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

After breaking through to the third level of Qi Refining, Li Hanshan noticed a change in Hua Nongying's attitude. Even though she was still obedient on the surface, she showed more frequent expressions of resentment.

"We can't push this vixen too far!"

He was worried that this vixen would fight to the death.

So, during his subsequent cultivation, he once again gave Hua Nongying some benefits and even took the initiative to talk to her about Foundation Establishment.

Hua Nongying looked worried as she spoke of this: "Master, the sect's grand examination is in three months. If I don't reach the Foundation Establishment stage, I will definitely be demoted to an outer disciple. At that time, not only will I be finished, but you will also be in trouble."

Li Hanshan was puzzled: "Outer disciples are also disciples of the Hehuan Sect. Internal strife is forbidden within the sect. Do you think someone would cause you trouble?"

Hua Nongying frowned slightly, a thin layer of mist welled up in her eyes, and her voice carried a hint of grievance: "If I were an ordinary disciple, it would be fine, but I am different. There are too many people watching me. Once I lose my status as an inner disciple, they have too many ways to deal with me."

As she spoke, she was on the verge of tears: "At that time, I will not be able to protect myself, let alone my master, which is why I am so anxious."

Li Hanshan said, "Didn't the Holy Maiden give you a secret technique? Won't she help you?"

Hua Nongying shook her head: "The Holy Maiden is currently in seclusion and won't be out for a long time. She can't possibly help me with everything."

"Is that so?"

Li Hanshan wasn't sure if she was telling the truth, but to reassure her, he said gently, "I will do my best to help you."

"Master, you're so kind."

Hua Nongying lowered her eyelashes, looking extremely moved, and threw herself into his arms.

After this conversation, Li Hanshan did indeed give Hua Nongying more benefits each time, but he also controlled the amount so that Hua Nongying would not lose hope, nor would she break through to the Foundation Establishment stage all at once.

His own cultivation progress slowed down as a result, but he was getting closer and closer to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

All told, he had been on the path of cultivation for less than a month. For a centenarian to break through to the third level of Qi Refining in such a short time was simply a miracle.

"I dreamt about it again!"

A few days later, Li Hanshan finally entered the mysterious dream again.

Luo Li always arrived a little earlier than him. She was sitting on a rock, gazing at the sky in a daze.

"Girl...girl...?"

"Ah, sir, you're here... That's great, I thought you were..."

Li Hanshan called her name twice before she snapped out of her daze. Seeing that it was him, Luo Li leaped down from the rock, quickly reaching his side, her watery eyes brimming with joy.

"Girl, I survived!"

Seeing the girl so happy, Li Hanshan's mood improved as well. He sat with the girl on the blue stone by the river and recounted in detail how he had fought back and killed Hua Nongying.

When such a private matter is spoken, the speaker is fine, but the listener blushes all over.

"I didn't expect that demoness to be so ruthless. Fortunately, the Yang Ce technique is powerful enough."

After hearing this, the girl couldn't help but feel worried for Li Hanshan.

That comeback was truly hard-won.

Remembering the oath to the inner demon, Li Hanshan asked, "By the way, girl, is that inner demon oath that demoness made secure?"

The girl frowned slightly: "The inner demon oath itself is not a problem, but it depends on what kind of contract she used. If the contract is not of a high enough grade, then it will only be effective for those in the Qi Refining stage."

Contract!

The girl's words confirmed Li Hanshan's worries: "If that's the case, then there might really be a problem with that contract."

Upon hearing this, the girl nodded: "That's right. Master, you must be careful. Don't let her reach the Foundation Establishment stage, otherwise the Heart Demon Oath may very well fail."

"Um!"

Li Hanshan knew the gravity of the situation: "Don't worry, I'll absorb her energy every now and then. It won't be that easy for her to reach the Foundation Establishment stage."

At this point, Li Hanshan then recounted what Hua Nongying had said about the sect's assessment.

After listening, the young girl frowned and thought for a while, then said, "Sir, there's probably some truth to what she said. If that's the case, then your time is running out."

Time is indeed running out.

The sect assessment is probably true. Even if the consequences of failing the assessment aren't that serious, that demoness might still take the risk and attack Li Hanshan again.

"Sir, you don't need to worry too much. That demoness is acting so obediently. I guess she probably sees the value of the Yang Book, so she probably won't choose to expose you."

"Girl, it has to be you."

Luo Li's analysis enlightened Li Hanshan. He had always wondered why that demoness was so compliant, thinking she was just being patient, but he never expected this.

This is not his fault; he was new to the world of cultivation and had not yet realized the true value of the Yang Ce cultivation method.

The girl continued to offer suggestions:

"Grandpa, the key is to improve your own cultivation level, and then see if there's a way to get rid of the furnace vessel status and become a formal disciple of the Joyful Union Sect. That way, you might have a chance to escape."

Li Hanshan nodded: "Yes! I've already reached the third level of Qi Refining!"

"Three levels of Qi Refining?"

The girl looked slightly surprised: "It seems to be thanks to Yang Ce. By the way, sir, do you remember Yang Ce?"

Li Hanshan didn't know why the girl asked that, so he nodded and said, "Of course I remember. What's wrong, little girl?"

"I don't remember."

"what?"

The girl's words puzzled Li Hanshan: "What's going on?"

"Since I passed the Yang Manual to you last time, I have completely forgotten it and can't remember a single word. I suppose this Yang Manual must be unique, and only one person can learn it."

