Zou Ping and the others immediately spotted Ziyuan, their hands instantly diving into their robes, grasping their Dharma treasures, their gazes fierce and their entire bodies shrouded in dense True Essence.

Wang Lingfei also looked at Ziyuan, his eyes flashing brilliantly. He spoke slowly, "Venerable Ziyuan indeed lives up to her reputation; truly possessing the grace of an immortal, inspiring deep admiration!"

Ziyuan spared him a faint glance, offered a slight smile, and said, "This Daoist friend must be Wang Lingfei, known as the Venerable Yuquan?"

Wang Lingfei smiled faintly, "I dare not claim such a title. I rarely leave the mountain. Has Venerable Ziyuan heard of me?"

Ziyuan smiled thinly and replied, "Within the Zhengyi Sect, it has always been rumored that among the younger generation of disciples, only two are considered true masters: Zhang Tianhe, and Wang Lingfei. How could I not know the far-reaching fame of Venerable Yuquan?"

Wang Lingfei, who held himself in high regard, felt a surge of vanity upon being praised by Ziyuan. He let out a slight scoff and said, "You flatter me too much. Venerable Ziyuan is certainly a pillar of the Spirit Palace Sect; why consort with the likes of the Fox Zen Gate?"

Zou Ping also sneered, "Ziyuan, think clearly. This is the last time I will warn you: do not associate yourselves with the people of the Fox Zen Gate, or the Zhengyi Sect will regard you as apostates and traitors!"

At this moment, Ruan Hongling walked over too, countering with a cold sneer, showing no weakness, "You pronounce us traitors the moment you open your mouth? What arrogance! Who do you think you are? The Heavenly Master of the Zhengyi Sect?"

The sight of Ruan Hongling ignited sparks in Zou Ping's eyes. She grit her teeth and said, "It's you again! Don't think you can gloat just because you're glib. I—"

Ruan Hongling cut her off, "You what, me? I, Ruan Hongling, rely not on glibness, but on reason and the human heart! Every time I leave you speechless, it's because you resort to nonsensical quibbling, having no basis in reason! If you had a point, could I possibly win against you even with a hundred mouths?"

Zou Ping was furious to the point of smoke issuing from her seven orifices. She roared, "How am I unreasonable? How are you reasonable? Are you saying that associating with these demonic and unorthodox path followers actually makes you right? Unbelievable!"

Ruan Hongling snorted, "Demonic and unorthodox path? I used to believe the Fox Zen Gate was exactly that, but after spending time with them these past days, I find them no different from ordinary people—even far more endearing than the vast majority of people in this world! Conversely, some of our so-called sect members are aggressively pushing the Spirit Palace Sect toward ruin! In my eyes, you are the true demonic path!"

These words struck like javelins and daggers, fiercely effective. Zou Ping’s face turned pale, her lips trembling violently. Wang Lingfei and the other Zhengyi Sect disciple also underwent drastic changes in expression.

Ziyuan was startled by this, and she sharply commanded, "Hongling, stop talking nonsense!"

Ruan Hongling had bottled up this resentment for a long time. She shouted loudly at Ziyuan, "Sister Ziyuan, why are you still being so polite to them? Wherever we retreat, they pursue us! Do you think they came here to invite us back? Can appeasement truly solve anything?"

Ruan Hongling’s willow-like brows shot up as she roared at Zou Ping and the others, "If you are so capable, then strike now if you dare! Then I will admit you are truly overbearing to the extreme! If you lack the ability, then scram quickly, this old lady cannot stand seeing scoundrels like you!"

Zou Ping was driven to madness. Her eyes widened, emitting a divine light like electricity: "You think I wouldn't dare?"

Wang Lingfei also reprimanded her with a sharp cry, "Who do you think you are, to speak with such disrespect!"

With that, he stepped forward and reached out to grab Ruan Hongling's shoulder, intending to teach her a lesson.

But the moment Wang Lingfei moved, Ziyuan shouted, "Stop!"

