Li Yundong returned home late at night, yet the house was still brightly lit; everyone was waiting for his return.

Ziyuan sat cross-legged in a corner, eyes closed in meditation. The three senior martial uncles from the Fox Zen Sect were cross-legged on the carpet near the sofa, seemingly practicing their Qi circulation.

Zhou Qin paced back and forth by the balcony door, deep in thought.

Ruan Hongling sat with the young foxes from the Fox Zen Sect on the rug in the center of the living room, watching the evening news on television. Su Chan sat closest to the balcony, hugging her knees, chin resting on them. Though her face was turned toward the TV, her eyes darted frequently toward the balcony outside.

Having spent some time living among ordinary mortals, the young foxes were gradually growing accustomed to television and had a general grasp of its content. As they watched the news, they whispered to each other, "Hey, do you think we're in this news segment?"

"I don't know. Maybe. I think I saw a guy taking pictures non-stop for a while."

"Didn't Fourth Junior Sister say she saw us when we watched the Tiannan City news tonight? Can we see it in the rerun?"

"Idiot, the evening news doesn't have reruns! You don't even know that!"

"Yes, you're so smart, treating the main broadcast like a soap opera!"

As they were quietly bickering, a young fox suddenly pointed excitedly at the screen and exclaimed loudly, "Look, look! It's our Earthly Three Immortals!"

At her exclamation, the young foxes instantly rushed together in a flurry toward the television. Zhou Qin stopped pacing, her gaze drawn to the screen. Even the three senior martial uncles of the Fox Zen Sect opened their eyes and leaned closer, watching with curiosity.

Only Ziyuan opened her eyes just a sliver, smiled faintly, and then closed them again.

Su Chan pointed at the television and shouted with delight, "I'm in it too! Look, I'm in it!"

The young foxes excitedly pointed at their images on the screen: "I'm in it too!"

Those who hadn't spotted themselves wailed, "Ugh, I didn't even see myself, and the shot was gone!"

Ruan Hongling watched the young foxes practically press their faces against the screen, their heads bobbing wildly, making it impossible for her to find herself after searching for so long. She couldn't help but say with a sour tone, "So uncultured. What's so amazing about being on TV!"

As soon as she spoke, Su Chan turned back with a mischievous grin and laughed, "Hongling, I saw you!"

Hearing this, Ruan Hongling immediately scurried over, eyes wide, "Where? Where?"

Su Chan wore a look of playful mischief, stuck out her tongue, and giggled, "The shot already passed!"

Ruan Hongling immediately became annoyed, "You tricked me?"

Su Chan shook her head playfully and said, "Ah well, it’s really not a big deal. You were right, Hongling. What's so special about being on TV? It doesn't matter if we missed it, right?"

Ruan Hongling was infuriated. She stared at Su Chan, thinking: Fine, she wants a battle of wits! This little fox spirit, always picking fights with me, now dares to challenge this lady at a time like this?

The two stood glaring at each other like fighting roosters when Zhou Qin suddenly pushed open the balcony door and smiled, "Master, you're back?"

Su Chan instantly whipped her head around, joyfully exclaiming, "Yundong is back?"

At that moment, everyone in the living room stood up, turning in unison toward the balcony. They saw Li Yundong walking in from outside, his face stern.

Seeing Li Yundong's serious demeanor, the atmosphere in the room seemed to drop several degrees the moment he entered. They exchanged glances, unsure what had happened, feeling uneasy.

Su Chan, seeing Li Yundong like this, though slightly apprehensive herself, dared to ask, leveraging her close relationship with him, "Yundong, what happened?"

Li Yundong glanced at her, patted the young girl's head, and then smiled faintly, "Nothing much. Manager Cao was ambushed."

"Ah?" A wave of gasps rippled through the group.

Su Chan couldn't help but tightly grip Li Yundong's hand, asking with concern, "What happened, Yundong? Is Manager Cao alright?"

Li Yundong’s eyes swept quickly over everyone. He shook his head and said, "She's fine now. I already sent Manager Cao to the hospital."

Zhou Qin asked, "Manager Cao wasn't chased by loan sharks again, was she?"

