The opening day of the Di San Xian teahouse was packed wall-to-wall with celebrities from every echelon of society. Among them were business beauties like Yin Mengfan and Cao Kifei, movie stars like Liu Feier, high-ranking political officials such as Li Yuanbo, and billionaires like Shen Wancai.

With so many influential figures gathered in one place, all eyes fixed on one spot, Li Yundong was about to engage in a public duel of mystical arts in front of all these dignitaries. To claim he wasn't nervous at all would be a lie.

Although Zhang Ling spoke politely and cleverly, framing the event as merely putting on a small show, her action was no different from challenging a established house. If she lost, the common people surrounding them might not notice the intricacies, but the cultivation world would instantly spread the news.

Failing his first public challenge on his grand opening day would be akin to being slapped publicly—a massive loss of face.

Li Yundong knew he absolutely could not afford to lose; he had no retreat. Yet, he had only been cultivating for a little over half a year. In private, one-on-one combat, his strength was unparalleled, and he had few rivals among the younger generation of cultivators. However, a public display of mystical arts was fundamentally different from a private spar. Li Yundong’s cultivation time was short; how could he possibly grasp the profound secrets of performing under public scrutiny?

Just as apprehension and awe tightened in his heart, he heard Zhang Ling announce in a clear voice, “Li Yundong and I will present a small demonstration for everyone’s viewing pleasure!”

Saying this, she pointed at the massive teapot and declared, “Everyone just saw the small teacup inside this large teapot. What I am about to do is this: without approaching the teapot, I will make this teacup vanish! And what Li Yundong must do is find a way to bring the teacup back! If he can restore it, I lose; if he cannot, I win!”

Her declaration instantly piqued the curiosity of everyone upstairs and down. Whispers erupted: “This trick is interesting!”

“How can she make it vanish without getting close?”

“Is it possible it was already gone?”

“Impossible; didn’t Shen Wancai just check? No one has approached it since!”

Liu Feier asked curiously, “Sister Cao, how do you think she can make the cup disappear without touching it?”

Cao Kifei frowned and shook her head. “I don’t know. If I knew, I’d be performing on the Spring Festival Gala.”

Yin Mengfan murmured softly, “Stop talking, just watch. Who knows if she can actually make it disappear.”

Li Yundong, hearing Zhang Ling’s words, was also bewildered. He thought to himself: What kind of mystical duel is this? Isn’t this just like stage magic? It truly is a conjuring trick?

While he was puzzled, he saw Zhang Ling flick her horsetail whisk, tossing out a talisman. This talisman bore strange markings and hung suspended in the air, motionless, not falling at all. Only after a moment did it slowly burn into ash.

The onlookers outside gasped in wonder, many murmuring in admiration.

Zhang Ling’s lips curled up slightly, revealing a trace of arrogance. She flicked her whisk once more, sweeping it over the top of the teapot, and immediately announced, “I have already taken the teacup from inside here!”

A collective cry of surprise went up. Many immediately pressed Shen Wancai: “President Shen, quickly check if the teacup is still there!”

Shen Wancai snapped back to reality, walked to the teapot, lifted the lid, and peered inside.

At this moment, Shen You, Shen Hui, and those sitting close to the table, like Liu Feier and Cao Kifei, instinctively stretched their necks to look into the pot.

What they saw froze them instantly. The teapot was utterly empty—not a teacup, not even a single strand of hair remained!

Their eyes glazed over, and they stammered, “It’s gone! The teacup is gone!”

The crowd immediately erupted into an uproar: “No way? Let me see!”

At this point, even many high-ranking officials and celebrities upstairs could no longer remain seated. They hurried down the stairs, crowding around the teapot to verify. Only then did they believe it.

Their eyes wide, they stared at Zhang Ling, shaking their heads secretly and marveling, “Incredible, truly magical! How did you do that?”

But Zhang Ling merely lowered her eyelids, as if she hadn’t seen them at all, remaining silent.

Those who had asked received no satisfaction and quietly returned to their seats, leaning in to whisper amongst themselves. A constant buzz filled the hall, mostly dissecting and speculating on how Zhang Ling had managed to vanish the teacup.

Li Yundong was utterly stunned. His short cultivation time meant he hadn't grasped what had happened at all. A cold dread washed over him: Damn it, I didn’t even see how she did it. How am I supposed to duel her? Where did she put the cup? How am I supposed to know?

It wasn't just him. Su Chan and the entire Fox Zen Sect were staring blankly, at a loss. Su Chan, who had cultivated since childhood, couldn't discern the trick. As for Zhou Qin, she was even more out of her depth; anxiety flared in her eyes as she kept glancing anxiously toward Li Yundong.

Even Ruan Hongling, who came from a prestigious orthodox sect, couldn't see the mystery. Her brow furrowed tightly as she transmitted telepathically to Ziyuan: “Sister Ziyuan, what is happening? I can’t make heads or tails of it.”

Ziyuan subtly frowned, replying via spirit link, “It’s normal. Anyone bold enough to engage in a public duel without fearing that common people might discover the method must be a top-tier Grand Cultivator. Their techniques and spells are incredibly profound. Forget you; even I haven't figured it out…”

As she spoke, her mind suddenly stirred. She focused her gaze sharply on the talisman still suspended in the air. Upon seeing it clearly, a knowing smile touched Ziyuan’s lips.

