Li Muzhan observed through his Void Eye, watching the pair drift through the darkness like twin wisps of smoke; without the Void Eye, he would have lost them instantly. He slowly rose.

Yi Xiaoru’s red lips moved slightly, murmuring low words as she draped a jade arm around him. Li Muzhan carefully eased her arm away, moving with the utmost caution so as not to wake her.

The room was warm, suffused with her delicate fragrance, weaving through every corner. Beneath the thin silk quilt lay her soft, fragrant body.

Though surrounded by this haven of tenderness, Li Muzhan slowly slipped off the couch and pulled on his sleeping robe. “Big Brother?” Yi Xiaoru did stir awake, asking in a low voice.

Li Muzhan returned to the bedside and gently patted her. “Go back to sleep, I’m going to practice my cultivation for a while.” “Mmm.” Yi Xiaoru, still drowsy, gave a soft assent and drifted back to sleep.

Li Muzhan exchanged his sleeping robe for his training attire, then sat motionless before the low table, resembling an old monk deep in meditation, his expression serene. His Void Eye was fixed on Tang Tianyu and Zhao Yuanming, tracking them as they fled, one following the other.

Zhao Yuanming’s Qinggong was superb, resembling nothing more than a phantom image. Tang Tianyu’s Qinggong was also profound; though he hadn't caught up to Zhao Yuanming, he hadn't fallen behind either.

Li Muzhan inwardly praised the man. Zhao Yuanming, having fallen to the demonic path, possessed a sudden surge in internal energy, yet Tang Tianyu could match him stride for stride—his cultivation was truly astonishing.

Li Muzhan suspected he might only now be on par with him. However, he possessed the Demonic Sword.

Once he activated it, he would certainly be no match for Tang Tianyu. But with the Demonic Sword...

he wouldn't fear Tang Tianyu. The Void Eye shifted to Zhao Yuanming, focusing on the Heart-Reversing Sword in his hand.

Li Muzhan had already gleaned the incantation for this blade; if he could obtain the sword, he could activate it. The only cause for concern was the sword’s exceptionally heavy malevolent aura.

These last two days, he had been immersed in studying the Sword Taming Incantation, gaining some insights but still facing confusing gaps, unable to fully grasp its secrets. If the incantation contained even a small error, the consequences would be dire—Zhao Yuanming’s demonically corrupted appearance served as a clear warning of the danger.

His expression remained as placid as ever, unmoving. His thoughts, however, churned and flowed with the sight granted by the Void Eye, watching the two figures exit Jingzhou City in succession.

After leaving the city, they paused in a grove of apricot trees on the southern outskirts. Li Muzhan vanished in a flash, reappearing on the mountain beside the grove.

He strained his ears to listen to their conversation, his Void Eye still intently focused. “Junior Brother Zhao, why must you go this far!?” Tang Tianyu asked, his voice heavy.

“Heh-heh…” Zhao Yuanming let out a cold, dry laugh. Tang Tianyu continued, “Junior Brother Zhao, have you truly succumbed to the demonic path?” “Fallen?

Heh!” Zhao Yuanming’s voice was strange, carrying an inexplicable coldness that, upon reaching the ears, sent a chill straight into the heart. Tang Tianyu sighed and shook his head.

“I never imagined you would be so resolute, Junior Brother. If you insist on this path, then so be it.

Today, I shall grant you release!” “Tang, bring it on!” Zhao Yuanming sneered, and a flash of sword light erupted as the two resumed their fight… Their swordsmanship was peculiar, seemingly sharing underlying similarities. Li Muzhan frowned, closely studying both styles.

He then looked at their swords and found them strikingly alike. Li Muzhan pondered: could these two swords also share a deep history?

Were they a pair of yin and yang blades? Otherwise, why the similarity in their techniques and the resemblance in the blades themselves?

“Clang! Clang!

Clang! Clang!” Amidst the ringing, Tang Tianyu shook his head.

“It’s useless. Even if you have fallen, you cannot defeat me!” “Tang, today we die together!” Zhao Yuanming chuckled coldly.

Li Muzhan frowned. It seemed Zhao Yuanming had not entirely lost his reason.

Perhaps falling to the demonic path was not as absolute as he had imagined—that the mind wasn't entirely seized and controlled by the sword’s malevolence. Tang Tianyu sighed again.

“I truly didn’t expect us to end up here. And I certainly didn't expect you to be so fiercely unyielding!” “Tang, you push people too far!” Zhao Yuanming sneered.

