"It was my carelessness," Chen Daotang shook his head.

Li Muzhan slowly bent down and placed him gently onto a chair.

Huang Ningtian stepped forward to feel Chen Daotang's wrist, his brow knitting tighter and tighter. He glanced at the palm still pressed against Chen Daotang's chest, then followed the line upward to Li Muzhan.

He paused, then frowned. "Daotang, was that one person or two who struck you?"

"One," Chen Daotang leaned back against the chair, shaking his head with a sigh. "A formidable fellow. I hadn't expected the Zixing Hall to possess such experts!"

"You were injured by a single person?" Huang Ningtian asked.

Chen Daotang shook his head. "Four people surrounded me, but only one managed to injure me. Their techniques are incredibly strange; I’ve never seen anything like them."

"How powerful were they?" Huang Ningtian's expression grew grave.

Chen Daotang replied, "Each one was no less capable than I am."

Huang Ningtian’s frown deepened further. He rose, tucked his hands behind his back, and began pacing. Li Muzhan had stabilized Chen Daotang's injury, so he wasn't overly worried about that; what troubled him were Daotang's words.

Chen Daotang possessed unparalleled martial prowess, rare in the world. Even Huang Ningtian himself might not surpass him by much. In the vast Mingjing Sect, only three or four others could stand as his equals—and those were veterans from the older generation, rarely seen, dedicated only to pure cultivation, and only to be called upon in moments of life and death.

To think they possessed four experts equal to Chen Daotang! This was no ordinary sect. The Zixing Hall had risen like a comet, which he hadn't paid much mind to—just a group of showy mystics who wouldn't last. But now, these people had delivered him a shock!

He took a deep breath and turned to look at Daotang. "Daotang, can we take them down?"

"...Doubtful," Chen Daotang slowly shook his head.

Huang Ningtian frowned. "Do we need to join forces?"

"It seems we must," Chen Daotang murmured. "In my estimation, they have far more than just these four masters. If we engage in a direct fight, even a victory would be a pyrrhic one."

Huang Ningtian paced back and forth, hands behind his back, his face shifting between grim and uncertain.

Li Muzhan maintained his hold on Chen Daotang’s chest, his internal energy flowing steadily. After several streams of his neili enveloped the two serpent-like internal energies afflicting Daotang, his meridians calmed, allowing him to safely accept Li Muzhan's energy.

The Great Compassion Sword was the foundation of the Mingjing Sect's thirty-six internal pathways; any single pathway's martial art could accept its energy. The balanced, moderate neili flowed in, rapidly replenishing Chen Daotang's depleted reserves.

He had been utterly drained by those two strange internal energies earlier, which was why he collapsed at the base of the mountain; he couldn't recover quickly. With Li Muzhan's assistance, he had already regained perhaps a tenth of his strength.

Chen Daotang said, "Sect Master, we must issue the order for everyone to return to the mountain."

"Yes, yes!" Huang Ningtian slapped his forehead and said gravely, "Little Zhou!"

The middle-aged man who had confronted Li Muzhan earlier stepped out from behind a pillar, bowing respectfully. Huang Ningtian commanded, "Convey my order: all sect disciples are to return to the mountain immediately. Do not engage in conflict with anyone!"

"Yes!" The middle-aged man acknowledged crisply and strode rapidly out of the main hall.

Huang Ningtian turned back to Daotang, frowning. "Daotang, who do you think we should ally with?"

Chen Daotang pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "...The Huaqing Sect would be best."

"Alas..." Huang Ningtian sighed, shaking his head. "We just gave them a thorough beating. It's hard to face them now!"

"The rise of Zixing Hall is not just our sect's affair; they will understand that," Chen Daotang reasoned.

He glanced toward Li Muzhan, whose eyelids drooped as if he hadn't heard a thing; his expression revealed no hint of change. Yet, inwardly, Li Muzhan felt a stir. He was deeply disappointed in the Huaqing Sect; unreliable in a crisis, they were hardly a sturdy ally. However, his senior sister's maternal grandfather had been kind, gifting him a volume on the Eight Insights of Swordsmanship—a favor he felt he must repay.

