The path of cultivation spans nine Celestial Heavens, the first of which is the "Forming Embryo." Many martial artists, whether of the internal or external school, can strengthen their physical bodies through various exercises to reach this initial stage.

The second Heaven is Qi Refining. Practitioners of external martial arts, upon reaching the pinnacle of their external path, naturally transition inward to begin the practice of Qi refinement. This is even more true for internal martial artists, most of whom can attain the intermediate level of the Second Heaven, known as the state of "Effortless Control of Qi."

However, very few among them can progress further to practice internal visualization, let alone the forging of a Lotus Throne. This is not only because they lack cultivation partners or guiding mentors, but more significantly, because they lack the proper methods of practice.

Dharma, Wealth, Companions, Habitat, Implements.

The methods of cultivation rank first among the five essential conditions for practice, a position not assigned arbitrarily.

Li Yundong effortlessly attained the peak of the Second Heaven, meaning he had surpassed nearly all martial artists in this world and was beginning his ascent into the Third Heaven, "Condensing the Spirit," a realm beyond the mortal.

Su Chan gazed at the young man before her with profound astonishment, as if meeting her lover for the first time. Her initial desire to assist and support Li Yundong in becoming a great cultivator was rooted in her being deeply moved by his sincere affection for her, coupled with her recognition of his straightforward and upright character—a man with potential. But now, she realized he possessed not only first-rate temperament but also first-rate innate talent!

To become a great cultivator requires several prerequisites: first, encountering a premier opportunity; second, possessing a first-rate temperament; and third, having first-rate natural aptitude! Li Yundong possessed all three.

Su Chan looked upon him with boundless envy, sighing inwardly: This man was a cultivation genius that even Heaven itself would marvel at and covet!

Su Chan knew that although her own sect, the Fox Zen School, had historical ties to Buddhism—its founder, Master Panshi the Fox, having studied under the eminent Chan Master Baizhang of the Tang Dynasty—the descendants of the Fox Zen School primarily practiced Taoist mystic arts. And Taoist cultivation places the utmost importance on "Non-Action and Following Nature." What does "Non-Action and Following Nature" mean? It means doing whatever one desires, absolutely never forcing an action. Li Yundong embodied this very nature; thus, he managed to flirt with the Gates of Hell several times during his cultivation yet returned unscathed. Anyone else would have long since suffered a Qi deviation, leaving nothing behind.

"Could this be a destiny arranged by the Heavens?" Su Chan stared blankly at Li Yundong. "Has Heaven intended for me to encounter such a prodigy, and then to assist and guide him?"

Li Yundong felt a secret surge of satisfaction under Su Chan's awestruck and worshipful gaze. What could make a man prouder than receiving the admiration of the woman he cherished? Without Su Chan needing to urge him, Li Yundong himself felt an intense fascination for Qi refinement now, eager to bask in the worshipful intensity of her observation.

After a while, Su Chan, still reeling from the shock, returned to her room and tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Li Yundong, meanwhile, remained seated in meditation on the living room floor until dawn.

When the Golden Crow first ascended the next morning, its inaugural ray of light bathed Li Yundong, immediately rousing him from his deep trance. He let out a long sigh, expelling a breath that shot out like an arrow through the open balcony window, remaining concentrated and unscattered for nearly ten meters before finally dissipating into a wisp of white vapor.

Li Yundong stood up, feeling an extraordinary sharpness in his vision. From the balcony twenty-odd stories up, he could clearly discern sights several miles away, making out the lettering on shops hundreds of meters distant. Furthermore, he discovered his hearing was preternaturally acute; he could hear the conversations and breakfast preparations of his neighbors with perfect clarity.

These changes left Li Yundong standing dumbfounded on the balcony. Had he suddenly gained the Clairvoyance and Clairaudience of myth?

Before Li Yundong could fully process his transformation, a sudden intuition struck him—a feeling that someone was watching him. He immediately turned his head in a certain direction. As he turned, his gaze collided with a young woman looking back from a balcony in the adjacent unit. Their eyes met for an instant before quickly breaking away.

The woman on the balcony wore loose, white casual clothing and was performing simple calisthenics. She was strikingly beautiful, with an excellent figure, and her eyes—crystalline and piercing—left a deep impression on Li Yundong. It was the same young woman he had bumped into near the community entrance when he first moved in.

Li Yundong was unaware that his cultivation had reached a level that ordinary people might never attain in a lifetime. He didn't turn to look at her simply because she was watching him or because he sensed her gaze. Rather, he had an advance feeling that a girl would look at him, prompting him to turn his head, resulting in the synchronized moment their eyes met. Li Yundong mistook this for coincidence, unaware that this was the "Premonition" realm within the Third Heaven's "Condensing the Spirit."

Ordinary practitioners and a select few Grand Masters can cultivate to this level, gaining not only sharp senses but also the ability to foresee certain events before they happen. The Xing Yi Master Shang Yunxiang, active during the Republic era, once warned his disciples never to look at him while he slept, lest he awaken. Disciples who doubted him watched him while he slept, only to see the deeply slumbering Shang Yunxiang immediately startle awake—a display that left his student stunned and viewing him as a divine being. This state is profoundly mysterious, impossible to fully convey through words or teachings; only those who reach it grasp its true subtlety. Yet, across centuries, someone reaching this state, like Li Yundong, seemingly without conscious effort, was almost unheard of.

