Zhang Ling immediately sensed the commanding presence emanating from Zi Yuan upon her appearance. Although not as overtly aggressive as her own, Zi Yuan’s demeanor held a subtle strength, suggesting she would be a formidable opponent. A silent nod of approval escaped Zhang Ling’s thoughts: they called Zi Yuan the foremost expert among the younger generation of cultivators, and now she saw it was well-deserved fame; truly, there was no empty title for such skill. Though Wang Yuanshan was a scoundrel who blurred the lines between good and evil and consorted with demons, the disciple he taught was exceptionally outstanding!

Despite her private admiration, Zhang Ling offered no courtesy in her words, deliberately feigning ignorance: "Forgive my poor sight, but who might this be?"

Zi Yuan offered a slight smile and executed a formal bow, a gesture fitting for a junior addressing a senior: "I am Zi Yuan of the Ling Palace Sect. Greetings, True Master of Earth Fire."

Seeing Zi Yuan adopt the posture of a junior addressing an elder, Zhang Ling somewhat curbed her aggressive stance. She nodded in return and replied courteously, "So it is True Master Zi Yuan. Meeting you in person truly surpasses mere reputation!"

Zi Yuan smiled faintly. "May I inquire the purpose of True Master of Earth Fire's visit?"

Zhang Ling snorted and stated, "I heard a cultivator named Li Yundong ruined the joint siege planned by the Six Great Sects against the Fox Zen Sect, and he also injured my nephew, Zhang Tianhe. Is this true?"

Zi Yuan lowered her eyelids slightly. "It is."

Zhang Ling snorted again. "Then I ask you, do you know this Li Yundong?"

Zi Yuan’s expression remained unchanged. "I do."

Zhang Ling let out a heavy snort, fury flickering in her eyes. "Very well! You are indeed in league! Zi Yuan, I called you 'True Master' just now out of respect; I advise you to reconsider your path quickly. Do not associate with these demons and monsters, and certainly do not stoop to the level of such base cultivators. Otherwise…"

Zi Yuan asked calmly, "Otherwise, what?"

Zhang Ling pointed toward the peaks of Dragon Tiger Mountain and roared, "Otherwise, your Master will serve as your example!"

Zi Yuan's face remained placid, but Ruan Hongling, standing nearby, could not contain her anger. "On what grounds do you lecture Sister Zi Yuan? In terms of status, she is no less than you! And when it comes to cultivation methods, she may not even lose to you!"

Zhang Ling threw her head back and laughed boisterously, the sound echoing among the mountains, sending birds scattering from the woods. "When I first heard of this matter, I was skeptical. Seeing your attitude now confirms it—you are clearly guilty and attempting to hide the evidence! How laughable! For the future successor of the dignified Ling Palace Sect, a branch of the Zhengyi Sect, to debase herself by consorting with such low-class riffraff! You dishonor the great name of the Zhengyi Sect! Let me give you one final piece of advice, True Master Zi Yuan: the sea of suffering is boundless; turn back now while you still can!"

Although Zhang Ling’s words were vicious and cutting, Zi Yuan merely offered a slight, unperturbed smile, neither flattered nor offended. She bowed her head and stated, "Thank you for the guidance, True Master of Earth Fire. Everyone walks their own path of cultivation. What I am doing, I understand perfectly well, and I require no instruction."

Zhang Ling's face shifted, and she spoke sharply, "Zi Yuan, don't refuse a kind offer only to face punishment! You need to understand, the Succession Ceremony for the Ling Palace Sect Master in six months requires the approval of our Zhengyi Sect! Do not play with fire and invite your own ruin! If our Zhengyi Sect withholds consent, do not let the legacy passed down from your Master, the Heaven-Reaching True Master, perish in your hands!"

With that, she flicked her sleeve and said menacingly, "You look after yourself! Let's go!"

Zhang Ling gave a heavy snort and vanished in a streak of emerald light. Zou Ping shot the two women a cold look, snorted, and followed in another streak of green light.

Seeing the two depart, Ruan Hongling spat viciously onto the ground. "Scum relying on others' power! Ptooey!" But after cursing, she turned to Zi Yuan, her face etched with worry. "Sister Zi Yuan, while that shrew is vicious, what she said is true. If the Ling Palace Sect Succession Ceremony cannot proceed on schedule in six months, our sect's leadership will either default to someone appointed by the Zhengyi Sect, or the Ling Palace Sect will cease to exist!"

Saying this, Ruan Hongling anxiously clutched Zi Yuan’s sleeve. "Sister Zi Yuan, are you truly going to stand by and watch our Ling Palace Sect fall into others' hands or witness its complete annihilation?"

