"Heavens..." The moment Li Yundong stepped through the door, tossing the Seven Treasures Spirit-Guiding Fan aside, he collapsed onto the floor, gasping like a dying dog.

Ziyuan stood by the doorway, watching Li Yundong with amusement. "Are you really that dramatic? Anyone seeing you in this state wouldn't believe you're a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Li Yundong lay sprawled on the tiles, weakly lifting a hand to protest. "Being dragged along by your reckless driving, and then being crushed by the crowd on the train ride back—even an immortal couldn't take it! Damn it, there are too many Chinese people; the train station nearly killed me!"

Ziyuan walked in, closed the door, and settled into a chair at the dining table, a slight smile playing on her lips. "What does that have to do with me?"

Since displaying her prowess in high-speed driving, this fairy-like woman seemed to have fallen from the heavens into the mortal realm. When speaking to Li Yundong, a touch of human warmth crept into her demeanor, unlike her former ethereal detachment. Though she smiled, the expression felt distant, separated by an impassable gulf.

Li Yundong wheezed, "Either way, I swear I will never ride in your car again!"

Ziyuan’s lip curled. She swept a lock of raven-black hair from her cheek and chuckled. "Did the train squeeze you into this state? I certainly didn't feel crowded."

Li Yundong looked up, his face a mask of indignation and grief. "Nonsense! If I hadn't shielded you, you’d have been squashed into a flat photograph! And you have the nerve to mock me now!"

Ziyuan shook her head, laughing softly. "You endured that long journey, walking all the way to Tibet, and never complained like this. Why the outcry just for taking the train back? I truly don't understand you."

Li Yundong let out a sharp laugh, laboriously pulling himself up. "I'm the one who doesn't understand you! One moment you’re a celestial being, the next a mischievous demoness! Do you have multiple personalities?"

Ziyuan froze. The smile on her face instantly solidified, replaced by quiet stillness.

Li Yundong felt a chill run down his spine: Did I actually hit the nail on the head? No way.

He chuckled sheepishly, hauling himself to his feet. "I'm going to shower and change. This outfit makes me look no better than a beggar!"

Saying this, he walked into his bedroom, tossed the dirty clothes straight into the waste bin after changing, and headed for the bathroom.

Showering indoors was, of course, a different sensation than washing in a river. Li Yundong thoroughly scrubbed off all the accumulated grime. After the bath, he felt as though ten or twenty pounds had been lifted from his body; he was utterly refreshed and comfortable.

Stepping out bare-chested, he was startled to find Ziyuan still sitting in the living room, appearing lost in deep contemplation. "You're not going to wash up?"

Ziyuan blinked as if awakening from a dream and turned to look at him. She saw the young man with his torso exposed. The force of his Human Origin Golden Core and the strain of his rigorous cultivation had sculpted his upper body into a near-perfect inverted triangle. It wasn't the exaggerated bulk of a bodybuilder, but every line of muscle was distinct, a tightly woven cord beneath skin like cured leather, hiding explosive power.

His shoulders were broad, his deltoids exceptionally developed, giving the impression of powerful security—that he could hold up the sky even if it fell. The six-pack abs were as hard as layers of plate armor.

After studying Li Yundong for a moment, Ziyuan suddenly smiled. "Even after your shower, you still look like a beggar. Do you know why?"

Li Yundong glanced down at himself, confirming he was perfectly clean, before looking up, puzzled. "I don't! I washed thoroughly!"

Ziyuan smiled and pointed toward his face and hair. "Go look in the mirror."

Li Yundong burst into laughter. He rushed back to the bathroom, grabbed the razor, and cleaned the stubble from his face. Instantly, the disheveled, bearded man transformed into a refreshed, handsome youth. The only flaw was his hair, which was a bit long, giving him a slight Beatle-esque look.

Li Yundong emerged from the bathroom, smiling. "I can't cut this myself, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow."

Ziyuan smiled sweetly. "Do you have scissors at home?"

Li Yundong blinked in surprise. "Yes, you're going to cut it for me?"

Ziyuan offered no direct reply, merely sitting quietly and watching him with an intent gaze.

The look in this woman’s eyes always held a peculiar power, making people willing to do things for her.

Li Yundong walked to his room, found a pair of scissors, and presented them to her. "Are you sure you can handle this?"

Ziyuan pulled a chair up to the dining table, then took the tablecloth and tied it around Li Yundong’s neck. She smiled faintly. "It can’t be worse than driving my car."

At this, Li Yundong’s face turned ashen, and he immediately tried to jump up and bolt for the door. But Ziyuan seemed to anticipate his reaction, placing both hands firmly on his shoulders and pressing him back down.

Li Yundong strained hard but couldn't overpower her. He could only offer a wry smile. "Hey, don't mess around back there! If you cut it wrong, I'll have to shave my head! I’ve never been bald since I was a kid!"

Ziyuan didn't answer directly. Instead, the scissors clicked sharply as she snipped off a lock of black hair. Li Yundong’s heart clenched: Well, she’s acting first and asking later! Fine, I’ll endure it, as long as I don't end up with a Mohawk or a shaved head!

