"Master, Junior Brother has truly grown stronger!" Bai Mingqiu remarked.

Long Jingyue nodded slightly, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "I can finally breathe a sigh of relief!"

"Junior Brother is that strong now?" Bai Mingqiu inquired.

"Go and make the congee," Long Jingyue said, smiling.

Bai Mingqiu pouted. "He certainly sounds confident, but those four old men are tough nuts to crack; he won't settle things quickly... Besides, I already made the porridge."

"When did you make it?" Long Jingyue asked, a soft smile playing on her lips.

Bai Mingqiu replied, "I've been making it these past few days—just plain meat porridge."

"You..." Long Jingyue shook her head, chuckling. "Let's go. Heat it up and wait for him to return; we'll see if he can handle it."

About the time it takes to sip a cup of tea, Li Muzhan drifted back into the main hall.

"Wuji, did you take care of them?" Long Jingyue asked with a smile.

Li Muzhan nodded. "I sent them packing. They shouldn't dare trouble us again, and the disciples can finally leave the mountain."

"You didn't kill them, did you?" Long Jingyue questioned.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Without Master's explicit permission, I wouldn't dare take a life."

"That was the right call!" Long Jingyue nodded approvingly. "Even with your sudden surge in power, you maintained your composure. That is rare, truly rare!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Though I am strong now, I am not yet invincible in the world. Caution is still necessary."

"You're even more cautious than before," Long Jingyue teased, patting the cushion beside her.

Li Muzhan moved over and sat down, smiling faintly. "Before, I was recklessly bold. Now that I understand the stakes, I naturally need to be more careful. The older one gets in the martial world, the more timid one becomes."

"That's a wise observation," Long Jingyue agreed with a nod and a smile. "You made the right choice. If you had truly killed those four, the repercussions would have been severe."

Li Muzhan quickly inquired, "Does the Divine Fist Sect have even stronger experts?"

"Of course they do!" Long Jingyue scoffed. "How could they have dominated for so long without some deep reserves?"

"It seems there are no more high-level fighters within the sect, though?" Li Muzhan frowned.

With his Heaven's Secret Art and the Void Eye, he had virtually surveyed every corner of the Divine Fist Sect, missing nothing. The four he faced radiated palpable, towering auras; he could sense them immediately. There were no other immediate threats.

Long Jingyue shook her head. "The Divine Fist Sect has two ancient relics, two old ghosts wandering outside. If we provoke them, we'll be in deep trouble."

"How powerful are they?" Li Muzhan knitted his brows.

Long Jingyue stated flatly, "Powerful enough to dismantle our Heavenly Abyss Pavilion."

Li Muzhan's mood instantly darkened. He hadn't expected the Heavenly Abyss Pavilion to be so unlucky as to face such adversaries. He dared not strike too hard, forced only to endure their bullying.

"It's alright. As long as you didn't kill those four elders, those two old immortals won't intervene," Long Jingyue said, noticing his somber expression and trying to comfort him. "They don't care about the rest of our members."

Li Muzhan frowned. "I almost caused a disaster."

His thinking was thorough. Now, with his vastly increased cultivation, dealing with the four elders was more than enough, but since they were already cornered, when to dispatch them was merely a matter of his decision. There was no need to rush.

"You're not feeling good about it, are you?" Long Jingyue fixed her gaze on him.

Li Muzhan offered a bitter smile. "I thought I could finally relax, but instead..."

"That's just how this world works," Long Jingyue responded. "The weak serve the strong. As the weaker party, one must tread carefully, for a single misstep can invite death."

Li Muzhan sighed. "Master, you have worked hard."

Long Jingyue smiled. "It's good that you realize it. That's why being the Pavilion Master is such a thankless task. In the future, Mingqiu will have to take it on, and you must assist her."

Li Muzhan nodded softly.

He harbored no desire to become the Pavilion Master. Ultimately, he had to return [to his origins/another place] and couldn't stay here forever. Moreover, he disliked constraint, craving freedom—to immerse himself in martial arts and pursue the ultimate realms.

Long Jingyue smiled. "Wuji, you don't wish to be the Pavilion Master?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Is Master worried I harbor ambition?"

