He grew increasingly curious about the Purple Star Hall; Star Power and Void Energy were both exceedingly rare in this world, yet they manifested in these individuals.

Even if only out of professional rivalry, he needed to understand what was happening, and what kind of secret art the Star-Summoning Technique truly was.

The disciples of the Purple Star Hall treated the Star-Summoning Technique as a secret method to stimulate potential. Just like the Great Bright King Sutra he once practiced, he might be able to transform it into a standard cultivation method for continuous use.

He frowned, glancing at the three figures on the ground. Shaking his head, he realized he still hadn't managed to restrain himself. If he had held back from killing them and let them go, he could have tracked the location of the Purple Star Hall.

However, with Senior Brother Chen and the Elders taking action, ascertaining the truth shouldn't be difficult; he would simply wait a bit longer.

He soon returned to the Abyss Pavilion, practicing the Big Dipper Divine Sword along the way, pondering its mysteries. The Big Dipper Divine Sword seemed like the scattered stars in the vast night sky, offering new discoveries unexpectedly, endlessly, which made him tireless in his practice.

He also attempted to integrate the Soul Transformation Palm into the Big Dipper Divine Sword to increase its power, but unfortunately, the Big Dipper Divine Sword seemed to possess an exclusionary nature, preventing fusion. Moreover, he had not yet fully grasped the profundity of the sword technique, so specializing in the Big Dipper Divine Sword was better.

Occasionally, as he sheathed his sword, he would try integrating Star Power into the Soul Transformation Palm instead, which dramatically increased its might. He had always kept the Soul Transformation Palm a secret, treating it as his ultimate trump card.

The throwing knife, the Soul Transformation Palm, and instantaneous movement were all the foundations of his survival.

The morning air was exceptionally fresh, and the air beneath the Abyss Pavilion carried an added touch of gentle moisture, leaving him feeling completely refreshed.

Just halfway up to the Abyss Pavilion, his smile froze. Under the surveillance of the Void Eye, a group of people—fifty-two of them—were blocking the Grand Array of the Abyss Pavilion.

Li Muzhan frowned. He now intensely disliked such acts of obstruction, and a surge of ill temper rose within him. He crossed the void in a single stride, appearing just outside the crowd, and scoffed, "What are you all doing gathered here?!"

Fifty-two pairs of eyes "swished" toward his face.

"You are Li Wuji?" a burly elder frowned.

The fifty-two people simultaneously parted, surrounding Li Muzhan in the center. The burly elder approached, his gaze, cold as lightning, sweeping over Li Muzhan from top to bottom. He slowly nodded, "You are Li Wuji!"

Li Muzhan sized up the man: gray robes, white hair, a face like a silver platter with no visible wrinkles, and an imposing aura. His lightning-cold eyes, combined with his dignified bearing, exerted intense pressure.

Li Muzhan gave a slight bow: "I am Li Wuji! And who might all of you be?"

"The West River Gang!" the burly elder stated gravely. "My surname is Fang, and I humbly hold the position of Left Protector!"

Li Muzhan frowned: "The Abyss Pavilion has no known feud with the West River Gang, does it? Why bring so many people here?"

"We are here for you!" the burly elder sneered, his eyes piercing him like needles.

Li Muzhan focused his gaze. The burly elder grunted and stepped back, clutching his eye.

Li Muzhan smirked: "Put away such petty tricks... Whatever business the West River Gang has, we'll discuss it later. Move aside first, don't block the entrance!"

"Li Wuji, we in the West River Gang have never meddled with the Abyss Pavilion's affairs. Why are you helping the Qinghe Sword Sect deal with us?"

The burly elder lowered his hand and questioned coldly. There were still tear stains at the corner of his eye; Li Muzhan’s previous attack had hurt him significantly, feeling no different from being pierced by a needle.

Li Muzhan smiled: "I am a disciple of the Bright Mirror Sect, carrying out the Sect Master's orders to protect Headmaster Deng. If you have the ability, go argue with the Bright Mirror Sect. Stop blocking the way here!"

"Hmph, you are a disciple of the Bright Mirror Sect, but you are also a disciple of the Abyss Pavilion!" the burly elder retorted coldly, feeling insecure internally. This move was meant to strike the grass to scare the snake; they couldn't defeat the Bright Mirror Sect, so they aimed to intimidate them by crushing the Abyss Pavilion—killing the chicken to scare the monkeys.

Li Muzhan shook his head: "Is this the caliber of the West River Gang? Picking on the soft persimmon to squeeze? Are you here for me, or for the Abyss Pavilion?!"

