Seeing that Ziyuan agreed to play Zhao Ling'er, Feng Na was overjoyed, bursting into triumphant laughter: "With this 'Immortal Sister' joining us, our show is going to be absolutely stunning!"

Li Yundong laughed and chided from the side, "Is this some kind of beauty pageant?"

Feng Na made a face at him. "You wouldn't understand; it’s all about capturing eyeballs these days!"

Saying this, she turned to the crowd and asked, "Any objections to this Immortal Sister playing Zhao Ling'er?"

The crowd cheered loudly, "No objections!"

But amidst them, one male student shouted loudly, "I have an objection!"

All eyes swiveled towards him. It was Zhong Xiuguo, playing Li Xiaoyao. He looked utterly dejected. "Teaming up with such a stunning beauty puts immense pressure on me!"

The surrounding students immediately started to heckle, "Tsk! If you can't handle it, step down; plenty of others want the role!"

"Exactly, what a stroke of luck with the beauty!"

Zhong Xiuguo glanced at Ziyuan, sensing in her a lofty, almost unreachable nobility. Not only was he nervous about acting beside her, but even looking at her for a moment made his heart pound wildly for ages.

He forced a bitter smile. "Whoever wants it can have it!"

Seeing that the male lead was on the verge of throwing in the towel, Feng Na quickly coaxed him, "Don't, don't! This is such a fantastic opportunity, how rare is this? Zhong Xiuguo, and you're in the film and acting department! Did you sleep through all your classes? How are you going to act later? Don't worry; once this beauty puts on her costume, you'll feel totally immersed."

Zhong Xiuguo mumbled a few things under his breath, his words unclear, but he at least stopped threatening to quit.

Feng Na managed to placate all these demons and monsters with her eloquent persuasion, leaving her sweating profusely.

Li Yundong took the script she handed him and glanced through it. He saw the lines were sparse; mainly, he just needed to stride out looking imposing, strike a few poses, and then make off with the exquisite Zhao Ling'er—mission accomplished.

After quickly memorizing the few lines, Li Yundong turned his attention to the liu e sword. He tentatively channeled his Zhen Yuan (True Essence) into the precious blade and immediately felt a powerful force recoil.

This force was subtle and drawn-out, yet the softness contained a needle-like sharpness, periodically pricking the tip of Li Yundong's finger—softness overlaying rigidity, Yin concealing Yang. It was clearly the residual magic essence left by a master.

Li Yundong's spirit jolted, and for a moment, he dared not try again, lest this place erupt into a sword fight rivaling computer-generated special effects.

Time flew quickly, and before he knew it, night had fallen. More and more actors crowded the wings of the grand auditorium. After eating boxed meals backstage with the others, Li Yundong saw the hall below was already packed shoulder-to-shoulder. He ushered Zhou Qin downstairs, instructed Cheng Cheng to look after her, and then returned backstage.

Upon his return, Feng Na called out to him, "Hey, hey, hurry over here! Makeup! We’ve been looking for you forever!"

Li Yundong paused, pointing at himself. "I need makeup too?"

Having grown familiar with him, Feng Na was not polite. She walked behind him, pushed him toward the vanity, and pressed him down onto the stool. "Nonsense! Doesn't everyone on stage wear makeup? Without it, under the stage lights, you'll look like a zombie!"

Li Yundong sat down and looked up, only to see a very effeminate male student, dressed flamboyantly, walking toward him, holding a makeup case. Before he even got close, an overwhelming cloud of heavy powder and rouge washed over Li Yundong.

Li Yundong started, thinking inwardly: This guy isn't the makeup artist, this guy is not the makeup artist!

The feminine man approached, extended a slender, 'orchid' finger, delicately pinched a powder puff, and said with a charming smile, "Oh my, it is the greatest fortune of my three lifetimes to be able to apply makeup for the Sword Saint!"

Every hair on Li Yundong's body stood on end. He thought: Damn, this guy is the makeup artist!