After a few more snips, Ziyuan noticed Li Yundong's expression of stoic resignation, a look of sacrifice that seemed even more tragic than Liu Hulan facing the executioner's blade. She couldn't help but laugh. "Relax. I raised Hong Ling from when she was little; I cut all her hair. Do you really think I don't know how to cut hair?"

Hearing this, Li Yundong finally relaxed. He chuckled. "That’s a relief. I thought you were treating my head as a testing ground!"

Ziyuan pursed her lips, smiling. "With that bird's nest on your head? Testing ground? I’d say it’s barely a patch of wild weeds!"

Li Yundong laughed. "Testing ground or wild weeds, just don't cut it flat, alright!"

Ziyuan smiled faintly. "I won't. Don't worry."

"Mmm, I trust you to handle things!" Li Yundong said, though secretly he thought: Given your track record, I don’t trust you an inch!

Ziyuan’s hands were nimble, the scissors moving swiftly. Li Yundong only felt her busy presence beside him, the snip-snip of the blades as locks of his hair fell away. He couldn't help but muse, "It’s only been two months, how has it grown so long?"

Ziyuan replied, "Isn't the answer in the Huangdi Neijing?"

Li Yundong's mind leaped, and he smacked his forehead. "I get it! It’s because my Qi and Blood are too vigorous, right? Strong Qi and Blood lead to flourishing hair, which is why my beard and hair grow so fast."

Ziyuan nodded slightly. "Cultivation isn't just about guiding your Qi and practicing spells. You must understand the operational laws of those spells, and you must grasp the theory and the scientific principles behind cultivation."

Li Yundong couldn't help but smile. "The scientific principles of cultivation? Ha! If you’d said that before, I would have scoffed, but now... I actually think there’s some science to it."

Ziyuan stated calmly, "What do you mean, 'some science'? Tell me, what are the operating laws of a computer? Why can a few chips and circuit boards transmit so much information and calculate such vast numbers? Why does the computer react the instant you click the mouse? What are the scientific principles behind that?"

Li Yundong stammered, "How would I know that?"

Ziyuan continued, "Then do you know how an atomic bomb is made? What are the scientific principles involved?"

Li Yundong offered a wry smile. "I’m a humanities major; how would I know any of that?"

Ziyuan nodded. "Exactly. Although you’ve now set one foot through the door of cultivation, you've only entered the realm of power; your mindset has not yet entered. You've read the Huangdi Neijing and gained a general awareness of cultivation, but when it comes to practical application, you only understand half of it. The scientific principles of cultivation are the same as those governing computers or atomic bombs. If you don't study them, you will forever find these concepts incredible, like looking at flowers through a fog—utterly baffling."

Li Yundong sighed. "I understand what you mean. I’ll go to the Xinhua Bookstore tomorrow!"

Ziyuan laughed. "What are you going there for?"

Li Yundong asked, puzzled, "Didn't you take me there last time to buy books?"

Ziyuan shook her head, smiling. "You… I’ve told you so many times, yet you never remember? Sometimes, the Great Dao lies right at your feet, but you fail to notice it."

Li Yundong was suddenly stunned. He paused, then an idea struck him. "You mean... the school library?"

Ziyuan nodded. "Yes. Although Tiannan University is considered a third-rate school, its library is quite good, with a very complete collection. You can find much of the knowledge you seek there."

Li Yundong smiled. "That's great; it saves me money." Then he suddenly remembered something. "Right, the new semester is about to start, isn't it? In the next couple of days? Sigh, I wonder how Zhou Qin is doing. Will she be implicated by my affairs?"

The thought of Zhou Qin sent his mind wandering far away; the memory of calling down heavenly lightning to kill He Shao still felt vivid.

Zhou Qin had promised to cover for him regarding that incident, but he had killed someone, and a powerful second-generation heir at that. He wondered how Zhou Qin was faring now?

Li Yundong couldn't help but sigh. He knew Zhou Qin cared for him and had been silently dedicating herself to him. But putting aside the fact that he hadn't accepted her feelings, she had shielded him from the fallout, and he hadn't contacted her at all in two months. That felt inexcusable.

Thinking of this, he wanted to call Zhou Qin, but as the thought arose, he gave a bitter laugh. He had sold his phone, and he didn't remember her number. How could he contact her? He supposed he'd have to wait until school started.

Li Yundong sighed again. It was one thing if Zhou Qin didn't know his situation, but what about Su Chan? The little girl?

Was she... was she alright?

The harder Li Yundong thought about it, the more the longing surged like a tide, threatening to bury him. He wished desperately he could pass the Heavenly Tribulation immediately and fly away with the little girl.

But Li Yundong knew that cultivation was like rowing against a strong current, defying the heavens. A slight mistake could lead to eternal damnation, and the Heavenly Tribulation could strike at any moment!

The little girl's parting words echoed in his mind: Li Yundong, you must become stronger!!!