Yan Fang’s Nascent Soul fled while Li Yundong pursued, one escaping in a state of near panic, soaring through the heavens and diving into the earth, the other clinging like a burr to the bone, never letting go an inch!

No matter how Yan Fang’s Nascent Soul tried to flee, it could never evade Li Yundong's tracking. She considered transforming into countless clones to scatter in all directions, but the moment she was about to move, Li Yundong snapped his fingers, flicking the Ranjie Bowl.

Yan Fang was instantly terrified. She knew the Ranjie Bowl specialized in absorbing spiritual energy. The only reason it wasn't absorbing hers right now was because her Nascent Soul’s aura was vast and refined like steel, making it impossible for the bowl to draw it in.

But if her Nascent Soul were to scatter into myriad avatars, it would be like shattering a block of solid ice into countless shards—the Ranjie Bowl could then effortlessly sweep away all her manifestations.

Afraid to split her essence, Yan Fang then tried to escape into the crowded city, but Li Yundong quickly blocked her path again. She attempted to flee further afield, yet she couldn't escape the confines of Li Yundong's grasp. In desperation, a sudden idea struck her, a move born of desperation for survival: she dove into a passing yacht. This time, Li Yundong didn't stop her and followed her inside.

Yan Fang sat rigidly in her seat, unmoving. She sneered and spoke in a low voice, "Li Yundong, you plan to make a scene here?"

The moment Li Yundong sat down, he noticed that across from him, within view, Chris, John, and Olba were staring at him in stunned silence. He paused briefly, but quickly averted his gaze, acting as if he hadn't seen them. He stated, "Yan Fang, you can't escape. Surrender now! Hand over Ao Wushuang, swear never to oppose the Fox Zen Sect again, and for Ziyuan’s sake, I will spare your life."

Yan Fang let out a cold laugh. "You must be dreaming!"

Li Yundong sighed and shook his head slightly. "Truly incorrigible! Then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Yan Fang mocked, "I’d like to see how you plan to act with so many people around."

Li Yundong smiled faintly. Motionless, his fingers moved beneath the table to form a mudra. Suddenly, one by one, colorful balls exploded in the sky, dazzling and magnificent with seven hues, resembling a thousand blooming trees released by the east wind on a spring night.

The vacationers on the boat, except for Chris and her companions who happened to see Li Yundong and Yan Fang board, noticed nothing. Suddenly seeing the sky ablaze with fireworks—seven-colored meteors showering everywhere—they exclaimed in awe, rising to their feet, pointing and laughing toward the sky from the yacht’s deck.

In an instant, the yacht's cabin was almost entirely deserted. Only Li Yundong and Yan Fang remained, glaring coldly at each other, along with Chris, John, and Olba, whose eyes were wide with shock.

The little girl singing Pingshu in the cabin, seeing everyone rush out to watch the fireworks, realized her performance was unwatched. Her spirits immediately plummeted, and she abruptly ended her song.

Li Yundong glanced over. Seeing the young girl, dressed in a qipao, gathering her pipa to leave, he asked, "May I request a piece?"

The girl paused, slightly stunned. "That requires an extra fee."

Li Yundong nodded. "Certainly!"

The girl instantly brightened up, smiling broadly. "Sir, what would you like to hear?"

Li Yundong gave Yan Fang a faint, sweeping look and said, " Ambush from Ten Sides!"

Seeing Li Yundong treat her with such dismissiveness, Yan Fang was nearly bursting with rage, yet she remained deeply intimidated by his power and dared not act out, terrified that Li Yundong might suddenly erupt.

The young girl, upon hearing the request for Ambush from Ten Sides, gave a wry smile. "Sir, I sing Pingshu; that isn't a Pingshu tune..."

Li Yundong asked, "You can't play it?"

The girl looked at Li Yundong—his dignified bearing, the profound depth in his brow, his youth and handsomeness, and the undeniable, unquestionable authority in his voice—clearly indicating he was no ordinary person. Unwilling to be looked down upon by him, she said, "I can play it, but..."

Li Yundong cut her off. "It costs extra, right? Fine, I’ll pay!"

The girl said skeptically, "Then... could you pay first?"

Li Yundong patted his pockets and frowned. He suddenly remembered: he was currently only in his Nascent Soul form; he didn't have a single cent on him!

"Li Yundong, I'll pay for you!" Chris, thinking rapidly, immediately pulled out several red banknotes from her person and handed them to the girl. "This is for him. Is this enough?"

The girl glanced at the money, snatched it, and quickly tucked it away as if afraid Chris might change her mind. Her smile was dazzling. This young man is handsome and distinguished, and he even has such a beautiful foreign lady paying for him. Heavens, I wonder what high station he holds! If I could reel in such a wealthy catch, my life would be set!

While lost in these thoughts, the girl didn't delay her actions. She summoned all her skill and seriously began to perform one of China's Ten Great Classical Compositions, Ambush from Ten Sides!

Though the girl was a bit greedy, her playing skill was undeniable. With her eyes lowered, she quickly became absorbed in the performance. Her five fingers plucked rapidly, and a stream of tight, intense notes sprang from the strings. The tension and ferocity of the first movement, Encampment, immediately materialized.

John and Chris, who had been standing idly by watching the spectacle, found their own moods growing tense along with the music.

Only Olba scoffed softly and irreverently, "Chris, are you insane? Paying the bill for this chauvinistic man? You’re embarrassing us feminists!"

