"We are merely trying to minimize casualties, Miss Yang, please understand!" The silver-bearded elder chuckled, sounding quite pleased with himself.

Li Muchan smiled and shook his head. There was a grain of truth to that statement. From the enemy's perspective, whatever means were effective, whatever strategy yielded the greatest gain with the smallest sacrifice—that was the true path, unbound by conventional morality.

To be constrained by ethics or other scruples, resulting in the loss of more disciples, was hardly the mark of a competent leader.

Yang Ruoruo gave a cold laugh, "If you truly capture me, your destruction is certain. Your Five Wonders Mountain will face utter annihilation. I truly don't know how foolish you can be!"

"Heh, Miss Yang has quite the mighty tone!" The silver-bearded elder shook his head, chuckling, "Though our Five Wonders Mountain may not be top-tier, surely we aren't so easily wiped out?"

"If you don't believe me, just try!" Yang Ruoruo shot him a sidelong glance.

Li Muchan sighed, shaking his head in resignation, "Gentlemen, perhaps we should let this matter rest for today. I have no desire to kill anyone!"

"Oh, such lofty words from the young man!" The silver-bearded elder burst out laughing, "You two truly are a perfect match—one louder than the other!"

Li Muchan countered, "Sirs, the Jade Peak Sect is immensely powerful, one of the foremost great sects in the world. Can your Five Wonders Mountain truly withstand the ensuing tempest of fury?"

"Our Five Wonders Mountain isn't made of paper!" The silver-bearded elder snorted coldly, "The Jade Peak Sect has quite the reputation, but fame often outstrips reality!"

Li Muchan sighed, "You are mistaken. A lineage spanning ten thousand years will never be built on mere empty renown. I suggest you all awaken!"

"Heh, thank you for the advice, young man!" The silver-bearded elder laughed heartily, shaking his head, "But we still have to kill you!"

Li Muchan raised an eyebrow slightly, then smiled, "And why is that?"

The silver-bearded elder frowned. Li Muchan's composure made him wary. A person who smiled upon hearing they were marked for death was either unbalanced or possessed an overweening confidence—and confidence usually didn't arise from thin air, especially when one couldn't gauge the man's true depth. He seemed to possess no martial arts skill whatsoever.

"Who exactly are you?!" The silver-bearded elder asked in a deep voice.

Li Muchan shook his head and smiled, "Just an obscure nobody, not worth mentioning. Why the insistence on killing me?"

"Because we don't want anyone to know," the silver-bearded elder took a deep breath, grunting grimly, forcing down the sudden sense of dread in his heart.

Li Muchan smiled, then glanced at Yang Ruoruo, "Miss Yang, have you sent the signal?"

Yang Ruoruo nodded. The silver-bearded elder's expression flickered slightly, then he laughed again, "Don't try to fool this old man, Miss Yang. Stop stalling and let's go!"

Yang Ruoruo drew her sword with a sharp shing, saying coldly, "Enough nonsense. Come on then!"

"Sigh..." The silver-bearded elder sighed and shook his head, "Truly, refusing to shed a tear until the coffin lid closes. People from your Jade Peak Sect all have the same stubborn temper. Come on, make your move..." Li Muchan also sighed and shook his head, "Truly, refusing to shed a tear until the coffin lid closes!"

A flash of cold light glimmered at his waist, and immediately, cries of pain erupted. People dropped their swords, clutching their right wrists, groaning in agony. Some collapsed to the ground, others crouched down, and a few simply fainted.

Li Muchan's sword was already back in its sheath. He shook his head and sighed again.

Yang Ruoruo stared at Li Muchan, her bright eyes wide with disbelief.

She had clearly seen his movement: the tip of his sword had sliced across the wrist of every single man like a streak of flowing light before gracefully returning to its scabbard, utterly devoid of any semblance of flashy effort.

The speed was astonishing, yet it gave the impression of slowness, a seemingly effortless maneuver that simultaneously felt utterly unavoidable.

She knew Li Muchan's swordsmanship was profoundly honed, and she had heard he had mastered the Yuan Sword Art, but she never imagined his skill could reach such a pinnacle.

Li Muchan's sword stroke seemed to open a vast gateway before her. She had always been uncertain what the supreme realm of swordsmanship looked like, as if a thick fog obscured the path ahead. Seeing that single strike from Li Muchan, she suddenly realized: this was the highest echelon of the Way of the Sword—handling the heavy as if it were light, transforming speed into tranquility, complexity into simplicity; every technique distilled into one elegant, effortless slice.

