Long Jingyue saw his desolate look and felt a pang of pity. "Wuji, Qiu'er is also suffering greatly." Li Muzhan slowly replied, "I wish to see my Senior Sister." Long Jingyue hesitated.

"Qiu'er doesn't want to see you..." Li Muzhan gave a self-deprecating smile. "Can Senior Sister hide from me her entire life?" Long Jingyue sighed.

"Fine, go to your place then." Li Muzhan left the grand hall without a word, returning to his small courtyard. Even his formidable spiritual power could not ward off the crushing sense of loneliness.

He sat beside the stone table in the courtyard, facing the brilliant sunshine, his eyes narrowed and unmoving. The bright sunlight was brimming with vibrant energy, and he bathed in it, seeking to warm his icy heart.

Moments later, he dispelled the gloom. His overwhelming spiritual power, coupled with a steadfast heart, rendered him impervious to external disturbances, restoring his calm and serenity.

He never doubted Senior Sister Bai Mingqiu's feelings for him, but feelings were the most ephemeral things in the world. A person's life was not solely about emotion; there was also responsibility.

Footsteps sounded. He sat motionless in silent contemplation.

Bai Mingqiu arrived and quietly gazed at him. He watched the sun, and she watched him; the two of them became like statues.

After a long pause, Bai Mingqiu spoke. "Junior Brother..." Li Muzhan turned to look at her and smiled.

"Senior Sister, congratulations!" Bai Mingqiu remained silent, watching him intently. After a moment, she slowly nodded.

"Mm." Li Muzhan revealed a faint smile. "When does Senior Sister plan to formally assume the position of Pavilion Master?" "At the end of this month," Bai Mingqiu replied.

Li Muzhan nodded. "Shall we send out invitations?" "Yes," Bai Mingqiu briefly acknowledged.

Li Muzhan nodded again. "I'll take care of running around and delivering the invitations." "...Alright." Bai Mingqiu watched him quietly, slowly nodding her head.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior Sister will be a fine Pavilion Master.

Our Tianyuan Pavilion will regain its glory and become a preeminent great sect." "...Mm," Bai Mingqiu nodded softly. Li Muzhan fell silent, their gazes locked together, time slowly slipping away.

After a while, Li Muzhan retracted his gaze and smiled gently. "Senior Sister, I won't keep you any longer." Bai Mingqiu nodded slowly, then slowly turned around, pacing out of the small courtyard step by painstaking, slow step.

Li Muzhan watched her tremble slightly, appearing as if she might collapse at any moment, yet he simply watched, his heart calm as still water, no longer stirred by any ripple. Long Jingyue stood at the entrance of the grand hall, looking in the direction of Li Muzhan's courtyard with worry etched on her face.

She desperately wished to run over and peek, but restrained herself out of concern for her status. Seeing Bai Mingqiu approaching slowly, her expression cool and unchanged from normal, Long Jingyue hurried to meet her.

"Qiu'er?" Bai Mingqiu seemed not to see her or hear her words. She walked slowly into the grand hall, proceeded directly to sit cross-legged, and closed her eyes, remaining perfectly still.

"Qiu'er?" Long Jingyue grew slightly panicked and hurriedly said, "What did Wuji say?" Bai Mingqiu remained motionless, as if deep in meditation. Long Jingyue rushed on.

"Qiu'er, Wuji was angry and said some harsh things; don't take them to heart!" "Master, Junior Brother said nothing excessive," Bai Mingqiu stated faintly, her eyes still closed. "He didn't?" Long Jingyue was astonished, then smiled.

"Wuji isn't usually so even-tempered, is he?" To outsiders, Li Muzhan seemed somewhat reserved and quiet, peaceful and gentle, but she knew that deep down, Li Muzhan possessed immense pride and wasn't entirely mild-mannered; he merely disdained arguing with ordinary people. Once something truly mattered to him, his temper flared hotter than anyone else's.

Bai Mingqiu was absolutely his weak spot. Bai Mingqiu shook her head and remained silent.

