The two fell silent. Long Jingyue didn't know what to say, while Bai Mingqiu stood quietly, gazing at Li Muzhan with an expression utterly calm and unruffled.

After a long moment, Li Muzhan opened his eyes, glanced at Bai Mingqiu, and smiled faintly, "Senior Sister, congratulations!"

"Junior Brother, thank you," Bai Mingqiu replied quietly.

Li Muzhan managed a wry smile and nodded. Long Jingyue hurried to ask, "Wuji, are you alright?"

Li Muzhan shook his head, "Nothing serious, just need to regulate my breath twice... Now that Senior Sister has mastered the Taishang Yuqing Jing, she can finally stand on her own!"

"Alas, the Taishang Yuqing Jing..." Long Jingyue sighed.

Li Muzhan said, "Master, things in this world rarely go as desired, maybe one in ten outcomes is perfect. Senior Sister achieving the Taishang Yuqing Jing is a great joy; the rest can wait."

"Can you truly be so ruthless?" Long Jingyue looked at him disbelievingly.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Let's ensure our lives are safe first, then discuss everything else!"

The Tianyuan Pavilion was too fragile; he was forced into this extreme measure: forcefully enhancing Bai Mingqiu's spiritual power through guanding (essence transfer), pulling her into his own Sea of Consciousness, revealing to her a vast world to aid her comprehension of the Martial Dao, thereby allowing her to bring the Taishang Yuqing Jing to Great Completion.

Long Jingyue asked, "Is there still a way to remedy this?"

She didn't want to see the two drift apart, eventually going their separate ways. She had suffered that pain before and knew the regret would last a lifetime. She believed that if Bai Mingqiu had a choice, she would never choose this path. As her Master, how could she watch her jump into a fire pit?

Li Muzhan nodded, "If a method can be found, Master need not worry."

"You..." Long Jingyue shook her head helplessly, guilt welling in her heart. She understood why Li Muzhan had taken this step. Martial Arts Deviation (Zouhu Ru Mo) was terrifying, but it should not have been difficult for him. He seized the opportunity to help Bai Mingqiu master the Taishang Yuqing Jing; fundamentally, it was for the sake of the Tianyuan Pavilion.

The Tianyuan Pavilion's strength was too low; it needed a powerful expert to hold sway. Although there were dozens of masters in Tianyuan, none possessed the gravitas to truly command respect over all others. She knew Wuji realized this too, which is why he helped Qiu'er master the Taishang Yuqing Jing, transforming Qiu'er into her current state.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Master, I will pass on two more martial arts techniques to Senior Sister. Should any immediate crisis arise in the future, she can use them to tide things over until I can be summoned again!"

"Very well," Long Jingyue did not refuse. With nine out of ten steps taken, what was one more?

"Senior Sister, the Taishang Yuqing Jing is supremely Yin and intensely cold, which is perfect for activating the martial arts of the Great River Sect," Li Muzhan turned and smiled, "I will teach you the Ice Soul Divine Sword!"

"Good," Bai Mingqiu nodded slightly.

She understood her Junior Brother's feelings for her, and she knew her own deep affection for him, but the feeling was different now. The intense attachment and yearning of before were gone, replaced only by a faint, placid joy, as if she had suddenly been freed from a whirlpool, feeling indescribably light and at ease. She cherished this sensation and had no desire to sink back into the turbulent depths of intense romantic entanglement; that was far too painful and confusing compared to the current freedom and detachment.

Li Muzhan turned to Long Jingyue, "Master, this Ice Soul Divine Sword is a set of fingertip strikes, astonishingly powerful, but unfortunately, it can only be activated by the most supremely Yin and Yang internal energy."

"Martial arts of the Great River Sect?" Long Jingyue exclaimed. "The Great River Sect is no minor power! I didn't expect you to obtain their techniques. Qiu'er must not share this, lest the Great River Sect comes knocking!"

Li Muzhan chuckled, "The key to this finger technique lies in the mental cultivation method; it isn't apparent externally. As long as Senior Sister keeps silent, outsiders won't know... I once saved the Life Master of the Great River Sect; she won't readily cause trouble for us."