The girl explained.

Her explanation only increased Li Hanshan's doubts: "Girl, didn't you make a copy?"

The girl shook her head: "The Yang Book cannot be copied. You'll know once you try, sir."

It's amazing that I still can't copy it; this book is truly miraculous.

"Sir, let's not talk about this anymore. While we still have time, I'll teach you some techniques and spells that you can use to strengthen your cultivation and protect yourself."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, girl."

Luo Li put the matter of Yang Ce out of her mind and decided to use the dream to help Li Hanshan cultivate. Li Hanshan was grateful and naturally cooperated wholeheartedly.

Although it was called cultivation, it was actually the same as last time, with Luo Li teaching her step by step.

The dream was terrifyingly real; the contact in the dream was almost identical to reality. The sensation of the girl's soft skin during their touch was incredibly clear.

Despite this, Li Hanshan did not harbor the slightest evil thought. If he were to harbor any wicked intentions after the young girl had helped him so much, wouldn't he be worse than a beast?

Time flies in dreams, and during this cultivation, he lost track of how much time had passed until Li Hanshan was awakened by the urge to urinate.

"By the way, sir, could you check your waist for anything...?"

Just as the dream was about to fade away, Luo Li hesitated for a moment and whispered a reminder to Li Hanshan.

Waist?

She was referring to that secret pattern?

Li Hanshan realized what was happening, and then he realized another problem: how did the girl know about this? Could it be that the girl...

"impossible!"

He immediately dismissed that possibility; he had no doubt that the girl could not have practiced this technique with anyone else.

"Or perhaps the girl tried cultivating on her own, which is why she knows about these secret runes?"

As Li Hanshan made his guess, his consciousness left the dream, and his senses returned like a flood – his back was pressed against the soft mattress, the faint fragrance of Hua Nongying lingered around his nose, and he could hear her even and long breaths.

He opened his eyes and saw Hua Nongying lying on her side beside him. She was sleeping peacefully, wearing only a thin nightgown with the collar slightly open, revealing a section of her fair collarbone.

Seemingly sensing that Li Hanshan had woken up, her long eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her captivating eyes.

This enchantress was indeed a peerless beauty, causing Li Hanshan's heart to flutter and his appetite to surge.

"Master, you're finally awake." Hua Nongying's face lit up with joy, and she patted her full breasts with her small hands. "You slept for two whole days. I was so worried about you."

"Slept for two more days?"

Li Hanshan gradually figured out the pattern of his dreams. Every time he woke up, it seemed that his body couldn't hold on anymore or that he was being disturbed by external forces.

"Master, are you alright?"

Hua Nongying's beautiful eyes were full of concern, and this was not feigned; her worry was genuine. She couldn't bear to see Li Hanshan die, as she hadn't yet obtained the peerless martial arts technique he possessed.

"I'm fine."

Li Hanshan got up and went outside to relieve himself.

After that, every time Li Hanshan finished practicing with Hua Nongying, he would use the techniques taught by the maid to consolidate his skills, and he would spend the rest of his time practicing magic.

In the dream, the girl taught Li Hanshan three techniques: one for attack, one for defense, and one for footwork.

"Grandpa, although I don't know your spiritual root attribute, your innate pure yang holy body must be primarily based on the fire spiritual root. Therefore, these three techniques are all fire-attribute: one is the Fireball Technique, one is the Fire Wall Technique, and one is the Fire Shadow Step. They are all the simplest techniques..."

The girl's words are still vivid in my mind.

With the hands-on instruction in the dream, Li Hanshan mastered all three techniques in no time.

"boom!"

A fireball shot out from Li Hanshan's fingertip and blasted a hole the size of a bowl into the cliff behind the courtyard.

"Not bad!"

Having just acquired offensive magic, Li Hanshan fired several fireballs in a row, but his spiritual power was almost depleted, and he could no longer fire any more fireballs.

He was somewhat dissatisfied: "Only eight? That's far too few."

Hua Nongying's voice suddenly rang out: "Master, did you blast these holes?"

Li Hanshan turned around and found that Hua Nongying had appeared not far from him at some point. He was shocked. This demoness was indeed powerful. He had not noticed her arrival at all.

"Yes, it's me." He nodded.

Hua Nongying's gaze swept over the six holes, her eyes gleaming with admiration: "Master, the power of your fireball is equivalent to that of a fourth or fifth level Qi Refining cultivator."

A fireball? He clearly unleashed a fireball, but the two were practically the same. He didn't deny it: "Is it really that big? Is it because I have the Pure Yang Holy Body?"

Hua Nongying shook her head and said, "No, it's because you used a long-lost ancient technique, which is why you were able to release six fireballs at once with such great power!"

Ancient magic?

Li Hanshan was taken aback, but after asking a few questions, he understood.

With his spiritual power at the third level of Qi Refining, he could only release five fireballs at a time. His spiritual power was not more than others, and the reason he could release eight was simply because his spells were more sophisticated, allowing him to achieve greater power with less spiritual power.

In Hua Nongying's observation, the hand gestures he used to cast the spell were precisely the lost ancient spells!

"Master, you have many secrets."

Hua Nongying did not ask where the ancient magic came from, but her gaze towards him brightened, as if she were looking at a rare treasure.

"That witch, she's probably after my magic again."

Li Hanshan's heart tightened, and then another question came to mind: "This girl is both a Yang Book and possesses ancient magic, so who exactly is she?"