As Li Yundong was meticulously guiding Zhou Qin’s circulatory energy pathways, Su Chan, who had been waiting outside without seeing him emerge by dawn, paced the corridor in growing anxiety.

The other little vixens of the Fox Zen Sect had also risen early, each meditating and circulating qi within the living room.

Early that morning, Ziyuan arrived at Li Yundong’s quarters. Her eyes immediately caught sight of Su Chan circling restlessly, and she asked with curiosity mixed with confusion, "Su Chan, what is wrong with you? Are you practicing the Five Animal Frolics this early?"

Seeing Ziyuan, Su Chan hurried over, pulled her aside, and whispered, "Sister Ziyuan, Yundong went into Zhou Qin's room last night. He said he needed to administer the Human Yuan Golden Elixir to her, and he still hasn't come out."

Ziyuan, noticing Su Chan’s distress, mistakenly thought she was worried Li Yundong might lose control of himself. She smiled reassuringly, "After taking the Elixir, Li Yundong, as the master, must surely remain nearby to guard her cultivation. You don't need to overthink it; Li Yundong is a man of high moral character; he wouldn't do anything to betray you."

Su Chan stamped her foot, "Sister Ziyuan, where did your thoughts drift to! That's not what I mean. Of course, I trust Yundong, but I worry something might go wrong while he’s guarding her. The last time Li Yundong was cultivating and I guarded him, we nearly both suffered from zouxu ru mo (adverse deviation of energy). I dare not push the door open to check, fearing I might disturb or startle them. Sister Ziyuan, your cultivation is high; could you test the situation for me?"

Ziyuan gave a slight smile and comforted her, "Don't worry. Li Yundong’s primordial true essence (zhenyuan) is profound and condensed; there won't be any problems. As long as he doesn't encounter someone whose cultivation is higher than his, he can control the energy within the other person's body."

Su Chan said anxiously, "But, there is still a risk of one in ten thousand!"

Ziyuan pondered for a moment, then said, "Very well, I will go in and check for you."

Because pushing the door open would create noise, potentially startling Zhou Qin, who was meditating, and Li Yundong, who was guarding, Ziyuan chose to send her Yinshen (spiritual consciousness/soul form) to slip into the room.

As soon as she entered, Ziyuan found the entire room shrouded in a misty vapor. A faint layer of ethereal mist enveloped everything, carrying a subtle fragrance—part medicinal aroma, part the unique, pure scent of a young woman.

Ziyuan focused her sight and saw Zhou Qin seated cross-legged on the bed, her back to Li Yundong. White vapor billowed from the crown of her head, and her entire body was drenched in sweat, soaking her clothes. Li Yundong stood behind her, one palm pressed firmly onto her Baihui acupoint on the crown of her head, while his other hand moved with flying fingers, like a shuttle butterfly dancing through flowers, rapidly tapping, pressing, or massaging various acupoints along the Governing Vessel (Dū Mài) on Zhou Qin’s spine.

At this moment, a thin white thread of energy also rose from Li Yundong’s head. However, his thread was condensed to the thickness of a single finger, shooting straight up to the ceiling before dissipating. In contrast, the white energy from Zhou Qin’s head was a rising cloud, spreading out as soon as it cleared her crown by an inch.

Ziyuan knew that Li Yundong was using the opportunity of the Golden Elixir forcefully cleansing the body (jindan fatǐ) to help Zhou Qin complete the cultivation for the first stage—Forging the Fetus (sù tāi)—and the second stage—Cleansing the Meridians and Expanding the Passages (fá mài, kuò jīng). Once she passed this hurdle, Zhou Qin would essentially complete the initial stages of ordinary human cultivation, immediately entering the intermediate level of the second stage, where she could begin visualizing her own divine spirit and proceed to the advanced levels of the second stage.

Ziyuan’s Yinshen observed from behind Li Yundong for a while. Just as she was preparing to leave, she heard Li Yundong suddenly speak, "Ziyuan?"

