His eyes remained closed throughout, but after several complete rounds, he stopped. He hadn't managed to recreate that previous night's state of profound emptiness and clarity. Opening his eyes, Mo Qian studied his ox-tail blade, its surface glinting with cold light beneath the spring sunlight. After pausing several breaths, he resumed once more, blade-light flowing through the air. This time, rather than deliberately forcing himself toward that previous night's specific mental state, he instead cleared his mind of every distracting thought entirely, allowing himself to become fully absorbed within the blade itself! As Mo Qian continued his practice, he suddenly noticed his perception shifting once again!Rather than gradually entering that particular empty, contemplative state as before, he broke through directly this time!Like suddenly bursting free from beneath water's surface with a sharp pop, everything before him crystallized into perfect, immediate clarity!So this was it!Per

Mo Qian rode into the city. He'd spent several days training intensively in Wild Boar Mountain and had ridden hard the entire way back, his face coated in dust, exhaustion visible across his features.Yet the moment Mo Qian passed through the city gate, he still forced his mind alert, extending his spiritual sense outward, covering the surrounding area.The red horse's hooves clopped steadily against the bluestone pavement. After passing through several alleys, something shifted in Mo Qian's awareness.A man emerged from a teahouse near the eastern gate, falling into step behind him at a discreet distance.The man wore a worn felt hat and coarse blue robes. Mo Qian's focus sharpened, and he directed his spiritual sense toward this particular figure.His awareness penetrated straight through the felt hat, and Mo Qian clearly "saw" the face beneath.It's Xie Daohan!Mo Qian sat atop the red horse, swaying casually with its gait. Though his body remained deliberately relaxed, his mind ra

The very instant those two needles found their mark, Mo Qian's blade flashed through the air, driving directly toward Xie Daohan's exposed heart!But by this point, the soul-wave's disorienting effect had already begun fading. Xie Daohan swung his blade backward in a desperate counter, true energy surging forcefully, driving Mo Qian back.The stronger one's mental fortitude, the briefer the disorienting blank period caused by soul-wave impact!Xie Daohan's loss of full awareness had lasted merely a fleeting instant, less than a single breath's duration.This proved considerably shorter than Mo Qian had anticipated!During that close-range exchange moments earlier, despite having achieved great-accomplishment realm mastery, Mo Qian had very nearly had his throat severed by Xie Daohan's counterattack.Fear flickered visibly across Mo Qian's expression. He glanced at his ox-tail blade under the moonlight, noting a thumb-sized chip had been knocked from its edge.Channeling his true energ

Mo Qian retrieved a healing pill Shen Ping had left behind, swallowing it immediately. He then removed his clothing, standing beside the large water basin, thoroughly cleansing himself.He soaked his blood-soaked clothing in a wooden basin, wiped down his body, and returned to his chamber.Wrapping himself in a blanket, he lay down on his bed, though sleep proved elusive—he simply closed his eyes, mind still occupied with thoughts of Xie Daohan.After roughly half an incense stick's duration, morning light had fully broken, the lingering mist dissipated, and considerable noise had begun stirring outside.At that moment, a knock sounded at Liulu's courtyard gate!Mo Qian's attention sharpened, and he extended his spiritual sense outward.He recognized Yang Zhen standing outside the gate.This represented the particular task Xie Daohan had assigned Yang Zhen—checking Liulu each morning specifically to confirm Mo Qian's presence.Recognizing Yang Zhen's visit, Mo Qian rose from bed, retr

The current Shen Yanliu now held the rank of Inspector, making her formally "Madam Inspector" herself!Still, suppressing her genuine urge to correct him, she simply smiled. "That idle, wealthy man of mine is enjoying tea in the reception hall—go find him there."Zhu Guibao clasped his fists respectfully. "Thank you, Madam." He then navigated carefully around the scattered boxes and containers, making his way toward the reception hall.Reaching the hall, Zhu Guibao noticed the entrance stood entirely unguarded—the usual attendants had all been recruited by Ma Chunmin for the ongoing packing efforts. No one remained available to properly announce visitors.The entrance stood open. Within the reception hall, Shen Yanliu and his daughter Shen Mihuan sat together, engaged in quiet conversation.Given Shen Yanliu's own background as a former sect disciple himself, and with Shen Mihuan preparing to depart for what would be at least three years' commitment, their conversation had naturally d