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

Three months is neither a long nor a short time.

Li Hanshan devoted almost all his energy to preparing for the battle. During the day, he refined pills in the alchemy room on Jade Peak, and at night he practiced dual cultivation with Hua Nongying and Yun Shuyue to consolidate his cultivation. Every few days, he would go to Qin Muyue or Leng Yue to replenish his energy and use their golden core essence to break through the bottleneck of the fourth level of the golden core.

Refining pills was his top priority in preparing for battle. The battlefield was ever-changing, and pills were like a second life. He refined hundreds of each type of pill: Qi-replenishing pills, wound-healing pills, detoxifying pills, and vitality-restoring pills. He categorized them and stored them in jade bottles, filling half of his storage bag.

On this day, Li Hanshan was refining a batch of Breakthrough Pills in the Pill Hall when Xu Lingxi suddenly pushed open the door and ran in.

"Grandpa Li, I heard that we're going to war against the Blood Fiend Sect in three months. Are you going too?"

"Um."

Xu Lingxi's face immediately fell, her eyes filled with worry: "Grandpa Li, you must be careful. I've heard that the Blood Fiend Sect is very powerful, and they kill without hesitation..."

"Don't worry." Li Hanshan smiled. "Grandpa Li is tough; he won't die."

Xu Lingxi bit her lip, took out a few talismans from her storage bag and stuffed them into his hand: "These are the protective talismans my master gave me. There are three in total. I don't need that many. Grandpa Li, you can take them."

Looking at the several high-grade spirit talismans in his hand, Li Hanshan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. This girl, he had only recently broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage and needed life-saving measures the most, yet she sent him such good things.

"Keep it for yourself." He stuffed the talisman back into his hand. "Grandpa Li has ways to protect himself; he doesn't need these."

"But......"

"No buts," Li Hanshan said solemnly. "Your diligent cultivation is the greatest help you can give to Grandpa Li."

Xu Lingxi opened her mouth, but ultimately put the talisman away. She lowered her head, remained silent for a long time, and then whispered, "Grandpa Li, you must come back alive."

"must."

Xu Lingxi raised her head, her eyes slightly red, but she managed a smile. She gave a few more instructions before reluctantly leaving the Pill Hall.

Li Hanshan watched her figure disappear outside the door, shook his head, and continued to bury himself in refining pills.

Three months flew by in a flurry of activity.

Li Hanshan ultimately failed to break through to the fourth level of the Golden Core stage. The bottleneck between the mid and late stages of the Golden Core stage was more solid than he had imagined. Even with the assistance of Qin Muyue and Leng Yue's Golden Core origins, the barrier remained unmoved. However, he was not discouraged. His foundation at the third level of the Golden Core stage was already extremely solid, and he was only one opportunity away from breaking through.

On this morning, the somber tolling of the bells once again echoed throughout the Hehuan Temple.

thump -- thump -- thump --

Li Hanshan opened his eyes and sat up from the stone bed. Hua Nongying and Yun Shuyue had also woken up long ago. The three of them exchanged glances but remained silent. All preparations had been made and all instructions had been given; now it was time to go to the battlefield.

"Walk."

The three of them left the cave and flew towards the sect square with their flying swords.

The square was already packed with people.

Tens of thousands of disciples stood densely packed across the entire square. Golden Core elders, core disciples, inner disciples, outer disciples, and representatives from all the peaks and halls were present. The crowd was completely silent, save for the flags fluttering in the wind.

Li Hanshan stood in the ranks of core disciples, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. Qin Muyue and Leng Yue stood in the positions of quasi-saintesses, both exuding an aura of unapproachability. Chu Mengyao had also arrived, standing a little further away, her expression calm.

On the side of the quasi-saint, Song Qingyun and Ouyang Ming were already in place, with several Golden Core cultivators whom Li Hanshan had never seen before standing behind them, all of whom had strong auras.

