Hearing this terrible news, Li Yundong couldn't help but let out a wry smile, finding a sliver of amusement in his misfortune. He said to the stunned Ziyuan, "Well, this is great. We're both paupers now! Why don't I just tear down the Fox Zen Gate, and you demolish the Spirit Palace Sect, and we start a Beggars’ Gang between us!"

With that, he laughed heartily to himself, thoroughly entertained.

Ruan Hongling glared at him from the side. "You actually find this amusing!"

Li Yundong spread his hands in exasperation. "Should I break down in tears, then? This is called commiserating over shared troubles!"

Ziyuan finally came back to her senses. Her face looked grim as she turned to Ruan Hongling. "Are you absolutely sure about this? Don't try to trick me!"

Ruan Hongling instantly jumped up, exclaiming excitedly, "Sister Ziyuan, when have I ever lied to you? And when have I ever defied anything you said?"

Only then did Ziyuan believe her. Her expression grew grave, and she murmured under her breath, "They moved this quickly? Is the Zhengyi Sect impatient to swallow up our Spirit Palace Sect?"

Though her voice was low, Li Yundong heard it clearly. He asked, "What? Isn't the Zhengyi Sect part of your same lineage? Why would they want to absorb you?"

Ziyuan’s Dao Heart was greatly disturbed, and she looked worried, failing to answer Li Yundong for a moment. It was Ruan Hongling who spoke up loudly instead. "Theoretically, we fall under the Zhengyi Sect, but in reality, the Spirit Palace Sect is just a branch, much like how the Quanzhen Sect has the Quanzhen Longmen lineage, and the Longmen lineage further splits into the Longmen Biddong Sect and the Longmen Xizhu Xin Sect. This is a nominal hierarchy of subordination, but in reality, we are all independent entities. Hmph! The Zhengyi Sect has coveted our sect's Three Sacred Treasures for ages and has long wanted to absorb our entire sect to claim those treasures for themselves!"

"This time they've gone too far! They actually froze our assets! What right do they have to do that!" Ruan Hongling became angrier as she spoke. "No, I'm going to find them and demand an explanation."

Saying this, Ruan Hongling stamped her foot and started to leave, but Ziyuan’s sharp cry stopped her. "Stop! Get back here!"

Ruan Hongling protested angrily, "Sister Ziyuan, last time they bullied us right up to our doorstep, and now they’re pushing us toward a dead end! How long are you going to endure and back down?"

Ziyuan let out a soft sigh. "If you go, how will you reason with them? You have to understand, these funds are mostly from pilgrim donations. Nominally, they belong to the Spirit Palace Sect, but the Zhengyi Sect actually has the authority to manipulate and redirect them, because those pilgrims come specifically drawn by the Zhengyi Sect's reputation. Very few actually donate because of the Spirit Palace Sect’s name."

Li Yundong picked up on a crucial detail here. He suddenly interjected, "Are you saying that the money you originally planned to borrow from me was actually from the donations made by people visiting the Daoist temple to worship and burn incense? And that this money is jointly owned by the Spirit Palace Sect and the Zhengyi Sect, and now the Zhengyi Sect has frozen your assets?"

Ziyuan nodded, a hint of disdain and mockery playing on her lips. "That logic is similar to what many corrupt officials do when donating to temples—it’s just to seek a psychological sense of peace. Some people seek prescriptions for healing and calming the spirit, while others delusionally seek the path to eternal life. Thus, they donate money without hesitation. Our temples and monasteries welcome everyone, and this money originally came from the populace’s hard-earned wealth—it’s better to take it than leave it! If fate allows in the future, it can be used for the people again."

At this point, Ziyuan sighed deeply. "It’s just a shame it’s frozen now. I can't help you anymore."

Ruan Hongling suggested from the side, "Sister Ziyuan, wasn't there that official who kept pestering you a while back, asking you to teach her cultivation? Why don't you plead with her and ask her to intervene to get our accounts unfrozen?"

Before Ziyuan could even speak, Li Yundong declared firmly, "Absolutely not. To ask favors is to become indebted. As the saying goes, one who eats another's food speaks softly and acts with restraint. If Ziyuan goes to ask for help, it will be a massive favor, and she will inevitably become controlled by him, leading to all sorts of demands placed upon her. I absolutely refuse to see that! I, Li Yundong, would rather take the entire Fox Zen Gate out to beg on the streets than ask for a single cent in that manner!"

