Engagement? Master, I'm still young!

One year.

That amount of time felt too short for Han Li, but for Han Feng, it was more than enough.

He looked at Han Li's face, etched with worry, yet his own heart was calm.

Corpse Worm Pill.

Doctor Mo had indeed reached this point.

This was the final ultimatum, the last preparation before the Body Seizure.

"Brother Er Leng, don't panic yet."

Han Feng's voice was steady, carrying a calmness that belied his age.

"One year is plenty."

"One year?" Han Li gave a bitter laugh. "How could I possibly manage in one year..."

"I wasn't talking about you." Han Feng cut him off. "I was talking about me."

He met Han Li's gaze and said, word by word, "Within a year, I'm confident I can train Positive Yang Force to the Ninth Layer!"

"By then, even if I still can't take on Doctor Mo, I'll be able to keep you safe!"

These words carried weight.

They weren't empty threats, but a precise calculation based on the Attribute Panel.

As long as he had enough pills, charging to the Ninth Layer within a year was as easy as drinking water for him.

Han Li was completely stunned.

The Ninth Layer of Positive Yang Force?

In all the years of the Seven Profound Sect, who had ever reached the Ninth Layer before the Age of Forty!

And this cousin of his...

Could he truly possess such heaven-defying talent?

Looking at Han Feng's calm, confident face, the storm in Han Li's heart gradually subsided.

He suddenly remembered that this youth before him had already created too many miracles.

Mastering the Sixth Layer of Positive Yang Force in a month, then coming back from Downhill Training with strength that was unfathomable.

Maybe... he really could do it!

"Actually..."

Han Li lowered his voice, "I... I've already trained Evergreen Art to the Fourth Layer."

"Really? That's great!"

Han Feng smiled, though he wasn't surprised at all. In the original story, Han Li had indeed already reached the Fourth Layer of the Evergreen Skill by this point.

"I never dared tell Doctor Mo, afraid that he would..." Han Li didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.

Han Feng understood.

Han Li's caution had saved his own life.

If he had honestly told Doctor Mo that he'd broken through, he'd probably be an empty shell taken over by Body Seizure by now.

"Then Brother Er Leng, what are you still afraid of?"

Han Feng laughed. "Since you've already reached the Fourth Layer, all you need to do now is keep cultivating."

"In a year, you might even break through to the Fifth Layer, or even the Sixth!

When the time comes, give that Doctor Mo a huge 'surprise'!"

Han Feng's smile carried a hint of coldness.

A surprise.

Han Li chewed on those words, the fear in his eyes gradually replaced by a glint of ruthlessness.

That's right!

Rather than sit and wait for death, he might as well go all out!

Having made up his mind, the pent-up frustration in his heart vanished.

As he left, he once again pulled a small porcelain bottle from his bosom and handed it to Han Feng.

"A Niu, there aren't many pills this time. I need to keep some for my own training, so use them sparingly."

Han Feng took the bottle. It felt noticeably lighter than before.

He didn't mind.

The wealth he'd plundered on this trip down the mountain had bought enough pills to last him a good while.

Though their effects couldn't compare to the elixirs refined from herbs grown with the Little Green Bottle, they made up for it in quantity.

Back in his own courtyard.

Han Feng once again began a secluded life of closed-door cultivation.

He immersed all his focus into comprehending the Evergreen Art, the vast medicinal power dissolving within him and continuously transforming into spiritual energy, scouring his meridians.

Day after day passed.

Seven days later.

The tightly shut courtyard door was gently knocked.

"Feng'er, may your master come in?"

It was his master, Wang Juechu.

Han Feng ceased his cultivation and rose, opening the door.

Wang Juechu strolled into the courtyard, took one look, and couldn't help nodding repeatedly, his face full of praise and satisfaction.

"Good, good! Your aura has condensed much more. It seems the seventh layer of Positive Yang Force has stabilized."

In just a few short months, from a child with no foundation to a First-rate Master!

Such speed was simply astonishing.

The more Wang Juechu looked, the more pleased he became, feeling that insisting on taking this disciple against all opposition was the best decision he had ever made in his life.

"Feng'er, seeing you train so hard warms your master's heart. However, the path of martial arts also requires a balance of work and rest."

Wang Juechu shifted the topic, a meaningful smile spreading across his face.

"You're not young anymore. There are some things you should start considering."

Han Feng's heart skipped a beat, a bad feeling creeping in.

Sure enough.

"Your master has a niece, just turned twelve this year. She's grown into a lovely girl, well-read and gentle-natured."

Wang Juechu said cheerfully, "Your master will take the lead and arrange an engagement for you two!"

"When you turn sixteen and undergo the capping ceremony, we'll hold the wedding. How about that?"

Tying the knot to strengthen the bond!

He wanted to use marital ties to firmly bind Han Feng to the Seven Profound Sect and his Wang family!

Han Feng's mind raced.

Marry?

And a mortal woman at that?

Absolutely not!

His goal was the long-lived path of immortality; how could he be shackled by mortal marriage?

"Master..."

Han Feng put on a troubled expression. "Disciple... disciple is currently focused solely on martial arts, and I'm still young. For now... I don't want to consider such romantic matters."