"That's for the best then!" Long Jingyue nodded. "The Great River Sect once overshadowed the Four Great Sects. Though they are gone, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse; we must not underestimate them!"

"Junior Brother, let's begin!" Bai Mingqiu said.

Li Muzhan said no more. He explained the Ice Soul Divine Sword in minute detail. Bai Mingqiu, with her current extraordinary comprehension, grasped the essence immediately upon hearing the explanation. After his meticulous clarification, she completely internalized it, extending a single finger lightly.

"Hiss!" A soft whistle sounded, leaving a small indentation on the wall. Li Muzhan reached out and probed it; it was just deep enough to cover his index finger, the size and depth exactly matching.

Li Muzhan shook his head, "The finesse is still far off."

Bai Mingqiu pondered for a moment, concentrated her thoughts, and then struck out with another finger. With a "hiss," another small pit appeared on the opposite wall, slightly smaller than the first.

Li Muzhan still shook his head. He extended his finger, and silently, a tiny dot appeared on the wall opposite. Bai Mingqiu stepped forward and examined it; it seemed like the prick of a fine needle, with no discernible depth. She frowned, observed carefully for two beats, then turned to look at Li Muzhan, shaking her head lightly. To reach this level of skill would surely take more than a year or two. She knew her Junior Brother hadn't possessed this secret manual for long. Indeed, he was worthy of being her Junior Brother; his innate talent surpassed hers immeasurably. The power of this single strike, silent yet solid as steel, was almost impossible to defend against—a world of difference compared to her own execution.

Li Muzhan smiled, "Senior Sister, only when it reaches this level of proficiency does it become truly useful. The mysteries of the Ice Soul Divine Sword are endless; it is not merely a fingertip technique. Senior Sister should contemplate it deeply."

"Yes, I will," Bai Mingqiu nodded gently.

The three left Tianyuan and returned to the main hall. Long Jingyue sent Bai Mingqiu back first, keeping Li Muzhan behind. She sighed, worry etched on her face, "Wuji, what is to become of Qiu'er like this?"

Li Muzhan replied, "Master, for now, we must let it be."

"If this continues, you two..." Long Jingyue frowned.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, "The Taishang Yuqing Jing is formidable, but it shouldn't completely extinguish one's nature. Senior Sister has just entered the Perfected realm; she will be fine after some time."

"Really?" Long Jingyue frowned. According to her knowledge, achieving Great Completion in the Taishang Yuqing Jing led to indifference toward the Seven Emotions and Six Desires, transcendence from the mundane world, where feelings no longer formed bonds.

Li Muzhan laughed, "Senior Sister's deep affection for me will never vanish because of the Taishang Yuqing Jing; it will only lessen slightly, nothing significant."

"Aren't you afraid she won't recognize you?" Long Jingyue shook her head and sighed, "All your hard work, only to end up like this!"

"She won't..." Li Muzhan replied. "Besides, this is also Senior Sister's wish, and it benefits the Tianyuan Pavilion. Master, please set your heart at ease."

"Sigh... you, you!" Long Jingyue sighed with helplessness.

As they spoke, a dull thump echoed. Li Muzhan's expression shifted slightly, and he sneered, "They finally came!"

Long Jingyue frowned and grunted, "They are attacking the Pavilion's protective formation!" Saying this, she drew a white jade pendant from her robes, brought her palms together, and the pendant immediately began to shimmer, as if imbued with a stream of clear spring water.

Li Muzhan commanded, "Master, first ensure everyone enters Tianyuan!"

"Good!" Long Jingyue did not hesitate. Her gentle voice resonated throughout the sect, ordering all disciples to immediately enter Tianyuan without any delay. Most disciples had already entered seclusion within Tianyuan; few remained in the sect now. Hearing Long Jingyue's command, they moved instantly, cleanly and decisively.