Chris ignored her and murmured, "I have a strange feeling about those two."

John glared at Olba. "Olba, you might not want to become his apprentice, but I certainly do! Shut up!"

Olba sneered, "Oh, John, before you change your nationality, perhaps you should think of a nice Chinese name for yourself? I’ve learned a bit of Chinese recently, I could recommend a few... How about taking the surname Ma, and being called Ma Pijīng (Flatterer)?"

John instantly became furious and turned to argue with Olba, but Chris quickly kicked him under the table. "John, shut up!"

John shot Olba a fierce glare and sullenly turned away. Olba stuck her tongue out at him and muttered, "He’s really gone mad, wanting to change his nationality just to take a master. If it were me, I would..."

Just as she spoke, Li Yundong suddenly sighed and said to Yan Fang, "My apologies!"

Saying this, he flipped his hand and brought a palm strike toward Yan Fang.

Yan Fang's expression shifted drastically. Her form instantly changed from Nascent Soul to Yin Spirit, and her entire body seemed to pass right through the chair behind her as she tried to vanish instantly.

But Li Yundong let out a cold snort. His movement was like an illusion; in the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Yan Fang, striking toward the crown of her head with his palm.

His movement was so fast it seemed as if Yan Fang had deliberately slammed herself into the palm of his hand.

Yan Fang reacted with extreme speed. Her form instantly shrank to the size of a palm, and she abruptly shifted her trajectory, shooting toward the window to escape.

Li Yundong smiled coldly. He pointed a finger at the window. The rattan-woven structure suddenly emitted a faint tearing sound as numerous tiny tendrils sprouted out, weaving themselves into a small net. This net pulsed with a faint azure light, like an inescapable dragnet waiting for Yan Fang to fly into it.

Yan Fang immediately turned and lunged for another window. Li Yundong executed the same technique. His command over wood-element magic was effortless; quickly, all the windows on the boat sprouted small vines and wove themselves into nets.

Cornered with no escape, Yan Fang finally reverted to her true form, glaring viciously at Li Yundong, her look implying: If you won't let me live, then you won't live either!

Yan Fang rushed forward with fierce momentum, her fingers hooked like talons. Li Yundong subtly shifted his body, dodging her grab. He managed to place one hand on her wrist, gave a slight tug, and pulled her back to her original position. Li Yundong murmured, "Sit down!"

Yan Fang felt an immense force pushing her, compelling her knees to bend, forcing her back into the chair.

The moment she sat, the chair beneath her began to tear, and more small vines grew out, wrapping around her body one by one.

Seeing she was about to be captured, Yan Fang took a deep breath, intending to scream loudly to draw attention, which would prevent Li Yundong from using his spells so recklessly.

Li Yundong was quicker. He slapped his palm toward Yan Fang, sending a massive wave of True Essence crashing down upon her like a tidal surge.

Yan Fang felt an immediate constriction in her chest. When she tried to open her mouth, a gale seemed to rush in, making it impossible not only to shout but even to draw a breath.

She coughed twice, then quickly formed a mudra with her fingers. She tapped one of the vines wrapped around her, and that vine instantly ignited, snapping off with a crackle.

With a powerful surge, Yan Fang broke free.

The instant she was loose, she exerted force in an almost impossible manner, suddenly kicking out low beneath the table toward Li Yundong’s abdomen.

This kick was insidious and hidden, coming without warning, and protected by the table—truly invisible and impossible to guard against. Had it been anyone else, they would surely have been hit.

But Li Yundong sensed a gust of wind approaching and immediately countered with a kick of his own. However, knowing he couldn't match her speed at such close range, he aimed his kick at her instep, angling his foot perfectly to block the trajectory of Yan Fang’s strike.

Their feet met with a thud. Li Yundong immediately pressed his sole down hard onto Yan Fang’s foot and then used his knee to wrench at the inside of her leg fold. If he succeeded in this maneuver, Yan Fang would lose her balance, leaving her defenseless against the heavy blow Li Yundong was preparing to deliver next.

Yan Fang was, after all, a seasoned master of many years; her reaction was lightning fast. Seeing Li Yundong press against her inner leg, she seized the moment of his inward pressure, strategically shrinking her leg back while simultaneously pushing against him.

Under the table, their legs locked and jostled, twisted and compressed—a clumsy sight, yet filled with hidden killing intent. Their hands were not idle above the table either; they engaged in a fierce, rapid exchange. Grabs, strikes, squeezes, holds, and grips—their arms constantly collided, producing dull thuds like drumbeats.

Meanwhile, the young girl playing Ambush from Ten Sides had clearly entered the zone. Her eyes tightly closed, she had swiftly finished the second movement, The Ambush, and was now playing the section The Minor Battle at Jiming Mountain.

This section was intense and frantic; the performer's fingers flew across the instrument, moving too fast to be clearly seen. The fierce music perfectly underscored the battle between Li Yundong and Yan Fang. The suffocating atmosphere felt like two armies clashing in close combat, blades meeting steel, radiating palpable killing intent!

Chris, John, and Olba watched, dumbfounded and mesmerized. Chris and John had already witnessed some of Li Yundong’s unbelievable feats and could manage to hold steady, but Olba couldn't help but murmur, "Christ Almighty... am I watching a movie?"

================================================= Finished. This is the second update for the 23rd. Don't accuse me of only updating once a day! While I only updated once on some days recently, I always made up for it the next day... E