Li Muzhan said, "Senior Brother Hu, submerging myself in the sea, utilizing the ocean's pressure to refine my internal energy—it’s an excellent method, but tragically perilous. I nearly lost my life!"

"Practicing in the sea?" Hu Chu considered it for a moment, then nodded, "That is indeed a fine idea!"

He instantly grasped the concept of the ocean's pressure; sinking deep would feel like being pressed against by a top-tier master, certainly forcing out his potential and greatly accelerating his training.

He also realized the inherent danger, shaking his head, "Were you alone?"

Then it struck him: with Junior Brother He's profound cultivation, who could possibly accompany him down? He must have gone alone—truly dangerous.

Li Muzhan stated, "If Senior Brother Hu wishes to try this, you must find someone to accompany you."

"Does it really work that well?" Hu Chu hesitated slightly.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Otherwise, how could I have reached the Eighth Layer so quickly?"

"Sigh…" Hu Chu let out a sigh, shaking his head, "I know you are a prodigy, but I never imagined you were this formidable. To conceive of such an idea is truly reckless!"

He inwardly shook his head and lamented. This Junior Brother He was both a genius and a lunatic, daring to attempt something so risky. If anything had gone wrong, it would have been utterly senseless!

Li Muzhan chuckled, "My life is incredibly resilient! It’s just that after reaching the Eighth Layer, there’s no further path; no amount of practice helps anymore."

Hu Chu pondered for a moment, then looked up at him with solemn intensity, "Junior Brother He, the crucial secret to the Ninth Layer isn't actually in the Sword Canon; it's passed down orally."

"Hmm—?" Li Muzhan looked surprised.

Hu Chu glanced at Xie Yunfei. Xie Yunfei, understanding the situation, offered, "Master, Uncle-Master He, I shall take my leave now. You two may continue your discussion."

Hu Chu waved his hand, "Go. I will only pass it on to you when you reach Junior Brother He's level. Hearing it now would only harm you."

"Yes, Master." Xie Yunfei breathed a sigh of relief, cupped his hands, and turned to leave.

"Senior Brother Hu truly has a secret technique?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile.

"Practicing according to the Sword Canon allows one to reach only the Eighth Layer. For you, Junior Brother He, with your innate genius, to achieve mastery is truly the fortune of our Sword Sect!" Hu Chu sighed and shook his head, "However, the power of the Ninth Layer of the Yuan Jian Jue is too immense. If it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences are unimaginable!"

Li Muzhan nodded; the more powerful a martial art, the more carefully it must be imparted, just like a precious sword that could cause too much havoc.

Hu Chu said, "Junior Brother He, I will pass this secret to you today, and we shall see if you can master it."

Li Muzhan smiled, "Thank you, Senior Brother Hu!"

He was grateful for Hu Chu's trust; imparting such an oral mantra was no small matter.

Hu Chu waved his hand and laughed, "Although this mantra has been passed down from Sect Master to Sect Master, in truth, no generation of Sect Master has ever had the chance to pass it on externally. I consider myself fortunate!"

Li Muzhan laughed, "I might not be able to master it."

"Haha, Junior Brother He, reaching this stage is already extraordinary. Once your Sword Aura manifests, you are invincible under heaven!" Hu Chu couldn't help but laugh, "This Ninth Layer mantra, just listen to it."

He sensed that the Sword Sect's moment of triumph had arrived.

—

He and Li Muzhan entered the main hall, and Hu Chu whispered the mantra in his ear. These two lines, when combined with the Sword Canon, formed the correct mental cultivation technique for the Ninth Layer.

Li Muzhan listened, nodding at first, then shaking his head with a bitter smile, shaking his head and sighing, "Senior Brother Hu, this is too difficult. I fear I cannot master it!"

Hu Chu deliberated, then nodded helplessly, "Then forget it. Mastering the Sword Aura is already enough! This Ninth Layer cultivation method is far too dangerous!"

Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed.

Hu Chu chuckled, "I don't know what the predecessor who created this method was thinking—to absorb the power of Heavenly Thunder! That is absolute madness."

As he spoke, he glanced at Li Muzhan and shook his head.

He realized that all these genius figures were madmen; every one of them disregarded their lives. The Ancestor who created the Sword Canon was like that, and this Junior Brother He before him was the same.