His laughter still carried that disconcerting chill, deeply unsettling to hear. Tang Tianyu stated gravely, “Junior Brother Zhao, your Divine Sword Sect’s cultivation method is flawed; it leads further toward evil.

For the sake of our Yuan Sect, this must be done!” “Hmph, calling a heretical path the righteous way—what a joke!” Zhao Yuanming scoffed repeatedly. Li Muzhan listened, growing more confused; this hardly sounded like someone consumed by demonization.

Tang Tianyu sighed. “It doesn’t matter if we take lives, but we cannot destroy ourselves.

The Divine Sword Sect’s technique destroys the practitioner; the deeper one cultivates, the greater the harm!” “Meddling!” Zhao Yuanming coldly laughed. Tang Tianyu pressed on.

“The Divine Sword Sect must be eliminated. Its reputation is already tarnished.

You should disband and merge with the Yuan Sect!” “What a fine scheme you have hatched!” Zhao Yuanming mocked. Tang Tianyu said sternly, “If our two swords merge, it can suppress your inner demon.

I can even give you my sword, provided you agree. How about it?” “Dream on!” Zhao Yuanming sneered.

“I won’t do the dirty work for someone else!” “Alas…” Tang Tianyu shook his head with a sigh. “Junior Brother Zhao, I truly do not wish to kill you!” Zhao Yuanming laughed coldly.

“Tang, stop the false piety. You’ve been waiting for this day.

Exterminating us is a pretext; strengthening the Yuan Sect is the real goal. Despicable and sinister!” Tang Tianyu sighed again.

“Junior Brother Zhao, if you truly cared for the disciples of the Divine Sword Sect, you would merge with the Yuan Sect. They can practice the finest cultivation methods, a hundred times superior to what you practice now, and at least without the inherent danger!” Zhao Yuanming wore that strange smile, cold and sharp.

“Dream on!” While speaking, neither paused their actions. Both had stopped the bleeding, and Zhao Yuanming’s shoulder seemed untouched, swinging his sword without any apparent impact.

Li Muzhan recognized this was abnormal. Either his willpower was extraordinary, or he had lost all sense of pain.

Judging by his demeanor, it was likely the latter—he was still controlled by the Heart-Reversing Sword… “Clang! Clang!

Clang! Clang!” The ringing was ceaseless.

The pair’s swordsmanship was peerless. Li Muzhan watched with near-greedy intensity, committing every move to memory.

They moved like unmatched sword masters, displaying an endless stream of exquisite techniques. One move followed the next, each attack impossibly fast, struck out without hesitation.

Li Muzhan admitted his inferiority. To execute such refined swordplay, he would first need a moment of contemplation; such effortless execution of these moves was beyond him.

“Bang!” Tang Tianyu suddenly struck Zhao Yuanming squarely on the chest with an open palm. Zhao Yuanming spat out a stream of blood and flew backward.

As he tumbled, a flash of sword light pierced Tang Tianyu’s chest before soaring away with Zhao Yuanming’s momentum. Tang Tianyu clutched his chest, sheathed his sword, and rapidly tapped major pressure points around his body to seal his internal energy, but his attempt to pursue lacked the necessary strength, forcing him to stop.

Zhao Yuanming hit the ground heavily with a “bang,” then rolled up and charged toward Tang Tianyu. Tang Tianyu drew his sword and thrust; “Clang…” Their sword tips collided, and each recoiled a step.

“Bang!” Tang Tianyu threw a signal flare; a silver flower blossomed in the night sky. Zhao Yuanming slowly advanced toward Tang Tianyu, letting out a cold sneer.

Tang Tianyu held his chest, shaking his head. “Junior Brother Zhao, it’s no use.” Zhao Yuanming staggered but moved forward steadily and firmly toward him.

Tang Tianyu shook his head, raising his sword. The two clashed again, “Clang, clang, clang, clang,” before both retreated two steps.

Zhao Yuanming gave a cold laugh. “You got lucky today!” Tang Tianyu smiled, shaking his head.

“Junior Brother Zhao, you have no more chances!” “Just you wait!” Zhao Yuanming snarled, turned, and sped away, vanishing from Tang Tianyu’s sight. Zhao Yuanming drifted out of the apricot grove, went straight into the mountains, and soon arrived at a cave.

