I'll make you the furnace and the cauldron, so you can refine Yin and Yang and prove the Great

Li Hanshan took a deep breath, took out three drops of golden dew from the Yangwen space, and swallowed them at the same time.

boom!

The instant the three drops of dew entered his stomach, an immense surge of energy exploded within his dantian. The Immortal-grade Golden Core spun wildly, its purplish-gold light blazing brightly, the patterns on its surface flowing as if alive. Pure Yang energy erupted like a volcano, condensing around him into a purplish-gold armor of flames.

His aura rose steadily, soaring from the third level of the Golden Core stage all the way to its peak, faintly touching the threshold of the fourth level.

The Third Elder's pupils contracted.

This old man can actually improve?

But he was, after all, a veteran expert at the peak of the Golden Core stage, and he quickly regained his composure. He unleashed a powerful golden palm strike, determined to kill this arrogant old fool with a single blow.

Li Hanshan didn't take the blow head-on. He stepped on fiery clouds, his figure flashing to avoid the direct impact of the palm print, and approached from the side. His flying sword transformed into a purple-gold sword light, aiming straight for the Third Elder's throat.

The Third Elder snorted coldly and casually slapped away the sword light. But a look of surprise appeared on his face—Li Hanshan's speed was almost twice as fast as before.

"Hokage Step? No, it's a more advanced ninjutsu."

The Third Elder's gaze sharpened, and his attacks intensified. Golden palm prints rained down one after another, like a torrential downpour. Li Hanshan dodged left and right, his speed fast, but under the full force of a peak Golden Core cultivator's attacks, he still couldn't completely evade them.

A palm print grazed his shoulder, tearing a gash in the flame armor on his left arm, causing blood to splatter.

Another palm print struck his back, causing him to stagger forward several steps, spitting out blood.

But he never gave up.

Xiao An sensed Li Hanshan's critical situation and wanted to come to his aid, but was tightly entangled by the woman in black. The woman in black's claws were wreathed in intense Yin energy, and each attack made Xiao An's soul tremble.

"Your opponent is me," the woman in black chuckled. "Don't even think about helping that old man; he's doomed today."

Xiao An's face was grim, and she pushed the Netherworld Record technique to its limit. Five Netherworld chains shot out from all directions, binding the woman in black tightly. Taking advantage of the opportunity, she transformed into a streak of black light and rushed towards Li Hanshan's direction.

"Trying to run?" The woman in black sneered, her malevolent aura surging, shattering the Netherworld Chains. She flashed forward, blocking Xiao An's path. "I told you, your opponent is me."

Xiao An gritted his teeth and could only continue fighting the woman in black.

The situation on Li Hanshan's side is becoming increasingly critical.

The Third Elder's palm strikes came wave after wave, and his injuries multiplied, his Pure Yang Meridians throbbing with pain. If it weren't for the Pure Yang Fire protecting him, he would have been smashed into a pulp long ago.

"Old man, how long can you hold on?" the Third Elder sneered. "I'd like to see how long you can last."

Li Hanshan gritted his teeth, remaining silent. His gaze swept across the battlefield, his mind racing with calculations.

The Third Elder's strength was indeed far superior to his own, and he had no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation. His only hope was to find an opening and kill him in one strike. However, the Third Elder's combat experience was too rich, and his attacks were flawless, giving him absolutely no opportunity.

We must find a way.

Just then, Li Hanshan suddenly had a thought.

Little animal.

This little thing has been in a deep sleep ever since it swallowed those third-tier inner cores. But Li Hanshan could sense that the energy within its body had accumulated to a terrifying level, and it could wake up at any moment.

He quietly sent a wisp of his divine sense into the spirit beast pouch, waking up the little beast.

The little beast opened its eyes, a glint of golden light flashing in its dark pupils. It yawned, popped out of the spirit beast pouch, and perched on Li Hanshan's shoulder. Upon seeing the Third Elder, the golden fur on its forehead suddenly lit up, and a golden core-level aura emanated from its small body.

The Third Elder's expression changed: "What kind of monster is this?"

The little beast did not answer. It opened its mouth, and a golden beam of light, as thick as a thumb, shot out, heading straight for the Third Elder's face. The beam of light was dazzling, containing some ancient and terrifying pressure, and even the air in its path was scorched and distorted.

The Third Elder snorted coldly and struck out with his palm, the golden palm print colliding with the pillar of light.

boom!

The pillar of light was shattered by the palm print, but the Third Elder was also forced back a step. His expression turned even uglier—this little thing's attack power was actually no weaker than that of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator.

"Xiao An!" Li Hanshan called out in a low voice.

Xiao An understood and stopped fighting the woman in black. He transformed into a streak of black light and pounced on the Third Elder. The Netherworld Spear condensed in his palm, and five spears shot out simultaneously, blocking all of the Third Elder's escape routes.

At the same time, the little beast unleashed another golden beam of light. Not to be outdone, Li Hanshan transformed his flying sword into a purple-gold sword light, aiming straight for the Third Elder's throat.