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

The sound of flowing water murmured in my ears, and the river breeze brought a touch of coolness.

Li Hanshan sat on the bluestone, looking at the face beside him that was exactly the same as the founder of the Hehuan Sect, his mind churning with countless questions. But he dared not ask. At least not now. Although the sense of crisis had dissipated as he suppressed his questions, it still hung like a sword over his head, reminding him that there were some things he couldn't say.

Luo Li seemed oblivious to his odd behavior, still smiling as she leaned against him, her bare feet gently swaying, her toes creating ripples on the water's surface.

"Grandpa, you're badly injured this time." She tilted her head and looked him over, her clear eyes filled with concern. "That Third Elder was at least a peak Golden Core cultivator. You managed to kill him, which is quite impressive."

Li Hanshan smiled bitterly: "I almost died there. Luckily, I had Xiao An and Xiao Shou."

Luo Li nodded, then fell silent for a moment. She raised her head, gazing at the distant horizon shrouded in mist, a barely perceptible hint of seriousness flashing in her clear eyes.

"Grandpa, I probably won't be coming into dreams for a while." Her voice was a little softer than usual.

Li Hanshan frowned: "What's wrong?"

Luo Li withdrew her gaze, turned to look at him, and smiled again, but with a hint of seriousness in her expression: "I sense an opportunity for a breakthrough. I'll be going into seclusion for a while to break through this bottleneck. During this time, I can't be distracted, so I probably won't be able to see you in my dreams anymore."

Li Hanshan was overjoyed and sincerely said, "Girl, you're about to break through? Congratulations!"

Luo Li nodded, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes. "I don't know how long this seclusion will last. It could be a few months, a year or two, or even longer. Grandpa, please be careful while I'm gone. Places like the Hehuan Sect are dangerous at every turn."

Li Hanshan felt a warmth in his heart and said gently, "Don't worry, I can take care of myself. As for you, your focus is on breaking through in seclusion, so don't worry about me."

Luo Li smiled, then suddenly changed the subject: "Grandpa, guess what my cultivation level is now?"

Li Hanshan was taken aback, then fell into deep thought. In his dream, Luo Li had taught him cultivation techniques, helped him refine his spirit, and imparted array formations to him—every single thing far exceeded the capabilities of a Golden Core cultivator. The ancient methods she casually taught him, any one of which could easily cause a bloodbath. Such profound knowledge and insight were absolutely beyond the reach of a Golden Core cultivator.

"Golden Core?" he guessed tentatively.

Luo Li shook her head, her smile deepening.

"Nascent Soul?" Li Hanshan guessed again.

Luo Li shook her head again.

Li Hanshan took a deep breath, already having the answer in his heart, yet still finding it somewhat unbelievable: "Could it be... a Nascent Soul cultivator?"

Luo Li blinked and nodded gently: "Grandpa, you guessed right."

Li Hanshan gasped.

Transformation into a deity.

Luo Li was actually a Nascent Soul cultivator.

He had been in the Hehuan Sect for over two years, and the strongest person he had ever seen was the Sect Master—a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. The First Elder and Second Elder were mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, and the Golden Core elders, quasi-holy maidens, and quasi-holy sons were insignificant. He had originally thought that the Nascent Soul stage was the pinnacle of existence on this land, but he never expected that Luo Li would be a whole realm higher than the Sect Master.

"Girl, you're amazing!" Li Hanshan couldn't help but exclaim. "Our Hehuan Sect's most powerful sect leader is only at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. You're actually at the Deity Transformation stage?"

Upon hearing the words "Hehuan Sect," Luo Li frowned slightly but said nothing. She simply smiled and said calmly, "A mere Nascent Soul cultivator may seem impressive to you, but in our Yaoguang Sect, I'm just a junior."

Li Hanshan was shocked.

In the Yao Guang Sect, being a Nascent Soul cultivator is considered a junior.

What level of cultivation do the elders and sect leader of the Yaoguang Sect possess? What realms lie beyond the Nascent Soul stage?

He suddenly remembered what the sect leader had said—in the Central Continent, Nascent Soul cultivators were as numerous as hairs on a cow, and even Deity Transformation cultivators weren't considered strong. If the Yao Guang Sect were in the Central Continent, then Luo Li's cultivation level certainly wouldn't be considered top-tier. But even so, Deity Transformation was already an existence far beyond his imagination.

"Girl, your Yaoguang Sect...is in Zhongzhou?" he asked tentatively.

Luo Li nodded, not denying it: "Yes, Central Continent. The Yao Guang Sect is a major righteous sect in Central Continent, with countless powerful experts. My cultivation level is indeed not high enough to rank among them."

Li Hanshan remained silent for a moment, a complex emotion welling up inside him.

He had always thought Luo Li was just a disciple of some small sect, at most a Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivator. He never expected that she was actually a disciple of a major righteous sect in the Central Continent, and a Nascent Soul cultivator at that. And the cultivation techniques, spells, pill formulas, and formations she taught him—any one of them would be enough to drive the cultivators of the Northern Wilderness mad.