Li Muzhan watched ten purple-robed elders holding jade pendants slowly pressing toward the sect entrance. An invisible force repelled them, slowing their steps. Li Muzhan observed quietly, trying to see how they intended to break his talisman array. His formation was different from the standard talisman arrays, and the great formation outside Tianyuan Pavilion was absolutely exquisite—based on the Five Elements' mutual restraint, it had merged with heaven and earth, making it incredibly difficult to breach with external means. He wondered if they could succeed.

The ten purple-robed elders formed a circle, two of them holding jade pendants that shone with an increasingly brilliant light as they approached the sect gate. The thump-thump sounds in the air grew louder, an invisible force clashing in conflict. Li Muzhan frowned as he watched. Their steps were slow, but the jade pendants in their hands grew brighter, almost dazzling, making it difficult to look directly at them.

The thump-thump echoed in the void, a strange sight. Li Muzhan gauged the might of the Great Formation and nodded secretly; the formations he had set up were effective.

"Boom!" A violent explosion resounded, and the ground seemed to tremble slightly. Li Muzhan's eyebrows shot up—the original talisman array of the Tianyuan Pavilion had been broken.

"Pop!" A crisp sound came from inside the main hall. The jade pendant in Long Jingyue’s hand burst, turning into fine powder that sifted to the ground.

"Master!" Bai Mingqiu appeared, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed as she looked at the powder on the floor. "What happened?"

"Alas..." Long Jingyue shook her head with a wry smile. "I never thought this day would come!"

"What happened?" Bai Mingqiu asked faintly, her demeanor serene.

"The Pavilion's Protective Great Formation has been broken!" Long Jingyue looked up at her. "Qiu'er, disaster is upon us!"

"Who could break the Protective Great Formation?" Bai Mingqiu frowned and asked calmly. "People from the Purple Star Hall?"

"It should be them. Wuji went to look!" Long Jingyue nodded.

Bai Mingqiu responded flatly, "They push too far!" Her words were light, as if she felt no anger whatsoever.

Long Jingyue urged, "Qiu'er, don't go out, enter Tianyuan!"

"Let me take a look," Bai Mingqiu offered. "I should see their true strength."

"Wuji can handle it. As for you..." Long Jingyue frowned. "Forget it, let's go look together!"

"Alright," Bai Mingqiu agreed.

The two drifted over to Li Muzhan's side. Li Muzhan, with the two women, floated up to a rooftop, looking down outside, where they saw the ten purple-robed elders. They held dazzling jade pendants and advanced slowly. Before them seemed to be an invisible wall, and though they moved their legs, they couldn't advance. The ten exchanged surprised glances, seemingly disbelieving, and pushed forward. With a bang, they staggered back, as if drunk.

The formation Li Muzhan deployed absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, vast as an ocean, its power profound, making human strength appear rather feeble.

"Crack!" "Crack!" The two jade pendants flared intensely bright and then exploded, turning to powder that floated away. As the powder flew forward, it was blocked by the invisible force, piling up into a line on the ground. They looked down at this line, frowned, and stepped forward. With a thump, they stumbled backward, nearly falling, their faces growing grim.

"Hmph!" A thin elder sneered and punched out fiercely.

"Bang!" He flew backward, spitting a mist of blood mid-air. Two elders attacked together, yet they were still sent flying back. Fortunately, they had held back some force and were not injured, but their expressions were ugly. They had arrived full of confidence, expecting to sweep through the Tianyuan Pavilion unimpeded using the formation-breaking talismans, only to be stopped dead.

Li Muzhan smiled; it seemed his formation was indeed different from the talisman array, and his painstaking efforts had not been in vain.

Long Jingyue smiled, "It seems the Protective Great Formation wasn't completely destroyed."

Bai Mingqiu glanced faintly at Li Muzhan. "It was Junior Brother’s work, wasn't it?"

Li Muzhan nodded with a smile, "I rearranged it; it's definitely effective! Master, Senior Sister, shall we go meet them?"

"Certainly!" Long Jingyue nodded. With the Protective Great Formation intact, she felt secure; if things went south, they could always retreat.