When Su Chan heard Li Yundong speak, a wave of confusion washed over her. She asked, puzzled, "If it were me, of course, I'd go for the Sword! Isn't your own primary magical artifact more important? Why wouldn't you try to seize such a powerful weapon?"

Li Yundong nodded slightly. "That's precisely what I mean, which is why I sent Zhou Qin out now, carrying the Sword, to draw the snake out of its hole."

Su Chan suddenly inquired, "But I still don't understand, why does Martial Aunt Yan Fang want to kill Cao Kefei?"

Li Yundong's expression immediately grew serious. He said, "We will have our answer soon enough."

Looking at Li Yundong's confident yet profound face, Su Chan felt an inexplicable wave of worry, but out of absolute trust in him, she buried the concern deep within her heart.

The young girl simply couldn't comprehend why Yan Fang, a towering figure of the Spirit Palace Sect, would bother targeting Cao Kefei, such a defenseless and delicate woman, even if she opposed the Fox Zen Sect. Furthermore, every time she saw Cao Kefei, she felt a strange sense of kinship, as if she already knew her.

"Strange..." The girl pouted slightly, tilting her head as she murmured, "It seems I'm not the only one who feels this way; the other Martial Aunts feel it too?"

Just as the young girl was racking her brain to figure it out, Zhou Qin had finished packing her satchel and set off on the long and perilous journey toward Foundation Establishment.

Zhou Qin walked to the door with her baggage, glancing back to see all the little foxes in the living room watching her with envious eyes, while Li Yundong stood tall and steady like a pine on the second-floor landing, observing her.

In Zhou Qin's eyes, this young and handsome man already possessed the air of a master; standing above, he watched her, like a dignified elder sending off a junior on a long expedition.

Zhou Qin gazed fixedly at Li Yundong, hesitated for a moment, then whispered softly, "Master, I’m leaving now."

Li Yundong looked at his classmate, this beautiful disciple with whom he shared an ambiguous relationship, with complex emotions. He had embarked on the path to Foundation Establishment just a month or two ago, and he knew intimately the dangers involved. Yet now, the very first disciple he had taken on was about to traverse the same treacherous road, heading toward the Himalayas for her own Foundation Establishment.

Only half a year ago, she was a pampered young lady accustomed to having everything brought to her. Could she withstand the trials of a journey spanning over two thousand kilometers?

As if sensing Li Yundong’s worried gaze, Zhou Qin, though slightly apprehensive, suddenly broke into a bright smile and said, "Master, don't worry. I will return safely. Everything you accomplished, I can accomplish too. I won't disgrace you!"

Her words eased much of the worry in Li Yundong’s heart. He smiled faintly and nodded at Zhou Qin. "Then I won't see you off."

Zhou Qin nodded and turned, stepping out the door, leaving everyone from the Fox Zen Sect inside the room sighing in commiseration.

Foundation Establishment was the most crucial threshold for a cultivator; the variables and unforeseen changes were endless. Even those who had mastered Clairvoyance could not predict what might occur on a person's path to establishing their foundation.

Countless geniuses had perished on the road to Foundation Establishment since ancient times. No one knew if Zhou Qin would be the next.

Su Chan tugged at Li Yundong's arm and whispered, "Yundong, do you think Sister Zhou Qin will successfully establish her foundation? Is it perhaps too hard for her to attempt such a perilous place for her first attempt?"

Li Yundong sighed softly and said, "Plum blossoms gain their fragrance from the bitter cold. Zhou Qin is proud and high-spirited; she is not the sort to be nurtured in a hothouse. She needs to face the cruelest and most arduous challenges in the world directly. Only then can she achieve self-transformation and become a truly great cultivator. I believe she can pass this test, and I believe she can conquer herself."

As Li Yundong was speaking with Su Chan, Zhou Qin had already left the residential compound, jogging along the road in the direction of Tibet.

It was winter. Although Tiannan City was a southern metropolis, the recent cold snap had caused most residents to bundle up in heavy winter clothes, making them look somewhat bulky.

But Zhou Qin wore only a single layer of thin clothing, her long hair, which usually cascaded over her shoulders, was pinned high up, exposing a broad expanse of snow-white neck.

The wealthy young lady carried a cloth bag containing a few changes of clothes. A long sword wrapped in black cloth was tucked diagonally inside the bag. In her pocket, she carried one thousand yuan, and nothing else.

As Zhou Qin jogged along carrying her bundle, her exquisite features and unusual attire attracted the attention of countless passersby, who wondered where this beautiful woman, clearly setting out on a long journey, might be headed.

Initially, a man, stunned by Zhou Qin's beauty and harboring ill intentions, tried to follow her. However, Zhou Qin was a Virgin Yin Cauldron, a once-in-a-million good furnace for cultivation, and she was aided by the Nascent Human Golden Elixir. Since the Elixir refined her body, her physical strength was now second only to Li Yundong's.

Coupled with Li Yundong’s meticulous guidance, which had opened up the extraordinary meridians and channels within her during her body tempering, once she started running, she moved like a small sports car with immense horsepower, easily covering ten kilometers without feeling the slightest fatigue.

The few men who had managed to keep up with her initially could only watch in horror and exhaustion after running for just over ten minutes as Zhou Qin’s figure vanished into the distance.

Zhou Qin ran until she was outside Tiannan City before finally slowing her pace. Just as Li Yundong had done during his own Foundation Establishment, she stood at the edge of the city, looking back at the bustling metropolis, then ahead at the desolate road leading into the suburbs. A sudden, inexpressible sense of emotion and melancholy washed over Zhou Qin.

