Shortly after Ziyuan departed, the battle of force and power between Li Yundong and the heavenly lightning within his body reached its critical stage.

For an ordinary person, even being grazed by heavenly lightning would likely result in a soul scattering to the winds; even if the physical body remained, the three hun and seven po within would be utterly annihilated by the lightning.

However, Li Yundong’s inner elixir was founded upon the peak of the Himalayas, having already been tempered by the force of heavenly lightning. Furthermore, he possessed the body of a re-forged Golden Core, making his physical resilience far beyond that of ordinary men. Coupled with his countless previous confrontations with heavenly lightning in the Minor Thousand Worlds—where he had been struck countless times and thus developed a certain resistance—he was spared immediate annihilation.

Although this surge of heavenly lightning raged violently within Li Yundong, its good days were numbered once he ceased worrying about the lightning itself and focused entirely on mobilizing his own true essence to fight it.

The power of heavenly lightning, while formidable, was ultimately that of an invading force. This is precisely the principle that a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake illustrates.

Initially, the ferocity of the heavenly lightning seemed unstoppable, destroying whatever it targeted; Li Yundong’s true essence was shattered almost instantly upon contact, proving no match at all.

But after finding that surrounding and blocking it on all sides was useless, Li Yundong simply threw open all his meridians, allowing the lightning to charge unimpeded straight into his lower Dantian in his abdomen.

The lower Dantian is the primary reservoir of qi in the human body. Once the heavenly lightning burst in, Li Yundong felt as if a flood-tossing jiaolong had invaded the heartland of his abdomen, causing pain so intense he nearly blacked out.

Yet, his mental fortitude had been forged into steel during his Tibetan journey, and his countless defeats and subsequent counter-attacks by heavenly lightning in the Minor Thousand Worlds had rendered him far superior to mortals.

With immense willpower, Li Yundong engaged the heavenly lightning in a direct confrontation within his lower Dantian. All the blood and qi in his body surged madly toward that area. The heavenly lightning seemed trapped in a vast ocean of people's war; initially, it could struggle and resist, but eventually, due to a lack of sustained power, and with Li Yundong’s robust Five Viscera continuously supplying the Five Qi, his inner elixir in his lower abdomen ceaselessly released true essence.

As the two forces waxed and waned against each other, this power of heavenly lightning was finally subdued by Li Yundong.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the extra celestial lightning energy within Li Yundong finally ceased all resistance. Wherever Li Yundong willed it to go, it followed obediently and flexibly, like a limb under command.

Li Yundong circulated his qi for a while longer, replenishing the deficiency in his internal true essence, then suddenly leaped up, exhaled a long breath, and opened his eyes.

When Li Yundong reopened his eyes, he found himself back in his own bedroom. He froze for a moment, murmuring in disbelief, "I didn't die? I... I passed the Heavenly Tribulation?"

Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of joy flooded Li Yundong's consciousness. He shouted ecstatically, "I actually didn't die!"

Before even rushing out of the room, Li Yundong bellowed, "Ziyuan, where are you! Did you save me?"

As he burst out of the bedroom, he abruptly heard the sound of a mobile phone ringing. Li Yundong looked around and saw his phone lying on the sofa, ringing insistently. He picked up the call only to hear Feng Na’s voice, laced with anxiety and terror: "Hello, hello, Li Yundong? Thank heavens, I finally got through! Where are you? Hurry to the school, something has happened!"

Li Yundong frowned. "What happened?"

Feng Na’s voice became somewhat muffled and broken through the phone. After a moment, she simply hung up.

Li Yundong was utterly bewildered, but he knew something serious must have occurred at the school. He dared not delay and ran towards the school without even grabbing his Seven Treasures Spirit Fan.

Although the Heavenly Tribulation was over, it was already evening, and the sky was still somewhat bright. Li Yundong dared not fly, so he rushed on foot.

His leg power was immense, his speed incredible, certainly not inferior to a car, and he reached the school in less than twenty minutes.

Upon arriving at the school gate, he saw Feng Na rushing toward him, looking extremely worried.

Li Yundong asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"

Feng Na said, "This afternoon after school, I saw Zhou Qin go up to the roof of the school building alone. After she got up there, she never came down. When I went to check, the roof door was locked. I called out to her, but she wouldn't answer. I called her phone, and she wouldn't pick up. Worse, she’s been sitting right on the edge of the building just now, ignoring me no matter how loud I shout. I’m so afraid she’s going to do something impulsive!"

