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

The candlelight in the stone house flickered gently in the night breeze, lengthening and shortening the shadows of everyone present.

After Li Hanshan finished speaking, the room was quiet for a moment, with only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks in the distance seeping in through the window cracks, one after another, exceptionally clear in the silence.

Hua Nongying broke the silence first. Leaning back in her chair, she finally lit her pipe, the smoke rising and obscuring half her face, but her captivating eyes pierced the smoke, staring directly at Li Hanshan: "Not returning to the Huan Sect? Then where do you plan to place us?"

"On my way here, I discovered a place," Li Hanshan tapped his fingers on the table. "It's not too far from the Hehuan Sect. There's a hidden vein there; while the spiritual energy concentration isn't as high as the Dragon Spine Vein, it's much stronger than Seagod Island. The terrain is also well-hidden; the entrance is concealed by a natural formation, making it impossible for ordinary cultivators to find. I've reinforced the restrictions at the entrance and set up several early warning formations."

Hua Nongying put down her pipe, her expression becoming more serious: "You mean, we're going to build a new base there?"

"Hmm." Li Hanshan nodded. "Although Seagod Island is safe, it's located in the endless sea, where the concentration of spiritual energy is limited. Your cultivation has already passed the stage where you need to rely on the flesh and blood of demonic beasts to temper your bodies. If you continue to stay here, your cultivation speed will only slow down. That hidden meridian, though not large, is enough to support your breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage. Once your cultivation has improved, we can consider the next step."

Yun Shuyue asked softly, "How many people can live there?"

"I've roughly estimated that it's enough to house dozens of people. The cave dwellings can be carved along the spiritual vein, and there's enough water. Once you're settled, I'll come back regularly to help you set up defensive formations and spirit-guiding arrays."

Liu Ruoxue spoke, a rare occurrence, her voice cold and clear: "How do we protect ourselves when you're not around?"

"Xiao An." Li Hanshan raised his hand, and a black light shot out from the soul banner, landing in front of everyone.

Xiao An's soul was much more solid than before, the yin energy surrounding her was restrained and as still as water, and her features were so clear that there was almost no trace of a yin spirit. Hua Nongying had seen Xiao An many times, but at this moment, sensing the profound and vast pressure emanating from her, she couldn't help but gasp: "A Nascent Soul cultivator?"

"Yes," Li Hanshan said, "She has already broken through to the Nascent Soul stage. When I'm not around, she will stay by your side and protect you."

The women's gazes all fell on Xiao An, filled with surprise and a sense of relief. A Yin Soul at the Nascent Soul level would be more than enough to serve as a protector in any second- or third-rate sect in the Central Continent.

Jiang Nianwei, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, finally spoke, her voice clear yet serious: "Are you sure the location of that hidden vein is safe?"

"I've already taken multiple layers of concealment," Li Hanshan interrupted her. "The natural array at the entrance is inherently deceptive, and I've added four more layers of concealment around it. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator's divine sense would mistake it for an ordinary mountain wall. Unless a Void Refinement level elder comes to investigate personally, it won't be exposed."

Jiang Nianwei nodded and didn't ask any more questions. She was always cautious, but since Li Hanshan had considered things so thoroughly, she didn't say anything more.

In fact, Li Hanshan's plan was also a last resort.

Leaving them in the Endless Sea will slow down their cultivation progress.

It must be carried with you at a distance.

But given the current situation, bringing them into the Hehuan Sect would not be a good thing.

Entering the main sect of the Hehuan Sect is not easy. Even if they are disciples of a branch sect, the elders can set up obstacles and make things difficult for them, and may even turn them into furnaces.

Therefore, the current solution is actually the best.

Han Yan walked over from the wall, her long black dress shimmering faintly in the candlelight. Her tone was decisive: "Since you've made the arrangements, we'll do as you say."

Hua Nongying asked, "When do we depart?"

Li Hanshan said, "Wait a little longer, I'll go back to the Northern Wilderness."

He was preparing to return to the Northern Wilderness, and he was taking one person with him.

Second Elder.

Shen Ruoxi had promised the Second Elder that she would take her to the main sect, but in the end, she didn't.

Li Hanshan's trip this time was to fulfill his promise.

The Second Elder's cultivation level is not low, which will allow him to advance his cultivation level even faster in the future.

A day later, the flying boat headed towards the northern wilderness.

Upon entering the Northern Wilderness, familiar mountains and rivers unfolded beneath my feet, but the air and spiritual energy seemed to have thinned considerably.

