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

As dawn broke, the smoke from the battlefield slowly dissipated.

The allied forces of the Hehuan Sect and the Tianmo Sect rested in their camp, tallying casualties and tallying battle achievements. The air was thick with the stench of blood and the aura of malevolence, but compared to the fierce battle of the previous night, the current tranquility gave people a sense of relief at surviving a catastrophe.

Li Hanshan sat cross-legged in a corner of the camp, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing. The effects of the golden dew had dissipated, and the spiritual energy in his dantian had recovered to about 70%. The purplish-gold Immortal-grade Golden Core slowly rotated, its surface shimmering with light, appearing even more solid than before the battle. Although the continuous slaying of more than a dozen Golden Core Yin Souls had been extremely taxing, it had also provided a rare opportunity to temper his foundation.

Hua Nongying sat beside him, glancing around every now and then like a hen guarding her food. Yun Shuyue stood guard on the other side, her cool face showing some fatigue, but she never closed her eyes.

"Li Hanshan!"

A voice came from the direction of the main tent.

When Li Hanshan opened his eyes, he saw the Third Elder standing at the entrance of the tent, looking at him coldly.

"The sect leader summons you."

Li Hanshan stood up and dusted off his robes. Hua Nongying tugged at his sleeve, her eyes filled with worry. He gently patted the back of her hand to indicate that it was alright, and then strode towards the main tent.

Inside the large tent, the Sect Master of the Joyful Union Sect sat high in the main seat, dressed in a jet-black dress and a black veil covering his face. His deep eyes, visible through the veil, revealed no emotion. The First Elder and the Second Elder sat on either side, their auras as profound and unfathomable as a deep abyss, making the air in the tent seem to stagnate.

The Third Elder stood at the lower end, his position slightly further back than usual. His expression was not good; clearly, his performance in last night's battle was mediocre, far less dazzling than Li Hanshan's.

Li Hanshan stepped into the main tent, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Disciple Li Hanshan greets the Sect Master, and pays respects to the First Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder."

The sect leader nodded slightly and was about to speak when the third elder spoke first, his voice carrying a hint of sarcasm.

"Sect Master, Li Hanshan has only been in the sect for two years, yet he has already cultivated from a mere mortal to the third level of the Golden Core stage. Don't you find this speed too suspicious?"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the tent changed abruptly.

The First Elder and the Second Elder's gazes fell on Li Hanshan at the same time, scrutinizing and probing him like two invisible knives, trying to dissect him from the inside out.

The sect leader did not speak, but simply looked at Li Hanshan quietly.

The Third Elder continued, "In my decades in the Joyful Union Sect, I have never seen anyone cultivate so quickly. This Li Hanshan either possesses an unparalleled cultivation technique, or he has been empowered by some powerful being, or... he is a spy sent by another sect!"

The moment the word "spy" was uttered, the air in the tent almost froze.

Li Hanshan's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive. He had long anticipated that people would bring up his cultivation speed after his cultivation level was exposed. He just hadn't expected the Third Elder to launch his attack when the Sect Master summoned him.

This old bastard is forcing the sect leader to deal with him on the spot.

"Third Elder, you are mistaken," Li Hanshan said neither humbly nor arrogantly. "Although I was over a hundred years old when I joined the sect, my innate pure Yang holy body was extraordinary. In addition, I had a fortuitous encounter in the secret realm, which is why I was able to break through relatively quickly."

"A fortuitous encounter?" The Third Elder sneered. "What kind of fortuitous encounter could transform a centenarian into a Golden Core cultivator in just two years? Do you think everyone here is a three-year-old child?"

Li Hanshan raised his head, looked directly at the Third Elder, and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"This disciple obtained the inheritance of the Northern Wilderness Sword Sect in the Northern Wilderness Secret Realm."

The moment the words "Northern Wilderness Sword Sect" were uttered, everyone in the tent was stunned.

The Grand Elder raised an eyebrow: "The Northern Wilderness Sword Sect? That ancient sword-cultivation sect that was destroyed by the extraterrestrial demons?"

"That's right." Li Hanshan nodded. "In the secret realm, I found the Sword Pavilion of the Northern Wilderness Sword Sect. There was a legacy stele there. After I touched it, a powerful spiritual energy flowed into my body, opening up my meridians and improving my cultivation. There was also a sword manual and a cultivation technique in that legacy. I have been cultivating with them until now."

He spoke with such conviction that he meticulously crafted every detail. The inheritance stele, the spiritual infusion, and the sword techniques did indeed exist in the Northern Wilderness Secret Realm, but his claim of "gaining inheritance upon touching" was actually something he had acquired through his own cultivation.

But others didn't know.

