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

The Second Elder's cave dwelling was located high on the main peak, several times larger than Hua Nongying's. Several red maple trees grew in front of the cave entrance, their fiery leaves rustling in the wind. The stone door opened, and Li Hanshan followed the Second Elder inside.

The interior of the cave was far more luxurious than he had imagined. Fist-sized luminous pearls were inlaid in the stone walls, illuminating the entire cave as if it were daytime. Thick animal-hide carpets covered the floor, soft and smooth underfoot. A huge stone couch sat in the center, covered with brocade rugs and soft pillows, looking quite comfortable. A faint, delicate fragrance permeated the air, an indescribable scent, neither quite orchid nor quite musk, its aroma stirring the soul.

The Second Elder walked to the stone bed, turned around, and looked at Li Hanshan. Today, she was wearing a long red dress, her long hair casually tied in a bun, with a few strands falling beside her ears. She looked less dignified than usual, and more carefree. A smile graced her beautiful face, and she seemed to be in a good mood.

"Lie down." She pointed to the stone bed, her tone flat, as if she were giving a trivial instruction.

Li Hanshan glanced at her, asked no further questions, and obediently lay down on the stone bed.

The Second Elder sat down beside him and placed her hand on his dantian. A warm spiritual energy surged from her palm and entered his dantian. Li Hanshan could clearly feel that the spiritual energy was carefully guiding the pure yang energy within his body, drawing it out bit by bit.

The process was not painful; in fact, it was quite comfortable. As the pure yang energy was drawn out of the body, it carried a warm sensation, flowing slowly along the meridians like a gentle stream. However, Li Hanshan dared not let his guard down, keeping his divine sense constantly focused on the Second Elder's every move, ready to retaliate immediately at the slightest sign of trouble.

The Second Elder's technique was very professional, and he didn't feel any discomfort. She drew out strands of pure Yang energy, sealing them into a jade bottle. Li Hanshan could feel the pure Yang energy in his dantian slowly decreasing. Although it wasn't much, it added up, and if she continued to draw it out like this, his foundation would be damaged sooner or later.

He was considering whether or not to call for a halt when the Second Elder suddenly withdrew his hand.

"That's enough." She sealed the jade bottle, put it in her sleeve, and stood up.

Li Hanshan also sat up from the stone bed, stretched his body, and found that the pure yang energy in his dantian was indeed less, but it was still within an acceptable range and had no obvious impact on his foundation. He breathed a sigh of relief and was about to say goodbye when he found the Second Elder standing by the stone bed, arms crossed, a half-smile on his lips, looking down at him.

The look in his eyes was rather strange, as if he were examining something interesting.

"What's wrong?" The Second Elder raised an eyebrow. "You seem disappointed?"

Li Hanshan was taken aback: "Disappointed?"

"I thought you thought I was going to drain your essence," the Second Elder chuckled, his tone slightly mischievous. "Look at you, lying there like a log, as if you're afraid I'll do something to you."

Li Hanshan's expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "Second Elder is joking. This disciple is just a little nervous. After all, Second Elder is a Nascent Soul senior, and this disciple dares not be presumptuous."

"Nervous?" The Second Elder's smile deepened. "Nervous, or regretful?"

Li Hanshan raised an eyebrow slightly: "This disciple does not understand what the Second Elder means."

The Second Elder did not answer immediately, but slowly walked up to him, looking down at him. She was very close, close enough that Li Hanshan could smell her fragrance and see the curve of her eyelashes. She reached out, her slender fingers gently lifting his chin, forcing him to look up at her.

"I'm asking you," she said in a low voice, tinged with a languid quality and an ambiguous meaning, "if I were to grant you my favor, would you be willing?"

Li Hanshan's heart skipped a beat.

He looked at the Second Elder's face so close to his, at her smiling eyes, and her slightly upturned red lips. He had to admit, the Second Elder was indeed very beautiful. Not the alluring beauty of Qin Muyue, nor the aloof beauty of Leng Yue, but a mature woman's beauty, like a ripe peach, so juicy that it would burst with flavor with just one bite.

"Of course I'm willing," he said frankly, without the slightest hesitation.

The Second Elder's smile deepened, but instead of withdrawing her hand, she moved even closer, her red lips almost touching his earlobe, her warm breath brushing against his neck.

"What if I told you that after I let you kiss me, I would suck you dry? Would you still be willing?"

Li Hanshan's body stiffened slightly.

