Li Yundong sat cross-legged beneath the ancient pine, quietly observing the other version of himself and Su Chan working in the countryside. His face was filled with a serene and peaceful smile, as if merely watching them from afar was enough to bring him contentment and happiness.

Li Yundong slowly asked, "Ziyuan, why do you cultivate?"

Ziyuan was surprised that Li Yundong had evaded her question to pose one of his own. After a moment of thought, she replied, "To transcend the suffering of the mortal world and ascend to the realm of immortals."

Li Yundong smiled faintly. "Indeed, that aligns perfectly with your standard for practice. The first moment I saw you, I thought: Good heavens, how could such a beautiful woman exist in this world? Could she be an immortal who has descended to the mortal realm? From that moment, I believed you were destined for the immortal heavens, and thus, for you, cultivation is the pursuit of immortality."

Ziyuan listened quietly as Li Yundong spoke. Though this aged Li Yundong lacked his former handsomeness, his hoarse and aged voice carried a deep, weighty sense of time and experience.

Li Yundong gazed tenderly at the Su Chan in this minor world, saying softly, "But have you ever considered what it truly means, even if you become an immortal? Will you be happy simply because you no longer suffer birth, old age, sickness, and death, having escaped the cycle of reincarnation? Or... are you simply trying to follow in your master's footsteps, hoping to find him in the higher heavens?"

The subconscious desire Li Yundong had uncovered was Ziyuan's deepest secret. Her body stiffened slightly, and an involuntary thought surfaced in her mind: Yes, I follow my master’s path, even treating his cryptic verse as my unbreakable maxim—but what is the point of it all? Is it merely because I wish to stay by his side, to be with him?

But, but... Master loved Ao Wushuang, not me...

Ziyuan had grown up beside her master. In her memory, her master was omnipotent, not only the most handsome man in the world but also the most graceful, the most remarkable man imaginable. Because of this, Wang Yuanshan's mark was deeply imprinted on Ziyuan's life, an impression that permeated everything.

Reflecting on her past, Ziyuan vaguely felt that her master, Wang Yuanshan, must have sensed her feelings, which is why he left behind that single cryptic verse, telling her that the Li Yundong before her was her destined beloved.

It was precisely because of this verse that she had come to this minor world without hesitation.

But... even if this Li Yundong is truly her destined love, he loves Su Chan, not her!

She cultivates to ascend to the Immortal Realm; she ascends to find her master. Yet, to ascend, she must save her destined love. When all is said and done, is her entire cultivation driven by this single concept of... love?

And yet, neither her master nor this destined lover cares for her...

Then what, precisely, is she cultivating for?

This question plunged Ziyuan into a complete daze, as if lost in the dust of the Three Realms, shrouded in eight hundred clouds of mist. She stood frozen, her expression shifting ceaselessly, utterly mesmerized and haunted.

At that moment, Li Yundong’s eyes seemed to pierce through the veil of the mortal world. He smiled slightly and said, "Ziyuan, you cultivate to achieve immortality. But do you know what I cultivate for?"

Ziyuan was still entranced, only truly hearing Li Yundong’s voice while her mind remained a chaotic jumble.

Seeing Ziyuan remain silent, Li Yundong did not turn around but continued speaking to himself. "My original purpose in cultivation was very simple: to protect Su Chan from being bullied, and then to protect myself from being bullied, so that she and I could live happily together."

Li Yundong pointed toward the pair beneath the mountain, chuckling. "Look how happy they are now? I traveled through three thousand minor worlds, searching through billions of mortal lives for my true self. In that journey, I experienced countless partings and faced countless powerful enemies, all to ensure that the 'me' and Su Chan in this minor world would never be separated or bullied. When I arrived here, I found no one else—just myself and Su Chan. So, I chose to stay, sitting quietly in the sea of clouds, watching them, wanting to see if they would grow weary of this simple life, if their affection would fade as they grew old."

Li Yundong let out a deeply felt laugh. "But I, the observer, have watched myself age by their side, and yet they remain happy. Tell me, wasn't my cultivation simply to witness my true self achieving happiness with my beloved? Since they live purely and joyfully now, what more could I possibly desire?"

