《BTTH: DISCIPLE CASHBACK SYSTEM》 Chapter 1: Reincarnating as Pill king Gu He Chapter 1: Reincarnating as Pill king Gu He The Dou Qi Continent. The Northwest Region. The Yun Lan Sect. "Pill King... Gu He?" In a quaint and exquisite room, a middle-aged man looked perplexed and murmured to himself. "I have transmigrated; this is the world of Battle Through the Heavens, and I have become Pill King Gu He?" Yes, the middle-aged man was a transmigrator from Blue Star. Just a moment ago, he had fully assimilated the memories of this body and learned of his current identity. This was the world of Battle Through the Heavens. In his previous life, he was a web novel fanatic who could binge-read a novel for several days and nights. This time, he was reading a harem novel, and he stayed awake for three consecutive nights until he died on the spot. When he woke up, he found that he had transmigrated and become Pill King Gu He in Battle Through the Heavens. "Since I''m here, I''ll make the best of it." "From now on, I am Pill King Gu He." In the room, after integrating all the memories, Gu He said calmly. He had read the novel Battle Through the Heavens at least three times, and he still remembered the plot very well. He also felt a bit sorry for Pill King Gu He''s fate. To sum up Gu He''s life in one sentence, it would be brilliant in the first half and abysmal in the second half. Gu He won first place in the alchemy competition of the Jia Ma Empire when he was young and was recruited by the Yun Lan Sect to become an honorary elder of the Yun Lan Sect. With the support of a large amount of resources from the Yun Lan Sect, Gu He was like a fish in water. His alchemy skills improved by leaps and bounds. In just ten years, he became a six-star alchemist and reached the Dou king realm. He was known as Pill King Gu He! He was also the number one alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire. This was Gu He''s most brilliant and glorious moment. But when the protagonist Xiao Yan appeared, Gu He''s light was completely overshadowed. The heavenly flame was snatched by Xiao Yan. "Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the Immortal Aura!" "Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the Seven Apertures Exquisite Pill Heart!" "Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the divine skill - Void Projection!" "Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining a Nine Star Dou Saint Experience Card!" Hearing the system''s series of prompts, Gu He couldn''t help but swallow his saliva. He didn''t expect this newbie gift package to be so generous. It gave him so many good things! "The above items have been sent to the system space. Please check them carefully." The gentle female voice said and then went silent. Looking at the treasures in system space, Gu He took a deep breath and calmed down. "System, extract the divine skill - Initiation!" The next moment, Gu He said directly to the system. As Gu He''s voice fell, a ray of spiritual light suddenly drilled into his mind. In an instant, Gu He received a piece of mysterious information in his mind, which was the cultivation method and insight of Initiation divine skill. A moment later, Gu He slowly opened his eyes, and a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes. This Initiation divine skill was too powerful! As long as it was anything he mastered, whether it was cultivation techniques, fighting skills, secret arts, cultivation insights, etc. Even his Dou Qi cultivation level. All these can be directly transferred to his disciples using Initiation divine skill. Gu He''s eyes were full of excitement. This Initiation divine skill was simply tailor-made for him. Initiation divine skill plus Disciple System. This was definitely a perfect combination. Gu He smiled and then looked at the system space again. "System, extract Immortal Aura!" As soon as he spoke, Gu He felt a mysterious and incomparable force enveloping his whole body. It felt warm and comfortable. At the same time, Gu He also felt that his body was undergoing subtle changes. A layer of luster appeared on his skin, making it white and flawless, like jade. Not only that, Gu He''s face and figure also changed slightly under the transformation of this mysterious force. Gu He, who was already handsome, had more refined features and a more perfect body proportion. A moment later, the changes in Gu He''s body slowly ended. Gu He curiously walked to a mirror in the room and looked at himself in the mirror. At this moment, a trace of admiration flashed in Gu He''s eyes. He saw himself in the mirror, handsome and elegant, tall and slender, with no excess fat on his body. In addition, he also had a kind of ethereal and transcendent temperament on his body, coupled with his handsome face, he looked like an immortal who had descended to earth. Handsome! So damn handsome! Looking at himself in the mirror, Gu He couldn''t help but be narcissistic. If he were a woman, he would probably not hesitate to marry himself. Chapter 2: Seven Apertures exquisite pill Heart, Divine Skill Void projection Chapter 2: Seven Apertures exquisite pill Heart, Divine Skill Void projection After a brief indulgence in self-admiration, Gu He reluctantly retracted his gaze. Following that, Gu He shifted his focus back to the interior of the system space. "System, extract the Seven Apertures exquisite pill heart!" Subsequently, Gu He felt an immensely potent force surging into his body. This force was overwhelmingly dominant, obliterating all in its path. In the next instant, Gu He sensed numerous minuscule needles weaving through his blood vessels, converging towards his heart. "Ah..." An involuntary cry escaped Gu He''s lips as the intense agony nearly caused him to lose consciousness. However, at that very moment, a mysterious power began to manifest within him. Innumerable runes emerged within Gu He''s body, intertwining and eventually coalescing into a heart. This heart bore seven apertures, each beat revealing enigmatic patterns. Amidst the rhythmic pulsations, resonated the echoes of alchemical cauldrons colliding. In that moment, a revelation dawned upon Gu He. After a brief passage of time, the peculiar sensation within his body gradually dissipated. The extraction of the Seven Apertures exquisite Heart was completed! Gu He shut his eyes, gradually comprehending the wondrous applications of the Seven Apertures exquisite pill Heart. Possessing this heart meant Gu He would no longer encounter limitations in his path of alchemy. His innate talent for alchemy was already remarkable, and now with this heart, his potential was even more formidable. It could be said that as long as Gu He did not meet an untimely end, he was destined to become a future generation''s Alchemy Emperor! Feeling the immense effects of the Seven Apertures Luminous Heart, excitement flickered in Gu He''s eyes. With this heart, his journey towards becoming a powerful cultivator was almost guaranteed. After a brief surge of excitement, Gu He gradually regained his composure and directed his gaze back to the system space.UppTodated from , extract the Divine Technique C Void Projection!" As a cryptic influx of information filled his mind, Gu He entered a state of enlightenment. After a while, Gu He slowly opened his eyes, a smile playing upon his lips. Evidently, he had already grasped the intricacies of the Void Projection technique. Void Projection involved condensing void jade symbols using his essence blood. Once the jade symbol was shattered, Gu He could project himself anywhere, much like his physical presence. What was most astonishing was that the projected form possessed the same strength as Gu He himself. The only drawback was that the projection could be sustained for only half an hour. After mastering this Void Projection technique, Gu He had already foreseen its applications. In the future, when his disciples embarked on adventures, Gu He could bestow a void jade symbol upon them for safekeeping. If they encountered danger, Gu He could instantly project himself there by shattering the jade symbol, aiding his disciples in overcoming crises. A remarkable technique! Gu He couldn''t help but admire it. With this technique, he no longer needed to worry about his disciples facing peril. Finally, Gu He turned his attention to the last item within the system space. "Nine-star Dou Saint level experience card." As the name implied, upon using this card, Gu He could instantly attain the power of a Dou Saint! Furthermore, it was that of a Nine-Star Dou Saint! Naturally, this Dou Saint Experience Card was consumable C once used, it would vanish. Moreover, after using the Dou Saint Experience Card, the Nine-Star Dou Saint cultivation could only be sustained for half an hour. Hence, for this card, Gu He must exercise utmost caution. In an era where Dou Di-level experts rarely appeared, a Nine-Star Dou Saint represented a pinnacle powerhouse. A contemplative look appeared in Gu He''s eyes. He wouldn''t use the Dou Saint Experience Card unless it was a matter of life and death in the future. This card for experiencing Dou Saint cultivation would serve as his ultimate trump card. "System, open the attribute panel," Gu He said calmly. Although not invincible, this starting point was incomparably superior to the countless mediocre beginnings. Gu He felt content with this foundation. The system''s aid was now at his disposal. The forthcoming challenges would hinge on his own endeavors. "Knock, knock, knock!" Just as Gu He''s aspirations soared, an unexpected knocking abruptly resounded from outside his door. "Who''s there?" Interrupted in his train of thought, Gu He''s brows furrowed slightly with a hint of displeasure. "Master, it''s disciple Liu Ling requesting an audience!" A slightly unsure voice emerged from beyond the door, marked by a tone of deep respect. Liu Ling? Upon hearing the name, a flicker of recognition sparked in Gu He ''s mind. Indeed, in the original work, Gu He had a disciple named Liu Ling. Although Liu Ling''s performance during the alchemy competition in the Gamma Empire fell short of the protagonist, Xiao Yan, he was still hailed as an alchemical prodigy. "Enter." Gu He''s voice held a touch of detachment. Coincidentally, he was curious to test the effectiveness of the Transmission divine technique. Today, he would employ Liu Ling as a test subject! However, Gu He had some concerns in his heart C the system required a disciple to achieve an evaluation score of eight points to trigger the refund mechanism. He wondered whether Liu Ling''s talent could meet the system''s requirements. As Gu He''s words fell, the door was slowly pushed open, and a young man entered. The young man was dressed in an alchemist''s robe, appearing quite youthful and with a tall stature. He seemed to be in his early twenties, his handsome face carved with sharp lines. This young man was none other than Gu He''s personal disciple, Liu Ling. "Disciple pays respects to Master," Liu Ling bowed respectfully as he entered the room, his attitude exceedingly deferential. "Ling''er, no need for excessive courtesy," a gentle smile appeared on Gu He''s face. Hearing this, Liu Ling raised his head slowly. Yet, as he looked at Gu He''s face, his expression froze in shock. "Master, you..." Beneath the air of a transcendent immortal, Gu He now exuded an ethereal and elegant demeanor with every move. As a result, even Liu Ling, who was accustomed to being around Gu He, clearly detected the difference. He stared at Gu He, clearly taken aback. How could Master appear so... Exquisitely handsome? Observing the figure before him, Liu Ling, who often prided himself on his own good looks, couldn''t help but feel a bit ashamed of himself. Noticing Liu Ling''s surprised expression, Gu He naturally understood the reason. However, he didn''t provide any explanation and acted as though he hadn''t noticed. The transcendent immortal aura mainly altered his temperament; his appearance had only undergone slight adjustments and hadn''t changed significantly. Hence, Gu He didn''t need to worry about Liu Ling suspecting his true identity. "Ling''er, is there something you need from me?" After a moment of thought, Gu He smiled and changed the subject. Hearing this, Liu Ling immediately regained his senses. He glanced at Gu He and respectfully said, "Reporting to Master, I have successfully broken through to the Second-Rank Alchemist realm." At this point, a faint smile curved on Liu Ling''s lips, a trace of self-satisfaction flashing in his eyes. At just fifteen years old, he had reached the realm of a Second-Rank Alchemist. This achievement was nearly unmatched within the entire Jia Ma Empire, second only to his Master, Gu He. "Not bad at all," Gu He praised with a word. "System, check Liu Ling''s attributes," Gu He secretly communicated with the system. He wanted to see whether Liu Ling''s attributes met the system''s requirement of an eight-point evaluation. As Gu He''s words ended, a light screen appeared in front of him, visible only to him. Chapter 3: Transmitting Knowledge Chapter 3: Transmitting Knowledge Chapter 3: Transmitting Knowledge [ Name: Liu Ling Comprehension: 7.5 Root Bone: 7.5 Luck: 8+1 (Became the host''s disciple, Luck +1) Alchemy Realm: Second Rank Alchemist Cultivation Level: Second Star Fighter Technique: Fierce Sun Formula (Mystic High-level) Combat Skill: Flame Yang Finger (Mystic Intermediate-level) ] Upon scrutinizing Liu Ling''s attributes, Gu He''s expression turned peculiar. Liu Ling''s comprehension and root bone were only at 7.5, and his luck barely met the standard. Nevertheless, Gu He hadn''t anticipated bonus points after Liu Ling became his disciple. However, he comprehended; he was a transmigrator with a system. More importantly, he possessed the Apprentice System. With himself as the master, Liu Ling would undoubtedly become a formidable individual. What a stroke of luck; adding one point was justifiable. With this additional point, Liu Ling''s score reached exactly 8, triggering the system''s reward mechanism. "Master, Master..." "What''s the matter?" In the room, Liu Ling, observing Gu He''s silent gaze, grew perplexed. "Um..." A trace of embarrassment flickered on Gu He''s face, swiftly replaced by calmness. He pondered, "I was just contemplating how to reward you." "Reward?" Hearing this, Liu Ling''s expression puzzled. "Master, what reward?" "Since you''ve advanced to a Second Rank Alchemist, I naturally have to reward you," Gu He said, a smile on his face.Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com "Ah..." "Rewards for breakthroughs?" Upon hearing this, Liu Ling''s eyes revealed surprise. A reward for reaching the Second Rank Alchemist was unexpected. "Yes, it''s a form of encouragement," Gu He chuckled. "In the future, whether you advance in alchemy or cultivation, I''ll grant rewards." Liu Ling''s excitement heightened. "Disciple thanks Master." "Ling''er, come here. I''ll teach you a secret technique to enhance your soul power," Gu He beckoned Liu Ling. Soul Power Cultivation Secret Technique! Hearing this, Liu Ling''s mind shook. Master was willing to teach him a soul power cultivation secret technique? For an alchemist, soul power intensity was crucial. Without time to question, Liu Ling obeyed, wholeheartedly absorbing the energy. Moments later, a muffled sound echoed within Liu Ling''s body. His aura shifted. He had broken through. His cultivation jumped from a Two-star Dou Practitioner to a Three Star Dou Practitioner. But it wasn''t over. The energy within him continued to surge. After another moment, Liu Ling''s aura changed once more. Four-star Dou practitioner! Sweat adorned Liu Ling''s handsome face, and he appeared somewhat pale. Clearly, the process of receiving the power wasn''t easy. Boom! After a moment, Liu Ling broke through to become a Five-star Dou Practitioner. "Master , I can''t endure it anymore..." Liu Ling''s voice was tinged with agony. He had reached his limit. Hearing this, Gu He felt a twinge of disappointment but understood the need for caution. Over-transferring power could cause substantial harm to Liu Ling''s body. With this in mind, Gu He halted the transfer and received a system notification. "Ding, detected that the host has granted senior disciple Liu Ling seven days'' worth of cultivation. Congratulations to the host for triggering a thousand-fold return, obtaining nineteen years of cultivation!" (Note: These nineteen years correspond to the level of a Third Star Dou King.) "Nineteen years of cultivation have been deposited in the system space. Host, please check." A thousand-fold return! Nineteen years of cultivation! Hearing the system''s announcement, Gu He was taken aback. Trading seven days'' cultivation for nineteen years was an incredibly favorable deal. Without hesitation, Gu He delved into the system space. There, a purple sphere hovered in the void. "Does the host accept the nineteen years of cultivation?" The system''s voice echoed as Gu He''s consciousness touched the sphere. Due to Liu Ling''s presence, Gu He chose not to accept it temporarily. When he withdrew from the system space, he found Liu Ling kneeling before him again. "Ling''er, why are you kneeling again?" Gu He helped Liu Ling up, somewhat bemused. "Master''s kindness is as immense as a mountain. You''ve granted me a Seventh Rank cultivation technique and even bestowed cultivation upon me. I feel ashamed and indebted to you," Liu Ling expressed his gratitude. "If Master treats me like this, I vow to repay your kindness a thousandfold and ten thousandfold when I achieve success," Liu Ling vowed in his heart. "Ling''er, you''re my only disciple. Naturally, I''ll pass on the good things to you," Gu He replied, appreciating Liu Ling''s sincerity. "As long as you diligently cultivate, make a name for yourself outside, and uphold my reputation, that''ll be repaying me," Gu He patted Liu Ling''s shoulder, speaking earnestly. "Disciple swears to double the effort in cultivation and never disappoint Master''s high expectations." Liu Ling''s eyes gleamed with determination as he made this promise. "Good!" "You truly are a remarkable disciple." Gu He''s eyes showed admiration, and he decided to offer all the rewards at once. "I still have a reward for you." Upon hearing this, Liu Ling appeared astounded. "Another reward?" Another Seventh Rank technique? Another transfer? Receiving these, Liu Ling felt like he was in a dream. And Gu He was saying there was more to come? Master, your generosity is bordering on extravagant... Gu He smiled faintly, his thoughts directed to his next action. A wisp of purple flame appeared in his palm. As the purple flame materialized, it took the form of an eagle, emitting an eagle''s cry. Around it, peculiar ripples akin to water waves started to ripple, creating a mystical aura. "Ling''er, there''s one last reward from me. It''s this Purple Eagle Flame." Chapter 4: Heavenly Flame – Nine Abyssal Flames Chapter 4: Heavenly Flame C Nine Abyssal Flames "Master..." "Isn''t this your Purple Eagle Flame?" As Gu He unveiled the purple flames, Liu Ling''s eyes widened. Having followed Gu He for many years, he naturally recognized these purple flames as the ones Gu He used for alchemy. The Purple Eagle Flame was an extraordinary beastly fire, which Gu He had acquired with great difficulty. Could it be that Master even wants to reward me with this Purple Eagle Flame? Thinking of what Gu He had just said, Liu Ling could no longer hold back. Thud! "Master, this cannot be!" "Absolutely not!" "You''ve already imparted seventh-grade techniques and cultivation to your disciple. That alone is more than enough. This Purple Eagle Flame is the fire you use for alchemy, Master. Your disciple cannot accept it!" This time, Liu Ling, contrary to his usual self, kneeled down and refused to accept. The Purple Eagle Flame had remarkable effects for alchemists. If he were to accept it, what would Master do for alchemy in the future? At this thought, Liu Ling adamantly declined the Purple Eagle Flame. "Ling''er, rise." Seeing Liu Ling kneel again, Gu He felt a headache. This foolish lad was fine, but his resolve was a bit too weak. Kneeling at every turn, who could bear this? "Master, if you retract your request, then I''ll rise." Liu Ling shook his head, still refusing to accept. "Ling''er, if you keep this up, Master will get angry." With Liu Ling not heeding his words, Gu He could only assume a "strict teacher" stance and feigned anger. "Master!" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling was unwilling, but he had to obediently stand up. "Master, I truly cannot accept this Purple Eagle Flame." Liu Ling still refused to take the Purple Eagle Flame. "Ling''er, in fact, I''ve received news about another type of special fire." Seeing Liu Ling resolute, Gu He had to resort to a last-ditch effort: "I won''t need this Purple Eagle Flame much longer. If you don''t want it, I''ll give it to someone else." Having said that, Gu He prepared to retrieve the Purple Eagle Flame from his hand. Hearing this, Liu Ling was momentarily stunned. When he snapped back, he hastily grabbed Gu He''s sleeve. "Don''t... Master..." "I was wrong, Master!" Liu Ling''s mournful expression immediately turned into a fawning one. "Master, since you won''t use it, please give it to your disciple." Gu He''s face turned stern: "Didn''t you adamantly refuse it?" Liu Ling quickly admitted his mistake: "Master, I was wrong. I want it, I want..." "That''s more like it." Gu He''s eyes glinted with a trace of satisfaction. He no longer restrained Liu Ling and directly handed over the Purple Eagle Flame. Meanwhile, in Gu He''s mind, the system''s prompt tone slowly rang. Fifth Star Dou King! Sixth Star Dou King! ... In the alchemy room, Gu He''s aura was soaring continuously, extremely terrifying. Fortunately, Gu He had shifted to this alchemy room in time. To prevent an explosion, the walls of this room were constructed with precious materials, making it hard for the commotion caused by Gu He''s successive breakthroughs to be detected by outsiders. Seventh Star Dou King! Eighth Star Dou King! Ninth Star Dou King! As he incessantly absorbed the energy within him, Gu He''s cultivation continued to increase. Finally, Gu He''s cultivation reached its peak at the Ninth Star Dou King. Just one step away, and he would break through to the Dou Emperor realm. Simultaneously, the energy within Gu He''s body was finally depleted. Slowly opening his eyes, a trace of excitement flashed in Gu He''s gaze. Ninth Star Dou King! In a mere moment, he had leapt from a Third Star Dou King to a peak Ninth Star Dou King. This feeling was incredibly exhilarating. Feeling the formidable power of a Ninth Star Dou King within him, a confident smile unconsciously appeared on Gu He''s lips. With this progress, it wouldn''t be long before he could break through to the Dou Emperor realm. Being familiar with the original work, he naturally understood this. Only by stepping into the Dou Emperor realm could he possess a thread of self-preservation amidst this world teeming with formidable individuals. "According to my current strength as a Ninth Star Dou King and with the assistance of the system, fusing with the Nine Abyssal Flames should be safe." After a moment of contemplation, Gu He spoke calmly, "System, extract the Nine Abyssal Flames." As soon as Gu He''s words fell, the purple flame within the system space transformed into a purple light, instantly entering Gu He''s body. Upon the integration of the Nine Abyssal Flames, Gu He felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His complexion turned extremely pale in an instant. An intensely scorching sensation surged within him. Drops of sweat rolled down Gu He''s forehead as he felt every fiber of his body convulsing relentlessly. Amidst this heart-wrenching pain, the Nine Abyssal Flames gradually began to assimilate within Gu He. After what felt like an eternity, the excruciating pain within Gu He''s body slowly faded. At that very moment, Gu He slowly opened his eyes, a trace of purple light shimmering in his pitch-black pupils. Extending his right hand slowly, Gu He''s thoughts flickered, causing a ball of purple flame to surge instantly. Gazing at the purple Nine Abyssal Flames in his hand, a satisfied smile curled on Gu He''s lips. "Next, it''s time for this Emperor-grade technique, the Devouring Soul Art. Following his excitement, Gu He gradually calmed down. His gaze shifted slowly to the black scroll within the system space." Chapter 5: Inheritance of the Devouring Soul Art, Yun Yun’s Visit Chapter 5: Inheritance of the Devouring Soul Art, Yun Yuns Visit ["Does the host accept the inheritance of the Devouring Soul Art?"] As Gu He''s consciousness made contact with the black scroll, the system''s prompt tone sounded. "I accept!" Without hesitation, Gu He made a direct choice. In the next moment, Gu He felt a bit dizzy as a myriad of information flowed into his mind. Countless streams of information entered him like an extremely sharp blade, cutting open his skull and surging into the depths of his mind. With his eyes tightly closed, Gu He''s mind slightly concentrated, immersing himself in the torrent of information. After a long while, a faint layer of cold sweat clung to Gu He''s eyelashes, and a trace of excitement suddenly appeared at the corner of his mouth.UppTodated from Until the end, Gu He''s chest was heaving rapidly, clearly indicating his extreme excitement at this moment. Absorbed in the profound information in his mind, Gu He remained completely still. It wasn''t until three hours later that he slowly opened his eyes, his pitch black pupils radiating excitement. "The Devouring Soul Art can actually directly consume others'' souls to enhance one''s own soul power!" Recalling the contents of the Devouring Soul Art in his mind, excitement appeared in Gu He''s eyes. "Not only that, while devouring another''s soul, the Devouring Soul Art can also allow me to view their memories!" "This ability is truly terrifying!" Thinking of the extraordinary effects of the Devouring Soul Art, Gu He couldn''t help but marvel at its power as an Emperor-grade technique. For an alchemist, the most crucial aspect was the cultivation of soul power. Compared to cultivating Dou Qi, cultivating soul power was far more difficult. Moreover, as one progressed, enhancing soul power became increasingly challenging. This was also why on the Dou Qi continent, there were very few high-level alchemists. Now that Gu He had mastered the Emperor-grade technique, the Devouring Soul Art, he could directly enhance his soul power by consuming others'' souls. For other alchemists, this was equivalent to gaining an unfair advantage. After a long while, the excitement in Gu He''s heart gradually subsided, replaced by a contemplative expression in his eyes. Though the Devouring Soul Art was immensely powerful, it couldn''t be openly used. Once exposed to the light, this bizarre and abnormal technique would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention. Even as a Rank 6 alchemist, Gu He might not be able to protect himself. "Senior Gu He, are you alright?" Soon after, noticing his prolonged gaze, Yun Yun''s brows slightly furrowed, a hint of dissatisfaction in her bright eyes. Upon hearing her, Gu He snapped out of his reverie, a hint of embarrassment surfacing in his eyes. Damn, this is awkward... Cough... He cleared his throat, concealing his unease, and shifted his gaze back to Yun Yun before gently inquiring, "Master Yun, what brings you here today?" Seeing Gu He withdraw his gaze, and recalling her purpose for coming, Yun Yun''s expression softened. She slightly parted her crimson lips and explained, "Senior Gu He, I have come to request your assistance in refining a Gathering Qi Pill." Having said that, Yun Yun extended her fair hand, revealing a storage ring in her palm. "Here are the materials for refining two Gathering Qi Pills. I apologize for the imposition, Senior Gu He." Hearing this, Gu He was taken aback, "Refining Gathering Qi Pills?" So, this woman came to seek alchemical aid. Hold on... Gathering Qi Pills! Suddenly, a thought resurfaced in Gu He''s mind. Could it be? To validate his assumption, Gu He smiled faintly, his tone tinged with curiosity, "Master, the function of the Gathering Qi Pill is to allow a Ninth Stage Dou Qi practitioner to flawlessly condense their Dou Qi whirlwind, achieving a hundred percent success rate, am I correct?" "I recall that Yanran has already broken through to the Dou Practitioner level, so why..." Gu He trailed off, his gaze slightly puzzled as he looked at Yun Yun. Hearing this, a hint of annoyance flickered in Yun Yun''s heart, finding Gu He a bit meddlesome in matters that didn''t concern him. Yet, considering the contributions Gu He had made to the Cloud Mist Sect over the years, Yun Yun hesitated for a moment and decided to explain, "As you know, Yanran still carries an engagement. Her fiance? is merely a Third Stage Dou Qi practitioner, and she doesn''t approve of this marriage. She intends to go to Utan City to break off the engagement." "While breaking off an engagement might seem inappropriate, I support her decision to ensure Yanran''s peace of mind in her cultivation." "Consider this Gathering Qi Pill as compensation for that young man." Yun Yun''s tone held a touch of regret. After all, the matter of breaking off engagements wasn''t the most honourable approach taken by the Cloud Mist Sect. Just as he suspected! After hearing Yun Yun''s explanation, Gu He immediately understood everything.The Gathering Qi Pill he was to refine was meant for Xiao Yan. Before long, Nalan Yanran would take this Gathering Qi Pill and forcefully break off the engagement at the Xiao Clan in Wu Tan City. Thus, the storyline of "Battle Through the Heavens" would begin with Nalan Yanran''s decisive break from the engagement. Because of Nalan Yanran''s resolute action, Xiao Yan would find the motivation to grow stronger and ultimately thwart Hun Tian Di''s scheme. Hun Tian Di probably never anticipated that his downfall would be triggered by Xiao Yan''s broken engagement. Chapter 6: Yun Yun’s Shock! Chapter 6: Yun Yuns Shock! "So that''s how it is." After listening to Yun Yun''s words, Gu He pretended to be enlightened. Then he nodded in agreement and said: "Actually, I don''t really approve of Yan Ran''s marriage contract with Xiao Yan either." "After all, Yan Ran is going to inherit the position of the Cloud Mist Sect''s leader in the future." "That Xiao Yan is just a trash with a Dou Disciple level three-stage, how can he match up to YanRan?" "Elder Gu He also thinks so?" Hearing this, Yun Yun''s eyes brightened, and a smile appeared on her pretty face. Originally, she had always felt guilty about the matter of breaking off the engagement. But after hearing Gu He''s words, Yun Yun suddenly felt that she didn''t do anything wrong. That Xiao Yan didn''t deserve her precious disciple. "That''s natural." Gu He nodded slightly and said slowly: "Yan Ran is also considered my junior, I watched her grow up. I don''t want her to ruin her great future because of a paper contract." "In that case, the matter of breaking off the engagement should not be delayed. I will trouble Elder Gu He to refine this Qi Gathering pill. Perhaps it was because Gu He''s words just now hit Yun Yun''s heart, Yun Yun looked at Gu He with a bright smile on her face. Looking at Yun Yun''s smile, Gu He felt a slight ripple in his heart. No wonder his previous self was so obsessed with Yun Yun. If it were him, he wouldn''t be able to resist either! "Yan Ran is also my junior, refining the Qi Gathering Pill is also my duty." Quickly recovering his senses, Gu He said with a smile. As he spoke, he reached out and took the storage ring from Yun Yun''s palm. "Elder Gu He is very kind. I will tell Yan Ran about your kindness." Yun Yun said with a smile on her lips. "In that case, I will come back tomorrow to get the Qi Gathering Pill." She said and slowly turned around, ready to leave. "Sect Leader, please wait." "There is no need to wait until tomorrow for the Qi Gathering Pill." With a confident smile on his face, Gu He said seriously. "Yan Ran''s matter of breaking off the engagement should be done sooner rather than later." "I will start refining the Qi Gathering Pill right now." Hearing this, Yun Yun was slightly startled, then nodded and said: "That''s fine." "Then please wait here for a moment, Sect Leader." Seeing Yun Yun nod, Gu He took the storage ring and prepared to walk towards the pill refining room. "Elder Gu He, can I help you?" After hesitating for a moment, Yun Yun opened her lips and said to Gu He. Seeing Gu He look over, Yun Yun felt a bit embarrassed and said: "The matter of breaking off the engagement is Yan Ran''s lifelong matter. As her teacher, I naturally should do something." "Uh..." Hearing this, Yun Yun stared at Gu He blankly, her red lips slightly parted, and said incredulously: "You want me to fan you?" "What, you don''t want to?" "Then Sect Master might as well go out first." Hearing this, Gu He said indifferently: "To refine a mere Qi Gathering Pill, I alone am enough. I don''t need anyone else''s assistance." As he spoke, Gu He took out the materials for refining the Qi Gathering Pill from his storage ring and placed them on a table next to him. Hearing this, Yun Yun paused for a moment. Seeing Gu He''s serious expression, she hesitated for a while. In the end, she put down her Sect Master''s dignity and took the golden fan and gently fanned Gu He. Feeling the cool breeze coming from behind him, Gu He felt secretly pleased. The Sect Master of Cloud Mist Sect personally fanning him, this treatment was really great. Then, Gu He slowly gathered his mind and stretched out his palm. A wisp of purple flame rose up in his palm. As the purple flame appeared, the temperature in the room suddenly increased. "This... purple flame?" Feeling the strangeness in the room, Yun Yun couldn''t help but look at the purple flame in Gu He''s hand. A trace of shock flashed in her beautiful eyes. "This is a Heavenly Flame!" Although Yun Yun was not an alchemist, she still recognized this rare and extraordinary fire. "When did Elder Gu He get a Heavenly Flame?" With her tempting lips slightly parted, Yun Yun looked at Gu He with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. At this moment, Gu He had already focused his mind on alchemy and didn''t notice the change in Yun Yun''s expression behind him. In the next moment, Gu He''s palm moved rapidly on the table. One by one, he grabbed the medicinal ingredients and threw them all into the pill furnace. As his palm left the pill furnace, Gu He''s face was calm. His fair palm suddenly moved like a butterfly flitting through flowers. And as his fingertips flicked, the scorching purple flame inside the Red Snake Furnace obediently split into more than a dozen small flames that enveloped the medicinal ingredients that were thrown in. Watching Gu He''s smooth and natural movements that seemed like second nature to him, Yun Yun''s eyes were filled with wonder. After being transformed by the Celestial Aura, every movement of Gu He at this moment seemed natural and pleasing to the eye in Yun Yun''s eyes. Chapter 7: Yun Yun’s Heartbeat Sped Up! Chapter 7: Yun Yuns Heartbeat Sped Up! "How come I never noticed that Elder Gu He was so handsome..." Staring blankly at Gu He who was refining pills, Yun Yun suddenly had this thought in her mind.UppTodated from Oh my, Yun Yun, what are you thinking about? But then, a sense of restraint made Yun Yun feel a bit shy, and a blush appeared on her pretty face. She glanced at him and saw that he was focused on refining pills, and didn''t notice her abnormality just now. Yun Yun breathed a sigh of relief. How embarrassing!! The Sect Master actually had a crush... She slightly calmed her mind, and held the golden fan in her jade hand, attentively fanning Gu He. In the quiet alchemy room, the purple flame danced enchantingly. As time passed, a faint medicinal fragrance filled the room. The red pill furnace slowly rotated in mid-air, and the purple flame churned violently inside. And as the red furnace rotated, the space around it also emitted waves of tiny energy ripples. These energy ripples formed a circular shape with the pill furnace as the center and gradually spread out in all directions. Inside the pill furnace where the flame was tumbling, a thumb-sized light green pill embryo slowly took shape under the fire''s burning. At a certain moment, a deep purple pill fragrance suddenly emanated from the furnace and filled the room, lingering for a long time. The purple flame only rose for a blink of an eye, and then quickly vanished. And as the flame vanished, a thumb-sized pill that was light purple in color and emitted a faint luster appeared in the pill furnace, spinning round and round. "Is it going to be done?" Smelling the light green pill fragrance, Yun Yun''s eyes brightened. Gu He slapped the Red Snake Furnace, and the light green pill was immediately spat out by the furnace and landed steadily in Gu He''s palm. Then, Gu He took out a jade bottle from his storage ring and put the Qi Gathering Pill directly into it. After doing all this, Gu He turned around and looked at Yun Yun. "Sect Master, I have successfully refined the Qi Gathering Pill." In these three years, he had to quickly improve his strength. And for him who had the Teaching System, the fastest way to become stronger was naturally to take disciples. But according to the system requirements, Gu He had to get at least eight points for his disciples'' ratings. This forced Gu He to take only genius disciples. But where were there so many geniuses for Gu He to take? Thinking of this, Gu He began to review the plot of the original book. First of all, the protagonist Xiao Yan was definitely a genius. But Gu He didn''t hesitate to pass him. What a joke! What did Xiao Yan do to him in the original book? Gu He couldn''t take Xiao Yan as his disciple. Then, Gu He thought of the Xiao Yi Xian in Qing Shan Town. She had the Poison Body of Misfortune. Her talent was unquestionable. She definitely reached the eight-point rating. Then, Gu He thought of Qing Lin who had the bloodline of the snake people. Qing Lin had the Three Flowered Jade Eyes. Her future potential was unlimited. This definitely also reached the system''s eight-point rating. In the original book, there seemed to be only these two geniuses that appeared in the Jia Ma Empire. Gu He stood in place and thought for a moment. He made a decision in his heart. He wanted to go down the mountain and make disciples! For now, he wanted to become stronger quickly. He had to go down the mountain and take disciples himself. Maybe, he would have some unexpected discoveries and meet other geniuses. Thinking of this, Gu He began to prepare the living supplies for going down the mountain. The next morning, A white mist covered the entire Cloud Mist Sect, looking like a fairyland. The next moment, a white figure flew out of the Cloud Mist Sect''s gate. Gu He spread out his crimson wings and headed straight for the Magic Beast Mountain Range. In the depths of Cloud Mist Sect, on top of a pavilion, Yun Yun watched the departing white figure. A trace of doubt flashed in her beautiful eyes. "What is Elder Gu He leaving the sect for? Chapter 8: Xiao Yi Xian Chapter 8: Xiao Yi Xian The Demon Beast Mountain Range is the largest mountain range in the Jia Ma Empire. Around the Demon Beast Mountain Range, there are many small towns of various sizes. And Qing Shan Town is the closest small town to the Demon Beast Mountain Range. In the town, the most populous crowd are naturally those mercenaries who lick blood on the blade every day. They group together, hug each other''s arms, and spit on the street, discussing recklessly which woman has the most flavour, which wine is the strongest, and which demon beast is the most ferocious. On both sides of the street, there are many shops, and because of Qing Shan Town''s geographical advantage, the popularity is quite hot. At this moment, a slight disturbance suddenly appeared on the busy street. "Get out of the way!" "Get out of the way for me!" A mercenary with a huge body carrying a companion ran wildly on the street, yelling angrily, and many pedestrians were rudely pushed away by him. The big man''s rough face had a deep scar, his mercenary clothes were stained with a lot of blood, and his fierce face looked like a evil ghost. Some pedestrians were hit by the big man, and their faces showed some dissatisfaction. But when they turned around and saw his fierce face, they obviously didn''t dare to provoke him, and they obediently gave way to him. " Are you in a hurry to reincarnate?" After the big man left, he immediately cursed unwillingly. "Keep your voice down, they are the Dragon and Tiger brothers..." A passerby next to him seemed to recognize the big man and reminded him in a low voice. "What, they are the Dragon and Tiger brothers!" Hearing this, the face of the unhappy passerby changed, as if he was a little afraid of these "Dragon and Tiger brothers". Dragon and Tiger Brothers, is a very special mercenary group in Qing Shan Town because there are only two people in the mercenary group. Lin Long, Lin Hu. The two are brothers, united and have the strength of five-star Dou practitioners. In this Qing Shan Town, few people dare to mess with these two brothers. "Black and white colours..." Hearing this, the little medical fairy frowned, and then thought of something, Her pretty face changed: "Oh no, he might have been poisoned by the mandrake snake." "What, it''s the mandrake snake venom!" Hearing her words, Lin Hu''s rough face changed drastically, and a trace of despair appeared in his eyes. As a veteran mercenary, he had never seen a mandrake snake, but he had heard of the fame of the mandrake snake venom. The mandrake snake was a second-order demon beast. Its venom was extremely poisonous. After being bitten, it was almost incurable. "I didn''t expect him to be poisoned by the mandrake snake venom! The mandrake snake venom is extremely poisonous. I am afraid that he won''t live long." The staff of medicinal hall next to them heard the little medical fairy''s words and looked at Lin Long lying on the ground with some pity as if looking at a dead person. "Little Medical Fairy, please save my big brother! You are a divine doctor, with superb medical skills. You must have a way, right?" "Little Medical Fairy, I beg you!" Suddenly, Lin Hu looked at the little medical fairy in front of him and kowtowed to her like crazy. "Don''t do this..." Seeing this scene, the little medical fairy''s face changed slightly, and a trace of reluctance flashed in her beautiful eyes. She hesitated and said: "There is only one way to solve the mandrake snake venom." "What way?" Hearing this, Lin Hu immediately raised his head, ignoring the blood on his forehead, and asked eagerly. "Mandrake snake gall." Xiao Yi Xian looked at Lin Hu with a very serious face: "Only the mandrake snake gall can solve the mandrake snake venom." "Mandrake snake gall!" Lin Hu was stunned for a moment, and then a firm look flashed in his eyes. He said: "I''ll get the snake gall!" As he said, he was about to get up and leave "You only have three hours." The little medical fairy reminded him: "The mandrake snake venom is extremely fierce. I can only try my best to suppress it for three hours. You must get back the snake gall within three hours." "Three hours..." Lin Hu muttered to himself, glanced at his unconscious big brother on the ground, and then left directly towards the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Watching Lin Hu leave, everyone in Ten Thousand Medicine Hall was silent.UppTodated from Chapter 9: Is Sir an Alchemist? Chapter 9: Is Sir an Alchemist? After Lin Hu left, the little medical fairy took out a jade bottle from her arms and poured out a pill to give Lin Long. As the pill entered Lin Long''s body, his face looked somewhat improved. However, Xiao Yi Xian''s pretty face still wore a worried expression. She knew that her antidote could only temporarily suppress the poison in Lin Long''s body. After three hours, the mandrake snake venom would resurface, rendering even her antidote useless. "Alas, if only I were an alchemist..." "With the skills of an alchemist, I could undoubtedly neutralize the mandrake snake venom." Thinking of alchemy, a trace of loneliness flickered in the little medical fairy''s beautiful eyes. She had pursued the path of alchemy since childhood but had never been able to make a breakthrough. Therefore, she understood the challenges of becoming an alchemist. She sighed softly and slowly rose. The only hope now was to rely on Lin Hu to obtain the mandrake snake gall. However, she was aware of how slim this hope was. Considering Lin Hu''s strength as a five-star Dou practitioner, obtaining the snake gall of a second-order demon beast like the mandrake snake seemed nearly impossible. As time passed, everyone in Ten Thousand Medicine Hall gazed at Lin Long lying on the ground, and the atmosphere gradually grew somber. "Only half an hour left..." The little medical fairy looked at the sky and muttered to herself. She examined Lin Long''s blackened face once again and shook her head helplessly. As a healer, witnessing a patient on the brink of death was a heart-wrenching experience. If only she could become an alchemist. Time ticked away, approaching the three-hour mark. The little medical fairy glanced outside, hoping to spot Lin Hu''s figure. Unfortunately, Lin Hu remained absent. She approached Lin Long and extended her jade hand to check. The mandrake snake venom had now spread throughout his limbs and bones. "Is there truly no hope..." A trace of sadness crossed her beautiful eyes. The little medical fairy sighed softly. The little medical fairy observed the pill in Gu He''s hand, noticing its distinction from the pills she crafted. Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "It''s a simple detoxification pill." Gu He''s smile remained casual. He had just given Lin Long a second-grade pillthe detoxification pill. For Gu He, a sixth-grade alchemist, a second-grade pill was indeed unremarkable. "Just an ordinary detoxification pill?" Puzzled, the little medical fairy questioned whether a commonplace detoxification pill could truly counteract the mandrake snake venom. She scrutinized Lin Long for any changes. In the next moment, surprise flickered in her eyes. Despite Lin Long''s face darkening again after taking the pill, the darkness gradually receded. This indicated a gradual dissipation of the mandrake snake venom in Lin Long''s body. "This..." Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes widened, her lips slightly parted, and her face registered surprise. "The mandrake snake venom was actually neutralized like this? Mr. Gu''s medical skills are truly astounding, aren''t they?" Witnessing this scene, everyone in the medicine hall regarded Gu He with admiration. Mr. Gu had successfully countered the mandrake snake venom. After a while, Lin Long''s complexion began to visibly return to normal. The little medical fairy examined him and smiled sweetly: "The snake venom in his body has been completely eliminated." Subsequently, the little medical fairy turned to Gu He with her beautiful eyes and smiled softly: "Thanks to Mr. Gu''s miraculous pill, we were able to counter the mandrake snake venom. On behalf of Ten Thousand Medicine Hall, I express my gratitude to Mr. Gu." Lin Long, a patient of her medicine hall, had now been cured by Gu He. The little medical fairy felt compelled to express her thanks. "It''s merely a second-grade pill. Nothing noteworthy." Gu He dismissed it with a smile. "Second-grade pill!!" However, at the mention of a second-grade pill, the little medical fairy''s expression changed. "Could it be that Mr. Gu is... an alchemist?" Chapter 10 The Little Medical Fairy’s Thoughts Chapter 10 The Little Medical Fairys Thoughts "Sir, are you an alchemist?" The little medical fairy''s beautiful eyes blinked as she asked with anticipation. Gu He did not answer but just smiled and nodded. He really is an alchemist! Seeing Gu He nod in admission, the little medical fairy''s pretty face showed a surprised expression.Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only Her biggest wish was to become an alchemist. But she had always been frustrated by the lack of opportunities to meet one. After all, in the small Qing Shan Town, where would noble alchemists come? The little medical fairy''s eyes were full of excitement, and she wanted to ask him, but she was afraid of being rude. She had never seen a real alchemist, but she had heard many stories about them from other mercenaries. Legend has it that alchemists are aloof and arrogant, and ordinary people can hardly get along with them. "Maybe, this Mr. Gu is an exception?" The little medical fairy looked at Gu He and thought of this idea. After all, looking at Gu He''s clear smile and handsome face, he was really attractive to get close to. Such a person should be different from other alchemists. Hearing the conversation between Gu He and the little medical fairy, the other staff members of the medicine hall also showed shocked expressions on their faces. This gentleman was actually an alchemist! The people looked at Gu He with reverence in their eyes. In their hearts, the status of an alchemist was extremely noble. And he could also take out a second-grade pill, which meant that this gentleman was at least a second-grade alchemist. Thinking of this, the people looked at Gu He with awe. "Big brother! Big brother!" Just then, there were a few shouts outside of Ten Thousand Medicine Hall, with a trace of misery in their voices. Then, a ragged figure appeared at the door of the medicine hall. It was Lin Hu who had left earlier. At this moment, Lin Hu''s rough face was full of grief. His eyes were tearful. He suddenly threw himself on Lin Long''s body on the ground. "Big brother, I''m sorry... I''m useless!" Three hours had passed, and Lin Hu thought that his big brother had died of poison. Xiao Yi Xian showed a smile on her pretty face and said softly: "Your big brother is fine now." Hearing this, Lin Hu was stunned. He then looked at Lin Long''s face, which had returned to normal. His eyes showed surprise. "My big brother''s snake venom has been solved?" Thinking of this, Lin Hu was even more grateful to Gu He. "Mr. Gu, I and my brother will never forget your kindness. If you have any orders in the future, we will do whatever you say." Gu He showed a helpless expression on his face. This person had a good heart. If it weren''t for his low strength, he would consider taking him in. He smiled and said: "No need for that. It''s just a second-grade pill. You''d better take your big brother back and rest well." "Yes, sir!" Hearing this, Lin Hu was stunned. Then he kowtowed to Gu He three times. He then carried his big brother and left the medicine hall. "Mr. Gu, thank you for helping me out of Wan Yao Zhai. I don''t know if I can invite Mr. Gu to move to the inner room and have a cup of tea." After Lin Hu left, the little medical fairy''s eyes flashed, and she took the initiative to invite him. Gu He''s purpose here was for Xiao Yi Xian. He naturally wouldn''t refuse. He smiled and nodded: "Okay, I''m a bit thirsty." Seeing Gu He agree, the little medical fairy''s eyes showed a hint of joy. She smiled slightly and said respectfully: "Sir, please follow me." Gu He nodded and then followed the little medical fairy into the inner room of Wan Yao Zhai. After entering the inner room, the little medical fairy soon served the fragrant tea. "I hope you don''t mind if I ask, what is Mr. Gu''s purpose for coming to Qing Shan Town? Maybe I can help." Perhaps seeing that Gu He was more easy-going, the little medical fairy plucked up the courage and asked. "Hehe, I came to Qing Shan Town mainly to relax and also to enter the Demon Beast Mountain Range to find some spiritual herbs." Gu He took a sip of the fragrant tea and smiled lightly. "Then Mr. Gu will stay in Qing Shan Town for a while." Hearing Gu He''s words, the little medical fairy''s heart was immediately happy. As long as Mr. Gu didn''t leave soon, it meant that there was a chance. "Hmm." Gu He nodded lightly. "Sir, I''m quite familiar with the outer area of the Demon Beast Mountain Range. If you are looking for spiritual herbs, I might be able to help." The little medical fairy''s eyes turned, and she suggested to Gu He. "Oh!" Gu He was looking for an opportunity to get closer to the little medical fairy. Her suggestion was exactly what he wanted. He pretended to hesitate for a while and then nodded: "Then I''ll have to trouble you then." Chapter 11: Settling in Qingshan Town Chapter 11: Settling in Qingshan Town "It''s not a bother, not a bother." Upon hearing Gu He''s agreement to her request, Little Medical Fairy''s spirits lifted. She quickly responded with a coquettish tone. For her, just having the opportunity to be close to the alchemist before her was already quite satisfying. In case he''s willing to give her some guidance, that would be a great boon. Little did she know, at this moment Gu He had similar thoughts. The reason he hadn''t directly proposed taking Little Medical Fairy as his apprentice was to become familiar with her first. After all, they were strangers; suddenly offering apprenticeship might be presumptuous. If she rejected it, it would be embarrassing. To smoothly take her as an apprentice, Gu He aimed to get to know her. At least make her trust him, truly accept him. Once they formed a connection, she''d understand him better. Then, the apprenticeship would naturally fall into place. Seeing Gu He''s approachability, Xiao Yi Xian gained confidence and asked more questions. Gu He remained patient, answering each one with a smile. Tap, tap, tap! Footsteps sounded outside the door. Gu He looked, seeing a middle-aged man in blue robes enter. Seeing him, Xiao Yi Xian''s brows furrowed; she seemed unhappy her moment with Gu He was disrupted. "This is... the esteemed alchemist, right?" As the middle-aged man entered, he fixed his gaze on Gu He and spoke respectfully. "Who are you?" Gu He was surprised, a bit annoyed by the interruption. Who''s this? He was chatting with his soon-to-be disciple; who''s this guy barging in? "Hehe, I''m surnamed Yao, the owner of Ten Thousand Medicine Hall. Upon learning the esteemed alchemist was here, I came to pay respects." Owner Yao showed extreme deference in front of Gu He, almost excessively flattering. The owner of the medicine hall? Gu He remembered such a character from the original story. Upon hearing Gu He''s agreement, Xiao Yi Xian was also excited. Living in the same courtyard as Mr. Gu, how could she miss this opportunity for future interactions? A little while later, accompanied by Mr. Yao and Little Medical Fairy, Gu He walked a few streets and arrived at an estate. The estate was quite unique, with a dozen guards stationed at the entrance. It seemed that Ten Thousand Medicine Hall''s influence in Qingshan Town was substantial. After entering the estate, Mr. Yao led Gu He to a tranquil room. "Sir, take a look at this room. Does it meet your preferences?" Mr. Yao led Gu He to a room and asked with a smile. "It''s quite nice, this room will do." Gu He glanced and then nodded in approval. Little Medical Fairy followed behind, her eyes brightening with a hint of joy. Gu He''s room wasn''t far from hers, and it seemed her room was situated in a location that Gu He would have to pass through frequently. It appeared even fate was aiding her. "I''ll go prepare some daily necessities for you." With Gu He''s agreement, Mr. Yao''s face lit up, and he excused himself. "Sir, my room is close to yours. If you plan to gather herbs on the mountain, you can call on me anytime." After Mr. Yao left, Little Medical Fairy''s eyes sparkled as she quickly approached, offering her assistance. "Alright." Gu He nodded with a smile. "Well then, I''ll take my leave." Little Medical Fairy hesitated for a moment. She thought it best to wait until they were more familiar before seeking guidance on alchemy. After all, they had just met on the first day. Asking too much might cause a negative impression. Watching Little Medical Fairy leave, Gu He''s lips curled slightly. Judging from her behaviour, it seemed she had a favourable impression of him. Perhaps, after they became more familiar, proposing apprenticeship wouldn''t be met with refusal. And so, Gu He officially settled in Qingshan Town. Chapter 12: Xiao Yi Xian’s Apprenticeship Chapter 12: Xiao Yi Xians Apprenticeship After two calm days at Mr. Yao''s Manor, Gu He took the initiative to approach Xiao Yi Xian. He asked her to accompany him into the Demon Beast Mountain Range to gather herbs. This was something Xiao Yi Xian had been anticipating. Without much thought, she agreed wholeheartedly when Gu He approached her. In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed. With several experiences of herb-gathering on the mountain, the relationship between the current Xiao Yi Xian and Gu He had become quite familiar. During this time, Gu He generously shared his knowledge of alchemy whenever Xiao Yi Xian had questions, earning even more of her respect. On this day, after returning from herb-gathering on the mountain, Gu He freshened up and was about to begin his cultivation. At that moment, a knock echoed through his room, followed by the melodious voice of Xiao Yi Xian outside. "Sir, I''ve made some chicken soup myself. Would you like to have some?" Hearing the voice, Gu He opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flickering within. Why was Xiao Yi Xian coming to find him so late? Bringing chicken soup? "Come in," Gu He''s clear voice resonated shortly after. Creak! As Gu He''s words faded, the door was pushed open, and the graceful figure of Xiao Yi Xian slowly entered the room. With a food container in her hands, she raised it toward Gu He and playfully said, "Mr. Gu, I''ve been in Qing Shan Town for a while now, and I haven''t had the chance to let you taste my cooking yet." After spending a few days with Gu He, Xiao Yi Xian had noticed that this esteemed alchemist didn''t seem to carry an air of superiority; he was approachable. Thus, she had fully relaxed around him, no longer as reserved as she had been initially. "Sure, I''ll taste your cooking," Gu He always had a smile on his face, and he felt somewhat anticipatory. In the original work, it seemed to mention that Xiao Yi Xian was quite skilled in cooking. If he were to take this girl under his wing, wouldn''t he be in for a treat? He had inquired with the system, and it confirmed that a disciple must genuinely acknowledge him as their master. Forcibly taking on a disciple wouldn''t trigger the system''s return mechanism. Hearing Gu He''s words, Xiao Yi Xian fell silent for a moment. After hesitating for a while, her gaze gradually turned resolute, and she said with a hint of implication, "Actually, sir, if you truly wish to have chicken soup every day, there might be a way." "Oh?" At these words, a hint of curiosity appeared in Gu He''s eyes as he said, "Please, tell me more." "If you''re willing to take me as your apprentice, I''d be happy to cook chicken soup for you every day," Xiao Yi Xian''s face bloomed with a playful smile, her gaze fixed on Gu He. Xiao Yi Xian''s tone carried a touch of teasing as if she were joking with Gu He. But in reality, at this moment, Xiao Yi Xian felt incredibly nervous. She wasn''t certain if her words would anger Gu He. As Gu He heard Xiao Yi Xian''s words, his expression momentarily froze. And once he processed her words, a sense of anticipation rose within him. Could it be that Xiao Yi Xian... is indicating that she wants to become my disciple? With such thoughts swirling in his mind, Gu He also worried that Xiao Yi Xian might be joking. Thus, he carefully considered his words, his gaze shifting to the petite figure across from him. With a light chuckle, he said, "Haha, if you''re willing, I certainly will take you as my disciple." "Are you serious, sir?" Hearing Gu He''s words, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes brightened, excitement gleaming in her gaze. Immediately, she rose from her seat, gracefully bowed to Gu He, and her melodious voice rang out, "Disciple greets the teacher." ??? Watching this sequence of actions from Xiao Yi Xian, Gu He''s expression turned somewhat bewildered. Xiao Yi Xian, it turns out, is actually serious... Chapter 13: Imparting Alchemical Insights Chapter 13: Imparting Alchemical Insights "Um..." "Xiao Yi Xian, are you serious?" Looking at Xiao Yi Xian, who was currently performing the ceremony of becoming his disciple, Gu He was momentarily taken aback. "Of course, I''m serious." A sweet smile graced Xiao Yi Xian''s face. Seeing Gu He was seemingly lost in thought, her expression quickly turned disappointed. "Could it be, Mr. Gu, that you were just joking earlier? You actually don''t intend to take me as your disciple?" "No, no, no!" Gu He quickly denied, somewhat excitedly, "I''m serious." Then he calmed down, gazing earnestly at Xiao Yi Xian and slowly said, "Starting today, you are the second disciple of Gu He." Since Xiao Yi Xian had already taken the initiative to become his disciple, Gu He didn''t intend to conceal his identity, and he spoke openly. Upon hearing Gu He''s confirmation, Xiao Yi Xian''s face once again lit up with a smile. "Gu He?" "Is that the name of the teacher?" Xiao Yi Xian muttered to herself, feeling like she had heard this name before. As she repeated the name, a flash of realization crossed her mind, and she looked at the Gu He before her in astonishment, exclaiming, "Teacher, you... You''re Alchemy King Gu He?" Xiao Yi Xian stared at Gu He with wide eyes, her lips slightly parted, as if seeing Gu He for the first time. Facing her astonished gaze, Gu He smiled faintly, then nodded, saying, "Indeed, that''s right. Your teacher is Alchemy King Gu He." Although he maintained a smile on his face, Gu He secretly vowed to himself that he needed to shed this title as soon as possible. Currently, his strength had already reached the level of a Nine-Star Dou King, just a step away from breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm. By then, he should change his title to "Alchemy Emperor Gu He." The title "Alchemy Emperor" sounded much more imposing than "Alchemy King." Now that he had taken Xiao Yi Xian as his disciple, achieving this goal wouldn''t be too difficult. My teacher really is Alchemy King! That''s actually Alchemy King! Seeing Gu He confessing, Xiao Yi Xian was utterly bewildered, her mind struggling to catch up. Alchemy King Gu He was, to her, akin to a legendary figure. She couldn''t have dreamed that one day she would actually become the disciple of Alchemy King Gu He. She stared at Gu He in a daze, momentarily rendered speechless. "Yes, since you are already under my tutelage, I will explain to you the rules I have." Gu He looked at Xiao Yi Xian, trying to maintain a serious demeanour. "Firstly, upon joining my sext, I will bestow upon you three welcoming gifts. You must accept these gifts without refusal." "Secondly, I''ve always believed in rewarding those who contribute. In the future, whether you enhance my reputation externally or improve your skills internally, I will grant substantial rewards." "Thirdly, as long as you do not betray the school, your actions are your own freedom, and I won''t interfere." Initially, seeing Gu He''s serious expression, Xiao Yi Xian thought he might impose some very strict requirements. However, upon hearing these three stipulations, she was left dumbfounded. "Ah... Teacher, is that all?" Xiao Yi Xian blinked her sparkling eyes, looking at Gu He with some confusion. Gu He shook his head and chuckled, "My school doesn''t have so many rules for apprentices. Just these three." "That''s too good." Xiao Yi Xian muttered softly. These three guidelines didn''t seem like requirements at all; they were practically the ultimate perks for disciples. Xiao Yi Xian had initially thought that becoming an apprentice to the Alchemy King would involve strict regulations. But now it seemed she had been overthinking things. "Come, my obedient disciple, sit before me. I''m about to impart the ways of alchemy to you." Gu He gently spoke to Xiao Yi Xian. "Oh." Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian felt a bit puzzled, but obediently sat down in front of Gu He. "Later, you mustn''t be distracted. Focus your mind and spirit, completely absorb the information I''m about to pass on to you." "Understood, Teacher." Xiao Yi Xian responded softly and then followed Gu He''s instructions. As Gu He spoke, he reached out, placing his palm on Xiao Yi Xian''s forehead. In the next moment, Gu He concentrated his own mind, issuing a command to the system. "Transfer all the alchemical insights in my mind to Xiao Yi Xian." Chapter 14: Inheritance of a Ninth-Rank Alchemist Chapter 14: Inheritance of a Ninth-Rank Alchemist "System, transmit all the alchemy insights in my mind to Xiao Yi Xian." As Gu He silently commanded, the system swiftly activated. A surge of extensive information flowed from Gu He''s palm, fervently injecting into Xiao Yi Xian''s consciousness. "Ah..." The immense information felt like a sword thrust into the depths of Xiao Yi Xian''s soul, causing her to involuntarily exclaim in pain. "Good disciple, endure it, calm your mind and focus, it will pass soon." Seeing the discomfort on Xiao Yi Xian''s face, Gu He couldn''t help but regret, wondering if he had been too hasty. Transmitting such a massive amount of information all at once, could Xiao Yi Xian''s strength withstand it? Hearing Gu He''s reassurance, Xiao Yi Xian responded with a soft "yes" before gritting her teeth and enduring the piercing pain in her mind.Updated chapters at novelhall.com Fortunately, the pain that entered Xiao Yi Xian''s mind as quickly dissipated as it came. As her expression returned to normal, Gu He let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, she''s okay. If something had gone wrong due to his actions, Gu He would have been consumed by guilt. Just as Gu He breathed a sigh of relief, a system prompt resounded in his mind. [Detected that the host has imparted insights of a sixth-rank alchemist to Second Disciple Xiao Yi Xian. Congratulations, the host has triggered a ten thousand-fold return and obtained the inheritance of a ninth-rank alchemist.] [The inheritance of a ninth-rank alchemist has been issued to the system. Host, please check.] Hearing the system''s prompt, Gu He''s mouth hung open, displaying astonishment. Ten thousand-fold return and Inheritance of a ninth-rank alchemist! This... was it not unbelievably astounding? Gu He stood still, dazed for a moment. Then, his mind moved, and he directly entered the system space. Once inside, he saw a luminous sphere suspended in the void. "Is this the inheritance sphere of a ninth-rank alchemist?" Gu He gazed at the sphere in the void, his eyes gleaming with fiery determination. Would fusing with this sphere grant him the inheritance of a ninth-rank alchemist? Ninth-rank alchemist, that''s no ordinary rank! How many ninth-rank alchemists existed on the Continent of Dou Qi? This was truly an existence at the pinnacle! [Ding, does the host accept the inheritance of a ninth-rank alchemist?] She had a feeling these insights were already within her mind, unforgettable. Such a method, truly miraculous? Xiao Yi Xian knew these were left by the teacher in her mind. Thinking of the profound information in her mind, a slight smile formed. Teacher, your gift of meeting is truly significant. However, she recalled the three gifts Gu He mentioned earlier. This first gift was astonishing, what about the next two? Thinking this, excitement colored Xiao Yi Xian''s gaze. "Hey hey!" "What are you thinking?" "Drooling, huh." At that moment, a large hand patted Xiao Yi Xian''s head, snapping her out of her thoughts. Am I drooling? Xiao Yi Xian panicked, wiping her mouth. No, I''m not. Confused, she raised her head and saw a teasing expression on Gu He''s face, understanding his intent. "Teacher, you''re teasing me." Xiao Yi Xian blushed, embarrassed. "Hehe." Seeing her discomfort, Gu He smiled, gently asking, "How do you feel? Any discomfort?" Discomfort? Xiao Yi Xian blinked, then shook her head, her voice light, "Teacher, I''m fine." Gu He nodded, serious, "You must comprehend the alchemical insights I''ve passed on. Once you master them, you won''t be far from the realm of a sixth-rank alchemist." "Yes, I understand." Xiao Yi Xian obediently replied. Afterwards, Gu He hesitated, seeing her fatigue. He decided to postpone further training until tomorrow. She had already faced many challenges today; she should rest. With a gentle tone, Gu He said, "Apprentice, let''s stop here for today. Go and rest." Naturally, Xiao Yi Xian nodded, tidied up the tableware, and left the room. Once she was gone, Gu He closed the door, sat on the bed, and immediately entered the system space. Looking at the hovering legacy light sphere, Gu He commanded, "System, begin receiving the legacy of a ninth-rank alchemist." As Gu He''s words fell, the legacy light sphere transformed into a white light and entered Gu He''s mind. Chapter 15: The Second Reward Chapter 15: The Second Reward As the legacy light sphere entered Gu He''s mind, a massive influx of information exploded. Before Gu He could react, his mind was flooded with an overwhelming torrent of information. "Ah..." Caught off guard, Gu He couldn''t help but let out a miserable cry. Countless profound pieces of information surged frantically within his mind. Gu He felt as if his soul had been thrown into a meat grinder, mercilessly torn apart. At this moment, he vividly experienced the pain Xiao Yi Xian had endured earlier. No, compared to Xiao Yi Xian, the agony he was currently facing was even more intense. After all, this was the legacy of a ninth-rank alchemist. Forcing himself to endure the sensation of his soul tearing apart, Gu He steadied his mental state and concentrated fully on absorbing this immense wave of information. As the information within the legacy light sphere flooded into Gu He''s mind, the deep pain in his soul grew stronger. Gu He''s complexion had turned extremely pale, and his once handsome and refined face now looked incredibly distorted. He felt as if his consciousness was on the verge of sinking, gradually becoming blurry. Just as Gu He was about to slip into unconsciousness, something happened within his chest... More accurately, within his heart area, a burst of rainbow-colored light suddenly radiated. If Gu He''s consciousness had been clear at this moment, he would have seen it inside his body. A heart emitting enigmatic runes, enveloped in a rainbow-colored glow. The rainbow glow gradually shrouded Gu He''s entire body. From the outside, his figure became obscured, leaving only a ball of light sitting on the bed. As the rainbow light surged into the depths of his soul, Gu He immediately felt a cool sensation flowing through his soul, gradually restoring his clarity of mind. Sensing the changes in his body, surprise flashed in Gu He''s eyes. Then, his consciousness delved into his body, and he discovered the heart that was emitting the rainbow-colored light. This is... the effect of the Seven Aperture Exquisite Pill Heart? Gu He instantly understood everything. He hadn''t expected the Seven Aperture Exquisite Pill Heart to have such an effect. Gu He''s heart rejoiced, quickly focusing his mind to receive the immense information in his thoughts. With the aid of the Seven Orifice Exquisite Heart Pill, Gu He felt no pain as he smoothly absorbed the entire inheritance light sphere''s information. As the room shimmered with multicolored light, time passed by. "Teacher..." It was Xiao Yi Xian''s gentle and sweet voice from outside that finally stirred Gu He from his slumber. Glancing at the sky outside, Gu He finally realized that he had overslept. Hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s voice from outside, Gu He couldn''t help but wryly smile, "Seems like there are some aftereffects from yesterday." However, the feeling of sleeping in was quite nice. "Teacher! Teacher!" Seeing no response from inside, Xiao Yi Xian called out a few more times. "Coming." Gu He shouted and then efficiently got dressed, walking over to open the door. "Teacher, are you still not awake?" Xiao Yi Xian poked her head into the room, glanced around, and her face was filled with doubt. Hearing this, Gu He looked embarrassed. In this new world, the only time he had ever slept in, and his disciple caught him red-handed. "Cough cough, well..." Just as Gu He was about to come up with an explanation, Xiao Yi Xian suddenly seemed to realize something. Her expression changed, and she blamed herself, "Teacher, it''s not because of yesterday, that you got tired, right?" "It''s not your fault..." Gu He began, but Xiao Yi Xian was already blaming herself further. "Uh..." Gu He was slightly taken aback by her words, thinking she was quite imaginative. "It''s nothing." Gu He gently patted Xiao Yi Xian''s head, comforting her, "Good disciple, it''s just that your teacher was being lazy. It has nothing to do with you." "Really?" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Xiao Yi Xian stopped blaming herself and blinked her eyes, looking at Gu He with skepticism. "Can your teacher even lie to you? Today, your teacher will give you a second gift." Gu He smiled warmly and beckoned to Xiao Yi Xian, "Come here and sit down." "Oh." Xiao Yi Xian nodded her little head obediently, coming over to Gu He and sitting down. Chapter 16: Five Years of Cultivation Chapter 16: Five Years of Cultivation Watching Xiao Yi Xian sitting in front of him, Gu He''s lips curved into a smile. He then gently pressed his palm onto Xiao Yi Xian''s back. "System, initiate the transfer of cultivation to Xiao Yi Xian," Gu He closed his eyes and silently commanded. Following Gu He''s order, a surge of Dou Qi within him began to gather towards his palm and then flowed into Xiao Yi Xian''s body. Xiao Yi Xian was curious about what her teacher was about to transmit to her when she suddenly felt a massive surge of energy pass through her teacher''s palm and rush crazily into her body. Simultaneously, immense pain swept through her body. "Focus your mind and calm your breath. Do your best to absorb this power." "If it becomes unbearable, let me know." At this moment, Gu He''s slightly stern voice echoed in Xiao Yi Xian''s ears. Upon hearing this, the panic in Xiao Yi Xian''s heart subsided instantly. She endured the pain within her body, concentrating on absorbing the power. With the infusion of power from Gu He''s palm, Xiao Yi Xian''s cultivation realm rapidly advanced. With a muffled sound, Xiao Yi Xian broke through to the sixth stage of Dou disciple! After a moment, her aura underwent another change. She advanced to the seventh stage of Dou Qi! However, perhaps due to the external force being too intense, a hint of paleness appeared on Xiao Yi Xian''s pretty face. Yet, even now, Xiao Yi Xian clenched her teeth and persisted. Not much time passed before another change occurred in Xiao Yi Xian''s aura. The eighth stage of Dou Disciple! The ninth stage of Dou Disciple! "Ah..." As she was about to break through to the level of a Dou practitioner, Xiao Yi Xian finally reached her limit. Feeling that continuing would cause her body to explode, she couldn''t help but cry out. "Teacher, this disciple can''t endure it any longer." Hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s voice, a hint of disappointment flashed in Gu He''s eyes. However, without the slightest hesitation, he immediately ceased infusing Dou Qi. Xiao Yi Xian had reached her limit; pushing further would only harm her. [Ding, detected the host granting second disciple Xiao Yi Xian two days of cultivation. Congratulations, host, for triggering a thousand-fold return, gaining five years of cultivation.] (Note: Five years of cultivation corresponds to a Nine-Star Dou King level.) [Five years of cultivation have been deposited into the system space. Please check accordingly, host.] Upon hearing the system''s notification, Gu He''s thoughts stirred, and he directly entered the system space. "Teacher, are you going to make a breakthrough?" At Xiao Yi Xian''s words, Gu He paused, then spontaneously replied, "There''s a valley that would definitely be suitable for your breakthrough." Upon hearing this, a smile tugged at the corners of Gu He''s lips. ... An hour later. At the outskirts of the Demon Beast Mountain Range, above a valley, Gu He gently descended while holding Xiao Yi Xian in his arms. "Teacher, this is the place." Xiao Yi Xian pointed to the valley ahead and smiled. At her words, a sense of surprise appeared in Gu He''s eyes as he retracted the fiery red wings on his back. He gazed into the valley and noticed its abundance of energy. He also observed various rare medicinal herbs growing within the valley. The fragrance of the herbs mixed with the mist, created a delightful atmosphere. After inhaling the herbal scent lingering in the air, Gu He nodded with satisfaction. "Yes, this is indeed a good place." He then walked directly into the valley''s interior, with Xiao Yi Xian following closely behind. After a moment, Gu He arrived at a natural cave entrance. He turned to Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Disciple, your teacher will be in seclusion for a while. During this time, make sure to practice the alchemy techniques I''ve taught you." Hearing this, a trace of reluctance flashed in Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes. She obediently nodded and said, "I understand, Teacher." "Good. After I come out of seclusion, I''ll assess your progress." Gu He wore a gentle smile on his face. He ruffled Xiao Yi Xian''s hair and tried to appear more serious. "If there''s no improvement, I''ll have to discipline you." "Teacher, rest assured. Your disciple won''t disappoint you." Xiao Yi Xian nodded with determination. "Very well." Gu He nodded with satisfaction, then slowly entered the cave. As Gu He disappeared inside the cave, a loud rumbling echoed, and a pile of boulders came crashing down, sealing the entrance tightly in an instant. The interior of the cave was pitch-black. Gu He''s thoughts shifted, and he took out a few luminous stones, embedding them into the cave walls. The previously dim cave instantly brightened. After tidying up the cave briefly and finding a smooth stone, Gu He sat down in a cross-legged position. Subsequently, his consciousness entered the system space. He looked at the energy sphere and silently commanded, "System, begin absorbing the five years'' worth of cultivation." Outside the cave, looking at the now sealed entrance, Xiao Yi Xian stood there for a while, her eyes filled with determination. "Teacher, I won''t let you down." Chapter 17: Breaking Through the Dou Emperor Realm Chapter 17: Breaking Through the Dou Emperor Realm Within the cave, as Gu He''s words fell, the energy light sphere suspended in the void immediately transformed into a beam of light, shooting directly into Gu He''s body. Before Gu He could react, he felt a massive surge of energy pouring into his body. This power was immensely violent, like a rushing river, surging and turbulent. "Boom!" A faint muffled sound echoed within Gu He''s body, and a flush of crimson spread across his face. The energy contained within the light sphere exploded within Gu He, causing his entire body to tremble slightly. Sensing the changes within him, Gu He quickly realized the situation. Without hesitation, he immediately began to control the overwhelming energy. However, as Gu He began to engage with this energy, he realized that it was even more immense than he had imagined. This energy was like an unbridled wild horse, galloping through Gu He''s body with unparalleled ferocity, charging through his meridians. An excruciating pain engulfed Gu He''s senses. "I underestimated this energy once again." At this moment, beads of cold sweat formed on Gu He''s forehead, and his face twisted in agony. With the previous experience of assimilating energy, Gu He thought he was prepared and capable of withstanding this power. However, this energy far exceeded the energy he had previously returned C it corresponded to five years of cultivation at the Ninth Grade Dou King realm, all entering his body at once. This energy held a destructive force, and as it surged through, every muscle in Gu He''s body twitched slightly. "To assimilate this energy, I must suppress it first." Gu He''s mind concentrated as he circulated the Dou Qi within his body, forming protective barriers within his meridians, blocking the onslaught of energy. With the opening of those eyes, the formidable aura that had remained dormant for nearly ten days surged like an awakened army. Raising his head slowly toward the sky, a roaring sound that could shake the heavens and earth resonated from him. Under this aura, which was several times more powerful than before, the cave trembled faintly. Cracks as thick as arms spread from where the white-clad man sat cross-legged, resembling a spider''s web as they extended to every corner of the cave. "Crack!" A faint sound came from the seated stone, and then tiny cracks suddenly appeared. At an astonishing speed, these cracks spread throughout the entire stone. Finally, with a deep rumbling sound, the stone shattered into countless fragments. Although the stone shattered, the white-clad man who sat on it remained motionless. His legs were crossed in mid-air without the slightest external force supporting him. "So, this is the sensation of a Dou Emperor." Gu He''s hands slowly spread out, and as he felt the surging formidable Dou Qi within his body, a faint arc appeared at the corner of his mouth. At this moment, a sense of dominance over the world emerged within him. The powerful soul force emanated from his body''s core, expanding like a storm in all directions, sweeping through like lightning. The vigorous soul force swiftly spread from the cave, enveloping the entire valley. As it scanned, Gu He learned about the situation within the entire valley. However, the expansion of his soul force didn''t halt within the valley. It continued to expand towards the immense Demon Beast Mountain Range. As his soul force expanded, numerous scenes were reflected in Gu He''s mind. Of course, within the formidable Demon Beast Mountain Range, a few powerful beasts couldn''t escape Gu He''s soul scan. Although many of the lower-tiered beasts were aware of his scan, apart from some special creatures, most couldn''t inflict any harm on Gu He''s soul. Consequently, within the vast mountain range, earth-shattering roars resounded, and numerous lower-tiered demonic beasts shivered as they sensed Gu He''s soul scan. Despite these beasts sensing Gu He''s presence, apart from a few possessing special abilities, most couldn''t affect his formidable soul force. Thus, under his overwhelming scan, his soul remained unscathed. The powerful soul force spanned a radius of hundreds of miles. However, there seemed to be a certain limit to this expansion. Thus, when Gu He''s soul force reached a certain mountain stream, it was unable to proceed further. Witnessing this, Gu He''s mind stirred. The soul force that had expanded like a tide instantly retracted like lightning. In just a few breaths, it was entirely retracted into his body. As his soul force was fully contained, Gu He tilted his head back slightly and exhaled a long breath. "It''s time to end my seclusion." Chapter 18: Cave Exploration Chapter 18: Cave Exploration Within the valley, Gu He stepped out of the cave with a radiant expression. Having attained the Emperor Realm, he now ranked among the empire''s elite. Finally, he possessed a measure of self-defense. With a thought, his crimson wings spread behind him. Taking a light step, Gu He ascended from the ground and headed towards the valley''s exit. "Oh?" "Why is this girl here?" At that moment, Gu He caught sight of a white-robed figure gradually approaching the valley from outside. It was Xiao Yi Xian. A smile played on his lips as Gu He descended toward her. "It''s been ten days..." "I wonder when the teacher will emerge from seclusion." Outside the valley, Xiao Yi Xian made her way toward it at a leisurely pace. Ever since Gu He had entered seclusion, she visited this valley every other day. Today marked her fifth visit. "Hopefully, nothing unexpected occurs." Watching the valley''s direction, a hint of concern appeared in Xiao Yi Xian''s lovely eyes. She had heard many stories of powerful cultivators losing control during their breakthroughs. Thus, the prolonged seclusion of her teacher gave rise to some anxious thoughts. "Teacher, please don''t lose control... You still owe me a meeting gift." Xiao Yi Xian murmured. "My obedient disciple, what other gift do you desire?" Suddenly, a gentle voice resounded. "Ah!" The sudden sound startled Xiao Yi Xian, yet when she saw the white-robed figure beside her, a joyful expression brightened her lovely face. "But the cauldron I use might not be suitable for you." Gu He used the Crimson Serpent Cauldron, a four-mouthed cauldron that Xiao Yi Xian''s current strength couldn''t utilize. Moreover, in Qing Shan Town, alchemists were scarce, and alchemy cauldrons were even scarcer. Realizing this, Gu He softly said to Xiao Yi Xian, "My obedient disciple, let''s return to Yun Lan Sect tomorrow. There, whatever you need, I can arrange for you." "Returning to Yun Lan Sect..." Xiao Yi Xian''s expression shifted slightly. After a brief hesitation, she nodded slowly. Although leaving Qing Shan Town was a bit hard for her, her passion for alchemy meant she had to accompany Gu He to Yun Lan Sect. After all, she was now Gu He''s disciple, and he held an honorary elder position in Yun Lan Sect. In a sense, Xiao Yi Xian was now a disciple of Yun Lan Sect. Seeing her agreement, Gu He smiled and said, "Then, let''s go pack our things. We''ll leave Qing Shan Town early tomorrow morning." Saying this, Gu He lifted Xiao Yi Xian''s petite form and soared into the sky. "Master, before we depart Qing Shan Town, there''s a place I''d like to visit." As they flew over the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range within the void, Xiao Yi Xian suddenly had a thought and addressed Gu He. "What place?" Gu He asked casually upon hearing her words. "It''s a cave left behind by a senior. There should be some treasures hidden inside." Excitement shimmered in Xiao Yi Xian''s beautiful eyes, "Master, let''s go on a treasure hunt." "Cave exploration?" Upon hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s words, a thought crossed Gu He''s mind. Could it be the cave that Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan had visited in the original story? Gu He recalled that within that cave, there seemed to be a remnant image of the Purifying Lotus Flame. That was a valuable item! "Alright." With this thought, Gu He nodded to the Xiao Yi Xian in his arms and responded, "Where is this cave?" "It''s over there." Xiao Yi Xian extended her delicate hand, pointing in a direction. Following the direction pointed by Xiao Yi Xian, Gu He''s wings behind him trembled slightly. He then accelerated, flying directly toward it. Chapter 19: Entering the Cave Chapter 19: Entering the Cave Chapter 19: Entering the Cave After a while, guided by Xiao Yi Xian, Gu He arrived at a cliff. "Teacher, the treasure in the cave is right in the middle of this cliff," Xiao Yi Xian pointed her jade-like hand towards the bottom of the cliff and said to Gu He. Upon hearing this, Gu He looked down and saw that the bottom of the cliff was covered by dense mist, making it difficult to see clearly, but he could vaguely make out a blurry platform. "Alright, let''s go down," Gu He nodded and held Xiao Yi Xian as they slowly descended towards the bottom of the cliff.UppTodated from The crimson wings on their backs fluttered slightly as they both entered the mist. At the same time, Gu He spread out his spiritual power, investigating the situation within the mist. After a while, as they descended, Gu He suddenly became alert, his expression changing. "Sss..." In the next moment, a faint sound of breaking through the air echoed in the night sky, attacking towards the two of them. Sensing the danger, Gu He swiftly dodged while holding Xiao Yi Xian. "Teacher, what is that?" Xiao Yi Xian looked at a strand of red light in the mist, feeling a bit scared. Just now, it was this thing that ambushed them. And through his spiritual power exploration, Gu He instantly saw what attacked them. "Rock Snake." Looking at the creature in front of him, Gu He was taken aback. He remembered that in the original work, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian also encountered this thing when they came down. Rock Snake, as the name suggests, is a snake-shaped demon beast that lives in the cliffs, with a level of around the first rank. This kind of demon beast, relying on its long and flat body, can glide through the air like an eagle. Moreover, due to its mutated stone attribute, its body is as hard as stone, making it difficult for ordinary swords and blades to cause significant damage to it. "Sss..." "Teacher, what''s wrong?" Xiao Yi Xian asked curiously when she saw Gu He stop abruptly. "There''s no way forward," Gu He said calmly, looking at the stone door ahead. In front of them, a sturdy stone door blocked their path. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian furrowed her brows and took a couple of steps forward, contemplating the stone door. She mused, "Behind this stone door should be our destination. Since the previous person created this cave here, I don''t think they would have made it impassable." Gu He stepped forward and touched the stone door, testing its thickness. Then he said to Xiao Yi Xian, "Disciple, take a step back. I''ll open the stone door." "Teacher, how do you know to use brute force?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, not stepping back but giving Gu He a disdainful look. "Look at the yellow glow on the stone door. It''s obviously set with earth-based mechanisms. With a little care, it''s not difficult to open it," Gu He explained. Saying that, Xiao Yi Xian took a few steps forward and touched the stone door, then slowly began to move it. "Heh, I didn''t expect you, little girl, to understand mechanisms," Gu He remarked, surprised, as he looked at Xiao Yi Xian''s serious face. "I''ve only read some books about mechanisms. I can''t say I''m proficient, but it''s no problem to give it a try," Xiao Yi Xian replied playfully, continuing to explore the stone door. Nodding slightly, Gu He stopped disturbing her exploration. His gaze moved away from the stone door and, aided by the faint firelight, he surveyed the surrounding stone walls. On the stone walls, there were some faint carvings. Although the carvings were now blurred, Gu He could still make out some figures. These figures should be the imprints left by the owner of the cave. "Found it!" Just as Gu He was observing the stone walls, Xiao Yi Xian''s joyful voice made him quickly shift his gaze. Beside the stone door, Xiao Yi Xian had already crouched down. With a slender hand, she touched a small protrusion under the stone door and pressed down slightly. A creaking sound echoed through the cave as the stone door slowly opened. "Teacher, am I amazing?" Xiao Yi Xian''s face lit up with excitement as she looked at the slowly opening stone door, trying to impress Gu He. In that moment, it seemed like she was saying, "Teacher, praise me!" Watching the stone door gradually rise, Gu He couldn''t help but give Xiao Yi Xian a thumbs up. "Good disciple, you''re really great!" (End of this chapter) Thanks [ Juan Manuel Alejandro Molina Aguilera ] for being a patron. please support me on: /Lazy_pen_master. get access to 10 advanced chaps Chapter 20: The Acquisition of the Remnants of the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire Map Chapter 20: The Acquisition of the Remnants of the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire Map As the stone door rose, a gentle radiance emanated from within, banishing the nearby darkness. Observing the illuminated interior of the stone door, Xiao Yi Xian smiled faintly, took two steps back, and nodded towards Gu He, lifting her snowy chin. She chuckled, "Master, shall we enter?" "Of course," Gu He smiled faintly and walked towards the stone door. Watching Gu He step inside, Xiao Yi Xian followed closely with a playful smile. Entering the stone door, the view expanded. Inside lay a spacious stone chamber, appearing somewhat plain and empty. Moonlight stones were embedded in the walls, providing illumination in the center of the chamber. There was a seat with a skeletal figure seated upon it, the skull deeply embedded in the thigh bone, exuding a sinister air in the quiet atmosphere. In front of the seat was a wide stone table with three locked stone boxes neatly arranged upon it. In the corners of the chamber, numerous golden coins and precious items were piled, their value likely surpassing tens of thousands. Gu He was not lacking in riches, and the former owner of these treasures didn''t seem to attach much importance to them. Shifting gaze from the gleaming gold, attention settled on the skeletal remains. Was the fragment of the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire map on this skeleton? Meanwhile, Xiao Yi Xian remained in a corner of the cave, a faint delight on her face. In another corner, a small flower bed had been created with various plants emitting a captivating fragrance. Looking at these flowers, Xiao Yi Xian''s face lit up with excitement. To others, these may seem ordinary, but she knew the true valuegreater than the piles of gold coins. "Purple-Blue Leaves, White Spirit Fruit, Snow Lotus Seed..." Excited, she muttered names of rare herbs as she approached the flower bed. Gu He carefully examined the scroll. It was crafted from a material he couldn''t identify, with random patterns that seemed devoid of any order, sketched on the slightly yellowed parchment. He pointed at a pattern with his finger and traced it slowly, but it continued outside the parchment without revealing anything else. Gu He then unfolded the parchment completely, inspecting it closely. Suddenly, his gaze fell on a blurred object resembling a lotus flower in the corner of the parchment. His expression shifted slightly, and he bent down again to closely examine this lotus-like mysterious object. This lotus-shaped object, perhaps due to the passage of time, appeared somewhat yellowed and blurry, yet its general form was discernible. The lotus was black, seemingly adorned with a thin layer of black flames. Upon careful observation, the entire lotus exuded an eerie, otherworldly aura. As he stared at this uncanny lotus, Gu He''s pupils contracted slightly. "It''s indeed the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire!" Suppressing his excitement, Gu He directly stored the remnants of the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire map into his storage ring. After completing these actions, Gu He gently wiped the dust off the skeletal arm, then carefully reattached it to its owner. Discarding the black key from his hand, Gu He smiled slightly and walked towards the three stone boxes on the stone table. Approaching the stone table with the key in hand, Gu He once again touched the slightly warm metal lock, then inserted the key into the empty slot. With a slight click, the metallic latch slowly opened. Gu He opened the box directly, revealing a colorful scroll inside. Picking up the scroll, Gu He opened it, and immediately four words appeared before his eyes. "The Myriad Poison Scripture!" Chapter 21: The Scripture of Myriad Poisons! Chapter 21: The Scripture of Myriad Poisons! "The Myriad Poison Scripture..." Studying the scroll in his hand, Gu He carefully flipped through it. This was a scripture dedicated to concocting poisons. It seemed that the owner of this cave''s treasure was likely a poison master. "Teacher, what are you looking at?" At this moment, Xiao Yi Xian approached Gu He''s side, curious about the colourful scroll in his hand. Turning towards her, Gu He hesitated for a moment before smiling, "This is a scripture that teaches how to concoct poisons." "A poison scripture?" Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes lit up, and she curiously looked at the colorful scroll in Gu He''s hand. "Teacher, can I take a look at this poison scripture?" Gu He smiled faintly and handed the Rainbow Poison Scripture to Xiao Yi Xian, saying casually, "This poison scripture is of no use to me. If you want it, you can have it." "Thank you, Teacher." Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes narrowed with a smile as she happily took the Rainbow Poison Scripture from Gu He''s hand. Gu He chuckled without saying anything. Just then, a notification sound from the system echoed in his mind. [Ding, the host has given the Second Disciple, Xiao Yi Xian, the Rainbow Poison Scripture. Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten-thousandfold return, obtaining the Scripture of Myriad Poisons!] [The Scripture of Myriad Poisons has been delivered to the system space. Please check it, host.] Hearing the notification in his mind, Gu He was momentarily stunned, and then his brows furrowed slightly. Can this trigger the system''s return mechanism too? Could this Rainbow Poison Scripture also be considered his possession? To be honest, Gu He had no interest in concocting poisons. This time, triggering the system''s return mechanism seemed a bit of a loss. However, given the circumstances, Gu He had no other choice. Watching Xiao Yi Xian happily peruse the Rainbow Poison Scripture, Gu He shook his head and proceeded to open another treasure chest. As Gu He''s voice trailed off, the tightly closed stone box slowly opened. Now, this scroll of flight martial technique would grant her the ability to fly as well. How could she not be overjoyed? "Just a scroll of flight martial technique, and you''re so happy?" Seeing Xiao Yi Xian''s enthusiasm, Gu He ruffled her hair and chuckled, saying, "Train well, and in the future, you''ll have the ability to fly on your own." "Yes, Master." Xiao Yi Xian nodded eagerly, her thoughts entirely focused on the flight martial technique in her hands. Gu He smiled and then proceeded to open the final treasure chest. Inside the last chest was, once again, a scroll. Upon opening it, Gu He discovered that it was a high-grade Profound Tier martial technique. |Roar of the Wild Lion.| Turning the scroll in his hand, Gu He found it uninteresting and casually stored it in his spatial ring. Then, scanning the cave without finding anything else, Gu He turned to Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Disciple, let''s go." "Go? Oh... okay, wait for me..." Xiao Yi Xian was momentarily surprised, then tucked the two scrolls under her arm and hurried towards the flowerbed. Soon, she returned holding a dozen jade bottles, a delighted smile on her face. "Master, let''s go." Seeing Xiao Yi Xian cradling a pile of items and clutching two scrolls under her arm, a wry smile tugged at the corner of Gu He''s mouth. Then, with a resigned smile, he pulled out a spatial ring and handed it to her. "You''re so busy and chaotic. Here, use this ring to store all these things." "This is... a spatial ring?" Seeing the ring in Gu He''s hand, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes brightened, and she excitedly took the ring from him. A spatial ring was a valuable item on the Dou Qi continent. Even many Dou Grandmaster level individuals might not possess one. "Wow, such a spacious interior!" Xiao Yi Xian''s consciousness entered the spatial ring and she exclaimed in astonishment. The spatial ring Gu He gave her was naturally not ordinary. As a matter of fact, given his status as an Alchemist King, he wouldn''t carry ordinary items. Then, with a thought, Xiao Yi Xian stored everything she had on her person in the spatial ring. "So fascinating... This is so much fun!" With an excited expression on her face, Xiao Yi Xian played with the items inside the ring, taking them out and putting them back in, finding it novel. ... Seeing Xiao Yi Xian enjoying herself like a child, Gu He''s mouth twitched. He interrupted, "Alright, disciple, we should leave now." "Oh..." Xiao Yi Xian finally stopped, then followed Gu He out of the cave. Chapter 22: Returning to Cloud Mist Sect Chapter 22: Returning to Cloud Mist Sect The next day, after Xiao Yi Xian packed her belongings, Gu He took her and left Qingshan Town. Exiting Qingshan Town, Xiao Yi Xian looked back at the town with a trace of reluctance in her eyes. After all, she had spent many years there, and leaving suddenly was a bit hard to accept. "Disciple, let''s go. If you can''t bear to leave, you can always come back in the future." Seeing the reluctance on Xiao Yi Xian''s face, Gu He ruffled her hair and comforted her with a smile. "Alright." Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Xiao Yi Xian slowly nodded and then followed Gu He onto the nearby horse-drawn carriage. The distance from Qingshan Town to Cloud Mist Sect was such that even though Gu He had now broken through to the Dou Emperor realm, it would still take two days and two nights of flight. However, that was under the assumption that Gu He was flying alone, without any encumbrance. But now, with Xiao Yi Xian with him, he couldn''t possibly subject her to two days and two nights of flying. Hence, Gu He planned to take a flying transport team to the imperial capital. The nearest major city to Gu He at this point was a large city in the eastern province of the Jia Ma Empire. It was even more magnificent than Wutan City in terms of scale. In terms of overall strength, this city named Blackrock City ranked among the top in all the major cities of the Jia Ma Empire. Gu He''s primary goal on this journey was to reach Blackrock City first, as only such large cities were equipped with civilian flying transport teams by the empire. Taking a flying transport team would take about three days to reach the imperial capital. After getting on the horse-drawn carriage, Gu He directly entered the carriage. An old man drove the carriage towards Blackrock City. Although Qingshan Town was the closest place to Blackrock City, even so, it took the carriage the better part of the afternoon to faintly see the massive silhouette of Blackrock City on the horizon.Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only Standing on the carriage, Gu He looked at the massive city illuminated by the setting sun, casting a faint red glow. He let out a sigh of relief. As the carriage approached, Gu He noticed that the city''s enormous walls were entirely built from neatly arranged black rocks. The old man driving the carriage informed him that these walls had once withstood the combined attack of two Dou Emperor-level experts without showing any sign of damage. Then, Gu He looked up at the crowded square, noticing that there were long queues forming beside each of the Thick-Winged Birds. He even spotted someone in uniform collecting tickets near the wooden ladder used to board the birds. Staring at this scene in astonishment for a while, Gu He shook his head with a bitter smile. With Gu He''s status, he didn''t need to stand in line or buy tickets to ride magical flying creatures within the Jia Ma Empire. He could even choose to ride on these Thick-Winged Birds, and the operators behind them would try to please him to the best of their ability. Since Gu He didn''t like to draw attention to himself, he instantly summoned the alchemist robe he used to wear when he was a second-grade alchemist. He draped it over himself and then led Xiao Yi Xian to bypass the queue, walking directly onto the giant flying bird. The manager of the flying transport birds warmly received them. Looking at the giant flying beast before her, Xiao Yi Xian suddenly thought of her own pet, Little Blue. It was a first-rank Blue Eagle. Leaving Qing Shan Town, Xiao Yi Xian couldn''t bear to part with the most was her pet. "Little Blue, wait for me. When I become stronger, I''ll come to Qing Shan Town and bring you back." Xiao Yi Xian murmured to herself. Shortly after Gu He and Xiao Yi Xian boarded the flying creature, Gu He felt the large wings of the flying beast start to slowly flap beneath them. Strands of wind attribute energy swirled beneath its body, lifting its massive form into the sky. With a sharp and melodious cry, guided by the beast tamer''s commands, the flying creature ascended into the sky and began a swift flight toward the capital city of the empire. Sitting by the window in their room, Gu He watched the faint clouds passing by outside. Memories surfaced in his mind, with the distant word "aeroplane" suddenly emerging. Unexpectedly, even in this otherworldly realm, he could experience the feeling of flying on an aeroplane. "Teacher, how long will it take for us to reach the capital city?" Xiao Yi Xian looked at the scenery outside, asking with anticipation. "About three days." Gu He replied casually. "If you''re bored, take the opportunity to practice." Gu He chuckled. Then, with a thought, Gu He took out the Scarlet Serpent Cauldron. Xiao Yi Xian was curious. "Teacher, are you going to refine pills?" "You''re about to break through to the Dou Practitioner rank. Since we have time, I''ll refine a Qi Gathering Powder for you." Gu He smiled. Chapter 23: Dou Practitioner Chapter 23: Dou Practitioner Xiao Yi Xian''s cultivation had reached the ninth stage of Dou Disciple. As long as one condensed the Dou Qi Cyclone within their body, they could become a true Dou Practitioner. However, condensing the Dou Qi Cyclone had a significant failure rate. After a failure, one''s ninth stage Dou Qi would regress to the eighth stage. Unfortunate individuals might need to condense it over ten times before succeeding, wasting precious training time and hindering their progress. The purpose of the Qi Gathering Powder was to ensure a hundred percent success in condensing the Dou Qi Cyclone for a ninth stage Dou Qi practitioner! To ensure that Xiao Yi Xian could achieve a hundred percent success, Gu He decided to craft a Qi Gathering Powder for her. "Qi Gathering Powder!" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Xiao Yi Xian''s beautiful eyes lit up. She had inherited Gu He''s memories as a sixth-rank alchemist, so she naturally recognized this pill. It was a fourth-grade pill, a challenge even for a fourth-rank alchemist to concoct. Without even asking, her teacher was voluntarily making it for her. Thinking this, Xiao Yi Xian watched as Gu He started to craft the Qi Gathering Powder, feeling content. Having a sixth-rank alchemist teacher was wonderful. Teacher, with your care, I won''t disappoint you! Xiao Yi Xian observed every movement and step that Gu He took in crafting the medicine. She combined Gu He''s alchemical technique with the memories in her mind. After inheriting the memories of a ninth-rank alchemist and breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm, her soul power had greatly improved. At this moment, Gu He was capable of refining seventh-grade pills. A mere Qi Gathering Powder was a piece of cake for Gu He. An hour later, a thumb-sized, faintly purple, glossy pill that emitted a subtle radiance spun in the cauldron, appearing before them. "Is it successful?" Looking at the pill in the cauldron, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes sparkled with excitement. Biting her lip, the clash of energies within her meridians caused bursts of painful sensations. Within her, the Dou Qi enveloped clusters of green and pure energy. Through the intense assimilation, the green energy transformed into faint white Dou Qi, and with this reinforcement, the scale of Dou Qi within Xiao Yi Xian''s body visibly expanded at a rapid pace. The pure medicinal power was continuously assimilated, yet it seemed as if it were an endless stream. Each time the Dou Qi assimilated a batch of medicinal power, an even larger green energy surged forth. Through the ongoing assimilation within her body and the continuous infusion of external Dou Qi, Xiao Yi Xian''s internal Dou Qi had gradually filled most of her meridians. The assimilation continued and as the momentum of the potent medicinal power weakened, Xiao Yi Xian, engrossed in the rapid growth of power suddenly discovered that the Dou Qi within her body had expanded to a point where it couldn''t increase any further. "Boom!" After a moment, a soft muffled sound quietly echoed within Xiao Yi Xian''s body... With the sound of the muffled explosion, the resistance that had been exhausting Xiao Yi Xian vanished into thin air. Breathing a sigh of relief, she slumped down, her entire body feeling drained, and her chest heaving violently. Subsequently, feeling the Dou Qi Cyclone successfully formed within her, Xiao Yi Xian turned excitedly to the nearby Gu He. "Teacher, I did it!" Gu He had been watching the process of Xiao Yi Xian''s breakthrough. Hearing her words, he nodded with a smile, "Yes, I witnessed it." "Disciple, becoming a Dou Practitioner is only the first step toward becoming strong. The road ahead is still long," Gu He advised with a smile. "Yes, Teacher, I understand," Xiao Yi Xian nodded playfully, her face radiating excitement. After her initial excitement passed, Xiao Yi Xian diligently sat in the room to stabilize her newfound level. Meanwhile, Gu He''s consciousness entered the system space. Within the system space, Gu He gazed at the suspended black scroll in the void and silently commanded, "System, extract the Scroll of Myriad Poisons!" As his words fell, a surge of information instantly flowed into his mind. Gu He didn''t take it lightly, concentrating his mind and carefully absorbing the information. check out my Patreon for early access chapters.: /Lazy_pen_master. Get access to 20 chapters in advance Chapter 24: Unusual Poison Formulas Chapter 24: Unusual Poison Formulas In the room, Gu He tightly shut his eyes, completely absorbed in absorbing the information within his mind. Half an hour later, Gu He''s eyelids twitched slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes, revealing a hint of astonishment. Originally, Gu He hadn''t been interested in concocting poisons. However, after receiving the information recorded in the Scroll of Myriad Poisons, his perspective suddenly shifted. It seemed that becoming a poison master was quite intriguing. The Scroll of Myriad Poisons not only contained various methods for concocting unique poisonous substances but also many secret techniques of the poison path. If he mastered the content within, he could effectively kill without leaving a trace, rendering opponents defenseless. Good stuff! Thinking of the various unusual poison formulas and secret techniques within his mind, a smile tugged at the corner of Gu He''s mouth. Three days flew by, and soon, the flying beast arrived at the imperial capital. As they neared the capital, Gu He didn''t wait for the "landing." He directly carried Xiao Yi Xian and headed toward Yun Lan Sect. Yun Lan Sect was situated atop Yun Lan Mountain, which was only a few dozen miles away from the capital. The two were quite close, resembling two massive entities relying on each other. Carrying Xiao Yi Xian, Gu He flew toward the snowy white mountain peak that seemed to pierce the sky. For Gu He, a distance of several dozen miles was just half an hour''s journey. "Disciple, we have arrived at Yun Lan Sect." In the sky, Gu He looked down and said to Xiao Yi Xian, who was in his embrace. At his words, Xiao Yi Xian''s beautiful eyes turned downward. What greeted her gaze were the green stone steps that extended from the foot of the mountain to the horizon, looking like a ladder to the heavens. "Wow, such a tall mountain!" "This is Yun Lan Sect!" Seeing the Yun Lan Mountain that soared into the sky, amazement flickered in Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes, and she couldn''t help but exclaim. Gu He carried Xiao Yi Xian and flew directly toward Yun Lan Mountain. At the end of the winding stone steps, amidst the mist and clouds, lay a vast square paved entirely with giant stones, exuding an atmosphere of antiquity and grandeur. In the centre of the square, stood a massive stone monument, towering tall. It recorded the names of all previous sect masters and individuals who had made significant contributions to the sect. At her question, a smile graced Nalan Yan Ran''s beautiful face, and she replied in a sweet voice, "Teacher, I''ve broken through to a four-star Dou Practitioner." "A four-star Dou Practitioner? Not bad." Satisfaction appeared in Yun Yun''s eyes, but she still offered guidance. "Since you''ve made a three-year agreement with Xiao Yan, as the Junior Sect Master of Yun Lan Sect, in the battle three years from now, you must only win and not lose!" As she spoke, Yun Yun''s tone grew slightly serious. Hearing this, determination flashed across Nalan Yan Ran''s stunning face. "Teacher, you can rest assured. In the battle three years from now, I, your disciple, will definitely not tarnish the reputation of Yun Lan Sect." The girl''s voice was resolute, filled with confidence as she thought of the exceptional talent displayed by the young man she was no longer engaged to. Xiao Yan, three years from now, I will make you admit defeat willingly! "Yan Ran, rest assured. Just focus on your cultivation, and you don''t need to worry about resources. I will prepare everything for you." Yun Yun looked at her confident disciple, a satisfied smile gracing her beautiful face. "Yes." Nalan Yan Ran nodded. As the Junior Sect Master of Yun Lan Sect, she never lacked cultivation resources. ... "This is where I live." Deep within Yun Lan Mountain, Gu He carried Xiao Yan and stopped at his own courtyard. "Teacher, will I be living here from now on?" Xiao Yan looked at the refined and tranquil courtyard before her, excitement shimmering in her eyes. "It''s up to you." Gu He replied casually, "You can choose another residence if you''d like, or you can pick a room in this courtyard. It''s quite spacious." "Then, disciple will definitely stay with you, Teacher." Xiao Yi Xian spoke without hesitation. In Yun Lan Sect, she only knew her teacher, so staying elsewhere wouldn''t suit her. Moreover, living with her teacher would facilitate seeking guidance. "Hehe, as you wish. As long as you''re happy." Gu He ruffled Xiao Yan''s hair affectionately. "Teacher, Teacher!" Just then, from outside the courtyard, a few calls could be heard. In the next moment, an excited young man dashed into the courtyard. "Teacher, you''re back?" Check out my patreon. There you will get access to 20 advanced chapters. Also, support me on PayPal by donations. Chapter 25: Tattoo Surprise Chapter 25: Tattoo Surprise "Teacher, you''re back." A young man rushed into Gu He''s courtyard, excitement in his voice. Hearing the voice, Gu He knew who it wasbesides Xiao Yi Xian, only his senior disciple Liu Ling called him "Teacher." "Restless as ever, where''s your decorum?" Gu He scolded Liu Ling without even turning around. Usually, he portrayed a gentle mentorship, but today, returning with Xiao Yi Xian, he wanted to maintain a sense of discipline. "Um..." Liu Ling, who had entered the courtyard with enthusiasm, paused at the rebuke, then sheepishly laughed, "Teacher, I haven''t seen you in so long, I got carried away." Gu He''s stern expression remained as he turned around. He noticed the black mask covering half of Liu Ling''s face, and he furrowed his brows, "What''s that thing you''re wearing?" Liu Ling had a black mask covering half his face. What''s going on? Xiao Yi Xian also focused on Liu Ling, curiously sizing him up. This was her teacher''s senior discipleher senior martial brother. He seemed a bit simple-minded, though.Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com Seeing Liu Ling''s agitated state and the mask, Xiao Yi Xian couldn''t help but murmur to herself. "Teacher... I..." Hearing Gu He''s dissatisfaction, Liu Ling instinctively touched the mask on his face, then sighed, "Teacher, let me take off the mask. Please don''t tease me." Gu He was taken aback and slightly puzzled, "Tease you? Why would I do that? Did you get a pimple?" "It''s because of the Purple Eagle Flame you gave me..." Liu Ling shook his head and then, under Gu He''s gaze, removed the mask from his face. To their surprise, Liu Ling''s right cheek bore a purple eagle pattern. "You..." Seeing the pattern revealed, Gu He was momentarily stunned. Then, he suppressed his laughter and asked, "A Purple Eagle Flame pattern? How did that end up on your face?" What''s this? A tattoo? Beside them, Xiao Yi Xian was also surprised but couldn''t help but smile. This senior disciple is quite... interesting, isn''t he? "This is my new disciple. From now on, she will be your junior martial sister." Then, he turned to Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Apprentice, this is your senior martial brother, Liu Ling." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian also suppressed her smile, and with solemnity, she greeted Liu Ling, "Greetings, senior martial brother." A new disciple? My junior martial sister? Hearing this, Liu Ling was a bit baffled. Teacher went out for a while and brought back a junior martial sister? "Why are you just standing there, dazed? Your junior martial sister is greeting you," Gu He chided when he saw Liu Ling standing still, his mouth twitching. This guy, what''s he doing acting so foolishly today? Hearing Gu He''s reprimand, Liu Ling snapped back to reality and looked apologetically at Xiao Yi Xian, saying awkwardly, "Hello, junior martial sister." Then, he thought for a moment, took out a Night Luminous Pearl from his storage ring, and handed it to Xiao Yi Xian, saying, "Junior martial sister, as we meet for the first time, I present this Night Luminous Pearl to you. It''s a small token of goodwill. I hope you won''t find it too shabby." Seeing the Night Luminous Pearl in Liu Ling''s hand, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes lit up. Such a beautiful pearl! She was about to reach out and accept it when Gu He''s voice suddenly interjected, "Just a measly pearl, is that your greeting gift?" "Is this how you, as a senior martial brother, act? So stingy?" Gu He''s tone carried discontent and disdain as if the Night Luminous Pearl in Liu Ling''s hand was nothing but a piece of junk. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian immediately withdrew her reaching hand. Observing this, Liu Ling''s lips twitched slightly, and embarrassment spread across his face. He looked at the Night Luminous Pearl in his hand and began to doubt his life choices. A mere piece of junk? Was this Night Luminous Pearl really as terrible as his teacher claimed? He had intentionally bought it to give to Junior Martial Sister Nalan. After hesitating for a moment, Liu Ling awkwardly put away the Night Luminous Pearl. "Um... junior martial sister, I''m really sorry. Senior martial brother didn''t prepare properly in advance. How about I make it up to you with a proper gift tomorrow?" Liu Ling managed to smile apologetically. "Skip the ''tomorrow.'' Your junior martial sister happens to need a handy cauldron. Why don''t you just give her your cauldron?" Gu He''s voice chimed in again. Join My Patreon and get access to 20 advanced chaps. Link: /Lazy_pen_maste Chapter 26: Inspiring the Disciple Chapter 26: Inspiring the Disciple "Medicine cauldron?" Hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling hesitated for a moment, his face showing a trace of uncertainty. The cauldron he held in his hand might not be as powerful as Gu He''s Scarlet Serpent Cauldron, but it was far superior to ordinary cauldrons. He had acquired it using the influence of his family, which was not an easy feat. It was somewhat hard for him to part with it when thinking about giving it to the new junior martial sister. Liu Ling hailed from the Liu Clan in the Imperial Capital. Although the clan''s strength was not comparable to the top three major families, it still had . After he became Gu He''s disciple, this new status brought some prestige to the Liu Clan, granting them a bit of face even among the top three families, which further enhanced their influence. "What''s this? You can''t bear to part with a simple cauldron?" Gu He''s voice held a hint of dissatisfaction. "It''s not like that..." Seeing that his teacher was getting a bit upset, Liu Ling hastily explained, "Teacher, this cauldron is really handy for me. How about... I return to the clan in a few days and pick one for my junior martial sister?""Handy, is it?" "Then, you can use it yourself."Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only Hearing this, Gu He didn''t press the matter further and nonchalantly said, "I was planning to give you the Scarlet Serpent Cauldron next month. But since you already have a cauldron you''re comfortable with, let''s forget it." Scarlet Serpent Cauldron? Give it to me? Hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling''s expression changed. Liu Ling had seen Gu He''s Scarlet Serpent Cauldron; it was a Four-Spouts Cauldron that he had been longing for. However, even when Liu Ling wanted to borrow it in the past, Gu He refused. But now, Gu He was saying he wanted to give the Scarlet Serpent Cauldron to Liu Ling. Liu Ling found it hard to believe. Wasn''t the Scarlet Serpent Cauldron his teacher''s most prized possession? How could he possibly give it to him? The teacher must be joking. However, even so, Liu Ling still looked at Gu He with a hint of hope and asked softly, "Teacher, are you serious Upon hearing this, Gu He chuckled inwardly but maintained a displeased expression on his face. "Do you think I''m as petty as you? Scrapping over a mere cauldron." "Furthermore, when has your teacher ever lied to you?" "If you really can''t bear to part with your junk cauldron, I won''t force you. I''ll just leave my Scarlet Serpent Cauldron to your junior martial sister." Less than a month had passed since Gu He had given Liu Ling a treasure. Sending the Scarlet Serpent Cauldron now wouldn''t trigger the system''s return mechanism. However, a month was not too far away, just a few days left. "I dare not, teacher," Liu Ling quickly lowered his head, realizing he had overstepped by asking too soon. He still had a lot of trust in Gu He''s words. After all, Gu He had previously imparted even his most cherished Purple Eagle Flame and a seventh-grade soul cultivation technique to him. Would he really be concerned about a mere Scarlet Serpent Cauldron? "Teacher, you''ve only been gone for a short while. How could I make a breakthrough in such a brief period?" Liu Ling responded with a slightly aggrieved tone upon hearing Gu He''s dissatisfaction. "What''s this? Are you defying me now?" Gu He gave Liu Ling a stern look and then continued, "Here''s the deal. If you can advance to a six star Dou Practitioner within ten days, not only will I grant you the Scarlet Serpent Cauldron, but I''ll also give you an opportunity for another transmission of techniques, just like last time. How about that?" Although Gu He conducted transmission of techniques every month for his disciples, he hoped that they wouldn''t overly rely on him. Thus, he resorted to using such methods to motivate them. With this thought in mind, Gu He couldn''t help but sigh. He was the only one capable of using transmission of techniques to motivate his disciples. There was just no other way around it C having a higher level of cultivation was useful! Upon hearing this, Liu Ling''s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Gu He. "Teacher, are you serious?" Gu He smiled and nodded. "As long as you accomplish what I''ve said, then it''s true." "Very well, I will definitely make the breakthrough within ten days!" Liu Ling''s expression instantly became highly motivated when he thought about the exhilarating sensation of breaking through during the previous transmission of techniques. On the sidelines, Xiao Yi Xian listened to their conversation, and memories of her own breakthrough during the previous transmission of techniques flooded her mind. The feeling of soaring in cultivation was truly amazing. "Junior disciple, the same applies to you. As long as you can advance to a two-star Dou Practitioner within that time, I will also reward you with another transmission of techniques," Gu He promised Xiao Yi Xian as he noticed the envy in her eyes. "Teacher, you''re truly wonderful!" Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes brightened, and she resolved to practice even harder. Gu He''s promises immediately ignited a surge of motivation in his two disciples towards their future cultivation. After all, the temptation of another transmission of techniques was simply too great to resist. join my patreon and get access to 20 advanced chapters. Chapter 27: Emperor’s Supreme Pill Chapter 27: Emperors Supreme Pill "Alright, nothing more to discuss, go focus on your cultivation." Gu He looked at the excited expression on Yun Shan''s face, waved his hand, and said sternly, "Remember, while you cultivate, don''t slack off in your alchemy practice either." "Disciple obeys." Liu Ling responded cheerfully and left the courtyard with enthusiasm. He had already made up his mind to enter closed-door cultivation and strive to break through to a six-star Dou Practitioner when he returned. He vowed not to come out until he achieved a breakthrough. "You stubborn brat, you really seize every opportunity." Gu He shook his head helplessly, then looked at the junior disciple Xiao Yi Xian next to him and said softly, "Good girl, since you like this courtyard, go ahead and choose a room for yourself. There are plenty of empty rooms in this place." "Okay." Xiao Yi Xian nodded in response, her beautiful eyes scanning the courtyard as a smile of delight appeared on her face. "Off you go, make good use of your time to cultivate, and don''t tarnish my reputation." Gu He spoke lightly and then walked towards his own room. "System, check the attribute panel." As Gu He thought this, a light screen suddenly appeared before his eyes. [ Host: Gu He Age: Thirty Alchemist Rank: Seventh-grade Alchemist Cultivation: One-Star Dou Emperor Technique: Purple Sun Formula (Intermediate Earth Tier) Soul Cultivation Techniques: Dark Soul Technique (Seventh-grade Soul Cultivation Technique), Soul Devouring Technique (Emperor-tier) Skills: Flame Palm Technique (High-level Profound Tier), Fire Eagle Claw Technique (High-level Profound Tier), Poison Scripture Divine Arts: Enlightenment, Void Projection Physique: Seven Aperture Exquisite Pill Heart Others: Dou Saint Experience Card, Nine Yin Flame, Crimson Snake Cauldron... ] Gu He had contemplated travelling to the Tagre Desert to recruit Qing Lin, who possessed the Triple Jade Green Snake Flower Pupils. Yet, the issue lay in the journey''s distance. Moreover, rashly venturing into the Tagre Desert could lead to encountering Medusa. In the original work, it was during this period that Medusa seemed to have taken the Green Lotus Core Flame. Going to Stone Desert City at this time might lead to a direct encounter with Queen Medusa. Queen Medusa was a Nine-Star Dou Emperor existence. Given Gu He''s strength, a direct confrontation might result in an outcome similar to Hai Bo Dong''s fate. Thus, until he had absolute self-preservation power, Gu He wouldn''t recklessly journey to the Tagre Desert. After pondering for a long time, Gu He finally thought of a way to enhance his strength. That method was alchemy. Gu He had inherited the knowledge of a Ninth-Grade Alchemist and had countless formulas stored in his mind. Among them were several elixirs suitable for the Dou Emperor realm. Soon, Gu He selected a specific elixir. It was the Emperor Supreme Elixir. The Emperor Supreme Elixir was a Sixth-Grade elixir. When consumed by a Dou Emperor realm expert, it could directly raise their realm by one to two levels, with extraordinary effects. However, each individual could only consume one Emperor Supreme Elixir in their lifetime. Thinking about the elixir''s effects, a determined glint shone in Gu He''s eyes. This is the one! However, shortly after, Gu He became puzzled. The ingredients needed to refine the Emperor Supreme Elixir were also extremely precious. In a short amount of time, it might be difficult to gather all of them. Searching for the ingredients would likely be a waste of time compared to recruiting more disciples. "It seems I''ll have to visit Yun Lan Sect tomorrow," Gu He decided after a moment of contemplation. Night soon fell. Glancing at the sky, Gu He didn''t dwell on it any longer. He turned, sat down on the bed, and began cultivating. Not far from Gu He, in a refined room, Xiao Yi Xian leaned on the bed, attentively studying a scroll in her hands. It was the Myriad Poison Scroll obtained from the treasure trove in the cave. Studying the scroll, curiosity filled Xiao Yi Xian''s delicate face. Although her childhood dream was to become an Alchemist, for some reason, she was quite intrigued by poison arts, showing exceptional talent. Over the years in Qing Shan Town, there had been mercenaries who set their sights on Xiao Yi Xian, hoping to make her their own. But by concocting poisons she had taught herself, Xiao Yi Xian always managed to deftly counter their advances, turning danger into fortune. On the bed, Xiao Yi Xian meticulously flipped through the scroll, deeply engrossed. "Hmm, Woeful Poison Body?" "What kind of constitution is this?" In the scroll''s final section, a description caught Xiao Yi Xian''s attention. "The Woeful Poison Body possesses a faint, seven-colored hidden line on the lower abdomen. This line grows in tandem with the concentration of poison inside the body. Once the seven-coloured line extends to the heart position, it''s the Woeful Poison Body''s peak moment. Simultaneously, the owner will experience excruciating pain from the corrosion of myriad poisons..." Upon reaching this point, Xiao Yi Xian''s complexion changed. She instinctively touched her lower abdomen, and her face gradually turned pale. Chapter 28: Poison Pill Condensing Technique Chapter 28: Poison Pill Condensing Technique The next morning,Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com "Teacher, it''s time for breakfast." A soft voice sounded, and Gu He slowly opened his eyes, pausing his cultivation. "This girl woke up so early and even prepared breakfast. Worthwhile to have taken her as a disciple." A smile appeared at the corner of Gu He''s mouth as he got out of bed and opened the door. Creak! The door opened, revealing a little head holding a food container. "Teacher, I''ve made porridge. Have a bowl," Xiao Yi Xian walked in, sweetly smiling. "Good disciple, did she not sleep well last night? Why does she have dark circles?" Gu He looked at Xiao Yi Xian''s complexion, asking with a light chuckle. At his words, Xiao Yi Xian''s expression slightly changed, but she quickly regained her smile, saying, "Disciple was just too excited and couldn''t fall asleep for a while." "What''s there to be excited about?" Gu He shook his head. The two of them sat down to have their porridge, but Gu He noticed that Xiao Yi Xian seemed absent-minded, lost in thought. "This girl must have something on her mind." Suddenly, Gu He thought of the Woeful Poison Body Scripture. She probably knows that she possesses the Woeful Poison Body and is worried about it. Seeing a hint of concern in Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes, Gu He understood. However, he didn''t point it out immediately and continued to eat his porridge unhurriedly. "Disciple, finish your porridge quickly. It won''t taste good if it gets cold." Gu He urged Xiao Yi Xian. "Yes, Teacher." Xiao Yi Xian snapped out of her thoughts, forcing a smile and hiding her disappointment. After a while, they finished their porridge, and Xiao Yi Xian got up to clean up the bowls. "Wait, little girl, put them aside for now. Your teacher has something to discuss with you." Gu He wiped his mouth and suddenly spoke. Hearing Gu He''s words, Xiao Yi Xian''s expression slightly changed, a trace of panic flashing in her eyes. She softly replied, "Yes, Teacher." "Is there something on your mind? Do you mind sharing it with your teacher?" Gu He''s voice was gentle. "Teacher... I..." Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian looked at Gu He, struggling to speak. "It seems you already know." Seeing her expression, Gu He became more certain of his guess. He shook his head and said, "It''s just the Woeful Poison Body. There''s no need to be afraid." This technique could perfectly solve all the drawbacks caused by activating the Woeful Poison Body. After cultivating this Technique of Devouring Poison and Condensing Elixir, one could control the potent toxins within their body at will, preventing harm to others even upon contact. After a while, Xiao Yi Xian had absorbed the information in her mind and slowly opened her eyes. "The Technique of Devouring Poison and Condensing Elixir..." "To think that such a profound secret technique exists in this world!" "It''s as if it was created specifically for me..." Recalling the contents in her mind, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes were filled with amazement. Recalling the contents in her mind, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes were filled with amazement. With the technique of the Venomous Condensing Pill, she no longer needed to worry about the drawbacks of activating the Woeful Poison Body. Moreover, she could live like a normal person without enduring the peculiar gazes that other poison masters faced. "No more worries now, right?" Gu He said with a cheerful tone, looking at the radiant smile on Xiao Yi Xian''s face. "Yes, teacher, thank you," Xiao Yi Xian said sincerely, deeply moved. In this moment, she felt extremely fortunate that fate had led her to her teacher. Otherwise, if she had activated the Calamity Venom Body in the future, she wouldn''t have known how to face the world. "Yes, focus on cultivating in the future. The Woeful Poison Body is a gift from heaven. Don''t feel pressured. You know, others envy you for possessing it." Gu He smiled lightly and teased. Gu He''s words weren''t a joke. Those with the Woeful Poison Body constitution could become stronger without the need for prolonged Qi cultivation; they only needed to consume poisonous pills. Their Woeful Poison Body would automatically convert the poison''s potency into a unique toxic Qi through a mysterious method. The stronger the toxicity, the greater the benefits for their strength. Who wouldn''t envy such a constitution that allowed them to become stronger just by consuming poison pills? Not to mention, the current Xiao Yi Xian had already learned how to overcome the drawbacks of the Woeful Poison Body From now on, she could freely consume poison pills to become stronger. Thinking about this, Gu He felt a touch of envy. "Huh!" At this moment, Gu He''s expression changed, and his soul power instantly spread out before quickly retracting. "Why has Yun Yun come? And with Nalan Yanran." "Well, that''s perfect. I also have something to discuss with her..." Chapter 29: Is there much difference between Master and Master Uncle? Chapter 29: Is there much difference between Master and Master Uncle? In a pavilion within the sect, several individuals sat facing each other. "An unexpected visit from the Sect Master. May I ask the purpose?" Gu He looked at Yun Yun before him with a refined expression. Beside Yun Yun sat a girl in white attire, Nalan Yanran. Gazing at the refined and handsome Gu He before her, Yun Yun couldn''t help but recall the infatuated scene during the previous alchemical session. Her heart stirred slightly, but a serene smile graced her face. "Elder Gu He, the main reason for our visit this time is to express gratitude for Yanran." After speaking, Yun Yun whispered to Nalan Yanran by her side, "Yanran, regarding this broken engagement, Elder Gu He personally concocted the Gathering Qi Pill for you. You should remember this sentiment." Upon hearing Yun Yun''s words, Nalan Yanran quickly stood up, bowed slightly to Gu He, and respectfully said, "Thank you, Elder Gu He." "No need for excessive courtesy," Gu He nodded gently, his smile casual. "I watched Yanran enter the sect with my own eyes. I naturally cannot stand by passively in her matters." Upon hearing this, a hint of a smile also appeared on Nalan Yanran''s pretty face. In her heart, she had always held a favorable impression of Gu He. Back when she broke through to the Dou practitioner realm, she had consumed the Gathering Qi Pill crafted by Gu He''s own hands. Gu He''s predecessor had been interested in Yun Yun, and his attitude toward Nalan Yanran had always been courteous and gentle, never a reprimand. Undoubtedly, this had also heightened Nalan Yanran''s fondness for Gu He. She lifted her gaze slowly, her beautiful eyes meeting Gu He''s. Her eyes held a trace of distraction. After merging with the ethereal charm of the Zhe Xian state, Gu He''s presence was extraordinary. Every action, every word and smile, exuded a unique charm. This was the first time Nalan Yanran had seen Gu He in this light, and she was momentarily entranced. Elder Gu He, when did you become like this... Good-looking, isn''t it? "Yanran, refrain from being impolite!" Seeing Nalan Yanran continuously staring at Gu He, Yun Yun''s brows lightly furrowed, her voice chilly. Upon hearing Yun Yun''s voice, Nalan Yanran snapped out of her reverie. Realizing her previous behavior, a faint blush colored her cheeks as she hurriedly apologized, "I apologize, Elder Gu He. Yanran was impolite." In the original story, during the three-year agreement, Xiao Yan defeated Nalan Yanran in front of everyone and gained a lot of attention. This time, Gu He naturally wouldn''t let that happen. He wanted to see what scene would unfold when, after the three-year agreement, Xiao Yan suffered a miserable defeat at the hands of Nalan Yanran. Yet, to achieve this goal, he needed to enhance Nalan Yanran''s strength. Did that mean he had to bestow her the essence transmission? The system did not stipulate that only disciples of Gu He could receive the essence transmission. However, by doing so, it wouldn''t trigger the system''s reimbursement mechanism, and he wouldn''t gain any benefits. This left Gu He feeling a bit cheated. "If only I could have Nalan Yanran become my disciple." Looking at Nalan Yanran before him, this thought suddenly emerged in Gu He''s mind. However, Nalan Yanran was already Yun Yun''s disciple, a direct disciple of the Sect Master. How could she possibly become his disciple too? With this in mind, Gu He felt a bit helpless and was about to give up on the idea. But just then, a spark of inspiration flashed through Gu He''s mind. His gaze shifted to Yun Yun sitting across from him, and an unconscious smile formed at the corners of his lips. If he could win Yun Yun''s affection, wouldn''t that make him Nalan Yanran''s Master Uncle? Uncle Master and Master, should be quite similar, right? If all else failed, he could make this young lady address him as her Master, and that shouldn''t be too difficult. This idea took root, and Gu He became more convinced of its feasibility. What''s more, this approach aligned well with his desires. As his gaze swept over Yun Yun''s delicate and charming face, Gu He''s determination to pursue this plan grew stronger. Taking Nalan Yanran as a disciple, starting by winning Yun Yun over! Feeling Gu He''s gaze occasionally brushed over her, Yun Yun couldn''t help but feel uneasy all over. Pretending not to notice, she subtly adjusted her posture, sitting more upright, and slightly leaned forward to accentuate her figure. Catching a glimpse of Gu He''s assessing gaze, Yun Yun''s heart began to beat faster. She dared not meet his eyes. Why does Elder Gu He keep staring at me? Could it be... he''s interested in me? With such thoughts flashing through her mind, a barely noticeable blush spread across Yun Yun''s face. Chapter 30: Yun Yun’s Excitement Chapter 30: Yun Yuns Excitement "Senior Gu He, rest assured, within the three-year agreement, I will surely overcome Xiao Yan and uphold the honor of our Yun Lan Sect," Nalan Yanran firmly assured, unaware of the changing expressions between the two. "Well, with your talent, what is Xiao Yan in comparison?" Gu He outwardly agreed with Nalan Yanran''s words, but internally held doubts. Following the original plot, Nalan Yanran was destined to suffer a crushing defeat at Xiao Yan''s hands in three years, which would be a great embarrassment for Yun Lan Sect. To change this outcome, he had to follow his own plan. First things first, he had to win over Yun Yun! "Please have some tea." At that moment, Xiao Yi Xian came to the pavilion with a tea tray, placing fragrant tea in front of the three and saying softly, "Senior Gu He, could this young lady be your newly accepted disciple?" "Yes." Gu He nodded slightly, then introduced Xiao Yi Xian to Yun Yun, "This is our Yun Lan Sect''s Sect Master. Come and pay your respects." "Xiao Yi Xian pays respects to the Sect Master!" With a slight smile, Xiao Yi Xian politely greeted Yun Yun. "Xiao Yi Xian? That name sounds lovely and suits your demeanor," Yun Yun smiled and praised. "Thank you for your kind words, Sect Master." Xiao Yi Xian felt pleased in her heart but maintained a composed demeanor. "Little one, this is Nalan Yanran, your senior sister," Gu He continued, turning to Nalan Yanran and introducing her to Xiao Yi Xian. "Xiao Yi Xian pays respects to Senior Sister Nalan," she said with a curtsy. "Senior Sister, no need for formalities." Nalan Yanran looked at the beautiful girl of her age before her and felt a sense of goodwill. At this moment, Yun Yun suddenly took out a silver inner armor from her storage ring and handed it to Xiao Yi Xian. "Since it''s our first meeting, as an elder, I should offer you a token of welcome." "This soft armor is called Wind Spirit Armor, consider it a token of welcome from me." Yun Yun smiled and said. Looking at the offered silver inner armor and then at Gu He, who nodded slightly, Xiao Yi Xian accepted it with gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Sect Master." Astonishment filled Yun Yun''s pretty face. Gu He''s words had stirred up a storm of emotions within her. After the initial shock, Yun Yun quickly reasoned that if the necessary conditions were met, and with the formula in Gu He''s possession, all he needed were the appropriate ingredients to refine the Emperor''s Supreme Pill. "If the Sect Master is unable to break through the current bottleneck, I can personally refine an Emperor''s Supreme Pill for you." At this moment, Gu He also spoke, confirming Yun Yun''s thoughts. With Gu He''s confirmation, Yun Yun''s excitement about the potential effects of the Emperor''s Supreme Pill became evident, and she struggled to maintain her composure. "I wonder, Senior Gu He, what level of confidence do you currently have in refining the Emperor''s Supreme Pill?" After a moment of contemplation, Yun Yun gradually regained her calm and looked at Gu He, asking with her beautiful eyes. The Emperor''s Supreme Pill was a sixth-grade elixir, and the required ingredients for its refinement were undoubtedly extremely precious. While Yun Lan Sect''s resources might be enough to gather the ingredients needed for a sixth-grade elixir, if the quantity required was excessive, it could still strain the sect''s reserves. Yun Yun was concerned that Gu He might attempt to forcibly refine the Emperor''s Supreme Pill, which would result in a low success rate and the consumption of a significant amount of precious ingredients. Gu He''s gaze swept over Yun Yun''s delicate face, and he instantly grasped her concerns. He revealed a confident smile and calmly replied, "Rest assured, Sect Master. I am fifty percent confident in successfully refining the Emperor''s Supreme Pill." "Fifty percent!" Upon hearing Gu He''s answer, Yun Yun''s eyes brightened, and her face displayed delight. In the world of alchemy, failing in pill refinement was almost as common as eating and drinking. Even if an alchemist was highly skilled, they couldn''t guarantee a hundred percent success rate for every elixir they attempted to refine. Generally, seekers of elixirs would prepare at least two sets or more of ingredients to ensure that the alchemist could successfully produce the desired elixir. A fifty percent success rate was already a remarkably high figure for any kind of elixir. "Sect Master, here is a list of the required ingredients for refining the Emperor''s Supreme Pill. If you''re interested, you can gather the materials." Gu He handed Yun Yun a list. Chapter 31: Teacher, I Don’t Want You to Die! Chapter 31: Teacher, I Dont Want You to Die! Upon hearing this, Yun Yun took the list that Gu He handed over and glanced at it. She couldn''t help but sigh, "Truly befitting of a top-tier elixir among the sixth-grade ones, the required ingredients are not common treasures." Gu He smiled silently at her words. If it weren''t for the preciousness of the ingredients, he would have refined it himself without seeking Yun Yun''s assistance. "Senior Gu He, I will gather these ingredients as soon as possible." After carefully examining the items on the list, Yun Yun looked at Gu He and spoke. While the ingredients for refining the Supreme Emperor Pill were indeed precious, given Yun Lan Sect''s accumulated resources over the years, gathering these ingredients shouldn''t be difficult. "Very well." Gu He nodded at her response and then said, "Sect Master, I hope you can gather these ingredients within a month. I will be going on a journey after that, and I hope you can have them ready by then." "Senior Gu He is going on another journey?" Upon hearing this, surprise flickered across Yun Yun''s face. Lately, why was Senior Gu He so fond of traveling? "Yes, I am planning to visit the Tagre Desert." Gu He didn''t hide the fact and truthfully answered. "The Tagre Desert!" Yun Yun was taken aback. The Tagre Desert was the territory of the Serpentfolk. Entering the Tagre Desert recklessly was an extremely dangerous endeavor. Gu He nodded calmly and continued, "I received information that there''s a Heavenly Flame hidden within the Tagre Desert." "Heavenly Flame!" {TL/N:Shit!These!Exclamations!} Surprised by Gu He''s words, amazement appeared on Yun Yun''s face. She was astonished that a Heavenly Flame could be found in the Tagre Desert. Even though Yun Yun wasn''t an alchemist by background, she understood the value of such a treasure. No wonder Senior Gu He was venturing into the perilous Tagre Desert. Suddenly, Yun Yun recalled something, and a puzzled expression appeared on her face, "Senior Gu He, don''t you already possess a Heavenly Flame?" Yun Yun remembered that during the last time she refined the Gathering Qi Powder, Gu He had revealed a Heavenly Flame. Though Yun Yun didn''t have a deep understanding of Heavenly Flames, she knew that a person could refine only one type of Heavenly Flame at most. "Since I have taken them as my disciples, it''s only natural for me to help them surpass their predecessors and shine even brighter." Gu He''s face carried an elegant smile, and his tone was filled with anticipation. "A mere heavenly flame is nothing compared to the accomplishments my disciples might achieve in the future. Even if I were to die, I would do so willingly as long as my disciples excel." Hearing Gu He''s words, Yun Yun was left speechless. Could Elder Gu He truly go to such lengths for the sake of his disciples? Handing over a heavenly flame, a treasure of the world, to his disciples? Her gaze remained fixed on Gu He as she processed his words, feeling a sense of humility. As fellow mentors, she realized how far she lagged behind him. On the other side, Nalan Yanran was profoundly moved by Gu He''s deeply touching words. Observing his handsome appearance and refined demeanor, she found herself captivated. An idea sprouted in her hearthow wonderful it would be to have a mentor like Elder Gu He. With that thought, Nalan Yanran couldn''t help but cast an envious glance at the nearby Xiao Yi Xian. Being able to study under the guidance of Elder Gu He was undoubtedly a blessing. "So gentle, considerate, and caring for his disciples. Plus, he looks so handsome. He''s practically perfect. Not to mention Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran''s feelings. At this moment, the one most touched among those present is undoubtedly Xiao Yi Xian, the disciple behind Gu He. When she heard that Gu He was taking the Heavenly Flame for the sake of his disciples, she stood frozen in place. His subsequent heartfelt words touched her even more deeply. Recalling the day when she became his disciple, he imparted his insights and experiences as a sixth-grade alchemist, even imparting profound cultivation methods without hesitation. He even generously gifted her with extraordinary items like the Flight Technique. Looking back, since becoming his disciple, he had never been stingy but rather exceedingly generous. Who else''s master could do such things? Reflecting on these memories, tears welled up in Xiao Yi Xian''s crystal-clear eyes. The next moment, she couldn''t hold back and threw herself into Gu He''s embrace, crying out, ''Master, I don''t want you to die!'' "Uh..." Seeing Xiao Yi Xian in his arms, Gu He was slightly stunned, then revealed a warm smile. "Silly girl, why are you crying? Haven''t you seen you all grow up? How could I bear to die?" Afterward, with Gu He''s comforting words, Xiao Yi Xian stopped crying. When she looked up, her eyes were already teary. "Alright, stop crying. Do you want the Sect Master and Senior Sister Yanran to make fun of you?" Gu He playfully said, ruffling Xiao Yi Xian''s slightly disheveled hair. Chapter 32: Inner Sect Grand Competition Chapter 32: Inner Sect Grand Competition Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Xiao Yi Xian instinctively looked up at Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran, confirming that they were indeed watching her. She couldn''t help but exclaim in surprise before covering her face and leaving. "This girl... The disciple misbehaved. I hope the Sect Master won''t take offense," Gu He said apologetically to Yun Yun. "I must say, Elder Gu He, you truly are an exceptional teacher." Observing the deep master-disciple bond before her, Yun Yun couldn''t help but sigh. To give even the Heavenly Flame to a disciple, what else couldn''t he give? Gu He''s spirit was something she could learn from. However, thinking about the Heavenly Flame, Yun Yun''s expression turned serious. She looked at Gu He and asked, "Elder Gu He, do you need our sect to accompany you on your journey to the Tagre Desert?" The Tagre Great Desert was the territory of the serpent folk, and their queen had a fearsome reputation. Gu He entering the desert alone could be quite risky, something Yun Yun wanted to avoid. After all, he was an esteemed Elder of Cloud Mist Sect, and a sixth-grade alchemist at that. If he were to encounter danger in the Tagre Desert, it would be a significant loss for the sect. Furthermore, regardless of his status, Yun Yun didn''t want to see Gu He put himself in danger. Even leaving aside the previous encounter with the Gathering Qi Pill, just with this time''s Green Core Lotus Flame, Yun Yun already owed Gu He a favor. Especially now, knowing that Gu He was taking risks for his disciples, Yun Yun felt even more inclined to help him. With a myriad of thoughts in her mind, Yun Yun''s expression turned complex. On Gu He''s side, he was slightly surprised by Yun Yun''s question. He recalled that in the original story, Gu He had also invited Yun Yun to join him in obtaining the Heavenly Flame from the Tagre Desert. However, back then, Yun Yun had only helped him reluctantly, out of obligation rather than sincere intent. But now, Yun Yun was voluntarily offering to help him. Comparing her current attitude to her past one, Gu He sensed a significant change in Yun Yun''s attitude towards him. Being able to make such a request on her own initiative indicates that Yun Yun has developed a slight fondness for him. Thinking this, Gu He couldn''t help but reveal a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. However, Gu He knew that this was only the beginning. If he wanted to truly win over Yun Yun, he would need to use more persuasive methods. The revolution is not yet successful; comrades still need to work hard! Gu He hesitated for a moment, his words revealing a touch of concern. "The Tagre Great Desert is treacherous, and with the Queen Medusa guarding it, I really don''t want the Sect Master to endanger herself for personal desires." "But these elders were once the seniors of our sect, and many of them even watched over me as I grew up." "There are some matters that are hard for me to address..." "So, for this Inner Sect Grand Competition, I have no intention of making an appearance at all." With these words, Yun Yun looked at Gu He, her tone carrying a hint of request. "I hope Elder Gu He can understand the difficulties I face." Upon hearing this, Gu He already understood Yun Yun''s intention. She was using him as a shield. Gu He couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. Yun Yun was still too softhearted. This kind of matter, if avoided once, could be avoided forever. If you don''t want disciples, why not just be straightforward? Can those old fellows really force you? With Yun Yun''s current strength, she no longer needed to consider the opinions of those old fellows. Gu He had interacted with several elders of the Cloud Mist Sect as well. Those old folks liked to act all senior and authoritative. They often relied on their previous association with the former Sect Master Yun Shan and their seniority to impose their will. Back when Gu He had just entered Cloud Mist Sect, he had experienced their methods firsthand. However, after Gu He advanced to the rank of a Sixth Grade Alchemist, no one dared to act presumptuously in front of him. After all, a Sixth Grade Alchemist''s status surpassed that of even Dou Emperor-level experts. Such an esteemed position couldn''t be criticized by just anyone. Additionally, as a Sixth Grade Alchemist, Gu He held a certain level of arrogance and didn''t tolerate the elders'' condescending behaviour. This left those old men with no way to deal with him. Facing Yun Yun''s request at the moment, Gu He''s mind raced with various thoughts, contemplating what benefits he could gain if he agreed to oversee the Inner Sect disciple competition. After a moment, Gu He had made up his mind. He smiled and nodded at Yun Yun. "Since you''re facing difficulties, I am naturally willing to help you." Gu He had his plan in mind. During the Inner Sect disciple competition, each disciple would display their strength. Perhaps he could identify some exceptionally talented disciples. If they could achieve a rating of eight points according to the system''s evaluation, Gu He wouldn''t mind taking them as his disciples. Chapter 33: Gu He’s Ambition Chapter 33: Gu Hes Ambition Carrying the disciple cultivation system, the swiftest path for Gu He''s growth was through apprenticeship, particularly with prodigious disciples. The upcoming Inner Sect disciple competition ignited anticipation within Gu He. The possibility of discovering a hidden genius was enticing. With these thoughts, Gu He no longer hesitated and readily agreed to Yun Yun''s request. Seeing Gu He genuinely considering her well-being, Yun Yun''s satisfaction was evident on her charming face. Unconsciously, her perception of Gu He had evolved from indifference to favor. Uncharacteristically, Gu He''s choices and actions had gradually influenced her emotions. If it were in the past, Yun Yun wouldn''t have sought Gu He''s assistance despite her dilemmas. This went unnoticed by Yun Yun herself. At this moment, Gu He seemed to remember something, his gaze shifting to Nalan Yanran. He kindly inquired, "Will Yanran participate in this Inner Sect competition?" To qualify for the Inner Sect competition, participants needed to possess strength surpassing Dou Practitioners and be under eighteen years of age. Yanran hadn''t reached the Dou Practitioner level during the previous year''s competition, preventing her participation. Yun Yun held confidence as she responded with a self-assured smile, "Indeed, I will join this Inner Sect competition." Nalan Yanran remained confident in her abilities. She had already set her sights on achieving the top position, driven by her identity as the Young Sect Master. As an apprentice of the Sect Master, she felt obligated to shine and bring honor to her teacher. "Yanran, I have a favor to ask." With a smile, Gu He addressed Nalan Yanran. Furthermore, with all his disciples becoming adept at both combat and alchemy, it would undoubtedly become the envy of others. After a little investigation, news about these being Gu He''s disciples would quickly spread, solidifying his reputation as an exceptional mentor. As a result, exceptional talents from various corners would flock to him, eager to join his sect and learn from this "great teacher." Imagining a future where he had countless geniuses under his tutelage, enabling daily initiation ceremonies to trigger the system''s reward mechanism, a faint smile crept onto Gu He''s lips. Listening to Gu He''s explanation, Yun Yun finally nodded slowly. Yet, she couldn''t help but feel somewhat puzzled. Balancing intensive alchemical practice and dedicated cultivation seemed like an enormous undertaking for one person. However, since Gu He had made up his mind, Yun Yun refrained from probing further. Meanwhile, Nalan Yanran hadn''t overthought the matter; she readily agreed after hearing Gu He''s words, saying, "Elder Gu He, rest assured, I''ll guide Little your disciple earnestly." "Very well, I''m entrusting her to you." Gu He nodded slightly, but his mind was brewing with his own plans. With her unique Toxic Body, Xiao Yi Xian could enhance her cultivation by consuming poison. Furthermore, his own Transmission and Enlightenment techniques provided her an advantage. Though her combat abilities currently trailed behind Nalan Yanran''s, Xiao Yi Xian''s strength would inevitably soar, astonishing Nalan Yanran in due course. This would lead Nalan Yanran to unconsciously attribute it all to Gu He. Watching a disciple, who was once weaker than herself, progressively surpass and even dominate her, what would Nalan Yanran think? Undoubtedly, she would be envious of Xiao Yi Xian for having such a powerful mentor. Chapter 34: Activating the Woeful Poison Body Chapter 34: Activating the Woeful Poison Body Afterward, Yun Yun explained various matters regarding the upcoming internal disciple competition and then slowly left the courtyard with Nalan Yanran. "Ah, the road ahead is quite challenging!" Watching the graceful figure of Yun Yun departing, Gu He sighed, shook his head, and returned to his room. Just as he was about to begin his cultivation, he heard light footsteps outside his room. "Master!" The next moment, the voice of Xiao Yi Xian sounded from outside the door. What does this young lady want now? A hint of curiosity flashed through his mind, and Gu He casually replied, "Come in." Creak! Following Gu He''s invitation, Xiao Yi Xian directly pushed the door open. "Master..." Xiao Yi Xian stood before Gu He, hesitating to speak. "You can speak your mind, there''s no need to hesitate." Noticing the hesitation in Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes, Gu He''s tone was gentle and soothing. "Master, your disciple wishes to activate the Woeful Poison Body within her." Encouraged by Gu He''s support, Xiao Yi Xian finally made up her mind and voiced her inner thoughts. "Have you thought this through?" Upon hearing this, a trace of surprise flickered in Gu He''s eyes, his expression growing serious as he said, "Activating the Woeful Poison Body is a one-way path." Though Gu He had taken in Xiao Yi Xian as his disciple due to her Woeful Poison Body, he wasn''t particularly pleased to hear her express her intention to activate it herself. Once activated, the Woeful Poison Body would lead her to become addicted to poisons, the more potent the poison, the greater its allure to her. For those possessing the Woeful Poison Body, powerful toxins held an attraction akin to "Heavenly Flames" for alchemists; they would eagerly and recklessly approach them. Moreover, the process of ingesting poisons would bring about immense pain and suffering. As he looked at the spirited and obedient Xiao Yi Xian before him, Gu He suddenly felt reluctant to let her endure all of this. "Disciple has thought it through." In the face of Gu He''s questioning, Xiao Yi Xian, however, showed no hesitation and spoke with determination. Activating the Woeful Poison Body was a decision Xiao Yi Xian had reached after careful consideration. And what truly solidified her determination was the deeply moving "heartfelt words" she had heard from Gu He in the pavilion earlier today.Fiind updated novels at novelhall.comultaneously, thin strands of dark gas seeped out from Xiao Yi Xian''s body, wafting through the room. An hour later, the stabbing pain within her body gradually dissipated. Yet, at this moment, Xiao Yi Xian seemed completely drained. She lay on the bed, unconscious. As Xiao Yi Xian slipped into unconsciousness, the room was left with nothing but the lingering black gas, filling the silence. Creak! After a while, a faint sound of a door being pushed open echoed as Gu He''s figure entered the room. The motion of the door caused a slight disturbance in the air, causing some of the black gas to drift towards Gu He. Feeling the intense toxicity carried by the black gas, Gu He furrowed his brows. He raised his hand, and a purple flame flared up, incinerating the approaching black gas. Subsequently, Gu He approached the bedside. Observing Xiao Yi Xian''s furrowed brows and her state of unconsciousness, he sighed softly. He then picked up a nearby blanket and gently covered Xiao Yi Xian. With everything done, Gu He took one last look at Xiao Yi Xian before leaving the room. ... The next day, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyelids twitched, and she gradually woke up. A fleeting sense of confusion passed through her eyes, and Xiao Yi Xian quickly recalled the events of her ingesting the Purple Heart Orchid yesterday. Slowly getting up, Xiao Yi Xian''s gaze fell upon the blanket covering her. In her subconscious mind, she briefly pictured Gu He''s figure. Her clear eyes glistened with a thin layer of mist. It seems that after I fell unconscious, my teacher came to check on me. Feeling touched, Xiao Yi Xian slowly sat up. Subsequently, she focused her mind and delved into her own body, revealing a satisfied smile. A Three-Star Dou Practitioner! Ingesting a Purple Heart Orchid allowed her to break through two small realms. Indeed, every time she ingested poison as someone with the Woeful Poison Body, her strength would experience a tremendous boost. Afterwards, Xiao Yi Xian stood up slowly. When she lifted her gaze, she noticed the faint black gas drifting around the room. Seeing these black gases, her expression changed. These gases were emitted from within her body and contained strong toxicity. If someone were to inhale them, it would be problematic! Suddenly, Xiao Yi Xian remembered the Woeful Poison Elixir Condensing Technique that her teacher had taught her. Chapter 35: Fourth on the Celestial Rankings, Dragon Soul Cauldron Chapter 35: Fourth on the Celestial Rankings, Dragon Soul Cauldron After activating the Woeful Poison Body, Xiao Yi Xian could be described as carrying poison throughout her body. Maintaining such a state would definitely risk harming those around her in the future. If news got out, her identity as someone with the Woeful Poison Body would be completely exposed. By that time, it''s likely that Yun Lan Sect wouldn''t tolerate her presence any longer. In this situation, Xiao Yi Xian thought of the Venomous Poison Elixir Condensing Technique her teacher had taught her. The Venomous Poison Elixir Condensing Technique allowed the toxins within the body to be condensed into a poisonous core. This core contained a potent poisonous force that could be controlled at will. If Xiao Yi Xian could successfully condense a poisonous core within her body, she wouldn''t accidentally harm others in the future. With these thoughts in mind, Xiao Yi Xian recalled the details of the Venomous Poison Elixir Condensing Technique and returned to her seated position on the bed. Her jade-like hand formed a series of hand seals, and the Dou Qi within her body began to surge wildly. As she executed the hand seals, the black gas in the room gradually converged toward Xiao Yi Xian and finally entered her body, disappearing without a trace. After a moment, Xiao Yi Xian slowly opened her eyes, revealing a hint of disappointment in her beautiful gaze. "I wanted to condense a poisonous pellet, but the amount of poisonous force attracted is far from enough." After a brief contemplation, Xiao Yi Xian got off the bed and left the room. "Teacher!" A while later, outside Gu He''s room, Xiao Yi Xian''s voice gently rang out. "Come in!" Upon hearing the cheerful voice of Gu He, Xiao Yi Xian gently pushed open the door and walked in. "How do you feel?" Seeing that the complexion of Xiao Yi Xian had returned to normal, a smile appeared on Gu He''s face as he inquired. "Well, I feel pretty good." Upon hearing this, a look of joy appeared on Xiao Yi Xian''s delicate face as she approached Gu He, showing off, "Teacher, I have already advanced to the Three-Star Dou Practitioner level." "As expected of the Woeful Poison Body, truly remarkable." Gu He had long been aware of Little Fairy Doctor''s breakthrough, so he simply smiled and sighed softly. Hearing Gu He''s praise, a sense of delight filled Little Fairy Doctor''s heart. She then looked at Gu He and asked, "Teacher, do you still have any toxic herbs?" "Look at your behavior..." Gu He playfully chided before motioning with a thought, producing the Crimson Snake Cauldron from his storage ring. "Here, the Crimson Snake Cauldron will belong to you from now on," Gu He declared with a grand gesture. Seeing the Crimson Snake Cauldron before him, Liu Ling''s eyes lit up, and he excitedly exclaimed, "Disciple thanks Teacher!" Gu He smiled faintly, not responding outwardly, though a glimmer of anticipation flashed in his eyes. What treasures might he receive? The long-awaited system prompt then resounded within Gu He''s mind. [Ding, detection of host granting senior disciple Liu Ling the Crimson Snake Cauldron. Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten-thousandfold return and obtaining the Fourth Rank on the Heavenly Cauldron List, the Dragon Soul Cauldron!] [The Dragon Soul Cauldron has been deposited into the system''s storage space. Please be sure to check.] Hearing the system''s prompt, Gu He was momentarily taken aback. The Fourth Rank on the Heavenly Cauldron List? The Dragon Soul Cauldron? Gu He recalled that in the original work, Yao Chen seemed to have mentioned the Heavenly Cauldron List. Rumour had it that within the realm of alchemy, alongside the Flame Ranking, there existed a Heavenly Cauldron List. As the name suggested, the list recorded extraordinarily flawless and outstanding alchemical cauldrons. Within the Heavenly Cauldron List were thirteen cauldrons, each possessing an enchanting allure that attracted countless alchemists. Gu He remembered that Yao Chen possessed a cauldron from the Heavenly Cauldron List named the Black Demon Cauldron, ranking eighth on the list. And now, the Dragon Soul Cauldron that he had obtained ranked fourth on the Heavenly Cauldron List! Observing Liu Ling immersed in the joy of receiving the Crimson Snake Cauldron, Gu He''s consciousness shifted, directly entering the system space. Upon entering the system space, Gu He''s consciousness immediately fell upon a golden-colored alchemical cauldron, its size comparable to a tabletop. The golden cauldron was robust in size, exuding a steady aura throughout its body. Etched onto the surface of the golden cauldron were lifelike depictions of several dragon-shaped magical beasts. Upon closer inspection, the patterns of these dragon-shaped magical beasts appeared almost lifelike. Subtly, Gu He seemed to hear a faint dragon''s roar emanating from within the golden cauldron. "Remarkable!" Gazing at the extraordinary golden cauldron before him, Gu He couldn''t help but exclaim in admiration. In comparison, the Crimson Snake Cauldron seemed rather insignificant. An alchemical cauldron was one of the most crucial possessions of an alchemist. A high-quality cauldron could significantly increase the success rate of alchemical refinement. "This is the Dragon Soul Cauldron, truly befitting its fourth rank on the Heavenly Cauldron List, with an extraordinary presence." As Gu He beheld the Dragon Soul Cauldron before him, excitement flickered in his eyes. Chapter 36: Thirteen Years of Cultivation! Chapter 36: Thirteen Years of Cultivation! Gu He approached the Dragon Soul Cauldron and gently touched its body. In the instant Gu He made contact with the Dragon Soul Cauldron, a profound set of information flowed into his mind. Without delay, Gu He focused his consciousness and concentrated on receiving this information. The information wasn''t extensive; with Gu He''s current soul strength, he effortlessly absorbed its contents. Through this information, Gu He finally comprehended the origin and purpose of the Dragon Soul Cauldron before him. Dragon Soul Cauldron: Said to have been crafted by ancient Dragon Clan emperors, it contains the essence of dragonkind. The history of the Dragon Soul Cauldron dates back to the ancient era, signifying its great age. As for its functions, there were several. Firstly, it could enhance an alchemist''s success rate in alchemical refinement. Secondly, being crafted by Dragon Clan emperors, it harbored a strong dragon aura. Infusing it with Dou Qi could unleash a dragon''s presence, suppressing all magical beasts. Thirdly, it contained dragon essence. By infusing it with Dragon Clan blood, one could awaken and control the dragon essence within. These were the three major functions of the Dragon Soul Cauldron. Thinking back to these functions, Gu He''s eyes brightened. He hadn''t anticipated that the Dragon Soul Cauldron would possess such remarkable capabilities. After another moment of admiration, Gu He remembered Liu Ling was still in the room and promptly left the system space. Once Gu He''s consciousness returned to his physical body, Liu Ling''s excitement gradually subsided. "I thank Master for bestowing the cauldron upon me." Liu Ling bowed respectfully to Gu He, his tone sincere. "I promised this to you previously; there''s no need for excessive courtesy." Gu He waved his hand dismissively, then added casually, "I promised that once you reached the level of a Six-Star Dou Practitioner, I would grant you another Infusion of Dou Qi. Come here." "Dou Qi Infusion!" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling''s eyes lit up. Excitedly, he approached Gu He and knelt down. "Focus your attention!" Watching Liu Ling kneel before him, Gu He uttered a soft command, placing his palm firmly on Liu Ling''s back. With a subtle movement of his mind, Gu He channeled his Dou Qi and infused it into Liu Ling''s body. Sensing the surge of formidable power flowing into him, Liu Ling''s spirit surged, wasting no time. As the potent and wild energy surged within him, Liu Ling immediately felt his meridians experiencing a sensation of swelling and bursting. He couldn''t even endure half a day of cultivation; he truly didn''t live up to expectations. The lad''s physical meridians seemed excessively fragile, as if he had never undergone any tempering. At this moment, Gu He had already made a decision; he would diligently train Liu Ling in the future. After waiting for half an hour, Liu Ling slowly opened his eyes. Feeling the surging power within him, Liu Ling''s heart brimmed with excitement. Dou Qi infusion was indeed invigorating! The sensation of his cultivation skyrocketing was something he would never forget. However, lost in the excitement of his cultivation''s rapid progress, Liu Ling failed to notice Gu He''s slightly darkened expression. This lad was thrilled over receiving such a small amount of Dou Qi. Truly an unimpressive fellow. "Cough cough..." Watching Liu Ling who seemed almost ready to dance with joy, Gu He couldn''t help but cough lightly. Hearing Gu He''s voice, Liu Ling blinked slightly, and his excitement quickly subsided. Approaching Gu He, Liu Ling looked at him with utmost respect and said, "Disciple thanks Master for the Dou Qi infusion." "Hmm." Gu He responded casually, his gaze assessing Liu Ling with a somewhat malicious intent. "Master, is something the matter?" Sensing Gu He''s gaze, for some reason, Liu Ling had a bad premonition. "It''s nothing. Your master still has a technique to impart to you. Come forward," Gu He shook his head and continued. "Another technique to impart!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling couldn''t help but be stirred. Master was indeed too generous, too magnanimous, wasn''t he? Not only had he given him the Crimson Snake Cauldron and the Dou Qi infusion, but now he intended to pass on another technique. Having received quite a few treasures from Gu He, Liu Ling had come to understand one thing at this moment. Teacher''s creations are always top-notch! This time, the technique that Master is passing on must undoubtedly be exceptional. With this thought in mind, Gu He''s face showed anticipation as he slowly approached and crouched before Liu Ling. Seated on the bed, Gu He looked at Liu Ling in front of him, and with his palm, he directly touched Liu Ling''s forehead. In the next moment, Gu He''s mind moved, and he immediately used his transmission skill, transferring the intermediate Earth-ranked technique "Purple Sun Art" from his own mind to Liu Ling. Liu Ling''s eyes remained shut, and after a while, he felt a stream of information entering his mind. "Focus your mind and calm your breath!" As Gu He uttered these words softly, Liu Ling began to concentrate on absorbing the information. Chapter 37: Divine Flame Technique!” Chapter 37: Divine Flame Technique! As Liu Ling absorbed the information in his mind, he gradually understood that it was a martial technique. "Purple Sun Technique!" An Earth-ranked intermediate-level technique! Upon learning the profundity and level of this technique, Liu Ling was greatly astonished. It''s actually an Earth-ranked intermediate-level technique! Teacher has actually bestowed upon me an Earth-ranked intermediate-level technique! At this moment, Liu Ling almost wanted to stand up and dance for joy. "Focus and calm the mind!" Just as he was feeling excited, a dissatisfied voice echoed in the room. Liu Ling quickly suppressed his surging thoughts and focused on absorbing the memories in his mind. After a moment, the infusion of the Purple Sun Technique was complete, and Gu He slowly withdrew his palm. Then, the system''s notification sounded in his mind. [Ding, detected that the host has been granted the Earth-ranked intermediate-level technique ''Purple Sun Technique'' by senior disciple Liu Ling. Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten-thousandfold return and obtaining the Heaven-ranked advanced-level technique ''Divine Flame Technique''!] [Divine Flame Technique has been added to the system space. Please check your inventory.] Divine Flame Technique? An advanced-level technique of the Heaven rank? Gu He was overjoyed by the news and couldn''t believe his luck. He had granted him an Earth-ranked technique and triggered a ten-thousandfold return, granting him a Heaven-ranked advanced-level technique! This was a tremendous opportunity for his cultivation journey. Upon hearing the system''s notification, Gu He felt a slight tremor of surprise. He looked at Liu Ling, who was still engrossed in assimilating the Purple Sun Technique, and his consciousness immediately entered the system space. Upon entering the space, Gu He saw two crystal orbs suspended in the voidone colorless and the other crimson. The colorless orb naturally represented the previous return of Liu Ling''s thirteen years of cultivation. This was a technique specialized in tempering the physical body and soul using the essence fire. Liu Ling, who had been hesitating, became instantly energized upon hearing Gu He''s words. Excited and confident, he exclaimed, "Master, rest assured, within a month, I will definitely break through to the Dou Master realm." Thinking that achieving the sensation of rapid advancement in cultivation like before required breaking through to the Dou Master realm within a month, Liu Ling''s heart was filled with determination. "Alright, by the way, starting from tomorrow, come here every afternoon. I will give you special training," Gu He suddenly thought of something and addressed Liu Ling. "Special training?" "Master, what kind of special training?" Liu Ling asked with curiosity. A hint of mischievousness curved the corners of Gu He''s mouth, his gaze fixed on Liu Ling. He said, "You''ll find out when the time comes. As long as you complete my special training, the next transfer of knowledge won''t be as painful." "Really?" Liu Ling''s curiosity was piqued. If that was the case, would he be able to endure the transfer of Dou Qi for a bit longer next time? With these thoughts in mind, Liu Ling strangely anticipated the special training tomorrow. "Alright, for now, return and stabilize your cultivation," Gu He waved his hand, signaling Liu Ling to leave. He thought of the thirteen years of cultivation within the system space, and his eagerness to absorb it was hard to contain. "Then... Master, I''ll take my leave," upon hearing this, Liu Ling didn''t linger any longer. He respectfully bowed to Gu He and then left the room directly. After Liu Ling left, Gu He was about to get up to absorb the thirteen years of cultivation when he noticed his second disciple, Xiao Yi Xian arriving. Chapter 38: Transmission, Ripple Palm Chapter 38: Transmission, Ripple Palm Dong dong dong! "Master." Soon, Xiao Yi Xian''s melodious voice sounded outside the door. "Come in," Gu He''s calm voice echoed within the room. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian entered the room directly, coming to Gu He''s room with familiarity. "Master, disciple has broken through to the Nine-Star Dou Fighter level!" As she approached Gu He, Xiao Yi Xian couldn''t help but speak, her tone carrying a hint of excitement. "Really? That''s fantastic, much stronger than your senior brother." Upon hearing this, a smile tugged at the corner of Gu He''s mouth as he gave an honest assessment. However, when it came to cultivation speed, probably few on the entire continent could match Xiao Yi Xian. Hearing Gu He''s praise, a pleased expression lit up Xiao Yi Xian''s delicate face. "Keep up the good work. Once you break through to the Dou Master realm, I will reward you with three gifts." It had been about a month since the last Dou Qi Infusion to Xiao Yi Xian. Gu He made this promise as he spoke. "Really?" Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian narrowed her eyes slightly, a glint of anticipation shimmering in her crystal-clear eyes. Then, her expression turned resolute, "Master, rest assured, within ten days, I will definitely break through to the Dou Master realm." "That''s good." Satisfied with her determination, Gu He nodded. He then took out several jade bottles from his storage ring. "Little one, the contents of these jade bottles are Jade Bone Pill. After your daily practice, pour a bottle into water and soak for a medicinal bath," Gu He explained as he handed the bottles to Xiao Yi Xian. "Jade Bone Pill!" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian''s beautiful eyes brightened. Having received the inheritance of a sixth-grade alchemist, she naturally understood the effects of Jade Bone Pill. Within the Yun Lan Sect, there were quite a few alchemists who hadn''t joined the Alchemist Guild. For these recruited alchemists, the Yun Lan Sect offered generous incentives. Every half month, these alchemists were allowed to request a batch of medicinal herbs from the sect. Of course, the grade of these medicinal herbs depended on the alchemist''s level. Gu He had also educated Xiao Yi Xian about these common practices. Then he looked at Xiao Yi Xian and beckoned, "No problem, come here. I''ll teach you a combat technique now." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian''s beautiful eyes lit up with anticipation, and she approached Gu He. Gu He slowly extended a finger and tapped Xiao Yi Xian''s smooth forehead. At the same time, he silently invoked in his mind, "System, bestow the ''Ripple Palm'' technique to Xiao Yi Xian." In the next moment, Xiao Yi Xian felt a surge of information in her mind. She closed her eyes and focused on receiving this information. After a moment, Xiao Yi Xian slowly opened her eyes, and her beautiful eyes shimmered with delight. "High-grade Yellow Rank combat technique, Ripple Palm." Indeed, what Gu He had just imparted to Xiao Yi Xian was a high-grade Yellow Rank combat technique. Because it hadn''t been a full month since he last bestowed her with a technique through the transfer of knowledge, he couldn''t trigger the system''s reward mechanism this time. As a result, Gu He didn''t share the two advanced Purple Rank combat techniques he had learned with Xiao Yi Xian. Nevertheless, Xiao Yi Xian was already quite content with what she had received. After the knowledge transfer from Gu He, the essence of the Ripple Palm was deeply imprinted in her mind. With a bit of practice, she could successfully execute the Ripple Palm technique. "Thank you, Master," Xiao Yi Xian expressed her gratitude to Gu He. "Disciple, once you break through to the Dou Master realm, I''ll bestow upon you an advanced Purple Rank combat technique," Gu He said with a smile. "Really?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian felt a surge of joy, becoming even more eager to advance to the Dou Master realm. "Alright, go outside and practice diligently. Don''t embarrass yourself in front of Senior Sister Nalan tomorrow," Gu He chuckled. "Understood, Master." Xiao Yi Xian responded and left the room excitedly. "Now, it''s time for a breakthrough!" After Xiao Yi Xian left, Gu He also stood up and moved to the adjacent alchemy room. Check out my Patreon for 20 advanced chapters. Chapter 39: Four-Star Dou Emperor Chapter 39: Four-Star Dou Emperor In the alchemy room, Gu He closed the room''s door and set up a barrier around the alchemy room before sitting down in the middle of the room. Then, Gu He closed his eyes, and his consciousness slowly sank into the system space. After that, Gu He silently said, "System, begin fusing thirteen years of cultivation!" As his words fell, the colorless light sphere suspended in the void within the system space instantly turned into a brilliant light and shot into Gu He''s body. Bang! With the radiant light entering his body, in the next moment, Gu He felt a muffled sound within him, followed by an immensely powerful energy surging out. This energy was extremely domineering, rushing out from within him like a tornado, sweeping through Gu He''s limbs and bones. A piercing pain spread within his body, and Gu He''s face turned pale in an instant. Then, following the method he used last time, as the energy entered his body, purple flames began to ripple within him. Compared to the energy, the purple flames were even more formidable. The instant they touched, the flames directly dissipated the energy. Afterward, Gu He controlled these scattered energies, guiding them into his dantian. As more and more energy entered his dantian, the aura emanating from Gu He''s body became increasingly profound. After a moment, the density of the battle qi in his dantian was several times stronger than before he began practicing just now. In just a short moment, it was equivalent to the effort of nearly half a year of intense cultivation. This sensation left Gu He immersed in it. Now, he was incredibly skilled in assimilating energy. Coupled with the purity of this energy, he didn''t need much time to refine it. His task was to scatter this energy, then smoothly guide it into his dantian. "I wonder to what extent my cultivation will skyrocket after absorbing all of this energy?" "However, while this rapid advancement in cultivation is impressive, it can lead to the dispersion of dou qi within the body and an imbalance in the foundation. Consolidating this progress will require a considerable amount of time in the future." Amidst the sound of cracking, the barrier that enveloped the alchemy room shattered with a resounding crash. In the next moment, a more solid barrier reappeared outside the pill refining chamber. The breakthrough concluded, yet Gu He had no intention of leaving the alchemy room. He intended to seize this opportunity to condense his own essence Flame. Rapidly recalling the contents of the Divine Flames Scripture in his mind, a look of awe unconsciously crossed Gu He''s face. "The prerequisite for cultivating the Divine Flames Scripture is actually to successfully control a kind of Heavenly Flame. Truly deserving of being an advanced Heavenly Rank technique; this cultivation threshold is sufficient to deter most people." "Fortunately, I currently possess a Heavenly Flame." "However, the cultivation method of this Divine Flames Scripture seems quite self-destructive. The first step is to actually introduce the controlled Heavenly Flame into the body, integrating it into one''s flesh, bones, and even soul. It must achieve complete fusion, rather than merely controlling the Heavenly Flame within the body." This approach made Gu He think of the original work, where Queen Medusa evolved using the method of assimilating with the Green Lotus Core Flame. However, despite the similarity, the difference was that the Heavenly Flame Gu He was cultivating was already under his control. Even in self-destruction, it was within manageable limits, unlike Queen Medusa, who was entirely relying on luck. "It seems that in order to condense the innate Heavenly Flame, I will have to endure some torment." A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Gu He''s mouth. He slowly closed his eyes, once again reviewing the contents of the Divine Flames Scripture in his mind. After a moment, Gu He adjusted himself to his optimal state. He took a gentle breath, preparing to start practicing the Divine Flames Scripture. He decided to use the Nine Nether Flame to condense his innate Heavenly Flame. After all, the only unique flame he currently controlled was the Nine Nether Flame. With his eyes half-closed, Gu He casually sat in the pill refining chamber. With a thought, the purple flames began to ripple through his limbs and bones. Directly following the cultivation path outlined in the Divine Flames Scripture, Gu He manipulated the purple flames. The surrounding dou qi gathered and collided with his flesh and bones. Strands of the purple flames even penetrated into his soul. In an instant, Gu He''s body was enveloped in purple flames. "Arghhhhhh!" An excruciating pain surged through Gu He''s body, spreading to every bone, every bit of flesh, and even his soul... (End of this chapter) Chapter 40: Condensing the Essence flame Chapter 40: Condensing the Essence flame Chapter 40: Condensing the Essence Flame Pain! A pain that penetrated deep into the bone marrow! The entire body was engulfed in purple flames, and at this moment, Gu He felt no different from being roasted over a fire. Enduring the intense pain coursing through his body, Gu He focused his consciousness inward. Inside Gu He''s body, the terrifying energy of the purple flames was recklessly traversing through his meridians. Anything blocking their path would be incinerated into nothingness in an instant. Under the scorching heat, the once spacious and resilient meridians had twisted into grotesque and horrifying shapes, resembling twisted liquorice sticks. Of course, the excruciating pain caused by the twisted meridians made Gu He''s body involuntarily convulse, his muscles tensed, and his pale face lost all color. "Rarely do I find myself in such a colourful worldno mortgages, no car loans, and no exorbitant dowries. All I have is a grand feast of cultivation!" "Since I possess this system, blessed by heaven, I am destined to rise above the Nine Heavens and stand on the edge of the clouds!" "If I can''t endure this bit of suffering, how can I achieve success in the future!" Endless agony had overwhelmed Gu He''s nerves, and his once handsome face had become incredibly grim. Then, an incredibly bright smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. When you treat pain as enjoyment, there is nothing in this world that can shake your determination. Within the meridians, purple flames were wildly surging. In just a few minutes, Gu He''s insides were practically in chaos. The scorching temperature emitted from within spread through the meridians and bones. It caused small white bubbles to appear on the surface of Gu He''s body. These bubbles burst, revealing the crimson flesh underneath. Small cracks extended from the flesh, eventually covering Gu He''s arms and body, making him look somewhat horrifying, like a broken porcelain doll. The Nine Abyssal Flames flowed through one meridian after another. Wherever it passed, withered meridians regained their vitality. Cracked bones and burned muscles also began to repair at a gratifying speed. Moreover, the repaired meridians, bones, and other parts of his body exhibited a resilience far surpassing their previous strength. Clearly, although the Nine Abyssal Flames had caused significant damage, the compensation it provided made the vital organs in his body feel it was worth it. While the Nine Abyssal Flames repaired Gu He''s internal body, his external body, covered in bloodstains, gradually saw the wounds merging. Scabs rapidly formed and fell off, leaving no trace. The muscles beneath the skin''s surface quickly strengthened. Though not comparable to those of a bodybuilder, a burst of explosive strength seemed to gather when he extended his arms. The skin on the surface of his body shed like a snake''s skin, quickly falling away. The newly revealed skin appeared as delicate as a woman''s, but it possessed defense and sensitivity to the energy of the heavens and earth several times stronger than before. At this moment, Gu He, aided by his unique state, was rapidly strengthening and repairing his severely damaged body with the immense and almost terrifying energy contained within the Nine Abyssal Flames. This was truly a stroke of fortune and luck. The repair and strengthening process progressed slowly, and when the Nine Abyssal Flames finally drilled through the last injured meridian, Gu He''s once critically injured body had been restored to near perfection. The combat power this body could now unleash was undoubtedly much greater than before! After completely repairing Gu He''s body, the Nine Abyssal Flames instantly transformed into a purple radiance and directly entered the depths of Gu He''s soul, disappearing from view. In the moment the Nine Abyssal Flames entered Gu He''s soul, his previously unconscious soul suddenly trembled, and then it fully awakened. Once his soul awakened, Gu He''s consciousness instinctively scanned his body''s interior, and the fresh changes within him left him momentarily stunned. However, as he examined his soul, and saw the strand of purple radiance deep within it, a surge of uncontrollable joy welled up in his heart. Success! Chapter 42: Senior Sister Nalan’s Shock Chapter 42: Senior Sister Nalans Shock Chapter 42: Senior Sister Nalan''s Shock The following morning, "This is Senior Sister Nalan''s residence up ahead." "Thank you, Senior Brother." Xiao Yi Xian sincerely spoke to a male disciple of the Yunlan Sect, dressed in disciples'' attire. The young man smiled and waved his hand, then left. After the young man departed, Xiao Yi Xian looked at a quiet courtyard not far away, her curiosity evident. "Senior Sister Nalan, does she live here?" A smile played on her lips as Xiao Yi Xian slowly made her way towards the courtyard. Swish! Swish! Swish! As Xiao Yi Xian approached the courtyard, she heard the sound of martial arts practice. Standing at the courtyard gate, Xiao Yi Xian gazed in the direction of the sounds. Soon, she spotted a young woman dressed in white martial attire, wielding a long sword, practicing her swordplay in the courtyard. "Senior Sister Nalan!" Upon seeing the white-clad young woman, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes grew slightly cold, and she couldn''t help but call out. Hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s voice, the white-clad young woman immediately stopped her movements and looked towards Xiao Yi Xian. "Junior Sister, you''ve finally come." Seeing that the newcomer was Xiao Yi Xian, Senior Sister Nalan''s charming face brightened, and she quickly ran over to open the courtyard gate. Since their first meeting, Senior Sister Nalan had taken the initiative to visit Xiao Yi Xian''s residence in Gu He, and now the two of them were quite familiar with each other. "Come in and have a seat." After opening the courtyard gate, Senior Sister Nalan warmly pulled Xiao Yi Xian into the middle of the courtyard where there was a pavilion to sit. "Senior Sister Nalan, I was in a critical breakthrough period these past few days and couldn''t spare the time to visit you. I''m truly sorry." After they both sat down, Xiao Yi Xian expressed her apologies. In the previous two visits Senior Sister Nalan had made to Xiao Yi Xian, she had not yet successfully condensed the Poison Pill within her body, and the danger posed by the Woeful Poison Body had not been resolved. She was afraid of causing harm to Senior Sister Nalan, so she had declined Senior Sister Nalan''s invitations both times. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian hesitated for a moment. During their conversation earlier, Nalan Yanran had mentioned that her cultivation was at the Four-Star Dou Zong level. Xiao Yi Xian, on the other hand, was a Nine-Star Dou Zong. Could Sister Nalan really withstand her full power? "Of course!" Seeing Xiao Yi Xian''s hesitation, Nalan Yanran affirmed, "Only by using your full strength can I gauge your abilities properly." "This way, I can provide you with better guidance." Nalan Yanran insisted, "Junior Sister, don''t worry, and don''t underestimate your senior sister. Among the younger generation of Yunlan Sect, no one has been able to injure me yet." "Alright then, Sister, be careful." Seeing Nalan Yanran''s confidence, Xiao Yi Xian felt a bit reassured. However, to be safe, she decided to use only four layers of her strength. "Junior Sister, I''m ready. Just come at me." Nalan Yanran''s face lit up with excitement. In the past, she had always practiced alone, so having a sp arring partner today made her feel curious and excited. "Ripple Palm!" Xiao Yi Xian nodded, gathered her Dou Qi in her palm, accelerated her steps, and unleashed a fierce palm strike directly towards Nalan Yanran. "Junior Sister, impressive palm technique!" Watching the formidable force emanating from Xiao Yi Xian''s palm, Nalan Yanran''s beautiful eyes sparkled. "Xiao Yi Xian''s palm technique is quite good, isn''t it?" Subsequently, Nalan Yanran, wearing a confident expression, looked at Xiao Yi Xian''s swiftly approaching palm imprint. She calmly raised her own palm, and her inner Dou Qi surged. Then, she forcefully struck out, meeting Xiao Yi Xian''s palm imprint head-on. However, the moment the two palm imprints collided, Nalan Yanran''s face changed drastically. She sensed an unexpected and tremendous force coming from Xiao Yi Xian''s seemingly gentle palm. In the next moment, Nalan Yanran''s figure was sent flying back as if struck by a heavy hammer. She staggered several steps before finally managing to stabilize herself, looking somewhat dishevelled. "Ah... Senior Sister Nalan, are you okay?" Seeing Nalan Yanran pushed back so far by her own palm strike, Xiao Yi Xian panicked, quickly rushing forward to assist Nalan Yanran. At this moment, Nalan Yanran couldn''t care less about feeling a bit breathless. She gazed at Xiao Yi Xian in shock and asked, "Junior Sister, your cultivation?" Facing Nalan Yanran''s incredulous gaze, Xiao Yi Xian felt a bit guilty. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, "Senior Sister Nalan, a few days ago, I just broke through to the Six-Star Dou Practitioner level." Xiao Yi Xian was afraid of exposing her identity as a possessor of the Woeful Poison Body, so she decided to conceal her true cultivation level for now. Hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s soft voice, Nalan Yanran''s eyes became somewhat vacant. Chapter 43: Special Training Chapter 43: Special Training Chapter 43: Special Training "Junior Sister, you mentioned earlier that you''re only sixteen years old this year?" Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yi Xian with a dazed expression. "Yes." Xiao Yi Xian nodded gently in response. "A sixteen-year-old Six-Star Dou Practitioner..." Nalan Yanran muttered to herself, her expression quite complex. Clearly, Nalan Yanran felt a blow. Originally, she believed that with her talent, she could be considered the number one genius in the Yunlan Sect. This made her somewhat complacent and proud. Now, Xiao Yi Xian''s appearance left her feeling somewhat defeated. Check out my patreon for 20 advanced chapters. However, Nalan Yanran had always been someone who didn''t like to lose. Soon, she emerged from her disappointment and regained her determination. "Junior Sister Xian, I will definitely surpass you," she silently encouraged herself. She had already decided to practice even harder in the future. Only then could she live up to her title as the Young Sect Leader of Yunlan Sect. Nalan Yanran then looked at Xiao Yi Xian with a seemingly casual smile and said, "Junior Sister, I didn''t expect you to hide your true abilities so well!" "Sister, I didn''t hurt you, did I?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian felt even more ashamed and spoke with an apologetic tone. "It''s fine. Come on, Junior Sister, let''s continue our sparring." Nalan Yanran smiled slightly and teased, "But this time, you can''t go all out. I can''t handle the full strength of a Six-Star Dou Practitioner." "Alright, I''ll be careful." Xiao Yi Xian thought that she had used four layers of her strength earlier, so this time she would use only two layers. Shouldn''t hurt Senior Sister Nalan like this. Next, the two of them started to spar in a "friendly" manner. Smack! Smack! Smack! ... "Teacher!" In another courtyard, Gu He was sipping tea in a pavilion when Liu Ling suddenly ran over. "What''s the matter?" Thinking of this, Liu Ling''s heart tightened, and his eyes gradually became resolute. "Master Gu He, please rest assured, your disciple will definitely persevere." "Is that so? But please do not force yourself." Gu He said faintly, then opened a bottle cap and poured out a red liquid into the bathtub. "Master Gu He, what is this?" Liu Ling looked at the red liquid poured out by Gu He, feeling puzzled. "Blood Ignition Elixir!" Gu He said lightly. At the moment Gu He finished speaking, a sudden change occurred within the bathtub. The red liquid entered the water, and rapid bubbles began to emerge, as if the entire bathtub''s water was boiling. Soon, the water in the entire bathtub turned completely red. Just as Liu Ling was about to speak, his face suddenly changed, and he felt an intense, scorching sensation rushing from the water. In an instant, Liu Ling felt like he was immersed in a furnace. "Remember, half an hour." Gu He said faintly and then returned to the pavilion. Upon hearing this, Liu Ling''s heart shook, and then his face gradually became determined. He could feel a powerful, intense heat penetrating his body through every pore, burning his limbs and body with excruciating pain. At this moment, he finally understood the meaning behind Gu He''s words. Such agony would require an extremely strong willpower to endure for half an hour. However, even in such excruciating pain, I must persevere! Liu Ling thought silently in his heart. Although the teacher''s words were likely meant in jest, But Liu Ling knew that if he truly couldn''t endure for half an hour, it would definitely disappoint his teacher. This was something Liu Ling absolutely did not want to see. "It''s just half an hour, right? I refuse to believe it." Liu Ling slowly closed his eyes and allowed his entire body to be immersed in the refining liquid. Soon, the intense heat in the bathtub grew even stronger, causing Liu Ling to be in even greater pain than before. At this moment, his facial expression had already twisted. "I will endure... I must endure!" Even though he was in agony, Liu Ling''s mind remained calm. He could feel that his physical body was gradually changing after undergoing the refinement of this Blood Ignition Elixir. Liu Ling struggled to operate the Violet Sun Technique, using this opportunity to refine his physical body and Qi. In the pavilion, Gu He watched this scene with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. This kid didn''t disappoint him after all. Chapter 44: Miteer Auction House Chapter 44: Miteer Auction House Chapter 44: Miteer Auction House "Phew!" Half an hour later, Liu Ling leaped out of the bathtub and looked towards Gu He in the pavilion. "Master, I endured for half an hour." Upon hearing this, Gu He slowly set down his teacup and nodded at Liu Ling. "Yes, well done. Keep up the good work, and continue tomorrow." "..." Hearing this, Liu Ling''s mouth twitched slightly, but in the end, he complied, saying, "Yes, Master." "After you return, apply some Iceheart Salve to recover faster," Gu He reminded, seeing that Liu Ling had some redness on his body. "Yes, Master," Liu Ling nodded and then slowly left the courtyard. ... Two days later. Early in the morning, Gu He left Yunlan Sect and arrived in the capital city. He had received information that today was the day when the Miteer Auction House was holding an auction. Standing at the end of a bustling street, Gu He looked up at the colossal auction house that loomed before him, unable to help but let out a sigh of amazement. Although he had been to the Miteer Auction House in his previous life, this was the first time Gu He had seen such a massive auction house since his reincarnation. He couldn''t help but feel surprised. At the entrance of the Miteer Auction House, several black-clad men with indifferent expressions and sharp weapons at their waists scanned the passing crowd with eagle-like sharp gazes. From the aura emanating from these men, it was apparent that three of them were at the Dou Master level, while the others possessed Practitioner-level strength. Sending Dou Master-level individuals to guard the entrance showed that the Miteer Family was indeed one of the three major noble families in the Jia Ma Empire, with considerable power. Gu He, at this moment, was dressed in a large white robe that concealed his entire face, making sure that no one would recognize him. It wasn''t that Gu He was afraid of being recognized; he simply didn''t want to invite unnecessary trouble. After observing for a while, the old man''s face showed a hint of confusion, and he couldn''t help but ask Gu He. "This is a sixth-grade Dou Spirit Pill." Glancing at the old man, Gu He said calmly. "What?" Hearing Gu He''s words, the old man''s aged face displayed a look of shock, and then he asked in disbelief. "This... this is a sixth-grade elixir, the Dou Spirit Pill?" Gu He glanced at the old man and casually replied, "You should go and call the highest-ranking person from the Miteer Auction House who is present here." Upon hearing this, the old man was slightly stunned, then nodded to Gu He, saying, "Please wait, sir. I will go and summon the Elder-in-Charge of Supervision." After waiting quietly for about a cup of tea''s time, an elderly figure entered through the door. "Hello, sir. I am the head of the Miteer Auction House, Miteer Tushan." As soon as the elderly man entered, he introduced himself to Gu He. "I am Gu He," Gu He replied in a calm tone. Being able to produce a sixth-grade elixir, there was probably no one else in the entire Jia Ma Empire but Gu He who could do so. Therefore, as long as Gu He intended to auction off this Dou Spirit Pill, his identity could not remain hidden. "It''s indeed Lord Alchemy King." Seeing Gu He reveal his identity, Miteer Tushan''s mouth curled into a smile. Clearly, he had already guessed Gu He''s identity. After all, apart from a sixth-grade alchemist, no one else could produce a sixth-grade elixir. "Your Excellency, I simply wish to participate in this auction quietly." Gu He looked at Miteer Tushan and spoke slowly. Upon hearing this, Miteer Tushan was momentarily surprised but then displayed a confident smile as he replied, "I understand. The news of Lord Alchemy King''s presence here will not leak before the auction begins." As for what would happen after the auction began, when a sixth-grade elixir appeared, even a fool would know that Alchemy King Gu He had arrived. (End of this chapter) Chapter 45: Gu He’s Worries Chapter 45: Gu Hes Worries Chapter 45: Gu He''s Worries Upon hearing the implied meaning in Miteer Tushan''s words, Gu He was briefly taken aback but then nodded and said, "Then please start the pill assessment." At this, Miteer Tushan smiled faintly and replied, "Lord Alchemy Master wouldn''t produce fake pills. Since you say this is a Dou Spirit Pill, I will naturally auction it according to the specifications of a Dou Spirit Pill." Hearing this, Gu He was slightly surprised and thought that this guy was indeed from the Miteer Family. His words were comforting to hear. "In that case, may I inquire about the pricing for this Dou Spirit Pill?" Gu He continued to ask. "The Dou Spirit Pill is a sixth-grade elixir, and it will be the most precious item in this auction. Later, I will auction the Dou Spirit Pill as the finale. As for the price, it will be determined by the heads of the major aristocratic families," Miteer Tushan replied with a smile. The strength of the heads of the top aristocratic families in the imperial capital remained at the Dou King level. This Dou Spirit Pill could directly elevate them by one level, making it an invaluable treasure for them. When the Dou Spirit Pill appeared, the heads of the major aristocratic families would undoubtedly compete fiercely for it. In such a situation, Miteer Tushan believed that the price of the Dou Spirit Pill would definitely not be low. Gu He naturally understood Miteer Tushan''s meaning and nodded gently. "Lord Alchemy Master, here is your private room number. The auction is about to begin, so please take your seat accordingly," Miteer Tushan said, handing Gu He a card made of green jade. Gu He accepted the card with a nod and then asked, "By the way, could you provide me with a list of the items to be auctioned in this auction?" Upon hearing this, Miteer Tushan was briefly surprised but then quickly responded, "Of course." He then passed his hand over a storage ring, and a list appeared in his palm. "Lord Alchemy Master, here you go!" Miteer Tushan handed the list to Gu He. "Thank you." Gu He accepted the list and thanked him before slowly leaving the appraisal room. After Gu He left, the elderly man who had left earlier returned. Now that he had advanced to a seventh-grade alchemist, finding seventh-grade herbs within the relatively small Jia Ma Empire was indeed a challenging task. Seventh-grade herbs were already rare, not to mention eighth-grade ones. Thinking about this, Gu He felt somewhat helpless. It was like trying to cook without rice. If he couldn''t even find eighth-grade herbs, how could he advance to an eighth-grade alchemist? On the continent, alchemists were indeed a rare profession, but they were also an extremely expensive one. Although alchemy required innate talent, without a continuous supply of herbs, even with high talent, it was difficult to rapidly advance one''s alchemy skills. However, if there was a massive faction behind them that could provide a constant supply of herbs, they could focus on their craft without the need to travel far and wide in search of ingredients. Under such focused conditions, their achievements would naturally be richer than those of freelance alchemists. Therefore, many alchemists hoped to find a wealthy patron at the Alchemist Convention who could generously support their endeavors. In the case of his predecessor, he was the biggest dark horse in the previous Alchemist Convention. Prior to that, few people knew the name Gu He. Since he had made a name for himself in the convention, he had caught the eye of the then Yunlan Sect Master, who had hired him as an elder of the sect. At that time, Gu He was only a fourth-grade alchemist. However, over the years, with the immense financial support of the Yunlan Sect, he had managed to advance his rank by two grades and had gone from being relatively unknown to becoming the revered Dan King. So, if it weren''t for the support of the Yunlan Sect, Gu He would have likely needed at least twenty more years to achieve his current level of strength. This was the advantage of having a wealthy patron. You didn''t have to search for herbs everywhere and waste time doing so. With Gu He''s current alchemy rank, the small Yunlan Sect could no longer afford him. "Could it be that I need to find a more powerful faction to attach myself to?" Gu He couldn''t help but think to himself. As a seventh-grade alchemist, there probably wasn''t a faction in the entire northwestern region that could support him. Only the major factions in Central Continent had that kind of power. However, even in Central Continent, as a seventh-grade alchemist, Gu He would undoubtedly be a highly sought-after asset by various factions. "Sigh, I''ll just take it one step at a time. Being a seventh-grade alchemist should be sufficient for the time being." Gu He shook his head in resignation and sighed. (End of this chapter) Chapter 46: The Auction Begins Chapter 46: The Auction Begins Chapter 46: The Auction Begins After waiting idly for a moment in the private room, Gu He found the auction venue finally filled with people. After another brief wait, a clear bell rang out, resonating slowly within the auction hall. As the bell sounded, the previously noisy and chaotic atmosphere in the venue gradually quieted down. Countless eyes turned towards the crystal auction platform in the middle, full of anticipation. At that moment, Miteer Tushan, who had appeared in the appraisal room earlier, slowly ascended the crystal auction platform. Seeing Miteer Tushan, the previously lively auction hall instantly quieted down. All attention was focused on him. "Hehe, everyone must have been impatiently waiting. In that case, I won''t bore you with official words," Miteer Tushan stood on the crystal auction platform, smiling as he looked at the densely packed crowd in the venue. His gaze then subtly swept over the influential figures in the private rooms. His loud voice echoed in the hall. As an experienced auctioneer, he knew well what the people below wanted to see and what they didn''t. Therefore, he skipped the introductory formalities of the opening ceremony, but it was indeed effective. Even Gu He nodded slightly in approval. "As the number one auction house in the Jia Ma Empire, I believe that our Miteer Auction House will not disappoint you this time," Miteer Tushan said confidently, thinking about the sixth-grade Dou Spirit Pill that had just been included as the finale. Afterward, Miteer Tushan clapped his hands lightly and declared, "I announce that the Miteer Auction is now underway!" As Miteer Tushan''s announcement fell, a burst of dazzling light suddenly erupted from the massive crystal platform. After a while, the intense light gradually subsided. On the crystal platform, in front of Miteer Tushan, a wholly blue longsword stood. Under the illumination of the lights, it reflected a chilling brilliance. Judging from the energy traces flowing on the sword, it was evidently a magical core weapon meticulously forged by a master. "This sword is called Frost Edge, made of Frost Iron, capable of cutting iron like mud. It is perfectly embedded with a third-grade ice-element magical core. If someone cultivating water and ice attributes wields it against enemies, its power will undoubtedly be elevated. A divine weapon and a must-have for travels. If any of you are interested, don''t hesitate to open your purses. Money is valuable, but it''s even more precious when you can enjoy it while alive, right? Hehe." Miteer Tushan held the azure longsword in his hand, and with a shake of the sword, a faint cold air rose, forming a subtle white mist. He turned to look at the auction venue, smiling, "Starting bid, one hundred thousand. Please, everyone." "A magical core weapon?" Gu He muttered as he looked at the longsword on the crystal auction platform. A longsword was a weapon he quite favored, but unfortunately, this one was of the ice attribute, conflicting with his fire attribute. Otherwise, he might have considered buying it for his disciples. Not to mention that Nalan Yanran had already been designated as the next generation successor of the Cloud Mist Sect. Once Nalan Yanran became the sect master of the Cloud Mist Sect, the strength of the Nalan family would undoubtedly experience a qualitative improvement. By then, even the royal family of the Jia Ma Empire would not dare to easily take action against the Nalan family. "Ah, it''s a pity for that young man from the Xiao family." Thinking of the incident a few days ago when Nalan Yanran forcibly annulled the engagement with the young man from the Xiao family, the smile on Nalan Jie''s face slowly disappeared. "When Yanran comes back next time, I''ll have to teach her a lesson." Thinking of Nalan Yanran avoiding coming home after canceling the engagement and staying at the Cloud Mist Sect, Nalan Jie''s face revealed a hint of anger. Just then, Nalan Jie frowned, and a look of pain appeared on his face. A faint gray-black color flashed on Nalan Jie''s face. "Damn it, it''s happening again!" Nalan Jie hurriedly circulated his Dou Qi to suppress it, and the gray-black color on his face slowly disappeared. "This poison is getting more severe. I wonder how much longer I can hold on." Feeling the condition inside his body, Nalan Jie''s face revealed a painful reminiscence. Four years ago, he had battled a highly poisonous fifth-grade magical beast called the Branding Iron Poisonous Python. Although he had ultimately killed it, he had unfortunately been injected with a terrifying toxin called the Branding Iron Poison. Upon researching the information about this poison, Nalan Jie''s expression turned gloomy. In the records, not many sixth-grade magical beasts were noted to have been killed by the Branding Iron Poisonous Python''s transcendent poison. If it weren''t for the fact that their numbers were extremely rare, many powerful individuals on the continent would probably turn pale at the thought of facing this poison. Over the years, relying on his strong Dou Qi, he had been suppressing the toxin. However, as he aged, the rebound of the poison became stronger. Nalan Jie had a premonition that it wouldn''t be long before the Branding Iron Poison inside his body would fully erupt. (End of this chapter) Chapter 47: Shock Among the Major Families Chapter 47: Shock Among the Major Families Chapter 47: Shock of the Major Families Thinking of the Branding Iron Poison within his body, Nalan Jie felt a cloud of gloom in his heart. Once the Branding Iron Poison erupted, there would be no cure. As the pillar of the Nalan family, if he were to fall, and Yanran, that girl, had not yet grown up, the Nalan family would be in great danger. "Bang, bang, bang!" Just then, a knocking sound came from outside the private room, bringing Nalan Jie, who was immersed in his troubles, back to his senses. "Come in." Following that, Nalan Jie faintly spoke towards the door. Creak! As the door opened, a delicately featured maid walked in holding a list. "Respected guest, this is the auction item list that Elder Supervisor asked me to bring over. Please take a look?" The maid held a list and slowly placed it on the table in front of Nalan Jie. "Auction item list?" "Didn''t he already give it to me?" At these words, Nalan Jie furrowed his brow, somewhat puzzled. The maid smiled faintly and explained, "Elder Supervisor said that an additional item has been added to this auction. This list is the newly revised one he just sent over." "Added auction item?" Hearing the maid''s words, a trace of curiosity flashed in Nalan Jie''s eyes. "I will take my leave first." After delivering the list, the maid gave a graceful salute and then slowly exited the private room. "Could it be that they''ve added something extraordinary?" Looking at the list on the table, Nalan Jie felt a hint of curiosity. After all, if they added an ordinary item, Miteer Auction House wouldn''t go to such lengths, specifically sending over a new list. Thinking about it, Nalan Jie reached out and picked up the list, examining it carefully. After a moment, Nalan Jie''s breathing suddenly became rapid, and his face changed drastically. If it weren''t for the strong connection between the Mu family and the Jia Ma Empire, coupled with the influence of the Mu family in the military, it would probably not be enough to contend with the other two major families. Additionally, Mu Chen''s cultivation was at the Four-Star Dou King level. Although he was recognized as one of the top ten powerhouses in the Jia Ma Empire, he was unfortunately ranked last. At this moment, as Mu Chen looked at the list in his hand, his face was filled with excitement. If he obtained this Dou Spirit Pill, his strength would greatly increase, narrowing the gap between the Mu family and the other two major families. It would also solidify the Mu family''s position among the three major families. Similar situations unfolded in other private rooms of the major families in the imperial capital. ... In the early stages of the auction, there were no items that ignited a fervor in the atmosphere. Moreover, those participating in the bidding were just some people sitting in the auction venue. The powerful forces with vast wealth sitting in private rooms had yet to make a move. "Ding!" Another crisp bell rang out from the crystal platform. Miteer Tushan, with a smile on his face, received a small silver tray from a maid. On the tray were two transparent small jade bottles, each containing a faint blue pill rolling inside. As soon as these pills appeared, they attracted many gazes. After all, on the continent of Dou Qi, pills were heavyweight items comparable to techniques and martial skills. Some pills that directly improved one''s strength were even more sought after by countless people. "Hehe, this pill is called the ''Azure Spirit Pill.'' I believe many of you have heard of its reputation. It can assist those who have been stuck at the pinnacle of Dou Master for a long time to break through barriers. Moreover, this Azure Spirit Pill is classified as a second-grade item. After taking it, those lucky enough might even experience a rapid surge in power, reaching the level of a Two-Star Dou Grandmaster." Miteer Tushan pointed at the pills in the jade bottles, smiling as he spoke. As soon as Miteer Tushan''s words fell, a commotion swept through the auction venue. Countless eyes turned scorching as they looked at the jade bottles on the silver tray. This kind of pill that could help individuals break through class barriers was almost considered a rare treasure even in the imperial capital. Although there was only one character difference between Dou Master and Dou Grandmaster, only by entering the latter could one truly be considered at the level of a master in the path of Dou Qi cultivation. This was a nearly qualitative leap, and countless people were stuck at the peak of Dou Master, unable to take that step. However, a single Azure Spirit Pill could easily solve these issues. Therefore, when this pill appeared, even some prominent families in the front row showed a bit of interest. After all, one Azure Spirit Pill could cultivate a Dou Grandmaster. In the long run, this deal was quite profitable, especially since, while Dominators were considered the masters in the Jia Ma Empire, the level of Dou Grandmaster was a crucial pillar for many forces. Having a few more of them would undoubtedly be beneficial. "Of course, since you have heard of the Azure Spirit Pill, you should also be aware of some of its negative effects." The auctioneer smiled, a hint of cunning in his eyes. He didn''t explicitly explain the backlash effects of the Azure Spirit Pill; instead, he glossed over them vaguely and then waved his hand. "Starting bid, three hundred and thirty thousand!" "Three hundred and forty thousand!" As soon as the auctioneer''s words fell, someone from the rear shouted loudly. "Three hundred and fifty thousand!" There were evidently many people interested in the second-grade Azure Spirit Pill, so in less than a minute, the previous bid was surpassed. (End of this chapter) Chapter 48: Fifth-Order Magic Beast Egg Chapter 48: Fifth-Order Magic Beast Egg Chapter 48: Fifth-Order Magical Beast Egg In the private room, Gu He sat quietly in a chair, fingers interlocked. As the increasing prices echoed in his ears, a faint smile appeared on his face. This Miteer Tushan was indeed a savvy businessman. He only mentioned the effects of the Second-Grade Azure Spirit Pill but did not disclose its drawbacks. The Second-Grade Azure Spirit Pill, while effective in helping a Fighter break through barriers and advance, could only enhance one or two stars of strength. Moreover, it carried a significant risk of backlash. Bids resonated continuously in the auction hall. In just ten minutes, the price of a single Azure Spirit Pill had risen from three hundred and fifty thousand to around four hundred and eighty thousand. At this point, the bidding declarations became sparse. After all, for many, a single pill at four hundred and eighty thousand was already quite substantial. Two pills would amount to nearly a million, a price too high for many. "5,50,000!" Just when the price paused at four hundred and ninety thousand, a slightly loud voice finally rang out in the private room. Hearing the sudden increase of sixty thousand, Gu He looked over with a hint of surprise. He murmured to himself, "It seems like some prominent family has set their eyes on this Azure Spirit Pill." The sudden bidding from the private room immediately quieted the previously noisy auction hall. Those who had intended to raise the bid again looked at each other and reluctantly sat down. Even though they had some funds, compared to the major families in the private room, they were undoubtedly overestimating their capabilities. In that case, it was better to simply give up. "5,60,000" "5,70,000!" "5,80,000!" "5,90,000!" ... In the end, the Azure Spirit Pill was sold for six hundred thousand gold coins. After auctioning the Azure Spirit Pill, the prices for the following items did not reach such high levels. Some items were only bid on once and were successfully taken away. This made Miteer Tushan on the stage somewhat distressed; after all, it affected his performance and income. Fortunately, after this downturn lasted for over ten minutes, it suddenly picked up. Even Gu He, due to the auction item, found his attention drawn. On the crystal platform, Gu He carefully raised a silver plate covered with red cloth, facing the audience with a mysterious expression. Apparently, such a high price had caused many to withdraw. "One million one hundred thousand gold coins!" "One million two hundred thousand gold coins!" "One million three hundred thousand gold coins!" Just after Miteer Tushan finished speaking, voices echoed from various private rooms. Clearly, even at such a high price, the temptation of the Fifth-Order Magical Beast Egg had prompted many prominent families to bid. Soon, the price for this magical beast egg rose to a high of one million seven hundred thousand. Seeing the diminishing number of bidding voices, Gu He knew it was time for him to intervene. Yes, this Fifth-Order Magical Beast Egg was one of the auction items he had set his eyes on. Although the Fifth-Order Magical Beast Egg was of no use to him personally, his disciple seemed to be lacking a pet. If he were to gift this Fifth-Order Magical Beast Egg to his disciple and trigger a tenfold return, what kind of magical beast egg would he obtain? Thinking of this, Gu He felt some anticipation. He immediately shouted, "Two million gold coins!" As soon as this price came out, a commotion erupted in the auction hall. Subsequently, even among the major families, no one continued to bid. This guy added thirty thousand gold coins in one go, obviously declaring to everyone, "I''m claiming this Fifth-Order Magical Beast Egg!" On the crystal auction platform, Miteer Tushan heard Gu He''s voice and was somewhat surprised. Why would the Alchemist King want this Fifth-Order Magical Beast Egg? However, although he was puzzled, he quickly reacted. After asking the crowd three times, he decisively brought down the auction hammer. (End of this chapter) Chapter 49: Fierce Competition Chapter 49: Fierce Competition Chapter 49: Intense Competition "Who is this guy?" "Such high-profile bidding, could it be the Nalan family or perhaps the Mu family?" As Miteer Tushan finalized the result, everyone looked towards the private room where Gu He was located, showing expressions of shock. In their eyes, other than the top families in the imperial capital, no other family dared to act so high-profile. Nalan Jie and Mu Chen also turned their gazes towards Gu He''s private room, speculating which family the bidder might be from. They refrained from bidding themselves, wanting to conserve their strength for the competition over the pinnacle Dou Spirit Pills later. The climax stirred up by the Fifth-Order Magical Beast Egg gradually subsided after a while. Shortly thereafter, Gu He, who had been idle in his chair, was suddenly attracted by a medicinal herb presented on the small silver plate by Miteer Tushan on the crystal stage. This herb was entirely fiery red, as if bathed in fresh blood, roughly the size of a palm. At a glance, it resembled Lingzhi, and as soon as it appeared, a faint fragrance spread, refreshing the spirits of those near the crystal stage. "Indeed, it''s the Fire Lingzhi. This auction is not in vain." Watching the fiery red Lingzhi in Miteer Tushan''s hand on the stage, Gu He couldn''t help but smile. This Fire Lingzhi was only a Fifth-Grade spiritual herb, and theoretically, it had no use for Gu He. However, this Fire Lingzhi was the main ingredient for a Fifth-Rank pill. The Purple Spirit Pill! Yes, this Fire Lingzhi was used to refine the main medicine for the Purple Spirit Pill. The function of the Purple Spirit Pill was to completely restore strength that had deteriorated due to seals or internal injuries. Gu He was preparing this Purple Spirit Pill specifically for Ice Emperor Haibo Dong. Currently, Ice Emperor Haibo Dong''s strength had regressed to the Dou Spirit realm due to the snake seal of Queen Medusa. He was hiding in the desert city within the Tagre Desert. Thinking of Haibo Dong, Gu He couldn''t help but reveal a smile. Speaking of it, he and Haibo Dong were considered old acquaintances. Back then, after winning the first place in the Alchemist Grand Competition, the Miteer family, represented by Haibo Dong, tried to recruit him. Although he rejected Haibo Dong''s invitation and joined Yunlan Sect afterward, their relationship was still quite good. In a while, he planned to visit this old friend in the Tagre Desert. As for the Purple Spirit Pill he was preparing, it was intended to make Haibo Dong owe him a favor. ... "Fire Lingzhi only survives at the bottom of volcanoes, absorbing volcanic energy and the Earth''s core fire to grow. For ordinary people to collect it is extremely difficult. Even some Dou Ling experts or even Dou Wang experts wouldn''t dare to easily venture into such places as volcanoes." On the crystal stage, Miteer Tushan was explaining to the people below. Later, Miteer Tushan also detailed the uses and origin of Fire Lingzhi. Under his explanation, the response from the crowd was quite good; it seemed many were interested in this Fire Lingzhi. "Hehe, according to the assessment, the starting price for this Fire Lingzhi is set at seven hundred thousand. Let''s begin, everyone." Afterwards, Miteer Tushan announced the price and smiled at the audience. After this high price was announced, some of the people who were originally interested suddenly became dejected. Although they could afford seven hundred thousand, in the midst of this intense competition, it was quite normal for the darn thing to double in price. Their funds were not abundant, so bidding in such a competitive environment had to be done within their means. "Seven hundred and twenty thousand!" Of course, apart from those who wanted to withdraw from the bidding, there were still quite a few people determined to compete for this item. "Seven hundred and forty thousand!" ... Gu He sat quietly in his chair, listening to the continuously rising prices, but he did not rush to compete. As time slowly passed, the number of bidders gradually decreased due to the rising prices. In the end, only two people were left competing, and by this time, the price had already reached around one million and seventy thousand. "One million two hundred thousand!" Just as the prices in the arena continued to rise, a lazy voice finally sounded. Countless gazes followed the sound and eventually settled on Gu He''s private room. The sudden surge in the bidding also surprised everyone in the arena, and when Miteer Tushan saw that the bidder was once again Gu He, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. Ignoring the greedy glances outside the iron fence, Jia Ma Tushan placed the purple-gold plate gently on the auction stage. His withered fingers carefully lifted the lid of the box. Suddenly, a burst of yellow light shot out. Accompanying the golden light, there were even energy fluctuations in the void. The sudden burst of light illuminated the entire auction house. Some unprepared people instinctively closed their eyes. Afterwards, when they adapted, their gazes were firmly locked on the icy jade box on the crystal stage. In it, a golden pill the size of a longan was quietly lying there. The surface of the pill was extremely round. The pill emitted a strong energy vibration, a phenomenon only possessed by Sixth-Rank and higher-grade pills! The entire auction house fell into a deathly silence under the seemingly elusive golden light. Although many people in the audience didn''t know the exact details of this pill, judging from the previous burst of golden light, they could vaguely sense its extraordinariness. Consequently, their faces couldn''t help but reveal a greedy look. In contrast to those who didn''t know the exact details of this pill, the high-level figures in the private rooms were suddenly excited. Some powerhouses even overflowed with uncontrollable qi due to the emotional fluctuations. On the crystal stage, Jia Ma Tushan, looking at the atmosphere created by the Dou Spirit Pill, smiled with satisfaction. He then turned his gaze to the forces sitting in the private rooms. He was clear that these people were the powerful contenders for the Dou Spirit Pill. "Don''t waste time, make your bids." Hearing Jia Ma Tushan''s verbose words, impatient voices came from the private rooms. Nalan Jie and Mu Chen stared at the Dou Spirit Pill in Jia Ma Tushan''s hand, their eyes filled with intense desire. "Hehe." Nodding with a smile, the auctioneer cleared his throat, then said seriously, "The value of this Dou Spirit Pill, I believe you all understand. I won''t set a starting price now. Feel free to bid, and the highest bidder will win." As the Dou Spirit Pill made its appearance, the atmosphere in the auction house entered the most explosive climax. The high-level figures in the private rooms finally started the jaw-dropping and red-faced bidding. Even though there was no initial starting price for the Dou Spirit Pill, the price soared to two million in an instant after Jia Ma Tushan''s auction hammer fell. Moreover, this price kept skyrocketing. "Two million one hundred thousand gold coins!" "Two million three hundred thousand gold coins!" "Two million five hundred thousand gold coins!" ... "Three million gold coins!" After a few breaths, the price of the Dou Spirit Pill had already risen to three million gold coins. This scene left most people in the audience dumbfounded, unable to believe it. The horrifying speed of the price increase was almost unprecedented in their many years of existence. To throw away thousands of gold coins so recklessly, such boldness and determination were vividly displayed in front of the temptation of the Sixth-Rank Dou Spirit Pill. The escalating prices maintained the atmosphere of the auction house in an excited uproar, never dropping for a moment. Even those who knew they no longer had the qualifications to bid for the item were captivated by this thrilling competition. Witnessing such a breathtaking financial competition made them feel that this trip was worthwhile. As the rapidly rising prices continued for nearly half an hour in this blood-soaked competition, it gradually entered its final stages. By now, the price of the Dou Spirit Pill had reached the astonishing amount of five million. Five million, a sum equivalent to the total annual income of the Mitel family in the Jia Ma Empire. This enormous amount was probably something that only a few forces in the entire Jia Ma Empire could casually take out without caring. As the price reached this point, weaker forces finally began to give up. After nearly half an hour of intense bidding, the price of the Dou Spirit Pill finally reached the astounding amount of six million. Six million, an astronomical figure equivalent to the total annual income of the Mitel family in the Jia Ma Empire. This kind of colossal sum was likely something that only a few forces in the entire Jia Ma Empire could afford to spend nonchalantly. At this stage, some weaker forces finally started to give up. As the relentless bidding continued, ten minutes later, Nalan Jie''s eyes flashed with a hint of fierceness. Finally, with a twitching expression, he shouted the astronomical price of six million, stunning the entire auction house into silence. A Sixth-Rank pill for six million! The silent auction house gradually recovered after nearly a few minutes. Gazing at each other, their eyes were filled with shock and excitement from the terrifying astronomical price. Six million, such a huge amount, how long would it take for a family to accumulate? Nalan Jie actually bid this high, clearly catching the other families, including Wood Chen, off guard. After looking at each other helplessly, they all withdrew their bids with unpleasant expressions. "Why aren''t you hammering!" Seeing no one else bidding, Nalan Jie couldn''t help urging as he looked at Miteer Tushan on the crystal stage, who seemed stunned. Miteer Tushan reacted only then. After a symbolic inquiry to the audience below, he directly hammered the auction to a close. (End of this chapter) Chapter 50: Miteer Tengshan’s Request Chapter 50: Miteer Tengshans Request Chapter 50: Miteer Tengshan''s Request Stepping out of the private room, Gu He stood at the doorway, looking up at the slightly dim sky. He sighed deeply, then turned to head towards a lounge in the auction house. "It''s better to get the money from the auction and the purchased items first," Gu He muttered to himself as he walked. Entering the lounge, Gu He handed his VIP card to a maid. After explaining his purpose, he was respectfully ushered in. "Please wait a moment, sir. The auction is about to end, and our staff will assist you in settling the auction items shortly," the maid said, placing a cup of warm tea on the table next to Gu He before gracefully exiting the room. Nodding slightly, Gu He held the teacup in his hands and took a sip. With closed eyes, Gu He tapped his fingers on the table rhythmically. After a considerable amount of time, footsteps suddenly approached from a distance. Gu He gradually stopped tapping his fingers. Opening his eyes, Gu He looked towards the lifted curtain where Miteer Tushan, accompanied by two maids, walked in with a smiling face. Nodding faintly, Gu He spoke softly, "Has the auction concluded, sir?" "Hehe, it ended successfully," Miteer Tushan nodded with a smile. His gaze subtly swept over Gu He without leaving a trace. Waving his hand, the maid behind him quickly lifted a silver tray. On the tray lay a purple-gold card with seven different-colored ripples. The seven-ripple purple-gold card was a qualification only possessed by Dou King powerhouses on the Dou Qi Continent. Of course, there were exceptions, and a Fifth-Rank alchemist also qualified for such a status. "Alchemy King, the total price of your Dou Spirit Pill at the auction is six million gold coins. Deducting ten percent auction fees, you have remaining five million four hundred thousand gold coins," Miteer Tushan said, squinting his eyes with a smile. "The Fire Spirit Mushroom cost one million two hundred thousand, and the fifth-rank demonic beast egg cost two million gold coins. The final amount you have is two million two hundred thousand gold coins, all in this purple-gold card. And the items you purchased are in this storage ring." Miteer Tushan gestured, and the maid handed the silver tray to Gu He. On the tray were a seven-ripple purple-gold card and an ordinary storage ring. Taking the card and ring, Gu He carefully inspected the Fire Spirit Mushroom and the fifth-rank demonic beast egg in the ring before taking them out and placing them into his own storage ring. "Now that the items are in hand, I won''t disturb you any longer. Farewell," Gu He said, rising to leave. "Hold on, Alchemy King." "Hehe, Alchemy King, please wait. My family head has a favor to ask. If Alchemy King doesn''t mind, could you meet and chat with our family head?" Miteer Tushan suddenly smiled and said as Gu He was about to leave. Hesitating for a moment, Gu He finally turned back and resumed his seat. Hearing Gu He''s words, Miteer Tengshan was once again surprised, and then a trace of joy flashed in his eyes. "I wonder if Alchemy King can refine a Qingming Longevity Pill for me?" Miteer Tengshan looked at Gu He with some expectation, his tone carrying a hint of request. Since the disappearance of the Miteer family''s elder, Ice Emperor Haibodong, the Miteer family had fallen into an extremely awkward situation. Since its establishment, the Miteer family had primarily focused on business. For many years, the Miteer family had accumulated immense wealth, proudly claiming the title of the wealthiest family in the entire Jia Ma Empire. However, the issue lay in the fact that despite possessing such vast wealth, the Miteer family lacked a powerful force to guard it. As the saying goes, the innocent will not be harmed, but those who possess treasures will bear the consequences. Currently, the Miteer family resembled a piece of fat meat, targeted by various forces. Especially the royal forces, which had long coveted the wealth of the Miteer family. As long as Ice Emperor Haibo Dong still stood guard over the Miteer family, no one dared to have any ill intentions towards them. But ever since the disappearance of Ice Emperor Haibo Dong, the Miteer family lost its strongest support. With such wealth at their disposal, the Miteer family naturally became a thorn in the eyes of various forces. Even in many cities, there were attempts to push the Miteer family to establish branches of Miteer Auction House. Because of this, the Miteer family had no choice but to set their sights on some remote cities. Even the small city of Wutan became one of the choices for the Miteer family. Currently, the entire Miteer family relied solely on Miteer Tengshan to sustain itself. Although he was listed among the top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire, his strength was the lowest among them. Moreover, he was aged, with limited talent, destined to remain at the Dou King level for the rest of his life. With no outstanding talents emerging within the Miteer family, Miteer Tengshan had to plan for the future of the Miteer family. (End of this chapter) Chapter 51: Teacher, I’ve Broken Through to the Dou Master Realm Chapter 51: Teacher, Ive Broken Through to the Dou Master Realm Chapter 51: Teacher, I''ve Broken Through to the Dou Master Realm Now that he is already old, Miteer Tengshan sees that there are no outstanding talents in the Miteer Clan to take on the heavy responsibilities. Miteer Tengshan thought of taking medicinal pills to increase his lifespan. After all, with him, a Dou King-level powerhouse, other forces would still be wary, and the Miteer Clan could temporarily hold its ground. Upon hearing Miteer Tengshan''s words, Gu He raised his head and nodded, saying, "I will naturally refine the Qingming Longevity Pill, provided that you can gather all the required medicinal ingredients." Upon hearing this, Miteer Tengshan felt relieved, then asked, "Could the esteemed Alchemist inform me of the medicinal ingredients needed to refine the Qingming Longevity Pill?" Miteer Tengshan believed that with the wealth of the Miteer Clan, they should be able to gather all the necessary ingredients for refining the Qingming Longevity Pill. "Do you have paper and a pen?" Gu He nodded slightly and looked at Miteer Tengshan. Upon hearing this, Miteer Tengshan immediately called a maid to bring paper and a pen for Gu He. Taking the paper and pen, Gu He began listing the medicinal ingredients needed to refine the Qingming Longevity Pill. After finishing, Gu He had a sudden inspiration and added a few medicinal ingredients used to refine the Fuzi Spirit Pill. Only then did he hand over the list to Miteer Tengshan. Gu He didn''t have any psychological burden regarding this action. After all, he was refining the Fuzi Spirit Pill for Hai bodong. As an elder of the Miteer Clan, if Haibodong could return, it would greatly benefit the Miteer Clan. Miteer Tengshan received the list from Gu He and carefully examined it, furrowing his brows slightly. Clearly, the preciousness of the materials listed on this list exceeded his expectations. However, for the continuation of the Miteer Clan, after hesitating for a moment, Miteer Tengshan gritted his teeth and said to Gu He, "Esteemed Alchemist, I will gather the required ingredients as soon as possible. When the time comes, I hope you can help with the refinement. The Miteer Clan will definitely show its gratitude." Gu He smiled and said, "As long as you gather all the ingredients on the list, there won''t be a problem." After the discussion, Gu He did not linger any longer. Under Miteer Tengshan''s gaze, he directly left the Miteer Auction House. Outside the Miteer Auction House, Gu He looked at the purple gold card in his hand and let out a sigh. Suddenly, a gleam flashed in Gu He''s eyes as he looked at the funds card in his hand. A strange idea suddenly emerged in his mind. If he were to give this funds card to his disciples, would it trigger a ten-thousand-fold return? If successful, wouldn''t he make a fortune! With this thought, Gu He pondered for a moment and became more convinced of its feasibility. It must be noted that he was only seventeen years old this year, and he was already on the verge of breaking through to the Dou Master realm. Such cultivation speed was truly terrifying. Although he knew that his current achievements had little to do with himself, it didn''t diminish the pride in his heart. In the future, he would undoubtedly be the number one genius of the Yunlan SectLiu Ling. At such a young age, he was on the verge of breaking through to the Dou Master realm, and given some time, he would be able to break through to the realm of a third-grade Alchemist. This achievement instantly made Liu Ling''s heart swell with pride. Naturally, Gu He was unaware of Liu Ling''s thoughts. He simply offered some symbolic encouragement upon hearing this, saying, "Hmm, strive to break through as soon as possible. When the time comes, I won''t forget to reward you." "Yes, Teacher," Liu Ling responded excitedly, loudly expressing his agreement before preparing to leave the courtyard. "Teacher, I''ve made a breakthrough! I finally broke through to the Dou Master realm!" Just then, a lively voice filled with joy came from the entrance of the courtyard. Soon after, a figure in white rushed in with excitementit was Xiao Yixian. "Uh..." "Senior Brother, you''re here too?" After entering the courtyard, Xiao Yixian finally noticed Liu Ling''s presence. Thinking about her behavior just now, she couldn''t help but feel a little embarrassed. However, at this moment, Liu Ling had a dumbfounded expression... No, he looked completely stunned. Seeing Liu Ling''s lack of reaction, Xiao Yixian became puzzled. She then shifted her gaze to Gu He, who was in the pavilion, and slowly approached him, calling out, "Teacher." Gu He naturally heard Xiao Yixian''s words and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "It''s good that you''ve made a breakthrough." The timing is just right. It''s perfect for triggering the system''s rewards. I wonder what treasures I''ll receive this time? How much will my cultivation level improve? "Junior Sister, what did you just say?" "You made a breakthrough... to the Dou Master realm?" At this moment, Liu Ling seemed to awaken from a dream, looking at Xiao Yixian in astonishment. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yixian furrowed her brows. Why does this senior brother of hers look so foolish? Didn''t she just say it earlier? But considering that he was her senior brother, Xiao Yixian repeated herself once again, "Yes, I just broke through to the Dou Master realm." (End of this chapter) ================================================================================================= check out my patreon for 20 advanced chapters. also show your support by donating me on paypal. every doanation counts. also please help me by introducing my work to your friends (ofc online). I will be very thankfull.Updated chapters at novelhall.com Chapter 52: Astonished Liu Ling Chapter 52: Astonished Liu Ling Chapter 52: Astonished Liu Ling Upon hearing Xiao Yixian''s words again, Liu Ling was completely bewildered. His face was filled with disbelief! Just moments ago, he had been feeling proud of himself for soon breaking through to the Dou Practitioner realm, thinking of himself as an unparalleled genius. Little did he know that he would be slapped in the face so quickly. At this moment, Liu Ling wished he could find a hole to hide in. However, after a wave of embarrassment passed, all that remained in Liu Ling''s mind was shock. He remembered that when Xiao Yixian had just joined, her cultivation level was only at the one-star Dou Practitioner level. How long had it been? Just a month? She had directly broken through to the Dou Master realm? She had crossed an entire major realm in just a month! This was simply unbelievable!Updated chapters at novelhall.com Liu Ling couldn''t comprehend it at all. Suddenly, Liu Ling thought of something and looked towards Gu He in the pavilion. Could it be that the teacher secretly helped her, boosting her cultivation level? Thinking of this, Liu Ling felt a tinge of bitterness. Teacher, you can''t be biased! Sensing Liu Ling''s resentful gaze, Gu He immediately understood his thoughts. "Do you really think, young man, that your junior sister''s breakthrough to the Dou Master realm is all the credit of her master?" Gu He''s tone became somewhat stern. Facing Gu He''s severe gaze, Liu Ling felt a bit afraid and lowered his head, not saying anything. This attitude undoubtedly revealed his thoughts. Seeing Liu Ling''s appearance, Gu He couldn''t help but feel displeased. "It seems you really do think so." "Let me tell you now, since your junior sister came to the Cloud Mist Sect, she has never received any Dou Qi Infusion or cultivation assistance from her master." "All the progress she made this month was solely through her own cultivation," Gu He stated unequivocally. Upon hearing this, Liu Ling raised his head in astonishment, saying, "This can''t be!" He couldn''t believe that someone could break through a major realm in just one month. "You don''t believe it, you can ask your junior sister if I have given her Dou Qi Infusion in the past month," Gu He said, not bothering to explain further. Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling''s mind trembled. Seven Apertures Exquisite Pill Heart! Jade Snake Three-Flower Pupils! Woeful Poison Body! Dou God bloodline! These unfamiliar terms, although Liu Ling was hearing them for the first time, left him profoundly shaken. So, in this world, there were so many geniuses! At this moment, all the pride in Liu Ling''s heart vanished. When he raised his head, his eyes only held determination. "Teacher, I understand!" Liu Ling looked at Gu He with respect. "Understanding is good; I didn''t say these things to discourage you," Gu He said in a calm tone. "Being born with an extraordinary constitution may give you a higher starting point than others, but the most crucial aspect of the path of cultivation still relies on your postnatal efforts." "As long as you diligently cultivate, you will undoubtedly achieve something in the future." Pausing here, Gu He''s tone softened as he smiled and said, "Moreover, with the guidance and assistance of your teacher''s transmission and infusion, as long as you put in the effort, there''s no reason you can''t surpass those with extraordinary constitutions." Upon hearing this, Liu Ling''s heart stirred. That''s right! So what if others have extraordinary constitutions? As long as he can endure the transmission and infusion for a long enough time, why couldn''t he surpass them? Thinking of this, Liu Ling couldn''t help but regain his confidence, and a more determined look flashed in his eyes. Seeing this scene, Gu He secretly nodded in approval. He hoped that this brat would change for the better after learning this lesson. "Teacher, may I know what kind of extraordinary constitution Junior Sister possesses?" At this moment, Liu Ling looked towards Xiao Yixian with some curiosity. "Extraordinary constitutions are of great importance and shouldn''t be revealed lightly," Gu He frowned slightly and said in a serious tone. Xiao Yixian''s Woeful Poison Body was of great significance, and once it was leaked, it could bring about disaster. With his current strength, he couldn''t handle such trouble. Therefore, he couldn''t reveal it to Liu Ling at the moment. Seeing Gu He''s serious expression, Liu Ling seemed to understand something and promised, "I understand, Teacher. I will never disclose anything about Junior Sister''s extraordinary constitution." Chapter 53: Ten Thousandfold Returns, Two Hundred Million Gold Coins! Chapter 53: Ten Thousandfold Returns, Two Hundred Million Gold Coins! Chapter 53: Ten Thousandfold Returns, Two Hundred Million Gold Coins! Upon hearing Liu Ling''s response, Gu He nodded faintly. "Alright, hurry back and apply some Ice Heart Balm. Continue your special training tomorrow. When you break through to the Dou Master realm, I''ll transmit techniques to you again." Hearing about the transmission of techniques, Liu Ling''s spirit trembled. She nodded firmly and said, "Disciple obeys!" Afterwards, Liu Ling bowed to Gu He and nodded at Xiao Yi Xian before leaving the courtyard. "Teacher, is Senior Brother okay?" Watching Liu Ling''s departing figure, Xiao Yi Xian felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. Did she provoke Senior Brother? Next time, after her breakthrough, she should be more low-key. Xiao Yi Xian muttered to herself. "No worries. If this kid can''t handle this little setback, he won''t become much in the future." Gu He casually waved his hand and then turned his gaze to Xiao Yi Xian. "I promised that once you break through to the Dou Master realm, I would reward you." Gu He beckoned to Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Now that you''ve broken through, it''s time for me to fulfil my promise." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes brightened, and she excitedly approached Gu He. Seeing Xiao Yi Xian''s excited expression, Gu instinctively wanted to perform the technique again. Suddenly, the thought from the last time crossed his mind. Today was a good opportunity to test it. Thinking of this, Gu He didn''t directly perform the transmission but instead ran his hand over the storage ring. Soon, a golden card with seven lines appeared in his hand. "Apprentice, you have the Poison Body and need to ingest a large amount of poison. Although you can apply for a batch of medicinal materials within the sect every month, if you request poison every time, it might raise suspicions." After saying this, Gu handed the seven-lined purple gold card to Xiao Yi Xian. "This is a seven-lined fund card. It contains 2.2 million gold coins. While it might not be much, it should be enough for purchasing poison." Xiao Yi Xian stared blankly at the purple-gold card handed over by Gu He, momentarily unable to react. Although she didn''t know what a seven-lined purple gold card represented, the 2.2 million gold coins were enough to shock her. Even though she had never seen so much gold before, it didn''t mean she didn''t understand the significance of 2.2 million gold coins. Back when she was still working at the Ten Thousand Poison Hall in Qing Shan Town, she earned only a thousand gold coins in a year. According to her understanding, Ten Thousand Poison Hall''s annual income was less than twenty thousand gold coins. 2.2 million gold coins represented the income of over a hundred Ten Thousand Poison Halls in a year. "Girl, a mere 2.2 million gold coins is nothing to your teacher. Just take it with peace of mind. Consider it as your teacher giving you pocket money. In the future, if you need any poisons, you can go to the Gama Imperial City to buy them yourself." Gu He rubbed Xiao Yi Xian''s little head, smiling gently. Hearing Gu He''s gentle words, Xiao Yi Xian''s uneasy feelings gradually dissipated. She nodded gently and said, "Thank you, teacher." Gu He smiled without saying anything. "Ding detected that the host had given the second disciple Xiao Yi Xian 2.2 million gold coins. Congratulations to the host for triggering the Ten Thousandfold Returns, obtaining 220 million gold coins!" "All coins have been deposited into the system space. Please check carefully, host." At this moment, a system prompt sounded slowly in Gu He''s mind. Hearing the system prompt in his mind, Gu He''s eyes flickered with a hint of joy. This method worked! However, after thinking about the content of the prompt, Gu He''s eyes showed a trace of bewilderment. Ten Thousandfold Returns! 220 million gold coins! How much money was this? At this moment, Gu He was a bit dumbfounded. Right now, he only had one thought in his mind. Would suddenly introducing so much money cause inflation in the Jia ma Empire? Perhaps even if he sold the entire Jia ma Empire, he wouldn''t be able to get this much money. However, even if it caused inflation, what did it have to do with him? Gu He quickly reacted, and his mind swiftly entered the system space to take a look. The imagined towering pile of gold coins did not appear. Gu He''s gaze swept around, and he found a mysterious purple card floating in the system''s void. With a thought, Gu He directly took the purple gold card into his hand. Then, a stream of information surged into his mind. Infinite Gold Coin Card Maximum Balance: 2.2 million gold coins Remaining Gold Coins: 220 million Ability: Automatically replenish gold coins After a brief examination, Gu He completely understood the ability of this purple gold card. After understanding the ability of this purple gold card, a brilliant smile appeared on Gu He''s face. Chapter 54: Ten Thousandfold Returns, Eighth Rank Golden Feather Giant Eagle! Chapter 54: Ten Thousandfold Returns, Eighth Rank Golden Feather Giant Eagle! Chapter 54: Ten Thousandfold Returns, Eighth Rank Golden Feather Giant Eagle! Gu He''s thoughts stirred, and a seven-lined purple gold card identical to the one Xiao Yi Xian held appeared in his hand. At first glance, the two purple gold cards appeared to be identical seven-lined purple gold cards, without much difference. However, when Gu He''s consciousness lingered on this purple gold card, he could read information about this card. **Infinite Gold Coin Card** - **Maximum Balance: 2.2 million gold coins** - **Remaining Gold Coins: 220 Million** - **Ability: Automatically replenish gold coins** Looking at the seven-lined purple gold card in his hand, a satisfied smile appeared on Gu He''s face. At this moment, he already understood the purpose of this purple gold card. What excited him was that this purple gold card contained a whopping 220 Million gold coins. 220 Million! My goodness! Gu He couldn''t help but exclaim in his mind. *Bang!* Flower bloomed! With this purple gold card, Gu He could be said to have completely achieved financial freedom. In the future, whether it was in various commercial establishments or participating in auctions, Gu He could indulge freely. Whenever he saw something he needed, he could buy it without hesitation. This was the joy of being rich. Moreover, what unexpectedly reassured Gu He was that this purple gold card, on the surface, was just a seven-lined purple gold card. Upon inspection, it only contained 20 million gold coins. However, once Gu He spent these 20 million gold coins, the purple gold card would play its role, automatically replenishing the gold coins inside. This function would only disappear once Gu He spent the entire 220 Million gold coins. Gu He couldn''t help but sigh in his heart. The system was indeed considerate. This ability would save him a lot of trouble. After all, the gold coin balance inside the purple gold card was visible to anyone. If anyone saw a seven-lined purple gold card containing 220 Million gold coins, they would think it was impossible, and even suspect it to be fake. However, the setting of an infinite gold coin card completely solved this hidden danger. It was so convenient. "Teacher, what''s wrong with you?" Just as Gu He was immersed in the joy of sudden wealth, Xiao Yi Xian, who was beside him, couldn''t help but cautiously call out when she saw Gu He holding a purple gold card and laughing foolishly. Hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s voice, Gu He immediately snapped back to reality. Thinking about his previous performance, he couldn''t help feeling a bit embarrassed. *The eighth-rank Golden Feather Giant Eagle magical beast egg has been distributed to the system space. Please check it, host.* Hearing the system prompt in his mind, Gu He felt a surge of excitement. *Ten-thousandfold return! An eighth-rank Golden Feather Giant Eagle magical beast egg! A fifth-rank magical beast egg actually exchanged for an eighth-rank magical beast egg!* At this moment, Gu He felt extremely pleased. Seeing Xiao Yi Xian embracing the Ironwing Giant Eagle magical beast egg, immersed in excitement, Gu He didn''t hesitate to immerse his consciousness in the system space. Upon entering the system space, what came into Gu He''s view was a golden giant egg suspended in the void. On the golden giant egg, there were inscriptions of mysterious runes, flickering with dazzling golden light. This was the egg of an eighth-rank magical beast? Indeed, it was extraordinary! Golden and radiant, exuding a sense of grandeur from head to toe. *Ding, may I ask if the host wishes to form a master-servant contract with the Golden Feather Giant Eagle?* Just as Gu He''s consciousness approached the golden giant egg, a prompt from the system suddenly sounded in his mind. Gu He was slightly stunned, then thought of Xiao Yi Xian still outside. He decisively rejected the system''s request. However, in the instant Gu He touched the Golden Feather Giant Eagle magical beast egg, he also obtained information about this eighth-rank magical beast. The Golden Feather Giant Eagle, an eighth-rank magical beast, had an incomparably huge body. Once fully grown, its wings, when spread out, would block out the sky and cover the sun. Moreover, among eighth-rank magical beasts, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle''s flying speed ranked at the top. In addition, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle was a golden attribute magical beast. Its entire body was like a diamond, with unparalleled defense. It could also spew golden sword qi, capable of crushing anything in its path. After learning about the attributes of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle, Gu He couldn''t help but smile. This time, he had really picked up a treasure. This Golden Feather Giant Eagle could defend, attack, and run. It was truly an all-around pet! What''s more, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle was an eighth-rank magical beast. Once hatched, it would possess the strength of a sixth-rank pinnacle, equivalent to the human Nine-Star Dou Emperor realm! Chapter 55: Twenty Years of Cultivation! Chapter 55: Twenty Years of Cultivation! Chapter 55: Twenty Years of Cultivation! A pet with strength comparable to that of a Nine-Star Dou Emperor is undoubtedly a powerful aid for the current Gu He. Thinking about this, excitement grew in Gu He''s heart as he looked at the golden giant egg suspended in the void. Afterward, thinking of Xiao Yi Xian outside, Gu He quickly restrained his mind and slowly withdrew from the system space. Upon returning to consciousness, Gu He found Xiao Yi Xian still studying the magical beast egg in her hands, her excitement overflowing. It seems this girl is even more excited than I am. Sighing faintly in his heart, Gu He cleared his throat, then spoke to Xiao Yi Xian, "Disciple, put away the egg first. Your master has a third reward to give you." Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian reluctantly stored the magical beast egg in her spatial ring. "Come and squat in front of your master," Gu He said, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, waving at Xiao Yi Xian. "Okay." Xiao Yi Xian obediently nodded, came in front of Gu He, and squatted down slowly, her face looking cute and foolish. She asked, "Master, are you going to perform Dou Qi Infusion on me?" Gu He nodded slightly and said, "Exactly. Later, you need to concentrate and absorb the Dou Qi cultivation I''m going to pass on to you with all your strength." "If you can''t hold on, immediately let your master stop, or else it might damage your meridians." Gu He''s expression became serious. Xiao Yi Xian nodded, saying, "Disciple understands." Gu He took a step forward, approached behind Xiao Yi Xian, and then placed his palms on her back. With a thought, Gu He directly used the skill of passing on knowledge, infusing his Dou Qi cultivation into Xiao Yi Xian''s body. Xiao Yi Xian squatted on the ground, feeling somewhat expectant. I wonder, after this transmission of knowledge, how much can my cultivation level be improved? While lost in thought, Xiao Yi Xian''s face suddenly changed. In the next moment, an extremely pure and immense energy rushed into Xiao Yi Xian''s body. "Mmm..." Caught off guard, Xiao Yi Xian couldn''t help but let out a tender groan. "It hurts!" Once she realized it, she gritted her teeth, concentrated her mind, and followed Gu He''s instructions, fully absorbing the pure energy entering her body. Under the infusion of this pure energy, the cyclone of Dou Qi in Xiao Yi Xian''s body was quickly completely filled. Boom!Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com With a muffled sound, Xiao Yi Xian''s aura changed, smoothly breaking through the realm. This is also why Gu He forcefully requires his disciples to continuously temper their bodies. As long as their physical strength improves, they can endure a bit longer during the transmission of knowledge. And as long as they can endure a bit longer, it means a significant improvement in his own strength. Thinking of this, Gu He secretly decided to increase the intensity and enhance their physical strength. As for Xiao Yi Xian, she''s doing well; swallowing poison every day also achieves a good tempering effect. The main focus for Gu He now is the special training for Liu Ling. Seeing Xiao Yi Xian showing no signs of waking up for a while. Gu He''s mind stirred, and he immediately entered the system space. Taking a glance, he saw, besides the golden giant egg, a circular white light sphere in the system space. Looking at the white light sphere, a hint of excitement flashed in Gu He''s eyes. After all, this contains twenty years of cultivation. If it is completely absorbed, maybe one can break through to the level of a Nine-Star Dou Emperor. After a moment of excitement, Gu He calmed down slightly, and his mind slowly withdrew from the system space. Upon returning to his body, Gu He saw that Xiao Yixian had not yet awakened. He wasn''t in a hurry. He came to a pavilion, poured himself a cup of tea, and silently waited. Half an hour later, Xiao Yixian''s eyelids twitched, and she finally slowly opened her eyes. She glanced at Gu He in the pavilion, then sensed her own cultivation, her face showing an excited expression. "Teacher, I''ve broken through. I''ve already reached the level of a Four-Star Dou Master!" Xiao Yixian shouted excitedly towards Gu He. "I know." Looking at the excited Xiao Yixian, Gu He couldn''t help but smile. Later, Xiao Yixian ran to the opposite side of Gu He, poured a cup of tea for him, and gratefully said, "Thank you, teacher. I offer you a cup of tea instead of wine." "Good." Gu He looked indulgently at Xiao Yixian, and the two lightly clinked their cups. "If you really want to thank your teacher, just make chicken soup for me more often," Gu He said with a smile. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yixian immediately vowed, "Teacher, you''ve worked hard just now. From now on, I will make chicken soup for you every day." Gu He nodded in satisfaction. What he liked most was to drink a bowl of chicken soup made by Xiao Yixian. Drinking chicken soup is truly a pleasant thing! Chapter 56: The Pinnacle of an Eight-Star Dou Emperor Chapter 56: The Pinnacle of an Eight-Star Dou Emperor **Chapter 56: The Pinnacle of an Eight-Star Dou Emperor** "Teacher, how can this magic beast egg be hatched?" Xiao Yixian''s mind moved, and she hugged the magic beast egg of the Ironwing Giant Eagle, reluctant to part with it. Upon hearing this, Gu He looked at the blue magic beast egg in her hand and said, "The Ironwing Giant Eagle is also considered a gold attribute magic beast. When you have time, go to the Jia Ma capital city, buy some gold attribute magic cores, and place them next to it. When it absorbs the power from the gold attribute magic cores, it should hatch." "Gold attribute magic cores..." Xiao Yixian nodded at his words, remembering the method Gu He mentioned. "Alright, go back and stabilize your own cultivation first." Thinking about the treasures in his system space, Gu He couldn''t wait to merge them, so he urged Xiao Yixian to leave. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yixian directly stored the magic beast egg in her spatial ring and said lightly, "Well then, teacher, I''ll take my leave." Gu He nodded slightly, "Mm, go ahead." After Xiao Yixian left, Gu He couldn''t wait to enter the alchemy room. With a thought, the next moment, Gu He directly set up a barrier around the alchemy room. After completing this step, Gu He slowly sat in the middle of the alchemy room. After adjusting his state a bit, Gu He then immersed his mind into the system space. Then, Gu He silently said in his mind, "System, start merging twenty years of dou qi cultivation!" As Gu He''s voice fell, the colorless light sphere that was originally suspended in the void in the system space immediately turned into a dazzling light, directly shooting into Gu He''s body. **Boom!** As this dazzling light entered Gu He''s body, the next moment, Gu He felt a muffled sound inside his body, followed by an extremely powerful energy surging out. This energy was extremely domineering, surging in his body like a tornado, sweeping towards Gu He''s limbs and bones. Intense pain emanated from inside his body, and Gu He''s complexion instantly turned deathly pale. Then, following the method from last time, as this energy entered his body, his inherent dou qi surged out in an instant. Compared to this energy, the power of the inherent dou qi was more overbearing. In the moment of contact between the two, the inherent dou qi directly dispersed this energy. Afterward, Gu He controlled the dispersed energy, guiding them into his own dantian. As more and more energy entered the dantian, the aura emanating from Gu He''s body became more and more profound. After a moment, the thickness of the dou qi in the dantian was several times stronger than before he started cultivating. In just a short moment, it was equivalent to almost half a year of painstaking cultivation for Gu He. Eight-Star Dou Emperor! At this moment, Gu He had already stepped into the pinnacle realm of an Eight-Star Dou Emperor! And with this breakthrough, the energy within Gu He''s body was finally completely absorbed. The next moment, Gu He slowly opened his eyes. In his black pupils, there were sudden surges of purple flames. At the same time, a powerful pressure burst forth and uncontrollably rushed towards the outer barrier. **Boom! Crack!** Under the impact of this pressure, the outer barrier suddenly appeared somewhat fragile, with cracks emerging. Seeing this scene, Gu He''s expression changed, quickly converging his own aura. After a few breaths, Gu He''s gaze gradually returned to calm. "So, this is the strength of an Eight-Star Dou Emperor?" Gu He slowly spread out his hands, sensing the enormous power within him, a faint smile playing on his lips. The sensation of this rapidly enhanced strength made him feel extremely comfortable. "However, such a rapid breakthrough inevitably leads to some instability in the dou qi within the body..." Feeling the situation of the dou qi inside his body, Gu He frowned slightly. Then, with a thought, he activated the Divine Fire Tempering Technique. Next, the inherent divine fire slowly surged out, gradually enveloping his body. As the inherent divine fire wrapped around his entire body, even infiltrating between his limbs and bones, Gu He suddenly felt a piercing pain. At this moment, it was as if he were being directly placed on a fiery rack and burned. Forcing himself to endure the intense pain, Gu He gritted his teeth, allowing the inherent divine fire to roam freely within his body. After three hours, the inherent divine fire on Gu He''s body slowly dissipated . Then, Gu He slowly opened his eyes, a hint of purple flames flickering in his pupils. After assessing the condition inside his body, a satisfied expression appeared on Gu He''s face. This Divine Fire Tempering Technique is truly extraordinary! Through the recent Divine Fire Tempering, the previously caused instability in the internal dou qi due to the rapid increase in cultivation had been completely resolved. Feeling the profound and pure power within his body, Gu He''s face finally showed a contented expression. Chapter 57: The Bitterness in Nalan Yanran’s Heart Chapter 57: The Bitterness in Nalan Yanrans Heart Chapter 57: The Bitterness in Nalan Yanran''s Heart In the alchemy room, after consolidating his cultivation, Gu He''s consciousness returned once again to the system space. Subsequently, Gu He separated a strand of his consciousness, gradually approaching the golden egg suspended in the void. "Ding, may I ask if the host wishes to form a master-servant contract with the Golden Feather Giant Eagle." Just as Gu He''s consciousness approached, the system prompt slowly echoed in his mind. Without any hesitation, Gu He directly declared, "Form a master-servant contract!" As Gu He spoke, a drop of crimson blood suddenly separated from his body, drifting towards the golden egg in the void. Gu He was slightly stunned, feeling a bit of fatigue as the crimson blood left his body. This was his essence blood. The next moment, this drop of essence blood had already landed on the surface of the golden egg. Roar! At this moment, the golden egg burst forth with a dazzling golden light. Vaguely, Gu He seemed to hear a sharp eagle cry. The blood that dripped onto the golden egg suddenly emitted a bright red glow, then condensed into a blood-colored imprint, slowly seeping into the interior of the golden egg. After a moment, Gu He''s expression changed slightly. He felt that, at this moment, a subtle connection had been established between himself and the golden egg. He could sense that within the golden egg, a life was being nurtured. The life inside the giant egg seemed to sense his presence, transmitting threads of affectionate consciousness. "Is it a success?" Feeling all of this, Gu He''s expression subtly changed, and a smile appeared on his face.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com He couldn''t help but extend a strand of consciousness, approaching the giant egg, making contact with the faint consciousness inside, expressing his friendliness. At this moment, Gu He once again vaguely sensed the information emanating from the giant egg. "Do you need energy to hatch?" Gu He quickly understood the meaning of the giant egg, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. The Golden Feather Giant Eagle was undoubtedly a pure gold attribute magical beast. In the courtyard, two figures in white robes were engaged in a graceful display of palm techniques, exchanging moves back and forth. **Hoo!** After a moment, following their final clash, Nalan Yanran exhaled a breath, waving her hand, and said, "Xian''er, let''s stop. Let''s take a break." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian, who was facing Nalan Yanran, smiled slightly and whispered, "Sure." Watching Xiao Yi Xian, who showed no signs of fatigue, Nalan Yanran felt a bit defeated. During this time, the two of them had often practiced together. Because of Xiao Yi Xian''s cultivation, it had put tremendous pressure on her. In this period, Nalan Yanran had worked even harder in her cultivation. Three days ago, she finally made a breakthrough, reaching the level of a Five-Star Dou Practitioner. She thought that after her breakthrough, with her exquisite combat skills, she should be able to gain a slight advantage against Xiao Yi Xian. However, to Nalan Yanran''s frustration, in their recent sparring, she felt an increasingly strong pressure from Xiao Yi Xian. Even Xiao Yi Xian''s strength seemed mysterious and unpredictable to her. "Where did Elder Gu He find such a monstrous talent..." Nalan Yanran muttered to herself. Little did she know, while she felt stifled, Xiao Yi Xian felt even more uncomfortable. Now, the gap between Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran was widening. When sparring with Nalan Yanran, she was afraid of causing harm. For this reason, she had to carefully suppress her strength, fearing that using even a bit too much force might directly injure Nalan Yanran. After this period of sparring, Xiao Yi Xian''s gains were indeed substantial. Not to mention other things, her mastery of the Dou Qi within her body was almost unparalleled. Now, during battles, she could ensure not to exert more force than necessary. And all of this was forced out by Nalan Yanran. "Sister Xian''er, I''m going to the imperial capital later. Do you have time? Come with me." The two women sat in a pavilion, resting, drinking tea, and eating pastries. Suddenly, Nalan Yanran asked. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian thought about the poison she was about to run out of and the unhatched egg of the Ironwing Giant Eagle. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded slowly and said, "Senior Sister, I also have some things to attend to. I''ll go with you." "Great, let''s leave now." With that, a smile appeared on Nalan Yanran''s lips as she stood up and pulled Xiao Yi Xian towards the exit of Yunlan Sect''s mountain gate. (End of this chapter) Chapter 58: Junior Sister, Your Teacher is Really Good to You Chapter 58: Junior Sister, Your Teacher is Really Good to You Chapter 58: Junior Sister, Your Teacher is Really Good to You "Sister, why are you dressed like this when entering the city?" At the entrance of Jia Ma Capital City, Xiao Yi Xian looked at Nalan Yanran, who was wearing a white cloak, with a puzzled expression. Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran showed a touch of helplessness on her pretty face. "Isn''t it to avoid being recognized by acquaintances and then reported to my father?" Speaking of this, a resentful look appeared on Nalan Yanran''s face. "Since I went to the Xiao family to break off the engagement without the family''s consent, my father and grandfather have been furious. They''ve sent people to Yunlan Sect several times, asking me to return." "I won''t go back! If I go back, they will definitely scold me again." After hearing Nalan Yanran''s explanation, Xiao Yi Xian suddenly understood, "I see." Regarding the matter of Nalan Yanran canceling her engagement, during their time together, Xiao Yi Xian had learned some details from Nalan Yanran. Although she felt that Senior Sister Nalan''s abrupt cancellation of the engagement was a bit improper, Nalan Yanran had explained that she had never met her fiance? since childhood, didn''t like him, and he was also a waste unable to cultivate. Thinking about Senior Sister Nalan''s future happiness, as a good sister, Xiao Yi Xian naturally supported her decision. "I really can''t understand why my father and grandfather insist on marrying me to that Xiao Yan. Because of this, I dare not even go home now." Nalan Yanran''s face showed a frustrated expression. Seeing Nalan Yanran in a bad mood, Xiao Yi Xian quickly comforted her, "Senior, maybe they are just angry for a moment. After some time, when they cool down, they will naturally forgive you." Nalan Yanran sighed, "I hope so." "Let''s go; it''s our turn." The two were queuing at the city gate to enter the city. When it was Nalan Yanran''s turn, she grabbed Xiao Yi Xian and headed towards the Jia Ma Capital City. ... "Sister, where are we going now?" On the street, Xiao Yi Xian followed behind Nalan Yanran, somewhat puzzled. Nalan Yanran replied, "Miteer Auction House. That''s where the things I want to buy are." "Oh!" Xiao Yi Xian responded playfully and followed closely behind. It was her first time entering the Jia Ma Capital City, and she seemed a bit nervous, fearing she might get lost and not find her way. After a while, the two arrived in front of a majestic building with the inscription "Miteer Auction House." "Sister, let''s go in." Moreover, just one bottle of Jade Bone Pills cost nearly a hundred and fifty thousand gold coins! In terms of effects and price, Jade Bone Pills surpassed Jade Skin Elixir by far. Most importantly, the Jade Bone Pills in Xiao Yi Xian''s hands were personally refined by the Alchemy King Gu He. "Junior Sister, your teacher is really good to you." Nalan Yanran''s tone suddenly became a bit sour. Xiao Yi Xian, upon hearing this, didn''t think too much and nodded in agreement, "Teacher is the best person to me in this world." The steward on the side, upon hearing their conversation and seeing the small bottles in Xiao Yi Xian''s hands, was extremely shocked. Bathing with Jade Bone Pillsthis person had an extraordinary background! However, he tactfully did not inquire further from Xiao Yi Xian and instead turned his gaze to Nalan Yanran, saying, "Miss, please wait a moment. I''ll go get the Jade Skin Elixir for you." After speaking, the steward was about to turn and leave. "May I ask if you have gold attribute magic cores here?" Xiao Yi Xian suddenly spoke up, remembering something. Upon hearing this, the steward stopped in his tracks, wearing a smile on his face. "Gold attribute magic cores, of course, we have them. I wonder what grade of gold attribute magic cores you need?" A strange thought crossed the steward''s mind. Has gold attribute magic cores become so popular recently? He still remembered the scene a week ago when a customer swept all the fourth-grade magic cores from the auction house. He also heard that not only in their M iteer Auction House but also in other small and large shops, the fourth-grade and higher gold attribute magic cores were similarly cleaned out. That customer must be really wealthy! The steward couldn''t help but marvel. "Are gold attribute magic cores expensive?" Xiao Yi Xian hesitated and asked. With two hundred and twenty thousand gold coins in her teacher''s card, Xiao Yi Xian didn''t know what grade of gold attribute magic cores she could afford. Upon hearing this, the steward was slightly surprised. It seems this customer isn''t as wealthy as the one last time. Afterward, the steward began to explain the prices of gold attribute magic cores to Xiao Yi Xian. (End of this chapter) Chapter 59: Junior Sister, I Really Envy You Chapter 59: Junior Sister, I Really Envy You Chapter 59: Junior Sister, I Really Envy You "First-grade gold attribute magic core, priced at three thousand gold coins each." "Second-grade gold attribute magic core, priced at eight thousand gold coins each." "Third-grade gold attribute magic core, priced at fifteen thousand gold coins each." "Fourth-grade gold attribute magic core, priced at thirty thousand gold coins each." "Fifth-grade gold attribute magic core, priced at one hundred thousand gold coins each." "Sixth-grade gold attribute magic core, priced at three hundred thousand gold coins each." Soon, the steward introduced the prices of gold attribute magic cores of various grades to Xiao Yi Xian. Afterward, he looked at Xiao Yi Xian and asked, "May I ask what grade of magic core you need?" Xiao Yi Xian hesitated for a moment and slowly said, "Give me three fifth-grade magic cores for now." The steward was taken aback and carefully assessed Xiao Yi Xian. This person also has quite a bit of money, huh? Asking for fifth-grade magic cores right away, no wonder she can afford to use Jade Skin Elixir for bathing. Fortunately, he had collected several gold attribute magic cores over the past week, or else he wouldn''t be able to produce them today. However, he quickly realized and respectfully said, "Please wait a moment, guest. I''ll be right back." After saying that, the steward turned and left. After the steward left, Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yi Xian in astonishment and asked, "Junior Sister, why are you buying so many fifth-grade magic cores? Even if you are practicing alchemy, you don''t need such high-level magic cores, right?" In Nalan Yanran''s view, Xiao Yi Xian''s purchase of gold attribute magic cores was probably for alchemy. However, fifth-grade magic cores are generally used as materials for fifth-grade elixirs. She couldn''t understand why Xiao Yi Xian would buy such expensive fifth-grade gold attribute magic cores. Hesitating for a moment, Xiao Yi Xian took out the magical beast egg of the Ironwing Giant Eagle from her ring. "Sister, Teacher gave me a fifth-grade magical beast egg. I asked Teacher, and he said that this magical beast egg belongs to a gold attribute magical beast. Therefore, I need to buy gold attribute magic cores for it to absorb in order to hatch it." Holding the blue magical beast egg in her hand, Xiao Yi Xian explained slowly. Nalan Yanran: "..." Nalan Yanran looked at the fifth-grade magical beast egg in Xiao Yi Xian''s hand, silently speechless. The top-level members of the Miteer family had a rule that anyone who entered the Miteer Auction House with a Purple Gold Card was considered a distinguished guest and should be treated with special respect, without causing any offense. He remembered a high-level member saying that if someone entered with a Seven-Line Purple Gold Card, their service should be as respectful as if they were treating the head of the family. Because anyone who held a Seven-Line Purple Gold Card, even the Miteer family itself, couldn''t afford to offend them. At this moment, the steward felt a bit anxious, fearing that his previous behavior might have been inappropriate and upset the distinguished guest in front of him. If he offended a distinguished guest who possessed a Seven-Line Purple Gold Card, he would probably be on the brink of death himself. "What? A Seven-Line Purple Gold Card?" On the side, Nalan Yanran''s pupils contracted slightly when she heard the steward''s exclamation. A Seven-Line Purple Gold Card was something that only a Dou Wang-level expert or a fifth-rank alchemist would qualify to possess. Could it be that this was also a gift from Elder Guhe to Junior Sister? Feeling Nalan Yanran''s gaze, Xiao Yi Xian once again revealed a sweet smile. "This was also given to me by my teacher." Then, she looked at the respectful steward and said, "No need, we will be leaving soon." Suddenly, Xiao Yi Xian remembered something and asked, "Do you have any poisonous herbs here?" "Poisonous herbs?" The steward was momentarily taken aback. Thinking that he didn''t understand, Xiao Yi Xian explained, "I mean some highly poisonous medicinal herbs." The steward realized and hurriedly replied, "Yes, we have them." Xiao Yi Xian politely said, "Then, please help me get some second and third-grade poisonous herbs." The steward didn''t have time to dwell on his doubts and quickly answered, "Alright, please wait a moment, I will get them for you immediately." This time, the steward went quickly and returned even faster. "Guest, here are the gold attribute magic cores you need, along with these poisonous herbs. The total is 1.3 million gold coins. However, with your Seven-Line Purple Gold Card, you can enjoy a 20% discount. The final price is 1.04 million gold coins. There were originally 2.2 million gold coins on your card, so after deducting, you still have 1.16 million gold coins." The steward handed the items Xiao Yi Xian purchased to her and carefully calculated the amount. Xiao Yi Xian took the two bags of items and smiled, saying, "Thank you." Upon hearing the steward''s words, Nalan Yanran''s eyes widened in astonishment. "2.2 million gold coins, my goodness!" She looked at the calm-faced Xiao Yi Xian and muttered to herself, "Junior Sister, I really envy you!" (End of this chapter) Chapter 60: Trailing, Poisoning Chapter 60: Trailing, Poisoning Chapter 60: Trailing, Poisoning "Senior Sister, do you want to buy anything else?" After checking the purchased items, Xiao Yi Xian stored them in her Space Ring. She then turned to Nalan Yanran, who had a strange expression. Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head, saying, "No need, let''s go back." Xiao Yi Xian nodded, "Okay." Subsequently, under the courteous farewell of the steward, the two slowly left the Miteer Auction House. However, after Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yi Xian left the Miteer Auction House, a middle-aged man also slowly followed. Watching the departing figures of Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yi Xian, a coldness appeared in the man''s eyes. "A seven-line purple gold card, a fifth-grade magical beast egg..." "It seems that this time, I''ve encountered a big fat sheep..." ... After Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yi Xian left the Miteer Auction House, they didn''t continue to linger in the Holy City of Gama. Instead, they headed towards the city gate. After a short wait in line, the two slowly walked out of the city gate, returning in the direction of the Yunlan Sect. "Senior Sister, what kind of magical beast is the fifth-grade magical beast egg that Elder Gu He gave you?" Walking side by side, Nalan Yanran asked Xiao Yi Xian. Xiao Yi Xian answered, "It''s an Ironwing Giant Eagle." Nalan Yanran showed surprise, "It''s actually a flying magical beast!" Nalan Yanran envied a bit, saying, "Junior Sister, when the Ironwing Giant Eagle hatches, you must take me out for a ride." At these words, Xiao Yi Xian''s face revealed a hint of yearning. She nodded to Nalan Yanran, saying, "Of course, if there''s a chance, I''ll take Senior Sister to my hometown, Qingshan Town. I know of a beautiful valley there, and Senior Sister will surely like it." "Qingshan Town..." Nalan Yanran murmured. She grew up in the Holy City of Gama and had almost never left the city except for the time she went to Wutan City for the broken engagement. Naturally, she had never heard of Qingshan Town. "Well, in Qingshan Town, I also have a Blue Eagle friend. I''ll bring it back to the Yunlan Sect at that time." Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes flashed with a hint of nostalgia. After leaving her hometown for so long, she also felt a bit homesick. She had decided that when she became stronger, she would visit Qingshan Town alone. "Alright, I''ll accompany you when the time comes." Nalan Yanran''s eyes also showed curiosity. She rarely went out and was longing for the outside world. "After all, a seven-line purple gold card and a fifth-grade magical beast egg are not things ordinary people can bring out." "However, when you come out, haven''t your elders taught you the principle of keeping wealth a secret?" The middle-aged man showed a fierce look, "Obediently reveal the treasures on your body, maybe I''ll spare your lives." The other masked individuals also grinned, looking at Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yi Xian with malicious intent. Among them, the middle-aged man and another masked person possessed the strength of a One-Star Dou Master, while the others were all Seven-Star or Eight-Star Dou Practitioners. With such strength, dealing with two inexperienced young girls was like taking candy from a baby. Feeling the oppression from the group, Nalan Yanran''s face changed. She regretted not bringing Steward Ge Ye along this time. It seemed that this time, their luck might not be so good. Compared to Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yi Xian appeared much calmer on the side. "Will you let us leave safely if I give you the treasures on my body?" Looking at the man in the middle, Xiao Yi Xian slowly spoke. Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man chuckled, "Of course, we''re only after wealth." However, upon hearing his words, the other masked individuals revealed a trace of mockery in their eyes. They knew this was a trick the leader always used, aiming to lower the target''s guard. These two young girls in front of them obviously had extraordinary backgrounds. If they let them leave alive, it would undoubtedly bring endless trouble. Therefore, they would absolutely not let these two young girls go. Hearing the words of these masked individuals, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes flickered. Dealing with mercenaries regularly, she naturally wasn''t as naive as she appeared. However, what these masked individuals didn''t notice was that, at some point, a jade bottle suddenly appeared in Xiao Yi Xian''s hand. It quietly opened, releasing a colorless gas that slowly dispersed. Nalan Yanran on the side quickly said, "Junior Sister, don''t believe them." Although she was inexperienced, Nalan Yanran could tell that these people were not good characters. If they handed over the treasures, these people would likely not let them leave unharmed. A hint of innocence appeared on Xiao Yi Xian''s face as she said, "Senior Sister, they said they seek wealth. My teacher once said that wealth is an external possession. Since they want it, we''ll give it to them." Saying that, Xiao Yi Xian slowly took off the space ring from her hand. (End of this chapter) Chapter 61: Nalan Yanran’s Breakthrough! Chapter 61: Nalan Yanrans Breakthrough! Chapter 61: Nalan Yanran''s Breakthrough! "You must not deceive people, okay?" Xiao Yixian took off the Nazhuan in her hand and extended it towards the middle-aged man, her face carrying a naive innocence. "Of course, we brothers always keep our word." The middle-aged man readily made a promise, then stepped forward to take the Nazhuan from Xiao Yixian''s hand. Looking at the innocence on Xiao Yixian''s face, the middle-aged man sighed inwardly, planning to give this little girl a quick lesson later. What he didn''t notice, however, was a hint of coldness that flashed in the depths of Xiao Yixian''s eyes. Just as the middle-aged man reached out, Xiao Yixian suddenly made a move. The profound Dou Qi of a four-star Dou Master quickly gathered in the palm of her hand. Surging Waves Palm! Before the middle-aged man could react, a fierce palm imprint landed on his chest. Ah! With a miserable scream, the middle-aged man''s body directly flew out for more than ten meters and only stopped after hitting a tree trunk. After landing, the middle-aged man struggled to say, "Kill her for me," before fainting. This scene happened in the blink of an eye, and everyone present was caught off guard by Xiao Yixian''s sudden action. It wasn''t until the middle-aged man fainted that several masked men reacted. "Kill her!" Under the command of another masked fighter, the rest of them rushed towards Xiao Yixian. After knocking a black-clothed person away with a palm, Xiao Yixian quickly took out a pill from her pocket and stuffed it into Nalan Yanran''s mouth. "Sister, be careful. I''ll deal with this Dou Master and come help you." Reminding Nalan Yanran, who hadn''t fully reacted yet, Xiao Yixian directly confronted the masked fighter in the Dou Master realm. At this moment, Nalan Yanran finally reacted, putting aside her astonishment. She drew the long sword from her hand and faced the masked fighters with the strength of several fighters. Soon, they were all embroiled in a chaotic battle. Xiao Yixian faced the Dou Master and two eight-star fighters. The remaining two seven-star fighters confronted Nalan Yanran. Although the enemy outnumbered them, Xiao Yixian, with the strength of a four-star Dou Master, handled it with ease. In Xiao Yixian''s current state, if they were caught by these five, she would be defenseless. Now, all she could do was delay and wait for the full onset of the Ten Fragrance Soft Tendon Powder in their bodies. Fortunately, just as the five were about to catch up with Nalan Yanran, the poison in their bodies finally fully erupted. Boom! With several muffled sounds, the black-clothed individuals beneath their feet softened, collapsing to the ground, completely powerless. The masked Dou Master, relying on his slightly stronger strength, struggled to chase a few more steps but finally couldn''t hold on and fell to the ground. "Sister, the toxicity in their bodies has finally taken effect." Hearing the sounds from behind, Xiao Yixian turned to look, said to Nalan Yanran who was supporting her, then felt a sudden relief and finally couldn''t hold on any longer, falling into unconsciousness. "Sister!" Nalan Yanran''s face changed, quickly embracing Xiao Yixian. Looking at the paleness on Xiao Yixian''s face, Nalan Yanran felt a twinge of guilt. If she hadn''t burdened her sister just now, Xiao Yixian wouldn''t be so exhausted. Then, Nalan Yanran shifted her gaze to the five black-clothed individuals lying on the ground behind. A cold gleam appeared in her beautiful eyes. "All of you, deserve to die!" Gently placing Xiao Yixian under a tree, Nalan Yanran lifted her sword, exuding a fierce killing intent as she walked towards the remaining individuals. "Ahhhhh!" Following several screams, Nalan Yanran, with a blood-stained sword in hand, returned to Xiao Yixian''s side. "Sister, we''re finally safe." Nalan Yanran sat next to Xiao Yixian, her expression turning gentle again. If it weren''t for her sister risking her life to save her, the consequences would have been... Thinking of this, Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yixian with gratitude in her eyes. Bang! At this moment, a muffled sound came from within Nalan Yanran, and her aura underwent a subtle change. Feeling the breakthrough in her cultivation, Nalan Yanran murmured to herself, "Indeed, as the teacher said, after experiencing a life-and-death battle, one''s strength will improve." (End of this chapter) check out my Patreon for 20 advanced chapters. /Lazy_pen_master also join the discord server to chat: https://discord.gg/dn2vsZFxFN Chapter 62: Refining the Void Jade Talisman Chapter 62: Refining the Void Jade Talisman Chapter 62: Refining the Void Jade Talisman Yunlan Sect, the residence where Elder Gu He lived. "Elder Gu He, is Junior Sister alright?" Inside the room, Nalan Yanran looked at the still-sleeping Xiao Yi Xian with a worried expression on her delicate face. Elder Gu He examined Xiao Yi Xian''s condition with a calm expression, not revealing his thoughts. He calmly said, "She''s fine, just an excessive consumption of Dou Qi. She will wake up after resting for a while." Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran immediately felt relieved, saying, "As long as she''s fine..." After checking Xiao Yi Xian''s body, Elder Gu He gently covered her with the bedding. Turning around, his expression became somewhat gloomy. Elder Gu He looked at Nalan Yanran, his expression serious. "Speak, what exactly happened?" Seeing Elder Gu He''s stern expression, Nalan Yanran inexplicably felt a bit flustered. This was the first time she had seen Elder Gu He angry. In the past, Elder Gu He had always presented himself with a refined and amiable attitude. However, now that Elder Gu He revealed such an expression, it was enough to indicate that he was genuinely angry. After hesitating for a moment, Nalan Yanran slowly spoke, recounting the events that had happened today. As Elder Gu He heard about the situation they encountered today, his face became increasingly unsightly. This was almost a close call! Seeing Elder Gu He''s displeased expression, Nalan Yanran looked somewhat dejected. "I''m sorry, Elder Gu He. Today, it''s my fault that I dragged down Junior Sister Xian''er. Otherwise, it wouldn''t have happened like this..." Elder Gu He remained silent for a moment. His expression calmed down again, and he said indifferently, "Since the matter has already passed, let''s not dwell on it. It''s fortunate that you both returned safely." Feeling Elder Gu He''s mood easing, Nalan Yanran couldn''t help but sigh with relief. "Take good care of Junior Sister Xian''er." After leaving these words, Elder Gu He directly left the room. After Elder Gu He left, Nalan Yanran came to the bedside and sat down slowly, her gaze falling on Xiao Yi Xian''s face. "Junior Sister, this time, I owe you my life." Thinking of the dangerous scene that happened in the dense forest today, Nalan Yanran still felt a lingering fear. If it weren''t for Xiao Yi Xian suddenly erupting with such formidable strength, secretly using poison, and even deploying a flight technique at a critical moment, today they might not have escaped the danger.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com However, while feeling a sense of lingering fear, the power and means that Xiao Yi Xian displayed today also left Nalan Yanran extremely shocked. Dou Master level cultivation! Flight technique! And that colorless and odorless Fragrant Softening Bone Powder. And, Gu He had long planned that when they had a certain level of strength, he would let them go out for experience. During the experience, they would inevitably face life-threatening crises. If a disciple were to fall, it was something Gu He didn''t want to see. Therefore, he had to come up with a solution to eliminate this hidden danger. In his room, Gu He frowned, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration crossed his mind. Gu He remembered a magical technique from the Newbie Gift Pack, Void Projection. This technique contained the laws of the void. By activating it, Gu He could drop a drop of his own blood into a jade talisman, condensing it into a void jade talisman. The person holding the void jade talisman, no matter where they were, could shatter the talisman, allowing Gu He to project himself there. The strength of the projection was the same as Gu He''s actual strength. The only drawback was that the void projection could only be maintained for half an hour. However, this is enough. Half an hour is sufficient to resolve many things. In fact, when Gu He inherited this magical technique, he had such thoughts. However, as time passed, Gu He momentarily forgot about it. This time, Xiao Yi Xian''s danger finally reminded him of this supreme magical technique that had been sealed in his mind. If Xiao Yi Xian had a Void Jade Talisman on her body today, things wouldn''t have been so difficult, and she might not have been in such a perilous situation. "I might as well condense the Void Jade Talisman today." After pondering for a moment, Gu He took out several high-quality rouge jade bottles from his ring. Then, a purple flame emerged from his palm, slowly melting these small jade bottles into a light blue liquid. As the liquid rolled, it then dispersed into three parts, finally solidifying into three delicate green jade talismans. Gu He manipulated his innate divine fire to remove impurities from the jade talismans, making them look crystal clear, like verdant leaves. Next, Gu He extracted three drops of his crimson essence blood, and each drop fused into one of the jade talismans. Accompanied by a faint spatial force, the three drops of essence blood emitted a crimson light, gradually disappearing into the jade talismans. "It''s done!" With a wave of his hand, the three green jade talismans slowly fell into his palm, and a smile appeared at the corner of Gu He''s mouth. (End of this chapter) Chapter 63: Nalan Yanran’s Shame Chapter 63: Nalan Yanrans Shame Chapter 63: Nalan Yanran''s Shame The next day. "Sister, you''re awake!" Nalan Yanran looked at the awakened Xiao Yixian, and a pleasant surprise appeared on her pretty face. "Sister... Where am I?" Xiao Yixian opened her eyes, looking at the Nalan Yanran in front of her with a hint of confusion. Nalan Yanran helped Xiao Yixian sit up and explained, "This is your own room. Yesterday, I saw you faint, so I brought you to Elder Gu He''s place." Looking at the familiar surroundings in the room, Xiao Yixian gradually regained her senses. Thinking of the life-and-death battle yesterday, Xiao Yixian looked at Nalan Yanran with concern, "Sister, are you okay?" Seeing the concern in Xiao Yixian''s eyes, Nalan Yanran felt warm inside, shook her head, and said, "I''m fine. Just some minor external injuries. I applied some healing medicine given by Elder Gu He, and I''ve already recovered." At her words, Xiao Yixian was taken aback, "Did the teacher come?" Nalan Yanran nodded, "Yes, after Elder Gu He examined your injuries, he left. He instructed me to take good care of you." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yixian''s expression changed slightly, "Does the teacher know about yesterday''s incident?" Nalan Yanran also recalled the perilous scene from yesterday and said with a somewhat desolate expression, "Elder Gu He is angry. I naturally dare not conceal anything." At this, Xiao Yixian''s expression became downcast, "The teacher must be very disappointed in me..." "Of course, he is disappointed!" At this moment, Elder Gu He''s voice sounded from the doorway. Xiao Yixian and Nalan Yanran were startled, but they saw that Elder Gu He''s figure had somehow entered the room unnoticed and was slowly approaching the two. Nalan Yanran quickly stood up, looking a bit nervous, and said, "Elder Gu He."Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com Elder Gu He maintained a stern face, gave a faint acknowledgment, "Hmm." Then, he turned his gaze towards Xiao Yixian lying on the bed. Facing Elder Gu He''s gaze, Xiao Yixian, unusually, seemed a bit evasive and whispered, "Teacher." On the side, Nalan Yanran listened to their conversation, a hint of shame passing across her pretty face. She remembered that at the Mitel Auction House, if she hadn''t kept asking questions, Xiao Yixian wouldn''t have exposed her treasures. In the end, the crisis they encountered yesterday was all caused by her own hands. Now hearing Gu He''s reprimand to Xiao Yixian, Nalan Yanran felt as if Gu He was scolding her as well. Thinking about this, Nalan Yanran felt both embarrassed and guilty, almost unable to face them. Xiao Yixian, on the other hand, didn''t think too much. After listening to Gu He''s teachings, she nodded earnestly, "Teacher, disciple remembers. We won''t reveal our treasures to outsiders in the future." Gu He nodded, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. "Although you made a mistake this time, looking at the whole situation, there are still many commendable aspects." "At least, when facing suddenly appearing enemies, you didn''t panic. You knew how to secretly poison, and you utilized your hidden strength for a sneak attack..." Gu He''s tone suddenly shifted, and he started praising Xiao Yixian again. On the side, Nalan Yanran, upon hearing Gu He''s words, couldn''t help but recall her own panic and confusion when facing the enemy. A blush involuntarily appeared on her pretty face. Nalan Yanran thought with embarrassment, "Elder Gu He is clearly praising junior sister. Why does it feel like he''s scolding me?" Upon hearing Gu He''s acknowledgment in his words, Xiao Yixian''s small face instantly blossomed into a smile. Teacher actually praised me! It seems that I still have some merits in Teacher''s eyes. However, before she could enjoy the happiness for too long, Gu He''s expression changed again, becoming serious. "Although you have some merits, your performance is not good enough." "Even to the point of... being somewhat ridiculous!" At his words, the smile that had just appeared on Xiao Yixian''s face froze. Xiao Yixian felt a bit frustrated. Teacher, can''t you say everything at once? (End of this chapter) Chapter 64: Nalan Yanran’s Admiration Chapter 64: Nalan Yanrans Admiration Chapter 64: Nalan Yanran''s Admiration In the room, Gu He''s expression became serious. "Tell me, since you thought of using poison, why did you choose to use a slow-acting poison like the Ten Fragrance Softening Powder? No, it should be a slow-acting aphrodisiac!" "Think about it, if you had used a highly toxic substance at that time, would the subsequent events have occurred?" "Toward enemies, one must never be merciful!" "Kindness to enemies is cruelty to oneself!" "Silly girl, do you understand?" After Gu He finished speaking, his gaze focused on Xiao Yixian lying on the bed. On the side, Nalan Yanran, upon hearing his words, flashed a pensive expression on her pretty face. Elder Gu He speaks so convincingly. But why does this Elder Gu He, with such words, feel a bit terrifying? In Nalan Yanran''s impression, Gu He had always been upright, refined, and amiable. However, today, in Nalan Yanran''s mind, Gu He gained another image, that is... Slap! After listening to Gu He''s words, Xiao Yixian was stunned for a moment. Then she weakly said, "But, Teacher, I only had an aphrodisiac on me..." Gu He: "..."Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com "Did you learn how to refine aphrodisiacs from the Seven-Colored Poison Manual?" Gu He asked somewhat speechlessly. Xiao Yixian weakly nodded. Then she shook her head again. Gu He''s mouth twitched slightly. "What exactly are you trying to say?" Xiao Yixian explained in a low voice, "Teacher, I thought the other poisons in the Seven-Colored Poison Manual were too vicious, so I didn''t bother to refine them." Gu He was somewhat helpless. "Disciple, for your safety, even if you have a kind heart, you can''t be defenseless. Your temperament will make you suffer when you''re out." Xiao Yixian nodded thoughtfully, obediently saying, "Teacher, disciple understands." Gu He nodded but sighed inwardly. This girl is still too naive. And if it weren''t for her dragging down her junior sister, her junior sister wouldn''t have been injured. "Take this." With her head lowered and feeling anxious, Nalan Yanran suddenly saw a fair hand in front of her. Nalan Yanran looked at the blue talisman in Gu He''s palm, somewhat disbelieving, and asked, "Elder Gu He, is this... for me?" Gu He showed his usual gentle smile. "Yanran, I appreciate your efforts during this period. If it weren''t for your guidance recently, considering this girl''s lack of actual combat experience, the situation this time might have been worse." At these words, Nalan Yanran instantly understood that Gu He was referring to their recent sparring sessions. Her face turned even redder in an instant. After seeing Xiao Yixian''s true strength, she understood that during their recent so-called sparring sessions, it had always been Xiao Yixian letting her win. Given the huge gap in their strengths, her junior sister must have endured a lot to go easy on her, right? Was she afraid of injuring her if she used a bit more force? Originally, Xiao Yixian felt ashamed. But now that Gu He brought it up, Nalan Yanran felt embarrassed beyond words. Nalan Yanran looked awkward and said, "Elder Gu He, I..." Gu He thought she was feeling embarrassed and said gently, "Accept it. You''re also my disciple. Considering our relationship, this can be considered a gift from an elder to a junior." Hearing Gu He say this, Nalan Yanran was momentarily stunned, and then her heart warmed. Her complexion gradually returned to normal, and she said, "Then, Yanran thanks Elder Gu He." Gu He smiled and thought that if he accepted her as his disciple in the future, this gift wouldn''t be given in vain. It could be considered a prelude to accepting her. "Oh, by the way, girl, your Ironwing Giant Eagle''s egg should not have started hatching yet." Suddenly, Gu He remembered something and took out three Fifth-Rank magic cores from the system space, handing them to Xiao Yixian. "These three Fifth-Rank gold attribute magic cores should be enough to ensure a successful hatching." After so many days, the gold feather giant eagle egg in Gu He''s system space had absorbed enough energy, and it had stopped absorbing energy as of yesterday. Gu He speculated that the day for the gold feather giant eagle to hatch should be approaching. And these three Fifth-Rank gold attribute magic cores were the ones that the gold feather giant eagle had not fully absorbed. Thinking of Xiao Yixian''s Ironwing Giant Eagle egg, Gu He decided to give her these three magic cores. Xiao Yixian stared at the magic cores in Gu He''s hand, and a watery mist quickly appeared in her crystal-clear eyes. She murmured, "Teacher, it''s so good to have you." (End of this chapter) Chapter 65: Teacher, Wastefulness is Shameful Chapter 65: Teacher, Wastefulness is Shameful Chapter 65: Teacher, Wastefulness is Shameful Time flies by. It''s been three days since Xiao Yixian encountered danger. Yunlan Sect, Gu He''s residence. "Teacher, are you increasing the dosage again today..." Liu Ling soaked his entire body in a large bath, watching with a bitter expression as Gu He added the Blood Ignition Pill into the bath. This was already the fourth pill added by Gu He. The bath was already a deep red, and countless bubbles were splashing out as if it was about to boil. After only a few minutes of soaking, Liu Ling felt a tingling sensation all over his body, as if he was rolling on a mountain of knives. Hearing this, Gu He glanced at Liu Ling, his movements uninterrupted. He said indifferently, "Are you sure you don''t want to add more? Xiao Yixian broke through to the five-star Dou Master yesterday." Perhaps due to experiencing a life-and-death battle, after recovering her body, Xiao Yixian unexpectedly made a breakthrough without taking any poison. She had already reached the five-star Dou Master realm. Hearing this, Liu Ling''s eyes flashed with astonishment. After a moment of hesitation, his eyes gradually became firm. "Teacher, then add it!" "Add it fiercely. After this pill, give me another one." A hint of determination appeared on Liu Ling''s face. At this rate, he would never catch up to her junior sister''s strength. The thought of always being suppressed by her junior sister in the future made Liu Ling unable to accept it. Hearing this, Gu He looked up at Liu Ling again. "Are you sure? This pill is already your limit. Adding another pill might damage your body. If it gets more serious, you might end up as a cripple." "Ah..." Liu Ling exclaimed, and his face revealed a somewhat embarrassed expression. "Teacher, then forget it. I think four pills are good enough." "Haste makes waste. If you want to catch up to your junior sister''s realm, then honestly stick to soaking in medicine every day." After pouring the fourth pill of Blood Ignition, Gu He said casually and then slowly walked towards the pavilion. Hearing this, Liu Ling was about to say something, but his expression changed. With the pouring of the fourth pill of Blood Ignition into the bath, it seemed to have triggered a qualitative change. The red liquid in the bath began to boil completely. A more terrifying, heart-piercing pain quickly swept through Liu Ling''s entire body. "Ah!..." The next moment, a painful wail echoed in the courtyard. To this scene, Gu He was already accustomed. He just sat in the pavilion with an indifferent expression, leisurely sipping his tea. After an hour, the tea in Gu He''s teapot had been consumed. "No wonder it costs over a million gold coins!" Hearing this, Liu Ling''s eyes flashed with understanding. He realized that today he had used four bottles of Blood Ignition Pill, a fourth-grade elixir, priced at around five hundred thousand gold coins per bottle. Adding the one-million-gold-coin Purple Jade Spirit Liquid... Liu Ling couldn''t help but feel a bit shocked. This round of special training had cost him a whopping three million gold coins! Three million gold coins! He thought about his family, whose total annual income was only about six to seven million gold coins. In other words, the two days of his special training had cost the entire Liu family''s year of hard work. Thinking about this, Liu Ling''s heart was filled with mixed emotions. Looking at his teacher, who seemed calm and indifferent, as if nothing had happened, his heart couldn''t calm down for a long time. Although he seemed carefree on the surface, he was extremely meticulous in his thoughts. Thinking that his teacher had spent such a huge price just to provide him with special training, Liu Ling''s heart inexplicably became somewhat heavy. Seeing Liu Ling suddenly fall silent, Gu He thought he was shocked by the price of the Purple Jade Spirit Liquid. He couldn''t help but smile, "Don''t worry, I have some resources at home, and a bit of spirit liquid is not a big deal. Just go ahead and use it with all your might." Thinking of the more than twenty billion in the infinite gold coin card, Gu He was full of confidence. Hearing this, Liu Ling was a bit moved and said, "Teacher, thank you!" Gu He smiled slightly, "As long as you make progress, that is the greatest gratitude to me." After that, Gu He turned around to return to the pavilion. "Teacher..." At this moment, Liu Ling suddenly spoke again, looking somewhat awkward. Seeing Liu Ling''s expression when he turned around, Gu He thought he wanted to express more thanks, feeling quite pleased, "Although this kid seems reckless all day, he still has some filial piety..." Thinking of this, Gu He said calmly, "Do you have anything else to say?" Only hearing Liu Ling staring at the jade bottle in Gu He''s hand, he slowly said, "Teacher, can you give me the jade bottle?" Gu He was a little puzzled, "What do you want the jade bottle for?" However, he didn''t think much and directly handed the jade bottle to Liu Ling. Liu Ling took the jade bottle, stared at it for a moment, then suddenly brought the bottle to his mouth. In the astonished expression of Gu He, he used his tongue to lick up all the remaining elixir on the bottle mouth and swallowed it. Liu Ling quickly cleaned the bottle mouth, then looked up at Gu He''s stunned expression. Although he felt a bit embarrassed, he thought about the one-million-gold-coin elixir and said with confidence, "Teacher, wasting is shameful!" (End of this chapter) Chapter 66: Hatching of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle Chapter 66: Hatching of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle --- Chapter 66: Hatching of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle The corner of Gu He''s mouth twitched, and he looked at Liu Ling with some speechlessness, nodding slightly, "Indeed, wasting is shameless." "Hehe..." Seeing that Gu He quite agreed with his point of view, Liu Ling couldn''t help but smile. He didn''t feel embarrassed anymore and handed the jade bottle back to Gu He, saying, "Teacher, here''s the jade bottle." Looking at the jade bottle with Liu Ling''s saliva all over the mouth, Gu He''s eyes showed a hint of disgust. He waved his hand and said, "It''s not licked clean yet; you can keep licking." After speaking, Gu He turned and walked towards the pavilion. "Not licked clean yet?" Liu Ling looked at the bottle mouth in confusion and muttered, "It''s already quite clean, isn''t it?" Back in the pavilion, Gu He picked up the teapot, intending to pour himself a cup of tea, but found the teapot was already empty. He put down the teapot somewhat helplessly. "Has Xiao Yi Xian not come back yet?" Gu He said with some helplessness as he glanced at the room of the little doctor. Usually, if Xiao Yi Xian was at home, she would always come to the pavilion to help Gu He with water after finishing her cultivation. "This girl is getting more and more diligent in running towards the main peak recently." Gu He muttered to himself. Since the incident last time, the relationship between Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran had deepened significantly after experiencing life and death together. On regular days, Xiao Yi Xian almost ran to the main peak as soon as she finished cultivation. "Sigh, looks like I have to do it myself." Shaking his head, Gu He reluctantly stood up and prepared to fetch some boiling water. However, at this moment, his expression changed, and he felt something vaguely. The next moment, as if recalling something, Gu He quickly sat down again. With a thought, Gu He''s consciousness directly entered the system space. Once in the system space, Gu He''s gaze turned towards the golden egg suspended in the void. At this moment, the golden egg appeared very calm, not emitting the dazzling golden light as it did initially. This situation had started a few days ago when the golden egg absorbed enough energy. In the following days, the golden egg maintained this state. "Is it finally going to hatch?" *Click!