"Whoa, such formidable cultivation for a young fellow!" The old man stepped back, sizing up Li Muzhan, a frown creasing his brow. "Is that the Lotus Heart Palm?" Li Muzhan smiled faintly.
"The Lotus Heart Palm?" "No... wait..." The old man knitted his brows in thought, murmuring, "There's a familiar essence to it, but it's not the Lotus Heart Palm!" "Then what style of palm technique is it?" Li Muzhan replied, "It's a mental cultivation method I derived from an ancient scroll; it has no name.
What do you think of it, Senior?" The old man nodded slowly. "It carries a trace of the Lotus Heart Palm, but it’s more potent than the Lotus Heart Palm!" Li Muzhan chuckled.
"And what sect practices the Lotus Heart Palm?" "It is the supreme secret art of the Dragon Mountain Sect." The old man snorted darkly. "Good, good.
It seems this trip wasn't in vain. You haven't disappointed me; no wonder my grandson fell into your hands!" Li Muzhan shook his head with a sigh.
"This was all a misunderstanding. If Brother Yin hadn't covered his face, I wouldn't have struck so heavily.
If I had truly intended to kill him, Senior, do you think he could have survived?" "Hmm, that does hold some truth!" The old man nodded slowly, gently touching the wound on his right hand as he studied Li Muzhan. His Creation Palm was profound, but this was a penetrating injury, unlike typical wounds.
Li Muzhan's palm force was overwhelmingly domineering. The elder had barely managed to neutralize it with his own Creation Palm, yet his vital energy was surging erratically, threatening to spiral out of control.
He privately assessed that pressing the fight would yield him no advantage! "Senior, this was truly a misunderstanding; let's let it rest," Li Muzhan stated sincerely.
"I will compensate Brother Yin appropriately!" "Hmph, compensation!" The old man’s face chilled. "How will you compensate him?
His martial arts are crippled, his meridians damaged. If he can never practice martial arts again, for a warrior, that suffering is worse than death!" Li Muzhan countered, "If his meridians are ruined, he can still practice swordsmanship!" The old man scoffed dismissively.
"Practice the sword without internal energy?" Li Muzhan affirmed, "If one masters swordsmanship, one can overcome all techniques. If the sword is mastered, what does internal energy matter?
No matter how strong the inner force, it cannot block a sharp blade!" "Easier said than done!" the elder retorted testily. "Even the finest swordplay will be knocked aside on contact without inner power.
What use is it then?" Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior, you underestimate swordsmanship too much!
How about this: I will not use any internal energy and we shall spar with sword techniques!" "Forget it!" The old man waved his hand coldly. "Your mental cultivation technique is exceptional, something I have never encountered before.
Let's stop!" Li Muzhan discerned the implication in his tone—the old man coveted his mental technique! Realizing this, a flicker of anger ignited within him.
He extended his hand. "Senior Sister Zhu, my sword!" "Here!" Zhu Chuyun threw the sword in her hand to Li Muzhan without hesitation.
Li Muzhan caught it, gave it a slight flick, and with a soft whirring sound, the tip pointed squarely at the old man. "Please, Senior!" "You seek death, boy!" The old man’s face darkened.
He held deep apprehension toward Li Muzhan’s swordsmanship. Seeing him grasp the sword again, his rage boiled over.
"Since you insist, then don't blame me for being ruthless!" Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior, please—!" — The old man’s robes billowed, and his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Gao Jingxuan frowned. "Martial Uncle, is it necessary to stoop to the level of a junior?
Let it go!" She could tell the old man was employing a secret art. Having cultivated for three to four hundred years, the might of such a technique must be extraordinary.
Though He Zudao possessed astonishing swordsmanship, it would be difficult for exquisite technique to compensate against such overwhelming power. The old man paid her no mind.
His body seemed to swell momentarily before snapping back to its original size. Li Muzhan instantly tensed, sensing a distinct danger radiating from him.
Where he had been like a tiger watching from a distance, he now seemed to spring like a predatory beast. Li Muzhan involuntarily braced himself, unwilling to wait any longer, and shouted crisply, "Receive my sword!" Swish—a flash of cold steel reached the old man’s chest, leaving him no time to react.
