The Ice Soul Divine Sword must be activated by the Ice Soul Divine Skill for its power to reach its maximum; while activating it with general internal energy yields strong power, it is far inferior to using the Ice Soul Divine Skill.
Lingbo Xudu is a supreme movement technique, which also requires the activation of the Ice Soul Divine Skill; he had witnessed Jiang Ruyue’s lightness skill firsthand and lamented his own inferiority.
Looking at these two supreme skills, Li Muzhan was tempted to re-cultivate a supreme Yin and supreme cold foundational art; these two peerless skills were incomparable to ordinary top-tier martial arts, possessing infinite might.
However, after considering his own Heavenly Secret Sword, he dismissed the thought.
When he emerged from the underground stone chamber and arrived at the small courtyard above, he saw Ancestor Mo brandishing a black sword; upon closer inspection, it was a wooden sword, one that appeared to have been struck by lightning.
Li Muzhan was surprised; such a lightning-struck wooden sword was best used for warding off evil spirits.
This world was abundant with rich spiritual energy, allowing souls to persist for a long time, so people believed in ghosts and spirits, and knew that lightning-struck wood was the most effective means of exorcism. It was rather peculiar that Ancestor Mo was using a Thunderwood Sword for this purpose.
Seeing Li Muzhan standing aside observing him, Ancestor Mo ceased his movements and beckoned him over.
Li Muzhan stepped forward and cupped his hands: “Ancestor Mo.”
“I heard you want to help me heal my injury?” Ancestor Mo asked.
Li Muzhan nodded: “Ancestor Mo is injured in the Lung Meridian; I wish to attempt a cure.”
“How will you treat it?” Ancestor Mo inquired.
Li Muzhan extended his hand: “Let me check your pulse first.”
Ancestor Mo stretched out his arm. Li Muzhan placed his fingers on the wrist of the skeletal arm and probed deeply with concentration, his brow slowly furrowing, his expression solemn.
Ancestor Mo’s murky gaze fixed upon him; seeing his reaction, the old man smiled faintly—if his injury were so easily healed, it would have been fixed long ago!
Li Muzhan slowly withdrew his hand, sinking into thought without speaking.
“How is it?” Ancestor Mo asked.
Li Muzhan sighed: “Ancestor cultivates a supreme Yang and supreme rigidity foundational art; the Yang is excessively dominant, thus damaging the Lung Meridian. This is the result of accumulation over time.”
“Not bad,” Ancestor Mo nodded. To ascertain the source of his injury in one go showed a degree of skill.
Li Muzhan pondered: “There is only one course of action that might cure it.”
“Tell me about it,” Ancestor Mo invited.
“Abolish your martial arts,” Li Muzhan stated. “Cease practicing your original foundational art and switch to an Earth-natured foundational art.”
The Lung belongs to Metal; Fire conquers Metal, but Earth generates Metal. The Yang-heavy foundational art harms the Lungs; the Earth-natured foundational art benefits them. His Lung Meridian is too severely damaged to withstand even the slightest further injury.
Ancestor Mo shook his head: “I rely entirely on this reservoir of internal energy to sustain my life; if I abolish my internal energy, I will die immediately.”
Li Muzhan smiled: “I can preserve your vitality, Ancestor.”
“You possess such means?” Ancestor Mo looked him up and down, his murky gaze suddenly becoming as clear as a spring, able to penetrate the viscera.
Li Muzhan chuckled: “If even a shred remains, I can keep you from dying… After dissolving the internal energy, I will perform Marrow Cleansing and Bone Refining to repair your body for you, Ancestor.”
“The young fellow seems to have encountered unique fortunes!” Ancestor Mo’s gaze returned to its usual murkiness, and he slowly nodded: “Very well, I agree to your terms!”
“Really?” Li Muzhan’s eyebrows lifted slightly. This matter of life and death—Ancestor Mo agreed too readily. If not for himself, he should certainly have considered it more carefully for the sake of the sect’s continuation.
“I have always acted on intuition; lingering and dragging things out only leads to mistakes!” Ancestor Mo sensed his thoughts and snorted: “Come tomorrow morning!”
“…Yes, Ancestor!” Li Muzhan slowly nodded.
————
“Wuji, are you truly confident?” Chen Daotang clutched Li Muzhan’s sleeve and asked in a low voice.
The two were in Li Muzhan’s small pavilion. Li Muzhan was about to stand up to brew tea when Chen Daotang impatiently pressed him, holding his sleeve to prevent him from moving.
Li Muzhan turned around, helpless: “Senior Brother, rest assured, I am absolutely certain!”