Li Yundong shook his head, "No, someone deliberately tried to kill her!"

Zhou Qin frowned involuntarily, "Who wanted to kill her? Does she have any enemies?"

Li Yundong said gravely, "I don't know, but I think once Manager Cao wakes up, she'll tell us."

Cao Yi, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but exclaim in shock, "Manager Cao is fine?"

Li Yundong looked at her and smiled faintly, "She should be. She's still under observation at the hospital."

Cao Yi couldn't help but pat her chest and sigh happily, "Amitabha, that's wonderful!"

Li Yundong smiled noncommittally. He said, "Mmm, the immediate danger has passed. The police have arranged protection for her. She will be safe now."

Saying this, he nodded to Ziyuan and gave Zhou Qin a look: "Ziyuan, Zhou Qin, come to my room for a moment. Everyone else, it's late, please go to bed."

The crowd immediately dispersed like startled birds, heading back to their rooms.

Su Chan noticed that Li Yundong called Ziyuan and Zhou Qin to talk but didn't include her, clearly thinking she was unreliable and not someone to discuss serious matters with. She pouted, feeling a little unhappy, but soon her eyes darted around, and a cunning smile played on her lips.

After Li Yundong entered the room, he watched Zhou Qin close the door before speaking in a low voice, "Zhou Qin, the opening ceremony is over today. Shouldn't you be considering preparing for Foundation Establishment now?"

Zhou Qin hadn't expected Li Yundong to call her in only to immediately bring this up. She gave him a slightly resentful look, sighed inwardly, and murmured, "Are you in such a hurry to send me away?"

Li Yundong paused, then let out an amused laugh. He beckoned her over and whispered a few words in her ear. Zhou Qin listened, startled, "Will that work?"

Li Yundong smiled confidently, "Don't worry. Whether it works or not is secondary. If it doesn't, you continue forward to Foundation Establishment. If it does, we might just extract that poison thorn from your heart!"

Zhou Qin thought it over, then nodded decisively, "Good! I'll go prepare then!"

Ziyuan watched as Zhou Qin's attitude took a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn after hearing Li Yundong's few words. After Zhou Qin left, she couldn't help but laugh, "What did you say to her to make her change so drastically? You were being so secretive."

Li Yundong chuckled, "A secret! But you'll find out soon enough."

Ziyuan playfully chided him, "Then why did you call me in? Just to watch you play games?"

Li Yundong smiled, "Don't get angry yet. I did call you in because there is something I need to discuss with you."

Ziyuan shot him a look of mock annoyance, "What is it? Say it quickly!"

Li Yundong saw that the usually elegant and ethereal Ziyuan was displaying rare feminine charm. Her beautiful eyes sparkled, her fairy-like features showing a mix of annoyance and joy, like a young girl teasing her beloved.

Li Yundong stared, momentarily transfixed, until Ziyuan snapped out of it, turning her head slightly in embarrassment, her ears burning, her gaze flickering.

For a moment, an awkward silence settled between them, the air thick with a subtle ambiguity.

After a while, Li Yundong cleared his throat and gave Ziyuan a general summary of the events that evening. He then said, "When we focused our targets on Zhuang Yating and Cao Yi, Zhuang Yating was the first to strike, exposing Cao Yi. Don't you think that's too coincidental?"

Ziyuan gradually calmed down. She smoothed a strand of silk-like hair from her temple, her gaze sharpening. After a moment of thought, she said, "Based on what you just told me, there are several coincidences tonight. First, why was Cao Kefei attacked? And the method used—attempting to kill her by scattering her soul—indicates the attacker must be a cultivator! But why would a cultivator risk attracting heavenly lightning to attempt to kill a mortal like Cao Kefei?"

Li Yundong nodded, "Exactly. And the second coincidence is, how did this person know where Cao Kefei and the others were staying?"

Ziyuan naturally chimed in, "Unless this person was watching Cao Kefei from the beginning, tracking her until she reached her temporary lodging."

Li Yundong continued, "There's another possibility: this person overheard Cao Kefei revealing her location when the Earthly Three Immortals were leaving!"

