Li Yundong's charge was swift and sudden. The instant he burst into the stone chamber, he caught sight of a short, thin man standing there, holding a torch in one hand, his head tilted back to read the characters etched on the wall.

With just a glance, Li Yundong was struck by an uncanny familiarity in the man's figure. He roared out, "Who goes there!"

The shout vibrated the very stones of the chamber. The short, thin man spun around sharply, but in that same split second, sensing danger, he instantly raised his sleeve to conceal his face and transformed into a streak of azure light, hurtling directly toward Li Yundong.

Li Yundong bellowed, "A worthy opponent!" With that, his blood surged, true Zhenyuan roaring forth. He formed a hand seal and unleashed the Immovable Foundation Seal, striking out with the force of an avalanche.

Li Yundong's cultivation had reached the intermediate level of the Sixth Heaven's Nascent Infant Transformation stage. Once he cultivated the Ultimate Yin energy amidst his Yang energy, his Yin Spirit would transform into a Yang Spirit, reaching the peak of the Sixth Heaven: the Primordial Spirit stage.

The power emanating from this massive palm strike was even greater than when he fought against the combined forces of the Six Great Sects. Intense golden light permeated the palm, a clear sign that his Yang energy had reached an incredible intensity.

The man lunging at Li Yundong dared not meet the attack head-on. With a strange cry, he twisted his body with astonishing agility, evading the strike like a slippery loach, slipping right underneath Li Yundong's outstretched hand.

Seeing his attack bypassed, Li Yundong roared again and threw a punch.

This punch appeared deceptively simple, yet its power was comparable to a mountain-splitting great axe; even an Iron Arhat struck by it would be reduced to scrap metal.

Li Yundong’s punch was both fierce and fast—most cultivators wouldn't be able to dodge it. Yet, this man inexplicably shifted his footing again, his body moving as if boneless, sliding past Li Yundong’s hand to land right at his side.

This move put the enemy behind him, leaving Li Yundong's waist and abdomen wide open to attack. A shock ran through him; he thought: How bizarre is this man’s movement technique?

Though Li Yundong had missed twice in succession, his skill in adapting to combat was phenomenal. Without a moment's hesitation, he forcefully sank his inner aura downwards. The energy in his upper Dantian poured down like a waterfall. He brought his arms around in a protective embrace, pressed down, and shook his body violently, like a black bear shaking off fleas.

This move was the "Universe Embrace" technique, which Li Yundong had secretly learned from Zhang Tianhe. It was the equivalent of fully circulating his entire body's aura, densely saturating every inch of his flesh and bone, instantly granting him incredible defensive resilience.

With that downward press and violent shake, the ground beneath Li Yundong cracked under the sudden pressure. The surrounding air convulsed violently, much like massive tidal waves, instantly blasting the close-quarters attacker backward.

However, the assailant seemed to have no intention of engaging in a direct fight. He merely used the outward force from Li Yundong’s move to spring off the ground and darted into the long corridor.

Li Yundong cursed inwardly: Bad, he’s trying to flee!

He planted his feet and launched himself in immediate pursuit.

Though his speed was great, it could not match the man ahead. In the blink of an eye, they burst out of the corridor. As soon as he cleared the exit, the man transformed into a streak of blue light and vanished like lightning.

Su Chan, floating in mid-air with Zhou Qin, saw Li Yundong chase out and quickly flew to meet him.

Su Chan asked with concern, "Yundong, are you alright? Who was that?"

Li Yundong stared hatefully in the direction the man had fled, saying, "I’m fine. I don't know who he is, but judging by the exchange just now, his movement style is strange and cunning. I’ve only ever seen it used by one person."

Su Chan pressed urgently, "Who?"

Li Yundong said in a deep voice, "The former sect master of the Fox Zen Gate, Liu Ye!"

Su Chan gasped in shock, "Impossible! Wasn't he already dead?"

Li Yundong pondered for a moment, his expression unusually severe. "I cannot be certain. Perhaps there are many people in this world with such uncanny movements. However, the one thing I am sure of is that our Fox Zen Gate's secret chamber has been compromised. You two hurry inside and transcribe the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art. I must seal this chamber."