“Wuji, you must understand, if anything goes wrong, the consequences are unimaginable!” Chen Daotang stared at him intently.
Li Muzhan nodded: “I understand.”
Chen Daotang slowly released his grip and said gravely: “If even the slightest mistake occurs, you will be the sinner!”
Li Muzhan managed a wry smile: “Senior Brother, you are undermining me!”
“If you cannot bear it, you can still withdraw now!” Chen Daotang urged.
Li Muzhan smiled: “My mind is set; Senior Brother need not say more!”
Chen Daotang shook his head in exasperation: “You… Nothing in life is absolute. If something truly goes awry, your promising future will be ruined instantly. You are far too reckless!”
Li Muzhan smiled: “Does Senior Brother not wish for Ancestor Mo to recover?”
“Nonsense!” Chen Daotang glared at him crossly: “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t bother worrying. I’d be delighted if someone dared to treat Ancestor Mo!”
Li Muzhan replied: “Then that settles it. Just await my good news!”
“Alas… you are too young!” Chen Daotang sighed and shook his head.
Li Muzhan smiled without speaking, turning to fetch tea from inside the room.
After drinking tea, the two proceeded to Ancestor Mo’s small courtyard. Inside, there was a jade couch surrounded by five people: four white-bearded elders and Huang Ningtian, with Ancestor Mo seated upon the jade couch.
Seeing the pair, Huang Ningtian beckoned: “Wuji, Daotang, come over!”
The four white-bearded elders levitated, taking positions at the four corners of the rooftop, encircling the small courtyard in the air. Li Muzhan had never seen them before, but their cultivation was astonishingly profound; the Mingjing Sect’s foundation was indeed exceptionally deep.
“Sect Master, Ancestor,” Li Muzhan cupped his hands. Ancestor Mo, seated on the jade couch, waved his hand: “Enough, no need for formalities. Let’s begin.”
Li Muzhan wasted no further words, walking directly to the jade couch and sitting cross-legged behind Ancestor Mo, stating in a deep voice: “Once Ancestor abolishes his power, immediately begin circulating the Yellow Heaven Thick Earth Scripture; ignore everything else!”
“Yes, good,” Ancestor Mo nodded, closing his eyes. He was very familiar with the power-dissolving cultivation technique. The Yellow Heaven Thick Earth Scripture was a supreme Earth-natured foundational art, rarely seen in the world. Although difficult to begin, it would not stump Ancestor Mo. Li Muzhan had informed him beforehand, and Ancestor Mo was thoroughly prepared.
Ancestor Mo’s dark green robe billowed fiercely, and an invisible force radiated outward. Huang Ningtian and Chen Daotang clearly sensed the anomaly and stared tensely at the center of the action.
Li Muzhan remained motionless, pressing both palms onto the back of Ancestor Mo’s heart, his expression solemn and profoundly dignified, unlike his usual demeanor.
Ancestor Mo displayed an expression of relief, appearing quite content.
The two watched the scene unblinkingly, wishing time would fly so they could see the result immediately, yet time seemed agonizingly slow, dragging on endlessly.
After what felt like a long time, Li Muzhan slowly released his palms, formed a mudra in front of his lower abdomen, and settled motionlessly again, but the color instantly vanished from his face, leaving it as pale as paper.
Ancestor Mo remained completely still.
The two felt an intense, gnawing anxiety, yet could only suppress their urge, staring fixedly at the pair.
After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, Li Muzhan slowly opened his eyes: “Is Ancestor feeling any better?”
“Much better!” Ancestor Mo suddenly opened his eyes and laughed loudly: “Hahaha! A long-standing chronic ailment swept clean! There is no greater pleasure in life than this!”
His eyes were still murky, yet a sharp light flickered within them, an astonishing sight. The whole man seemed decades younger; the air of old age was utterly gone, and the lines on his face had lessened.
Huang Ningtian hurriedly asked: “Martial Uncle, are you truly recovered?”
As he spoke, he reached out, but Ancestor Mo reached out first, smiling broadly: “I truly didn’t expect this brat to possess such ability. Excellent! Excellent!”
Li Muzhan smiled faintly: “Ancestor praises me too much; another round and I truly would have lost my life!” His voice sounded weak and powerless, as if he had expended excessive energy.
Ancestor Mo chuckled: “You have worked hard, child. Come back in a few days; I have something good for you!”
“Thank you, Ancestor,” Li Muzhan replied with a weary smile.
Huang Ningtian lowered his hand, his mouth hanging open, his eyes squeezed shut in astonishment.