Li Muzhan nodded, saying lightly, "I hear Brother Su wishes to marry my Senior Sister?" "That depends on what Miss Bai intends.

I have admired Miss Bai for a long time." Su Pingyang smiled handsomely, his gaze fixed intently on Bai Mingqiu.

Bai Mingqiu’s eyes settled on the window, as if admiring the scenery, paying him no mind whatsoever.

Su Pingyang touched his nose, forcing a slightly awkward laugh, "Brother Li won't object, will you?" Li Muzhan smiled, "I don't think Brother Su is worthy of Senior Sister!" "Hmm—?" At these words, everyone turned to look.

Long Jingyue frowned and glared at him; Bai Mingqiu's ear twitched slightly, as if she hadn't heard, still staring out the window, while the faces of Su Pingyang and Elder Su changed drastically.

Su Pingyang’s handsome face darkened momentarily before recovering, and he shook his head with a slight laugh, "Brother Li is truly frank.

In your eyes, I suppose no man in this world is worthy of Miss Bai?" Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head, "Others might be, but you are not." Before Su Pingyang could react, he continued, "If you wish to marry Senior Sister, you must first pass my trial.

If you can't even defeat me, how can you protect her?!" "Brother Li..." Su Pingyang's face fell.

He could no longer maintain the decorum of a disciple from a prestigious sect.

No one had ever dared speak to him like this, and rage churned in his chest.

Li Muzhan interrupted him, "How about a spar...

I was just thinking the same thing!" Su Pingyang agreed without hesitation.

Li Muzhan rose, smiling, "I have long wished to experience the ultimate techniques of the Huaqing Sect.

If I am fortunate enough to win even a single exchange, Brother Su should roll far away!" Towards a romantic rival, Li Muzhan had no patience for pleasantries; he wished he could slap him ten thousand miles away, making him vanish forever.

Su Pingyang hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded, "Agreed!" Li Muzhan moved to the center, drawing his sword, "Let me say this in advance: I practice the Great Zhou Heaven Sword Art!" "Heavenly Water Sword!" Su Pingyang said in a deep voice.

Rage surged, threatening to drown him.

His voice seemed squeezed through his teeth, his handsome eyes blazing like fire as he glared at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan pointed the tip of his sword at Su Pingyang, saying calmly, "Brother Su, please—!" "Clang..." Two arcs of sword light flashed and clashed intermittently.

Li Muzhan stood rooted to the spot while Su Pingyang circled him, his sword light merging seamlessly with his movements, flowing like water, never ceasing.

Li Muzhan did not move his feet; his sword intent was slow and unhurried, as if he were casually standing there, occasionally lashing out a lazy thrust—exquisitely relaxed and comfortable.

Every sword strike of his forced a pause in Su Pingyang’s momentum, shattering the fluidity of his sword intent and preventing him from gathering power.

The power of the Heavenly Water Sword lay in its intangibility and unpredictability; its intent accumulated like water against a dam, growing stronger with each passing moment.

Li Muzhan had never seen the Heavenly Water Sword before, yet he could disrupt its intent.

The Twelve Swords of Tianyuan were derived from Huaqing Sect martial arts; one of them, the Flowing Water Sword, carried a shadow of the Heavenly Water Sword, making his task of breaking it twice as effective with half the effort.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang..." Li Muzhan's strikes became increasingly precise, each one landing exactly on the body of Su Pingyang's sword, cutting off his momentum.

With his sword intent stalled, Su Pingyang's footwork was also hindered; sword and body were intrinsically linked—break one, and the other fails.

As his footwork slowed, Su Pingyang’s handsome face flushed crimson, swelling as if engorged with blood, his breathing growing heavy.

His inner cultivation technique unknowingly began to shift, influenced by the exchange.

Elder Su’s face was tight, his internal energy roiling as he prepared to act at any moment, seeing that Su Pingyang was losing ground.

"Fshhh!" A flicker of light, and Li Muzhan retracted his sword.

Su Pingyang clutched his wrist, staring at Li Muzhan in astonishment, then looked down at his own hand.

"You—!" Elder Su roared with fury, instantly appearing beside Su Pingyang, grasping his wrist.

After a moment, his face turned grim, "Li Wuji, how dare you!" Li Muzhan had stabbed through Su Pingyang's wrist with his sword, but without injuring bone or sinew—the intent to intimidate was glaringly obvious.

"I yield!" Li Muzhan clasped his hands in a salute with a smile, "Elder Su, do you have any advice for me?" "My hands are itching for a fight!" Elder Su sneered.

Long Jingyue frowned, looking at him, "Wuji, have you gone mad?!" Li Muzhan said, "Master, this should buy us some time." Long Jingyue shook her head.

