Ruan Hongling scoffed, her face etched with dissatisfaction: "Isn't it all because the Buddha favors men over women? That's why every single technique passed down is overwhelmingly vigorous and masculine! The fourth-generation Master of the Fox Zen Sect, Tianji Xuanhu, once infiltrated Mount Wutai to secretly learn Buddhist arcane arts and managed to acquire the Great Vajra Technique. It’s a pity that as a woman, practicing this technique nearly caused her to suffer qi deviation and die. If it hadn't been for Master Huifa sacrificing himself to save her, how could she have earned such a great reputation?"

Li Yundong couldn't help but think upon hearing this: There’s some truth to that. None of the Seventy-Two Ultimate Skills of the Shaolin Temple are anything but the pinnacle techniques of external martial arts sects. I just wonder what kind of spell the Great Vajra Technique is that it almost caused a woman to suffer qi deviation.

Ruan Hongling continued, "It is precisely because this treasured fan can only be wielded by men, and men possess the Body of Seven Jewels, that it is called the Seven Jewels Fan. Furthermore, because the Vajra Sutra is inscribed upon it and it is imbued with the supreme magical power of the Vajra Tathagata, it possesses powerful protective strength, capable of telepathically sensing the wielder's intent. Therefore, its full name is the Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan!"

Li Yundong closed the Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan and tested its weight in his hands. Although his strength had greatly increased, even he found this object weighing over a hundred catties somewhat taxing to hold. After all, Guan Er Ye’s Green Dragon Crescent Blade only weighed eighty-two catties!

Li Yundong swung the fan once, and only heard a low, mournful rush of wind in the air, impressively powerful. He swung it three or four more times, feeling his arm begin to ache, so he quickly set it down, sighing faintly, "No wonder Su Chan said that no one in their Fox Zen Sect can even use this magic artifact!"

Ruan Hongling snorted coldly, "The Fox Zen Sect has indeed produced a few geniuses, especially Tianji Xuanhu back in the day, whose power was unmatched throughout the world. However, they have declined severely now. It was a stroke of luck that Ao Wushuang emerged, but alas..."

At this moment, Ziyuan suddenly interrupted Ruan Hongling: "Hongling, stop gossiping about other sects."

Ruan Hongling made a face at Ziyuan and continued addressing Li Yundong, "Don't think you’re so great just because you’ve beaten me several times without giving me a chance to retaliate. In the cultivation world, it is a universally acknowledged fact that men possess the Seven Jewels, while women have the Five Leakages; it is easier for men to attain immortality than for women. So, your victory over me was not entirely fair. Go look through the history books—how many mortals have achieved immortality since ancient times? How many men, and how many women?"

Li Yundong couldn't help but muse to himself again: Isn't that so? Even in the most widely circulated tale, 'The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea,' aren't the Eight Immortals mostly men? Iron Crutch Li, a man! Han Zhongli, a man! Zhang Guolao, a man! Lü Dongbin, a man! Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu, both men! Lan Caihe, that name sounds feminine, but he was still a man! Only He Xiangu was a woman!

Thinking this, a notion stirred in Li Yundong’s mind, and he asked, "Then what is the Body of Seven Jewels? What does that mean?"

Seeing Li Yundong was utterly clueless about everything, Ruan Hongling was growing impatient and exclaimed loudly, "Ugh, why does he know nothing about anything! So annoying! Sister Ziyuan, you explain it."

Li Yundong was currently ravenous for any information regarding cultivation, so he paid no mind to Ruan Hongling's attitude and turned his gaze to Ziyuan.

Ziyuan smiled faintly and explained in a soft, gentle voice, "The Treatise on the Great Vajra Heart Treasury states: 'The man possesses the first treasure of Aspiration, allowing him to travel without fear everywhere. The second is the treasure of Dominion, enabling him to act with good judgment and control. The third is the treasure of Establishing a Household, skillfully capable of generating wealth and building enterprises. The fourth is the treasure of Securing Livelihood, skillfully able to assist the sovereign and support his parents. The fifth is the treasure of Sagely Wisdom, capable of discerning right from wrong. The sixth is the treasure of Governing the State, ensuring all above and below follow his reasoning. The seventh is the treasure of Steadfast Temperament, capable of associating with the virtuous and inheriting the ways of the sages. These are named the Seven Jewels of Man.'"

