He suddenly looked down at his waist, the long sword trembling slightly, eager to break free from its scabbard, restless.
Li Muzhan frowned, channeling his inner force into the sheath, suppressing the fiendish sword's stirrings, the surging malevolent energy subdued by his formidable spirit.
He paused, then abruptly stamped his foot downwards—a dull thud resonated, leaving a deep pit in the earth. He drew the long sword from his waist, placed it into the hole, and covered it with soil.
This blade was the demonic sword he had acquired from the Linhai Pavilion. He didn't know the proper way to wield it, but he could barely resist its backlash through sheer willpower.
Demonic artifacts, meant to counter Sacred Artifacts, only needed to be carried close; they didn't require drawing to be used. Thus, he hadn't brought the other demonic sword he intended to give to Gao Jingxuan.
The demonic sword reacted particularly strongly here, which others would notice. He thought: arriving suddenly and knowing nothing, attracting attention was unwise.
After consideration, he pulled out a piece of jade pendant from his robes, smooth and warm like water. With his index finger, he lightly traced the ancient character "Seal" onto it, then buried the jade a zhang away.
This jade pendant would seal all the demonic sword's aura and sever its connection to the outside world. No one but he himself would be able to sense it.
Having completed this, he floated off in one direction. It was early morning where he started; the other world was experiencing evening.
He walked from dawn to dusk, yet he was still within the dense woods. Initially, he had the leisure to casually observe the surrounding scenery. As time passed, his leisure evaporated, his speed slowly increased, growing ever faster, truly like a flash of lightning, passing in a blur.
From morning till evening, he estimated he had covered over ten thousand li, yet he remained within the dense woods; the scenery around him seemed unchanged.
He looked up toward the horizon—the setting sun hung low. Scarlet clouds dyed the entire forest crimson. He headed directly west, towards the direction of the sun, stubbornly walking in one direction, refusing to believe otherwise.
The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, twilight rose, and then a bright moon hung in the sky, casting down its pure radiance, illuminating his path ahead.
In such an environment, Li Muzhan was like a fish in water. Spiritual energy was abundant; merely circulating the Void Qi Assimilation Art momentarily replenished his inner force. Coupled with the Purple Blood Elixir restoring his stamina, and his powerful spirit, he felt no fatigue whatsoever. After walking for a day and a night, he was still vibrant.
By the next morning, the scenery changed. It seemed he had exited the first forest and arrived in another, where the trees were different species and not as tall.
The Eye of the Void cast its gaze downward, revealing everything within ten li. He suddenly altered direction, becoming like a fleeting shadow, descending the mountain in an instant, traversing another stretch of dense woods, finally stopping abruptly on a small path.
Just as he stood still, two figures rounded the bend in the distance on the path: a handsome young man carrying a young woman in a rosy silk dress, moving as if riding the wind, their feet hovering above the ground.
Seeing Li Muzhan, the handsome youth narrowed his long eyes slightly. His pace didn't falter, and he rushed straight toward Li Muzhan, arriving in front of him instantly.
Li Muzhan had clearly seen the pair. The woman in the rosy silk dress was slumped on the youth’s back, appearing to be a couple. Yet, Li Muzhan sensed something was amiss.
The woman was plump and exquisitely delicate, with a round face, her demeanor as gentle as water. Her soft eyes could melt a person, involuntarily inspiring pity.
Her bright eyes now flashed with shame, indignation, anger, and terror, making her seem even more worthy of compassion.
Li Muzhan was the sort to cherish beautiful women. Though he knew it was ill-advised to play the hero at this moment, seeing her state, he couldn't help but step forward. This handsome youth possessed supreme Qinggong and deep cultivation.
As the youth approached, Li Muzhan remained silent, unsure if the language of this world was the same. He picked up a long staff from the side and swung it violently toward the handsome youth.
“How bold!” The handsome youth sneered, his body shifting to evade, simultaneously pressing forward with a kick. Thump! Li Muzhan met the kick with his own foot, foot-to-foot. Li Muzhan did not budge, and the handsome youth staggered back two steps.
“Eh?!” The handsome youth stared at Li Muzhan in astonishment.
Li Muzhan gave a cold laugh. His foot spun, and he instantly appeared behind the handsome youth, reaching out a palm to seize the young woman, but he was evaded. The handsome youth suddenly thrust out a punch.
“Woo…” A roar, as if from some unknown fierce beast, echoed, and a fist shadow shot forth.
Li Muzhan inwardly sighed; it was just as he suspected. Seeing the surrounding spiritual energy so abundant, he had anticipated that inner force could be easily projected externally in this world.
He likewise sent out a punch. A dragon-shaped fist shadow roared, swallowing the incoming shadow, and instantly reached the handsome youth.
The handsome youth hadn't expected the dragon-shaped fist shadow to be so fast. Unable to dodge in time, he was sent flying.
Li Muzhan leaped into the air, catching the young woman. His right hand moved five fingers like strumming a pipa, stroking her upper back once. The woman trembled, letting out a soft, moaning sound.
Li Muzhan gently set her down and asked softly, “Miss, are you injured anywhere?”
The woman in the rosy silk dress performed a curtsy, then suddenly widened her bright eyes and opened her mouth, staring fixedly behind him. Li Muzhan abruptly punched backward; the dragon-shaped fist shadow instantly struck the handsome youth.
Bang! With a muffled sound, the handsome youth flew away once more.
Li Muzhan smiled, "This person intended to harm you, didn't he?"
The woman let out a soft breath and curtsied again, "Thank you for saving me, honored sir!"
Li Muzhan waved his hand, "I hope I haven't misunderstood. I saw your expression was troubled, so I felt it strange and interfered out of curiosity."
The woman pursed her lips and glared at the handsome youth, who was struggling to rise: "Sir, he is a wicked man! Please execute justice on my behalf!"
Li Muzhan asked, "How did he act wickedly?"
The woman shook her head, her face flushing, "Sir, could you escort me home?"
"Where does the young lady live?" Li Muzhan nodded.
The woman replied, "This humble one resides in Dongyang City."
Li Muzhan awkwardly rubbed the bridge of his nose, "I have never left the mountain and don't know where Dongyang City is. I will need the young lady to guide me."
"Very well." The woman let out a breath and nodded, her bright eyes never leaving the handsome youth.
The handsome youth struggled to get up, but repeatedly failed, collapsing halfway through each attempt. Li Muzhan's dragon-shaped fist energy contained several layers of force, wave after wave, not allowing him to rise.
Li Muzhan said, "Let's go."
"Him...?" The woman looked toward the handsome youth.
Li Muzhan shook his head, "He cannot continue to do evil. Let him fend for himself."
The woman stared at the handsome youth for a moment, seemingly unwilling but eventually nodding in agreement, offering a radiant smile, "Sir, let's walk along this road first."
Li Muzhan looked somewhat troubled at her feet. Her delicate, exquisite feet were only clad in snow-white cloth socks, without any boots; she couldn't walk.