As various heroes sharpened their blades, eager to make a name for themselves at the Lotus Picking Assembly, a scene of chanting scriptures and wafting incense filled Li Yundong’s home.

Many residents living near the riverside complex, passing beneath Li Yundong’s residence, would hear the almost ceaseless recitation of Buddhist verses.

Sometimes the chanting was a chorus of young women's voices; other times, just one young woman’s, but without exception, the sounds were exquisitely melodious. Even reciting scriptures, the voices compelled passersby to involuntarily pause, their gazes drifting upward toward Li Yundong’s house.

Although Li Yundong kept the members of the Fox Zen Sect, especially Ziyuan and the others, deliberately low-key, the very fact that a handsome young man lived with a gaggle of beautiful women was bound to invite gossip. Even if nothing substantial was happening, people would invent a narrative out of thin air.

His status, the status of these women, and the nature of their relationships were among the most cherished topics of conversation for the neighborhood residents.

Among the onlookers, two women with decidedly distinguished bearing were coolly observing those who pointed and gossiped about Li Yundong’s home. One of them whispered to the beautiful woman beside her, "Senior Sister Zou Ping, everyone is at the Lotus Picking Assembly today. Why are we here?"

Zou Ping’s attire today was no different from any other girl fond of fashion. She wore a dark gray trench coat that highlighted her slender figure, and tucked inside, concealed by the coat, was a precious sword. Her curly hair was pinned up at the back of her head, using the dark tresses—described as if black clouds were sloping down—to shield the exposed portion of the sword hilt peeking from the collar.

Zou Ping spoke with a detached expression, "This is the Master’s order. The Master heard Li Yundong borrowed the Finger-Burning Alms Bowl from Master Puren, so he sent me to check if he has subdued it. Judging by the situation, this fellow must have failed to subdue the Alms Bowl, and his entire spirit and soul have been dragged inside it."

Though this junior sister was not as stunning as Zou Ping, she appeared incredibly youthful, perhaps only fifteen or sixteen, with a small, oval face that was quite charming and pleasing to the eye. She asked curiously, "The Finger-Burning Alms Bowl? Is it the one belonging to Fahai?"

Zou Ping glanced at her junior sister with a complex look and replied, "Precisely!"

The junior sister laughed, revealing a pair of small dimples, "Hee hee, then Li Yundong is in for a fall! That Finger-Burning Alms Bowl is no ordinary artifact. The process of subduing it is no less difficult than achieving Foundation Establishment all over again!"

Zou Ping snorted coldly, "Though this reckless fellow’s cultivation is formidable, his practice time is short. He is an undeniable nouveau riche, and furthermore, he is lecherous and morally questionable. It’s no wonder he’d stumble over the Finger-Burning Alms Bowl! The Master really gives him too much credit, sending me specifically to keep an eye on him! Humph!"

The junior sister chuckled merrily, "It took Master Haideng a full thirty days to subdue the Finger-Burning Alms Bowl. Even if he’s capable, he probably won't come out in less than thirty days! It seems this fellow won't make it to the Lotus Picking Assembly!"

Zou Ping sneered, "It’s best if he doesn’t show up; it saves me the annoyance of seeing that face, which I find detestable!"

The junior sister laughed, "That’s not good. I specifically begged the Master to let me come down the mountain just to witness the skills of Li Yundong, the celebrated expert of the younger generation in the cultivation world. If he doesn't come, why should I bother attending the Lotus Picking Assembly?"

Zou Ping scoffed, "Even if he comes, it’s useless. This year’s Assembly is packed with masters; experts from every sect and school are poised to seize the championship. If he shows up, it will only bring him shame and ridicule."

The junior sister sounded slightly disappointed, "Is this fellow really that incompetent?"

