"Indeed!" Deng Jiuru said solemnly. "Even if the Qinghe Sword Sect has fallen on hard times, we don't need the likes of you."

Li Muzhan nodded and smiled. "That is true. The Qinghe Sword Sect has profound roots and countless masters; whether I am here or not makes no difference."

"It is best that you understand that," Deng Jiuru grunted deeply.

If he had truly allowed this man to come and 'help,' where would the honor of the Qinghe Sword Sect lie? He couldn't fathom what the Mingjing Sect was thinking, sending him specifically!

A flicker of resentment surfaced. Last time, they lost so many disciples just to secure one spot for a Mingjing Sect disciple—it wasn't exactly a net loss, but they still harbored resentment. Why should the Tianyuan Pavilion also have someone inside?

However, the Mingjing Sect had issued orders, and he dared not provoke the Tianyuan Pavilion further. Mingjing Sect disciples were highly esteemed, and causing further trouble would be endless. As the Sect Master, little pride remained; it paled in comparison to cool-headed calculations of benefit.

The conflict between the Qinghe Sword Sect and the Tianyuan Pavilion had escalated to a new level. The two disciples who entered the Mingjing Sect would now see who could suppress whom. If Li Ye could hold the upper hand against Li Wuji, the Qinghe Sword Sect could finally hold its head high. If not, they would have to admit defeat and cease their futile efforts.

Though Li Ye had revealed nothing about the Mingjing Sect, based on his understanding of him, Deng Jiuru knew Li Ye could not truly suppress this Li Wuji. He felt frustrated but helpless; he was not Heaven, after all, unable to control everything.

But who would have thought this Li Wuji would descend the mountain, and not only descend but come here to flaunt his power? It was truly infuriating!

Li Muzhan rose, cupped his hands, and smiled. "Since Elder Deng refuses, I will not insist. However, it is best that Elder Deng informs the Sect Master, or I wouldn't dare leave!"

"Very well!" Deng Jiuru saw his smiling, self-assured expression and knew that if he didn't send a word to Sect Master Huang, this man would simply refuse to budge. If that happened, it would truly damage the morale of the Qinghe Sword Sect.

"Wait a moment!" Deng Jiuru grunted, walked to his desk, picked up his brush, and wrote a letter. The strokes were like a dragon soaring and a snake dancing; he finished it in one breath, blew lightly on the parchment, sealed it, and called a disciple to dispatch the letter rapidly to the Mingjing Sect.

When the disciple took the letter and withdrew, Deng Jiuru looked at Li Muzhan. Without another word, Li Muzhan cupped his hands and smiled, "Elder Deng, I apologize for the intrusion. I shall take my leave now!"

He turned and departed the Qinghe Sword Sect lightly, settling into an inn within Qinghe Town.

For the next two days, he remained in Qinghe Town. Deng Jiuru knew where he was but pretended not to notice. He could drive away disciples from other minor sects, but not a Mingjing Sect disciple.

Li Muzhan used a communication talisman to report his situation, asking why things were so calm. Huang Yutian replied via talisman that the Qinghe Sword Sect was indeed in danger, though the explosion might not have occurred yet—it would be within the next month—and he was explicitly told not to stand idly by.

He then contacted Chen Daotang. Chen Daotang admonished him to stay put obediently near the Qinghe Sword Sect, not to slack off or play tricks, warning that the Sect Rules were unforgiving and he shouldn't act rashly.

Li Muzhan could only settle down in Qinghe Town.

He usually didn't wander about aimlessly, preferring to sit at the inn or a tavern, multitasking while wholly immersed in the Great Heavenly Cycle Sword Technique.

The Great Heavenly Cycle Sword Technique was incredibly intricate; just looking at it made one dizzy. Yet, Li Muzhan savored it. At first glance, every move seemed unremarkable, easy to grasp. But when connected, the execution revealed boundless mystery, virtually flawless.

