“It’s no trouble; it’s what I should do for you,” Zhuo Hongyi said with a gentle smile.

Zhuo Hongyi wouldn’t deny that she indeed relied on Dual Cultivation with Han Lie to break through to the mid-Golden Core Stage in such a short time. Otherwise, given her cultivation aptitude, reaching the mid-Golden Core Stage through normal cultivation would take three to five years minimum!

Han Lie smiled noncommittally and said, “Captain Hongyi, we should head back.”

Since Zhui Ming was no longer in the sect, Han Lie could return boldly. As long as he was accompanied by Zhuo Hongyi, Han Lie believed he would be absolutely safe. No matter what, Saintess Bai Ling would definitely not dare launch any sneak attacks against him right in front of Zhuo Hongyi…

Returning to Zhuo Hongyi’s residence, the two engaged in another intense battle lasting two days and two nights…

After this battle, Han Lie faintly sensed signs that he was about to break through. So, while Zhuo Hongyi was out, Han Lie gathered momentum, and after absorbing the spiritual energy contained within three thousand Spirit Stones, he officially broke through to the mid-Foundation Establishment Stage!

After breaking through, Han Lie’s consciousness, without any warning, entered an incredibly profound state—both dreamlike and yet not.

In this profound state, Han Lie’s consciousness arrived on a desolate land. Amidst howling evil winds, one could see exposed white bones scattered across the ground. Han Lie suddenly looked up ahead, only to see a shadowy figure resembling himself, holding a five-foot black blade, standing directly opposite him.

Han Lie seemed to realize something. His hand gently clenched, and a black blade also flashed into existence.

Whoosh~

A gust of Yin wind swept past, seemingly igniting some trigger. The shadowy figure took the initiative to attack first! Its black blade aimed straight for Han Lie’s heart!

Han Lie subconsciously raised his black blade to block! But the counterforce still sent him flying back a thousand meters!

Pfft!

Before his stabilized figure could recover his senses, the shadowy figure followed closely like an attached shadow! Its long blade already pierced through his chest!

Clang!

His eyes wide open and pupils dilated, the black blade slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. He could clearly feel his own vitality rapidly fading! Not long after, he completely closed his eyes…

He ‘died’.

In a daze between consciousnesses, he reopened his eyes. He instinctively looked forward, and that shadowy figure, extremely similar to himself, still stood there, unmoving.

“So that’s how it is…!”

The corner of his mouth slightly raised as he gradually understood everything now.

This time, he took the initiative first, launching an attack towards the shadowy figure. However, after just a few brief exchanges, he found it difficult to withstand the shadow’s fierce onslaught, and he was defeated under its move, the Soul Hook slash.

He returned to the battlefield once more. He summarized his previous experience and improved his own tactical approach. This time, he fought fiercely for a dozen-plus rounds against the shadow before finally being defeated.

He sensed something: this shadow seemed like his own reflection, its cultivation level merely matched his own. The shadow’s advantage lay in possessing sufficiently rich combat experience and tactics. Therefore, he was defeated so quickly in the first two rounds.

Here, time seemed to hold no meaning for him anymore. Defeated repeatedly by the shadow, he stood up again and continued fighting repeatedly. He no longer remembered exactly how many times he was defeated by the shadow—ten times, a hundred times, perhaps a thousand times.

After falling once more, he was revived to full health and stood up again, grasping his black blade, his gaze deep and calm like water.

The past hundreds, even thousands, of battles had accumulated sufficiently profound combat experience. All thanks to the shadow, whose tactics never remained static. Without exaggeration, he could say that he had fought hundreds of thousands of battles against the shadow, yet its tactics never repeated once! ‘He’ adapted and countered the shadow’s moves, always managing to seize the offensive and defensive flaws, thus achieving victory in a single strike!

Precisely because of this rapid progress, in the next instant, his eyelids lightly lifted, and the corner of his mouth curved into a confident arc. He gestured with a finger towards the shadow, signaling it to initiate the attack first. The shadow didn’t hesitate; its black blade swung, leaving behind a series of ghost-like afterimages as it closed the distance!

Buzz! Sharp saber intent hummed. Flashes of cold light and fierce attacks enveloped him like a storm. Facing such intense and dense attacks, he continuously made minute, subtle footwork adjustments, positioning himself. It seemed every attack could hit, yet each time he perfectly avoided it at extreme angles.

At a certain moment, when the shadow’s attacks reached peak intensity, and he had been purely defending the entire time, he lightly flicked his hand. The black blade reversed direction and suddenly thrust backward!

Pfft!

A muffled sound was heard. The shadow’s attacks ceased, and even time seemed to freeze. He saw the black blade in his hand had directly pierced through the shadow’s chest. The next moment, he executed a stylish hand chop, and the shadow gradually dissipated into the wind.

He had won.

The moment the shadow disappeared, the dreamlike space shattered. He reopened his eyes and returned to reality. Only then did he belatedly realize he was already drenched in sweat. The hundreds of thousands of battles’ accumulated combat experience was recorded clearly in his mind.

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly: “I feel frighteningly strong now!”

At this moment, his heart was undoubtedly joyful. Combat experience, previously his biggest weakness, now became his most proficient strength.

The situation just now… “Somewhat resembled meditation training. I’ll simply call it the ‘Meditation Training Method,’ alright.”

Of course, the sudden enlightenment of the Meditation Training Method during his breakthrough to the mid-Foundation Establishment Stage was not accidental but inevitable! One characteristic of the Pure Yang Sacred Body is top-tier talent in comprehension. The battle against Zhu Fan, although victorious, also resulted in severe injuries. He had regretted his own lack of combat experience and yearned to improve it, which led to this sudden enlightenment during the breakthrough just now.

“Say, what am I doing hiding here? This won’t do.”

While he was still excited, a seductive voice suddenly rang out. The void shivered violently, and he immediately looked towards the source of the sound. Grand Elder Chi Lian had somehow appeared behind him.

“Gr… Grand Elder?! How did you get here?”

“If I didn’t come, your plan about to fail.” Chi Lian said seriously. “Hiding here is safe, but if you’re unseen for a long time, guess what the Saintess will think?”

【That Old Man Han is hiding from me? Has he already discovered I’m watching him?】

“…” Han Lie was speechless. Listening to Grand Elder Chi Lian, it seemed indeed somewhat reasonable.

“Little servant, I don’t oppose you hiding here to ensure your safety, but if you keep hiding here, how will our plan proceed? So… you need to occasionally show your face in front of the Saintess, alright.”

…