Su Chan nodded, turned, and exchanged a look with Zhou Qin. The two quickly flew into the stone cave. As they reached the entrance, Su Chan looked back at Li Yundong, who remained floating outside, not entering. "Aren't you coming in?"

Li Yundong shook his head. "The enemy situation is unclear. I’ll stand guard outside. You two be quick. Su Chan, if you sense anything amiss, alert me immediately."

Su Chan obediently nodded. The two turned and entered the cave. Neither of them was new to this stone chamber. Su Chan said to Zhou Qin, "Sister Zhou Qin, you copy the larger characters, and I'll take the smaller ones?"

Zhou Qin nodded. "That works. Dividing the labor will make it faster."

The two quickly divided the task, transcribing the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art, and then carefully cross-referenced every character to ensure accuracy. Only then did they emerge from the stone cave.

Seeing them exit, Li Yundong let out a silent breath of relief. He looked at them and asked, "Are you both alright?"

Su Chan, seeing how worried Li Yundong was, gave him a sweet smile. "How could anything happen to us?"

Zhou Qin also nodded firmly. "We’re fine. Everything has been copied, not a single character missed." Saying this, she moved to hand the manuscript to Li Yundong.

Li Yundong waved his hand. "You keep them for now."

Zhou Qin refused to retract her hand. She said, "As the saying goes, an innocent man is doomed by the treasure he possesses. I don't understand cultivation, but I can tell this is an extraordinary cultivation manual. If others know we have such a treasure, it will bring us great disaster."

Li Yundong felt a chill; he reached out and took the manuscript, tucking it into his robe. He nodded in praise of Zhou Qin’s prudence. "You have a much more meticulous mind. You’re absolutely right; if this information gets out, it will undoubtedly spark a bloody storm."

He then sighed softly. "However, perhaps the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art has already been leaked. I don't know how much that man in the stone chamber managed to memorize."

Su Chan’s face was full of worry. "Yundong, will many sects come looking for trouble then?"

Seeing the young girl so distressed, Li Yundong felt a rush of affection. He gently stroked her dark, smooth hair and laughed with great confidence. "Don't be afraid! I sent them away once; I can send them back twice. How can our Fox Zen Gate allow others to treat us like sitting ducks?"

Su Chan looked at Li Yundong, filled with adoration and reliance. She thought to herself: Just half a year ago, he needed me to protect him. Now, he is the one protecting me and my sect!

Li Yundong smiled and patted the young girl’s shoulder. "Take Zhou Qin and go wait outside, a safe distance away."

Su Chan was slightly confused but had always obeyed Li Yundong without question. She did as told, using her qi to carry Zhou Qin about ten meters away, her eyes fixed on Li Yundong.

She watched as Li Yundong also used his qi to fly out of the cave entrance and hover above the mountain tunnel. Then, he drew upon his inner energy intensely; his body began to crackle and pop, sounding like a string of firecrackers. His figure suddenly swelled, his arms thickening to the size of legs, his thighs ballooning to the width of his waist. His entire body became a mass of bulging, coiled muscle, like a mighty Vajra spirit descending to the mortal world.

Zhou Qin and Su Chan had never witnessed Li Yundong employ such a spell. Their eyes widened in sheer astonishment.

Li Yundong raised both arms mightily, then brought his fists down onto the mountainside like a pair of iron hammers.

With the impact of his strike, the mountains and earth shuddered violently!

With a resounding crash, countless massive stones began tumbling down, instantly sealing the corridor completely shut.

Su Chan and Zhou Qin saw a gigantic boulder rolling down the mountain, heading straight for Li Yundong’s head. They cried out in unison, "Be careful!"

This boulder was the size of four or five millstones, weighing several thousand jin. If it struck a person, they would instantly be turned into paste. Li Yundong heard their sharp cries, looked up, but showed no panic. He simply took a deep breath, swung his arm, and struck the rock with his flesh and blood alone. It was like a baseball player swinging a bat; he redirected the immense stone, sending it hurtling toward the now-sealed entrance of the stone chamber, smashing it into the rock face with a tremendous impact that created a deep indentation.

At this point, the tremors in Tianlong Mountain finally ceased, leaving only the sporadic sound of falling debris.