Li Yundong was instantly alarmed. He strode into the school grounds, shouting as he ran, "What's wrong with her? After all that trouble, her legs are healed, has she gone mad?"

Feng Na hurried to keep pace with him. "I don't know either! I'm worried sick!"

Li Yundong questioned, "How did she get onto the roof? After what happened last time, hasn't she learned her lesson? Wasn't the roof supposed to be locked?"

Feng Na managed a wry smile. "How would I know!"

Li Yundong roared, "What are the school leaders doing!"

Speaking as he ran, Li Yundong arrived beneath the school building—the very same one where the shooting incident had occurred. Zhou Qin was indeed standing on the edge of the roof, in the exact same spot as before.

A crowd of students had gathered below the building, pointing and murmuring about Zhou Qin up above.

Zhou Qin, standing on the roof, stared ahead with unfocused eyes; she was completely unaware of the situation below.

In her world, she cared nothing for what these people below were saying; she cared only for one person—Li Yundong.

After Li Yundong healed her injuries and Ziyuan took her away, Zhou Qin dressed beautifully the next day and went to school, intending to surprise Li Yundong, only to find he hadn't shown up for classes.

When her classmates spotted her, though they knew nothing of what had happened to this stunning girl, they enthusiastically welcomed her return.

Zhou Qin felt none of the warmth in her classmates' welcome, because in her eyes, the welcome of the entire world could not compare to a single word of tender reassurance from Li Yundong.

On the first day, Zhou Qin couldn't find Li Yundong and no one answered when she called his phone. Panic immediately seized her heart: Could it be that he was abandoning her now that her injuries were healed?

Thinking of this, Zhou Qin’s heart sank heavily, though she immediately tried to console herself: No, Li Yundong wouldn't just ignore me like that.

But on the second day, Zhou Qin still hadn't seen Li Yundong. The third day, the fourth day, all the way to the seventh day, Li Yundong remained absent. In these days of torment, Zhou Qin had become noticeably thinner, her heart verging on despair, her mind restless and wandering.

A single question constantly tormented her mind: If my legs hadn't healed, would he have left me?

Thinking this, Zhou Qin became inescapably drawn, as if addicted to a drug. Dazed and confused, she made her way to the rooftop of the school building and stood staring blankly at the exact spot where Li Yundong had once caught her.

"Perhaps, if I were still paralyzed, if my legs hadn't gotten better, he... he wouldn't leave me, right?" Zhou Qin mumbled to herself, her expression vacant, her posture wavering precariously. Seeing her like this, the students below cried out in alarm.

Zhou Qin only heard a frantic shout rise from below. The voice was so familiar that she started, looked down, and saw Li Yundong rushing toward her, a mixture of anxiety and fury on his face. In a moment of wild joy, Zhou Qin instinctively took a step forward. This movement caused her to lose her balance, and she plummeted violently from the rooftop, a fierce sensation of weightlessness swallowing her like a tidal wave.

But very quickly, Zhou Qin suddenly felt a solid weight below her, and a powerful arm encircled her. A potent masculine scent washed over her face.

Zhou Qin felt herself float momentarily, her body lightly carried back onto the rooftop. Focusing her vision, she saw Li Yundong holding her, his face contorted with anger.

The instant Zhou Qin jumped, Li Yundong’s hair stood on end from sheer terror. Without thinking, he launched himself upward along the wall. Before achieving his foundation, he could catch Zhou Qin; now, having passed the Heavenly Tribulation, it was obviously easier.

After catching Zhou Qin, Li Yundong immediately began to curse her vehemently, his anger stemming from disappointment: "Are you insane? Your legs finally healed, and now you're thinking of jumping again! Don't you value your own life?"

Zhou Qin stared dazedly at Li Yundong, seemingly unable to believe he had actually appeared at this moment!

Zhou Qin tentatively reached out a hand to touch Li Yundong’s cheek, trembling as she asked, "Li Yundong, is it really you?"

Li Yundong swatted her hand away angrily. "Nonsense! If it weren't me, you'd be dead right now! Do you think you'd be as lucky as last time? What if I hadn't come this time? What if you’d landed headfirst this time?"

Listening to Li Yundong's furious barrage of reprimands, Zhou Qin bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears, remaining silent.

After scolding her until his anger began to subside slightly, Li Yundong asked, "What is it this time? Why are you trying to jump?"

