Li Muzhan frowned. This person’s cultivation was profound, and more critically, he could pinpoint the key weakness in the Tianyuan Pavilion’s protective array, able to shake the formation with his sword.
Such swordsmanship truly possessed a near-divine subtlety. Li Muzhan believed he could achieve it, but only because he specialized in arrays and possessed the Eye of the Void; otherwise, it would be impossible.
He didn't rush to reveal himself, merely watching calmly as the middle-aged man in the green shirt thrust his sword into the void, again and again, vibrating the great mountain-guarding formation.
He wanted to observe more thoroughly. Anyone daring to approach Tianyuan Pavilion likely possessed extraordinary secrets, so caution was paramount. Knowing one more detail meant one more advantage.
He vanished from his spot in a flash, reappearing outside the main hall. Long Jingyue and Bai Mingqiu had just arrived outside and were heading toward the commotion.
“Wuji, what’s happening?” Long Jingyue asked, knitting her brows.
A silent tremor occasionally resonated, which Long Jingyue felt clearly, finding it inexplicable. Bai Mingqiu frowned. “How many people have come?”
Li Muzhan raised his index finger. “Only one! A master!”
“How audacious, one person intending to sweep through our entire Tianyuan Pavilion?!” Long Jingyue frowned. “He must be relying on something substantial. Let’s go take a look!”
Li Muzhan quickly extended an arm. “Master, wait!”
Long Jingyue stopped and looked at him. Li Muzhan smiled. “A disciple should handle such burdens. I will deal with him; Master need not exert herself.”
“Rare to see you so diligent!” Long Jingyue showed a smile. “Is he very strong?”
She had seen through his intention—he was worried she might get hurt jumping in. Clearly, this newcomer was no ordinary person, evidenced by the state of the array.
Li Muzhan nodded. “He is a formidable opponent. I wish to focus entirely, without distraction, to deal with him!”
“Hmph, are you implying we are a hindrance?” Bai Mingqiu retorted with a hint of pique.
Li Muzhan rubbed the bridge of his nose with an embarrassed smile, offering no rebuttal. This angered the two women, who glared sharply at him. Though they knew his martial arts were now formidable and exceptional, his words were truly irritating!
Li Muzhan chuckled. “Master, Senior Sister, I will teach him a proper lesson on your behalf. Master and Senior Sister don't need to lift a finger!”
“Alright, alright, hurry up then!” Long Jingyue said testily. “You, be careful. Don’t dawdle, and don’t let him break the protective array!”
Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. “That array isn't so easily broken.”
If the array could be broken that easily, it wouldn't have survived millennia without decay. Brute force entry would require nearly a hundred top-tier masters.
This formation borrowed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, growing stronger over vast stretches of time; the longer it existed, the more powerful it became. Using sheer force, even a hundred masters couldn't accomplish it.
Although this man’s swordsmanship was exquisite, allowing him to sense the flow of spiritual energy, breaking the array would not be simple, nor could it be done in a brief moment.
An array existing for a thousand years possesses self-repair capabilities; it quickly re-establishes balance, and trivial attacks cannot shake it at all.
“Stop rambling, if you’re going to fight, do it quickly!” Bai Mingqiu shot him a glance.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “He is a true master. I want to observe him a little more clearly before making a move.”
“Junior Brother, you’re not confident, are you?” Bai Mingqiu asked, her brow furrowed.
Li Muzhan did not hide it, slowly nodding. “I am uncertain. This is the first time I’ve encountered someone like this. He seems to be from the Mingjing Sect.”
“He very likely is from the Mingjing Sect!” Long Jingyue said. “If he wears a jade pendant at his waist shaped like a bronze mirror, he belongs to the Mingjing Sect!”
Li Muzhan’s brow flickered slightly, then he nodded slowly. “Indeed, he is a master from the Mingjing Sect! They are finally intervening.”
“Junior Brother, give it your all!” Bai Mingqiu said with a frown. “If he truly is from the Mingjing Sect, he will show no mercy. You cannot hold back either.”
“Yes, don't fear offending the Mingjing Sect. If you must kill him, then kill him!” Long Jingyue snorted lightly. “The crucial point is, if you genuinely fight a disciple of the Mingjing Sect, not fighting with your full strength is seeking death!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “A name carries weight. It seems the Mingjing Sect is indeed formidable…” I understand now. I’m leaving!”
