Jing Zhongtang struggled to sit upright, ignoring his surroundings to enter a meditative state, focusing on regulating his breathing and healing his injuries. After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes blazed like fire, his handsome face a mask of venom and rage. That fellow surnamed Li was truly malicious, his technique almost identical to the Ice Soul Divine Needle.

He knew the formidable nature of the Ice Soul Divine Needle all too well; it induced a state where one longed only for death. Being controlled by it would be worse than suicide.

His only hope now rested on the Sect Master’s invincible divine skill to dissipate this Ice Soul Divine Needle. Clutching a sliver of desperate luck, he returned to the Great River Sect’s headquarters.

In the main hall, Jiang Ruyue glared at him coldly, shaking her head. “Speak clearly.

What exactly happened?” Jing Zhongtang recounted the entire incident without reservation. He knew the Sect Master detested deceit above all else; making mistakes was secondary, but evading responsibility or attempting concealment incurred far heavier punishment.

It was always better to tell the truth. Jiang Ruyue listened in silent repose.

When he finished, she shook her head. “You, you are utterly foolish!” “Sect Master, I felt the threat posed by that Li was too great; he had to be eliminated!” Jing Zhongtang sounded slightly aggrieved.

Jiang Ruyue snapped back impatiently, “Do you think I don’t know that?!… You, you underestimate this fellow. He always covers his tracks; he won’t give you an opening to exploit!” Jiang Ruyue was brilliant, sharp as ice and snow.

More crucially, she felt Li Muchen was a person of her own kind, mastering not just martial arts but possessing unparalleled sophistication in worldly affairs. He treated the mundane world as another form of cultivation, not as a burden, which is why his actions were meticulous and rarely flawed.

Though nothing in the world was absolute and accidents could always occur, everything was generally anticipated—unless a truly overwhelming force intervened, causing the unpredictable, like the appearance of Li Wuji. “Sect Master, I almost succeeded!” Jing Zhongtang was unconvinced.

Jiang Ruyue dismissively shook her head. “Hmph, do you truly believe you could threaten him?” “I think he values relationships,” Jing Zhongtang offered.

“To avoid harming us directly, he would keep his distance.” “Nonsense!” Jiang Ruyue shook her head. “That will only provoke him into targeting us.

If the open approach fails, the hidden one will be inescapable.” “Then how do we deal with him?” Jing Zhongtang frowned. “Must we really let him jeopardize our great undertaking to restore the Sect?” “Enough, you stop worrying about this matter.

Do not seek trouble with him again,” Jiang Ruyue waved her jade hand with a snort. “You are no match for him!” Jing Zhongtang opened his mouth, then finally closed it in resignation.

In terms of martial skill, he certainly couldn’t surpass him, but the world held more than one kind of power; there was also wisdom. If his skill fell short, he must compensate with cunning!

It was a pity that the fellow surnamed Li was so tricky, not one to be trifled with either. No wonder he could stand toe-to-toe with the Sect Master.

How could he possibly be dealt with? “In martial arts, you fail; in schemes, you also cannot outwit him!” Jiang Ruyue huffed.

Jing Zhongtang shook his head. “Sect Master, you flatter him too much!” “Stubborn!” Jiang Ruyue shook her head.

“Even if his skill were merely equal to yours, you still couldn’t beat him; he is bursting with ill intentions!” She reached out again to take his wrist, her expression thoughtful. Jing Zhongtang felt a faint chill radiating from his wrist into his chest, finally snaking around the locus of Li Muchen’s Ice Soul Needle.

He quickly asked, “Sect Master, is this truly the Ice Soul Divine Needle?” “Close enough,” Jiang Ruyue’s delicate brows furrowed deeper. She shook her head.

“It is an imitation, yet similar!” “Then it isn’t!” Jing Zhongtang managed a relieved smile. “He was just trying to scare people!” Hearing it was not the true Ice Soul Divine Needle, Jing Zhongtang let out a huge sigh of relief.

Firstly, the genuine article was terrifying; the mere mention sent chills through him. Secondly, Li Wuji wasn’t that much of a prodigy!

