They continued their practice. Li Muzhan sat in the small pavilion, picking up a book and slowly turning the pages. Xiuxiu came over, demurely bringing tea and fruit, trying to curry favor.

Li Muzhan glanced at her sideways, saying nothing.

Xiuxiu pursed her lips and smiled, "Young Master, you aren't leaving this time, are you?"

Li Muzhan asked, "What is it you want to say?"

Xiuxiu quickly laughed, "Hehe, if you were to leave, would you take me along!"

Li Muzhan inquired, "Feeling lonely?"

"Yes," Xiuxiu nodded repeatedly, "If everyone left at once, and I was left guarding this courtyard alone, it would be unbearable."

Li Muzhan guessed that Xiuxiu had finally appreciated the joy of having company.

For the past few days, the five women had been staying in the small courtyard, and Xiuxiu had mingled with them exceptionally well, thriving like a fish in water, thoroughly enjoying the experience of playing together.

Li Muzhan pondered for a moment. Xiuxiu immediately began massaging his back, being extremely attentive.

"Fine, if I go, I'll take you," Li Muzhan nodded slowly. "To the Hidden Sect!"

"Thank you, Young Master!" Xiuxiu instantly broke into a wide smile, stopping the massage. She leaped out, rushing to tell the other five women.

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled, lowering his gaze back to his book.

He had been in this world for too short a time, his understanding was too shallow. Whenever he had a chance, he read books, using them as a means to learn about this world.

"Bang!" A muffled sound echoed from the sky, followed by the appearance of a white bloom of light, dazzlingly bright. Even under the clear blue sky, it was distinctly visible, like a dark cloud suspended in the air.

Li Muzhan frowned and shook his head in resignation. Yi Xiaoru looked up, her expression shifting, and she floated to the pavilion, "Big Brother!"

Li Muzhan waved a hand, "Mm. Alright, I'll go take a look."

Yi Xiaoru said, "Big Brother, Martial Uncle Wen and the others usually wouldn't call for help unless it was truly dangerous!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "I can't just ignore it. I'm going!"

He flickered and vanished from the pavilion, seeming to merge into the void. The other five women gasped in admiration at his lightness skill. Xiuxiu beamed with pride.

Li Muzhan reappeared in a large mansion. His Eye of the Void had already scouted this opulent estate; it was clearly the residence of a wealthy family.

It served as an excellent cover when Wen Hua and the others were staying there.

At that moment, the courtyard was a whirlwind of flashing blades and clashing steel, ringing sharply. Zhao Yuanming was dominating the scene, fighting Wen Hua and the other ten men alone and still holding the upper hand.

Li Muzhan materialized instantly. Wen Hua saw him as a savior and quickly called out, "Little He, hurry here! This fellow has truly fallen to madness; we cannot fight him head-on!"

Li Muzhan drew his Xue Ying Sword and made a graceful thrust. Zhao Yuanming suddenly spun around, closing the distance with lightning speed, his sword light flashing as he lunged—intending to eliminate him first.

Li Muzhan parried and backed away, retreating into the midst of Wen Hua and the others. They immediately swung their swords to defend, and Li Muzhan seamlessly merged with their formation.

———— "Clang, clang, clang, clang..." The crisp sound of swords rang out. They were all using precious blades, whose ringing was far more melodious than the clash of ordinary metal.

As Li Muzhan fought, he surveyed his surroundings. Three men lay on the ground, their fates unknown; all were grey-robed elders, top masters of the Ten Thousand Saints Sect.

"Senior Wen, what happened?" Li Muzhan asked.

Wen Hua sighed, shaking his head helplessly, "I didn't expect this Zhao fellow to be so frenzied. We were all housed together, and yet he still dared to attack!"

Li Muzhan observed, "His movement technique is superb; he isn't afraid of numbers!"

"Exactly. Otherwise, we wouldn't have needed to call for aid!" Wen Hua grumbled angrily.

Li Muzhan asked, "Do we have anyone else?"

Li Muzhan noted that the people present comprised nearly all the top masters of the Ten Thousand Saints Sect. Any more reinforcements would lack the necessary caliber to be truly effective.

