Li Muzhan shook his head, smiling faintly. "Master, you are too kind; they were nothing much." "You, you just don't know how formidable those four are.

If they showed up here, I couldn't stop them!" Long Jingyue retorted, clearly annoyed. Li Muzhan asked, "Then wouldn't Master be in danger?" "Unless it reaches a life-or-death moment, they won't come down the mountain.

That's the rule," Long Jingyue stated. Li Muzhan chuckled.

"Master, surely we have some formidable seniors here as well, don't we?" "Mm." Long Jingyue nodded. "They are in secluded cultivation deep within Tianyuan." Li Muzhan pondered for a moment.

He hadn't sensed anything; Tianyuan was unfathomably deep, like endless void, giving off a sense of complete ambiguity. He truly couldn't perceive anything, yet the knowledge that top experts were hidden within made his inability to sense them understandable.

Bai Mingqiu asked, "Junior Brother, what secret manuals did you acquire from the Fist Sect Hall?" Li Muzhan smiled. "I got a few excellent items, but unfortunately, I destroyed them later to sever the connection.

I'll write them down from memory in a moment!" Bai Mingqiu's slender eyes glinted sharply. "What were they?" "Ice Fire Divine Fist, Mountain Shaking Divine Fist, Giant Spirit Fist, Demon Subduing Fist, and the God Shaking Fist!" Li Muzhan listed.

Long Jingyue quickly interjected, "You got the God Shaking Fist?" "Yes." Li Muzhan nodded with a smile. "The God Shaking Fist was placed in the most crucial spot.

The moment I got it, they noticed. Fortunately, I had a protective talisman to hold them off, and the manual itself was laced with potent poison." "The God Shaking Fist is the sect's foundational technique; how could they not have precautions?

For you to succeed... truly..." Long Jingyue shook her head.

"The poison shouldn't be an issue, right?" Li Muzhan laughed. "My constitution is immune to all poisons.

I forced it out with my internal energy!" "Pure luck!" Long Jingyue scrutinized him up and down, shaking her head dismissively. "Wuji, you cannot be this reckless again!" Li Muzhan smiled.

"I was indeed careless, but my luck held out!" "Good luck won't stick with you forever!" Long Jingyue snorted. "You didn't know about the potent poison beforehand, did you?" Li Muzhan nodded.

"I didn't..." He felt a sense of danger the moment he held it, but the feeling was too vague—he couldn't tell if it came from the manual itself or the consequences of acquiring it. He had been poisoned severely, yet with the existence of the Ziyang True Art, he feared nothing.

The Ziyang True Art refined the blood directly, dissolving the toxins. After neutralizing the potent poison, he still sensed danger emanating from the manual.

This time, he clearly felt an invisible force linked to the artifact. Only then did he destroy the manual outright, extinguishing the sense of crisis.

Upon returning to the Tianyuan Pavilion, he ruthlessly assassinated the Fist Sect disciples; the killing felt exhilarating. A strange feeling reappeared, signaling that he was being targeted by that invisible power.

He fled immediately, avoiding any direct confrontation. It was fortunate he possessed the skill of teleportation; otherwise, he would never have escaped their pursuit.

Their cultivation was too profound, their movement techniques too swift; they would have caught him eventually... Long Jingyue said, "No matter what, go stay in Tianyuan for now!" Li Muzhan murmured, "Master, I fear they might pursue us." "Hmph.

If they dare to come, then we won't need to be polite either!" Long Jingyue’s face hardened, growing cold. Bai Mingqiu added, "If they come, our Grandmasters won't stand idly by." Li Muzhan shook his head.

"I don't want to trouble the Grandmasters." Long Jingyue snorted. "Rest assured, knowing you secured these manuals, Master and the others won't blame you.

They will willingly step in." While the three were speaking, Zhu Ling's voice sounded from outside. "Pavilion Master, those people have retreated!" Her crisp voice carried a note of elation.

Li Muzhan’s brow twitched. He swept his Eye of the Void across the area, seeing the situation outside Tianyuan Pavilion.

The Fist Sect disciples were indeed gone; they were slowly withdrawing about five li away. As the Eye of the Void swept around, his brow furrowed again.

"Ling'er, come in!" Long Jingyue commanded. Zhu Ling floated in, clad in fiery red, like a dancing flame.

