“Elder Wu, why are Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Brother Liu even taking action?” A youth in a blue robe approached, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice. “They are Inner Sect disciples!”
“It must be Young He’s doing,” Elder Wu waved a dismissive hand. “Youthful arrogance!”
“Elder Wu, this isn’t according to the rules, is it!” another blue-robed youth sneered.
“Our Tianyuan Pavilion’s welcoming ceremony is handled by Outer Sect disciples. The Inner Sect disciples are all busy; when would they have the spare time?”
“If Senior Brother He acts this way, won’t it throw everything into chaos?”
The two kept up their resentful chatter.
Elder Wu waved his hand. “Enough, you two shouldn't exchange barbs like that! ... This is a rare opportunity, watch closely. You Outer Sect disciples rarely settle down to practice diligently; your swordplay is far from perfected!”
The two blue-robed youths snorted, unconvinced. Their practiced sword forms were far inferior to those of the Inner Sect disciples; no amount of refinement would bridge that gap.
Elder Wu glanced at them, instantly discerning their thoughts from their expressions, and shook his head. “It doesn't matter what martial art it is, the most crucial element is always the person. Look at Little Li’s moves—they are utterly plain, yet he turns the ordinary into the miraculous. Why bother with overly intricate techniques?”
The two blue-robed youths fell silent, unable to refute the statement.
The moves Li Muzhan employed were the simplest, showing no trace of refinement, yet they were astonishingly effective, truly turning the mundane into the magical, leaving spectators breathless.
“You lads, your insight is shallow! ... You think the more exquisite the sword form, the greater its power, not realizing that the mastery of swordplay is paramount!” Elder Wu sighed, shaking his head.
“Elder Wu speaks the absolute truth, we were mistaken!” The two blue-robed youths stared fixedly at Li Muzhan and slowly nodded.
“There’s no point in letting this drag on. Let’s go!” Elder Wu strode forward with imposing swiftness, accelerating his pace until he reached Li Muzhan and the others. “Enough, that’s all for today!”
“Elder Wu!” The two youths sheathed their swords, jumped out of the circle, and bowed to him.
Elder Wu waved them off without another word. The two youths looked slightly awkward, bowed again, turned, and walked away. They said nothing, but as they left, one glanced back at Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan smiled. “Indeed, you are disciples of a renowned sect; your swordplay is not bad.”
Elder Wu chuckled heartily. “No matter how good their swordplay, they couldn't touch you. Little Li, are you proficient in swordsmanship?”
Li Muzhan nodded. “Precisely.”
“Good! Good!” Elder Wu smiled. “The sword techniques of our Tianyuan Pavilion are considered unparalleled. You’ve come to the right place!”
Li Muzhan smiled slightly. Elder Wu then said, “Follow me closely; we are going up the mountain!”
Elder Wu walked at the forefront with great strides, while Li Muzhan followed behind with the two blue-robed youths. The pair smiled and gave him a thumbs-up; Li Muzhan returned a modest smile.
With Elder Wu leading the way, no one dared obstruct them along the path. Li Muzhan sensed people lurking in ambush on both sides, ready to spring out, but upon seeing Elder Wu, they could only shrink back.
The journey was unimpeded. The winding, rugged path could not halt their lightness skills. After about two Kezhong (a period of time), the view suddenly opened up, as if the mountaintop had been sliced off, the steep terrain abruptly leveling out. Before them lay continuous architecture, towering as if floating in the clouds, dyed gold by the setting sun—magnificent and imposing, naturally inducing a sense of inadequacy.
Li Muzhan let out an impressed exclamation.
“This is our Tianyuan Pavilion,” Elder Wu turned and smiled. “What do you think?”
Li Muzhan surveyed his surroundings. “An excellent place!”
Elder Wu said, “Little Li, go rest first. In a few days, we will hold the initiation ceremony together.”
Li Muzhan nodded. The two blue-robed youths led him to a small courtyard, stopping before one, and said with a smile, “Junior Brother Li, how is this place?”
This small courtyard was situated in the far east, bordering a lush green pine forest, from which could faintly be heard the whistling of the mountain wind sweeping over the treetops.
Li Muzhan nodded in agreement and thanked the two.
Just as the two were about to push open the door, the adjacent courtyard suddenly opened with a squeak, and a blue-robed youth, strikingly handsome, stepped out.
“Junior Brother Lin!” The two turned and smiled.
The blue-robed youth had refined eyebrows and bright eyes; his features were handsome, and his upright posture exuded a heroic air. He was truly a rare beauty.
“Oh? I don’t recognize this person.” He looked toward Li Muzhan, his bright eyes flashing with sharp light.
The two blue-robed youths introduced him: the person before them was Lin Shaobai, who had entered three years prior. He was technically a junior junior brother, but now, with Li Muzhan’s arrival, he had advanced a rank to senior brother.
