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

Zhao Yuan's face darkened.

Hua Nongying didn't give him a chance to refute, and continued, "I'm about to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. At that time, I will become a core disciple, and my status will only be higher. And you? An outer sect steward, that's all you'll ever be."

"That still requires a breakthrough."

Zhao Yuan's face was gloomy as he coldly said, "You've been in the Qi Refining stage for three years. If you still can't break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, you must get first place in this sect's grand examination. Otherwise, you'll be relegated to the outer sect, and you'll be in for a world of trouble."

"Then you don't need to worry about it."

Hua Nongying held her pipe horizontally, blocking Li Hanshan's path, her tone resolute: "I'm protecting this man today. If you know what's good for you, get out of here now. If you don't..."

She paused, a cold glint flashing in her eyes: "Then don't blame me for being impolite."

Zhao Yuan's face was so gloomy it could drip water.

He glanced at Hua Nongying, then at Li Hanshan behind her, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"He must die today."

Zhao Yuan said coldly, "You can't protect him."

Hua Nongying's eyes turned cold, and she stopped talking nonsense.

With a flick of her wrist, the pipe spun in her palm, and a surge of rich spiritual energy erupted from her body. As her red sleeves fluttered, dozens of fine needle-like rays shot out from the pipe, covering Zhao Yuan like a tidal wave!

"You dare!"

Zhao Yuan's expression changed. He never expected that Hua Nongying would dare to take the initiative to attack him!

Li Hanshan was somewhat surprised. He thought Hua Nongying was deliberately avoiding him, but who knew that this enchantress would actually come to his rescue at the crucial moment.

For a fleeting moment, he was quite moved. But then he thought, the demoness cared about his cultivation technique and definitely couldn't bear to see him die.

However, this enchantress's ability to reverse her Qi cultivation and establish her foundation was a testament to her strength and courage, which earned Li Hanshan a higher opinion of her.

At the same time, Zhao Yuan saw the needle-like light coming towards him, snorted coldly, and his Foundation Establishment stage spiritual power suddenly erupted, condensing into a semi-transparent spiritual power barrier in front of him.

"Ding ding ding~~"

The needles struck the barrier with a crisp sound and fell to the ground.

"Hua Nongying, with your meager skills, you dare to attack me?" Zhao Yuan sneered. "A Qi Refining cultivator is still just a Qi Refining cultivator; you can't even break through my defenses."

Hua Nongying remained calm and composed, her red lips slightly parted as she gently exhaled a puff of smoke.

The smoke was different from ordinary smoke; it had a faint pink hue, like a wisp of gauze, drifting silently toward Zhao Yuan.

Zhao Yuan initially didn't take it seriously and raised his hand to fan it away. But the smoke seemed to have a mind of its own, bypassing his palm and going straight into his mouth and nose.

"Cough cough~~ What the hell is this thing?"

Zhao Yuan's expression changed drastically. He felt a sweet and cloying aura rushing to the top of his head, and the spiritual power within his body began to surge uncontrollably.

"You! You poisoned me?"

He suddenly took several steps back, circulating his spiritual power to try to expel the aura from his body, but found that the smoke was like a maggot clinging to his bone, impossible to get rid of.

Hua Nongying lazily put away her pipe, a smug smile playing on her lips: "Don't worry, no one will die. But the longer you drag this out, the denser your spiritual energy will become, until it's completely unusable."

Zhao Yuan's face turned ashen. He tried to mobilize his spiritual power, but found it to be extremely stagnant.

"Hua Nongying, you...you are so vicious!"

"Vicious?"

Hua Nongying chuckled lightly, twirling her pipe between her fingers: "Steward Zhao, this is called 'all's fair in war'."

She took a step forward, her eyes flashing with cold light: "Besides, when you tried to kill my furnace, didn't you feel any wickedness?"

Zhao Yuan glared hatefully at Hua Nongying, then looked fiercely at Li Hanshan: "Old man, you're lucky to be alive today. But remember this, this isn't over!"

After saying that, he leaped into the air and disappeared into the horizon as a streak of light.

Sun Ze and his followers saw this from afar and didn't dare to linger. They scrambled away and fled.

Only Li Hanshan and Hua Nongying remained on the open ground.

Hua Nongying turned around, the coldness on her face dissipating, replaced by a pitiful expression.

