Li Muzhan smiled at her serious contemplation, tilting her head, and couldn't help but chuckle, "What are you thinking about?"

Liu Biyun laughed, "In terms of swordplay finesse, no one surpasses Junior Sister Wu. Brother, if you wish to become familiar with our martial arts, you should spar with Junior Sister Wu often!"

Li Muzhan shook his head and laughed, "Perhaps not. She is too clingy."

The moment Wu Jingyi saw him, she became impatient to latch on, impossible to shake off. Her obsession was with the sword; she pursued Li Muzhan out of dedication to swordsmanship, not romantic affection.

She was still like a young girl whose heart had yet to open, with only sword techniques on her mind and nothing else, so she clung to Li Muzhan without any reserve, her eyes lighting up as soon as she saw him and pouncing forward.

Liu Biyun pursed her lips into a soft smile, "Junior Sister Wu is indeed very attached to Big Brother. These past few days, she has been coming early, waiting to see if you have emerged from seclusion. Oh, speaking of the devil!"

Li Muzhan sighed and shook his head. Wu Jingyi’s cheerful footsteps sounded as she pushed the door open directly. The instant she spotted Li Muzhan, her eyes shone brightly, and she cried out joyfully, "Big Brother Li!"

She was clad in a pink silk gown, looking charming and delightful. She playfully threw herself toward him, "Big Brother, have you finished your seclusion?"

Li Muzhan nodded, "Yes, just came out."

"Has Big Brother's divine skill advanced greatly?" Wu Jingyi giggled.

Li Muzhan shook his head, "It's alright."

"But Big Brother looks radiant!" Wu Jingyi tilted her head, examining him with her bright eyes, then smiled sweetly, "Does Big Brother still cultivate internal energy? What's the point of cultivating internal energy? Swordplay is far superior!"

Li Muzhan replied without patience, "How can a sword be fast if internal energy is insufficient?"

"If the swordplay is exquisite, the sword need not be overly fast," Wu Jingyi retorted proudly, laughing, "The internal energy of several senior brothers far surpasses mine, yet they are still defeated by me?!"

Li Muzhan turned to look at Liu Biyun. Liu Biyun shook her head, "She has challenged everyone recently; several senior brothers have lost to her."

"Then she is the top expert?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile.

"More or less," Liu Biyun nodded slowly, "Senior Brother Mo and the others have all been defeated."

"Oh—?" Li Muzhan looked at Wu Jingyi with surprise. He had assumed Wu Jingyi was only challenging other disciples, not that she had actually taken on the Four Heroes of Dragon Mountain Sect.

Wu Jingyi pouted, saying helplessly, "I am not the top expert. The top expert is Senior Sister Liu!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "That truly is remarkable."

It was normal that she could not defeat Liu Biyun. Liu Biyun’s swordplay, having been guided by his pointers and tempered by sparring with various styles, had progressed by leaps and bounds, now rivaling Wu Jingyi's skill.

"Hehe. Big Brother taught me the swordplay!" Wu Jingyi laughed cheerfully, "Big Brother, come, come, see if my sword practice has improved!"

Without waiting for Li Muzhan to reply, she drew her sword and stabbed out—from the moment the blade left its sheath to the moment it reached Li Muzhan was barely the blink of an eye.

She knew that if Li Muzhan started speaking, he would inevitably refuse, so she opted for a direct approach... Li Muzhan shook his head helplessly, "Though the swordplay is good, it is not invincible!"

"Ding..." Li Muzhan curled his left index and middle fingers and tapped lightly on the center of the blade. Wu Jingyi instantly recoiled as if struck by electricity, her body trembling, and the sword dropped.

She exerted all her effort just to keep the sword from flying out of her grasp, immediately retreating a step and accusing him petulantly, "Big Brother, you are bullying me!"

She assumed this move relied on Li Muzhan’s profound internal energy; naturally, in terms of deep inner power, she was far from his match.

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled, "I didn't use any internal energy for that strike; your swordplay is not yet perfected."

"...Again!" Wu Jingyi puffed out her lips, glaring resentfully. She stamped her foot and lunged with her sword once more.