Li Muzhan clasped his hands in greeting. “Greetings, Senior Brother Lin.” Although he was younger, Lin Shaobai had joined earlier—this was the rule of Tianyuan Pavilion: seniority was determined by the order of entry.
“Heh heh, wonderful!” Lin Shaobai scrutinized Li Muzhan with visible pleasure. “Don’t worry, with me around, no one in the Pavilion will dare bully Junior Brother Li in the future!”
Li Muzhan thanked him for his goodwill.
One blue-robed youth shook his head and smiled. “Junior Brother Lin, you underestimate Junior Brother Li. When we came up the mountain, some Inner Sect disciples tried to cause trouble, but they gained no advantage against Junior Brother Li.”
“Oh—?!” Lin Shaobai was astonished. “Junior Brother Li subdued Inner Sect disciples!”
A blue-robed youth proudly proclaimed, “Junior Brother Li defeated Senior Brother He to gain entry!”
“Senior Brother He?” Lin Shaobai was even more surprised. “He Sen?”
“That’s right!” The other blue-robed youth sneered. “He always acts like his eyes are on the top of his head. It’s satisfying to see him taught a lesson by Junior Brother Li this time!”
“Senior Brother He has quite the following, Junior Brother Li needs to be careful!” Lin Shaobai cautioned. “Every Inner Sect disciple holds grudges fiercely and won't swallow this insult easily!”
“Junior Brother Lin speaks sense; Junior Brother Li must stay alert, be careful, and be very careful!” The two blue-robed youths nodded hastily.
Li Muzhan smiled and nodded.
Lin Shaobai said enthusiastically, “You two senior brothers must be tired. Leave Junior Brother Li to me!”
The two blue-robed youths looked at him, then at Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan smiled. “We’ll trouble you then, Senior Brother Lin.”
“Very well.” The two blue-robed youths did not refuse. They had pushed themselves hard on the ascent, enduring He Sen’s harassment while clenching their teeth. Now, their bodies felt completely broken, and they were indeed exhausted.
After the two departed, Lin Shaobai smiled. “Junior Brother Li, follow me!”
Lin Shaobai looked handsome and cold, but he was actually quite warm-hearted. He led Li Muzhan into the small courtyard and helped him organize the bedding.
Lin Shaobai said with a smile, “The bedding is ready and has been aired, so there’s no musty smell. You can use it right away.”
Li Muzhan nodded. He didn’t actually care much about this; he didn't need sleep anymore, meditating was enough. The spiritual energy in this world was abundant, and meditation was far more comfortable.
Lin Shaobai sat on the low couch, shook his head, and sighed. “Junior Brother Li, we must look out for each other from now on. Tianyuan Pavilion is not a place for leisure.”
Li Muzhan smiled. “I heard that Outer Sect disciples have quite a hard time.”
“Indeed...” Lin Shaobai sighed, shaking his head. “We are unlucky; we couldn't be taken in by Tianyuan Pavilion from childhood. If we want to learn profound martial arts, we have to earn merit. Without merit, you won't learn anything.”
Li Muzhan replied, “I am content if I can learn profound martial arts; a bit of hardship is worth it.”
“That’s true enough,” Lin Shaobai smiled. “But it depends on who you compare yourself to. Compared to ordinary martial artists outside, we are blessed; we can learn advanced martial arts, which they have no way to access!”
Li Muzhan nodded and smiled. “Tianyuan Pavilion doesn’t just accept outsiders. I only had the opportunity to be recommended because I achieved great merit within my family.”
“Exactly, exactly.” Lin Shaobai nodded vigorously. “Outsiders can forget about entering our Tianyuan Pavilion! ... But compared to those Inner Sect guys, we are miles behind!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Different fates, perhaps they accumulated virtue in a past life. Besides, aren't there only a few Inner Sect disciples?”
“Our Tianyuan Pavilion never had many disciples,” Lin Shaobai sighed, shaking his head. “Including you, Junior Brother Li, there are only about a hundred of us.”
Li Muzhan was surprised. “How can it be so few?”
Although he hadn't fully grasped this world, he knew it was vast; a hundred people seemed far too few.
Lin Shaobai shook his head. “I don't understand either. Other sects desperately recruit people, fearing too few members. Our Tianyuan Pavilion is the opposite!”
Li Muzhan suggested, “Quality over quantity—it might not be a bad thing.”
Lin Shaobai disagreed. “But if we ever get into a fight, we are bound to suffer losses.”
As they chatted, someone soon brought food. Li Muzhan and Lin Shaobai ate together. They found each other congenial, and their acquaintance quickly deepened... The next morning, as Li Muzhan awoke, before he even got off his sleeping platform, the courtyard gate was knocked upon. Amidst the dudu sounds, Lin Shaobai’s voice called out: “Junior Brother Li, are you up?”
