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

The commotion in the square continued, with the disciples who had gathered around like a swarm of bees whose nest had been disturbed, their discussions rising in waves.

Li Hanshan stepped off the arena, his expression calm, as if the battle had merely been a routine stretch. However, the fact that most of his pure yang fire had been consumed was undeniable; his fingertips were still slightly hot, and a subtle emptiness emanated from his meridians.

As he walked through the crowd and out of the square, a figure was waiting for him on the stone steps at the edge of the square.

Ye Shuanghua was still dressed in that silver-white outfit, her long hair tied in a high ponytail, and the Jinghong Sword hanging at her waist. Her usually cold eyes held a rare hint of warmth, like a fine crack on the surface of winter ice.

"Well done." Ye Shuanghua was clearly very satisfied with Li Hanshan.

Li Hanshan humbly replied, "Senior Sister, you flatter me."

Ye Shuanghua turned around and walked towards the main peak: "Follow me."

The two walked one after the other along the mountain path, through the mist-shrouded stone steps, and past several groups of disciples gathered to discuss today's competition, until they arrived at a secluded courtyard. The courtyard was small, with a clump of purple bamboo growing there, its shadows rustling in the twilight. Ye Shuanghua pushed open the courtyard gate and went inside, gesturing for Li Hanshan to sit at the stone table in the courtyard. She sat down opposite him, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "Chen Jie won't let this go."

Li Hanshan nodded.

He knew, of course, that Chen Jie was behind all of this.

This guy represents the younger generation of disciples in the Elders' Council, how could he allow Li Hanshan to steal the limelight?

"He will take action himself." Ye Shuanghua's voice was confident. "With his cultivation at the third level of the Nascent Soul stage, it's not unprecedented for him to voluntarily lower himself to participate in the Nascent Soul group competition. As long as he suppresses his cultivation to the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, it won't violate the rules. When he says something nice like 'guiding the younger generation' to you on the stage, even if he beats you severely, no one will have time to gossip."

Li Hanshan was silent for a moment: "Even if I suppress my cultivation, the experience and spiritual energy quality of someone at the third level of the Nascent Soul stage far surpass those at the peak of the Core Formation stage. If he really wanted to cripple me, there are many ways he could do it cleanly and efficiently."

"So, you need to be careful."

Ye Shuanghua looked at him and said, "Safety comes first. If things really get too difficult, I suggest you just admit defeat and don't force yourself."

Admit defeat?

Li Hanshan shook his head: "Senior sister, if I admit defeat, how can I win first place in the Nascent Soul group?"

Just as Ye Shuanghua was about to speak, a voice came from the direction of the courtyard gate. "Junior brother has such high aspirations, senior sister likes it, hehe."

The two turned their heads simultaneously, and saw a figure in cyan gracefully walking towards them from the twilight. Zhang Qingxuan was still wearing that light cyan dress, her long hair casually tied up with a white jade hairpin, her face gentle, and her steps unhurried. As she entered the courtyard, an aura as calm as autumn water silently spread out, as if even the spiritual mist in the air became more docile.

Ye Shuanghua: "Senior Sister, what brings you here?"

"Let's take a look at the rising star of our sect leader's lineage." Zhang Qingxuan walked to the stone table and sat down opposite Li Hanshan. Her watery eyes fell on his face, scrutinizing him with admiration. "A seventh-level Nascent Soul cultivator defeated a half-step Deity Transformation cultivator and even broke the Yin Sha Dharma Form. Such a feat is something that might not be seen even once in decades among inner disciples. Junior Sister Ye, in accepting disciples on behalf of the master, has indeed taken in a fine seedling."

As she spoke, she took out a warm, smooth jade slip from her sleeve, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Li Hanshan: "That last sword strike today truly amazed me, Senior Sister. Although the skill is still a bit lacking, the approach is correct. This jade slip contains a cultivation guide for the Fire-type Nascent Soul stage. Keep it and read it; it should be useful."

Li Hanshan accepted the jade slip without hesitation, and clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Senior Sister."

Zhang Qingxuan waved her hand, her gaze sweeping over his face, and suddenly said, "Your cultivation is progressing faster than I expected. If this continues, you might really have a chance to become the number one in the Nascent Soul group."

She paused, a smile in her eyes that Li Hanshan couldn't quite decipher, "So, I want to reward you this time."

Li Hanshan was slightly taken aback: "A reward?"

