It was on the very afternoon that Li Yundong, along with Su Chan, Ziyuan, Ruan Hongling, and the disciples of the Fox Zen Sect, were busily engaged in renovating the shop, that Zhou Qin finally opened her eyes from an extremely deep slumber.
Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly; she lay perfectly still upon the **, her beautiful eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, as if trying hard to recall the events that transpired during her meditation over the past few days.
Yet, what occupied her mind the most was not the transformation brought about by consuming the Human Essence Golden Elixir, but rather how Li Yundong had stayed by her side without leaving her side after she took it, even gently wiping the sweat from her brow.
Thinking of this, Zhou Qin couldn't help but feel a flush of heat spread through her body. Her fingers lightly grazed her own satin-like skin; the places her fingertips touched burned as if scorched by fire.
“Troublemaker…” Zhou Qin bit her lip and sighed softly.
After an unknown amount of time, she slowly sat up, bracing a hand against the corner of the bedside table, intending to stand. But with that one push, there was a sudden crack, and the leg of the bedside table snapped under the pressure of her fingers.
Zhou Qin gasped, staring in astonishment at the broken piece of wood clutched in her palm, seemingly unable to comprehend it. But then, a moment of clarity washed over her.
She abruptly recalled the series of unbelievable things she had witnessed Li Yundong perform: Li Yundong bleeding from all seven apertures and smashing a marble countertop with his fist; evading Zhao Yujian’s gunshot in the classroom; catching her as she fell from a great height; blasting an extended Lincoln car across the distance with a mere gesture…
In that instant, Zhou Qin intensely felt the sensation of superhuman strength flowing within her. She was momentarily dazed, bewildered, and utterly unsure of what to do next.
Suddenly, voices and footsteps sounded outside the door. Zhou Qin snapped back to attention. She quickly dressed and walked to the door, only to see Su Chan and Ziyuan entering the house, mid-conversation.
Su Chan spotted Zhou Qin at once and cried out in surprise and delight, “Sister Zhou Qin, you’re awake?” The young girl had been working hard these past few days, leaving her looking somewhat grimy. Her delicate, pretty face was streaked with dust and dirt, making her resemble a little calico cat, yet her frank and innocent smile did nothing to diminish her beauty—in fact, it made her even more endearing.
Ziyuan, however, retained an otherworldly elegance and pristine quality, as if she were an immortal fairy. She observed Zhou Qin carefully from head to toe, nodded slightly, and smiled: “Good, the radiance is externalized, your gaze is sharp and clear. Excellent, truly excellent!”
Zhou Qin wasn't sure if Ziyuan was commenting on her current condition or the quality of the Human Essence Golden Elixir she had taken. She returned a polite smile and asked, “Where is everyone? Why aren't they here?”
Su Chan chirped happily, “We’re busy with the shop renovation!”
Zhou Qin blinked in surprise: “The shop? Ah, Di San Xian? You’ve started renovating now? But, renovating, you, how could you…”
Su Chan glanced at herself, realizing she looked like a little mud doll. The young girl stuck out her tongue and giggled, “We’re doing the renovation ourselves! We just finished moving the cement and gravel, so we’re a bit dirty. Yundong sent me back first to wash up.”
Zhou Qin turned her perplexed gaze to the immaculate Ziyuan: “Then you…”
Ziyuan smiled faintly and explained, “Yundong wasn't comfortable with Su Chan returning alone, so he asked me to accompany her back.”
Zhou Qin glanced at Su Chan, but before she could show any expression of awe or envy, Su Chan was already pulling her hand with a cheerful grin: “Sister Zhou Qin, your change is so obvious! You look like a completely different person from before.”
Zhou Qin chuckled softly, “Is it really that noticeable?”
Su Chan nodded vigorously, then turned to Ziyuan: “Sister Ziyuan, what do you think?”
Ziyuan smiled gently: “Of course. Zhou Qin’s aura is currently full and expansive; her presence is astonishingly strong. After just a few more days of cultivation, she should be ready to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.”
Su Chan looked at Zhou Qin with admiration: “Sister Zhou Qin, your cultivation speed is so fast! Even faster than Yundong’s!”
Zhou Qin offered a rather unnatural smile and changed the subject, asking, “Is Master here too? Is he at the shop?”
Su Chan said cheerfully, “Yes, Sister Zhou Qin! Do you want to go take a look at the shop?”
Zhou Qin smiled: “That sounds good. Let me change clothes first.”
Su Chan stuck her tongue out again: “I’m going to take a shower!” With that, she darted into the bathroom.
Zhou Qin smiled at Ziyuan and turned to enter her own room to change, but Ziyuan called out to her: “Zhou Qin.”
Zhou Qin stopped in her tracks, turned, and looked at Ziyuan with a complex expression. She didn't converse much with this transcendentally beautiful woman usually. In fact, deep down, Zhou Qin could accept the innocent Su Chan, but she felt an aversion to getting close to Ziyuan. This wasn't just because both of them possessed beauty that rivaled that of celestial beings; it was because Zhou Qin subconsciously harbored a desire to compete with Ziyuan in every aspect.