Ziyuan felt a pang of melancholy and sighed softly. "But the 'you' down there... he isn't you..."

Li Yundong turned back, a smile playing on his lips, and asked, "Is there a difference?"

Ziyuan opened her mouth to argue, but looking into Li Yundong’s deep, bottomless black eyes, she found herself momentarily speechless. She sighed, deciding to let the matter rest. She sat down cross-legged beside Li Yundong and said, "In that case, I won't leave either. I'll stay and keep you company."

Li Yundong paused, surprised. "You won't leave? How can that be?"

Ziyuan managed a wistful smile. "Why not? What difference is there between staying here and going out? Regardless of whether it's for my master, or..." Ziyuan stopped abruptly, a blush rising on her ethereal, beautiful face.

Li Yundong spoke seriously. "No, that won't do. If you stay here, what about Ruan Hongling? What about the Ling Palace Sect your master left behind? Do you intend to abandon Ruan Hongling and let the other disciples of the Zhengyi Sect bully your junior sister?"

Ziyuan’s heart stirred. She took up his point, retorting, "You speak the truth, but have you considered this: While you might find satisfaction watching the 'you' and Su Chan in this minor world, what about the Su Chan outside—the one waiting desperately for your return, longing for you to fulfill your promises?"

Li Yundong was profoundly shaken by this; his eyes snapped wide open.

Seeing this, Ziyuan pressed her advantage immediately. "Even if you insist the outer Su Chan and the inner Su Chan are the same, have you thought of others? What about Zhou Qin? She just returned from Foundation Establishment, did you know? You led her onto the path of cultivation, and now you intend to abandon her, leaving her without care? My master abandoned me and Hongling—you cannot do the same!"

Ziyuan’s voice cracked with the deep sorrow and desolation of her heart. Every word was sincere, every sentence heartfelt, moving Li Yundong deeply.

Ziyuan continued, "Setting aside Su Chan and Zhou Qin, what about those little fox spirits who rely on you so intensely? You brought them down the mountain; are you simply going to ignore them now? Do you know the fate that awaits them if you abandon them? Since ancient times, the end for fox spirits who descend into the mortal world has been nothing but tragic. Wouldn't this be harming them? Can you truly rest easy in your idyllic existence if you act so selfishly?"

Hearing this, Li Yundong's expression changed dramatically. He stared blankly at Ziyuan for a long moment before finally letting out a long breath, rising to his feet. With a sweep of his sleeve, he burst into loud laughter. "Buddha! I think I finally know what my true self is!"

In the vast, boundless world of clouds, a single Buddhist chant suddenly echoed. The clouds rapidly converged, shaping themselves into a colossal statue of the Tathagata Buddha, which spoke with immense majesty: "Amitabha. Then, what is the true self?"

Li Yundong’s expression was suddenly clear and enlightened, radiating the clarity of realization. His voice rang out with certainty. "Mortal beings attach their sense of self to the composite body formed by the five aggregates; that is the false self. The true self is like that of the Buddha, possessing the Eight Great Spiritual Powers of Freedom."

The Buddha statue in the clouds boomed again, "And what are the Eight Great Spiritual Powers of Freedom?"

Li Yundong proclaimed loudly: "They are: First, the power to manifest one body as many bodies—that is, the power to become small, to transform oneself into a particle smaller than the tiniest speck of dust. Second, to manifest one body to fill the entire universe—that is, the power to become large, to transform oneself to fill a boundless, infinite void. Third, the great body can ascend lightly to distant places—that is, the power to change one's weight to be as light as a feather. Fourth, to appear in countless forms and dwell eternally—that is, the power to act freely, to alter one's size and length at will!"

"Fifth, the interconnection of all senses—that is, the power of mastery, to transform freely into an adult or a child, maintaining an impartial mind, subduing all, encompassing all! Sixth, achieving the thought of non-attainment regarding all phenomena—that is, the power of distant travel, meaning one can reach any remote location at will. Seventh, speaking a single verse that endures countless eons—that is, the power of movement, meaning one can cause the earth to shake in six or eighteen distinct ways. Eighth, the body pervading everywhere like empty space—that is, the power to manifest one body as many, and many bodies as one; to pass straight through mountain walls, to walk on water and fire, to tread on the void, to transform the four elements, to turn earth into water, and to transmute stone into gold, all according to one's wish!"