"Sigh... very well," Huang Ningtian felt a touch of regret that his recent bout of pride had led him to injure Elder Dan, resulting in him now having to swallow his pride.

"Daotang, it will have to be you to make the journey," Huang Ningtian said helplessly. "Rest for a while. Once your injury has healed, go to the Huaqing Sect and deliver a letter for me."

"Yes," Chen Daotang agreed with a nod.

Huang Ningtian came over and patted his shoulder. "Don't rush the healing. This matter isn't going anywhere for a few days."

"Understood," Chen Daotang smiled.

Li Muzhan escorted Chen Daotang back to his small courtyard. As Daotang settled onto the couch, he laughed. "Wuji, your cultivation has increased astonishingly fast. You’re almost surpassing me."

Li Muzhan smiled. Due to his unique comprehension of the Great Compassion Sword, his progress was meteoric; his cultivation had actually doubled. He hadn't been able to match Chen Daotang before, but now, in terms of neili cultivation, he was his equal. Such rapid growth was beyond even his own expectations; the Great Compassion Sword suited him perfectly.

Chen Daotang asked, "How is the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Swordplay coming along?"

Li Muzhan pulled the thick sword manual from his robes and chuckled. "I’ve mastered it. I’m about to begin the Greater Heavenly Cycle Sword. What is the origin of Zixing Hall?"

Chen Daotang frowned in thought, then shook his head. "I don't know where they crawled out from under some rock. Every single one wears a mask—it’s clear they aren't following any righteous path... Little He fell to them. This debt must be repaid."

Li Muzhan asked, "Have they committed any other evil deeds?"

"Who knows," Chen Daotang shrugged. "They killed one of our disciples. Regardless of whether they are righteous or wicked, they must be dealt with. You understand the principle."

Li Muzhan pressed, "They haven't targeted any other sects, have they?"

Chen Daotang laughed. "Wuji, are you worried about the Tianyuan Pavilion?"

Li Muzhan nodded.

Chen Daotang chuckled. "Your Tianyuan Pavilion disciples haven't been leaving lately; you probably haven't attracted Zixing Hall's attention. Rest easy!"

Li Muzhan, however, could not rest easy. Tianyuan Pavilion was currently a soft target. Perhaps Zixing Hall wanted to squeeze it. Calamity could descend unexpectedly; shrinking away at home wouldn't necessarily prevent one from being targeted.

"If you are worried, then go challenge the Stone Forest," Chen Daotang advised. "You absolutely cannot descend the mountain unless you clear the Stone Forest. That is an unbreakable iron rule!"

Li Muzhan slowly nodded. "I want to challenge the Stone Forest!"

"With your current cultivation, as long as you are careful, it shouldn't be a problem," Chen Daotang said. "The Stone Forest is a wondrous place. The higher your cultivation, the greater the difficulty becomes; it won't be easy to pass through."

"I don't want to stay on the mountain watching idly," Li Muzhan stated.

"Very well, then don't rush to help me yet. Go back and conserve your energy. Tomorrow, I will accompany you to challenge the Stone Forest!"

Li Muzhan considered this and agreed.

The next morning, Li Muzhan arrived again at Chen Daotang’s courtyard. Daotang was practicing the Great Compassion Sword in the yard, his movements fluid and graceful, much faster than Li Muzhan’s. He didn't stop his swordplay upon seeing him enter.

Every person practiced the Great Compassion Sword differently. Li Muzhan watched for a while and felt that Chen Daotang's execution held its own unique charm. The Great Compassion Sword aligned best with the physical body; the degree of this alignment dictated the speed of cultivation growth. Li Muzhan, possessing a powerful spirit, felt and observed with microscopic precision; his internal sight was perfectly clear, allowing him to adjust for the optimal fit, achieving complete harmony between the sword art and his body. This level of integration was extremely difficult for others. Li Muzhan could see that Chen Daotang’s Great Compassion Sword was not perfectly aligned with his own body; no outsider could help with that—it required solitary, painstaking practice and self-reflection.