He slipped inside, sat cross-legged on the earth, and began circulating his energy to tend to his wounds. Li Muzhan stroked his chin, sitting on a rock atop the peak, deep in thought, contemplating a method to eliminate Zhao Yuanming soundlessly.

The current Zhao Yuanming was like a wounded beast, far more dangerous. If he couldn't be killed immediately, the counterattack would be even riskier.

Li Muzhan considered it for a moment, then suddenly gritted his teeth—he had to take the gamble! He flickered instantly into the cave.

A cold glint flashed and vanished from his hand. Zhao Yuanming’s eyes snapped open, and just as he reached for his sword, he froze rigid.

Li Muzhan’s flying knife simultaneously pierced his heart and his Dantian. Li Muzhan flashed back to the rock on the mountaintop, opening his Void Eye to stare at Zhao Yuanming for a while, not daring to approach immediately.

As dawn began to break, Li Muzhan reappeared instantly before Zhao Yuanming. The man was dead, his breath long gone.

Li Muzhan stepped forward, retrieved the Heart-Reversing Sword, and unbuckled the sheath along with it… “Big Brother, this is…?” Yi Xiaoru looked at the black sword lying on the table, her gaze confused. “It looks a bit familiar.” “It’s the Heart-Reversing Sword,” Li Muzhan said with a slight smile.

“The Heart-Reversing Sword…” Yi Xiaoru paused, her bright eyes widening. “The Heart-Reversing Sword?!” Li Muzhan nodded.

“Xiao Ru, write to Master immediately and ask how this sword should be dealt with.” “Huh?” Yi Xiaoru was still stunned. Li Muzhan instructed, “This sword is a potent item; how we handle it is critical.

Ask Master!” “Big Brother, how did you get this sword?” Yi Xiaoru asked in disbelief. She knew Li Muzhan’s cultivation was profound, but Zhao Yuanming had fallen to the demonic path and was practically invincible.

In her mind, no matter how powerful Li Muzhan was, he couldn't defeat Zhao Yuanming, at best achieving a stalemate. Li Muzhan replied, “I took advantage of a situation; he and Sect Master Tang gravely wounded each other.” “Martial Uncle Tang came here?!” Yi Xiaoru exclaimed, surprised.

Li Muzhan nodded. “Sect Master Tang launched a sneak attack, but unfortunately, he couldn't kill Zhao Yuanming—Zhao Yuanming was too formidable.

Sect Master Tang also used a demonic artifact, and in the end, both were severely injured. I benefited from the fallout.” “I see…” Yi Xiaoru slowly nodded.

“Is Zhao Yuanming dead?” Li Muzhan confirmed with a nod. “Yes.” Yi Xiaoru let out a breath of relief.

“He’s finally dead!… Alright, I’ll write the letter right away and send it to Master!” Li Muzhan advised, “It’s best to write it discreetly, so no one sees it.” “Understood,” Yi Xiaoru replied with a smile. Li Muzhan returned to the couch and lay down.

He had stood guard on the mountain all night and was exhausted now. Yi Xiaoru smiled.

“Big Brother worked all night, rest for a bit.” Li Muzhan nodded and settled down. For the next two days, Li Muzhan, Yi Xiaoru, and Xiu Xiu stayed in the small courtyard, ignoring outside matters.

Wen Hua and the others didn’t come to disturb them either. It was as if nothing had happened in Jingzhou City.

Li Muzhan spent these days researching the Heart-Reversing Sword. He hadn't drawn it; his intuition warned that it remained dangerous, and the Sword Taming Incantation might be flawed—he dared not test it.

One morning, after finishing her makeup, Yi Xiaoru saw Li Muzhan once again sitting at the table, staring at the Heart-Reversing Sword but refusing to touch it. She laughed.

“Big Brother, you’ve been staring at it for three days!” Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed. “The sword is excellent, but sadly, untouchable!” “Then put it away!” Yi Xiaoru advised.

“Demonic artifacts are no joke. Without the proper artifact-taming incantation, you absolutely cannot touch it!” Li Muzhan nodded.

“I know.” Yi Xiaoru said solemnly, “Big Brother, you must not harbor any (fluke/chance). To this day, there has been no exception—anyone who is not the artifact’s owner will surely die!” Li Muzhan sighed.

“It truly is infinitely profound!… Who originally created these demonic artifacts?” “That remains a great mystery,” Yi Xiaoru shook her head. “No one knows for certain to this day.

Some say they formed naturally; others claim they were forged by human hands. There is no consensus.” (To be continued) RQ