He didn't believe the two women were overreacting. He didn't know the exact extent of the Mingjing Sect’s power, but he knew they were not to be underestimated. One look at that scripture, the Eight Sword Arts of the Dao, was enough to show the power of the Four Great Sects.
Li Muzhan had considered that Tianyuan Pavilion could never find a supreme manual like the Eight Sword Arts of the Dao—that was the gap between them and the Huaqing Sect. The Mingjing Sect was comparable to the Huaqing Sect, perhaps even superior, which illustrated how terrifying the Mingjing Sect was.
They possessed not only superior aptitude but also superior cultivation methods, elevating them far beyond ordinary martial artists. Furthermore, they held certain esoteric arts that could enhance their cultivation base.
As a result, they were not on the same generational level as ordinary martial artists; their martial prowess even surpassed that of previous generations, looking down on their peers.
“Junior Brother, be careful!” Bai Mingqiu said hesitantly. By the time she finished speaking, Li Muzhan had already vanished.
Long Jingyue patted her shoulder. “Relax. He knows what he’s doing.”
Bai Mingqiu merely bit her red lip, saying nothing.
Li Muzhan drifted silently behind the middle-aged man in green. He smiled. “Are you a disciple of the Mingjing Sect, sir?”
The man in green slowly turned, returned his sword to its sheath, and sized up Li Muzhan. “Are you Li Wuji of Tianyuan Pavilion?”
“Indeed,” Li Muzhan nodded.
“Good. Watch my sword!” The man in green moved his right hand, and a cold star descended directly toward Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan shifted back a full foot, narrowly avoiding the strike. His heart tightened. This sword movement was almost identical to his own Void-Breaking Sword Intent; the tip seemed to tear through the spatial constraints.
He drew his sword, and the two beams of light met with a clashing sound: Clang, clang, clang, clang, one... In an instant, they exchanged nearly a hundred blows, like a torrential downpour.
Ding... one. The sound of steel rang out endlessly as the two separated once more.
Li Muzhan glanced down at his lower abdomen. A long cut marred the fabric over his navel, thankfully only slicing the clothes; the skin was untouched. Had he been a fraction slower, his Dantian would have been wounded, rendering him crippled.
He looked up at the man in green, who was also frowning and looking down at his own chest. There was a small circular mark over his heart, which had pierced the outer clothing. A bit deeper, and his heart would have been struck.
He too felt a sudden jolt of surprise. He hadn't expected anyone to be able to block his quick strike. Such speed was unprecedented, and the force behind the sword was shockingly profound.
For a boy of this age to possess such cultivation—what incredible fortune must he have stumbled upon? He was far beyond the peers in his own sect. It was a good thing he had come himself; had he arrogantly sent a disciple of the same generation, that youth would surely be dead by now.
Li Muzhan stared solemnly at the man in green. Their swords moved too fast; even the slightest lapse in concentration could mean death. There was no room for carelessness.
“Fine swordsmanship,” the man in green commented faintly. “To achieve this level at such a young age is rare. Is this truly the swordsmanship of your Tianyuan Pavilion?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “I have only grasped a fraction of it; please instruct me further!”
The man in green snorted. “The Twelve Swords of Tianyuan are merely trivial tricks. You have reached the limit of what can be achieved with them; there is no further room for progress!”
“Oh?” Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
He knew he had only just grasped a tiny sliver of understanding, and the more he pondered, the more endless its mystery seemed. This man’s condescending tone suggested ill intent.
The man in green scoffed. “Your Twelve Swords of Tianyuan are derived from the Eight Swords of Huaqing of the Huaqing Sect. Even the Eight Swords of Huaqing cannot withstand our sword techniques, let alone what you practice?”
As he spoke, he shook his head. “Do you wish to resolve the predicament of the Tianyuan Pavilion?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “How can it be resolved?”
“I have an idea.”
The man in green raised his index finger and smiled. “If you leave Tianyuan Pavilion and join our Mingjing Sect, the grievances between Tianyuan Pavilion and the Qinghe Sword Sect will be wiped clean!” (To be continued)