Han Li quickly realized that his favorable treatment in the Seven Mysterious Sect came with a lot of benefits. With his medical expertise, it was clear that if he didn't push for overly excessive conditions, he could easily get what he wanted. His original goals were almost too easily within reach.
This level of generosity was rare in the Seven Mysterious Sect, where such high-level privileges were typically reserved for those with significant power. It was evident that the upper echelons of the Sect recognized the immense value of having a skilled healer who could save lives and potentially cure the most difficult ailments.
Han Li took full advantage of this and requested that the Shen Shou Valley be granted to him alone, with no outsiders allowed to disturb his medical research. This was a fairly minimal request, but the Sect Master, Ma, eagerly agreed. To further entice Han Li, Ma even suggested sending a beautiful young maid to serve him during his daily routines.
This offer caught Han Li off guard, and for a brief moment, he considered accepting. However, after thinking about the numerous secrets he carried and the dangers of letting his guard down, he ultimately declined.
Ma, impressed by Han Li's self-control, praised him for his discipline and remarked that any daughter of his would be lucky to marry him. Han Li could only smile awkwardly at the compliment, knowing full well that he wasn't rejecting women out of any moral high ground—it was simply not the right time.
Thus, Han Li's request was granted. The entire Shen Shou Valley became his personal domain. To ensure privacy, Han Li set up a peculiar rule: anyone who wished to see him had to first ring a large bell placed at the entrance to the valley. Only after the bell was rung would Han Li emerge from the valley to meet them.
This strange rule seemed nonsensical to many, especially the senior members of the Sect. They believed Han Li was overstepping, thinking he was too young and lacked the status to impose such demands. Even Mo Dafu, the previous physician, had never been so arrogant.
However, Han Li's insistence on this strange protocol wasn't just a matter of pride. He wanted to prevent anyone from discovering his secret—the mysterious small bottle he used to cultivate rare herbs. He knew that if anyone entered the valley without permission, they might stumble upon the truth, and his hidden methods could be exposed. This, in turn, would create risks he wasn't willing to take.
At first, the lower-ranking disciples didn't mind the new rule, but it quickly irked the high-ranking officials, who felt that Han Li was becoming too arrogant. He was, after all, just a newly minted physician, and the idea that he could demand such treatment seemed disrespectful.
However, everything changed when Han Li saved a life. One of the Sect's protectors had been mortally wounded, and no one had been able to save him. But Han Li, with his exceptional healing abilities, managed to heal the protector in just a few days, pulling him back from the brink of death. After that, no one dared to question Han Li's right to make demands. The bell at the valley's entrance became a symbol of his unique personality, accepted as part of his eccentricities, much like the quirks of any genius.
As time went on, even the Sect leaders gradually accepted the rule. Whenever they wished to see Han Li, they would respectfully ring the bell and wait for him to emerge from the valley.
This made Han Li somewhat of an enigma within the Sect—he wasn't part of the senior leadership and didn't hold any official titles, yet he was regarded with utmost respect. He had no real political power, but even the Sect leaders, who held positions of immense authority, would address him as "Doctor Han" or "Master Han." His reputation had grown so large that his full name was rarely spoken anymore.
Of course, there was one person who was unaffected by Han Li's rise in status—Li Feiyu, the Sect's senior brother. Despite Han Li's newfound importance, Li Feiyu still treated him the same as before, addressing him informally by name. Han Li appreciated this, as it reminded him that not all relationships were defined by power and status.
However, there was another face that Han Li hadn't expected to see again. One day, a familiar figure arrived at the valley seeking treatment. It was Wu Yan, a core disciple of the Seven Mysterious Sect's Seven Jue Hall, whom Han Li had met years ago when they had traveled to the Sect together. Wu Yan was suffering from a peculiar illness that had been tormenting him for a long time, and despite numerous attempts by various doctors, no one had been able to cure it. He had come to Han Li, hoping that the renowned "Divine Doctor" could offer him a solution.
Han Li couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the sight of Wu Yan's awkwardness upon recognizing him. After all, their first meeting had not been particularly cordial—Wu Yan had treated Han Li rather poorly back then. But Han Li wasn't one to hold grudges, and despite Wu Yan's past behavior, he agreed to treat him.
To ensure that Wu Yan would remember his lesson, Han Li decided to make the treatment more difficult than necessary. He increased the potency of the herbs, causing Wu Yan some extra discomfort during his recovery. In just two days, the illness was cured, but Wu Yan had suffered more than he expected. Han Li felt a small sense of satisfaction at this subtle revenge—perhaps he wasn't as magnanimous as he thought.
Han Li's rise to prominence within the Sect continued. Slowly, he began to replace Mo Dafu's position entirely. Not only had he become the Sect's primary physician, but his methods were also far more effective than Mo Dafu's. Every day, he would take out his small bottle, place it in a secluded area of the valley, and let it brew rare medicinal liquids that would then be used to cultivate precious herbs. These herbs were used to make potent medicines, some of which were given to the patients who sought his help, while the majority was reserved for Han Li himself, assisting him in refining his Changchun Gong cultivation.
Though Han Li had gained much influence, there was still something that troubled him—a strange coldness that lingered inside him, something that he couldn't quite understand. When he checked his body, he found a faintly cold, sinister presence in his dantian. He had tried various methods, like taking Qingling Powder to clear toxins, but nothing seemed to work. Han Li knew that this mystery could only be solved through time, and with a journey still ahead, the answers would come eventually.