Li Muzhan smiled as he surveyed the assembled group. Cheng Lian’s bright eyes swept over everyone; all eight had emerged, none lost.
To have suffered no casualties was a great blessing, and a smile touched her lips.
“Senior Sister Cheng, did you gain anything?” a young woman in green asked.
Li Muzhan smiled. This green-clad maiden looked delicate and shy, like a weak willow swaying in the wind, seemingly fragile, yet she was a formidable figure—Jiang Xiyue, the Chief Disciple of the Tianji Sect.
Cheng Lian smiled and nodded. “Junior Sister Jiang, we were quite lucky this time.”
“Oh? What did you get?” Jiang Xiyue’s bright eyes sparkled with interest. She laughed, “We got absolutely nothing this time; it kept raining, and we couldn’t go more than a few steps!”
Cheng Lian smiled and pointed to Li Muzhan’s waist. “Did you see?”
“A precious sword?!” Jiang Xiyue’s gaze fell upon Li Muzhan’s waist.
Li Muzhan chuckled, drew his sword in one motion, and a flash of snowy light erupted. Everyone gasped in awe; even from this distance, they could feel the chill—this was no ordinary blade.
Cheng Lian laughed. “This is the precious sword we obtained! Junior Sister Jiang, you truly came away empty-handed?”
Jiang Xiyue shook her head and sighed. The Tianji Sect had always been unlucky, supposedly because their constant revelation of heavenly secrets had earned them divine censure.
Cheng Lian turned to the other seven. They all shook their heads; due to the sudden heavy rain, they couldn't venture far and thus encountered no treasures.
Cheng Lian laughed. “We were initially quite disappointed, thinking we only got one precious sword, but now it seems we actually gained the most.”
“Tell me about it!” Jiang Xiyue exclaimed enviously. “With such heavy rain, Senior Sister Cheng, you still dared to press on?”
“Don’t even mention it!” Cheng Lian shook her head with a wry smile. “We were nearly struck dead by lightning!”
“Hmm—?” Jiang Xiyue and the others looked over curiously.
Cheng Lian continued, “Luckily, it was only the residual shockwave. It didn’t hit us directly. Perhaps our accumulated virtue was sufficient, allowing us to escape!”
She pointed at Li Muzhan’s face. “Brother-in-law’s face hasn’t recovered yet.”
Only then did they notice that Li Muzhan’s face was faintly darkened. However, because everyone looked rather disheveled, they hadn't paid much attention before. Now that Cheng Lian pointed it out, they saw the anomaly.
Li Muzhan slid the sword back into its sheath, smiling sheepishly. “Where there is gain, there must be loss. Perhaps Heaven became jealous when I obtained this precious sword!”
“Heh-heh…” Jiang Xiyue covered her mouth, giggling.
Seeing someone as mature and steady as Li Muzhan with a soot-stained face was both awkward and helpless for her. She found it quite amusing.
Cheng Lian concluded, “In any case, we were lucky to survive. None of you pushed on through the rain, did you?”
Jiang Xiyue replied, “Senior Sister Cheng, we finally got a chance to enter, how could we stop? But the rain was too heavy. We couldn't move fast under it, probably not even covering the distance of our previous trip, so how could we find anything good?! Senior Brother He must have excellent lightness skill!”
“Well, that’s true,” Cheng Lian conceded with a slight nod. “Brother-in-law’s lightness skill is exceptional. Obtaining this sword was indeed thanks to his skill, so this sword should belong to him.”
“Senior Sister Cheng is truly generous!” Jiang Xiyue chuckled, pursing her lips.
—
The Wansheng Sect had a rule: treasures obtained from Fuyun Mountain, excluding secret manuals, belonged to the individual who acquired them. However, they were usually obtained in pairs, meaning whatever was found was split between two people. Cheng Lian directly gave the sword to him. She was indeed generous. This sword was clearly no ordinary item; it surpassed any other blade they had seen, yet she gave it away so readily—truly generous!