"Naturally, we are here for you!" the burly elder huffed.

Li Muzhan spread his hands: "I am a disciple of the Bright Mirror Sect now. Do you dare harm me?"

The burly elder’s face darkened, and he fell silent.

The situation was indeed tricky now, a dilemma of riding a tiger; they had learned that Li Muzhan was not in the Abyss Pavilion, which is why they came, never expecting him to suddenly appear.

Li Muzhan chuckled, shaking his head: "Get lost!"

"Lao Li, do you think we truly don't dare kill you?!" The burly elder’s face was grim enough to drip water, his voice squeezed through his teeth.

Li Muzhan smiled: "Do you? If you don't clear out within ten breaths, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"Very well!" the burly elder sneered coldly. "I'd like to see precisely how impolite you dare to be!"

Li Muzhan raised his left palm, pressing down one finger after another, then his right palm. Ten counts were finished in the blink of an eye.

He lowered his hands, shaking his head: "Heaven's judgment can be escaped, but self-inflicted doom cannot. You chose this path; don't blame me for being ruthless!"

He flashed behind the burly elder. His long sword transformed into a faint blue gleam and sliced through. The burly elder turned to block, and with a soft chi, the two swords met, but Li Muzhan's blade passed through his throat without obstruction.

The burly elder clutched his throat, staring blankly as he collapsed.

The remaining fifty-one were startled. Protector Fang's sword was sharp enough to cut iron, yet he was defeated so easily. Did Li Wuji’s sword possess greater power?

Holding this understanding, they became hesitant, afraid to clash with his sword. They resorted to throwing hidden weapons at him. Li Muzhan guarded himself with his sword while lightly tapping his left hand, finger pointed outward; one finger sent one person flying.

In a few moments, only twenty men remained out of the fifty-two. Thirty-two had been struck by his finger strength and sent flying before they could even get close, never to stir again.

Driving the finger strength with Star Power yielded astonishing power. Even if they weren't killed, they were severely injured; the domineering Star Power would relentlessly destroy their meridians.

The remaining twenty saw that Li Muzhan's sword movements were too dense for them to break through, and the power of his finger strikes was boundless; anyone struck fell to the ground. Fear gripped them, and they scattered in all directions, fleeing.

Li Muzhan stopped his sword, scanned the area once, shook his head, and turned back into the Abyss Pavilion's Grand Array. Having been infused with Star Power, they were effectively crippled; there was no need to kill them further, as they posed no threat anymore.

Their retreat would, in fact, serve as a powerful deterrent. If the West River Gang dared to cause trouble again, they would have to consider the fate of these thirty-two men and gauge their own courage!

Li Muzhan entered the Abyss Pavilion and headed straight for the main hall. Inside, Long Jingyue and Bai Mingqiu were sitting quietly, watching him enter without a word.

The air in the hall seemed to solidify; the faces of both women were grim.

Li Muzhan smiled: "Master, Senior Sister, they are gone!"

"Why did you come back?" Long Jingyue said impatiently. "If you're worried, go practice your sword. Why run back here? Relax, they can't get in!"

Li Muzhan nodded: "I missed you, Master!" These clowns dared not confront the Bright Mirror Sect, so they came for us. Now let's see if they still have the guts!"

"I don't take them seriously. I'm worried about the Qinghe Sword Sect!" Long Jingyue shook her head. "Did they really try to assassinate you?"

Li Muzhan's communication with the Abyss Pavilion was extremely swift. He had copied their signal talisman; Long Jingyue, Bai Mingqiu, and he each possessed one for mutual communication.

Li Muzhan laughed: "Probably just petty jealousy!"

Long Jingyue shook her head and sighed: "I didn't expect that young man surnamed Su to be so despicable. He looked so refined and scholarly!"

Bai Mingqiu shook her head; she was indifferent, but she truly couldn't comprehend Su Pingyang's motives—she could only say his heart was dark and human intentions were hard to fathom.

"Master, if the Qinghe Sword Sect dares to pester us again, I'll pay them a visit," Li Muzhan said solemnly.

With the Soul Transformation Palm and the newly mastered Big Dipper Divine Sword, he was much more confident.

"Let's not yet. Wait a little longer," Long Jingyue advised. "You are currently progressing by leaps and bounds; don't let yourself be distracted!"

Li Muzhan smiled: "How can they let me cultivate in peace?"

He understood the modus operandi of major sects: nip trouble in the bud. Since they had offended him, they would try to eliminate him completely. (To be continued)