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

Over the next few days, Li Hanshan followed Jiang Nianwei as they searched deep into the mountains.

Jiang Nianwei was looking for a spiritual herb called "Jade Bone Flower," which was said to be the main ingredient for refining a certain Golden Core-level elixir. This spiritual herb was extremely rare, growing in the crevices of mountain cliffs rich in spiritual energy, and it only bloomed on the night of the full moon, otherwise it looked no different from ordinary weeds.

"No wonder Elder Jiang searched for so long without finding it." Li Hanshan looked at the wild grass covering the mountainside and couldn't help but sigh. To find a spiritual herb that was no different from ordinary wild grass among so many wild grasses was like finding a needle in a haystack.

The two wandered deep into the mountains for several days, but Jiang Nianwei still found nothing. Although she remained outwardly calm, the worry between her brows grew deeper and deeper.

"Is this Jade Bone Flower used to save people?" Li Hanshan couldn't help but ask.

Jiang Nianwei was silent for a moment, then nodded: "An old friend of mine has been poisoned by fire. Without the Jade Bone Flower as a medicinal ingredient, he has at most six months left."

Li Hanshan didn't ask any further questions. For Jiang Nianwei, a Golden Core cultivator, to personally travel deep into the Demon Beast Mountain Range to search for medicine, and to be so worried, her relationship with that old friend must be quite close.

That night, the two found shelter in a cave. Jiang Nianwei sat cross-legged in meditation, while Li Hanshan leaned against the cave wall, feigning sleep.

Suddenly, a slight noise came from the spirit beast pouch.

A thought struck Li Hanshan, and he quietly probed the spirit beast pouch with his divine sense. The little beast had woken up and was lying in the pouch licking its paws, its pair of dark, shiny eyes gleaming faintly in the darkness.

"Awake?" he asked telepathically.

The little beast yawned, patted its belly with its tiny paws, and looked completely satisfied. Clearly, it had completely digested the third-tier demon core.

Li Hanshan glanced at Jiang Nianwei, confirming that she was meditating with her eyes closed, then used his divine sense to ask the little beast, "Jade Bone Flower, which direction is it?"

The little beast tilted its head, and the tuft of golden fur on its forehead gleamed slightly. After a moment, it stretched out its little paw and pointed southeast.

This can actually work?

Li Hanshan was secretly amazed. This little thing's treasure-hunting ability was truly heaven-defying.

The next morning, as Jiang Nianwei got up, Li Hanshan casually said, "Elder Jiang, there are a few mountain peaks to the southeast. Shall we go take a look?"

Jiang Nianwei didn't think much of it and nodded.

The two flew southeast. After flying for about half an hour, the little beast gently scratched him again from inside the spirit beast pouch.

Li Hanshan stopped his sword flashing and pointed to a steep cliff not far away: "Elder Jiang, the spiritual energy there seems to be exceptionally dense. Why don't we go and take a look?"

Jiang Nianwei looked in the direction he pointed, raising an eyebrow slightly. The cliff was indeed filled with spiritual energy, and many ancient spiritual herbs grew around it.

The two landed on the cliff, and Jiang Nianwei's gaze suddenly sharpened.

In the crevice of the cliff, a spiritual herb, entirely verdant with a white bud at its tip, grew quietly. The bud had not yet bloomed, but nourished by spiritual energy, it faintly shimmered with a jade-like luster.

Jade Bone Flower!

"Found it." Jiang Nianwei's voice carried a rare hint of surprise.

Just then, a deep roar suddenly came from below the cliff. A dark shadow suddenly darted out and pounced on the two of them.

It was a completely black demonic beast, shaped like a giant lizard, but with a pair of jet-black fleshy wings, its body radiating a terrifying demonic aura. Judging from the aura it emitted, it was clearly a third-tier demonic beast.

Jiang Nianwei snorted coldly and raised her hand to unleash a sword aura.