Long Jingyue felt as if she were being tormented, yet she was powerless against Bai Mingqiu. She sighed.

"Forget it. You two sort out your own affairs.

I can't manage this much!" "Junior Brother will deliver the invitations for me," Bai Mingqiu stated. "...You two are both insane!" Long Jingyue shook her head and sighed.

———— Time flowed, from morning until dusk, then deep into the night, finally yielding to dawn. Li Muzhan sat quietly by the stone table the entire time, looking up at the sky, unmoving, truly transformed into a statue.

The next morning, Long Jingyue came by, unable to set her mind at ease, and when she saw Li Muzhan's stupefied appearance, her expression changed instantly. She rushed forward to feel his wrist and check his breath.

She breathed a sigh of relief. Thank heavens, his heartbeat was slow, and his breathing barely perceptible, but life remained within him.

She studied Li Muzhan, frowning in deep thought, unsure of his current condition. The disciple before her seemed merely a vessel; his soul appeared to have departed.

Could it be that his grief was too profound, that he couldn't accept the reality, causing some catastrophic failure due to excessive sorrow? Her heart clenched again, and she stared intently at Li Muzhan.

Wuji absolutely could not have an accident; if something happened, they would both be ruined! She felt anxious, yet dared not disturb Li Muzhan.

She could only watch him, sensing his vitality. Normally, when such an issue arose, she would consult Bai Mingqiu—one mind is insufficient, two are better.

This time, however, she dared not, having no choice but to wait for events to unfold. She felt time passing with agonizing slowness.

Noon finally arrived, and he showed no sign of recovery. Evening came, and still, there was no change.

Unknowingly, another night passed. She sat with Li Muzhan in static vigil for a full day and night, preventing anyone else from disturbing him, while she felt his life force persisting.

Suddenly, she looked up at the sky, having a faint sensation that the heavens had shuddered once, and a few stars had flickered brighter momentarily. She blinked and looked again more closely, but could see nothing—it was purely a fleeting feeling, gone in an instant.

Just as she was thinking the sleepless day and night had led to mental fatigue and a false perception, a surge of invisible force rushed down, like a comet striking earth, descending instantly upon Li Muzhan. As the violent power flooded in, she was flung upward, slamming against the wall, held fast and unable to move.

The invisible force compressed her, leaving her struggling in vain. She widened her bright eyes to look at Li Muzhan, filled with urgency and anger, yet completely immobilized.

As she watched Li Muzhan's condition, her eyes grew wider and wider. Li Muzhan slightly lowered his eyelids, slowly floating upward, soon rising above his head.

He moved in the air with an inexplicable gait, treading the void as if walking on level ground. Her bright eyes widened.

She thought she saw a few stars appear above his head, shimmering brilliantly. She blinked and looked again; those stars remained.

She tilted her head in strange wonder: were these actual stars or illusions? The invisible force grew stronger.

Her breath grew short; attempting to resist with her internal energy was useless. This force was wild and overwhelming, utterly irresistible.

Li Muzhan continued to ascend toward the sky, rising higher and higher. At this point, he was about six meters up, showing no sign of slowing down, as if preparing to float into the heavens.

"Wuji!" Her breathing became increasingly labored; her internal energy was locked down, preventing her from initiating internal respiration. In desperation, she shouted out.

The violent force abruptly vanished. She dropped to the ground with a "thud," scrambling up somewhat awkwardly, and immediately looked toward Li Muzhan, suddenly relieved.

Li Muzhan drifted down gently like a feather and slowly opened his eyes. "Master," Li Muzhan lifted an eyebrow slightly.

"Impudent boy, what was that!" Long Jingyue hastily smoothed her clothes, glaring at him with feigned annoyance. She knew he had been up to something, likely practicing some secret art.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "When did Master arrive?" "Hmph, a day and a night ago!" Long Jingyue retorted, annoyed.

"You nearly killed me!" Li Muzhan understood that his Master had been guarding him during his practice. He smiled.