Jiang Ruyue shook her head. “This shares the underlying principle of the Ice Soul Divine Needle but is different.

It is extremely troublesome!” “Can the Sect Master not dissipate it either?” Jing Zhongtang asked quickly. Jiang Ruyue frowned.

“I will try… You will have to suffer a little; consider it your punishment for your audacious recklessness!” “I don’t fear suffering!” Jing Zhongtang thumped his chest. “At worst, death.

That fellow surnamed Li is nothing!” Jiang Ruyue shot him a sidelong glance. “You couldn’t catch up to him even if you rode a horse to brag!

If I truly had someone as formidable as him helping me, I would have far less to worry about, unlike you, constantly causing more trouble than help!” “Sect Master, Heaven is my witness!” “This time, it’s perilous. I may not be able to resolve it,” Jiang Ruyue snorted.

“If I fail, he will certainly be smug. Getting him to intervene requires a price he considers worthwhile, and that’s not cheap!” “Sect Master, I believe you can defeat it!” Jing Zhongtang said hastily.

“Let’s hope so,” Jiang Ruyue sighed… Li Muchen did not return down the mountain; instead, he went back to the Tianyuan Pavilion. Bai Mingqiu, however, had entered the Tianyuan to begin her seclusion.

Li Muchen went to accompany her in the Tianyuan but was promptly driven out by Bai Mingqiu, who claimed he disturbed her state of mind, preventing her from immersing herself completely in the sword. Li Muchen could only smile wryly, shaking his head in resignation, and finally returned to the Mirror Sect to study the Big Dipper Divine Sword.

Starlight power was indeed immensely potent, far beyond ordinary internal energy. However, the drawbacks of Starlight were also quite clear.

He had been constantly contemplating whether there was a way to eliminate these deficiencies. Yet, Starlight power was truly different from common internal energies.

Without much prior experience, removing its shortcomings was not straightforward, as nothing in the world was entirely flawless. As he pondered this, he suddenly sensed something and vanished from the Mirror Sect, reappearing in a grove beneath a towering mountain.

The four talismans he had placed earlier were not some powerful arrays, but a simple sensory talisman formation, integrated seamlessly with the surrounding spiritual energy, almost imperceptible. If someone stepped within the range covered by the formation, he would receive an alert—nothing more.

Li Muchen dared not underestimate the talisman techniques of the Purple Star Hall, so he hadn't deployed anything too powerful. An array of this magnitude was difficult to detect.

Upon arriving in the woods, he floated up to the treetops, circulating his Starlight power until he was completely one with the environment, simultaneously activating his Eye of the Void. Following the direction indicated by the talisman array, he observed the northern approach up the mountain with the Eye of the Void, but he saw no trace—not a single footprint in the snow.

Li Muchen frowned, wondering if they all possessed the art of treading on snow without a trace, or if they employed some other method? After contemplating for a while, he concluded that achieving 'treading on snow without a trace' was extremely difficult.

Moreover, the mountain was so tall that unless one's cultivation reached his level, ascending to the mountainside in a single bound was impossible. After much thought, he patiently waited, practicing the patience of an angler waiting for a bite.

As long as someone appeared, it would confirm his intuition was correct once more, that he hadn't erred. He waited for seven days, maintaining his Starlight power integrated with heaven and earth without the slightest lapse in vigilance… “Impossible!” Jiang Ruyue’s delicate brows were tightly knitted.

She snorted, “That Li fellow is too cunning!” She was seated cross-legged on a jade couch, with Jing Zhongtang sitting before her, drenched in sweat, and two elders with white beards and brows standing behind her. The two elders looked at Jiang Ruyue with concern.

Jing Zhongtang’s face was pale. He turned with a wry smile.

“Sect Master, if it really won’t work, let it be. I’ll go find Li Wuji myself!” “No!” Jiang Ruyue snorted.

“I refuse to believe it!” “Sect Master, don’t force it. I think Little Jing can’t endure much more torment!” One elder persuaded gently.