Zi Yuan’s expression was solemn. She remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "The path of cultivation is difficult, harder than ascending to heaven. This is the path I have chosen. If there are myriad trials, I will bear them all alone!"

Ruan Hongling fretted, "But what about the sect? The Zhengyi Sect is holding all the cards now, and we are weak. What can we do?"

Zi Yuan sighed softly, stroking Ruan Hongling’s hair. "Hongling, in this world, no banquet lasts forever, and no sect endures eternally. Even this universe will one day turn to dust! If our Ling Palace Sect is truly destined to perish, nothing you do will matter!"

Ruan Hongling paused, then suggested urgently, "Then let’s just declare that the Ling Palace Sect has become independent!"

Zi Yuan shook her head. "No. The Zhengyi Sect will certainly attack us. We have already lost two of our three great treasures; now is absolutely not the time to challenge the Zhengyi Sect."

Ruan Hongling stamped her foot in frustration. "That won't work, and that won't work either! I’m furious! You can endure this humiliation, but I cannot!"

She seemed to have a sudden thought, her eyes lighting up. She exclaimed loudly, "That’s right! Let’s go find that fellow Li Yundong! His cultivation is so formidable now; he might be able to help us! He always has the most ingenious ideas; maybe he knows a way out!"

Zi Yuan offered a faint smile. "Didn't you hear what True Master of Earth Fire just said? If we go looking for Li Yundong, it will confirm everything she claimed."

Ruan Hongling pouted stubbornly. "She said we are colluding with Li Yundong, so let’s collude with him then! It’s better than sitting here waiting for death! Given how she spoke, she would accuse you of it even if you hadn't done anything! Hmph, besides, I don't believe you, Sister Zi Yuan, haven't planned to look for him since you came out of seclusion!"

Zi Yuan sighed. "You are not entirely wrong there. I did intend to find him after coming out of seclusion."

Ruan Hongling beamed. "See, I was right! Hmph, he benefited so much from us; it's high time he returned the favor!"

However, Zi Yuan glared sternly at Ruan Hongling. "Nonsense! Are you a merchant or a cultivator, speaking like that again? I warn you, if you mention this matter to him, I will immediately disown you as my junior sister!"

Her tone was severe, startling Ruan Hongling, who took a step back, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Sister Zi Yuan, I won't say anything, but you didn't need to frighten me like that, did you? You sounded terrifying just now!"

Zi Yuan’s expression softened considerably. "Just remember what I said. Never mention this to him in the future. Otherwise, you will be dragging him directly into the conflict between us and the Zhengyi Sect, which would be harming him!"

Ruan Hongling approached Zi Yuan, taking her hand, her eyes misting over. "Sister Zi Yuan, you are always thinking of others, but who ever thinks of you?"

Zi Yuan sighed, stroking Ruan Hongling’s hair. "Don't I have you thinking of me? Come, let’s return to Tianlong Mountain first to see if Li Yundong is there. If he isn't, we can check Tiannan City next."

With that, she led Ruan Hongling, and the two vanished as twin streaks of emerald light, speeding away.

Just as Zi Yuan and Ruan Hongling departed Dragon Tiger Mountain, Li Yundong was at home, preparing to leave with Su Chan to visit the supermarket.

Before they could step out, Li Yundong heard a buzzing sound from his phone. He looked around and found the vibrating device wedged deep in the sofa cushions. He picked it up—it was Zhou Qin calling. Looking closer, he whistled—over a hundred missed calls!

Li Yundong quickly answered, "Hello?"

As soon as he spoke, the other end fell silent. Zhou Qin seemed to take a deep, steadying breath, suppressing her emotions, her voice trembling slightly as she asked, "Y-you're back?"

Li Yundong smiled faintly. "Yeah. Were you worried I wouldn't return?"

Zhou Qin didn't speak; the silence on the line was strangely heavy.

Li Yundong chuckled. "I was out on urgent business. Did you need something when you called?"

Zhou Qin was silent for a moment longer before slowly replying, "No, I just wanted to hear your voice. What have you been busy with these past few days?" She immediately corrected herself: "Forget it, I shouldn't ask."

Li Yundong recalled that Zhou Qin was somewhat like a disciple now—though not formally accepted, their relationship was closer than before, and there was no need to hide everything. "It’s nothing. I’ll tell you all about it when we meet."

Zhou Qin seemed to recall something then. "Oh, right. Feng Na has been looking for you everywhere these past few days. She came to class several times. I asked what it was about, but she wouldn't say. Maybe you should call her?"

Li Yundong thought for a moment. "Never mind, I'll just go to the school. I've missed so many classes; if I don't show up soon, they’ll probably put out a missing person notice!"