She considered herself an exceptionally outstanding woman in every way, and Ziyuan was clearly the same. Furthermore, Ziyuan was effectively Li Yundong's co-mentor in cultivation, which made Zhou Qin feel instinctively shorter by half a head whenever she stood before her. She deeply disliked this sensation.
Ziyuan keenly perceived a surge of competitive spirit in Zhou Qin’s gaze. She quickly chose to yield. This normally benevolent, poised, and gentle woman smiled faintly and said, “It’s nothing. Go attend to your business; I won’t trouble you further.”
Zhou Qin gave Ziyuan a meaningful look, returned a smile, and then entered her room.
Watching Zhou Qin’s retreating figure, Ziyuan secretly shook her head. She had intended to ask Zhou Qin about the visions she experienced during her deep meditation, but Zhou Qin's current air of distance convinced Ziyuan to reserve the question for Li Yundong.
Ziyuan stood still for a moment before turning to leave. However, as she stepped out into the corridor, she saw Li Yundong returning with the Fox Zen disciples.
Ziyuan asked with a smile, “Why are you back already?”
Li Yundong walked in the front and chuckled, “We finished what we needed to do. Shouldn't we come back?”
Ziyuan asked in confusion, “Weren’t you supposed to be laying tiles today?”
Li Yundong spread his hands: “The tiles need to soak for a while before we can use them. We might as well do it tomorrow.”
Ziyuan’s eyes swept over the group, noting the absence of Ruan Hongling. She asked curiously, “Where is Hongling?”
Li Yundong gave a soft chuckle: “Hongling said when she saw Zhao Yougen leave this morning, she noticed resentment and dissatisfaction in his eyes. She suspects he might try to cause trouble tonight, so she decided to stay and keep watch there.”
Ziyuan chuckled knowingly: “That’s not right. Hongling has always been somewhat scatterbrained; how would she notice something like that? You must have fed her some sweet talk to make her willingly stay behind.”
Li Yundong tapped Ziyuan’s forehead and laughed: “My parents gave me life, but Ziyuan understands me best!”
Just then, the little foxes streamed into the house, immediately erupting in clamor: “So tired! Exhausted!”
“Sect Leader, do you have water to drink?”
“Sect Leader, when will dinner be ready?”
“Who is in the bathroom? I want to bathe!”
“Idiot, don’t you have a bathroom in your own room?”
“But the one outside has a bathtub!”
As they crowded inside, Li Yundong felt instantly swamped by the chattering noise of a flock of ducks. Holding both hands high above his head in a gesture to quiet them, he roared, “Quiet down, silence!”
Upon Li Yundong’s command, the little foxes immediately hushed, watching him expectantly.
At that moment, the bathroom door suddenly swung open, and Su Chan rushed out wrapped in a towel, her head full of suds, exclaiming happily, “Yundong! You’re back?”
But as she moved, the shampoo on her head dripped into her eyes. The little girl instantly jumped up and scurried back into the bathroom, crying, “Ouch, that stings so much!”
The little foxes burst into loud laughter. Li Yundong shook his head, looking utterly defeated. He cleared his throat and announced, “You all worked hard today! Tonight, Ziyuan Zhenren and I will cook a feast to reward everyone!”
“Hooray!” the little foxes cheered in unison.
Li Yundong smiled at Ziyuan: “Ziyuan Zhenren, you don’t mind, do you?”
Ziyuan sighed helplessly: “You’ve already acted first and are asking for permission now. What good will my opinion do?” With that, she started walking toward the door.
Li Yundong quickly called out, “Hey, there’s no need to leave just because you’re annoyed!”
Ziyuan turned back with a smile: “I’m going grocery shopping.”
Li Yundong immediately felt relieved. He watched Ziyuan’s graceful, moving silhouette and suddenly felt that Ziyuan was the perfect wife every man in the world yearned for—she seemed incapable of ever complaining, offering only silent support.
But if she is the wife, then what is Su Chan? This question popped into Li Yundong's mind unbidden. Startled by his own thought, he quickly shook his head, as if trying to forcibly banish the idea.
As Li Yundong was shaking his head, a familiar figure caught his peripheral vision, leaning against the doorframe, silently watching him. He turned his head and saw Zhou Qin standing by the entrance. Her graceful figure leaned against the door, delicate as a willow swaying in the wind, evoking a sense of pity and affection.
Li Yundong froze for a second, then exclaimed in pleasant surprise, “Zhou Qin! You’re awake?”
As soon as he spoke, the entire living room fell silent. All eyes from the Fox Zen Sect turned in unison toward Zhou Qin, the lucky recipient of the Human Essence Golden Elixir.
Zhou Qin stared fixedly at Li Yundong, her hands unconsciously clutched tightly over her chest, curled into a ball.
Li Yundong didn't notice Zhou Qin’s rapt gaze. He waved his hand at the little foxes, signaling them to go about their business, then strode upstairs two steps at a time, beckoning Zhou Qin to enter his room.