“If something truly bad happens to Little Jing, the loss would far outweigh the gain!” “That fellow surnamed Li is issuing a challenge to me, and I will not be defeated!” Jiang Ruyue stated coldly. The other elder advised, “Sect Master, the Mirror Sect does possess some genuine skill, otherwise, they wouldn’t have prospered for so long.

Perhaps this is one of the Mirror Sect’s secret techniques.” “Hmph!” Jiang Ruyue sneered. “This is definitely not a martial art of the Mirror Sect.” “How can the Sect Master be so certain?” Jing Zhongtang quickly countered.

“Perhaps the Mirror Sect has developed other secret arts over the years; they are always collecting the martial arts of other sects!” “I know the general scope of the Thirty-Six Meridian Martial Arts. Li Wuji practices the Heavenly Mechanism Sword, and his mastery is profound.

The martial arts of the Mirror Sect regard the Heavenly Mechanism Sword as supreme!” Jiang Ruyue scoffed. “Why would he practice anything else after mastering the Heavenly Mechanism Sword?… This is far beyond any ordinary secret technique!” Jing Zhongtang sighed helplessly.

“If all else fails, we can simply wrap him up with the Ice Soul Divine Needle. Didn’t the Sect Master say that was the last resort?” Jiang Ruyue shook her head, stubbornly pursing her lips.

“If I do that, I lose!… Furthermore, if I use it this way, I’d have to reapply it every few days. It will grow stronger until I can no longer control it.

That is akin to drinking poison to quench thirst!” Jing Zhongtang fell silent. He understood this wouldn’t solve the core issue, but Li Wuji’s secret technique was too terrifying.

Every day at the turning points of Zi and Wu (midnight and noon), he endured an agony worse than death, a torment surpassing even the Ice Soul Divine Needle. The Ice Soul Divine Needle was pure cold, chilling the very marrow, aiming to freeze the soul.

But this internal energy strike from Li Wuji fluctuated between hot and cold, alternating between itchiness, numbness, and pain—a convergence of every sensation, making one unable to live yet unable to die. The mere thought sent shivers down his spine.

“Sect Master, if we can’t resolve it, perhaps we should capture a Mirror Sect disciple and use the Ice Soul Divine Needle on him to exchange with Li Wuji!” suggested one of the elders. Jiang Ruyue frowned and snorted.

“He can dissipate the Ice Soul Divine Needle!” “Ah—!” Everyone present turned pale with shock. The elder quickly said, “Sect Master, Li Wuji can neutralize the Ice Soul Divine Needle?!” The power of the Ice Soul Divine Needle lay in its deterrence; once implanted, no one could undo it, leaving life and death entirely in the hands of the user.

Many who practiced rigorously masculine, yang-aligned heart techniques could not dissolve it because the level of the Ice Soul Divine Art was too profound, far exceeding ordinary powerful internal energy. Jiang Ruyue had fought Li Muchen before, personally employing the Ice Soul Divine Needle to no effect.

Witnessing Li Muchen’s application of it, she understood he had completely grasped the mysteries of the Ice Soul Divine Needle; no trick she played would work. Seeing Jiang Ruyue nod, the elder quickly exclaimed, “Sect Master, this is serious!” Jiang Ruyue turned and glared at him impatiently.

“I know!” “Sect Master, this is no small matter!” The elder, disregarding her temper, insisted. “He is the stumbling block to our grand plan of restoration; he must be removed!” “How do we remove him?” Jiang Ruyue huffed.

“Do you think I’m unaware of this?!… I personally tried to ambush him and was nearly killed myself!” “Sect Master, then we must kill him all the more!” The elder’s expression grew stern and grave. “With someone like him present, there are too many variables!” “Nonsense!” Jiang Ruyue shot him an irritated glance.

The elder frowned. “How about we all attack him together?” Jiang Ruyue shook her head.

“If you all attacked together, what could you do to me?” “Sect Master, you are naturally different. Your movement skill is unmatched in the world; no matter how powerful we are, we couldn’t detain you!” The elder shook his head and chuckled.