The sword energy was pale blue, as thin as a cicada's wing, yet terrifyingly sharp. As it swept past, it tore a white streak through the air. The giant lizard sensed the danger and flapped its wings in an attempt to dodge, but the sword energy was too fast; it couldn't escape it at all.

laugh!

A soft sound.

The giant lizard's massive body paused in mid-air, its head slowly separating from its body. The cut was smooth as a mirror, without even a drop of blood spilling out.

This is the strength of a Golden Core cultivator.

Li Hanshan felt a chill run down his spine.

Both being at the third tier, this giant lizard was far stronger than the three-eyed demonic ape, yet Jiang Nianwei killed it so easily.

Jiang Nianwei's strength is probably among the best in the Golden Core stage.

Jiang Nianwei sheathed her sword, landed on the cliff, carefully picked the Jade Bone Flower, and placed it in a specially made jade box.

"Let's go." She turned around, a hint of relief finally appearing on her face. "We've gathered the medicinal herbs; I'll take you back to your sect."

The two rode on their flying swords and flew towards the outer edge of the Monster Mountain Range.

.

On the outer edge of the Monster Mountain Range, above a dense forest, a small flying boat hovered silently.

There were two people standing on the airship.

Deacon Lu stood with his hands behind his back, a smug smirk on his face. Wu Tianxiong stood beside him, arms crossed, a gloating smile playing on his lips.

"Deacon Lu, judging by the time, half a month has passed." Wu Tianxiong said lazily, "That old bastard still hasn't come out. He's most likely dead inside."

Deacon Lu said calmly, "What's the rush? Let's wait a few more days. If he manages to come out alive, we can check the results of his mission as soon as possible."

Wu Tianxiong scoffed, "Ten late-stage second-tier inner cores? If that old codger who just broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage can accomplish that, I, Wu Tianxiong, will change my name."

Deacon Lu sneered, "There's no need to write it backwards, just kill him."

That's why they're waiting here.

These two guys had no intention of letting Li Hanshan return to Huanzong alive.

"There's someone there."

Wu Tianxiong realized something.

Deacon Lu looked up and saw two streaks of light flying towards them from the sky.

The first streak of light was riding an ordinary flying sword, while the second streak was riding a cyan flying sword—that cyan flying sword clearly belonged to Jiang Nianwei of Jade Peak.

Two streaks of light arrived in an instant.

Li Hanshan stopped his sword flashing in front of the two men, a smile on his face.

"Deacon Lu, Senior Brother Wu, what a coincidence, you're here too?"

Deacon Lu's smile froze on his face.

Wu Tianxiong's gaze turned cold. He thought Li Hanshan had died inside, but he never expected that Li Hanshan would actually come out alive, and with Jiang Nianwei.

Li Hanshan took in the expressions of the two men, a cold smile playing on his lips, but his face remained cheerful. He took out ten late-stage second-tier inner cores from his storage bag, presented them with both hands, and spoke in a humble and polite tone.

"Steward Lu, these are ten late-stage second-tier demon beast inner cores. This disciple has not failed in his mission."

Ten inner cores, lined up in a row.

Each one is the size of a fist, perfectly round, radiating a faint luster and a rich aura of demonic energy. Any one of them could prove that its original owner was a genuine late-stage second-tier demonic beast.

Deacon Lu's face turned ashen at a visible speed. He stared intently at the ten inner cores, his eyes filled with resentment and rage.

Ten late-stage Tier 2 Inner Cores!

Half a month!

How could that old man possibly do that!

It would have been fine if he had done it, but the fact that Li Hanshan came back with Jiang Nianwei made it difficult for him to make a move.

"You can't do it!"

Wu Tianxiong's voice changed. He pointed at Li Hanshan, his smugness completely gone, replaced only by shock and resentment.

"What, Senior Brother Wu, do you think these inner cores are fake?" Li Hanshan interrupted him, smiling as he said, "Why don't we ask Deacon Lu to appraise them on the spot and see if they are late-stage second-order or early-stage second-order?"