Li Muzhan chuckled, "To be frank, Senior Sister, I'm feeling the strain now. The Qinghe Sword Sect is truly formidable; a moment’s carelessness and they’ll latch onto you."

"Are you injured?" Bai Mingqiu scrutinized him. Aside from the difference in appearance, his vitality was surging, showing no signs of harm.

Li Muzhan replied, "It’s thanks to the Heavenly Secret Art; otherwise, I’d have lost my life long ago!"

Bai Mingqiu frowned, "Why did you clash head-on with them? Isn't that courting death!"

Li Muzhan let out a light laugh and shook his head.

"You can still laugh at a time like this!" Bai Mingqiu shot him a look of exasperation.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Senior Sister, they can’t catch me, don't worry."

"Master said the Heavenly Secret Art isn't invincible; there’s always a way to counter it," Bai Mingqiu shook her head. "Top-tier talisman arrays can disrupt the Heavenly Secret."

Li Muzhan’s eyebrows lifted, "Top-tier talisman arrays?"

"Mmm." Bai Mingqiu continued, "We’ve used up all of ours at the Tianyuan Pavilion, but the Qinghe Sword Sect might still have some."

Li Muzhan asked, "Are there many of these talisman arrays?"

"Very rare," Bai Mingqiu said. "But not impossible; they are inherited from ancient times. The knowledge of forming these arrays is now lost, and every array talisman is precious—use one, and it’s gone forever."

Li Muzhan sighed regretfully, "Lost?"

"Talisman arrays were glorious in the ancient era, but they vanished somehow later on. Now, there isn't a single person who truly masters them; many try to decipher fragments, but it’s all guesswork," Bai Mingqiu said slowly. "In my estimation, this was the doing of the Martial Artists."

"Did the Martial Artists wipe out those who specialized in talisman arrays?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Bai Mingqiu nodded, "I’d wager eight or nine times out of ten. Because talisman arrays posed too great a threat to Martial Artists—whoever it was would have wanted them gone!"

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, "Perhaps..."

He inwardly shook his head, thinking his Senior Sister might be wrong. No matter how powerful the Martial Artists were, it would be difficult to eradicate every single person practicing talisman arrays; the arrays held too much might. However, how the arrays vanished was hard to fathom. Talisman arrays were formations—similar in principle to array techniques, difficult to master but potent; once one mastered self-preservation through them, it was hard for anyone to inflict harm.

Bai Mingqiu worried, "You killed so many Qinghe Sword Sect disciples; in their rage, they might actually deploy their most elite array talismans!"

"Yes, Senior Sister, I will be careful," Li Muzhan nodded.

His greatest reliance wasn't the Heavenly Secret Art, but his instantaneous movement—the ability to vanish millions of miles in a breath. Combined with the Heavenly Secret Art, it made for unparalleled escape capabilities.

"Is the Pavilion well?" Li Muzhan asked.

Bai Mingqiu replied, "The Divine Fist Sect has been behaving and hasn't caused further trouble. The Dong family has already been accommodated within the Pavilion."

Li Muzhan asked again, "What about Master?"

Bai Mingqiu said, "Master has stopped practicing the Supreme Jade Purity Scripture."

Li Muzhan let out a breath of relief, nodding, "It's best if he doesn't practice it!" If only I knew the mental cultivation method for the Supreme Jade Purity Scripture; I can only make rough guesses, which might not be accurate."

Bai Mingqiu pondered for a moment, "Shall I recite it to you?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "The Supreme Jade Purity Scripture is a secret transmission; it's not appropriate for you to tell me."

"There's nothing inappropriate," Bai Mingqiu insisted. "This scripture is suited for women; men cannot practice it. Just make sure you don't pass it on."

Li Muzhan was curious and smiled, "Master won't mind, will he?"

Bai Mingqiu raised an eyebrow and huffed, "Do you want to hear it or not?"

Li Muzhan quickly said, "Senior Sister, please tell me!"

Bai Mingqiu gave him a sidelong glance and meticulously recited the mantra. Li Muzhan listened intently, every word sinking into his mind, instantly branded into his memory.

In a short while, he had branded the Supreme Jade Purity Scripture into his mind without a single error. Then, he closed his eyes and began to ponder it slowly.