Cheng Lian stated, “This entire time, it was all Brother-in-law’s merit. I was merely watching the excitement. The precious sword rightfully belongs to Brother-in-law.”
“Senior Sister is too polite,” Li Muzhan replied with a shake of his head.
Jiang Xiyue shot the pair a sidelong glance and chided, “Enough, Senior Sister Cheng, Senior Sister He, we won’t stand for your showing off. Let’s go!”
With that, she turned and departed, moving like a willow swayed by the breeze, disappearing gracefully. The others offered a respectful bow and left, clearly disappointed.
It was an opportunity that came only once every five years, yet it was ruined by a downpour. It seemed Heaven was not on their side. They couldn't voice their frustration, and seeing the spoils Li Muzhan and Cheng Lian secured only increased their envy.
But the silver lining in their misfortune was that the Yin Sect only obtained the sword and no secret manual. That was good; obtaining a manual could cause huge trouble.
A single secret manual from Fuyun Mountain could often change the standing of an entire sect. The Yin Sect had already grown significantly stronger with Li Muzhan’s addition; acquiring a manual now would be like giving a tiger wings, truly setting them up for a future rise!
The relationships between the Nine Sects were complex; they were not united. One sect's rise meant another’s decline. Excluding the defecting Divine Sword Sect, the Yin Sect was the weakest among the remaining eight due to its sparse population.
But now, it seemed the Yin Sect possessed renewed potential and a chance to climb, which aroused their vigilance. If the Yin Sect grew too strong, they might be squeezed out.
The Wansheng Sect had limited resources, leading to fierce internal competition. Opportunities like this required disciples to fight for them, and without the Yin Sect, there would be one more chance available.
As for the overall strength of the Wansheng Sect, they never doubted it. Even without the Yin Sect, they remained unrivaled as the number one power.
Watching them disappear one by one, Cheng Lian dropped her smile and let out a long breath.
Li Muzhan looked at her. Cheng Lian asked, “Brother-in-law, do you resent me for lying?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “One must not harbor ill intentions toward others, but one must always guard against them.”
“Exactly!” Cheng Lian sighed with relief. “Our Yin Sect has always been the weakest. If we suddenly obtain such a treasure, people might become covetous and do things they shouldn't.”
“Senior Sister thinks far ahead,” Li Muzhan nodded. “If it were me, I would do the same. Let’s return quickly; Master and the others must be worried!”
Cheng Lian pursed her lips and smiled, giving him a sidelong glance. “Junior Sister Xiao must be worried too, right?”
Li Muzhan touched his nose and let out a couple of chuckles without denying it.
“Alright, let’s go back then!” Cheng Lian huffed.
—
When the two returned to the Yin Sect, the three women were indeed practicing in the martial arts field, listlessly basking in the setting sun’s afterglow, their movements slow.
Seeing the two appear, the three women immediately stopped and turned, six gazes fixing straight upon them. Li Muzhan smiled at Yi Xiaoru and then at Zhu Chuyun.
Yi Xiaoru couldn't control herself; she shot over like an arrow loosed from a bow. Seeing Li Muzhan’s face, she paused. “Big Brother, your face…?”
Cheng Lian laughed. “Brother-in-law was struck by lightning!”
“Ah—?!” Yi Xiaoru cried out, horrified. Zhu Chuyun also widened her eyes in shock, staring intently at Li Muzhan. “Were you really struck by lightning?”
Li Muzhan touched the bridge of his nose, a look of embarrassment on his face. Cheng Lian smiled slyly, glancing at him.
“Sigh…” Zhu Chuyun sighed, shaking her head. “What terrible misdeeds must one commit to incur the wrath of Heaven?”
Li Muzhan laughed. “Senior Sister Zhu!”
Zhu Chuyun giggled. “You were with Senior Sister Cheng, right? Why did the lightning choose to strike you and not her?”
Li Muzhan couldn’t help but laugh. “Perhaps my cultivation is higher, making Heaven jealous!”