"Girl, you said you wanted to break through..." Li Hanshan suddenly thought of something, his voice changing, "If you break through, wouldn't you be above the Nascent Soul stage?"

Luo Li nodded, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes: "Yes. If I succeed in this seclusion, I will be able to step into the realm beyond the Nascent Soul stage."

Above the level of Divine Transformation.

Li Hanshan took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart. He had thought that the Nascent Soul stage was an unattainable goal, and the Divine Transformation stage was something he wouldn't even dare to dream of. But Luo Li was about to break through to the Divine Transformation stage.

"Girl, I didn't expect you to be so amazing," he said sincerely.

Luo Li smiled and gently patted his shoulder: "Grandpa, you're not bad either. In just over two years, you went from a mortal to a Golden Core cultivator, and a Celestial-grade Golden Core at that. That talent and speed are top-notch even in the Central Continent. When you go to the Central Continent, you might go even further than me."

Li Hanshan smiled wryly: "The matter of Zhongzhou is still far off. The main sect will not send anyone for another twenty-five years, and whether or not we will be selected is still unknown."

Luo Li waved her hand, her tone confident: "I can definitely do it. Your aptitude is far superior to those so-called holy sons and daughters. The people of the main sect aren't blind; they will definitely choose you."

She paused, then suddenly said seriously, "Master, before I go into seclusion, let me help you refine your spiritual sense again and see if you can break through to the Nascent Soul level. Although your cultivation is only at the fourth level of the Golden Core stage, if your spiritual sense can reach the Nascent Soul stage first, your chances of survival will be much greater."

Li Hanshan quickly waved his hand: "Girl, no need. Your breakthrough is more important, my matter is not urgent."

Luo Li shook her head, her tone earnest: "It's alright. Helping Grandpa refine his spirit will also benefit me. The fusion of spiritual consciousness is bidirectional; as Grandpa's spiritual consciousness strengthens, my soul power will also be tempered. Adjusting my condition to its best before going into seclusion will actually increase my chances of breaking through."

Li Hanshan looked into her eyes and knew she wasn't just being polite. He was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Well... thank you for your hard work, girl."

Luo Li smiled, reached out, and gently took his hand.

Their palms touched, and warm soul power surged from them like a hot spring, slowly flowing into his sea of ​​consciousness. Unlike before, this soul power was purer and more abundant, as if she had transferred a portion of her own divine soul essence to him.

Li Hanshan closed his eyes, letting the gentle yet powerful force guide his consciousness, guiding it along the path of the Divine Refinement Technique. Nourished by the soul power, his consciousness grew wildly, like a torrent surging into a dried-up riverbed, expanding and rising inch by inch.

Golden Core Level 5. Golden Core Level 6. Golden Core Level 7.

The intensity of his divine sense soared, quickly surpassing the level of the late Golden Core stage and heading towards the peak of the Golden Core stage. But Luo Li did not stop; her soul power continued to pour in, as if she wanted to push Li Hanshan's divine sense to the Nascent Soul stage in one fell swoop.

The barrier between the Golden Core and the Nascent Soul began to loosen under the impact of Luo Li's soul power. Li Hanshan felt a violent tremor coming from the depths of his sea of ​​consciousness, as if something was breaking out of its cocoon.

"Stay calm." Luo Li's voice rang in his mind, tinged with weariness but still firm, "Grandpa, don't resist, let your divine sense grow naturally."

Li Hanshan took a deep breath, casting aside all distracting thoughts, and allowed his divine sense to continue to rise under the guidance of Luo Li's soul power.

Time passed in the dream.

After an unknown amount of time, a muffled rumble came from the depths of the sea of ​​consciousness. The barrier that had stood between the Golden Core and the Nascent Soul finally shattered.

His divine sense, like a wild horse unleashed, expanded wildly in all directions. What was originally limited to covering only a hundred miles now surged several times over. He could even clearly "see" the entire boundary of the dream—that golden membrane, which trembled slightly under the impact of his divine sense, but did not shatter.

Nascent Soul level divine consciousness.

It became.

Luo Li withdrew her hand and let out a long breath. Her face was much paler than before, fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and even her breathing became somewhat unsteady.

"Girl, are you alright?" Li Hanshan quickly helped her up.

Luo Li shook her head and forced a smile: "It's nothing, just a bit tiring. I'll be fine after a rest."

Looking at her exhausted appearance, Li Hanshan felt a surge of indescribable bitterness in his heart. She was a Nascent Soul cultivator who had helped him elevate his divine sense to the Core Formation level; logically, she shouldn't be this tired. Yet, her appearance clearly showed that she had consumed a large amount of her divine soul essence.

"Girl, you..."

"Grandpa, don't worry." Luo Li interrupted him, standing up. "I have to go. After my seclusion, I don't know when we'll meet again. Grandpa, please take care."

Li Hanshan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he couldn't say anything.

Luo Li smiled, turned, and walked into the mist. Her white figure gradually blurred and finally disappeared into the depths of the dream.