His words were forceful and resounding. Su Chan nodded vigorously, clutching Li Yundong’s arm and nodding repeatedly. "Yes, yes! At worst, Da Ye and I can go back to wandering the streets together!"

Li Yundong feigned anger. "Nonsense, when have I ever made you wander the streets?"

Su Chan giggled mischievously. "I was just saying!"

Li Yundong glared at her. "If we run out of money, I’ll sell you off, and we'll have an open auction. I’ll sell you to whoever offers the highest price!"

Su Chan immediately panicked and protested, "No, no, you can’t do that!"

Li Yundong roared with laughter, affectionately ruffling the little fox spirit's hair. "I was just saying!"

Su Chan pouted high, covering her head, and complained unhappily, "You’re copying my words!"

Li Yundong and Su Chan teased each other for a while, which successfully dissipated much of the tense and oppressive atmosphere in the room.

Ziyuan gave Li Yundong a look that held both admiration and helplessness. "True Master Li, I greatly admire your noble character, but I truly cannot help you right now. How do you plan to overcome this immediate crisis? Is the entire Fox Zen Gate really going to go begging on the streets?"

Li Yundong sighed, his face clouded with gloom. Half a year ago, he was an ignorant shut-in studying a useless major. Just supporting Su Chan, one little fox spirit, had driven him into bankruptcy and deep debt. Now, he had to support an entire congregation of fox spirits—this truly gave him a monumental headache.

After thinking for a moment, Li Yundong suddenly slapped the table and shouted, "I have an idea!"

His loud exclamation startled Ruan Hongling and Su Chan, but Zhou Qin and Ziyuan’s eyes immediately lit up as they pressed him. "What idea?"

Li Yundong waved his hand. "At worst, I’ll take the entire Fox Zen Gate and form a traveling dance troupe, touring the nation..." He pointed at Zhou Qin. "You, you'll be the greeter!" He pointed at Su Chan. "You, you’ll be the announcer!"

Then he pointed at Ruan Hongling. "Since you're all broke anyway, why not join me? You’re good-looking, you can be in charge of ticket sales at the front desk!" Finally, pointing at Ziyuan, "Ziyuan has the demeanor of a matriarch, excellent! You'll be the troupe leader!"

As Li Yundong spoke, Su Chan and Ruan Hongling burst into laughter. Even the usually stern face of Zhou Qin couldn't hide a smile; her cheeks twitched slightly. Ziyuan offered a gentle smile, knowing Li Yundong was joking, and playfully chimed in, "And what will you be? The big boss sitting back and enjoying the profits? A capitalist?"

Li Yundong pounded his chest and boomed, "I’ll perform the classic move of smashing stones on my chest! That’s my specialty!"

Before he finished speaking, the others in the room were roaring with laughter. Zhou Qin recalled Li Yundong’s performance from the previous semester and couldn't help but let out a soft giggle. She covered her mouth, turned away, her shoulders shaking.

Su Chan was laughing the hardest. She dove into Li Yundong’s arms, unable to straighten her waist, her eyes curved into crescents. Her heart was filled with emotion and adoration: My Master is not only formidable in cultivation and gifted, but what’s rarer is how optimistic, open-minded, humorous, and witty he remains even when facing such difficulties. How could I not love him?

After the group of 'poor wretches' had enjoyed a round of finding joy amidst their misery, Zhou Qin finally managed to control her laughter. "Let's get back to business. Since we can’t solve this immediately, we should prepare for two possibilities."

Li Yundong looked at her. Although her face was cold and beautiful, a lingering trace of a smile remained at the corners of her eyes, like the crimson pistil of a winter plum blossom—captivating and charming. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly composed himself, asking, "What two possibilities?"

Zhou Qin said, "Since we can't come up with that much money right away, let’s put the leasing of the Fox Zen Gate aside for now; we still have a month. However, we shouldn't stop doing what we can right now just because we lack the leasing funds."

Li Yundong felt a spark of understanding. "I see what you mean. You’re saying we should still open the shop, at least to establish a channel for generating revenue, and then separately find a way to raise the leasing money? Is that it?"