The old man’s eyes narrowed, but then suddenly flashed with brilliance, and he lightly flicked his finger. Ding...
a clear, resonant chime echoed. Li Muzhan frowned.
He maneuvered his long sword, unleashing a bloom of sword blossoms to envelop the old man’s throat. What began as a single point of cold starlight had transformed into a blossoming array—a necessary shift born of desperation.
Though the old man had merely flicked his finger, the force transmitted through the blade was surging like a tide, a massive vortex on the sea. Li Muzhan used the subtlety of his swordsmanship to deflect the energy; otherwise, the sword would surely have flown from his grasp.
The old man squinted, inwardly murmuring praise. While his cultivation surpassed Li Muzhan’s, Li Muzhan’s mental technique was more refined.
If their internal energies were compared directly, it would be a near draw. However, by employing his secret art, his power had surged significantly, putting him beyond fear of Li Muzhan.
This single finger strike was also part of the secret art—the Heart-Knocking Finger—where internal energy formed a unique spiral, drilling into Li Muzhan’s body like an auger. Sensing this peculiar method of energy application, Li Muzhan went with the flow, forming a sword blossom that perfectly borrowed the force.
The sword blossom was dazzling and unbelievably fast. The sword blossom was moving too swiftly; the old man dared not meet it head-on and retreated a step.
Li Muzhan pressed forward, and the old man retreated again. Faced with this blindingly fast sword array, he could only fall back.
Li Muzhan tracked him relentlessly, ensuring the old man could not escape the confines of his sword momentum. The sword blossom spun continuously, accelerating faster and faster, accompanied by a persistent whirring sound.
"Magnificent swordsmanship!" the old man exclaimed, then suddenly kicked out. Li Muzhan had no time to channel his sword and could only step back to evade.
This gave the old man a precious moment to catch his breath. The two immediately clashed with swords and palms.
Li Muzhan’s swordsmanship was incredibly fast, a complete departure from his previous style, as if a different person were fighting. He used this rapid style to trap the old man.
With his power augmented by the secret art, the old man’s movements were swifter too, often allowing him to narrowly dodge the incoming sword momentum just as it arrived. As a result, he could now threaten Li Muzhan, and for a time, the two fought on equal footing.
— "Master, is Brother-in-law...?" Zhu Chuyun asked worriedly. Gao Jingxuan shook her head, remaining silent.
Martial Uncle Yin had only revealed one or two secret arts; surely, with three to four hundred years of cultivation, he possessed far more—enough to give He Zudao a headache! "Sigh...
Martial Brother Yin is truly unmanly!" Zhu Chuyun pouted. "He lost, and now he makes an elder step up to fight—what a disgrace!" Cheng Lian murmured quietly, "This isn't a minor affair; his reaction is somewhat understandable!" "Hmph!" Zhu Chuyun glared defiantly at the old man.
Li Muzhan’s swordsmanship was rapid, forming layers of sword light that were spectacularly beautiful. The old man, caught within the glare, struggled to cope, only occasionally managing a counterattack.
But when Li Muzhan suddenly shifted his sword style from fast to slow, the old man was thrown into disarray once more. Li Muzhan’s sword movements were languid, almost like a casual spar, yet the sword momentum was meticulously calculated, striking precisely where the palm was about to move, forcing the elder to constantly change his technique.
After over ten exchanges, every move had to be altered mid-flight. His internal energy flow became uneven, and his vital energy began to churn.
He desperately wished for a straightforward, full-power brawl. "Aargh—!" The old man roared suddenly.
His robes snapped outward, and he instantly transformed into a gust of wind, appearing behind Li Muzhan in a flash and slamming a palm towards his back. Bang!
Both figures were hurled backward nearly ten feet. Li Muzhan seemed to have anticipated this move; his left palm was already waiting.
The two palms collided, sending them flying apart. Gao Jingxuan and the others gasped in shock.
The muffled impact sounded like exploding thunder, causing their own vital energies to roil. They quickly looked toward Li Muzhan.