* With one after another, the sound of countless eggshells breaking echoed. Bang! After a few breaths, a deafening sound rose to the sky, echoing in the system space. Later, Gu He saw a golden figure burst out from the completely shattered eggshell, transforming into a stream of golden light. Screech! Accompanied by a sharp and fierce cry, a golden light rushed straight towards Gu He, carrying an excited tone. The golden light quickly landed in front of Gu He. Through the golden light, Gu He finally saw the true appearance of the hatched Golden Feather Giant Eagle. Before him, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle was covered in golden feathers, emitting a faint sharp aura from its golden feathers. Two sturdy and powerful golden claws, like they were cast in gold, exuded a terrifying power. In the golden vertical pupils, there was a majestic aura, mixed with a hint of nobility from its bloodline. Gu He, looking at the majestic Golden Feather Giant Eagle in front of him, was just thinking about how to greet it when a voice suddenly entered his ears. "Master, is it you? I can sense the familiar aura from you." Gu He, hearing that the Golden Feather Giant Eagle could actually speak human language, was first surprised and then suddenly realized. Magical Beasts of this level had long gained intelligence, and their wisdom was not lower than that of humans. However, the voice of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle was filled with a sense of juvenility, indicating that it had just come into the world, and its intelligence was probably at the level of a human child of five or six years old. "Yes, it''s me." Gu He smiled and patted the golden head of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle. "Master, I finally see you!" Seeing Gu He acknowledging, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle''s voice was full of joy, like a lost child suddenly meeting a long-lost father. Feeling the dependence in the voice of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle, Gu He smiled slightly and said, "From now on, you can always be with your master." "Really? Master, I want to stay by your side forever." Hearing this, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle affectionately nudged Gu He''s arm with its head, expressing its warmth. "Do you have a name?" Gu He suddenly asked. Upon hearing this, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle was puzzled, "What is a name? I don''t have a name." Gu He gently ruffled the soft golden feathers on the top of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle''s head and said softly, "Then let me give you a name, my little gold." Although the Golden Feather Giant Eagle didn''t understand the meaning of a name, it happily responded, "Okay, okay!" After contemplating for a moment, Gu He looked at the entirely golden Giant Eagle and slowly said, "From now on, your master will call you Xiaojin." Chapter 67: Future Plans Chapter 67: Future Plans Chapter 67: Future Plans "Xiaojin?" The tender voice of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle rang out with a hint of confusion. "Master, do you think I''m too small?" it continued. "Actually, I can get bigger." As it spoke, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle emitted waves of golden light, and its body began to visibly grow at a rapid rate before Gu He could react, expanding four or five times in size. Now, it towered over Gu He like a small mountain. "Master, do you think I''m big now?" it asked. Gu He, staring up at the enlarged Golden Feather Giant Eagle, responded with a stiff expression, "Yes, you''re very big now." "What I meant was that Xiaojin is just your nickname," Gu He clarified. "Nickname? Then what is my real name?" the Golden Feather Giant Eagle asked, still puzzled. Gu He, looking at the gigantic creature, tilted his head back and said helplessly, "You need to shrink first." "Okay, Master!" Hearing this, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle nodded, and with a flash of golden light, its body returned to its previous size. Gu He looked at the golden feathers on the Giant Eagle''s body and pondered for a moment before saying, "Your real name will be Jinyu, and your nickname will be Xiaojin." "Jinyu, like golden feathers?" muttered the Golden Feather Giant Eagle, somewhat satisfied, nodding its head. "Okay, Master, from now on, my real name is Jinyu, and my nickname is Xiaojin." Gu He smiled, rubbed the smooth golden feathers on Xiaojin, and then said, "Xiaojin, I have to go out now. You can play by yourself, and I''ll come to see you again tomorrow." Saying this, Gu He prepared to leave the system space. Xiaojin quickly called out, "Master, I want to go out with you." "With Xiaojin, the trip to the Tagor Desert is indeed secure." Watching Xiaojin''s golden figure flickering in the yard, Gu He smiled faintly. Originally, he wanted to wait for Yun Yun to come back, refine the Emperor Extreme Pill, and then enhance his strength before going to the Tagor Desert. This way, it would undoubtedly be safer. However, Yun Yun had been gone for over a month without any news, making Gu He somewhat impatient. After staying in the sect for so long, he also wanted to go out. In case he encountered some wild genius and recruited a disciple, it would be wonderful. But his strength was currently only at the eight-star Dou Emperorlevel. If he went to the Tagor Desert and, unfortunately, encountered the Queen Medusa, it might not end well. Gu He possessed many trump cards, but the opponent was a long-established expert at the peak of the nine-star Dou Emperor level, and she was ruthless. This made Gu He somewhat apprehensive. If he ended up in a situation similar to what happened to Haibodong, those two big guys would probably cry their eyes out. However, things were different now. Xiaojin''s sudden hatching gave Gu He a pleasant surprise. As an eighth-rank magical beast, Xiaojin, upon hatching, possessed the strength of a peak nine-star Dou Huang. Moreover, with its unparalleled defensive feathers and unstoppable golden sword energy, Xiaojin was undoubtedly invincible among peers. With Xiaojin protecting him, Gu He no longer needed to fear the Queen Medusa. Therefore, he had the idea of setting off for the Tagor Desert in advance. This time, his main purpose in going to the Tagor Desert was for the Qing Lin with the Azure Serpent Three Flower Pupils. If he successfully recruited it, he would gain three additional chances every month to trigger the system''s reward mechanism. Of course, for Gu He, the most crucial point was the additional opportunity for imparting and transmitting knowledge, which would help enhance his own cultivation. Having returned to the system after teaching disciples, the fastest way for him to become stronger was to attract more genius disciples. During this period, Gu He had already made plans for the future. After breaking through to the Dou Venerate level, he would no longer stay in the Yunlan Sect. Instead, he planned to travel across the northwest countries, search for talents, and recruit them one by one. After traveling through the various countries, he would then take a position as a mentor at the Jia Ma Academy, preferably earning the title of an elder. Gu He believed that, with his status as a seventh-grade alchemist, this should not be difficult to achieve at the Jia Ma Academy. The academy gathered talents from the entire northwest region, and perhaps he could recruit some excellent disciples. Among them, Zi yue of the Taixu Ancient Dragon clan was Gu He''s first target. As for the vast Central Plains, Gu He had no plans to go there until he broke through to the Dou Saint level. The waters there were too deep, and without reaching the Dou Saint level, he feared he wouldn''t be able to handle it. "Wait for two more days. During this time, I''ll refine more spirit fluid for their body tempering. After I leave, their physical training won''t be delayed." After some contemplation, Gu He finalized his plan. Even if he left, Linyin and the Little Doctor''s physical training couldn''t be paused. In fact, Gu He intended to increase the intensity, or else they wouldn''t be able to keep up with his pace. (End of this chapter) Chapter 68: Yun Yun Returns Chapter 68: Yun Yun Returns Chapter 68: Yun Yun Returns Yunlan Sect, main peak. Nalan Yanran''s residence. "Sister! Sister! Come over quickly!" In the room, Nalan Yanran''s voice sounded, with a tone of surprise. "What''s wrong, Sister?" Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Yi Xian slowly walked in from outside, carrying a food box in her hand. "It cracked, it cracked!" Nalan Yanran pointed at a blue beast egg on the table, her pretty face showing excitement. "What? It cracked!" Upon hearing Nalan Yanran''s words, Xiao Yi Xian was momentarily stunned but quickly reacted, looking at the blue beast egg on the table. Upon closer inspection, a barely visible crack had indeed appeared on the surface of the blue beast egg. "It''s really cracked!" Seeing this tiny crack, excitement also appeared on Xiao Yi Xian''s face. Since there was a crack, it meant that the Ironwing Giant Eagle was about to hatch, making Xiao Yi Xian couldn''t help but feel delighted. "Sister, it seems like the Ironwing Giant Eagle is about to hatch." Nalan Yanran leaned over to the blue beast egg, her face showing excitement. Her sister had promised that after the Ironwing Giant Eagle hatched, she would experience the feeling of flying together.T/his chapter is updated by Thinking about this, Nalan Yanran''s face revealed an expression of anticipation. Xiao Yi Xian nodded in agreement at Nalan Yanran''s words and said softly, "Teacher mentioned that as long as there is a crack on the beast egg, it means it''s about to hatch." As she spoke, an expression of anticipation also appeared on Xiao Yi Xian''s beautiful face. I wonder what it will be like when the Ironwing Giant Eagle hatches. Will it be cute?'' Xiao Yi Xian placed the food box in her hand on the table and slowly opened it, saying, "Sister, the chicken soup is ready. Let''s drink it together." As Xiao Yi Xian opened the food box, a rich fragrance immediately spread. Nalan Yanran''s slightly raised nose twitched slightly, sniffing the rich aroma in the room, and couldn''t help showing a greedy look, eagerly saying, "Hmm, let''s drink the chicken soup first. The chicken soup you made, Sister, is really fragrant." Xiao Yi Xian smiled slightly at the words, "If it''s delicious, you can drink more." As she spoke, she immediately served a bowl for Nalan Yanran. Nalan Yanran lifted the bowl and took a sip, her charming face immediately showing a satisfied expression. ''Drinking chicken soup is indeed a wonderful thing!'' ... Meanwhile, while Nalan Yanran was immersed in the deliciousness of the chicken soup, a figure in green slowly descended into the courtyard. The figure in green was dressed in a plain dress, wrapping around a well-proportioned and exquisite body. A head of green hair was tied into a noble phoenix ornament, and the beautiful and serene face showed tranquility. This unexpectedly beautiful woman was none other than Yun Yun, who had returned after a month away. "Yanran, why aren''t you practicing today?" Her gaze swept across the courtyard, not finding Nalan Yanran''s figure, and a hint of doubt flashed across Yun Yun''s pretty face. "Could it be that this girl became lazy while I was away?" Thinking of this, Yun Yun felt a bit displeased. Did this girl forget about the three-year agreement with that Xiao family boy? Huh? What''s that smell? So fragrant! At this moment, a rich fragrance entered her nose. Yun Yun looked towards the direction of the fragrance with some confusion and walked towards the room. (End of this chapter) Chapter 69: Teacher, Can You Stop Praising? Chapter 69: Teacher, Can You Stop Praising? Chapter 69: Teacher, Can You Stop Praising? "Sister, give me another bowl!" In the room, Nalan Yanran, feeling satisfied after finishing a bowl of chicken soup, handed the bowl to Xiao Yi Xian. "Sure, there''s plenty left. If you like it, I''ll make it for you often in the future." Xiao Yi Xian served another bowl of chicken soup to Nalan Yanran. *Creak!* Just as Nalan Yanran lifted the bowl, ready to drink, the door suddenly pushed open, and a figure in green walked in. "Teacher!" Seeing the person coming in, Nalan Yanran was first stunned, then a pleasant surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes. She immediately forgot about the chicken soup in her hands and rushed into Yun Yun''s embrace. "Teacher, I missed you so much!" Nalan Yanran nestled in Yun Yun''s arms, acting coquettishly. Yun Yun also smiled, rubbing Nalan Yanran''s head with indulgence. "You''re already an adult and still acting cute. Have some shame." At this moment, Xiao Yi Xian also approached respectfully and said, "Disciple greets the Sect Master." Looking at Xiao Yi Xian''s graceful and dignified demeanor, Yun Yun couldn''t help but show a smile. "You''re here too, coming to spar with your senior sister, I suppose." Yun Yun hadn''t forgotten the task that Gu He assigned to Nalan Yanran that day. Thinking of this, Yun Yun said to Nalan Yanran, "Yanran, you promised Elder Gu He, remember, you must teach your junior sister diligently." Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran blushed slightly. She thought, does her junior sister really need her guidance now? If she exerted all her strength, she wasn''t sure if she could withstand a single move. Facing Yun Yun''s words at the moment, she didn''t know how to respond. Nalan Yanran changed the subject and took Yun Yun''s jade-like hand, leading her towards the table. "Teacher, haven''t you had dinner yet? Junior sister made chicken soup, and it''s delicious." "Chicken soup!" At the mention of chicken soup, Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes lit up. She had just smelled the fragrance outside and assumed it must be from the chicken soup. It smelled so good, the taste must be excellent. In the past month, she had been busy collecting herbs to refine the Emperor''s Extreme Pill. In terms of food, she had mostly been managing with whatever was available. Now smelling the fragrance of the chicken soup, she felt a bit hungry. Hearing Nalan Yanran''s praise, Yun Yun smiled and said, "In that case, let me taste Xiao Yi Xian''s cooking skills." Teacher, I beg you, please, stop praising me! My talent is good? Are you sure? If my talent is considered good, then what about my junior sister Xian''er? Am I being complacent? Am I worthy? Do you know? I''m almost feeling inferior! Seeing that Yun Yun was about to continue, Nalan Yanran hastily filled another bowl of chicken soup for her, changing the subject, "Teacher, let''s drink the chicken soup quickly. It won''t taste good when it gets cold. Come, drink it while it''s hot!" Yun Yun was interrupted before she could finish her sentence, and Nalan Yanran hurriedly handed her the bowl, smiling, "Teacher, this chicken soup is delicious. Drink it while it''s hot." Yun Yun: ... This girl, she doesn''t like it when I say a few words. Yun Yun thought that Nalan Yanran simply didn''t like her constant lecturing. Well! This girl, when she left, was so conscientious in her cultivation; it was already commendable. Thinking of this, Yun Yun decided not to speak anymore. She picked up the chicken soup and started drinking. Seeing that Yun Yun finally stopped, Nalan Yanran breathed a sigh of relief. If the Teacher continued speaking, especially in front of Junior Sister Xian''er, Nalan Yanran wouldn''t know how to handle it. Luckily, she was clever enough to divert the topic with the chicken soup. However, what Nalan Yanran didn''t expect was that after Yun Yun finished the chicken soup, she started again. "Yanran, there''s another month left before the inner disciple grand competition." "Are you well-prepared?" "You must strive for first place this time." Upon hearing Yun Yun''s words, Nalan Yanran was completely dumbfounded. Teacher, are you serious? (End of this chapter) Chapter 70: Yun Yun’s Shock! Chapter 70: Yun Yuns Shock! Chapter 70: Yun Yun''s Shock! Nalan Yanran looked at the chattering Yun Yun in silence. If this were in the past, hearing Yun Yun speak like this, she would have been extremely confident, patting her chest and saying, "Teacher, rest assured, first place in the inner disciple competition is definitely mine." "What three-year agreement, what Xiao Yan, I didn''t even consider him. Isn''t he just a waste? How can he compare to me?" But that was in the past. In the past month, witnessing the monstrous talent of Xiao Yi Xian and the recent attack in the dense forest, Nalan Yanran''s mindset had completely changed. Although she didn''t fall to the point of feeling inferior, she was no longer as arrogant as before. Now, hearing Yun Yun mention the inner disciple competition, Nalan Yanran instinctively glanced at Xiao Yi Xian beside her. With Xian''er junior sister here, how could she claim the first place? Teacher, this time, Yanran is destined to disappoint you. Feeling somewhat disheartened, Nalan Yanran did not respond to Yun Yun''s words. Yun Yun talked for a long time, but seeing Nalan Yanran keeping her head down and remaining silent, she became somewhat puzzled. What''s wrong with this girl today? How come she seems strange? Could it be that she''s not feeling well? Thinking of this, Yun Yun asked with some concern, "Yanran, what''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Nalan Yanran shook her head and responded reluctantly, "Teacher, I''m fine." On the side, Xiao Yi Xian saw Nalan Yanran''s sudden downturn in mood. Being perceptive, she immediately understood Nalan Yanran''s thoughts. It seems that Senior Sister Yanran has been affected by my progress. This made Xiao Yi Xian think of her big brother''s reaction when she broke through to the Dou Master level. Thinking about it, she couldn''t help but sigh. In the future, she should try to conceal her cultivation level as much as possible. Otherwise, she won''t be able to have fun with Senior Sister Yanran anymore. To avoid further embarrassment for Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yi Xian hesitated for a moment, then stood up to bid farewell, "Sect Master, Senior Sister Yanran, it''s getting late. I should be going." Upon hearing this, Yun Yun was taken aback, focusing her attention on Xiao Yi Xian, and said, "Not staying a bit longer? It''s still early." Upon hearing this, Yun Yun was slightly stunned, then realized what was happening. A smile appeared on her face, "I didn''t expect that, after a month, Yanran, you''ve learned to be shy." She thought Nalan Yanran was just feeling embarrassed. Hearing this, Nalan Yanran couldn''t help but sigh and look at Yun Yun with an expression that said, "Teacher, today I need to broaden your horizons and show you what true genius is." To help Yun Yun understand, Nalan Yanran decided to reveal Xiao Yi Xian''s situation. She wanted Yun Yun to realize that her outstanding disciple wasn''t that exceptional. After a while, Nalan Yanran finished speaking and said with a downcast expression, "Teacher, compared to Junior Sister Xian''er, I''m really not a genius." At this moment, Yun Yun was completely stunned. Five-Star Dou Master? That girl has actually broken through to a Five-Star Dou Master? Isn''t this a bit too unbelievable? Yun Yun found it hard to believe what Nalan Yanran had just said. Is there really such a genius in this world? After a moment of silence, Yun Yun wanted to ask more but saw Nalan Yanran''s somewhat disheartened look. She instantly understood. It seems that Yanran has been under a lot of pressure during this time. However, if Xiao Yi Xian is as monstrous as she described, anyone would feel pressured. Yun Yun suddenly understood Nalan Yanran''s current feelings. Looking at her disciple who used to always be confident, now looking disheartened, Yun Yun couldn''t help but feel sorry for her. Thinking about this, Yun Yun also felt a bit guilty. During this time, she had been focused on finding the herbs for refining the Emperor''s Supreme Pill and had indeed neglected Yanran. Yun Yun stepped forward, embraced Nalan Yanran, and comforted her softly, "Yanran, don''t worry. After I break through with the Emperor''s Supreme Pill, I''ll help you find various heavenly materials and earthly treasures to elevate your cultivation." Yun Yun had decided that after finishing the current tasks, she would focus on cultivating her precious disciple. Upon hearing Yun Yun''s reassurance, Nalan Yanran''s mood improved a lot. "Teacher, have you gathered all the herbs for the Emperor''s Supreme Pill?" Nalan Yanran asked as she looked up. Yun Yun nodded, "Yes, I''ve gathered them all. Tomorrow, we can go find Elder Gu He to refine it." Chapter 71: Refining the Emperor’s Supreme Pill Chapter 71: Refining the Emperors Supreme Pill Chapter 71: Refining the Emperor''s Supreme Pill "What? The Sect Master is back?" In the courtyard, Gu He was enjoying afternoon tea when he heard Xiao Yi Xian''s words, showing a surprised expression. He had been planning to leave in the next two days, and he didn''t expect Yun Yun to return so soon. If it were two days later, they might have missed each other. However, after the initial surprise, a hint of joy appeared on Gu He''s face. If Yun Yun had returned, it meant that the herbs needed to refine the Emperor''s Supreme Pill should be ready. So, he decided to stay a bit longer. After all, there was no need to rush. With improved strength, even if the Heavenly Flame had been taken by Queen Medusa, Gu He was confident he could reclaim it. Xiao Yi Xian added some hot water to the teapot and refilled Gu He''s cup. She nodded lightly and said, "When the disciple came back, the Sect Master happened to be with Senior Sister Yanran." Gu He lifted the tea cup, took a sip, and revealed a satisfied expression. "Girl, how''s your recent progress in alchemy?" Gu He looked at Xiao Yi Xian and asked. Xiao Yi Xian smiled and replied, "Teacher, your disciple can now refine second-tier elixirs." Gu He nodded in acknowledgment. With the inheritance of the sixth-grade alchemist bestowed by him, Xiao Yi Xian would hardly encounter any bottlenecks before reaching the sixth-grade alchemist level. Breaking through to the second-tier alchemist in just a month was a speed that would be considered unbelievable. Gu He waved his hand on the table, and dozens of jade bottles appeared. "These are the Jade Skin Powder you''ll need for the next month. You need to temper your body every day," Gu He said, pointing to the jade bottles on the table. Looking at the densely packed jade bottles on the table, Xiao Yi Xian was momentarily stunned. Then, she thought of something and asked in surprise, "Teacher, are you going to leave?" Gu He nodded, "After the Sect Master finishes refining the Emperor''s Supreme Pill, I need to go on a long journey. When I''m not around, you mustn''t slack off in your cultivation." Although Xiao Yi Xian felt a bit reluctant, she obediently nodded, "Teacher, your disciple will definitely persist in daily cultivation." After saying that, Xiao Yi Xian reached out and collected the jade bottles on the table into her spatial ring. Then, Xiao Yi Xian thought of something and moved her mind, taking out the Ironwing Giant Eagle Egg. "Teacher, my Ironwing Giant Eagle is about to hatch." Holding the beast egg in her hand, Xiao Yi Xian handed it to Gu He with some anticipation. "Oh?" Upon hearing this, Gu He, seeing the subtle cracks on the beast egg, was somewhat surprised. "It''s about to hatch so quickly." Internally, he couldn''t help but sigh; the gap between a fifth-rank magical beast and an eighth-rank magical beast was still too large. His Little Gold took more than ten fifth-rank magical cores to hatch. Yet, this Ironwing Giant Eagle started hatching with just three fifth-rank magical cores. "It seems that the Ironwing Giant Eagle will hatch in one or two days." Gu He said to the eagerly anticipating Xiao Yi Xian. At these words, a sweet smile appeared on Xiao Yi Xian''s face, eagerly awaiting the hatching of the Ironwing Giant Eagle. Caw! Just at that moment, accompanied by a sharp sound, a golden light suddenly flashed onto the table. The golden light dissipated, revealing a small golden bird. Xiao Yi Xian was startled by the sudden appearance of the golden light. However, upon seeing the golden bird on the table, a pleasantly surprised expression appeared on her face. "What a beautiful little bird!" Saying that, she subconsciously reached out to touch, but the golden bird flashed with light, jumping directly onto Gu He''s shoulder. Xiao Yi Xian didn''t get to touch it, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes. She then looked curiously at Gu He. "Teacher, is this golden bird your pet?" Gu He looked at Little Gold on his shoulder and smiled, nodding. "Indeed, its name is Little Gold." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian, looking at the golden feathers covering Little Gold''s body, felt that the name was quite fitting. With a curious look, Xiao Yi Xian asked, "Teacher, can I touch it?" Gu He smiled, "That depends on whether it''s willing or not." "The sect leader has been away for more than a month. Now that she''s back, she must have gained something." Gu He wore his usual elegant smile. Thinking about the gains this time, Yun Yun also smiled, "Elder Gu He, I''ve gathered all the medicinal ingredients needed to refine the Emperor''s Supreme Pill, exactly two sets." Although he had expected it, Gu He couldn''t help but feel pleased upon hearing this. He nodded and said, "Very well!" Yun Yun couldn''t wait and asked, "Elder Gu He, when can you start refining the Emperor''s Supreme Pill?" Gu He smiled faintly, "I am already prepared. Now that the medicinal ingredients are ready, we can start the Emperor''s Supreme Pill today." Upon hearing this, Yun Yun was momentarily stunned, hesitating, "Elder Gu He, don''t you need to prepare in advance?" The Emperor''s Supreme Pill was a top-grade sixth-rank pill. Even some sixth-rank alchemists didn''t dare to refine it easily because the failure rate was too high. Although Gu He had said before that he had a fifty percent guarantee of success, Yun Yun still couldn''t help but worry. What if it fails? These two sets of medicinal ingredients cost her a lot of effort and favors to gather. If it fails this time, it would be impossible to gather the ingredients again in a short time. Therefore, Yun Yun was a bit nervous. In fact, in the alchemy world, this kind of situation is very normal. Seekers of medicine are more worried about whether the pill can be successfully refined than the alchemists themselves. If an alchemist fails, it''s just a loss of reputation. But for the seekers, what is lost is the hard-gathered medicinal ingredients, which may have been gathered through hardships and sacrifices. At this moment, Yun Yun had such a mentality. And Gu He naturally understood what she was worrying about. He had seen such situations many times. However, in the past, Gu He would indeed take a few days to prepare carefully before refining a sixth-rank pill, adjusting himself to the best state. After all, if the alchemy failed, it would have a significant impact on his reputation as the Alchemy King. However, now Gu He no longer had such concerns. Not to mention his realm, which had already reached the level of a seventh-rank alchemist. With the assistance of the Dragon Soul Cauldron and his own Divine Fire, the success rate of refining the pill was greatly increased. With all these factors, Gu He was confident that he had more than an eighty percent chance of successfully refining the Emperor''s Supreme Pill. Therefore, in the face of Yun Yun''s skeptical gaze, Gu He shook his head, showing unparalleled confidence on his face, "Sect Leader, Elder Gu He has long been confident. If nothing unexpected happens, the Sect Leader should be able to get the Emperor''s Supreme Pill today." A confident man is always full of a different kind of charm. Looking at the confident Gu He in front of her, Yun Yun''s heart flashed with a strange thought, and she involuntarily chose to believe him. Seeing Yun Yun looking at the confident Gu He, he didn''t say much. She handed the storage ring containing the medicinal ingredients to Gu He and smiled, "Since Elder Gu He is so confident, then I will wait here for the good news from Elder Gu He." Gu He smiled, "If the Sect Leader is uneasy, you might as well wait in this pavilion." Upon hearing this, Yun Yun nodded lightly, "Okay." Gu He smiled slightly, turned around, and shouted to Xiao Yi Xian, who had just walked out of the house, "Disciple, serve tea for the Sect Leader." After that, Gu He turned and walked towards the alchemy room. (End of this chapter) check out my patreon for 20 advanced chapters Chapter 72: An Anomaly Appears When the Pill is Formed Chapter 72: An Anomaly Appears When the Pill is Formed Chapter 72: An Anomaly Appears When the Pill is Formed In the alchemy room, Gu He took out all the medicinal ingredients from the storage ring and arranged them on the table one by one. His gaze slowly scanned over the dozen or so snowy-white jade boxes in front of him. Gu He took a deep breath, suppressing the fluctuations in his heart. He flicked his finger, and the large "Dragon Soul Cauldron" appeared out of thin air. It descended heavily, producing a low dragon roar. Squinting his eyes, Gu He''s mind flashed with the method of refining the "Emperor''s Supreme Pill" and various points to pay attention to. After a while, he suddenly opened his eyes. In his pitch-black eyes, purple flames rose. "Puff!" With a slight sound, a wisp of purple flame shot out from Gu He, and then, with a flick of his fingertip, the flame turned into a streamer, swiftly rushing into the medicine cauldron like lightning. As soon as the flame entered the cauldron, the tiny body expanded rapidly. In a short moment, the small flame turned into a raging fire, burning wildly inside the cauldron. As the purple flames rose, the dragon pattern on the surface of the "Dragon Soul Cauldron" seemed to come alive, radiating dazzling golden light. When the temperature inside the cauldron reached a stable level, Gu He handcrafted the temperature to soar. This divine fire, condensed from a different kind of flame, had a unique quality. It swiftly flowed over, expelling the invading cold. With a gentle toss, the Heart of Ice Orchid was accurately thrown into the cauldron. The essence fire surged, swallowing it as if it were a fierce beast opening its mouth wide. Facing the burning flames, the Heart of Ice Orchid did not sit idly. Instead, it continuously emitted a dense cold mist, attempting to resist the erosion of the high temperature. The mist and the emerald-green flames corroded each other. With a hissing sound, even a faint white mist appeared at the junction. This Heart of Ice Orchid, relying on the condensed extreme cold energy accumulated over countless years, was actually able to withstand the confrontation with Gu He''s essence fire for a short time. "Indeed, it''s an extremely cold object. It can actually resist my essence fire for so long." Seeing this scene in the cauldron, Gu He exclaimed in amazement, then his mind moved. Suddenly, the temperature inside the cauldron skyrocketed! As the temperature continued to rise from the burning flames, the Heart of Ice Orchid finally couldn''t hold on. The surface of the crystal-like thing began to show signs of melting. Seeing this scene, Gu He also breathed a sigh of relief. This was also thanks to his essence fire being condensed from a different kind of flame. If it were an ordinary flame, it would probably take at least one or two days to refine this Heart of Ice Orchid. In that case, not only would it consume time, but the consumption of Qi would also be extremely large. Essence Fire is, indeed, no less than a genuine divine weapon for alchemists. Refining took about an hour. The sturdy Heart of Ice Orchid finally completely transformed into a snowy-white viscous liquid. As the liquid flowed, it emitted an extremely rich and pure energy. No wonder she has achieved so much at such a young age. She glanced at the somewhat impatient Nalan Yanran beside her and couldn''t help sighing inwardly. Compared to the little doctor, Yanran was indeed a bit lacking. Really don''t know how Senior Gu He cultivated such an outstanding disciple. At this moment, Nalan Yanran asked in confusion, "Junior Sister, are you so confident?" The little doctor smiled and said, "It''s not that I''m confident, but I believe in the teacher. There''s nothing the teacher promised that he couldn''t accomplish." "Really?" Nalan Yanran asked with half belief. Just as she finished speaking, the entire courtyard suddenly shook violently. The sudden tremor surprised all three of them. Then their gazes involuntarily turned towards the direction of the alchemy room, where an unusually rich energy fluctuation was rapidly forming. "It seems that the alchemy is about to succeed." Feeling the rich energy fluctuation, a trace of joy flashed in Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes. Although she wasn''t an alchemist, over the years, she had seen and heard a lot. Naturally, she knew that when high-level pills were forming, they would cause some significant disturbances. The little doctor''s face showed a joyful expression. "I knew the teacher would definitely succeed." At this moment, the energy fluctuation in the secret room suddenly soared to a terrifying level. Then, with a loud bang, a column of energy, about half a foot in diameter, shot directly out of the alchemy room, piercing through the ceiling and soaring into the sky. Watching the column of light breaking through the ceiling and reaching into the sky, the three of them showed expressions of shock. Is this the power when a high-level pill is formed? (End of this chapter) check my patreon to read 20 advanced chapters. Chapter 73: Continuing Alchemy Chapter 73: Continuing Alchemy Chapter 73: Continuing Alchemy As the Emperor Pill was on the verge of taking form, the sudden column of light soaring into the sky immediately caught the attention of formidable individuals within the Cloud Mist Sect. Sensing the pure energy contained in the light column, many high-ranking members of the Cloud Mist Sect were astonished. Shortly after, figures of several high-ranking members of the Cloud Mist Sect flickered, heading directly towards Gu He''s residence. Outside Gu He''s courtyard, many elders and disciples of the Cloud Mist Sect gathered. With a close look at the column of light rising from the alchemy room, exclamations rang out. "There''s the fragrance of pills in the light column; it seems Senior Gu He is refining pills in the alchemy room." "Although high-level pills can cause some disturbances, unless it''s a seventh-grade pill, there are rarely such phenomena, right? Could it be that Senior Gu He is refining a seventh-grade pill?" "Impossible. Senior Gu He has only recently broken through to a sixth-grade alchemist. How could he refine a seventh-grade pill?" "Moreover, I heard that when forming a seventh-grade pill, the commotion is much greater, and there is even pill thunder. This is probably a rare high-grade pill among sixth-grade pills!" "It''s worthy of being Dan King Gu He. He has just reached the level of a sixth-grade alchemist, and he can refine such a high-grade pill." Some elders and disciples of the Cloud Mist Sect gathered outside Gu He''s residence, discussing the column of light rising from the alchemy room. "Yes! Look at the commotion; the pill is probably about to take form. With such power, it''s probably comparable to the legendary seventh-grade pill." Just at this moment, a graceful figure flew out of the courtyard. "Senior Gu He is at a critical moment of alchemy. Please, Elders, withdraw and do not disturb Senior Gu He''s alchemy." Yun Yun''s figure hovered in the void, her gaze sweeping over all the elders and disciples present, her voice solemn. Seeing Yun Yun''s figure appearing, the elders were slightly stunned. "Yes, Sect Master!" Immediately, they respectfully arched their hands towards Yun Yun in the void and, with a hint of regret in their eyes, slowly withdrew to a distance of a kilometer. Since the pill had already been successfully refined, Yun Yun was no longer worried. Behind them, Little Doctor Fairy also looked at the door of the alchemy room, and as time passed without their teacher coming out, a puzzled expression appeared on her face. Suddenly, as if she had figured something out, she exclaimed, "Could it be... our teacher is planning to continue refining pills?" Upon hearing this, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran''s hearts trembled, looking at the alchemy room with some incredulity. Inside the alchemy room, after swallowing a pill to restore his Dou Qi, Gu He sat down in meditation. After a while, when the Dou Qi in his body had almost recovered, he slowly stood up and walked towards the medicine cauldron again. As the Little Doctor Fairy had thought, Gu He did indeed intend to continue refining pills. There was still one set of ingredients for the Emperor Pill remaining, and Gu He planned to refine the last Emperor Pill in one go. This pill was specifically intended for himself. When he had initially proposed to Yun Yun that he could refine the Emperor Pill for her to help break through the bottleneck, it was ostensibly to assist Yun Yun. However, in reality, he had his own plans. Now that Yun Yun''s Emperor Pill has been successfully refined, he can consider his mission accomplished. The next Emperor Pill to be refined is naturally intended for his own consumption. His current cultivation is at the peak of an eight-star Dou Emperor. If he consumes this Emperor Pill, Gu He can break through to a nine-star Dou Emperor in one go. Moreover, there''s a possibility of reaching the peak of a nine-star Dou Emperor. Thinking of this, a hint of anticipation appeared in Gu He''s eyes. With the experience from the previous attempt, he will be more adept at the refinement this time. Looking at the Dragon Soul Cauldron in front of him, Gu He took a deep breath. Opening his mouth, a bunch of purple flames spurted out. With a flick of his fingers, the flame, leaving a beautiful tail, went straight into the Dragon Soul Cauldron, then suddenly erupted. The raging flames kept surging inside the medicine cauldron, and the rising temperature made the alchemy room gradually feel a bit hot. In the midst of the soaring flames, Gu He waved his sleeve, and numerous medicinal herbs floated off the table. They then hovered in the air outside the stone platform under the envelope of a layer of Dou Qi, appearing like small luminous spheres emitting a brilliant glow. From below, it looked quite splendid. With the introduction of various medicinal herbs, the originally dormant purple flames inside the medicine cauldron surged forth like hungry wolves, ruthlessly engulfing everything... (End of this chapter) Chapter 74 Taking the Emperor Supreme Pill Chapter 74 Taking the Emperor Supreme Pill Chapter 74: Taking the Emperor Supreme Pill "It seems that Elder Gu He is really determined to continue alchemy." In the courtyard, after waiting for nearly an hour outside, Yun Yun was convinced of the explanation given by Xiao Yi Xian. Elder Gu He is indeed too crazy! Looking at the calm alchemy room, Yun Yun''s eyes flashed with a hint of shock. Consecutive attempts at refining high-grade sixth-rank pills, can he really handle it? Since Gu He has already refined an Emperor Pill, Yun Yun still has some concerns. Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye, several hours had passed. At this moment, the sky had darkened, and darkness gradually enveloped the entire Cloud Mist Sect. Yun Yun and the others still sat quietly in the pavilion, waiting. At this moment, the entire courtyard, just like during the day, suddenly trembled violently. The sudden tremor made the three of them slightly startled, and their gazes involuntarily turned towards the direction of the alchemy room. There, an unusually rich energy fluctuation was rapidly taking shape. "It seems that Elder Gu He is about to succeed again." Feeling the rich energy fluctuation, a touch of joy flashed in Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes. ... Creak! Sure enough, after half an hour, with the sound of the door opening, Gu He, dragging his exhausted body, slowly walked out of the alchemy room. Seeing that Gu He had finally come out of the secret room, Yun Yun and the others waiting in the courtyard quickly greeted him. When she saw the bloodshot eyes of the former, Yun Yun couldn''t help sighing lightly. This guy, is he so crazy when refining pills? "Teacher, are you okay?" Xiao Yi Xian looked at Gu He''s tired appearance and couldn''t help but feel distressed, approaching him and asking with concern. Gu He shook his head slightly and then handed a jade bottle to Yun Yun, smiling, "Sect Master, fortunately, I didn''t let you down." Looking at the jade bottle handed over by Gu He, a hint of excitement flashed in Yun Yun''s eyes. She took the jade bottle directly, looked at Gu He, and said with gratitude, "Elder Gu He, thank you for your hard work." However, for Gu He, a few months is still somewhat long. "It''s time to find a place for a breakthrough." Rising slowly, Gu He''s eyes flashed with a thoughtful look. The breakthrough of a high-level Dou Emperor creates an extremely astonishing momentum. Even if he sets up a barrier, some energy will still be released, making it easy for others to sense. Now that Yun Yun has returned, breaking through in Cloud Mist Sect is no longer suitable. Thinking of this, Gu He gave some instructions to Xiao Yi Xian and then left Cloud Mist Sect with Xiao Jin. After arriving at Cloud Mist Sect, Gu He no longer cared. He directly let Xiao Jin reveal its true form, sitting on Xiao Jin''s back, and quickly moved away from Gamma Sacred City. Half a day later, Gu He, riding on Xiao Jin, arrived at a mountain range. Arriving at the edge of a cliff, Gu He found a piece of bluestone and slowly sat down. After a brief contemplation, his palm moved, and a jade bottle, resembling jade, appeared in his hand. Tipping the bottle, a dragon-eye-sized pill rolled out. Instantly, a unique fragrance spread, invigorating the spirit. This pill was, of course, the Emperor Pill he refined yesterday. The Emperor Pill''s effect could enhance the strength of a Dou Emperor by one or even two stars. However, it depended on luck. Although there were cases where no improvement in strength occurred after taking the Emperor Pill, it had also happened. Unfortunately, even if it failed, taking a second pill would have no effect. Therefore, those who took Emperor Pills usually prayed in their hearts that such misfortune would not happen to them. The pill rolled slowly on his palm, and after a while, Gu He finally let out a sigh. Opening his mouth, he quickly swallowed the pill. The Emperor Pill melted in his mouth, turning into a slightly warm and surging medicinal force that crazily poured into Gu He''s body. As the massive and pure medicinal force surged in, Gu He''s mouth trembled slightly. Fortunately, his meridians were quite resilient; otherwise, it would have been difficult for him to swallow such a huge medicinal force. When the medicinal force quickly flowed through the meridians, Gu He took a deep breath. His mind moved, and his innate Flame burst out from various parts of his body, rushing into the meridians. It quickly wrapped around the massive medicinal force and forcefully guided these unruly entities along the route of the Flame Art, slowly setting them in motion. As the medicinal force surged in Gu He''s body, the surrounding space also violently fluctuated. Waves of energy emerged, forming energy vortexes above his head. Finally, they gently penetrated through his Heavenly Spirit Cover. Having his own Flame and refining the somewhat mottled energy between heaven and earth posed no difficulty for Gu He. Whatever amount came, he could refine. As the medicinal force gradually dissipated in his body, everything began to slowly enter the right track. With Gu He''s current ability, although the medicinal force of the Emperor Pill was immense, it would not make him feel panicked. Everything proceeded smoothly, like flowing clouds and water. As for how much strength this Emperor Pill could help Gu He gain, that would only be known when the results were revealed. After Gu He entered the slow refining state, the surroundings on the mountain peak became calm, with only Xiao Jin guarding the position beside him. (End of this chapter) Check my Patreon for 20 advanced chapters. Chapter 75: Nine-Star Dou Emperor Peak! Chapter 75: Nine-Star Dou Emperor Peak! Chapter 75: Nine-Star Dou Emperor Peak! On the mist-covered mountain peak, at the edge of a cliff, the space undulated incessantly. Threads of somewhat mottled natural energy surged rapidly, then swept overwhelmingly into the body of the middle-aged man seated at the edge of the mountain. Facing this endless infusion, his body was like a bottomless pit, allowing the energy to pour in without any sign of overflowing. Since taking the Emperor Supreme Pill, Gu He had maintained this state for nearly three days. During these three days, his sturdy figure remained motionless like a rock. On the mountain peak, only the energy vortex continuously rotating above his head emitted a low humming sound. Inside Gu He''s body, the immense medicinal power of the Emperor Supreme Pill, after being refined by his Divine Fire Technique, transformed into surging Dou Qi, flowing through his meridians like tidal waves. Moreover, there was a continuous influx of natural energy, which was ultimately refined by his Divine Fire Technique into pure Dou Qi, integrating into this massive force. Although the quantity of this natural energy was large, after multiple refinements, the remaining pure Dou Qi available for Gu He to absorb was not substantial. However, it was better than nothing. Accumulating over time, it reached a terrifying level. For most cultivators, their internal Dou Qi also accumulated in this way. Relying on medicinal pills to enhance strength was just a shortcut and couldn''t be abused, as it might lead to fluctuations in the internal Dou Qi. However, Gu He had no such concerns. The Divine Fire Technique recorded in the Divine Fire Scripture could refine the body while also tempering the internal Dou Qi. After the tempering by his Divine Fire Technique, even the originally unstable Dou Qi became extremely pure. This round of cultivation by Gu He lasted quite a long time. The medicinal power of the Emperor Supreme Pill had been completely refined a day ago, but he didn''t stop immediately; instead, he chose to continue practicing. Because he faintly felt that relying solely on the medicinal power of the Emperor Supreme Pill might not bring him much improvement in cultivation. His actions always pursued perfection. This was an opportunity, and he naturally wanted to seize it to maximize his strength. "Break for me!" Double fists clenched, the giant stone beneath Gu He''s feet exploded with a loud roar. Shattered stones flew in all directions, accompanied by a stern shout from Gu He. "Crack!" As if an invisible membrane in the dark had ruptured, the momentum that had ceased to rise in Gu He surged again, breaking through the late stage of the nine-star level and finally stopping at the peak of the nine stars! The momentum abruptly halted upon reaching the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Emperor. Gu He, as if in exhaustion, slumped down, palms on the ground, his face turning red as he continued to pant heavily. Despite his limbs feeling weak, there was an undisguised joy in Gu He''s eyes. He knew that, under the influence of the Emperor Supreme Pill and his own determination, he had successfully broken through to the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Emperor! In other words, Gu He was now a Nine-Star Dou Emperor, just one step away from the level of Dou Zong! Feeling the immensely powerful force within his body, a hint of excitement flashed in Gu He''s eyes. The strength of the Nine-Star Dou Emperor''s peak was enough to make him stride proudly through the Gamma Empire. At this moment, Gu He finally felt a trace of self-preserving power. Subsequently, he thought of something and sat down slowly. With a thought, his Divine Fire Technique began to envelop Gu He''s entire body. Gu He operated the Divine Fire Body Refining Technique, refining his physical body while simultaneously tempering the somewhat unstable Dou Qi caused by ingesting the Emperor Supreme Pill. (End of this chapter) Check out my Patreon for 20 advanced chapters. Chapter 76: Return to the Cloud Mist Sect Chapter 76: Return to the Cloud Mist Sect Chapter 76: Return to the Cloud Mist Sect Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, two more days had gone by. On the cliff, Gu He was enveloped in purple flames, resembling a cocoon of violet light. Beside him, Little Gold guarded silently, keeping a vigilant eye on the surroundings. As time elapsed, the purple cocoon gradually deepened. In the next moment, without any warning, the purple cocoon directly transformed into strands of purple flames, drilling into Gu He''s body and disappearing. Subsequently, Gu He slowly opened his eyes, and in his pitch-black pupils, flashes of lightning streaked like a thunderstorm. At that moment, on the silent cliff, even the air emitted a faint crackling sound. With the opening of these eyes, a majestic aura, as if dormant for countless ages, finally awakened like an army on the move. Slowly raising its head, it roared towards the sky, shaking the heavens and the earth. Under this aura, several subtle tremors appeared on the entire cliff, and cracks as thick as arms spread like a spider web from Gu He''s sitting position, covering every corner of the cliff. "Crack!" The cyan stone suddenly made a faint sound, and then tiny cracks suddenly appeared. At an incredibly fast speed, they spread across the entire cyan stone. Finally, with a low sound, the cyan stone directly turned into countless fragments, exploding. While the cyan stone shattered, Gu He, sitting on it, remained motionless. His legs were crossed in midair without relying on any external force. "Indeed, after the tempering of the Divine Fire, the Dou Qi has become extremely pure." Gu He slowly spread his hands, feeling the surging Dou Qi in his body like a torrential flood. A faint arc appeared at the corner of his mouth. At this moment, a feeling of grandeur, as if holding the world in his hands, surged from his heart. At the same time, a powerful soul force, centered on his body, swept out like a storm in all directions. The vigorous soul force quickly spread out of the cliff, enveloping the entire mountain range. As the soul force scanned the mountain range, Gu He observed the situation throughout the entire mountain range. As the soul force expanded to the mountains, it did not stop there. Instead, it continued to shoot toward the outside of the mountains. The mighty soul force completely spread to an area of hundreds of miles. However, it seemed to have reached a certain limit. Therefore, when Gu He''s soul force reached a certain place, it became difficult to make any progress. Seeing this, Gu He''s mind moved, and the soul force that had spread out like lightning suddenly retracted. In just a few breaths, it completely retracted into Gu He''s body. As the soul force returned to his body, Gu He slightly tilted his head back, exhaled a long breath, slowly stood up, and a relaxed expression appeared on his face. A smile appeared on Gu He''s face, and he patted the little doctor''s back gently, comforting her softly, "Didn''t I say I would be away for a few days? What''s there to worry about?" However, Xiao Yi Xian seemed a bit dissatisfied, pouting, "Hmph, Teacher, you promised it would only take two or three days, but now it''s been ten days. Can disciple not worry?" At these words, Gu He''s face showed a touch of embarrassment. He hadn''t expected that this breakthrough after taking the Emperor Supreme Pill would take so long. "Alright, Teacher is back safely now, isn''t he?" Gu He rubbed the little doctor''s head and consoled her gently. At this, Little Xiao Yi Xian slowly let go, leaving Gu He''s embrace. "During the time Teacher was away, your cultivation hasn''t fallen behind, has it?" Walking out of the pavilion, Gu He casually asked Little Doctor Immortal. At these words, Little Doctor Immortal raised a confident smile and said playfully, "Teacher, I haven''t been lazy. I have already broken through to the six-star Dou Master. Given another ten days, I can directly break through to the seven-star Dou Master realm." Gu He nodded, a satisfied smile appearing on his face, "Good, it seems that you, little girl, haven''t been lazy during my absence." Xiao Yi Xian picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea for Gu He, and said obediently, "Disciple wouldn''t dare to be lazy." Gu He lifted the teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "During this time, did anyone come to see me?" At these words, Xiao Yi Xian thought for a moment and replied, "Senior Brother came a few times. He told me to notify him as soon as you return; he should be on the verge of breaking through to the Dou Master realm." "That kid is finally about to break through?" At these words, a relieved expression appeared in Gu He''s eyes. After spending so much spiritual liquid, it was about time for Liu Ling to break through. It had been a month since the last time he passed on his skills and bestowed spiritual liquid to Liu Ling. If Liu Ling successfully broke through, he could continue to reward him. This time, the transmission of skills might help him break through to the Dou Zong realm with a single leap. Thinking of this, a smile appeared at the corner of Gu He''s mouth. "By the way, Teacher, three days ago, the Sect Master also came to see Teacher." "The Sect Master? She should have broken through by now, right?" Gu He looked at Little Doctor Immortal with confusion, "What did she come to me for?" (End of this chapter) Chapter 77: Body Movement Martial Skill, Wind Treading Chapter 77: Body Movement Martial Skill, Wind Treading Chapter 77: Body Movement Martial Skill, Wind Treading Gu He looked at Xiao Yi Xian with confusion. "She came to find me, but for what reason?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian shook her head. "The Sect Leader didn''t say. However, she left a scroll for you and then departed. According to Senior Sister Nalan, the Sect Leader has left the sect again." Saying this, she took out a scroll from her spatial ring and handed it to Gu He. "She left again? Why?" Gu He took the scroll from Xiao Yi Xian''s hand, feeling puzzled. This woman had just broken through, so why was she in such a hurry to leave again? Seeing Gu He''s confusion, Xiao Yi Xian explained, "According to Senior Sister Nalan, the Sect Leader went out this time to find some cultivation resources to enhance her cultivation speed." "It is said that Xiao Yan, who divorced Senior Sister Nalan, has awakened his talent and seems extremely extraordinary. This has made the Sect Leader somewhat uneasy. So, right after her breakthrough, she immediately left the sect." Xiao Yi Xian explained slowly. As she spoke, she felt a bit complicated in her heart. She understood that the Sect Leader leaving the sect was somewhat related to her. If she hadn''t put so much pressure on Nalan Yanran, things might not have turned out this way. Gu He, hearing this, was slightly stunned. He hadn''t expected that news of Xiao Yan''s recovery would spread to the Cloud Mist Sect so quickly. Then he sighed inwardly. Yun Yun, the Sect Leader, wasn''t doing a competent job. Most of the time, she wasn''t even in the sect. How could she be considered a qualified Sect Leader? Afterward, Gu He''s eyes showed a hint of curiosity as he opened the scroll in his hand. "High-level Profound Rank Martial Skill, Wind Treading!" Glancing at the scroll, Gu He''s eyes flashed. Surprisingly, it was a high-level Profound Rank Martial Skill.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com Gu He wasn''t lacking in high-level Profound Rank Martial Skills. But what surprised him was that this was actually a Martial Skill for body movement. As is well known, among Martial Skills of the same level, body movement skills are the most precious. The value of a high-level Profound Rank body movement Martial Skill is almost comparable to an ordinary Earth Rank Martial Skill. Gu He felt a slight joy in his heart. Now I am lacking a body movement martial skill? Unexpectedly, Yun Yun happened to send one to me. Could this be her expression of gratitude? ... At this moment, on the summit of the rear mountain of Cloud Mist Sect, where clouds and mist linger, creating a fairyland-like scene. On a protruding black rock at the edge of the cliff, a woman dressed in a moon-white dress was forming the seals for cultivation with both hands, practicing with closed eyes. With each inhalation and exhalation, a perfect cycle was formed. During the alternation of each cycle, a faint greenish flow of energy would emanate from the rich air around her. The flow of energy hovered around the woman, then was continuously absorbed into her body, undergoing refinement and absorption... After the last strand of green energy was absorbed into her body, Nalan Yanran slowly opened her eyes, and a faint green light flashed in her eyes. The long, black hair hanging down her shoulders fluttered for a moment without any wind. "That was my marriage. I don''t want to marry anyone according to your wishes. I will make my own decisions about my matters! I don''t care who agreed to it; all I know is that if according to the agreement, I am the one marrying, not grandfather!" Bringing up this matter, Nalan Yanran''s expression turned unpleasant. As an independent-minded person, she disliked having her major life decisions dictated by others, even if that person was her elder. "Don''t think I don''t know. You just think that Xiao Yan, who was once considered a waste, is not worthy of you, right? But now that he has potential comparable to yours! With your status in Cloud Mist Sect, you should have received information about his strength improvement, right?" Nalan Su scolded. Nalan Yanran frowned slightly. Memories of the stubborn young man from back then flashed in her mind. She pursed her lips and said, "I have indeed heard some information about him. I didn''t expect him to really shed the label of being a waste. It''s quite surprising." "Surprising? Just a word of surprise is enough? Your grandfather has spoken. He wants you to find a time to go to Wu Tan City again. It would be best if you could apologize and ease the strained relationship." "Apologize? Impossible!" Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran raised her eyebrows. Without hesitation, she directly refused, coldly humming, "Although Xiao Yan is no longer a waste, I, Nalan Yanran, will never marry him! Not to mention apologizing. If you like it, then go by yourself. I won''t go to Wu Tan City again!" "Where do you get the right to refuse? You caused this trouble, and you must go there to settle it!" Seeing Nalan Yanran''s outright refusal, Nalan Su suddenly became furious. "I won''t go!" With a cold face, Nalan Yanran raised her snowy white chin, and her cheeks showed a natural sense of preciousness. "Even if Xiao Yan has some abilities now, do you think I, Nalan Yanran, am inferior to him in any way? Moreover, Cloud Mist Sect has countless profound cultivation techniques, not to mention the vast collection of advanced martial arts. Elder Gu He even helps me refine pills. Can a young master from a small family have these things? Speaking frankly, he probably needs more than a decade just to search for advanced martial arts!" Being looked down upon in such a way, Nalan Yanran, who despised being compared to the once-scorned waste, suddenly felt like a mother cat whose tail was stepped on. She least liked being told she was inferior to someone she once looked down on. Seeing his daughter making a fuss, Nalan Su was so angry that he blew his beard and stared. He suddenly stood up, raised his palm, and was about to slap Nalan Yanran. "Nalan Brother, please don''t mess around." Seeing Nalan Su''s movements, a white figure swiftly rushed in and stood in front of Nalan Yanran. "Nalan Yanran, is it true that you were accompanied by this scoundrel to Xiao''s house last time?" Seeing the figure in front, Nalan Su''s anger surged even more, and he angrily asked. With an awkward smile, Ge Ye helplessly said, "This was the intention of the Sect Leader; I had no choice." "What is the Sect Leader doing? Allowing Yanran to do such foolish things? If Xiao Yan really defeats Yanran three years later, will she really become a servant for him?" Although Nalan Su''s anger slightly subsided at the mention of the Sect Leader, there was still a lot of resentment in his words. After all, losing a highly potential son-in-law and gaining a potential formidable enemy would put anyone in a bad mood. "Hehe, Brother Nalan, don''t be anxious. What''s done is done, and now it''s useless to say anything. Even if you make Yanran apologize, it won''t mend the relationship between the two families. Why bother to seek trouble? As for the three-year agreement, you can rest assured. The Sect Master has recently descended from the mountain and personally prepared the last few ingredients for a medicinal formula for Yanran. As long as Elder Gu He refines the pill when the time comes, it will be difficult for Xiao Yan to catch up with Yanran''s cultivation progress. As long as Yanran shows some mercy during the three-year agreement, it should ease the anger in his heart." Ge Ye smiled. "What kind of medicinal formula has such an effect?" Nalan Su asked with a slight frown. "Hehe, that can''t be said yet. The medicinal formula was obtained by the Sect Master during an expedition in the mountains last year. It should have been left by predecessors. As for the efficacy, you''ll know when the time comes..." Ge Ye said mysteriously. Seeing Ge Ye''s reluctance to reveal more, Nalan Su waved his hand impatiently. Looking at Nalan Yanran, who was still stubbornly standing behind Ge Ye, he could only shake his head helplessly and stomp his foot in frustration. "Forget it, I don''t want to deal with you. If you lose, become a maidservant warming someone else''s bed. Don''t mention that you have any relation to the Nalan family. I can''t afford to lose face like that." After saying that, Nalan Su, full of resentment, left the hall. Watching his figure disappear at the end of the line of sight, Ge Ye sighed in relief. Turning around to look at Nalan Yanran, who still had a stubborn expression, he sighed and said, "I really didn''t expect... that little guy from the Xiao family actually managed to climb up." "What does it matter... three years later, I will definitely defeat him honorably." Nalan Yanran sat in a chair, speaking with determination. "Yanran, do you... really have confidence in defeating him in the three-year agreement?" After hesitating for a while, Ge Ye suddenly asked. "Uncle Ge, how come even you think I''m not as good as that waste... him." Hearing this, Nalan Yanran immediately expressed her displeasure. With a bitter smile and a shake of his head, Ge Ye sighed, "Always feel that that little guy is somewhat mysterious..." Pouting, Nalan Yanran held the teacup with her jade-like hand, slightly clenching it. Her gaze was fixed on the pale green tea, and she coldly snorted in her heart, "I don''t believe you can really climb over me! If I can''t match Junior Sister Xiao, that''s acceptable, but can I let a waste surpass me?" "Xiao Yan, I, Nalan Yanran, am waiting for you at Cloud Mist Sect! If you have the ability, come as agreed!" (End of this chapter) Chapter 78 Breaking Through to Dou Master Chapter 78 Breaking Through to Dou Master Three days later. A figure swiftly moved in the courtyard, resembling an elf in the wind, moving with the breeze. Gu He stood in mid-air, walking in the void, his figure elusive, appearing and disappearing. With every step, it seemed as if he was stepping on a whirlwind, swiftly moving with the power of the whirlwind. The movements were exceptionally elegant, like a figure from the realm of immortals. After a moment, Gu He, stepping on the wind, slowly landed in the pavilion. As Gu He''s figure descended, the whirlwind beneath his feet gradually dissipated. "This Wind-Stepping Technique has finally been mastered." After landing, Gu He, thinking about his speed just now, couldn''t help but reveal a satisfied smile. The Wind-Stepping Technique truly lived up to its reputation as an advanced Profound-Rank martial art. After using the Wind-Stepping Technique, Gu He''s speed increased by five times. Unfortunately, his Dou Qi attribute was not wind. Otherwise, the enhancement would have been even higher. Sitting down in the pavilion, Gu He slowly poured himself a cup of tea and drank it in one gulp. Hoo! Just at this moment, a breaking sound echoed in the sky above the courtyard. Soon after, a massive figure descended in the courtyard, raising a cloud of dust. Gu He focused his gaze and saw the enormous creature that appeared in the courtyarda giant bird. The giant bird was completely black, and the feathers on its body produced a crisp sound of gold and iron clashing as they vibrated. Its claws were like iron hooks, firmly gripping the ground and embedding into the earth. Then, a white figure descended from the giant bird, and it was none other than Xiao Yi Xian. The giant bird was the pet of Xiao Yi XianIronwing Giant Eagle. When Gu He left Cloud Mist Sect to break through using the Emperor Supreme Pill, the Ironwing Giant Eagle egg of Xiao Yi Xian had already successfully hatched. A few days after the Ironwing Giant Eagle hatched, Xiao Yi Xian couldn''t wait to ride it and fly over Cloud Mist Sect. At first, Xiao Yi Xian was not accustomed to it. After a few days, she finally got used to it and flew over Cloud Mist Sect on the Ironwing Giant Eagle every day. Sometimes, she would also take Nalan Yanran to soar in the sky. If it were someone else doing this, the elders of Cloud Mist Sect would probably have objections long ago. Not long after, cries of Liu Ling''s agonizing howls echoed in the courtyard. Listening to Liu Ling''s screams and looking at the festering skin on his body, Xiao Yi Xian felt a bit creepy. She glanced at Gu He, feeling somewhat fortunate. Fortunately, the teacher gave her the mild efficacy Bone-Healing Powder. If it were like Senior Brother, she didn''t know if she could endure it. Indeed, the teacher was the best for her. Thinking of this, Xiao Yi Xian felt sweet in her heart. "Teacher, I''ll go back to cultivate now." After listening to the "ghostly cries and wolf howls" for a while, Xiao Yi Xian couldn''t bear it any longer and said to Gu He. "Go, if nothing goes wrong, your senior brother is about to break through to the Dou Master realm today. If you don''t work hard, you might be caught up by your senior brother." Gu He squinted his eyes, and upon hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s words, he slowly spoke. "Senior Brother is about to break through?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian was slightly stunned. These days, Senior Brother has been saying that he is about to break through. Unexpectedly, today is finally the day? However, although a bit surprised, Xiao Yi Xian was full of confidence in herself. Now, she has already broken through to the peak of six-star Dou Master. When she returns to her room and takes another second-grade herb, she estimates that she can smoothly break through to a seven-star Dou Master. Even if Senior Brother breaks through to Dou Master, she is seven realms higher than him. However, since the teacher said so, she naturally dared not slack off and obediently responded, "Teacher, the disciple will double her efforts in cultivation." After saying that, she slowly left the pavilion and returned to her room. In the end, Gu He cast his gaze at Liu Ling in the wooden barrel. He could sense that at this moment, there was a slight fluctuation in Liu Ling''s aura .Although very subtle, Gu He, with his powerful soul force, keenly felt it. At this rate, after Liu Ling absorbed the energy in the wooden barrel, he was about to make a breakthrough. Thinking of this, Gu He quietly waited in the pavilion, occasionally glancing at Liu Ling, waiting for his breakthrough. Soon after, two hours later, Liu Ling, who was sitting in the wooden barrel, no longer made the sounds of wailing, but instead sat cross-legged in the barrel, breaking through the barrier to the Dou Master realm. Bang! After a moment, with a muffled sound, Liu Ling''s aura suddenly surged, emitting the aura of the Dou Master realm. (End of this chapter)Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com Chapter 79 Passing on Techniques Again! Chapter 79 Passing on Techniques Again! Chapter 79 Passing on Techniques Again! At the moment of breakthrough, Liu Ling suddenly opened his eyes wide, excitement gleaming in them. "Teacher, I''ve broken through!" In the next moment, Liu Ling leaped up, directly jumping out of the wooden barrel. "Hiss!" "Ah!..." After jumping out of the barrel, Liu Ling hadn''t taken a few steps when he felt a piercing pain all over his body. Caught off guard, he couldn''t help but scream in pain. Then, Liu Ling lowered his head and, to his despair, found that he had forgotten about the skin ulceration caused by soaking in the Blood Circulation Pill. Realizing this, Liu Ling immediately turned around, gritted his teeth, and leaped back into the wooden barrel. "Teacher..." Inside the barrel, Liu Ling licked his face and looked at Gu He. Gu He: "..." The more he looked at this disciple, the more foolish he seemed. Afterward, Gu He walked over somewhat helplessly, poured a bottle of Purple Jade Spirit Liquid worth millions of gold coins into the barrel.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.comfortable!" As the Purple Jade Spirit Liquid took effect, a cool sensation swept through Liu Ling''s entire body, and he couldn''t help but let out a very enjoyable moan. Soon, under the nourishment of the Purple Jade Spirit Liquid, the festering skin on Liu Ling''s body gradually returned to normal. An hour later, Liu Ling sprang out of the barrel, stood up, fanned himself, and stretched lazily. Crackling sounds echoed from his bones as he stretched. "Feels great!" Feeling the immense energy within him, Liu Ling''s lips curled slightly. He quickly walked to Gu He''s side and, seeing that his teacup was empty, attentively refilled it with tea. Thinking about the promise the teacher made to him last time, that breaking through the Dou Master realm would bring three rewards, Liu Ling suddenly felt excited. He then licked his face and reminded, "Teacher, your disciple has broken through to the Dou Master realm." Gu He lifted the teacup, took a sip, glanced at Liu Ling, and said casually, "Even a pig would break through after consuming so many resources." "Uh..." At these words, Liu Ling''s face showed a somewhat embarrassed expression. "Teacher, please stop, disciple can''t hold on any longer!" Hearing Liu Ling''s painful words, Gu He''s face changed, and he quickly stopped the process. The next moment, a notification sound echoed in his mind. "Ding, detected that the host granted the senior disciple Liu Ling one day of cultivation. Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten-thousand-fold return, gaining twenty-seven years of cultivation!" (Equivalent to the peak of Nine-Star Dou Emperor) "Twenty-seven years of cultivation has been deposited in the system space. Please check it, host!" Hearing the system prompt, Gu He''s heart surged. This time, it was actually a ten-thousand-fold return! A full twenty-seven years of cultivation! Gu He''s lips curled slightly, revealing a satisfied expression. With these twenty-seven years of cultivation, he should be able to make a breakthrough to the peak of the Dou Emperor realm in one go and successfully advance to the Dou Zong realm. Then, he looked at Liu Ling, who was still immersed in refining the energy within his body, with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. This kid forcefully endured through the last round, showing some backbone. Although Liu Ling only endured for one day of cultivation this time, Gu He was not dissatisfied at all. During this period, with the abundant spiritual liquid tempering his body, Liu Ling''s physical strength had indeed greatly increased. But don''t forget. Gu He''s cultivation had also been growing. Moreover, the rate of Gu He''s cultivation growth was greater than the increase in Liu Ling''s physical strength. As cultivation increased, the fighting spirit within the body naturally became more abundant, and the quantity represented by one day of cultivation became even more significant. Therefore, Liu Ling''s ability to increase from half a day of cultivation to a full day was already commendable. After all, the cultivation of a Nine-Star Dou Emperor in one day was extremely terrifying. It was not something an ordinary Dou Master could endure. If it weren''t for Liu Ling immersing himself in the Blood Circulation Pill every day during this time. Gu He estimated that he wouldn''t be able to endure even half a day of cultivation, and his meridians would have ruptured. Then, Gu He''s mind entered the system space, checked the twenty-seven years of cultivation light sphere, and then exited the system space. Breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm caused a great sensation. Gu He planned to, just like last time, leave Yunlan Sect and find a quiet place to break through. Watching Liu Ling still unconscious, Gu He wasn''t in a hurry. He came to the pavilion, sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and quietly waited for Liu Ling to wake up. (End of this chapter) Chapter 80: Vermilion Bird Seal! Chapter 80: Vermilion Bird Seal! Chapter 80: Vermilion Bird Seal! Bang! Just after Gu He had been sitting in the pavilion for half an hour, another muffled sound echoed from within Liu Ling''s body. His aura suddenly surged, and his cultivation directly broke through to the five-star Dou Master! At this moment, Liu Ling finally absorbed all the thick energy within his body. His cultivation completely stabilized. After a moment, Liu Ling slowly opened his eyes. Looking at Gu He sitting in the pavilion, Liu Ling was momentarily stunned. After a moment of realization, he immediately checked his own cultivation. "Five-star Dou Master!" The next moment, an extreme excitement appeared on Liu Ling''s face. Feeling the powerful force within his body, Liu Ling was thrilled, wishing he could dance in joy. In such a short time, he had actually broken through from a one-star Dou Master to a five-star Dou Master! This was simply too crazy. He felt fortunate that he managed to hold on a bit longer during the last round. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to break through to a five-star Dou Master. Then, he thought about the special training he had undergone during this period. If it weren''t for the intensive training that significantly enhanced his physical strength, he probably wouldn''t have lasted through the first round of the power transmission just now. Thinking of this, Liu Ling suddenly felt that the hardships he endured during this time were not in vain. "Awake?" At this moment, Gu He put down his teacup and glanced at Liu Ling. Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling immediately approached, smiling, "Awake, teacher!" Gu He asked, "How does it feel to have a surge in cultivation?" Excitement appeared on Liu Ling''s face as he replied, "Great!" Gu He naturally understood the excitement in Liu Ling''s heart. After all, he often experienced the feeling of a sudden increase in strength himself. "Now you know what benefits the special training has brought you?" Gu He said lightly. "Yes." Without hesitation, Liu Ling nodded firmly and said, "Teacher, I think we can intensify the special training in the future." "I think for tomorrow''s special training, we can add a few more bottles of Blood Ignition Powder. Disciple is not afraid of pain." A tenfold return! An Earth Rank Advanced Dou Technique! Vermilion Bird Seal! Unexpectedly, after the tenfold return of the Profound Rank Advanced Dou Technique, he actually obtained an Earth Rank Advanced Dou Technique! He glanced at Liu Ling, who was immersed in absorbing the information in his mind. Gu He''s mind moved, and he immediately entered the system space. Then, Gu He saw a fiery red light sphere suspended in the system space. Is this the Earth Rank Advanced Dou Technique, Vermilion Bird Seal? Looking at the fiery red light sphere suspended in the void, Gu He''s eyes showed excitement. After that, he called out to the system in his mind, "System, start extracting Vermilion Bird Seal!" The next moment, the fiery red light sphere floating in the void turned into a dazzling red light, shot towards Gu He, and then entered his mind. Boom! A profound and mysterious information surged into Gu He''s mind. A dizziness as if the universe was revolving and moving overwhelmed him, but fortunately, Gu He had become somewhat accustomed to this feeling. The next moment, an endless starry sky suddenly appeared in Gu He''s mind. In this ancient starry sky, countless brilliant stars flickered crazily. These starlights seemed to be drawn by some force, constantly changing. Gu He stared at this scene with fascination. These ever-changing starlights eventually turned into dazzling runes, shining brightly. In the reflection of Gu He''s eyes, he understood that this was the cultivation method of Vermilion Bird Seal. Gu He firmly memorized the method of condensing these runes and the changes in this Dao. Vaguely, a kind of enlightenment descended upon Gu He''s mind. Cry! At this moment, an extremely loud phoenix cry suddenly echoed from the starry sky. In this vast starry sky, the radiant starlight seemed to gather towards those runes, and the void began to fluctuate. There, a majestic and ancient aura, carrying a sense of agelessness, rose in the starry sky. The energy between heaven and earth suddenly became extremely violent. Finally, with a sharp hiss, a blazing fire ignited, turning into a blaze and rushing out within the endless celestial fire. Inside, a huge shadow was elegantly stretching its massive body, reincarnating in the boundless celestial fire. (End of this chapter)Discover new chapters at novelhall.com Chapter 81: Ascension Steps Chapter 81: Ascension Steps Chapter 81: Ascension Steps "Vermilion Bird Seal!" Gu He looked at this elegant illusion with some shock. On this illusion, he felt a kind of fierceness that could incinerate the sky. Only after this scene disappeared from his mind did Gu He slowly open his eyes. A feeling of enlightenment poured into Gu He''s heart, followed by wild joy. At this moment, Gu He felt that he had completely mastered the Earth Rank Advanced Dou Technique, Ascension Steps. Moreover, it was a profound understanding, soaked in experience. The ten-thousand-fold return not only referred to the level of the technique but also included the insights Gu He passed to Liu Ling during the training. This allowed him to perfect his mastery of this technique while passing on the Ascension Steps heritage. This excited Gu He. Advanced Earth Rank techniques are extremely difficult to cultivate, requiring a considerable amount of energy and time. Yet now, Gu He had only spent a moment, and he had already mastered this Earth Rank Advanced Dou Technique. This undoubtedly saved him a considerable amount of time and effort. Thinking of the terrifying power exhibited by Ascension Steps in the scene just now, Gu He not only felt excited but also eager to try it himself. With this Earth Rank Advanced Dou Technique, Gu He was confident in facing Dou Ancestor-level experts head-on. Moreover, his innate Essence Fire was condensed from an extraordinary flame. This gave Ascension Steps, a fire attribute technique, a significant boost in power. If Gu He''s innate Essence Fire could be further enhanced, the Ascension Steps he displayed in the future might even rival some low-level Heaven Rank techniques. Then, Gu He turned his gaze to Liu Ling, who had not yet awakened, and quietly waited by his side. After a moment, Liu Ling''s eyelids moved, and he slowly opened his eyes. Thinking of the information he had just received in his mind, a joyous expression appeared on Liu Ling''s face. Profound Rank Advanced Technique, Flame Palm! The teacher actually gave him a Profound Rank Advanced Dou Technique!T/his chapter is updated by And the information Gu He gave him not only included the cultivation method of Flame Palm but also contained insights into cultivating Flame Palm. With these insights, he believed he could quickly master this technique. A vast and mighty burst of information exploded in his mind. These pieces of information turned into a light shadow, flashing through his mind. The next moment, in Gu He''s consciousness, an ancient palace appeared. In the ancient palace, there were densely packed stone platforms. At this moment, a human-shaped light shadow appeared in the palace. Looking at this light shadow, Gu He''s eyes revealed a hint of surprise. He stared straight at the light shadow in his mind. At this moment, the originally quiet human-shaped light shadow suddenly flashed towards one of the stone platforms. In the dim palace, silver lights flickered. Swish! The human-shaped light shadow suddenly turned into a ray of light, and in an instant, it appeared dozens of feet away. This speed made Gu He a little unresponsive. When he looked over, the human-shaped light shadow had already disappeared. No, it was not disappearing but continuously flashing on the densely packed stone platforms, with the positions where the human-shaped light shadow appeared full of suspended lights. Swish! Swish! Swish! The sharp breaking sound echoed, and the entire area was filled with the residual images of the human-shaped light shadow, densely packed. Eventually, Gu He couldn''t even see the movement of the human-shaped light shadow clearly. The speed at which this human-shaped light shadow swept through was incredibly fast, so fast that Gu He couldn''t react. However, Gu He could see the trajectory of these light shadows, as if these human-shaped light shadows were deeply imprinted in his mind. After a moment, Gu He slowly opened his eyes. Then, he rubbed his slightly swollen head and muttered to himself, "I didn''t expect such a mysterious technique in this world." "Constructing a point in the void with the power of the soul, then moving with the soul..." As Gu He uttered these words, his figure gradually became blurry. The next moment, Gu He''s figure directly appeared at the gate of another courtyard without any warning. Then, Gu He''s figure quickly dissipated and appeared in the pavilion, leaving only a fading shadow at the courtyard gate. "Ascension Steps, the nearest reaches of the world, the farthest steps to infinity." A hint of excitement appeared at the corner of Gu He''s mouth. (End of this chapter) Chapter 82: Hmph! Dan King Gu He is nothing! Chapter 82: Hmph! Dan King Gu He is nothing! Chapter 82: Hmph! Dan King Gu He is Nothing! In the pavilion, after using Ascension Steps twice, Gu He''s eyes carried a trace of excitement. Ascension Steps used soul power as a point, continuously moving the body in the void. As long as his soul power could reach, with a single thought, Gu He could instantly arrive. This speed was extremely fast, akin to instantaneous movement. Of course, the distance of instantaneous movement was related to the practitioner''s internal Dou Qi capacity. The farther the distance moved, the more terrifying the Dou Qi consumption would be. With Gu He''s current Nine-Star Dou Emperor strength, if he fully executed Ascension Steps, he could probably do it less than ten times before completely depleting his internal Dou Qi. However, this was also because Gu He''s soul power intensity was too strong. With his soul power fully released, it could extend up to ten miles. In other words, Gu He''s full use of Ascension Steps could instantly reach a location ten miles away. Imagining the various uses of Ascension Steps in his mind, Gu He felt a bit excited. With Ascension Steps, his ability to escape and pursue would experience a tremendous improvement in the future. At this moment, Gu He saw Xiao Jin playing on top of a wall in the yard. With a thought, Gu He executed Ascension Steps, and in an instant, his figure appeared directly behind Xiao Jin. Before the latter could react, Gu He reached out and grabbed it in his palm. The moment Xiao Jin was caught, it was startled, and instinctively wanted to resist. However, sensing Gu He''s aura, it calmed down. After teasing Xiao Jin for a while, Gu He smiled and returned to the pavilion. As his figure flickered, Gu He''s posture was extremely elegant. At this moment, Gu He had already sensed that Liu Ling was about to wake up. Sure enough, after waiting for a while, Liu Ling slowly regained consciousness. Opening his eyes, Liu Ling''s mind instantly flashed with the stored information, and a surprised look appeared on his face. Another Profound Rank advanced Dou Technique! And it''s also a body movement technique! Naturally, he understood the value of a Profound Rank advanced body movement technique. "Did you learn it?" Feeling the excitement on Liu Ling''s face, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Gu He''s mouth. At his words, Liu Ling nodded with a smile, "Teacher, with the insights you gave me, I have already mastered this Profound Rank body movement technique to some extent." "Good." Nodding faintly, Gu He had expected such a situation. "Well, I''ve given you three rewards this time." Looking at the sky outside, Gu He slowly spoke, "When you break through to a Six-Star Dou Master next time or when you break through to a Third-Rank Alchemist, I will give you three treasures again." At his words, Liu Ling was slightly stunned, and then a joyful expression appeared on his face. Immediately, he swore in his heart to practice hard, break through his cultivation as soon as possible, and quickly improve his alchemy skills. "Well, since the rewards have been given to you, go back. Remember to come early for special training tomorrow." Gu He waved his hand, letting Liu Ling leave. "Yes, teacher." Hearing this, Liu Ling nodded slowly, got up, and left the yard. "Quick, condense the Dou Qi vortex! Otherwise, it will explode!" The teacher''s shout was like thunder in the youth''s heart. Taking a deep breath, the youth''s hand seals changed, thumb and index finger joined, fingers interlocked, forming a strange seal. As the youth''s hand seals changed, the surging Dou Qi in his body, as if subjected to a fierce suction, rapidly contracted towards the lower abdomen. The faint white Dou Qi in various meridians all began to retreat, and when all the Dou Qi gathered in the lower abdomen, the pale Dou Qi had already turned into milky white. "Quick, compress the Dou Qi! Use your soul perception to compress them. If the condensation of the Dou Qi vortex fails, you will fall back to the eighth stage of Dou Qi!" The teacher''s shout was very timely in the youth''s mind. Nodding slightly, the youth focused his mind. His excellent soul perception instantly gained control of the Dou Qi in his body, and then, the crazy compression began... Under the drive of soul perception, the milky white Dou Qi began to resist, constantly churning violently. Although the resistance was strong, the youth''s soul perception, which even the teacher had marveled at, made the protest of Dou Qi seem futile. After a brief confrontation, the resistance began to shrink helplessly. When Dou Qi shrank to the size of a palm, it solidified again. "Compress again!" The teacher shouted. Biting his teeth, the youth closed his eyes, and the soul perception surrounding the milky white Dou Qi suddenly expanded to the maximum, then ruthlessly compressed it. "Boom!" A faint muffled sound quietly echoed inside... With the muffled sound, the force that made the youth strenuously resist dissipated. Taking a deep breath, the youth collapsed, his chest heaving violently. Lying in the cold cave, the youth sensed the abundant energy in his body that had been absent for four years. A faint smile appeared on his lips. After a moment, the smile gradually widened, turning into a light laughter, then into a big laugh, and finally, a mad laughter... Exhaling a breath, the youth with closed eyes gradually opened them. In the pitch-black pupils, the milky white light lingered for about ten seconds before gradually dissipating. Mouth slightly open, a somewhat heavy breath was expelled by the youth. After spitting out the breath, the youth''s complexion noticeably became more radiant. Twisting his neck, the cracking sound of bones colliding made the youth smile, lifting his head, looking at the old man floating at the entrance of the cave like a ghost, he grinned and said, " Teacher, I have successfully broken through to the Dou Practitioner realm." The old man nodded, "If you can''t even break through to the Dou Practitioner realm, it would be a joke for me to accept you as a disciple." Hearing this, the corners of the youth''s mouth twitched, somewhat dissatisfied, "Teacher, I was able to break through to the Dou Practitioner realm in just a few months. That should be considered good, right?" Seeing the youth speak like this, the old man said faintly, "Little Yanzi, becoming a Dou Practitioner is just the beginning. Back then, even Alchemists at the Dou Huang level had to kneel and bow to me." "Even Dou Huang level Alchemists kowtowed to you?" The youth was extremely shocked and asked in amazement, "Teacher, what level of Alchemist are you?" The old man, upon hearing this, said calmly, "Teacher''s background, I won''t tell you for now. You just need to know that someone like that so-called Dan King is just... nothing." The corners of the youth''s mouth twitched. Looking at the old man''s casual appearance, he was about to say something, but swallowed it back: "What is the teacher''s background? The renowned Dan King Gu He is nothing? If I say this out loud, I''m afraid the entire empire will laugh at me for being insane, won''t they?" However, the old man''s words gave the youth great confidence. Thinking of the humiliation and divorce a few months ago, a glint of determination flashed in the youth''s eyes! Nalan Yanran, you wait for me! In the battle three years from now, I, Xiao Yan, will surely use all my strength to defeat you! This black-clad youth is Xiao Yan. And the phantom figure of the old man is Yao Chen. You, Yun Lan Sect, have Alchemy King Gu He, but what about now? My teacher is far more powerful than Gu He! When I step into Yun Lan Sect in the future, I, Xiao Yan, will make you understand what a true genius is! (End of this chapter) Chapter 83: Soul Hall! Chapter 83: Soul Hall! Chapter 83: Soul Hall! Yun Lan Sect, back mountains. On a cliff, the figure of Gu He appeared out of thin air. Unfurling his soul power and sensing that there was no one around, Gu He''s mind moved, and he began to form hand seals. His hands danced, and mysterious symbols emerged one by one from Gu He''s hands. In an instant, dozens of symbols gathered between Gu He''s fingers. As these mysterious symbols converged, a dazzling starry pattern appeared in the void. Then, a sharp neigh echoed from the starry sky, and an elegant yet enormous figure slowly emerged. The Vermillion Bird''s phantom, covered in red flames, exuded an extremely violent and scorching aura, like a colossal beast covering the sky, as if it could burn the entire world. Staring at this phantom in the void, Gu He''s body trembled slightly, excitement showing in his eyes. "Indeed, it''s a high-level Earth-tier combat skill. With such power, I''m afraid even Dou Ancestor level experts wouldn''t dare to confront it head-on." Afterward, Gu He''s mind moved, urging the Vermillion Bird''s phantom to blast towards the cliff below. Swoosh! With a high-pitched neigh, the colossal Vermillion Bird''s phantom in the void turned into a pillar of fiery red light, thundering towards the bottom of the cliff. At the same time, Gu He''s figure flashed, directly leaving the back mountain cliff. When he appeared again, he was back in his own courtyard. Although he returned to his courtyard, Gu He''s soul power remained at the cliff. Only a deafening roar echoed from below the cliff, and towering flames rose from the bottom. Crack! The next moment, under the tremendous energy shock, the cliff could not bear the weight, directly shattering into countless fragments, falling towards the bottom of the cliff. As the cliff was destroyed, Gu He slowly retracted his soul power, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He was quite satisfied with the power unleashed by the Vermillion Bird Seal. Just after the loud explosion, a stream of moon-white light quickly descended on the edge of the cliff. It was an old man with white hair, a face showing signs of aging, emitting a terrifying aura belonging to the pinnacle of the Nine-Star Dou Emperor realm. Meanwhile, unknown to Gu He, the massive explosion from the back mountains of Yun Lan Sect not only led to Yun Shan agreeing to cooperate with the Soul Palace ahead of schedule but also attracted the attention of many elders of Yun Lan Sect. Several elders arrived at the cliff, looking at the destroyed cliff with astonishment on their faces. Various thoughts emerged in their minds. "Could there be a terrifying monster in the back mountains?" "Could there be a peerless expert passing through Yun Lan Sect?" Various strange speculations flashed through the minds of the elders of Yun Lan Sect. The initiator of all this, at this moment, was leisurely sitting in the pavilion of his courtyard, enjoying tea with a satisfied expression. At this moment, Gu He''s expression changed slightly, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. "What is this old guy coming to me for?" After a while, a senior in a moon-white robe slowly arrived outside Gu He''s courtyard. "Ge Ye requests an audience with Elder Gu He!" This elderly person in moon-white robes was none other than Ge Ye, the Outer Sect steward of Yun Lan Sect. "Come in." After Ge Ye''s words fell silent for a moment, Gu He''s faint voice came from the courtyard. Upon hearing this, Ge Ye respectfully entered the courtyard. "Ge Ye pays respects to Elder Gu He!" Approaching the pavilion, Ge Ye respectfully saluted Gu He. "I wonder why Steward Ge Ye has come here." Gu He put down the tea cup in his hand and asked with some confusion. Ge Ye responded, "Elder Gu He, the Miteer family has sent someone just now, saying that they have matters to discuss with you at the Miteer Auction House." "The Miteer family?" Upon hearing this, Gu He was slightly stunned, then immediately thought of the agreement with Miteer Tengshan on that day. Could it be that he has already gathered the medicinal ingredients for the Qingming Longevity Pill? (End of this chapter) Chapter 84: Refining the Qingming Longevity Pill! Chapter 84: Refining the Qingming Longevity Pill! Chapter 84: Refining the Qingming Longevity Pill! One hour later. Miteer Auction House, VIP room. "Chief Tengshan called me here, is it for the matter of the Qingming Longevity Pill?" In the VIP room, Gu He and Miteer Tengshan sat opposite each other. Upon hearing this, Miteer Tengshan nodded and said, "Indeed, Lord Alchemist, I have already gathered all the materials required for refining the Qingming Longevity Pill." A hint of surprise flashed in Gu He''s eyes, "The Miteer family is indeed the wealthiest family in the Jia Ma Empire. Even Yun Lan Sect would find it difficult to gather all the materials for refining the Qingming Longevity Pill. I didn''t expect Chief Tengshan to be able to gather them all in such a short time." "Lord Alchemist is too kind. How could the Miteer family compare to Yun Lan Sect?" Miteer Tengshan replied humbly, "I was just fortunate. To gather these medicinal ingredients, I also had to pay a significant price." As he spoke, Miteer Tengshan''s face showed a hint of pain. It was clear that the Miteer family had spent a substantial amount to collect these materials. "Chief Tengshan is being too modest. Since the medicinal ingredients have been gathered, please hand them over," Gu He said calmly. "Very well." Upon hearing this, Miteer Tengshan didn''t hesitate and immediately presented a storage ring to Gu He. Accepting the storage ring from Miteer Tengshan, Gu He''s consciousness entered it and checked the contents. Then he nodded in approval. Inside the storage ring were not only the materials for refining the Qingming Longevity Pill but also some main ingredients for the Purple Spirit Pill. After putting away the storage ring, Gu He stood up and said, "Since the medicinal ingredients have been gathered, and there''s still some time, I might as well refine it for you." Gu He looked at Miteer Tengshan and asked, "Is there a quiet place in the auction house?" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Miteer Tengshan showed some hesitation, "Lord Alchemist, are you planning to start refining the Qingming Longevity Pill right now?" In his opinion, Gu He should make some preparations before refining it, especially for a sixth-grade pill like this. If there were any mistakes, all previous efforts would be in vain. Miteer Tengshan was well aware of the regulations in the alchemy world. If these two sets of materials were both wasted, he would be the one to suffer the most. The Miteer family had spent a considerable amount to gather them. Looking at the milky white liquid, Gu He breathed a sigh of relief. With a flick of his fingers, the flame surged. Under the soaring temperature, the palm-sized milky white liquid began to shrink visibly. As it decreased in volume, its color deepened until it resembled a white pearl. Seeing that the refining of the Qingming Fruit went smoothly, Gu He did not pause. He waved his hand, and another medicinal ingredient flew in, finally thrown into the cauldron. As time passed, one after another medicinal ingredient was continuously thrown into the cauldron by Gu He. Consequently, various pure medicinal forces started to appear inside the cauldron. At this moment, Gu He''s expression finally became serious. Soul force spread from his forehead, infiltrating the cauld ron, controlling the changes in temperature and paying attention to the movements of the Qingming Fruit. Under the high-temperature incineration of the primal divine fire, even the toughest medicinal materials would quickly surrender. The Qingming Fruit, despite briefly blocking the primal divine fire with the vitality it contained, succumbed when Gu He manipulated the flame. A thin white liquid gradually overflowed from the fruit. As the flame continued to steam, more and more milky white liquid emerged, finally forming a liquid mass beneath it, about half the size of a palm. With his gaze fixed on the cauldron, after approximately an hour, Gu He changed his hand seal. The flame inside the cauldron gradually calmed down, and the Qingming Fruit had completely dissipated, replaced by a mass of milky white liquid brimming with vitality. Looking at the milky white liquid, Gu He breathed a sigh of relief. Changing his hand seal again, the flame surged. Under the rising temperature, the palm-sized milky white liquid began to shrink visibly. As it decreased in volume, its color deepened until it resembled a white pearl. Seeing the refining process go smoothly, Gu He did not pause. He waved his hand, and another medicinal ingredient flew in, finally thrown into the cauldron. As time passed, one after another medicinal ingredient was continuously thrown into the cauldron by Gu He. Consequently, various pure medicinal forces started to appear inside the cauldron. At this moment, Gu He''s expression finally became serious. Soul force spread from his forehead, infiltrating the cauldron, controlling the changes in temperature and paying attention to the movements of the Qingming Fruit. After a meticulous refining process that lasted for nearly three hours, all the medicinal ingredients were successfully refined by Gu He in an orderly manner. As the tedious refining process neared its conclusion, a rough, uneven pill prototype gradually formed inside the cauldron. With the slow roasting of the purple flame, the pill prototype became more rounded, and a strong medicinal fragrance emanated from it. Carefully maintaining the process, the milky white surface of the pill became increasingly shiny. After about half an hour, the pill trembled suddenly, and a powerful energy ripple appeared out of nowhere, spreading wildly like ripples in water. "Dong! Dong!" As the energy ripples spread out, they finally collided with the inner wall of the cauldron, producing a crisp bell-like sound. (End of this chapter) {Check out my patreon for 20 advanced chapters. One more chapter is on the way. I am very sad today so this me venting my feelings.} Chapter 85: Gathering of the Strong! Chapter 85: Gathering of the Strong! Chapter 85: Gathering of the Strong! "Fortunately, my Dragon Soul Cauldron is sturdy enough. If it were an ordinary cauldron, it would have likely shattered under this energy impact," Gu He remarked, watching the cauldron only slightly tremble amidst the energy surge. Seeing the cauldron''s resilience in the face of the energy impact, Gu He couldn''t help but silently admire. Outside the alchemy room, Mitertengshan paced back and forth in the corridor. He occasionally stopped to look at the alchemy room, his face filled with worry and impatience. "We must succeed," Mitertengshan silently prayed. Just then, he suddenly sensed a violent vibration coming from the alchemy room. Hearing this vibration, Mitertengshan''s expression changed. Could it be a failure? With this thought, Miteer Tengshan''s face became somewhat unsightly. However, shortly after, he sensed a strong energy fluctuation rapidly taking shape. Simultaneously, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted through the alchemy room and reached the outside. "It''s a success!" Feeling the intense energy fluctuations, Mitertengshan was momentarily stunned, and then his face quickly showed joy. But at that moment, the energy inside the alchemy room suddenly surged to a terrifying degree. Then, with a loud bang, a roughly half-foot-wide column of energy shot out directly from the alchemy room, pierced through the ceiling, and soared into the sky. Watching the column of light pierce through the ceiling and reach the sky, Mitertengshan was momentarily stunned, and then his face showed a look of astonishment. Was this the might of a sixth-grade pill being formed? The energy column rising above Miteer Auction House immediately caught the attention of many strong individuals in the imperial city. Many people looked surprised, and then quickly flew out of their houses. In less than a moment, many strong individuals had gathered outside Miterteng Auction House. As they watched from up close, some of the strong individuals finally recognized the origin of the light column, and exclamations filled the air. The Cloud Mist Sect had several Dou Kings, but the Jia Ma Royal Family also had numerous Dou King powerhouses. Moreover, they had the support of many clans, with the Mu Family being a close ally, controlling numerous legions in the Jia Ma Empire. As for the Nalan Family, it was hard to say before. However, ever since Nalan Yanran joined the Cloud Mist Sect and became Yun Yun''s direct disciple, her allegiance was undoubtedly with the Cloud Mist Sect. That left only the Miteer family. However, the Miteer family had maintained a neutral stance over the years. Although the royal family coveted the wealth of the Miteer family, they did not dare to be too overt, fearing that pushing the Miteer family too hard might drive them toward the Cloud Mist Sect. Now, with Pill King Gu He appearing in the Miteerteng Auction House and successfully refining a sixth-grade pill, it couldn''t help but make Jia Xingtian suspect that the Miteer family might have inclined towards the Cloud Mist Sect. Thinking of this, Jia Xingtian''s expression immediately darkened. Surveying the surroundings, Jia Xingtian''s eyes narrowed, and he said calmly, "Unexpectedly, Nalan Jie is here too." At these words, Mu Chen was also taken aback. Following Jia Xingtian''s line of sight, he saw Nalan Jie, the patriarch of the Nalan family, hovering not far away in the sky. Mu Chen cast a cold glance at Nalan Jie and remarked indifferently, "It seems the last Spiritual Purity Pill has helped him break through. Even the poison inside his body has been suppressed." Jia Xingtian, hearing this, also looked at Nalan Jie coldly. "Suppressing the poison is not so easy." "Find out what kind of pill Pill King Gu He has refined this time and whether the Miteer family has already leaned towards the Cloud Mist Sect." Having said that, Jia Xingtian glanced once more at the direction of the Miteerteng Auction House and left. ... In the alchemy room, the sound of the bell gradually diminished. A milky white pill in the cauldron suddenly emitted a dazzling light, forcefully breaking through the cauldron. However, despite flying around the sealed room for half a day, it could not escape. "This Qingming Longetivity Pill is indeed extraordinary; it wants to escape as soon as it''s born." Seeing the pill''s behavior, Gu He was startled, then smiled and shook his head. With a gesture, a suction force directly pulled the scattered white light back into his hands, and he then took out a jade bottle and sealed it inside. As the pill was sealed in the bottle, it gradually calmed down. Seeing this, Gu He smiled satisfactorily, deeply exhaled, and realized that this round of alchemy had consumed a considerable amount of his energy. (End of this chapter) {Today''s Last chapter. Check out my Patreon for 20 advanced chapters. Have a good time reading this.} Chapter 86: Ice Heart Armor Chapter 86: Ice Heart Armor Chapter 86: Ice Heart Armor "Squeak!" As the alchemy room door opened, Miteer Tengshan, who had been waiting outside anxiously, heard the sound and immediately rushed forward. "Lord Dan King, how did it go?" Miteer Tengshan asked excitedly. Gu He smiled faintly, then took out a jade bottle and handed it to Miteer Tengshan, saying lightly, "I didn''t disappoint." Although Miteer Tengshan already knew the result, the sight of the jade bottle in his hand still couldn''t suppress the excitement in his heart. After a moment of excitement, Miteer Tengshan finally calmed down a bit. He looked at Gu He and said somewhat embarrassed, "Thank you, Lord Dan King." Gu He shook his head, smiled lightly, and said, "It''s just a small effort." Upon hearing this, Miteer Tengshan twitched his mouth slightly. Even making a sixth-grade pill was considered a small effort... In the entire Gamma Empire, only this guy in front of him had the qualifications to say such words. Although he felt a bit speechless inside, Miteer Tengshan still politely said, "Lord Dan King, you''ve worked hard. Please rest in the VIP room for a while." At these words, Gu He nodded and said, "Sure, I also have something that requires Chief Tengshan''s assistance." Having said that, Gu He took the lead towards the VIP room. Miteer Tengshan was a bit puzzled. Did Dan King Gu He need his help?Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com Shaking his head, Miteer Tengshan followed Gu He into the VIP room. "I wonder what assistance Lord Dan King needs?" In the VIP room, Miteer Tengshan looked at Gu He with some confusion. Gu He smiled faintly, took out a prepared list from his storage ring, and handed it to Miteer Tengshan, saying, "Chief Tengshan, please help me gather the medicinal herbs listed on this list as soon as possible. The faster, the better; I''m in a hurry." "Medicinal herbs?" Upon hearing this, Miteer Tengshan took the list with puzzlement. After looking at the herbs listed on the list, Miteer Tengshan breathed a sigh of relief. Gu He''s eyes lit up at this statement, and he inquired, "Chief Tengshan, can you let me take a look at the list of auction items for the next auction?" Miteer Tengshan, hearing this, laughed, "What''s difficult about that? If Lord Dan King wants to see it, just take a look." Saying this, Miteer Tengshan took out a list from his storage ring and handed it to Gu He. With a hint of anticipation, Gu He looked at the list in his hands carefully. After a while, Gu He finished reading the list, his eyes lit up, somewhat surprised. "It seems Chief Tengshan has prepared a lot of good things for the next auction?" Miteer Tengshan, hearing this, was about to speak when he heard Gu He ask, "Chief Tengshan, can the Ice Heart Armor listed on this list be sold to me directly now?" The Ice Heart Armor was embedded with several fifth-grade ice attribute magic cores, boasting astonishing defense, enough to withstand a full blow from a Dou Huang powerhouse. Upon hearing this, Miteer Tengshan was stunned for a moment, and then his eyes changed slightly, as if he were contemplating something. After a while, Miteer Tengshan finally nodded slowly and said, "Since Lord Dan King likes this Ice Heart Armor, I naturally won''t refuse." Although it was a bit troublesome, Miteer Tengshan, considering Gu He''s feelings, could only agree to his request. Gu He, upon hearing this, immediately smiled and said, "Then I''ll thank Chief Tengshan in advance." Miteer Tengshan, hearing this, shook his head slightly and said, "It''s just a small effort." After that, Gu He and Miteer Tengshan continued to chat . After waiting for nearly an hour, a steward walked into the room, handed a storage ring to Miteer Tengshan. Miteer Tengshan took the storage ring and then handed it directly to Gu He. "Lord Dan King, everything you need is inside this." Saying this, Miteer Tengshan took out Gu He''s infinite gold coin card and handed it to Gu He. Gu He, upon hearing this, took the storage ring and checked it slightly, revealing a smile. With these medicinal herbs, even if he went on a long journey this time, the cultivation resources for Liu Ling and Xiao Yi Xian wouldn''t be neglected. (End of this chapter) Chapter 87 Leaving Yunlan Sect Chapter 87 Leaving Yunlan Sect Chapter 87: Leaving Yunlan Sect "Teacher, I''m here." Excitedly, Liu Ling rushed to the courtyard and shouted at Gu He, who was resting in the pavilion. In response, Gu He slowly opened his eyes, glanced at Liu Ling, and then sat up, saying indifferently, "You''re here, no need to mumble." Liu Ling smiled awkwardly, "Teacher, it''s time for a special training session for me, right?" "Hmm." Gu He nodded lightly, then waved his hand, and a large wooden barrel appeared in the courtyard. Liu Ling looked at the wooden barrel in the yard and asked in confusion, "Teacher, didn''t you say you were going to change the training method today?" Liu Ling felt somewhat disappointed. After breaking through to the Five-Star Dou Master realm, the effect of Blood Ignition Powder on him was not significant. "Why so talkative? Hurry up and jump in," Gu He scolded him with a glare.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com "Alright, Teacher!" Liu Ling, upon hearing this, immediately stopped talking. He quickly ran to fill the wooden barrel with water and then jumped in obediently. Gu He glanced at Liu Ling, took out a jade bottle from his hand, and walked slowly towards the wooden barrel. As Gu He opened the jade bottle, a strand of emerald green liquid slowly flowed into the wooden barrel. Seeing this, Liu Ling was somewhat puzzled and asked, "Teacher, did you make a mistake? This is Amethyst Spirit Liquid. Why are you pouring it now? Shouldn''t you use Blood Ignition Powder first?" Gu He looked at him faintly and said slowly, "I''m afraid you won''t survive later, so I''m taking preventive measures in advance." "Not survive!" Liu Ling''s heart trembled at his words. He looked at Gu He with fear and said weakly, "Teacher, are you really going to be serious this time?" Gu He glanced at him, sneered, and said, "Why, scared now? Who was so resolute yesterday about increasing the intensity?" Liu Ling suddenly felt a bit guilty but still said weakly, "Teacher, can you be a bit gentler?" "No!" After that, Gu He took out another jade bottle from his storage ring and handed it to Liu Ling, saying, "Drink it, lick it clean. This is a fifth-grade spirit liquid, worth millions of gold coins." After speaking, Gu He turned and returned to the pavilion. In the wooden barrel, Liu Ling looked at the jade bottle in his hand, somewhat dazed, "Drink it? Why are we drinking directly this time?" Thinking of Gu He''s words just now, Liu Ling suddenly felt a bit apprehensive and hesitated to drink. At this moment, Gu He returned to the pavilion, poured himself a cup of tea, and seeing Liu Ling still hesitating, he said, "The efficacy of Amethyst Spirit Liquid will evaporate. If you delay like this, when the efficacy is exhausted, your life might really be in danger." Gu He nodded slowly, "I have some matters to attend to and will set off tomorrow." "This trip will probably take about a month. After I leave, you must not slack off in your cultivation. When I come back, I will check your progress. If you stagnate, don''t blame me for being harsh." Gu He looked at Liu Ling, with a stern tone. Liu Ling felt a tightening in his heart, immediately made a promise, "Teacher, you can rest assured, disciple will definitely practice diligently." Gu He nodded approvingly, "Although your aptitude is not as good as your junior sister, diligence can make up for shortcomings. As long as you practice diligently, you may catch up with your junior sister in the future." "Teacher, disciple will do it." After a moment, Liu Ling left the courtyard, and Gu He called Xiao Yi Xian again. "Disciple, how is your cultivation progressing?" Gu He smiled and asked Xiao Yi Xian. Xiao Yi Xian smiled softly, "Teacher, disciple has already broken through to Seven-Star Dou Master. In about ten days, disciple will be able to break through to Eight-Star Dou Master." Hearing this, Gu He couldn''t help but sigh. Woeful Poison Body is indeed powerful! Originally, the Woeful Poison Body was already shocking enough. Coupled with his imparted teachings, it could be said to be even more extraordinary. "Disciple, Teacher has prepared a gift for you in the room, as a reward for this month. However, you have to wait until ten days later when you break through to Eight-Star Dou Master before you can collect it." There were still a few days left before a month had passed since he last gave Xiao Yi Xian imparted teachings. However, Gu He did not want to wait any longer. Considering that he might have dreams or unexpected events, Gu He decided to go and take the Azure Luan as his disciple and obtain the Green Lotus Core Fire as soon as possible. As for the gift left for Xiao Yi Xian, it was a test for Gu He. The system did not specify that items must be given in person to trigger the system''s return. Gu He thought of trying this method to see if it could trigger the system''s return. Hearing that Gu He had left a reward for her, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes revealed a surprised expression. Although she didn''t understand why Teacher had to wait until ten days later, Xiao Yi Xian obediently said, "Teacher, disciple understands." "Good." Looking at the obedient appearance of Xiao Yi Xian, Gu He nodded with satisfaction. "I will set off tomorrow. After I leave, you must seize the time to cultivate. Don''t slack off." Xiao Yi Xian said tenderly, "Teacher, you can rest assured. As you know, disciple has always practiced diligently." With a hearty laugh, Gu He agreed, "Yes, yes, you are much more diligent than your senior brother." (End of this chapter) Chapter 88: The Enigma of the Valley! Chapter 88: The Enigma of the Valley! Chapter 88: The Enigma of the Valley! The next day. At the crack of dawn, Gu He got up and packed his belongings, preparing for the journey. Creak! As he pushed the door open, Gu He had just stepped out of his room and saw a small figure sitting in the pavilion not far away. "This girl, why is she up so early?" Looking at the sleeping figure leaning on the pavilion, Gu He felt a bit puzzled. Later, Gu He walked over and patted the delicate face of the still-sleeping little apprentice. "Disciple, disciple..." With Gu He''s two calls, Xiao Yi Xian woke up with a gentle look. She looked at Gu He and subconsciously called out, "Teacher!" Gu He looked at Xiao Yi Xian and asked in confusion, "Disciple, why aren''t you sleeping in your room?" Xiao Yi Xian was a little stunned, then remembered something. Her face changed, "Right, teacher, disciple has something to give you." Then, Xiao Yi Xian took out a large package from her storage ring and held it in her arms. She smiled and said to Gu He, "Teacher, since you are going on a long journey, disciple has prepared some pastries for you to eat on the way." "Don''t worry, what disciple made for you is all your favorite." Xiao Yi Xian said sweetly. Looking at the large package in Xiao Yi Xian''s hand, Gu He fell silent for a moment and slowly said, "You didn''t sleep all night just for these?" At these words, Xiao Yi Xian nodded slightly, "Teacher, you like disciple''s cooking the most, right? Since you''ll be gone for a long time, if you can''t eat what disciple makes, won''t you miss it? So, disciple made a little more this time." Looking at Xiao Yi Xian''s smiling face, Gu He felt a warmth in his heart. He then took the package from her and smiled, "You girl, you''re considerate. Teacher hasn''t spoiled you in vain." Xiao Yi Xian giggled. Gu He rubbed her little head and said softly, "Go back, rest. Teacher is only going out for a month; I''ll be back soon." "Okay." At these words, Xiao Yi Xian obediently nodded and walked towards her room. Gu He looked at the package in his hand and then put it into his storage ring. The next moment, Gu He''s thoughts moved, and he used the skill "Ascension Steps." When Gu He''s figure appeared again, he had already reached the foot of Yunlan Mountain. Then, Gu He released Little Jin, who had been kept in the system space last night. "Little Jin, grow!" Under Gu He''s command, Little Jin instantly transformed into a colossal bird that covered the sky and flew into the air. Looking at the mist of energy and various precious herbs in the valley, Gu He couldn''t help but feel a bit puzzled. "Why is there such a rich energy and such a large quantity of precious herbs growing in this valley?" Last time he came here to retreat, it was a bit rushed, and Gu He didn''t pay attention to this issue. Now that he has come again, looking at the scene in front of him, Gu He couldn''t help but feel a bit puzzled. Could there be some secret hidden in this valley? Suddenly, a thought flashed through Gu He''s mind. Otherwise, there is no way to explain why there is such a special scene in this valley. Perhaps, there might be some treasures hidden here. Thinking of this, anticipation appeared in Gu He''s eyes. To create such a scene, if there is indeed a treasure in this valley, then this treasure must be extraordinary. Next, Gu He''s thoughts moved, releasing his soul power to probe within the valley. Today, he must find out what kind of secret is hidden in this valley. Soul power swept through the mist of energy, and Gu He carefully observed every unusual place. "Hmm!" After a while, Gu He made a light sound. His soul power instantly converged towards a corner of the valley. Through the sensing of soul power, Gu He found that the energy mist in this corner was much denser than other places. "It seems that the oddity is here." Gu He''s thoughts moved, and his figure immediately appeared in this corner of the valley. Gu He approached the mountain wall and carefully examined it. Just at this moment, a rich energy mist suddenly gushed out from a crack in the mountain wall. "Hmm!" Gu He was immediately attracted, his eyes filled with surprise, then suddenly enlightened, "So the energy mist in this valley all comes from here." "It seems that there is some secret hidden in this mountain wall." Gu He hesitated for a moment, his mind moved, and he released his essence fire, starting to explore within the mountain wall. As Gu He''s purple flame rose , a raging fire suddenly ignited in front of the mountain wall. Under the burning of the Essence Fire, the mountain wall slowly melted. (End of this chapter) Chapter 89: Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus! Chapter 89: Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus! Chapter 89: Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus! Inside the valley, Gu He unleashed the Essence Fire of the Soul, condensing the Primordial Divine Fire, continuously burning the mountain wall in front of him. Gu He''s Primordial Divine Fire was formed by condensing the Essence Fire, naturally possessing extraordinary power. Under the burning of the Primordial Divine Fire, the mountain wall gradually began to melt. Soon, a large hole appeared on the mountain wall in front of Gu He. Gu He''s thoughts moved, expanding the range of the burning flames, sweeping towards the surroundings. As the large hole on the mountain wall grew larger and deeper, a fist-sized crack suddenly appeared in front of Gu He. From the crack, a large amount of energy mist spewed out, frantically surging towards the outside. "It seems that the energy mist in this valley does indeed emerge from this mountain wall." Feeling the pure energy mist, a gleam of brilliance appeared in Gu He''s eyes. Then, Gu He increased the intensity, burning the mountain wall in front of him. After a while, with the continuous burning of the Primordial Divine Fire, continuously penetrating, a large hole with a depth of three meters appeared on the mountain wall. After another moment, a hint of blackness appeared in the depth of the large hole. Gu He focused his gaze and immediately revealed a look of surprise. The mountain wall was directly burned away by him. "There''s indeed another world inside here!" Looking at the burned mountain wall, Gu He''s eyes lit up. Then, he continued to increase the firepower, enlarging the hole. After a while, the darkness inside the hole increased, and a dark space slowly appeared in Gu He''s field of vision. Soon, a black passage presented itself in front of Gu He. The extremely rich energy mist violently surged out from the dark passage. "So rich, so pure energy!" "If one cultivates here, the cultivation speed will definitely increase several times!" Gu He sighed in amazement, then looked into the dark passage. Entering his eyes, it was pitch-black, and nothing could be seen. With a thought, Gu He released his soul power to probe into the dark passage. As the soul power penetrated, Gu He''s eyes brightened involuntarily. Later, someone obtained one lotus seed, spending countless efforts to cultivate a strain of Eight-Colored Sacred Lotus. Although the Eight-Colored Sacred Lotus couldn''t compare to the legendary Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, it could still gather vast energy. With the help of this Eight-Colored Sacred Lotus, that person ultimately turned what was originally an ordinary family into a top force at the peak of the continent. Gu He''s gaze was fixed on the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus in front of him, speculating uncontrollably in his mind. Could this seven-colored lotus flower be the result of the growth of the lotus seed of the Eight-Colored Sacred Lotus? If that were the case, then he hit the jackpot. Thinking about the effects of the legendary Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, a wild joy couldn''t be suppressed in Gu He''s eyes. The effect of this Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus, although not one-thousandth of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, can still be considered one of the top treasures on the continent. "No wonder... No wonder this valley is constantly enveloped in pure energy and is filled with precious herbs. It turns out this Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus is at work." Thinking of the scene inside the valley, Gu He''s eyes suddenly showed a look of realization. "I really hit the jackpot this time." Gu He''s gaze looked at the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus in the pool. If he were to transplant it and place it in his own yard, wouldn''t it create a perfect cultivation sanctuary? At this moment, another thought emerged in Gu He''s mind. If he were to give this Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus to his disciples, after they obtain a thousandfold return, perhaps it could bring the ancient Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus back to the world. Thinking of this, Gu He couldn''t help but swallow saliva, his eyes looking at the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus in the pool, revealing a burning light. With the effect of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, it was enough to create a unique cultivation sanctuary. In the original work, the eight ancient clans and these hidden forces lived in secluded small worlds. The energy of the heavens and earth inside was many times more concentrated than the outside world. If he were to establish a force in the future and plant a Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus there. The heavenly and earthly energy contained within would definitely crush the small worlds of these ancient clans. Looking at the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus in the pool, Gu He couldn''t help but feel a strong desire. Then, Gu He slowly approached the pool, preparing to transplant it into his own system space. When he saw the pure energy condensed into liquid in the pool, Gu He couldn''t help but think of his purpose for coming here. Wasn''t this a perfect cultivation sanctuary? Gu He''s eyes brightened slightly. Using his soul power to probe into the pool, and not sensing any danger, he jumped into the pool. (End of this chapter) Chapter 90: Breakthrough to Dou Ancestor! Chapter 90: Breakthrough to Dou Ancestor! Chapter 90: Breakthrough to Dou Ancestor! Bang! As a splash of water rose, Gu He''s entire body sank into the pool. Once inside the pool, Gu He felt a massive energy slowly drilling into his body. Almost without using any cultivation technique, these energies actively entered his body. Feeling all of this, Gu He couldn''t help but sigh. Even if he soaked in here for a while, his cultivation would probably make significant progress. Then, Gu He swam to the side of the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus. With a thought, he directly stored the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus in his system space. The time and space inside the system space were controlled by Gu He''s thoughts. As long as Gu He had a thought, the things inside could maintain a state of suspended animation. Therefore, he wasn''t worried about the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus deteriorating due to entering the system space. Moreover, the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus was a rare natural treasure and wouldn''t deteriorate so easily. After completing all of this, Gu He calmed his mind, slowly sitting cross-legged in the center of the pool. Next, he thought about connecting with the system and silently said, "System, extract twenty-seven years of cultivation!" As Gu He''s voice fell, in the system space, the energy sphere suspended in the void immediately turned into a ray of light, shooting directly into Gu He''s body. Before Gu He could react, he felt a massive energy rushing into his body. This power was extremely violent, like a surging river, raging and turbulent. "Bang!" A faint muffled sound suddenly echoed in Gu He''s body. A flush appeared on Gu He''s face. The energy contained in the energy sphere burst open in Gu He''s body, causing his entire body to tremble slightly. Feeling the changes in his body, Gu He quickly realized that a tremendous force had surged into him. This force was extremely violent, like a galloping wild horse, rushing through Gu He''s meridians, causing a slight pain to spread across his face.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com Following that, countless substantial purple flames slowly appeared within Gu He''s body. At the moment these flames appeared, Gu He immediately controlled them to rush towards the surging energy: "Use Essence Fire to disperse this energy, scatter it to various corners of the body, and then I will refine it one by one." Roar! The purple flames became increasingly intense. Numerous purple flames condensed within Gu He''s body, fiercely colliding with the surging energy, forcibly shattering it into pieces. Seeing this scene, Gu He breathed a sigh of relief, watching the energy that flowed like a flood: "Next is to refine these energies, but it may take some time to completely refine them." Immediately after, Gu He closed his eyes, concentrated, and focused on refining the energy within his body. In the dim and dark space, silence gradually settled. ... As time passed, in the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by. On this day, in the calm valley, a burst of energy suddenly erupted out of nowhere. Following this, the energy in the surrounding space unexpectedly began to violently fluctuate. With the eruption of this sound, the energy in the surrounding space, as if influenced by some force, began to madly converge towards the dark passage in the valley. As time passed, the tremors in the surroundings became more and more intense. Rich energy continuously permeated from the surrounding space, then flowed endlessly towards the dark passage in the valley. From a distance, almost the entire valley was enveloped in these colorful and violent energies, making it extraordinarily spectacular. Such changes naturally attracted the attention of all the magical beasts in the Beast Mountain Range, and countless astonished gazes were cast upwards. Looking at the substantial and violent energy in the sky, the terrifying pressure faintly emanating from it caused some weaker magical beasts in the Beast Mountain Range to shiver and hide in their caves. The changes in the void continued. As time passed, it became increasingly terrifying. In the town of Qing Shan, many mercenary groups watched the colorful torrent descending from the sky, their eyes filled with infinite horror. As more and more violent energy poured into the valley, a majestic aura, like a dormant dragon, slowly diffused from the valley. Feeling this aura, even the kings of the Beast Mountain Range, such as the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, could only cower in their caves, feeling uneasy. (End of this chapter) Chapter 91: Tremendous Increase in Strength! Chapter 91: Tremendous Increase in Strength! Chapter 91: Tremendous Increase in Strength! In the valley, wildly turbulent energy soared into the sky. In the dark space, a tremendous vortex churned within the water pool. As time passed, the rotation speed became increasingly frenetic. Fierce waves fiercely struck the surrounding mountain walls, producing a deafening rumble. Perhaps due to the immense energy fluctuations in the valley, numerous dark clouds gathered in the sky above the valley. In a moment, the previously sunny weather turned into a densely cloudy sky. Soon after, within the water pool, it seemed that the absorbed energy by Guhe had reached a peak. "Boom!" With a thunderous sound resembling a shocking thunderbolt, within the water pool, it exploded as if countless bombs were suddenly detonated, shooting out numerous water columns. The water columns burst open, resembling a torrential rain pouring down in the dark space. Countless water columns spewed out in all directions from the water pool. Simultaneously, a light whistle, like the cry of a crane, suddenly emerged from the water pool, carrying a majestic combat aura. It rushed out of the dark space, arrived in the valley, and then shot straight into the sky. Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! With this clear whistle, as if it triggered the resonance of heaven and earth, the sky instantly roared with thunder, and silver snakes danced wildly. In an instant, a mighty rain poured down. The enormous energy fluctuations caused spatial shocks and even distortions. Even the entire Magic Beast Mountain Range trembled at this moment. Deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King widened its eyes, looking towards the direction of the valley. Its enormous beast pupils revealed a horrified expression. "This is... Dou Ancestor!" Possessing such strength was enough to establish a sect! Even in the vast and boundless Central Continent, where powerful individuals were plentiful, Dou Ancestor experts could still thrive. At this moment, with Gu He breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm, he finally carved out a place for himself in this world. Boom! Endless sheets of rain continued to fall from the sky, enveloping the entire valley, the crisp sound echoing throughout. Standing ethereally in the void, Gu He''s back did not reveal the wings of Dou Qi. Moving through the air, this was the exclusive symbol of a Dou Ancestor. The figure in the sky, motionless for a while, left the entire Monster Beast Mountain Range silent. Only the sound of raindrops falling on leaves could be heard, making the environment seem particularly fresh after the rain. In the sky, Gu He''s figure, after maintaining absolute stillness for a long time, suddenly trembled lightly. His tightly closed eyes slowly opened, and a surge of killing intent erupted from his pitch-black eyes. Gu He also breathed a sigh of relief. His mind delved into his body, carefully sensing the changes. Now, his body had undergone a transformation almost like rebirth. Not only had the meridians expanded more than ten times, but also beyond the meridians and bones, there was a faint layer of Dou Qi crystal, emitting a weak brilliance. He clenched his fist slightly, then without any fancy moves, a simple punch was thrown. The surrounding space immediately distorted, and a low and harsh sonic boom, like muffled thunder, resonated in the sky. This simple and unremarkable punch was almost as powerful as the imposing force when Gu He fully executed the Vermillion Bird Seal in the past! Dou Ancestor and Dou Emperor were indeed two entirely different levels! "Now my strength should be stabilized at the level of a Two-Star Dou Ancestor. I''ve saved quite a bit of tempering time, which should be the merit of that energy pool." In the void, Gu He muttered softly to himself. Most people entering the Dou Ancestor realm would have a relatively long tempering period, taking years or even more than a decade to truly reach the One-Star Dou Ancestor level through normal cultivation. Skipping this step, Gu He had successfully reached the level of Two-Star Dou Ancestor. Although this One-Star level seemed insignificant, there was still a considerable gap between each star among Dou Ancestors. For most Dou Ancestors, it would take several years or even a decade to elevate their strength by one star through normal practice. This was not a rare occurrence. Feeling fortunate for his own luck, Gu He looked down at the valley below. With a step on the void, he descended gracefully, stepping down from the sky, landing in the valley. Chapter 92: Arrival of Yun Yun! Chapter 92: Arrival of Yun Yun! Chapter 92: Arrival of Yun Yun! "Sure enough, with such a significant increase in cultivation, the Dou Qi inside the body will inevitably be somewhat unstable." In the valley, Gu He''s mind wandered inside his body, shaking his head helplessly. Fortunately, there was the Divine Fire Tempering Technique, which could refine the Dou Qi inside the body. Otherwise, Gu He wouldn''t dare to rashly improve his cultivation like this. Finding a piece of bluestone, Gu He cleaned it up a bit and then sat down slowly. As he moved his thoughts, the innate Divine Fire quickly enveloped Gu He''s entire body. Implementing the Divine Fire Tempering Technique, Gu He began to refine the somewhat unstable Dou Qi inside his body. This had become an indispensable step for him every time he made a breakthrough. Soon, Gu He''s body was completely wrapped in purple flames, forming a purple light shield. On the side, Xiao Jin transformed into a golden bird and silently guarded by the side, not moving an inch. As time passed, the dark clouds in the sky slowly dissipated, and the valley gradually returned to its former tranquility. Three days later, deep in the Demon Beast Mountain Range, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King finally emerged from its own cave, having walked out of the terrifying pressure shadow from three days ago. It looked at the direction of the valley with lingering fear in its heart, still showing a frightened expression. "Gone? That human powerhouse?" Looking in the direction of the valley and seeing that the abnormal signs enveloping the world had disappeared, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com It seemed that the human powerhouse had just chosen a place here to make a breakthrough. Thinking of this, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King instantly relaxed. Seeing that the weather was nice, it lazily basked in the sun at the entrance of its own cave. However, suddenly, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King abruptly opened its eyes, its gaze alertly fixed on a certain direction. It sensed the aura of a powerhouse approaching in its direction. In the outer area of the Demon Beast Mountain Range, a figure in green was flying towards the deep part of the Demon Beast Mountain Range. The green figure emitted the aura of a Dou Emperor. It seemed that a battle today was inevitable. The next moment, Yun Yun slowly drew the long sword from her hand, her voice cold, "Since the Lion King refuses to trade, then I''ll have to take it myself." "Haha! Humans are always like this, thinking they can do whatever they want with a bit of strength." Seeing Yun Yun preparing to take action, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King laughed angrily. Then, a tremendous momentum emanated from its body, sweeping toward Yun Yun. "Do you really think that with your Dou Emperor strength, you can act recklessly in the Demon Beast Mountain Range? Human, if you dare to make a move today, I will make sure you can''t leave the Demon Beast Mountain Range alive." The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King''s huge beast pupils stared at Yun Yun tightly, its tone filled with anger. "Since that''s the case, there''s no need to continue talking. Let''s get started." Seeing that the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had already made a strong statement, Yun Yun, with an expressionless face, spoke faintly. The next moment, Yun Yun''s jade hand gently lifted, and as her palm rose, a thick fighting spirit suddenly surged in her palm. Then, above the Demon Beast Mountain Range, a small cyan tornado suddenly appeared. Initially, this tornado was only two meters in size, constantly rotating in the void. But after a moment, the tornado storm surged against the wind and quickly turned into a giant tornado of more than ten zhang. Between heaven and earth, the cyan tornado howled and spun. The giant trees on the ground were forcibly uprooted and then twisted into airborne sawdust by the violent whirlwind. "Humph, the Demon Beast Mountain Range is not your human territory. It''s not your turn to be arrogant here !" Looking at the increasingly massive tornado, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King finally couldn''t help it. Roaring angrily at Yun Yun, a low roar echoed through the mountains from its huge mouth. With the roar, the purple crystal on the body of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King suddenly shone brightly. In just a blink of an eye, endless surging purple flames violently surged out from its body. The purple flames gradually rose and gathered into a huge purple pillar of fire, directly soaring into the sky and shooting towards the massive cyan tornado. The next moment, a battle between two great Dou Emperor-level beings unfolded in the sky above the Demon Beast Mountain Range! (End of this chapter) Chapter 93: Fierce Battle, Gu He Awakens! Chapter 93: Fierce Battle, Gu He Awakens! Chapter 93: Fierce Battle, Gu He Awakens! Above the Demon Beast Mountain Range, Yun Yun waved her jade hand, and suddenly, a huge green tornado appeared out of nowhere. As the tornado continued to spin, carrying a violent hurricane, it swept towards the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King on the opposite side. Where the tornado passed, no grass grew, creating patches of yellow soil. Many Demon Beasts affected by it emitted cries and fled from their lairs in the distance. "Such a strong human!" "No wonder she dares to be so arrogant!" Watching the huge tornado approaching, the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King''s enormous beast pupils showed a hint of seriousness. The strength of this human woman in front of it was somewhat beyond its expectations. However, as the ruler of this area in the Demon Beast Mountain Range, its strength was not to be underestimated. The Crystal Winged Purple Lion King roared to the sky, and its enormous body suddenly burst into a dazzling purple light. Then, the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King opened its mouth and spewed a tremendously thick purple flame at the approaching giant tornado. The next moment, the two colossal entities collided in mid-air. At the moment of impact, the space almost stood still! "Boom!" A thunderous sound echoed in the cloudless clear sky. The giant tornado and the raging purple flame collided fiercely in the void, releasing terrifying energy. At the moment of their contact, the surrounding space seemed to undergo a slight distortion. "Bang!" After the collision, it took a moment, but due to the depletion of energy, they vanished into thin air over the Demon Beast Mountain Range. In the void, Yun Yun and the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King faced each other, suspended in opposition, both with a serious expression. From the start of their battle until now, it had been half a day. Until now, neither the human nor the beast had emerged victorious. This was normal; at the level of a Dou Emperor, without some particularly powerful trump card, it was generally difficult to kill the opponent. The Crystal Winged Purple Lion King swept its gaze over the Demon Beast Mountain Range below that had been heavily damaged, and a hint of anger flashed in its eyes. "Human, you are too much!" "Lion King, I only need one Purple Spirit Crystal. As long as I get the Purple Spirit Crystal, I will leave immediately." Facing the anger of the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King, Yun Yun''s red lips slightly opened, and she spoke slowly. Looking at the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King with its aggressive approach, Yun Yun remained calm. In this half-day battle, she had been in control all along. She believed that as long as she persisted, the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King would naturally yield. Thinking of this, a hint of luck flashed in Yun Yun''s heart. Fortunately, she had taken the Emperor Extreme Pill, which had raised her cultivation from a Three-Star Dou Emperor to a Five-Star Dou Emperor. Otherwise, facing the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King today, she would undoubtedly fall below. "Impossible!" Seeing Yun Yun''s condescending attitude, the usually arrogant Crystal Winged Purple Lion King would naturally not submit willingly and roared, "To obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal, you must kill me!" "If that''s the case, then let''s fight again." Hearing this, Yun Yun''s eyes flashed with a hint of coldness, and she said lightly. After a brief confrontation between the two, Yun Yun finally made a move again. Her wings behind her flapped, and her body was like a flash of lightning, instantly traversing the turbulent energy zone, then appearing behind the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King. A strange long sword in her hand quickly stabbed out, and on the tip of the sword, a rapidly rotating wind blade formed, like a green spherical object covered with blades. "Ding ding..." The long sword, carrying the wind blades, struck the surface of the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King''s body, and a series of crisp sounds echoed in the air. However, the lightning-fast thrust of the long sword left only white marks on the layer of purple crystal on the surface of the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King''s body. Moreover, these marks only existed for a moment before completely disappearing. "Such strong defense!" Seeing this scene, Yun Yun was surprised. The physical defense of Demon Beasts was indeed much stronger than that of humans. "Humph, daring to engage in close combat with this king, simply ignorant of life and death!"Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com Relying on its own defensive power, the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King snorted, then directly ignored Yun Yun''s normal attacks and opened its mouth to spew a tremendously thick purple flame at Yun Yun. Seeing the incoming purple flames, Yun Yun frowned slightly. Then, with a casual wave of her jade hand, a wind wall composed of hurricanes appeared, perfectly blocking the purple flame sprayed by the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King. Seeing this scene, the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King also knew that its purple fire attack was ineffective against Yun Yun. Its huge beast pupils shone with purple light, and then the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King gave up the purple fire attack and chose to engage in close combat with Yun Yun. The next moment, a huge claw directly grabbed towards Yun Yun with anger. Where the giant claw passed, it tore through the air, and a sharp sound wave echoed in the sky. In the valley, Gu He was enveloped in purple flames, resembling a cocoon of purple light. Beside him, Little Gold guarded silently next to the purple cocoon, watching vigilantly in one direction. That direction was precisely where the Crystal Winged Purple Lion King and Yun Yun were in intense battle. As a Nine-Star Dou Emperor, Little Gold had long sensed the great battle between the two. If this battle had affected Gu He, Little Gold would probably have rushed out to deal with these troublesome fellows long ago. As time slowly passed, the sun gradually set behind the mountain, and the sky gradually darkened. At this moment, the purple cocoon enveloping Gu He suddenly became deep and profound. Seeing this scene, Little Gold''s gaze immediately turned to the purple cocoon, and a trace of joy appeared in its eyes. Master is finally waking up! In the next moment, without any warning, the purple flames directly turned into strands of purple flames, entering Gu He''s body and disappearing. Then, Gu He, who had been sitting cross-legged on the blue stone for three days, slowly opened his eyes. Thunderous flashes streaked across his pitch-black pupils. Following that, a burst of energy storm erupted in the originally calm valley. Even the air was filled with crackling sounds. With the opening of these eyes, a majestic aura, as if awakening from countless ages of dormancy, slowly raised its head. Facing the sky, it emitted a roaring sound that shook the heavens and the earth. A monstrous aura immediately emanated from Gu He''s body, sweeping towards the surroundings. Under this aura, the entire valley trembled slightly, and many rocks fell, breaking the original silence of the valley. "Ka-cha!" The momentum was overwhelming and growing stronger! In the next moment, from where Gu He was sitting, thick cracks suddenly spread out. Even the mountains around the valley were covered with cracks, as if they were about to collapse. "Ka!" With an imposing force, growing stronger and stronger! At the next moment, starting from where Gu He was sitting, thick and sturdy cracks suddenly spread out. Even the mountains surrounding the valley were covered with cracks, as if they were about to collapse. "Ka-cha!" The stone slab on which Gu He was sitting suddenly emitted a faint sound. Suddenly, tiny cracks appeared, then spread rapidly, covering the entire blue stone. Finally, with a low sound, the blue stone directly turned into countless fragments, bursting apart. The blue stone shattered, but Gu He, sitting cross-legged in the air, showed no sign of movement. His legs were crossed in mid-air, suspended without the slightest external force. "Hehe, after tempering with the Divine Fire, the Dou Qi in my body has become incredibly pure." Gu He slowly spread out his hands, feeling the mighty Dou Qi erupting within him. A faint arc appeared at the corner of his mouth. At this moment, a heroic feeling as if holding the entire world in his hands surged from his heart. "Now, I finally have some self-defense power." Feeling the immense power contained within him, Gu He''s mouth revealed a confident smile. After coming to this world, Gu He''s strength had improved rapidly, but he never dared to reveal his true strength. Even when he had reached the Nine-Star Battle Emperor level before, Gu He still remained low-key. Because he knew that even with the strength of a Nine-Star Battle Emperor, he was not invincible in the Jia Ma Empire. After all, the Yunlan Sect, where he was located, had already attracted the attention of the Soul Hall. Perhaps there were already people from the Soul Hall lurking in the Yunlan Sect. However, with his breakthrough to the Battle Saint level, Gu He finally let go of his worries. With the strength of a Battle Saint, combined with his possession of the Origin Divine Fire, Vermillion Bird Seal, and advanced techniques such as Ascension Steps, even in the Jia Ma Empire, there was probably no one who could harm him. "Moreover, after breaking through to the Battle Saint level, the intensity of my soul power has also increased significantly." In the next moment, with a movement of Gu He''s mind, a powerful soul force instantly erupted. Like a storm, it swept towards all directions, enveloping the entire area. Soon, the incredibly formidable soul force covered the entire magical beast mountain range. Wherever the soul force passed, Gu He immediately saw the situation in the mountain range. Suddenly, a somewhat familiar and embarrassed figure appeared in Gu He''s soul force perception. Furrowing his brows, Gu He muttered to himself, "Yun Yun? Why is she in the magical beast mountain range?" "It seems that her current situation is not good..." With a self-murmur, Gu He immediately activated Ascension Steps. His figure disappeared instantly from the valley. (End of this chapter) Chapter 94: Slaying the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King! Chapter 94: Slaying the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King! Chapter 94: Slaying the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King! At this moment, a round moon hung in the sky, casting its watery light over the entire Monster Beast Mountain Range. Under the night sky, the Monster Beast Mountain Range was exceptionally noisy, with deafening roars echoing through the air. Beneath the night sky, a graceful figure was fleeing in haste, looking extremely disheveled. "Roar!" A tiger''s roar echoed in the night, followed by the appearance of a massive figure, about a dozen yards long. This was a tiger-shaped monster with enormous wings that shrouded the sky, crackling with the power of thunder, exuding a ferocious aura. The Thunder Tiger Beast was an incredibly powerful monster in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, ranking at the peak of the fifth tier. The Thunder Tiger Beast naturally controlled the power of thunder, and its body was constantly bathed in thunder, making it formidable. Among beasts of the same rank, the Thunder Tiger Beast had almost no natural enemies. Dazzling lightning played across the Thunder Tiger Beast''s body, filling the air, occasionally striking the figure fleeing ahead. Sensing the terrifying presence behind her, Yun Yun''s beautiful face was filled with despair. "It seems I''m doomed today!" Since being sealed by the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, Yun Yun had felt her strength continuously declining. In just one hour, her strength had weakened to the fifth-grade Dou King level, and this decline was ongoing. Boom! The thunderbolts occasionally striking her body were taking a toll. Her body gradually became numb, her speed slowed, and her injuries multiplied. "Damn it!" She glanced at the Thunder Tiger Beast chasing her without mercy, realizing that it had the strength to catch her but was toying with her like a cat and mouse. "You damn beast!" A trace of madness flashed in Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes, and then an extremely violent aura surged from within her, like a long-dormant volcano about to erupt. At this moment, Yun Yun completely burned her internal energy. A wildly powerful force filled her limbs and body. "Hmph!" "Do you still want to fight, human? You''re done for today after falling into my Purple Crystal Seal!" Just then, a more powerful and violent aura suddenly enveloped the area, covering an area of hundreds of yards in all directions, including Yun Yun. This colossal figure that appeared suddenly was none other than the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. However, at this moment, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was no longer the majestic creature it used to be. Its once proud horn had been cleanly cut off, leaving a smooth scar. Its aura was weak, indicating it had suffered severe injuries. When the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King appeared, it opened its huge eyes, staring coldly at Yun Yun, radiating overwhelming murderous intent. Boom! As the terrifying aura descended, Yun Yun felt like the entire world was about to collapse. An incredibly heavy force enveloped her, and the energy that had just been surging in her body froze instantly. Her body couldn''t withstand the pressure from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King''s aura. She trembled, struggling to stay on her feet. Yun Yun''s aura grew weaker, and she reluctantly gave up the idea of escaping. She turned around and looked at the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King with a hint of despair. It seemed that today she was doomed! Thinking of this, Yun Yun regretted her overconfidence. She had underestimated the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. It was, after all, a ruler in this area of the Monster Beast Mountain Range, and its strength should not be taken lightly. Now, even if she regretted, it was too late. At this moment, images of certain individuals flashed through Yun Yun''s mind. "Teacher, I wonder if you''ve reached the Fighter Ancestor level? I''m afraid I won''t be able to follow your wishes to strengthen the Cloud Mist Sect." "Yan Ran, my excellent disciple, I''m afraid I won''t be able to teach you anymore in the future." And... Elder Gu He... Suddenly, an image of Elder Gu He flashed in Yun Yun''s mind. Since they had refined the Gathering Qi Pill together, Yun Yun had developed a slight fondness for Elder Gu He. His temperament, his incredible alchemical skills, and his dedication had deeply attracted her. For Yun Yun, there had never been another man in her life. Instantly, the pitiful cries of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King echoed throughout the entire forest. "I''ll fight you!" Feeling the changes in the purple flames on its body, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King roared angrily towards the sky. The massive body wrapped in purple flames charged directly towards Gu He in the void. Clearly, realizing that begging for mercy was useless, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had decided to fight to the death. Seeing this scene, a cold smile appeared on Gu He''s lips, his expression still indifferent. A palm print was casually blasted out, forcefully suppressing the charging Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. The gap between a Dou King and a Dou Venerate was like a chasm. Facing the heavily wounded Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, Gu He made only a slight move and completely suppressed it. The Primordial Divine Fire was condensed from the essence of different fires, and the terror of different fires was unparalleled. After a short moment, the miserable cries of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King gradually ceased. Its massive body had turned into a blackened wreckage. With a thought, Gu He directly retrieved the Primordial Divine Fire. Suddenly, only the wreckage of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King remained on the ground. Not far away, Yun Yun looked at Gu He''s back with gratitude in her eyes. The night was dim at this moment, and she hadn''t seen Gu He''s face clearly, but she felt that this figure was somewhat familiar. Watching the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, which had already died in the purple flames, Yun Yun relaxed, wanting to say something. However, she felt a dizzy sensation rushing to her head. At this moment, she was seriously injured, her Qi nearly depleted, and on top of that, she was sealed by the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. She was already extremely weak. Seeing that the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was dead, she couldn''t hold on any longer. Her vision darkened, and she fell softly to the ground. In the void above, Gu He''s gaze stayed on the purple flame on the wreckage of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. This was the beast fire inside the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, the Purple Flame. Originally, facing the Primordial Divine Fire, this strand of Purple Flame could only end up being devoured. But under Gu He''s control, this strand of beast fire was preserved. The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was a sixth-rank magical beast, and this strand of Purple Flame was its innate flame, even more powerful than the Purple Eagle Flame. Gu He left it for the purpose of bestowing it upon his disciples. If it could trigger a tenfold return, he would gain another powerful different fire. To enhance the power of the Primordial Divine Fire, Gu He needed to devour various powerful flames. If he could devour another different fire, the power would at least double. Thinking of this, Gu He''s mind moved, and he approached the wreckage of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, directly storing the Purple Flame in the system space. After completing all this, Gu He turned around slowly, looking at Yun Yun who had fainted on the ground. With a thought, Gu He appeared next to Yun Yun. At this moment, Yun Yun, with closed eyes, had an extremely pale face, clearly severely injured. Gu He sighed and then bent down to lift the unconscious Yun Yun into his arms in a princess carry. Then, Gu He disappeared into the forest. When he reappeared, Gu He, still carrying Yun Yun, had arrived in front of a massive cave. This cave was the den of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. As the ruler of the magical beast mountain range, the den must have collected a large number of treasures. Not to mention anything else, just the abundant Purple Spirit Crystals and the associated Purple Crystal Source in the den were enough for Gu He to plunder. Although these had little use for him, they were extremely suitable treasures for Liu Ling and the Little Doctor. If these treasures were given to his disciples, Gu He himself could also obtain excellent system treasures. Thinking of this, Gu He smiled faintly, then, holding Yun Yun, he slowly walked towards the den. Entering the cave, the interior was not as dim as imagined. Occasionally, purple crystal blocks were embedded on the surrounding mountain wallsnatural products of the cave. In the human world, these purple crystal blocks were highly valued decorations, with considerable value. In the deep and spacious interior of the cave, adorned with these purple crystal blocks, it was exceptionally beautiful. Looking at these naturally formed dens, Gu He couldn''t help but sigh in his heart. Even this cunning lion seemed to understand how to enjoy a comfortable life better than humans. Chapter 95: Guess What! Chapter 95: Guess What! Chapter 95: Guess What! Slowly entering the cave, Gu He carried Yun Yun through the long mountain cave passage. After a moment, two diverging paths appeared ahead. Sensing with his soul power, Gu He chose the left path to move forward. This path was quite winding, and as they progressed, Gu He suddenly found that the temperature around them was getting hotter. The next moment, Gu He couldn''t be bothered to walk any further, directly using the Heaven Ascension Steps technique to pass through the passage. In an instant, Gu He arrived inside the cave. Inside the cave, the temperature was even higher. Gu He''s gaze directly stopped at the central position inside the cave. There, a pile of Purple Crystal Stones, with a height of over a meter, formed a platform-like structure. On the Purple Crystal Stone platform, there was a purple spherical object, about the size of Gu He''s head, quietly placed there. Gu He examined the purple sphere, and suddenly realized that the heat inside the cave was all emanating from this thing. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. Was this the Companion Purple Crystal Source? The energy it contained was indeed formidable. Gu He went to a corner, directly placed Xiao Yi Xian down, and then took out a jade bottle from his spatial ring, pouring a healing pill into her mouth. After doing all this, Gu He approached the Purple Crystal Stone platform. Touching the Companion Purple Crystal Source with his hand, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. All the heat inside the cave was coming from this thing, but it felt cool to the touch, which was strange. Such a peculiar treasure actually originated from the body of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was an extraordinary beast with innate talents; otherwise, it would be difficult for it to become a sixth-rank magical beast. This kind of magical beast had a very small chance of producing this Companion Purple Crystal Source when giving birth to offspring. Because this Companion Purple Crystal Source had stayed in the lion king''s belly for an extremely long time, the pure energy it contained was quite spectacular. Once the young magical beast grew to the fourth rank, as long as it swallowed this source, it could directly become a fifth-rank magical beast. Moreover, the purple fire inside its body would be even more powerful than other Purple Crystal Winged Lions that hadn''t swallowed the Companion Purple Crystal Source. The interior of this cave was extremely hot, not conducive to Xiao Yi Xian''s recovery. Therefore, Gu He decided to take out this Companion Purple Crystal Source first. Having read the original work, Gu He also knew that to open the Companion Purple Crystal Source, he needed to find the Purple Spirit Crystal. Thinking of this, Gu He extended his soul power and probed into another diverging path. The next moment, Gu He''s figure disappeared on the spot. When he reappeared, Gu He had already come to the other side inside the cave. After Gu He appeared, what caught his eye was a pile of purple crystals. Sweeping his gaze inside the cave, when he moved to the central position, Gu He''s gaze slowly stopped. There, a small Purple Crystal Winged Lion cub was prostrated on the ground, sleeping peacefully. Naturally, Gu He, with his soul power, had long sensed the presence of this Purple Crystal Winged Lion cub and did not feel surprised. However, when his palm was about to touch the Sect Master''s delicate body, the Sect Master, who had tightly closed her eyes, suddenly opened them. A trace of coldness flashed in the Sect Master''s beautiful eyes. However, when she saw that the person in front of her was Gu He, her expression quickly shifted to surprise. "Elder Gu He, how can it be you?" The Sect Master''s sudden opening of her eyes startled Gu He, but he quickly regained composure. His expression remained calm, and he spoke with concern, "Sect Master, your injuries need to be dealt with promptly. If left untreated for too long, they might leave scars. Now that you''ve awakened, you can take care of it yourself." After saying that, Gu He picked up the jade bottle and handed it to the puzzled Sect Master. Looking at the elegant and refined Gu He in front of her, the Sect Master instantly associated him with the white-robed senior from before. She looked surprised and said, "Elder Gu He, could it be... you saved me just now?" The thought that the white-robed senior who had saved her might be the current Elder Gu He flashed through her mind, and she could hardly believe it herself. Although her consciousness had been somewhat blurred earlier, she had witnessed the senior''s strength with her own eyes. The ability to suppress the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King and then burn it alive demonstrated a power that far exceeded the Dou Emperor realm. The Sect Master speculated in her heart that the senior might have reached the Dou Ancestor realm. The Dou Ancestor realm was a realm that her teacher had not achieved even after closing up for so many years. With Elder Gu He''s age, how could he possibly reach such a realm? However, after the Sect Master voiced her doubts, she saw a faint smile on Gu He''s face. He nodded slowly and said, "Yes, it was me who saved you." Getting Gu He''s answer, the Sect Master, who had just thought about the white-robed senior, had a momentary lapse and then, her expression showed intense shock. "This... How is this possible..." The Sect Master looked at the familiar Gu He in front of her, suddenly feeling a bit strange. It seemed like she was meeting the man in front of her for the first time. In the Sect Master''s heart, she felt that she was quite familiar with Gu He. When Gu He was recruited into Yun Lan Sect, she was still a young girl, not yet inheriting the position of Sect Master. Gu He''s growth was something she had witnessed all the way. In her memory, his strength had stopped at the Dou Emperor realm. After all, the fame of Medicine King Gu He had already become well-known. However, now Gu He told her that he had reached the Dou Ancestor realm. This made it hard for the Sect Master to accept for a moment. Who could have expected that a powerful expert at the Dou Ancestor realm would willingly become an honorary elder in Yun Lan Sect? After hesitating for a moment, the Sect Master looked up at Gu He, her expression serious, "Elder Gu He, what is your purpose in staying at Yun Lan Sect?" At these words, Gu He hesitated for a moment and then said slowly, "I am already at the Dou Ancestor realm." After receiving Gu He''s answer, the Sect Master''s pupils contracted. Even though she had already suspected it, she couldn''t help showing a shocked expression. The Dou Ancestor realm! Elder Gu He was actually a Dou Ancestor level expert! Chapter 96: Enchanting Healing Chapter 96: Enchanting Healing "I guess?" At these words, Yun Yun was slightly stunned. Then her gaze met Gu He''s eyes that carried a smile, and she felt a sudden panic in her heart. In an instant, a thought flashed through her mind. Could it be that Elder Gu He stayed in Yun Lan Sect all this time for her? Over the years, Elder Gu He had consciously or unconsciously shown his admiration for her. However, Yun Yun didn''t feel anything for him, so she always politely declined. But when facing death just now, Yun Yun found a slight fondness for Gu He in her heart. This made Yun Yun''s emotions suddenly become complicated. Over the years, no matter what request she made, the man in front of her would do his best to help her. Last time, regarding Yan Ran''s withdrawal from the marriage, it was he who comforted and encouraged her, and even took the initiative to refine the Qi Gathering Powder for her. And then there was the Emperor''s Extreme Pill... Upon learning that she had reached a bottleneck in her cultivation, Gu He volunteered to refine the Emperor''s Extreme Pill to help her break through. Just now, when she faced a life-threatening crisis, it was this man who appeared in time to save her. Various incidents flashed through Yun Yun''s mind, making her emotions somewhat turbulent. It seemed like she owed him too much... Suddenly, Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes condensed, and she thought of a question. Why did Gu He appear here? And why did he appear in time to save her from a life-and-death situation? All of this seemed too coincidental. A thought suddenly surged in Yun Yun''s mind. Could it be that Elder Gu He had been following her, silently guarding her? Only this explanation could justify why Gu He appeared in the Beast Mountain Range. In an instant, these thoughts flashed through Yun Yun''s mind, and she looked at the gentle man in front of her, feeling ripples in her heart. Unexpectedly, the man in front of her could go to such lengths for her. A powerful Dou Ancestor like him should dominate the world and have a renowned reputation. However, for her, he was willing to silently lurk in Yun Lan Sect just to protect her... For a moment, Yun Yun couldn''t help but be a little infatuated. She stared directly at Gu He, and her eyes became incredibly gentle. "Gu He, thank you." For the first time, Yun Yun didn''t add the word "Elder" when addressing Gu He. Although it still sounded ordinary, it became more intimate. Gu He, naturally, was unaware of what Yun Yun was thinking. However, from Yun Yun''s eyes, he vaguely sensed a significant change in her attitude towards him. Feeling the gentle touch of Gu He''s actions, Yun Yun closed her eyes tightly, but a warm feeling flashed through her heart. After removing the armor, Yun Yun''s upper body was almost naked in front of Gu He. Of course, this was only the back. As for the front, if Gu He wanted to see, he could use his spiritual power to do so. But... there was no need for that. Although Gu He didn''t consider himself a righteous gentleman, he disdained such lowly actions. If he wanted to see, Yun Yun had to be willing to let him undo it openly and honestly. Being naked in front of a man, Yun Yun''s snow-white skin gradually turned a faint pink under Gu He''s gaze, and her delicate body trembled slightly. Feeling all of this, Gu He smiled slightly and then took off his own white shirt, covering Yun Yun in a timely manner, relieving her embarrassment. Seeing Gu He''s actions, Yun Yun couldn''t help but open her eyes, looking at the white shirt that had been pulled up, she was slightly stunned. Then a trace of gratitude flashed in her eyes. After that, Gu He gently moved Yun Yun''s delicate body again, letting her lie flat on the ground. Facing her directly, Gu He noticed that Yun Yun''s cheeks were already blushing, and her eyes looking at him revealed a touch of tenderness. "I''m going to clean the wound now." Gu He had a faint smile on his face and gently reminded her. Upon hearing this, Yun Yun nodded slightly and softly responded, "Mm." Only then did Gu He reach out, slowly pulling down the white shirt on Yun Yun until the wound was completely exposed, revealing a touch of snow-white skin, before stopping. Afterwards, Gu He took out some clean cotton cloth from his storage ring and poured some light green liquid from a jade bottle. As Gu He gently wiped the wound, Yun Yun''s beautiful eyelashes trembled lightly. The elegant phoenix hair accessory on her head also quietly scattered a few strands, giving her a less dignified and more lazy look. Looking at the man in front of her who was earnestly cleaning the wound, Yun Yun''s gaze became increasingly gentle. After carefully cleaning the wound, Gu He poured more white powder from another jade bottle. Stimulated by the powder, Yun Yun frowned slightly, and a low moan containing pain came from her delicate nose, "It hurts." Hearing this, Gu He''s hand paused for a moment. Then he smiled slightly and consoled, "It''s okay, it will stop hurting soon. Endure it for a while." Meeting Gu He''s gentle gaze, Yun Yun nodded slightly and responded softly, "Mm." Afterward, she slowly closed her eyes, allowing Gu He to continue his actions. Next, Gu He evenly sprinkled the powder on the wound and carefully wrapped it up. After completing all this, Gu He stared at the exposed whiteness for a moment before reluctantly pulling up the white shirt. "Alright, the wound has been treated, and it will heal in three days." Clapping his hands, Gu He slowly stood up and smiled at Yun Yun. "As for the seal on your body, I do have a way to deal with it, but we''ll talk about it when your injuries are completely healed." Hearing this, Yun Yun slowly opened her eyes, looked at the white shirt that had been pulled up, and smiled at Gu He. That smile was truly peerless! Gu He couldn''t help but look somewhat infatuated... Chapter 97: Make Yanran Accept Me as Master Chapter 97: Make Yanran Accept Me as Master Chapter 97: Make Yanran Accept Me as Master Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the second day. Inside the cave, Gu He took out the package that Xiao Yi Xian had given him before leaving. Opening the package, he found some pastries inside. Xiao Yi Xian''s culinary skills were always good, and these pastries were obviously made with care, exquisite and appetizing. Gu He picked up a pastry and tasted it. Mmm, it tasted good. Gu He couldn''t help but eat a few more. Then, Gu He looked at Yun Yun, who was still lying on the ground, and walked over with a few pastries in hand. Hearing Gu He''s footsteps, Yun Yun subconsciously opened her eyes. "How do you feel?" Gu He squatted down, a smile on his face as he asked with concern. Feeling the concern in Gu He''s words, a smile appeared on Yun Yun''s pretty face, and she said, "Much better." Gu He raised the pastries in his hand and said, "These pastries were made by Xiao Yi Xian. Would you like to have some?" Yun Yun had not eaten for a day and night, so she was naturally hungry. Upon hearing Gu He''s words, she nodded slightly and replied, "Yes." Then, Gu He reached out, helped Yun Yun sit up, and handed her a pastry. He picked up a piece of pastry, handed it to Xiao Yi Xian''s mouth, and said gently, "Eat, it tastes good." Watching the pastry being handed to her mouth, Yun Yun''s face blushed slightly. After giving Gu He a glance, she gently took a small bite. Watching Yun Yun''s red lips move as she chewed slowly, Gu He asked with a gentle tone, "How is it?" "Good." Yun Yun swallowed the pastry in her mouth and nodded lightly. Thinking of Xiao Yi Xian''s cute appearance, a hint of fondness appeared in her eyes. "That girl''s cooking skills are really good." "As long as you like it." Gu He smiled at her words, then picked up another pastry and handed it to Yun Yun. "I''ll go out later to catch a few fish for you to replenish your strength." Yun Yun''s body was too weak at the moment, and she couldn''t eat anything greasy. She could only supplement her nutrition with some fish. Yun Yun took a small bite of the pastry and looked at Gu He, nodding slightly. One piece of pastry, Yun Yun took four or five bites to finish. At the last small bite, Yun Yun''s red lips even touched Gu He''s fingertips, making Yun Yun''s cheeks even more rosy. "Have another one." Turning around to look at Yun Yun, Gu He said, "You''re preparing this for Yanran even though she hasn''t broken through to the Dou Master level yet. Isn''t it a bit early?" Yun Yun whispered, "You don''t know. There was news from the Wu Tan City that the young man from the Xiao family, who divorced Yanran, after being divorced by her, for some reason, not only did his talents recover, but even surpassed his previous state. In just a few months, he has broken through to the Dou Practitioner level. This makes me somewhat worried." "The three-year agreement between Yanran and that young man from the Xiao family not only involves Yanran''s future but also affects the reputation of the Cloud Mist Sect. Therefore, in the three-year agreement, Yanran must win and cannot lose." At this point, a trace of seriousness appeared on Yun Yun''s pretty face. Clearly, she attached great importance to this three-year agreement. After all, the recent divorce of the Cloud Mist Sect was a direct affront to Xiao Yan, already impacting the sect''s reputation considerably. If, in three years, Yanran, the pride of the Cloud Mist Sect, were to lose to Xiao Yansomeone she had once despisedthe consequences would be even more severe. The Cloud Mist Sect''s hard-earned good reputation would likely be tarnished in an instant. Gu He''s face showed a slight surprise upon hearing Yun Yun''s words. Indeed, the Cloud Mist Sect, as the number one sect in the Gamma Empire, had swift means of gathering information, even about the Xiao family in Udan City. Yun Yun''s decision to take the risk and obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal suggested that Xiao Yan had exerted significant pressure on her. Unbeknownst to Gu He, Yun Yun''s early visit to acquire the Purple Spirit Crystal was connected to him. In the original timeline, Yun Yun did come to the Magic Beast Mountain Range for the crystal, but her visit was delayed by over half a year. The accelerated schedule had two main reasons. Firstly, Yun Yun''s confidence in her strength had surged after taking the Emperor Pill. Secondly, concerns about Nalan Yanran''s recent setbacks led her to expedite her plans, hoping that the Purple Crystal Pill might restore Yanran''s confidence. In the cave, after Yun Yun shared her worries, Dou Ancestor Gu He considered a potential solution. After a moment of silence, he proposed, "Master, I have a suggestion that might help you." Upon hearing this, Yun Yun looked at Dou Ancestor Gu He with curiosity. Dou Ancestor Gu He got straight to the point. "It''s very simple. Let Yanran accept me as her master." "Accept you as a master?" Yun Yun looked stunned, somewhat incredulous. "Do you want to take Yanran as your disciple?" Dou Ancestor Gu He nodded seriously. "As long as Yanran accepts me as her master, I can guarantee that by the time of the three-year agreement, her cultivation will be at least at the Dou Emperor level." These words reflected Dou Ancestor Gu He''s confidence. With the system''s support rewarding a thousandfold for teaching disciples, he considered himself the best teacher. Making Nalan Yanran his disciple would render the three-year agreement with Xiao Yan a mere joke, as Yanran would surpass Xiao Yan dominantly. "Emperor?" Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes froze, and she looked at Dou Ancestor Gu He. "Elder Gu He, are you serious?" "Does the Master not trust me?" Dou Ancestor Gu He maintained a smile. "If you don''t believe me, how about we make a bet?" Yun Yun''s eyes flashed. "A bet?" "On the day of the three-year agreement, if Yanran has not broken through to the Dou Emperor level, then I will agree to a condition of your choosing," Dou Ancestor Gu He proposed. Surprised, Yun Yun asked, "Are you so confident?" Evidently, Yun Yun didn''t fully believe Dou Ancestor Gu He''s words. While he was already a Dou Ancestor powerhouse, it only represented his personal talent. With two years left until the three-year agreement, Yun Yun might have faith if Dou Ancestor Gu He could guarantee that Nalan Yanran would reach the Dou Spirit realm. Moreover, Yun Yun considered Xiao Yi Xian''s progress. If Nalan Yanran could achieve similar speed, reaching the Dou Spirit realm in three years might be plausible. However, this was only the Dou Spirit realm, still far from the Dou Emperor realm that Dou Ancestor Gu He mentioned. Dou Ancestor Gu He smiled. "Since I dare to make a guarantee, naturally, I have this confidence. How about it, Master? Do you dare to accept this bet?" Dou Ancestor Gu He''s mouth revealed a hint of mockery as he looked at Yun Yun. Yun Yun didn''t immediately agree but asked, "What if I lose?" "If you lose..." Dou Ancestor Gu He thought for a moment, his lips slightly lifted, and his gaze swept over Yun Yun''s pretty face. "It''s simple. Let that girl Yanran change her way of addressing you a bit." "Change her way of addressing me?" At these words, Yun Yun showed a puzzled expression. "Change what way of addressing?" A hint of amusement flashed in Dou Ancestor Gu He''s eyes. "If Yanran successfully breaks through to the Dou Emperor level on the day of the three-year agreement, then let her address you as... Master, how about that?" (End of this chapter) Chapter 98: Xiao Yi Xian Breaks Through, Obtains Profound Ice Holy Armor Chapter 98: Xiao Yi Xian Breaks Through, Obtains Profound Ice Holy Armor "Sect Master?" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Yun Yun was first stunned, then a touch of crimson immediately appeared on her pretty face. She said in embarrassment, "Elder Gu He, don''t make such jokes." Gu He looked into Yun Yun''s eyes, his expression very serious. "I''m not joking, Sect Master. How about it? Do you dare to accept this bet?" Looking at Gu He''s serious expression, Yun Yun''s heart inexplicably felt a bit flustered. She lowered her head, normally graceful and confident, now unsure how to respond. Scenes of Gu He appearing at a critical moment last night and saving her flashed in her mind. For a moment, her heart was in chaos. Seeing Yun Yun fall into silence, a hint of disappointment flashed in Gu He''s eyes. It seemed that he was a bit too hasty. Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit heavy, he smiled and slowly said, "Since the Sect Master is unwilling, then let me change it..." "Wait!" Before Gu He finished speaking, Yun Yun suddenly raised her head, looking at Gu He, and said seriously, "Elder Gu He, I bet with you!" At these words, Gu He was stunned, looking at Yun Yun with a serious expression. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he said slowly, "Then it''s settled!" Yun Yun also smiled, her beautiful eyes full of tenderness, charming and moving. "However, if you want to take Yanran as your disciple, you still need her consent." At this moment, Yun Yun suddenly thought of a problem. Nalan Yanran had always been strong-willed and disliked being forced. If she didn''t want to be Gu He''s disciple, even Yun Yun would be helpless. Moreover, Yun Yun didn''t want to force her precious disciple. Nodding, Gu He said, "Naturally, I will let that girl willingly accept me as her master." He was quite confident about this. Just a little girlcould he not handle her? Back then, when he bestowed treasures upon Xiao Yi Xian, he saw the envy in Nalan Yanran''s eyes. Gu He believed that with just a transmission of skills and teachings, he could easily control that little girl. Yun Yun smiled and said, "Since you are so confident, then that''s the best." "However..." After a moment of hesitation, Yun Yun spoke again, "Since Elder Gu He wants to be Yanran''s teacher, I''ll leave the matter of obtaining the Purple Spirit Crystal to you." "Purple Spirit Crystal?" At these words, Gu He was slightly stunned. Then he reached out, and a purple crystal stone appeared. Gu He looked at Yun Yun, smiling, "Are you talking about this Purple Spirit Crystal?" Yun Yun stared at the Purple Spirit Crystal in Gu He''s hand, her eyes showing surprise. For a moment, she couldn''t react. "How did the Purple Spirit Crystal...?" Gu He smiled slightly mysteriously, "Sect Master, take a guess. Where are we right now?" Hearing this, Yun Yun subconsciously looked inside the cave. When she saw the densely embedded purple crystals on the cave wall, a flash of realization crossed her mind. In the next moment, Yun Yun exclaimed in surprise, "This is the den of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King!" Gu He nodded, "Yes, this is indeed the den of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. I''ve already obtained the Purple Spirit Crystal." Yun Yun completely understood now. Since even the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had died in Gu He''s hands, occupying its den, there was nothing surprising. The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was a king in this area of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, and its den must have treasures. If she had the strength to kill the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, she would inevitably come here to plunder. After thinking about it, Yun Yun took out an ancient scroll from her spatial ring and handed it to Gu He, "Elder Gu He, since the Purple Spirit Crystal is already in your hands, I''ll also leave the matter of refining the Purple Spirit Pill to you." Yun Yun collected the materials to be given to Gu He for refining. Now she decided to hand over the entire prescription to him. Gu He looked at the scroll in Yun Yun''s hand, took it slowly, and nodded slightly. "Well, you continue to rest. When you recover, I will help you lift the seal." Gu He comforted Yun Yun and got up slowly. ... Cloud Mist Sect. Gu He''s residence. The yard was quiet, without a sound. "Mmm..." A slight murmur echoed in a room. On the bed, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyelids moved slightly, slowly waking up. There was a black powder on her delicate lips, looking somewhat abrupt. In her eyes, a fleeting confusion appeared and disappeared. In Xiao Yi Xian''s mind, scenes of herself swallowing poison last night quickly flashed. Then, Xiao Yi Xian swept her eyes around the room, looking at the black mist lingering in the air. With a thought, she began to perform the Poison Devouring Condensation Pill technique. Information about the Ice Heart Armor flashed in Xiao Yi Xian''s mind, and she couldn''t help but smile. Her teacher is really good to her! Even such treasures are given to her. With this soft armor, she''ll be much safer in the future. Xiao Yi Xian lovingly touched the Ice Heart Armor and then happily put it into her spatial ring. Taking a glance at the two jade bottles on the table, Xiao Yi Xian''s gaze then fell on one. Taking the bottle, Xiao Yi Xian looked at the introduction on it. "Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, peak fourth-grade pill. After consumption, it can increase one star in cultivation for a Dou Grandmaster." It''s actually a pill that can increase cultivation! After reading the introduction on the jade bottle, Xiao Yi Xian''s beautiful eyes lit up. Although this Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill is aimed at Dou Grandmaster cultivation, Xiao Yi Xian doesn''t mind at all. Because, in her opinion, now that she has broken through to Eight-Star Dou Master, it won''t be long before she breaks through to Dou Grandmaster. My teacher has prepared the pills for breaking through to Dou Grandmaster in advance. Thinking of this, Xiao Yi Xian felt sweet in her heart. After putting away the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, Xiao Yi Xian looked at the last jade bottle. Taking the bottle, Xiao Yi Xian looked at the introduction on it. "Soul Tempering Pill, peak fifth-grade pill. After consumption, it has a slight effect in enhancing soul power." "This is actually a pill that can enhance soul power!" After reading the introduction of the Soul Tempering Pill, a hint of surprise appeared on Xiao Yi Xian''s pretty face. Subconsciously, she remembered that her teacher had mentioned some things about soul power before he left. Soul power is the foundation of living beings. Without a soul, there is nothing. If the soul does not perish, there is a glimmer of hope. Regarding this mysterious thing, anyone must maintain a certain amount of reverence. In general, it is extremely difficult to enhance soul power. Only when there is a breakthrough in cultivation, can soul power become slightly stronger. But the intensity of this enhancement is very weak. Soul power is a profound and mysterious thing, and ordinary people can only let it develop naturally, and it is impossible to control it. Even some alchemists only know how to use soul power but do not have a thorough understanding of it. Because enhancing soul power is extremely difficult, Xiao Yi Xian was surprised by the effect of the Soul Tempering Pill. Although this Soul Tempering Pill can only slightly enhance the strength of soul power, just based on this, its value is not inferior to an ordinary sixth-grade pill. "My teacher actually gave me such a good thing." Xiao Yi Xian looked at the jade bottle in her hand with joy. With this Soul Tempering Pill, she believes that she will soon be able to impact the realm of a third-grade alchemist. ... Demon Beast Mountain, Purple Crystal Winged Lion King''s den. Gu He was meditating and cultivating when a series of system notification sounds echoed in his mind. "Ding, detected that the host bestowed the second disciple, Xiao Yi Xian, with the fifth-grade magic core armor Ice Heart Armor. Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten thousand-fold return, obtaining the eighth-grade magic core armor Profound Ice Holy Armor." "The Profound Ice Holy Armor has been sent to the system space. Please pay attention to check, host." Chapter 99: Soul Realm, Taking the Holy Soul Pill! Chapter 99: Soul Realm, Taking the Holy Soul Pill! Chapter 99: Soul Realm, Taking the Holy Soul Pill! "Ding, detected that the host has granted the Second Disciple Xiao Yi Xian a Five-Star Magic Core Soft Armor, Profound Ice Spirit Armor. Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten-thousand-fold return and obtaining an Eighth-Rank Magic Core Soft Armor, the Profound Ice Holy Armor." "The Profound Ice Holy Armor has been deposited in the system space. Please check it, host." Gu He, who was meditating, heard the system notification in his mind, but before he could react, two more system notifications sounded in succession. "Ding, detected that the host has granted the Second Disciple Xiao Yi Xian a Fourth-Grade Peak Pill, the Purple Heart Breakthrough Pill. Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten-thousand-fold return and obtaining a Seventh-Grade Pill, the Dou Zong Pill." "The Seventh-Grade Pill, the Dou Zong Pill, has been deposited in the system space. Please check it, host." "Ding, detected that the host has granted the Second Disciple Xiao Yi Xian a Fifth-Grade Peak Pill, the Quenching Soul Pill. Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten-thousand-fold return and obtaining an Eighth-Grade Pill, the Holy Soul Pill." "The Eighth-Grade Pill, the Holy Soul Pill, has been deposited in the system space. Please check it, host." After hearing the system notifications in his mind, Gu He was slightly confused for a moment. However, he quickly understood. It seemed that Xiao Yi Xian had already broken through to the Eighth Star Dou Master and claimed the rewards he had left for her. A hint of joy flashed in Gu He''s eyes. Originally, he had left the rewards at Yunlan Sect just as an experiment. He wanted to see if the system return mechanism would activate without personally granting the rewards to his disciple. Now it seemed that this method was effective. Gu He was satisfied with this result. After all, he couldn''t stay at Yunlan Sect forever, nor could he always be by his disciples'' side. The discovery by the system would give him more freedom in his future actions. The only downside was the Transmission of Techniques ceremony, which required his physical presence to trigger the system return mechanism. This time, his absence meant missing an opportunity for the ceremony. If he were at Yunlan Sect right now, he could personally conduct the Transmission of Techniques for Xiao Yi Xian, and he believed it could help her advance to the third or fourth star Dou Master realm. However, such situations were unavoidable, and Gu He could only minimize his losses and make the most of the monthly system return opportunities. After realizing this, Gu He calmed his thoughts and directed his consciousness into the system space. Once inside, his gaze fell on three items floating in the void. One was a soft armor radiating a brilliant blue light. The other two were delicate jade bottles. Gu He''s gaze first landed on the blue soft armor. "Is this the Profound Ice Holy Armor?" he murmured. He immediately commanded, "System, extract the Profound Ice Holy Armor!" As he spoke, the blue soft armor in the void trembled slightly and then transformed into a blue light that shot toward Gu He. When the light dissipated, he found himself wearing the blue armor underneath his clothes. With a thought, Gu He infused his Dou Qi into the Profound Ice Holy Armor. In an instant, a brilliant blue light burst forth, illuminating the entire system space. A dense and extremely cold power of Profound Ice suddenly surged and condensed into a Profound Ice armor that covered his entire body. Running his hand over the Profound Ice armor, Gu He felt an intense chill rushing to his heart. During the moment when he extracted the Profound Ice Holy Armor, information about it had already flooded his mind. The Profound Ice Holy Armor was an Eighth-Rank Magic Core Soft Armor, embedded with several Eighth-Rank Magic Cores. On the continent of Dou Qi, soul strength had no level difference, but it was divided into realms: Ordinary, Spirit, Heaven, and Emperor. Most people, even alchemists of Seventh Grade or lower, had their soul strength at the Ordinary realm. The difference lay in the strength of their souls. As for the reason why many alchemists remained at the Seventh Grade, it was precisely because of this realm of the soul. In the continent of Dou Qi, soul strength had four levels: Ordinary, Spirit, Heaven, and Emperor. Most people, even alchemists of Eighth Grade or lower, remained at the Ordinary realm, with varying degrees of soul strength. Of course, Gu He, as he was now, naturally belonged to the Ordinary realm. But compared to ordinary people, his soul strength was much stronger. Some Seventh-Grade alchemists, with fortuitous encounters, might touch upon the Spirit realm. Once their soul strength reached this realm, they would gain a special ability: to endow pills with spiritual attributes. Having inherited the knowledge of the Ninth-Grade Alchemist, Gu He knew that Eighth-Grade pills were mostly those with extraordinary spirituality. It was precisely because of this spirituality that they could reach the Eighth-Grade level. Common alchemists, regardless of their alchemical skills, couldn''t refine Eighth-Grade pills. If they couldn''t impart spiritual attributes to pills, then those pills could never reach the Eighth-Grade level. A Heaven realm soul was enough to refine Ninth-Grade pills. Ninth-Grade pills were almost like living beings. If a soul''s strength reached this level, it was akin to creating a sentient being. To achieve this, the soul needed spirituality, as well as the power of heaven and earth. To reach this level, the soul''s strength had to be at the Heaven realm. This level was rare on the continent of Dou Qi. As for an Emperor realm soul, it was almost legendary. Reaching this realm was required to refine the legendary Emperor-Grade pills. Emperor-Grade pills were closely related to the legendary Dou Emperor. However, few had ever reached this level. Looking at the jade bottle containing the Holy Soul Pill in his hand, Gu He''s eyes revealed a hint of excitement. Although he didn''t know how close or far he was from reaching the Spirit realm in terms of soul strength, he was sure there was still a considerable gap. If he consumed this Holy Soul Pill, it would greatly reduce that gap and possibly even elevate his soul strength to the peak of the Ordinary realm. The power of an Eighth-Grade pill was sufficient to achieve this. Afterward, Gu He gradually withdrew his consciousness from the system space. Returning to his body, he glanced at Yun Yun, who was peacefully asleep. If he used the Dou Ancestor Pill to break through, the commotion would be too great, and it might disturb her. After some thought, Gu He decided to take the Holy Soul Pill first. With a thought, a jade bottle appeared in Gu He''s hand, containing the Holy Soul Pill. Upon removing the bottle cap, a strong medicinal fragrance wafted out. Gu He held the jade bottle, tilting it slightly, revealing a thumb-sized dark red pill. The entire pill was dark red, smooth, and what astonished Gu He the most was the faint mist that surrounded the pill. This mist seemed to possess its own consciousness, occasionally condensing into various shapes, hovering around the pill, giving it an extraordinarily mystical appearance. Chapter 100: The Pinnacle of the Mortal Realm! Chapter 100: The Pinnacle of the Mortal Realm! Chapter 100: The Pinnacle of the Mortal Realm! "It truly deserves to be an eighth-grade pill; it''s extraordinary!" As he looked at the crimson pill in his hand, Gu He couldn''t help but exclaim in amazement. He couldn''t help but wonder when he could refine an eighth-grade pill himself. Without any hesitation, Gu He pinched the Holy Soul Pill and placed it in his mouth. The Holy Soul Pill smoothly slid down his throat and entered his body. In that instant, Gu He''s head buzzed, and a searing sensation radiated from his soul. The soul''s power, located in his brow, expanded rapidly as if it had consumed a catalyst. The rapid expansion led to an intense throbbing in Gu He''s brow, as if his head was about to explode. Feeling this sudden change, Gu He''s heart filled with shock. But in such a crucial moment, he didn''t dare to be careless. He focused his mind and carefully observed the changes within his body. As the Holy Soul Pill entered Gu He''s body, a scorching sensation quickly spread throughout his body, transforming into numerous streams of heat that flowed to every corner. Next, streams of gray energy rapidly surged within Gu He''s body. The gray energy penetrated his flesh and surged forward, arriving at the brow of his head. Gu He noticed that as this gray energy entered his mind, it intertwined with the soul''s power residing there. At that moment of entwining, Gu He was astonished to discover an immensely powerful and peculiar energy rapidly infiltrating his soul. After a brief moment, Gu He was startled to realize that his soul''s strength was rapidly increasing at a terrifying rate. With the intense enhancement of his soul''s power, Gu He was initially delighted. However, his expression quickly changed. He felt an increasingly intense throbbing in his brow. His soul''s power was growing at an alarming rate. Feeling the escalating pain in his brow, Gu He was taken aback. He had never anticipated that the Holy Soul Pill would have such a powerful effect on soul power. As the throbbing in his brow continued to intensify, Gu He had no choice but to let his soul''s power increase at a visible rate. More and more gray energy flowed in, and Gu He''s soul continued to strengthen. At this point, Gu He finally realized the true meaning of a splitting headache. His head was pounding, and his temples on both sides were bulging like small drums, pulsating incessantly. "It''s going to explode!" The suddenly overwhelming soul power was gradually exceeding the maximum threshold that Gu He''s body could bear. Finally, after a moment, Gu He reached a certain limit. Boom!T/his chapter is updated by In the depths of his mind, a deafening explosion occurred, nearly causing him to lose consciousness. His surroundings were filled with a golden radiance, and his mind was in chaos. Time flowed like water, passing silently. In the blink of an eye, a day and a night had passed since Gu He took the Holy Soul Pill. On the second day, the anomalies in this area finally gradually dissipated. Inside the cave, everything returned to silence. Yun Yun glanced at Gu He for a while, then felt fatigue creeping in. She closed her eyes slowly and went back to sleep. Before long, Gu He''s eyelids trembled slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes, revealing a gleam in his jet-black pupils. ... Magic Beast Mountain Range. A figure suddenly appeared outside the Crystal Winged Lion King''s lair; it was Gu He. In his right hand, he held a few fat fish. He had caught them at a large waterfall in the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Since taking the Holy Soul Pill yesterday, he had experienced a significant increase in his soul power. He had a feeling that he had reached the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm regarding soul power. But the gap between each realm of soul power was vast, like a chasm. Although he had failed to break through to the Spiritual Realm during his last attempt, Gu He was far from discouraged. He believed there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. Entering the cave, Gu He saw Yun Yun sitting on a stone platform, with her cheek resting on her hand. When she noticed Gu He had returned, she smiled slightly and said, "You''re back." Gu He nodded with a smile, and then he raised the few fat fish he had caught, saying, "I caught some fish to nourish your body." With Gu He''s current soul power, he could cover the entire Magic Beast Mountain Range. With his soul power extending wherever it reached, he could instantly arrive anywhere. This was why he dared to go out and catch fish, leaving Yun Yun alone in the cave. If any unforeseen situation occurred, he could use his soul power to instantly return to the cave. Gu He placed the fish in a clean area, conjured a flame, and then began to cook. After preparing everything, he turned to look at Yun Yun with concern and asked, "Do you feel better now?" Yun Yun stood up, and a faint breeze brought with it a delicate fragrance as she walked slowly toward Gu He, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "The external injuries have nearly healed, but the seals on my body are somewhat tricky." Gu He prepared the fish skewers and placed them on the grill, then turned his head to look at Yun Yun. "You don''t need to worry. After your injuries have completely healed, I''ll have a way to remove the seals on your body." Since Yun Yun''s azure dress was already in tatters, she was now wearing Gu He''s white robe. While it might appear plain on others, it looked more charming on her with her graceful figure. Her every step, with her slender, snow-white legs peeking out, was truly enchanting. Watching the bewitching beauty before him, Gu He secretly hoped that her recovery would take a bit longer. This way, they could spend more time together. Check out my patreon and read 20 chapters ahead. With your support I will be able to provide you with more entertaining content Chapter 101: I Absolutely Won’t Peek! Chapter 101: I Absolutely Wont Peek! Chapter 101: I Absolutely Won''t Peek! "Hmm." After hearing Gu He''s words, Yun Yun remained silent for a moment and then responded slowly. Gu He placed the fish on the fire to roast and noticed that Yun Yun seemed to have something on her mind. He couldn''t help but ask, "What''s wrong? Are you in a hurry? Just hold on for another two days, and I''ll help you unlock the seal." Yun Yun looked somewhat hesitant and, after a moment of contemplation, whispered, "I want to take a bath." Since coming to the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Yun Yun hadn''t taken a bath for several days. In the past, she would feel uncomfortable even after just a day without bathing. Going so many days without one was a form of torment for her. However, discussing such an embarrassing matter with Gu He was a bit difficult for her. This was also why she was eager to remove the seal. After the seal was undone, she could go out on her own and find a quiet place to bathe. Currently, with the seal intact and the Magic Beast Mountain Range outside, she didn''t dare to go out alone. If she encountered magical beasts, she wouldn''t be able to handle them with her current strength. "You want to take a bath?" Upon hearing Yun Yun''s words, Gu He was slightly taken aback and then smiled, saying, "You should have told me earlier. What''s so difficult about that? After we finish eating, I''ll take you for a bath." "Hmm." Yun Yun''s fair face turned slightly red, and she nodded gently. She then took the roasted fish that Gu He handed her and began to eat it. After finishing the roasted fish in her hand, Yun Yun looked up to see Gu He gazing intently at her. Her face immediately blushed as she asked, "Why... why are you looking at me?" She used her sleeve to wipe her mouth, thinking that she might have gotten some grease on her lips. Gu He snapped out of his trance and smiled faintly. "So, how does the fish taste? Do you want more?" He gestured towards the remaining grilled fish in his hand. Yun Yun shook her head slightly and said softly, "I''ve had enough." Gu He nodded in response and began to devour his grilled fish. The flames used to grill the fish were created by his personal divine fire, and he had mastered the perfect timing for cooking. Combined with some seasonings he had experimented with from his past life''s memories, the taste of the grilled fish was indeed exceptional. After a while, Gu He swallowed the last bite of fish, wiped his hands, and then stood up. He said to Yun Yun, "Let''s go; I''ll take you for a bath." With that, he began to walk towards the cave entrance. Yun Yun hesitated for a moment, and then she followed him. A little while later, outside the cave. Yun Yun watched Gu He''s actions and was slightly puzzled. She blushed, sounding a bit embarrassed as she asked, "What... what are you doing?" At that moment, Gu He had opened his arms, assuming a posture as if he intended to hug her. Gu He replied matter-of-factly, "Of course, I''m waiting to hug you!" Yun Yun''s face turned even redder, and she hesitated for a moment before saying in a soft voice, "Maybe we shouldn''t go." Yun Yun paused for a moment and then spoke hesitantly, "Can you move farther away?" "???" Gu He finally understood that Yun Yun was worried about him peeking. This irritated him. Was he that kind of person? If he wanted to peek, within the Magic Beast Mountain Range, he could see Yun Yun no matter where she bathed. After a moment of contemplation, Gu He pointed at the water mist rising from the surface of the water below. "You see, this mist is so thick that even if I stood very close, I wouldn''t be able to see you. I''m far away from you now, so you can rest assured." Hearing his explanation, Yun Yun stood by the shore, looking at the mist below. Her lips moved, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Gu He, understanding her concerns, moved farther away from the waterfall. Walking about ten meters away, he said to Yun Yun, "This should be fine. I really can''t see you from here, and if you encounter any danger, you can come to me for help. Go ahead, don''t be afraid; it''s very comfortable to bathe here." "And don''t turn around!" Seeing that Gu He had moved away, Yun Yun hesitated for a while before finally untying her sash. As she removed her sash, her loose white robe slowly slid off her shoulders. Beneath her long, flowing, jet-black hair, her snow-white, slender figure was revealed. Elegant, slim, enchanting, and graceful. Curves and lines so captivating, she stood with elegance. After a moment, Yun Yun finally finished bathing. As she prepared to come ashore, she noticed her white robe left on the bank. The part corresponding to her chest wound still had some faint bloodstains from when Gu He applied medicine. Furthermore, the robe had become quite dirty after wearing it for several days. Looking at her freshly bathed body, Yun Yun hesitated for a moment, then shrank back into the water. She softly called out to Gu He on the shore, "Can you bring me some new clothes?" Hearing Yun Yun''s voice, Gu He thought he had been caught and immediately withdrew his spiritual sense. "New clothes?" Staring blankly for a moment, Gu He breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he hadn''t been discovered. But wait, why was he worried? He hadn''t peeked. He was merely ensuring her safety. With that thought in mind, Gu He slowly stood up, retrieved a purple robe from his spatial ring, and approached the edge of the waterfall. He held the purple robe in his hand and lifted it. "I''ll leave it here on the shore. You can come and get it yourself." (End of this chapter) Chapter 102: Yun Yun’s Touching Moment! Chapter 102: Yun Yuns Touching Moment! Chapter 102: Yun Yun''s Touching Moment! "Why don''t you come up and get it?" Gu He asked with a hint of confusion when he saw that Yun Yun was not making any movements. Did she expect him to bring the clothes to her? "Or do you want me to bring it to you?" Gu He asked directly, surprising Yun Yun, who shrank in the water, shaking her head softly and murmuring, "You should move farther away." Gu He sighed and then disappointedly returned to his previous spot, sitting with his back turned to the waterfall. Afterward, he shouted in the direction of the waterfall, "I''ve moved away; you can come up now." Relieved by his words, Yun Yun slowly stood up in the water and quietly made her way to the shore. She peeked out of the water, observing that Gu He had indeed moved far from the bank. She extended her delicate hand and picked up the purple robe he had left behind. Quickly, Yun Yun put on the loose purple robe that Gu He had left for her. The oversized garment hung loosely on her, revealing her alluring collarbone and the whiteness of her thighs.T/his chapter is updated by Feeling the lingering masculine aura on the purple robe from Gu He, Yun Yun''s face turned burning hot, her heart filled with embarrassment. She had never imagined that one day she''d be bathing with a man nearby. The thought of the earlier scene made her even redder and hotter. Seeing Gu He sitting innocently in the distance, Yun Yun felt a sense of relief. Fortunately, Elder Gu He was a man of integrity. He had promised not to peek, and he kept his word, never letting his gaze wander. This made Yun Yun develop an even stronger fondness for Gu He. She felt guilty for not realizing how much he had silently cared for her over the years. She vowed to treat Gu He well from now on. She wouldn''t hurt his feelings anymore. Thinking of this, she looked at Gu He''s back, and a hint of tenderness flickered in her eyes. She softly called out, "I''m finished bathing." Of course, Gu He had already known that Yun Yun had finished bathing, as his attention had been focused on the waterfall the entire time. Upon hearing Yun Yun''s voice, he immediately stood up, turned around, and looked at Yun Yun. He assessed her for a moment and then smiled gently, "It''s a bit too big." Sensing Gu He''s gaze, Yun Yun instinctively tightened the robe''s collar to conceal the exposed area. Gu He withdrew his gaze, walked over to Yun Yun as he had done before, opened his arms to her, and said with a faint smile, "Come on, you''ve finished bathing; it''s time to go back." Yun Yun gave Gu He a teasing glare but obediently went into his embrace. Gu He chuckled and held the beautiful woman tightly, burying his face in her hair. He smelled the unique fragrance that made his heart flutter slightly. She looked at the jade bottle in Gu He''s hand in disbelief and asked, "Are you saying that this bottle contains the legendary Companion Amethyst Source?" Clearly, Yun Yun had also heard of the Companion Amethyst Source. Gu He nodded and said, "That''s right. I obtained this from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King''s lair." Yun Yun''s heart was immediately set ablaze. She knew that the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was an exceptional and rare magical beast, as it was the only way it could reach the sixth rank. Whenever this magical beast reproduced, there was an extremely low chance of producing the Companion Amethyst Source alongside the cubs. The Companion Amethyst Source contained a pure and potent energy due to the extended time it spent in the lion king''s stomach. When young magical beasts grew to the fourth rank, ingesting it would enable them to directly evolve into fifth-rank magical beasts. Furthermore, the amethyst fire inside them would be even more formidable than that of other Purple Crystal Winged Lions that hadn''t consumed Companion Amethyst Source. As far as she knew, among the hundreds of Purple Crystal Winged Lion Kings, it was rare for even one to give birth to Companion Amethyst Source. She never expected Gu He''s luck to be so incredible. However, beyond the shock, Yun Yun felt deeply moved. She knew the value of Companion Amethyst Source. But Gu He had effortlessly taken it out to give it to her. Thinking about this, Yun Yun gazed at Gu He with complex feelings, a subtle affection budding in her heart. Gu He, you treat me so well. How should I repay you? Gu He was unaware of Yun Yun''s thoughts. He extended the jade bottle to her and said, "Since you understand the effects of Companion Amethyst Source, go ahead and take it. Its effects are sufficient to remove the seal within you." Yun Yun hesitated for a moment and then slowly accepted the jade bottle from Gu He. --- Chapter 103: Side Effects of the Companion Amethyst Source Chapter 103: Side Effects of the Companion Amethyst Source Chapter 103: Side Effects of the Companion Amethyst Source Yun Yun, after receiving the Companion Amethyst Source, moved to a corner of the cave and sat down, preparing to consume it. Gu He stood by her side to protect her. Yun Yun opened the bottle cap and immediately saw the purple liquid inside. Simultaneously, an extremely pure energy emanated from the jade bottle. Sensing this energy, Yun Yun''s expression changed, and then she revealed a look of joy. She could feel the amethyst seal within her body tremble ever so slightly. Though a minor reaction, it confirmed that Gu He was rightthe Companion Amethyst Source could indeed affect the amethyst seal within her. Bringing the bottle close to her red lips, Yun Yun didn''t hesitate. She drank the entire bottle of Companion Amethyst Source. The purple liquid descended down her throat, producing a scorching sensation. Soon, the Companion Amethyst Source began to take effect. Waves of heat burst forth from her abdomen, flowed into her meridians, and gradually permeated her bones and flesh. This heat continued to intensify over time. Purple lines appeared on Yun Yun''s pretty face, giving her a somewhat exotic appearance. Although the Companion Amethyst Source contained a terrifying amount of energy, Yun Yun, as a Dou Emperor powerhouse, could withstand it. As the internal heat increased, Yun Yun''s tender skin gradually turned purple. Sensing the growing heat within her, Yun Yun''s face changed slightly, and she quickly controlled the power to impact the amethyst seal within her. At this moment, her flesh and blood throughout her body were covered in purple imprints. These imprints seemed to have a certain connection, completely isolating the energy within her Dou Crystal from the outside, making it impossible to circulate. Yun Yun''s mind moved, and she directed the purple energy transformed by the Companion Amethyst Source to rush toward these purple imprints. Boom! When the purple imprints collided with the purple energy, it was as if some chemical reaction had occurred. The imprints disintegrated and turned into strands of purple airflow that merged into the purple energy. As she absorbed more of the energy from the imprints, the color of the purple energy within Yun Yun''s body deepened. When the color reached a certain point, the purple energy trembled abruptly, and a faint flame erupted from within the purple energy. In an instant, the purple energy transformed into a subtle purple flame. Within the vortex of her Dou Qi, a wisp of purple flame flickered independently. A gentle warmth emanated from it, permeating Yun Yun''s body and finally penetrating into her Dou Crystal. After the mild warmth seeped into her Dou Crystal, Yun Yun instantly sensed that her Dou Crystal could now operate successfully, and the Dou Qi inside it could flow freely. As for this phenomenon, Yun Yun was first stunned, but then a surge of ecstasy welled up within her. As he pondered this, Yun Yun''s current state became even more bewildering. Gu He''s gaze fell upon her. At this moment, Yun Yun''s jet-black hair hung down completely, making her look enchanting and alluring. Her bright eyes were filled with a misty quality, tinged with a hint of newfound seductiveness. Absolutely captivating and breathtaking, her face blushed with a faint pink, and her cherry-like lips exhaled a warm, sultry breath. Her fair, smooth, and slender legs were now exposed, making her look poised and graceful. Yun Yun''s previous demeanor in front of Gu He had always been dignified, elegant, and noble. But now? The Yun Yun before him was enchanting, with an intoxicating charm in her every move. Confronted with this mesmerizing sight, Gu He couldn''t help but swallow hard. He couldn''t resist any longer and walked towards Yun Yun. Feeling Gu He''s masculine aura, Yun Yun seemed as though she were drawn by something. She directly moved closer to him and embraced him. Her soft body nestled against his, and the dark fire within Gu He''s body erupted suddenly. He lowered his head and kissed her passionately on her cherry-like lips. The hot breath from Gu He''s lips and nose touched Yun Yun''s alluring face, making her body even hotter. At this moment, she didn''t show any resistance. Her long, slender arms tightly held onto Gu He''s body. The two of them clung to each other tightly, their gazes becoming even more unfocused, their breaths growing heavier. Just at this moment, a gust of cool breeze suddenly blew into the cave, causing Yun Yun, who was lost in her trance, to regain some clarity. Seeing her current state, Yun Yun''s complexion instantly turned pale. She quickly separated her lips from Gu He''s and bit her silver teeth. She spoke with difficulty, "No... Gu He... not like this..." Due to the arousal of her desires, Yun Yun''s voice carried a hint of numbness. However, if you listened carefully, you could hear a rare touch of tears in her tone. (End of this chapter) [check out my patreon to read 20 advanced chapters. your support will really motivate me to work more hard. the love you showed till now is overwhelming, but i request you to keep it coming. i know i have made many mistakes in the start, i will try my best to edit those chapters and re-release them. please just bear with me for a while. i promise you that you will see increase quality and quantity] Chapter 104: Taking the Dou Ancestor Pill Chapter 104: Taking the Dou Ancestor Pill Chapter 104: Taking the Dou Ancestor Pill (Omitting ten thousand characters) Half a day later, the activity inside the cave gradually subsided. Both of them were exhausted and gradually fell into a deep slumber. Another hour passed. At this moment, thin strands of purple energy flowed slowly within Yun Yun''s body, replenishing the strength she had expended earlier. After a while, Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes flickered as she slowly opened them. Upon regaining consciousness, Yun Yun first felt a wave of fatigue wash over her. When she sat up and looked at her own body, her eyes couldn''t help but widen, and her face turned incredibly pale. Tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. "Why... why did it have to be like this..." Yun Yun reached for the white robe Gu He had taken off and quickly covered herself, hiding her body. Her body trembled involuntarily. At this moment, her mind was blank, unable to comprehend everything happening in front of her. After a long time, Yun Yun gazed at Gu He, who had already fallen into a deep slumber. A complex emotion flashed in her beautiful eyes. Although everything that had just occurred was unintentional on her part, the memories of that experience were deeply imprinted in her mind. She understood that the main reason for the current situation was not Gu He''s fault. If it weren''t for her own initiative... Gu He wouldn''t have been unable to control himself... This situation wouldn''t have arisen... Even so, Yun Yun was finding it difficult to face the man who had taken her innocence, despite having quite a bit of affection for him in her heart. Recalling the scene they had just shared, a blush reappeared on Yun Yun''s pale face. It was truly too embarrassing! Reading the contents of the note, Gu He fell into deep contemplation. It was difficult to determine what Yun Yun''s current thoughts were from the message, but the fact that she left him a note was a sign that the situation was not too dire. There was still a chance for their relationship to mend. With a smile, Gu He thought, "Yun Er, now that you''re mine, you can never escape from my grasp." He then turned his attention to the deep blue armor Yun Yun had left behind in the cave. He took it in his hands, feeling a faint lingering fragrance on it. Running his fingers over the small cracks on the edges, a soft smile appeared on Gu He''s face. Gu He carefully put the armor away into his storage ring. He then stood up, preparing to leave the cave. He had grown fond of the time he spent with Yun Yun in the cave, but now that she had left, there was no reason to linger in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. His goal now was to reach the heart of the Green Lotus Core in the Tagre Desert, where he also planned to take the Dou Ancestor Pill. Afterwards, he would look for the Blue Phoenix to take her as his disciple. It was time for him to leave the Magic Beast Mountain Range. However, once he left, Gu He intended to consume the Dou Ancestor Pill to further enhance his strength. After a while, Gu He''s figure appeared in the valley where he had previously made his breakthrough. "Xiao Jin!" Gu He called out as he entered the valley. In the next moment, a gigantic bird descended from the sky and gently landed next to Gu He. This large bird was Xiao Jin. Seeing Xiao Jin on the ground, Gu He''s face showed a hint of embarrassment. He had previously instructed Xiao Jin to wait here before leaving the valley, but he had forgotten about the bird''s presence due to being immersed in the cave. Gu He felt ashamed as he realized his negligence. "Master, why did you leave for so long... Xiao Jin missed you!" Xiao Jin said, sounding a bit reproachful after appearing. Coughing, Gu He didn''t know how to explain himself and ended up offering two fifth-grade magic cores to soothe Xiao Jin''s feelings. "Xiao Jin, guard me, please." After creating a clean platform, Gu He sat down and ordered Xiao Jin. "Understood, Master," Xiao Jin replied. Then, Gu He took out a jade bottle from his system space. The bottle contained a seventh-grade elixir, the Dou Ancestor Pill. He poured out a round pill, thumb-sized, with a dual red and purple colour like a Yin-Yang fish, giving it a mystical appearance. (End of this chapter) Chapter 105: Three-Star Dou Ancestor! Chapter 105: Three-Star Dou Ancestor! Chapter 105: Three-Star Dou Ancestor! Clutching the Dou Ancestor Pill, Gu He examined it closely for a moment. After a brief pause, he exhaled softly, then opened his mouth and placed the Dou Ancestor Pill into it. As the Dou Ancestor Pill entered his stomach, it quickly melted, and a massive and warm medicinal power erupted within Gu He''s body. This energy rapidly flowed through his limbs and bones. Gu He''s face changed slightly, and the corners of his mouth trembled slightly, as a piercing sensation washed over him. Fortunately, after tempering his body with the Divine Fire Technique, Gu He''s meridians had become extremely resilient. Otherwise, he might have struggled to digest the powerful energy of the Dou Ancestor Pill. As the medicinal power quickly surged through his meridians, Gu He took a deep breath. With a mental command, the Divine Fire within his body surged out, enveloping the massive energy and guiding it along the path of the Divine Fire Technique. During the surge of medicinal power within Gu He''s body, the surrounding space experienced intense fluctuations. Waves of energy emerged, forming energy vortexes above his head. These vortexes gradually permeated his body through his heavenly spirit. With the Divine Fire within him, refining the slightly weathered energy of heaven and earth presented no difficulty for Gu He. He could absorb as much of it as he wanted. As the energy within him surged, everything gradually fell into a smooth process. The formidable power of the Dou Ancestor Pill posed no threat to Gu He''s current strength and physical endurance. He remained in this state for nearly two days after consuming the Dou Ancestor Pill. During these two days, Gu He''s body remained as stable as a rock. The only thing moving was the energy vortex rotating above his head, emitting a low and steady humming sound. Inside Gu He''s body, the overwhelming medicinal power of the Dou Ancestor Pill had been transformed into a surging Dou Qi, flowing through his meridians like a tidal wave. Moreover, there was a continuous influx of energy from heaven and earth, which was eventually refined by the Divine Fire, transformed into pure Dou Qi, and integrated into this mighty force. However, while the amount of energy from heaven and earth was abundant, the portion available for Gu He to absorb remained limited after thorough refinement. Nevertheless, something was better than nothing. Over time, this accumulation would reach a terrifying level through steady growth. Then, Gu He looked at Xiao Jin perched on a broken rock nearby and smiled faintly. Screech! With a sharp cry, Xiao Jin''s body rapidly enlarged. After a while, a vast bird covered the sky as it flew over the Magic Beast Mountain Range, gradually departing from the Qing Shan Town. One day after Gu He left the Magic Beast Mountain Range, a figure in blue entered the range. After a brief pause, the blue figure arrived in front of the cave belonging to the Amethyst Winged Lion King. This figure was none other than Yun Yun, who had left without a word on that day. At this moment, she was wearing a blue gown of unknown origin. After pausing at the entrance of the cave and hesitating for a while, Yun Yun sighed and slowly moved toward the quiet interior of the cave. After a while, Yun Yun''s graceful figure emerged from the cave, her face filled with disappointment and desolation. "He''s already gone..." Yun Yun held several pieces of purple robe fragments in her hand, and her beautiful eyes were filled with complex emotions. As she gazed at the fragments in her hand, memories of the ambiguous scene in the cave flashed through Yun Yun''s mind. After a brief moment, a blue figure left the Magic Beast Mountain Range. (End of this chapter) check my patreon for 20 advanced chapters. your support will allow me to work more harder and motivate me. PS: I am done editing first 20 chapters. i will do more gradually. Thanks for your patience. still if you find any errors, you can comment them. Chapter 106: The Tagre Desert Encounter Chapter 106: The Tagre Desert Encounter Chapter 106: Arrival in Tagre Desert! Another day passed. In the vast sky, Gu He stood on the back of a massive Goldfeather Giant Eagle, his hands behind him, gazing down below. A distant golden landscape appeared on the horizon. "Tagre Desert, I''ve finally arrived..." Then, Gu He, riding the Goldfeather Giant Eagle, descended directly towards the ground. In the distant sky, golden streaks of light crossed the horizon like shooting stars, heading towards the city standing in the vast golden desert. As they approached the city, a wave of heat enveloped them. Squinting at the seemingly endless golden landscape, Gu He exhaled. "Tagre Desert, I''m here..." Due to their proximity to the Tagre Desert, the air was dry, and the heat intense. The scorching sunlight poured from the sky, roasting the ground and sending up waves of scorching heat, creating visual distortion and blurriness. Normally, one wouldn''t expect anyone to feel comfortable in such an environment. However, Gu He was surprised to find that after arriving, the flow of Dou Qi within his body had become smoother than before. With a slightly astonished look in his eyes, Gu He extended his soul power. Then, he reached out his hand and made a slight grab in the empty space in front of him. In the next moment, an energy sphere containing both fire and earth attributes gathered directly in his palm. Looking at the energy sphere, Gu He pursed his lips slightly and, after a moment, seemed to realize something. "So, this space is filled with mostly fire and earth attribute energies." It appeared that the Tagor Desert was quite suitable for people practicing fire and earth attributes. If there were an opportunity, he could let Liu Ling come here to train for a while. The environment here would undoubtedly significantly accelerate her cultivation. Gu He''s eyes brightened as he scanned his surroundings. A group of peculiar desert-style buildings came into view. These unique buildings, while not made of luxurious materials, had a distinctive character that was quite appealing. Gu He casually asked a few passersby and found out where Hai Bo Dong was currently residing. After walking at a leisurely pace for a while, he spotted a map store called "Ancient Maps," which caught his eye. Gu He''s gaze swept the storefront. Unlike other shops, this one had an understated, somewhat rustic charm. Feeling somewhat surprised, Gu He slowly entered the shop. The interior of the shop was not too spacious, and the soft light of two moonlight stones illuminated it. As he glanced around inside the shop, he noticed that there weren''t many customers purchasing maps. After walking into the shop, Gu He''s gaze swept across the room and finally settled on an elderly man behind the counter. This old man was quite advanced in age, but although his hair was snow-white, his withered hands holding the drawing pen were still steady and firm. Inside the shop, four people were selecting maps, three men and a woman, all dressed quite lavishly. Behind the four of them, several burly men stood respectfully. When Gu He entered, they turned their heads to look at him briefly, assessing him, before turning back to their map selection with disinterest. As Gu He was being appraised, he glanced at the faces of the three men. They appeared decent, but there was a hint of arrogance in their expressions that reduced their appeal. The woman, on the other hand, wore a tight-fitting red dress that highlighted her alluring figure. Her body was perfectly wrapped in the red dress, accentuating her graceful curves. The three men occasionally glanced at the enticing silhouette created by the red dress. Their eyes revealed admiration and desire, but beneath that admiration seemed to hide a touch of unease when it came to the woman. Gu He paid no attention to this somewhat strange group of people and shifted his gaze to the elderly man. He walked to the counter and picked up a map, casually flipping through it. He remembered that the Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong had hidden a piece of the green lotus core flame here. Since he had come, he naturally had to obtain this fragment. (End of this chapter) [check out my patreon for 20 advanced chapters. i need all the support i can get. PS: Editing is going on swiftly.]Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com Chapter 107: Ice Emperor, Long Time No See Chapter 107: Ice Emperor, Long Time No See Chapter 107: Ice Emperor, Long Time No See Contemplating the Green Lotus Core Flame map, Gu He smiled subtly. Opting not to disturb the others, he began perusing the counter beside him. Arranged on these counters were numerous maps. Gu He meticulously examined each map, occasionally giving them a gentle shake. He recalled that in the original story, Hai Bo Dong had hidden the Green Lotus Core Flame map among these maps. As he studied the maps with clearly marked routes, a glint of surprise flickered in Gu He''s eyes. The maps offered incredibly detailed information about various secret locations within the Tagre Desert. It explained why someone like Hai Bo Dong, known for his temperament, could operate a store like "Ancient Maps" and make it so renowned in Desert City; the quality of the maps spoke for itself. For someone new to the Tagre Desert, these detailed maps would undoubtedly be immensely helpful. After inspecting the maps for a while, Gu He had not yet found the Green Lotus Core Flame map. He glanced at the still-busy Hai Bo Dong, pursed his lips, and then leisurely moved to a corner of the shop. There, an aged wooden stand filled with yellowed maps caught his attention. This wooden stand seemed quite old, covered in holes and cracks. On it lay some yellowed maps with signs of damage, as if they were unsuccessful attempts during the map-making process. Gu He casually sifted through these yellowed maps, and a faint musty odor filled the air, causing him to furrow his brow slightly. With a light shake of his hand, one of the failed maps slipped from the stack and landed on the floor. Seeing this, Gu He''s eyes sharpened. Bending down to retrieve the fallen map, he carefully examined the somewhat familiar, mysterious route marked on it. After a while, Gu He squinted his eyes, and a satisfied smile curled at the corners of his mouth. "Indeed, it''s the Green Lotus Core Flame map." While he still couldn''t fully comprehend the mysteries behind these routes, the contours and patterns on this map had a somewhat familiar quality. It reminded him of a similar mysterious map he had seen within a cave in the Magic Beast Mountain Range when he had been on an adventure with Xiao Yixian. Gu He smiled and, while Hai Bo Dong was still engrossed in his work, quietly stashed the map into his spatial ring. The young lady took her father''s words to heart and did her best to provide the elderly man with the best care. However, she felt frustrated that he seemed unresponsive to her efforts. Each time she helped at the shop, the elderly man greeted her with indifference, leaving her feeling unappreciated. This situation was hard to bear for the typically proud young lady. Nevertheless, even though the elderly man had never shown her a warm reception, she firmly believed her father''s words. And on a certain day, she inadvertently felt the aura the elderly man unconsciously emitted. That aura was incredibly terrifying, sending shivers down her spine and leaving a lasting impression on her. This was why the elderly man''s cold demeanor didn''t deter her, and she continued to treat him with respect. This obedient and respectful demeanor often left her friends in disbelief. Was this the same girl who had once turned Desert City upside down? Today, the young lady had come to the shop to help the elderly man, just like she did on other days. The elderly man''s attitude remained as cold as ever. He gave her a brief glance before paying her no further attention. The proud young lady couldn''t hide her frustration, and when Gu He boldly entered, he became the target for her annoyance. She wanted to seize this opportunity to assert herself in front of the elderly man. Gu He paid little attention to the young lady''s rebuke. He merely gave her a quick glance, set aside the map he held, and gracefully sidestepped the two burly men who blocked his way. Seeing that Gu He not only ignored her orders but had directly intruded, the young lady''s eyes flashed with anger. She slightly raised her snow-white chin, casting a scornful look at Gu He, whom she regarded as highly esteemed by the elderly man. But just when she was about to witness him plead for mercy, Gu He did something that left her completely flabbergasted. Gu He suddenly gathered a ball of dou qi in his hand and flung it aggressively toward the elderly man, whom the young lady held in high regard. As he did so, Gu He spoke slowly, "Old Man Hai, an old friend has come to see you. Is this how you treat your guests?" (End of this chapter) {Due to some work I can post only one chapter till Tuesday next week. check out my patreon to read 20 chapters ahead.} Chapter 108: Hai Bo Dong’s Surprise Chapter 108: Hai Bo Dongs Surprise Chapter 108: Hai Bo Dong''s Surprise The ball of Dou Qi, just about to reach Hai Bo Dong, was suddenly frozen into a block of ice by a burst of chilling cold that emerged, and it subsequently dropped weakly beside the old man. Observing the Dou Qi turning into ice, the woman in the red dress''s beautiful eyes gleamed with surprise. It was yet another instance of the old man revealing his astonishing power. "This guy really doesn''t know any better; he dared to make a move against Master Ice. I can''t wait to see what happens to you later," the woman thought, regaining her composure and looking at Gu He with a somewhat malicious glint in her eyes. In her view, the cold and reserved Master Ice would never let this white-clad man off easily. However, her thoughts were nothing more than wishful thinking. Following Gu He''s intervention, Hai Bo Dong had indeed ceased his actions. He shifted his gaze from the map in his hand, and his withered and frosty face revealed a serious expression when he looked at the white-clad man before him. Clearly, Gu He''s addressing him as "Old Man Hai" had unsettled him. "You are..." Hai Bo Dong scrutinized Gu He, and a sense of familiarity welled up within him. He was certain he had met this man before but couldn''t recollect it instantly. It wasn''t surprising. When Gu He and Hai Bo Dong had met, Gu He had been a spirited young man. Now, over a decade later, Gu He''s appearance had transformed significantly. Moreover, Gu He had integrated the demeanor of a Wanderer, and his overall presence was far from what it once was. Hai Bo Dong looked at the handsome and elegant man before him, full of charm and grace. He was puzzled and skeptical about the stranger''s true identity. "Who is this person? From the way he addressed me earlier, it''s clear he recognizes me." Seeing Hai Bo Dong''s bewildered expression, Gu He couldn''t help but notice that the old man hadn''t recognized him at all. With a bitter smile, Gu He spoke, "What''s the matter, Ice Emperor? It''s been so long, and you can''t recognize me, Gu He?" With this in mind, the woman in the red dress wore a somewhat bitter smile. After a brief hesitation, she timidly said, "Master Ice..." Their conversation interrupted, Hai Bo Dong slightly furrowed his brows and gave the woman in the red dress a glance. He said indifferently, "You can go back now. There''s no need to come again in the future. Tell your father that his tricks are somewhat feeble." Hearing Hai Bo Dong''s dismissive words, the woman in the red dress froze for a moment, her eyes reddening, and she bit her red lips. Her intention had been to have Hai Bo Dong accept her as a student, but his words clearly dashed her hopes. At that moment, the woman felt wronged, her eyes misting over as her long eyelashes became damp. In her current state, she no longer displayed the same arrogance she had shown towards Gu He earlier. Seeing Hai Bo Dong''s indifferent attitude, Gu He couldn''t help but shake his head. This old man had a stubborn heart indeed. While the woman''s arrogant attitude had left a bad impression on him, she was, after all, working for Hai Bo Dong. She had been putting in a lot of effort to win Hai Bo Dong''s favor. However, it seemed that this stubborn and indifferent old man still had no emotional connection with her. It seemed that this old man''s temperament matched his title as the Ice Emperor. "Hai Old Man, with your status, treating a woman like this really devalues you..." Gu He shook his head slightly and toyed with a map on the counter, jokingly remarking. Upon hearing this, Hai Bo Dong paused for a moment, gazing at Gu He''s smiling face. After a while, he smiled and nodded. With a light touch of his finger on a yellow storage ring on his fingertip, scroll after scroll appeared, and he flicked one towards the woman in the red dress, saying with a hint of helplessness, "This is a low-level Profound-Ranked Dou Technique. Since you''ve helped me for so long, I''ll give it to you. I know you wanted me to accept you as a student, but I really don''t have that intention. So consider this as my compensation." Receiving the scroll dazedly, the woman in the red dress tightly bit her lips. After a while, she bent slightly, expressing gratitude to Gu He. Then, with a downcast face, she exited the shop. Following the departure of the woman in the red dress, the others in the shop followed suit. In an instant, the shop returned to its deserted state. "Hehe, I''ve always been a person who loves freedom and doesn''t particularly like teaching students. She followed me, but there''s not much future for her," Hai Bo Dong explained with a smile after the woman left. Smiling gently, Gu He looked at Hai Bo Dong and said, "That''s true. The renowned Ice Emperor wouldn''t easily take on disciples." Upon hearing this, Hai Bo Dong looked at Gu He, his gaze showing a hint of confusion. "Gu He, how did you find this place?" (End of this chapter) Chapter 109: The Deal Chapter 109: The Deal Chapter 109: The Deal Facing Hai Bo Dong''s inquiry, Gu He didn''t provide an explanation. He couldn''t explain, to be honest. So, Gu He casually replied, "I have my ways. Do you really think that hiding in this remote little town means nobody knows about you?" Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong was taken aback for a moment. Then, he gave Gu He a deep look and, after a while, a smile appeared on his aged face. He said, "You''re indeed the famous Dan King Gu He. Your methods are truly extraordinary." "I never expected that you, kid, could grow to such a level." Having said this, Hai Bo Dong looked at Gu He with a sense of admiration. Over the years, even though he had secluded himself in this remote little town, he was well aware of the reputation of Dan King Gu He in the Jia Ma Empire. Gu He had indeed risen to great heights compared to the days of his title as the Ice Emperor. Thinking back to the time when Gu He had just won first place in the Alchemist Grand Meeting, he was just a young man back then. Although Gu He had shown exceptional talent, who would have thought that he would achieve the success he had now? Join my patreon to read 20 advanced chapters. {Today i am too tired so i will post the promised mass release chapters tomorrow. sorry about that. have a great time reading.} For a moment, Hai Bo Dong felt somewhat emotional. Seeing the expression of nostalgia on Hai Bo Dong''s face, Gu He couldn''t help but smile. "When did the Ice Emperor, who was as cold as ice, become so sentimental?" As the purple flame appeared, the surrounding space slightly distorted, and the temperature in the entire room immediately soared. The moment the Heavenly Flame appeared in Gu He''s palm, Hai Bo Dong''s eyes froze as he stared at the flame in Gu He''s palm. His gaze was filled with shock, and then it turned into an extreme excitement. He stammered, "This... is this a Heavenly Flame?" Gu He nodded and said with a calm tone, "Yes, the flame in my hand is indeed a Heavenly Flame. Now, do I have the qualifications to remove the seal on you?" Upon receiving Gu He''s confirmation, Hai Bo Dong''s aged eyes instantly lit up with excitement. "Since you have a Heavenly Flame, and with your alchemy skills, you can indeed remove the seal on me," Hai Bo Dong said with determination. "As long as you can remove the seal on me, I''ll give you this fragment of the map. What do you say?" Hearing this, Gu He smiled and replied, "Helping you remove the seal is not a problem. However, what I want is the complete fragment of the map." Gu He remembered that the fragment in his possession was incomplete, and he knew that Hai Bo Dong had the other half of it. Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Hai Bo Dong''s expression changed slightly, indicating that he hadn''t expected Gu He to discover this. After a moment, Hai Bo Dong''s face returned to its usual composure, and he smiled, saying, "Indeed, you''re as perceptive as always, Dan King Gu He. If the seal on my body is removed, I will naturally give you the remaining half of the map." At this response, Gu He sighed in relief and looked at Hai Bo Dong with a nod. He smiled and said, "Alright, I agree." Seeing Gu He''s nod, Hai Bo Dong finally relaxed, and his aged face displayed a sense of anticipation. "Give me the prescription... Oh, and you should be aware of the rules when asking an alchemist to create a pill, right?" Gu He asked with a slight smile. "You provide the ingredients yourself!" (End of this chapter) Chapter 110: Leaving Desert City Chapter 110: Leaving Desert City Chapter 110: Leaving Desert City Hai Bo Dong wore a bitter smile upon hearing this. Naturally, he was aware of this rule. It was an unspoken agreement within the alchemy community. However, when he heard Gu He''s response, Hai Bo Dong''s weathered hand gripped a few strands of his beard, looking somewhat embarrassed. He explained, "I''ve gathered almost all the materials required by the prescription listed. At this point, I''m only missing one ingredient." Feeling puzzled, Gu He asked, "What ingredient are you missing?" Hai Bo Dong, feeling awkward, introduced it, "The ingredient is called the Sand Mandala of the Sands. It can only be found deep in the Tagor Great Desert. The higher the temperature, the more likely it is to be found. But you know, I practice ice attribute techniques, and I also have the seal placed by Queen Medusa within me. The moment I step into the heart of the Tagor Great Desert, she would detect me. So..." Seeing Hai Bo Dong''s awkward expression, Gu He gave him a deep look and inquired, "Are you asking me to find this herb for you? Let me remind you that you''re already getting a great deal with me concocting the medicine for you. It seems a bit excessive to ask me to search for herbs in the vast desert for you, considering the value of this map fragment." Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Hai Bo Dong chuckled awkwardly, then continued with a tone of resignation, "How about this? I have a piece of information that you''ll surely find interesting." "What information?" Gu He asked, looking somewhat surprised. "The information I possess is related to Heavenly Flames..." Hai Bo Dong said, his face displaying wrinkles as he stared straight at Gu He. He smiled slowly and continued, "I wonder if this information could persuade you to help me find the Sand Mandala of the Sands?" Upon hearing the words ''Heavenly Flames,'' Gu He''s heart noticeably skipped a beat. He then fixed his gaze on Hai Bo Dong. "You must have heard something about the presence of Heavenly Flames in the Tagor Desert," Hai Bo Dong continued, looking at Gu He with a faint smile. Gu He nodded slightly and said, "So, do you know where this Heavenly Flame might be located?" "Because that place is close to the deep heart of the Tagor Desert. Queen Medusa can sense the presence of any human entering her range. Although you possess a Heavenly Flame, if you were to encounter the terrifying Queen Medusa, I doubt you''d have much chance of escaping alive." Thinking of Queen Medusa''s frightening strength, Hai Bo Dong sighed with a hint of lingering fear. "I''ll do my best." Nodding slightly, Gu He replied calmly. He knew that if he didn''t find any traces of Heavenly Flames in the other two places, there was a high likelihood he would go to the western location marked with the flame symbol. As for the danger Hai Bo Dong had mentioned, Gu He didn''t pay it any mind. With his three-star Dou Ancestor strength, he could dominate the entire Tagor Great Desert. Even if Queen Medusa encountered him, she would be easily subdued. "This is all I can do to assist you. I hope you succeed in obtaining the Heavenly Flame and then bring back the Sand Mandala of the Sands." Watching Gu He carefully put away the map, Hai Bo Dong smiled, "As for the prescription and the small map fragment, allow me to keep them for a while. I will hand them all to you when you return." "Understood." Gu He nodded slightly, clasping his hands together in gratitude. "In that case, I''ll take my leave." With that, Gu He walked out of the shop directly. Stepping out of the store, he turned to look at the simple and plain shop door. He lifted his head, allowing the scorching sunlight to pour onto his face like boiling water. After a while, he exhaled a sigh. (End of this chapter) Chapter 111: The Desert Iron Mercenary Group Chapter 111: The Desert Iron Mercenary Group Chapter 111: The Desert Iron Mercenary Group In the void above, Gu He sat on Little Gold''s back, swiftly traversing the golden expanse below. It had been two days since he left the Desert City. Gu He was now on his way to the Stone Desert City, following the route indicated on the map. He held the map in his hand, and he could tell that he wasn''t far from the Stone Desert City. In the high sky, Gu He stood on Little Gold, releasing his soul power to survey the surroundings. Suddenly, he raised an eyebrow and looked down. On a sand dune below, a man was desperately fleeing. As he tumbled over the dune, he lost his footing and rolled down. From high above, Gu He glanced at the man who had fallen from the dune, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. In the next moment, Gu He used the "Ascension Steps" and appeared beside the man. He then took out a bottle of water from his Storage Ring and gave it to the injured man. With the help of the water, the man who had fallen into a coma opened his eyes. He glanced at Gu He, who had suddenly appeared in front of him, and seeing no malice in him, he breathed a sigh of relief. After a casual look at the man, Gu He took out a bottle of water from his Storage Ring and gave it to the man before preparing to leave. Gu He never considered himself a saintly person with a compassionate heart. But in the desert, when he encountered an injured stranger, offering them some water was his bottom line. If they expected him to escort them all the way out of the desert, they would be disappointed. "Brother..." Seeing that Gu He was about to leave after providing water, the man was a little surprised. He hurriedly stopped Gu He, and with a pleading tone, he said, "Brother, please wait. Our mercenary group is under attack by the snake people, and we are in a life-and-death situation. I implore you to go to the Stone Desert City and ask for reinforcements!" "Sorry, I don''t have time."Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com Upon hearing this, Gu He didn''t even look back; he simply refused calmly. He couldn''t be blamed for his indifferent nature. In this world, not everyone could go seek reinforcements. Since they had decided to come to the Tagor Desert and work as mercenaries, they should be prepared for the consequences. "Brother!" With a wry smile, the man applied the medicinal ointment to his thigh. He then stood up with trembling legs and pointed to a dune, saying, "It''s not far from there." Gu He cast a brief glance at the sand dune and nodded slightly. He grabbed the man''s arm and, with a flash, they were on top of a hill. Gu He''s gaze fell upon the desert below. In the desert, a dozen mercenaries were standing with their weapons, their backs to him. Surrounding them were eight strange-looking creatures. These creatures had human heads and bodies but had a massive snake tail in place of legs. They hissed as they moved their tails, sending chills down anyone''s spine. "Are these the snake people of the Tagor Desert?" Gu He exclaimed in amazement as he looked at the eight male snake people. He was truly amazed. This was the first time he had ever seen such creatures since his arrival in this world. "...Sir, they are a squad from our Desert Iron Mercenary Group. Originally, we intended to hunt magical beasts, but we were unexpectedly ambushed by these guys..." The man looked at Gu He with reverence. Gu He''s speed earlier had made the man realize that this was a hidden powerhouse. "Alright." Nodding slightly, Gu He''s gaze swept through the ten mercenaries. Eight males and two females. Upon a quick examination, he noticed that their strength was pitifully weak. "Kill them and leave the woman!" The leader of the snake people, with triangular pupils, cast his eyes upon one of the females. His voice was cold, hoarse, and carried a hint of lust. Snake people had a natural greed and desire for women. Upon hearing the leader''s command, the surrounding snake people immediately revealed bloodthirsty expressions. Their mouths opened slightly, and their crimson snake tongues flicked out. "Be careful, everyone. Number Five has gone back to seek help. If we hold on for a little longer, we''ll be saved!" The female mercenary in the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, a sensual woman, tightly pressed her rosy lips together and spoke in a cold tone. Hearing her words, the other mercenaries were slightly encouraged, but the hands gripping their weapons were still sweaty. The highest-ranked members in their group were only around Seven-Star Dou Masters, while the other side had several Nine-Star Dou Masters. This disparity... Would they be able to hold out until reinforcements arrived? "Attack!" With a cold snort, the leader of the snake people waved his hand, and the bloodthirsty snake people immediately rushed towards the mercenaries in the center. "Whoosh!" Just as the snake people began their attack, a powerful pressure descended in an instant. (End of this chapter) Check out my patreon to read 20 chapters ahead. Chapter 112: First Encounter with the Qing Lin Chapter 112: First Encounter with the Qing Lin Chapter 112: First Encounter with the Qing Lin The powerful pressure came and went quickly. After this intense pressure disappeared, the members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group and the snake people suddenly noticed a white-clothed man standing between them. The sudden appearance of the man in white surprised both sides. However, after a while, the mercenaries gradually calmed down. Since the newcomer was human, they believed he wouldn''t assist the snake people. The snake people, on the other hand, glared at the unexpected guest, their faces filled with anger. The leader of the snake people, with triangular pupils, gave Gu He a cold look and didn''t waste any time. He waved his hand, and two snake people, each with the strength of around Five-Star Dou Masters, lashed their tails and charged at Gu He. Gu He lifted his eyes, lightly sniffed the faint scent of blood in the wind that was rushing towards him, and furrowed his brow slightly. Then, his eyes began to shimmer with violet flames. The two snake people who were charging at him suddenly erupted into purple flames. In just an instant, the flames engulfed both of them. "Ahhhh!" A piercing scream echoed from within the purple flames. After a moment, the two snake people turned into ashes, which were quickly scattered by the wind and disappeared into the desert. Watching Gu He''s display of power, the dozen mercenaries behind him were left in shock, their mouths slightly agape, and their faces filled with astonishment. "What kind of technique was this?" The members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group were also bewildered by this scene. "This guy... He''s incredibly strong!" One of the members, Xuelan, said with a slightly open mouth. Her alluring eyes were fixed on Gu He. "Hey, Sister Xuelan, are you all right?" At this moment, a mercenary called Old Five rushed down from behind a dune and excitedly approached the mercenary group. He was addressing Xuelan. "Old Five? Didn''t I tell you to go to the Stone Desert City and bring reinforcements? Why are you still here?" Xuelan''s face changed dramatically as she scolded Old Five, her eyebrows slightly raised, and her expression filled with anger. After being scolded by Xuelan, Old Five had a chance to explain himself. He pointed to Gu He''s back and said, "Sister Xuelan, this is the guy I asked for help." "Him?" Hearing Old Five''s words, Xuelan was momentarily surprised. She looked at Gu He and then furrowed her brow, asking, "Who is he? He''s probably not a member of our Desert Iron Mercenary Group, right? How did you get him to help us?" As a mercenary, Xuelan was always cautious. In this vast desert, you couldn''t trust anyone you didn''t know. "I actually don''t know this guy either. He saved me before, so I asked him to go to the Stone Desert City for help. Initially, he ignored me. But when I mentioned that I was from the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, he suddenly became enthusiastic. He even gave me an antidote and healing medicine..." "Could this person have some connection to our Desert Iron Mercenary Group?" Xuelan''s eyes showed signs of contemplation after hearing Old Five''s explanation. She ran her hand through her hair, which was slightly damp with sweat, and her unintentional charm made a nearby snake person''s eyes gleam with lust. "I''ve never seen this person come to our Desert Iron Mercenary Group before. Could he be an acquaintance of the two captains? Judging by the methods he showed earlier, his strength is probably no weaker than a Great Dou Master." Xuelan pondered. "I don''t really know about that..." Old Five shook his head, wearing an embarrassed expression. After all, he felt guilty for imposing such an unreasonable condition on Gu He, who had saved him. Continuing, Old Five said, "Regardless, he''s willing to help us. He shouldn''t harm us, right? It''s better than falling into the hands of the snake people." Hearing Old Five''s words, Xuelan nodded slightly and agreed with his viewpoint. Seeing his two subordinates inexplicably incinerated by flames, the leading snake person''s triangular pupils slightly contracted. He looked at Gu He, and his scarlet snake tongue lightly flicked, saying, "Human, who are you? It''s not a wise choice to offend us, the snake people, in the Tagor Desert." Gu He just smiled faintly and remained silent. "If you have any sense, I advise you to leave now. I can overlook your injuring my subordinates!" The leader of the snake people warned, with a chilling tone mixed with a hidden malice. In the field, the dozen or so snake people, with wails of agony, quickly fell silent. After a moment, Gu He thought, and all the purple flames instantly gathered back into his body, disappearing. When the members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group behind him finally reacted, they saw that the dozen or so snake people had all turned into ashes and disappeared into the vast desert. "This..." "Isn''t this method too terrifying?" The mercenaries behind him watched the scene in front of them, feeling deeply shocked by the means Gu He had displayed. After witnessing the fate of the snake people, they felt an icy shiver down their spines. If they encountered these purple flames, they would probably meet the same fate. With this in mind, the members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group couldn''t help but hesitate, and no one dared to step forward at that moment. Gu He was somewhat helpless with their reaction. He had already exerted all his effort to suppress his own strength. His purpose in doing so was to infiltrate the Desert Iron Mercenary Group and get close to Qing Lin. Of course, he could also use brute force, threatening the Desert Iron Mercenary Group to hand over Qing Lin. However, Gu He was planning to take Qing Lin as his disciple. Considering his future image in the eyes of his disciple, he had to play the role of a recluse and establish the first impression of himself as a hidden expert. Gu He slowly turned around and walked towards the members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. Seeing Gu He approaching, the members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group felt a chill in their hearts, and some even took a few steps back involuntarily. Gu He took a few bags of water from his storage ring and placed them on the ground, along with some bottles of healing medicine, as he said, "You can take these waters and healing medicines." Seeing the water and medicine on the ground, the mercenaries were momentarily stunned, and their guard dropped slightly. After hesitating for a moment, the leader among the mercenaries stepped forward. Xuelan blinked and then smiled at Gu He, saying, "Regardless of your intentions, I want to say thank you. If you didn''t help, our situation would have been... I''m Xuelan, the team captain of this squad and a member of a division in the Desert Iron Mercenary Group." Gu He smiled and said, "I''m surnamed Gu..." After that, he didn''t say much more. The people immediately understood that Gu He didn''t want to elaborate. "Gu..." Hearing this, Xuelan frowned slightly. She thought for a moment but still couldn''t figure it out, so she shook her head helplessly and looked up at Gu He, saying with a smile, "Well, Mr. Gu, where are you planning to go next? If you have time, I''d like to invite you to Stone Desert City. We''re clear about our debts in the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, and we''ll repay you for your help." "Stone Desert City is not far from here, about half an hour''s journey, it shouldn''t delay you too much," Xuelan added quickly, as if afraid that Gu He would refuse. Hearing this, Gu He nodded with a smile. He saved these people because they were from the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. While everyone was preparing to leave, another mercenary quickly took a camel-drawn carriage out of the storage. The back of the carriage contained the bodies of two first-stage magical beasts that Xuelan''s team had hunted. The carriage was not very large, and the fact that it was currently occupied by the bodies of the magical beasts made it impossible to use it as a mount. "Take these back to Stone Desert City for now, and report what happened here to our captain," Xuelan said to the mercenary driving the carriage. "Sure, I believe the captain and the others will be happy to meet a new friend," the mercenary said with a friendly smile before urging the camels forward and swiftly heading back to Stone Desert City. (End of this chapter) {Note: The next some chapters will be long , so i will post only one chapter everyday. join my patreon to read 20 advanced chapters} Chapter 113: The Xiao Brothers Chapter 113: The Xiao Brothers Chapter 113: The Xiao Brothers Next, Gu He, along with Xuelan and her team, slowly headed in the direction of Stone Desert City. Along the way, Xuelan made multiple attempts to probe Gu He''s background, but her subtle inquiries were brushed off by Gu He with a polite smile. However, one thing became clear to Xuelan: the gentleman before her, Gu Master, was indeed an alchemist. Moreover, judging by his tone, his alchemist rank was not low; it seemed he had reached the level of a third-grade alchemist. A third-grade alchemist! Learning that Gu He was a third-grade alchemist, Xuelan was completely astonished. She hadn''t expected a remote town like Stone Desert City to have a third-grade alchemist. With the revelation of Gu He''s identity, Xuelan''s attitude toward him became increasingly respectful. An hour later, a vast city situated on the outskirts of the eastern part of the Tagor Desert began to appear on the horizon. Looking at Stone Desert City not far away, the faces of Xuelan and the Desert Iron Mercenary Group members couldn''t help but show excitement. As mercenaries, they lived on the edge every day, their lives hanging by a thread. Their previous mission had almost ended in their deaths at the hands of the snake people, leaving them with lingering fear. Although Gu He had saved them at the last moment, they felt mentally exhausted from the experience. Now, they were finally arriving at a place to rest, which naturally filled them with excitement. Gu He couldn''t help but show a smile as well. After spending so many days camping out in the wilderness, he also intended to get some good rest tonight. Amid the cheers of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group members, Gu He and the others slowly approached the city gates. They entered Stone Desert City by following the flow of people. Compared to cities within the empire, desert cities like this one had a certain simplicity and heaviness. Perhaps because of their proximity to the Tagor Desert, the city''s defenses were much stricter than those within the empire. Soldiers in full armor were patrolling everywhere in the city. After entering the city, Gu He followed Xuelan''s group towards the south of the city. After passing several streets, a spacious courtyard came into view. At that moment, Xuelan leaned close to his ear and whispered something, causing his expression to change dramatically. When he looked at Gu He, there was no longer any hint of discontent; instead, his eyes were filled with respect. Gu He naturally noticed Xuelan''s subtle actions, but he didn''t feel any displeasure. The reason he had revealed his identity as an alchemist was to avoid unnecessary trouble. Otherwise, he would be bothered by all sorts of people challenging him. Just as Gu He and the others lingered at the entrance for a moment, several figures approached slowly. The leaders of this group were two young men dressed in black and white robes, and they looked somewhat alike. Walking together, it was easy to guess that they were brothers. "Is this Mr. Gu?" Soon, the group arrived at the entrance, and the young man in the white robe greeted Gu He, displaying a friendly and warm attitude. "I am Xiao Ding, the captain of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group." "This is my younger brother, Xiao Li." Xiao Ding introduced himself to Gu He. "Alright," Gu He nodded slightly at the two, and he didn''t say more. Xiao Ding was slightly taken aback by Gu He''s attitude. What did that "Alright" mean? At the very least, he expected some polite words like "I''ve heard of your reputation." He had originally wanted to inquire about Mr. Gu''s background, but now he wasn''t sure how to approach the conversation. Despite some dissatisfaction, Xiao Ding clearly couldn''t make an issue out of such a trivial matter. He quickly changed the subject, saying, "Mr. Gu, thank you for your assistance. The Desert Iron Mercenary Group has prepared a banquet for you. Later, I want my brothers to express their gratitude for saving their lives." Xiao Ding had already made up his mind that each of them would come and get Mr. Gu drunk. That way, they would naturally find out his background. But to his surprise, Gu He replied casually, "You can skip the banquet. I would appreciate it if you could prepare a room for me. I''d like to take a bath and rest for the night." (End of this chapter) Chapter 114: Qing Lin Chapter 114: Qing Lin Chapter 114: Qing Lin "Uh..." Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Xiao Ding had initially intended to say something but suddenly froze. Looking at Gu He''s elegant smile, Xiao Ding understood his meaning. He could see it clearly. This Mr. Gu had no intention of dealing with them at all. Originally, upon learning that the squad led by Xuelan had encountered the Snake-People Clan and been rescued by a friend, he was curious about who this friend might be. Upon learning that this friend was surnamed Gu, Xiao Ding was sure that his two brothers didn''t know this Mr. Gu. He was quite curious about why Mr. Gu had intervened to assist the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. So, when he saw Gu He, Xiao Ding showed such enthusiasm. But now that Gu He had rejected him twice in a row, Xiao Ding couldn''t bear it anymore. He wanted to get angry, but he remembered that this person was the savior of his brothers. So, he suppressed his anger and said with a smile, "It seems that Mr. Gu is indeed tired." After saying this, he looked at the big man beside him and said, "Didn''t you hear that? Hurry up and prepare a clean room for Mr. Gu to rest." Upon hearing this, the big man promptly approached Gu He and respectfully said, "Master Gu, please follow me." "Thank you." Gu He nodded indifferently and then followed the big man as they left. "Big brother, isn''t this Mr. Gu acting a bit strange?" After Gu He left, Xiao Li couldn''t help but speak up, showing a hint of dissatisfaction on his face. Apparently, Gu He''s two refusals had already caused some discontent. Xiao Ding furrowed his brow slightly upon hearing this but ultimately said nothing. Xuelan, who was on the side, saw the expressions of the two brothers and vaguely guessed what they were thinking. She then revealed what she knew about Gu He being a third-rank alchemist. After hearing this, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li''s expressions changed. "Mr. Gu is a third-rank alchemist?" Xiao Ding sighed in relief. He was glad he didn''t lose his temper earlier. Offending a third-rank alchemist would have been disastrous. Then, Xiao Ding pondered for a moment and instructed Xiao Li, "Younger brother, arrange for a few maids to be sent to Mr. Gu''s room." Unbeknownst to him, Xiao Ding had already changed his address to "Master Gu."Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com Upon hearing this, Xiao Li looked at Xiao Ding. The two brothers exchanged smiles, and then Xiao Li left slowly. Half an hour later, Gu He looked at the four young maidens who entered through the door, feeling somewhat helpless. What kind of person do these two brothers from the Xiao family think I am? Gu He furrowed his brow, about to chase the four young maidens out of his room. "Wait..." Suddenly, Gu He had a whim. He looked at the young girl and asked, "What''s your name?" Upon hearing this, the young girl hesitated for a moment and replied timidly, "I''m Qing Lin." Hearing the two words "Qing Lin" from the young girl''s mouth, Gu He''s heart trembled. He had found her! He finally found her. His main purpose for coming to the Tagre Desert was to take Qing Lin as his disciple. Now that he had finally met her, Gu He looked at Qing Lin with a gentle smile and asked, "Little girl, how old are you?" Only at this moment did Gu He start to seriously examine the girl in front of him. Qing Lin, who stood before him, was a year or two younger than Xiao Yixian. She wore a light green, elegant outfit and was petite, with a somewhat innocent and lovely appearance. Her cute, delicate face resembled that of a beautiful porcelain doll, with a shy and timid look, like a frightened little rabbit, making people feel a sense of pity and cherishing her. "What an adorable girl!" Gu He silently praised her, but heard Qing Lin reply softly, "Master Gu, I''m fourteen years old." Qing Lin placed the basin in her hands on a wooden rack outside the bed, her voice nervous as she said, "Master Gu, let me help you wash up." "Hehe." "For such a small matter, I can handle it myself." Upon hearing this, Gu He smiled and then went to the wooden rack, casually washing up. Now that he had found Qing Lin, he was in no hurry. Next, he just needed to get along with the young girl for some time, and then he could propose to take her as his disciple, and everything would naturally fall into place. Gu He wiped his face with a towel, then threw the towel into the basin and took a deep breath of the refreshing air. Seeing that Gu He had finished washing up, Qing Lin quickly carried the basin and walked toward the door. As she turned her head, Gu He watched her departing figure and a smile formed at the corner of his mouth. His third disciple finally had a place. (End of this chapter) Chapter 115: Accepting Qing Lin as a Disciple Chapter 115: Accepting Qing Lin as a Disciple Chapter 115: Accepting Qing Lin as a Disciple Two days later. Knock, knock, knock! A soft knocking came from outside the room. Gu He slowly opened his eyes and said, "Come in." With Gu He''s permission, a small head peeked into the room. Qing Lin entered the room carrying a basin of water and looked at Gu He, who was sitting on the bed, and said obediently, "Master Gu, I''m here to assist you with your morning routine." Compared to two days ago, Qing Lin was no longer as timid in front of Gu He. The change in her demeanor was naturally related to Gu He''s attitude over the past two days. To leave a good impression on the young girl, Gu He always spoke in an elegant and affable manner. He even had Qing Lin sit with him at the dining table. This treatment gradually made Qing Lin less afraid of Gu He, and she became willing to serve him. At this moment, Gu He, looking at the docile young girl in front of him, was even more satisfied. He smiled and said, "Alright." Then, Gu He got up and began his morning routine. "Um... Master Gu, Commander Xiao asked you to visit the conference hall after you''ve freshened up." "Xiao Ding?" Hearing this, Gu He''s brow furrowed, but he soon relaxed. He thought that it was time to meet Xiao Ding. After all, Qing Lin was now part of the Mercenary Group, so he should inform them about his intentions. Thinking this, Gu He smiled at Qing Lin and ruffled her hair. "Then lead the way." "Okay." Qing Lin gently replied and carefully followed him. As they walked through the inner areas of the mercenary group, every mercenary they encountered would stop and greet Gu He warmly, indicating that they knew his identity. On the other hand, Xiao Ding was puzzled by Gu He''s furrowed brows. After all Xue Lan had introduced him as a third-grade alchemist, but he was merely requesting the crafting of a second-grade pill. Gu He eventually came back to his senses and said, "Crafting the Purple Jade Pill for you shouldn''t be a problem." "But," he continued, "I have a request. I hope you will agree to it." Gu He then put down his tea cup, and, surprisingly, he had a somewhat serious expression. Seeing this, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li frowned slightly. They hesitated for a moment but eventually asked, "May we know what conditions you''re proposing?" Without an immediate reply, Gu He turned his gaze towards Qing Lin, and he spoke gently, "Qing Lin, I want to take you as my disciple. Are you willing?" ??? This statement from Gu He left the room filled with confusion and shock. The Xiao brothers were initially puzzled and then stunned. What''s going on? Gu He wants to take Qing Lin as his disciple? Clearly, Gu He''s decision had left the Xiao brothers baffled. Xiao Li had a moment of realization the day he heard the girls mention Qing Lin''s name. However, he couldn''t comprehend why Gu He would choose to make Qing Lin his disciple. Gu He''s actions left Xiao Li utterly puzzled. He wondered what Gu He had in mind. At the moment, Gu He was fully focused on Qing Lin and didn''t have the attention to spare for Xiao Li''s questions. However, the shock was not limited to the Xiao brothers; even Qing Lin was deeply surprised. As she looked at the man who was now showing a warm smile towards her, she felt a sense of confusion. "Master Gu, wants to take me as a disciple?" (End of this chapter) {Drop by my patreon page to read 20 advanced chapters. Also help me by recommending this literature to your friends} Chapter 116: Qing Lin’s Thoughts Chapter 116: Qing Lins Thoughts Chapter 116: Qing Lin''s Thoughts "Master Gu wants to take me as a disciple?" At this moment, Qing Lin was filled with confusion. She couldn''t understand why Master Gu suddenly wanted to take her as his disciple. However, she quickly realized that this was an enormous opportunity for her. Master Gu held a prestigious position, and even the Mercenary Group''s commanders respected him. She was sure that she wouldn''t lose out by becoming his disciple. What was even more important to her was that Master Gu was different from others; he didn''t show any disgust in his eyes regarding her lineage. In an instant, a great sense of happiness filled Qing Lin''s heart, and her eyes showed a hint of excitement. In the next moment, her clear voice rang out, "Master Gu, I''m willing to be your disciple." She was about to kneel to perform the traditional ceremony to become a disciple, but Gu He reached out and lifted her up, saying, "No need for that. There are no formalities when you join my sect." Qing Lin''s small face blushed with excitement, and she exclaimed, "Teacher!" Gu He, looking at the obedient and adorable Qing Lin before him, felt immense joy in his heart. He nodded and said, "From now on, you are my third disciple. You also have a senior martial brother and a second martial sister." "A senior martial brother and a second martial sister?" Upon hearing this, Qing Lin''s face displayed some bewilderment. She hadn''t expected that her teacher had two other disciples. This sudden revelation made her feel a bit anxious. What if her senior martial brother and second martial sister found out about her true lineage? Would they... Thinking about this, her face, which had been red from excitement, quickly turned pale. Gu He noticed the change in Qing Lin''s complexion and realized the cause. He gently rubbed her head and said, "Silly girl, from now on, you don''t need to worry about what others think. With me by your side, no one will dare to bully you." Feeling the warmth from Gu He''s large hand, Qing Lin hesitated for a moment but then nodded gently, saying, "Teacher, I understand." The Xiao brothers gradually grasped the situation as well. It seemed that Gu He was serious about this decision. They initially thought he was going to make a substantial request, but instead, he had taken a new disciple. As for Xiao Li, he was even more surprised. The servant he had casually bought was now being taken as a disciple by a highly respected alchemist. It was truly a stroke of good luck. Hearing this, Qing Lin blinked her eyes, showing a hint of curiosity. Gu He smiled faintly and then said, "My real name is Gu He." "Gu... He..." Hearing the name, Qing Lin''s adorable eyes brightened, and she said with a clear voice, "Teacher, I think I''ve heard that name somewhere before." Seeing the cute expression on the little girl''s face, Gu He couldn''t help but chuckle. "Is that so? It seems my reputation is quite widespread, even reaching little kids like you." Blushing, Qing Lin replied softly, "I heard it from others." Gu He then turned more serious and asked, "Qing Lin, do you want to practice cultivation?" He had observed that there were no signs of cultivation on the little girl''s body. It was clear that no one had ever guided her in the path of cultivation. Qing Lin hesitated for a moment and then her emerald eyes showed determination. She said crisply, "Yes!" Gu He''s lips curled into a small smile, and he asked, "Why do you want to cultivate?" As Qing Lin thought for a moment, a hint of sadness appeared on her face. She mumbled, "I want to become stronger, so I can stop the war between humans and snake people. This way, no one will experience what I did, being abandoned by parents and hated by everyone." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Gu He was momentarily taken aback and fell into a brief silence. The war between humans and snake people had lasted for over a thousand years, and both sides held deep-seated grudges. At the root of the conflict lay issues of land and resources. The Tagre Desert had a scorching climate, while the snake people preferred cooler conditions. Living in the Tagre Desert was a form of torture for them, which contributed to their violent and irritable nature. They resented humans and envied the vast lands and resources humans possessed. If their strength allowed it, the snake people would have declared war on the human world long ago. In Gu He''s opinion, ending the conflict between the snake people and humans would require allocating a suitable territory for the snake people to live in, something no human nation would willingly do. check out my patreon for 20 advanced chapters. also check out my new series and add it to library. Chapter 117: Determining the Location Chapter 117: Determining the Location Chapter 117: Determining the Location After a while, Gu He gently rubbed the little head of Qing Lin and softly said, "If you want to become stronger, will you diligently practice and train with me in the future?" Listening to Gu He''s gentle voice, Qing Lin''s heart gradually calmed down. She nodded at Gu He, and her emerald eyes were filled with determination. "Yes, Teacher, I will." However, Gu He''s gaze remained on the three tiny emerald dots in Qing Lin''s eyes. With the presence of the three emerald snake flower pupils, it wouldn''t be too difficult for Qing Lin to achieve her goal in the future. Then, Gu He began to guide Qing Lin in absorbing natural energy into her body, starting with the most basic step. To be honest, Gu He felt somewhat helpless in Qing Lin''s case. With his current level of cultivation, if he were to directly transmit his energy to Qing Lin, it would likely pose a severe risk to her life. As for martial arts and techniques, Qing Lin had not even entered the stage of martial energy. Gu He could not teach her any martial techniques in her current state. Therefore, Gu He decided to postpone rewarding Qing Lin with the transmission of knowledge for the time being. At the moment, the best course of action was to increase Qing Lin''s strength as much as possible. Under Gu He''s guidance, Qing Lin slowly sat in a meditative posture on the bed, closed her eyes, and then made some strange hand gestures. Subsequently, she began absorbing natural energy into her body gradually. Watching Qing Lin''s meditation practice slowly proceeding, Gu He smiled slightly, expressing satisfaction. He then retrieved a sheepskin map from his storage ring, which had been gifted to him by Hai Bo Dong. He carefully examined it and murmured, "It seems like tomorrow, I need to take Qing Lin to the eastern outskirts of the Tagre Desert." For the past two days, most of Gu He''s time had been spent searching for the whereabouts of the Blue Lotus Heart Flame. According to the sheepskin map, it indicated the eastern area of the Tagre Desert. However, this area was too vast, and considering the Blue Lotus Heart Flame was located underground, it wasn''t something he could find quickly. Gu He had grown impatient after two days of searching and decided that he would take Qing Lin to investigate the area tomorrow. According to his current timeline, he wasn''t certain if the Blue Lotus Heart Flame had already fallen into the hands of Queen Medusa. However, he remained calm. Even if Queen Medusa obtained the Blue Lotus Heart Flame, he believed he could reclaim it without any trouble. After all, Queen Medusa was merely a Nine-Star Dou Huang, and Gu He was a Three-Star Dou Zong C he was confident that he could handle her. ... The next day, Gu He summoned Qing Lin and showed her the sheepskin map. He then pointed to the eastern location outside the Tagre Desert and asked, "Qing Lin, have you felt a unique presence in this area recently?" Upon hearing this, Qing Lin''s eyes lit up with understanding, and she nodded in agreement. She replied, "Yes, Teacher, about a month ago, I sensed an extremely powerful presence outside the Tagre Desert. This presence seemed to share some similarities with the bloodline within me." Gu He''s brow furrowed upon hearing this. If Queen Medusa had indeed appeared, it meant that she might have already obtained the Blue Lotus Heart Flame. With that, Qing Lin closed her eyes and began to carefully sense her surroundings. After a moment, she opened her eyes, a glint of excitement in her gaze, and pointed in a direction, saying, "Teacher, it''s over there!" Gu He nodded in understanding and, with Qing Lin in his arms, teleported to the indicated location. After several rounds of sensing, Qing Lin finally confirmed the precise location of the presence. A few moments later, in a flat desert area, Gu He and Qing Lin appeared. "Qing Lin, are you sure it''s here?" Gu He scanned the surroundings, which seemed to have nothing out of the ordinary, and he couldn''t help but feel skeptical. After a careful re-sensing by Qing Lin, she nodded confidently and said, "Teacher, it''s definitely here." Seeing Qing Lin''s confidence, Gu He focused his attention on the terrain once more. This place appeared utterly ordinary, with no features that could attract attention. There were countless similar flat sandy areas in the vast desert. It was hard to imagine that such an inconspicuous place could hide the trace of a "Spiritual Fire." However, since Qing Lin was certain, Gu He had no reason to doubt her. In the next moment, his thoughts moved, and his spiritual power swiftly spread, focusing on underground exploration. His spiritual power continually probed deeper underground, inch by inch. One meter... Two meters... Three meters... After examining seven different areas, Gu He finally sensed a scorching heat. "I''ve finally found it." Feeling this scorching presence, Gu He''s eyes lit up. (End of this chapter) Chapter 118: The Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake Chapter 118: The Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake Chapter 118: The Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake "This is it," Gu He said with assurance after closely investigating the flat desert area once again using his spiritual power. "Qing Lin, stand behind me," Gu He instructed, looking at Qing Lin. In response to his words, Qing Lin obediently nodded and took shelter behind Gu He. With a thought, Gu He extended his hand, and the Primal Origin Divine Fire immediately appeared in his palm. He then manipulated the purple flames in his hand, which resembled a fire dragon, to descend directly into the desert below. Gu He pointed his palm at the target area, and an endless stream of purple flames spewed from his hand, surging towards the ground. Soon, under the burning of the purple flames, a pit appeared in front of Gu He. A slight smile appeared on Gu He''s lips, and he continued to increase the intensity of the flames. The raging fire surged deeper into the pit. As time passed, the pit deepened, reaching a depth of about four to five meters. Gu He, holding Qing Lin, leaped into the deep pit. He floated in mid-air, continuing to release flames towards the ground below. As Gu He delved deeper, the surrounding fire elemental energy grew increasingly concentrated. "Qing Lin, if you feel you can''t endure it, let me know," Gu He said, lowering his head and speaking in a low voice. "Okay," Qing Lin immediately nodded in response. Gu He glanced at Qing Lin''s face, and it seemed that the high-temperature fire elemental energy in the area didn''t affect her in any unusual way. After instructing Qing Lin, Gu He intensified the flames and continued his descent into the tunnel. After a while, the tunnel extended another few meters downwards. Wasn''t that person afraid of dying? She thought with a hint of fear. Suddenly, Qing Lin noticed that Gu He''s gaze had been fixed on the area below for quite some time. She tightened her expression and asked in concern, "Teacher, you''re not planning to go down there, are you?" Gu He nodded. "Yes." At his response, Qing Lin''s face tensed even more, and she worriedly asked, "Teacher, aren''t you afraid of the heat down there?" Gu He, his surface covered by a layer of blue light, reassured her, "Don''t worry; this underground magma can''t harm me." However, after seeing Qing Lin''s concern, Gu He held her in his arms and activated the Heaven Ascension Steps technique, returning to the desert surface. From there, he went back to the Mercenary Group room. "Stay here and wait for me, my dear. I''ll be back soon," Gu He said as he suddenly disappeared from the room. When Gu He reappeared, he found himself once again above the molten magma. He surveyed the molten world below and began to ponder. He remembered that there was a Duel Spirit-level Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake in this place, and it seemed to know the hiding place of the Blue Lotus Heartfire. This Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake might be their guide to quickly find the Blue Lotus Heartfire''s location. Therefore, Gu He needed to attract the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake and subdue it before it could react. As he flew through the air, Gu He couldn''t help but feel the vastness of this cavern. The flowing molten magma around him had almost formed a massive magma lake. Occasionally, a scorching wave of heat surged, causing a pillar of molten rock to shoot up from the lake. Gu He activated the Xuanbing Holy Armor to protect himself from the splashing lava. While observing the molten world below, Gu He couldn''t help but wonder how Medusa had entered this place so easily and successfully taken the green lotus core flame. Could she have used a Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake as her guide as well? He was lost in thought when suddenly his expression changed slightly. His gaze swept over the molten lake below. "Finally, it''s here!" Gu He thought. He maintained his composure, concealing his aura as the calm surface of the molten lake erupted with a loud noise. In an instant, countless streams of searing molten lava shot up, and a massive and mysterious creature burst from the molten lake. With lightning speed, it lunged towards Gu He, poised to attack. Gu He looked at the creature and couldn''t help but smile coldly. "You''ve arrived, but you won''t be leaving!" check out my patreon to read 20 chapters ahead. Chapter 119: Entering the Magma World Chapter 119: Entering the Magma World Chapter 119: Entering the Magma World A mysterious creature suddenly broke through the molten magma with a sharp screech and shot towards Gu He in mid-air. The haphazardly spewing molten rock stirred the once calm magma lake into a violent frenzy. Columns of molten lava erupted from it, creating a spectacular sight. Seeing the mysterious creature coming towards him, Gu He''s eyes revealed a hint of amusement. He swiftly maneuvered his body, heading towards the space above the molten magma. The mysterious creature hesitated for a moment but couldn''t resist the temptation of its prey, so it chased after Gu He. Gu He extended his soul power and could now clearly see the appearance of the mysterious creature. It resembled a serpent-like magical beast with an exceptionally long body, at least around forty to fifty feet in length. Its entire body was fiery red, resembling a round fire jade. Small, palm-sized red scales covered its surface. What surprised Gu He the most was that this magical beast had two heads. At the point where its long neck split, two ferocious heads with large diamond-shaped pupils stared out, filled with a furious and bloodthirsty intent. "Is this the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake? It''s certainly not winning any beauty contests," Gu He thought to himself. Seeing that the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake had been attracted, he stopped and waited for it to approach. With a screeching sound, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, despite its large body, displayed astonishing speed as it gradually caught up to Gu He. In an instant, the menacing double heads lunged with crimson tridents that resembled sharp swords. "Heh, I''m giving you a chance!" Gu He said with a cold smile. At the moment when he evaded the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake''s attack, he rapidly formed a colossal and incomparably powerful claw imprint, which grabbed the massive body of the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake like catching a chicken. Hiss! Above the Magma World, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake was caught in a huge claw, squirming helplessly, making terrified hissing sounds, in stark contrast to its previous ferocity. Gu He exerted some force in his hand, and the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake felt a tremendous pressure, as if its body were about to burst. Hearing this, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake nodded both of its large heads hurriedly. Gu He smiled with satisfaction and continued, "Did a Snake-Person woman visit this place about a month ago?" Upon hearing this, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake appeared puzzled for a moment but then nodded. Gu He continued, "Take me to the place that woman visited." The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake hesitated, its eyes revealing fear. But when it thought of the purple flames inside its body, it reluctantly nodded. Then, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake wriggled its massive body and shot towards the molten magma world like a fast-flowing river, finally diving straight into the magma and causing large amounts of molten rock to splash. Seeing this, Gu He activated the Xuanbing Holy Armor to cover himself in a blue light. The Xuanbing armor formed a protective shield around him. It deflected the molten rock splashes that fell onto Gu He''s body. Protected by the Xuanbing armor, Gu He felt as though he was isolated from the external heat. He couldn''t sense the scorching temperature outside. Gu He scooped up some fiery molten rock with his palm and allowed it to flow between his fingers before slowly descending. Gu He couldn''t help but be amazed by the close contact with the molten rock, which sent a slight shiver down his spine. If his Xuanbing armor suddenly dissipated at this moment, he would... Thinking about a grasshopper desperately jumping in a hot frying pan, Gu He couldn''t help but shiver slightly. With that thought, Gu He turned back and looked at the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake that was obediently waiting not far away. He spoke coldly, "Big fellow, lead the way." Hearing Gu He''s words, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake nodded in a placating manner. It then dived into the magma below, creating ripples in the lava lake. Gu He closely followed, hanging behind the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. (End of this chapter) Chapter 120 – Fire Lotus Seed, Azure Lotus Platform Chapter 120 C Fire Lotus Seed, Azure Lotus Platform Chapter 120 - Fire Lotus Seed, Azure Lotus Platform Within the fiery world of molten lava, dark currents surged intermittently. Occasionally, extremely violent flows of molten lava would erupt from unknown sources. These dark flows contained immense energy, and being hit by one of them would result in severe injuries, even for a Dou Ling-level expert. Fortunately, the fire spirit snake was very familiar with this place. It would find the most suitable route and move stealthily to avoid these dark flows before they arrived. Gu He, who closely followed it, easily evaded any threats using the Zhi Chi Tian Ya technique. In this fiery world, there didn''t appear to be any creatures other than the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. It was no wonder because the living conditions here were incredibly harsh. If not for unique creatures like the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, which survived by devouring molten lava, it would be impossible for any other magical beasts, including King of the Purple Crystal Winged Lions, to move freely in this place without being affected. As they continued to penetrate deeper into the abyss, Gu He, even with the protection of his Xuanbing Holy Armor, began to sense that the external temperature was increasing exponentially. Realizing this, Gu He quickly increased the power of his Xuanbing armor to maintain its protective barrier. In this environment where sensory perception was deprived, Gu He couldn''t accurately gauge the passage of time. He simply followed the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake diligently. After some time, Gu He looked around and was surprised to find that the surrounding fiery lava had begun to turn slightly blue, indicating a rapid rise in temperature. Seeing this, Gu He''s heart tightened. He knew this change was due to the increasing heat. If this continued, he would have to expend more Dou Qi to maintain his Xuanbing armor. He gazed at the surrounding blue-tinted lava with some trepidation. In such an environment where even basic senses were limited, he had no clear concept of time. He could only follow the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake diligently. Gu He shouted ahead, "Hey, big guy, how much farther is it?"Ge?t latest novel chapters on nov(e)lbj/n(.)c/om His voice, carried by Dou Qi, penetrated through the obstruction of the molten lava and reached the ears of the Fire Spirit Snake. The serpent turned one of its massive heads towards Gu He, let out a few hisses, and then turned away, seemingly ignoring him. Beneath the green lotus flower, an extremely long stem of over ten meters was covered in tiny tendrils. As these tendrils swayed, Gu He could clearly feel their almost greedy absorption of the violent fire attribute energy from the surrounding lava. This green lotus flower floated within the boundless lava, resembling a water lily adrift on the sea. If it weren''t for the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake leading the way, even with Gu He''s exceptional spiritual power, it would be nearly impossible to locate such a tiny green lotus flower in such a vast area in less than a couple of months. Gu He''s body gently approached the green lotus flower. As he got closer, he could better appreciate its beauty. Such perfection could only be created through the passage of time and the artistry of nature. Carefully avoiding the swaying tendrils, Gu He slowly reached the area above the green lotus. At the center of the small lotus platform within the lotus flower, there was a fist-sized hole. However, at the moment, that hole was empty. Despite knowing that Queen Medusa had already taken the Green Lotus Flame Heart, Gu He still felt a twinge of disappointment. Shaking his head, Gu He pushed aside his feelings of loss. With his current strength, he could easily reclaim the Green Lotus Flame Heart from Queen Medusa. For now, it would be safer to leave it in her possession. Then, Gu He turned his attention to the Green Lotus Platform in front of him and his eyes filled with astonishment. This Green Lotus Platform had condensed the Earth Fire for thousands of years. As long as he took it and used it for cultivation, his speed would increase by at least three or four times, if not tenfold. Moreover, in case of confrontation, he could activate it with Dou Qi, releasing the hidden Earth Fire inside. Even if he encountered a Dou Zhong powerhouse, defeating them might not be guaranteed, but at least escaping would be a walk in the park. Chapter 121: Thousandfold Returns, The Red Lotus Sacred Platform! Chapter 121: Thousandfold Returns, The Red Lotus Sacred Platform! Chapter 121: Thousandfold Returns, The Red Lotus Sacred Platform! "This red lotus platform seems suitable for the Golden Eagle," he thought as the idea of the red lotus platform flashed through his mind. This red lotus platform could increase the speed of cultivation, which was perfect for enhancing the Golden Eagle''s cultivation speed. Having made up his mind, Gu He decided to give the red lotus platform as a gift to the Golden Eagle when he returned. Next, Gu He focused on the lotus seeds within the red lotus. These lotus seeds were known as the essence of the Fire Spirit. It took a hundred years for a single seed to form, and it contained extremely pure heavenly and earthly essences. After consumption, whether for healing internal energy or breaking through, they had extremely powerful effects. Even for experts at the Dou Emperor level, it had a profound impact. Gu He then turned his attention to the red lotus in front of him. He intended to take the entire red lotus. The original text mentioned that this red lotus was a miraculous creation of heaven and earth. It would instantly disintegrate upon contact with ordinary materials, so a pure jade-like object was required to avoid sullying its effects. With that in mind, Gu He retrieved a dozen high-quality jade bottles from his storage ring. He released a purple flame into his palm, melting the small bottles into a light green liquid. As the liquid churned, it solidified into a slender jade blade. Gu He carefully removed impurities from the jade blade, making it look crystal clear and as beautiful as the red lotus leaves. Holding the jade ruler in his hand, it felt pleasantly cool. Gu He couldn''t help but lick his lips, then carefully approached the red lotus. He gently cut the part connected to the lotus seat. Immediately, the perfectly beautiful red lotus fell down as if it were a work of art. Watching the red lotus fall, Gu He extended his palm and quickly absorbed it. Then, he let it float in front of him, rotating it slowly while his gaze swept over it, displaying a look of admiration. With a thought, Gu He directly stored the entire red lotus in his spatial system. After completing all of this, Gu He looked at the piece of the fire attribute energy root that was voraciously absorbing the surrounding magma. His eyes showed some curiosity. A piece of the energy root that could absorb energy so crazily must also be a rare treasure. However, after hesitating for a moment, Gu He abandoned this idea. For these spiritual beings that took centuries to form, it was best to leave them a chance. This could be considered a good omen for himself. After completing all of this, Gu He moved swiftly and reappeared on the surface of the desert. Looking at the passage leading to the magma world below, Gu He thought for a moment. He took out some iron tools from his storage ring and melted them to create a thick iron plate, which he used to cover the passage. Then, he used a large amount of sand to bury it. With a swift movement, he disappeared into the desert. When Gu He appeared again, he had returned to the residence of the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps. Gu He''s gaze swept the room and then stayed on the little Qing Lin, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, earnestly practicing. "This girl is quite diligent," Gu He said as he watched the young girl immersed in her training, a faint smile appearing on his lips. Gu He didn''t disturb her and went to the table to pour himself a glass of water, waiting quietly. Half an hour later, the young girl stopped her training. "Teacher, you''re back?" Qing Lin''s eyes lit up as she looked at Gu He, her tone filled with joy. Gu He nodded and waved to the young girl. "Come here, I have a gift for you." "A gift?" Qing Lin was momentarily surprised, then she came to Gu He, her voice crisp as she asked, "Teacher, what''s the gift?" Gu He didn''t say anything. With a thought, he directly took out the cyan lotus platform from his storage ring. "This is the gift for you. From now on, you can use this platform for your cultivation, and it will be even more effective." With that, Gu He handed the cyan lotus platform to Qing Lin. Just now, the lotus seeds on the cyan lotus platform had already been taken by Gu He. As Qing Lin received the cyan lotus platform, her eyes brightened, and she accepted it with a hint of surprise. "What a beautiful cyan lotus!" Just as Qing Lin received the cyan lotus platform, a notification sound from the system rang in Gu He''s mind. "Ding, the host has granted the cyan lotus platform to the third disciple, Qing Lin. Congratulations to the host for receiving a thousandfold return and obtaining the Red Lotus Sacred Platform." "The Red Lotus Sacred Platform has been placed in the system space for the host to collect." (End of this chapter) Chapter 122: The Function of the Red Lotus Sacred Platform Chapter 122: The Function of the Red Lotus Sacred Platform Chapter 122: The Function of the Red Lotus Sacred Platform The Red Lotus Sacred Platform? Upon hearing the system notification in his mind, Gu He''s eyes revealed a hint of confusion. What was this thing? Seeing that Qing Lin was completely absorbed in looking at the Red lotus platform in her hand, Gu He''s mind shifted directly into the system space. Once his consciousness entered the system space, his eyes immediately focused on the empty space. There, a lotus platform radiating a brilliant Red light was suspended in the void. This red lotus platform was twice the size of the one Gu He had just given to Qing Lin, measuring a full two meters in width. Even if two people stood on it, it wouldn''t feel cramped. "Is this the Red Lotus Sacred Platform?" Gu He''s eyes showed amazement, and he immediately commanded the system, "System, extract the Red Lotus Sacred Platform!" At the moment Gu He gave the command, the Red lotus platform in the void emitted an even more radiant light, then transformed into a streak of Red light, shooting towards Gu He. As if a blessing had come to him, Gu He extended his hands slowly, and the Red light landed directly in the palms of his hands, forming a pocket-sized Red lotus platform. "It can change its size as well," Gu He said with a slight upward curl of his lips. At that moment, a thread of Red light shot out from the Red lotus platform, entering Gu He''s mind. In an instant, a profound set of information appeared in Gu He''s mind. This information was about the functions and usage of the Red Lotus Sacred Platform. After a while, Gu He slowly opened his eyes. At this moment, he had completely absorbed the memories in his mind, understanding the various functions of the Red Lotus Sacred Platform and also mastering its usage. The most significant function of the Red Lotus Sacred Platform was to enhance the speed of cultivation. Simply by sitting on it and cultivating, one could increase their cultivation speed by fifteen times. Additionally, the Red Lotus Sacred Platform possessed powerful defensive capabilities, allowing it to create a formidable Red lotus shield outside, with extraordinary defensive power. Lastly, the Red Lotus Sacred Platform also had the ability to fly, akin to a flying treasure, with incredible speed. "What a fantastic treasure!" Gu He''s face showed satisfaction as he thought about the various functions of the Red Lotus Sacred Platform. Qing Lin possessed the Three Flowers Pupil of the Azure Snake, and Gu He would naturally not waste this extraordinary talent of hers. Gu He had read the original work and knew that abilities like the Azure Snake''s Three Flowers Pupil would only appear in the offspring of mixed-blood between snake people and humans. The reason behind this was that the mixed blood awakened the bloodline of the ancient snake emperor, the Heavenly Serpent, which was an extraordinary phenomenon of bloodline reversion. The Three Flowers Pupil of the Azure Snake was the nemesis of almost all snake-shaped magical beasts. It could create a unilateral, compulsory connection with snake-shaped magical beasts, allowing control over them. Moreover, it could store magical beasts in the space created by the Azure Snake''s Three Flowers Pupil. Although the space had a limited size, it would expand as the user''s strength grew. The absorption of magical beast''s strength within the space was slow and subject to a certain limit. Furthermore, someone proficient in using these pupils could induce hallucinations in others. Imagine using this ability during a battle to make an opponent suddenly have a mental lapse, or worse, make them attack their own comrades. As long as Gu He fully developed Qing Lin''s Azure Snake''s Three Flowers Pupil, she would definitely become a peerless powerhouse in the future. With this in mind, Gu He motioned for Qing Lin to come closer. "Qing Lin, come here, I''m going to give you a second gift." Hearing this, a hint of puzzlement flashed in Qing Lin''s emerald eyes. "Ah... another gift?" Gu He smiled. "It''s my rule as a teacher. Every disciple who joins my sect will receive three welcoming gifts from me. Your eldest senior brother and second senior sister were also treated the same way. You, my little junior sister, are no exception." Hearing this, Qing Lin hesitated for a moment and then smiled sweetly. "Teacher, being your disciple is such a wonderful experience." Seeing the charming look on her face, Gu He couldn''t help but pinch her tender little cheek. "This is just a welcoming gift. As long as you work hard in your cultivation and make breakthroughs in the future, I''ll reward you with three gifts every month." "Three gifts every month?" Qing Lin''s small face showed surprise, and she asked, "Teacher, do the eldest senior brother and others receive the same treatment?" Gu He nodded and said, "Of course. You are all my disciples, so I will treat you all equally." Hearing this, excitement filled Qing Lin''s small face, and she became even more motivated for her cultivation. She said crisply, "Teacher, I will definitely work hard in my cultivation." Looking at the obedient appearance of the little girl, Gu He rubbed her small head. "Alright, let''s take a look at the second gift I''ve prepared for you. You''ll definitely like it." Hearing this, Qing Lin''s eyes filled with anticipation. (End of this chapter) check out my patreon to read 20 advanced chapters. Chapter 123: Forming a Contract Chapter 123: Forming a Contract "Qing Lin, later, I will release a magical beast. Don''t be afraid; I''m here with you," Gu He said in a gentle tone as he rubbed Qing Lin''s little head in their room. Thinking about the unattractive appearance of the dual-headed Fire Spirit Snake, Gu He wanted to mentally prepare Qing Lin before releasing it so that she wouldn''t be startled. "A magical beast? Teacher, are you giving me a magical beast?" Qing Lin asked with a hint of confusion in her emerald eyes, then nodded, saying, "Yes, Teacher, don''t worry. I won''t be scared." During this time, following Gu He, she had learned that her teacher was not an ordinary person. After witnessing many secrets on Gu He''s part, her mental strength had also grown. Gu He smiled and, with a thought, directly released the dual-headed Fire Spirit Snake from the system space. In the next moment, a massive creature appeared in the room, and the grotesque form of the dual-headed Fire Spirit Snake was revealed to both of them. With the appearance of the dual-headed Fire Spirit Snake, the room, which had been spacious moments ago, suddenly felt cramped. Crack! The dual-headed Fire Spirit Snake''s body pressed onto a table, immediately crushing it into pieces. "Idiot, don''t you know how to make yourself smaller?" Gu He scolded the dual-headed Fire Spirit Snake angrily, looking irritated as he watched the room become congested. Hearing this, the dual-headed Fire Spirit Snake, who had just been released and was still confused, felt a bit annoyed. But considering the purple flames inside its body, it reluctantly shrunk its body. As the dual-headed Fire Spirit Snake''s body became smaller, Qing Lin could finally see the appearance of the magical beast in front of her. Seeing the two monstrous serpent heads of the dual-headed Fire Spirit Snake, even though Qing Lin had prepared herself, she couldn''t help but be startled and hid behind Gu He in fear. "Qing Lin, don''t be afraid. With your teacher here, it won''t dare to act recklessly," Gu He consoled her in a soft voice, watching the frightened expression on her face. With Gu He''s soothing words and her trust in him, Qing Lin gradually relaxed and finally dared to look at the dual-headed Fire Spirit Snake. "Qing Lin, don''t be afraid. Open your eyes and focus your attention. Look into its eyes," Gu He held Qing Lin''s small hand and gently approached the dual-headed Fire Spirit Snake. However, after Qing Lin fell down, the massive Fire Spirit Snake remained dumbfounded, but whenever its gaze fell upon Qing Lin on the ground, its ferocity and fierceness would involuntarily disappear, replaced by a docile demeanor. "Ding! Detected that the host has given the third disciple Qing Lin a Level Four magical beast, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. Congratulations to the host for triggering a tenfold return and receiving a Level Seven magical beast, the Scarlet Flame Magic Jiao. The Scarlet Flame Magic Jiao has been placed in the system space for the host to collect. Please be aware." At the same time, a system notification sounded in Gu He''s mind. Hearing the system notification in his mind, Gu He didn''t pay it much attention at this moment. He watched as Qing Lin regained consciousness, and quickly took out a pill from his spatial ring, placing it in her mouth. "Mm..." As the effects of the medicine took hold, Qing Lin in Gu He''s arms gradually woke up. She shook her drowsy head, raised her head, and looked at Gu He who was holding her. Her cheeks turned slightly red, and her slender fingers rubbed her temples. She then softly asked, "Teacher, what happened to me?" "It''s okay. How do you feel now?" Seeing Qing Lin wake up, Gu He breathed a sigh of relief. He spoke with concern. "I''m not sure," Qing Lin replied, with a hint of confusion in her emerald eyes. "I don''t really know... but I seem to have established a strange connection with it. I can sense its thoughts." Hearing this, a smile crept onto Gu He''s lips. Since the young girl had such feelings, it meant she had succeeded. "Qing Lin, try giving it a command," Gu He suggested. "A command..." Qing Lin tilted her head, then looked at the massive Fire Spirit Snake before her and said softly, "Return!" In the next moment, the green light on the Fire Spirit Snake''s foreheads surged. After a brief moment, its gigantic body rapidly shrank, turning into a streak of green light that shot into Qing Lin''s sleeve. Her small hand curiously patted her sleeve, and a hint of amusement appeared on Qing Lin''s face as she said softly, "How miraculous!" (End of this chapter) Chapter 124: Scarlet Flame Devouring Dragon Chapter 124: Scarlet Flame Devouring Dragon Chapter 124: Scarlet Flame Devouring Dragon In the room, Qing Lin''s young face was filled with excitement. She had no idea what had just happened or what it meant. As a young girl, she found it interesting and fun. Seeing Qing Lin''s excitement, Gu He couldn''t help but smile. It seemed that Qing Lin''s Three Flowers of the Azure Serpent Pupils had completely awakened. "Qing Lin, come here," Gu He called the young girl over and rolled up her sleeve. Instantly, a piece of green scale appeared before Gu He''s eyes. Apart from the scale, Gu He also saw a snake-shaped pattern. This snake-shaped pattern was exactly the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake from before. "Teacher..." Seeing Gu He roll up her sleeve and reveal the scales on her arm, Qing Lin''s excitement faded instantly, and she appeared a bit timid. "Don''t be nervous. Didn''t I teach you? Don''t pay too much attention to what others think." Seeing Qing Lin''s face turn a bit pale, Gu He understood her thoughts. He pinched her soft cheek and comforted her with a smile. "Besides, these scales look quite beautiful. Why are you shy?" Seeing that Gu He didn''t mind the scales on her arm, Qing Lin felt reassured, and her complexion returned to normal. Then, when she saw Gu He holding onto her arm and looking intently, her small face blushed. Gu He looked at the pattern on Qing Lin''s arm, deep in thought. She remembered that, in the original work, Qing Lin was able to create an eye-space within her Three Flowers of the Azure Serpent Pupils later on. The magical beasts she controlled were directly stored in this eye-space. The size of this space was limited, but it would grow as her strength increased. The magical beasts stored in this space would slowly be absorbed by Qing Lin. The absorption speed was very slow, determined by her own strength. Clearly, Qing Lin had not yet opened this eye-space. Could it be because her strength wasn''t sufficient? Gu He wondered. He had no idea about how to develop the abilities of the Three Flowers of the Azure Serpent Pupils. In the original work, Qing Lin only developed this ability after being taken by the Tian She Mansion. Maybe the Tian She Mansion had some secret techniques for developing the Three Flowers of the Azure Serpent Pupils? It seemed that in the future, if he had the opportunity, he should pay a visit to this Tian She Mansion. "Master!" a deep male voice came from the Scarlet flame devouring dragon''s mouth. Looking at the Scarlet flame devouring dragon in front of him, Gu He nodded in satisfaction. Although its appearance was a bit ugly, its presence was quite imposing, and it wouldn''t be embarrassing to take it out. Gu He looked at the Scarlet flame devouring dragon and asked, "Do you have a name?" Upon hearing this, the massive head of the Scarlet flame devouring dragon swayed, and it said, "Please give me a name, Master!" Gu He thought for a moment and then said, "From now on, you shall be called ''Chijiao.''" "Chijiao..." the Scarlet flame devouring dragon muttered, then respectfully said to Gu He, "Thank you, Master, for giving me a name." Gu He looked at Chijiao and said, "Chijiao, stay here for a while. I''ll take you out in a couple of days." Chijiao nodded and replied, "Yes, Master." After that, Gu He''s thoughts moved, and he left the system space. When Gu He returned to his body, he looked at Qinglin, who was still studying the snake-shaped pattern on her arm. He was about to say something when he suddenly sensed that someone was approaching from outside. Gu He released his soul power and saw that the Xiao brothers were coming towards them. "It seems the materials for the Purple Jade Pill are ready," Gu He thought, and he guessed the reason for their visit. A moment later, a knocking sound came from the door. Following that, Xiao Ding called out from outside, "Master Gu, Xiao Ding requests an audience." Hearing the sound from outside, Qinglin was startled and quickly pulled down her sleeve to cover the snake-shaped pattern on her arm. Gu He calmly said, "Come in." The door creaked open, and the Xiao brothers entered slowly. After Xiao Ding entered, he handed a package to Gu He and said, "Master Gu, the materials needed to refine the Purple Jade Pill are inside this package." Gu He signaled for Qinglin to take the package and said, "You can come to collect the pill tomorrow." Xiao Ding''s face lit up with joy, and he nodded respectfully, saying, "Thank you, Master Gu." With the herbs delivered, the Xiao brothers bid their farewell as they saw that Gu He was not in the mood for further conversation. (End of this chapter) Chapter 125: Are You Willing to Become Elder Gu He’s Disciple? Chapter 125: Are You Willing to Become Elder Gu Hes Disciple? Chapter 125: Are You Willing to Become Elder Gu He''s Disciple? At the mountaintop of the Yunlan Sect''s rear mountain, shrouded in mist, it resembled a paradise. On a protruding black rock near the cliff''s edge, a woman in a moon-white robe was forming cultivation seals with her hands, her eyes closed in meditation. With each breath, a perfect cycle was formed, and in the transition between each cycle, faint blue streams of energy permeated the dense air around, swirling around the woman before being continuously absorbed into her body, undergoing refinement and storage. After the last wisp of blue energy entered her body, Nalan Yanran slowly opened her eyes, and a faint blue light flickered in her pupils. Her lustrous, dark-blue hair seemed to flutter on its own, even without the presence of wind. "I''ve finally broken through to the seven-star Dou practitioner level," Nalan Yanran whispered to herself, a hint of a smile appearing on her lips. But before she could revel in her achievement, the images of Xiao Yan and Liu Ling flashed through her mind. A few days ago, during their sparring session, Xiao Yan had revealed that she had reached the level of a five-star Dou Master. After spending so much time with Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran had gradually come to understand her character. She knew that Xiao Yan had likely withheld her true strength, so she had divulged her progress to avoid making Nalan Yanran feel inferior. During the recent dangerous encounter while descending the mountain, Nalan Yanran had already learned that Xiao Yan had reached the level of a four-star Dou Master. Given Xiao Yan''s extraordinary cultivation speed, it was inconceivable that she had only advanced by one star in all this time. Nalan Yanran suspected that Xiao Yan''s current level might already be at the six-star Dou Master or even the seven-star Dou Master level. The thought made her feel stifled. Xiao Yan, her junior in age, had surpassed her by an entire realm in cultivation. How could she accept that? In about a month, the inner sect competition would take place. Remembering her earlier determination to secure the first place in the competition, Nalan Yanran couldn''t help but feel like a clown now. It wasn''t just Xiao Yan; even Liu Ling, who had once been her subordinate, was no longer someone she could contend with. According to Elder Gu He''s intentions, Xiao Yan and Liu Ling would likely participate in the inner sect competition. In that case, Nalan Yanran didn''t stand a chance, not even for second place. With these thoughts in mind, Nalan Yanran''s lips curled into a bitter smile. Just as Nalan Yanran felt deeply wounded, a female disciple of the Yunlan Sect arrived at the rear mountain. She said to Nalan Yanran, who was lost in thought, "Senior Sister Nalan, the sect leader has returned and requests your immediate presence." "Teacher, she''s back?" Nalan Yanran was momentarily surprised, her face showing a touch of delight. She gracefully stood up, and as the gentle breeze met her, her moon-white robe clung tightly to her slender body, accentuating her curves and making her even more alluring. After scanning the seemingly bottomless cliff beneath, Nalan Yanran brushed her moon-white robe, turned, and left the rear mountain. In a spacious and well-lit hall, Yun Yun, wearing a simple white dress, sat in the main seat. *** In the city of Wutan, Xiao Yan sat up groggily in his bed as the morning sunlight poured in through the window. He yawned, then proceeded to get up, wash his face, and prepare for the day. "Master, when are we going to set out?" Xiao Yan asked curiously after he was done washing up. "Later, you should go out and prepare some things, fresh water, dried food, tents, insect repellent, basic medicinal herbs, and some healing and energy-recovery pills. These are all necessary for your journey, as we might be spending quite some time in the wilderness," the illusionary Medicine Elder advised. "Hehe, I''m really looking forward to it," Xaio Yan said excitedly. He was eager to embark on this journey. Seeing his enthusiasm, the Medicine Elder raised an eyebrow and said, "You''ve never experienced life and death battles since birth. Human potential often only fully emerges when one''s life is threatened. Your previous lukewarm training is unlikely to make you a true powerhouse. What you lack is the tempering of blood and iron." "I promise, Master, I''ll make it through," Xiao Yan responded, determination in his eyes. "Good, but, Master... when will you teach me the Earth-tier Dou Technique?" Xiao Yan asked eagerly, looking forward to learning such a powerful technique. The Medicine Elder laughed and told him that he''d teach him after leaving Wutan city. Xiao Yan was excited about the prospect. As Xiao Yan left the room, he looked back at the city he had lived in for more than a decade and sighed. However, he quickly shook off the melancholy and told himself that the outside world would be even more exciting. *** In the city of Stone Desert City, at the Iron Mercenary Group: "Great Master Gu, you''ve already prepared the Purple Jade Pill so quickly?" The Xiao brothers were surprised to see Gu He delivering the pill. Gu He smiled faintly and replied, "For a mere Grade 2 pill, do you think it would take several days to prepare?" Xiao Ding took the bottle from Gu He and thanked him. He then made an offer, suggesting they could provide more benefits to make Gu He stay in the Iron Mercenary Group. However, Gu He waved it off and said that Xiao Ding and his brothers wouldn''t be able to retain him. He was reluctant to stay. After leaving the mercenary group, Gu He summoned his adorable companion, the little green python, and prepared to set out. In the scorching desert under the blazing sun, the towering sand dunes stretched out endlessly. Hot air wafted from the yellow sands, distorting the landscape. With a leap, Gu He and his companion took off into the vast desert, disappearing in the distance. [End of Chapter] Chapter 126: Tension of the Snake-People Tribe Chapter 126: Tension of the Snake-People Tribe In the clear sky, a colossal sun hung high above like a flaming sphere, releasing a continuous blaze of heat. The scorching sunlight spilled over the golden desert, baking the tiny grains of sand and making them glow like red-hot iron pellets. Within the desert, due to the intense temperatures, wisps of hot air rose from the golden sand, creating a somewhat distorted and surreal space. In the void, a massive golden figure broke through the air. Sitting atop the Golden Feathered Giant Eagle, Gu He looked down at the changing scenery below. He then retrieved a parchment from his spatial ring and carefully studied the route indicated on it. "According to the route shown here, it seems we are gradually approaching the depths of the Tagor Desert," he muttered with slightly dry lips, his finger tracing the path on the map. "The Tagor Desert is incredibly vast. Even with Little Gold''s speed, it took us three days to reach its deep parts," Gu He thought to himself.Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com After departing from Stone Desert City, Gu He followed the route on the map toward the deep parts of the Tagor Desert. Given the unpredictable weather conditions of the desert and the limitations of Little Gold''s endurance for long flights, Gu He had to be cautious and choose relatively safe routes. Although the desert harbored various beasts hidden beneath the sands and the ever-threatening snake-people, for someone with the strength of a Battle Saint like Gu He, these threats weren''t insurmountable. If they encountered any trouble, Gu He would not hesitate to use his powerful abilities to eliminate the danger. Guided by the map provided by Haibodong and accompanied by his two young companions, Little Gold and Qingling, Gu He reached the deep parts of the Tagor Desert after three days of travel. Currently, Qingling sat behind Gu He, clutching him tightly while Little Gold flew at great speed, creating a strong wind that could make one feel uneasy. Qingling, feeling scared, sought comfort by clinging to Gu He''s back. Observing Qingling''s unease, Gu He turned his head and asked Little Gold to reduce its speed a little. "Qingling, just a few more days, and we''ll be there soon," Gu He reassured her. Feeling his concern, Qingling nodded obediently and said softly, "Teacher, I''m fine..." *** In the depths of the Tagor Desert, various oases scattered throughout the vast landscape were guarded by snake-people tribes. In one such oasis, a group of snake-women stood guard at the end of a small path. Their sharp eyes scanned the surrounding jungle as they stood there with stern expressions, weapons at the ready, prepared to defend against any intruders. These snake-women, perhaps due to the desert environment, had dark-tanned skin. Their slightly exotic appearance, combined with their unique diamond-shaped pupils, exuded a subtle charm. What made these snake-people renowned was their seductive and supple waists, entrancing many males in the human world. When snake-women slaves from the snake-people tribes performed exotic dances, the sight could leave even the most composed men blushing with embarrassment. Among these snake-women, four were powerful Great Dou Masters, and the rest were all Dou Masters. They guarded this location, seemingly on high alert for something. Not far from them, at the center of the oasis, was a small lake, the primary source of water for this oasis. This lake was the core of the oasis, and ordinary snake-people didn''t have the privilege to bathe in it. The alluring snake-woman bathing in the lake at this moment was none other than the leader of the Enchanting Serpent Tribe, Yuemei. After a while, Yuemei finished her bath and slowly stood up, revealing her alluring and perfect body as she prepared to step out of the water. At that moment, Yuemei sensed something, and her gaze shot to the sky. She couldn''t help but inhale sharply as her sharp gaze scanned the sky. In the sky, a massive golden avian creature was speeding across the sky, and a terrifying pressure swept down with it. Feeling this pressure, Yuemei''s pupils contracted. This level of pressure was something she had only felt from one person: the Queen of the Snake-People Tribe. "Could it be... this is a Sixth-Rank peak strength magical beast?" "What is that?" "A human?" Suddenly, Yuemei''s pupils contracted sharply. She stared intently at the back of the golden avian creature. The leader snorted, looking towards the vast, uninhabited desert, shook his head with a helpless expression, waved his hand, and ordered, "Let''s go, let''s change our location. It seems there are no traces of the enemy here." With the order from the snake-people leader, the snake-people squad soon moved to another search location, leaving behind a vast expanse of empty desert. At the same time, outside the Medusa Temple, in the distant horizon, after a while, a black dot suddenly appeared on the edge of the sky. In the blink of an eye, it broke the sound barrier and shot towards the massive city. Just as the black figure was about to arrive a hundred meters from the city, it abruptly stopped in mid-air. A slightly chilling voice echoed, "Leader Mobas of the Ink Serpent Tribe, seeks an audience with Her Majesty the Queen!" As soon as the echoing voice, like thunder rolling in the vast desert, resonated, a snake-person leader''s eyelids twitched. Unexpectedly, it was a leader from one of the eight major snake-people tribes. In a spacious and luxurious hall, a graceful figure leaned back slightly, appearing somewhat weary. Her lazy gaze occasionally swept over the purple crystal throne on the elevated platform and she couldn''t help but shake her head in resignation. Running her fingers through her smooth forehead, a sudden look of joy appeared on the woman''s beautiful face. She looked out of the hall, and a dark shadow suddenly streaked in like lightning. "They''ve finally arrived..." Seeing the dark figure entering the hall, the woman couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. "Yuemei, what''s happening? Three consecutive lockdown orders? Are the invaders powerful?" The figure entering the hall was clearly a male snake-person, slightly robust in build. He casually draped a thin garment over his body, and his arms were adorned with unusual black tattoos. When the tattoos reached his palms, two fierce black snake heads were revealed, as if ready to burst out at any moment, exuding a hint of ferocity. Glancing at the male snake-person who held a position within the tribe similar to her own, Yuemei sighed softly, slightly straightening her posture. Her voluptuous figure was emphasized, and she lazily said, "Very powerful... I already saw them yesterday. With their speed, they should have already arrived at the temple, but I don''t understand why they haven''t shown themselves yet." "Oh? Do you know the exact strength of the enemy?" The male snake-person''s pupils contracted slightly as he entered the hall and sat down at the spacious table. His voice carried an unmistakable chill. "At least Nine-Star Dou Emperor strength, and there''s also a magical beast with a Sixth-Rank peak power." Yuemei pouted her sensual red lips and said softly, "Mobas, it seems that this time might be a bit troublesome." "What?" "Nine-Star Dou Emperor strength?" "And a Sixth-Rank peak magical beast?" His face showed a hint of seriousness, and the male snake-person named Mobas asked in a low voice, "Have you informed Her Majesty? What did she say?" At these words, Yuemei''s lips parted slightly, and her expression grew increasingly solemn. "Her Majesty said that this might be a battle for the survival of our snake-people. She has already gone to the forbidden land and notified the Four Elders." "What!" "Even the Four Elders have been summoned!" At these words, Mobas'' eyes darkened with a hint of shock. The Four Elders were all powerful individuals who had long entered the Nine-Star Dou Emperor realm. According to the snake-people''s tribal customs, they would not act unless it was a matter of life and death for the snake-people. Now, Her Majesty had decided to call upon the Four Elders. It meant... This enemy was truly formidable! Damn it! Mobas'' expression became extremely gloomy. Who on earth are they? When did such an existence appear in the human kingdom? Mobas looked at Yuemei in front of him and asked in confusion, "Since you''ve seen them, do you know their intentions? Why are they invading our snake-people?" "You''re giving me too much credit," Yuemei responded, rolling her eyes. "Faced with such a presence, I dare only take a distant look. How could I dare to probe any further?" At her words, Yuemei curled up her flexible, alluring body in the chair, much like a languid and beautiful snake-woman. Frowning, Mobas suddenly stood up and said, "I want to meet Her Majesty; she should know something. I feel that we need to clarify this matter." "Don''t go. Her Majesty is not seeing anyone right now. Earlier, I didn''t even get to see her. All communication has been conveyed by the Medusa Snake Guards'' captain, Hua she''er." Yuemei said lightly. Chapter 127: Confrontation, Negotiation! Chapter 127: Confrontation, Negotiation! Chapter 127: Confrontation, Negotiation! Upon hearing Yuemei''s words, Mobas wore an unpleasant expression and said in a deep voice, "What is the Queen''s intention? It''s this critical moment, and she''s still not coming out to oversee the situation. Is she waiting for the enemy to come knocking?" Seeing Mobas'' displeasure, Yuemei casually toyed with her delicate hands and said nonchalantly, "Perhaps Her Majesty has her own plans?" Just as she was about to close her eyes, Yuemei''s countenance suddenly changed. She sat up abruptly, her long, slender eyes gazing coldly at the sky outside the hall as she said, "They''ve arrived!" Although she hadn''t seen the enemy yet, a powerful and unfamiliar aura had already descended upon the Medusa Temple. Hearing Yuemei''s words, Mobas, who was nearby, was momentarily startled but soon sensed it too. His face darkened immediately. He exchanged a glance with Yuemei, and the two of them instantly appeared outside the hall. They ascended into the sky at high speed and, after a while, arrived on the city walls, which were already under martial law. Sure enough, moments later, a few hundred meters outside the city walls in the sky, a gigantic magical beast floated. A figure calmly stood atop this magical beast, and a horrifying aura emanated from this figure. The man and the beast quickly approached. When Yuemei saw the appearance of the magical beast, her pupils constricted, and her face showed extreme shock. The creature was like a snake-like magical beast with twin horns, crimson in color, and it had a massive body. Countless fierce and sharp scales covered its body. When it moved, the space within several yards seemed to ripple. "How is this possible...?" Yuemei couldn''t believe her eyes. The creature she had seen yesterday was a massive, golden avian beast. How could a powerful dragon-like magical beast appear today, and this one seemed even more formidable and terrifying than the one from yesterday? The Snake Clan was really in trouble this time. Yuemei''s heart sank slowly. Beside her, Mobas examined the true appearance of the Red Flame Magic Jiao. He was filled with fear after sensing the terrifying aura emanating from it. He wondered if Her Majesty, the Queen, could truly deal with such an entity. But soon, a hint of fanaticism flashed in his eyes. Her Majesty was invincible! With her presence, the Snake Clan would undoubtedly be safe. In the distance, the man and the beast approached the city. After a while, they halted just outside the attack range of the spear-throwers stationed on the city walls. The Red Flame Magic Jiao couldn''t contain itself any longer. It roared, and its deafening cry resounded over the city. "Ants, how dare you disrespect the master!" The angry voice of the Red Flame Magic Jiao rang out. In its view, the man before it was only at the Dou Wang level, and it could easily swallow such a puny existence. The man''s words were clearly disrespectful to its master, which meant that he was also insulting the Red Flame Magic Jiao itself. Mobas'' face, as he felt the fierce aura emanating from the Red Flame Magic Jiao, turned extremely solemn. If he hadn''t known that Her Majesty was inside the temple, he would have likely fled in a panic when confronted with such a terrifying presence. "Enough, Magic Jiao, calm down." Seeing the now agitated Red Flame Magic Jiao, Gu He shook his head helplessly and waved his hand to halt its angry roar. Subsequently, Gu He''s gaze swept across the city and heaved a sigh. Then, he projected his powerful voice, carried by his fighting spirit, which echoed throughout the entire city. "Queen Medusa, I''ve come here not to wage war with your clan. I have some matters to discuss with you. May I request an audience with Her Majesty?" Witnessing Gu He''s actions, both Yuemei and Mobas furrowed their brows slightly, but they did not intervene. In this situation, it was indeed more appropriate for the Queen herself to handle it. With their strength, even if the other side wanted to use force, they would simply end up retreating. Confronted by Gu He and the Red Flame Magic Jiao, the two of them were under immense pressure. If the other party truly intended to strike, just one move could easily end them both. The resounding voice swept over the city for some time before gradually fading away. As the shouting subsided, there was silence both inside and outside the city walls. After a while, there was still no response. Seeing this, Gu He''s brows slightly furrowed. Just as he was about to call out again, the space in the high skies above the city walls suddenly twisted strangely. Secondly, Gu He thought of Qing Lin''s dream from the past, which was for the Snake-People Tribe and humans to stop fighting. If he battled the Snake-People Tribe today, they would undoubtedly suffer great losses, and in the future, they might even be wiped out by the surrounding human empires. If this happened, Qing Lin, that little girl, would probably be heartbroken, something Gu He didn''t want to see. After all, peaceful coexistence between the Snake-People Tribe and humans was the driving force behind that little girl''s growth. If there was no need, Gu He didn''t want to shatter her goal. Thirdly, Gu He didn''t want to completely expose his own strength. The northwest region had many experts from the Hall of Souls. If he revealed his full strength, he might attract the attention of the Hall of Souls. On the city wall, as Gu He spoke, Mobas widened his eyes and stared at Gu He with amazement. By his side, Yuemei also showed a shocked expression. They hadn''t expected the person before them to act so extravagantly because of a Heavenly Flame. A Dou Ancestor Pill! This was a high-grade elixir, a type of elixir that could make high-level Dou Huang experts envious. Its effect was simple but tantalizingit could potentially allow a Nine-Star Dou Huang expert who consumed it to have a chance to break through to the Dou Ancestor class in a short time. In other words, if a Nine-Star Dou Huang consumed a Dou Ancestor Pill, they might become a Dou Ancestor expert within a short period! It was worth noting that at the Nine-Star Dou Huang level, advancing further was extremely difficult. Many Nine-Star Dou Huang experts, after toiling in their cultivation for decades, still couldn''t make that breakthrough. This was a common occurrence. Even Queen Medusa had taken risks to use the Heavenly Flame because she had been stuck at the Nine-Star Dou Huang level for too long and couldn''t break through to the Dou Ancestor realm. This indicated just how precious Dou Ancestor Pills were! Of course, while Dou Ancestor Pills were highly coveted for their effects, they also had high resistance. Once someone took one, the effect of the second Dou Ancestor Pill on them would be nearly nullified. In other words, a Dou Huang expert could only take one Dou Ancestor Pill in their lifetime. Nevertheless, despite this limitation, Dou Ancestor Pills were still the most sought-after elixirs among the experts. Many were willing to pay a great price to obtain one. In comparison, the Rank 7 Transformation Pill was even more astounding. This elixir was enough to drive numerous magical beasts of the Dou Huang level crazy because it allowed them to completely shed their beast form, gaining the long lifespan of a magical beast along with the natural talent for cultivation of a human. When these two extraordinary effects combined, it might produce a legendary expert who could become a Dou Ancestor, or even a Dou Sheng! The two offerings made by Gu He had almost driven some people to madness. It was no wonder that Mobas and Yuemei, as well as those present, were somewhat incredulous. At this moment, above the city wall, Mobas and Yuemei seemed to have been shocked by the terms Gu He had offered. Their faces displayed astonishment, and they looked somewhat bewildered. As they turned their gaze toward Queen Medusa in the sky, Mobas slightly tightened his fist and whispered, "Your Majesty should agree to this, right?" Everyone present, including Yuemei, who shared the same thoughts as Mobas, focused their anxious gaze on Queen Medusa, awaiting her response. After all, if Queen Medusa agreed, today''s major battle might be avoided. Under the scrutiny of countless gazes, high in the sky, Queen Medusa remained silent for a long time. She sighed lightly, pursing her seductive red lips. Her beautiful eyes carried a hint of regret as she looked at Gu He. With some helplessness, she said, "I have to admit that your offer is tempting, but..." "Sorry, I still won''t make the exchange." Upon hearing Queen Medusa''s words, which represented a refusal, many people were left in astonishment. Although the power of the Heavenly Flame was immense, it seemed that this thing didn''t have much appeal to the Snake-People Tribe. After all, it was like water and fire when compared to their cold bloodline, and the two were fundamentally incompatible. Therefore, when they heard Queen Medusa''s somewhat regretful refusal, Gu He''s expression immediately turned cold. "What is Queen Medusa doing?... Keeping a Heavenly Flame that is of little use to herself? It would be better to exchange for something useful for herself, which would be a win-win." Yuemei shook her head in disbelief, murmuring softly with a hint of confusion. Beside her, Mobas also nodded slightly, his face showing concern and bitterness. After being briefly puzzled, it seemed they had realized what Queen Medusa intended to do. "Ah, it seems that Queen Medusa really wants to do that... otherwise, she wouldn''t have refused this exchange so resolutely," sighed Yuemei softly. Mobas nodded, his eagle-like face showing a hint of worry. On top of the Crimson Flame Black Jiao, upon hearing Queen Medusa''s refusal, Gu He sighed softly. It appeared that this battle could not be avoided. At the next moment, a terrifying aura emanated from Gu He, and his expression finally turned cold. He had made such a significant concession, but Queen Medusa seemed to have no regard for it. In that case, she had no one but herself to blame! "Queen Medusa, I hope you won''t regret your decision." Gu He raised his gaze, and his icy eyes radiated endless chilliness. Sensing the anger in her master''s heart, the Crimson Flame Black Jiao beneath Gu He also released a tremendous threat. A thunderous roar rang out through the entire Medusa Shrine. (End of this chapter) Chapter 128: The Great Battle, Overwhelming! Chapter 128: The Great Battle, Overwhelming! Chapter 128: The Great Battle, Overwhelming! Powerful and terrifying auras erupted from Gu He and the Crimson Flame Demon Dragon, completely enveloping the snake people on the city wall. Feeling this aura, Mobas and Yuemei on the city wall were horrified, and their bodies couldn''t help but tremble. Under this overwhelming pressure, they were horrified to find that they had no room for resistance. "Could this be... a Dou Ancestor powerhouse?" At this moment, even the usually calm and indifferent Queen Medusa had an incredibly solemn expression on her face. Although she had suspected it, feeling the violent pressure emanating from Gu He, she couldn''t help but waver in her heart, thinking, "Have I made a mistake..." But thinking about the benefits of evolving with the Heavenly Flame, as recorded in the ancient snake people''s scriptures, her cold eyes immediately showed a hint of determination. The Heavenly Flame must not be allowed to escape! In the next moment, Queen Medusa made a decision, and a clear and cold voice resounded in the sky above the Medusa Temple. "Please assist, four elders!" As Queen Medusa''s voice fell, the Medusa Temple suddenly erupted with four powerful auras, and then four shadows shot up into the sky and quickly landed in the empty space on the city wall. The four figures floated in the void and gradually revealed their appearances, showing four old faces. Seeing these four elders appear, Mobas and Yuemei on the city wall were slightly stunned, and then a look of ecstasy appeared on their faces. The four elders really took action! Perhaps, in this battle, the snake people might have a chance to win! Queen Medusa, upon seeing the four figures in the void, also revealed a smile. Obviously, the appearance of the four elders gave her a lot of confidence. When the four snake people elders appeared, Gu He also looked over. Sure enough, the strength of these four elders was at the pinnacle of the Nine-Star Dou Ancestor level. And from the powerful auras emanating from them, it was clear that they had been at this level for a long time. However, this was also their limit. Gu He could feel that the life force in the bodies of these four snake people elders was almost nearing exhaustion, and they probably wouldn''t live much longer. After this battle, the lives of these four elders would probably come to an end. At this moment, the middle-aged woman among the four elders slowly opened her eyes, and her diamond-shaped pupils, like venomous snakes, locked onto Gu He, sending a chill down his spine. As she opened her eyes, the other three old women also opened their eyes suddenly. The four cold auras rose and converged in mid-air, forming a pitch-black giant python. The emotionless eyes of the giant python locked onto Gu He, and an invisible pressure began to gather on Gu He''s body like a thousand pounds of force, steadily accumulating. Feeling the formidable pressure, Gu He''s expression gradually became serious. He let out a light shout, and a wisp of purple flame suddenly rose and enveloped his body. As soon as the purple flames appeared, the temperature in the void skyrocketed, and the cold aura generated by the four old women dissipated instantly. The pitch-black giant python was also affected and turned into nothingness. "This is... a Heavenly Flame!" Seeing the swirling purple flames around Gu He, the middle-aged woman among the elders displayed a hint of surprise in her cloudy eyes. She asked in a harsh voice, "Since you already possess a Heavenly Flame, why do you still covet our Queen''s Heavenly Flame?" Her voice was quite unpleasant, like the sound of a stone scraping against glass, making people feel uncomfortable. Of course, with Gu He''s strength, he could naturally filter out this feeling. To this question from the snake people elder, Gu He did not answer. The situation had already reached this point, and there was no need to answer anymore. Today, he was determined to obtain the Qinglian Heartfire. Gu He''s gaze swept over the four snake people elders and then looked at Queen Medusa. A cold smile appeared on his lips, "Queen Medusa, do you really think that these few old folks at death''s door can protect the Heavenly Flame in your hands?" Hearing the icy tone in Gu He''s words, Queen Medusa''s heart skipped a beat. Her red lips moved as she was about to speak, but one of the snake people elders angrily retorted. "Arrogant!" Among the four snake people elders, an old woman with vertical pupils stared at Gu He with a cold look in her eyes and a stern tone, "You are underestimating our snake people." Although the other three elders did not speak, their faces were ashen. Clearly, Gu He''s words had made them extremely angry. Gu He glanced at this snake people elder with indifference and said, "You rely on old age to sell your age!" In the next moment, Gu He''s figure suddenly disappeared on the body of the Crimson Flame Demon Dragon. Seeing Gu He''s figure suddenly disappear, the snake people elder''s eyelids twitched. The next moment, Gu He''s figure suddenly appeared in front of one of the snake people elders. With such a distance, Gu He used his Close-Range Teleportation, arriving almost in the blink of an eye. A palm imprint quickly formed in Gu He''s palm, and a terrifying force surrounded it. Then it struck heavily on the chest of the snake people elder. When the palm imprint was less than half a foot away from the chest of the snake people elder, a terrifying aura suddenly erupted. Under this aura, the air left a faint trace as it was torn apart, emitting a sharp, almost imperceptible sound, echoing in the ears. "Bang!" At this distance, even though the snake people elder reacted, there was no time to dodge, so she took Gu He''s blow head-on. The formidable force burst out from Gu He''s palm and caused a noticeable depression in the snake people elder''s chest. She staggered back several steps, her shoulders shuddering, and then she forcefully stabilized her posture. Puff! After the elderly figure finally stabilized, a mouthful of thick blood spurted out. "However, it''s merely an Earth-grade Low-Level Combat Skill." Following this, Gu He had a thought, and a series of mysterious hand seals were quickly formed in his hands. "Vermilion Bird Seal!" His hands moved, and a series of intricate seals emerged from Gu He''s hands. In an instant, dozens of these intricate seals converged between his fingers, forming a brilliant starry pattern in the void. Next, a resounding hissing sound rose from within the starry pattern. An elegant and enormous figure gradually appeared within it. The Vermilion Bird Illusion, covered in fiery red flames, exuded an extremely violent and scorching aura, spreading like a colossal beast that overshadowed the void, as if it could incinerate the entire world. As the hand seals of Gu He changed, the Vermilion Bird Illusion suspended in front of him suddenly erupted with a dazzling brilliance, shining like a radiant sun in the sky. "Go!" With a flick of his finger, Gu He shouted loudly! The moment he shouted, the Vermilion Bird Illusion that had been suspended in the void turned into a blurry streak of light, shooting out like lightning. Although the Vermilion Bird Illusion contained tremendous and formidable power, as it traversed through space, it did so in eerie silence. It didn''t create any energy ripples, and its silent approach sent chills down the hearts of onlookers. Atop the city wall, Medusa stared at the hasty streak of light flashing across the sky. Even though she hadn''t directly confronted Gu He, she could sense the terrifying energy within the Vermilion Bird Illusion. A hint of panic and unease flickered across her exquisite face, and her jade-like hands tightened. She knew that the four elders and the human in front of them had truly unleashed their finishing moves. The outcome of this battle might be determined very soon! Beside her, Moon Beauty and Mobas trembled, their palms wiping away the cold sweat on their foreheads. Even for those who were at the level of Emperor Rank, this overwhelmingly powerful and terrifying energy made them feel extremely small and fragile. This kind of power was far beyond their reach! The colossal cyan energy serpent, as it came into contact with the oncoming Vermilion Bird Illusion, started to disperse rapidly. Within the blink of an eye, the fierce giant serpent vanished from the sky, leaving only a slightly mournful hissing sound, echoing in the sky until it faded away. From the moment they first released their attack, they''d been mentally preparing for the worst. If they failed to defeat Gu He, it meant they would face annihilation. Then the Vermilion Bird Illusion burst out in a brilliant display of fiery light and heat, as it blazed toward the rapidly undulating colossal snake illusion in the sky. The size of the Vermilion Bird Illusion was almost negligible compared to the immense serpent. Their collision appeared like a bird crashing into a mountain, without causing the latter to tremble. However, one couldn''t judge everything solely by the difference in size. "Overestimating your abilities!" As the Vermilion Bird Illusion dove into the massive serpent, a cold and disdainful shout thundered through the heavens like lightning! Boom! The shout reverberated across the sky. Immediately after, a fiery explosion erupted above the gigantic snake illusion. This was followed by a deafening explosion that rocked the heavens! The explosive roar echoed through the sky. A terrifying energy storm surged from the point of collision between the Vermilion Bird Illusion and the giant serpent, then spread to a radius of hundreds of meters around! Under this dreadful energy storm, even the people present, including the snake people on the city wall, felt a sense of alarm. Some with less agility experienced piercing pain in their eardrums. The fiery red clouds that had once filled the sky reflected a crimson glow. The thick firestorm shrouded the sky above the Temple of Medusa. Even the sunlight dimmed, unable to penetrate the heavy veil of flames and clouds. The fiery waves and dense green energy mixed and swept across the sky. The undulating wave of energy resembled a surging tide as it spread in all directions. Terrifying flames swept over the area, causing distress even to the snake people who had managed to escape the path of the firestorm. Some more sluggish individuals were directly struck by the fiery waves and, with their chests feeling as if they''d been hit by a heavy hammer, spewed a mouthful of blood mixed with scorching heat, which evaporated instantly under the high-temperature fire waves. Even the sunlight that descended from the sky gradually dissipated under the influence of the fiery storm, and the countless flames seemed to engulf the entire sky, obscuring the Temple of Medusa. The snake people on the city wall were bewildered and silenced by this powerful energy. In the face of the overwhelming power, not even the Emperor Rank snake people were willing to confront it, instead quickly descending from the city wall to avoid being tainted by the fire waves, fearing a miserable end. Boom! The sound of an earth-shattering explosion thundered across the heavens as the relentless and intense fiery wave collided with the colossal green energy serpent. Amid the cacophony, a fearsome tornado of energy engulfed the surroundings, sweeping everything within a radius of hundreds of meters! Under the influence of the horrifying firestorm, everyone, even those on the city wall, was stunned. They wiped away cold sweat, and even the Emperor Rank snake people had a sense of their own insignificance and vulnerability in the face of this nearly god-like force. This level of power far exceeded their own! The colossal cyan energy serpent, as it first came into contact with the oncoming Vermilion Bird Illusion, started to disperse rapidly, as though a snowflake had met scorching heat. In the blink of an eye, the roaring giant serpent had abruptly vanished from the sky, leaving only a slightly mournful hissing sound that echoed in the sky until it too disappeared. In the aftermath of the explosion, as the monstrous fire wave swept in all directions, the snake people, even those on the city wall, were affected to some extent. Some of the more agile ones managed to evade the firestorm, but the less alert were directly struck by the fiery wave. Their chests felt as though they''d been hammered heavily, and they spat out a mouthful of crimson blood mixed with scorching heat, which rapidly evaporated in the high-temperature flames. Even the sunlight raining down from the sky gradually dissipated under the influence of the fiery storm, and the countless flames seemed to enshroud the entire sky, obscuring the Temple of Medusa. In the midst of the roaring firestorm, two figures remained motionless. In the aftermath of the explosion, the countless gazes watched the lingering fiery storm slowly disperse in the sky. After a prolonged silence, the firestorm began to gradually dissipate. However, the two figures inside still hadn''t moved. Without a word, they waited. The tension among the onlookers was palpable. Had the four elders and the human perished in the firestorm? After some time had passed, a sharp whistling sound suddenly pierced the sky. Subsequently, four figures shot out from the firestorm and fell to the ground. The abrupt appearance of these four figures immediately drew the attention of the onlookers. These four figures, however, seemed like birds with broken wings, falling helplessly towards the ground. Finally, in the midst of countless startled gazes, they landed heavily in the desert outside the city wall. At this moment, Medusa had already realized what was happening. Her eyes followed the four figures as they were ejected from the raging firestorm. Her pupils contracted slightly. The four elders had suffered another defeat! "Hmph!" Just as the snake people were in shock, a piercing sound of breaking wind echoed in the sky once again. Suddenly, the firestorm in the sky wriggled, and a white figure shot out from it. The Ice Armor outside the figure stood out conspicuously in the sky. "Queen Medusa, do you have any more cards to play?" In the void, Guhe descended slowly onto the Red Flame Magic Serpent. He then cast an icy gaze upon Queen Medusa, uttering indifferently, "Queen Medusa, I''ll give you one last chance. Surrender the Green Lotus Core Flame, or the snake people will have no reason to exist." Gu He''s voice was like a resounding divine decree, chilling to the bone. Upon hearing Gu He''s cold voice, Queen Medusa''s face turned pale, and she gritted her silver teeth, saying in a hoarse voice, "Alright, I can surrender the Green Lotus Core Flame, but you must promise not to harm the snake people anymore!" (End of this chapter) Chapter 129: Obtaining the Green Lotus Core Flame! Chapter 129: Obtaining the Green Lotus Core Flame! Chapter 129: Obtaining the Green Lotus Core Flame! "I only want the Green Lotus Core Flame." "As long as you hand over the Green Lotus Core Flame, I won''t harm your people." Perched atop the Crimson Flame Devouring Dragon, Gu He''s gaze turned toward Queen Medusa, his tone calm. Upon hearing this, Queen Medusa fell silent. She looked at the four elders who had fallen into unconsciousness beneath the city wall, her eyes filled with a complex expression. If she had known that things would come to this, she might as well have surrendered the Green Lotus Core Flame honestly. In that case, she could have at least obtained a Dou Ancestor Pill and a Transformation Pill. But now, with the four elders severely injured and near death, and many of her people suffering heavy casualties, it seemed that surrendering the Green Lotus Core Flame was the only choice. But it was truly a case of "losing the lady and the soldiers." Thinking of this, Queen Medusa revealed a bitter smile. "Yuemei, Morbas, look after the four elders," Queen Medusa turned to Yuemei and Morbas, the two leaders of the snake people, and spoke. Upon hearing her words, Yuemei and Morbas''s expressions became solemn. They looked at Queen Medusa, whose complexion had turned somewhat pale, and a hint of sadness flashed in their eyes. Then, they bowed and said, "We will follow the orders of Her Majesty the Queen." The next moment, two figures descended from the city wall and brought the four elders, who were unconscious and on the brink of life and death, into the Temple of Medusa. "Your Excellency, please follow me," Queen Medusa said to Gu He, giving him a cold look, and then she flew toward the Temple of Medusa. Watching Queen Medusa''s departure, Gu He let the Crimson Flame Devouring Dragon remain in place and then followed her. After a short while, a clear lake appeared in Gu He''s line of sight. In the center of the lake was a small island, surrounded by glistening water. There were no bridges leading to it. Queen Medusa stopped in front of the lake, waiting for Gu He to arrive. As soon as Gu He stepped onto the island, he sensed the presence of a barrier on the lake. When Gu He arrived, Queen Medusa cast several hand seals, breaking the barrier over the lake. An opening appeared in the barrier. "Your Excellency, please follow me," Queen Medusa said, giving Gu He a cold remark before heading toward the opening. Gu He hesitated for a moment, then followed her through the opening. After a while, Queen Medusa and Gu He landed on the small island in the center of the lake. Gu He turned around and looked at the island. It wasn''t very large, with lush bamboo groves and some flowers and plants. It had a vibrant and beautiful appearance. "The aura of the Green Lotus Core Flame..." The moment he set foot on the island, Gu He''s expression changed slightly. He sensed a familiar aura. This was the energy fluctuation of the Green Lotus Core Flame. It seemed that Queen Medusa had hidden the Green Lotus Core Flame on this small island. Walking on the path through the bamboo groves, the atmosphere was quiet. Besides the faint rustling of their footsteps on the leaves, there was no other sound. In fact, even without Queen Medusa guiding him, Gu He could have found the right path by relying on the faint and unique aura of the Green Lotus Core Flame in the air. With his steps neither hurried nor slow, he passed through several small paths and arrived at an open area. At the moment he reached the open space, Gu He''s body suddenly stopped. He fixed his gaze on a particular spot in the center of the island. This was a circular open area, surrounded by bamboo and flower beds that had been neatly cleared. Small, smooth stones were scattered around, forming a small pool. In the middle of the pool, crystal-clear water shimmered, and white mist floated above the surface. Even from a distance, Gu He could sense the extreme cold emanating from the water. "Ice Spirit Cold Spring..." As Gu He''s eyes stared at the crystal-clear water, he took a long, deep breath. The entire pool was filled with Ice Spirit Cold Spring. The Ice Spirit Cold Spring was extremely useful for refining the Green Lotus Core Flame. In the future, when Gu He passed on the Green Lotus Core Flame to his disciples, this Ice Spirit Cold Spring would be an essential component. This kind of rare item is usually only found in extremely cold or extremely hot regions and is extremely scarce and precious. Gu He recalled that in the original work, Xiao Yan had gone to great lengths to obtain a small bottle of Ice Spirit Cold Spring from Gu Te. But here, there was an entire pool of it. Queen Medusa''s actions were truly astonishing. After observing for a moment, the amazement in Gu He''s heart gradually subsided. His gaze finally settled on a lotus-shaped platform that was carved from a strange crystal. At this moment, a clump of blue flames was slowly rising on the lotus platform. Looking at the blue flames, Gu He''s pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinpricks. These blue flames were full of vitality. They occasionally formed into the shape of a lotus and sometimes turned into a small blue fire snake, floating and circling around the lotus platform, with a gentle and docile appearance, incredibly adorable. "I''ve finally found you!" ''What a proud woman,'' he thought. Nevertheless, since she had accepted his goodwill, Gu He''s feelings of remorse dissipated significantly. ''Farewell!'' Gu He said, bowing slightly to Queen Medusa before turning to leave the lake. He had already obtained the Heavenly Flame, and there was no need to stay any longer and risk wearing out his welcome. As Gu He was about to leave without hesitation, Queen Medusa''s face changed slightly. Then, she remembered something and, with her lips slightly parted, spoke in a cool tone, ''Wait!'' Hearing this, Gu He halted and turned to look at Queen Medusa, a bit puzzled. ''Your Majesty, do you have something else to discuss?'' Queen Medusa''s face briefly displayed a hint of hesitation. Her red lips moved, but in the end, she spoke, ''Could you lend me the Heavenly Flame for a period of time?'' Upon hearing this, Gu He furrowed his brows. Seeing Gu He''s puzzled expression, Queen Medusa inexplicably became angry. She snorted and said in a resentful tone, ''This Heavenly Flame is something I obtained through life and death struggles. It''s unreasonable to refuse a short-term loan, isn''t it?'' ''''Does Your Majesty intend to attempt that method?'''' Gu He looked at Queen Medusa, speaking calmly. ''''Actually, if Your Majesty wishes to break through, I can refine a Profound Martial Pill for you, and there''s no need to take such a risk.'' After hearing Gu He''s words, Queen Medusa''s expression changed slightly. Her beautiful eyes turned colder, and she asked in a cold tone, "What do you know?" Gu He didn''t beat around the bush and explained, "I once read in an ancient text that when the Queen of the Snake People reaches the peak of the Dou Huang level and has sufficient opportunities, there is a chance for a unique evolution. After this evolution, the Queen, besides being able to transform into a human form at will, will also advance as a Dou Ancestor expert in a seamless manner. However, the success rate for such evolution seems to be quite low, and most importantly, what''s required for this kind of evolution is a Heavenly Flame." ''I assume Your Majesty doesn''t want to exchange the Heavenly Flame because you intend to use it for such an evolution?'' Gu He finished speaking and looked at Queen Medusa with a confident expression. After listening to Gu He, Queen Medusa''s expression changed slightly. Her lips moved, wanting to say something, but she ultimately fell silent, which could be considered an acknowledgment of Gu He''s words. After a moment of hesitation, Queen Medusa raised her head and looked at Gu He again. In a dispassionate tone, she said, "Would you be willing to lend me the Heavenly Flame?" Thinking about her hard-earned Heavenly Flame that she was now asking to ''borrow,'' Queen Medusa felt a deep sense of frustration. Upon hearing her request, Gu He understood that she was determined to take this path. Even though, in the original story, Queen Medusa eventually succeeded, the process of tempering the body with a Heavenly Flame was filled with many uncertainties. A slight misstep could result in life-threatening danger or even total annihilation. With a slight sigh, Gu He glanced at the cold and indifferent Queen Medusa. After some hesitation, he spoke, "Your Majesty, if you wish to borrow the Heavenly Flame, it''s possible, but I have a few small conditions I hope you will agree to." ''You have conditions?'' Queen Medusa furrowed her dark eyebrows upon hearing this, appearing quite dissatisfied. In her opinion, the Heavenly Flame was originally hers, and now that she was only asking for temporary use, this guy had the audacity to set conditions. It was truly outrageous! According to her usual temper, she might have already been furious and vented her dissatisfaction. But thinking about the terrifying strength of this human man before her, Queen Medusa could only suppress her anger and grit her teeth as she said, "What are your conditions?" Gu He didn''t beat around the bush and directly presented three conditions. First, the Half-Pond Ice Spirit Cold Spring. Second, the cultivation technique Queen Medusa practiced. Third, the Sand Manjushri. The first requirement was the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, which Gu He had long coveted. Since he was uncertain how to bring it up, now that Queen Medusa had a request, he naturally wouldn''t miss this opportunity. As for the cultivation technique that Queen Medusa practiced, Gu He wanted it for the Little Blue Dragon. Though the Little Blue Dragon''s current cultivation was still at the Dou Qi stage, with the added boost of the azure lotus, and with the assistance of Gu He''s spirit liquid, it wouldn''t be long before she broke through to the Dou Zhe level. Once she reached the Dou Zhe level, further advancement in her cultivation would require a proper cultivation technique. However, the Little Blue Dragon had the bloodline of the Snake People, and Gu He didn''t possess a suitable cultivation technique for her. Therefore, he shifted his attention to Queen Medusa. Queen Medusa, as the Queen of the Snake People, undoubtedly practiced an extraordinary cultivation technique, which was likely suitable for someone with the Snake People''s bloodline like the Little Blue Dragon. The last condition, the Sand Manjushri, was meant for Gu He to find for Hai Bodong. It was the final ingredient needed to refine the Breaking Earth Pill. Queen Medusa hesitated for a moment upon hearing Gu He''s first and third conditions but readily agreed to them. The Ice Spirit Cold Spring wasn''t considered a valuable treasure to her. As for the Sand Manjushri, it was rarer than the Ice Spirit Cold Spring but wasn''t something she cared about. ''''What do you need my cultivation technique for?'''' Queen Medusa asked Gu He, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. Regarding Gu He''s second condition, Queen Medusa was quite puzzled. After all, the cultivation technique she practiced was only suitable for those with the bloodline of the Snake People. What use did this human have for it? ''''To be honest, I have a disciple who possesses the bloodline of both humans and the Snake People. In order to facilitate her future cultivation, I can only borrow Your Majesty''s cultivation technique for her.'''' Gu He didn''t hide anything and explained in a plain manner. (End of this chapter) Chapter 130: Farewell To Hai Bo Dong Chapter 130: Farewell To Hai Bo Dong "What do you mean by the bloodline left by the Snake People and humans?" Gu He''s question left Queen Medusa momentarily stunned. She quickly pieced it together, and a complex expression flashed in her beautiful eyes as she fell silent. As the Queen of the Snake People, she naturally understood the history of animosity between the Snake People and humans. Humans liked to capture Snake People women to amuse the nobility. Likewise, many Snake People enjoyed playing with humans, regardless of gender. To her knowledge, the leader of her Charmserpent Tribe, Yuemei, enjoyed capturing strong human men for her own amusement. Near the Tagore Desert, there were often incidents of human women being abused by the Snake People. According to common sense, relationships between Snake People and humans usually didn''t result in pregnancies. However, nothing is absolute, and there was an exceedingly rare chance that women who had relationships with Snake People could become pregnant and give birth to children... Evidently, the "disciple" Gu He mentioned was the result of the bloodline left by the union of a Snake Person and a human. The enmity between humans and the Snake People had become ingrained in their bloodlines, making them incompatible. However, the bloodlines left by both were innocent. Queen Medusa naturally felt some compassion for these children who also possessed the Snake People''s bloodline. After a long pause, Queen Medusa raised her head, seemingly having made a decision, and looked at Gu He. She said, "I can give you the cultivation technique, but I must meet your disciple." Only those with the bloodline of the Snake People could practice Snake People''s cultivation techniques. Queen Medusa wasn''t concerned about Gu He using the technique. However, she was curious about Gu He''s disciple. After all, why would a powerhouse like Gu He take a human with the Snake People''s bloodline as a disciple? Queen Medusa wanted to see for herself what made this human with the Snake People''s bloodline special. "You want to meet my disciple?" Gu He was somewhat surprised at Queen Medusa''s request. After hesitating for a moment, Gu He slowly nodded and said, "Then please prepare the Sand Mandala and the cultivation technique. Tomorrow, I will bring my disciple here." Upon hearing this, Queen Medusa nodded slightly. With Queen Medusa''s approval, Gu He didn''t hold back. He went directly to the Half-Pond Ice Spirit Cold Spring, which he had coveted for a long time, and placed half of it into his system space. After completing all these tasks, Gu He left the Temple of Medusa without any hesitation. He rode the Scarlet Flame Magic Jiao to depart the city walls'' vicinity. About 3,000 meters away from the Temple of Medusa, in a flat desert area, Qingling sat dumbfounded on the back of the Golden-Winged Giant Condor, looking worriedly in the direction of the Temple of Medusa. She remembered that was the direction her teacher had left. "Will my teacher be okay..." With her emerald green eyes fixed on the distance, Qingling''s gaze was filled with concern. Not long ago, she had sensed a powerful energy fluctuation coming from that direction, triggered by the energy of her own bloodline. Gu He had left in that direction, which made Qingling worry that the powerful energy fluctuation was related to her teacher. "Little Gold, should we go look for my teacher?" Qingling gently stroked the golden feathers on the back of the Golden-Winged Giant Eagle and made a quiet suggestion. Hearing this, a young voice replied, "Don''t worry; Master will be fine." Evidently, Little Gold was quite confident in her Master''s strength. "Just a bunch of Snake People, they can''t hurt Master. Besides, there''s the Crimson Flame Devouring Dragon with him." Thinking about how her Master had taken the Scarlet Flame Magic Jiao and left her behind, Little Gold couldn''t help but feel a bit hurt. After all, she had arrived first. Why should her Master take that ugly guy with him? "Hmph! It''s just a little stronger than me." Little Gold grumbled, "Once I reach the Seventh Rank, Master will definitely like me again." At that moment, Little Gold seemed to sense something. His golden eyes looked into the distance. There, a colossal figure was rapidly flying towards them. ... Next day. Gu He rode on a Golden Feather Giant Eagle and, accompanied by Qing Lin, arrived at the Temple of Medusa. When Gu He appeared outside the city walls, a mesmerizing figure descended from the walls. It was the leader of the Charm Snake Tribe, Yue? Me?i. Clearly, Queen Medusa had already given orders for Yue? Me?i to wait there. Yue? Me?i''s beautiful eyes looked at the Golden Feather Giant Eagle in front of her, and she immediately remembered the scene she had witnessed that day when bathing in the lake. Her heart shivered. Another Peak 6th Rank magical beast! Yue? Me?i glanced at Gu He, who was on the back of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle, and her eyes showed a hint of fear. This human man was truly terrifying! Even with his pets, the entire Snake People Tribe might not be able to handle him. Yue? Me?i suppressed her emotional fluctuations and looked at Gu He, speaking cautiously, "Sir, the queen requests your presence!" Upon hearing this, Gu He nodded slightly. Beside them, Qing Lin looked at the snake tail beneath Yue? Me?i, its eyes showing a complex mixture of fear and a hint of closeness. Gu He left Little Gold waiting outside and then followed Yue? Me?i into the Temple of Medusa. After a while, led by Yue? Me?i, Gu He and Qing Lin arrived in a spacious hall. Gu He scanned the area and saw that Queen Medusa had been waiting in the hall. Yue? Me?i entered the hall and respectfully addressed Queen Medusa, "Your Majesty, the person has arrived." In response, Queen Medusa''s cold voice rang out, "You may leave for now." Hai Bodong put down the brush in his hand and looked Gu He up and down, his eyes filled with excitement. With a slight smile, Gu He extended his hand toward Hai Bodong and said, "Old Hai, I''ve brought back the things for you. As for the final piece of the map, I think it''s time you gave it to me as well." "Um..." Hearing this, Hai Bodong gave a wry smile and rubbed his hands, saying, "Gu He, we made a deal back then. As long as you help me refine the unsealing elixir, I promised to give you the last piece of the map. Besides, I''ll owe you a favor." "Very well..." Gu He''s gaze rested on Hai Bodong for a moment, and when he noticed Hai Bodong''s slight discomfort, he nodded indifferently and withdrew his hand, smiling as he said, "I hope you won''t come up with any other excuses after you receive the elixir." Gu He didn''t mind Hai Bodong''s little schemes. Even if Hai Bodong had fully recovered his strength, he was no match for Gu He. There was no need to fear that he would renege on his promise. "Hehe, what are you talking about, my friend? My promise is as good as gold!" Hai Bodong laughed and shook his head, patting his chest and vowing, "As long as you can refine the elixir I need, I absolutely won''t go back on my word!" "Hehe, that''s the best." Gu He nodded with a smile, then looked at Hai Bodong and said softly, "Shall we get to work now?" "Now?" Hai Bodong was a little surprised but quickly nodded. "Sure, please follow me!" With that, he quickly pushed open a counter and led Gu He into the back room. Gu He turned to Qing Lin and said gently, "Wait for me outside." At this moment, Hai Bodong finally noticed Qing Lin and asked in surprise, "Who is this young lady?" Gu He casually said, "This is my new disciple." "New disciple?" Hai Bodong was somewhat astonished and looked at Qing Lin with a hint of curiosity! For someone to be accepted as a disciple by Dan King Gu He, this young girl must have something extraordinary about her, right? Gu He urged, "Old Hai, let''s get to alchemy." Hai Bodong came back to his senses and said, "Of course, please follow me!" Then the two of them entered the room, and Gu He looked at Qing Lin, saying gently, "Wait outside for me." He asked Hai Bodong about a pill recipe and materials, then said with a smile, "Sometimes, I find you alchemists quite enviable... Ah, this elixir for unsealing is something I had to go through great lengths to obtain, and now, you''re going to make me change its name." Hearing this, Hai Bodong was taken aback for a moment, and then he reluctantly took out various alchemical materials from his spatial ring. He held a slightly yellowed, ancient sheepskin parchment in his hand. The pain on his face was genuine. He didn''t pretend it. For this recipe, he didn''t know how much effort he had put in. With a smiling face, Gu He took the aged recipe that Hai Bodong handed over. He glanced at it, and the smile on his face became even brighter. "The ''Eradicate Calamity Pill''," three faint black characters, slightly blurred, were drawn on the ancient parchment, giving off a touch of ancient aura. With a smile in his eyes, Gu He slowly scanned the parchment. When his gaze fell upon the recorded effects of the pill, the smile on his face became even more profound. "It''s a sixth-grade pill with the remarkable ability to break most seals. After taking it, it can also create resistance against this kind of seal within the body. In the future, if you encounter this kind of seal again, you''ll have a chance to avoid it." "Tsk tsk, this is really something." Gu He examined the ancient parchment with great interest. The pill not only had the power to break seals but also granted resistance to previously encountered seals. This feature alone made it an outstanding pill, aside from its reputation as a sixth-grade pill. "Of course, it''s good. Back then, to get this recipe, the price I paid was something that still pains me when I think about it..." Gu He''s words made the corner of his mouth twitch, and after a while, he sighed. "Hehe, no matter the price, compared to restoring your Dou Huang strength, it''s almost negligible." Gu He comforted him. Then, right in front of Hai Bodong, he casually put the ancient recipe into his storage ring. In the world of alchemy, there were some unwritten rules. If someone wanted an alchemist to help them refine a relatively unconventional pill, they needed to provide the recipe and the ingredients. Moreover, the alchemist had the right to do whatever they pleased with the recipe, even if they wanted to keep it for themselves. Making a recipe wasn''t as simple as jotting down a few notes; alchemists used their soul''s energy as ink and their soul as a guide to create a proper recipe. When using a recipe, alchemists needed to enter the recipe with their soul''s energy to access the essential data, such as the required amounts of ingredients and the ideal temperature, all of which were essential for refining the pill. These aspects were crucial in alchemy, and without them, no matter how talented the alchemist was, they would have to rely on trial and error, which could lead to the destruction of valuable ingredients. Hence, anyone who provided a recipe was also aware that it might be kept by the alchemist. "Smiling gently as he accepted the ''Eradicate Calamity Pill'' recipe, Gu He turned his gaze toward the large pile of medicinal herbs on the table. These herbs were all rare and valuable items. Some of them, if put up for auction, could fetch no less than fifty thousand gold coins. However, even with their significant worth, they were not available for sale. After all, anyone with some knowledge would never put these rare herbs up for auction, as they might come in handy when meeting an alchemist in need of such materials. It would be a highly profitable trade. Perhaps fearing the risk of failure, Hai Bodong had mostly prepared multiple sets of each herb, neatly arranged on the table. After carefully inspecting all the herbs and confirming that nothing was missing, Gu He nodded slightly and looked up at Hai Bodong, who was watching him attentively. With a smile, he said, "Hai Elder, I''m sure you''re aware that there''s a certain degree of uncertainty in alchemical processes. Although I have confidence in refining this sixth-grade pill, I can''t guarantee it 100%. Therefore, if there are any unexpected circumstances leading to a failure, the responsibility..." Gu He said these words not because he lacked confidence. The ''Eradicate Calamity Pill'' was, in fact, relatively easy for him to refine given his current alchemical skills. He just needed an excuse to take the remaining herbs for himself. "I understand. You don''t have to take responsibility. Alchemists are all like this. If you fail, how can I force you to stay?" Hai Bodong waved his hand with a wry smile. "Hehe, Hai Elder, I appreciate your understanding. In that case, can you prepare a quiet room for me? During the time I''m inside, no one should disturb me, including yourself." Gu He gently collected the herbs into his spatial ring and asked with a smile. "Sure." Nodding, Hai Bodong led Gu He to a quiet room. After entering the room, Gu He inspected it and nodded with a smile. "Gu He, is this room suitable for you?" Hai Bodong asked with a smile. Gu He nodded and then said, "In that case, please let me refine the pill here. I''ll guard the entrance, and you can be assured that I won''t be disturbed." "Alright." Gu He responded with a smile and watched as Hai Bodong left the room. He then closed the door and released the Dragon Soul Cauldron, preparing to begin the alchemical process. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Dear Readers, The first three chapters of our story are now available for you to dive into. We can''t wait for you to start this journey with us. And there''s more to look forward to - the remaining five chapters will be posted this evening. So, get ready for a full day of adventure and discovery. Enjoy the read, and stay tuned for the rest! Chapter 131: The Recovery of Hai Bo Dong’s Strength! Chapter 131: The Recovery of Hai Bo Dongs Strength! Chapter 131: The Recovery of Hai Bo Dong''s Strength! In the room, Gu He took out all the medicinal herbs prepared by Hai Bo Dong and arranged them on the table one by one. His gaze slowly swept over the ten or so pure white jade boxes in front of him. Gu He took a deep breath, suppressed his inner turmoil, flicked his fingers, and the massive "Dragon Soul Cauldron" appeared out of thin air. It descended heavily to the ground, accompanied by a low dragon''s roar. Squinting his eyes, Gu He''s mind flashed with the process of refining the "Zong Breakthrough Pill" and the various things to be aware of. After a while, he suddenly opened his eyes. In his dark eyes, purple flames surged. Puff! With a subtle sound, a wisp of purple flame shot out from between Gu He''s fingers, then he flicked his fingertip, and the flame turned into a streak of light, lightning-fast, and darted into the cauldron. As soon as the flame entered the cauldron, the small body expanded rapidly. In just an instant, the small flame turned into a blazing fire, burning wildly inside the cauldron. As the purple flames rose, the dragon pattern on the surface of the "Dragon Soul Cauldron" seemed to come to life, emitting dazzling golden radiance. Boom! After a moment, Gu He methodically completed all the steps of alchemy, perfect and smooth. In the tidy room, the golden cauldron rotated slowly in mid-air, and the purple flames within it churned violently. As the cauldron rotated, the surrounding space emitted continuous ripples of subtle energy waves. These energy ripples, centered on the cauldron, formed circular shapes and gradually spread in all directions. Just as they were about to touch the walls, they quietly dissipated. As time passed, inside the cauldron with its turbulent flames, a small lavender pill prototype gradually took shape in the fire''s refining process. At a certain moment, a deep purple pill fragrance suddenly emanated from the cauldron, filling the room and lingering for a long time. "Not bad, very smooth," Gu He said, smelling the lavender scent, with a smile on his lips. The pill fragrance indicated that the high-level pill was about to take shape. "Although the effect of this Zong Breakthrough Pill is somewhat peculiar, the difficulty of refining it is not too high, and with the assistance of the Dragon Soul Cauldron, it has saved at least half of the refining time." Looking at the purple pill floating in the cauldron, Gu He nodded slightly. After a brief silence, he waved his hand, and the purple flame in the cauldron suddenly surged. In an instant, it completely enveloped the lavender pill prototype, beginning the final round of intense incineration. The purple flame only ascended for a blink of an eye before quickly subsiding. With the extinguishing of the flame, a thumb-sized, lightly purple, and glossy pill appeared, spinning within the cauldron.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com At the moment when the lavender pill appeared, a fierce energy ripple surged out from within the pill, and as it passed through the Dragon Soul Cauldron, it intercepted some of it. Nevertheless, the rest of it still penetrated and rushed in all directions. If left unchecked, this room would collapse immediately. Casually glancing at the rapidly spreading energy ripple, Gu He waved his hand, and an invisible soul energy instantly formed a transparent energy shield within the room. When the energy ripple touched the soul shield, they collided. Immediately, the invisible energy shield seemed to be a lake when a large stone was dropped into it, causing wave after wave of energy ripples to emerge. The ripples gradually transformed from intense to subtle and, after a while, completely dissipated. After the final energy ripple dissipated, Gu He removed the soul shield and waved his hand toward the Dragon Soul Cauldron. The lavender pill was expelled from the cauldron and obediently landed in Gu He''s palm. Holding the lavender pill, Gu He examined it closely and nodded with faint approval. The pill was light purple in color, perfectly round, and had a subtle sheen. Moreover, there seemed to be intricate, non-man-made patterns on the pill''s surface, winding and curling like a mysterious and unique design. Upon close inspection of the Zong Breakthrough Pill, Gu He could vaguely feel the unusual power contained within it, which was the main component for breaking seals. Satisfied, he nodded and then took out a quality jade bottle from his storage ring and carefully placed the Zong Breakthrough Pill inside. After completing these tasks, Gu He looked at the remaining precious medicinal herbs that Hai Bo Dong had worked hard to gather. A faint smile crept onto his lips as he unceremoniously put all these valuable herbs into his storage ring. "Hehe, let''s consider these herbs as an extra reward for my alchemy efforts." The medicinal herbs prepared by Hai Bo Dong would be worth at least a million gold coins if auctioned, and some of them couldn''t even be bought with money. Gu He had no intention of returning these herbs to Hai Bo Dong. "Finally, it''s done..." After storing all the herbs in his storage ring, Gu He patted it with satisfaction. Then, he placed the Dragon Soul Cauldron in his storage ring, tossed the jade bottle aside, adjusted his clothes, and walked out of the room. ... Above the dimly lit corridor, Hai Bo Dong leaned against the wall. His elderly face appeared calm, but his fingers continuously tapping the wall revealed his inner tension and restlessness. As he felt time slowly passing, Hai Bo Dong turned to look at the tightly closed room at the end of the corridor. He couldn''t help but furrow his brow. After a moment, he sighed and realized that the materials for refining the Zong Breakthrough Pillwere not easy to find. It had taken him nearly several years to gather all these medicinal herbs. If Gu He failed in his alchemical endeavor, it would likely delay his wish to regain his strength. Rubbing his hands together, Hai Bo Dong''s normally calm face began to show traces of worry. He murmured softly, "Could it have failed? Ah, it seems I may have been a bit reckless." The Zong Breakthrough Pill was a rare medicinal pill and much more challenging to refine compared to typical sixth-grade pills. Gu He, as a newly promoted sixth-grade alchemist, shouldn''t have a high success rate in refining it. With a heavy thud, Hai Bo Dong''s fist collided with his palm, and his expression changed. After a moment, he shook his head in disappointment and sighed, "At this point, all I can do is hope that Gu He can bring some miracles, considering he possesses that extremely terrifying Heavenly Flame.." Although the corridor wasn''t very long, its winding path was somewhat unexpected. As they closely followed Hai Bo Dong through several turns, the monotonous surroundings began to create a slightly fatiguing sensation. However, Gu He''s strong mental composure kept him from feeling unbearable. He only felt a bit stifled. The corridor had dim lighting, with a dimly glowing lantern placed every dozen meters. In this subdued environment, both of them maintained silence. The only sound was the faint echo of their footsteps as they walked down the long corridor. After a while, it started to give off an eerie feeling. Although the corridor appeared straight, Gu He could sense that they were descending. After walking for nearly twenty minutes in this stifling atmosphere, Hai Bo Dong suddenly stopped and turned to Gu He, smiling as he said, "We''re here." Looking past Hai Bo Dong, Gu He swept his gaze ahead. Under the faint glow of the lanterns, he saw a thick iron door at the end of his line of sight. The door was dark and foreboding, giving off a sense of heaviness. As he gazed at the iron door, Hai Bo Dong''s footsteps quickened noticeably. After a moment, he reached the door and manipulated a black iron lion head in front of it. With a creaking sound, the door slowly opened, and a bright light shone through. In the cold underground chamber, as Hai Bo Dong gradually entered a state of cultivation, the atmosphere became increasingly silent. The quiet atmosphere persisted for nearly half an hour, only to be shattered by a fierce energy ripple. On the icy platform, Hai Bo Dong, who had been silent, suddenly began to shake violently. Ferocious energy ripples rapidly spread from his body, causing the surrounding tables and ice pillars to shatter. Observing the swiftly approaching energy ripples, Gu He''s thoughts shifted. He summoned a purple-flamed Qi energy shield, which quickly appeared on the surface of his body. The scorching purple flames incinerated the spreading energy ripples, turning them into nothingness. Hai Bo Dong, on the ice platform, seemed unaware of the destruction he caused. His body trembled violently for a moment, and then, on his aged face, an eerie dark energy rapidly gathered on his forehead. After a moment, a faintly glowing serpent pattern of dark energy formed on his forehead. This pattern coiled above Hai Bo Dong''s forehead, sealing the surging Qi energy within him. At the instant when the serpent pattern appeared, the faint purple energy around Hai Bo Dong''s neck began to coil slowly, and within the blink of an eye, it made contact with the eerie dark energy serpent. The collision of these two intense energy sources had caused the previous waves of energy ripples. The purple energy and the dark green serpent pattern on Hai Bo Dong''s forehead continued to confront each other, with the dim light emanating from both creating a strange appearance on his face. The intense pain generated by the struggle of these two energy sources in such a vital part of his brain made Hai Bo Dong''s face slightly contorted. It gave him a somewhat sinister and grotesque appearance. Gu He raised his head, his gaze firmly fixed on Hai Bo Dong''s face, which was radiating two colors of light. He couldn''t help but feel a sense of amazement. Queen Medusa''s sealing technique was indeed bizarre. Without a fortunate encounter with the Zong Breakthrough Pill, Hai Bo Dong might never have had a chance to turn his life around. As the time of the confrontation between the purple and dark green energies stretched to nearly half an hour, the eerie dark serpent pattern began to slightly fade. It seemed that this so-called Zong Breakthrough Pill did have a remarkable effect in countering such a seal. "The effect of this Zong Breakthrough Pill is quite impressive. If I get a chance in the future, I should prepare some for the little fellows. After all, it''s good to have a backup in case someone decides to seal them someday." Watching the serpent pattern slowly dim in the purple light, Gu He''s eyes brightened, and he chuckled. Taking advantage of the counteractive effect of the purple energy, it gradually displaced the serpent pattern''s hold on Hai Bo Dong''s forehead. As it slowly pushed the latter out, the purple energy suddenly surged, and a powerful aura, like a roused lion, erupted from Hai Bo Dong''s body. Under the impact of this intense aura, the ice crystals in the underground chamber began to crack. "Haha, that damn seal is finally gone! I''ve become a Dou Huang again!" With his feet on the icy platform, Hai Bo Dong''s body levitated in mid-air. His face was filled with wild joy, and he threw his head back, laughing heartily. (End of this chapter) "Please." Hai Bo Dong waved his hand invitingly, prompting Gu He to enter first. Standing at the entrance, Gu He took a moment to observe the surroundings. Then he, too, entered the underground chamber. Upon entering, the temperature dropped significantly, and a faint chill permeated the air. Gu He looked around and noticed that this underground chamber was like an ice cave. The ceiling and the thick walls were covered with white ice, and above them, sharp icicles hung like sharp swords, suspended from the ceiling. A faint frosty mist filled the chamber, lingering for years. Hai Bo Dong must have invested a significant amount of time and effort to create this rather large underground chamber. "Hehe, my Dou Qi technique leans towards cold attributes, so practicing in a place like this is more effective. Additionally, this location is at some distance from the surface. The ice and soil here conceal our presence, preventing detection by other strong individuals." As if understanding Gu He''s doubts, Hai Bo Dong explained with a smile. "I see." Gu He nodded slightly and took a seat on a chair in the center of the underground chamber. He glanced up at Hai Bo Dong and calmly said, "Hurry up; I don''t particularly like the environment here." "Sure." Hai Bo Dong smiled and nodded, then retrieved the Zong Breakthrough Pill from his storage ring. He touched the ground with his foot, flicked up to a seat entirely made of ice, and sat cross-legged. He then placed the Pill into his mouth, swallowed it, and let it slide down his throat. Sitting in the chair, Gu He glanced at Hai Bo Dong and then, with a thought, took out a scroll from his spatial ring. Serpent Spirit Formula! Flipping through the scroll, Gu He read the name of the technique inscribed there. The Serpent Spirit Formula was the cultivation method used by Queen Medusa. Serpent Clan cultivation methods were different from those of humans and did not have clear ranks. However, according to Queen Medusa''s description, the Serpent Spirit Formula should be no less than a low-tier Earth-grade cultivation technique. "Let''s wait for the young girl to become a Dou Practitioner first." With a slight shift in his thoughts, Gu He placed the scroll back in his spatial ring. Only a Dou Practitioner had the qualifications to practice a cultivation technique. However, with the assistance of the cyan lotus platform and Gu He providing various spiritual liquids, it shouldn''t take much time for the young girl to break through to the Dou Practitioner level. ... Chapter 132: Duplicating the Purple Spirit Pill! Chapter 132: Duplicating the Purple Spirit Pill! Chapter 132: Duplicating the Purple Spirit Pill! Hai Bodong, who had his seal released, gleamed with sharpness in his eyes as he slowly looked at Gu He. "Is this old guy unable to restrain himself?" Sensing the piercing gaze of Hai Bodong, Gu He''s lips curled up slightly, and he raised his head, his face calm and composed as he stared back at him. As their gazes locked onto each other, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became extremely delicate. Gu He leaned casually in his chair and thought, "Old man Hai, I hope you won''t make a mistake." Gu He had saved Hai Bodong this time, partly due to his own interests but more because of their past friendship. He couldn''t bear to see the once domineering and spirited Ice Emperor continue to languish. However, it seemed that this old guy wasn''t very appreciative. Hai Bodong''s previous suspicions and attitudes had already annoyed Gu He, and their past friendship had been gradually eroded. If Hai Bodong wanted to attack him now, Gu He wouldn''t care about their past friendship. Even though Hai Bodong had recovered most of his strength by now, Gu He was confident that he could easily deal with him if Hai Bodong wanted to fight. As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, in mid-air, Hai Bodong''s gaze toward Gu He became even more intense. His murky eyes fixed firmly on Gu He below, and he suddenly released a faint chill from the palm of his hand. After having his seal released and feeling the recovery of his strength, Hai Bodong''s suppressed emotions from the past dozen years burst forth at this moment. Thinking about the half-scroll relic that belonged to him in Gu He''s hands, a cold gleam flashed in Hai Bodong''s eyes. The former Ice Emperor had been cold and overbearing, and no one had dared to take anything forcibly from his hands. Gu He taking the mysterious relic that Hai Bodong cherished so much undoubtedly broke his taboos. In the past, due to his inability to regain his strength, Hai Bodong had not shown any hostility. However, now that the seal was broken and his strength had largely returned, he had some other thoughts. Although Hai Bodong didn''t know what the relic was for, based on Gu He''s attitude toward it, there must be a tremendous secret hidden within it. Otherwise, why would Gu He, a six-grade alchemist, risk his life to venture deep into the Tagore Desert to find the Desert Mandala? Hai Bodong still remembered how, because of this relic, he had been pursued by the Queen Medusa for thousands of miles, leading to his ultimate sealing. In other words, he was sealed because of this relic. After experiencing so much suffering, it was difficult for Hai Bodong to simply hand over this relic to someone else. Floating above the ground, Hai Bodong was surrounded by a cold aura, and his eyes remained fixed on the calm Gu He. Various thoughts raced through his mind. He believed he had a good understanding of Gu He''s strength. Gu He was known as the Pill King because his cultivation had remained at the Dou Wang level. Although his strength had not fully recovered, it was more than enough to deal with a Dou Wang. Hai Bodong naturally tried to use his soul perception to sense Gu He''s cultivation. Strange! Following his perception, Hai Bodong couldn''t sense Gu He''s cultivation. Weird! Was Gu He using some kind of method to conceal his aura? Staring at the calm Gu He below, Hai Bodong felt a growing sense of unease. Gu He''s silence and enigmatic demeanor had made Hai Bodong apprehensive. If this powerful six-grade alchemist decided to take action against him, it wouldn''t bode well for him. After a moment of contemplation, Hai Bodong''s overconfident attitude was gradually replaced by reason. He realized that something wasn''t right. He narrowed his eyes into tiny slits and thought about the figure above him. It had ventured deep into the Tagore Desert and returned unscathed. Back then, because he had ventured deep into the Tagore Desert, Queen Medusa had sensed him, eventually leading to his sealing. Gu He had also ventured into the Tagore Desert but returned unharmed. This made Hai Bodong quite suspicious. He had spent so many years researching these relics, and if this relic was not meant for him, there was no point in keeping it. As he sighed inwardly and reluctantly accepted the situation, Hai Bodong''s trembling fingers touched the ring on his hand, revealing an ancient and yellowed piece of parchment. He gently stroked the relic, revealing his reluctance as he said, "This map is incredibly complex. I once attempted to duplicate it, but for some reason, my duplicates were vastly different from the original. In the end, I had to give up. Perhaps it has to do with the map''s incomplete nature." As Hai Bodong explained, Gu He continued to gaze at the relic. He sensed Hai Bodong''s unease but chose not to reveal the true nature of the relic. Gu He had learned about the hidden soul energy within these relics and their impact on duplications, but explaining this to Hai Bodong would only create more confusion. Gu He couldn''t expect Hai Bodong to comprehend the complexities of alchemical knowledge. He simply nodded and replied, "It seems we both faced the same difficulties. These maps are truly enigmatic." The two men maintained a calm and polite conversation, but beneath the surface, tensions ran high. The relic remained the focal point of their discussion. On Hai Bodong''s side, he reluctantly touched the incomplete map and sighed after a long while, saying, "Sigh, take it. I guess this map has been divided into several parts, and I only have this one part in my hand. It''s not very useful, and moreover, it''s almost impossible to find the other missing pieces." Smiling, Gu He reached out to receive this somewhat smooth fragment, examining it closely. A faint sense of age and ancient charm emanated from it. The years that this fragment had endured were extremely ancient, naturally exuding an old-world charm. Holding this small piece of the fragment, Gu He took out the other part that he had taken from Hai Bodong''s hand the last time from his spatial ring. He gently combined the two pieces, and after finding that there was no seam where they joined, he nodded slightly. "Hai, now that you have recovered your strength, I assume you won''t continue to be the shopkeeper here, right?" Hai Bodong inquired, rubbing his hands. He was still quite curious and asked with a somewhat restrained smile, "What do you need?" "Ah, well, I have a few things I need you to help with," Gu He replied with a sly smile. Hai Bodong laughed and replied, "I do owe you a favor for helping me get out of that predicament. If I assist you, we''ll be even." "I believe, in the future, Mr. Hai may owe me even more favors, not for any other reason but because I''m an alchemist, especially a sixth-grade alchemist capable of creating sixth-grade pills," Gu He responded with a faint smile. While he sounded arrogant, his statement was not far from the truth. A sixth-grade alchemist was highly sought after, even by Dou Huang-level experts. Hai Bodong nodded in agreement, understanding that alchemists, especially high-level ones, were always sought after by powerful individuals on the continent. "Let me hear what you need. As long as it''s within my capabilities, I won''t refuse," Hai Bodong said, stroking his short beard as he spoke. Gu He slowly rose from his seat, still wearing a faint smile. "Hai, rest assured, what I need you to do is well within your capabilities." "Oh?" Hai Bodong raised an eyebrow. "Let me hear what you have in mind." Gu He didn''t beat around the bush. He directly handed Hai Bodong a list. "All you need to do is gather the medicinal ingredients listed here." "Medicinal ingredients?" Hai Bodong looked surprised as he accepted the list from Gu He. The list included items such as Cold Marrow Leaves, Linglong Fruits, Bloodsoul Grass... Hai Bodong''s eyes scanned the list, and his eyebrows twitched. The medicinal ingredients listed were all rare and precious. In fact, many of them he had never even heard of. As he reached the end of the list, Hai Bodong''s lips twitched slightly. His expression became somewhat unsightly as he looked at Gu He and said with a cold tone, "Gu He, you must think highly of me. These ingredients are all extremely valuable, and I don''t have the ability to gather them." Gu He smiled and responded, "Hai, don''t underestimate yourself. You managed to gather the materials for the Heavenly Flame Pill, so you are more capable than you think." "Moreover, Hai, don''t forget your identity. You are the Grand Elder of the Mittel family, one of the richest families in the Gamma Empire, and the Mittel Auction House has branches all over the empire. If you set your mind to it, these ingredients should not be too difficult for you to acquire." Hai Bodong frowned, displeased with Gu He''s seemingly casual request. "You''re being too light-hearted. Do you know how much time and effort it took me to gather the materials for the Heavenly Flame Pill? And these ingredients on your list are even rarer and more difficult to find." He continued, "You should consider a different condition. I can''t fulfill this one." Faced with Hai Bodong''s refusal, Gu He remained calm, indicating that he had anticipated this outcome. He had a response ready, and after a moment of contemplation, he said, "Hai, I might be able to help you completely recover the strength you lost due to the seal breaking. Without too many side effects." Hai Bodong''s expression changed slightly, showing a glimmer of surprise, but it quickly disappeared. After a brief moment, he regained his composure and stared at Gu He with a guarded look, asking, "How? What method are you talking about?" "Have you heard of the ''Purple Spirit Pill''?" Gu He asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Upon hearing the words "Purple Spirit Pill," Hai Bodong''s face revealed a mixture of delight and astonishment. However, he quickly regained his usual expression and fixed a wary gaze on Gu He, hesitating for a moment before asking, "You''ve been waiting for me for this moment, haven''t you?" (End of this chapter) Chapter 133: Zong Breakthrough Pill! Returning to Yunlan Sect! Chapter 133: Zong Breakthrough Pill! Returning to Yunlan Sect! Chapter 133: Zong Breakthrough Pill! Returning to Yunlan Sect! His face still carried a hint of joy as he muttered a few times. Hai Bo Dong stared at Gu He, his lips moving as he said, "So, you''ve been waiting for me all this time?" Upon hearing this, Gu He had a smile on his face but did not deny it. Staring at Gu He''s smiling face, Hai Bo Dong frowned, looking displeased. However, deep down, Hai Bo Dong couldn''t resist what Gu He had to offer - the recovery of his strength with the Revival Spirit Pill. "Hai Bo Dong, you should understand that relying on your own power, it might take more than ten years to recover to your peak. But if you return to the Mittel family, with a simple command, you can save ten years. This deal seems quite advantageous. You should know, in those ten years, you could achieve so much," Gu He''s soft voice continued to assault Hai Bo Dong''s vulnerable defenses. With a stern face, Hai Bo Dong struggled within himself, while Gu He remained silent, sitting quietly and waiting for his answer.Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com In the spacious living room, the atmosphere became slightly heavy and silent. After a while, Hai Bo Dong finally sighed and looked at Gu He, saying, "Fine, I can agree to your terms, but when can you provide me with the Revival Spirit Pill?" "You can''t expect me to wait until I gather all the herbs and then make the Revival Spirit Pill for you, can you?" Hai Bo Dong asked. The list that Gu He provided contained many rare herbs that Hai Bo Dong had never heard of. He wasn''t completely sure he could gather all the ingredients. If he spent a lot of time and effort but still couldn''t gather them, and Gu He refused to make the Revival Spirit Pill, he would be at a loss. Gu He could see Hai Bo Dong''s thoughts and replied with a smile, "Hai Bo Dong, don''t worry. As long as you sincerely work for me, I won''t let you lose out." After some contemplation, Gu He spoke seriously, "Here''s the deal: I''ll give you one year. If you make significant progress within that time, I''ll make the Revival Spirit Pill for you." In fact, Gu He had already gathered the materials for the Revival Spirit Pill through the Mittel family and had prepared it during his spare time. However, he wouldn''t give it to Hai Bo Dong until he saw sufficient commitment from him. Upon hearing Gu He''s assurance, Hai Bo Dong nodded in satisfaction. "That sounds fair enough." Then, Hai Bo Dong looked at the list of herbs and asked, "Gu He, can you reveal what kind of pill you plan to make with these herbs?" The herbs listed were all precious, and Hai Bo Dong was certain that they were not for ordinary pills. They were likely ingredients for a sixth-grade pill. Gu He smiled and didn''t hide anything. He slowly said, "Have you ever heard of the Zong Breakthrough Pill?" "The Zong Breakthrough Pill?" Hai Bo Dong was surprised and looked at the list in his hand in disbelief. "Are these the ingredients for making the Zong Breakthrough Pill?" As one of the top ten powerhouses in the Gamma Empire, Hai Bo Dong was well aware of the Zong Breakthrough Pill''s purpose. In fact, every Dou Emperor powerhouse, especially those of higher ranks, was familiar with the Zong Breakthrough Pill. Despite its low success rate, the Zong Breakthrough Pill was highly sought after due to its effects. While it didn''t directly enhance one''s strength, it significantly increased the success rate when breaking through to the Dou Ancestor level. Moreover, it ensured that even if the breakthrough failed, the person wouldn''t experience a loss of strength and would remain at the previous level. Hai Bo Dong''s breathing quickened as he recalled the Zong Breakthrough Pill''s effects. "Can you really make the Zong Breakthrough Pill?" The Zong Breakthrough Pill was a high-quality sixth-grade pill. As far as he knew, Gu He had only recently broken through to a sixth-grade alchemist. He couldn''t believe that in such a short time, Gu He could make the Zong Breakthrough Pill. Furthermore, the formula for the Zong Breakthrough Pill was extremely rare and hard to obtain, even for a power like Yunlan Sect. So where did Gu He get it? Gu He was unaware of Hai Bo Dong''s thoughts. In response to Hai Bo Dong''s questioning, he nodded confidently, saying, "Since I''ve asked you to collect the herbs, I''m naturally confident in making it." Making the Zong Breakthrough Pill had long been a plan in Gu He''s mind. He had two main reasons for wanting to create this pill. First, it would be of use to Yunyun in the future. Since the night in the Beast Mountain Range, Yunyun had become his woman, regardless of her acknowledgment. For his woman, Gu He naturally wanted the best for her. The Zong Breakthrough Pill was specially prepared for her. Though she might not need it right now with her current cultivation level, Gu He was preparing in advance. By collecting the herbs now, he could surprise her when she reached the Nine-Star Dou Emperor level. Gu He was very concerned about Yunyun''s cultivation. She was his woman, and he didn''t want to see a future where he reached the pinnacle of power while she wasn''t there to share it with him. The second reason was to boost the strength of his Golden Feather Giant Eagle. As his first pet, Little Gold held a special place in Gu He''s heart. Now that he had broken through to the Dou Ancestor level, Little Gold remained at the peak of the sixth rank, which was hindering its progress. Gu He didn''t want Little Gold to fall behind and lose its chances in the future. With an Eighth Rank Beast Bloodline, Little Gold had limitless potential, and Gu He didn''t want to give up on it. "Really able to make it!" Hai Bo Dong, looking at Gu He''s confident expression, was even more shocked and his mind began to race. Although he was currently only a Five-Star Dou Emperor due to his many years of being sealed, he was confident that if he hadn''t been sealed, he would have reached the Eight-Star Dou Emperor level by now. Hai Bo Dong also believed he could break through to the Nine-Star Dou Emperor level in the future. With the opportunity to get a Zong Breakthrough Pill, he might even be able to make a breakthrough to the Dou Ancestor level. Hai Bo Dong''s breathing quickened as he thought about it, and his eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked at Gu He. But then he realized that he owed Gu He a favor, and he needed Gu He to make the Revival Spirit Pill to recover his strength. After a brief internal struggle, Hai Bo Dong bit his lip and didn''t say anything. Gu He looked at Haibodong, as if he had seen his thoughts: ''In the future, if you need it, I can help you refine a zong breakthrough elixir for free.'' ''''Really!" Haibodong looked at Gu He in disbelief. "Ah..." Intermittent screams came from Liu Ling''s mouth, sounding somewhat suppressed. Liu Ling''s skin was all red, and her face was twisted as she endured great pain. After a while, the painful cries gradually ceased, and Liu Ling''s breathing gradually stabilized. Bang! A moment later, there was a muffled sound from within her body, and her aura increased. At this moment, Liu Ling opened her eyes, and a glint of determination flashed in her eyes. She then extended a thread of her soul to sense the changes inside her, and after a moment, she couldn''t help but burst into laughter. "Hahaha!" "I''ve broken through to Six-Star Dou Master!" "I finally broke through!" Excited and ecstatic voices echoed in the room. Just after Liu Ling''s breakthrough, a massive golden figure appeared outside the Cloud Mist Mountain. After a while, the golden figure descended to the foot of the Cloud Mist Mountain, and two figures landed from above. The massive golden figure quickly shrank and transformed into a small golden bird. "Qinglin, this will be your home from now on." At the foot of the Cloud Mist Mountain, Gu He pointed to the towering and majestic Cloud Mist Mountain and smiled at Qinglin. "It''s so high!" The little girl looked at the towering mountain that seemed to touch the sky, and her azure eyes filled with excitement, eagerness, and more than anything, anticipation. Qinglin tilted her small head and looked up at Gu He, her expression adorable. "Teacher, is this the Cloud Mist Sect?" During this period, Gu He had told the little girl about his identity and the history of the Cloud Mist Sect, so Qinglin finally had some understanding of her new martial arts school. Looking at the towering mountain in front of her, Qinglin''s eyes were filled with excitement and pride. "From now on, I''m a disciple of the Cloud Mist Sect!" "Indeed." Gu He nodded gently and then picked up the little girl, saying gently, "Let me introduce you to your senior brother and senior sister." With that, he soared into the sky, flying directly up the Cloud Mist Mountain. "Hey, look who''s that?" "Who dares to fly over the Cloud Mist Sect?" "It looks like Senior Elder Gu He!" "Oh, that''s fine then!" Gu He''s arrival at the Cloud Mist Sect with Qinglin naturally attracted a lot of attention and discussion among the disciples. Watching this scene, Gu He couldn''t help but feel a sense of nostalgia. The last time he had flown up the mountain with Xiao Yixian, it had been a similar scene. After several months, he had returned with a new disciple. (End of this chapter) Chapter 134: First Meeting Chapter 134: First Meeting Chapter 134: First Meeting At Gu He''s speed, he instantly flew to the peak of Cloud Mist Mountain. Then, he landed in his own courtyard, holding little Qinglin in his arms. "Disciple, from now on, this place will be your home in the Cloud Mist Sect." Gu He scanned the courtyard and spoke gently to Qinglin. "It''s such a big courtyard!" The little girl widened her eyes, examining the large courtyard in front of her. Her young face was filled with anticipation and excitement. "Teacher, is it really you?" At that moment, hurried footsteps resounded, and Xiao Yixian''s crisp and surprised voice echoed in the courtyard. When Gu He landed, he didn''t hide his aura, and the conversation with Qinglin wasn''t hushed. Xiao Yixian felt a familiar presence from inside her room, and upon hearing the long-awaited voice, she rushed out of her room. Gu He raised his head and saw a figure in white entering his field of vision. "Teacher, it''s really you!" At the sight of Gu He, Xiao Yixian couldn''t contain her longing and, like a swallow returning to its nest, quickly ran towards Gu He and then threw herself into his arms. After a month without seeing Xiao Yixian, Gu He missed his affectionate disciple. He looked at the girl who had thrown herself into his arms, and a warm smile appeared on his face. He patted her back gently and said, "There, there, I''m back, right?" "Teacher, I missed you so much!" Xiao Yixian slowly looked up, her clear eyes filled with a hint of teardrops, feeling a little aggrieved. Gu He reached out and wiped away the tears at the corner of Xiao Yixian''s eyes, smiling gently. "Alright, no more tears. Crying in front of your junior sister doesn''t look good." "Junior sister?" At these words, Xiao Yixian sniffled and looked a little puzzled, her gaze shifting to the person behind Gu He. It was only now that Xiao Yixian saw the presence of an outsider. Remembering her own behavior just now, her pretty face turned a shade of crimson. Qinglin had a somewhat timid personality and, although she had changed a bit during this time under Gu He''s guidance, she was still somewhat reserved. When Xiao Yixian came out, Qinglin felt a little shy and hid behind Gu He. Looking at the jade bottle handed to her by Xiao Yixian, Qinglin was momentarily stunned. She then softly said, "Thank you, senior sister." Gu He looked at the jade bottle in Qinglin''s hand and expressed surprise, "Girl, you''ve broken through to become a Grade Three Alchemist?" The Spirit Refining Elixir was a Grade Three elixir, and only a Grade Three Alchemist could refine it. Hearing this, Xiao Yixian nodded, looked up at Gu He, and with a playful smile, said, "Yes, teacher. Just a few days ago, I successfully broke through to become a Grade Three Alchemist." She continued, "Speaking of which, it''s all thanks to the Spirit Refining Pill you gave me, teacher. Without it, I estimate it would have taken me several more months to break through." The Spirit Refining Pill was a top-grade elixir of Grade Five. After taking it, Xiao Yixian''s soul power had significantly increased. With her inheritance from Gu He as a Grade Six Alchemist, all she needed was an increase in soul power and a bit more alchemy experience to make a successful breakthrough. After taking the Spirit Refining Pill, Xiao Yixian had broken through to become a Grade Three Alchemist in no time. Upon hearing this, Gu He nodded and encouraged her, saying, "Keep up the good work. In a little while, I''ll reward you again, my dear." Gu He calculated and realized that there were about ten days left until the time of Xiao Yixian''s previous breakthrough, which would trigger the system''s tenfold reward mechanism. Thinking about this, Gu He felt a slight sense of joy. Staying at the Cloud Mist Sect with his disciples, receiving several more rounds of enlightenment and assistance in cultivation, would lead to a rapid improvement in his strength. Hearing her teacher''s promise, Xiao Yixian nodded in determination and said, "Teacher, I will definitely work even harder." "Teacher!" "Teacher, is it really you?" "Disciple has successfully broken through!" At that moment, another hurried set of footsteps approached the courtyard, and the excited and joyous voice of Liu Ling could be heard from outside. Evidently, the news of Gu He''s return to the sect had reached Liu Ling''s ears. Upon receiving the news, Liu Ling, who had just successfully broken through, was overjoyed. She rushed toward Gu He''s courtyard. (End of this chapter) Chapter 135: Dumbstruck Liu Ling Chapter 135: Dumbstruck Liu Ling Chapter 135: Dumbstruck Liu Ling "Junior sister, this is a welcoming gift from senior brother." In the courtyard, Liu Ling took a jade bottle out of his spatial ring and handed it to Qinglin with a smile. Upon the sudden appearance of this cute junior sister, Liu Ling felt a bit taken aback, but after experiencing Xiao Yixian''s arrival the previous time, he quickly adapted to the situation. Looking at Qinglin''s adorable face, Liu Ling naturally had a favorable impression of her. After Gu He''s introduction, Liu Ling readily took out a bottle of elixir as their first meeting gift. On Qinglin''s side, upon seeing the sudden appearance of Liu Ling, she once again shyly hid behind Gu He, peeking out with curiosity. However, when she saw the jade bottle offered by Liu Ling, she hesitated to reach out and accept it. It was clear that Xiao Yixian, as a girl, and a beautiful one at that, was easier for Qinglin to connect with, making it easier for her to accept this big sister. In contrast, Liu Ling, as her senior brother, and one with a strange mask, required a bit more time for Qinglin to adjust. She didn''t dare reach out to accept the welcoming gift, appearing timid and seeking help from her teacher. Seeing that Qinglin didn''t accept his welcoming gift, Liu Ling thought that he might have given her something too insignificant. This reminded him of when his second junior sister had just arrived, and the gift he had given her had been met with mockery from their teacher. Thinking about this, Liu Ling quickly explained, "Junior sister, the Returning Qi Elixir, a Grade Three elixir, is a gift from senior brother. Please don''t dislike it." The best gift Liu Ling could offer was a Grade Three elixir. He was showing his sincerity. On the side, Gu He, upon hearing Liu Ling''s words, revealed a surprised expression. "You, kid, have also broken through to become a Grade Three Alchemist? Well done. It seems that I''ve been away for a month, but the two of you haven''t been lazy. Later, I will definitely reward you." Upon hearing this, Liu Ling''s face immediately showed a hint of joy. He could accept the transfer of enlightenment from their teacher again. It seemed like his strength was about to skyrocket once more. However, Liu Ling''s face soon showed a hint of doubt. "Both of us? Could it be...?" It seemed he had made a realization. His eyes showed an incredulous look as he turned to look at Xiao Yixian, asking in surprise, "Junior sister, have you also broken through to become a Grade Three Alchemist?" Xiao Yixian gently nodded and replied with a smile, "I just broke through a few days ago." Upon receiving the affirmative response from Xiao Yixian, Liu Ling fell silent, feeling somewhat wounded. Although others might not know, he was very aware that Xiao Yixian had only started learning alchemy after joining their teacher''s sect. Seeing Liu Ling''s eager expression, Gu He naturally understood what was on his mind. He directly said, "Kneel down in front of me." Upon hearing this, Liu Ling was momentarily stunned, and then his face showed an excited expression. He replied, "Yes, Teacher!" He then obediently knelt down in front of Gu He, a look of anticipation on his face. "You need to endure this for a longer period this time," Gu He said with a faint smile. He then slowly stood up and walked behind Liu Ling, placing his hand on his back. Liu Ling heard this and promised earnestly, "Teacher, I can endure it for a long time." Afterward, Liu Ling''s expression became serious. He secretly swore to himself that he must persevere this time and make his teacher look at him with renewed respect. During this time, Liu Ling had been consistently using spirit fluid to temper his body. He had been preparing for this transfer of enlightenment for a long time, firmly believing that he could break his previous records. "Focus and calm your mind!" Gu He instructed, and then with a thought, he began to perform the transfer of enlightenment. A powerful surge of Dou Qi flowed into Liu Ling''s body through the palm of his hand. Feeling the immense power entering his body, Liu Ling was shocked, and he thought, "Teacher is getting stronger and stronger!" Without any hesitation, Liu Ling put forth his utmost effort. As the potent and violent power flowed into his body, he felt his meridians react with a bursting sensation. His face turned pale, and he quickly directed the power towards the vortex of Dou Qi within his body. Soon, the aura emanating from Liu Ling''s body gradually began to change. In less than twenty breaths after Gu He initiated the transfer, a muffled sound came from within Liu Ling''s body. Seven-Star Dou Master! In an instant, Liu Ling smoothly broke through to the level of a Seven-Star Dou Master. But this wasn''t the end; Gu He continued the transfer of enlightenment. After more than thirty breaths, Liu Ling''s aura changed once again. Eight-Star Dou Master! (End of this chapter) Chapter 136: Fifteen Years of Progress! Chapter 136: Fifteen Years of Progress! Chapter 136: Fifteen Years of Progress! At this moment, Liu Ling''s body was experiencing waves of stinging pain, but he gritted his teeth, thinking of his teacher''s words. He was determined not to disappoint his teacher. After another dozens of breaths, there was another change in Liu Ling''s aura. Nine-Star Dou Master! In just a short period of over a hundred breaths, Liu Ling had consecutively broken through three realms, from a Six-Star Dou Master to a Nine-Star Dou Master! At this point, Liu Ling was almost reaching his limit. He decided to push himself to the brink, frantically activating the Purple Sun Formula to refine the energy within his body. After another few dozens of breaths, Liu Ling felt that his meridians were on the verge of tearing apart, and his complexion changed dramatically.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com "Teacher, I can''t endure it any longer; it''s going to explode!" Liu Ling cried out in pain. Hearing Liu Ling''s words filled with agony, Gu He''s expression changed, and he didn''t dare to delay. He quickly stopped the transfer of enlightenment. The next moment, a notification sound echoed in his mind. "Ding, detected that the host has granted half a day of cultivation to the senior disciple Liu Ling. Congratulations to the host for triggering the ten-thousand-fold return mechanism, gaining fifteen years of cultivation! (Equivalent to the Three-Star Dou Zong realm)." "Fifteen years of cultivation have been deposited in the system space. Please check it, host!" Hearing the system''s announcement, Gu He felt a slight disappointment in his heart. It was only half a day''s worth of cultivation. Well, at least this time he triggered the ten-thousand-fold return mechanism. Otherwise, the result might have been hard to accept. Fifteen years of cultivation, he could still accept it, albeit barely. Although it was only fifteen years of cultivation, Gu He couldn''t help but feel excited. With this newfound cultivation, he believed he could make a breakthrough to the Four-Star Dou Zong or even the Five-Star Dou Zong realm in one go. Afterward, he looked at Liu Ling, who was still immersed in refining the energy within his body, and nodded slightly. This kid might not be very enduring, but he did his best. At least he could endure one more round, as otherwise, he might not even withstand half a day''s cultivation. In fact, Gu He had already anticipated this result. As his own cultivation increased, the endurance of these little ones would likely continue to decrease. He could see that during his absence, Liu Ling hadn''t been slacking off, and his physical strength had indeed greatly improved. However, the problem was that Gu He''s cultivation was increasing too rapidly, even more so than Liu Ling''s. After all, Gu He had multiple disciples who could receive his transfer of enlightenment. As his cultivation grew, the amount of Dou Qi absorbed in one day increased, which was much more than a Dou Master like Liu Ling could easily endure. It could be described as a world-shaking transformation. At this moment, Liu Ling''s gaze turned curious as he looked at Gu He. He had never seen his teacher take action and didn''t know his teacher''s current realm. According to external rumors, his teacher was only at the Dou Wang level, but Liu Ling couldn''t believe it. How could such thick, terrifying Dou Qi be attributed to just a Dou Wang? Liu Ling had interacted with some of the Dou Wang elders within the Cloudland Sect on ordinary days. He could clearly sense that their aura was far inferior to that of his teacher. Could it be that his teacher had already broken through to the Dou Huang realm? As Liu Ling gazed at Gu He in the pavilion, this thought couldn''t help but cross his mind. Sensing Liu Ling''s gaze, Gu He turned to look at him and gave a faint glance, saying, "Awake?" Hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling immediately stood up and approached him with a grin on his face, "Awake, teacher!" Gu He asked, "How do you feel?" An excited expression appeared on Liu Ling''s face as he replied, "Great! Teacher, you''re getting more and more powerful." Gu He naturally understood the excitement in Liu Ling''s heart. After all, he often experienced the thrill of a sudden increase in power himself. "In the future, you must continue to temper your physical body. Don''t slack off," Gu He advised with a faint tone. "Understood," Liu Ling nodded without hesitation and spoke firmly, "Teacher, I will work even harder." ... "Alright, come here, I''m going to grant you your second reward," Gu He suddenly said after they had talked for a while. "Okay, teacher!" Hearing this, Liu Ling''s heart quivered, and he immediately sat down in front of Gu He. "You don''t need to sit down this time," Gu He said as he took a jade bottle out of his spatial ring. The jade bottle contained the associated Purple Crystal Essence. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 137: Phoenix Bloodstone, Undying Fire! Chapter 137: Phoenix Bloodstone, Undying Fire! Chapter 137: Phoenix Bloodstone, Undying Fire! "Teacher, what is this?" "Is it a medicinal pill?" Liu Ling looked slightly puzzled as he received the jade bottle from Gu He. Gu He calmly replied, "This is called the Companion Purple Crystal Essence." "Companion Purple Crystal Essence?" As Liu Ling took the jade bottle from Gu He and examined it, he suddenly furrowed his brows. It seemed like he had heard this name somewhere before. A distant memory resurfaced in Liu Ling''s mind, a memory from an ancient text he had read in the Yunlan Sect''s library. Yunlan Sect, as the foremost sect in the Gama Empire, naturally had many ancient texts in its library. The content that appeared in Liu Ling''s mind was about the Companion Purple Crystal Essence. "Companion Purple Crystal Essence..." As he repeated these words a few times, the memories in Liu Ling''s mind fully awakened. He suddenly opened his eyes, looking at the jade bottle in his hand in disbelief, and exclaimed, "This is actually Companion Purple Crystal Essence!" His mind quickly recalled all the information about Companion Purple Crystal Essence: "Companion Purple Crystal Essence is a naturally gifted natural treasure. It is a precious material produced by the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King during its pregnancy. There is a very small chance that the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King produces this Companion Purple Crystal Essence alongside its offspring. The Companion Purple Crystal Essence has been in the lion king''s stomach for a very long time, making it contain a substantial amount of pure energy. Once the young beast reaches the Fourth Rank Dou Master stage of growth, by devouring it, it can directly become a Fifth Rank Dou Master. Moreover, the unique beast fire within it will be much stronger than that of other Purple Crystal Winged Lions that haven''t consumed the Companion Purple Crystal Essence." "Teacher, you managed to obtain something like this?" Liu Ling looked excited and impressed, remembering that Companion Purple Crystal Essence was not only extremely beneficial for the offspring of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King but could also greatly enhance the strength of human Great Dou Masters who consumed it. Most importantly, there was a good chance that, after consumption, one could absorb the unique beast flame, the Flame, which was even more powerful than the Purple Eagle Flame Liu Ling had previously refined. Gu He was slightly surprised by Liu Ling''s knowledgeable reaction. It seemed that this young disciple had some understanding of the world, saving Gu He from having to explain the essence of the Companion Purple Crystal Essence. Gu He simply issued a warning, "Companion Purple Crystal Essence contains extremely violent energy. With your current cultivation level, it''s best to consume this bottle of Companion Purple Crystal Essence in three separate portions, or there may be a risk of body explosion." Liu Ling, who had a deep understanding of Companion Purple Crystal Essence, nodded earnestly after hearing Gu He''s warning, saying, "Teacher, I understand." His eyes gleamed with eagerness. With this bottle of Companion Purple Crystal Essence, he should be able to break through to the Great Dou Master level in no time. Moreover, he would gain access to a more potent beast fire. "Ding! The host is detected to have given the senior disciple Liu Ling a bottle of Companion Purple Crystal Essence. Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten-thousand-fold return. The host has received a Phoenix Bloodstone." "Yields the Undying Fire after refinement." After reading the information in his mind, Gu He''s eyes gradually lit up. The origin and function of this Phoenix Bloodstone were truly extraordinary! To Gu He''s surprise, refining the Phoenix Bloodstone would also grant him a heavenly flame. Undying Fire - what kind of heavenly flame was that? Looking at the Phoenix Bloodstone in front of him, Gu He thought of the intense heat he experienced when he touched it earlier. He secretly made a decision, "It seems I''ll need to use the Divine Fire Technique and employ my own Essence fire to refine it." His divine fire could devour other heavenly flames for growth, which was perfect for consuming the Phoenix Bloodstone. Moreover, the energy devoured by his divine fire could be assimilated, further enhancing his cultivation. The immense energy contained within the Phoenix Bloodstone was sufficient to advance Gu He''s level. When he devoured the Undying Flame, his divine fire''s power would be elevated even further. After making these decisions, Gu He moved his thoughts and directly exited the system space. Outside, Liulang was admiring the bottle in his hand. Curiosity got the best of him, and he couldn''t resist opening the bottle to peek inside. Instantly, a surge of potent energy emanated from the bottle. Startled by the sight, Liulang hurriedly sealed the bottle, afraid of wasting the energy. He was always cautious about energy conservation; squandering it would be heartbreaking. Just then, Gu He opened his eyes and calmly stated, "Alright, put away the Companion Purple Crystal Essence. I shall grant you your third reward." (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 138: Ninth-Level Demonic Beast Bloodline, Void Beast! Chapter 138: Ninth-Level Demonic Beast Bloodline, Void Beast! Chapter 138: Ninth-Level Demonic Beast Bloodline, Void Beast! "The third reward?" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling''s eyes lit up, and he quickly put away the companion Amethyst Crystal Source. Then, an expectant expression appeared on his face. What will the third reward be that the teacher will give me? Gu He walked out of the pavilion and said, "Follow me." Huh? Liu Ling was somewhat puzzled. What exactly did the teacher want to give him? Do I need to go to the courtyard as well? Shortly after, Gu He arrived in the middle of the courtyard. With a thought, a small purple beast appeared in the courtyard. Roar roar roar!!" The moment the purple creature appeared in the courtyard, it sniffed and then its pupils brightened. It ran toward Gu He and licked his shoe soles. Watching the purple creature in front of him, Gu He couldn''t help but smile. This purple creature is the cub of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Gu He had already tamed it during this time. The little one hadn''t been born for long and had not fully developed its intelligence. Gu He had simply given it some incentives, fed it some elixirs and magic cores on a daily basis, and they had become close. On the side, Liu Ling, looking at the sudden appearance of the purple creature in the courtyard, was momentarily stunned. Then, he realized something and couldn''t help but show a joyful expression on his face. Could it be that the teacher''s third gift to me is this purple creature? Thinking this, Liu Ling couldn''t help but feel excited. Ever since he had seen his second junior sister soaring in the sky on the Ironwing Giant Eagle, he had been envious. After all, who wouldn''t want a magical beast companion? He had heard that his second junior sister''s Ironwing Giant Eagle was a fifth-level magical beast and had the potential to have strength comparable to a Dou King when it grew up. He had been extremely envious of his second junior sister''s pet. Now, the teacher was finally going to give me a magical beast companion too? Looking at the Amethyst Winged Lion King cub that was licking Gu He''s shoe soles, Liu Ling couldn''t help but size it up. What kind of magical beast is this? It looks like a lion. It seems quite extraordinary, very majestic. Liu Ling had already started to imagine himself riding this purple creature with a commanding presence. After playing with the Amethyst Winged Lion King cub for a while, Gu He finally looked at Liu Ling. "This beast is called the Amethyst Winged Lion, and it''s the third gift I''m giving you," Gu He said with a smile. "Is it really for me?" Although he had been looking forward to it, hearing Gu He''s words at this moment made Liu Ling even more excited. If it weren''t for his desire to maintain his image in front of the teacher, he would almost be dancing with joy. From now on, I, Liu Ling, will also have my own magical beast companion. "The Void Beast cub has been delivered to the system space. Please pay attention to retrieve it, host." Just then, the eagerly awaited system notification sounded in Gu He''s mind. Ninth-grade bloodline, Void Beast! Upon hearing the system notification, Gu He''s eyes brightened slightly, and he couldn''t help but smile. What a windfall! Afterward, he looked at Liu Ling, who was playing with the Amethyst Winged Lion cub with a foolishly happy expression, and urged, "Alright, I''ve given you the three rewards. Now, go back and practice diligently." "I will, Teacher." Upon hearing this, Liu Ling, who had been playing with the Amethyst Winged Lion cub, cheerfully hugged the little one and slowly left the courtyard. After Liu Ling left, Gu He''s consciousness entered the system space with a thought. Once inside the system space, he saw the silver sphere suspended in the void. Then, Gu He separated a strand of his consciousness and gradually approached the silver sphere suspended in the void. "Ding, may I ask if the host wishes to form a master-servant contract with the Void Beast cub?" Just as Gu He''s consciousness approached, the system notification sounded slowly in his mind. Without any hesitation, Gu He directly said, "Form a master-servant contract!" As Gu He''s words fell, a drop of crimson blood suddenly separated from his body and floated towards the silver sphere suspended in the void. Gu He was slightly stunned, and at the moment when the crimson blood left his body, he felt a slight sense of fatigue. This was his essence blood. The next moment, this drop of essence blood had already landed on the silver sphere. Roar! At this moment, the silver sphere burst into dazzling silver light. Vaguely, Gu He seemed to hear a tender roar of a beast. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 139: The Abilities of the Void Beast, Yun Yun’s Thoughts Chapter 139: The Abilities of the Void Beast, Yun Yuns Thoughts Chapter 139: The Abilities of the Void Beast, Yun Yun''s Thoughts The blood that dripped onto the golden giant egg suddenly emitted a bright red light and condensed into a blood-red mark. It slowly penetrated into the silver sphere. After a moment, Gu He''s expression changed slightly. He felt that he had established an extremely subtle connection with the silver sphere. He could sense the presence of a living being within the silver sphere. The entity within the silver sphere seemed to sense his presence, and a tender voice rang in Gu He''s mind, "Master, master, I want to come out!" "Did it succeed?" Feeling all of this, Gu He''s expression slightly changed, and a smile appeared on his face. Afterward, Gu He gave a command to the system directly, saying, "System, extract the Void Beast cub." As soon as Gu He finished speaking, the silver sphere in the void trembled slightly and then landed in front of Gu He, revealing a silver little creature. Gu He couldn''t help but appraise the silver creature in front of him. The silver creature emitted a silver glow all over its body, covered with silver scales that made it look somewhat majestic. However, the little silver horn on its head added a touch of cuteness. "Master!" The silver creature, upon seeing Gu He, immediately burrowed into his arms, showing a close attachment to him. Looking at the silver creature in his arms, Gu He couldn''t help but touch its silver scales. They felt cool and comfortable. The texture was quite hard. Hmm, the defense should be excellent. At that moment, a piece of information entered Gu He''s mind. Gu He closed his eyes and slowly accepted this information, which was about the Void Beast. After a while, Gu He slowly opened his eyes. He had already finished reading the information in his mind. The Void Beast was a type of exotic beast born in the chaotic void flow, naturally possessing various void abilities. Void traversal, void cutting, void imprisonment... After browsing the information about the Void Beast, Gu He''s eyes sparkled slightly. This Void Beast was truly extraordinary!Discover new chapters at novelhall.com The only drawback was its slow growth rate. For the Void Beast to grow, it needed to devour the power of the void. Unknowingly, her memories returned to the cave in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Everything that happened in that cave had been haunting Yun Yun''s thoughts. During her recent seclusion, Yun Yun had thought that she had already let it go. But now that she had heard of Gu He''s return, Yun Yun suddenly realized that she hadn''t let go of her feelings at all. When Gu He was away, she had been looking forward to his return. But now that Gu He had returned, Yun Yun found herself unsure of how to face him. For a moment, Yun Yun''s emotions became complicated. At this moment, Nalan Yanran thought of what she had seen earlier and furrowed her beautiful eyebrows slightly. "However, Senior Elder Gu He seems to have come back with a little girl." Hearing Nalan Yanran''s words, Yun Yun slowly came back to her senses, forcibly suppressing her mixed emotions, and then asked in surprise, "A little girl?" Nalan Yanran nodded. "That little girl is even younger than Senior Sister Yi Xian. Teacher, do you think Senior Elder Gu He might have..." Nalan Yanran recalled the scene when Gu He had returned with Xiao Yan back then and suddenly speculated, "Taken in a new disciple?" Thinking of this, Nalan Yanran couldn''t help but feel a little anxious. If Senior Elder Gu He really took that little girl as his disciple, he would already have three disciples. It was better to take in disciples sooner rather than later. If they delayed further, who knew how many more disciples Senior Elder Gu He would take? Nalan Yanran thought about having a group of senior and junior disciples after she became Senior Elder Gu He''s disciple, and she found it hard to accept. Seeing Nalan Yanran''s anxious expression, Yun Yun understood what she was thinking. After a moment of silence, Yun Yun finally made a decision and nodded to Nalan Yanran. "Alright, Teacher will take you to meet Senior Elder Gu He tomorrow." (End of this chapter) ================================================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 140: The Heavenly Serpent Technique! Chapter 140: The Heavenly Serpent Technique! Chapter 140: The Heavenly Serpent Technique! "Teacher!" Gu He was drinking tea in the pavilion when Xiao Yi Xian brought Qing Lin over. Gu He put down the teacup, looked at the two, and said with a smile, "Have you chosen the rooms?" "Yes, Junior Sister''s room is right next to mine," Xiao Yi Xian nodded, her face filled with a smile. Since Gu He''s return, her smile had never disappeared. "Very well," Gu He nodded in agreement. Then, he looked at the timid little girl and said gently, "Qing Lin, this will be your home from now on. I and Senior Sister Yi Xian are your family. There are no strict rules here, so don''t feel constrained." Hearing this, Qing Lin obediently nodded. She held hands with Xiao Yi Xian, and it seemed like she had grown closer to her. During the room selection process earlier, Xiao Yi Xian had taken care of her in every way possible, and Qing Lin had gradually accepted her as her second senior sister. She was also starting to feel a sense of belonging to this home in Yun Lan Sect. Xiao Yi Xian held Qing Lin''s hand and walked into the pavilion. She proficiently poured tea for Gu He and said softly, "Teacher, this time when you''ve returned, you won''t leave again, will you?" Gu He slightly nodded, "Hmm, in the short term, I don''t plan to go out. I already have three disciples now, so I don''t have any immediate plans to leave." Of course, he hadn''t forgotten his agreement with the Queen Medusa. Three months later, he would find time to visit the Serpent People''s territory and lend her the Heavenly Flame. Thinking of Queen Medusa, Gu He looked at Qing Lin, hesitated for a moment, and took out a scroll from his storage ring. The scroll was none other than the Dou Qi Cultivation Technique of Queen Medusa, the Serpent Spirit Art. "Qing Lin, come here," with the Serpent Spirit Art scroll in hand, Gu He waved to Qing Lin. Qing Lin hesitated for a moment but then obediently walked over. A trace of confusion flickered in her emerald eyes. "Master promised you three gifts. The Dou Qi Cultivation Technique scroll is the third gift," Gu He handed the Dou Qi Cultivation Technique scroll to Qing Lin. Qing Lin extended her small hand and accepted the scroll from Gu He. Originally, Gu He had intended to give her this scroll after she reached the Earth-Rank Dou Fighter level. However, he thought about the third opportunity to trigger the ten-thousand-fold return mechanism among the three promised gifts. Since he didn''t know what else to give her, he decided to give her the Dou Qi Cultivation Technique now. If he gave it later, he would waste an opportunity to trigger the mechanism. "Teacher, you mentioned this matter to the sect master?" "If there are no surprises, you will soon have another junior sister." Gu He looked at Xiao Yi Xian with a smile, clearly in a good mood. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian was slightly stunned. After a moment of silence, she said, "I see." She had figured it out. It seemed that her teacher had some sort of habit of taking on disciples. From herself to Qing Lin, and now Nalan Yanran, every time her teacher went out, it seemed that he had to bring back a new disciple. Even the sect master''s personal disciple, Nalan Yanran, wasn''t spared. Xiao Yi Xian couldn''t help but wonder why her teacher was taking in so many disciples. As for herself, Xiao Yi Xian had pondered on it for some time. Why would her teacher, who was renowned as the Pill King of the Gamma Empire, choose her? The only explanation was her unique Poison Body. Her extraordinary physique was the reason she could enter her teacher''s tutelage. Regarding Qing Lin, Xiao Yi Xian couldn''t help but wonder if her junior sister also possessed some unique physique, similar to her own. However, the question remained C why would her teacher accept Nalan Yanran as a disciple? Nalan Yanran didn''t seem to have any extraordinary physique. Despite her many questions, Xiao Yi Xian didn''t harbor any ill thoughts. In her opinion, as long as her teacher had genuine intentions towards her, that was enough. During this time, her teacher''s care and guidance had been meticulous, and she was deeply grateful for it. If it weren''t for her teacher accepting her as a disciple, she would likely still be a small-town doctor. How else could she have become a third-rank alchemist in such a short period? (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 141: Nalan Yanran’s Apprenticeship Chapter 141: Nalan Yanrans Apprenticeship Chapter 141: Nalan Yanran''s Apprenticeship Xiao Yi Xian''s thoughts were clear. Although she knew her teacher had taken her as a disciple due to her Poison Body, she harbored no negative feelings. Possessing the Poison Body and a penchant for researching poisons, she was destined to activate her Poison Body. Without her teacher''s guidance, she might have become a detested poison woman. Her teacher had saved her, fulfilling her dream of becoming a prestigious alchemist. With such a great favor, what more could she wish for? In Xiao Yi Xian''s heart, she had decided to serve by her teacher''s side for a lifetime, showing filial piety. However, Gu He was unaware of Xiao Yi Xian''s thoughts. At this moment, a white figure flashed through his mind. Nalan Yanran had the idea to become his disciple, indicating Yun Yun had returned. Moreover, Nalan Yanran had mentioned the matter of apprenticeship, suggesting Yun Yun hadn''t forgotten their agreement from the cave. Yun Yun agreeing to let Nalan Yanran become his disciple also implied she had forgiven him. It must be the case. Thinking of this, Gu He inexplicably felt happy, sensing that Yun Yun still held a place for him in her heart. Gu He looked at Xiao Yi Xian with a smile and asked, "When did the sect master return?" Xiao Yi Xian thought for a moment and replied, "The sect master returned about ten days ago." Gu He nodded and said to both of them, "Return to your cultivation. If you make any breakthroughs, I''ll reward you." Xiao Yi Xian nodded and left, reluctantly taking Qing Lin with her. After they left, Gu He remembered the Heavenly Serpent Technique he had just received. He entered the system space with a thought. Upon entering, Gu He saw a floating blue scroll in the voidthe Heavenly Serpent Technique. With a thought, Gu He called out in his mind, "System, extract the Heavenly Serpent Technique." As his words fell, the blue scroll in the void vibrated slightly and turned into a blue light, entering Gu He''s mind. Following that, a mysterious message appeared in Gu He''s mindthe content of the Heavenly Serpent Technique. Gu He closed his eyes, focusing on absorbing the information. After a moment, he finished reading the content. The Heavenly Serpent Technique was a cultivation method practiced by the ancient Heavenly Serpent clan. When cultivated to the extreme, it could evolve into the legendary ancient Heavenly Serpent, a ninth-rank magical beast. Gu He''s eyes showed a hint of surprise. The Heavenly Serpent Technique could evolve into a ninth-rank magical beast when cultivated to the utmost. This technique is extremely suitable for Little Qing Lin. Gu He didn''t intend to practice the Heavenly Serpent Technique himself. He planned to give it to Little Qing Lin once she reached the Fighter level. It was a perfect fit. After sitting in the pavilion, Gu He noticed the sky was dimming. He decided to return to his room. The so-called gentlemen would risk their lives for their friends. Yun Yun, who usually didn''t care much about her appearance, had dressed up exceptionally today. Gu He couldn''t help but think that perhaps Yun Yun had someone she wanted to show her beauty to. Inevitably, he put himself in that role. Suppressing the hint of delight on his face, Gu He tried to remain as calm as possible and approached the pavilion. "I greet Elder Gu He." The moment Gu He appeared in the courtyard, Nalan Yanran immediately noticed him and stood up to pay her respects. Her attitude was highly respectful. After Gu He nodded at her, he turned his attention to Yun Yun and said, "Sect Master." Gu He had a refined smile on his face, trying to appear gentle. "It''s been a long time. I wonder if the Sect Master has been well recently?" Looking at Gu He, who was elegant, amiable, and friendly, Yun Yun''s eyes revealed a trace of complexity. However, she quickly regained her composure and remained silent for a moment. Then, she slightly opened her red lips and said, "I brought Yanran here to request apprenticeship. I wonder if Elder Gu He is willing?" On the side, Nalan Yanran''s heart skipped a beat when she heard her teacher''s words. Although she had already learned from her teacher that Elder Gu He had the intention to accept her as a disciple, wasn''t it normal to have some small talk? Didn''t you see Elder Gu He being friendly and making casual greetings? Teacher, shouldn''t you at least respond to him? You''re just getting straight to the point. Is that really okay? Seeing her own teacher''s calm yet somewhat indifferent expression, Nalan Yanran suddenly felt that her plan to become a disciple might fall through. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 142: Nalan Yanran’s Bewildered Expression Chapter 142: Nalan Yanrans Bewildered Expression Chapter 142: Nalan Yanran''s Bewildered Expression Nalan Yanran was feeling anxious. After hearing Yun Yun''s words, Gu He was also momentarily taken aback. Seeing Yun Yun''s calm and indifferent expression, Gu He let out a faint sigh. It seemed that Yun Yun still held some grudge about what happened in the Monster Beast Mountain Cave. It was understandable. Any woman would probably find it difficult to accept it all at once, especially someone as virtuous and pure as Yun Yun, who had never been in contact with a man before. As for himself, he had indeed gone a bit too far that day. However, Gu He had no regrets. In fact, faced with such a seductive temptation, other women might resist it for a while. But when it came to the exceptionally beautiful Yun Yun, someone who had been on his mind, Gu He had no self-control. Seeing the somewhat cold demeanor of the beautiful lady at this moment, Gu He didn''t feel angry. After a moment of silence, he maintained his genteel smile and slowly said, "I''m willing." On the side, Nalan Yanran was baffled: "???" Nalan Yanran was truly dumbfounded, her pretty eyes wide open, her face full of question marks. He agreed? Elder Gu He actually agreed! Originally, seeing Elder Gu He fall silent after hearing her teacher''s words, Nalan Yanran felt that she might have failed to become his disciple. Nalan Yanran looked at her teacher, feeling quite hurt inside. If she had known it was like this, she might have come here alone. Since Elder Gu He had the intention to accept her as a disciple, she thought that showing sincerity would be enough to persuade him. However, everything was too late now. But just when Nalan Yanran was feeling hopeless, she was stunned to hear that Elder Gu He had agreed. Nalan Yanran looked at Gu He in surprise and then at her teacher. Her small head was filled with confusion. "Yanran, why are you just standing there? Go and pay your respects to your new master." Just when Nalan Yanran was puzzled, Yun Yun spoke again. Her voice remained calm and slightly indifferent. Nalan Yanran was taken aback, and she glanced at her teacher, feeling that her teacher was acting strangely today. Then, she showed a respectful look on her pretty face and looked at Gu He. She was about to speak, but Elder Gu He spoke first. "From today onwards, Yanran, you are my fourth disciple." Nalan Yanran looked at the smiling, refined Gu He, momentarily unable to react. She hadn''t even started the formal process to become a disciple yet. Gu He watched Yun Yun lead Nalan Yanran away, his mouth curving with a hint of helplessness. It seemed that Yun Yun still held deep grudges against him. Then, he thought about the process of becoming a disciple earlier and felt even more helpless. He still had two more gifts to give. But Yun Yun just took Nalan Yanran and left. Well, since Nalan Yanran had already become his disciple, there was still time. He would find another opportunity to give her the remaining two gifts. There was no rush. "Ding, the host has granted Fourth Disciple Nalan Yanran eighteen bottles of Jade Bone Elixir. Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten-thousandfold return and obtaining eighteen bottles of Millennium Earth Core Body Tempering Milk." "Eighteen bottles of Millennium Earth Core Body Tempering Milk have been sent to the system space. Please check it, host." Just then, a notification from the system sounded in Gu He''s mind, bringing his wandering thoughts back. Millennium Earth Core Body Tempering Milk? Gu He was slightly startled and immediately entered the system space. After a while, inside the system space, Gu He saw eighteen exquisite jade bottles floating in front of him, and a hint of delight appeared on his face. At the same time, information about the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk flashed in his mind. Generally, the conditions for the formation of Earth Core Body Tempering Milk were extremely strict. The Earth Core Body Tempering Milk was formed when the pure energy from the earth was squeezed and compressed over many years to form a mist, known as Earth Core Mist. If the quality was higher, it was called Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, and it had miraculous effects on body tempering and training. Moreover, due to the exceptionally pure and vast earth energy contained within, it could even help individuals at the peak of their respective realms to break through the barriers between stages. And this was just for the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk that had existed for thousands of years. The one Gu He obtained this time was the Millennium Earth Core Body Tempering Milk. Its effects were extraordinary, and Gu He couldn''t help but be excited. ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 143: Tempering the Flesh with Marrow Purification Elixir Chapter 143: Tempering the Flesh with Marrow Purification Elixir Chapter 143: Tempering the Flesh with Marrow Purification Elixir As Gu He looked at the eighteen bottles of Millennium Earth Core Body Tempering Milk floating in front of him, he couldn''t resist reaching out to pick one up. Opening the bottle cap, an incredibly pure energy emanated from the bottle.T/his chapter is updated by Gu He took a whiff and felt that his Dou Qi was being stirred within his body. Then, he examined the contents of the jade bottle. Inside, a green liquid resembling jade wriggled like a living thing, displaying extraordinary natural properties. Gu He was amazed, his eyes filled with wonder. "This Millennium Earth Core Body Tempering Milk should be perfect for creating Marrow Purification Elixir." As he held the bottle of Millennium Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, Gu He''s mind was flooded with information. In his inheritance as a ninth-grade alchemist, he had learned a rather mystical method for producing Marrow Purification Elixir. Interestingly, the method did not specify particular ingredients. Instead, the grade of the Marrow Purification Elixir produced depended on the main ingredient used. The higher the grade of the main ingredient, the higher the quality of the resulting elixir. "Using Millennium Earth Core Body Tempering Milk as the main ingredient for Marrow Purification Elixir should produce an elixir of around the seventh grade," Gu He estimated in his heart. A seventh-grade Marrow Purification Elixir would significantly strengthen his physical body, which excited him. With an enhanced physical body, he hoped that the pain during cultivation and refining would be alleviated. Before creating the Marrow Purification Elixir, he needed to prepare some medicinal ingredients. Gu He decided to acquire a batch of them directly from the Miteer Auction House. He wondered if Old Man Hai had returned to the capital yet. Considering his speed, it would likely take another day or two for him to arrive. Gu He had returned on Little Gold''s back, whose speed far surpassed the two-star Dou Emperor realm of Old Man Hai. Gu He speculated that Old Man Hai might need another day or two to return to the capital, not counting resting time during the journey. After spending half a day, Gu He purchased a batch of high-quality medicinal ingredients from the Miteer Auction House and returned to the Yunlan Sect. Back in his courtyard, Gu He briefly informed the two maids and told them he would be going into seclusion for a few days. After that, he quietly left the Yunlan Sect with Little Gold. Arriving at the mountain range where he had previously broken through, Gu He created a cave, did some simple preparations, and decided to use it as the location for his seclusion and breakthrough. The cave was dimly lit, so Gu He embedded several moonstone pieces into the walls, brightening the space. Next, he concentrated, and a wooden barrel filled with clear water materialized in the middle of the cave. Beside the wooden barrel, a clean stone table held various medicinal ingredients. There were dozens of different types, all of which Gu He had acquired from the Miteer Auction House. At the cave''s entrance, Little Gold transformed into its normal size, guarding the entrance motionlessly. Walking to the wooden barrel, Gu He focused his thoughts, and a sheep-fat jade bottle appeared in his hand. This jade bottle contained the Millennium Earth Core Body Tempering Milk. Holding the jade bottle filled with "Millennium Earth Core Body Tempering Milk," Gu He lightly assessed it. He then unscrewed the cap, and a faint emerald mist drifted out, eventually congealing at the bottle''s mouth, persisting for a long time. Gu He deeply inhaled this mist and felt a mild warmth flow through his soul. He couldn''t help but praise, "It deserves to be a spiritual entity formed by the condensed energy of the earth. It''s so pure and potent. No wonder it has such remarkable effects on marrow purification and bone tempering." Having offered his praise, Gu He picked up the jade bottle and carefully poured the emerald-like green liquid into the wooden barrel. Shaking his head vigorously, Gu He suppressed the discomfort. Since coming to this world, he had experienced quite a bit of suffering, so these sensations didn''t pose a significant obstacle to him. While marrow purification and bone tempering had substantial benefits, the process was not without its challenges. Enduring this would lead to smooth progress on the path of cultivation. Sitting cross-legged in the wooden basin, Gu He formed hand seals, gradually closed his eyes, and his breathing became calm and steady. After a while, the itching sensation in his body gradually faded, and Gu He entered a state of cultivation. ... As Gu He entered a state of cultivation, small bubbles suddenly emerged on the surface of the multicolored liquid in the wooden basin. After a moment, the bubbles became more intense, making it seem as if the water was boiling, causing intense pain for Gu He. During the surging of these bubbles, Gu He''s body suddenly trembled. He could feel that countless pure energies within the multicolored liquid were drawn towards his body, entering it through the slightly opened pores, spreading to every corner of his body. Due to the overwhelming influx of energy, his skin began to swell and feel painful. However, these energies didn''t stop due to his discomfort; instead, they continued to flow at a more furious pace. In the end, the pure energies surged beneath his skin, creating a chaotic network of trails, giving his skin a horrifying appearance, as if small snakes were crawling beneath it. Gu He couldn''t feel the external appearance but was conscious of the inward changes. He continued to focus on what was happening inside his body. The energies within the multicolored liquid behaved without any restraint. Whenever they encountered something, whether it was a bone, meridian, or an organ, they would transform it into the multicolored hue. In just under ten minutes, Gu He''s bones were almost completely enveloped in the multicolored hue. At a glance, the entire body appeared to be immersed in multicolored colors, giving it a strange and eerie appearance. While Gu He was puzzled by these energy''s actions, a strong, burning pain suddenly emanated from within his body. This intense pain rapidly spread through his meridians, cells, muscles, and more. The searing fire felt like it would reduce his body to ashes. The intense heat continued to escalate . Gu He''s body, submerged in the wooden basin, had turned into a fiery color as the multicolored liquid. A pale white mist emerged from the top of his head. This mist carried a faint burnt odor. His teeth clenched, and a trickle of red trickled down from his mouth, staining his chin with a bloody hue. Like being in a furnace, that''s what Gu He felt at this moment, and this fire seemed to want to burn his bones to ashes. The intense heat continued to escalate. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 144: Breaking Through to the Four-Star Dou Ancestor Chapter 144: Breaking Through to the Four-Star Dou Ancestor Chapter 144: Breaking Through to the Four-Star Dou Ancestor Endless pain! It felt like being in purgatory. Every part of Gu He''s body was conveying the meaning represented by this word. But for him, besides enduring the torment, he had no other option. However, amid the suffering, the only comforting thing was that he could clearly feel that, with the spreading of the burning pain in his body, powerful energy was gradually radiating from those burning areas. He noticed that after the burning, the bone marrow, bones, meridians, cells, muscles, and more in his body were all gradually undergoing a transformation. Evidently, this so-called marrow purification and body tempering truly had immense effects. "Hold on!" Gu He continued to console himself. After enduring such a long time, perhaps due to numbness, he suddenly felt a bit absent-minded. In this state of distraction, it seemed that the intense burning pain in his body had also diminished quite a bit. After such a prolonged period of pain, he had built some resistance. The suffering gradually passed in extremely slow time. Eventually, Gu He had completely fallen into a kind of dazed half-awake state. In this almost bewildered perception, he had forgotten the concept of time. The only thing he could feel was that with the burning pain gradually subsiding, his bones, meridians, cells, and more were becoming purer and more resilient. ... "Nalan Senior Sister, you''ve come." In Gu He''s courtyard, Senior Sister Nalan looked at the arrival of Xiao Yi Xian with surprise in her eyes. Hearing Senior Sister Nalan''s address, Xiao Yi Xian''s face displayed a hint of embarrassment. After hesitating for a while, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes revealed a hint of determination as she slowly spoke, "You should call me Senior Sister from now on." In Xiao Yi Xian''s view, she was the latest to join, so she should call Senior Sister Nalan. It''s just that when she thought of her previous position as "Junior Sister Xian''er," suddenly turning into "Second Senior Sister," Xiao Yi Xian felt rather complicated and embarrassed. Well, it''s her fault for joining so late. Xiao Yi Xian felt a little hurt. Senior Sister Nalan, looking puzzled, said, "Call you Senior Sister?" She didn''t understand the meaning of Xiao Yi Xian''s words. Xiao Yi Xian explained, "Now that I''ve become a disciple under our master, the two of us are officially fellow disciples. I joined the latest, so I should address you as Senior Sister." Senior Sister Nalan smiled and said, "It''s okay, Xiao Yi Xian. I''m used to being called Senior Sister. Now that it''s changing, I''m feeling a bit uncomfortable." Upon hearing this, Senior Sister Nalan hesitated and asked, "Will our master mind?" After a considerable amount of time had passed, the burning pain had finally faded away completely. With the vanishing of the pain, Gu He''s previously dazed mind suddenly cleared. Gu He hurriedly scanned his inner self with his consciousness and was astounded to find that the rainbow-colored hues that had once filled his body were completely gone. Now, his bones, meridians, and other parts emitted a faint radiance, resembling white jade, giving the impression of containing boundless power. The awakening of his consciousness acted like a key. Suddenly, his once silent inner self began to operate like a sophisticated machine, commencing its first operation after the transformation. "Boom!" A muffled sound echoed within his body, leaving Gu He staring in astonishment as an enormous energy surged forth from every corner of his body. For a moment, he was somewhat distracted. In Gu He''s momentary distraction, those immense, pure energies voluntarily flowed into his meridians. If it were in the past, the influx of such a colossal energy would have certainly caused his meridians to throb painfully. However, now, as the energy flowed in, his meridians expanded and contracted flexibly, accommodating these enormous energies without causing Gu He any pain. This energy was extremely vast and shockingly pure, to the extent that it required no refining from Gu He. Furthermore, for some unknown reason, this energy didn''t resist Gu He in the slightest; it flowed with ease, almost as if it were obediently responding to his commands. As the vast energy circulated along the meridian pathways, after one cycle, it rushed into the Dou Crystal within the cyclone like an erupting mountain torrent, causing a continuous booming sound. Under this deluge of energy, the pigeon egg-sized Dou Crystal began to visibly expand at an eye-catching speed. Thump, thump, thump! As a series of muffled sounds resounded, a powerful pressure erupted from Gu He''s body, sweeping out of the cave. Four-Star Dou Ancestor! (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! {TL/N: These are the extra 5 chapters for the previous week''s Powerstone goal. For the Douluo fic extra chapter will come in next 30 minutes.Thanks for your support.} Chapter 145: Refining Cultivation, Devouring the Undying Flame Chapter 145: Refining Cultivation, Devouring the Undying Flame Chapter 145: Refining Cultivation, Devouring the Undying Flame Feeling the turbulent power within his body at this moment, Gu He examined his current condition, and after a while, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips. The Bone-Marrows Cleansing Liquid refined from the Millennium Earth''s Core Milk was truly extraordinary in its medicinal effects. He could feel that the strength of his physical body had significantly increased. In truth, Gu He''s original physical strength was not lacking. After all, it had been tempered by the Heavenly Flame and further enhanced through the Flame Refining Body Technique within the Fire God''s Technique. In the Dou Zong realm, Gu He''s physical strength was already top-notch. He didn''t intend to continue refining the Bone-Marrows Cleansing Liquid with the remaining seventeen bottles. With his current physical strength, continuing the refinement would not yield significant improvements, rendering it pointless. "Next, let''s continue to enhance my cultivation." Afterward, Gu He contacted the system directly with a thought and silently said, "System, extract fifteen years of cultivation!" As his words fell, the energy sphere suspended in the void within the system space transformed into a beam of light and shot directly into Gu He''s body. Gu He hadn''t reacted yet when he felt a massive surge of energy entering his body. This power was incredibly turbulent, like a surging river, raging and billowing. "Boom!" A faint muffled sound erupted inside Gu He''s body, and a flush of red appeared on his face. The energy contained within the energy sphere exploded within Gu He''s body, causing his entire body to tremble slightly. Sensing the changes within his body, Gu He quickly realized the situation and, without any hesitation, immediately used the Flame Refining Technique to absorb this immense energy. The moment this energy came into contact with him, Gu He''s complexion changed. This energy was far more enormous than he had anticipated. Gu He had thought that, with the increased strength of his physical body, he should be able to refine this power calmly. However, at this moment, these energies, like unbridled wild horses, rampaged violently through his body, surging and rushing through his meridians, causing excruciating pain. "I underestimated these energies." At this moment, Gu He''s forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his face distorted completely in agony. However, although he was in pain, Gu He quickly accepted it. With his previous experience of integrating energy, he thought he was familiar with it and should be able to bear it easily. This energy was brimming with a destructive force. As it passed through, the muscles throughout Gu He''s body twitched slightly. "I need to suppress this energy first." Gu He''s handsome face became stern. His long hair, which reached his waist, danced wildly. The aura that radiated from him was incredibly dominant. He then emitted a shocking purple light from his eyes. Countless substantial purple flames emerged within his body as he controlled them to collide forcefully with that wild energy in his body, shattering it into pieces. Seeing this, Gu He let out a sigh of relief and looked at the powerful energy, which was now scattered. "The next step is to refine this energy, but it will probably take some time." Gu He then closed his eyes, focused his mind, and wholeheartedly began to refine the energy within his body. Afterward, the blood mist from all directions began to converge towards Gu He. Then, the blood mist forcibly entered Gu He''s body through his pores. Gu He''s face twisted in pain as an intense burning sensation spread throughout his body. He realized that these ancient Phoenix Blood mists were incredibly dangerous. Each strand of energy in the blood mist was almost on par with a King-level expert. Gu He felt overwhelmed by the terrifying blood mist surrounding him. He knew his body could be crushed by the pressure, and the real problem was the blood mist entering his body. After a brief moment, Gu He understood he had to quickly refine this blood mist, or his life essence and energy would be devoured. He activated the Life Essence Divine Fire, and powerful Dou Qi surged out of his Dou Crystal. However, to his shock, the blood mist resisted his attacks and turned into fiery flames. These flames were even hotter and devoured his Dou Qi and blood, causing an unbearable burning sensation. Gu He realized that these blood mists were far more formidable than he had anticipated. In a moment of desperation, Gu He activated his Life Essence Divine Fire with full power. He controlled the purple flames to attack the blood mist within his body. Despite his efforts, the blood mist fires resisted fiercely. The flames multiplied and expanded in his body, causing immense pain. Gu He realized that these fires were burning not only his body but also his energy, his blood, and his essence. This pain was agonizing and relentless. Gu He clenched his teeth and endured the pain. He couldn''t afford to show any weakness because he knew that speaking would allow the blood mist to infiltrate him even more. These ancient Phoenix Blood mists were too formidable. The lingering will of the Phoenix contained within them was incredibly powerful, and each strand of energy was as strong as a King-level expert. Gu He struggled to stay conscious as the relentless pain continued. He was determined not to give up this unique opportunity. He had no choice but to use his Life Essence Divine Fire to fight back. The battle within his body raged on, and his body was undergoing a profound transformation. Gradually, his skin began to emit a strange and crimson light. The transformation was turning his body into something entirely different. (End of this chapter) ================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 146: Breakthrough Chapter 146: Breakthrough In the dim cave, time quietly passed by. At this moment, Gu He had clearly forgotten the existence of time. The dense and intense Phoenix Blood Mist raged like a storm, sweeping towards Gu He and forcefully entering his body. Boom! At this moment, Gu He was completely enveloped in the blood mist, as if he had turned into a being of blood. Deep, resonating sounds reverberated within his body, and then crimson blood gushed out from every pore on his body. This blood was not from the Phoenix but Gu He''s own essence blood. The endless blood mist transformed into a raging fire, burning his flesh and bones ferociously. Two hours had passed, and Gu He was still struggling. As time went on, the oppressive presence released by the Phoenix''s will became stronger, and the thick, sticky blood mist continued to surge toward him, accompanied by the terrifying pressure of the Phoenix. Facing this formidable pressure, even Gu He''s physical body was beginning to struggle. Gu He''s body trembled slightly, and his bones all quivered under the pressure. Under such pressure, the blood in Gu He''s body kept seeping out, even though the quantity was not significant. With the constant burning of the blood fire inside him, it was only a matter of time before his blood would be depleted. Considering this, Gu He had no choice but to give his all, frantically refining the Phoenix Blood Mist and replenishing it into his own flesh and blood to strengthen his vitality. Under the pressure of impending death, Gu He tapped into his full potential. As each burst of blood fire was refined and incorporated into his flesh and blood, Gu He clearly felt that his physical body was being strengthened, both internally and externally. His meridians and bones were reinforced. With the infusion of this vitality, Gu He felt his nearly depleted life force reinvigorate, becoming even more robust than before. Amidst the roiling blood energy, thunderous sounds echoed. As his physical body grew stronger, the Dou Qi flowing through Gu He''s limbs and bones became more vigorous, rushing like a torrent. Finally, it poured into Gu He''s Dou Crystal, infusing him with exceptionally potent power. Feeling the changes in his physical body and cultivation, Gu He was filled with excitement, knowing that his efforts were paying off. "In a short time, I''ve achieved results equivalent to half a month of cultivation." "Most importantly, my physical body has been strengthened in various parts by the Phoenix Blood Mist." A satisfied smile appeared on Gu He''s face, but his heart remained calm. Calm as water, Gu He focused on refining the surrounding blood mist and endured the excruciating pain within his body. Gu He knew that he had to endure this pain, just like a butterfly breaking free from its cocoon, enduring the pain of shedding its wings. Crack... crack... Inside the cave, the faint sound of bones cracking continued, sending shivers down one''s spine. However, even in this state, Gu He remained as calm as a monk in meditation, quietly sitting on the ground. A sharp, fierce fluctuation emanated from his body. His body had transformed into a sea of flames, devouring his flesh as if it would turn it into ashes. In this sea of flames, an endless purple fire raged. At this point, Gu He had pushed his own Divine Fire to the limit. Under Gu He''s control, his Divine Fire surged through his limbs and bones, refining the blood fire that entered his body, turning it into pure blood energy, which flowed into his flesh and bones. The aura exuding from Gu He became even more terrifying and fierce. He appeared like an erupting volcano, ready to explode at any moment. "Fortunately, using Divine Fire Technique at high intensity for an extended period has deepened my mastery of it." "Now that my physical body has been tempered by the Phoenix Blood Mist, it''s time to break through." Feeling the violent power surging within him, Gu He''s eyes lit up. But soon, his satisfied smile turned into a serious expression. Just a short moment later, the overwhelming pressure from the Phoenix''s will struck again. If it weren''t for Gu He''s body breaking through once more, he would have been overwhelmed by this sudden surge of pressure, no matter how strong his will was. Therefore, Gu He didn''t have time to fully comprehend the changes in his strength. He immediately continued to refine the Phoenix Blood Essence within his body, racing against time. Sensing the Phoenix Blood Essence surging within him, Gu He''s mouth curled into a satisfied smile, skillfully controlling his Divine Fire to break down the refined blood essence and integrate it into his flesh and bones. The excruciating pain once again overwhelmed his nerves. In the silent cave, a few Moonlight Stones emitted a crimson glow, covering Gu He once more. At this moment, Gu He had once again immersed himself in relentless cultivation, especially now that he had resolved all his worries. He cultivated even more recklessly. Time passed swiftly in the quiet cave, and the fluctuations of energy emanating from Gu He gradually increased. Both his cultivation and physical strength were rising at an extremely terrifying speed. "I can make a breakthrough again... My physical strength and cultivation have already reached the limit." Feeling the surging power within him, Gu He knew it was time for another breakthrough. His hand seals changed, and a tremendous tearing force spread from his body, causing the surrounding Phoenix Blood Mist to rush into him. Boom... boom... The violent power erupted within Gu He, tearing through his meridians and flesh, and even though he had prepared for this, the excruciating pain was too much for him to bear. His low growls sounded inhuman, almost like a beast''s. An indescribable agony swept over his entire body, making it feel like his muscles, bones, blood, and even his cells were burning. The energy from the Phoenix Blood Mist had thoroughly merged, gradually making Gu He''s physical body stronger. Although the process was not fast, Gu He could still feel the changes in himself. This undoubtedly greatly inspired Gu He, who gritted his teeth and fervently tempered his own physical body. Half an hour later, a resounding roar echoed from within Gu He''s body. His flesh burst into a crimson glow, and a dreadful aura surged from within him. The blood scales on his body fell off one by one, revealing his fair skin as if it were jade. Gu He''s eyes suddenly opened, despite the lingering intense pain inside him. A faint smile appeared on his lips. Gu He murmured to himself, "My physical body has finally broken through again... This kind of power is truly intoxicating. Now, it''s time to work on my cultivation." With this thought, Gu He closed his eyes once more and tightly pursed his lips. His handsome face appeared particularly sharp and cold at this moment, as if it were a sharpened blade. His hands came together once again as he activated the Divine Fire Technique. "Break for me..." A low growl emanated from Gu He''s mouth, and the surrounding blood mist once again gathered and surged into his body. Rumble... As soon as these divine Phoenix blood mists entered Gu He''s body, they immediately turned into flames. In an instant, it seemed as if a raging firestorm erupted within Gu He''s body, violently burning his physical form. However, this pain was no longer unbearable for Gu He. Caw... At this moment, the entrance to the cave was empty; Xiao Jin had already left. When the blood mist extended towards the cave entrance and Xiao Jin felt a great threat, it had left the entrance. Currently, it was not far away, and its golden eyes were fixed on the direction of the cave. When it saw the blood mist gradually dissipate inside, it turned into a golden light and flew toward the cave. Just as Gu He was walking out of the cave, he saw Xiao Jin landing in front of him. "Master, are you alright?" Upon seeing Gu He, Xiao Jin''s young voice carried a hint of concern. Gu He shook his head and said, "I''m fine. Let''s go; we''re returning to the sect." Then, Gu He rode on Xiao Jin''s back, and they quickly returned to the base of the Cloud Mist Sect. Gu He''s thoughts activated the "Near and Far, the Ends of the Earth" technique, and the next moment, he appeared directly in the courtyard. In the courtyard, two young women and a little girl were sitting in a pavilion, chatting. The sudden appearance of a figure immediately caught the attention of the three people. Once they saw the person''s face, they exclaimed in delight. "Teacher!" "It''s the teacher!" "You''re out of seclusion!" Upon seeing Gu He, Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin excitedly ran over. Nalan Yanran followed a step behind, hesitated for a moment, and then came forward to stand in front of Gu He, calling out, "Teacher!" As Gu He landed, he sensed the presence of the three people. He was not surprised and smiled, saying, "You''re all here." "I''ve been in seclusion for these days. Have you been diligent in your cultivation?" Gu He asked with a smile. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin shook their heads, saying, "Teacher, we haven''t been slacking off." Nalan Yanran hesitated for a moment and then said, "No." Gu He smiled and then turned his gaze to Nalan Yanran, speaking gently, "Yanran, you''ve come at the right time. Last time, I still owe you two welcome gifts, right? You were taken away by the sect leader. This time, I can make it up to you." Nalan Yanran was momentarily stunned, and then she expressed some pleasant surprise, saying, "Thank you, Teacher." During this period, Nalan Yanran had practically been running to this courtyard every day. She was already familiar with Xiao Yi Xian, and she had become even more acquainted with Qing Lin during this time. The once timid girl now recognized her as her senior sister and could communicate normally with her at least in her presence. From Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, Nalan Yanran had learned that when their teacher accepted disciples, he would bestow three welcome gifts as part of their sect''s tradition, just as Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin had received when they joined. This made Nalan Yanran suddenly think about herself. That day, it seemed like her teacher only gave her one welcome gift. Then she thought about the scene where Yun Yun had hurriedly taken her away, and she suddenly felt regret. Her teacher must have taken her away directly, which meant that Gu He hadn''t had the chance to give her the two remaining welcome gifts. This made Nalan Yanran feel a sense of helplessness. It wasn''t that Nalan Yanran was envious of the treasures in Gu He''s hands. It was just that, from Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran had learned that her teacher''s tradition of giving gifts always included a transmission of energy through a ritual. After completing the ritual, Xiao Yi Xian''s cultivation would undergo a significant increase. Combined with the information revealed by Liu Ling about how Xiao Yi Xian''s and Qing Lin''s cultivations had skyrocketed, Nalan Yanran immediately deduced that it was due to this transmission ritual performed by her teacher. Thinking about this, Nalan Yanran felt even more regretful. Because she felt like she had missed an opportunity to significantly boost her own cultivation. Although her junior sister reassured her that in the future, her teacher would provide her with three rewards every month, and among those rewards, there would be a transmission ritual, Nalan Yanran still felt a sense of loss. People who practice cultivation are most eager to make breakthroughs in their strength. Having missed such a great opportunity, Nalan Yanran couldn''t help but feel uneasy. But what she didn''t expect was that when her teacher appeared, he gave her a pleasant surprise. He actually wanted to make up for the two remaining welcome gifts. At this moment, Nalan Yanran felt extremely excited, and she truly wanted to shout, "Long live the teacher!" But when she looked at Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, who were standing there with wide eyes, full of curiosity, she wanted to maintain her image as their senior sister. She chose to remain silent, but the excitement in her eyes was impossible to conceal. Gu He looked at Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, who were standing there with wide eyes, full of curiosity, and said, "Alright, the two of you go back to practice." "Okay." With a trace of disappointment in their eyes, Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin returned to their own rooms. Gu He then turned his gaze to Nalan Yanran and said gently, "Yanran, sit in front of me." (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 147: Deadly Situation Chapter 147: Deadly Situation Chapter 147: Deadly Situation "Ah..." "???" "Kneel?" Hearing Gu He''s words, Nalan Yanran was clearly puzzled, not understanding what Gu He meant. Although she had heard about the energy transmission through the ritual from Xiao Yi Xian, she had no knowledge of the specific steps involved. Seeing the solemn expression on Gu He''s face, Nalan Yanran hesitated for a moment and decided to trust him. She slowly came in front of Gu He and sat down. Gu He reminded her, "Yanran, I''m going to perform the energy transmission ritual on you. It might be painful, so you need to endure it." Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran''s heart tightened. Will it be very painful? As the daughter of the Nalan Clan, Nalan Yanran had rarely experienced pain. Hearing Gu He mention pain, she subconsciously felt a little fearful. However, when she thought about the fact that this energy transmission ritual could significantly boost her cultivation, Nalan Yanran''s eyes showed determination. It''s just a little pain, right? I can endure it. For the sake of becoming stronger, a little pain is nothing. With these thoughts in mind, Nalan Yanran raised her head and a hint of determination appeared on her pretty face. "Teacher, please go ahead. Yanran is not afraid of pain." Seeing the determination on Nalan Yanran''s face, Gu He nodded slightly, showing a sense of contentment. "Good, I''ll be quick." Then, with a slightly worried tone, he reminded her, "If you can''t endure it later, don''t force it; otherwise, it may harm your meridians, and the costs might outweigh the benefits." Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Nalan Yanran''s expression became even more serious, but she still nodded firmly. "Disciple will be cautious." "Good." Gu He nodded in satisfaction and then moved behind Nalan Yanran. "Yanran, I''m going to begin. Concentrate your mind and spirit, and focus on refining the energy I''m transmitting into your body." Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran didn''t dare to be careless. She quickly closed her eyes and concentrated her mind. Gu He didn''t say much more. He extended his right palm and gently pressed it against Nalan Yanran''s back. With a focused mind, he immediately activated the transmission technique and began transmitting the energy into Nalan Yanran. As Gu He willed it, an extremely profound energy surged from his body into his arm, then gathered in the palm of his hand before rushing into Nalan Yanran''s body. Nalan Yanran was focused on her preparations and was curious about the details of this energy transmission ritual. Just then, she suddenly felt the palm on her back become extremely hot, and a vast energy forcibly entered her body. With a sudden tearing pain, Nalan Yanran''s complexion changed dramatically. Pain! So painful! Nalan Yanran had never experienced such pain before, and for a moment, she couldn''t help but lose her composure. Peak of Nine-Star Dou Zhe! In just a short time, she had broken through from a Seven-Star Dou Zhe to the peak of a Nine-Star Dou Zun! She had saved herself months of hard work! It was truly incredible. Thinking about the method Gu He used for the energy transmission, Nalan Yanran was even more shocked. Gu He was indeed incredible! No wonder Xiao Yi Xian and Liu Ling had grown so rapidly in such a short time. Nalan Yanran felt that, under Gu He''s energy transmission and guidance, even a pig would become powerful. "Ding, the host has granted Fourth Disciple Nalan Yanran an hour''s worth of cultivation. Congratulations to the host for triggering the tenfold return and gaining a year''s worth of cultivation!" (Equivalent to a Six-Star Dou Ancestor) {TL/N: Uh well, i am not sure what to say about this. But this was what came out. Please understand} "Ding, a year''s worth of cultivation has been sent to the system space. Please check and collect it, host." At this moment, Gu He''s mind also received prompts from the system. Gu He shook his head somewhat helplessly. Nalan Yanran was truly too weak. Or perhaps, Gu He''s current strength was just too formidable. Their strength was like night and day. Gu He''s one-hour worth of cultivation was already too much for Nalan Yanran to bear. Gu He shook his head somewhat helplessly. It seemed like he would need to train Nalan Yanran thoroughly in the coming days. Otherwise, she might become useless in the future. What could she do with just a year''s worth of cultivation? Moreover, as Gu He''s strength continued to increase, Nalan Yanran would likely be unable to endure even an hour''s worth of cultivation in the next energy transmission. Not only Nalan Yanran, even Xiao Yi Xian and Liu Ling would likely be able to endure less and less time in the future. Compared to Gu He, their progress was incredibly slow. It was almost like being trapped in a dead end. Even though Gu He had done everything he could to improve their physical strength and cultivation, it seemed to be of no use. Gu He frowned; he felt that he had to find a solution to this problem. Otherwise, the speed of his own strength improvement might slow down in the future. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 148: The Astonishment of Nalan Yanran Chapter 148: The Astonishment of Nalan Yanran Chapter 148: The Astonishment of Nalan Yanran After Nalan Yanran had regained her composure, she turned around to find that Gu He had entered the pavilion and poured a cup of tea for her. Nalan Yanran, suppressing her excitement, wore a smile on her face as she walked towards the pavilion. She felt immense gratitude towards her teacher, Gu He. If it weren''t for Gu He imparting energy to her, she wouldn''t have achieved the breakthrough to the Nine-Star Dou Practitioner level so quickly. However, as she entered the pavilion, she saw that Gu He, who was holding a tea cup, had a furrowed brow, and his mood appeared to be rather gloomy. Seeing this, Nalan Yanran was taken aback, and her smile quickly faded as she felt a sense of shame. She couldn''t help but think, "Teacher Gu He must be disappointed in me." During the energy transmission ceremony just now, she had called for a halt after enduring it for only a short while. This made her feel ashamed, considering her previous determination to persevere. When she saw that Gu He''s mood wasn''t great at the moment, Nalan Yanran subconsciously felt that she had disappointed her teacher. After some hesitation, Nalan Yanran approached Gu He and, with her head lowered, said softly, "Teacher, I''m sorry." Gu He, who had been lost in thought, was brought back to reality upon hearing Nalan Yanran''s voice. Gu He looked at Nalan Yanran with a somewhat puzzled expression and asked, "Why are you apologizing?" Nalan Yanran continued to wear a look of shame as she replied, "Disciple disappointed Teacher just now." Gu He then realized that Nalan Yanran was referring to the recent energy transmission process. He shook his head and said, "It''s not your fault." Nalan Yanran was already quite talented, which was why she had been taken as a personal disciple by Yun Yun. Compared to her peers, she was already outstanding. Gu He knew what had really happened during the ceremony just now. He looked at Nalan Yanran and added, "However, your current strength has indeed weakened." "If you want to improve your cultivation quickly, you must enhance your physical strength." "The Jade Bone Powder that I gave you last time has an extraordinary effect on tempering your physical body." "After your daily practice, you should insist on using the Jade Bone Powder to strengthen your physical body. This will not only enhance your physical strength but also provide significant help to your cultivation." "Don''t be stingy with the Jade Bone Powder. When you''ve used it up, just come to me for more." Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Nalan Yanran was momentarily stunned. She nodded mechanically and replied, "Disciple understands." "Teacher, what is this Seven-Colored Lotus? Is it some kind of spiritual medicine?" Without much hesitation, Nalan Yanran asked the question that had been bothering her. In response, Gu He smiled and explained, "This Seven-Colored Lotus is known as the Seven-Colored Saintly Lotus. It''s indeed a kind of spiritual medicine, but its greatest value isn''t in making pills." "The Seven-Colored Saintly Lotus can autonomously gather the Dou Qi of heaven and earth. As long as you plant it in your courtyard, it won''t take long for the Dou Qi of heaven and earth in your courtyard to be at least ten times denser than the outside." Gu He slowly explained the function of the Seven-Colored Saintly Lotus. "Ten times denser Dou Qi compared to the outside?" Hearing Gu He''s explanation, Nalan Yanran''s eyes widened, her red lips slightly parted, and her face filled with astonishment. Nalan Yanran was momentarily stunned, and she instantly understood Gu He''s words. The astonishment on her pretty face had almost reached an overwhelming level. In the Jia Ma Empire, the Yun Lan Sect held an extremely high position and was regarded as a sacred place for cultivation in the empire. The foundation of the Yun Lan Sect was the Yun Lan Mountain, a feng shui treasure trove. The Dou Qi was at least three to four times denser on Yun Lan Mountain than outside. But now, Gu He claimed that this Seven-Colored Saintly Lotus could make the Dou Qi of heaven and earth in her courtyard ten times denser than the outside. The Dou Qi in Yun Lan Sect was already extremely dense. If it were increased by ten times, how terrifying would that be? Nalan Yanran dared not continue thinking about it. Her breathing suddenly became heavy, and her pretty face had a somewhat dazed expression. This Seven-Colored Saintly Lotus was without a doubt a treasure that could safeguard the sect''s foundations! Yet, Teacher Gu He was saying that he was giving it to her as a gift. At this moment, Nalan Yanran felt like her worldviews were about to shatter. (End of this chapter) ================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 149 Nine-colored Sacred Lotus Chapter 149 Nine-colored Sacred Lotus Chapter 149 Nine-colored Sacred Lotus "Teacher, are you going to bestow this Seven-colored Sacred Lotus to your disciple?" Nalan Yanran looked at Gu He with unbelieving beautiful eyes. When Gu He heard this, he handed the Seven-colored Sacred Lotus in his hand to Nalan Yanran with a smile and said: "The teacher is not joking." Nalan Yanran''s small hands trembled slightly as she received the Seven-colored Sacred Lotus, which looked like a sculpture, giving her a very surreal feeling. "Thank you teacher!" Taking a deep breath, Nalan Yanran tried her best to look calm and said sincerely. When he heard this, Gu He nodded slightly. In fact, the real reason he gave the Seven-colored Sacred Lotus to Nalan Yanran was that he had other intentions. Last time, Yun Yun''s attitude towards himself showed that she still had resentment about what happened in the cave of the Demon Beast Mountains. About this, Gu He was also somewhat helpless.Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com Since he made a mistake, he should think of a way to make up for it. And this Seven-colored Sacred Lotus, Gu He gave it as compensation to Yun Yun. The Seven-colored Sacred Lotus can spontaneously condense spiritual energy from heaven and earth, which is equivalent to creating a holy land for cultivation for Yunlan Sect. As long as they are within the range of the Seven-colored Sacred Lotus, the cultivation speed of Yunlan Sect disciples will be greatly improved. Gu He knew well the status of Yunlan Sect in Yun Yun''s heart. Making such a big contribution to Yunlan Sect should be enough to eliminate her alienation. Thinking of this, Gu He''s mouth curled up into a smile, and reminded: "You''d better discuss this Seven-colored Sacred Lotus with the Sect Master first before deciding where to plant it." Nalan Yanran nodded when she heard this and said, "Yes, teacher." "Ding, detected that the host bestowed a damaged Source Seven-colored Sacred Lotus to the fourth disciple Nalan Yanran, congratulations to the host for triggering a ten thousandfold return and obtaining a damaged Source Nine-colored Sacred Lotus." "Ding, the Nine-colored Sacred Lotus has been delivered to the system space, please check." At this moment, a system prompt sounded in Gu He''s mind. Hearing the sound, Gu He was overjoyed. As expected, it was a Nine-colored Sacred Lotus! Thinking of the effects of the Nine-colored Sacred Lotus, even the usually calm Gu He couldn''t help but feel wildly excited in his heart. But soon after, Gu He frowned slightly. Damaged Source? His gaze fell on the Seven-colored Sacred Lotus in Nalan Yanran''s hand, and a hint of doubt flashed through his eyes. Was the source of this Seven-colored Sacred Lotus damaged? And the Nine-colored Sacred Lotus obtained through the ten thousandfold return was also source damaged. For this result, Gu He was slightly dissatisfied in his heart. The Nine-colored Sacred Lotus defied Heaven''s creation and was born with the ability to naturally condense infinite energy. When it appeared in the ancient era, it attracted many peak powers of the time into a struggle over it. Sensing the crisis, the Nine-colored Lotus transformed into nine seeds in the critical moment and fled into emptiness. Yes. Since the Nine-colored Sacred Lotus could transform into nine seeds and flee in a critical moment, it must have already attained some level of spiritual wisdom. At the very least, it could actively discern crises. After these thoughts flashed through his mind, Gu He looked towards the Nine-colored Sacred Lotus in the void and ordered the system: "System, sign the master-servant contract." As Gu He finished speaking, a drop of vermilion blood suddenly separated from Gu He''s body and floated towards the Nine-colored Sacred Lotus in the void. Gu He paused slightly, feeling a trace of fatigue as the blood separated from his body. Extracting spiritual blood also had a slight impact on him. The next moment, the drop of blood landed on the Nine-colored Sacred Lotus. Buzz! At that moment, the Nine-colored Sacred Lotus bloomed with dazzling nine-colored light. Faintly, Gu He seemed to hear a woman''s soft moan. The dropped blood abruptly emitted a scarlet glow, then condensed into a blood-colored imprint that slowly seeped into the Nine-colored Sacred Lotus. After a moment, Gu He''s expression changed subtly. He felt that at this moment, he seemed to have established an extremely subtle connection with the Nine-colored Sacred Lotus. He could clearly sense that the Nine-colored Sacred Lotus before him was a living being. The Nine-colored Lotus seemed to sense his presence, and a cute female voice entered Gu He''s mind: "Yaya, Lotus meets her master!" Hearing this voice, Gu He''s face flickered in brief surprise. This Nine-colored Sacred Lotus was actually female. No, she should be called motherly. And she seemed to even have her own name. (End of chapter) ================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 150 Cai’er Chapter 150 Caier Chapter 150 Cai''er "Extract the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus." After signing the master-servant contract, Gu he gave an order to the system in his heart. As soon as Gu he spoke, they saw the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus suspended in empty space emitting nine-colored light all over its body. In the next moment, the nine-colored light condensed into a rainbow beam and shot towards Gu he, finally appearing in front of Gu he in the form of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus. "Master..." As soon as the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus landed beside Gu he, nine-colored light flashed from it, then a green luminescence emerged from the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, emitting a rich aura of vitality. In the next moment, the green light orb floated down slowly from the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus and drifted slowly towards Gu he. "What is this?" Gu he fixed his eyes intently, and only saw the green light orb float in front of him, then the light gradually dissipated to reveal a delicate figure. It was only a tiny figure about the size of a palm, but its appearance was not much different from humans, except that its ears were pointed and it had a pair of cute little flowers. Her skin was pure white like jade, and her gently bent hair was also emerald green. Behind her were fine wings like cicada wings, also green in color.Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com "This is...a fairy?" Gu he opened his eyes wide, looking somewhat dazed at the tiny figure in front of him. This little one''s appearance reminded him of the elves in his previous life. And this little one was the fairy of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus? "Yiyo!" "Master, hug!" The little one blinked her emerald green eyes and stretched out her soft little hands, looking at Gu he. "Hug?" Hearing this, Gu he was slightly taken aback. Seeing the green round pearl in the little one''s hands, Gu he was slightly stunned. Through his soul force sensing, he could feel intense vitality emanating from the green round pearl. Here is a full rewrite of the passage with Guhe changed to Gu He: "Eat it?" Gu He was surprised by the green pearl in the little one''s hands. His intuition said it was something beneficial. "Yiyo yiyo!" the little one cooed, holding the pearl. Gu He smiled and opened his mouth. As the pearl entered, it dissolved into a stream of green energy flowing down his throat. His body absorbed it swiftly, nourishing his bones and limbs. Gu He shuddered at the changes within. An unparalleled comfort washed through him, as if cleansed to his core. He sensed his body''s alterations with eyes closed. "Yiyo yiyo!" the little one fluttered happily around the transformed Gu He. After a moment, Gu He opened surprised eyes. The pearl contained incredibly rich vitality and could prolong life! As a top cultivator, Gu He''s lifespan was already lengthy, but this singular pearl extended it by an estimated hundred years. Such a priceless treasure brought wild joy to his eyes. Gu He looked to the dancing little one. "How many pearls can you condense daily?" he asked gently. The little one stopped, landing before Gu He and pointing a soft finger. "One per day?" Gu He rejoiced inwardly at obtaining this treasure daily. A thought came to him. "Does condensing the pearls harm you?" If so, Gu He would not allow it, for the little one''s wellbeing exceeded the pearls'' worth. "Yiyo yiyo! No," came the sweet reply upon his question. Relieved, Gu He chuckled and poked the little one''s soft cheek. It flew angrily to his hair, grasping strands like a swing in protest. Gu He laughed helplessly at its mischief. Gently catching it, he spoke softly, "From now on, I will call you Cai''er." "Yiyo yiyo! Cai''er, Cai''er!" it replied happily, circling his head and accepting its new name. Gu He inquired curiously of Cai''er''s other abilities. "Cai''er, do you have any other powers?" ============================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 151 Spiritual Realm Spirit, Terrifying Ability Chapter 151 Spiritual Realm Spirit, Terrifying Ability Chapter 151 Spiritual Realm Spirit, Terrifying Ability When Gu He mentioned it, the little one who was happily dancing flew over in an instant, and soon flew in front of Gu He, blinking her emerald green eyes. Under Gu He''s gaze, the wings on the little one''s back suddenly vibrated, and dazzling seven-colored light radiated from her body. Gu He was curiously examining the little one, when suddenly his expression changed. He suddenly felt a terrifying spiritual pressure emanating from the little one, making Gu He''s soul shudder unwillingly. Gu He''s expression changed somewhat dreadfully: "This... This is a spiritual realm spirit!" His spiritual realm had already reached the peak of the mortal realm, and it could make him feel this soul shudder, which must be a spiritual realm spirit. Feeling a tearing feeling in his soul, Gu He hurriedly said: "Quick, Cai''er, stop quickly!" Hearing Gu He''s voice, the little one blinked in confusion, and the terrifying spiritual pressure immediately receded like tidewater. "Phew!" Feeling the pressure on his soul dissipate, Gu He could finally take a long breath. Just now''s feeling was really terrible. It seemed that his soul was situated in the vast boundless surge of the sea waves, facing the attack of gales and rainstorms, with the possibility of being overwhelmed at any time. After a while, Gu He gradually recovered, his complexion slowly calm again, but when he looked at the little one in front of him, there was still an inadvertent look of horror in his eyes. This little one actually possessed a spiritual realm spirit! Thinking of this, Gu He''s heart couldn''t help but burn hotly. But when he thought of his own current strength, Gu He fell silent. "Aiya, the road ahead is long." In the pavilion, Gu He poured himself a cup of tea and silently sighed. With his current strength, obtaining eighth grade heavenly materials and earthly treasures would indeed be very difficult. "Step by step, and with the system''s existence, my strength will increase rapidly. Eventually I will be able to fully restore the little one''s source." Recalling the sad and reluctant expression on the little one''s face when he said he was leaving earlier, Gu He silently made a decision in his heart. "The most urgent task is to find a place for the little one to stay." The system space is always silent and desolate. It certainly wouldn''t be comfortable for the little one to stay there long-term. Nor did Gu He want the lively and adorable little one to always be in that dark space. Moreover, to keep the little one''s abilities shut in the system space would be a huge waste. Just based on her ability to absorb stellar forces and condense energies between heaven and earth, Gu He could create an extremely energy-rich cultivation holy land. If he put Little Medical Immortal and the others there, it would undoubtedly greatly help improve their cultivation. (End of chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 152: Python In The Valley Chapter 152: Python In The Valley Chapter 152: Python In The Valley "But where should we put the little guy?" In the pavilion, Gu He furrowed his brows. He did consider placing the little one in his own courtyard. However, his courtyard had too much traffic, with Cloud Mist Sect elders coming to him for pills almost every month. This was his duty as an honorary elder of Cloud Mist Sect. Since he enjoyed the generous treatment offered by Cloud Mist Sect, he couldn''t refuse. Gu He did feel some attachment to Cloud Mist Sect. After all, without the sect''s strong support in the past, he wouldn''t have become the Alchemy King so quickly. So, even though Gu He no longer needed Cloud Mist Sect, he had no intention of leaving. Of course, if the situation demanded it, Gu He wouldn''t be stubborn and would leave when necessary. With so many outsiders coming and going, it was not suitable to leave the little one in his courtyard. Given the little one''s abilities, a secluded place with minimal traffic would be the best choice. The mountain range where Gu He often went into seclusion seemed like a good option. However, that mountain range was quite far from Cloud Mist Sect. Gu He treasured the little one''s extraordinary abilities. Placing the little one too far away might pose a risk if something happened, and Gu He couldn''t arrive in time. That seemed inappropriate. Even though the little one could handle even ordinary Martial Saints with ease, there might be powerful wanderers in the sparsely populated northwest region. But what if some strong individual liked traveling the continent and happened upon the little one? That wouldn''t be good. Better safe than sorry. The little one was extremely important to Gu He now.T/his chapter is updated by He didn''t want to consider any dangerous places. Gu He thought of a few places but gave up after careful consideration. Half an hour later, Gu He suddenly set down his teacup and looked towards the rear of Cloud Mist Sect. That was the forbidden area of Cloud Mist Sect, where the back mountain was located. "Perhaps, the back mountain is a good place." For survival, frequent clashes and killings occurred in the dense forest, disrupting the tranquility of this primitive forest. Yet, in the deepest part of Cloud Mist Sect, in the very center, there was perpetual silence. Any magical beast that arrived here would show signs of fear and dread before hastily fleeing. In the world of magical beasts, strength was respected. Obviously, this silent place was home to a king among magical beasts in this area. This was a valley surrounded by mountains, with only one entrance. Inside the valley, energy abounded, and various plants flourished abundantly. In one corner of the valley, there was a deep and cold pond, covering dozens of yards in width and depth. At this moment, at the bottom of the pond, a massive creature lay silently. It was a giant python covered in blue scales, its body stretching tens of yards, and a single horn protruded from its ferocious head like a long spear, emitting a cold and eerie luster, as if it could tear apart the world in an instant. The python exuded a sharp and terrifying aura, unmistakably a peak fifth-order magical beast. In Cloud Mist Mountain, a fifth-order peak magical beast was enough to be the ruler of this primeval jungle. It was precisely because of the existence of this python that this valley became a rare tranquil place in Cloud Mist Sect''s back mountain. At this moment, the python was quietly lying at the bottom of the pond, eyes closed, in a state of peaceful slumber, looking quite content. Just then, a powerful soul force swept through and quickly returned, hovering in the air above the valley. "Hmm, this valley is not bad." With a hearty and surprised voice, a figure in white suddenly appeared in the valley, standing by the edge of the deep and cold pond. The person in white did not conceal their aura, and the python, which was in a state of sleep, suddenly sensed the danger. Fierce anger flashed in its huge pupils, and it swiftly surged up from the bottom of the cold pond. Boom! In the next moment, the previously calm deep and cold pond churned violently, and a massive water column, tens of yards in height, shot up into the sky. ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 153: Absorbing the Power of the Stars! Chapter 153: Absorbing the Power of the Stars! Chapter 153: Absorbing the Power of the Stars! "Roar!" As the python appeared, its eyes, the size of copper bells, stared directly at the man in white. A cold and fierce intent emanated as it lowly roared, as if declaring that this was its territory. The man in white was none other than Gu He. Looking at the giant python before him, a smile appeared on Gu He''s lips. "Unexpectedly, there''s a pleasant surprise." Gu He, with his broad knowledge, naturally recognized the creature before him. This beast was called the Blue Scale Giant Python, a top-tier fifth-order magical beast bloodline. After a brief sensing, Gu He already knew that this Blue Scale Giant Python had reached the peak of the fifth-order magical beast. The strength of magical beasts grows directly with the level of their bloodline. This Blue Scale Giant Python''s strength had clearly reached its limit, and without significant opportunities in the future, it might be difficult for it to break through to the sixth-order realm. However, Gu He wasn''t concerned about that. What he focused on was that this Blue Scale Giant Python belonged to the serpent-type magical beasts, making it a perfect fit for Qing Lin''s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. "Wait until that girl Qing Lin''s strength improves a bit more. By then, I can give her this Blue Scale Giant Python." Looking at the raging Blue Scale Giant Python before him, Gu He had no intention of killing it. The principle of making the most out of everything applied here. This Blue Scale Giant Python, at least a top-tier fifth-order magical beast, could still play a protective role until the young Qing Lin grew up. Roar! The giant python, seeing the human in front of it disregarding its warning, grew even angrier. Unable to endure any longer, it twisted its massive body, creating a water column that directly attacked Gu He. "Quite a temper." Facing the sudden water column, Gu He smiled slightly and casually slapped towards the Blue Scale Giant Python. A sturdy palm print instantly condensed and blasted towards the water column. At the moment of contact, the massive water column instantly disintegrated, but the palm print remained unchanged. Breaking through the water column, it continued at an extremely fast speed towards the Blue Scale Giant Python. Seeing this scene, the Blue Scale Giant Python also reacted. The human in front of it was not someone it could provoke. Fear flashed in its huge pupils, and it instinctively tried to dive into the cold pond to escape. However, something even more terrifying happened suddenly. Upon hearing this, Cai Er blinked her green eyes, looked at the cold pond in front of her, and expressed satisfaction. She nodded her small head at Gu He. Then, the little one turned into a green light and directly entered the body of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus. In an instant, the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus radiated a dazzling nine-colored light and floated towards the cold pond in front, finally landing in the center of the pond. Gu He stood on the shore, looking at the calm cold pond. A slightly large Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus stood in the middle, and the brilliant nine-colored light reflected on the entire surface of the cold pond, creating a colorful and dazzling scene. Suddenly, Gu He''s expression changed, and his gaze focused on the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus on the water. With the blossoming of the nine-colored light on the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, inexplicably, a force seemed to be absorbed into it. As this force entered, the nine-colored light on the Sacred Lotus became even more dazzling and radiant. "Is this the power of the stars?" Gu He stared at the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, carefully sensing the unknown force absorbed into it, speculating in his mind. The power of the stars was undoubtedly a more powerful force than Dou Qi. The extraordinary ability of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus might be related to its absorption of the power of the stars. With the strands of the power of the stars being absorbed into the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, in the area near the Sacred Lotus, countless bubbles suddenly appeared on the originally calm water surface. Gu He''s eyes lit up, and he could clearly sense that at the root of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, a large amount of heaven and earth energy was surging out. This was the ability of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus to absorb the power of the stars and condense the energy of heaven and earth. "Such rich heaven and earth energy." Watching the heaven and earth energy surging out of the cold pond, Gu He''s eyes were filled with amazement. At this rate, it wouldn''t be long before the entire valley''s heaven and earth energy became extremely rich. Observing the changes in the valley, Gu He couldn''t help but say to Cai Er, "Cai Er, set up a soul power barrier and hide the entire valley." (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 154: Establishing the Medicine Garden Chapter 154: Establishing the Medicine Garden Chapter 154: Establishing the Medicine Garden As Gu He''s words fell, the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus in the cold pond suddenly emitted a green light, and Cai Er''s small figure gradually revealed itself. "Yiya yiya!" The little one stood in the center of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus''s lotus leaf, gesturing with her small hands and forming a mysterious hand seal. The next moment, Gu He''s expression changed. He sensed an extremely powerful soul force emanating from the little one, sweeping out. Gu He''s expression became serious, but it seemed that this time, Cai Er had mastered the measure and did not release the soul force towards him. The powerful and terrifying soul force enveloped the entire valley, eventually forming a substantial soul barrier in the sky above the valley. With a thought, Gu He released his soul force to explore the outside world. Subsequently, he found that his soul force couldn''t penetrate this soul barrier, nor could it investigate the outside situation. "Soul Realm soul force is indeed formidable!" After a few attempts, Gu He withdrew his soul force, showing a look of amazement in his eyes. Then, he suddenly realized something, and joy appeared on his face. Cai Er''s Soul Realm soul force had reached the point of turning the intangible into the tangible. The soul barrier she condensed could not only block external soul force exploration but also lock in the heaven and earth energy within the valley, preventing leakage. At this rate, it wouldn''t be long before the heaven and earth energy inside the valley reached a terrifying level, turning it into a true cultivation sanctuary. Gu He looked at the continuously boiling cold pond. Using his soul force perception, he discovered that the cold pond was now also filled with abundant heaven and earth energy. In no time, the entire deep cold pond would be directly assimilated by the heaven and earth energy, turning into a pool of pure energy. Gu He couldn''t help but think of when he discovered the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus in a valley in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. The Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus had also condensed a pool of energy water. Perhaps, in no time, the entire deep cold pond would become extremely pure energy water.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com Feeling the changes in the heaven and earth energy within the valley, Gu He''s lips curved slightly. It seemed that his ideas were about to come true soon. Afterward, Gu He came to a corner of the valley. It was filled with various flowers, plants, and a small amount of spiritual herbs. "With such rich heaven and earth energy, it''s very suitable for the growth of spiritual herbs." With the presence of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, the valley would undoubtedly be filled with abundant energy. If he established a medicine garden here, the spiritual herbs inside would grow rapidly. After that, Gu He prepared to leave the valley. However, he stopped shortly after. "The energy in this valley cannot be wasted." Gu He looked at the increasingly abundant heaven and earth energy in the valley, then, with a thought, he released the Golden Feather Giant Eagle and the Crimson Flame Demon Dragon from the system space. The next moment, two huge figures appeared in the valley out of thin air. "Master!" As soon as the eagle and the dragon appeared, they called out affectionately to Gu He. But soon, they sensed something unusual in the valley. "So rich heaven and earth energy!" Looking at the valley filled with abundant energy, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle and the Crimson Flame Demon Dragon were slightly stunned before showing some excitement, greedily swallowing the energy in the void. Gu He smiled slightly, then communicated with the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus and opened a gap in the soul barrier above the valley. After that, Gu He''s soul force was released through this gap, summoning the Void Beast wandering in the void. After a while, a figure appeared in front of Gu He out of thin air. Then, it pounced into Gu He''s arms. With a tender voice, the petite silver figure of the Void Beast was revealed. Gu He touched the silver scales on the Void Beast, then began to instruct his three pets. The content of Gu He''s instructions were simple. First, without his command, they were not allowed to leave the valley. Second, they were not allowed to disturb the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus in the deep cold pond or destroy the medicine garden Gu He had just built. Third, anyone trespassing in the valley without his leadership would be dealt with without mercy. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 155: Power of the Void Chapter 155: Power of the Void Chapter 155: Power of the Void "Yes, master." After listening to Gu He''s instructions, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle and the Crimson Flame Demon Dragon both agreed without hesitation. Gu He nodded in satisfaction. In fact, with the strength of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle and the Crimson Flame Demon Dragon, dealing with the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus would be relatively easy. Gu He''s concern was that if these beings carried his aura, the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus might not harm them, but if they were reckless and accidentally harmed the main body of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, it would be disastrous. Although Cai''er''s methods were extraordinary, her main body was ultimately just a spiritual herb. Gu He was also unsure if the main body of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus had any means of self-protection. But just to be safe, Gu He naturally wanted to give them an early warning. In case something unexpected happened to the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, preventing it from using its abilities, Gu He would truly be in trouble. Suddenly, Gu He turned his gaze to the Void Beast in his arms. He suddenly remembered that the little creature hadn''t responded to his words just now. However, when Gu He looked at the creature in his arms, he found that the Void Beast was staring straight at the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus in the center of the deep cold pond. Its silver eyes shimmered with intense light. Seeing this scene, Gu He frowned. This little creature had quite the audacity; he had already given orders, yet it dared to attract the attention of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus. Slap! Without hesitation, Gu He delivered a direct slap to the smooth head of the Void Beast. "Woo?" Suddenly attacked, the Void Beast snapped back to reality. Seeing that the attacker was Gu He, it whimpered in a grievous tone. "You little one, master is talking to you. What are you thinking?" Gu He glared at the Void Beast, then reiterated his request, warning, "You must never have any ideas about the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, or else I''ll peel your skin off." "Woo..." Hearing this, the Void Beast shrank into Gu He''s arms, making whimpering sounds. Then, a tender voice came from the Void Beast''s mouth, "Master, can I cultivate above the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus?" Seeing Gu He listening to its words and preparing to strike again, the Void Beast quickly continued, "I promise not to harm it." Gu He raised an eyebrow and looked at the Void Beast with suspicion. "Why do you insist on cultivating above the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus?" Glancing in the direction of the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, the Void Beast''s silver eyes revealed a passionate light, and a tender voice followed, "Master, I sensed extremely rich power of the void above the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus. If I cultivate there, my strength will quickly improve." "Power of the void?" Gu He showed surprise on his face. Could it be that the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus also possessed spatial abilities? "The energy in this valley is extremely abundant. Stay here and focus on improving your strength." "Especially you, Little Gold." Gu He''s gaze fell on the Golden Feather Giant Eagle beside him, solemnly saying, "Your strength is the weakest now. Without breaking through to the seventh rank, don''t think about going out to play." Little Gold, always playful, undoubtedly found Gu He''s words a heavy blow. Hearing the master''s words of disdain, Little Gold felt a bit discouraged. But when it heard that Gu He wouldn''t let it go out to play, Little Gold became somewhat panicked. Thinking that it was the master''s first pet but now had the lowest status, Little Gold suddenly felt a bit resentful. Humph! One day, I will surpass these guys and regain the master''s favor. So, with a firm tone, Little Gold replied, "Understood, master." Gu He nodded in satisfaction. Then, his figure flashed, and he used the technique to reach the ends of the earth, leaving the valley directly through the opening in the sky. After Gu He left, the gap in the soul barrier gradually closed. ... At the same time, in the main hall of the Yunlan Sect. "Teacher, teacher!" "Disciple has good news to tell you." Nalan Yanran ran towards the main hall with an excited face, brimming with a beautiful smile. In the main hall, Yun Yun, who was focused on handling sect affairs, heard Nalan Yanran''s excited shout and couldn''t help but slightly pause. "This girl, did she make another breakthrough in her cultivation?" (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 156: Yun Yun’s Shock Chapter 156: Yun Yuns Shock Chapter 156: Yun Yun''s Shock "What? You''ve broken through to a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner?" In the main hall, a shocked voice came out of Yun Yun''s mouth. Yun Yun widened her eyes, her enticing red lips slightly opened, and an expression of disbelief and dissatisfaction appeared on her breathtakingly beautiful face. Just now, Nalan Yanran ran excitedly into the main hall, showing Yun Yun her current cultivation level. Seeing that Nalan Yanran had actually broken through to a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner, and not just any Nine-Star Dou Practitioner but at the pinnacle, Yun Yun was dumbfounded, taking a while to react.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com She clearly remembered that not long ago, Nalan Yanran had just broken through to a Seven-Star Dou Practitioner. Yun Yun speculated that with Nalan Yanran''s talent, it would take at least another month to break through to an Eight-Star Dou Practitioner. So, what was happening now? How did she suddenly reach the pinnacle of a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner? Seeing her teacher''s surprised expression, Nalan Yanran found it somewhat amusing, but at the same time, she felt even more respect for Gu He. Gu He''s method of transmission of techniques was truly extraordinary. Such means, even for someone like her teacher, had never been heard of. Nalan Yanran had also read many ancient texts, and there was never any mention of a technique like transmission. Thinking that she had broken through from a Seven-Star Dou Practitioner to the pinnacle of a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner in such a short time, Nalan Yanran felt like she was dreaming, and the feeling was still somewhat surreal. At the same time, the confidence she had lost in front of Xiao Yan in the past was now gradually returning. Back then, after comparing Xiao Yan''s terrifying cultivation speed, Nalan Yanran had been quite depressed, losing her past confidence. But now, Nalan Yanran understood everything. The soaring strength of Xiao Yan, Xun Er, and the others was undoubtedly due to Gu He''s method of transmission. Now, she had also joined Gu He''s tutelage and could enjoy the joy of receiving techniques. Nalan Yanran was confident in her heart. Since everyone stood on the same starting line, she would not lose to anyone. Thinking about this, Nalan Yanran thought of Gu He''s instructions to her and a firm look flashed in her eyes. The next time she received the transmission, she must perform well. At this moment, Yun Yun finally snapped out of her full astonishment. She looked at Nalan Yanran and asked with a puzzled expression, "Yanran, quickly tell me, what is going on? How did your cultivation suddenly soar?" Nalan Yanran smiled and did not hide anything. She immediately recounted the matter of Gu He using the transmission technique to Yun Yun. Seeing Nalan Yanran restore her former confident attitude, Yun Yun couldn''t help but nod with relief. At this moment, Nalan Yanran thought of the Seven-Colored Saint Lotus in her ring and remembered Gu He''s instructions. With a thought, she directly took out the Seven-Colored Saint Lotus. "Teacher, this is the third meeting gift given to me by Elder Gu He. Elder Gu He instructed me to let you personally decide the fate of this treasure." Nalan Yanran handed the Seven-Colored Saint Lotus to Yun Yun. Yun Yun looked at the Seven-Colored Saint Lotus in surprise, asking, "Yanran, what is this?" Nalan Yanran then repeated Gu He''s description of the Seven-Colored Saint Lotus to Yun Yun. After listening, Yun Yun''s expression became extremely shocked again, looking at the Seven-Colored Saint Lotus in Nalan Yanran''s hand in disbelief. "Yanran, you''re saying this Seven-Colored Saint Lotus can autonomously gather the energy of heaven and earth? And it''s ten times more abundant than the external energy?" At this moment, Yun Yun was completely stunned by Nalan Yanran''s words. As the sect master, Yun Yun understood the value of this Seven-Colored Saint Lotus better than Nalan Yanran. With just this Seven-Colored Saint Lotus, given enough time for Yun Yun Sect to develop, the sect''s strength would increase day by day, with strong individuals emerging constantly. In Yun Yun''s view, this Seven-Colored Saint Lotus alone was enough to build a super force from scratch. "I didn''t expect that even such a treasure, he would be willing to give away." At this moment, Yun Yun''s mood became complicated again. After a while, all the complex emotions disappeared, turning into a determined look. "He treats me so well, why should I hold a grudge against him for what happened back then?" "Moreover, that day''s matter wasn''t entirely his fault..." {Questionable, but its her thinking so cant change it. sigh~} The image of Gu He flashed through her mind, and Yun Yun couldn''t help but murmur in her heart. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 157: Farewell, Meeting Haibodong Chapter 157: Farewell, Meeting Haibodong Chapter 157: Farewell, Meeting Haibodong After leaving the mountain valley, Gu He did not pause for a moment and headed directly towards the imperial capital. A moment later, at the Miteer Auction House. Upon receiving the news of Gu He''s arrival, the manager of the Miteer Auction House immediately sent someone to inform Miteer Tengshan. Ever since Gu He assisted Miteer Tengshan in refining the Qingming Life-Prolonging Pill, he had been held in high regard by the latter. "Lord Dan King, may I inquire about the purpose of your visit?" In the VIP room, after exchanging pleasantries with Miteer Tengshan, Gu He slowly took a seat, and Miteer Tengshan cut to the chase. Gu He lifted the tea cup on the table, took a sip, and then stated his intention, "I want to see Old Hai." Upon hearing this, Miteer Tengshan was shaken, but he maintained a composed expression and said, "Lord Dan King, you jest. As everyone knows, Old Hai has been missing for over a decade. In all these years, our Miteer family has never given up the search, but there has been no news." Towards the end, Miteer Tengshan even sighed, appearing quite despondent. If Gu He hadn''t separated his soul power the moment he arrived in the capital, sensing Haibodong''s aura within the Miteer family, he might have been deceived by Miteer Tengshan''s appearance. "Chief Tengshan, if I didn''t have certainty, would I rashly propose to see Old Hai? I hope Chief Tengshan can inform Old Hai on my behalf. Just tell him that Gu He wants to see him, and he will definitely come," Gu He said with a calm tone. Could it be that he truly knew that Old Hai had returned? Looking at Gu He''s confident demeanor, Miteer Tengshan was momentarily stunned, feeling a sense of doubt. After all, it had been less than three days since Old Hai''s return, and he had issued strict orders not to disclose any information about him to the outside world. How did Gu He come to know? Could it be that someone had leaked information about Old Hai? Various thoughts flashed through Miteer Tengshan''s mind, but in the end, he refused Gu He''s request and excused himself, "Lord Dan King, I hope you forgive me. If our Miteer family finds Old Hai, we will surely inform you." Seeing Miteer Tengshan repeatedly refusing him, Gu He''s heart turned slightly cold. He was no longer interested in dragging things out with the other party and said coldly, "Chief Tengshan, perhaps Old Hai didn''t tell you. Without my help, he might never have returned in his lifetime." What Gu He had in mind was not for himself. With an increasing number of disciples under his sect, he lacked suitable treasures to bestow upon them. Thus, he thought that in the regional-level auction, there might be suitable treasures to acquire and then bestow upon his disciples. The last time, Gu He had acquired a fifth-grade magic core armor, the Ice Heart Armor, which he bestowed upon the Little Medical Fairy. In return, he received the Ice Mystic Saint Armor, which had proven to be extremely helpful in the Tagor Desert. Thinking about this, Gu He said to the steward, "Bring me the list of items for the next auction." The steward was momentarily surprised, then hesitated for a moment before taking out a list from the storage ring and respectfully handing it to Gu He. "Please review it, Dan King." Gu He took the list and examined it carefully. There weren''t many items on the list, and Gu He quickly finished reading it. From his perspective, these items were quite ordinary, but from the perspective of the Little Medical Fairy and others, one or two items seemed decent. One was a dozen or so eggs of Shadow Poison Insects. These insects, originating from the Cloud Empire, were comparable to fourth-grade magical beasts. They excelled in stealth and could deliver unexpected fatal blows. The other item was a fifth-grade magic core weapon, a wind attribute sword. It would be suitable for Nalan Yanran. After reading the list, Gu He handed it back to the steward and waited quietly for the arrival of Hai Bo Dong. After a while, Gu He sensed someone approaching, and then an old man in gray robes slowly entered the VIP room. Looking at the old man in gray robes, a smile appeared on Gu He''s face. "Hai, we meet again." (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 158: Transaction Chapter 158: Transaction Chapter 158: Transaction "Gu He, what brings you here, kid?" As Hai Bo Dong walked in, he went straight to sit beside Gu He with a calm expression on his face. "You can leave for now," Hai Bo Dong instructed the steward who was nearby. "Yes, Elder Hai." The steward immediately respectfully left the VIP room upon hearing this. Gu He looked at Hai Bo Dong and, sensing the aura emanating from him, calmly said, "Congratulations, Elder Hai, on regaining your strength and returning to the peak." This time, Gu He could clearly sense a difference in Hai Bo Dong. It seemed like the confident Ice Emperor from years ago had returned. Therefore, Gu He speculated that Hai Bo Dong had taken the Revival Purple Spirit Pill, regained his strength, and found his lost confidence. After all, every strong individual has their own demeanour. "Your gaze is always so sharp, kid."T/his chapter is updated by Seeing Gu He through with just one look, Hai Bo Dong couldn''t help but be slightly stunned. A hint of helplessness appeared on his aged face. Then, Hai Bo Dong continued, "I''ve instructed Tengshan to handle the matter you entrusted to me. It''s unlikely that we''ll receive any good news in the short term." Hai Bo Dong assumed that Gu He''s visit this time was related to the previous issue of the list, so he explained promptly. The materials required for the Zong Breakthrough Pill are extremely rare. Even within the small Jia Ma Empire, it''s challenging to gather them. Even the wealthy Miteer family couldn''t accomplish it in a short time. Gu He naturally understood this reasoning, but he wasn''t in a hurry. The Zong Breakthrough Pill was prepared for Yunyun. Considering Yunyun''s current strength, reaching the level of a Nine-Star Dou Emperor would still take some time. Gu He came this time to collect sixth-grade spiritual herbs, preparing to establish a medicinal garden in the valley behind the mountain for himself. Thinking of this, Gu He smiled faintly and spoke slowly, "Elder Hai, you''ve misunderstood. I''m here this time for another transaction with you." "Another transaction?" Upon hearing this, Hai Bo Dong was somewhat surprised, looking at Gu He suspiciously, and said, "What scheme are you plotting again?" Ever since encountering Gu He in the Tagore Great Desert, Hai Bo Dong felt like he had been led by the nose of him. "Is there truly such a treasure in the world?" However, after the initial shock, Hai Bodong, looking at the smile on Gu He''s face, couldn''t help but question it again. After all, he had never heard of such a treasure as the Eternal Life Bead. Seeing Hai Bodong''s slightly doubtful expression, Gu He, not perturbed in the slightest, nodded and said, "Certainly. Because I have two Eternal Life Beads in my possession, along with that sixth-grade spiritual herb." "You have the Eternal Life Bead?" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Haji Bodong''s face once again revealed a look of shock. Then, he thought of something, squinted his eyes, and calmly said, "What is your purpose in revealing information about this Eternal Life Bead to me?" Although Hai Bodong coveted the Eternal Life Bead as described by Gu He, he hadn''t lost his reason entirely. After all, the authenticity of the Eternal Life Bead, as described by Gu He, couldn''t be confirmed, and he couldn''t afford to be in chaos for something that might be a mere fabrication. "Elder Hai has keen insight." Seeing that Hai Bodong quickly regained his composure, Gu He couldn''t help but sigh in his heart that old foxes were indeed experienced. With a smile on his face, Gu He continued, "Elder Hai, I want to make a trade with you for the Eternal Life Bead. Are you interested?" "Trading for the Eternal Life Bead!" As expected, just as Gu He anticipated, even though Hai Bodong tried hard to maintain composure, the subtle fluctuations in his aura exposed his current state of mind, which wasn''t as calm as it seemed on the surface. After a moment of silence, the aura around Hai Bodong finally calmed down. He locked eyes with Gu He and said solemnly, "Tell me, how should we proceed with the trade?" Hearing this, Gu He revealed a smile and looked at the serious Hai Bodong, saying, "It''s simpletwenty plants of sixth-grade spiritual herbs, and I can give you one Eternal Life Bead!" ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 159: Shadow Poisonous Insect Eggs, Song of the Wind! Chapter 159: Shadow Poisonous Insect Eggs, Song of the Wind! Chapter 159: Shadow Poisonous Insect Eggs, Song of the Wind! "Twenty strands of sixth-grade spirit herbs!" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Hai Bo Dong couldn''t help but stand up, annoyed, and said, "Gu He, you''re asking for a lot!" "Why, Elder Hai?" Anticipating Hai Bo Dong''s anger, Gu He remained expressionless and said immediately, "As long as Elder Hai can swallow a Longevity Bead, you can extend your lifespan by two hundred years." "Exchanging twenty strands of sixth-grade spirit herbs for two hundred years of life, no matter how you look at it, this seems like a very profitable deal. Elder Hai, you won''t fail to see the benefits, will you?" Gu He looked at Hai Bo Dong with a sly smile, a hint of mockery playing on his lips. He was fully confident that the other party would agree to his request. Two hundred years of life were crucial for someone like Hai Bo Dong, who was on the verge of breaking through to the Dou Zong realm. The only thing they lacked was enough time. With these two hundred years, it was more than enough. Upon hearing this, Hai Bo Dong fell silent. As Gu He had mentioned, the temptation of the Longevity Bead was too great for Hai Bo Dong. Even though he hadn''t seen the Longevity Bead in Gu He''s hands yet, Hai Bo Dong was still willing to take the risk. After a moment of hesitation, Hai Bo Dong finally gave in. "Alright, I agree. Twenty strands of sixth-grade spirit herbs for one Longevity Bead. However, when you collect ten strands of sixth-grade spirit herbs, I want to see the Longevity Bead with my own eyes. Otherwise, this deal is off." At the end of his statement, Hai Bo Dong''s tone became extremely firm. Clearly, this was his bottom line. The meaning was evident. Before seeing the Longevity Bead with his own eyes, he wasn''t willing to risk everything to fulfill Gu He''s request. "Good!" Without much hesitation about Hai Bo Dong''s request, Gu He directly agreed. Cai''er could condense a green bead every day. While this was extremely precious to others, Gu He didn''t attach much importance to it. He even thought that he might give Hai Bo Dong a little taste to motivate him further in collecting sixth-grade spirit herbs. Gu He''s quick agreement alleviated many of Hai Bo Dong''s concerns. He believed in Gu He''s mention of the Longevity Bead. "Tengshan, come in!" After that, Hai Bo Dong shouted outside the VIP room. As the voice fell, Miteer Tengshan slowly entered the VIP room, respectfully looking at Hai Bo Dong and slowly saying, "Elder Hai, what are your orders?" "They have their uses, Elder Hai. You won''t deny me this little favor, will you?" Gu He didn''t explain further, just stared at Hai Bo Dong intently. After a moment of silence, Hai Bo Dong looked at Miteer Tengshan and said indifferently, "Tengshan, get it for him." Upon hearing this, Miteer Tengshan''s mouth twitched slightly. He nodded faintly and said, "Yes, Elder Hai." After that, Miteer Tengshan left the VIP room. A moment later, he returned to the VIP room, holding a purple silk box in his right hand and a green sword in his left. "Lord Alchemist, this is what you wanted." Miteer Tengshan handed over the items to Gu He without any expression on his face, saying calmly. Gu He knew there was dissatisfaction in his heart, but he didn''t mind. He accepted the purple silk box and the green sword without a word. Click! Gu He opened the purple silk box and saw dozens of dark insect eggs inside. Gu He could sense a faint life force emanating from these eggs. Then, Gu He looked at the green sword. Embedded with a fifth-grade wind attribute magic core, this sword was called the Wind''s Melody, capable of amplifying wind attribute fighting energy and enhancing its power. "Thanks!" Gu He put the box and sword into his storage ring and nodded at Miteer Tengshan. "Elder Hai, I''ll take my leave now." A moment later, after receiving the seven strands of sixth-grade spirit herbs, Gu He settled the accounts for the Shadow Poisonous Insect Eggs and the Wind''s Melody. He then directly addressed Hai Bo Dong. "I hope you won''t forget our agreement." Hai Bo Dong spoke with a serious tone. Gu He smiled and said, "Elder Hai, rest assured. Please trust my integrity." (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 160: Embryonic Form of the Sacred Ground Chapter 160: Embryonic Form of the Sacred Ground Chapter 160: Embryonic Form of the Sacred Ground In the rear mountain of the Yunlan Sect, Gu He, having departed from the Miteer Auction House, made his way directly to the valley. Upon reaching the location of the medicinal garden, Gu He carefully planted the seven strands of sixth-grade spirit herbs he had acquired. Bathed in the rich, nourishing world energy of the valley, the spirit herbs in the medicinal garden radiated astonishing vitality. The aromatic fragrance of the herbs pervaded the entire valley. The Crimson Flame Demon Dragon and the Golden Feathery Giant Eagle, lured by the enticing herbal fragrance, fixated their eyes on the several strands of sixth-grade spirit herbs in the garden, their gaze filled with a palpable eagerness. "Such a tantalizing sight," they mused. Despite feeling a compelling urge to dash over and consume these herbs in one gulp, the Crimson Flame Demon Dragon and the Golden Feathery Giant Eagle, heeding Gu He''s prior warning, restrained themselves with considerable effort. Time surged forward rapidly; before long, seven days had elapsed. ... At the heart of the deep, cold pond, the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus persisted in emitting a dense, nine-colored radiance. With every pulse of its radiant glow, a substantial amount of world energy was drawn together. The surface of the cold pond remained in a state akin to boiling, continuously releasing a multitude of bubbles. Hovering above the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, a silver figure would occasionally flash by, subtly revealing the presence of a space force. During these seven days, the valley, through the continuous absorption of stellar energy and its transformation into world energy, had amassed an incredibly dense concentration of energy. Even in the void, mist-like particles were discernible, indicative of the condensed, tangible form of world energy. Each of these particles was imbued with exceptionally pure world energy. This phenomenon was a combined result of the activities of the Crimson Flame Demon Dragon and the Golden Feathery Giant Eagle, along with their considerable consumption of the spirit herbs. Were it not for their consumption, the concentration of the mist-like particles in the void would undoubtedly have been even more pronounced. At this moment, in the void of the valley, the massive form of the Crimson Flame Demon Dragon writhed, absorbing a multitude of mist-like particles with every inhalation. Near the edge of the cold pond, the Golden Feathery Giant Eagle stooped to drink directly from the energy-infused waters. These included various kinds of spiritual liquids, the accelerated cultivation benefits of the cyan lotus platform, and the nurturing environment of the valley, which had begun to take on the qualities of a sacred cultivation ground. "This rapid progress means it''s time for Qing Lin to condense the Dou Qi Vortex and advance to a Dou Practitioner," Gu He observed with a satisfied smile. Despite Qing Lin''s cultivation speed not being extraordinarily rapid, her dedication and never-slacking attitude pleased Gu He immensely. This level of perseverance was something even the diligent Little Doctor Immortal couldn''t rival. In the future, as Qing Lin mastered the Snake-Gathering Technique and fully harnessed the capabilities of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, her cultivation speed was destined for a qualitative leap. Although she had started a bit late, the potential for her to catch up was still very real. Watching Qing Lin diligently cultivating, Gu He chose not to disturb her, waiting quietly until she finished. Half an hour later, Qing Lin concluded her cultivation session. Upon seeing Gu He, her face lit up with excitement as she eagerly shared her cultivation progress. "Come, let your teacher take you out," Gu He said, gently rubbing Qing Lin''s head. Communicating with Cai''er to release her, he swiftly left the valley with Qing Lin. When they reappeared, they were back in Gu He''s courtyard. "Qing Lin, this is the Qi-Gathering Powder. Strive to break through to the Dou Practitioner Realm tonight," Gu He instructed, handing her a jade bottle from his storage ring. "Yes, thank you, teacher," Qing Lin replied, nodding obediently, her young face brimming with determination. After Qing Lin left, Gu He was about to return to his pavilion for tea when he suddenly paused. His soul power had detected a graceful figure standing not far outside the courtyard, staring blankly in the direction of the courtyard, her exquisite face showing some hesitation. "Why is she here?" Gu He wondered, his heart intrigued. With that thought, his figure disappeared from the courtyard. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 161: I Will Take Responsibility Chapter 161: I Will Take Responsibility Chapter 161: I Will Take Responsibility Three hundred meters away from the Gu He courtyard, Yun Yun, dressed in a white gown, stared blankly at the nearby courtyard, her expression incredibly complex, hesitant to move forward. "Yun Yun, oh Yun Yun, why do you always hesitate when it''s a critical moment..." A bitter expression appeared on her exquisite face, and Yun Yun murmured to herself. Now, in Yun Yun''s heart, she had already forgiven Gu He for everything that happened in the cave that day. She came here to proactively resolve the distance between them. In fact, during this period, she had already come here three times. But every time she came here, Yun Yun hesitated. She found that without resentment in her heart, she didn''t know how to face Gu He, and she was even a bit at a loss. What should she say when she sees him? She couldn''t just say she had forgiven him for what happened that day. That would be too embarrassing. Yun Yun had always been thin-skinned, and it was really hard for her, as a woman, to say such things. Moreover, if she said such things, would he think she was a frivolous person? Even Yun Yun herself hadn''t noticed that unconsciously, she had become very concerned about Gu He''s opinion of her. "Never mind, let''s talk about it when there''s a chance in the future." After hesitating for a moment, Yun Yun looked up at the courtyard in front of her, sighed softly, then slowly turned around, ready to leave. "Why, are you going to leave without saying hello?" Just as she turned around, a clear voice sounded from behind her. Hearing this familiar voice, Yun Yun''s delicate body stiffened slightly, and she stopped her steps to leave. Then, Yun Yun turned around, her gaze falling on the suddenly appearing Gu He. There was no longer the coldness from last time in her beautiful eyes; instead, she looked a bit complicated. "You..." Yun Yun''s red lips moved slightly, wanting to say something, but she hesitated, unable to speak. "I''m sorry." Just as Yun Yun was thinking about how to speak, Gu He''s voice sounded again. Faced with Gu He''s sudden move, Yun Yun was stunned, unable to react for a while. After a while, Gu He released her lips and looked at Yun Yun, saying slowly, "Now, can I take responsibility?" Wide-eyed, Yun Yun looked at him, lips slightly parted, heartbeat accelerating, and her fair face flushed. She maintained this posture, seemingly stunned. Seeing Yun Yun remain silent, Gu He looked at her moist red lips and slowly leaned down. "Don''t..." At this moment, Yun Yun finally reacted, placing her jade hand on Gu He''s chest. "Can I take responsibility now?" Gu He didn''t force it, his gaze fixed on Yun Yun, with an attitude of kissing her if she didn''t agree. Faced with Gu He''s domineering gaze, Yun Yun bit her red lips, her expression complicated. After a moment of silence, she trembled and said, "Can you... give me some time." Gu He also understood that he couldn''t be too pushy. He softened his tone, saying, "Okay, but don''t make me wait too long. If you figure it out, you can come find me anytime." Hearing this, Yun Yun relaxed a bit. She looked at Gu He, who still held her in his arms, and said softly, "Can you... release me for now." Gu He reluctantly released Yun Yun''s slender waist. Looking up at Gu He, Yun Yun, with a shy face and watery eyes, made Gu He''s heart sway. "I''ll go now." Feeling a bit flustered, Yun Yun wanted to escape. "Wait." Gu He suddenly spoke, then took out a blue soft armor from his storage ring. PS: The author is a single dog, not good at writing such cheesy love scenes, forgive me. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 162: Presenting a Treasure Chapter 162: Presenting a Treasure Chapter 162: Presenting a Treasure "This armor, take it." Gu He handed the Xuanbing Holy Armor to Yun Yun. "What is this?" Yun Yun looked at the Xuanbing Holy Armor and then glanced at Gu He with some confusion. "A gift for you." "Last time in the Magic Beast Mountains, wasn''t your inner armor damaged?" As he spoke, Gu He''s finger swiped across the storage ring, and a light blue metal inner armor appeared in his left hand, bearing the claw marks of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. "I didn''t expect you to still keep it." Looking at the light blue inner armor that Gu He took out, Yun Yun''s eyes changed slightly, and her expression became complex. Her thoughts were instantly hooked back to the time when the two of them were in the Magic Beast Mountains. If it weren''t for Gu He, she might have died under the claws of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King long ago. "Of course." "This is your personal item. How can I let it be lost?" Gu He neatly folded the light blue inner armor. Seeing this scene, a radiant light suddenly appeared in Yun Yun''s clear, watery eyes. She didn''t expect that he would value one of her personal items so much. Thinking about it, a hint of sweetness flowed through Yun Yun''s heart, and her gaze at Gu He became tender. "It still retains your scent, you know?" The next moment, Gu He tightened the light blue inner armor, sniffed it lightly under his nose, and a faint fragrance lingered. Seeing Gu He''s action, Yun Yun was momentarily stunned. Then, a blush gradually appeared on her fair face, and she said somewhat embarrassedly, "Can you... give it back to me?" "Give it back to you?" At the words, Gu He paused slightly, then shook his head without hesitation. "No." "This is the only thing you left for me. How can I give it back to you?" Afterwards, with a thought, Gu He directly stored the light blue inner armor back into the storage ring. Seeing this, Yun Yun fell silent. Indeed, he had contributed so much for her. In the cave, he left her so many things. She hadn''t given him anything yet. Well, let this inner armor stay with him. "However, you can''t go without a protective inner armor. So, you should keep this soft armor. It can be considered as an exchange of tokens of affection between us," Gu He spoke again and handed the Xuanbing Holy Armor to Yun Yun. Yun Yun''s rosy lips slightly parted, her expression appearing somewhat stunned. Eighth-grade magical beast... that''s comparable to a Dou Zong! Shocked and depressed, Yun Yun felt deeply moved. Such a treasure, he could easily give it to her. Yun Yun suddenly remembered the Seven-Colored Saint Lotus. The shock in her heart gradually faded, leaving only a sense of gratitude. If he was willing to give away such a peerless treasure as the Seven-Colored Saint Lotus, what else couldn''t he give? In Yun Yun''s heart, the value of the Seven-Colored Saint Lotus far exceeded that of the Xuanbing Holy Armor on her body. Yun Yun looked up at Gu He, and a strange emotion shimmered in her watery eyes. At this moment, she figured it out. If he treated her like this, what couldn''t she let go of? In this world, which man would give such a precious treasure to her? Having figured it out, Yun Yun, who was a little uneasy in her heart, suddenly calmed down. Raising her head, Yun Yun looked at Gu He with eyes as clear as autumn water and said softly, "Thank you." "Thank you for what? Giving things to your woman is a matter of course." Gu He smiled gently. This time, unusually, Yun Yun didn''t refute Gu He''s words, seeming to have tacitly agreed. Seeing this, a slight joy appeared in Gu He''s heart. He then took out three Earthfire Lotuses from the storage ring and stuffed them into Yun Yun''s hands. Yun Yun looked at the three crimson lotuses in her hands with some confusion. "What is this?" Seeing Yun Yun''s somewhat puzzled gaze, Gu He explained, "This thing is called Earthfire Lotus. It takes a hundred years to condense one. It contains extremely pure essence of heaven and earth. After taking it, whether for restoring Dou Qi in your body or breaking through, it has extremely powerful effects." "Earthfire Lotus..." Yun Yun muttered in her mouth, not being polite. She directly stored the Earthfire Lotuses into her storage ring. As Gu He said, it''s natural for a man to give things to his woman. And it''s reasonable for a woman to take things from her man. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 163: Inner Sect Grand Competition, Passing on Skills to Xiao Yi Xian Chapter 163: Inner Sect Grand Competition, Passing on Skills to Xiao Yi Xian Chapter 163: Inner Sect Grand Competition, Passing on Skills to Xiao Yi Xian Seeing Yun Yun not rejecting his gift but accepting it readily, Gu He felt even more delighted. In his previous life, although he hadn''t formally dated, he had studied basic love psychology meticulously for the sake of pursuing girls. Women naturally like gifts and surprises, so many men try to win a girl''s favor by giving gifts. However, not all girls willingly accept these gifts. When pursuing a girl, if she rejects the gift you give, what does it mean? It undoubtedly indicates that she has no interest in you. In general, when a woman rejects a man''s gift, she is likely rejecting his pursuit. Especially when the gift is something valuable, if the woman has no interest in you, she won''t accept these symbolic gifts unless she''s a promiscuous woman! Clearly, considering Gu He''s understanding of Yun Yun, she was definitely not a promiscuous woman. Yun Yun''s calm acceptance of his gift indicated that she had accepted him in her heart. This made Gu He overjoyed. After expending so much effort, he was finally going to completely win her over. Speaking of it, adding up this life and the previous one, this was Gu He''s first time in a romantic relationship. It really felt good. Looking at the stunning beauty in front of him, Gu He''s gaze fell on her moist red lips. Unable to resist, he took a step forward, gently grabbed her jade hand, and softly said, "Yun Er, I''ll come to see you tonight, alright?" Upon hearing this, Yun Yun was slightly stunned. Then, she looked at Gu He''s somewhat fiery gaze, feeling a bit flustered. She immediately pulled back her hand, giving him a glance and scolding, "You''re thinking too much." Yun Yun''s face stiffened as she pretended to be annoyed, saying, "Just now, didn''t you say to give me some time? How come, after giving a few gifts, you think you can do whatever you want with me?" This guy, what does he think of me... Upon hearing this, Gu He suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and chuckled awkwardly. "Yun Er, you''re thinking too much. What I meant was, if I miss you tonight, can I come over for some tea and chat... Definitely not what you''re thinking..." Upon hearing this, Yun Yun was slightly stunned, then looked up at Gu He''s somewhat hot gaze. She couldn''t help but feel a bit flustered and immediately withdrew the hand tightly held by Gu He. She gave him a white eye, scolding, "You''re wishful thinking." Yun Yun''s pretty face turned stern as she pretended to be angry. "Just now, didn''t you say to give me some time? How come, after giving a few gifts, you think you can do whatever you want with me?"Discover new chapters at novelhall.com This guy, what does he think of me... Upon hearing Yun Yun''s firm refusal, Gu He felt a bit puzzled. Why did she suddenly change her mind? This was the first time for the inexperienced Gu He in love, and for a moment, he was a bit confused. Then, Gu He began to recall the content of love psychology he had read in his previous life. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. A woman''s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea. The last time she broke through, Gu He wasn''t in the sect. This made Xiao Yi Xian feel a bit regretful as she missed the opportunity for the transmission of power. After two months, she could finally enjoy it again. "This time, I must endure a bit longer, so that Teacher will look at me with new eyes." Sitting obediently, Xiao Yi Xian encouraged herself inwardly. For the past two months, she had been persistently using the Jade Bone Powder to temper her body. Combined with some poisonous herbs she took, it also had the effect of refining her physical strength. The significant increase in physical strength made Xiao Yi Xian full of confidence in this transmission of power. Gu He stood up and came to Xiao Yi Xian''s back. Then he reached out and placed his hand on Xiao Yi Xian''s back, reminding her, "Be prepared. I''m starting." After going through so many transmissions of power, Xiao Yi Xian was already very proficient. She quickly entered a state of concentration. Seeing this, Gu He didn''t say much. With a thought, he used the transmission of power technique, and a thick surge of Dou Qi entered Xiao Yi Xian''s body through the palm of Gu He''s hand. The next moment, Xiao Yi Xian felt a strong force entering her body, and she couldn''t help but be surprised, "Such a powerful force, Teacher is even stronger than two months ago!" Afterward, Xiao Yi Xian didn''t dare to be negligent. She went all out. As the powerful and violent force poured into her body, Xiao Yi Xian instantly felt a sensation of expansion and cracking in her meridians. Her pretty face turned pale, and Xiao Yi Xian quickly guided this force toward the cyclone of Dou Qi in her body. Soon, the aura on Xiao Yi Xian''s body began to undergo a gradual change. In less than a dozen breaths of time since Gu He started the transmission of power, Xiao Yi Xian''s body emitted a muffled sound. A Dou Grandmaster at the Two-Star level! In an instant, Xiao Yi Xian smoothly broke through to the level of a Two-Star Dou Grandmaster. (End of this chapter) ================================================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 164: Ten Thousand Purple Crystal Companion Sources Chapter 164: Ten Thousand Purple Crystal Companion Sources Chapter 164: Ten Thousand Purple Crystal Companion Sources "Breakthrough!" Feeling the breakthrough in her cultivation, Xiao Yi Xian''s heart was filled with joy. However, before she could celebrate for long, a piercing pain surged through her limbs and bones, making Xiao Yi Xian dare not distract herself. She immediately focused her mind to absorb the power within her body. Soon, a pale color gradually appeared on Xiao Yi Xian''s pretty face. A bitter smile appeared on Xiao Yi Xian''s lips, and at this moment, she no longer had the confidence she had before. She thought she could persist for a longer time this time, but feeling the violent energy raging within her, Xiao Yi Xian felt a bit disheartened. The energy emanating from Gu He''s body was completely incomparable to two months ago. Even though Xiao Yi Xian had been practicing day and night for the past two months, tempering her physical body, in the face of this power, it seemed like all her efforts were in vain. Beneath Gu He, Xiao Yi Xian gritted her silver teeth. Even though intense pain spread throughout her body, Xiao Yi Xian didn''t give up. Her will had long been tempered to be extremely firm during the daily intake of poison. The energy Gu He poured into Xiao Yi Xian''s body was extremely pure. Every second, Xiao Yi Xian could refine a large amount of energy into her Dou Crystal. Soon, the aura on Xiao Yi Xian''s body changed once again. A Three-Star Dou Grandmaster. This time, Xiao Yi Xian broke through in just over twenty breaths of time. "Ugh~"Th.e? most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m A muffled hum came from Xiao Yi Xian''s mouth. At this moment, her expression was extremely pale, and even a bit distorted. Inside her body, the violent and terrifying energy rushed around recklessly. Xiao Yi Xian felt like she was in the midst of a sea of blades and a fiery furnace, and her whole body was overwhelmed by pain. However, even so, Xiao Yi Xian still bit her silver teeth tightly, concentrating on refining the energy within her body without relaxing at all. Bang! At this moment, a muffled sound came from Xiao Yi Xian''s body, and then her breath changed suddenly. Another breakthrough! Four-Star Dou Grandmaster. Feeling the breakthrough in her cultivation, Xiao Yi Xian''s expression brightened. Soon after, a tearing sensation spread through her meridians all over her body. Feeling the changes in her body, Xiao Yi Xian''s pretty face changed. She immediately shouted, "Teacher, disciple has reached the limit." Although she felt a bit regretful, Xiao Yi Xian understood the importance of stopping in time. The vigorous Dou Qi Gu He infused into her body made it impossible for her to resist. If she forcefully persevered, it might cause damage and rupture to her meridians. In that case, the loss would outweigh the gain. But after the excitement, Xiao Yi Xian felt a bit lost. If she could have persisted a bit longer just now, wouldn''t she have broken through to the Five-Star Dou Grandmaster level? Shaking her head slightly, Xiao Yi Xian revealed a bitter smile. She was too greedy. For the sake of that one-star realm, if it led to damage to her meridians, it wouldn''t be worth it. Thinking of this, Xiao Yi Xian cheered up, looked at Gu He, and said in a light voice, "Thank you, Teacher, for imparting your power." Gu He faintly smiled and then took out a jade bottle from his storage ring. He said to Xiao Yi Xian, "This is a bottle of companion purple crystal source, considered as the second gift I''m giving you." "Companion Purple Crystal Source?" Xiao Yi Xian hadn''t heard of this name before, looking somewhat puzzled. Seeing this, Gu He was somewhat helpless and had to explain. He then advised, "Remember not to take the Companion Purple Crystal Source all at once. The energy inside is too violent. It''s best to absorb and refine it in three separate sessions." Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian''s expression became serious. She took the jade bottle from Gu He''s hand and nodded, "Teacher, disciple remembers." And just as Xiao Yi Xian took the jade bottle from Gu He, a system notification sounded in Gu He''s mind. "Ding, detecting that the host has imparted a bottle of Companion Purple Crystal Source to the second disciple. Congratulations to the host for obtaining a ten-thousandfold return and gaining ten thousand bottles of Companion Purple Crystal Source." "Ding, ten thousand bottles of Companion Purple Crystal Source have been sent to the system space. Please check it, host." Hearing the system prompt, Gu He couldn''t help but be slightly stunned, then quickly returned to normal. Ten thousandfold return? Ten thousand bottles of Companion Purple Crystal Source? This time, it''s a ten-thousandfold return in quantity? For the first time, Gu He learned that the system could have such a way of returning. Truly eye-opening. With a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, Gu He suddenly thought of something. This ten thousand bottles of Companion Purple Crystal Source seemed to have no use for him. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 165: Insect Manipulation Technique Chapter 165: Insect Manipulation Technique Chapter 165: Insect Manipulation Technique With a thought, Gu He directly entered the system space. What came into view was a mountain-like pile of jade bottles. Contained within those jade bottles was the Companion Purple Crystal Source. Gu He picked up a bottle from the ground, as if drinking a beverage, and directly gulped it down. "It''s cool and refreshing, not bad. Unfortunately, it doesn''t have much flavor." After finishing a bottle of Companion Purple Crystal Source, Gu He almost felt nothing. Although the Companion Purple Crystal Source contained extremely rich and violent energy, for Gu He, who was now a Six-Star Dou Grandmaster, this amount of energy was negligible. "Adding a bit of sweet and sour spirit liquid inside should make it taste really good." A thought emerged in his mind, and Gu He''s eyes brightened. Companion Purple Crystal Source was cool and refreshing; it was a natural ice-cold drink. He usually drank tea, and now that he was tired of it, with the Companion Purple Crystal Source, he had something to lighten the mood. Then, Gu He had another thought and directly left the system space. In the pavilion, Xiao Yi Xian was opening the lid of the jade bottle containing the Companion Purple Crystal Source. She carefully brought it to her nose, sniffing the pure energy emanating from it. An excited expression appeared on her charming face. Afterward, unable to resist, Xiao Yi Xian stuck out her tender tongue and licked the bottle''s mouth. Instantly, a cool sensation spread throughout her body along with the tongue, and a look of enjoyment appeared on Xiao Yi Xian''s pretty and delicate face. After a while, a hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes. "This Companion Purple Crystal Source is so cool!" However, the cool feeling soon turned into energy that drilled into her body, traversing through her limbs and hundreds of bones. Finally, it entered her Dou Qi vortex and merged into the Dou Crystal. "Such pure energy." Xiao Yi Xian widened her eyes. She had only tasted a bit, and yet, it contained such rich energy. Xiao Yi Xian couldn''t help but rejoice in her heart. "With this bottle of Companion Purple Crystal Source, I can make a breakthrough again." "Alright, don''t be silly." Seeing Xiao Yi Xian holding the jade bottle, licking the bottle''s mouth, and looking silly, Gu He felt somewhat helpless. How come he had such characters in his sect? One with Leng Ling was enough. Now there was another one like Xiao Yi Xian. Both of them liked licking bottles, doing such pointless things. It was like they couldn''t afford to drink normally. If he took out the ten thousand bottles of Companion Purple Crystal Source from his system space, these disciples would probably go crazy. Facing Xiao Yi Xian''s question, Gu He solemnly explained, "This thing is called Shadow Poison Bug Eggs. It''s a terrifying poisonous insect from the Cloud Empire. Each Shadow Poison Bug hatched from these eggs can rival a Fourth-Rank Magical Beast. These bugs excel at hiding, delivering unexpected fatal strikes that catch people off guard." "Shadow Poison Bug?" After listening to Gu He''s introduction, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes slightly lit up. This kind of poisonous insect looked very toxic, containing a terrifying poison. If refined, it could certainly be used to make a highly poisonous drug, which, when taken, would significantly boost her strength. Actually, what Xiao Yi Xian liked even more was to stir-fry and eat these bugs. Eating them one by one would surely be very enjoyable, and it would also enhance her strength. Other girls might find these bugs and eggs disgusting, but Xiao Yi Xian, with her Woeful Poison Body, felt a certain affinity toward these poisonous creatures. Therefore, the thought of wanting to eat these bug eggs emerged in her mind. Gu He didn''t know Xiao Yi Xian''s thoughts at the moment, and he smiled, saying, "Apprentice, as long as you hatch these Shadow Poison Bug Eggs, it won''t take long for you to have a legion of Shadow Poison Bugs under your command. In the future, if you encounter enemies, you can release the legion of Shadow Poison Bugs to fight." Hearing Gu He''s words, Xiao Yi Xian finally understood his intention. So, Teacher wanted her to raise bugs... But... Looking a bit embarrassed, Xiao Yi Xian glanced at Gu He. "Teacher, I don''t know how to raise bugs..." Gu He smiled and said gently, "I''ve prepared for that. Come forward." Following his words, Xiao Yi Xian immediately came forward and stood in front of Gu He. In the next moment, Gu He pointed deeply between Xiao Yi Xian''s eyebrows. Xiao Yi Xian, who was confused, suddenly received an influx of information into her mind. She quickly focused her mind to accept this information. After a while, Xiao Yi Xian slowly opened her eyes, and excitement flickered in her bright eyes. "Insect Manipulation Technique..." (End of this chapter) ================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 166 Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada, Xiao Yi Xian heads to the Magic Beast Mountain Range! Chapter 166 Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada, Xiao Yi Xian heads to the Magic Beast Mountain Range! Chapter 166 Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada, Xiao Yi Xian heads to the Magic Beast Mountain Range! "Unexpectedly, there''s such a fascinating secret technique..." After fully absorbing the information in her mind, Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes widened, and a peculiar light shimmered in her bright pupils. It was the first time she learned that there was actually a technique for controlling poisonous insects in this world. Subsequently, Xiao Yi Xian shifted her gaze to the shadowy poisonous insect eggs in the brocade box, revealing a passionate expression in her eyes.bining the Insect Control Technique with these shadowy poisonous insect eggs was simply a perfect match! "Teacher, then I''ll take these shadowy poisonous insect eggs." Excited, Xiao Yi Xian closed the brocade box and, after exchanging greetings with Gu He, headed straight to her room. At the moment Xiao Yi Xian took the brocade box, a system notification suddenly sounded in Gu He''s mind. "Ding, detected that the host has granted the Second Disciple, Xiao Yi Xian, eighteen shadowy poisonous insect eggs. Congratulations to the host for triggering a tenfold return, obtaining eighteen Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas." "Ding, Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas have been deposited in the system space. Host, please check to collect." Listening to the prompt in his mind, Gu He was slightly stunned. Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas? What kind of poisonous insect was that? In fact, Gu He knew nothing about poisonous insects. Information about the shadowy poisonous insects was obtained by Gu He at the Miteer Auction House. Therefore, at this moment, Gu He was completely ignorant of these Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas. In the next moment, Gu He''s consciousness directly entered the system space to investigate. Upon entering the system space, Gu He saw a crimson light cluster suspended in the void. "Ding, may I ask if the host wishes to form a master-servant contract with the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada eggs." Just as Gu He''s consciousness touched the crimson light cluster, a system notification sounded in his mind. Without hesitation, Gu He directly said, "Form a master-servant contract!" As Gu He''s voice fell, a drop of crimson blood suddenly separated from Gu He''s body and floated toward the crimson light cluster in the void. In the next moment, this drop of blood had already landed on the crimson light cluster. Casually throwing a piece of firewood into the fire, making the bonfire brighter again, Xiao Yan propped his chin with his hand and lazily said, "Teacher, where exactly are we going?" "Demon Beast Mountain Range." The old voice came from the ring on his finger. "Isn''t it possible to enter the Demon Beast Mountain Range near Wutan City? Why go so far?" "This is the eastern part of the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Crossing it from here will take us to the Tagre Desert, which is our ultimate destination for cultivation." Yao Lao smiled. "Crossing the Demon Beast Mountain Range?" Xiao Yan grinned and dryly chuckled, "With my current strength, I can only deal with some young first-rank demon beasts. At most, I can only wander around the periphery. Crossing it, I''m afraid... it''s a bit impossible, right?" "In a dangerous situation, potential can explode." Yao Lao said lightly, "I plan to let you advance to a Dou Master in the Demon Beast Mountain Range." "Uh... So, for the next period of cultivation, do I have to spend it all in the Demon Beast Mountain Range?" Hearing this, Xiao Yan''s face immediately became bitter. "My estimated timeframe is one year. In the remaining six months, you will need to cultivate in the Tagre Desert." "Tagre Desert?" Muttering a few times, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. Well, anyway, with Yao Lao protecting him, he wouldn''t let himself be eaten by demon beasts, right? After a moment of silence, Xiao Yan suddenly remembered Nalan Yanran and couldn''t help asking, "Teacher, what level has Nalan Yanran reached in her cultivation now?" "When she came to the Xiao family to annul the engagement, she was a Three-Star Dou Practitioner. Now, just over a year has passed, and her cultivation is at most a Six-Star Dou Practitioner, approaching Seven-Star Dou Practitioner." Yao Lao explained. After speaking, Yao Lao looked at Xiao Yan with a somewhat playful tone and said, "What, lacking confidence in yourself?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan immediately shook his head and said, "No, how could I lack confidence? Teacher, just wait and see. I will win in the three-year agreement!" "Good, that''s my good disciple." "Not only should you have confidence in yourself but also confidence in your master. In this small Jia Ma Empire, who can eat medicinal pills like you do?" "This, even that so-called Dan King Gu He of the Yunlan Sect can''t achieve it." Yao Lao''s old face was full of confidence, and his tone was extremely determined. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 167: Traces of the Hall of Souls Chapter 167: Traces of the Hall of Souls Chapter 167: Traces of the Hall of Souls In the blink of an eye, another week had passed. Now, there were only three days left until the inner sect competition at Yunlan Sect. In the valley behind the back mountain. In a corner of a mountain cave, Gu He created a cave out of thin air. The walls of the cave were covered with moonlight stones, brightening the originally dim cave. In the deepest part of this cave, there was a secret chamber about a dozen yards in size. At this moment, Gu He stood in front of the secret chamber, his gaze fixed on the dozen or so blood-red insects clinging to the cave walls. These blood-red creatures had wings on their backs, covered in tough, blood-red scales. Upon closer inspection, one could see sharp mouthparts growing in their mouths. Outside the secret chamber, Gu He carefully observed these blood-red creatures, feeling the bloody aura emanating from them, and a faint smile appeared on Gu He''s lips. These eighteen blood-red creatures were the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas. Since obtaining the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada eggs, Gu He had come to this mountain valley and created this cave, placing the eggs in the secret chamber. After years of nourishment by Dou Qi, the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas finally hatched today. This made Gu He somewhat pleased, and he immediately came to the cave to observe. These Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas were not very large, only slightly larger than ordinary insects. However, the aura emanating from these Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas made Gu He feel satisfied. All eighteen Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas hatched from the eggs, each possessing strength equivalent to a four-star demon beast, comparable to a human Dou Ling''s cultivation. However, the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas, being insects, naturally had low intelligence. Even though Gu He had signed a master-servant contract with them, given their intelligence, they could only complete simple commands. Although Gu He was somewhat disappointed, he could reluctantly accept it. As long as these creatures obediently followed commands, their intelligence should improve as their strength increased in the future. During this time, Gu He also collected some ancient books about poisonous insects. At this moment, he was no longer as ignorant as before. Through reading these ancient books, Gu He learned that in ancient times, someone specifically created a Poisonous Insect List for these powerful poisonous insects. It recorded hundreds of powerful poisonous insects. Among them, the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada happened to rank ninth on the Poisonous Insect List. Although the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada ranked high on the list, according to the descriptions in those ancient books, their individual abilities were limited, relying entirely on large numbers for victory. If there were only a dozen or even dozens, they would not be very useful even after reaching adulthood. Only when their numbers reached thousands or even tens of thousands could they truly live up to their ranking on the list of extraordinary insects. Thinking of the scene where countless Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas would fill the sky, attacking without end, Gu He couldn''t help but shudder. It was a change in their aura! After devouring the beast corpse, the aura of these Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas became even more bloodthirsty. Strands of blood-red energy entwined around them, giving off a chilling sensation at a glance. "It seems that I''ll have to bring a beast corpse every day in the future." Seeing this scene, Gu He felt somewhat helpless. Once these Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas multiplied, it would probably take extremely powerful beast corpses to sustain them. After giving the command for the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas to stay in the secret chamber and not go out, Gu He slowly walked out of the cave. As soon as he stepped out, an extremely rich dou qi rushed towards him. Looking around, most of the void in the valley had been filled with particle-like mist, making the vision somewhat blurry. Releasing his soul power, Gu He could completely see the situation in the valley. With a thought, Gu He''s figure appeared next to the medicine garden. During this time, Gu He had taken another trip to the Miteer Auction House and planted the three Tier 6 spiritual herbs they had collected. Now, in the medicine garden, disregarding the Tier 4 and Tier 5 spiritual herbs, the number of Tier 6 spiritual herbs had reached fifteen. Seeing that the spiritual herbs in the garden were growing well, Gu He nodded in satisfaction. Then, following the opening created by Cai Er, he left the valley. The next moment, Gu He''s figure returned to his own yard. Just as he was about to walk towards the pavilion, Gu He suddenly changed his expression, looking towards the direction of the back mountain of Yunlan Sect. "Such a powerful aura..." Gu He released his soul power, immediately sensing a strong unfamiliar aura. "This is... the Hall of Souls!" (End of this chapter) ================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! {Sorry for the wrong chapter. I was feeling very down these days. SO HERE ARE FIVE MORE CHAPTERS! for second fanfic i will post chapters in some hours so please wait patiently.} Chapter 168: Wuhu Guardian! Chapter 168: Wuhu Guardian! Chapter 168: Wuhu Guardian! The two words "Hall of Souls" flashed through his mind, and suddenly, Gu He''s expression became serious. Although his strength is already formidable, in these past few days, Gu He took the opportunity to go out and fully refine the accumulated cultivation in the system space. His cultivation has now reached the level of a seven-star Dou Ancestor. But what does it matter? Gu He knows the terror of the Hall of Souls. In front of the Hall of Souls, his current strength is not enough to stir up any waves. All along, Gu He has tried his best to conceal himself, to hide his strength, and not attract too much attention from the Hall of Souls. However, he almost overlooked the fact that there is a Hall of Souls Guardian lurking within Cloud Mist Sect. Thinking about the original work, Gu He remembers that the Hall of Souls Guardian lurking in Cloud Mist Sect is called Wuhu Guardian, an earth-level guardian of the Hall of Souls with a strength already reaching the level of a seven-star Dou Ancestor. Judging from the aura just now, the opponent clearly also came from Cloud Mist Sect''s back mountain. The thought of the commotion he caused in the back mountain during this time made Gu He feel a chill down his spine. Although he has the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus, it is impossible for Wuhu Guardian to enter the valley. However, over time, there may be some clues. Thinking about this, a trace of determination flashed in Gu He''s eyes. Everything in the back mountain valley is extremely important to Gu He and cannot afford any mistakes. Gu He also cannot guarantee whether Wuhu Guardian has noticed anything. What if... After hesitating for a moment, Gu He''s expression suddenly became resolute. He activated the Ascension Steps technique, and his figure disappeared in the courtyard, heading towards the aura that had just left the back mountain. ... Not far from Cloud Mist Sect, in the void, a dense red mist, like demons and monsters, flew towards the distance. The red mist was extremely fast. In just a moment, it crossed a great distance. After this cold snort, Wuhu Guardian''s finger moved, and a crisp clanging sound echoed. Immediately, iron chains, sounding like the tentacles of an octopus, viciously attacked Gu He. Facing the formidable attack, Gu He''s expression remained unchanged. At the moment the iron chains were about to strike, he activated the Red Lotus Platform, colliding directly. With a dazzling red light on the Red Lotus Shield, the powerful force directly sent the massive chain flying. The defensive power of the Red Lotus Shield was extremely astonishing, and Wuhu Guardian''s attack posed little threat to Gu He. Although it was only a preliminary exchange, the collision of the Red Lotus Shield and the chain already produced a deafening roar, and a surging energy ripple spread in all directions. "Such a strong defense!" After the attack, Wuhu Guardian looked at the intact Red Lotus Shield, revealing a surprised expression. Even an ordinary Dou Ancestor would find it difficult to resist his previous attack. Yet, this person easily blocked it with the red lotus platform. "What a precious treasure!" Realizing this, Wuhu Guardian looked at the red lotus platform under Gu He''s feet with some greed. If he obtained this red lotus platform, his strength would undoubtedly greatly increase. "Hehehe, do you plan to keep hiding behind this turtle shell and fight with me?" Following this, Wuhu Guardian looked at Gu He, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. Faced with Wuhu Guardian''s mockery, Gu He remained unfazed. He slowly extended his right hand, and a ball of flame suddenly surged out. The flame in his hand was a strange mix of purple and red, appearing extremely enchanting. The moment the flame appeared in Gu He''s hand, Wuhu Guardian glanced at it and widened his eyes, his tone filled with horror, "This is... a Heavenly Flame!" ================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 169: Battle Chapter 169: Battle Chapter 169: Battle "What kind of Heavenly Flame is this?" In the void, Wuhu Guardian stared at the Heavenly Flame in Gu He''s palm, his emotions finally calming down after a while. He asked in a deep voice. "Try it, and you''ll find out!" Gu He sneered coldly. As his words fell, the Heavenly Flame in his hand suddenly became violent, transforming into a thick column of fire, fiercely rushing toward Wuhu Guardian. Seeing Gu He resorting to deadly force without hesitation, Wuhu Guardian''s face turned extremely gloomy. "Arrogant to the extreme!" Wuhu Guardian roared, and the five iron chains in his hand, like pythons, swung fiercely toward the massive column of fire. However, in the next moment, a look of horror suddenly appeared on Wuhu Guardian''s face. As the five peculiar iron chains touched the column of fire, they turned into a stream of molten iron in an instant. Crackling sounds echoed. The iron chains turned liquid were directly melted by the column of fire. "Not good!" Wuhu Guardian''s face showed a sudden shock. The huge column of fire, still at an unabated speed, directly charged towards Wuhu Guardian. "Damn it!"Discover new chapters at novelhall.com At the critical moment, Wuhu Guardian roared, and a dense and eerie black mist instantly emerged, enveloping him. Just as the black mist shrouded Wuhu Guardian, the huge column of fire struck with a resounding explosion. Boom! With a deafening roar, the massive column of fire exploded directly in the black mist. "Ah!" The next moment, a miserable scream echoed from the black mist, indicating that Wuhu Guardian had suffered a severe blow. After a while, the black mist rolled rapidly, revealing the black figure of Wuhu Guardian inside. At this moment, Wuhu Guardian, although still unable to see his true appearance, emitted a weak aura, and the surrounding black mist had become much thinner. "Ah!" "Bastard!" Following that, Gu He''s palm erupted with the Heavenly Flame, transforming into a massive fireball. Holding the enormous fireball as if he was holding a radiant sun, a streak of electric light pierced through space. In a flash, Gu He fiercely struck the black mist floating in front of Wuhu Guardian. The massive fireball collided with the mist, causing Wuhu Guardian''s expression to change drastically. Just as he was about to react, the black mist suddenly burst open. Illusory soul figures shot out rapidly and scattered in all directions. "This guy, how many soul figures did he capture?" Looking at the countless soul figures fleeing in all directions, Gu He felt a bit dry in his mouth. These Hall of Souls individuals were truly ruthless. "Bastard! Daring to destroy my Soul Bag!" Seeing the numerous soul figures fleeing, Wuhu Guardian''s eyes turned bloodshot. A dense killing intent surged from him, and the black iron chains, like pythons, whipped fiercely toward Gu He. Facing Wuhu Guardian''s angry attack, Gu He remained calm. He swiftly retreated, and the Heavenly Flame erupted, forming a massive fireball that fiercely collided with the approaching iron chains. "Boom!" As the iron chains made contact with the fireball, they exploded with a resounding noise, and a vast energy fluctuation swept out. "Today, no matter where you came from, I will use your soul to block those fleeing souls!" Wuhu Guardian''s furious roar echoed in the sky. Immediately, five black chains surged out from his body, each filled with an even more concentrated eerie black mist than before. As he roared, the five black chains suddenly lowered, and then, whooshing sounds, they fiercely attacked Gu He. On each chain, the murderous intent was extremely thick. (End of this chapter) ================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 170: Vermilion Bird Seal, Wuhu Guardian Severely Wounded! Chapter 170: Vermilion Bird Seal, Wuhu Guardian Severely Wounded! Chapter 170: Vermilion Bird Seal, Wuhu Guardian Severely Wounded! Exhale! In the void, five iron chains, like dragons passing through, emitted a terrifying aura as they shot towards Gu He. However, just as the five iron chains were about to hit Gu He, Wuhu Guardian suddenly realized that Gu He''s figure had disappeared from the original spot. The five iron chains failed to strike their target, causing a rumble in the void.Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com Wuhu Guardian quickly retracted the iron chains, scanning the surroundings vigilantly. "Where is he?" A look of astonishment appeared on Wuhu Guardian''s face as he lost track of Gu He. Wuhu Guardian refused to believe that Gu He would leave. Unable to sense Gu He''s aura, his expression became even more solemn. Suddenly, Wuhu Guardian felt something and his face changed drastically. He looked up above his head, revealing a look of horror. Above Wuhu Guardian''s head, Gu He stood on the Red Lotus Platform, casting brilliant hand seals. The hand seals changed rapidly, and after a while, they suddenly solidified into a mysterious seal! The thumb inside the seal pointed, and the index fingers intertwined like two snakes, creating a mysterious and intricate pattern. With the seal solidified, Gu He''s tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, and a dazzling brilliance shot out like substantive rays. This made Wuhu Guardian, standing below, feel a sense of shock and fear. "Dou Skill - Vermilion Bird Seal!" Waving his hands, various mysterious seals emerged between Gu He''s fingers. In an instant, dozens of seals converged, forming a dazzling starry pattern in the void. As he gestured, the thick black mist surrounding him fluctuated violently. Then, at a speed visible to the naked eye, the mist disappeared. In just a few breaths, the pervasive black mist vanished, replaced by a black energy sphere the size of a head. The energy sphere floated in front of him, and its surface was deeply dark. Looking at it gave people a feeling that their minds could be drawn into it. Observing it even briefly aroused a sense of dread toward this eerie black sphere. With the appearance of the black sphere, Wuhu Guardian''s aura diminished significantly. He gritted his teeth, snapped his fingers, and the black sphere shot out. In an instant, it violently collided with the Vermilion Bird illusion that was swiftly approaching. The two forces, both containing terrifying energy capable of astonishing even Dou Ancestor experts, collided without the expected loud bang. Instead, the two formidable energies, one crimson and the other pitch-black, interacted with each other. Where they met, the space twisted intensely. The appearance suggested that the space might suddenly rupture. During the mutual erosion of the two terrifying energies, a nearly hundred-zhang-wide energy ripple, like a tangible force, spread from the point of contact. Under the influence of this formidable energy ripple, many magical beasts in the mountains below hurriedly descended. They clearly understood that if they were touched by the violent energy, the outcome today would be exceptionally tragic. The range of the energy ripple was extremely wide, covering an area of nearly a hundred yards in radius. For a while, the sky roared, and the clouds rolled rapidly. This shocking phenomenon made many magical beasts shudder in fear, hurriedly fleeing from the scene. The mutual erosion of the two energies lasted for about a few minutes. Finally, with a thunderous roar, a tremendously robust black-and-red energy ripple suddenly swept out! The black-and-red energy ripple swept through the sky, and the oppressive force it carried caused the trees in the mountains below to snap with a crackling sound. Countless magical beasts hidden within the trees were startled and ran away in panic. Even some towering peaks, under the influence of this energy, directly burst, collapsing with numerous huge rocks. These rocks cascaded down, creating a tumultuous scene. For a while, this mountain range descended into the most chaotic moment. (End of this chapter) ============================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 171: Pursuit! Chapter 171: Pursuit! Chapter 171: Pursuit! In the void, the black-and-red energy raged uncontrollably, launching indiscriminate attacks that encompassed both Gu He and Wuhu Guardian. Gu He was relatively fine, thanks to the protection of the Red Lotus Platform, which gave him ample reaction time. At a critical moment, he used the Ascension Steps technique to instantly leave the battlefield. However, Wuhu Guardian, due to the violent energy interaction happening too close to him, was affected by the aftermath. A muffled groan echoed, and his figure staggered, hastily retreating. In the sky, as the most terrifying energy ripple spread, the junction where the two formidable energies collided gradually calmed down. Finally, they slowly dissipated on their own. Feeling the terrifying energy finally canceling each other out, the magical beasts in the mountain range below finally breathed a sigh of relief. The previous energy ripple was too frightening; if a few more had come, the entire mountain range might have been leveled. ... With the gradual dissipation of the energy, the howling winds and surging clouds in the sky also gradually subsided. A black shadow flickered, and the slightly disheveled figure of Wuhu Guardian appeared. After revealing himself, a violent cough erupted. The dense black mist that enveloped him instantly became much thinner. Obviously, the previous energy ripple had a considerable impact on him. "Damn it, how could this guy have such a terrifying Dou Skill? Who the hell is he?" Looking at the distant figure standing on the Red Lotus Platform in white clothes, Wuhu Guardian''s face looked extremely unpleasant. Wuhu Guardian''s eyes flickered with contemplation. "Could this guy really be from the Divine Phoenix clan?" Generally speaking, those who cultivated such advanced Dou Skills mostly came from ancient clans or top-tier magical beast families. Wuhu Guardian had never heard of the Vermilion Bird Seal used by Gu He, but he could sense its terrifying power, no weaker than an Earth-tier advanced Dou Skill. On the Dou Qi continent, there were not many forces that could produce Earth-tier advanced Dou Skills. This guy in front of him, if not from the Divine Phoenix clan, probably came from some ancient family. Only individuals from these ancient families would possess such terrifying means. A thought flashed in his mind that made him palpitate with fear. Wuhu Guardian''s complexion changed. In the Dou Qi continent, there were not many forces that made the Soul Hall uneasy, except for these ancient families! This fire dragon, entirely condensed from the Nine Abyssal Flames, emitted an extremely terrifying aura. It almost seemed like a living dragon, with vivid red light in its giant eyes, as if it possessed intelligence. "Go!" As soon as the fire dragon took shape, Gu He pointed with his hand and coldly shouted. With his words, the colossal fire dragon, perched in the sky, swung its huge tail. Its enormous body, created entirely from the Nine Abyssal Flames, turned into a flash of lightning, instantly rushing towards Wuhu Guardian. Facing the enormous purple streak of the fire dragon shooting towards him, Wuhu Guardian''s face turned extremely unsightly. In his current state, after using up a significant amount of energy with the strange black ball earlier, he was undoubtedly at a disadvantage compared to Gu He. As he desperately retreated, Wuhu Guardian swung his arm again. Several gigantic chains shot out, resembling a black python, fiercely colliding with the approaching fire dragon. Yet, as before, the chains were melted by the fire dragon upon contact. Despite the weakened state, the fire dragon continued its relentless pursuit. "Damn it!" Wuhu Guardian felt the terrifying heat getting closer behind him. Turning around to see the rapidly enlarging fire dragon, a wave of fear spread from the depths of his heart. (End of this chapter) ================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creators: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! {The updates will be three days a week.} Chapter 172: Capture Chapter 172: Capture Chapter 172: Capture "Boom!" A thunderous explosion, as if shaking the heavens and the earth, suddenly echoed in the sky. At that moment, the entire mountain range below trembled violently, causing even low-level demonic beasts to be shocked by the unexpected thunderous sound, with blood trickling from their ears. Gigantic purple flames, like purple clouds, gathered in the sky. Slowly, the flames began to spread, creating visible ripples of energy in the space, reminiscent of tossing giant stones into a calm lake, generating waves and visible energy ripples. At this moment, Gu He''s gaze was fixed on the spreading purple flames in the sky. The iron-clad Wuhu Guardian had just suffered a fierce blow from Gu He and was unlikely to recover quickly. However, regardless of the outcome, Gu He was determined to kill this guy to eliminate potential future troubles. With such thoughts in mind, a touch of murderous intent flashed in Gu He''s eyes. This person must not be allowed to leave peacefully! Under the scrutiny of countless eyes, the purple flames continued to spread. At a certain moment, the seemingly cloud-like purple flames suddenly fluctuated. Immediately, a disheveled figure dashed out of it. The figure, appearing desperate, fled towards the northern horizon. Stripped of the slightest trace of its former arrogance, the Soul Hall Guardian had obviously lost the capital for pride after the continuous onslaught. Gu He, who had been observing, noticed the moment Wuhu Guardian appeared and coldly chuckled. His figure moved, transforming into a colossal pillar of fire that shot out like a flame, appearing directly in front of the fleeing Wuhu Guardian within a few blinks. "I am a member of the Soul Hall. If you kill me, the Soul Hall will never let you go!" Seeing Gu He emerge, Wuhu Guardian quickly slowed down, shouting with a stern tone. At this moment, Wuhu Guardian, wrapped in thin black mist, had become quite weak. His aura had dwindled to a lower level, showing the severe damage inflicted by Gu He''s previous ferocious strike. Gu He''s indifferent gaze swept over Wuhu Guardian, and a faint sneer appeared in his eyes. He coldly said, "A dog from a bereaved family." "Alright, since you refuse to let go, this Guardian will fight you to the death!" Provoked by Gu He''s mockery, Wuhu Guardian roared in anger. Immediately, the black mist surged out from his body. However, just when everyone thought he was about to launch a final attack, he abruptly turned, taking advantage of the cover of the black mist, and fled towards another part of the sky. Mocking gaze fixed on the fleeing Wuhu Guardian, Gu He shook his head slightly. Then, with a forceful grip, a powerful suction erupted from his palm. Under this force, Wuhu Guardian''s fleeing speed suddenly slowed down. Gu He''s figure moved, and he appeared directly behind him, delivering a fierce palm strike to his back. "If you kill me, the Soul Hall will not let you go!" Wuhu Guardian still glared at Gu He with a fierce look, even though he was now in their hands. His hostility was still quite intense. "Rest assured, I won''t kill you. I still have a lot I want to learn from you for now." Gu He reached into the energy membrane fearlessly, touching Wuhu Guardian''s soul and smiling. Seeing that Gu He dared to be so bold, a sinister expression flashed in Wuhu Guardian''s eyes. He flicked his fingers, and a smaller black chain mysteriously appeared, then stabbed towards Gu He''s hand. "Humph!" Seeing Wuhu Guardian''s actions, Gu He snorted. He flicked his fingers, and an invisible purple flame suddenly appeared in his palm, shooting directly towards Wuhu Guardian. The innate flame quickly swept over and collided directly with Wuhu Guardian''s soul. As soon as the purple flames touched Wuhu Guardian''s soul, thick white smoke and sizzling sounds erupted, followed by a bone-piercing scream from his mouth. "Damn, what kind of flame is this? It can directly harm the soul?" (End of this chapter) ================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! "The young ones have left the protection of their guardian and now embarked on their own journey. The Guardian Also Leaves for his own journey. The story unfolds with a different turn. Join Patreon to read chapters ahead and witness their journey." Chapter 173 Interrogation Chapter 173 Interrogation Chapter 173 Interrogation Upon seeing the Wuhu Guardian, who was jumping around due to being burned by a clump of Nine Abyssal Flame, Gu He nodded with a smile. It seemed that this Nine Abyssal Flame could indeed directly harm the soul. Although any energy or qi reaching a certain level could damage the soul, undoubtedly, the Nine Abyssal Flame was something the soul truly feared. Under the burning of Gu He''s Nine Abyssal Flame, the already heavily injured Wuhu Guardian was further harmed. Its soul almost seemed transparent, as if it could turn into nothingness at any moment. Seeing the Wuhu Guardian on the verge of becoming nothingness, Gu He waved his hand, and the Nine Abyssal Flame slowly dissipated. He then took out a jade bottle from his storage ring, beckoned, and a suction force directly pulled the Wuhu Guardian''s soul into the bottle. He sealed the bottle with flames on his fingers. Putting the bottle into his storage ring, Gu He finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he captured this guy, his goal would be achieved. Without the Wuhu Guardian, he could act more freely within the Cloud Mist Sect. Looking at the destroyed mountains below, Gu He shook his head slightly, and his figure disappeared into the void. After a while, Gu He had returned to the courtyard. Entering his room, Gu He took out the jade bottle containing the Wuhu Guardian''s soul. As his gaze swept over the bottle, Gu He''s eyes narrowed slightly. He released his soul power and securely sealed the entire room. The Dou Ancestor''s methods were extremely mysterious, and Gu He naturally felt a bit wary. Although he was currently heavily injured, he couldn''t completely ignore a counterattack from a Dou Ancestor powerhouse. However, even in the prime of the Wuhu Guardian, he could suppress it. Now, with only the soul remaining, as long as he was careful, there shouldn''t be any problems. Looking at the jade bottle in his hand, Gu He touched the mouth of the bottle. The fluctuation of the invisible flames gradually faded until it dissipated completely. As the flames vanished, an illusory soul rushed out in a hurry, desperately shooting towards the ceiling. Gu He flicked his finger, and an invisible flame barrier suddenly appeared above the ceiling. The illusory soul collided with it, erupting with a sharp sound. Soon, a miserable scream echoed. Watching the illusory soul scurrying in the flame barrier, Gu He smiled faintly. He formed hand seals, and the invisible flame barrier descended accurately, wrapping the soul before slowly descending. "Hehe, Wuhu Guardian, why run so fast?" Smiling at the cautious Wuhu Guardian hiding in the flame shield, afraid to touch the surrounding flame barrier, Gu He said with a smile. "Do...do you know my identity?" Gu He had inadvertently revealed the identity of the "Wuhu Guardian," causing the Wuhu Guardian to be shocked and unbelievably look at Gu He. At this moment, Gu He, without the concealment of the Red Lotus Platform, revealed his true face. "You...are you Gu He?" Staring at Gu He''s somewhat familiar face, the Wuhu Guardian widened his eyes, full of disbelief. As a sixth-grade alchemist, Gu He had long been targeted by the Wuhu Guardian. Even with a slight change in appearance, he was easily recognized by the Wuhu Guardian. At this moment, the Wuhu Guardian''s mind was like a stormy sea, overturning everything he knew. Gu He, a sixth-grade alchemist at the Dou Ancestor realm, had become so powerful. This couldn''t be possible! This couldn''t be true! The Wuhu Guardian stared at Gu He, unwilling to accept this scene. "Wuhu Guardian has sharp eyes; indeed, it''s me, Gu He." Facing the Wuhu Guardian''s accusation, Gu He didn''t mind and admitted directly. "Gu He, who are you really?" Seeing Gu He admitting, the Wuhu Guardian calmed down. At this moment, various thoughts flashed through his mind as he began to speculate about Gu He''s true identity. Ancient family? Alchemy Tower? Or maybe a top-notch beast race family? As he spoke, the surrounding burning flames slowly approached. Upon witnessing this scene, the Wuhu Guardian''s expression changed, and he couldn''t help but speak, "Wait, I''ll talk. That Iron Guardian, like me, is also at the guardian level. However, he is only a human-level guardian, while I am a earth-level guardian." "Don''t you have any higher-ups to contact?" Gu He asked in return. "I remember that the Soul Hall assigns soul-catching tasks. Where do you usually go to report your tasks?" "Each time we go out, we have a set task quota that must be completed within a specified time. We need to return to the headquarters to report. However, the Soul Hall has many branch halls on the continent, and the places where we report our souls are these branch halls." "Do you know the locations of several branch halls?" Gu He continued to press. "Two. Every time we go out on a mission, a human-level guardian is only qualified to know the location of one branch hall, while an earth-level guardian can know two, and a heaven-level guardian can know three," the Wuhu Guardian replied, casting a covert glance at the flames swirling around him. Feeling the intense heat, the Wuhu Guardian''s soul trembled slightly as he reluctantly spoke. "As a earth-level guardian, you must know the locations of two branch halls, right? Where are they?" Gu He, with narrowed eyes, asked slowly. Biting his teeth, the Wuhu Guardian shook his head, "This is a Soul Hall secret. If exposed, my fate won''t be much better than dying in your hands!" A cold light flashed in Gu He''s jet-black eyes as he clenched his hand, causing the invisible flame barrier to tightly contract around the Wuhu Guardian. Hissing sounds accompanied the intense pain, and the Wuhu Guardian''s desperate cries echoed again. "You have two choices: either endure the flames and die now, or pray that your leaking of information won''t be known by the Soul Hall," Gu He said indifferently, looking at the Wuhu Guardian enveloped in white smoke. "You bastard! Fine, I''ll talk, let me go!" The Wuhu Guardian had just cursed, and the temperature of the invisible flames suddenly increased. In great pain, he hurriedly shouted. Hearing his voice, the contracted flame barrier slowly expanded, revealing the limp and weakened soul. "The two branch halls I know of are one located very far from the Chu Empire, in the Tianxin Empire near the center of the continent and the junction with the northwest region. It''s called the Tianzang Gorge. The other one is in the Black Horn Domain." The Wuhu Guardian''s soul trembled slightly as he reluctantly spoke. "Tianzang Gorge in the Tianxin Empire and the Black Horn Domain?" At these words, Gu He murmured softly with a hint of surprise in his eyes. He hadn''t expected that there would be a Soul Hall branch in the Black Horn Domain. Seeing the strange expression on Gu He''s face, the Wuhu Guardian thought that this guy was attracting the attention of the Soul Hall and couldn''t help but be horrified. "Gu He, don''t think that having a bit of strength is enough to deal with our Soul Hall''s powerful figures." "Do you know the foundation of our Soul Hall? Do you know the strength of our Soul Hall''s Lord?" The Wuhu Guardian questioned with some lack of confidence. Gu He coldly looked at the Wuhu Guardian, "Have you seen the Lord of the Soul Hall?" Gu He was quite surprised. The Wuhu Guardian was just a small earth-level guardian; he shouldn''t have the qualifications to deal with the Lord of the Soul Hall. Upon hearing Gu He''s question, the Wuhu Guardian''s expression became somewhat strange. After a long while, he sneered, "The Lord is mysterious and unpredictable. Not to mention a lowly human-level guardian like me, even a heaven-level guardian probably rarely sees him. In the entire Soul Hall, except for a few revered elders and a few others, no one knows the Lord''s true strength." "Heh heh, but to be able to develop the Soul Hall to such a vast extent, even if you use your ass, you can tell how terrifying the Lord''s strength is. Frankly speaking, you guys don''t even have the qualifications to come into contact with such top-tier experts." "If you don''t want to endure the pain of roasting again, just answer my questions. The rest of your words can rot in your stomach." Gu He''s gaze was ice-cold as he scanned him, then asked again, "Tell me about the transaction between you and Yun Shan in detail." "Yun Shan?" Hearing Gu He''s words, the Wuhu Guardian sighed inwardly. It seemed that this guy really knew everything. With a sigh in his heart, the Wuhu Guardian reluctantly said, "Yunshan has already taken the Blood Soul Pill. After he breaks through to the Dou Ancestor realm, he will help me with three things. Of course, if he fails to break through, I will seize the opportunity to take his soul." After listening, Gu He asked calmly, "What is the Blood Soul Pill?" ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 174: Blood Soul Pill Chapter 174: Blood Soul Pill Chapter 174: Blood Soul Pill Gu He asked indifferently, "What is the Blood Soul Pill?" Upon hearing this, the Wuhu Guardian fell silent for a moment before answering, "The Blood Soul Pill is a peculiar elixir developed by our Soul Hall. It can forcibly enhance the strength of those below the Dou Ancestor realm. Of course, for those above the Dou Ancestor realm, the Blood Soul Pill also has the effect of increasing cultivation." Speaking to this point, the Wuhu Guardian looked at Gu He, with a hint of flattery in his tone, "Gu He, I happen to have two Blood Soul Pills here. If you want to take them, I''ll give them all to you." Gu He, hearing this, couldn''t help but glance at the Wuhu Guardian, his eyes carrying a trace of judgment. After a while, just when the Wuhu Guardian felt his heart pounding under Gu He''s gaze, Gu He''s voice rang out slowly, "Bring them here." Hearing Gu He''s words, the Wuhu Guardian was slightly stunned, but soon a flash of ecstasy crossed his face. He nodded hastily and said, "Okay, I''ll give them to you right away." Watching the Wuhu Guardian''s impatient appearance, Gu He''s eyes revealed a hint of coldness. Afterward, the Wuhu Guardian formed a hand seal, and a jade bottle appeared in his palm. "Gu He, the Blood Soul Pills are inside this bottle." The Wuhu Guardian handed the Blood Soul Pills to Gu He. As Gu He watched the Wuhu Guardian take out the jade bottle, his eyes showed a trace of unusual color. No wonder he didn''t see any storage items on this guy. It seems that this Blood Soul Pill is quite precious. Without speaking, Gu He directly reached out and took the jade bottle from the Wuhu Guardian''s hand. Bang! Gu He directly opened the bottle cap, and a rich energy fluctuation immediately emanated. Gu He sniffed and furrowed his brows involuntarily. He actually smelled a strong scent of blood and flesh in this Blood Soul Pill. Thinking of the Soul Hall''s consistently sinister methods, Gu He shook his head. It seemed that the refining method of this Blood Soul Pill was also extremely evil. The Wuhu Guardian nervously watched Gu He''s expression and asked, "Gu He, how about this Blood Soul Pill?" "As a Dou Ancestor-level guardian, I can receive two Blood Soul Pills each year. If you like, all the Blood Soul Pills I receive in the future will be yours." The Wuhu Guardian promised, hoping that Gu He would let him go because of the Blood Soul Pills. However, what he didn''t expect was that in Gu He''s eyes, these Blood Soul Pills were nothing special. After listening to the Wuhu Guardian''s words, a smile appeared on Gu He''s face. Looking at the Wuhu Guardian with a meaningful gaze, he slowly said, "Wuhu Guardian, don''t forget, I am also an alchemist." Hearing Gu He''s words, the Wuhu Guardian''s heart jumped, and his face changed slightly. After Gu He''s reminder, he remembered that the person in front of him was still a sixth-grade alchemist. Gu He''s face changed slightly. This meant that even if Yun Yun broke through to the Dou Venerate realm, there would be no possibility of further breakthroughs in the future. "Remove the blood curse..." "I wonder if the Heavenly Flame will be effective..." "If so, I can help him." In an instant, various thoughts flashed through Gu He''s mind. Back then, he won first place at the Alchemist Grand Meeting, and it was Yun Shan who personally recruited him, offering irresistible benefits. It was with Yun Shan''s support that Gu He quickly reached the level of a sixth-grade alchemist. For Gu He, Yun Shan had some sense of gratitude. If he had the ability, he wouldn''t mind helping the other party. Moreover, with Yun Shan''s identity as Yun Yun''s teacher, Gu He had no reason to stand by. If Yun Yun knew that he had stood idly by, she would probably hate him. "Well, let''s find an opportunity to meet this old sect master." Gu He secretly made a decision. Then he put the Blood Soul Pill in his hand into the storage ring and prepared to study it carefully later. Next, Gu He looked at the Wuhu Guardian, a cold smile appearing on his lips, "Wuhu Guardian, as a captive, you should have the awareness of a captive. It''s better not to hide the good things on your body." Listening to Gu He suddenly changing the topic, the Wuhu Guardian was slightly stunned, and then his face turned pale, "What... what things?" Gu He''s face was indifferent, "It seems that the Wuhu Guardian is still harboring illusions." The scene just now when the Wuhu Guardian took out the Blood Soul Pill was seen by him. This guy obviously still had a lot of good things hidden on him. ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 175: Soul Secret Technique Chapter 175: Soul Secret Technique Chapter 175: Soul Secret Technique As Gu He''s words fell, he employed the same tactic again, and the scorching flames surged towards the Wuhu Guardian once more. Sensing this, the Wuhu Guardian''s expression changed dramatically. There was a flash of horror in his eyes, but he still insisted, "Gu He, I really don''t have any treasures on me..." Gu He''s expression remained indifferent. "Since you don''t want to say, then it''s best never to say." With that, the flames surrounding the Wuhu Guardian continued to close in. The Wuhu Guardian pleaded, "I beg you, Gu He, spare my life." Unmoved by his pleas, Gu He noticed a hint of murderous intent in the Wuhu Guardian''s eyes. Seemingly aware of the killing intent emanating from Gu He, the Wuhu Guardian finally broke down and hastily exclaimed, "I''ll talk, I''ll talk! I''ll give it to you..." Once he spoke, the aura around the Wuhu Guardian instantly became more feeble, on the verge of collapsing. Gu He, upon hearing this, dissipated the surrounding flames. The Wuhu Guardian sat dumbfounded for a moment before hesitantly forming a hand seal. His face contorted in pain as if enduring immense suffering. After a while, a gray mist emerged within him. Observing the gray mist, the Wuhu Guardian''s eyes showed a trace of anguish. Following his mental command, the mist floated towards Gu He. Gu He released his soul force, enveloping the gray mist and carefully examining it. After a while, astonishment appeared on Gu He''s face. "This is..." "High-grade spatial artifact?" Gu He''s soul force surrounded the gray mist, his eyes filled with disbelief, followed by ecstasy. He hadn''t expected the Wuhu Guardian to possess such a treasure. Spatial artifacts, like spatial rings, were related to spatial stones. Spatial rings were made from spatial stones, and within the central part of a high-grade spatial stone, one might find a high-grade spatial artifact. High-grade spatial stones, essential for crafting high-grade spatial rings, were extremely rare. The chance of finding a spatial artifact within a high-grade spatial stone was also pitifully low. Moreover, spatial artifacts were categorized into three levels: upper, middle, and lower. The gray mist before him had already reached the level of a high-grade spatial artifact. Such a spatial artifact could be considered priceless. Gu He looked at the Wuhu Guardian with some surprise. "I didn''t expect your luck to be so good." At these words, the Wuhu Guardian''s face revealed a defeated expression. Good luck? It wasn''t good luck when it ended up in your hands. Thinking about the high-grade spatial artifact and the various treasures inside, the Wuhu Guardian felt like he wanted to die. "Gu He, I''ve told you everything. Now that I''ve even given you a high-grade spatial artifact, can you consider letting me go?" After hesitating for a moment, the Wuhu Guardian looked at Gu He with a hint of pleading. After a while, Gu He slowly opened his eyes. By now, he had read all the information inside the scroll. Gu He looked at the scroll in his hand, revealing a pleasantly surprised expression. This scroll recorded a soul secret technique! Indeed, members of the Soul Hall would have soul secret techniques, and it wasn''t surprising for any guardian-level individual in the hall to cultivate such a technique. The scroll he had just opened documented the soul secret technique that the Wuhu Guardian had used earlierthe Soul Binding Technique. Practically every guardian in the Soul Hall practiced this technique. Next, Gu He opened the other scroll. Once again, a soul fluctuation entered his mind. Gu He felt delighted; it was another soul secret technique. Truly worthy of the Soul Hall, specializing in soul secret techniques. Gu He was overjoyed and quickly absorbed this information. After a while, Gu He had already read all the information in his mind. Soul Devouring Technique! Devouring the soul to temporarily boost one''s strength. Gu He suddenly remembered the scene where the Wuhu Guardian had devoured souls earlier. It seemed that the technique he had displayed was the Soul Devouring Technique. Although this technique was somewhat cruel, in critical moments, using it to save one''s life was not considered scrupulous. When facing life and death, who cared about cruelty or not? Examining the two scrolls in his hands carefully, Gu He happily stored them in the system space. Unexpectedly, there would be such a harvest this time. Gu He looked at the Wuhu Guardian and waved his hand, dispelling the flame barriers. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 176: The Internal Disciple Competition Begins Chapter 176: The Internal Disciple Competition Begins Chapter 176: The Internal Disciple Competition Begins "Considering your decent performance this time, I''ll spare you for now." After dispersing the flame barriers, Gu He smiled at the Wuhu Guardian. Upon hearing this, the initially despondent Wuhu Guardian suddenly became overjoyed. "Thank you for sparing my life, sir! I promise that after I leave, I won''t reveal any of your information..." Clearly, the Wuhu Guardian had misunderstood something and kept making assurances in front of Gu He. "Leave? Who said I''m letting you leave?" "You think I''m letting you go?" At this, Gu He''s face displayed a strange expression. Could it be that the Wuhu Guardian had been rendered foolish by the beating? Given the circumstances, sparing his life was already generous. Yet, he still harbored thoughts of leaving? Seemingly lacking in intelligence. "Aren''t you planning to let me go?" "Do you still want to imprison me?" Hearing this, the Wuhu Guardian''s expression changed, and he roared in anger. "Do you think I''ll just let you go like this?" With a cold sneer, Gu He didn''t wait for the Wuhu Guardian''s angry retort. With a wave of his hand, a suction force surged out, drawing the Wuhu Guardian back into the jade bottle. Then, invisible flames poured in, maintaining a high temperature within the sealed bottle, keeping the Wuhu Guardian''s soul in a state of severe injury. After sealing the Wuhu Guardian again, Gu He let out a sigh of relief, his expression slightly grave. He knew that what the Wuhu Guardian mentioned was just the tip of the iceberg of the formidable Soul Hall. Even this small piece was enough to make him extremely wary. At least, at his current level, he absolutely couldn''t contend with the Soul Hall. "Alas, if only I had a powerful backing." Thinking about his current situation, Gu He revealed a helpless expression. The reason he acted so low-key, not daring to expose his true strength, was simply because he feared attracting the attention of the Soul Hall. Elite internal disciples totaled 1,016, and each round of the competition eliminated half of them. Thus, ten rounds of matches were needed to determine the first place. If the number of disciples continuing the competition became odd during the process, they would be fortunate to have a bye, and the disciple with a bye would directly advance to the next round. ... On this day, the Yunlan Sect''s internal square was crowded with people, bustling and noisy. Several thousand internal disciples gathered on the square. In the middle of the internal square, the number of stages had increased from one to eight, with seven new stages added, arranged in two rows, neatly opposite each other. Each stage on the east side had a grandstand with eleven seats. Every stage had an external elder and ten external disciples observing. Throughout the internal sect, with five or six thousand disciples divided among ten peaks, each peak had an internal elder as the peak master, two external elders as deputy peak masters, and several disciples responsible for managing and teaching the peak''s disciples. Each stage had an external elder presiding, and one disciple from each peak observed to ensure fairness. In front of the internal square, a larger grandstand had been set up, with a platform on top where the ten peak masters and some external elders were located. From this platform, they could observe the situation on any stage. "Who do you think will take first place in this internal disciple competition?" "Of course, it will be Senior Sister Nalan. I heard her cultivation level has already reached the six-star Dou Practitioner realm. She''s also the direct disciple of the Sect Master, so she''s definitely going to be the first in the internal competition." "The Grand Elder''s grandson, Senior Brother Yun Luo, is also very powerful. He entered the two-star Dou Practitioner realm last year. Besides Senior Sister Nalan, I think no one is Senior Brother Yun Luo''s opponent this time." "Senior Brother Lin Hao is also very strong. He''s the direct disciple of the Second Elder. He entered the top twenty of the internal sect last year. After another year, his strength may have surpassed Senior Brother Yun Luo!" "In my opinion, the top three this time should be Senior Sister Nalan, Senior Brother Yun, and Senior Brother Lin. This estimation is probably beyond dispute." (End of this chapter) {Note: Well you may be disappointed, but this competition thing will be wrapped pretty fast. } ================================================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 177: Grand Competition Results Chapter 177: Grand Competition Results Chapter 177: Grand Competition Results "Have you heard? This time, the sect leader won''t preside over the inner-door grand competition. Instead, it will be overseen by Elder Gu He," someone said. "Elder Gu He?" Upon hearing this name, the disciples of Yunlan Sect nearby immediately showed a look of reverence on their faces. In Yunlan Sect, the status of Dan King Gu He was almost on par with Yunyun, the sect leader. Therefore, when they learned that Elder Gu He would preside over this grand event, some inner-door disciples not only felt no disappointment but were also inspired. The disciples of Yunlan Sect knew that the sect leader had no intention of accepting new disciples anymore. Even if they performed well in the inner-door competition, they couldn''t become the sect leader''s disciples. But Elder Gu He was different. During this period, every time Gu He went out, he brought back a disciple. This earned him the reputation of being a "good mentor" that gradually spread throughout Yunlan Sect. This also gave many proud disciples of Yunlan Sect the confidence that they could also become his disciples. Moreover, Elder Gu He was a sixth-grade alchemist. If one could catch the eye of Elder Gu He, it would be like ascending to the heavens. "I also heard that Elder Gu He not only presides over this inner-door grand competition but also allows his disciples to participate." "What? Are you saying that Senior Liu Ling and Junior Sister Xiao Yi Xian, they are also participating in this inner-door grand competition?" "Aren''t they alchemists? Why would they think of participating in the inner-door competition?" "I''m not sure about that... but, when it comes to alchemy, I''m definitely no match for Senior Liu Ling, but in martial arts, Senior Liu Ling may not necessarily defeat me." Before the ranking competition even started, the inner-door disciples on the square were already buzzing with discussions around several arenas. The subjects of these discussions were none other than the renowned figures among the inner-door disciples. As the host of this grand competition, Elder Gu He''s disciples also became the subject of discussion among some disciples. However, it was clear that none of them considered them on the same level as those renowned figures, let alone comparable to Nalan Yanran, who was known as the number one genius in Yunlan Sect. In the speculation about the outcome between Liu Ling, Junior Sister Xiao Yi Xian, and Nalan Yanran, most inner-door disciples seemed to lean towards Nalan Yanran and others. "Look, Senior Yun, Senior Lin, Senior Zhang... these elite inner-door disciples have already arrived." Suddenly, there was a commotion among the inner-door disciples on the square. Sure enough, the elite inner-door disciples participating in the ranking competition had already walked towards the square. Accompanying them were several elders and stewards led by Yunlan Sect''s Grand Elder Yun Ling. In the open space between the platform and the arena, there were no ordinary disciples. The elite inner-door disciples went directly into this vacant area. Each elite inner-door disciple had a number attached, ranging from 1 to 1016 based on their cultivation level. The elders and stewards who came with the elite disciples entered the square and walked to the stands on the east side of the eight arenas. Grand Elder Yun Ling, accompanied by two other elders, approached the front of the elite disciples. In this area, there were long tables with a long box on each table. "Has Elder Gu He not arrived yet?" Yun Ling swept his gaze and, with some doubt, asked the second elder beside him. The second elder shook his head helplessly. Seeing this, Yun Ling''s brows slightly furrowed, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant. In his heart, he had long been dissatisfied with Yunyun''s decision to let Elder Gu He oversee the inner-door grand competition. According to reason, even if the sect leader couldn''t preside over the competition, he, as the Grand Elder, should have been the one to do it. When did it become Elder Gu He''s turn? Of course, even if Yun Ling was dissatisfied, he dared not say much. After all, Elder Gu He was a sixth-grade alchemist, and Yun Ling didn''t want to offend him over such a trivial matter. "Elder Gu He has arrived!" Just then, a commotion arose in the crowd. When Grand Elder Yun Ling looked over, he saw Gu He, dressed in white, floating over. Behind him were three figures: Junior Sister Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Liu Ling. Qu Xiang pretended to be modest and said, "Senior Brother Liu Ling, please make the first move." Liu Ling smiled faintly and pretended to be arrogant, saying, "Junior Brother should make a move first. Otherwise, once I make a move, you won''t have a chance to do so." Upon hearing this, Qu Xiang''s eyes twitched slightly. Feeling scorned by Liu Ling, a flame ignited in his heart. Since the competition had begun, Qu Xiang no longer hesitated. He bent his legs slightly, suddenly pushed off, and his entire body, like a cheetah, sprinted forward. A yellow-ranked superior technique, Leopard''s Step. With a flash of light, Qu Xiang''s sword was drawn in an instant. The radiant sword light, like lightning, thrust forward directly towards Liu Ling''s chest. "Good!" Qu Xiang''s move was like a cheetah''s assault, swift as lightning, and smooth as flowing water. It was harmonious, transforming from stillness to motion. Before one could react, the sword had already struck. Qu Xiang''s sword was swift, and in the blink of an eye, it had reached Liu Ling''s chest. The disciples below the arena stared intently, observing how Liu Ling would handle the situation. Among them were many elite disciples who had already completed the first round of matches. Watching this scene, Liu Ling remained calm, offering a faint smile. With a whirlwind beneath his feet, he swiftly moved aside. High-level Profound-tier martial skill, Wind Treading! This was a martial skill that Yun Yun had gifted to Gu He, later bestowed upon Liu Ling by Gu He himself. While evading with Wind Treading, Liu Ling activated the Purple Eagle Flame within his body. With a screech resembling that of an eagle, a purple flame shot out from Liu Ling''s fingertips, directly heading towards Qu Xiang. Yellow-ranked high-level martial skill, Flame Palm! The Flame Palm was exceptionally fast, and Qu Xiang had no time to dodge. He was directly hit by the Flame Palm and rolled on the arena. Liu Ling used only thirty percent of his strength in this attack; otherwise, with Qu Xiang''s level of strength, Liu Ling could have defeated him with just a palm. After being hit by the Flame Palm, Qu Xiang suffered severe injuries and exclaimed, "I concede, Senior Brother Liu Ling. I concede." Liu Ling smiled calmly and gracefully left the arena. On the Elder''s platform, Gu He watched Liu Ling''s performance with a twitch at the corner of his mouth. This little brat was quite good at pretending, wasn''t he? The news of Liu Ling defeating his opponent with a single move quickly spread, earning him considerable fame. Next, Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran took their turns on the stage. There was no suspense. Following Liu Ling''s example, both Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yi Xian swiftly defeated their opponents with a single move. With their current strength, the inner disciples were no match for them. As the inner-door competition progressed, time quickly passed, and in the blink of an eye, three days had gone by. At this moment, the inner-door competition had reached the third round. In the end, only eight elite disciples remained, including Senior Sister Nalan and the others. The final results were obvious. Once again, the top three spots were dominated by Liu Ling and the other two. Xiao Yi Xian, with a cultivation level of a four-star Dou Grandmaster, secured a position among the top participants. Liu Ling, with a cultivation level of a nine-star Dou Master, took the second position. Senior Sister Nalan, with a cultivation level of a Six-star Dou Master, claimed the third position. This outcome was difficult for both the inner disciples and the elders to accept. Two alchemists took the top two spots? Senior Sister Nalan only ranked third? (End of this chapter) ================================================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 178: The Peak of the Nine-Star Dou Ancestor! Chapter 178: The Peak of the Nine-Star Dou Ancestor! Chapter 178: The Peak of the Nine-Star Dou Ancestor!Th.e? most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m Time passed quickly, and two months had already passed since the inner sect competition. After the top three results of the inner sect competition were announced, it naturally shocked the entire Yunlan Sect. Xiao Yixian and Liu Ling stood out, becoming the focus of discussion among Yunlan Sect disciples. As their teacher, Alchemy King Gu He, also received a lot of attention. There were rumors outside that Alchemy King Gu He was not only proficient in alchemy but also skilled in teaching his disciples. Afterward, many elders and stewards visited Gu He, wanting to send their junior disciples to him for guidance. However, Gu He naturally refused them outright. He was not like Yun Yun, always cautious in his actions. If provoked, he might directly slap someone to death. As two months passed, the excitement of the inner sect disciple competition finally subsided. At this moment, in the Nine-Color Valley on the back mountain. The Nine-Color Valley was the name Gu He gave to this valley on the back mountain, named after the Nine-Color Sacred Lotus. Inside the valley, dense mist-like particles filled the entire space. At a glance, it was all white, and the front view was completely obscured. The fact that so many mist-like particles formed from the energy of heaven and earth existed in the Nine-Color Valley indicated that the heavenly and earthly energy here had become extremely rich, making it a true cultivation holy land. On one side of the valley, Gu He stood next to the medicine garden, looking at several new Grade Seven Spirit Medicines that had grown. He couldn''t help but reveal a pleased expression on his face. Now, he had a total of ten Grade Seven Spirit Medicines in the medicine garden. At this rate, it wouldn''t be long before the Grade Seven Spirit Medicines in the garden were enough for him to refine Grade Seven elixirs. In these two months, Gu He had obtained ten Grade Six Spirit Medicines from Hai Bodong and applied for six more within the sect. Now, in this medicine garden, there were twenty Grade Six Spirit Medicines left, besides those that had already advanced to Grade Seven. Gu He believed that with the dense heavenly and earthly energy in the valley, it wouldn''t be long before all the remaining Grade Six Spirit Medicines in the garden advanced to Grade Seven. At that time, his vision of the medicine garden would truly take shape. After inspecting the medicine garden, Gu He''s thoughts shifted, and he summoned Cai''er to collect a Longevity Bead. In the past two months, he hadn''t forgotten to collect Longevity Beads every day. Now, in his storage ring, he had nearly a hundred Longevity Beads. Longevity Beads could extend one''s lifespan, which was an invaluable treasure for some powerful individuals nearing the end of their lives. In the future, Gu He could use this batch of Longevity Beads to trade with some powerful individuals, making a huge profit. Next, Gu He released his soul power to check the situation in the valley. Host: Gu He Age: Thirty-one Disciples: Liu Ling, Xiao Yixian, Nalan Yanran, Qing Lin Alchemy Master Level: Seventh-grade Alchemy Master Cultivation: Nine-Star Dou Ancestor Peak Martial Arts: Divine Fire Technique (Heavenly High-Rank) Soul Cultivation Technique: Soul Devouring Technique (Emperor-Grade Soul Power Cultivation Technique) Soul Secret Arts: Soul Restriction, Soul Fusion Martial Skills: Vermilion Bird Seal (Earth High-Rank), Ascension Steps (Earth High-Rank), Void Sword Technique (Earth High-Rank), Shadow Claw (Earth High-Rank), Flame Palm (Mystic High-Rank), Blaze Eagle Claw (Mystic High-Rank)... Pets: Golden Feather Giant Eagle, Scarlet Flame Demon Dragon, Void Beast, Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas, Black Scale Frigid Serpent. Supernatural Abilities: Crowned Head, Void Projection Physique: Seven Orifices Exquisite Pill Heart Others: Dou Saint Experience Card, Azure Lotus Core Flame, Dragon Soul Cauldron, Heart of Space, Nine-Color Sacred Lotus, Black Dragon Armor, Divine Wind Sword... ] Looking at the comprehensive attribute panel in front of him, Gu He''s face showed satisfaction. These were his gains over the past two months. Compared to two months ago, his strength and hidden cards had undoubtedly undergone an earth-shaking transformation. Now, his cultivation had already reached the terrifying Nine-Star Dou Ancestor Peak. He was just one step away from stepping into the Dou Zun realm! (End of this chapter) ================================================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 179: The Heart to Leave Chapter 179: The Heart to Leave Chapter 179: The Heart to Leave "To break through to the Dou Venerate realm, relying on these few youngsters is not enough." Looking at the attribute panel in front of him, Gu He showed a hint of regret. Although the peak of the Nine Star Dou Zong and the Dou Venerate realm are only a step away, this small distance is like a huge chasm, requiring a vast amount of energy to cross. Clearly, with Gu He''s current strength, the cultivation obtained from the small disciples like Xiao Yi Xian through transmission of power and infusion of energy is far from enough to provide this energy. In two months, a total of eight opportunities for power transmission and infusion only just allowed Gu He to accumulate the energy to break through from the Seven Star Dou Zong to the peak of the Nine Star Dou Zong. And to gather the energy needed to break through from the peak of the Nine Star Dou Zong to the Dou Venerate realm would take an unknown amount of time. In short, Gu He no longer has the patience to wait. "It''s also time to leave for a while." Gu He made up his mind in his heart. If he wants to break through, he must leave the familiar place of Yun Lan Sect and find stronger disciples to perform power transmission and infusion, so he can quickly gather the energy needed to break through the Dou Venerate realm. However, after leaving, he will also assign his disciples the task of descending the mountain for training. Flowers grown in a greenhouse can never truly grow. It''s time for them to go out and experience the dangers of the world. "Fortunately, in two months, these little ones have undergone earth-shaking changes in strength. Even if they go out for training, they have some ability to protect themselves." Gu He showed a gratified expression. Although it was only two months, with the hard cultivation of the youngsters and the help of power transmission and infusion, these little ones have greatly improved their strength. The strongest, naturally, is Xiao Yi Xian, who possesses the Worful Poison Body. The abnormal upgrade speed of the Worful Poison Body is almost comparable to power transmission and infusion. Now, Xiao Yi Xian''s strength has reached the peak of the Nine Star Dou Grandmaster. Just one step away, she could break through to the Dou Spirit realm! However, Gu He had already given her a bottle of Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Body Refining Milk, instructing her to use it carefully. With the pure energy contained in the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Body Refining Milk, probably just a small drop will enable Xiao Yi Xian to break through to Dou Spirit quickly. Gu He advised her not to be anxious, to first stabilize the cultivation of the Nine Star Dou Grandmaster before attempting to break through. Next is Liu Ling, Gu He''s chief disciple. Although he doesn''t possess any extraordinary physique, with Gu He''s body refining spirit liquid changing his physique and enhancing his physical strength, this young man also made progress, and his cultivation has now reached the Six Star Dou Grandmaster realm. Thinking of the unhappy look on this kid''s face when he found out that Xiao Yi Xian was about to break through to the Dou Spirit realm, Gu He couldn''t help but smile. The Five Poison Claw is an advanced Xuan-grade Dou Technique suitable for Xiao Yi Xian, which Gu He found when he obtained the Advanced Naling from Protector Wu. The Heart of Space: It allows the opening of a growing inner space within the body. He gave Nalan Yanran the Void Breaking Sword Technique and Wind Chant, and in return, he obtained the Earth-grade Advanced Dou Technique Sky Cutting Sword Technique and an Eighth-Order Magical Core Weapon, the Divine Wind Sword. The Void Breaking Sword Technique is also an advanced Xuan-grade Dou Technique that Gu He obtained from Protector Wu. Sky Cutting Sword Technique: When practiced to the extreme, it can split the void, possessing immense power. Divine Wind Sword: An eighth-order wind attribute magical core weapon, embedded with several eighth-order wind attribute magical cores, greatly amplifying the cultivation of wind attribute Dou Qi. He gave Qing Lin the Blue Scale Giant Python and Earth Xuan Armor, and in return, he obtained an Eighth-Order Pet, the Black Scale Frigid Python, and an Eighth-Order Battle Armor, the Black Dragon Armor. The Blue Scale Giant Python is the Five-Order Magical Beast that Gu He suppressed in the valley behind the mountain. The Earth Xuan Armor is a Five-Order defensive armor obtained from Protector Wu. In addition, Gu He also bestowed many elixirs, and after the tenfold return, naturally obtained numerous high-quality elixirs. Such as: Yin Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill: A seven-grade elixir that, if taken, provides a chance of turning a desperate situation into an opportunity when seriously injured or on the brink of death. This transformation can break past limitations, allowing one''s body, soul, and even Dou Qi to ascend to a higher level. Return Life Pill: A seven-grade elixir that can save one''s life as long as the head is not directly chopped off or the heart is not shattered. Fu Ling Green Pill: An eight-grade elixir, said to be able to restore a regressed Dou Venerate to their peak, realistically recovering 2 to 3 stars of strength. Bodhi Pill: An eight-grade elixir that can attract eight to nine-colored Dan thunder, increasing the chance of becoming a Dou Saint by 20%. In summary, in these short two months, although Gu He''s cultivation has not increased much, his array of treasures and foundation have undergone a drastic change. This also gives him some confidence to leave Yun Lan Sect and venture outside. "However, before leaving, there are some things that need to be clarified." Gu He put away the attribute panel, his eyes flashing with contemplation, beginning to prepare for leaving Yun Lan Sect. (End of Chapter) ================================================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! 【Chapter 180: Xiao Yan’s Confidence, Nalan Yanran’s Unyielding Spirit】 Chapter 180: Xiao Yans Confidence, Nalan Yanrans Unyielding Spirit Chapter 180: Xiao Yan''s Confidence, Nalan Yanran''s Unyielding Spirit Demon Beast Mountain Range. The rushing waterfall heavily struck the rocks, and the thunderous echoes resounded in the small valley. Standing by the lake below the waterfall, Xiao Yan looked at the ten giant wooden stakes inserted under the rushing flow of the waterfall. He couldn''t help but make a bitter expression and said to Yao Lao beside him, "Master, you don''t want me to practice down there, do you?" "Correct answer." With a faint smile, Yao Lao chuckled, "I''ve said it before, don''t think that Earth-Grade Dou Techniques are like Xuan-Grade Dou Techniques, something anyone can learn. To cultivate at this level, you must meet certain prerequisites." "Obviously, with your current strength as a Seven-Star Dou Practitioner, you don''t meet those requirements." "Give me the Heavy Sword." Extending his hand, Yao Lao took the strange black Heavy Sword from Xiao Yan''s back. Originally weighing heavily on Xiao Yan''s back, the Heavy Sword, in Yao Lao''s hands, caused his arm to only sink slightly. Lifting the huge black sword, Yao Lao smiled and asked, "Have you seen a real Earth-Grade Dou Technique? Do you want to see it?" At these words, Xiao Yan''s eyes brightened suddenly, and he nodded eagerly like a chick pecking at rice. With a faint smile, Yao Lao, holding the pitch-black Heavy Sword, slowly rose into the air. When his body gradually reached the center of the lake, he slowly came to a stop. Looking down at the distance of four to five meters from the lake surface, Yao Lao raised his head and looked at the huge waterfall in front of him, which resembled a silver dragon. Exhaling slowly, Yao Lao squinted his eyes. After a moment, he suddenly opened them. Immediately, a terrifying aura that Xiao Yan had never witnessed before surged out of Yao Lao''s body like an awakened dragon. Before this aura, the calm lake surface under Yao Lao''s feet suddenly seemed to boil, constantly bubbling with white water bubbles. The boiling water bubbles spread from under Yao Lao''s feet, covering the entire lake surface before finally stopping the expansion. Staring dumbfounded at the phenomenon on the lake, Xiao Yan was shocked. The current Yao Lao, compared to the indifferent and lazy appearance before, was completely different. At this moment, he was like a chilling knife hidden in its sheath. The sharp aura made people almost dare not look directly at it. "This... I''m afraid this is a true powerhouse..." Xiao Yan murmured softly. After a while, Xiao Yan''s pupils suddenly became hot. He believed that one day in the future, he could also reach this level! Above the lake surface, Yao Lao calmly lifted the black sword in his hand. On the sword surface, the special patterns that had puzzled Xiao Yan before now emitted a fiery red light. The sword cut through the void, and the surrounding space became somewhat illusory and blurred. Gripping the now fiery-red Heavy Sword tightly, Yao Lao uttered a low shout. His body suddenly moved. With a slow step on the void, an afterimage appeared under the sunset, stunningly revealed. Staring at the afterimage in the void, Xiao Yan was speechless for a while. He didn''t expect Yao Lao''s speed to be so terrifying. As the afterimage gradually dissipated, Yao Lao''s figure appeared under the waterfall, which was more than ten zhang wide. Compared to the hanging giant waterfall, Yao Lao''s tiny figure was like an ant on a scroll, extremely inconspicuous. However, it was this tiny figure that brought forth a more terrifying momentum than the waterfall. Rings of seven-colored halos emitted from the nine-colored lotus, filled with the vitality of the world. The figure in moon-white clothes sat beside it, absorbing the rich natural energy around. After a while, the aura on this figure suddenly changed. "Nine-Star Dou Master Peak!" Nalan Yanran slowly opened her eyes, and her beautiful eyes were filled with excitement. In just two months, with the help of the Seven-Colored Saint Lotus and the guidance of Gu He''s cultivation, Nalan Yanran''s cultivation had soared, reaching the level of an Eight-Star Dou Master. At this moment, she once again made a breakthrough and reached the peak of a Nine-Star Dou Master! "Can''t be complacent. Compared to Liu Ling, Xiao Yixian, and the others, I still have a long way to go." After only a moment of excitement, Nalan Yanran calmed down. Thinking about the gap between herself and Liu Ling, Xiao Yixian, and the others, a hint of unwillingness appeared on Nalan Yanran''s pretty face. What they can achieve, I, Nalan Yanran, will definitely achieve! Afterwards, she spent half a day stabilizing her cultivation. Her fingers brushed over the Nalan Ring, and a jade bottle appeared in her palm. "It''s time to take the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill to break through to the Dou Grandmaster..." (End of this chapter) ================================================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! As we have reached 200 chapters on patreon, there will be mass release of 5 chapters tomorrow and day after tomorrow combined. Please look forward to it. Chapter 181: I’m Willing Chapter 181: Im Willing Chapter 181: I''m Willing Late at night, on the back mountain of Yunlan Sect, high above the clouds. The bright moonlight scattered, casting a layer of silver sand over the entire Yunlan Mountain, creating a breathtaking scene. In the high sky, stars dotted the expanse. Unusually, amidst the myriad stars, there was a hint of green light. The clouds surged, conveniently concealing this touch of green light. If someone were standing on the cloud court at this moment, they would be surprised to find that this touch of green light was not a shining star but a floating green lotus platform emitting a green light. "Beautiful!" A light and ethereal voice suddenly echoed on the green lotus platform. A figure stood on the edge of the green lotus platform, overlooking the Yunlan Mountain below, resembling Chang''e in the Moon Palace. The woman wore a white dress that enveloped her voluptuous figure, and her green hair was tied up in an elegant phoenix ornament. Her beautiful and serene face revealed an inherent grace and nobility. The woman in white, her black-as-ink hair cascading like a waterfall of three thousand strands, reaching her slender waist. Her stunning face resembled a fairy in the mountains, indifferent to worldly affairs. The woman''s watery eyes looked down at Yunlan Sect below, filled with joy. "Do you like it?" A gentle voice came from behind the woman, and then a refined man walked out, standing beside her. The two seemed like a pair of immortal companions. This refined man was Gu He, and the woman, other than Yunyun, who else could it be? "Yeah." Upon hearing Gu He''s question, Yunyun nodded slightly, a satisfied smile on her charming face. Watching the beautiful smile on the woman''s face, Gu He couldn''t help but raise the corners of his mouth. Over the past two months, through Gu He''s unremitting efforts, the relationship between the two had not reached the level of intimacy, but it was no different from a normal couple. Gu He reached out and naturally embraced Yunyun''s slender waist. Yunyun made no resistance, obediently leaning her head on Gu He''s shoulder. A unique fragrance of a woman entered Gu He''s nose, causing him to involuntarily narrow his eyes, revealing a face of intoxication. The two quietly cuddled together, looking at the moonlit earth below. "Yuner, in a few days, I''ll be leaving Yunlan Sect for a while." After a long time, Gu He spoke softly, reluctantly breaking the peaceful time between them. Gu He looked puzzled, "Yuner, what did you say? I didn''t hear." "I''m willing." Yunyun said again, this time a bit louder. "The voice is still too small; I still didn''t hear." "What?" At these words, Yunyun was puzzled. When she saw the cunning smile on Gu He''s face, she finally understood that he was teasing her. A blush of embarrassment appeared on her cheeks, and she slapped lightly towards Gu He: "Hateful, you!" The seemingly soft force, Gu He didn''t pay any attention to it at all. He directly caught Yunyun''s jade hand that was about to hit him and instinctively pulled her into his arms, embracing her slender waist. "What are you doing? Let go of me!" Yunyun''s body stiffened, and then she struggled while pushing and hitting Gu He''s chest. Gu He''s arm, which was embracing Yunyun''s waist, unconsciously tightened a bit. His gaze was fixed on her, and a hint of heat appeared involuntarily in his eyes. The hand that embraced her waist also couldn''t help but gently move, touching that soft... This instantly made Yunyun''s face blush. Although they had already had a relationship in the cave once, Yunyun had almost no reason at that time. Considering that, this was the first time they were so intimate. Yunyun''s cheeks became even more shy and rosy. Then, because of Gu He''s hand gently moving around her waist, a soft whimper escaped from Yunyun''s throat. Her body suddenly softened. This slight sound, at this moment, was like a bewitching melody. Gu He''s heart pounded suddenly, unable to resist tightening his embrace around Yunyun. Then, he leaned towards Yunyun''s tempting red lips and pressed a kiss on them. Next, the two slowly undressed. In the moonlight, the Holy Green Lotus Platform swayed slightly, resembling a faintly shimmering green star. (End of this chapter) ================================================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 182: Gift Giving Chapter 182: Gift Giving Chapter 182: Gift Giving Three hours later. After a passionate encounter, Gu He lay comfortably in the Holy Green Lotus, embracing Yunyun''s delicate body. The Holy Green Lotus was more than two meters wide, and the two of them cuddled inside, making it seem quite spacious. Yunyun, with flushed cheeks, nestled in Gu He''s arms like a little cat. Her beautiful eyes stared blankly at the bright moon in the sky, recalling the intense moments they shared earlier. A blush appeared on her face. The two of them silently gazed at the sky, creating a moment of extreme tranquility. Holding the beauty in his arms, Gu He felt content in his heart at this moment. "Gu He." "When do you plan to leave?" After a long time, Yunyun suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "Maybe in the next few days." Gu He replied, then suddenly turned his head to look at Yunyun in his arms. A playful smile appeared on his handsome face, "Yuner, should you change your way of addressing me?" "Change... change what way of addressing..." Facing Gu He''s gaze, Yunyun''s beautiful eyes suddenly dodged, her face filled with shyness. "What do you think?" Gu He tightened his arms around Yunyun, and the two bodies pressed closely together. "You are my woman, and I am your man. What should you call me?" Gu He''s mouth curled up slightly, and a hint of playfulness appeared in his eyes. Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Yunyun''s cheeks instantly turned rosy, even the tips of her ears were tinged with a blush. Her gaze avoided his, and she could only lower her head and softly call out, "Husband..." A hint of playfulness flashed in Gu He''s eyes. Pretending not to have heard, he looked puzzled, "Yuner, what did you say? I didn''t hear." At these words, Yunyun called out again, "Husband." Gu He still looked puzzled, "The voice is still too small; I still didn''t hear." "Husband." Yunyun said again, this time a bit louder. "The voice is still too small; speak louder." "What?" At these words, Yunyun was puzzled. When she saw the cunning smile on Gu He''s face, she finally understood that he was teasing her. A blush of embarrassment appeared on her cheeks, and she pinched Gu He''s arm. "Ouch!" Gu He exaggeratedly "screamed" in pain. "Husband, what grade is this Divine Wind Sword?" After she sheathed the Divine Wind Sword, Yunyun looked at Gu He with a hint of curiosity. "Eighth grade, the same grade as the Profound Ice Holy Armor on your body." Gu He spoke frankly. "Again, eighth-grade!" Hearing this, Yunyun couldn''t help but show a surprised expression. Then she hesitated, "Husband, this sword is really too precious. You should keep it for self-defense, especially since you might encounter..." Slap! Before Yunyun finished speaking, Gu He slapped her soft buttocks, directly interrupting her words. Feeling the unusual sensation on her buttocks, Yunyun subconsciously covered it with her hand, staring at Gu He with an uncomprehending look. Gu He''s tone was serious, "Remember, I am your man. When a man gives something to his woman, it''s only right and proper. There''s nothing too precious or not precious about it. If you say something like that again, I''ll have to punish you." Faced with Gu He''s domineering attitude, Yunyun was stunned for a moment. Then, blushing, she lowered her head and softly uttered an "um." "That''s more like it." Seeing Yunyun obediently bowing her head, Gu He''s face instantly showed a gentle smile. He spoke softly, "Next, I''m going to give you the second gift." As he spoke, Gu He produced a jade bottle. Opening the jade bottle, he poured out a green bead. Gu He brought it to Yunyun''s lips and said gently, "Come, Yuner, swallow it." Looking at the green bead in Gu He''s palm, Yunyun was a bit puzzled but didn''t hesitate. She obediently swallowed it. As the green bead entered her mouth, before Yunyun could even chew, it directly turned into a green stream, flowing down her throat into her body. It was quickly absorbed, nourishing every part of her body. Yunyun''s body shook, feeling significant changes happening within her. A never-before-experienced sense of comfort, as if her tendons and bones had been washed and refined, filled her. Closing her eyes, Yunyun carefully sensed the changes in her body. After a while, she slowly opened her eyes, revealing a surprised expression. Looking at Gu He, she exclaimed, "Husband, what is this? Why is it so miraculous?" (End of this chapter) ================================================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 183: Nalan Yanran’s Request Chapter 183: Nalan Yanrans Request Chapter 183: Nalan Yanran''s Request "This item is called the Eternal Life Bead, containing an extremely rich vitality. It can heal injuries and even revive the dead. It can also extend one''s lifespan. When taken by a Dou Emperor, it can increase life expectancy by two hundred years, and for a Dou Ancestor, it can add a hundred years." In response to Yunyun''s inquiry, Gu He calmly provided an answer. After hearing Gu He''s answer, Yunyun widened her eyes, covered her red lips with her jade-like hand, and showed a look of shock. An increase of two hundred years in lifespan at the Martial Emperor level! The effect of the Eternal Life Bead completely astonished Yunyun. "Husband, this..." Yunyun''s lips moved, and she was about to say something when she saw Gu He raising his hand. She immediately stopped talking, bit her red lips, and revealed a somewhat helpless look. Gu He smiled and said, "I have many things like this. Just accept it without any burden. Since you are my woman, why wouldn''t I give you good things? Should I give them to someone else?" Moved by Gu He''s words, Yunyun nodded slowly. Then, Gu He took out a bottle of Thousand-Year Earth Core Body Refining Milk, a Returning Life Pill, and finally imparted the high-level martial art, Void Slashing Sword Technique, to Yunyun. These precious gifts deeply moved Yunyun, and under the influence of emotions, the two of them naturally engaged in another intimate moment. Until just before dawn, Gu He put away the Qinglian Sacred Platform and descended from the high altitude with Yunyun. Reluctantly leaving, Gu He returned directly to his courtyard. This time, the disciples under the sect were also sent out for training. This training might take a very long time. Before leaving, Gu He planned to prepare the spirit liquid and pills they would need in the future. Therefore, after returning to the courtyard, Gu He immediately entered the alchemy room and started a long period of pill refining and preparing spirit liquids. Three days later, Gu He completed the task and walked out of the alchemy room with satisfaction. "Teacher!" When Gu He walked out of the alchemy room, he was surprised to find that Nalan Yanran was waiting in the courtyard, with a somewhat anxious expression on her face. Seeing this, Gu He showed a puzzled look and asked, "Yanran, what''s wrong? Did something difficult happen?" Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran''s bright eyes flickered with teardrops as she pleaded, "Teacher, can you please save my grandfather?" "Save your grandfather?" Nalan Jie, with a withered face, lay on the bed. Several maids were busy around him, carefully taking care of the elderly man who had fallen into a coma. Slowly approaching the large bed, Gu He''s gaze swept over the bed, and he noticed a faint grayish-black color on Nalan Jie''s face. The quiet and sleeping face even carried a hint of the breath of death. "It is indeed very serious..." Glancing at Nalan Jie''s face, which was almost halfway into the grave, Gu He whispered. "Yes, this kind of branding poison is something even a Dou Emperor would not dare to easily provoke. The fact that the old master has endured it for so many years is already reaching the limit." Behind him, Nalan Su sighed and shook his head, then cautiously said, "Alchemy King, do you see any hope for treatment?" On the side, Nalan Yanran nodded slightly, her bright eyes filled with worry. After observing for a while, Gu He spoke, "There should still be a chance for salvation." Then he looked at the several maids in the room and said indifferently, "Let them all leave. Don''t disturb me during the treatment. You should also stay away." "Please, Alchemy King." Hearing this, Nalan Su''s face showed a trace of joy. He quickly took Nalan Yanran a few steps back and waved his hand to dismiss all the maids from the room. Then, Gu He raised Nalan Jie with one hand. Despite the poison that had eroded him for so long, Nalan Jie''s face, which was already dry, still revealed a touch of arrogance. Gently patting Nalan Jie''s shoulder with his left hand, a hidden force shook his robe into powder, revealing a skeletal body that seemed like a bone frame. "Indeed very serious..." Looking at the face of Nalan Jie, who seemed almost skeletal due to the erosion of the poison, Gu He murmured. Nalan Su sighed and said cautiously, "Alchemy King, what do you think? Is there any hope for treatment? ================================================================================================ Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 184 Detoxification Chapter 184 Detoxification Chapter 184 Detoxification Looking at the emaciated body of Nalan Jie, even with the temperament of Gu He, he couldn''t help but shake his head. This old guy actually played himself into such a state. After all, he was one of the top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire... On the side, Nalan Yanran saw this scene, and her eyes became slightly moist. The rare mist lingered in her eyes, making her look somewhat pitiful. After examining it, Gu He raised his right hand, and purple flames surrounded it. In an instant, the temperature in the room soared. Slowly extending his middle finger, a wisp of purple flame twisted around it. Then, Gu He''s soul power slowly extended from his body, enveloping the purple flame, suppressing its scorching heat, and gently touching Nalan Jie''s back. As the finger touched, the purple flame made a muffled sound as it drilled into Nalan Jie''s body. At this moment, the originally unconscious Nalan Jie''s body trembled violently. With the finger on Nalan Jie''s back, Gu He squinted his eyes, controlling the soul power that enveloped the purple flame. It quickly traversed some main meridians and gradually approached the bones in Nalan Jie''s body covered by poison. With the extension of soul power, the situation inside Nalan Jie''s body also appeared in Gu He''s mind. Sensing the almost blackened bones, Gu He''s brows gradually furrowed. The depth of Nalan Jie''s poisoning far exceeded his expectations. "If it were any later, this old guy might really be beyond saving..." Muttering to himself, Gu He''s soul power enveloped the primordial divine fire and slowly approached the blackened bones covered by toxins. As it approached, Gu He''s soul power gradually began to relax, and the temperature of the purple flame quietly increased. As the temperature of the purple flame rose, Nalan Jie, who was originally numb, gradually felt a sense of pain on his face. His withered palm also tightly clenched, and veins bulged on his arm. The purple flame, enveloped by soul power, stopped rising in temperature each time it reached a certain point. Gu He took a slow breath of slightly hot air, hesitated for a moment, and then directly controlled the green flame to cover a section of the blackened bones. "Ah..." On the bed, Nalan Jie, who had his eyes tightly closed, suddenly opened his eyes and let out a hoarse and painful roar. A fierce aura, like a dying ember, awakened. "Old man..." Seeing the sudden opening of the eyes and roar of the old man, Nalan Yanran and Nalan Su hurriedly shouted. "Nalan Clan Leader, I am detoxifying for you. If you can endure this intense pain, the branding poison should be expelled. But if you can''t, then I am powerless." Glancing at the sweating Nalan Jie, Gu He said indifferently. Hearing the voice behind him, Nalan Jie slightly turned his head and looked at Lord Alchemist King''s face. He couldn''t help but be stunned. Then he gritted his teeth and said with a dry smile, "Lord Alchemist King, I didn''t expect to have to trouble you. " Lord Alchemist King''s expression was serious. "The toxins in your body have penetrated into the bone marrow. I am using the Heavenly Flame to help you eliminate them. Can you endure it?" "Haha, Lord Alchemist King, feel free to do it. Even if you kill me, no one dares to blame you. My life was already saved by a fluke." Feeling this rich vitality, Nalan Yanran''s expression suddenly changed. "This... could it be a sixth-grade elixir!" For a moment, Nalan Yanran looked at Gu He in front of her, and her beautiful eyes revealed infinite gratitude. The teacher actually took out a sixth-grade elixir for her sake! In an instant, Nalan Yanran was filled with gratitude towards Gu He. Then, Nalan Yanran quickly handed the green sphere in her hand to Nalan Jie''s mouth. As the green sphere entered his mouth, a rich vitality began to spread within Nalan Jie''s aged body, repairing his severely damaged body. "This..." Feeling the changes in his body, Nalan Jie''s body trembled suddenly, sensing significant changes happening. The unprecedented sense of comfort felt as if he had been reborn. Nalan father and daughter''s gazes had been fixed on Nalan Jie. They could see the changes in Nalan Jie after taking the green sphere. His originally wrinkled face seemed to have become much younger, and even some of his white hair had turned into black strands. In an instant, Nalan parents were greatly shocked, realizing the preciousness of the green sphere just now. "Lord Alchemist, please accept a bow from Nalan Su!" After reacting, Nalan Su felt extremely grateful and directly bowed deeply to Gu He. (End of this chapter) =============================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 185: Meeting Hai Bo Dong Chapter 185: Meeting Hai Bo Dong Chapter 185: Meeting Hai Bo Dong In the room, Nalan father and daughter looked at Gu He, their expressions filled with gratitude. Regarding Nalan Su''s grand gesture, Gu He ignored it and simply said, "Yanran is my disciple. Since she has a request, I will naturally fulfill it." Gu He''s words directly expressed his attitude. He did all this simply for the sake of Nalan Yanran. Nalan Su naturally understood this. If it weren''t for Nalan Yanran, with the face of their Nalan family, how could they possibly invite the renowned Lord Alchemist? However, understanding aside, gratitude was still due. Gu He said a few words and then fell silent. His gaze turned to Nalan Jie, and he spoke, "Old man, can we continue now?" After taking the Longevity Bead, Nalan Jie''s body had already recovered by a large extent. Hearing this, he immediately spoke with vigor, "Please, Lord Alchemist, go ahead. My old bones can still withstand it." Gu He, hearing this, didn''t hesitate and continued to control his own Flame of the Soul to remove the branding poison from Nalan Jie. Half an hour later, the branding poison in Nalan Jie''s body was finally completely removed. Gu He''s thoughts moved, and his fingers slightly curved. The purple flame that lingered outside the bones began to slowly withdraw, and the last traces were carefully reclaimed into Gu He''s body. After the last wisp of purple flame was reclaimed into his body, Gu He finally breathed a sigh of relief, wiping away the cold sweat on his forehead. In his heart, he couldn''t help but sigh. This detoxification process was even more exhausting than refining a seventh-grade pill. It wasn''t because removing the branding poison was difficult for Gu He. In fact, for Gu He, who possessed the Flame of the Soul, the branding poison was nothing. Now, Gu He''s Flame of the Soul had already condensed into two different kinds of Flame of the Soul. This small branding poison was nothing in front of Gu He. As long as it touched the Flame of the Soul inside his body, it would be annihilated. What he was more afraid of was accidentally killing Nalan Jie during the detoxification process. How terrifying was the power of Gu He''s Flame of the Soul? Even the likes of Wu Protector, an eight-star Dou Zong, could only escape when facing Gu He''s Flame of the Soul. And Nalan Jie? Two months had passed, and despite Hai Bo Dong instructing the Miteer family to purchase Sixth-grade Spirit Medicine with all their efforts, they had not yet gathered the required twenty plants. "Hai, don''t misunderstand. I didn''t come this time for a delivery." Gu He lifted the teacup, took a sip, and spoke casually, seemingly unconcerned. "If not for delivery, then why are you here? I have a lot of important matters to attend to, and I don''t have time to waste with you here." Hai Bo Dong responded with a hint of impatience. After several transactions, their relationship had become quite harmonious. However, Hai Bo Dong''s tone was not particularly polite. Gu He put down the teacup and smiled, "Hai, are you really so unwelcoming? This time, I''m here for an early delivery." "Early delivery?" Hai Bo Dong was slightly puzzled. "What are you delivering?" In the past, Hai Bo Dong was the one delivering to Gu He, not the other way around. Without much explanation, Gu He took out a jade bottle from his spatial ring and tossed it to Hai Bo Dong. "Naturally, it''s the Longevity Bead!" Upon hearing the words "Longevity Bead," Hai Bo Dong''s face twitched. He caught the jade bottle that Gu He threw and scolded, "Be careful, what if you break it?" Afterward, Hai Bo Dong carefully opened the jade bottle, revealing a green spherical bead insidethe Longevity Bead. As soon as the bottle was opened, a strong vitality surged out, causing Hai Bo Dong to be slightly shaken. "Well deserved to be called the Longevity Bead. Just based on this vitality, it''s extraordinary." Hai Bo Dong praised silently. "Why are you still standing there, Hai? The sooner you consume it, the better the effect. If the vitality overflows, the effect will be greatly discounted." Unable to bear Hai Bo Dong''s daze, Gu He reminded him. Upon hearing this, Hai Bo Dong''s expression tightened. He quickly spoke about the green spherical bead in the bottle and then unhesitatingly put it into his mouth. (End of this chapter) {Check out tge notice and please donate powerstones to get extra chapters} ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 186: Cultivating the Soul Fusion Technique, Opening the Soul Palace! Chapter 186: Cultivating the Soul Fusion Technique, Opening the Soul Palace! Chapter 186: Cultivating the Soul Fusion Technique, Opening the Soul Palace! As the green spherical bead entered his mouth, before Hai Bo Dong could even chew, it directly transformed into a green stream, flowing down his throat and entering his body. It was quickly absorbed by his body, nourishing every part. Hai Bo Dong''s body trembled, feeling a significant change. An unprecedented sense of comfort, as if his bones and marrow had been cleansed. Afterward, Hai Bo Dong slowly closed his eyes, carefully sensing the changes in his body. Watching this scene, Gu He smiled faintly and didn''t disturb him, casually sipping tea on the side. After a moment, Hai Bo Dong slowly opened his eyes, revealing a look of pleasant surprise. This Longevity Bead contained an extremely rich life force, indeed capable of improving one''s constitution and extending lifespan! He could clearly feel that his old body had undergone a tremendous improvement after taking the Longevity Bead. Hai Bo Dong couldn''t help but touch his own face, feeling that many wrinkles had disappeared, noticeably becoming younger. Gu He put down his teacup, smiling as he looked at Hai Bo Dong. "How does it feel?" "Great!" Hai Bo Dong regained his senses and couldn''t help laughing out loud. He praised, "This Longevity Bead is truly extraordinary. I feel instantly rejuvenated by decades." "Not only have you become younger by decades, but by taking the Longevity Bead, you''ve extended your lifespan by at least two hundred years. Also, Old Man Hai, haven''t you noticed that even the hidden injuries accumulated in your body have disappeared at this moment," Gu He said with a hint of amusement as he watched Hai Bo Dong''s excited expression. During this time, Hai Bo Dong had been diligently preparing Sixth-grade Spirit Medicine for him, a performance that pleased Gu He. Now that he had decided to leave the Gamma Empire and wanted Hai Bo Dong to continue helping him gather Sixth-grade Spirit Medicine, Gu He could only let him enjoy the Longevity Bead in advance. Only by letting him taste the sweetness, Gu He could ensure that Hai Bo Dong would continue to work hard for him even after he left. After hearing Gu He''s words, Hai Bo Dong confidently sensed the changes in his body again. He found that, as Gu He said, all the accumulated hidden injuries over the years had completely healed. Moreover, the somewhat depleted meridians in his body were rejuvenated under the nourishment of the Longevity Bead. These discoveries made Hai Bo Dong grin from ear to ear. The goal of his life had always been to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm. Even though he considered himself talented, after more than a decade of being sealed, his body had aged, and he lacked confidence in breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm. However, now, after taking the Longevity Bead, not only did he gain an additional two hundred years of life, but his cultivation talent also returned to his youthful days. This suddenly filled him with confidence. If he still couldn''t break through to the Dou Ancestor realm after this, then his reputation as the Ice Emperor might as well be thrown to the dogs. Boom! A thunderous sound suddenly echoed within Gu He''s body. Gu He''s consciousness immersed itself in that acupoint. The initial size of the space within this acupoint was only the size of a baby''s fist. However, with the influx of soul power and blood qi, this space gradually expanded until it reached the size of five baby fists, gradually coming to a halt. The embryonic form of the Soul Palace had been established! At this point, Gu He knew the most crucial moment had arrived, determining whether he could successfully forge the Soul Palace. The Soul Palace was still extremely unstable, on the verge of collapsing at any moment. Gu He''s task was to use his own essence blood to completely stabilize this Soul Palace, turning it into a genuine and stable Soul Palace. Buzz... The next moment, the essence blood within Gu He''s body boiled, pouring into this specific acupoint and entering the Soul Palace. Simultaneously, the essence blood within Gu He''s body was rapidly depleting. His face turned pale, and the vitality within him gradually dissipated. With a thought, Gu He immediately activated his lifebound Divine Flame, enveloping his entire body. Crimson flames surged out from the purple flame, emitting a thick blood mist that infiltrated Gu He''s body. This was the function of the Undying Flame! As these blood mists entered Gu He''s body, he refined them into his own essence blood, sustaining the vitality within him. This process continued for nearly three hours. Finally, Gu He successfully opened the first Soul Palace. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 187: Soul Devour Technique, Incarnation as a Wuhu Guardian Chapter 187: Soul Devour Technique, Incarnation as a Wuhu Guardian Chapter 187: Soul Devour Technique, Incarnation as a Wuhu Guardian "Opening the first Soul Palace, the Soul Fusion Technique can be considered preliminarily complete." Feeling the emergence of the Soul Palace within his body, Gu He''s mouth curved into a satisfied smile. Next, Gu He flicked his finger, and a jade bottle sealed with invisible flames appeared in his hand. As he gazed at the jade bottle, a cold glint flashed in Gu He''s eyes. He said slowly, "Wuhu Guardian, your end has come." With a sweep of his palm over the bottle''s mouth, the fluctuation of the invisible flames gradually faded until it dissipated completely. As the flames dissipated, an illusory soul rushed out urgently, heading straight for the ceiling. Gu He gently flicked his finger, and an invisible flame barrier suddenly appeared above the ceiling. The illusory soul crashed into it, producing a hissing sound, followed by a wailing scream. Watching the illusory soul struggle within the flames, trying not to touch the surrounding barrier, Gu He smiled faintly and said, "Wuhu Guardian, why run so fast?" Anxiously, Wuhu Guardian, hiding within the flame shield, shouted, "Gu He, what do you want? I''ve said everything I should. How long do you want to trap me?" "Don''t worry. From today onwards, you will be completely free," Gu He said, looking at Wuhu Guardian''s painful struggles within the flames. A faint chill appeared at the corner of his mouth. Upon hearing this, and seeing the killing intent in Gu He''s eyes, Wuhu Guardian''s heart chilled. He asked fearfully, "What do you mean? Do you want to kill me?" "No, I won''t kill you," Gu He shook his head, and the cold light in his eyes intensified. "However, from today onwards, you will be permanently fused with me." As soon as he finished speaking, Gu He slowly extended his hand. A dark light appeared in his palm. After a moment, the dim light condensed into a black vortex. A powerful devouring force suddenly emerged. "Soul Devour Technique!" Gu He uttered a low drink, and the formidable devouring force targeted Wuhu Guardian. "What do you want... No... Don''t... Ah!" With a terrified shout, Wuhu Guardian''s soul was enveloped by a powerful devouring force, uncontrollably drifting towards Gu He''s palm. He had no resistance. As Wuhu Guardian''s soul entered the dark vortex in Gu He''s palm, the devouring force gradually disappeared. The dark light in Gu He''s palm transformed into a black bead. Through the black bead, one could clearly see Wuhu Guardian''s soul struggling and shouting in pain inside. Strangely, there was no sound escaping the black bead, as if Wuhu Guardian''s soul had entered an isolated space, cut off from the outside world. "Any soul, under the Soul Devour Technique, indeed has no power to resist." Watching the black bead in his hand, Gu He''s mouth curled up slightly. Then, Gu He released his soul power, enveloping the black bead and directing it towards the Soul Palace he had just opened. Like a virtual object, the black bead directly entered Gu He''s body and, guided by the soul power, slowly entered the newly opened Soul Palace. It could be said that after activating the Soul Palace, what Gu He had incarnated was the second Wuhu Guardian in the world. Whatever Wuhu Guardian knew, the "Wuhu Guardian" that Gu He had incarnated also knew. "Hehehe!" "Wuhu Guardian" suddenly laughed at the bronze mirror. "Indeed, even the laughter is equally unpleasant." "Wuhu Guardian" sensed his current situation and gradually understood. Although Gu He had completely taken over Wuhu Guardian after activating the Soul Palace, Gu He found that he could still use his own abilities. "Yes, this is perfect." Satisfied, "Wuhu Guardian" smiled and suddenly looked towards the direction of the back mountain. "Next, it''s time to meet an old friend." The next moment, the figure of "Wuhu Guardian" suddenly disappeared in the room. When "Wuhu Guardian" appeared again, it was already at the extremely secretive bottom of a cliff in the back mountain of Yunlan Sect. In front of him was a cave sealed with giant stones. Through the information obtained in his mind, Gu He knew that Yunshan was currently in seclusion inside this cave, having already consumed the Blood Soul Pill and preparing to break through to the Martial Ancestor realm. "Former Sect Master, it''s been more than ten years since we last met." Looking at the cave in front of him, "Wuhu Guardian" muttered to himself. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 188: Conversation with Yun Shan Chapter 188: Conversation with Yun Shan Chapter 188: Conversation with Yun Shan Inside the cave, night pearls were embedded in the walls, providing a faint light in the originally pitch-blaack environment. In the middle of the cave, an old man in white robes was sitting cross-legged. A rich blood aura enveloped Yun Shan, and a strange atmosphere permeated the cave. Yun Shan formed peculiar hand seals, constantly refining the blood aura around him. With each strand of blood aura refined, Yun Shan''s aura became increasingly terrifying and eerie. "Hehehe!" At this moment, a piercing laughter suddenly echoed in the cave. Following the laughter, a strange black mist suddenly appeared inside the cave. Upon hearing the laughter, Yun Shan instantly opened his eyes. Displeasure flashed in his cloudy eyes, but he quickly concealed it, restoring a calm expression to his face. "Wuhu Guardian has suddenly arrived. I wonder what orders you have?" Yun Shan suppressed the discontent in his heart, making his tone sound somewhat respectful. "Hehehe!" The grating laughter echoed in the cave, and the black mist surged. Then, the figure of "Wuhu Guardian" appeared, and his voice was hoarse as he said, "Yun Shan, how is your breakthrough going?" This old man was none other than Yun Shan, the current Sect Master of Yunlan Sect! ''If it weren''t for this persistent guy disturbing me, I would have broken through recently.'' Yun Shan cursed the "Wuhu Guardian" in front of him in his heart but quickly concealed it. He regained a calm expression on his face. "Reporting to Wuhu Guardian, give me a little more time. I will definitely be able to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm." "Very well!" Upon hearing this, "Wuhu Guardian" nodded, his voice hoarse as he said, "I hope you won''t disappoint me." Yun Shan immediately respectfully said, "Please rest assured, Wuhu Guardian. I will definitely not let you down." "Wuhu Guardian" did not say more and directly stated, "I came here this time to explain some matters to you." Upon hearing this, Yun Shan''s heart tightened. "Sure enough, there''s no such thing as a free lunch. This guy is already asking for a return even before I break through to the Dou Ancestor realm." Although displeased in his heart, Yun Shan still maintained a submissive demeanor on his face. "Please instruct, Wuhu Guardian. As long as it''s something I can do, I will definitely do my best." "Wuhu Guardian" nodded, his voice hoarse as he said, "After today, I will be leaving the Northwestern region for a while." Upon hearing this, Yun Shan was momentarily surprised, followed by great joy. This persistent guy is finally leaving. Hearing this, Gu He maintained an unchanged expression, his voice hoarse as he said, "Does this Guardian lie to you?" "I didn''t mean that..." Seeing signs of "Wuhu Guardian" getting angry, Yun Shan''s heart skipped a beat, hastily reassuring, "Wuhu Guardian, rest assured, I will do my best to find enough sixth-grade spiritual herbs for you." "Wuhu Guardian" at this point showed a hint of relief and said indifferently, "As long as you focus on doing things for this Guardian, this Guardian will not treat you unfairly." Yun Shan nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, yes!" "Wuhu Guardian" said, "This Guardian is leaving." The moment the words fell, "Wuhu Guardian" directly transformed into a black mist and disappeared into the cave. "Longevity Bead..." "There is actually such a treasure in the world!" "If I can get it, perhaps there is still hope for a breakthrough in the future." After "Wuhu Guardian" left, various thoughts flashed through Yun Shan''s mind. "It seems that I need to find an opportunity to come out and let Yun Er mobilize the entire Yunlan Sect to collect sixth-grade spiritual herbs." With a decision in his mind, Yun Shan continued to sit cross-legged, absorbing the energy of the Blood Soul Pill in his body. Soon, the blood-colored energy once again spread in the cave. ... After "Wuhu Guardian" left the cave, when he reappeared, he had returned to Gu He''s courtyard. Then, "Wuhu Guardian" closed the power of the Soul Palace. In the next moment, his aura and appearance changed rapidly. Soon, "Wuhu Guardian" disappeared, leaving behind a refined figure in white clothes C Gu He! (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 189: Mountain Descent and Mission Chapter 189: Mountain Descent and Mission Chapter 189: Mountain Descent and Mission Three days later. In Gu He''s courtyard. At this moment, Gu He was leisurely sitting in the pavilion. Outside the pavilion stood four figuresLiu Ling, Xiao Yixian, Nalan Yanran, and Qing Lin. "Master, why did you suddenly summon all of us? Do you have any instructions?" Liu Ling looked at Gu He in the pavilion and couldn''t help but feel puzzled. Early this morning, Gu He had called him to the courtyard, and upon arrival, he found the other senior sisters here as well. Faintly, Liu Ling felt that his master probably had some important announcement. On the side, Xiao Yixian, Nalan Yanran, and Qing Lin also looked at Gu He with curiosity and uncertainty. To be honest, since becoming disciples, such a grand gathering seemed to be the first time in history. They each speculated on what their master might instruct. Gu He glanced over them and, seeing that all his disciples were present, he slowly stood up. Looking at the four disciples in front of him, Gu He calmly said, "Starting today, all of you will go down the mountain." "Down the mountain?" Hearing Gu He''s words, the four of them were all stunned, their faces filled with confusion. "Master, why are we going down the mountain? Is there something you need us to do?" Liu Ling hesitated for a moment and asked. Gu He didn''t beat around the bush and directly said, "From birth until now, none of you have experienced life-and-death battles. Human potential erupts like a volcano only when life is threatened. Your previous lukewarm cultivation will probably never make you true powerhouses!" "So, the reason I called you here is to let you go down the mountain for some time to gain experience." "Go down the mountain for experience?" Hearing this, the four were all puzzled, feeling that it came out of nowhere. Why would their master suddenly want them to go down the mountain for experience? "Master, our strength is still weak. Isn''t it a bit dangerous to go out for experience?" Liu Ling spoke with a hint of worry. From childhood to now, he had never left the imperial capital, let alone gain experience outside. In Liu Ling''s mind, the outside world was full of countless dangers, with a slight carelessness leading to life-threatening situations. This made Liu Ling have a kind of fear towards the outside world. Now, with his master suddenly suggesting that they go down the mountain for experience, Liu Ling suddenly felt caught off guard and a bit scared. "Master, can I go down the mountain for experience with my second and third senior sisters?" Qing Lin, with a hint of reluctance, asked in a timid voice. Gu He shook his head, his expression becoming serious. "No, going down the mountain for experience is not child''s play. You are still young, and your cultivation is too low. Following them will only be a burden." Seeing the disappointment in the little girl''s eyes, Gu He continued to comfort her in a gentle tone, "You stay in the sect and cultivate. When your cultivation breaks through to the Five-Star Dou Master realm, I will let you go down the mountain." Upon hearing this, Qing Lin nodded. With her current cultivation speed, it wouldn''t be long before she broke through to the Five-Star Dou Master realm. Gu He then looked at Liu Ling, Nalan Yanran, and Xiao Yixian again, saying mildly, "Since none of you have objections, I will now assign you missions for the descent." Gu He''s gaze then fell on Liu Ling, instructing, "Liu Ling, as the eldest senior brother, step forward." Without hesitation, Liu Ling got up and approached the pavilion. "This time, your mission will be in the Tagore Great Desert," Gu He said calmly. The Tagore Great Desert had abundant fire attribute energy, making it the most suitable place for Liu Ling. Gu He had this idea during their previous visit to the desert. "Tagore Great Desert?" Hearing this, Liu Ling''s heart shook. That was the territory of the Snake-People Clan! With his current strength, how could he ensure his safety? Liu Ling felt a bit afraid but dared not show it, fearing that Gu He would get angry again. Gu He continued, "Your mission has three points. First, go to the Stone Desert City and establish the largest mercenary group. Second, reach the Dou Spirit realm. Third, breakthrough to become a fifth-grade alchemist." Liu Ling had never experienced combat with others, and conflicts were almost unavoidable between different mercenary groups, whether between them or between mercenary groups and the Snake-People Clan. Gu He''s intention was to let Liu Ling grow through battles among the mercenary groups. Upon hearing this, Liu Ling was stunned for a moment, then responded without hesitation, "Disciple obeys!" (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 190: Bestowal of Treasures, Transmission of Techniques! Chapter 190: Bestowal of Treasures, Transmission of Techniques! Chapter 190: Bestowal of Treasures, Transmission of Techniques! Liu Ling''s current cultivation had reached the level of a Six-Star Dou Grandmaster, accompanied by a Fourth-Rank Purple Crystal Winged Lion cub. In the remote city of Stone Desert City, he was powerful enough to dominate. As Gu He pondered, he realized that Liu Ling had some deficiencies, especially in martial arts. Despite mastering an advanced Xuan Class Dou Technique, Gu He felt that it wasn''t enough. However, Liu Ling excelled in the aspect of soul power. He not only practiced the seventh-grade soul power cultivation technique, the Dark Soul Secret Art but also possessed two soul secret techniquesSoul Search Technique and Soul Devouring Technique. Gu He thought for a moment and said to Liu Ling, "Come and sit down in front of me." Liu Ling, upon hearing this, was slightly startled but soon realized what was happening. Excitement flashed in his eyes. Could it be that his master was going to perform the soul transmission technique on him? Thinking of this, Liu Ling did not hesitate and came to sit down in front of Gu He obediently. Gu He placed his palm on Liu Ling''s heavenly spirit cover, his thoughts moving as he used the soul transmission technique to pass on the Vermilion Bird Seal, an advanced Earth Class Dou Technique. Although the Vermilion Bird Seal was a system product, even if Gu He passed it on to Liu Ling, the system''s tenfold return could not be triggered. However, for Liu Ling''s journey outside, Gu He wanted him to be equipped with sufficient skills. Liu Ling hadn''t reacted yet when he felt a massive amount of information rushing into his mind. His expression shook, and before he could express his gratitude, he focused on assimilating the vast information in his mind. After a while, Liu Ling had read all the information in his mind. "Vermilion Bird Seal, an advanced Earth Class Dou Technique!" Thinking of the information he had just received, Liu Ling''s eyes revealed a look of shock. The Earth Class! His master had actually passed on such a high-level technique to him. The teacher even passed on a high-level Earth Class Dou Technique like this. Originally, Liu Ling had some resentment towards Gu He for sending him alone to the Tagore Great Desert for training. However, now all he felt was infinite gratitude. The teacher did this for my own good, and I even complained in my heart. The teacher treated me so well, and I dared to disobey him! At this moment, Liu Ling''s eyes were filled with tears, wishing he could slap himself. Liu Ling, oh Liu Ling!NewW novels updates at novelhall.com You''re really unforgivable! Now, Liu Ling''s eyes were filled with tears, and he felt an indescribable sense of gratitude. For others, the Chu Yun Empire might be hell. But for Xiao Yi Xian, who possessed the Woeful Poison Body, it was like entering a paradise. It could be said that for Xiao Yi Xian, going to the Chu Yun Empire was like a fish returning to water. After realizing this, Xiao Yi Xian immediately responded, "Disciple obeys." Gu He did not reveal the fact that Xiao Yi Xian had the Woeful Poison Body Body, so he naturally did not know the thoughts of Nalan Yanran and Liu Ling. Upon hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s decisive response, Gu He nodded slightly and then began to assign the training tasks: "First, reach the Dou King realm in cultivation. Second, achieve the level of a fifth-grade alchemist. Third, collect a large number of poisonous insects and plants." Hearing Gu He''s three tasks, Xiao Yi Xian nodded silently. These three tasks might seem challenging, but for her, putting in some effort should make them achievable. Currently, Xiao Yi Xian''s cultivation had reached the Nine-Star Dou Grandmaster level. Although it seemed far from the Dou King realm, with the Woeful Poison Body, as long as she had enough poisonous plants, she was confident in breaking through to the Dou King realm in a short period. As for becoming a fifth-grade alchemist, she was already a fourth-grade alchemist, and with the sixth-grade alchemy inheritance given by Gu He, breaking through to the fifth grade wouldn''t be difficult. As for collecting poisonous plants and insects, it wouldn''t be a problem once her strength was sufficient. Xiao Yi Xian accepted the tasks calmly, but Nalan Yanran and Liu Ling behind her had slightly changed expressions. Dou King realm. Fifth-grade alchemist. Aren''t these tasks too difficult? Compared to Xiao Yi Xian''s tasks, Liu Ling suddenly felt that her own task was not that challenging. She was facing the Snake People tribe, but Xiao Yi Xian was going to the Chu Yun Empire, a gathering place for poison masters! (End of this chapter) ============================================================= Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 191: Teaching Martial Techniques Chapter 191: Teaching Martial Techniques Chapter 191: Teaching Martial Techniques As for Nalan Yanran, her heart was filled with unease at this moment. "Will the task assigned by the teacher also be this difficult?" After hearing about the task given to Xiao Yixian by Gu He, Nalan Yanran couldn''t help but worry. She didn''t know where Gu He would send her. Nor did she know what kind of task Gu He would assign her. Currently, among the three of them, her strength was the weakest, having only recently broken through to the rank of Dou Grandmaster. If Gu He assigned a task that was too difficult, she was afraid she wouldn''t be able to complete it. But if the task was too easy, Nalan Yanran would feel disappointed in her heart. After all, she was naturally proud and unwilling to admit she was weaker than others. Gu He naturally did not pay attention to the thoughts of Liu Ling and Nalan Yanran. Just like with Liu Ling, Gu He took out a longevity bead from the storage ring and handed it to Xiao Yixian. Then he said: "Xian''er, come and kneel in front of your teacher." Hearing this, Xiao Yixian''s eyes immediately showed anticipation, and she obediently knelt down. Gu He skillfully placed a palm on Xiao Yixian''s head and then used his power to transfer the advanced Earth-class Dou Skill, the Netherworld Claw, to her. Before Xiao Yixian could react, she felt a vast amount of information flooding into her mind. She quickly concentrated and earnestly received this massive influx of information. After a while, Xiao Yixian finally finished assimilating the information in her mind. Netherworld Claw! Advanced Earth-class Dou Skill! Knowing that Gu He had passed on an advanced Earth-class Dou Skill to her, Xiao Yixian, like Liu Ling before her, felt immensely grateful. After Gu He let Xiao Yixian step back, he waved to Nalan Yanran to come forward. Nalan Yanran, who had been uneasy for a long time, finally had her turn. Hearing the teacher''s call, she immediately stepped forward without hesitation. Gu He looked at Nalan Yanran in front of him, thought about her three-year agreement with Xiao Yan, and also remembered his own agreement with Yun Yun. He suddenly felt that he should put more pressure on this girl. With this in mind, Gu He pondered and said: "Yanran, your training location will be set in the Demon Beast Mountain Range." "The training task has three parts: first, your cultivation must reach the Five-Star Dou Ling realm. Second, hunt a hundred third-rank demon beasts and ten fourth-rank demon beasts, and collect their magic cores. Third, gather thirty fifth-rank spiritual medicines and ten sixth-rank spiritual medicines." After hearing the tasks set by Gu He, Nalan Yanran was momentarily stunned. The Demon Beast Mountain Range was a dangerous place. With this sword technique, what else could stand in her way? Mere demon beasts, I, Nalan Yanran, will surely slay them with one sword! After assigning the training locations and tasks for all three, Gu He glanced at them and said in a serious tone, "If you have any objections or doubts about your teacher''s arrangements, speak now. Once the training begins, it cannot be stopped or regretted, and violators will be expelled from the sect!" Hearing Gu He''s serious tone, Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yixian, and Liu Ling looked at each other and shook their heads, indicating they had no objections. "Since there are no objections, then it''s decided." Gu He, seeing that the three had no objections, nodded in satisfaction. Then, with a wave of his hand, a large number of jade bottles appeared on the ground. "Here are the Marrow-Cleansing True Liquids and Zijin Source I have refined. Each of you take ten bottles," said Gu He, pointing to the jade bottles on the ground. The Marrow-Cleansing True Liquid was made by Gu He, incorporating a small amount of millennium earth core body refining milk and various other spiritual medicines. By grade, it was sufficient to reach the peak of the fifth-grade spiritual liquid, and its effect could even compare to a sixth-grade spiritual liquid. Looking at the large number of jade bottles that appeared on the ground, Xiao Yixian and the others were momentarily stunned. As for the Zijin Source, they knew what it was and had experienced its benefits. As for the Marrow-Cleansing True Liquid, although they hadn''t heard of it, But coming from their teacher, it must be a fine product. This Marrow-Cleansing True Liquid definitely wouldn''t be inferior to the Zijin Source. This was their confidence in Gu He. After coming to their senses, the three did not hesitate at all. After thanking him, they divided the jade bottles on the ground. With this, Gu He had explained everything he needed to, taught the Dou Skills he had to teach, and given the resources he had to give. There was nothing more to say. "After you go down the mountain, your teacher also has to go down the mountain to handle affairs. It might be a while before we see each other again. You must take good care of yourselves." Gu He looked at his four disciples in front of him and said with some emotion. (End of Chapter) ============================================================= Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 192: Farewell! Chapter 192: Farewell! Chapter 192: Farewell! Upon hearing Gu He''s words, the three fell into a moment of silence, each feeling a bit uncomfortable. Especially Liu Ling and Xiao Yixian. For Liu Ling, since becoming Gu He''s disciple, he had always stayed by Gu He''s side and never left the Cloud Mist Sect. It must be said that over these years, Gu He had taken good care of him. Now, suddenly asking him to go down the mountain for training was indeed unexpected for Liu Ling. As for Xiao Yixian, since becoming Gu He''s disciple, she had received meticulous care from Gu He and already considered Gu He as her own family. Now, being asked to leave Gu He''s side, naturally, she felt uneasy and reluctant. As for Nalan Yanran, as the young lady of the Nalan family, she had been pampered since childhood. After being taken in by Yun Yun, her status became even more distinguished, never experiencing any grievances. Even the resources needed for her cultivation were personally collected by Yun Yun. This time''s training was equally uncomfortable for her. "Teacher, take care of yourself!" After a while, the three composed themselves, and with a somewhat heavy tone, they spoke. Seeing the somewhat somber atmosphere, Gu He felt a bit uneasy. He forced a smile and said loudly, "Alright, it''s just a training journey, what''s there to be afraid of?" "Do you still remember the Void Jade Talismans that I left for you?" "If you really encounter a life-threatening crisis, crush the talisman directly." "At that time, no matter where I am, I will immediately appear by your side." Gu He smiled gently. Hearing Gu He''s words, Nalan Yanran and the others were moved. Then, a jade talisman appeared in their palms. Crushing this jade talisman would make the teacher appear by their side? Looking at the jade talisman in their hands, the three of them instinctively tightened their grip. If this jade talisman could really bring the teacher to their side. Then it would be a life-saving talisman for them during this training journey, and they couldn''t afford any damage to it. "Alright, I''ve said everything I need to say. Go back and prepare, then go down the mountain." "You have to be good at home..." After making a series of promises, Xiao Yixian and Nalan Yanran each returned to their own rooms. This training task came unexpectedly, and before leaving, Nalan Yanran naturally had to inform her teacher. She even had to go back to Yun Yun to explain the situation. After Xiao Yixian and Nalan Yanran left, Qing Lin looked at the empty courtyard and couldn''t help but shed more tears. Seeing this, Gu He walked over with some heartache and hugged the little girl in his arms. "Alright, your Senior Sister is just leaving for a while. It won''t be long before she comes back." Qing Lin looked at Gu He, choked with sobs, and said sadly, "Teacher, are you leaving too?" At Gu He''s silence for a moment, he nodded slightly and said softly, "Teacher is going out for something, and will be back soon." "Sister left, Teacher, you are leaving too. I''ll be left alone." Qing Lin cried even more sadly when she heard this. Gu He patted the little girl''s shoulder and comforted her softly, "Alright, don''t be sad. Teacher will take you to the Nine-Colored Valley. After Teacher leaves, you can stay in the Nine-Colored Valley to cultivate. If you find it boring, go play with Cai Er. Teacher promises you that when you break through to the Dou Grandmaster realm, I will come back to pick you up, okay?" "Okay." With Gu He''s comforting words, the little girl''s emotions finally stabilised, and she obediently said, "Okay." Seeing that the little girl''s emotions had finally stabilised, Gu He felt relieved. He rubbed her little head and said with satisfaction, "Good girl!" Then, Gu He carried Qing Lin, and with a thought, they directly left the courtyard. When they appeared again, the two figures had come to the outside of the Nine-Colored Valley. After communicating with Cai Er to open a passage, Gu He carried Qing Lin and entered the Nine-Colored Valley through the passage. (End of this chapter) ============================================================= Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 193: Instructions! Chapter 193: Instructions! Chapter 193: Instructions! In the Nine-Colored Valley, a dense mist of natural energy enveloped the surroundings. Gu He, carrying Qing Lin, suddenly appeared by the side of a cold pool. "Cai Er, come here." After putting down Qing Lin, Gu He waved to Cai Er, who was playing not far away in the cold pool. "Yiya, yiya!" Cai Er was very excited about Gu He''s appearance. The moment Gu He''s voice fell, the little one vibrated the wings on its back and arrived next to Gu He, circling around him. Gu He played with Cai Er for a moment, then took out a jade bottle from the spatial ring and collected today''s share of the Longevity Bead. After completing all this, Gu He took out another spatial ring and handed it to Qing Lin, instructing, "Qing Lin, there is spirit liquid prepared by me in here, and there are also plenty of jade bottles. After I leave, you will replace me and come here every day to collect a drop of these green spherical beads from Cai Er. Understand?" The Longevity Beads were valuable, and Cai Er could condense one every day. Naturally, Gu He didn''t want to waste them. After he left, this task could only be entrusted to the little Qing Lin. Qing Lin, upon hearing this, took the jade bottle from Gu He''s hand, nodded obediently, and said, "Yes, disciple understands." Afterwards, Qing Lin looked at Cai Er beside her and said with a clear voice, "Cai Er, long time no see." "Yiya, yiya!"Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com Hearing Qing Lin greeting her, Cai Er immediately vibrated its wings and flew to Qing Lin''s side, making childish calls. In the past two months, Qing Lin was often brought here by Gu He for cultivation. After several interactions, these two little girls had become good friends. Qing Lin reached out her small hand, and Cai Er joyfully landed in her palm, jumping around happily. Qing Lin''s little face also showed a smile, momentarily forgetting that her senior sister and teacher would soon leave. Watching the little girl reveal a happy smile, Gu He''s eyes also showed a trace of contentment. With Cai Er accompanying her, Qing Lin shouldn''t feel lonely. Waiting quietly for the two little girls to play for a while, Gu He then continued to instruct Qing Lin. "Qing Lin, there''s a cave over there. There are some small bugs that I raise inside. Remember, every week, bring some low-level magic beasts from outside to feed them." Gu He pointed in the direction of the cave where the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Bees were raised. For the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Bees to grow, they needed to devour flesh and blood. Since Gu He was about to leave, this task naturally had to be handed over to the little girl. After that, Gu He carefully explained a few more things to Qing Lin. Such as taking care of the medicinal garden and handling the sixth-grade spirit medicines sent by Haibodong. "Little girls always have to grow up..." Shaking his head, Gu He dispelled the uncomfortable feeling in his heart. Then, he began to summon his four pets. Soon, at Gu He''s summons, four figures appeared in front of him. They were the Golden-winged Giant Eagle, Crimson Flame Evil Dragon, Void Beast, and Black Scale Frigid Python. During this period, these four beasts had been cultivating in the Nine-Colored Valley, and their strengths had greatly improved. Now, the Golden-winged Giant Eagle had broken through to the Seventh Rank, equivalent to the strength of a Three-Star Dou Ancestor. As for the Crimson Flame Evil Dragon and the Void Beast, their strengths had reached the later stage of the Seventh Rank, comparable to the peak strength of a human Nine-Star Dou Ancestor. The Void Beast, with its void divine ability, could even contend against an ordinary Dou Venerate. The strongest among them was the Black Scale Frigid Python, an Eighth Rank magical beast. The Black Scale Frigid Python was reborn from the Blue Scale Giant Python and had reached the Eighth Rank bloodline, which was already its pinnacle. If there was enough energy support, the Black Scale Frigid Python could potentially become a pinnacle Eighth Rank existence in the future. However, breaking through to the Ninth Rank was absolutely impossible. At the Eighth Rank bloodline level, such high-level creatures couldn''t be improved with ordinary treasures. Unless Gu He could find top-tier treasures, the bloodline of the Black Scale Frigid Python wouldn''t advance to the Ninth Rank. "All of you, transform into human forms for me." (End of this chapter) ============================================================= Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 194: Nalan Yanran’s Determination! Chapter 194: Nalan Yanrans Determination! Chapter 194: Nalan Yanran''s Determination! "Transform into human forms, all of you." Gu He looked at the few pets in front of him and spoke indifferently. When magical beasts reach the Dou Zong realm, they can transform into human forms. In the past, there was no need for this, and since the beasts did not particularly enjoy transforming into humans, Gu He never demanded it. However, for the task Gu He was about to assign, it was necessary for these beasts to take human forms. Upon hearing Gu He''s words, the beasts were stunned for a moment, then they obeyed his command and began to transform into human forms one after another. Moments later, the four beastly shadows disappeared from before Gu He''s eyes, replaced by four human figures. A middle-aged man with red hair, this was the Crimson Flame Demon Dragon. A little boy with blond hair, this was the Golden Winged Giant Eagle. A little girl with silver hair, this was the Void Beast. A man in black clothes, exuding a cold aura, this was the Black Scaled Frigid Python. "We greet the master!" After the successful transformation, the four beasts shouted in unison. Gu He''s gaze swept over the four human figures, eventually settling on the red-haired middle-aged man, the blond little boy, and the silver-haired little girl, speaking solemnly, "Crimson Dragon, Little Jin, Void, I have an important task for you three to undertake." Hearing this, the three beasts were momentarily startled, then responded in unison, "Please instruct us, Master!" "Good!" Gu He nodded, then said directly, "I have three disciples who are about to leave the mountain for training. I need the three of you to follow them and protect them in secret." Speaking, Gu He''s gaze turned to the red-haired man, "Crimson Dragon, you are responsible for protecting my eldest disciple, Liu Ling, to the Tagore Great Desert." Then, Gu He looked at the blond little boy, "Little Jin, you are to protect my fourth disciple, Nalan Yanran, to the Demon Beast Mountain Range." Finally, Gu He turned to the silver-haired little girl, "Void, you are to protect my second disciple, heading to the Yun Empire." Upon hearing Gu He''s command, the three beasts nodded without hesitation, saying in unison, "Yes, Master!" "Master, what about me?" Just then, the black-haired man spoke up, "They all have tasks, why don''t I?" The black-haired man was the Black Scaled Frigid Python, the only eighth-tier existence among the four beasts. In his view, being the strongest, he should be the most valued by the master. But unexpectedly, while the other beasts had tasks, he was left out, which made the Black Scaled Frigid Python somewhat frustrated. "Why do these weaker beings get the master''s favor?" he thought, feeling discontent. Nalan Yanran answered, her expression still resolute. "Teacher Gu He is right!" "From birth till now, I have never experienced a life-and-death battle. A person''s potential only erupts like a volcano when their life is threatened. With my previous lukewarm practice, I fear I will never become a true strong practitioner!" Saying this, Nalan Yanran looked at Yun Yun with sparkling eyes, her tone serious, "Teacher, I am serious." "I came here to bid farewell, not to ask the teacher to plead for me." "I hope the teacher will allow me to go down the mountain and not go to Teacher Gu He..." "Because I don''t want Teacher Gu He to look down on me." Nalan Yanran''s expression was resolute, with an inexplicable determination. Hearing Nalan Yanran''s words, Yun Yun was stunned, looking blankly at the resolute Nalan Yanran in front of her, as if seeing her for the first time. After a long time, Yun Yun finally came back to her senses, her eyes complex as she looked at Nalan Yanran, her tone carrying a hint of relief, "Yanran, you have really grown up." Hearing this, a smile appeared on Nalan Yanran''s face, "A disciple always needs to grow." "Well, since you have made up your mind, I won''t stop you." Yun Yun showed a hint of helplessness, looking at Nalan Yanran and saying, "However, you must promise to return safely. You are my only disciple, and in the future, I still expect you to take my place." Nalan Yanran heard this and nodded seriously, "Teacher, don''t worry. The mere Demon Beast Mountain Range won''t take my life. I still have to defeat Xiao Yan in front of everyone. If I don''t return, wouldn''t it be a joke to him?" "You understand, that''s good." Yun Yun smiled and then hesitated for a moment. With a thought, she took off the Xuan Bing Holy Armor she was wearing and handed it to Nalan Yanran, speaking softly, "Yanran, this is my personal soft armor. Take it for your protection." Nalan Yanran did not refuse, took the soft armor, then bid farewell to Yun Yun and left the great hall directly. Yun Yun watched Nalan Yanran''s departing figure, a hint of worry in her eyes. "Who allowed you to casually give away what I gave you?" Just then, a clear voice suddenly rang out in the great hall. (End of the chapter) ============================================================= Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 195: Farewell Kiss Chapter 195: Farewell Kiss Chapter 195: Farewell Kiss "Who allowed you to take the things I gave you and give them away casually?" Just at this moment, a clear voice suddenly echoed in the hall. Upon hearing this familiar voice, Yun Yun was momentarily stunned, then turned around to look. Unknowingly, Gu He''s figure quietly appeared in the hall. Seeing Gu He''s presence, a hint of joy crossed Yun Yun''s face. However, as she thought of something, she quickly regained her composure, adopting a cold expression, and said in a stern tone, "The things you gave me belong to me, and I can give them to whoever I want." Watching Yun Yun, with her cold and indifferent demeanor, Gu He couldn''t help but reveal a smile. "What''s wrong? Angry?" Yun Yun snorted and questioned, "Why did you let Yanran go to the Demon Beast Mountain Range? Don''t you know how dangerous it is there? If something happens to Yanran, I won''t let you off!" Gu He calmly replied, "Haven''t you understood Yanran''s words just now?" "I know you are worried about your precious disciple, but Yanran is also my disciple. How could I let her easily get into danger?" Gu He wore a confident smile on his face. With three beasts secretly protecting her, Gu He was confident that Nalan Yanran wouldn''t face any life-threatening danger. If things got really bad, there was still the Void Jade Talisman, right? He wouldn''t have to personally intervene. Moreover, Gu He left the Longevity Bead as a life-saving measure. With so many layers of protection, if these little ones still managed to get into trouble, it could only be fate. Seeing Gu He''s confident demeanor, Yun Yun suddenly became suspicious. "Do you have some kind of ace up your sleeve?" Gu He smiled without answering and had no intention of explaining. He reassured, "Rest assured, I will definitely return your precious disciple to you safely." Upon hearing this, Yun Yun became more convinced that Gu He had prepared a backup plan. However, he was planning to keep it a secret from her. Humph! Yun Yun snorted, stared at Gu He, and expressed her "displeasure." Gu He, however, didn''t fall for her act, smiled, and said, "Yun Er, do you remember our agreement in the Demon Beast Mountain Range?" Suddenly mentioning this, Yun Yun was visibly stunned, then her face turned slightly red. She glared at Gu He angrily, "You already got the bet in advance, is there any need to continue this agreement?" This time, it was Gu He''s turn to be stunned. After carefully pondering Yun Yun''s words, he finally understood. His eyes revealed a bit of teasing as he smiled and said, "That''s true..." The initial bet was that if Yun Yun lost, Nalan Yanran would have to call her "Master" from now on. But now, the two of them had slept together twice. If they were to be strict about it, Nalan Yanran could already call Yun Yun "Master." Wasn''t this bet already won by Gu He in advance? Yun Yun, surprised, looked at the jade talisman in her hand and asked, "Crushing this jade talisman will make you appear? Is that possible?" Gu He nodded seriously, "Yun Er, I''m leaving. Do you not have any words of encouragement for me?" "Encouragement?" Yun Yun was a little puzzled, "How do you want me to encourage you?" Gu He stared at her eyes, suddenly approached her, directly hugged her slender waist, and held Yun Yun in his arms. "You..." Seeing this unexpected scene, Yun Yun''s face suddenly turned pale. She tried to struggle but couldn''t break free. Gu He firmly held her and said, "What are you... doing?" Gu He held her slender waist with one hand, approached her ear, and his tone suddenly became somewhat domineering. "Since you don''t know what to do, then I''ll teach you personally." Having said that, Gu He suddenly lowered his head and kissed her red lips, tightly embracing her slender waist, kissing her fiercely. Faced with Gu He''s sudden attack, Yun Yun was directly stunned and didn''t react for a while. After reacting, she hesitated for a moment. This time, she didn''t resist, even though resistance was futile. Afterwards, Yun Yun slowly closed her eyes, allowing Gu He to passionately kiss her. Gu He, domineeringly holding Yun Yun, wished to melt Yun Yun''s delicate body into his own. He carefully savored Yun Yun''s taste, as if wanting to forever remember this taste. After a long time, Yun Yun suddenly felt something and slowly opened her eyes. She didn''t know when, but Gu He''s figure had already disappeared from the hall. "He left..." Looking at the empty hall, Yun Yun suddenly felt a bit lost. Then she looked at the jade talisman still warm in her hand, a complex expression appearing in her beautiful eyes. "He must come back..." Caressing the jade talisman in her hand, Yun Yun whispered to herself. (End of this chapter) ============================================================= Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 196: Heading to the Snake People Clan Chapter 196: Heading to the Snake People Clan Chapter 196: Heading to the Snake People Clan At the foot of Yunlan Sect, Gu He''s figure suddenly appeared. He glanced at the gate of Yunlan Sect behind him before slowly turning around. "Hei Lin, let''s go." As Gu He''s voice fell, a black-clad man emerged in front of him. His figure swiftly transformed into a giant black serpent in the blink of an eye.Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com Gu He''s figure flashed, landing on the back of Hei Lin. "Let''s go, heading to the Snake People Clan." Hei Lin, the Cold Dragon, roared lowly, and with a flick of its massive dragon tail, it disappeared at an incredibly fast speed within the boundaries of Yunlan Sect. After Gu He had been gone for half a day, a giant bird flew out from within Yunlan Sect. "Senior Sister Xian, thank you for your trouble." On the back of the Iron-winged Giant Eagle, Nalan Yanran expressed her gratitude to Senior Sister Xian. "Senior Sister Nalan, you''re too polite. I happened to have some matters to attend to in Qing Shan Town, so I decided to take you along." Xiao Yi Xian smiled softly, a picture of a blue eagle flashing through her mind. Little Blue, I haven''t seen you in a year. I wonder if you''re doing well? This time, I''ve come to pick you up. ... Demon Beast Mountain Range. "Xiao Yan, today you can''t escape with your wings!" "I will tear you into ten thousand pieces, offering them to the spirit of my son!" The calm Demon Beast Mountain Range was disrupted by the sudden pursuit. Countless loud shouts and the sounds of pursuit constantly filled the air above the mountain range. Due to the massive pursuit team, some mercenary groups that had originally planned to hunt demon beasts also stopped in their tracks, looking in astonishment at the large crowd passing by. "Aren''t these people from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group?" "Yes! Look, that''s Mu She, the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group!" "Damn!" Faint sounds of breaking wind came from behind, making Xiao Yan quickly turn around. When he saw the rapidly approaching Mu She, he couldn''t help but be surprised. He flicked his finger, and a restorative pill appeared in his palm, which he quickly swallowed to replenish the consumed fighting spirit. "Xiao Yan, I will kill you today!" Watching the decreasing distance between them, a ferocious killing intent surged on Mu She''s face as he declared coldly. "Screw your mother''s big-headed ghost." Xiao Yan retorted, swinging his right hand backward, unleashing a fierce invisible force. "Hmph!" Though invisible, Mu She could feel the wind pressure caused by the force. With a cold snort, he threw a punch, creating a sudden gust of wind in front of him. The two fierce forces collided, scraping away a layer of grass in the dense forest, and even cutting some thin tree trunks in half. "Indeed, there''s some foundation. No wonder you''re so arrogant." Engaging with Xiao Yan for the first time, Mu She''s eyes revealed a hint of surprise. He sneered, stomped the ground fiercely again, and his figure shot dozens of meters away. "Kid, it''s over!" With consecutive steps, Mu She was getting closer to Xiao Yan. Smirking at the young man sprinting desperately in front of him, he said menacingly, "It''s over for you!" "Screw your old mother..." Xiao Yan''s mouth full of vulgar words infuriated the pursuing Mu She, turning his face iron blue. Turning his head slightly, Xiao Yan glanced at Mu She chasing behind him with a gloomy face. Not far behind him was the massive mercenary pursuit team. Sighing helplessly, Xiao Yan pursed his lips. He pulled out the heavy ruler from behind, took a deep breath, and with a turn of his hand, he stored it in his storage ring. "You can chase slowly; I won''t play with you anymore!" Sneering, Xiao Yan pushed off the ground with his toes. His speed suddenly skyrocketed, and the green-patterned clothes turned into a green shadow, swiftly disappearing into the somewhat dark dense forest. Watching Xiao Yan''s speed suddenly surge, Mu She''s face changed. He felt somewhat incredulous that, with his strength as a two-star Wind Attribute Dou Master and the activation of his body movement martial arts, he couldn''t catch up with a fighter. This was somewhat of a blow to him. "Xiao Yan, no matter where you run, I won''t let you escape!" Mu She roared angrily in the direction where Xiao Yan disappeared. (End of this chapter) ============================================================= Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 197: Dou Ancestor Realm! Chapter 197: Dou Ancestor Realm! Chapter 197: Dou Ancestor Realm! Above the boundless desert, a giant dragon soared through the sky. On the dragon''s body, a figure stood steadily, eyes surveying the scene below. "We''re nearing the territory of the Snake People." Soul force extended towards the distance, and after a moment, Gu He came to a conclusion. It had been three full days since he left Imperial Cloud Sect. In these three days, Gu He rode the Black Scale Frigid Python from the Imperial Cloud capital to the vast Tagre Desert at the empire''s border. "I wonder how those little guys are doing." Images of Xiao Yixian and the others flashed through Gu He''s mind. With their speed, they probably hadn''t reached their destination yet. Even though Xiao Yixian had the Ironwing Giant Eagle as a flying pet, the distance from Chu Yun Empire was vast, and they had to pass through numerous imperial checkpoints. It would probably take nearly twenty days for Xiao Yixian to reach Imperial Cloud Empire. As for Nalan Yanran, without a means of transportation, it would take at least ten days to reach the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Liu Ling had a Fourth Grade Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, and with his speed, he would arrive at the Tagre Desert in about ten days. If he were heading to Stone Desert City, it would take an additional two days. After a moment, Gu He withdrew his thoughts from his mind and looked forward. Not far ahead, a towering city wall slowly came into view. They had reached the core territory of the Snake People, and this city wall was the first line of defense for the Snake People. On the towering city wall, dozens of meters high, countless arrow towers were densely packed, with faint purple arrowheads emitting a cold glow under the moonlight. Soaring in the high altitude, even though it was his second time at this fortress, Gu He couldn''t help but marvel at its enormity. This fortress alone was larger than Stone Desert City, a truly ambitious undertaking. This proved that the Snake People had always been vigilant against human invasion. Gu He didn''t conceal his figure. Riding the Black Scale Frigid Python, he headed straight towards the depths of the Snake People''s territory. On the city wall below, hundreds of fully armed Snake People patrolled with sharp spears. At this moment, a strange howl, resembling a mix of a wolf and a fox, suddenly echoed in the sky. Staring blankly at the disappearing giant figure, the Snake Woman on the city wall slammed her fist onto the parapet in front of her. Instantly, cracks spread out, frightening the nearby Snake People soldiers into silence, afraid to speak. "Clean up the city, repair the city wall, immediately send the intelligence to all nearby Snake People tribes, and notify the leaders of the other seven major tribes. Ask them to send out experts to hunt down this human powerhouse!" Looking at the pitch-black night sky, the Snake Woman''s cold voice was filled with murderous intent. In the depths of the Tagre Desert, the Medusa Temple. A powerful aura suddenly burst out from a certain secret room, then headed towards the main hall. "Elder, you really broke through!" Queen Medusa looked at the Snake People Elder who suddenly appeared in the main hall with surprise on her breathtaking face. The Elder''s originally old face had actually become much younger, and even some of the graying hair had turned black again. Upon hearing this, the Elder''s face showed a smile and said lightly, "Yes, I have broken through to the Dou Ancestor Realm." Three months ago, in a battle, the four Elders were severely injured and fell into a coma, almost depleting all of their vital energy. At a critical moment, Queen Medusa could only take out the Blue Abyss Life-Extending Pill and gave it to the Elder to take. Then, she used a secret technique of the Snake People to seal the physical bodies of the other three Elders. The Snake People''s secret technique could temporarily preserve the vitality in the bodies of the three Elders, preventing further loss. If they were to find some heavenly treasures in the future, there might be a chance for recovery. After taking the Blue Abyss Life-Extending Pill, the Elder''s vital energy was restored by half, unexpectedly providing an opportunity for a breakthrough. After three months in seclusion, he directly advanced to the Dou Ancestor Realm. At this moment, the Elder seemed to think of something, the smile on his face receded, and he said indifferently, "Your Majesty, did that thief really make a deal with you three months ago, promising to return to the Snake People after three months?" (End of this chapter) ============================================================= Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 198: Snake People Tribe’s Sacred Artifact Chapter 198: Snake People Tribes Sacred Artifact Chapter 198: Snake People Tribe''s Sacred Artifact Seeing the Elder suddenly bring up the topic, Queen Medusa was momentarily stunned. She replied, "Yes, that person did make a deal with me. He promised to return to the Snake People after three months and lend me the Green Core Lotus Flame." Upon hearing this, the Elder snorted disdainfully, "Hmph, in my opinion, that scoundrel probably won''t come. Humans are notorious for breaking their promises. Once he has the Green Core Lotus Flame, why would he lend it to others?" However, Queen Medusa shook her head and said, "No, I have a feeling. He will come back as agreed." "You believe in a human like that?" The Elder was somewhat displeased with Queen Medusa''s attitude. "Don''t forget, who caused the other three Elders to end up in such a state?" Upon hearing the Elder''s words, Queen Medusa fell silent. Yes! That scoundrel forcibly took the Green Core Lotus Flame, injured the four Elders, and caused great damage to the Snake People. How could she still speak for him? Thinking about this, Queen Medusa''s voice turned cold, "Elder, I was wrong." The Elder nodded slowly at this and said with a serious tone, "Your Majesty, don''t be deceived by that scoundrel just because of a Blue Abyss Pill." "Compared to the Green Core Lotus Flame, what is a mere Blue Abyss Pill?" "In my opinion, that scoundrel is just pretending. Does he think that by doing this, we, the Snake People, will forget this deep hatred? This blood feud must be avenged, Your Majesty!" As the Elder spoke with a strong attitude, Queen Medusa''s delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, feeling a bit dissatisfied. Ever since the Elder broke through to the Dou Ancestor Realm, it seemed that he no longer placed her, Queen Medusa, in high regard. However, in this world, strength was paramount. In the current situation, Queen Medusa couldn''t directly show her dissatisfaction. "On that day, that person was wearing a silver mask. We haven''t even seen his face. Elder, how should we take revenge?" Queen Medusa looked at the Elder with a cold expression. "It doesn''t matter. As long as we confirm that he is a human, it''s enough." The Elder showed an indifferent expression. He said lightly, "We don''t need to care about his identity. As long as he belongs to the human race, we can just go to war against the surrounding empires if we can''t deal with him." "Go to war!" Hearing the Elder''s words, Queen Medusa was suddenly shocked. "No." "Absolutely not going to war!" The Elder''s voice was cold, "Why? Now that I have broken through to the Dou Ancestor Realm, I have enough strength to go to war with humans." "For so many years, our Snake People have been hiding in this scorching desert, enduring endless torment. It''s time to change our place." "Haha!" "Unexpectedly, this scoundrel actually came!" The Elder burst into laughter and then his eyes revealed extreme killing intent. "This time, I will make sure he has no way to escape." Feeling the coldness emanating from the Elder, Queen Medusa furrowed her brows. "Elder, are you really determined to go to war with him?" "This person''s strength is unfathomable. In my opinion, we should not act recklessly." However, at this moment, the Elder''s mind had been clouded by hatred, and he couldn''t listen to Queen Medusa''s words. "Your Majesty, this is a heaven-sent opportunity!" "This time, I will definitely avenge the other three Elders." The Elder looked at Queen Medusa without a doubt. "I know Your Majesty''s goal. As long as I capture this person, we can still obtain the Green Core Lotus Flame." The Elder''s face showed a cold smile, appearing very confident. It seemed that everything was under her control. "Well... Elder, please be careful!" Feeling powerless to persuade further, Queen Medusa reluctantly spoke. However, deep down, she also harbored a bit of hope. What if the Elder really won? "Haha, Your Majesty, just wait for my good news!" "The humiliation that this scoundrel brought to our tribe in the past, today, I will make him repay tenfold, a hundredfold!" After saying this, the Elder''s figure flashed and instantly disappeared in the temple. (End of this chapter) ============================================================= Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 199: Good Treasure! Chapter 199: Good Treasure! Chapter 199: Good Treasure! Outside the Medusa Temple, the massive body of the Black Scale Frigid Python coiled in the void. A dense and ominous aura lingered over the outer walls of the city. Wearing a silver mask, Gu He, with his hands behind his back, stood quietly on the Black Scale Frigid Python. On top of the city walls, numerous Snake People guards, wielding sharp weapons, had serious expressions, staring intently at the figures in the air. Some Snake People guards who had survived the battle from three months ago looked at Gu He standing on the Black Scale Frigid Python, their eyes revealing traces of fear. This scene was eerily similar to three months ago! This damn demon had actually come again! Looking at their comrades around them, these surviving Snake People guards sighed in their hearts. They wondered how many of their people would survive this battle. "Why is there no movement?" Gu He, standing on the Black Scale Frigid Python, looked at the Medusa Temple, which had been silent for a long time, with a hint of doubt in his eyes. "Could it be that Queen Medusa is not here?" Just as he was wondering, Gu He suddenly made a surprised sound. Under the influence of his powerful soul perception, he sensed a formidable aura rapidly approaching from the Medusa Temple. "Could it be that Queen Medusa has broken through?" Gu He speculated for a moment, then shook his head. "No, this is not Queen Medusa''s aura." Gu He quickly distinguished that the person who reached the Dou Ancestor level was not Queen Medusa by the unique aura she exuded. As these thoughts flashed through Gu He''s mind, a stream of light shot out and quickly landed in front of the Black Scale Frigid Python. "Snake People Elder?" Looking at the old man in front of him, Gu He quickly recognized this defeated subordinate. The Snake People Elder stared coldly at Gu He. "You scoundrel, you dare to come to our Snake People again." "Why wouldn''t I dare?" Hearing this, Gu He felt a hint of confusion. He then looked at the Elder and smiled, "Congratulations, Elder. I didn''t expect that at your age, you could still make a breakthrough." The Elder responded indifferently, "It''s all thanks to your Green Core Lotus Flame. Without it, all four Elders of our Snake People would have fallen into your hands." "So, it was the Green Core Lotus Flame''s credit." Hearing this, Gu He had a moment of realization. This Snake People Elder indeed had some ability. He was able to leverage the opportunity provided by the Green Core Lotus Flame to break through the bottleneck of the Dou Ancestor level in one go. Of course, this was related to the accumulation of profound foundations through long-term cultivation. It wasn''t something that everyone could achieve. Gu He didn''t care much about this. A mere One-Star Dou Ancestor wasn''t worth paying attention to. He looked at the Snake People Elder calmly and asked, "Where is Queen Medusa? I came this time as agreed. Please inform her." Gu He''s attitude was very polite. He wasn''t the kind of person who became arrogant and domineering after gaining strength. Most of the time, Gu He dealt with people and matters with a calm attitude. Of course, the incident of seizing the Green Core Lotus Flame was an exception. Even so, Gu He had shown a measured attitude in that case as well. The Snake People suffered heavy casualties in the end, but Gu He felt that it was the Snake People who forced him into such a situation. Unfortunately, the Snake People Elder still held a deep grudge against him. Upon hearing his words, his expression became increasingly indifferent. "No need to meet with our Queen Majesty. Just hand over the Green Core Lotus Flame, and it will be considered a return to the rightful owner." Three-Star Dou Ancestor! Four-Star Dou Ancestor! After a moment, the Elder''s aura had reached the level of a Four-Star Dou Ancestor. Seeing this scene, Gu He''s eyes revealed astonishment. "This Snake People actually has such a treasure?" "Good stuff!" Gu He''s eyes sparkled, focusing on the bead above the Elder''s head. "Thief, prepare to die!" At this moment, the Snake People Elder, with the green bead above her head and a majestic aura, turned into a streak of light and charged at Gu He. Gu He finally came to his senses, looking at the charging Snake People Elder, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Then, Gu He activated the abundant Dou Qi in his body and casually struck out a palm toward the Elder. In an instant, accompanied by the terrifying energy of heaven and earth gathering, a gigantic palm print descended toward the Elder. Smack! In the Elder''s shocked eyes, the giant palm print directly descended. In the next moment, a figure flew out, crashing at high speed into the nearby city wall, their life or death uncertain. At the same time, a green bead appeared in Gu He''s palm. It was none other than the Snake Spirit Bead that the Elder had just had above her head. Gu He looked at the green bead in his hand with joy. "Good treasure!" "To think it can elevate a One-Star Dou Ancestor to a Four-Star Dou Ancestor." "I didn''t expect such a treasure from a mere Snake People." Gu He marveled, admiring the bead in his hand. After appreciating it for a moment, Gu He then turned his attention to the Snake People Elder, who had already been dug out by the Snake People guards not far away. "Black Scale, you must be tired after all this. Go feast on a snack." "Understood, Master!" Upon hearing this, the Black Scale Frigid Python beneath Gu He''s seat trembled, and its massive body moved swiftly toward the city wall, opening its huge mouth towards the Snake People Elder. "Show mercy!" At this moment, an anxious voice echoed, and a figure rushed out of the Medusa Temple. "Finally couldn''t resist." Watching the figure rushing out, Gu He''s lips curled up slightly, his expression full of amusement. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 200: Alas, I am still too kind Chapter 200: Alas, I am still too kind Chapter 200: Alas, I am still too kind "Sir, I beg you to spare him!" Queen Medusa stood resolutely before the Elder, her usually composed voice now rare, laced with a hint of desperation. A resounding roar reverberated as the Black Scaled Frigid Python glanced at Queen Medusa obstructing its path. Anger flashed in its massive pupils, and it opened its bloody mouth, releasing a thunderous roar. Had it not been for the master''s prior orders, it would have devoured its prey without hesitation. The creature''s temperament inclined towards impulsivity, and it now struggled to resist the urge to swallow the present obstacle in one bite. "Get out of the way!" The Black Scaled Frigid Python''s roar echoed, its impatience evident. This audacious interruption of its meal was unforgivable. Feeling the perilous aura emanating from the Black Scaled Frigid Python, even the typically composed Queen Medusa paled. "Sir, please spare the Snake Clan''s Elder''s life." Recognizing her inability to communicate with the creature, Queen Medusa turned her pleading gaze towards Gu He, who observed the scene from the void. "Just now, you witnessed it. This old man initiated the conflict," Gu He remarked, crossing his arms with an innocent expression. "Hmph, why didn''t you intervene when this old man attacked earlier? Now you pleadit''s too late!" Gu He sneered coldly at the pitiful Queen Medusa, feeling a sense of disdain. "The Snake Clan''s Elder was at fault initially. Apologize for him, and I hope you can be magnanimous enough to spare him this time." Queen Medusa humbled herself, her face expressing profound humility. For the usually superior Queen Medusa, this moment brought undeniable humiliation. The Snake Clan''s Elder, who had recently achieved the Martial Ancestor level, would constitute a significant loss for the Snake Clan if he were to meet his demise. Therefore, despite the humiliation, Queen Medusa stepped forward to save him. "Roar! Master, this man persists. I might as well swallow him in one bite," anxiously suggested the Black Scaled Frigid Python, fearing its master might agree to its proposal. "Medusa, understand this principle: apologizing alone won''t rectify the mistakes he has made," maintained Gu He with composure, his tone indifferent. As the Black Scaled Frigid Python''s ferocity increased, Queen Medusa became more anxious. Suddenly, she noticed the Snake Spirit Pearl in Gu He''s hand and spoke hastily, "Sir, spare the Elder''s life, and I am willing to offer our clan''s sacred artifact." "Sacred artifact?" Gu He momentarily paused, glancing at the green pearl in his hand. With a thought, he stored it in his ring. Finally, he looked at Queen Medusa and inquired, "Does your Snake Clan possess other sacred artifacts? Bring them forth, and I might consider your proposal if it''s a worthy treasure." Observing Gu He stow the Snake Spirit Pearl, Queen Medusa widened her eyes. Annoyance flashed in her beautiful eyes, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Your hand just happened to hold the Snake Spirit Pearl, our clan''s sacred artifact." "Oh, so you mean that little pearl from earlier was what I wanted?" Gu He pretended to realize. Queen Medusa, restraining her anger, spoke in a low voice, "Spare the Elder''s life, and I''ll give you our clan''s sacred artifact, the Snake Spirit Pearl." "As long as it''s not too excessive, I am willing to agree," Queen Medusa carefully considered before responding, feeling a sudden tightness in her heart due to the mischievous expression on Gu He''s face. Hearing this, Gu He appeared somewhat disappointed. Then, he looked at Queen Medusa and said indifferently, "Alright, I won''t make it difficult for you." "Let''s make a deal. In exchange for sparing his life, I want one hundred sixth-grade spiritual medicines." Gu He portrayed an attitude of magnanimity and emphasized that she had gained a significant advantage while speaking to Queen Medusa. In fact, Gu He genuinely believed so. Exchanging one hundred sixth-grade spiritual medicines for the life of a Martial Ancestor was undoubtedly a favourable deal. Sigh, I''m just too kind-hearted. "What did you just say?" "One hundred sixth-grade spiritual medicines?" Upon hearing Gu He''s request, Queen Medusa was stunned, and anger instantly appeared on her beautiful face. Queen Medusa glared at Gu He, gritting her teeth and exclaiming, "Sir, you have gone too far!" Upon hearing this, Gu He raised his eyelids, glanced at Hei Lin Hancang, and said nonchalantly, "Hei Lin, it''s time for a meal!" (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 201 Snake Human Tribe, All Good People! Chapter 201 Snake Human Tribe, All Good People! Chapter 201 Snake Human Tribe, All Good People! Roar! This time, the Black Scaled Frost Python was obviously well-prepared. The moment Gu He finished speaking, a huge momentum erupted, suppressing the Queen Medusa in place. Then, his body twisted, and the huge body suddenly became extremely agile, passing over Queen Medusa and directly opening its blood-filled mouth towards the Great Elder. "Wait, I promise!" Queen Medusa struggled to break free from the suppression and shouted anxiously. At this moment, the Black Scaled Frost Python just swallowed the Great Elder. Seeing this scene, Queen Medusa''s beautiful face suddenly turned pale. It''s over! Seeing this, Gu He quickly ordered, "Hei Lin, stop!" Suddenly, the Black Scaled Frost Python, with the Great Elder in its mouth, looked at Gu He with an innocent look, and its huge pupils seemed speechless. "Spit it out." Seeing that this guy hadn''t swallowed it yet, Gu He breathed a sigh of relief and couldn''t help but glare at it. Really has no vision. Just know how to eat. Almost ruined his big plan. If he had swallowed it, he would have lost a hundred sixth-rank spirit medicines! "Master!" The Black Scaled Frost Python looked at Gu He, showing a hint of reluctance in its eyes. It really didn''t want to spit out the meat that had reached its mouth. Gu He looked at it coldly, scolding, "Spit it out for me!" "Oh!" Seeing that Gu He was angry, the Black Scaled Frost Python suddenly felt a chill in its heart, and without hesitation, it spat out the Great Elder. "Great Elder!" As the Great Elder''s body fell to the ground, Queen Medusa''s expression suddenly became flustered. She hurried forward to check. Seeing that the Great Elder''s body was intact, Queen Medusa finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she checked the Great Elder''s injuries. Fortunately, there was no life-threatening danger. In fact, if the Poisonous Spirit Pearl hadn''t absorbed a lot of power just now, even if Gu He casually slapped it, the Great Elder would have been beaten to pieces, and his life or death would be unknown. After a moment of contemplation, Queen Medusa spoke, "Please give me three days. After three days, borrowing the heavenly flame for a day will be enough." Gu He agreed without much thought, "Good, then I''ll wait here for three days." Subsequently, Gu He followed Queen Medusa and stayed in the Medusa Temple. In the blink of an eye, three days passed. ... "Tsk tsk, the Snake Human Tribe really has extraordinary reserves!" Deep within the Medusa Temple, on the same island as before, Gu He looked at the icy cold spring not far away, now refilled. He marveled. The Ice Spirit Cold Spring is an invaluable treasure outside. But here in the Tagore Desert, it could be refilled in just three months. "Your Majesty, are you ready?" Gu He looked at Queen Medusa beside him and said slowly. Hearing this, Queen Medusa nodded, her voice cold, "Please release the heavenly flame, sir." Gu He''s mind moved, and a green flame instantly appeared in the void in front of him. Then, Gu He gathered his Dou Qi and directly shot the green flame into the crystal lotus platform that had been prepared above the water pool. "Your Majesty, you can begin." After releasing the Green Lotus Earth Heart Fire, Gu He said to Queen Medusa. "Please step into the main hall to rest, sir." Queen Medusa glanced at the Green Lotus Earth Heart Fire not far away, then said to Gu He. ''Does she not trust me?'' Gu He instantly understood Queen Medusa''s meaning. "In that case, I''ll take my leave." With a faint sentence, Gu He turned into a stream of light and left the island. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 202: Queen Medusa’s Ascension (Part 1) Chapter 202: Queen Medusas Ascension (Part 1) Chapter 202: Queen Medusa''s Ascension (Part 1) "If won''t let me see; then I must see!" After leaving the small island, Gu He immediately concealed his aura, activated the "Ascension Steps" technique, and returned to the island. Hiding in a corner, Gu He secretly released a thread of soul power, probing towards the direction of Queen Medusa. "Huh!" As Gu He''s soul power extended, he immediately noticed an additional figure beside Queen Medusa, the Snake Human Tribe''s Great Elder. "This old guy recovered so quickly?" Watching the Snake Human Tribe''s Great Elder in good spirits, surprise appeared on Gu He''s face. "It seems that the Snake Human Tribe still has quite a few good things." Although his palm three days ago was not lethal, it wouldn''t have healed so quickly within just three days. This old guy obviously took some precious treasures or elixirs. ... "Your Majesty, have you really decided?" Beside the pool, the Snake Human Tribe''s Great Elder looked at the strange fire in the pool, his expression serious. "Yes, if I unfortunately perish, I entrust the Snake Human Tribe to you, Great Elder." At this moment, Queen Medusa, with her beautiful eyes tightly focused on the green flame in the small pool, sighed lightly. She then looked up at the sky, swayed her snake tail, and slowly stood up with her fiery and enchanting body. "It''s time..." Whispering softly, Queen Medusa''s beautiful face showed a rare moment of hesitation. After an instant, hesitation turned into determination. Under the purple robe, two pieces of snowy-white arms were revealed, and delicate hands formed several seals in front of her. With the changes in the seals in Queen Medusa''s hands, the crystal lotus platform suddenly trembled violently. The protective screen above it gradually disappeared. When the screen vanished, the green flame, freed from its restraint, suddenly surged out and turned into a raging firestorm in the blink of an eye. Under this green blaze, the Ice Spirit Cold Spring in the small pool was visibly evaporating at a rapid pace. Ignoring the bamboo around her rapidly withering from the heat, Queen Medusa bit her red lips and slowly unbuttoned her robe. Soon, a perfect jade body, resembling a divine masterpiece, was exposed naked in the bamboo forest. The purple giant snake twisted its body slowly in mid-air, and in its light purple pupils, there would occasionally be a trace of coldness. "Could this be Queen Medusa''s true form?" Looking at the enormous purple snake in the sky, Gu He hiding in the shadows couldn''t help but be amazed. Unlike humans, the Snake Human Tribe, not long after their birth, would use a secret technique to infuse the soul of a snake-shaped magical beast into their bodies. As they grew older and stronger, this snake-shaped magical beast, serving as a companion soul, would gradually merge with them. In the end, the distinction between them would disappear, and after merging with the snake-shaped soul... When encountering a formidable enemy, they could summon a true form similar to what was currently appearing, significantly increasing their strength. This was the ultimate trump card of the Snake Human Tribe. "I wonder if this woman can successfully evolve this time." Staring at the huge purple snake in the sky, Gu He in the hidden place pondered. In the original story, Queen Medusa eventually succeeded in her evolution. Although there were some drawbacks, she had evolved into the Seven-Colored Swallowing Python. However, the original story is the original story. Gu He didn''t know whether, because of his arrival, Queen Medusa''s fate would change. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 203: Queen Medusa’s Ascension (Part 2) Chapter 203: Queen Medusas Ascension (Part 2) Chapter 203: Queen Medusa''s Ascension (Part 2) On the small island, Gu He stared fixedly at the massive purple snake in the sky without blinking. In the void, the giant purple snake coiled in mid-air, and a dense purple light gushed out from its body, eventually enveloping the entire Medusa Temple. Above the sky, after circling for a few rounds, the giant purple snake suddenly let out a crisp low roar and, without hesitation, plunged headfirst into the green flame. Under Gu He''s unwavering gaze, the enormous purple snake descended instantly, rushing straight into the green flames without the slightest hesitation. At the moment the purple snake burrowed into the Heavenly Flame, Queen Medusa''s piercing scream echoed, sending a spine-chilling sensation through the air. Hearing the agonizing screams emanating from the Heavenly Flame, Gu He''s expression also became grave. Having experienced the pain of tempering by Heavenly Flame, Gu He could now empathize with the intense suffering Queen Medusa was enduring. Through the cover of bamboo leaves, Gu He looked at the green flames in the sky. In the visible range, he could clearly see the scales on the snake''s body rapidly distorting and turning black shortly after entering the Heavenly Flame. Helplessly, they fell off the snake''s body. After the scales fell, fresh blood gushed out, but as soon as the blood appeared, it was incinerated into nothingness by the terrifying temperature of the Heavenly Flame. In the end, on the snake''s body, numerous glaring blood-red traces emerged. "Squeak... Squeak..." Standing on the small island, Gu He could even hear the squeaking sound coming from the Heavenly Flame. Due to the rapid loss of blood, the gigantic snake''s body was visibly shrinking at a speed visible to the naked eye. To be able to drive a proud and powerful ruler to scream so crazily, it was hard to imagine the kind of intense pain Queen Medusa was currently enduring. Under the burning of the Heavenly Flame, it was not only physical pain but also the soul that couldn''t escape the burning. The kind of pain was indeed somewhat terrifying. Standing by the pool not far away, the Snake Human Tribe''s Grand Elder, staring at Queen Medusa in the flames, turned somewhat pale, a hint of worry on his face. "Your Majesty, you must succeed!" Listening to the almost spine-chilling screams of Queen Medusa coming from within the Heavenly Flame, it gave him a tremendous shock. Not far away, Gu He, watching this scene, couldn''t help but admit that this woman was indeed a bit obsessive and crazy. Due to the great commotion caused by Queen Medusa, the piercing screams echoed throughout half of the Medusa Temple. Watching the green flames, Gu He couldn''t help but sigh softly. This Queen Medusa, who had once caused headaches for the powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire, had fallen in such a manner. It was somewhat dramatic. The entire city gradually sank into a deathly silence with the extinction of Queen Medusa''s screams. A sense of mourning lingered around the Medusa Temple. At this moment, all the Snake People mourned silently for their queen! Gu He gazed lightly at the distant green flames. After a moment, he furrowed his brows slightly, lifted his head, and looked at the suddenly dim sky, entering a brief silence. Suddenly, Gu He''s soul perception sensed a new breath. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. "Hehe, I knew it. With this woman''s temperament, she wouldn''t fail so easily." For some reason, seeing that Queen Medusa was still alive, Gu He felt a bit happy. This was something Gu He didn''t realize. Perhaps he didn''t want such a peerless beauty to meet an untimely end. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 204 Evolution Success Chapter 204 Evolution Success Chapter 204 Evolution Success Just as all the Snake People were immersed in profound grief, the once clear sky suddenly darkened. Dark clouds, seemingly from nowhere, slowly shrouded the sky. This sudden change left everyone staring at the unusual sky with confusion written all over their faces. What''s going on?!" Within the dark clouds, thunderous roars echoed suddenly, and silver lightning danced chaotically, resembling silver snakes. "What''s happening?" Sensing the violent energy within the dark clouds, Mobas spat out dryly, asking with confusion. Yuemei stared fixedly at the dark clouds in the sky, suddenly recalling something. A trace of joy appeared on her enchanting face. "This... could it be..." Mobas, puzzled, asked, "Do you know something?" Yuemei stared at the changing sky, suppressing the throbbing of her heart, and said in a deep voice, "I once read an ancient book. It mentioned that when legendary-level Demon Beasts are born or advance, it may trigger some celestial phenomena due to the massive energy imbalance in their bodies." "However, these legendary-level Demon Beasts are extremely powerful beings. Some of the best among them can even rival human powerhouses at the Dou Ancestor or Dou Venerate level. In the current Dou Qi continent, such legendary-level Demon Beasts seem to be quite rare... Yuemei spoke out her speculations, her tone carrying a hint of excitement. "Looking at the current situation, the most likely explanation might be the successful evolution of Her Majesty." "Her Majesty has evolved successfully!" Hearing this, Mobas was momentarily stunned, then a look of ecstasy appeared on his face. Just as he was about to look up, a loud rumble echoed from the cloud layer above his head. In an instant, the world brightened. A massive silver thunderbolt descended from the clouds, pierced through the purple light curtain, and smashed into the green flames. The thunderbolt came as fast as it went. Before the thunderous explosion in everyone''s ears completely dissipated, the dark clouds in the sky began to rapidly disperse. In an instant, scorching sunlight once again bathed the city. As the rumble in their ears gradually faded, countless people hurriedly cast their gazes into the purple light curtain. However, after the lightning struck, a faint blue mist permeated from the island, covering the view. On the island, Gu He had been using his soul power to investigate Queen Medusa''s current situation. However, after the sky changed, he suddenly found that his soul power couldn''t penetrate anymore. "The blue mist is something evaporated from the collision between the thunder and the Heavenly Flame. It resists the intrusion of soul power, and the situation inside has been completely isolated." She stared at the giant snake, which was shedding its charred skin, and cautiously took a few steps forward. A hint of hope arose in her heart. What if, Her Majesty is not dead yet? Thinking of this, the Elder took a few more steps forward. At this moment, her expression changed, and her gaze turned to the snake''s body with surprise. There, she sensed a faint breath! This breath seemed to be growing stronger and stronger! Queen, did you finally succeed? The Elder ecstatically looked at the giant snake''s body on the ground. But at this moment, the Elder''s expression changed again. She felt that the breath emanating from the snake''s body suddenly became extremely violent. Faced with this breath, even she felt an inexplicable pressure. Boom! The next moment, a loud explosion echoed as the snake''s body on the ground suddenly burst with a cracking sound. Jet-black scales scattered in all directions, and the body instantly turned into powder. In the moment the snake''s body turned into powder, a vast and terrifying aura suddenly burst out and quickly enveloped the entire city. "Did Her Majesty succeed?" Feeling the vaguely familiar feeling in this aura, countless Snake People looked at each other, then their faces filled with joy, and the earth-shattering cheers resounded through the sky. (Chapter End) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 205: Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python Chapter 205: Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python Chapter 205: Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python In the moment of the vast aura''s eruption, the Elder suddenly felt an inexplicable palpitation. Her face changed drastically, and at the same time, her body almost uncontrollably retreated nearly dozens of meters. As the terrifying aura suddenly surged, the Elder''s face paled slightly. Stepping on the ground, in the blink of an eye, she retreated nearly ten meters. As the aura dissipated, the Elder felt a bit bewildered. However, at this point, she didn''t dare to be careless again. Squinting her eyes, she stared at the area not far away where some black dust had fallen due to the snake''s explosion, her palms sweating. The black dust gradually fell, and at a certain moment, a colorful light burst out suddenly from the mist. The speed of the light was almost as if it penetrated the obstacles of space, catching people off guard. In the pitch-black eyes, a faint colorful light flickered. Seeing this scene, the Elder was filled with horror. Before she could figure out what exactly it was, she didn''t dare to have any physical contact with it. "So fast!" However, even if the Elder wanted to evade, the speed of the rainbow light was terrifyingly swift. Before the Elder could react, the rainbow light turned into a stream of light, quickly catching up to her. The Elder was shocked, but then she found that the rainbow light suddenly stopped in front of her. The rainbow light stopped a few centimeters in front of the Elder. At this moment, it finally revealed its body to her gaze. With the terrifying collision still vivid on her face, as the Elder looked at the creature that appeared before her, her shock gradually transformed into stunned amazement, creating a rather captivating sight. The creature that appeared before the Elder was a snake, only about two centimeters in diameter. Its entire body was covered with tiny iridescent scales. It had light purple snake pupils, giving off a somewhat eerie feeling. A strange and fresh fragrance lingered around its body. Although it was now just a snake, it exuded an air of elegance and nobility. Staring at the rainbow snake in front of her, the Elder suddenly felt a familiar aura. "Q-Queen... Is it you?" The rainbow light on the small snake''s body suddenly intensified as the Elder stared at it. With the blossoming of the light, the small snake''s body, like an inflated balloon, began to rapidly expand. In the astonished gaze of the Elder, the originally little more than a foot long rainbow snake, in just a moment, transformed into a giant creature about ten yards long. Reaching Three-Star Dou Ancestor with a single breakthrough explained the terrifying pressure emanating from Queen Medusa. Thinking back to the frightening Heavenly Tribulation earlier, the elder suddenly felt that everything made perfect sense. Surviving such a terrifying Heavenly Tribulation was normal for someone with such formidable strength. Calmly reflecting, the elder recalled Queen Medusa''s revealed seven-colored serpent form. "Seven-colored serpent... Could it be..." "Your Majesty, have you activated the ancient bloodline within you?" A bright light flashed in the elder''s eyes as she thought of a secret recorded in the snake people''s ancient scrolls. It was a record about the ancient beast, the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. As an elder of the snake people, the elder naturally knew that Queen Medusa''s previous companion soul was the soul of a sixth-rank magical beast called the Purple Abyss Flame Snake. It was said that this Purple Abyss Flame Snake seemed to carry a trace of the bloodline of an ancient beast within it. If the opportunity was right, this snake could activate the faint bloodline within and evolve into its ancient ancestor. Of course, the chances of this happening were extremely slim, almost negligible. The ancient beast that could contend with a Dou Ancestor powerhouse was known as the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. Its identifying features were its seven-colored body, slightly purple eyes, fragrant scent, and its power that reached the heavens. Elegantly tapping her slender jade fingers, the energy ripples that spread automatically dissipated. Queen Medusa took a slow step forward, her eyes full of enchantment scanning the elder. She casually said, "Indeed, this time I have evolved into the ancient beast, the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python." (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 206: Queen Medusa’s Thoughts Chapter 206: Queen Medusas Thoughts Chapter 206: Queen Medusa''s ThoughtsChee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com The next day, in the Temple of Queen Medusa. Gu He sat leisurely in the main hall, holding the Serpent Spirit Pearl in his hand, examining it closely. Over the past few days, he had put a lot of effort into this pearl, but to no avail. At this moment, Gu He looked at the Serpent Spirit Pearl in his hand, his face full of frustration. He had already guessed that this sacred artifact of the Serpent Race might not be something that humans could activate. "The Serpent Spirit Pearl is a sacred artifact of our race. It cannot be activated by those not of our bloodline. You need not waste your efforts," a lazy yet clear and cold voice suddenly echoed in the hall. Gu He, who had sensed Queen Medusa''s arrival with his soul power, was not surprised when he heard her voice. He slowly looked up towards the entrance of the hall. A stunning figure was slowly walking from the entrance. Queen Medusa, dressed differently from yesterday, was wearing a luxurious and expensive purple brocade robe, wrapping her graceful and voluptuous body, exuding a bewitching charm. Her narrow, pale purple eyes sparkled seductively, captivating the gaze of any man who looked at her. Gu He''s throat subtly rolled as he discreetly shifted his body away, glancing over the beauty behind him. Although it was not his first time seeing her, he couldn''t help but internally praise her stunning beauty again. Her curvaceous figure was like a ripe peach, constantly emitting a tantalizing allure. Gu He''s gaze then moved down to the lower part of Queen Medusa''s dress. Her original serpentine tail had transformed into two slender and fair human legs, her delicate feet floating half an inch above the ground, crystal clear and free from dust. "Have you seen enough?" Unnoticed, Queen Medusa had already arrived in front of Gu He, her eyes, filled with a cold and deadly aura, staring at him intently. Gu He stared blankly at the cheek so close to him. Her enchanting face was like a masterpiece from heaven, still exuding an irresistible charm, even with her fierce eyes. This woman was almost every man''s fantasy. "Congratulations to Her Majesty for achieving her wish. It''s truly a joyous occasion," Gu He said with a faint smile, subtly shifting his gaze while congratulating her. Queen Medusa showed no expression in response to Gu He''s congratulations, still staring coldly at him. After a moment, she glanced at the Serpent Spirit Pearl in his hand and then spoke, "Since you can''t activate our race''s sacred artifact, you might as well return it." Hearing this, Gu He subtly put the Serpent Spirit Pearl into his storage ring, smiling, "Has Her Majesty forgotten that I have a disciple who carries the Serpent Race''s bloodline?" This was truly intolerable! Sensing the fierce gaze of Queen Medusa, Gu He''s lips curled slightly as he slowly raised his head, his expression calm like the depths of a still well, staring calmly at Queen Medusa. In the hall, their gazes interlocked, faintly emitting a chill. The two gazes mingled, each releasing an indescribable meaning. A subtle coldness enveloped the hall, and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat tense. With his dark eyes calmly fixed on Queen Medusa, who seemed even more formidable and domineering after her breakthrough, Gu He''s mouth held a slight smile. His ancient well-like demeanor remained unchanged despite the aggressive aura of the queen in the hall. In the hall, Queen Medusa''s eyes shone fiercely, her gaze fixed on Gu He. In her palm, a faint Dou Qi swirled around. With her strength restored, the long-suppressed emotions of Queen Medusa were gradually being released. In the past, she was cold and domineering, never allowing anyone to forcibly take anything from her. However, this human had broken her taboo. Previously, due to her lack of strength, Queen Medusa had to forcefully suppress her anger, not daring to show any hostility. But now, having successfully evolved and reaching the strength of a Dou Ancestor, the once renowned Queen Medusa had finally returned in full force. The sudden surge in strength also sparked a desire in Queen Medusa to completely reclaim her heavenly flame. Gradually, a cold aura surrounded Queen Medusa. Her eyes fixed on the calm-faced Gu He. His silent and somewhat mysterious demeanor finally made the overconfident Queen Medusa somewhat sober. Her eyes slightly narrowed, Queen Medusa suddenly recalled the battle between the four elders and this human a few months ago, and how the Great Elder, despite using the sacred artifact, was slapped away by the opponent. A sense of gravity appeared on her stunning face. A chill suddenly emerged from within Queen Medusa. This thief before her was probably not someone she could handle now. (End of Chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 207: Arrival at the Black Horn Domain Chapter 207: Arrival at the Black Horn Domain Chapter 207: Arrival at the Black Horn Domain "The heavenly flame is on the Heart of the Lake Island. Please, help yourself," Queen Medusa said after a moment of silence. Ultimately, she suppressed the rage within her, seeking a compromise. Upon hearing this, Gu He glanced at Queen Medusa with interest, then used his Ascension Steps, instantly disappearing from the main hall. "Your Majesty, are we just going to watch him take the heavenly flame?" asked the Great Elder, emerging suddenly after Gu He left, his tone filled with resentment. "This person''s strength is unfathomable. I am not his match right now," Queen Medusa thought of Gu He''s departing technique and felt a chill in her heart. His methods were too mysterious, and she didn''t have the confidence to confront him. More importantly, she dared not gamble.Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com If she lost, the entire Serpent Race might be doomed. Hearing Queen Medusa''s words, the Great Elder immediately remembered how, even after elevating his strength to a Four-Star Dou Ancestor with the Serpent Spirit Pearl, he was still slapped away by Gu He, and he fell silent. Moments later, Gu He reappeared in the main hall, having successfully secured the Qinglian Earthheart Flame. "It''s really gratifying to see the Great Elder has recovered from his injuries so quickly," Gu He said with a hint of sarcasm upon seeing the Great Elder in the hall. "You..." The Great Elder felt a surge of anger upon hearing this. He wanted to react but, recalling Gu He''s strength, he could only snort coldly, venting his frustration. "Now that this matter is resolved, it''s time for me to leave," Gu He said with a slight smile, then turned his gaze to Queen Medusa. However, to obtain these treasures, one had to pay a price, be it in money or other valuables. In the "Black Horn Domain," nothing came without a cost. The allure of chaos and darkness seemed to be an inherent trait of humanity. Despite knowing the dangers, countless individuals ventured into this region, seeking a fast track to fame, superior martial arts, combat skills, medicines, or immense wealth. Regardless, the continuous influx of people kept the "Black Horn Domain" thriving. Interestingly, due to the principle of extremes leading to reversals, at the heart of the "Black Horn Domain" lay the renowned Jia Nan Academy of the Dou Qi Continent. However, within a certain range outside the academy, a peaceful area existed. Anyone who brought the chaos of the "Black Horn Domain" into this zone would find themselves hanging as a corpse on a large tree at the boundary line between the academy and the domain. Over the years, there had never been an exception to this rule. It was said that on this tree, known as the Dead Spirit Tree, the bodies of two Dou Wangs and one Dou Emperor had once hung. Across the vast plains, a massive beast shadow roamed freely. "We''ve finally arrived!" Aboard the Black Scaled Frigid Python, Gu He''s soul power reached out towards the distant scene, a smile appearing on his lips as he took in the view. (End of Chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 208: Black Horn Region Chapter 208: Black Horn Region Chapter 208: Black Horn Region "Black Horn Region," a special region formed out of chaos and built outside Jia Nan Academy, puzzled many on the continent. They wondered why such a tumultuous area existed near the ancient and venerable academy. Regardless, its existence was a reality, and despite years of suppression, the "Black Horn Region" continued to expand at a staggering rate. Its incredible resilience baffled those who sought to suppress it. The domain was vast, having grown over the years to the size of a small country, distinct from the rest of the continent. The key difference between this area and other empires was its lack of a singular leader. In this region, various powers fought ceaselessly for their interests, creating an environment as disorganized as scattered sand. Perhaps this very chaos was what allowed the "Black Horn Region" to grow so significantly at the continent''s heart. Otherwise, no power would tolerate such a disruptive and rapidly strengthening force that could pose a threat to them. Despite the notorious chaos of the "Black Horn Region," the high-grade Dou Techniques, combat techniques, and medicinal pills that flowed through it attracted many powerful beings from across the continent. After all, acquiring advanced techniques could significantly bolster their journey to greater strength. Such temptation was irresistible for the strong. Thus, the "Black Horn Region" was like a dark, bottomless pit, drawing countless treasures through various channels, only to be auctioned off at exorbitant prices. ... After leaving the Serpent Race''s place, Gu He headed straight for the Black Horn Region. Now, after nearly five days, the monotonous mountain ranges below suddenly thinned out. Standing atop the Black Scaled Frigid Python, Gu He looked towards the horizon, where a dark plain appeared like a black line, clearly separating the world inside from the outside. "So this is the Black Horn Region?" Looking at the black line growing in his view, Gu He''s tired and dusty face suddenly brightened with a relieved smile. The "Black Horn Region" was the gateway to the "Black Horn Region." Stepping into it meant entering a world completely different from the outside. "First, I should find a map before venturing further into the Black Horn Region."Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com With a thought, Gu He steered the Black Scaled Frigid Python to descend slowly towards the plains below. The Black Horn Region were vast and monochrome, making it easy to lose one''s way. Without a map, it would take much longer to enter the heart of the Black Horn Region. A precise map would make the journey much easier. Moreover, traveling to the Black Horn Region atop the Black Scaled Frigid Python would attract too much attention, something Gu He preferred to avoid. Although his strength as a Nine-Star Dou Zong, combined with the Black Scaled Frigid Python, an eighth-order magical beast, was formidable enough to sweep through the entire Black Horn Region, he decided to be cautious and learn more about the domain first. Even though he had some knowledge about the Black Horn Region from the original story, experiencing it firsthand was different. After all, the Soul Hall existed within the Black Horn Region, and deep within, at a place called Burial Soul Ridge, there was a Soul Clan branch temple guarded by a Soul Hall Venerable with Dou Zong strength. If he drew too much attention from the Soul Hall, being in the dark while the enemy was in the light would be too passive. That was something Gu He wanted to avoid. A harsh, jeering laugh sounded from behind. Turning, Gu He saw the skinny man holding a bow, with an arrow aimed straight at him. "Hand over everything you have C money, weapons, or whatever else. If I''m in a good mood, maybe I''ll just take one arm as a penalty for your mistake," the skinny man sneered. "Typical of the Black Horn Region... but sadly, no matter how high grasshoppers jump, they''re still just grasshoppers." Gu He scanned the street, noting the crowd''s reaction. None came to his aid; instead, they watched with amusement, as if enjoying a show. Experiencing this firsthand, Gu He understood something. In the Black Horn Region, don''t let anyone figure out your true strength. Don''t expect any help from the onlookers; them not joining in to attack is already normal. Gu He coldly faced the three men blocking him, "Move!" At his command, their faces darkened, and they lunged at Gu He with their blades, striking mercilessly. "Thud, thud, thud" Before their blades could reach him, a dark shadow flashed. The three men''s faces turned pale as if struck by a giant hammer, and they were slammed into the tents behind them, their blood staining the white canvas. "Damn it!" In a flash, the three companions were gravely injured. The skinny man''s eyes flashed with fear and ferocity. Just as he was about to release the arrow, a white figure appeared behind him. A chilling whisper followed, "Next time, better assess the strength of your opponent before you act. Though, I doubt there''ll be a next time." "Splash!" With a swift palm strike, blood and shattered organs burst forth. Gu He walked past the fallen man with an indifferent face and continued down the street. Seeing his approach, the originally mocking crowd quickly changed their expressions, letting the blood-scented figure pass by. As Gu He disappeared around a corner, the crowd resumed its bustle. They looked at the body at the gate, not with pity but with admiration. "Hey, that guy was ruthless. He didn''t hesitate at all. A real man. Looks like he''ll do just fine in the Black Horn Region." (End of Chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 209: Encountering Soul Hall Again! Chapter 209: Encountering Soul Hall Again! Chapter 209: Encountering Soul Hall Again! After searching through the few not-so-long streets, Gu He was disappointed to find that the small tribe did not have any maps for sale. Shaking his head in frustration and about to ask someone for directions, a slightly overweight figure suddenly appeared in front of him, wearing a friendly smile. "Are you looking to buy a map, sir? I noticed you asking around earlier," said the chubby man, smiling before Gu He could frown. "Do you have one?" Gu He glanced at the stranger and asked indifferently. "I''m a merchant who travels through the Black Horn Region, so naturally, I carry the most detailed maps," the man said with a smile. "How much?" Gu He''s voice remained unemotional. He had already learned that in the Black Horn Domain, there was no such thing as a free lunch. "Hehe, to be honest, even with a map, it''s hard to find the correct destination in the Black Horn Region. The plains are notorious for their sudden black sandstorms, which render maps useless. Only those with experience can navigate out of these storms. But I guess, as a newcomer, you might not have this experience, right?" The chubby man shook his head, then continued. "I''m not going to beat around the bush. Seeing your strength at the tribe''s gate, I thought of hiring you as a guard for my caravan. If you''re aiming to cross the Black Horn Region and enter the inner Black Horn Domain, you could travel with me. However, as payment for guiding you through the plains, you''d need to lend a hand if my caravan runs into trouble. How does that sound?" Upon hearing this, Gu He frowned slightly. The Black Horn Region were indeed known for their black sandstorms, and the inexperienced could easily lose their way. It was said that some unfortunate souls had perished wandering in circles on the plains. Traveling with an experienced merchant caravan would indeed save a lot of trouble. Moreover, after traveling for so many days, Gu He also wanted to take this opportunity to rest. "Hehe, our caravan''s destination is ''Black Seal City'' within the Black Horn Domain. There''s going to be an annual auction there the day after tomorrow, so I need to strengthen our guard and hurry. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have approached a stranger," the chubby man explained with a smile. "An auction?" Hearing this, Gu He''s interest was piqued. The Black Horn Domain was renowned for its astonishing items, and each auction attracted countless bidders. After pondering for a moment, Gu He no longer hesitated and nodded in agreement. "Pleased to collaborate with you. You can call me Ma Yi Cheng," said the chubby man, relieved, extending his hand to Gu He. "Di Jia." Gu He briefly shook the man''s plump hand and replied indifferently. "Di Jia? What an odd name..." Ma Yi Cheng thought to himself. ... Hearing the shouts outside, Ma Yicheng''s expression changed slightly, but he was not extremely panicked. He said to Gu He, "Mr. Di Jia, let''s get out of the carriage first. As long as we are well protected, this not-so-huge black storm shouldn''t pose too much danger." Nodding, Gu He lifted the curtain of the carriage and jumped down, looking up to find that the sky, which had been clear just fifteen minutes before, was now completely obscured by a strange black fog. Looking forward, his vision was severely obstructed. Only now did he understand why Doma said that encountering a black storm would render a map useless. "Hehe, Mr. Di Jia, don''t worry. I felt the wind direction; it''s not very strong. This is a stroke of luck in an unfortunate situation." Ma Yicheng said with a smile beside Gu He: "Although the black storm is the most depressing weather in the Black Domain Plains, compared to those brutal black bandits, it''s much better. At least, with good luck in a black storm, you can still save your life, but facing those thousands of black bandit armies, you might just have to wait for death." Gu He nodded slightly, about to say something, when the already dim sky suddenly darkened completely without any warning. Soon after, a howling gale swept down from the sky, causing some of the physically weaker people to sway in the wind, frightening them into grabbing onto anything nearby. The black gale, sweeping down from the dark sky, was like a giant maw of a demon, devouring everything it encountered. The interconnected carriages were arranged in a circle, end to end, with people hiding inside. Their weapons were firmly planted into the ground, securing their bodies like nails. In the pitch-black darkness that enveloped everyone, amidst the howling wind, no one could feel the presence of others nearby. Hearing the crackling sound of the wind against his body, Gu He''s expression also changed slightly. He hadn''t expected this so-called black storm to be so powerful, and this was just a small storm according to Ma Yicheng. If they encountered a larger one, wouldn''t it directly sweep people away? Of course, with Gu He''s physical strength, he was able to face this storm directly. He stood in the midst of the raging wind, unmoving, like an old tree with deep roots. The darkness and the gale continued for an unknown length of time. Suddenly, Gu He in the darkness frowned and turned his head, glancing towards an indeterminate direction. There, it seemed that several strange red glows were flickering, and vague sounds were also faintly accompanying them. Sending his soul power towards that direction, Gu He immediately frowned and said coldly: "People from the Soul Hall, truly omnipresent." What entered Gu He''s field of vision was a strange red glow. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a phantom human figure emitting red light. (End of chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 210: Soul Capturing, Arrival at Black Horn Domain! Chapter 210: Soul Capturing, Arrival at Black Horn Domain! Chapter 210: Soul Capturing, Arrival at Black Horn Domain! A soul body! This red, illusory human figure was indeed a soul body, and moreover, one that was being captured by the Soul Hall. After discerning the situation in the black fog, Gu He had a thought and disappeared from his spot, unnoticed. ... At this moment, in the nearby black fog, piercing screams could be heard. "Who are you exactly?" "Why are you hunting me? I don''t seem to have any enmity with you!" A red soul body was shaking wildly in the fierce wind, facing the darkness with a twisted and fearful expression on its face. "Jie Jie" In the darkness, a terrifying laughter suddenly echoed, followed by a black chain shooting out like a black snake, swiftly entwining the red soul body. "Sizzling." The moment the energy chain, seemingly made of a very strange energy, touched the red soul body, plumes of white smoke seeped out from the latter, and agonizing screams filled the air. "Ah!" "Please, let me go!" "I will give you anything you want!" "Ah... No, please!" However, no matter how much it struggled, even summoning a kind of red flame, it was still no match for the black chain. The soul body could only watch helplessly as its soul weakened and was finally enveloped in a black light emitted by the chain. "Jie Jie, no matter how glorious and powerful you were in life, once you become a soul body, you are a target for the ''Soul Hall''." Amidst a harsh, raspy laughter, two black figures gradually became visible. One of them, looking at the soul pouch that had just captured the red soul body, wore a smug smile. "Soul Five, there''s a group of people over there. Should we take them too?" The other black figure, looking towards Ma Yicheng''s caravan, said sinisterly. "Just ants, what''s the use of capturing them? It''s a waste of time." The figure named Soul Five scoffed disdainfully, clearly underestimating Ma Yicheng and the others. "That''s true, let''s move on." The other black figure nodded in agreement. As they prepared to leave, a clear shout suddenly rang out beside their ears: "Soul Capturing!" Startled, the two figures felt a chill in their hearts, but before they could react, they found themselves enveloped by a powerful devouring force. "What is this?" "Ah!" In their horror, their bodies uncontrollably flew in one direction. Within a patch of black fog, Gu He was hidden there, his palm extending with a dim light emerging, forming a black vortex. A strong devouring force surged forth. The two black figures, uncontrollable, drifted towards Gu He''s palm, utterly powerless to resist. As the two soul bodies entered the dim vortex in Gu He''s palm, the devouring force gradually dissipated, and the dim light in his palm transformed into two black beads. Through the black beads, one could clearly see the two soul bodies inside, shouting and screaming in terror. Upon seeing Gu He, they became even more furious, seemingly uttering threats, their expressions twisted. But strangely, no sound came out. However, after reading the memories of these two Soul Hall officers, a new idea suddenly emerged in Gu He''s mind. Purge! He planned to sweep through the chaotic and dark Black Horn Domain with his invincible power. He intended to kill all the ruthless strongmen and raid the treasures of the major forces. Of course, the treasures were not a big concern. What Gu He wanted to do was to bring a glimmer of hope to the despairing darkness of the Black Horn Domain, to give them a light of hope. At this moment, Gu He seemed to transform into a giant of light, radiating the glow of justice. ... Since that black storm, Ma Yicheng''s caravan hadn''t encountered any more trouble. By noon the next day, at the edge of the monotonous black plain, lush greenery finally began to appear. The experienced guards couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief at the sight. Once they left the great plains, it would be much safer. After all, most of the cities nowadays were dominated by powerful forces, and as long as enough money was paid to these forces, one wouldn''t end up with a tragic fate of being robbed and massacred. These forces wouldn''t be foolish enough to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Of course, nothing was absolute; otherwise, the Black Horn Domain wouldn''t live up to its reputation as the most chaotic region. Inside the carriage, Gu He opened the curtain and looked at the caravan gradually leaving the black plain, his expression calm. "Hehe, it''s good this time, we didn''t encounter those brutal black bandits, and my goods are safe. There were no casualties, which means I can save a lot on compensation." Ma Yicheng''s chubby face showed a relieved smile. Transporting goods in the Black Domain Plains was almost like hanging one''s head on the belt, a stroke of bad luck could mean death. After all, making money in the Black Horn Domain was not easy. "By the way, Mr. Di Jia, here is your compensation. Although it''s not worthy of your stature." Ma Yicheng took out a bag of gold coins from his bosom and handed it to Gu He with a bitter smile. "Without Mr. Ma''s guidance, I might have wandered in the Black Domain Plains for another ten days. This money is more than enough." Gu He didn''t pretentiously refuse the compensation, took the gold coins, and weighed them. The amount seemed to be around five thousand gold coins. "Thank you, Mr. Di Jia." Ma Yicheng thanked him and handed over a detailed map, whispering, "I think, for someone new to the Black Horn Domain, this is the most valuable thing." Gu He''s eyes narrowed slightly, and he nodded slowly without refusing. In fact, after devouring the memories of the two Soul Hall officers, Gu He was already very clear about the situation in the Black Horn Domain and no longer needed this map. But he didn''t refuse the kind gesture. "Hehe, Mr. Di Jia, although you are strong, you must be careful in the Black Horn Domain. It''s best not to let people easily see that you are a newcomer, or it will attract a lot of unnecessary trouble," Ma Yicheng said with a light laugh. "I''ll take your advice." Gu He smiled and nodded. (End of chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 211: Target, Blood Sect! Chapter 211: Target, Blood Sect! Chapter 211: Target, Blood Sect! After exiting the Black Domain Great Plains, the caravan slowed its pace. Following nearly two hours of mountainous roads, they finally approached their destination in the afternoon. Crossing a mountain ridge, at the foot of the ridge, a massive city built of pitch-black giant stones emerged hazily into view. At the four gates of the city, dense crowds, like swarms of ants, could be seen converging and pouring into the gaping maw of the dark city. "Hehe, Mr. Di Jia, this is Black Seal City," Ma Yicheng said from atop the carriage, smiling at Gu He beside him. "Due to the auction in the next two days, many powers and strong figures are gathering here. Each year''s auction brings heavy-hitting treasures. Last year, the finale item was a low-level Earth Grade Dou Technique, which almost caused a fight at the auction. It was only avoided thanks to the strong backing of the organizers." "Earth Grade Dou Technique," Gu He mused, his eyes showing a flicker of interest. Indeed, the Black Horn Domain was a hub for the continent''s rare treasures. Such high-level techniques were nearly impossible to find in the Gama Empire, but here, they were auctioned off. "Let''s go," Ma Yicheng gestured, and the caravan sped down towards the great city, stirring up clouds of dust along the way. "Black Horn Domain, I hope you won''t disappoint me," Gu He murmured, looking at the city that grew larger in his view, feeling a tinge of excitement. ... The caravan descended from the mountaintop, and within fifteen minutes, they approached the dark city gates. The speed reduced as they joined the queue of people waiting to enter. Standing in front of the carriage, Gu He looked up at the huge black city walls. His gaze swept over the large characters "Black Mark City" etched in the center of the gate, then drifted down to a group of men in black attire at the entrance. They seemed to be the city''s gatekeepers, and everyone entering had to pay them a significant fee. Such a practice would incite riots in the Gama Empire, but here in the Black Horn Domain, it was just a common occurrence. "Get out of my way, don''t mess with me," a boisterous voice suddenly rang out not far from where Gu He was observing the city''s unique style. Turning his gaze, Gu He saw a bald man, apparently impatient from waiting, grabbing a skinny man in front of him. "Ah!" As the bald man''s words fell, the skinny man suddenly spun around, swiftly drawing a dagger from his robe and stabbing at the bald man''s throat. However, the bald man reacted quickly, dodging the strike by mere inches, causing the blade to miss his throat and instead cause a gush of blood. A piercing scream echoed from the bald man. With this thought in mind, Gu He began to contemplate his first target. In the Black Horn Domain, none of the major powers were benign. Almost every strong figure was stained with blood and guilty of heinous crimes. Gu He''s goal was to make these individuals pay the price they deserved. And, if necessary, taking some compensation for himself was only fair. Various major powers flashed through his mind. After devouring the memories of the two Soul Hall officers, Gu He had a clear understanding of the actions and influences of these powers in the Black Horn Domain. Maple City, Tian Yin Sect, Wild Lion Gang, Black Skulls, Blood Sect... After a moment, Gu He decided on his target: the Blood Sect! Known for their bloodthirsty cultivation methods, requiring the absorption of strong blood to enhance their strength, the Blood Sect was infamous. It was said that every day, numerous people were captured as blood offerings for their practices. Thinking of this, Gu He also remembered the soul body of Wu Huo, the Protector of the Soul Hall. It was time for the name of the Soul Hall to echo throughout the Black Horn Domain. (End of chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 212: Xiao Yan’s Crisis! Yao Lao’s Shock! Xiao Yi Xian’s Gift! Chapter 212: Xiao Yans Crisis! Yao Laos Shock! Xiao Yi Xians Gift! Chapter 212: Xiao Yan''s Crisis! Yao Lao''s Shock! Xiao Yi Xian''s Gift! In the Demon Beast Mountain Range, a chase that had lasted for over half a month was still ongoing. "Xiao Yan, you can''t escape. Surrender now, and I might let you keep your whole corpse," roared Mu She, the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, furiously at the fleeing young man. For half a month, since discovering Xiao Yan''s whereabouts, he had been leading his mercenaries in relentless pursuit. Despite his efforts, Xiao Yan, with his cunning Dou Techniques and ruthless methods, had repeatedly escaped their encirclement and even inflicted heavy losses on his men. This only intensified Mu She''s hatred and desire to tear Xiao Yan apart. "This kid must have an extraordinary background with such skills!" thought Mu Snake. "But no matter his origin, he must die for killing my son!" Realizing Xiao Yan''s potential threat, Mu Snake''s killing intent deepened. This was a feud that could only be settled by death. As Mu She watched Xiao Yan disappear into the dense forest, his eyes blazed with murderous intent. He quickly followed, plunging into the dark woods. Just as Mu She entered the forest, a shadow reeking of blood attacked him. Without hesitation, Mu Snake drew his long sword and viciously struck the shadow. The sound of the blade cutting flesh echoed through the forest, followed by a piercing screech. Mu She had struck a Bloodthirsty Rat, a first-tier demonl beast. Mu She, expressionless, flicked the rat off his blade and quickened his pace, but soon, a group of Bloodthirsty Rats, each half the size of a man, blocked his path. Though they couldn''t harm him, they significantly slowed his pursuit. As Mu She grew frustrated, his mercenaries finally caught up. Seeing their leader blocked by the rats, they drew their weapons and began to fight off the creatures. "Chase him!" commanded Mu She, kicking a rat away. The relentless chase resumed. ... The usually peaceful mountains were turned upside down by the pursuit and ensuing chaos. Xiao Yan, the instigator, had unwittingly provoked the local wildlife, causing the mercenaries to suffer casualties without even touching him. Xiao Yan, feeling the ache in his legs, looked up at the crescent moon and couldn''t help but bitterly smile. The mercenaries'' persistence was beyond his expectations. "Am I nearing the heart of the Demon Beast Mountain Range? Are these fools not afraid of encountering high-tier Demon beasts?" Xiao Yan cursed under his breath, then continued deeper into the forest. Mu She, seeing Xiao Yan stop near a cliff, was overjoyed. The cliff was over ten meters wide, and crossing it meant entering the heart of the mountain range, a place even he dared not venture. As Xiao Yan stood at the cliff''s edge, Mu She approached, his face twisted in a triumphant grin. The mercenaries surrounded Xiao Yan, sealing off any escape. Xiao Yan, facing the cliff, darkened. He had inadvertently been cornered while fleeing aimlessly. "Damn my luck," he cursed inwardly. "Xiao Yan, surrender now, and I''ll grant you a quick death," Mu She said coldly, approaching Xiao Yan with his sword drawn. As Xiao Yan stood cornered, Mu She relished the moment. He would finally avenge his son and the losses his men had suffered. Xiao Yan sighed, lifting the Profound Heavy Ruler in his hand. Suddenly, he closed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. Mu She frowned, uncertain of Xiao Yan''s intentions. The mercenaries watched, amused, believing Xiao Yan''s situation was hopeless. Mu She''s unease grew as he sensed the energy in the air intensifying. As he approached Xiao Yan, the atmosphere seemed charged with imminent danger. ------------- With his hands tightly gripping his large sword, Mu She, feeling uneasy, cautiously approached Xiao Yan, no longer concerned about the difference in their strength and status. Noticing Mu She''s solemn demeanor, the surrounding mercenaries sensed something was amiss. They gripped their weapons tighter, preparing for the unexpected. "Stop playing tricks, die!" Mu She, entering his attack range, displayed a ferocious look and, without hesitation, swung his large sword fiercely towards Xiao Yan''s neck. "It''s too late..." Xiao Yan, with his eyes suddenly wide open, uttered coldly. The Profound Heavy Ruler in his hand surged with intense heat, the first time it was controlled by Xiao Yan. "Flame Splitting Wave!"Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com As Xiao Yan shouted internally, the energy of the heavens and earth above the abyss surged violently. Countless visible energies, as if attracted, crazily infused into the Profound Heavy Ruler in Xiao Yan''s hand. The ruler grew hotter and its bizarre patterns began to glow with a fiery red light. As Xiao Yan channeled the last of his Dou Qi into the Black Heavy Ruler, the tip of the ruler flashed brightly. A crescent-shaped red glow, half a meter long, shot out, carrying intense heat and violently striking towards Mu She. A red light flickered in the distance, and as the crescent-shaped glow left the ruler, Mu She''s pupils shrank, shocked. Condensing Dou Qi externally was a skill only a Dou Grandmaster could master. How could this mere Dou Practitioner release such a perfect condensed Qi attack? Before Mu She could ponder this bewildering question, he surged with Dou Qi, coating his large sword with a light blue aura, resembling a thin energy film. "Wind Blade Dance!" Exhaling deeply, Mu She waved his sword furiously. Numerous blue sword afterimages appeared before him, forming a dense net of blades. This was Mu She''s highest level Dou Technique, a low-level Xuan Technique. He had once earned the title of the strongest man in Qing Shan Town with this technique. Now, facing Xiao Yan''s mysterious and powerful attack, the cautious Mu She used his strongest move. The red crescent arrived in a flash. Before the mercenaries could comprehend what it was, a thunderous explosion sounded over the abyss. "Boom!" Following the bird''s flight over the forest, Yao Lao''s surprised voice echoed in Xiao Yan''s mind. Hearing Yao Lao''s unusual tone, Xiao Yan, although curious, dared not make any movements. The magical beast had not yet gone far, and any sign of his presence might attract its attention. Once he sensed that the giant bird had left, Xiao Yan emerged from under the rock, only to sense several people approaching his location. "It''s the Wolf Head Mercenary Group!" Realizing that Mu Snake had likely noticed the fourth-order magical beast was just passing by and had returned with his men, Xiao Yan quickly left the area before they could surround him again. When Mu Snake and his mercenaries arrived and found no trace of Xiao Yan, they roared in frustration. "Teacher, did you notice something just now?" Once he was safe, Xiao Yan, remembering Yao Lao''s exclamation, asked curiously. It was the first time he had heard Yao Lao so surprised. Yao Lao''s spectral body emerged from Xiao Yan''s ring, still wearing a look of astonishment. "That fourth-order magical beast had two people on it," he said, frowning. "What!" Shocked, Xiao Yan couldn''t believe what he was hearing. People riding a fourth-order magical beast? How strong must they be? Dou Wang? Dou Huang? Thankfully, Xiao Yan had hidden well and did not reveal his presence. Yao Lao, however, had recognized the faces of the two people on the magical beast. It was the shock of recognizing them that had surprised him. Nalan Yanran? The image of the girl who had come to the Xiao family to break off the engagement crossed Yao Lao''s mind. How could it be her? Her aura had reached the Dou Masteri realm, a drastic change from her previous Three-Star Dou Practitioner level. Yao Lao''s thoughts were in turmoil. He wondered if he had misjudged Xiao Yan''s potential. Could Xiao Yan really defeat Nalan Yanran? "Xiao Yan, do you know if Nalan Yanran has a sister?" Yao Lao asked after a moment of silence. Thinking it might be Nalan Yanran''s sister who resembled her, Xiao Yan shook his head. "No, Nalan Yanran is the only daughter in the Nalan family." Yao Lao lapsed into silence again. Then, he turned to Xiao Yan, his face serious. "From today, you must increase your efforts. Kill a second-order magical beast every day!" "Ah!" Xiao Yan was dumbfounded. A second-order magical beast was a challenge for a Dou Master level practitioner! "Teacher, are you trying to kill me!" ... Deep in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the giant bird landed, and two figures in white slowly descended. "Sister, I''ll leave you here." These were Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yi Xian, who had traveled from the Yunlan Sect to the Magical Beast Mountain Range. "Thank you, sister," Nalan Yanran nodded, looking at the surrounding wilderness. Xiao Yi Xian warned her about the dangers of the mountain range, emphasizing caution against not just beasts but also humans. Nalan Yanran agreed, advising Xiao Yi Xian to be careful in Chu Yun Empire, a dangerous place full of poison masters. Xiao Yi Xian, secretly amused by her innate immunity to poison, assured her sister of her safety. Nalan Yanran then urged Xiao Yi Xian to leave, concerned about her mission. Xiao Yi Xian agreed but then presented Nalan Yanran with gifts to protect herself - various powerful poisons she had crafted, each more deadly than the last, capable of killing up to fourth-order magical beasts. Stunned by the potency of these "insect repellents," Nalan Yanran realized that Xiao Yi Xian might be the bane of the poison masters in Chu Yun Empire. (End of chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 213: Blood Sect’s Doomsday! The Tremor of the Black Horn Domain! Chapter 213: Blood Sects Doomsday! The Tremor of the Black Horn Domain! Chapter 213: Blood Sect''s Doomsday! The Tremor of the Black Horn Domain! Blood Cloud Mountain, named because it was constantly shrouded in a layer of blood mist, as if one was in the midst of a blood cloud. In the past, Blood Cloud Mountain had long become a forbidden place in the Black Horn Domain in the eyes of many. All because of a notorious evil force that resided there. The Blood Sect! It was said that Blood Cloud Mountain wasn''t called that a long time ago. It was named Blood Cloud Mountain because it was constantly shrouded in blood mist due to the Blood Sect practicing their techniques. Within Blood Cloud Mountain, there was a valley from which frequent and eerie screams could be heard. This valley was called the Blood Valley by the disciples of the Blood Sect, and it was where they kept the people they captured from outside, known as "blood food" in the eyes of Blood Sect disciples. Every day, the higher-ups of the Blood Sect would take a few "blood foods" from the Blood Valley for their cultivation. This was the reason why screams were often heard coming from the Blood Valley. At that moment, deep within the Blood Sect, in a dark and secret chamber. In the middle of the chamber, a figure cloaked in blood-red was sitting cross-legged on the ground, completely shrouded in blood mist, emitting an extremely nauseating bloody aura. Boom! After a moment, the blood mist dissipated, revealing the true appearance of the blood-red figure. He was a middle-aged man dressed in a blood-red robe, his eyes gleaming with a sinister red light, and his whole body exuding a thick and chilling aura. This middle-aged man was none other than Fan Lao, the leader of the Blood Sect and ranked fifth on the Black List, possessing the pinnacle strength of a Five-Star Dou Emperor. Due to the techniques he practiced, which required the consumption of the blood of the strong and countless killings, he had a fearsome reputation in the Black Horn Domain and was known as the Blood Demon. Having completed his cultivation, Fan Lao slowly got up, and an extremely chilling aura emanated from him. "Bring today''s ''blood food'' to me!" Suddenly, a harsh and unpleasant voice, like that of a night owl, came from Fan Lao''s mouth, carrying an indescribable coldness. As Fan Lao''s words fell, two disciples of the Blood Sect quickly entered, carrying a person who was clearly prepared as "blood food." The "blood food" was a middle-aged man with a strong blood aura, and he emitted the aura of a Five-Star Dou Spirit. However, at that moment, his meridians were destroyed, rendering him unable to move. This "blood food" had obviously heard of the Blood Sect''s reputation and was well aware of Fan Lao''s status as the Blood Demon. At that moment, unable to move, he pleaded with Fan Lao, saying, "Senior Fan, I begged you to spare my life! Please, I begged you..." However, in the face of the man''s desperate pleas, Fan Lao remained expressionless, his eyes indifferent, as if he was looking at a pig or dog awaiting slaughter. "You may leave." Fan Lao calmly ordered the two disciples of the Blood Sect. "Yes, Master!" Hearing this, the two disciples respectfully saluted and then slowly exited the secret chamber. "Fan Lao, I was an official of the Black Seal City!" ... "Noisy!" Seeing the middle-aged man becoming increasingly agitated, Fan Lao''s patience wore thin. In the next moment, Fan Lao, like a grim reaper, appeared in front of the middle-aged man. His bloody aura erupted, and he directly placed a palm on the man''s chest. "Ah!..." "Don''t, please!" "Let go of me, Fan Lao, you demon, you would meet a bad end sooner or later..." As the middle-aged man''s screams of agony rang out, pure blood qi flowed out from his body and gathered in Fan Lao''s palm, merging into his body. After a moment, the middle-aged man''s screams became increasingly faint until they completely disappeared. Fan Lao finally released his grip, satisfied, and his eyes gleamed with even more intensity. As for the middle-aged man, his body had been drained of blood, his face was deathly pale, and he had already lost his breath. "Hahaha, if I had a few more high-quality ''blood foods'' like this earlier, I could have broken through to the level of a Six-Star Dou Emperor." Feeling the dense blood qi in his body, Fan Lao''s night owl-like voice burst into wild laughter in the secret chamber. "Hehehe!" After a moment, the dark figure slowly opened his eyes, a coldness gleaming in them. "I didn''t expect Fan Lao to be even more brutal than his reputation suggests, truly vicious and evil to the extreme. He deserved to die!" The dark figure looked at Fan Lao''s lifeless body in the secret chamber and let out a cold laugh. "However, this guy had quite a collection of treasures." With a wave of his hand, Fan Lao''s storage ring floated into the dark figure''s hand. The next moment, the dark figure disappeared from the secret chamber, heading straight for the Blood Sect''s treasury. From Fan Lao''s memories, the dark figure already knew that the Blood Sect''s treasury held many valuable items. Thinking about this, a hint of anticipation appeared in the dark figure''s otherwise indifferent eyes. ... The next day. A piece of news spread, making the already chaotic Black Horn Domain even more turbulent. Fan Lao was dead! Upon hearing this news, everyone''s first reaction was disbelief. Who was Fan Lao? The fearsome Blood Demon! Ranked fifth on the Black List! A Dou Emperor-level powerhouse! Could such an existence really die? At first, people scoffed at this news, thinking it was just a rumor spread by someone with an agenda. But as information from spies planted in the Blood Sect confirmed Fan Lao''s death, the news gradually became verified. According to reports from spies of various major powers, Fan Lao was found dead in his own secret chamber. Furthermore, the entire leadership of the Blood Sect had met a similar fate. And the entire Blood Sect treasury had been looted! With these pieces of information confirmed, the entire Black Horn Domain was in an uproar! Fan Lao, a Dou Emperor-level powerhouse, had really been killed? Facing the attacks of various major powers, the Blood Sect was powerless to resist without Fan Lao. In just one day, the once-mighty Blood Sect was divided among the major powers, and the disciples of the Blood Sect were slaughtered. Fan Lao''s son, Fan Ling, was tortured to death, and his body was dismembered and fed to the dogs. Yesterday, the Blood Sect had been arrogant and domineering, but in just one day, it was completely wiped out from the Black Horn Domain. This news sent shockwaves throughout the entire Black Horn Domain. Fan Lao''s strength was well known to all of them. What kind of existence could silently kill him in his own secret chamber? Thinking about this, the strong individuals of various major powers couldn''t help but feel a shroud of gloom in their hearts. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 215: Annihilating Han Feng, Seizing the Sea Heart Flame! Chapter 215: Annihilating Han Feng, Seizing the Sea Heart Flame! Chapter 215: Annihilating Han Feng, Seizing the Sea Heart Flame! Outside the sprawling mountain range within the Canaan Academy, there was a city named Maple City. The city was not large, but in the Black Horn Domain, it held a pivotal position because it was the residence of the Alchemy Emperor Han Feng. As the number one figure in the field of alchemy in the Black Horn Domain, Han Feng had long since become a sixth grade alchemist. In the hearts of many forces and even powerful individuals, he held a high status. Of course, a sixth grade alchemist was a rare sight even across the entire continent. Even ordinary Dou Ancestors had to show great respect when meeting one. After all, everyone knew the kind of influence a sixth grade alchemist could have. Maple City was named after Han Feng, and this honor was enjoyed by only a handful of people in the chaotic and murderous Black Horn Domain. Han Feng was one of them. In the center of the city was a bamboo forest unlike the bustling market outside. This bamboo forest had a strict defense system, and ordinary people couldn''t even approach it without being indiscriminately attacked. Every year, many people were killed by the bamboo forest guards for this reason. Therefore, while it was peaceful, it was also a forbidden area in the hearts of many people in Maple City. In the depths of the bamboo forest, there was a bamboo pavilion. Its lush green color resembled jade, exuding a faint fragrance of bamboo. Inside the bamboo pavilion, a man was seated cross-legged, wearing an alchemist''s robe with an exquisitely crafted "Maple" symbol on the back. At this moment, the man was completely focused, refining a pill, with no distractions. After a while, a massive blue heavenly flame pillar, about a yard thick, shot up into the sky above the bamboo forest and lingered there for a long time. If anyone saw this heavenly flame pillar, they would surely exclaim in astonishment, for it was the celestial phenomenon that occurred when a sixth grade pill was formed. The alchemist glanced at the huge heavenly flame pillar, his brow slightly furrowing. He extended his hand, and the heavenly flame pillar began to tremble rapidly. After a while, a blue ray of light descended from the heavenly flame pillar, finally floating above his palm. The blue light gradually diminished, revealing a dragon-eye-sized azure pill. The pill''s surface was extremely round, resembling the surface of the sea, and faint blue lines, like waves, adorned it, giving it a mysterious appearance. As the blue light separated from the heavenly flame pillar, the massive heavenly flame pillar gradually dissipated as if it had lost its support, until it completely disappeared. "It''s finally done. It seems that I''ll be able to break through to the seventh-grade alchemist realm in a few years," the alchemist said with a satisfied smile. He placed the sixth grade pill into an exquisite jade bottle. Afterward, the alchemist turned and walked out of the bamboo forest. As he turned, his face was revealed. He had a handsome appearance, long black hair flowing down to his shoulders, and a peculiar medicinal fragrance seemed to constantly emanate from his body, giving people an inexplicable sense of closeness. At the center of his chest, there was an ancient medicinal cauldron emblem, and on the cauldron, six golden rays of light glittered and rippled like waves, creating a dazzling and mysterious pattern. Six golden patterns were something that only a sixth grade alchemist could have in the alchemy world. This man, who appeared to be around thirty years old, was the only one in the Black Horn Domain with such qualifications. He was none other than Han Feng, the Alchemy Emperor. A moment later, Han Feng arrived at a pavilion in the bamboo forest and sat down. After a while, he suddenly closed his eyes, and his fingertips lightly tapped. A deep blue heavenly flame, as clear as a pristine lake, emerged mysteriously from within him, enveloping him. This deep blue heavenly flame was extremely peculiar, resembling clear lake water in appearance but giving the distinct sensation of flames, not water. As the deep blue heavenly flame surged upward, the man''s soul power suddenly increased significantly. But listening to the jarring laughter, Han Feng had a strange feeling of familiarity, as if he had heard it somewhere before. While Han Feng was still shocked, outside the pavilion, a dark mist suddenly appeared out of thin air, and within the mist stood a dark figure. Seeing this familiar way of appearing, Han Feng''s heart trembled, and he immediately realized the identity of the intruder. He bowed respectfully and said, "Han Feng pays his respects to the envoy of the Soul Hall. May I inquire about the envoy''s instructions?" "Eh..." The respectful attitude of Han Feng left the dark figure, who had been sneering inside the mist, utterly baffled. ''What is this guy doing?'' In the midst of his confusion, the dark figure suddenly remembered the act of deceiving his teachers and destroying his ancestors that this guy had committed in the past, and he understood. Playing tricks by deceiving teachers and destroying ancestors? Must die! Looking at Han Feng in front of him, the dark figure''s eyes brimmed with an intense killing intent. The next moment, the dark figure slowly extended his hand within the mist and silently thought, "Soul Bind!" Han Feng, who was still puzzled, suddenly felt his soul being violently pulled as if it was about to break free from his body. "Enforcer, is there some misunderstanding?" Han Feng was shocked, but he also tried to explain. Unfortunately, the dark figure completely disregarded his words and increased the power of the Soul Bind. Subsequently, amid Han Feng''s piercing screams, his powerful soul was forcibly pulled into a vortex in the dark figure''s palm and transformed into a black bead. Han Feng''s soul was trapped within the black bead, roaring in fury. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 216: Great Harvest! Chapter 216: Great Harvest! Chapter 216: Great Harvest! "Hmph!" "Han Feng, you deserve what''s coming to you." Looking at Han Feng, who was silently roaring with a fierce expression inside the Black Pearl, the shadow sneered. Although he had no personal grudge against Han Feng, for some reason, the shadow instinctively felt a strong hatred towards those who "betrayed their teachers and destroyed their ancestors." Perhaps it had something to do with the many disciples under the shadow''s sect. Just imagine, if one of his disciples were to betray their teacher and destroy their ancestors, what would he do? No matter where in the world, he would hunt them down and punish them severely! "Those who betray their teachers and destroy their ancestors should all be killed!" With a gleam of intense murderous intent in his eyes, the shadow collected the Black Pearl containing Han Feng''s soul. Then, the shadow''s eyes caught sight of the deep blue soul ring on Han Feng''s finger, which emitted a faint blue light. This indicated that this soul ring was different from ordinary low-level ones. "No wonder he''s the leader of the Black Union; he even wears a high-level soul ring." The shadow smirked and unceremoniously removed the deep blue soul ring from Han Feng''s finger. Soul rings also had different levels of rarity. High-level soul rings were extremely rare, and even in the Black Domain''s auction houses, they were highly sought after. Over the years, the shadow had never worn a high-level soul ring himself and had made do with mediocre low-level ones. Previously, the shadow didn''t have high requirements for soul rings because of the existence of the system''s space. If something couldn''t fit, he could simply store it in the system''s space. However, ever since he had obtained the Space Heart from that high-level soul ring he gave to his disciples last time, he had started paying more attention to soul rings. The Space Heart could create space and expand it with the user''s strength. Such a valuable item was impossible for the shadow to ignore, even though he already possessed many treasures. He speculated that if he were to give this high-level soul ring to one of his disciples, he might gain some extraordinary space-related treasure in return. With this thought in mind, the shadow was filled with anticipation. As he examined the deep blue soul ring in his hand, the shadow''s spiritual power tentatively tried to enter it, but he was surprised to find that the soul ring rebounded his spiritual power. "No wonder it''s a high-level soul ring; it has this kind of protective function." With a wry smile, the shadow understood that high-level soul rings allowed their owners to set soul imprints. This meant that even if someone else obtained the soul ring, they would need to erase the soul imprint to access its contents. The owner would be alerted in such a situation. This nearly autonomous protection function was unique to high-level soul rings and one of the main reasons for their high value. Currently, Han Feng was essentially dead, so the shadow had no worries about being detected by him. Therefore, with a fierce surge of spiritual power, the shadow forcefully erased Han Feng''s lingering soul imprint and left his own mark. In this way, this high-level soul ring officially changed ownership. As the shadow removed the soul ring''s imprint, Han Feng''s soul within the Black Pearl seemed to sense something and let out another heart-wrenching, silent roar. The shadow paid no attention to this and was satisfied as he wore the deep blue soul ring on his finger. He then effortlessly allowed his spiritual power to enter the ring. The investigation only lasted a moment before the shadow slowly withdrew his consciousness from the soul ring. At this moment, there was a hint of undeniable surprise in his eyes. Over the years, Han Feng had collected an incredible amount of treasures in the Black Domain. The soul ring contained numerous rare herbs that were extremely rare outside, and various martial arts and combat skill scrolls were casually placed within it. Clearly, these were items exchanged by those who sought his alchemical expertise. Although the shadow only took a quick glance, the richness of the contents within the soul ring excited him. This time, with all of Han Feng''s wealth and the treasures stored in this deep blue high-level soul ring, it would drive every powerful figure in the Black Domain crazy. "Hehe, no wonder he''s a sixth-grade alchemist; he''s truly swimming in riches!" The shadow chuckled and then suddenly stopped, a hint of frustration on his face. Why was he, a seventh-grade alchemist, living in such dire circumstances? Why did he have to resort to acts of robbery to achieve his dream of becoming wealthy? Sighing softly, the shadow transformed into a mysterious black mist and disappeared into the dense forest. ... A moment later, in the same ordinary tavern, the figure of Gu He suddenly appeared out of thin air. Gu He stared at the viscous white liquid with a blank expression, and his joy surged to its peak in that moment. Earth Core Soul Marrow was an extremely rare and precious treasure of heaven and earth. For alchemists like him, it had an irresistibly attractive quality because it could temper the soul. To temper the soul meant to refine and cultivate it. In other words, Earth Core Soul Marrow could cleanse the impurities from the soul. For Gu He, who had heard of the Earth Core Soul Marrow''s reputation but had never encountered it in all these years, this was a great stroke of fortune. This treasure had a significant role to play in his current situation. With it, Gu He could have a fifty-percent chance of breaking through to the Spiritual Realm. His alchemical skills would also advance to the eighth-grade alchemist realm. "Hahaha, indeed, this trip to the Black Domain has been worthwhile, all thanks to these spirit herbs!" Thinking about his imminent breakthrough to the Spiritual Realm, Gu He couldn''t help but burst into hearty laughter. Next, it took him another half a day to finally tally up his gains from this period. Among them: - Fifty types of seventh-grade spirit herbs! - Three hundred types of sixth-grade spirit herbs! - Over a thousand types of fifth-grade spirit herbs! As for magic cores: - Ten seventh-grade magic cores! - One hundred and fifty sixth-grade magic cores! - Hundreds of fifth-grade magic cores! Magic core weapons: - Seven seventh-grade magic core weapons! - Twenty sixth-grade magic core weapons! - Over a hundred fifth-grade magic core weapons! Martial art scrolls: - Four Earth-grade martial art scrolls! - Dozens of advanced Xuan-grade martial art scrolls! Alchemy elixirs: - One seventh-grade elixir! - Over ten sixth-grade elixirs! - Over a hundred fifth-grade elixirs! "Hahaha, it''s a real bonanza this time!" Gu He stared at his harvest in amazement, unable to contain his joy. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 217: Devouring Han Feng, Obtaining Sea Heart Flame! The Soul Hall Trembles! Chapter 217: Devouring Han Feng, Obtaining Sea Heart Flame! The Soul Hall Trembles! Chapter 217: Devouring Han Feng, Obtaining Sea Heart Flame! The Soul Hall Trembles! After sorting out all the treasures, Gu He gradually calmed down from his excitement. Calm down, he needed to stay calm! This was just the beginning! There were still several bigger "fat sheep" in the Black Domain waiting to be slaughtered. Gu He was well aware that, among the people he had killed during this period, except for Han Feng, the rest were insignificant. In fact, Black List experts might sound impressive, but they were considered low-level in the eyes of the true powerhouses in the Black Domain. In Gu He''s view, killing these people would only bring him more treasures. Thinking about this, Gu He''s eyes lit up. "Let''s wait a bit longer..." "Let them live a little longer." After calming down, Gu He''s thoughts moved, and he took out the black bead containing Han Feng''s soul. Seeing Gu He, Han Feng immediately became excited and roared within the black bead, his expression ferocious. Unfortunately, none of his screams could be heard. "Han Feng, just wait quietly for your death!" Gu He sneered and anticipation appeared on his face. "The soul of a sixth-grade alchemist should bring me some surprises." Then, Gu He activated the Soul Devouring Art. In an instant, a powerful force of devouring enveloped the entire black bead. "No!" Inside the black bead, Han Feng''s soul instantly felt that his soul was about to be devoured. With a look of utmost cruelty in his eyes, a flash of blue suddenly appeared in his eyes. The next moment, a blue flame erupted from Han Feng''s soul. As the blue flame surged out, the black bead that imprisoned Han Feng''s soul directly shattered. In the next moment, Han Feng''s soul actually ran out. Seeing this scene, Gu He''s expression changed, and he revealed a look of astonishment. "It''s indeed a heavenly flame; it can actually break my soul-capturing technique!" Seeing Han Feng attempting to escape after breaking the bead, a cold light flashed in Gu He''s eyes. "Just with your soul, you think you can escape from my grasp?" As his voice fell, five eerie chains shot out from Gu He''s palm, instantly binding Han Feng, who was trying to flee. Han Feng''s face changed drastically, and he immediately released the Sea Heart Flame to entangle the chains. However, at this moment, a purple flame also attached itself to the chains and intertwined with the Sea Heart Flame. "A heavenly flame!" Seeing the appearance of the purple flame, Han Feng was instantly terrified. He hadn''t expected to encounter the heavenly flame he had been searching for in this situation. The purple flame was Gu He''s true flame, having fused with the Undying Fire and Nine Nether Flame, making it far superior to the Sea Heart Flame, which couldn''t resist it. In just an instant, the Sea Heart Flame was directly suppressed by Gu He''s true flame. "It''s impossible!" Han Feng could naturally sense the situation of the Sea Heart Flame. He desperately tried to activate the Sea Heart Flame, but it was completely ineffective, and the suppressed Sea Heart Flame couldn''t help him. Without the assistance of the Sea Heart Flame, the five chains instantly tightly bound Han Feng. Originally, he had planned to give the Green Lotus Core Flame to either Xian''er or Liu Ling if either of them won the championship at the Alchemist Grand Meeting a year later. But now, he already had two heavenly flames, so it was like a windfall. "Next, I should find a place to enter seclusion and refine the Earth Core Soul Marrow to break through to the Spiritual Realm of the soul." Thinking about the Earth Core Soul Marrow he had just obtained, Gu He couldn''t help but feel impatient. ... In the eastern part of the Black Domain, there was a swamp filled with dense miasma, and the void was full of toxic gases. If an ordinary Dou Emperor expert entered, they would face a deadly end without the protection of precious treasures. Over the past few decades, countless experts had ventured into this swamp, and almost all of them had died in the toxic gas. Therefore, this swamp was also known as the Swamp of Death! Of course, some experts had managed to pass through this swamp and reach the mountain range behind it. But strangely, no matter how powerful the people who entered were, none of them ever returned. This sent chills down the spines of everyone who heard about it. As a result, the mountain range behind the Swamp of Death was known as the Soulless Ridge, one of the few forbidden places in the Black Domain. Deep within the Soulless Ridge, in a dark palace hall, an old man shrouded in black mist suddenly opened his eyes, and a cold light flashed in his eyes. "Who is it?" "Han Feng was actually killed?" The next moment, an astonishing killing intent erupted from the old man, and his face became extremely gloomy. Back then, when Yao Chen was assassinated, there was undoubtedly the shadow of the Soul Hall behind it. This old man was one of the participants in the assassination of Yao Chen. After Yao Chen''s soul escaped, the Soul Hall had dispatched numerous experts to pursue him, but they had all returned empty-handed. The high-level members of the Soul Hall had no choice but to offer a heavy reward to anyone who could retrieve Yao Chen''s soul. As the saying goes, where there''s a reward, there are brave souls, and this old man was one of them. For so many years, he had been trying to find Yao Chen''s soul, but to no avail. In desperation, he could only establish a connection with Han Feng, Yao Chen''s disciple. If Yao Chen had not died, he would undoubtedly hate this disciple who had deceived his master and destroyed his ancestors. Therefore, this old man had left a trace of his soul in Han Feng''s body. Now, with Han Feng''s soul dead, the old man naturally sensed it. "Who could have killed Han Feng?" "Could it be that Yao Chen has come?" The old man fell into confusion. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 218: Refining the Earth Core Soul Marrow, Breaking through to the Spiritual Realm! Chapter 218: Refining the Earth Core Soul Marrow, Breaking through to the Spiritual Realm! Chapter 218: Refining the Earth Core Soul Marrow, Breaking through to the Spiritual Realm! The next day, a white-robed man appeared in an unnamed valley in the Black Domain. "Let''s enter seclusion right here and strive to break through to the Spiritual Realm of the soul." The white-robed man was none other than Gu He. During this period, he had devoured the souls of many powerful individuals, causing his soul, which had previously been at the peak of the mortal realm, to show a hint of instability. Sensing this, Gu He couldn''t help but feel delighted, as this was a great opportunity to break through to the Spiritual Realm of the soul. To achieve this breakthrough, Gu He chose to stop hunting down powerful experts from various forces and instead entered seclusion. When the time came, he would make a concerted effort to break through to the Spiritual Realm of the soul. Before long, Gu He created a dim cave out of thin air, using it as his place of seclusion. With a thought, Gu He released the Black Scaled Frigid Python from the system space. "Master!" "You finally let me out." As soon as the Black Scaled Frigid Python emerged, it transformed into a burly man in black clothing and looked at Gu He with a somewhat aggrieved expression. Evidently, being trapped in the dark and silent system space had been quite uncomfortable for the Black Scaled Frigid Python. Seeing the aggrieved expression on the Black Scaled Frigid Python''s face, Gu He felt a bit sorry. If he had known, he would have taken the bodies of Han Feng and the others with him, allowing the Black Scaled Frigid Python to have a good meal. Gu He had no pity for these extremely wicked individuals. Leaving their corpses intact was already a great fortune for them. If it weren''t for the fact that he had taken away all of their treasures, Gu He would have incinerated their bodies with a single flame. "All right, you guard my seclusion diligently. After I come out, I''ll treat you to a good meal." Gu He comforted the Black Scaled Frigid Python. Upon hearing this, the Black Scaled Frigid Python''s eyes lit up, and he immediately went to the entrance of the cave, patting his chest, and said, "Master, you can rest assured and focus on your seclusion. With me here, no one will disturb you." Gu He nodded and then walked to the center of the cave, where he sat cross-legged. However, he didn''t immediately start working; instead, he closed his eyes and adjusted his mental state and condition. Whether the Earth Core Soul Marrow could be successfully prepared would determine whether Gu He could thoroughly break through to the Spiritual Realm of the soul. Therefore, there was absolutely no room for distraction. Gu He closed his eyes and continued for nearly half an hour before slowly opening them. In his pitch-black eyes, there were no ripples, like a deep well, unfathomable. He exhaled a breath slowly through his throat, and his palm moved in the void. After several failures, this time the liquid in the jade bowl appeared clearer and more vibrant. Faintly, a delicate fragrance emanated from it. Smelling this fragrance, a hint of excitement finally appeared in Gu He''s eyes, which had remained still all along. He flicked his finger gently, and a drop of Sky Vulture Stone Essence fell slowly into the jade bowl. "Hiss!" As the drop of Sky Vulture Stone Essence fell, the jade bowl was instantly filled with a faint mist. After the mist dissipated, what remained was a small bowl of viscous pulp, as vibrant as jade. "Phew." Looking at the quality of the liquid in the jade bowl, Gu He couldn''t help but heave a sigh of relief. With just this first success, the next steps would become much easier. In about two hours, he successfully blended nearly half of the remaining three precious materials. Holding the jade bottle filled to the brim, Gu He''s face finally showed a contented expression. Although he had experienced many failures just now, the successful product he had now was more than enough for his current needs. "Next, this is the most important part." Holding the jade bottle, Gu He took a deep breath, and a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes. If this transformation could succeed, he would be able to break through to the Spiritual Realm of the soul. The Spiritual Realm of the soul corresponded to being an Eighth Grade Alchemist. As long as Gu He succeeded in breaking through to the Spiritual Realm of the soul this time, it would be a natural and easy path to reaching the level of an Eighth Grade Alchemist in the future. At that point, he would truly have the qualifications and strength to contend with the strong individuals of the world. "This time, I must succeed no matter what!" With a determined look in his eyes, Gu He raised the jade bottle and poured the Earth Core Soul Marrow directly into his mouth. His head tilted back, and almost half of the Earth Core Soul Marrow flowed into his body through his throat, causing a sudden buzzing sensation in his head. The spiritual power at his brow expanded rapidly at that moment, as if it had been catalyzed. The expansion was so rapid that Gu He felt an intense pain in his brow, as if his head was about to explode! (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 219: Soul Hall’s Movements! The Spirit Realm Soul! Chapter 219: Soul Halls Movements! The Spirit Realm Soul! Chapter 219: Soul Hall''s Movements! The Spirit Realm Soul! Feeling this sudden change, Gu He was taken aback. However, at a time like this, he dared not act rashly. He could only stabilize his mind and observe the changes within his body. The Earth Core Soul Marrow that had been blended began to flow into Gu He''s body, transforming into scorching hot streams that dispersed and evaporated rapidly. Strange green mists surged quickly, passing through his body and reaching directly to the center of his forehead. Finally, they intertwined with the soul power residing there. As these mists and the soul intertwined, Gu He quickly sensed a terrifying and powerful strange energy rapidly infiltrating his soul. At the same time, the strength of his soul seemed to increase dramatically, as if it had consumed some incredible tonic, shocking Gu He. The throbbing sensation in the center of his forehead intensified. He hadn''t expected the Earth Core Soul Marrow to have such an enhancing effect on soul power. As his soul power continued to strengthen, the throbbing sensation in the center of Gu He''s forehead became even more intense. He felt a headache like never before, and the temples on both sides of his head swelled up, pulsating like small drums. "It''s going to explode!" The suddenly enhanced soul power had exceeded the maximum load that Gu He could bear. At a certain moment, Gu He couldn''t endure it any longer. Deep in his mind, there was a low and painful explosion that made his eardrums ache. "Boom!" Under this explosive sound, Gu He''s consciousness was blasted into a daze. His surroundings were filled with golden light, and his mind was in chaos. This strange condition lasted for quite some time before gradually improving. When Gu He''s consciousness finally returned to clarity, the severe pain in his mind had gradually subsided. Vaguely, he sensed that his soul was much stronger than before, but he also realized that his soul had not yet entered the so-called Spirit Realm. "The Earth Core Soul Marrow had no effect?" Seeing this, Gu He was stunned. Just having a powerful soul wasn''t enough to enter the Spirit Realm, and as long as his soul didn''t reach the Spirit Realm, he would never be able to refine genuine eighth-grade medicinal pills. At this moment, Gu He suddenly felt that the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to have been stirred by something strange. In the midst of this disturbance, faint but memorable streams of extremely subtle air quietly overflowed from the space and rushed towards his forehead. At this point, he realized that the so-called strange gravity was emanating from his forehead. "It really works!" Seeing this, Gu He heaved a sigh of relief. He had placed all his hopes on this transformation of his soul. Just enhancing his soul''s power would not be enough for him. As these streams of spiritual energy continued to flow into Gu He''s forehead, they merged with the soul residing there. During this fusion, Gu He''s soul was enveloped by warm spiritual fluid, and the warm aura flowed into every part of his soul. The comforting sensation almost made him unable to stop himself from groaning. However, this level of spiritual energy infusion was clearly not enough to push Gu He''s soul into the Spirit Realm. Therefore, after nearly an hour of this absorption, the strange power in Gu He''s forehead suddenly became extremely intense. Finally, an invisible fluctuation that was invisible to the naked eye suddenly erupted, quietly spreading out, flowing out of the cave, piercing through the cave wall, and spreading across the sky above the mountain peak. "Boom!" Upon hearing this, the shadow''s face also showed a trace of surprise and replied, "Lord Protector, during this period of time, many things have happened in the Blackhorn Region. Han Feng''s death is just one of them." "I don''t know which powerful individual has descended upon the Blackhorn Region and nearly wiped out all the strong figures on the Blacklist." "Han Feng was just the last one to die at the hands of this person." "Is that so?" Certainly, I''ll change "Black Lin" to "Hei Lin" in the text for you: ... Outside the cave, Hei Lin and Cold Jiao were guarding with some boredom. However, their eyes remained alert as they surveyed their surroundings. During this period, the anomalies caused by Gu He had attracted many powerful individuals who came to investigate. However, without exception, they were all dealt with by Hei Lin and Cold Jiao using their domineering methods. "Why isn''t it over yet? I hope nothing has happened to Master." Hei Lin muttered as he glanced at the cave, his eyes showing a hint of concern. Breaking through the Spiritual Realm was extremely dangerous; a momentary lapse of attention could result in damage to the soul, or in the worst case, falling into demonic ways. "Boom!" Just as Hei Lin was muttering, a deafening sound suddenly erupted from within the cave. The extremely hard rock face of the mountain exploded, and an invisible radiance burst out, hovering in mid-air. A vast soul power, like a surging tidal wave, swept out like lightning. Feeling this vast soul power, Hei Lin, who were outside the cave, had their expressions change subtly. Excitement flickered in their eyes. "Has Master succeeded?" (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 220: Soul Attack! Emissary from the Soul Hall! Chapter 220: Soul Attack! Emissary from the Soul Hall! Chapter 220: Soul Attack! Emissary from the Soul Hall! Above the distant sky, an invisible light hovers at the horizon. A vast and mighty soul force, like a tide, rapidly sweeps out in all directions from its center. At this moment, within the entire mountain range, apart from a few exceptionally strong high-tier magical beasts, the rest of the beasts all feel an intense soul pressure. Under this soul pressure, their bodies involuntarily tremble slightly. In the sky, the anomaly is also sensed by the Black Scaled Frigid Python. "The master is truly formidable, actually breaking through to the spirit realm soul, it''s unbelievable." The Black Scaled Frigid Python looks at the invisible light in the sky, and even he feels a sense of awe at that vast soul force. As a magical beast, his strength lies in his physical body, but compared to the soul, even two Black Scaled Frigid Pythons would probably not match the current Gu He. The soul force, spreading like a tide, gradually dissipates after a few minutes, and the invisible light slowly comes into view under the watchful eyes of the Black Scaled Frigid Python. As the light fades, a human figure vaguely appears - it is Gu He, but now his body seems extremely ethereal. "Is this... the soul?" The Black Scaled Frigid Python looks at the ethereal Gu He in the sky, his heart suddenly stirring, and he whispers. The soul, an elusive concept for the strong in this era, is colorless and shapeless, making it unpredictable and hard to defend against. Sightings of true human-like souls are rare; after all, condensing an ethereal soul into a human form that lasts is something even some Dou Zun level experts find difficult to achieve. "Gu He" in the sky suddenly lowers his head, his gaze falling on the cave entrance below, where a slender figure is stepping up through the void. "Master!" The Black Scaled Frigid Python realizes that, unbeknownst to him, Gu He''s physical body has already approached him. Gu He''s physical body, unresponsive to the Black Scaled Frigid Python''s call, walks directly towards the soul "Gu He." As the physical body approaches the soul, the soul "Gu He" also moves towards it. With each step, the soul form shrinks, becoming a palm-sized invisible light orb that gently lands on the forehead of the physical body and then disappears in a flash. As the soul re-enters Gu He''s body, his body trembles slightly, and the pervasive soul pressure dissipates. Gu He stands in the sky, his dark eyes finally regaining clarity, revealing an extremely captivating brilliance. Feeling his current state, Gu He can''t help but let out a satisfied laugh. The Spirit Realm, he has finally reached it! Then, Gu He takes a deep breath and swiftly forms a hand seal, and as he does, a vast soul force bursts forth from his forehead, ultimately condensing into an invisible soul fist seal at the changing hand seal. "Black Scaled, try my Soul Fist Seal!" A low shout comes from Gu He''s mouth. He then turns his gaze to the Black Scaled Frigid Python below and, with a laugh, suddenly solidifies his hand seal. The fist seal, filled with a vast soul pressure, turns into a bolt of lightning, striking towards the Black Scaled Frigid Python outside the cave! "Ah!" "...Master, you actually ambushed me!" Hearing Gu He''s laughter and seeing the "Soul Fist Seal" he strikes, the Black Scaled Frigid Python is momentarily stunned but quickly reacts. His fan-sized palms clench as he squints at the vast invisible force crossing space. "Boom!" The invisible soul fist seal arrives in an instant, colliding fiercely with the Black Scaled Frigid Python''s iron-like giant fist. A low, muffled sound echoes across the sky. Upon collision, the expected energy ripples don''t appear. The Black Scaled Frigid Python''s punch changes his expression slightly; the force of the soul fist seal isn''t strong, but upon impact, he feels a faint pain and dizziness in his head, staggering back a few steps before stabilizing. "Is this what a soul attack feels like?" Stabilizing himself, the Black Scaled Frigid Python''s expression grows serious. Although he didn''t use full strength, Gu He''s peculiar attack can''t be resisted by physical strength alone, as it targets the soul. Although it seems unlikely to cause fatal damage, such an attack during combat can cause brief dizziness, enough to turn the tide of battle! "It is said that ancient alchemists, even some Dou Qi warriors, wouldn''t dare to provoke them easily. Their soul attacks are unpredictable. But today''s alchemists seem to have lost that cultivation method, so they mostly rely on the strength of Dou Qi in combat." The Black Scaled Frigid Python ponders, not short on years and thus somewhat knowledgeable about alchemists. "Hehe, Hei Lin, how do you feel? Are you alright?" As the Black Scaled Frigid Python ponders, Gu He in the sky slowly descends, smiling at him. Hearing this, the Black Scaled Frigid Python shakes off his thoughts, looks up at Gu He, and is slightly startled. He always feels that Gu He now has an elusive quality, as if he is facing not Gu He, but his soul. "It seems this is some change after advancing to the spirit realm soul." The Black Scaled Frigid Python didn''t delve deeply into this matter. He smiled naively at Gu He and said, "Master, your soul attack is truly strong. If it were someone of a lower level, I fear their consciousness would be wounded under such a soul attack." Hearing this, Gu He''s mouth also curved into a smile, clearly satisfied with the power of his recent strike. "I shall take my leave then!" The elder, upon hearing this and feeling a shudder in the presence of the man in black, prepared to leave. He couldn''t shake off the feeling of terror he felt, reminiscent of what he had only felt around that venerable Dou Venerate. Thinking this, the elder wished nothing more than to disappear from before the man. "Leaving?" "What leaving?" Seeing his "food" trying to leave, Hei Lin instantly acted, unleashing a terrifying pressure towards the elder. "What!" As the terrifying pressure enveloped him, the elder''s face turned pale, and his eyes filled with shock. "A Dou Venerate expert!" "Senior, I am an earth-level protector of the Soul Hall. I hope you can spare me in consideration of my Soul Hall''s position." After the initial shock, the elder quickly reacted, invoking the name of the Soul Hall, hoping to intimidate Hei Lin. "Soul Hall?" "I feast on people from the Soul Hall." Hei Lin sneered and hurled a terrifying frost fist imprint towards the elder. Even with the Soul Hall''s mysterious methods, the elder had no chance of resistance once the eighth-tier Hei Lin got close. Under the immense pressure, he could only watch helplessly as the giant fist imprint approached him. In the next moment, a bone-chilling cold surged over the elder, turning him into an ice sculpture. "Soul Seizing!" Just after the elder was turned into an ice sculpture, a cold shout suddenly resounded through the void. In the next moment, a soul form emerged from the ice sculpture, its face showing terror. Gu He appeared nearby at some point, with a large dark vortex forming in his hand. After his soul broke through to the spirit realm, the power of Gu He''s Soul Seizing technique became even more terrifying, with a powerful devouring force emanating from the vortex. Facing such a fearsome devouring force, the earth-level Protector Yun of the Soul Hall had no chance of resistance and was directly sucked into the vortex. Moments later, a black bead formed in Gu He''s palm. Inside the bead, the elder was struggling, his face full of terror. "Protector Yun, an earth-level protector of the Soul Hall. I didn''t expect it to be you." Recognizing the elder''s face, Gu He realized who he was. In Protector Wu''s memories, there was a lot of information about Protector Yun. After all, Wu Protector''s direct superior was Protector Yun. Inside the bead, Protector Yun also saw Gu He, his face immediately showing a plea for mercy. "Hehe, once in my hands, don''t even think about getting out." Gu He smiled slightly, then put away the black bead. Then, Gu He''s gaze turned to the ice-encased corpse of Protector Yun. "Hey hey, master, this guy''s body should taste good." Hei Lin, seeing Gu He''s gaze, immediately grinned foolishly. Hearing this, Gu He paused, then a cunning smile appeared on his lips: "Well, Hei Lin, this old guy''s body isn''t tasty at all. Let''s make a deal. You give me this guy''s corpse, and I''ll take you out for a good meal." "How does that sound?" (End of Chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 221: Soul Alliance? Catch Them All in One Net! Chapter 221: Soul Alliance? Catch Them All in One Net! Chapter 221: Soul Alliance? Catch Them All in One Net! "Master, it''s not fun to play like this!" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, the Black Scaled Frigid Python''s body stiffened, then he said somewhat depressedly. Finally catching a nine-star Dou Zong, he didn''t expect the master to snatch the prey from his mouth. This made the Black Scaled Frigid Python''s mentality somewhat explode. A trace of embarrassment flashed across Gu He''s face, but looking at the great corpse of Yun Hu Fa, the nine-star Dou Zong, Gu He really couldn''t bear to let the Black Scaled Frigid Python spoil it. In the future, it would be used to refine puppets or something, then given to disciples for protection, and returning some kind of Dou Zong puppet, how cost-effective! Seeing the Black Scaled Frigid Python''s aggrieved look, Gu He could only continue to comfort him: "Hei Lin, I promise, next time I''ll let you eat your fill. The meat of this old guy is sour and stinky, what''s so delicious about it? Next time, master will take you for a good meal." Seeing Gu He say this, what else could the Black Scaled Frigid Python say? He felt helpless, how did he end up with such a master. Seeing the Black Scaled Frigid Python compromise, Gu He smiled slightly and directly collected the frozen Yun Hu Fa''s body into the system space. Then, Gu He''s figure flashed, landing in the valley below. "Black Scaled, protect me!" Calling out to the Black Scaled Frigid Python, Gu He looked at the black bead containing Yun Hu Fa in his hand, his mouth slightly upturned. The Black Scaled Frigid Python pursed his lips, helplessly following and landing on the ground. Then, Gu He released his soul power, enveloping the black bead and sending it directly to the soul palace he had opened up in his body. The black bead, like a virtual object, directly entered Gu He''s body, and under the drive of soul power, slowly entered Gu He''s soul palace. Buzz! As the black bead entered the soul palace, Gu He''s mind buzzed, and a wonderful feeling surged up. Then, countless memories flooded into Gu He''s mind. These were Yun Hu Fa''s memories! The memories of Yun Hu Fa''s life quickly flashed through Gu He''s mind. Gu He did not fully accept this information, just watching everything quietly like a bystander. After a moment, like a fleeting dream, Gu He had finished viewing Yun Hu Fa''s memories. After a long time, Gu He slowly opened his eyes, a glint of enlightenment flashing in his pupils. "The Soul Hall master stationed at Burial Soul Ridge is not there?" "This is really good news." After getting all the messages in Yun Hu Fa''s mind, a gleam flashed in Gu He''s eyes. Originally, in this Black Horn Region, what he feared the most was this Soul Hall master. But now, this Soul Hall master is actually not there. This is like heaven helping me! Now, in this Black Horn Region, am I not an invincible existence? Thinking of this, Gu He couldn''t help but want to laugh out loud. "It seems that even Heaven doesn''t want these evildoers in the Black Horn Region to live any longer." From Yun Hu Fa''s memories, Gu He also obtained an interesting piece of information. Since the death of Han Feng, the Alchemy Emperor, the leaders of various powers in the Black Horn Region were almost in danger. And upon learning that the perpetrator behind this was very likely the Soul Hall, even some old powerhouses in the Black Horn Region couldn''t sit still. Thus, an alliance targeting the Soul Hall to cleanse the Black Horn Region was born. Soul Alliance! Aimed at resisting the Soul Hall! Tomorrow, the Soul Alliance will hold the Soul Meeting at the Black Emperor Pavilion, electing the leader of the Soul Alliance. "The Soul Meeting, heh, isn''t this giving me a chance to catch them all in one net?" After learning this news, a cold smile appeared on Gu He''s lips. Then, with a thought, Gu He''s soul power surged into the soul palace, beginning to activate the soul palace. Time, the position of the soul palace suddenly emitted a dark and eerie black light. The black light became denser and denser, then spread to Gu He''s entire body along his limbs and bones. Soon, Gu He''s entire body was wrapped in black light, looking very eerie. "Hehehe!" Moments later, with a piercing laugh, the black light instantly dissipated, revealing... The figure of Yun Hu Fa! Indeed, after the black light disappeared, Gu He''s figure had completely vanished, while the figure of Yun Hu Fa reemerged. For many years, the Black Horn Region had been in a state of chaos. Now, due to the incident with the Soul Hall, everyone was united, presenting Mo Tianxing with a chance to unify the entire region. The only force in the Black Horn Region that had the strength to contend with him for the position of the leader of the Soul Alliance was Mo Yan Valley. "I wonder if that old devil from Di Mo is alive or dead? I hope he doesn''t show up this time." Di Mo, the founder of Mo Yan Valley, was extremely powerful. However, Di Mo had not appeared for nearly a decade. Rumors said that Di Mo had already died. Others said he was in seclusion, trying to break through to a higher realm. Mo Tianxing''s biggest concern for this conference was whether Di Mo was still alive and would appear at the meeting. If Di Mo showed up, with his strength, the position of the leader would likely fall into his hands. "Hahaha, rare to see so many strong people gathered together!" Just then, a loud laugh resounded in the hall, drawing the attention of everyone. Mo Tianxing focused his gaze and saw a gray-haired, eagle-nosed old man who had appeared in the hall. "It''s him!" Seeing the old man''s face, Mo Tianxing''s pupils shrank, his expression becoming grave. "Eagle Mountain elder?" At this moment, someone in the hall recognized the identity of the old man. Numerous shocked gazes turned toward the gray-haired, eagle-nosed elder sitting in a corner, as exclamations erupted throughout the auction house. "Eagle Mountain elder? The one who was in the top three of the Black List? He''s still alive?" "He never died, just went into seclusion. It''s truly worth the trip to see this powerful figure from the old generation of the Black Horn Region." "He was already at the pinnacle of Dou Emperor back then. After all these years, he must have broken through to Dou Ancestor, right?" Compared to the noisy back of the hall, the VIP seats were enveloped in a strange tension, as cold glances converged on the Eagle Mountain elder. Unperturbed by the hostile gazes around him, the Eagle Mountain elder casually took a seat at the front, leaning back in his chair, his expressionless aged face revealing a hint of fierceness. In a place like the Black Horn Region, there were no soft-hearted people. He had been one of the top three peak powerhouses on the Black List, responsible for countless deaths. The Eagle Mountain elder had been a notorious figure in the Black Horn Region. Although he had mellowed somewhat after years of seclusion, anyone who mistook him for an easy target would pay a bloody price. "Unexpectedly, Brother Ying Shan has also come today!" After a moment of silence, Mo Tianxing took the initiative to greet the Eagle Mountain elder, treating him with respect due to sensing that his strength was not inferior to his own. "Hehe, how could I not come when Brother Mo invites me?" The Eagle Mountain elder responded with a smile, and the two exchanged pleasantries. As they were talking, a shout suddenly came from behind. "Mo Yan Valley''s Elder Fang Yan has arrived!" The sudden announcement caused many in the area to stop their conversations, looking with surprise towards the newcomer. There, a group of people was swiftly approaching. Leading them was a plainly dressed, red-haired old man, striding forward confidently. "Didn''t expect that Fang Yan from Mo Yan Valley would lead the team this time." "Hehe, they must be aiming for the position of the leader too, otherwise, with Fang Yan''s strength close to breaking through to Dou Ancestor, he wouldn''t have come all this way." "It looks like there will be a good show this time. Black Emperor City already has many top powers gathered, and many powerful individuals. For that so-called leader position, I wonder if there will be a big fight." As the red-haired elder entered, whispers started among the crowd in the hall. The elder from Mo Yan Valley was already at the peak of Dou Emperor, with half a step into Dou Ancestor. Such strength could rival Han Feng, the Alchemy Emperor. The eyes of the crowd shifted from the red-haired elder to the several cold-faced elders beside him, all of whom were at the Dou Emperor level, their strength not inferior to several powerful individuals on the Black List. "It seems Mo Yan Valley came prepared this time!" "I heard Mo Yan Valley has a secret technique that allows three Dou Emperor elders to join forces and unleash the power of a Dou Ancestor." "However, Mo Tianxing broke through to Dou Ancestor more than a decade ago. With Fang Yan''s strength, it''s doubtful he can compete with him." "This time, the position of the leader is likely to fall into Mo Tianxing''s hands." As Mo Yan Valley''s delegation entered, the hall buzzed with discussions. (End of Chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 222 Chapter 222 In his eyes, a mere Grand Elder of the Flame Demon Valley was nothing at all. What does it matter if he''s only at the half-step Dou Venerate level? As for the position of the alliance leader, he wanted to secure it for himself. "Hehe, Elder Fang has finally arrived!" As Fang Yan and the others approached, Mo Tianxing immediately put on a polite smile and said, "Elder Mo has a great presence. Today, many powerful individuals from the Black Horn Domain have gathered here, all because of Elder Mo''s call. It''s truly stealing the limelight!" Fang Yan looked at Mo Tianxing with a fake smile and a hint of sarcasm in his words, showing some ambiguity in his attitude towards the leader of the Black Emperor Sect. Upon hearing this, a hint of coldness flashed in Mo Tianxing''s eyes. Behind him, Mo Ya also showed a dark expression at someone daring to disrespect his father. "Hahaha, Elder Fang, you are mistaken. Everyone''s presence here is a gesture of goodwill towards our Black Emperor Sect." Mo Tianxing smiled and said without minding Fang Yan''s offensive words, "Guests are always welcome. Elder Fang, please take a seat." Suppressing his anger, Mo Tianxing acted generously and didn''t take offense at Fang Yan''s words. Fang Yan glanced at Mo Tianxing with a smirk, then found a seat closer to the front. On the side, Old Man Yingshan coldly glanced at Fang Yan but remained silent. "Everyone, the purpose of my gathering is probably already clear to you." Seeing that everyone had arrived, Mo Tianxing took the lead in speaking. Mo Tianxing''s gaze swept over the people in the hall, and he said in a deep voice, "Currently, the Soul Hall is indiscriminately slaughtering people in our Black Horn Domain. Even the Medicine Emperor, Han Feng, died tragically at the hands of the Soul Hall. They don''t take us seriously at all." "Wait!" At this moment, Fang Yan suddenly interrupted Mo Tianxing''s words, "Why does Elder Mo think that the Soul Hall is responsible for this matter?" Mo Tianxing''s eyes flashed with a hint of hidden coldness when he was interrupted, but he quickly returned to a smile. "Elder Fang, please take a look!" The next moment, he waved his hand, and several corpses suddenly appeared in the hall. When everyone looked closely, they recognized that these were the bodies of those who had died recently, including Han Feng''s corpse. "I''ve already investigated, and these people who were killed don''t have any fatal injuries on their bodies." "In such a situation, there''s only one possibility, and that is that their souls were extracted!" Mo Tianxing explained calmly, "And I believe you all understand who has the ability to do such a thing." As everyone looked at the corpses in the middle of the hall, they fell into silence. Extracting souls! Such a mysterious method could only be the work of the Soul Hall, which excelled at soul manipulation. Mo Tianxing glanced at Fang Yan and said in a somewhat indifferent tone, "Elder Fang, do you still have any doubts?" Upon hearing this, Fang Yan shook his head and remained silent. "Everyone, with the audacity of the Soul Hall, if we don''t unite at this time, we will undoubtedly be picked off one by one." Mo Tianxing continued to scan the crowd and spoke with a heavy tone, "Therefore, I call on everyone to gather and establish the Anti-Soul Alliance to resist the Soul Hall and drive them out of the Black Horn Domain completely." At this point, Mo Tianxing contemplated for a moment before finally revealing the purpose of this Anti-Soul Alliance gathering, "Currently, even though the Anti-Soul Alliance has been established, a union without a leader is like a country without a ruler. We must select a leader from among us to lead the fight against the Soul Hall." "For this Anti-Soul Alliance meeting, according to my opinion, we should choose the strongest and most respected leader." "What do you all think?" Mo Tianxing finished speaking and returned to his seat with a smile, looking at the people in the hall. Hearing Mo Tianxing''s words, the hall once again erupted into a discussion. As the leaders of various forces, they were not fools and understood Mo Tianxing''s intentions. However, they had to admit that his words made sense. This old demon had been in seclusion for many years, and his strength had become terrifying. After a moment of silence, Mo Tianxing bowed to the old devil of the earth in the void and said, "Mo Tianxing pays his respects to the leader." As he spoke, Mo Tianxing''s heart was filled with bitterness. He hadn''t expected that all his careful planning and schemes over these years would be used as a bridal gown for this old devil. "Good!" "Those who understand the situation are truly wise. Mo Tianxing, you should be grateful for making a smart decision." Seeing Mo Tianxing submit, the old devil of the earth laughed heartily. On the side, Fang Yan and the people from the Flame Demon Valley quickly shouted, "We pay our respects to the leader!" The leaders of the other forces exchanged glances, and then, looking at the domineering old devil of the earth in the void, they all lowered their heads and said in unison, "We pay our respects to the leader!" "Hahaha!" "Good!" "Rest assured, with this old ancestor here, we will ensure your safety!" At this moment, almost all the powerful individuals in the Black Horn Domain had gathered below. Now, these powerful individuals were all bowing down and acknowledging the leader. The old devil of the earth laughed heartily and made a solemn promise. "Hehehe!" "A mere old devil of the earth dares to be so arrogant!" Just at this moment, a harsh laughter suddenly rang out in the void, breaking the tension. The old devil of the earth''s face darkened, and he shouted angrily, "Who dares to be disrespectful? Show yourself!" "Hehehe!" "As you wish!" The piercing voice sounded again, accompanied by a terrifying pressure. Boom! A tremendous pressure descended directly on the old devil of the earth in the void, and then everyone saw a strange black mist appearing in the void, seemingly out of nowhere. In the midst of the black mist, a figure was emitting a cold laugh, facing everyone. "People from the Soul Palace!" Seeing the appearance of the black mist in the void, everyone''s hearts were filled with shock. Sensing the powerful aura emanating from the black mist, even the old devil of the earth''s expression turned solemn, and he no longer displayed his previous arrogance. "You people from the Soul Palace have gone too far!" The old devil of the earth spoke in a deep voice to the figure in the black mist. "Hehehe!" "You dared to establish the Anti-Soul Alliance and show no respect to our Soul Palace!" "Those who offend our Soul Palace will not be spared!" The figure within the black mist ignored the words of the old devil of the earth. In the next moment, dozens of black chains burst forth from the black mist and swept towards the old devil of the earth. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Chapter 223: A Slaughter Unleashed! Chapter 223: A Slaughter Unleashed! Chapter 223: A Slaughter Unleashed! "Hmph!" "You Soul Hall really goes too far in bullying others!" Watching the rapidly approaching chain sneak attack, the Earth Demon Old Ghost snorted coldly without any noticeable movement. A burst of pitch-black chill suddenly surged out from his body. In the blink of an eye, a black ice crystal, half a zhang in size, appeared in front of him. Boom! Dozens of chains instantly bombarded the ice crystal. Following a series of crisp ''crack'' sounds, the ice crystal blocking in front of the Earth Demon Old Ghost shattered, exploding into a pile of broken ice. Seeing the shattered ice crystal, the Earth Demon Old Ghost''s expression changed, and in a tremble of his body, he suddenly disappeared from the spot. In the next moment, the Earth Demon Old Ghost, wearing a yellow skeleton robe, eerily appeared before the black fog. His face, resembling a skull, gave a sinister smile towards the black fog. Then, his fingers, like ghostly claws, mercilessly reached towards the shadow within the black fog. The force was so intense that, if hit, it would likely pierce right through the shadow''s body. The ghostly claw, emanating dark chill, rapidly enlarged in the pupil of the eye. As the Earth Demon Old Ghost drew near, the shadow''s expression remained unchanged, slowly forming a cold smirk on its lips. The next moment, the shadow''s figure blurred, and the black fog also vanished. "Shh!" The sharp ghostly claw struck like lightning, but as it hit the shadow''s throat, it passed through as if through air. Just as the claw touched the shadow''s image, the Earth Demon Old Ghost''s pupils slightly narrowed. With a cold snort, the chill in his palm burst out, shattering the image into nothingness. Then, he slowly turned around, looking up at the sky and said lightly, "No wonder Han Feng and the others died silently at your hands. With such speed, not to mention them, even a Dou Zong powerhouse would hardly be able to react in time." "Hehehe!" "Those who oppose my Soul Hall must die!" A piercing voice suddenly resounded. The Earth Demon Old Ghost''s gaze sharpened, only to see the black fog recondensing not far away in the void, with the shadow inside it, unharmed, coldly smiling at him. "Arrogant!" Hearing this, the Earth Demon Old Ghost''s face darkened, and he stepped forward fiercely. As the Earth Demon Old Ghost''s footstep landed, the black chill enveloping his body grew more intense. Eventually, the temperature of the surrounding world dropped significantly, causing many of the weaker ones to shiver uncontrollably. The Earth Demon Old Ghost also sneered, with black chill swirling at his fingertips, and then his fingers fiercely flicked. "Thousand Illusion Profound Ice Spikes!" Puff! Puff! Puff! As the Earth Demon Old Ghost flicked his fingers, countless black ice spikes eerily emerged from his fingertips, shooting towards the black fog in the void, blanketing the sky. The sharp sound of their swift movement whistled in everyone''s ears, making their scalps tingle. The black ice spikes, seemingly unimpressive, contained terrifyingly powerful winds. Not to mention their overwhelming numbers, even a single one could potentially kill a Dou Huang powerhouse, which showed that these little things were not as harmless as their size suggested. "Ice Condensing Sword Technique!" As more and more black ice spikes disappeared into nothingness, the Earth Demon Old Ghost sneered, his withered claws rapidly forming a seal, then he shouted loudly. As his shout fell, those ice spikes that had entered the grey-purple wall rapidly converged together. In a blink of an eye, they fused into a zhang-long, large black ice sword. As the ice sword formed, an intense cold burst out, resisting the corrosive power of the wall, while its sharp tip unhesitatingly stabbed towards the shadow behind the black fog. "Youming Claw!" Seeing the transformation of the ice spikes, the shadow behind the black fog let out a low shout. The black fog rapidly writhed and turned into a huge black hand, which then reached down and firmly grasped the black ice sword. The intense corrosion upon contact with the cold of the ice sword produced a series of piercing sizzling sounds. The next moment, with a crisp sound, the ice sword shattered, turning into numerous ice pieces, falling towards the ground below. Seeing his attacks being easily resolved by the opponent repeatedly, the Earth Demon Old Ghost''s face darkened, and he started to think about retreating. From the exchanges just now, it was clear that this person''s strength was much stronger than his own. Continuing the fight would only lead to his defeat! With this thought, the Earth Demon Old Ghost glanced at the black fog in the void and prepared to flee. What did he care about the others? Even the people of the Demon Flame Valley were not of concern to the Earth Demon Old Ghost at this moment. A power can be rebuilt, but once a person dies, everything is lost. The Earth Demon Old Ghost had survived this long because he knew how to make crucial decisions at key moments. "Soul Capture!" Just at this moment, a cold and explosive shout suddenly came from within the black fog. The next instant, the Earth Demon Old Ghost''s face drastically changed as he suddenly felt a powerful devouring force enveloping him out of nowhere. Under this devouring force, the Earth Demon Old Ghost was horrified to find that he couldn''t use his escape techniques, and even his soul felt like it was about to leave his body. "What kind of technique is this?" Before he could react, his consciousness blurred, and when he regained his senses, he found his soul had already left his body and was drifting towards the black fog in the void. "My fate is sealed!" In despair, Mo Tianxing, with no power to resist, was absorbed by the black fog. With the fall of the two strongest, the Earth Demon Old Ghost and Mo Tianxing, the other powerhouses below were plunged into even deeper despair. If even the Earth Demon Old Ghost and Mo Tianxing had fallen, how could they resist? Some Dou Ancestor powerhouses desperately attacked a part of the purple heavenly flame net, and their efforts finally created an opening. Everyone rushed towards the opening. But just then, an enormous black shadow appeared outside the flame net, opening its massive jaws towards the opening. The Dou Ancestor powerhouses who had managed to escape through the gap hadn''t even reacted before they were swallowed whole. The sound of chewing and the screams of terror from within the flame net instilled fear in those still planning to escape, their eyes filled with horror as they watched the menacing Black Scaled Frigid Python outside. With such a terrifying beast guarding outside, even if they escaped the flame net, death was the only path left! Everyone felt as if they had fallen into an abyss, overwhelmed by intense fear. Above the void, after collecting the souls of the Earth Demon Old Ghost and Mo Tianxing, the shadow in the black fog scanned the area and then coldly turned its gaze towards Ying Shan Lao Ren, who was desperately trying to hide in a corner. Feeling this cold gaze, Ying Shan Lao Ren''s body stiffened. "Soul Capture!" At that moment, a voice like a demon''s came from the black fog. Ying Shan Lao Ren screamed and was transformed into a stream of pure soul power, drifting towards the black fog. "Eh!" Seeing this strange scene, the shadow in the black fog let out a surprised sound, then quickly realized what was happening and sneered, "What a clever soul splitting technique, but unfortunately, you met me." "How terrifying!" Meanwhile, not far from the Black Emperor Pavilion, an elder watching in the direction of the Pavilion had a look of horror in his eyes. This elder was the spitting image of Ying Shan Lao Ren, who had just disappeared. "Fortunately, it was just a clone that went there; otherwise, it would have been a one-way journey." "These fools like Mo Tianxing, to actually dream of opposing the Soul Hall, is simply seeking death!" Thinking of the scene where Mo Tianxing and the Earth Demon Old Ghost had their souls extracted, Ying Shan Lao Ren felt relieved. "After today, the Black Horn Domain is practically non-existent. It seems it''s time to leave this place." Feeling the horror of the slaughter outside the Black Emperor Pavilion, Ying Shan Lao Ren was ready to leave immediately. "Hehehe!" "Leave? Where do you think you''re going?" Just then, a piercing cold laugh suddenly sounded beside Ying Shan Lao Ren. Hearing this laugh, Ying Shan Lao Ren was terrified and without any hesitation, immediately fled towards the distance. But just at that moment, dozens of eerie chains burst out from the void, binding Ying Shan Lao Ren tightly. "Soul Capture!" With a cold voice, Ying Shan Lao Ren''s soul was almost effortlessly absorbed into the black fog in the void. The next moment, the black fog instantly disappeared, returning to the sky above the Black Emperor Pavilion, the shadow inside looking coldly at the struggling powerhouses of the Black Horn Domain below. The purple heavenly flame net slowly tightened, its searing heat unbearable for the weaker Dou Ancestor powerhouses, who attacked the net frantically. "Hehehe, seeing your pain, I shall grant you release." A strange voice came from the black fog, and the shadow stretched out its palm towards the people below. A dark vortex emerged, and a terrifying devouring force surged out, enveloping those below. Feeling this terrifying devouring force, the faces of the people below changed dramatically, their eyes filled with horror. PS: Asking for votes! (End of chapter) ================================================================== Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 224: Chaos in the Black Horn Domain! Soul Hall’s Actions! Su Qian’s Shock! Chapter 224: Chaos in the Black Horn Domain! Soul Halls Actions! Su Qians Shock! Chapter 224: Chaos in the Black Horn Domain! Soul Hall''s Actions! Su Qian''s Shock! The terrifying devouring force directly descended upon the purple heavenly flame net. Unlike the previous targeted attacks on the Earth Demon Old Ghost and Mo Tianxing, this was an indiscriminate assault. The immense devouring force instantly swept over everyone. In just a moment, some of the weaker junior Dou Ancestors couldn''t resist, and their souls left their bodies, drifting towards the black fog in the void. Piercing screams echoed through the void. Those with slightly stronger abilities, perhaps due to the diffusion of the devouring force, struggled for a moment. However, before the overwhelming devouring force, their efforts were futile. They couldn''t break free and eventually, their souls also left their bodies and floated towards the black fog. The Black Emperor Pavilion was filled with the sounds of numerous screams. One after another, souls seemed to be drawn by some force, leaving their bodies and drifting towards the black fog in the void, silencing instantly. Even someone as strong as the Earth Demon Old Ghost, a seven-star Dou Ancestor, had no power to resist this force. Not to mention these Dou Emperor realm individuals. Soon, the screams in the void diminished, and the floating souls gradually faded. Those still standing below numbered less than ten. Watching this, the few remaining felt a chill in their hearts, their spirits completely shattered, and they were taken by the devouring force into the black fog. Inside the black fog, the shadow looked at the dense black beads in his palm, filled with struggling souls, showing no mercy but a cold smile instead. The powerhouses who entered the Black Horn Domain were mostly villains chased from various parts of the continent, forced to take refuge here. Among these gathered forces in the Black Horn Domain, many had committed countless evil deeds, utterly wicked. For such evildoers, he had no sympathy in his heart. These were people who deserved to die. His actions were entirely in line with serving justice! After capturing the souls of everyone present, the shadow clenched his palm, and all the black beads were collected. Then, the shadow quickly took all the storage rings from the bodies and withdrew the purple heavenly flame net. "Black Scaled Frigid Python, the rest is up to you!" After doing all this, the shadow disappeared from the spot. The Black Scaled Frigid Python, looking at the corpses on the ground, burst into a fierce glow in its eyes. "At last, I can have a feast!" Moments later, in an ordinary tavern, Gu He''s figure suddenly appeared. "This time, it''s like becoming rich overnight." Thinking of his gains, Gu He''s face showed a delighted smile, almost grinning ear to ear. "But these guys are so cunning, there must be more treasures hidden. I should act quickly before the news spreads." With that thought, Gu He took out the collected black soul beads. The first soul bead Gu He picked up contained the Earth Demon Old Ghost''s soul. The Earth Demon Old Ghost, seeing Gu He, roared furiously within the bead. Gu He chuckled and immediately activated the Soul Devouring Technique, covering the entire bead with a powerful devouring force. Moments later, the Earth Demon Old Ghost''s soul, along with the soul bead, was completely devoured by Gu He. The rich and pure soul power was absorbed by Gu He, along with the Earth Demon Old Ghost''s vast memories. After reading all the memories in his mind, Gu He smiled. "Indeed, this old guy had another hidden treasure. I almost missed it." Then, Gu He picked up the soul bead containing Mo Tianxing''s soul. Mo Tianxing, as the head of the Black Emperor Sect and involved in auction house operations, must have numerous treasures. With a thought, Gu He executed the Soul Devouring Technique, engulfing the soul bead with a massive devouring force. Moments later, he finished reading Mo Tianxing''s memories. Next was Ying Shan Lao Ren, a four-star Dou Ancestor. In a quiet and elegant courtyard, a black-clothed elder was sitting in a pavilion, leisurely sipping tea. Bang! Just then, the courtyard door was struck by a tremendous force, shattering into pieces and flying out. Following this, a little girl in white walked through the broken door. "You..." The black-clothed elder, looking at the shattered door, twitched his mouth in irritation but managed to suppress his anger, showing a hint of helplessness on his aged face. "How many times have you broken my door this month?" "Can''t you learn to be a bit gentler?" The elder scolded the little girl in white, his frustration evident. The little girl, appearing to be around ten years old, had long, pale purple hair that fell to her waist. Her cheeks were extremely delicate, her face doll-like in its beauty, and her large, black, sparkling eyes blinked innocently, making her look endearingly cute. Unperturbed by the elder''s anger, the little girl walked into the pavilion, stretched out her small, fair hand towards the black-clothed elder, and said crisply, "I''m hungry." Seeing the girl''s actions, the elder''s mouth twitched slightly. Then, he took out a golden fruit and handed it to the girl, his tone somewhat resigned, "Can''t you find your own food in the back mountain?" "That''s too much effort!" The girl took the golden fruit, biting into it directly. She chewed, her voice muffled, and swallowed a mouthful of golden juice. She frowned slightly and muttered in a low voice, "It tastes bad." If any alchemist saw this, they would be shocked. This golden fruit was a rare sixth-grade medicinal ingredient known as "Diamond Bodhi," used in alchemy. Its texture was as hard as gold and iron, impervious to ordinary flames and teeth. Yet, the little girl ate it as if it were an ordinary fruit. With a crisp sound, akin to rocks splitting, echoed in the spacious courtyard as the girl bit into the fruit. Moments later, she finished the golden fruit, patted her stomach, and stretched out her hand again, saying clearly, "I''m still hungry!" The elder''s face twitched at this, and somewhat helplessly, he took out another red fruit, another sixth-grade spiritual medicine, and handed it to her. After eating the red fruit, the girl finally appeared satisfied and left the courtyard. Watching her leave, the black-clothed elder looked at the damaged door and sighed helplessly. "This girl is becoming more and more unruly!" "Who knows who can manage this girl..." Not long after the girl left, a green-clothed elder arrived at the courtyard. Seeing the destroyed door, he was startled, then smiled helplessly. "Great Elder, was it Ziyan again?" The green-clothed elder sat down in the pavilion, looking at the helpless black-clothed elder with a bit of schadenfreude. "Sigh, don''t mention it!" The black-clothed elder sighed and asked, "Lao Liu, do you have something for me?" Hearing this, the green-clothed elder''s expression turned serious. "Great Elder, something big has happened." He then recounted the recent events in the Black Horn Domain. Hearing this, the black-clothed elder''s expression became grave. "I had no idea such a major upheaval occurred in the Black Horn Domain." After listening to the green-clothed elder, the black-clothed elder''s brow furrowed, his expression extremely solemn. (End of chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 225: The Earth Demon Old Ghost’s Treasure Vault! Heavenly Demon Puppet! Chapter 225: The Earth Demon Old Ghosts Treasure Vault! Heavenly Demon Puppet! Chapter 225: The Earth Demon Old Ghost''s Treasure Vault! Heavenly Demon Puppet! "I didn''t expect the Soul Hall to cause such a big commotion," the black-clothed elder in the courtyard said with a heavy expression, a hint of obvious apprehension flashing in his eyes at the mention of the Soul Hall. "Great Elder, do you think the Soul Hall might target Jia Nan Academy next?" asked the green-clothed elder, his voice tinged with worry. The strength of the major powers in the Black Horn Domain was well-known, yet within just a few days, they had all been annihilated by the Soul Hall. This situation filled the green-clothed elder with a strong sense of crisis. This was also what the black-clothed elder was concerned about. He shook his head and said solemnly, "Whether the Soul Hall intends to or not, we must prepare for full-scale defense and be ready to respond to any attack from them." The green-clothed elder nodded helplessly, sighing, "That''s all we can do." "How is the situation with the Fallen Heart Flame recently? Has there been any upheaval?" The black-clothed elder suddenly asked, as if remembering something. At this, the green-clothed elder''s mouth twisted bitterly: "Just a few days ago, there was an upheaval, and several elders are struggling to suppress it." "Sigh, truly a time of troubles," lamented the black-clothed elder, his weary eyes showing a rare hint of fatigue. ... Following the Black Emperor Pavilion incident, most of the upper echelon of Mo Yan Valley had perished or been injured. Subsequently, they were relentlessly slaughtered by the Soul Hall. Now, Mo Yan Valley was no longer the bustling place it once was, leaving only desolate ruins. Deep within Mo Yan Valley, a figure in white suddenly appeared C it was Gu He, who had been in seclusion for three days. Since the massacre at the Black Emperor Pavilion, Gu He had spent three days devouring the souls of the strong figures from the Black Horn Domain. He had also learned the locations of their hidden treasuries. Now, he was in Mo Yan Valley to find the treasure vault left by the Earth Demon Old Ghost. With the Earth Demon Old Ghost''s memories in mind, Gu He moved deeper into Mo Yan Valley. After navigating through the lengthy valley tunnels, he came upon a wall covered with wild grass. Smiling slightly, Gu He struck the wall with a palm. "Boom!" With stones flying, a crack appeared in the wall. Gu He then charged forward, his palm acting like a battering ram, forcefully opening a ten-meter-deep tunnel in the wall, revealing a pitch-black cavern hidden within. Passing through the short tunnel, Gu He soon stood outside the cave entrance. The faint light emanating from within revealed various fierce beast engravings on the surrounding walls, which appeared menacing but were of no deterrent to Gu He. Inside the cave was a long stone staircase leading down into the faint darkness, its end not visible. The walls were embedded with glowing moonstones, gently dispelling the darkness within. Gu He descended the stairs slowly. After about ten minutes, he reached the bottom, where a closed, heavy stone door stood before him. Chapter 225: Earth Demon Old Ghost''s Treasury! Heavenly Demon Puppet! "The Soul Hall suddenly making such a big move was unexpected," the black-clothed elder mused in the courtyard, his expression grave. Mentioning the Soul Hall, a clear sense of wariness flashed in his eyes. "Great Elder, do you think the Soul Hall might target Jia Nan Academy next?" the green-clothed elder asked, his voice laced with concern. The power of the major forces in the Black Horn Domain was evident, but now, they had all been wiped out by the Soul Hall in just a few days. This turn of events filled the green-clothed elder with a strong sense of crisis. The black-clothed elder shared these concerns. He shook his head and spoke with a certain seriousness, "Whether the Soul Hall intends to or not, we must prepare for full-scale defense and be ready to respond to any attack from them." The green-clothed elder nodded in agreement, albeit helplessly, and sighed, "That''s all we can do, I suppose." "How has the situation with the Fallen Heart Flame been recently? Any unrest?" the black-clothed elder suddenly asked, as if something occurred to him. The green-clothed elder''s mouth twisted into a bitter smile, "There was an upheaval just a few days ago, and several elders are struggling to suppress it." "Sigh, it''s indeed a troublesome time," the black-clothed elder commented, his tired eyes revealing a rare hint of fatigue. ... After the Black Emperor Pavilion incident, Mo Yan Valley''s leadership was almost completely decimated. Then, seizing the opportunity, the Soul Hall launched a relentless massacre. Now, Mo Yan Valley was no longer its former bustling self, reduced to desolate ruins. Seeing these characters, a smile formed on Gu He''s face. This trip was not in vain C Earth-grade techniques and combat skills were extremely rare. After all, anything that the Earth Demon Old Ghost cherished enough to place here was no ordinary item. The thin light barrier enveloped the shelf, seemingly fragile but containing strong energy, likely unbreakable even by a regular Dou Emperor. Of course, for Gu He, this barrier was almost non-existent. As his Dou Qi surged, he struck the barrier without hesitation. Crack! With a crisp sound, the energy barrier in front of Gu He shattered into fragments, dissipating into the void. With the barrier gone, Gu He turned his attention to the three wooden boxes inside. Picking up one of the boxes, Gu He opened it to find two silver scrolls inside. The scrolls were made of an unusual crystalline material, shimmering with electric light that snaked around their surface like silver serpents. Seeing these extraordinary scrolls, a smile flickered in Gu He''s eyes. He took one out and slowly unrolled it. "Thunderbolt Mirror, mid-grade Earth level, Thunder attribute technique." Reading the description on the scroll, Gu He''s eyes widened in surprise. Thunder attribute techniques were rare, especially high-grade ones like this. The Earth Demon Old Ghost, as one of the top powers in the Black Horn Domain, had indeed collected some impressive techniques. Gu He smiled, taking out the other silver scroll and quickly browsing through it, "Jue Zhe Thunder Technique, mid-grade Earth level martial skill, a set with ''Thunderbolt Mirror.'' If I ever meet a Thunder attribute genius, I could pass this on as a legacy." Next, Gu He turned his attention to an ordinary-looking bamboo slip. The slip was a dull brown and appeared quite ordinary, but Gu He knew that whatever the Earth Demon Old Ghost had kept here was no trivial matter. He gently untied the string on the bamboo slip and unrolled it. There, in bold, blood-red characters, was the name of a technique. "Heavenly Demon Puppet!" Looking at the blood-red characters, a broad smile spread across Gu He''s face. Eagerly, he continued to unroll the bamboo slip, revealing the densely written instructions, emanating a bloodthirsty aura. "Heavenly Demon Puppet is not a technique or a regular combat skill, but an ancient puppetry art. To create a Heavenly Demon Puppet, one needs three things: a body, a soul, and a demon core. Use the body as the vessel, the soul as the guide, and the demon core as the heart. Combined with various materials and refined with fire, one can create a powerful puppet devoid of joy, sorrow, pain, or injury, an ultimate weapon of slaughter." Gu He''s eyes intently scanned the blood-red text, his excitement growing. "What a Heavenly Demon Puppet!" As his gaze moved away from the last character, Gu He exhaled deeply, intrigued by this so-called "Heavenly Demon Puppet." If he could refine such a puppet, he could have a loyal guardian at his side. Of course, Gu He didn''t lack for guards. With the Black Scaled Frigid Python, an eighth-grade magical beast, he already had the best protection. What intrigued Gu He was the idea of creating a Dou Ancestor-level guardian for his disciples and what kind of guardian he might receive in return after the system''s tenfold compensation. Or perhaps, he could directly pass on this "Heavenly Demon Puppet" technique to his disciples and see what kind of incredible secret technique he would receive in return. Thinking of this, Gu He felt a surge of anticipation. After looting the Earth Demon Old Ghost''s treasury, Gu He left Mo Yan Valley in a flash. "Next, it''s time for the Black Emperor Sect''s treasury!" (End of chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 226: Harvesting the Spoils! Chapter 226: Harvesting the Spoils! Chapter 226: Harvesting the Spoils! Three days later. In the Beast Taming Sect''s treasury, a figure in white slowly emerged, a satisfied smile on his face. This figure in white was Gu He, who had been raiding various powerful sects'' treasuries. Since the powerhouses of these sects had been killed, and their treasuries heavily guarded, it was impossible for the weak to locate them. Even though it took Gu He some time to raid them one by one, these treasuries remained unopened by others. Naturally, this meant all the spoils went to Gu He. Of course, with many small and large forces in the Black Corner Region, Gu He didn''t waste time raiding each of their treasuries. Having devoured many souls, Gu He had obtained information about the contents of their treasuries from their memories. He had no interest in the treasures of smaller forces and didn''t bother to visit them. In these three days, he raided a total of fifteen treasuries, all belonging to stronger forces in the Black Corner Region, each guarded by at least a Dou Huang powerhouse. The Beast Taming Sect''s treasury was the last one he raided. Gu He held a purple beast egg in his hand, curiosity in his eyes. From the memory of the Beast Taming Sect''s leader, Gu He learned about the sect''s origins. The Beast Taming Sect was established only fifty years ago. Its former leader was originally from a force in the Central Plains called the Beast Controlling Sect. The former leader of the Beast Taming Sect was one of the true disciples of the Beast Controlling Sect. He fled to the Black Corner Region with the Beast Controlling Sect''s treasure, hidden his identity, and established the Beast Taming Sect there. The treasure he stole, now in Gu He''s hand, was this ancient beast egg. From the memories of the Beast Taming Sect''s leader, Gu He knew that this egg was of an ancient beast, extraordinary in origin. The Beast Controlling Sect had never found a way to hatch it and had kept it as a sect treasure. Gu He''s main purpose in raiding the Beast Taming Sect''s treasury was this ancient beast egg; he had no interest in other items. Looking at the purple beast egg, Gu He was also puzzled. If it weren''t for the faint signs of life he could sense from the egg, he would almost think it was dead. "What kind of beast egg still has life after so long?" Thinking about the thousand-year existence of this egg, Gu He grew more curious and believed it was indeed extraordinary. "Whatever, I''ll just give it to my disciples later, and we''ll find out." Shaking his head, Gu He, not wanting to ponder further, stored the purple beast egg in his system space. Then, with a flash, he disappeared from the Beast Taming Sect. Releasing his soul power, Gu He clearly felt the sparseness of life in the Black Corner Region; not a single living person was in the Beast Taming Sect, and the air was tinged with the smell of blood. "These Soul Hall people are ruthless!" In these days, Gu He also learned about the Soul Hall''s massacre of the major forces in the Black Corner Region. He didn''t pay much attention, as the Black Corner Region was a cancer of the continent, hardly housing any good people. His actions now, leading to the complete destruction of the Black Corner Region, could be seen as a good deed. If Gu He wanted to establish a major sect, he certainly had the resources to do so. "Back in the Imperial Capital, I always worried about what treasures to bestow upon my disciples." "Now, I have finally achieved freedom in terms of treasures, just lacking a few outstanding disciples." Thinking of this, Gu He''s gaze turned towards the direction of Jia Nan Academy, his eyes shining peculiarly. Jia Nan Academy was full of talents, and its inner court''s Black List was particularly valuable. It was a great idea to recruit outstanding disciples from Jia Nan Academy. Of course, with Gu He''s current strength, if his disciples were too weak, they would not be much of use. At least, they wouldn''t be able to help him much in terms of cultivation. After all, with his current strength at the peak of the Nine Star Ancestor, disciples at the Dou Spirit realm probably couldn''t withstand his transmission of power. Gu He thought for a moment, and in Jia Nan Academy, probably only Zi Yan met his criteria for discipleship. Given her top-tier magical beast physique from the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon clan, she should be able to endure under him for a while. Moreover, if Zi Yan, born of the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon clan, were taken as a disciple, and later assisted to become the new Dragon Emperor, he would also reap many benefits. Thinking of magical beast physiques, Medusa, the Snake-Woman Queen, flashed across Gu He''s mind. With the colorful Sky-Swallowing Python bloodline in Medusa''s body, coupled with her Dou Ancestor power, she could probably withstand a lot under him. However, his relationship with Medusa made the idea of taking her as a disciple seem like a fanciful dream. Unless he changed his identity. For a moment, many thoughts flashed through Gu He''s mind. (End of chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! 100 ps = 1 extra chapter 200 ps = 2 extra chapters 300 ps = 3 extra chapters 400 ps = 4 extra chapters 500 ps = 5 extra chapters 750 ps = 6 extra chapters 1000 ps = 7 extra chapters please show your love by donating powerstones, and I will post the relative goal extra chapters. Thank you for your love until now, and please keep up the support.} Chapter 227: Bodhi Transformation Saliva! Soul Splitting Technique! Yin Yang Xuan Dragon Pill! Chapter 227: Bodhi Transformation Saliva! Soul Splitting Technique! Yin Yang Xuan Dragon Pill! Chapter 227: Bodhi Transformation Saliva! Soul Splitting Technique! Yin Yang Xuan Dragon Pill! Gu He had forcibly seized the Heavenly Flame from Queen Medusa and injured the four elders. If it weren''t for the huge disparity in strength, the relationship between him and Queen Medusa would have long been that of life and death enemies. Gu He was almost certain that once Queen Medusa''s strength increased, she would definitely seek revenge. Given the grudges between them, it was nearly impossible for Gu He to take Medusa as a disciple. However, this did not deter Gu He. When the time came, he only needed to change his identity and, at the right moment, could potentially deceive Medusa and take her as his disciple. But it was too early to think about this now. To take a Dou Ancestor realm disciple, he would at least need to raise his own strength to the Dou Venerate realm. Shaking his head, Gu He temporarily set aside these thoughts and refocused on the treasures before him. Then, Gu He picked up a jade box from the pile of treasures. Opening the jade box, inside was a cluster of emerald-coloured liquid, moving continuously like a living thing. Looking at the emerald liquid in his hand, Gu He''s lips curled into a smile. At this moment, his system space was filled with rare and precious items. Ordinary treasures were no longer of interest to him with his current perspective. But this item in the jade box caught Gu He''s attention. If Gu He were to rate the treasures before him, this emerald-colored liquid would score a nine. This extraordinary liquid was known as the Bodhi Transformation Saliva, a top-tier 7th-grade spiritual item. In the eyes of many, it was comparable to an 8th-grade spiritual item. There was a legend on the Dou Qi Continent about a mystical ancient tree known as the Bodhi Tree. Deeply rooted in the earth, over the years, this tree would gradually form a thick, heart-shaped substance with magical properties, often referred to as the Bodhi Heart. However, it typically required over a thousand years for a Bodhi Tree to form a Bodhi Heart. The Bodhi Transformation Saliva was a magical substance secreted from the surface of the Bodhi Heart. If consumed, the Bodhi Transformation Saliva had the effect of rebirth and improving one''s constitution, making it quite miraculous. As for the Bodhi Heart, it could truly be considered a heavenly and earthly spirit nurtured by the world''s spiritual energy. If consumed, it was said to gradually replace one''s heart, preserving life even if the heart suffered a fatal attack. Moreover, the power provided by the Bodhi Heart was far stronger than the original heart. Most importantly, it could continuously nourish the soul, making it gradually stronger, an irresistible temptation for alchemists. It was said that obtaining some Bodhi Transformation Saliva could lead to information about the Bodhi Heart. This was why the Bodhi Transformation Saliva could be compared to an 8th-grade spiritual item. "Bodhi Heart..." The so-called breaking through and standing anew means breaking past previous limitations, transforming oneself, whether it be the body, soul, or even Dou Qi, to a higher level. From his memory, Gu He knew that the leader of the Demon Blade Sect had obtained this Yin Yang Xuan Dragon Pill from an ancient ruin. Due to the continuous decline of the Demon Blade Sect, the leader was planning to auction off this 7th-grade pill. However, he never expected to lose his life at the Soul Control Conference. This Yin Yang Xuan Dragon Pill now conveniently fell into Gu He''s hands. In fact, Gu He had already consumed a Yin Yang Xuan Dragon Pill. When he initially gave a 4th-grade pill to Liu Ling, the system''s return allowed Gu He to obtain a Yin Yang Xuan Dragon Pill. The only difference was that the Yin Yang Xuan Dragon Pill he consumed was a product of the system and could not trigger a return. But the Yin Yang Xuan Dragon Pill from the Demon Blade Sect could be bestowed upon his disciples to trigger a thousandfold return! Gu He was somewhat expectant about what level of pill he would get after bestowing this Yin Yang Xuan Dragon Pill. A 9th-grade pill? Or perhaps a God-grade pill? (End of chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! 100 ps = 1 extra chapter 200 ps = 2 extra chapters 300 ps = 3 extra chapters 400 ps = 4 extra chapters 500 ps = 5 extra chapters 750 ps = 6 extra chapters 1000 ps = 7 extra chapters please show your love by donating powerstones, and I will post the relative goal extra chapters. Thank you for your love until now, and please keep up the support.} Chapter 228: The Incarnation of the Soul! Greeting the Protector Yun! Chapter 228: The Incarnation of the Soul! Greeting the Protector Yun! Chapter 228: The Incarnation of the Soul! Greeting the Protector Yun! Moments later, Gu He''s mind stirred, and his consciousness left the system space, returning to his body. "Hei Lin!" Opening his eyes, Gu He called out softly into the void. The next moment, the void fluctuated, and a man in black appeared in the valley, standing in front of Gu He. It was the Black Scaled Frigid Python. "Master..." The Black Scaled Frigid Python was holding an unknown beast''s hind leg, savagely tearing and biting into it, with fresh blood dripping from his mouth. Seeing this, a twitch formed at the corner of Gu He''s mouth. This guy, all he does is eat day and night! "I am going into seclusion for some time. Protect me," Gu He instructed indifferently, then closed his eyes again. "Of course, Master!" The Black Scaled Frigid Python bit into the thigh he was holding and immediately agreed. At this moment, the method for cultivating the Soul Splitting Art flashed through Gu He''s mind. After devouring the soul of Elder Ying Shan, Gu He naturally absorbed the elder''s understanding of the Soul Splitting Art. Thus, Gu He found it exceptionally easy and efficient to practise the Soul Splitting Art. ... So, Gu He sat cross-legged in the valley, and quickly, three days passed. On this day, the originally meditating Gu He suddenly opened his eyes, and a powerful wave of soul force echoed throughout the valley. The Black Scaled Frigid Python, not far away, sensed this and subconsciously looked towards Gu He. "What is the Master up to now?" Gu He sat on the ground with an illusory figure floating above him C his soul body. The soul body hovered in the void, slowly extending its right palm, pointing towards the front. Pure soul force surged from the soul body, gathering in the right palm, forming a soul light sphere. As more soul force poured in, the soul light sphere grew larger, eventually becoming as tall as the soul body itself. After completing all this, the soul body slowly withdrew its palm and then merged back into the physical body. At the moment of fusion with the soul body, a sharp light burst from Gu He''s eyes, and he shouted slowly. "Take shape!" The next moment, Dou Qi surged within Gu He''s body, and a mighty force flowed out, striking the soul light sphere in front of him. As the Dou Qi entered, the soul light sphere underwent changes, twisting and eventually condensing into a human shape. Gu He continued to infuse Dou Qi into the soul light sphere. After a while, the limbs and features of the human-shaped light sphere gradually became clear. The Black Scaled Frigid Python curiously watched the scene until the human-shaped light sphere''s appearance became clear. To its astonishment, it looked exactly like its master. With Gu He continuously pouring in Dou Qi, the human-shaped light sphere gradually became more solid, no longer appearing transparent as before. "With the Black Horn Region destroyed, the Protector should have returned by now." The disappearance of Protector Yun had finally aroused suspicion among the Soul Hall officers and many Earth-tier and Human-tier Protectors. Now that the Venerable was not present, Protector Yun was the head of this sub-branch. With the head absent for such a long time, these people of the Soul Hall started to harbor doubts. "What do you seek from this Protector?" Just then, a cold voice suddenly rang out in the void, followed by a clump of black mist appearing out of nowhere in the main hall. Simultaneously, a powerful oppressive force descended on the hall, terrifying to the extreme. Seeing the sudden appearance of the black mist and the terrifying pressure sweeping in from the void, the members of the Soul Hall were shocked, then quickly realized what was happening. "The Protector has returned!" A figure stepped out from the black mist, indeed the long-missing Protector Yun! "Greetings, Protector!" Seeing the figure''s face, the strong members of the Soul Hall immediately bowed. Protector Yun glanced at them coldly and said, "You need not concern yourselves with the affairs of the Black Horn Region. I have my own plans!" Hearing this, the members of the Soul Hall were startled, and quickly responded in unison, "We shall obey the Protector''s orders!" Protector Yun gave them a cold look, the black mist behind him stirred, and then he disappeared from the main hall. The strong members of the Soul Hall exchanged glances and then left the hall. (End of Chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! 100 ps = 1 extra chapter 200 ps = 2 extra chapters 300 ps = 3 extra chapters 400 ps = 4 extra chapters 500 ps = 5 extra chapters 750 ps = 6 extra chapters 1000 ps = 7 extra chapters please show your love by donating powerstones, and I will post the relative goal extra chapters. Thank you for your love until now, and please keep up the support.} Chapter 229: The Death of Protector Wu’s Soul! Refining the Celestial Demon Puppet! Chapter 229: The Death of Protector Wus Soul! Refining the Celestial Demon Puppet! Chapter 229: The Death of Protector Wu''s Soul! Refining the Celestial Demon Puppet! "In this way, I have full control over this branch of the Soul Hall." In the valley, Gu He slowly opened his eyes. Everything that had just happened in the Soul Hall was witnessed through his soul incarnation. The soul incarnation conjured by the Soul Splitting Art couldn''t be too far from the main body. However, this distance is greatly related to the strength of the main body''s soul. With Gu He''s current soul realm, even if he were deep within the Canaan Institute, he could always see what was happening with his soul incarnation. This is the great advantage of having one''s soul power break through to the soul realm! Thinking of the Soul Hall powerhouses'' attitude towards his soul incarnation, a smile couldn''t help but appear at the corner of Gu He''s mouth. With their strength, those Soul Hall powerhouses simply couldn''t discern the reality of his soul incarnation. Gu He''s only concern was the sudden return of the Venerable of the Soul Hall. With the strength of the Dou Zun realm, it is possible to see through the reality of his soul incarnation. Gu He only hoped that the Venerable of the Soul Hall would return later, giving him enough time for his strength to grow. Perhaps, by the time the Venerable returns, his own strength will have undergone earth-shaking changes. Even if the Venerable discovers something, Gu He could suppress him and take his place! Thinking of this, an idea sprouted in Gu He''s mind. Perhaps, he could gradually infiltrate the Soul Hall with the strangeness of the Soul Fusion Art, and step by step rise to a high position in the Soul Hall. By then, every move of the Soul Hall would be under his control. Of course, this idea is great, but with his current strength, it''s obviously impossible to achieve this. The priority is still to enhance his own strength. "Next, it''s time to make use of Protector Yun''s corpse for the last time." Suddenly, Gu He thought of the Celestial Demon Puppet he had obtained in the treasure trove of the Earth Demon Old Man, a slight smile curling at his lips. With a thought, Protector Yun''s corpse was immediately released. At this moment, Protector Yun''s body was still in a frozen state, wrapped in a thick layer of ice. Then, Gu He activated his essence divine flame, and the next moment, a purple flame surged out. Gu He flicked his finger, and the purple flame rushed towards Protector Yun''s corpse, enveloping it completely. Under the high heat of the life-bound godly flame, the thick ice layer enveloping Protector Yun''s body quickly melted away. As the ice layer melted, the last defense was gone, and the robe on Protector Yun''s body turned to ash and disappeared. Watching the corpse of Protector Yun enveloped in purple flame, Gu He''s face was expressionless. As the life-bound godly flame burned, Protector Yun''s body turned a fiery red color. With this continuous roasting, faint wisps of black qi emerged from the corpse, only to be incinerated into nothingness by the life-bound godly flame. This black qi is a type of corpse qi, containing subtle intentions from the owner''s life. If this qi isn''t completely expelled, it''s difficult for other souls to fully merge with the body. However, for the refinement of the "Celestial Demon Puppet," the body, magic core, and soul must completely merge, so this corpse qi must be expelled. The temperature of the flame was controlled by Gu He to a very precise degree, able to expel the corpse qi remaining in the body without burning it. Just refining the body alone took Gu He a full three hours to completely expel the corpse qi. When the last wisp of corpse qi left the body, Gu He breathed a sigh of relief, then flicked his finger, sending out two gusts of wind that pierced the corpse''s chest and forehead, creating fist-sized holes. No blood flowed from the holes, as any remaining blood had already been evaporated in the process of refining the corpse qi, and similarly, this was also a small step in the refinement of the "Celestial Demon Puppet." At this moment, Protector Yun''s body had shrunk several sizes, its skin a cold, gray-white color, tightly clinging to the dried-up muscles, with its hands becoming exceptionally slender, like sharp daggers. Following the instructions in the bamboo slip, Gu He slightly refined the body, then extended his hand and a fiery red seventh-grade magic core floated out, eventually settling into the small hole in the chest of the corpse, completing these steps. As per the bamboo slip, Celestial Demon Puppets are categorized into three levels: heavenly, earthly, and human, distinguishable by their skin color - gold for heavenly, silver for earthly, and copper for human. The puppet''s color indicated it was of the lowest grade, which somewhat disappointed Gu He. Despite his disappointment, Gu He did not cease the flame''s intense heat, slowly merging the dark gold liquid into the puppet''s skin and dried muscles. The method of refining a "Celestial Demon Puppet" involved using these metal materials to enhance the body''s strength. A living person would explode from such treatment, but the puppet, devoid of pain and consciousness, could withstand this extreme agony. If successful, the puppet would become a perfect killing machine despite its lack of combat technique knowledge. As the dark gold liquid was gradually absorbed by the puppet, faint silver flashes began to appear on its faintly cyan skin. Simultaneously, the puppet''s aura surged, reaching the level of a Nine-Star Dou Ancestor! Gu He, observing intently, noticed more and more silver flashes appearing, and the dark cyan color of the puppet''s body began to fade. With the appearance of the silver light, the aura emanating from the puppet increased step by step, eventually reaching the pinnacle of the Nine-Star Dou Ancestor realm! This transformation took only about ten seconds, after which the dark cyan puppet began to shine with silver light. Although a bit of cyan light remained, it was almost negligible compared to the extensive silver glow. When the silver light reached its peak, it stopped, and the ascending aura also came to a halt. The silver light slowly dimmed, as if all the light had submerged into the puppet''s body. Although the silver light faded, Gu He could feel that the puppet''s aura had not weakened, indicating that the dimming of the silver light was just a subtle trick to keep the puppet inconspicuous. Within the purple flames, the puppet slowly stood upright, hovering motionless in the air near the cave wall, its eyes filled with an empty blackness. Gu He bit his tongue lightly, releasing a drop of blood containing soul imprints, which accurately landed on the puppet''s forehead, gradually sinking in, and turned into a dark red spot the size of a thumb. With the drop of blood entering the puppet''s brain and imprinting an indelible mark, a hint of life seemed to emerge in the puppet''s hollow black eyes. It awkwardly moved its stiff neck, looking down at Gu He, who was sitting cross-legged, then knelt on one knee, bowing its head towards him. Gu He felt as if his soul had split in two: one part controlling himself and the other controlling the puppet in front of him. The puppet would obey any command from him, even if it meant attacking Gu He himself. Now imprinted with his soul, the puppet would be Gu He''s most loyal guard, incapable of betrayal. Excitedly observing the kneeling puppet, Gu He thought it more apt to call it an "Earthly Demon Puppet," as it had not reached the highest level described in the bamboo slip. Even though it was only an Earthly Demon Puppet, Gu He was quite satisfied, feeling that its strength was comparable to a Nine-Star Dou Ancestor. After observing the puppet for a moment, Gu He chuckled and moved to the side of the cave wall, followed closely by the puppet. Its every step caused spiderweb-like cracks on the ground, surprising Gu He with its immense strength. Standing beside the cave wall, Gu He commanded the puppet to punch the wall below. Upon his command, the puppet''s eyes flashed red, and it threw a powerful punch straight ahead, causing a distortion in space and creating a concave arc of air around the fist. A huge air compression cannon, about ten feet in size, emerged and shot downwards with a deafening sound and a powerful wave of wind! The air cannon smashed into the mountain wall, creating a terrifying crack that spread rapidly, shaking the entire valley as if an earthquake had struck. Just one punch demonstrated such terrifying power! Gu He was thrilled, realizing that the punch could severely injure a Dou Ancestor of three or four stars, or even kill them in one hit if they were unlucky. This Celestial Demon Puppet truly lived up to its reputation as an ancient killing weapon. Its formidable power was terrifying. However, this puppet had only reached the level of an Earthly Demon Puppet. Gu He wondered how powerful a Heavenly Demon Puppet would be. He then pragmatically dismissed the unrealistic thought of creating a Heavenly Demon Puppet, considering the immense resources required. Wiping sweat from his forehead, Gu He stored the Earthly Demon Puppet in his storage ring, which doesn''t store living beings, but the puppet was merely a mindless construct. With the Earthly Demon Puppet refined, Gu He turned his thoughts to preparing the Breakthrough Pill, designed to assist in reaching the Dou Ancestor realm. Despite his soul having reached the Spirit Realm and having the capacity to refine eighth-grade medicinal pills, Gu He had never made even a seventh-grade pill. Although he had the capability to make the Breakthrough Pill, he still had some doubts. "Let''s give it a try! If I fail, it''s just a waste of some ingredients," Gu He thought, considering his abundant supply of materials. (End of Chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! 100 ps = 1 extra chapter 200 ps = 2 extra chapters 300 ps = 3 extra chapters 400 ps = 4 extra chapters 500 ps = 5 extra chapters 750 ps = 6 extra chapters 1000 ps = 7 extra chapters please show your love by donating powerstones, and I will post the relative goal extra chapters. Thank you for your love until now, and please keep up the support.} Chapter 230: The Seventh-Rank Breakthrough Pill! Pill Thunder Appears! Chapter 230: The Seventh-Rank Breakthrough Pill! Pill Thunder Appears! Chapter 230: The Seventh-Rank Breakthrough Pill! Pill Thunder Appears! Still within the valley. "Whoosh" A hot breath suddenly burst out from Gu He''s nostrils. Immediately, his expression turned extremely solemn.?iscover new chapters at novelhall.com The next moment, with a thought from Gu He, a massive golden medicinal cauldron emerged from his spatial ring, falling heavily into the valley with the force of a thousand catties. The golden cauldron, adorned with dragon patterns, landed heavily on a stone platform, causing the entire valley to tremble slightly. The cauldron, robust in size and wrapped in a stable aura, was decorated with lifelike dragon-shaped magical beasts. Upon closer inspection, these dragons seemed almost real, unmistakably forming the Dragon Soul Cauldron. This pill refinement was the most challenging task Gu He had faced since becoming an alchemist, and he was naturally fully committed. Now, the process of refining the Breakthrough Pill officially began! Looking at the Dragon Soul Cauldron, Gu He took a deep breath and then a cluster of purple flames suddenly appeared in his palm. With a flick of his finger, the purple flame, like a purple fire dragon, shot into the cauldron, bursting forth fiercely. The roaring flames in the cauldron raised the temperature, adding a sense of dry heat to the surroundings. Watching the fierce flames rise in the Dragon Soul Cauldron, Gu He''s mind moved, and a large number of spiritual herbs were released. Wrapped in powerful Dou Qi, they hovered in front of him, shining like small orbs of light, looking quite spectacular from below. "The Breakthrough Pill, a seventh-rank pill, can assist a nine-star Dou Zong in breaking through to the Dou Zun realm with a forty percent chance of success, truly miraculous." "The materials needed for the Breakthrough Pill are extremely complex, about seventy types in total. The main ingredients are Blood Spirit Mushroom, Bone Spirit Fruit, Green Wood Spirit Vine, and the essence blood of a seventh-rank or higher magical beast. Each of these ingredients is rare and difficult to find, and the method of refining is particularly meticulous and demanding." Gu He carefully reviewed the method for refining the Breakthrough Pill in his mind, paying special attention to the key aspects. Needing over seventy types of materials for a single pill was a first for Gu He since he became an alchemist. Even when refining the Emperor Extreme Pill, the required herbs only amounted to half this number, illustrating the difficulty of making the Breakthrough Pill. Dismissing the myriad thoughts in his mind, Gu He refocused, checked the temperature inside the cauldron, and nodded slightly. With a slight gesture, the raging purple flames inside the cauldron gradually weakened. His gaze fixed on the cauldron, Gu He moved his finger and a light flashed, bringing forth a blood-red mushroom, which landed in his hand. This mushroom, the Blood Spirit Mushroom, one of the main ingredients for the Breakthrough Pill, emitted a strong smell of blood. Within this scent, one could sense a pure energy fluctuation. The Blood Spirit Mushroom, notoriously difficult to form, requires the absorption of essence blood from three seventh-rank magical beasts. Gu He could feel an intense cold power within the Blood Spirit Mushroom. Then, grasping the mushroom, he flicked his finger, and the Blood Spirit Mushroom transformed into a red light, plunging into the golden cauldron. As soon as the Blood Spirit Mushroom entered the cauldron, it was engulfed by the purple flames. At that moment, Gu He''s thoughts moved, and dozens of herbs floating in the air were added to the cauldron, thrown into the fierce flames. The hidden cold force within the Blood Spirit Mushroom would dissipate upon contact with the fire. To extract its medicinal essence, other herbs that neutralize the coldness were required, which Gu He had prepared in advance. He turned his gaze to the cauldron, where the pill embryo, wrapped in flames, was now a crimson pill. A look of relief appeared on Gu He''s face. The pill embryo was formed, and the next step was nurturing the pill. This step was risk-free thanks to Gu He''s entry into the "Pill Soul Realm." With all the medicinal powers perfectly merged within the pill embryo, even without this final step, the pill''s efficacy wouldn''t be far off. Naturally, as an alchemist, Gu He aimed for perfection, so he didn''t skip the final step. The purple flame weakened, emitting a mild temperature that gently permeated the pill embryo. This final nurturing step didn''t take long. About ten hours later, the pitted pill embryo in the flames transformed into a thumb-sized pill, half red and half purple, resembling a yin-yang fish pattern on its surface. It looked almost sentient, quite miraculous. Just as the pill formed, the sky above the valley suddenly darkened, with heavy clouds rapidly gathering, and silver lightning snaked through them. The sudden change startled the Black Scaled Cold Jiao, who stared in awe at the thickening clouds. Then, a massive bolt of silver lightning burst forth, illuminating the darkened land. Gu He looked up at the thick clouds and the roaring thunder nearby, feeling a buzzing in his ears. "Is this the Pill Thunder?" Watching the lightning snaking through the clouds and sensing the immense power it contained, Gu He''s eyes flashed with surprise and excitement. For countless alchemists, the greatest aspiration is to refine a high-level pill that can summon Pill Thunder, a mark of great honor. And for Gu He, it was no different. (End of Chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! 100 ps = 1 extra chapter 200 ps = 2 extra chapters 300 ps = 3 extra chapters 400 ps = 4 extra chapters 500 ps = 5 extra chapters 750 ps = 6 extra chapters 1000 ps = 7 extra chapters please show your love by donating powerstones, and I will post the relative goal extra chapters. Thank you for your love until now, and please keep up the support.