However, the technique contained too many moves; most people would find it difficult to memorize, let alone master and deploy. Learning a single move was easy—it could be integrated into flesh and blood, becoming instinct. Integrating all one hundred and eight forms into the body was not a hundred-and-eightfold difficulty, but a thousand-fold!

This sword technique was never meant to be mastered through rote memorization and arduous practice. One needed to find its subtle core, its essence, to grasp the fundamental truth. Many practitioners mistook this expansive gate for the destination itself, thus abandoning the root for the branch.

Li Muzhan, having a foundation in Buddhism, possessed profound understanding and exceptional comprehension, often allowing him to cut through confusion and see the fundamental structure. After studying it a few times, he grasped the profound essence of the Great Heavenly Cycle Sword Technique.

The more he researched, the deeper the meaning became. The true power lay outside the sword forms. The technique required using the limited physical movements to guide the infinite.

Li Muzhan estimated that if he truly mastered the Great Heavenly Cycle Sword Technique, he could encompass all sword arts under heaven, leaving nothing hidden. With swift enough thought, he could perceive every weakness.

But this was purely theoretical; achieving it was far from easy. Relying solely on the Great Heavenly Cycle Sword Technique was insufficient. He needed the higher tiers: the Heavenly Gang Sword, the Big Dipper Sword, the Heavenly Mechanism Sword. These must continue this line of thought—to shatter all sword arts. Li Muzhan silently praised the predecessors who created the Heavenly Mechanism Sword; their ambition and courage were astonishing.

Relying on his eidetic memory and deductive abilities, he had studied the sword arts of various sects. In terms of depth, few could surpass him, and he could barely manage to penetrate the weaknesses of most. However, this applied to ordinary sword arts. Truly supreme sword techniques had weaknesses so minute they were nearly invisible, causing him some difficulty.

If he could truly learn the Heavenly Mechanism Sword, he could then achieve the goal of breaking down every sword art in existence. This realization filled him with infinite drive.

Five days passed in a flash. One evening, Li Muzhan went to the tavern as usual, securing a window seat. He ordered a few small dishes and a jug of fine wine, watching the sunset and appreciating the peace of the small town.

He maintained his dual focus, enjoying the scenery while remaining absorbed in the Great Heavenly Cycle Sword Technique. Unconsciously, he finished the entire jug of wine.

He suddenly put down his cup, narrowed his eyes slightly, and scrutinized three middle-aged men ascending the stairs.

These three men wore gray robes, neither new nor worn out, with ordinary features. Coupled with the absence of the usual signs of martial practitioners, they were easily overlooked.

However, Li Muzhan sensed a dangerous aura. These three had reached the state of Returning to Simplicity through profound cultivation, capable of deceiving most observers.

His intuition screamed a warning: these three could not be underestimated. He swept a glance over them and then quietly looked away, as if noticing nothing unusual.

Reaching the Returning to Simplicity stage around forty years old, and all three at this level—there could only be one reason: their cultivation methods were exquisite. With such profound methods, they must belong to a major lineage, at least on the level of the Four Great Sects. Could they be disciples of the Huaqing Sect?

He dared not dismiss the possibility. If the Huaqing Sect targeted the Qinghe Sword Sect, it wasn't impossible. His feelings towards the Huaqing Sect were complicated.

He sighed softly. If it really was the Huaqing Sect, he would have a choice to make. He immediately shook his head and smiled wryly. Since he was a Mingjing Sect disciple, what choice was there? The favors owed to the Huaqing Sect could be repaid slowly; there was no need to settle them right now.

With this thought, his mind settled. He sipped his drink slowly, continuing to enjoy his leisure.

The sun finally set. Li Muzhan paid and left the tavern. As he descended, two elderly men in black robes were coming up. They brushed past him.

As they passed, Li Muzhan felt a subtle shift in his heart: these two had also attained the cultivation level of Returning to Simplicity, concealing their power and appearing utterly ordinary.

He mused that the two groups probably weren't together. He wondered what business had drawn five such masters—a single one was trouble enough for the Qinghe Sword Sect—to converge here. (To be continued)