

Li Muzhan offered a bitter smile and shook his head, "Sect Master is too polite; I don't deserve that praise! ... I only took advantage of my age and managed to win by a slight margin. At Brother Yin's age, I wouldn't stand a chance!"

"Don't be so modest. With your level of cultivation, you are certainly worthy of being the son-in-law of the Myriad Saint Sect!" Tang Tianyu waved his hand and beckoned again, "I won't introduce Zhaojiang again. This is my eldest disciple, Xiao Hu! ... Xiao Hu, come and greet Junior Brother He!"

The honest and simple youth scratched his head, chuckled twice, and approached Li Muzhan, cupping his hands with a smile, "Greetings, Junior Brother He! ... Junior Brother Yin mentioned that Junior Brother He's cultivation is profound, especially his superb swordsmanship!"

Li Muzhan cupped his hands, "Greetings, Senior Brother Xiao, I dare not accept such praise."

"Come, come, let's test our strength!" Xiao Hu said with a hearty laugh, extending both hands with a simple, honest smile.

Seeing this, Li Muzhan nodded resignedly and extended his own hands.

"Bang!" The moment their hands met, the ground seemed to tremble slightly. Li Muzhan stood firm, while Xiao Hu staggered momentarily, his legs trembling.

This exchange counted as their initial engagement, though no moves were used—it was a pure comparison of intrinsic power.

———— "Senior Brother Tang, what is the meaning of this!?" Gao Jingxuan frowned coldly.

Tang Tianyu laughed, "Junior Sister Gao, please remain calm. They won't start a fight. It’s just that this boy Xiao Hu has always been unconvinced, saying Zhaojiang is too poor in practice, always wandering around idly, which is why he was defeated by Brother He!"

Gao Jingxuan turned to look at Yin Zhaojiang coldly, "Senior Brother Tang, what's going on with your disciple?"

"What is it?" Tang Tianyu glanced at the two men whose hands were locked, then peered at Yin Zhaojiang, who was staring intently at Li Muzhan and Xiao Hu, appearing even more nervous than they were.

Gao Jingxuan snorted, "Wandering the mountain all day long, neglecting his proper duties. I think you need to tighten the reins on him; if this continues, he'll waste his prime!"

Tang Tianyu smiled and shook his head, "Zhaojiang has hit a bottleneck in his cultivation. He’s been wandering the mountain trying to find some inspiration. Staying on the mountain to practice intensely won't help much anymore."

"Hmm..." Gao Jingxuan slowly nodded, glancing at Yin Zhaojiang, and sighed, "He truly is fine material; he's already reached a bottleneck so quickly!"

Tang Tianyu nodded with feeling, "Indeed, Junior Sister. It seems we can't deny old age. At my age, I never had this level of cultivation. And then there is Young He—your Hidden Sect's strength has increased tremendously!"

"You call yourself old?!" Gao Jingxuan pouted, speaking crossly, "I think you're getting younger the longer you live! ... Have you decided the victor?"

They saw Li Muzhan take two steps back, steadying himself, while Xiao Hu remained rooted in place, only swaying slightly before regaining his balance.

Li Muzhan cupped his hands and smiled faintly, "I concede, Senior Brother Xiao!"

His expression remained calm, but Xiao Hu's face instantly turned pale. He spat out a mouthful of blood with a "wah," then wiped his lips and let out a chuckle.

"Alright, Xiao Hu, you are clearly inferior to him, right?" Tang Tianyu chuckled.

Xiao Hu wiped the corner of his mouth and laughed carelessly, "What a formidable mental technique!... Master, Junior Brother He's mental technique is incredibly potent!"

Tang Tianyu laughed, "Alright, if it wasn't potent, how could it injure you? Clean yourself up properly!"

He was entirely unconcerned, as if it were a trivial matter.