"Master, you really don't give me a moment's peace~"

She spoke in a coquettish voice, gently poking Li Hanshan's chest with her pipe: "They've only been gone a few days, and you've already run off. And you've even gotten into a fight with an outer sect deacon? Are you tired of living?"

Li Hanshan coughed lightly: "I'm just bored."

Hua Nongying reached out her slender hand and gently stroked Li Hanshan's cheek, her tone becoming unusually tender: "Master, please don't do this again. What will I do if you die?"

Looking at the stunningly beautiful face so close to his eyes, Li Hanshan naturally didn't believe her words.

"Master, let's go back first."

Hua Nongying took his arm, took out her flying sword, and flew with him towards the courtyard.

Back in the room, Hua Nongying asked Li Hanshan to sit down on the bed, while she took out a bunch of things from her storage bag and laid them out on the table one by one.

"Master, look! This is a thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum, this is a Blood Jade Ginseng, this is a Dragon Saliva Fruit..."

She introduced them as if they were her own treasures, each one a rare and precious herb, radiating a rich spiritual energy.

Finally, she carefully took out a jade bottle, held it with both hands, and handed it to Li Hanshan, her eyes full of anticipation: "Master, this is a longevity pill that I obtained at a great price."

"A longevity pill?"

Li Hanshan was taken aback.

"Um!"

Hua Nongying nodded emphatically: "Master, haven't you always been worried about your advanced age and limited lifespan? This longevity pill can extend your life by thirty years. The main reason I went out this time was to find it."

Li Hanshan took the jade bottle, opened the stopper, and a fragrant medicinal aroma wafted out.

He looked up at Hua Nongying and found that the enchantress was staring at him expectantly, with a hint of anticipation in her eyes for praise.

"You...found this especially for me?"

Li Hanshan didn't quite believe it.

"Of course!"

Hua Nongying gently rested her head on his shoulder, her voice as soft as spring water: "Master, although we didn't have a very pleasant time at first, I truly consider you the most important person now."

She raised her head, and her captivating eyes welled up with tears: "Do you know how worried I was during those two days you were unconscious? I was afraid you wouldn't wake up, afraid you... afraid you would just leave us like this."

Li Hanshan fell silent.

He remembered the note Hua Nongying left before she left, and how she said she would find him a miraculous elixir to prolong his life.

He initially thought it was just an excuse, but he never expected her to actually do it.

But was this enchantress really that kind? He didn't believe it.

"Master~"

Hua Nongying's voice was choked with sobs as she gently grasped his hand: "I know you've always been wary of me, afraid that I'll harm you after I reach Foundation Establishment. But I swear to heaven, my feelings for you are genuine."

As she spoke, tears actually fell, one by one, onto the back of Li Hanshan's hand.

Looking at that tear, a certain string in Li Hanshan's heart was gently plucked.

This enchantress... could she really have fallen in love?

But... how is that possible?!

"Okay, stop crying."

He reached out and wiped away the tears on Hua Nongying's face, and said gently, "I believe you."

Hua Nongying burst into laughter through her tears, threw herself into his arms, and wrapped her arms around his neck: "Master, you're so good~"

She raised her head, her red lips slightly parted, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of shyness and anticipation.

Li Hanshan's heart fluttered, and he lowered his head to kiss her.

Hua Nongying let out a soft moan and leaned gently against him, letting him take what he wanted.

The curtains were drawn, and the candlelight flickered.

The beauty of spring overnight needs no further explanation.

In the days that followed, Hua Nongying treated Li Hanshan exceptionally well.

Every morning, she would personally bring him steaming hot medicinal soup and serve it to Li Hanshan; at noon, she would prepare various spiritual fruits and dishes to nourish his body; in the evening, she would nestle obediently in his arms, talk to him, and tell him interesting stories about the sect.

In terms of cultivation, she cooperated fully and never made any demands. When Li Hanshan said he wanted to cultivate, she obediently took off her clothes; when Li Hanshan said he wanted to rest, she gently massaged him.

She even took the initiative to share some of the spirit stones and pills she had originally hidden with Li Hanshan, saying, "What belongs to the master is mine, and what belongs to me is also the master's."

As for the Foundation Establishment matter, she never mentioned it again.