Li Muzhan employed the same trick, tapping the blade again. The sword immediately began to fall as if struck on its vital point, like a snake whose seven inches had been hit. She managed to clutch it, but her bright eyes widened, staring at him in displeasure.

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head, "Little girl, why would I lie to you? I truly didn't use internal energy."

"If you didn't use internal energy, how could you make my sword drop?!" Wu Jingyi grumbled unhappily.

Li Muzhan laughed, "This is also an application of swordsmanship. When you reach that level in the future, you will naturally understand. If I explain it now, you won't grasp it."

"How will I know if you don't tell me!" Wu Jingyi pouted.

Li Muzhan said, "This involves the subtle application of internal energy. Your internal energy is neither deep nor pure enough; knowing it now would be useless."

"Tell me anyway, Big Brother!" Wu Jingyi pleaded coquettishly.

Li Muzhan touched the bridge of his nose helplessly, then nodded, "Very well. I will tell you, lest you become solely focused on swordplay and neglect your internal energy."

"Good, good, tell me quickly!" Wu Jingyi nodded repeatedly.

Li Muzhan explained, "A person's strength is intimately connected to their breathing. There are always pauses between exhalations and inhalations. The strength shifts subtly during the transition between inhaling and exhaling—this creates an opening. Strike into that opening, and you can move thousands of pounds with one or two forces."

"Is that so..." Wu Jingyi gripped her sword, focusing on her breathing, trying to feel the subtle shifts in power. After thinking it over, she nodded, "That makes sense, but it happens too fast. Who can perceive it then!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "When your internal energy is purified to a certain extent, your senses will naturally become acute enough to perceive it. Not yet, though."

"To what extent must it be purified?" Wu Jingyi asked.

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled, "That depends on your diligent practice. The purer, the better. It's different for everyone. You must practice internal energy just like you practice the sword—let it be as pure as the sword itself."

"I see... that sounds too difficult," Wu Jingyi sighed, her small face crumpled in distress.

Li Muzhan laughed, "If it weren't difficult, how could it possess such power?"

Wu Jingyi sighed, "Big Brother, so how should I practice?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "That is something you must discover on your own."

"Big Brother must have a method, right?" Wu Jingyi's bright eyes suddenly flashed. She stepped forward, took hold of his arm, and said sweetly, "Help me out, Big Brother!"

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head, "This is a secret art, not to be passed on externally."

"Oh..." Wu Jingyi helplessly let go of his arm and sighed, "Then there’s nothing to be done..." Although she was obsessed with the Way of the Sword, upon seeing any exquisite sword technique, she would strive to learn it without eating or drinking. But since it was a secret art, it could not be shared; she understood this much about social courtesies.

"Big Brother, if there truly is a way, please help Junior Sister Wu," Liu Biyun said helplessly; she truly couldn't bear to see Wu Jingyi’s pitiful expression.

Li Muzhan smiled, "I think you two should not pursue this path. It is too arduous. Furthermore, it’s thankless work."

"Then what path should we take?" Wu Jingyi looked up and asked.

Li Muzhan said, "It is better to pursue deep internal energy."

"But cultivating internal energy is too slow!" Wu Jingyi lamented.

Li Muzhan laughed, "Don't you have a technique called 'Vast Spirit Sword' among your Thirty-Six Arts?"

"We do," Wu Jingyi nodded, pouting, "But that sword art is quite mediocre, even being listed among the Thirty-Six Arts. I always thought the name sounded nice, nothing more."

Li Muzhan shook his head and chuckled, "You are mistaken. The foundation of the Vast Spirit Sword is qi cultivation—nurturing the vast spirit. You haven't truly grasped its essence."

Wu Jingyi tilted her head in thought. Her face flushed with embarrassment, "When I first saw it, I was only focused on the sword movements and didn't think deeply about these aspects!"

Li Muzhan explained, "If you cultivate the Vast Spirit Sword well, your internal energy will be sufficient... The Vast Spirit Sword emphasizes using qi to command the sword, which is the most orthodox method of swordsmanship. When you cultivate endless profound flavor, you will touch upon the true path of this art... Alas, this sword technique appears shallow but is profoundly deep. I see that everyone in Dragon Mountain Sect has overlooked it."