Yi Xiaoru’s face turned slightly pale, while Zhu Chuyun and Gao Jingxuan shook their heads and smiled. Li Muzhan’s current appearance was rather comical.
The moment Yi Xiaoru thought of Li Muzhan being struck by lightning, her heart seized. The thought that he nearly died made her feel faint, unable to bear it.
Cheng Lian, seeing her distress, regretted mentioning it and quickly said, “Junior Sister Xiao, don’t worry. Brother-in-law is fine, not injured at all.”
Yi Xiaoru stared fixedly at Li Muzhan. He smiled. “This time, it turned into a blessing in disguise for me; my cultivation increased substantially. You could consider it Heaven’s fulfillment!”
Cheng Lian, wanting to divert Yi Xiaoru’s attention, added, “I was walking with Brother-in-law, and he suddenly pushed me, and then the lightning struck. Brother-in-law’s perception is truly miraculous!”
Gao Jingxuan commented, “Divine and enlightened. This is the result of reaching a certain level of cultivation; you are still far behind! Alright, Little Ru, he is safe and sound, stop frightening yourself!”
“Master, that was too dangerous!” Yi Xiaoru whispered, her face pale and voice trembling.
Li Muzhan smiled and patted her shoulder. “I have a strong life force; I won't die that easily!”
“Don’t mention dying again!” Yi Xiaoru quickly interjected.
Li Muzhan smiled and nodded, patting the sheath at his waist. “Look at this!”
He drew the sword, and a cold light immediately shimmered. All of them could feel a biting chill penetrate their pores; the sword light seemed almost tangible.
“What a fine sword!” the three women exclaimed in admiration.
—
Li Muzhan handed the sword to Gao Jingxuan. “Master, can you discern the origin of this sword?”
Gao Jingxuan took the hilt, slowly turning it over, examining it closely. Her fingers lightly stroked the blade, and she spotted two faintly visible characters within. She mused, “Ying Xue ()...”
She looked for a moment, then shook her head. “I haven't heard of it... However, this sword emits intense coldness, which seems to have the effect of steadying the mind.”
Li Muzhan laughed. “That is indeed true!”
He glanced at Cheng Lian and the other women. “Why don't we all use it for practice? It would certainly be beneficial.”
Gao Jingxuan waved her hand. “You obtained it, so you should keep it. Our cultivation methods are different from the rest of the sect’s core techniques; there is no need to worry about Qi Deviation or demonic deviation!”
“Hmm—?” Li Muzhan looked over.
Due to concerns about propriety, he had never investigated their cultivation methods deeply, only sensing that they were yielding yet dominant, truly exquisite techniques. He knew their circulation routes but never inquired further.
Cheng Lian said, “Master, let me explain.”
Gao Jingxuan nodded. “Dao’er is not an outsider; it’s fine if you know, just don't spread it.”
Li Muzhan quickly interjected, “Then let’s forget it. I know the sect’s original techniques advance very quickly, but they carry the risk of Qi Deviation.”
Cheng Lian explained, “What we practice is not the original technique; it’s the Weak Water Art that Master obtained from Fuyun Mountain. It is profound and lacks that flaw.”
Gao Jingxuan sighed and shook her head. “There is no danger of Qi Deviation, true, but progress isn't fast either. It is difficult to cultivate initially, and advancement is slow, only speeding up later.”
Her expression was bitter, devoid of joy.
Li Muzhan nodded slowly. “I see.”
Gao Jingxuan let out a long sigh. “Alas… if we hadn't changed the cultivation method back then, perhaps we wouldn't have ended up in this predicament today.”
“Master, you did it for our own good!” Cheng Lian quickly countered. “If we hadn't practiced this technique, we might have suffered Qi Deviation long ago!”
“That’s not certain,” Gao Jingxuan countered. “Perhaps with good luck, our cultivation would be a whole level higher now, giving us far more confidence!”
Their cultivation method lacked the swiftness of the Wansheng Sect's original technique, causing them to lag behind everyone else. Although Gao Jingxuan provided support, they still lacked true inner assurance.