Jiang Ruyue snorted. “His movement skill is no less than mine.

Do you think you can hold him?” “Sigh…” The elder shook his head and sighed. “Heaven refuses to cooperate!… Sect Master, perhaps I should go instead?” “Elder Jiang, what are you planning?!” Jiang Ruyue asked coldly.

The elder smiled. “I am old; I don't have much time left.

If I can exert my final effort for the revival of our Great River Sect, I will be perfectly content!” “Elder Jiang, I still need you to keep me level-headed; don’t act rashly!” Jiang Ruyue said impatiently. “I have my own way to deal with Li Wuji!” “What is the Sect Master’s plan?… This Li Wuji is truly troublesome and must be eliminated!” The elder shook his head with a bitter smile.

“Alas… has the misfortune of our Great River Sect not yet ended?!” “Don’t talk nonsense!” Jiang Ruyue gave him a sidelong look. “Heaven?

Misfortune? I only believe in what man can achieve!… If I say I have a plan, I have one!” “Then the Sect Master doesn’t mind sharing it, does she?” the elder pressed persistently.

Jiang Ruyue shook her head. “I cannot say.” “The Sect Master isn’t trying to fool me, is she?” the elder asked with a knowing smile.

Jiang Ruyue frowned and remained silent. She commanded immense prestige within the Great River Sect.

Her martial arts skill made her the foremost expert, and her methods were meticulous, rigorous, and flawless—in the eyes of the disciples, she was the embodiment of perfection. Only the few elders who had watched her grow up did not hold her in awe due to her brilliance.

They regarded her like a daughter, frequently offering words of caution lest her self-assurance lead her astray. The elder continued, “Heaven truly enjoys a joke.

To produce such a figure as you, and then another one like him… truly…” Jiang Ruyue shook her head coldly. “Elder Jiang, I have already decided.

He is not worth worrying about!” “Sect Master, why don’t you tell me?” The elder smiled, watching her expectantly. Jiang Ruyue frowned and waved a hand at Jing Zhongtang.

“You, leave!” “…Yes—!” Jing Zhongtang replied reluctantly, shuffling out of the hall, extremely curious but not daring to disobey Jiang Ruyue’s command. The elder urged, “Sect Master, speak quickly!” Seeing Jiang Ruyue act so mysteriously, he was desperately curious about the method she intended to use.

Jiang Ruyue murmured, “Heroes fall for the beauty trap.” The elder startled, then his expression immediately changed drastically. “Ruyue!” Jiang Ruyue continued, “This is his fatal flaw; it is guaranteed to work!” “This is not child’s play!” The elder shook his head repeatedly.

“It’s not worth you doing this!” Jiang Ruyue sneered. “If I can truly subdue him, it will only benefit our restoration of the Great River Sect.

Turning an enemy into a friend—isn't that a good thing?” The elder stared intently at her, then sighed. “Sect Master, this truly isn't a game.

Can you endure his temperament?” To possess such cultivation, talent, and achievement at such a young age was rare in the world; how could his temper be ordinary? Look at the Sect Master herself—two individuals with fiery tempers gathered together; how could there be peace?

“Don’t worry!” Jiang Ruyue sneered. “He is a lecherous man; he’ll be easy to handle!” Li Wuji was astute and worldly, but he couldn't escape the basic nature of men.

If a veil is placed before his eyes, what use is all that cleverness?! “Sect Master, I fear you are playing with fire and might burn yourself,” the elder shook his head and sighed.

If it were an older woman with more experience, one who had seen several men and understood the nature of men, there would be little to cling to nostalgically. But the Sect Master was completely inexperienced in this regard, precisely at the age when tender feelings bloom—the easiest time to fall in love.

If things went wrong and she compromised herself, the consequences would be severe, potentially derailing the restoration of the Great River Sect. The Great River Sect had finally produced such an astonishingly gifted figure who had mastered the Ice Soul Divine Art; this was the best opportunity for the Sect’s revival.

If this chance were missed, the opportunity might never return!