Zhou Qin suddenly burst into loud sobs, clinging desperately to Li Yundong's waist with both arms, shouting, "Why did you heal me? Why did you catch me again? I hate you, I truly hate you!"

The complaints and reproaches Li Yundong was about to deliver stuck in his throat. He stood with his arms spread, unsure whether to hug the girl or not, his body stiff, feeling awkward and lost. "What's wrong with you? Just tell me what happened?"

But Zhou Qin said nothing, continuing to weep uncontrollably. This was the first time in her life she had cried so unrestrainedly; her cries were mournful, like the shriek of a blood-spitting cuckoo, stirring unbearable pity.

Li Yundong was not a fool. Though he hadn't understood immediately, by the time he grasped the situation, he could no longer misunderstand what was going on in the girl’s heart.

He sighed deeply, reached out to stroke her long hair, and murmured softly, "No matter what, don't make things hard for yourself!"

Zhou Qin cried for a long while until exhaustion overtook her. She tearfully raised her head and asked, "Do you love me?"

Li Yundong shook his head.

Zhou Qin bit her lip and asked, "Then do you like me? Even a little bit from before, even the tiniest bit?"

Li Yundong paused, sighed, and nodded gently.

A flicker of joy flashed in Zhou Qin's eyes. Seeing Li Yundong about to speak, she quickly pressed her hand over his lips, urging, "Don't say anything, listen to me."

Saying this, she took a deep breath and gradually calmed down.

Zhou Qin spoke softly, "I know you love Su Chan, and I don't want to break you and her up. I only ask one thing of you. If you don't agree, I will die right here in front of you, and I will never cause you any more trouble."

Li Yundong knew this girl’s temperament was fiery and her words were never idle threats. He smiled wryly and said, "Go on, what is it?"

Zhou Qin stated, "I know you are not an ordinary person. Like Ziyuan, you are a mysterious cultivator. Can you promise me that you will take me as your disciple?"

Li Yundong had already planned to teach Zhou Qin cultivation techniques, but teaching her wasn't the same as formally accepting her as a disciple. Especially as a disciple, she would inevitably be around him constantly, which would surely lead to trouble.

Li Yundong hesitated, his face thoughtful. Zhou Qin, however, couldn't help but start crying again. "I just want to see you a few more times every day, speak a few more words to you. Is even that too much to ask?"

The favor of a beauty is often the hardest to refuse. Remembering all the sacrifices this girl had made for him, Li Yundong couldn't help but let out a long sigh and said, "Fine, then I will take you as my disciple. But you must remember the words you spoke today, and you must never recklessly seek death again in the future, do you understand clearly?"

Zhou Qin wiped her tears, and her expression slowly settled, regaining the composed, proud demeanor of a princess. She stood up, clasped her hands together respectfully, and said to Li Yundong, "Yes, Master!"

Li Yundong was very unaccustomed to this shift in Zhou Qin’s role, even more so to a girl who had just been sobbing in his arms suddenly transforming into a reverent student. He managed a wry smile and cracked a joke, "I study the Way, I am not a disciple of Buddhism."

But there was no smile on Zhou Qin’s face. Her expression was serene; she formed a palm with one hand, bowed deeply, and said, "Yes, Esteemed Master!"

Seeing her like this, Li Yundong's heart twitched. He realized that after briefly opening her inner world, this girl had immediately sealed herself off tightly once more.

Li Yundong looked at Zhou Qin, suddenly unsure of what to say. He sighed heavily and shook his head. "Forget it. Just don't do such foolish things again!"

He led Zhou Qin downstairs. He noticed the surrounding students pointing and whispering about them but didn't dwell on it. After comforting Zhou Qin a few times, he escorted her home and then returned to his own house alone.

Back home, Li Yundong leaned against the door, spacing out for quite some time. When he finally snapped back to reality, intending to cook, he suddenly noticed a white slip of paper on the floor.

He had been in such a rush when leaving that he hadn't looked at it earlier. Now, his eyes caught it, and he immediately picked it up.

This discovery instantly enraged Li Yundong. "Are these bastards tired of living? Attacking the Fox Zen Sect is one thing, but if they dare harm my little girl, I'll take your lives!!"

With that, he skipped dinner, immediately shouldered the Seven Treasures Spirit Fan, and hurried toward Tianlong Mountain. (45278941954)D