Zhou Qin smiled faintly and nodded. "Exactly! Although my family background has collapsed, I still have some savings. I can sell my car, which should raise about half a million—enough for your initial startup capital. Moreover, once your shop is established, you can use the storefront as collateral to secure a bank loan, and then negotiate with the Daoist temple's lessors to see if installment payments are possible. Perhaps the problem can be solved then."

Li Yundong couldn't help but praise her. "A family of means is a family of means. Zhou Qin, your few words have pointed out a clear path where all our rambling accomplished nothing. Excellent, that's what we'll do! However, you won't be providing this money. I already owe you too much; I can’t accept any more of your funds."

Zhou Qin stated seriously, "Since I have entered your sect and accepted you as my Master, this money should count as my initiation fee and tuition."

Li Yundong refused outright. "No, absolutely not! It’s not that I refuse your kindness, but I haven't formally accepted you as a disciple yet. Accepting such a significant gift now would sound terrible if word got out. Besides, I heard the Fox Zen Gate has an asset; I want to check out what it is first. If possible, I'll find a way to convert that asset into cash, which might get us through this immediate crisis."

Li Yundong spoke kindly to Zhou Qin. "Don't touch your money yet. If I truly have no other options, then I will seek your help. Is that acceptable?"

Zhou Qin sighed softly inwardly but smiled and nodded her head.

At this point, Ruan Hongling suddenly asked, "I’ve been listening to you all this time, and one question has been bothering me."

Li Yundong asked, "What is it?"

Ruan Hongling asked with confusion, "Why do you absolutely have to rent that piece of land? The Fox Zen Gate has suffered a heavy blow, and its location is now exposed to all the cultivation sects in the world. Why not move to a different place?"

Li Yundong pondered for a moment. He looked up at Ruan Hongling, then turned his gaze to Ziyuan. "It happens that I need to return to the Fox Zen Gate once. Why don't you two come back with me? I will tell you why I must stay rooted on the mountain where the Fox Zen Gate is located. Furthermore, I have received much kindness from you since I began my cultivation, and I have never found an opportunity to repay you. Now, I realize I shouldn't hoard my own modest possessions either."

Ziyuan considered the proposal. "Returning to the Fox Zen Gate with you isn't impossible, but it must be at night. Otherwise, if some cultivators see me entering or leaving the Fox Zen Gate alone during the day, it won't look good."

Ruan Hongling pouted to the side, muttering to herself: She’s seeking him out as soon as she gets down the mountain, and making such a fuss about doing it at night—it’s completely unnecessary!

Li Yundong nodded and smiled. "Alright then, we'll go back together tonight."

Su Chan clapped her hands in delight and laughed. "Great, great!"

The group waited until late at night. Before setting off, Li Yundong paused. He said to Ziyuan, Ruan Hongling, and Su Chan, "Zhou Qin can’t fly yet. You three go ahead first. I’ll bring her along slowly. Don’t wait for me on the road."

Ziyuan and Ruan Hongling nodded, turning into two streaks of green light and departing.

Su Chan knew that since Li Yundong had accepted Zhou Qin as a disciple, he must be intending to impart the Dao to her. The little fox spirit tugged Li Yundong’s hand and whispered softly, "Then I'll wait for you at the sect!" After giving Li Yundong a lingering glance, she transformed into a streak of green light and left by herself.

Although this wasn't the first time Zhou Qin had witnessed the miraculous arts of Ziyuan and Su Chan, she still couldn't suppress the violent hammering of her heart. It was the same way Li Yundong must have felt when an unknown world opened its doors to him—she felt both excited and nervous.

Though Li Yundong was generally gentle and approachable, he was unexpectedly serious and stern at this moment. He stood on the balcony, the bright moonlight pouring down from the sky like a spotlight on a stage, enveloping him in a faint white halo. His posture was immovable, like a great mountain, noble and inviolable.

In this instant, Li Yundong resembled a strict teacher assessing his student.

Li Yundong extended a hand toward Zhou Qin and asked in a deep voice, "Do you wish to see the true world of cultivation? Give me your hand!"

Zhou Qin reached out. Her hand hesitated in mid-air for a moment, but she quickly placed it firmly into Li Yundong’s large, warm palm.