Wen Hua sighed, "The Sect Master sent a few more people, who are hidden in the shadows. This time, we'll have to ask them to act!"

Li Muzhan frowned. Tang Tianyu had actually stationed hidden forces here!

What was he planning? There was something secretive about his actions, and his objective remained. Perhaps he was constrained by an oath or other binding factors preventing him from acting directly, but sending hidden masters changed the situation entirely.

Could he also be after the Divine Sword Sect's treasure? Or perhaps this very demonic artifact?

This demonic artifact was useless without its cultivation method and the control incantation; obtaining it would be pointless—a mere decoration. Zhao Yuanming would never willingly pass on the control incantation.

Could there be someone else in the Divine Sword Sect who knew the incantation? Did Tang Tianyu feel confident he could obtain it?

In a flash, a thousand thoughts raced through Li Muzhan's mind. His actions were relentless; every thrust of his sword forced Zhao Yuanming into a necessary defense, making things extremely difficult for him.

Zhao Yuanming still wore that bizarre smile, his gaze cold and merciless, devoid of human emotion, fixed straight upon Li Muzhan.

Anyone staring into those chilling eyes would feel deeply uncomfortable, yet Li Muzhan maintained a composed expression, smiling back at him.

Zhao Yuanming let out two cold chuckles, suddenly accelerating his sword moves. Amidst another string of crisp clangs, two muffled groans were heard—two more men had been struck.

Zhao Yuanming's sword was too fast and laced with a strange unpredictability that made it impossible to defend against. Those among the ten masters not proficient in swordplay took hits.

Li Muzhan glanced over at the two men. Blood poured profusely from their shoulders. He breathed a sigh of relief; they weren't mortally wounded. However, if this continued, Zhao Yuanming might truly succeed.

———— "Old Wen, we're here!" A loud shout suddenly came from a distance. Over twenty masters floated in, moving like scattered willow catkins yet incredibly fast, arriving in an instant.

Zhao Yuanming gave a cold chuckle, spun around, flickered out of the mansion, and vanished.

Seeing Zhao Yuanming disappear, Wen Hua and his group showed no intention of pursuing. The twenty-plus masters, however, were unwilling to let him go and started to give chase, only to be halted by Wen Hua's shout.

The leading elder was a man with white beard and brows, his grey robe looking somewhat oversized on his thin and short frame, yet his voice boomed like a great bell.

"Old Wen, how did you let him escape!" he grumbled reluctantly.

Wen Hua shook his head, "Old Yang, this Zhao fellow has gone demonic. To be able to hold him off was already an achievement; we weren't capable of keeping him."

"Is the Zhao fellow truly demonic?" Old Yang frowned.

"Yes, no doubt about it. Otherwise, how could he be so miraculously potent?" Wen Hua snorted, then turned to look at the three elders lying on the ground, and the two wounded men.

"If Little He hadn't arrived in time, we would have been finished!" Wen Hua said, shaking his head.

Old Yang turned and sized up Li Muzhan, chuckling, "Little He, you have earned merit!"

Li Muzhan clasped his hands and smiled, "Senior Yang overpraises me. This place is close to my courtyard, so I arrived a step ahead. Zhao Yuanming is no longer someone ordinary people can handle; I fear the Sect Master Tang must act personally!"

He recognized Old Yang as Yang Qianfan, an elder of the Blade Sect, renowned for his exceptional blade skills, though Li Muzhan hadn't witnessed them firsthand. Yang Qianfan rarely appeared in public, so they were merely acquaintances.

"Sect Master Tang?" Yang Qianfan snorted and shook his head, "Sect Master Tang will not come."

Li Muzhan frowned, "If Zhao Yuanming is so uncontrollable, there is no solution other than the demonic artifact. If Sect Master Tang doesn't come, he will kill more people!"

"The disciples of the various sects in the city have been withdrawn," Yang Qianfan stated.

Li Muzhan shook his head, "Zhao Yuanming can find them! ... He's a local snake, and furthermore, in his current state, he is exceptionally intelligent, far surpassing the average person!"