Cheng Lian smiled. “Our luck has always been poor, but Brother-in-law’s luck is excellent. We benefited greatly this time. Come, let’s go inside and talk!”
“Oh—?” Seeing her eyes light up, the other women grew curious and followed her into the main hall together.
—
When they saw Cheng Lian carefully placing out a stone box, Zhu Chuyun couldn’t help but exclaim, “Senior Sister, what is this?”
Cheng Lian pursed her lips and smiled. “Snow Cloud Fruit (Xueyun Guo)! Have you heard of it?”
“Snow Cloud Fruit…” The three women murmured, slowly shaking their heads. Gao Jingxuan frowned. “I think I have a vague impression. Let me think, I read about it in some book.”
She furrowed her brow in thought, then gracefully moved towards the bookshelf on the left, quickly pulling out a book and flipping through it rapidly until she stopped on a page. “Found it!”
She read aloud slowly: “Snow Cloud Fruit, condensed from the very essence of Heaven and Earth’s spiritual energy. It purges marrow, reshapes the body. One fruit consumed by a mortal can extend life by over a hundred years. All ailments vanish, and beauty is eternally preserved!”
“Is this truly Snow Cloud Fruit in your hand?!” She snapped the book shut and returned to Cheng Lian’s side, staring at the stone box on the table.
“Master has an excellent memory. See if this matches inside!” Cheng Lian smiled, slowly opening the stone box.
A faint, delicate fragrance immediately drifted out, entering their nostrils. Zhu Chuyun leaned over to look. “So fragrant, so fragrant!” Master, is it?”
“It should be,” Gao Jingxuan said, delicately picking up one fruit. It was snow-white and crystalline, as if condensed from a clump of snow. Wisps of delicate fragrance pierced directly into her nose, seemingly entering through her pores. Her body felt instantly refreshed.
Cheng Lian said, “Master, Brother-in-law and I have already eaten ours. Everyone, eat yours quickly, or the medicinal power will diminish.”
“It is indeed Snow Cloud Fruit!” Gao Jingxuan exclaimed in admiration, nodding. “You truly have incredible luck! Yun’er, Little Ru, each of you take one; eat them quickly!”
“Hehe, then we won't be polite!” Zhu Chuyun laughed, picking one up and handing it to Yi Xiaoru. “Brother-in-law is truly a lucky person!”
Li Muzhan smiled. Gao Jingxuan picked up a fruit and consumed it immediately. “The rest, give to Dao’er!”
Li Muzhan laughed. “Then I will accept it without pretense.”
Yi Xiaoru glared at Li Muzhan playfully, knowing he remembered his confidante. This naturally made her a little jealous, but during this moment of reunion, she didn't want to spoil the mood, so she said nothing more.
“We really owe this entire trip to you,” Gao Jingxuan laughed. “Our sect’s luck has always been poor. Since you arrived, we have obtained such treasures!”
Although Gao Jingxuan was advanced in age, any woman is immune to the allure of eternal beauty. This one Snow Cloud Fruit far outweighed any other potential gain.
Li Muzhan smiled. “Senior Sister Cheng, tell them everything at once.”
Cheng Lian pursed her lips and smiled. “Alright, Master. We also acquired a movement technique manual!”
“A movement technique manual?” Gao Jingxuan looked over.
Cheng Lian pulled it from her embrace and handed it over.
“Flying Immortal Steps (Feixian Bu)...” Gao Jingxuan took it and flipped through it carefully, frowning in concentration.
Cheng Lian added, “Brother-in-law has mastered it and demonstrated it for me. It is truly astonishingly powerful!”
“Oh—?” Gao Jingxuan looked towards Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan smiled. “This movement technique looks simple, but it is actually profoundly subtle.”
“Well, anything from Fuyun Mountain won't be poor,” Gao Jingxuan nodded. “I never expected your haul this time would be so great. I thought the heavy rain would leave you with nothing.”
“Was it raining outside too?” Li Muzhan’s heart stirred.
Gao Jingxuan shook her head. “It wasn't raining where we were outside.”