Several days later, the five peaks of the Northern Wilderness Branch of the Hehuan Sect came into view at the edge of the horizon. The light of the mountain protection array was much dimmer than before, and the stone steps in front of the mountain gate were covered with withered leaves that no one had swept. Several disciples wearing gray outer sect uniforms were leaning lazily against the gateposts chatting, looking rather listless.

Li Hanshan did not disturb the disciples. His Nascent Soul level divine sense was like an invisible net, silently covering the entire branch sect.

Seated in the main hall of the main peak was a familiar figure—Su Yuan, the male cultivator who had come with Liu Ying to take over the branch sect. His cultivation at the late Nascent Soul stage had improved even further since a few years ago. He was leaning back in his seat, eyes closed, meditating, with an open jade slip beside him. Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard on the south side of the main peak, Li Hanshan sensed another familiar aura.

Second Elder.

She was still wearing that red dress, but the color of the robe was much darker than before.

Her cultivation level was still at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, but she was locked in the courtyard, injured, and there were restrictions outside the courtyard that were enough to trap her.

Two male cultivators at the Golden Core stage stood outside the courtyard gate, clearly acting as guards.

Li Hanshan withdrew his gaze and it fell on Su Yuan in the main hall of the main peak. His fingers tightened slightly, but he did not make a move immediately. He waited until nightfall.

The night was as dark as ink, and the candles in the main hall had long since gone out. Su Yuan was meditating in the inner room when he suddenly felt a chilling pressure surging from all directions. He abruptly opened his eyes and saw a figure in cyan standing before him, with a young face, calm gaze, and an aura as unfathomable as a deep, cold pool.

"You..." Su Yuan hadn't finished speaking when he recognized the face. Although he looked much younger than a few years ago, he would never mistake those eyes—Li Hanshan. The old man from the Northern Wilderness who had followed Ye Shuanghua to the Central Continent.

"Li Hanshan?! Didn't you go to Zhongzhou—"

"They went, and they're back." Li Hanshan's voice was calm. "Where is the Second Elder?"

Su Yuan's face turned deathly pale instantly. He tried to activate his spiritual power, but found that his dantian was as if bound by an iron band, his spiritual power stagnating and frozen. The oppressive feeling was too heavy, so heavy that he couldn't even lift a finger. Li Hanshan just stood there watching him, as if looking at an ant within reach.

"You... what is your cultivation level?" Su Yuan's voice trembled.

Su Yuan never expected that Li Hanshan's cultivation level would become so terrifying in just a few years!

day!

How did he cultivate? Is he even human?

Li Hanshan did not answer. He raised his hand, and a stream of purplish-gold spiritual energy surged from his palm, precisely entering Su Yuan's dantian. Su Yuan groaned, his body stiffening abruptly, the flow of spiritual energy on the surface of his nascent soul completely sealed off. He struggled a couple of times, then collapsed to the ground like a piece of wood stripped of its tendons and bones, his eyes filled with terror.

"Did you inflict the Second Elder's injuries?"

"No, no." Su Yuan shook his head hurriedly, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. "I just asked her to think about it... Pfft..."

Before Su Yuan could speak, he was struck by Li Hanshan and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

That blow nearly killed him.

Li Hanshan didn't ask any more questions. He turned and walked out of the main hall. In the night, the purple-gold light flashed like a silent lightning bolt, sweeping across the secluded courtyard on the south side of the main peak. The two guarding cultivators didn't even have time to react before they were struck in the dantian by two precise bursts of spiritual energy and collapsed to the ground.

The courtyard gate opened, and the Second Elder, who was leaning against the stone wall with her eyes closed, began to meditate. Hearing the noise, she abruptly opened her eyes. When her gaze fell on the figure in the doorway, her beautiful eyes widened in surprise for a moment before suddenly snapping open. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but Li Hanshan spoke first: "I've come to get you."

The second elder stared at him for a long while, then turned his head away, quickly wiping the corner of his eye with his sleeve. His voice was hoarse but carried a hint of stubbornness: "You old man, why did you take so long to come?"

She stood up, her red dress fluttering slightly in the night wind. Though disheveled, she still carried that defiant spirit. Li Hanshan reached out and supported her arm, channeling pure Yang energy into her meridians through his palm.

The Second Elder's body trembled slightly as she felt an extremely warm and soothing aura enter her body, nourishing her dantian. The exhilarating feeling of her spiritual energy being restored made her involuntarily take a small breath.

"You're badly injured," Li Hanshan sensed the state of her dantian. "Come with me first. You'll recover slowly on the way."