"If you genuinely wished to be Master, you should contest with Mingqiu. I would happily watch," Long Jingyue said with a laugh. "I'd be thrilled if she lost."

Li Muzhan chuckled. "What about Senior Sister?"

"That goes without saying," Long Jingyue chuckled softly. "I raised Mingqiu since she was small. How long have you been here? Are you jealous of Mingqiu?!"

She knew Li Muzhan had no intention of becoming the Master. She could tell from his demeanor—carefree, averse to worldly affairs, unwilling to be tied down, focused purely on martial cultivation.

This nature, combined with his astonishing talent, destined him to shine brilliantly in the martial world, looking down upon all others—but he was hardly a suitable Pavilion Master. Too reckless, his actions too earth-shattering. The Heavenly Abyss Pavilion required stability and caution; it couldn't withstand his turbulence.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Very well, I will certainly help Senior Sister."

"Your martial arts are formidable now, but you cannot run rampant, Wuji. There are still countless monsters in this world you cannot afford to provoke!" Long Jingyue warned.

Li Muzhan asked, "Just how many are there?"

"Too many to count," Long Jingyue shook her head. "Once one's martial arts reach a high level, their lifespan extends significantly. The longer they live, the stronger they become. Fortunately, most of these figures hide away in remote mountains and forests, too apathetic to emerge. When one lives too long, they inevitably grow weary of worldly affairs."

Li Muzhan smiled wryly. His joy hadn't even fully settled before his Master poured several buckets of cold water on him. This world was indeed difficult to navigate, fundamentally due to the overwhelming abundance of spiritual energy.

Unlike the previous world where spiritual energy was depleted and martial arts couldn't ascend too high—where mastering the Sword Canon would allow him to dominate—this world was entirely different. True invincibility was almost impossible... He soon returned to his small courtyard and entered seclusion to digest his recent inheritance, needing time to savor and refine the knowledge, which further purified his cultivation.

Every day, Lin Shaobai would visit, and Zhu Ling would accompany him. They would talk and exchange pointers, both Lin Shaobai and Zhu Ling benefiting greatly.

He learned from them that the Heavenly Abyss Pavilion had returned to normal operations; they were no longer sealed off. Disciples could venture out, and the bolder ones who descended the mountain had returned safely—the Divine Fist Sect had not retaliated.

They were utterly perplexed, unaware of Li Muzhan's actual capabilities. They couldn't find out the reason for the reprieve, fueling their curiosity.

The disciples grew bolder, and normalcy quickly returned. They heard the Pavilion Master announced a new policy: the Pavilion would implement a ranking system, and martial arts manuals would also be graded.

Disciples would be ranked from one star to five stars, and manuals would follow the same one- to five-star rating. To cultivate a manual, its star rating could not exceed the cultivator's own rank.

Each person's benefits—food, lodging, etc.—would also be tiered, with different provisions for each star level. The era where they were vaguely divided only into inner and outer disciples was officially over.

This was excellent news for the outer disciples; if they achieved high rankings, they could even surpass the inner disciples.

The standard for star division referenced the monthly minor examinations, the annual grand examination, and accumulated meritorious service—a comprehensive evaluation.

Li Muzhan smiled upon hearing this. Lin Shaobai and Zhu Ling were also highly supportive, as they were diligent in their practice and disliked those who slacked off. This new system would eliminate complacency.

Li Muzhan enjoyed a few days of peace before a letter arrived unexpectedly, sent from the Dong family, marked as urgent.

Lin Shaobai delivered it. Li Muzhan glanced at it, and his expression immediately darkened.

It was late afternoon, with only half the sun remaining, bathing the world in a rosy crimson. The courtyard remained warm, but Li Muzhan’s face turned cold. The temperature in the yard plummeted.

"What's wrong, Junior Brother Li?" Lin Shaobai quickly asked.

Zhu Ling also looked at him curiously.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Senior Sister Zhu, please inform Master that I am leaving the mountain immediately!"

Zhu Ling pressed, "What exactly happened?!"

Li Muzhan stated in a deep voice, "Something has happened to the Dong family. I must attend to it. I will return shortly."

