This generous attitude on the part of the other party made Han Li realize that as long as his proposed conditions were not overly demanding, they would almost certainly agree. Thus, his original expectations now seemed easily achievable. However, such a magnanimous treatment was indeed rare within the Seven Xuanyuan Sect—clearly indicating that the senior leadership fully understood the significant value a skilled physician held among the people of the martial world. Han Li did not hesitate; he immediately requested that the Shenshou Valley be placed entirely under his personal control, with no outside interference in his medical research. This request, which amounted to little more than a basic expectation, was readily accepted by Ma Master. In fact, to secure Han Li's loyalty, the other party even proactively proposed sending him a young, beautiful attendant to assist with his daily life. Han Li was unexpectedly stirred to his very core by this unforeseen advantage, nearly ready to accept it outright. Yet, upon regaining his composure and recalling the many secrets he carried, he gently but firmly declined. Han Li's decisive action deeply impressed the head of the Ma Sect, who now regarded him with fresh admiration, frequently praising his youth, his admirable accomplishments, and his detachment from women—going so far as to say he would surely marry one of his daughters to him. Han Li found these remarks both amusing and exasperating; he was far from indifferent to women, but simply unable to be at ease with them at the moment. As a result, the entire Shen Shou Valley became effectively Han Li's personal domain, with outsiders generally barred from entering at will. To reinforce this, Han Li specially installed a large bell at the valley entrance. Anyone wishing to see him merely needed to ring the bell, and Han Li would immediately come out to meet them. This unusual rule was presented with great dignity beside the bell, and even some mid-to-senior-level officials could not help but comply. And the reason Han Li had established such an odd rule was entirely to prevent the very last possibility of the bottle's secret being leaked. As long as no one accidentally wandered into the valley, Han Li could ensure that the bottle's astonishing capabilities remained unknown to anyone but himself. Initially, this rule was of little concern to junior disciples, yet it greatly displeased many senior figures, who felt that Han Li was overly proud, out of touch with reality—after all, even Doctor Mo, a seasoned physician, did not hold such a lofty position. How, then, could a mere novice just beginning his practice dare to act so arrogantly? However, once Han Li successfully revived and completely cured a guardian who had been critically injured and on the brink of death, all the complaints vanished without a trace, and no one ever mentioned it again. No one would risk offending a physician who might save their lives multiple times for the sake of a trivial matter. Thus, this seemingly unusual behavior—something one only encountered when meeting a god-like healer—was naturally seen as a natural, even peculiar, trait of such a divine physician. As day after day passed, even several Masters gradually accepted this custom. When they wished to consult with him, they would send someone to gently ring the great bell and then respectfully invite Han Li. Thus, Han Li gradually became a unique figure in the Seven Xuanyuan Sect's lore. Called a senior official? He held no such position and wielded no authority. Considered a junior disciple? Yet who had ever seen a disciple of such prominence? Even several Masters would address him as "Dr. Han" with due respect. His name and surname were now rarely spoken aloud by others. Of course, this did not apply to Li Feiyu, Li's senior brother. While Li maintained his reserved demeanor before others, he instantly transformed into his usual relaxed, carefree self whenever he saw Han Li, calling him by name without hesitation—never growing distant or more formal toward him, as other disciples like Wang Dabu had done in response to Han Li's changing status. Yet this gave Han Li a certain sense of relief, for being a lone figure can be quite uncomfortable. Whenever he thought of Li Feiyu's cheerful expression, he couldn't help but recall another face etched with suffering—a pumpkin-like countenance. Not long ago, he had unexpectedly encountered another acquaintance from their shared journey into the mountains, now a core disciple of the Seventh Absolute Hall—Wu Yan. Wu Yan had been suffering from a peculiar illness that was neither severe nor mild, one that had proven resistant to treatment by several other physicians, and which had been taking a heavy toll on him. He had thus had to rely on the personal connection with the headmaster of the Ma Door to seek treatment from Han, the renowned physician. Wu Yan's memory was indeed quite sharp—he immediately recognized Han Li, his traveling companion from that day, upon seeing the celebrated Dr. Han. The surprise and bewilderment on his face left a lasting impression on Han Li, as Wu Yan had not been particularly kind to him in the past, even showing some rudeness. Seeing Wu Yan's awkward demeanor, Han Li found himself genuinely amused, and certainly did not hesitate to treat him. But to preserve his reputation, Han Li deliberately increased the dosage of the medicine he prescribed, enabling Wu Yan to recover from his illness within just two days. Though the strong medicinal properties caused a few extra discomforts during the recovery process, this served as a gentle reprimand for Han Li's previously harsh treatment—something he had not fully acknowledged. It appears that Han Li is not as magnanimous as he believes himself to be; he actually holds a strong sense of resentment. Gradually, Han Li completely supplanted Mo Doctor's position on the mountain, even surpassing him in prominence. Now, every day, he removes the small bottle and places it in a spacious area within the valley, allowing it to naturally mature and develop its magical green liquid every seven to eight days, which then stimulates the growth of rare, long-aging herbs. He carefully formulates various medicines from these. A small portion of these are administered to patients who visit him, while the majority are consumed by Han Li himself to strengthen his vital energy, refine his qi, and advance the cultivation of his Changle功. Han Li gently shifted his position on the master chair, settling himself for greater comfort. Though the chair belonged to Mo Doctor, it was not in Mo Doctor's own quarters but in Han Li's residence. Indeed, Han Li had taken everything he deemed useful from Mo Doctor's room and moved it without hesitation into his own space. Given his current status, even if someone noticed this somewhat disrespectful behavior toward Mo Doctor, they would surely not object—after all, in the eyes of others, Han Li's importance now surpassed that of Mo Doctor. People are quite practical! In truth, Mo Doctor's quarters were far larger and would have been more suitable for Han Li to reside in. Yet Han Li still felt an odd sense of discomfort living there. After all, Mo Doctor's death was deeply tied to Han Li's actions. To live openly in the very home where Mo Doctor had passed away under his hands—this still felt unsettling, and somewhat chilling. Staying in his own doghouse felt more reassuring and comfortable. Yet, as soon as he thought of Mo Doctor, he naturally recalled the lingering sense of disappointment and frustration stemming from being bound by the dead. During this period, he carefully examined his body both inside and out several times, and indeed, he found a subtle, elusive coldness lingering deep within his dantian. He had tried various methods, including taking the "Clearing and Invigorating Powder" and other detoxifying treatments, but none proved effective. It seemed that his journey far away in a year was now unavoidable.