Seeing him close his eyes, Bai Mingqiu didn't rush him. She rose, pushed open the window, and looked out at the courtyard.

It was a small courtyard within the inn; such a space would certainly not be cheap—ordinary families couldn't afford it, akin to a presidential suite in later eras. When traveling down the mountain, Bai Mingqiu never stayed in such lavish rooms; no matter how wealthy the Tianyuan Pavilion was, they wouldn't spoil disciples into forming wasteful habits. She opted to leave the room and wandered alone in the small courtyard, basking in the sun, her mood peaceful.

About half an hour later, she returned to the room and approached Li Muzhan’s couch, huffing, "Junior Brother, forget it for now. This Supreme Jade Purity Scripture is profound and difficult to fathom; there's no need to rush this." Understanding this scripture completely would take decades, perhaps nearly a century of contemplation; few ancestors who practiced it achieved full mastery.

Li Muzhan slowly opened his eyes and sighed, "I was wrong!"

"Hmm—?" Bai Mingqiu looked at him.

Li Muzhan stated, "The key to this scripture isn't detachment, but selflessness!"

Bai Mingqiu frowned, "The so-called Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotion—being without emotion or desire—that is the foundation. What are you talking about, Junior Brother!?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "Senior Sister, you misunderstand. Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotion arises from being excessively emotional, which then allows one to forget emotion. The gateway to this Supreme Jade Purity Scripture isn't forgetting emotion; selflessness is the root. Reaching the state of extreme emotion leading to complete selflessness—that is the true core of the Supreme Jade Purity Scripture."

"Extreme emotion..." Bai Mingqiu murmured.

Li Muzhan continued, "I think the method you and Master practiced is flawed."

"Extreme emotion..." Bai Mingqiu shook her head, "No..."

Li Muzhan stretched and stood up from the couch, "In any case, this is my understanding of the scripture. I don't know if it's right or wrong."

Bai Mingqiu gave him a sharp look, "Stop the nonsense and explain it to me clearly!"

Li Muzhan walked out of the room. The sun was setting, and the evening glow flooded the courtyard. He turned and smiled, "Senior Sister, this is something best understood intuitively rather than explained in words. I can only say this much; there is nothing more to add."

"Why isn't it about forgetting emotion or being emotionless?" Bai Mingqiu refused to let up.

Li Muzhan’s words completely invalidated the hard work she and her Master had put in, yet his words could not be dismissed lightly. Even though he started later, his comprehension was astonishing, and his understanding of martial arts was profound. Coupled with his complete inheritance, the depth of his martial knowledge surpassed what she and Master possessed. Master was powerful, but his inheritance was incomplete; an extra ten or twenty years of life paled in comparison to the inheritance gained.

Li Muzhan shook his head silently, offering only a smile. Later, Bai Mingqiu grew irritated and berated him. Li Muzhan reluctantly offered a few more explanations.

Bai Mingqiu listened with a furrowed brow, lost in thought. She hadn't practiced the Supreme Jade Purity Scripture for very long; it was only after Li Muzhan arrived and she sensed his progress that she began practicing, not wanting to be surpassed. After diligently studying it, she discovered its profound mystery, and her martial arts advanced rapidly. However, the further she progressed, the harder it became, and her advancement slowed. Thankfully, she had Master's guidance. Even so, future cultivation would be immensely difficult, as the most crucial element of this scripture was one's state of mind; without congruence in their heart-realm, diligent practice was futile.

Li Muzhan’s words had completely upended her perception, leaving her stunned and unable to pull herself free.

Seeing her like this, Li Muzhan didn't disturb her. He went into the courtyard to bathe in the sunset glow, slightly narrowing his eyes to cultivate, drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

About fifteen minutes later, Li Muzhan suddenly approached Bai Mingqiu, "Senior Sister, let’s go."

The confusion in Bai Mingqiu’s bright eyes quickly receded as she looked at him, "What is it?"

Li Muzhan said, "Someone has arrived; we need to slip away."

"Who?" Bai Mingqiu started, then frowned, "Is it someone from the Qinghe Sword Sect?"