} Chapter 231: Training the Demon Puppet with Pill Thunder! Chapter 231: Training the Demon Puppet with Pill Thunder! Chapter 231: Training the Demon Puppet with Pill Thunder! Above the sky, the sudden appearance of this phenomenon naturally also alarmed the Black Scaled Frigid Python. The Black Scaled Frigid Python looked at the sky with a solemn face, focusing on the dark clouds. "This, this is actually Pill Thunder!" The Black Scaled Frigid Python said heavily, looking at the lightning moving like silver snakes within the dark clouds. Under this terrifying natural power, even it felt a hint of trepidation. "It is said that some high-grade elixirs, when formed, can cause disturbances in the energy of heaven and earth, attracting Pill Thunder!" In its lifetime, the Black Scaled Frigid Python had only witnessed Pill Thunder twice. The first time was when it saw a seventh-grade alchemist refining pills in the Central Continent, where thunder rumbled in the sky as the pills were completed. The second time was now... And it could feel that the Pill Thunder triggered by Gu He this time was much stronger than the one from the seventh-grade alchemist. "The master''s strength has already reached the level of a nine-star Dou Ancestor, and with full effort, he could even match a Dou Venerate. Dealing with this seventh-grade Pill Thunder should not be a problem." Thinking of this, the Black Scaled Frigid Python slightly relaxed, raised its head, and slowly said while looking at the dark clouds that continuously emitted thunderous roars. ... Soon, the dark clouds in the sky became thicker and heavier, looking like they were about to press down on the ground, giving an extremely oppressive feeling. In the sight of the Black Scaled Frigid Python, the dark clouds seemed to be right above Gu He''s head. Inside the clouds, silver lightning darted about, and occasional collisions caused thunderous explosions, making people feel frightened. Seeing Gu He standing calmly in the void, seemingly indifferent to the terrifying thunder, the Black Scaled Frigid Python grew even more admiring of him. Boom! The next moment, a thick silver light suddenly burst out from the clouds. Its dazzling brilliance lit up the somewhat dark world. In the void, Gu He looked up at the thick clouds and the rolling thunder close at hand, which made his eardrums buzz. "Is this Pill Thunder?" His eyes firmly fixed on the silver lightning moving like snakes in the clouds, feeling the immense power within, Gu He''s eyes flashed with surprise and excitement. Many alchemists long for the day when they can refine a pill that would attract Pill Thunder, but few succeed. Now, Gu He had succeeded in the first step, and the next step was also the most critical one. "Boom!" The silver lightning in the clouds became more and more intense. Eventually, the atmosphere in the entire sky became extremely oppressive. About ten seconds later, a crack suddenly opened in the clouds. Immediately, a silver thunderbolt, about half a foot wide, shot out from the clouds with a resounding roar, like a giant silver python, aiming straight at the purple-red pill in the valley. Seeing the silver lightning strike, Gu He''s face remained calm. With a gentle grip of his hand, a red longsword appeared. The red longsword, inlaid with several seventh-grade magic cores, was a seventh-grade magic core weapon. "Heaven Splitting Sword Art!" With a low shout in his heart, countless sword shadows almost instantly enveloped Gu He. Boom! The silver lightning struck fiercely, carrying a strong natural power, and smashed onto the sword shadows, causing a thunderous explosion. Looking again, the huge silver lightning had turned into numerous tiny sparks. Countless sword shadows constantly struck these sparks, quickly spreading them across the void like tiny silver snakes. "This Pill Thunder is indeed fearsome. And this is only for a seventh-grade pill. If it were for eighth or even ninth-grade... Such Pill Thunder could probably destroy heavens and earth," exclaimed the Black Scaled Frigid Python, watching the silver lightning that circled the sky and then smashed towards the stone platform with the ferocity of a meteor. The Black Scaled Frigid Python''s gaze was locked onto the silver lightning, sensing the terrifying power within it. "Earth Demon Puppet, go!" Watching the silver lightning bolt that appeared in a flash, Gu He let out a low shout. "Boom!" As soon as Gu He''s shout fell, the Earth Demon Puppet''s knees bent slightly, and then with a boom, it shot up like a rocket, charging towards the silver lightning with that impact force. Seeing the Earth Demon Puppet still choose such a head-on approach, the Black Scaled Frigid Python showed a look of surprise. With the Earth Demon Puppet''s speed, it appeared almost in the blink of an eye below the silver lightning, then clenched its fist again, a fiery red energy flowing out from its magic core, quickly enveloping its entire arm, making it look like a flame. "Boom!" The Earth Demon Puppet''s clenched fist, without the slightest hesitation, struck out again! With the punch, a sharp sonic boom rang out in space, terrifying ripples of air spread out from the fist like waves. "Thud!" The fist, filled with terrifying force, landed directly on the silver lightning. In that moment, the whole world seemed to freeze, and then an explosion that seemed to resonate in the depths of the soul spread across the sky. The huge silver lightning, under the stunned gaze of the Black Scaled Frigid Python, gradually crumbled. At the moment of its collapse, the Black Scaled Frigid Python keenly noticed space cracks like a spiderweb where the Earth Demon Puppet''s fist had struck, involuntarily gasping in shock. As the silver lightning crumbled, the Earth Demon Puppet''s body was also smashed down from the sky by the immense force, eventually crashing into the valley with a tremor that shook the ground. The next moment, the Earth Demon Puppet''s shimmering silver body flew out again, hovering above the stone platform, forming a human wall of defense in front of Gu He. (End of Chapter) ================================================================= Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! 100 ps = 1 extra chapter 200 ps = 2 extra chapters 300 ps = 3 extra chapters 400 ps = 4 extra chapters 500 ps = 5 extra chapters 750 ps = 6 extra chapters 1000 ps = 7 extra chapters please show your love by donating powerstones, and I will post the relative goal extra chapters. Thank you for your love until now, and please keep up the support.} Chapter 232 Taking the Emperor Dao Pill! Breakthrough! Chapter 232 Taking the Emperor Dao Pill! Breakthrough! Chapter 232 Taking the Emperor Dao Pill! Breakthrough! "Fortunately, I held on!" Watching the powerful Heavenly Tribulation being successfully blocked by the Earth Demon Puppet, Gu He couldn''t help but smile, feeling relieved. Then, Gu He''s gaze shifted to the Earth Demon Puppet, and his expression showed surprise. The Earth Demon Puppet in front of him was now covered in dazzling silver light from head to toe. However, upon closer inspection, one could see that under this dazzling silver light, there were flashes of lightning. With a hint of suspicion in his eyes, Gu He approached the Earth Demon Puppet at close range, reached out to touch it, and immediately felt a chilling sensation. The silver light shimmering on it appeared extremely pure. Gu He remembered very clearly that when he had crafted it initially, there seemed to be some obvious blemishes on the Earth Demon Puppet. He speculated that these blemishes were impurities that hadn''t been completely purified within the Earth Demon Puppet. Now, these obvious blemishes had completely disappeared, leaving behind pure silver light. "It seems that the powerful thunder force from earlier, while attacking the Earth Demon Puppet, also served as a refinement for it. Unbeknownst to me, it completely purified the impurities inside the Earth Demon Puppet..." Looking at the Earth Demon Puppet in front of him, Gu He recalled some information from the "Celestial Demon Puppet" secret technique. The refinement of demon puppets was graded based on color purity, and the purer the color, the stronger the puppet''s power. If there were grades within the same level, then the Earth Demon Puppet, when initially crafted, could have been at most a mid-level puppet. But now, after being tempered by the power of thunder, it was gradually advancing towards a higher level. "It seems that this Pill Tribulation was a blessing in disguise for me..." Thinking this, a brilliant smile appeared on Gu He''s face. He then raised his head slowly, his gaze filled with excitement as he looked at the vast dark clouds appearing in the sky. Seeing the flashes of lightning within the dark clouds, an idea suddenly popped into Gu He''s mind. If the Earth Demon Puppet were to absorb the remaining Thunder Tribulation, would it become even purer and reach a new height in strength? As soon as Gu He had this thought, the silver radiance in the sky shimmered once again. Seeing this, Gu He didn''t show any worry but instead had a somewhat eager smile on his face. He commanded, "Earth Demon Puppet, continue to face it for me!" Receiving Gu He''s command, the Earth Demon Puppet almost hesitated for a moment. It leaped into the air once again and confronted the silver lightning head-on with a series of powerful punches. Boom! Boom! Boom! The sound of thunder explosions in the sky continued, and the silver figure in Gu He''s line of sight became even more dazzling. This head-on confrontation, which was purely a test of strength, lasted for nearly half an hour. Finally, the power of thunder within the dark clouds in the sky diminished significantly. Not long after, the dark clouds gradually stopped churning, and their color began to fade... Clearly, this Pill Tribulation had come to an end. As the dark clouds faded, the oppressive feeling that had enveloped the entire mountain peak completely dissipated. When a ray of sunlight poured down from the sky again, the Black Scaled Frigid Python heaved a sigh of relief. Under that divine might, they had felt extremely suppressed. As the dark clouds faded, the Earth Demon Puppet descended once again and appeared in front of Gu He. Glancing at the Earth Demon Puppet, which now appeared almost completely pure with its shimmering silver light, Gu He''s mouth curled into a satisfied smile. He waved his hand, drawing the puppet back into his storage ring, and then took out a jade bottle. Carefully, he placed the successfully crafted Emperor Dao Pill into it. Back in the valley below, Gu He took out the Emperor Dao Pill, which was the size of a longan fruit, and swallowed it without hesitation. As the pill entered his body, Gu He immediately felt a loosening of the long-standing bottleneck in his cultivation. Thinking of this, Gu He quickly sat cross-legged, sensing this opportunity. Seeing Gu He in this state, the Black Scaled Frigid Python hurriedly ran outside the valley and concealed their auras, fearing they would disturb Gu He. Soon, Gu He quietly remained in the valley for ten days. During these ten days, Gu He not only observed the changes in his physical strength but also carefully felt the changes in this particular area of the world. On the fifteenth day, on a green stone platform within the valley, Gu He closed his eyes tightly. Around him, a purple flame danced, burning vigorously. Faintly, it exuded a vibrant feeling of vitality. Outside the valley, the bored Black Scaled Frigid Python covered the valley with their spiritual senses as usual. Blood drips from the blade of her sword, falling heavily onto the ground. Nalan Yanran''s emotions remain unaffected; killing a Demon Beast at her level is as routine as eating and drinking, with no psychological pressure. During this time, she has spent her days in battle and expended a considerable amount of energy. However, she can feel her rapid progress. While her cultivation has only increased by one star compared to before, her combat awareness, as well as her use of martial skills and inner energy, have improved significantly. "Teacher, your intentions are clear to your disciple!" Nalan Yanran mutters to herself, shaking the blood off her sword with a slight flick. Swoosh! In the next moment, Nalan Yanran lightly steps on the dried leaves on the ground, and her entire figure vanishes like a fleeting shadow. She quickly flies towards her next target, which lies ahead. After these days of battle, Nalan Yanran can estimate the strength of the Demon Beast even from a considerable distance. It is roughly at the low third-tier level. Among beings of the same level, Demon Beasts tend to be slightly stronger than humans due to their powerful bodies. So, at this moment, Nalan Yanran is filled with anticipation. In the dense jungle, among swaying branches, a very small Demon Beast is crawling on the ground. Its blood-red eyes scan the surroundings vigilantly, and its sharp fangs gnaw on the severed limb of an unknown Demon Beast, making a crisp sound. As this small Demon Beast enjoys its dinner, a colossal and agile figure moves through the treetops above, moving effortlessly as it approaches. With its massive body, it crashes through several thick vines, causing them to snap with a series of cracks. This agile figure plummets from the treetops to the ground, opening its sharp jaws and swallowing the small Demon Beast whole, without even chewing. Splatter! Blood splashes as the massive figure, like a giant rock, crashes onto the ground, causing cracks to spread. At this moment, Nalan Yanran appears silently on the treetops and witnesses this scene. She can''t help but sigh, "The law of the jungle is evident here, survival of the fittest." Crouching down, Nalan Yanran carefully observes the giant Demon Beast. It''s an ape-like monster, more robust than other apes she has encountered. It stands at a height of over three meters, and the faint crimson streaks on its body indicate its formidable strength. In the twilight sunset, this giant ape stands there, resembling a towering mountain, giving off an oppressive feeling. Even from a distance of dozens of meters, Nalan Yanran can sense the strong smell of blood emanating from the giant ape. "So powerful!" Nalan Yanran sighs. During this time, she has killed many Demon Beasts of the same rank, but she feels that this giant ape is even more formidable than the others she has encountered. "Do I fight or not?" At this moment, Nalan Yanran hesitates. Just as she contemplates her decision, she suddenly feels a cold gaze locking onto her. She looks up and meets the eerie, blood-red pupils of the giant ape. With a helpless shake of her head, Nalan Yanran thinks, "This giant ape''s perception is surprisingly sensitive." "Now, I can only face it head-on," Nalan Yanran rises and sighs. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! 100 ps = 1 extra chapter 200 ps = 2 extra chapters 300 ps = 3 extra chapters 400 ps = 4 extra chapters 500 ps = 5 extra chapters 750 ps = 6 extra chapters 1000 ps = 7 extra chapters please show your love by donating powerstones, and I will post the relative goal extra chapters. Thank you for your love until now, and please keep up the support.} Chapter 233: Nalan Yanran’s Growth! Yao Lao’s Apprehension! Chapter 233: Nalan Yanrans Growth! Yao Laos Apprehension! Chapter 233: Nalan Yanran''s Growth! Yao Lao''s Apprehension! Bang! The giant ape let out a deafening roar as its massive body lunged towards Nalan Yanran like a cannonball. The earth trembled, and the towering trees in the vicinity collapsed under the impact of the giant ape. Nalan Yanran narrowed her eyes. Despite the giant ape''s immense size, it was surprisingly agile. In an instant, the giant ape reached Nalan Yanran, and with lightning speed, it pounced on her. Its bloodthirsty maw opened wide, unleashing a thunderous roar that reverberated through the air, causing ripples. Faced with such a fierce magical beast, Nalan Yanran didn''t dare to be careless. She swiftly switched her sword to the eighth-grade magic core weapon, the Divine Wind Sword, which Geocentric River had gifted her. As the giant ape''s enormous, sharp paw came crashing down, Nalan Yanran wielded the Divine Wind Sword with rapid strikes. "Boom!" "Boom!" Suddenly, a cacophony of metal clashing resonated through the dense forest. In just a few breaths of time, Nalan Yanran had already delivered more than a dozen strikes against the giant ape, but the creature''s claws had yet to touch her. After another round of clashes, Nalan Yanran and the giant ape temporarily separated. Looking at the bloodstains on the tip of her sword, Nalan Yanran knew that despite the vast difference in strength between her and the giant ape, her speed and the advantage of the eighth-grade magic core weapon allowed her to inflict damage. With that in mind, Nalan Yanran let out a sigh of relief. On the side of the giant ape, it glanced at the blood oozing from its body and a cold light flickered in its eyes. Clearly, it was furious to suffer losses at the hands of such a seemingly weak human woman. "Roar!" Once again, the giant ape opened its bloodthirsty maw, and a terrifying roar echoed through the mountains and forests. Then, it swung its massive arms, filled with unparalleled explosive power between its bulging muscles. At this moment, the giant ape was confronting Nalan Yanran in the most brutal manner possible. Seeing the giant ape rushing at her with its greatest advantage, Nalan Yanran understood its intentionto overwhelm her with its superior strength in one fell swoop. "Retreat first!" Having made up her mind, Nalan Yanran chose to avoid the confrontation. With a light step, Nalan Yanran''s figure narrowly evaded the giant ape''s blood-red claws as they came swiping towards her. After several consecutive evasions, the giant ape''s attack rhythm gradually became chaotic. Seeing the wounds on the giant ape still bleeding, Nalan Yanran knew that her opportunity had come. "It''s my turn to counterattack!?iscover new chapters at novelhall.com Heavenly Strike Dou Technique!" With a determined shout from Nalan Yanran, the energy of the surrounding world surged violently. Countless visible energy waves, as if drawn by some force, madly poured into the Divine Wind Sword in Nalan Yanran''s hand. After speaking, Xiao Yan''s eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked at the demon beast''s corpse. The corpse of a high-level third-ranked demon beast would likely be very valuable. Thinking this, Xiao Yan took out a delicate dagger and walked forward slowly. At this moment, inside the ring, Yao Lao''s brow furrowed. With his powerful soul force, Yao Lao had already sensed Nalan Yanran''s residual aura in the area. However, when he tried to use his soul force to cover the area, he felt an extremely dangerous aura, making him hesitate. Thinking that this third-ranked demon beast''s remains might be left behind by Nalan Yanran and that Xiao Yan considered it a great find, Yao Lao was not pleased at all. He said, "Little Yan, these are just scraps that others don''t want. Don''t bother picking them up." Hearing Yao Lao''s words, Xiao Yan, who had raised his dagger and was ready to start, showed a puzzled expression. What''s wrong with the teacher? He always taught me that wealth accumulates bit by bit. Although Xiao Yan had doubts in his mind, he always followed Yao Lao''s words without question. If the teacher said so, there must be a reason behind it. "What a waste of good materials!" With a light sigh, Xiao Yan put away his dagger and slowly left the area. (End of this chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! 100 ps = 1 extra chapter 200 ps = 2 extra chapters 300 ps = 3 extra chapters 400 ps = 4 extra chapters 500 ps = 5 extra chapters 750 ps = 6 extra chapters 1000 ps = 7 extra chapters please show your love by donating powerstones, and I will post the relative goal extra chapters. Thank you for your love until now, and please keep up the support.} Chapter 234: Taking the Purple Crystal Pill! Five-Star Dou Master! Chapter 234: Taking the Purple Crystal Pill! Five-Star Dou Master! Chapter 234: Taking the Purple Crystal Pill! Five-Star Dou Master! After Xiao Yan left, Nalan Yanran sat cross-legged on a large rock near the quiet mountain cliff, not more than twenty miles from where he had been. "An elixir personally crafted by the teacher, I hope it can help me advance my strength!" She muttered to herself and took out a purple pill from her storage ring. This purple pill was the Purple Crystal Pill, which had been personally refined by Gu He. The main material used in the production of the Purple Crystal Pill was the Purple Spirit Crystal that Gu He had obtained from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King''s den. The Purple Spirit Crystal was a rare and precious treasure that the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King took twenty years to condense. Therefore, the quality of this Purple Crystal Pill was already comparable to a fifth-grade elixir. The purpose of this Purple Crystal Pill was to immediately boost the strength of someone who had just entered the Dou Grandmaster realm, granting them three stars of strength. With a sense of anticipation, Nalan Yanran did not hesitate and directly pinched the Purple Crystal Pill in her hand before swallowing it in one gulp. The Purple Crystal Pill dissolved instantly upon entering her mouth, turning into an energy that flowed into Nalan Yanran''s abdomen. Nalan Yanran could clearly feel a gradually intensifying burning sensation as the medicinal energy entered her abdomen. Sensing this, Nalan Yanran didn''t dare to be careless and quickly operated her cultivation technique to refine the medicinal energy. As the medicinal energy flowed through her body, the surrounding natural energy began to fluctuate violently. Visible ripples of energy spread out from her body in waves. Her long skirt drifted on its own without wind, and a faint purple radiance appeared on her somewhat solemn face. As the surrounding natural energy continued to pour into Nalan Yanran''s body, her aura began to rise gradually. In just a few breaths, she had broken through from a two-star Dou Master to a three-star Dou Master. And this breakthrough process was still ongoing. Four-star Dou Master! Five-star Dou Master! Nalan Yanran never expected that the power of a single elixir could allow her to break through three levels in the Dou Master realm. "Phew!" After taking a deep breath, Nalan Yanran stood up from the large rock where she had been sitting. She turned to face the mountain wall behind her and swung her sword forcefully. Instantly, rocks shattered, and a large crack several meters long appeared on the mountain wall. Seeing the power she had effortlessly unleashed with a single strike, Nalan Yanran''s confidence in the outcome of this training increased even more. ... This kind of feeling was bittersweet. Although it was tough, he could clearly feel the growth of his cultivation level within his body, and Liu Ling was content with that. At this moment, thoughts of Xiao Yixian and Nalan Yanran''s training tasks crossed Liu Ling''s mind. The Empire of Jia Ma, the Demon Beast Mountain Range, these two places were fraught with danger, life-threatening challenges. Compared to the two of them, Liu Ling''s training task was undoubtedly much safer. He was just experiencing a bit of hardship, nothing to be afraid of. Thinking about Gu He''s instructions when he left, a firm look appeared in Liu Ling''s eyes. "Keep moving forward." "Master is right; for practitioners of fire attribute Dou Qi, even walking in this desert is a form of cultivation!" With a silent encouragement, Liu Ling raised his head and looked at the scorching sun in the desert sky. He licked his lips and muttered, "(End of this chapter)" ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! 100 ps = 1 extra chapter 200 ps = 2 extra chapters 300 ps = 3 extra chapters 400 ps = 4 extra chapters 500 ps = 5 extra chapters 750 ps = 6 extra chapters 1000 ps = 7 extra chapters please show your love by donating powerstones, and I will post the relative goal extra chapters. Thank you for your love until now, and please keep up the support.} Chapter 235: The Youth in the Yellow Sand! Chapter 235: The Youth in the Yellow Sand! Chapter 235: The Youth in the Yellow Sand! Wiping the sweat from his forehead with a wave of his hand, Liu Ling was about to turn around and head eastward through the desert when his expression suddenly changed, and he swiftly punched into the yellow sand in front of him. As his powerful palm strike, accompanied by streaks of flame, penetrated the sand, a piercing scream erupted from within it. Witnessing this scene, the young Purple Winged Lion King cub behind him stepped forward, extending its huge claws to dig into the sand. The next moment, a demon beast was grasped in the young Purple Winged Lion King cub''s claws and pulled out of the sand. A pool of deep red blood began to seep into the surface of the yellow sand. Liu Ling, with an indifferent gaze, glanced at the demon beast that had lost its vitality. This type of demon beast, known as the Magic Scorpion, can only be found in the desert. These creatures often hide within the sand, waiting for unsuspecting victims to step on them, and then they strike, releasing their venom. Magic Scorpions are incredibly adept at hiding; even those who travel the desert regularly can sometimes fall victim to their attacks. Therefore, although they are considered less than first-class beasts, they are often viewed by humans as one of the more troublesome creatures in the desert. However, no matter how skilled the Magic Scorpions are at concealing themselves, in the eyes of Liu Ling, who possesses exceptional soul perception, they are like fireflies in the dark night, shining brightly. Stealth attacks against him are almost impossible. Crack! The young Purple Winged Lion King cub, holding the corpse of the Magic Scorpion, directly stuffed it into its mouth, producing a chilling chewing sound. Liu Ling cast a somewhat strange look at the young Purple Winged Lion King cub. Doesn''t it fear being poisoned? Many of the demon beasts in this desert contain deadly toxins. After the young Purple Winged Lion King cub finished its meal, Liu Ling then got up and started walking slowly towards the eastern part of the desert, his steps somewhat heavy. He couldn''t help but think that training in the desert was more monotonous than he had expected. Moreover, this was Liu Ling''s first time leaving home for training. Every night, he would silently gaze at the bright moon in the sky, lost in thought. When he was training within the Yunlan Sect, he didnt feel as lonely. But in this vast desert, where nothing but sandstorms were in sight, the desolate feeling of loneliness was somewhat unbearable, with not even the shadow of a demon beast to be seen. This tiny crimson liquid joyously flowed within the cyclone, lively and nimble like a small fish in a lake. Gazing at this newly formed crimson droplet, Liu Ling smiled slightly. After some time of exploration, he had roughly calculated that when about thirty droplets accumulated in the cyclone, he would have enough energy to advance to a Seven-Star Dou Grandmaster. Now, with twenty-eight crimson droplets in the cyclone, it meant that with two more droplets, Liu Ling could advance to a Seven-Star Dou Grandmaster! "Almost there..." Murmuring softly, Liu Ling suddenly raised his head, fiercely shaking off the sand from his hair, then leaped up from the sand surface, shouting towards the sky: "Almost there! Seven-Star Dou Grandmaster!" (End of Chapter) ================================================================== Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! 100 ps = 1 extra chapter 200 ps = 2 extra chapters 300 ps = 3 extra chapters 400 ps = 4 extra chapters 500 ps = 5 extra chapters 750 ps = 6 extra chapters 1000 ps = 7 extra chapters please show your love by donating powerstones, and I will post the relative goal extra chapters. Thank you for your love until now, and please keep up the support.} Chapter 236: Arriving at Stone Desert City! The Initial Fame of Xiao Yi Xian! Chapter 236: Arriving at Stone Desert City! The Initial Fame of Xiao Yi Xian! Chapter 236: Arriving at Stone Desert City! The Initial Fame of Xiao Yi Xian! In the blink of an eye, three days had passed, and Liu Ling was now walking barefoot on the scorching yellow sand. The vast desert, with its golden sand, was the dominant feature here. The howling winds, carrying sand, swept through the land, creating a ceaseless tumult. The blazing sun poured down from the sky, baking the ground below and emitting a stifling heat. The rising heat caused the air to shimmer, distorting and blurring the view. Ordinarily, in such harsh conditions, one would hardly feel comfortable, yet Liu Ling walked barefoot on this land. As long as his body was in contact with the yellow sand, Liu Ling could feel the fire attribute Dou Qi within him becoming more lively. After three days of rigorous cultivation, Liu Ling had reached the realm of a Seven-Star Dou Grandmaster. (Yesterday, I mistakenly wrote Dou Grandmaster as Dou Master, please forgive me.) At the moment, Liu Ling, bare-chested, was standing on a sand dune, frowning at a map in his hand. Having entered the Tagore Desert over half a month ago, Liu Ling was now nearing the location of Stone Desert City marked on the map. Looking ahead, he could faintly see the outline of a massive city at the eastern periphery of the Tagore Desert. Seeing Stone Desert City not far away, Liu Ling let out a long sigh, his face breaking into a smile. After more than half a month of arduous cultivation and journeying in the desert, he was understandably weary. The prospect of a place to rest naturally excited him. Nodding to himself, Liu Ling took out a white robe from his storage ring and put it on. The robe bore the symbol of an ancient cauldron with three silver waves carefully engraved on it. Patting the exquisitely crafted alchemist robe, Liu Ling made his way towards the dusty city, now within close reach. As he approached the city, the number of people around him increased. The men, mostly shirtless with darkened skin, seemed rugged and hearty at a glance. The occasional passing women, despite their slightly darker complexion, had a kind of sexy, bronze hue. Their tight leather outfits barely covered their chests and a bit below, with their slender waists boldly exposed. Their long, supple legs were covered only by short skirts or shorts, creating an enchanting charm as they moved. Walking along, Liu Ling enjoyed the sight, licking his lips and looking up at the yellow city now visible in detail. Above the city gate, three large, pale-red characters were carved into the wall, exuding a faintly bloody aura from afar. "Stone Desert City..." Liu Ling muttered softly, smiling as he slowly approached the city gate. At the city gate, a dozen armored soldiers, holding spears, were shouting at the passersby to pay the entry tax. Seeing these soldiers fully armed regardless of the heat, Liu Ling felt somewhat surprised. The defense here seemed even stricter than some larger cities. Perhaps due to the hot weather, the guards seemed irritable. Their uncompromising shouts continuously urged the people at the gate. Approaching the gate, Liu Ling frowned slightly at the soldiers'' shouting, shook his head, and walked straight towards the city. In the Empire, alchemists were treated almost like nobility, and they were exempt from such entry taxes, a privilege Liu Ling appreciated. "Hey, kid, why aren''t you paying to enter..." A soldier glared at Liu Ling as he walked straight into the city, but his shouting ceased when he saw Liu Ling''s refined alchemist robe. His angry expression instantly transformed into a fawning smile. "Sir, are you entering the city?" "Yes." Without stopping, Liu Ling walked past the trembling soldier and continued into the city. "Gulp!" Relieved that Liu Ling didn''t take offense to his earlier rudeness, the soldier swallowed hard, turned around, and respectfully called out, "Sir, the Snake People in the Tagore Desert have been restless lately. Please be careful if you leave the city." Liu Ling slowed his pace, acknowledging this unexpected information with a nod before disappearing into the city walls'' darkness. "Damn, that was close. If the higher-ups knew I offended a third-grade alchemist, they''d have thrown me to the dogs." Watching Liu Ling''s departing figure, the soldier sighed in relief, wiping cold sweat off his forehead. Returning to his post, he seemed much more restrained, no longer rudely shouting at the incoming visitors. ... As Liu Ling emerged from the somewhat dim city wall passage, his vision brightened. The city, with its distinct desert architecture, came into view. The city in the desert, compared to the cities within the empire, had a more simple and robust feel. Perhaps due to its proximity to the Tagore Desert, its defense was much more stringent, with fully armed soldiers patrolling everywhere. "Make way, make way!" Just then, a commanding voice echoed from the city gate, accompanied by the rapid sound of horse hooves. Hearing this, Liu Ling couldn''t help but stop and watch. A moment later, a carriage drawn by two horned unicorn horses entered from outside the city gate. The carriage moved quickly, not avoiding pedestrians and kicking up dust. On the carriage, a flag fluttered in the wind, bearing the name "Mo Tie Mercenary Group," revealing an aura of iron-blooded toughness. Behind the carriage, several robust men, armed and sitting on the unicorn horses, scanned passersby with sharp eyes. Their aura, tinged with the scent of blood, indicated they were real warriors, not just any mercenaries. "So, it''s the Mo Tie Mercenary Group. No wonder they''re so domineering!" "In Stone Desert City, the Mo Tie Mercenary Group ranks within the top three. Only the Sand Mercenary Group surpasses them. It''s said their leader is a Dou Grandmaster, making their position unshakable. Besides the Sand Mercenary Group, only the Storm Mercenary Group can barely compete with Mo Tie." "Cut the crap. I''m telling you, don''t sell her anything today!" Wan Hai said disdainfully upon seeing the shopkeeper''s obsequious manner. "Ah, Master Wan, this customer''s business is worth nearly three months of profits for my shop," the shopkeeper replied, looking somewhat troubled. "You wretch, did you not understand what I said? Do you believe I can make you and your shop disappear today?" Wan Hai threatened angrily. "Ah!" Seeing Wan Hai take his anger out on the shopkeeper, Xiao Yi Xian sighed heavily. "Your name is Wan Hai, right?" "If you have a problem, take it up with me. Don''t trouble others!" Hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s response, Wan Hai''s face broke into a mocking smile and said, "Really? Today, I want to see what face lies beneath the veil of the ''Little Poisonous Girl'' who killed over a dozen people on Black Mountain." As he spoke, Qin Bo, who was standing behind him, suddenly charged towards Xiao Yi Xian. His body surged with a powerful Dou Qi energy, and when he was about ten meters away from Xiao Yi Xian, he threw a punch that emitted a bowl-sized yellow light. Dou Qi materialization! This was something only a Dou Grandmaster could achieve! The shopkeeper''s pupils dilated at the sight of this yellow light, and his legs gave out, unable to move. The onlookers were also shocked. "Who would have thought that the Wan family''s young master would have a Dou Grandmaster as his attendant." "This person in black is out of luck. Offending Master Wan in Black Mist City means there''s only one path left C death." At this moment, in everyone''s eyes, Xiao Yi Xian was as good as dead. However, what happened next shocked everyone. Just when the powerful yellow light was about half a meter away from Xiao Yi Xian, she slowly extended her hand. A thin layer of purple light appeared on her pale palm, and she grabbed the yellow light in her hand. After a dull sound, Xiao Yi Xian appeared unharmed in front of everyone. " Only an Eight-Star Dou Grandmaster, who gave you the courage to attack me?" With a cold rebuke, Xiao Yi Xian moved swiftly towards Qin Bo. A flash of cold light passed, and Qin Bo incredulously covered his throat as he slowly fell backward. "Thud!" Qin Bo''s unexpected fall completely frightened Wan Hai, who was standing not far behind. The arrogance he had upon entering was gone, and he involuntarily stepped back. "Your turn!" After dealing with the only Dou Grandmaster in the room, Xiao Yi Xian''s gaze turned to Wan Hai. Wan Hai was only an Eight-Star Dou Fighter, and for Xiao Yi Xian, killing him was as easy as crushing an ant. "Little Poisonous Girl, don''t be rash, let''s talk!" "I already gave you a chance last time, and you didn''t cherish it!" A cold light appeared in Xiao Yi Xian''s eyes. In the Yun Empire, she had seen too much killing and had been forced to participate in many battles, so she no longer had any aversion to killing. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 237: The Mysterious Visitor from Jia Nan Academy! Chapter 237: The Mysterious Visitor from Jia Nan Academy! Chapter 237: The Mysterious Visitor at Jia Nan Academy! "Don''t you dare! My father is a Dou King, a powerhouse. If you kill me here, you''ll have no place in Black Mist City," Wan Hai said while threateningly, even as he backed towards the door. Just then, a yellow fog enveloped him, and Xiao Yi Xian walked lightly past him. "Sigh, another conflict with a Dou King. It seems it''s time to move on to the next city," Xiao Yi Xian sighed as she left the shop. Afterward, she leaped across several streets and headed straight for the city gates. After Xiao Yi Xian left, the other customers and shop assistants who had been frozen in shock all screamed and ran out. "Run! The second young master of the Wan family is dead!" As similar exclamations spread through the streets, a white-robed youth sitting on the second floor of a teahouse unconsciously crushed the teacup in his hand. He then leaped down to the street, randomly grabbed a passerby, and demanded loudly, "Tell me, is it true that the second young master of the Wan family is dead?" "Yes, he died over there..." the middle-aged man said, pointing in a direction. After hearing the man''s description, the white-robed youth''s face gradually darkened, and he rushed to the shop where Wan Hai had died. "Little Hai, rest assured, I will avenge you," he declared mournfully upon seeing Wan Hai''s blackened corpse. An hour later, a white-robed elder suddenly flew over Black Mist City, heading in a certain direction. ... At the Yunlan Sect, by the edge of the Jiucai Valley''s cold pond, Qinglin skillfully placed a green pearl into a jade bottle, then turned to the petite Cai''er and said, "Cai''er sister, the teacher said that it might take a year for the senior brothers and sisters to complete their training. That means if I collect 365 pearls, they can all come back." "Yiya, yiya!" Despite the countless academies across the continent, Jia Nan Academys reputation remains unsurpassed. This speaks volumes of the profound heritage of this ancient institution, wrapped in an aura of antiquity. People of all races across the continent take great pride in being able to enter this prestigious academy. However, the academy''s stringent admission criteria have left many aspirants disheartened. At this moment, in the vast circular plaza of Jia Nan Academys outer court, countless students were gathered. Each of them was dressed in light blue robes, and on the chest of each robe was a cerulean badge, engraved with a dagger stained with a hint of crimson blood. From above, the plaza was a sea of heads, buzzing with noise reaching the skies. At this time, an elderly man, who was leisurely sitting in the grandstand with a cup of tea, suddenly furrowed his brows and left in a hurry. Shortly after, he appeared at the entrance of Jia Nan Academy. A white-robed figure was already standing at the gate. "Who goes there?" the outer court dean, Hu Qian, called out, eyeing the mysterious visitor who had suddenly appeared at the entrance of Jia Nan Academy. "I am Gu He," the figure in white robes replied calmly. Upon hearing this, Hu Qian was initially startled, then seemed to realize something, his eyes narrowing slightly in surprise. "You are... Gu He, the Alchemy King of the Jia Ma Empire?" "Indeed, it is me," Gu He nodded. A smile appeared on Hu Qian''s face, his curiosity piqued. "I am Hu Qian, the dean of the outer court. May I ask what brings the Alchemy King to Jia Nan Academy?" Hearing Hu Qian''s question, Gu He stated directly, "I have traveled a great distance with the hope of joining the inner court of Jia Nan Academy. I wonder if the Academy could accommodate me." "To join the inner court... Indeed, with the Alchemy King''s renown, serving merely as an instructor in the outer court would indeed be an underutilization of talents," Hu Qian replied with understanding, then added with a hint of difficulty, "However, I am not authorized to make such decisions regarding the inner court. I will immediately inform the Elder of the inner court about this matter. As for the outcome, it is beyond my control." "Then I must trouble Dean Hu Qian with this matter," Gu He said, bowing slightly. "It''s no trouble at all. Please, Alchemy King, rest for a while, and I will head to the inner court immediately," Hu Qian replied before quickly heading towards the inner court. (End of Chapter) Chapter 238: Joining Jia Nan Academy! Chapter 238: Joining Jia Nan Academy! Chapter 238: Joining Jia Nan Academy!Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com The inner and outer courts of Jia Nan Academy are quite far apart. Even for Hu Qian, a high-ranked Dou Emperor, it took nearly an hour to fly from the outer court to the inner court. After Hu Qian arrived at the inner court, it wasn''t long before a grand hall within the inner court was gathered with several elders of Jia Nan Academy, including the Great Elder, Su Qian. At that time, an elder who had reached the rank of a Nine-Star Dou Emperor asked with skepticism after hearing Hu Qians report, Hu Qian, are you sure about this? Is that person really Gu He, the Alchemy King from the Jia Ma Empire? It should be correct! Hu Qian said with certainty. Did you ask him why he wants to join Jia Nan Academy? Su Qian, the head of the inner court, also posed his question. Well... I forgot to ask that! Hu Qian replied slowly. Hearing Hu Qian''s response, Su Qian pondered for a moment and then said, In that case, invite him here. Whether we keep him or not will be decided by all the elders together! Alright, Ill go and bring him here! With Su Qians suggestion, Hu Qian nodded and then hurried back to the outer court. ... In the outer court, inside a quiet study, Gu He saw Hu Qian returning and put down his teacup, asking with a light smile, Dean Hu Qian, how did it go? Mr. Gu He, please come with me to the inner court. The Great Elder and other elders would like to meet you personally! Hu Qian gestured invitingly. Alright! Nodding lightly, Gu He followed Hu Qian towards a forest behind the outer court. Soon, Gu He sensed a strange spatial force ahead. Although such a barrier formed by spatial force could be easily dispelled by Gu He in his current state, he still wanted to show respect to the academy he was planning to join. Mr. Gu He, please wait a moment! Thinking this, the elders of Jia Nan Academy looked at Gu He with a gleam in their eyes. "Elder Su Qian, regarding the matter of voting that you mentioned earlier, I fully support it," suddenly declared a red-haired elder amidst the silence. Who would have thought that Fire Elder would be even more excited than us. He has been stuck at the fifth-grade Alchemy Master level for a long time. Having a sixth-grade Alchemy Master to discuss with is indeed a rare opportunity. Tsk tsk, a sixth-grade Alchemy Master, it seems I need to prepare more medicinal ingredients. Following Fire Elder, several other elders expressed strong support for Gu He becoming an elder of Jia Nan Academy, and almost everyone who had already expressed their opinion was in favor. Their willingness to agree so readily stemmed from two reasons: Firstly, Jia Nan Academy''s powerful intelligence organization verified Gu Hes identity as clean and even prestigious in the Jia Ma Empire. Secondly, many in Jia Nan Academy were stuck at high-level Dou Emperor or the peak of Dou Emperor. With Gu He, a sixth-grade Alchemy Master present, their chances of breaking through to Dou Ancestor would increase significantly. "Haha, it seems that all the elders warmly welcome Mr. Gu Hes arrival!" Seeing everyone''s attitude, Su Qian showed a warm smile and announced loudly, In that case, I declare that from today, Mr. Gu He is officially an elder of Jia Nan Academy. After the announcement, Su Qian walked over to Gu He and said softly, Elder Gu He, the medicinal ingredients you need for concocting pills will be provided by the academy as a priority, as long as it is within our capability. Gu He, smiling, bowed slightly and said, I thank Elder Su Qian for this. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 239: Alchemy! Chapter 239: Alchemy! Chapter 239: Alchemy! Following that, Su Qian introduced the elders present one by one to Gu He, making Gu He officially a member of the Jia Nan Academy''s Elder Council. After successfully joining the Elder Council of Jia Nan Academy, Elder Huo, a fifth-grade alchemist of Jia Nan Academy, and the great Elder Su Qian were exceptionally enthusiastic in showing Gu He around the inner courtyard. Along the way, they briefly introduced some of the distinctive features of Jia Nan Academy to Gu He. When the trio arrived at a spacious square, what appeared before Gu He was a sunken terrain housing a massive black tower, deeply buried underground, with only its tip and a dark entrance visible on the surface. The tower buried underground? This somewhat peculiar scene, which Gu He had not felt much when flying over previously, now surprised him at close range. Moreover, as Gu He''s gaze swept over the part of the tower protruding from the ground, he noticed that the space around the tower seemed to be subtly distorted and wrinkled. Gu He thought to himself: This must be the seal left by the headmaster of Jia Nan Academy! Perhaps the seal was very strong initially, but after so many years, its power has weakened a lot. If I want to enter, others will not notice at all. Seeing Gu He''s gaze linger on the black tower, Su Qian pointed at the tower and introduced: "Elder Gu, this is our Jia Nan Academy''s inner courtyard''s so-called cultivation accelerator, the Sky-Blazing Qi Refining Tower! However, it needs to be temporarily closed for a while due to some recent issues." Gu He guessed that the issues mentioned by Su Qian were likely due to the turmoil caused by a Falling Heart Flame. Without revealing anything, he sighed, "Oh, so this is the legendary Sky-Blazing Qi Refining Tower, no wonder it''s so majestic." "Haha! All these are the achievements of the predecessors of Jia Nan Academy." Hearing Gu He''s praise for the things within Jia Nan Academy, a proud smile appeared on Su Qian''s face. "When the Sky-Blazing Qi Refining Tower is open again, I must enter and experience it for myself!"Yo?ur favorite stories at novelhall.com "Good, since Elder Gu is interested, I will definitely inform Elder Gu in time!" Su Qian nodded seriously. ... "Let''s go! Let''s see other places." After staying there for a short while, the three of them left. Walking continuously, Gu He noticed that Elder Huo, who was following beside him, always had a hesitant expression on his face. Seeing this very clearly, Gu He directly said, "Elder Huo, do you have something you want to tell me?" Hearing Gu He''s question, Su Qian also turned his gaze. At this moment, Gu He reviewed the method of refining this particular pill in his mind, then without any delay, started adding the precious herbs into the alchemy flame. Under the refinement of the alchemy flame, these herbs were quickly turned to ash, and drops of pure medicinal liquid were enveloped by Gu He''s soul power at the center of the alchemy flame. Seeing Gu He''s rough method of pill refining, Elder Huo''s face grew tense. There were only three sets of materials in total; he hoped not all would be wasted. Despite his worries, Elder Huo dared not interrupt Gu He at this crucial moment. In his widened eyes, the dozens of different colored medicinal liquids were divided into four groups, each merging separately. In the end, only four slightly larger drops of mixed medicinal liquid quietly lay in the center of the alchemy flame. So fast! Watching Gu He refine pills from close quarters, Elder Huo was finally convinced by Gu He''s methods. Such alchemy techniques were beyond anything he had dared to imagine before. To control four groups of medicinal liquids to merge separately required an immense amount of soul power and alchemical knowledge! Moreover, this was done without using an alchemy cauldron. Seeing this miraculous technique, Elder Huo was no longer worried about Gu He failing in the pill refinement. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 240: Zi Yan! Chapter 240: Zi Yan! Chapter 240: Zi Yan! Two hours later, under Gu He''s control, the four streams of medicinal liquid gradually formed a somewhat rough, black pill embryo. "It''s done!" Before long, seeing the round black pill taking shape in the alchemy flame, Elder Huo''s eyes sparkled with excitement. At the same time, a strong wave of energy spread out from Gu He''s palm, rapidly extending in all directions, and a refreshing fragrance of the pill began to emanate from around the pill. "What''s this?" "It seems like someone is refining pills!" "A fifth-grade medicinal pill wouldn''t cause such a commotion, could it be a sixth-grade pill?"Yo?ur favorite stories at novelhall.com Feeling this wave of energy, countless disciples and some elders of Jia Nan Academy were astonished and rushed towards this location. At this moment, a very deep voice came through the void. "Everyone listen, do not approach the source of the pill fragrance." "This is, the voice of the Great Elder!" Hearing the voice with immense authority in the void, everyone''s steps halted. ... "Mission accomplished!" Handing the sixth-grade pill to Elder Huo, Gu He looked utterly relaxed, showing no signs of fatigue from the pill refinement. "Elder Gu, your level of pill refining is truly the best I have seen in my life!" Elder Huo looked at the pill in his hand with great admiration. "It''s nothing, Elder Huo flatters me!" Gu He replied with a modest smile. At this moment, Elder Huo was no longer concerned about the extra two sets of materials given out. Having witnessed Gu He''s pill refining process, he felt like he had gained a great deal. Not only was Elder Huo''s reaction intense, the Great Elder Su Qian was also deeply stirred. Although Su Qian was not very knowledgeable about pill refining, he saw the shock in Elder Huo''s eyes and was amazed by Gu He''s speed in pill refining. However, he recognized the jade token in Gu He''s hand. "Since you have the jade token from the Great Elder, feel free to take whatever spiritual herbs you want!" Elder Hao said somewhat helplessly. "Thank you!" Gu He said calmly, then stepped forward into the interior. "Hey, only one person can go in with a jade token, why are you following behind!" "I am naturally leading the way for Elder Gu!" "I know you too well, no matter what you say today, you can''t go in..." After Gu He entered, the arguing voices of Elder Huo and Elder Hao could be heard from behind. Hearing their conversation, Gu He chuckled and shook his head, then looked towards the end of the corridor where a faint energy barrier was, and slowly inserted the jade token into the slot. With the insertion of the jade token, the light from the energy barrier gradually dissipated. Inside was a spacious room enveloped in a soft glow, and as Gu He stepped in, his gaze swept around, and his face gradually showed a look of amazement. The entire room''s inner walls were covered in a layer of milky white jade, even the floor was made of neatly arranged white jade tiles without any gaps, and the soft glow was emanating from these jades. "Jia Nan Academy really pays attention to detail." Gu He couldn''t help but praise aloud. These white jades were quite expensive, but they were very effective in preserving medicinal herbs. In such a sealed space, the precious herbs almost wouldn''t lose any of their medicinal properties, and their storage time could be significantly extended. Such arrangements were far superior to the usual storage in spatial rings. In the spacious room wrapped in white jade, there were several corridors with tall cabinets made entirely of white jade on both sides. Gu He casually walked down a corridor, glanced at the contents of the cabinets, and instantly, all sorts of rare and exotic herbs that were very rare outside quietly stood there, with different scents of herbs drifting out faintly. However, precious as these herbs were, not many could truly catch Gu He''s eye. After casually taking a few auxiliary materials needed for refining ordinary sixth-grade medicinal pills, Gu He continued forward. Suddenly, Gu He sensed that there were other people present in the medicinal herb library. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 241: Taking Zi Yan as a Disciple! Chapter 241: Taking Zi Yan as a Disciple! Chapter 241: Taking Zi Yan as a Disciple! Zi Yan! With a moment of thought, Gu He immediately recalled the petite figure described in his memories. Thinking that his main purpose for coming to Jia Nan Academy was to take Zi Yan as his disciple, a smile of joy appeared on Gu He''s face. Sensing her location through his soul power, Gu He''s figure gradually disappeared from where he was standing. Soon, Gu He appeared at the end of the last corridor here. At this moment, standing beside Gu He was a little girl in white clothes, who reached only up to his waist. The little girl seemed to be only about twelve or thirteen years old, with light purple hair that fell to her waist. Her cheeks were extremely delicate, her appearance was adorable, like a finely carved jade. "Ah!" When the little girl suddenly found Gu He appearing beside her, she let out a tender voice. Her big, black, sparkling eyes showed a bit of panic, clearly startled, and the golden fruit she was holding slipped from her hand. Seeing the golden fruit falling to the ground, Gu He''s gaze sharpened, and the fruit immediately stopped its descent, floating in mid-air. After seeing Gu He clearly, the little girl noticed the Jia Nan Academy elder''s robe he was wearing and thought to herself, "I didn''t expect to be discovered just after entering. What bad luck!" "Do you want to eat this?" Gu He walked forward, picked up the golden fruit, and handed it to the little girl. Seeing Gu He handing the golden fruit to her, the little girl, with her innocent big eyes, took the fruit and then spoke in a child-like tender voice, "You are an elder of the academy, aren''t you? Why have I never seen you before?"Yo?ur favorite stories at novelhall.com "It''s normal that you don''t know me. After all, I have just joined the academy''s elder council!" Gu He explained. "Oh, no wonder!" Hearing Gu He''s answer, the little girl nonchalantly replied, then took the golden fruit in her hand and bit into it. The crisp sound of biting, like rocks breaking, echoed within the spacious room. She bit a small hole in the golden fruit, where a few teeth marks could be seen, and drops of golden liquid dripped out, landing on the white jade floor, looking striking. "Crunch!" "Crunch!" The little girl chewed on the fruit, her teeth continuously moving, and a stream of golden liquid spilled from the corner of her mouth, eventually trickling down her chin. The hard fruit, in the mouth of this little girl, seemed like an ordinary snack, easily crushed and swallowed. Seeing the little girl eating the fruit, which was used as a medicinal ingredient, Gu He sighed internally. Indeed, having the bloodline of the Taixu Ancient Dragon, she could disregard the wild medicinal strength of the ingredients. If he could take her as a disciple, his cultivation would surely surge again. Thinking this, Gu He, with a smile, asked the little girl, "Little one, does this taste good?" "Disciple?" Catching the important piece of information in Gu He''s words, the little girl mumbled, "So, being your disciple means I can eat such delicious pills every day!" "Correct, my disciples get to eat these kinds of pills every day!" Gu He affirmed with certainty. "Then I want to be your disciple too!" The little girl suddenly tugged at Gu He''s trousers excitedly, "Please take me as your disciple." "I don''t even know what your name is, little one!" Gu He asked with a smile on his face. "Zi Yan, my name is Zi Yan." Zi Yan quickly said, still shaking Gu He''s trousers. "Alright, stop shaking. Remember your master''s name. Gu He!" "Gu He!" Repeating the name, a look of ecstatic joy appeared on Zi Yan''s face. "So, you agree?" "Hehe! Can teacher refine a few more of those pills for me now?" "Yes, but we''ll have to wait a bit. Let''s get out of here first," Gu He nodded and said. "Oh!" "If that''s the case, then I''ll take a bit more with me." After saying that, Zi Yan reached for the jade plate, the seals on it seemingly having no effect on her. She took seven or eight herbs before stopping. However, what Gu He did next made Zi Yan''s eyes widen in shock. With a gentle lift of his hand, all the medicinal herbs on the cabinets along the entire corridor flew towards his storage ring. (End of Chapter) I will do a mass release today. number of chapters is unknown even to me. but it will be 3 chapters minimum. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 242: Zi Yan’s Surprise! Chapter 242: Zi Yans Surprise! Chapter 242: Zi Yan''s Surprise! "This... is too much..." Watching Gu He collect the herbs, Zi Yan''s mouth hung open, at a loss for words. The next moment, Zi Yan glanced down at the pile of herbs she was holding and suddenly felt like a country bumpkin. "What are you standing around for, let''s go!" Patting Zi Yan''s little head, Gu He headed straight for the exit. "Ah..." "Teacher, wait for me!" Startled by Gu He''s pat, Zi Yan snapped out of her daze and trotted after him. When they approached the energy barrier again, Gu He did not take out the jade token given by Su Qian but walked straight through the barrier without any obstruction. Following behind, Zi Yan was slightly amazed to see Gu He exit like this. She reached out with her fair little hand to touch the energy barrier and, after a few tries, passed through without any hindrance as well. Walking past the energy barrier, Gu He slowly made his way towards a small cabin at the end of the corridor, and as they approached, they could hear Elder Huo and Elder Hao''s conversation inside. "Elder Huo, do you think there''s a chance I could ask Elder Gu to help me refine some pills later?" "Better not today. After all, Elder Gu has just arrived and has already refined a pill for me. Asking him now might be a bit... You should wait and find another opportunity to visit him first, establishing a good relationship is more important..." "Right, can''t rush these things!" ... Listening to their conversation, a faint smile appeared on Gu He''s face. "Elder Huo! Elder Hao!" Gu He called out gently, and the two inside immediately looked up at the door with smiles on their faces, saying in unison. "Elder Gu, have you chosen your herbs?" Following his conversation with Elder Huo, Elder Hao''s attitude towards Gu He had done a complete 180, filled with respect in his tone. However, after their remarks, they noticed a little girl with light purple hair in white clothes appearing in their view. Blinking their old eyes at Zi Yan and the herbs in her hands, Elder Hao, after a moment of realization, suddenly stood up from his chair, exclaiming loudly, "You again! Can''t you find your own herbs outside instead of eating them here?" Techniques: ... ... With the bloodline of the Taixu Ancient Dragon, Zi Yan''s scores reaching up to nine were entirely within Gu He''s expectations. After reviewing Zi Yan''s attributes, Gu He suddenly said with a stern face, "Zi Yan, now that you are my disciple, let me first tell you about my rules." "If you find them unacceptable, you are free to leave at any time." Seeing the sudden change in Gu He''s expression, a hint of panic appeared in Zi Yan''s bright black eyes. "Um, I understand, Master!" Zi Yan responded weakly, her mind once again dwelling on Elder Hao and Elder Huo''s snitching in front of Gu He, and she silently cursed them a few times in her heart. "Firstly, as my disciple, I will give you three welcome gifts, which you must accept and cannot refuse." "Secondly, I always reward achievements. Whether you bring fame to me outside or make progress in your strength internally, I will give you generous rewards." "Thirdly, as long as you do not betray the sect, you are free to do whatever you want. I will not interfere." Initially, Zi Yan thought Gu He was going to impose some strict rules to control her behavior. But when she heard that two of Gu He''s "rules" were actually reward measures, she was a bit stunned! "Is that all? Are there no other requirements...?" Zi Yan asked Gu He, somewhat dumbfounded. "That''s all, just these!" Seeing Zi Yan''s puzzlement, Gu He pretended to be curious, "What, you wanted me to set even more rules for you?" Zi Yan laughed awkwardly and waved her hands, "No, not at all! That wasn''t what I meant!" (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 243: Zi Yan Advances! Fifth-Order High Level! Chapter 243: Zi Yan Advances! Fifth-Order High Level! Chapter 243: Zi Yan Advances! Fifth-Order High Level! "Hehe, teacher, what are those three welcome gifts you mentioned?" Zi Yan looked up at Gu He with curiosity, asking, "Do they include those delicious pills like before?" Seeing the expectant expression on Zi Yan''s face, Gu He felt very pleased. This was the first disciple who had ever pestered him for a welcome gift. "Those pills from before are nothing special," Gu He shook his head. The next moment, Gu He''s hands swiftly formed several profound hand seals, and as he did so, the space above the courtyard began to strangely warp. Spatial Lockdown! As Gu He inwardly shouted, the space suddenly solidified, and a wave of unusual fluctuations rapidly spread out, enveloping the entire courtyard. After completing these actions, Gu He looked at Zi Yan and slowly said, "Zi Yan, come closer to me. I will now impart energy to you as the first welcome gift." "Energy transmission!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Zi Yan''s big black eyes showed a hint of confusion, but she still moved a couple of steps forward as instructed. "There might be a strong energy entering your body soon. If you feel like you can''t bear it, you must tell me right away," Gu He cautioned. "Mhm!" Zi Yan nodded gently and then slowly closed her eyes. Zi Yan was only tall enough to reach Gu He''s waist, so it was natural for her to stand to receive the energy transmission. At this moment, he slowly extended his right palm and placed it on Zi Yan''s forehead. Just as Zi Yan was wondering what was happening, she suddenly felt a massive force transferring from Gu He''s palm into her body. Zi Yan''s face changed, wondering what her teacher was doing. "Concentrate and absorb this power!" Gu He''s voice suddenly rang out. Without time to think further, Zi Yan focused on absorbing the power. In just a couple of breaths, a muffled sound came from within Zi Yan, and her aura changed immediately. She broke through, advancing directly from the fourth-order intermediate level to the fourth-order high level. But the process didn''t stop there; her internal power continued to increase. After a moment, Zi Yan''s aura changed again. She had jumped directly from the fourth to the fifth order! Seeing the changes in Zi Yan, Gu He was also very happy. Given Zi Yan''s rate of breakthrough, she would definitely be able to withstand even more energy next time, allowing him to receive even more returns. "Next, is your second welcome gift." Looking up at Zi Yan flying in the air, Gu He presented a cold jade box. What is this? It seemed like it contained some medicinal materials or something similar. Seeing Gu He take out the cold jade box, Zi Yan controlled her Dou Qi wings to gently land back on the ground. "Teacher, does this contain those delicious pills from before?" "Open it and see for yourself!" Gu He said with a light laugh. Seeing Gu He''s smile, Zi Yan, somewhat expectant, lifted the lid of the cold jade box. As she opened it slightly, a beam of golden light suddenly burst from the box towards the sky, startling her into quickly closing the lid. "Teacher, the light emitted by this pill is so strong, it won''t attract those old men over, will it?" Zi Yan said somewhat panicked. "No, the space here is under my control. As long as I wish it, no matter how powerful the pill''s aura, it won''t spread outside!" Gu He reassured. "Oh!" Hearing this, Zi Yan breathed a sigh of relief, then opened the box again. Inside the box, the golden light swirled, and two tiny golden dragons were circling within the pill, with a faint sound of dragon chanting emanating from it. Hearing this soft dragon chant, Zi Yan''s gaze suddenly became a bit sluggish. "This feeling, it''s somewhat familiar!" Touching the pill with her hand, Zi Yan felt her blood circulation seemingly speed up a bit. "What kind of pill is this?" Zi Yan asked curiously. "Yin Yang Xuan Long Dan (Yin Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill)!" (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!Visitt for the latest updates Chapter 244: A Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill! Chapter 244: A Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill! Chapter 244: A Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill! "Yin Yang Xuan Long Dan, a seventh-grade medicinal pill!" Gu He spoke softly. "It''s refined from the magical cores of two sixth-order dragon-type magical beasts that died no more than seven days ago." "Dragon..." Hearing Gu He''s introduction to the pill, Zi Yan''s heart suddenly lit up with understanding. Noticing the change in Zi Yan''s expression, Gu He guessed that the dragon essence contained within the Yin Yang Xuan Long Dan must have resonated faintly with Zi Yan''s bloodline. "Take this Yin Yang Xuan Long Dan. This pill might have the effect of rebirth from Nirvana!" After learning about the effects of the pill, Zi Yan took a deep breath and then fiercely stuffed the Yin Yang Xuan Long Dan into her mouth. Before she could even chew, the golden pill turned into a stream of warmth that poured into her body through her throat. The surging warmth, like a flood, overwhelmingly entered her body. Feeling this powerful energy, Zi Yan became a bit nervous and calmed her mind, waiting for the medicine''s power to erupt. However, after Zi Yan prepared herself, the expected explosion of medicinal power did not occur. The surging warmth, like water flowing into a sponge, gradually settled until it completely disappeared. "Eh!" Gradually opening her eyes, Zi Yan looked up and down at her motionless body and mumbled, "Teacher, why didn''t I feel any reaction after swallowing the Yin Yang Xuan Long Dan? It''s like drinking a cup of plain water!" "What reaction were you expecting? The Yin Yang Xuan Long Dan isn''t a pill for boosting strength. Its primary function is to establish a foundation after breaking the old one... The medicinal power has permeated your body. If you face a life and death situation in the future and are fortunate enough to activate it, you will naturally receive unimaginable benefits. For now, consider it as drinking plain water," Gu He said somewhat amusedly, seeing Zi Yan''s somewhat dejected expression. "Is there really no other effect?" Zi Yan mumbled. "There is, indeed!" "It''s just that such things usually require focused..." Gu He intended to explain further, but Zi Yan suddenly exclaimed with surprise, "There really is something else." "Just now, when I checked my internal condition, I found a strand of strange energy in my meridians. This energy is extremely similar to the energy already in my body, but it seems a bit more powerful." Hearing this, Gu He internally sighed, "Worthy of the Taixu Ancient Dragon''s bloodline, which is even higher than that of a sixth-order dragon-type magical beast. She naturally absorbed the dragon essence so effortlessly." At the same time, a system notification sounded in Gu He''s mind.Yo?ur favorite stories at novelhall.com "Ding, the host has given the fifth disciple, Zi Yan, a seventh-grade medicinal pill, Yin Yang Xuan Long Dan. Congratulations to the host for receiving a ten-thousand-fold return, obtaining a ninth-grade treasure pill, the Nine-Colored Xuan Ming Dan!" "The low-tier Heaven-level martial skill Tian Xuan Palm has been credited to the system space. Please check it, host." Heaven-level martial skill, Tian Xuan Palm! Seeing the reward returned to him, Gu He contemplated. This martial skill would be suitable for him to use against opponents without revealing his trump cards. "Thank you, teacher!" After receiving these three welcome gifts from Gu He, Zi Yan''s attitude towards him had evolved beyond merely wanting to consume a medicinal pill. Gu He''s method of imparting energy and skills made Zi Yan find him very mysterious and deeply moved her. Thus, her gaze towards Gu He was now filled with respect. Seeing Zi Yan''s well-behaved appearance, Gu He touched her little head with a sense of satisfaction, slowly saying, "Zi Yan, as I mentioned before, my disciples will receive rewards for any breakthroughs in their cultivation." "More rewards?" Hearing Gu He''s words, Zi Yan''s face lit up with anticipation, but then she became somewhat despondent after giving it more thought. "I''m now at the peak of the fifth order. Breaking through would mean reaching the sixth order!" "Wuwu... How long will that take?" Suddenly, Zi Yan tugged at Gu He''s trousers, crying out in a childish voice. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 245: Abnormal Alchemy Speed! Chapter 245: Abnormal Alchemy Speed! Chapter 245: Abnormal Alchemy Speed! Seeing Ziyan in this state, Gu He soothed her by touching her little head and said, "Don''t cry, with your talent, it won''t take long for you to reach the sixth rank!" "How long is ''not long''?" Ziyan lifted her head, her big eyes staring earnestly at Gu He. "It''ll take at most a few months!" Gu He pondered and said. "Ah!" "A few months, is it that long? Wuu~" Muttering to herself, Ziyan lowered her head again, and soon, a sobbing sound followed. Looking at this little one who cries at the drop of a hat, Gu He shook his head, smiling bitterly with resignation: "If you keep crying, you won''t get that tasty pill today." What! Hearing Gu He''s words, Ziyan suddenly lifted her head again, her eyes filled with anticipation. Seeing the traceless corner of Ziyan''s eyes, Gu He thought to himself: "Where did this little one learn to fake cry? If she keeps up this act every day, I might not be able to handle it." "Hehe, Teacher, where is that tasty pill?" Showing a row of small, white teeth, Ziyan raised her hands, palms up, towards Gu He. Faced with this somewhat shameless apprentice, Gu He was helpless and gently patted her small, tender palms, trying to make his expression look a bit more serious. "The pills will be available after I finish making them!" After saying this, a huge golden cauldron suddenly appeared in front of Gu He, and then he quickly started throwing various medicinal herbs and spiritual fruits into the cauldron. After being patted by Gu He, Ziyan reluctantly withdrew her hands and watched Gu He''s actions, a triumphant smile appearing on her face. Looking at the Dragon Soul Cauldron in front of him, a purple flame suddenly appeared in Gu He''s hands. At that moment, Gu He casually placed the jade bottle on the stone platform behind him and then turned around to look at Su Qian standing at the entrance, smiling and saying, "Great Elder, your timing is perfect. I have just used up all the medicinal materials I took last time." Hearing Gu He greeting Su Qian, Ziyan in the courtyard quickly looked up towards the entrance. Upon seeing the black figure at the door, she instinctively swallowed the chewed spiritual medicine pill in her mouth, and her expression became serious. However, her little actions went unnoticed at the time. ... At the entrance of the courtyard, Su Qian''s eyes immediately showed deep shock upon hearing Gu He''s words. It was known that the medicinal materials Gu He took last time amounted to one-fifth of the entire inner courtyard''s medicinal herb reserve. In just six days, it had already been depleted. This terrifying speed of alchemy could only be described as monstrous. "If Elder Gu He needs more medicinal materials, feel free to take them from the medicinal herb store!" At this moment, Su Qian, although smiling, was actually speaking through gritted teeth, feeling uneasy inside. Pointing at the jade bottles on the stone platform, Gu He smiled at Su Qian and said, "With the Great Elder''s words, I feel much more at ease. These are the pills I''ve produced this time. According to my rules, half belong to me, and the other half to the academy." What! Su Qian was initially worried about not being able to afford Gu He''s expenses, but upon hearing Gu He''s words, his heart immediately filled with excitement, and a hint of joy appeared on his face. It''s known that engaging an alchemist to make pills usually requires preparing two sets of materials, and sometimes even three or four sets, before an alchemist would agree to help, and it also incurs a favor owed to the alchemist. But now, Gu He was effectively only taking half of the materials, which meant the academy was getting a great deal. "Thank you for your hard work, Elder Gu!" After a moment of stun, Su Qian approached and sincerely said to Gu He, "Such frequent alchemy must consume a lot of spiritual energy. Elder Gu should focus on resting." (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!Visitt for the latest updates Chapter 246: Plotting for the Fallen Heart Flame! Chapter 246: Plotting for the Fallen Heart Flame! Chapter 246: Plotting for the Fallen Heart Flame! "Um, thank you for your concern, Great Elder. After this session of alchemy, I plan to search for a few herbs in the mountains as a form of rest!" Gu He nodded. After speaking, Gu He drew half of the jade bottles placed on the stone platform towards him and handed them to Su Qian. After briefly inspecting the pills in the jade bottles, Su Qian''s smile deepened. Among these jade bottles, there were three sixth-grade pills, and the rest were all fifth-grade pills. "Great Elder!" Just as Su Qian was delighted with the pills he received, Ziyan''s childlike voice came through. Su Qian had already learned about Ziyan being taken in by Gu He from Elder Huo, so he wasn''t too surprised at this moment. "Ziyan, now that you are under Elder Gu''s tutelage, you must not be as mischievous as before!" Su Qian said seriously. "I know, Great Elder!" Ziyan replied softly. If Elder Huo or anyone else had called Ziyan mischievous or said anything else, Ziyan would probably have retorted immediately, and it might even have led to a fight. But now that it was Su Qian who spoke, Ziyan felt no resistance in her heart. "Elder Gu, please take good care of this girl, Ziyan, from now on!" After Ziyan spoke, Su Qian once again expressed his feelings to Gu He. "Don''t worry, Great Elder. I, Gu He, will never treat my disciples unfairly." Gu He replied very seriously upon hearing Su Qian''s words. "Um, I can see this girl is quite comfortable here." Su Qian''s eyes glanced at the remnants of the spiritual medicine pill at the corner of Ziyan''s mouth, a smile flashing in his eyes. It was fortunate for this girl to be apprenticed to Elder Gu, at least she won''t have to worry about pills in the future. ... "Phew~ Finally, he''s gone!" After Gu He saw Su Qian off, Ziyan, who had been standing stiffly with a serious expression, suddenly let out a long sigh of relief and then reverted to her previous playful and smiling demeanor. Seeing the big difference in Ziyan''s behavior before and after, Gu He couldn''t help thinking: "This girl is so lively around me, how come she becomes timid when facing Su Qian? Could it be that my expression is not as serious as Su Qian''s?" Thinking this, Gu He suddenly called out with a stern face: "Ziyan!" Hearing Gu He''s loud call, Ziyan looked at him with puzzled eyes. "What''s wrong, Teacher?" The next moment, a somewhat aggrieved childish voice entered Gu He''s ears. Ziyan''s pair of black eyes first showed confusion, then turned into a pitiful look. "It''s nothing, Teacher just wanted to tell you that I have to go out today and might come back late." After seeing such a pair of eyes, for some reason, Gu He found his voice couldn''t sound harsh. "Oh, I see. Well, Teacher, please go and come back soon." Ziyan''s voice sounded a bit dazed. ... After leaving the inner courtyard, Gu He quickly headed towards the deep mountains surrounding the Canaan Academy''s inner courtyard. All the way, Gu He concealed his presence, not disturbing many magical beasts. After traveling a considerable distance from the inner courtyard, he found a relatively secluded valley. With a few quick hand seals, he set up a spatial barrier around the valley and then sat down cross-legged on a huge green stone. After slightly adjusting his state, Gu He then immersed his mind into the system space. Then, Gu He silently recited: "System, begin integrating twenty-four years of cultivation!" As Gu He''s words fell, the colorless orb that was floating in the void within the system space suddenly turned into a dazzling light and shot directly into Gu He''s body. Bang! With the entrance of this dazzling light into Gu He''s body. The next moment, Gu He felt a muffled sound within his body, followed by waves of exceptionally vast and violent energy, rushing towards his limbs and bones like tangible whips. However, Gu He had experienced this situation many times before and was not panicked at all. He dispersed the energy within his body bit by bit and then slowly absorbed it. At this moment, Gu He hardly made any unnecessary movements. After breaking through to the Dou Venerate realm, the amount of energy his body could contain was incomparable to that of the Dou Ancestor realm. Even after absorbing twenty-four years of cultivation in one go, Gu He did not feel much discomfort. Soon, the vast energy within Gu He''s body was completely absorbed, and at that moment, his aura also experienced a breakthrough. Crack! As the huge green stone slab below shattered, he slowly opened his eyes. After checking his cultivation, Gu He found that this extraction of cultivation had only led to a breakthrough of one star level, reaching the level of a two-star Dou Venerate. It seems that the further one advances, the more energy is needed for a breakthrough. "It''s like forcing me to take on a few more disciples." Muttering to himself, Gu He then made his way back to the Jia Nan Academy''s inner courtyard. ... In the courtyard, seeing Gu He return, Ziyan happily greeted him. "Teacher, how come you came back so soon?" Ziyan asked curiously, seeing that Gu He had been gone for less than four hours. "I found the herbs I was looking for ahead of time and came back!" Gu He made up a reason. When he saw Ziyan stuffing another spiritual medicine pill into her mouth, the corner of Gu He''s mouth twitched, and he couldn''t help saying: "Ziyan, you''ve been gobbling up these spiritual medicine pills these past few days, haven''t you thought about cultivating to refine this medicinal strength?" "Um!" Hearing Gu He''s question, Ziyan stood still for a second and then said, "Teacher, I used to cultivate in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower when it was open, and I focused on eating at other times." "You mean the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower has not been open these many days?" Gu He asked somewhat exasperatedly. Not long ago, both when Gu He left and returned to the inner courtyard, he had seen several shadows entering and exiting the giant black tower''s entrance in the sky. "No, it''s because my cultivation has broken through to the peak of the fifth rank, and the training rooms in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower are no longer of any use to me." Ziyan explained. "I see!" Gu He muttered, then began to ponder. Beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower lies the Fallen Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth on the list of Heavenly Flames, and has remained unclaimed for a long time. If he could devour and refine it, he could at least increase his cultivation by one star level or more. However, as an elder of the Jia Nan Academy, it would not be appropriate for him to directly take it. Suddenly, an idea formed in Gu He''s mind. Since his identity made it difficult to act, he could let a spirit avatar created by the Fen Shen Jue (Splitting Spirit Technique) do it! Moreover, the spirit avatar currently assumes the identity of a guardian of the Soul Hall, making it perfectly suitable for such actions. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 247: Entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower! Chapter 247: Entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower! Chapter 247: Entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower! Burial Soul Ridge. Soul Hall branch. A terrifying black fog suddenly burst out from the main hall, then swiftly approached the direction of the Jia Nan Academy. ... Jia Nan Academy''s inner courtyard. After making a plan, Gu He decided to first go to the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to check the situation. "Ziyan, your teacher needs to go out again!" After informing Ziyan, Gu He flew towards the direction of the black tower as he remembered it. In a short while, Gu He arrived above a huge square. At this time, there were about five or six students also entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for cultivation. When they saw Gu He in the sky with Dou Qi wings behind him, they knew he must be an elder of the academy. "Greetings, Elder!" "Greetings, Elder!" Several respectful voices came from below Gu He. To this, Gu He just nodded slightly, then headed straight for the entrance of the black tower. "Which elder is this? Why have I never seen him before?" "So young, could it be the legendary Elder Gu He that''s been talked about recently?" After Gu He entered the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, the few students standing on the square looked at Gu He''s back and voiced their speculations. "That''s right, this is Elder Gu He from the Jia Ma Empire!" Amidst the murmurs, suddenly a young man in white very confidently said. "Oh?" Hearing the young man in white so sure, everyone turned their gaze towards him. "Ling Feng, by the sound of it, you know this Elder Gu He." A young man in blue robes asked curiously. "I see!" Elder Liu nodded and then suddenly thought of something, hastily saying to Gu He: "This is Elder Gu''s first visit to observe the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, why not let Liu lead the way?" "I am just here for a casual walk, it would not be appropriate to take up Elder Liu''s time!" Hearing Elder Liu''s suggestion, Gu He politely declined. "Very well then!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Elder Liu left very tactfully. ... This Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, buried deep underground and only revealing a part of its spire, had a very large interior area. Walking along, just on the first floor, Gu He saw no fewer than five hundred cultivation rooms, and it is said that the tower becomes more spacious as one goes deeper. Most of these cultivation rooms were occupied, so Gu He did not encounter many students along the way. Soon, Gu He arrived at the central area of the tower. Looking down, a bottomless dark hole appeared in front of Gu He. The hole was filled with a kind of eerie darkness that had almost no light at all, running through the entire Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. If not for the cover of the spire, this pitch-dark hole could probably be clearly seen from the sky. Upon reaching this place, Gu He clearly felt that the air here was much hotter than in other areas, as if something at the bottom of the deep hole was continuously emitting heat to the entire Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. At this moment, a trace of purple light flashed imperceptibly in Gu He''s pupils, and upon looking again, the darkness below began to strangely fade. Within the endless darkness, the space suddenly started to twist slightly, and then these twisted spaces, like invisible pythons, climbed up towards the entrance of the hole at an extremely terrifying speed. The temperature around also suddenly rose sharply, followed by a very sharp "hiss" sound spreading from the depths of the hole. "Hiss!" The unusual sound, like lightning flashing, continued to spread and echo around the pitch-black deep hole. In an instant, the slightly dim environment suddenly brightened significantly, and the temperature in the air also rose rapidly. A very terrifying and ancient aura slowly emerged from the hole, finally bursting out like lightning tearing through the night, surging from the seemingly endless deep darkness. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 248: The Mysterious Invisible Flame Serpent! Chapter 248: The Mysterious Invisible Flame Serpent! Chapter 248: The Mysterious Invisible Flame Serpent! Following that, the space about two meters above the hole suddenly entered a state of extreme distortion. However, despite the severe distortion of space, ordinary people couldn''t see anything with the naked eye, except for those twisted spaces and the continuous "hissing" sounds. The whole area seemed somewhat eerie due to this scene. Soon, this commotion caught the attention of Elder Liu, who was relatively close to this place. "Elder Gu, it''s dangerous, get away from there!" Elder Liu shouted loudly and then quickly made his way towards the location. Hearing Elder Liu''s warning, Gu He, in order not to reveal his strength, took a few steps back. When Elder Liu arrived near Gu He and looked at the distorted space, a trace of fear flashed across his eyes. Although he couldn''t see what was there, having served as the tower guardian elder for so many years, he had vaguely heard about some things. Thus, he also knew how terrifying the thing within the deep darkness was. Elder Liu might not be able to see it, but that didn''t mean Gu He couldn''t. At this moment, under Gu He''s powerful soul perception, what surged up from the endless darkness was a massive invisible flame serpent, about ten meters thick and hundreds of meters long. The flame serpent was enveloped in somewhat distorted flames, its huge mouth wide open, with fangs as thick as an adult''s thigh emitting a twisted fluctuation. Its pair of large triangular eyes continuously shot out invisible flames. With a roar of anger, the flame serpent shot out from the darkness. However, just as it was about to reach about five meters above the dark hole, the surrounding space suddenly fluctuated violently. At that moment, the space around the hole bizarrely twisted to form a spatial cage. Despite the flame serpent''s immense momentum, when it collided with the spatial cage, it only caused the cage to fluctuate for a while without any other effect. Realizing that a breakthrough was hopeless, the flame serpent became somewhat frenzied. Invisible flames poured out from its huge mouth, covering the sky and burning the spatial cage. Unfortunately, no matter how it burned, the spatial cage remained firmly in place. After struggling madly for a while, the invisible flame serpent finally seemed exhausted. It let out a roar filled with rage, then the space continuously twisted, and the serpent turned back into the invisible, diving back into the depths of the dark hole. As the flame serpent disappeared, the spatial cage gradually faded until it finally vanished. "Tsk tsk, it has already condensed a flame spirit with emotions and intelligence!" Feeling the aura of the invisible flame serpent, Gu He inwardly exclaimed: "Such intelligence is comparable to some seventh-rank magical beasts that can transform into human forms!" The flame spirit Gu He mentioned is a different kind of life born from pure flames. "Thank you, Elder Gu!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Elder Liu''s expression eased somewhat. Once again, he glanced apprehensively at the deep, bottomless hole before turning to leave. Following Elder Liu''s steps, Gu He also left the central area of the tower. "Elder Gu, do you want to continue down to the lower levels?" At the entrance connecting to the second floor, Elder Liu paused. "There''s no need. I was merely curious about the tower''s effect on accelerating cultivation. But it seems to be of no use to me!" Gu He shook his head. "Haha, Elder Gu is right. At our level, the high temperature inside the tower indeed has little effect!" Elder Liu laughed heartily. "Elder Liu!" Suddenly, a faint, cool voice rang in the ears of Gu He and Elder Liu. Gu He looked towards the source of the voice and saw a young woman dressed in a silver gown. She was tall, with a slightly slender face that bore a rare beauty. Her skin was as white as snow, her features were like a painting, and most surprisingly, her waist-length hair was a rare silver. The silver hair, matched with her silver gown, emanated a distant and cold temperament, making her seem as if she was to be admired from afar but not to be disrespected. Seeing this figure, Gu He immediately guessed the identity of the woman. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 249: Breaking the Seal of the Fallen Heart Flame Chapter 249: Breaking the Seal of the Fallen Heart Flame Chapter 249: Breaking the Seal of the Fallen Heart Flame Han Yue! Looking at the woman with silver hair and her mid-level Dou Spirit strength, Gu He was certain that this woman was Han Yue. Speaking of which, in the inner court of Canaan Academy, Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, and Han Yue all had quite good talents. If appropriate, Gu He wouldn''t mind taking on a few more disciples. "Hehe, it turns out to be Miss Yue. Which level do you plan to enter for cultivation this time?" While Gu He was pondering, Elder Liu beside him had already started conversing with the woman in the silver dress with a smile on his face. "The fifth level!" The woman in the silver dress hesitated slightly before replying. Hearing the woman''s answer, Elder Liu was surprised and couldn''t help exclaiming, "Good, good! At this rate, it won''t be many years before you can compete for an elder position in this inner court. Your cultivation talent and speed are truly astonishing!" "It''s all thanks to the blessings of the Sky Blazing Qi Refining Tower. Without it, I definitely couldn''t achieve this level on my own!" the woman in the silver dress humbly said, then glanced at Gu He next to Elder Liu with a flash of curiosity in her eyes. "By the way, I almost forgot to introduce him to you. This is Elder Gu He, a new elder at the academy!" Seeing the woman''s gaze towards Gu He, Elder Liu quickly introduced him. Is this Elder Gu He, the new six-rank alchemist in the academy? Hearing Elder Liu''s introduction, Han Yue was very surprised. Just a moment ago, she thought that Gu He standing next to Elder Liu was a senior brother with high seniority in the academy. "Han Yue pays her respects to Elder Gu!" Upon learning of Gu He''s identity, Han Yue bowed very formally to him. Han Yue came from a prominent family in the Northern Region of Central Province, with many Dou Emperor experts and even a Dou Ancestor in her family. Normally, she didn''t pay much attention to ordinary elders in the academy, but for a six-rank alchemist like Gu He, even her father would treat him with respect. So at this moment, she was particularly respectful. "No need for such formalities!" Facing Han Yue''s salute, Gu He replied with a warm smile. After Gu He spoke, Han Yue suddenly said, "Elder Gu, I have a question for you!" "Ask away!" Gu He casually waved his hand. "Why haven''t we seen the ''Barbarian King'' come to the tower for cultivation for a long time?" Han Yue asked with confusion in her eyes. She had heard about Gu He taking Zi Yan as his disciple, but since the Sky Blazing Qi Refining Tower had recently reopened after being closed for nearly half a month, Zi Yan had never come, which made her quite curious. "Hehe, the ''Barbarian King''? Are you talking about Zi Yan?" Gu He laughed lightly when he heard Han Yue''s question. "Yes, I''m used to calling her that!" Han Yue said somewhat embarrassedly: "I wonder what she has been doing during this time." "Ah, Zi Yan hasn''t been as diligent and hardworking in her cultivation as you all. She just knows to stay in my courtyard, clamoring for me to feed her spirit medicines and pills. She eats up dozens of spirit herbs a day!" Gu He sighed, showing a frustrated expression. What! Hearing Gu He''s words, Han Yue was tremendously shocked and blurted out: "Who can afford to consume dozens of spirit herbs a day?" "I can still afford these spirit medicines. Besides, even if I can''t afford it, I must support her, as she is my disciple!" Gu He said with a bit of helplessness on his face. At this moment, even Elder Liu beside them wore the same surprised expression as Han Yue. However, after their initial surprise, both of them felt immensely envious of Zi Yan. Thinking of Zi Yan''s treatment under Gu He, Han Yue couldn''t help but have a somewhat strange thought herself. The next moment, Han Yue''s face showed a bit of expectation, and she hesitantly asked, "Elder Gu... are you still accepting disciples?" Hearing Han Yue''s words, both Gu He and Elder Liu were quite surprised. While everyone was puzzled, the endless world of magma suddenly began to churn violently, and an extremely fierce energy filled the area. As the magma rolled, it seemed as if something was about to break through the surface. After a moment, the churning magma suddenly quieted down, but Soo Qian''s gaze did not relax; he clearly felt that the violent energy was getting closer to the surface of the magma. "Whoosh!" The calm surface of the magma suddenly lifted in a wave, and amidst the flying magma, a massive, nearly transparent serpent head, at least ten meters long and covered with invisible flames, burst through the magma, bringing with it a formidable energy that shook the space around it. "Sss!" Breaking through the magma, the gigantic transparent fire serpent, as if it had been imprisoned for a thousand years, raised its massive head. The piercing sound waves that it emitted were enough to cause an ordinary Dou Spirit to burst on the spot, spreading rapidly. With the spread of the sound waves, the world of magma seemed as if numerous bombs had been dropped into it. The deep rumbling sounds continued, and magma and flames violently spewed everywhere. After a nearly frenzied release, the massive transparent fire serpent, as if sensing the gaze from above, suddenly raised its huge head with invisible flame-filled triangular pupils and locked its gaze firmly on Soo Qian at the entrance of the deep hole! With his body locked by the transparent fire energy from below, Soo Qian suddenly felt a chill, as if his entire body had been scanned inside out by the opponent. The serpent''s gaze locked on Soo Qian, and almost instantly, an extremely terrifying wave of energy surged from its massive body. The level of ferocity and magnitude of this energy made even Soo Qian feel a chill. "Sss!" Another violent, sharp sound wave burst forth, and the massive body of the invisible fire serpent suddenly slapped the magma. At once, its nearly twenty to thirty meters long colossal body, like invisible lightning, charged up the deep hole with scorching temperatures and fierce energy! "This beast is going to break the seal!" Soo Qian''s face changed, he tapped the edge of the platform with his foot, and his figure flashed out of the energy shield. His hands moved rapidly, and suddenly, the energy at the mouth of the deep hole surged violently, eventually forming a huge energy shield that tightly sealed the entrance. At the moment his hand seals moved, a thunderous shout erupted from Soo Qian''s mouth. The vibrant energy shield, like a colorful lid, tightly closed off the entrance to the deep hole. As the energy shield formed, the space around it immediately rippled with waves, showing that despite appearing to be hastily formed, the energy shield possessed immense power. This extremely powerful energy shield was a pre-set seal by the inner courtyard, which any elder could activate in critical moments to guard against the sudden outburst of the Heartflame. However, despite the strength of the energy shield, when an extremely hot temperature approached in the blink of an eye, its surface immediately rippled like a lake surface struck by a huge stone. "Boom!" A massive blood-red column of magma burst from the endless depths below, carrying a force capable of moving mountains and seas, and violently struck the colorful energy shield. Instantly, a dull sound echoed throughout the bottom of the tower. The moment the sound started, tiny cracks began to climb over the energy shield, changing Soo Qian''s expression slightly. Finally, with a crisp sound, it burst open! As the energy shield shattered, a massive, several tens of meters wide column of blood-red magma, like a volcanic eruption, burst out of the last seal and violently struck the spire of the Sky Blazing Qi Refining Tower. "Boom!" A deep sound like thunder suddenly boomed in everyone''s ears. In this collision, akin to meteors colliding, the entire Sky Blazing Qi Refining Tower trembled violently. The blood-red magma column struck the spire of the Sky Blazing Qi Refining Tower heavily, but did not cause the latter to crack due to its fierce momentum. At the moment of impact, the pitch-black spire immediately revealed a slightly dark, thin energy shield. Although this shield appeared frail, merely less than a finger thick, it was this thin layer of dark energy that blocked the formidable magma column! Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 250: Seizing the Fallen Heart Flame Chapter 250: Seizing the Fallen Heart Flame Chapter 250: Seizing the Fallen Heart Flame The assault failed, and countless debris shot out from the magma, splashing against the surrounding energy shield. Upon contact, they were instantly pulverized by the furious energy of the shield. However, after the failure, the blood-red magma column didn''t dissipate but merely dropped a few dozen meters, with hot waves continuously churning above the blood-red magma. Moments later, the waves surged dramatically, and a gigantic transparent flame serpent, causing everyone to stare in astonishment, slowly emerged from the fiery waves, revealing a massive and fierce head. Outside the plaza, the students watching the massive head and a part of the body of the invisible flame serpent were filled with terror. At this time, Gu He, accompanied by Zi Yan, also arrived at the outskirts of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower plaza. "Teacher, what is that thing?" Zi Yan asked Gu He curiously when suddenly, the huge head emerging from the magma column started to gaze towards them with a pair of pure white triangular pupils. "How terrifying!" Under the gaze of those pure white triangular pupils, Zi Yan screamed in shock, then hid behind Gu He, too scared to look. Meanwhile, Su Qian remained unmoved as the invisible flame serpent glanced at him for a moment, and finding nothing, withdrew its gaze. It raised its head, staring intently at the pitch-black spire where a curtain-like black energy was slowly rotating. "Squeak!" Suddenly, the invisible flame serpent emitted an extremely sharp screech, and an invisible sound wave spread out, striking the surrounding energy walls and causing them to ripple violently. As the sharp screech subsided, the flame serpent''s massive mouth opened wide, and a vast wave of invisible flames burst out violently. Even from behind the energy shield, everyone could feel an intense heat. Seeing this, all the students swiftly gathered Dou Qi shields around themselves. The next moment, the invisible flames charged towards the dark energy membrane at the end of the energy barrier, causing space to distort along its path, appearing like wrinkles on a piece of clothing. The temperature capable of distorting space itself could incinerate a human body to ashes in an instant if touched. The invisible flames'' ejection was not fast, taking about thirty seconds to reach the dark energy membrane with terrifyingly high temperatures. Upon contact, there was no explosive noise like before but rather a continuous hissing as if hot oil met ice, emitting similar smoke. "So, you''ve come for the Heavenly Flame!" Hearing the shadow''s words, the other elders also understood his intentions. "Coming to Jia Nan Academy alone, aren''t you a bit too confident?" Su Qian coldly said. "You''ll know soon enough whether I''m too confident or not!" Casually responding to Su Qian, the shadow summoned several pitch-black chains around him. These chains, emanating a chilling coldness, swiftly lashed towards Su Qian. Seeing this, Su Qian formed hand seals, and a giant azure Dou Qi whip condensed from his hands, then fiercely collided with the incoming chains. Instantly, a wave that seemed to shatter the void erupted. After the intense fluctuations, everyone was astonished to see the giant azure Dou Qi whip had vanished, while the black chains continued their unimpeded assault towards Su Qian. Simultaneously, Su Qian''s figure began to retreat rapidly. "What, the Grand Elder has been overpowered in just one move?" "This person from the Soul Hall is terrifyingly powerful!" Seeing Su Qian was no match for the shadow, the faces of the other elders were filled with astonishment. At that moment, a thunderous explosion that seemed to split mountains and fracture the earth suddenly echoed through the sky. Subsequently, the indestructibly solid spire of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower burst open, and the scorching column of magma erupted under the shocked gazes of those in the distance! (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 251: The Elders Take Action! Chapter 251: The Elders Take Action! Chapter 251: The Elders Take Action! The molten lava flowed like a pillar of fire, bursting straight out from the tip of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower. At that moment, the energy between heaven and earth within the inner court suddenly erupted. Breaking through the seal of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, an excited and sharp scream burst out from the lava flow like thunder, and immediately, lava scattered all over the sky. Where the lava fell, fierce flames rose instantly, turning the area within several dozen meters around the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower into a sea of fire in a short time. As the lava scattered, a massive ethereal fire python, several dozen meters in length, burst out, reveling in the long-lost freedom. Its huge triangular eyes were filled with a very human-like ecstasy. "Ha ha, the beast has come out on its own!" Seeing the ethereal fire python break through the seal, a dark shadow in the clouds laughed wildly and stepped out, gazing down below. Soon, a figure shrouded in a black robe except for the face emerged. At this moment, after the fire python broke through the seal of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, the black-robed man''s attack on Su Qian instantly halted. Stepping aside, Su Qian narrowed his eyes. He had planned to use a great formation to seal the fire python once the seal was broken, but the arrival of the black-robed man completely disrupted his plans. Now, there was simply no time to organize a formation. Moreover, after only one exchange with the black-robed man, Su Qian realized the terrifying gap between them. He could feel that the black-robed man had held back a lot, seemingly not intending to kill him outright. "Could he be wary of something?" Su Qian murmured softly. The next moment, the ethereal fire python that had burst out of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower did not choose to flee directly. Facing the place that had imprisoned it for countless years, it wanted to vent its rage. The ethereal fire python raised its huge head, and its long tail swept towards the body of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower. "Boom!" The python''s huge tail smashed against the black tower, immediately causing countless stones to fall off, and a huge crack appeared on the body of the tower. As the tower shook violently, streams of lava spurted from the tip, spreading in all directions. Unfortunately, this second fire column was aimed directly at where Gu He was. "Elder Gu, be careful!" "Elder Gu, dodge quickly!" Seeing Gu He in that position, seven or eight inner court elders excitedly called out to warn him. Suddenly, without any warning, two figures in grey robes appeared around Gu He. With their withered hands on Gu He''s shoulders, they blinked and pulled Gu He out from under the attack of the fire column. Some inner court elders who were specifically watching Gu He''s side also noticed the existence of these two mysterious grey figures, and they were all taken aback. Su Qian seemed to suddenly remember something, his eyes quickly filling with ecstasy as he muttered softly, "These old immortals... finally decided to take action." "The Grand Elder, who are they?" Behind Su Qian, a few inner court elders also asked with some astonishment. Although they did not feel any powerful force emanating from the two mysterious grey figures, they felt a strange oppression enveloping their hearts and souls. "The guardians of Jia Nan College," Su Qian slowly said. "But they would never act unless Jia Nan College faced a life-and-death situation..." Towards the end, Su Qian couldn''t help but show some lingering fear on his face. "Guardians?" Many inner court elders looked at the two grey figures with blank eyes, murmuring to themselves in a low voice. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 252: The Escape of the Fallen Heart Flame! Chapter 252: The Escape of the Fallen Heart Flame! Chapter 252: The Escape of the Fallen Heart Flame! "Thank you, seniors, for your rescue!" After being taken away from the attack range of the ethereal fire python''s flame column by the two grey-robed elders, Gu He expressed his gratitude. The two grey-robed elders simply nodded slightly in response to Gu He''s words of thanks and then looked down at the rampaging ethereal fire python with serious gazes. "Su Qian, take people to set up the grand formation again. Leave this matter to us!" Suddenly, one of the grey-robed elders shouted at Su Qian. Hearing the words of the grey-robed person, Su Qian did not hesitate to follow the instructions. "All elders, follow me to set up the Thousand-Layer Seal!" ... After Su Qian and the group of elders left, the only targets left in front of the fire python were the two grey-robed people and the black-robed person who had been observing from above. "People from the Soul Hall, also a Nine-Star Dou Zong!" "It seems things are a bit troublesome." Feeling the aura emanating from the black-robed person, the faces of the two grey-robed elders showed considerable apprehension. However, since the black-robed person had not yet made a move, the two elders temporarily ignored him, focusing all their attention on the ethereal fire python. "Let''s stop this beast first, try not to let it escape." After reaching a consensus, one elder appeared on each side of the fire python''s body. Then, both of them quickly formed seals with their hands, launching terrifying grey fighting spirit chains at the massive body of the ethereal fire python. Immediately, painful screams seemed to emanate from the ethereal fire python. "You two old things! I''ll help you!" Just as the grey-robed people were fully engaged in stopping the ethereal fire python''s movements, the black-robed person above the Sky-Burning Qi Tower finally started to move. As he continuously formed seals with his hands, the sky within the inner court instantly turned dark. A football-sized, terrifying black energy that seemed to shred space itself condensed in his palm. Sensing the terrifying aura emanating from this black energy, the faces of the inner court elders preparing to form a formation to resist the ethereal fire python drastically changed. If hit by this energy, nearly half of the present elders might die or be injured. "Be careful!" Seeing such terrifying energy condensing in the hands of the black-robed person. Su Qian and the two grey-robed people who had just appeared all loudly warned everyone. "Check if anyone was injured in the recent fluctuation." After stopping Su Qian, the grey-robed elder did not chase after the black-robed figure like the others. Now, checking for casualties and rebuilding Canaan Academy was the top priority. ... Half an hour later. The massive body of the ethereal fire python appeared in the vast mountains of the chaotic region. Behind it, the black-robed figure was in hot pursuit. Suddenly, in the direction where the massive ethereal flame was heading, a bizarre twist in space appeared. Sensing this anomaly, the ethereal fire python''s body paused. Then, a crack appeared in that twisted space, and a middle-aged man emerged from the crack. This person who emerged from the crack was Gu He. While the inner courtyard was in chaos, he took the opportunity to travel through space and chase after it with a clone. ... "Screech!" At this moment, in the deep mountains, a sharp scream suddenly roared into the sky. The ethereal fire python materialized from a ball of flames, and upon seeing Gu He blocking its path, a very human-like rage flashed through its snake pupils. Opening its ferocious mouth, it immediately spewed a torrent of ethereal flames towards Gu He. However, facing the intense heat coming his way, Gu He''s figure stood firmly in place without wavering. In his right palm, a surging purple flame burst out, its temperature even hotter than the attack of the ethereal fire python. "Boom!" As the two flames collided, a loud explosion sounded, and a wave of incredibly hot energy fluctuated from the point of impact, making the already dry environment even hotter, as if one was in the midst of a furnace. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 253: Capturing the Falling Heart Flame! Chapter 253: Capturing the Falling Heart Flame! Chapter 253: Capturing the Falling Heart Flame! Above the clear sky, it was dominated by strands of ethereal flames, all hovering around the ethereal fire python, like soldiers ready to attack at any moment. With a sharp screech echoing, the sky full of flames flickered, and strands of ethereal flame fell towards the ground like meteors. "This is excellent, the energy of this thing seems inexhaustible!" Seeing the ethereal fire python quickly recover after a clash with him, Gu He couldn''t help but praise. Gu He knew that what he was seeing was just the external form of the Falling Heart Flame. The real essence of the Falling Heart Flame was hidden within a certain part of this massive body. Finding and damaging that essence would severely injure the Falling Heart Flame. The next moment, a wisp of purple flame surged into Gu He''s dark pupils. Searching for the essence! He murmured almost to himself! Gu He''s vision of the world changed abruptly. Below the giant mouth of the ethereal fire python in the sky, a patch of snake scales slowly revealed a group of flames that seemed invisible yet perceptible. Seeing this, Gu He''s eyes gradually cleared, and then he left an afterimage on the spot, appearing in front of the fire python as if teleporting. In Gu He''s hand, a purple flame spear appeared out of nowhere. Then, holding the purple flame spear, Gu He swiftly stabbed it into the snake scale below the giant mouth of the Falling Heart Flame. The next moment, the ethereal fire python suddenly raised its massive head, emitting a sharp sound wave mixed with unmistakable pain, echoing mournfully in the sky! As the mournful screech just began, the body of the ethereal fire python gradually became ethereal. Between its fading form, a group of strange flame light, seemingly invisible yet perceptible, became more brilliant in a specific spot below the giant mouth. Taking advantage of his success, Gu He once again stabbed the purple flame spear into the spot of flame light below the giant mouth. With Gu He''s spear stabbing again, a mournful screech suddenly echoed through the sky once more, and the pervasive ethereal flames abruptly disappeared as if they had never existed. Hearing Su Qian''s words, the two grey-robed figures coughed awkwardly and said, "We also went through this in our time. Being the Grand Elder isn''t so easy... By the way, has that old guy really not come back for over a decade?" "Yes, that''s right," Su Qian nodded affirmatively. "Sigh... At our level, it''s also time to go into seclusion to prepare for the breakthrough to Dou Zong. Luckily, Elder Bai came out of his seclusion just in time this time; otherwise, even if something really happened in Jia Nan Academy, we wouldn''t have sensed it," the elder known as Qian Mu said somewhat relievedly. "Elder Qian, Elder Bai, the situation in the Black-Corner Region has undergone earth-shattering changes recently!" Su Qian suddenly said with a grave expression: "It''s said that the Blood Sect''s Fan Lao, the Black Emperor Sect''s Mo Tianxing, Han Feng of Maple City, and the Old Demon from the Mo Flame Valley, along with their forces, have all been eradicated by the Soul Hall!" "What, really?" Qian Mu exclaimed in surprise. Bai Lie expressed confusion, "The Soul Hall''s actions don''t seem to be so reckless!" "Yes, they''ve always acted very covertly and low-key, how come they''ve become so high-profile this time?" Qian Mu also echoed. Clearly, despite their surprise, the two grey-robed elders were not fully convinced by Su Qian''s words. "Su Qian, the Old Ground Demon was also killed by the Soul Hall?" Bai Lie suddenly asked. "Elder Bai, are you happy to hear that old guy is dead?" "No, no!" Bai Lie shook his head: "Although I do wish he was dead, if even that old guy was killed, it means that the one who did it is not to be underestimated. Regardless of whether it was the Soul Hall''s doing, the situation for Jia Nan Academy is quite grave!" (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 254: Aftermath! The Return! Chapter 254: Aftermath! The Return! Chapter 254: Aftermath! The Return! Inside the Jia Nan Academy''s inner courtyard. Zi Yan, with her small hand clutching a purple ponytail, stood somewhat dazedly next to the huge crater created by the black-robed person''s attack. "Teacher, where did you go?" Zi Yan murmured sadly, gazing at the ruins around her. Just a moment ago, she had returned to the inner courtyard after receiving a signal, but after asking seven or eight elders in the academy, not a single one had seen Gu He. As she pondered, Zi Yan''s gem-like eyes suddenly dimmed, and then she burst into tears, "Wuu... Where are you, master? Who will give me spiritual medicine and pills to eat if you''re gone..." Just then, a figure in white robes not far behind Zi Yan heard her crying and couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth. "I''ve only been gone for a short while, and this little one is already wailing?" Hearing the noise from behind, Zi Yan quickly turned her head and, upon seeing Gu He, her face instantly brightened, revealing a row of white teeth. "Hehe, it''s so good to see you''re okay, teacher. I thought you..." "Thought your teacher was dead?" Gu He glanced at Zi Yan, saying somewhat irritably. Seeing Gu He''s expression, Zi Yan suddenly lowered her head, fiddling with her purple ponytail, too scared to speak. At this moment, an elder from the academy passed by and, noticing Gu He, excitedly said, "Elder Gu He, it''s so good to see you. The Grand Elder and others are looking for you in the council hall to discuss something." Hearing this, Gu He nodded slightly, "I understand. I''ll come with you." Zi Yan, seeing Gu He being called away by the Grand Elder, stuck out her tongue and smiled mischievously. ... Inside the council hall of the Jia Nan Academy''s inner courtyard. Su Qian, along with the two guardians, Elder Bai and Elder Qian, stood at the center, surrounded by a dozen Dou Huang realm elders. "Elder Qian, Elder Bai, the Falling Heart Flame has escaped from the tower and is now untraceable!" Su Qian sighed, "Our inner courtyard''s Sky-Burning Qi Refining Tower has lost its original purpose."Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com "Yes, the Sky-Burning Qi Refining Tower is crucial to the foundation of Jia Nan Academy. Now, all we can do is hope for the dean to return soon," Bai Lie and Qian Mu nodded in agreement. At this moment, Gu He also understood some of the reasons why Su Qian had sought him out. What Su Qian had in mind was that with so many incidents happening in the Inner Academy today, including the terrifying attack by the man in the black robe and the huge invisible fire python rampaging within, it would make someone who had just joined the Inner Academy not long ago feel insecure. Therefore, at this moment, Su Qian and the others were very calm and confident in the meeting hall, aiming to stabilize everyone''s morale. Understanding their intentions but choosing not to voice them, Gu He did not worry about these matters. "Indeed, Jia Nan Academy is currently very safe in this Black Corner Region!" Gu He said, going along with their conversation. ... After the meeting among the leaders of the Inner Academy ended, Gu He slowly returned to his courtyard. "Master, you''re back! What did the elders say?" Zi Yan, who had been waiting for a long time, asked curiously in the yard. "They didn''t say much, mainly about some reconstruction issues of the Inner Academy and changes to the rewards for the future strength rankings," Gu He replied indifferently. In the yard, upon hearing Gu He''s words, Zi Yan''s bright and black eyes showed a thoughtful look. The reward for the strength rankingsFire Energy, had long been useless to her. Now that it was changed to something else, it naturally attracted her interest. "Manage it yourself. If you can''t win the first place, you won''t have spiritual medicine pills to eat in the future!" Leaving Zi Yan with these words, Gu He then entered the room and quickly set up a seal. At his heart, suddenly, a group of invisible flames emitted a strong light. This invisible flame was the essence of the Fallen Heart Flame, but now, it had completely lost the violence it had when it first escaped its confinement. At this moment, it quietly stayed in Gu He''s heart, constantly refining his body. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 255: Zi Yan: You Guys Go Together! Chapter 255: Zi Yan: You Guys Go Together! Chapter 255: Zi Yan: You Guys Go Together! The reconstruction and repair speed of Jia Nan Academy this time was astonishingly fast. In just three days, with the joint efforts of many elders and students, the Inner Academy was once again rejuvenated. After these three days of busyness, the students gradually began to diminish the impact of the invisible fire python and the man in the black robe. On the fifth day. A huge square in the Inner Academy was filled with countless heads, creating a bustling scene that spread in all directions and finally converged into a force that shot straight into the sky. The reason for such a large gathering in the square today was because the most explosive "Strength Ranking" competition of the Inner Academy was about to be held here. In the central area of the square, five platforms were neatly divided as the competition venues. At this moment, on a higher stand in the square, many contestants were standing, looking down at the dense crowd below with fervent eyes. This competition was almost a symbol of the clash among the most outstanding students in the Inner Academy. As talents gathered from all over the continent, each contestant was proud and ambitious, hoping to stand out in this highly competitive event. Without a solid foundation, one would likely become a stepping stone for others. Among these people, a young man in a blue robe, with a handsome appearance, was particularly eye-catching. The young man, about twenty-five years old, always had a smiling demeanor, making him extremely likable. His light blue robe and his calm and collected presence were astonishing. This person was Lin Xiu Ya, ranked second on the Strength Ranking. Around him were Li Qing, ranked third, along with Han Yue, Yan Hao, and others. "Lin Xiu Ya, I heard that the rewards for the top ten of the Strength Ranking are different this time. The rewards for the previous top ten were the same, but now, the higher the ranking, the better the reward," Yan Hao suddenly said. "Is that so!"Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com Hearing Yan Hao''s words, Lin Xiu Ya began to look forward to the competition. The cold and beautiful Han Yue also heard their conversation, showing an unusual expression in her eyes. "If this time''s reward could help me break through a star level within a month, that would be great!" Han Yue murmured to herself. At this moment, at a certain place below the stage, a little girl dressed in white clothes slowly climbed up the stairs. Then, under the countless stunned gazes around her, she walked to the very front of the crowd, seemingly chewing on something, looking around curiously. Zi Yan''s identity was not widely known within the Inner Academy, perhaps only by those on the Strength Ranking and some older students. For some of the newer students who came later, they had never heard of this name, after all, Zi Yan did not often appear in the Inner Academy, and no one dared to challenge her. Therefore, this led to the people in the Inner Academy knowing about Lin Xiu Ya, Li Qing, and others, but not knowing that the person who surpassed them all on the Strength Ranking, was actually such a cute little girl. As whispers spread among the surrounding stands, the faces of some contestants in the arena began to look unnatural, aside from those who had recently squeezed into the "Strength Ranking." Most of them showed a hint of fear, and their reaction left the watching students quite puzzled. Zi Yan, however, ignored the surrounding gazes, continuously chewing on the spiritual medicine pills Gu He had refined for her. Her leisurely appearance showed no urgency as the competition approached. If this were two years ago, there would have been some who could compete with her in the Inner Academy, but now those powerhouses had all graduated and left. As time passed, she remained in the Inner Academy with the appearance of a little girl, becoming the longest-staying student here. "Alright, almost everyone is here, and the competition can almost begin. However, before the competition starts, I want to remind you all that this is just a contest, and it must not be turned into a fight to the death..." After Su Qian gave instructions to the students. The Strength Ranking competition reached the crucial lottery drawing phase. As the top contenders of the Strength Ranking each drew a bamboo slip from the stone platform. Zi Yan suddenly spoke in an impatient tone towards the high platform, "Great Elder, this way of drawing lots for matches is a bit too time-consuming for me. Why not let them all come up at once? I can finish up and be done with it." (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 256: Overwhelming Power! Chapter 256: Overwhelming Power! Chapter 256: Overwhelming Power! Hearing this voice, the crowd, puzzled, turned their gaze towards Zi Yan. When they realized the speaker was just a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, except for those who knew Zi Yan, the others who were unaware were completely dumbfounded. Who was this little girl who dared to speak to the Great Elder in such a manner, and even more audaciously, claimed she wanted everyone to come at her together? Even some of the elders were quite surprised. Although Zi Yan indeed held an advantage among the students, the remaining dozens of people on the strength leaderboard were not pushovers. Zi Yan''s wish to defeat everyone at once seemed overly arrogant. At this moment, Su Qian on the high platform chuckled bitterly and shook his head. He had noticed some changes in Zi Yan''s strength, but he only knew that Zi Yan had recently broken through to the Dou King realm, unaware that her real realm had reached the peak of Dou King. "Zi Yan, are you sure you want to fight them all at once?" Su Qian asked thoughtfully. "Of course!" Zi Yan placed her hands on her hips and nodded vigorously, looking quite mature for her age. "Since that''s the case, I''ll make an exception and let you try today. However, I have two conditions." "Speak!" Zi Yan shrugged, indifferently. Hearing the Great Elder actually agreed to the little girl''s request, the vast majority of the audience was somewhat astonished. The strength ranking competition had turned into a group of elites attacking a little girl. The strongest reaction came from those who were about to become Zi Yan''s opponents. Even Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, and Yan Hao, who knew of Zi Yan''s identity, couldn''t help but frown. "Strong as Zi Yan is, she shouldn''t completely disregard us, right?" "Yeah, she actually said she wanted to challenge everyone, as if we were ants?" "Fellows, make sure not to hold back. If we lose this time, we''ll lose all face." Amidst a noisy buzz of discussion, Su Qian announced his two conditions for Zi Yan: "First, remember not to take lives; second, if you fail in your challenge, no matter what rank you end up with, there will be no rewards for you." "Alright, hurry up and announce the start!" Zi Yan impatiently flicked her purple ponytail, grinding her neat and cute teeth against each other. "Attention, all students on the strength leaderboard. You can now all join forces against Zi Yan. If you manage to defeat her together, then this ranking will have nothing to do with Zi Yan!" Su Qian''s words reached every student''s ears. Hearing Su Qian''s words, those on the strength leaderboard, especially those ranked higher, were even more excited. Seeing Zi Yan fly into the air with purple wings on her back, everyone momentarily forgot to attack. Zi Yan in the air didn''t care about their hesitation. Swinging her small fists, she flew next to Lin Xiuya and, after holding back some of her strength, quickly struck him in the chest. With just one punch, Lin Xiuya''s Dou Qi armor instantly shattered, and he let out a scream before flying backward. "Heh, and you thought you could take the first-place reward from me!" Laughing, Zi Yan didn''t look at Lin Xiuya, who had been sent flying. Instead, she turned her gaze towards Liu Qing, who was holding a domineering black spear, and then gestured with her hand. Just being glanced at by Zi Yan made Liu Qing''s hand, holding the black spear, tremble uncontrollably. "Senior Sister Zi Yan, please don''t hit my face!" Seeing Zi Yan flying towards him, Liu Qing prayed in his heart. Then, the originally upright and tough Liu Qing actually threw away his spear and covered his face with both hands in front of everyone. Flying close, Zi Yan extended a finger and lightly flicked Liu Qing''s forehead, immediately causing a quail egg-sized lump to appear. "Ah!..." In an instant, Liu Qing let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered. "How is this possible!" "Zi Yan is already at the Dou King realm. Do these students still need to continue comparing themselves with her?" Upon realizing Zi Yan''s strength, several elders couldn''t help but bitterly smile. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 257: Han Yue! Chapter 257: Han Yue! Chapter 257: Han Yue! After effortlessly kicking Liu Qing away, Zi Yan''s figure flashed again, and in just a few breaths'' time, several more figures were sent flying. Soon, within a twenty-meter radius around Zi Yan, not a single person could stand. "I admit defeat!" Suddenly, a cold voice came from the outer edge of the field. Following the direction of the voice, the crowd then realized that it was Han Yue, the cold beauty ranked within the top ten of the strength leaderboard. "I also admit defeat!" "I''m out, I admit defeat." After Han Yue, the remaining thirty or so people almost unanimously declared their defeat. "So boring!" Seeing everyone choose to admit defeat so quickly, a look of disappointment couldn''t help but appear on Zi Yan''s exquisitely beautiful face. The students watching from the sidelines were also speechless. Who could have thought that a Dou Wang powerhouse, and a little girl at that, would emerge in a competition among students? "Great Elder! What''s the reward for first place?"Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com After everyone had admitted defeat, Zi Yan, still in mid-air, gradually turned her gaze towards Su Qian. At this time, hearing Zi Yan asking about the reward, Lin Xiuya, who had been knocked down and hadn''t gotten up, suddenly perked up a bit, closing his eyes and pricking up his ears to listen. "You little girl, what''s the rush? You''ll naturally find out once the results of the competition are all in!" Su Qian said with a smile on his face. "So troublesome." Fiddling with her purple ponytail, Zi Yan muttered and then flew towards the outside of the plaza. Seeing Zi Yan win, the expressions on the faces of the other elders around Su Qian were extremely rich. For this strength competition, after discussion, all the rewards were collected by the elders through drawing lots from their own pockets. Furthermore, during the drawing of lots, Gu He happened to draw the lot for collecting the reward for the first place. "Haha, it looks like Elder Gu He hasn''t lost anything at all!" Thud! The white frost shot by Han Yue was completely blocked by Yan Hao''s swing of the hammer. However, as Yan Hao raised his arm, Han Yue had already launched a second attack, swiftly aiming for Yan Hao''s feet. Yan Hao swung his hammer down hard at the ground, but it was a moment too late. The frost was only cut off from the latter half, with the front half already reaching Yan Hao''s feet. "Ouch!" A chill rose from Yan Hao''s feet, and combined with the pain from his shoulder, made him shiver. Originally, Yan Hao''s hammer technique was not only powerful and wide-ranging but also quick and responsive. However, after being kicked by Zi Yan, his wound had been aching. Even though Yan Hao was hit by Han Yue''s frost, the moment his black iron hammer smashed into the ground, a vast and potent deep yellow energy burst out from the crack it created, aiming directly beneath Han Yue. Han Yue, seeing Yan Hao''s move, showed a hint of panic on her face, lightly tapped the ground with her toes, and moved upwards, just as the deep yellow energy swept beneath her skirt after she had lifted off the ground. "Haha, in this hot weather, Han Yue, your move is truly refreshing!" Seeing Han Yue dodge the attack, Yan Hao laughed heartily, suddenly shattering his upper garment as Dou Qi surged within him. His skin turned as hard as rock, displaying a gray-white color. Yan Hao''s Dou Qi belonged to the earth category, specifically the rare rock Dou Qi, which made the practitioner''s body as hard as rock. Watching Yan Hao''s transformation, Han Yue''s gaze sharpened. She knew that this state would temporarily alleviate the injuries caused by Zi Yan and significantly enhance Yan Hao''s defensive capabilities. Although Yan Hao temporarily overcame the impact of Zi Yan''s attack, it didn''t guarantee his victory over Han Yue. Han Yue wielded ice-type Dou Qi, not relying on brute force for her attacks. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 258: The Tournament Reward Chapter 258: The Tournament Reward Chapter 258: The Tournament Reward Yan Hao, enveloped in earthy Dou Qi, swung his hammer again, launching a yellow earthy energy towards Han Yue. Han Yue quickly countered with a blast of white energy.Rread latest chapters at novelhall.com A loud explosion sounded as the two energies collided in mid-air. At that moment, Yan Hao, stomping heavily on the floor, quickly closed in on Han Yue. He swung his hammer with such force that, had it hit Han Yue''s small frame, she likely would have been smashed into a pulp. In this straightforward contest of strength, Han Yue naturally wouldn''t meet him head-on. The moment the huge black hammer was swung, she swiftly retreated five steps. Simultaneously, she flicked a finer strand of white cold energy towards Yan Hao''s right arm, leaving a grey-white mark on his skin. The cold energy quickly penetrated Yan Hao''s muscles, causing his movements to become slightly sluggish. After several more exchanges, Yan Hao''s movements became increasingly slower, and eventually, the grey-white color on his body began to fade. "I give up! You win!" Yan Hao, whose Dou Qi was heavily depleted by his defensive stance, could not sustain the fight and conceded early. "The biggest dark horse of this strength competition turned out to be Han Yue." "After this fight, Yan Hao is probably going to be in pain for a while." "It''s said that Lin Xiuya barely fought one match before he had to go back to recuperate and hasn''t come out since!" Everyone understood the reason behind Han Yue''s victory; if those with real strength hadn''t been injured by Zi Yan, it would have been impossible for Han Yue to achieve such a ranking. However, since things had turned out this way, not many dwelled on it, recognizing that sometimes luck is also a form of strength. "The results are out, and the second place in this strength competition goes to Han Yue!" Soon, an elder began to announce the results. At this moment, the energy of heaven and earth above the inner courtyard suddenly fluctuated violently, and a rich scent of pills emanated from somewhere within the courtyard. Unexpectedly, dark clouds formed in the sky, with thunder rolling and lightning snakes darting about, creating a terrifying spectacle. "Pill Tribulation, this is in the direction of... Elder Gu He!" Su Qian murmured as he quickly flashed towards the source of the disturbance. Other elders in the stands, no longer focused on announcing the rewards for the top ten of the strength leaderboard, quickly flew from their seats. As the silver lightning bolt was launched, Elders Qian and Bai calmly gathered a huge mass of Dou Qi, about ten meters in size, and hurled it towards the incoming lightning. "Bang!" The massive Dou Qi clashed with the silver lightning in the sky, causing Elders Qian and Bai to slightly retreat from the impact. After the first bolt of lightning was intercepted by Elders Qian and Bai, the clouds in the sky churned violently once more. Moments later, three more bolts of lightning, even thicker than the first, roared as they burst forth from the clouds. Bang! Bang! Bang! Facing the three silver bolts, Elders Qian and Bai''s expressions finally turned solemn. They continuously shifted their positions, releasing terrifying blasts of Dou Qi from their hands, intercepting all three bolts in the sky. The explosive force of the blasts swept down to the ground, prompting some elders to urgently instruct students to keep their distance. ... The sky was covered in dense clouds, with silver lightning snaking through, striking down in a blanket assault. The entire world seemed to tremble at this moment. The dark inner courtyard was lit up like daytime by the continuous streaks of silver lightning, with the thunderous roars echoing incessantly throughout. As the silver lightning poured down, two gray figures hovered in the sky like deities, destroying all the terrifying bolts. "Old Bai, it''s good that we didn''t rush into seclusion this time. Otherwise, these youngsters might have suffered greatly under this heavenly tribulation." After destroying another bolt of lightning, Elder Qian remarked. "Mm!" Elder Bai nodded in agreement, then with a look of joy, exclaimed, "Haha, who would have thought that a seventh-grade alchemist would emerge from our inner courtyard? Truly a blessing for our academy." (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 259: It’s Hard to Compete! Chapter 259: Its Hard to Compete! Chapter 259: It''s Hard to Compete! As Elders Qian and Bai casually spoke, the formidable Dan Thunder in the sky gradually came to an end. Seeing this, Su Qian and many other elders in the inner courtyard showed joyful expressions as they arrived at Gu He''s courtyard. "Congratulations to Elder Gu He for advancing to a seventh-grade alchemist!" "Congratulations to Elder Gu He for successfully concocting a seventh-grade pill!" "Congratulations to Elder Gu He..." A series of congratulatory messages were spoken by the inner courtyard elders. "It was purely by luck that I managed to concoct this seventh-grade pill," Gu He humbly replied to the many congratulations. After speaking, Gu He produced a transparent jade bottle, skillfully placing the seventh-grade pill from the cauldron into it. "Great Elder, the strength competition should be coming to an end, right?" Gu He''s gaze shifted to Su Qian, sentimentally saying, "This pill was specifically concocted by me as a reward for the competition. I wonder who won first place this time." A seventh-grade pill as a reward! Hearing Gu He''s words, the expressions of the gathered elders suddenly turned a bit awkward.Rread latest chapters at novelhall.com The rewards for this strength competition were prepared by the elders through a drawing of lots, with many providing second or third-grade pills, or Xuan-level Dou Techniques. Gu He''s offering of a seventh-grade pill for the first-place winner inadvertently made the other elders feel their contributions were somewhat lacking. "It seems Elder Gu He, busy with pill concoction, is not aware that Zi Yan has already won the first place in the strength competition." Although Su Qian maintained a smile on his face, he felt as if he was bleeding inside. Just as Gu He mentioned using a seventh-grade pill as a reward, Su Qian decisively upgraded the originally planned fifth-grade pill reward for the second place to a sixth-grade pill. "Oh, that girl Zi Yan really did well!" Gu He''s face showed a gratified smile as he turned his gaze towards Zi Yan. Zi Yan, who was quite close to the two men, had heard their conversation clearly. Now, looking at the jade bottle in Gu He''s hand, she opened her mouth wide, almost drooling. "Hehe!" "Teacher, this pill is for me, right?" Zi Yan grinned. Knowing the prestige of the Dan Thunder she had just witnessed, Zi Yan understood the value of the pill in the jade bottle. "Yes, indeed, this pill is for you!" Gu He casually confirmed, not placing much importance on the seventh-grade pill. "Thank you, teacher!" Zi Yan smiled happily, reaching out to take it. Watching Zi Yan extend her fair little hand, Gu He gently tapped it. Finally, without Gu He showing any particular reaction, Hu Gan, who had been the first to speak up, showed signs of impatience. "Enough, can you old folks wait a moment and let Elder Gu He answer my question first!" Hu Gan''s loud voice caused the elders around Gu He to quiet down. "Elders, I''m usually absorbed in alchemy and may not have much time to teach disciples. Besides, I tend to take disciples based on fate," Gu He said with a light laugh, politely declining everyone''s requests. ... "Third place, Yan Hao, is awarded a fifth-grade pill by Elder Huo." "Thirty-eighth place, Liu Qing, is awarded a second-grade pill by Elder Wang." "Forty-ninth place, Lin Xiuya, is awarded a first-grade pill by Elder Hao." The announcer continued with the rankings of the strength leaderboard. "A first-grade pill, isn''t Elder Hao being too stingy?" "The second to last place, what better reward were you expecting?" "Oh, it''s the second to last? Then never mind!" When the announcer read Lin Xiuya''s reward, many students couldn''t help but laugh, but after their laughter, there were also sounds of pity. After all, if Lin Xiuya hadn''t been injured by Zi Yan, the reward that Han Yue received might have been his. At this moment, Lin Xiuya, who was clearly awake, lay on a stretcher with his eyes closed for almost the entire time as he was carried to the elders'' seats. "Here, Lin Xiuya, this is your reward!" Elder Hao, with a smile on his face, placed a jade bottle on the table. Lin Xiuya kept his eyes shut the whole time, not saying a word. He slightly propped up his body with his left hand and groped for the jade bottle on the table with his right hand, then lay back down as if he were dead. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 260: The Avatar Suffers Damage, Accepting Han Yue as a Disciple! Chapter 260: The Avatar Suffers Damage, Accepting Han Yue as a Disciple! Chapter 260: The Avatar Suffers Damage, Accepting Han Yue as a Disciple! Inside the inner courtyard, the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower lost its bustling popularity after the fall of the Meteoric Heart Flame. In its vast space, only a few figures lingered. Those who still practiced here mostly sought the tranquility of this place. Of course, another reason was that, regardless, the fire attribute energy within the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower was always much stronger than that of the outside world. This was due to the massive world of magma underground, continuously emitting robust fire attribute energy. Although this energy had to penetrate through hundreds of meters of earth, it still managed to seep out somewhat. Thus, for many students practicing fire attribute techniques, the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower still remained a relatively good place for cultivation. At this moment, a figure shrouded in a black robe appeared at the bottom of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. This shadow was none other than an avatar condensed by Gu He through the Soul Splitting Technique. With Gu He''s cultivation improving, his avatar now possessed the strength of roughly a one-star Dou Venerate. This time, Gu He ventured into the magma''s depths to explore the rumored location of an ancient emperor''s cave dwelling. Sliding down the tower''s base, the scorching wind howled past his ears. As Gu He''s figure neared the underground world of magma, the surrounding air grew increasingly hotter. However, for Gu He, who had reached the Dou Venerate realm and practiced fire attribute techniques, this level of temperature was practically enjoyable. Continuing to slide endlessly, after a long while, Gu He''s view suddenly widened, revealing a boundless world of magma before him. Huge bubbles emerged from the magma, eventually bursting and releasing a scorching breath along with bits of white smoke that diffused into the air. This smoke contained a type of fire poison. If inhaled, even a soul avatar might encounter significant trouble. Seeing this white smoke, the always cautious Gu He chose to temporarily avoid direct confrontation. Hovering in place, Gu He looked down cautiously. This world of magma was filled with silence, devoid of any sign of life, with only the faint sound of bubbling magma echoing around. Here, the magma was quite viscous, rarely stirring up any waves. Everything about this place conveyed a sense of oppressive silence. Living here for too long might even alter one''s personality, making it very strange and reclusive. Calming his mind, Gu He pinpointed a direction and continued to dive quickly. As he dove deeper, the temperature of the magma grew even hotter. Without the protection of his original divine fire, the avatar had to use soul power to form a defensive barrier around his body to withstand the magma. Suddenly, with his soul power''s perception, Gu He sensed some peculiar figures a few hundred meters to his right. "Living in this magma should be the Flame Lizard Clan!" Through memories deep in his mind about the bottom of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, Gu He immediately knew he had entered the territory of the Flame Lizard Clan. However, with his soul perception at the Dou Venerate realm, he usually discovered the Flame Lizard people first under normal circumstances. Thus, along his journey, Gu He had always chosen to avoid these Flame Lizard people whenever he sensed something amiss. Suddenly, a powerful aura appeared in front of him. Then, a scorching gust of wind fiercely approached, and Gu He''s soul avatar quickly turned around to punch in response. Boom! After dispersing the attacking gust of wind with a punch, Gu He looked towards the direction from which the wind had come. Under Gu He''s gaze, about a hundred meters away, a red figure roamed within the magma. The figure was entirely crimson, blending in with the surrounding magma. If one didn''t look closely, it would be difficult to detect. Chapter 260: The Avatar Suffers Damage, Accepting Han Yue as a Disciple! Inside the inner courtyard, the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower lost its bustling popularity after the fall of the Meteoric Heart Flame. In its vast space, only a few figures lingered. Those who still practiced here mostly sought the tranquility of this place. Suddenly, the lizard person''s eyes burst with ferocity, and it let out a sharp cry. Then, its tail whipped behind it, and its sharp claws cut through the magma, charging straight at Gu He. "It won''t do to fight with it; it might attract more lizard people!" "I remember, these lizard people seem not to understand the ways of space!" Quickly thinking it through, Gu He''s figure gradually disappeared from its original position, evading the Flame Lizard person''s attack. Just then, Gu He had used spatial techniques to retreat a considerable distance. When he reappeared in the magma, his expression suddenly changed drastically. In Gu He''s vision, three huge bodies, entirely blood-red, were staring at him with blood-red pupils larger than trucks. An extremely terrifying pressure invaded Gu He''s mind. In the next moment, Gu He''s avatar was almost effortlessly smashed to pieces by one of the large creatures. ... In the inner courtyard, within a quiet room. Gu He suddenly opened his eyes from his meditative state, his face still showing a frightened expression. "Unexpectedly, my first venture into the bottom of the magma met with such beings!" Gu He muttered to himself. "If that''s the case, exploring the ancient emperor''s cave dwelling might be quite difficult!" As Gu He frowned, Zi Yan''s tender voice came from outside the room. "Teacher, that silver-haired woman came looking for you last time." Silver hair? Could it be Han Yue? Hearing Zi Yan''s call from outside, Gu He slowly stepped out of the room. In the courtyard outside, a tall, slender beauty in a silver dress had been waiting for a long time. With just one glance at Han Yue, Gu He knew that Han Yue had completed her mission. Her cultivation had broken through from a six-star Dou Ling to a seven-star Dou Ling. "Elder Gu He, I said I could do it. Now, can I take you as my master?" Showing a row of bright teeth, Han Yue asked excitedly. "Yes!" (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 261 Passing Down Skills to Han Yue, Breaking through the Dou King! Chapter 261 Passing Down Skills to Han Yue, Breaking through the Dou King! Chapter 261 Passing Down Skills to Han Yue, Breaking through the Dou King! "Han Yue pays respect to Master!" Seeing Gu He nod, Han Yue immediately bowed without hesitation. The speed of this apprenticeship seemed as if Han Yue feared that Gu He might change his mind in the next second. "So, Master is taking on another disciple. Hehe, then I''ll have a little junior sister in the future." Zi Yan, who was standing aside, saw Han Yue''s actions, chuckled, and her eyes revealed a peculiar color. "Alright, get up. Under the master''s door, there are no such formalities!" Gu He said with a faint smile on his face. "Thank you, Master!" Han Yue stood up, respectfully said, her face still showing uncontrollable joy. Looking at the tall girl standing in front of him, Gu He silently prayed in his heart, "System, check Han Yue''s basic attributes." Sixth Disciple: Han Yue. Comprehension: 8 Constitution: 8NewW novels updates at novelhall.com Fortune: 7 Physique: Three Absolute Cold Body (inactive) Cultivation: Seven-Star Dou Spirit. Techniques: ... Skills: ... ... "Surprisingly, there''s an inactive special physique!" Looking at Han Yue''s attributes, Gu He was amazed. The Three Absolute Cold Body, if it develops, probably wouldn''t be worse than the Calamity Poison Body. When there''s a chance in the future to help her activate this physique, her constitution would naturally improve a lot. Cough! Although there were fluctuations in his heart, Gu He, at this moment, coughed lightly without revealing any emotions, saying, "Since you have joined my sect, let me first tell you about the rules here." Hearing Gu He''s words, Han Yue felt a bit nervous. At this moment, Han Yue couldn''t help but think of Zi Yan. Zi Yan used to be unruly in front of any elder, but now she had become obedient in front of the master. It seemed that the rules here were very strict indeed. Although she was puzzled, Han Yue still followed Gu He''s instructions and sat down. "There may be a powerful energy entering your body later. If you feel unable to bear it, you must inform me promptly." Gu He reminded. "Okay!" Han Yue nodded gently, then slowly closed her eyes. Gu He skillfully slapped Han Yue''s forehead with his palm, then silently prayed in his heart, "System, transmit skills to the sixth disciple Han Yue." In her confusion, Han Yue suddenly felt a huge force entering her body from Gu He''s palm. Han Yue''s face changed abruptly. What was the master doing? "Focus and absorb this force properly!" At this moment, Gu He''s voice suddenly sounded. Unable to think, Han Yue could only follow the instructions, concentrating on absorbing the force transmitted by Gu He. In just a breath''s time, Han Yue felt a muffled sound in her body, and her aura also changed accordingly. Her cultivation directly broke through from Seven-Star Dou Spirit to Eight-Star Dou Spirit. I''ve broken through again! Feeling the intense promotion of her strength, Han Yue suddenly felt extremely excited, focusing even more on absorbing the force transmitted by Gu He. Soon, Han Yue''s cultivation broke through to Nine-Star Dou Spirit, then to the peak of Nine-Star Dou Spirit, just one step away from breaking through to the Dou King realm. However, it didn''t end there; the power within her body continued to increase. After a moment, Han Yue''s aura underwent another drastic change. She directly broke through from Nine-Star Dou Spirit to One-Star Dou King. However, after breaking through to the Dou King realm, Han Yue''s complexion began to flush red, and she could clearly feel that her body could no longer absorb the powerful force. "Master, I can''t bear it anymore." Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 262 Nine Transformation Soul Splitting Technique Chapter 262 Nine Transformation Soul Splitting Technique Chapter 262 Nine Transformation Soul Splitting Technique However, after breaking through to the Dou King realm, Han Yue''s complexion began to flush red, and she could clearly feel that her body could no longer absorb the powerful force. "Master, I can''t bear it anymore." Hearing Han Yue''s words, Gu He promptly cut off the transmission of skills and withdrew his palm. "You''ve only broken through to the peak of One-Star Dou King!" "It seems not everyone can be as abnormal as that brat Zi Yan." After checking Han Yue''s cultivation, Gu He felt slightly regretful. At the same time, a system prompt sounded in Gu He''s ear. "Ding! Detected that the host has bestowed half a day''s cultivation to the sixth disciple Han Yue. Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten-thousand-fold return, gaining fourteen years of cultivation!" (Note: These fourteen years of cultivation correspond to the Two-Star Dou Sovereign level) "The fourteen years of cultivation have been deposited into the system space. Please pay attention to check, host." A ten-thousand-fold return! Hearing the system prompt, Gu He''s somewhat depressed mood improved slightly. Although the amount of cultivation Han Yue received was not much, the burst rate was quite satisfactory. Next, Gu He eagerly immersed his consciousness into the system space. In the system space, a purple sphere was suspended in the void. "May I ask if the host accepts the fourteen years of cultivation?" Just as Gu He''s consciousness touched the purple sphere, the system''s voice sounded again. "No need!" Thinking about the two more gifts he had yet to give to Han Yue, Gu He decisively refused. ... "Han Yue, just now was just the first gift that Master gave you. There''s still a second gift for you." Hearing Gu He''s voice, Han Yue, who was sitting on the ground, obediently closed her eyes again, feeling excited in her heart. Actually, Gu He had already planned the second gift for a long time. Just now, when the clone descended to the bottom of the magma, trying to find the location of the Ancient Emperor''s Cave, it was killed directly by the boss of the Flame Lizard Clan because the clone''s strength was too weak. So, Gu He''s plan this time was to pass on the Soul Splitting Technique to Han Yue. This way, he might be able to obtain a more sophisticated method of splitting the soul. At the next moment, Gu He smiled and slowly said to Han Yue, "Master has already considered this point, so I have prepared the third gift for you." Hearing Gu He''s words, Han Yue''s heart moved again, ready to sit down again. However, this time, Gu He supported her. "You don''t need to sit down this time." After saying this, Gu He produced a jade box in his hand. "Inside this jade box is a Seven-Leaf Star Flower Birth. This thing has a good effect on nurturing the soul and improving soul power!" Gu He introduced. Originally, something like this that could enhance soul power would definitely be more effective than the remaining Heart Soul Marrow from last time. However, the grade of the Heart Soul Marrow was too high. With Han Yue''s current soul power, just a drop would probably cause her soul to explode. Therefore, Gu He chose the relatively gentle Seven-Leaf Star Flower Birth. After listening to Gu He''s introduction, Han Yue didn''t hesitate and directly took the jade box. Just as Han Yue took the jade box, another system prompt sounded in Gu He''s mind. "Ding! Detected that the host has given the sixth disciple Han Yue a Seven-Leaf Star Flower Birth. Congratulations to the host for obtaining a ten-thousand-fold return, gaining a Heavenly Profound Dragon Sun Birth." Heavenly Profound Dragon Sun BirthEighth-grade spiritual medicine. Upon hearing the system prompt, Gu He''s consciousness immediately sank into the system space. In the system space, a golden root-like object, resembling agate, was suspended. Feeling the powerful soul power contained within it, Gu He also felt excited. With this Heavenly Profound Dragon Sun Birth, his confidence in practicing the Nine Transformation Soul Splitting Technique increased once again. ... "Master, there''s something else I want to ask you for!" After receiving the gifts, Han Yue''s face was red, and she lowered her head to ask softly. Originally, with Han Yue''s personality, calmly accepting three gifts was already very good. It was absolutely impossible for her to continue asking for things like this. However, Gu He, who had just made a great harvest, did not pay attention to Han Yue''s abnormality. "Speak, what do you want!" Gu He agreed without hesitation. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 263: Cultivating the Soul Chapter 263: Cultivating the Soul Chapter 263: Cultivating the Soul "Master, I want... one hundred spiritual medicine pills!" Han Yue''s voice stuttered a bit. "Alright... Spiritual medicine pills?... What do you want those things for?" Hearing this, Gu He was taken aback for a moment, then his gaze shifted to the small white figure standing under the big tree. Seeing the proud expression on the latter''s face, Gu He couldn''t help but twitch his mouth, silently sighing in his heart, "This kid, Han Yue has just joined, and she''s already been tricked by you." At this moment, Gu He clearly knew it was instigated by Zi Yan, but since he had already promised Han Yue, Gu He naturally wouldn''t go back on his word. The next moment, Gu He took out a black box from the system space. For the storage of spiritual medicine pills, there was no need to be as cautious as with pills, so all the pills in this black box were stacked together. "Take it. Be a little more cautious of that little cunning fox in the future." After reminding Han Yue, Gu He walked towards the room. After Gu He left, Zi Yan''s face was full of pride as she happily walked over to Han Yue. "Apprentice sister, how was the harvest just now? Apprentice sister didn''t deceive you, did I?" Seeing the black box in Han Yue''s hand, Zi Yan''s eyes were full of expectation. "Mm!" Han Yue nodded, then said, "By the way, apprentice sister, these are the spiritual medicine pills Master gave me." As she spoke, Han Yue handed the wooden box to Zi Yan. As soon as she took the wooden box, Zi Yan quickly opened it, then reached in and grabbed a handful, stuffing them into her mouth and chewing vigorously. "Can you really eat these things like this..." Seeing this scene, Han Yue was extremely shocked. ... On Gu He''s side, after returning to the room, he quickly set up several seals in the room. Now that he had the more powerful Nine Transformation Soul Splitting Technique, Gu He couldn''t wait to create a powerful avatar. However, before he began creating the avatar, Gu He wanted to refine the Heavenly Profound Dragon Sun Birth first to strengthen his soul power a bit. With a bit more soul power, he would have more confidence in creating the avatar. And the speed at which the soul power was separated matched the speed at which the golden particle replenished the soul power, so Gu He''s original soul was not weakened. However, as the size of the golden particle became smaller and smaller, the speed of replenishing soul power slowed down. At this point, Gu He didn''t care about anything else. He took out everything in the system space that could replenish soul power, even the remaining Earth Core Soul Marrow from last time. With these supplements, Gu He continued to slowly separate his own power and integrate it into the soul. By the tenth day, a phantom figure exactly like Gu He appeared in his room. During these ten days, Gu He was constantly separating his soul power and quickly replenishing it. In this continuous cycle of loss and generation, Gu He''s soul strength once again underwent a qualitative improvement. Now, his soul strength had advanced from the early stage to the middle stage of the Spiritual Realm. Looking at this soul avatar, Gu He could feel that no matter how far apart they were, they could still establish a connection, unless they were blocked by some special means. "I finally refined the avatar! Next is the stage of refining its physical body." Gu He muttered to himself. The process of refining the avatar described in the scroll of the Nine Transformation Soul Splitting Technique was very complex, but it was much easier to operate than refining the soul. At this moment, sitting cross-legged on the cushion, after refining the soul avatar, Gu He didn''t stop for a moment. He immediately began to work on refining the body for the soul avatar. "It must be based on my own essence and blood. Only then can the body refined be most compatible with the soul." Reciting the contents of the scroll silently in his mind, Gu He quickly cast several mysterious seals. Immediately, a drop of grape-sized dark red essence blood flew out from the crack that suddenly opened on Gu He''s brow. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 264: Exploring Underground Magma Again! Chapter 264: Exploring Underground Magma Again! Chapter 264: Exploring Underground Magma Again! "Now, it''s time to incorporate this essence blood into various materials to form a complete body." Muttering softly to himself, Gu He saw numerous precious materials emitting brilliant light suddenly appear around him. Then, the spiritual power of Gu He enveloped these materials one by one, suspending them in the air, and purple flames surged out, starting to refine each one. Each of these refined materials had its own role; some directly transformed into pure energy and merged into the drop of essence blood, while others condensed into various tissues of the body in a peculiar way... As Gu He focused on refining the body, in the courtyard, a tall silver figure with complex eyes glanced at Gu He''s room. Beside her stood a petite white figure. "Zi Yan, the teacher has been in the room for many days, why hasn''t he come out yet!" Han Yue complained somewhat resentfully to Zi Yan beside her. Upon hearing Han Yue''s words, Zi Yan quickly swallowed what was in her mouth, then murmured in her childish voice, "The teacher has been inside for quite a long time this time. If he doesn''t come out tomorrow, my pills will be gone." "Yeah, it''s been a long time. Since I became his disciple, the teacher hasn''t come out at all..." "Sister, since I accepted the introductory gift, the teacher seems not to have taught me anything. How about Sister Zi Yan teaching me something instead?" Han Yue suddenly suggested. "Our teacher won''t teach you anything directly; it''s all about rubbing your head and then you''ll understand... Besides, I don''t know how to teach anything." Zi Yan shook her head decisively, rejecting the idea upon hearing Han Yue''s words. "Ah, has the teacher never taught Sister anything about cultivation?" Han Yue seemed surprised. "Yeah, just rub the head and you''ll know. Isn''t it great? Why bother to learn?" Zi Yan retorted. "Well, it seems to make sense... I wish the teacher would come and rub my head again." Han Yue''s face reddened slightly as she sighed. "The teacher said that rewards come after breakthroughs, but I reckon it won''t happen anytime soon within a few years!" Zi Yan said somewhat disappointedly. "Why? With Sister''s talent, she could easily break through!" Han Yue looked puzzled. "I''m already at the Peak of Martial King! Breaking through to Martial Emperor isn''t that easy!" Peak of Martial King! "I remember, Sister wasn''t even at the Martial King level just a month ago?" "Teacher, what about mine?" Beside them, Zi Yan watched as Gu He handed the body-tempering fluid to Han Yue, her large dark eyes filled with expectation. "Yours..." With Zi Yan''s physical strength, ordinary body-tempering medicines were useless to her. Hearing Zi Yan''s request, Gu He fell into contemplation. Since he was planning to send his clone to explore the Ancient Emperor''s Cave Mansion, there would definitely be some danger involved. They might encounter the old Dragon Emperor Zhukun of the Void Dragon Clan. If he could bring some of Zi Yan''s belongings, perhaps the old Dragon Emperor would recognize Zi Yan''s aura, and then Gu He could negotiate something from him. Perhaps there would be a solution for Zi Yan''s body-tempering substances. Thinking of this, Gu He calmly said to Zi Yan, "You, this girl, don''t you have any idea about your own physical strength? For now, I don''t have any suitable medicine for you." "Oh, it seems that''s the case!" Zi Yan touched her head embarrassedly and laughed. "Here''s the deal: you give me a strand of hair and a drop of your blood, and I''ll try to research a suitable body-tempering medicine for you!" Gu He said with a troubled expression. Hearing Gu He''s words, although Zi Yan hesitated for a moment, she immediately plucked a long strand of purple hair and handed it to Gu He. But after pulling out her hair, she weakly said to Gu He, "Teacher, why don''t you help me get a drop of blood? I''m a little scared to do it myself!" "You''re afraid of this?" "How many people coughed up blood from being kicked by you in the Strong Ranking Tournament!" Hearing these words from Zi Yan, Gu He felt goosebumps all over his body. The next moment, unnoticed by Zi Yan, a scratch suddenly appeared on her finger, and a drop of crimson blood quietly dripped from her fingertip, which was then collected by Gu He into the system space. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! Chapter 265: Collecting the Young Fire Chapter 265: Collecting the Young Fire Chapter 265: Collecting the Young Fire After obtaining a drop of Zi Yan''s blood, Gu He''s new clone carried some other items prepared by Gu He and once again submerged into the magma at the bottom of the Tianfen Qi Refining Tower. This time, shortly after Gu He descended to the bottom of the magma, a strange light began to flicker at his heart, as if something invisible was summoning him. In order to enhance the clone''s ability to resist the high temperature of the molten lava, Gu He had given the clone the Fallen Heart Flame before descending. So Gu He concluded that this sensation must be related to the Fallen Heart Flame or the remnant soul of a Venerable Flame at the bottom of the magma. Following the direction of the sensation, Gu He continued to dive extremely carefully. The deeper he went, the stronger the feeling of being summoned became. As he descended, Gu He once again arrived at the area where the Flame Lizardmen lived. Having gained experience from the last encounter, Gu He was more cautious this time. Last time, it was unfortunate for the clone to encounter a giant right after entering, and it was crushed before it could react. This time, when Gu He encountered a higher-ranking Flame Lizardman, instead of blindly traversing space, he directly used the high-level Earth-tier martial skill, "Leaving No Trace," to escape.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m "Leaving No Trace" was based on soul power and allowed continuous movement in the void. As long as Gu He''s soul power could reach, with just a thought, he could instantly arrive. With this skill, Gu He didn''t waste much time and quickly arrived at the strongest sense of calling. Arriving here, the Fallen Heart Flame inside Gu He''s body even had the idea of breaking free from Gu He''s body, but under the suppression of Gu He''s Divine Fire Technique, it immediately behaved. "It should be here!" Gu He muttered, then continued to cast several seals in the direction of the sensation. A magical scene appeared: the magma began to slowly wriggle, and then a translucent halo emitting a faint light emerged from the vortex of magma. At the first moment, Gu He''s gaze swept over it. Because the halo was transparent, it did not obstruct Gu He''s vision. When Gu He''s gaze swept in, inside, there was nothing but a skeleton that had turned into white bones. On top of the skeleton, there was a faint fluorescence, and a flame floated above it, transparent and seemingly invisible. Gu He was very familiar with this flame because there was a similar invisible flame imprisoned in his body. "After venturing deeper into the magma world, I found another Fallen Heart Flame seed. This discovery delighted me, so I wanted to greedily take this Fallen Heart Flame seed as well and merge it with the one I already had. But instead of perfect fusion, they repelled each other like enemies, resulting in a battle of alien fires that left me severely injured. And it was at that moment that I was attacked..." "It must have been those Flame Lizardmen!" Gu He suddenly interrupted. "It seems you have also had dealings with them." Venerable Tian Huo looked somewhat surprised at Gu He''s words. Hearing Venerable Tian Huo''s words, Gu He thought to himself, "Not only have I had dealings with them, I even have a clone hanging around here!" But at this moment, Gu He calmly said, "I encountered them and fought with them. Among them were also beings of my level." Hearing Gu He''s words, Venerable Tian Huo seemed relieved and sighed, "Ah, if it weren''t for the attack by those Flame Lizardmen back then, I wouldn''t have fallen to this state!" "I wonder if you could do me a favor!" After a sigh, Venerable Tian Huo suddenly said with a hint of pleading in his tone. "What favor?" Gu He asked softly. "Could you take me away from this place?" As he said this, there was a hint of hope in Venerable Tian Huo''s eyes. "What benefit do I get from taking you away?" Gu He asked in return. "Everything here, including your storage ring and remains, no longer belongs to you. What can you offer me as a reward for taking you away?" (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 266: The Ancient Emperor’s Cave Dwelling Chapter 266: The Ancient Emperors Cave Dwelling Chapter 266: The Ancient Emperor''s Cave Dwelling After Gu He spoke, with a wave of his hand, he collected the white storage ring from the skeleton into his palm. Seeing Gu He''s action, Venerable Tianhuo was suddenly at a loss for words. What Venerable Tianhuo had in mind just now was to use the fallen heart flame young fire, along with some items in the storage ring, as compensation. But Gu He''s words completely silenced Venerable Tianhuo. Ignoring Venerable Tianhuo''s unusual emotions, Gu He directly sent a strand of soul power into the white storage ring to investigate. After a moment of silence, Venerable Tianhuo suddenly spoke in a very desolate tone, "You''re right, everything here no longer belongs to me." By the time Venerable Tianhuo finished speaking, a pale white scroll had appeared in Gu He''s hands, which depicted birds and beasts emanating flames all over their bodies. "Your Excellency has a good eye!" Venerable Tianhuo sighed upon seeing the pale white scroll in Gu He''s hands. "How so?" Gu He pretended to be uninformed. "This is the famous combat technique of my youth, the ''Five Cycles of Detached Flames Technique.'' Heh, it''s somewhat inaccurate to call it a combat technique; it should be described as a flame control technique." When speaking of the Five Cycles of Detached Flames Technique, Venerable Tianhuo''s tone was not as desolate as before, but rather proud. "The Five Cycles of Detached Flames Technique, a flame control technique, is divided into five levels according to the shapes of beasts: wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and flood dragon. Each level has its own fire spirit. Once the technique is mastered, the five beasts gather to form the Five Cycles of Detached Flames Formation, possessing the tremendous power to steam seas and burn heavens. If among these five beasts, four are condensed from heavenly flames, the power of this technique can rival that of heavenly rank combat skills!" "From what you''ve said, this combat technique indeed sounds like a valuable asset!" "Our meeting here must be fate. Well, if you agree to one condition of mine, not only can I lead you out, but I can also help you repair your soul, and even refine a body for you to resurrect." After inspecting the scroll in his hand, Gu He suddenly said. Repair the soul and refine the body? Hearing Gu He''s words, Venerable Tianhuo''s soul body trembled violently, with indescribable excitement in his eyes. The next moment, Venerable Tianhuo said with a somewhat trembling voice, "Really?" "Believe it or not!" Gu He turned his head away, skillfully collecting the fallen heart flame young fire from the skeleton, then proceeded to walk outside. "Say it, whatever the condition, I agree." Now, Venerable Tianhuo, aside from a remnant soul, had nothing to lose, so he was not afraid of Gu He making any excessive demands. Hearing Venerable Tianhuo''s words, Gu He stopped in his tracks and then indifferently said, "After your resurrection, you need to follow me for two years. During these two years, you must do whatever I ask of you." "Two years!" Hearing Gu He''s demand, Venerable Tianhuo did not show much resistance; he even felt it was somewhat short. He had been in this place for countless years. If Gu He had not come this time, in another three or four years, his remnant soul would have completely dissipated from this world. Thus, with a chance of resurrection in front of him, let alone two years, ten years, a hundred years, he might agree. "Venerable Gu, I, Yao Tianhuo, swear by my soul, if you can resurrect me, I will follow you for two years." Venerable Tianhuo said very solemnly. Gu He pointed to the white storage ring in his hand and slowly said, "In that case, you will temporarily stay in this ring, and we will leave immediately." "Please, Venerable Gu, also take my corpse with you!" Venerable Tianhuo made one last request. "Okay!" Gu He nodded lightly, and with a wave of his hand, the corpse on the ground flew into the white storage ring. Chapter 266: The Ancient Emperor''s Cave Dwelling Inside the white ring, Venerable Tianhuo, sensing Gu He''s action, seemed to think of something, and a hard-to-conceal fear appeared on his face. After a long while, Venerable Tianhuo came back to his senses and warned, "Venerable Gu, I advise you not to probe further down." "Oh? It seems you know something?" Gu He asked with interest. Venerable Tianhuo took a deep breath and slowly said, "When my physical body was destroyed, I vaguely detected a terrifying presence below." "Therefore, I have a bold guess. Could these mysterious flame lizards be akin to guardians at the bottom of the magma?" "Hearing you say that, I''ve become even more curious about the world below." Gu He''s mouth curved into a smile, and he increased his speed downwards. "Ah..." Seeing Gu He''s reckless behavior, Venerable Tianhuo let out a sigh as if resigned to fate. ... As Gu He continued to dive, a pair of red pupils as large as a truck''s focused on him in the magma world. Feeling this aura, Venerable Tianhuo inside the ring became somewhat excited and said, "Back then, I encountered such a big guy. If it weren''t for the injury caused by swallowing a heavenly flame that weakened my strength, perhaps I could have killed it." "Let''s fight him after you''re resurrected. For now, we need to get out of here." After saying this, Gu He thought to himself, "Ascension Steps!" The next moment, his body instantly disappeared from the sight of the gigantic flame lizard. Continuously using "Ascension Steps" was a massive drain on Gu He''s dou qi. Fortunately, Gu He had prepared for this. Whenever his dou qi was half depleted, he always managed to take out a medicinal pill in time to replenish his lost energy. By now, countless flame lizards in the magma space were aware of Gu He''s intrusion into their territory, and numerous figures were frantically searching for him in the magma. ... During the lengthy descent, Gu He spotted a patch of somewhat darker magma. Noticing this dark magma, Gu He''s face showed excitement. However, at that moment, not far from where Gu He was, two milky-white lizardmen noticed him. These two lizardmen appeared much older than the others, and their strength was also much more terrifying. Upon seeing Gu He''s intrusion, one of the lizardmen suddenly spoke in human language, "Human, this is the graveyard of the gods, not a place you should come. Leave immediately, or if you awaken the guardian, you will be buried here forever!" (End of chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 267: The Old Dragon Emperor! Chapter 267: The Old Dragon Emperor! Chapter 267: The Old Dragon Emperor! "Graveyard of the Gods!" Hearing this voice, Gu He became even more certain that the Ancient Emperor''s cave dwelling was below. The thought alone set Gu He''s heart aflame with excitement. Licking his lips, he looked down at the dark, murky magma, where at the endless depths, something terrifying seemed to be lurking. "That must be where the Old Dragon Emperor of the Taixu Ancient Dragon clan is," Gu He thought to himself. At that moment, he suddenly felt an extremely dangerous aura coming from behind him. Without any time to think, Gu He immediately activated Ascension Steps with all his might, disappearing from his original location. The next moment, where Gu He had been standing, a destructive energy burst forth, instantly stirring up thousands of feet of magma waves at the bottom of the magma sea. "Foolish human, courting death!" Noticing Gu He''s disappearance, an angry voice suddenly came from within the thousand-foot waves. Deeper within the magma, Gu He was moving at full speed, but the deeper he went, the more alarmed he became.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m The depth of this magma sea far exceeded his expectations, a feat that seemed beyond human capability. "Only someone of that level would possess such ability," he thought to himself with a sigh. Continuing his descent tirelessly, the surrounding magma had, unbeknownst to him, shifted from crimson to a dark black hue. As the magma turned dark black, Gu He''s speed slowed down significantly. The reason was that the heat from the magma here threatened his life. If it were an ordinary Dou Venerate, they wouldn''t be able to get close to this place. Relying on the Fallen Heart Flame to isolate the magma and fully activating the Divine Fire Technique, Gu He barely managed to hold on. "Venerable Skyfire, I will temporarily seal the ring now. There are some things you are better off not knowing," Gu He suddenly transmitted his voice to Venerable Skyfire in the ring. "Understood, old man!" Venerable Skyfire nodded. The next moment, Gu He threw a third-order spiritual medicine capable of repairing soul power into the ring. Gu He''s gaze lingered on the stone gate, eventually settling on the top where four ancient characters were inscribed. Upon seeing these characters, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart started to beat violently. "Ancient Emperor''s Cave Dwelling!" The ancient script was not overly ornate, but within its simplicity lay an endless majesty that seemed to reign over heaven and earth. "I''ve finally found you!" Looking at those four ancient characters, the smile on Gu He''s lips widened. However, the smile did not last long before a chill swept over him, as if something was watching him. This feeling made Gu He''s expression turn solemn. His gaze swept around, but he found nothing. Then, his eyes narrowed, and he slowly looked down while simultaneously releasing a column of fire from his fingertips. The firelight bloomed in the dark space, but Gu He''s gaze froze at that moment. He stared blankly at the space below, his blood seemingly turning to ice. "What is this!" In the silent space, Gu He felt his scalp explode. The dazzling firelight illuminated the space, dark as if for ten thousand years. However, compared to the firelight, Gu He couldn''t help but feel a chill all over his body, and the source of this chill was a huge creature in the dark space below! It was an indescribably massive creature, coiled in the dark void, motionless. Gu He''s gaze followed its body, but when his view was blocked by the dark space in the distance, he still couldn''t see the end of it. (End of chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 268: Zhu Kun! Chapter 268: Zhu Kun! Chapter 268: Zhu Kun! This mysterious creature, with its body gleaming in purplish-gold, was covered with icy scales, giving off a vigorous sensation akin to steel. Gu He hovered in the void, his vision unable to encompass the entirety of the creature. One could only imagine the incredible size of this being, perhaps the combined volume of thousands of Blackscale Cold Flood Dragons would not compare to its enormity. Even with all mental preparation, the sudden realization that such a colossal creature, capable of swallowing the heavens and earth, was coiled in the darkness below still sent a shock through Gu He. Suppressing the turmoil within, Gu He carefully observed the mysterious creature below. At this moment, seemingly sensing Gu He''s presence, the gigantic creature''s body subtly trembled. "Hiss!" The next moment, a pair of gigantic eyes, long closed, suddenly opened in the dark void. These eyes were a faint red, with overlapping pupils, and were hundreds of times larger than Gu He himself! Upon opening, these eyes locked onto Gu He, and at the same time, an extreme terror of pressure enveloped him, rendering him unable to move. Under that terrifying pressure, Gu He had no thoughts of resistance and stayed quietly in place. "Intruder... Do you possess the ancient jade?" Suddenly, a voice causing the space to shiver rang out. Hearing this voice, Gu He glanced at the pair of huge eyes in the darkness, which were staring at him coldly and indifferently, with no fluctuation in their gaze. "I don''t have the ancient jade, but I brought you..." "No ancient jade?" Gu He hadn''t finished speaking when he was abruptly interrupted by the creature. A sense of disappointment and cold murderous intent emanated from those giant eyes. "Not good!" Sensing this mood, Gu He''s face suddenly changed, and he quickly took out a drop of fresh red blood he had obtained from Zi Yan. "If you don''t have it, then stay here." The indifferent voice sounded again, and then the entire space violently fluctuated, as a dazzling purple-gold seal fiercely blasted towards Gu He. "Zhu Kun, don''t you recognize your daughter''s scent?" Could it be someone from the Gu clan! Hearing Gu He''s name, Zhu Kun pondered for a moment, his giant eyes sweeping over Gu He again. After a while, Zhu Kun''s eyes showed suspicion, "Strange, you don''t have the bloodline of a Dou Di; you''re not from the Gu clan." "Who told you I was from the Gu clan? Gu He is Gu He, a unique existence in this world." Hearing Zhu Kun''s skeptical words, Gu He shrugged nonchalantly. "How did you find this place?" Zhu Kun continued to inquire. "Alright, Zhu Kun, I know you have many questions. But, as I said, there are some things I cannot tell you now. You just need to know that your daughter is now my disciple, and she''s doing very well." Gu He explained patiently. Hearing Gu He''s words, Zhu Kun fell silent again. After a long time, Zhu Kun seemed to come to a realization and spoke softly, "I suppose you came here for the Ancient Emperor''s cave dwelling. Unfortunately, without the ancient jade, no one can enter." "While the Ancient Emperor''s cave dwelling does have some attraction for me, it''s not the purpose of my visit!" Gu He stated plainly. "If it''s not the Ancient Emperor''s cave dwelling, then what is it?" Zhu Kun asked curiously. Hearing this, Gu He chuckled, "Heh, to be honest, I came here just to see the Tuo She Ancient Emperor''s cave dwelling. However, after a little incident, I thought of visiting you to see if there was anything that could enhance Zi Yan''s physical strength." "Zi Yan?" "Is that my child''s name?" At that moment, upon learning Zi Yan''s name, Zhu Kun''s majestic eyes almost instantly became softer. "Correct!" Gu He nodded. "The thing you mentioned that could enhance Zi Yan''s physical strength, I can give it to you. But if one day I find out what you''ve said is false, even if you ascend to heaven or burrow into the earth, I will tear you to pieces." (End of chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 269: The Dragon Emperor’s Essence Blood! Chapter 269: The Dragon Emperors Essence Blood! Chapter 269: The Dragon Emperor''s Essence Blood! "I can give you what you just mentioned, the thing that can enhance Zi Yan''s physical strength. However, if one day I discover that your words are false, no matter if it''s to the heavens or into the earth, I will tear you into pieces." After a somber statement, a violent surge of purple-golden energy suddenly erupted from the massive body of Zhu Kun. Then, between his two giant pupils and slightly upwards, a large crack opened, from which a football-sized cluster of purple-golden blood slowly drifted out. Under Zhu Kun''s control, this cluster of purple-golden blood slowly floated in front of Gu He. Feeling the terrifying energy contained within this purple-golden blood, along with its vast aura, Gu He immediately became excited. "This is some of my essence blood, capable of strengthening and evolving the bloodline power of our descendants," Zhu Kun explained. "Very well, Zhu Kun, seeing how cooperative you are, I can tell you some more things you want to know," Gu He said, very satisfied after receiving the drop of the Dragon Emperor''s essence blood. Hearing Gu He''s words, a trace of perplexity appeared in Zhu Kun''s giant pupils. After a moment, he sighed and said, "I have been trapped here for countless years, unaware of the current state of our Ancient Void Dragon Tribe." "The Ancient Void Dragon Tribe?" Upon hearing the Dragon Emperor''s question, Gu He pondered for a moment, then said, "The Ancient Void Dragon Tribe is now fragmented. The once unified Ancient Dragon Island has been divided by your people into East, West, South, and North Dragon Islands. Aside from the East Dragon Island, the Dragon Kings of the other three islands are all coveting the position of Dragon Emperor. Moreover, the current strongest in the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe is even weaker than the Tianyao Phoenix Clan." Gu He briefly described the current situation of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe. "What, these incompetent fools! Once I get out of here, I will surely punish them." Hearing Gu He''s description of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe''s situation, Zhu Kun became very angry. However, amid his anger, Zhu Kun''s curiosity about Gu He''s identity rose again. How does he know of the hidden affairs of my Ancient Void Dragon Tribe? Could it be that he has been to our place? "You don''t have to worry about the affairs of the Dragon Island. When Zi Yan''s strength meets the requirements, I will take her to the Dragon Emperor Island for training. Then, she can inherit the position of the Young Dragon Emperor and unify the fragmented Dragon Islands," Gu He confidently said, seeing Zhu Kun''s angry expression. "Young Dragon Emperor!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Zhu Kun murmured in a low voice, "If my child is of average talent, then there''s no need to force her into these difficult tasks." "My disciple, even if not a genius, I can make them into one, especially since Zi Yan is already highly talented," Gu He stated indifferently. ... After doing this, Gu He then stood up and walked outside. ... "Teacher!" "Teacher!" In the courtyard, Zi Yan and Han Yue immediately ran up excitedly to greet Gu He as he came out of the door. "Teacher, why was your seclusion this time so long again? I haven''t had any spiritual medicine or pills to eat for two days, and I''m almost starving to death!" Zi Yan clung to Gu He''s leg, making a pitiful look. "You, oh you!" Looking at Zi Yan''s appearance, a look of helplessness flashed in Gu He''s eyes. Then, a black and red pill appeared in his hand. "Teacher, what spiritual fruit is this made from? Why do I feel a very familiar aura coming from it?" Holding the pill given by Gu He, Zi Yan widened her eyes and curiously asked. "This, although it''s not a medicinal pill, its effects are similar to the last pill you took," Gu He casually explained. "Is that so!" Zi Yan nodded her head as if she understood, then flicked her fingers and popped the pill into her mouth. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 270: Zi Yan’s Advancement! Chapter 270: Zi Yans Advancement! Chapter 270: Zi Yan''s Advancement! Just as Zi Yan stuffed the black and red pill into her mouth, Gu He received a system notification. "Ding! It has been detected that the host has gifted his fifth disciple, Zi Yan, with a drop of Ancient Void Dragon Tribe''s Dou Saint peak warrior essence blood. Congratulations to the host for receiving a ten-thousand-fold return, obtaining a drop of Dragon Emperor essence blood!" Dragon Emperor essence blood! Upon receiving this message, Gu He''s mind immediately dived into the system space, where he saw a half-meter-large, entirely golden liquid floating, emanating an extremely terrifying and strange energy slowly spreading out. Dragon Emperor Essence Blood: The essence blood left by a Dragon Clan''s Dou Emperor realm powerhouse. The bloodline of a Dou Emperor can greatly enhance the talents of the descendants. This thing doesn''t seem to be of much use to me; I''m not a descendant of any Dragon Emperor. After pondering for a moment, Gu He suddenly remembered a line of small text on the scroll of the Nine Turns Clone Technique. It seemed that the scroll mentioned the possibility of using the essence blood of other creatures to refine a clone. If there''s a chance, it could be worth trying to use this Dragon Emperor essence blood to refine a clone. With a plan in mind, Gu He''s consciousness exited the system space. However, at this moment, Gu He suddenly noticed that Zi Yan''s complexion had turned red at some point. "Teacher, I feel so hot!" Zi Yan''s tender voice carried a hint of panic, her consciousness gradually blurring. "Teacher, what''s wrong with Sister Zi Yan?" Han Yue, standing by, asked anxiously with a worried expression. "Don''t worry, your sister has just consumed too many spiritual medicines, leading to an excessive accumulation of energy in her body that hasn''t been digested," Gu He explained. Hearing Gu He''s words, Han Yue finally let out a sigh of relief. "Help your sister sit down, and I will help her digest this power," Gu He said softly. Following Gu He''s instructions, Han Yue hurriedly did so. The next moment, Gu He suddenly wrapped several strands of purple flames with his soul power and entered the body of Zi Yan, who was sitting cross-legged. Through the observation of his soul power, Gu He discovered that each of Zi Yan''s meridians was covered with a thick layer of undigested energy. The Dragon Emperor''s essence blood, upon entering Zi Yan''s body, not only evolved her bloodline power but also stimulated her body''s ability to refine and absorb these energies. However, the energy accumulated in Zi Yan''s meridians was too much, and she was unable to digest it in a short time on her own, which is why she suddenly exhibited these symptoms. "Little glutton, ate too much, now you can''t digest it, huh!" After seeing the situation in Zi Yan''s meridians, Gu He shook his head with a wry smile. The next moment, Gu He controlled the purple flames, moving through Zi Yan''s meridians, refining all the especially thick energies into pure energy that could be directly absorbed by the body. Among the fallen rubble, three figures emerged, and at the same time, a somewhat helpless voice of reprimand reached Su Qian''s ears. "I went through all the trouble to help you refine the accumulated energy in your body, and you, in return, demolished your teacher''s house." "Reminding you to remember to digest after eating..." ... "Elder Gu He!" Su Qian descended quickly and soon arrived in front of Gu He and the others. After greeting Gu He, his gaze quickly shifted towards Zi Yan. She actually really broke through to Dou Emperor! Sensing the Dou Emperor aura from Zi Yan, although Su Qian had anticipated it, he couldn''t help but be shaken when it was confirmed. Just a month ago, Zi Yan was not even at the Dou Wang level, but now she had already broken through to the Dou Emperor realm. It''s something that might not be believed if told to others. Seeing Su Qian greet him and then seem a bit stunned, Gu He directly said, "Elder, you were also attracted by the commotion caused by this girl''s breakthrough, right?" "Yes!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Su Qian first nodded, then asked very excitedly, "Elder Gu He, how did you do it?" "What do you mean how?" Gu He was somewhat surprised. "Why could Zi Yan break through to Dou Emperor in just a short month!" Su Qian asked eagerly. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 271: Zi Yan’s Power Surge! Chapter 271: Zi Yans Power Surge! Chapter 271: Zi Yan''s Power Surge! "Hehe, Elder, you''re well aware of how much this girl can eat. With so many pills and the energy of spiritual medicines accumulated in her body, suddenly being released, it''s natural for her strength to surge," Gu He casually made up an excuse in response to Su Qian''s question. Su Qian could naturally sense the perfunctory tone in Gu He''s words. Everyone has their secrets, and Su Qian did not wish to pry further. Moreover, he could see that with Zi Yan''s physique, such a rapid advancement would not impact her future growth. "That''s true, with Zi Yan''s special physique, it indeed might be possible," Su Qian said with a laugh. After looking around, Su Qian suddenly said to Gu He, "Since Elder Gu He''s house has been demolished, I will immediately arrange for someone to come and repair it." "No need to bother the Elder!" Hearing Su Qian''s words, Gu He pointed at Zi Yan, who stood on the spot with a look of grievance, and said, "Let her deal with the mess she created." "That sounds good!" Su Qian nodded in agreement with Gu He''s suggestion, then turned his gaze to Zi Yan. After understanding Gu He''s words, the look of grievance on Zi Yan''s face disappeared instantly. She then raised her small fists and assured with her somewhat immature voice, "Teacher, Elder, don''t worry. I will definitely fix the house as soon as possible." After speaking, Zi Yan suddenly unfolded a pair of purple-golden Dou Qi wings on her back and slowly rose into the air. "Sister, wait for me. I''ll go with you." After Zi Yan flew into the air, Han Yue''s clear and lovely voice came from below. Then, Han Yue also grew a pair of white Dou Qi wings behind her and followed Zi Yan. "Han Yue has actually broken through to Dou King too!" Su Qian had been focused on Zi Yan when he arrived, so he hadn''t noticed Han Yue''s cultivation level. Seeing Han Yue able to manifest Dou Qi wings, his heart was once again stirred. "Han Yue has always been talented; it was just not discovered before!" Gu He explained naturally. "Elder Gu He is being modest. It seems you have an extraordinary method of teaching your disciples. Other elders in the academy should really learn from you," Su Qian sincerely praised Gu He. Hearing Su Qian''s praise, Gu He smiled and said directly, "Elder overpraises me. What I am best at is merely alchemy, and these pills are precisely a crucial part of the cultivation process." Hearing Gu He''s words, Su Qian''s eyes flashed with understanding, and he nodded slowly, "I was narrow-minded. For someone of Elder Gu He''s status as a seventh-rank alchemist, doing these things indeed isn''t difficult!" After saying this, Su Qian suddenly took out a bunch of medicinal ingredients, his expression very serious, "Elder Gu He, please forgive my boldness, but I would like to request your help in refining two Ancestor Breakthrough Pills!" "Ancestor Breakthrough Pills? With your cultivation level, Elder, these pills are of no use. It seems you''re preparing them for other elders who have reached the peak of Dou Emperor," Gu He said lightly. As Gu He''s silent command was given, a massive amount of energy flowed from Gu He''s palm into Zi Yan''s body. Having experienced a power transfer once before, Zi Yan''s reaction this time was very calm. She immediately quieted her mind and began to focus on absorbing the energy Gu He was transferring. ... "Sister is getting a reward again. I need to work hard too, striving to get a reward from the teacher next month!" Standing by, Han Yue, seeing Zi Yan receive her reward, showed a strong envy in her eyes, while also feeling more motivated herself. Before long, a muffled sound came from Zi Yan''s body. Her aura surged once again, advancing directly from a one-star Dou Emperor to a two-star Dou Emperor. After reaching two-star Dou Emperor, Gu He''s power transfer was not yet finished, as massive amounts of energy rapidly flowed into Zi Yan''s body. Then, Zi Yan''s aura quickly climbed to the peak of two-star Dou Emperor and, like a breakthrough, successfully advanced to three-star Dou Emperor. Four-star Dou Emperor! It was only when her cultivation climbed to the peak of four-star Dou Emperor that Zi Yan''s face began to redden, and sweat appeared on her body. "Teacher, that''s about enough. I can''t hold on much longer." Just as Zi Yan''s words fell, another muffled sound came, and her cultivation level directly soared to five-star Dou Emperor. At this time, Gu He also timely cut off the transfer of power. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 272: The Terrifying Return of Cultivation! Chapter 272: The Terrifying Return of Cultivation! Chapter 272: The Terrifying Return of Cultivation! At the same time, a system notification sounded in Gu He''s mind. "Ding, it has been detected that the host has imparted twenty days of cultivation to the fifth disciple, Ziyan. Congratulations to the host for triggering a two thousand times return, receiving a hundred and eight years of cultivation!" (Note: This hundred and eight years of cultivation corresponds to a two-star Dou Zun.) "One hundred and eight years of cultivation has been deposited into the system space, please check it, host." Two thousand times return! One hundred and eight years of cultivation! Hearing the system''s voice, Gu He was jolted; the power return he received this time was truly terrifying. One hundred and eight years of cultivation for a two-star Dou Zun might be more than all the power returns he had received before combined. Thinking this, Gu He''s consciousness immediately dived into the system space. Inside the system space, a ten-zhang large cluster of purple energy floated, not only deeper in color than before but also vastly larger in volume than all the energy he had received before. If he were to absorb all this energy, Gu He could potentially leap to become a peak mid-stage Dou Zun powerhouse. At this thought, Gu He''s breathing became somewhat rapid. "Steady!" Taking a deep breath, Gu He forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart. ... "Teacher, what''s wrong with you? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Seeing Gu He''s strange reactions, concern flashed through Ziyan''s shiny black eyes. Seeing that Gu He didn''t respond, with his breathing so rapid and his facial muscles twitching oddly, Ziyan grew even more puzzled. My cultivation has increased so much this time, Teacher must be suffering from excessive power loss. "Wuwu, Teacher, it''s all Ziyan''s fault, I shouldn''t have accepted the power transfer from you!" Thinking thus, Ziyan''s voice suddenly carried a hint of sobbing. Gu He, hearing Ziyan''s crying, immediately returned from the system space, looking at the little tearful figure before him, feeling a wave of warmth in his heart. Since taking Ziyan as a disciple, Gu He had witnessed her cry over him twice. The first time was when Ziyan couldn''t find Gu He for a long time and feared something had happened to him during the rampage of the invisible fire python. After hearing Han Yue''s reminder, Zi Yan sniffled and then quickly said, "Teacher, I believe what you said is true!" "Phew!" Upon hearing Zi Yan''s words, Gu He let out a long sigh, slowly turning around. For a moment, his expression looked like that of a child who had done something wrong. "Little girl, stop crying. You''re so cute; how could your teacher bear to send you away?" Gu He once again wiped the tears from Zi Yan''s face, speaking very gently. After saying this, Gu He suddenly produced a red and white spiritual medicine pill. After showing the pill in front of Zi Yan, her initially dazed eyes immediately sparkled. The next moment, Zi Yan''s small hand moved swiftly, snatching the pill from Gu He''s hand and then chewing it. Seeing Zi Yan''s cheeks puff up, Gu He finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Han Yue, get up!" Seeing that Zi Yan was pacified, Gu He glanced at Han Yue and said lightly. At the same time, another system notification sounded in Gu He''s mind. "Ding, it has been detected that the host has given his fifth disciple a fifth-grade spiritual medicine pill. Congratulations to the host for receiving a ten thousand times return, obtaining ten thousand fifth-grade spiritual medicine pills." "Ten thousand fifth-grade spiritual medicine pills have been deposited into the system space, please check it, host." Hearing this system notification, Gu He was momentarily stunned, then quickly came to a realization. Zi Yan''s crying and fuss had made him forget about the monthly return limit. So, when he gave that spiritual medicine pill to Zi Yan, the system automatically made an assessment. "Ten thousand fifth-grade spiritual medicine pills, equivalent to twenty thousand fifth-grade spiritual herbs, and it also saves the time needed for refining." Thinking this, Gu He was very at ease. He didn''t feel any regret about using up one of the return opportunities. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 273: Retreat! Xiao Yi Xian in Danger! Chapter 273: Retreat! Xiao Yi Xian in Danger! Chapter 273: Retreat! Xiao Yi Xian in Danger! "With these ten thousand spiritual medicine pills, it should be enough for Zi Yan to eat for a few months." Thinking this, Gu He directly took out nearly half of the spiritual medicine pills from the system space and piled them on the ground. The stacks of boxes piled up were even taller than Zi Yan. Seeing the sudden appearance of a pile of wooden boxes, Zi Yan curiously opened one to take a look. "Wow!" "So many spiritual medicine pills!" After seeing the contents of the box, Zi Yan exclaimed in amazement, then eagerly opened the rest of the boxes to check. "Teacher, are all these for me?" Zi Yan, squatting on the ground and opening boxes, looked up at Gu He with her big, black eyes, full of anticipation. "Who else likes to eat these things besides you!" Gu He stated plainly. "Hehe, seems like it!" Rubbing the back of her head, Zi Yan chuckled, then turned to shout at Han Yue behind her, "Junior sister, come over and help me count how many there are!" Hearing Zi Yan''s words, Han Yue didn''t hesitate and skillfully squatted down to help Zi Yan count the number of spiritual medicine pills. Just then, Gu He suddenly spoke, "Zi Yan, Han Yue, for the next period, I need to go into retreat! You should practice diligently and strive to make a breakthrough by the time I come out." "Ah, going into retreat again? How long will it be this time?" "Teacher, rest assured and go into retreat. I will practice diligently following Sister''s lead." Hearing Gu He was going into retreat, Zi Yan complained while Han Yue was very understanding. For someone of Gu He''s cultivation level, it was quite normal to go into retreat for several months. "Cough!... Han Yue, just focus on your own cultivation, and definitely don''t follow your sister''s example!" Hearing their responses, Gu He quickly added a reminder. "Hmph! Teacher, what''s wrong with learning from me? I won''t lead her astray," Zi Yan said, seemingly picking up on Gu He''s disdain. "Alright, that''s all I had to say. I''m leaving now!" Seeing Zi Yan getting serious, Gu He didn''t explain further and chose to leave swiftly. After saying this, Gu He''s figure turned into a streak of light and shot out of the inner courtyard. ... In the mountains behind the inner courtyard, Gu He chose a small valley as his retreat location. And most of the people attending this auction were there for these poisons. When the black-robed person entered the venue, the auction just happened to start. One by one, poisons were placed on the circular stone platform in the middle of the auction stage. Then, a white-haired old man slowly walked onto the stage and said to the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted you could join us at the Nine Poison Auction House. Today''s auction items will not disappoint you..." "Old man, hurry up and start, why dawdle?" The white-haired old man had just begun to speak when he was urged by the people below. Seeing this, the white-haired old man could only laugh awkwardly and then shouted with all his might, "The first item of today''s auction, a fourth-grade poison, the Crack Pattern Demon Flower, starting price, fifty thousand gold coins!" As the old man announced the starting price, a flurry of bidding voices immediately erupted from below. "I bid sixty thousand gold coins!" "I bid seventy thousand gold coins!" "Eighty thousand gold coins! This Crack Pattern Demon Flower is mine, Li Shan." As a burly voice rang out, the fierce bidding in the auction house suddenly came to a halt, followed by whispers of discussion. "Li Shan is actually attending the Nine Poison Auction too!" "It is said that Li Shan''s cultivation has reached eight-star Dou Ling. He''s notoriously ferocious in this region and should not be provoked." "I bid one hundred thousand gold coins!" Suddenly, in the quiet auction house, a crisp voice rang out. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 274: Nine Poison Auction House! Chapter 274: Nine Poison Auction House! Chapter 274: Nine Poison Auction House! As the crisp voice fell, the crowd in the auction house looked in the direction from which the sound came. "Who is this person? How dare they snatch things with Li Shan? Aren''t they afraid of not being able to leave this dark port?" "Daring to challenge Li Shan, this person''s background must be significant." ... Looking at the figure hiding under the wide black robe, the auction house immediately erupted into a noisy discussion. On the other side, the formidable Dou Spirit expert Li Shan also appeared somewhat surprised. "Who are you, haven''t you heard of my name, Li Shan?" Li Shan directly shouted at the little doctor fairy. "I have no interest in who you are. If you''re too poor, please don''t embarrass yourself here," the black-robed figure retorted bluntly to Li Shan''s inquiry. "Haha!" Being rebuffed by the black-robed figure, Li Shan, infuriated, chuckled, "You''ve got guts. Today, I, Li Shan, will give Nine Poison Auction House some face and won''t argue with you for now." The owner of the Nine Poison Auction House, Scorpion Nine, is said to be a Nine Star Dou Spirit expert. Therefore, out of consideration for Scorpion Nine''s face, Li Shan refrained from directly acting in the auction house. "Somebody has already bid up to a hundred thousand gold coins. Is there anyone else willing to bid higher?" Seeing no movement from Li Shan''s side, the old man on the auction stage began the final inquiry according to the normal procedure. A crackling demon flower, priced at one hundred thousand gold coins, neither too high nor too low, especially since this thing might still be related to Li Shan. So, under the old man''s inquiry, no one else chose to bid again. As for Li Shan, he had only intended to use his name to scare off some people and acquire the cracked demon flower at a low price. Now that its price had been raised, Li Shan naturally lost interest. Soon, with the old man''s gavel, the cracked demon flower was successfully taken down by the black-robed figure. After that, the white-haired old man quickly brought out the second auction item of this auction. "The second auction item, a fourth-rank poison, Snake Vine, starting at eighty thousand gold coins." After the old man stated the starting price, intense bidding voices erupted once again in the audience. In no time, the Snake Vine was pushed to a high price of one hundred and ten thousand gold coins. Just when everyone thought that was the final price, the black-robed figure who had just bought the cracked demon flower made another move. "One hundred and thirty thousand gold coins!" The clear voice of the black-robed figure resounded through the auction house. Her bid already surpassed the value of the Snake Vine itself by a lot. "Everyone, the starting bid for this Three-Eyed Sand Spider is four hundred thousand..." Just as the old man was about to announce the starting bid, a sudden voice abruptly interrupted him. "One million gold coins, I''ll take this Three-Eyed Sand Spider!" This sudden voice was familiar to many in the auction house. "It''s the black-robed person again!" "One million gold coins, what a hefty sum!" "This is almost equivalent to several years of income for the major families in the city." "This mysterious friend bids one million gold coins. Is there anyone else willing to bid higher?" Amidst the astonishment of the crowd, the old man on the stage asked with a slightly excited tone. Upon hearing the old man''s inquiry, many people felt they were unable to match the price with their means. While some could afford the one million gold coins, it seemed unworthy to spend such a sum for a Three-Eyed Sand Spider. Although the Three-Eyed Sand Spider contained potent venom, it would only be useful if it managed to hit its target. Otherwise, its potency would be useless. "Is there anyone else willing to bid higher?" After the third time, there was still no one who added a bid. However, just as the white-haired old man was about to strike the gavel, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance of the auction house, and several powerful auras emanated from there. "People from the Four Great Families of Rumi City!" "The Ma Family, Ma Dayuan! The Hou Family, Hou Yunfeng! The Wang Family, Wang Jing!" "These three leading figures are all Dou King experts!" As the black-robed figure saw the figures appearing at the entrance, he hurriedly urged the white-haired old man, "Since no one else is bidding, hurry up and give me the Three-Eyed Sand Spider!" (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 275: Siege! Taking Shelter in the Depths of the Pond! Chapter 275: Siege! Taking Shelter in the Depths of the Pond! Chapter 275: Siege! Taking Shelter in the Depths of the Pond! "Wait a moment, please!" Upon hearing the urging voice of the black-robed figure, the white-haired old man, who was originally looking at the auction house''s entrance, shifted his gaze to the black-robed figure. At that moment, the sudden appearance of the three Dou King experts also turned their eyes towards the black-robed figure. In the next moment, a resounding voice echoed throughout the entire auction house.Nne?w n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com "I, Ma Dayuan, will take that Three-Eyed Sand Spider!" Upon hearing this voice, the white-haired old man''s heart skipped a beat, immediately halting the transaction with the black-robed figure. "Friend, I''m afraid we can''t sell you the Three-Eyed Sand Spider today," the white-haired old man said apologetically. "Since the auction has already taken place, whether to sell it or not is not up to you!" The black-robed figure snorted coldly, then stepped lightly on the ground, leaping up. Before the white-haired old man could react, the black-robed figure grabbed the iron cage containing the Three-Eyed Sand Spider on the round stone platform and quickly headed towards the interior of the auction house. "Chase after her! We must not let the Little Poison Girl escape again this time!" Seeing the black-robed figure turning towards the backstage of the auction house, Ma Dayuan shouted loudly, then burst into the backstage of the auction house. Following behind Ma Dayuan, Wang Jing and Hou Yunfeng each manifested a pair of green and black Dou Qi wings respectively, soaring into the air. Then, with a gentle lift of their hands, they pierced through the ceiling of the auction hall and arrived above the auction house. "The Little Poison Girl, so the black-robed figure is none other than the Little Poison Girl who has recently gained such a big reputation in Rumi City!" In the auction house, Li Shan, the burly man, reacted abruptly upon hearing Ma Dayuan''s shout, his back already covered in a layer of cold sweat. "Fortunately, I didn''t confront her just now. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable..." According to the information Li Shan knew, the achievements of this Little Poison Girl were terrifying. So far, five Dou Spirit experts had died at her hands, including one Nine-Star Dou Spirit Peak expert. Even some ordinary Dou King experts couldn''t restrain her. ... Inside the Nine Poison Auction House, after the black-robed figure traversed several rooms, she arrived at a slightly concealed location, directly stomping her foot on the ground to break through the floor. Subsequently, a pitch-black small hole appeared in her sight. Seeing this black hole, the black-robed figure didn''t hesitate and jumped down without a second thought. Not long after, flames engulfed the Nine Poison Auction House. The remaining people inside screamed and fled outside. Under the raging fire, the surface of the pond was reflected in a fiery red. The fire burned for a full three hours. During this time, there was no unusual movement from the pond. "Brother Dayuan, it''s been three hours already. Could the Little Poison Girl have found some hidden passage at the bottom of the pond and escaped?" Seeing that there was no unusual movement in the water, Wang Jing speculated. "A hidden passage at the bottom of the water!" Hearing Wang Jing''s words, Ma Dayuan also became very suspicious. "Quick, dive into the water and see if there are any other passages at the bottom." After the auction house was basically reduced to ruins, these three family heads immediately ordered their respective subordinates to dive into the water and start searching. Even if the pond were twice as large, it couldn''t withstand such a dense search by thirty or forty people. "Ah!" Less than three minutes after these people went down, a middle-aged man suddenly emerged from the water, letting out a shrill scream before collapsing on the surface. Seeing this, the three Dou King experts flying above the pond rushed to the scene at the fastest speed. "Surround this area, the Little Poison Girl is right below!" Seeing the color of the skin of the deceased middle-aged man, Ma Dayuan exclaimed excitedly. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 276: Visitors from the Venom Sect! Eight-Star Dou King! Chapter 276: Visitors from the Venom Sect! Eight-Star Dou King! Chapter 276: Visitors from the Venom Sect! Eight-Star Dou King! The black-robed figure hiding in the water pond was none other than Xiao Yixian, who had come to experience in the Cloud Empire. After spending several months in the Cloud Empire, her cultivation had unexpectedly reached the level of a Nine-Star Dou Spirit. Her next goal was to collect a large number of poisonous insects and plants, absorb their toxins, and thereby break through to the Dou King realm in one fell swoop. At this moment, under the search of thirty to forty people, Xiao Yixian''s location in the water pond was quickly exposed. Thus, she had to take action to kill the middle-aged man who discovered her, a man who had reached the Dou Master level. As Ma Dayuan and the other two Dou King experts approached, Xiao Yixian released gray gas from her palms, which merged with the water upon contact. As the water splashed, many people were hit by the water droplets, and their skin began to turn black, followed by a series of miserable screams echoing on the water surface. After Xiao Yixian took action, the terrifying attacks of the three Dou King experts also descended from the sky. Seeing these three brilliant attacks, Xiao Yixian couldn''t help but furrow her brows. With her current peak Nine-Star Dou Spirit strength, she could handle ordinary Dou King experts, but Ma Dayuan was a Four-Star Dou King, while Wang Jing and Hou Yunfeng were both Three-Star Dou Kings. Fighting them posed considerable pressure.Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com At this moment, when the three formidable attacks fell, Xiao Yixian once again dived underwater. With a loud bang, all three of their attacks landed on the water surface, creating a wave. Underwater, Xiao Yixian did not idle, but seized every opportunity to kill those who entered the water to search for her. Not long after, the number of people who had dived into the pond decreased sharply by half, and bodies began to float up from underwater. During this process, Ma Dayuan and the others launched attacks against Xiao Yixian several times, but ultimately, after splashing huge water sprays, Xiao Yixian successfully avoided them. "I''m not going down there. It''s too terrifying below." "The poison of this Little Poison Girl is instantly lethal. We have no resistance at all." Seeing this situation, the remaining people in the water pond shouted in terror, wanting to return to the shore. At this time, Ma Dayuan, Hou Yunfeng, and Wang Jing, flying above the water pond, all had somewhat ugly expressions. Before they came, they never thought that trying to kill a Dou Spirit cultivator would result in such great losses for them. "Brother Dayuan, Brother Wang, let them all come up. Continuing like this will only cause more unnecessary casualties!" Hou Yunfeng said helplessly. "Yeah." Hearing Hou Yunfeng''s words, Ma Dayuan nodded, but then he immediately proposed another suggestion. Instantly, a surging Dou Qi erupted, almost enveloping Xiao Yixian''s entire body. At this critical moment, Xiao Yixian''s reaction was not slow. A gray Dou Qi, several times more concentrated than before, met Hou Yunfeng''s attack. The gray Dou Qi seemed to have a corrosive effect. With a series of hissing sounds, it actually punched a gap in the surging Dou Qi that was about to envelop her entire body. Seeing the gray Dou Qi about to corrode his palm, Hou Yunfeng quickly withdrew his hand. After Hou Yunfeng briefly retreated, the three of them quickly changed their positions, trapping Xiao Yixian in a triangular area with a radius of less than five meters. "Be prepared to die!" The three of them shouted lowly, facing each other with their palms, and three different-colored Dou Qi surged out of their palms. Then, like a membrane of light, it shot out like lightning and intersected in the center in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, a triangular energy membrane formed between the three, with Xiao Yixian at its center. Seeing the membrane getting closer, Xiao Yixian also felt nervous. Just as she hesitated whether to use the advanced Earth-Tier technique, Shadow Claw, taught by Gu He, a powerful aura suddenly appeared from the direction of the water pond. Sensing this aura, Ma Dayuan and the others quickly looked over, only to see a fat middle-aged man with yellow Dou Qi wings flying over from the direction of the water pond. "May I ask the three of you to give Huang a face? Let''s call it quits for today, shall we?" The fat man in the sky smiled. "Who are you?" Ma Dayuan asked with a dark expression. "I am Huang Dahai from the Poison Sect!" (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 277: Melee! Xiao Yixian Escapes! Chapter 277: Melee! Xiao Yixian Escapes! Chapter 277: Melee! Xiao Yixian Escapes! Because of the appearance of this fat middle-aged man, the energy membrane jointly created by Ma Dayuan and the other two stopped shrinking temporarily. Therefore, Xiao Yixian did not rush to take action, but quietly watched the movements of these people. "Poison Sect!" "Isn''t this the territory of the Venom Sect? Your Poison Sect is stretching its hands too far!" Upon learning the identity of this fat middle-aged man, Ma Dayuan, Hou Yunfeng, and Wang Jing showed extremely unfriendly attitudes. Upon hearing the reply from these three, Huang Dahai smiled faintly, "Hehe, since you are so angry, let me help you vent it!" As Huang Dahai''s voice fell, a muddy yellow energy spread out on his large fist. Ma Dayuan never expected that Huang Dahai would actually strike directly. Seeing the muddy yellow energy constantly condensing, Ma Dayuan shouted sternly, "Huang Dahai, you better think twice. This person is someone Old Man Liu wants to see!" "Hehe, that''s quite a coincidence. Sect Master Hua is also very interested in her, even considering taking her as a disciple, and instructed me to ensure her safe return," Huang Dahai said with a cold smile. "What!" "This person is actually here on the orders of Sect Master Hua!" Hearing Huang Dahai''s words, Ma Dayuan, Hou Yunfeng, and Wang Jing''s expressions became extremely ugly. Originally, they wanted to scare off this fat man with Old Man Liu''s name, but now the other party actually brought up Sect Master Hua. Suddenly, the situation was no longer within their control. It''s worth mentioning that Sect Master Hua was the only Dou Emperor within hundreds of miles who could contend with Old Man Liu. "Brother Dayuan, what should we do now? This person''s cultivation is probably at the level of an eight-star Dou King. Perhaps the three of us can fight him together, but then, there will be no one to control this Little Poison Girl!" Hou Yunfeng quickly analyzed the situation. At this moment, almost all of their conversation fell into Xiao Yixian''s ears. Even Xiao Yixian herself didn''t expect that in just a few months, she would have caught the attention of both the Poison Sect and the Venom Sect, two major forces. Moreover, Xiao Yixian was very clear about the current situation. If this fat man attacked Ma Dayuan and the others, she could easily escape. But in that case, another situation might arise, where both sides might simultaneously attack and subdue her. She didn''t know what decision Ma Dayuan and the others would make. ... "I thought you guys had more skills!" After the three left, Huang Dahai said disdainfully. "Huang Fatty, spare us your useless nonsense. This is the territory of the Venom Sect. You don''t have the right to be arrogant here!" "If you have the ability, wait here. Someone will come to deal with you soon!" Although Ma Dayuan and the others were defeated, their tone was still very strong. "Wait and see. I don''t have time for this nonsense!" Huang Dahai said indifferently. After saying this, Huang Dahai ignored the three of them and flapped the yellow wings on his back, quickly flying towards the direction Xiao Yixian had left. Watching Huang Dahai''s figure leave, Hou Yunfeng said angrily, "Damn Venom Sect! If it weren''t for this person, we would have captured Little Poison Girl already!" "There''s no point in saying this now. I''ve already informed the Venom Sect about the arrival of someone from the Poison Sect. I believe it won''t be long before a Venom Sect expert comes to deal with Huang Dahai," Ma Dayuan said confidently. "Brother Dayuan is right. After all, this is the territory of the Venom Sect. One Huang Dahai can''t turn the tide..." Wang Jing echoed. "The four major families of Honey City are indeed powerful!" While Ma Dayuan and the others were discussing their next move, a somewhat cold voice came from the other side of the water pool. The three turned to look, only to see a thin-faced young man, about thirty years old, flapping the black wings behind him as he flew towards them! "Scorpion Nine!" (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 278: Ruins! Chapter 278: Ruins! Chapter 278: Ruins! "Scorpion Nine!" Seeing the newcomer, Hou Yunfeng immediately recognized his identity and turned to remind Ma Dayuan, "Brother Dayuan, this person is the behind-the-scenes boss of the Nine Venom Auction House, Scorpion Nine!" "Oh, he looks quite young!" Learning the young man''s identity from Hou Yunfeng, Ma Dayuan sighed softly. Under the gaze of the three, Scorpion Nine flew over the water pool and came to them. "Did you burn down the Nine Venom Auction House?" As soon as Scorpion Nine arrived, his gaze fixed tightly on Ma Dayuan. "Yes, I just happened to be looking for someone at the bottom of the pool. Since the auction house was getting in the way, I ordered someone to get rid of it." Facing Scorpion Nine''s questioning gaze, Ma Dayuan replied calmly. "Do you know that the Nine Venom Auction House is mine, Scorpion Nine''s?" Scorpion Nine''s tone became even colder. "Hehe, it''s just an auction house, worth a few coins. Here''s one million gold coins as compensation for you!" Seeing Scorpion Nine''s reaction, Ma Dayuan casually took out a crystal card. "It seems you''re treating me, Scorpion Nine, like a beggar. Although the auction house isn''t worth much, it''s of great significance to me, Scorpion Nine. Burning it down so casually, where does that leave my reputation?" Seeing Ma Dayuan offer the gold coins, Scorpion Nine said indignantly. Seeing the tension between the two escalating, Hou Yunfeng couldn''t help but intervene, "Brother Scorpion Nine, burning down the auction house was indeed a last resort. Besides, at the time, we couldn''t find you in the auction house..." Just then, Ma Dayuan furrowed his brows and interrupted Hou Yunfeng, "Brother Hou, there''s no need to waste words with him. Someone who''s not satisfied with a million gold coins doesn''t deserve any explanation." "Good, very good. So, the four major families of Honey City, I, Scorpion Nine, will soon show you the consequences of provoking me." Hearing Ma Dayuan''s words, Scorpion Nine sneered and issued a threat. "Consequences? With just your one-star Dou King strength?" "Do you believe I''ll make you and your auction house disappear today?" Originally, Ma Dayuan was already very displeased because of Huang Dahai''s matter. Now, hearing the threatening tone in Scorpion Nine''s words, he became somewhat angry. "A bunch of narrow-minded people. I''ll make you kneel and beg for mercy!" Although Scorpion Nine was angry, he was very clear-headed about his strength compared to the three of them. So, he made a very rational choice to leave. ... On the other side, after passing through the bushes, Xiao Yixian jumped into a river and almost avoided everyone''s sight along the way. Once, she even saw Huang Dahai flying not far above her head, but even with her hidden presence underwater, she still wasn''t discovered. Upon hearing the shopkeeper''s words, the man in blue robes, Han, nodded lightly. The Han Family, one of the four major families of Honey City, had a family head with the strength of a four-star Dou King, and they had a longstanding feud with Ma Dayuan. During the recent events at the Nine Venom Auction House, the Han Family was the only one of the four major families that didn''t participate. So, when Xiao Yixian heard that the man in blue robes was from the Han Family, she didn''t react much. Following this, just as Xiao Yixian was about to pay, Han preemptively said, "Miss, let me pay for you!" "No need!" Xiao Yixian replied indifferently, leaving the shop with the herbs and the one hundred and ninety thousand gold coins. "Hey, miss, wait for me!" After Xiao Yixian left, Han also followed her out of the shop. However, by the time Han reached the door, Xiao Yixian''s figure had already disappeared. "Weird, why did this girl suddenly vanish?" Han muttered to himself before returning to the shop. ... In a quiet alley in Honey City, after shaking off Han, Xiao Yixian planned to head to another shop specializing in selling venomous creatures. "I heard some news that there have been frequent anomalies in the depths of the Fallen Forest these days. I estimate that there might be some ruins about to emerge." Just as Xiao Yixian was about to exit the alley, she suddenly heard fragments of conversation. (End of chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 279: Xiao Yixian Breaks Through to Dou King! The Land of Sacred Falling! Chapter 279: Xiao Yixian Breaks Through to Dou King! The Land of Sacred Falling! Chapter 279: Xiao Yixian Breaks Through to Dou King! The Land of Sacred Falling! The Fallen Forest! The Ruins! Upon hearing this fragmented voice, Xiao Yixian''s steps suddenly halted, a faint smile appearing on her pretty face as she continued to eavesdrop with interest. "How many people know about this?" "Not many, this information was told to me by a friend who frequently ventures deep into the Fallen Forest!" "Then let''s move quickly. If we can obtain some treasures from the ruins, our success as brothers will be just around the corner." Shortly after, as the two conversing individuals departed, Xiao Yixian also slowly emerged from the alley, continuing towards the shop selling poisonous insects. However, she kept the ruins she had just heard about in mind, planning to visit after breaking through to Dou King. Next, Xiao Yixian''s process of purchasing poisonous insects went smoothly, without anyone bothering her like Han Dashao. "Now everything is almost ready. It''s time to leave the Sweet City."Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com Muttering to herself, Xiao Yixian decisively headed out of the city. Shortly after leaving the city, she directly entered the adjacent dense forest from somewhere along the main road. She then found a relatively secluded cave within the forest. Upon entering the cave, Xiao Yixian was greeted by a half-person-height bathtub filled with water. She slowly added some poisons she had acquired during this period and the toxins extracted from the poisonous insects into the bathtub. When the color of the liquid in the bathtub gradually turned deep green and continued to bubble, Xiao Yixian submerged herself directly into this highly poisonous bath. And she kept eating some extremely poisonous substances in her mouth. Almost the moment she jumped into the bathtub, the toxins in the green liquid began to surge frantically towards her body. Without actively guiding them, Xiao Yixian''s body automatically absorbed these toxins, which then transformed into extremely pure Dou Qi flowing throughout her body. As Xiao Yixian''s internal cultivation technique began to operate, the speed of toxin absorption became even more terrifying. After several hours, in the cave where Xiao Yixian was located, including the nearby vegetation, everything had withered, appearing completely desolate. Within the cave, Xiao Yixian, soaking in the poison, gradually noticed that the Dou Crystal in her body had disappeared, and her Dou Qi no longer needed to circulate through the vortex but emerged directly from her meridians. Sensing this scene, Xiao Yixian slowly opened her eyes. With a slight tremble of her delicate shoulder, suddenly, her Dou Qi surged out from her body, following a peculiar meridian route, finally bursting out from her back. "Pong!" With the explosion of the already empty bathtub, a pair of purple Dou Qi wings shot out fiercely from behind Xiao Yixian. Slightly tilting her head, Xiao Yixian looked backward. A purple glow illuminated her delicate face, and then, a slight curve quietly spread from the corner of her mouth. "Ah, the ruins!" Upon hearing Xiao Yixian inquire about the ruins, the two men were visibly taken aback. We only mentioned the ruins earlier, not the Fallen Forest. How did she know? Although the chubby middle-aged man felt puzzled, he dared not ask further questions. "Esteemed senior... would you also like to visit the ruins?" The thin middle-aged man stuttered a bit. "Yes, please tell me everything you know!" Xiao Yixian''s eyes sparkled with anticipation. "What should we do? It seems like she knows something, and we might not be able to hide it." "Hide what? This woman is so powerful. She''s speaking with us nicely now, but who knows what might happen later." After exchanging a few whispers, the chubby and thin men suddenly became resolute. "Esteemed senior, I also heard about the ruins from a friend. My friend''s family has lived nearby for generations, and there''s a legend there. It''s said that there was once a saint who fell in the Fallen Forest. Therefore, they call that area the Land of Sacred Falling. Of course, many people think it''s just a joke. In a place like the Cloud Empire, where even Dou Ancestor-level experts are rare, how could there be relics left by a saint?" The chubby man explained in detail. "The Land of Sacred Falling!" Upon hearing the description from the chubby man, Xiao Yixian''s heart couldn''t help but feel excited. Xiao Yixian had read some information about ruins in ancient books. Some relics left by ancient powerhouses might be buried or lost over time, but there were also some that could resurface by chance. Although the credibility of what these two men said was not high, Xiao Yixian still wanted to try her luck. After all, anything left behind by a Dou Ancestor powerhouse undoubtedly possessed an irresistible allure to anyone. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 280: Arriving at the Land of Sacred Falling! Chapter 280: Arriving at the Land of Sacred Falling! Chapter 280: Arriving at the Land of Sacred Falling! With her decision made, Xiao Yixian directly addressed the two men, "How about you two lead the way for me? When we reach that place, if there truly are ruins, you can also enter to seek opportunities." "This...," Upon hearing Xiao Yixian''s words, both men wore uneasy expressions. After all, having such a terrifying powerhouse accompanying them made anyone feel uncomfortable. "What''s wrong? You two seem reluctant?" Seeing the expressions on their faces, Xiao Yixian''s eyebrows slightly furrowed, her voice turning cold. Feeling the chill in Xiao Yixian''s words, the two men felt a shiver down their spines and quickly nodded, saying, "We''re willing, we''re willing! To travel with the esteemed senior is our fortune!" "Alright, lead the way!" Xiao Yixian said lightly, a sly smile appearing on her face as she turned away. ... Sweet City was thousands of miles away from the Land of Sacred Falling, as mentioned by the two men. Xiao Yixian followed them for nearly two days before arriving nearby. They were now deep within the Fallen Forest, where poisonous creatures were more abundant than usual. However, with Xiao Yixian''s protection, their pace did not slow down at all. At this moment, the two men were becoming increasingly awestruck by Xiao Yixian''s strength. Throughout their journey, hardly any magical beasts or poisonous creatures could withstand even a couple of moves from Xiao Yixian. Moreover, the poisonous mists released by some terrifying creatures were all absorbed by Xiao Yixian. Suddenly, the chubby man stopped and said to Xiao Yixian, "Esteemed senior, a few more miles ahead is the Land of Sacred Falling that my friend mentioned. My friend''s family has been living there for generations." "Mm!" Hearing the man''s words, Xiao Yixian nodded lightly. In the next moment, her purple Dou Qi wings spread out abruptly, and she soared into the sky above the forest. From high above, Xiao Yixian''s vision fell upon a small village. The people in the village, regardless of age or gender, were all dressed quite modestly. Next to some of the houses were sheds used for breeding. However, the creatures being raised in these sheds were not poultry or livestock, but rather large, poisonous creatures. Farther away in the sky, Xiao Yixian seemed to see a faint, colorful glow. This discovery filled Xiao Yixian with excitement. Perhaps, that faint, colorful glow was a sign of the ruins appearing. Thinking of this, Xiao Yixian flew directly over the small village ahead and headed towards the direction of the colorful glow. ... Xiao Yixian waited in the forest for a day and a night. On the second day, just as dawn was breaking, the nine-colored glow above the valley suddenly dimmed. Immediately after, violent tremors shook the valley, startling Xiao Yixian. This commotion also alarmed everyone in the nearby village. In an instant, all the villagers rushed out of their homes and looked toward the direction of the valley with puzzled expressions. Meanwhile, Pang Wu and Chu Lian had quietly approached the valley the previous night while everyone was asleep. In the sight of Xiao Yixian, Pang Wu, and Chu Lian, a transparent, wrinkled substance gradually appeared above the valley. Then, an inexplicable force emanated from within the transparent wrinkles. Under this unknown force, the valley suddenly collapsed, followed by a bizarre fracturing of the surrounding trees. Seeing this scene, fear flashed in Xiao Yixian''s eyes, and she instinctively stepped back. After the terrifying wave of unknown energy passed, the valley had turned into a flatland. The space seemed like a vacuum zone. Eventually, a dark and profound crack appeared in the sky above. (End of chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 281: Entering the Ruins! Chapter 281: Entering the Ruins! Chapter 281: Entering the Ruins! As the dark and profound crack appeared in the sky, the eerie energy in this world finally ceased its rampage. "Is this a spatial crack?" "It seems that the ruins have not truly manifested." Watching the dark crack in the distant sky, Xiao Yixian murmured to herself. She had seen similar situations in ancient texts before. Some ruins didn''t fully reveal themselves when they appeared, leaving only a dark crack. However, such occurrences were rare, and Xiao Yixian wasn''t sure if this was indeed the entrance to the ruins. If she guessed wrong, she didn''t have the strength to survive inside a spatial crack. Just as Xiao Yixian hesitated, about a dozen figures were flying towards this direction from a dozen miles away from the small village. The leader was an old man in a black robe, with white hair and a pair of green Dou Qi wings on his back. Behind him were figures from the Ma Family, including Ma Dayuan, along with three black-robed individuals whose strength was at the high-level Dou Emperor realm. "Senior Liu, fortunately, I received the information early and was able to arrive here first. Otherwise, with such a commotion, countless people would have come here." Ma Dayuan, following behind the black-robed old man, spoke with a flattering tone. "Hmm!" Hearing Ma Dayuan''s words, the black-robed old man stroked his beard and nodded, "You''ve done well this time. I''ll reward you generously after we come out of the ruins!" With the black-robed old man''s promise, Ma Dayuan''s face revealed a smug smile, and then he provocatively glanced at the middle-aged man in green robe beside him. Before long, the group approached the small village, and the dark crack appeared in front of them. "Is it just a spatial crack?" "No wonder the rampant spatial power only obliterated things within a few miles." "If the ruins were fully revealed, I''m afraid the entire Fallen Forest would have been destroyed by the terrifying spatial power, and by then, all the strong people in the Northwest Continent would gather here!" Seeing the spatial crack in the sky, the black-robed old man murmured softly. "What does Senior Liu mean? Is this dark crack the entrance to the ruins?" Hearing the black-robed old man''s murmurs, Ma Dayuan and the middle-aged man in green robe beside him were very curious and asked. "Yes, this is a very rare situation. The ruins are inside that crack!" The black-robed old man said confidently. "While not many people know about it now, you can follow me to explore the opportunities." The black-robed old man''s face was excited as he gave a low shout and flew straight toward the dark crack, bypassing the village. "This?" Hearing Xiao Yixian''s words, the two men were very conflicted. They had also seen the eight splendid figures in the sky just now, which were at least eight Dou Wang powerhouses. With their cultivation levels, if they entered, they would be nothing more than cannon fodder. Seeing the hesitation of the two men, Xiao Yixian added, "If you don''t plan to go in, take these pills and this crystal card and leave with the villagers behind you. Because, soon, more strong people will come, and if they act recklessly, the entire village may be destroyed." After saying this, Xiao Yixian took out several vials and a crystal card worth two million gold coins. The vials contained some pills she had refined. Seeing what Xiao Yixian brought out, Pang Wu knew that it was compensation for them. With their strength, even if they entered the ruins, they would be like cannon fodder. "Thank you, Senior!" After figuring it out, Pang Wu took the pills and the crystal card handed over by Xiao Yixian without any hesitation. Then, he turned and walked towards the villagers. In Xiao Yixian''s sight, after Pang Wu approached the villagers and said a few words to the muscular man, all the villagers began to move in the direction away from this place. When the villagers gradually disappeared from her sight, Xiao Yixian re-focused her gaze on the dark crack. "Now that Ma Dayuan and the others have gone in, they should be far away by now." Thinking this, a pair of purple Dou Qi wings suddenly emerged from Xiao Yixian''s back, and her figure flew straight towards the dark crack. (The end of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 282: Poisoned! Wolf Head Mercenary Group! Chapter 282: Poisoned! Wolf Head Mercenary Group! Chapter 282: Poisoned! Wolf Head Mercenary Group!ViiSiit for latest novels After Xiao Yixian''s figure disappeared into the dark crack, in another part of the sky, the space suddenly distorted, and soon, a figure of a silver-haired young girl emerged from the twisted space. The silver-haired young girl took a light step and followed Xiao Yixian into the dark crack. As Xiao Yixian stepped into the dark crack, the surroundings remained pitch black. However, it seemed that there was a faint silver light shimmering at the end of her vision. Concentrating all her energy, Xiao Yixian began to fly towards the faint silver light at the end. After a while, a silver light ring became clearer and clearer in her sight. This silver light ring should be the real entrance to the ruins. After a moment of thought, Xiao Yixian slowly stepped into the silver light ring. As her body completely entered the silver light ring, a strong dizziness struck her. When Xiao Yixian opened her eyes again, she found herself standing on a vast grassland without the presence of Ma Dayuan and his group. Scanning the surroundings, Xiao Yixian said excitedly, "It seems that I guessed right. The space crack is indeed the entrance to the ruins!" Then, Xiao Yixian locked onto a direction and vibrated her purple Dou Qi wings on her back, flying towards it. After flying for a long time, Xiao Yixian finally saw not an endless grassland in front of her, but gradually appearing trees, and these trees were generally much larger than those outside. "This space is too vast. Just the grassland alone covers nearly a hundred miles..." Xiao Yixian muttered to herself. Then, she continued to fly towards the ancient forest above. However, as she continued to fly, she suddenly noticed that there were other creatures surviving in the dense forest below. Curious, Xiao Yixian found a relatively open area and landed in the forest. Meanwhile, in another location. At the edge of the Demon Beast Mountain Range in the Empire of Jiamadu. In Qing Shan Town, a white-clothed girl with a sword hanging from her waist stepped into the crowded street and walked straight to a small shop. The girl had delicate features and a slender figure, exuding a unique aura different from ordinary people. Putting the sword on the table, Nalan Yanran took out several pieces of different types of Demon Beast meat from her storage ring and placed them on the table nearby. Then, she shouted loudly, "Boss, fry these pieces of Demon Beast meat for me separately, and you can keep the rest for yourself. Also, bring me another pot of wine!" "Okay!" Hearing Nalan Yanran''s voice, the burly boss behind the counter quickly called the waiters. However, these people only said a few words and did not dare to step forward to help Nalan Yanran. The two middle-aged men in their thirties who stood up smirked and walked up to Nalan Yanran. Then, they loudly said, "Second Captain has taken a fancy to you, Miss. How can we not do our best?" Nalan Yanran stared sharply at the two men and said in a soft voice, "Did Second Captain order you to do this?" "That''s right!" "Our Second Captain saw your back once and couldn''t forget it. However, he didn''t have time to find you back then, so he ordered us brothers to keep an eye on Qing Shan Town. Today, we finally caught you." The two men didn''t hide anything and almost told Nalan Yanran everything they knew because, in their eyes, Nalan Yanran was already poisoned and had no resistance. "Old Four, go tell Second Captain the good news. Tell him that the beauty he''s been thinking about is now in the hands of us two brothers." After the man finished speaking, he reached out to touch Nalan Yanran''s face. However, just then, an extremely sharp sword light suddenly flashed in everyone''s eyes. The next moment, the man''s hand neatly fell to the ground. Followed by a mournful scream. "Ah! My hand, you''re not poisoned..." Before the man could finish his second sentence, Nalan Yanran''s second sword had pierced through. With a flash of white light, blood gushed from the man''s chest, and he fell to the ground. The other man took only a few steps before he noticed the commotion. When he turned back to look, a cold aura flashed across his neck. The next moment, he fell backward with his hands covering his neck, his eyes filled with shock. Ignoring the shocked gazes of the others in the shop, Nalan Yanran''s eyes carried a hint of coldness. She turned to the shopkeeper and asked, "Where is the Wolf Head Mercenary Group?" (End of the chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 283: Annihilating the Wolf Head Mercenary Group! Chapter 283: Annihilating the Wolf Head Mercenary Group! Chapter 283: Annihilating the Wolf Head Mercenary Group! Inside the small shop, the shopkeeper, in a state of shock, reluctantly revealed the whereabouts of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. After learning the approximate location of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, Nalan Yanran gently shook off the blood on her sword and then turned to walk outside the small shop. ... On a main road on the outskirts of Qing Shan Town, a group of seven or eight people riding unicorns rushed forward, urging their mounts along the way. Along the way, all the passersby hurriedly fled, fearing being accidentally harmed. "It''s this guy again, Uncle Kegang, let''s go quickly!" Because these few men on horseback were coming, a green-clad girl standing at the roadside suddenly turned pale and hurriedly said to the middle-aged man beside her. "Alright, let''s just avoid them!" Kegang, the middle-aged man, nodded repeatedly and then turned away with the girl. However, even so, the group of men on horseback still stopped near the small shop, and one of them shouted loudly, "Aren''t these people from the Blood Battle Mercenary Group? How come, upon seeing our Wolf Head Mercenary Group, you dare not even show your faces?" Upon hearing the commotion, Kegang and the green-clad girl both frowned and turned back. Among the men on horseback, the thin man at the forefront swept his gaze over Kegang and the green-clad girl and grinned, "Oh, it turns out to be Kegang. Are you planning to enter the Demon Beast Mountain Range again?" "Yes, we are planning to enter the Demon Beast Mountain Range!" Kegang replied in a low voice. "Then be careful, don''t let an old bone like you be eaten by demon beasts!" Upon hearing Kegang''s reply, the thin man sneered unabashedly. Then, hearing the man''s sneer, Kegang did not react. Seeing Kegang''s reaction, the thin man laughed a few times and then turned his gaze to the green-clad girl who was dodging and hiding behind Kegang. He licked his lips lewdly and said with a smirk, "Linger, you''re getting more and more lovely. My favorite type is girls like you, haha, the taste, it''s amazing! Don''t be alone in the future, hehe..." After teasing the green-clad girl, the thin man laughed heartily, whipped his horse, and galloped towards the bustling street in town. Seeing the thin man about to leave, Kegang and the green-clad girl both breathed a sigh of relief. However, just as the thin man''s horse rushed out not far away, a figure dressed in white suddenly appeared on the street. Seeing this figure, the thin man hurriedly controlled his unicorn to go towards the direction of the white-clothed girl. ... As Nalan Yanran left, Kegang and the green-clad girl, Linger, who had witnessed the scene not far away, were too nervous to say anything. "This white-clothed woman''s strength is terrifying. She killed Gan Mu, who had the strength of a Nine-Star Dou Master, in an instant!" After a long time, Kegang suddenly sighed. Linger, with her big black eyes, looked in the direction Nalan Yanran had left with a face full of longing. "If only I could be as powerful as this sister, that would be great!" ... In the base of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, the captain, Mu She, was having someone count the profits of the past few days. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and glanced over the courtyard. Then, furrowing his brows, he cursed loudly, "That guy Gan Mu, he''s never seen when he comes back from a mission. He''ll eventually die at the hands of a woman." "Hehe, Captain, you still don''t know about the Second Captain''s hobbies!" "I heard that the Second Captain even prepared to offer you an exceptional beauty this time!" Hearing Mu She''s scolding, several mercenaries beside him joked with smiles on their faces. "Oh, he''s really determined this time, but I''m not interested." Hearing his subordinates'' words, Mu She said with a dark expression. Seeing Mu She''s expression, the other mercenaries dared not say more. They all knew that ever since the captain''s son died at the hands of a young man named Xiao Yan, the captain had been thinking every day about how to find Xiao Yan and seek revenge. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 284: Xiao Yan: A Gentleman’s Revenge is Not Late by Ten Years! Chapter 284: Xiao Yan: A Gentlemans Revenge is Not Late by Ten Years! Chapter 284: Xiao Yan: A Gentleman''s Revenge is Not Late by Ten Years! Suddenly, a mercenary figure hurriedly burst through the hall''s doors, exclaiming urgently, "Leader, it''s bad, a woman has stormed in from the main gate!" "What?" Upon hearing this, the hall immediately erupted in commotion. Mu She was also stunned by this news, but soon abruptly sat up straight and asked loudly, "Is it just one person?" "Just one!" the mercenary replied with a terrified face. "A single woman dares to charge at our mercenary headquarters?" Mu She''s face twitched, as he thought he had heard wrong. "I want to see who is so blind as to dare to break into our Wolf Head Mercenaries alone?" With a slight twitch of his mouth, Mu She sneered coldly, then with a grim face, he strode out of the hall. Mu She and his group quickly crossed the hall and headed towards the front courtyard. Just as they reached the front courtyard gate, Mu She heard two dull thuds from outside, and then two mercenaries'' bodies fell at the gate. Seeing this scene, Mu She''s eyes reddened, and a murderous intent spread through his heart. "Who dares to hurt so many of my Wolf Head Mercenaries? They cannot be easily forgiven." With a roar, Mu She quickly rushed into the courtyard, and as soon as he stepped in, a white figure appeared in his field of vision. The mercenaries who rushed at her didn''t manage to make even one move against her. The woman walked along, kicking everyone by her side flying. Soon, the remaining mercenaries retreated to Mu She''s side. Seeing that a Dou Shi-level practitioner had finally appeared, Nalan Yanran''s eyes turned towards Mu She, her voice cold, "Are you Mu She, the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group?" "Indeed, I am Mu She. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group has no grudge with you, madam. Why have you hurt so many of my people?" Staring intently at Nalan Yanran, Mu She did not perceive her cultivation level, but judging from her actions, he guessed that she must at least be at the Dou Shi level, so he did not attack directly but instead sought to understand her reasons. "Enough talk, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group must disband today," Nalan Yanran stated bluntly. "From this moment on, I don''t want to see the name ''Wolf Head Mercenary Group'' in Qingshan Town ever again." Leaving behind these words, Nalan Yanran sheathed her sword and drifted away. ... In the dark forests of the Demon Beast Mountains, a Frost Horned Wolf at the peak of the first tier, having just devoured a Blood-Eating Rat, was proudly grooming its fur. But then, a fist imbued with fierce power suddenly came from the dense woods next to it, aiming for its head. Sensing the dangerous aura, the Frost Horned Wolf howled and emitted a blast of white cold air. Unfortunately, the white cold air did nothing to hinder the powerful fists, which in an instant, struck the Frost Horned Wolfs head, causing it to burst open with blood and brain matter splattering everywhere. Defeating the Frost Horned Wolf with a single punch, the figure slightly lifted his head, revealing the handsome face of Xiao Yan, who had been cultivating in the Demon Beast Mountains. Now, Xiao Yan, compared to a month ago, seemed tougher and even had a faint scent of blood on him. This month, with the increased intensity of training from his master, Yao Lao, Xiao Yan had to hunt at least ten peak first-tier demon beasts every day. This devilish training had transformed him; after all, the baptism of bloodshed changes everyone to some extent. In summary, this months cultivation had nearly doubled Xiao Yans overall strength. With all his constraints released, defeating a two-star Dou Shi was not impossible! Over this month, Xiao Yan had perfectly killed a second-tier demon beast face-to-face, measuring his cultivation results! After assessing his strength, a middle-aged mans sinister face emerged in Xiao Yans mind. "Mu She, a gentlemans revenge is not late even after ten years. Its time to settle our accounts." Muttering to himself, Xiao Yan began walking towards Qingshan Town. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 285: Departure, to the Tagore Desert! Chapter 285: Departure, to the Tagore Desert! Chapter 285: Departure, to the Tagore Desert! Before long, Xiao Yan found himself walking through the bustling streets of a crowded town. Listening to the noise around him, Xiao Yan, who had been cut off from society for several months, couldn''t help but reflect. Humans truly are social creatures; he wondered if he would still be able to speak if he were to spend decades alone in the wilderness. Shaking his head and dismissing this odd thought, Xiao Yan patted the heavy ruler wrapped in black cloth on his back, stood at a street corner, and looked around. After a moments thought, he stopped a passerby to inquire about the location of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group in Qingshan Town. "Excuse me, sir, do you know where the Wolf Head Mercenary Group is stationed?" Xiao Yan asked calmly. "The Wolf Head Mercenary Group?" Upon hearing Xiao Yan''s question, the passerby seemed a bit stunned, then laughed, "Young man, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group used to be stationed on the south side of the town, but they disbanded a few days ago." "Disbanded?" Xiao Yan was taken aback by the passerby''s reply. "Sir, do you know why the Wolf Head Mercenary Group disbanded, and where their leader Mu She went?" Xiao Yan asked eagerly. "It looks like you havent been to Qingshan Town for a long time. Almost every resident of Qingshan Town knows about the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Their leader Mu She was beheaded by a woman in white just a few days ago at their own base. Afterward, that woman in white declared that she hoped never to hear the name ''Wolf Head Mercenary Group'' in Qingshan Town again," the passerby explained in detail. "What! Mu She is dead!" Hearing that Mu She was dead, Xiao Yan wasn''t sure how to feel. His purpose in coming to Qingshan Town was to seek revenge on Mu She, but someone had beaten him to it. After a while, Xiao Yan shook his head with a bitter smile, sighing, "To kill Mu She in one strike, it looks like he really provoked someone formidable, some powerful senior." In Xiao Yans subconscious, the woman in white who could kill Mu She would likely be of a considerable age. "Hehe!" Seemingly hearing Xiao Yans sigh, the passerby chuckled and said, "Young man, you guessed wrong there. The woman in white who killed Mu She isn''t some senior expert; she looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old." "Sixteen or seventeen?" Hearing this, Xiao Yan became unsettled. The woman in white was about his own age. Yet, to break into the Wolf Head Mercenary Group alone and kill Mu She outright, she must have the cultivation of at least a five or six-star Dou Shi. Eastern Demon Beast Mountains. After some time traveling, Xiao Yan finally arrived at the eastern edge of the Demon Beast Mountains. The nearest city to him now was a large city in the eastern province of the Jia Ma Empire, grander than Wutan City, and among the top in terms of overall strength in all the large cities of the Jia Ma Empire. Xiao Yan''s primary goal was to reach this city, known as Black Rock City, because only such large cities were equipped with the empire''s civilian air transport squads. Considering the vast distance between the Demon Beast Mountains and the eastern border, it would take at least four to five months if Xiao Yan were to walk to the Tagore Desert. However, Xiao Yan didn''t have time to waste, so he had to reach Black Rock City to take an air transport to the empire''s border. "Xiao Yan, I wonder if there is an Alchemist Association in Black Rock City. If there is, you should try to see if you can reach the second-grade level," Yao Lao suddenly spoke as Xiao Yan was heading towards the foothills. "Go to the Alchemist Association?" Xiao Yan was startled, asking, "Wouldn''t that expose my identity as an alchemist?" Hearing this, Yao Lao was momentarily speechless, then said with a laugh, "I don''t recall ever telling you to hide your identity as an alchemist!" "An alchemist''s identity is respected everywhere, and many places provide alchemists with numerous privileges. I believe the Jia Ma Empire is no exception!" "Alright, I''ll follow your advice!" Hearing Yao Lao''s explanation, Xiao Yan nodded emphatically. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 286: The Eldest Brother’s Mercenary Group Chapter 286: The Eldest Brothers Mercenary Group Chapter 286: The Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group Stone Desert City. A handsome young man appeared beneath the towering yellow walls of the city. He was dressed in a striking second-grade alchemist''s robe, standing out amidst the crowd, with seven or eight mercenaries following him. "Master Xiao Yan, this is Stone Desert City. The leaders Xiao Ding and Xiao Li are both inside the city," one of the mercenaries behind him, a slender and attractive figure, suddenly spoke up. The woman who spoke seemed to be about twenty years old, with a pretty and delicate face. However, her slightly arched light eyebrows gave off a defiant air, reminiscent of a desert leopardess. Her demeanor suggested that although she was a beautiful desert flower, she was also thorny. Her bold outfit consisted of a very short top covering just her chest and lower area, and her bronze-toned, slender waist was exposed for all to see. Underneath her short leather skirt, a length of her long, attractive legs was visible. As they walked, several lascivious glances swept over her slender waist and taut legs from the passersby around them. "Uh-huh!" Xiao Yan smiled and nodded in response to her words. Having walked towards the Tagor Desert, Xiao Yan had unwittingly rescued a group of mercenaries who turned out to be from his elder brothers'' group. Now, led by this alluring woman, he had finally arrived at Stone Desert City. Suddenly, the sound of urgent hooves from afar drew the attention of Xiao Yan and his companions. In Xiao Yan''s view, about a dozen formidable mercenaries riding twin-horned horses were charging towards the city gates, causing pedestrians and other mercenaries to swiftly clear the way. In the center of these dozen mercenaries was an extremely luxurious carriage, adorned with a flag bearing a mysterious purple eagle emblem. "Xue Lan, who are these people?" Xiao Yan turned to ask the alluring woman beside him, his curiosity piqued. However, turning to her, he noticed a deep wariness in Xue Lan''s eyes as she watched the group of suddenly appearing mercenaries. Xue Lan, not until the group had entered the city, slightly relaxed and whispered to Xiao Yan, "Young Master Xiao Yan, those were from the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group." "Ha ha, the ''Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group'', what a strange name!" Xiao Yan burst into laughter, teasingly commenting on the name of the mercenary group. Hearing Xiao Yan''s carefree laughter, Xue Lan''s face showed concern as she cautioned, "Master Xiao Yan, you shouldn''t talk like that here. If someone with intentions overhears and tells the people from the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group, it could bring us big trouble." "Oh, not even allowed to talk about it, are they that powerful?" Xiao Yan''s curiosity deepened as he noticed the demeanor of Xue Lan and the others. In the short term, the only way to resolve the crisis was to restrain the leader of the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group. Of course, Xiao Yan alone was not up to this task. However, with the soul enhancement from Yao Lao, defeating a Dou Grandmaster wouldn''t take much effort. ... "Big brother, second brother, don''t be in a rush to move; there might still be a chance," Xiao Yan suddenly said after a moment of silence. "A chance? What kind of chance?" Xiao Ding looked at him curiously. "If the leader of the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group comes tomorrow, just let me handle it," Xiao Yan said, his face wearing a faint smile, full of confidence. "You handle it?" "Nonsense, you''ve just advanced to the Dou Master level. Even we can''t defeat you, how are you going to face the leader of the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group?" Hearing Xiao Yan''s words, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li thought he was just being a brash youth, so they didn''t take it seriously. "Master, please help me!" Seeing his brothers'' reaction, Xiao Yan suddenly communicated with Yao Lao, who was in his ring. (End of the chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 287: I Gave You a Chance, But You Were Useless! Chapter 287: I Gave You a Chance, But You Were Useless! Chapter 287: I Gave You a Chance, But You Were Useless! "Sigh!" As a weary sigh echoed from the ring on Xiao Yan''s finger, his aura began to surge dramatically. Within moments, he exhibited the aura of a Dou Spirit level. "What''s this!" "Why has our little brother''s cultivation surged so rapidly?" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were visibly shocked by Xiao Yan''s sudden transformation. Their eyes filled with disbelief. Seeing the expressions on Xiao Ding and Xiao Li''s faces, Xiao Yan''s lips curved slightly, and he said calmly, "Big brother, second brother, now do you believe I have the strength?" After observing Xiao Yan for a while, Xiao Li, struggling to contain his excitement, suddenly asked, "Xiao Yan, can you maintain this state for long?" "Don''t worry, second brother, I can sustain it for quite some time!" Xiao Yan confidently patted his chest. ... The next day. In Stone Desert City, within a manor even larger than the Mo Tie Mercenary Group''s headquarters, a well-built young man was practicing combat skills in one of the courtyards. Suddenly, two middle-aged men radiating a bloodthirsty aura appeared at the entrance of the courtyard. The well-built young man gradually ceased his movements as he sensed their arrival. Two maids standing not far behind him immediately ran forwardone carefully wiped the sweat from his training off his face, while the other tenderly helped him into a beautifully crafted robe. This robe, the distinctive garb of a respected alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, signified his status as a third-grade alchemist through the emblem displayed on it. This well-built young man was Liu Ling, sent by Gu He to train in the Tagor Desert. Having not been in Stone Desert City for long, he quickly formed the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group to fulfill Gu He''s mission. Initially, the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group had only two or three members. However, under Liu Ling''s leadership, they almost always returned from their missions laden with success. Gradually, other mercenary groups began to trip them up, but once Liu Ling demonstrated his formidable combat abilities, he methodically dealt with each group targeting them. Following this, the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group''s development accelerated rapidly, and it wasn''t long before their strength rivaled that of the three established mercenary groups in Stone Desert City. Naturally, this rapid growth caught the attention of these groups, with the third-ranked Storm Mercenary Group losing patience first. They attempted to swallow up the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group but were soundly defeated by Liu Ling, who needed only two moves to best their leader. The Storm Mercenary Group''s influence was subsequently absorbed by Liu Ling''s group. This was followed by the combined attack on Liu Ling by the Sand Mercenary Group and the Mo Tie Mercenary Group. As a pair of delicate hands lifted the carriage curtain, a tall young figure slowly stepped out. Xiao Yan, on seeing Liu Ling''s face clearly, was inwardly shocked. Originally, based on Xiao Ding and Xiao Li''s descriptions of the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group leader''s cultivation, Xiao Yan had guessed this person might be a young man around thirty. Now it seemed this person was hardly a few years older than himself. As his gaze moved downward, the alchemist robe worn by the young man on the carriage immediately caught Xiao Yan''s attention. "That is... the emblem that only a third-grade alchemist can wear!" "That such a third-grade alchemist exists in this remote border area." Just one glance at the young man on the carriage had already stirred immense waves in Xiao Yan''s heart, and at that moment, Yao Lao suddenly reminded him. "Xiao Yan, this young man looks to be only about eighteen or nineteen years old, yet he is just one step away from reaching the Dou Spirit level. He''s a rare genius!" "What!" "Just one step from reaching Dou Spirit!" Hearing Yao Lao''s reminder, Xiao Yan was even more astonished. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had only mentioned that this person might be above a three-star Dou Grandmaster, but they had not realized his true cultivation was at the peak of nine-star Dou Grandmaster. Such a terrifying pace of cultivation was rare, even in the entire Jia Ma Empire! At this moment, Xiao Yan''s gaze towards Liu Ling was suddenly filled with wariness. Liu Ling, after stepping out of the carriage, looked at the two leaders of the Mo Tie Mercenary Group standing at the gate, a trace of mockery on his lips, and slowly said, "Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, the three-day deadline has passed. It seems you have no intention of leaving." (End of the chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 288: Sister Yanran, Let Your Eldest Brother Test Xiao Yan’s Strength First! Chapter 288: Sister Yanran, Let Your Eldest Brother Test Xiao Yans Strength First! Chapter 288: Sister Yanran, Let Your Eldest Brother Test Xiao Yan''s Strength First! Although Xiao Yan was standing beside Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, his newly achieved Dou Master cultivation level did not catch Liu Ling''s attention. At that moment, upon hearing Liu Ling''s imposing words, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li did not respond directly but instead turned their gazes towards Xiao Yan. Sensing his brothers'' looks, Xiao Yan, although shocked by Liu Ling''s strength, felt no fear due to Yao Lao''s support. As Liu Ling''s focus remained on Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, Xiao Yan suddenly spoke up: "So you''re the leader of the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group?" After Xiao Yan spoke, Cassida from Liu Ling''s group angrily yelled at Xiao Ding, "Xiao Ding, is this how the Mo Tie Mercenary Group disciplines its members? When leaders are speaking, can any Tom, Dick, or Harry interject?" "Insolence!" "This is my own brother, Xiao Yan. His words are my words," Xiao Ding replied fiercely when he heard Cassida''s insult. Cassida was about to continue his mockery when he saw Liu Ling''s hand gesture and promptly shut his mouth. "Xiao Yan..." "I seem to have heard that name somewhere!" Upon hearing the name mentioned by Xiao Ding, Liu Ling rubbed the back of his head, trying to remember. Suddenly, as if struck by a realization, he looked excitedly at Xiao Yan and thought, "Could this be the Xiao Yan who Sister Yanran broke off an engagement with?" Seeing Liu Ling''s somewhat strange reaction, Xiao Yan was also puzzled and asked, "Do you know me?" "I remember now, there was a Xiao Yan who borrowed 100,000 gold coins from me as a child and then disappeared without paying it back. Surely that wasn''t you?" Instead of revealing his true identity at that moment, Liu Ling decided to tease Xiao Yan with a made-up excuse. Hearing this, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, while Xiao Ding quickly explained, "Leader Liu is joking. My younger brother has been in Wutan City since he was young and has never been out, so how could he have had the opportunity to borrow money from someone?" Shaking his head, Liu Ling then said seriously, "Well, whether or not you owe me money, today you must leave Stone Desert City. This is your last chance." As soon as Liu Ling finished speaking, Xiao Yan immediately responded without hesitation, "What if we don''t leave?" Hearing Xiao Yan''s words, Liu Ling''s face showed a touch of annoyance, and he coldly said, "If you don''t leave, then I''ll just have to have you carried out!" After saying this, Liu Ling''s aura burst forth powerfully, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of the three Xiao brothers. "Bang!" The giant black ruler smashed into the ground, creating a loud crack and a fissure on the surface in front of the Mo Tie Mercenary Groups headquarters. "Hmph!" Having just exchanged blows, Xiao Yan grunted from the hit to his shoulder, his gaze towards Liu Ling growing more serious. "With a Dou Grandmaster''s cultivation but possessing such dense Dou Qi, this young man has a very solid foundation!" Yao Lao''s voice suddenly rang in Xiao Yan''s ears as the two separated again. Understanding the situation, Xiao Yan decided not to waste any more time. "It seems I have to use that move," he muttered to himself. "Flame Splitting Tsunami!" As Xiao Yan''s low chant echoed in his mind, the surrounding air seemed to fill instantly with a scorching fire attribute energy. The black ruler that Xiao Yan raised high gradually became enveloped in a fiery red glow. "Planning to compare Dou Techniques? Then I''m afraid you''ll be disappointed!" Despite seeing Xiao Yan''s preparations, Liu Ling did not advance to stop him but instead began forming a seal with his hands as Xiao Yan was just gathering his momentum. "Vermillion Bird Seal!" With a shout from Liu Ling, the nebulous seal in his hand suddenly burst forth with a brilliant crimson light. Just then, from Xiao Yan''s giant ruler, a crescent of red light several meters long shot out, striking towards Liu Ling with incredible speed. (End of the chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 289: The Fight Intensifies! Chapter 289: The Fight Intensifies! Chapter 289: The Fight Intensifies! The immense crescent of red light unleashed by Xiao Yan astonished the thirty-odd mercenaries of the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group, their eyes wide with shock at the sheer power of the attack, which surpassed their imaginations. Cassida and the two maids brought by Liu Ling, standing in front of the mercenaries, showed deep concern. They had seen Liu Ling in action multiple times and had a general understanding of his strength, but they had never encountered such a formidable attack before. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, standing not far behind Xiao Yan, shared similar feelings. They had already retreated a dozen steps before Xiao Yan had even begun his attack, yet the intense heat of the energy still reached them. "Did little brother go too far? This level of attack could...," Xiao Ding muttered, watching the terrifying red glow. Although they had some conflicts with Liu Ling, the origin of their dispute was their own plotting against him, making them technically at fault. In such a ruthless mercenary world, moral arguments often gave way to the rule of the strongest fist. Knowing this, even though Xiao Ding realized Liu Ling might be gravely injured or worse from Xiao Yan''s strike, he didn''t call out to stop it. As everyone''s focus was on the powerful crescent of red light, Liu Ling seemed unfazed and pushed his palm forward in a seemingly slow and ordinary motion. This action drew nearly ninety percent of the Dou Qi from his body in an instant. The crimson seal he unleashed then suddenly expanded, engulfing several meters in an instant, vaporizing the thick stone slabs on the ground as it passed. A faint red phoenix phantom quickly emerged at the center of the seal, exuding a destructive aura. "Danger!" Just as Liu Ling fully released the seal, a panicked shout from Yao Lao echoed suddenly in Xiao Yan''s mind. Instantly, Xiao Yan''s aura surged again, incredibly reaching the level of a Dou King in mere moments, startling everyone once more. The next moment, the giant crescent of red light collided with the phoenix seal, triggering a massive explosion of energy that rippled outward. Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan''s powerful red crescent was completely annihilated, while the phoenix phantom within the seal remained undissipated, its vivid wings flapping as it charged towards Xiao Yan at an unimaginable speed. With no time to react after just releasing his ground-level Dou Technique, Xiao Yan could only brace himself by placing the giant black ruler in front of him. "Boom!" A muffled sound followed as Xiao Yan and his black ruler were sent flying backward for over ten meters before coming to a stop, his feet nearly buried in the ground. "Right." Nodding at Yao Lao''s advice, Xiao Yan then exerted some effort to free his feet from the ground where they were embedded and began to slowly walk towards Liu Ling. Noticing Xiao Yan''s movements, Cassida and the mercenaries behind him were visibly intimidated yet none backed down. As Xiao Yan approached, their hearts raced faster with each step he took. "Brothers, do not let this man near the leader!" Suddenly, Cassida roared, raising his weapon and preparing to charge at Xiao Yan. "Cassida, fall back!" Before he could move far, a chilling voice called out from behind, halting Cassida and the others in their tracks. Then, a figure swiftly leaped over their heads and landed firmly in front of them. Recognizing the silhouette, Cassida and the others found it all too familiar. "Leader!" (End of the chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 290: The Guardians! Chapter 290: The Guardians! Chapter 290: The Guardians! "Leader!" Seeing Liu Ling appear in front of them, Cassida said with great emotion, "Leader, your Dou Qi has not yet recovered, let your brothers take the front for you." The other mercenaries also unanimously shouted, "Yes, leader, you go rest in the back, let us buy you some time!" On Xiao Yan''s side, observing the Eldest Brother''s Mercenary Group''s mercenaries, who exhibited a readiness to die for their leader, he felt quite moved. Being able to inspire such loyalty from so many mercenaries suggested that Liu Ling was a decent person. However, since they were now enemies, Xiao Yan knew he could not afford to be lenient. With a silent sigh, Xiao Yan''s aura surged, and the black ruler in his hand once again took on a fiery red hue. "My words don''t matter anymore, is that it? Everyone, stand down!" After a moment of silence, Liu Ling suddenly ordered the mercenaries behind him. Under normal circumstances, Liu Ling would have already ordered them to charge, but with the battle nearing Dou King level, sending them would be a death sentence. Hearing Liu Ling''s command, Cassida struggled with his emotions for a moment but eventually led the mercenaries to retreat according to Liu Ling''s wishes. "I must admit, you are not only a formidable opponent but also one deserving of respect!" Xiao Yan said with a smile, genuinely admiring Liu Ling''s actions. "Is that so?" Liu Ling responded with a slight smile, "But you, who rely on someone else''s soul power, are still not worthy to be my opponent."Upstodatee from Liu Ling was sure that the power Xiao Yan had shown was not his own but augmented by some external force. Additionally, possessing unique soul power techniques and teachings from Gu He, Liu Ling had sensed an unusual soul fluctuation in Xiao Yan that did not seem to belong to him. Therefore, Liu Ling speculated that Xiao Yan might have temporarily enhanced his cultivation to Dou King level by leveraging someone else''s soul power. Xiao Yan, hearing this, felt a twinge of embarrassment, his face reddening slightly. Being openly mocked by an enemy and having one''s secrets laid bare would unsettle anyone. "I''ve long noticed this young man''s extraordinary soul power, but I didn''t expect him to discern so much!" Yao Lao expressed surprise as Xiao Yan wrestled with his thoughts. "Teacher, what should we do now?" Xiao Yan asked, somewhat flustered. "Don''t worry, he might have sensed something unusual about your soul, but he''s only guessing about my presence. Just ignore whatever he says next," Yao Lao advised. Overwhelmed by the boy''s aura, Xiao Yan''s steps halted. ... The next moment, the blonde-haired boy who had suddenly appeared in the sky quickly moved to Liu Ling''s side. "Brother Liu, what''s wrong?" asked the little boy in his childlike voice as soon as he reached Liu Ling. "Xiao Jin, you got here quite fast, huh!" said Liu Ling as he reached out to pat the boy''s head, smiling awkwardly. More than a month ago, during a venture into the desert, Liu Ling had encountered a powerful member of the Serpent Tribe. He had been completely overpowered by the Serpent Tribesman until Xiao Jin appeared and swiftly defeated the attacker. Since then, Liu Ling had managed to learn a few things from Xiao Jin. He discovered that his master had assigned three powerful beasts to secretly protect each of them. Knowing that Xiao Jin had to secretly guard him all day, Liu Ling felt it was too dull for the boy. Thus, Liu Ling suggested that Xiao Jin could have more freedom to roam closer to him instead of watching him all day. Xiao Jin happily accepted Liu Ling''s suggestion and soon gave him a communication jade token so he could be summoned in critical moments. "This is already the second time Xiao Jin has come to help me. I wonder if my fellow disciples Yan Ran and Xian Er have experienced something similar," Liu Ling mused to himself. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 291: Yao Lao vs Xiao Jin! Chapter 291: Yao Lao vs Xiao Jin! Chapter 291: Yao Lao vs Xiao Jin! "He''s casually patting the head of a seventh level demon beast!" "And the demon beast is even calling him Brother Liu, what''s going on here!" Witnessing the scene unfolding between Xiao Jin and Liu Ling, Xiao Yan was completely flabbergasted. "Xiao Yan, stop dazing around, get your two brothers to leave this place quickly. Today''s events might get troublesome!" Yao Lao''s voice was notably grave as he warned Xiao Yan amidst his astonishment. Hearing Yao Lao''s reminder, Xiao Yan snapped back to reality and quickly turned to shout towards the direction of Xiao Ding and Xiao Li: "Big brother, second brother, hurry and leave Stone Desert City, the farther the better!" Hearing Xiao Yan''s shout, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li also recognized the seriousness of the situation. The aura emanating from the blonde-haired boy had a terrifyingly intimidating quality, and their presence would only burden Xiao Yan if they stayed. Thus, without much hesitation, following Xiao Yan''s shout, they took some trusted members of the Mo Tie Mercenary Group and rushed onto the streets, heading swiftly towards the city''s exit. Xiao Yan''s loud shout also caught Liu Ling''s attention. Seeing Xiao Yan''s actions, Liu Ling''s expression instantly turned indifferent. "Xiao Jin, that guy is using others'' strength to bully your Brother Liu, what should you do?" Liu Ling pointed at Xiao Yan and whispered to Xiao Jin. Hearing Liu Ling''s words, Xiao Jin responded without hesitation in his childlike voice, "If someone dares to bully Brother Liu, then naturally, he needs to be dealt with properly!" After saying this, Xiao Jin''s gaze suddenly turned towards Xiao Yan, and immediately, a dense oppressive force surged in Xiao Yan''s heart, making him feel suffocated. "Xiao Yan, this is not something you can withstand right now. Next... let your teacher take over your body!" Yao Lao''s somber voice resonated within his heart just as Xiao Yan was overwhelmed by the pressure. "Okay!" Hearing the voice in his heart, Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes. Meanwhile, Liu Ling had absolute confidence in Xiao Jin''s strength, yet Xiao Yan''s current actions seemed rather strange. "Could it be that this guy can actually elevate his strength to Dou Ancestor level?" Liu Ling murmured to himself. "This demon beast''s strength is even stronger than mine right now; we can''t drag this out any longer!" After a brief exchange, Yao Lao made a rough assessment of Xiao Jin''s power. The next moment, "Xiao Yan" gently lifted his palm, and the chilly white flames that were twirling around his fingertips suddenly flared up. In the blink of an eye, his body was completely enveloped in them, and the black ruler he was tightly clutching burst into dazzling light. The light from the ruler grew more intense, eventually becoming as blinding as the sun, making it difficult to look directly at it. Then, with a low shout, "Xiao Yan" swung his black ruler fiercely towards Xiao Jin, who was not far away. "Flame Splitting Tsunami!" This shout echoed across the sky, unleashing a gigantic crescent-shaped blade of white energy from the top of the black ruler. The enormous white fire-energy crescent blade shot across the sky, disappearing in a flash. The sudden intense heat almost made the people on the ground feel as if they were caught in a wave of fire. The crescent blade produced piercing sonic booms, tearing through the sky with an unstoppable force that seemed almost capable of splitting the heavens in two. Though it was the same combat technique, this time''s flame splitting tsunami was nearly dozens of times more powerful than the one Xiao Yan had used against Liu Ling earlier. This stark difference in power was solely the result of the disparity in their intrinsic strengths. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 292: Heavy Damage! Chapter 292: Heavy Damage! Chapter 292: Heavy Damage! Early on, as "Xiao Yan" was gathering his power, Xiao Jin''s body surged with a vast golden energy, which eventually concentrated almost entirely into his right hand. As the golden energy around him furiously converged, Xiao Jin''s fingertip radiated an extremely dazzling golden light, shining almost brighter than the sun in the sky above. "Ha!" As the crescent blade unleashed by "Xiao Yan" approached, the air around Xiao Jin instantly solidified. He pointed his finger towards "Xiao Yan" and, with a youthful shout, a burst of golden light flashed violently from his fingertip, shooting out a very fine beam of light at an alarmingly fast speed. As it traveled, it caused the space it passed through to tremble, leaving a stark black trail in the azure sky, creating a glaring sight. Finally, under the watchful eyes of countless people in the city, the space-slicing crescent blade and Xiao Jin''s lightning-like golden energy beam collided with a thunderous crash in the blue sky, unleashing a horrific energy shockwave. The immense pressure from the collision caused many buildings in Stone Desert City to collapse abruptly, pinning weaker individuals to the ground. "What kind of terrifying power is this?" "The energy shock from the clash, even from this distance, still impacts me!" At this moment, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, along with others who had retreated outside the city, felt the aftershocks, their faces showing signs of palpitations. Meanwhile, in a certain part of Stone Desert City, Liu Ling suddenly stood on the roof of a building sturdy enough to withstand the energy fluctuations. He waved frantically at Xiao Jin, shouting, "Xiao Jin, move further away or fly higher when you fight him, don''t affect the civilians in the city!" Hearing Liu Ling''s urgent shouts, Xiao Jin responded in his youthful voice to "Xiao Yan", "Do you dare to fly higher with me to fight?" "Of course!" Upon hearing Xiao Jin''s challenge, Yao Lao almost instantly agreed, his heart also unwilling to harm the innocent. Following "Xiao Yan''s" response in a somewhat aged voice, Xiao Jin and "Xiao Yan" gradually turned into two small points of light, one white and one golden, under the gaze of numerous onlookers in the city. Reaching even higher in the sky, Xiao Jin looked at "Xiao Yan" with an intense eagerness to battle. This was still the first opponent he had encountered while being with Liu Ling who could match him in combat. "Ha!" After shouting, Xiao Jin''s figure rapidly closed the distance to "Xiao Yan", moving at such a speed that even "Xiao Yan" struggled to react. In just an instant, "Xiao Yan" felt a tremendous force accompanied by a sonic boom hit his back. The force from the ruler then transmitted to his back and spread throughout his body, turning "Xiao Yan''s" face pale as he finally couldn''t hold back a mouthful of blood, which he spat out. Leveraging the force of the blow, his body was propelled further backward. "Humph, don''t think you can run!" Seeing "Xiao Yan" attempting to flee, Xiao Jin pursued him. However, after a short chase, he seemed to suddenly remember something, pausing briefly before his figure headed straight towards Stone Desert City below. ... Seeing Xiao Jin stepping down from the void, Liu Ling immediately asked, "Xiao Jin, you''re back so soon, did you kill that guy?" Hearing Liu Ling''s question, Xiao Jin vigorously shook his head, then slowly said, "Brother Liu, the guy was fighting and then suddenly started getting weaker, and then he tried to run away!" "Did you just let him go like that?" Liu Ling asked in surprise, halfway through the conversation. "Hehe, of course not!" Xiao Jin suddenly chuckled mischievously, his expression quite proud as he said, "He hadn''t gotten far when I caught up with him and gave him a good punch, making him spit blood!" "He spat blood, and then what?" Liu Ling was eager to know the outcome. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 293: Cleaning Up the Aftermath Chapter 293: Cleaning Up the Aftermath Chapter 293: Cleaning Up the Aftermath "Then, he used the rebounding force to escape a distance. He ran a bit far, so I didn''t chase after him," Xiao Jin replied. "He ran away? But he was injured, and it would have been only a matter of time before you caught up with him. How could you not chase him?" Liu Ling said irritably. "Well..." Hearing Liu Ling''s words, Xiao Jin scratched the back of his head and hesitated in his childish voice, "Brother Liu, I was worried that if I chased too far, I wouldn''t be able to keep an eye on your side. If something happened to you, I wouldn''t be able to explain it to the master." "Ah... so you were worried about something happening here!" Upon hearing Xiao Jin''s explanation, Liu Ling was momentarily at a loss for words. He understood well that Master Gu He had commanded Xiao Jin to protect him, and Xiao Jin would definitely prioritize that task over anything else. After thinking it through, Liu Ling suddenly gave Xiao Jin a thumbs up and grinned, saying, "Xiao Jin, you did very well this time, and you deserve praise. I''ll make sure to say a few good words to Master about you." "Really? Brother Liu, you''re the best!" Xiao Jin''s face lit up with joy upon receiving praise from Liu Ling. "Of course, it''s true!" As Liu Ling spoke, he gently patted Xiao Jin''s head. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Liu Ling''s face broke into a warm smile as he said to Xiao Jin, "You know, the communication jade token was crushed earlier; could you make another one for Brother Liu?" "Sure!" Upon hearing Liu Ling''s request, Xiao Jin nodded understandingly and then produced another communication jade token to hand over to Liu Ling. "Good!" Liu Ling took the jade token, looking very pleased, and happily pinched Xiao Jin''s slightly chubby cheeks. This entire scene was observed by the mercenaries from the Da Shi Xiong Mercenary Group standing in the distance. "The leader is really bold, not only patting the head of this terrifyingly powerful being but also daring to pinch his cheek." "Didn''t you hear that senior call our leader ''brother''? From now on, this is our Second Leader." "This brother is right. The leader''s brother is our Second Leader." "Ha, who would have thought that our Da Shi Xiong Mercenary Group would have such a terrifyingly powerful Second Leader!" Amidst a murmur of quiet whispers, the group of mercenaries had already fully accepted Xiao Jin as the mercenary group''s Second Leader. The commotion soon caught Liu Ling''s attention. "Hiss!" The next moment, as Xuelan''s foot landed, a muffled groan emanated from the sand beneath her. Xuelan also instantly noticed something odd under her foot and hurriedly lifted it. "Ah, Captain Xiao Ding, I didn''t mean to step on him!" Seeing the slender fingers, Xuelan covered her mouth in surprise. "Quick, help him!" Without the time to address the minor issues with Xuelan, Xiao Ding immediately gathered others. Before long, everyone had dug around the area of the slender fingers, and gradually, the figure of a young man with traces of blood at the corners of his mouth appeared from under the sand. "Third brother!" Seeing Xiao Yan in this condition, Xiao Ding''s eyes became slightly teary. "Cough! Cough!" Under Xiao Ding''s loud calling, Xiao Yan coughed a couple of times and then slowly opened his dark eyes. "Third brother, youre awake. Are you alright?" Xiao Ding asked anxiously. "Cough! Cough! Big brother, I won''t die just yet!" Xiao Yan coughed lightly, a confident smile on his face, but the weakness in his voice couldn''t be completely concealed. "Ah, it''s all big brother''s fault. If we had left Stone Desert City earlier, this wouldn''t have happened!" Seeing Xiao Yan''s forced casual demeanor, Xiao Ding sighed with regret. Xiao Li, clenching his fists, his gaze resolute, forcefully said, "Big brother, whats done is done. Theres no use talking about what should have happened. The world is vast, and even without Stone Desert City, we Xiao brothers can rise again!" Initially, Xiao Yan had maintained a light smile listening to his brothers. But suddenly, as if he remembered something important, his expression tightened, and he quickly reached out to communicate with Yao Lao through the ring. "Master..." Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 294: Movements of the Serpent People Chapter 294: Movements of the Serpent People Chapter 294: Movements of the Serpent People "Master, are you alright...?" Xiao Yan was desperately trying to communicate with Yao Lao through the ring, but there was no response at all. "Master..." Seeing no response, Xiao Yan''s expression became extremely grave, and he continued to try communicating numerous times in his mind. Just as Xiao Yan was about to give up, Yao Lao''s somewhat weathered voice finally sounded in his mind. "Xiao Yan, why are you shouting so loudly? Are you mourning something?" Hearing this voice, Xiao Yan''s face, which had been somewhat sorrowful, instantly brightened. "Master, you''re alright, you scared me to death!" Xiao Yan communicated with intense relief. "I almost didn''t wake up. That transformative demon beast''s last punch hit you, and I used my soul power desperately to protect you from death. Because of this, my soul also nearly slipped into a deep sleep," Yao Lao''s voice was weak. Hearing Yao Lao''s explanation, Xiao Yan felt extremely ashamed: "I was wondering why I only felt pain like falling from the sky. It turns out, Master, you blocked that lethal attack from the transformative demon beast for me." "Xiao Yan, after this time, for a long while I can only grant you the strength of a Dou King for short periods. If I were to boost you to Dou Ancestor strength again, my soul would immediately collapse into exhaustion and sleep. However, if you can obtain some heavenly materials and earthly treasures that restore soul power, my soul can recover," Yao Lao explained gravely. "Heavenly materials and earthly treasures to restore soul power!" After hearing Yao Lao''s words, Xiao Yan muttered to himself, then continued to inquire about their next steps. "So, Master, are we still going into the deeper parts of the desert to search for the Strange Fire?" Hearing Xiao Yan''s question, Yao Lao fell into a brief silence. While Xiao Yan was fully focused on communicating with Yao Lao, his many facial expressions did not go unnoticed by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. Seeing Xiao Yan''s fluctuating expressions, Xiao Ding and the others were puzzled. "Why are Third Brother''s facial expressions changing so frequently?" "Could it be that the fall from the sky damaged his brain?" "Yes, Mobas, it''s about time we left this barren desert," Yuemei responded with a smile. "And those humans like to take our females as slaves, right? When we break through their cities, we''ll take them as our slaves, ha ha..." Another burly and shirtless male Serpent Person in the group laughed loudly as he spoke. As his words faded, the grand doors of the ancient palace suddenly opened, and a majestic and vast aura spread from within. "All hail the Queen!" Feeling this presence, the eight chiefs, who had been chatting and laughing, instantly turned serious and bowed deeply toward the door. "Come in!" A cold yet regal voice then called from inside the palace. Hearing this, the eight Serpent People chiefs quickened their pace toward the grand hall. As they entered the spacious and luxurious palace, a majestic figure in a purple crystal throne suddenly appeared at the front of the hall. The figure was a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in a resplendent red robe that accentuated her voluptuous figure, reminiscent of a ripe peach, exuding a subtle allure. Her long black hair casually draped over her shoulders, down her slender waist. Underneath the red robe, her white, tender legs were casually crossed, sparking endless fantasies. At this moment, several male Serpent People entering the hall dared not look directly at the seductive figure, fearing they might disrespect the dignified woman on the throne. However, Yuemei didn''t seem to care about such formalities. Looking up at the regal woman above, she straightened her waist slightly, highlighting her attractive contours. "Your Majesty, the forces of our eight tribes are assembled. We await your command to fully attack the human cities!" (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 295: The Serpent People’s Army Advances! Flight! Chapter 295: The Serpent Peoples Army Advances! Flight! Chapter 295: The Serpent People''s Army Advances! Flight! Atop her throne, Queen Medusa listened to Yuemei''s report, her beautiful eyes momentarily filled with hesitation. Deep within her mind, the image of a middle-aged man kept flashing through, and despite her current breakthrough to a five-star Dou Ancestor, the thought of this man still invoked a sense of dread in her heart. "I hope that man is not from the Jia Ma Empire..." With a sigh in her heart, Queen Medusa looked down at the eight Serpent People tribal leaders gathered below and opened her mouth to speak with a voice full of authority. "Yuemei, Mobas, Yinshi, Yan Ci... Carry out my orders, lead the tribal armies towards the Jia Ma Empire!" "As you command!" With Queen Medusa''s words, the eight Serpent People''s faces lit up with excitement. After bowing again to Medusa, the leaders left the grand hall. After their departure, an elderly female figure appeared beside Queen Medusa. Sensing the queen''s contemplations from her gaze, the elderly woman spoke slowly, "Your Majesty, now that you have advanced to a five-star Dou Ancestor, and with the power of your Rainbow Heaven Swallowing Python, you should be invincible even against seven or eight-star Dou Ancestors. Why worry about that man?" "Besides, the three-month period has long passed, and that man has never appeared to claim the remaining spiritual medicines, which suggests he might not be a powerhouse from this region." Hearing this, Queen Medusa nodded slightly, "Elder, I know all of this. Intelligence gathered from the surrounding areas indeed shows no information about that man, and currently, no one in the Jia Ma Empire has broken through to Dou Ancestor." "Your Majesty, if you have already gathered all this information, why do I still see a trace of worry in your eyes?" The Serpent People''s Elder asked, puzzled. Hearing the Elder''s question, Queen Medusa furrowed her brows and sighed lightly, "Ever since preparing to attack the Jia Ma Empire, I''ve had this feeling, and even I don''t know the reason why..." --- In the Jia Ma Empire. Eastern border. On a massive fortress near the Magical Beast Mountain Range, an elderly man clad in silver armor and a silver helmet, exuding an aura of iron-blood, was gazing towards the desert. Suddenly, a soldier hurried up to the city wall, approaching the middle-aged man and spoke respectfully, "General, our scouts have ventured deep into the desert and observed that the recent movements of the Serpent People are indeed unusual, with the eight tribes interacting much more closely than before." Hearing the soldier''s report, the silver-armored elder sighed, "Thankfully, the Mo Tie Mercenary Group had sent word earlier, or else it would have been difficult for the nearby imperial forces to assemble in such a short time." Hearing Yao Lao''s words, confusion deepened on Xiao Yan''s face. Suddenly, Xiao Yan, lying close to the sand, heard a rustling sound C the movement of the Serpent People. Soon, as he slightly raised his head, he saw rows of Serpent People soldiers armed with poison spears at the edge of his vision. "There must be thousands of them!" Seeing the continuous stream of Serpent People emerging into view, Xiao Yan felt a chill run down his spine. He was well aware of the long-standing grievances between the Jia Ma Empire and the Serpent People. With such a large force of Serpent People appearing not far from Stone Desert City, could it be that the Serpent People were looking to start a war? As Xiao Yan speculated, minutes quickly passed, and the armed group of Serpent People had almost reached where he was hiding. Just then, at the edge of his vision, he spotted four Serpent People with dazzling wings flying through the air. Four Serpent People Dou King powerhouses! Just as Xiao Yan was again struck by surprise, suddenly, a black bird the size of a human hand flew overhead in the sky behind him. "Move quickly, we''ve been spotted!" Noticing the bird, Yao Lao spoke with more urgency. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 296: Liu Ling Breaks Through! City Defense! Chapter 296: Liu Ling Breaks Through! City Defense! Chapter 296: Liu Ling Breaks Through! City Defense! Just as Yao Lao''s voice fell, the flying bird hovering in the sky suddenly emitted a sharp cry. Originally concealed by Yao Lao''s aura, it would have been difficult for these Snake-People soldiers to discover him hiding here. However, with the bird''s signal, both the Snake-People soldiers and four Dou King-level experts would immediately become aware. "Human spy!" Not far away, the leader of the Snake-People tribe, Mobas, showed an excited expression upon sensing the bird''s signal. In his sight, on a sand dune in the distance, a black figure began to sprint. "Chase!" With Mobas''s low shout, the four Snake-People Dou King-level experts immediately pursued in the direction Xiao Yan was fleeing. The Snake-People soldiers, who were already very close to Xiao Yan, also noticed his figure. At this moment, led by a Snake-Person with Dou Spirit cultivation, countless Snake-People soldiers'' eyes revealed a chilling murderous intent. In the next moment, countless venomous spears filled the sky and covered Xiao Yan''s position. "Damn, luck is really bad!" Sensing the sky behind him filled with a sea of poisonous spears, Xiao Yan cursed angrily, then immediately a thick layer of Dou Qi enveloped him. As the poisonous spears fell, he exerted all his strength to dodge. However, even with all his effort, two or three poisonous spears still pierced his body. Just as these poisonous spears were about to break through his Dou Qi defense, a cold white flame suddenly emerged on Xiao Yan''s body. After encountering this cold white flame, the incoming poisonous spears all abruptly stopped in their tracks. "Ah, this is going to be troublesome!" Seeing the four Snake-People Dou King-level experts relentlessly approaching from behind, Yao Lao sighed heavily. In the next moment, a pair of white Dou Qi wings unexpectedly sprouted from Xiao Yan''s back, although these Dou Qi wings appeared somewhat ethereal. "A human with Dou King-level strength!" As Xiao Yan vibrated his white wings to escape, the four Snake-People leaders not far away were also surprised. "We can''t let him escape!" Not long after, Liu Ling appeared on the city wall of the East City Gate. Gazing outwards, at the end of Liu Ling''s sight, beneath the swirling yellow sand, rows of orderly Snake-People soldiers gradually emerged. "Darn, are these Snake-People crazy? Do they really want to start a war?" "I''ve only been on the eastern border for a short time, how did I end up encountering this kind of thing!" Seeing the vast scale of the Snake-People soldiers, Liu Ling felt somewhat depressed. However, although Liu Ling felt frustrated, as someone who had lived in the Jia Ma Empire for over a decade and as the leader of the Eldest Brother Mercenary Group consisting of nearly a thousand mercenaries, he felt a sense of responsibility. "We must not let these Snake-People soldiers enter the city!" After realizing the situation, Liu Ling clenched his fists tightly, murmuring to himself. At this moment, behind Liu Ling, in some of the city tower positions and the spacious ground below, stood seven or eight hundred fully armed mercenaries, all from the Eldest Brother Mercenary Group. This force was almost able to match the strength of the city''s defending soldiers. "Captain Liu, thank you for lending a helping hand at such a critical moment!" Behind Liu Ling, a middle-aged commander said excitedly. Hearing the words of the defending commander, Liu Ling waved his hand and said very seriously, "General, there''s no need to be so polite. In a racial war like this, we practitioners should be on the battlefield, where can ordinary people survive!" Hearing Liu Ling''s generous words, the middle-aged commander sighed deeply, "If everyone were like Captain Liu, it would truly be a blessing for our Jia Ma Empire!" As the middle-aged commander''s words fell, the vast and mighty Snake-People soldiers in the distance suddenly split into two groups. One group headed straight for the East Gate of Stone Desert City, while the other group moved around the left side of the city towards Stone Desert City. "It seems that the Snake-People really don''t regard our Stone Desert City as anything, they only intend to send a small force to deal with us." Seeing the movements of the Snake-People soldiers, Liu Ling murmured to himself. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 297: Liu Ling vs. Yuemei! Chapter 297: Liu Ling vs. Yuemei! Chapter 297: Liu Ling vs. Yuemei! Soon, a small detachment from the Snake-People army approached to within five hundred meters outside the east gate of Stone Desert City. This detachment consisted of about a thousand Snake-People soldiers. Although their numbers were slightly fewer than the combined total of the city''s defending soldiers and the Eldest Brother Mercenary Group, the overall cultivation of this Snake-People force was significantly higher than that of the defending soldiers. Among them were not only eight Snake-People warriors with the cultivation level of Grand Master, but also two Snake-People at the Dou Spirit level following behind. On the side of Stone Desert City, apart from Liu Ling breaking through to become a Dou Spirit, those with the cultivation level of Grand Master were extremely rare. As the Snake-Pe ople army continued to approach, some of the defending soldiers became extremely nervous, with even their hands holding weapons trembling slightly. At this moment, only the few older veterans and the mercenaries who had faced the Snake-People in battle dared to confront this Snake-People force head-on, as they had clashed with the Snake-People on numerous occasions. When the Snake-People force advanced to within three hundred meters outside the city, the commanding officer on the city tower suddenly drew the sharp sword hanging from his waist and shouted, "Archers, prepare!" With the commanding officer''s resounding shout, the archers on the city tower began to notch their arrows on the strings. At the same time, a clear female voice sounded from within the Snake-People ranks. "Raise your spears!" This time, most of the warriors in the Snake-People attacking force held a sharp poisoned spear in each hand. Under this clear command, nearly five hundred Snake-People warriors raised their dazzling spears. "Release!" "Throw!" The next moment, two almost simultaneous commands resounded in the area. Instantly, countless arrows poured down from the city tower, while on the ground, hundreds of large spears flew towards the soldiers standing on the city tower. Facing the swiftly incoming spears, the defending soldiers who were originally behind the archers quickly raised their heavy shields and rushed forward. However, under the powerful impact, many soldiers'' shields shattered in an instant, and they were pierced through by the spears, falling dead on the spot. Even those soldiers who were only grazed by the spears quickly fell to the ground, convulsing. On the Snake-People side, under the rain of arrows, there were also casualties, but due to the sturdy physique of the Snake-People, most of them still retained considerable combat power even after being hit by arrows. As the whirlwind spun, most of the huge sand wave was blocked, but some scattered sand hit several soldiers, instantly causing them to fall to the ground. "Oh, I didn''t expect Stone Desert City to have such a young and handsome expert like you!" Seeing a handsome human youth blocking her casual attack, Yuemei looked slightly surprised. Facing Yuemei''s teasing comment, Liu Ling frowned slightly and said bluntly, "I don''t want to waste time with you. Either fight or retreat." Hearing Liu Ling''s straightforward words, instead of getting angry, Yuemei smiled coquettishly and said, "Little handsome guy, why such a big temper? Do you want to come and play with sister in the desert? Aren''t you humans fond of taking us snake women as slaves? Then I''ll take you as my slave too, okay?" Although Yuemei''s voice was soft and charming, Liu Ling still detected some cold killing intent in it. Without hesitation, he retorted loudly, "Miss, if you''re in heat, go find those strong guys. My puny arms and legs probably can''t satisfy you. Besides, we''re in the middle of a war. Do you want to do a live broadcast in front of so many people?" "Haha!" "Being in heat, you can come find me, and I''ll definitely satisfy you..." As Liu Ling''s words fell, laughter erupted from the people on the city tower. "Toasting before fighting!" Hearing Liu Ling''s shout and the lascivious laughter from the soldiers on the city tower, Yuemei''s face turned slightly cold. Biting her silver teeth, she suddenly extended her delicate hand, and five strands of dark green energy burst out. Entwining each other, they finally condensed into five huge energy green snakes. The energy green snakes broke through the air like lightning. In the blink of an eye, they arrived in front of Liu Ling. Opening their mouths full of sharp teeth, they fiercely bit towards Liu Ling''s face. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 298: Hurry and Summon Second Battalion Leader! Chapter 298: Hurry and Summon Second Battalion Leader! Chapter 298: Hurry and Summon Second Battalion Leader! "Damn!" Seeing the five huge green snakes appearing in front of him, Liu Ling''s heart trembled. He quickly used his advanced Xuan-level body technique, Wind Treading, to narrowly dodge the bites of these five energy green snakes. "So fast with the body technique!" With a slight chill on her pretty face, Yuemei clenched her hand, and the five energy green snakes actually turned back again to chase Liu Ling. However, Liu Ling still managed to dodge them perfectly, occasionally launching attacks at the energy green snakes during the evasion. After several attempts, the several strands of green snake energy were soon dispersed by Liu Ling in the air. Then, Liu Ling beckoned to Yuemei with a smile, "Come on, big sister in heat!" "Hehe, looks like I underestimated you!" Seeing Liu Ling dodging the energy green snakes and retreating, Yuemei chuckled lightly. Then, a hint of coldness appeared in her eyes. In the next moment, two dark green energy strands appeared in her palm, instantly condensing into two huge green snakes. These green snakes were obviously different from the previous five small energy green snakes. These two huge green snakes not only had tough scales all over their bodies, but also sharp teeth that flashed white between their open mouths. What was most shocking was that these green snakes seemed to possess vitality, emitting a faint fierce aura from their bodies. "Hiss!" With a roar, the energy green snakes quickly lunged towards Liu Ling. On the city tower, Liu Ling''s palms were instantly covered with a layer of purple flames, constantly striking out blazing palm prints at the two approaching green snakes. However, not only did the green snakes have strong attacking power, their defense was also formidable. Liu Ling''s blazing palm prints hit them, but couldn''t push them back at all. "How terrifying... Just the two strange energy snakes she condensed seem to have the strength of a Dou Spirit powerhouse?" A very excited city defense commander near Liu Ling said. "I''ve heard that some strong members of the Snake-People tribe can extract the souls of magical beasts and cultivate them into unique skills. These skills not only retain most of the strength of the magical beasts, but also become extremely troublesome when used by the master. Seeing it today, it seems to be true. I wonder if Captain Liu can handle it." Hearing the city defense commander''s words, a veteran soldier standing next to him suddenly sighed. Thinking of this, after fiercely repelling an attack from one of the energy green snakes, he crushed a jade talisman appearing in his hand. After the jade talisman was crushed, several miles west of Stone Desert City, Xiao Jin''s round eyes suddenly looked towards Stone Desert City, and then his figure disappeared in an instant. In the dim passage of the eastern gate of Stone Desert City, Yuemei rushed in alone and forcibly opened the city gate. Just at this moment, the tower commander led several old soldiers and suddenly appeared at the entrance of the passage, almost rushing towards Yuemei, the Dou King powerhouse, without fear of death. "How presumptuous!" Seeing a few ants rushing up trying to stop her from opening the city gate, Yuemei showed an extremely disdainful expression on her face. In the next moment, a huge green energy gathered in her palm. In this narrow passage, with Yuemei''s strike, those who rushed over couldn''t avoid it. However, just as Yuemei gathered the green energy in her palm, her eyebrows suddenly raised. Under her perception, a terrifying aura descended on this area. And those two huge energy green snakes she released to entangle Liu Ling were unexpectedly destroyed without warning. "This aura, it''s almost comparable to Her Majesty the Queen''s several months ago. Who exactly has come?" Feeling terrified in her heart, Yuemei''s hand that had gathered the green energy didn''t strike out in the end. In the next moment, her figure suddenly rushed out of the narrow and dim passage through the half-open city gate, leaving this narrow and dim passage. "Xiao Jin, it''s that big sister in heat who wants to capture you and take you back as a slave to Brother Liu. Help me catch her!" Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 299: Captured! Chapter 299: Captured! Chapter 299: Captured! Swiftly rushing out of the passage beyond the city gate, Yuemei, flying in mid-air, abruptly turned her head to look back at the towering city tower. In her line of sight, one of Liu Ling''s hands was pointing at herself, while the other was cradling the head of a blond little boy. And the terrifying aura that had just filled her with fear emanated from this blond little boy. "Such a terrifying powerhouse actually lets that boy touch his own head. What relationship is there between them? I just made a move against that boy, could it be..." Seeing this scene on the city tower, Yuemei was about to drop her jaw in shock, her pretty face instantly turning pale. At the same time, the mercenaries on the city tower continued to shout in unison. "Second Captain is mighty!" "Second Captain is mighty!" Hearing the excited shouts of these mercenaries, Yuemei''s brain was somewhat overwhelmed. Second Captain? Such a terrifying powerhouse actually comes from a small mercenary group, then who is their captain? Could it be the boy I just fought against? "No matter who this powerhouse is, I must deliver this information to Her Majesty the Queen. Otherwise, with him around, the warriors of the Eight Tribes will suffer heavy losses!" Suppressing all other chaotic thoughts in her mind, Yuemei finally sorted out the most important thing at the moment. "Full retreat!" After issuing a command towards the snake people soldiers below, who were also terrified by the appearance of the little blond boy, Yuemei''s hands swiftly formed several seals in front of her. "Snake Art: Division!" With the low drink in Yuemei''s mind, her body suddenly trembled, and then, to the astonishment of everyone, it exploded. Within the explosion, there was no splatter of flesh and blood. Instead, countless strands of dark green energy snakes surged out from the explosion, rushing towards the direction away from Stone Desert City. On the city tower, Xiao Jin heard Liu Ling''s words. Although he didn''t understand what she meant by "estrus," he understood that Yuemei wanted to capture Liu Ling and make her a slave. "Xiao Jin, she''s trying to escape, act fast!" Seeing Yuemei''s body mysteriously explode and transform into countless energy serpents fleeing, Liu Ling patted Xiao Jin''s head and quickly spoke. Just now, Yuemei alone had caused the deaths and injuries of more than seventy people in Stone Desert City, her hands were stained with blood. These mercenaries and city defenders wished to kill Yuemei immediately to avenge their fallen comrades. However, before Liu Ling could speak, these people temporarily suppressed their hatred. ... "Brother Liu, I''ve brought back the big sister you wanted!" Soon, Xiao Jin dragged Yuemei, bound by golden energy, to Liu Ling''s side. Hearing Xiao Jin''s tender voice, Liu Ling''s thoughts were immediately brought back, and then he patted Xiao Jin''s head and said with satisfaction, "Xiao Jin, well done." After saying this, Liu Ling''s gaze began to scrutinize the captured snake woman Yuemei. As his gaze roamed over Yuemei''s seductive figure, Liu Ling suddenly smiled and said, "Big sister, do you still want me to go back to the desert with you?" "Hmph, don''t be too pleased with yourself! Her Majesty the Queen will avenge me!" Seeing Liu Ling''s smug demeanor, Yuemei said coldly. Hearing Yuemei''s threat, Liu Ling''s face showed a frightened expression as he said, "Will your Medusa Queen also come?" "Yes, be afraid. When Her Majesty arrives, you, including that brat, will pay the price!" Yuemei pointed at Xiao Jin, her eyes extremely cold. "Will the Medusa Queen also come?" "She''s the most terrifying powerhouse in the legend of the snake people!" At this moment, upon hearing Yuemei''s words, the soldiers and mercenaries around them were all trembling inside. The power of the Medusa Queen was almost engraved in the hearts of the people on this border. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 300: The Queen Medusa Arrives! Chapter 300: The Queen Medusa Arrives! Chapter 300: The Queen Medusa Arrives! In Liu Ling''s understanding, the Snake-People Queen Medusa was merely at the Dou Emperor level, and he was very aware of Xiao Jin''s strength. Even in the Dou Ancestor realm, Xiao Jin was a relatively strong presence. Therefore, Liu Ling wasn''t very worried about Yue Mei''s threat. Moreover, Yue Mei''s words inadvertently cleared Liu Ling''s mind. "If my teacher knew that I called Xiao Jin for help because of the war between the two tribes, he probably wouldn''t deduct points from me. So, this time, I''m only one step away from successfully becoming a fifth-grade alchemist!" "Haha! Haha!" Thinking about completing the training task assigned by Gu He and returning to Yunlan Sect, Liu Ling suddenly burst into laughter. "Rebel, how dare you disrespect Her Majesty the Queen! When Her Majesty arrives, you will surely meet a bad end!" Hearing Liu Ling''s inexplicable laughter, Yue Mei''s anger reached its peak. "Well then, I''ll wait for your Queen Majesty to come and kill me!" After grinning at Yue Mei, Liu Ling directly said to Xiao Jin, "Xiao Jin, this snake woman''s strength is a bit strong, can you help Brother Liu seal her cultivation?" "Yes!" Upon hearing Liu Ling''s request, Xiao Jin readily agreed. The next moment, Xiao Jin''s hand formed several seals, and strands of golden energy threads entered Yue Mei''s body. Suddenly, Yue Mei''s aura began to violently recede. In just a few breaths, she changed from a mighty Dou King expert to a weak woman who couldn''t even reach the Dou Zhe level. At this point, Xiao Jin also released the golden energy that bound her. Sensing her rapidly diminishing strength, although Yue Mei''s face remained calm, her heart was shocked to the extreme. Knowing that Yue Mei''s cultivation was gone, Liu Ling reached out and firmly grasped her chin, saying with a smile, "Now let''s see how fierce you can be! Haha." Yue Mei raised her hand to slap Liu Ling''s hand away, but Liu Ling easily caught her hand, and no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn''t break free. "Hmph!" Seeing this, Yue Mei snorted coldly and simply ignored Liu Ling. Seeing Yue Mei''s reaction, Liu Ling didn''t feel like wasting any more words with her, so he instructed Cassida, "Take this snake woman and lock her up in my courtyard!" "Yes!" Just as they approached, Mobas shouted loudly into the army, but what they got in return was not Yue Mei''s response. "Lord Mobas! Lord Southern Snake... You''ve finally returned!" Several snake-person leaders looked excitedly at the three leaders in the sky. Soon, the Mobas trio, back in the army, learned of Yue Mei''s capture. "What kind of origin does this Stonedust City''s Chief Mercenary Corps have! Their Second Deputy Commander can even tread on emptiness. Could it be that they''re in the legendary Dou Ancestor realm!" Southern Snake doubted. "It should be correct. Yue Mei''s Division Technique is hard to detect even by Dou Emperor experts, yet she was easily captured by that person!" Kui Xing affirmed. They were all very clear about Yue Mei''s strength. "Since the other party has Dou Ancestor-level experts, we cannot act recklessly. We must wait for Her Majesty the Queen to come and make the decision!" "I didn''t expect that just as our four leading armies approached the edge of the desert, we would be stopped by the first line of defense of the Agmar Empire!" Mobas sighed heavily with a serious expression. ... Several days later, outside an ancient palace deep in the Tagor Great Desert. A female snake-person wearing red armor with fiery red hair hurriedly rushed into the palace. This female snake-person, named Huashe''er, was the captain of the Medusa Snake Guards, and like the other eight leaders of the snake-person tribe, she had reached the Dou King realm. Shortly after Huashe''er entered the hall, a red light burst out from the hall and rushed towards the direction of Stone Desert City. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 301: Breaking Through to Fifth Grade! Unexpected Changes! Chapter 301: Breaking Through to Fifth Grade! Unexpected Changes! Chapter 301: Breaking Through to Fifth Grade! Unexpected Changes! In the central area of Stone Desert City, within the headquarters of the Elder Brother Mercenary Group, in a courtyard, a tall young man stood in the middle. Before him, there was a crimson medicine cauldron with several giant snake patterns engraved on its body. At this moment, a ping-pong ball-sized golden medicinal liquid floated in the center of the cauldron, surrounded by a pair of large hands formed by soul power, enveloping it. The bronze-colored face of Liu Ling gradually reddened under the resistance of the medicinal liquid. "I didn''t expect the formation of a fifth-grade pill to be so much more difficult than a fourth-grade one," Liu Ling sighed inwardly. However, he also knew that if he could successfully refine this pill this time, he would directly advance to the level of a fifth-grade alchemist. The changes in Liu Ling''s complexion were observed by the two maids and the leader of the Charm Snake Clan, Yuemei, in the courtyard. During the few days Yuemei had been detained in this courtyard by Liu Ling, she had witnessed him refining four pills. In the previous four attempts, Liu Ling had successfully refined fourth-grade pills with ease. However, this time, the fluctuations in Liu Ling''s expression during the pill refinement were much more intense than before. Observing Liu Ling''s focused alchemy, Yuemei secretly marveled, "He should be refining a fifth-grade pill this time. To be able to attempt to advance to a fifth-grade alchemist at such a young age is even more impressive than the Alchemy King Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire in his youth!" After this thought crossed her mind, Yuemei''s gaze towards Liu Ling also became somewhat unusual. During the time she had been captured, apart from having her cultivation sealed, she hadn''t suffered any abuse. Although she occasionally faced Liu Ling''s overt flirtation, Yuemei could feel that the young man''s clear eyes didn''t harbor any vulgar intentions. Then, when Yuemei saw the medicine cauldron trembling violently, she unexpectedly felt a hint of worry in her heart, fearing that Liu Ling might fail in refining the pill. ... "I refuse to believe I can''t refine a fifth-grade pill!" As soul power and the power contained within the medicinal liquid clashed, a thought flashed through Liu Ling''s mind. Then, he took a deep breath of hot air, and his face instantly flushed red. Facing the cauldron with his right hand, he gradually opened his palm, then trembled as he slowly closed it again. With a low drink from his throat, he commanded, "Condense!" As his voice fell, Liu Ling''s palm suddenly tightened, and as his palm closed, the medicinal liquid the size of a ping-pong ball in the Scarlet Snake Cauldron trembled violently. Then, at a visible speed, the medicinal liquid rapidly shrank. In the blink of an eye, the liquid disappeared, replaced by the embryonic form of a thumb-sized golden pill. With the pill formed, the most difficult step had been overcome. Beads of cold sweat dripped from Liu Ling''s forehead, and he took a few hurried breaths of air. Excellent! "We''ve sensed Yuemei''s aura. She''s in that courtyard!" Not long after entering the sky above Stone Desert City, the two Snake Clan leaders, Mobas and Kuixing, sensed Yuemei''s aura and began to accelerate towards the courtyard where Liu Ling was located. "Boom!" At the same time, there was a muffled sound from Liu Ling''s Scarlet Snake Cauldron. Following that, Liu Ling''s excited laughter echoed. "Haha! Haha! I''ve finally broken through to become a fifth-grade alchemist." After saying this, Liu Ling''s gaze suddenly froze. In his line of sight, two Snake Clan powerhouses with huge battle qi wings appeared not far away in the sky. "Oh my god, two Dou King level experts!" Seeing these two Snake Clan members, Liu Ling''s heart skipped a beat. During his alchemy just now, he had already sensed the presence of the Medusa Queen of the Snake Clan. However, with Little Jin blocking the way, he had intended to persist in refining the pill. But now, he was about to face two Dou King level experts alone. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 302: Don’t Come Over! Chapter 302: Dont Come Over! Chapter 302: Don''t Come Over! "These two seem to be aiming for that lady in heat!" for new novels After a brief contemplation, Liu Ling guessed the intentions of Mobas and Kuixing. The next moment, as he noticed the two maids in the courtyard and Cassida along with several mercenaries who had just run to the door, a sense of worry rose in Liu Ling''s heart. If these two Dou King level experts went on a killing spree, the people in his courtyard would have no means of resistance. With that thought in mind, Liu Ling turned his gaze to Yuemei. "Hehe, this lady in heat, with so many Snake Clan members coming to rescue you, your status in the Snake Clan must be quite high!" Liu Ling chuckled, his eyes gleaming with desire as he approached Yuemei. "What do you want?" Sensing Liu Ling''s abnormality, Yuemei''s pretty face showed signs of panic, and she slowly backed away towards the corner of the wall as her long snake tail wriggled. "Hehe, what do I want?" Hearing Yuemei''s exclamation, Liu Ling put on a fierce expression and quickly approached her, one hand swiftly pressing against Yuemei''s slender white neck. "Lady, there''s no other choice. I can''t beat those two Dou Kings, so I can only use you as a hostage, no, as a Snake Woman hostage." After restraining Yuemei, Liu Ling''s fierce expression immediately dissipated, replaced by a sense of helplessness. "Shameless!" "When I regain my strength, I''ll definitely tear you apart alive!" Seeing Liu Ling intending to use her as a hostage, Yuemei''s eyes blazed with endless anger, but at this moment, she had no resistance whatsoever. "I didn''t expect you to look even better when you''re angry than when you''re in heat." Seeing Yuemei''s graceful body swaying with anger, Liu Ling couldn''t help but tease. "You!" Hearing this, Yuemei''s face became even more flushed with anger, almost spewing fire from her eyes. The next moment, she raised her slender arm without caring about Liu Ling''s large hand pressing against her throat and directly struck towards Liu Ling''s face. "Lady, you''re getting angry!" "No way! Even if you kill me today, I won''t listen to you!" Hearing Liu Ling''s request, Yuemei lightly bit her lip, almost whispering a refusal with her tongue. "Lady, you''re so beautiful, and your figure is so charming. How could I bear to kill you!" Hearing Yuemei''s reply, Liu Ling chuckled, and his warm palm that was wrapped around Yuemei''s waist began to gently roam over her snowy, tender skin. "If these two see me spanking you, how will you ever live it down in the Snake Clan?" Liu Ling grinned teasingly. "You..." Hearing Liu Ling''s threat, Yuemei couldn''t even bring herself to utter any more shameless words because just now, Liu Ling had already spanked her buttocks once, and that feeling made her feel extremely embarrassed. "What exactly do you want? Just to make them leave the city?" After calming down, Yuemei''s voice suddenly amplified, no longer as soft as before, easily heard by Mobas and Kuixing even from over thirty meters away. Hearing Yuemei''s question, Liu Ling''s face lit up. Knowing there was a chance, he immediately spoke loudly, "More or less, just like that. But you three must swear not to actively harm anyone in the city after you leave!" With Liu Ling''s words falling, Yuemei solemnly said to Mobas and Kuixing, "Mobas, Kuixing, let''s do as he says!" Hearing Yuemei''s words, although Mobas and Kuixing still harbored killing intent, they forcibly suppressed it. Moreover, they had no interest in a barren city like Stone Desert City to begin with. After a moment of contemplation, Mobas and Kuixing said ominously, "Kid, we swear by our souls. As long as you release Yuemei, we promise not to actively harm anyone else in Stone Desert City, except you!" "Good, then leave Stone Desert City now. I''ll personally escort this lady in heat out later!" Hearing the words of the two Snake Clan members, Liu Ling was somewhat satisfied. "You better not try anything funny, kid, or not only will you die, but the entire city will be buried with you." After saying this, Mobas and Kuixing immediately flew towards the city''s outskirts. Meanwhile, high above the sky, the battle between the golden and red dots gradually reached its conclusion, with Little Gold being forced to retreat repeatedly under the attacks of the Medusa Queen. (End of the chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 303: Who Dares to Hurt My Disciple! Chapter 303: Who Dares to Hurt My Disciple! Chapter 303: Who Dares to Hurt My Disciple! "They both have fulfilled their promise, why haven''t you let me go!" Feeling Brother Liu''s hand still holding her, Yuemei said irritably. Hearing Yuemei''s words, Brother Liu realized his mistake and apologized, "Sorry, Lady. Thank you for just now. I''ll escort you out of the city right away!" After saying this, Brother Liu suddenly exerted force with the hand wrapped around Yuemei''s slender waist. Before Yuemei could react, her body was lifted onto Brother Liu''s shoulder, her face turned towards the ground. "What are you doing? Put me down!" Seeing Brother Liu''s actions, Yuemei''s face showed obvious panic. Her slender arms flailed in the air, and her long tail swayed wildly, but Brother Liu''s hands were firmly pressed against her shapely buttocks and waist, making her resistance futile. Then, a tall young man carrying a snake woman continuously jumped and dashed across the rooftops of Stone Desert City. Despite carrying a snake woman on his shoulder, the young man''s speed was extremely fast, his feet swift as the wind, without pausing anywhere. "Open the city gate!" When they were about to reach the city gate, Brother Liu shouted loudly to the soldiers guarding the passage. "It''s Captain Liu, and he''s carrying that snake woman on his shoulder!" "Why waste time? Haven''t you heard Captain Liu''s order to open the gate?" Although they didn''t understand why Brother Liu was taking Yuemei out of the city, the soldiers, upon hearing Brother Liu''s command, didn''t hesitate and opened the gate. As the gate opened, Brother Liu entered the somewhat dim passageway with Yuemei. Meanwhile, not far outside the city, Mobas and Kuixing were waiting. "Lady, this is as far as I go. Your friends are waiting for you outside!" Upon reaching the city gate, Brother Liu finally put Yuemei down from his shoulder. "You little pervert, don''t die too soon. Next time, I''ll personally kill you!" After getting off Brother Liu''s shoulder, Yuemei''s eyes stared at Brother Liu with a hint of resentment. After saying these words, she turned around without looking back, swinging her giant snake tail swiftly towards the direction where the snake people''s army was stationed. "I''ll be waiting for you to come kill me!" After Yuemei turned around, Brother Liu responded loudly. ... "Brother Liu, I really can''t hold on anymore. Let''s run away quickly!" What kind of existence could make a seventh-stage demon beast willingly acknowledge it as its master? Queen Medusa was filled with doubt. In her line of sight, Liu Ling suddenly reached out and grabbed the jade talisman hanging around his neck. "Not good!" Although she didn''t know the purpose of that jade talisman, Queen Medusa still sensed an inexplicable danger from it. The next moment, a vast surge of colorful energy erupted violently from Queen Medusa''s body, swiftly condensing above her head. In an instant, it transformed into a gigantic rainbow python, spanning dozens of zhang in size. Formed from Queen Medusa''s energy, the rainbow python was almost like a living devouring python, its enormous eyes full of ferocity, as if possessing intelligence. "Go!" As the rainbow python took shape, Queen Medusa pointed her slender finger and commanded coldly. With her command, the rainbow python, coiled in the sky, suddenly shot forward like a streak of rainbow light, almost instantaneously rushing towards Xiao Jin and Liu Ling. Seeing the rainbow python, which seemed like a burst of rainbow light, rushing towards them, Liu Ling decisively crushed the jade talisman in his hand. At the same time, In the Black Horn Domain, behind the mountains of the Jia Nan Academy, at the bottom of a small valley, a white figure that was originally sitting quietly suddenly opened its eyes, radiating a cold and menacing aura. "The void jade talisman has been crushed. I wonder which little fellow is in trouble!" (The end of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 304: Gu He Appears! Chapter 304: Gu He Appears! Chapter 304: Gu He Appears! As the rainbow python, exuding a terrifying aura, surged forward, the golden energy conjured by Xiao Jin was almost instantly swallowed up. Subsequently, the rainbow python, with undiminished power, charged towards Xiao Jin and Liu Ling. "Damn, this is too fierce!" "Master, please come quickly! Your disciple''s life is in danger!" Just as Liu Ling crushed the jade talisman, he witnessed the rainbow python swallowing up the golden energy. Fear surged within him. Facing the ferocious assault of the rainbow python, Xiao Jin once again pulled Liu Ling back as they retreated. At this moment, the space where Xiao Jin and Liu Ling were located suddenly underwent violent distortion. An overwhelming aura instantly permeated from the distorted space. Under this overwhelming aura, the rainbow python, which possessed powerful energy and was charging forward, suddenly stagnated in mid-air. Then, it abruptly burst open. However, under the suppression of an invisible force, this burst did not spread out. Even the sound was not emitted, and it completely dissipated in the air. Afterward, Queen Medusa''s pretty face suddenly turned pale. At this moment, even in the Snake People''s camp several tens of li away from this sky, countless Snake People felt a palpitation upon sensing this aura. Xiao Jin and Liu Ling, who had been fleeing at full speed, immediately stopped in their tracks, turning around to stare blankly at the source of the overwhelming aura. Under the gaze of Xiao Jin, Liu Ling, and Queen Medusa, a white phantom suddenly stepped out of the distorted space. "Master! I knew you would come to save me!" Seeing the familiar white figure ahead, Liu Ling exclaimed excitedly. "Master, Xiao Jin misses you so much!" At the same time, Xiao Jin''s young face was filled with joy as he called out, pulling Liu Ling with him as they quickly approached the white figure. "The cultivation of this person is at an unfathomable level. He actually possesses such a terrifying pressure. Perhaps, even that person from my memory wouldn''t be his match." Looking at the suddenly appearing white figure, Queen Medusa''s first thought was to compare him with the unforgettable masked figure in her mind. Hearing Liu Ling''s words, Gu He felt immensely relieved. All three tasks he assigned to Liu Ling had been completed ahead of schedule. Originally, Gu He intended to reward him for such outstanding performance, but this time, he had only projected himself here and couldn''t transfer techniques nor had any items to give as rewards. Therefore, he could only compensate Liu Ling with rewards when they met again in the future. With this in mind, Gu He patted Liu Ling''s increasingly sturdy shoulder and said frankly, "Liu Ling, your master has only projected himself here this time and cannot stay for too long. Since your training tasks have been completed, return to the sect as soon as possible. I have prepared many rewards for you." Hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling hesitated for a moment. He hesitated, stuttering, "Master... Your disciple wants... to stay a little longer... But don''t worry, I will definitely return before my junior sisters come back." Before experiencing this training, Liu Ling would have been overjoyed to hear Gu He offer him a reward. However, now he seemed completely different. Even Liu Ling himself felt somewhat strange. Although he had been thinking every day about completing the tasks and returning to the sect as soon as possible, now that the tasks were completed, he felt somewhat reluctant to leave this place. "Oh, if you want to stay a little longer, then follow your heart," Gu He could feel that Liu Ling''s temperament had undergone many changes after this training. "Thank you, Master!" Hearing Gu He agree to let him stay a little longer, Liu Ling was very happy. Turning his attention to Xiao Jin after chatting with Liu Ling for a while, Gu He reached out and gently patted the little one''s head, smiling softly. "Little guy, you''ve lost a lot of freedom during this time while secretly protecting Liu Ling. You''ve worked hard!" Hearing Gu He''s words to Xiao Jin, Liu Ling''s expression suddenly became strange. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 305: Preparation to Return! Void Thunder God’s Flash! Chapter 305: Preparation to Return! Void Thunder Gods Flash! Chapter 305: Preparation to Return! Void Thunder God''s Flash! Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Xiao Jin didn''t immediately respond, just chuckling nervously while occasionally glancing at Liu Ling. Seeing this, Liu Ling frantically signaled to Xiao Jin with his eyes. "As long as it''s master''s command, Xiao Jin doesn''t feel it''s difficult at all." Responding to Liu Ling''s hint, Xiao Jin shook his head and said very obediently. "Very well, when you come back, I will reward you handsomely!" After saying this, Gu He suddenly remembered something and pointed towards the imprisoned Queen Medusa in the distance, asking the two of them, "Why did Queen Medusa target you two just now?" "Teacher, it all started because the Snake People''s army launched a major attack on Stone Desert City. As the leader of all mercenaries in Stone Desert City, I naturally couldn''t stand idly by. When I was no match for the Snake People''s King of Fighters, Yue Mei, Xiao Jin appeared and captured the Snake Woman Yue Mei. After that, Queen Medusa came looking for us." Facing Gu He''s inquiry, Liu Ling explained truthfully. "I see, the Snake People couldn''t contain themselves and started a war with the Jia Ma Empire!" Hearing Liu Ling''s explanation, Gu He sighed softly. Liu Ling''s actions were definitely justified. Anyone couldn''t just stand by and watch their own kind being harmed by outsiders. However, the Snake People had deep grievances with the Jia Ma Empire. They were even forced to live in the barren Tagor Desert. At this point, they were powerful and wanted to wage war to fight for a more comfortable living environment for their people, which was understandable. Objectively speaking, it was difficult to judge who was right or wrong. ... "I didn''t expect that in just a few months, Queen Medusa''s cultivation has already broken through to five-star Dou Ancestor!" When he noticed Queen Medusa''s cultivation, Gu He was also surprised. For an ordinary person to break through one star in the Dou Ancestor stage, it might take several years, or even decades, and there was no guarantee of success. Yet Queen Medusa had crossed two stars in just a few months, which was incredibly terrifying talent. Gu He had previously planned to take Queen Medusa as his disciple, and now, seeing her cultivation progress, this idea became even stronger. If he could take Queen Medusa as his disciple, perhaps his own cultivation would experience another rapid surge. With this in mind, Gu He decided to implement the plan he had thought of earlier: to take Queen Medusa as his disciple under a different identity. Having made up his mind, Gu He turned to Liu Ling and Xiao Jin and instructed, "Liu Ling, Xiao Jin, I''ll temporarily confine Queen Medusa here until I come back in person to deal with her. During this time, the two of you should pay more attention to this area!" "Yes!" Liu Ling and Xiao Jin didn''t question Gu He''s words at all. In the spatial prison, Queen Medusa, who was held captive by Gu He, felt particularly uneasy at this moment. Facing Gu He, who had suppressed her with a flip of his hand, Queen Medusa had already felt a great deal of fear. When Gu He''s gaze continued to focus on her, seemingly with some unknown intention, Queen Medusa''s heart sank. "Alas, I really underestimated the people of this world. I thought that breaking through to five-star Dou Ancestor would lead my clan to prosperity, but I didn''t expect that I would end up like this after taking just one step." Queen Medusa sighed inwardly. At this moment, what she was thinking was that if Gu He had any intention towards her, even if she had to self-destruct, she couldn''t let Gu He succeed. However, while Queen Medusa was guessing wildly, there was no intention from Gu He''s side to come and deal with her. Soon, half an hour passed, and under Queen Medusa''s gaze, Gu He''s figure suddenly disappeared from this world without any sign of energy fluctuations. "What''s going on? His disappearance, why is there no energy fluctuation at all? Could it be that the one who appeared just now wasn''t his true body, but a temporary projection or clone formed by some magical means?" As this thought crossed her mind, Queen Medusa''s shock was beyond words. That a projection or clone could possess such overwhelming power was unimaginable. How terrifying would his true body be? ...Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com Just after Gu He''s projection disappeared from the sky outside Stone Desert City, deep in the rear mountains of the Jia Nan Academy, Gu He''s true body had already stepped out of a small valley. During this period of seclusion, Gu He had already assimilated all the cultivation he had returned from Zi Yan last time. At this moment, his cultivation had reached the peak of five-star Dou Venerate. Although he hadn''t reached the expected six-star Dou Venerate, Gu He was already very satisfied. With his current level of cultivation, except for a few reclusive experts, he could basically walk sideways in this northwest continent. Before long, Gu He returned to the inner courtyard of the Jia Nan Academy and then headed towards his own small courtyard. As he approached, the scene in the courtyard made Gu He''s eyes light up. "Ding, detected that the host has granted the sixth disciple Han Yue the Earth-ranked elementary body movement martial skill ''Three Thousand Thunder Movements.'' Congratulations, the host triggered a ten thousandfold return and gained the Heaven-ranked elementary body movement martial skill ''Void Thunder God Flash''!" "The Heaven-ranked elementary body movement martial skill ''Void Thunder God Flash'' has been deposited into the system space. Host, please check!" As the system notification sounded in his mind, Gu He was slightly stunned, his eyes showing a hint of excitement. A ten thousandfold return! A Heaven-ranked elementary body movement martial skill! Void Thunder God Flash! You know, with the Earth-ranked advanced body movement martial skill "Ascension Steps," Gu He was able to slip away before the Flame Lizardmen of the Half-Saint cultivation level even reacted. Now, obtaining the even more advanced body movement martial skill Void Thunder God Flash, his speed would reach a terrifying level. "Huh!" While Gu He was excited about obtaining the Heaven-ranked elementary body movement martial skill Void Thunder God Flash, Han Yue made a soft exclamation. "Master, the body movement martial skill you just taught me, Three Thousand Thunder Movements, isn''t that from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion? It''s considered a secret of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. Could it be that you''re from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion?" Han Yue raised her head, her face full of doubt. Upon hearing Han Yue''s question, Gu He snapped out of his joy of obtaining the Void Thunder God Flash. This girl, Han Yue, was from the Central Plains, and her family''s city was under the jurisdiction of the Wind and Thunder Northern Pavilion, so naturally, she would have heard of the prestigious body movement martial skill, Three Thousand Thunder Movements. "I am not from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. The Three Thousand Thunder Movements martial skill was acquired by chance by me!" Gu He said frankly. "Ah, Master, the Three Thousand Thunder Movements are a secret of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. If others practice it and are discovered by the people of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, they might..." Han Yue''s eyes showed some worry. "Well, if you''re worried, you can treat this martial skill as a trump card and only use it when necessary!" Gu He offered a suggestion. He didn''t say things like, "Just a Wind and Thunder Pavilion, you don''t need to worry too much, my disciple!" Because saying that would be equivalent to directly revealing his own cultivation level to his two disciples. If they became arrogant because of their cultivation levels, it would likely cause unnecessary trouble. Therefore, it was good for them to develop a sense of awe for this world. "I''ll remember, Master!" Upon hearing Gu He''s suggestion, Han Yue pondered for a moment and then relaxed. Because when it came to using such advanced martial skills in a dire situation, the Wind and Thunder Pavilion wouldn''t matter anymore. "Mm!" Seeing Han Yue''s acceptance, Gu He nodded very satisfied. After comforting Han Yue, Gu He''s mind moved, immediately sinking into the system space. At this moment, in the system space, there was a silver sphere several zhang in size suspended within it. Was this the Heaven-ranked elementary body movement martial skill, Void Thunder God Flash? Looking at the silver sphere in the void, excitement filled Gu He''s eyes. Within this silver sphere was a power very familiar to Gu He after his breakthrough to the Dou Ancestor levelthe power of space. Besides the power of space, this silver sphere also contained a powerful thunder force. I wonder what kind of effect this Void Thunder God Flash has? Filled with excitement, Gu He didn''t hesitate at all, directly thinking in his mind, "System, begin extracting the Void Thunder God Flash." The moment Gu He''s words fell in his mind, the silver sphere immediately shot out like an arrow, directly rushing into Gu He''s body. PSIt''s the fourteenth today, so there''s a bit much going on, hence the delay in updating. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 306: Spirit Beast! Nine Nether Sparrow! Chapter 306: Spirit Beast! Nine Nether Sparrow! Chapter 306: Spirit Beast! Nine Nether Sparrow! After the silver light sphere entered Gu He''s body, an immensely vast amount of information immediately surged into Gu He''s mind, flashing countless profound cultivation secrets. At the same time, wisps of sturdy silver energy also integrated into Gu He''s flesh and blood. Moments later, Gu He''s eyes abruptly turned silver, with a faint sound of majestic thunder lingering around his body. The anomaly in Gu He''s body immediately caught the attention of Zi Yan and Han Yue. "Such formidable thunderous power!" Han Yue exclaimed in awe. Zi Yan, equally surprised, gasped in astonishment. She also sensed this thunderous power, but what truly surprised her was not this thunderous might but a power she was extremely familiar with, an innate power. After absorbing the entire silver light sphere, Gu He already had a profound understanding of the Void Thunder Flash. Though he hadn''t reached its peak, he could already deploy it flexibly. Practicing the Void Thunder Flash endowed the body with a powerful ability to shuttle through the void. This ability, similar to the innate talent of the ancient void dragon, was much stronger. With Gu He''s current cultivation, even a preliminary Dou Saint''s spatial blockade couldn''t hinder his movements. Furthermore, practicing the Void Thunder Flash wasn''t limited to this ability alone. It also allowed Gu He to directly transform into myriad thunderbolts and shuttle through the void within a short period. Each of these thunderbolts could be considered Gu He''s true body. As long as one thunderbolt remained, Gu He could reform his body. After reforming, the other thunderbolts would instantly dissipate without harming him. Taking a deep breath, Gu He slowly regained his senses from the shock of this terrifying martial skill. "What are you two staring at? Did your master acquire something new?" Gu He asked with a warm smile, noticing Zi Yan and Han Yue staring at him. "Yeah!" "Master, you suddenly gained something new!" Zi Yan and Han Yue nodded repeatedly after Gu He spoke. "Does your master now seem more mysterious and profound?" Following their lead, Gu He intentionally said with a hint of jest. "Ah!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Zi Yan and Han Yue paused, then retorted, "We didn''t see that at all!" "It''s such a waste to have you two. You can''t even say something nice!" Gu He shook his head with some disappointment. "Ah!" Seeing this, the quicker-witted Han Yue immediately said, "Master, disciple didn''t mean that. It''s just that ''profound and mysterious'' doesn''t seem fitting for you. ''Exquisite and transcendent'' suits you better!" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Han Yue once again exclaimed with excitement, her mouth wide open and her face filled with joy. After the excitement subsided a bit, Han Yue, with a happy expression, bowed to Gu He and said, "Thank you, Master, for giving such a precious gift to your disciple!" "There''s no need for such formality between us. Here are some accompanying purple crystal sources. Drip some onto the beast egg every day, and it should accelerate its hatching," Gu He said, waving his hand, then took out several bottles of accompanying purple crystal sources from his spatial ring and handed them to Han Yue. "Mm!" Having already received so many gifts, Han Yue didn''t feel uncomfortable accepting them in front of Gu He. She promptly accepted all the bottles of accompanying purple crystal sources. After rewarding Han Yue, Gu He''s gaze shifted to Zi Yan, and a hint of a smile curved his lips as he teased, "Zi Yan, do you have anything you''d like to say to your master?" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, a pensive expression appeared on Zi Yan''s delicate and fair face. Gu He''s implication was already very clear; he wanted Zi Yan to praise him like Han Yue did. Under Gu He''s gaze, Zi Yan rubbed the back of her head. After a long while, she slowly uttered a childish voice. "Master, I also feel that ''profound and mysterious'' doesn''t suit your temperament. ''Respected and pure, like ice and jade'' is more fitting for you." Hearing Zi Yan''s words, Gu He''s forehead was covered with black lines. "This little girl probably just remembers these few words, ''respected and pure, like ice and jade''... What kind of person does she think I am?" (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 307: Setting up Training Tasks! Chapter 307: Setting up Training Tasks! Chapter 307: Setting up Training Tasks! "These are the words those old fellows in the academy praised Master with, which I quietly noted down. Could it be that I remembered it wrong, or perhaps ''respected and pure, like ice and jade'' isn''t actually praising someone?" Seeing Gu He''s silence, Zi Yan muttered to herself inwardly. Then, she turned her head to Han Yue beside her and asked, "Senior Sister, can you tell me if these two phrases aren''t praising someone?" Hearing Zi Yan''s question, Han Yue also felt puzzled. She then explained softly, "Junior Sister, those words are all quite good. ''Respected and pure'' means that Master''s character is noble and worthy of respect, while ''like ice and jade'' refers to Master''s noble and pure character." "Ah, then why did Master react like this?" Confusion filled Zi Yan''s dark eyes as she kept fiddling with her ponytail, occasionally glancing at Gu He. "Cough! Cough!" Hearing the murmurs from the two little girls not far away, Gu He knew that he had misinterpreted the meaning of ''like ice and jade'' mentioned by Zi Yan. So, he cleared his throat twice, squeezed out a smile on his face, and slowly said, "Zi Yan, very good, it''s rare that you can remember some profound words. Master feels very pleased." "Really!" "So, it''s because the words I said were profound that Master reacted so strongly!" Upon hearing this, the feeling of loss that originally filled Zi Yan was instantly replaced by excitement and joy.Nne?w n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com "Hehe, the Master who is as pure as ice and jade, should reward me now!" After the excitement, Zi Yan rubbed her tender white hands together and walked towards Gu He with a smile. Seeing Zi Yan''s current demeanor contrasting greatly with before, a helpless bitter smile appeared on Gu He''s face. "Master, I''m ready!" Standing in front of Gu He, Zi Yan closed her eyes directly, her face full of anticipation. After examining Zi Yan''s condition for a while, Gu He found that the Dou Qi in her body was slightly unstable, showing signs that her physical strength couldn''t keep up with her cultivation progress. "It seems that the transmission of energy has been too frequent, and she hasn''t had time to solidify the acquired energy. I wonder how much energy she can absorb this time!" Gu He sighed inwardly upon sensing Zi Yan''s condition. Then, Gu He stretched out his palm and gently placed it on Zi Yan''s forehead. "System, transmit energy to the Fifth Disciple Zi Yan!" "Why don''t you first ask what the task is?" Seeing Zi Yan''s reaction, Gu He rolled his eyes at her and said unkindly. "Hehe, Master, you tell me the task first, I promise to exceed it!" Zi Yan grinned. "Han Yue, come over here!" Instead of immediately answering, Gu He beckoned to Han Yue. Soon, Han Yue stood beside Zi Yan. "Zi Yan, Han Yue, with your current cultivation, there is indeed no need for you to stay at the Jia Nan Academy any longer!" Gu He slowly spoke, "Next, Master will assign you a training task, hoping it will become a motivation for your cultivation!" "Han Yue, let me arrange your training task first." Upon hearing this, observant Han Yue immediately understood Gu He''s meaning and knew they would soon leave the Jia Nan Academy. "Master, please assign the task." Seeing Han Yue''s calm demeanor, Gu He was very satisfied and said slowly, "After leaving the Jia Nan Academy, you need to go to the Central State. I have three requirements for you. First, break through to the Cou Emperor realm as soon as possible. Second, participate in the next Quad Pavilion Assembly, and you must reach the finals. Third, cultivate the Three Thousand Thunder Movement to the perfect state." "Ah!" "Sister, are you going to leave the Jia Nan Academy and go to the Central State alone?" Zi Yan, who was slow to react, just realized it now. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 308: Instructions! Farewell! Chapter 308: Instructions! Farewell! Chapter 308: Instructions! Farewell! Gu He was now assigning tasks to Han Yue, who hadn''t spoken yet, while Zi Yan''s reaction seemed a bit more intense. Upon hearing Zi Yan''s words, Gu He gently patted her head and said, "Why are you so startled? It''s not just Han Yue, but your task later will also require leaving the Jia Nan Academy." "Oh! Zi Yan understands!" Being patted by Gu He, Zi Yan pouted, weakly responding. On Han Yue''s side, after listening to the three tasks assigned by Gu He, her mood became quite complicated. Each of these three tasks was extremely difficult for her. Just breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm for the first task alone might take a long time. As for the second task, participating in the Four Pavilion Assembly and reaching the final match, it was even more challenging. In previous assemblies, there were many peers who were Eight-Star Dou Emperors or even Nine-Star Dou Emperors. Those who could make it to the finals were the cream of the crop at the same level. Making it to the finals meant reaching the top eight, which required at least the strength of a Five or Six-Star Dou Emperor. Of course, it wasn''t that Han Yue wasn''t among the best of her peers, but rather, compared to those who participated in previous assemblies, Han Yue was much younger. If she were to participate in the assembly after the next one, Han Yue might still have a chance. However, this time, there was less than two years left. It would be quite difficult for Han Yue to make it to the top eight. As for the third task, cultivating the Three Thousand Thunder Movement to perfection, Han Yue didn''t have much confidence either. The Wind Thunder Pavilion''s martial art, the Three Thousand Thunder Movement, was extremely complex. Even with many insights imparted by Gu He, achieving perfection would be extremely difficult. Thinking about these tasks, a hint of difficulty appeared on Han Yue''s face. "What''s wrong? Do you think the tasks are too difficult?" Seeing Han Yue''s expression, Gu He asked. "Master... these three tasks, your disciple indeed... doesn''t have much confidence in completing them." Han Yue hesitated before expressing her thoughts. Hearing Han Yue''s words, Gu He had already planned for this. He immediately said, "In that case, let''s set the time limit for the Four Pavilion Assembly. Over the next two years, Master will come to your location three times to transmit energy. As for how much you can absorb each time, it depends on your own efforts." Three transmissions! Upon hearing this, Han Yue suddenly felt a great reduction in pressure. However, that didn''t mean she was one hundred percent confident. If she didn''t properly temper her body, the amount of energy she could accept each time would decrease. "Master, your disciple will definitely work hard to complete the tasks. It''s just that when I go to the Central State, Master, how will you find me?" Han Yue respectfully asked. The Central State was vast, and without any special means of contact, finding someone was like finding a needle in a haystack. So it was normal for Han Yue to raise this doubt. "Since Master has said so, I have naturally made preparations. Take this jade token." Seeing the tears on their faces, Gu He''s heart was also deeply touched, but at this moment, he had to put on an indifferent expression. The next moment, he handed a storage ring to each of them, then turned back to walk towards the courtyard. At this moment, a notification sounded in Gu He''s mind. "Ding, detected that the host has given Fifth Disciple Zi Yan an ordinary storage ring with too many items inside. Please select two items for return." This time, upon hearing the notification from the system, Gu He did not immediately respond. Instead, he stood still, facing away from Zi Yan and Han Yue, and said, "Master is going to see the Grand Elder. You two... prepare quickly!" After saying that, Gu He''s figure flashed and disappeared from Zi Yan and Han Yue''s sight. ... After a while, Gu He arrived at a study deep within the Jia Nan Academy. "Elder Gu He, are you leaving the academy for a while?" Upon hearing Gu He''s intentions, Su Qian, dressed in black, was somewhat surprised. "Yes, not only am I leaving for a while, but I''ve also assigned Zi Yan and Han Yue tasks to go to the Central State for training. Later, I will ask the Grand Elder to arrange flying magic beasts to take them to the nearest spatial wormhole!" Gu He nodded in confirmation. "Elder Gu He, rest assured. I will take care of sending those two little girls to the Central State. I wonder how long it will take for you to return?" After hearing Gu He''s words, Su Qian didn''t ask for any reasons, only feeling reluctant and asking when Gu He would return. "At most two years. If those two little girls complete their training tasks ahead of time, the time will naturally be shortened!" Gu He said indifferently. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 309: Bodhi Pill! Demon Flame Sword! Poison Saint Ruins! Little Doctor Immortal’s Escape! Chapter 309: Bodhi Pill! Demon Flame Sword! Poison Saint Ruins! Little Doctor Immortals Escape! Chapter 309: Bodhi Pill! Demon Flame Sword! Poison Saint Ruins! Little Doctor Immortal''s Escape! An hour later, Gu He was already standing on the back of the Black Lin Frost Dragon, appearing in the sky over a hundred miles away from the Jia Nan Empire. This time, Gu He returned to the Jia Nan Empire with his clone because he needed his clone''s help for the upcoming play with Queen Medusa. Meanwhile, he still arranged for a soul clone to stay at the branch of the Black Horn Domain Soul Hall to observe its movements. "Master, when we return this time, Xiao Jin and the others should be coming back too, right?" while flying, the Black Lin Frost Dragon suddenly spoke with some anticipation. "We can meet Xiao Jin as soon as we return, but the others won''t be back so soon," Gu He replied. After saying this, Gu He''s mind suddenly sank into the system space. In the center of the system space floated a beast egg about the size of a football, entirely black with a hint of mysterious aura. "Spirit Beast Nine Nether Sparrow''s Eggabout to hatch in ten days." Seeing this information, a smile appeared on Gu He''s face. Originally, he was worried that the hatching time of the Nine-Color Demon Vulture''s egg would indirectly affect the hatching time of the Nine Nether Sparrow''s egg. Now knowing that the Nine Nether Sparrow would hatch naturally in ten days, he didn''t need to worry too much. After looking at the Nine Nether Sparrow''s egg for a while, Gu He''s mind slowly moved to the two purple energy masses floating beside it. These two energy masses were the returned cultivation from when he imparted it to Zi Yan and Han Yue. In the next moment, Gu He''s mind moved, directly extracting the smaller of the two purple energy masses to refine it. In just half an hour, Gu He''s cultivation soared by another five years. However, these five years of cultivation didn''t cause much of a ripple in his body. Gu He had long been prepared for this. Crossing each star level was extremely difficult after reaching the Dou Emperor realm. Some people couldn''t even break through a single star level even after seclusion for a hundred years. Gu He was already a monstrous genius to be able to break through from one-star Dou Emperor to the peak of five-star Dou Emperor in such a short time. Shaking his head, Gu He remembered the items he gave to Zi Yan just now and the two opportunities to return items. Opening the system interface, Gu He selected a Zong Breakthrough Pill and a seventh-rank demonic core weapon, the Flame-Running Sword. "Ding, the host has selected one Zong Breakthrough Pill and the seventh-rank demonic core weapon, the Flame-Running Sword, for return. Congratulations to the host for obtaining a ten-thousand-fold return, acquiring a Bodhi Pill, an eighth-grade pill, and the Demon Flame Sword, a ninth-rank demonic core weapon!" Seeing Xia Yi Xian, the leader of the group, the Dou Huang powerhouse Old Master Liu, immediately wanted to capture her with the others behind him. Fortunately, just as Xia Yi Xian was about to be caught by Old Master Liu, she found this spacious green lake in panic and jumped into the deep green water without hesitation. This green lake, full of poison, made Old Master Liu, who had suffered several times in the primitive forest, fear, so he didn''t chase any further. While Xia Yi Xian was swimming deep in the green water, she inadvertently looked down and saw a scene that made her stomach churn. At the bottom of the green lake, there was no sign of mud. Instead, there were countless bodies. Most of the flesh on these bodies had decayed to a soft state. Under the flow of water, the already separated skin ruptured, and the soft rotten flesh was washed away, exposing various horrifying organs to Xia Yi Xian''s sight. Moreover, the rotten corpses at the bottom of the lake kept emitting an indescribable stench. In such an environment, Xia Yi Xian almost fainted. But thinking about the strong enemy behind her, Xia Yi Xian gritted her teeth and endured the nausea, swimming around at the bottom of the lake for nearly two hours before choosing to return to the shore. "Who could be so cruel as to throw hundreds of thousands of people into this poisonous lake." At this moment, having recovered from the nausea after retching for a while, Xia Yi Xian muttered softly, feeling a strong sense of disgust towards the perpetrator of this atrocity. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 310: Master of the Venomous Sect! Ruined City in the Remains! Chapter 310: Master of the Venomous Sect! Ruined City in the Remains! Chapter 310: Master of the Venomous Sect! Ruined City in the Remains! After recovering, Xiao Yi Xian began to assess her surroundings. Currently, she stood on a bare giant stone slab, with the boundless green lake still behind her, and ahead lay a rocky mountain devoid of any vegetation. "I really shouldn''t have come to this damned place!" Xiao Yi Xian was still deeply troubled by the scene at the bottom of the lake. After muttering to herself, Xiao Yi Xian''s clear eyes suddenly looked towards the top of the barren mountain. Although there were no signs of any living creatures, she remained vigilant. Along the way, if it weren''t for her Woeful Poison Body, she probably wouldn''t have been able to escape from the primitive forest. Most of the poisons in that forest had reached a level where they could threaten Dou Huang powerhouses. However, these poisons were quite different from the beasts. Although the toxins were powerful, they lacked the vigorous strength found in beasts. Because of this, Xiao Yi Xian had collected many valuable poisonous insects and plants after passing through the primitive forest. Just by ingesting a small part of them, Xiao Yi Xian''s cultivation had jumped from a one-star Dou King to a three-star Dou King. With her current strength, encountering the likes of Ma Dayuan and his group would only lead to them fleeing. If it weren''t for the presence of the high-level Dou Huang powerhouse, Old Master Liu, Xiao Yi Xian wouldn''t have ended up in such a sorry state. Her purple wings suddenly spread out behind her, and Xiao Yi Xian''s slender figure slowly ascended into the sky, flying towards the top of the rocky mountain. Soon, Xiao Yi Xian''s figure arrived at the peak of the mountain. Looking ahead, she could still only see endless barren mountains without any vegetation. If Xiao Yi Xian could perceive the entire appearance of this ruin, she would find that the green lake she encountered earlier, the primitive forest she passed through, and the barren mountains she saw nowall three terrains formed a ring structure. The primitive grassland and forest were the outermost layers of this ruin. The extremely wide green lake completely separated the barren mountains from the primitive forest. Arriving here, Xiao Yi Xian''s speed of movement was much faster than when she was in the primitive forest. In no time, she had flown tens of miles into the group of barren mountains. However, at this moment, she suddenly heard a loud noise not far away, accompanied by a powerful fluctuation of Dou Qi. "There are people!" Sensing this movement, Xiao Yi Xian immediately concealed herself on the ground, while wondering, "Who could be fighting in such a place?" Next moment, in Xiao Yi Xian''s line of sight, a green figure appeared. Standing beside the green figure was the fat man from the Nine Venomous Auction that Xiao Yi Xian had encountered beforeMaster of the Venomous Sect, Huang Dahai. "How did he end up here? And who is the person in the green robe?" Xiao Yi Xian muttered to herself in confusion. Just as Xiao Yi Xian was filled with doubt, a hearty laughter came from the distance in the sky. Could it be that there''s an ancient city nearby? Not far away, Xiao Yi Xian, hiding between the giant rocks, immediately caught a very crucial piece of information from their conversation. So, while the Venomous Sect and the Poisonous Sect confronted each other, Xiao Yi Xian''s figure quietly began to move to the right. ... Hehe, then let''s see how capable you are! After Liu Rulong spoke those words, Hua An sneered. Liu Rulong was a seven-star Dou Emperor, while Hua An, although one star weaker in terms of cultivation realm, showed no fear on his face. After saying that, Hua An took out a silver double-pointed spear from his storage ring. The imposing aura emanating from the spear revealed that it was a sixth-grade magic core weapon. Tsk tsk, Hua An, since you''ve quickly taken out your sixth-grade magic core weapon, I, Liu Rulong, can''t be left behind either. As he spoke, Liu Rulong also took out a pure white stick from his storage ring. The appearance of this stick seemed to be made from the leg bone of some mysterious beast, giving it a very mystical look. You guys stay back and keep an eye on Huang Dahai. Don''t let him escape! After taking out the white bone stick, Liu Rulong instructed the people beside him in a low voice. Yes, Liu lao! Upon hearing Liu Rulong''s words, the four great Dou Emperors of Fumicheng, as well as the two elders of the Venomous Sect, dispersed. Huang Dahai, beside Hua An, did the same. Soon, only Liu Rulong and Hua An, the two Dou Emperor powerhouses, remained in the sky. (End of the Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 311: Hua An’s Arm is Severed! Entering the Ancient City! Chapter 311: Hua Ans Arm is Severed! Entering the Ancient City! Chapter 311: Hua Ans Arm is Severed! Entering the Ancient City! Boom! Boom! In the distant sky, dazzling green and black light clusters continuously collided, sending waves of terrifying energy fluctuations from the sky. The clash between Dou Emperor experts made everyone who felt these waves tremble in their hearts. On the other side, Huang Dahai was being watched by six Dou King experts. Even though he had reached the cultivation level of an eight-star Dou King, he didnt dare to be careless because if a fight broke out, he would definitely suffer. At this moment, a petite white figure had already bypassed the people of the Wan Du Sect and Mo Du Sect, reaching the right side of the battlefield. As Xiao Yi Xian climbed over a slightly tall bald mountain, an extremely magnificent ancient city appeared at the end of her sight. The area of this ancient city was at least a hundred times larger than Rumicheng of the Cloud Empire. "It seems this ancient city is the true core of this relic!" Seeing the enormous city, Xiao Yi Xians heart began to beat faster. In the next moment, Xiao Yi Xian couldn''t help but quicken her pace, heading towards the towering city wall that stood dozens of meters high. ... Hey, its that strange little girl. She actually came here too! In the distant sky, Liu Rulong, who was fiercely fighting Hua An, suddenly noticed the fast-running white figure on the ground and pondered with some surprise. Ma Dayuan, you guys dont need to worry about Huang Dahai anymore. Go and stop that little poison girl! Liu Rulong quickly shouted to Ma Dayuan after reacting. Upon hearing Liu Rulongs reminder, Ma Dayuan and his team immediately set off towards Xiao Yi Xian. Over on Hua Ans side, taking advantage of Liu Rulongs distraction, a silver spear shot towards Liu Rulongs face with immense power. Boom! With a loud noise, the space around their battle twisted, and a dazzling light cluster appeared in the sky. In his haste, Liu Rulong swung his bone staff to block Hua Ans powerful strike, clearly taking some damage. However, he didnt care about his injuries at this moment; his mind was still focused on Xiao Yi Xian in the distance. Little Poison Girl! After landing a successful blow, Hua An thought about what Liu Rulong had just said and also noticed the fast-moving white figure on the ground. He had been interested in this Little Poison Girl before, thinking of taking her as a disciple. Thats why, upon hearing the news of her appearance in the Wan Du Sects territory, he immediately sent Huang Dahai to find her and bring her back. "Hahaha, Brother Hua, once youre poisoned by the Centipede Maggot, not even a peak Dou Emperor can resist its deadly toxin," Liu Rulong laughed heartily upon seeing Hua An bitten by the Centipede Maggot. The Centipede Maggot is a sixth-tier poisonous creature whose venom can kill an ordinary Dou Emperor within half a stick of incense time. Seeing the poison rapidly spreading from his wrist to the rest of his body, Hua An''s eyes flashed with determination. In the next moment, Hua An put away his silver spear. His right hand formed a sharp Dou Qi blade, which he used to chop down on his left arm. Pfft! "Ah!" With a spurt of blood mist in the air, Hua An let out a muffled groan as his bitten left arm fell from the sky to the ground. Seeing Hua An decisively sever his arm, Liu Rulong was first stunned, then he laughed again, "Hahaha, Brother Hua, you are indeed a worthy opponent, so decisive!" "But now that you''ve lost an arm, I doubt you can even hold your spear steadily. Let''s see how you stop me now!" Liu Rulong looked disdainfully at Hua An, who was pale-faced, then flapped his wings and headed towards the ancient city. At this moment, Ma Dayuan and his team had just chased Xiao Yi Xian over the tall city wall. However, as they approached her, Xiao Yi Xian repelled them with a blast of gray gas. Inside the broad streets of the ancient city, Xiao Yi Xian saw no other living persononly endless desolation and silence. "The tens of thousands of corpses at the bottom of the Green Water Lake must be the original inhabitants of this ancient city!" (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 312: Ten Thousand Poison Swamp! Chapter 312: Ten Thousand Poison Swamp! Chapter 312: Ten Thousand Poison Swamp! "This little poison girl has grown so fast! If she is given a few more years, I fear no one in the entire Cloud Empire will be her match!" On the city wall, Ma Dayuan and his men, who had been repelled by Xiao Yi Xians casual attack, were extremely astonished. A little over a month ago, Xiao Yi Xian had not yet become a Dou King. When Ma Dayuan discovered her breakthrough to Dou King in the relic, he was only slightly surprised. However, he never expected that she could easily repel six veteran Dou King experts just after breaking through. You useless fools, you cant even capture a little girl! Seeing Ma Dayuan and his men standing on the city wall without going in, Liu Rulong, who had arrived from a distance, angrily rebuked them. Hearing Liu Rulongs reprimand, Ma Dayuan and his men quickly turned their heads and saw Hua An in the distance, missing an arm. Their hearts became extremely conflicted. Unexpectedly, Old Monster Liu has become so strong that he defeated Old Demon Hua so quickly! Ma Dayuan was well aware that with Liu Rulongs brutal nature, if Hua An was defeated, they would lose their value. At this moment, if they angered Liu Rulong, they could face deadly consequences. Sect Master! Not far away, Huang Dahai also noticed Hua Ans condition. He immediately lost interest in the current situation and flapped his wings to bypass Liu Rulong, heading towards Hua An. Soon, under everyones gaze, Liu Rulong, dressed in a black robe, arrived on the city tower with a grim face. Where is the little poison girl? Liu Rulong''s eyes swept over the group as he shouted harshly. When Liu Rulong finished speaking, Ma Dayuan felt extremely nervous, but he forcibly kept silent. Old Liu, the little poison girl just used a large area of strong poisonous gray gas to block us. After the gas dissipated, we couldnt see her anymore, Wang Jing said tremblingly. Fools! Seeing Wang Jing speaking first, Ma Dayuan sighed inwardly. As expected, in the next moment, a withered hand grabbed Wang Jings neck, and a surge of powerful Dou Qi crushed Wang Jings throat, pushing his body off the high city tower. Useless trash, no need to keep you around! After killing Wang Jing, the anger on Liu Rulongs face finally subsided a bit. Seeing Liu Rulong kill Wang Jing without warning, the others were terrified, fearing they would be next. Old Liu, I believe the most important thing now is to find the treasures in the ancient city. We can deal with the little poison girl later! Ma Dayuan suddenly said respectfully to Liu Rulong. Despite these precautions, Liu Rulong hesitated, not daring to venture into the swamp. He then turned his gaze to Ma Dayuan and the others, who were approaching. "These useless people can still be of some use!" Liu Rulong thought to himself. Noticing Liu Rulong''s peculiar gaze, Ma Dayuan felt a chill run down his spine. "This old monster is up to something again!" Ma Dayuan cursed inwardly. Despite the foreboding feeling, he had no choice but to continue flying towards Liu Rulong''s position. "Old Liu!" "Old Liu!" Before long, Ma Dayuan and the others reached the top of the white wall and saw the strange scene in the swamp. "You guys, go down and explore first!" Liu Rulong didn''t waste any words, directly stating his intention. Hearing Liu Rulong''s demand, they hesitated, but the memory of Wang Jing''s death on the city tower forced them to reluctantly nod in agreement. At this moment, Ma Dayuan deeply regretted bringing Liu Rulong to this relic. "Let''s go!" Sighing heavily, the group enveloped themselves in Dou Qi and bravely flew towards the swamp below. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 313: Bottom of the Swamp! Chapter 313: Bottom of the Swamp! Chapter 313: Bottom of the Swamp! Gurgle! Gurgle! Hovering above the edge of the swamp, the group faintly heard the sound of flowing water. Hearing the noise, Hou Yunfeng suspiciously said to Ma Dayuan, Brother Dayuan, there seems to be an underground river below. And judging by the sound, it flows from outside the high walls into the swamp! This whole journey has been nothing but barren hills. Even the wells in the ancient city have all dried up. Where could such a large underground river come from? Ma Dayuan''s face was also filled with astonishment. Stop worrying about the underground river. The Sect Master wants us to scout ahead, so lets just focus on that! One of the elders from the Wan Du Sect impatiently interjected after overhearing their conversation. Hmph! Elder Cui, youre so loyal to Old Monster Liu, but in the end, he treats you like a dog! Hearing the elders urging, Ma Dayuan snorted disdainfully. Elder Cuis face immediately flushed with anger at Ma Dayuans words, but he did not retaliate. Brother Dayuan, be careful what you say! Hou Yunfeng quickly cautioned Ma Dayuan. Whats there to fear? Im speaking the truth. Do you think we can leave this relic alive? Ma Dayuan stated bluntly. After his words fell, the two Wan Du Sect elders, the Han family head, and Hou Yunfeng fell silent. They were all well aware of Liu Rulongs cruelty. Regardless of whether they found any treasures in the relic, they feared Liu Rulong would silence them in the end. Brother Dayuan, what should we do now? they all turned to Ma Dayuan for guidance. What should we do? We can only take it one step at a time. Hopefully, something will kill Old Monster Liu! Although they were some distance from Liu Rulong, Ma Dayuan still spoke in a whisper. In just a few words, Ma Dayuan had become their beacon of hope. Due to the dense poisonous fog above, Ma Dayuan and his group stayed about seven or eight meters above the swamp, moving deeper. Just as they were about to disappear from Liu Rulongs sight, he relaxed and began following the route they had taken. Behind Liu Rulong, Xiao Yi Xian waited a moment before gracefully flying over the white wall. Following Liu Rulong, Xiao Yi Xian also heard the sound of the underground river. Sensing the danger behind her, Xiao Yi Xian suddenly thought of the underground river. Perhaps not all of this place was a swamp; maybe it was like the Green Water Lake beneath. Thinking of this, Xiao Yi Xian didnt hesitate. Before Liu Rulongs hand could grab her, she dove straight down into the swamp. Splash! Xiao Yi Xians figure broke through a half-meter-thick layer of mud-like material and disappeared from Liu Rulongs sight. Damn it, not this trick again! Seeing Xiao Yi Xian dive into the swamp, Liu Rulong was stunned. In the next moment, he furiously launched several attacks, bombarding the swamp surface. Instantly, the mud-like substance of the swamp sprayed everywhere under his assault, revealing the green water beneath. After several attacks and failing to find Xiao Yi Xian, Liu Rulong left in frustration, not daring to enter the green water himself. ... At the bottom of the swamp, Xiao Yi Xian was completely immersed in the toxic green water, but the aura within her body began to surge wildly. Previously, in the circular Green Water Lake, the sight of rotting corpses and the indescribable stench had made her unwilling to stay, even though the poisonous water could enhance her cultivation. Now, she had no such concerns. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 314: The Void Beast Appears! Chapter 314: The Void Beast Appears! Chapter 314: The Void Beast Appears! At the bottom of the swamp, Xiao Yi Xian focused on absorbing the powerful toxins from the green water. As the toxins crazily poured into her body and were transformed into pure poisonous Dou Qi, Xiao Yi Xian''s cultivation soon broke through to become a six-star Dou King. Because of her presence, the once-calm swamp started to show frequent disturbances. The toxic smoke pierced through the mud-like layer and dispersed into the air more and more frequently. Moreover, the green water at the bottom of the swamp where Xiao Yi Xian resided began to churn violently. Liu Rulong, who was some distance away, also noticed this unusual phenomenon. The Woeful Poison Body! Could it be that the little girl is absorbing the endless toxins of this swamp? The sudden changes in the swamp made Liu Rulong suspicious of Xiao Yi Xian. Following the disturbances, Liu Rulong turned back, hovering above the area where Xiao Yi Xian was. This should be it. It seems the Woeful Poison Girl is breaking through! Liu Rulong''s eyes scanned the area below as a surge of violent Dou Qi erupted from his body. In the next moment, a large black handprint suddenly blasted down toward the swamp. In an instant, the thick floating material was scattered, and the green water below churned up huge waves, revealing a pit over ten meters wide. Although the strike did not hit Xiao Yi Xian directly, it jolted her out of her cultivation state. Damn, Ive been discovered by that old guy! Xiao Yi Xian cursed inwardly, glancing upward before quickly moving to change her position. After several attacks with no effect, the anger on Liu Rulongs face grew even more intense. Im a poison cultivator too; I refuse to believe I cant withstand this poisonous water! At that moment, Liu Rulong made a decision. He believed that if there were treasures here, they were most likely hidden at the bottom of the swamp. If Xiao Yi Xian remained down there, she might find the treasures first. Having made up his mind, Liu Rulong immediately plunged into the green water. However, unlike Xiao Yi Xian, who had fully immersed herself in the poisonous water, Liu Rulong wrapped himself tightly in Dou Qi. Sizzle! Sizzle! After saying this, a large black handprint gradually approached the slow-moving Xiao Yi Xian. Just as the black handprint was within five meters of her, a violent spatial fluctuation suddenly appeared behind Xiao Yi Xian. Under this fluctuation, a vacuum zone formed at the bottom of the green water. When the powerful black handprint reached that zone, it suddenly collapsed, turning into dense black smoke and dissolving into the surrounding green water. Immediately after, within that vacuum zone, a small, delicate foot unexpectedly appeared in the sight of both Xiao Yi Xian and Liu Rulong. Seeing the gradually emerging figure of a silver-haired girl and sensing the indescribable terrifying aura emanating from her, both Xiao Yi Xian and Liu Rulong were filled with intense shock. Could this be the super-powerful being within the relic? Liu Rulong suddenly had this thought. Sigh, I barely escaped one attack, only to fall into an even more terrifying crisis! Xiao Yi Xian sighed heavily in her heart. Xiao Yi Xian also believed that this sudden appearance of the silver-haired girl was a powerful existence within the relic. Additionally, she was much closer to this girl than Liu Rulong. Haha, after so long, I finally have a chance to act! Amid the astonishment of Xiao Yi Xian and Liu Rulong, the silver-haired girl suddenly let out a very childish laugh. But hearing this childish laugh, Liu Rulong didnt dare underestimate her at all. In Liu Rulong''s knowledge, even a Dou Zong expert would find it difficult to possess the means the little girl had just shown by appearing silently from the void. As Xiao Yi Xian was lost in her thoughts, the silver-haired girl suddenly turned around, revealing a row of white teeth and smiling at her. Hello, Sister Xian''er! (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 315: The Netherworld Poison Fire! Chapter 315: The Netherworld Poison Fire! Chapter 315: The Netherworld Poison Fire! Who are you, and why do you call me that? Hearing the silver-haired girls address, Xiao Yi Xians heart was filled with confusion. I am the Void Beast. My master instructed me to follow and protect Sister Xian''er. From the Yunlan Sect to the Demon Beast Mountain Range and then to the Cloud Empire, you handled all the crises on your own, so I never showed myself! The silver-haired girl patiently explained upon seeing Xiao Yi Xians puzzled expression. Hearing the young girl''s words, both Xiao Yi Xian and Liu Rulong were deeply shocked. However, while Xiao Yi Xian was astonished, Liu Rulong felt a surge of intense joy. Void Beast? A powerful shapeshifting magical beast! Who is the master she mentioned? Yunlan Sect... Isnt that a sect in the Jia Ma Empire? This terrifying shapeshifting magical beast and that little poison girl must be from the Jia Ma Empire! From the silver-haired girls words, Liu Rulong quickly grasped several key points. He deduced that a terrifying powerhouse had emerged from the Yunlan Sect of the Jia Ma Empire, and the little poison girl was a disciple sent out for training by this formidable master. The thought of having attempted to kill Xiao Yi Xian just moments ago sent chills down Liu Rulong''s spine, and he instinctively wanted to flee. However, just as Liu Rulong made a move, the silver-haired girl noticed. With a glance at Liu Rulong, the silver-haired girl clenched her small hand lightly, and an invisible force pressed down on him. Ah! Ah! Ah! In a piercing scream, Liu Rulongs body was crushed into a mist of blood, dissolving into the toxic green water. Attacking Sister Xian''er again and again, you deserved to die. After killing Liu Rulong, the girls childish voice carried a note of anger. Seeing the silver-haired girl effortlessly kill Liu Rulong, Xiao Yi Xian''s mouth dropped open in astonishment. She had thought the suddenly appearing silver-haired girl was powerful but hadn''t expected her to be this overwhelmingly strong. A figure like Old Monster Liu, who had dominated the Cloud Empire for nearly a century, was no match for her. Recalling what the silver-haired girl had said earlier, Xiao Yi Xian tentatively asked, Is the master you mentioned my teacher? Mm-hmm! That old monster, itd be best if he ran into some terrifying existence and died! Ma Dayuan grumbled irritably. This time, hearing Ma Dayuan curse Liu Rulong, none of the others spoke up, as they had become accustomed to it. Have you noticed that the temperature here seems off? Despite having a Dou Qi shield for protection, Hou Yunfeng still felt a hint of heat. Yes, the closer we get, it feels like theres a volcano ahead! Elder Cui, a Dou King from the Wan Du Sect, agreed. A volcano? In this poisonous swamp? Hearing their words, Ma Dayuan suddenly stopped to think. Do you think theres a possibility that this place holds the legendary Ghostly Poison Flame? After pondering for a moment, Ma Dayuan shared his guess. Ghostly Poison Flame! The others reacted strongly to Ma Dayuans words. Seeing their astonished expressions, Ma Dayuan continued with a trace of excitement, The Ghostly Poison Flame, ranked twentieth on the Heavenly Flames list, is a flame with poisonous attributes. Its said to originate from ancient poisonous swamps. Though its a flame, it has been infused with poison over millions of years, making it highly toxic. The features of this place resemble those ancient poisonous swamps, and were experiencing unusual heat! Just as Ma Dayuan was excitedly explaining the Ghostly Poison Flame to the others, a cheerful female voice suddenly came from above them. Really? Ma Dayuan, I didnt expect you to know so much! (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 316: The Purple Butterfly! Chapter 316: The Purple Butterfly! Chapter 316: The Purple Butterfly! Upon hearing the sudden voice, Ma Dayuan and his companions quickly looked up. "Little Poison Girl? How did she appear here so silently?" "And who is the silver-haired little girl beside her? Why does she make me feel so uneasy even though she has no aura of cultivation?" Seeing Xiao Yixian and the Void Beast, Ma Dayuan was filled with confusion. Upon closer inspection, he became even more alarmed because the aura emanating from Xiao Yixian seemed several times stronger than when he had encountered her by the ancient city walls. "Little Poison Girl, how dare you show yourself openly? When Old Liu arrives, let''s see where you can run this time!" Huo Yunfeng said arrogantly, relying on his perceived backing. "If you''re waiting for Old Liu, I suggest you go to hell to find him!" Xiao Yixian retorted without hesitation. After Xiao Yixian''s words, the thoughts of the five people were very complicated. "Go to hell to find Old Liu?" "What does the Little Poison Girl mean by that? Could it be that Old Liu is already dead?" "Old Liu is a Dou Emperor expert. Does the Little Poison Girl have the strength to kill Old Liu?" Hearing their muttered discussions, a trace of impatience appeared on Xiao Yixian''s face. The next moment, she directly pointed at them and shouted, "If you don''t want to die, disappear from my sight immediately!" Upon hearing Xiao Yixian''s words, Ma Dayuan wasted no time. He quickly moved along the path they had come, heading out of the swamp. He felt very fortunate that Xiao Yixian didn''t trouble him for their previous encounters. Seeing Ma Dayuan leave so swiftly, the other four didn''t dare linger and followed closely behind him. However, just as Ma Dayuan and his group hadn''t flown far, the temperature in the area suddenly skyrocketed. The thick layer of sludge floating on the surface of the swamp suddenly cracked with numerous wide fissures, and wisps of what appeared to be high-temperature green gas shot towards the sky. "Be careful, Sister Xian''er!" Noticing this anomaly, the Void Beast''s smooth forehead furrowed, and it quickly raised its hand to create a Dou Qi shield around Xiao Yixian. "Whoo..." Although the pale purple butterfly flew extremely fast, the Void Beast''s attack was even faster. In an instant, the silver Dou Qi beam struck the right wing of the pale purple butterfly, causing an indescribable sound to emanate from its mouth. "Wow, Void Beast sister, you''re amazing!" Seeing the Void Beast hit the rapidly flying purple butterfly with one strike, Xiao Yixian immediately turned into a fangirl, constantly praising the Void Beast. "Hehe, Sister Xian''er, it was nothing!" Hearing Xiao Yixian''s praise, the Void Beast rubbed its small hands together and gave a shy smile. "Void Beast sister, even though you hit the Nether Poison Fire, you can''t let your guard down. The most terrifying aspect of the Nether Poison Fire is its poison. If an ordinary person gets even a spark on them, they will die!" Remembering the information she had read about the Nether Poison Fire, Xiao Yixian suddenly reminded her. "Mm!" Hearing Xiao Yixian''s reminder, the Void Beast''s face became serious. The purple butterfly, after being hit on its right wing by the Void Beast, looked even fiercer with its ghostly eyes. "Whoo..." With an indescribable screech, the purple butterfly suddenly started flying in a strange trajectory in the air, spiraling towards Xiao Yixian and the Void Beast again. Its light and agile movements made it seem like it was dancing. "Is it... using a movement Dou Technique?" Seeing the purple butterfly''s current flight path, Xiao Yixian murmured to herself. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 317: The Remnant Soul of the Poison Saint! Chapter 317: The Remnant Soul of the Poison Saint! Chapter 317: The Remnant Soul of the Poison Saint! This time, the speed of the constantly flying purple butterfly in the air not only didn''t slow down but increased significantly. Additionally, its trajectory left behind a trail of scorching purple poison fire. Seeing this scene, the Void Beast''s delicate face became somewhat serious. If she were alone, she wouldn''t fear the purple butterfly at all, but there was also the significantly weaker Xiao Yixian by her side, with only the cultivation level of a Dou King. As the Void Beast was contemplating, the purple butterfly suddenly bypassed her at an extremely tricky angle and charged towards Xiao Yixian''s back. The Void Beast''s worst fear was realized; the Nether Poison Fire indeed targeted the weaker Xiao Yixian. "Ah!" Seeing the purple butterfly charging towards her, Xiao Yixian''s face turned pale with fright. "Sister Xian''er, be careful!" the Void Beast exclaimed. She quickly formed several intricate hand seals. In that critical moment, a silver light flashed around Xiao Yixian, and her body instantly vanished from the spot. This mysterious disappearance left the purple butterfly momentarily bewildered. In that instant, the Void Beast''s small fist, carrying a powerful force, struck towards its body. "Boom!" Despite the small size of the arm, it possessed unimaginable strength. When it struck the purple butterfly, a dazzling purple spark erupted. The surrounding space shattered significantly under the intense energy impact. The Nether Poison Fire, in the form of the purple butterfly, swiftly separated from the Void Beast after taking a heavy hit. Its ghostly, enormous eyes now looked even more wary. "Come on! Little butterfly! Come play with me!" Seeing the fear in the purple butterfly''s eyes, the Void Beast smiled and provocatively beckoned it with her finger. The purple butterfly, enraged by this taunt, let out a screech. It then shot a thick purple beam, about the width of an adult''s thigh, from its mouth towards the Void Beast. The high temperature within the purple beam seemed to scorch the very space it passed through. The next moment, just as the purple beam was about to hit the Void Beast, she vanished from the spot in the same mysterious manner as Xiao Yixian earlier. When she reappeared, she was already above the purple butterfly. "You''re too slow. How can you hit me?" With a taunting, childish voice, another white, tender fist slammed into the purple butterfly. Simultaneously, a small, white figure suddenly appeared in the central area of the swamp, at the bottom of the green water. This place was at least five hundred meters deep. "It seems the Void Beast was worried about me getting hurt and used special means to bring me to the bottom of the swamp," Xiao Yixian murmured as she observed her surroundings. While Xiao Yixian was on full alert, a figure in a green robe with a wrinkled face and eerie green eyes suddenly emerged from the skeleton. "Haha, I never thought a fellow Woeful Poison Body would come here. Finally, someone worthy of inheriting my legacy," the green-robed elder laughed loudly as he spoke to Xiao Yixian. Originally, Xiao Yixian came here with the intent of finding treasure, but now that the cave''s owner was still present, those thoughts naturally vanished. Moreover, the green-robed elder referred to himself as "this Saint," which aroused Xiao Yixian''s suspicions. "Could this be a terrifying existence at the Dou Saint level?" "Senior, I accidentally intruded here. If I have disturbed you, please forgive me," Xiao Yixian said respectfully, cupping her hands before turning to leave the cave. "Wait!" As Xiao Yixian turned, the elder''s voice stopped her. Under the weight of this ancient voice, the space in front of Xiao Yixian seemed to freeze, preventing her from taking another step. Blocking Xiao Yixian''s path, the green-robed elder''s eyes shone with a brilliant light as he said softly, "Little girl, don''t you want to receive my inheritance?" PSRecommending a friend''s book: "Selling Jars in Battle Through the Heavens, Starting with Yun Yun Breaking Through Dou Ancestor!" In the Heavens Jar Shop, you can get any item. Yun Yun starts by getting a high-level experience pill, directly breaking through to Dou Ancestor! Every jar sold earns the protagonist a special jar. The protagonist has already opened a two-world traversal door, traveling through Perfect World... More exciting plots await your reading. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 318: The Poison Saint’s Reversal! The Void Beast Gets Hurt! Chapter 318: The Poison Saints Reversal! The Void Beast Gets Hurt! Chapter 318: The Poison Saint''s Reversal! The Void Beast Gets Hurt! "Little girl, don''t you want to receive my inheritance?" Hearing the elder''s words, Xiao Yixian, after trying several times and realizing she couldn''t break through the invisible energy barrier in front of her, reluctantly turned around. "Who is senior, and why is only a remnant soul left?" Xiao Yixian asked, trying to appear calm. Seeing Xiao Yixian turn around, the green-robed elder smiled warmly and continued, "My name is Duan Tianchan. People call me the Poison Saint Tianchan, but now, there are probably only a handful of people who remember my name." As he spoke, the elder''s face took on a nostalgic expression, and he sighed, "I was gravely injured by a powerful enemy back then. My body was near collapse, and even my soul suffered irreversible damage. I fled here in a panic, and now thousands of years have passed. I don''t know how long this remnant soul can last, but fortunately, I can see another Woeful Poison Body today, so my legacy can be passed on!" After hearing the Poison Saint Tianchan''s story, Xiao Yixian was deeply shocked and asked curiously, "Senior, since you are the Poison Saint, how terrifying must the person who severely injured you be!" "That person was indeed terrifying. If he hadn''t thought I was already dead, I wouldn''t have had the chance to return here!" The Poison Saint Tianchan''s eyes still held a trace of fear when he mentioned his old enemy. "That person was Xiao Xuan, the leader of the Xiao Clan, one of the ancient Eight Clans. He was incredibly talented and nearly reached the Quasi-God level at the time. However, he was extremely arrogant and never considered others. Many saints of that time resented him. I was also overly ambitious, thinking I could dominate the world with my poison techniques, but I couldn''t withstand even three moves from him before suffering a crushing defeat!" The Poison Saint Tianchan sighed. "Not even three moves from you, senior? What are the ancient Eight Clans? And who is this Xiao Xuan from the Xiao Clan?" Xiao Yixian asked, surprised by the unfamiliar terms. Seeing the confusion on Xiao Yixian''s face, the Poison Saint Tianchan said gently, "Little girl, these are things beyond your reach for now. Once you accept my inheritance and your cultivation improves, you will naturally learn about their terror!" Inheritance? Hearing the Poison Saint Tianchan''s words, Xiao Yixian''s brows furrowed slightly. She then respectfully bowed to the Poison Saint Tianchan and said, "Senior, I appreciate your kindness, but I already have a master and will never take another." Hearing Xiao Yixian''s words, a shadow of darkness briefly flashed in the Poison Saint Tianchan''s eyes, but when Xiao Yixian looked up, his face instantly wore a smile. "Haha, little girl, do you understand the decision you are making? Being a disciple of a saint is a dream many people have but never achieve. Are you sure you don''t want to reconsider?" The Poison Saint Tianchan tempted her again. "Senior, please don''t say any more. I will never take another master." Xiao Yixian shook her head firmly, rejecting the offer. Could someone so ruthless as to kill countless innocent people be genuinely kind enough to pass on his lifelong inheritance to a complete stranger? "Do not be ungrateful, junior! I have been very lenient with you!" Seeing Xiao Yixian disobeying him, a fierce expression gradually appeared on the Poison Saint Tianchan''s aged face. The next moment, his remnant soul suddenly shot from the throne towards Xiao Yixian. "Sister Xian''er!" Outside the seal at the passage entrance, the Void Beast couldn''t hear the conversation inside, but when the Poison Saint Tianchan rapidly approached Xiao Yixian, her heart tightened to the extreme. With a loud shout, the Void Beast''s body suddenly radiated a bright silver light. In the next moment, her small figure broke through the barrier at the passage entrance, appearing ten meters in front of Xiao Yixian and blocking the Poison Saint Tianchan''s remnant soul. "Get out of my way!" Seeing the Void Beast suddenly appear in front of Xiao Yixian, the Poison Saint Tianchan''s remnant soul let out a furious roar. Under this terrifying roar, the Void Beast''s body was struck with immense force, sending her flying back over ten meters and crashing heavily onto the ground beside Xiao Yixian. A mouthful of bright red blood spilled from her mouth. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 319: Seizing the Body! Gu He’s Fury! Chapter 319: Seizing the Body! Gu Hes Fury! Chapter 319: Seizing the Body! Gu Hes Fury! "Void Beast!" Seeing the Void Beast injured, Xiao Yixian''s heart leaped into her throat. As she crouched down in concern to check on the Void Beast''s injuries, the little girl grinned and said, "Sister Xian''er, I''m fine. This little wound is nothing for us magical beasts!" After saying this, the Void Beast''s body flashed with silver light, and she instantly stood up, vigilantly watching the approaching Poison Saint Tianchan. Seeing the little girl trying to act tough, Xiao Yixian felt a pang of sorrow as she wiped the blood from her mouth. Then she stood up, turned, and shouted at the approaching Poison Saint Tianchan, "What exactly do you want? If you just want me to accept your inheritance, why did you hurt my friend?" At this moment, Xiao Yixian no longer addressed the Poison Saint Tianchan as "senior," and her tone was filled with cold disdain. "Hehe, little girl, I just want you to accept my inheritance. Why is it so difficult?" Despite Xiao Yixian''s disrespectful tone, the Poison Saint Tianchan did not get angry but instead showed a kindly smile. "Old man, don''t you dare have any bad ideas about my Sister Xian''er!" the Void Beast said, stepping forward and pulling Xiao Yixian behind her. The sight of the half-height little girl shielding Xiao Yixian created a strong contrast. Pulling Xiao Yixian behind her, the Void Beast whispered, "Sister Xian''er, this old man looks untrustworthy. You mustn''t agree to his demands!" "Yes, Sister will listen to you. I won''t accept any so-called inheritance," Xiao Yixian replied calmly. "Have you really made up your mind?" On hearing Xiao Yixian''s and the Void Beast''s conversation, the Poison Saint Tianchan''s kindly smile vanished, replaced by a very serious expression. "Yes, no matter what happens, I will not accept your so-called inheritance today!" Xiao Yixian''s attitude was very firm, leaving no room for negotiation. "Haha! Haha..." As Xiao Yixian finished speaking, the Poison Saint Tianchan suddenly laughed loudly, "Originally, I intended for your soul to voluntarily leave your body for me to possess. Now, it seems I''ll have to resort to forcibly taking over." "Possession?" "So, your plan for me to accept the inheritance had ulterior motives, and there must be something that would make my soul leave my body unknowingly." Seeing the Poison Saint Tianchan''s true intentions revealed, Xiao Yixian felt a mix of anger and fear. If her body were to be taken over by such an old man, she would rather destroy it. On the other side, the Poison Saint Tianchan watched the twisting space in disbelief, his sword-wielding hand frozen in mid-air. "Is this a spatial talisman? What is this girl''s background, carrying such an item..." While the Poison Saint Tianchan was in shock, a graceful white figure slowly emerged from the distorted space. Sensing the energy fluctuation nearby, the projection of Gu He casually waved his hand, dispersing the black hand that the Void Beast had been desperately resisting. "Master!" "Master!" Seeing Gu He actually appear, both Xiao Yixian and the Void Beast excitedly rushed over. At this moment, both Xiao Yixian and the Void Beast were smiling joyfully, their white teeth showing. However, traces of dried tears still lingered on their faces. "Xian''er, tell me what happened?" Looking at the faint trace of tears on Xiao Yixian''s face, Gu He''s expression remained gentle, but his tone carried a hint of coldness. "Master, the remnant soul of the Poison Saint Tianchan just tried to seize Sister Xian''er''s body!" the Void Beast quickly answered upon hearing Gu He''s question. "Seize her body?" Hearing the little Void Beast''s words, Gu He''s eyes filled with boundless anger as he glared at the remnant soul of the Poison Saint Tianchan. (End of this chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 320: Devouring Soul Technique! Swallowing the Poison Saint’s Soul! Chapter 320: Devouring Soul Technique! Swallowing the Poison Saints Soul! Chapter 320: Devouring Soul Technique! Swallowing the Poison Saint''s Soul! Sensing the aura emanating from Gu He, the Poison Saint Tianchan could tell that Gu He was at the mid-level Dou Venerate stage. In the past, someone of mid-level Dou Venerate strength wouldn''t have even warranted a glance from the Poison Saint Tianchan. However, times had changed. Now, he was merely a remnant soul barely surviving in the world, his strength a mere shadow of its former glory. At this moment, seeing the fiery rage in Gu He''s eyes, the Poison Saint Tianchan couldn''t help but feel a bit apprehensive. He hurriedly said, "My friend, since this little girl is your disciple, let''s just forget about today''s intrusion into my cave." "Haha! Forget about it?" Hearing the Poison Saint Tianchan''s words, Gu He let out an angry laugh and said, "You''re being far too naive!" "My friend, your disciple is standing here unharmed before you. Do you really want to make an enemy of a Dou Saint over this?" The Poison Saint Tianchan''s tone carried a hint of threat. "Make an enemy of you?" "With just a remnant soul, you dare to speak such words to me? Even if a true Dou Saint were standing before me today, I would still kill them!" Hearing the Poison Saint Tianchan''s threat, Gu He sneered. Without giving the Poison Saint Tianchan a chance to speak, Gu He''s figure flashed rapidly. In the next instant, he delivered a straightforward punch aimed directly at the Poison Saint Tianchan''s face. Seeing Gu He strike without hesitation, the Poison Saint Tianchan was shocked. Instinctively, he threw a punch to block Gu He. "Boom!" As Gu He''s simple punch connected, a violent force erupted, causing the Poison Saint Tianchan''s soul to tremble violently. His soul became even more ethereal. "If that''s all the strength you have, then die!" Having gauged the Poison Saint Tianchan''s current strength, Gu He decided not to waste any more time. In an instant, his body transformed into a streak of silver lightning, almost instantaneously appearing behind the Poison Saint Tianchan. "Capture Soul!" Before the Poison Saint Tianchan could react, Gu He''s outstretched hand formed a deep, black vortex. With the vortex''s appearance, a powerful suction force exploded from Gu He''s hand. Under the pull of the deep vortex, the Poison Saint Tianchan realized in horror that he had no power to resist. "This... this is a Soul Clan technique. You''re from the Soul Clan..." "Ah! Ah! Ah!" Amidst the Poison Saint Tianchan''s anguished screams, his remnant soul was continuously transformed into pure soul power and devoured by Gu He. Although the Poison Saint Tianchan was merely a remnant soul, the soul power contained within was equivalent to that of an ordinary peak Dou Venerate. After finishing the devouring process, Gu He began rapidly absorbing this soul power. Moments later, Gu He had fully assimilated the soul power of the Poison Saint Tianchan''s remnant soul, and a flood of foreign memories surged into his mind. From the Poison Saint Tianchan''s memories, Gu He saw two incredibly terrifying figures. One was a scholarly-looking middle-aged man, the Hun Tian Di, and the other was Xiao Xuan, the ancestor of the Xiao Clan. Xiao Xuan of that era was truly a prodigy. Even at his peak, the Poison Saint Tianchan, a five-star Dou Saint, was severely injured by Xiao Xuan with a single strike, nearly shattering both his soul and body. From this information, Gu He not only learned about the ancient Xiao Clan but also uncovered many secrets within the Soul Clan. Further delving into the memories, Gu He discovered the heinous act of the Poison Saint Tianchan slaughtering nearly a million ordinary people and some details about the Nether Poison Fire. The final memories included events after Xiao Yixian entered the cave. Seeing the Poison Saint Tianchan''s attempt to possess Xiao Yixian filled Gu He with renewed anger. He suddenly felt that simply killing the Poison Saint Tianchan might have been too merciful. After fully reading the Poison Saint Tianchan''s memories, Gu He''s mind was filled with countless Dou Techniques and cultivation methods, as well as insights into these techniques. Among the memories was the Tianchan Poison Codex, which contained methods for creating countless deadly poisons, some of which could even pose a significant threat to Dou Saints. These poison concoction methods, if taught to Xiao Yixian, could drastically enhance her strength. However, since Gu He was merely a projection, he would have to wait until Xiao Yixian returned to impart this knowledge to her. (End of this chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 321: Capturing the Netherworld Poison Flame! Chapter 321: Capturing the Netherworld Poison Flame! Chapter 321: Capturing the Netherworld Poison Flame! After completely extracting the memory of the Sky Poison Saint, Gu He returned his focus, noticing the surprised expression on Xiao Yixians face. With a gentle smile, he asked, Hehe, Xian''er, are you frightened by your teachers strange methods? Or perhaps, you think my methods are too evil? Ah! Hearing Gu He''s question, Xiao Yixian was initially stunned, but she quickly shook her head and solemnly said, Teacher, your method of devouring souls is indeed somewhat eerie, but Xian''er is not scared at all. Since leaving the Yun Lan Sect and coming to the Jia Ma Empire, Xiao Yixian had seen many dark sides of the world and had participated in numerous battles herself. She had even witnessed the disgusting sight of a million corpses. So, the scene of devouring souls was relatively mild for her. Moreover, Xian''er believes that all power in this world is neither evil nor righteous. What truly determines its nature is the person who uses it! If a person has evil intentions, even a knife or a sword can turn him into a demon! Xiao Yixian continued. Exactly, exactly! Sister Xian''er is absolutely right! The Void Beast clapped its hands in agreement from the side. After hearing Xiao Yixians words, Gu Hes smile grew even warmer. He sighed, Indeed, Xian''er, it brings me great comfort to hear your understanding! The most important aspect of power is the character of the person wielding it! Thank you for the praise, Teacher! Xiao Yixian said, her face lighting up with joy at Gu He''s compliment. After that, Xiao Yixian hesitated a bit before saying, Teacher, does summoning you here mean Ive failed the mission? Seeing her expression, Gu He chuckled, Summoning me is related to your safety and does not conflict with the mission I assigned. Really! I thought summoning you here meant the mission failed, but this way, I can still complete the remaining tasks! Xiao Yixians face showed relief after hearing Gu He''s answer. Xian''er, I am only here as a projection and cannot stay for long. Finish your tasks as soon as possible and prepare to return to the sect! Gu He suddenly said. Mm! I will complete the tasks and return as quickly as possible! Hearing Gu He''s words, Xiao Yixian nodded quickly in agreement. However, in her heart, she was very curious about Gu He''s mention of projection. Upon arrival, Xiao Yixian pondered for a moment and then guessed, Master, could it be that the Netherworld Poison Flame has dived into the underground dark river? Exactly! Gu He smiled faintly before launching two terrifying beams of Dou Qi towards the ground. Boom! Boom! With two earth-shattering explosions, the broad streets of the ancient city split open, creating two enormous cracks several meters wide and tens of meters deep. Soon, a stream of highly toxic green water began to gush from the cracks, and from the fissure near the green water lake, a purple figure swiftly emerged. As the purple figure attempted to dive into another section of the dark river, Gu He transformed into a silver lightning bolt, reaching the purple figure at an unimaginable speed. Woo... Startled by Gu He''s sudden appearance, the purple figure let out an indescribable cry. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 322: Abyssal Demon Flame! Chapter 322: Abyssal Demon Flame! Chapter 322: Abyssal Demon Flame! Stay here! Approaching the purple figure, Gu He shouted in a low voice, quickly forming several mysterious hand seals. As these seals were completed, purple flames surged from his palm, weaving into a massive purple fire net that enveloped the purple butterfly formed by the Netherworld Poison Flame. Although projection magic couldn''t project Gu Hes treasures, his innate divine fire had fused with his body, becoming a part of him, and could naturally be projected with him. At this moment, under the net of his innate divine fire, which was a fusion of the Undying Fire and the Nine Nether Flame, the Netherworld Poison Flame had no resistance and was pulled out of the giant fissure by Gu He. Wow, Master, you''re amazing! Xiao Yixian exclaimed excitedly, seeing Gu He subdue the powerful Netherworld Poison Flame in an instant. Xian''er, the most potent aspect of this Netherworld Poison Flame is its inherent toxicity. Ordinarily, even if someone could subdue it, they wouldnt dare to consume or refine it. But you are different. With your Woeful Poison Body, you are naturally able to counteract its toxicity. Moreover, the Netherworld Poison Flame, unlike other flames full of extreme yang energy, won''t conflict with your poison Dou Qi. Today, I will extract the essence of the Netherworld Poison Flame for you to consume and refine! As Gu He spoke, he continued to operate the Divine Fire Technique. Under the fierce attack of the Divine Fire Technique, the gigantic purple butterfly began to struggle and howl, the sound resembling a plea for mercy. However, Gu He remained unmoved by these sounds, his expression unchanged as he continued to form mysterious hand seals. In just a moment, the three-meter-large purple butterfly began to tremble, and a small purple butterfly, about the size of a newborn''s hand, flew out from its body. Seeing the small purple butterfly appear, Gu He quickly captured it from the fire net and handed it directly to Xiao Yixian. Is this the essence of the Netherworld Poison Flame? Xiao Yixian gazed at the small, crystalline-winged purple butterfly in Gu Hes hand, her clear eyes filled with curiosity. Driven by this curiosity, she slowly reached out to touch the butterfly''s wings. Instantly, a scorching pain seared her fingertips, causing her to quickly retract her hand. Seeing Xiao Yixian get burned by the purple butterfly, Gu He reminded her, Xian''er! The essence of the Netherworld Poison Flame may be small, but it has accumulated over a long period. Its temperature is as formidable as its toxicity. You must not touch it directly or consume it without proper preparation. Understood, Master! Heeding Gu Hes warning, Xiao Yixian immediately enveloped her hand in a grayish Dou Qi. With the protection of her poison Dou Qi, she began to carefully grasp the small purple butterfly. Lastly, remember to take the Blood Lotus Pill I gave you before when you start refining the exotic flame. After giving these instructions, Gu He''s projection suddenly vanished without warning, leaving Xiao Yixian and the Void Beast staring at the empty space. Master... is gone! What kind of technique is this projection! Seeing Gu He suddenly disappear, Xiao Yixian exclaimed softly, feeling a mixture of amazement and curiosity. Xian''er, sister, Master has left again. When are we going back? The Void Beast, seeing Gu He disappear, felt a bit saddened. Soon, very soon! Hearing the Void Beasts words, Xiao Yixian also felt a longing to return, but she still had to complete the tasks assigned by Gu He. Hold onto the essence of the Netherworld Poison Flame for me. I need to go train at the bottom of the swamp and hopefully reach the Dou Emperor realm quickly! Xiao Yixian handed the small purple butterfly to the Void Beast, expressing her hopes. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 323: Xiao Yixian Breaks Through! Devouring the Poison Flame! Chapter 323: Xiao Yixian Breaks Through! Devouring the Poison Flame! Chapter 323: Xiao Yixian Breaks Through! Devouring the Poison Flame! With the help of the Void Beast, Xiao Yixian quickly arrived at the entrance of the eerie green cave tunnel, the very center of the toxic swamp. Sitting down, Xiao Yixian withdrew the Dou Qi barrier around her and immediately began to absorb the toxins in the green water. The toxins in the green water penetrated Xiao Yixian''s skin, invading her body and causing her whole body to emit a green glow. In no time, the same phenomenon as before occurred during her cultivation. Above Xiao Yixian''s head, the green water started to spin, forming a whirlpool nearly ten meters in size, continuously drawing toxins from the distant green water. As her aura rose to the level of a seven-star Dou King, the surrounding poisonous green water began to take on a black hue. The concentrated toxins here had reached a level that could instantly kill a Dou Emperor expert, and even a Dou Venerate wouldn''t last long. Yet, Xiao Yixian''s expression became increasingly content. Her cultivation method continuously operated, absorbing the now blackened toxins into her bodys meridians and flesh, rapidly converting them into pure Dou Qi that flowed throughout her body. In just one day, Xiao Yixian''s cultivation had soared to the level of a nine-star Dou King. This rapid cultivation speed left the Void Beast, who was hovering above the swamp, stunned. Although demon beasts had higher starting points, stronger bodies, and longer lifespans, their cultivation speed was much slower than humans. Even though the Void Beast had transformed into human form, it still felt a huge gap. While the Void Beast was in shock, below in the swamp, the poisonous water around Xiao Yixian had completely turned black. The massive whirlpool above her began to draw the energy of heaven and earth from this relic space. Thus, a strange phenomenon occurred. Above Xiao Yixian''s head, there were two gigantic whirlpools: one, a black water whirlpool in the swamp, gathering toxins; the other, an energy whirlpool drawing vast amounts of heaven and earth energy, overlapping the black water whirlpool. When the energy whirlpool appeared in the swamp''s sky, the Void Beast realized that Xiao Yixian was preparing to break through to the Dou Emperor realm. Xian''er sister, you must succeed! Sensing the strain on Xiao Yixian''s face, the Void Beast couldnt help but worry. Woo... Just then, the small green butterfly held by the Void Beast let out a strange cry. Having evolved to this level, the Netherworld Poison Flame had gained some intelligence. It knew how to strengthen itself and avoid danger. Its cry was a plea for Xiao Yixian to fail in her breakthrough. At the center of the explosion, a large gray mist began to rise, filled with a deathly aura that deterred any thought of approaching. Finally, within the gray mist, a white figure with green Dou Qi wings slowly ascended. Yay, she did it! Seeing the white figure emerge from the water, the Void Beast''s heart finally relaxed, and her worried expression turned into one of joy. Sister Xian''er, you scared me to death, the Void Beast said, tugging on Xiao Yixians dress with a fearful look. Seeing the expression on the Void Beasts face, Xiao Yixian felt a warm rush in her heart. She patted the Void Beasts head and said softly, It''s my fault for worrying you, little sister Void. I wont do anything so dangerous next time! After comforting the Void Beast, Xiao Yixian turned her gaze to the essence of the Netherworld Poison Flame. Sensing Xiao Yixians gaze, the small purple butterfly shrank its neck in fear. It could sense that one of the auras emanating from Xiao Yixian was very similar to its former master, the Sky Poison Saint. Little one, surrender to me willingly! Having broken through to the Dou Emperor realm, Xiao Yixians confidence soared. She wanted to immediately devour and refine the Netherworld Poison Flame. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 324: Devouring! Chapter 324: Devouring! Chapter 324: Devouring! Although Xiao Yixian spoke with a light tone, her heart was still filled with tension. After all, devouring a heavenly flame was extremely perilous, with the slightest mistake leading to a fate worse than death. After speaking, Xiao Yixian lightly tapped her storage ring, producing a small transparent jade bottle. Inside the bottle lay a blood-red pill the size of a dragon''s eye, lying quietly. Through the reflection on the bottle''s surface, faint shadows could be seen within the pill, and with a slight shake, it seemed as though there was liquid moving inside. This round, blood-red pill was one of the essential items for devouring a heavenly flame: the Blood Lotus Pill! After taking out the Blood Lotus Pill, Xiao Yixian slightly moved her finger, and a gray stone, slightly smaller than a ping pong ball, floated in front of her. This gray stone, smooth and jade-like without any blemishes, had a faint blue glow in its core, gently writhing like a tiny, living worm. This precious item was something Gu He had obtained from Protector Eagle and gifted to Xiao Yixian before she left the Jia Ma Empire. It was incredibly valuable, something even the noble families of Central Plains might not possess. Void sister, come with me to the bottom of the swamp! After preparing these two items, Xiao Yixian and the Void Beast returned to the swamp''s depths, arriving at the spot where she had been cultivating before. Devouring a heavenly flame consumed a vast amount of Dou Qi, and Xiao Yixian chose this place because the toxic water could continuously replenish her spent Dou Qi. After sitting down cross-legged, Xiao Yixian curved her palm, drawing the small jade bottle into her hand. Tilting the bottle, a round, dragon eye-sized pill with a faint glow rolled into her hand. Holding the Blood Lotus Pill, Xiao Yixian brought it to her nose and took a sniff. A peculiar scent wafted to her nostrils, the cool sensation causing even her soul to shiver slightly. Staring intently at the fifth-grade pill, Xiao Yixian suddenly clenched her jade hand and closed her eyes, stuffing the pill into her mouth. As soon as the Blood Lotus Pill entered her mouth, it transformed into a slightly cold energy that rapidly spread through her body''s meridians, eventually forming layers of blood membranes that seeped into her meridians and bones. As the membranes penetrated, Xiao Yixian''s body began to tremble violently. Threads of blood oozed from her pores, covering her body in a layer of crimson blood in an instant, making her look terrifying. As Xiao Yixian''s Dou Qi was rapidly consumed, she decided to remove the Dou Qi barrier around her, allowing the toxic and hot black water to envelop her body. Instantly, Xiao Yixian''s Dou Qi began to recover rapidly, at a speed even a sixth-grade recovery pill couldn''t match. Supported by this energy, Xiao Yixian''s blood-membrane-covered hand grabbed the approaching purple butterfly. As soon as Xiao Yixian held the purple butterfly in her palm, the blood-colored keratin layer on her hand began to melt under the intense heat. However, as it melted, the power of the Blood Lotus Pill within her body continuously released cold energy. This energy traveled through her meridians and swiftly repaired the melting blood-colored keratin layer on her arm. Eventually, the melting and repairing process balanced out. Despite fully grasping the essence of the Netherworld Poison Flame, Xiao Yixian hesitated. Devouring a heavenly flame required directly absorbing it into the body, the most dangerous step in the process. Regardless of how sturdy a person''s body was, the inside remained the most vulnerable part. Within the body, even the slightest foreign object could cause extreme distress, let alone a heavenly flame with destructive power. Recalling the information she had read, Xiao Yixian''s hand holding the purple butterfly trembled slightly, a hint of hesitation appearing in her dark eyes. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 325: Success! Xiao Yixian’s Power Soars! Chapter 325: Success! Xiao Yixians Power Soars! Chapter 325: Success! Xiao Yixian''s Power Soars! After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Yixian slowly raised her arm, bringing the purple butterfly to a hand''s width from her lips. Sister Xian''er, are you really going to swallow that thing to refine it? the Void Beast asked in astonishment upon seeing Xiao Yixian''s actions. Yes. Hearing the Void Beast''s question, Xiao Yixian nodded lightly with her lips slightly parted and said, The most dangerous aspect of this flame is its poison, but I have the Woeful Poison Body, so I''m not afraid of it. Besides, I just advanced to the Dou Emperor realm, so I should be able to handle it! Xiao Yixian''s words were meant to reassure the Void Beast and bolster her own confidence. After saying this, Xiao Yixian''s previously trembling hand suddenly steadied. She then decisively threw the purple butterfly into her open mouth. As soon as the purple butterfly entered her mouth, Xiao Yixian closed her lips tightly. Simultaneously, her body convulsed violently as if struck by lightning, and her face turned deathly pale. Sister Xian''er... Seeing Xiao Yixian''s sudden change, the Void Beast became extremely worried but remained silent out of understanding. Xiao Yixian endured the searing pain within her body and slowly closed her eyes, directing her focus inward. As her mind sank into her body, a misty, fog-covered sensory interface appeared in Xiao Yixian''s consciousness. Within her many meridians, the purple butterfly had disintegrated into tiny streams of purple flames. These flames, filled with terrifying energy, rampaged through her meridians, incinerating anything in their path almost instantly. Despite the protective blood membrane formed by the Blood Lotus Pill within her meridians, the intense heat still seeped through. Although this residual heat wasn''t extremely hot, it was devastating to the body''s fragile meridians. Under the scorching heat, Xiao Yixian''s once sturdy meridians twisted like dried twigs, looking extremely grotesque and terrifying. The excruciating pain caused by the twisted meridians made Xiao Yixian''s body twitch intermittently, her face devoid of any color. Fortunately, Gu He had often used high-grade medicinal liquids to temper Xiao Yixian''s body, enhancing her physical strength and pain tolerance far beyond that of ordinary people. Despite the agony, Xiao Yixian did not utter a sound. Soon, another day passed. The consciousness of the Netherworld Poison Flame within Xiao Yixian''s body had been completely obliterated. It now followed the operation of her cultivation technique, and the terrifying heat began to subside, becoming incredibly docile. Under this gentle power, Xiao Yixian''s previously injured body and meridians started to recover rapidly. Her physical strength greatly surpassed what it had been before devouring the Netherworld Poison Flame. Having reached this point, the process of refining the Netherworld Poison Flame was 90% complete. The remaining 10% required the use of the advanced Na Ling to fully integrate the flame. Sister Xian''er, you did it... Seeing this, the Void Beast couldn''t help but wipe the sweat from her face with her small arms, relieved after the tense ordeal. At that moment, Xiao Yixian''s eyes snapped open. She raised her hand and absorbed the hovering gray stone into her body. Immediately, a layer of deep purple flames surged from Xiao Yixian''s body, tightly enveloping her entire form. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 326: Repairing the Relic’s Opening! Chapter 326: Repairing the Relics Opening! Chapter 326: Repairing the Relic''s Opening! Sister Xian''er, you did it... Seeing this, the Void Beast couldn''t help but wipe the sweat off her face from the tension. At that moment, Xiao Yixian, sitting cross-legged at the bottom of the swamp, suddenly opened her eyes and absorbed the gray stone floating in front of her. Immediately, a deep purple flame surged from within Xiao Yixian, enveloping her entire body like a cocoon of purple fire. As the purple fire cocoon appeared, the surrounding temperature became increasingly terrifying, causing the toxic black water to evaporate at an accelerating rate. Even the Void Beast had to treat this intense heat with seriousness. Under the Void Beasts watchful eyes, ripples of energy began to rapidly appear on the previously quiet surface of the purple fire cocoon. Soon, a powerful aura exploded from within. Sensing this aura, the smile on the Void Beast''s face grew even wider. Wonderful, Sister Xian''er''s power has broken through again. With that, the Void Beast happily waited nearby. The energy ripples on the purple fire cocoon intensified until faint cracks appeared on its surface, spreading until the entire cocoon was covered. It was as if the cocoon was about to hatch into a butterfly. Crack! A crisp sound echoed at the bottom of the swamp. A crack suddenly opened on the surface of the purple fire cocoon, and a burst of intense heat shot out, creating a vacuum-like path through the toxic black water. As the crack appeared, the purple fire cocoon began to tremble violently. After a moment, the cocoon exploded with a thunderous roar. The explosion created a massive crater nearly a hundred meters wide and fifty meters deep at the bottom of the swamp. The dispersed soil turned the swamp water murky, and a wave hundreds of meters high was sent crashing above the swamp. The Void Beast, standing less than ten meters from the cocoon, was unaffected by the terrifying energy of the explosion. The energy turned into wisps of purple smoke upon reaching her, causing no harm. You can repair the rift! Xiao Yixian was initially shocked by the Void Beast''s claim. However, recalling how the Void Beast had transported her to the bottom of the swamp in an instant and had passed through the Sky Poison Saint''s spatial seal, she began to understand. In that case, let''s rely on you! Xiao Yixian smiled gently. Suddenly, a pair of purple wings sprouted from her back. These wings were completely different from the Dou Qi wings she had when she broke through to the Dou King, resembling the delicate wings of a dancing butterfly. Seeing the purple flame wings on Xiao Yixians back, the Void Beast''s large eyes gleamed with admiration. Sister Xian''er, your wings are so beautiful! If you like them, you can try them too! Xiao Yixian replied with a faint smile. With a thought, a streak of purple flame shot from her hand to the Void Beasts back, quickly forming a pair of purple flame wings. Ha ha, theyre so pretty! Seeing the sparkling purple flame wings on her back, the Void Beast spun around in delight. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 327: Repairing the Relic’s Rift! Initiating the Disciple Recruitment Plan! Chapter 327: Repairing the Relics Rift! Initiating the Disciple Recruitment Plan! Chapter 327: Repairing the Relic''s Rift! Initiating the Disciple Recruitment Plan! Above the vast primordial forest, a green figure and a black figure were swiftly flying toward the edge of the relic. Suddenly, the sound of rushing wind came from behind them. Sensing this anomaly, the green-robed man and the black-clad man turned their heads sharply. It''s... the Poison Maiden! The Poison Maidens speed is actually this fast... Upon seeing that one of the rapidly approaching figures was Xiao Yixian, Hua An, the Sect Master of the Demon Poison Sect, and Huang Dahai both looked utterly surprised. At this moment, Hua An''s feelings were extremely complex. He had previously wanted to take Xiao Yixian as a disciple, but before he could, her strength had already grown to match his own. Before they noticed Xiao Yixian and the Void Beast, the fast-flying Xiao Yixian had already spotted them and slowed down, coming to an abrupt stop less than ten meters away from the two men. That man lost an arm! Could it have happened in a battle with Liu Rulong? Seeing Hua An missing an arm, Xiao Yixian felt conflicted. Before entering the ancient city, Hua An had helped Xiao Yixian by holding off Liu Rulong. Although she later realized that the Void Beast was secretly protecting her, Hua Ans efforts were still significant. Hence, she felt genuine sympathy for Hua An losing an arm. While the two men were in a daze, Xiao Yixian suddenly asked Huang Dahai, Huang Dahai, are you and your sect master planning to leave? Huang Dahai glanced at Hua An and then replied with a complex expression, We are indeed planning to leave. The sect master was severely injured in his battle with Liu Rulong and is unable to compete for the treasures in the relic. Staying here would be dangerous if we encounter Liu Rulong again. Dont worry, Liu Rulong is dead. Your masters grudge has been avenged! Xiao Yixian said, confirming that Hua Ans arm was lost to Liu Rulong. Ha ha, that old monster Liu is dead! Losing an arm doesn''t seem so bad now! Hua Ans pale face flushed with color as he laughed heartily upon hearing this news. At that moment, Xiao Yixian turned to the Void Beast and said, Void sister, they''re flying so slowly. It will take forever for them to leave this forest. Why don''t we give them a lift? Sure! The Void Beast nodded obediently. Without waiting for Hua An and Huang Dahai to react, a silver energy burst from her hand, enveloping the two men. With a slight dizziness, Hua An and Huang Dahai found themselves dragged into a freshly created spatial rift by the Void Beast. Even Her Majesty the Queen couldnt break the seal? The Great Elder was puzzled by Yue Meis response. Under Gu Hes seal, Queen Medusa couldnt emit even a trace of her aura. Hidden in the high clouds, she was just a tiny red dot, unnoticed by anyone. Therefore, the serpent leaders hadnt realized that Queen Medusa was trapped, even after two or three days had passed. Upon hearing the Great Elder mention Queen Medusa, Yue Mei and Mo Ba Si exchanged nervous glances and hesitantly said, Great Elder, Her Majesty pursued the strong cultivator from Stone Desert City and hasnt returned since... It''s been three days. That strong cultivator from Stone Desert City has held off Her Majesty for this long? The Great Elders face showed shock. In her experience, the Jia Ma Empire had only two or three Dou Emperor experts. Even if a Dou Venerate appeared, they shouldnt be a match for Queen Medusa. As the Great Elder pondered, a powerful aura suddenly swept over the Serpent Tribes camp. Feeling this overwhelming aura, all the serpent warriors, including the leaders and the Great Elder herself, felt a surge of dread, staring in shock in the same direction. After a while, Mo Ba Si, recalling the terrifying aura that had appeared days ago during Yue Meis rescue, quickly said to the Great Elder, Great Elder, a few days ago, when Her Majesty pursued the strong cultivator from Stone Desert City, a similar terrifying aura appeared! What could the Jia Ma Empire be hiding... Her Majesty must not be harmed. The Great Elder silently prayed upon hearing Mo Ba Sis words. As she prayed, the terrifying aura suddenly vanished. High in the sky where Queen Medusa was trapped, a scholarly-looking middle-aged man appeared. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 328: Performing a Duet! Queen Medusa’s Shock! Chapter 328: Performing a Duet! Queen Medusas Shock! Chapter 328: Performing a Duet! Queen Medusa''s Shock! In front of the scholarly middle-aged man, there was a red figure, none other than the sealed Queen Medusa. Though unable to perceive any external aura while sealed, Queen Medusa''s tightly closed eyes suddenly opened as the scholarly man approached, staring intently at the figure outside the seal. Who is this man, and why is he here? He must be a Dou Ancestor expert to arrive here without Dou Qi wings. Seeing the man before her, Queen Medusa''s enchanting eyes showed a hint of confusion. Without a word, the scholarly man met Queen Medusa''s gaze briefly before raising his hand and forming a series of intricate seals. As the man continued to form seals, the oppressive force of the seal binding Queen Medusa began to dissipate. Realizing she could move again, Queen Medusa swiftly extended her pale arms, shattering the remaining sealing energy around her. Who are you? Why did you save me? Newly freed from the seal, Queen Medusa showed no signs of joy but instead warily questioned the scholarly man before her, her voice cold. Ha ha, is this how the Serpent Tribe treats their saviors? The scholarly man chuckled at Queen Medusas wary attitude. Hearing this, Queen Medusa felt a mix of emotions. She could see no trace of desire in the mans eyes. Without his help, I might have fallen into the hands of that terrifying cultivator... With this thought, a hint of apology flashed across Queen Medusa''s face, and she softly said, Thank you for saving me. My earlier rudeness was uncalled for. I will repay this kindness someday. Ha ha, thats more like it! That cold attitude before was not very pleasing! The scholarly man laughed, teasing her. Queen Medusa remained unfazed by his words and calmly asked, Now, can you tell me who you are and why you saved me? My identity is not something you can comprehend at this time. As the two colossal Dou Qi energies collided in the sky, a deafening explosion echoed through the heavens. The collision shattered the surrounding void, and the shockwaves instantly spread thousands of meters away. In the aftermath of the explosion, Xiao Jin and Liu Ling, at the Desert Stone City mercenary group''s headquarters, simultaneously showed surprise in their eyes. Somethings wrong, it must be related to Queen Medusa''s seal! Xiao Jin, lets hurry over and see whats happening! Liu Ling urgently said to Xiao Jin. Alright! Xiao Jin immediately grabbed Liu Ling''s shoulder, and in a flash, they dashed toward the battleground. Meanwhile, in the Serpent Tribes camp, the Great Elder and the four tribe leaders also turned their gazes towards the distant sky. What kind of terrifying cultivators are fighting to cause such immense power? Mobas said in shock. Ill go check it out. You lead the army back a hundred miles! The Great Elder ordered gravely. Before the others could respond, she transformed into a streak of light and rushed towards the source of the explosion. Queen Medusa, the closest to the battle, felt the impact most intensely. Even the shockwaves from the clash instantly shattered the Dou Qi barrier around her. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 329: Clash of the Flame Beasts! Chapter 329: Clash of the Flame Beasts! Chapter 329: Clash of the Flame Beasts! Could it be that these two have reached the legendary Dou Venerate realm? Feeling the aftermath of the battle up close, Queen Medusa''s face turned pale. As she marveled at their strength, she felt a surge of gratitude towards the scholarly middle-aged man. Had he not pushed her away in time, she would have been severely injured or worse from the shockwaves. Under Queen Medusa''s watchful gaze, the two men, after their initial probing attacks, now looked at each other with newfound seriousness. It seems Ill need to get serious to take you down! the white-robed man snorted coldly, a brilliant purple flame rising from his palm. As the purple flame appeared, the temperature of the surrounding air skyrocketed, filling the area with a scorching energy. Heavenly flame! Seeing the purple flame in the white-robed man''s hand, Queen Medusa exclaimed, worried about the scholarly man facing him. This heavenly flame seems much stronger than the Green Lotus Core Flame. Can he withstand it? While Queen Medusa fretted, Xiao Jin and Liu Ling, rapidly approaching, also felt the searing heat. Its Master! Masters heavenly flame! Recognizing the fiery aura, Xiao Jin''s face lit up with excitement, and he quickened his pace with Liu Ling in tow. At the same time, another figure swiftly approached from the opposite direction, drawing their attention. The Serpent Tribe''s Great Elder also noticed Xiao Jin and Liu Ling. Dou Ancestor! Seeing Xiao Jin walking in the air, the Great Elder felt a tinge of suspicion. Exchanging glances, both sides slowed their pace. Suddenly, the heat in the air intensified once more, this time with a different scorching energy.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com As this heat emerged, Liu Ling, Xiao Jin, and the Great Elder felt a burning sensation. Liu Ling, having the lowest cultivation, showed signs of pain from the sudden heart fire flare-up. Fortunately, they were still some distance from the source of the heart fire, and it wasnt a targeted attack. Xiao Jin quickly extinguished the heart fire within himself and used his golden energy to help Liu Ling neutralize the flames. Upon sensing Xiao Jin and Liu Ling''s approach, the white-robed man''s expression finally changed. In a battle of this magnitude, a stray attack could spell disaster for Liu Ling. Hearing Gu He''s command, Liu Ling and Xiao Jin retreated with serious expressions. Who is that person? Could he be Queen Medusa''s ally? They could sense that the figure opposing Gu He also possessed a powerful aura and an equally formidable heavenly flame. As they retreated, they began to worry for Gu He. Meanwhile, the Serpent Tribe''s Great Elder focused intently on the red figure behind the scholarly man. Its Her Majesty! Thank goodness, Queen Medusa is safe! Upon seeing Queen Medusa, the Great Elder was filled with excitement and quickly moved to approach her, trying to bypass the fighting duo. Great Elder, stay back! Do not come closer! Queen Medusa noticed the Great Elders movement and called out in warning. However, before her words could take effect, the Great Elder had already moved past Gu He. At that moment, a chaotic fireball, a mixture of two flames, shot out from the battling flame beasts, heading straight for the Great Elder. Sensing the terrifying energy approaching from her left, the Great Elder felt an intense sense of danger. Desperately, she tried to evade, but the fireball still grazed her waist, causing a painful scream to echo through the sky. Gu He observed the entire incident, but he harbored no goodwill towards the Great Elder and had no intention of helping. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 330: The Great Elder’s Assistance! Medusa Queen’s Thoughts! Chapter 330: The Great Elders Assistance! Medusa Queens Thoughts! Chapter 330: The Great Elders Assistance! Medusa Queens Thoughts! All of this was witnessed by Gu He. However, Gu He already had no favorable impression of the Great Elder, so he naturally would not intervene to save her. "Great Elder!" Seeing the Great Elder of the Snake Tribe affected by the energy waves from the battle between the fire beasts, Queen Medusas heart sank, and her delicate body trembled. In Queen Medusa''s line of sight, the Great Elder of the Snake Tribe was hit directly in the back by a fireball, and then a terrifying flame rapidly spread across her entire body. Under the scorching of that terrifying flame, the Great Elder''s clothes and hair were instantly incinerated. With her body enveloped in flames, she remained in that area, struggling incessantly. Seeing that the Great Elder was about to perish under the intense fire, Queen Medusa could no longer maintain her previous composure. Her figure flashed, and she spoke in a trembling voice to the refined man, "Senior, please save our Great Elder. The Snake Tribe will forever remember your great kindness and virtue!" Originally, seeing the Great Elder being affected, the refined man was indifferent. But now, hearing Queen Medusa''s plea, he wavered slightly. In the next moment, his palm faced the Great Elder from afar. Suddenly, a strange suction force erupted from his palm. Under the effect of that suction force, the flames on the Great Elder were irresistibly drawn into the refined man''s palm, and her body was flung towards Queen Medusa. Gu He, instead of intervening to stop the refined man''s actions, felt a hint of joy in his heart. His original plan was to have his clone perform a self-sacrificial act to gain enough trust from Queen Medusa. But now, it seemed unnecessary. The appearance of the Great Elder had unwittingly done him a huge favor. On Queen Medusa''s side, after catching the charred body, her enchanting eyes glistened with tears, appearing exceptionally sorrowful. "Catch this!" At this moment, the refined man threw a white jade bottle towards Queen Medusa, his tone still calm. "Feed her the pill inside, and it will ensure her survival." "Thank you, Senior!" Seeing the refined man still able to assist her while battling a formidable enemy, Queen Medusa was deeply touched and sincerely thanked him. Then, her jade-like hand gently twisted open the bottle cap, and an extremely fragrant medicinal scent wafted out. Sensing the powerful energy contained within the pill, Queen Medusa unhesitatingly fed it to the Great Elder of the Snake Tribe. "Yes, Master is mighty!" "Master is invincible!" "Master, go on, take that guy down!" When Liu Ling said this, Gu He''s right eyelid suddenly twitched, but he paid no attention to this minor matter, focusing instead on orchestrating the conclusion of this battle. "Cough! Cough!" After stabilizing his figure, the refined man coughed lightly, his face turning pale. In a somewhat weak voice, he said to Gu He, "You are indeed very strong!" "Are you admitting defeat? If so, hand over Queen Medusa!" Hearing the refined man''s words, Gu He''s face displayed a victorious expression. At this moment, hearing the conversation between Gu He and the refined man, Queen Medusa''s heart was in turmoil. Although she knew that her life or death had nothing to do with the refined man, she inexplicably hoped that he would not give up on her. "I may not be able to defeat you, but today, I am determined to protect Queen Medusa!" (End of the chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 331: Resolving the Conflict! The Show Ends! Chapter 331: Resolving the Conflict! The Show Ends! Chapter 331: Resolving the Conflict! The Show Ends! "I may not be able to defeat you, but today, I will definitely protect Queen Medusa!" The refined man stood there, his voice still weak. These words, however, made Queen Medusa''s heart leap with joy. "He didn''t abandon me!" Queen Medusa''s alluring red lips curved into a seductive smile, revealing her pearly white teeth for the first time, her face no longer carrying its previous icy expression. Seeing Queen Medusa''s reaction, the Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe showed a trace of surprise, "Your Majesty, how long has it been since you last smiled!" ...T/his chapter is updat/ed by "It seems you want to fight to the death!" Gu He''s face darkened upon hearing the refined man''s words. "A fight to the death isn''t necessary; perhaps we can negotiate." The refined man pondered as he spoke. "Negotiate?" Hearing the refined man''s words, Gu He put on a surprised expression. Queen Medusa and the Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe also felt a twinge of confusion, their gazes fixed intently on the refined man. "Indeed. While I don''t know your exact motives for wanting Queen Medusa, I can offer you something better." The refined man nodded. "If you want me to spare Queen Medusa, it depends on whether you can offer something more enticing!" Gu He laughed dryly. "This bottle contains a Dou Venerate Pill, which has endured the Five-Colored Pill Lightning and can elevate a Dou Venerate by one star. Does this interest you?" After Gu He finished speaking, a black jade bottle appeared in the refined man''s hand. "A Dou Venerate Pill!" "How could you possess such an extraordinary pill!" However, Queen Medusa''s intuition told her that the refined man was not as unscathed as he appeared. That blow must have hurt a lot. Thinking this, Queen Medusa''s heart was filled with more guilt, and she lamented in a low voice, "Benefactor, it''s all my fault for being weak. I couldn''t help you and even caused you to lose such a precious pill." "Queen Medusa, you don''t need to feel so down. With your Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python''s talent, with the right guidance, you might evolve into the legendary Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python in the future. When that time comes, you will have a place in the entire Dou Qi Continent, and the Snake-People Tribe will flourish because of you!" The refined man comforted her, sensing the disappointment in her words. "Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python?" Hearing the refined man''s words, Queen Medusa''s rosy lips parted slightly, a glimmer of hope and some confusion flashing in her eyes. The reaction of the Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe was even more intense, her eyes widening in shock. "How do you know about the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python? This is a secret of our Snake-People Tribe." Queen Medusa asked softly. "Haha, the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python might be a secret to ordinary people, but at our level, it''s not hard to know about it. It''s recorded in some ancient texts!" The refined man explained nonchalantly. Hearing his explanation, Queen Medusa and the Great Elder fell silent. The refined man''s revelations had left them too stunned to question him. "Senior, you mentioned earlier that there''s a way for Her Majesty to evolve into the legendary Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. Is that true?" The Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe, still bearing noticeable burn marks, asked the refined man excitedly. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 332: Taking a Disciple! Subduing Queen Medusa! Chapter 332: Taking a Disciple! Subduing Queen Medusa! Chapter 332: Taking a Disciple! Subduing Queen Medusa!DiiSco?ver new stories on "Senior, you mentioned earlier that there is a way for Her Majesty to evolve into the legendary Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python of the Snake-People Tribe. Is that true?" The Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe, still bearing noticeable burn marks, asked the refined man excitedly. Hearing the Great Elder''s question, the refined man couldn''t help but inwardly give her a thumbs up. "Who would have thought that the Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe would assist me multiple times in my plans." At this moment, seeing Queen Medusa''s curious eyes fixed on him, the refined man was pleased but remained composed as he said, "I do know some methods to evolve the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python into the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. However, with your current strength, it would be very difficult to succeed even if you had the method." Pausing for a moment and observing the expression on Queen Medusa''s face, he continued, "Let me be frank. The reason I saved you is because I value the talent of your Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python and wish to take you as my disciple. In time, under my guidance, you will undoubtedly become one of the top experts on the continent. By then, the Snake-People Tribe will no longer be confined to this barren Tagore Desert." The refined man knew very well how important the Snake-People Tribe was to Queen Medusa, so he emphasized their current living conditions at the end. "Take me as a disciple!" "So that''s the reason he saved me?" Queen Medusa''s thoughts were extremely complex after hearing the refined man''s words. Although this explanation cleared up some of her doubts, it also left her feeling slightly disappointed. "Your Majesty, it''s a rare and great opportunity for Senior to take you as his disciple," the Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe said excitedly, seeing Queen Medusa''s silence. Seeing how diligently the Great Elder was helping him, the refined man couldn''t help but think that he should have given her an even better healing pill as a reward. "Your Majesty, don''t hesitate any longer. Quickly accept Senior''s offer!" The Great Elder urged. "Benefactor, I don''t even know your name yet." Amidst the Great Elder''s urging, Queen Medusa hesitated. Instead of making a decision, she inquired about the refined man''s identity. Hearing her question, the refined man smiled faintly and slowly said, "My name is Gu Fengsheng. Those who know me usually call me Alchemy Venerate Gu Fengsheng." "Alchemy Venerate Gu Fengsheng!" Queen Medusa repeated the name silently in her heart, her eyes showing a determined look. "I earnestly request Alchemy Venerate to take me as your disciple!" Queen Medusa was aware of some human world customs regarding taking disciples. For a strong person like him to take a disciple, she couldn''t expect him to beg her to join. At this moment, the usually stubborn Queen Medusa lowered her proud head, bent her knees, and knelt before Gu Fengsheng. After saying this, the space around Gu Fengsheng suddenly began to distort violently. Under the watchful eyes of Cai Lin and the Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe, he disappeared from where he stood. "Master has left!" Watching Gu Fengsheng leave, Cai Lin murmured to herself, then turned to the Great Elder and said, "Great Elder, with that white-robed man here, it is too dangerous. We must quickly recall all our people." "Yes!" The Great Elder nodded heavily. Then she and Cai Lin turned into streaks of light, shooting towards the Snake-People Tribe''s camp outside Stone Desert City. Before long, they caught up with the retreating Snake-People Tribe army. "It''s Her Majesty and the Great Elder!" A cheer rose from the Snake-People Tribe army as they saw the two figures approach. "Mebas, Yue Mei... quickly lead the army back to our territory!" Upon reaching the four leaders of the Snake-People Tribe, Cai Lin gave the order to retreat without any explanation. Hearing Queen Medusa''snow Cai Lin''scommand, Mebas and the others were puzzled. Earlier, the Great Elder had only ordered a retreat of a hundred miles, but now Queen Medusa was ordering them to retreat deep into the desert. Were they no longer attacking the Jia Ma Empire? Although confused, none of the Snake-People Tribe dared to oppose Queen Medusa''s command. After a brief pause, the four leaders respectfully responded, "As you command!" (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 333: Imparting the Secret Art of Heavenly Demon Puppets! Chapter 333: Imparting the Secret Art of Heavenly Demon Puppets! Chapter 333: Imparting the Secret Art of Heavenly Demon Puppets! "Yue Mei, come here!" Just as the four Snake People leaders were preparing to leave, Queen Medusa called out to Yue Mei. Upon hearing Queen Medusa''s words, Yue Mei paused and remained in place. After staring intently at Yue Mei for a moment, Queen Medusa suddenly formed several hand seals, and a massive surge of red Dou Qi energy flowed into Yue Mei''s body. The golden threads that had sealed Yue Mei''s meridians quickly dissolved under the influence of this red energy. The seal cast by Xiao Jin was not particularly profound, so with Queen Medusa''s help, Yue Mei''s sealed strength was swiftly restored. "Thank you, Your Majesty!" After regaining her Dou Wang strength, Yue Mei bowed joyfully to Queen Medusa. "Yue Mei, you must have suffered a lot while being captured by the strongmen of Stone Desert City. In the future, I will avenge you. None of those humans who harmed you will escape!" Generally, when Snake People women are captured by humans, they are subjected to humiliation and torture, especially someone like Yue Mei, who had no strength to resist due to the seal. Hence, Queen Medusa felt deeply for Yue Mei. "Your Majesty, I wasn''t mistreated in Stone Desert City. After my strength was sealed, the young leader of the Elder Brother Mercenary Group took me to his courtyard and allowed me to move freely." Upon hearing Queen Medusa''s words, Yue Mei hesitated for a moment, a peculiar look in her eyes, and then slowly explained. "Oh, you mean the young man who was with the shape-shifting beast warrior!" Queen Medusa responded in surprise upon hearing Yue Mei''s explanation. Queen Medusa had already learned from Liu Ling and Xiao Jin that one was the disciple of the white-robed man, and the other was a shape-shifting beast nurtured by the white-robed man. "Yes, that''s him!" Yue Mei respectfully answered Queen Medusa''s question. "However, before leaving, that young man used my life to coerce Moba Si and the others into swearing never to invade Stone Desert City!" Yue Mei added. "I initially thought that boy had a good nature since he didn''t mistreat Yue Mei, but it turns out he had an ulterior motive!" The Snake People Clan''s Grand Elder said discontentedly after hearing Yue Mei''s words. Despite his displeasure, he didn''t suggest doing anything to Liu Ling, knowing that Liu Ling was the disciple of the white-robed man, whom he greatly feared. "Grand Elder, let''s set these matters aside for now. Our clan members near the Demon Beast Mountain Range and the Jia Ma Empire''s fortress still need you to call them back!" Queen Medusa suddenly said after the Grand Elder finished speaking. "Break through to Dou King!" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling''s expression became serious, as this temporary additional task was extremely challenging. There were many Dou Spirit experts in this world, but the vast majority got stuck at this final step and eventually died of old age. And now, Gu He wanted him to break through to Dou King in such a short time, making Liu Ling feel uncertain about his chances. Seeing Liu Ling''s reaction, Gu He chuckled and said, "What, no confidence? A few days ago, I projected myself to visit Xian''er, and she has already broken through to Dou King!" "What, Junior Sister Xian''er has broken through to Dou King!" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling''s thoughts became somewhat complicated. Although Liu Ling was happy for Xiao Yi Xian breaking through to Dou King, as the senior disciple, his cultivation being weaker than his junior sister''s made him feel a bit embarrassed. Thinking this, Liu Ling''s eyes suddenly became resolute. He stood up straight, his voice full of determination as he said to Gu He, "Master, your disciple is confident in completing the task!" "Good!" Hearing Liu Ling''s response, Gu He nodded and then lightly patted his shoulder, making him crouch down again. "Liu Ling, next, I will impart to you a secret technique!" (This chapter ends here.) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 DiiSco?ver new stories on Chapter 334: Ancient Puppet Technique! Chapter 334: Ancient Puppet Technique! Chapter 334: Ancient Puppet Technique! "Liu Ling, I will now impart to you another secret technique!" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling, who was crouching with Gu He''s hand on his shoulder, quickly entered a focused state, ready to receive the information Gu He was about to transmit. "System, transfer the Heavenly Demon Puppet Technique to my first disciple, Liu Ling!" As Gu He gave the command in his mind, all the knowledge about the Heavenly Demon Puppet Technique, along with some of his own refining experiences, surged into Liu Ling''s mind. Gu He chose to impart the Heavenly Demon Puppet Technique to Liu Ling instead of Zi Yan and Han Yue for two reasons. First, as an alchemist, Liu Ling was more suited to learn this technique. Second, the refining process of the Heavenly Demon Puppet was too gruesome, and since most of Gu He''s disciples were female, he decided that Liu Ling, being a man, was more appropriate to learn it. In just a few moments, Gu He had transmitted the entire Heavenly Demon Puppet Technique to Liu Ling. After withdrawing his hand from Liu Ling''s head, a notification sound immediately echoed in Gu He''s mind. "Ding, the host has granted the Heavenly Demon Puppet Technique to the first disciple Liu Ling. Congratulations, host, you have received a ten-thousand-fold return, obtaining the ancient secret technique, Seed Puppet Technique!" "The ancient secret technique, Seed Puppet Technique, has been delivered to the system space. Please check it." Ancient Secret Technique, Seed Puppet Technique! Upon hearing the system notification, Gu He''s consciousness immediately immersed into the system space. At the center of the system space, beside the Abyssal Demon Flame, floated a completely pitch-black light cluster and a smaller purple light cluster, about the size of an egg. The black light cluster was the returned ancient Seed Puppet Technique, while the smaller purple light cluster was the eight months of cultivation returned after transmitting power to Liu Ling. At this moment, Gu He''s attention was entirely focused on the black light cluster. Ancient Seed Puppet Technique: Condense a puppet seed with one''s soul power and merge it into another''s soul. The person implanted with the puppet seed retains their original consciousness and can continue to cultivate normally, obeying the caster''s commands completely. Unless someone has a soul realm far superior to the caster, they will not detect the puppet seed hidden deep within the controlled person''s soul. This technique is incredibly powerful, able to turn living people into puppets with their own consciousness, who can still continue to cultivate! Reading the description of the ancient Seed Puppet Technique, Gu He was extremely excited. With such a powerful secret technique, he could potentially infiltrate various major forces and weaken them significantly without their knowledge. Comparing himself to Xiao Yi Xian, he realized he was lagging far behind, which made him feel deeply ashamed as the senior disciple. Trying to change the subject, Liu Ling asked, "Master, what kind of Heavenly Flame did Junior Sister Xian''er receive?" Gu He replied directly, "Your junior sister received the Netherworld Poison Flame, ranked twentieth on the Heavenly Flames List." Netherworld Poison Flame! Liu Ling was utterly shocked upon hearing this. In just one day, he had encountered three legendary Heavenly Flames, and with Xiao Yi Xian''s Netherworld Poison Flame, that made four. This was something he had never dared to imagine before. Now, he was about to have his own Heavenly Flame. "Stay calm, stay calm..." Liu Ling told himself, trying to suppress his excitement as he slowly reached out his trembling hand towards the Green Lotus Core Flame. "Wait!" Gu He quickly slapped Liu Ling''s hand down, scolding him, "You little fool, do you want your hand to turn into roast pork?" Embarrassed, Liu Ling scratched the back of his head and grinned, "Master, I got too excited and forgot about the intense heat of this thing." "Liu Ling, this is not an ordinary beast fire. Do not treat it lightly!" (This chapter ends here.) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 335: Green Lotus Sacred Flame! Chapter 335: Green Lotus Sacred Flame! "Liu Ling, this thing is not comparable to ordinary beast flames. You must not treat it lightly!" "I will teach you another technique to assist you in devouring this Green Lotus Core Flame!" Speaking earnestly to Liu Ling, Gu He took out a specially made jade bottle and sealed the Green Lotus Core Flame inside it. "Catch!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling''s expression immediately became serious. He respectfully took the jade bottle and then continued to crouch down. As Liu Ling received the jade bottle, a prompt sounded in Gu He''s mind. "Ding, detected that the host gifted the Green Lotus Core Flame to the eldest disciple. Congratulations, host, for receiving a ten thousand times return, obtaining the Green Lotus Sacred Flame!" "The Green Lotus Sacred Flame has been issued to the system space. Please check it, host!" Green Lotus Sacred Flame! Hearing the system prompt, Gu He did not immediately check it. Instead, he gently placed his palm on Liu Ling''s head. "System, teach the Divine Fire Technique to my eldest disciple Liu Ling!" As Gu Hes silent command echoed in his mind, a vast amount of crimson energy surged crazily from his palm into Liu Ling''s mind. As this energy entered Liu Ling''s mind, he instinctively felt a slight swelling pain. However, following the pain, he felt immense joy in his heart. "Divine Fire Technique, Heaven-grade advanced technique!" From the received information, Liu Ling quickly realized the grade of this technique. Without any hesitation, he devoted all his efforts to absorbing this massive amount of information. Moments later, Gu He finished transmitting all the contents and insights of the Divine Fire Technique to Liu Ling. The Divine Fire Technique is a powerful method for devouring and plundering different fires. With this technique, the danger level of Liu Ling devouring the Green Lotus Core Flame would be greatly reduced. Moreover, when he refines the Green Lotus Core Flame into his own life flame, he can also practice the body tempering chapter within it. By then, both his physical and soul strength would be enhanced under the tempering of his life flame, enabling him to naturally accept more cultivation. As Liu Ling fully absorbed and digested the contents in his mind, he slowly opened his eyes. The way he looked at Gu He was as if he were looking at a deity, filled with gratitude and endless reverence. A Heaven-grade advanced technique was too shocking for Liu Ling. Such a technique might already stand at the pinnacle of this continent. "Thank you, Master!" Accompanying this was a terrifying energy wave that spread throughout the courtyard. In an instant, everything in the courtyard was destroyed. However, when this violent energy wave reached Gu He and Liu Ling, it suddenly dissipated without a trace. Seeing this, Gu He was slightly surprised. Although the seal was casually set up, it should be unbreakable by anyone below a Dou Ancestor peak. Xiaojin''s strike caused such a violent tremor, indicating it had at least the attack strength of a seven-star Dou Ancestor. Moreover, this was purely an energy attack. If Xiaojin used some combat techniques, the power might increase severalfold. "Brother Liu, I''m sorry. I didn''t expect the power of this strike to be so great and destroy your courtyard." Seeing the mess around him, Xiaojin quickly planted the Flame Demon Sword into the ground and looked apologetically at Liu Ling. "Haha, it''s okay!" Seeing Xiaojin''s expression, Liu Ling pinched his chubby cheek and said nonchalantly, "I''m now the boss of Stone Desert City. Whats a small courtyard worth! I''ll have someone restore it shortly." Then, Liu Ling''s gaze turned to the Flame Demon Sword. He rubbed his hands, looking eager to try it out. "Xiaojin, let me try this Flame Demon Sword!" Without waiting for a response, Liu Ling grabbed the sword''s black hilt. However, the sword that seemed light in Xiaojin''s small hands was extremely heavy for Liu Ling. He struggled to even lift it, let alone swing it. "Brother Liu, what''s wrong? Is the sword not good?" Seeing Liu Ling turning red while holding the Flame Demon Sword, Xiaojin asked curiously in a childlike voice. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 336: The Black-Corner Region’s Soul Hall Stirs! Chapter 336: The Black-Corner Regions Soul Hall Stirs! While Liu Ling was testing the sword, Gu He immersed his mind completely into the system space. In the system space, beside the pitch-black Abyssal Demon Flame, there appeared an equally massive flame shaped like a giant lotus, radiating a green glow. With these two flames present, the temperature in the system space had reached an extremely terrifying level. If not for the system''s suppression, the two flames, with their somewhat opposing attributes, would have collided long ago. Fixing his gaze on the green lotus-shaped flame, Gu He noticed a faint, slender figure of a girl at the base of the lotus. Following this, a row of information appeared in Gu He''s mind. Green Lotus Sacred Flame: A holy flame formed deep within the core of the Great Thousand World over tens of thousands of years, possessing a terrifying temperature capable of incinerating everything... After reading the information about the Green Lotus Sacred Flame, Gu He couldn''t help but sigh, "It seems that to devour and refine these Green Lotus Sacred Flame and Abyssal Demon Flame, I need to at least break through to the Dou Saint level!" Both flames had already taken a source form and possessed the powerful strength of mid-tier Dou Saints. With Gu He''s current cultivation, even with the Divine Fire Technique and his life flame, refining them would be too dangerous. Only by advancing to the Dou Saint realm would he dare to attempt it. As Gu He withdrew his mind from the system space, he saw Liu Ling sweating profusely from testing the sword. "Liu Ling, dont push yourself. The materials of the Flame Demon Sword are special, making it extremely heavy. You need to reach at least the Dou King level to control it freely!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling smiled awkwardly and handed the Flame Demon Sword back to Xiaojin. "These pills will help you refine the Green Lotus Core Flame. Also, keep the Void Jade Talisman safe!" As Gu He spoke, he handed two white jade bottles and a Void Jade Talisman to Liu Ling. Taking the Void Jade Talisman, Liu Ling knew that Gu He was about to leave, and he felt reluctant. "Master, I will train hard and fly back to the sect on my own!" Liu Ling promised excitedly. After he finished speaking, the space around Gu He suddenly twisted, and he disappeared before their eyes. ... After leaving Stone Desert City, Gu He reappeared on a dune a hundred miles away, with his clone standing in front of him. "Unexpectedly, just as I left, the elder of the Soul Hall branch in the Black-Corner Region rushed back!" Although Tianhuo Venerable felt shocked, he wisely chose not to ask further questions. "Seeing your current state, you seem much better than before." Noticing Tianhuo Venerable''s reaction, Gu He changed the subject with a smile. "Thanks to the soul-restoring elixirs you gave me, Venerable Gu!" Tianhuo Venerable said gratefully, looking at Gu He with some anticipation. "Hehe, Tianhuo Venerable, in some time, I''ll find you a suitable body, and then we''ll figure out how to revive you!" Seeing the look on Tianhuo Venerable''s face, Gu He chuckled. "Venerable Gu, if you keep your promise, I will do my utmost to serve you!" Realizing that Gu He hadn''t forgotten his promise, Tianhuo Venerable felt even more grateful. "For now, stay in the ring and follow me. Just know that I might occasionally block the ring''s connection to the outside world as before." After saying this, Gu He''s appearance suddenly changed, transforming into the clone''s form, with even his aura shifting slightly. Hearing Gu He''s words and seeing the changes in him, Tianhuo Venerable was surprised but only nodded heavily without asking. "Let''s go. This is the Tagore Desert, and we need to head to the central area first!" ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 337: The Fortress War! The Sudden Arrival of a Strong Warrior! Chapter 337: The Fortress War! The Sudden Arrival of a Strong Warrior! Outside a magnificent fortress located at the border of the Tagore Desert and the outskirts of the Demon Beast Mountain Range, a fierce battle is unfolding. In this complex terrain, countless soldiers from the Jia Ma Empire and serpent-men warriors are engaged in a life-and-death struggle. However, the true key to the outcome of this war lies in the battle taking place high in the sky among nine dazzling figures. In this war, the highest-ranking general of the Jia Ma Empire is Nalan Jie, who has just recovered from a severe illness. Among the four other human warriors, three are former top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire, while the last one is a mysterious newcomer to the battlefield. Brother Yan Xiao, were really fortunate to have your help this time! In the sky, after separating from the serpent-men leader, the elderly Nalan Jie smiled warmly at the somewhat thin figure of a young man. Marshal Nalan, youre too kind. If it werent for the troops providing me with some herbs to counteract the serpent poison, I probably wouldnt even be able to speak here today. This thin young man was none other than Xiao Yan, who had previously been pursued by the three serpent-men leaders: Mobas, Nanshe, and another. After managing to shake them off, Xiao Yan was severely wounded by Mobas and eventually found his way to this fortress. This fortress, being on constant guard against the serpent-men tribe, had accumulated a significant stock of herbs and antidotes for serpent poison over the years. Xiao Yan successfully used these herbs to refine an antidote for Mobas''s serpent poison. Because of this, Xiao Yan owed a great favor. When the other four serpent-men leaders led an army to attack the fortress, Xiao Yan also joined the battlefield. Originally, the four serpent-men leaders, relying on their combined battle formation, were overpowering the four Dou Kings of the Jia Ma Empire. However, with Xiao Yans sudden entry into the fray, the situation immediately stabilized. The two sides fought seven or eight times without a clear victor. This time, just like before, the five Dou Kings of the Jia Ma Empire fought to a draw against the four serpent-men leaders. After leaving behind a harsh threat, the serpent-men tribe reluctantly chose to retreat temporarily. Seeing the serpent-men retreat, a burly man loudly asked Nalan Jie, Nalan Jie, this war has been dragging on for so long. Why hasnt the royal family sent reinforcements yet? Indeed, although we can still hold out for now, the serpent-men tribe still has Queen Medusa, who hasnt made a move yet. If Queen Medusa joins the battle, Im afraid we wont stand a chance! echoed a thin, elderly man. Lion King, Feng Li, are you implying that Elder Jia is deliberately not sending us support? Nalan Jie asked directly, catching the meaning behind their words. Sensing this aura, Nalan Jie, Yan Shi, Feng Li, and the other Dou Kings, who had just relaxed, immediately tensed up and went on high alert. Under their watchful gaze, a woman slowly approached, walking through the air and eventually stopping above the serpent-men army. "This is!" When they saw that the woman had legs indistinguishable from those of a human, the four renowned Dou Kings of the Jia Ma Empire couldnt help but gasp. They were well aware of what it meant for a member of the serpent-men tribe to shed their tail and take on a human form. "Could this be the fabled Queen Medusa of the serpent-men tribe?" "Who would have thought that Queen Medusa has already reached the Dou Zong realm!" As they spoke, the four Dou Kings, including Xiao Yan, who was frowning, unconsciously began retreating toward the fortress. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 338: Yun Yun Appears, Retreats the Snake-People Army with a Single Word? Chapter 338: Yun Yun Appears, Retreats the Snake-People Army with a Single Word? As the five of them retreated simultaneously, a dazzling cyan light suddenly approached rapidly from the sky behind the fortress. Seeing this light, Nalan Jie and the others felt puzzled. As the cyan light drew closer, they realized that it was a woman with a pair of cyan wings on her back. When Nalan Jie and the other three saw the figure within the cyan light, they breathed a slight sigh of relief. "So its Sect Leader Yun Yun!" As Nalan Jie spoke, his eyes remained fixed on the woman hovering above the Snake-People army in the distance. The fear in his heart grew more intense as he noticed that the woman was now looking toward the fortress. Soon, the cyan-robed woman who had flown from behind the fortress arrived in front of Nalan Jie and the others. This cyan-robed woman, whose serene and stunning face slightly furrowed as she looked at the distant woman walking in the sky, was none other than Yun Yun, Sect Leader of the Yun Lan Sect. "Sect Leader Yun Yun, I didn''t expect you to arrive at the fortress so quickly!" Although Nalan Jie was much older than Yun Yun, his tone showed a trace of respect as he spoke to her. The others also greeted Yun Yun with great respect. "Princess Yao Ye requested our help several times. As the leading sect of the Jia Ma Empire, the Yun Lan Sect couldnt simply stand by and watch as foreign forces invade." Yun Yun''s red lips parted slightly, her tone calm as she responded to Nalan Jie. As she spoke, her gaze met that of the distant woman in the sky, and a trace of surprise flashed in her heart. "Sect Leader Yun Yun, we have a serious problem this time. It seems that Queen Medusa has somehow broken through to the Dou Ancestor level!" Nalan Jie said, his face filled with worry. In their minds, the only one in the Snake-People Tribe capable of such power was Queen Medusa, so they naturally assumed that the suddenly appearing elder of the Snake-People was indeed Queen Medusa. "Queen Medusa at the Dou Ancestor level!" Upon confirming the woman''s strength and identity, Yun Yun''s expression grew solemn. Initially, the Snake-People''s Grand Elder wanted to teach Yun Yun a lesson for her almost provocative behavior. However, when she thought of the white-robed figure in her mind, she quickly dismissed the idea. "Hmph, once Her Majesty the Queen fully matures, no one will be able to stop the rise of our Snake-People Tribe." With a cold snort in her heart, the Snake-Peoples Grand Elder turned around, completely ignoring Yun Yun. The next moment, she directly ordered the four Snake-People leaders, "By the order of Her Majesty the Queen, all tribesmen, retreat to our territory immediately." "What!" "Why are we retreating?" "With such a great opportunity, why not capture this fortress that has been entrenched here for years!" The four Snake-People leaders, Yin Shi, Yan Ci, Hei Du, and Hua She Wang, were all stunned by the Grand Elder''s order. Not far away, Yun Yun was also shocked to hear the order. She hadn''t expected that the Dou Ancestor-level expert before her wasn''t Queen Medusa. "Why would Queen Medusa suddenly order a retreat?" Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes were filled with astonishment. Under her watchful gaze, the four Snake-People leaders, though reluctant, quickly led the army back into the depths of the desert according to the Grand Elder''s instructions. "Young lady, we will meet again!" After the army set off, the Snake-People''s Grand Elder suddenly spoke coldly to Yun Yun before turning into a streak of light and leaving the area. "The Snake-People have retreated?" "What exactly did Sect Leader Yun Yun do? Could it be that a single word made the Snake-People army retreat?" Chapter 339: Passing on Power to Queen Medusa! The Immense Return of Cultivation! Chapter 339: Passing on Power to Queen Medusa! The Immense Return of Cultivation! "The Snake-People have retreated?" "What exactly did Sect Leader Yun Yun do? Could it be that a single word made the Snake-People army retreat?" After seeing Yun Yun rush forward, Queen Medusa not only refrained from attacking but also led her army to retreat. This left Nalan Jie, Feng Li, and Lion King extremely curious. As the four of them watched, Queen Medusa and the Snake-People army gradually disappeared from their view. They quickly moved to where Yun Yun was standing. "Sect Leader Yun Yun, what did you say to Queen Medusa that made her retreat so easily?" Nalan Jie voiced the doubt in his heart. "That woman wasnt Queen Medusa!" Yun Yun replied, sharing some of what she had overheard earlier. "A Dou Ancestor-level expert who isn''t Queen Medusa!" "From the way she said ''By the order of Her Majesty the Queen,'' it''s clear that her status within the Snake-People Tribe is lower than that of Queen Medusa. This indirectly indicates that Queen Medusa is even stronger than the one we just saw!" Hearing Yun Yun''s account, Nalan Jie, Feng Li, and Lion King analyzed the situation with some lingering fear. ... "This information must be relayed to Princess Yao Ye immediately, and we must quickly investigate the Snake-People''s movements..." Upon returning to the fortress, Nalan Jie, filled with concern, began issuing orders to the young officers. Just then, an unexpected piece of news arrived. "Marshal, it seems that in Stone Desert City, an unknown expert has blocked Queen Medusa and countless Snake-People soldiers?" A young soldier ran up to the city wall, panting as he spoke. Nalan Jie and the others were nearly dumbfounded by the news. Even Yun Yun, standing on the city wall, was slightly surprised. "Stone Desert City is just a small place. Didnt we only station a commander at the Dou Grandmaster level there? When did such a powerful expert appear?" Nalan Jie took a deep breath, astonished. "Reporting to the Marshal, that expert is rumored to have been invited by the leader of Stone Desert Citys largest mercenary group, the Elder Brother Mercenary Group!" The young soldier added. "The leader of the Elder Brother Mercenary Group! Who is this person?" Hearing the mention of a mercenary group, Nalan Jie and the others quickly inquired further. However, Queen Medusas first order upon her return was to have all the Medusa Royal Guards leave the temple. She also instructed that no matter what sounds or movements might occur in the temple afterward, no one was to enter without her command. Although Hua She''er was puzzled by Queen Medusa''s order, she carried it out without hesitation. A few moments later, the enormous temple of the Snake-People was left with only Queen Medusa inside. Queen Medusa did nothing, simply sitting quietly on the luxurious throne. The entire temple was enveloped in a profound silence. After seven or eight hours of this silence, the space in the center of the temple suddenly began to twist violently. Noticing this phenomenon, Queen Medusa''s stunningly beautiful face lit up with joy, and she immediately stood up with a solemn expression. "Disciple Cai Lin welcomes Master!" As Queen Medusa bowed, a middle-aged man in a blue robe, with a refined and scholarly appearance, slowly stepped out of the distorted space, hovering in mid-air. "Cai Lin, theres no need for formalities between master and disciple!" Seeing Queen Medusas posture, Gu He waved his hand, speaking in a relaxed tone. "Master, have your injuries improved?" Afterward, with concern in her beautiful eyes, Cai Lin asked. She was well aware that the reason Gu He had temporarily parted from her was to allow her to handle the retreat of the Snake-People army and, on the other hand, to recover from his injuries. "Injuries? ... Oh, that little injury is nothing to your master!" Hearing that Queen Medusas first concern was his injuries, Gu He felt a bit embarrassed. After all, it had merely been an act, and he hadnt expected Queen Medusa to be so worried. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 340: Five Hundred Years of Cultivation Chapter 340: Five Hundred Years of Cultivation After speaking, Gu He lightly stepped down, arriving at the jade platform beside the throne from mid-air. Once again in close proximity to Gu He, Queen Medusa couldn''t help but feel her heart race. In the past, she had always stood high above, facing countless tribesmen beneath her. But now, in front of Gu He, she appeared incredibly respectful. As soon as Gu He approached the throne, he caught the unique fragrance emanating from Queen Medusa''s body. Coupled with her graceful figure so close to him, Gu He''s breathing involuntarily deepened. In the quiet temple, the sound of Queen Medusa''s quickened heartbeat and Gu He''s somewhat intoxicated breathing became magnified, creating a slightly awkward atmosphere between them. "Ahem!" Noticing the awkwardness, Gu He lightly cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "Cai Lin, do you remember why I took you as my disciple?" Gu He suddenly asked. "Disciple remembers! It''s because of Cai Lin''s unique constitution as a Seven-Colored Swallowing Python!" Upon hearing Gu He''s question, Cai Lin quickly snapped out of the earlier awkwardness, straightening her posture and replying with a serious expression. As Queen Medusa straightened her back, her proud figure was fully revealed, exuding an alluring charm. "It''s good that you remember. Anyone who becomes my disciple receives three gifts as a greeting present. You must accept all three!" Faced with such an enticing scene, Gu He almost lost control, so he quickly turned his head away, no longer looking at Cai Lin. "Three gifts?" Queen Medusa silently repeated the words in her mind, her long and narrow eyes glancing at the side-turned Gu He. A slender smile appeared at the corner of her red lips. In an instant, her delicate face was shrouded in a touch of seductive aura. "Did I not make myself clear?" Sensing that Queen Medusa hadn''t responded, Gu He turned his head slightly to look in her direction. At that moment, their eyes met. Queen Medusas red lips curled into a slight smile. Queen Medusa was well aware of her own allure, so when she noticed Gu He''s subtle reaction, she couldn''t help but laugh inwardly, thinking to herself, "So even someone like Master can get shy." "Master, only three gifts? Isn''t that too few?" Cai Lin teased with a light laugh. "Oh, you think it''s too few! Don''t worry, it''s not just three. Whatever you want, your Master can give you." Hearing Cai Lin''s response, Gu He replied in a serious tone. It wasn''t until she reached the Nine-Star Dou Ancestor that the explosive increase in her aura began to slow down a bit. Even at this point, Gu He hadn''t stopped transferring his power, rapidly elevating her cultivation to the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Ancestor. After reaching the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Ancestor, Queen Medusa began to show signs of breaking through to the Dou Venerate realm. "This aura... What on earth is happening to Her Majesty? How has her aura skyrocketed to such a terrifying level in such a short time?" In the vast sky above the grand temple, an enormous energy vortex, hundreds of meters in diameter, began to form, startling Hua She''er and the Medusa Royal Guards stationed outside the temple. Meanwhile, on the purple throne within the temple, a look of pain appeared on Queen Medusa''s otherwise flawless face. "It seems trying to elevate Cai Lin''s cultivation to the Dou Venerate realm in one go is a bit too much," Gu He noted. Sensing Queen Medusa''s condition, Gu He immediately stopped the transfer of power. At the same time, a notification sounded in Gu He''s mind. "Ding! Detected that the host has bestowed half a year of cultivation to the seventh disciple, Cai Lin. Congratulations to the host for receiving a thousandfold return, granting you five hundred years of cultivation! (Note: This five hundred years of cultivation corresponds to the Five-Star Dou Venerate realm!)" "Five hundred years of cultivation has been deposited into the system space. Please check and collect it at your convenience!" As Gu He received the system notification, the massive energy vortex that had just formed above the temple suddenly dispersed. This change caused Hua She''er, who was guarding outside, to feel a surge of panic. "Your Majesty!" Because Queen Medusa had previously instructed that no one was allowed to enter the temple without permission, Hua She''er could only shout loudly from outside. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 342: Cai Lin: Master, I think I’ve seen this jade talisman before!” Chapter 342: Cai Lin: Master, I think Ive seen this jade talisman before! Chapter 342: Cai Lin: "Master, I think I''ve seen this jade talisman before!" After a brief moment, Gu He retracted his hand, having transmitted all the information about the Heavenly Serpent Art directly into Queen Medusa''s mind. However, Gu He himself hadn''t fully explored the Heavenly Serpent Art, so he couldn''t provide Queen Medusa with any insights. All the cultivation and comprehension would depend on her own efforts. While Queen Medusa was still processing the information in her mind, Gu He allowed his consciousness to drift into the system space. At this moment, in the central area of the system space, between the pitch-black Abyssal Demon Flame and the radiant Green Lotus Sacred Flame, a dark purple energy mass, about the same size as the two flames, had appeared. On either side of this massive energy mass were two strange-looking small beasts. Five hundred years of cultivation! Staring at the large dark purple energy mass, Gu He couldnt help but swallow hard. "Such a vast amount of energy... If I could fully refine and absorb it, I might directly advance to the Nine-Star Dou Venerate level." However, refining such a massive energy source would require a long period of closed-door cultivation, which Gu He didn''t plan on undertaking anytime soon, so this energy mass would have to wait for later. Shifting his gaze from the dark purple energy mass, the two peculiar pill beasts formed from the Ninth Grade Treasure Pills also stirred excitement in Gu He''s heart. Including the Nine-Colored Mysterious Life Pill that he had gotten back from Zi Yan, Gu He now possessed three Ninth Grade Treasure Pills. Even the top figures in the Pill Tower might not have such wealth. "If a Seventh Grade pill can return such powerful pills, what kind of precious pills might an Eighth Grade pill return?" Gu He couldn''t help but feel a sense of anticipation. "Master, what kind of method was that? You were able to directly transfer all the information about a cultivation technique into my mind?" Just as Gu He was marveling at his situation, Queen Medusa finally finished processing the information in her mind. Her beautiful eyes were filled with curiosity as she stared at Gu He. Queen Medusa could understand energy transmissions like passing on cultivation, as there were legends of powerful figures using secret techniques to pass on all their cultivation to their successors. After studying it for a while, a scene suddenly flashed in Queen Medusa''s mind. In the image, a young man crushed an item identical to this jade talisman, and a terrifyingly powerful white-robed man appeared out of thin air at the spot where the talisman had been shattered. "Master, I think Ive seen this jade talisman somewhere before!" Queen Medusa said in surprise, her small mouth slightly agape. "Not good! I nearly forgot that brat Liu Ling summoned me using a void jade talisman right in front of Cai Lin!" Gu Hes heart tightened at Queen Medusa''s words. Forcing himself to remain composed, Gu He feigned curiosity as he gently asked, "Oh? Cai''er, where have you seen a talisman like this? Even for a strong cultivator like myself, crafting such a talisman is no easy task." "I saw it on the disciple of that white-robed man..." Queen Medusa recounted the entire process of how she had been captured by the white-robed man. "So it was him. His cultivation is even stronger than mine, so crafting a void jade talisman would naturally be a simple task for him!" Gu He feigned a realization, then added with a serious expression, "Cai''er, during the time I''m away, as long as the snake people dont provoke the Jia Ma Empire, that white-robed man will not go back on his word and harm you again. So, its crucial that you manage your people well, otherwise..." Gu He''s words, touching on the survival of the snake people, successfully diverted Queen Medusas attention. After all, the strength of that white-robed man was something even her master couldnt contend with. "Master, dont worry. I will strictly control my people from now on. Until we have sufficient strength, we wont engage in any more conflicts with the Jia Ma Empire!" Queen Medusa responded with a mixture of caution and determination. (End of the chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 341: Two Nine-Rank Treasures! Teaching the Heavenly Serpent Technique! Chapter 341: Two Nine-Rank Treasures! Teaching the Heavenly Serpent Technique! "Your Majesty!" "Your Majesty!" The anxious calls quickly reached the ears of Gu He and Queen Medusa within the grand hall. Upon hearing these calls, Gu He temporarily set aside his thoughts of examining the five-hundred-year-old cultivation. His eyes glanced at Queen Medusa. "I am fine!" To prevent Hua She''er and the other snake people from disturbing them, Queen Medusa slightly parted her red lips. Immediately, a voice filled with majesty and coldness echoed from within the temple and quickly spread beyond its walls. As soon as this voice rang out, all the snake people, including Hua She''er, were overwhelmed and couldn''t even stand up straight, all prostrating themselves on the ground. "Her Majesty has become several times stronger than before... The rise of our Snake People Tribe will be unstoppable now." Hua She''er''s face suddenly showed a surge of ecstatic joy as she felt the powerful pressure emanating from that voice. ... "Caier, how are you feeling?" After Queen Medusa''s voice fell, Gu He asked about her condition. "Master, Caier has almost absorbed this power!" Queen Medusa seriously replied to Gu He''s question, then hesitated slightly before continuing, "But... will this power transfer have any effect on you, Master?" "Its nothing. I only transferred half a year of cultivation to you, yet it saved you almost ten years of hard work. It''s a great deal." Hearing Queen Medusa''s concern, Gu He waved his hand, not minding it much. "Half a year of cultivation has raised my level to Nine-Star Dou Ancestor... Master truly is no ordinary Dou Venerate expert!" As she listened to Gu Hes words, Queen Medusa couldn''t help but admire his strength, and at the same time, she felt deeply moved. After all, she had never seen any strong expert willingly give away the fruits of their hard work to a disciple like this. "Master... you''ve been so kind to Caier, I dont even know how to repay you..." With this thought, Queen Medusa''s voice became choked with emotion. The originally cold, noble, and stunning face now appeared somewhat delicate and vulnerable. Gu He gently ran his hand through her smooth hair, comforting her, "Alright, don''t think too much about it. I don''t expect anything in return. As long as you work hard to improve your strength, I will be very pleased!" "Master, I will definitely train hard and not let you down!" Queen Medusa promised earnestly. "Ah!" Seeing Gu Hes sudden change in demeanor, Queen Medusa was momentarily at a loss. However, she understood that a cultivation technique is the greatest help a master can provide to a disciple. Refusing to learn it would almost be considered an act of defiance. Feeling a bit panicked, she quickly replied, "Master, you misunderstand; that''s not what I meant!" "If that''s not what you meant, then prepare yourself!" Gu He didn''t say anything further and directly reached out his hand towards Cai Lin''s smooth forehead. "Prepare?" Watching Gu He''s movements, Queen Medusa was immediately filled with confusion. This time, she didnt close her eyes but stared straight at Gu Hes hand as it made contact with her body. As soon as Gu He''s hand touched her forehead, a vast amount of strange information surged into her mind. Heavenly Serpent Technique! Heaven-Tier Beginner Technique! As she absorbed the information flooding her mind, Queen Medusa had no time to wonder why Gu He possessed a heaven-tier technique suitable for Snake People or how he could transfer it directly into her mind in such an unusual way. She had to focus all her mental energy on processing the vast information she had just received. The reason Gu He waited until now to pass on the cultivation technique to Queen Medusa was that the Heavenly Serpent Technique was a product of the system''s return, and it couldn''t be returned again. Therefore, he only brought out the Heavenly Serpent Technique after using up the three return opportunities. With this Heavenly Serpent Technique, Queen Medusa''s growth speed would surpass her previous rate by far. After just a brief moment, Gu He withdrew his hand, having transferred all the content of the Heavenly Serpent Technique into Queen Medusa''s mind. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 343: Reunion of Husband and Wife! Chapter 343: Reunion of Husband and Wife! "Master, rest assured, from now on, Caier will strictly restrain our people. Until we have sufficient strength, we will never again provoke conflict with the Jia Ma Empire!" Queen Medusa said with trepidation. "Hmm, I trust you will manage this well," Gu He nodded, then added a reminder, "Caier, if the Snake-People Tribe truly wishes to escape the current harsh living conditions, you don''t necessarily have to attack human empires. The vast resources of the Demon Beast Mountain Range are also plentiful and could be a good place to live." Upon hearing Gu He''s reminder, Queen Medusa fell into deep thought, hesitantly replying, "Master, I will remember what you said, but the edges of the Demon Beast Mountain Range are fortified by major empires. If we pass through, I''m afraid that..." "These are matters you will have to negotiate yourself. However, the most important thing is to improve your own strength. Once you are powerful, your bargaining power will increase." After saying this, Gu He bid farewell to Queen Medusa, "You should consider it carefully; I must take my leave now." "Disciple respectfully sends off Master!" Knowing that Gu He was determined to leave, Queen Medusa did not try to detain him any further. Soon after, under Queen Medusa''s watchful eyes, the space around Gu He distorted, and he vanished before her eyes. "Hua She''er, you may come in now!" After Gu He left, Queen Medusa summoned her personal Snake-People guards, her demeanor reverting to that of the noble and aloof Queen. Upon hearing her call, Hua She''er quickly led the guards into the temple. ... Meanwhile, after leaving the Snake-People''s temple, Gu He planned to return to the Yun Lan Sect. "I''ve been out for quite a long time. I wonder how Yun''er is doing at the Yun Lan Sect!" Standing on the back of the Black Scale Ice Serpent, a beautiful figure in green kept appearing in Gu He''s mind. Not long after, the figure Gu He had been thinking about suddenly appeared at the edge of the Tagor Desert, high above the skies outside Stone Desert City. Due to the recent invasion by the Snake-People army, the soldiers and civilians of Stone Desert City were highly vigilant. As they saw the rapidly approaching green light, many soldiers drew their weapons and quickly sent someone to notify Liu Ling. "Lord Kasida, there seems to be an unknown strong individual outside the city; please quickly inform Commander Liu!" A soldier hurried from the city wall to the headquarters of the Eldest Brother Mercenary Group. But just as he spoke to Kasida, the green figure had already appeared in the sky not far from their base. "Shes already here!" The soldier pointed to the sky in terror. Kasida and the mercenaries beside him looked up. Yun Yun''s arrival immediately caused some commotion in the city. Then, a Void Jade Talisman swiftly appeared in her hand. "Yes, but the projection summoned by this talisman can only stay for half an hour at most!" Liu Ling nodded and explained. "Half an hour, huh!" Upon receiving Liu Ling''s confirmation, Yun Yun no longer hesitated. She gently applied force with her palm and crushed the purple talisman. As soon as Yun Yun crushed the Void Jade Talisman, Gu He''s projection immediately descended from the sky. "Yun''er, what are you doing here!" Before the projection arrived, Gu He thought Liu Ling was in danger again. But as soon as he saw Yun Yun''s figure, his furrowed brows quickly relaxed. Overjoyed, he walked up to Yun Yun, reaching out to caress her face. If Liu Ling and Xiao Jin weren''t present, Gu He would have embraced her without hesitation. "Yun''er, I was just thinking about you. I can''t believe you happened to crush the Void Jade Talisman at this moment. It seems our thoughts were really in sync," Gu He said with a smile as he noticed Yun Yun''s silence and the tears welling up in her eyes. "Husband, is this your true form?" Feeling the warmth of the hand on her cheek, Yun Yun raised her hand to tightly grasp it. "No, this is just a projection! My true form was originally on its way to the Yun Lan Sect, but since I knew you were here, I naturally came here first," Gu He shook his head and explained. "Xiao Jin, stop staring; let''s go!" Seeing Yun Yun and Gu He leaning close to each other, Liu Ling sensibly took Xiao Jin''s hand and flew downward. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 345: Battle in the Demon Beast Mountain Range! Chapter 345: Battle in the Demon Beast Mountain Range! "Not long ago, I detected a trace of the Green Lotus Core Flame. Now it seems that the flame has likely been taken by him!" Yao Lao said with great certainty. Hearing Yao Lao''s words, Xiao Yan sighed, "It seems that the Green Lotus Core Flame is not destined to be mine." Seeing Xiao Yan''s somewhat dejected expression, Yao Lao suddenly asked, "Xiao Yan, are you regretting cultivating the Flame Mantra?" The reason Yao Lao asked this was because, up until now, the Flame Mantra had not absorbed any type of Heavenly Flame, not even Beast Flames, causing it to remain at a low-tier Yellow rank, which seriously hindered Xiao Yan''s cultivation speed. "Teacher..." Hearing Yao Lao''s question, Xiao Yan hesitated, falling into deep thought. Seeing Xiao Yan''s silence, Yao Lao, feeling a bit guilty, said, "Xiao Yan, if you regret it now, you can switch to another cultivation method." "Teacher, I dont regret it!" When Yao Lao mentioned switching to another cultivation method, Xiao Yan''s eyes suddenly became resolute. He shook his head and said, "If I dont have enough strength, how can I gain the approval of Xun''ers family? You once told me that only by cultivating the Flame Mantra can I achieve that kind of power. I believe in your judgment, Teacher!" Hearing Xiao Yan''s words, Yao Lao''s eyes gleamed with excitement as he said, "Good! Since you dont regret it, then let''s get back on track! Even without the Green Lotus Core Flame, I can still help you find another Heavenly Flame." "Yes!" Encouraged by Yao Lao, Xiao Yan straightened his back and quickly started running across the scorching sand, heading towards the place where he had agreed to meet Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. ... In the vast Demon Beast Mountain Range, a gigantic black-scaled dragon swept across the sky, blocking out the sun as it moved over the forest. In the forest below, countless demon beasts, sensing the terrifying aura, couldn''t help but prostrate themselves on the ground. "With Yanran''s strength, she shouldnt have ventured into the areas inhabited by high-level demon beasts." Standing on the back of the Black Scaled Frigid Python, Gu He calmly analyzed the situation to Yun Yun, ignoring the fearful demon beasts around them. Under the combined assault of these three demon beasts, Nalan Yanran didnt dare to use the powerful Dou Techniques that Gu He had taught her. Such techniques would drain all of her Dou Qi, and if even one demon leopard remained alive afterward, she would be completely defenseless. All she could do was fight while retreating. Within minutes, Nalan Yanrans Dou Qi had dwindled to less than a tenth of its original amount. The loss of Dou Qi caused her movements to slow down considerably. In a moment of carelessness, a burst of energy from one of the demon leopards slashed across her right leg, sending her flying backward and crashing hard against the mountain wall. "Master, Mistress, Im going to disappoint you... I havent even completed a single task assigned to me... Rolling down from the four-meter-high mountain wall, Nalan Yanran lay on the ground, her ability to move completely gone. As she watched the three massive figures pounce toward her, she closed her eyes in despair. Just as the mid-fourth-rank demon leopard, with its gaping jaws, was about to devour Nalan Yanran, a red figure suddenly appeared in front of her at an incredible speed, blocking the leopards attack. With a casual kick, the figure struck the demon leopard. Boom! A massive surge of red Dou Qi shot into the demon leopard''s mouth. Before it could react, its body exploded violently. The deafening sound echoed in Nalan Yanrans ears. What is this? Curious, Nalan Yanran opened her eyes and immediately saw a red-haired figure standing just a meter in front of her, with the shattered remains of the demon leopards body scattered nearby. The other two demon leopards, upon witnessing this, were filled with fear but still charged forward recklessly. Under Nalan Yanrans astonished gaze, the red-haired figure remained unmoved. As soon as the two demon leopards leaped toward him, they inexplicably burst into clouds of blood mist. This person is incredibly strong! He killed two fourth-rank demon leopards so easily! A mix of shock and wariness arose in Nalan Yanrans heart. After disposing of the two demon leopards, the red figure slowly turned around. The man appeared to be in his thirties, clad in a fiery red robe adorned with the pattern of a flood dragon. His hair was also a vivid shade of red. (End of the Chapter) Chapter 346: Master and Disciple Reunite! Transmitting Power to Nalan Yanran! Chapter 346: Master and Disciple Reunite! Transmitting Power to Nalan Yanran! Miss Nalan, how are your injuries? As soon as the red-haired middle-aged man turned around, he immediately expressed concern for Nalan Yanrans condition. Hearing his words, Nalan Yanran didnt respond directly about her injuries. Instead, with a mix of confusion and caution in her eyes, she asked, Who are you? Why did you save me? And how do you know my name? Seeing the wariness in Nalan Yanrans eyes, the powerful red-haired man quickly explained, looking a bit flustered, Miss Nalan, I am Red Dragon. The master sent me to protect you in secret. The master instructed me not to intervene unless your life was in danger, which is why Ive never appeared before you. This time, it was my mistake for not stopping that demon leopards attack in time. At this point, Red Dragons face showed a hint of self-blame. Master? Who is his master, and why would he send someone to protect me... Could it be...? As Nalan Yanran speculated in her mind, an overwhelming aura suddenly swept in from the distant sky. Both Red Dragon and Nalan Yanran turned their gazes towards the source of this aura. Under their watchful eyes, a massive black dragon appeared in the sky above the mountain ravine, blocking out much of the already dim light. On the back of the black dragon, there seemed to be two figures standing. Its the master and Boss Blackscale! Seeing the enormous black dragon above, Red Dragon excitedly said to Nalan Yanran. Although Nalan Yanran couldnt clearly see the figures on the back of the black dragon, a familiar feeling washed over her. Could it be Master? Just as this thought arose in her mind, a gentle yet urgent female voice came from the back of the black dragon. Husband, its really Yanran! Yun Yun said joyfully to Gu He beside her. Its that girl Yanran, and she seems to be injured... Sensing Nalan Yanrans condition below, Gu He raised an eyebrow. In the next moment, he embraced Yun Yun, and their figures instantly appeared before Nalan Yanran and Red Dragon. Master, Senior Sister Xianer and I separated after leaving the Yunlan Sect and arriving at the Demon Beast Mountain Range... Nalan Yanran then quickly recounted her recent experiences to Gu He and Yun Yun. By the end, her eyes were a bit misty, and her voice had a hint of a sob. Master, Yanran feels so useless. You told me to at least reach the level of a Five-Star Dou Spirit during this training, but Ive only just become a Nine-Star Dou Master... And Ive only managed to hunt four Fourth-Rank Demon Beasts... Hearing Nalan Yanrans words, Gu He gently patted her head and reassured her, Yanran, the goal I set back then was just to give you a bit of pressure; it wasnt meant for you to absolutely achieve it. Youve already reached the level I hoped for. He continued, Im pleased that youve found a way to cope with the pressures and loneliness of continuous fighting, without becoming just a machine that knows only how to kill. Really? Hearing that Gu He wasnt disappointed in her for not completing the task, Nalan Yanrans previously troubled mood brightened. Gu He nodded affirmatively and said, Of course its true. Moreover, I can see that your physical condition has improved a lot during this period. I believe that during this power transmission, you should be able to endure longer than before. Power transmission... Master is going to transmit power to me! Hearing Gu Hes words, Nalan Yanran, who was resting her head on Yun Yuns lap, exclaimed in pleasant surprise and then slowly sat up. Yun Yun, now aware of Gu Hes practice of transmitting power to his disciples, had initially been concerned, just like Zi Yan, that it might harm Gu Hes body. At that time, Gu He had used the same excuse he gave to Zi Yan to brush her worries aside. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 347: Return to the Yunlan Sect! The Hatching of the Nine Nether Sparrow! Chapter 347: Return to the Yunlan Sect! The Hatching of the Nine Nether Sparrow! As Gu He placed his palm on Nalan Yanran''s forehead, who was sitting cross-legged, a surge of immense energy instantly flowed from his palm into her body. Under the watchful eyes of Yun Yun, Hei Lin, and Chi Jiao, in just a moment, Nalan Yanran''s cultivation, which had recently broken through to the Nine-Star Dou Grandmaster level, rapidly reached saturation and effortlessly advanced to the Dou Spirit level. Over the past year, Nalan Yanran had been diligently refining her body every day with high-quality spirit liquids prepared by Gu He. Therefore, even after breaking through to the Dou Spirit level, she was still able to quickly absorb the cultivation energy transmitted by Gu He. Before long, Nalan Yanran''s cultivation had climbed from the One-Star Dou Spirit level to the Seven-Star Dou Spirit level. It was only at this point that the rapid surge of her cultivation began to slow down. However, even with the slight slowdown, her aura continued to rise. Finally, just as she was nearing her limit, her cultivation broke through to the Eight-Star Dou Spirit level. Seeing Nalan Yanran''s cultivation skyrocket from Nine-Star Dou Grandmaster to Eight-Star Dou Spirit in such a short period, Yun Yun''s face was filled with astonishment. At this moment, she finally understood why Gu He''s disciples progressed so rapidly in their cultivation. "My husband''s cultivation method is truly miraculous! At this rate, it seems possible that Yanran could break through to the Dou King level within a month!" Yun Yun sighed lightly in her heart after her initial surprise. Meanwhile, Gu He was listening to the system notifications. Although the cultivation Nalan Yanran absorbed this time was less than what Liu Ling had received, the multiplier effect was higher, allowing her to return with a years worth of cultivation. The three opportunities Nalan Yanran had to return the favor were used up after this transmission of cultivation. The medicinal pills Gu He had previously given her, as well as the medicinal powder applied to her wounds, had returned with even more potent healing items. "Yanran, how do you feel?" Yun Yun asked with concern when she saw Nalan Yanran open her eyes. "Masters wife, I feel great!" Nalan Yanran replied with a smile. After the successive breakthroughs in her cultivation, along with the effects of the Recovery Pill and the medicinal powder, Nalan Yanran could stand up directly. "As long as youre okay... Yanran, how about you return to the Yunlan Sect with your Master and me this time?" Yun Yun gently suggested, holding Nalan Yanrans hand. "Mm!" Hearing this, Nalan Yanran glanced at Gu He''s expression before nodding slightly in agreement. Although her cultivation had now broken through to the Eight-Star Dou Spirit level, making it easy for her to slay a Tier Four magical beast, the fact that this cultivation was achieved through Gu Hes transmission had already signaled the failure of her mission. Therefore, continuing to stay in the Magical Beast Mountain Range no longer had much purpose. "Alright then, lets set off now!" With that, Gu He signaled Hei Lin with a glance. Hei Lin immediately soared into the sky, revealing its enormous body. Next, Yun Yun and Gu He took Nalan Yanran onto Hei Lin''s back, while Chi Jiao was fortunate enough not to be absorbed into Gu He''s system space and instead stood on his leaders back. Once everyone was on board, Hei Lin the Cold Dragon quickly headed toward the Yunlan Sect. In less than two days, Gu He and the others arrived at the mountain gate of the Yunlan Sect. As soon as Gu He returned, Cai''er, the little girl from the Nine-Colored Valley, sensed his presence. Gu He opened his mouth slightly, allowing the delicious soup to enter. Is it good? After feeding him one spoonful, Yun Yun sat down beside Gu He. Its delicious, you should have a taste too! Saying this, Gu He took the spoon from Yun Yuns hand and brought a spoonful to her lips. After finishing the bowl of soup, Gu He reached out again for Yun Yuns slender waist. However, just then, he seemed to sense something, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face, full of affection. Husband, whats on your mind thats making you so happy? Noticing Gu Hes expression, Yun Yun gently traced her slender, fair fingers across his face. Yuner, I have a gift for you! Gu He said with a teasing tone. A gift? What is it? Hearing this, Yun Yun''s eyes filled with curiosity, and a hint of anticipation. Its a spirit beast egg! As Gu He spoke, he took out the egg of the Nine Nether Sparrow that was on the verge of hatching. Looking at the large, football-sized egg that was pitch-black and exuded a mysterious aura, Yun Yun asked in surprise, A spirit beast? What is that? Hmm... A spirit beast is a unique species on the Dou Qi continent, unlike any other, Gu He explained. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 348: Fusing with the Nine Nether Sparrow! Chapter 348: Fusing with the Nine Nether Sparrow! Hmm... This spirit beast is a unique species on the Dou Qi continent, Gu He hesitated for a moment before slowly explaining. Unique? Hearing Gu Hes description, Yun Yun became even more curious. She could sense a strong vitality emanating from within the black egg. Then, under the watchful eyes of both Gu He and Yun Yun, a fine crack suddenly appeared on the smooth surface of the black egg. Immediately, a ray of black light burst out from the crack. Seeing this, Gu He quickly cast an energy shield in front of Yun Yun to intercept the black light. At the same time, he swiftly donned a white robe, and the football-sized black egg was suspended in midair by an invisible force. Husband, is it about to hatch? Yun Yun, clutching Gu Hes arm, gazed nervously at the black egg. Just now, the black light emitted was as powerful as a full-force strike from a Dou King expert. Yes, its about to hatch! Gu Hes gaze was also fixed intently on the black egg. At this moment, under their watchful eyes, the black egg began to undergo strange changes again. The expanding cracks seemed to form a peculiar pattern, gradually lighting up. Then, a unique wave was silently born from within and began to spread. Immediately, a series of obscure light patterns emerged on the surface of the black egg, causing the surrounding heaven and earth energy to become extremely violent. Seeing this, Gu He quickly formed hand seals, and an invisible barrier appeared within the grand hall, completely isolating the halls aura from the outside world. After Gu He had done all this, the light on the black egg grew increasingly intense. The surrounding heaven and earth energy surged madly into the egg. At the same time, a crisp chirping sound echoed throughout the grand hall. Yuner, it seems this little one needs to absorb a lot of energy right after birth. Sensing the commotion from the black egg, Gu He didnt want to cause too much disturbance. He pulled out many precious spirit liquids from his system space and sprinkled them on the eggshell. After absorbing the energy from these spirit liquids, the sounds from within the black egg became noticeably more joyful. Once enough spirit liquid had been absorbed, a sharp crack suddenly sounded from the black egg. Immediately, a scorching black flame engulfed the entire surface of the egg, spreading like a storm and sweeping across the entire grand hall. However, despite the strength of the flame, it posed no threat to the seal Gu He had set up. Moreover, as the black flame surged, a more powerful purple flame emerged from Gu Hes body. Although incredibly strong, this purple flame, under Gu Hes soul control, was gentle and protective toward Yun Yun. Within just a few seconds, the black egg shattered with a series of cracking sounds. "Husband, stop looking!" Seeing this, Yun Yun quickly reacted, nervously reaching out her jade-like hand to cover Gu He''s eyes, not letting go until she had turned him around. After turning Gu He around, Yun Yun swiftly retrieved a blue dress from her storage ring and helped the naked girl put it on. Since Yun Yun carried a strong scent of Gu He on her, the Nine Nether Sparrow did not resist her actions. Soon, Yun Yun had dressed her fully, concealing all the exposed skin. Dressed in the blue garment, the Nine Nether Sparrows already elegant figure became even more slender, her waist thinner, and her chest more prominent. After completing this task, Yun Yun sighed in relief and called out to Gu He, "Alright, Husband, you can turn around now!" Hearing Yun Yuns call, Gu He turned around, his face slightly flushed with embarrassment, unable to meet the eyes of either of the two in front of him. The Nine Nether Sparrow stood quietly in place, her gaze fixed on Gu He, while Yun Yun''s heart was filled with a mix of emotions, looking at him with a tinge of resentment. After a long silence, Gu He cleared his throat and softly said to Yun Yun, "Yun''er, this is the gift I wanted to give you! After forming a contract with her, she will be able to merge with your body. Her innate abilities, power, and even her lifespan can all be shared with you." (End of the Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 349: Yun Yun Consumes the Nine-Colored Mysterious Life Pill! Chapter 349: Yun Yun Consumes the Nine-Colored Mysterious Life Pill! After a long while, Gu He cleared his throat and softly said to Yun Yun, "Yun''er, this is the gift I want to give you. The characteristics of this spirit beastonce you sign a contract with her, she can merge with your body. Her innate abilities, strength, and even lifespan will be shared with you." Although Yun Yun knew Gu He was trying to change the subject, a trace of curiosity still arose in her heart. "Sharing lifespan and strength?" Yun Yun asked curiously. Seeing Yun Yun respond, Gu He couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. He then grinned and said, "Yes, once you merge with her, her strength will be added to yours, and you''ll also gain the long lifespan of her Nine Nether Sparrow clan!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Yun Yun was somewhat tempted but hesitantly asked, "But will she be willing to merge with me?" The girl, who had transformed from the Nine Nether Sparrow, listened to their conversation with an exceptionally calm expression, her clear eyes showing no emotion despite Gu He proposing the merger with Yun Yun. With a confident look on his face, Gu He reassured her, "Yun''er, don''t worry, she will fully cooperate with you!" After saying this, Gu He turned to the girl and said, "Nine Nether Sparrow, this is your mistress!" Upon hearing Gu He''s words, the girl slightly opened her mouth, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth, and said, "Nine Nether Sparrow greets the mistress!" Seeing the girl''s obedient and charming demeanor, Yun Yun felt even more delighted. "Ninth Nether Sparrow... Husband, that''s just her clan name. Why don''t we give her a proper name?" Yun Yun suggested softly. "Sure, Yun''er, what name would you like to give her?" Gu He immediately agreed with Yun Yun''s idea. Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes showed a thoughtful expression before she suddenly said, "How about we call her Yun You?" Gu Yun You! Upon hearing the name Yun Yun gave the girl, a smile appeared on Gu He''s face as he gently said, "Alright, from now on, she will be called Gu Yun You!" The girl was also very pleased with the name Yun Yun had given her and excitedly said to the two of them, "Thank you, Master and Mistress, for bestowing me a name!" ... Contrary to what one might expect, the pills energy wasnt violent. Ninety-nine percent of the energy quietly seeped into different parts of Yun Yuns body, stored in a mysterious way, while the remaining one percent gently nourished her. However, even that tiny fraction of the pill''s energy caused significant changes in Yun Yuns body. Her aura began to rise rapidly, and before long, she broke through her current level, reaching the cultivation of a Six-Star Dou Emperor. Moreover, the residual energy in her body pushed her newly attained cultivation to the peak of the Six-Star Dou Emperor level. Throughout the entire process, Gu He observed closely. Fortunately, the pills effects were consistent with his expectations, with its medicinal power not erupting all at once. Seeing Yun Yun break through to the peak of the Six-Star Dou Emperor level, Gu He finally relaxed. Opening her eyes, Yun Yun excitedly said to Gu He, "Husband, this pill is truly miraculous! I can feel nine areas in my body filled with incredibly terrifying energy!" "Yun''er, over time, these nine areas of stored energy will gradually release, and each time, it will bring you great benefits!" After her initial excitement, Yun Yun turned her gaze toward Yun You and murmured, "So next, we should sign the contract with Yun You, right?" "Yes," Gu He nodded gently, then spoke kindly to Gu Yun You, "Yun You, let''s begin." Upon hearing Gu He''s words, a serious expression appeared in Gu Yun You''s clear eyes. The next moment, black light surged from her body, and before long, she was once again enveloped in black flames. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 350: Bloodline Connection! Terrifying Enhancement! Chapter 350: Bloodline Connection! Terrifying Enhancement! Hearing Gu He''s words, a serious look seemed to appear in Gu Yun You''s clear eyes. In the next moment, black light surged from her body, and before long, she was once again enveloped in black flames. "Yun''er, you need to cooperate fully with Yun You. This way, you two can establish a proper bloodline connection. If you fail, you''ll lose the opportunity to connect your bloodlines!" Gu He reminded Yun Yun as he observed Gu Yun Yous actions. The Nine Nether Sparrow had just recently hatched, and its strength was not yet fully developed. This was the best time to establish a bloodline connection with it. Even though Yun Yun''s cultivation level was a bit lower, with the full cooperation of the Nine Nether Sparrow, there shouldn''t be any major obstacles. Once Yun Yun and Yun You successfully established a bloodline connection, Yun Yun would gain the same long lifespan as the Nine Nether Sparrow. Its important to know that the Nine Nether Sparrow carries the bloodline of the ancient Immortal Phoenix. If it werent for the fact that the Nine Nether Sparrow was returned by the system and hatched with Gu He''s help, making it completely loyal to him, no powerful spirit beast would willingly do something that put it at a disadvantage. Upon hearing Gu He''s instructions, Yun Yun nodded seriously, her expression reflecting the gravity of the situation. Meanwhile, the black flames that had enveloped Gu Yun Yous body rapidly detached from her, quickly transforming into a black pattern between the two. The pattern, burning with black flames, gave off an incredibly mysterious feeling, as if it could connect with the deepest, most enigmatic parts of the human body. "Mistress, please infuse your essence blood into it," Gu Yun You suddenly spoke. Without hesitation, Yun Yun pointed her finger, and a drop of crimson blood shot out from her fingertip, landing on the black flame pattern. Sizzle! The essence blood touched the black flame pattern, instantly emitting wisps of white smoke. However, instead of being burned away, the blood began to merge into the pattern, gradually filling one half of it. At this moment, a serious expression also flashed across Gu Yun You''s eyes. The black light in the center of her forehead flickered, and a drop of dark blood shot out. Within this dark blood, it seemed that tiny black flames were burning. This dark blood also merged into the black pattern, occupying the other half. Buzz! The two drops of blood each occupied half of the black flame pattern, which then began to rotate slowly. The two drops of blood followed the pattern''s rotation, gradually coming into contact with each other. Boom! As Gu He''s only woman, he naturally hoped that Yun Yun would possess the strength to protect herself. The Nine Nether Sparrow was a spirit beast with tremendous potential and significant room for growth in the future. As long as Yunyou''s strength increased, Yun Yun''s strength would also rise accordingly. The most critical aspect was the Nine Nether Sparrow''s extended lifespan; with such longevity, Yun Yun would be able to cultivate to a remarkable level. "Madam, this is just a regular enhancement. If I fully exert my power, I can elevate your strength to the level of a nine-star Dou Ancestor. Moreover, if your cultivation reaches the nine-star Dou Ancestor level, our combined strength would be enough to contend with a Dou Venerate!" Sensing Yun Yun''s excitement, the young Gu Yunyou spoke with some pride. Upon hearing Yunyou''s words, Yun Yun''s thoughts grew complex. She then calmly said, "Yunyou, I will quickly improve my strength so that I won''t hold you back!" Gu He, standing nearby, picked up on Yun Yun''s thoughts. He reached out, tightly grasping her hand, and encouraged her, "Yun''er, there''s no need to feel pressured. In such a barren place as the Jia Ma Empire, you were able to cultivate to the level of a Dou Emperor, proving that your talent is exceptional. I will provide you with an endless supply of rare treasures and pills. Your cultivation level will undoubtedly rise in time..." Hearing Gu He''s words, Yun Yun''s eyes softened as she looked at him. She then leaned on Gu He''s shoulder, speaking softly, "Husband, you are so good to Yun''er!" "Silly Yun''er, if I''m not good to you, then who should I be good to?" Gu He also looked at Yun Yun with gentle eyes. Then, he slowly moved his lips closer to her red lips, his hand unconsciously moving to a lofty spot... "How embarrassing, I shouldn''t be watching this!" Just as Gu He and Yun Yun were lost in a passionate kiss, the young Gu Yunyou inside Yun Yun''s body blushed slightly, quickly closed her eyes, and even blocked her ears with her hands, swiftly retracting her outward spiritual senses. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 351: Deceiving the Revered Elder of the Soul Hall! Chapter 351: Deceiving the Revered Elder of the Soul Hall! "Yiya Yiya, Master has arrived!" In the back mountain of the Yunlan Sect, within the Nine-Colored Valley, the small figure of Cai''er suddenly began to jump excitedly. Hearing Cai''er''s words, a look of joy immediately appeared on Qinglin''s face. The Flame Dragon and Black Scale, who were in the middle of cultivation, also stood up. Then, under the gaze of the group, the space in front of Qinglin and Cai''er suddenly distorted violently. In the next moment, Gu He and Yun Yun stepped out from the twisted space together. "Master! Mistress!" "Master! Mistress!" As soon as Gu He and Yun Yun appeared, four respectful voices echoed through the valley. Hearing their greetings, Gu He and Yun Yun smiled faintly and nodded slightly. Currently, the energy within the Nine-Colored Valley was several times richer than when Gu He had left. No wonder Flame Dragon and Black Scale had immediately focused on cultivation upon their return to the Yunlan Sect. Yun Yun was astonished by the richness of the surrounding energy. If Gu He hadn''t brought her here this time, she wouldn''t have known that such a miraculous place existed within the Yunlan Sect. "That must be the Nine-Colored Green Lotus that my husband mentioned!" After carefully scanning the surroundings, Yun Yun''s gaze settled on a large Nine-Colored Green Lotus. "Master, these are the Longevity Pearls Ive collected over this period, and those Bloodthirsty Poison Cicadas have also grown considerably," Qinglin said, placing a large number of jade bottles on a stone table in front of her. However, Gu He didn''t pay much attention to the more than 300 jade bottles. The tasks he had given Qinglin back then were merely to keep her from getting too bored. After glancing at the bottles, he praised her, "Qinglin, it seems you''ve completed the tasks I assigned to you well, and you''ve also made significant progress in your cultivation of the Heavenly Snake Technique." Qinglin felt a bit embarrassed upon hearing Gu He''s praise. After chatting for a while, Gu He transferred some of his energy to Qinglin, raising her cultivation level to a three-star Dou Master. Although a three-star Dou Master might not seem very impressive among Gu He''s disciples, it''s important to remember that Qinglin was the youngest, and she had only been cultivating for less than two years, starting from an ordinary person. Her speed could be considered monstrous, unmatched even by some of the most talented geniuses of imperial families. Seeing that the black-robed elder was starting to believe him, "Protector Yun" seized the moment and suggested, "Elder, time is of the essence. Let me lead the way so we can catch that audacious mysterious person!" "Very well!" The black-robed elder nodded, and the two transformed into black mist, quickly soaring into the sky and heading away from Burial Ridge. Soon, the two arrived in the sky above a location a hundred miles away from Burial Ridge. However, at this moment, "Protector Yun" suddenly slowed down and eventually came to a stop in mid-air. Noticing this unusual behavior, the black-robed elder raised an eyebrow and also stopped. He then shouted, "Why have you suddenly stopped?" At this time, hearing the elder''s reprimand, "Protector Yun" showed no trace of the previous fear on his face. Instead, he sneered, "Heh, weve come far enough!" As he finished speaking, the aura around "Protector Yun" surged abruptly, and he revealed a cultivation level of a three-star Dou Ancestor. "Hmph, Ive suspected something was off about you for a while, but I couldn''t figure out why. I didnt expect you to reveal yourself today!" Seeing the change in "Protector Yun," the black-robed elder was slightly surprised, but it didnt stir much in his heart. "Do you think that just because you can deal with a few Protectors, you can handle me?" The black-robed elder sneered. "Since youve said that, I obviously wouldn''t be coming alone!" Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 353: The Han Family of Tianbei City! Chapter 353: The Han Family of Tianbei City! Moreover, with the intelligence provided by this branch of the Soul Hall, it would be difficult for the protectors coming from other branches in Central State to escape Gu Hes notice. "Alright, go and summon the two most powerful protectors currently stationed in this branch. Then, find some excuse to announce that Protector Yun is dead!" Upon hearing Gu Hes instructions, Yeming quickly returned to Burial Soul Ridge and brought the people back to Gu He. In the hands of Gu He and Yeming, the two Soul Hall protectors, who only had mid-level Dou Zong strength, had no power to resist. Gu He effortlessly implanted a puppet seed in their souls. After finishing this, Gu He didnt linger. He found a secluded place and entered seclusion directly. Currently, his clone was only at the Four-Star Dou Venerate level, but because his main body had already reached the peak of Five-Star Dou Venerate, it wouldnt take long for his clone to reach that level as well. ... Meanwhile, far away from the Black-Corner Domain, in the northern region of Central State, several dozen miles outside of Tianbei City, a large purple bird with a wingspan of three meters appeared in the sky. On the back of the purple bird stood a tall young woman with snow-white skin and long silver hair. Beside her was a little girl in white robes, only reaching the womans waist. These two were Han Yue and Zi Yan, who had been sent on a training journey by Gu He. The purple bird they were riding on was the Purple Demon Vulture, hatched from a ninth-tier magical beast egg Gu He had gifted to Han Yue. Not long ago, the Great Elder Su Qian had arranged for the academys elders to use griffins to send Han Yue and Zi Yan to the nearest space wormhole outside the Black-Corner Domain. After the two of them crossed the wormhole and arrived in Central State, the Purple Demon Vulture had hatched. As soon as it hatched, the creature possessed the strength of a peak fifth-tier magical beast. Its body grew to a size of three meters, and its flight speed surpassed many sixth-tier magical beasts. Afterward, Han Yue invited Zi Yan to visit her home for a while. Without hesitation, Zi Yan agreed to Han Yues proposal. On the back of the Purple Demon Vulture, Han Yue pointed excitedly at the towering city walls in the distance and said to Zi Yan, "Senior sister, ahead is Tianshui City. Well be home soon!" "Mm, junior sister, the main reason for this visit is to remember the location of your home. I wont be able to stay long, but Ill come find you again after Ive completed my mission." Hearing Han Yues words, Zi Yan nodded seriously, then spoke in a surprisingly mature tone, despite her youthful voice. ... Han Yue had originally planned to study at the Jia Nan Academy for at least five years, but now she was returning two years earlier than expected. Under the astonished gazes of many in the city, the Purple Demon Vulture suddenly came to a stop. Directly below was an expansive estate located in the southern part of the city. "How dare you intrude on Han family territory like this!" Just as the Purple Demon Vulture began descending toward the estate, an angry shout rang out from within. Several powerful auras quickly rushed out, heading straight for the Purple Demon Vulture. Their sudden movements immediately attracted the attention of others in the estate, who all looked up curiously at the sky. In just a short moment, those who had rushed out appeared in front of the Purple Demon Vulture. On the vulture''s back, Han Yue looked at the group approaching rapidly and focused on a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious robes. Her face lit up with a bright smile as she called out excitedly, "Father, Im back!" The middle-aged man in the embroidered robe, who had been the first to rush forward, saw Han Yues face clearly, and his eyes immediately filled with excitement. "Yue''er! Werent you at Jia Nan Academy? Why have you returned so suddenly? And... your strength, how could it have..." Sensing the aura emanating from Han Yue, the middle-aged mans expression shifted from surprise to overwhelming joy. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 354: Han Xue! Chapter 354: Han Xue! Father, theres a long story behind all this. Ill explain everything when we return! Oh, by the way, I havent introduced you yet. This is my senior sister, Zi Yan. Senior sister Zi Yan, this is my father. Over there is my second uncle, and that person is... Han Yue smiled as she introduced Zi Yan to each member of her family. Hello, everyone! After Han Yue finished the introductions, Zi Yan waved her hand towards the Han family with a bright smile, showing a row of pearly white teeth. Although Zi Yans way of greeting seemed rather casual, which could be perceived as disrespectful by more particular individuals, Han Yue was quite satisfied with her behavior. At the very least, Zi Yan wasnt calling them old geezers like she did with the elders at the academy. Upon hearing Zi Yans youthful voice, both Han Yues father and her second uncle were somewhat surprised, but their faces were filled with smiles. Zi Yans cultivation level was somewhat concealed, but the family members could still sense the powerful force hidden within her. Haha, since Miss Zi Yan is Yueers senior sister, please feel at home here, just as if it were your own! Han Yues father said kindly after Zi Yan greeted them. Thank you! Zi Yan politely nodded in response. Father, Ill take senior sister to go ahead first. Well talk more later! Han Yue said cheerfully to the man in the brocade robe before ordering the purple magic eagle to descend. ... Sister, youre back! Just as they landed in a spacious courtyard, a crisp voice echoed from the entrance. Hearing this familiar voice, a joyful expression immediately appeared on Han Yues face. When she looked toward the entrance, she saw a graceful young girl quickly running toward her. The girl, around seventeen years old, had eyebrows as delicate as willow leaves and skin as fair as snow. She was tall, wearing a purple dress that accentuated her curvy figure. Even at such a young age, she already showed the elegance of a blossoming beauty. Sister, Xueer missed you so much! "Hehe, Master said it''s a sixth-grade pill. I cant quite remember its exact name," Zi Yan replied with a slightly embarrassed smile. She had assumed Han Xue would recognize it. "A sixth-grade pill!" Upon hearing Zi Yans words, Han Xue became thrilled. After all, the alchemist the Han family revered could only craft fifth-grade pills. Pills of the sixth grade were extremely rare, and the Han family barely had a few in their possession. The fact that Zi Yan had casually given such a valuable pill as a meeting gift left Han Xue astonished. "Sister Zi Yan, this gift is too precious! I cant accept it!" Han Xue quickly put the cap back on the bottle and tried to return it to Zi Yan. "Its no big deal, just a sixth-grade pill. I have plenty of them! I also have seventh-grade pills if you prefer. If you don''t want this one, you can take one of these!" Zi Yan pulled out two more jade bottles from her storage ring, each containing seventh-grade pills. "Seventh...grade...pills..." At this point, Han Xue began to stammer in shock, clearly overwhelmed. After a moment, when she had finally processed everything, Han Xue decided to accept the original sixth-grade pill Zi Yan had first offered. After that, Han Yue softly suggested to Zi Yan, "Senior sister, how about I accompany you over the next few days to explore the city and let you experience the atmosphere of my hometown?" "A few days of fun?" Zi Yan was tempted by the offer but hesitated as she remembered her task. "Sister Zi Yan, I know this place well. Before, when my sister wasnt home, I had no interest in going out. But now, its perfect! The three of us can go out together!" Han Xue excitedly chimed in, eager for the adventure. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 355: Trouble-Maker Zi Yan! Chapter 355: Trouble-Maker Zi Yan! "Senior sister, Master also said that cultivation requires a balance between work and rest. Relaxing a little is a good way to adjust!" Han Yue softly persuaded. "Alright! We''ll play for three days. Three days wont cause much delay!" Hearing Han Yue and Han Xues words, Zi Yan nodded slightly and agreed. After saying this, a two-colored pill suddenly appeared in her hand, and she quickly tossed it into her mouth, chewing it up. During their conversation, Han Xue learned more about Zi Yan and Han Yues cultivation levels, as well as the origin of the massive purple bird that was walking around the courtyard. She felt increasingly shocked. However, despite all the things they discussed, Han Yue and Zi Yan did not reveal much about Gu He, especially regarding the transmission of techniques and memory infusion. "After hearing you two talk, I kind of want to go to Jia Nan Academy to study too!" Han Xue exclaimed. Hearing Han Xue express interest in Jia Nan Academy, Han Yue, with a doting look in her eyes, softly said, "Thats great! But I hope you wait for two more years. By then, Zi Yan and I will both return to Jia Nan Academy." "Thats wonderful! Then I wont have to be separated from you, sister!" Knowing that Han Yue would be going with her, Han Xue felt overjoyed. Since the purple magic eagle was too large and would attract too much attention in the city, Han Yue decided to keep it within her courtyard. Han Yue also knew that Zi Yan didnt enjoy interacting with too many strangers. After instructing the maids to take care of the magic eagle, she didnt bother greeting the rest of the family. Instead, she left the estate with Han Xue and Zi Yan and headed toward the streets of Tianbei City. While many people in the city may have forgotten about Han Yue, they were quite familiar with Han Xue. The sight of these two sisters, accompanied by the little loli Zi Yan, naturally drew curious glances from passersby. On the first day, everything went smoothly as the three wandered around the southern part of the city. However, on the second day, when they ventured into the northern part of the city, they encountered an unpleasant situation. A young member of the Hong family had the audacity to block the three of them in the middle of a busy street. "Han Yue, little sister! I didnt expect you to actually come back!" A lecherous youth, wearing clothes marked with a red emblem, ogled Han Yue and Han Xue without any sense of decency. Standing in front of him was a line of guards, all of them Dou Masters, and behind him was an elder with the strength of a peak Dou King. "Hong Tao, only a dog blocks the road! If you dont get out of our way, dont blame us for being rude!" Han Yues voice turned icy as she spoke. "Whats this? Is this your familys road? I happen to like standing right here!" Seeing Han Yue''s angry expression only made Hong Tao more excited, his eyes filled with lecherous intent as he stared fixedly at her. "Senior sister, go easy on him. Dont kill the old man with one hit!" Han Yue pleaded. Before Han Yues words had fully left her mouth, the peak Dou King expert from the Hong family was already sent flying by a single kick from Zi Yan, without causing so much as a ripple in the air. The elder let out a piercing scream as his body was flung over ten meters, crashing into one of the Hong family guards. "Old Shan, are you alright?!" A group of Hong family guards rushed over immediately. The elder, after being sent flying by Zi Yans kick, lay motionless, just like Hong Tao, unable to move. This scene was witnessed by the surrounding onlookers, who began to murmur about Zi Yans identity and strength. "So, Sister Zi Yan really is that powerful!" Standing beside Han Yue and Zi Yan, Han Xues mouth hung open in surprise. Although she had heard about Zi Yans strength during their earlier conversation, witnessing her effortlessly defeat a peak Dou King expert left her completely stunned. "Lets go. My moods been ruined by this guy!" After defeating the elder, Zi Yan and the two sisters no longer felt like continuing their stroll. Ignoring the discussions around them, they turned and made their way back to the large estate where the Han family resided. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 356: The Hong Family Grows Suspicious! Investigating Ziyan! Chapter 356: The Hong Family Grows Suspicious! Investigating Ziyan! After Ziyan and Han Yue returned to the Han family estate, nothing significant occurred throughout the day. Despite the commotion that had taken place in the bustling market earlier, the Hong family did not send anyone to the Han family to demand an explanation. In the evening, Han Yues father, Han Chi, summoned her alone into his study. "Yue''er, you''ve been back for a few days, but we havent had a proper conversation. Now, can you share with your father some of the experiences you''ve had over the years while you were away?" Han Chi asked kindly in the study. "Father, I''ve already told you about becoming a disciple at Jia Nan Academy. However, there are still many things about my master that I cant yet disclose..." Seeing the expectant look on Han Chi''s face, Han Yue spoke cautiously. Upon hearing her response, Han Chi was clearly displeased, but he didnt press further. Instead, he sighed and said, "Yue''er, we''ve analyzed the strength of your senior sister, and it seems her combat power might not be inferior to mine. For your master to be able to produce such a disciple, their power must be terrifying!" "Indeed, my master''s strength is terrifying!" Han Yue nodded in agreement. "Yue''er, there''s no one else here right now, so I''ll ask you just one thing. What level has your master''s cultivation reached? How does it compare to the Grand Elder?" Han Chi asked gravely. "As for my master''s exact strength... Im not too sure. But based on my intuition and some of the techniques Ive seen, I can say with certainty that even great-grandfather wouldnt be a match for my master!" Though Han Yues words were vague, they provided the exact answer Han Chi had been hoping for. After hearing this, Han Chis expression suddenly relaxed, and he said joyfully, "Yue''er, it seems sending you all the way to Jia Nan Academy was a very wise decision!" Although Han Yue could have stayed with the Han family to receive nearly the same cultivation resources, she had been sent thousands of miles away to Jia Nan Academy at a young age. This decision had puzzled many people. What they didnt know was that while the Han family might be considered prominent in Tianbei City, in the grand scheme of the Northern Region or even Zhongzhou, it was rather insignificant. Han Chis decision was in line with the thinking of many families from Zhongzhou. Sending their people to a place like Jia Nan Academy had two purposes: first, to temper and improve their abilities, and second, to make connections with talented individuals. Additionally, they hoped to establish some relationship with the semi-saint dean of Jia Nan Academy, who was as elusive as a dragon, in hopes of gaining his protection. Clearly, the results of Han Yue''s journey had greatly satisfied Han Chi, both as a father and as the head of the family. "Yue''er, that''s all I wanted to ask. You can go rest now," Han Chi said with satisfaction. "Then Ill take my leave," Han Yue said, maintaining a calm expression as she bowed and prepared to leave the study. Just as she turned to go, Han Chi spoke again, "Yue''er, don''t worry about what happened earlier today. Hong Tao provoked first, and your senior sister merely taught him a lesson without taking his life. Even if the Hong family comes looking for trouble, your father won''t back down an inch!" "Big Brother, are we really going to ignore this?" After Hong Liang left, the other elders hesitated before voicing their concerns to Hong Li. After a moment of contemplation, Hong Li suddenly said in a deep voice, "Let him stir up a little trouble for now... Ive heard that the eldest daughter of the Han family has changed significantly since her return. Not only has her strength improved dramatically, but shes also acquired a fifth-rank peak flying magical beast. Most importantly, the young girl who accompanied her is said to be her senior sister and possesses the combat power of a Dou Emperor." "A Dou Emperor!" Everyone in the hall was shocked upon hearing Hong Li''s words. "Yes, someone who can instantly defeat a peak Dou King expert and control their power so precisely that they can injure without killing must be at least a three-star Dou Emperor," Hong Li confidently concluded, having examined the injuries of the elder who had protected Hong Tao. "She and Han Yue share the same master. It seems we need to investigate this matter thoroughly!" "Han Yue came from Jia Nan Academy. Perhaps we should send someone to the Black-Corner Region!" ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 357: Zi Yan’s Farewell! Ambushed on the Road! Chapter 357: Zi Yans Farewell! Ambushed on the Road! "She and Han Yue studied under the same master. It seems necessary to investigate thoroughly!" "That Han Yue came from Jia Nan Academy. Perhaps we should send someone to Black-Corner Region." Listening to the analysis of the others, Hong Li nodded in agreement, "Do as you suggest, make the arrangements as soon as possible!" "Yes, Big Brother!" Upon hearing Hong Lis orders, the others in the hall cupped their hands in respect and quickly left the room. Once everyone had left, a strange look flashed in Hong Lis eyes as he murmured softly, "If that little girl Han Yue truly has a powerful master from Jia Nan Academy, it would be best to arrange her marriage to Chener quickly." In Hong Lis heart, his son, Hong Chen, and the overall interests of the family were his primary concerns. As for the matter regarding Hong Tao, he didnt take it to heart at all. ... Early the next morning, in the Han family estate, Zi Yan, after finishing breakfast with the Han sisters, brought up her intention to leave. "Zi Yan sis, Xueer still wants to spend more time with you!" Han Xue tugged at Zi Yans sleeve, her tone filled with reluctance. During the past few days, despite Zi Yans youthful appearance, she carried herself with the demeanor of a big sisterpowerful, generous, and often gifting Han Xue precious items that were invaluable to her. By now, Han Xue had become like a little shadow following Zi Yan everywhere. "Xueer, Senior Sister Zi Yan has important matters to attend to. She cant play with you all the time!" Seeing this scene, Han Yue gently removed Han Xues hand from Zi Yans sleeve, speaking softly. Although she too was reluctant to part with Zi Yan, they both had their own tasks to complete and couldnt stay in the small Tianbei City forever. "Okay, I understand," Han Xue let go of Zi Yans sleeve, lowering her head, her voice weak. "Xueer, Ill come back in at most two years to take you to Jia Nan Academy," Zi Yan remembered their previous agreement and spoke earnestly to Han Xue. After saying this, Zi Yan took out a small wooden box from her storage ring and handed it to Han Xue. "This is something I like very much. Now Im giving a bit of it to you!" "Isnt this the kind of pill you eat more than ten of every day, Zi Yan sis?" Han Xue guessed as she took the small box, and then slowly lifted the lid. Seeing what Zi Yan had given, Han Yue smiled and joked with a mock-jealous tone, "Xueer, youre getting better treatment than I ever did. Ive known Senior Sister for so long, and shes never given me this treasure!" "But dont eat it the way Zi Yan does, swallowing an entire one whole. Each of these pills is made from two rare fifth-tier spiritual herbs fused together!" Han Yue cautioned. "Understood, Big Sis. I''ll remember!" Han Xue nodded solemnly, acknowledging her sister''s instructions. ... Over a hundred li outside the eastern gate of Tianbei City, Zi Yan, who had parted ways with the Han sisters just a few hours earlier, paused atop a small hill. At this moment, she held a map in her hands, carefully studying it. While she was examining the map, seven or eight swift winds suddenly rose less than a kilometer behind her. "Were you following me?" In truth, Zi Yan had long sensed the presence of these individuals but hadnt bothered to expose them until now. Upon hearing Zi Yans voice, the eight masked, black-clad figures hidden in the forest swiftly surrounded her. "You''re quite alert for such a little girl!" The leader, a black-clad man, spoke with a menacing tone. Judging from the aura he exuded, he was a seven-star Dou Emperor at the peak. Beside him was an accomplice, a three-star Dou Emperor, and the remaining six were high-level Dou Kings. "Realizing a few pieces of trash like you were following me wasnt exactly difficult!" Zi Yan shrugged indifferently at the masked mans "compliment." "Still acting tough when you''re about to die. Today, Ill make sure to take you back as an explanation to Tao''er!" The black-clad man pulled down his mask, revealing a face that bore an eight-point resemblance to Hong Tao, the man Zi Yan had encountered on the street earlier. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 358: Zi Yan’s Terrifying Power! Chapter 358: Zi Yans Terrifying Power! "Still mouthing off when you''re about to die. Today, I''ll make sure to capture you and give Tao''er a proper explanation!" The black-clad man pulled down his mask, revealing a face that bore an eight-point resemblance to Hong Tao, whom Zi Yan had encountered on the street. In his hand, a sharp, gleaming saber appeared, its snow-white blade reflecting a chilling glint under the sunlight. "Swish!" "Swish!" The black-clad man swung the saber a few times, cutting through the air with ease, causing subtle distortions in the space around him. Zi Yan, meanwhile, put away her map and stood with her hands on her hips, watching the black-clad man''s movements with interest. The next moment, deep cyan Dou Qi surged out of the man''s body, and a sudden gust of wind whipped up around the hilltop. Evidently, the mans cultivation technique was wind-based, known for its speed and agility, while still delivering considerable attack power. "Spread out, block all her escape routes, and dont let her get away!" At his command, the others, including the three-star Dou Emperor, retreated to the sides, surrounding Zi Yan. "Be a good girl and come with me!" After the others had spread out, the black-clad man clenched his fist, and the cyan Dou Qi swirled around him like a tornado. Gripping his saber tightly, he sneered at Zi Yan before stomping hard on the ground, his figure blurring as he shot toward her with lightning speed. "Hiss!" Boosted by his wind-based Dou Qi, the black-clad man appeared before Zi Yan in the blink of an eye. His saber slashed down, producing several blinding arcs of blade light, aiming fiercely at Zi Yan. During this aggressive onslaught, Zi Yan didnt draw any weapons. Instead, she slowly clenched her small fist and, without any flair, punched forward. Completely ignoring the blade lights, her fist collided directly with the sharp edge of the saber. "Boom!" As her fist met the blade, a powerful energy wave exploded at the point of impact, sending shockwaves through the saber. Under the intense vibration, the black-clad man staggered back more than ten steps, and a sizable crack had appeared on the hand gripping his saber, fresh blood seeping out continuously. "How is this possible... She blocked a sword with her bare body? And this kind of strengthis it something a human can possess?" "There are signs of a battle here!" As soon as they arrived above the hill, Hong Li caught the lingering scent of blood in the air. After a short search, they found the black-clad man who had been knocked into the forest by Zi Yans attack. However, more than half of the mans body was already buried in the dirt, his clothes tattered and torn. His chest had a horrifying, gaping wound that continued to bleed, turning the surrounding soil a deep red. When the three newcomers reached him, the black-clad mans previously closed eyes slowly opened, and a look of extreme agitation appeared in his gaze. "Fourth Brother! Who did this to you?" Seeing this, Hong Li rushed to his side and quickly fed him a pill, pouring Dou Qi into his body to heal him. Despite the earlier conflict between them in the hall, Hong Li was filled with boundless fury at seeing Hong Liang, one of the top five experts in the family, beaten into such a state for no apparent reason. "It was her... that little girl who injured Taoer!" Hong Liang weakly muttered. "That little girl possesses such strength?" Hearing Hong Liangs answer, Hong Li was deeply shocked. He had known that Hong Liang and his group had gone to pursue that girl, but he had never imagined that Zi Yan could be so powerful. "Are you sure it was just her? Did anyone from the Han family get involved?" Hong Li asked, his tone full of doubt. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 359: The Arrival of the Soul Hall Venerate! Chapter 359: The Arrival of the Soul Hall Venerate! No, the Han family wasnt involved, it was just that young girl... She managed to block my blade with her bare fists. When she truly attacked, it only took a single strike to severely wound me, and everyone else was killed instantly by that one move! After swallowing a pill to recover some of his injuries, Hong Liang began recounting the earlier events in detail. She looks so young, yet she can withstand weapons with her body and defeat eight of you in one strike. Such methods, even I cant achieve... Listening to Hong Liang''s account, Hong Li pondered for a moment before exclaiming in shock, Could she be one of those... a seventh-tier, Dou Ancestor-level transformed magical beast! Thats what I think too! Hong Liang sighed helplessly. Big brother, if that young girl is really a transformed magical beast, just imagine how terrifying her master must be! If her master turns their wrath on the Hong family, were doomed! The two Dou Emperor experts who had come with Hong Li, recalling that Ziyan and Han Yue were sisters in training, couldnt help but express their fear. You must not reveal todays events to anyone! Hearing their analysis, Hong Lis face turned extremely grim. After warning the two not to leak any information, he turned to Hong Liang with a tense expression. Fourth brother, did that young girl learn of your identity? Hong Li asked in a low voice. Recalling the situation, Hong Liang replied, My identity... At the time, I only mentioned that I was seeking revenge for Taoer. She didnt seem to react to that at all. In fact, after injuring me, she showed no concern for whether I lived or died. Upon hearing this, Hong Lis expression grew even more serious. You fool! You actually mentioned Hong Taos name! Now shell definitely know youre from the Hong family! Hong Li roared in anger. Hong Li, this is my fault. If any trouble arises, Ill bear it alone! Hong Liang gritted his teeth and responded passionately. How will you bear it? That young girls master might not even be someone our ancestor can deal with! Hong Li sneered at Hong Liangs stubborn attitude. For a moment, Hong Liang was left speechless, his eyes filled with regret. After a long silence, Hong Li let out a heavy sigh and said, Ill arrange for someone to take you and that brat Hong Tao out of Tianbei City. Well announce to the public that you died in a battle outside the city. Until I get a clear understanding of that girls background, you must not associate with the Hong family! Hearing Hong Lis decision, Hong Liangs emotions were complicated, but he nodded in resignation. Fifth brother, handle the situation here. Sixth brother, you come with me to the Han family! Having made his decision, Hong Li slowly stood up and spoke to the two behind him. At this moment, Gu He carefully concealed his aura, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. To ensure everything went smoothly, Gu He even had his clone halt cultivation and hurry to the location. ... Ye Ming, are you sure theres a Fallen Heart Flame here? Why havent I sensed even the slightest trace of the Heavenly Flame? A red-haired elder traveling with Ye Ming frowned as he spoke, less than two hundred miles away from Gu Hes valley. Lord Blood Venerate, I swear its true! I clearly saw the Fallen Heart Flame, and it was definitely unclaimed, Ye Ming explained loudly in response to the red-haired elders doubts. Besides, if the flames aura spread far, wouldnt others have discovered it long ago? The Blood Venerate, still somewhat skeptical, said, Fine. If the flame is indeed here, Ill make good on my promised reward. As they spoke, the two increased their speed, and soon the small valley where Gu He and his clone were waiting came into view. From the clones position, a faint aura of the Fallen Heart Flame was deliberately leaked, heightening the Blood Venerates anticipation as he neared the valley. As the Blood Venerate approached, he suddenly detected a different, faintly unusual aura. Someones here! His steps quickened, and with a glance, he saw a white-robed man sitting at the bottom of the valley. The aura of the Fallen Heart Flame was emanating from this man. Seeing this, Ye Ming, receiving orders from Gu He, quickly said, Lord Blood Venerate, he hasnt refined the flame yet! Lets stop him! This guy is just a four-star Dou Venerate, and he dares to think he can claim such a treasure? Truly ignorant! the Blood Venerate scoffed, filled with disdain for the white-robed man below. (End of the Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 360: Betrayal! Controlling the Blood Venerate! Chapter 360: Betrayal! Controlling the Blood Venerate! Sensing that the person below was at a critical moment in refining the Fallen Heart Flame, the Blood Venerates old face lit up with excitement. The next moment, without hesitation, he unleashed his powerful aura as a six-star Dou Venerate. His hand clenched fiercely towards the white-robed man sitting at the bottom of the valley. Instantly, a massive surge of spatial energy erupted in the valley. When this energy reached the area surrounding the white-robed man, there was a violent collision, and an invisible flame python shot out from the mans body. However, it was quickly restrained by the man again. Friend, interrupting my refinement of the Fallen Heart Flame without reasondo you think Im easy to bully? The white-robed man showed no sign of fear upon sensing the overwhelming presence of the Blood Venerate above. A treasure like the Heavenly Flame isnt something you deserve to possess! The Blood Venerates face remained full of disdain as he pointed at the white-robed man. If you obediently hand over the Fallen Heart Flame, Ill let you leave. But if you resist, dont blame me for being ruthless! If you want to seize the Heavenly Flame, lets see if you have the ability! Unfazed by the Blood Venerates threats, the white-robed man swiftly sealed the flame python into a specially crafted bottle. Instantly, a surge of thick Dou Qi energy emanated from his body. Youve chosen death yourself, dont blame me! With a cold shout, the Blood Venerate condensed the energy in his hand into a blood-red curved blade, half a meter long. As soon as this blood-red blade appeared, the sky over the valley darkened slightly. Then, with a swing of the blade, a massive five-meter-long blood arc shot out, slicing through the air and even seeming to tear the space it passed. Upon witnessing the overwhelming power of the blood arc, the white-robed man, who had remained calm until now, showed a slight change in expression. In the next moment, his figure suddenly disappeared from the valley floor and reappeared in the sky, facing the Blood Venerate and Ye Ming. The terrifying blood arc struck the valley floor with a tremendous explosion, creating a massive fissure nearly a hundred meters long. The violent tremors caused countless boulders to break loose and tumble down the valley. What an eerie movement technique! Seeing the white-robed man dodge his attack almost as if teleporting, the disdain on the Blood Venerates face began to fade. Lord Blood Venerate, although his movement technique is strange, it must consume a tremendous amount of energy. He wont be able to maintain it for long! Ye Ming respectfully suggested. Hearing Ye Mings words, the Blood Venerate nodded slightly and then said, Ye Ming, attack with me! As soon as he finished speaking, the Blood Venerates body turned into a streak of blood light, rushing straight toward the white-robed man. Right behind him, Ye Ming followed closely. Seeing the Blood Venerate''s decisive retreat, Gu He, who had just appeared, turned into a flash of silver lightning, streaking toward the place where the Blood Venerate had disappeared. Within less than a second after the silver lightning entered the void, a pitch-black crack suddenly appeared thousands of meters away in the sky. The Blood Venerate, who had just tried to escape through space, abruptly burst out of the rift, his shoulder clearly caved in. Moments later, Gu He''s figure emerged slowly behind him. "Who are you? How can you possess such powerful spatial traversal abilities!" The Blood Venerate, now seriously injured again in the void, stared at Gu He with deep fear in his eyes. He knew that with the opponent''s strength, escaping on his own today would be nearly impossible. In response to the Blood Venerate''s question, Gu He chuckled lightly and said, "You''re asking too many questions!" As Gu He finished speaking, his clone manipulated an invisible flame python to close in on the Blood Venerate. At the same time, Ye Ming also moved in for the attack. "Haha, who would''ve thought that a small place like the Black-Corner Region could gather a five-star Dou Venerate and two four-star Dou Venerates in such a lineup." (End of the Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 361: The Disciple Returns! Chapter 361: The Disciple Returns! "Haha, I didnt expect that such a small region like the Black-Corner Domain could bring together a lineup with a Five-Star Dou Venerate and two Four-Star Dou Venerates." Blood Heavenly Venerable laughed loudly, then turned his gaze to Ye Ming, questioning him, "Ye Ming, youve colluded with outsiders to deal with me. If the Four Heavenly Venerates learn of this, do you think youll have a good outcome?" "And you two, do you know who I am? My relationship with the Four Heavenly Venerates runs deep. If the Four Heavenly Venerates come after you, then..." Before Blood Heavenly Venerable could finish his long-winded threat, Gu Hes face showed clear impatience. In the next moment, he used his "Ascension Step" technique to appear in front of the Soul Halls Heavenly Venerable and landed a punch straight on his mouth. The force of the punch, powerful enough to shatter space, crushed the bones in Blood Heavenly Venerables face. "Ah!" With a miserable scream, Blood Heavenly Venerable, like Ye Ming before him, began plummeting toward the ground. Even as Blood Heavenly Venerable lost his ability to fight back, Gu He didnt stop. He repeatedly kicked him into the air, then let him fall again. After this cycle repeated three times, Blood Heavenly Venerables consciousness began to blur. "That should be enough!" Seeing the state of Blood Heavenly Venerable, Gu He finally ceased his assault. His clone rushed over, waved his hand, and suspended Blood Heavenly Venerables body in midair. Just like when he dealt with Ye Ming, Gu He first ensured that Blood Heavenly Venerable lost some of his consciousness before surging his soul force into the mans body, preparing to plant a puppet seed. Although Blood Heavenly Venerables soul was much stronger than Ye Mings, he was still only at the Mortal Realm in terms of his soul, so Gu He had no trouble using the ancient puppet seed technique on him. In just one hour, a transparent crystal appeared deep within Blood Heavenly Venerables soul. When the transparent threads from the crystal spread throughout his entire soul, Gu He withdrew his soul force. From Blood Heavenly Venerables memories, Gu He learned that the Soul Hall branch he resided over was located in the desolate northern region of Central Province, and Blood Heavenly Venerable was the highest-ranking official in that branch. In the northern region of Central Province, the strongest faction on the surface was the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. Its strongest member, Lei Zun, was only a low-rank Dou Venerate and couldnt last a round against Blood Heavenly Venerable. This comparison showed just how hidden and unimaginable the Soul Halls true strength was. Aside from learning about this Soul Hall branch, Gu He also found out that Blood Heavenly Venerable had a nominal master-disciple relationship with the Four Heavenly Venerates Xue He. From Blood Heavenly Venerables memories, the Four Heavenly Venerate Xue He had already reached the peak of Nine-Star Dou Venerate strength many years ago. However, Gu He knew even more about Xue He than Blood Heavenly Venerable did. At this time, Xue He was likely already at the peak of Nine-Star Dou Venerate, just a step away from becoming a Half-Saint. Moreover, Xue He practiced an extremely powerful Heaven-rank beginner-level Dou Technique called the Blood Transformation Art, allowing him to remotely manipulate his enemies blood, causing them to explode from within. "Kassida, now that youre the second-in-command, remember this: in my absence, no member is allowed to break the rules of the Elder Brother Mercenary Group!" Upon hearing Liu Lings words, Kassida straightened up and responded loudly, "Dont worry, Leader! I will strictly enforce the rules youve set." "Good. Here are some pills I made myself; keep them for emergencies!" Liu Ling nodded in approval, then took out a dozen jade bottles and handed them to Kassida. After finishing these preparations, a pair of crimson wings suddenly unfolded from Liu Lings back. Together with Xiao Jin, he flew away from the city where he had spent nearly a year. ... Meanwhile, at the gate of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect in the Chu Yun Empire, a fierce battle had just ended. Ever since the sect master of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect, Liu Rulong, disappeared, the people from the Demon Poison Sect had been aggressively taking over the Ten Thousand Poison Sects territory. Under the overwhelming strength of Hua An, who was at the Dou Emperor level, the disciples of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect were forced to retreat step by step, until they were confined within their sect. Today was the day of the Demon Poison Sects final assault on the Ten Thousand Poison Sect. After a crushing massacre, the remaining disciples of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect surrendered one by one. "From now on, in the Chu Yun Empire, all poison masters will bow to the Demon Poison Sect!" Hua An, who had lost one arm, hovered in the air above the massive square at the entrance of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect, declaring the sect''s destruction as the remaining elders and disciples of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect submitted. "Hahaha! Hua An, your tone is quite arrogant! Do you think that by destroying a small sect like the Ten Thousand Poison Sect, youve become invincible in the world?" Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 362: The Battle for Domination of the Chu Yun Empire! Chapter 362: The Battle for Domination of the Chu Yun Empire! "Hahaha! Hua An, your arrogance knows no bounds! Do you really think that by destroying the small Ten Thousand Poison Sect, you can declare yourself invincible?" Just after Hua An announced the fall of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect, a wildly arrogant laugh echoed from the foot of the mountain. The Ten Thousand Poison Sects gates were now heavily guarded by the Demon Poison Sects disciples, making it nearly impossible for even a bird to slip through. Yet, the owner of that voice appeared without anyone noticing, clearly a powerful individual. "What kind of lowlife dares to act so brazenly here!" Right after the voice faded, Huang Dashan immediately flew to a high vantage point to observe. In his sight, three figures with Dou Qi wings were slowly flying toward the square. Leading them was a middle-aged man with a sullen expression and dressed in luxurious robes, followed closely by two elders. "Three Dou Emperors!" Sensing the aura exuding from the trio, Hua Ans face instantly changed, and he quickly shouted toward Huang Dahai, "Dahai, retreat now!" However, just as Hua An warned him, the middle-aged man leading the group flashed in front of Huang Dahai and gently lifted his foot, kicking Huang Dahai''s large belly. "Boom!" Before Huang Dahai could react, he plummeted from the sky, crashing hard onto the square. "Dahai!" Seeing that Huang Dahai had taken a blow, Hua An hurriedly flashed to his side, checking his injuries with concern. "Master..." Huang Dahai struggled to speak, blood gushing from his mouth once again. "That was just a little punishment for his rude words!" the middle-aged man who had struck him mocked nonchalantly. After inspecting Huang Dahais injuries, Hua Ans expression turned grim. He could clearly feel that this middle-aged mans strength surpassed his own, and with two other Dou Emperors backing him, Hua An knew that it was not wise to attack directly. "Who are you, and why have you come here today?" Hua An asked in a deep voice. "Hehe, I am Xie Shan, the sect master of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect!" the middle-aged man replied with a light chuckle. "Foolish resistance!" Seeing Hua Ans defiance, Xie Shans previously calm expression was now tinged with anger. In a flash, Xie Shan moved to intercept Hua An. Meanwhile, the two elders following Xie Shan took action against the elders of the Demon Poison Sect. The two Dou Emperor powerhouses faced off against a group of Dou Kings, and it was an absolute massacre. In mere moments, casualties began to pile up among the Demon Poison Sect. Witnessing this, Hua An, who was rushing to escape, turned back to help. But as soon as he moved, Xie Shan blocked his path, swiftly swinging a blue rod with a pungent scent directly at Hua Ans head. In his hurried defense, Hua Ans single arm produced a rod-shaped weapon. Ever since his battle with Old Monster Liu, where he lost his arm, he had given up his silver spear. The two rods clashed violently in midair, sparks flying as a strange, cold poison gas spread from the blue rod. Hua Ans arm went numb, and he quickly retreated. "Haha! To be able to withstand my strike with your strength as a Seven-Star Dou Emperor, you''re not bad!" Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 {Alchemy conference has commenced and liu ling and xiao yi xian has entered stage. come along to read it by joining Patreon. Join patreon to read ahead 20 chapters.} Chapter 363: Combat Power that Crushes in the Same Realm! Chapter 363: Combat Power that Crushes in the Same Realm! "Haha, to withstand a strike from me with the strength of a Seven-Star Dou Emperor, you''re quite impressive!" Seeing Hua An retreat, Scorpion Mountain didn''t pursue. With his strength, if Hua An truly wanted to flee, he wouldnt be able to stop him. However, if Hua An left today, the entire Demon Poison Sect and Ten Thousand Poison Sect would be completely swallowed by the Scorpion Sect, leaving Hua An as nothing more than a stray dog. After retreating dozens of meters, Hua An didn''t flee. His heart was tense, as the elders of the Demon Poison Sect were struggling to hold off two Dou Emperor experts from the Scorpion Sect. As Hua An faced off against Scorpion Mountain, who wielded a blue staff, the sky above the massive square of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect suddenly twisted violently. Soon, a graceful figure dressed in white and a silver-haired little girl stepped out from the distorted space. This sudden occurrence immediately caught Scorpion Mountains attention. Even the massive Four-Winged Heavenly Demon Scorpion in the air looked cautiously at the silver-haired girl, its enormous pupils revealing a trace of fear. Perhaps it was a unique sensing ability among demon beasts, but even without releasing a strong aura, the Void Beast could sense her immense power. "Eh? How could such a massive demon beast appear here? Where did those three Dou Emperor experts come from?" After the appearance of Xiao Yixian, her gaze swept around before fixing on the battle in the sky. "Great! These two ladies have come at just the right time!" Seeing the two sudden arrivals, Hua An felt as if he had seen his saviors, and his previously furrowed brow relaxed. Not long ago, Hua An had encountered Xiao Yixian after she emerged from the Poison Saints ruins. He had agreed to send some disciples from the Demon Poison Sect to help her mine the ancient forest within the ruins. Thus, Hua An had subjectively assumed that he and Xiao Yixian were on friendly terms. So, upon seeing Xiao Yixian and the little silver-haired girl, he couldnt hide his excitement. "Who is this young girl? How could she possess the strength of an Eight-Star Dou Emperor at such a young age? And that little girl beside her..." At this moment, Scorpion Mountain, who stood opposite Hua An, furrowed his brow tightly. He could discern Xiao Yixians strength, but the little girl standing beside her gave him an unfathomable feeling. "Ladies, please help rescue the elders of my Demon Poison Sect!" Hua An pleaded for assistance. "Watch out behind you, Lady Xiao!" Just after Xiao Yixian and Scorpion Mountain had exchanged probing blows, Hua An shouted an urgent warning. As his voice fell, a piercing screech echoed through the sky. In the next moment, Xiao Yixian sensed a powerful gust of wind approaching from behind. A massive shadow loomed over her headthe enormous stinger of the Four-Winged Heavenly Demon Scorpion was swiftly descending upon her. While Xiao Yixians poison Dou Qi was unmatched against opponents of the same level, she would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage in terms of raw power against a demon beast. Thus, upon sensing this attack, Xiao Yixian didn''t recklessly attempt to confront it head-on. Instead, she swiftly twisted her body and dodged the incoming strike of the enormous stinger. Taking advantage of this brief respite, Scorpion Mountain quickly expelled the Doom Poison Qi from his body. Meanwhile, Hua An rushed to assist his sects elders in their struggle against the two Dou Emperor experts from the Scorpion Sect. With Hua An, a high-level Dou Emperor, joining the battle, the two elders, who were only at the Three-Star Dou Emperor level, began to falter. Despite this, Scorpion Mountain didnt intervene, keeping his gaze fixed on Xiao Yixian while remaining cautious of the silent Little Silver, who had yet to make a move. The Four-Winged Heavenly Demon Scorpion, having missed its strike, gave Xiao Yixian no time to rest. Its massive, black-iron-like pincers swung towards her with ferocious momentum. Faced with such a brutal onslaught, Xiao Yixian had no choice but to repeatedly retreat, widening the distance between herself and the gigantic creature. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 364: One Against Two! Chapter 364: One Against Two! In the sky above the square, Xiao Yi Xian was being surrounded and attacked by Xie Shan and the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpion. Over on Xiao Yins side, there was no reaction whatsoever. She remembered Gu Hes strict order very clearly: "Do not intervene unless it''s a life-and-death crisis." Moreover, Xiao Yi Xians recent changes in strength were clearer to Xiao Yin than anyone else. Even at the Dou Emperor level, Xiao Yi Xian''s combat power was unmatched across the entire continent, strong enough to rival some of the weaker Dou Zong. At this moment, under Xiao Yins gaze, Xiao Yi Xian had already put some distance of several hundred meters between herself and the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpion. By this time, Xie Shan had also purged the poison that had just invaded his body and, along with the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpion, moved in to encircle Xiao Yi Xian. Xiao Yi Xian stood calmly in mid-air, showing no panic despite being surrounded by both a person and a beast. With a series of hand seals, she was suddenly enveloped in purple flames. A terrifying heat spread through the entire area, making peoples hearts tremble. "My goodness, this is too terrifying!" Sensing the frightening heat, the elders of the Poison Demon Sect, the two Dou Emperor experts from the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, and Hua An all halted their actions, turning their gazes towards Xiao Yi Xian. Over on Xie Shans side, when he saw this strange phenomenon, he forgot to blow the long whistle held in his mouth and stared at Xiao Yi Xian, his brows furrowed. Because, at that moment, the purple flame surrounding Xiao Yi Xian gradually transformed into a ten-zhang-sized purple butterfly. Although it wasn''t as large as the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpion, the pressure it exerted was even more intense. "Netherworld Poison Flame!" "Isnt this legendary poison flame said to be impossible to refine?" Seeing the gigantic purple butterfly radiating terrifying heat, Xie Shan, who was well-versed in ancient texts, was filled with boundless doubt and fear. "Go, roast that big guy for me!" Xiao Yi Xian didnt give Xie Shan a chance to ponder. After summoning the Netherworld Poison Flame, she swiftly controlled it to attack the massive body of the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpion. Under Xiao Yi Xian''s control, the huge purple butterfly flapped its wings. As soon as it took action, it displayed the Butterfly Dance technique, whipping up a gust filled with fire and poison, dancing gracefully in the sky. Seeing the purple butterflys offensive stance, the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpions large pupils flashed with ferocity. It shook its four massive wings and charged at the purple butterfly, refusing to be outdone. "Whoosh~" However, despite his cultivation level being one star higher than Xiao Yi Xian''s, he had no advantage in Dou Qi strength. After two or three clashes, he found himself at a disadvantage again. While Xie Shan and Xiao Yi Xian were locked in combat, the purple flames on the legs of the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpion''s abdomen were finally extinguished with a constant flow of Dou Qi. However, its situation did not improve in the slightest. The moment the flames were put out, an unimaginable amount of venom had penetrated through the burned and broken shell of its legs and seeped into its flesh. "Ah!" In the next moment, both Xie Shan and the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpion simultaneously fell into defeat, letting out cries of pain. Xie Shan was already suffering from multiple doses of Xiao Yi Xians Envenomed Calamity Poison. Similarly, the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpion, now also poisoned, was in such agony that it plummeted towards the ground. Rolling uncontrollably, it shattered the giant rocks outside the Ten Thousand Venom Gate''s mountain gate. Its most miserable condition, however, was its four pairs of seemingly sturdy wings, which had somehow been burned to mere skeletal frames. Watching the battle, Hua Ans heart was greatly uplifted. He never imagined that the young girl he intended to take as a disciple a few months ago had now grown into such a formidable figure, one he could only look up to. "Were retreating!" Realizing he was no match for Xiao Yi Xian, Xie Shan abandoned the thought of continuing the fight. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 365: The Ancestor of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect – Xie Biyan! Chapter 365: The Ancestor of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect C Xie Biyan! Were retreating! Realizing he was no match for Xiao Yi Xian, Xie Shan had lost the will to continue fighting. At Xie Shan''s command, the two elders at the Dou Emperor level, who had been confronting Hua An and the elders of the Poison Demon Sect, quickly fled down the mountain. After issuing the order to retreat, Xie Shan swiftly blew on the whistle in his hand. Upon hearing the sound, the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpion, which had been writhing in pain on the ground, suddenly forced itself to suppress the spreading poison within its body. Its massive frame began to sprint wildly across the ground. I warned you to leave earlier, but you didnt listen. Now that you want to run, it''s not going to be that easy! Seeing Xie Shan and his men retreating, Xiao Yi Xian swiftly chased after them, blocking Xie Shans path. Hua An and the elders of the Poison Demon Sect followed closely behind her. Little girl, I admit you are very strong, but have you ever heard the saying Theres always someone stronger than you? Xie Shan spoke coldly as he found himself trapped by Xiao Yi Xian. The ancestor of my Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect has already broken through to the Dou Ancestor level. If not for his seclusion, our Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect would have swallowed up all the powers in the Chu Yun Empire! If anything happens to us today, it will surely alarm the ancestor. At that time... The ancestor of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect... Could it be Xie Biyan, who was rumored to have perished decades ago? Hua An asked in surprise upon hearing Xie Shan''s threat. I don''t care who this Xie whatever Biyan is! Even if he''s a Dou Ancestor expert, he''s not here right now, is he? We''ll deal with him when he shows up! Xiao Yi Xian replied indifferently. Without waiting for Xie Shan to respond, Xiao Yi Xian swiftly took action, controlling the Netherworld Poison Flame to attack the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpion, which was running away frantically. Damn it! Youll regret the decision you made today! Seeing Xiao Yi Xians movements, Xie Shans gaze hardened. In the next moment, he ignored the other two elders at the Dou Emperor level and tried to break through the encirclement alone. With those two elders in place, Hua An didnt dare to leave, so Xiao Yi Xian was the only one pursuing Xie Shan. At the base of the Ten Thousand Venom Sect''s mountain, most of the Poison Demon Sect disciples, exhausted from days of battle with the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sects members, were being pushed back. They were suffering continuous casualties. Just then, a violent tremor emanated from the mountain as if an earthquake was about to strike. Moments later, in the sight of both sides of the battlefield, a giant beast, dozens of meters tall, charged down the mountain like a mad creature. Its body was engulfed in raging purple flames. What kind of gigantic beast is this? The hundreds of Poison Demon Sect disciples guarding the area turned pale with fear at the sight of the Four-Winged Heavenly Venom Scorpion. This level of power had already surpassed anything they could imagine. Though the Poison Demon Sect disciples were also unaware of the purple butterflys origin, they felt a sense of relief when they understood that this terrifyingly hot butterfly had killed the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect''s guardian beast. Just then, a roar echoed from the mountains base. You killed our guardian beast! The ancestor will not spare you! Following the voice, a middle-aged man in tattered clothes with disheveled hair and blackened skin appeared in the sky. Behind him, a young girl dressed in pure white floated towards them, as if taking a leisurely stroll. Sect Master! The remaining Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect disciples at the mountain''s base immediately recognized the middle-aged man. They had never imagined that their once aloof, powerful, and mysterious sect master would now appear in such a pitiful state. Given the calamity poison accumulated in Xie Shans body, he probably wouldnt live for much longer. Hearing Xie Shan''s roar, Xiao Yi Xian suddenly stopped her pursuit. She remained where she was and shouted loudly, "Since you have so much faith in your ancestor, Ill let you go back and deliver the message. Three days from now, I will visit the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect!" Xie Shan, feeling as if he had been granted a reprieve, quickly threw out one more threat. Fine! Just you wait! If you dont come to our Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect in three days, our ancestor will come to the Poison Demon Sect personally! Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 366: Xiao Yi Xian Establishes the Poison Sect! Chapter 366: Xiao Yi Xian Establishes the Poison Sect! After making this final threat, Xie Shan turned his gaze towards the gathered disciples of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect at the mountains base and shouted sternly, All disciples of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, retreat immediately! Without waiting to see how the others would react, Xie Shan quickly departed from the scene, his figure flashing away. The conversation between Xiao Yi Xian and Xie Shan was clearly heard by all the disciples of both the Poison Demon Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect. At that moment, the morale of both sides experienced a complete reversal. Brothers, the Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect has fled! Lets counterattack! Counterattack! Counterattack! In an instant, the disciples of the Poison Demon Sect surged with momentum, charging furiously down the mountain. At this moment, more than a dozen elders of the Poison Demon Sect, including Hua An, flew down from the mountain to join the fray. The Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect disciples who reacted quickly had already scattered and fled, while those who were slower were soon cut down by the Poison Demon Sect. However, when the Poison Demon Sect disciples surrounded the remaining members of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, they did not choose to exterminate them completely. Currently, a chaotic battle had erupted among three of the top five sects in the Chu Yun Empire. If both sides suffered massive casualties, not only would the Poison Demon Sect be unable to accept it, but the Chu Yun Empire would also be thrown into turmoil. A prolonged bloodbath would likely set the empire''s overall strength back by decades. Hua An was well aware of this. So, after achieving total victory, he captured all the surviving disciples of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect. Their ultimate fate would be decided three days later, depending on whether the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect or the Poison Demon Sect emerged as the final victor. If the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect was destroyed, these captives would no longer pose a significant threat and could be allowed to disperse. However, if the Poison Demon Sect were defeated, they would regain their freedom. After dealing with the captives, Hua An regrouped the remaining members of the Ten Thousand Venom Sect. Upon learning of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect''s defeat and seeing the burnt carcass of the giant beast with their own eyes, they fully acknowledged the status of the Poison Demon Sect. This battle had made the Poison Demon Sect the largest sect in the Chu Yun Empire. Now, only the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sects Dou Ancestor, Xie Biyan, remained to be dealt with. If he was defeated, the Poison Demon Sect would completely dominate the Chu Yun Empire. ... Inside the grand hall of the Ten Thousand Venom Sect, Hua An approached Xiao Yi Xian with a respectful expression and said, Mistress, if you do not wish to rule the Chu Yun Empire, I, Hua An, will not be able to command the masses. You want me to become the ruler? Xiao Yi Xian looked surprised at Hua Ans words. Thats right. Your strength has been witnessed by the disciples of all three sects. Besides, without your help yesterday, the Poison Demon Sect would have already been destroyed. You taking the position of ruler is well-deserved, and no one would oppose it! Hua An explained sincerely. The first action Xiao Yi Xian took after sitting in the Sect Master''s chair was to appoint a deputy. After all, she was not yet familiar with the management side of things, and Hua An was someone she found extremely trustworthy. Upon hearing Xiao Yi Xians words, Hua An''s face lit up with joy. Many had witnessed Xiao Yi Xian''s potential. From starting as a mere Dou Spirit, she quickly rose to a strength capable of crushing a sect master within half a year. She also controlled the legendary Netherworld Poison Flame, which was said to be incredibly difficult to refine. With such talent, she was bound to become a Dou Ancestor in the future, possibly even a legendary Dou Venerable. As one of the first to follow Xiao Yi Xian, Hua Ans status would remain prominent even as new members joined the Poison Sect. Moreover, following such a powerful figure would undoubtedly help him significantly improve his own strength. Overflowing with excitement, Hua An immediately knelt down and respectfully shouted, Thank you, Sect Master, for your trust! Stand up! Xiao Yi Xian gently raised her hand and spoke softly. "Greetings to the Left Protector!" Everyone was highly supportive of Xiao Yi Xian''s appointment. As soon as Hua An stood up, the others greeted him with respect. Next, Xiao Yi Xian proceeded to reassign some of the elders from both of the former sects. Within half a day, the disciples residing in the former Ten Thousand Venom Sect''s headquarters had all learned of the changes. Since Xiao Yi Xian was a legitimate poison cultivator, there was no resistance in their hearts. Instead, they felt exhilarated and cheered loudly. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 367: Intimidating the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect! Chapter 367: Intimidating the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect! On the night of establishing the Poison Sect, Xiao Yi Xian summoned Hua An alone in the courtyard that belonged exclusively to the sect master. "Hua An, do you know where the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect''s mountain gate is located?" Xiao Yi Xian asked softly. "Reporting to the sect master, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect is established within the Tianxie Mountain Range, where poisonous miasma fills the air and venomous insects are everywhere..." Hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s inquiry, Hua An respectfully relayed the information he knew. "Sect Master, several decades ago, Xie Biyan was already a Dou Emperor. Back then, I was only at the Dou Spirit level, but I heard about some of his achievements. Firstly, he had fought multiple times with Jia Ma Empire''s royal expert, Jia Xingtian, resulting in a stalemate. Secondly, he defeated the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong of the Jia Ma Empire... He even battled against the Medusa Queen of the Snake-People Tribe. Now, there are rumors of him breaking through to the Dou Ancestor, though I can''t confirm if it''s true." After describing the location of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, Hua An continued to talk about Xie Biyan''s deeds. After listening to Hua An''s detailed explanation, Xiao Yi Xian nodded. "Since Xie Shan is so confident, it''s likely true that Xie Biyan has broken through to Dou Ancestor!" "Sect Master, even if that old man has truly broken through to Dou Ancestor, he won''t be a match for Lord Xiao Yin!" Hua An glanced at the Void Beast and spoke with certainty. Previously, in the ruins, he had witnessed the abilities of the Void Beast. The power to traverse through space was something ordinary Dou Ancestors couldn''t grasp. "Mm, you don''t need to worry about this matter." Xiao Yi Xian nodded slightly, then waved her hand to signal Hua An to leave. "Sect Master, your subordinate takes his leave!" Seeing Xiao Yi Xian''s gesture, Hua An respectfully said, then promptly left the courtyard. After Hua An departed, Xiao Yi Xian immediately turned around with a cunning smile on her face and spoke to Xiao Yin, "Xiao Yin, if I have you make a move to intimidate others, it wouldn''t count as violating Master''s rules, would it?" Hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s words, Xiao Yin hesitated before replying, "This... It shouldn''t be considered a violation of the master''s rules..." "Good, it''s decided then! Let''s set off now!" Upon hearing Xiao Yin''s response, Xiao Yi Xian spoke excitedly. The next moment, Xiao Yin opened a spatial rift in the courtyard. After the rift appeared, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yin stepped inside together. Noticing the disciples movements, the hunchbacked old man tapped his cane lightly on the ground and reprimanded, "All of you, stand back!" After saying that, his cloudy yet sharp eyes fixed on Xiao Yin standing beside Xiao Yi Xian, seemingly trying to discern something. After a moment, he seemed to give up on his probing and slowly shifted his gaze to Xiao Yi Xian. "You are Xie Biyan, arent you?" Xiao Yi Xian suddenly asked. "Young one, I am indeed Xie Biyan!" Xie Biyan nodded in response. Confirming the old mans identity, Xiao Yi Xian turned her head and asked Xiao Yin without hesitation, "Xiao Yin, what level is his cultivation?" "He has just broken through to a four-star Dou Ancestor," Xiao Yin replied without a second thought. "This young girl is truly mysterious; she saw through my cultivation level at a glance!" Hearing the conversation between Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yin, Xie Biyan felt a sense of realization. However, his gaze toward Xiao Yin grew even more cautious. "Four-star Dou Ancestor!" Upon hearing Xiao Yin''s answer, Xiao Yi Xian was a bit surprised. Based on Hua Ans description of Xie Biyan''s achievements, she had assumed he had only just broken through to the Dou Ancestor level. She hadnt expected him to have surpassed his former opponents by such a margin. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 368: Unifying the Cloud Empire! Chapter 368: Unifying the Cloud Empire! "Four-star Dou Ancestor!" Hearing Xiao Yin''s answer, Xiao Yi Xian was somewhat surprised. Based on Hua An''s descriptions of Xie Biyan''s achievements, she had assumed he had only just broken through to the Dou Ancestor level. She hadnt expected him to have surpassed his former opponents by such a margin. "Xiao Yin, can you handle a four-star Dou Ancestor?" Xiao Yi Xian transmitted her voice to Xiao Yin. "Of course!" Upon hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s question, Xiao Yin gave an adorably confident smile. Immediately, an incredibly terrifying aura began to emanate from her body. "This aura... It might have reached the peak of the Dou Ancestor level..." Sensing this aura, the previously cautious Xie Biyan now felt a wave of fear. Before this power, he couldnt even muster the thought of resisting. The surrounding disciples, including Xie Shan, a nine-star Dou Emperor, felt as if they were being crushed under a mountain, barely able to breathe. Seeing Xie Biyan and the others'' reactions, Xiao Yi Xian''s confidence quickly returned, and her expression relaxed. Upon realizing Xiao Yin''s strength, Xie Biyan immediately admitted defeat and said, "Senior, the incident at the Ten Thousand Poison Sect''s mountain gate was due to my failure in supervision, which led to Xie Shan''s rebellious actions..." "Xie Biyan, now that the Poison Sect has been established, absorbing all the disciples of the former Ten Thousand Poison Sect and Demon Poison Sect, your Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect should know what to do, right?" After Xie Biyan backed down, Xiao Yi Xian straightforwardly stated her objective. Hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s words, both Xie Biyan and Xie Shan showed expressions of helplessness. After a moment of deliberation, Xie Biyan let out a heavy sigh. He then respectfully bowed to Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Subordinate Xie Biyan, pays respects to the Sect Master!" "Subordinate Xie Shan, pays respects to the Sect Master!" "Subordinates pay respects to the Sect Master!" Seeing Xie Biyan submit to Xiao Yi Xian, the disciples of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect hurriedly bowed as well. Watching their actions, Xiao Yi Xian felt very satisfied. After instructing Hua An on a few more things, Xiao Yi Xian, with Xiao Yin''s help, embarked on their journey back to the Jia Ma Empire. ... A few days later, the Jia Ma Empire welcomed a grand event. Today, in the imperial capitals royal plaza, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people, a grand Alchemist Conference was being held. Outside the royal plaza, a fully armed military unit was stationed to maintain order. This conference attracted countless powerful individuals from all directions. Should chaos break out, the capital would face severe consequences, hence the Jia Ma Empire''s royal family took utmost caution. At the entrance of the plaza, personnel from the Alchemist Association were stationed to conduct inspections. Only members of the association and participants were allowed entry, while spectators had a separate entrance. The expansive plaza featured over a thousand neatly arranged green stone platforms. These platforms were set up systematically, standing like an army of green stone soldiers at a glance. By this time, many alchemists had already gathered in the plaza, quietly sitting on stone chairs behind their respective platforms, waiting for the competition to start. As time passed, more alchemists emerged from the passageways, searching for their designated spots according to their assigned cards. At that moment, a young man wearing a half-face mask and concealing his aura slowly stepped into the plaza. "Xiao Yanzi, in this conference, do your best to win the championship and claim the prize that belongs to the victor!" As he entered the plaza, an old and somewhat hoarse voice suddenly sounded in Xiao Yan''s mind. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 369: Alchemist Conference! Prominent Figures Gather! Chapter 369: Alchemist Conference! Prominent Figures Gather! "Yes, teacher, Xiao Yan will definitely strive to win the championship!" Upon hearing Yao Lao''s words, Xiao Yan nodded firmly before walking forward with the others. "Marshal Nalan, you''re here!" At this moment, in the VIP section, a few people sitting in the front row greeted Nalan Jie as he appeared. "Congratulations, Marshal Nalan! I heard that the unrest at the eastern border has been completely resolved under your leadership, and the Snake-People''s army has retreated deep into the desert! You deserve much credit for this!" Mu Chen, the head of the Mu family, stood up and congratulated Nalan Jie. "Hehe, Marshal Mu, I can''t take all the credit for that! The retreat of the Snake-People army was entirely thanks to Sect Master Yun Yun and a reclusive expert from Stone Desert City!" Nalan Jie waved his hand, humbly explaining in response to Mu Chen''s words. "Oh, a reclusive expert from Stone Desert City!" Mu Chen wasnt surprised about Yun Yun, but he was astonished to hear Nalan Jie mention the hidden expert. "Marshal Mu, lets sit down and discuss this slowly." Seeing the confusion on Mu Chen''s face and that of several other family heads, Nalan Jie gently waved his sleeve and took a seat. "Shortly after Feng Li, Yan Shi, and I arrived at the fortress, we were confronted by four Snake-People leaders with Dou King-level strength. At that moment, a very powerful young man appearedhe called himself Yan Xiao. In the end, Sect Master Yun Yun said something to the Snake-Peoples matriarch, and they quickly withdrew their troops..." As Nalan Jie sat in the VIP seat, he recounted the previous events with great interest. "It''s him! He actually came here!" While talking, Nalan Jie suddenly spotted a familiar figure. "Marshal Nalan, what have you noticed?" Upon hearing Nalan Jies exclamation, Mu Chen and several of the surrounding family heads quickly followed his gaze, but they didnt see anything unusual. Nalan Jie pointed to an ordinary young man standing among the participants and said, "That young man over there, that''s Yan Xiaothe person I was just talking about!" Everyone looked in the direction Nalan Jie was pointing and saw Xiao Yan. They all commented, "He looks quite ordinary!" "Ordinary? Not at all!" "Brother Yan Xiao, you''re too modest!" "This is President Fa Ma of the Alchemist Guild, this is Marshal Mu of the Empire, and this is..." Nalan Jie smiled as he patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, introducing the notable figures present. "Yan Xiao greets President Fa Ma, Marshal Mu..." After Nalan Jie finished the introductions, Xiao Yan cupped his hands in greeting to the group. However, at this moment, Fa Ma was frowning slightly, his gaze scanning Xiao Yan up and down, as if searching for something. "President Fa Ma, is something wrong?" Noticing Fa Ma''s behavior, Nalan Jie couldn''t help but ask in surprise. He hadn''t expected such a reaction from the president. "Hehe, I dont know why, but I seem to sense a faintly familiar aura coming from young Yan Xiao!" Fa Ma coughed lightly, looking a bit puzzled as he spoke. "Familiar?" Xiao Yan blinked in confusion, feeling perplexed. Given his young age, it was impossible for him to have met this elder before. Could it be that the old man had detected the presence of his teacher? That seemed unlikely. "Hehe, perhaps its just a mistake. As one grows older, illusions become more frequent!" Fa Ma shook his head in disappointment, sensing once more but failing to detect the previous feeling. He leaned back in his chair, his mind momentarily adrift, lost in memories. Back when Fa Ma was still a young man traveling across the continent, he had once encountered an immensely powerful elder. By a stroke of fate, Fa Ma had spent three days with this mysterious man, and during that time, the elder casually taught him a few things that greatly benefited Fa Ma. It was with this knowledge that Fa Ma, originally an unknown figure, gradually rose to his current position after returning to the Jia Ma Empire. The more he progressed, the more he realized just how terrifyingly powerful that mysterious elder must have been! The faint aura he had sensed from Xiao Yan earlier was somewhat reminiscent of that elder, which was why Fa Ma had briefly lost his composure. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 370: Mr. Yan Xiao, This Championship Is Yours! Chapter 370: Mr. Yan Xiao, This Championship Is Yours! With a guilty conscience, Xiao Yan didnt dare linger on the previous topic. Just as he was about to change the subject, an elderly laugh echoed from the nearby corridor. Hehe, Fa Ma, youre so old, yet you still come to watch the competitions of these youngsters! Hearing the laughter, everyone turned to look, and when they saw the white-haired elder dressed in a simple hemp robe, they were all taken aback, silently wondering what kind of wind was blowing today that even this old monster had shown up in broad daylight. The newcomer was none other than Jia Ma Empires strongest known figure, the royal guardian, Jia Xingtian. Behind him were two women. One was a younger girl, the royal family''s little princess, Yao Yue. She wore a specially tailored pale green alchemist robe, with wide sleeves decorated with intricate lotus patterns woven with fine silk, adding a touch of elegance. However, those familiar with her knew that despite her gentle appearance, she was a mischievous and playful character. Beside the little princess stood a tall woman dressed in a luxurious silk robe. She bore some resemblance to Yao Yue but had a cold and alluring air. Beneath that icy demeanor was a regal presence, cultivated by years in the royal family. Compared to the petite and adorable princess, this woman exuded a mature, icy charm. Her eyes sparkled with a natural allure that captivated those around her. Hehe, you old guy, didnt you also come? I remember you usually avoid these events! President Fa Ma greeted Jia Xingtian with a relaxed tone. We greet Elder Jia! The others, however, greeted Jia Xingtian with utmost respect. Acknowledging their greetings with a slight nod, Jia Xingtian chuckled at Fa Ma, saying, After staying hidden for decades, its nice to come out and see the world now and then. After speaking, Jia Xingtian turned his gaze toward Xiao Yan. This young man seems to be getting a lot of attention from you all! Elder Jia, this is the Yan Xiao I mentioned in my reports, Nalan Jie hurriedly introduced the two. This is Elder Jia, the guardian of our Jia Ma Empire. Oh, so this is the young man who fought against the Snake-People''s leader! Hearing Nalan Jies words, Jia Xingtians eyes brightened with interest. If a talent like this could be recruited by the royal family, the benefits would be enormous. He might even become a pillar of support for the empire in the future. At that moment, the cold and mature woman behind Jia Xingtian stepped forward, her face full of smiles as she spoke, Mr. Yan Xiao, Ive heard of your great reputation for a long time. Meeting you today is truly a great fortune! Sitting upright, Xiao Yan kept his gaze fixed on the massive, somewhat intimidating plaza below. As time passed, more and more alchemists entered the arena, and the audience across from them, already densely packed, formed a sea of heads. The lively crowd was filled with excited young women, whose cheers of admiration and screams of excitement echoed throughout the venue. The atmosphere was infectious, and Xiao Yan couldnt help but feel a surge of excitement in his heart. Thinking about the upcoming spectacle where countless flames would ignite at once, he became even more eager. As the sun moved across the sky, more people filled the VIP section. Most of them were influential figures from the imperial capital or their family members, while the audience across from them had long transformed into a massive, roaring crowd, their cheers reaching up to the heavens. Sitting quietly in his seat, Xiao Yan closed his eyes briefly. During this time, several more prominent figures arrived in the VIP section. One of them was the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong, the elder of the Mitel family, one of the three great families of the imperial capital. Behind him were the head of the Mitel family, Mittel Tengshan, and a woman with a strikingly seductive figure and appearance. Xiao Yan was quite familiar with this womanshe was Ya Fei, the beautiful auctioneer from the Mitel Auction House in Wu Tan City. As she walked toward the VIP section, Xiao Yan noticed that the eyes of several noble sons around him had gone wide with admiration. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 {Senior brother Liu Ling takes the lead in alchemist competition and paves way for his junior sister. he is acting like a cool mc. Join patreon to read ahead and enjoy the monents. Your support means world to me. I will need every support i can get. Thank you for reading.} Chapter 371: Senior Brother and Junior Sister Arrive! Chapter 371: Senior Brother and Junior Sister Arrive! While casually observing the people around him, Xiao Yan''s gaze suddenly sharpened, and even his breathing momentarily stopped. In his line of sight, a tall, elegantly dressed young man was slowly stepping into the arena. "How can it be him? Hes actually here to participate in the Alchemist Conference!" Xiao Yan was shocked. As surprise filled his heart, Yao Lao''s aged voice echoed in his mind. "Xiao Yan, that boy from Stone Desert City is peculiar. Hes concealing his cultivation level, but when I saw through it, I discovered that hes already at the Dou King level!" Hearing this, Xiao Yan was stunned. "Teacher, are you sure? He''s so young, and hes already a Dou King? Not long ago, he was just at the level of a one-star Dou Spirit. How could he advance so fast in just one month?" "That guy definitely used some special method to temporarily raise his strength to this level. Advancing from a one-star Dou Spirit to a Dou King in just one month is impossible, even for the geniuses of imperial clans!" Yao Lao confidently analyzed. "So that''s how it is!" Xiao Yan''s shock began to subside after hearing Yao Laos explanation. "Xiao Yan, this competition is about refining pills. Your cultivation might not match his, but could your alchemy skills be any less than his? The elder you met earlier only became the most influential alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire thanks to a few casual pointers from me." Yao Lao encouraged Xiao Yan. "So thats how it is... Teacher, should you reveal your identity then? Maybe President Fa Ma would remember your past kindness and offer some help!" Xiao Yan suddenly recalled the previous conversation and asked excitedly. "Xiao Yan, many people in this world show their faces, but not their true hearts. I may have guided Fa Ma in the past, but if he learns that Im now just a remnant soul, whos to say he wont harbor ill intentions toward me?" Yao Lao immediately rejected the idea without hesitation. "Is that so? Alright then," Xiao Yan said, understanding Yao Laos caution. "Xiao Yan, that boy has noticed you!" Yao Lao suddenly warned. Hearing the reminder, Xiao Yan quickly looked up, and his gaze met that of Liu Ling. "It''s Xiao Yan! This guy actually came to the imperial capital ahead of time. But instead of focusing on his cultivation and trying to last one more move against Sister Yanran, hes here for some alchemy competition!" Liu Ling grumbled in his heart, noticing Xiao Yan watching him. When the clear sound of a bell echoed across the square, the once-boisterous crowd suddenly fell silent. Listening to the bell''s reverberations, Fa Ma slowly stood up, his frail body trembling slightly, and made his way to the front of the VIP section. His gaze swept over the thousands of alchemists sitting below on the stone platforms. At this moment, more than two thousand alchemists raised their heads, their eyes filled with reverence as they focused on this elderly man, who held unparalleled respect in the Jia Ma Empires alchemy world. With the authority vested in me as the President of the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild, I hereby declare the start of the Seventh Alchemist Conference! Boom! As Fa Mas voice fell, the entire square erupted into a sea of excitement, cheers reverberating across the heavens. Standing at the front of the VIP stage, Fa Ma looked out at the jubilant crowd and, after a moment, chuckled softly. Now, will all the participants please proceed to your designated seats. Although the square was so noisy that even the bell''s sound was drowned out, Fa Mas soft chuckle still resonated clearly in everyones ears, a testament to the extraordinary power of this elderly man. Upon hearing Fa Mas words, many alchemists in the VIP section immediately stood up. Most of these alchemists had been trained or recruited by prominent forces, and with the backing of these forces, their alchemy skills were generally superior to those of freelance alchemists. The platform where the VIP section sat was dozens of meters above the square. For the young alchemists who were only at the level of Dou Masters or Dou Fighters, jumping down was naturally not an option. Therefore, staircases flanked either side of the corridor, leading directly to the square below. Under the gaze of countless spectators, the participants began descending one by one. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 372: A Grand Entrance! Chapter 372: A Grand Entrance! Hehe, Little Yueer, Mr. Yan Xiao, you two should head to your respective positions. Those spots were specially prepared for you and will make you the center of attention, Fa Ma said as he pointed toward the central area of the plaza. There, a few large stone platforms stood out. Not only were they more spacious than the others, but their foundations were also higher, making those standing on them the undeniable focal point of the entire crowd. Thank you, President Fa Ma! Xiao Yan, not one to enjoy the spotlight, still politely cupped his hands in thanks. Beside him, Princess Yao Yue was clearly excited, eager to show off. Good, good, you two go ahead, Fa Ma smiled and nodded. Alright! The princess responded cheerfully. With a graceful leap, her body seemed to float as gently as a falling leaf, descending effortlessly from the platform. Her elegant movements resembled a celestial maidens descent, captivating everyone present. Roar! Roar! The little princesss stunning display immediately stirred the crowd, and her cute, lively demeanor caused deafening cheers to erupt from both the VIP section and the audience stands. Hehe, old man Jia, I didnt expect you to teach that little girl your Floating Feather technique. Ive always said that your movement technique is better suited for women, Fa Ma teased, watching the princesss gravity-defying descent. Shes only learned the basics of it, more focused on appearances. If she used it in a real fight, shed be an easy target, Jia Xingtian replied with a chuckle. Though his words seemed critical, the pride in his eyes revealed his satisfaction with the princesss performance. After exchanging a few more words with Jia Xingtian, Fa Ma turned to Xiao Yan and said, Mr. Yan Xiao, its your turn to enter the arena! With Mr. Yan Xiaos strength, his entrance will surely be spectacular, Princess Yao Ye added with a smile. Yes, those youngsters down there cant compare to Brother Yan Xiao! Nalan Jie chimed in, standing up to praise him. Everyone, here goes Yan Xiao! Under this flurry of compliments, Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment. He had originally intended to keep a low profile, but now he had no choice but to show off a little. The next moment, he gently tapped the ground with his toes and leaped into the air. At that moment, Liu Ling could no longer suppress his amusement and burst into laughter. This sudden outburst drew the attention of those around him. Who is that? Whys he suddenly laughing? Hes the top disciple of Alchemy King Gu He. Hes probably jealous that someone else stole the spotlight and is trying to cause trouble. That could be true. The guy who just came down caught even Princess Yao Yes attention! Hearing the murmurs around him, Liu Ling shook his head in mild exasperation and chose to ignore the whispers. His gaze shifted back to the stone platform. On the stone platform, there was a neatly arranged set of medicinal ingredients. In front of the ingredients lay a thin piece of paper, resting quietly. Additionally, a jade mirror embedded in the stone flickered with faint green and red lights. Picking up the thin paper, Liu Ling skimmed through it, realizing it was a recipe for a second-tier pill. However, the recipe seemed hastily copied, with the ingredient quantities and other details sloppily written. It was far from a proper, well-structured formula. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 373: Begin Refining Pills! Chapter 373: Begin Refining Pills! Chapter 373: Begin Refining Pills! The authentic prescription required using soul power to read it. Only by doing so could the reader quickly grasp any issues that might arise during the pill refining process. However, the contents recorded on this thin paper merely provided a rough outline of the refining method. All the other details had to be figured out by the individual, which undoubtedly increased the failure rate of refining the pill to an alarming degree. At this moment, many alchemists present had expressions of concern on their faces. Even the stronger individuals like Xiao Yan and Princess Yao Yue frowned slightly as they carefully read through the few key refining points noted on the thin paper. The materials placed on each persons stone platform were only enough to refine two portions of the pill. In other words, each person had only two chances to fail. If they exhausted the materials without successfully refining a pill, the result would be obvious: failure, and the consequence of failure was elimination. However, while most were struggling with the prescription, Liu Ling quickly scanned the list of ingredients on the thin paper, tossed it aside, and closed his eyes to rest. The pill required for this test was a second-tier pill called the "Bone-Growth Pill." As the name suggested, this pill was used to treat those with serious injuries. Generally, healing pills like this werent particularly valuable. On the market, a Bone-Growth Pill would probably only sell for a few hundred or at most a thousand gold coins, which paled in comparison to those pills that could enhance battle energy or serve other more useful purposes. The refining process for the Bone-Growth Pill required six different medicinal ingredients. Among all second-tier pills, it wasnt considered overly complicated. Furthermore, this specific Bone-Growth Pill was clearly a new type of healing medicine specially designed by the guild. For someone like Liu Ling, with his experience and ability, understanding this was not difficult at all. After all, regardless of how varied and strange healing pills could be, they all followed similar principles. The refining paths for these types of pills werent too different from one anotheronly the complexity varied. Moreover, the Bone-Growth Pill wasnt particularly intricate. As long as one had some practical experience in pill refining, they could follow the clues to deduce the method for refining the pill. Therefore, even though the prescription only gave a general overview of the points to watch out for, it would still be relatively easy to successfully refine the pill by following ones intuition. After Liu Ling set the prescription aside, Xiao Yan glanced over with some surprise. "Strange, why did he put down the prescription after just a glance? Could it be that hes come across this prescription before?" A trace of doubt arose in Xiao Yans heart, as most people were still engrossed in reading the thin paper, their faces showing various expressions of concentration, yet Liu Lings behavior seemed unusual. "Never mind. Whether or not hes seen this prescription before has nothing to do with me. This is just the first round of the test!" Xiao Yan thought to himself and focused his attention back on the thin paper like everyone else. The quiet atmosphere lasted for nearly five minutes before a crisp bell rang across the square. At the sound of the bell, all the contestants put down the items in their hands and, with a wave, summoned thousands of cauldrons of varying shapes and colors onto the stone platforms. "Phew!" Seeing that the two medicinal materials had been refined successfully, Xiao Yan let out a sigh of relief and prepared to move on to the third ingredient. However, at that moment, he unintentionally glanced at Liu Ling''s stone platform. With that one glance, Xiao Yan noticed that half of Liu Lings ingredients were already gone. "Whats going on!" Xiao Yan exclaimed inwardly. Each contestant had enough materials to refine the Bone-Growth Pill twice, but Liu Ling only had one portion left, which meant he had already finished refining all his ingredients. "Xiao Yan, focus on your own work and dont concern yourself with others!" Just as Xiao Yan was feeling surprised, Yao Lao''s ancient voice echoed in his mind. As it turned out, Liu Lings terrifying speed in refining the ingredients had already been noticed by Yao Lao and a few sharp-eyed individuals in the VIP section, but they chose not to alarm the other contestants. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 374: The First to Refine a Pill! Chapter 374: The First to Refine a Pill! Chapter 374: The First to Refine a Pill! "Liu Ling, that kid, his pill fire is quite powerful! His refining speed is something even you few might struggle to match!" Fa Ma, observing Liu Ling''s progress from the stage, remarked softly to the vice president standing beside him. "Master Fa Ma, indeed, our speed in refining medicinal ingredients is not as fast as Liu Lings. It seems Alchemy King Gu Hes skills in teaching his disciples are truly impressive!" Upon hearing Fa Mas comment, the two vice presidents standing nearby spoke with a hint of embarrassment. Initially, Fa Ma was somewhat impressed by Liu Ling''s speed, but when the two began praising Alchemy King Gu He, his expression subtly changed. "There''s no need to belittle yourselves. Speed in refining ingredients is important, but its not the most crucial factor. The true skill lies in perfectly fusing the refined materialsthats the real test!" Fa Ma said sternly. "Yes, Master, we were too shallow in our understanding!" The two vice presidents, feeling even more ashamed, bowed to Fa Ma once again. "Alright, lets continue watching." After saying this, Fa Ma turned his attention back to Liu Ling. At that moment, not far from Liu Lings platform, the cauldron on another contestant''s stone platform, unable to withstand the increasing heat, suddenly exploded. With the explosion, the pill being refined inside was ruined, and a harsh red light flashedsignaling failure. The alchemist whose hair was scorched black and face disfigured from the blast stood dumbfounded, staring at the flashing red light. After a moment, he cursed under his breath, stomped off the platform, and walked out of the square, biting his lip as countless eyes followed him. "Poor guy!" Watching this scene, Xiao Yan couldnt help but feel a hint of schadenfreude. But after a brief smile, his curiosity got the better of him, and he looked toward Liu Lings platform once again. To his surprise, he saw that Liu Ling had already begun fusing the refined ingredients. Even more shockingly, Liu Ling was attempting to fuse all six ingredients simultaneouslya method far more difficult than the usual approach. "There''s still so much time left; why is he taking such a risky approach? If he fails, all his efforts will be for nothing!" Xiao Yan muttered to himself. The next moment, he quickly shook his head, refocused his thoughts, and stopped paying attention to Liu Ling. Instead, he cautiously added one ingredient after another to his cauldron, patiently experimenting to refine each to its optimal purity. After seeing the earlier contestant fail, Xiao Yan became even more careful. As time slowly passed, the vast square was intermittently illuminated by flashes of red light. One by one, alchemists, their faces pale or flushed with anger, left the platform, dejected. Under the pitiful gazes of the audience, they reluctantly exited the arena, their hearts heavy with disappointment and frustration. Despite the difficulty of the test, it was clear that many talented alchemists had gathered for this competition. Aside from those who failed due to various reasons, at least half of the contestants, like Xiao Yan, were still steadily testing the purity of the ingredients. When the giant hourglass on the wall had emptied nearly halfway, Xiao Yan finally completed his experiments with the ingredients purity. Aside from accidentally burning two herbs during the process, his results were quite satisfactory. The next step was to begin fusing the refined ingredients and form the Bone-Growth Pill. Afterward, Xiao Yan began to recall the refining process in his mind. "Although the fusion failed, Ive already grasped most of the details. This time, I cant make any more mistakes!" Xiao Yan quickly picked up the final batch of medicinal ingredients and began refining again. Meanwhile, the sands in the giant hourglass on the stage were rapidly flowing down. Clang! Following Liu Lings success, another crisp sound rang out. From a corner, Xiao Yi Xian waved her hand, and a pill shot out from her cauldron. As Xiao Yi Xian became the second person to successfully refine the pill, many eyes immediately turned toward her. "Who is that? How could they refine the exam pill so quickly?" "Why is she participating in the Alchemist Conference while wearing a black robe, making herself so mysterious?" Many people began to speculate about the identity of the mysterious black-robed figure. At that moment, Fa Ma furrowed his brows deeply. Even with his powerful soul perception, he couldnt detect the slightest trace of aura from beneath that black robe. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 378: The Strange Second Test! Chapter 378: The Strange Second Test! Chapter 378: The Strange Second Test! This time, the prescription youll be working with is an official one. Our association spent several months creating it. For this test, you are required to successfully refine the pill according to the prescription. The materials in front of you are enough for two attempts. In other words, you have only two chances. Once your materials are used up, that means failure! Fa Mas voice echoed through the arena. Huh? After hearing Fa Mas explanation, the contestants were momentarily stunned. Refining a pill according to the prescription? Isnt that a bit too easy for a test? Following a recipe is even simpler than the first round. Whats going on? With how serious this competition has been so far, why would they come up with such an easy test? Puzzled, Liu Ling, Xiao Yan, and Princess Yao Yue all picked up the prescription scrolls simultaneously. As they unrolled the scrolls, Liu Ling closed his eyes slightly and released his soul power, carefully scanning the details recorded on the prescription. As his soul power swept over the prescription, various precise data were quickly imprinted into his mind. Every important detail needed for the refining process was clearly remembered. This was the advantage of working with an official prescription. Once all the information was recorded in Liu Lings mind, he noticed that the details stored within the scroll via soul power were rapidly dissipating. Windwalking Pill, a third-tier pill. Effects: The consumer becomes highly sensitive to the wind attribute energy in the environment, thus greatly enhancing their movement speed. Although this prescription was valuable, for someone like Liu Ling, who had seen even sixth-tier prescriptions, it wasnt impressive. Moreover, he had refined similar pills before. As his gaze swept across the nine jade bottles in front of him, Xiao Yan realized that he had successfully extracted all the components needed to refine the Windwalking Pill. Now, the final step of combining them lay ahead. His hand gently stroked the cool surface of one of the jade bottles, and after a moment of contemplation, he decided to proceed without further delay. Just as he was about to pour the contents into the cauldron, a muffled sound suddenly echoed from a nearby stone platform. Xiao Yan turned and saw a fellow alchemist staring blankly at a pile of blackened ash that had spilled from the bottom of his cauldrona clear sign of failure. "How could this be? I followed the prescription exactly. How did I fail?" the alchemist muttered in confusion. Unable to find an answer, he chalked it up to a mistake in controlling the heat and quickly cleared the ashes. Without wasting time, he added the last of his ingredients into the cauldron for another attempt. Narrowing his eyes and watching the alchemists actions closely, Xiao Yan hesitated. He recognized this alchemist from the internal tests and knew he possessed the skill of a third-tier alchemist. Logically, someone with his ability shouldnt be making such a basic mistake in controlling the heat while refining a third-tier pill. Yet the evidence was undeniablehe had failed. "Somethings not right," Xiao Yan thought, his suspicions growing. As time passed, similar muffled sounds began echoing one after another across the square. More and more alchemists stared at the blackened ashes in their cauldrons, their faces filled with confusion and disbelief. The dazed expressions on their faces made it clear that they, too, had no idea what had gone wrong. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 379: Liu Ling Explains! The Green Lotus Core Flame Makes Its Appearance! Chapter 379: Liu Ling Explains! The Green Lotus Core Flame Makes Its Appearance! Chapter 379: Liu Ling Explains! The Green Lotus Core Flame Makes Its Appearance! The audience began whispering as they watched the alchemists on the plaza awkwardly staring at each other. Bang! Bang! A soft muffled sound echoed beside Xiao Yan. He turned his head and saw Princess Yao Yues grim expression. She let out a slow breath. "Something seems off, doesnt it?" In the VIP section, Princess Yao Ye was surprised as she observed the dazed Princess Yao Yue after her failed fusion. "Indeed, something''s wrong... Though Im not an alchemist, I can tell that following the recipe should significantly increase the success rate. Yet, everyone down there, including the princess, has failed!" Ya Fei frowned slightly as she spoke. "This exam seems to have hidden mysteries," Princess Yao Ye said, crossing her slender right leg over her left, her gaze fixed on the strange atmosphere in the plaza. "Why hasn''t that kid Liu Ling started refining the materials yet?" "Could it be... hes already noticed something?" On the high platform, Fa Ma, Jia Xingtian, and Hai Bodong all focused their attention on Liu Ling, who seemed to be acting unusually after seeing so many people fail. "Bang!" Another muffled sound came from not far in front of Xiao Yan. A third-grade alchemist, who had already failed once, ended his second attempt in failure as well. His face turned dark as he stared at the black ashes spilling from the bottom of his cauldron. As this sound echoed, the jade mirror in front of the alchemist''s stone platform suddenly lit up with a red glow, signifying that he had exhausted his two chances. The crowd turned their gaze toward the alchemist who had been the first to take action. Seeing his fate, many who had impulsively planned to start over immediately calmed down, too scared to waste their last set of materials. Trembling, the alchemist who failed twice packed up his cauldron, his face livid with frustration and rage. He stormed off the stage, muttering angrily under his breath. Those nearby could vaguely hear his unwilling complaints. Damn it! How did I fail again? My control over the flame was perfect! Why wont they fuse? Watching the alchemist leave, Xiao Yan gently stroked the warm jade bottle in his hand, narrowing his eyes. After a moment, he slowly poured the materials from the bottle into his cauldron. He needed to experience firsthand why none of the participants could successfully refine the pill. At this moment, Princess Yao Yue, who had been closely observing Xiao Yan, noticed Liu Lings lip movements. A thoughtful expression appeared in her eyes. If Xiao Yan knew the real reason behind Liu Lings actions, he would understand that it was partly to prevent too many people from catching on and disrupting the competition, which would render the second round meaningless. On the other hand, Liu Ling simply wanted to show off. As Xiao Yan wrestled with his confusion, a dazzling cyan flame appeared in Liu Lings palm, drawing countless astonished gazes. As soon as the cyan flame appeared, the temperature on the entire plaza spiked to an uncomfortable level. If not for Liu Lings deliberate suppression, the alchemists around him would have been forced to leave their positions. Cyan flame! Such high heat! The crowd gasped in awe, staring at the cyan flame in Liu Lings hand. It wasnt just the alchemists on the plaza who were shocked; even the three Dou Emperor powerhouses on the high platform were visibly stirred. The cyan flame in Liu Lings hand doesnt seem like an ordinary fire, Jia Xingtian muttered to himself. This aura... why does it feel so familiar? It seems like... the Green Lotus Core Flame! Hai Bodong murmured, recalling something from his past, and then confirmed with certainty. Old Hai, youre right. That is indeed the Green Lotus Core Flame! Fa Ma affirmed confidently after sensing the flames aura. (End of the chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 380: One Person Saves the Day! Chapter 380: One Person Saves the Day! Chapter 380: One Person Saves the Day! "Green Lotus Core Flame!" "Such a renowned treasure on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, even Old Fa Ma desires it greatly, yet this kid has obtained it. Thats truly remarkable!" Upon hearing Fa Ma and Hai Bodongs words, Jia Xingtian was also astonished. As a Dou Emperor powerhouse, he naturally understood the terrifying power of such a miraculous gift of nature. In the VIP section, Princess Yao Yes gaze toward Liu Ling held an unusual light. She had originally thought that the most dazzling figure in this competition would be Xiao Yan, whom Nalan Jie and others had praised highly. But unexpectedly, Liu Lings performance was so radiant that it overshadowed everyone else. "After this competition, I must personally visit Liu Ling. Such a young genius... I must establish good relations with him on behalf of the royal family!" Princess Yao Ye made her decision swiftly. Meanwhile, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan were both significantly affected by Liu Lings reveal of the Green Lotus Core Flame. "Haha! I didnt expect Senior Brother to have obtained a Heavenly Flame too. Thats fantastic!" Xiao Yi Xian was overjoyed internally. "Xiao Yan, that flame in the boys hand is the Green Lotus Core Flame... It seems that the Dou Venerate powerhouse I encountered back then has a close connection with him," Yao Lao reminded Xiao Yan. "The Green Lotus Core Flame!" Upon hearing Yao Laos reminder, Xiao Yans eyes suddenly blazed with excitement. The cultivation method he practiced, the Flame Mantra, could only evolve by relying on these rare Heavenly Flames scattered across the world. And now, one was right before his eyes. How could he not be tempted? However, just as a spark of greed rose in his heart, Xiao Yan hurriedly shook his head to dispel the thought. "Leaving aside the Dou Venerate powerhouse closely tied to him, who even my teacher fears, theres also that shapeshifting magical beast constantly lurking in the shadows, making it impossible to deal with him!" Recalling the overwhelming power behind Liu Ling, Xiao Yan could only sigh inwardly. He then blocked out all external distractions and focused on his second attempt at refining. On Liu Lings side, after summoning the Green Lotus Core Flame, he immediately tossed three medicinal ingredients into his cauldron. The cyan flame split into three strands, tightly wrapping around the herbs. Then, to everyones astonishment, Liu Ling steadily extracted the essence of all three herbs at the same time, in a time far shorter than it would take an ordinary third-grade alchemist to extract a single herb. Seeing Liu Ling''s actions on the plaza, Fa Ma sighed inwardly, somewhat helpless. "This kid, does he have to take risks every time? With his strength, he could have easily fused the ingredients one by one without issue, but he insists on using such an extreme method!" "Wow, does he really have to show off like that?" Xiao Yan, who had just re-extracted the materials he lost in his earlier failure, watched Liu Ling''s bold operation with surprise. "Fusing eight ingredients simultaneously!" "No, I cant compete with him on this one." Shaking his head, Xiao Yan quickly dispelled any reckless ideas. Simultaneously fusing eight ingredients was too riskyhe didnt want to take that chance. Instead, he focused on carefully refining the ingredients one by one. As time passed, and under many nervous gazes, Liu Ling''s fusion proceeded flawlessly. Inside the cauldron, a perfectly round pill had taken shape, and Liu Ling was using his cyan flame to slowly nurture it. At a certain point, Liu Ling suddenly lifted his hand and slapped the cauldron lid open. A pill wrapped in cyan flames shot out and was swiftly caught by Liu Ling, who quickly placed it into a jade bottle. "That was so cool!" At this moment, both the audience and the VIP section were filled with girls who couldnt help but cast admiring glances at Liu Ling, their hearts aflutter. (End of the chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 381: Conclusion! Princess Yao Yue’s Invitation! Chapter 381: Conclusion! Princess Yao Yues Invitation! Chapter 381: Conclusion! Princess Yao Yues Invitation! "So handsome!" At this moment, whether in the audience seats or the VIP area, several young girls were casting admiring glances at Liu Ling, their hearts fluttering. "With Liu Ling''s performance, there''s no doubt he''ll be the champion of this competition!" Fa Ma stroked his white beard, his face full of admiration as he spoke. Behind Liu Ling, Princess Yao Yue stuck out her tongue and curiously asked, "Liu Ling, what have you been up to these past few years? How did you suddenly become so powerful?" "Because I''m a genius!" Liu Ling shrugged slightly at the princess''s question, then began tidying up the items on the stone platform. Upon hearing Liu Ling''s unabashed response, Princess Yao Yue was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to muster any rebuttal. After all, given Liu Ling''s current performance, calling him a genius was certainly justified. As the sand in the hourglass dwindled, Xiao Yan, Xiao Yi Xian, and Princess Yao Yue also successfully refined the Windwalking Pill. Although many participants realized there was an issue with the pill recipe after being inspired by Liu Ling, the Windwalking Pill was still a Tier 3 pill. Typically, only one out of five Tier 2 alchemists could manage to refine it, and even newly advanced Tier 3 alchemists sometimes failed. Therefore, by the time the hourglass ran out, fewer than 40 people had successfully refined the Windwalking Pill. These forty individuals would become the focus of attention in the final round of the competition, where the ultimate champion and the top ten would be determined. After the examination time ended, it was followed by the routine testing. As expected, the pill Liu Ling refined once again ranked as the highest quality, just like in the first round. This gave Xiao Yan a deep sense of frustration. The second-highest quality pill was still produced by the mysterious figure in black robes in the corner. After that came Xiao Yan, Princess Yao Yue, and some other strong Tier 3 alchemists. Meanwhile, after squeezing his way out of the venue, Xiao Yan was also bombarded with several invitations, including one from Nalan Jie of the Nalan family and some of his friends in the capital. Interestingly, Xiao Yan made the same decision as Liu Ling and chose not to attend any banquets. Following the street, Xiao Yan walked toward the inn where he was staying. Along the way, the admiring stares and whispers from those around him gave him a headache. Unable to bear it, he quickened his pace, turned down a few streets, and finally darted into the inn, heading straight for his room. Once inside, Xiao Yan closed the door behind him, leaned against it, and let out a long sigh. Rubbing his forehead, he looked slightly tired. Although the two rounds of assessments seemed simple on the surface, the hidden complexities had taken a toll on his mind. The pressure from this competition had grown tremendously. Liu Lings sudden rise and the extraordinary power of the mysterious black-robed figure had both displayed formidable strength. Most crucially, from Yao Lao, Xiao Yan learned that both of these individuals possessed heavenly flames. As Xiao Yan reflected on the details of the tournament, a shadow quietly appeared near the inn where he was staying. Yao Lao, who was monitoring the situation from Xiao Yan''s ring, had long been aware of the black-clad figures movements but hadnt mentioned it to Xiao Yan yet. Xiao Yan, stop overthinking. Focus on your training and replenish the Dou Qi you used during the day! Even if you dont win first place against those two prodigies, its not the end of the world. Dont put so much pressure on yourself, Yao Laos voice rang out, sensing the complex emotions brewing within Xiao Yan. Hearing Yao Laos comforting words, Xiao Yan regained his composure and said, Teacher, I wont let it get to me. Besides, tomorrows match hasnt even started yetI might not lose! Haha, now thats the stubborn Xiao Yan I know! Yao Lao stroked his beard with satisfaction. (End of the Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 382: Xiao Yi Xian is Followed! Chapter 382: Xiao Yi Xian is Followed! Chapter 382: Xiao Yi Xian is Followed! After leaving the venue, Xiao Yi Xian headed towards a certain inn in the city. However, as the night deepened on the bustling streets, she noticed three shadows trailing her from behind. What are these three old men trying to do? With her current strength, Xiao Yi Xian could easily sense that the three people following her were the same three Dou Emperor experts who had been seated on the high platform during the day. Realizing she was being followed, Xiao Yi Xian quickened her pace and soon entered a somewhat secluded alleyway. "Come out!" Once in the quiet alley, Xiao Yi Xian turned and shouted coldly toward the figures behind her. So, it really is a woman! Hearing her crisp voice, Fa Ma, Jia Xing Tian, and Hai Bodong exchanged glances, suddenly realizing the truth. Knowing they had been discovered, the three no longer bothered hiding. They flew down from the rooftops, landing about ten meters in front of Xiao Yi Xian. Jia Xing Tian, walking in front, spoke loudly, Little girl, your strength is quite impressive! You actually managed to sense the three of us old men! The strength of my sect is not something you three can comment on. If youre smart, go back where you came from. Xiao Yi Xian replied calmly, addressing the three titans of the Jia Ma Empire. A sect? Could this girl be the leader of a sect? A sect leader at seventeen? Hearing Xiao Yi Xian refer to herself as the head of a sect, Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong were filled with doubt. Fa Ma shook his head, dismissing his earlier thoughts, then spoke with certainty, Theres no way shes that young and already a sect leader. If she isnt using a disguise, she must have some special method to maintain her appearance. Fa Ma is right. If shes really a sect leader, why would she participate in a competition for the younger generation? It doesnt match her status. I suspect she has other motives for entering the capital, Jia Xing Tian said, his eyes fixed on Xiao Yi Xian, analyzing the situation. While Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian were filled with suspicion, Hai Bodong seemed to be there purely out of curiosity, eager to see who the black-robed figure that had instantly destroyed his Cold Stream earlier in the day was. The Chuyun Empire doesnt have a female sect master, does it? Jia Xing Tians gaze turned fierce as he glared at Xiao Yi Xian, his voice sharp. Haha! Old man, just because you dont know of a female sect master in the Chuyun Empire doesnt mean there isnt one. Youre simply too ignorant! Xiao Yi Xian chuckled lightly, completely unfazed by their suspicion of her being a Poison Master. With her current strength, even if Fa Ma and Hai Bodong joined Jia Xing Tian in battle, she would have no reason to fear them. Well, since you admit to being a Poison Master, you might as well tell us the purpose of your visit to the Jia Ma Empire, Fa Ma asked with a frown. My purpose? Naturally, its to participate in the Alchemist Grand Meeting. What, are you planning to exclude me just because Im a Poison Master, even though the competition is supposedly open to all alchemists? Xiao Yi Xian scoffed. Hearing her response, Fa Mas face darkened. After a long pause, he slowly said, Of course not. As long as you behave yourself in the capital, well welcome you with open arms. Jia Xing Tian, however, appeared conflicted. The Chuyun Empire had long been at odds with the Jia Ma Empire, with frequent outbreaks of war. Allowing a Dou Emperor from a rival nation to roam freely in the capital could lead to uncontrollable consequences. After some deliberation, Jia Xing Tian decided to hold off on taking action against Xiao Yi Xian, but he issued a stern warning: Youd better behave, or Ill make sure you never leave the Jia Ma Empire! Heh, what I do is none of your business. If you provoke me, you wont be able to handle the consequences! In response to Jia Xing Tians threat, Xiao Yi Xian raised her delicate white hand, making a small gesture in the air before turning away, no longer paying attention to the three men. (End of the Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 383: Preparations Before the Tournament! Fa Ma’s Night Meeting with Xiao Yan! Chapter 383: Preparations Before the Tournament! Fa Mas Night Meeting with Xiao Yan! Chapter 383: Preparations Before the Tournament! Fa Ma''s Night Meeting with Xiao Yan! Watching as Xiao Yi Xian gradually disappeared from sight, Jia Xingtian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong remained rooted in place, making no move to intercept her. After a while, Jia Xingtian suddenly turned to Fa Ma and said, "Fa Ma, someone like her, likely an ancient monster, making it to the finals of the Alchemist Tournamentyou must be worried. If she wins the championship, your Alchemist Associations reputation in the Jia Ma Empire will be at stake..." "Old Jia, from what I can see, you''re not in a much better position than I am. That persons strength rivals yours, and neither I nor Old Ice can take her on. That''s also why you didn''t make another move, right? If she causes a commotion in the imperial capital, its your royal family that will have a headache!" Fa Ma sighed deeply after hearing Jia Xingtians words. Jia Xingtians face darkened as he said grimly, "Hmph, Ill send someone to the Chu Yun Empire as soon as possible to investigate her identity. If she dares to stir up trouble in the capital during this time, even if I have to suffer a serious injury, Ill make sure she stays here!" "Agreed." Hearing Jia Xingtians angry words, Fa Ma nodded slightly and said, "Old Jia, I didnt hold back earlier on purpose. I was just worried that if this matter escalated, rumors would spread across the capital by tomorrow, saying the Jia Ma Alchemist Association harmed contestants to rig the championship. Once the tournament is over, our Alchemist Association will fully support you in dealing with this mysterious woman." After Fa Ma finished speaking, Hai Bodong also chimed in, "If she truly threatens the Jia Ma Empire, I will take action with all my strength!" "Alright, Ill be counting on the two of you old fellows for help then!" Jia Xingtian''s expression finally eased after hearing the statements from Fa Ma and Hai Bodong. "Old Jia, to ensure there are no slip-ups, I suggest you visit the Yun Lan Sect after the tournament tomorrow and meet Gu He." Hai Bodong hesitated for a moment before suddenly offering this suggestion. "Gu He? Why bring him up now? Do you think he can be of any help in this matter?" "Yes, Gu He might be a sixth-tier alchemist, but his cultivation is only that of a Dou King. What help could he possibly offer? However, Ive heard from Nalan Jie that Yun Yun, the young sect master of the Yun Lan Sect, has made great strides in strength these past few years," Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma both responded dismissively to Hai Bodongs suggestion. "Believe it or not... Gu Hes true strength isnt what it seems. And... its not just Liu Ling who possesses a heavenly flame. The one Gu He has might be far more powerful!" Hai Bodong revealed Gu Hes secret, hoping to convince them. "What!" "Both master and disciple possess heavenly flames?" Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma had no reason to doubt Hai Bodong''s words, and both were deeply shocked. "Hehe, Im sure youve already guessedmy visit is mainly about tomorrow''s finals," Fa Ma said with a smile. "The finals?" Xiao Yan asked, surprised. "Yes. The identity of that black-robed person from earlier today has been confirmedshes from the Chu Yun Empire," Fa Ma stated plainly. "Someone from the Chu Yun Empire?" "Old Fa, are you worried that the person from the Chu Yun Empire might take the championship of the Jia Ma Alchemist Tournament?" Xiao Yan immediately understood Fa Ma''s concerns. "Exactly!" Nodding, Fa Ma stroked his beard and said thoughtfully, "I came here tonight to make tomorrows competition a bit more secure. The next rounds test doesnt have any hidden tricks; it will rely entirely on each contestants true skills and trump cards." "In that round, youll have full freedom to demonstrate your abilities. Everything, including the materials, must be prepared by yourselves. That means the guild wont be providing any formulaswhether or not you have the right recipe in your collection that matches your limits will depend on your own resources. And, even if you do have a recipe, youll also need to have the necessary materials to refine the pill!" "If not... well, that would be just bad luck on your part!" Fa Ma spread his hands and chuckled mischievously. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 384: The Final Test Begins! Chapter 384: The Final Test Begins! Chapter 384: The Final Test Begins! "Damn!" After a moment, Xiao Yan couldnt help but curse. If Fa Ma hadn''t given him a heads-up today, then for tomorrows test, the highest-level pill recipe he could have used would have been a few tier-3 recipes that Yao Lao had previously taught him. However, with such low-level recipes, it would be nearly impossible to surpass the collections of other contestants. Moreover, the fact that the required ingredients for the competition had to be self-provided put Xiao Yan in a tough spot. Even though Xiao Yan now knew this information from Fa Ma, and Yao Lao could teach him a tier-4 pill recipe overnight, solving the issue of the recipe was easy. But where was he going to find the necessary ingredients? "Though this test leans somewhat on luck, luck is also a part of one''s strength, isn''t it?" Fa Ma chuckled and continued, "I came here to check whether you lack anything for tomorrow. If you don''t have a tier-4 pill recipe, this old man can provide one, along with two full sets of the necessary ingredients." "Of course, if you already have a familiar tier-4 recipe but lack the materials, I can help with that too!" "Providing a tier-4 recipe along with the required ingredients!" Hearing Fa Mas offer, Xiao Yan couldnt help but feel tempted. Although Yao Lao could also provide a tier-4 recipe, it would be foolish not to accept a free offer. Without hesitation, he replied, "Old Fa, I dont have a tier-4 recipe or the ingredients!" Upon seeing Xiao Yans reaction, a barely noticeable smile flashed in the corner of Fa Mas eyes. He then said slowly, "The tier-4 recipe and the ingredients aren''t an issue, but the premise is that you must have the confidence to refine it!" "I would need to know the grade of the recipe and the specific requirements," Xiao Yan replied, feeling a bit uncertain. At his current level, refining tier-3 pills was no problem, but refining tier-4 pills was more difficult, with a rather low success rate. "This recipe may only be a tier-4 one, but its value is comparable to, or even surpasses, that of a tier-5 recipe!" Fa Ma said with a faint smile. He tapped his storage ring lightly, and a jet-black scroll appeared in his withered hand. "Here, take a look. I think youll like it." Fa Ma smiled as he handed the ancient scroll to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan carefully accepted the scroll with both hands and slowly unfurled it, scanning the information recorded on its surface. "Three Mark Green Spirit Pill, tier-4 pill. A regular Three Mark Green Spirit Pill can help a Dou Practitioner break through the barrier to become a Dou Grandmaster. If consumed by a Dou Grandmaster, it has a small chance of raising their strength by one star, without any risk of side effects." The most crowded and lively place in the city that day was, unsurprisingly, the enormous Royal Plaza. Yesterdays competition had left a lasting impression on the audience, with more and more people drawn to the thrilling alchemy contest. Even though the sky was barely bright, the area outside the Royal Plaza was already packed with a sea of people, their heads forming a dark mass stretching as far as the eye could see. As time passed, a ray of sunlight broke through the clouds, casting its light over the vast city. When the sun finally rose, the tightly closed gates of the Royal Plaza slowly opened, and the crowd outside surged in like a tidal wave. When Xiao Yan arrived at the plaza and saw the long line at the entrance, he was stunned for a moment before shaking his head helplessly. He sighed, "I didnt expect todays crowd to be even crazier than yesterday." "Brother Yan Xiao!" Just as Xiao Yan was staring at the long line, Nalan Jie suddenly appeared beside him. "Marshal Nalan!" Xiao Yan nodded slightly in acknowledgment. "Come with me. As a contestant, you dont need to queue in the regular line!" Nalan Jie glanced around and gestured to Xiao Yan, then led him toward a different entrance to the plaza. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 385: Nalan Yanran Appears! Surprising Final Rules! Chapter 385: Nalan Yanran Appears! Surprising Final Rules! Chapter 385: Nalan Yanran Appears! Surprising Final Rules! Following behind Nalan Jie, Xiao Yan walked some distance away, and the clamor gradually lessened. After rounding a corner, Xiao Yan discovered that there was another side gate behind the square. Outside this gate, over a hundred fully armed soldiers were stationed, blocking the entrance firmly. Nalan Marshal! As Nalan Jie led Xiao Yan near the gate, the soldiers on duty all saluted respectfully. Ignoring the soldiers, Nalan Jie led Xiao Yan through the gate as if no one was around. The soldiers seemed to recognize them, as none moved to obstruct their passage. Once inside, Xiao Yan continued forward for a while until his view suddenly broadened. He looked up and noticed that many participants who had passed the two rounds of assessments yesterday had already gathered in the square, chatting in groups of two or three. Xiao Yan scanned the crowd several times but didn''t see Liu Ling or the little princess. Sighing, he slowly looked up toward the VIP stands. The moment he looked, his gaze froze. In his line of sight, standing beside Liu Ling was a graceful figure dressed in a light blue dress. Nalan Yanran! Xiao Yan''s heart skipped a beat. This was his first time seeing Nalan Yanran since their three-year agreement was made. That Liu Ling already knows my identity, and since hes so close to Nalan Yanran, she probably knows that Ive arrived in the capital as well! Feeling a surge of indescribable emotions, Xiao Yan took a step forward, intending to walk into the square. At that moment, the little princess, who had participated in the competition with him the previous day, noticed his arrival. She turned and came over with a bright smile, saying, Mister Yanxiao, youre here quite early! The little princesss greeting immediately drew the attention of others. In the VIP stands, many people turned their eyes toward Xiao Yan, including Nalan Yanran. When Nalan Yanran looked in his direction, Xiao Yan suddenly felt a bit nervous. Fortunately, Nalan Yanran merely glanced over and quickly turned back, continuing her conversation with Liu Ling. Her reaction... seems like she doesnt know my identity yet! As time passed, more participants, including Liu Ling, Xiao Yan, and the little princess, gradually entered the square. Those who had made it this far were all seated, centering themselves and adjusting their state. The ones remaining had significant strength and composure; no one wanted to exit this final round of assessments due to a minor slip. As the blazing sun climbed higher into the sky, both sides of the square were already filled with densely packed crowds. Dong! At a certain moment, a crisp chime echoed long and loud above the square. When the bell rang, Xiao Yan, who had been meditating with closed eyes, slowly opened them, exhaled the stale air within his chest, stood up, and looked toward Fa Mas position on the VIP platform. Ahem! Standing on the high platform, Fa Ma gently cleared his throat, sweeping his gaze across the square. After a brief pause, the noise gradually subsided. His aged but steady voice resounded in everyones ears. Todays assessment is the most critical round of the tournament. The final victor will be crowned the champion of this competition. So, for all your efforts, give it everything you have today! Roar! Roar! Roar! The moment Fa Ma finished speaking, the audience, who had been waiting impatiently, erupted into cheers, shaking the air with deafening roars that soared skyward. As Fa Mas gaze swept across the square, he raised his hands slightly, and the thunderous clamor gradually died down, his powerful voice lingering over the square for a long time. For this third round, the Guild will not provide any assistance to the participants. Everything must rely entirely on your own skills, including the prescription, the materials, and so on. This means that within the allotted time, you must successfully refine a pill within your capabilities. The final winner will, naturally, be determined by the level and practical value of the pill they create! ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 386: Yao Lao: Xiao Yan, the Cauldron is Just a Tool! Chapter 386: Yao Lao: Xiao Yan, the Cauldron is Just a Tool! Chapter 386: Yao Lao: Xiao Yan, the Cauldron is Just a Tool! As the loud announcement echoed in their ears, most contestants in the square were taken aback by the sudden exam requirements. After a moment of shock, some of them began to turn pale. It was clear that these individuals hadnt prepared the proper prescription or sufficient medicinal ingredients. Without these, they would have to settle for refining lower-grade pills, which would greatly increase their chances of losing. Although Xiao Yan had already learned about the exam topic from Fa Ma, he still pretended to be slightly startled. Maintaining a calm expression in such an unexpectedly challenging test could easily raise suspicions of favoritism. While controlling his expression, Xiao Yan quickly glanced around. He noticed that although the little princess and Liu Ling had initially been surprised by the exams requirements, they soon recovered. Their expressions showed no signs of panic. Impressive background, Xiao Yan mused. Though this test caught them off guard, it doesnt seem to hinder their abilities much. Now that everyone is familiar with the exam rules, lets begin! On the platform, Fa Ma slowly raised his hand and then lowered it with a subtle motion. His calm voice echoed throughout the square: The third round of the assessment begins now! As Fa Mas voice fell, the slight murmuring in the square instantly fell silent. In the audience, countless pairs of eyes were fixed on the dozens of contestants in the massive square below, eagerly awaiting their performance. On the square, after Fa Mas announcement, almost none of the contestants moved. Instead, they remained silent, each deep in thought, considering their approach to the assessment. After nearly ten minutes of silence, the little princess finally broke it. With a wave of her hand, an antique, blue cauldron with a faintly powerful aura appeared on the stone platform. Hearing the cauldron settle onto the platform, Xiao Yan glanced over, frowning slightly. The cauldron she was using was evidently different from the one she had used yesterday. Judging by the aura it emitted, this cauldrons quality far surpassed his own dark-red cauldron. Tsk tsk, Jia old man, your royal family certainly doesnt hold back. You even brought out the Azure Flame Cauldronthis is a fifth-tier medicinal cauldron! I remember several fourth-grade alchemists once fought over it years ago. I never expected it to end up in your hands. Watching the little princess summon the azure cauldron, Fa Ma chuckled with a hint of surprise. Haha, I dont know much about it myself. Most likely, that girl begged her father until he finally let her borrow it, Jia Xing Tian replied with a casual smile, shaking his head. With that, both he and Fa Ma shifted their gazes to Liu Ling. A true master alchemist can form a cauldron with the palm of their hand, refining pills with complete freedom, unrestricted by any external limitations. That is the real grandeur of a master. Understood, Teacher! With Yao Laos encouraging words, Xiao Yan felt his confidence restored. The next moment, without hesitation, he took out his own dark-red cauldron. Seeing Xiao Yans cauldron, Fa Mas expression soured. He had assumed that Xiao Yan might only lack a few ingredients, but he hadnt expected him to still be using such a modest cauldron in the finals. Sigh, a miscalculationI shouldve asked last night if he needed a better cauldron! Fa Ma murmured to himself. As Xiao Yan brought out his humble dark-red cauldron, not only was Fa Ma surprised, but countless astonished glances were cast in his direction. Many had assumed Xiao Yan, like the little princess and Liu Ling, was saving his best equipment for the final round. Yet, to everyones shock, he still chose to use this plain and battered cauldron. ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 {PLEASE JOIN PATREON!! I WILL NEED ALL THE SUPPORT I CAN GET!! PLEASE JOIN!!} Chapter 387: The Emergence of Heavenly Flame, Submission of All Fires! Chapter 387: The Emergence of Heavenly Flame, Submission of All Fires! Chapter 387: The Emergence of Heavenly Flame, Submission of All Fires! Xiao Yan closed his eyes in thought for a moment, then flicked his fingers lightly, laying out the materials for the Three-Patterned Green Spirit Pill on the stone platform before him. The collection included over twenty types of ingredients. This was the first time Xiao Yan had attempted to refine such an extensive set of materials. The psychological pressure was undeniably intense for him. To stand out among the crowd, even if I cant produce the highest-grade, three-patterned pill, I should at least achieve a two-patterned Green Spirit Pill! He muttered to himself as he prepared the materials. Meanwhile, Liu Ling had already arranged his own set of ingredientsa collection that was easily double what Xiao Yan had on his platform. Oh? Unexpectedly, this kid can refine a fourth-grade pill! Unintentionally, Liu Ling caught sight of the materials on Xiao Yans platform and couldnt help but regard him with a newfound respect. In the next instant, Liu Ling turned his attention back, raising his hand. The Green Lotus Core Flame surged into the Crimson Serpent Cauldron, and an intense wave of heat immediately engulfed the entire plaza. Although everyone was aware that Liu Ling possessed a unique flame, the sight still drew countless heated gazes and rounds of enthusiastic applause. With the combination of the Crimson Serpent Cauldron and the Green Lotus Core Flame, Liu Lings setup was undeniably impressive. Even before obtaining this flame, Liu Ling could refine fourth-grade pills with ease. Now, with the addition of this heavenly flame, producing fifth-grade pills should be well within his reach. However, this time, Liu Ling didnt overreach by attempting to create a sixth-grade pill. Instead, he chose to refine a fifth-grade pill called the Dragon Power Pill. On the high platform, Fa Ma had been intently observing the black-robed figure. Yet, upon glimpsing the materials on Liu Lings platform, he was taken aback, nearly dropping his jaw. This many ingredients must be for at least a fifth-grade pill! Does this mean Liu Ling has already become a fifth-grade alchemist? Fa Ma exclaimed, utterly stunned. Even Liu Lings possession of a unique flame hadnt astonished Fa Ma as much. To become a fifth-grade alchemist at merely eighteen or nineteen years old meant Liu Ling could potentially reach the fabled seventh-grade level in the futurean accomplishment that alchemists across the Northwest Continent would spend a lifetime striving for but might never achieve. However, to everyones surprise, Xiao Yan and the black-robed figure, who had performed remarkably well in the previous rounds, used only ordinary pill flames like the rest of the crowd. Just then, Liu Ling suddenly intensified the heat from the Green Lotus Core Flame within the Crimson Serpent Cauldron, causing the temperature across the plaza to rise again. Strangely, as the temperature increased, the flames in the hands of the other contestants, including the Little Princess, dimmed and seemed to lose some of their vigor. A light breeze swept across the plaza, and the multicolored flames, each with unique hues, tilted ever so slightly. To everyones amazement, each flame pointed in the direction of Liu Ling at the center of the arena. More precisely, the flames were drawn towards the ethereal green flame rising from Liu Lings cauldron. The peculiar scene resembled ministers bowing before their sovereign. A heavenly flames emergence, and all fires bow in submissionhow true those words are! Watching this spectacle, Fa Ma sighed softly from the high platform. He had witnessed a similar scene in his youth, and it astonished him to see it again at such a moment. The strange phenomenon on the plaza didnt seem to surprise Liu Ling too much. As the temperature in the Crimson Serpent Cauldron rose, the flames in the contestants hands gradually returned to normal. This guy! The Little Princess muttered in frustration. Having never witnessed a heavenly flames raw power before, shed assumed her Aquatic Blue Flame was nearly on par with Liu Lings Green Lotus Core Flame. However, after seeing her own flames submission, it was clear to anyone that it was far from comparable; otherwise, her flame wouldnt have displayed such a subservient behavior. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 388: Liu Ling’s Usual Risky Moves! Chapter 388: Liu Lings Usual Risky Moves! Chapter 388: Liu Ling''s Usual Risky Moves! While the crowd was captivated by the power of Liu Lings heavenly flame, Xiao Yans gaze remained fixed on the pile of ingredients on Liu Lings platform. It was clear that the quantity of materials Liu Ling had prepared far exceeded the twenty herbs required for refining a Three-Patterned Green Spirit Pill. Suddenly, an old, familiar voice echoed in Xiao Yans mind. Xiao Yan, stop staring. That boys ingredients are clearly meant for refining a fifth-grade pill! A fifth-grade pill? Does that mean hes already achieved the level of a fifth-grade alchemist? Xiao Yans face was filled with disbelief at Yao Laos words. Xiao Yan, dont get so worked up. Liu Ling is about two years older than you. If he can reach the level of a fifth-grade alchemist now, you could achieve the same in two years. Besides, his current skills would hardly impress the elite alchemist clans in the Dan Region. Back in my day... Seeing Xiao Yans reaction, Yao Lao began to boast about some of his past experiences. Xiao Yan, focus on refining the Three-Patterned Green Spirit Pill as we practiced. Dont get distracted by all this. If Liu Ling succeeds in refining that fifth-grade pill, you wont stand a chance to win. But if he happens to slip up or faces a problem during the fusion process, you might still have an opportunity. Yes, teacher, I understand! Hearing Yao Laos guidance, Xiao Yan realized he couldnt let external distractions affect him as they had in the first round. He held a small hope in the back of his mindthat Liu Ling might encounter a failure during the refining process. After all, even the best alchemists cant guarantee a hundred percent success. Refining a fifth-grade pill also takes much longer than a fourth-grade pill, so if Liu Ling made a mistake during the fusion stage, he would have no time to prepare a second set of materials. ... As the unusual scene caused by Liu Lings heavenly flame dissipated, the contestants gradually refocused on the challenge ahead. They directed their flames into their cauldrons, retrieved their materials from their storage rings, and began the first step in alchemy: extraction! Xiao Yan kept his eyes locked on his cauldron, occasionally tossing one or two herbs from his platform inside. Carefully controlling the flame temperature, he followed the instructions from the formula, meticulously extracting the essence needed for the pill. Hearing her grandfathers words, Nalan Yanrans expression grew complex. After a moment, she spoke evenly, Grandfather, I wont go through with a marriage I dont want, no matter what. No one can force me. Besides, I wont lose in the three-year challenge. When Xiao Yan is defeated, Ill offer him some compensation. Youre that confident? The boy from the Xiao family is not lacking in talent. After three years, he may well have reached the rank of Dou Grandmaster. Theres no need for you to worry about that. Just focus on watching the match, Nalan Yanran responded, sidestepping her grandfathers probing and using her Dou Qi to temporarily block her hearing, tuning out his chatter. Though Nalan Jie was irritated by her attitude, he couldnt do much about it. After all, they were in a public setting, and he had no desire for the Nalan family to become the subject of ridicule. By this point, the final round had progressed for some time. Nalan Jie noticed that during his conversation with Nalan Yanran, the most dazzling contestant, Liu Ling, had already used up two-thirds of his ingredients, while most others had barely finished extracting three or four herbs. This speed is simply astounding! While others were refining third-grade pills, Liu Ling was working on a fifth-grade pill. Yet his pace in extracting thirty to forty herbs nearly matched others speed with only seven or eight. It was enough to leave everyone astonished. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 389: Halftime Break? Show Your Skills! Chapter 389: Halftime Break? Show Your Skills! Chapter 389: Halftime Break? Show Your Skills! On Liu Lings side, he continued to refine at least four medicinal ingredients with each attempt. Although he had a minor failure once, given his speed, he only wasted four herbs in total, which didnt set him back compared to the others. After a few more minutes, Liu Ling had already extracted all the essential components needed for the pill on his stone platform. This kid, he really doesnt give anyone else a chance to shine. The process of refining such a vast amount of materials for a fifth-tier pill, and hes still faster than someone working on a third-tier pill, remarked Fa Ma from the high platform, uncertain if he was complimenting or criticizing. Meanwhile, in the main square, Xiao Yan, the Little Princess, Xiao Yi Xian, and the remaining contestants were still rushing through their own refining processes. Phew! Exhaling deeply, Liu Ling finally completed his extractions, clearly worn out. Without hesitation, he took a pill to restore his battle energy and sat cross-legged to regain his strength. Well, at least hes taking a steadier approach now! Fa Ma smiled approvingly, seeing that Liu Ling prioritized restoring his energy instead of rushing straight to the pill fusion phase. Is this guy really just sitting down to rest? What is this? Is he waiting for us or something? Xiao Yan and the Little Princess grumbled almost in unison, feeling frustrated as they watched Liu Lings calm recovery. Our senior brother is really impressive; hes aiming to make a fifth-tier pill. Xiao Yi Xian glanced at Liu Ling during a break in her own refining. She was only working on a fourth-tier pill, but before long, she became the second contestant to finish extracting all her materials, right after Liu Ling. Shortly after her, Xiao Yan, the Little Princess, and a few others also completed their extractions. Still resting? Seven or eight minutes later, Fa Mas expression suddenly changed, a hint of delight flashing across his aged face as he looked toward Xiao Yans direction. From his dark red cauldron, a faint medicinal fragrance had begun to spread out. "Yan Xiao is the steady one; hes already showing signs of successful pill formation," Fa Ma mused, secretly pleased with the plans he had set in place the previous night. After Xiao Yan, a similar fragrance began to emerge from Xiao Yi Xian, Princess Yao Yue, and a few other contestants. For a moment, the entire squareand even the VIP and spectator seatswas filled with the rich aroma of medicinal pills. A careful observer would note, however, that of the dozen or so distinct fragrances, Xiao Yi Xians was the strongest. Realizing this, Fa Mas face turned slightly tense. He hadnt expected that the pill refined by the mysterious black-robed figure would reach a mid-level fourth-tier quality. If Xiao Yan only managed to produce a single-patterned Green Spirit Pill, it would indeed fall slightly short. At that moment, Xiao Yan, as if sensing the higher quality of Xiao Yi Xians pill in comparison to his own, couldnt help but frown slightly. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 390: Yao Lao’s Assistance! The Bone Spirit Cold Fire Appears! Chapter 390: Yao Laos Assistance! The Bone Spirit Cold Fire Appears! Chapter 390: Yao Lao''s Assistance! The Bone Spirit Cold Fire Appears! "Xiao Yan, next up, I''ll let you temporarily use the Bone Spirit Cold Fire. As long as you keep its aura suppressed, no one should recognize it. Stay focused and try to refine the two-pattern Green Spirit Pill," Yao Lao suddenly advised Xiao Yan from within his ring, having been quietly observing the competition. Yao Lao and Fa Ma shared a similar view. For someone of Liu Ling''s age, attempting to refine a fifth-tier pill was already a challenging feat, and he was further increasing the difficulty with such risky ingredient fusion methodsan approach with an eighty percent chance of failure. Currently, aside from Liu Ling, the biggest threat was the mysterious black-robed figure. If Xiao Yan could successfully refine a two-pattern Green Spirit Pill, hed have a significant chance of winning the championship. Understood! Xiao Yans spirits lifted upon hearing Yao Lao''s words. He quickly took another pale purple pill from his storage ring and popped it into his mouth, chewing lightly. At the same time, a white flame appeared in his hand, which he promptly controlled with his soul power and cast into the cauldron. Thanks to Yao Laos deliberate suppression, the Bone Spirit Cold Fire didnt draw much attention. However, since Xiao Yan was one of the key contestants, his actions quickly caught the eyes of several onlookers. Among them was Fa Ma, whose deeply set eyes widened the moment he saw the white flame. He could also vaguely sense a powerful soul fluctuation, stirring his mind with curiosity and questions. At the same time, other alchemists, including Liu Ling and Xiao Yi Xian, also sensed the strong soul presence. However, they were in critical phases of their own refinement processes and couldnt spare the focus to investigate further. Who wouldve thought Yan Xiao had a hidden card up his sleeve? This white flame may be restrained, but it holds immense powernot likely any weaker than Liu Lings Green Lotus Core Flame. After a moment of reflection, Fa Mas face shifted from confusion to excitement. Seeing the addition of the white flame to Xiao Yans cauldron, he felt certain that Xiao Yan wasnt aiming for a single-pattern Green Spirit Pill but rather a two-pattern version. "Ha! If Yan Xiao actually refines a two-pattern Green Spirit Pill, this competition is in the bag!" Fa Ma thought to himself, feeling pleased. His only concern was that Xiao Yi Xian wouldnt take the championship. As for whether Xiao Yan or Liu Ling won in the end, it mattered little to him. At this moment, Fa Ma was eagerly rooting for Xiao Yan to successfully create the two-pattern Green Spirit Pill. After borrowing the Bone Spirit Cold Fire from Yao Lao, Xiao Yan focused all his energy on refining the pill. Phew! Before long, as sweat beaded on his forehead, a cyan-colored pill began to form within his cauldron, accompanied by a refreshing medicinal fragrance. A fourth-tier pill! The moment Xiao Yan successfully created a fourth-tier pill, the crowd erupted in cheers, and a smile lit up Fa Mas face. Under their gaze, a rich, light-red medicinal liquid had already begun to appear within Liu Ling''s cauldron. "This guy rested for so long, and now hes flawlessly completed the ingredient fusion process at this exact moment?" "What a monstrous talent!" Both Xiao Yan and the Little Princess couldnt help but marvel. After his remark to the two, Liu Ling split his soul power into two currents and poured them into the cauldron. One forcefully suppressed the cyan flame, while the other wrapped around the medicinal liquid with lightning speed, unleashing an immensely powerful compressive force. This time, Liu Ling was attempting to refine a fifth-tier pill known as the "Dragon Strength Pill." This pill could grant the user an exceptionally strong physical power boost for a short durationa raw, pure strength unlinked to any battle energy enhancement. As such, the "Dragon Strength Pill" was a pill that directly amplified physical prowess, making it even more challenging to refine than most fifth-tier pills. Even veteran fifth-tier alchemists found it rather troublesome to create. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 391: Crushing Victory! Chapter 391: Crushing Victory! Chapter 391: Crushing Victory! At this moment, within Liu Lings Crimson Serpent Cauldron, the light red medicinal liquid seemed to sense the compressive force from its surroundings, and it suddenly began to fluctuate violently. With each surge, powerful ripples of energy erupted from it, colliding with the invisible force formed by soul power. Bang! On the stone platform, the cauldron quivered slightly, producing a crisp collision sound from within. As the cauldron trembled, Liu Lings expression changed subtly. His foot stomped heavily on the ground, and his palm, hovering above the cauldron, clenched fiercely forward as if trying to crush the very air in front of him. With the tightening of Liu Lings grip, the violently churning liquid in the cauldron suddenly froze. The invisible hand formed by his soul power surged in strength at once. The originally large mass of liquid had shrunk to the size of a ping-pong ball, but as it reached this point, it fiercely resisted, refusing to move to the final step. Its resisting so strongly! Liu Lings face paled as he concentrated on the cauldron. This was already Liu Lings fourth attempt at refining a fifth-tier pill. With the experience from his previous three tries, he knew that any mistake at this stage would mean all prior efforts would be wasted. This was why he had rested for such a long time after purifying all the ingredients. Given that he had only recently advanced to a fifth-tier alchemist, his success rate for refining a Dragon Force Pill, which was among the higher-grade fifth-tier pills, was not high. However, after refining the Green Lotus Core Flame, practicing the powerful techniques passed down by Gu He, and achieving a breakthrough in his cultivation, his confidence had surged, pushing him to challenge his limits. The changes in Liu Lings expression were noticed by the crowd in the square. They had also seen the cauldron''s trembling earlier, and now everyone held their breath, eyes fixed intently on the scene. Detecting the disturbance coming from Liu Lings cauldron, Fa Ma was now certain that the pill being refined was indeed a fifth-tier pill. After all, a fourth-tier pill could never produce such intense energy ripples. Liu Ling, you must succeed! Fa Ma silently prayed. At this moment, Xiao Yans pill was already complete, and there was no way it could surpass Xiao Yi Xians four-tier pill with colored fragrance. All of Fa Mas hopes now rested on Liu Ling. Senior brother, you can do it! On the edge of the square, Xiao Yi Xian, who was nurturing her pill, also noticed the commotion. A hint of concern flashed in her eyes. Looks like hes feeling the pressure, Xiao Yan murmured to himself. This was the first time hed seen Liu Ling struggle so much during a refinement. If it werent for the competition, he might have even wished for Liu Lings success. Within the cauldron, the dark red embryonic pill continuously released energy ripples that struck the cauldron walls. If not for the sturdiness of the Crimson Serpent Cauldron, it might have shattered under the repeated impacts. Watching Liu Ling control the flames, Xiao Yan and the Little Princess, standing nearby, were so tense they momentarily forgot to breathe. Luckily, Ive already broken through to Dou Wang; otherwise, suppressing these energy surges would have been difficult! Seeing the dark red pill in the cauldron gradually become smooth and round, Liu Lings tense nerves finally began to relax. Boom! Under countless gazes, Liu Ling suddenly lifted his hand and struck the cauldron lid. Instantly, the lid flew up, and with it came a dense fragrance unique to a fifth-tier pill. A bright red pill shot out from the cauldron. Liu Ling quickly grabbed a prepared jade bottle and captured the flying fifth-tier pill. Success! Gu He has truly found a treasure. Liu Lings potential will undoubtedly make him an extraordinary genius in the future, stepping beyond the Jia Ma Empire, reaching the Northwest Continent, and even the Central Plains... Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 392: Announcing the Rankings! Chapter 392: Announcing the Rankings! Chapter 392: Announcing the Rankings! Mm! Upon hearing Fa Mas praise of Liu Ling, Hai Bodong nodded in strong agreement and sighed, Whats going on these days? First, theres Yan Xiao, who, despite his young age, possesses the strength to fight a Dou King-level expert and has the ability to refine a fourth-tier pill. Then, news spread of a small mercenary group leader in Stone Desert City with exceptional talent, who, although not as strong as Yan Xiao, is even younger. And now, Liu Ling emerges, capable of refining a fifth-tier pill at an age that one could hardly imagine. Old Jia, all these geniuses hail from Jia Ma Empireyouve really struck gold! Fa Ma said, turning to Jia Xingtian, who was equally astonished. With the talent of these young individuals, if you seize the opportunity, the Jia Ma Empire could very well become one of the most powerful nations in the northwest continent! Hearing this, Jia Xingtian cupped his hands and laughed, Haha, Fa Ma, Old Ice, Ill take your words as a blessing then! At this moment, after seeing Liu Ling successfully complete his pill, almost everyone knew that the refined pill in the hands of the proud youth was indeed a fifth-tier pill. Little Yan, this boys skill is indeed formidable. At this level, in another five or six years, he could even secure a decent ranking at the grandest alchemy convention in Central Plains! Losing to him is no disgrace! Yao Laos voice came from Xiao Yans ring, full of praise for Liu Ling. He could sense that the energy contained within Liu Lings pill was much stronger than that of an ordinary fifth-tier pill. Even without Yao Laos comment, Xiao Yan already felt greatly shaken. Such monstrous talent left him with little desire to compete. Wow! Oh! Amid the clamor around the square, Fa Ma took a step forward on the high platform. At the same time, the ancient chime sounded once more. As the ancient chime echoed, everyone quickly quieted down and turned their attention to the elder standing on the platform. Hehe, now that most of the contestants have completed their pills, it is time to evaluate the effects of your pills and determine the final ranking of this competition. Contestants, please reveal your refined pills! Fa Ma chuckled lightly, then, accompanied by two vice-chairmen, descended from the platform to the square where the contestants stood. Everyone, you must have all seen Liu Lings refining process just now. This is the only fifth-tier pill in the entire competition, and it is even more effective than a typical fifth-tier pill. Therefore, Liu Ling has been declared the champion of this tournament. Does anyone object? Standing next to Liu Ling, Fa Ma pointed to the Dragon Force Pill suspended in his palm, his deep voice resonating throughout the square. After Fa Mas words fell, almost no voice of dissent arose from the crowd. This tournament had brought countless shocks to the audience, unlike any in the past. Thus, after Fa Ma announced the effects and quality of both pills, the decision for second place was made. Even though Fa Ma was reluctant, he had no choice but to declare, The second place in this Alchemist Competition goes to the black-robed person! Third place, Yan Xiao. Oh! Oh! The audience didnt think too much about the reasons behind it. As onlookers, they only knew that the names announced were the geniuses of this competition. Thus, the cheers were an expression of admiration for the strong. Sigh! At that moment, the Little Princess let out a heavy sigh. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 393: Revelation of Xiao Yi Xian’s Identity! Chapter 393: Revelation of Xiao Yi Xians Identity! Chapter 393: Revelation of Xiao Yi Xian''s Identity! Originally, her ability to produce a fourth-grade pill was already considered a remarkable achievement, especially compared to previous competitions. She was confident, even claiming that if she couldn''t win first place, shed at least secure second or third. However, reality quickly slapped her in the face: both second and third places had already been taken. "Who is that mysterious person? Jumping in at the last moment, making it so I didnt even place in the top three!" The little princess glanced at the black-robed figure, muttering to herself. The next moment, Fa Ma finally announced her ranking. "In fourth place of the tournament, the princess of the Jia Ma Empire, Yao Yue." Upon hearing that the fourth place belonged to the imperial princess, some spectators became excited again. Judging by her age, for someone so young to reach this level already, she might rival the top three in the future on her path as a pharmacist. "Congratulations, Brother Liu!" After learning her ranking, the little princess adjusted her mood and smiled to congratulate Liu Ling. "Haha, little sister Yue''er, you did well too. In a couple of years, youll surely achieve even more!" Hearing her congratulations, Liu Ling responded with a warm smile, praising her in return. "Aren''t you just stating the obvious? Of course, Ill be stronger in two years!" The little princess couldnt help but roll her eyes at Liu Lings empty compliment. After her congratulations, Fa Ma enthusiastically patted Liu Ling on the shoulder and laughed, "Liu Ling, youre far more talented than your master. Perhaps even in less than two years, you''ll surpass Gu He!" "Cough cough... Me? Surpass my master?" Hearing Fa Mas words, Liu Ling reacted with shock, nearly choking on his own saliva. Seeing his reaction, Fa Ma continued, "Come on, dont be so reserved. ''Green surpasses blue.'' If you surpass your master, Gu He would be even happier than I would!" "Haha! Youre just joking, Chairman." Liu Ling gave a dry laugh, not taking Fa Ma''s words seriously, as Gu Hes strength was deeply imprinted in his mind. "What kind of person is my master? Surpassing him? Dream on!" ... As Fa Ma continued announcing the top ten, the tournament neared its end. Many unsuccessful contestants shook their heads and left the square, yet surprisingly, Little Doctor Immortal remained after the results were declared. "With her strength, is she really staying to receive that small reward for second place?" The delicate and graceful face of Xiao Yi Xian was instantly revealed to everyone. "Haha! It really is Senior Sister!" Even from her spot in the VIP section, Nalan Yanran, standing a bit further away, recognized Xiao Yi Xian at once and leapt up with excitement. "Liu Ling, whats going on here? How is this mysterious person your junior sister?" "Liu Ling, dont make any mistakesthis woman is highly skilled and practices poison arts. She might very well be an imposter from the Chu Yun Empire!" Seeing Xiao Yi Xians true appearance, Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian still felt a lingering wariness. The next moment, both transmitted their thoughts to Liu Ling almost simultaneously. "How could I be mistaken? Shes the second disciple of my master, Junior Sister Xiao Yi Xian. She just spent a year training in the Chu Yun Empire!" Liu Ling casually replied to Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian before walking straight towards Xiao Yi Xian. "Dont...!" Jia Xing Tian was about to warn Liu Ling of the potential danger when he saw Liu Ling and Xiao Yi Xian reach out to give each other a high-five, then begin chatting enthusiastically. "Junior Sister Xiao Yi Xian, you really kept me in the dark with this trick!" Liu Ling said with feigned annoyance. "Senior Brother, Im sorry. I was just worried that if you knew I was also participating in the Alchemist Tournament, youd hold back for my sake. Thats why I thought of this approachI didnt mean to deceive you!" Xiao Yi Xian explained, sounding a bit apologetic. Their conversation wasnt particularly concealed, so some of the people nearby could hear it clearly. "Is... is this really the same person?" As Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian listened to Xiao Yi Xians gentle tone, their eyes widened in shock. They could hardly believe this soft-spoken young woman was the same powerful and fierce poison master they had encountered the previous night. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 394: Tournament Concludes! Reunion of Senior and Junior Disciples! Chapter 394: Tournament Concludes! Reunion of Senior and Junior Disciples! Chapter 394: Tournament Concludes! Reunion of Senior and Junior Disciples! "Junior Sister Xiao Yi Xian, can you tell me what level your cultivation has reached now? Why do I get the feeling that those two old guys seem very wary of you?" Liu Ling whispered softly to Xiao Yi Xian. "Senior Brother, dont get too excited when I tell you!" Xiao Yi Xian replied in a very quiet voice. "I wont! Do I look like someone whos never seen the world?" Liu Ling quickly shook his head, then leaned closer to Xiao Yi Xian. Xiao Yi Xian leaned close to his ear and softly whispered, "Senior Brother, my current cultivation level is... eight-star Dou Emperor!" "What! Ei... Eight..." Upon hearing Xiao Yi Xians answer, Liu Ling reacted so strongly that he jumped slightly, staring at her in complete disbelief. "Whats going on with them? Why did Liu Ling suddenly stammer and say ''Ei... Ei...?'' Does it mean something?" Seeing Liu Lings reaction, Xiao Yan looked puzzled. As Xiao Yan was wondering, Yao Laos voice suddenly sounded in his mind. "Xiao Yan, theres something unusual about Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire. Its already impressive that he trained Liu Ling, but its astonishing that even that mysterious black-robed figure turned out to be his disciple." "Teacher, from your tone, it sounds like you think this black-robed girl is even better than Liu Ling. But the fact is, Liu Ling refined a fifth-grade pill, while that black-robed girl only managed a fourth-grade pill. She should be the one lagging behind," Xiao Yan questioned, surprised by Yao Laos high praise for Xiao Yi Xian. "Kid, when did I say I was comparing their alchemy skills? I was talking about their cultivation levels," Yao Lao replied, somewhat annoyed. "Their cultivation?" "Exactly. Did you notice how those two old guys acted just now when she approached? They were visibly wary. For two high-level Dou Emperor experts to be on guard so quickly, her strength must be remarkable," Yao Lao analyzed with a serious tone. "Hiss!" "If thats the case, then she must also possess high-level Dou Emperor strength... If the disciples hes trained are this strong, then their master, Alchemy King Gu He, must definitely be a Dou Ancestor powerhouse!" Xiao Yan took a sharp breath. "Thanks!" Catching the scroll Fa Ma tossed, Liu Ling gave a casual nod of thanks before tucking the precious scroll into his storage ring without even glancing at it. The reason? Liu Ling had plenty of similar sixth-grade pill recipes stored in his memory. Participating in the tournament had nothing to do with the rewards; he was simply fulfilling a task assigned by his master, Gu He. "Listen, when you go back, dont rush to read the contents of the scroll with your soul power. Even I feel a bit dizzy and light-headed after reading it!" Fa Ma offered a friendly reminder. "Got it, Chairman Fa Ma!" Liu Ling waved as he continued walking. As Liu Ling and Xiao Yi Xian reached the edge of the square, Nalan Yanran had also descended the high steps and joined them. Beside her was another tall, coldly elegant woman. "Liu Ling, congratulations!" Princess Yao Ye was the first to offer her congratulations to Liu Ling. Afterward, Nalan Yanran, smiling warmly, looked at Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Senior Sister Xianer, its been over a yearIve missed you so much!" With that, Nalan Yanran rushed forward, arms open, and hugged Xiao Yi Xian tightly. Watching this display, Princess Yao Ye looked somewhat puzzled. Since very few people knew that Nalan Yanran had become Gu Hes disciple, and given that she had been training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range over the past year, it was only natural that Princess Yao Ye remained in the dark. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 395: Three Return to the Sect Together! Chapter 395: Three Return to the Sect Together! Chapter 395: Three Return to the Sect Together! "Yanran, aren''t you going to introduce us?" After a while, Princess Yaoye spoke with a light smile. Upon hearing the princesss words, Nalan Yanran turned to introduce, "Princess Yaoye, this is my second senior sister, Xiao Yixian!" "So, all three of you are disciples of the Alchemy King Gu He?" Princess Yaoye sounded somewhat surprised. Earlier in the square, she hadn''t heard the conversation between Liu Ling and Xiao Yixian. She only noticed that Liu Ling and Xiao Yixian seemed close, like they were catching up. "Yes, I was the third to join. And we even have a little junior sister who joined after me," Nalan Yanran admitted openly. After Nalan Yanrans introduction, Princess Yaoye turned her gaze to Xiao Yixian. She extended her slender, fair hand and greeted her, "Im a bit older than you; would you mind if I called you Sister Xian''er?" "Thats fine, Princess Yaoye; you can call me that from now on," Xiao Yixian nodded slightly in response. Though Xiao Yixians tone was calm, Princess Yaoye detected a subtle sense of dignity in her words, almost as if her tone held an unspoken authority, leaving no room for dissent. "Gu Hes teaching methods are truly remarkable, having trained the three of you to such excellence. Today, Liu Ling and Sister Xian''er have taken the top two spots in the tournament. I''ve prepared a banquet to celebrate you both," Princess Yaoye revealed her true purpose for approaching them. "Theres no need for that; were hurrying back to see our master," Xiao Yixian declined without a second thought. Seeing Xiao Yixians refusal, Princess Yaoye turned to look at Nalan Yanran and Liu Ling, who had remained silent until now. "Next time, Princess Yaoye; we truly dont have the time today," Nalan Yanran also shook her head. "Theyre in charge," Liu Ling shrugged, speaking casually. Observing the trios attitude, Princess Yaoye sighed with resignation, "Alright, then. Next time youre in the imperial capital, be sure to let me know." "Will do!" Nalan Yanran responded, and with that, she, Liu Ling, and Xiao Yixian headed back toward the Yunlan Sect. The distance between the imperial capital and the Yunlan Sect wasnt too far, so before long, the three of them arrived, chatting and laughing, at the small courtyard where Gu He used to live. The surrounding energy from the heavens and earth began to gather rapidly, and soon, a massive energy vortex several dozen meters wide appeared above the courtyard. This startling phenomenon in the heavens and earth was immediately noticed by everyone within the Yunlan Sect. One after another, astonished gazes turned toward that direction. "Whats happening? Why is the energy of heaven and earth in such turmoil?" "That direction... it seems to be coming from Elder Gu Hes area!" Some of the elders in the Yunlan Sect looked curiously toward the immense energy vortex forming in the distant sky. "Elder Gu He is in secluded training; no one is to disturb him!" At that moment, a cold and authoritative voice echoed in everyones mind. "Its the voice of the Sect Leader!" Upon hearing this voice, filled with commanding power, all the elders and disciples halted in their tracks. "This is clearly a sign of a breakthrough, but what level could Elder Gu He be reaching to cause such a terrifying phenomenon?" "Indeed. When the Sect Leader broke through to Dou Emperor back then, it wasnt nearly this intense!" As the elders of the Yunlan Sect discussed in hushed voices, the massive energy vortex that had only just formed suddenly dissipated without warning. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 396: Xiao Yixian Breaks Through to Dou Ancestor! Chapter 396: Xiao Yixian Breaks Through to Dou Ancestor! Chapter 396: Xiao Yixian Breaks Through to Dou Ancestor! "Why did that phenomenon suddenly disappear? Did Elder Gu He fail in his breakthrough?" "Yeah, usually a breakthrough requires absorbing a massive amount of energy from heaven and earth. The disturbance from Elder Gu He''s breakthrough was so intense that it should have lasted at least half a day, yet it only lasted for a minute!" "The Sect Leader instructed us not to disturb them, so we shouldn''t concern ourselves too much. The Sect Leader will handle everything." As the Yunlan Sect elders discussed what was happening near Gu Hes courtyard, Xiao Yixians aura had already undergone a transformation. In just over a minute, she had broken through from an eight-star Dou Emperor to become a Dou Ancestor. A Dou Ancestor under the age of eighteen was a rarity, even among the ancient imperial clans who prided themselves on their superior bloodlines. Moreover, Xiao Yixian''s aura continued to rise even after her breakthrough to Dou Ancestor. Before long, she had advanced to a two-star Dou Ancestor. Not far behind her, Liu Ling and Nalan Yanran watched in awe, eyes wide with disbelief. "Junior Sister Xian''er''s aura is almost on par with Xiao Jin''s; this is just unbelievable!" Liu Ling muttered. When Gu He first brought Xiao Yixian to the sect, she had only just broken through as a beginner fighter. No one could have imagined that, in just two years, she would reach such heights. Under the astonished gazes of Liu Ling and Nalan Yanran, Gu He finally withdrew his hand from Xiao Yixians forehead. "A three-star Dou Ancestor peakjust as I estimated," Gu He thought, sighing inwardly as he stopped the power transfer. At that moment, a notification sounded in his mind. "Two hundred years of cultivation!" Although this cultivation return wasnt as substantial as the five hundred years hed received from passing on power to Cai Lin, Gu He was still thrilled. If Xiao Yixian''s cultivation progress hadnt been so rapid recently, and if shed had more time to stabilize, she could have absorbed even more power. The next moment, fully absorbed with that massive energy, Xiao Yixian slowly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with joy. "Master, isnt Xian''er really strong now?" Xiao Yixian asked cheerfully. "In the entire Jia Ma Empire, aside from Yunlan Sect, you are the strongest," Gu He praised. "Ah, that''s all? Xian''er is actually now the ruler of the Chu Yun Empire! Even the hidden Ten Thousand Poison Sect has submitted," Xiao Yixian responded, feigning disappointment. In truth, she was well aware that several powerful, shape-shifting magical beasts resided within Yunlan Sect, like Xiao Yin, whose strength she wasnt entirely clear on. "The energy here is so dense! Its at least dozens of times more concentrated than outside!" Upon entering the valley, the three were immediately struck by the dense energy saturating the area. "Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, Third Senior Sister, you''re back!" Qing Lin, who had been sitting and cultivating, quickly stood up, running over excitedly when she saw the three return. "Junior Sister Qing Lin has grown up!" "And her cultivation has advanced a lot too!" Seeing the slightly taller Qing Lin, the three gazed at her warmly. Hearing their praise, Qing Lin''s face beamed with joy, and she confidently replied, "Next time, when Senior Brother and Senior Sisters go out for training, Qing Lin can join you!" "Alright, little Junior Sister, youre already stronger than many ordinary people... Oh, by the way, I have some things for you!" As he spoke, Liu Ling took out three jade bottles from his storage ring and handed them to Qing Lin. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 397: The Foundation of Yunlan Sect Chapter 397: The Foundation of Yunlan Sect Chapter 397: The Foundation of Yunlan Sect "The contents of these three jade bottles are elixirs that can improve ones cultivation at the Dou Practitioner level. They should be very helpful to you!" Liu Ling explained gently to Qing Lin, describing the effects of the three elixirs. "Thank you, Senior Brother! Youre so kind!" Qing Lin accepted the elixirs with delight, not the least bit shy. After Liu Ling presented his gift, Xiao Yixian and Nalan Yanran also brought out their gifts for Qing Lin in turn. The three then looked around and noticed Xiao Yin, Xiao Jin, and the Flame Dragon cultivating in the valley as well. ... "This treasure land of the Yunlan Secttheir foundation is incomparable to the sects of the Chu Yun Empire!" Xiao Yixian thought to herself as she walked around the Rainbow Valley, filled with awe. Here, not only was the natural energy dozens of times stronger than in the outside world, but there was also the Rainbow Sacred Lotus above the energy pool, which provided miraculous assistance to ones cultivation. She also saw a medicinal garden filled with seventh-grade spiritual herbs and, finally, eighteen venomous cicadas exuding a fierce aura. "These venomous cicadas dont seem to be fully matured, yet their strength has already reached the sixth tier!" Seeing the power of the cicadas, Xiao Yixian couldnt help but feel a surge of anxiety. Given a little more time, these eighteen creatures alone could likely sweep through the entire Chu Yun Empire. After they had toured the valley for a while, the barrier above the Rainbow Valley suddenly twisted. A figure in blue emerged from the distorted space. "Disciple greets Mistress!" "Greeting, Mistress!" Xiao Yixian had heard from Liu Ling and Nalan Yanran about Gu Hes relationship with Yun Yun, so she respectfully greeted Yun Yun along with the others. "Ah, finally, you brothers and sisters are all together again!" Seeing her husbands disciples gathering, Yun Yuns face was filled with joy. But when she sensed the aura surrounding Xiao Yixian, her expression showed a trace of surprise. It was a natural reaction; Xiao Yixians strength, given her age, was truly extraordinary. "Xianers talent is truly remarkable!" Yun Yun praised Xiao Yixian with a smile. Startled by Gu Hes question, Nalan Yanran felt a jolt of panic and immediately waved her hands, "No, not at all! Masters word is as good as gold. You have never gone back on a promise!" "Exactly. So now, Ill pass my energy to you one more time. You must do your best and break through to the Dou King level in one go!" Gu He stated firmly. Watching this conversation between teacher and student, Yun Yun couldnt help but stifle a laugh. With her gaze fixed on them, she saw Gu Hes hand gently touch Nalan Yanrans smooth forehead. As Gu Hes hand made contact, Nalan Yanrans aura began to surge rapidly. Within less than thirty seconds, a deep rumble echoed from within her body. "Shes broken through to Dou King alreadyhow incredible!" Sensing the distinct aura of a Dou King-level fighter from Nalan Yanran, Yun Yuns face revealed a flash of astonishment once more. However, at that moment, Nalan Yanrans rapid aura surge began to stabilize, and as Gu He lifted his hand from her forehead, her power settled at the level of a three-star Dou King. "Three-star Dou King!" Receiving the energy transfer from Gu He, Nalan Yanran opened her eyes, examining herself carefully. In the next instant, a pair of three-meter-long azure wings spread from her back. With her Dou Qi wings unfurled, Nalan Yanran excitedly soared through the space above the Rainbow Valley, reveling in the freedom of flight. "The duel with that Xiao family boy is set for the day after tomorrow... I hope Yanran can handle it well this time. Even if she wins, she shouldnt humiliate that Xiao junior; after all, it was our Yunlan Sect that initiated this matter," Yun Yun murmured softly to Gu He as she watched Nalan Yanran flying overhead. Gu He wrapped his arm around Yun Yuns slender waist, gazing at her with a gentle look. "Yuner, the disciples have all grown up now; they have minds of their own... As long as they dont take things too far, we should let them deal with matters on their own." (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 398: Yao Lao’s Risk Chapter 398: Yao Laos Risk Chapter 398: Yao Laos Risk In the capital of the Jia Ma Empire, after the Alchemist Conference concluded, Xiao Yan returned to his inn. Once back in his room, Xiao Yans face showed clear disappointment. He had initially believed that, under Yao Laos guidance, his alchemy skills would reach an extraordinary level. But todays competition had shown him that there are always others more talentedLiu Lings aptitude in alchemy even earned praise from Yao Lao. Lost in thought for a long time, Xiao Yan suddenly remembered something and quickly reached out to Yao Lao in his mind, saying, Teacher, the three-year promise I made to Nalan Yanran will be due the day after tomorrow. I wonder what level shes reached by now! Hearing Xiao Yans call, Yao Laos spirit slowly drifted out from the black ring and sighed, Xiao Yan, during todays competition, the aura of that young girl was obscured by something. To avoid attracting attention, I refrained from probing it too deeply. Even you dont know her current level, Teacher? Xiao Yan thought aloud, Three years ago, she had already reached the Dou Practitioner stage, and if she was chosen by the Yunlan Sects leader as the future sect master, her talent must be high. Shes likely at least a Dou Grandmaster by now, though I wonder if she has broken through to become a Dou King. As he said this, Xiao Yan felt a pang of uncertainty. Yunlan Sect was the largest faction in the Jia Ma Empire and certainly had elixirs capable of boosting cultivation directly. Given Nalan Yanrans talent and the Yunlan Sects resources, there was a good chance she had already broken through to the Dou Grandmaster level. Yao Lao shared Xiao Yans assessment and said with some concern, Xiao Yan, your current level is that of a Dou Master. If Nalan Yanran is also a Dou Master, then with the battle experience youve gained over these past years, you might have an edge. But if she has broken through to Dou Grandmaster, winning would be nearly impossible. Youre right, Teacher. If Nalan Yanran has reached the Dou Grandmaster level, and with Yunlan Sect supporting her with advanced techniques, I really dont stand a chance. Xiao Yan nodded, his tone downcast. Xiao Yan... Seeing Xiao Yans dejected look, Yao Lao felt a pang of sympathy. He understood well that much of Xiao Yans determination over these past few years stemmed from his desire to defeat Nalan Yanran. Now, just as he was on the brink, the possibility of failure weighed heavily on him. Xiao Yan, pull yourself together! The duel hasnt even started yet, and youre already in this state? Does that do justice to all your hard work over these past three years? Yao Lao suddenly said in a firm tone. Teacher... I dont want to be like this, but... Xiao Yan looked up, faltering under Yao Laos reprimand. Xiao Yan, listen to me carefully. Your talent is, without a doubt, equal to or even surpasses that of the Nalan girl. Yunlan Sect may have resources to support her, but I am no less capable than they are, Yao Lao said with utmost seriousness. ... About an hour after Xiao Yan left the inn, the Alchemist Associations grounds suddenly lit up with countless torches, illuminating the area as if it were daylight. On a rooftop, two vice presidents of the Alchemist Association and a number of elders surrounded a lone figure dressed in black. How dare you! To think youd have the audacity to steal from the Alchemist Associations warehouse! This place is surrounded on all sidesyou wont escape today! The figure, none other than Xiao Yan, had, with Yao Laos help, successfully slipped into the Alchemist Associations warehouse and managed to seize some much-needed herbs. However, he accidentally triggered some traps, alerting the guards and setting off an alarm. In response, countless alchemists had rushed from all over the association grounds, surrounding him on a rooftop. Everyone, I came here today only to borrow a few urgently needed herbs. I swear Ill return them double in the future! (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 399: Yao Lao’s Unexpected Gain! Chapter 399: Yao Laos Unexpected Gain! Chapter 399: Yao Laos Unexpected Gain! "Everyone, Im here today just to borrow a few urgently needed medicinal ingredients. I promise to return them double in the future!" Xiao Yan clasped his hands together, speaking calmly to the alchemists surrounding him. "Haha, what a joke! Stealing is stealing; dont make excuses!" "We dont even know who you arewhy should we believe you''ll ever return anything?" Upon hearing Xiao Yans words, two vice presidents of the Alchemist Association scoffed, clearly not buying his explanation, and began mocking him. "Everyone, Im here solely for these herbs and have no intention of hurting anyone!" Xiao Yan said in a low voice, seeing that they wouldnt make way for him. "Hmph, such bold words! If you want to hurt anyone, youd better have the strength for it!" Hearing Xiao Yans response, fury flared on the faces of the Alchemist Association members. In an instant, over a dozen of them attacked Xiao Yan simultaneously. These dozen attackers were at least at the level of Dou Master, with most of them being Dou Spirit experts, while Xiao Yan was merely a lowly Dou Practitioner. Faced with their combined assault, Xiao Yan quickly relinquished control of his body to Yao Lao. In the next moment, Xiao Yan wielded a massive black ruler that appeared in his hand and swung it fiercely around him, unleashing a powerful force from the ruler that stirred up a violent gust of wind. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! With that swing, three or four people who had rushed forward were knocked back. However, Xiao Yan held back, not intending to take their lives. Seeing this, the two vice presidents leading the group exchanged glances. In the next moment, each took up a sharp sword and approached Xiao Yan from both sides. These two were far stronger than the alchemists who attacked earlier, and their attacks posed a greater threat. Watching them close in, Xiao Yan couldnt help but look more serious. After the previous battle with Xiao Jin, Yao Laos soul was wounded, and his ability to boost Xiao Yans strength was now capped at the Dou King level. If he were to push Xiao Yans power to Dou Emperor or even Dou Ancestor levels again, it might exhaust him to the point of needing a long rest, rendering him unable to assist Xiao Yan in refining pills. It was a risky trade-off. Realizing this, Xiao Yan knew he had to escape as quickly as possible tonight. After another fierce attack pushed the surrounding people back, a pair of white Dou Qi wings suddenly unfurled from Xiao Yans back, and he swiftly soared out of the encampment. Seeing Xiao Yan flee, the two vice presidents of the Alchemist Association immediately chased after him. As Xiao Yan reached a distance of one to two hundred meters, a piercing sound suddenly echoed from the sky ahead. This guy actually returned at this time! ... In a quiet alley, Xiao Yan, who had just fled the Alchemist Association grounds, communicated telepathically with Yao Lao, the spirit residing in his ring. "Teacher, that President Fa Ma must have sensed your aura again just now; otherwise, he wouldnt have let us go so easily!" "Most likely..." "Xiao Yan, we cant go back to the inn you were staying at. Well need to find a new place to lay low." Yao Lao remained cautious, unwilling to trust Fa Ma despite his friendly gesture. "Understood!" Nodding quickly in agreement, Xiao Yan wound through the alleys, ensuring they werent being followed before finally settling in a new inn. ... Once inside the room, Yao Lao emerged from Xiao Yans black ring and set up a barrier around them. "Xiao Yan, it turns out this unexpected encounter allowed me to find a rare herb in the Alchemist Associations storage. It can help restore some of my soul power," Yao Lao said with a pleased expression, holding a crystal-clear, ruby-like plant. Hearing this, Xiao Yan felt even more thrilled than Yao Lao. "This herb can actually help restore Teachers soul powerthats incredible!" (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 400: Preparation! Chapter 400: Preparation! Chapter 400: Preparation! Inside the room, Yao Lao held the crystalline, ruby-like herb in one hand, while a ball of white flame suddenly flared up in the other. As the white flame emerged, an icy chill filled the room, yet Xiao Yan felt a heat rising within him. He was no stranger to this famous Cold Bone Spirit Flame, which he had previously used for refining pills. However, under Yao Laos control, the flames power was several times stronger than when Xiao Yan wielded it himself. At this moment, Yao Lao summoned the Cold Bone Spirit Flame and tossed the herb into it. Under the scorching heat of the white flame, the slightly plump, ruby-like herb rapidly shrank in size while its color grew increasingly vibrant. A rich, aged aromareminiscent of an ancient, well-aged winegradually permeated from Yao Laos hand. Inhaling the intense fragrance, Xiao Yan felt a jolt throughout his body, surprised to realize that the fatigue he had been feeling from a day of alchemy work completely vanished. Just a whiff of this herb has such an incredible effect; it must work wonders in restoring Teachers soul power, Xiao Yan thought to himself, marveling. As he watched, the herb struggled against the flames refinement, but it posed little resistance. Within mere seconds, it had transformed into a bright red droplet, roughly the size of a ping-pong ball. Condense! With a low shout, Yao Lao increased the flames intensity. In an instant, the red droplet shrank further until it was no bigger than a soybean. Nows the time! With the droplet condensed to this size, Yao Lao swiftly withdrew the flame and raised his hand, pressing the droplet into his forehead. As soon as the condensed droplet touched his forehead, it merged with Yao Lao, and a vast, overwhelming wave of soul energy erupted from his brow. Xiao Yan was thrown back three or four meters by the impact, crashing against the wooden wall. Had Yao Lao not set up a barrier in the room, the wall would likely have been shattered. Xiao Yan, are you all right? Seeing Xiao Yan thrown back by the release of soul energy, Yao Lao quickly approached him with an apologetic look. Unlike the third-tier pill, the fourth-tier pills energy was nearly equivalent to that of a fifth-tier pill. The moment it entered his mouth, it transformed into a pure medicinal force that surged down his throat, flooding into his meridians. Boom! As Xiao Yan channeled his energy technique, the enormous medicinal force split into countless streams, rushing through his meridians in a structured manner. Some of the narrower meridians that Xiao Yan had never accessed before were forcibly opened by this powerful energy. A bead of cold sweat slowly slid down his forehead, and Xiao Yans face contorted in pain, with hissing breaths escaping through clenched teeth. Inside his body, the countless tiny streams of energy coursed violently through his previously untouched meridians. The narrow pathways expanded rapidly, while thin cracks appeared on the walls of his meridians. From these cracks, faint beams of light burst out, a sign that the meridians were under extreme strain and on the verge of rupturing. Fortunately, the medicinal energy looping through his meridians passed a second time, repairing the cracked sections. These restored meridians were now wider and could accommodate more energy than before. This process was happening simultaneously in countless meridians throughout Xiao Yans body. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 401: Breakthrough to Dou Grandmaster! Chapter 401: Breakthrough to Dou Grandmaster! Chapter 401: Breakthrough to Dou Grandmaster! Despite the excruciating pain caused by the continuous tearing and repairing of his meridians, which nearly made Xiao Yan''s vision go black, he could feel his meridians becoming wider and tougher. This encouraged him to persevere, as he knew it would bring immense benefits. Once these tiny meridians were fully opened, his ability to control dou energy would undoubtedly improve, greatly increasing his speed. In combat, being able to direct his energy as smoothly as moving an arm would give him a considerable advantage. As this energy surged forward, breaking through each small meridian, faint popping sounds could be heard. Small jets of energy suddenly burst out from the pores on Xiao Yan''s skin, making him resemble a leaky kettle with numerous holes. This eruption lasted only a few seconds before completely stopping. Afterward, blood seeped slowly from the pores that had expelled the energy, drenching half of Xiao Yans body. As these pores gradually returned to normal, Xiao Yan could clearly sense that whenever he changed his hand seals to the cultivation form, these pores, now connected to his meridians, acted like wind tunnels, voraciously absorbing energy from the outside world at a rate more than ten times faster than before. This energy circulated rapidly through his meridians. Each cycle completed would inject a large amount of refined, pure energy into his energy vortex, and each time, the vortex would grow noticeably larger. Originally, the vortex was filled with only three-quarters liquid energy, but now, the liquid had filled over 90% of the vortexs capacity, approaching the threshold of a fully complete Dou Master stage. As time passed, a faint glow gradually enveloped Xiao Yan''s body, forming a layer resembling a dou energy garment. In a corner of the room, the last pill refined by Yao Lao had just been completed. Watching Xiao Yan, Yao Lao murmured to himself, "Luckily, Xiao Yan, your foundation is solid. Otherwise, consuming pills in quick succession to increase your strength would have made your dou energy unstable, affecting your foundational abilities... Now, its all up to your own efforts!" Since his mind was focused on controlling the vortexs rotation speed to prevent it from exceeding a certain limit and causing damage to his body, Xiao Yan had to tend to it carefully, without the slightest relaxation. As time passed, the liquid energy within the rapidly spinning vortex in his body was visibly depleting at an unusual pace. Although the energy within the vortex was diminishing, Xiao Yan could distinctly feel that deep within the vortex, a substance with immense energy was slowly taking shape. Its close! Sensing the rapidly forming substance, Xiao Yans tense mind relaxed slightly. Before long, the vortex that had been spinning with a frenzied whooshing sound was nearly drained of its liquid energy. Suddenly, under Xiao Yans focused gaze, a diamond-shaped crystal, only the size of a thumb, began to float gently at the vortexs center. With the appearance of this crystal, Xiao Yan felt a profound sense of comfort emanating from deep within his soul. This small object, known as a Dou Crystal, has the ability to contain all of a person''s dou energy within it and is the hallmark of becoming a Dou Grandmaster. Teacher, I did it! Slowly opening his eyes from his cultivation state, Xiao Yan turned his head, his face beaming, as he looked at Yao Laos spirit in the room. (End of Chapter)v Chapter 402: Setting Out! Chapter 402: Setting Out! Chapter 402: Setting Out! "Well, Xiao Yan, feeling confident for this duel now?" Observing Xiao Yan''s current state, Yao Laos eyes reflected a look of satisfaction. "Teacher, I feel more confident than ever!" Xiao Yan replied excitedly, then slowly stood up. With a sudden stomp of his foot, his body moved with lightning speed, appearing about two meters to the left. His fist, carrying a powerful energy that could take one''s breath away, slammed fiercely into a massive pillar before him. "Boom!" A loud noise echoed as wood splinters flew everywhere. Xiao Yan glanced at his fist, which had gone straight through the pillar, and gave a slight smile. He slowly withdrew his arm, leaving a hole and several deep cracks in the pillar. Curling his fingers slightly, Xiao Yans fingertips gathered a faint red glow. Moments later, with a light flick of his finger, the red energy shot out like an arrow, hitting a vase on the table with a bang and shattering it into pieces. "Releasing dou energy externally!" Seeing the shattered vase, Xiao Yan felt a surge of joy. At the level of Dou Grandmaster, dou energy could finally be released outside the body, no longer confined or restricted. "Xiao Yan, this little room cant handle your testing anymore. If you want to practice, head outside!" Yao Lao said with a grin. "You''re right!" Xiao Yan replied, then glanced outside the window, pausing in surprise. It had grown dark again; night had clearly fallen once more. "How is it night again?" Xiao Yan murmured. "If you had broken through any later, youd have missed today''s duel! There''s only about two hours left until dawn!" Yao Lao explained. "So this breakthrough took almost a full day and night... Id better set off immediately and get used to my strength along the way!" Xiao Yan mused. "Just as they say, the Jia Ma royal family has stationed an elite army at the base of Yun Lan Mountain!" Shaking his head, Xiao Yan descended the slope, following the main road toward the mountains base. Though the military camp was heavily guarded, the soldiers did not interfere with those ascending the mountain. Xiao Yan passed through effortlessly, only receiving casual glances from the soldiers on duty as he made his way along the path up to the mountain base. As lush greenery began to appear on either side, the sounds of soldier training gradually faded. Looking ahead, Xiao Yan found himself before an ancient stone staircase that stretched to the limits of his sight, like a path to the heavens. Standing at the foot of the mountain, Xiao Yan raised his head, his gaze fixed on the stone steps that had likely stood there for countless ages. Closing his eyes, he seemed to hear a faint, sharp sound like a sword hum coming from the far end of the steps. The sound echoed subtly through the forest, like a bell ringing, captivating his spirit. After a long moment of silence, Xiao Yan opened his eyes, gently patted the Heavy Xuan Ruler on his back, and stepped firmly onto the slightly damp stone steps. As his foot fell, Xiao Yan felt a weight lift from his soul, as if he had just exhaled a breath of air that had been stifled within him for three years. "Nalan Yanran, I, Xiao Yan, have come. The shame you brought to the Xiao family three years agoI will make you pay for it doubly today!" With a low growl in his heart, Xiao Yan continued to place his feet steadily, one step at a time, on the ancient stone staircase. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 403: Preparation! Chapter 403: Preparation! Chapter 403: Preparation! In the Nine-Colored Valley behind the Yunlan Sect, inside an elegantly ancient small building, Yun Yun, dressed in a thin, white, gauzy robe with slightly tousled hair, wrapped her arms around Gu Hes slender neck and softly said, Husband, today is the day of Yanrans duel with the young one from the Xiao family. Shouldnt we go and take a look? Inhaling the sweet fragrance emanating from his beloved, Gu He shook his head with a look of contentment and said, This is a matter between the younger generation. If we, as elders, go, others might think the Yunlan Sect is using our power to pressure them. However... we should pay a little attention to the soul entity that the Xiao family boy carries with him. A soul entity is following the Xiao family boy? Yun Yun asked, surprised. What is the strength of this soul entity? Could it secretly help the Xiao family boy against Yanran? That soul entity is an old man. As for his strength... he can only exert low-level Dou Ancestor power at most. But as I see it, he wouldnt intervene unless the Xiao family boy truly faced a severe crisis, Gu He explained. No, that wont do. If that soul entity remains with the Xiao family boy, and if he holds a grudge due to any injury or other reason from the duel, he might seize an opportunity to harm Yanran, and we wouldnt be able to prevent it in time, Yun Yun said urgently after hearing Gu Hes explanation. Hm, youre absolutely right, Yuner. I was being too careless! Reflecting on Yun Yuns analysis, Gu He felt a slight pang of guilt. Although it was highly unlikely that Yao Lao would interfere, one should never place faith in the uncontrollable. However, with Yao Lao residing in Xiao Yans ring, Gu He couldnt very well show up and demand that Yao Lao leave Xiao Yan temporarily. If he did, both Yao Lao and Xiao Yan would likely be too intimidated to focus on the duel. Ive got it! After some thought, Gu He finally came up with the perfect solution. Husband, what did you think of? Yun Yuns eyes were filled with anticipation as she watched Gu He. Under her gaze, Gu He suddenly produced a pure white inner armor. The armor was made of fine, soft material and was clearly designed specifically for women. Husband, are you planning to give this inner armor to Yanran? Knowing that Gu He often had mysterious treasures on hand, Yun Yun guessed, This inner armor must possess impressive defensive power, right? Yes! This inner armor doesnt have exceptionally strong defensive power, only enough to withstand three attacks from someone below the Dou Venerate level. However, it has a unique featureif the wearer is attacked by someone below Dou King level, it wont activate. But if a force exceeding Dou King, reaching Dou Emperor or even Dou Ancestor level, attacks, a thick white energy layer will immediately shield the wearers entire body... Gu He explained patiently while holding the white inner armor. This white armor has such a remarkable effect... With it, that soul entity accompanying the Xiao family boy wont be able to harm Yanran. "Yes, theres no one else here but you and me in this hall!" Yun Yun confirmed confidently. "Alright!" Hearing this, Nalan Yanran stopped hesitating, quickly removed her outer clothing and the inner armor she had been wearing, and put on the pure white inner armor. "Yanran, now that youve changed, hurry up and go. Dont be late!" Watching Nalan Yanran put on the inner armor that Gu He had provided, Yun Yun finally relaxed. "Understood, Martial Aunt. Ill take my leave now!" Nalan Yanran bowed to Yun Yun and then slowly exited the hall. At this moment, Liu Ling, Xiao Yixian, and Qing Lin had also arrived outside the small building where Gu He and Yun Yun resided. "Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, Little Junior Sister, youre all here!" Seeing the three of them, Nalan Yanrans face brightened with a smile, and she greeted them warmly. "Of course, Yanran. Today is your duel with Xiao Yan. Senior Brother, Sister Xianer, and Little Sister Qing Lin are all here to support you!" (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 404: The Three-Year Agreement Begins! Chapter 404: The Three-Year Agreement Begins! Chapter 404: The Three-Year Agreement Begins! At the gates of the Yunlan Sect, in a massive square paved entirely with large, uniform stones, more than a thousand Yunlan Sect disciples sat in a half-circle. They were all dressed in moon-white robes, with cloud-patterned long swords swaying in the wind, almost as if they were alive, faintly carrying a hint of sword intent. At the top of the square, a series of towering stone steps led upwards. The higher up, the older the people sitting became. At the highest row of stone seats, there was an empty space, and below it, several elderly figures sat cross-legged with their eyes closed, meditating. These were the elders of the Yunlan Sect. Despite the fact that there were over a thousand people in the square, the atmosphere was eerily quiet. Aside from the sound of the wind howling, not a single other noise could be heard. Every now and then, a stronger gust of wind would blow through the square, and instantly, the white robes would flutter as though clouds were descending from the heavens, creating a breathtaking scene. At one point, the sound of wind breaking filled the air, and three powerful auras descended on the highest row of stone seats. These three were Fa Ma, the president of the Alchemist Guild; Jia Xingtian, the royal guardian; and Hai Bodong, the grand elder of the Miteer family. Following them, Nalan Jie, Mu Chen, Miteer Tengshan, and several other well-known Dou King experts from the Jia Ma Empire also arrived, though these individuals did not sit in the same row as Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma. Instead, they sat on the stone platforms below where the Yunlan Sect elders were seated. Their arrival did not cause much of a stir among the Yunlan Sect disciples, suggesting that they had already received instructions. At this time, Hai Bodong, sitting at the high platform, had a slightly solemn expression. As a strong expert, he could naturally detect some details that others might miss. From his perception, he noticed that the nearly thousand Yunlan Sect disciples in the square were all breathing in perfect synchronization, their auras intertwined. Any movement from one would trigger a relentless and overwhelming attack, as though they were a single unit. In this square, if a fight broke out, even a Dou Ancestor would have to be cautious of the combined might of these thousand disciples. "Impressive, indeed, is the Yunlan Sect," Hai Bodong thought to himself, his heart filled with admiration. To train these disciples to work together so seamlessly must have been a challenging task. Turning his head, Hai Bodong exchanged a glance with Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian. They all recognized the gravity of the situation. Clearly, the combined formation of the Yunlan Sects disciples was something they all regarded with caution. ... "Strange... all the invited guests are already in place, but why havent Sect Master Yun Yun and todays main participant, Nalan Yanran, arrived yet?" Jia Xingtian asked, looking at the Yunlan Sect disciples in the square. I feel the same way... Upon hearing this, both Fa Ma and Hai Bodong spoke up almost simultaneously, their gazes on Xiao Yixian filled with wariness. Once the duel between Nalan Yanran and the Xiao family boy is over, I must meet with Gu He. Recalling Xiao Yixians self-introduction that night as the sect master of a certain faction from the Yun Empire, Jia Xingtian made some decisions in his heart. Just then, a faint sound of footsteps echoed from the stone steps outside the square. Hearing this, all the Yunlan Sect disciples in the square, as well as those seated on the high platform, turned their gazes toward a single point. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a young man bearing a massive black ruler finished ascending the last steps and appeared on the square. The young mans gaze was calm and emotionless as he swept his eyes over the vast square, finally stopping on Nalan Yanran, who was standing in the center, her bright eyes meeting his. Xiao Family, Xiao Yan! (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 405: Life and Death, Each to Their Fate! Chapter 405: Life and Death, Each to Their Fate! Chapter 405: Life and Death, Each to Their Fate! Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan! Xiao Yans calm words echoed throughout the plaza. On the plaza, countless Yunlan Sect disciples turned their varied gazes toward Xiao Yan. The name "Xiao Yan" wasnt unfamiliar to them. Because of Nalan Yanrans status as the sects young mistress, many disciples harbored admiration for her. Yet, Xiao Yan, who once had an engagement with Nalan Yanran, was a target of jealousy. They had often mocked him as a lowly youth from a declining clan, a toad lusting after a swan. However, today, Xiao Yan stood calm amidst the Yunlan Sect''s thousands-strong formation. Many sharp-eyed disciples felt a faint unease. This composed and steady demeanor was nothing like the rumored useless son of the Xiao Clan. Nalan Yanran''s bright eyes fixated on the slender figure standing at the edge of the plaza. Her gaze lingered on his face, where she could vaguely see traces of the young man from three years ago. Yet, the current Xiao Yan no longer carried the youthful sharpness and recklessness of those days. Instead, there was a deep, restrained aura about him. Recalling events from three years ago, coupled with her grandfather Nalan Jies advice not long ago, Nalan Yanran suddenly felt as though the two of them might have a civil conversation. However, everything would have to wait until the duel concluded. Nalan Clan, Nalan Yanran! Nalan Yanran stood straight in the center of the plaza, her tone equally calm, but with a palpable air of confidence. At this moment, on the high platform, Fa Mas aged eyes betrayed waves of emotion. That black ruler looks so familiar... Yan Xiao... Xiao Yan... Could they be the same person? Fa Ma mused internally. This duel todayYunlan Sect is likely to lose both face and ground! After realizing that Xiao Yan was indeed Yan Xiao, Fa Ma confidently remarked to the two people beside him. He clearly remembered the power Xiao Yan displayed the night he infiltrated the Alchemist Associations warehouseunmistakably at the Dou King level. Oh? Fa Ma, it seems you hold this Xiao Clan boy in quite high regard! Hearing Fa Mas words, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong exchanged curious glances. Youll understand soon enough. This Xiao Yan is far from simple! Fa Ma teased, offering no further explanation. "Old Jia, you''ve already said it. Young people often act impulsively and say things like thisits normal. Besides, just because he says so doesnt mean hes completely thoughtless." Fa Ma stroked his beard, showing his appreciation for Xiao Yan. "This Xiao Yan is far too presumptuous. Just the other day, Junior Sister said she would go easy on him during the duel to save him from losing too badly, and even planned to offer him some compensation. His current behavior... truly wastes her good intentions!" Liu Ling, seated on the high stone platform, frowned in disappointment. "So this Xiao Yan doesnt know how to appreciate kindness. If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have dealt with him on the road and prevented him from reaching the Yunlan Sect or seeing Yanran. At least he wouldnt have had the chance to say such words... But now, let Yanran handle it herself!" After Liu Ling spoke, Xiao Yixian, looking displeased, added her own thoughts. Hearing her senior brother and senior sister''s words, Qing Lin remained silent. However, inwardly, her feelings toward Xiao Yan turned sour. In the center of the plaza, Nalan Yanran lifted her gaze and looked into Xiao Yans dark eyes. From those eyes, she could clearly feel an irrepressible undercurrent of resentment. After a moment, Nalan Yanran sighed softly and replied nonchalantly, "As you wish." Hearing Nalan Yanrans response, Yun Leng frowned slightly. Xiao Yans sudden interruption left the Grand Elder of the Yunlan Sect somewhat displeased. Although he knew that Xiao Yan was no longer the waste he was rumored to be, Nalan Yanrans talent was equally impressive. Coupled with the resources of the Yunlan Sect, her progress was astonishingly fast. In an actual battle, Yun Leng doubted Xiao Yan would stand a chance. "Young man, its wise to leave a way out in everything you do. But since this is your demand, so be it. Life and death, each to their fate." Yun Leng waved his hand and spoke indifferently. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 406: You and I Are Both Youths! Chapter 406: You and I Are Both Youths! Chapter 406: You and I Are Both Youths! "Heh, leave room for retreat in everything!" Hearing Yun Leng''s words, Xiao Yan sneered internally, showing no sign of agreement. The next moment, Xiao Yan slowly gripped the handle of the black ruler on his back. With a sudden pull, the Heavy Xuan Ruler was unsheathed, bringing a gust of pressurized wind that pointed diagonally to the ground. The gust swept up the dust from the stone tiles, while faint cyan Dou Qi enveloped his body. Fixing his gaze on Nalan Yanran, he said passionately, "The three-year promiseI have arrived as agreed. Today, let us settle the grudges of the past. The humiliation you brought to my Xiao Clan, return it today!" Witnessing the aura erupting from Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanrans eyes revealed a trace of astonishment. This youth, once ridiculed and scorned in the Xiao Clan, truly seemed different now. Yet, despite Xiao Yans anger-laden words, Nalan Yanran remained calm. At this moment, she no longer wished to delve into who was right or wrong back then, nor did she feel the need to explain. The next moment, Nalan Yanran unexpectedly replied, "Are you so confident that you can cleanse the so-called disgrace of your clan today?" Hearing her unwillingness to even offer an explanation, Xiao Yan felt a renewed sense of being belittled. "Heh, Nalan Yanran, put away that lofty attitude of a Yunlan Sect young mistress... I, Xiao Yan, have already said it before: Thirty years the east of the river, thirty years the westnever look down on a poor youth!" Xiao Yan sneered coldly. "Well said, ''never look down on a poor youth.'' This Xiao Clan boy exudes quite the spirit!" "Indeed, with such resolve and talent, he is bound for great achievements in the future!" At Xiao Yans words, many spectators in the plaza couldnt help but praise him, impressed by his demeanor. Curiosity about how far this once "waste" of a youth had come burned brightly among the onlookers. As the crowd cheered for Xiao Yan, Xiao Yixians face grew icy. She bit her lip and muttered under her breath, "His strength may not be much, but his arrogance is immense. I hope Yanran doesnt hold back and gives him a proper lesson." The moment Xiao Yixians words fell, a fleeting chill spread among the nearby stone seats, causing several individuals to frown. Hearing Xiao Yixians murmur, Liu Ling glanced at Xiao Yan with a trace of pity, thinking to himself, "Junior Sister Xianer is now at the Dou Ancestor level, practically a living deity. If Xiao Yan has provoked her, hes likely doomed." Her attack... its might is astonishing! Xiao Yan gasped inwardly. This is just an ordinary Dou Technique, isnt it? How can it possess such power? Could it be that Nalan Yanran has already broken through to the Dou Spirit realm? At this moment, not only Xiao Yan but also the high-ranking officials from the Jia Ma Empire seated on the platform were visibly shocked. This level of energy had already surpassed what a Da Dou Shi should be capable of controlling. While Xiao Yan and the crowd were still stunned, the massive vortex, several meters wide, had already detached from the tip of Nalan Yanrans sword and was hurtling toward Xiao Yan at high speed. Feeling the oppressive energy emanating from the vortex, Xiao Yan barely had time to think. He swung his arm, wielding the Heavy Xuan Ruler with a fierce surge of Dou Qi, aiming to shatter the overwhelming vortex before it could reach him. As the vortex approached within two meters of Xiao Yan, the intense and razor-sharp energy emanating from it began to cut deep gashes into the hand gripping the Heavy Xuan Ruler. Blood streaked down his arm. In the next moment, the Heavy Xuan Ruler itself was overpowered and swept into the vortex by the immense disparity in strength. Seeing this, the creator of the vortex, Nalan Yanran, unexpectedly felt a trace of tension. She had intended for this attack to be a mere probe, limiting its power to the early Dou Spirit stage. Yet, to her astonishment, even such a restrained attack seemed as though it might tear Xiao Yans body apart entirely. Sigh... On Xiao Yans side, having lost his Heavy Xuan Ruler and with his arm in excruciating pain, despair began to fill him as he retreated. At that moment, Yao Laos sigh echoed softly in his mind. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 407: Xiao Yan: This Is Impossible…” Chapter 407: Xiao Yan: This Is Impossible... Accompanied by an aged sigh, a strange layer of white energy suddenly surged around Xiao Yan''s body. When Nalan Yanran''s powerful wind vortex attack came into contact with this energy, it shattered effortlessly. "Xiao Yan is still hiding his strength... That aura just now might have reached the Dou King level!" "To possess Dou King power at such a young age, this young mans future potential is limitless!" On the high platform, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong both revealed astonished expressions at the sight. Beside them, Fa Ma smirked slightly and said proudly, "Heh, Old Jia, Old Hai, do you two believe me now?" "Fa Ma, could it be that youve known this Xiao Yan for some time?" Hearing Fa Mas words, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong almost simultaneously asked. "Dont you two find Xiao Yans figure somewhat familiar?" Fa Ma teased, keeping them in suspense. At this, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong turned their gazes to Xiao Yan in the arena. After a few glances, Jia Xing Tians eyes flashed with a peculiar light, and he asked tentatively, "Could this Xiao Yan be the same Yan Xiao from the Alchemist Convention?" "Haha, Old Jia, though your age is catching up with you, your memory isnt bad," Fa Ma chuckled, stroking his beard. "I told you before, this duel has no suspense. Xiao Yan is bound to win." At this moment, not only Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong were shocked, but almost everyone present was taken aback by the power Xiao Yan had just displayed. Countless astonished gazes turned toward him. "This cant be true! How could that boy from the Xiao family become so powerful?" Yun Lengs old eyes were filled with disbelief. In the arena, the disciples of the Yun Lan Sect were equally disturbed by Xiao Yans sudden surge in power, causing the originally oppressive aura of their thousand-man formation to waver. "So its that same aura again. In his duel with Junior Sister Yanran, he dares to borrow someone elses soul power? I overestimated this Xiao Yan before!" Staring at Xiao Yan, Liu Ling spoke angrily. "Senior Brother, I sensed something unusual in that brief moment as well... So, you knew all along that Xiao Yan borrowed anothers soul power?" asked Xiao Yixian with a frown. "During our experience in the Tagore Desert, I fought him once. Back then, he was only at the Dou Practitioner level. It must have been someone elses soul power that elevated him to the Dou Ancestor level. In the end, I had Xiao Jin deal with him," Liu Ling explained briefly. This... This is impossible! Xiao Yans body trembled, his spirit nearly collapsing as he shouted in disbelief. Yanran, that girl, has actually reached the Dou King realm! At the same time, Nalan Jie, seeing Nalan Yanran display her Dou King strength, exclaimed in uncontainable excitement. Soon, his shock gave way to unrestrained joy. Nalan Yanran has broken through to Dou King! No wonder the sect master personally selected her as a disciple. Truly, the Yun Lan Sect is blessed! said Yun Leng, the elder presiding over the duel, his aged face brimming with delight. To think Nalan Yanran has been hiding her strength so deeply... Now, with both of them revealing Dou King abilities, who will prevail? Nalan Yanrans revelation of her Dou King power turned this duelinitially believed to be without suspenseinto an enthralling contest. The crowd buzzed with speculation about who would emerge victorious. Amid countless gazes fixed upon her, Nalan Yanran, hovering in the air, raised her longsword. A radiant glow burst forth from it, so bright it dazzled everyone present. Under this brilliance, terrifying energy began to converge at an alarming rate. Her beautiful eyes locked onto Xiao Yan below, and after taking a deep breath, Nalan Yanran gripped the increasingly heavy longsword in her jade-like hand. Moving with excruciating slowness, her sword seemed almost stationary, yet the energy waves it unleashed grew more intense with every passing moment. Xiao Yan, what are you still dazing out for? Todays battle is beyond salvaging. Youre still young. If you couldnt catch up to this girl in three years, whats stopping you from chasing her for another three? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 408: Xiao Yan Admits Defeat! Another Three Years? Chapter 408: Xiao Yan Admits Defeat! Another Three Years? Chapter 408: Xiao Yan Admits Defeat! Another Three Years? Xiao Yan, what are you still dazing for? This battle is already decided. Youre still young. If you couldnt catch up with this girl in three years, whats stopping you from trying again for another three years? In the past, Xiao Yan would always take Yao Laos advice to heart, but in this moment, as Yao Laos anxious words rang out, Xiao Yan remained motionless, his gaze still locked on the increasingly radiant white light in the sky. This is strange. What is Xiao Yan doing? Nalan Yanran has almost completed her charge, and he hasnt made any move! Seeing Xiao Yans strange lack of action, Jia Xingtian couldnt help but comment in surprise. If hes staying so calm, maybe he already has a plan. Lets wait and see! Fa Ma, who was confident in Xiao Yans strength, replied without hesitation. Calm? Collected? Confident? Fa Ma, are you sure youre not mistaken? Hearing these words, Hai Bodong, sitting next to Fa Ma, couldnt help but twitch his mouth slightly. From his vantage point, he could clearly see Xiao Yans expression. In his eyes, there was no calmness or confidence at allonly dazedness, and even a hint of terror. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Nalan Yanrans longsword shone even more brightly. The already blinding white light surged further, until the light from the sword completely overshadowed the sun in the sky. Wind Extreme: Sunset Glory! A shout rang out from the sky, and terrifying waves of energy exploded. A fierce sword aura shot down like a meteor from the heavens, sweeping across the battlefield with devastating force. The ground beneath the energys pressure cracked, deep fissures spreading across the entire arena. Feeling the immense power of the sword aura above, the Yun Lan Sect disciples hurriedly activated their Dou Qi. Streams of energy poured out from them, forming a massive protective shield that covered most of the arena. Only then did they manage to block the immense pressure of the swords energy. This is terrifying... Under the overwhelming pressure of the sword energy, Xiao Yan, still somewhat disoriented, finally snapped out of his trance. However, by then, the dazzling sword aura filled his vision, and it was already too late for him to dodge. Leave it to me, Xiao Yan... Seeing Xiao Yan finally return to his senses, Yao Lao quickly urged him. Mm! As soon as Yao Laos words fell, Xiao Yan immediately closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his pupils gleamed with a layer of white light. With a soft push of his palm, a massive white energy shield, brimming with immense power, rapidly formed in front of him. Indeed, but in this situation, we cant help Nalan Yanran win, and with so many powerful experts watching, we have no room to intervene. Yun Leng sighed helplessly. In the sky, seeing that her strike had failed to damage Xiao Yans shield, Nalan Yanrans expression became serious. Looks like Ill have to use the Earth-tier advanced Dou Technique my master taught me. Sky-Splitting Sword Technique... As Nalan Yanran mentally invoked the technique, a massive surge of energy gathered on her longsword. At that moment, Nalan Yanran felt her Dou Qi being drawn into the sword at an observable rate. In the blink of an eye, nearly 30% of her Dou Qi had been drained, and the surrounding energy fluctuations in the air became far more intense than before. All Yun Lan Sect disciples, listen up! Quickly disperse and leave the arena! Realizing the severity of the situation, Yun Leng urgently ordered the ordinary disciples to evacuate. This guy... If he doesnt admit defeat and continues relying on someone elses soul power to fight against Yanran, Ill step in and pull out the soul hidden by your side! Xiao Yixian murmured, her brows furrowing slightly as she observed the situation. However, just as the thought of exposing Yao Laos soul surfaced in her mind, Xiao Yans hoarse voice sounded. Nalan Yanran, todays match, I, Xiao, admit defeat. But our agreement is not over. Three years from now, I will return to Yun Lan Mountain! (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 409: Xiao Yixian Takes Action! Chapter 409: Xiao Yixian Takes Action! Chapter 409: Xiao Yixian Takes Action! "Nalan Yanran, todays duel ends in my defeat. However, our agreement is far from over. Three years from now, I, Xiao Yan, will ascend Yunlan Mountain once again!" The hoarse voice of "Xiao Yan" echoed across the vast plaza, reaching everyones ears. "Whats going on? Why did Xiao Yan suddenly concede? Just moments ago, he seemed to have the upper hand!" "From his earlier performance, even if Nalan Yanrans next move is much stronger than her Winds Final Sunset Glow, he shouldnt have to concede outright!" "Judging by Xiao Yans tone, he seems unwilling to accept this outcome. Could there be more to this situation?" Hearing Xiao Yans admission of defeat, the invited powerhouses watching the duel couldnt help but murmur among themselves in confusion. Amid the puzzled gazes directed at him, "Xiao Yan" suddenly sprouted massive, bone-white wings from his back, lifting himself into the air. Without looking back, he flew away from the Yunlan Sect. "What is the meaning of this? Why has he chosen not to fight?" Nalan Yanran, seeing Xiao Yans actions, looked more bewildered than anyone else present. At this moment, she had already channeled over half of her Dou Qi energy into her Sky Severing Sword Technique. The energy had reached its peak, and even she could no longer suppress it. With Xiao Yan conceding, she redirected the energy toward the vast, blue sky. In an instant, a thin crack was carved into the void itself. Damn it! Though he conceded, he didnt show any clear signs of defeat. This will lead others to speculate that our Yunlan Sect pressured him into submission... "Xiao family brat, stop right there!" Watching Xiao Yan fly away from the plaza, Xiao Yixian grew increasingly furious. A cold shout echoed across the plaza as Xiao Yixians figure transformed into a streak of white light and disappeared from where she stood. In the next moment, she reappeared in front of Xiao Yan, blocking his path. "You intend to stop me?" Xiao Yans sharp gaze fixed on the suddenly appearing Xiao Yixian, his brows furrowing. "Xiao Yan has already conceded, so why is she chasing after him now? Could it be that his concession truly hides something deeper?" "Its possible. Considering this girls incredible strength, its natural for Xiao Yan to feel intimidated and not dare to fight her." Seeing the terrifying energy fluctuation caused by the clash between "Xiao Yan" and Xiao Yixian, Jia Xingtian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong were left in complete shock. "The sheer destructive power and momentum of their casual exchange... These two must have reached the Dou Ancestor realm!" "Dou Ancestor... This girl is Gu He''s disciple. If even his disciple has reached the Dou Ancestor realm, then what must Gu He''s cultivation level be now?" "A sect possessing two Dou Ancestor experts... Unimaginable!" "Dont forget, Yun Shan''s lifespan hasnt ended yet. If hes still alive, its highly likely he could break through to the Dou Ancestor realm as well. That means the Yunlan Sect now potentially has three Dou Ancestor powerhouses." The trio on the high platform, upon finishing their speculations, wore expressions of unease. Jia Xingtian, in particular, looked extremely troubled. The Yunlan Sect was a sect of the Jia Ma Empire, and he was the guardian of the Jia Ma imperial family. With the Yunlan Sect now possessing such strength, the imperial family''s power would be utterly insignificant in their eyes. "All disciples, evacuate the plaza immediately!" Following the energy clash, Yun Leng and the other Yunlan Sect elders quickly organized the evacuation of the remaining disciples. Nalan Jie, Mu Chen, and other spectators also left their stone seats, flying to hover over a bamboo forest outside the plaza. "Yanran, keep your distance for now and let Xianer handle this matter!" Liu Ling, while guiding Qing Lin toward an outer platform near the grand hall, shouted toward Nalan Yanran, who was staring blankly at the events unfolding in the sky. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 410: Poison Mist Prison! Netherworld Poison Flame Appears! Chapter 410: Poison Mist Prison! Netherworld Poison Flame Appears! Chapter 410: Poison Mist Prison! Netherworld Poison Flame Appears! "What a terrifying poison Dou Qi!" After clashing with Xiao Yixians palm, "Xiao Yan" glanced at his gradually blackening hand, his expression growing extremely serious. In the next instant, a bone-white flame appeared in his palm, quickly enveloping his poisoned, blackened arm entirely. Sizzle! Sizzle! White smoke rose from the arm wrapped in the bone-white flame as it worked to expel the invading toxins. After arduously clearing the poison from his body, "Xiao Yan" turned his gaze back to Xiao Yixian, a wary look still evident in his eyes. A raspy voice then emerged from "Xiao Yan''s" throat. "Little girl, things have reached this point, and theres no point in saying more. Today, Xiao Yan may have lost, but I refuse to yield... And if I want to leave, you wont stop me!" ... "He can actually fight on par with Xianer... And now, even the tone of his voice has changed drastically. It seems he truly is borrowing someone elses strength..." "Xiao Yan, I overestimated you again. Another three years? Youre not worthy!" Hovering in the center of the plaza, Nalan Yanran watched the scene unfolding nearby. Realizing the meaning behind Xiao Yixians words, she felt both disappointment and a trace of disgust toward Xiao Yan. "Yanran, get out of there..." Hearing Liu Lings repeated shouts, Nalan Yanran nodded silently. She flapped her azure wings and flew straight toward where Liu Ling and Qing Lin were waiting. ... "Oh, really? Lets see how you leave!" Hovering above the plazas edge, Xiao Yixian coldly responded to "Xiao Yans" confident declaration. With a faint clench of her delicate hand, the surrounding ten-zhang space began to ripple violently. The air twisted and distorted, forming an invisible cage. As the space warped, the view of the area within became increasingly hazy to those outside. Inside the Poison Mist Prison, "Xiao Yan," supported by the Bone Chilling Flame and his powerful soul, had not lost much visibility. Through his gaze, he noticed a purple butterfly emerging from Xiao Yixians body. In an instant, it expanded to three meters in size, taking up nearly a third of the prisons space. As the enormous purple butterfly appeared, the temperature within the Poison Mist Prison surged dramatically. The boiling poison mist thickened even further, becoming increasingly oppressive. "Netherworld Poison Flame... I never thought someone could tame such a thing." Staring at the massive purple butterfly, a flicker of surprise flashed through "Xiao Yans" eyes. He could clearly sense that, with the butterflys emergence, the rate at which his Dou Qi was being consumed to resist the poisonous mist had accelerated significantly. "Every second I stay here, my strength diminishes further. I need to get out of here immediately!" Realizing his dire situation, a resolute expression crossed "Xiao Yans" face. In the next moment, his right hand opened slightly, and the massive Heavy Xuan Ruler materialized in his palm once more. Gripping the black blade tightly, the rulers surface began to radiate an intense light that grew increasingly brilliant, illuminating a large portion of the grayish-purple mist-filled prison. As the light reached its peak, "Xiao Yan" swung the Heavy Xuan Ruler fiercely toward Xiao Yixian. A massive crescent-shaped white energy blade, several meters wide, burst forth from the tip of the ruler, hurtling straight at Xiao Yixian with terrifying force. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 411: Renown Spreads in Jia Ma Empire! Chapter 411: Renown Spreads in Jia Ma Empire! At the very moment Xiao Yan began to gather his strength, a ghostly purple glow emerged from Xiao Yi Xians right palm. Almost instantly, the poisonous Dou Qi within her body surged out, while the toxic energies of the surrounding space were drawn to her uncontrollably. Within moments, these energies condensed in front of her, forming a massive purple claw, nearly the same size as the crescent-shaped white energy blade emanating from the tip of Xiao Yans Heavy Xuan Ruler. In an instant, the entire poisonous fog prison was filled with the overwhelming presence of purple butterflies and the immense energy from these two destructive attacks. From the outside, onlookers gazing at this battleground from a distance witnessed a radiant crescent-shaped white glow pierce through the space. The other side of the battlefield, enveloped in thick poisonous fog, revealed a gigantic purple butterfly and the enormous claw. As the crescent white glow collided with the purple claw, a massive impact erupted, causing the spectators to lose sight of the chaotic interior once more. Shortly after, the colossal gray-purple prison in the sky exhibited an unusual fluctuation. The distorted spatial barriers surrounding the prison began to ripple violently. Within moments, the ripples diminished, and the distorted space gradually reverted to its original stable form. As the spatial barrier around the area dissipated, the gray-purple poisonous fog trapped inside spread outward uncontrollably. Witnessing the poison fogs rapid expansion, the faces of the onlookers turned pale. Even at a great distance, the fog emanated an oppressive and unsettling sensation. If left unchecked, the spreading toxic mist would engulf the entire vicinity of the Yun Lan Sects main hall. Disciples nearby, weaker elders, and spectators alike would likely perish within the lethal poison cloud. Retreat! Everyone, evacuate to the back mountain immediately! Yun Lengs face was filled with terror as he shouted the command. Without a second thought, he soared over the main hall, desperately avoiding even the slightest exposure to the poisonous mist. Just as the crowd was about to retreat in panic, the spreading gray-purple fog suddenly froze. Moments later, as if drawn by a powerful suction force from its center, the poisonous mist surged back rapidly. The withdrawal of the mist was astonishingly swift. Within the span of a few blinks, the fog completely receded. As the poison dispersed, two figures hidden within the mist were finally revealed to the stunned onlookers. Suspended in the distant sky, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan hovered midair, seemingly unscathed. Xiao Yans energy seems to be weakening as time passes. It appears the power hes using doesnt belong to him and cannot be sustained for long, Fa Ma remarked. His extraordinary soul strength, far surpassing that of ordinary Dou Kings, allowed him to sense the waning aura of Xiao Yan. Pfft! By now, Yun Leng, who had been retreating hastily moments earlier, heard her words. He paused mid-air, glanced back nervously, and finally turned to announce in a tense voice, The Three-Year AgreementNalan Yanran wins! As Yun Leng''s loud declaration echoed, Xiao Yi Xian, Liu Ling, Nalan Yanran, and Qing Lin wasted no time lingering in front of the sects grand hall. Instead, they promptly headed toward Gu Hes courtyard. Meanwhile, those who remained in the Yun Lan Sect wore expressions of mixed feelings. I didnt expect Xiao Yan to fall so quickly! Jia Xing Tian remarked with a hint of regret in his tone. He had harbored hopes of someone emerging to rival Xiao Yi Xian. After today, news that Gu Hes disciple was a Dou Zong-level powerhouse would undoubtedly spread across the Jia Ma Empire in no time and likely reach neighboring nations soon after. The Yun Lan Sects standing within the Jia Ma Empire would soar as a result. Even the imperial family would have to reconsider its dealings with the sect. Should they provoke Yun Lan Sect, it could very well lead to a shift in imperial power. On the other hand, Fa Ma slowly approached the area where Xiao Yan had previously stood. Feeling the lingering aura in the air, his expression grew deeply complicated. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 412: Setting the Wedding Date! Chapter 412: Setting the Wedding Date! This aura... its undoubtedly that of the senior from back then. But what happened to him? Why is he now just a soul body, staying by that Xiao clan boys side and protecting him so fervently? Fa Ma pondered silently in his heart. Heh, Fa Ma, Jia Lao, are you two still planning to meet with Gu He? Hai Bodong asked with a dry laugh. Hearing Hai Bodongs question, Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian broke out of their thoughts. Lets go meet him. Its better to have clarity in our hearts, Jia Xing Tian replied with a hint of resignation. Hmm, lets go and see. Itll be interesting to witness how the younger generation from back then has matured, Fa Ma agreed, nodding without objection. Then lets move! Hai Bodong said casually. Since he had interacted with Gu He several times before, meeting him again would not be awkward. Not long after, Liu Ling and the other three arrived at Gu Hes courtyard from the Yun Lan Sects grand square. However, Gu He was not there. The four had chosen to come here first to avoid revealing the secret of the Nine-Colored Valley in the back mountains. As soon as Liu Ling and his three companions stepped into the courtyard, the air in the center of the space suddenly twisted. Moments later, Gu He and Yun Yun appeared from the distorted space. Master, Mistress! Seeing Gu He and Yun Yun, Liu Ling, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Qing Lin immediately bowed respectfully. Hmm. Acknowledging their greetings with smiles, Gu He and Yun Yun nodded. Master, Mistress, the three-year agreement between Nalan Yanran and the Xiao clan boy has concluded. That Xiao Yan has a soul body following him... Liu Ling quickly recounted the events that had transpired in the grand square. Ive long known about the soul body accompanying that Xiao clan boy, Gu He said, his tone calm and unperturbed. So Master knew all along. No wonder Mistress specifically gifted me a protective inner armor this morning! Nalan Yanrans eyes flickered with a trace of surprise as she sighed inwardly at Gu Hes foresight. Master, should we return to the valley to continue training now? Liu Ling asked curiously. Not just yet. We have a few guests arriving soon, and your Mistress and I also have some announcements to make at the sects grand hall, Gu He replied with a slight shake of his head. As he spoke, Yun Yuns beautiful face beside him lit up with a radiant and blissful smile. Guests? My third disciple, Nalan Yanran. And my fourth, Qing Lin. After introducing the four, Gu He turned back to them and said, What are you waiting for? Greet the three seniors. Following Gu Hes instructions, Liu Ling, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Qing Lin didnt hesitate. They bowed and said respectfully, Greetings to the three seniors. Seeing Xiao Yi Xian acting so polite and well-mannered, the corners of the three seniors mouths twitched slightly. After all, she had been quite fearsome not long ago. Gu He, your second disciple once claimed to be the sect master of some faction in the Chu Yun Empire... Is that true? After a brief moment of hesitation, Jia Xing Tian voiced his lingering question. Ive heard her mention it. About a year ago, I arranged for her to train in the Chu Yun Empire. During that time, she established a small sect on her own, Gu He replied casually. I see. From Gu Hes explanation, Jia Xing Tian understood that Xiao Yi Xian wasnt originally from the Chu Yun Empire, which made him feel much better. Just as Jia Xing Tian and the others were about to ask more questions, Gu He suddenly took Yun Yuns hand and, with a smile, said, Seniors, since youve already witnessed the duel between Nalan Yanran and the Xiao clan boy today, why not also bear witness to another eventmy engagement with Yuner? You two... Hearing Gu Hes words, the three seniors froze for a moment before quickly catching on. Bursting into laughter, Jia Xing Tian said, Haha! Gu He, you and Sect Master Yun Yun are a perfect match. If you two can become husband and wife, it would be a joyous occasion for the Jia Ma Empire. It would be an honor for us to witness the formalizing of your engagement! (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 413: The Half-Month Promise! Chapter 413: The Half-Month Promise! Chapter 413: The Half-Month Promise! "Master is marrying Martial Aunt! Thats wonderful!" "Weve been waiting for this day for so long!" Upon witnessing this scene, Liu Ling, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Qing Lin all had joyous expressions on their faces. Held tightly by Gu Hes hand, Yun Yun''s rosy complexion deepened, the blush spreading to the base of her ears. She slightly opened her mouth and said, "Honored seniors, please proceed to the sect''s main hall shortly. I will have arrangements made for a banquet, and my master will emerge from seclusion then as well..." "My master? Yun Yun must mean that old fellow Yun Shan. I knew he wasnt dead yet!" "The Yun Lan Sect now has two Dou Ancestors. That old generation of his must have also reached the Dou Ancestor level by now." Hearing Yun Yun mention Yun Shan, Jia Xingtian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong silently pondered. "Alright, Sect Master Yun Yun. It has been ages since I last saw Yun Shan. That old guy has remarkable patience, spending decades solely on cultivation!" Jia Xingtian nodded, sighing with admiration. "Indeed, Sect Master Yun Yun," echoed Fa Ma and Hai Bodong in unison. ... After announcing his engagement to Yun Yun, Gu He continued chatting casually with Jia Xingtian and the others. However, he refrained from revealing any details about his cultivation level, despite their clear curiosity. By noon, Gu He, Yun Yun, Jia Xingtian, Hai Bodong, Fa Ma, and the four disciples all arrived at the Yun Lan Sect''s main hall. Inside the hall, many of the Yun Lan Sect elders were already seated. "Greetings, Sect Master!" As Yun Yun stepped into the hall, the seated elders all stood respectfully and bowed. "There is no need for formalities, elders. Please, take your seats." Yun Yuns voice was calm, her elegant gesture of raising a single hand conveying a subtle but commanding presence. She and Gu He walked side by side, choosing not to sit at the head seat but at a table below it. Liu Ling, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Qing Lin took seats next to them, while Jia Xingtian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong sat opposite them. "Exactly. If it werent for this wedding between Yun Yun and Gu He, the next time you came out, you might only be seeing our graves," Fa Ma and Hai Bodong teased with a playful tone. These individuals had been prominent figures in the Jia Ma Empire during the previous era. While their personal relationships might not have been deep, reaching this age brought a sense of camaraderie, as most of their generation had already passed away. Seeing one another again evoked feelings of reunion with an old friend. Hearing their words, Yun Shan quickly turned around with a smile and replied, "Hai Bodong, Jia Xingtian, Fa Ma, arent you all still looking healthy and full of life?" "Healthy? Hardly. This world belongs to the younger generation now," Fa Ma sighed deeply. "Thats right. We old folks will soon have to step off the stage," Hai Bodong added in agreement. Among the three, Fa Ma and Hai Bodong were straightforward and unconcerned as they spoke their minds. However, Jia Xingtian was different; knowing the growing strength of the Yun Lan Sect, he felt a sense of unease in his heart. "Haha, enough about that. Once the important matters are settled, well have plenty of time to chat!" Hearing their comments, Yun Shan laughed lightly, dismissing their remarks. Without waiting for a reply, he walked straight to the head seat. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have a joyous announcement to make today!" Yun Shan turned to face the crowd, his expression kind and his tone warm as he slowly spoke. "My disciple Yun Yun and Elder Gu He will be holding their wedding in half a month..." (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 414: Seven-Star Dou Venerate! Chapter 414: Seven-Star Dou Venerate! Chapter 414: Seven-Star Dou Venerate! "My disciple Yun Yun and Elder Gu He will hold their wedding in half a month. Starting today, the Yun Lan Sect will widely distribute invitations to guests from all corners!" Hearing this, all the Yun Lan Sect elders in the hall displayed joyous smiles. The union of Yun Yun and Gu He was something they were delighted to see. "Congratulations to the Sect Master and Elder Gu He on their auspicious union!" Suddenly, the Grand Elder Yun Leng took the lead, standing up to offer his blessings to Yun Yun and Gu He. "Congratulations to Sect Master Yun Yun and Elder Gu He on their happy marriage!" "Congratulations, Master and Martial Aunt, on your eternal bond, everlasting through time!" After Yun Lengs words, everyone in the hall, including Jia Xingtian and his companions, joined in with their heartfelt blessings. "Thank you all for your kind wishes. Yun''er and I raise a toast to you all!" Gu He and Yun Yun lifted their wine cups, expressing their gratitude to everyone present. As Yun Yun and Gu He raised their cups, the entire hall followed suit, and the atmosphere turned lively with laughter and toasts. ... "Yun Leng!" After everyone finished their first cup, Yun Shan, seated at the head table, called out to Yun Leng specifically, instructing, "You are the Grand Elder. Pay close attention to the preparations for the wedding. All arrangements for Yun Yun and Gu He must be handled impeccably." Hearing Yun Shans words, Yun Lengs expression turned serious. Yet, a trace of joy could be seen in his heart as he replied, "Yes, thank you, Old Sect Master, for your trust. I will do my utmost to ensure everything is done perfectly!" During the banquet, it was decided that Gu Hes four disciples would handle the creation and distribution of wedding invitations. Other arrangements, such as decorating the wedding hall, were largely entrusted to Yun Leng and the other elders. ... After the banquet, Gu He and Yun Yun returned hand-in-hand to the Nine-Colored Valley. At this point, Gu He no longer hid much from the world. To outsiders, his four disciples were already renowned: the eldest disciple excelled in alchemy and wielded the Green Lotus Core Flame, the second disciple was a prodigy in cultivation, having already reached the Dou Ancestor realm, and the third and fourth disciples were rare geniuses as well. After reaching the six-star Dou Venerate realm, Gu Hes speed of refining the remaining purple energy significantly increased. In just over ten days, Gu He fully absorbed the remaining energy. His cultivation level rose further, stabilizing at the mid-stage of the seven-star Dou Venerate realm. "Two hundred years of cultivation allowed me to break through from five-star Dou Venerate peak to mid-stage seven-star Dou Venerate. If I refine the 500 years of cultivation next, I might directly reach the peak of the Dou Venerate realm!" This thought filled Gu He with anticipation. However, with only two days remaining until his wedding, he decided not to tackle such a massive energy refinement for now. ... Sect Master Yun Yuns wedding was an extraordinary event for the entire Yun Lan Sect. Moreover, her groom was Gu He, who held high prestige within the sect. This wedding was undoubtedly set to be the grandest and most celebratory day in the history of the Yun Lan Sect. Although there were still two days before the wedding, the sect was already immersed in a festive atmosphere. Red lanterns adorned the area, and by nightfall, the entire mountain and the path leading to it were brightly illuminated. On this brilliantly lit evening, Gu Hes four disciples gathered in a pavilion at the mountaintop. "Grand Elder Yun Leng mentioned that all the invitations have been sent outover a thousand of them! Master and Martial Aunts wedding is going to be incredibly lively!" Liu Ling, seated on one side of the pavilion, exclaimed excitedly. "Master said that everyone attending the wedding will receive a three-tier pill as a gift. Such generosity has never been seen in the history of the Jia Ma Empire! Martial Aunt marrying Master is something countless people will envy!" Nalan Yanran said wistfully as she gazed at the moon rising in the sky. Following her words, Qing Lin chimed in, "Martial Aunt is so beautiful. The fact that Master has won her over will definitely make many people jealous!" (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 415: Gu He’s Grand Wedding! Chapter 415: Gu Hes Grand Wedding! Chapter 415: Gu Hes Grand Wedding! Yanran, after Master and Mistress get married, the responsibility on your shoulders will become even heavier. Youll have to manage the Yunlan Sect, such a large organization! Xiao Yixian suddenly remarked. Theres no other way. Once Mistress and Master are married, they probably wont have much interest in running the sect anymore. I have no choice but to take on this burden! Nalan Yanran replied, her tone laced with helplessness. Her expression revealed that she wasnt particularly fond of assuming the Yunlan Sects leadership. Xianer is the ruler of the Chu Yun Empire, yet she manages such a vast empire effortlessly. Yanran, you could try following her example! Liu Ling suggested after listening to the conversation between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yixian. Hearing Liu Lings suggestion, Nalan Yanran fell silent. Senior Brother, Yunlan Sect was entrusted to Yanran by Mistress. It cant be treated as casually as I handle matters in the Chu Yun Empire, Xiao Yixian explained, shaking her head. I see... In that case, I have another suggestion! After understanding the situation, Liu Ling continued, Since Mistress has passed the position of Sect Leader to you, Yanran, why dont you take on an apprentice yourself? Then, in the future, you can pass the position down to your apprentice. Wouldnt that solve everything perfectly? Uh... Senior Brother, your suggestion will take at least another ten years to implement. Hearing Liu Lings second suggestion, Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yixian, and Qing Lin all rolled their eyes simultaneously. Well then, Senior Brother, what about your plans? Are you going to stay in the Nine-Colored Valley to cultivate, or will you head back to Stone Desert City first? Nalan Yanran suddenly asked. Liu Ling pondered for a moment before hesitantly replying, Ill visit Stone Desert City first. I promised my brothers there that Id return. As for the future... I plan to establish the greatest mercenary group. The greatest mercenary group? Are you talking about the biggest in the Jia Ma Empire, or do you mean the strongest mercenary group across the entire continent? Xiao Yixian asked softly, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes. So Senior Brother has such lofty ambitions! Nalan Yanran and Qing Lin immediately turned into adoring fans, looking at Liu Ling with admiration. Nothings set in stone yet. Dont set your expectations so high! Liu Ling waved his hand awkwardly, embarrassed by their reactions. Haha, Senior Brother, were serious. You must believe in yourself! Though Xiao Yixian was laughing, her expression was earnest. Below the stage, Gu He was already dressed in a bright red ceremonial robe. Today, he appeared particularly refreshed, his demeanor cheerful as countless well-wishers surrounded him, raising their cups to offer congratulations. Mr. Gu He, congratulations! Wishing you and Sect Master Yun Yun many children soon! Mr. Gu He, may you and Sect Master Yun Yun grow old together in happiness! The guests in attendance today encompassed nearly 70 to 80 percent of the Jia Ma Empires most influential figures. Among them were Princess Yao Ye and Princess Yao Yue of the royal family, members of the three great families of the imperial capital, and over a hundred alchemists from the Alchemist Association. The bride has arrived! Amid the endless chorus of congratulations, a clear voice suddenly rang out across the bustling square. Instantly, the other voices quieted, and all eyes turned toward the source of the announcement. There, a stunning figure clad in a red wedding dress appeared. Her face was completely veiled by a curtain of red beads, obscuring her features. Surrounded by dozens of beautiful attendants, she moved gracefully toward the wedding stage, like the moon surrounded by stars. Master, the bride is here! Why dont you hurry up and go greet her? Liu Ling, standing beside Gu He, teased in a mockingly urgent tone as he pointed in the brides direction. Hearing Liu Lings words, Gu He smiled, nodding politely to the guests offering their blessings. Then he quickly strode toward Yun Yun. Master, Mistress looks so beautiful today. Are you itching to lift her veil already? (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 416: The Grand Wedding! Chapter 416: The Grand Wedding! Chapter 416: The Grand Wedding! Behind the bride, Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yixian, dressed as attendants, handed over a red ribbon while teasing Gu He. Well settle scores with you later! Gu He feigned anger and grabbed the ribbon from their hands with a smile. Yuner, shall we go? Gu He said gently to Yun Yun. Yes, husband. Yun Yun, her face hidden beneath a red veil, nodded lightly. The newlyweds then walked hand in hand, slowly making their way to the wedding stage under the gaze of countless onlookers. Haha, today marks the marriage of my beloved apprentice. I deeply thank all of you for traveling from afar to attend. On behalf of Yunlan Sect, I express my gratitude! On the wedding stage, Yun Shan beamed as he looked at the couple below and then raised his voice to address the guests in the square. Hearing Yun Shans words, waves of congratulatory cheers echoed across the crowd. Yuner is the current Sect Master of Yunlan Sect, a position of considerable status. However, with Gu Hes standing and accomplishments, he is a perfect match. Truly, a union between equals, Yun Shan remarked with a satisfied smile. Below the stage, Gu He busied himself responding to the congratulations pouring in, unable to conceal the joy on his face. Today, I officially announce before all of you that my cherished apprentice Yun Yun is now married to Gu He! Yun Shan glanced down at the couple, who were surrounded by well-wishers, and declared with a smile. The square erupted once again with waves of cheers and congratulations aimed at the couple on the wedding stage. Glancing at the sky, Yun Shan waved his hand and laughed heartily. The auspicious hour has arrived. Let the wedding begin! At that moment, the celebratory atmosphere across Yunlan Sect reached its absolute peak. Amid the deafening cheers, Gu He held Yun Yuns delicate hand and guided her to the wedding stage. Beneath the red veil, Yun Yuns beautiful face radiated pure happiness. The rest of the wedding ceremony proceeded smoothly in an atmosphere of joy and festivity. Toward the end, Yunlan Sect distributed thank-you gifts to the guests, creating a wave of excitement. Every guest, regardless of statusdown to children brought by attendeesreceived a fourth-tier medicinal pill. Qing Lin stood on her tiptoes, excitedly peering through the tiny opening. Ah! The moment Qing Lin peeked, she let out a startled cry and quickly backed away. What happened, Junior Sister? Dont tell me you saw something exciting! I want to see too! Hearing Qing Lins reaction, Nalan Yanran, Liu Ling, and Xiao Yixian all expressed their curiosity. However, just as they spoke, another shadow appeared among those cast by the lantern light near them. Run! Weve been discovered! Noticing the shadow, Liu Ling shouted and bolted without looking back. Senior Brother, wait for us! Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yixian, and Qing Lin quickly realized what had happened and, amid laughter and teasing, dashed off as well. These little troublemakers... Watching Liu Ling and the others scamper away, Gu He shook his head with a smile. After a brief chuckle, he calmly re-entered the bridal chamber. This time, he set up a sealing formation inside the room to ensure they wouldnt be disturbed again. Yuner, shall we... begin our wedding night? Removing his red ceremonial robe, Gu He slowly approached Yun Yun, who was sitting at the bedside... (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 Chapter 417: Breaking Through to the Pinnacle of Nine-Star Dou Venerate! Chapter 417: Breaking Through to the Pinnacle of Nine-Star Dou Venerate! Chapter 417: Breaking Through to the Pinnacle of Nine-Star Dou Venerate! It had been seven days since Gu He and Yun Yun''s wedding, and the festive atmosphere within the Yunlan Sect had somewhat diminished. In the Nine-Colored Valley, Gu He, for the first time since his grand wedding, had gathered all four of his disciples. At this moment, Liu Ling, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Qing Lin stood in front of Gu He and Yun Yun. Gu He''s gaze lingered on Nalan Yanran as he slowly spoke, "Yanran, starting today, your master will fully hand over the Yunlan Sect to you. Are you ready?" "Ready. I will definitely fulfill my duties as the Sect Leader!" Nalan Yanran nodded, her response was crisp and without a hint of hesitation. Hearing Nalan Yanran''s answer, Gu He nodded with satisfaction, "Yanran, it''s good that you have such confidence... However, you shouldn''t be overly constrained by the position of Sect Leader. Your master believes that after the trials in the Demon Beast Mountain Range, you will be able to handle these responsibilities well." "I understand, Master!" Nalan Yanran nodded heavily. "Your master here will leave Yunlan Sect with your mistress in a month. We might go to Central State for a period, but it won''t exceed two years." After explaining the matter of Nalan Yanran succeeding as the Sect Leader of Yunlan Sect, Gu He also talked to a few disciples about his upcoming itinerary. "Central State, that region is said to be countless times more vast than the Northwest Continent?" "It''s said that only Dou Huang-level experts have the strength to wander there on their own." Hearing Gu He''s words, his disciples also showed some anticipation. "Your future paths are for you to decide, I won''t arrange them for you. If you want to go to Central State someday, just go!" Seeing their reactions, Gu He continued. "Master, Central State is so big, can we meet you there?" Xiao Yi Xian asked hopefully. "I''m not sure either. However, if any of you make a name for yourselves in Central State, and I hear about it, I''ll come to find you!" Gu He replied. After giving some final instructions, Gu He resumed his retreat. This time, he intended to completely absorb the five hundred years of cultivation at the Five-Star Dou Venerate level stored in the system space, to have more confidence when venturing into Central State. The so-called Nine Transformations served as a term to measure the gap between the pinnacle of Dou Venerate and half-Saint. The difference between these two was so terrifyingly vast that it required a more nuanced yet substantial term for differentiation. The Nine Transformations themselves were not complicated. Simply put, it involved nine cycles of refining and compressing Dou Qi. When a Dou Venerate at the pinnacle found their Dou Qi completely full with no room for more, the Nine Transformations began. At this stage, they needed to refine and compress all their Dou Qi, creating space for new Dou Qi to be generated. Once the Dou Qi was full again, the process had to be repeated. After nine cycles, perfection was achieved! The Dou Qi within would undergo a qualitative change through this compression, allowing the practitioner to leap across the insurmountable chasm and truly enter the Saint level. Therefore, those who reached this point referred to this hidden cultivation within the pinnacle of Dou Venerate as the Nine Transformations! Only after completing the Nine Transformations could one become a Saint. Though the Nine Transformations sounded simple, in practice, it was immensely challenging. Just consider the vast amount of Dou Qi a pinnacle Dou Venerate could hold. Filling it nine times over was a daunting task worthy of the term "terrifying." However, the obstacles that normal pinnacle Dou Venerate experts feared would not hinder Gu He. With the cultivation energy he received from his disciples'' contributions, Gu He would never lack Dou Qi. All he needed to do was refine and compress his Dou Qi whenever it overflowed. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 418: Instructions! Honeymoon! Chapter 418: Instructions! Honeymoon! Chapter 418: Instructions! Honeymoon! "Husband, you''re out of seclusion!" Seeing Gu He emerge, his clothes somewhat tattered, Yun Yun walked over and considerately helped him change into a new robe. Stroking Yun Yun''s cheek, Gu He smiled and said, "Yun''er, this seclusion was shorter than expected!" "What is your current cultivation level, husband?" Yun Yun asked curiously. "The pinnacle of Nine-Star Dou Venerate, just one step away from becoming a Saint!" Gu He replied honestly, never hiding such things from Yun Yun. "Just one step away from becoming a Saint!" Hearing Gu He''s answer, Yun Yun was astonished. She exclaimed, "Becoming a Saint means truly standing at the pinnacle of the continent. Husband, you''re amazing!" "Of course, your husband is amazing!" Grinning, Gu He pulled Yun Yun into his arms, his hands unconsciously roaming over her delicate body. The next moment, the two of them appeared directly in their room, entwined on the jade bed... Four hours later, Gu He and Yun Yun finally emerged from the small building, their hair neatly arranged. Extending his spiritual power slightly, Gu He noticed that Liu Ling, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Qing Lin were all in the Nine-Colored Valley. "Liu Ling... the four of you, come over here!" A voice seemed to echo from the depths of their souls, resonating in the minds of Liu Ling and the others. Upon hearing Gu He''s call, the four disciples quickly gathered before him. "Liu Ling, Two-Star Dou King!" "Xian''er, Four-Star Dou Ancestor!" "Yanran, Four-Star Dou King!" "Qing Lin, Six-Star Dou Grandmaster!" "Not bad, it seems you four have been training diligently!" Examining their current cultivation levels, Gu He noticed their progress and praised them with satisfaction. Gu He then transferred some of his cultivation energy to them once again, enhancing their levels further. After this, their cultivation levels were: Holding Yun Yun''s extremely slender waist, Gu He, beaming with joy, pointed ahead and said, "Yun''er, this time, I want to make it up to you with a proper honeymoon!" "Husband, what is a honeymoon?" Hearing this unfamiliar word from Gu He''s mouth, Yun Yun looked at him curiously. "Uh, a honeymoon is when we travel together, not thinking about anything else, just enjoying the scenery of the continent!" Gu He explained. Yun Yun gently leaned against Gu He''s shoulder, revealing a sweet smile. "Alright, I will go on a honeymoon with you, husband!" ... This time, Gu He didn''t traverse through space directly because they would miss the scenery along the way. Even without spatial travel, Gu He and Yun Yun''s speed was still incredibly fast. On the back of the Black-scaled Ice Serpent, Gu He used some special materials to create a white house about four or five zhang in size. The design was very close to some architectural styles from his memories. The living room had panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows. Other areas included an indoor swimming pool and a rooftop garden. In such an environment, both of them felt very relaxed. When they saw beautiful scenery, they would choose to stop temporarily and spend a night quietly in the scenic spot. In this leisurely manner, half a month passed quickly. Gu He and Yun Yun had already left the borders of the Jia Ma Empire. At this moment, they were at the gateway to the Black-Corner Region, the Black Plain. The scenery here was almost uniformly black, and neither Gu He nor Yun Yun had any intention of staying. However, at that moment, Gu He sensed a few familiar auras ahead. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 419: The Soul Hall’s Actions! Chapter 419: The Soul Halls Actions! Chapter 419: The Soul Halls Actions! "Jie! Jie! Jie! I never expected such a remote place to have such a powerful soul body. Capturing you and bringing you back to the Hall will surely earn me a reward from the Honored One!" On a desolate black plain, a caravan of nearly a hundred people found their path blocked by a mass of dark mist radiating a menacing aura. As the eerie voice emanated from the mist, fear gripped the hearts of everyone in the caravan. What a terrifying aura! What kind of monster is hidden in that black mist? From the sound of it, it seems like its after our souls. What should we do? Taking our souls? Isnt that the same as killing us? If thats the case, we have no choice but to fight! Young brother Yanxiao, you saved our lives earlier from those bandits. Were deeply grateful... but this time, the thing blocking our path is far beyond our ability to handle. If theres a chance, dont worry about us. Escape while you still can! Amid the fearful murmurs of the caravan, a burly man in his thirties addressed the young man beside him. This youth was none other than Xiao Yan, who had fled from Yunlan Mountain in a battered state not long ago. After enduring half a month of arduous treatment by Yao Lao, Xiao Yan finally rid his body of the Poison of Misfortune inflicted by Xiao Yi Xian. Feeling too ashamed to return to Wutan City or face Xiao Zhan, he sent a letter home to inform his father of his condition and then set off toward Jia Nan Academy. Upon entering the vast plains of the Black-Corner Region, Xiao Yan, seeking to avoid unnecessary trouble, decided to travel with a caravan headed to the Black-Corner Region. However, not long ago, the caravan had been attacked by bandits roaming the plains. Out of sympathy and a need for self-preservation, Xiao Yan intervened to help the caravan. During the confrontation, Yao Lao provided Xiao Yan with a burst of soul power, drawing the attention of a roaming Protector from the Soul Hall. Brother Meng, hes not after you. His target is me! Hearing the burly mans words, Xiao Yan took a deep breath and stepped forward, walking to the front of the caravan. He fixed his gaze on the dark mist ahead and shouted, Youre after me, arent you? This has nothing to do with the people of this caravan. Can you let them leave first? Jie! Jie! Before Xiao Yans words had fully landed, an eerie laugh echoed from the dark mist. Hmph, boy, youre not qualified to negotiate with me. Hand over the hidden soul body obediently, and I might consider leaving you with an intact corpse! The voice within the mist responded disdainfully. As the chilling voice faded, Yao Laos sigh echoed in Xiao Yans mind. Ah, Xiao Yan, now is not the time for misplaced compassion. This mans strength has reached the level of a Four-Star Dou Ancestor. Im not confident I can defeat him, let alone protect so many others. Xiao Yan hesitated. He had grown somewhat attached to the people of the caravan during their journey together, and the thought of their deaths weighing on his conscience left him deeply conflicted. With a silent sigh, "Xiao Yan" allowed a chilling aura to surge from his palm. A pale white flame briefly illuminated the surrounding darkness as it flared up, engulfing "Xiao Yan''s" entire body in its ghostly glow. In the next moment, without any warning, "Xiao Yan" swung a powerful punch backward into the seemingly empty void. As his fist moved, the overwhelming soul force surrounding him surged forward. The punch seemed to reverberate through space itself, accompanied by an unstoppable force that shook the area and sent a violent gust ripping outward. Boom! Where the punch landed, a black shadow suddenly appeared. The two exchanged blows, and the clash sent shockwaves rippling in all directions, echoing like muffled thunder across the sky. Screech! Under the impact of this exchange, "Xiao Yan" was forced to retreat, his body sliding backward as a trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth. Bone Chilling Flame... Are you Yao Chen? After the collision, the black shadow spoke in astonishment, recognizing the flame. A moment later, it burst into manic laughter once again. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 420: Bone Chilling Flame! Chapter 420: Bone Chilling Flame! Chapter 420: Bone Chilling Flame! Haha! I never expected the once-famous Medicine Venerate, Yao Chen, to be hiding in a place like this! The shadow cackled wildly, his gaze full of greed as he stared at "Xiao Yan." A mere Dou Ancestor dares to spout such arrogance in front of me? If this were back in the day, I couldve crushed you with a single finger. Now that youve discovered my presence, dont think for a second youll leave here alive! "Xiao Yan" wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and spoke in a raspy voice. In his heart, a murderous intent toward the Soul Hall Protector had already formed. If this Protector were allowed to escape, he and Yao Lao would face endless pursuit by the Soul Hall. As "Xiao Yan" finished his words, a phantom-like elderly figure appeared in front of him, radiating an overwhelming aura that was no weaker than the shadows. The moment the elder appeared, the pale white in Xiao Yan''s pupils vanished, and his eyes returned to normal. Teacher! This is the first time in all these years that youve revealed your soul form to anyone besides me. It seems todays situation is no ordinary trouble... Xiao Yan felt a twinge of anxiety as he watched Yao Lao materialize from his body. Jie! Jie! Back in the day, you were indeed someone to look up to. Many Venerate met their end at your hands. But now, your strength has fallen to this level, and youre merely a soul body. Our Soul Hall has plenty of methods to deal with soul forms like yours. Capturing you today would surely bring great joy to the Hall Master. The shadows eerie laughter echoed across the sky like the cawing of a crow. Without further delay, the shadow extended his hand, summoning a pitch-black chain that slithered from his palm with a clinking sound. The chain, coiling like a venomous snake, hovered ominously at his side. The chain trembled slightly before the shadow gave a sharp flick of his arm. Instantly, the chain tore through the sky like a black streak, shooting straight toward Yao Laos soul form. Seeing the shadow attack, Yao Laos expression turned icy. The pale white flame in his palm flickered intensely as he darted forward to meet the assault. Hiss! The black chain, like a venomous serpent, pierced through the air, transforming into a blurry streak as it shot toward Yao Lao. The tip of the chain was unnervingly sharp, inscribed with intricate runes and spiral patterns. Under the shadows energy manipulation, the chain emanated a chilling and menacing aura. Clearly, this was no ordinary weapon. Yao Lao dared not take the incoming chain lightly. The Soul Halls methods were known to cause devastating harm to soul bodies. However, with the Bone Chilling Flame protecting him, Yao Lao wasnt entirely defenseless. Both Yao Lao and the Soul Hall Protector froze mid-action, their expressions changing drastically as they turned their horrified gazes toward the same spot in the sky. In the distance, a colossal black flood dragon slowly appeared on the horizon. Theres such a powerful demon beast here? This aura feels strangely familiar... Yao Lao murmured, his eyes narrowing. As the black flood dragon drew closer, the oppressive aura it emanated blanketed the area. Those on the groundwhether they were fleeing, observing, or already paralyzed with fear due to the Soul Hall Protectorfelt as if they were being crushed under a massive mountain, struggling to breathe. Even Xiao Yan, who had been watching from the sidelines, wasnt spared. Under the immense pressure of the flood dragons aura, his heart pounded so violently that it felt like it might leap out of his chest. Roar! The massive beast abruptly came to a halt, hovering steadily a thousand meters above the plain. That ominous black mist hasnt left yet, and now such a monstrous beast has arrived. Were doomed! someone from the caravan muttered in despair, their voice trembling. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 421: New Movements of the Soul Hall! Chapter 421: New Movements of the Soul Hall! Chapter 421: New Movements of the Soul Hall! That mysterious figure in the eerie black mist hasnt left, and now such a massive demon beast has appeared. Were doomed today! If I ever get another chance, I swear Ill never step foot on this Black Domain Plain again. This place is terrifying! When the colossal beast in the sky stopped and loomed over them, the hearts of everyone in the caravan were filled with despair. Even Yao Lao and the shadowy figure''s faces changed drastically the moment the beast came to a halt. Initially, they thought this enormous demon beast might simply be passing through. To their shock, it had stopped precisely at their location. At this moment, both Yao Lao and the shadowy figure froze where they were, not daring to make any rash moves. They understood that since the beast had stopped, it was likely here for one of them. Provoking it could lead to a disaster beyond their comprehension. ... Yuner, Ill be back shortly after handling something! On the back of the Black-scaled Frost Jiao, Gu He spoke to Yun Yun before stepping out of the room. Once outside, Gu He didnt dismount. Standing on the Jiaos back, he extended his palm toward the black mist below and made a grasping motion. In an instant, a massive force of spatial distortion appeared around the black mist. Senior, please... Im a member of the Soul Hall! If you attack me, youll be going against the Soul Hall itself. Think carefully! The shadowy figure hadnt expected the beast above to be so overwhelmingly powerful. To manipulate space in this manner would require at least a Dou Venerate-level expert. As Gu He began to lock down the space around him, the shadowy figure struggled desperately, attempting to use the Soul Halls reputation to save his life. At this moment, both the Soul Hall enforcer and Yao Lao assumed it was the massive beast making its move. Yao Laos anxiety deepened, fearing the next moment might see him similarly ensnared by this terrifyingly powerful creature. Ah! If I die, the Soul Hall will know immediately! Senior, you wont escape their wrath! While Yao Lao worried, the immense black beast suddenly opened its massive maw toward the shadowy figure trapped in the distorted space. A terrifying suction force erupted from its mouth. The shadowy figure could only roar in fear, unable to mount any meaningful resistance before being swallowed by the Black-scaled Frost Jiao. Moments earlier, while performing the Ancient Puppet Seed Technique to control the Soul Hall enforcer, he had gleaned fragments of the enforcers memory. The enforcers name was Qing Protector. He wasnt a long-term resident of the Soul Hall in the northwest region but had been dispatched from a Soul Hall branch hall in the Central Plains. Moreover, Qing Protector wasnt the only enforcer sent to the northwest this timeanother enforcer had also been deployed. The other individual had likely already entered the Jia Ma Empire. Their objective was, as expected, the ancient jade of the Xiao family. Gu He had little interest in whether or not the Soul Hall obtained the Xiao familys ancient jade. However, the Soul Halls preference for operating covertly, leveraging other local powers to avoid direct conflict with the Eight Clans agreements, was concerning. Given that the Yunlan Sect was the most influential sect in the Jia Ma Empire, the Soul Hall would undoubtedly approach them first. If the Soul Hall managed to take the ancient jade and frame the Yunlan Sect, it could bring the wrath of the Gu Clan and the other clans upon the Yunlan Sect. Gu He was determined not to let the Soul Hall pin this on the Yunlan Sect. The other enforcer shouldnt pose much of a threat to Xianer, the Flame Dragon, or Little Silver, Gu He muttered, contemplating briefly before discarding the thought of turning back. With Qing Protector now under his control, the second enforcer would eventually rendezvous with Qing Protector. As such, everything remained within Gu Hes grasp. Additionally, Gu Hes clone could reach the Yunlan Sect within a few days. Once there, he could control both enforcers and potentially their superiors, delaying the Xiao familys ancient jade operation indefinitely. Considering his own rapid growth, Gu He was confident that by the time the Soul Hall realized something was amiss, they would no longer be able to threaten him. (Chapter End) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 422: A Mysterious Visitor at the Yunlan Sect! Chapter 422: A Mysterious Visitor at the Yunlan Sect! Chapter 422: A Mysterious Visitor at the Yunlan Sect! After formulating a plan, Gu He instructed Qing Protector to head to the Jia Ma Empire immediately and rendezvous with the other Soul Hall enforcer. Meanwhile, Gu Hes clone had already emerged from seclusion. With these arrangements made, Gu He returned to the cabin on the back of the Black-Scaled Frigid Python and resumed his journey with Yun Yun. Five days passed quickly, and Gu He had already reached the depths of the Black-Corner Region. Currently, the Black-Corner Region, after the purge of its established factions, was even more chaotic and devoid of any order. However, as some of the regions veteran experts were eliminated, talented individuals from the Jia Nan Academy began frequently establishing their own factions, striving to bring some semblance of stability to the chaos. Standing atop the Black-Scaled Frigid Python, Gu He pointed toward an ancient academy in the distance and said slowly, Yuner, within the Jia Nan Academy of the Black-Corner Region, I have taken on two disciples. One is named Zi Yan, and the other Han Yue. However, Ive currently sent both to the Central Plains for a two-year training expedition. Two more disciples... The Central Plains is so complex. Isnt it too dangerous for them to train there? Yun Yun asked, her initial surprise giving way to concern. The Central Plains is indeed filled with hidden powerhouses, but not every corner is rife with Dou Venerates. As long as they remain low-key, they should be fine, Gu He explained calmly. ... While Gu He and Yun Yun explored the depths of the Black-Corner Region, a strange black mist was stealthily making its way up Yunlan Mountain. To think that such a small sect on the northwest continent would have three Dou Ancestor-level experts! Within the black mist, a shadowy figure spoke to himself, his tone carrying a hint of apprehension. Qing Protector is still behind. Ill take this night to investigate the former Sect Master of the Yunlan Sect! After another brief pause, the black mist surged upward, flying swiftly over the forest and toward the mountain peak. Under the cover of darkness, the black mist soon arrived above the Yunlan Sects gate. Its aura was carefully concealed, and the figure believed he hadnt alerted anyone. Little did he know, the moment he set foot on Yunlan Mountain, Caier in the Nine-Colored Valley had already sensed him. At this time, only Gu Hes disciples, Sect Master Nalan Yanran and Qing Lin, were present at the Yunlan Sect. Xiao Yixian and Liu Ling had left over ten days ago. Liu Ling had gone with Xiao Jin, but Xiao Yixian had chosen not to bring Xiao Yin. The reason was that when Xiao Yixian prepared to visit the Chu Yun Empire, Xiao Yin had already entered seclusion to break through to the Dou Venerate realm and had yet to emerge. Meanwhile, the Flame Dragon remained in a secluded corner of the Nine-Colored Valley, focused on cultivation. When Caiers soul power detected the black mist, she immediately informed Nalan Yanran, the Flame Dragon, and Qing Lin. When Yun Shan first encountered Protector Vulture, he had sensed a repulsive aura from himclearly not the mark of a virtuous individual. However, due to Protector Vultures strength and his promises to help Yun Shan break through to the Dou Ancestor realm, Yun Shan reluctantly complied. Even now, after Yun Shan had become a Dou Ancestor himself, he could still feel that he was no match for this so-called Protector Vulture. Moreover, Protector Vulture had once hinted at being backed by an incredibly powerful organization. Frightened, Yun Shans thoughts quickly turned to his treasured son-in-law, Gu He. From what Yun Shan had seen of Gu Hes power during a previous visit, Gu He was undoubtedly far stronger than this Protector Vulture. After Yun Shans words, the figure within the black mist seemed momentarily taken aback. However, just as the figure was about to speak, Yun Shan interrupted, continuing, Protector Vulture, regarding your earlier request for me to gather a batch of sixth-tier spiritual herbs, Ive already collected them. However, they arent stored here. Will you wait for me here, or shall we retrieve them together? Yun Shans intent was clearhe wanted to use this opportunity to distance himself from Protector Vulture and seek refuge with Gu He. Gather sixth-tier spiritual herbs? Thats what Protector Vulture asked of you? Hearing Yun Shans suggestion, the figure within the black mist appeared utterly astonished. What do you mean by that... Could it be you arent Protector Vulture? Yun Shan asked, his suspicion evident. It didnt take long for him to realize that, although the aura of this black mist resembled that of Protector Vulture, there were distinct differences. (Chapter End) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 423: Yun Shan’s Choice! New December 4 Chapter 423: Yun Shans Choice! New December 4 Chapter 423: Yun Shans Choice! It seems they truly have ulterior motives. Collecting sixth-tier spiritual herbs is far from satisfying their appetite. If we continue cooperating with them, their demands will likely grow increasingly excessive! At this moment, Yun Shan felt immensely fortunate to have Gu He as his son-in-law. Without him, Yun Shan would have had no means to handle the mysterious figure before him. I am the Protector Feng. As for the Protector Jiu you mentioned, Ive heard about him from other protectors during a mission, but I didnt expect hed come to your Yunlan Sect just for a batch of sixth-tier spiritual herbs. That foolhes not even an alchemist. What could he possibly need those herbs for? The figure shrouded in black mist explained coldly. Hearing this, Yun Shans wariness of the force behind Protector Jiu deepened further. Based on the statement that Protector Feng was of the same rank as Protector Jiu, Yun Shan deduced that the power behind the two likely consisted of more than just these two Dou Ancestor-level experts. This matter is already beyond my capability to handle. I can only rely on Gu He to step in and resolve it for me. After some contemplation, Yun Shan decided that Gu He was the best person to handle the situation. Meanwhile, not far from Yun Shans secluded retreat, Nalan Yanran, Qing Lin, Flame Dragon, and Caier were hiding behind a large boulder, eavesdropping on the conversation between Yun Shan and Protector Feng. Thanks to Caiers soul energy masking their presence, neither Yun Shan nor Protector Feng was aware of their presence. The dark and sinister aura emanating from Protector Feng left a terrible first impression on Nalan Yanran and the others. They were puzzled as to why such a figure would seek out Yun Shan. Why would this person come looking for Grandmaster? Nalan Yanran asked with a frown. Judging by Grandmasters reaction, it seems like this is his first time meeting the person. He seemed to know someone named Protector Jiu before, Qing Lin added. It seems there are quite a few individuals like Protector Feng with such sinister auras and Dou Ancestor-level strength, Nalan Yanran remarked gravely, listening intently to the conversation. Although the exact relationship between Yun Shan and Protector Feng wasnt clear from the brief exchange, Nalan Yanran and the others suspected that Protector Feng was backed by a powerful organization. Lets keep watching and see what Protector Feng is really after. ... Yun Shan, having just unleashed his strongest attack, immediately began retreating, skirting around Protector Feng to head toward Gu Hes courtyard. Yet, he could distinctly sense that the energy on the black chains sweeping toward him now was nearly twice as powerful as the previous attack. Blocking this strike would likely cost him dearly. Just then, a cold shout echoed from the distance. "Audacious scoundrel! How dare you attack my grandmaster on Yunlan Mountain!" Two slender figures appeared within Yun Shan and Protector Fengs sightlines. Upon seeing that the newcomers were merely two young girls, the surprise in Protector Fengs eyes quickly turned into disdain. However, Yun Shan, not far away, was filled with worry. He acknowledged that both Nalan Yanran and Qing Lin had excellent potential, but they had yet to fully mature. For them to appear before Protector Feng at this moment was far too dangerous. "Yanran, take your junior sister and leave this place at once!" Yun Shan shouted. Immediately, energy surged in his palm as he prepared to intercept the fierce black chains heading their way. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 424: The Heritage of Yunlan Sect! Chapter 424: The Heritage of Yunlan Sect! Chapter 424: The Heritage of Yunlan Sect! Overestimating yourself! Protector Feng laughed arrogantly as the power of the black chains surged again. The chains'' tips broke through Yun Shans Dou Qi defenses and viciously shot toward his heart. At this critical moment, a red figure moved with a speed nearly imperceptible to the naked eye. In an instant, the figure appeared in front of Yun Shan. Just as the sharp tip of the black chain was about to pierce Yun Shan, the figure reached out and grabbed it. Under this grasp, the once terrifyingly powerful black chain shattered completely. Flame Dragons strength had already reached the peak of nine-star Dou Ancestor, nearing the threshold of breaking into the Dou Venerate realm. It wouldnt be long before he followed in Little Silvers footsteps and attempted such a breakthrough. With his current nine-star Dou Ancestor peak strength, dealing with Protector Feng, who was merely at the peak of four-star Dou Ancestor, was almost effortless. Who are you? Seeing his attack so easily neutralized by the red-haired middle-aged man, Protector Fengs hidden eyes flashed with horror as he exclaimed in shock. The one taking your life! A fierce voice erupted from the red-haired man. Immediately, a blinding red light surged from his palm, emitting an energy fluctuation that struck fear into the heart. Flame Dragon, dont kill him just yet. Just subdue him, Nalan Yanran quickly interjected as Flame Dragon was about to finish Protector Feng. Upon hearing her, Flame Dragon let the red glow in his palm fade. With a flash, he appeared behind the black mist with uncanny speed and gave a light tap, scattering the black mist completely. It revealed the figure of a man fully cloaked in black robes. So, its just a spiritual entity! After dispersing the black mist, Flame Dragon immediately discerned Protector Fengs nature. Without hesitation, he extended his powerful Dou Qi-imbued hands, grabbed Protector Feng by the neck, and restrained him effortlessly. Thank you, Senior, for saving me! Seeing Flame Dragon destroy the black chains and capture Protector Feng, Yun Shan expressed his deep gratitude. Hearing Yun Shan address him as "Senior," Flame Dragon waved his hands and shook his head. Yun Shan, sir, you are the master of the Lady of the House. How could I dare accept such a title from you? The Hall of Souls was known for its secrecy. Even many factions in Zhongzhou had only heard of its name, let alone the remote and barren northwestern region, where knowledge of it was almost nonexistent. Heh heh, little girl, the Hall of Souls where I serve is so terrifying that if I told you, it would scare you to death! Protector Feng sneered. Ah! Before he could finish speaking, Flame Dragons foot slammed into him, eliciting a pained scream from the soul entity. Speak properly, or Ill erase your soul on the spot! Flame Dragon roared angrily. Protector Feng, who had already been terrified of Flame Dragons threats, realized that his usual tactic of intimidating others with the Hall of Souls reputation was utterly ineffective here. Flame Dragon clearly didnt know or care how powerful the Hall of Souls was. Desperate to survive, Protector Feng reluctantly decided to explain. Have you ever heard the phrase One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, Four Clans? This describes some of the most powerful factions in Zhongzhou! Among them, the One Hall and One Tower hold the highest positions. Even the weakest, the Four Clans, each have at least one Venerate in their ranks. The Hall of Souls, where I serve, is one of the most revered forces in Zhongzhou! Protector Feng explained succinctly. So even the weakest of the Four Clans have Venerates in their ranks. Then your Hall of Souls must have several Dou Venerate experts, right? (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 425: Void Jade Talisman Shatters! Gu He Is Summoned! Chapter 425: Void Jade Talisman Shatters! Gu He Is Summoned! Chapter 425: Void Jade Talisman Shatters! Gu He Is Summoned! "The weakest of the Four Pavilions has at least one Dou Venerate seated in each? Then doesnt your Soul Hall have several Dou Venerates?" Nalan Yanran continued to probe after listening to Protector Fengs introduction. "Heh, not just several Dou Venerates. Even those standing at the pinnacle of the continentthe Saintswe have quite a few of them!" Seeing that Nalan Yanran and her group had started to believe his claims, Protector Feng grew smug. "Saints? Quite a few? Who are you trying to fool? Do you think Grandpa Dragon is so easily frightened?" Detecting the arrogance in Protector Fengs tone and his veiled disdain for them, Flame Dragons anger flared once more. After a loud rebuke, he swiftly threw a punch at Protector Fengs soul, causing a piercing scream to ring out. "Ah!" "Youve got a lot of nerve! Knowing that Im from the Soul Hall, yet you still dare to treat me like this? You will regret this sooner or later!" Protector Fengs voice carried more confidence this time after boasting about the power of the Soul Hall. Even while enduring Flame Dragons torment, he stubbornly issued threats. "Still talking back? Grandpa Dragon will kill you!" The hot-tempered Flame Dragon didnt care for such threats. Hearing Protector Fengs defiant words, his large hand, glowing with red light, tightened around Protector Fengs soul, ready to crush it entirely. Seeing this, Nalan Yanran quickly intervened. "Flame Dragon, dont be impulsive!" "Ah" Under Flame Dragons terrifying grip, Protector Fengs soul let out another wretched scream. If not for Flame Dragon pausing at Nalan Yanrans words, Protector Fengs soul would have been destroyed outright. Even so, his soul was severely damaged, leaving him weak and dispirited. "If the Soul Hall is as powerful as you claim, then youre nothing more than a small fry. Killing a nobody like you shouldnt provoke any attention, right? But if you refuse to honestly explain why youve come to my Yunlan Sect, dont expect to leave alive," Nalan Yanran analyzed seriously, her tone laced with a threatening edge. After observing the groups interactions, Protector Feng realized that the seemingly insignificant Dou King girl in front of him was the one calling the shots. Weighing his options to preserve his life, he confessed, "I came here to carry out an extremely important mission for the hall. The higher-ups value this task greatly... Furthermore, every member of the Soul Hall has a soul imprint left behind in the hall. If I die here, the imprint will vanish, and a Dou Venerate-level powerhouse will undoubtedly investigate this place." What he hoped was that Nalan Yanran and her companions would handle the matter with caution. A foreign Dou Sect-level individual appearing in the Jia Ma Empire was highly unusual. Simply killing him outright would seem reckless. Dear, if the Soul Hall is truly as formidable as youve said before, I hope Yanran wont choose to kill that Protector outright, Yun Yun replied. Lets hope so... Even if they do kill him, it wont lead to an irreparable situation, Gu He responded confidently. After exchanging a few words with Yun Yun, Gu He sent a remote order to Protector Qing, instructing him to hold his position to avoid any unexpected dangers. Meanwhile, Gu Hes clone had already entered the Jia Ma Empire and was about a day away from Yunlan Sect. Once he arrived, everything would be easily resolved. Just as Gu He issued his command to Protector Qing, his expression suddenly turned serious. At that moment, a Void Jade Talisman had been shattered, summoning his projection. Who could it be? Gu He murmured softly to himself, and his body instantly transformed into a projection, heading toward the summoning point. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 426: Han Yue in Danger! The Violet Demon Eagle! Chapter 426: Han Yue in Danger! The Violet Demon Eagle! Chapter 426: Han Yue in Danger! The Violet Demon Eagle! In the northern region of Zhongzhou, deep within an endless expanse of towering mountains, a massive Earth Demon Bear, standing nearly three meters tall, roared as it chased a silver figure ahead. This Earth Demon Bear had reached the strength of a sixth-tier early-stage magical beast, comparable to the power of a two-star Dou Emperor among humans. Combined with its immense size and ferocious strength, even an ordinary three-star Dou Emperor would struggle to contend with it. The silver figure it relentlessly pursued was only at the peak of seven-star Dou King level. In these perilous mountains, encountering such a beast usually spelled certain death. Yet, relying on an uncanny movement technique, she repeatedly evaded the Earth Demon Bears furious charges with remarkable precision. In the dense forest, the silver figure constantly left behind afterimages as she changed direction swiftly. Each afterimage was soon smashed to pieces by the pursuing bear, whose massive strikes also toppled tall trees in its path. The chaos provoked countless startled roars from nearby beasts. This fleeing silver figure was Han Yue, who had been sent by Gu He to train in Zhongzhou. After parting ways with Zi Yan, she chose to hone her combat skills in this dangerous, beast-filled mountain range. During her training, she ventured deep into the mountains accompanied by the Violet Demon Eagle. She had fought numerous fifth-tier magical beasts and even encountered a few sixth-tier ones. However, she had managed to avoid those stronger creaturesuntil now. This Earth Demon Bear, maddened for some reason, was determined to chase her to the end. Woooo~ As she fled, Han Yue suddenly whistled in a unique and piercing tone toward a certain direction. The sound was sharp and powerful, carrying far into the distance. Seven or eight kilometers away, atop a small peak, a violet-colored bird with wings spanning five meters suddenly flashed its sharp eyes. Without hesitation, it flapped its enormous wings and soared rapidly toward the source of the whistle. Hearing Han Yues whistle, the Earth Demon Bear grew even more frenzied. Roar! Fixing its gaze on the fleeing figure ahead, as agile as a loach, the Earth Demon Bear swung its thick claws forward, launching a massive, three-meter-wide attack of earth-yellow energy. This strike, carefully calculated, targeted a large boulder ahead of Han Yue. With a deafening explosion, the energy smashed the boulder into pieces, sending countless shards and residual energy flying in all directions. Ah! A shard of stone struck Han Yues back, breaking through her Dou Qi barrier and leaving a shocking wound. The force of the impact sent her tumbling several meters to the side before she crashed heavily into another boulder. Roar! Instantly, the area where the two clashed was engulfed in waves of violent Dou Qi energy, toppling countless towering trees. The Violet Demon Eagles ninth-tier bloodline clearly outmatched the Earth Demon Bear. Within just a few exchanges, the bear, known for its defensive prowess, was already covered in wounds. Boom! In another collision, the Violet Demon Eagles talons tore a deep gash into the Earth Demon Bears right shoulder, causing blood to gush out. Severely injured, the Earth Demon Bear staggered backward several dozen steps, looking at the Violet Demon Eagle with evident fear in its eyes. Violet King, your strength is undeniable, but this mountain range is not a place where outsiders like you can run wild! The Earth Demon Bear, speaking for the first time in a deep, resonant voice, exuded an air of menace from its words. This human girl has killed countless fifth-tier magical beasts since entering the mountains, disrupting the balance and angering the rulers of many other territories. If you continue helping her, you will provoke that ones wrath as well. When that happens... The Earth Demon Bears voice, though steady, was laden with a clear threat as it spoke from several dozen meters away. However, the Violet Demon Eagle showed no sign of retreat. Raised and nurtured by Han Yue, it had long since regarded her as family. How could it abandon her over a few threatening words from the Earth Demon Bear? (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 427: The Seventh-Tier Azure Wolf King! Gu He Projects Himself! Chapter 427: The Seventh-Tier Azure Wolf King! Gu He Projects Himself! Chapter 427: The Seventh-Tier Azure Wolf King! Gu He Projects Himself! This mountain range was far more orderly than the chaotic Magical Beast Mountain Range of the Jia Ma Empire. Here, high-tier magical beasts had clearly divided territories. Above these sixth-tier dominator beasts was the so-called ruler of the mountain range, the Azure Wolf King. The Azure Wolf Kings strength, when measured against human levels, was approximately equivalent to a Two-Star Dou Ancestor. Combined with its extraordinary agility and beast-like instincts, it could even rival a Three-Star Dou Ancestor in combat. However, Han Yue knew nothing about the order of this mountain range or its ruling Azure Wolf King. To her, this was merely a place of trial and testing. At this moment, Han Yue had already consumed a healing pill and was recovering on the sidelines. Watching as the Violet Demon Condor gained the upper hand against the Earth Devil Bear, she initially felt some relief. Yet, an inexplicable sense of unease crept into her heart. From the tone of the Earth Devil Bear, it was clear that it held great reverence for that existence. For something to command such fear from the Earth Devil Bear, it must at least possess the strength of a high-tier sixth-tier beast, Han Yue murmured to herself. Ah Zi, lets leave! she softly called to the Violet Demon Condor, her concern evident. Hearing Han Yues words, the Violet Demon Condor, which had been in a standoff with the Earth Devil Bear, took a cautious step back, ready to escort Han Yue away. But just as it began to move, the sound of piercing wind broke through the air in the distance. Turning its head, the Violet Demon Condor saw a large group of dark shadows rapidly approaching from the horizon. Haha! Violet King, you wont escape today! Nearby, the Earth Devil Bear let out a wild, triumphant laugh. Han Yue frowned deeply as the surrounding shadows formed a tight encirclement, trapping her in place. Sensing the danger, the Violet Demon Condor swiftly positioned itself in front of Han Yue, shielding her with its massive body. As the dark shadows drew closer, they revealed themselves to be enormous flying magical beasts. Though their ranks werent exceptionally high, their sheer size was intimidating. Each spread their massive wings, causing powerful gusts of wind to howl through the air. Atop the largest flying beast stood a burly, shirtless man. His upper body was covered with numerous scars, and his bloodshot eyes glared intently at the Violet Demon Condor and the figure of Han Yue behind it. Other flying magical beasts carried equally imposing creatures, each looking formidable and ready for a fight. Greetings to the Azure Wolf King! Upon the mans arrival, the Earth Devil Bear immediately bowed respectfully. The Azure Wolf King... Is this man a transformed magical beast? Seeing the burly figure, Han Yues pupils contracted sharply.No?v(el)B\\jnn The impact sent the Azure Wolf King crashing to the ground. Its massive frame skidded backward, leaving over ten half-foot-deep footprints in the earth before coming to a halt. At that moment, a towering aura erupted from the distorted space. Under this overwhelming pressure, the surrounding magical beasts felt immense dread; weaker ones even collapsed to the ground, unable to move. The Azure Wolf King, steadying itself, raised its head in shock and looked toward the distorted space. From within, a figure clad in white, exuding an otherworldly presence, slowly stepped out. The source of the immense pressure was none other than this celestial-like man. This is... Seeing the figure, an overwhelming fear of death gripped the Azure Wolf Kings heart. It had encountered powerful figures before, such as the high-tier Dou Ancestor experts like Tian Leizi of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. Years ago, the Wolf King had even seen the other Pavilion Masters from the Four Pavilions leading their young prodigies to the Northern Region for the grand competition. Yet, the aura exuded by those experts paled in comparison to the presence of the figure before it. This was like comparing a tiny flame to the sun. Master, youve truly come! Han Yue exclaimed in relief and awe as she saw the figure step forward. (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 428: Awe-Inspiring Presence! Chapter 428: Awe-Inspiring Presence! Chapter 428: Awe-Inspiring Presence! Master, youve truly come! Seeing the familiar, celestial-like figure, Han Yue called out in excitement. Ignoring her injuries, she began slowly moving toward Gu He. Having arrived through his projection, Gu He immediately assessed the situation. Upon noticing Han Yues severe injuries, his face showed a trace of concern. In the next moment, Gu He raised his hand, releasing an extraordinarily gentle stream of Dou Qi. The Azure Wolf King, seeing Gu Hes movement, assumed he was about to attack. Adding to its fear, it had overheard Han Yue referring to Gu He as her master, realizing she was his disciple. Panic-stricken, the Azure Wolf Kings legs gave out, and it fell to its knees, repeatedly begging for mercy. Please, senior, have mercy! This junior acted without intentplease forgive me! Spare my life, senior! This sudden display of submission left the surrounding magical beasts utterly stunned. They had assumed that as the ruler of this mountain range, the Azure Wolf King could at least retreat unscathed, even if it couldnt defeat this mysterious figure. Yet the reality was far beyond their expectations. If even the Azure Wolf King didnt dare to entertain thoughts of escape, the other magical beasts immediately understood just how terrifying Gu He truly was. They quickly followed suit, bowing respectfully toward him. On the Violet Demon Condors side, although it didnt recognize Gu He, it sensed a faintly familiar aura from him. Coupled with Han Yues respectful address and demeanor, the condor realized this figure wasnt an enemy and chose not to adopt a defensive stance. However, seeing the chaotic cries and pleas of the magical beasts, Gu Hes expression darkened further. Another word out of any of you, and Ill skin you all alive, pull out your tendons, and cook you! At his cold reprimand, the beasts immediately froze in fear. The noisy area fell into a deathly silence. Among the beasts, none were more terrified than the Earth Devil Bear. After all, the injury on Han Yues body had been caused by it. At this moment, the bears heart was filled with extreme anxiety. With the area quiet, Gu He turned his attention to Han Yue. He raised his hand, sending a stream of Dou Qi into her body. In an instant, the fragments embedded in Han Yues flesh were enveloped by the gentle Dou Qi and carefully extracted. Throughout the process, Han Yue only felt a slight numbness, with no significant pain. However, blood continued to flow lightly from the wound. Seeing that Gu He was merely tending to Han Yues injuries, the Azure Wolf King and the other beasts secretly sighed in relief. A sixth-tier magical beast had been annihilated in such a strange and effortless manner. Just how terrifying was this mans strength? The Azure Wolf King, witnessing this, reevaluated its earlier assessment of Gu Hes power. This kind of person could probably kill me with the slightest flick of a finger, the Azure Wolf King thought, shuddering inwardly. Meanwhile, Gu He completed his work. Since he wasnt concocting a pill but rather a medicinal liquid for healing, the process was much simpler and quicker. Within two minutes, a small cluster of emerald-green liquid, brimming with a rich fragrance, hovered above Gu Hes palm. Han Yue, turn around, Gu He instructed gently after finishing. Alright, Han Yue responded softly, nodding. She slowly turned her body, exposing her injured back to Gu He. Gu He carefully tore a small portion of the fabric around the wound, revealing the white skin marred by the crimson scar. Raising his hand, Gu He allowed the emerald-green liquid to flow in a controlled stream onto the wound. The liquid washed away the blood while its medicinal essence seeped into Han Yues body. The wound began closing at an astonishing speed, although complete healing would still take a few days. All done. Now tell me, what exactly happened earlier? Were these magical beasts the ones who caused your injury? Gu He asked, glancing coldly at the beasts groveling on the ground. Sigh... what must come will come, thought the Azure Wolf King. Hearing Gu Hes question, the Azure Wolf King felt as though its scalp was about to split open from fear. Its limbs trembled uncontrollably, and it couldnt suppress its dread. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 429: Subjugating the Wolf King! New Dec 13, 2024 Chapter 429: Subjugating the Wolf King! New Dec 13, 2024 Chapter 429: Subjugating the Wolf King! "Master, after Senior Sister Ziyan and I arrived in Zhongzhou, she stayed at my Han family for a few days before leaving to train on her own. Shortly after, I also left Tianbei City and came to this mountain range to train. Then, the Wolf King brought a group of demonic beasts to surround me and Ah Zi, trying to attack us!" Han Yue quickly explained everything that had happened to Gu He. As he listened to Han Yue''s account, Gu He''s expression grew colder and colder. An invisible yet overwhelming pressure began to emanate from him, making it difficult for the surrounding demonic beasts to breathe. From Han Yue''s explanation, Gu He understood that the Earth Demon Bear, which had attacked Han Yue earlier, had already been killed by him. The beasts now surrounding them were all subordinates of the Wolf King. The next moment, Gu He turned around, his gaze locking onto the shirtless man kneeling on the ground. A strand of soul power silently emerged from him, instantly entering the Wolf King''s mind. As Gu He''s soul power invaded the Wolf King''s mind, the Wolf King''s previously terrified eyes suddenly became vacant. Within his mind, his soul, under the peculiar influence of Gu He''s soul power, began to manifest a transparent crystal. Outside this crystal were numerous transparent filaments connecting it to various parts of his soul. With the Wolf King''s mere two- or three-star Dou Ancestor strength, Gu He didnt need any additional techniques to perform the ancient puppet-seeding spell. It only required brute force. Moments later, a puppet seed had been planted in the Wolf Kings soul, binding him completely to Gu Hes will. The Wolf King, having led so many demonic beasts to attack Han Yue, was spared by Gu He because he had some value left. Since Han Yue needed to continue training in this mountain range, the Wolf King, as its ruler, would be of great use after being implanted with the puppet seed. He could play a crucial role in protecting her at critical moments. As for the other demonic beasts following the Wolf King, Gu He didnt even bother dealing with them. With Han Yues and the Purple Demon Rocs strength, apart from the Wolf King, even two or three sixth-rank demonic beasts wouldnt pose much of a threat. The Purple Demon Roc could easily carry Han Yue to safety. The light in the Wolf King''s vacant eyes gradually returned, and he now looked at Gu He with nothing but respect. "Scram!" Gu He said plainly, withdrawing his gaze from the Wolf King. Hearing this, the demonic beasts collectively let out a sigh of relief. They glanced at Gu He with gratitude, as if receiving a royal pardon, then turned to the Wolf King. The Wolf King slowly rose to his feet and waved at the beasts. "Didnt you hear what the senior said? Get out of here now!" With that, the Wolf King took the lead, flying into the air and heading toward his territory. The other demonic beasts quickly followed him. Moments later, under Han Yue and the Purple Demon Roc''s watchful eyes, Gu Hes figure abruptly dissolved into the surrounding air. ... Dear, are we heading straight to Zhongzhou now? At the edge of the Black-Corner Region, atop the Black-Scaled Frost Jiao, Yun Yun leaned gently against Gu Hes shoulder and asked softly, Are we traveling to Zhongzhou as you just mentioned? Yes, its on the way anyway. Ill take the chance to guide that girl a bit, Gu He replied with a nod. Gu Hes true body had been narrating the events from his projection with Han Yue to Yun Yun, so she was already aware of the situation. Instead of entering a major city to use a spatial wormhole to reach Zhongzhou, Gu He chose to travel at a leisurely pace, riding the eighth-rank Black-Scaled Frost Jiao, which steadily carried them toward Zhongzhou. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 430: Encouragement! The Poise of a Dou Saint! Chapter 430: Encouragement! The Poise of a Dou Saint! Chapter 430: Encouragement! The Poise of a Dou Saint! Jia Ma Empire. Gu He''s avatar, accompanied by Qing Protector, had already arrived at Yunlan Sect. Upon reaching Yunlan Sect, Gu Hes avatar observed that the sect seemed calm, with no signs of turmoil. Without delay, he employed the Void Thunder Flash, transforming into a silver bolt of lightning and traversing through the void to enter the Nine-Colored Valley. Though Nalan Yanran and her companions had never met Gu Hes avatar before, his aura and the ability to effortlessly enter the sealed Nine-Colored Valley quickly convinced them of his identity. Master, so this is one of your avatars? Thats truly remarkable... Nalan Yanran curiously inspected Gu Hes avatar from head to toe but quickly restrained herself when Gu He shot her a disapproving glance. Yanran, where is the Soul Hall Protector you captured earlier? Gu He asked directly. Right here! Without hesitation, Nalan Yanran retrieved the Soul Hall Protector, who had been sealed by the Scarlet Jiao, and handed him over. Bang! With a single grip, Gu He crushed the jade bottle, revealing the faintly visible black mist inside. The Soul Hall Protector, now exposed to the outside world, initially thought Nalan Yanran and her group had decided to release him after realizing the might of the Soul Hall. He felt a fleeting joy as the bottle and the seal shattered. However, that joy quickly froze when he sensed the overwhelming and terrifying aura emanating from Gu Hes avatar. This aura... its stronger than the Elders of the Soul Hall. It must belong to a Heavenly Sovereign! the Soul Hall Protector thought, horrified. Gu Hes avatar wasted no time on pleasantries. As soon as the seal was removed, he glanced at the black mist and immediately unleashed the ancient puppet-seeding spell. A strand of soul power surged into the black mist. Aahhh! A sharp, agonized scream echoed from the Soul Hall Protector, but it was abruptly cut off after a second. Moments later, the Soul Hall Protector, like Qing Protector before him, became a puppet loyal to Gu He. Hearing Gu Hes affirmation, Nalan Yanrans thoughts grew complex. At that moment, she couldnt help but feel how insignificant her strength was in comparison. Master, with the Soul Halls strength being so overwhelming, could it be that their presence at our Yunlan Sect means they have designs on us? Now fully aware of the Soul Halls terrifying capabilities, Nalan Yanrans tone betrayed her concern. Seeing her worried expression, Gu He reassured her. Dont worry, Yanran. The Soul Halls appearance in the Jia Ma Empire has nothing to do with targeting Yunlan Sect. They have other goals. Besides, by the time you and the others have matured, even the Soul Hall wont dare provoke you. Gu He firmly believed that, while the path to becoming a Dou Saint in the Dou Qi Continent had been severed for most, his unique student empowerment system would allow him to cultivate his disciples into high-level Dou Saints before the Soul Clan could fully enact their plans. By then, even the Soul Clan would be unable to touch him. Hearing her masters words, Nalan Yanrans eyes initially brightened with hope but soon dimmed again as she hesitated. Master, can we really do it? After all, those are legendary Dou Saints were talking about! Noticing her doubt, Gu He offered words of encouragement. Yanran, becoming a Dou Saint is indeed a near-impossible task for ordinary people. Even with immense effort, they might not achieve it. However, you and the others possess extraordinary talent. What seems unattainable for most is entirely within your reach. Have confidence in yourself! Our talent... is really that exceptional? Reflecting on Gu Hes words, Nalan Yanran still harbored doubts about her own abilities. Of course! My disciples, each and every one of you, are destined to be the cream of the crop! Gu Hes expression was calm and resolute, his tone brimming with confidence. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 431: Four Gather! Chapter 431: Four Gather! Chapter 431: Four Gather! Hearing Gu Hes firm response, Senior Sister Yanran fell silent for a moment. Then, with determination in her gaze, she said, Master, I understand that youre encouraging me. Im well aware of my own talents. Senior Sister Xian and Little Junior Sister both possess abilities far greater than mine. However, I wont let this discourage me. That position of Saint? Ill fight for it too! Senior Sister Yanran, how could Qing Lins talent possibly compare to yours... Little Junior Sister, your Senior Sister is fully aware of her own abilities! Qing Lin, standing nearby, tried to explain nervously upon hearing Senior Sister Yanrans words, but was abruptly interrupted by her. Just as Qing Lin was about to speak again, Gu He raised his hand slightly, signaling her to stop. Then, with a calm and warm tone, he said, Yanran, talent does indeed determine a persons upper limit. Its good that you can reflect on this. I assure you, as long as all of you put in the effort, the results will not disappoint you. I will firmly remember Masters teachings! Senior Sister Yanran replied earnestly, bowing respectfully to Gu He. Seeing this, Qing Lin also followed suit and repeated Senior Sister Yanrans words. Very good... As your master, I will be away from the Jia Ma Empire for some time. Here are eight Void Jade Talismans. If you encounter troubles during your training journeys that you cannot resolve, dont hesitate to use them, especially if it involves matters related to the Soul Hall! Gu He handed over eight Void Jade Talismans to Senior Sister Yanran as he spoke. Understood! Receiving the talismans, Senior Sister Yanran nodded solemnly. After giving these instructions, Gu Hes avatar arranged for Protector Qing and Protector Feng to leave Nine-Colored Valley. Protector Qing was sent to a city near Wu Tan City, while Protector Feng remained near the imperial capital. Currently, Gu Hes main body had reached the terrifying peak of the Two-Revolution Nine-Star Dou Venerate. Before the avatar advanced to this level, it faced no bottlenecks, requiring only immense energy accumulation. Thus, the avatar stayed in Nine-Colored Valley, a place rich in spiritual energy, to focus on training. In the blink of an eye, nearly two months had passed. During this time, Senior Sister Yanran had become increasingly adept at handling the affairs of Yunlan Sect. With her overwhelming strength, which could easily surpass that of the older generation, her prestige within the sect grew immensely. Even Yun Leng and the other elders began to follow her directives without question. Yunlan Sect, Nine-Colored Valley When Xiao Yi Xian returned to Nine-Colored Valley with Xiao Yin, she was surprised to see Gu Hes avatar cultivating in seclusion. Is that Master? she asked uncertainly, pointing at the blurry figure shrouded in a layer of distorted, sealing energy atop the Nine-Colored Sacred Lotus. Xianer, that is indeed Master. However, what you see now is only one of Masters avatars, Senior Sister Yanran explained truthfully. So thats how it is. Master truly has so many mysterious secrets! Xiao Yi Xian nodded gently, her eyes still filled with intense curiosity. Not long after, Xiao Jin and Liu Ling also returned to Nine-Colored Valley. Although Liu Ling had previously witnessed Gu He and his avatar performing a seamless double act, at this moment, he could only see a vague silhouette. He failed to connect this figure with the refined man he had clashed with outside Stone Desert City. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 432: Gu He Arrives at Central Continent! Chapter 432: Gu He Arrives at Central Continent! Chapter 432: Gu He Arrives at Central Continent! After speaking with Senior Sister Yanran, Xiao Yi Xian and Liu Ling, who had returned to Nine-Colored Valley, learned about the events involving the Protector from the Soul Hall at Yunlan Sect. They also became aware of the immense strength of the Soul Hall, their reactions mirroring the shock Senior Sister Yanran felt on that day. Weve truly been frogs at the bottom of a well, Liu Ling said self-mockingly with a bitter smile. I never imagined there could be such a powerful force in this world! Based on what Junior Sister Yanran just said, the Soul Clan must be a faction at the pinnacle of the continent. While their target isnt Yunlan Sect, its still possible well be affected by their actions, Xiao Yi Xian said, her face filled with worry. Yes, Master mentioned that he hopes all of us can eventually ascend to the rank of Saints. Once we achieve that, no threat will be able to intimidate us, Senior Sister Yanran said softly, conveying the gist of Gu Hes words from that day. To ascend to the rank of Saints... So thats the level of expectation Master has for us! Xiao Yi Xian mused, her gaze turning complicated as she reflected on Senior Sister Yanrans statement. After a moment of contemplation, her expression finally became resolute. Senior Brother, Yanran, Junior Sister! Xiao Yi Xian said. Think about ithow much progress have we made in cultivation over these past few years? Havent we already surpassed many of the so-called genius disciples from major factions? In three years, even with my Woeful Poison Body, I could never have reached the high-tier Dou Ancestor realm on my own. If not for Master, achieving even Dou Spirit would have been a miraculous feat, Xiao Yi Xian analyzed straightforwardly. Hearing this, Senior Sister Yanran nodded in agreement. Thats true. The techniques, battle skills, pills, and other cultivation resources Master has given us are all of the highest standard. Most importantly, Master frequently transfers his energy to help us. Master has poured so much effort into us. How could we possibly let him down? We must become so strong that no one can threaten us! Liu Ling said with a resolute and powerful tone. Well said, Senior Brother. We cannot disappoint Master! Xiao Yi Xian echoed without hesitation. I think the same! Senior Sister Yanran agreed with a nod. What about you, Junior Sister? The three turned their gaze toward Qing Lin. Caught off guard by their focus, Qing Lin quickly stammered, Ill follow Senior Brother and Senior Sisters! Liu Ling extended his hand first, palm flat before him. Awooo! Sensing the situation, the Black Wolf King let out a furious howl, black Dou Qi surging around its body. Its right foreleg trembled violently, shattering the frosty outer layer in moments. Without hesitation, it turned and bolted in a specific direction. Dont run away! Standing behind the Black Wolf King, Han Yue found its panicked retreat rather amusing and quickly gave chase. However, the Three Thousand Lightning Movement technique was only suitable for short bursts of combat, not for extended pursuits. After chasing for a while and failing to catch up, she decided to abandon the pursuit. Just as Han Yue stopped and was about to turn back, she noticed over a dozen figures appear at the edge of her vision. These figures had emerged directly in the Black Wolf King''s path. The moment they appeared, the Black Wolf King abruptly halted. Its massive claws scraped against the ground, leaving deep grooves over a dozen meters long before it finally stopped. Are these people... from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion? Han Yue remained where she was, her gaze fixed on the scene ahead. She noticed that the dozen or so figures were all wearing matching uniforms, making it clear that they were disciples of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 433: Wind Thunder Pavilion! Chapter 433: Wind Thunder Pavilion! Chapter 433: Wind Thunder Pavilion! Sixth-tier low-level demonic beast... Senior Brother Tianxing, let me spar with this black wolf first! You can assist me from the side, alright? In the crowd, a beautiful female disciple of the Wind Thunder Pavilion spoke excitedly, clinging to the tall and handsome young man beside her. However, despite the coquettish tone in the womans voice, the young man paid her no attention. His gaze was fixed on two slowly dissipating afterimages behind Han Yue, beyond the black wolf king. Three Thousand Lightning Movement! A voice filled with surprise escaped the young mans mouth. The ignored female disciple, hearing what he said, curiously followed his gaze. It really is Three Thousand Lightning Movement! The Wind Thunder Pavilion female disciple exclaimed in astonishment. She managed to maintain the afterimages for this long. Her mastery of Three Thousand Lightning Movement is even better than mine! the young man praised, his tone filled with admiration. What? Her Three Thousand Lightning Movement is stronger than Senior Brother Tianxings? If thats true, she must be a genius disciple from some other branch of the Pavilion. But why havent we heard of her before? Hearing the young mans words, some of the surrounding Wind Thunder Pavilion disciples immediately broke into a noisy discussion. At this moment, the black wolf king, already intimidated by the imposing group before it, turned and fled to the right. A flash of cold light appeared in the young mans eyes. In the next instant, a dazzling silver light erupted from his body. His figure, like a ghost, appeared beside the fleeing black wolf king in the blink of an eye. With lightning coiling around his fist, the young man delivered a thunderous punch toward the beasts back. Boom! At such a speed, the black wolf king had no time to react and was struck head-on by the young mans powerful punch. Bang! Under the tremendous force, the black wolf kings back fur was scorched, and its massive body was sent flying dozens of meters. It crashed through three or four thick trees before falling heavily to the ground, coughing up mouthfuls of blood. Seeing that the black wolf king was still alive, the young mans figure flickered again. In an instant, he reappeared at the spot where the black wolf king had fallen. This time, he transformed his fist into a claw. Lightning surged violently around his hand, and several arcs of lightning twisted unnaturally, finally converging at his fingertips to form sharp, electric claws. In the past, many attractive female disciples in the sect would eagerly approach him, but he hadnt expected to be treated so coldly by Han Yue todaytwice. I have things to do, so Ill be leaving now. Seeing the young man remain silent, Han Yue spoke again calmly, then turned to leave. Pretending to be so aloof... Ill make you submit sooner or later! No, waitsomeone who can cultivate Three Thousand Lightning Movement to such a level would need at least several years. Shed definitely have a notable reputation within the sect. But in my ten-plus years at the Wind Thunder Pavilion, theres no way I wouldnt know her... Piecing together Han Yues evasive answers and her behavior, the young mans eyes revealed a hint of suspicion. The next moment, he shouted loudly at Han Yues retreating figure, Youre not from the Wind Thunder Pavilion! Tell mewhere did you learn Three Thousand Lightning Movement?! Not good, Ive been discovered! Hearing the young mans words from behind, Han Yues face showed a trace of panic. Without hesitation, she quickly activated her movement technique and dashed away into the distance. I was just trying to bluff her, but I didnt expect to be right! Watching Han Yue flee frantically, the young mans eyes flashed with a sharp gleam. In an instant, he gathered his Dou Qi and gave chase. From behind, several Wind Thunder Pavilion disciples who had been observing the situation looked on in surprise. Whats going on? Isnt that Junior Sister one of us? Pfft, Senior Brother just said she stole our Three Thousand Lightning Movement from somewhere else, and here you are still calling her Junior Sister! (End of Chapter) ???? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ???? Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: ???? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! ???? Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. ???? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 434: Wind Thunder Pavilion’s Dou Zong Elder! Chapter 434: Wind Thunder Pavilions Dou Zong Elder! Chapter 434: Wind Thunder Pavilions Dou Zong Elder! Lets go! We need to catch up quickly. A few years ago, a Three Thousand Lightning Movement combat technique was stolen from the sect. That woman might be connected to it. If we catch her, itll be a huge merit! After a brief discussion, the group of Wind Thunder Pavilion disciples surrounding the Black Wolf Kings corpse immediately began chasing in Han Yues direction. Woo While escaping, Han Yue quickly blew a whistle. The whistles sound was incredibly penetrating, carrying across several miles. Screech! Not long after the whistle rang out, a sharp cry of a bird of prey echoed through the forest as if responding to her call. Hearing these two strange sounds, the young man chasing behind Han Yue narrowed his eyes slightly in confusion. Moments later, in the distant sky, a massive purple figurenearly five meters in sizeappeared. Ah Zi, over here! While evading her pursuer, Han Yue waved to the Purple Demon Vulture. The vulture quickly located her, spread its wings, and dashed toward her with tremendous speed. In no time, the Purple Demon Vulture landed between Han Yue and the pursuing young man. A sixth-tier demonic beast as a helper? Seeing the enormous bird blocking his path, the young man squinted slightly in surprise, though there was no trace of fear in his eyes. The Purple Demon Vultures aura suggested it was no more than an early-stage sixth-tier demonic beast, while the young man himself was a genuine five-star Dou Huang. Do you think having this bird to help you will stop me from dealing with you? the young man said casually, seeing that Han Yue had stopped. Han Yue ignored the young mans words. Instead, she leaped onto the Purple Demon Vultures back and softly whispered, Ah Zi, this guy seems pretty strong, and there are many others coming behind him. Lets not fight today. Han Yue was well aware of the Purple Demon Vultures strength. Recently, it had defeated several mid-tier sixth-tier demonic beasts with ease. Facing the young man alone, it might not lose. However, with a dozen Wind Thunder Pavilion disciples on their way, it was safer to leave quickly. Screech! Hearing Han Yues words, the Purple Demon Vulture let out a low cry, retracting the ferocious glint in its eyes. Then, with a powerful flap of its massive wings, it generated a wild gust of wind, preparing to leave the area. Damn it! Being ignored once again, the young mans anger grew uncontrollable. This is bad. Master told me that Three Thousand Lightning Movement should only be used as a life-saving technique in dangerous situations. I never thought Id run into a Wind Thunder Pavilion elder and disciples while training in this mountain range! Han Yues heart raced with panic. The elders oppressive aura was comparable to that of the Sky Wolf King she had encountered previously. Moreover, her Void Escape Talisman had already been used. Young one, Ill give you three more breaths of time. Dont force my hand! Elder Lius voice turned somber as he began to count down. One breath! Two breaths! Hearing Elder Liu, Tianxing began counting eagerly. Three... Stop counting! Ill go with you! When Tianxing reached the third count, Han Yue reluctantly gave in. But this has nothing to do with Ah Zi. I hope you wont harm it! Han Yue pointed to the Purple Demon Vulture, her voice firm and resolute. Hearing her words, Tianxing immediately interjected, No! That beast must also However, before he could finish his sentence, Elder Liu raised his hand, cutting him off. Lowering his hand, Elder Liu smiled with an air of superiority and said, As long as you obediently come with me to the Wind Thunder Pavilion, I will not bother with the beast. --- (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 435: Support from the Azure Wolf King Chapter 435: Support from the Azure Wolf King Chapter 435: Support from the Azure Wolf King "Isn''t that the flying magical beast belonging to my masters disciple?" As Han Yue decided to return to Wind Lightning Pavilion with Elder Liu, the Azure Wolf King, standing on a nearby mountain a few miles away, noticed the Violet Demon Condor soaring in the sky. "My masters disciple is here too, and there seem to be two figures standing in front of her!" Walking a short distance toward the Violet Demon Condor, the Azure Wolf King gradually discerned the scene in the sky more clearly. "I should inform my master first!" The Azure Wolf King focused its mind, using the soul imprint embedded in the puppet seed to communicate with Gu He. It relayed the unfolding situation and the location coordinates to Gu He. Gu He, who had been lingering at the edge of the mountain range for a while, received the message and immediately issued a command: "Azure Wolf King, go quickly and see whats going on! Ill be there shortly." Upon receiving Gu Hes order, the Azure Wolf Kings figure blurred into motion, streaking rapidly toward the area in the sky. "Greetings, Elder Liu!" "Greetings to Elder Liu!" In the same part of the sky, disciples of the Wind Lightning Pavilion who had come to train with the young man Tian Xing arrived one after another. Each of these disciples had wings sprouting from their backs, with the lowest among them possessing Dou King-level strength. The moment they spotted Elder Liu hovering in the sky, every one of them respectfully greeted him. Elder Liu nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then turned to Tian Xing. Tian Xing, during this training exercise, make sure to take good care of your junior brothers and sisters. Ill take her back to Thunder Mountain for now, he instructed. Please dont worry, Elder Liu. I will ensure my junior brothers and sisters complete this training successfully! Tian Xing assured with a bow. Child, follow me back to Thunder Mountain, Elder Liu said, waving his sleeve lightly as he began to lead the way. Ah Zi, theres no danger for me this time. Stay here and wait for Master to arrive, Han Yue softly instructed the Violet Demon Condor, then reluctantly followed Elder Liu. Although the Violet Demon Condor understood her words, it still let out mournful cries and tried to follow her. Ah Zi, be good! Otherwise, Ill get upset! Han Yue scolded urgently. Not good! From a distance, the Azure Wolf King saw Han Yue being led away by Elder Liu and grew increasingly anxious, pushing itself to accelerate. With a furious roar, Elder Lius body surged with lightning as he executed the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, swiftly closing the distance to the Azure Wolf King. The elders sudden attack left the Azure Wolf King with little time to react. He quickly channeled his Dou Qi and raised his arms to shield himself. Boom! A powerful bolt of lightning exploded on the Azure Wolf King, sending him flying dozens of meters back. Charred marks appeared on his skin in several places. Damn it! The Azure Wolf King, being wind-aligned, was naturally quick. However, his earlier hesitation to protect Han Yue had slowed him, giving Elder Liu the upper hand. Taking advantage of his momentum, Elder Liu pressed his attack. He unleashed the Three Thousand Lightning Movement again, circling to the Azure Wolf Kings side and swiping at his neck with razor-sharp lightning claws. The Azure Wolf King, undeterred, raised his own clawed hand. Its sharp nails clashed fiercely against Elder Lius lightning claws. Clang! A metallic crash rang out as both combatants staggered back slightly. Despite being a magical beast, the Azure Wolf Kings raw physical power matched Elder Lius Dou Technique, leaving him unscathed. After the clash, the Azure Wolf Kings figure flickered, but instead of pursuing Elder Liu, he darted toward Han Yue. You wont take her! Noticing the Azure Wolf Kings movement, Elder Liu quickly turned back. Executing the Three Thousand Lightning Movement at full force, he left behind multiple afterimages as he rushed toward Han Yue. In his palm, he conjured a ball of pure lightning, ready to strike. Caught in the midst of a battle between two Dou Sect-level powerhouses, Han Yue stood frozen in fear. She dared not move, knowing that even a stray attack could end her life. Behind her, the Violet Demon Condor grew restless upon seeing the escalating conflict. It flapped its wings, attempting to reach Han Yue, but was blocked by over a dozen Wind Lightning Pavilion disciples. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 436: Gu He Arrives! Chapter 436: Gu He Arrives! Chapter 436: Gu He Arrives! "Boom!" Under the combined efforts of Tian Xing and over a dozen Wind Lightning Pavilion disciples, they managed to block the Violet Demon Condors purple energy beam. Despite its ferocity, the Violet Demon Condor sustained several new injuries under their assault, letting out low, pained cries. Ah Zi... On the other side, Han Yue, seeing the Violet Demon Condor injured, grew anxious. Ignoring the ongoing battle between the two Dou Sect-level powerhouses, she flapped her wings and attempted to fly toward the creature. However, the area she needed to pass through was where Elder Liu and the Azure Wolf King were engaged in combat, with rampant energy wreaking havoc. Noticing Han Yue approaching, the Azure Wolf King held back, worried she might get hurt. Tian Xing, just block that magical beast. Dont harm it! Elder Liu instructed the young man from afar. Tch, Elder Liu, this beast is too fierce. If we dont deal with it, it might injure my junior brothers and sisters! Although Tian Xing acknowledged Elder Lius words, he paid little heed to them. With his lightning energy gathered in hand, he ruthlessly launched another attack at the Violet Demon Condor. Tian Xings confidence stemmed from his master, whose cultivation far surpassed that of Elder Liu, granting him significant status within the sect. Under Tian Xings relentless assault, the Violet Demon Condors injuries worsened, with several of its feathers charred black by lightning strikes. Ah Zi... Seeing the Violet Demon Condor in such a state, Han Yues eyes reddened as she desperately flew through the chaotic battlefield between Elder Liu and the Azure Wolf King. Both Elder Liu and the Azure Wolf King noticed this and immediately ceased their attacks. Elder Liu looked toward the Violet Demon Condor, his anger flaring at Tian Xings blatant disregard for his orders. Realizing Han Yue was approaching, Tian Xing turned to a few disciples nearby and commanded, Junior brothers, stop that girl. Dont let her come any closer! Yes, Senior Brother Tian Xing! Following Tian Xings orders, four Wind Lightning Pavilion disciples turned and unleashed swift bolts of lightning toward Han Yue. These disciples were formidable. The strongest among them was a one-star Dou Emperor, and the weakest a seven-star Dou King. Their combined attack posed a grave threat to Han Yue. Tian Xing, how dare you! Are you openly defying me? This man... hes a monster, no, a demon! The surviving disciples, utterly petrified, dropped to their knees and began begging for mercy. Spare us, Senior! Senior, as long as you let me live, Ill serve you loyally for the rest of my life! Even Elder Liu, standing opposite the Azure Wolf King, felt a shudder of disbelief. Gu Hes methods were beyond his comprehension. In his entire life, Elder Liu had never seen anyone who could kill a mid-tier Dou Emperor as effortlessly as crushing an ant. Amid the clamor of desperate pleas, Gu He frowned slightly and said coldly, Another word, and you die. The moment his words fell, the disciples turned deathly pale, shutting their mouths in terror. The area fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the painful cries of the Violet Demon Condor. Swallow this, and your injuries will heal. Gu Hes voice, now gentle, carried across the battlefield. At the same time, he flicked a jade bottle toward the Violet Demon Condor. The injured creature, understanding his intent, opened its beak wide and swallowed the jade bottle whole. Moments after swallowing the jade bottle, the Violet Demon Condors aura began to stabilize, and its injuries visibly healed. With a few powerful beats of its wings, the creature flew over to stand beside Gu He and Han Yue. Han Yue gently stroked the Violet Demon Condors feathers, her expression softening. She turned to Gu He and explained, Master, these people are from the Wind Lightning Pavilion. They saw me using the Three Thousand Lightning Movement and wanted to take me back to Thunder Mountain for questioning. Hmm, I already know everything. Now, tell me how you want to handle them. Whether they live or die is entirely up to you, Gu He replied, nodding. He placed the fate of the remaining Wind Lightning Pavilion disciples in Han Yues hands. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 437: Transferring Power, Han Yue Breaks Through to Dou Emperor! Chapter 437: Transferring Power, Han Yue Breaks Through to Dou Emperor! Chapter 437: Transferring Power, Han Yue Breaks Through to Dou Emperor! "Master just arrived, so how could he know what happened earlier? It must be because of the Sky Wolf King... and now, Master wants me to decide these people''s fate!" Hearing Gu Hes words, Han Yue hesitated. She understood that her next decision would determine the life or death of everyone present, including Elder Liu, a powerful Dou Ancestor. At that moment, Elder Liu suddenly bowed respectfully to Gu He and explained, Senior, the Three Thousand Lightning Movement is a secret technique of my Wind and Thunder Pavilion. I wanted to bring your disciple back to Thunder Mountain only to inquire about the source of her cultivation in this technique. I had no intention of harming her... Slash! Before Elder Liu could finish his sentence, Gu He waved his hand, and an invisible force severed Elder Lius left arm. Blood spurted from the exposed white bone, painting the ground crimson. Overwhelmed by the excruciating pain, Elder Liu groaned but refrained from screaming. He quickly circulated his Dou Qi to stop the bleeding. If it werent for the fact that you didnt harm Han Yue, do you think you would still be alive and speaking now? Wind and Thunder Pavilion is so incompetent that it lost its Dou Technique. Upon seeing someone else practicing the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, you seek to take them away. By that logic, should I also be dragged to Thunder Mountain for interrogation because Ive cultivated the technique? Gu Hes cold voice resonated in the air. Junior wouldnt dare! Elder Liu, despite the agony of his severed arm, shook his head frantically. It is an honor for Wind and Thunder Pavilion if a senior of your caliber can cultivate the Three Thousand Lightning Movement. Heh, a bunch of bullies who prey on the weak, yet you claim to uphold your sects so-called dignity! Gu He sneered, then shifted his gaze to Han Yue. His tone softened as he asked, Han Yue, have you decided? How do you wish to deal with these people? As Gu He posed the question, all the disciples of Wind and Thunder Pavilion present held their breath, their eyes filled with hope as they looked at Han Yue, silently pleading for their lives. Yet, with Elder Lius fate as a warning, no one dared to speak a word. Master, the remaining individuals only tried to stop Zi, and they didnt harm it. Lets spare them this time, Han Yue said after careful consideration. Since youve requested it, Ill let them go this time, Gu He nodded in agreement. Phew With those words, the remaining disciples of Wind and Thunder Pavilion finally exhaled in relief. Leave now! Gu He shouted. Without hesitation, the group trembled as they rose to their feet and fled the scene as quickly as possible. Even Elder Liu bowed gratefully to Gu He, picked up his severed arm, and left with the others. As Han Yue watched the Wind and Thunder Pavilion members leave, she turned to Gu He, her heart brimming with gratitude. Master, its a good thing you arrived in time. Otherwise, Zi might have... "You mentioned you would be ready in two months to receive the power transfer. Are you prepared now?" Gu He asked gently. "Yes, Master, I am ready," Han Yue responded with determination, closing her eyes to calm her mind. The next moment, Gu Hes hand gently rested on her smooth forehead. A massive surge of energy flowed from Gu Hes palm into Han Yues body. In an instant, a muffled sound echoed from within her as her cultivation broke through the barrier, reaching the nine-star Dou King level. Thanks to her consistent efforts in recent months, Han Yues foundation was solid. After reaching nine-star Dou King, her aura didnt falter. Instead, her strength surged steadily to the peak of the nine-star Dou King level in a short time. Feeling her rapid ascension, Han Yue was both exhilarated and focused. The breakthrough to Dou Emperor was imminent, and she concentrated her full attention on the process. Soon, a massive vortex of energy began to condense above her head. However, with Gu Hes immense energy supporting her, Han Yues advancement to the Dou Emperor realm encountered no obstacles. The energy vortex above her head dissipated almost as quickly as it had formed. A powerful aura, characteristic of a Dou Emperor, burst forth from her body. (Chapter End) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 {I am currently in need of some financial support. I will appreciate your support. You can support me either on patreon, or on kofi. Please support me, and i will do mass release to repay your support.} Chapter 438: Four-Star Dou Emperor! Chapter 438: Four-Star Dou Emperor! Chapter 438: Four-Star Dou Emperor! After breaking through to become a Dou Emperor, Han Yue''s ability to absorb energy remained astonishingly fast. By the end of the power transfer, she had unexpectedly advanced to the four-star Dou Emperor realm. As Gu He ceased the power transfer, a system notification promptly sounded in his mind. Ding! Detected that the host granted two days worth of cultivation to sixth disciple Han Yue. Two thousand times return received: Eleven years of cultivation gained! (Equivalent to the peak of Three-Star Dou Venerate!) Eleven years of cultivation has been added to the system space. Please check it carefully! This time, Han Yue''s ability to endure and absorb two days of Gu Hes cultivation had far exceeded his expectations. Gu He initially believed that, given his current peak Three-Star Dou Venerate cultivation, Han Yue would barely manage to absorb one days worth of his energy. The fact that she had absorbed twice that amount left him pleasantly surprised. With this eleven-year boost to his cultivation, Gu He knew it wouldnt be long before he advanced to the peak of Four-Star Dou Venerate. Thank you, Master, for the power transfer! After fully absorbing the energy within her body, Han Yue respectfully bowed to Gu He. Gu He nodded. "Your achievement of four-star Dou Emperor is largely thanks to your efforts over the past few months. If you continue to maintain this level of diligence, you might very well surpass my two-year goal and break through to Dou Ancestor sooner than expected." "Break through to Dou Ancestor?" Han Yue was deeply shaken by Gu Hes words. In her family, even her father had only reached the upper stages of Dou Emperor. Only their revered ancestor had reached the powerful Dou Ancestor level. Yet here she was, being told that she could achieve such heights at her current young age. The thought of it left her awestruckher breakthrough could shake the entire Northern Region. But after a moments reflection, Han Yue dismissed her concerns about others'' reactions. With a master whose strength possibly surpassed that of the Wind and Thunder Pavilions master, why should she fear attention? "Breaking through to Dou Ancestor is merely a small step in your journey. This continent is vast, filled with countless experts far beyond Dou Ancestors. Without reaching that level, one can only endure others'' oppression," Gu He said earnestly. "I understand, Master. I will strive tirelessly to break through to Dou Ancestor!" Han Yue responded with determination. Following this, Gu He rewarded Han Yue with several items, including two valuable treasures that had been returned by the system: an eighth-tier healing pill and a ninth-tier ice-elemental magic core weapon. Before long, Yun Yun arrived, riding a majestic Blackscale Cold Dragon. Upon seeing the celestial figure standing atop the massive beast, Han Yue wasted no time in bowing deeply. "Disciple Han Yue greets Martial Aunt!" "Are these Master and Martial Aunts clothes? Why are they so... unusual? And why do they use so little fabric? Still, they do look like theyd be quite elegant when worn..." Han Yue thought to herself, puzzled as she glanced at the garments hanging on a rack. "Lets go, Han Yue. Lets take a look at the room weve prepared for you," Yun Yun interjected hastily, pulling Han Yue toward another direction. "Alright!" Following Yun Yuns lead, Han Yue had no choice but to turn her attention away and obediently follow behind. The distance between Han Yues training grounds and Sky North City wasnt short. Even at the Blackscale Cold Dragons speed, it would take two to three days to arrive. During the journey, Gu He took some time to refine a Shapeshifting Pill. This pill was intended for the Violet Demon Condor. Upon consuming it, the condor, despite only being at the sixth rank, successfully transformed into the form of a three-year-old girl. When Han Yue saw the transformed Violet Demon Condor, she was overjoyed and painstakingly made clothes for her, holding her in her arms every day. To an outsider unaware of the condors identity as a magical beast, it would be impossible to imagine that this seemingly three-year-old child already possessed the power of a Dou Emperor. (Chapter End) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 {I am currently in need of some financial support. I will appreciate your support. You can support me either on patreon, or on kofi. Please support me, and i will do mass release to repay your support.} Chapter 439: Yun Yun’s Joy! Chapter 439: Yun Yuns Joy! Chapter 439: Yun Yuns Joy! On the fourth morning, as Gu He just opened his eyes in bed, he saw Yun Yun standing beside him, gently stroking her stomach with a radiant smile. She softly said, Husband, I think I might be pregnant! Hearing Yun Yuns words, Gu He immediately sat up from the bed, his voice filled with excitement. Yuner, are you saying youre with child? Yes, I can feel ittheres a little life growing inside me! Yun Yuns face glowed with happiness as she nodded slightly. Thats wonderful! Were finally going to have our own child! Overjoyed, Gu He pressed his ear to Yun Yuns stomach, trying to listen intently. In the Dou Qi Continent, the stronger ones cultivation, the lower the likelihood of conceiving a child. This was why many top-tier powerhouses, even after living for hundreds or thousands of years, often only had one or two offspring. For someone like Gu He, who had reached the pinnacle of Dou Venerate, conceiving a child so quickly was an extraordinary stroke of luck. Husband, youre so silly! Its too early to hear anything! Yun Yun teased, her cheeks tinged with a playful blush. Youre right. Itll be a few months before we can feel him being mischievous! Gu He chuckled sheepishly, nodding. At that moment, a voice called from outside the room. Master! Masters Wife! Were approaching Tianbei City! Han Yues voice rang out. Hearing her call, Gu He and Yun Yun quickly dressed and stepped out, heading towards the enormous city visible in the distance. They walked through the air, leaving their Black-Scaled Frost Jiao to rest on a mountain peak twenty miles outside Tianbei City. Gu He, Yun Yun, Han Yue, and the Purple Demon Hawk arrived quietly, not disturbing the other members of the Han family, not even the Dou Ancestor patriarch who was in seclusion. Elder Sister, youre back! In Han Yues courtyard, a petite figure clad in white dashed over to greet her as soon as she saw her return. Before reaching Han Yue, Han Xue noticed the small, adorable figure Han Yue was holding by the hand. Her eyes lit up with affection, and she asked curiously, Elder Sister, this little girl is so cute! Is she the child of that older brother and sister behind you? During this period, Han Yue dedicated herself to her cultivation while also decorating the courtyard with ideas she had picked up from their time traveling on the Black-Scaled Frost Jiao. Gu He spent his days accompanying Yun Yun and gradually refining the eleven years of cultivation returned by the system. Thanks to the sealing formation, the anomalies caused by his cultivation were undetected by outsiders. Over the next few days, Gu He also took Han Xue as a disciple, making her his eighth student. Two months passed peacefully in Han Yues courtyard. During this time, Gu Hes cultivation advanced to the peak of the four-turn Dou Venerate realm, with signs indicating a breakthrough to the fifth-turn level. Yun Yuns pregnancy progressed, and she began to feel the child move within her. Among those most affected was the Nine Nether Sparrow residing within Yun Yuns body. The sparrow could sense the little life growing inside Yun Yun, watching its development moment by moment. One day, a group of visitors arrived at the Han residence with a marriage proposal. Leading the group was the head of the Hong family, Hong Li. His purpose was to arrange a marriage between his son, Hong Chen, and Han Yue, thereby uniting the two families. In the Han familys guest hall, Hong Li presented numerous treasures as gifts and spoke cheerfully to Han Chi. Haha, Brother Han Chi, your niece Han Yue and my son Hong Chen are both of marriageable age. I was wondering if youd agree to unite our families through marriage? Brother Hong Li, my eldest daughters marriage is not something I can decide on. It all depends on her own willingness, Han Chi replied, not outright rejecting the proposal but instead leaving the decision to Han Yue herself. Brother Han, my son Hong Chen has been studying diligently at the Wind and Thunder Pavilion these past years. His cultivation has advanced rapidly, and he has great potential to become a core disciple there. Im sure your niece Han Yue will find him to her liking once they meet! Hong Li said confidently, clearly proud of his son. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 440: Xiao Yi Xian Heads to Central Plains! Chapter 440: Xiao Yi Xian Heads to Central Plains! Chapter 440: Xiao Yi Xian Heads to Central Plains! Uncle Hong, you claim that Hong Chen has limitless potential. May I ask, what is his current cultivation level? Is it comparable to mine? Just as Hong Li was praising his son, a crisp voice rang out from the entrance. Hearing this voice, everyone in the hall instantly understood that todays central figure had arrived. When Hong Li saw his "future daughter-in-law" entering, he wore a warm and friendly smile. However, the moment he probed Han Yues cultivation, his expression froze. How is this possible? Shes already reached Dou Emperor! Realizing Han Yues level, Hong Li swallowed the words he had been about to say. Standing behind Hong Li, a young man in his early twenties, clad in a green robe, stepped forward with a smug expression. Approaching Han Yue, he smiled and said, Han Yue, I heard you returned from Jia Nan Academy some time ago. Ive been busy cultivating at Wind and Thunder Pavilion, so it took me a while to visit. You just asked about my current cultivation, right? Let me show you! With that, Hong Chen flared his Dou Qi, preparing to display his full strength. Chener, dont embarrass yourself! Hong Lis stern voice cut through Hong Chens actions. It was no laughing matter. An eighteen- or nineteen-year-old Dou Emperor was a rarity, even among the core disciples of Wind and Thunder Pavilion. Compared to that, Hong Chens Dou King-level cultivation was utterly unimpressive. Hong Chen, startled and dissatisfied with his fathers reprimand, turned to him with a confused look. Ignoring his son, Hong Li bowed respectfully to Han Chi and said, Brother Han, lets pretend this proposal never happened. Its clear that Niece Han Yue is far beyond what our Hong family can aspire to. With that, Hong Li turned and strode out of the hall. Although still perplexed, Hong Chen quickly followed his father outside. Senior Sister Xianer, are you really planning to go to the Central Plains? Nalan Yanran asked with an envious tone after hearing Xiao Yi Xians decision. As the sect master of the Yunlan Sect, she could move freely within the Jia Ma Empire, but the thought of venturing to the distant Central Plains made her hesitant. Yes. Ive already collected a vast amount of poisonous materials from the Poison Saints relics in the Cloud Empire, enough to sustain my cultivation for a long time. I want to see what greater opportunities lie in a bigger world. Why dont you come with me? Xiao Yi Xian replied. Id love to go with you, but the sect... Nalan Yanran hesitated, torn between her responsibilities and her desire for adventure. Yanran, there are so many elders in your sect. Everything will function just fine without you for a while. Look at my Poison Sectwhether Im there or not, its all the same, Xiao Yi Xian said persuasively. Really? Nalan Yanran seemed to waver under Xiao Yi Xians words. Oh, stop hesitating! Its decided! Xiao Yi Xian said with finality, making the decision for her. Afterward, Xiao Yi Xian called Qing Lin over. Qing Lin, come here! When Masters avatar finishes its seclusion, tell him that Senior Sister Yanran and I have gone to the Central Plains for training, Xiao Yi Xian instructed. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 441: The Heavenly Azure Mountain Range! Spatial Wormhole! Chapter 441: The Heavenly Azure Mountain Range! Spatial Wormhole! Chapter 441: The Heavenly Azure Mountain Range! Spatial Wormhole! Senior Sister, I want to go too! Hearing Xiao Yi Xians instructions, Qing Lin eagerly chimed in. Qing Lin, didnt Master say last time that you still have to wait two more years before going out? Its only been a few months since then. Nalan Yanran reminded her with a smile. She and Xiao Yi Xian shared the same opinionthey thought it would be too risky for the two of them to venture out, and bringing Qing Lin along would make it even more dangerous. Staying within the Nine-Colored Valley was the safest choice for her. Alright then. Hearing Nalan Yanran bring up Gu Hes earlier warning, Qing Lin reluctantly agreed. She then shifted her gaze toward Liu Ling in the distance. Senior Sisters, youre both heading out to train. Is Senior Brother going too? Qing Lin asked curiously. Hearing her question, Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran also turned their gazes toward Liu Ling. Inside a small, distorted energy barrier, Liu Ling was fully focused on refining a batch of pills. In my opinion, Senior Brother wont leave unless he manages to break through to a seventh-tier alchemist this time, Xiao Yi Xian said with a sigh. A seventh-tier alchemist? Senior Brother is really pushing himself too hard. By the time you two return, he might still be far from achieving that goal! Qing Lin hesitantly added after hearing Xiao Yi Xians analysis. Nalan Yanran replied, Perhaps Senior Brother will change his mind after some time. Qing Lin, were leaving now, okay? Remember to tell Master and Senior Brother! Xiao Yi Xian patted Qing Lins head, leaving her with some instructions. Yes, Senior Sister, Ill remember. Qing Lin nodded reluctantly. Afterward, Xiao Yi Xian called out to the Void Beast. Xiao Yin, come here! Xianer Sis! Upon hearing Xiao Yi Xians call, the Void Beast obediently appeared by her side. Xiao Yin, Yanran and I are planning to head to the Central Plains. Why dont you come with us? Xiao Yi Xian said with a smile. Alright! Following Xiao Yi Xians directions, the trio left the city and found a secluded location. Once again, Xiao Yin used her spatial abilities to hasten their journey. ... Several days later, the trio emerged from a spatial rift high above a majestic mountain range on the edge of the Black-Corner Region. Hovering in the air, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Xiao Yin looked down. Below them, wide and interconnected roads crisscrossed the mountain range, forming a vast network. Along these roads, countless figures bustled about, and even at such a great height, faint noises from the ground reached their ears. From time to time, the sound of wind being torn apart echoed in the distance. Numerous oddly-shaped flying beasts flapped their wings as they soared into the mountain range. On the backs of these beasts were various figures. Compared to the Jia Ma Empire and Yun Empire, the strength of these individuals was on an entirely different level. Dou Spirit cultivators were common, and Dou Kings and Dou Emperors could even be spotted occasionally. Thanks to their high altitude and Xiao Yins ability to conceal their presence, none of the people entering the mountain range noticed the trio. This must be the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range. The city were heading to is just ahead! Taking out the map once more, Xiao Yi Xian pointed toward the interior of the mountain range. From their vantage point, they could vaguely make out the outline of a massive city hidden among the lush peaks. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 442: Tianya City! A Provocation! Chapter 442: Tianya City! A Provocation! Chapter 442: Tianya City! A Provocation! As they drew closer, the massive city gradually came into full view before Xiao Yi Xian and her companions. This city is far larger than the entire Jia Ma Imperial Capital! Xiao Yi Xian exclaimed as she observed the bustling expanse below. Nalan Yanran nodded in agreement. Its not just Jia Ma Imperial Capital. I doubt weve seen anything this vast even in all of the Black-Corner Region on our journey here! Lets head down and take a look. If we can use the spatial wormhole here, it will make our journey much easier, Xiao Yi Xian suggested, descending toward the city below. Nalan Yanran and the Void Beast, Xiao Yin, followed closely behind. Look over there! Those three arent using flying beasts and can still travel through the sky! Three women, and theyre this powerful? Master, why dont those two need wings to fly? Shh! Keep your voice down! If they can walk in the air without wings, theyre likely Dou Ancestors. Dont speak recklessly, or youll bring disaster upon us! I havent heard of anyone like them within a thousand-mile radius. Could they be from elsewhere? As Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Xiao Yin approached the city, their presence quickly drew the attention of onlookers. The sight of Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yin treading the air without wings astonished many, sparking a wave of whispered speculation about their identities. When the trio flew over the city gate, an elderly man in a yellow robe stationed there gazed up in shock. Although the trios auras were restrained, he could still sense the unmistakable presence of powerful figures. Why would two Dou Ancestors show up in Tianya City at a time like this? I must report this to the clan immediately! the elder muttered to himself before hastily retreating into the city. ... After flying past the city gate, Xiao Yi Xian and her companions landed in a quiet spot. Yanran, Ive heard it still takes about a month to reach the Central Plains even using the spatial wormhole here, Xiao Yi Xian remarked. Why dont we rest here for the night? Agreed, I was thinking the same. Nalan Yanran nodded. The red-clad girls expression darkened as she saw their disregard. With a cold snort, she gripped her leather whip and lashed out. Her figure blurred as she charged toward the pair, the whip cracking sharply in the air as it swung at them. Without much effort, Xiao Yi Xian raised her hand and caught the whip mid-swing. With a slight tug downward, she unleashed a force that yanked the girl off her horse. The red-clad young woman landed heavily on the ground, bottom-first. "Ouch!" The girl cried out in pain as she hit the ground. "Do you know who I am? How dare you offend me! Watch out, or Ill make sure you cant leave Tianya City alive!" she shouted angrily at Xiao Yi Xian and her companions, glaring at them furiously. Smack! Smack! In response to her threats, Xiao Yi Xian casually waved her hand, striking her across the face from a distance. Two sharp, resounding slaps echoed in the air, leaving bright red handprints on both sides of the girls face. If you dare spout nonsense again, I will take your life! Having trained extensively in the Yun Empire, Xiao Yi Xian had grown accustomed to killing when necessary. Her actions now were already tempered and restrained, yet they carried a chilling authority that made her words undeniably serious. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 443: Spatial Wormhole! Chapter 443: Spatial Wormhole! Chapter 443: Spatial Wormhole! The murderous intent in Xiao Yi Xian''s voice made the red-clad girl realize she wasnt bluffing. At this moment, the girl, who had just been slapped twice, was filled with grievance. She glared at Xiao Yi Xian, but despite the raging fury in her heart, she dared not express it. Just then, the sound of rushing wind came from the distant street. In the blink of an eye, two elderly figures appeared beside the red-clad girl. Judging by the imposing auras emanating from these two, both seemed to possess mid-level Dou Emperor strength. With such powerful bodyguards, it was no wonder the red-clad girl behaved so arrogantly in the streets. How dare you, little girl! You actually struck the face of our young miss! The two elders faces darkened in anger as they noticed the palm prints on the girls cheeks, and they berated Xiao Yi Xian harshly. If I hadnt just changed into clean clothes and didnt want to dirty them with blood, shed already be a corpse, Xiao Yi Xian replied indifferently, her voice devoid of emotion. By now, the commotion had drawn a crowd of onlookers. When the spectators recognized the red-clad girl, they shook their heads, some even casting sympathetic glances toward Xiao Yi Xian and her companions. In Tianya City, the red-clad girl was infamous as a little tyrant. Whoever crossed her path was considered unlucky. No one had expected this outsider to actually dare strike her. Xiao Yi Xians calm yet chilling words made the expressions of the two elders shift slightly. A hint of unease crept into their eyes. The red-clad girl was the most beloved granddaughter of the clans patriarch, and in Tianya City, few dared speak to her in such a manner. At this moment, the red-clad girl, emboldened by the arrival of the two Dou Emperor bodyguards, shed her earlier fear. Hua-shu, Liu-shu, dont waste words on her. Capture her immediately! I want to teach her a lesson! The girl, now hiding behind the two elders, commanded angrily. Yes, young miss! the two elders replied in unison. Oh? Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xians previously calm expression grew icy again. She had already spared the girl once, yet the latter still insisted on provoking her. In the next moment, as the two elders darted toward her, Xiao Yi Xians hand shot forward in a swift, decisive motion. In an instant, she delivered two strikes. Her speed was so blindingly fast that before anyone could react, the two imposing elders were sent flying backward, vomiting blood. They crashed into several street stalls and lay motionless on the ground, their fates uncertain. You wanted to teach me a lesson, is that right? Xiao Yi Xian didnt even glance at the fallen elders. Instead, she took a step forward, her cold words dripping with menace. Hua-lao... Liu-lao... how could this happen... Alright, Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yin nodded in unison. The three of them then flew into the air, heading toward their destination above Tianya City. ... After roughly ten minutes of travel, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Xiao Yin arrived at a massive black stone plaza that stretched before them. The plaza was vast, constructed entirely from a cold, black stone that exuded a sense of durability. Numerous Luo family guards surrounded the area, sealing it off. At the center of the plaza stood a towering stone platform. At the center of the stone platform, a pitch-black spatial vortex, about ten zhang in diameter, spun slowly. Ripples of immense spatial energy emanated from it. However, the spatial energy appeared to be somewhat unstable. Next to the enormous black vortex stood two figures: an elder in a blue robe and another elder with white hair. Both were performing intricate hand seals aimed at stabilizing the spinning vortex. Their formidable auras made it clear they were both at the Dou Ancestor level. So this is a spatial wormhole, Xiao Yi Xian murmured to herself, her gaze fixed on the black vortex at the center of the platform. In the next moment, the trios figures darted through the air, heading directly toward the stone platform without hesitation. The sudden appearance of the three figures immediately caught the attention of the two elders, who stopped their actions and turned to face Xiao Yi Xian and her companions. (Chapter End) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 444: Restoration! Xiao Yin’s Astonishing Power! Chapter 444: Restoration! Xiao Yins Astonishing Power! Chapter 444: Restoration! Xiao Yin''s Astonishing Power! "Walking through the void? A Dou Ancestor expert!" The blue-robed elder''s pupils contracted as he watched the three figures approaching rapidly. His gaze was filled with astonishment, especially as one of them appeared to be a little girl no older than ten, yet she was capable of walking through the air. The white-haired elder beside him reacted similarly, his heart brimming with surprise. In the next moment, under the gaze of countless onlookers on the plaza and the stone platform, Xiao Yi Xian and her two companions landed steadily about ten meters away from the spatial wormhole. "I am Luo Cheng of the Luo family. May I ask if the three of you have come for the spatial wormhole?" The blue-robed elder greeted them warmly, a polite smile on his face as he addressed the mysterious trio before him. "Indeed. We plan to use the spatial wormhole immediately," Xiao Yi Xian responded bluntly, her tone and demeanor treating this renowned Dou Ancestor expert as if he were just an ordinary person. "Unfortunately, this spatial wormhole is currently malfunctioning. To fully repair it, it would take at least seven or eight days," Luo Cheng explained after hearing Xiao Yi Xian''s reply. "Seven or eight days?" Xiao Yi Xian frowned slightly at the timeline, clearly unwilling to wait that long. Noticing the urgency on her face, Luo Cheng stroked his beard and chuckled. "This is Feng Lao, a highly esteemed figure within a thousand miles of Tianya City. I invited him here to help repair the spatial wormhole. If you two are available, you could assist us, and the repair time would surely be reduced." By "you two," Luo Cheng naturally referred to Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yin, excluding Nalan Yanran. Being shrewd, he had already discerned from their subtle interactions that Xiao Yi Xian was the true leader of the group. After Luo Cheng''s proposal, Xiao Yi Xian waved her hand dismissively. "No need for that trouble. Leave the repair of the spatial wormhole entirely to us. All we require from you is a high-quality spatial ship." "Leave the repair entirely to you..." Hearing her words, Luo Cheng was visibly tempted. A high-quality spatial ship, while costly and worth millions of gold coins, was not a significant expense for the Luo family. Additionally, repairing the spatial wormhole would ensure its functionality for years to come. Without much hesitation, Luo Cheng readily agreed. "If you can successfully repair the spatial wormhole, this spatial ship will be a gift of gratitude from me," Luo Cheng said, retrieving a small wooden ship about the size of a palm from his storage ring. The ship glimmered faintly with silver light, containing a trace of spatial energy. "Deal!" Xiao Yi Xian nodded and gave Xiao Yin a subtle signal, indicating she should secure the spatial ship. Upon hearing Xiao Yi Xians request, Xiao Yin immediately acted. A surge of powerful Dou Qi energy erupted from her body as she executed intricate hand seals. Within moments, a sturdy spatial barrier was added around the wormhole, ensuring its integrity. Senior even reinforced my spatial wormhole with additional protection. This spatial ship was worth every coin! Luo Cheng thought gleefully as he observed Xiao Yins actions. Junior Sister, Xiao Yin, lets depart! With the barrier in place, Xiao Yi Xian wasted no time. The trio stepped into the spatial wormhole simultaneously. As their figures entered, they vanished instantly. A wave of silver light spread outward before fading into the blackness of the wormhole. Watching the trio disappear, Luo Cheng finally let out a sigh of relief. Facing someone as formidable as Xiao Yin had left him on edge, terrified of inadvertently offending her. Who exactly are these people? Ive never heard of two such young Dou Ancestor experts within a thousand miles of here! Feng Lao, standing beside Luo Cheng, clicked his tongue in astonishment. So youngthey must be prodigies nurtured by some superpower in Central Plains. For them to use my Luo familys spatial wormhole is truly an honor for us! Luo Cheng replied, a trace of pride in his tone. (Chapter End) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 445: Arrival! Chapter 445: Arrival! Chapter 445: Arrival! "Ancestor, something terrible has happened..." Shortly after Xiao Yi Xian and her companions left, an urgent voice echoed from the streets beyond the massive square. Immediately, an elderly figure rushed toward the center of the square. "What''s the matter, Wang Tao? Why are you in such a panic?" Seeing the figure approach, Luo Chengs face darkened as he sternly reprimanded. "Miss Xiao Yao... she... her body was shattered by three foreign women!" Wang Tao, the old man who had rushed over, stammered as he reported. "What?" "Xiao Yao was killed?" "Three foreign women?" Hearing Wang Taos report, Luo Chengs face turned ashen, grief plainly visible in his expression. He could not hide the sorrow in his eyes. The next moment, Luo Cheng turned abruptly toward the pitch-black space tunnel, his eyes ablaze with fury. "Boom!" Driven by his anger, Luo Cheng slammed his palm forcefully toward the space tunnel. However, the space seal previously placed by Xiao Yin prevented his attack from damaging the tunnel. "Ah!" Frustrated by his failed attempt, Luo Cheng gathered more Dou Qi and struck again at the distorted space seal. "Luo, you need to calm down... Those three women are from a powerful Central Plains faction. Even if you destroy the space tunnel, it wont affect them much; at most, it will slightly divert their destination. Have you thought about the consequences of your actions?" Feng Lao, standing nearby, tried to dissuade the enraged Luo Cheng. "Your granddaughter isnt the one who died! Of course, you can stay calm!" Luo Cheng roared as he continued channeling his Dou Qi to attack the seal. Spatial tunnels, as they were called, connected two distant spatial points, dramatically shortening the distance between them. Uncertain how long the corridor extended or how much time it would take to reach Central Plains, the group settled into the tranquility and immersed themselves in cultivation. ... Time passed quietly in this stillness. After more than ten days, Xiao Yin, standing at the bow of the ship, suddenly brightened with excitement. "Big Sister Xian, Big Sister Yanran, were nearing the exit!" Xiao Yin joyfully called out toward the cabin. Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran quickly emerged. Their gazes followed Xiao Yins, and they spotted a silver ring of light in the distant darknessthe exit of the spatial corridor. "Finally, were about to reach the Central Plains. I wonder where Master and Martial Aunt might be," Nalan Yanran said, her eyes filled with anticipation as she looked toward the silver ring. Although both Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran carried two Void Jade Talismans each, gifted by Gu He, they refrained from using them recklessly. These talismans were life-saving treasures, and carelessly using them might invite Gu He''s disapproval. "Yanran, Master mentioned that once weve made a name for ourselves in the Central Plains, he would come to find us. I also suspect that Master can sense the location of the Void Jade Talismans," Xiao Yi Xian reasoned thoughtfully in response. As Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran conversed, the space ship rapidly approached the end of the corridor. In an instant, it shot out from the tunnel and disappeared into the silver light. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 446: Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool! Chapter 446: Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool! Chapter 446: Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool! This was a vast, shattered stone plaza. At its center stood a massive stone platform, atop which a colossal, pitch-black spatial tunneldozens of meters widerotated slowly. An astounding spatial fluctuation continually emanated from it. Thud! Thud! The silence of the shattered stone plaza lingered for a moment before being broken by deep, muffled sounds. Following these sounds, the spatial tunnel rippled violently. Three slender figures shot out like arrows, landing unevenly on the plaza. "Finally, were out! That spatial tunnel was unbearably dull!" As she touched the ground, Nalan Yanran inhaled the fresh air deeply, laughing as though freed from a burden. Xiao Yi Xian nodded slightly in agreement. It was also her first time enduring such a long journey. In the past, Xiao Yin would teleport them intermittently through space, never traveling continuously for over ten days. Xiao Yi Xians eyes scanned the area. Across the plaza, a few other figures emerged from different directions within the spatial tunnel. Clearly, this tunnel connected more locations than just the one in Tianya City. In one direction, Xiao Yi Xian faintly made out the silhouette of a massive city in the distance. It was evident that this spatial tunnel was situated outside the citys boundaries. "Yanran, Xiao Yin, lets head to the city first!" Xiao Yi Xian suggested, adjusting her state and turning to the others. The quickest way to gather information was to head into a bustling area filled with people. Without hesitation, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yin suppressed their auras and summoned their Dou Qi wings, soaring into the sky. The city ahead was even larger than Tianya City, far surpassing the scale of any local cities in the Jia Ma Empire. The roar of its hustle and bustle was so loud that it could be heard clearly even from afar. After spending more than ten days in the spatial tunnel, the overwhelming noise and activity of a human city felt somewhat jarring to Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran. The trios first task upon arriving in this massive city was to find a shop that sold maps. For newcomers, a map was the fastest way to familiarize themselves with the area. Listening to the conversations of passersby, Xiao Yi Xian quickly learned that the city they had arrived in was called Heavenly Water City, a well-known city on the northern edge of the Central Plains. Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian frowned. "Thats puzzling to me as well. The Soul Hall doesnt usually act so ostentatiously." After her response, silence filled the room. Xiao Yin, as usual, refrained from joining such discussions. She typically followed Xiao Yi Xians lead and rarely spoke. Unable to find an answer, Xiao Yi Xian decided to set the matter aside. "Yanran, we didnt come to the Central Plains for sightseeing. Were here to seek opportunities in this vast land!" After a moment of silence, Xiao Yi Xian broke the quiet. "Ive heard about a place in the Northern Regions Tianmu Mountain Range called the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. Its said that every three years, a surge of energy appears at the peak of a volcano in the range. After the energy surge, the volcanic crater fills with a mysterious red liquid, known as the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. However, this pool only lasts for five days before vanishing completely." "The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool is rumored to have the ability to cleanse the body and refine the bones. Its even capable of helping Dou Emperor peak experts break through to the Dou Venerate stage. Even Dou Venerate experts benefit greatly from it." "Every time the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool appears, it draws countless people from the Northern Region and even other parts of the Central Plains. In about a month, the pool is set to appear again. Why dont we head there and check it out?" After hearing Xiao Yi Xians explanation, Nalan Yanran nodded her snow-white chin in agreement. "If the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool is that extraordinary, lets go see it!" (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 447: Eavesdropping in the Alley! A Mysterious Powerhouse! chapter 447: eavesdropping in the alley! a mysterious powerhouse! chapter 447: eavesdropping in the alley! a mysterious powerhouse! after resting for a night, xiao yi xian, nalan yanran, and xiao yin set off early the next morning, leaving the city and heading toward the tianmu mountain range as marked on their map. the tianmu mountain range wasnt too far from their location. if they flew, it would take about ten days to reach it. however, since xiao yi xian and nalan yanran had just spent half a month in the spatial passage, they decided to take their time and travel more leisurely. three days later, the trio arrived in another city to rest. this city, known as huagu city, was under the control of a faction called the huagu sect. while there were several other forces within the city, none could rival the huagu sect. the sect maintained a reputation for acting with measured restraint. even when profits were at stake, it ensured a fair share for others, albeit keeping the lion''s share for itself. this balanced approach allowed the huagu sect to maintain its dominance over the city for many years, with few factions daring to challenge its authority. the leader of the huagu sect, fu fan, specialized in water-element techniques that were slightly eerie. when engaged in combat, his concealed strength would silently infiltrate his opponents body. the soft yet pervasive energy caused bones to soften once struck. as a result, the huagu sect was widely renowned, even in the surrounding cities. due to the imminent appearance of the tianshan blood pool, huagu city had become a hub for numerous groups and factions. as the overlord of the northern region, the wind and thunder pavilion had sent many of its most outstanding younger disciples to the tianshan blood pool. among the various groups vying to access the mountains, these disciples were undoubtedly the most elite. the wind and thunder pavilion had dispatched dozens of dou emperor-level experts, including several high-ranking dou emperors. in addition to the younger generation, some older experts at the peak of the dou emperor realm, unable to break through to the dou ancestor level, sought to use the tianshan blood pools tempering properties to make a final attempt at crossing into the dou ancestor stage. in a secluded alley of huagu city, two or three figures gathered near a courtyard wall, engaged in a quiet conversation. suddenly, a young man with a lanky, monkey-like appearance pointed in a specific direction and said, i heard that over three months ago, the wind and thunder pavilion suffered a major setback in that mountain range. not only did they lose several talented disciples, but even one of their dou ancestor elders had an arm severed! is that true? wasnt the only notable threat in that mountain range the transformed gray wolf king? would the gray wolf king dare provoke the wind and thunder pavilion? another person expressed doubt upon hearing the monkey-like mans words. its absolutely true! the monkey-like man nodded earnestly at their skepticism and quickly elaborated, a friend of mine overheard this from one of the wind and thunder pavilion disciples. he told me in confidence, so keep this to yourselves and dont spread it further! according to what youre saying, the gray wolf king should have already been dealt with by the wind and thunder pavilion. theres no way a single gray wolf king could stand up to them! why are you jumping to conclusions? i never said it was the gray wolf king who caused the wind and thunder pavilions trouble! if it wasnt the gray wolf king, then who was it? seeing the man deliberately holding back, another person pressed him anxiously. stop keeping us in suspense and just tell us! "mercy, ladies, mercy!" meanwhile, on the other side of the wall, the monkey-like man, now trembling in fear, was staring at the three women before him, pleading desperately. looking at the terrified man, who seemed close to wetting his pants, xiao yi xian spoke gently, "don''t worry. as long as you answer my questions truthfully, i won''t kill you." "questions? ask whatever you want, young madam! if i know the answers, ill tell you everything!" having witnessed xiao yi xians method of capturing him, the man had no intention of resisting and quickly agreed. "ill ask you this," xiao yi xian said directly, "the mysterious powerhouse you mentioned, who severed the wind and thunder pavilions dou ancestor elders armwere there any others present besides the wind and thunder pavilion members when he appeared?" "there were," the man replied hastily. "its said that there was also a woman present!" (end of chapter) unlock the world of stories with early access on patreon! hello, beloved readers and supporters! i am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. by joining the patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: early access to 20 chapters: be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! connect with the community: join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. support the creator: your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 448: Robbery! chapter 448: robbery! chapter 448: robbery! there was also a woman present? hearing this from the monkey-like man, both xiao yi xian and nalan yanran exchanged a glance, a flicker of surprise flashing in their eyes. it seems master and mistress really were here, xiao yi xian thought to herself, feeling somewhat convinced. as xiao yi xian and nalan yanran shared a knowing smile, the monkey-like man pointed toward xiao yin and added, that woman, like this little lady here, also had silver hair! what? silver hair? both xiao yi xian and nalan yanran froze upon hearing this, then quickly turned their gazes toward xiao yin. blinking her large eyes, xiao yin spread her hands, feigning innocence. mistress would never have silver hair. it seems that mysterious powerhouse isnt master. lets go! xiao yi xian didnt spare the monkey-like man another glance and turned to leave. nalan yanran and xiao yin promptly followed her. after the three women left, the monkey-like man slumped against the courtyard wall and slid to the ground, still somewhat dazed by the encounter. the following morning, xiao yi xian, nalan yanran, and xiao yin departed huagu city, heading swiftly toward a mountain range marked on their map. their plan was straightforward: with over 20 days remaining before the tianshan blood pool appeared, they would use the time to visit a nearby mountain range filled with magical beasts. the area was ideal for nalan yanran to train. xiao yi xian, meanwhile, treated it as a sparring opportunity and planned to search for poisonous materials beneficial for her cultivation. she also took on the role of nalan yanrans bodyguard. recently, due to the upcoming appearance of the tianshan blood pool, many others had also ventured into this mountain range for training, likely harboring similar intentions. through continuous battles with magical beasts, nalan yanrans cultivation advanced much faster than it had during the journey. she had now reached the same level as liu ling had before they departed, stepping into the peak of the nine-star dou king level, just one step away from breaking through to become a dou emperor. xiao yi xians progress, however, was even more astonishing. she was now on the verge of reaching the eight-star dou ancestor level. with the nether poison flame, her potent poisonous dou qi, and her array of carefully crafted poisons, xiao yi xian was unmatched within the dou ancestor stage. even the spatial manipulation abilities exclusive to dou venerates posed little threat to her, as her frequent travels through the void with xiao yin had enabled her to master several such techniques. hearing xiao yi xians intention to rob the king of the mountain range, nalan yanran couldnt help but feel speechless. while most people would do everything possible to avoid such a ferocious beast, xiao yi xian was already plotting against it. senior sister, do what you want, nalan yanran said with a light chuckle, fully supporting xiao yi xians decision. xiao yin, standing nearby, also nodded enthusiastically. haha, since youre both on board, ill go right now! xiao yi xian laughed and then instructed, xiao yin, take care of your sister yanran! with that, xiao yi xians figure flickered and sped toward a distant mountain peak. her overwhelming presence and her speedtoo fast for the naked eye to followsent the magical beasts in the forest scattering in terror. some humans training in the area, upon spotting her, felt their hearts skip a beat. whats going on? far away, atop a mountain peak, the ruler of this mountain range, the gray wolf king, stood overlooking the magical beasts and human cultivators in the forest. suddenly, its expression shifted drastically. (end of chapter) unlock the world of stories with early access on patreon! hello, beloved readers and supporters! i am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. by joining the patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: early access to 20 chapters: be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! connect with the community: join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. support the creator: your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 449: A Flooded Dragon King’s Temple chapter 449: a flooded dragon kings temple chapter 449: a flooded dragon king''s temple the azure wolf king had just noticed something unusual when xiao yi xian''s figure appeared a hundred meters in front of it. "this aura... could it be that this woman has reached the peak of dou ancestor?" from xiao yi xian, the azure wolf king sensed an extremely dangerous presence. suspended in the air, xiao yi xian''s frail figure pointed a small finger at the azure wolf king as she spoke in a soft yet commanding voice: "you must be the leader of the demon beasts in this area, right?" hearing xiao yi xian''s words, the azure wolf king instinctively nodded before quickly shaking its head. "im not some kind of leader!" facing xiao yi xian''s question, the azure wolf king lowered its posture significantly. "don''t try to deny it. i said you are, so you are!" "now, im here to rob you. hand over all the treasures you''ve collected over the years for me to inspect. also, instruct the other demon beasts to gather every poisonous item in this area. ill return in three days to collect them!" without paying attention to the azure wolf kings reaction, xiao yi xian spoke in an extremely indifferent tone. "she''s here to rob me?" as xiao yi xian''s words sank in, the azure wolf king quickly contacted gu he mentally, relaying everything it was witnessing and what xiao yi xian had just said. in the northern region, tianbei city, within the han family''s private courtyard belonging to the han sisters, gu he was walking among the flower-filled gardens, holding yun yun in his arms. suddenly, a peculiar smile appeared on his face. noticing the change in gu he''s expression, yun yun turned her delicate face toward him, her watery eyes full of curiosity. "husband, what happened?" she asked softly. meeting her gaze, gu he explained: "just now, i received news from the azure wolf king. that little girl, xianer, has arrived in central plains. shes currently robbing the azure wolf king!" hearing this, yun yun''s lips curled into a smile before she asked, "husband, if xianer is robbing the azure wolf king, have you heard any news about yanran? i hope they havent been separated!" gu he, aware of xiao yi xian''s departure from the jia ma empire with nalan yanran and xiao yin, had already shared these events with yun yun. yun yuns concern stemmed from the absence of any mention of nalan yanran in gu hes report. "they shouldnt be separated... let me sense it!" "also, you have a junior sister named han yue. she has silver hair and is already on her way to the tianmu mountain range. if you encounter her, look after her for me..." upon hearing this, xiao yi xian quickly sorted through the information relayed by the azure wolf king. "master and mistress are in the han family estate in tianbei city... i have a junior sister named han yue heading to the tianmu mountain range, and she has silver hair!" piecing together this information, xiao yi xian no longer had any doubts about the azure wolf kings identity. "so, youre actually masters spy, huh? sorry about earlier. let me return all the stuff i took from you!" realizing the situation, xiao yi xian grinned and prepared to hand back the treasures she had just taken. "no, no, no, young mistress! consider those things as my offering to you!" the azure wolf king waved its paws frantically to refuse. as someone implanted with a puppet seed, it was bound to follow gu hes commands without question. while it had dared to speak to xiao yi xian so directly under gu hes instruction, now that the directive had passed, the azure wolf king reverted to being intimidated by her. "oh..." "so thats how it is!" xiao yi xian seemed to understand something as she withdrew the treasures she had intended to return. "young mistress, if theres nothing else, ill go make arrangements to gather the poisons you asked for." the azure wolf king respectfully inquired. "azure wolf king, ill let you go after you answer one question. tell me, can you communicate with master anytime you want?" xiao yi xian interrogated, her gaze piercing as she stared at the azure wolf king. (end of chapter) unlock the world of stories with early access on patreon! hello, beloved readers and supporters! i am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. by joining the patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: early access to 20 chapters: be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! connect with the community: join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. support the creator: your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 450: Energy Tides! Suppressed Strength! chapter 450: energy tides! suppressed strength! chapter 450: energy tides! suppressed strength! "thats right, i can communicate with master at any time," the azure wolf king nodded and replied swiftly. "alright, i understand. go ahead and carry out my instructions," xiao yi xian said, waving her hand to signal the azure wolf king to leave. "master is truly remarkable. when yanran told me about the methods used by that protector of the soul hall, i had my doubts. but now i see that such incredible techniques really do exist." after witnessing the azure wolf king relay gu hes words, xiao yi xians admiration for her master deepened further. once the azure wolf king left, xiao yi xian returned to nalan yanran. when xiao yi xian recounted her encounter with the azure wolf king and the subsequent revelations, nalan yanran was just as surprised as xiao yi xian had been earlier. it took her a while to recover from the shock. "senior sister, it seems our earlier guess was right. master must be the mysterious figure who caused the wind and thunder pavilion such a significant loss, yet they dare not speak of it," nalan yanran said with a slight smile. "yes, and on this trip to the tian shan blood pool, we might even meet that junior sister of ours," xiao yi xian nodded slightly. taking out a map of the northern region, she glanced at the location of tianbei city and sighed, "i hope we can leave the tian shan blood pool soon and head to master and mistress." as they traveled north, nalan yanran fought numerous demon beasts every day, her robes often stained with their blood. the desolate forest was indeed an excellent place for honing one''s skills. by now, nalan yanrans aura had grown sharper and more controlled, capable of being entirely concealed when she willed it. with xiao yi xian and xiao yin accompanying her, nalan yanran never felt bored despite the daily battles. she still set aside time for grooming, so when they emerged from the mountain range, her robes were as pristine as ever, and she appeared immaculately clean. "the energy tides in the tianmu mountain range should begin soon. fortunately, were not far from there and can reach it within a few hours," xiao yi xian said softly after consulting the map she retrieved from her storage ring. she gazed northward before addressing nalan yanran and xiao yin. the tianmu mountain range was renowned throughout the northern region of central plains. its fame stemmed primarily from the tian shan blood pool, which appeared once every three years. its miraculous effects were a massive draw for many. "ah... does that mean you wont be able to enter the mountain?" nalan yanran exclaimed in surprise. given her strength, which hadnt yet reached dou emperor, securing a chance to bathe in the tian shan blood pool amidst such a vast crowd seemed nearly impossible. "xianer sister, i think i can enterand i can bring you with me!" as xiao yi xian and nalan yanran fretted, xiao yins youthful voice sounded in their ears. "really? xiao yin, if you can get inside, thats amazing!" xiao yi xian said joyfully. she had almost forgotten that xiao yin had already reached the eighth rank. moreover, with her exceptional spatial talent, her strengtheven at the early stage of the eighth rankcould rival many dou venerates. while entering the mountain range and competing with the other geniuses for the opportunity to temper themselves in the tian shan blood pool was a valuable form of training, when the gap in strength was too vast, such training became meaningless. thus, xiao yi xian decided to let xiao yin secure a chance for the two of them to undergo the tempering process. (end of chapter) unlock the world of stories with early access on patreon! hello, beloved readers and supporters! i am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. by joining the patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: early access to 20 chapters: be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! connect with the community: join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. support the creator: your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 451: Reunion of Martial Sisters Chapter 451: Reunion of Martial Sisters Chapter 451: Reunion of Martial Sisters In the distant sky, massive flying demon beasts occasionally appeared, carrying elite disciples from various sects and factions. When a black avian demon beast exuding a powerful aura flew past, exclamations arose from the surrounding crowd. On the back of the black beast stood a young man appearing to be in his thirties. Behind him were two white-haired elders who seemed to be at the twilight of their years. Who wouldve thought Jiang Feng from the Wind Thunder Pavilion would show up? This will make the competition for the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool even more intense! Jiang Feng has been famous for years, yet he still hasnt broken through to the Dou Venerate level. He must be here to use the tempering effects of the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool to attempt a breakthrough. The Heavenly Eye Mountain Range restricts stronger individuals from entering. With Jiang Fengs cultivation at the peak of a nine-star Dou Emperor for nearly a decade, few can match him here. Wasnt there talk about a prodigy called Miss Feng from the Wind Thunder Pavilion? Why isnt she here? Although Miss Feng has exceptional talent, shes still young and has only recently entered the Dou Emperor realm. Shes not qualified to compete with these seasoned experts yet. Shell probably stay hidden for a few more years. Amid the murmurs, Xiao Yixian and Nalan Yanran paid little attention. They had already planned for Xiao Yin to take action, and none of these people were worth their concern. As they waited quietly, the energy in the area began to surge. The vast, mist-shrouded mountain range suddenly felt like an ancient beast awakening from slumber. Low, rumbling sounds echoed from the high-altitude peaks, accompanied by an overwhelming wave of energy. Wow! Within the dense mist, boundless energy surged violently, producing sounds akin to crashing ocean waves. This extraordinary sight drew gasps of amazement from the crowda testament to natures endless wonders. The massive energy tides burst forth from the mist, spreading rapidly. The terrifying momentum caused those hovering in the sky to retreat hastily, fearing the devastating force. Even Dou Venerate experts might not escape unscathed if caught in the tide. The enormous energy tides shimmered in a rainbow of colors. Under the sunlight, they resembled an immense, colorful river stretching across the sky, breathtakingly beautiful yet concealing deadly danger. Wave after wave of vibrant energy flowed ceaselessly from within the mountains. At this moment, many could feel the energy in the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range becoming increasingly violent and potent. It was as if the range had transformed into a giant magnet, drawing in all surrounding energy. "Indeed!" Xiao Yixian and the others nodded gently. Under Gu He''s tutelage, their ranking was determined not by cultivation or age but by the order of entry. Thus, despite being older than Xiao Yixian and Nalan Yanran, Han Yue was ranked below them, making the youngest of the trio the senior-most. "When I was preparing to head here, Master specifically mentioned that the two senior sisters and Xiao Yin would also be coming to the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range. I didnt expect wed meet so soon!" Han Yue said, her face still full of excitement. "Master relayed a message to us through the Cang Wolf King a few days ago as well," Xiao Yixian responded. The three conversed easily with Han Yue, the meeting free of any awkwardness despite it being their first face-to-face encounter. Meanwhile, the entrances to the mountain range were abuzz with noise. The originally massive crowd had thinned significantly, with most of the groups having already rushed into the mountain range. Within the mountain range, thick mist swirled, and the energy within it was somewhat chaotic and violent, greatly limiting visibility. Most of those who had entered moved cautiously, their progress slowed significantly. Even with maps in hand, they struggled to orient themselves, primarily probing the outskirts of the range. Only a select few, like those from major factions such as the Wind Thunder Pavilion, had detailed knowledge of the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range. They had likely anticipated the issues with the mist and possessed highly accurate maps, allowing them to push deeper into the range without hesitation. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 452: Entering the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range! The Route! Chapter 452: Entering the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range! The Route! Chapter 452: Entering the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range! The Route! High above the edge of the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range, Xiao Yixian and her group watched as the majority of the crowd entered the mountain range. Instead of rushing in, they quietly retreated a short distance before descending to the ground. Unbeknownst to them, two elderly figures in the distant sky had been observing their conversation. These two elders, who had accompanied Jiang Feng, exuded the aura of five-star Dou Venerates. The Wind Thunder Pavilion had kept the incident involving Elder Liu, Han Yue, and Gu He tightly under wraps, issuing strict orders to disciples not to spread the news. However, the details of the event and specific characteristics of Gu He, Han Yue, and her demon beast had been discreetly shared with the elder ranks. Based on these traits, the two elders immediately recognized Han Yue as the person from that encounter. Yet, out of fear of the mysterious figure backing her, they dared not approach or initiate a conversation. For now, they quietly took note of Xiao Yixian, Nalan Yanran, and Xiao Yin''s appearances. After Xiao Yixian''s group left, the thinner of the two elders narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within, and spoke in a hoarse voice to his companion: "Old Yan, did you notice that young woman''s speed? Her strength is at least on par with ours!" "With such speed, that girl is undoubtedly at the Dou Venerate level," the other elder nodded in agreement. Although Xiao Yixian had kept her aura concealed, her displayed speed revealed enough to the two elders. "I wonder which faction they belong to, producing such young and powerful individuals... The talent shown by that lead woman far surpasses even Miss Feng from the Pavilion Master''s personal tutelage." "I think they''re likely not from a major faction but rather disciples trained by some reclusive expert," Elder Yan speculated. After Elder Lius exaggerated recounting of his encounter with Gu He and Han Yue upon his return, the Wind Thunder Pavilions Pavilion Master, Lei Zun, had been left deeply wary. Elder Lius dramatic report served both to protect him from punishment and save face, prompting Lei Zun to investigate Gu Hes background quietly. Now, the scene witnessed by the two elders provided further grounds for them to seek merit by reporting to Lei Zun. Xiao Yixian and her group halted after moving out of sight of those lingering outside the mountain range. By this point, the massive purple demon vulture had transformed into its human form, appearing as a three-year-old girl with a doll-like, porcelain complexion. Xiao Yin was immediately smitten, joyfully holding the tiny hands of the childlike demon beast. As Han Yue had predicted, the moment the purple demon vulture''s aura spread, the nearby beast roars diminished significantly. Many fifth-tier demon beasts quickly retreated, and even the sixth-tier demon beasts appeared hesitant to approach this unfamiliar but intimidating presence. Xianer, which way should we go next? Nalan Yanran asked. Since leaving the Jia Ma Empire for the Central Plains, she had been largely reliant on Xiao Yixian for decisions. Now, without a clear route and with the dense fog obscuring their vision, finding the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool seemed impossible without guidance. Xiao Yixian spread her hands and smiled wryly. Yanran, Im not sure at the moment either. With her aura temporarily concealed by Xiao Yin, her sensory abilities had been significantly reduced. Xiao Yin was in a similar situation. Her immense energy, if fully released, would undoubtedly trigger massive energy tides. While she wasnt concerned about the tides themselves, she was cautious about the safety of Nalan Yanran and the others, so she had partially sealed her perception of the surroundings. As the group found themselves at a bit of a loss, Han Yue spoke up thoughtfully, Senior Sister, while I dont know the exact location of the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, it should be at the heart of the mountain range. To form the extraordinary pool water, it would require an immense concentration of pure energy. In other words, the Blood Pool should be in the area with the densest and most abundant energy. If we can pinpoint the place with the strongest energy fluctuations and head there directly, we should be on the right track. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 453: Xiao Yin: This Is What You Call a Maze? Chapter 453: Xiao Yin: This Is What You Call a Maze? Chapter 453: Xiao Yin: This Is What You Call a Maze? "Junior Sister Han Yue is absolutely right; the energy of the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool is undoubtedly the most concentrated vortex of energy in this area," said Xiao Yi Xian, revealing a row of pristine white teeth as she nodded cheerfully at Han Yue''s analysis. Nalan Yanran also nodded in sudden realization. Seeing her suggestion affirmed, Han Yue became even more enthusiastic. The next moment, she slowly closed her eyes, releasing her soul power outward. Han Yues innate soul power was already superior to most, and with her cultivation of the Soul Division Art bestowed by Gu He, combined with consuming rare heavenly materials that nourished the soul, her soul power was far stronger than that of others at her level. As her soul power extended outward, the energy fluctuations within a few kilometers began to reflect in her mind. Gradually, she discerned the flow of energy. "To the north!" Moments later, Han Yue opened her eyes, excitedly pointing northward. In her perception, the energy of the mountain range seemed to subtly converge in that direction. Looking in the direction Han Yue indicated, Xiao Yi Xian didnt hesitate at all and decisively said, "Alright, lets head north!" With that, everyone quickly moved in the northern direction. In the dense, foggy forest, they occasionally encountered magical beasts unafraid of the Purple Demon Condor''s intimidation. To avoid triggering large-scale energy disturbances, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yin refrained from acting. All obstacles were handled by Han Yue, Nalan Yanran, and A Zi. With the three of them working together, most of the magical beasts were dealt with in an instant. Some, after exchanging a single blow, fled in panic. After an hour of travel, Xiao Yi Xians group gradually reached the central region of the Tianmu Mountain Range. They were now very close to Tianmu Mountain itself. "Were nearing Tianmu Mountain now. Ive heard that at the mountains base, theres a natural maze. Peoples senses are greatly suppressed there, making it easy to get lost," Han Yues crisp voice echoed through the foggy forest as the five figures moved swiftly. "A maze?" Hearing Han Yues words, Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran were both surprised. Having only recently arrived in Central Plains, their knowledge was still quite limited. "And that maze isnt even the most challenging part. The entire Tianmu Mountain is occupied by a magical beast clan known as the Gold-Devouring Rats. While most of them are just ordinary second- or third-tier magical beasts, their numbers are truly overwhelming. Of course, the real core of the Gold-Devouring Rat clan is their humanoid members, who are the true rulers of Tianmu Mountain. Its said that the clan leader has even reached the seventh tier, with strength comparable to a six-star Douzong powerhouse!" Han Yue added, seeing that the others werent familiar with these details. "Junior Sister Han Yue, if thats the case and such a magical beast clan exists in the Tianmu Mountain Range, how could the opportunity to soak in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool ever fall to these people, most of whom are only at the Douhuang level?" Nalan Yanran asked with confusion. Among the giant trees was a narrow tree door, just wide enough for one person to enter. That should be the entrance to the maze! Han Yue said in her clear, crisp voice. Following Han Yues gaze, the group saw the tree door. As they approached the tree door, Xiao Yin sensed the area briefly before suddenly laughing. Haha, what kind of maze is this? Its nothing more than a crude use of spatial techniques, combined with some fog to obscure vision! Hearing Xiao Yins confident assessment, the others immediately felt a sense of relief. The next moment, under the watchful eyes of Xiao Yi Xian and her companions, Xiao Yin quickly formed a series of intricate seals. A strand of silvery energy, under Xiao Yins careful control, drifted toward the tree door. Boom! A loud explosion erupted, and the once-narrow tree door was blown wide open, creating a three-meter-wide gap. Splinters flew everywhere as an incredibly dense white mist poured out from the newly created hole. