Watching Li Yundong and Su Chan’s affectionate display, Ruan Hongling and Ziyuan could only watch on with silent admiration. “Regardless of whether their bond crosses any forbidden lines, the feeling between this human and this demon is undeniably profound…” Ziyuan sighed softly to herself.

Zhou Qin simply stared, frozen in place. She suddenly realized how utterly foreign this young man and this young woman seemed to her.

She had always believed she was getting closer to Li Yundong, understanding him better and better, yet in the end, she saw she knew nothing about him at all! “Back in the day, the Martial Saint Guan Yunchang, upon seeing a local bully tormenting the villagers, flew into a rage, executed him, and ultimately became a fugitive, even changing his name!

Who knew this usually easygoing, joking young man was such a figure!” “But that was the chaotic Three Kingdoms era, where human life was cheap, yet here we are in peaceful times, and there is still someone like Guan Di?” Zhou Qin was stunned by Li Yundong’s actions, her heart filled with an indescribable feeling. She gazed steadily at Li Yundong and Su Chan, watching them cling to each other as if they were meant to last forever, as if heaven and earth might crumble and they still wouldn't separate by an inch.

Zhou Qin felt a sharp pang in her chest. She suddenly realized: there was no possibility for her to insert herself between these two, because they loved each other too fiercely, willing to sacrifice their very lives for the other!

What force in this world could possibly tear apart a pair of lovers who loved each other so completely? In that instant, Zhou Qin’s heart turned to ash.

Li Yundong held Su Chan tightly in his embrace. His eyes saw only her, and her eyes saw only him.

What the surrounding people were doing, what they were saying—none of it mattered to them. The Heavenly Tribulation, or anything else—it was all cast aside.

In that moment, they knew they loved each other, and though the words weren't spoken, their devoted gazes said everything. Ziyuan seemed unable to bear watching this couple be ripped apart, so she could not help but speak, “Actually, there is a way for you to evade the Heavenly Tribulation.” Li Yundong and Su Chan heard this and instantly felt it was music to their ears, excitedly pressing further, “What way?” Ziyuan looked steadily at Li Yundong and said slowly, “Never establish your Foundation Realm!” “What?!” Li Yundong and Su Chan were simultaneously shocked, and again, they asked in unison, “Why?” Ziyuan explained, “The pursuit of cultivation is for eternal life, to transcend the shackles of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

But birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural laws of heaven and earth. Any person or action that violates this law will draw divine punishment!

Therefore, cultivation is the most heaven-defying act under the sky. When a cultivator’s accumulated energy reaches a certain threshold, it will naturally attract the descent of Heavenly Thunder.

The principle is the same as a taller building being more susceptible to lightning strikes!” Li Yundong realized suddenly, “If we don't cultivate or establish our Foundation, we will never attract Heavenly Thunder?” A hint of approval flashed in Ziyuan’s eyes as she nodded, “Precisely! If you do not establish your Foundation, the Heavenly Thunder cannot locate your aura, and naturally, it won't strike you.

But once you build your Foundation, it’s like erecting a skyscraper on flat ground; the Heavenly Thunder instantly has a target!” Li Yundong questioned, puzzled, “Then doesn't that mean a Qi Refinement expert could use talismans to kill people while still avoiding Foundation establishment, thus evading the Heavenly Tribulation indefinitely?” Ziyuan stated calmly, “Every precept, every rule has loopholes to exploit, let alone such a vast cosmos? If the universe were truly rigorous without a single flaw, how could we cultivators ever achieve immortality?” Saying this, Ziyuan glanced at Li Yundong and added meaningfully, “However, once you step onto the path of cultivation, it becomes incredibly difficult to resist the desire and impulse to establish your Foundation.

You must understand, the experience before Foundation establishment and after are completely different! Before establishing your Foundation, you are merely a slightly stronger mortal, but once you succeed, you become an immortal in waiting, capable of traversing heaven and earth, achieving transcendence!” Ziyuan’s words filled Li Yundong with longing.

He couldn't help but recall what Su Chan had told him earlier: When your cultivation is perfected, we will travel the world together, visiting mountains and rivers! How wonderful such a life would be!

Su Chan worriedly clutched Li Yundong’s arm, fearing he was set on establishing his Foundation and seeking his own death. She pleaded sorrowfully, “Yundong, we don’t have to establish our Foundation.

We can hide somewhere no one can find us and live happily together.” Li Yundong suddenly laughed, “And I’ll remain a virgin my whole life, and you’ll remain a maiden your whole life?” Su Chan flushed scarlet, the misery in her heart somewhat dispelled by Li Yundong’s teasing. She pouted, “Naughty, what nonsense are you speaking!” Her expression, caught between anger and delight, stirred the heart of even the peerless beauty Ziyuan, who sighed internally: Truly a pitiable little sprite, no wonder Li Yundong is so infatuated with her!

Ziyuan felt compassion for the depth of their true affection and couldn't help but say again, “As long as you don't establish your Foundation, you can at least live out the rest of your lives safely. But as for cultivation, forget about it for this lifetime!” Su Chan’s heart tightened.