Li Muzhan nodded, "The ones coming this time are experts; it's best if we avoid a direct confrontation."

"Let's go," Bai Mingqiu nodded without hesitation.

Li Muzhan returned to the room to ‘pack’ his belongings. Their appearances remained ordinary, designed not to attract attention. Soon, they left the inn and exited the city directly.

They appeared leisurely, as if sight-seeing, yet their speed was exceptional. They quickly left the small city and entered the dense forest, disappearing into the mountains.

Bai Mingqiu frowned, "Junior Brother, how long did it take them to find you this time?"

Li Muzhan replied, "They must have some secret technique to track my movements. This time it was three days."

"Three days..." Bai Mingqiu shook her head, "Let’s head north. The Qinghe Sword Sect cannot cover the entire realm; their influence weakens the further north we go."

Li Muzhan countered, "North is the territory of the Huaqing Sect. The Huaqing Sect opposes the Bright Mirror Sect, and the Bright Mirror Sect is the backing of the Qinghe Sword Sect, correct?"

"You know why you shouldn't go north?" Bai Mingqiu frowned.

Li Muzhan smiled, "No hurry."

Bai Mingqiu stared at him for a moment, then shook her head, "You truly are mad!" He knew going north was best, yet he insisted on staying here, engaging with the Qinghe Sword Sect, dancing on the tip of a sword, taking life-risking chances. She truly didn't know what to say!

Li Muzhan explained, "Senior Sister, the Qinghe Sword Sect hasn't revealed its ultimate trump cards yet. I want to see them. If things become truly impossible, then we can discuss retreating!" He possessed the teleportation skill; if all else failed, he could escape. No matter how powerful the Qinghe Sword Sect was, they couldn't detain him, and this confidence was why he didn't head north.

"You... you are playing with fire. The Qinghe Sword Sect isn't as weak as you imagine," Bai Mingqiu shook her head dismissively. "What if a truly top-tier expert arrives? It will be too late to flee!"

Li Muzhan shrugged, "Then I can only blame my bad luck."

"You..." Bai Mingqiu sighed, choosing not to persuade him further, knowing words were useless.

Li Muzhan surveyed their surroundings and said gently, "Senior Sister, you should head back first."

"Nonsense!" Bai Mingqiu huffed.

Li Muzhan said no more. They walked shoulder-to-shoulder up the mountain ridge, quickly reaching the summit. A massive boulder seemed to have been dropped from the sky, resting flatly on the peak. This square stone was about ten meters long and wide. Standing on it was a young man in his twenties, tall and handsome, clad in a flowing sapphire robe, a long sword hanging from his waist—like a jade tree standing alone.

Li Muzhan suddenly frowned, stepping forward to shield Bai Mingqiu, and turned back with a wry smile, "It seems they really used a top-tier array talisman!"

Bai Mingqiu cautioned, "Be careful!"

She couldn't sense the cultivation of the man before her, as if he were an ordinary person without martial arts—there was no sensation at all, which was very strange. Judging by his attire and the silent manner of his arrival, he could not possibly be without martial arts. That left only one possibility: his cultivation ran too deep, akin to his Junior Brother’s.

Li Muzhan slightly inclined his head, cupping his hands, "May I ask what distinguished friend this is?"

"Li Muzhan?" The handsome youth asked faintly.

Li Muzhan nodded, "And you are...?"

"Zheng Haiya of the Qinghe Sword Sect!" The handsome youth slowly drew his sword. "My younger brother is Zheng Haishi!"

Li Muzhan replied, "I see. May I ask how you found me?"

"Petty tricks, not worth mentioning," Zheng Haiya shook his head. He held the sword flat, lightly pointing the tip toward Li Muzhan. An invisible force materialized out of thin air, causing every hair on Li Muzhan’s body to stand on end. Threads of chill snaked from his coccyx up past the nape of his neck, through his crown, covering his entire body. His internal energy surged, but his expression remained unchanged as he smiled faintly, "Tracing me down isn't a petty trick!"

"Did you really think you could escape our grasp?" Zheng Haiya shook his head and said flatly, "Be careful; I will show no mercy!"

Li Muzhan smiled, "Senior Sister, please wait a moment."