A sharp glint appeared in Ziyuan's eyes, and she gave a cold, sharp laugh, "Heh, did you notice who among the Fox Zen Sect showed the most unusual reaction when Cao Kefei first arrived?"

Li Yundong smiled faintly, "You mentioned that to me already! Cao Yi and Zhuang Yating displayed the most abnormal emotions; their expressions were as if they had seen a visitor from beyond the heavens, filled with shock and disbelief."

Ziyuan nodded slightly, "Unfortunately, their expressions vanished quickly. I didn't pay close enough attention to their other emotions. However, based on their reactions and our previous deductions, the identity of the attacker who struck Cao Kefei is almost certain! The one who ambushed Cao Kefei is very likely Second Senior Martial Uncle Yan Fang!"

Li Yundong nodded slowly, letting out a light sigh. "That's what puzzles me the most. If it truly was Yan Fang, why would she attack Cao Kefei? Moreover, she had a thousand ways to kill Cao Kefei; why choose the method of scattering her soul?"

Ziyuan pondered for a moment, then spoke, "If an ordinary person is killed, their three souls and seven spirits temporarily linger in the body before dispersing, much like the siblings Deng Yu and Deng Jiao before. A cultivator could collect their souls and grant them new life. But if one forces the soul out of the body, and it doesn't return within an hour, the physical body remains alive but is effectively in a vegetative state. This way, the attacker avoids the danger of attracting heavenly retribution for murder while ensuring the victim cannot resurrect by gathering their scattered soul. Once the soul disperses, the person's spiritual energy merges with the cosmos, impossible to recollect. Unless..."

Li Yundong listened intently. Hearing her hesitate on the final sentence, he casually asked, "Unless what?"

Ziyuan smiled slightly, "Nothing. In short, this person wanted to turn Cao Kefei into a vegetable; they weren't actually trying to kill her."

Li Yundong didn't dwell on Ziyuan's hesitation. He continued contemplating the evening's events. After a moment, he said, "In any case, this entire affair is highly peculiar. Yan Fang's motive for targeting Cao Kefei is utterly baffling." Then, as if a thought struck him, Li Yundong asked, "By the way, why does Cao Kefei only have one soul and three spirits?"

Ziyuan also shook her head and laughed helplessly, "I don't know either. This is the first time I've encountered someone like that."

Li Yundong thought for a while, found no answer, and chuckled, "Forget it, I won't dwell on it. The truth will come out eventually! Besides, I have a feeling Yan Fang won't be able to hold back for the next couple of days! Tomorrow, Zhou Qin will..."

Before he could finish speaking, a soft tap-tap sounded at the door.

Li Yundong said gravely, "Come in."

With a creak, a small head poked tentatively through the doorway, eyes darting around, "Yundong, may I come in?"

Li Yundong laughed fondly, "You've already got half your body inside; do you expect me to push you back out? Come in, what is it?"

Su Chan skipped happily inside, throwing herself into Li Yundong’s arms to act spoiled, "I came because I need to talk to you!"

Ziyuan smiled faintly upon seeing this, "I'll take my leave then. We can discuss things tomorrow."

Li Yundong smiled and nodded to her, "Alright. We'll see Zhou Qin off together tomorrow."

After Ziyuan left, Su Chan blinked her eyes and asked curiously, "Is Sister Zhou Qin going to Foundation Establishment tomorrow?"

Li Yundong nodded, "Yes, her progress is incredible, truly advancing by leaps and bounds. It's time for her to begin the path to Foundation Establishment. By the way, what did you need to talk to me about?"

Su Chan giggled and said mysteriously, "Yundong, there are two things I need to tell you, but I'm not sure if I should."

Li Yundong laughed, "Is there anything you can't tell me? Hurry up and say it, silly girl!"

Su Chan nodded, stood on her tiptoes, leaned close to Li Yundong's ear, and whispered a few words.

At first, Li Yundong smiled, "It's just the two of us, why be so secretive?"

But quickly, the smile vanished from Li Yundong's face. He asked with chilling solemnity, "Are you telling the truth?"