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.

After the army set off, the emptiness of the Hehuan Sect lasted for less than ten days.

Ten days later, Li Hanshan was able to enjoy his life again.

-

Within the Frosty Flower Cave, the Radiant Light Array never ceases, day and night.

One hundred and forty-four palm-sized array flags were planted, and the top-grade spirit stones on the array plate in the center of the cave were replaced every few days. Time flowed like water inside the array; one day outside was equivalent to several days inside.

Hua Nongying, Shen Ruoxi, Leng Yue, Chu Mengyao, Qin Muyue, Jiang Nianwei, Xu Lingxi... After those seven days and seven nights, all the women's cultivation levels stopped at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. But none of them were in a hurry to touch the threshold of the Divine Transformation stage—not because they had changed their nature, but because Li Hanshan had forced them into seclusion.

"The Nascent Soul stage isn't about spiritual power, it's about foundation." Li Hanshan paced back and forth in the cave, hands behind his back, looking like an old scholar. "If your foundation isn't solid, and inner demons arise during the breakthrough, you'll suffer serious injuries at best, and death at worst. Everyone, you better hone your skills diligently. Anyone who dares to sneak away—humph."

"What are you humming about?" Hua Nongying lazily sprawled on the jade couch, giving him a charmingly disdainful look. "Han Lang, you really want to see us holding back, don't you?"

"Nonsense, do you think I'm that kind of person?"

"Yes."

The women all spoke in unison.

Li Hanshan: "..."

This process of refinement lasted for more than a month.

More than a month later, Li Hanshan examined each of the women one by one and finally nodded: "Their foundations are almost there. The sooner the better—prepare yourselves for the Nascent Soul stage."

The first one to pass the level was Hua Nongying.

The transformation into a spirit is different from the nascent soul. When the nascent soul shatters, one transforms into a spirit, and the soul sheds its mortal form. In the process, inner demons inevitably arise. These inner demons are invisible and intangible; they specifically dig up the deepest wounds in a person's heart, wounds that even they thought they had forgotten.

Hua Nongying's inner demon was when she was sixteen years old.

In the illusion, she transformed back into the little demon girl bound to the auction stage, being picked over like merchandise. Countless eyes below the stage were greedily fixed on her, bidding rising and falling. She couldn't move, couldn't cry out, and could only sink inch by inch—

"Playing with Shadows."

A voice, traveling across mountains and rivers, settled steadily into her mind.

"Look back now, whose side are you on?"

Hua Nongying suddenly turned around.

The illusion shattered.

Her aura surged dramatically, the spiritual energy vortex above the cave spun wildly, and a clear sound rang out from within her body—the nascent soul shattered, the divine soul emerged, and the divine transformation was achieved!

Li Hanshan sat cross-legged behind her, his palms pressed against her back. Pure Yang fire transformed into a thin layer of purplish-gold fire membrane, protecting her sea of ​​consciousness completely. He only withdrew his hand when her breathing had completely stabilized.

"Next."

Then there's Shen Ruoxi.

Shen Ruoxi's inner demon is "not good enough." Born into a minor clan with mediocre talent, she was inferior to others in every way during the first half of her life, and even when she liked someone, she only dared to watch from afar. In the illusion, everyone told her: You are not worthy.

Li Hanshan only said one sentence outside the illusion:

"Shen Ruoxi, at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, how many female cultivators in the world can achieve this?"

The illusion shattered instantly.

Further on, came Leng Yue. Leng Yue's inner demon was an endless snowfall; she walked through it for half her life, until she lost all feeling at the feet. Li Hanshan's voice drifted in: "The snow has stopped. Turn around, I'm here."

Chu Mengyao, Qin Muyue, Jiang Nianwei, Xu Lingxi...

Within a few days, divine phenomena soared into the sky one after another above Shuanghua Cave.

The five peaks were in an uproar.

The disciples of the Hehuan Sect had never seen anything like this in their lives—a Nascent Soul celestial phenomenon that ordinary cultivators rarely witness in their entire lives was being observed in a flurry of activity these past few days, one after another. Purple aura rose from the east, and spiritual tides surged forth, one after another, scattering the sea of ​​clouds over the five peaks.

"Another one...and another one! How many is this this month?!"

"Eight paths! No, nine—my god, the direction of Frostflower Cave Heaven is still at the critical pass!"

"Elder Li isn't just helping people break through, he's... creating a powerful being!"

Overnight, the Hehuan Sect gained seven new Nascent Soul cultivators.

This news couldn't be kept secret. The rogue cultivators who came to join, the spies of affiliated sects, and the flying ships traveling for trade—the word spread like wildfire, and within a month, it had spread throughout the entire Central Continent's demonic path.

"Have you heard? Elder Li of the Hehuan Sect helped seven people reach the Nascent Soul stage at once!"

"Seven? I heard it was ten! Nascent Soul cultivators! They're Nascent Soul cultivators! People are picking them like they're picking fruit!"

"His own women's cultivation levels have all skyrocketed. Following Elder Li, they have a chance at the Nascent Soul stage, and even a chance at the Deity Transformation stage!"

The rumors became increasingly bizarre and outrageous as they spread.

But one thing is the consensus among all the rumors—

Elder Li never forces anyone. Every woman who comes with him does so willingly; those who don't suit his taste or don't want to stay are politely sent back, even receiving elixirs in return. As for the sordid practices of abuse, humiliation, and the exploitation of the demonic cultivation world to death, he doesn't engage in any of those.

The demonic path in the Central Continent is rife with undercurrents.

Countless eyes were fixed on the gate of the Hehuan Sect.

-

On the sword peak, Ye Shuanghua sheathed her sword and stood there, gazing at the purple aura that kept rising into the sky from the direction of the cave, her grip on the sword tightening.

At the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm... she also needs a period of seclusion.

As for Ye Feiyan—

This former Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Demon Sect has now completely resigned herself to her fate, diligently serving as a "power bank" every day, moving her wherever there is a bottleneck. Every time the other women break through, she is drained of her energy, her cultivation level rising in a muddled way, and her tears falling in a muddled way as well.

"Master," she slumped in the corner, tears welling in her eyes, "Feiyan's legs go weak whenever she sees you channeling your energy..."

"You'll get used to it." Li Hanshan smiled and patted her head.