Wu Jingyi thought for a while, then suddenly asked in surprise, "Big Brother Li, how do you know so much about our Vast Spirit Sword? Have you seen the manual?"

She glanced sideways at Liu Biyun, who shot her a look, then turned to Li Muzhan, "I have also practiced the Vast Spirit Sword, and I never thought it was that good... Big Brother, why didn't you tell me?"

Wu Jingyi looked at Li Muzhan, curious how he could be so knowledgeable. The Divine Mechanism Pavilion was the most mysterious place in the sect, guarded by an Elder. No one could force or sneak in. Based only on what Liu Biyun had demonstrated, could he grasp this level of depth?!

Li Muzhan smiled, "Biyun, your nature prefers stillness, making you capable of calmly cultivating internal energy, unlike Jingyi who is too restless. Instead of cultivating the Vast Spirit Sword, it would be better for you to practice internal cultivation techniques."

Wu Jingyi declared, "Big Brother Li, then I will practice the Vast Spirit Sword!"

Li Muzhan nodded, "Your nature prefers action, so practicing the Vast Spirit Sword is better for you than sitting in meditation... There are no martial arts that grant success overnight; you must proceed step by step."

"I will work hard!" Wu Jingyi clenched her small fists and spoke with force.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly. Liu Biyun asked, "Junior Sister Wu, have Senior Brother Mo and the others returned?"

"Not yet," Wu Jingyi shook her head, pouting disdainfully, "Still busy fussing over that secret treasure. I doubt there's any good to come of it!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "You don't believe in the secret treasure?"

"That Feng Batian is no benevolent figure; it might just be a trap," Wu Jingyi scoffed.

Li Muzhan nodded, "It is rare for Jingyi to think this way!"

Few people could remain calm when faced with a secret treasure. The treasure was a fatal temptation to martial artists; almost everyone thought the same way: grab it first, regardless of whether it was real or not.

Wu Jingyi smiled, "Big Brother Li isn't going to the secret treasure either?"

Li Muzhan shook his head and laughed, "With the Dragon Mountain Sect here, what part would there be for me?"

"Hehe, if Big Brother Li truly went to, how could they possibly stand against you!" Wu Jingyi chirped playfully.

Li Muzhan said, "Better not. Biyun, you should leave first!"

Liu Biyun immediately shot him a reproving glance, and Wu Jingyi quickly said, "Big Brother Li, I'm leaving now!"

Before Li Muzhan could speak, she bolted away, not forgetting to close the door behind her as she fled.

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled, "This Junior Sister Wu has some sense of propriety!"

"Big Brother, you're leaving already?!" Liu Biyun chided him.

Li Muzhan smiled, "I want to walk around, to see the grand landscape."

"Alone, Big Brother?!" Liu Biyun squinted skeptically.

Li Muzhan nodded, but Liu Biyun snorted, unconvinced, "Is Miss Yi alright?"

Li Muzhan touched the bridge of his nose, looking somewhat disheveled.

Just as Liu Biyun was about to speak, Wu Jingyi’s hurried footsteps suddenly approached. She pushed the door open, crying, "Big Brother Li, Senior Sister Liu!"

"What is it? Why the hurry?!" Liu Biyun asked.

Wu Jingyi exclaimed, "It's bad! Senior Brother Mo and Senior Brother Xie have been gravely injured!"

"Hmm—?" Liu Biyun frowned.

Wu Jingyi rushed on, "They just arrived on the mountain, and they both seem to be unconscious. They've probably been carried to the Sect Master now!"

"Big Brother, should we go take a look?!" Liu Biyun asked, frowning with some anxiety.

Li Muzhan waved his hand, "You go and see. I will wait for your news here."

"Alright then." Liu Biyun nodded quickly. Wu Jingyi added, "I'll go with Senior Sister!"

The two left the small courtyard in a flash. Li Muzhan stood with his hands clasped behind his back in the center of the courtyard. The sky had completely darkened, and the faint scent of burning firewood drifted through the air.

It seemed they had encountered a tough opponent. There were quite a few in the world who were not afraid of the Dragon Mountain Sect. This time, he wondered which strange experts and masters were involved. Mo Jiye and the others possessed top-tier martial arts; ordinary experts couldn't handle them. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) RQ