Li Muzhan slid off his platform, calmed his breath, pushed open the room door, and stepped twice to the courtyard entrance, pulling the gate open.
Lin Shaobai, dressed in snow-white silk robes, stood smiling at the door. “Junior Brother Li, are you awake?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Just getting up, Senior Brother Lin, good morning!”
“It’s a habit,” Lin Shaobai said. “If you aren't diligent, you won’t succeed. Junior Brother Li, you slept in too late!”
Li Muzhan nodded and smiled. “What guidance do you have for me, Senior Brother Lin?”
“I have good news for you!” Lin Shaobai said happily. “You are the only new junior brother this time!”
Li Muzhan’s eyebrows twitched. “Only me?”
Lin Shaobai stepped into the courtyard, exclaiming excitedly, “The five groups sent down the mountain yesterday have all returned, and none of them brought anyone back.”
Li Muzhan smiled. Lin Shaobai continued, “Junior Brother Li, you are officially our youngest junior brother! ... Heh heh, this is interesting!”
Li Muzhan looked at him with confusion.
Lin Shaobai explained, “Normally, the assessment for Outer Sect disciples is conducted by Elders, and sometimes Inner Sect disciples are involved. As long as you can withstand a hundred moves from an Inner Sect disciple, you pass.”
Li Muzhan remarked, “Isn’t that a bit too much of a child's game?”
Lin Shaobai snorted resentfully. “Those guys have been meticulously trained since childhood; they aren't easy opponents. It’s not easy to block them for a hundred moves. I fought with all my might and still lost on the 101st move!”
Li Muzhan nodded. He Sen’s martial skill was indeed not bad; it was no wonder Tianyuan Pavilion sent him to the Dong Manor for assessment—it was to prevent cheating, a very effective method.
Lin Shaobai chuckled. “Heh heh, this time, not only did Junior Brother Li withstand a hundred moves, but you even defeated He Sen. That’s truly satisfying!”
Li Muzhan offered a wry smile. “I’ve thoroughly offended Senior Brother He.”
“What does that matter!” Lin Shaobai huffed. “Those fellows have their eyes on the top of their heads and barely spare us a glance! This time, let them see that Outer Sect disciples aren't so easily bullied!”
Li Muzhan shook his head helplessly.
Lin Shaobai assured him, “Don’t worry, Junior Brother Li, we will support you!”
Li Muzhan said, “Let’s hope so.”
“I heard the formal initiation ceremony has been canceled,” Lin Shaobai said cheerfully. “I’ll take you to meet everyone!”
Li Muzhan accepted his goodwill and accompanied him as they visited courtyard after courtyard. He possessed a photographic memory and remembered every face after a single meeting.
They were also deeply impressed by this junior junior brother who had defeated an Inner Sect disciple, and Lin Shaobai made sure to emphasize this point proudly at every courtyard they visited.
Li Muzhan smiled bitterly to himself; this was accumulating enmity for him. Wouldn't He Sen hate him even more now?
But there was no turning back now; whether he bowed his head or stood tall, the outcome was the same. He might as well hold his head high. He could vaguely sense people observing him.
Li Muzhan had initially assumed there would be more Outer Sect disciples than Inner Sect ones; the opposite was true. There were thirty-two Outer Sect disciples in total. He privately speculated that none possessed cultivation superior to his. They were all in their thirties, mature and steady; the youngest among them was Lin Shaobai... Lin Shaobai showed him all the Outer Sect courtyards. When Li Muzhan asked about visiting the Inner Sect, Lin Shaobai pouted. “Them? They refuse to see outsiders!”
Li Muzhan nodded. It seemed they were entirely dedicated to cultivation.
The Inner Sect disciples had their own troubles; they certainly weren't as comfortable as the Outer Sect imagined. The competition must be fiercer—a method of managing subordinates. Too much comfort breeds complacency, and a sect with thousands of years of heritage like Tianyuan Pavilion would never tolerate lazy disciples; they would force them to strive desperately.
Li Muzhan shook his head and sighed. “Perhaps they envy us for being freer.”
Lin Shaobai scoffed, unconvinced. “They have servants to bring food and clothes—they live like lords! How can they know the hardships of our running around? When we finally have a moment to practice, we have no time left!”
Li Muzhan countered, “Practicing all day long could drive a person mad.”
Lin Shaobai pursed his lips. “Gathering in small groups, chatting and laughing, while sparring in martial arts—it’s quite enjoyable, how could it drive anyone mad?!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Who is Senior Sister Zhu?”
Lin Shaobai immediately flushed, hurriedly shaking his head. “Hah
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