Li Yundong ushered Zhou Qin in, then shut the door behind him. He proceeded to examine her closely from head to toe, his eyes filled with admiration. He nodded repeatedly: “Good, very good! Your innate heroism is showing. The energy within you is even more vigorous than mine used to be! Excellent, excellent! By the way, during your meditation, I prompted you to perform visualization exercises. Did you do them?”
Ever since entering Li Yundong’s room, Zhou Qin’s heart had been pounding like a drum. She had been terrified that Li Yundong would immediately bring up the awkward scene where he had her undress. But when she heard him start by inquiring about her cultivation progress, the relief was immediately followed by a wave of deep disappointment.
Zhou Qin sighed inwardly. She gathered her composure and said, “Master, I did visualize.”
Li Yundong asked solicitously, “What self-deity did you visualize?”
Zhou Qin’s eyelids drooped slightly, as if recalling the moment. After a pause, she confessed with some embarrassment, “I visualized myself becoming a celestial maiden…”
Li Yundong let out a laugh: “Then why did you need visualization? You already are one!”
Zhou Qin’s cheeks flushed. She stole a glance at Li Yundong, secretly delighted, and whispered, “I don’t know exactly what deity I visualized, but it was very beautiful and ethereal. It carried a sword on its back, a red whip coiled at its waist, and a silver, dark moon hung behind its head. It looked a bit like the Cold Serene Serrated Vajra Wheel you gave me, Master.”
Li Yundong laughed: “That’s right. That will be your future Dharma artifact. But after that, I asked you to try visualizing the Lotus Throne. Did you visualize it?”
Zhou Qin nodded: “Yes!”
Li Yundong pressed further: “How many tiers of the Lotus Throne did you visualize?”
Zhou Qin stated casually, “Nine tiers.”
Li Yundong was stunned; his eyes widened, and he exclaimed involuntarily, “Nine tiers?”
Zhou Qin looked at Li Yundong with a trace of confusion: “Yes, what’s wrong?”
Li Yundong clapped his hands and burst into joyous laughter, unable to contain his delight: “Good, good, good! I also visualized the Nine-Tiered Lotus Throne back then. Su Chan praised me as a rare genius of the century. Moreover, Master Fakong once said that the hardest part of cultivation is finding a good disciple. Who knew that the first disciple I, Li Yundong, accepted would be a peerless genius just like me? Haha, this is truly remarkable!”
Zhou Qin looked at Li Yundong with amusement and asked, “Master, are you praising yourself, or are you praising me?”
Li Yundong chuckled: “Both, I’m praising both!”
As he was speaking, the door was suddenly pushed open, and the little girl poked her head in. Her bright eyes quickly scanned Li Yundong and Zhou Qin before she asked softly, “Yundong, may I come in?”
Seeing that she hadn't knocked, Li Yundong put on a stern face and feigned anger: “No! I am currently instructing my disciple!”
Su Chan immediately puffed out her cheeks. Li Yundong wrinkled his nose, made a funny face, and retreated with a sulky look.
After Su Chan withdrew, Li Yundong didn't close the door completely; it was left slightly ajar. He chuckled and said loudly, “You naughty girl, why are you eavesdropping at the door? If you don’t trust me, just come in and listen openly!”
Su Chan immediately retorted loudly in mock anger: “Who doesn’t trust you! Hmph, I’m ignoring you! I’m going to find Sister Ziyuan and ask her to teach me how to cook!”
With that, a rapid series of footsteps sounded as the young girl scurried away.
Li Yundong shook his head with a smile and said to Zhou Qin, “You are now just one step away from Foundation Establishment. Spend the next couple of days solidifying your foundation, and then you can prepare for the breakthrough.”
Zhou Qin had also read a fair number of cultivation manuals during these past few days. She had a general understanding of Foundation Establishment and knew that Li Yundong had once trekked to the Himalayas to achieve his own breakthrough, forging his internal elixir essence until it was robust, condensed, and hard as iron—which led to the invincible might he possessed after his Foundation Establishment.
Zhou Qin asked tentatively, with a mixture of nervousness and longing, “Do I have to go to Tibet too?”
Li Yundong nodded: “Of course. I will prepare everything you need; don’t worry about it.”
Zhou Qin probed carefully: “When do I leave?”
Li Yundong thought for a moment and said, “In the next couple of days!”
Zhou Qin hesitated and then said, “Could I wait until the shop opens before I go? I’m a little worried about leaving things unattended.”
Li Yundong laughed: “With us here, what is there to worry about?”
Zhou Qin simply shook her head, looking at Li Yundong with pleading eyes, saying nothing more.
Li Yundong’s heart stirred. He thought: Perhaps Zhou Qin doesn't want to miss out on such an important event?
With that thought, he nodded and said, “Alright then. Over the next few days, I will first teach you some fundamental cultivation techniques and some divine abilities. Once you achieve Foundation Establishment, you can begin your independent training.”
Zhou Qin was overjoyed, and a brilliant, dazzling smile bloomed on her face: “That’s wonderful! When do we start teaching?”
Li Yundong pondered: “We’ll start tonight. Be at my room tonight at twelve o’clock.”
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