Li Muzhan's contributions to the Tianyuan Pavilion were unmatched; expelling him now would chill the hearts of all disciples and make the entire world laugh.

Li Muzhan said, "Master, just expel me for now, and then you can take me back in a while.

After all, nowhere does it say that someone expelled from the sect cannot return!" Bai Mingqiu let out a little "pop" of laughter, giving him a sidelong glance; this was too shameless.

Long Jingyue shook her head and chuckled, "This will infuriate the Huaqing Sect—you’re just toying with them!" Li Muzhan asked, "So what if I’m toying with them!" Long Jingyue understood him deeply, knowing his intentions, and sighed, "Wuji, your comprehension is excellent, and you work diligently, but threatening the Huaqing Sect is not a task for one person.

Don't push yourself too hard!" Li Muzhan shook his head and murmured softly, "Master, I can do it!" Long Jingyue could hear the determination in his tone and worried secretly, fearing he was seeking shortcuts or grasping at quick fixes.

To reach his level of martial arts and attempt to climb further is extraordinarily difficult; taking a shortcut now could have severe consequences, possibly leading to qi deviation and certain death.

She said softly, "Wuji, we can all put our heads together for ideas.

Don't carry this burden alone!" Li Muzhan laughed, "Master worries too much.

I know what I’m doing!" "You..." Long Jingyue shook her head; the more he spoke like that, the more uneasy she felt.

He always seemed destined to cause trouble, displaying boundless audacity.

As they spoke, Zhu Ling's crisp voice drifted in from outside, "Pavilion Master, Elder Su and Young Master Su request an audience!" "Show them in," Long Jingyue frowned.

She looked at Li Muzhan, signaling him to hide, but Li Muzhan shook his head and chuckled, "Master, I was just planning to meet them!" "Stop messing around!" Long Jingyue hastily waved her hand, "Go in quickly!" She knew Li Muzhan’s temperament—unrestrained and capable of anything.

Li Muzhan sat smiling sweetly, neither speaking nor moving.

Bai Mingqiu said, "Master, letting him meet them shouldn't matter." Long Jingyue shot Li Muzhan an exasperated glare, "Fine.

Your wings have hardened now; my words mean nothing anymore!" Li Muzhan was undisturbed by her goading, remaining firmly seated.

Footsteps sounded, and the two walked slowly into the main hall.

The first was an elder with white hair and beard, whose eyes were piercingly bright, radiating imposing vigor.

Behind him followed a handsome young man of medium height, with refined brows and bright eyes, dressed in a moon-white robe that made his face look like carved jade and his eyes like cold stars.

"Elder Su, Young Master Su, please!" Long Jingyue extended her delicate hand, offering a cool, detached, slight smile, rising from the carpet to sit in the central chair.

Li Muzhan secretly applauded; this was the bearing of a Pavilion Master.

Though the Huaqing Sect was powerful, hadn't they acted like timid turtles last time!

Even though he had obtained the Eight Insights of the Sword Dao, he felt no debt to the Huaqing Sect; it was all thanks to his Senior Sister; otherwise, her maternal grandfather would never have gifted the secret manual.

"Pavilion Master Long, I apologize for the intrusion." Elder Su sat down in the chair opposite, smiling.

Li Muzhan assessed him briefly; his cultivation was slightly superior to his own, while the Su Pingyang behind him was a level lower.

Li Muzhan would not underestimate them because of this.

Since entering the Mingjing Sect, he had understood the deep foundations of the Four Great Sects; these disciples must possess some hidden ultimate techniques capable of achieving surprise victories at critical moments.

"And who is this young sir...?" Elder Su looked toward Li Muzhan.

Long Jingyue said, "Elder Su, this is Li Wuji, a disciple of the Mingjing Sect." "A secret transmission disciple of your esteemed Pavilion?" Elder Su said with surprise, "Young Brother Li’s name thunders in my ears.

I never expected to meet you here.

Did Young Brother Li clear the Stone Forest?" Long Jingyue pursed her lips and smiled, "This boy ran back right after clearing the Stone Forest." Li Muzhan clasped his hands in salute, a half-smile on his face, "Greetings, Elder Su!" Elder Su waved his hand and said gravely, "Young Hero Li, you cleared the Mingjing Sect's Stone Forest so quickly?

You haven't been in the sect for half a year, have you?" Li Muzhan smiled, "Pure luck, nothing more." "Heh heh, there is no such thing as luck when clearing the Mingjing Sect's Stone Forest!" Elder Su smiled and shook his head, "Pingyang, did you see that!" Su Pingyang smiled and clasped his hands toward Li Muzhan, "Brother Li, a pleasure to meet you.

I am Su Pingyang!"