"Yes, that is true," Wen Hua nodded in agreement. "Little He speaks sense! ... Old Yang, I suggest we request the Sect Master to intervene. Only a demonic artifact can counteract another demonic artifact!"

"Very well then," Yang Qianfan grumbled. "I have my doubts! ... The relationship between Sect Master Tang and Zhao Yuanming is not simple!"

Li Muzhan's brow twitched, but he didn't press the matter. This involved private affairs, and it was better not to inquire.

Wen Hua said, "Little He, Old Yang, let's go inside and talk!"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head, "I should take my leave first; I have matters pending elsewhere."

"That's fine. Xiaoru is over there, right?" Wen Hua asked.

Li Muzhan nodded, "Yes, I am fine there. Zhao Yuanming won't find me."

"Your courtyard is indeed strange," Wen Hua chuckled. "We can't find it either, ... Very well then, you go ahead!"

Li Muzhan smiled, clasped his hands in thanks, and floated away.

———— "The son-in-law of the Hidden Sect is quite something!" Yang Qianfan watched Li Muzhan's retreating figure and laughed, "Junior Sister Gao is still as formidable!"

"It's just good luck!" Wen Hua snorted, "Not everyone runs into a character like this!"

Yang Qianfan asked, "What's the deal with his courtyard?"

Wen Hua shook his head, frowning, "It is truly bizarre. We know it's over there, but we just can't locate it!"

Yang Qianfan inquired, "Is it some secret technique obtained from Floating Cloud Mountain?"

Wen Hua shook his head, "He's had it since he entered Floating Cloud Mountain. I don't know what secret it is. This Little He has many secrets; he is profound and unfathomable!"

"With such cultivation at this young age, how could he not have secrets?" Yang Qianfan sneered. "Let's quickly summon Sect Master Tang!"

"Alas..." Wen Hua gave a wry smile and a sigh. "The Sect Master will not come!"

"Then what do we do!" Yang Qianfan grumbled. "How did things turn out like this!"

Wen Hua sighed, "We only have ourselves to blame for underestimating the Divine Sword Sect!"

"At this stage, we cannot kill Zhao Yuanming," Yang Qianfan stated grimly.

"I'll ask the Sect Master," Wen Hua said.

Li Muzhan floated back to the small courtyard. Yi Xiaoru rushed to meet him. Li Muzhan smiled, shaking his head, "No one died. Zhao Yuanming left."

"What should we do now!" Yi Xiaoru frowned.

Li Muzhan explained, "There was another contingent—Senior Yang Qianfan of the Blade Sect leading twenty-five top masters. With them, Zhao Yuanming might be more cautious."

"There's another group?" Yi Xiaoru pondered for a moment, then shook her head, "I truly didn't know."

Li Muzhan sighed, "Sect Master Tang's methods are truly..."

Yi Xiaoru countered, "Martial Uncle Tang has always been like this, fond of using surprise tactics. Perhaps he foresaw this situation and has a way to deal with Zhao Yuanming!"

Li Muzhan nodded, entered the pavilion, and picked up his book.

Yi Xiaoru sat opposite him, "Big Brother, are we just staying here?"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Then where should we go back to?"

"We haven't completed our mission," Yi Xiaoru shook her head.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Then we'll hole up here and watch what Seniors Wen and Yang manage to do. They won't just sit and wait to die!"

"That's all we can do then," Yi Xiaoru nodded.

They didn't wait long. Towards evening, Li Muzhan heard sounds of fighting. His Eye of the Void remained active, scanning all of Jingzhou City, and he observed the movements of Wen Hua and Yang Qianfan.

They had struck preemptively. Moreover, the thirty-odd men did not split up; they directly attacked the Yiran Tower, then proceeded to raid every pleasure house belonging to the Divine Sword Sect.

The city descended into chaos. The destructive capability of thirty-plus top masters was astonishing. Wherever they went, the pleasure houses remained, but all the Divine Sword Sect disciples inside were dead.