Li Yundong nodded, instinctively wanting to ask: Then what is the Body of Five Leakages for women? Since it is difficult for women to cultivate, how did you all manage to cultivate such power? And how is Ao Wushuang so formidable?

But after a moment's thought, Li Yundong decided that asking such a question might offend Ziyuan, so he suppressed it, holding it in his mind, thinking to himself: I will slowly review these foundational theoretical concepts after I complete my Foundation Establishment.

Li Yundong then asked, "How is this iron fan used?"

Ziyuan replied, "This iron fan has two uses. One is as an ordinary weapon, and the other is as a magical artifact."

Li Yundong couldn't help but let out a wry smile, "This thing is so big and heavy, how can it be used as a weapon? To smash people with it?"

Ziyuan looked at Li Yundong, extended her hand, and asked with a smile, "Are you willing to let me try it out?"

Li Yundong thought that if this woman intended to seize it, he certainly couldn't win against her, so it was better to be generous. With that thought, Li Yundong straightforwardly handed over the Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan.

Although Ziyuan appeared slender, seemingly fragile like a willow swaying in the breeze, she effortlessly grasped the heavy iron fan weighing over a hundred catties with just one delicate, slender hand.

Ziyuan held the Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan in one hand, then reached out her other hand toward Li Yundong, saying, "This area is too confined; let's move somewhere else, and I will demonstrate it for you."

Li Yundong knew Ziyuan intended to hold his hand for flight, and he inwardly lamented: When will I be able to fly freely in the sky like that?

Ziyuan seemed to read his thoughts and smiled, saying, "Don't worry, you'll be able to fly on your own someday too." After saying this, Ziyuan silently added in her mind: After you survive the Heavenly Tribulation... But how will you ever survive the Heavenly Tribulation? If you don't, how will the latter part of Master's cryptic verse be fulfilled?

Ziyuan shook her head slightly, as if trying to drive the thought from her mind, and gently placed her hand on Li Yundong’s wrist.

Li Yundong suddenly felt a warmth spread through his body, and immediately he floated upward, flying out of the balcony in the blink of an eye and landing on the rooftop.

The Hongsheng New District building was the tallest, with no structures nearby surpassing it. Li Yundong and the others arrived at the center of the roof, where no one could see them.

Ziyuan held the Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan, signaling Li Yundong to stand back, and then said, "Watch closely."

Saying this, she gripped the fan ribs with one hand and flicked her wrist. With a shua sound, the fan leaves snapped open completely, each one rotating like a blade in a wheel.

Li Yundong watched the fan dance up and down in Ziyuan's hands, especially the shua sound as the leaves suddenly opened and then shua as they closed. The tip of every leaf was like a blade; anyone touched would not only suffer broken bones but potentially be sliced into pieces!

Ziyuan’s footwork was nimble and ethereal, her movements as light as an immortal amidst the clouds. As she spun faster and faster, the great iron fan bobbed up and down in her hands, the leaves opening and closing. The sound truly resembled ten thousand swords sheathing simultaneously—a sharp, resonant clang brimming with killing intent. The golden Sanskrit characters on the fan leaves shimmered and pulsed as if about to fly free!

When Ziyuan reached the height of her skill in wielding the fan, the sharp sounds of the treasure fan opening and closing were continuous, like fine threads stretching out. The dark luster of the iron fan almost entirely enveloped Ziyuan's graceful figure, while the golden script inscribed on the leaves covered her like a shimmering golden kasaya, floating in the air like a pagoda.

Li Yundong watched from the side, utterly mesmerized. Even the dazzling computer-generated special effects in Hollywood blockbusters couldn't compare to the dramatic fan dance before him!