Chen Daotang ceased his practice. White vapor rose from around him. After sheathing his sword, he entered a small pavilion, and Li Muzhan followed, sitting opposite him. "Senior Brother Chen's injuries have greatly improved."

"Yes, I took a Spirit Pill; it's mostly healed now," Chen Daotang shook his head. "That fellow's palm strike is peculiar. I’m trying to devise a countermeasure, and Wuji, I need your help." Li Muzhan’s use of a few fingers to subdue those two internal energies earlier had opened his eyes, and he still marveled at it.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior Brother, breaking that palm strike isn't difficult for you."

"How so?" Chen Daotang asked.

Li Muzhan stated, "The Lesser Heavenly Cycle Swordplay can break it."

"Hmm—?" Chen Daotang pondered. Junior Brother Li wouldn't lie, but could the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Swordplay truly counter that type of palm strike?

Li Muzhan offered the direct conclusion: "Senior Brother, have you noticed that the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Swordplay can break Gang Qi (Aura Shielding)?"

"Break Gang Qi?" Chen Daotang slowly shook his head.

Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I believe this is the profound essence of the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Swordplay's core method."

"Don't mention it, I truly never noticed the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Swordplay could break Gang Qi. How do you do it?" Chen Daotang replied, shaking his head.

Li Muzhan proposed, "Senior Brother, let’s spar for a moment."

"Good." Chen Daotang stepped out of the pavilion and thrust his sword forward, using the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Sword. Li Muzhan countered with the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Swordplay as well. The Lesser Heavenly Cycle Sword forms were not numerous, but their variations were complex, capable of generating over a thousand moves. Though they used the same technique, their applications were never redundant.

After more than a hundred exchanges, Chen Daotang retreated, sheathing his sword. He shook his head. "Wuji, it seems you were born to practice this art!" He realized that Li Muzhan's mastery and nuanced application of the forms surpassed his own. He had labored for years; Wuji had only practiced for a month. Truly, people couldn't be compared. In the Mingjing Sect, Chen Daotang was considered exceptionally gifted, with few his equal, but compared to Li Muzhan, it was like comparing others to himself—a vast gulf separated them. He felt no jealousy; Li Muzhan was his protégé. They succeeded or failed together; the more formidable Wuji became, the greater the benefit to the sect, and the greater his own contribution.

He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "It seems the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Swordplay truly can break Gang Qi..." He felt the strangeness in the force of Li Muzhan's sword: several threads of neili condensed at a single point, like a needle pricking skin, capable of piercing the resistance of the Gang Qi. Crucially, Li Muzhan's sword tip was precise, striking the exact same spot every time, condensing force into a pinpoint—even water can wear away stone, let alone concentrated force. Chen Daotang had never executed the forms this way before. Recalling Li Muzhan’s every thrust, he saw that each sword movement was unique, the core method different, and the accompanying force varied. These stacked together created a miraculous effect, easily shattering the Gang Qi.

"Let's go challenge the Stone Forest!" Chen Daotang’s spirits lifted, and he smiled. "Mastering the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Swordplay to this level is enough to pass through!"

Li Muzhan followed him out of the valley, heading north to the summit of another mountain. The peak was covered in stone statues, standing tall and numerous, shaped like people, beasts, and trees, all distinctly different. Li Muzhan frowned; he couldn't sense the situation within the Stone Forest, his perception blocked by an unseen power—this Stone Forest was a potent formation.

Chen Daotang pointed toward the stones. "Wuji, there are eight masters within the Stone Forest in total. Though their cultivation is inferior to mine, they are exceptionally tricky within this terrain. Passing through requires not just martial skill, but wisdom."

Li Muzhan nodded and stepped forward boldly. Instantly, the scene changed around him, as if he had been transported to a vast desert. Chen Daotang watched him enter, shaking his head with a smile. The Stone Forest was not so easily breached; the higher one’s cultivation, the tougher the trials became. It would take every ounce of effort to pass through.

About fifteen minutes later, Li Muzhan reappeared. His complexion was calm, his expression thoughtful. Chen Daotang looked at him in surprise; he hadn't expected it to be so fast.