"Pavilion Master, Senior Sister, oh? Junior Brother Li, when did you return?" "Senior Sister Zhu, I just got back," Li Muzhan greeted, cupping his fist.

"Focus on the main point!" Long Jingyue said irritably. "Did they really pull back?" "Yup," Zhu Ling nodded vigorously, excited.

"Hehe, I heard someone was constantly assassinating them. Was that you, Junior Brother Li?" Li Muzhan smiled, offering no confirmation or denial.

Long Jingyue turned to Bai Mingqiu. "Mingqiu, go strictly order everyone not to leave the premises!" "Yes, Master." Bai Mingqiu answered deeply, her figure floating away.

Zhu Ling quickly followed. Only Li Muzhan and Long Jingyue remained in the grand hall.

"Is your Ice Fire Divine Fist nearly perfected?" Long Jingyue asked. Li Muzhan nodded.

"The Ice Fire Divine Fist suits me best; my progress is swift... Master, are you worried they are playing tricks?" "They are definitely using deception," Long Jingyue snorted.

"They won't stop until they gain an advantage. The Fist Sect is used to being tyrannical!" Li Muzhan laughed.

"I don't feel any ambushes." Long Jingyue shook her head coldly. "Why bother setting up an ambush halfway down the mountain?

It will be time enough to surround and kill any disciples who dare to venture out!" Li Muzhan sighed and nodded. Being restricted by one move meant being constrained everywhere.

Ultimately, it was Tianyuan Pavilion’s lack of overall strength that couldn't be compensated for. Li Muzhan asked, "Do we have to stay cooped up inside forever?" Long Jingyue frowned, saying nothing, lowering her head in deep thought.

Li Muzhan understood her frustration and helplessness. He sighed softly.

"Master, I will enter Tianyuan for secluded cultivation!" Long Jingyue looked up at him. "In the martial world, it’s survival of the fittest.

I am powerless. I couldn't bring Tianyuan Pavilion to greater heights, and now this day has come!" Li Muzhan sighed.

"Master, this is my fault." Long Jingyue shook her head. "We can only blame our bad luck, and that our disciples’ aptitudes aren't good enough." Li Muzhan pondered for a moment.

"Master, when I was sneaking in to steal the manuals, I lay low for a few days. I saw that the Fist Sect disciples train with fierce dedication—far beyond what our Senior Brothers and Sisters manage." Long Jingyue asked, "You mean...?" Li Muzhan explained, "We need to find a way to motivate our Senior Brothers and Sisters to train with the same intensity.

Otherwise, we will never catch up to the Fist Sect, even though our martial arts are no worse than theirs!" "This way..." Long Jingyue mused. She had previously focused entirely on the issue of the disciples' innate talent.

Over the past decade or so, it seemed all their good fortune had been spent; they hadn't recruited any disciples with peerless aptitude, and even recruiting outer disciples had become difficult due to a lack of talent. She was an intelligent person, but the smarter one is, the easier it is to get stuck in a rut.

She had fixated on that single point and failed to consider other avenues. Li Muzhan’s insight instantly brought clarity.

She sighed. "Forcing them to train won't work." Li Muzhan proposed, "Master, there must be clear rewards and punishments.

Senior Brothers and Sisters can't remain so idle anymore. A small competition monthly, a major one yearly.

The top ten receive great rewards, the bottom ten severe penalties—make them fight tooth and nail." "This will create tension among the disciples and harm harmony," Long Jingyue frowned. She had considered competition before, but she worried it would cause severe friction, internal strife, and ultimately lead to the disciples scattering and the sect falling apart.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "This can be managed by strict sect rules guaranteeing absolute fairness.

As long as fairness is ensured, the relationships among everyone won't be seriously affected." "That way..." Long Jingyue pondered silently. Li Muzhan urged, "Master, if we don't change the rules now, we will only grow weaker in the long run!" "Sigh..." Long Jingyue let out a long, lingering sigh.

Bai Mingqiu returned and saw the solemn expressions on both their faces. As she sat down, she looked toward Li Muzhan.

He smiled. "I was telling Master that we need to change the rules to motivate everyone to strive harder." Bai Mingqiu settled gracefully, nodding slightly.

"It is time for a change. Everyone has become too lax.

They might work hard for a while after this shock, but it won't last. Master, the rules must be changed." "Mm, I will consider it carefully," Long Jingyue nodded.