He staggered back two more steps, then coughed violently—wah—spitting out a mouthful of blood. Color slowly returned to his face.
In that single moment, his face had gone deathly pale, as if all the blood had been instantly drained away. "Brother-in-law!" Zhu Chuyun cried out.
Li Muzhan turned, managed a smile for her, and shook his head, signaling he was fine. Zhu Chuyun and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
They looked at the old man; his complexion was normal, showing no signs of distress, only a cold glare fixed on Li Muzhan. "Good lad, you’ve forced me to deploy so many secret arts!" Li Muzhan smiled.
"Senior Yin, do you still wish to fight?" "Indeed!" the old man snorted coldly. "If I don't cripple you today, how can I face my grandson!?" Li Muzhan replied calmly, "If Senior Yin insists on pushing things this far, I will no longer hold back!" "You have secret arts too?" The old man managed a wry chuckle.
Li Muzhan nodded. "I possess two killing sword techniques that I have always been hesitant to use.
Would Senior care to experience them?" "Killing sword techniques?" The old man scoffed and shook his head. "Aren't the moves you’ve been using already killing techniques?" Li Muzhan corrected him.
"Those were merely flashy preliminaries!" "Then I certainly wish to witness them!" the old man sneered. Li Muzhan looked towards Gao Jingxuan, who pondered for a moment.
"Martial Uncle Yin, perhaps we should cease here. If this continues, and one of us dies, it will be a tremendous loss for our Ten Thousand Saints Sect!" We have already lost Zhaojiang; we cannot afford another loss!" "Little Jingxuan, be quiet!" The old man waved his hand impatiently.
Gao Jingxuan frowned, casting him a deep look, then sighed heavily. — Zhu Chuyun pouted and whispered, "Master, he is altogether too arrogant!" "Xiao Yun, stop talking!" Gao Jingxuan waved her off, speaking softly.
"Hurry and ask your Martial Uncle Tang to come over!" "...Oh, alright!" Zhu Chuyun nodded quickly and darted away. Li Muzhan returned his sword to its sheath, then pressed the hilt down.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly drew the blade. As the sword emerged fraction by fraction, his entire aura shifted, as if he were merging with the weapon.
Then, the sharp energy grew more intense, as if he had become the sword, and the sword had become him—indistinguishable. "Man and Sword as One?!" The old man frowned, deeply alarmed.
He had heard of this realm; it was the pinnacle of swordsmanship. Once 'Man and Sword as One' was achieved, the sword moved according to intent, the sword momentum flowing as freely as lightning or fire—as swift as thought.
The long sword slowly pointed at the old man. An invisible force spread outward; Li Muzhan seemed to vanish entirely, completely absorbed into the sword.
To onlookers, there was only the blade; his presence was gone. Whirrr...
The sword body emitted a soft hum, as if an unseen power had latched onto it. The long sword struggled and twisted, seemingly trying to break free from Li Muzhan's right hand.
Li Muzhan suppressed all breath. The sword clanged as it was fully drawn, and then with a whirring sound, it vanished in a silver streak that flashed before everyone’s eyes.
"Urgh..." The old man let out a muffled groan. The sword light was gone; the blade was back in its sheath.
Blood streamed from the old man's right arm. He pressed his left palm against it to staunch the flow, then laboriously retrieved the severed limb from the ground, reattaching it while keeping his left palm firmly pressed against the wound.
"Martial Uncle Yin!" Gao Jingxuan cried out, shocked. She had not expected the power of Li Muzhan’s single strike to sever Martial Uncle Yin’s arm clean off.
Fortunately, Martial Uncle Yin had cultivated the Creation Palm; it was miraculously potent, capable of turning decay into wonder. Even with the arm severed, the Creation Palm meant it could be reattached.
If Yin Zhaojiang had been treated sooner back then, perhaps he might have been saved. The old man let out a cold laugh.