Su Chan and Zhou Qin were left utterly dumbfounded. Zhou Qin knew Li Yundong was a cultivator capable of all sorts of unbelievable magic, but she had never imagined he could be this terrifyingly powerful! That multi-thousand jin boulder, he had casually hurled it like a cannonball toward the cave entrance, acting as if the massive stone were nothing more than a tiny mud pellet!

Zhou Qin felt the hairs on her neck prickle with awe. She stammered, "Can a person become this strong? Is... is this still human?"

Su Chan gazed at Li Yundong with eyes full of worship. She said, "Li Yundong is now only two steps away from becoming a Great Cultivator. When he reaches the Indestructible Golden Body realm, he will be even more formidable. Then, every move he makes will possess earth-shattering power, indistinguishable from a true immortal or deity."

The more Zhou Qin witnessed, the more shaken she became. She thought to herself: I knew Li Yundong was strong, but I never imagined he was this overwhelmingly strong! I don't know how long it will take me to catch up to him!

Su Chan also thought to herself: Yundong’s progress in cultivation is too fast; he has far surpassed me. I need to work much harder, or I’ll just end up being a burden!

After sealing the entrance, Li Yundong flew towards Su Chan and Zhou Qin. As he approached, he saw Su Chan looking at him with a mixture of worship and curiosity. "Yundong, you are amazing! What spell did you use just now? It was so powerful! I really thought you were going to shake our entire Tianlong Mountain down!"

Li Yundong smiled faintly. He said, "That was the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art!"

Su Chan wondered aloud, "Is the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art that miraculous? It made you so huge, like a Heavenly Court strongman?"

Li Yundong explained, "When the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art is cultivated to the fifth, sixth, and seventh revolutions, one can remodel the body's bones, flesh, and internal organs—essentially recreating oneself. Reaching the seventh revolution grants a person a second life, allowing them to break human limitations and freely control the growth of their internal bones and flesh."

Su Chan exclaimed excitedly, "I heard my Master say that Great Cultivators can grow three heads and six arms. I always thought that was just a lie, but it turns out it’s real! Yundong, can you cultivate three heads and six arms?"

Li Yundong laughed, shaking his head. "Not yet. The cultivation method for the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art is quite different from standard Ninth Heaven methods. It primarily works by tempering the will, then stimulating the flesh and metabolism, ultimately achieving the transformation from mortal to saint. To grow three heads and six arms, one must reach the ninth revolution. I’m only at the seventh now, two levels away from the peak."

Su Chan giggled, "It’s only two more levels! That’ll be quick! When you master it, you have to teach me!"

Li Yundong chuckled, "In the path of cultivation, rapid progress in the beginning, even thousands of miles in a moment, is normal. But the further one goes, the slower the pace becomes. Zi Yuan herself is a heaven-blessed genius, known as the top young expert in the cultivation world, yet she made no further progress after reaching the Primordial Spirit realm. That shows how difficult later cultivation is!"

Su Chan playfully insisted, pouting, "I don't care; you must teach me!"

Li Yundong smiled indulgently. "Alright, alright. When we get back, I’ll teach you the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art." As he spoke, he turned to look at Zhou Qin and saw that she was also gazing at him fixedly, her eyes full of hope.

Li Yundong smiled gently at Zhou Qin. "Don't worry. I promise to teach you everything I know; I won't hold anything back!"

Hearing this, Zhou Qin’s heart soared, and a genuine smile bloomed on her lips.

Li Yundong waved his hands at Su Chan and Zhou Qin. "Let's go back. We shouldn't linger here."

The three flew down from the mountain to the Daoist temple. As soon as they landed in the back courtyard, Li Yundong heard a commotion coming from the front of the temple.

Li Yundong's focus sharpened, and he exchanged a look with Su Chan and Zhou Qin. "Let’s go see what’s happening."

He led the two quickly to the front courtyard. There, Cao Yi and others from the Fox Zen Gate were confronting a group of people. These people were all dressed as tourists, led by a young man in a brown casual jacket and a long-brimmed brown cap. This man was angrily shouting at Cao Yi, "We bought tickets at the base of Tianlong Mountain. Since this is a scenic spot, by what right do you prevent us from entering! Is this Daoist temple your private property?"

Li Yundong froze in realization; he had completely forgotten that the Fox Zen Gate's temple was also a tourist attraction!

(Note: Today I am visiting my family, so I am posting this update early.)