```


    The Formation’s brilliance gradually dimmed, and Ye Yun slowly opened his eyes. As various memories surfaced, joy spread across his face.


    "Many thanks for the guidance, esteemed immortal."


    The Heart-Refining Formation was like an illusion, bewildering the mind. Having endured all sorts of hardships, including the dilemmas and temptations faced after the Red Alliance’s expansion, he now reflected on them with numerous contingency ns.


    "You actually made it through!"


    The Spirit Ginseng Doll showed a look of surprise; it truly didn’t expect a mortal to ovee the Heart-Refining trial and exhaled a puff of green breath towards Ye Yun.


    The green breath merged into Ye Yun’s body, invigorating him with surging vitality, healing all hidden injuries and chronic diseases.


    Ye Yun felt an unprecedented ease, as if he had rejuvenated by a dozen years. Under the drive of the vitality, his Qi-Blood gathered in his dantian, explosively condensing into an aperture.


    Yet that wasn’t the end. As vitality flowed through his limbs and bones, six more apertures were sessively formed before it was finally spent.


    "I thank the esteemed immortal!"


    The Spirit Ginseng Doll nodded and said, "In the future, do not let this immortal fate go to waste."


    Bai Shiyu approached and said, "Esteemed immortal, may I try the Heart-Refining too?"


    The Spirit Ginseng Doll said, "I don’t know about the others, but you are sure to fail."


    Still unwilling to ept it, Bai Shiyu persisted in begging, using a mix of soft and hard tactics until he finally stepped into the Heart-Refining Formation. Half an hourter, he woke up with a sharp scream.


    Ye Yun asked curiously, "What did Shiyu experience?"


    Bai Shiyu’s face turned red, and he hemmed and hawed, unable to articte his experience. he only mentioned his failure at thest step.


    The Spirit Ginseng Doll chuckled, "This fellow’s romantic entanglements are too numerous. He’s met with a cmity of love and will one day capsize his boat and find himself in the water."


    "Hahaha!"


    Upon hearing this, everyoneughed heartily, showing a bit of envy for Bai Shiyu while also admonishing him to take it as a lesson.


    The Lady in Red frowned, her hand on the sword’s hilt as she cast a sidelong nce at Bai Shiyu’s waist, breathing heavily a few times before finally suppressing her anger and bowing, "Esteemed immortal, I would like to try the Heart-Refining too!"


    Upon hearing her, Bai Shiyu’splexion turned pale green, wanting to stop her but unable to mention the reason.


    The Spirit Ginseng Doll had an enigmatic expression; it had seen how in the illusion, thedy had angrily cut down all his lovers, which had scared Bai Shiyu out of the Heart-Refining Formation.


    Peeping into one’s private matters was truly quite enjoyable!


    "Sure, one by one. Anyone can refine their heart."


    The Lady in Red sat cross-legged inside the formation, her eyebrows tightly knitted. Soon she showed anger and disappointment. She went through various illusions and managed to pass through them all calmly.


    "Interesting, interesting!"


    The Spirit Ginseng Doll, being neither male nor female, was just an Art of Transformation, so it had never had notions of love. Seeing Bai Shiyu and the Lady in Red making different choices in their scenarios, it vaguely understood something.


    To cultivate, Spirits and Monsters must endure the trials of the mortal world toprehend the dao.


    The tales of poor schrs falling in love with Spirits and Monsters were not unfounded. Of course, there were shortcuts, such as consuming Living Souls.


    "Many thanks, esteemed immortal."


    The Lady in Red felt the surging vitality within, her Qi-Blood condensing into several apertures. Even more gratifying was her skin bing jade-like, her bright eyes and shining teeth more radiant, giving her more confidence to defeat those little demons!


    Subsequently, the rest of the Red Alliance members took turns at Heart-Refining, with most of them failing. It wasn’t that they could not withstand torture, but rather they were lost in the temptations that came with sess.


    The Spirit Ginseng Doll didn’t skimp either, rewarding the five who passed with a mouthful of its breath.


    The blind man felt a piercing pain in his eyes like needles, tears of blood streaming down. It felt like insects crawling in his eye sockets. Even after passing through the Heart-Refining, he couldn’t help but scream.


    The mind may not yield to torture, but the body still feels pain!


    After a long while.


    The blind man’s pain receded, he copsed on the ground, and slowly opened his eyes to see the blue sky and white clouds. Rubbing his eyes a few times to ensure it wasn’t an illusion, he quickly got up and kowtowed.


    "I thank the immortal master!"


    "It’s just a trifle."


    The Spirit Ginseng Doll made no distinction in treatment, as the millennia-old, life-giving energy within it considered human flesh and bones trivial matters.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ...


    One yearter.


    There is a Tavern.


    Zhou Yi busily clicked away at an abacus, calcting the gold coins earned that day.


    In just three short years, one could clearly feel that the wealthy were bing increasingly stingy, a far cry from the generosity they disyed when first encountered.


    The most drastic change had urred in the Lu family. Last year, with the idental death of Lu Bo, the infighting among the branches was fierce, leading to the disintegration of the millennia-old family.


    The main branch still held some wealth, surviving on the legacy of their ancestors. The second and third branches pledged allegiance to new noble families. The rest scattered like birds and beasts, taking the gold and family treasures to establish new branches across thends of Da Zhou.