Li Muchan smiled as he looked at the silver-bearded elder, "Do you still wish to kill me?"

"You... who exactly are you!" The smile on the silver-bearded elder's face froze, his expression darkening. He pointed at Li Muchan and let out a cold snort.

Li Muchan smiled, "He Zudao of the Sword Sect of the Myriad Saint Sect!"

"Myriad Saint Sect!?" The silver-bearded elder’s face shifted again. He took a deep breath and slowly asked, "The foremost sect of the Demonic Path?"

Li Muchan smiled and shook his head, "The world slanders our sect; the Myriad Saint Sect is not a faction of the Demonic Path."

"Are you truly a disciple of the Myriad Saint Sect?" the silver-bearded elder asked in a grave tone.

Li Muchan laughed, "Who would dare impersonate a disciple of my sect!?"

"Very well, we clearly misjudged you!" The silver-bearded elder took a deep breath, his voice low, "Forget it. What happened today is considered null and void!"

Li Muchan chuckled, "Then I thank you for your generosity!"

The silver-bearded elder gave Yang Ruoruo a long, hard look, "Then we shall take our leave!"

As he spoke, he turned to depart, but suddenly a light, crisp giggle rang out. Yao Jiameng materialized, clad in flowing white robes, arriving as if an immortal descending from the void.

"Master!" Yang Ruoruo called out softly.

Yao Jiameng pursed her lips and chuckled lightly, "Has my girl learned how treacherous hearts can be and how difficult the world is?"

"The Five Wonders Mountain spirits never rest!" Yang Ruoruo replied flatly.

Yao Jiameng chuckled, "That's due to your own inadequacy! ... Young Master He, I apologize for the trouble; thank you for drawing your sword to assist us!"

Li Muchan smiled and shook his head, "My drawing my sword is inconsequential. They could never harm Miss Yang, especially since Sect Master Yao arrived personally?"

Yao Jiameng sighed, shaking her head helplessly, "These people, honestly, they are absolutely terrible—always bullying us women!"

The silver-bearded elder’s face flushed red as he glared fiercely at Yao Jiameng, "Yao, you finally showed up!"

Yao Jiameng replied coolly, "And so what if I have?"

The silver-bearded elder suddenly threw his head back and roared with laughter. Yao Jiameng glanced around, then spoke calmly, "Enough, Hu. Bring out whatever tricks you have left. I’d like to see what skills you possess!"

Clap, clap! The silver-bearded elder suddenly tossed something towards the sky. A mass of red mist exploded overhead, transforming into a red cloud that hung suspended in the air without dissipating.

Yao Jiameng frowned, then vanished from her spot, reappearing directly behind the silver-bearded elder. Her jade palm pressed downward. As the elder saw her disappear, he quickly slid a step aside, narrowly dodging the palm strike.

Fearing any further delay, Yao Jiameng followed up her missed strike with another. The silver-bearded elder's footwork was agile, weaving beneath Yao Jiameng’s jade palms, unable to pin him down for the moment.

In the time it took for a few exchanges, the sound of footsteps echoed, and soon nearly a hundred men in black poured onto the scene, surrounding the mountaintop, making escape impossible.

Li Muchan assessed the hundred or so individuals; all were formidable experts—old men, middle-aged men, but no young disciples. This obscure Five Wonders Mountain possessed surprisingly deep reserves; far surpassing the capabilities of an ordinary sect.

"Heh heh, Yao, today is your day of doom!" The silver-bearded elder sneered triumphantly, his movement becoming even more fluid, resembling a wisp of fog.

"That depends on your skill then!" Yao Jiameng pursed her lips, smiling lightly, unconcerned, as if she hadn't noticed the nearly one hundred masters surrounding her.

The silver-bearded elder growled, "Today, even if it means mutual destruction, I will slay you to avenge my Senior Sister!"

"With just your Five Wonders Mountain?" Yao Jiameng snorted, "You’re still a bit short if you think you can keep me here!"

With that, she flickered suddenly, instantly appearing behind an elderly man in black. Her palm landed squarely on the old man’s back. With a bang, he was sent flying, spitting a mist of blood mid-air, and then with another thud, he hit the ground, motionless.