"Good lad!" Gao Jingxuan quickly asked, "Martial Uncle Yin, are you alright?" "I won't die!" The old man glared coldly at her. "Little Jingxuan, you’ve found yourself a fine son-in-law!" Gao Jingxuan worried, "Martial Uncle Yin, are you truly alright?" The old man scoffed coldly.
"Just lost an arm, what's the big deal? It will mend in a few days!" It seemed the revenge for his grandson was unattainable; he had lived all these years for nothing!
"Martial Uncle Yin..." Gao Jingxuan sighed helplessly. — Suddenly, a sharp shout cut through the air.
"What is going on here!" Tang Tianyu abruptly appeared in the clearing. He looked at the old man, then at Li Muzhan, and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Martial Uncle!" "What are you doing here!" the old man snapped irritably. Tang Tianyu looked at the blood on the ground, frowning.
"Martial Uncle Yin, you are injured?" "What, are you happy to see me hurt!" The old man sneered. "Haven't you disliked me, this old man, for a long time?" Tang Tianyu offered a wry smile.
"Martial Uncle, why say such things!" He glanced at Gao Jingxuan, then turned to Li Muzhan. "Martial Aunt Gao, what transpired here?" Gao Jingxuan shook her head and sighed.
"Senior Brother Gao, Martial Uncle Yin insisted on coming to avenge Zhaojiang and intended to cripple Dao’er. They fought, and Dao’er ended up severing Martial Uncle Yin’s right arm." "Utter nonsense!" Tang Tianyu glared at Li Muzhan, then turned back to the old man.
"Martial Uncle Yin, are you badly hurt?" I have Tiger Bone Bone-Setting Paste here; please use it first!" "No need!" The old man glared at him and huffed, "I don't use that rubbish!" Enough, Tianyu, don't meddle in this. This is between him and me!" "Martial Uncle, why argue with a junior!" Tang Tianyu pressed.
"Hmph, a junior!" The old man shook his head and sneered, "This junior is no ordinary one!" Saying this, he turned and left. To have personally entered the fray and failed to avenge his grandson, instead losing an arm to a junior, was utterly humiliating.
Li Muzhan let out a long breath, slowly sank to the ground, and immediately sat cross-legged in meditation. His face was paper-white, utterly drained of color.
Tang Tianyu looked at Li Muzhan, then back at Gao Jingxuan, offering a bitter smile. "Martial Sister, your son-in-law is truly remarkable.
To leave Martial Uncle Yin’s hands completely unscathed is no small feat!" Gao Jingxuan replied, "It was merely luck; he won't be so fortunate next time!" "Let him participate in the Grand Competition!" Tang Tianyu declared. Gao Jingxuan’s delicate eyebrows twitched.
"What if he genuinely places in the top ten?" "Then he enters Floating Cloud Mountain!" Tang Tianyu nodded firmly. Gao Jingxuan smiled.
"Martial Brother Tang, you truly agree?" Tang Tianyu declared, "A figure of this caliber who can be of use to our Ten Thousand Saints Sect is a gift from Heaven! How could we turn him away?!
Let him enter the Grand Competition!" Gao Jingxuan smiled brightly. "Then I shall take you at your word!" "I always keep my word!" Tang Tianyu confirmed.
"If he reaches the top ten, he enters Floating Cloud Mountain!" Gao Jingxuan nodded slowly. "Very well, I accept on his behalf!" "Then I shall wait and see how far he can climb!" Tang Tianyu chuckled.
"Speaking of which, Martial Master, your Hidden Sect shows signs of revival!" "Let us hope so," Gao Jingxuan responded with a faint smile. "Martial Brother Tang, I shall not see you out!" "Yes, I am leaving now!" Tang Tianyu nodded and drifted away gracefully.
It was only then that Zhu Chuyun hurried back, startled to see Li Muzhan seated on the ground. "Master, is Brother-in-law...?" "He is fine," Gao Jingxuan assured her.
"Go prepare some good food and properly reward him!" "Yes!" Zhu Chuyun breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. PS: My apologies to everyone for the irregular updates.
I was pushing myself too hard the day before, making me utterly exhausted the next day, forcing a rest cycle. I am working hard to correct this pattern!
(To be continued)