    "Such actions are most likely a concerted decision by the Lu family. Scattered like stars across the sky, they can surely preserve their heritage!"


    Zhou Yi shook his head slightly. The millennia-old family had weathered countless storms, enduring from the previous era to the present day, with many strategies to adapt to changes in dynasties.


    Now the new nobility may seem triumphant, just like the founding nobles of Da Qian, Daqing, and so on. But several hundred or a thousand yearster, those who will have their bloodlines endure are still the noble families.


    ```


    Yang Li swept the floor clean and made sure the tables and chairs were neatly arranged before he bowed deeply and said,


    "Shopkeeper, I will take my leave first."


    "Take a moment to rest."


    Zhou Yi formed a spell with his hands and smiled, "Today, your fortune burgeons, and you may encounter a significant opportunity."


    Knowing that Shopkeeper Sun was a remarkable person and a benefactor of the Yang family, who had supported his younger siblings by selling peanuts and aniseed beans, Yang Li obediently stood to one side.


    Zhou Yi asked, "Have you learned to read after selling newspapers for these years?"


    Yang Li nodded and said, "I recognize most characters, but my writing is not good."


    Zhou Yimented, "That’s very good. No matter if times are tough or prosperous, don’t forget to keep learning."


    "I will remember your teachings, Shopkeeper."


    Yang Li bowed in agreement, finding the words somewhat awkward, as if they echoed his father’s dying wishes from years ago.


    At that moment,


    Bai Shiyu, the blind man, and the cook came downstairs, all three bowing deeply in respect.


    "We thank the Shopkeeper for your protection!"


    Zhou Yi waved his hand and said, "It’s nothing, as the tavern owner, it is my duty to ensure the safety of my guests."


    Bai Shiyu exined, "The Alliance Hierarch intended to thank you personally, but I stopped him, telling him that you dislike worldly matters and shouldn’t be dragged into this."


    "You really do understand me!"


    Looking intently at Bai Shiyu, Zhou Yi said, "Recently, I have had some insights and n to enter seclusion for deep cultivation. It’s good you have returned; from now on, I entrust you with managing the tavern."


    Bai Shiyu frowned and said, "Shopkeeper, if the Red Alliance affects you, then we will find another ce for our gatherings..."


    "I truly am entering seclusion!"


    Zhou Yi said, "Not long ago, I encountered an old friend, and I must bid him a respectful departure. I won’t be back for a while."


    "Then I would be remiss to decline."


    Bai Shiyu sped his hands and said, "I will take care of the tavern in the meantime. As soon as you return, Shopkeeper, it will be yours again!"


    "Let it be so."


    Zhou Yi took out a cloud-patterned jade pendant from his chest, snapped it in half with a crack, and said, "In the future, use this as a sign. The secret recipe for ’Pear Flower White’ is hidden beneath the counter, along with the ledger of customers."


    Without any hesitation, he vaulted away and vanished into the night.


    "Shopkeeper Sun is truly an extraordinary person!"


    Bai Shiyu carefully stored the jade pendant and turned to Yang Li with a smile, asking,


    "Young Friend Yang, would you be interested in joining the Red Alliance?"


    ...


    Monthster,


    In the depths of the Eastern Sea, millions of miles away,


    On an unnamed ind.


    Zhou Yi took out the dull grey stone bead that he had been researching ever since he acquired it. He practiced the Dark Witch Curse every night when he returned to his retreat for cultivation.


    "The color has faded slightly, yet I still cannot discern the details inside!"


    "This object’s seal far exceeds that of the Dragon Emperor’s Treasure Bead. It is likely not another Demon Emperor’s work, but perhaps that of an ancient Divinity Transformation expert..."


    Having read through the Wanjuan Daozang, Zhou Yi had a deep understanding of the self-sealing technique, which originated from ancient legacies. Aside from its massive energy consumption, it had no other ws and was considered a wonderful method for avoiding cmities!


    Such as this greyish-green stone bead, indestructible and imprable, even a Divinity Transformation ancestor would be helpless against it, left with no choice but to wait for the seal to dissipate on its own.


    The Divinity Transformation ancestor was not like Zhou Yi, possessing an infinite lifespan to practice the ck Witch Curse. Even if he waited patiently by its side, he would perish first as thousands of years passed by.


    When the Cultivation World still existed, one could store such an object within a sect, and when the seal was lifted, it would be in by the sessors.


    In this era, when even sects have perished, thisst resort is no longer an option!


    "After much thought, only I am the nemesis of this technique! These old ghosts are all cunning, they should be hidden securely in the Nine Continents, yet time and again, they fall into my hands. Could it be fate?"


    Zhou Yi looked up at the sky, shook his head slightly, and set upyers of Formation and Prohibition around the stone beads.


    Miles away,


    Just as he cursed the Dragon Emperor years ago, he continuously cast curses, and the Demonic God Altar grew more responsive under the nourishment of his endless lifespan.


    A cackling sound, like that of demons in the world.


    In a blink of an eye, fifteen years had passed, and the dusty stone bead had be semi-transparent. Through the murky haze, a figure inside could be seen.


    Zhou Yi scrutinized the robe’s style and,paring it to the records in the Daozang, he could guess the identity of the person who sealed themselves.


    "Yuanling Heavenly Monarch from the One Qi Sect!"