Li Yundong was simultaneously shocked and thrilled: So this seemingly clumsy and heavy iron fan was used like this! When would I be able to wield the Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan as impressively as Ziyuan?

As Li Yundong stared intently, Ziyuan suddenly shouted, and the whirling motion abruptly halted. The fan leaves snapped shut in unison, the surrounding dark glow vanished, and the golden kasaya disappeared. She landed with a crisp pa, standing still, the man-high iron fan resting behind her, her posture as straight as a pine, displaying an indescribable martial grace!

Although Li Yundong had always maintained a latent sense of caution and hostility toward Ziyuan, at this moment he was completely awestruck by her fan dance, silently filled with admiration.

"Excellent!!" Li Yundong couldn't help but cry out in praise, exclaiming, "Like thunder gathering its wrath, like the sea solidifying its clear light! Impressive, truly impressive!"

Even though Ziyuan’s figure was almost completely obscured during the peak of her dance—only the scripture pagoda was visible—she stood perfectly calm and composed after closing the fan, smiling faintly, "You flatter me."

Ruan Hongling, watching from the side, looked at Ziyuan with adoration and said proudly, "My Sister Ziyuan is capable of much more than this!"

Li Yundong nodded in agreement and asked, "Is this the normal weapon usage for the Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan?"

Ziyuan replied, "Yes. If you can master this great iron fan, given your cultivation base, even if you encounter malicious troublemakers, as long as their cultivation level is not several realms above yours, you can handle them."

Li Yundong asked curiously, "Then how is the Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan used as a magical artifact?"

Ziyuan smiled, spread her palm, and the heavy Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan slowly floated toward Li Yundong. She said, "I do not possess the Body of Seven Jewels, so I cannot use the Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan. Only the pure Yang energy of a male can utilize this artifact, so I cannot demonstrate it for you. You will only be able to unlock the artifact function of the Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan after you achieve Foundation Establishment."

Li Yundong took the heavy Seven Jewels Spirit-Communicating Fan, no longer daring to underestimate it because of its clumsiness. Recalling Ziyuan's earlier demonstration, he couldn't help but wonder: If this fan already seems so formidable now, how much more powerful will it be when its artifact power can be unleashed?

Li Yundong felt his heart surge with excitement, wishing he could immediately practice using it the way Ziyuan demonstrated!

Ziyuan knew Li Yundong must be eager to try, so she didn't disturb him. She beckoned Ruan Hongling, and the two flew back to their residence.

Ruan Hongling couldn't help but ask, "Sister Ziyuan, how long are you going to help him? Although this guy seems quite smart and has the Golden Core Primordial Qi, he has only been cultivating for less than two months—his foundation is too weak! Even if he succeeds in Foundation Establishment, how will he face the Heavenly Tribulation?"

Ziyuan remained silent. After a long while, she finally said, "I don't know either. We do our best, and that is all. If he cannot pass the Heavenly Tribulation, it means Master's cryptic verse is incorrect. If he does pass the Heavenly Tribulation..."

"Then what happens?" Ruan Hongling pressed.

Ziyuan sighed, gazing wistfully at the deep night sky, "Then I don't know either."

Ruan Hongling huffed, "This hateful fellow! We are helping him like this, and I still have to endure his attitude—it infuriates me!"

Ziyuan smiled and said, "Don't worry, in a few more days at most, he can attempt Foundation Establishment, and then you won't have to see him anymore."

Ruan Hongling looked surprised, "So fast?"

Ziyuan nodded, "I will send him to a place—the most dangerous place in the world, yet the one yielding the best results for Foundation Establishment!"

Ruan Hongling's eyes suddenly widened, "Sister Ziyuan, have you gone mad? He can go to that place? He’ll probably die before he even gets to establish his foundation!"

Ziyuan said calmly, "That depends on his own cultivation fortune. If he can't even survive that, how can he face the terrifying Heavenly Tribulation after Foundation Establishment?"