Li Muzhan asked, "Master, if I find my Senior Sister and meditate with her, that doesn't count as breaking the rules, does it?" Long Jingyue studied him for a few moments and smiled, "What, you admire Mingqiu as well?" Li Muzhan smiled, "A virtuous maiden is sought after by the gentleman." "I advise you to give up that notion. Mingqiu's entire focus is on the Martial Path, single-mindedly pursuing its limits; she won't involve herself with romantic attachments!" Long Jingyue shook her head.

"Don't waste your efforts." Li Muzhan smiled, "Whether Senior Sister is moved or not is irrelevant." "A bit interesting," Long Jingyue chuckled lightly. "If you wish to break your head and draw blood, that's up to you!

... Mingqiu is a hundred zhang below.

Finding her is your skill. As long as you don't go up, no one will interfere!" Li Muzhan replied, "Yes, thank you, Master." "You two..." Long Jingyue shook her head.

"Focus on your cultivation honestly; don't bother yourselves with matters of the heart. It's not worth it!" "Yes," Li Muzhan nodded respectfully.

Long Jingyue could see he hadn't taken the words to heart at all. She felt even more uneasy about this newly accepted disciple, but he was young, and there was plenty of time; they could take things slowly.

Long Jingyue plucked a miniature jade bell from her sleeve. It was as delicate as a wine cup, the size of a wine cup, entirely snow-white, with a faint gleam flowing within.

She handed the jade bell to Li Muzhan. "Here, keep this jade bell safe; don't lose it.

If you truly can't endure it, strike it with your finger force, and I will come to retrieve you." Li Muzhan reached out and took it. Touching it, it felt warm, smooth, and delicate, still carrying a hint of body warmth and fragrance.

He dared not harbor any improper thoughts. Looking up, he smiled, "Thank you, Master!" Long Jingyue said, "This jade bell also possesses the marvelous quality of calming the spirit and awakening the mind.

I hope you can hold out a little longer! ...

Little fellow, this Tianyuan is not merely a place of punishment; it is also a wondrous realm for tempering the mind and spirit. The longer you persist, the greater the rewards.

Do not take it lightly!" Li Muzhan cupped his fists together, "Master, rest assured!" Long Jingyue sized him up and shook her head. "For your first time, to last a year—Wuji, you certainly won't be able to endure it.

Don't push yourself too hard!" Li Muzhan showed an impatient expression, "Yes, Master!" "Naughty boy!" Long Jingyue chuckled, somewhat exasperated. She felt she was nagging too much, but this disciple possessed peerless talent; he was a fine piece of jade.

She waved her jade hand, said no more, and drifted away. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the rope was also pulled up.

Silence descended. Li Muzhan shook his head.

This place was better described as dead silence, as if time had ceased flowing, all things frozen, as if locked solid by the surrounding chilling cold. If things continued this way, his own thoughts would stagnate.

He took a deep breath, touched the jade bell—warm, fine, yet carrying a hint of coolness that transmitted through his palm into his body. His mind and body felt clearer and lighter.

This was truly a marvelous artifact; he wondered how it was made. Li Muzhan, curious, sent a wisp of internal energy inward.

Just as it neared the core, a powerful force suddenly erupted, repelling the internal energy. Li Muzhan, refusing to believe it, tried again.

This time, his internal energy was even more condensed, like a needle stabbing in, only to be bounced back as if hitting bluestone. After trying several times without breaking through the obstruction inside, Li Muzhan couldn't help but sigh.

It seemed the masters of this world were indeed not to be underestimated. He settled down and began contemplating the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan...

Time flew like lightning and flint. Each time Li Muzhan awoke from his meditation, it was as if waking from a dream; he didn't know where he was and took a long time to fully regain consciousness.

However, there was nothing in the cave, and he felt his stomach rumble. So, he walked deeper inside.

Turning a corner, the scene opened up unexpectedly—a different world entirely. Inside was a stone chamber.

In the center stood a stone table, and beside the table, a rack for weapons, resembling a practice room. In one corner were several pieces of crystal-clear ice, atop which rested a large slab of dark red meat, the size of a horse.

In the other corner was a pile of dry rations. It was too cold here, so the food wouldn't spoil.

Li Muzhan had already reached the state of being immune to cold and heat, yet even here, he had to circulate his energy to resist, lest he be frozen into an ice sculpture. He approached the frozen meat, extended his palm, and sliced off a piece.

Examining it closely, it was cured meat—judging by its appearance, likely beef. He circulated his energy to thaw it, and immediately, a rich aroma filled the air.

He took a fierce bite and chewed vigorously, his mouth filled with the scent of meat. He shook his head, lamenting, "What a pity there is no wine!" After eating his fill, he lay down and slept for a while.

It was too cold here, and there was nowhere to shelter from the chill. Ordinary people could not sleep; they could only rest by sitting in meditation, which would drive them mad.

Li Muzhan, being immune to cold and heat and having refined his body to near its limit, could sleep after a period of adaptation, even without circulating his energy. After a good sleep, he returned to studying the Twelve Swords.