"Do you need our help?" Zhu Ling inquired.

She knew Li Muzhan originated from the Dong family, and he couldn't possibly remain calm when they were in trouble.

Li Muzhan shook his head, turned back into his room to retrieve his sword, and left. Zhu Ling hurried to the main hall to inform Long Jingyue.

Bai Mingqiu was currently discussing the ranking implementation with Long Jingyue. The minor competition was only a few days away, requiring meticulous deliberation over numerous details.

Zhu Ling burst in and relayed the situation. Long Jingyue pondered. "Something happened to the Dong family?... Mingqiu, check if any message has come through?"

"Yes, Master," Bai Mingqiu immediately rose and left the hall.

Zhu Ling added, "Pavilion Master, Junior Brother Li looked absolutely murderous. It doesn't seem like a small matter."

Long Jingyue nodded. "Wuji's self-control is profound; he doesn't easily lose his temper. It seems the Dong family suffered a great loss."

As they spoke, Bai Mingqiu floated back in, holding a plain piece of stationery, which she handed to Long Jingyue. "Master, the Dong family has indeed run into trouble."

Long Jingyue glanced down and her delicate brows furrowed.

Zhu Ling was very curious. "Pavilion Master, what is it?"

Long Jingyue passed the note to Zhu Ling, who quickly scanned it. "Who is this Dong Wanyi to Junior Brother Li?"

"This Miss Dong is a benefactor to Wuji. If she is injured, how can Wuji sit still?" Long Jingyue frowned, deep in thought. "Was it done by disciples of the Mu family?"

"It was," Bai Mingqiu confirmed with a nod. "The Mu family has grown increasingly arrogant these past few years; they are certainly capable of such a thing!"

"They have some nerve!" Long Jingyue scoffed coldly. "It seems they don't hold us in high regard!"

"The Mu family has disciples stationed at the Qinghe Sword Sect," Bai Mingqiu mentioned.

Zhu Ling's eyes widened. "The Qinghe Sword Sect?"

Bai Mingqiu shot her a look. "What, are you scared?!"

Zhu Ling stuck out her tongue and shrank back. "The Qinghe Sword Sect is not easy to cross. We should advise Junior Brother Li not to go too far, shouldn't we?"

Bai Mingqiu looked toward Long Jingyue, who rubbed her temples and said in a heavy voice, "Forget it. Let him handle it!"

"Pavilion Master, what if this escalates and we end up fighting the Qinghe Sword Sect?" Zhu Ling asked cautiously.

"If we fight, we fight! Are we afraid of them?!" Long Jingyue snorted.

Seeing her mistress in a foul mood, Zhu Ling dared not press the issue, falling silent and watching Bai Mingqiu instead.

Bai Mingqiu whispered, "Master, perhaps I should go take a look?"

"No need!" Long Jingyue waved her hand dismissively. "Wuji knows what he is doing. If the Dong girl has been wronged, and he cannot stand up for her, what's the use of him joining our Heavenly Abyss Pavilion!?"

Bai Mingqiu frowned. "While that is true, the Qinghe Sword Sect after all..."

She trailed off, shaking her head. The Qinghe Sword Sect was not like the Divine Fist Sect, relying on ancestral prestige; they possessed true, formidable strength, and the Heavenly Abyss Pavilion was slightly inferior.

The Heavenly Abyss Pavilion had a strong name, but due to the poor conduct of its disciples over the years, it had slowly weakened. Conversely, the Qinghe Sword Sect was flourishing and powerful.

More critically, behind the Qinghe Sword Sect stood the Bright Mirror Sect—an entity a tier above the Heavenly Abyss Pavilion, whom they absolutely could not afford to offend.

Long Jingyue concluded, "Wuji is boiling over with suppressed anger right now. He won't listen to reason. Let him vent his fury; it can also serve to reassert the prestige of our Heavenly Abyss Pavilion."

The Heavenly Abyss Pavilion had been weak for too long, and people had begun to disregard them. It was time for a disciple to emerge and make a stunning impact. Causing trouble was not the end of the world; minor skirmishes between disciples of different sects were inevitable, and unless it blew up, no one would take definitive action.