Bai Mingqiu retreated a few steps, remaining silent.

Li Muzhan drew his sword and smiled, "Please proceed!" This time he dared not use his fingertip power. Zheng Haiya was a formidable opponent. The Tianyuan Pavilion had inherited secret techniques; the Qinghe Sword Sect surely possessed similar secret methods for Zheng Haiya to reach this level of refinement.

Zheng Haiya let out a sharp cry, and the long sword in his hand suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, like the rising sun. Instantly, the sword tip was at Li Muzhan's heart.

Li Muzhan raised his sword to block the blow while retreating. Ding... A lingering, clear chime echoed. Li Muzhan retreated ten paces. In his wake, the ground collapsed three inches deep, leaving a line of footprints seemingly branded into the stone.

"Fine swordsmanship!" Li Muzhan exhaled, having completely deflected the force on his sword. He felt a chill in his heart; Zheng Haiya’s internal energy was peculiar, almost like a drill. If his own internal energy hadn't been solidified and supplemented by mental power, he would have suffered a major loss from that single exchange.

Zheng Haiya frowned, let out a slight snort, and his sword body erupted with immense light, slashing toward Li Muzhan—fierce and violent, making it impossible to look directly at the sharpness of the attack.

Li Muzhan retreated while parrying. Bai Mingqiu’s delicate eyebrows tightened, her hand resting on her sword hilt, ready to intervene at any moment. She hadn't expected Zheng Haiya to be so terrifyingly strong, able to push her Junior Brother into a purely defensive position where he couldn't counterattack. Every slash seemed capable of cleaving clouds and severing the sky.

Li Muzhan retreated without losing composure, focusing on deflecting Zheng Haiya’s strength. If he engaged in a direct clash, he feared another expert was watching nearby, ready to strike. Since one person could conceal themselves from him, there might be a second lurking, ready to charge in at any moment. While retreating, he observed Zheng Haiya’s swordsmanship; it was truly devastating, each strike gathering momentum like a rising tide, one wave layering upon the next, increasing the power exponentially. Against such swordsmanship, stepping back even an inch meant certain defeat; he had to layer his own strikes, adding power upon power. At this juncture, Li Muzhan dared not clash head-on; he could only defend and try to find a flaw in the sword strokes to overcome strength with finesse.

Bai Mingqiu's breathing grew rapid; she saw Li Muzhan’s situation becoming increasingly perilous, on the verge of being struck. Zheng Haiya’s sword momentum grew ever more ferocious and unmatched, impossible to equal.

Li Muzhan spoke sternly, "Excellent sword technique! Is this the sword style of the Qinghe Sword Sect?"

"Rage! Tide! Sword!" Zheng Haiya uttered one word with each strike. The sword grew faster and faster, leaving Li Muzhan barely able to evade, relying entirely on instinct. He narrowed his eyes slightly, then suddenly shouted, "Break!"

Under the piercing sword intent, his sword seemed to transcend spatial limitations; the moment the blade was unleashed, it pierced into Zheng Haiya’s chest.

Ding... Zheng Haiya stepped back one pace, his sword momentum collapsing. His face looked ugly as he glared at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan exclaimed in surprise, "Protective battle armor?!" He felt the tip of his sword strike something resilient; the force was instantly diverted, unable to penetrate further. No matter how formidable the body-tempering skill, it couldn't be this strong.

Zheng Haiya glanced down at his chest. A faint silver light shimmered over his sternum. His face darkened, staring fixedly at Li Muzhan. His mind was still reeling from that previous strike—a stroke both uncanny and mysterious—as a chill kept rising through him.

Li Muzhan smiled, "How about we call it quits?"

"Clap, clap! Excellent swordsmanship! Truly excellent!" A middle-aged man in blue clapped his hands while appearing suddenly beside Bai Mingqiu, shaking his head in admiration, "The world holds such a sword technique!"

Li Muzhan smiled, seemingly unfazed by the threat, "And who might this esteemed guest be?"

"Leng Qian of the Qinghe Sword Sect," the blue-robed middle-aged man replied. His appearance was plain, but his demeanor was gentle as the wind. He smiled, "Young Master Li has truly opened our eyes!"