Feng Na, standing nearby, laughed heartily. She patted Li Yundong’s shoulder. "You just sit back and enjoy the pampering!"

Li Yundong watched her turn to leave, unable to call her back in time. He could only offer a wry smile to the feminine man. "My dear madam, please be gentle with your brush!"

The feminine man giggled delicately, "I wouldn't dare use heavy hands on the great Sword Saint. Otherwise, if the Sword Saint thrusts his sword out and leaves this humble servant half-dead, half-alive, I simply couldn't bear it?"

If a real beauty had said this, it could almost pass as flirtation, which Li Yundong might have begrudgingly accepted. But hearing it from a man...

Li Yundong felt a chill run through him. He managed a dry chuckle and dared not speak further, closing his eyes in a pose of heroic resignation, ready for the executioner's blade.

Nearby, some of the girls who were already done with makeup gathered around, laughing and watching Li Yundong’s makeover. Those who usually dared not look at him for too long now felt free to point and critique.

About half an hour later, Li Yundong could hear the performance starting in the main hall. The feminine man beside him finally said, "All done, take a look!"

Li Yundong finally dared to open his eyes. When he looked into the mirror, he saw a man with white hair and a somewhat aged face staring back. His own cheeks were already thin, and with the makeup applied and the long white hair draped down on both sides, his entire demeanor seemed like a drawn sword—exceptionally cold and uniquely distinguished.

The surrounding girls gasped in admiration. Feng Na also leaned in for a closer look at Li Yundong, then gave the makeup artist a thumbs-up. "Not bad! You really have talent!"

Then, she nudged Li Yundong toward the dressing room. "Quickly now, go change into your prop costume. Everything is ready for you."

Li Yundong, manipulated like a puppet, had no choice but to enter the changing room. When he emerged in costume, everyone present burst into applause!

Li Yundong stood there with a cascade of white hair, a short white beard two inches long beneath his chin, and long hair flowing over his shoulders. He wore a snow-white long robe, and strapped to his back was a precious sword adorned with a red tassel. Simply standing there gave the impression of a mountain rooted deep in the earth. The crowd felt they were not looking at a college student, but a Sword Immortal Grandmaster plucked straight from a novel or game!

On an ordinary person, this attire might look strangely awkward, but on Li Yundong, it exuded a powerful sense of classical beauty and cold austerity, truly like a character who had walked right out of a game!

"Holy crap..." Feng Na sucked in a sharp breath. Even she hadn't expected Li Yundong to embody the Sword Saint’s aura so perfectly. She stammered, "If you entered the Ly competition, you’d definitely take first place!"

Li Yundong offered no reply, merely glancing at her sideways. His look held the weariness and cold sharpness of someone who had witnessed the full spectrum of human love and hatred.

Feng Na shuddered under Li Yundong's gaze. What kind of look was that? He was clearly a student younger than her, so why did he possess such a world-weary, cold expression? That look couldn't be acted! What had he truly experienced?

After glancing at Feng Na, Li Yundong scoffed, lifted the edge of his long robe, and sat down on a stool with imposing confidence. He thought privately: This woman has bossed this old man around enough; if I don't show her a bit of what the Sword Saint is truly like, she won't know respect!

His aloof demeanor and austere manner were almost indistinguishable from the actual Sword Saint, leaving the students from the performance majors utterly stunned. Jiang Xiuxiu, playing Ge Luojiao, stared wide-eyed. "Has he studied acting before? How is his portrayal so vivid?"

Seeing that Li Yundong seemed fully immersed in character, Feng Na's eyes gleamed. She went behind him and called out to another student, "Hey, hurry up and snap a picture with Lord Sword Saint!"

Saying that, she made a V-sign with her fingers and flashed a toothy smile.

The student was quick-witted; he grabbed the camera and click went the shutter. Once Feng Na set the precedent, it was chaos. Students backstage flooded toward the Sword Saint, jostling for photo opportunities.