The young woman whose gaze Li Yundong met was Hong Ling. Upon seeing him, she naturally recognized the young man from their previous encounter. She suddenly noted that the location of his residence was strikingly close to where that powerful, long cry had emanated previously. Moreover, the look Li Yundong directed at her seemed even sharper and more potent than last time! Such progress in cultivation in just a few days?

Hong Ling paused, withdrawing her gaze. A startling thought surfaced in her mind: Could it be that the grand master whose cry eclipsed even that of Wang Yangming was this very young man standing before her? The moment the thought formed, Hong Ling's heart pounded with a mixture of shock and dread: Which lineage's rising star could be this formidable? I must pay him a visit another day! she resolved internally. When she looked back, Li Yundong was already gone from the balcony.

Li Yundong returned inside, ate breakfast with Su Chan, and headed for the university. Just as the pair exited the building, Hong Ling was turning from her own unit, walking toward Li Yundong's apartment. After ringing the doorbell several times to no response, a look of clear disappointment crossed Hong Ling's face as she turned to leave.

Li Yundong and Su Chan arrived at the school, and just as they approached the classroom door, they ran straight into Sun Li. The fiery Sichuanese girl froze upon seeing Li Yundong, standing dumbfounded in the doorway. Li Yundong waved a hand in front of her face. "Hey, don't you recognize me anymore?"

Sun Li nodded vaguely, her eyes locked on him. "A little! I just feel like your entire demeanor is different today, as if you've become a completely new person!"

Li Yundong chuckled to Su Chan beside him, "Have I become a new person?"

Su Chan laughed sweetly, "No, no matter how much you change, you're still my master!"

Li Yundong chuckled heartily, "See? Certified by an expert authority!"

Sun Li shook her head and laughed, "Can't stand the two of you!"

Li Yundong and Su Chan entered the classroom and settled into their usual seats in the back row. Soon, the classroom began to fill. Ding Nan and Zhou Qin entered together, two beautiful young women whose presence instantly seemed to elevate the entire room's luster. Zhou Qin scanned the classroom, her eyes landing immediately on Li Yundong beside Su Chan. Her expression dimmed slightly, and she led Ding Nan to sit in the front row. Li Yundong paid little mind to Zhou Qin's glance; he merely nodded a greeting to her before resuming his playful banter with Su Chan. Now, the young couple seemed inseparable, as if they wished to remain physically joined, unable to bear a moment apart.

As Li Yundong was laughing with Su Chan, he suddenly noticed the noisy chatter in the classroom beginning to subside. He looked up toward the doorway and froze.

Standing there was a handsome young man, one leg encased in plaster, leaning on a crutch held by one arm while cradling a bouquet of flowers in the other. It was Zhao Yujian.

"Why is he here?" the students whispered in confusion. "Did he get out of the hospital already?" "Isn't he a third-year senior? Why is he in our class?" "Do we even need to ask? He must be here for Zhou Qin! Didn't you see the flowers in his hand?"

Zhao Yujian swept his gaze across the room with his crutch, spotting Zhou Qin. A flicker of intense excitement crossed his face as he hobbled toward her, extending the flowers. "Zhou Qin, I went to the florist first thing this morning to buy these. Ninety-nine roses, all the freshest ones."

Zhou Qin remained seated, neither standing up nor reaching for the flowers. She looked at Zhao Yujian with an expression of pity and sighed faintly, "Zhao Yujian, you are truly too stubborn. This situation isn't good for any of us!"

Zhao Yujian's smile froze. Ding Nan, standing nearby, reached out to snatch the flowers, shouting, "Hey, aren't you annoying enough? Even when you're crippled, you won't quit!"

The word "crippled" caused Zhao Yujian's cheek to twitch. The previous smile slowly vanished, replaced by an expression of terrifying venom and resentment. At that moment, Li Yundong was struck by a tidal wave of menacing unease. His hair stood on end, and he leaped to his feet, shouting, "No!"

Almost simultaneously, Zhao Yujian's hand trembled, and the colorful roses scattered, revealing a black, modified Type 54 handgun. Ding Nan, seeing the pistol suddenly, was terrified into a paralyzed stupor, her reaching hand frozen mid-air.

Zhao Yujian gripped the gun, a sinister grin contorting his face as he aimed the muzzle directly at Ding Nan’s forehead, about to pull the trigger, when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. He twisted his head instantly and fired in that direction!

BANG!!!

The terrifying gunshot shattered the calm of the university. Li Yundong felt a bolt of ice shoot up from his tailbone, every hair on his body erupting as a bone-chilling cold gripped his heart: Where did he get a gun?!

========================================================= The day before yesterday, I mentioned in the group chat that if the Flower Chart entered the top ten on the weekly ranking, I would release a triple update. It seems my readers still have fight left in them—the Flower Chart reached tenth place! Not bad, not bad. Readers, keep voting for flowers, and I won't break my word; look forward to three chapters tomorrow! Also, many readers who prefer reading on their phones still don't know how to vote for flowers! You won't find the option on your phone! Please log in to .m on a computer, find this book, and register—then you can vote for flowers! My promise is one bonus burst for every rank gained. How much fighting spirit you have is up to you!~