On the high platform, the Third Elder stood with his hands behind his back, his face stern.

His gaze swept across the entire assembly, and he said in a deep voice, "On this expedition, I am commanding the entire army by order of the sect leader. All disciples must obey orders and are not allowed to act without authorization. Those who disobey will be punished according to military law!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. The oppressive aura of a peak Golden Core cultivator was then released, causing the disciples on the plaza to shudder.

"Set off!"

At the Third Elder's command, the array of flying boats at the edge of the plaza simultaneously lit up.

Those were all the warships of the Hehuan Sect, numbering no less than a hundred of varying sizes. The largest flagship was a hundred feet long, its entire body crafted from spirit wood, its hull engraved with dense defensive array patterns, emitting a faint golden light. On either side of the flagship, dozens of medium-sized flying ships were neatly arranged, and beyond that, even more small flying ships, like an arrow poised to be released.

Li Hanshan boarded a medium-sized flying boat with the core disciples. Hua Nongying and Yun Shuyue followed beside him, the three of them standing side by side at the ship's railing, watching the flying boats around them take off one after another.

"rise!"

A command came from the flagship, and a hundred airships took off simultaneously.

The scene was breathtakingly spectacular. Hundreds of flying boats, like giant dragons, took off from the Hehuan Sect's mountain gate and flew north. The array patterns on the flying boats all lit up, and the multicolored lights reflected in the morning light, turning the entire sky into a dazzling and colorful painting.

On the ground, the lower-ranking disciples who were not qualified to participate in the battle looked up at the sky, their eyes filled with envy and awe.

"So many flying boats..."

"This time, the sect is serious."

"I hope all my senior brothers and sisters will return safely."

Li Hanshan stood on the flying boat, watching the Hehuan Sect below shrink smaller and smaller until it finally disappeared into the clouds. The mountain wind howled, making his robes flutter. The other disciples around him were also silent; some were closing their eyes to regulate their breathing, some were checking their magical treasures, and others were talking in hushed tones.

Hua Nongying leaned against him and whispered, "Hanlang, do you think we'll come back alive this time?"

Li Hanshan put his arm around her shoulder and said calmly, "Yes."

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty. Hua Nongying looked up at his sharply defined profile, and her unease gradually subsided.

Yun Shuyue stood on his other side without saying a word, but silently held his hand.

The flying boat fleet headed north, its speed increasing. The gates of the Hehuan Sect were long gone, and the mountains and rivers below receded rapidly. Occasionally, a few demonic beasts would fly by below, but upon seeing the massive flying boat fleet, they would scatter in terror.

Li Hanshan gazed at the horizon ahead, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

Three months ago, the sect leader declared war on the Blood Fiend Sect. Today, three months later, the Joyful Union Sect's army officially sets out. Ten thousand disciples, hundreds of flying boats, the sect leader personally leading the charge, two Nascent Soul elders overseeing the operation, and the Third Elder commanding the entire army... This force is enough to crush any Golden Core sect.

However, the Blood Fiend Sect is not a Golden Core sect. They also have Nascent Soul cultivators, a profound foundation, and numerous powerful figures. This battle will definitely not be easy.

The flying boat formation flew for eight days and eight nights, arriving at a fortress at the border between the Hehuan Sect and the Xue Sha Sect on the morning of the second day.

The Third Elder ordered them to rest here for a few days while awaiting news from the Heavenly Demon Sect.

Li Hanshan disembarked from the flying boat and stood on the fortress wall, gazing at the distant, hazy land. That was the territory of the Blood Fiend Sect, and a faint smell of blood permeated the air, making one feel uneasy.

That night, Li Hanshan was resting when Xiao An sneaked over silently.

Her soul was more solid than before, and the Yin energy surrounding her was restrained and profound, faintly exuding the pressure of a Golden Core level cultivator. But at this moment, her expression was not good.

"Senior," Xiao An said urgently, "I have something important to report."