The First Elder and Second Elder exchanged a glance, their scrutiny fading slightly. The practice of ancient sects leaving behind methods of initiating and passing on their traditions was not unprecedented in the cultivation world. Some sects on the verge of extinction would indeed leave such methods in their secret realms to prevent their lineage from being severed.

However, this kind of initiation usually has significant side effects.

The Third Elder had clearly considered this as well, and his sneer deepened: "Inheritance empowerment? No wonder. Although this kind of empowerment method can improve cultivation in a short time, the foundation is unstable, and the consequences are endless. You think you've gained a huge advantage, but little do you know that this is the limit for your life; the Golden Core stage will be your final destination."

He said this with a hint of smugness in his voice, as if to say: Even if you're successful now, it won't last much longer.

The Grand Elder spoke slowly, his voice aged and deep: "The ancient initiation method indeed has many hidden dangers. Li Hanshan, are you aware of the risks involved?"

Li Hanshan clasped his hands and said, "This disciple knows. But at that time, I was in a secret realm. If I hadn't received the initiation, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to get out alive. As for the future... this disciple believes that things can be accomplished by human effort."

This statement was perfectly watertight. It explained the reason for the sudden increase in cultivation level while also expressing the speaker's attitude of not accepting fate.

The Second Elder nodded, seemingly quite satisfied with Li Hanshan's answer. The First Elder remained silent, though his cloudy old eyes still held a hint of scrutiny.

The sect leader finally spoke.

"Leng Yue, is it true that you went to the Northern Wilderness Secret Realm with Li Hanshan?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

The curtain was lifted, and a silver-white figure walked in.

Leng Yue remained as aloof and serene as the moon, dressed in a long silver-white gown, her long hair flowing freely, her silver-gray eyes revealing no emotion. She entered the tent, bowed to the sect leader, and then said calmly, "Sect leader, Li Hanshan did indeed go to the Northern Wilderness Secret Realm with me, and he did indeed enter the Sword Pavilion of the Northern Wilderness Sword Sect."

She didn't say much, but those few words were enough.

The sect leader nodded and looked at the Third Elder: "The origin of Li Hanshan's cultivation has been explained. This matter ends here."

The Third Elder's face darkened. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but was silenced by a glance from the Sect Master. He gritted his teeth but ultimately remained silent, only giving Li Hanshan a sinister look.

Li Hanshan breathed a sigh of relief.

Leng Yue's testimony was perfectly timed, saying neither too much nor too little. Every word she uttered was true—the two of them did indeed go to the Northern Wilderness Secret Realm together, and they did indeed enter the Sword Pavilion. As for what he actually obtained in the Sword Pavilion, that was his business.

The atmosphere in the tent gradually eased. The First Elder and the Second Elder withdrew their gazes, and although the Third Elder's expression was unpleasant, he did not press the matter further.

The sect leader looked at Li Hanshan, his tone filled with praise: "Li Hanshan, in this great battle, you killed twelve Golden Core Yin Souls, destroyed one array foundation, and opened an escape route. Your battle achievements are the best in the entire army."

Li Hanshan clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Sect Master, you flatter me. This disciple has merely done his duty."

The sect leader raised his hand, indicating that he did not need to be modest.

"But the real battle is yet to come." Her voice became more serious. "The Blood Fiend Sect's mountain gate is protected by a sect-protecting formation. That formation is no small matter. Even if the sect master and the Heavenly Demon Sect master join forces, we may not be able to break it easily."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the people in the tent.

"Therefore, the upcoming battle will be the real test for you. Li Hanshan, if you can continue to maintain your leading position in battle merits, I will honor my promise and accept you as my disciple."

These words caused another stir in the tent.

The Grand Elder frowned and said, "Sect Master, this young man is already old and his potential has been exhausted. Even if he has made outstanding achievements in battle now, it is only because he has the advantage of using pure yang fire to suppress yin spirits. If we take him as a disciple, I'm afraid it will be difficult to win over the masses."

The Second Elder did not speak, but nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with the First Elder's opinion.

A cold smile appeared on the Third Elder's lips as he waited to see Li Hanshan make a fool of himself.

The sect leader remained unmoved, saying calmly, "When I accept disciples, I only consider their abilities, not their age. Li Hanshan was able to cultivate from a mortal to a Golden Core cultivator in two years, slay twelve Golden Core Yin Souls on the battlefield, destroy the foundation of the Soul Banner Formation, and create an escape route amidst the Yin Soul Tide. Isn't that enough?"

The elder opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more.

The sect leader stood up, her black dress fluttering gently in the wind.

"Pass down the order: half a day from now, the entire army will set off straight for the Blood Fiend Sect's mountain gate!"