Ziyuan flipped her wrist, her five fingers also reaching toward Wang Lingfei's wrist. Zou Ping and the stout disciple beside her roared simultaneously, both attacking Ziyuan's vital points.

Zou Ping's fingers moved like hooks, subtly forming an Eagle Claw shape; if she managed to grip someone with those fingers, not only would their meridians be restricted, but their wrist could also be snapped.

The other stout Zhengyi Sect disciple stepped forward, one hand drawn back to his chest, palm facing upward, as if supporting an invisible iron tower, poised and ready. His other hand was loosely clenched, somewhat resembling a Tiger Claw—able to rip away a large patch of flesh upon contact—yet it also looked like a Crane's beak; with a slight gathering of his five fingers, a gentle peck could strike a vital point, injuring the enemy imperceptibly.

Ziyuan frowned. She knew that if she saved Ruan Hongling, she couldn't save herself; if she saved herself, she couldn't save Ruan Hongling.

As she found herself in this agonizing dilemma, she suddenly heard a familiar voice from the side: "Ganging up on the few?"

Saying this, a left hand forcefully intervened, wriggling in. This arm was like a fierce dragon crossing a river, stirring up tidal waves. The upper arm bumped against Zou Ping's fingers, and Zou Ping immediately felt a vast, majestic True Essence surge toward her like a tsunami, terrifying her into instantly pulling back.

The stout Zhengyi Sect disciple took a deep breath, his entire body swelling like a balloon. Instead of retreating, both his hands moved to meet the incoming force.

On the other side, Wang Lingfei saw a figure suddenly materialize between them. This person’s right hand formed a Lotus Fist, the index finger extended, the upper segment slightly bent into a hook shape. Simultaneously, this person roared, "Hūṃ!"

It was the Vajra-Garba Obstruction-Dispelling Buddha Crown Great Hand Seal!

Wang Lingfei saw the newcomer arriving before him; if he retreated now, he would not only lose face but might also be struck and injured. He decided to meet the attack head-on.

The exchange of blows was so fast that Ziyuan only saw a blur of afterimages flash past, followed by a series of muffled 'pū-pū' sounds. Zou Ping was sent flying back, while Wang Lingfei, after meeting the Great Hand Seal head-on, immediately turned crimson, as if his face might bleed, yet he stood rooted to the spot, uttering not a word. The stout Zhengyi Sect disciple, without a sound, was sent hurtling backward, crashing into the street-side wall, startling the passersby into gasps, all eyes turning toward them.

Only then did Ziyuan realize the person standing before her was Li Yundong. This young man’s stance was like an iron tower, unmoving and standing proudly, as if no amount of raging waves could topple him.

Li Yundong stood tall and slender among them, a faint wisp of white energy visibly steaming upward from the top of his head. One hand maintained the posture of the Vajra-Garba Obstruction-Dispelling Buddha Crown Great Hand Seal, while the sleeve of his other arm was shredded with several holes, clearly indicating that the stout disciple's attack had only managed to tear Li Yundong’s clothes before he was thrown away by a shockwave.

Ziyuan knew that Li Yundong’s True Essence was profoundly condensed and astonishingly potent, and his sudden intervention had dealt a heavy blow to the three from the Zhengyi Sect.

Wang Lingfei's face cycled from red to white, then back to red several times before he finally let out a long breath. He scrutinized Li Yundong with uncertain, questioning eyes and said, "Who are you? Who is your master?"

Li Yundong snorted coldly, "None of your business!"

Wang Lingfei exclaimed, "I see you possess the True Essence martial arts of a genuine Xuanmen lineage; why oppose our Zhengyi Sect?"

After helping up his junior brother who had been knocked away by Li Yundong, Zou Ping, before Li Yundong could speak, shouted, "This is Li Yundong, who has willingly degenerated to consort with the Fox Zen Gate and brazenly stuck his neck out!"

Wang Lingfei was startled again. He took a step back, assessing Li Yundong from head to toe with grave seriousness, and stated, "You are Li Yundong?"

Li Yundong cupped his fists and replied, "Indeed. Any guidance you require?"