"Thank you for your trouble, Master!" "What exactly happened?" Long Jingyue asked. Li Muzhan replied, "Thank you, Master.

I have mastered the Tianji Sword!" "Didn't you master it long ago?" Long Jingyue questioned. Li Muzhan shook his head.

"The previous version was incomplete! ...Master, when shall the invitations be sent?

I will deliver them personally!" "Forget it, you won't need to trouble yourself!" Long Jingyue shook her head. Li Muzhan insisted.

"Master, I wish to deliver them personally. It is too dangerous outside." "They can't stay in Tianyuan twenty-four hours a day!" Long Jingyue observed.

Li Muzhan countered. "Let's focus on perfecting the martial arts first.

Senior Sister plans to invite the esteemed Highness of the Purple Star, right?" "Why would we send an invitation to the Purple Star Hall?" Long Jingyue frowned. "Are we inviting trouble?" Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head.

"Send one invitation!" "What mischief are you plotting now?" Long Jingyue examined him and harrumphed. Li Muzhan smiled.

"Even if we don't send one, they will come." "Wuji, we truly cannot afford to antagonize the Purple Star Hall. Even if you are formidable now, and Qiu'er can manage on her own, we still cannot defeat them!" Li Muzhan smiled faintly.

"We couldn't before, but perhaps now we can." His initial intention in delivering the invitations personally was to prevent the Purple Star Hall members from attacking the Tianyuan Pavilion disciples. Now, however, he was brimming with confidence and sought to provoke them deliberately.

Long Jingyue, sharp as ice and snow, recognized the sheer confidence in Li Muzhan's smile and frowned. "Wuji, can your Tianji Sword handle the Purple Star Hall?" Li Muzhan nodded slowly.

"No problem!" "Can you handle so many experts by yourself?" Long Jingyue frowned. Li Muzhan smiled.

"The martial arts of the Purple Star Hall are overwhelmingly powerful, but they possess a fatal flaw. Having mastered the Tianji Sword, I can pinpoint their weakness.

Therefore, to me, the Purple Star Hall is no different from rotten wood and broken tiles!" "Really?" Long Jingyue found it hard to believe. Li Muzhan chuckled merrily.

"When have I ever lied to Master?" "Hmph, you've lied plenty before!" Long Jingyue pouted, but she believed him. He might joke about minor things, but he never trifled with major matters.

"Alright, you deliver the invitations. Send one to the Purple Star Hall!" Long Jingyue sighed.

Li Muzhan laughed. "Master, just watch!" "Hmph, I hope you don't stumble!" Long Jingyue cautioned.

"It never hurts to be careful!" Li Muzhan nodded quickly, hoping she wouldn't lecture further. ———— As the sun began to set, Li Muzhan stood before a deep pool, watching it with a smiling face.

The setting sun dyed the water in a radius of about ten meters in rose hues. As the pool's surface gently rippled, the colors shifted, and Li Muzhan watched with keen enjoyment.

Just then, four elders clad in purple robes suddenly emerged from the deep pool and surrounded him. Li Muzhan glanced at the four elders with a cheerful smile.

Not a drop of water clung to them. Their expressions were severe, and their eyes glared at him like lightning.

"Who are you?!" the square-faced elder demanded sternly. "What is your purpose here?" Li Muzhan smiled.

"Li Wuji of the Mingjing Sect, here to pay my respects to the esteemed members of the Purple Star Hall and deliver an invitation from Tianyuan Pavilion!" "Li Wuji?!" The four faces darkened, their eyes flashing with sharp glints as their purple robes billowed outwards. "Here is the invitation!" Li Muzhan pulled an invitation from his robes and offered it with a smile.

The square-faced elder stared intently at the floating invitation, cautiously extending both palms. However, the moment he touched the parchment, he was violently thrown backward.

Two elders darted forward to catch him, but with a muffled "bang," they too were sent flying, tumbling toward the dark water. The last elder, who had been focused on watching Li Muzhan, was now utterly dumbfounded.

Seeing Li Muzhan smile at him, he roared out a command. "Guards!"