For the first time, she understood the state of mind and feeling Li Yundong must have experienced when beginning his Foundation Establishment.

On a journey where the future was unknown, amid the vastness of heaven and earth, she was utterly alone—looking up at the limitless sky, bending down only to touch the dirt—how small one person was!

And yet, cultivators embarked on such perilous roads, attempting to conquer heaven and earth, striving to transcend life and death!

What sort of grand ambition, what kind of courage and boldness were required for such a pursuit?

While she headed toward Tibet for cultivation, she at least had her family, capable of a comeback, as her support, and the powerful Master Li Yundong backing her. But when Li Yundong started, he was alone, and his only intimate companion, Su Chan, was forced to separate from him.

How did he overcome that heartache, how did he conquer the dangers of heaven and earth to successfully establish his foundation?

The farther Zhou Qin traveled on the path of cultivation, the deeper her admiration for Li Yundong grew. Some hardships could only be truly understood through personal experience—the terror and the difficulty.

Zhou Qin stood by the roadside, tall and graceful, gazing at Tiannan City. Cars sped past her frequently; some even stopped, loudly asking if she needed a ride. But Zhou Qin paid them no mind, merely staring with distant eyes at the familiar city before walking away, step by step, from that prosperous mortal world.

Zhou Qin followed the tracks Li Yundong had once walked westward, and before she knew it, night had fallen.

The moon was bright and the stars abundant. Zhou Qin had left the expressway and ventured into a stretch of desolate, nameless mountain forest. She found a secluded, empty spot, quickly tidied the immediate surroundings, and sat down cross-legged, preparing to circulate her qi.

But as soon as she entered meditation, she felt an icy horror sweep over her, her hairs standing on end. In the darkness, she felt as if a pair of eyes were fixed upon her.

Zhou Qin snapped her eyes open, her beautiful gaze flashing with sharp light. She called out loudly, "Come out! Who is it!"

In the silent, deserted night, Zhou Qin’s voice traveled far, startling all birds and insects into silence, leaving a deathly stillness, yet there was no reply.

Zhou Qin swept her gaze across the pitch-black night, snorted, and reached back into her bag, drawing out the Sword. She sneered, "Still not coming out? Are you forcing me to use my Dharma Treasure? This treasure was personally bestowed upon me by my Master. It slays demons and subdues devils without needing my direct command. Once I release it, it absolutely will not return to its sheath until it has tasted blood. I advise you to show yourself to avoid misunderstanding!"

Just as she finished speaking, the figure of a woman materialized faintly in the darkness. The woman had a graceful silhouette, her robes flowing slightly, giving her an ethereal and transcendent appearance.

Zhou Qin looked at her in the moonlight and saw a woman of supreme beauty. Her eyes were sharp, almost tangible, and when they fixed upon her, Zhou Qin’s heart jolted, and her eyes stung slightly.

Zhou Qin stiffened. She knew the cultivator before her must be formidable, her cultivation no less than Li Yundong’s.

Zhou Qin frowned and demanded, "Who are you? Why are you following me in the dead of night?"

The woman did not look at Zhou Qin but stared intently at the Sword in her hand. After a long moment, she let out a cold laugh and said, "You claim this sword was given to you by your Master?"

Zhou Qin stated gravely, "That is correct!"

The woman threw her head back and burst into loud laughter. "Do you know that this sword was personally passed to me by my Master?"

Zhou Qin’s expression tightened. "Are you Yan Fang?"

Yan Fang smirked coldly. "You react quickly enough! Hmph, that little brat Li Yundong dares to let you parade around carrying the Sword? He clearly overestimates you!"

Zhou Qin said nothing, merely gripping the precious sword and slowly drawing it from its sheath.

The friction of the Sword’s blade against the scabbard produced a sharp zheng zheng sound, filled with killing intent. Once Zhou Qin had fully drawn the blade, the Sword emitted a series of resonant hums, eager and menacing, leaping into the air, its tip pointing directly at Yan Fang.

Zhou Qin spoke coldly, "Yan Fang, I know you are also a pitiable soul, hiding your name for nine years solely for revenge. Now that Ao Wushuang is sealed by you and Liu Ye is killed by you, the Fox Zen Sect is unrecognizable. What is it you refuse to let go of? As the saying goes, lay down the butcher's knife and achieve Buddhahood instantly; the sea of suffering is boundless, turn back now and find the shore. You have struggled so hard in your cultivation for so many years; do not let hatred blind your eyes and cause you to lose all your hard-won cultivation in one day!"

Yan Fang laughed loudly. "Li Yundong is a silver-tongued fellow; I never expected he would take a disciple who is also a master of verbal combat! You two—Master and disciple—are truly a perfect match!"

After laughing for a moment, Yan Fang’s expression hardened, her eyes suddenly alight with murderous intent, and she snarled, "Zhou Qin, don't think you can stand up to me just because your background is strong enough! Let me tell you, you are now considered a cultivator. If I kill you, I will not suffer heavenly retribution! Moreover, this Dharma Treasure was originally mine. Your Master shamelessly claimed it, and today I am simply reclaiming what is rightfully mine!"

Zhou Qin retorted without yielding an inch, "All Dharma artifacts in the world belong to the capable! If you cannot hold onto your own artifact, yet utter such sour words, can you even call yourself a cultivator?"

Yan Fang was instantly enraged and roared, "Well said, 'All Dharma artifacts in the world belong to the capable!' Then I shall seize it back today!"