Wang Lingfei took a deep breath, narrowed his eyes, and said, "It is no injustice that my junior brother Zhang Tianhe was defeated by you. I heard you cultivated the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art; is that true?"

Li Yundong hadn't expected to encounter such a situation upon his return. Hearing them question the whereabouts of the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art made him inwardly alarmed and displeased. He snorted, opting not to answer, and retorted, "What, have you come to seek justice for him? Fine, are you coming one by one, or all at once?"

Wang Lingfei hadn't considered himself arrogant, yet Li Yundong proved even more presumptuous. Stirred by this, Wang Lingfei forgot his inquiry about the Golden Elixir Art for a moment and scoffed, "They say the True Person Li is perverse and unrestrained, living a dissolute life. Seeing you today confirms the rumors."

Li Yundong's lips curled into a cold smile, "I have also heard that the Zhengyi Sect is tyrannical and overbearing. Seeing you today confirms that hearing about it is far inferior to meeting you in person!"

Wang Lingfei saw that Li Yundong was also sharp-tongued. His expression changed, and he roared, "Li Yundong, don't get cocky. The Zhengyi Sect can crush a mere Fox Zen Gate underfoot whenever we please!"

Li Yundong laughed heartily, "I fear many things: I fear Heaven, I fear Earth, and I fear my wife—but I do not fear threats! Are you threatening me?"

By this time, the disciples of the Fox Zen Gate had also gathered around. Although not numerous, they outnumbered Zou Ping's group of three. Furthermore, their beauty drew countless gazes from the street, quickly surrounding the area until it was tightly packed.

Zou Ping glanced at the surroundings and quietly said to Wang Lingfei, "Senior Brother, a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. Let's leave for now. We will settle this score sooner or later."

Wang Lingfei recalled how Li Yundong had ground blue bricks into powder with his palms earlier. In their brief clash, Li Yundong’s profound True Essence had nearly choked him into silence, yet Li Yundong spoke fluently, without impediment.

If nothing else, the disparity in True Essence cultivation was starkly evident!

Wang Lingfei understood this point clearly. He knew that engaging this man in a contest of magic, without powerful artifacts, would likely end in defeat. He thought: My two artifacts won't be fully refined for another month. Why provoke a fight over momentary pride?

Wang Lingfei also felt the urge to retreat and nodded. Zou Ping cast a cold sneer at Li Yundong and said, "Li Yundong, I know your cultivation is profound, but no matter how powerful you are, you cannot be invincible against the world. Can you single-handedly withstand a siege from all the cultivation sects combined?"

Li Yundong stood proudly, "In my conduct, I rely not on a pair of fists, but on the uprightness of my own actions and the stability of my foundation. As the saying goes, a righteous person fears no shadow falling askew. I refuse to believe that all the cultivation sects in this world are as bent on personal vendetta and aggression as you are!"

Zou Ping grit her teeth, "Good! Very good!" She then turned to Ziyuan, "Ziyuan, you are absolutely determined to stand against our Zhengyi Sect and become a great traitor in the thousand-year history of our sect, is that it?"

This label was terrifyingly heavy, causing Ziyuan’s body to tremble slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and said calmly, "I repeat my stance: My life exists solely for the pursuit of cultivation and immortality. What I do and what I say requires no external direction. Whether I am a traitor or not, the cultivation world will judge justly; it cannot be conclusively settled by the empty words of one or two people. Even if the current cultivation world considers me a traitor, I believe that a thousand years hence, the cultivation world will deliver justice for me."

Ruan Hongling also angrily chimed in, "Sister Ziyuan, why waste words on her!"

Zou Ping burst into harsh laughter, "The Celestial Mystery Mystic Fox said the same words back then, but look now! Over a thousand years have passed, and is she not still infamous? Ziyuan, let me tell you: what stinks remains stinky; it will never turn fragrant!"

As she spoke, she glared fiercely at Li Yundong: "Just like the Fox Zen Gate—demonic entities will always be demonic entities; they haven't changed in a thousand years, and they won't change in the future!"

Li Yundong became furious, stepped forward one pace, and roared, "Are you looking to die?"