Li Yundong spoke with fluency. Ziyuan, listening beside him, was startled, thinking to herself: When did Li Yundong study Buddhist teachings so thoroughly? How incredible!

As if hearing her thoughts, Li Yundong turned back with a slight smile. "How do you think I spent my time in these three thousand worlds? I dwelled here for countless years, reading nearly every book that could be found, mastering every technique that could be deciphered! It is because I experienced so much within these three thousand worlds that I eventually grew weary and wished to remain in this quiet minor world. Had you not come looking for me and awakened me, I likely would have stayed forever."

Seeing that Li Yundong’s voice and demeanor had returned to their former state, devoid of the recent aging, Ziyuan felt a surge of joy and smiled sweetly. Just as she was about to reply, the Buddha statue in the clouds spoke again: "Since you know the Eight Great Spiritual Powers of Freedom, why not demonstrate them for me?"

Li Yundong’s eyebrows lifted. "What difficulty is there in that?"

With that, Li Yundong shook his sleeve and commanded, "Small!"

In the blink of an eye, Li Yundong's figure vanished into the air. He stated, "My existence is now on every single, minuscule speck of dust within this minor world!"

Ziyuan instantly heard countless voices of Li Yundong echoing from every direction, pouring into her ears like a terrifying deluge of surging water. Even with her profound cultivation, she couldn't help but frown and cover her ears.

Soon, Li Yundong reappeared and shouted, "Big!"

His body suddenly expanded. Ziyuan, looking up, couldn't even see the level of Li Yundong’s knees! The colossal Buddha statue in this sea of clouds shrank in comparison, becoming nothing more than a tiny speck of dust.

Li Yundong quickly returned to his normal size and commanded, "Light!" Immediately, his form floated upward weightlessly. Li Yundong smiled at Ziyuan and said, "Ziyuan, blow on me."

Curiously, Ziyuan blew a breath of fragrant air toward him, and Li Yundong drifted away like a single feather, moving a great distance.

Li Yundong laughed heartily and commanded, "Can Elongate!" He extended one arm, which instantly lengthened dramatically, seemingly capable of spanning the heavens. Then, just as quickly, he commanded, "Can Shorten!" His other arm shrank drastically, making it appear as though one limb was missing.

Li Yundong proceeded to demonstrate the remaining transformations at will—shifting from an old man to a child, changing into anything his mind conceived, omnipotently versatile!

When Li Yundong reached the demonstration of the Seventh Spiritual Power, he roared, "Can Move!" He flipped his hands, as if the Tathagata Buddha were turning the Five Elements Mountain, and the entire sea of clouds violently shook. The mountain peak itself seemed on the verge of collapse.

The Su Chan and the other Li Yundong within this minor world huddled together in alarm, crying out in fright.

Ziyuan, too, was overwhelmed by the earth-shattering tremors and flew upward, shouting, "Stop shaking! If you shake any harder, this entire minor world will collapse, and even if the world holds, this mountain will!"

Li Yundong roared with laughter. "If this mountain turned into a block of gold, how could it possibly collapse?"

With that, Li Yundong tapped the mountain peak with his finger. With a resounding crash, the entire mountain instantly transformed into a mountain of glittering gold, and the violent shaking of the heavens and earth ceased immediately!

Ziyuan, despite being a renowned figure in the cultivation world with vast experience, was left utterly stunned and mesmerized by Li Yundong’s divine display of power.

Li Yundong then spoke loudly to the Buddha statue in the clouds: "Well, is this the true self?"

The Buddha statue in the clouds laughed heartily. "Excellent, excellent. Traversing these three thousand worlds, you have indeed mastered the wondrous applications of the Eight Great Spiritual Powers of Freedom! Impressive, impressive! You are indeed the manifested Dharma Body of the Acala Vidyārāja reincarnated! Now I can entrust the Burned-Finger Bowl to you without worry! Given the experiences of your current trials and the power of your Acala Dharma Body reincarnation, from this day forward, you may use any ritual artifact of the Buddhist sect as you wish, without obstruction! Hahaha..."