Shu Han lay on the ice bed for a whole year.

During this year, Shu Han had become completely resistant to the astonishing cold of the ice bed, drawing him closer to the legendary Heavenly Cold Body.

Moreover, he had refined all twenty-three Grand Yin essences spat out by the Jade Rabbit, successfully stabilizing his realm at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

However, to reach the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment and enter the realm of the False Core Stage would still require a long journey.

Shu Han contemplated that his realm was now stable, and his period of seclusion could soon come to an end.

The transition from the late stage of Foundation Establishment to the pinnacle of the False Core Stage, although within the same realm, posed challenges no less daunting than breaking through to other major realms.

Secluding himself further might not yield the best results. Shu Han planned to spend time practicing the "Heavenly Fire Body Refining Technique" with the mad elder and seek out Wei Haolong to perfect his Heavenly Fire Conversion Formation.

Once he made some progress in the Heavenly Fire Body and successfully mastered the Heavenly Fire Conversion Formation, he would possess both the Heavenly Fire Body and Heavenly Cold Body.

Shu Han speculated that with the harmonious integration of these two contrasting abilities, there was a high possibility of a breakthrough to the False Core stage!

However, Shu Han had no idea of the mad elder's whereabouts, as the elder always sought him out proactively.

According to Tang Shan'er, the mad elder had been banished from the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect and would never step into the sect again. To find him, Shu Han would need to leave the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect.

With a thought, Elder Lu's Red Sun Furnace appeared above the Earth Dragon Fire vent in the cave.

Shu Han poured jars of wine into the Red Sun Furnace and added various nourishing medicinal ingredients for smelting, even incorporating a whole bottle of Heavenly Creation Fluid.

On the day he left the Fiery Cloud Tomb, Tang Shan'er had discreetly relayed a message to him, one he would always remember.

"You are the only disciple of my senior brother. If you're willing, please take care of him."

The mad elder not only bestowed upon him the "Heavenly Fire Body Refining Technique" but also saved him twice. Even without Tang Shan'er's plea, Shu Han was determined to heal the mad elder's internal injuries.

However, while physical wounds could be healed, how could one mend a wounded heart? From Tang Shan'er's account, before the turmoil of the Chaos of the Man-Demon, the mad elder surely regarded her parents as his own and considered the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect his home. It also seemed that he had an unbreakable bond with Tang Shan'er.

A momentary lapse into demonic possession turned all these cherished memories to dust. This emotional trauma inflicted irreparable mental damage on him. Consistent consumption of the Heavenly Creation Fluid could heal the mad elder's physical wounds, but how could his spirit be restored?

"Sigh, let's just take it one step at a time," Shu Han thought.

Shu Han spent three days and nights in the cave refining, finally managing to perfectly integrate various healing spiritual medicines and the Heavenly Creation Fluid into several jars of wine.

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Before he set out, he used his spiritual sense to check on Bai Xingyan in the secret chamber, discovering that the young man was so engrossed in his cultivation that he forgot about himself, the alchemical fire burning day and night.

In just over a year, with continuous cultivation and medication, Bai had raised his cultivation to the tenth level of Qi Refining.

Shu Han couldn't help but smile, seeing his past self reflected in Bai Xingyan.

"Keep it up. After your period of refining, you'll surely become the hope for the revival of the Bai family," Shu Han murmured. He gazed up at the crimson night sky of the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect and sighed, "Master, this descendant of yours might not be the most gifted, but his determination is rare. As your disciple, I will help him reach the peak. May your spirit in the heavens bless and watch over his growth."

After a moment of reflection, Shu Han transformed into a streak of light, leaving the Fiery Cloud Mountain behind. He planned to first visit Wei Haolong's residence to deliver the Clear Bright Spiritual Eye elixir. After not seeing him for over a year, Wei surely ran out of the elixir. Shu Han needed to deliver it quickly to avoid Wei's incessant nagging.

Upon arriving at the bamboo forest, Shu Han used his Clear Bright Spiritual Eye to see through the illusionary formation. After bypassing the formation, he reached Wei Haolong's residence, where he yelled, "Wei Haolong! Come out! I've brought your gifts!"

"You finally remembered to visit!"

Responding to the voice, Shu Han saw a figure emerge from the house. He was so shocked by the sight that he took two steps back.

"Why... Why do you look like this?!"

Dressed in a red skirt and sporting captivating makeup, Wei Haolong coldly responded, "What's there to be surprised about? You've seen me in drag before. Only you have. Tell me, how do I look dressed like this?"

Shu Han, face twitching, pointed at Wei and asked, "Who are you imitating?"

Wei Haolong said, "You really don't know? Our Fiery Cloud Instant Sect recently welcomed four enchanting female cultivators. They possess the Bewitching Body, their every gesture exuding charm. While they can't compare to Meng Shuran's top-tier Bewitching Body, their allure feels more genuine than Meng's, which is solely based on physique!"

He looked at his reflection, saying, "The eldest of them is the most enchanting, but unfortunately, I can't capture her essence."

Shu Han, in shock, inquired, "Are you talking about the four Gu Panchun sisters?"

Wei Haolong raised an eyebrow, "Hmph, pretending to be a gentleman, yet you found out their names so quickly. Perhaps your sneaky eyes have already taken a good look at them all. Damn, I'm so envious!"

Shu Han retorted, "You think everyone is as perverted as you?!" He then asked, "First, the sect publicly bestowed the Fiery Cloud Baptism to Meng Shuran, who has a Bewitching Body, and now they've taken in four more with the same physique. Doesn't the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect value masculinity?"

Wei Haolong, sitting at the stone table, poured a cup of wine for Shu Han and took one for himself. He remarked, "Who knows? Maybe the sect's upper echelons felt that the female cultivators of our Fiery Cloud Instant Sect are too fierce and lack the gentleness and allure of traditional female cultivators. Perhaps they wanted to bring in some with the Bewitching Body to improve the sect's atmosphere."

Shu Han was taken aback, wondering who would even think that way. He sat down and asked, "Wei, what exactly is this Bewitching Body? Why does this constitution possess a deadly allure to male cultivators?"

Wei Haolong counter-questioned, "What's your sexual orientation?"

Shu Han snapped, "Nonsense! Of course, I'm attracted to women!"

Wei Haolong chuckled, "Why is that?"

Stumped, Shu Han responded, "Why even ask? I'm a man, so naturally being attracted to women is normal, right?"

"That's nature!" Wei Haolong elucidated, "From the perspective of the Five Elements and Yin-Yang principles, men represent Yang, and women represent Yin. The union of Yin and Yang is nature. However, everything isn't strictly binary. There are people with strong Yang energy, those with weak Yang energy, and even men with Yin characteristics."

Shu Han teased, "That sounds like you."

Annoyed, Wei Haolong slapped the table and exclaimed, "Do you want to keep listening?"

"My bad! Please continue!"

Wei Haolong shot him a look and continued, "The stronger the Yang energy in a male cultivator, the greater the attraction to female cultivators, and vice versa."

Shu Han had an epiphany, "So, you're saying the so-called Bewitching Body is for women with extremely heavy Yin energy! And because their Yin energy is so intense, it creates a fatal attraction for male cultivators!"

"That's roughly the idea," Wei Haolong confirmed. "Of course, it's not that simple in its entirety. Each Bewitching Body varies significantly. Meng Shuran's Bewitching Body, for example, is the epitome of extreme Yin and is innate. But from my observations, the four Gu Panchun sisters seem to have acquired theirs."

"Bewitching Bodies can be cultivated?"

"Absolutely!"