Ziyuan was inwardly impressed that Li Yundong, while completely focused on cleansing Zhou Qin’s meridians, still had the surplus energy to address her. She responded, "It is I. Su Chan was worried because you didn't come out all night, fearing something might have happened while you were guarding Zhou Qin, so she sent me to check."

Li Yundong said in a deep voice, "I know. Did you see all the sweat on Zhou Qin?"

Ziyuan nodded, "I saw it. It’s normal to sweat this much during the jindan fatǐ process."

Li Yundong explained, "Yes, Zhou Qin has a peculiar constitution; her Kidney Fire is vigorous, yet her internal Yin energy is excessively heavy. The Yang energy from the Golden Elixir is attacking fiercely. The Yin and Yang energies are clashing back and forth inside her body, causing her internal energy to surge and her body to sweat profusely. This room is poorly ventilated, and the sweat on her body is not drying quickly. I fear dampness might invade, leaving her with a root ailment that will cause trouble for her future cultivation. Go out and find me a few towels."

As a cultivator herself, Ziyuan understood the severe impact that internal dampness could have on cultivation. She nodded in assent, and her Yinshen swiftly exited the room, returning to her body.

As soon as Ziyuan opened her eyes, she told Su Chan, "Don't worry. Li Yundong is expanding her meridians and cleansing her body. I’ll go get some towels; you wait here."

Su Chan, however, stopped her, saying, "I’ll go!"

The little maid soon returned with three dry towels, handing them to Ziyuan, and whispering softly, "Sister Ziyuan, you go ahead."

Ziyuan noticed that Su Chan’s voice was so quiet she seemed afraid of disturbing Li Yundong. Ziyuan couldn't help but smile and said, "You can push the door open and go in; it's fine. He detected me even when my Yinshen entered the room, and he even spoke to me. Just be gentle and don’t startle Zhou Qin."

Su Chan blinked, hesitated for a moment, and then bravely pushed the door open, sticking her head inside for a cautious peek.

The moment she opened the door, a surge of energy mist billowed out, and the figures of Li Yundong and Zhou Qin flickered indistinctly within the haze.

Li Yundong sensed someone tentatively peering in but not daring to enter. He immediately knew it must be Su Chan and said in a deep voice, "Chan'er? Did Ziyuan send you with towels?"

Su Chan saw that Li Yundong hadn't turned his head but knew everything happening outside the room as clearly as if he were looking right at it. She secretly stuck out her tongue, whispering in admiration, "You truly are amazing; you know what's happening without looking or listening."

She tiptoed into the room and asked softly, "Shall I give them to you?"

"Help me wipe the sweat off her body. Be gentle; do not disturb her." Li Yundong stared intently at the meridians on Zhou Qin’s neck, seemingly able to perceive the fluctuations of energy within her body through the pulsing veins beneath her skin.

Su Chan stuck out her tongue again and said, "How gentle is gentle enough? I can’t manage it. You should do it yourself."

Li Yundong hissed quietly, "Didn't you help me before?"

Su Chan whispered back, "You were a man then, and you were unconscious; the gentleness didn't matter. But now Zhou Qin is only in a meditative state; how can that be the same? Furthermore, you are holding her energy pathways; you know the precise pressure needed best, so it’s naturally better for you to do it. Besides, she is your disciple; of course, you should be the one to handle it."

Li Yundong frowned slightly, but he knew this was no time for hesitation or prudishness, so he decisively said, "Fine. Lift her clothing."

"Ah?" Su Chan blinked, glancing at Li Yundong with some surprise, but seeing his solemn expression, she immediately realized she had misconstrued his meaning.

The little maid stuck out her tongue, blaming herself: Su Chan, Su Chan, how could you doubt your own master? During cultivation, the instruction between master and disciple is an extremely private and intimate matter; you know this well enough.

Su Chan moved carefully, placing the towel where Li Yundong could reach it, and then gently helped lift the back of Zhou Qin’