The sparring matches with the others replayed in his mind, and he analyzed their moves one by one, using them to gain insight into the Twelve Swords. Then came Bai Mingqiu's demonstration; he replayed it repeatedly, studying it bit by bit, gradually grasping a subtle thread.

He was not very familiar with the martial arts of this world. However, the spiritual energy here was abundant, and Zhenqi could be projected externally, which was quite exquisite.

His current level of cultivation could only be considered that of a first-rate master, not truly top-tier. The martial arts of the Tianyuan Pavilion had their unique characteristics.

Lacking a foundation, trying to comprehend the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan rashly was indeed difficult. When he grew tired, he would walk to the mouth of the cave and gaze down into the abyss below.

It was utterly black, with surging cold air, like a giant beast opening its maw, ready to swallow him at any moment. Looking up, a faint glimmer of light could occasionally be discerned, like a star in the night sky—easily overlooked unless one looked closely.

In such darkness, it was easy to become lost. He suddenly let out a long, sky-piercing cry, but the sound quickly dissipated, not traveling far.

Li Muzhan managed a wry smile. The air here was different from the outside; so cold it seemed capable of freezing sound itself, preventing it from traveling.

It seemed relying on sound to contact others was impossible; he wouldn't find Bai Mingqiu this way. Undeterred, he activated his Void Eye and looked down, searching cave by cave.

His efforts paid off; he finally found her! He saw Bai Mingqiu sitting quietly on a stone bed, motionless, her body enveloped by a white mist, as if trapped in a cocoon.

His brow lifted. This Xinfa of Bai Mingqiu was profound.

The surrounding cold should have frozen even the white mist, yet she could make it rotate fluidly—a clear sign of superior cultivation technique. His Void Eye grew more adept, allowing him to see with extraordinary clarity, seeing more distinctly than the naked eye and discerning the rotation and fluidity of the white mist, as if watching flowing water.

He considered for a moment, then floated out of the cave, descending along the stone wall. The wall was hard and icy cold; the chilling energy felt almost substantial, surpassing the internal energy of a martial arts master, like a cold serpent trying to drill into his palm and pierce his heart—exceptionally malevolent.

Li Muzhan's internal energy was condensed and solidified. Since arriving in this world, his internal energy had grown even sturdier.

In the world with sparse spiritual energy before, he could transform his internal energy into sword qi; in this world, it was even less of an issue. The power of the Sword Sutra was even greater in this world.

Up to this point, he had only truly unleashed sword qi by relying on some rudimentary martial arts to navigate the world. He feared revealing the ultimate techniques of the Sword Sutra and exposing his unusual nature, which could bring endless trouble.

First, he needed to thoroughly gauge the situation and clearly understand the martial arts of this world. Furthermore, every world had its own rules.

Rashly employing the ultimate skills of the Sword Sutra might not bring any good. The best approach was to use the martial arts of this world.

Thus, he focused intently on comprehending the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan. Moreover, the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan were vast and profound, perhaps even surpassing the Sword Sutra in some aspects—though perhaps not in cultivation methods, the intricacy of the moves and the sword intent were far superior.

Of course, such supreme techniques might not exhibit their full power in his previous world, making them inferior to the Sword Sutra. This was why the martial arts of different worlds could not be universally applied; each had its own area of efficacy...

He urged his internal energy to resist the cold air, floating down in a gentle descent, his body spiraling, carving an arc, and finally landing at the entrance of Bai Mingqiu's cave. Bai Mingqiu abruptly awoke.

In such a dead-silent environment, even the faintest sound felt like thunder. She stepped to the cave entrance, looking at Li Muzhan with surprise.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Senior Sister Bai, long time no see!" Bai Mingqiu frowned, studying him, her gaze falling on the white frost clinging to his palms. "How did you get here?" She knew Li Muzhan was also being punished and meditating in the Tianyuan just like her, but she never expected to actually see him.

Stepping outside the cave meant courting death—that was the severity of the Tianyuan, something everyone knew. Li Muzhan smiled, "I used my lightness skill to find you." Bai Mingqiu frowned, "You dared to touch the outer rock wall?" She watched the white mist rising from Li Muzhan's palms as the frost dissipated, feeling a wave of relief.

It seemed he practiced pure Yang internal energy, which allowed him to withstand the chilling air. "You are too reckless!" she shook her head, her delicate eyebrows tightly furrowed, her jade face stern.

"This is seeking death!" Li Muzhan smiled, "It was too boring alone; I wanted someone to chat with." "Come in," Bai Mingqiu stated calmly, turning and entering the stone room. She sat down on the stone bed and gestured toward it with her finger.

"Sit." Li Muzhan glanced at the stone bed. The stone room was very narrow, with only the meat and rations in the corner and nothing else.

However, because it was small, it didn't feel empty. There were no stone stools or chairs, so he had nowhere to sit but to reluctantly sit on the bed.

The two were only a step apart, and a faint, sweet fragrance drifted into his nostrils, causing Li Muzhan's heart to flutter. Sitting on the same bed as such a dazzling beauty instantly dispelled the original cold and dead silence.

The room seemed suffused with an intoxicating aura. If they could remain sitting like this forever, it would be a blessing.