Li Muzhan grew more convinced that Fuyun Mountain was an anomaly, perhaps a self-contained realm. He resolved to investigate again if he ever had the chance, though it was the ancestral mountain of the Wansheng Sect, not easily approached by ordinary people.
Cheng Lian explained, “It was raining heavily, and Brother-in-law insisted on pressing on, resulting in… However, thanks to the rain, we had to find a cave to rest. Inside was a giant snake. Brother-in-law killed it, and inside we found the Snow Cloud Fruits, the manual, and Brother-in-law’s precious sword.”
“A snake?” Zhu Chuyun asked excitedly.
Cheng Lian glared at her. “That snake was as thick as your waist. If you had encountered it, it surely would have swallowed you whole!”
Zhu Chuyun asked, “How did you kill it?”
Cheng Lian replied, “Brother-in-law struck its eye, then its vital seven inches… We even have the snakeskin here. It's impervious to blades and spears; it would make excellent armor!”
Li Muzhan untied the sack from his back and handed it to Yi Xiaoru.
When Yi Xiaoru opened it, there lay a massive sheet of snakeskin. Zhu Chuyun, without hesitation, drew her sword and stabbed it. Clang! The sword tip was blocked.
“Ah, it really is impervious to blades and spears!” Zhu Chuyun exclaimed, praising it as she put her sword away.
“Master, how many pieces of armor can we make from this?” Cheng Lian asked.
Gao Jingxuan examined it for a moment, then calculated, “We can make seven or eight pieces without issue.”
“One piece for each of us!” Zhu Chuyun laughed. “With this, what do we have to fear!”
Gao Jingxuan shook her head. “While this armor is good, it is ultimately a dead thing. If you think like that, you are bound to suffer a great loss!”
Zhu Chuyun stuck out her tongue and giggled. “I was just saying!”
Gao Jingxuan concluded, “Lian’er, your gains this time are substantial. It seems Dao’er truly has extraordinary luck!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “I didn’t expect Fuyun Mountain to hold so many treasures, but luck is the most unreliable thing; we might not have such gains next time.”
“That’s not necessarily true,” Gao Jingxuan smiled faintly. “Alright, you should go back and rest too. You don't look fully recovered from your injury.”
Li Muzhan smiled and nodded, exchanging a look with Yi Xiaoru. She blushed and nodded gently, leaving with Li Muzhan.
Watching her shy demeanor, the three women all shook their heads.
After entering the room, Li Muzhan drew Yi Xiaoru into his arms and cherished her. Although only three days had passed, to Li Muzhan, it felt like three years.
A day apart felt like three years, especially after being struck by lightning. Li Muzhan had almost believed he would die. This brush with death made him cherish them even more.
At this moment, he believed even more strongly in the women from his other two worlds, wishing he could return immediately, but he hadn't yet obtained the Demonic Artifact.
After an intimate session with Yi Xiaoru, he stroked her silky skin, contemplating how to seize the Demonic Artifact. His cultivation had doubled; he wondered who would win if he faced Tang Tianyu now.
It seemed he needed to find an opportunity to test his strength. If he could truly obtain the Demonic Artifact, he would return immediately to exact his revenge, and after avenging himself, he would be completely free and unrestrained.
The next day, he left the Yin Sect and first returned to the Zishang Palace. He met Qin Yeqiu and gave her a Snow Cloud Fruit to consume, then traveled to Jingzhou City and gave another to Xiuxiu.
Finally, he arrived at the Longshan Sect, intending to see Liu Biyun. But when he announced himself at the mountain gate, he saw the disciples guarding the entrance stammering, their expressions strange.
As the sun set, its afterglow staining Longshan red, Li Muzhan frowned as he looked at the two disciples in sapphire blue robes. “What exactly happened to Biyun?”
“Young Master Li, this…” The two hesitated, shaking their heads. “We are not permitted to say.”
“Did something happen to her?!” Li Muzhan’s face darkened.
The two merely shook their heads, saying nothing more. (To be continued.)