They swept from the east to the west of the city, and then from south to north, systematically wiping out every Divine Sword Sect pleasure house. Yet, Zhao Yuanming's figure was nowhere to be seen.

———— Li Muzhan shook his head. Provoking Zhao Yuanming this way was useless. The current Zhao Yuanming, having fallen to madness, was sinister, ruthless, and incredibly cunning; emotion could no longer sway him.

He was lurking like a venomous snake in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment. Their actions merely provided Zhao Yuanming with opportunities.

However, Wen Hua and the others likely had a deeper plan. He couldn't see it yet, but they were seasoned veterans, certainly not impulsive like young men.

A day passed quickly. From morning till evening, Wen Hua and his group never stopped. By nightfall, they returned to the large mansion, the thirty-odd masters gathering together.

Li Muzhan continued observing the situation over there. He had a faint premonition that Zhao Yuanming would appear. Zhao Yuanming's movement technique was supreme; even if he had to exert himself constantly, he could still retreat gracefully.

Time slowly wore on. Li Muzhan stayed with Yi Xiaoru, holding her soft body, but he didn't fall asleep, remaining alert to watch the situation across the way.

In the dead of night, Li Muzhan suddenly opened his eyes. His Eye of the Void spotted Zhao Yuanming, who appeared like a phantom, silently slipping into the large mansion and then charging into a room.

The lights flared up, and everyone surged out, holding torches to illuminate the entire residence. Zhao Yuanming was surrounded in the center, yet he showed no fear, swinging his sword.

Li Muzhan's brow furrowed, and he closely observed the thirty-plus top masters. They wore grey robes, their faces grim, staring expressionlessly at Zhao Yuanming.

During the day, they had displayed immense might, destroying all the Divine Sword Sect's pleasure houses, cutting off the sect's livelihood, equivalent to blinding them.

They had anticipated Zhao Yuanming's appearance and were fully prepared. As soon as there was movement, they surrounded him. This time, they were determined to kill him, no matter the cost.

The thirty-plus masters formed three layers. Zhao Yuanming's swordplay was swift as lightning; he didn't lose ground, and occasionally he struck one down, only for another grey-robed elder to immediately step up and fill the gap.

Unknowingly, Zhao Yuanming fought them for a quarter of an hour. The thirty-odd elders fought selflessly, exhibiting the fervor of youth.

Zhao Yuanming's face was fixed with that strange, cold smile; his gaze was chilling, and his sword technique exquisite. Li Muzhan took the opportunity to memorize his sword style, gaining much insight.

At his level, few sword techniques were worth noting; encountering common styles felt tedious, solvable with a single counter-move. Zhao Yuanming's exquisite swordplay was a rare sight, and Li Muzhan benefited greatly.

Li Muzhan focused intently on his sword movements. After a while, his heart skipped a beat. A dark shadow suddenly appeared amidst the crowd, ghost-like, lunging towards Zhao Yuanming.

Zhao Yuanming swung his sword to block, but he hadn't expected the opponent's blade to suddenly accelerate, becoming incredibly fast. It struck Zhao Yuanming's right shoulder, causing the Nixing Sword to immediately drop.

A flash of sword light erupted. Zhao Yuanming flickered backward, the Nixing Sword flying up and landing in his left hand. He wielded the sword with his left hand, blocking the torrent of light.

The two swords met, the brilliance illuminating both their faces. Li Muzhan paused slightly—the other face was none other than Tang Tianyu! He had actually appeared!

Zhao Yuanming’s lips curled into a strange smile. Suddenly, the sword light intensified. Tang Tianyu appeared to have the upper hand in sword technique, striking Zhao Yuanming's left shoulder again.

Zhao Yuanming shifted his sword to his right hand; the injury to his right shoulder didn't seem to affect his striking power. A cold gleam flashed, and his sword pierced Tang Tianyu's right shoulder.

Tang Tianyu’s expression remained unchanged. He pulled his sword out to strike again, but Zhao Yuanming flickered backward rapidly, piercing through the circle of men in an instant, and vanishing into the darkness.

Tang Tianyu's expression drastically changed. Forgetting his shoulder wound, he gave chase immediately.

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