He looked into the Second Elder's smiling eyes, trying to find a hint of a joke in them. But the Second Elder's expression was too natural, so natural that he couldn't tell if she was joking or serious.

"I don't want to," he answered honestly.

The second elder released his grip, took a step back, and chuckled. His clear, melodious laughter echoed through the cave, carrying a touch of childlike smugness.

"You're honest enough." After she finished laughing, she stopped and said seriously, "This elder wouldn't offend the sect leader for a little bit of pure yang energy. Don't worry, the little bit of pure yang energy you just drew won't affect your foundation. You'll be able to recover in a few days."

Li Hanshan clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Second Elder."

The Second Elder waved her hand without replying. She turned around, walked to the entrance of the cave, looked at the sea of ​​clouds outside, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly spoke.

"Li Hanshan, have you ever wondered why the sect leader would accept you as a disciple?"

Li Hanshan was taken aback.

He had indeed thought about this question, but each time he felt the answer was simple—because his performance on the battlefield was outstanding, his battle merits were the highest in the entire army, and it was only natural for the sect leader to keep his promise and accept him as a disciple. But the Second Elder's question made him realize that things were not so simple.

"This disciple is dull-witted, please enlighten me, Second Elder," he said.

The Second Elder did not turn around, still gazing at the sea of ​​clouds outside, his voice unhurried: "The Sect Master has never taken on a disciple. She has been the Sect Master of the Joyful Union Sect for over a hundred years, and she has never had a single personal disciple. You are the first."

Li Hanshan fell silent. He knew, of course, that he was the sect leader's only personal disciple, but he had never thought deeply about the reasons behind it.

"What do you think the sect leader's cultivation level is?" the second elder asked again.

"Peak of the Nascent Soul stage," Li Hanshan said.

"Do you know how many years the sect leader has been stuck at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage?"

Li Hanshan shook his head.

"Eighty years." The Second Elder turned around, looked into his eyes, and said, "Eighty years, not an inch forward."

Li Hanshan's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't personally experienced the torment of being stuck at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage for eighty years, but he could imagine it. The Third Elder had been stuck at the peak of the Golden Core stage for decades and was already extremely anxious, even resorting to an ambush to kill him. How anxious must the Sect Master be, stuck for eighty years?

"What does the Second Elder mean?" he asked tentatively.

"I didn't mean anything by it," the Second Elder interrupted him, a faint, ambiguous smile returning to his lips. "I was just asking casually. Figure it out yourself."

She paused, then added, "The sect leader is at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage; surely he wouldn't covet your mere Golden Core's pure Yang energy?"

These words were spoken lightly, but Li Hanshan understood the underlying meaning.

Wouldn't you covet it?

Not necessarily.

The Second Elder seemed to see through his thoughts, chuckled, and said, "Even you all want to go to the main sect, doesn't the sect leader want to go?"

Li Hanshan's pupils contracted slightly.

Yes. Even these Golden Core stage disciples are desperate to go to the main sect, so how could the sect leader, a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, not want to go? With her cultivation and experience, if she could go to the main sect, her status and resources would definitely far surpass those in the Northern Wilderness. But why doesn't she go? Is it because she doesn't have the opportunity, or... is she unable to go?

"The main sect only receives Golden Core stage Holy Maidens and Holy Sons," the Second Elder said calmly. "Nascent Soul stage cultivators are not included in the reception. If you want to go to the Central Continent, you either need to wait for special permission from the main sect or cross the Endless Sea on your own."

She paused, her gaze deepening: "Crossing the Endless Sea is a perilous journey for anyone below the Nascent Soul stage, with nine out of ten chances of survival. A special approval… Do you think the Sect Master, after waiting so many years, has finally received it?"

Li Hanshan remained silent.

"Therefore, if the sect leader wants to go to the Central Continent, there are only two paths. Either break through to the Nascent Soul stage and cross the Endless Sea on his own, or... use some special method to greatly increase his cultivation in a short period of time, attract the attention of the main sect, and be exceptionally admitted." The Second Elder's voice was very low, as if he were talking about a secret that could not be told.

"What special method?" Li Hanshan asked.

The Second Elder did not answer directly, but only glanced at him, a glance that was full of meaning.

"Come with me."

She turned and walked out of the cave, transforming into a streak of red light and flying towards the back mountain. Li Hanshan hesitated for a moment, but still summoned his flying sword and followed.