"Hmm." Zhang Qingxuan leaned back in her chair, her posture relaxed, and tapped her fingers lightly on the edge of the stone table twice. "You defeated Wu Qingfeng today, which brought a lot of honor to the sect leader's lineage. As your senior sister, I can't just leave without doing anything."

Her gaze carried a relaxed languor, as if she were saying something perfectly ordinary: "I have a unique cultivation method here. For me, it's cultivation, but for you, it's a reward."

Ye Shuanghua paused in her teacup-picking motion, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately only took a sip and remained silent. Zhang Qingxuan seemed to notice Ye Shuanghua's subtle reaction, turning her head to glance at her, her smile deepening: "Don't worry, Junior Sister Ye, I won't take advantage of him."

She spoke lightly, with a hint of joking, but Li Hanshan noticed that when she said "no," her tone became slightly heavier for a moment, as if she were making a deliberate assurance.

Li Hanshan hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I appreciate Senior Sister's kindness. However, I was quite exhausted from the battle just now. I'll continue another day—"

"Don't be so quick to refuse." Zhang Qingxuan interrupted him, a mischievous glint flashing in her watery eyes. "Do you know what kind of physique I cultivate? I have an extremely Yin physique."

His extremely Yin body was a perfect match for his pure Yang body.

Xu Lingxi's extremely Yin constitution had greatly benefited Li Hanshan.

"Are you sure you don't want to?" Zhang Qingxuan tilted her head slightly, her fingertips tapping slowly on the edge of the stone table. Her voice carried a lazy yet serious tone. "My physique is very special. If you and I cultivate together, the tempering effect produced by the fusion of pure yang energy and extreme yin energy will be far stronger than you imagine. I guarantee it will make you feel like you're in heaven."

Her gaze was fixed on him. "It can also help you advance your cultivation level further."

The temptation of those words was too great. What Li Hanshan needed most right now was to improve his cultivation level as quickly as possible before the competition.

Although he defeated Wu Qingfeng today, he knew in his heart that if he had not broken through to the seventh level of the Nascent Soul stage in advance, he would not have been able to survive this battle.

The next opponent is most likely Chen Jie, the Elder Council disciple at the third level of the Nascent Soul stage.

Ye Shuanghua put down her teacup and spoke up, a rare occurrence for her: "She's right. If someone else had said that, I might have stopped you, but Senior Sister's Yin constitution is indeed special. You should try it; you won't regret it."

Li Hanshan remained silent for a few moments, then finally clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhang Qingxuan and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Sister."

Zhang Qingxuan stood up and waved to him: "Come with me."

She turned and walked briskly into the depths of the courtyard. Li Hanshan rose and followed. The two passed through the moon gate hidden by bamboo shadows, turned a corner into a winding corridor, and stopped in front of a carved wooden door. Zhang Qingxuan pushed open the door and went inside, with Li Hanshan following behind her. The door closed silently behind them.

The furnishings inside the house were much more exquisite than those in the courtyard outside.

A soft couch covered with brocade sat in the center of the room, its sides draped with pale blue gauze curtains. A burner of delicate incense burned on the windowsill, its smoke rising gently in the candlelight, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance. A tranquil atmosphere filled the air, soothing the mind. The glow of a luminous pearl cast soft shadows on the gauze curtains, bathing the entire room in a warm, inviting light.

Zhang Qingxuan sat down on the soft couch, patted the spot next to her, and said with a smile, "Don't be afraid, let me do it."

Her voice was gentle, as if she were coaxing a nervous child. Li Hanshan sat down on the edge of the couch, about to say something, when Zhang Qingxuan gently pressed his shoulder, pulled him back onto the brocade mattress, and then straddled him.

"Senior Sister—" Li Hanshan's words were interrupted by her actions. Zhang Qingxuan looked down at him, her watery eyes holding a gentle yet focused light, and said softly, "Relax, I'll take care of it."

Her voice was low, like a warm spring breeze brushing past your ear, "Just enjoy it."

"Your senior sister will make you very comfortable."

Li Hanshan could feel the warmth of her fingertips seeping through the fabric, a delicate and gentle touch.

As she bent down, a delicate fragrance, neither quite orchid nor sweet, enveloped him. The light from the luminous pearl above his head shone through her flowing hair, casting a shimmering pattern of light before his eyes.

The night is still long.