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

Li Hanshan followed behind the sect leader, passing through the main hall and down a long, dark corridor, until they arrived at a tightly closed stone door. This door was different from the previous one leading to the stone chamber; it was more ancient and heavier, with more intricate runes on it. The runes were densely packed, layer upon layer, moving across the door as if they were alive, radiating a chilling pressure.

The sect leader raised his hand and cast a spell, causing the runes to light up and emit a buzzing vibration. The stone door slowly opened, revealing a stone staircase leading underground. The walls on both sides of the staircase were inlaid with luminous pearls, emitting a cool white light that illuminated the entire passage as if it were daytime.

"Follow me." The sect leader took the lead and stepped onto the stone steps.

Li Hanshan followed closely behind. The stone steps stretched downwards, their destination unknown. An ancient and weathered aura permeated the air, as if this passage had existed for thousands of years, witnessing the comings and goings of countless generations of Hehuan Sect cultivators.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the space suddenly opened up before Li Hanshan. A huge stone chamber appeared before him, its walls inscribed with dense runes, and its ceiling inlaid with dozens of fist-sized luminous pearls, illuminating the entire chamber. In the very center of the chamber stood a white jade statue. The statue was about ten feet tall, its entire body as white as jade, radiating a warm luster.

Behind the statue, on the wall, hangs a huge portrait.

The portrait was over ten feet wide, depicting a woman in white with cascading long hair, exquisite beauty, and an ethereal air. She stood barefoot by a clear river, its waters babbling, its stones gleaming, and distant mountains shrouded in mist. The woman's lips were slightly upturned, a faint smile playing on her lips, as if she were gazing at someone outside the painting.

Li Hanshan's gaze fell on the portrait, and he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

He knew the woman's face all too well.

Luo Li.

No, that's not right. The woman in the painting possesses a more mature and profound aura than Luo Li. The world-weariness and wisdom in her eyes are something a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl could never have. But that face, those eyebrows, that smile at the corner of her mouth—it's clearly Luo Li!

"This is the founder of the Hehuan Sect." The sect leader's voice came from behind, his tone respectful. "The founder of the entire Hehuan Sect."

Li Hanshan suppressed the turmoil in his heart, keeping a calm expression on his face. He simply nodded, pretending to be seeing the portrait for the first time. But his heart was pounding in his chest, and countless thoughts were churning in his mind.

Luo Li? The founder of the Hehuan Sect? How is that possible?

"Master, where is our ancestral master now?" he asked tentatively.

The sect leader shook his head: "I don't know."

do not know?

That's right. The founder of the Hehuan Sect came from the main sect. The branch sects in the Northern Wilderness know very little about the main sect.

The question is, why does the founder of the Hehuan Sect look exactly like Luo Li? What is their relationship? Is Luo Li her reincarnation? Or her descendant? Or... are they actually the same person?

"Master, why are we the only ones who can see the portrait of the Patriarch?" Li Hanshan suppressed his doubts and asked.

The sect leader glanced at him and said indifferently, "In the Joyful Union Sect, only the Holy Sons and Daughters, the various elders, and the sect leader's and elders' personal disciples are qualified to see the portrait of the founder. As for the other disciples—they are replaced every few years or decades, so seeing it would be pointless for them."

Li Hanshan understood. The turnover rate of disciples in the Hehuan Sect was too high; few could survive, and even fewer could remain. Those who died each year from the draining of their life force, those outer disciples eliminated in the assessments, and those inner disciples who perished in missions—most of them had never even heard of the founder's name, let alone seen his portrait.

"What kind of person was our ancestral master?" Li Hanshan asked again.

The sect leader was silent for a moment, his gaze falling on the portrait, his tone tinged with reminiscence: "Our ancestor... was very mysterious. There are few records left in the sect about her. All we know is that her cultivation was extremely high, far beyond the Nascent Soul stage."