It was as if she had truly forgotten that obsession and was willing to be Li Hanshan's little slave girl.

At first, Li Hanshan remained wary, always feeling that this vixen was plotting something wicked. But as time went on, he gradually relaxed.

After all, who could resist a beautiful woman who is charming and obedient?

What's more, this beauty is completely devoted to him, even giving him a treasure like the Longevity Pill, and wholeheartedly helping him cultivate. It's only been a little over a month since he broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, and his cultivation has already reached the sixth level of Qi Refining.

"Perhaps, she really has changed."

As Li Hanshan thought this, his mental defenses crumbled inch by inch.

He began to enjoy Hua Nongying's gentleness and thoughtfulness, and even began to rely on her companionship.

Every day when he opened his eyes and saw that stunningly beautiful face beside him, he felt that life in the Hehuan Sect wasn't so unbearable after all.

Time slips away quietly in this gentle haven.

That night, Li Hanshan fell into a deep sleep and once again entered that familiar dream.

On the riverbank, on the blue stone, Luo Li still sat there, dressed in white, her bare feet dangling lightly.

"Girl."

Li Hanshan walked over and sat down beside her, saying in a relaxed tone, "I'm here again."

Luo Li turned her head, but her gaze towards him was somewhat strange.

"Grandpa, have you been having a comfortable time lately?" she asked.

Li Hanshan was taken aback, then laughed and said, "It's alright. That demoness has been quite nice to me lately, and she hasn't mentioned Foundation Establishment anymore. It's like she's changed her personality."

"uncle!"

Luo Li interrupted him, her voice suddenly turning serious: "You've fallen under her spell!"

"What?"

Li Hanshan's smile froze.

Luo Li stood up, her face tense: "Look, you're completely infatuated with her now!"

"I...I didn't."

Li Hanshan explained, "I just think she's been behaving well lately, maybe..."

"Maybe what? Maybe I've really fallen for you?"

"Sir, wake up! She's using a subtle, persuasive charm to make you lower your guard and develop feelings for her."

She walked up to Li Hanshan, her brows furrowed: "If this continues, it won't be long before you believe everything she says and do whatever she asks. Then, when she demands you hand over your cultivation technique, will you obediently do so?"

Li Hanshan was struck dumb, frozen in place.

Enchanting magic?

Subtle influence?

He carefully recalled his experiences over the past few days, and the more he thought about it, the more something seemed off.

Hua Nongying's kindness to him was indeed a bit excessive. Moreover, every time she got close, his heart would involuntarily race, his mind would be filled with her image, and he would even lose his focus on cultivation.

"Did I really get infected?"

Li Hanshan finally realized that this witch's methods were incredibly clever; if it weren't for the girl, he would have been finished.

Luo Li sighed, her tone softening: "Grandpa, it's not your fault. That demoness's cultivation was higher than yours, and her charm techniques were hard to defend against. It's normal that you fell for it."

She sat back down on the rock and patted the spot next to her. "Grandpa, come sit down. I happen to have a method for refining your spirit that can help you enhance your divine sense. With a strong divine sense, you can naturally resist bewitching spells."

Li Hanshan sat down opposite Luo Li as instructed, their palms touching.

Luo Li's cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered, "Master, this method of refining the spirit is somewhat special. No matter what happens later, you must not resist."

Li Hanshan nodded: "Girl, I know."

Luo Li used her Refining Spirit Technique to help Li Hanshan cultivate.

As soon as the technique was activated, their souls merged like two clear springs, slowly blending together. The feeling was indescribable.

It wasn't a touch, yet it was more intimate than any touch; it wasn't words, yet it felt as if a thousand words were flowing silently. Our consciousnesses intertwined and blurred, each containing the other, as if we had glimpsed the softest corner of each other's hearts in an instant.

Gentle, tender, with a hint of intoxication, it makes one want to immerse oneself in it.

"Isn't this equivalent to dual cultivation...?"

Li Hanshan suddenly realized that the current fusion of spirit and soul was not dual cultivation, but it was better than dual cultivation. The difference was that it remained at the level of spirit and soul, and it was not as deep as dual cultivation of spirit and soul.

"Girl..." He felt a little guilty, thinking that the girl had made too great a sacrifice.

"Grandpa, don't talk, focus." Luo Li interrupted him softly.