Li Yundong was inwardly quite vexed: Great, they’re treating me like a photo prop!

While he was stewing in frustration, a person posing next to him, making a pouty 'alternative' face for a photo, turned and chided, "Lord Sword Saint, could you please try to smile?"

Li Yundong let out a long sigh, stroked his beard, and said, "You people are treating this old man like scenery, taking pictures recklessly, and not paying a single cent afterward. How can you expect me to smile?"

The surrounding students burst into laughter. "Lord Sword Saint, how much per shot?"

"Two yuan per photo?"

"Damn, that's too cheap! It should be at least three!"

"Three? Great, I'll take ten shots!"

"I weakly ask, what’s the monthly package rate?"

"Monthly package? Ha! This lady needs the VIP annual pass!"

Li Yundong’s veins visibly jumped. "A bunch of jerks!"

As they were enjoying their fun, a sudden clamor erupted from a corner of the backstage area. Everyone’s gaze instantly darted over.

There, Ziyuan emerged from the changing room, gracefully dressed in a light blue top over dark navy trousers. Her hair was styled in two high twin braids, radiating an ethereal aura mixed with purity. Her eyes, dark and inky, were profound and serene, instantly bringing a sense of peace to anyone who looked at them.

Li Yundong stared, transfixed. He thought: This is an upgraded Zhao Ling'er. Ziyuan’s aura is too overwhelmingly transcendent; she lacks some of the youthful immaturity Zhao Ling'er should have at this stage, but she possesses far more divine majesty.

Wherever Ziyuan went, the surrounding noise died down. Everyone stared dumbly at this woman who seemed to have stepped down from the heavens into the mortal realm. When Ziyuan reached Li Yundong’s side, she suddenly lowered her voice and asked him, "Is this outfit very strange? Why is everyone staring at me?"

Li Yundong nearly laughed out loud. "Not strange at all, it's wonderful. They’re looking because you are too beautiful!"

Ziyuan’s cheeks flushed slightly. She was about to speak again when she noticed people nearby pointing and whispering about the two of them. "Hey, have you noticed? Their auras match perfectly when they stand together?"

"Indeed. Two divine beings standing together—it truly is a path reserved for immortals. We mortals can’t compare! I envy them so much!"

"But... their ages don't seem to match?"

"Idiot, we’re talking about their aura! Besides, older man, younger woman relationships are quite trendy nowadays, aren't they?"

Hearing this, Ziyuan’s composure wavered slightly, and her face grew even redder.

Zhong Xiuguo, playing Li Xiaoyao, had initially felt deeply inadequate when he first saw Ziyuan. But after hearing these comments, he stubbornly tried to convince himself: No matter what, in this moment, she is my Ling'er!

Li Yundong, overhearing this, felt quite awkward. He cleared his throat, about to steer the conversation elsewhere, when suddenly Ruan Hongling rushed backstage from the stage, beaming cheerfully at Ziyuan. "Sister Ziyuan, my part is done. Is it time for you two to go on?" Her eyes flicked over to Li Yundong, and she whispered quietly, "Hey, I've kept your Seven Treasures Spirit-Guiding Fan safe for you. Don't let me or Sister Ziyuan down when you go on stage!"

Li Yundong chuckled and whispered back, "I was more worried she’d slow me down!"

Ruan Hongling shot him a look, then said nothing more. Feng Na, standing nearby, gasped in surprise. "It’s time for us to go on?" She jumped up, checked the program list, slapped her thigh, "Damn it, things are getting hectic! Comrades, we’re up next, get ready!"

The students waiting backstage roared their affirmation, quickly straightening their costumes. As the stage lights dimmed for the preceding act’s finale, the actors whose scenes were next began to file onto the stage in order.

Soon enough, the heavy curtain slowly drew back, and the dazzling stage lights flooded the set. The most anticipated grand performance of Tiannan University had begun.