Zhou Qin's voice sounded slightly lighter now. "That’s good. If you don't come soon, the classmates will forget what you look like!"

Li Yundong chuckled. "Alright, see you then." He hung up the phone and stared into space, lost in thought.

Su Chan, standing nearby, asked softly, "Yundong, what's wrong?"

Li Yundong snapped out of his reverie with a startled sound. "Nothing, just feeling a bit reflective."

Su Chan asked, "Reflective about what?"

Li Yundong let out a dry laugh. "Nothing much. It feels like I just returned from the Fox Zen Sect and now I'm rushing back to school, like moving from one world to another. Your Fox Zen Sect must have had terrible luck to end up with a university student as their sect master. No wonder you guys can't even solve your food supply issues!"

Su Chan feigned anger. "Don't say that! And besides, it's not 'your' Fox Zen Sect anymore; it’s 'our' Fox Zen Sect! You are already a member now! You must bring glory to our Fox Zen Sect and restore its former might!"

Li Yundong laughed heartily. "Restoring its might, I wouldn't dare promise. If I can keep you all from starving, I'll be offering incense to the Buddhas!"

Su Chan laughed and reached out to playfully pinch Li Yundong’s cheek. "Shameful! Such a spineless sect master!"

Li Yundong grabbed her hand, widened his eyes, and feigned anger. "It's not easy supporting a whole group of you! And you call me spineless? Take this!"

The two played around briefly before heading out. With Su Chan accompanying him, Li Yundong couldn't bear making her walk, so they took a taxi to the school as before.

As soon as they reached the school gate, they saw Zhou Qin standing there, seemingly waiting for them.

This girl stood by the gate like a fragrant winter plum, slender and graceful, radiating a cold temperament that kept casual passersby from approaching. Any ordinary boy who dared look at her for too long would feel a surge of inadequacy.

Li Yundong spotted Zhou Qin from a distance and waved with a smile.

When Zhou Qin saw Li Yundong, immediate joy flashed across her face, but the sight of Su Chan beside him caused her to quickly and carefully conceal it. She walked up to Li Yundong and said respectfully, "Master!"

Su Chan froze, tugging Li Yundong’s hand. "You took a disciple?"

Before Li Yundong could reply, Zhou Qin turned equally respectfully to Su Chan and said, "Mistress!"

Su Chan’s face instantly flushed crimson, a mix of shyness and delight washing over her. Her wariness toward Zhou Qin immediately diminished. She giggled, "Don't call me that! I didn't bring any gifts."

Zhou Qin smiled faintly. "Why do you say that?"

Su Chan laughed merrily. "In our sect, being called that means you're supposed to receive a gift." Saying this, she warmly linked arms with Zhou Qin. "Oh, by the way, did you know? Li Yundong is our sect’s new master now."

Zhou Qin and Su Chan already had a decent relationship, and with Zhou Qin deliberately flattering her now, her face was full of smiles. She looked at Li Yundong in surprise. "What master?"

Su Chan boasted proudly, "Well, that's a long story!"

Seeing the two girls walk aside to whisper intimately, Li Yundong felt a strange unease, especially about Zhou Qin, who seemed to be wearing a thick mask on her face.

Li Yundong shook his head and walked toward the teaching building. As he neared the base of the building, he heard Feng Na shout in surprise, "Li Yundong, stop right there!"

Li Yundong turned back with a smile. Sure enough, he saw Feng Na running toward him quickly and throwing a punch.

With Li Yundong's current cultivation, even a hundred Feng Nas couldn't touch him, but he stood still, not even channeling his energy, allowing her fist to land harmlessly on his shoulder. He smiled and asked, "You were looking for me?"

Feng Na laughed and scolded, "I’ve been looking for you for days! My phone nearly exploded! What’s wrong with you? Do you only use your phone as a desk phone?"

Li Yundong laughed apologetically. "Sorry, sorry, I had urgent business out of town. What was so urgent?"

Feng Na winked suggestively. "Good news, good news! The Deputy Mayor is coming tomorrow—it's the day the new student training concludes. He’s coming to inspect the work, and the school needs a representative from the new students and one from the faculty to give speeches. The faculty representative slot has been assigned to you!"

Li Yundong looked stunned. "Didn't that big idiot student visit last time? Why is he coming again?"

Feng Na gasped in alarm and quickly looked left and right. "Are you crazy? Cursing a leader! Aren't you afraid of being investigated across provincial lines?"

Li Yundong threw his head back and roared with laughter. "Okay, okay, I was wrong. Why is that scoundrel visiting again?"