He could clearly see her skin, like white jade, delicate and warm, with a faint glow circulating beneath the surface. Yet, amidst the white, there was a touch of rosy flush, as charming as a peach blossom.

Li Muzhan asked, "Senior Sister Bai, how much longer is your sentence?" "One month," Bai Mingqiu lifted her eyelids slightly and replied faintly. Li Muzhan sighed, "A whole month..." "It's rare that you managed to hold out until today!" Bai Mingqiu scrutinized him.

Although the stone chamber was pitch black without any light, for someone of her cultivation, it was no different from daylight; darkness did not impede her vision. Generally, anyone newly entering the Tianyuan, if they lasted seven or eight days, it was considered remarkable.

Li Muzhan, having lasted a month and still not been rescued by his Master, displayed astonishing steadfastness of will. Li Muzhan smiled, "It is indeed too quiet here." Bai Mingqiu said, "Quietness is precisely for self-reflection.

How did you find me?" This was what she was most curious about. Finding someone in the Tianyuan was virtually impossible; only the Master possessed such ability.

Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled, "It can only be counted as good luck, a chance encounter. Senior Sister, have you mastered the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan?" Bai Mingqiu nodded, "Mm." Li Muzhan shook his head, "In my opinion, Senior Sister has not mastered them." Bai Mingqiu asked, "What do you mean by that?" Li Muzhan chuckled, "I have practiced the Twelve Swords and found that each one is infinitely subtle.

Senior Sister demonstrated them for me, but I feel you have not yet fully perceived their profound essence." "Mm, you see correctly," Bai Mingqiu nodded lightly. "I have indeed only grasped the superficial aspects of the Twelve Swords.

The Twelve Swords of Tianyuan are deeply profound and subtle; they require a lifetime of cultivation. How could I, at my age, fully comprehend them?" Li Muzhan laughed softly, shaking his head, "That's not necessarily true." "Such arrogant words," Bai Mingqiu regarded him with her clear eyes, calm but sharp.

"You even challenged all the inner sect disciples for the sake of the Twelve Swords—what did you gain?" Li Muzhan smiled, "I did gain something. Senior Sister, would you care to spar again?" "Alright," Bai Mingqiu slowly nodded.

Both of their swords were present. Being punished in the Tianyuan was also an opportunity for closed-door training; they certainly wouldn't have their weapons confiscated.

The two floated down from the bed and drew their stances. Sword light flickered, accompanied by the clanging of steel.

The formerly pitch-black stone room was illuminated to some degree by the flashes of their sword light. In the absolute darkness outside, without ambient reflection, swords wouldn't glow, but both possessed profound internal energy and peculiar cultivation methods.

As they urged their internal energy into the blades, the clash of spiritual energy caused flashes of light to appear. After several hundred exchanges, they stopped and stood motionless, each lost in contemplation.

About half an hour later, the "ding ding" sound resumed, and they clashed once more. After several hundred exchanges, they stopped again, sinking back into silence.

They continued this pattern—fighting, stopping, eating when hungry, eating ice when thirsty—immersed entirely in the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan, oblivious to the passage of time. When both finally snapped back to awareness, another month had passed.

Bai Mingqiu’s talent was exceptional, and her focus was entirely on swordsmanship. Sparring with Li Muzhan stimulated sudden flashes of insight, making it impossible for her to stop.

Through sparring with Li Muzhan, her comprehension of the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan deepened continuously. One month of this exchange was worth more than a year of arduous solitary practice.

After resting for a day, they resumed sparring. With each exchange, their understanding of the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan deepened.

Later, Li Muzhan asked Bai Mingqiu to stop using the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan and use other sword techniques from the Tianyuan Pavilion to engage his Twelve Swords. Bai Mingqiu's sword skills were far superior to those of the inner sect disciples.

When Li Muzhan unleashed the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan, he actually felt a moment of being flustered. However, his gains were immense.

Bai Mingqiu, by using other Tianyuan Pavilion sword styles to counter Li Muzhan's Twelve Swords, also gained substantial insight. Inadvertently, three months passed.

They continued alternating between fighting and contemplation. In the beginning, they spent more time fighting; later, they spent more time paused in thought.

Both were immersed in contemplation, and time seemed to stagnate while the rest of the world flowed ceaselessly past them. When they finally realized what was happening, they felt a degree of fatigue.

They had attained a preliminary understanding of the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan. By the time they wished to rest, a full year had already elapsed.

During this year, apart from discussing the Twelve Swords of Tianyuan, they spoke of almost nothing else. Li Muzhan could sense Bai Mingqiu's aloofness; she truly did not wish to connect with others, having entirely sealed herself off.

Li Muzhan shook his head inwardly. At this stage, she was nearly ready to shave her head and become a nun; though seemingly not yet ordained, she had essentially withdrawn from the mundane world.

He did not press the issue, treating Bai Mingqiu with solemn seriousness, discussing only martial arts and nothing else. In fact, their interaction grew quite harmonious; Bai Mingqiu became more pleasant toward him.

If he had harbored any ill intentions, Bai Mingqiu would surely have distanced herself from him.