He worried whether Junior Brother He might truly act recklessly and attempt the Ninth Layer. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but regret sharing it.

"Junior Brother He, you must promise me you won't attempt the Ninth Layer!" Hu Chu urged him quickly.

The Sword Canon had lain dormant for so many years, and finally, a supreme master had emerged—Sword Aura manifesting, invincible under heaven. If anything happened to him attempting the Ninth Layer, Hu Chu felt he could never atone, even in death.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Since someone has mastered it before, there must be some possibility."

"That is purely courting death!" Hu Chu frowned and snorted.

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled, "Then why did Senior Brother Hu tell me?"

"Because you mastered the Eighth Layer, I naturally must tell you the Ninth Layer," Hu Chu clarified, "Lest Junior Brother have any misunderstandings."

Li Muzhan smiled, "I don't think there is no hope."

"How can a mortal body compare to Heavenly Thunder?!" Hu Chu shook his head.

Li Muzhan countered, "Since I cultivated the Sword Aura, perhaps I have a chance."

Hu Chu frowned and pondered, showing some hesitation.

He couldn't definitively confirm the truth of Li Muzhan's words; he hadn't reached that level himself and didn't know if the Sword Aura could truly withstand lightning.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Senior Brother, if I truly manage to master the Ninth Layer and become invincible, well, for now, there are still demonic artifacts to rely on."

"Alas…" Hu Chu sighed and shook his head, his thoughts complicated.

"Senior Brother Hu, I am leaving now," Li Muzhan said with a smile.

—

With those words, he turned and departed the main hall, returning to the Hidden Sect.

He didn't fear lightning as much as he let on; he had only spoken that way to Hu Chu to avoid arousing suspicion. He had encountered lightning several times before and had some understanding of it.

Furthermore, being a person from a later age, he didn't hold the same awe toward lightning as people of this era; it wasn't so mysterious. He had survived several lightning strikes previously.

However, this method was indeed overwhelmingly potent, requiring one to draw lightning into the body to temper the internal energy, thereby making it supremely refined, enabling it to break free from worldly constraints and manifest outside the body.

Li Muzhan considered it deeply; this method was truly exquisite, and only such a path could violate the laws of heaven to achieve true external gangqi.

The previous Sword Aura was merely internal energy channeled into the sword, faintly leaking beyond it. While powerful, it wasn't quite enough to sweep across the world unchecked.

He was eager to return to his original world to exact revenge and reunite with the several women, but he didn't know if the passage between the two worlds was safe. For absolute certainty, he had to suppress his desire and push his cultivation to the limit.

If he perished due to insufficient cultivation, it would be a terrible regret, rendering everything he’d done moot. It was better to endure this momentary urgency and maximize his strength.

It was already evening when he arrived. Yi Xiaoru and the others were practicing their swordsmanship. Seeing him appear, they all smiled, looking at him warmly.

"Dao'er's cultivation has advanced further," Gao Jingxuan nodded lightly, displaying an approving expression.

Li Muzhan smiled, "The Sword Canon is indeed unfathomably profound. Master, you have also improved significantly."

"We mustn't be lazy either. How is the Sword Sect?" Gao Jingxuan smiled.

Li Muzhan nodded, "Senior Brother Hu treats me very well."

Gao Jingxuan smiled, "Senior Brother Hu is a good man, wholly dedicated to revitalizing the Sword Sect. With you here, he will surely realize his wish."

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head without elaborating. Gao Jingxuan waved her hand, "Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s stop practicing and go prepare dinner!"

Cheng Lian laughed, "Little Junior Sister, you keep Junior Brother He company; we’ll go cook."

"Senior Sister Cheng…" Yi Xiaoru looked embarrassed.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Thank you, Senior Sister Cheng and Senior Sister Zhu."

Zhu Chuyun huffed good-naturedly, "You indeed favor some people! Alright, alright, go on!"

Yi Xiaoru, blushing, accompanied Li Muzhan back to the small courtyard. They sat in the small pavilion to talk; since dinner wasn't ready, they couldn't go to the sleeping couch.

After sharing intimate words for a while, they soon ate dinner. The five of them sat at one table, talking and laughing, warm as a single family.

Li Muzhan departed again the next morning. This time, he planned to travel to a region prone to heavy rain and frequent thunderstorms to begin cultivating the Ninth Layer of the Yuan Jian Jue.