Ziyuan rapidly transmitted to Li Yundong: “Li Yundong, the talisman before you is the Yantian Nüyin, also known as the Invisibility Talisman. Zhang Ling must have released her Yang Spirit and used the Invisibility Talisman to shield it from mundane eyes. The instant her Yang Spirit reached into the teapot to retrieve the cup, it shifted to Yin Spirit, passing through the ceramic barrier to take the cup. You saw Zhang Ling flick her whisk—that was to divert everyone’s attention and cover the crucial flaw in the moment the cup was being extracted.”

Li Yundong suddenly understood. He started to turn toward Ziyuan, but she interrupted him telepathically: “Don’t turn your head; it will be seen as cheating. Release your Yang Spirit, and I will release that Yantian Nüyin. Then, use your Yang Spirit to fiercely strike that suspended spiritual talisman near Zhang Ling. Once the talisman is destroyed, her Yang Spirit will surely be exposed, forcing her to recall it. When the Yang Spirit is recalled, the teacup will automatically reappear!”

Li Yundong gave a subtle nod, signaling his comprehension. Ziyuan then instructed him telepathically: “I will count to three, and we’ll act simultaneously! I will affix the talisman to your sleeve. The instant you release your Yang Spirit, you must fling the talisman out and stick it onto your spirit body.”

Ziyuan, standing behind Li Yundong, swiftly manipulated her fingers, retrieving a talisman from her sleeve. Using Li Yundong’s body as cover, she rapidly sketched an identical Yantian Nüyin. Then she transmitted: “One, two, three!”

On the count of three, Li Yundong instantly released his Yang Spirit. Simultaneously, Ziyuan quickly affixed the talisman to Li Yundong’s sleeve. Li Yundong swung his arm out, and the talisman immediately hung suspended before him, perfectly adhering to his Yang Spirit.

The coordination between Li Yundong and Ziyuan was flawless, as if a single entity were casting the spell. None of the spectators noticed the flaw; they simply saw Li Yundong’s figure momentarily shimmer, followed by him tossing out a talisman, just as Zhang Ling had done—it hung in the air, refusing to fall, until it too turned to ash moments later.

Although they noted the similarity in technique, everyone’s spirits lifted, eager to see how Li Yundong would conjure the teacup back.

Only Zhang Ling subtly knitted her brows, casting a meaningful glance over Li Yundong’s shoulder toward Ziyuan.

Once his Yang Spirit left his body, Li Yundong could not see Zhang Ling’s spirit before him, but he knew she couldn't see his either. He secretly formed a hand seal, the Bùdòng Gēnběn Yin (Immovable Root Seal), and sharply brought his hand down toward Zhang Ling.

Li Yundong’s invisible Yang Spirit launched a massive palm strike. The observers felt a sudden, sharp movement in the air, followed by a loud CRACK echoing through the teahouse, like two colossal palms colliding, vibrating the very atmosphere.

Especially for those on the first floor, an unseen wave of energy washed over them, momentarily stealing their breath.

Li Yundong’s massive palm strike was blocked. His spirits immediately soared, knowing that Zhang Ling’s Yang Spirit was indeed positioned where Ziyuan had said. He immediately commanded his spirit to lunge forward, simultaneously forming the Dàrì Rúlái Hand Seal (Great Sun Tathagata Seal) and slamming it toward Zhang Ling’s position.

As Li Yundong’s blow landed, he simultaneously felt a fierce gust of wind rushing toward him. Where the two forces met, Li Yundong vaguely perceived a gorgeously robed woman standing before him, her silk garments fluttering. He could not make out her features, but he distinctly felt her sashes whipping toward his spirit form like tempered steel whips and iron chains.

Li Yundong retreated slightly, and after delivering the palm strike, he immediately brought both hands up to guard against the direction of the incoming wind.

With that block, the Yang Spirits made physical contact. Instantly, both cultivators saw the other’s spirit form.

Li Yundong’s shock was immense. He had assumed both spirits were exposed, causing a tremor in his heart and affecting his spirit’s focus. He hesitated.

That momentary hesitation allowed Zhang Ling’s Yang Spirit to act. Her robes and sashes, like countless binding immortal ropes, lashed out, wrapping around Li Yundong’s spirit in an instant, securing him tightly.

Li Yundong was terrified. Struggling risked making the commotion worse, but not struggling meant certain defeat. As he was caught in this bind, he heard Ziyuan’s urgent mental message: “Li Yundong, don’t panic! You haven’t been exposed! When two Yantian Nüyin talismans come into contact, they neutralize each other’s invisibility attribute. But this only applies to cultivators who both possess the talisman; bystanders cannot see it! Hurry and charge outward. This confined space is perfect for Zhang Ling’s style, but disadvantageous for you!”

Upon hearing this, Li Yundong instantly knew what to do. He poured vigor into his Yang Spirit, like a frenzied bull, and charged toward the entrance.

Zhang Ling’s Yang Spirit, tethered by the sashes binding Li Yundong, was yanked violently outward. The two spirits shot into the open air.

Once airborne, Li Yundong was like a dragon entering the sea or a tiger entering the deep mountains—all restraint vanished. With a great roar, his boundless True Essence erupted. His Yang Spirit body swelled rapidly and violently. In a short time, he transformed into an Arhat carved from iron, standing over three meters tall.