Zou Ping adopted a voice of earnest instruction, "Little Junior Sister, you think too highly of him. In all his past duels, Li Yundong relied solely on having greater physical strength—meeting force with greater force—and managed to win by sheer luck. Winning that way proves nothing. Even if he has true skill, compared to us, cultivators who have diligently practiced the orthodox Daoist ways for over a decade, he is far behind! The Lotus Picking Assembly tests the marvelous utility of magical arts, not who has the most robust True Essence or the greatest brute strength! Our Daoist techniques number in the thousands, emphasizing the two characters of 'Divine' and 'Subtle,' not sheer power."

The junior sister nodded, "Senior Sister Zou Ping, I understand now. Thank you for enlightening me. Shall we go?"

Zou Ping nodded, "Let's leave; no need to waste time here."

Just as the two were about to depart, they suddenly heard a burst of laughter coming from not far away.

Zou Ping and the junior sister turned their heads and saw three women with distinct styles approaching. One was dressed in school uniform, exceptionally beautiful, with elegant eyebrows drawn like ink painting. Her dark hair was tied up in a ponytail, exposing a full, bright forehead, giving her an air of confidence and pride—it was Ruan Hongling.

Beside her, another woman was clad in pure white, her hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall, each strand soft and straight. Observers seeing only her back would sense an ethereal, otherworldly grace in her every movement, truly like stepping on misty water without disturbing the dust beneath her feet.

The moment Zou Ping saw these two women, she immediately sneered with bared teeth, "It's those two backstabbing wretches again!"

The junior sister scrutinized Ziyuan and Ruan Hongling curiously, whispering, "Is this Ziyuan, once hailed as the top expert of the younger generation? She is stunningly beautiful!"

Zou Ping mocked, "You see her as beautiful and dignified, but in reality, she is a wanton slut who willingly degraded herself! Otherwise, why would she spend all day consorting with a bunch of fox spirits? I’m embarrassed for her!"

The junior sister observed Ziyuan; not a trace of wickedness clung to her, let alone any impure or filthy aura. Especially from her brow emanated an air of noble elegance and transcendence; her eyes were as clear as mountain spring water, untouched by the grime of the mortal world.

She couldn’t help but say, "How could such a woman be so depraved? Senior Sister, could you be mistaken?"

Zou Ping became furious, knitting her brows and glaring as she hissed, "Nonsense! What do you mean by that? Don't think I won't discipline you just because you are Third Uncle's daughter!"

Seeing Zou Ping angry, the junior sister quickly put on a conciliatory smile and changed the subject, pointing to the woman beside Ziyuan, "Then who is this one? I have never seen a female cultivator whose vital essence and spirit are so perfectly complete!"

Zou Ping huffed angrily. Looking over, she saw a strikingly heroic woman standing next to Ziyuan. This woman was devastatingly beautiful, with sharp, sword-like eyebrows and dark eyes that sparkled like stars. When her intensely bright eyes moved, she exuded an air of commanding grace, carrying an indescribable coldness and a look of lofty disdain.

Zou Ping was instantly startled, and she murmured involuntarily, "Is that Zhou Qin? She achieved Foundation Establishment?"

The junior sister asked curiously, "Zhou Qin? Who is that? She seems incredibly formidable?"

Zou Ping let out a cold, dismissive laugh, "How formidable can someone who just achieved Foundation Establishment be? Humph, let’s go!"

The junior sister blinked, casting a glance at Zhou Qin, secretly wondering if Zhou Qin would attend the Lotus Picking Assembly. If she did, she would certainly have to gauge her skills.

The two turned to leave. Before going, Zou Ping couldn't resist looking back at Zhou Qin one last time, a slight tremor of alarm in her heart: The ancients said that after three days apart, one should look upon a person with new eyes. She hadn't expected Zhou Qin to improve so drastically after only a short absence! It was truly terrifying! No, I must report this to the Master immediately, or if we let her grow stronger, our Orthodox Unity Sect will have another major adversary!

Ziyuan, Zhou Qin, and Ruan Hongling walked through the varied gazes of the crowd. Ruan Hongling, spotting the building where they lived, couldn't help but laugh, "Boundless lifespan, we are finally home. Finally, an end to this life without hot showers and television."