"Wuji, enter Tianyuan." Li Muzhan replied, "Master, let me first transcribe the secret manuals." Bai Mingqiu rose and prepared the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Li Muzhan moved to the desk and, with a sweeping energy, wrote out the contents of the several manuals in the time it takes to steep a cup of tea.

Bai Mingqiu attended to him, drawing away each sheet as he finished to gently blow on it, cooling it quickly with breath as fragrant as orchids. Long Jingyue took the plain paper sheets from her hand and began to read slowly.

By the time Li Muzhan finished, she had finished reading too, sighing, "Wuji, you..." Li Muzhan asked, "Is this contribution great enough for a reward?" "You..." Long Jingyue nodded. "You have stirred up an immense mess, but you have also earned a monumental merit!

... They will absolutely not let you off the hook!" She lightly lifted one sheet of paper he had written.

On it was a diagram detailing the visualization for the God Shaking Fist, though it contained subtle deviations from the original drawing. Li Muzhan smiled.

"Is there anything else to reward me with?" Long Jingyue pondered for a moment. "I will give you one Inheritance Flower!" "Inheritance Flower?" Li Muzhan turned to look at Bai Mingqiu.

Bai Mingqiu's eyes burned brightly. "Master, are you truly giving Junior Brother an Inheritance Flower?!" "Yes.

Wuji's contribution is nearly enough," Long Jingyue nodded slowly. "I will go speak with the Ancestral Masters and discuss it with them." Saying this, she picked up Li Muzhan's transcription and turned, departing in a hurry.

Only the two of them remained in the hall. He looked at Bai Mingqiu.

"Senior Sister, what is an Inheritance Flower?" "You..." Bai Mingqiu shook her head. "I really didn't expect Master to use that to reward you!" "Why?" Li Muzhan grew even more curious.

Bai Mingqiu explained, "The Inheritance Flower is something only the Pavilion Master can possess. No matter how great the merit a regular disciple earns, they cannot touch it!" Li Muzhan asked, "Senior Sister, tell me first what an Inheritance Flower is?" "When venerable seniors who achieved great things are near death, they use a unique, secretly transmitted art to condense their cultivation into an Inheritance Flower.

Descendants can then merge it with themselves to gain that inheritance," Bai Mingqiu said. "Skill, or experience?" Li Muzhan inquired.

"Both skill and experience. This secret art is wondrous; it can condense their entire cultivation without loss.

As for how much you inherit depends entirely on the successor's innate aptitude," Bai Mingqiu clarified. Li Muzhan nodded slowly, inwardly praising the method as excellent.

He smiled. "Master obtained an Inheritance Flower?" "Yes." Bai Mingqiu nodded slowly.

"Master's aptitude is exceptional, so she gained five-tenths of the inheritance. While not making her invincible, she has few rivals!" Li Muzhan marveled.

"With such a wonderful thing, why should our Tianyuan Pavilion fear anyone?" Bai Mingqiu shook her head. "It's not that easy...

Setting aside the extremely high requirements for aptitude—Master's aptitude was peerless, hence she could receive the inheritance—the previous generation's Pavilion Master couldn't be passed down. Moreover, Inheritance Flowers are extremely precious, and the secret art is not easily mastered!" Only then did Li Muzhan realize the value of what he might receive.

He smiled. "If I receive an Inheritance Flower, will it delay Senior Sister?" Bai Mingqiu snorted.

"There are still three Inheritance Flowers!" Li Muzhan's expression suddenly changed, and he frowned. "They're fast!" "What is it?" Bai Mingqiu asked.

Li Muzhan shook his head. Those four old fellows were truly swift as ghosts and devils; to arrive so quickly meant they also possessed some secret technique.

Even if it wasn't as potent as his teleportation, its power was still astonishing. PS: There was a small error in the previous chapter; I wrote Water Fire Divine Fist instead of Ice Fire Divine Fist, which has now been corrected.

I sincerely apologize, bows. Also, I shamelessly ask everyone for a favor: if you haven't subscribed, please subscribe to the first chapter to help me break the highest subscription record and see if I have a chance for a featured recommendation.

If everyone just spends about one jiao (a tiny amount), it’s the difference between heaven and earth for me. I am eternally grateful, bows again!

RQ