She pulled on Li Yundong’s arm again, coaxing him, “Yundong, let’s not establish our Foundation, okay? I’m so afraid that after you succeed in building your Foundation, you will…” Before she could finish speaking, a cold voice sharply interrupted with a sneer, “The people of the Zhengyi Sect really only spout such terrible ideas; still no progress after all these years!” Everyone froze and looked toward the source of the voice.

They saw a three-foot-long, azure-glowing sword slice swiftly across the distant sky. Standing upon it was a woman of striking allure, her long hair cascading past her waist, her skirt fluttering in the wind—a cold, stunning beauty.

The moment Ziyuan saw this woman, her entire body shuddered, and she involuntarily murmured, “Three feet of cold sword edge, half a fathom of azure hair. A bone structure of bohemian grace, a heart entangled through countless lives.” Ruan Hongling’s eyes widened as she stared at the cold beauty, blurting out in shock, “Sword Immortal?” She then turned to Ziyuan, confused, “Sister Ziyuan, what are you saying?” Ziyuan’s gaze was fixed on the woman, her eyes suddenly becoming infinitely distant and sorrowful, “Do you remember the verse Master once carved into the Wind-Dust Stone with his sword?” Ruan Hongling’s eyes snapped wide, and she stammered, “You—you mean…?” Ziyuan’s gaze dropped to the long sword beneath the woman’s feet, and she sighed mournfully, “Don't you find that sword exceedingly familiar?” Ruan Hongling stared intently at the sword for a moment, then suddenly cried out, “That’s the Eight Desolations!!

That’s Master’s sword!! How could it be in her hands!!

Could she be…?” Ziyuan and Ruan Hongling stared fixedly at the woman, so utterly shocked by what they seemed to be witnessing that they could not speak. The woman, however, did not look at them.

Her gaze swept past them as if they were utterly insignificant. Instead, she thoroughly examined Li Yundong before turning a stern look upon Su Chan.

Su Chan’s eyes widened; her face showed surprise mixed with joy, and fear mixed with dread. She cried out, “Master?” At almost the exact same moment, Ruan Hongling gasped, “…Are you the Nine-Tailed Divine Fox Ao Wushuang of the Fox Zen Gate?

You aren’t dead?” Li Yundong blinked. “Ao Wushuang?

Is that name really that pompous? But if she’s the little fox’s Master, and the little fox is this powerful, she must indeed be quite pompous, right?” Li Yundong scrutinized the sword-riding woman.

She was exquisitely beautiful, even surpassing Su Chan. She possessed a perfect melon-seed face, petite and captivating, lips like freshly applied cinnabar, and skin as pale as snow.

The corners of her eyes lifted slightly, giving her an air of pride and aloofness, yet right between her brows bloomed a cinnabar-red beauty mark, acting like the final touch on a painting, instantly bringing life and vibrancy to her cold, peerless features, making her enchantingly bewitching. Li Yundong had seen Su Chan’s bright charm, Zhou Qin’s dignified grace, Cao Kefei’s seductive allure, and Ziyuan’s ethereal poise.

Seeing Ao Wushuang next, he felt the visual impact she made was the strongest! She clearly possessed a face marked by cold pride, yet everyone who saw her sensed an innate, seductive charm about her.

Her eyes were clearly aged and indifferent, yet they made one feel as if she might break into a captivating smile at any moment, ensnaring the soul. “Is this your Master?” Li Yundong couldn't help but turn to look at Su Chan.

Su Chan timidly hid behind Li Yundong and nodded slightly, “Yes, this is my Master. She must have come looking for me!” Ao Wushuang heard her words and sneered, “You still remember me as your Master?

Look at all the trouble you’ve stirred up in the mortal world!” Li Yundong couldn't tolerate anyone scolding his girl, even if this person was Su Chan’s Master. He stepped in front of Su Chan, shouting, “She’s been very good; she hasn’t caused trouble.

The trouble here was caused by me!” Ao Wushuang looked Li Yundong up and down, snorted dismissively through her nose, her gaze full of contempt, “What difference is there between trouble you caused and trouble she caused!” Li Yundong retorted loudly, “A man takes responsibility for his own actions. The trouble I caused, I will bear myself.

It has nothing to do with Su Chan, so stop dragging her into it!” Su Chan timidly hid behind Li Yundong, feeling both touched and distressed. She couldn't help but peek out and shout, “That’s not right!

This is the trouble I caused, Master. Punish me instead!” This eagerness from both of them to take the blame and excuse the other flashed a brief shadow of melancholy across Ao Wushuang’s eyes, but she quickly returned to her cold demeanor, “Can pushing the blame back and forth solve the problem?” Su Chan froze, and then a sudden joy sparked in her heart.

She cried out happily, “Master, you have a way to help Li Yundong pass the Heavenly Tribulation, don't you? You definitely have a way, right!” Su Chan remembered her Master’s heaven-shaking, earth-shattering abilities.

Surely, someone so powerful must have a solution to help Li Yundong avert the Heavenly Tribulation. The more she thought about it, the more excited she became.

She couldn't help but jump away from Li Yundong’s side and rush to Ao Wushuang, grabbing her sleeve and pleading mournfully, “Master, you must have a way. Please help Yundong!

I will accept whatever punishment you mete out to me!” Ao Wushuang remained silent for a long time before letting out a cold snort, “You are so certain that I must have a way!” Su Chan urged desperately, “Master, your divine abilities are so formidable, you must have a solution, right?”