Ziyuan chuckled and chided, "Are you even a cultivator? So greedy for comfort?"

Ruan Hongling made a funny face and retorted, "That’s not how you put it, Sister Ziyuan. Don’t you yearn for a satisfying, hot shower?"

Ziyuan gave Ruan Hongling a look, but before she could speak, Zhou Qin couldn't help but laugh. "Stop arguing. I don't know if True Person Ziyuan wants one, but I certainly can't wait. In my entire life, I’ve never gone this many days without a hot shower! Usually, I have to sneak a wash in lakes and rivers, and it’s never comfortable—it’s agonizing!"

Hearing this, Ruan Hongling clapped her hands and burst into laughter, and Ziyuan couldn't help but smile faintly.

The three chatted merrily as they walked downstairs, but then they suddenly heard chanting coming from inside the house. Ziyuan paused slightly, "Is that the Great Compassion Mantra? Who is chanting?"

Zhou Qin couldn't help but laugh, "It sounds like Su Chan’s voice. Maybe she’s up to some mischief again."

Ruan Hongling, impatient, rushed forward to open the door with her key. Upon opening it, she gasped, finding the room thick with smoke and heavy sandalwood fragrance everywhere. Su Chan was kneeling before a Guan Yin shrine, palms pressed together, devoutly reciting Buddhist scriptures.

Ruan Hongling exclaimed, "Su Chan, what are you doing? When did you convert to Buddhism?"

Su Chan turned upon hearing the voices. The anxiety and fear of the last dozen days finally found an outlet for lamentation. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she choked out, "Sister Ziyuan, Sister Zhou Qin, Hongling, Yundong, Yundong, he..."

Zhou Qin's heart skipped a beat, her expression changing drastically. She rushed forward, grabbing Su Chan’s arm, her voice trembling as she asked, "What happened to Master?"

Ziyuan's body also trembled slightly, and she asked in a shaky voice, "What happened to Li Yundong?"

Su Chan, her eyes blurred with tears, managed to say, "Yundong was subduing the Finger-Burning Alms Bowl, and he hasn't woken up since. It's been eighteen days!"

"What?" Ziyuan and Ruan Hongling were instantly stunned.

Ziyuan stomped her foot, "Ah, it’s all my fault for leaving in such a rush and not instructing him properly. The Finger-Burning Alms Bowl is a relic used by generations of esteemed monks; it is extremely difficult to subdue. If the mind is even slightly impure, one can be dragged into the three thousand realms, unable to break free. Damn it, truly damnable!"

Zhou Qin had returned successfully after achieving Foundation Establishment, intending to give Li Yundong a pleasant surprise, but she never expected to be met with such devastating news upon her return. Her face turned ashen as she said, "What do we do now?"

Ziyuan took a deep breath, settling her nerves slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Don't panic yet. Take me to see him!"

Su Chan wiped her tears and led Ziyuan, Zhou Qin, and Ruan Hongling into Li Yundong's room.

Ziyuan pushed the door open and saw Li Yundong sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion as if he were a stone statue, holding the brilliantly shining Finger-Burning Alms Bowl in his palm. His expression was unchanged, completely motionless. If Su Chan hadn't told her that Li Yundong hadn't woken for eighteen days, Ziyuan would have assumed he had just entered a state of deep meditation.

Ziyuan moved close to Li Yundong, examining his condition carefully for a moment. Then she turned back to Su Chan and commanded, "Go get the golden needles."

Su Chan had been anxiously watching Ziyuan, pinning all her hopes on her to find a solution. Hearing the order, she immediately responded with an 'Ah' and hurried to the room to fetch the golden needles.

Meanwhile, the little foxes in the various rooms had all heard the commotion and knew that Zhou Qin had returned after establishing her Foundation. They emerged from their rooms to greet Zhou Qin, then huddled together, watching Li Yundong inside the room with concern. They all wanted to see how Ziyuan would wake him up.