She paused, then sighed, "I have also consulted the sect's records, hoping to learn more about our founder. But the records are pitifully few, as if someone deliberately erased her traces. The main sect is also very tight-lipped about our founder. If you want to know more, you can only go to the Central Continent and investigate personally at the main sect."

Li Hanshan's heart skipped a beat. The main sect. It's the main sect again. It seems that to unravel the mystery between Luo Li and the patriarch, he must go to the Central Continent.

"Your expression just now was a bit off," the sect leader suddenly spoke, looking directly at him. "Have you met the founder?"

Li Hanshan's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface and shook his head, saying, "This disciple has never seen the Ancestor. It's just... I just feel that the Ancestor's appearance is somewhat similar to that of an old friend of mine."

"Oh?" The sect leader raised an eyebrow. "What old friend?"

Li Hanshan sighed, his tone tinged with reminiscence: "That was when I was young. Back then, I hadn't yet embarked on the path of cultivation; I was just an ordinary mortal. I had a friend who looked very much like the Ancestor. Unfortunately, she has long since passed away."

He spoke calmly and composedly, as if he were truly recalling a deceased friend. The sect leader stared at him for a moment, seemingly judging the truthfulness of his words, but ultimately did not press the matter.

"There are quite a few people in the world who look alike," the sect leader said calmly, his tone carrying a hint of profound meaning. "However, the fact that you can see the shadow of an old friend in the portrait of the patriarch can be considered a kind of fate."

Li Hanshan clasped his hands in a fist salute: "This disciple is ashamed."

The sect leader waved his hand, took out a storage bag from his sleeve, and handed it to Li Hanshan. The storage bag was entirely golden, with a faint spiritual light flowing across its surface, clearly indicating that it was of high quality.

"This is a gift from your master," the sect leader said calmly. "Inside are 100,000 spirit stones, three bottles of fifth-grade pills, one fourth-grade magic weapon, and several cultivation techniques suitable for Golden Core cultivators. Go back and cultivate diligently, and strive to break through to the Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible."

Li Hanshan accepted the storage bag with both hands, probing it with his divine sense. He was shocked. One hundred thousand spirit stones, fifth-grade pills, and fourth-grade magic artifacts—this gift was even more generous than he had imagined. Especially the cultivation techniques; each one was of extremely high grade. If placed within the Hehuan Sect, it would be enough to cause a bloodbath.

"Thank you, Master." He solemnly clasped his hands in thanks.

The sect leader nodded and turned to walk out of the stone chamber.

"Let's go. Your injuries haven't healed yet, so go back and rest. You don't need to worry about hunting down the remaining enemies for now. In a few days, I will personally guide your cultivation."

Li Hanshan followed the sect leader out of the stone chamber. The stone door slammed shut behind him, and the runes slowly dimmed, returning to their previous silence.

The two walked back to the main hall one after the other. The sect leader sat down in the main seat and took a sip of tea. Li Hanshan stood in the hall, waiting for her further instructions.

"Is there anything else you want to ask?" The sect leader put down his teacup and said calmly.

Li Hanshan pondered for a moment before finally asking the question that had been lingering in his mind: "Master, when will the people from the main sect come to the Northern Wilderness?"

The sect leader glanced at him, a barely perceptible smile flashing in his eyes: "You're quite impatient. The last batch of holy sons and daughters were taken away five years ago. In another twenty-five years, the main sect will send people to the Northern Wilderness again."

Twenty-five years.

Li Hanshan silently calculated in his heart. Twenty-five days was enough time for him to get a lot done.

Breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage is definitely not a problem, and it's even possible to go even further.

"This disciple understands," he said, clasping his hands in a fist salute. "This disciple takes his leave."

The sect leader nodded, saying nothing more. Li Hanshan turned and walked out of the main hall. The night breeze brushed his face, bringing a touch of coolness. The sky was dotted with stars, and the distant mountain peaks appeared and disappeared in the night.

He took a deep breath, summoned his flying sword, and flew towards the cave.