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 454: The Bottom of the Blood Pool! Chapter 454: The Bottom of the Blood Pool! Chapter 454: The Bottom of the Blood Pool! On the trunk of a large tree, several kilometers away from Xiao Yi Xians group, a gray-robed elder with a somewhat lecherous appearance leaned casually. Suddenly, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. Then, in an aged voice, he muttered to himself, "Whats going on? The maze was destroyed so easily... Are the human talents entering the mountain range this time really that strong?" In the next moment, the gray-robed elders figure flickered as he leaped from the tree and darted toward the mist-covered forest ahead. Meanwhile, on the other side, after Xiao Yin destroyed the maze, Xiao Yi Xians group passed through the massive gap it had left behind. In this area, the density of the white mist was at least ten times greater than outside, but with the destruction of the formation, the fog began dispersing outward. As they walked cautiously through the thick fog, an eerie figure suddenly appeared about a hundred meters ahead. Although Xiao Yin had suppressed part of her senses, the aura of this figure was instantly detected by her. Someones here! Xiao Yin stopped in her tracks, quietly alerting Xiao Yi Xian and the others behind her. Hearing Xiao Yins warning, the rest of the group immediately halted. Whos lurking here? The figure, having just landed a hundred meters away, was probing the group with his soul power when a cold and commanding voice rang out, startling him. To detect my arrival so quickly in this dense fog? The lecherous elders eyes flickered with surprise. He immediately formed several intricate seals, releasing peculiar waves of energy. In response, the fog within several hundred meters instantly dissipated, clearing the area. What lay before him after the mist cleared left the elder utterly dumbfounded. Three young women, accompanied by two adolescents, have made it to the base of Tianmu Mountain? One Dou Wang at the peak level, two mid-tier Dou Huangs, and two whose cultivation levels I cant even discern? As the lecherous elders mind raced with questions, Xiao Yi Xian stared at him coldly and asked, You must be one of the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan from the Tianmu Mountain Range, correct? Hearing her, the elder smirked and replied, Since youve guessed my identity, I wont deny it. I am Jin Gu! After introducing himself, Jin Gus tone shifted into a sharp question. Han Yue then pointed further upward and continued, Senior Sister Xiao Yi Xian, halfway up the mountain is the Heavenly Stone Platform. Beyond that are the checkpoints set by the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan. According to the agreements between the clan and other factions, only those who successfully pass these checkpoints are qualified to reach the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool at the summit. (Best version available on Yi Shu Ba!) After hearing Han Yues explanation, Xiao Yi Xian reflected and said, Rules are created by the strong to bind the weak. If we are stronger than the rule-makers, we can ignore their rules... Today, I will make sure all of you reach the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. Hearing this, Han Yue and Nalan Yanran were momentarily stunned, then looked at Xiao Yi Xian with admiration. Who wouldnt like such a confident and powerful senior sister? Oh, I almost forgot something! Suddenly, Han Yue slapped her forehead as if remembering something, and excitedly turned to Xiao Yi Xian. Senior Sister Xiao Yi Xian, before I left, my master specifically told me something important! Your master specifically mentioned it? Lets hear it, Xiao Yi Xian said, a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes. Han Yues expression turned serious as she recalled Gu Hes words. Master said to tell you all that when the energy tide in the Tianmu Mountain Range reaches its peak, the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool is not the greatest treasure here! The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool isnt the greatest treasure? Is there something better in the Tianmu Mountain Range? Xiao Yi Xians interest deepened. Han Yue continued, Master said that during each energy tide in the Tianmu Mountain Range, most of the energy condenses into the red liquid of the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. However, a small portion of the energy sinks to the bottom of the blood pool and settles over time. This energy, though scarce, is incredibly pure due to the accumulation of countless years! The bottom of the blood pool contains the purest energy... How does your master know all of this? Xiao Yi Xians curiosity grew stronger. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 455: Fire Poison! Chapter 455: Fire Poison! Chapter 455: Fire Poison! "Senior Sister Xian''er, Master said that while the energy in that place is incredibly pure, it contains a significant amount of fire poison. Your physique happens to restrain this fire poison, so Master instructed me to let you go there alone to absorb it..." As Han Yue spoke, she even mentioned the location at the bottom of the blood pool, the spatial barrier set up by the Gold-Devouring Mouse Clan, and how their clan leader had accumulated injuries over time due to the fire poison.@@@@ "I feel like Master has been here before," Nalan Yanran murmured softly. It wasnt just her. At this moment, even Xiao Yi Xian and the others felt that everything was so meticulously described that it seemed as though Gu He had experienced it personally. Otherwise, how could he provide such detailed instructions? "Master is immensely capable, so its no surprise that hes thoroughly informed about this place!" Xiao Yi Xian said with a smile. Most of Gu He''s instructions revolved around her, making her very pleased. Moreover, this kind of treasure and opportunity left Han Yue and Nalan Yanran without even a reason to feel "jealous," as only Xiao Yi Xian could ignore and refine the fire poison completely. ... Not long after, Xiao Yi Xian and her group could clearly see the midway point of Tianmu Mountain. Halfway up Tianmu Mountain was an exceptionally spacious platform, constructed neatly with rocks. At the edge of the platform was a stone stairway leading directly to the mountain''s summit. However, at the moment, the stone steps were guarded by humanoid, mouse-headed Gold-Devouring Mice. On the platform, outside the stone steps, stood a short old man whose eyes sparkled with sharpness as he stared at the approaching Xiao Yi Xian and her group. Beside this short old man was the lecherous elder, Jin Gu, who had appeared in the maze earlier, along with two enormous, dark-gold-haired giant mice. These two Gold-Devouring Mice were significantly larger than average, and their eyes gleamed with a sharp intelligence rivaling that of humans. Both of these Gold-Devouring Mice were clearly at the sixth tier. They were likely candidates to enter the Tianshan Blood Pool this time. If they broke through to the Dou Ancestor stage and survived their tribulations, they could take on human forms and become core members of the Gold-Devouring Mouse Clan. The lecherous elder glanced at the group landing on the platform and turned to Jin Gu. "Jin Gu, are these the human girls you mentioned earlier?" "Yes, the one leading themI couldnt even discern her strength. But Im certain shes already reached the Dou Ancestor stage!" Jin Gu nodded at the old mans question. "Old man, even if those others arrive, if my sect decides not to let them into the Tianshan Blood Pool, no one can enter!" Xiao Yi Xian countered nonchalantly. "Besides, with your current state of injuries and weakened body, I doubt you could stop me." "You can truly discern my injuries?" Jin Shis gaze sharpened as he stared intently at Xiao Yi Xian, his voice laced with suspicion. "Could it be that youre a top-tier alchemist?" Jin Shis skepticism was understandable. Even elite sixth-tier alchemists couldnt detect his internal injuries. Could this seemingly seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl surpass that level? "Thats none of your concern," Xiao Yi Xian replied indifferently. She certainly wouldnt admit that it wasnt her observation but rather information passed down from Gu He to Han Yue and then to her. Xiao Yi Xians haughty demeanor made Jin Shi somewhat believe her claims, elevating his evaluation of her even further. "Miss, regardless of the situation, I cannot allow an early challenge to the checkpoints. Its not just my decision; the rules are in place. If I violate them, other factions will not stand for it. It could lead to a unified assault on my clan," Jin Shi said bitterly. The Gold-Devouring Mouse Clan had already suffered a crushing defeat in the past. Now, they merely survived in the gaps of the major factions power struggles. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 456: Reaching the Summit! Chapter 456: Reaching the Summit! Chapter 456: Reaching the Summit! "Such nagging!" Xiao Yi Xian looked visibly annoyed after listening to Jin Shis explanation. If not for Jin Shis consistently humble tone, she might have lost her temper already. "Yanran, Han Yue, Xiao Yin, lets head straight to the summit and see if they dare stop us!" Xiao Yi Xian turned away from Jin Shi, signaling the group to proceed toward the peak. Seeing this, Jin Gu and Jin Shi exchanged hesitant glances, torn over whether they should intervene. "Clan Leader, these young women act recklessly and without fear. They likely come from a powerful faction. Offending them might bring more trouble than breaking our agreement with the other forces," Jin Gu said cautiously. "Ive thought the same. These people must have formidable backing. Knowing our strength, they still show no regard for us," Jin Shi replied with a nod. "Then, what about the checkpoints?" Jin Gu asked nonchalantly. "The checkpoints will proceed as planned. That way, we can at least give the other forces an explanation," Jin Shi said after a moment of thought. As Jin Shi finished speaking, he looked at the retreating figures of Xiao Yi Xian and her companions as they ascended the stone steps. Raising his voice, he warned, "Ladies, theres a Mouse Tide Soundwave Array set up by our clan above. The more of you ascend together, the stronger its power will be. If you can overcome the array, youll reach the summit!"@@@@ Xiao Yi Xians group paused briefly at the warning, then continued their steady climb. Around the stone steps, the countless Gold-Devouring Mice opened their eyes, their fur bristling as powerful soundwaves began to emanate. The energy in the surrounding area grew increasingly chaotic. In response to the incoming waves, Xiao Yin quickly performed a series of hand seals. Moments later, invisible energy barriers materialized around Han Yue and Nalan Yanran. The piercing soundwaves, now condensed like a storm, surged down from above, aiming to overwhelm Xiao Yi Xians group. Yet, as these overwhelming waves approached within half a foot of the group, they collided with an invisible barrier, causing deafening blasts in the air. The soundwaves, vast and formidable, dissipated entirely before they could reach their targets. Despite the cold reception, Jin Gu showed no displeasure. He quickly turned and left. ... After Jin Gus departure, Xiao Yi Xian and her companions advanced under the energy tides in the sky, weaving through the clusters of jagged rocks. Guided by their perception of the energy flow, they climbed to a higher vantage point after seven or eight minutes. What they saw next caused Nalan Yanran and Han Yue to draw in sharp breaths. Before them lay an enormous volcanic crater. Wisps of hot, fire-poison-laden smoke billowed intermittently from its depths. At the center of the crater was a small pool, only a few meters across. The liquid within was sparse, revealing faint traces of fiery red, like molten lava. "Yanran, although the energy in this blood pool is abundant, your cultivation hasnt yet reached the Dou Emperor stage. When you enter the pool later, even with medicinal support, make sure not to push yourself too hard," Xiao Yi Xian cautioned, casting a glance at the energy-rich blood pool. "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister. Ill be careful!" Nalan Yanran responded with a smile. Her current cultivation had already reached the peak of Dou King. If she absorbed the pools energy effectively, she might soon step into the Dou Emperor stage. "Xiao Yin, since Master mentioned that the Tianshan Blood Pools bottom has a spatial barrier set up by the Gold-Devouring Mouse Clan, youll need to assist me in entering it later. Afterward, come back and watch over Han Yue, Yanran, and Zi Mo Jiu," Xiao Yi Xian instructed. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 457: Conflict! Chapter 457: Conflict! Chapter 457: Conflict! "Xiao Yin, since Master has mentioned that there is a spatial barrier set up by the Devouring Gold Mouse Clan at the bottom of the Tianshan Blood Pool, assist me in entering it later! Afterward, stay outside and look after Han Yue, Yanran, and Ah Zi." Based on Xiao Yi Xian''s understanding of Xiao Yins strength, she knew that the Tianshan Blood Pool no longer had any significant effect on someone of her level. Hence, she arranged things this way. "Don''t worry, Sister Xian! Leave everything to me!" Xiao Yin cheerfully nodded upon hearing her instructions. ... Two hours later, at the foot of Tianmu Mountain, the first group of "young talents" who had ventured into the mountain range finally arrived before the entrance to the maze. "Huh? Why is the entrance to this maze so large? Didnt the sect records state that only one person could pass through at a time?" Standing before the maze entrance, Jiang Feng stared at the large hole that Xiao Yin had blasted open, his face full of confusion. Behind him, two youths, around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, shared his reaction. These two were the direct disciples of Fu Fan, the master of the Bone Transformation Sect in Bone Transformation City. Their strength had reached the level of eight-star Dou Emperor, making them among the top-ranked experts in the group entering this time. "Brother Jiang Feng, do you know what happened here?" the two asked Jiang Feng in unison. "I have no idea. It was already like this when I arrived," Jiang Feng replied, shaking his head. "This maze entrance was clearly destroyed by someone. Who would dare to do such a thing? Arent they afraid of angering the Devouring Gold Mouse Clan and inviting trouble?" The two disciples from the Bone Transformation Sect suspiciously examined the large hole as they walked toward it. "This is great! The mazes effects have been nullified, and we can save a lot of time passing through!" "Exactly! Although the mist here is denser than in other areas, its no longer enough to obstruct our vision." Noticing this, the two disciples paid no attention to Jiang Feng and quickly passed through the hole, disappearing from his view.@@@@ Seeing this, Jiang Feng hesitated no longer and stepped into the now-useless maze. Because the mazes effects were mostly gone, those disciples equipped with detailed maps quickly navigated the area. It didnt take long before they exited the maze and reached the Tianshi Platform at the mountains midpoint. At this moment, Jiang Feng, who was swiftly ascending, and the disciples from the Bone Transformation Sect, arrived at the Tianshi Platform. Upon seeing only members of the Devouring Gold Mouse Clan present, their faces immediately lit up with excitement. Facing the growing outcry, Jin Shi did not resort to force but angrily retorted, "Hmph! Stop spouting nonsense. My Devouring Gold Mouse Clan has never violated the agreement. The five individuals who passed the trial earlier are not from our clan!" "Heh, every year, the trials are open and transparent. Why is it that this year, some people could pass in advance? What a joke!" Jiang Feng sneered in response to Jin Shi''s explanation. Jiang Fengs words reignited the crowd''s anger, which had only just started to subside. Seeing this, a cold glint flashed in Jin Gu''s eyes. He spoke in a deep voice, "Young man, if you continue to speak so disrespectfully to the clan leader, do you believe I wont throw you down the mountain right now?" The immense pressure radiating from Jin Gu was focused entirely on Jiang Feng, causing his face to turn pale. He quickly realized that the seemingly unassuming elder before him, Jin Shi, was none other than the Devouring Gold Mouse Clan''s clan leadera figure rumored to rival Tianleizi, the master of the Wind Thunder Pavilions Northern Branch. "My goodness, I acted so insolently in front of such a terrifying expert!" Jiang Feng immediately regretted his earlier behavior. The words he had intended to say were swallowed back into his throat. "Senior, it was my mistake just now. Please forgive my rashness!" Jiang Feng lowered his head and apologized sincerely to Jin Shi. "Forget it. My Devouring Gold Mouse Clan has always adhered to the rules. While it is true that anyone who passes the trial can ascend to the summit, if more than eight individuals reach the peak, they will still need to compete among themselves for the spots." Jin Shi waved his hand, his words carrying a clear implication. It was obvious that regardless of when someone completed the trial, only eight spots would be allocated at the summit, and those who made it through would have to determine their eligibility through further competition. "In that case, let me be the first to attempt the trial!" Jiang Feng stepped forward with determination. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 458: Two Extra Participants! Chapter 458: Two Extra Participants! Chapter 458: Two Extra Participants! "Whoosh! Whoosh!" As soon as Jiang Feng stepped onto the stone steps, he dashed forward, covering a distance of a hundred meters in an instant. At that moment, the golden giant mice resting on both sides of the staircase abruptly opened their eyes. A terrifying sonic wave erupted from their mouths, surging toward Jiang Feng. In response, he quickly channeled his Dou Qi to shield himself. Although activating the Dou Qi barrier reduced his speed, he managed to push through and reach the mountain summit in a very short time. "Trial completed successfully!" Jin Gu promptly announced Jiang Fengs success. Then, his figure swiftly followed to the summit. "Next!" Jin Shi called out on the Tianshi Platform. "Zhong Shufan of the Bone Transformation Sect!" As soon as Jin Shi finished speaking, Zhong Shufan from the Bone Transformation Sect leaped forward. Upon entering the area of the stone staircase, the sonic wave attacks surged again. However, Zhong Shufan relied on his abundant Dou Qi to resist them head-on. His strides were steady and swift, leaping several dozen meters in a single bound. In mere moments, he was near the summit. Reaching this point, Zhong Shufan wasted no time. Turning toward the summit, he glanced at Jiang Feng, gave a cheeky grin, and unleashed a surge of water-blue Dou Qi from his body. It enveloped him like a water sphere. With a stomp, he launched himself upward, the sphere cutting through the sonic waves with brute force. Onlookers at the platform gasped in amazement, some inwardly marveling at the sheer strength of Dou Qi displayed by Jiang Feng and Zhong Shufan. Their methods, though somewhat clumsy, were undeniably effective in overcoming the Mouse Tide Sonic Array. Encouraged by the ease with which Jiang Feng and Zhong Shufan had passed the trial, the young talents on the platform grew confident and rushed toward the stone steps one after another. However, not everyone could replicate Jiang Fengs success. Among those with strength below the eight-star Dou Emperor level, only one individual barely managed to pass the trial, but not without sustaining severe injuries. Including him, only five participants had reached the summit. Due to the damaged maze, many unqualified individuals had made it to the Tianshi Platform, which significantly prolonged the trial period. With nearly half of the participants still waiting to attempt the trial, Jin Shi urged impatiently, "Your time is running out. Those who fail to complete the trial within half an hour will be deemed unsuccessful and expelled!" Hearing this, the young talents from the various factions on the platform became anxious. "The weakest one is that aloof-looking woman with the sword. Perhaps we can target her." After some quick deliberation, the five began isolating the injured man who had barely passed the trial. Jiang Feng and another participant, who had shown considerable strength during their solo trials, were deemed untouchable. The two Bone Transformation Sect disciples were slightly weaker than Jiang Feng but formed a solid team, making them unwise targets. This left the injured man as the weakest among the five. "Zhou Ying, you should step down voluntarily," Jiang Feng said coldly, fixing the injured man with a frosty glare. As Jiang Feng spoke, the other threethe participant whose strength was on par with him and the two Bone Transformation Sect disciplesturned their attention to Zhou Ying. "Why should I? My strength isnt the weakest here! Look at those girls over there with their weak cultivation. Why should I be the one to leave?" Zhou Ying roared angrily, pointing a finger at Xiao Yi Xians group on the slope. "Heh." Hearing Zhou Yings protests, Jiang Feng, the two Bone Transformation Sect brothers, and the nine-star Dou Emperor simultaneously let out cold chuckles. The situation was clear: the five on the slope were undoubtedly a cohesive group. Their combined strength appeared far greater than that of the injured Zhou Ying. Ignoring Zhou Yings outburst, Jiang Feng took a couple of steps toward Xiao Yi Xians group on the high slope. With an air of courtesy, he said, "Ladies, weve already taken the initiative to eliminate the weakest among us. Dont you think your group of five should do the same?" (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 459: Expression? Chapter 459: Expression? Chapter 459: Expression? Jiang Fengs words were clear to anyone paying attentionit was an indirect suggestion to eliminate the weakest member of Xiao Yi Xian''s group, Nalan Yanran. As Jiang Feng finished speaking, Nalan Yanran, who had been quietly ignoring the discussion, suddenly showed a flicker of despondency in her eyes. Her emotions became a tangled mess. If you want me to give you an answer, Ill grant your wish! In the next moment, a cold yet furious voice pierced through Nalan Yanrans ears. Senior Sister Xian! The moment she heard that voice, Nalan Yanran instinctively raised her head. At the same time, a pained scream echoed loudly. In Nalan Yanrans field of vision, Jiang Feng, who had just spoken, collapsed to the ground. He writhed in agony, foaming at the mouth, his complexion turning ashen. Although Xiao Yi Xian hadnt used the powerful Dou Qi energy of her advanced Dou Ancestor cultivation, her mastery of poison was far beyond what someone of Jiang Fengs level could withstand. Seeing Jiang Fengs pitiful state, Tang Ying, the two members of the Bone Melting Gate, and another peak Dou Emperor all visibly changed expressions. Even the four members of the Gold-Devouring Mouse Clan revealed profound apprehension in their gazes. This womans poison techniques are terrifying! A peak Dou Emperor was rendered powerless in an instant! She hasnt even unleashed her Dou Qi techniques yet. Could her strength truly be at the level that triggered the energy tide in the Tianmu Mountain Range? Who are these five people? Even the Wind Lightning Pavilion doesnt seem to intimidate them. At that moment, these thoughts raced through everyones minds. Nalan Yanran turned her gaze toward Xiao Yi Xian, her heart swelling with gratitude. Having such a fiercely protective senior sister felt truly wonderful. ... I quit! Amidst the tense silence, Tang Ying suddenly shouted in panic and bolted down the mountainside. Jiang Feng, who remained twitching on the ground, was left completely ignoredhis life or death irrelevant. Jinshi quickly shifted his attention away from Xiao Yi Xian and spoke urgently, Everyone, we only have a few minutes before the energy tide reaches its peak. Get ready! Its just as Master saida spatial barrier is set up here! Seeing the distorted space, Xiao Yi Xian felt a surge of joy. The power of this spatial barrier wasnt overwhelming for her, but since it had been constructed over a long period by the Gold-Devouring Mouse Clan, it would still take her significant effort to break through on her own. At that moment, Xiao Yi Xian instinctively glanced at Xiao Yin, who had been following closely behind. Xiao Yin, its up to you! Xiao Yi Xian said with a grin. Got it! Hearing her words, Xiao Yins delicate and adorable face lit up with a bright smile. Nodding, Xiao Yin approached the spatial barrier. Her small hands quickly formed a series of intricate hand seals, and a surge of powerful silver energy flowed from her palms. Instantly, the spatial barrier rippled with waves, and soon, a passage large enough for one person appeared in Xiao Yi Xians line of sight. Great job, Xiao Yin! Xiao Yi Xian gave Xiao Yin a thumbs-up, praising her. Elder Sister Xian, dont worry. This spatial passage is undetectable by others. When youve finished your cultivation, just crush this jade token! Xiao Yin said, handing a silver jade token to Xiao Yi Xian. Understood! Xiao Yi Xian nodded, taking the jade token from Xiao Yin. In a gentle voice, she added, Once Im inside, Xiao Yin, keep an eye on Yanran for me! With that, Xiao Yi Xians figure flickered as she swiftly entered the passage. (The chapter ends here.) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 Chapter 460: Collective Breakthrough! Chapter 460: Collective Breakthrough! Chapter 460: Collective Breakthrough! As Xiao Yi Xian passed through the spatial passage, she immediately felt a significant increase in pressure around her. Her body sank more than ten meters before gradually stabilizing. Surveying her surroundings, she noticed that the space enclosed by the barrier wasnt very large, spanning no more than ten zhang. The crimson energy here was frighteningly viscous, so much so that even moving her arms caused resistance more than ten times stronger than in the upper layers. Within this dense, blood-red energy floated numerous dark gray specks of light. These specks carried a pungent and searing heat. Upon detecting them, Xiao Yi Xians excitement grew. Below her lay a rugged terrain filled with numerous pits. From these craters, gray smoke continuously rose, laden with concentrated fire poison. Evidently, at the bottom of the blood pool lay a boiling, active volcano. Without hesitation, Xiao Yi Xian sat cross-legged and formed hand seals to activate her cultivation technique. She made no effort to shield herself, allowing the viscous blood-red energy and gray specks to settle onto her body. These dark gray specks, feared by most as the fire poison of the blood pools depths, began surging into her body unabated. Over the years, this energy and fire poison had fused together so thoroughly that most people would need to go through great pains to separate them before absorbing the energy. However, with the Terrifying Poison Body, Xiao Yi Xian had no need for such precautions. ... Sizzling sounds echoed faintly as Xiao Yi Xians body, tempered through the Nether Poison Flames refinement, effortlessly withstood the intense heat. The invading fire poison was immediately directed into her Poison Core, where it was converted into pure energy and channeled into her dantian. As the first wave of dense blood-red liquid surged into her body, Xiao Yi Xian trembled slightly. Such potent energy would typically take two or three days of effort to absorb under normal circumstances, yet here it was processed in mere moments. No wonder the Gold-Devouring Mouse Clan had gone to such lengths to keep this place hidden. If they had a method to either absorb the energy directly or neutralize the fire poison, their strength would undoubtedly skyrocket. Guiding the immense influx of energy through her cultivation technique, Xiao Yi Xian sensed her meridians, bones, muscles, and even her cells voraciously devouring the energy. In doing so, her body underwent rapid fortification. This viscous crimson energy possessed remarkable properties. It was exceptionally absorbable, and its prolonged accumulation seemed to imbue it with a faint vitality. As Xiao Yi Xian absorbed it, she felt her body filled with a vibrant, life-enhancing sensationan experience both peculiar and profound. If anyone were present to witness this scene, they would see that Xiao Yi Xians entire body had turned crimson. The thick blood-colored energy had permeated every inch of her being, soaking even her skin, which now exhibited heightened flexibility and durability. On the seventh day, Jin Shi and Jin Gu approached the pavilion where Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, Xiao Yin, and Zi Mojiu were resting. Ladies, the tidal energy has now fully receded. Why hasnt your friend come out yet? Could something have happened to her? Jin Shi asked Nalan Yanran and the others, his tone laced with curiosity. Due to Xiao Yins special methods, neither Jin Shi nor Jin Gu was aware of the anomalies within the spatial barrier below. She should be out soon, Nalan Yanran replied casually, brushing off the question. Seeing the groups nonchalant demeanor, Jin Shi and Jin Gu grew even more puzzled. In their estimation, Xiao Yi Xians strength was similar to their own, meaning the benefits of the blood pool for her shouldnt have been substantial enough to warrant such a prolonged stay. (The chapter ends here.) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 /anish_44 @@@@ Chapter 461: Emergence from Seclusion Chapter 461: Emergence from Seclusion Chapter 461: Emergence from Seclusion At the bottom of the blood pool, surrounded by fiery red light, Xiao Yi Xian sat quietly in meditation. From the moment she entered her training state until now, she hadnt taken a single break. Like an old monk in deep meditation, she remained completely still, continuously absorbing the boundless energy around her. This energy was used to temper her meridians, bones, muscles, and even her cells. She didnt rest for a moment, relentlessly absorbing the abundant blood-red energy surrounding her. With such vigorous absorption, the Dou Qi within her body grew increasingly powerful, flowing through her meridians like a roaring river. Time flew by quickly. In the blink of an eye, another three days had passed. Within the volcanic crater, the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, once brimming to its edges, had receded to a shallow level. The once vibrant red liquid had also faded, now resembling ordinary lake water. Its energy had diminished to the point of being nearly undetectable. "Strange, the energy is already so faint that its impossible to absorb. Why hasnt she come out yet?" Jin Shi frowned as he spoke from the craters edge. "If the energy cant be absorbed anymore, yet shes still inside... Could it be..." Jin Gus gaze suddenly turned toward the bottom of the blood pool. Suspicion flickered in his eyes. "Could it be that she discovered the energy concealed beneath the spatial barrier at the pools bottom?" "The bottom of the blood pool? Impossible. Theres a barrier there. If she had entered it, we would have noticed," Jin Shi shook his head, dismissing Jin Gus guess. Jin Gu glanced at Jin Shi and said thoughtfully, "Patriarch, have you forgotten the spatial techniques that woman displayed when she broke through our defenses?" "Could it be..." Jin Shis expression changed. "Did she truly discover the spatial barrier at the bottom of the blood pool and evade our senses to enter it? But the fire poison there is something even we dare not absorb. How could a human manage it?" "Patriarch, lets go down and take a look," Jin Gu suggested. "Alright!" Jin Shi nodded, agreeing with Jin Gus idea. In the next moment, the two leaped into the volcanic crater, rapidly descending toward the bottom. However, as they had descended several hundred meters, a massive water column, over ten meters in height, suddenly erupted from the surface of the pool. "Not good! The barrier has been destroyed!" As the enormous water column shot upward, both Jin Shi and Jin Gu instantly sensed the spatial barrier breaking apart. "No wonder she stayed down there for so long!" Jin Shi mused. While the bottom of the blood pool was a treasure trove, their clan had never cared much for it, as no one from the Devouring Gold Mouse Tribe could absorb the energy there. Under the duos watchful eyes, the towering water column reached its peak and exploded with a resounding roar. Massive water droplets fell from the sky, forming an endless curtain of rain that seemed to connect heaven and earth. "Somethings happening at the volcanic crater!" Afterward, Xiao Yi Xians gaze shifted to Jin Shi and Jin Gu in the distance. All things considered, Ive taken advantage of the Gold-Devouring Mouse Clans opportunity this time. Since these two are suffering from fire poison, I should help them remove it as compensation, Xiao Yi Xian sighed softly. With that thought in mind, she called out to Jin Shi and Jin Gu, Do you two want the fire poison in your bodies removed? Remove the fire poison? Hearing Xiao Yi Xians shout, Jin Shi and Jin Gu were momentarily stunned before their faces lit up with joy. The next moment, their figures flashed, and they swiftly appeared in front of Xiao Yi Xian and her companions. Miss, are you saying youre willing to help us remove the fire poison? Jin Shi asked, his voice tinged with excitement. Yes, the fire poison in your bodies isnt too difficult to remove. Consider it compensation for my use of your Gold-Devouring Mouse Clans opportunity, Xiao Yi Xian replied softly. Haha, if Miss can remove the fire poison for us, our Gold-Devouring Mouse Clan will forever remember your kindness! Jin Shi exclaimed, deeply grateful, as he cupped his hands toward Xiao Yi Xian. Xiao Yi Xian nodded slightly. She then took out a sheet of white paper and quickly jotted down some ingredients. Go and gather these herbs immediately. Ill need them shortly. (End of the chapter.) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 462: Removing the Fire Poison! Chapter 462: Removing the Fire Poison! Chapter 462: Removing the Fire Poison! "Are these... poisons?" Jin Shi froze as he looked at the list of ingredients Xiao Yi Xian had provided. Over 80% of the listed items were highly toxic substances. "That''s correct," Xiao Yi Xian replied calmly, her expression steady despite Jin Shi''s skeptical tone. "The method I devised to treat the fire poison in your bodies is by using poison to combat poisonneutralizing the fire poison through destruction. In fact, there are many more poisonous items I haven''t written down. Anything toxic found in the Tianmu Mountain Range can be collected. The greater the quantity of poisonous substances, the more confident I am in removing the fire poison from your bodies." As Jin Shi scrutinized Xiao Yi Xian''s face, his doubts gradually subsided.@@@@ "Very well. If that''s the case, Miss, please rest here on Tianmu Mountain for a while. Ill quickly instruct the clan to gather the poisons," Jin Shi said seriously. "Go ahead and prepare," Xiao Yi Xian replied with a dismissive wave of her hand, her tone serious. The next moment, Jin Shi and Jin Gu transformed into streaks of light and swiftly departed the area near the volcanic crater, heading down the mountain. After they left, Nalan Yanran couldnt help but ask curiously, "Senior Sister Xian, are the poisons you asked them to gather really for treating the fire poison?" Hearing her question, Xiao Yi Xian laughed. "Of course not! The poisons were just a little extra. Only the listed ingredients are actually useful for them." Xiao Yi Xians reasoning was straightforward. While she was helping them remove the fire poison, if she had asked them to gather poisons for her personal use, they would have agreed without hesitation. But Xiao Yi Xian decided not to make it that easy for them. "Ah, so thats what Senior Sister meant!" Upon hearing her explanation, both Nalan Yanran and Han Yue burst out laughing. About three hours later, Jin Shi and Jin Gu returned to the mountain summit, having gathered all the ingredients on the list as well as a large quantity of poisonous substances. "Miss, weve collected everything you requested. Additionally, weve brought all the poisons our Gold-Devouring Mouse Clan has gathered over the years!" Jin Shi placed several large, bulging sacks in front of Xiao Yi Xian. "Your efficiency is quite impressive," Xiao Yi Xian remarked, nodding in satisfaction as she looked at the bags of poisons. She then added, "Next, Ill prepare the potion to remove the fire poison in your bodies. Please step aside for now." "Huh?" Hearing Xiao Yi Xians request, Jin Gu hesitated, worry flickering in his eyes. He was suddenly concerned that she might leave with everything. "Lets go. Dont disturb Miss while shes preparing the potion," Jin Shi said firmly, pulling Jin Gu away without any doubts. Once they were gone, Xiao Yi Xian swiftly collected the poisons and then began working with the listed ingredients. She ignited her flames and carefully started refining the potion. Watching this, Jin Gu gritted his teeth and swallowed the red liquid without hesitation. Soon after, both elders began to feel intense heat coursing through their bodies. The medicinal power seeped in, stirring up the fire poison and exposing its locations within their systems. At this critical moment, Xiao Yi Xian closed her eyes and extended her soul power. The time spent at the bottom of the Blood Pool had refined more than just her body; her soul had also been tempered. Now, her soul strength was far more formidable than before. With the two elders having consumed the specialized liquid, Xiao Yi Xian could clearly detect the distribution of the fire poison within their bodies. "Open your mouths. This will hurt a little, so be prepared," Xiao Yi Xian said, warning them. She then unleashed a wisp of purple flame, carefully enveloped by her soul power, and guided it into their bodies. Although the purple flame itself was highly toxic, it also had the unique property of devouring other toxins. Under Xiao Yi Xians precise control, the flame did not release its toxicity but instead sought out the areas within the elders bodies tainted by fire poison and began consuming it. "Sizzle!" The process was excruciating for Jin Shi and Jin Gu. The fire poison had not only invaded their flesh but had also seeped into their bone marrow, making the extraction process agonizing. Ten minutes later, both elders were drenched in sweat, their faces pale and their bodies on the verge of collapse. Despite their disheveled state, they could clearly sense that the fire poison, which had deeply embedded itself in their bones, was gradually being removed. The hidden dangers lurking within their bodies were being eliminated step by step. (End of the chapter.) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 463: Journey to Tianbei City! Fei Tian! Chapter 463: Journey to Tianbei City! Fei Tian! Chapter 463: Journey to Tianbei City! Fei Tian! Open your mouths! After several more minutes, just as Jin Shi and Jin Gu were about to lose consciousness, a cold voice rang in their ears. Hearing the voice, the two immediately opened their mouths without hesitation. Purple flames swiftly escaped from their bodies through their mouths. Phew~ As the flames left their bodies, the excruciating pain subsided. Jin Shi exhaled deeply, relief washing over him. Thank you, Miss. This act of kindness will not be forgotten by the Gold-Devouring Mouse Clan. Should you ever need our assistance, simply come to the Tianmu Mountain Range, and I, Jin Shi, will obey. Seated cross-legged on the ground, Jin Shi solemnly bowed to Xiao Yixian, his voice filled with gratitude. He could feel the changes within his body. A long-standing affliction had finally been eradicated, leaving him deeply moved. Jin Gu, standing nearby, mirrored Jin Shis actions, expressing his gratitude to Xiao Yixian with equal sincerity. In response to their thanks, Xiao Yixian waved her hand nonchalantly. Lets talk about the future when it comes. With that, she turned to Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and the others, who were waiting quietly nearby. Smiling, she said, Lets go! Alright! Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and the others nodded, then swiftly followed Xiao Yixian as they left the Tianmu Mountain Range. Safe travels, ladies! Watching the group disappear into the distance, Jin Shi and Jin Gu bowed deeply, their earnest voices echoing across the mountain summit. With the energy tide now over, much of the thick mist in the Tianmu Mountain Range had dispersed. Thanks to Xiao Yixians groups swift pace, they quickly exited the mountains. With Han Yue leading the way, there was no need to consult maps. Once outside the Tianmu Mountain Range, they headed directly toward Tianbei City. Two days after Xiao Yixians group departed, an unexpected guest arrived at the Gold-Devouring Mouse Clans territory in the Tianmu Mountain Range. Jin Shi, youve grown bold, daring to act so recklessly! A thunderous, aged voice boomed from the skies above the Tianmu Mountains, filled with overwhelming pressure. The weaker members of the Gold-Devouring Mouse Clan trembled with fear. In response to the angry voice, a short figure quickly soared from a certain location on the mountain to meet it in the air. With a flash of lightning, a long spear formed entirely of thunder coalesced in his grasp, crackling violently. The spear trembled, causing ripples to distort the surrounding space. In the next moment, Fei Tian unleashed the spear, which surged forward with overwhelming thunderous battle aura, tearing through the air with a sharp hiss. Seeing this, Jin Shi and Jin Gu joined forces, forming a massive energy sphere of battle aura in front of them to intercept Fei Tians thunder spear. Boom! The thunderous collision resulted in both the spear and the energy sphere being annihilated. The explosive shockwave spread across the mountain summit, causing weaker Gold-Devouring Mice to burst apart under the intense energy. "Dammit!" Jin Shi roared furiously, his eyes bloodshot as he saw the damage inflicted on the mountain summit. "Warriors, form the defensive formation!" At his command, the Gold-Devouring Mice across Tianmu Mountain began to unite their battle aura in an intricate manner. They created a terrifying formation, unleashing waves of energy attacks that resembled tangible sound waves directed at Fei Tian. Boom! Boom! In the sky, Fei Tian blocked dozens of these attacks but struggled when faced with the combined assault of Jin Shi and Jin Gu. "Jin Shi, your strength has weakened over the years. Now, it takes two of you just to barely match me. If you continue to act recklessly, extinction isnt far off for your clan!" Fei Tian, realizing that prolonging the fight would bring him no advantage, sneered and retreated beyond the range of the formation''s attacks, departing the Tianmu Mountains. "Extinction?" "Clan leader, does Fei Tian mean that Thunder Venerable might intervene in this matter too?" Jin Gu asked worriedly. Hearing this, Jin Shi shook his head. "I dont think so. The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool is shared among the major factions of Central Plains. If Thunder Venerable were to intervene, it would signify something much larger. They wouldnt risk upsetting this delicate balance over such a trivial matter." (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 464: Gu He’s Teachings! Nalan Breaks Through to Six-Star Dou Emperor! Chapter 464: Gu Hes Teachings! Nalan Breaks Through to Six-Star Dou Emperor! Chapter 464: Gu Hes Teachings! Nalan Breaks Through to Six-Star Dou Emperor! In Central Plains, just outside Tianbei City, Xiao Yixian and her group had been traveling for several days and were finally nearing their destination. Senior Sisters, that ahead is Tianbei City! Flying in the air, Han Yue pointed excitedly toward the towering city walls that were gradually coming into view. Hearing this, Xiao Yixian seemed to recall something and turned to Han Yue. Junior Sister Han Yue, could you give us a rough idea of where Master is located? Well use void space traversal to reach him directly. Xiao Yixian understood that her master, Gu He, disliked drawing too much attention. Since their group consisted of several young individuals, flying into the city together would undoubtedly attract a great deal of notice. To avoid this, she asked Han Yue to provide the approximate location of Gu Hes residence. Han Yue nodded at Xiao Yixians words and immediately began recalling the location. It should be... after entering through the city gate ahead, head north... After listening to Han Yues description, Xiao Yixian stretched out her fair arm and made a gentle swipe through the air. Instantly, a pitch-black spatial rift appeared before them. At her current strength of a peak nine-star Dou Zong, coupled with her frequent void space traversals with Xiao Yin, a Dou Zun expert well-versed in spatial manipulation, Xiao Yixians control over spatial forces surpassed most peak Dou Zongs. She was even approaching the spatial mastery of newly advanced Dou Zun experts. Thus, tearing open a spatial rift to access void space posed little difficulty for her. However, merely creating a rift wasnt enough for safe traversal. One also needed to manage various spatial imprints and other intricate properties within the void. Xiao Yin, its up to you now! After opening the spatial rift, Xiao Yixian called out to Xiao Yin. Leave it to me! Xiao Yin smiled and nodded. She quickly formed several intricate hand seals, unleashing vast amounts of silver energy that enveloped Han Yue, Nalan Yanran, and the Purple Demon Condor. At the Han family estate, in the small courtyard belonging to Han Yue and Han Xue, the surroundings had changed significantly over the past few months. Many of the arrangements had been inspired by ideas Han Yue had borrowed from Gu He. Theyre finally on their way here! Inside a bedroom, Gu He, who had been meditating, suddenly opened his eyes. His senses had detected the approach of six void jade tokens rapidly drawing closer to his location. Without hesitation, he rose, opened the door, and stepped outside. The others watched as Gu He extended his hand, gently placing it on Nalan Yanrans forehead. System, transfer cultivation to my third disciple, Nalan Yanran! Boom! With Gu Hes low command, a surge of energy flowed from his palm into Nalan Yanrans body. Bang! Within moments, a muffled sound came from within Nalan Yanran. Her accumulated foundation, which had already placed her at the peak of one-star Dou Emperor, broke through to the two-star Dou Emperor realm. In just a short time, the energy transferred from Gu He to Nalan Yanran equaled half of what she had absorbed during her entire time at the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. Feeling the sudden surge in power, Nalan Yanran remained focused, eliminating any stray thoughts from her mind as she concentrated on absorbing the energy flood. Her cultivation continued to soar. From two-star Dou Emperor, she broke through to three-star Dou Emperor. Then, she quickly ascended to four-star Dou Emperor. When she reached five-star Dou Emperor, her absorption speed finally slowed, and her aura began to stabilize. However, Nalan Yanran gritted her teeth, determined to push herself further and unleash even more of her potential. Moments later, her flushed face reflected her struggle as her cultivation rose to the peak of five-star Dou Emperor, just a step away from six-star Dou Emperor. Seeing Nalan Yanrans relentless efforts, Gu He spoke gently to comfort her. Thats enough, Yanran. Dont push yourself too hard. Youve done very well already. With that, Gu He lifted his hand, ending the energy transfer. At that moment, Nalan Yanrans body emitted another muffled sound. Her aura surged one final time, breaking through to the six-star Dou Emperor level. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 465: Xiao Yi Xian Steps Into Dou Venerate! Chapter 465: Xiao Yi Xian Steps Into Dou Venerate! Chapter 465: Xiao Yi Xian Steps Into Dou Venerate! Ding! Detected that the host has granted two days of cultivation to the third disciple, Nalan Yanran. Congratulations to the host for receiving a 3,000-fold return: sixteen years of cultivation! (Note: This corresponds to the peak of Four-Star Nine-Star Dou Venerate!)@@@@ Sixteen years of cultivation have been delivered to the system space. Please check carefully! Hearing the system prompt, Gu He was slightly delighted. With his current cultivation at the peak of Four-Star Dou Venerate, the sixteen years of cultivation returned from Nalan Yanran was already remarkable. If he refined this cultivation, Gu He was confident he could once again fill his body with Dou Qi, compress and refine it, and directly break through to the peak of Five-Star Dou Venerate. Yanran, I didnt expect you to break through to Six-Star Dou Emperor in one go. Youve finally gained the aura of a sect master! Seeing Nalan Yanrans determined efforts, Gu He praised her. Master, Yanran owes her current strength entirely to your guidance! Nalan Yanran replied humbly after stabilizing her cultivation. Hmm, you may step back for now. Next, I will pass on power to your senior sister, Gu He said with a slight nod. Hearing this, Nalan Yanran stood up and walked to Yun Yuns side. Nalan Yanran had only one senior sister, so Gu He naturally referred to Xiao Yi Xian. After Nalan Yanran stepped aside, Xiao Yi Xian smiled and approached Gu He. Gu He had nothing but admiration for Xiao Yi Xians rapid growth. Three years ago, Gu He had taken Xiao Yi Xian as a disciple in Qingshan Town. In just three years, she had grown from a novice in cultivation to the peak of Dou Ancestor. With her unique constitution and the otherworldly flame she had subdued, even the hidden guardians of Jia Nan Academy were no match for her now. If this were to be made public, even the ancient imperial clans would be shocked. While their descendants might greatly enhance their cultivation by activating bloodlines or accepting certain inheritances, no one had managed to grow from zero to the peak of Dou Ancestor in just three years like Xiao Yi Xian. Looking at Xiao Yi Xian standing before him, Gu He gave a heartfelt appraisal. In less than five minutes, Xiao Yi Xian''s body had reached its saturation point, leaving her just one step away from the breakthrough. She maintained this state for another two minutes. When she could no longer process the energy Gu He was transferring, a terrifyingly intense aura suddenly burst forth from her body. She had succeeded! She had broken through the barrier and was stepping into the Dou Venerate level, sustaining her rapid absorption of energy. This time, thanks to Gu Hes prior containment of the ten-zhang space, Xiao Yi Xians breakthrough only drained the energy within this confined area, without causing any significant celestial phenomena. Outside the transparent barrier, Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, and Han Yue could hardly detect any changes. None of them sensed the overwhelming aura emanating from Xiao Yi Xian. Boom! Inside the sealed space, a sudden sound echoed as an abnormal energy surge burst forth from Xiao Yi Xian. Following this, her cultivation finally ascended to the Dou Venerate realm. However, the process of receiving Gu Hes energy transfer differed significantly from a typical breakthrough. Even after successfully stepping into the Dou Venerate level, Xiao Yi Xian did not stop. She continued diligently absorbing the energy transmitted by Gu He. "Shes already a Dou Venerate!" Sensing Xiao Yi Xians current state, Gu He silently marveled, "Xianers growth in comprehension is truly astonishing!" Xiao Yi Xians ability to achieve the Dou Venerate level at such a young age was undeniably influenced by her Woeful Poison Body and the multiple energy transfers from Gu He. However, without her extraordinary resilience and comprehension, it would have been impossible for her to reach the Dou Venerate realm at this age. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 467: Adding a New Junior Sister! Chapter 467: Adding a New Junior Sister! Chapter 467: Adding a New Junior Sister! Han Yue also approached, her face full of admiration as she spoke to Xiao Yi Xian, Senior Sister Xian, youre amazing! A Dou Venerate! Even my great-grandfather, who has lived for so many years, couldnt reach that level! Junior Sister Han Yue, with our master guiding us, the Dou Venerate realm wont be our limit. In the future, we may even step into the legendary Dou Saint realm! Xiao Yi Xian responded earnestly to Han Yues words. She then tilted her head toward Gu He and asked, Master, dont you think so? Hehe! Gu He chuckled lightly at her question and said, Xianer, its good that you have such ambitions. Becoming a Dou Saint should indeed be your goal. In truth, Xiao Yi Xian had been wanting to ask Gu He about his actual cultivation level. Even though she had now reached the peak of Two-Star Dou Venerate, she still felt that Gu Hes aura was as vast and unfathomable as the ocean. However, she felt it wouldnt be appropriate to directly ask her master about his cultivation level. Thinking of this, Xiao Yi Xian shifted her gaze to Yun Yun, who was walking over. Ive got it! Since its not good to ask Master directly, I can try to get it out of Mistress! Xiao Yi Xian thought to herself. Yun Yun walked to Gu Hes side, her gaze soft as she looked at Xiao Yi Xian. She congratulated her, Xianer, congratulations on successfully taking another big step on the path to becoming a strong cultivator! Its all thanks to Masters excellent teaching! Xiao Yi Xian replied modestly, her face slightly flushed. After saying this, Xiao Yi Xian quickly moved to Yun Yuns side and quietly transmitted a voice message to her, Mistress, do you know Masters current cultivation level? Hearing Xiao Yi Xians transmission, Yun Yun was momentarily stunned. Then, with a smile on her face, she replied through voice transmission, Xianer, when your master left Yun Lan Sect, he was already a Nine-Star Dou Venerate. I havent asked about it recently, though! Nine-Star Dou Venerate! Hearing Yun Yuns response, Xiao Yi Xians expression showed sudden realization.@@@@ So I was right! I had always suspected that Master wasnt an ordinary Dou Venerate. Turns out, he had already reached the pinnacle of the Dou Venerate realm! Nine-Star Dou Veneratethe peak of this realm. The next step would be the nine transformations to become a Dou Saint. I wonder how far Master has progressed in these months? The subtle fluctuations from Xiao Yi Xian and Yun Yuns voice transmissions naturally didnt escape Gu Hes notice. At this moment, he turned his head slightly, a faint smile in his eyes, and said, Xianer, what are you whispering about with your Mistress? Noticing that Gu He had caught on to her voice transmission, Xiao Yi Xians face grew even redder. Flustered, she waved her hands and said, Master, its a secret! You cant know! Considering their current wealth and status, the items they gave Han Xue were quite precious to her. Before long, the four sisters, along with Xiao Yin and Zi Mo Jiu, a pair of small magical beasts, were chatting and laughing harmoniously as if they had always been close. Senior Sister Xian, youve reached the Dou Venerate realm, but what about our eldest senior brother? What level is he at now? Han Xue asked Xiao Yi Xian expectantly, her curiosity evident. Although she had learned their names from Yun Yun, she wasnt familiar with their cultivation levels. Hearing Han Xues question, Xiao Yi Xian responded without hesitation, Weve been away for quite a while. Eldest Senior Brother should have broken through to the Dou Emperor realm by now! What? Eldest Senior Brother is only a Dou Emperor? Han Yue and Han Xue were visibly shocked by the answer. They had high expectations for this unseen eldest senior brother, but the result was far below what they had imagined. Seeing their surprised expressions, Xiao Yi Xian earnestly explained, Our eldest senior brother has excellent talent in cultivation. Its just that Ive temporarily surpassed him because of my unique constitution. However, when it comes to alchemy, hes the one who has truly inherited Masters legacy! So, Eldest Senior Brother is an alchemist! With such high praise from Senior Sister Xian, Eldest Senior Brother must have surpassed the fourth rank by now, right? Han Xue speculated. Haha, Junior Sister Xue, youre underestimating our eldest senior brother! Nalan Yanran interjected with a laugh. During the Alchemist Conference in the Jia Ma Empire, our eldest senior brother crushed the competition as a fifth-rank alchemist! Exactly! Xiao Yi Xian chimed in. I wouldnt be surprised if hes already reached the sixth rank by now! Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 468: The Star-Catching Old Ghost! Chapter 468: The Star-Catching Old Ghost! Chapter 468: The Star-Catching Old Ghost! Sixth-rank alchemist? Hearing Xiao Yi Xians words, Han Yue and Han Xues mouths opened wide in astonishment. Currently, even the highest-ranked alchemist among the Han familys offerings was only a fifth-rank alchemist, and that person was a white-haired elder. How old could their eldest senior brother, Liu Ling, be? After thinking for a moment, Han Xue suddenly asked Xiao Yi Xian, If Eldest Senior Brother is already a sixth-rank alchemist at his age, then what rank is Master? Seventh? Or even eighth? Master has definitely reached the seventh rank. As for whether hes eighth, Im not entirely sure, Xiao Yi Xian replied, shaking her head. In her opinion, however, it was highly likely that Gu He had already achieved the eighth rank. Xueer, Master has been a seventh-rank alchemist for quite some time. According to Senior Sister Zi Yan, Master once gifted her a seventh-rank pill back when she was in the academy, Han Yue added. Zi Yan... This wasnt the first time Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yi Xian had heard the name today. Both of them were now quite intrigued by this mysterious Zi Yan mentioned by Han Yue and Han Xue. Han Yue, does this mean Junior Sister Zi Yan went somewhere else to train on her own? Xiao Yi Xian asked curiously. Yes. When I parted ways with Senior Sister Zi Yan, she had already reached the advanced Dou Emperor realm. With her strength, exploring Central Plains shouldnt pose much of a problem, Han Yue nodded.@@@@ Xiao Yi Xian understood that Han Yue and Zi Yan were also on training missions lasting two years. Thinking about this, she sighed, Central Plains is so vast. Finding her would be nearly impossible. Even if Master uses the spatial jade talisman to locate her, she wont stay in one place. I guess well just have to wait until the time comes for Junior Sister Zi Yan to return on her own. Indeed, Han Yue agreed, nodding lightly. Senior Sister Zi Yan mentioned that she would return when I participate in the Four Pavilion Grand Competition. Thats less than fourteen months away now, so it shouldnt be too long before she starts her journey back. In that case, well stay here with you until then! Haha, Senior Sister Xian, before heading to the Tianmu Mountain Range, I already had Xueer prepare your rooms! Han Yue said cheerfully. Theyre over there. Lets go take a look! ... Three months passed quickly. During this time, with Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yi Xian, and the others accompanying Yun Yun at the Han family estate, Gu He often left Tianbei City to refine pills in nearby secluded mountains. Lets head inside first, he said, pausing momentarily before flicking his sleeve and striding toward the hall. Seeing this, Blood Venerate quickly followed. Before long, the two entered through the giant doors, traversing several dim, eerie corridors until they arrived at a secluded room deep within the hall. The room was illuminated by ghostly green flames flickering in the dark. Once inside, Blood Venerate quickly performed several hand seals, and the room was soon sealed by a peculiar energy, isolating it completely. After completing the precautionary measures, Blood Venerate turned to Star-Catching Old Ghost with a faint smile. Hehe, Star-Catching Old Ghost, now that were secure, are you ready to share the details of your mission? Sigh... This mission involves the fallen ancient imperial clan, the Xiao Clan, Star-Catching Old Ghost replied with a sigh. Oh, the Xiao Clan, that fallen ancient imperial family... For the Hall Master to assign you personally, it must be a significant matter! Blood Venerate exclaimed in surprise. This wasnt the Hall Masters directive. Ive been sent by Lord Nine Venerate to the Northwestern Continent, Star-Catching Old Ghost explained. Ah, so its Lord Nine Venerates orders? Blood Venerate nodded slightly. Exactly. The ones originally tasked with operations in the Northwestern Continent havent sent back any updates for a long time. This time, the Hall decided to send me personally to investigate. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 469: Delay! Xue Tianzun Takes Action! Chapter 469: Delay! Xue Tianzun Takes Action! Chapter 469: Delay! Xue Tianzun Takes Action! "The Xiao clan is said to have been in decline for countless years. Nowadays, theyve been forced to shrink into a small town in the impoverished Northwest Continent, where you cant even find a single Dou King among them. Brother Zhaixing, why would you worry about a task like this?" Xue Tianzun asked after hearing Zhaixing Laoguis concerns. Upon hearing this, Zhaixing Laogui''s glowing eyes showed a trace of helplessness. He smiled bitterly and said, "Haha, Brother Xue, I truly dont care about the Xiao clans strength. However, the key is how to deal with the Xiao clan without drawing the attention of the other great imperial clans." "Ah, I see now... If those junior Protectors from the hall handle this, it wont draw much attention. But if you go in person, your level of cultivation will make you too obvious," Xue Tianzun nodded in agreement. "Exactly. This task is fraught with danger. A single misstep could land me in a situation of no return. If the matter is exposed, even if the other clans dont take action, the hall itself would... Never mind, I wont speak of this." Zhaixing Laogui''s expression turned bitter as he continued, "Ive heard that theres a branch hall in the Heijiaoyu of the Northwest Continent, and its administrator is one of your subordinates. Thats why Ive come to you, hoping to learn more about the situation in the Northwest Continent." "You want to ask if there are any members of the other imperial clans present in the Northwest Continent, dont you?" "Yes, not just that. Id also like you to explain the distribution of forces in the Northwest Continent in detail. Or, you could summon Yeming to give me a thorough explanation," Zhaixing Laogui lowered his stance as he spoke, clearly feeling stifled. Initially, based on his understanding of the Northwest Continent, Xue Tianzun was the most suitable candidate for this task. However, Xue Tianzun was backed by Xue He, one of the Four Tianzun. Not wanting to stir up trouble, Xue He had intervened. The Ninth Tianzun, Moyu, who ranked lowest among the Nine Tianzun of the Soul Hall, couldnt contend with Xue He. As a result, the task fell to someone arranged by Moyu. "Haha, so you want to learn about the Northwest Continent? Thats easy. Lets sit down and talk!" Xue Tianzun said with a relaxed expression after hearing Zhaixing Laoguis request. He slowly walked to a stone seat in the room and sat down. Seeing this, Zhaixing Laogui quickly took the stone seat next to him. "The most famous place in the Northwest Continent is, of course, the Heijiaoyu. Within it, the most powerful faction is the Jia Nan Academy, which you must already know about. Then there are the major empires, like the Chuyun Empire, Luoyan Empire, Mulan Empire, Tian She Kingdom, and the Jia Ma Empire. Within these empires, the most powerful factions are..."@@@@ In this conversation, Xue Tianzun spoke "meticulously," detailing everything he knew about the Northwest Continent for Zhaixing Laogui. He even fabricated information about things he didnt know, spinning a great deal of it from thin air. "Thats all I know! As for the rest, youll have to adapt as the situation demands." After a full day and night of talking, Xue Tianzun, whose mouth was almost parched, finally ran out of material to share and decided to stop. "I never expected Xue Tianzun to assist me so thoroughly!" But just as he was focused on searching, Xue Tianzun suddenly raised his hand. A terrifying blood-red palm imprint shot straight toward Zhaixing Laoguis back. Zhaixing Laogui had barely sensed the energy fluctuation behind him when an immense force struck his back. The impact from Xue Tianzuns attack sent Zhaixing Laoguis body hurtling hundreds of meters away. His internal organs shifted violently, and he coughed up mouthfuls of blood. It was clear that Xue Tianzun had held back with his attack. Otherwise, given his cultivation, which was a full star level higher than Zhaixing Laoguis, the latters body would have been completely pulverized. Severely injured, Zhaixing Laogui turned his head abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief as he stared at Xue Tianzun. "You scoundrel! How dare you ambush me with such a ruthless move..." A roar of fury and grief echoed across the valley. After his furious outburst, Zhaixing Laogui looked at the slowly approaching Xue Tianzun, a trace of determination flashing in his eyes. The next moment, a jade slip appeared in his hand. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 470: Successfully Controlling Zhaixing Laogui! Plotting Against Xue He! Chapter 470: Successfully Controlling Zhaixing Laogui! Plotting Against Xue He! Chapter 470: Successfully Controlling Zhaixing Laogui! Plotting Against Xue He! Zhaixing Laogui was completely bewildered as to why Xue Tianzun had suddenly launched such a vicious attack on him. However, he was acutely aware of one thingif no one came to his aid today, he would meet a tragic end at Xue Tianzun''s hands. At this moment, filled with anger and confusion, Zhaixing Laoguis first thought was to crush the spatial jade slip left to him by Jiu Tianzun. As long as Jiu Tianzun arrived, his life could be spared. "Xue Tianzun, you vile scoundrel! Just wait! Not even Lord Xue He can protect you this time!" Zhaixing Laogui spat venomously at Xue Tianzun, preparing to crush the jade slip. But just as the thought crossed his mind, he suddenly realized that he had lost control of his arm. At the same time, an even more excruciating pain coursed through his entire body. "Ah!" A shrill scream tore from his throat as his eyes darted toward his arm. To his horror, he saw that his arm had been completely severed, taken along with the spatial jade slip by a mysterious force. In the space where his arm had been, a massive silver bolt of lightning emerged from the void, transforming into the figure of a white-robed man. The white-robed man raised his hand slightly. The severed arm opened its palm, and the spatial jade slip fell into his grasp. "Who are you?" "Why are you working with Xue Tianzun to ambush me?" The white-robed mans aura was restrained, but the moment Zhaixing Laogui saw him, an overwhelming sense of terror surged in his heart, even surpassing the pain of his wounds. This white-robed man, formed from silver lightning, was none other than Gu He, who had rushed from Tianbei City to this location. With his current cultivation at the peak of an Eight-Turn Nine-Star Dou Zun and his mastery of the Void Thunder God Flash technique, which allowed him to traverse the void at will, Gu He had crossed nearly a quarter of the Northern Regions territory in just a day and a night, arriving near the Soul Hall branch. Throughout Gu Hes journey, Xue Tianzun had been communicating with him regularly, reporting the situation and deliberately stalling Zhaixing Laogui. When Gu He was about to arrive, Xue Tianzun found an excuse to lure Zhaixing Laogui away from the branch hall.@@@@ Now, holding the spatial jade slip, Gu He completely ignored Zhaixing Laoguis angry roar and immediately unleashed his soul power. It surged into Zhaixing Laoguis soul as he performed an ancient puppet-control technique. "What are you doing?!" "I am under orders from Jiu Tianzun, carrying out a critical mission! If you kill me, you wont escape the investigation!" "Understood, Master!" Zhaixing Laogui respectfully complied, his voice steady. Then, transforming into a streak of light, he swiftly disappeared from the sky above the valley. After Zhaixing Laogui departed, Gu He turned to Xue Tianzun and said, "Xue Tianzun, I have a new task for you. This time, no matter what methods you use, you must bring Xue He, the Fourth Tianzun of the Soul Hall, to the Northern Region of Central Continent. Once Xue He arrives, notify me immediately." "Understood, Master!" Xue Tianzun bowed deeply and respectfully replied before quickly departing. The Soul Clan had yet to give up on their ambition to seize the Xiao Clans ancient jade. However, Gu He couldnt let them succeed just yet. The Xiao Clan was currently residing within the Jia Ma Empire, and if something happened to them, it could draw powerful experts from the imperial clans to the empire. That might lead to suspicions about the Yunlan Sect, making things far more complicated. With Gu Hes current cultivation and various abilities, dealing with half-saint-level experts was relatively effortless. However, against true Dou Sheng experts, he was less confident. After all, the gap between the peak of Dou Zun and Dou Sheng was akin to a chasm. After making all the necessary arrangements, Gu Hes figure flickered and transformed into a silver bolt of lightning. He plunged into the void once more, beginning his return journey. It took him another full day and night of travel before he finally reentered the area near Tianbei City. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 471: Return! The Growth of the Disciples! Chapter 471: Return! The Growth of the Disciples! Chapter 471: Return! The Growth of the Disciples! Tianbei City, Han Family Manor, within the small courtyard of the Han Yue sisters. Inside one of the rooms, Xiao Yi Xian, who had been meditating, suddenly sensed something. She immediately stood up and pushed open the door to step outside. "Master, how come youve returned from refining pills so quickly this time?" she asked curiously as she looked at the figure appearing in the courtyard. Hearing her question, Gu He answered without hesitation, "There was a small incident along the way, so I took a detour to another place." At that moment, the doors of the other rooms in the courtyard opened as well. Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, Han Xue, Xiao Yin, and the Purple Demon Vulture all stepped out, having been alerted by his return. Seeing all six of them emerge from their rooms because of his arrival, Gu He glanced at the sky. It was already deep into the nightno wonder they had all been resting. "Its late. You should all go back to your rooms and rest," Gu He waved his hand before walking toward Yun Yun. "Its fine... Ill sleep a bit more then," Nalan Yanran and Han Yue rubbed their eyes sleepily before heading back to their rooms. Gu He, meanwhile, took Yun Yuns hand and led her inside. ... "Husband, our child should be born in less than two months. Have you thought of a name yet?" On the bed, Yun Yun blinked her bright eyes, looking at Gu He with anticipation. Gu He reached out and lifted Yun Yuns robe, revealing her smooth, slightly rounded belly. "Yuner, lets let the child choose their own name." Gu He smiled, then leaned in and gently rested his head against her stomach. "Pfft!" Seeing his actions, Yun Yun couldnt help but burst into laughter. "Youre so silly! How could a baby still in the womb speak?" Facing someone stronger than oneself yet maintaining confidence, avoiding envy, and instead setting ones resolve to catch upsuch a mindset already demonstrated the potential to become a true powerhouse. With a hint of joy in her voice, Nalan Yanran said, "Thank you for your encouragement, Master! I will continue to work hard!" Hearing this, Gu He smiled and nodded before shifting his gaze toward Han Yue. "Han Yue, what about you?" Gu He asked softly. Han Yue, feeling slightly nervous, took a step forward and replied honestly, "Master, three months ago, I had reached Nine-Star Dou Emperor. Now, I have reached the peak of Nine-Star Dou Emperor. However, breaking through to Dou Ancestor will likely take a long time." Seeing the hesitation on Han Yues face, Gu He sighed softly and said, "Breaking through from the peak of Dou Emperor to Dou Ancestor is indeed a formidable challenge. Countless people have been stuck at this bottleneck." He recalled that in the Jia Ma Empire, both Yun Shan and Jia Xing Tian had once reached the peak of Nine-Star Dou Emperor, yet they had remained stagnant for years, never managing to step into the realm of Dou Ancestor. Not just in the Jia Ma Empirethroughout the Central Plains, the chances of breaking through from Dou Emperor to Dou Ancestor were extremely low. This was a clear watershed. While a Dou Emperor could still roam the Central Plains, they would never be taken too seriously. Only upon reaching the Dou Ancestor realm would they truly earn recognition and respect. After finishing his explanation, Gu He moved his fingers slightly, and three exquisite white jade bottles appeared in his hand. "Here are three Seven-Tier Pills. I refined them during my recent training. Today, I am gifting them to the three of you!" Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 472: Nine-Tier Treasure Pill of Life! Ten Thousand Breaking Venerate Pills! Chapter 472: Nine-Tier Treasure Pill of Life! Ten Thousand Breaking Venerate Pills! Chapter 472: Nine-Tier Treasure Pill of Life! Ten Thousand Breaking Venerate Pills! Seven-Tier Pills! The moment Gu He spoke, the hearts of Han Yue, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Han Xue all skipped a beat in unison. Even in the Northern Region of the Central Plains, a Seven-Tier Alchemist was as rare as a phoenix feather. A mere Five-Tier Alchemist was already enough to be treated as an honored guest in major aristocratic families. As a result, Seven-Tier Pills were in extremely short supply in the Northern Region. Yet now, Gu He was casually handing out three Seven-Tier Pills as gifts. Such generosity was beyond shocking. "Master, these pills were painstakingly refined over three months. We cannot accept them," Xiao Yi Xian immediately declined without a second thought after overcoming her initial surprise. Gu He had chosen to refine pills outside the manor precisely to avoid attracting unwanted attention from other factions with the phenomenon of pill tribulation lightning. Since he always informed Yun Yun about his trips, it was impossible for the three girls to be unaware of them. "Master, please take them back. We wont accept them!" "Master, such precious pills... we truly cannot accept them!" After Xiao Yi Xians firm refusal, Han Yue and Nalan Yanran also shook their heads in unison. Seeing this, Gu He found himself in a difficult position. A year or two ago, he might have been able to scare Xiao Yi Xian into submission by threatening to expel her from the sect. But now, after her experience training in the Cloud Mist Empire, her personality had undergone a great transformation. Using such a method would likely backfire and create unnecessary tension. From the very beginning, he had intended these three Seven-Tier Pills for them. He had originally planned to refine four, but his involvement with the Star-Plucking Old Ghost had delayed the process of creating the fourth. After returning from the Soul Hall branch, Gu He had temporarily put off further pill refinement since Han Xue, given her current level, had no need for a Seven-Tier Pill. Now, with Xiao Yi Xian leading the resistance, all three were refusing the pills. Gu He couldnt simply let this slide. After a brief moment of thought, his expression suddenly turned serious. In a deliberately unimpressed tone, he said, "Are you truly so intimidated by a mere Seven-Tier Pill? What if I were to place an Eight-Tier Pill before you?" As he spoke, a white jade bottle suddenly appeared in his palm. The moment he removed the stopper, an unimaginably rich medicinal fragrance filled the air. A small, thumb-sized white dragon-shaped beast emerged from the bottle, floating in midair. At the same time, Gu Hes mind was suddenly filled with system notifications. "Ding! The system has detected that the host has gifted Second Disciple Xiao Yi Xian a Seven-Tier Pill, the Qingyuan Pill. Congratulations, host! You have received a ten-thousand-fold returnone Nine-Tier Treasure Pill, the Life Extension Pill!" "The Nine-Tier Treasure Pill, Life Extension Pill, has been sent to the system space. Please check your inventory." "Ding! The system has detected that the host has gifted Third Disciple Nalan Yanran a Seven-Tier Pill, the Qingyuan Pill. Congratulations, host! You have received a ten-thousand-fold returnten thousand Seven-Tier Qingyuan Pills!" "Ding! Ten thousand Qingyuan Pills have been sent to the system space. Please check your inventory!" "Ding! The system has detected that the host has gifted Sixth Disciple Han Yue a Seven-Tier Pill, the Breaking Venerate Pill. Congratulations, host! You have received a ten-thousand-fold returnten thousand Seven-Tier Breaking Venerate Pills!" "Ding! Ten thousand Breaking Venerate Pills have been sent to the system space. Please check your inventory!" Hearing these three system notifications, Gu He felt immense satisfaction. The Qingyuan Pill was a powerful healing pill of the Seven-Tier grade. However, due to its level, it was highly effective for those below the Dou Ancestor realm, but its effects became negligible once one reached Dou Venerate. Meanwhile, the Nine-Tier Treasure Pill, the Life Extension Pill, which he had received as a return from Xiao Yi Xian, was clearly another healing-type pill. Any healing pill that reached the Nine-Tier level could even provide significant effects to a Dou Saint. As for the Breaking Venerate Pill, Gu He had refined it before. It had no healing properties, nor did it directly enhance cultivation, but it significantly increased the chances of breaking through to the Dou Venerate realm. With such an overwhelming return, Gu He couldn''t help but smile inwardly. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44@@@@ Chapter 473: Han Yue Breaks Through to Dou Ancestor! Chapter 473: Han Yue Breaks Through to Dou Ancestor! Chapter 473: Han Yue Breaks Through to Dou Ancestor! This time, only Xiao Yi Xian received a quality-based ten-thousandfold return, while both Nalan Yanran and Han Yue received a quantity-based ten-thousandfold return. Ten thousand Clear Essence Pills and ten thousand Breaking Venerate Pills were temporarily of little use to Gu He. Perhaps, when the time was right, he could take these pills to the legendary Pill Domain for trade. Given the quality of the Breaking Venerate Pills and their ability to assist in breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm, they could likely be exchanged at a rate of two or three for a single ordinary eighth-tier pill. However, now was not the right time. The Pill Domain was a place teeming with both talent and danger, possibly even housing hidden Half-Saint or Dou Saint-level experts. With Gu Hes current strength at the peak of Eight-Star Nine-Turn Dou Ancestor, it was still somewhat risky to venture there. After all, if he sold such a massive batch of pills, it would inevitably attract the attention of some opportunists. ... "Han Xue, this is for you." After bestowing a seventh-tier pill each to Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Han Yue, Gu Hes gaze shifted to Han Xue, who stood behind them. Initially, he had planned to give her a sixth-tier pill, but after assessing her current strength, he changed his mind and instead took out a fifth-tier pill. With Han Xues current cultivation, even a fifth-tier pill would be difficult for her to fully absorb. "Thank you, Master!" Receiving the pill from Gu He, Han Xue bowed respectfully, her voice filled with gratitude. "Stand up, no need for such formalities." Gu He raised his hand gently and said, "Next, I will grant you all another transmission of power. Absorb as much as you canit doesn''t matter how much, just do your best... Han Xue, you go first." "Yes, Master!" As Gu He spoke, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Han Yue took a few steps back. Han Xue obediently approached Gu He and sat down cross-legged before him. The next moment, Gu He gently placed his palm on her fair forehead. "System, transmit power to my eighth disciple, Han Xue!" With this silent command, an immense yet gentle energy flowed from Gu Hes hand into Han Xues body, spreading throughout her meridians. Despite its overwhelming volume, the energy was mild, ensuring that Han Xue felt no discomfort. Gu He was meticulous when transmitting poweradjusting the flow speed according to each disciples cultivation. For someone at Han Xues level, he deliberately slowed the transmission rate significantly. As she absorbed the power, Han Xues cultivation soared rapidly. Sensing the raw, uncontrollable power, Han Yue immediately activated her cultivation method, guiding the energy along the correct meridian paths and directing it into her dantian. Boom! In less than three minutes, a drastic transformation occurred within Han Yues body. The already-loosened Dou Ancestor barrier shattered, and the speed at which she absorbed energy skyrocketed. Noticing this, Gu He accelerated the transmission, ensuring she had enough energy to stabilize her realm. As Han Yues aura expanded, the energy within the sealed space became violently turbulent. However, no matter how intense the fluctuations became, they could not shake the spatial seal Gu He had placed. Finally, Han Yues aura stabilizedshe had firmly stepped into the One-Star Dou Ancestor realm. However, due to the lack of battle experience and refinement over the past three months, she couldnt immediately continue advancing. Thus, after reaching the peak of One-Star Dou Ancestor, her absorption rate stagnated. Recognizing this, Gu He swiftly halted the transmission and created a small opening in the spatial seal. The cultivation return for Han Yue was noticeably greater than Han Xues, amounting to a full five years of cultivation. Instead of immediately checking his system space, Gu He turned toward the newly awakened Han Yue and instructed, "Once you step outside, call Yanran over." "Understood!" Han Yue nodded firmly before quickly stepping through the opening in the barrier. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 474: Issuing Another Training Mission Chapter 474: Issuing Another Training Mission Chapter 474: Issuing Another Training Mission Stepping out from the spatial seals opening, Han Yue quickly made her way toward Nalan Yanran. "Senior Sister Yanran, Master is calling for you," Han Yue said with a smile. Hearing this, Nalan Yanran immediately nodded and swiftly entered through the spatial seals opening, sitting cross-legged before Gu He. "Master, Im ready!" Nalan Yanran glanced up at Gu He before closing her eyes in deep focus. By now, Gu Hes disciples no longer felt hesitant about receiving his power transmissions. Instead, each of them looked forward to it with eager anticipation. Seeing this, Gu He wasted no time and immediately began the transmission. Within just a few minutes, Nalan Yanrans recently advanced seven-star Dou King cultivation reached its peak, preparing to break through to eight-star Dou King. Boom! After about two more minutes, a muffled roar echoed from within her body, and her aura surged upward, firmly stepping into the eight-star Dou King realm. Now at this stage, Nalan Yanrans absorption speed increased slightly, prompting Gu He to adjust and intensify the energy transmission. As he did, the energy within her body expanded at an astonishing rate, quickly reaching the peak of eight-star Dou King. However, at this point, the process was no longer as smooth for her. When she finally pushed herself into nine-star Dou King, Nalan Yanran reached her absolute limit. Her face flushed red, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Feeling the dampness on his palm, Gu He immediately cut off the transmission. In truth, he had already sensed Nalan Yanrans struggle when she reached the peak of eight-star Dou King, but seeing her determination, he had let her push forward. Surprisingly, she had actually managed to persist until she successfully advanced to nine-star Dou King. The moment Gu He ceased the transmission, the systems notification echoed in his mind. "Ding! Detected that the host has granted one days worth of cultivation to third disciple Nalan Yanran. Congratulations! You have received a 2,000x return, gaining five and a half years of cultivation! (Note: The five and a half years of cultivation corresponds to the peak of eight-turn nine-star Dou Ancestor!)" "Five and a half years of cultivation has been stored in the system space. Please check accordingly!" This time, the cultivation return from Nalan Yanran surpassed that of Han Yue by an additional six months. While the increased drop rate played a role, her unwavering perseverance at the critical moment also contributed significantly. Even with these additional years of cultivation, combining the gains from Han Yue and the minor return from Han Xue, Gu He still found it difficult to complete his final compression and refinement of Dou Qi. With Gu Hes silent command, a powerful surge of energy, far greater than what he had used for Nalan Yanran and Han Yue, flowed into Xiao Yi Xian. After just one or two minutes, strange cracking sounds came from within Xiao Yi Xians slender body, and her aura began to rise rapidly. Her strength advanced from the peak of two-star Dou Ancestor to three-star Dou Ancestor. "Master, thats enough," Xiao Yi Xian quickly said the moment she stabilized her breakthrough. As soon as she spoke, Gu He immediately withdrew his palm. At the same time, a system notification rang in his mind. "Ding! Detected that the host has granted half a months worth of cultivation to second disciple Xiao Yi Xian. Congratulations! You have received a 1,000x return, gaining forty-one years of cultivation! (Note: This forty-one years of cultivation corresponds to the peak of eight-turn nine-star Dou Ancestor!)" "Ding! Forty-one years of cultivation has been stored in the system space. Please check accordingly!" Hearing the systems notification, Gu He finally felt satisfied. This was about what he had expected. With the cultivation he had just received from Xiao Yi Xians transmission, he now had enough to complete his final Ninth Turn to Saint process. After that, he could use the Bodhi Pill to attempt a breakthrough into Half-Saint Realm. After briefly considering his next steps, Gu He dispersed the spatial seal that had covered the three-meter area. Then, he looked toward Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and Han Xue, gesturing for them to come over. "You four, come here," he called. The three quickly approached and lined up alongside Xiao Yi Xian. "You all should have noticed by nowyour absorption efficiency this time was far lower than it was three months ago." Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 475: Ideological Education! Chapter 475: Ideological Education! Chapter 475: Ideological Education! "Just now, I passed on my energy to you all, and you should have felt it yourselves. This time, your absorption efficiency is far worse than it was three months ago!" Gu He spoke with a stern expression, addressing Xiao Yi Xian and the other three. "Yes, over the past three months, we have made almost no progress!" Seeing Gu Hes serious demeanor, Xiao Yi Xian replied earnestly. "We have indeed been too lax these past three months!" Nalan Yanran lowered her gaze to the ground, looking somewhat ashamed. "Its my fault for disappointing you, Master!" Han Yue followed suit, staring at the ground just like Nalan Yanran, while Han Xue simply bowed her head in silence, not daring to speak. Observing their reactions, Gu He turned his back to them and continued, "The reason you have not made significant progress in the past three months is, on one hand, due to a lack of battles, and on the other, because you''ve spent far less time on training than before. It seems none of you feel any pressure anymore. Since thats the case, I will give you some pressure!" Before Xiao Yi Xian and the others could respond, Gu He directly started calling names. "Xian''er, you first!" Hearing Gu He call her name, Xiao Yi Xian stepped forward and respectfully said, "Master, please instruct me!" Gu He turned around, his gaze landing on Xiao Yi Xian as he spoke in a calm tone, "Xian''er, ever since you unified the Cloud Mist Empire and became its ruler, I have made no further demands regarding your training. Your growth has always pleased me. However, perhaps because your cultivation path has been smooth since then, and your strength has far surpassed your fellow disciples, you have become increasingly complacent." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian''s face flushed slightly. Gu Hes words were absolutely fair. Ever since she had reached the Dou Venerate realm, she had indeed developed a subtle sense of superioritynot in a way that looked down on her fellow disciples, but in how she had started to slack off in her own training. "Masters criticism is justified. I will take this as a warning," Xiao Yi Xian lowered her head and responded. "Today, I am giving you a new task: within two years, establish a force that can rival the Two Sects and Three Valleys!" Gu He directly announced her assignment. His task was for Xiao Yi Xian to form a new faction. However, rather than mentioning the renowned Four Pavilion Alliance in Central Plains, he instead challenged her to contend with the prestigious Two Sects and Three Valleys. The reason was simpleat Xiao Yi Xians current level, there was no one in the Four Pavilion Alliance capable of restraining her. Among the Four Pavilions, only Starfall Pavilion had any real strength before Yao Chens misfortune. The other three were nothing more than jokes. In the Central Plains, any reclusive powerhouse could easily sweep through the remaining three pavilions. "Establish a force equal to the Two Sects and Three Valleys..." Nalan Yanran, who had lowered her head in expectation of criticism, was surprised to find that Gu He hadnt reprimanded her at all. Just moments ago, even Xiao Yi Xian had been scolded. "Previously, your Mistress chose to pass the position of Sect Leader of Cloud Mist Sect to you. How do you feel about that now?" Gu He asked in a calm tone. "The feeling of being Sect Leader?" Hearing his question, Nalan Yanran was momentarily stunned. She didnt understand why Gu He was suddenly asking about this. Back when she first took on the role of Sect Leader, she had been worried about not doing well enough and had felt overwhelmed. Training time had inevitably been sacrificed due to the responsibilities of leadership. But now, under Xiao Yi Xians "guidance," she had long since become a hands-off leader, delegating all matters to others. "Could Master be implying that I havent been fulfilling my duties properly as Sect Leader?" Nalan Yanran couldn''t help but wonder. "It seems you still havent understood my point." Seeing Nalan Yanran remain silent, Gu He shook his head slightly before shifting his gaze toward Xiao Yi Xian, who stood a few meters away. He then called out, "Xian''er, explain to Yanran what it feels like to be the leader of a sect!" Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 476: A New Task! Expanding Power! Chapter 476: A New Task! Expanding Power! Chapter 476: A New Task! Expanding Power! As Gu He turned his head toward Xiao Yi Xian, she paused for a moment in thought before responding directly, "As the leader of a sect, I dont know much about the day-to-day management, since I mostly delegate those tasks to my subordinates. I wont go into that. What I can say is that being a sect leader comes with many advantagesyou can mobilize the entire sect to work for you, you have first pick of the high-quality cultivation resources gathered by the sect, and when fights break out, you usually dont have to lift a finger since you have people to handle them for you..." Xiao Yi Xian''s words focused solely on the benefits of being a sect leader. Once she finished speaking, Gu He immediately turned to Nalan Yanran and asked, "Yanran, did you hear what Xian''er just said?" "I heard it clearly..." After listening to both Xiao Yi Xian and Gu He, Nalan Yanran nodded but then hesitated before asking, "Master, are you suggesting that I should also establish my own faction like Senior Sister Xianer? That way, I wouldnt have to worry about lacking cultivation resources..." Hearing this, Gu He nodded slightly and said frankly, "Thats more or less the idea. If you want more resources, you need to strengthen your sect. In the process, youll gain experience and grow in many ways. I wont set any specific requirements for youjust work toward this goal." "I will do my best!" Nalan Yanran bowed respectfully to Gu He before stepping back to stand beside Xiao Yi Xian. ... "Han Yue!" Gu He gestured for Han Yue to step forward. "Master!" Han Yue approached and bowed respectfully. "Han Yue, do you remember the two-year task I assigned you before?" Gu He asked in a calm voice. Han Yue immediately responded, "Master, I remember. You previously told me that within two years, I needed to break through to the Dou King realm and participate in the next Four Pavilion Tournament, making it to the finals!" "The task I originally set for youyou have already completed one part of it, and in fact, you have exceeded expectations by reaching the Dou Ancestor realm. As for the other partparticipating in the Four Pavilion Tournament and making it to the finals, which meant securing a spot in the top eightat this point, that mission is meaningless. By the time the tournament is held, with your current strength, you could easily take first place. So in essence, youve already overachieved on your previous trial," Gu He stated calmly. As soon as he finished speaking, Han Yue quickly said, "Master, it was only because I encountered Senior Sister Xianer and the others that I had the opportunity to refine my body in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. That allowed my body to absorb more energy during your transmissions, helping me reach my current level. Therefore, I humbly request Master to assign me a new task!" Hearing this, Gu He remained silent for a moment before contemplating and saying, "Han Yue, since youre asking for a new task, I will give you one now. In the next three years, raise your cultivation to the Dou Venerate realm! Furthermore, establish a faction stronger than Wind Lightning Pavilion!" With that, she turned and walked toward Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran, her steps slightly hurried. "You two as well!" Gu Hes gaze followed Han Yue before landing on Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran. "Master, Yanran understands!" "Master, Xian''er understands!" Hearing Gu Hes words, both Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran, who had been relatively calm, immediately straightened up and responded with a hint of nervousness. "Master, you havent given Xueer her task yet!" At that moment, a timid voice came from Han Xue. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 477: Pill Thunder Appears Above Yun Lan Sect! Chapter 477: Pill Thunder Appears Above Yun Lan Sect! Chapter 477: Pill Thunder Appears Above Yun Lan Sect! Han Xue, like Qing Lin, is quite young, so Gu He decided not to give her too much pressure for the time being. He directly replied, "You don''t have any tasks for now." Hearing Gu He''s words, Han Xue''s clear eyes blinked twice in succession. It was unclear whether she felt disappointed or relieved for not being assigned a task. Soon, she eagerly said to Gu He, "Master, can Xue''er go out and train like the senior sisters?" Upon hearing this, Gu He smiled and gently replied, "If you want to go out and train, you can, but you have to go with your senior sisters. You cannot act alone." Currently, Xiao Yixian, Han Yue, and Nalan Yanran have all made notable progress in their cultivation. With the three of them looking out for her, Han Xue wouldn''t face too many problems while training. "Really? Thank you, Master!" Han Xue exclaimed excitedly upon hearing Gu He agree to her idea. That day, under Gu He''s teachings, the cultivation attitudes of Xiao Yixian and the other three finally returned to their previous diligence. However, they didn''t go out to train because their masters wife was due to give birth in about a month and a half. Since their task duration spanned a few years, they naturally planned to wait until after Yun Yun gave birth before making other arrangements. At Jia Nan Academy, over the Nine-Colored Valley in the rear mountain of the Yun Lan Sect, the previously clear sky suddenly began to gather dark clouds. The entire sky turned gloomy. "What happened? Why did the sky suddenly become so dark over there?" "Isn''t that the direction of the rear mountain?" "What happened in the rear mountain?" Above the Nine-Colored Valley, as thick clouds gathered and the sky darkened, many disciples of the Yun Lan Sect turned their attention to the sky. Elders like Yun Ling also flew into the sky above the buildings, looking there with solemn expressions. "Great Elder, with such an unusual change in the rear mountain, can you tell what''s happening?" An elder with a worried expression asked Yun Ling. During this time, with the young sect master Nalan Yanran away from the sect, Yun Ling, the Great Elder, was in charge of all major and minor affairs of the Yun Lan Sect. With such a change, the elders naturally turned to him for answers. At this moment, hearing the inquiry from the elders, Yun Ling''s cloudy eyes stared intently at the sky, remaining silent. However, when lightning faintly flickered in that part of the sky, Yun Ling''s eyes suddenly sparkled with brilliance. When the Protector from the Soul Hall approached Yun Shan earlier, he also deduced from Chi Jiao that Gu He had incredibly formidable strength. "Haha, my Yun Lan Sect is finally going to restore the glory of our ancestors in this generation!" After a moment of reflection, Yun Shan exhaled deeply and laughed wildly atop the giant rock. Under countless watchful eyes, a robust silver figure suddenly flew out from the sky below the rear mountain, appearing beneath the thunderclouds. Facing the immense pressure from the thunderclouds, the silver figure did not waver at all, seemingly unafraid of the impending terrifying Pill Thunder. "It''s Elder Gu He. Elder Gu He is coming out to face the Pill Thunder!" "Oh my god, such terrifying thunder might, and Elder Gu He is so close to the thunderclouds. Could it be dangerous for him?" These Yun Lan Sect disciples, being far away, naturally assumed that the silver figure, though barely visible, was Gu He. However, from Yun Shan''s position, with his current strength, he could roughly discern that the person under the thunderclouds was not Gu He. "Who is that? When did our Yun Lan Sect have another such powerful figure?" Yun Shan muttered in surprise. Soon, he recalled Chi Jiao, and nodded to himself, thinking, "Since Gu He could subdue a terrifying expert like Chi Jiao, it''s not surprising that he could subdue other experts as well!" Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 478: The Strength of the Puppet! Chapter 478: The Strength of the Puppet! Chapter 478: The Strength of the Puppet! Initially, Yun Shan had already given himself an answer deep down, but in the next moment, his expression suddenly changed drastically. "No, this person is too strange!" Yun Shan exclaimed in surprise. Under his observation, the blurry figure in the sky didn''t emit any aura. No matter what, even if a person could conceal their aura, the essence of life energy couldn''t be hidden. "No aura, yet able to move like this..." Yun Shan squinted his eyes and carefully observed again. Moments later, he finally came to a conclusion: "Could this be the legendary puppet?" "Sending a puppet to withstand Pill Thundersuch a tactic shows utter disregard for the Pill Thunder!" "Boom!" Under countless watchful eyes, a thunderous crack suddenly erupted from the thunderclouds in the sky, followed by a massive silver lightning bolt as thick as a thigh. It tore through the dark clouds and shot towards the ground like a giant silver python. As the silver lightning descended, the silver figure in the sky made no attempt to dodge. Instead, it adjusted its direction and used its body to block the silver lightning. "Bang!" The silver lightning struck the silver figure''s body directly, producing an exceptionally dull sound that echoed around. Seeing this, everyone''s hearts nearly skipped a beat. "Hiss!"@@@@ Great Elder Yun Ling gasped, his eyes full of disbelief. How could anyone withstand Pill Thunder with their body? Doing so was practically courting death. "Elder Gu He was struck by such terrifying lightning. Could he be in danger?" "How can anyone directly use their body to take on Pill Thunder?" Everyone was deeply worried for "Gu He." Under their gaze, the silver figure was knocked down nearly dozens of meters by the silver lightning before forcibly stabilizing itself. At this moment, countless silver electric currents flickered on its body, continuously invading its interior. If it were a normal person, their skin would have been torn apart by now. However, those closer to Yun Shan saw clearly that the puppet in the sky didn''t seem to be damaged at all. On the contrary, its slightly dried-up body gradually strengthened under the erosion of the lightning. Under the torrential downpour of silver lightning, a brilliant silver figure floated in the sky, attracting all the surrounding silver lightning to itself! Bang! Bang! Bang! Each time a silver lightning bolt struck from the sky, the silver figure was hit with such force that it was pushed down sharply. The dull sound of their contact was enough to make one''s scalp tingle. If a normal person had tried to withstand it, they would have been charred to a crisp instantly. Yet, despite the continuous bombardment, the silver figure showed no signs of discomfort. Instead, its momentum grew stronger under the nourishment of the lightning. "This puppet must have the strength to rival at least a five-star Dou Ancestor!" On the giant rock, Yun Shan''s pupils dilated. From his vantage point, clearer than that of others in Yun Lan Sect, he could sense an overwhelming aura from the puppet''s flesh and energy, despite its lack of human aura and Dou Qi. "Boom!" After the silver puppet caught the last lightning bolt, the thick dark clouds in the sky gradually stopped churning and quickly thinned out. Beams of light penetrated through the clouds. "Haha, Liu Ling, your efforts during this period have truly paid off!" At this moment, a hearty laugh echoed from within Nine-Colored Valley. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 479: The Shapeshifting Herb! Liu Ling’s Progress in Strength! Chapter 479: The Shapeshifting Herb! Liu Lings Progress in Strength! Chapter 479: The Shapeshifting Herb! Liu Lings Progress in Strength! In a secluded area of Nine-Colored Valley, a tall figure dressed in blue stood before a half-meter-tall crimson cauldron. The cauldron was deep red all over, shimmering with faint glimmers of light. At its base, four ferocious snake heads were carved, their wide-open mouths forming interconnected fire vents. These openings twisted and narrowed as they extended inward, revealing an intricate internal structure that hinted at hidden mysteries. At this moment, the cauldrons lid had already been removed, revealing a perfectly round, red pill spinning rapidly inside. A rich medicinal fragrance filled the air, invigorating anyone who inhaled it. The young man standing before the crimson cauldron in blue robes was none other than Liu Ling. Upon hearing Gu Hes laughter, he responded humbly, Master, this was merely a stroke of luck. When I first started refining it, I wasnt confident that I could succeed. Hearing Liu Lings modest words, Gu He shook his head and spoke seriously, Regardless of the reason, you have successfully refined a seventh-grade pill on your own. Youve proven your ability to handle the complex materials and intricate processes required for such pills. This alone qualifies you as a seventh-grade alchemist. Although Liu Ling had not ventured outside to train like Xiao Yi Xianwho had undergone body and soul refinement in the Blood Pool of the Heavenly Mountainhis nearly year-long dedication to alchemy had allowed him to reach the threshold of a seventh-grade alchemist. Even if he had only managed to refine a low-tier seventh-grade pill, it was still an achievement worth celebrating. Gains and losses always come hand in handhad Liu Ling spent time traveling for experience, he might not have reached this level. For someone his age, reaching the threshold of a seventh-grade alchemist was an extraordinary feat. On the entire Dou Qi Continent, besides the younger generation of the Medicine Clan, only a handful of individuals from the Pill Region could match this accomplishment. Furthermore, alchemy was an extremely energy-intensive practice, consuming vast amounts of Dou Qi and mental focus. It was a unique form of cultivationprolonged high-intensity use of Dou Qi, followed by rapid replenishment, could yield remarkable results for one''s cultivation progress. Liu Ling had benefited from this very process. Moreover, the cultivation technique he practiced was none other than Divine Fire Art, the same as Gu Hesa high-tier Heaven-rank technique. The training speed it provided far surpassed ordinary methods. Despite devoting most of his time to alchemy, Liu Lings cultivation had advanced to the level of a Five-Star Dou King.@@@@ Divine Fire Art was not only an exceptionally fast cultivation technique but also allowed the user to absorb and refine heavenly flames, making them ones own life-bound flame. Most importantly, it contained a specialized technique known as the Divine Fire Tempering Body. The Divine Fire Tempering Body was a method that used a life-bound flame to refine both the physical body and soul. By utilizing this technique daily and tempering himself with Green Lotus Core Flame, Liu Ling had significantly strengthened his soul power. This was the key factor that had enabled him to catch up with the monstrous geniuses of the Pill Region despite starting from a much lower baseline. After receiving Gu Hes praise, Liu Ling respectfully bowed and said, Thank you for your acknowledgment, Master. I will continue to work hard to solidify my standing as a seventh-grade alchemist. After speaking, Liu Lings eyes flickered hesitantly for a brief moment before he finally made up his mind and asked Gu He, Master, do you know where I can find Shapeshifting Herb? Shapeshifting Herb? Why are you looking for that? Gu He asked in return. After examining the Heavenly Demon Puppet for a short while, Liu Ling stored it away, along with the crimson cauldron and the pill inside. The commotion just now was quite large. Im sure quite a few people will be heading this way. I should go and explain the situation to them. With that thought, Liu Ling turned and made his way toward the outskirts of Nine-Colored Valley. ... At that moment, in the rear mountains of the Yunlan Sect, the terrifying dark clouds and Dan Thunder had dissipated. With a trace of curiosity in his heart, Yun Shan gradually flew toward the direction of Nine-Colored Valley. However, a powerful soul barrier enveloped the valley, and even with Yun Shans soul power, he could not discern anything within, let alone from this distance. Suddenly, as he soared above the dense forest, a blue figure appeared in his vision. Hm? Isnt that Gu Hes senior disciple, Liu Ling? What is that brat doing here? (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 480: Yun Shan’s Arrangements! The Second Heavenly Elder, Blood River! Chapter 480: Yun Shans Arrangements! The Second Heavenly Elder, Blood River! Chapter 480: Yun Shans Arrangements! The Second Heavenly Elder, Blood River! "Liu Ling greets Ancestor Yun Shan!" Since Yun Shan was his master''s wifes teacher, Liu Ling naturally had to be respectful. Thus, he spoke to Yun Shan with utmost reverence. "Haha, theres no need for such formalities... Hm? Youve actually broken through to a Five-Star Dou King!" After Liu Ling greeted him, Yun Shan initially smiled kindly, but in the next instant, his expression turned into one of shock. The last time he had seen Liu Ling was during Gu Hes wedding. Yet, in just over a year, Liu Ling had advanced from the Dou King realm to his current level. Such cultivation speed was simply astonishing, leaving Yun Shan momentarily speechless. "Master Ancestor, I have indeed reached the Five-Star Dou King level, but it was merely due to a stroke of luck," Liu Ling admitted humbly, nodding in acknowledgment of his breakthrough. At this moment, Yun Shan recalled the terrifying strength of Xiao Yi Xian and felt somewhat relieved. He couldn''t help but sigh inwardly, Gu He truly has great fortune. Every disciple he takes in turns out to be a prodigy! ... "Heh, youre being too modest. Young people with talent and strength shouldnt be afraid to show it." Yun Shan chuckled before pointing toward the direction of Nine-Colored Valley. He then asked again, "Liu Ling, that disturbance earlierwas it caused by your master refining a seventh-grade pill, triggering Dan Thunder?" Liu Ling was briefly stunned by the question but then slowly nodded and responded, "Yes, that Dan Thunder was indeed caused by my master refining a seventh-grade pill. However, my master has always preferred to keep a low profile and doesnt want to make a big fuss about it." "That wont do at all!" Hearing Liu Lings last sentence, Yun Shan shook his head vigorously and spoke urgently, "Becoming a seventh-grade alchemist is an immense honor. It absolutely cannot be kept secret! I must have Yanran bring the sect members to spread the news far and wide, and we must host a grand banquet to celebrate!" Listening to Yun Shans plans, Liu Ling could only smile bitterly in his heart. With Master Ancestor being this enthusiastic, it seems Master wont be able to avoid attending the banquet after all! However, the moment Liu Ling realized he had once again answered Yun Shans question under Gu Hes name, a trace of nervousness crept into his mind. "Ahem, ahem!" Liu Ling coughed lightly before speaking slowly, "Master Ancestor, my master may not be able to attend the banquet in the near future!" "Why not?" Yun Shan asked.@@@@ At that point, even the imperial family of the Jia Ma Empire would have to show them the utmost respect. As for the influential noble families of the empire? They would undoubtedly go to great lengths to curry favor with the Yunlan Sect. ... Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, twenty days had gone by. During this period, Gu Hes main body had been focused on refining the cultivation energy returned by Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and Han Xue. With this alone, he had successfully completed the final transformation of the Nine-Turn Dou Venerate stage, reaching its peak. The peak of Nine-Turn Dou Veneratejust one step away from attempting a breakthrough into the Half-Saint realm. Originally, Gu He had planned to immediately take the Bodhi Pill and, with the vast energy returned by Xiao Yi Xian, attempt to break through to the Half-Saint stage. However, just over ten days ago, Blood Heavenly Elder had sent word that he had made contact with the Fourth Heavenly Elder of the Soul Hall, Blood River, and had already devised a plan to lure him to the Northern Region. Because of this, Gu He decided to temporarily put his Half-Saint breakthrough on hold. He intended to use his upcoming battle with Blood River to further familiarize himself with his current strength, which would greatly benefit his future progression. With his decision made, Gu He informed Yun Yun, Xiao Yi Xian, and the others about his departure, assuring them that he would return within five days. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 481: The Blood River Trap! Chapter 481: The Blood River Trap! Chapter 481: The Blood River Trap! In the northern region of the Central Region, there was a large city named Tianxuan City, located close to the central area of the Central Region. Within Tianxuan City, the most powerful family was the Situ Clan. The clans hidden patriarch, Situ Tianxuan, had already reached the level of an Eight-Star Dou Ancestor. His strength was comparable to that of the Fenglei Northern Pavilions master, Tian Leizi. However, Situ Tianxuan, who appeared to be a peaceful and reclusive family patriarch, outwardly claimed to be in seclusion for cultivation. In reality, he had secretly joined the Hun Hall over a hundred years ago, becoming one of the few Protectors within the organization who still retained their physical bodies. Situ Tianxuan had kept this secret well, to the extent that even his own family remained unaware of his allegiance. His primary duty was to covertly assist the Hun Halls Protectors in their missions, providing them with intelligence and support. Additionally, he had constructed a temporary gathering site for Hun Hall members in a desolate mountainous region, roughly two to three hundred miles outside Tianxuan City. For the past few days, Situ Tianxuan had been waiting at this mountain gathering site daily. "Lord Xue Tianzun instructed me to wait here over ten days ago. I wonder when he will arrive," Situ Tianxuan murmured under his breath as he stood in place. As his voice fell, a spot in the space ten feet ahead of him suddenly began to distort violently. Sensing the spatial fluctuations, Situ Tianxuan immediately adjusted his posture to one of utmost reverence. Bowing deeply toward the disturbance, he called out in a loud voice, "Your subordinate, Situ Tianxuan, respectfully welcomes Lord Xue Tianzun!" In the next instant, two overwhelmingly terrifying auras radiated from the distorted space. From the corner of his lowered gaze, Situ Tianxuan caught sight of two blood-red figures emerging. "Who is that other person? Why does his aura feel even more terrifying than Lord Xue Tianzuns?" Situ Tianxuan wondered nervously, his heart pounding. "Situ Tianxuan, this esteemed individual is the Hun Halls Fourth Tianzun, Lord Xue He. Show your respects immediately!" Just as Situ Tianxuan was speculating about the unknown figure, an irritated voice reached his ears. The Fourth Tianzun! Hearing this, Situ Tianxuans heart skipped a beat. Among the nine great Tianzuns of the Hun Hall, the Fourth Tianzun was an existence of unfathomable strength. That such a figure had personally arrived here naturally made him nervous. Yet, alongside his apprehension, there was also a sense of excitement. After all, if he could forge a connection with a terrifying powerhouse like the Fourth Tianzun, Xue He, the benefits would be immeasurable. "Greetings, Lord Xue He!" Situ Tianxuans voice carried even more effort and reverence than when he had previously greeted Xue Tianzun. His respect was now at its peak. "I was in the process of" Heavenly flame? Xue He''s next question left Situ Tianxuan utterly dumbfounded. "Lord Xue He, just now... did you ask about a heavenly flame?" Situ Tianxuan asked in confusion. Xue He frowned deeply and said in a low voice, "Didn''t you claim to have discovered a heavenly flame and wanted to offer it to me? But because your strength was too low to retrieve it, you requested that I come in person?" "What?! Theres absolutely no such thing! I only intended to offer some ordinary treasures. I have no knowledge of any heavenly flame at all!" Upon hearing Xue He''s words, Situ Tianxuan was utterly shocked and frantically shook his head. Hearing this, a chilling aura burst from Xue He''s body as he muttered darkly, "He dared to deceive me? What is his intention?" As soon as his voice fell, a massive purple fire net, spanning over a hundred meters, suddenly materialized, completely enveloping both him and Situ Tianxuan. At the moment this purple fire net appeared, the surrounding temperature shot up almost instantly. Even from dozens of meters away, both Xue He and Situ Tianxuan felt an unbearable burning sensation. Reacting to the intense heat, a thick layer of writhing crimson blood immediately coated Xue He''s body as protection. As for Situ Tianxuan, he hastily activated a protective barrier of dou qi to resist the scorching heat, but given his strength, he could not last long. In less than ten seconds, as his dou qi energy depleted, his barrier shattered in an instant. The searing heat directly seared his body, causing his skin to turn red and blister rapidly. In mere moments, even his muscles and internal organs swelled under the unbearable heat. Eventually, his entire body exploded, leaving behind only a horrifyingly exposed white skeleton. Seeing how quickly Situ Tianxuan perished, Xue He roared in fury, "Xue! I taught you skills, bestowed you a name, and this is how you repay me?!" Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 482: The Great Battle! Chapter 482: The Great Battle! Chapter 482: The Great Battle! "Damned!" Xue He roared madly. At this moment, Xue Tianzun and Gu He had already appeared side by side outside the massive space enclosed by the purple fire net. Seeing Xue Tianzun arrive with another person beside him, Xue He immediately realized that today''s events were orchestrated by Gu He. "Xue! You dare betray the Soul Hall? Today, I will purge you from our ranks!" Xue Tianzun bellowed, and countless massive blood arrows surged from his body, shooting fiercely toward the purple fire net. However, despite the overwhelming force of Xue He''s attack, the purple fire net remained completely unaffected. Every blood arrow was incinerated the moment it neared the flames, vanishing without a trace. ... "What kind of flame is this? Why does it have such terrifying power?" Seeing the destructive might of the purple fire net, Xue Hes expression grew extremely grim. Hearing Xue He''s question from within the fire net, Gu He let out a cold laugh. "Heh, I''ll tell you once you''re dead!" The moment he finished speaking, Gu He''s body transformed into a massive silver bolt of lightning, vanishing into the void. When he reappeared, he had already entered the interior of the purple fire net. "You arrogant fool, I thought you wouldn''t dare to come in!" Seeing Gu Hes ability to transform into lightning and traverse space, Xue He was visibly shocked. Just moments ago, he had attempted to escape, but the space around them was completely sealed off, leaving him without any means to break through. Yet, this mysterious man had directly bypassed the barrier. However, instead of feeling threatened, Xue He became even more excited by Gu He''s arrival. A sinister grin appeared on Xue Hes face. He swiftly formed a seal with both hands, unleashing a massive blood dragon. The sheer power of this attack was terrifyingif it had been aimed at Xue Tianzun, he would have been instantly consumed, his entire being assimilated into the dragon''s energy. As the blood-red dragon surged forward, Gu He narrowed his eyes slightly. His hands swiftly performed a series of seals, and in an instant, a fiery red vermilion bird illusion condensed in his palm. It shot forward, colliding head-on with the blood dragon. "Boom!" However, Xue He had somehow anticipated Gu Hes position beforehand. He immediately swung his fist, layers of blood-colored dou qi condensing into a hardened crust over his hand as he countered Gu Hes attack. Boom! As fist and palm collided, the blood crust covering Xue Hes hand completely shattered. His body was sent flying backward by an immense force, and blood even trickled from the corner of his mouth. Just as Xue He managed to stabilize his stance, Gu He suddenly appeared behind him and landed a powerful palm strike on his back. "Pfft!" This time, Xue He could no longer keep his composure. He spat out a mouthful of blood. "Damn it! Even if I can sense the flow of his blood to determine his position, this isnt just speed anymoreits practically teleportation!" Xue He thought bitterly, feeling utterly stifled. His gaze darted around, trying to locate Gu He while simultaneously shouting, "Who exactly are you? Why are you working with Xue to ambush me?" However, Gu He ignored his words completely. Suppressing his strength to just one-tenth, he once again punched Xue Hes back. The reason Gu He was holding back against Xue He, the Fourth Tianzun, was simplehe didnt want to accidentally kill him with excessive force. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 483: The Blood River of the Four Heavenly Lords! Chapter 483: The Blood River of the Four Heavenly Lords! Chapter 483: The Blood River of the Four Heavenly Lords! In a battle where their cultivation levels were similar, Gu Hes strength was vastly superior to Xue Hes, to an almost immeasurable degree. Even though he deliberately suppressed his power, he still inflicted severe injuries upon Xue He. At present, Xue He was covered in wounds, his bones fractured in unknown places. His long, crimson hair hung in disarray, making him appear utterly wretched. However, this state was still not what Gu He desired. Over the past two years, his soul power had been tempered through his innate divine fire, advancing from the initial Soul Realm stage to the late Soul Realm stage. Yet, even with this growth, attempting to execute the ancient Puppet Seed technique while Xue He was desperately resisting would still pose significant difficulty. Gu Hes objective was to push Xue He to the brink of unconsciousness. Only when his mind was on the verge of collapse would it be the perfect moment to implant the puppet seed. Aah! Xue Hes mind was filled with searing pain from the countless wounds all over his body. However, he dared not let his guard down, forcibly suppressing the agony as he remained vigilant against Gu Hes attacks. In the next instant, under Xue Hes tense gaze, Gu He once again transformed into silver lightning and vanished into the void, completely disappearing from sight. Damn it! Who the hell is this guy? He can actually traverse space with such terrifying ease, even within a sealed space! Xue He cursed internally as he watched Gu He disappear. He had already attempted to escape from this confined space himself, yet no matter how he attacked, the spatial barrier remained unbreakable. Moreover, every moment, he had to divert a portion of his strength to withstand the terrifying heat of the encroaching purple fire web. What worried him now was whether the fire web would shrink furtherif it did, would he be burned to nothing? Crack! Crack! Just as Xue He anxiously scanned his surroundings, a bolt of silver lightning abruptly materialized behind him. In the blink of an eye, it morphed back into Gu Hes figure. Xue He had barely managed to detect Gu Hes blood flow trajectory through his Blood Transformation Art when Bang! A powerful blow struck the back of his head, causing fractures in his skull. Aaah!! If I die, no matter how powerful you are, it wont be long before you join me in the afterlife! And Xue, you traitoryoull suffer for this one day! Your soul will be extracted and lashed every single day! Xue He vomited blood uncontrollably as his mind teetered on the edge of madness. He lashed out with wild, frenzied attacks in every direction, unleashing devastating energy without thought. Upon consuming the ninth-grade pill, Xue Hes injuries began healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. His torn flesh regenerated rapidly, and even his shattered bones mended together in an instant. The medicinal effects of a ninth-grade treasured pill were potent enough to benefit even a true Dou Saint. With Xue Hes cultivation still below the Half-Saint level, the powerful medicine caused an unexpected breakthroughhis realm loosened, allowing him to advance straight to the peak of the nine star Dou Venerate stage. He was now extremely close to reaching the Half-Saint level and would likely step into it before long. After fully healing Xue Hes injuries, Gu He took out a storage ring and handed it to him before issuing an order. Xue He, inside this ring, there are three thousand seventh-grade Clear Essence Pills. I need you to find a way to exchange these pills for other seventh-grade elixirs or sell them at high prices to purchase some eighth-grade pills. Yes! I will complete the task without fail! The Four Heavenly Lords Xue He respectfully accepted the storage ring, his tone filled with deference. Good. Also, if there are any major movements within the Soul Hall, you must contact me immediately... Gu He continued giving orders. A moment ago, by executing the ancient Puppet Seed technique, he had successfully implanted a puppet seed into Xue Hes soul, thus gaining access to many of his memories. Though Xue He was one of the Nine Heavenly Lords, he was not originally part of the Soul Clan. He had only joined the Soul Hall due to various temptations. Because of this, his knowledge regarding the Soul Clan was somewhat limited. Within the Soul Hall, only the two main hall masters and the Grand Heavenly Lordthe strongest among the Nine Heavenly Lordswere part of the true core leadership. However, Xue He had been personally involved in many of the Soul Halls major operations. He was well aware of the locations of numerous branch halls and had detailed knowledge of the foundational formations that the Soul Hall had been secretly preparing for countless years. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 484: Advancing Beyond the Primary and Intermediate Stages, Becoming a High-Level Half-Saint! Chapter 484: Advancing Beyond the Primary and Intermediate Stages, Becoming a High-Level Half-Saint! Chapter 484: Advancing Beyond the Primary and Intermediate Stages, Becoming a High-Level Half-Saint! The existence of the Soul Hall was fundamentally tied to two primary objectives. Otherwise, as an immensely powerful ancient imperial clan, it would have had no interest in involving itself in the power struggles of the mortal world. The first objective was to use its countless branch hall members to continuously gather souls from across the continent. These souls would then have their soul essence extracted and transported back to the Soul Realm, where they would serve as nourishment for a certain individual attempting to break through to the Emperor Realm of the soul. The second objective was related to the grand formation previously mentioneda colossal sacrificial array capable of draining all of Central Plains in a blood ritual. Over an extended period, the Soul Hall had secretly established an unknown number of formation bases across Central Plains to support this massive ritual. Now, although Gu He had learned the locations of several of these formation bases from the memories of the Four Heavenly Lords Xue He, he had no intention of acting rashly. If the formation bases were threatened, it could provoke a severe counterattack from the Soul Hall. At Gu Hes current strength, he was not yet capable of directly facing a powerhouse like Hun Miesheng. At the very least, these matters would have to wait until he reached the Dou Saint level before taking action. All right, Xue He, go and complete your task now. Also, if the Ninth Heavenly Lord, Mo Yu, moves alone, notify me immediately. After issuing his final order to Xue He, Gu He willed the surrounding purple fire web to contract. The surging flames rapidly retracted into his body. With the purple fire web gone, the spatial restriction in this area disappeared, allowing Xue He to swiftly traverse through space and leave. Following his battle with Xue He, Gu He had gained deeper insight into his own cultivation and combat abilities. Afterward, he returned to Tianbei City, briefly meeting with Yun Yun before setting out once more. This time, he traveled deep into the vast mountains of the Northern Region, where he located a secluded valley to begin preparing for his breakthrough into the Half-Saint realm. Although Gu Hes cultivation advancements were often fueled by refining the cultivation returns from his disciples, his body had never suffered from an unstable foundation. This was due to the continuous tempering of his physique by his innate divine fire, ensuring that his dou qi was always solid and refined. Under the relentless refinement of his innate divine fire, his body had reached an extraordinary level of strength. Even among the powerful magical beasts, few could surpass Gu He in terms of raw physical strength and durability. At this moment, in the tranquil valley, Gu He sat cross-legged atop a massive green stone slab. He retrieved an eighth-grade medicinal pillthe Bodhi Pillan elixir so valuable that countless peak Dou Venerates would fight to the death for it. The Bodhi Pill was renowned for significantly increasing the success rate of peak Dou Venerates attempting to step into the Saint realm. Without hesitation, Gu He swallowed the pill. Simultaneously, he focused his mind and accessed his system space, extracting the forty-one years of cultivation that had been returned to him after transferring energy to Xiao Yi Xian. Although, in his memory, Xiao Yan had once leaped past the primary, intermediate, and high-level Half-Saint stages in a single breakthrough to become a true one star Dou Saint, Xiao Yan had refined the Bodhi Heart during that advancement. The Bodhi Heart was a supreme treasure nurtured by the heavens and earth, capable of replacing a persons original heart. Even if their heart suffered a fatal blow, they could survive, and the power it provided far surpassed that of an ordinary human heart. However, Gu He had once refined the essence blood of an ancient Divine Phoenix within the Phoenix Blood Stone, granting him the Undying Flame and the ability of Nirvana Rebirth. This ability was several times stronger than the Bodhi Heart in terms of survival and regeneration. Overall, Gu He was highly satisfied with his current cultivation level. Since he gained cultivation returns whenever he transferred power to his disciples, he had little concern about future breakthroughs. In fact, having time to familiarize himself with each stage of power might even be beneficial. This breakthrough took far less time than I expected! Yuner is about to give birth. Perhaps I can use this time to refine the Tianxuan Vitality Pill for her! After his breakthrough, Gu He suddenly recalled Yun Yuns impending childbirth and immediately decided to take action. Following the memories in his mind, Gu He left the void space and arrived at a large city near the site of his breakthrough, beginning his search for the medicinal ingredients required to refine the Tianxuan Vitality Pill. The Tianxuan Vitality Pill was an eighth-grade medicinal pill with the primary function of swiftly restoring the vitality of female cultivators after childbirth, eliminating all potential postnatal complications. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 485: Red Chrysanthemum City, Gathering Medicinal Herbs Chapter 485: Red Chrysanthemum City, Gathering Medicinal Herbs Chapter 485: Red Chrysanthemum City, Gathering Medicinal Herbs Red Chrysanthemum City, one of the most powerful large cities in the Northern Region, was ranked among the top. Like Bone-Melting City, Red Chrysanthemum City was also governed by a sect known as the Blood Chrysanthemum Sect. The sects founder, Ju Su, was rumored to have already reached the seven-star Dou Ancestor level. Because of this, the Blood Chrysanthemum Sect held absolute authority in the surrounding region. Even if an elder from Wind Lightning Pavilion arrived, they would still have to show due respect. Today, a middle-aged man in a white robe arrived in Red Chrysanthemum City. Not only did he violate the city''s flight restriction, but he also brazenly flew over the central square. On several stone monuments in the square, he carved a list of words. These words recorded the names of various precious medicinal herbs. "Today, I, Gu He, have come to purchase medicinal herbs. Whoever can provide any of the herbs listed on the stone monument will be rewarded with either a fifth-grade or sixth-grade pill." Standing in the sky, Gu He''s deep voice echoed through every corner of the vast city. "Who is that in the sky, daring to ignore the flight ban?" "Buying medicinal herbs? Any single herb can be exchanged for a fifth-grade or even a sixth-grade pill?" "There are exactly one hundred and thirty types of herbs listed on that monument, meaning at least one hundred and thirty fifth-grade pills would be needed!" "One hundred and thirty fifth-grade pillssuch a feat would be difficult even for the Blood Chrysanthemum Sect! How dare this man make such a claim?" "Stop talking, the enforcement team is here!" As the city was abuzz with speculation, two middle-aged women in specially crafted red robes flew into the sky. Both of them had the strength of high-rank Dou Emperors. One of the stern-faced women stopped several meters in front of Gu He and issued a loud warning. "Sir, Red Chrysanthemum City forbids flying and prohibits private combat. Please descend immediately!" "Heh, ladies, I have just arrived and was unaware of the city''s rules. Forgive my ignorance!" Gu He was not angered by the warning. With a light chuckle, he slowly stepped down from the sky and landed gracefully on the high platform of the square. His ability to walk in the air clearly indicated that he was at the Dou Ancestor level. Yet, the two high-rank Dou Emperor enforcement officers showed no fear. In this region, no Dou Ancestor had ever dared to challenge their sect master, Ju Su. Seeing Gu He obediently descend after a single warning, the red-robed woman who had remained silent finally revealed a faint but noticeable look of satisfaction. "In that case, senior, please wait a moment!" Ju Su smiled, cupped her hands in respect to Gu He, and then turned to the two red-robed enforcers beside her. Softly, she instructed, "Ju Ming, Ju Xin, go gather the herbs listed on the stone monument immediately! Make sure to prepare double the amount for each one!" "Yes, Sect Master!" Upon hearing Ju Su''s command, Ju Ming and Ju Xin responded respectfully before swiftly departing. Such a massive opportunity for profitJu Su naturally had no intention of letting others in the city get involved. Thus, the Blood Chrysanthemum Sect acted with great speed. Gu He remained seated on the high platform in the square, meditating for about an hour. Soon, Ju Ming and Ju Xin returned to Ju Sus side, carrying a large chest between them. "Sect Master, all the herbs listed on the stone monument are here, and weve gathered double the required amount!" Ju Ming and Ju Xin spoke in unison. "Good!" Seeing how efficiently they had completed the task, Ju Su nodded in satisfaction. With a wave of her hand, she controlled the large chest, slowly moving it towards Gu He. "Senior, everything you requested is here. Please check the contents." "Very well!" Upon hearing Ju Su''s words, Gu He extended his hand, pulling the chest in front of him with a simple gesture. Without delay, he swiftly opened the chest and released a thread of soul power, scanning each herb inside. "Senior, you must be collecting these herbs for alchemy purposes." Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 486: Refining the Tianxuan Essence Consolidation Pill Chapter 486: Refining the Tianxuan Essence Consolidation Pill Chapter 486: Refining the Tianxuan Essence Consolidation Pill "Senior, you must be gathering these medicinal herbs for alchemy." "So, I took the liberty of preparing double the amount for you." As Gu He examined the contents of the chest, Ju Su spoke respectfully and attentively. "You have been thoughtful. This is your reward." Gu Hes expression remained relaxed as he waved his sleeve, sending one hundred and thirty jade bottles flying out, neatly arranging them on the ground before Ju Su. "The two black jade bottles contain a seven-grade Dou Ancestor Pill and a seven-grade Breaking Venerate Pill, as a reward for your generosity in providing double the herbs." After sending this message via spiritual transmission, Gu He did not wait for Ju Sus response. He vanished into thin air along with the large chest of medicinal herbs. "So easily tearing through space and leaving... It seems I was righthe is indeed a Dou Venerate-level powerhouse." Ju Su murmured to herself as she stared at the spot where Gu He had disappeared. However, in the next moment, as she recalled his parting words, an overwhelming wave of joy surged within her. "Two seven-grade pills!" "I never expected that such a small act of thoughtfulness would earn me two seven-grade pills!" "A Breaking Venerate Pill... Could it be the legendary pill that increases ones chances of breaking through to Dou Venerate? And the Dou Ancestor Pillit''s said to directly enhance a Dou Ancestors strength by one star. With this, I can advance to nine-star Dou Ancestor, and with the Breaking Venerate Pill..." Ju Sus emotions were running high. She swiftly stored away the two black jade bottles before turning to Ju Ming and Ju Xin. "Lock these pills in the sect''s treasury!" "Yes, Sect Master!" Hearing Ju Sus command, Ju Ming and Ju Xin immediately sprang into action. ... In the void of space, Gu He had already left Red Chrysanthemum City by several hundred miles after acquiring the herbs. He found a secluded mountain range, set up a few protective barriers, and immediately took out his cauldron to begin refining the Tianxuan Essence Consolidation Pill. This transaction for the herbs had been a loss-making deal for Gu He, but he didnt mind. Because the significance of this pill was far greater than any financial loss. If it werent for concerns about drawing too much attention, he would have even exchanged a seven-grade pill for one of the key ingredients. The next moment, the large chest of medicinal herbs appeared beside him. During these three days, Gu He maintained absolute focus. Now, within the rising purple flames of the cauldron, a small, oval-shaped sphere about the size of a fist had taken form. This sphere contained the purified essence of hundreds of medicinal ingredients. However, at this stage, it was still merely a prototypefar from being a completed pill. It would require a period of nurturing before it could truly become the embryonic form of a pill. Although this was Gu Hes first time refining an eighth-grade pill, his mind was filled with countless successful instances of its refinement. After nurturing the pill for some time, the oval shape gradually became a perfect sphere. A rich and potent medicinal fragrance began to spread from within the cauldron. Now, it was worthy of being called a pill embryo. What followed was the most critical stepDan Thunder! Only by withstanding Dan Thunder could this become a true eighth-grade pill. In the world of alchemy, eighth-grade pills were already among the pinnacle of existence. Although there was only a single grade difference between seventh-grade and eighth-grade pills, the gap was truly as vast as the heavens and earth. Eighth-grade pills possessed a form of sentience and even a rudimentary level of intelligence. In other words, an eighth-grade pill was imbued with its own life force! At this level, it could be considered a living being. Furthermore, the categorization of eighth-grade pills was extraordinarily precise. Their quality could no longer be judged by appearance alone, but rather by the color of the Dan Thunder they attracted. The higher the pills quality, the more colors its Dan Thunder would exhibit during formation. It was said that if a pill could summon nine-colored Dan Thunder, it would mean the pill had ascended into the legendary ninth-grade realm, possessing the power of true creation itself. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 487: Five-Colored Pill Lightning! Chapter 487: Five-Colored Pill Lightning! Chapter 487: Five-Colored Pill Lightning! A few hours later, within the Dragon Soul Cauldron, the accumulated energy had begun to tremble violently. With a flick of Gu He''s sleeve, the lid of the Dragon Soul Cauldron was instantly flung open. A terrifying wave of energy surged out from the cauldron, crashing fiercely against its inner walls, producing an ear-splitting metallic clang. Although the cauldron acted as a barrier, some of the energy fluctuations still managed to escape. Within a hundred-meter radius, massive boulders crumbled instantly under the shockwave, exploding with a resounding boom as fragments of stone scattered into the air. Boom! Just as the overwhelming energy waves spread outward, the Dragon Soul Cauldron suddenly trembled violently. The next moment, a massive pillar of deep purple flames shot straight into the sky with a sharp whoosh, breaking through even the seals that Gu He had placed around it. The blazing fire pillar soared into the heavens, its scorching brilliance visible for dozens of miles. The energy rippling from within the flames spread far and wide, striking terror into the hearts of all the magical beasts in the surrounding area. Weaker beasts instinctively dropped to the ground, trembling and unable to move. "Heavens! What in the world is happening? Why has such a terrifying pillar of fire appeared?" "The energy within that flame... even getting close to it means certain death!" This remote mountain range was not home to particularly powerful magical beasts. The strongest ones here barely reached the advanced sixth rank. However, it was precisely these more intelligent sixth-rank beasts that felt the deepest sense of dread. Unnatural phenomena of such magnitude in the mountains often meant one thinga grave threat to their survival. Yet among them, the strongest, a peak sixth-rank Silverback Wolf King, seemed to have realized something. Its massive pupils locked onto the fire pillar, and it muttered in a low voice, "Could it be... a human alchemist refining pills? Such an enormous energy fluctuation... that human must be refining a legendary eighth-tier pill!" As countless magical beasts in the mountains watched in fear, an unusual mist rapidly formed at the peak of the sky, right where the fire pillar ended. Within moments, the mist condensed into a thick layer of dark clouds, unmistakably forming a storm of lightning. Upon witnessing the thunderclouds gathering in the sky, an instinctive terror rose in the hearts of the observing beasts. In the world of magical beasts, those who wished to take human form had two possible pathseither obtaining an extremely rare Transformation Pill or enduring a Heavenly Tribulation, a lightning calamity that, once survived, granted them human form along with the intelligence and cultivation talents of mankind. At this moment, aside from a few ancient magical beasts that had lived through such tribulations, most others assumed that some high-ranked magical beast was undergoing its transformation. Holding their breaths, they stared fixedly at the roiling storm clouds in the sky. Under countless watchful eyes, the thunderclouds churned and boiled. Suddenly, streaks of green and silver light surged forth, infusing the forming pill lightning with a two-toned radiance! "Why does this lightning cloud have two colors?" "I knew it! This isnt a beast''s transformation tribulationthis is Pill Lightning! Two-colored Pill Lightning... could it be that some human master is refining an eighth-tier pill?" Five-Colored Pill Lightning! This legendary and nearly mythical phenomenon had now manifested right before the eyes of these cultivators who were merely training deep in the mountains. How could they not be thrilled beyond measure? ... Directly beneath the five-colored thunderclouds, Gu He wore an expression of deep concentration. Compared to the time he had spent cultivating his strength, the effort he had put into alchemy was undoubtedly much less. Initially, he had only planned to refine a pill that would summon Three-Colored Pill Lightning. However, perhaps due to the extraordinary nature of this particular pill, his performance this time had exceeded all expectations! Now, the pill was nearly complete. All that remained was to endure the heavenly tribulation, and then he would have successfully refined a Tianxuan Foundation-Stabilizing Pillone tempered by Five-Colored Pill Lightning. With Gu He''s current strength as an advanced half-saint, enduring this level of Pill Lightning was effortless. Boom! As Gu He looked up at the sky, five massive streaks of lightning, each glowing with a different hue, roared down from the heavens, crashing violently toward the Dragon Soul Cauldron below. At the sight of the descending Five-Colored Pill Lightning, Gu He''s mind stirred. In an instant, his figure transformed into a massive bolt of silver lightning, vanishing from his original position in a flash. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 488: Successful Refinement! Chapter 488: Successful Refinement! Chapter 488: Successful Refinement! The Five-Colored Pill Lightning roared downward, carrying a destructive aura so overwhelming that nearby magical beasts felt as if their hearts had stopped beating under its oppressive force. At the same time, a streak of silver lightning suddenly shot upward from the ground toward the sky, leaving both magical beasts and human cultivators utterly bewildered. "Why is there ''Pill Lightning'' surging from the ground as well?" "That silver lightning... could it be that the alchemist himself is using it to block the Pill Lightning?" "But alchemists usually have wood and fire attributes. How could one possibly wield such a powerful lightning attack?" "I once read in ancient texts that some incredibly mysterious alchemists do not necessarily have the wood-fire attribute. Many ancient powerhouses controlled exotic flames, and even those with wind or earth attributes could become alchemists. There were even records of certain lightning attribute cultivators who, despite lacking exotic flames, could refine pills purely using the might of lightning!" "Hiss... Refining pills with lightning, and not just any pill, but an eighth-tier pill that summoned Five-Colored Pill Lightning... I never imagined that such a remarkable person would exist in these mountains." Under the astonished gazes of countless magical beasts and humans, the silver lightning streaking upward finally clashed head-on with the five descending streaks of multicolored Pill Lightning. Boom! The moment they collided, a thunderous explosion echoed across the heavens. The dazzling burst of light that resulted was so blinding that those watching had to squint or shut their eyes completely. Yet, the explosion and the blinding radiance were not the most terrifying aspects. The real horror lay in the immense lightning storm generated by the clash. It expanded outward in all directions with unstoppable force. Sensing the imminent danger, many magical beasts had already fled in panic. However, those caught within a ten-mile radius had no chance of escaping. Along with the surrounding mountains, trees, and rocks, they would be completely reduced to dust in the face of the lightning storms destructive power. Just as despair settled in among the remaining magical beasts, something unexpected happenedthe silver lightning that had ascended into the sky reappeared, unscathed, at the very center of the explosion. Instead of allowing the lightning storm to spread, it shot downward at incredible speed, leaving behind a pitch-black streak in the air. Its speed was even greater than that of the expanding lightning storm. In the blink of an eye, it descended to within a few hundred meters of the ground and vanished from the sight of those watching from afar. At that height, the silver lightning transformed into a white-robed figure. With a swift motion of his palm, he formed several intricate hand seals, releasing an invisible yet immense energy that rapidly expanded outward, covering an area of more than ten miles. "Shh! Keep your voice down! If anyone from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion hears you, well be in serious trouble!" The cultivators who had witnessed Gu Hes incredible display of power were now in deep discussion, their understanding of the world expanding. Meanwhile, after dispersing all the Pill Lightning, Gu Hes silver lightning form vanished into the void. When he reappeared, he was already standing before the Dragon Soul Cauldron. "It''s finally done!" Gu He let out a long breath, unable to hide the smile on his face. The next moment, as he raised his hand slightly, a smooth, pigeon-egg-sized pill with a vibrant blend of green and blue hues slowly floated out from the Dragon Soul Cauldron. As the pill rose into the air, an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy gathered around it. In an instant, the energy condensed into the form of a small snow-white rabbit, its soft fur gleaming in the light. Eighth-tier pills required an alchemist with at least a Spirit Realm soul to refine. The reason was simplean eighth-tier pill was imbued with spiritual essence and could develop its own intelligence. Only such pills could truly be called eighth-tier. Now, after enduring the tribulation of Five-Colored Pill Lightning, the Tianxuan Foundation-Stabilizing Pill before Gu He possessed an unprecedented level of spiritual awareness. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 489: A Baby Girl Is Born! Chapter 489: A Baby Girl Is Born! Chapter 489: A Baby Girl Is Born! After carefully storing away the freshly refined Tianxuan Essence Stabilizing Pill and the Dragon Soul Cauldron, Gu Hes figure flickered and vanished into the void. As Gu Hes aura disappeared from the mountainous region, the vast energy layer covering dozens of miles in the sky rapidly dissipated as well. Hes gone! That overwhelming presence has vanished! It seems that the great alchemist, that peerless powerhouse, has already left this place! A master capable of refining an eighth-tier pill that summons a five-colored pill tribulation... Even if we couldnt see him in person, just examining the marks left by his cauldron pressing into the ground would be an honor! Thats right! Why didnt I think of that? If that master left anything behind, even the smallest thing, it would be an invaluable treasure for us! In an instant, both intelligent magical beasts and humans alike surged toward the location where Gu He had refined his pill, scrambling to search for any traces he might have left behind. ... In Tianbei City, Gu He smoothly returned to the Han family estate, specifically to the small courtyard belonging to Han Yue and her sister. At this moment, standing before him was a woman dressed in white. She wore a flowing white dress, and her long, jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, left to drape naturally. Her breathtakingly beautiful face bore a tranquil and serene expression. Despite the noticeable swell of her abdomen, her elegance and charm remained unaffected. Husband, youre back! Upon seeing Gu He appear, a flash of delight surfaced on the womans serene face. Mm. Gu Hes eyes were filled with deep affection as he gently reached out and caressed Yun Yuns face. Husband, this little one seems like its coming soon. The movements have been getting stronger these past two days. Yun Yun softly rubbed her belly, her gaze filled with tenderness. Really... Yuner, that means were about to become parents! A hint of excitement appeared on Gu Hes face. In the next moment, a particularly exquisite jade bottle appeared in his hand. Yuner, inside this bottle is a Tianxuan Essence Stabilizing Pill that I personally refined. Once youve given birth, take it immediately. Gu He explained. Mm. Yun Yun obediently took the jade bottle from him. She knew that Gu He had likely gone away specifically to refine this pill. ... ... Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, twenty days had gone by since Gu Yuchens birth. On this day, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Han Yue had come to bid farewell to Gu He and Yun Yun as they were preparing to leave on a mission. After respectfully bowing to Gu He and Yun Yun, Xiao Yi Xian spoke earnestly, though with a hint of reluctance, "Master, Mistress, I will be going on a training journey for a while!" "Master, Mistress, I will also be leaving for training!" Nalan Yanran followed. "Master, Mistress, I too will be heading out for training!" Han Yue added. "Master, Mistress, Han Xue as well..." After Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Han Yue, Han Xue also voiced the same intention. Hearing their words, Gu He exchanged a glance with Yun Yun, who was holding little Yuchen, before smiling and nodding. "Alright, I approve." "During this journey, as before, you must always keep the Void Jade Talisman on you and never lose it!" "Also, I have a few things to give you before you leave." As he spoke, Gu He waved his hand lightly, and twelve jade bottles floated before him. The next moment, with a gentle push, the bottles split into four sets and flew toward the four women. Seeing the jade bottles being handed to them, the four of them immediately bowed and said in unison, "Thank you, Master, for your gift!" Without hesitation, they each accepted the bottles and carefully stored them away. Once they had taken them, Gu He continued, "Each of you has three bottlesone contains an eighth-tier pill, while the other two hold seventh-tier pills. These are all for healing purposes. The bottles contain descriptions of the pills, so you may review them later." Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 490: Four Ninth-Tier Mystic Pills! Chapter 490: Four Ninth-Tier Mystic Pills! Chapter 490: Four Ninth-Tier Mystic Pills! "One eighth-tier pill, two seventh-tier pills!" Although Xiao Yi Xian and the others knew that their master, Gu He, was a renowned alchemist capable of refining eighth-tier pills, they were still astonished. Handing out four eighth-tier pills and eight seventh-tier pills in one goespecially life-saving medicinal pillswas an act of generosity that was nothing short of shocking. At this moment, Xiao Yi Xian and the others displayed strong reactions on their faces, overwhelmed by the magnitude of this gift. Meanwhile, the moment Gu He saw his disciples accept the pills, he immediately received twelve system notifications in succession. This act of gifting pills to his disciples had instantly rewarded him with four ninth-tier Mystic Pills and eight ninth-tier Treasure Pills. At this moment, Gu He''s wealth had reached an unprecedented level. A collection of four ninth-tier Mystic Pills and eight ninth-tier Treasure Pillssuch a treasure trove was unparalleled, even among the top-tier forces of Central Continent like the Pill Tower. Even the legendary alchemist imperial clan, the Medicine Clan, would be envious of such a collection. If word of this spread, the entire continent would erupt in a frenzy. Even the mighty imperial clans would covet these pills. With these ninth-tier healing pills in hand, it was equivalent to granting an extra life to those at the level of Dou Saint. Ninth-tier Mystic Pills, imbued with the essence of heaven and earth, could provide tremendous benefits even to high-level Dou Saints. The pills Gu He had just gifted to his disciples originated from the resources obtained through the Hall of Souls'' Fourth Heavenly Elder, Xue He. That day, after Xue He received Gu He''s orders, he secretly carried a batch of seventh-tier pills provided by Gu He and traveled to major cities in the Central Region to trade with other powerful figures or auction them off. During his last return to the Northern Region, Xue He brought back four eighth-tier pills along with over twenty seventh-tier pills of various types. By distributing part of these pills to his disciples, Gu He immediately received a ten-thousandfold return, drastically increasing his wealth. "Thank you, Master!" Xiao Yi Xian and the others once again bowed deeply in gratitude. They could no longer find the right words to express their heartfelt appreciation for their master. "Alright, now go and train as you should. Remember, if you fail to complete your missions this time, I will truly impose a punishment!" Gu He waved his hand, though his expression soon turned serious. After exchanging a few more words, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, the Han sisters, along with Xiao Yin and the Purple Demon Vulture, finally departed from the Han estate and left Tianbei City. Of course, before leaving, the Han sisters had already bid farewell to their father, Han Chi, explaining their plans. Han Chi was the only member of the Han family who knew about his daughters cultivation progress and some of their hidden affairs. Thus, when he heard that they were setting off for training, possibly even leaving the Northern Region for other parts of Central Continent, he did not object much. After all, daughters would eventually forge their own paths. Now, Han Yues cultivation had already surpassed his, even though he was a high-rank Dou King. As for Xiao Yi Xian and the others, their initial journey together was planned with a clear purpose. After leaving Tianbei City, they followed a route mapped out based on rumors of rare treasures and natural materials that could enhance their physical constitutions. To make their travels faster and more convenient, Xiao Yin made a small sacrificetransforming into her enormous Void Beast form and carrying Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, the Han sisters, and the Purple Demon Vulture on her back. Even though Xiao Yin had done her best to suppress her aura, her mere presence still caused inexplicable fear among the magical beasts wherever she appeared. Thanks to Xiao Yins incredible speed, it took them less than four days to reach a vast mountain range over ten thousand miles away from Tianbei Cityfar beyond the distance of the Tianmu Mountain Range. Even for Han Yue, who was a native of the Northern Region, this was the farthest she had ever traveled. "The magical beasts here are even stronger than those in the Tianmu Mountain Range. Moreover, unlike Tianmu, where a single magical beast race rules over the entire region, this place seems to have multiple factions vying for dominance. This should be a good place for us to train," Xiao Yi Xian analyzed as they came to a stop. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 491: Splitting Up! Chapter 491: Splitting Up! Chapter 491: Splitting Up! "Senior Sister Xian''er, do you mean that we will be training here for the time being?" Nalan Yanran asked softly. "Yes, we will stay here for our training for now," Xiao Yi Xian nodded in response to Nalan Yanran''s question. "But, Senior Sister, the strongest demonic beast here is only at the seventh rank. With your cultivation level, this place isnt suitable for you at all!" Nalan Yanran hesitated before speaking. She didnt want Xiao Yi Xian to delay her own training just to look after them. "Oh, dont worry about that. While there might not be any demonic beasts here suitable for my training, I can still search the surrounding area for poisons and rare natural treasures," Xiao Yi Xian replied with a smile. Even though Xiao Yi Xian said this, the others understood her true thoughts. "Senior Sister Xian''er, how about this? For this training mission, you and Xiao Yin should act together. Bringing all of us along would only slow you down!" Han Yue voiced her thoughts. Nalan Yanran also followed up with a serious expression, "Senior Sister Xian''er, I feel the same way. If you and Xiao Yin train with us, youll be focused entirely on taking care of us, leaving you no time to properly train or complete any missions!" Hearing their words, Xiao Yi Xian still hesitated. Seeing her reluctance, Nalan Yanran deliberately added, "Senior Sister, don''t hesitate anymore. If you stay with us the whole time, well always have a safety net, which defeats the purpose of this training. Besides..." "Senior Sister Yanran is right. If you keep looking after us like this, we wont grow at all!" Han Yue intentionally spoke in a detached manner. "Alright then!" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian understood their determination. "From here on, well split up. Remember, keep the Void Jade Talismans that Master gave you safe!" "Especially you, Yanran and Han Xue. If you encounter a crisis you cannot handle, use the Void Jade Talisman immediately!" Xiao Yi Xian sternly reminded them, emphasizing her last words. The reason was clearHan Yue had already used a Void Jade Talisman once before, while Nalan Yanran and Han Xue had only heard of its effects but had never actually used one. "Yes, Senior Sister, well remember!" Nalan Yanran and Han Xue immediately nodded seriously. "Xiao Yin, let''s go!" However, this time, Xiao Yi Xian didnt find any information that particularly interested her in this large city. So, she had no choice but to continue onward, leaving the city behind. Her destination was now the northern border, heading toward the edge of the Central Region. ... In Tianbei City, inside the Han Family Manor, after the disciples had gone off for their training, Gu He and Yun Yun remained in the Han Family estate. Of course, Han Chi, the head of the Han Family and the father of Han Yue and Han Xue, was well aware of their presence. After observing Han Chi for some time, Gu He deemed him trustworthy, allowing the Han sisters to reveal to him that Gu He was at the Dou Venerate realm. As a result, Han Chi held great respect for Gu He. He issued strict orders prohibiting anyone in the Han Family from approaching the small courtyard where Gu He resided within a hundred-meter radius. Moreover, he regularly sent tributes as a sign of respect. In return, Gu He was generous, providing large quantities of fifth and sixth-tier pills to Han Chi, helping the Han Family improve its overall strength. With these valuable resources, the Han Family experienced rapid growth. Within just twenty days of Xiao Yi Xians departure, Han Chi himself successfully broke through to the Dou Ancestor realm. For a time, the Han Familys prestige completely overshadowed the rival Hong Family in Tianbei City. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 492: A Large Batch of Seventh-Tier Pills in Hand! Chapter 492: A Large Batch of Seventh-Tier Pills in Hand! Chapter 492: A Large Batch of Seventh-Tier Pills in Hand! Although the overall strength of the Han Family had increased, they did not take any actions to suppress the Hong Family. However, as the Han Family grew stronger by the day, the Hong Family began to feel uneasy. After much contemplation, Hong Li, the head of the Hong Family, made a surprising decisionhe voluntarily sold many of Tianbei Citys industries to the Han Family at a low price. With this move, although both families still remained in Tianbei City, the former balance where they each controlled half of the city''s influence was now shattered. Hong Lis decision left his son, Hong Chen, who was training at the Wind Lightning Pavilion, utterly baffled. He even began to harbor resentment toward the Han Family. Previously, when Hong Chen accompanied his father to propose marriage to Han Yue, he was humiliated by her overwhelming strength. Later, during a casual conversation with fellow disciples of the Wind Lightning Northern Pavilion, he inadvertently revealed details about Han Yues talent. Unfortunately, one of the pavilion''s elders happened to overhear. ... Inside a grand hall of the Wind Lightning Northern Pavilion, an elderly man in gray robes sat in the highest seat, while Hong Chen stood nervously at the center of the hall, uncertain of what was about to unfold. The gray-robed elder before him was Shen Yun, one of the four great elders of the pavilion, known as Elder Yun. It was said that his cultivation had already reached the Four-Star Dou Ancestor, making him an exceptionally powerful figure. "Disciple Hong Chen greets Elder Shen!" Hong Chen bent forward respectfully, his voice filled with deference. "Hong Chen, if I recall correctly, your records state that you come from the Hong Family of Tianbei City, the strongest family in that region," Elder Yun''s aged voice echoed through the hall. Hong Chen was already feeling uneasy about being summoned by such a high-ranking figure. Now, hearing a question about his background, he became even more perplexed. "Replying to Elder Shen, my Hong Family is indeed the strongest family in Tianbei City. Half of the city''s industries belong to us!" Still maintaining his bowed posture, Hong Chen answered cautiously, as Elder Yun had yet to grant him permission to straighten up. "The other half of Tianbei City belongs to the Han Family, which has been our Hong Family''s longtime ally," Hong Chen added after a brief pause. "Stand up first," Elder Yun said, lifting his hand slightly. "Thank you, Elder!" Hong Chen replied respectfully before slowly straightening his posture. Having already reviewed Hong Chens records, Elder Yun continued in a calm tone, "Hong Chen, you''ve been in the Wind Lightning Northern Pavilion for quite some time now. Compared to when you first arrived, your strength has improved significantly. If I remember correctly, you were barely at the Dou Practitioner level when you first joined." Hearing this, Hong Chen suddenly grew excited. A hundred miles outside Tianbei City, atop a mist-shrouded mountain peak, Gu He stood silently. Opposite him stood a middle-aged man with long, blood-red hair. After the two met, the red-haired man respectfully handed a storage ring to Gu He. As he presented the ring, his voice carried deep frustration, "Master, there are about two hundred and fifty seventh-tier pills inside, but the number of eighth-tier pills... is only six." This red-haired man was none other than Xue He, one of the Four Heavenly Elders of the Soul Hall, who had been implanted with a puppet seed by Gu He. Previously, Gu He had sent him out to exchange a large quantity of seventh-tier pills for a variety of other seventh-tier and eighth-tier pills. However, the outcome was clearly not ideal. After all, Gu He had initially provided him with a staggering three thousand Seventh-Tier Qingyuan Pills. Given the Qingyuan Pills exceptional healing properties, exchanging it for other seventh-tier pills should have been relatively easy. Even for ordinary eighth-tier pills, there were definitely people willing to trade ten Qingyuan Pills for one. Despite this, Gu He did not show any signs of displeasure upon hearing Xue He''s report. Instead, he simply took the storage ring without a word. Gu He was already aware of some of the challenges Xue He had faced during the exchange. The sudden influx of a massive quantity of Seventh-Tier Qingyuan Pills into various cities had naturally attracted the attention of certain interested parties. Because of this, Xue He had been forced to eliminate numerous individuals who attempted to seize the pills for themselves. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 493: Second Heaven Sovereign, Bone Ghost Chapter 493: Second Heaven Sovereign, Bone Ghost Chapter 493: Second Heaven Sovereign, Bone Ghost At present, a large quantity of seventh-grade medicinal pills, Qingyuan Pills, known for their healing properties, had begun circulating across the major cities of the Central Realm. This sudden influx quickly drew the attention of many throughout the region. Furthermore, due to Xue He having killed too many people, coupled with his highly sensitive identity as a Heaven Sovereign of the Soul Hall, the exchange of Qingyuan Pills had become increasingly difficult in other parts of the Central Realm. As a result, Gu He decided to slow down the pace of these transactions, opting for a more gradual approach. "Xue He, according to what you said, the Ninth Heaven Sovereign, Mo Yu, typically only interacts with the Eighth Heaven Sovereign, correct?" Gu He suddenly inquired. Hearing this, Fourth Heaven Sovereign Xue He nodded. "That''s right. Mo Yu is the weakest among the Heaven Sovereigns. On a regular basis, the only one he closely associates with is Qiudi, who is on the same level as him." "I see." Satisfied with Xue Hes response, Gu He nodded before suddenly recalling something. He quickly added, "Hand over the spatial jade scroll you obtained from Second Heaven Sovereign Bone Ghost during this time." "Yes!" Xue He respectfully responded before swiftly retrieving a spatial jade scroll and handing it over to Gu He. Now holding the jade scroll capable of summoning Bone Ghost, the Second Heaven Sovereign of the Soul Hall, Gu He wasted no time. He immediately set out with Xue He, leaving the mountain peak and heading toward a more secluded location. Seven to eight hours later, Gu He and Xue He arrived at a barren desert a thousand miles away. Upon reaching the location, Gu He crushed the spatial jade scroll without hesitation. The moment it shattered, a spatial rift spread open at the exact spot where the jade scroll had been destroyed. As the rift expanded, it gradually formed into a dark void. From within, a terrifying aura surged out like a raging storm, sweeping in all directions. As soon as the spatial fissure appeared, Gu Hes body transformed into a thick bolt of silver lightning, vanishing into the void nearby without a trace. "Cough! Cough! Xue He, what kind of mess did you get yourself into this time that you need me to clean up?" As Gu He disappeared into hiding, a raspy, coughing voice slowly echoed from within the spatial rift. Moments later, an elderly figure clad in gray-white robes stepped through the crack and appeared before Xue He. The elder had a hunched back, leaning on a skeletal cane. His deeply sunken eyes flickered with an eerie green glow, exuding a sinister and unsettling presence. "Second Brother, I never expected to run into such a formidable opponent in this godforsaken Northern Region. I''ve been fleeing for an entire day and night, yet he''s still relentlessly pursuing me!" Xue He responded as per Gu He''s instructions. "Oh? Someone in the Northern Region can force you into such a sorry state?" The elders expression showed a hint of surprise, though there was an undertone of disdain hidden beneath it. "Second Brother, the person chasing me is no weakling. I suspect he''s an ancient recluse, and his strength should be comparable to yoursat the Half-Saint level!" Xue He added. "An ancient recluse? Half-Saint?" Bone Ghost''s eerie green eyes gleamed with greater interest. As an Advanced Half-Saint, he had also mastered several high-tier Heaven-Ranked Dou Techniques. Within the Half-Saint realm, there were very few he couldnt handle. "If he''s truly after you, then we''ll just wait for him right here," Bone Ghost said with narrowed eyes, exuding confidence. The moment his words fell A thousand meters away, the space suddenly tore open, revealing a pitch-black rift. In the next instant, a graceful yet commanding middle-aged man swiftly emerged from the void. "An Advanced Half-Saint?" As soon as Gu He appeared, Bone Ghost immediately sensed his cultivation level. A trace of surprise flickered in his eyes, but that was all. In his mind, even if Gu He had reached the same level as himan Advanced Half-Sainthe still wouldn''t be his match. "Second Brother, this is the man who has been hunting me down!" Xue He deliberately spoke with a slightly agitated tone. "Heh, I didn''t expect a sneaky rat like you to bring reinforcements. No wonder you dared to stop and wait for me here!" Gu He sneered at Xue He before turning his gaze to the hunched old man. "Are you sure you want to stand against me for his sake? There''s still time to regret it! I can let this slide!" "Heh!" Hearing Gu He''s words, the hunched elder''s green-glowing eyes locked onto him, a strange smile appearing on his withered face. Then, leaning on his cane, the old man slowly stepped through the void. His figure flickered a few times before appearing just a dozen meters away from Gu He. His skeletal-like face twisted into a hideous grin as he spoke, "Do you even know who I am? And yet, you dare speak such arrogant words?" "Does it matter who you are?" Gu He remained indifferent to the elder''s speed, replying casually. "I am Bone Ghost. Or if you prefer, you may address me as the Second Heaven Sovereign of the Soul Hall!" Bone Ghost rasped, his voice hoarse. His intent was obvioushe wanted to remind Gu He that he was a member of the Soul Hall. "The Soul Hall, huh? It''s not like I haven''t killed your kind before... Though, this will be the first time I take down someone at the Half-Saint level." Gu He remained unimpressed. "Second Brother, this man is far too arrogant! He doesnt take the Soul Hall seriously at all!" Xue He exclaimed in anger. "Xue He, let me handle this. Just watch from the side," Bone Ghost replied hoarsely, his face betraying no emotion. The moment his words fell, his figure suddenly vanished without a trace. On Gu He''s side, the moment Bone Ghost disappeared, he showed no major reaction. He remained standing still, observing as Xue He strained his soul perception, struggling to locate Bone Ghost''s position. Then, at a precise moment, Gu Hes palm suddenly shot up, slamming fiercely toward a seemingly empty space. As soon as his palm struck, a skeletal fist materialized from the void, crashing directly against Gu He''s hand. Boom! The violent clash sent terrifying shockwaves rippling through the sky. Gu He remained rooted in place, completely unaffected. Meanwhile, Bone Ghost was forced several steps backward, though he remained unscathed. "Haha, not bad, not bad!" Despite being detected and repelled a few steps, Bone Ghost showed no anger. Instead, a grin spread across his face. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 494: Dark Skeleton King Chapter 494: Dark Skeleton King Chapter 494: Dark Skeleton King "I never expected to encounter someone of your caliber in the Northern Region. You must not be an unknown figure," Bone Ghost finally acknowledged Gu He as a worthy opponent after their brief exchange, his tone carrying a newfound seriousness. As Bone Ghost finished speaking, Gu He responded with a calm expression, "If you want to know my name, you can kneel and beg me. Maybe, if I''m in a good mood, I''ll tell you." The moment Gu He spoke, the composed and inscrutable facade Bone Ghost had been maintaining shattered completely. He let out an enraged roar, "You ungrateful wretch! Just because you managed to push me back once, do you really think youre that powerful? Let me tell you somethingjust now, I was only using fifty percent of my strength!" As his voice fell, a thick black mist surged from Bone Ghosts palm, coalescing into a massive black handprint nearly a hundred feet in size. Carrying an overwhelming pressure, it hurtled toward Gu He. A chilling aura radiated from within the black handprint, sending a wave of sinister energy through the air. The next instant, a layer of purple light flashed across Gu Hes eyes. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth, and a towering purple flame erupted forth, swiftly taking the shape of a massive fire dragon over a hundred feet long. This purple flame was Gu Hes innate divine fire, and by now, controlling it to form tangible constructs was as effortless as breathing. Bone Ghost, witnessing Gu Hes use of a Heavenly Flame, finally showed a trace of shock. Under his aged gaze, the colossal black handprint clashed with the purple fire dragon. Yet, rather than resisting, the black handprint disintegrated instantly, unable to withstand the searing heat. Meanwhile, the fire dragon remained completely unscathed, its massive purple pupils fixating fiercely on Bone Ghost. "This flame... its power is terrifying. But its aura and color dont match any known flames on the Heavenly Flame Ranking... Could this be an undiscovered Heavenly Flame?" Bone Ghost muttered to himself as he stared at the fire dragon. "If this truly is a newly discovered Heavenly Flame, bringing it back to the hall would earn me an immense reward from the Hall Master!" As Bone Ghost fell into contemplation, Gu He burst into laughter and called out, "If youve got any other tricks, nows the time to use them. Otherwise, you might just take them to your grave!" "Hmph! Don''t get ahead of yourself. Since you''ve exposed your Heavenly Flame, I wont hold back either!" A cold glint flashed through Bone Ghosts eyes as he spoke, his tone dripping with killing intent. The moment his words fell, a surge of dense black mist suddenly erupted from the skeletal staff in his hand. In an instant, the black mist spread across half the sky, filling the air with an eerie, freezing energy. Even under the intense heat radiating from the fire dragon, the black mist did not dissipate. Instead, under Bone Ghosts control, it rapidly condensed, forming a colossal black skeletal frame. The skeletal construct stood nearly a thousand feet tall, towering in the sky like a demonic skeletal deity. Thick, churning black mist swirled around its massive form, exuding an oppressive, chilling aura. Even from a distance, Xue He felt as if his very soul had plunged into an icy abyss, his body involuntarily trembling from the eerie coldness. "Dark Skeleton King... He actually summoned that immediately. It seems Bone Ghost is extremely wary of the masters Heavenly Flame!" Xue He silently observed the scene, his heart filled with awe as he gazed at the towering black skeleton in the sky. This so-called Dark Skeleton was a rare low-tier Heaven-Ranked Dou Technique. Mastering it allowed the user to fuse their own Dou Qi with the surrounding energy to manifest a terrifying Skeleton King. This Skeleton King was as tough as steel, impervious to water and fire. Every inch of its body radiated an extreme, chilling energy. If an ordinary expert were to be struck by the eerie wind it carried, their physical body might remain unscathed, but their soul would be instantly corroded. Because of this, the technique was exceptionally ruthless. With Bone Ghost''s advanced Half-Saint strength, summoning such a dark skeleton with full force made it overwhelmingly powerful. Even other advanced Half-Saint experts would have to proceed with extreme caution when facing this monstrous entity, a testament to just how formidable and troublesome the Dark Skeleton King was. At this moment, a strange light flickered in Xue He''s eyes. He wasnt sure whether Gu He or Bone Ghost was the stronger of the two, so he remained patient, silently observing while waiting for the right moment to deliver a lethal strike against Bone Ghost. ... "Go!" With the enormous black skeleton now summoned, Bone Ghost raised his staff and pointed it in Gu Hes direction. Instantly, two eerie green flames ignited within the skeletons hollow eye sockets. With a single massive stride across the sky, the towering skeleton appeared right before Gu He. Its enormous hand, wrapped in swirling black mist, effortlessly tore through space before smashing down toward him. Seeing this, Gu He swiftly retreated. In an instant, he had already moved a thousand feet away. With a rapid movement of his arms, he formed several hand seals. The purple fire dragon immediately shifted its course, its body expanding as it moved. In mere moments, it had grown into a massive hundred-foot-long beast. Even though it was still significantly smaller than the thousand-foot-tall black skeleton, its gigantic maw stretched open in a fearsome snarl as it charged forward, unafraid, directly toward the descending skeletal palm. Boom! The skeletal giants hand collided with the purple fire dragon, and a wave of scorching flames exploded outward in violent rings. Despite the tremendous impact, the purple fire dragon was not shattered. Instead, its massive head suddenly split in two, instantly transforming into two separate fire dragons. One surged along the skeletons arm, racing toward its head, while the other coiled tightly around its massive limb, locking it in place. Sizzle! Sizzle! Within moments, the colossal skeletons arm had been completely ignited. The bone-chilling energy that shrouded its body was entirely suppressed by the purple flames. The fire dragon continued to scatter, breaking apart into multiple smaller flames that clung to the massive skeletons form. Under the relentless burning, the black mist surrounding the skeleton rapidly dispersed. Even the skeletal structure itself began to waver, some areas starting to fade as though they were being burned away. "This... This newly emerged Heavenly Flame... Its power is immense!" Watching the gigantic skeleton struggle violently within the raging purple flames, Bone Ghost furrowed his brows. The sheer intensity of the fire was terrifyingif even a peak Nine-Star Dou Venerate were caught within it, they wouldnt last a minute. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 495: The Blood River’s Assistance! Chapter 495: The Blood Rivers Assistance! Chapter 495: The Blood Rivers Assistance! "This... The newly emerged Heavenly Flame is actually this powerful?!" Watching as the massive black skeletal king struggled violently within the surging purple flames, Gu You couldn''t help but furrow his brows. The might of this purple flame was evident even a peak Nine-Star Dou Venerate wouldnt last a minute inside it. Gu Yous eerie green eyes flickered, and then his withered hands swiftly formed a bizarre hand seal. At the same time, an eerie chant escaped his lips. "Explode for me!" As soon as his voice fell, the black skeleton trapped in the golden sea of fire suddenly trembled. An overwhelming surge of black mist erupted from within it, spreading across the sky like a tidal wave. Amidst the terrifying scene, ear-piercing screams resounded, and upon closer inspection, the black mist turned out to be composed of countless tormented souls. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" The moment these souls came into contact with the purple flames, they exploded one after another. The shockwaves from these soul detonations rampaged within the sea of purple flames, sending chills down the spines of all who witnessed it. "I refuse to believe that with such an overwhelming number of soul detonations, your Heavenly Flame can remain unscathed!" Gu You roared, his eyes brimming with murderous intent. "Heh, Im afraid youre in for a disappointment!" Upon witnessing the commotion, Gu He sneered coldly. He quickly formed a series of hand seals and ceased suppressing the full power of his Life Flame. In an instant, the temperature of the entire battlefield soared once more. The moisture in the air was entirely evaporated, and even the ground beneath them began to melt, rapidly transforming into flowing magma. At this moment, even an ordinary Dou Ancestor would not dare to breathe the air in this place directly. Meanwhile, the massive black skeleton enveloped in purple flames, having unleashed countless souls in a desperate bid to self-destruct, failed to cause any real damage to the flames. Instead, it had severely weakened itself. Its massive frame, which was once a thousand meters tall, rapidly shrank until it was only about thirty meters in height. Now reduced to this size, the black skeleton appeared even more ominous. A much stronger and colder energy than before suddenly radiated from its body. "Damn it! Not even an assault of this magnitude could disperse his Heavenly Flame?!" Gu Yous expression darkened considerably. He realized he had encountered an incredibly troublesome opponent today. "It seems... I have no choice but to go all out!" In the next moment, Gu Yous figure suddenly became motionless, and his eyes turned hollow and lifeless. "Jie! Jie!" At the same time, the massive black skeletons jaw moved, emitting a strange laughterit was unmistakably Gu Yous voice! The old man had merged his soul with the skeleton! As this eerie laughter echoed, the now smaller black skeleton raised a hand radiating an intense black light. With a slight motion, it reached toward the purple flames and tore at them. Under this terrifying force, space itself was instantly ripped apart. Even the purple flames were momentarily forced apart, revealing a small gap. Upon seeing this crack appear, the black skeleton grinned in apparent satisfaction. But in the very next moment, that grin froze. The crack that it had painstakingly torn open healed instantly. The searing purple flames continued burning its body relentlessly, and the extreme cold energy that should have been overwhelmingly powerful seemed completely ineffective. "No! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Gu You was visibly shaken. In his view, the power of this newly emerged Heavenly Flame might very well surpass even the Golden Emperor Burning Sky Flame, which was ranked fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking! "This old bastard Gu You actually left his bodythis is my chance!" At that moment, Four Heavenly Venerable Xue He, who had been lingering behind Gu Yous physical body, suddenly made his move. A surge of energy erupted from Xue Hes body, and in an instant, a vast sea of blood, spanning a hundred meters, formed around him. Despite the extreme heat in the surroundings causing it to continuously evaporate, the blood seas immense size ensured that it would not dissipate significantly within a short time. Once the blood sea had fully taken shape, it directly surged toward Gu Yous motionless, soulless body. In an instant, Gu Yous body was completely submerged by the massive blood sea! As the blood sea engulfed Gu Yous body, Four Heavenly Venerable Xue He raised his palm and struck the ground forcefully. The molten sand and rock below, now turned into scorching magma, momentarily split open, revealing a deep fissure. Without hesitation, Xue He swiftly manipulated the vast blood sea, pulling it toward the massive crack in the earth. The moment the blood sea fully enveloped Gu Yous body, Gu Youstill trapped within the purple sea of flamesimmediately sensed that something was wrong. He could no longer feel any connection to his own body. "Whats happening?!" The massive black skeleton snapped its head around, only to witness the hundred-meter-wide blood sea rapidly surging toward the giant fissure below. "Xue He, you bastard! What the hell are you doing?!" Gu Yous soul, residing within the black skeleton, roared in fury and confusion. But despite his enraged outburst, both Xue He and the blood sea enveloping his body had already vanished into the fissure, sinking deep into the earth beyond his sight. "What did you do to Xue He?! Why would he do something like this?" The enormous black skeletons jaw moved up and down, producing a deep, rumbling sound as it questioned Gu He. Even in his rage, Gu You refused to believe that Xue He would betray him and the Soul Hallsuch a betrayal would come at a price Xue He would never dare to bear. Hearing the question, Gu He merely smiled and responded in a calm voice, "Youll find out soon enough." The moment Gu He finished speaking, the intensity of the purple flames increased once again. The frigid energy surrounding the black skeleton rapidly thinned, and even Gu Yous soul within the skeleton began to feel the searing heat. At this moment, Gu You fully understood his predicament. His body had been sealed away by Xue Hes blood sea, cutting off all connection to it. Now, he was entirely bound to the skeletal form he had conjured. If the black skeletal king could not withstand the flames, his soul would be left completely exposed. Against Gu He, he would stand no chance. There would be only one outcomehis annihilation. "Do you truly not fear retribution from the Soul Halls powerhouses for offending me today?" Gu You threatened, his tone carrying an air of menace. "Heh, since Ive already offended you, why wouldnt I just kill you and be done with it?" Gu He replied dismissively, showing complete disdain for Gu Yous threat. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 496: Gu You’s Trump Card Unleashed! Chapter 496: Gu Yous Trump Card Unleashed! Chapter 496: Gu Yous Trump Card Unleashed! "You... Do you even realize that in the Soul Hall, every member has a soul tablet? If I die, my soul tablet will shatter instantly, alerting those within the hall!" Hearing Gu Hes words, Gu You was furious, yet he still clung to a sliver of hope. He roared, "I am the Second Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Hall! My soul tablet is stored with the Vice Hall Master himself! If I die, his unparalleled abilities will ensure that he finds you in no time. When that happens, your fate will be sealed! However, if you are willing to stop now, I can let bygones be bygones. I can even recommend you to the Hall Master! With your strength, I wouldnt mind standing beneath you!" Despite Gu Yous desperate attempts at negotiation, Gu He remained unmoved. He sneered coldly, "Hah, you people from the Soul Hall always act so high and mighty. You just cant help spouting nonsense, can you?" Even as the exchange continued, Gu He continued fueling the flames, keeping the black skeleton engulfed in the relentless inferno. Seeing Gu Hes unwavering stance, Gu You finally understoodthere was no chance of resolving this peacefully. Had his physical body not been taken away by the Fourth Heavenly Venerable, Xue He, he might have still had a way out. After all, within the spatial ring on his body, he had stored a special jade token capable of summoning the Grand Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Hall. If he could have crushed that jade token, calling upon such a mighty figure, dealing with Gu He would have been a trivial matter. But now, Gu You was filled with confusion. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldnt understand why Xue He had betrayed him. Why had he stolen his body at such a critical moment? However, there was no time to dwell on it. If he continued stalling, the power of the black skeleton would continue to weaken, and when that happened, his fate would be sealeddeath was inevitable. "I have no choice. If I can break through this sea of fire, there may still be a sliver of hope!" "Hoo" With his resolve hardened, the ten-meter-tall black skeleton''s sunken eye sockets flared with eerie green light. A breath of dark mist slowly escaped from its mouth. "Ten Thousand Soul Bone Armor!" With a hoarse, ancient voice echoing from within the black skeleton, a dense, sinister mist erupted from its body, blanketing the sky. Ear-piercing wails filled the airthe mist was clearly formed from countless tormented souls. The moment these souls emerged, they immediately clung to the skeletons body. As more and more souls attached themselves, black light surged, and soon, a full suit of armor, exuding an ominous black glow, materialized upon the skeletal figure. The armor was composed of countless small bone plates, each of which bore a twisted, ghastly face. From a distance, these grotesque faces merged into an even larger face spanning ten metersone contorted with agony, an eerie sight enough to send shivers down ones spine. "Since perfecting my Ten Thousand Soul Bone Armor, no one has ever been able to break it! I refuse to believe that I cant escape your fire array today!" Once the bone armor was fully formed, Gu Yous aged voice boomed from within the black skeleton, reverberating across the sky. "Whoosh!" In the next moment, the black skeleton, now clad in its sinister armor, reached forward with its massive hand, forcefully tearing through the air. At the same time, its enormous body surged forward, pressing against the encroaching flames. However, as it advanced, an even deeper, more intense purple flame erupted from the sea of fire, forming a towering fire pillar that directly blocked its path. Yet, with the protection of the black bone armor, the skeletal giant endured the searing flames and continued its charge forward! "Gu You, you really do have some skills!" Seeing this, Gu He was momentarily stunned. Gu Yous combat strength far surpassed that of an ordinary high-rank Half-Saint. With the Ten Thousand Soul Bone Armor, which he had cultivated over countless years, paired with his Heaven-tier Dou Technique, the Dark Skeleton King, his defenses were so formidable that even a true Dou Saint might not be able to take him down in a few strikes. Unfortunately for him, Gu Hes strength was just as overwhelming. If he had fought at full power from the start, even a One-Star Dou Saint would not have been able to withstand him. The only reason this battle had dragged on for so long was that Gu He had never intended to kill Gu Youhis goal was simply to render him completely powerless. Gu You had been concealing his true strength, only revealing a new trump card whenever he was on the verge of collapse. That was the only reason the fight had lasted this long. Similarly, Gu He had been gradually increasing his power in response to Gu Yous hidden tricks. Now, seeing Gu You summon the Ten Thousand Soul Bone Armor, Gu He once again changed his hand seals, further amplifying the power of his Life Flame. In an instant, an indescribable heatwave erupted, sweeping across the battlefield. The surface of the desert within dozens of miles melted into a sea of magma. This was still Gu He holding back, focusing the brunt of the fires power solely on Gu You. If he unleashed it fully, the devastation would spread across a thousand miles, reducing everything to ashes. Within this scorching inferno, all living beings vanished into vapor. Even an ordinary Dou Venerate wouldnt have the qualifications to step near this battlefield. "What is this terrifying heat...? Where is it coming from?" In a city hundreds of miles away, people stared in horror toward the desert. "Such an unimaginable heat source... Could it be that a Heavenly Flame has appeared?" Some of the stronger cultivators had their eyes lit up with greed. Rather than retreating, they rushed toward the origin of the heat, eager to seize whatever treasure might be there. ... Above the burning wasteland, the black skeletonscorched by the ever-intensifying purple flamessuddenly emitted a faint cracking sound. Moments later, a broken piece of bone armor fell from its surface. Crack! Crack! As the first piece shattered, more fragments followed, breaking off like falling snowflakes. Deep cracks rapidly spread across the giant skeletal body, and finally, with a loud boom, the once-impenetrable bone armor completely disintegrated into dust, scattering in the air. With its armor gone, the skeleton itself was laid bare. But now, its once-indestructible body was covered in a dense web of cracks. Even the eerie green glow in its hollow eye sockets had dimmed considerably. As the cracks spread throughout the skeletal form, a desperate plea rang out from within. "Spare me, senior! Please, have mercy! Whatever you wantbe it treasure or informationI will give it to you!" At this moment, there was no longer any trace of Gu Yous dignity as the Second Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Hall. His voice was filled with nothing but fear and desperation. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 498: Gu You’s Breakthrough! Chapter 498: Gu Yous Breakthrough! Chapter 498: Gu Yous Breakthrough! The massive blood sea, spanning a hundred feet, surged into the sky before quickly retracting into Xue Hes body, revealing the withered corpse that had been hidden beneath it. "Master!" Xue He, the Fourth Heaven Elder, respectfully placed Gu Yous body before Gu He and bowed with deep reverence. "Hmm." Gu He nodded slightly, then gestured for the black mist to enter the withered body. Receiving the command, the black mist did not hesitate and immediately merged into the lifeless corpse. Since this body originally belonged to Gu You, his soul required no time to assimilate. In an instant, Gu Yous once-lifeless pupils reignited with a dim green glow. "Gu You, take out the spatial jade slip from your storage ring," Gu He ordered as soon as Gu You regained control of his body. "As you command, Master!" An aged yet respectful voice emerged from Gu Yous mouth. His withered hand brushed lightly across his storage ring, and a spatial jade slip appeared in his palm. Earlier, by implanting the Ancient Puppet Seed, Gu He had gained access to Gu Yous memories. Through them, he had uncovered even deeper secrets about the Soul Hall. More importantly, he had learned that inside Gu Yous storage ring was a spatial jade slip capable of summoning the Soul Halls strongest figurethe First Heaven Elder. The power of the First Heaven Elder was far beyond that of Gu You or Xue He. Having reached the level of a Two-Star Dou Saint, even Gu He himself had no absolute confidence in facing him. Furthermore, even if Gu He could barely defeat the First Heaven Elder, it would be a reckless move. There was no benefit in merely winning a battle. Behind the First Heaven Elder stood even more terrifying figuresthe Vice Hall Master and the Soul Hall Master, Hun Miesheng. At his current strength, Gu He was far from being able to contend with them. Carefully, he stored the spatial jade slip into his system space. Within the system space, even if there were hidden dangers within the jade slip, they would be completely neutralized. This battle had not inflicted serious physical damage on Gu You. His greatest loss was the destruction of the countless souls he had painstakingly collected, all of which had been obliterated by Gu He. Additionally, the powerful Ten Thousand Soul Bone Armor, which he had spent years refining, had been shattered in this confrontation. As a result, Gu Yous current combat strength had dropped significantly, now barely on par with an advanced Half-Saint. Moreover, his own soul had suffered a severe blow. Unfortunately, Gu He did not possess soul-healing pills. To prevent the high-ranking members of the Soul Hall from noticing any weakness in Gu Yous condition, Gu He ultimately decided to grant him a Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill to restore his heavily damaged soul. With this in mind, Gu He willed it into existence, and a vibrant green pill, exuding a rich medicinal fragrance, appeared in his hand. A surge of immense energy pulsed from within the pill. "A Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill!" Gu Yous heart trembled in shock as he gazed at the pill in Gu Hes hand. The next moment, Gu He handed the powerful pill over. "Gu You, consume this pill. It should restore you to your peak state, but the souls you lost can never be recovered. Do not reveal your true combat strength," Gu He warned as he passed the Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill. "Thank you, Master! I will remember your command!" Gu You, overwhelmed with gratitude, accepted the pill respectfully and responded with unwavering loyalty. Gu You wasted no time after receiving the Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill. Without hesitation, he placed the green pill into his mouth. As soon as it touched his tongue, the pill dissolved into a pure green liquid energy that flowed down his throat and spread throughout his entire body. Almost immediately, an immense yet gentle energy erupted within him. Under the influence of this energy, both his physical injuries and soul damage began to recover at an astonishing speed. Since Gu Yous injuries were not severe, a large portion of the pills energy remained unused even after fully healing him. This residual energy surged through his body, unexpectedly loosening the bottleneck of his long-stagnant cultivation realm. Heaven and earth energy rapidly gathered around him. "Hes actually about to break through to a true One-Star Dou Saint!" Gu He was slightly surprised as he sensed the changes in Gu Yous aura. If Gu You succeeded in this breakthrough, the Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill would not be wasted. Reaching the level of a One-Star Dou Saint would elevate Gu Yous status within the Soul Hall. With a higher rank, his efficiency in executing Gu Hes commands would also improve. As the surrounding energy of heaven and earth surged toward Gu You, Gu He and Xue He took a step back. However, the massive energy stored within the pill was so overwhelming that Gu Yous breakthrough did not rely much on external forces. Within just ten minutes, the advancement was complete. The celestial phenomenon that had just begun dissipated just as quickly. Gu He was pleased as he sensed the powerful aura of a One-Star Dou Saint emanating from Gu You. Now that Gu You was fully under his control, Gu He retrieved another spatial jade slip. This jade slip had been taken from Old Ghost Star Reacher. It had the ability to summon the Ninth Heaven Elder of the Soul HallMo Yu. Gu He planned to deal with all of them in one go. Without delay, he crushed the jade slip. As it shattered, the surrounding space distorted. A moment later, a pitch-black rift formed within the twisted void. Before the spatial fissure fully appeared, both Gu He and Gu You concealed their auras. Only Xue He released his energy completely. Soon, a blue figure emerged from the dark rift. It was an old man clad in a blue robe. Even his hair and eyebrows were a faint blue. His eyes shimmered like an endless ocean, brimming with boundless water-element energy. This man was none other than Mo Yu, the Ninth Heaven Elder of the Soul Hall. Upon realizing that only one person had arrived, Gu He felt a slight sense of regret. "It seems the Eighth Heaven Elder, Qiu Di, didnt come along with Mo Yu." Without hesitation, he immediately ordered Gu You and Xue He to strike together and subdue Mo Yu. "Fourth Brother? Why is it you? I thought something had happened to Star Reacher..." Before Mo Yu could finish his sentence, a pair of withered hands silently landed on his shoulders. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 499: Controlling Mo Yu! Chapter 499: Controlling Mo Yu! Chapter 499: Controlling Mo Yu! Gu Yous withered hand firmly grasped Mo Yu. In the next instant, a vast surge of energy poured into Mo Yus body, completely suppressing his cultivation. Realizing what was happening, Mo Yu''s face instantly turned pale. He turned his head in terror and saw an aged, skull-like face with deep eyes glowing a ghostly green. Second Brother, what are you doing? Mo Yu cried out in fear, his voice carrying both terror and deep confusion. Although Mo Yu was one of the nine Heavenly Venerables of the Soul Hall, his strength ranked at the bottom among them. He had rarely interacted with the Second Heavenly Venerable, Gu You, who was rumored to have reached the level of an advanced Half-Saint. At this moment, Mo Yu, after his initial exclamation, turned anxiously toward the Fourth Heavenly Venerable, Xue He, pleading, Fourth Brother, tell mewhats going on? Why is Second Brother capturing me? Dont ask Xue HeIll tell you myself! Just as Mo Yu finished speaking, a figure flickered into existence beside Xue HeGu He. Xue He immediately bent down respectfully and performed a grand salute to Gu He. Witnessing this, Mo Yus eyes widened in shock. A thought surged in his mind: Whats happening? Fourth Brother is showing such reverence to this person? Who is he? Did I do something wrong? Mo Yus voice softened, and he cautiously asked. The moment you joined the Soul Hall and became one of its Heavenly Venerables, you had already made a mistake. Gu He stated bluntly, The Soul Hall is blocking my path. What?! Mo Yus mind struggled to process this revelation. Gu Hes words clearly expressed hostility toward the Soul Hall, yet the one restraining him was none other than the Second Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Hall, Gu You. Even the Fourth Heavenly Venerable, Xue He, stood respectfully beside him. Could it be... Second Brother and Fourth Brother arent truly loyal to the Soul Hall? Are they spies planted by another force? This realization made Mo Yus thoughts spiral into turmoil. A moment later, having made up his mind, Mo Yu immediately pleaded, Second Brother, Fourth Brother, and this esteemed seniorI was forced to join the Soul Hall! If given a choice, I can serve you instead! Faced with the threat to his life, Mo Yu did not hesitate to betray the Soul Hall. Haha! And here I thought the Soul Halls people were full of backbone. Turns out, they all just cherish their own lives! Gu He laughed at Mo Yus desperate plea. I do need you to work for me, Gu Hes smile faded, and his tone turned stern, but I will leave a mark on your soul. If you try anything, I can activate it at any time and take your life. Alright! I agree! Mo Yu replied almost instantly. He knew that if he refused, he would likely die on the spot. With Gu You and Xue Hes status, they could easily fabricate a reason for his death, and no one in the Soul Hall would bother investigating. Accepting Gu Hes terms meant his life would be under someone elses control, but at least he could survive for now. Good. Very good. Next, youd best not resist while I imprint your soul. As Gu He spoke, a powerful surge of soul energy erupted from within him. It pierced directly into Mo Yus forehead and burrowed into his soul. Feeling this foreign force infiltrate his very essence, Mo Yu was inwardly alarmed, yet he dared not resist. With Mo Yus compliance, Gu He smoothly performed the ancient Puppet Imprint technique, embedding his control effortlessly. Before long, a transparent crystal began forming deep within Mo Yus soul. At that moment, he suddenly realized that Gu Hes technique was not just implanting a soul mark but also reading his memories and even influencing parts of his consciousness. Upon this realization, Mo Yu finally started to panic. This isnt a soul mark! What are you trying to do? Mo Yus soul questioned in alarm. However, Gu He ignored his protest entirely and instead accelerated his casting of the ancient Puppet Imprint technique. As Gu Hes hand seals grew faster, the transparent crystal deep within Mo Yus soul rapidly solidified, and from it, thin, transparent threads began to spread outward. Mo Yu immediately noticed that as these threads extended, he was gradually losing control over his own consciousness. At this moment, true fear set inif his consciousness fell entirely under Gu Hes control, he would become nothing more than a puppet, no different from being dead. So youre trying to control me, turning me into a puppet! Mo Yus soul began to struggle violently. But by now, the Puppet Seed had already been planted. Only the final step remainedtaking root. Mo Yus resistance was ultimately futile. Using the portion of his consciousness already under control, Gu He easily suppressed his struggle. Soon, every corner of Mo Yus soul was entwined with the transparent threads extending from the crystal. Retracting the soul power he had injected into Mo Yu, Gu He lifted his hand and said, Alright, Gu You, release him. Yes, Master! Hearing Gu Hes command, Gu You respectfully nodded and withdrew the power suppressing Mo Yus cultivation, lifting his hands from Mo Yus shoulders. Greetings, Master! The moment he was freed, Mo Yu immediately bowed deeply to Gu He in submission. Earlier, while implanting the Puppet Imprint, Gu He had not obtained much useful information from Mo Yus memories. Ultimately, Mo Yus status in the Soul Hall was not high enoughhis knowledge was far inferior to Gu Yous. Interestingly, though, Gu He did come across an old grudge between Mo Yu, Qiu Di, and the master-disciple pair, Yao Chen. He also saw a memory of a brutal struggle for treasure in an ancient cave, where countless experts fought fiercely. It was during this time that Yao Chen, after obtaining the Burning Art, was targeted by the Soul Hall. Eventually, his own junior fellow disciple, Elder Mu Gu, colluded with Yao Chens disciple, Han Feng, to drive him to a dead end. Shaking his head, Gu He filtered out the irrelevant memories. Then, he addressed the three Soul Hall Heavenly Venerables, Gu You, Xue He, Mo Yu, you may return. Once youre back at your respective branches, do your best to gather rare treasures for meelixirs, body-refining artifacts, or anything that enhances soul power. As you command! Upon receiving Gu Hes orders, the three of them responded respectfully before their figures vanished into the distance. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 500: The Journey Back! Chapter 500: The Journey Back! Chapter 500: The Journey Back! After Gu You, Xue He, and Mo Yu departed, Gu He glanced down at the vast stretch of molten earth, where the desert had turned into a sea of magma spanning dozens of miles. A trace of helplessness flickered across his face. The destructive power of a battle between Half-Saints was simply too overwhelming. Especially with Gu Hes combat style, which involved summoning his natal divine flame, the effects could span thousands of miles. Fortunately, this was a desert, and few living creatures inhabited the now-molten land. Most had already retreated to a safe distance when the temperature began rising, even before his divine flame had fully erupted. Still, no matter how careful he had been, some innocent beings had undoubtedly perished due to the battle. There was nothing Gu He could do to prevent that. Letting out a long sigh, he chose not to dwell on it further. His figure suddenly transformed into a streak of silver lightning, vanishing into the void as he sped toward Tianbei City. ... Whats going on? That intense heatits gone? Could the strange flame have fled on its own? Or was it discovered and subdued by some powerful expert? Within a two-hundred-mile radius of where Gu He and Gu You had fought, a group of cultivators wore puzzled expressions. In the next instant, their movements quickened. Now that the scorching heat had vanished, they no longer needed to waste energy maintaining their protective qi shields. They swiftly withdrew them and advanced at full speed. As they got closer, an expanse of crimson land came into view. Everyone was stunned by the scene before them. An endless field of molten earth stretched as far as the eye could see. The sheer magnitude of the destruction was terrifying. Heavens... the entire surface has turned into a massive magma zone! This strange flame must be unbelievably powerfulit has to be ranked at least in the top ten of the Heavenly Flame Ranking! With such a terrifying flame, how could anyone have subdued it so quickly? It must have retreated underground again! Perhaps the answers lie beneath this sea of magma. After their initial shock, greed flickered in the eyes of the first group to arrive. Without hesitation, three powerful expertseach at the Dou Zong leveldarted forward and leaped into the magma. Splash! Enveloped in protective qi, the three plunged into the molten earth. However, to their surprise, the outer layer of magma was barely a meter deep. The moment they entered, the molten rock only reached their waists, leaving them in an awkward position. The deepest part of this magma field must be where the strange flame has hidden itself! one of them suddenly declared. The other two nodded firmly in agreement. Without further delay, the three advanced toward the heart of the magma field. Seeing this, the other cultivators hovering in the sky followed suit, eagerly searching for the deepest point of the molten land. Tianbei City, Han Family Estate. A distinguished guest arrived at the Han Family Estate today. The head of the Han family, Han Chi, personally welcomed the visitor in the reception hall, accompanied by several elders of the family. The guest was an elder of the Wind and Thunder North Pavilion, one of the four great elders overseeing wind, rain, thunder, and lightningElder Yun. Draped in a gray robe, with a rare pair of silver pupils, Yun exuded an extraordinary presence. As soon as Shen Yun met Han Chi, he noticed that Han Chi had already stepped into the Dou Zong realm. However, this revelation did not particularly surprise him. After taking his seat in the hall, he got straight to the point. "Patriarch Han, I have come today to offer my congratulations!" "Oh? I hardly think my breakthrough to Dou Zong is worth troubling Elder Yun with concern," Han Chi responded, somewhat puzzled. "Haha, you''ve misunderstood, Patriarch Han. My congratulations are not for your advancement but for the precious daughter you have. Despite her young age, she has already reached the Dou Huang level. I intend to bring her into Wind and Thunder Pavilion as a core disciple!" Hearing this, Han Chis past self would have been ecstatic and would have readily agreed. The reputation of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion was far too formidable. Becoming a core disciple would mean that the Han family would be tied to the pavilion, and no nearby forces would dare to provoke them. However, Han Chi was now fully aware that his two treasured daughters had already apprenticed under a Dou Zun powerhouse. Their cultivation speed was nothing short of monstrous. At her current age, Han Yue had already surpassed him in strength, something that not even the direct disciples of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion''s Thunder Sovereign could achieve. Thus, the moment Shen Yun made his offer, Han Chi had already made up his mind to refuse. However, he did not want to outright reject him and instead showed a conflicted expression. "What''s wrong, Patriarch Han? Is there a problem?" Shen Yun asked, noticing Han Chis hesitation. "Elder Yun, to be honest, my daughter has already apprenticed under a senior expert and is currently away on training. She likely wont return for the next two or three years," Han Chi explained tactfully. "I see, what a pity!" Shen Yun sighed. In the Dou Qi Continent, respecting ones teacher was a fundamental principle of all sects. Since Han Chi had made it clear that Han Yue had already sworn allegiance to a master, he couldnt simply ask her to betray them and join the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. "May I ask, which senior has taken Han Yue as a disciple?" Shen Yun asked curiously. He had already investigated Han Yues background. Before she entered Jia Nan Academy, her talent had been decent but not particularly outstanding. At the time, many of the Wind and Thunder Pavilions core disciples had superior cultivation speeds. Yet, after just one trip to Jia Nan Academy, she had undergone a complete transformation. "Haha, Elder Yun, you are well aware that I sent my daughter to Jia Nan Academy when she was still a child," Han Chi replied with a subtle implication. "It seems my suspicions were correct. Patriarch Hans daughter has apprenticed under a hidden powerhouse from Jia Nan Academy. Congratulations!" Shen Yun chuckled dryly. With his knowledge, Shen Yun understood that while Jia Nan Academy publicly appeared to be under the protection of Dou Zong experts, rumors in Central Plains spoke of a mysterious headmaster possessing unfathomable strength. Moreover, there were countless hidden masters in the academy, focused solely on their cultivation. Even the Thunder Sovereign of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion did not dare to meddle in that region. "In that case, I shall not impose further on Patriarch Han." Since his attempt to recruit Han Yue had failed, Shen Yun saw no reason to stay. Moments later, he left the Han Family reception hall and soared into the sky as a streak of light. At that exact moment, Gu He, returning from afar, sensed Shen Yuns presence. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 501: Wind and Thunder East Pavilion! Chapter 501: Wind and Thunder East Pavilion! Chapter 501: Wind and Thunder East Pavilion! Gu He and Shen Yun met face to face. With just one glance, Shen Yun immediately sensed that the man before him was extraordinary. Although Gu He did not emanate the aura of a high-level Half-Saint expert, he still gave Shen Yun an indescribable sense of pressure. Almost instinctively, Shen Yun cupped his hands and said, "Shen Yun of the Wind and Thunder North Pavilion greets Senior!" "The Wind and Thunder Pavilion?" Hearing the self-introduction of the gray-robed man who had just left the Han family, Gu He was slightly surprised. However, in the next instant, a thought arose in his mind. Recently, with Yun Yun giving birth to Xiao Yuchen, both he and Yun Yun had been considering returning to the Yunlan Sect. At this moment, what Gu He was thinking about was stopping by the Wind and Thunder Pavilion before leaving the Northern Region of Central Continent to obtain their so-called secret techniqueThree Thousand Lightning Phantom Body. Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Bodyalthough classified as an advanced Earth-tier movement techniquewas of such high value that it could rival even a Heaven-tier technique. According to Gu He''s memories, within the Wind and Thunder North Pavilion, there existed a copy of the Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body technique, divided into four parts, each held by one of the four eldersWind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning. However, these four were not Gu He''s targets. His plan was to approach the Thunder Venerable directly and exchange something of value to obtain the technique from him. After a brief moment of contemplation, Gu He nodded slightly at Shen Yun. Then, with a ripple of spatial energy, his figure disappeared from Shen Yun''s sight. "Spatial traversal... It seems my instincts were correctthis senior is a mighty expert at the Dou Venerate level!" Looking at the lingering spatial fluctuations where Gu He had just stood, Shen Yun murmured to himself, "Judging by his direction, he must be heading toward the Han family. He could very well be the mysterious master that Han Chis genius daughter has apprenticed under. This must be reported to the Pavilion Master immediatelythe Han family must not be provoked!" After a brief calculation, Shen Yun did not linger in Tianbei City and instead hurried straight toward the Wind and Thunder North Pavilion. ... "Dear, you''re back!" Inside the Han family''s estate, Yun Yun, holding Xiao Yuchen in her arms, greeted Gu He joyfully. "Father! Father!" At this point, Xiao Yuchen could already say simple words. Calling out to Gu He, he reached out his tiny hands. Gu He quickly stepped forward, gently lifting the little one into his arms as Xiao Yuchen stretched out his small hands in an attempt to stand up. "Father!" With a bright smile, Xiao Yuchen rubbed his little face against Gu He''s cheek. "Look at you! You were only gone for a short while, yet Yuchen missed you so much!" Yun Yun said softly. In the next moment, Gu He extended his other arm and pulled Yun Yun close. "Yun''er, in a few days, after I take care of one more matter, lets take Yuchen back to the Yunlan Sect." Gu He directly voiced his thoughts. "Alright, husband. How long will it take to handle this matter?" Yun Yun immediately nodded in agreement upon hearing Gu He''s proposal. She had already been away from the Yunlan Sect for over a year and a half, and she still felt a bit nostalgic about it. Hearing Yun Yun''s question, Gu He thought for a moment before replying, "Half a month." Yun Yun nodded lightly and said, "Half a month isnt too long." After returning to the Han family, Gu He only stayed for a day before temporarily bidding farewell to Yun Yun and Xiao Yuchen. This time, his destination was the Wind and Thunder East Pavilion. With his full speed, using Void Lightning Flash to traverse through space, even some three-star Dou Saints couldnt match his speed. As a result, in just two days, he had already crossed the Tianmu Mountain Range. ... The Wind and Thunder East Pavilion held great prestige, even across the entire Central Continent. As the headquarters of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, it was home to countless powerful experts and was heavily fortified. Over the years, the Wind and Thunder Pavilion had weathered many storms, yet the East Pavilion had always stood firm. Through numerous battles between forces, its name gradually rose above the rest, solidifying its current dominance in the Northern Region. The Wind and Thunder East Pavilion was located within the Wind and Thunder Mountain Range at the northern border. The terrain here was quite peculiarperhaps due to the high altitude, thunderstorms roared constantly, and the weather was unpredictable. A moment ago, the sun might have been shining brightly, but the next instant, violent lightning storms could descend. The entire Wind and Thunder Mountain Range was under the East Pavilions control, serving as its personal domain. Other factions without sufficient strength wouldn''t even dare to encroach upon this land. After crossing the Tianmu Mountain Range, Gu He swiftly followed the map toward Thunder Mountain, the very place where the headquarters of the Wind and Thunder PavilionEast Pavilionstood. With Gu Hes powerful soul force, even as he moved through the air at high speed, no one detected his presence. Gradually, in the distance, a massive mountain range came into viewfar larger than the Tianmu Mountain Range. Even from afar, the deafening sound of thunder echoed from within the mountains. This place, saturated with the energy of wind and thunder, was unmistakably the Wind and Thunder Mountain Range. At the entrance of the mountain range, disciples of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion were stationed as guards. However, Gu He''s arrival went completely unnoticed by them. His figure moved swiftly through the sky, and the occasional streaks of natural lightning flashing around him did not harm him in the slightest. Instead, they were absorbed by his body, replenishing his energy. Soon, as Gu He navigated through the Wind and Thunder Mountain Range, a towering, majestic peak came into sightThunder Mountain! Thunder Mountain stood extremely high, its peak seemingly unreachable from the ground. Even at Gu He''s current altitude, it was already surrounded by thick mist and dark clouds, within which flashes of lightning flickered. From a distance, the entire mountain seemed to be enveloped in countless bolts of lightning, appearing both awe-inspiring and imposing. On either side of a winding stone path that stretched from the base of the mountain to the summit, rows of massive silver-colored trees stood tall. These peculiar trees had no branches or leaves, resembling giant pillars. What caught Gu Hes attention was the fact that these silver trees contained an exceptionally dense lightning energy. With a sweep of his soul power, he could easily sense strands of lightning energy continuously rising from the treetops, merging into the thick clouds above. It was evident that the terrifying concentration of wind and thunder energy in Thunder Mountain was closely related to these mysterious trees. With their constant release of lightning power, the dark clouds in the sky would never dissipate. As a result, anyone practicing lightning-attribute techniques here would experience greatly enhanced results with half the effort. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 502: Thunder Venerable! A Deal! Chapter 502: Thunder Venerable! A Deal! Chapter 502: Thunder Venerable! A Deal! The defenses atop Thunder Mountain were far stricter than in other parts of the Wind and Thunder Mountain Range. Near the mountains base, numerous figures with various forms of Dou Qi wings could be seen patrolling the skies. However, the location where Gu He was positioned was entirely beyond the patrol range of these Wind and Thunder Pavilion disciples. Gu He swiftly ascended to the mountaintop. Before long, a vast plaza appeared beneath his feet. The plaza was constructed from the same silver trees that were abundant on Thunder Mountain, giving it a dazzling silver sheen. The surface had several pits and dents, suggesting that it was frequently used by Wind and Thunder Pavilion disciples for training. The most striking feature of the Thunder Mountain summit was the massive silver tower. The tower stood at a height of at least thirty to forty zhang, its grandeur unmatched. Lightning flickered continuously around its surface, and its pinnacle pierced directly into the clouds, radiating an aura of profound mystery. At this moment, on the highest level of the silver tower, a silver-clad figure sat cross-legged. This person was tall, appearing to be in his forties or fifties. A strand of silver-white beard adorned his chin, and he wore a silver robe embroidered with intricate lightning patterns that flowed as if alive. Faint arcs of thunderous energy emanated from his attire, filling the air around him. Suddenly, in front of this seated silver figure, the space violently distorted. Sensing the anomaly, the silver-robed man abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with shock and fury. "Who dares trespass upon my Thunder Mountain!" His thunderous roar erupted like an explosion, sending waves of overwhelming pressure throughout the surroundings. Inside the various levels of the silver tower, numerous meditating figures were startled awake, their expressions filled with confusion. "That''s the Venerables voicewhats happening?" "An outsider dared to trespass on Thunder Mountain and even provoked the Venerables wrath!" "Let''s go! We must find this intruder immediately!" In an instant, countless figures shot out from the silver tower, scanning the surroundings, while others rushed toward the disturbance from outside. At the towers highest level, under the sharp gaze of the silver-robed man, a white-clad figure slowly emerged from the distorted space. The moment Gu He stepped out of the void, he smiled lightly and addressed the silver-robed man. "Hehe, Thunder Venerable, no need to be agitated. I have come to make a deal with you." As he spoke, Gu He waved his hand, sealing off the tower''s pinnacle entirely, severing it from the outside world. Thunder Venerable, seeing this, immediately struck out with a thick silver lightning bolt, launching it fiercely at the invisible barrier. However, to his astonishment, despite the sheer power within the bolt, the barrier remained utterly unmovednot even a ripple appeared upon impact. Realizing the sheer strength of the seal Gu He had casually placed, the fury on Thunder Venerables face instantly faded, his expression shifting. This man was far beyond his expectations. Without further hesitation, Thunder Venerable retracted his anger and, with a trace of skepticism, asked directly, "What kind of deal do you propose?" Seeing this, Gu He wasted no time with further explanations and got straight to the point. "Ive come to Thunder Mountain for one purposeto exchange something with your Wind and Thunder Pavilion for the cultivation method of the Earth-tier movement technique, Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body." "What? You want the cultivation method for the Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body?" Thunder Venerable repeated in disbelief. "Do you not know that the Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body is a secret technique of my Wind and Thunder Pavilion, never to be passed outside? Do you really think I would agree to this?" "Thunder Venerable, you will agree," Gu He replied with a confident smile and a nod. "Your cultivation is indeed strong, but this is Thunder Mountainthe headquarters of my Wind and Thunder Pavilion. Countless disciples are stationed here. If you think you can take it by force, then" "Thunder Venerable, you misunderstand," Gu He interrupted calmly. "Since I called this a transaction, I naturally wouldnt resort to such crude methods." Thunder Venerables voice was cold, but before he could finish, Gu He had already cut him off. "How do you intend to trade?" Thunder Venerable asked again. This time, however, there was a noticeable hesitation in his tone. "A single eighth-tier pill that has endured the Five-Colored Pill Thunderwould that be a satisfactory exchange for the cultivation method of the Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body?" As Thunder Venerable watched, a white jade bottle suddenly appeared in Gu Hes hand. "An eighth-tier pill tempered by Five-Colored Pill Thunder!" Thunder Venerables heart trembled at Gu Hes words. Although the Wind and Thunder Pavilion ruled over the Northern Region, this land was poor in resources, and true eighth-tier alchemists were practically unheard of. As the Pavilion Master, Thunder Venerable had only consumed two eighth-tier pills in his entire life, and even those were of the lowest quality within the tier. But now, the pill that Gu He was offering had survived the trial of Five-Colored Pill Thunderan extraordinary eighth-tier pill, one of the finest of its kind. The Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body was indeed precious, but Thunder Venerable had long since mastered it. For him, exchanging a single copy of its cultivation method for such a pill was hardly a loss. Moreover, he could faintly sense that Gu Hes strength far surpassed his own. If he refused today, he feared that things would not end well. After a brief but intense deliberation, Thunder Venerable gave a heavy nod and responded loudly, "Fine, I agree to your termsbut I must verify the authenticity of the pill first!" Gu He chuckled at the response. With a thought, the jade bottle in his hand opened, releasing an overwhelming fragrance that instantly filled the topmost level of the silver tower. A moment later, a deep purple pill slowly floated out. "This is the cultivation method for the Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body!" After carefully inspecting the pill in his hand, Thunder Venerable confirmed its authenticity. Without hesitation, he tossed a silver scroll toward Gu He. After handing over the scroll, Thunder Venerable suddenly formed a seal in his palm and said, "This contains the key to unlocking the Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body scroll." (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 503: Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body! Chapter 503: Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body! Chapter 503: Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body! After tossing the silver scroll to Gu He, Venerable Lei suddenly gathered an invisible energy in his palm and said, "Sir, this contains the key to unlocking the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body scroll!" "No need!" Seeing the invisible energy forming in Venerable Leis hand, Gu He shook his head and declined. The Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body scroll was recorded in a unique thunder script by someone with profound knowledge of lightning. However, when Gu He swept his soul power over the contents just now, he found that the intricate thunder script was not difficult for him. Perhaps this was due to his mastery of the Void Thunder God''s Flash, a Heaven-tier Dou Technique, which had ingrained a deep understanding of lightning into his very being. "This..." Hearing Gu He refuse the invisible energy, Venerable Lei frowned slightly. If it had been an ordinary person declining, he would have left it at that and not given it further thought. However, he was well aware that Gu Hes strength far surpassed his own. Moreover, Gu He had exchanged an eighth-tier pill infused with Five-Colored Dan Thunder for this scroll. If any issues arose later, misunderstandings would be inevitable, leading to future trouble. After some inner deliberation, Venerable Lei decided it was best to clarify everything now rather than leave room for conflict later. "Sir, our Wind and Thunder Pavilions Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body is recorded in an ancient thunder script. Furthermore, in order to cultivate it, one must first master the Three Thousand Thunder Movement, a low-tier Earth-rank movement technique..." As Venerable Lei carefully explained, Gu Hes figure suddenly vanished from where he stood before he could even finish speaking. The moment Gu He left, the powerful seal shrouding the towers pinnacle also dissipated along with him. "Sigh, whats the rush? If something goes wrong later, he''ll just come looking for me again!" Watching Gu He depart, Venerable Lei felt quite exasperated. At this point, he was almost certain that Gu He would return eventually. So, he decided to remain in the silver tower and wait. "Venerable One, may I ask what just happened? Did an outsider intrude into Thunder Mountain?" At that moment, several respectful voices came from outside the silver tower, spoken by a group of elderly figures. "Its nothing! Go back to whatever you were doing!" Venerable Lei responded impatiently. Upon hearing this, the many elders and disciples of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, who had gathered outside the tower, dared not say another word and quickly dispersed. ... Meanwhile, after obtaining the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body from Venerable Lei, Gu He swiftly left Thunder Mountain and arrived at an unremarkable peak within the Wind and Thunder Mountain Range. Opening the scroll, he began studying it carefully. As an advanced Earth-rank movement technique, the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body was far more profound than an ordinary technique of the same rank. This Dou Technique had extremely high requirements for soul power. However, Gu Hes soul strength had long since surpassed the threshold needed to cultivate the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body. The condensation of the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body''s clone can only occur when the Three Thousand Thunder Movement reaches its highest level, the "Three Thousand Thunder" stage. Only then is there a chance of forming a clone. Even if the clone is successfully condensed, it is divided into three levelsSubtle, Hall Entrance, and Great Accomplishment. These levels determine the strength of the clone. A Subtle-level clone possesses at most one-third of the original body''s strength, a Hall Entrance-level clone has about two-thirds, while a Great Accomplishment-level clone is equal in power to the original body. After studying the scroll for a while, a dazzling silver glow suddenly surged from Gu He''s feet. His gaze sharpened, and his body shot forward like a bolt of lightning. As he moved, several afterimages appeared behind him. When he halted his steps and quickly turned back, he saw the afterimages gradually fading away. "Mind controls form, soul remains in the shadow..." After practicing a few times, Gu He stopped and carefully sensed the process. About ten minutes later, he took another step forward. In an instant, his figure vanished like lightning and reappeared a thousand meters away, leaving behind over a dozen afterimages along the way. Most of these afterimages dissipated quickly, but the last one faded at an extremely slow pace. Moreover, Gu He could sense a faint trace of soul energy lingering within it. "It seems that to condense a clone, I must leave a fragment of my soul within the afterimage at the very moment it appears. The faster I move, the harder it is to leave my soul imprint!" Gu He quickly grasped the key to cultivating the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body. Given his vast experience, including mastering Heaven-tier Dou Techniques, the initial stages of this technique posed little difficulty for him. As the saying goes, mastering one technique leads to an understanding of many others. While cultivation methods may differ, they often share underlying principles. Unless it was a completely unique technique he had never encountered before, most techniques were relatively easy for him to learn. The early-stage training method of embedding a soul imprint into an afterimage was strikingly similar to the Distant Horizon Step, a movement technique Gu He had practiced in his early years. In terms of speed and efficiency, Distant Horizon Step far outclassed the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body. Not to mention that later, Gu He had mastered the Heaven-tier movement technique Void Thunder God''s Flash, which utterly surpassed the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body in terms of speed. Because of this deep foundation, his comprehension of movement techniques had already reached a profound level. After about two hours of practice, one of his afterimages remained intact in a fixed posture for a long time without dissipating. Gu He could even sense a faint soul force emanating from this condensed afterimage. "Its done!" Looking at the lingering afterimage, a slight smile appeared on Gu He''s face. With a flick of his hand, the afterimage transformed into an invisible light spot and entered his forehead. This light spot was merely a clone seed, but the hardest stepits creationhad been completed. Now, with continuous refinement, he would be able to fully condense the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body. According to the cultivation method recorded in the scroll, the first step was forming the clone. Once the clone was successfully created, the next step was to refine it until it matched the strength of the original body. The method described in the scroll stated that after forming a clone, one must gradually infuse it with Wind and Thunder Power. This energy would conceal the soul fluctuations of the clone, serving both as protection and a means to obscure its soul signature. Gu Hes understanding of clone techniques was already deep. He had previously learned Eagle Mountain Elder''s Soul Clone Technique and later mastered the nearly miraculous Ninefold Clone Technique. (end of chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 504: Refining the Clone! Chapter 504: Refining the Clone! Chapter 504: Refining the Clone! Gu He''s attributes were fire and wood. With the addition of cultivating Void Thunder God''s Flash, his body contained immense lightning power and spatial control. However, he lacked wind energy. According to the cultivation method, refining the clone required the use of wind and thunder power. This served two purposesenhancing the clone''s offensive ability and shielding its soul. Although Gu He did not possess wind attributes, he was not concerned in the slightest. In his understanding, wind and thunder were merely one method of tempering. Other energies could work just as well. His natal divine fire combined with lightning was far superior to wind and thunder. Even if he encountered rare energies that could suppress souls in the future, he would not be affected. With this, the usual weaknesses of soul clones were eliminated, making his version far stronger than the clones refined by those from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. The next moment, Gu He sat cross-legged on the spot and set up a powerful seal within a ten-mile radius. Then, a faint fluctuation of soul power appeared before him. A tiny glowing speck flickered with a dim radiance. With a surge of soul energy, the clone manifested once more, its strength currently at the level of a one-star Dou Venerate. As soon as the clone appeared, it took the same sitting posture as Gu He, mirroring his stance. Gu He slightly opened his mouth and exhaled a wisp of natal divine fire, which hovered to his left. Using his soul power, he completely enveloped the fire. On his right, a silver thunderbolt also hovered, wrapped in soul energy. After making these preparations, Gu He carefully guided the divine fire and thunderbolt toward the clone in front of him. His movements were extremely slow because the clone was far too weak. He had to suppress the power of both the divine fire and the thunderbolt to an extremely low level. Even with such careful control, as soon as the fire and lightning neared the clone, it began trembling uncontrollably. "Lower it further!" Sensing the instability, Gu He immediately reduced the temperature of the divine fire and suppressed the intensity of the silver thunderbolt. Only then did the trembling slightly subside, though faint tremors still remained. His mind remained fully focused as he continued to fine-tune the balance. He carefully adjusted the temperature of the divine fire and restrained the berserk energy within the silver thunderbolt. As he refined, subtle feedback from the clone transmitted to his mind, allowing him to rapidly discern the most suitable intensity and temperature. This was an incredibly delicate process, demanding extreme control over both fire and lightning. After all, as the clone was tempered, its strength steadily increased. Gu He had to continuously adjust, raising the power of the fire and lightning in sync with the clones growth to maximize the refinement process. This level of precise control consumed a significant amount of mental energy. However, with his current soul power, the drain was negligible. And even if it became excessive, a single pill could easily replenish his energy. In the process, Gu Hes control over his natal divine fire and lightning reached a state of perfection. The originally illusory clone was gradually becoming more solid under the tempering of fire and lightning. If Venerable Lei and the cultivators of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, who practiced the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body, witnessed this scene, their jaws would likely drop in shock. Through continuous refinement, the clone before Gu He became increasingly solid. Traces of his natal divine fire and lightning had already seeped into the clones body. Three days passed quietly. Gu He finally opened his eyes and retrieved the divine fire and lightning that had been enveloping the clone. After three days of tempering, the strength of this fire-thunder clone had reached the level of a mid-stage Half-Saint. It now possessed nearly fifty percent of Gu Hes true strength. This was still far from Gu Hes goal. So, after swallowing a pill, he resumed refining the clone. Another four days passed. The fire-thunder clones strength had risen to the peak of mid-stage Half-Saint. At this stage, the clone already possessed eighty percent of Gu Hes true strength. Although it had not yet reached perfection, Gu He decided to stop. Nearly nine days had passed. If he delayed any further, he might exceed the half-month period he had mentioned to Yun Yun. If the time came and he had not returned, Yun Yun would definitely be worried. To Gu He, nothing was more important than Yun Yun. "Its time to set off for the next step!" Murmuring to himself, Gu He waved his hand, retrieving the clone into his forehead. Then, he stood up, slowly closed his eyes, and began sensing the positions of his disciples who carried the Void Jade Tokens. After continuous sensing, Gu He discovered that one Void Jade Token was extremely far away, likely deep within the Central Region. That token must have belonged to Zi Yan. Two more Void Jade Tokens had also left the Northern Region of Central Continent, reaching the border of the Central Region. Without even guessing, Gu He knew these two belonged to Xiao Yi Xian. Through his senses, he detected a gathering of six Void Jade Tokens less than twenty thousand miles away. Among them were Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and the Han Yue sisters. One of them was moving alone, which was undoubtedly Xiao Yi Xian. Gu Hes trip was not just to Thunder Mountain to exchange for the cultivation method of the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body from Venerable Lei. He had another goalto master the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body and then find Han Yue. He intended to pass on the cultivation method to her, along with his own insights and experiences in practicing the technique. Now that he had determined Han Yues location, Gu He immediately used Void Thunder God''s Flash to enter the void space and travel swiftly. After nearly two more days of travel, Gu Hes figure finally descended upon the mountain range where Nalan Yanran, the Han Yue sisters, and the Purple Demon Vulture were undergoing training. "This aura... it feels so familiar!" "Master! Master is here!" "Master, were over here!" (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 ================================================================================================ Dear readers, I hope this message finds you well. Recently, Ive found myself in a challenging financial situation, and Im reaching out to you for support. Your help would mean the world to me and would allow me to continue creating content for you. If youre able, please consider supporting me through Patreon or making a donation on Ko-fi. Every little bit helps and would be immensely appreciated. In return for your generosity, I promise to post three chapters a day. Im also excited to share that Ive picked up some very interesting projects that Ill be working on once Ive completed my current tasks. Your support will not only help me through this tough time but also ensure that I can bring you even more engaging content in the future. Thank you for your understanding and support. I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Chapter 505: Passing Down the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body! Chapter 505: Passing Down the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body! Chapter 505: Passing Down the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body! This aura... its so familiar! Master! Master is here! Master, were over here! Deep within the forest, Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and Han Xue immediately noticed the white-robed figure in the sky from a distance. Their faces lit up with joy, and they swiftly gathered beneath Gu Hes descending form. At the same time, within dozens of miles of Gu Hes arrival, all the magical beastsregardless of their rankfroze in fear, not daring to make a sound. Even the natural wind within the forest seemed to come to a sudden halt. For a moment, the entire woodland was silent, except for the excited voices of Nalan Yanran and the others. It wasnt long before the four of them reached the area beneath Gu He. As they approached, his figure instantly descended to the ground. Nalan Yanran greets Master! Han Yue greets Master! Han Xue greets Master! The three women bowed deeply to Gu He, their voices filled with reverence. The Violet Demon Condor, though silent, looked at Gu He with large, gleaming black eyes filled with admiration. Rise, Gu He said, raising his hand slightly. Master, why did you suddenly come here this time? Nalan Yanran curiously asked. Hearing her question, the other three also looked at Gu He with similar expressions of curiosity. Gu He chuckled lightly and said, Haha, I came to inform you all that your Mistress and I will be returning to the Northwest Continent. Oh, so thats how it is! Hearing this, Nalan Yanran nodded gently. A wave of nostalgia for the Yunlan Sect washed over her heart. Han Yue and Han Xue, however, felt a bit melancholy upon learning that Gu He would be returning to the Northwest Continent. That region was already far from the northern part of Central Continent where they were currently training, and their journey was leading them deeper into the Central Region. The distance between them and their master would only grow wider. Master, I will train diligently and strive to return as soon as possible! After a brief silence, Nalan Yanran declared with a determined expression. Haha, Yanran, your Mistress and I are only returning to Yunlan Sectwere not disappearing forever. Perhaps it wont be long before we meet again. Gu He smiled as he reassured her. After some conversation, Gu He also confirmed with them that Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yin had separated from the group. He listened carefully as they recounted the details of their parting. Haha, given Xianers personality, I can imagine that you had to say some harsh words to convince her to leave. Gu He shook his head with a helpless smile. Acting separately will allow her to fully display her abilities. You all must work hard as wellstrive to catch up with your Senior Sisters pace! "We will do our best!" Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and Han Xue responded in unison. "This time, I may be away from you for quite a while. I should prepare some extra cultivation resources for you," Gu He said as he focused his thoughts. In an instant, he retrieved twenty jade bottles from his system storage. These bottles contained high-grade medicinal pillsfourteen of the seventh grade and six of the eighth grade. However, instead of handing them over immediately, Gu He suddenly called out, "Han Yue, step forward." Han Yue was momentarily stunned before she quickly approached him. Just as she expected to receive some important instructions, Gu He casually asked, "Han Yue, I previously taught you Three Thousand Lightning Movement, a movement technique from Wind Thunder Pavilion. How is your progress?" Han Yues expression remained calm, and she confidently replied, "Master, your disciple did not disappoint. I have already mastered Three Thousand Lightning Movement to perfection!" "Good. Very good..." Gu He smiled and praised Han Yue before stating, "Recently, I happened to obtain the cultivation method for Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body from Wind Thunder Pavilion. Since you''ve already perfected Three Thousand Lightning Movement, I will pass Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body on to you as well." Han Yue was initially surprised, but considering Gu He''s overwhelming strength and his expertise in alchemy, it didnt seem too strange that he had acquired such a rare technique. "Thank you, Master!" Han Yue expressed her deep gratitude, bowing respectfully. Gu He did not stop her from bowing. When she raised her head again, he slowly lifted his palm and gently placed it on her smooth forehead. "Prepare yourself. Focus on comprehending the information that will soon enter your mind," Gu He reminded her. "Master, I am ready. Please proceed without worry," Han Yue responded solemnly before closing her eyes tightly, steadying her breath, and concentrating. "System, transfer the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body cultivation method and all of my insights on its practice to my sixth disciple, Han Yue!" As Gu He issued the command in his mind, a surge of silver energy emanated from his palm, swiftly flowing into Han Yues forehead and into her consciousness. Within this silver energy, faint traces of red flickered intermittently. As the energy entered her body, it rapidly transformed into an enormous stream of information. Even though Han Yue had mentally prepared herself, the sheer volume of knowledge overwhelmed her, making it difficult to bear. Still, no matter how intense the process was, Han Yue gritted her teeth and endured it. Soon, sweat poured down her body, soaking her robes completely. Behind her, Nalan Yanran, Han Xue, and the Violet Demon Condor grew increasingly worried upon witnessing Han Yues condition. Finally, just as Han Yue was about to reach her limit, the transmission was completed. Gu He lifted his hand from her sweat-drenched forehead, and Han Yues body immediately wavered, nearly collapsing from exhaustion. With a glance from Gu He, Nalan Yanran and Han Xue hurried forward to support her. At that moment, a notification sounded in Gu He''s mind. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 506: Void Grand Teleportation Technique Chapter 506: Void Grand Teleportation Technique Chapter 506: Void Grand Teleportation Technique At that moment, a notification sounded in Gu Hes mind. "Ding! Detected that the host has granted the Earth-Tier Advanced Movement Technique Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body to sixth disciple Han Yue. Congratulations, host! You have received a ten-thousandfold returnawarded the God-Tier Battle Technique Void Grand Teleportation Technique!" "Ding! Void Grand Teleportation Technique has been sent to the system storage. Please check and collect it!" "Void Grand Teleportation Technique?" Hearing the systems announcement, Gu He was overwhelmed with excitement. Although he had long understood that battle techniques and cultivation methods often triggered ten-thousandfold quality returns, experiencing it firsthand still filled him with exhilaration. A God-Tier Grand Teleportation Techniquejust from the name alone, Gu He could already guess some of its effects. However, to fully understand its power, he would have to experience it personally. Unable to contain his anticipation, Gu He immediately focused his mind and immersed himself in the system space. At the very center of the system storage, he saw a massive ten-zhang-wide cluster of pitch-black energy. Just one glance at it caused a ripple through his soul. Soon, a detailed description appeared before his eyes. "Void Grand Teleportation Technique, God-Tier Battle Technique. Once mastered, the user can set up Void Gates at previously visited locations. By activating the technique, one can instantly teleport between two Void Gates. The greater the distance, the higher the energy consumption, and the longer the activation time required..." "Hiss!" Even with Gu Hes vast knowledge and experience, he couldnt help but draw in a sharp breath after reading its abilities. This Void Grand Teleportation Technique was truly heaven-defying! However, its actual effectiveness would need to be tested in practice. Right now, with Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, Han Xue, and the Violet Demon Condor all present, Gu He decided against absorbing the massive amount of knowledge contained in the Void Grand Teleportation Technique just yet. As Gu He withdrew his consciousness from the system storage, Han Yue finally completed the absorption of the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body. Her eyes regained clarity. "Master, I have almost completely memorized the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body!" As Han Yue spoke, her figure suddenly vanished from where she stood. In a flash, she reappeared a hundred meters away. Along her path, five afterimages flickered in succession. The first four dispersed rapidly, but the last one lingered in place, faintly radiating a trace of soul energy. With a wave of her hand, Han Yue recalled the final afterimage, which condensed into a formless light and merged into her forehead. "Excellent, excellent!" Seeing Han Yue successfully integrate her soul clone into her movement technique in one attempt, Gu He felt deeply satisfied. Now that the most crucial step had been completed, the next phase would be the tempering of the clone. At this moment, Gu He recalled somethingHan Yue had not mastered wind and thunder forces. Unlike him, she did not possess an immensely powerful innate divine flame. Her clone currently only had the strength of a five-star Dou King, and as a soul entity, it would suffer greatly if confronted with an opponent wielding soul-restraining energy. An idea surfaced in Gu Hes mindhe would grant Han Yue the Fallen Heart Flame he had obtained from Jia Nan Academy. The Fallen Heart Flame was naturally potent against souls. If Han Yues clone could be tempered with it, she would never have to worry about soul-restricting forces limiting her in the future. Just now, Gu He had not yet refined the Fallen Heart Flame and had instead kept it with his clone. It seemed that he would have to wait until the next time he returned to grant Han Yue the flame. After thinking for a moment, Gu He proceeded to distribute the medicinal pills. With a light push of his palm, the twenty jade bottles floated toward Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, Han Xue, and the Violet Demon Condor. Each of them received five bottles. Among them, the six eighth-grade pills were evenly distributed among Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and Han Xue, with each receiving two. "Thank you, Master, for your generosity!" Seeing the jade bottles hovering in front of them, Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and Han Xue respectfully bowed to Gu He. Even the Violet Demon Condor, with its round, black eyes sparkling, mimicked them by lowering its head and bending its back in an adorable manner. Gu He couldn''t help but chuckle at the little creatures antics, but he quickly raised his hand and said, "Alright, rise." Hearing Gu He''s words, Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, Han Xue, and the Violet Demon Condor slowly straightened up and put away the jade bottles. At that moment, a series of system notifications rang in Gu He''s mind. "Ding! Detected that the host has granted third disciple Nalan Yanran an eighth-grade pill. Congratulations, host! You have received a ten-thousandfold returnawarded a ninth-grade Profound Pill!" "Ding! Detected that the host has granted sixth disciple Han Yue an eighth-grade pill. Congratulations, host! You have received a ten-thousandfold returnawarded a ninth-grade Profound Pill!" "Ding! Detected that the host has granted eighth disciple Han Xue an eighth-grade pill. Congratulations, host! You have received a ten-thousandfold returnawarded a ninth-grade Profound Pill!" "Ding! Detected that the host has granted third disciple Nalan Yanran a seventh-grade pill. Congratulations, host! You have received a ten-thousandfold returnawarded a ninth-grade Treasure Pill!" ... "Ding! All return rewards have been issued to the system storage. Please check and collect them!" This time, Gu He had gifted his disciples medicinal pills and, in return, had received six ninth-grade Profound Pills and two ninth-grade Treasure Pillseight ninth-grade pills in total. With such a vast collection of ninth-grade pills, Gu He''s wealth now far surpassed even the Dan Tower, the sacred land revered by alchemists of the Central Continent. Even the ancient Medicine Clan, known for inheriting the legacy of the Medicine Emperor, would struggle to compare. "I''m leaving now. You all must train diligently. If you encounter any problems you truly cannot resolve, crush your Void Jade Talisman, and I will arrive immediately!" Gu He didnt even glance at the newly acquired pills in his system storage. Instead, he simply gave his disciples a final reminder. As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished from sight. "Goodbye, Master!" "Goodbye, Master!" After Gu He disappeared, Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and Han Xue called out loudly toward where he had just stood. Far away, after traveling several hundred miles, Gu He came to a stop in an unnamed valley. Within the valley, he set up a sealing barrier before sitting cross-legged on a large, flat green stone. As he settled in, Gu He immediately immersed his consciousness into the system space. Staring at the massive ten-zhang-wide pitch-black energy mass, he firmly commanded in his mind, "System, extract the God-Tier Battle Technique, Void Grand Teleportation Technique!" Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 ================================================================================================ Dear readers, I hope this message finds you well. Recently, Ive found myself in a challenging financial situation, and Im reaching out to you for support. Your help would mean the world to me and would allow me to continue creating content for you. If youre able, please consider supporting me through Patreon or making a donation on Ko-fi. Every little bit helps and would be immensely appreciated. In return for your generosity, I promise to post **three chapters a day**. Im also excited to share that Ive picked up some very interesting projects that Ill be working on once Ive completed my current tasks. Your support will not only help me through this tough time but also ensure that I can bring you even more engaging content in the future. Thank you for your understanding and support. I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Chapter 507: The Gate of the Void! Chapter 507: The Gate of the Void! Chapter 507: The Gate of the Void! As Gu He silently chanted in his heart, the massive black mass within the system space rapidly shrank before shooting straight into his mind. In that instant, an overwhelming stream of information exploded in Gu He''s consciousness. Even with his current level of mastery and soul power, he still found it somewhat difficult to process the immense influx of knowledge. Fortunately, when he had previously imparted the Earth-tier advanced movement technique Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body to Han Yue, he had transmitted not only the technique itself but also all his insights and cultivation experiences. As a result, the Great Void Transference Technique he had just received also contained a vast amount of comprehension and cultivation experience. Once he finished assimilating it, he felt as if he had personally practiced the technique countless times, and his mind gradually became clearer. A moment later, Gu He finally finished digesting the vast amount of information in his mind. With the insights he had absorbed, even though he had not yet practiced the Great Void Transference Technique even once, he had already reached the stage of mastery. In the next instant, Gu He swiftly formed a series of intricate hand seals. As these seals were executed, a purple light circle suddenly appeared on the ground before him. The circle had a radius of roughly ten feet, and within it, countless complex purple runes flickered in and out of existence. The purple light circle before him was precisely what the Great Void Transference Technique described as the Gate of the Void. For Gu He, who had already mastered the technique, setting up a Gate of the Void was an effortless task. "The Great Void Transference Technique requires two Gates of the Void to enable teleportation. Looks like I can''t test it out just yet!" Gu He murmured to himself as he gazed at the glowing purple circle. Without hesitation, he stood up and swiftly made his way toward Tianbei City. After Gu He left, the purple light circle quickly faded away. No matter whether one used the naked eye or soul perception, there was no trace of anything unusual remaining. Once he had traveled ten thousand miles away from the first Gate of the Void, Gu He stopped and set up another one in his current location. "Let''s see what this Gate of the Void is truly capable of!" A hint of anticipation flickered in Gu He''s eyes as he stood within the Gate of the Void and quickly formed another hand seal. The purple light within the gate instantly disappeared, and his figure vanished completely from the spot. When Gu He reappeared, he was standing exactly at the location of the first Gate of the Void he had set up earlier. "Less than 0.1 seconds... This speed is quite decent. Moreover, this teleportation only consumed less than ten percent of my stored Dou Qi!" Gu He muttered under his breath, feeling highly satisfied with the power of the Great Void Transference Technique. When compared to his Void Projection Divine Ability, both techniques had their own strengths and weaknesses. The Great Void Transference Technique allowed for extremely fast teleportation between Gates of the Void, but unlike Void Projection, it could not be activated instantaneously. It required advance preparation to set up the Gates of the Void, and when activating the technique, he still needed to form a few quick hand seals. These factors made it slightly less immediate. However, the major advantage of the Great Void Transference Technique was that it allowed his real body to be transferred, whereas Void Projection could only send a projected form. This provided many unexpected benefits. That said, whether it was Void Projection or the Great Void Transference Technique, there was virtually no one else on the Dou Qi Continent who could achieve such feats. Gu He concluded that for dealing with immediate situations that required an instant response, Void Projection was still the best choice. Meanwhile, for tasks that allowed for a slight delay, the Great Void Transference Technique would be more suitable. After experiencing the power of the technique firsthand, Gu He did not linger. He activated the Great Void Transference Technique once again, teleporting to his second Gate of the Void, before swiftly continuing his journey toward Tianbei City. Along the way, he set up a Gate of the Void approximately every ten thousand miles. Finally, at the very last moment of the half-month deadline he had previously agreed upon with Yun Yun, Gu He successfully arrived at the Han family residence in Tianbei City. In the courtyard, Yun Yun, who had been waiting for Gu He''s return, let out a sigh of relief. Just moments ago, she had already considered crushing the Void Talisman in her hand. "Father, you''re back!" Due to the high cultivation levels of both Gu He and Yun Yun, their child, Xiao Yuchen, who was only a few months old, had already learned to walk. She eagerly waddled forward with her tiny legs, rushing toward Gu He. "Haha, Yuchen, youre doing great! You already know how to walk!" Seeing Xiao Yuchen running over, Gu Hes face softened with a gentle smile. He then crouched down and scooped her up into his arms. "Hehe, Father, Mother said that once I learn how to walk, she will teach me how to fly!" Xiao Yuchen spoke in her tender, childish voice, her eyes filled with anticipation. Hearing this, Gu He subconsciously turned his gaze toward Yun Yun, only to find that she was also looking at him. "Dear, I dont know why, but Yuchen keeps saying that she wants to fly up into the sky," Yun Yun said with a helpless smile. Yuchen had only been born a short while ago, and at the current Dou Qi stage, she was unable to practice any techniques. She could only absorb energy and grow gradually. This process couldnt be rushed, and flying on her own was simply impossible. Hearing Yun Yun''s words, Gu He turned to Xiao Yuchen with a smile and said, "Yuchen, thats what your mother promised you. But if you want to learn from your father, the requirements are much higher!" "Ah! Father, Mother, you''re both lying!" Hearing Gu Hes words, Xiao Yuchen puffed up her cheeks in protest. Her tiny, soft hands repeatedly patted Gu Hes face. Gu He allowed her little hands to slap his cheeks as he gently reassured her, "Yuchen, since you really want to see the sky, why dont we move up there and live in the heavens?" "Move to the sky?" Hearing this, Xiao Yuchen immediately stopped her playful slaps. She clapped her hands excitedly and said in her babyish voice, "Yes! Yes!" Hearing Gu Hes words, Yun Yun understood that he was preparing to return to the Northwest Continent. Gu He gently placed Xiao Yuchen into Yun Yun''s arms before activating the Great Void Transference Technique, leaving behind a Gate of the Void at their current location. "Husband, what is this?" Seeing the surrounding area light up with a purple glow, Yun Yun curiously asked. Without hesitation, Gu He explained, "Yuner, this is a secret technique I recently comprehended and created. By leaving a Void Coordinate here, I can later activate the technique at another coordinate and instantly return to this spot." (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 508: Zi Yan’s Plea for Help! Chapter 508: Zi Yans Plea for Help! Chapter 508: Zi Yans Plea for Help! Hearing Gu He''s explanation, Yun Yun''s curiosity grew even stronger. At the same time, she was genuinely delighted by his new ability. If this secret technique truly worked as he described, then traveling back and forth between Zhongzhou would become incredibly easy for them in the future. "Husband, youre amazing!" Yun Yun sincerely praised Gu He. Gu He smiled at her compliment and then said, "Yun''er, lets set off now!" As he spoke, he gently swiped his hand in front of him. Immediately, a pitch-black spatial rift, about ten feet wide, appeared in midair. Seeing the spatial rift form, Yun Yun nodded lightly. They didnt pack anything, leaving everything in the small courtyard as it was. Once Yun Yun was ready, Gu He released a gentle energy to protect both mother and child before guiding them into the dark spatial rift. ... By the time light once again filled Xiao Yuchens vision, their family of three had already descended onto the back of the Blackscale Frigid Python. "Wow, were really in the sky!" Seeing the clouds swirling all around them, Xiao Yuchen''s eyes sparkled with excitement. The next moment, she wriggled her little feet in Yun Yuns arms and spoke in her soft, childish voice, "Mother, Mother, I want to get down!" Yun Yun chuckled and shook her head before carefully placing Xiao Yuchen down. The moment her tiny feet touched the Blackscale Frigid Pythons back, she immediately ran toward a drifting cloud nearby. Seeing Xiao Yuchen running around so energetically, both Gu He and Yun Yun worried that she might accidentally fall. So, they set up a sealing barrier around the Pythons back, forming a soft, invisible protective layer. This barrier served two purposes. One was to prevent the little girl from falling off, and the other was to shield her from the intense winds that would arise when the Blackscale Frigid Python flew at high speedwinds far too strong for a child like her to endure. Xiao Yuchen continued chasing after clouds with her short, wobbly strides. Whenever one drifted too far, she quickly found another target and resumed her game. After playing for a long time, she eventually reached the edge of the Blackscale Frigid Pythons back. However, when she looked down, a strange sense of dizziness overwhelmed her. The moment she realized what was happening, she quickly backed away in alarm. "Scary! Father! Mother!" Xiao Yuchen cried out and ran back toward Gu He and Yun Yun. Even though her young eyes couldnt clearly see the ground below, the immense height still triggered a natural fear of heights in her. Seeing the little girl wobbling her way back in fear, Gu He couldnt help but tease her. "Haha, Yuchen, werent you just saying that you wanted to fly? Why are you afraid now that you''re actually in the sky?" "Since thats the case, maybe we shouldnt live up here after all!" Gu He continued. Hearing this, Xiao Yuchens frightened expression instantly disappeared, and she grinned. "Hehe, Father, Im not afraid anymore! Lets stay up here!" With that, she happily skipped toward the modern-style mansion Gu He had built on the Pythons back. Since Han Yue had previously imitated some of Gu Hes architectural designs in her own courtyard, Xiao Yuchen wasnt too surprised when she entered the mansion. Instead, she found the place somewhat familiar. After wandering around for a while, Xiao Yuchen finally realized that this place was quite different from the Han familys courtyard. Her curiosity was piqued, and she began to explore her surroundings with keen interest. Inside the modern-style villa, Gu He withdrew his gaze from the playful Xiao Yuchen and turned to Yun Yun. "Yun''er, we should set off now. In about two to three months, well reach the Yunlan Sect!" "Alright!" Yun Yun responded with a smile, her eyes filled with happiness. The next moment, the massive body of the Blackscale Frigid Python finally began to move. Its enormous form swiftly soared through the sky, stirring up powerful gusts of wind. However, around its back, a nearly 30-foot-tall invisible barrier merged seamlessly with its body, blocking all the fierce gales from reaching them. On the journey back to Yunlan Sect, Gu He would pause every ten thousand miles or so. Each time he stopped, he would set up a Gate of the Void in that location. Time passed quickly as the family of three traveled together. In the blink of an eye, two months had already gone by. During this period, the Blackscale Frigid Python had already left the northern region of Zhongzhou and gradually entered the Northwest Continent. They only needed to pass through a dozen or so countries before reaching the Jia Ma Empire. One day, while Gu He was telling a story to Xiao Yuchen on the Pythons back, he suddenly sensed the activation of a Void Talisman. "Husband, whats wrong?" Noticing the change in Gu Hes expression, Yun Yun asked with concern. Gu He didnt hide anything and said directly, "Yun''er, the Void Talisman was crushed. I dont know which little one is in trouble!" "I see... Husband, quickly send your projection over to check!" Yun Yun urged without hesitation. ... The Qi Huang Mountain Range was located in the central region of Zhongzhou. It spanned thousands of miles and was home to countless powerful magical beasts. It was even rumored that a few of the regions overlords had reached the terrifying eighth rank. Although these eighth-rank beasts were formidable, in a place like Zhongzhou, where powerful individuals were abundant, they did not dare to act recklessly. They simply guarded their own territories and generally avoided conflict with humans. Apart from the presence of magical beasts, the Qi Huang Mountain Range was also known for its vast reserves of rare and valuable natural treasures. At this moment, in a mist-covered forest in the central part of the mountain range, a young girl in white stood with puffed cheeks, glaring at an old man in white robes standing about ten meters away. This white-clad girl was none other than Zi Yan, who had ventured into Zhongzhou for training. Thanks to her extraordinary ability to sense heavenly materials and earthly treasures, she had consumed an uncountable number of precious spiritual herbs and fruits in recent times. Upon arriving at the Qi Huang Mountain Range, her talent for locating rare treasures had been further amplified. Every day, she would devour an enormous quantity of valuable herbs and fruits. Perhaps because of Gu Hes previous advice, Zi Yan had been making an effort to refine the energy from the treasures she consumed. However, her rate of refinement simply couldnt keep up with the speed at which she was eating. As a result, her meridians were once again filled with an overwhelming accumulation of unrefined medicinal energy. Although her cultivation had only advanced to the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Huang during this period, the strength of her physical body had increased tremendously. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 509: The Arrival of Gu He! Chapter 509: The Arrival of Gu He! Chapter 509: The Arrival of Gu He! At this moment, the Qi Huang Mountain Range, due to the arrival of the white-robed elder standing in front of Zi Yan, was filled with a sense of oppression that resonated through the bloodlines of the gathered magical beasts. Even the powerful eight-stage transformation-class magical beasts could not escape this overwhelming pressure. Under its weight, they dared not make a sound, trembling and standing still, while the weaker ones lay prostrate on the ground. "Zi Yan, you possess the royal bloodline. I ask you to return to our clan with me, the elder. It is hoped that in the future, you will inherit the throne of the Dragon Emperor, reunite the fragmented Dragon Island, revitalize our clan, and restore us to our former glory!" The white-robed elder suddenly spoke. Hearing the elder''s words, Zi Yan responded with an impatient, childish voice, "Old man, you are so verbose. I''ve already told you, I can''t go back with you now. I promised my master that I would return to the academy when my training period is almost over!" "Zi Yan, your strength has been delayed for too long because you mistakenly consumed the Transformation Grass. Once you return to the clan, we will do everything possible to quickly enhance your power. As for the training mission your master mentioned, you can temporarily set it aside. I believe that when your master sees your rapid improvement in strength, not only will he not blame you, but he will be very pleased!" The white-robed elder confidently persuaded Zi Yan. Despite the elder''s persuasion, Zi Yan remained unmoved, shrugged her shoulders, and directly refused, "I don''t care. I must return to my master within the specified time!" Even though Zi Yan had this attitude, the white-robed elder did not appear angry at all. Instead, he emphasized his words and continued, "Zi Yan, do you know what our Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan has experienced over the long years? Because the royal bloodline disappeared, your three uncles, who possess a bit of the royal bloodline, declared themselves kings and split the Dragon Island into four parts. The prolonged internal strife has caused heavy casualties and a continuous decline in our clan''s strength. Do you understand how important your royal bloodline is to our clan...?" Zi Yan was not seeing her clan members for the first time. After arriving in the Central Continent, she had already refused once when the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan members asked her to return to the clan. This white-robed elder was the second to seek her out. As for her own background, Zi Yan was, of course, already very clear. She felt somewhat angry in her heart about the three Dragon Kings splitting the race. However, at present, she still had to keep her appointment, go to see Han Yue participate in the Four Directions Pavilion competition in a few months, and then return to the Northwest Continent with Han Yue, to be by Gu He''s side. This made her very conflicted. "Perhaps I should discuss these matters with my master!" Suddenly, Zi Yan stopped pondering and made a decision in her heart. She then directly said to the white-robed elder, "Old man, wait a moment. I need to consult my master. Come back to see me in one day!" "One day is not a problem!" Hearing Zi Yan''s request, the white-robed elder readily agreed. After all, Zi Yan carried the aura of the royal bloodline. Even if she was given a day, she could not escape the white-robed elder''s tracking. "Zi Yan, didn''t you say your master is in that remote place in the Northwest Continent? How can you possibly ask him in just one day?" The white-robed elder quickly realized the issue and raised his doubts. "That''s none of your concern. I have my ways!" Zi Yan curled her lips and did not explain further to the white-robed elder. "Very well, if that''s the case, I will come to see you again in one day!" Hearing Zi Yan''s response, the white-robed elder nodded somewhat helplessly, and then his figure quickly disappeared with a spatial distortion. After the white-robed elder left, Zi Yan did not immediately go to find Gu He. Instead, she quickly ran towards the outskirts of the Qi Huang Mountain Range. After running for four or five hours, she looked around and then swiftly entered a small valley. However, Zi Yan had no idea that far above her in the high sky, a pair of eyes gleaming with a keen light were watching her every move. "Hehe, this girl is quite cautious in her actions!" The owner of those eyes in the sky was none other than the white-robed elder who had just spoken with Zi Yan. At that moment, seeing Zi Yan''s actions, he couldn''t help but let out a soft chuckle. In the next moment, under the gaze of the white-robed elder, Zi Yan, who had slipped into the valley, suddenly grasped a purple jade talisman and crushed it directly. "Could this be a spatial jade tube?" Seeing Zi Yan''s action of crushing the void jade talisman, the white-robed elder was somewhat surprised in his heart. Generally speaking, only people from major forces would allow their younger generation to carry spatial jade tubes made by the strong members of their clan. Those who could refine spatial jade tubes usually had quite powerful cultivation. Even if their cultivation did not reach the level of a semi-saint, they were among the best in the Dou Zun realm. "Didn''t Zi Yan say her master was in the Northwest Continent? When did the Northwest Continent produce such a person?" The white-robed elder felt puzzled in his heart and also became curious about Zi Yan''s master. In the small valley, after Zi Yan crushed the void jade talisman, the space beside her suddenly began to twist violently, and an overwhelming aura was revealed from it. "I knew it, the words of my master could never be false!" Sensing this somewhat familiar aura, Zi Yan, who was using the void jade talisman for the first time, immediately showed a bright smile on her face. After this overwhelming aura was emitted, with the small valley as the center, it instantly swept through the surrounding dozens of miles. The magical beasts within this range all felt terrified because of this aura, and roars of beasts kept echoing in the forest. "High-level semi-saint!" The white-robed elder, hiding in the dark, also changed his expression greatly when he sensed this aura. He never expected that Zi Yan''s master would be a high-level semi-saint. At this moment, the white-robed elder''s thoughts became somewhat complicated, because his own cultivation was also only at the level of a high-level semi-saint. In the next moment, under the gaze of the white-robed elder, a white figure quickly stepped out from the twisted space and came to Zi Yan''s side. "Master, you''re here. Zi Yan misses you so much!" Seeing Gu He step out from the twisted space, Zi Yan happily walked up and directly hugged one of Gu He''s legs. On Gu He''s side, after projecting himself here and seeing that Zi Yan was fine, he let out a sigh of relief. He reached out his hand and patted Zi Yan''s head. However, just as Gu He was about to ask Zi Yan why she had summoned him, he suddenly frowned, his gaze sharp as he looked towards a certain part of the sky outside the valley. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 510: The True Body Descends! Chapter 510: The True Body Descends! Chapter 510: The True Body Descends! "Discovered me so quickly?" Feeling Gu He''s sharp gaze, the white-robed elder, who was using spatial power to conceal his presence, was even more surprised and curious about Gu He. Zi Yan, on the other hand, looked up, noticed Gu He''s gaze, and couldn''t help but ask curiously, "Master, what are you looking at?" "Zi Yan, someone is following you!" Hearing Zi Yan''s question, Gu He spoke directly. "Someone is following me? Could it be that old man Zhuo Li?" Hearing Gu He''s words, Zi Yan immediately realized and then, with a puffed-up face, looked in the direction Gu He had been staring at and shouted, "Old man, we agreed that you would come for me after one day. You don''t keep your word!" Hearing Zi Yan''s somewhat childish roar, the white-robed elder''s face showed a hint of wry smile. Then, with a movement of his body, he stepped out from the hidden void and quickly appeared in the valley, facing Zi Yan and Gu He. "Zi Yan, this elder is just concerned about you!" The white-robed elder explained with an awkward smile. "Pah, you big liar!" Clearly, Zi Yan didn''t buy the white-robed elder''s explanation. Seeing this, the white-robed elder didn''t explain further to Zi Yan but instead shifted his gaze to Gu He and said with a smile, "I am Zhuo Li from the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan. You must be the master of this girl Zi Yan!" "Zhuo Li?" Upon hearing the elder''s introduction, Gu He quickly recalled and understood the identity of the white-robed elder. At present, the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan, due to the long absence of the royal bloodline, had been split into four parts by those with collateral royal bloodlines. These parts were known as the East Dragon Island, South Dragon Island, West Dragon Island, and North Dragon Island. Among these four islands, except for the East Dragon Island, each of the other three had a Dragon King who was constantly scheming to become the Dragon Emperor. Only the East Dragon Island had never rebelled against the Dragon Emperor''s lineage. As the third elder of the East Dragon Island, Zhuo Li was fiercely loyal to the Dragon Emperor and the royal bloodline. Understanding the identity of the person who had been following them, Gu He knew that this man was not an enemy. Moreover, he had a rough idea of why Zi Yan had summoned him. "I am Gu He, and indeed, I am Zi Yan''s master!" In response to Zhuo Li''s inquiry, Gu He nodded and then asked in a calm tone, "Elder Zhuo Li, you have come here to take this girl Zi Yan back to the Dragon Island, haven''t you?" "That''s correct. The clan is in dire need of the return of the royal bloodline..." After hearing Gu He''s question, Zhuo Li briefly explained the current state of the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan. He harbored no suspicion towards Gu He. "Initially, I had planned to take Zi Yan back directly. However, she said she wanted to ask for your opinion, Mr. Gu He!" Zhuo Li continued. Gu He had already guessed some of what Zhuo Li was saying. Zi Yan had been out training for nearly two years, and there were still many things Gu He needed to discuss with her. After considering for a moment, Gu He directly addressed Zhuo Li, "Elder Zhuo Li, since Zi Yan possesses the royal bloodline of the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan, she indeed needs to return to the clan and take on important responsibilities. However, I have some matters that I need to discuss with Zi Yan privately. Could you come back in one day?" Hearing Gu He''s words, Zhuo Li pondered for a moment and then looked at Zi Yan. Sensing Zhuo Li''s gaze, Zi Yan stuck her tongue out at him and said loudly, "Old man, whatever Master says goes. Just wait another day!" Zi Yan''s attitude was very clear. Moreover, based on his intuition, Zhuo Li guessed that Gu He was not an ordinary high-level semi-saint. His strength might even be stronger than his own. If he didn''t grant this request, it would seem like he was pushing too hard and not giving Gu He any face. This could lead to unnecessary trouble. Thinking this through, Zhuo Li nodded cheerfully and agreed to Gu He''s words. "Alright, then I shall wait another day!" With these words, the space around Zhuo Li suddenly twisted, and in an instant, his figure swiftly disappeared before Gu He and Zi Yan. "Master, this time, that old man won''t pretend to leave and actually still follow us from the side, right?" Seeing Zhuo Li vanish on the spot, Zi Yan looked around suspiciously with her big, dark eyes. Seeing Zi Yan''s actions, Gu He laughed and said, "You girl, Elder Zhuo Li is at least a high-level semi-saint in cultivation. If he were hiding nearby, could he be easily discovered by just a glance from you?" "Rest assured, Elder Zhuo Li has already gone far." With Gu He''s cultivation and perception abilities, if Zhuo Li were nearby, he would definitely not be able to hide from him. "Hehe!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Zi Yan let out a simple laugh, then stopped thinking about Zhuo Li and instead brought up the topic of her training mission. "Master, although I haven''t broken through to Dou Ancestor yet, I am definitely confident that I will break through to Dou Ancestor within the next few months!" Zi Yan said to Gu He with full confidence. With just a glance, Gu He understood Zi Yan''s condition. He knew that her current cultivation was at the peak of nine-star Dou Huang, and her body''s meridians were filled with a large amount of unrefined medicinal power. What caught Gu He''s attention was that Zi Yan''s physical strength had greatly improved compared to before. So, overall, Zi Yan''s training mission had been quite effective. "Zi Yan, your training has been quite successful! I must reward you well," Gu He praised, and then continued, "However, for now, I have only sent a projection. It can only exist for half an hour. When my true body arrives, I will bring you your reward!" "Projection... true body..." Hearing Gu He''s words, Zi Yan pondered for a moment on the spot and roughly understood what he meant. Then, she curiously asked, "Master, when will your true body come over? Will you come directly to the Dragon Island to see me then?" "Hehe, it doesn''t need to take that long. My true body will be here in just a short while!" Gu He replied with a light laugh upon hearing Zi Yan''s question. After speaking, Gu He''s projection quickly made a series of profound and mysterious seals with his hands. As Gu He made the seals, a purple circle about a zhang (a traditional Chinese unit of length) in size appeared where he and Zi Yan were standing. Within the circle, there were countless intricate purple runes glowing densely. "What is this?" Zi Yan was very curious about the purple circle that Gu He had created. She could sense some spatial power from it, but she couldn''t touch it. The purple runes flowing within the circle were also untouchable, as if they were illusions, passing right through her body. Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 511: The Application of the Void Shift Technique! Chapter 511: The Application of the Void Shift Technique! Chapter 511: The Application of the Void Shift Technique! Zi Yan was extremely curious about the purple halo that Gu He had conjured. She could distinctly sense some spatial power emanating from it, yet she couldn''t touch it. The purple runes flowing within the halo were also intangible, as if they were illusions, passing right through her body. When Gu He ceased the hand seals, Zi Yan could no longer contain her curiosity and quickly inquired, "Master, what is the purpose of this purple halo?" "This is called the Void Gateway. To put it simply, it''s a teleportation array that can bring my true self here!" Gu He briefly explained in response to Zi Yan''s question. "Teleportation array? So this effect is the same as a spatial wormhole, right? Master, did you just create a spatial wormhole in the blink of an eye?" Zi Yan pressed further. She was quite knowledgeable about spatial wormholes. The reason she had been able to reach the Central Plains so swiftly was precisely because of the numerous spatial wormholes along the way. Without those in the major cities, she might not have made it to the Qi Huang Mountains even by next year. Spatial wormholes, although theoretically creatable by those who have reached the Dou Zun realm through their mastery of spatial power, require an extremely long time to establish a connection between two places. The shortest time could be several months, while the longest might take years, or even decades. The distance from this place to the Northwest Continent was hundreds of thousands of miles. Establishing such a long-range spatial channel might take nearly a century for the combined efforts of strong individuals from a major faction. Gu He, however, casually made a few hand seals and created a spatial connection between the two places. Naturally, Zi Yan was very puzzled. Seeing Zi Yan''s slightly skeptical expression, Gu He smiled and said, "What, don''t you believe in your master?" Hearing Gu He''s words, Zi Yan quickly waved her hands and said in her childish voice, "Master, Zi Yan doesn''t doubt you. I just think it''s too incredible!" Gu He playfully tapped Zi Yan on the head and said with a smile, "Zi Yan, there''s nothing I can''t do, only things you can''t imagine!" "Hehe!" After being tapped on the head by Gu He, Zi Yan rubbed her head and laughed, "I see. So, Master, how long will it take for your true self to arrive?" "It will be here very soon, definitely not more than a minute!" Gu He replied. "Not more than a minute!" Upon hearing Gu He''s response, Zi Yan was so astonished that she was left speechless. She had already believed that Gu He had the ability to instantly create a spatial wormhole, but she didn''t expect him to say that crossing such a vast distance between the two places would only take a minute. It was simply too incredible. Although some powerful individuals could create spatial jade tubes with similar effects, the creation of each spatial jade tube required immense effort and time, making them extremely precious. However, Gu He casually set up a few hand seals, and in just a dozen seconds, he achieved the effect of a spatial jade tube. If those who had created spatial jade tubes knew about this, they would probably be astonished beyond measure. At the same time, high above an obscure small country in the Northwest Continent, a massive figure hundreds of feet in size, which had been flying at high speed, suddenly came to a halt. Gu He''s true self emerged from the modern villa, with Yun Yun holding Xiao Yu Chen''s hand following behind him. Gu He smiled at Yun Yun and said slowly, "Yun''er, I''m going to the Central Plains for a while. I should be back in no time!" "Okay!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Yun Yun gazed at him with a soft look in her eyes and nodded gently. Just now, Gu He had told Yun Yun about what had happened in the Qi Huang Mountains, so she knew that his trip this time should only take a few hours. Gu He directly began performing some hand seals on the spot. Subsequently, a void gateway about ten feet in size coalesced on the back of the Black-Scaled Cold Python. Gu He stepped into the purple halo and continued to perform the Void shift technique. As the purple halo burst forth with even more brilliant purple light, Gu He''s figure instantly vanished from the spot. When he reappeared, he had already traversed a distance of a hundred thousand miles and arrived in the Northern Domain of the Central Plains, the same mountain range where Nalan Yanran and the others had trained before, which was also the location where Gu He had first set up the void gateway. The reason Gu He did not directly teleport to Zi Yan''s location in one go but chose this void gateway as a transit point was that he was uncertain how much of his internal combat energy would be consumed by such a long-distance teleportation. This time, transferring directly from the Northwest Continent to this place, covering a hundred thousand miles, still took less than a second, approximately 0.9 seconds. Gu He was very satisfied with this speed. At this moment, upon arriving at the mountain range, Gu He immediately checked the state of his body. He found that this transfer had drained about thirty percent of his combat energy reserves. Judging by this consumption, his power would be sufficient to continue on to Zi Yan''s location. However, Gu He then thought of another issue. After the transfer, the significant loss of combat energy in his body would inevitably lead to a decline in his combat effectiveness. Normally, this wouldn''t be a problem, but if he happened to encounter an opponent of equal or even greater strength, that would be quite troublesome. Therefore, Gu He decided to take a restorative pill to recover his state before transferring again. After a moment of contemplation, Gu He took out a restorative pill of the eighth grade and swallowed it. Immediately after, he continued to perform the Void shift technique. "Master, it''s almost been a minute!" In the Qi Huang Mountains, Zi Yan was counting the seconds in her mind. When she reached fifty-five seconds, the purple halo filled with purple runes still showed no reaction. Clearly, by counting the seconds, Zi Yan still couldn''t quite believe that such an incredible method could exist in the world. When Zi Yan spoke these words, Gu He''s projection merely smiled faintly and did not respond. However, when Zi Yan counted to fifty-nine seconds in her mind, the purple halo in front of her suddenly brightened again, obscuring the view within. The purple light only lasted for an instant, and then Gu He''s true self appeared in Zi Yan''s line of sight. "Master, you really made it here in just a minute!" Seeing Gu He''s true self arrive, Zi Yan''s big, round eyes sparkled with admiration, and her face was filled with awe for Gu He. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 512: Zi Yan Breaks Through! Chapter 512: Zi Yan Breaks Through! Chapter 512: Zi Yan Breaks Through! "Little one, haven''t I told you before, there''s nothing I can''t do, only things you can''t imagine!" Gu He stepped out of the light halo, his face softening as he smiled. "Hehe!" This time, hearing Gu He say this, Zi Yan no longer had any intention to argue. After Gu He arrived, Zi Yan chatted with him happily. Suddenly, she stretched out her hands and said to Gu He, "Master, did you bring any spiritual medicines or pills this time?" "Have you finished the ones I gave you before?" Hearing Zi Yan''s words, Gu He gently patted her outstretched palm and said with a smile, "We''ll talk about the spiritual medicines and pills later. Get ready now, I''m going to pass my power to you!" After being patted by Gu He, Zi Yan reluctantly pulled her hand back, and her expression became very serious. This training session was almost two years long, with only a few months left. Her cultivation had remained at the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Emperor level. Although she was confident that she could break through to Dou Ancestor, she didn''t really have much confidence that she could do it in the remaining months. Her previously displayed confidence was just a show of strength, deliberately shown to Gu He. "Master, I''m ready!" Zi Yan said seriously to Gu He, then slowly closed her eyes and focused her mind. Seeing this, Gu He raised his palm and gently placed his hand on Zi Yan''s bright and fair forehead. At the same time, Gu He''s projection moved quickly, forming a series of hand seals that created a huge seal, completely enveloping the small valley, blocking the sight and soul perception from the outside world, and preventing people from probing the situation inside. "System, pass power to the fifth disciple, Zi Yan!" In the valley, as Gu He''s low shout echoed in his mind, the next moment, a huge flow of energy quickly flowed from his palm into Zi Yan''s body. Feeling this huge energy entering her body, Zi Yan, who had already started running her cultivation technique, became even more focused. As these energies continued to be absorbed by Zi Yan''s body, the energy in the valley suddenly fluctuated violently. However, because Gu He''s projection had set up an extremely powerful spatial seal, completely isolating this place from the outside world, the energy fluctuations did not affect the outside. Inside the valley, Zi Yan''s aura began to climb rapidly along with the surrounding energy fluctuations. Within a few minutes, she directly broke through the bottleneck of the Nine-Star Dou Emperor and reached the Dou Ancestor realm. Seeing Zi Yan''s cultivation break through to Dou Ancestor, Gu He slowly increased the speed of energy transmission. As a result, Zi Yan''s aura not only did not slow down after breaking through to Dou Ancestor, but actually accelerated. After a few more minutes, Zi Yan smoothly broke through to the One-Star Dou Ancestor and her cultivation reached the level of Two-Star Dou Ancestor. Two-Star Dou Ancestor peak! Three-Star Dou Ancestor! Three-Star Dou Ancestor peak! Four-Star Dou Ancestor! Because Zi Yan had been very diligent in refining her cultivation and physical body during this period, she was able to receive much more energy than before this time. She continued to break through directly to the Four-Star Dou Ancestor level without any intention of stopping. "Zi Yan, this girl, seems to be going to give me a surprise this time!" Seeing Zi Yan''s state, Gu He was very satisfied in his heart. Originally, with Gu He''s current realm, among these several disciples, the cultivation returned during the power transmission was only slightly higher for Xiao Yixian and Mubasa. But now, Zi Yan''s trend of receiving energy might also lead to a big explosion. If she returns several decades or even a century of cultivation, Gu He could use this returned cultivation to attempt to break through to the true Dou Sheng realm. Thinking of this, Gu He increased the speed of energy transmission again. Under this speed of energy transmission, Zi Yan could still barely absorb it all. Her cultivation continued to climb after reaching the Four-Star Dou Ancestor level and quickly reached the peak of the Four-Star Dou Ancestor. This speed of cultivation improvement continued until Zi Yan''s cultivation broke through the peak of the Six-Star Dou Ancestor, then it slowed down. But at this point, Zi Yan was still persevering. Her face was flushed red from the energy swelling inside her body, and her body was trembling slightly. But she gritted her teeth and did not intend to stop. Seeing this, Gu He did not stop the power transmission, but slightly reduced the speed of transmission. In this way, after a few more minutes, Zi Yan''s body was so full of energy that it felt hot all over. Just as she was about to give up, there was a muffled sound from inside her body, and her cultivation successfully climbed to the Seven-Star Dou Ancestor level. At this moment, Gu He immediately stopped the power transmission, withdrew his palm, and at the same time, received a prompt from the system. "Ding! Detected that the host granted 15 days of cultivation to the fifth disciple Zi Yan. Congratulations, host, you have obtained a 3,000 times return, and gained 123 years of cultivation! (Note: These 123 years of cultivation correspond to a senior semi-saint.)" "The 123 years of cultivation have been sent to the system space. Please check and receive them, host!" 123 years of cultivation! 3,000 times return! Hearing this prompt from the system, Gu He was very satisfied. Zi Yan, with her Nine-Star Dou Emperor cultivation, had absorbed half a month of his cultivation at one time and returned 123 years of cultivation to him. With this cultivation, Gu He''s confidence in breaking through to become a Dou Sheng increased greatly. After receiving the return of 123 years of cultivation, Gu He did not immediately go to the system space to check. Instead, he looked at Zi Yan. At this time, Zi Yan''s face was still very rosy. It was clear that she had exerted herself to break through to the Seven-Star Dou Ancestor level just now. "Zi Yan, I have some more pills to give you here!" As Gu He spoke, he gently stroked his storage ring, and then ten jade bottles appeared around him. Among these ten jade bottles, only two of the seventh-grade pills had a return effect. The other eight were the products after the return. Among these eight pills, there were three ninth-grade treasure pills that could improve cultivation, and the other five were eighth-grade pills with various effects. The two ninth-grade treasure pills were naturally not something Zi Yan could take now. Gu He gave them to her so that she could take them back to Dragon Island and give them to Zhu Li, who had appeared before, as well as the most powerful elder and second elder of the Eastern Dragon Island. Although Zi Yan had royal blood, her strength had regressed a lot because of mistakenly eating the human-form grass. Her progress in recent years has also been very slow. Even now that she has reached the realm of the Seven-Star Dou Ancestor, she is still an inconspicuous existence among the Tai Xu ancient dragons. (End of Chapter) Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! Hello, beloved readers and supporters! I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you''ll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including: Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn''t have to wait! Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do. Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey! /anish_44 https://ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 513: Explanation! Chapter 513: Explanation! Chapter 513: Explanation! Although Zi Yan possessed royal blood, her strength had significantly regressed due to mistakenly consuming the Transformation Herb. Over the years, her progress had been exceedingly slow. Even though she had now reached the level of a Seven-Star Dou Ancestor, within the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, she was still considered quite insignificant. However, with the three Grade Nine Treasure Pills that Gu He entrusted her to bring back, her status would no longer be just that of a royal bloodline holder. Of course, Gu He understood that the three elders of East Dragon Island were absolutely loyal to the Dragon Emperors lineage, the true royal bloodline. If their strength increased, it would be highly beneficial for Zi Yan. That was why he willingly handed over these three Grade Nine Treasure Pills to enhance their power. Master, what kind of pills are these? Seeing the ten jade bottles floating before her, Zi Yan curiously inquired. Zi Yan, inside these bottles, there are two Grade Seven pills, five Grade Eight pills, and three Grade Nine Treasure Pills... Five Grade Eight pills! Three Grade Nine Treasure Pills! As Gu He introduced the pills, Zi Yan interrupted in astonishment after every sentence, her exclamations cutting off his explanations. Stop interrupting! Youre making such a fuss over nothing! Gu He chuckled at her overly surprised reaction, but after a brief laugh, he resumed his serious tone. Theyre just Grade Eight and Grade Nine pills. Look at youacting like you''ve never seen anything before! Theyre Grade Nine Treasure Pills! How can I not be shocked? Zi Yan pouted, feeling a little wronged by his remark. Alright, enough with the chatter. Listen carefullyaside from these three Grade Nine Treasure Pills, all the other pills are for you! Gu He waved his hand dismissively. If those three Grade Nine Treasure Pills arent for me, then who are they for? Zi Yan asked suspiciously. These three Grade Nine Treasure Pills are meant for you to bring back to the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. Theyre for Elder Zhu Li and the other two elders. Once you return, hand them over to Zhu Lihe will handle everything properly, Gu He instructed. Oh... Zi Yan nodded, though she still didnt quite understand. Deep down, she found it difficult to comprehend why Gu He would trust people he had never even met. Could it be that Master trusts them simply because they are my clansmen? Thinking about this, Zi Yans eyes grew slightly misty. She didnt know how to express the immense gratitude she felt toward Gu He. Gu He, unaware of the fleeting moisture in Zi Yans eyes, continued to warn her, Zi Yan, remember what I just told you. Dont even think about sneaking a taste of these Grade Nine Treasure Pills. The medicinal potency is far beyond what you can handle at your current level! Master, I understand! Zi Yan solemnly nodded at Gu Hes reminder. She then reached out and carefully collected all ten jade bottles. Each bottle was marked with Gu Hes inscriptions, detailing the type and effects of the pill within, making it easy to distinguish them. After Zi Yan collected the pills, two system notification sounds suddenly echoed in Gu Hes mind. Among the two Grade Seven pills that could be refunded, one was refunded with a ten-thousand-fold quality enhancement, transforming it into a Grade Nine Treasure Pill. The other was refunded with a ten-thousand-fold quantity increase, granting Gu He an additional ten thousand Grade Seven pills. After that, Gu He ran his hand over his storage ring once more, and suddenly, dozens of wooden boxes appeared beside him and Zi Yan. This... could it be... Spiritual Medicine Pills?! Seeing the dozens of wooden boxes piled on the ground, the heavy thoughts in Zi Yans mind were instantly cast aside, and a bright smile bloomed on her face. She immediately grabbed a wooden box, opened it, and as expected, it was filled with the Spiritual Medicine Pills she had been longing for. The amount piled here was almost the same as what Gu He had given her last timeseveral thousand pills. Without hesitation, Zi Yan quickly picked up one and popped it into her mouth, chewing eagerly. This is the taste! Its exactly the same as before! Zi Yan exclaimed with joy as she chewed. Seeing how delighted Zi Yan was, Gu He couldn''t help but smile as well. These Spiritual Medicine Pills were actually the same ones he had refined using two types of Tier Five medicinal herbs back at Jia Nan Academy. However, after the system refund, he had received ten thousand pills. Last time, he had only given Zi Yan five thousand, and the five thousand here were the remaining half. Zi Yan, take these three Void Jade Talismans. If you run into any trouble in your clan that you cant handle, just crush one, and I will arrive immediately! Gu He suddenly said as he pulled out three Void Jade Talismans. Seeing this, Zi Yan, who had been about to stuff a second Spiritual Medicine Pill into her mouth, immediately stopped. She quickly put the pill back into the box and reached out with both hands to receive the three Void Jade Talismans from Gu He. Thank you, Master! Zi Yan had already witnessed the power of these Void Jade Talismans before and understood their immense value. She was deeply grateful as she accepted them. After storing away the three Void Jade Talismans, Zi Yan suddenly thought of Gu Hes projection. She glanced around but didnt see it. Gu He immediately saw through what the little girl was looking for and said, Dont bother searching. I already told you beforeprojections can only last for half an hour. Oh, I see... Then, Master, once I arrive there, Ill find an opportunity to summon your projection. Maybe you could set up a teleportation array over there? Zi Yan suggested expectantly. That... is actually a feasible idea! Hearing Zi Yans suggestion, Gu He pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. Within the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, East Dragon Island was considered the weakest among the four islands. Its Grand Elder, Qing Shan, who had been in seclusion for years, was only at the Two-Star Dou Saint level. Meanwhile, on the other three dragon islands, even some of the Grand Elders and top commanders had already reached the Two-Star Dou Saint level. Not to mention the three Dragon Kings, all of whom had reached the late Three-Star Dou Saint stage. With Gu Hes current strength and abilities, he could deal with ordinary Two-Star Dou Saints, but facing the three Dragon Kings, who were late Three-Star Dou Saints, he had no confidence in winning. If it werent for the fact that the three major dragon islands were constantly at odds with one another and unable to focus all their attention on East Dragon Island, the island would never have been able to hold out until now. But things were different now. If news of Zi Yans return, as a royal bloodline holder, spread and was discovered by the other dragon islands, unpredictable events might unfold. After all, those three Dragon Kings would never allow a member of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan with royal blood to grow strong enough to threaten their rule. (End of Chapter) Get early access to 20 chapters on Patreon and read up to 65 chapters weekly. Join the community and support ongoing releases. Patreon: /anish_44 Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 514: Zhu Li’s Shock! Chapter 514: Zhu Lis Shock! Chapter 514: Zhu Lis Shock! Zi Yan, once you return to the clan, follow this plan. Try to find a secluded place when the time comes, Gu He reminded her once again. Alright, Master! Zi Yan will remember! Seeing that Gu He had agreed with her suggestion, Zi Yan nodded cheerfully. Gu He looked at her current state and, with a slightly disapproving expression, said, Zi Yan, now that your cultivation has broken through to the Seven-Star Dou Ancestor level, refining the medicinal energy accumulated in your body shouldnt be difficult. You should focus on refining it right away. Got it! Seeing his expression, Zi Yans face flushed red, and she lowered her head slightly, not daring to meet Gu Hes gaze. At this moment, Gu He took a slow step toward the spot where the purple light circle had originally appeared. Master... are you leaving now? Zi Yan asked reluctantly as she noticed his movements. Zi Yan, once I establish the teleportation array in your clan, if you ever wish to return, I will come to pick you up, Gu He said with a warm smile. With those words, he swiftly formed a few mysterious hand seals. In an instant, the previously vanished purple light circle reappeared, with numerous purple runes floating around him. As the light flared up, Zi Yan suddenly waved her arms vigorously and shouted loudly, Goodbye, Master! Her voice echoed through the small valley, and in the blink of an eye, Gu Hes figure vanished. At the same time, the sealing barrier he had placed over the valley with his projection also disappeared. At that moment, Zi Yans aura fully spread beyond the valley. However, due to the shock caused by the consecutive appearances of Gu He and Zhu Li, no high-ranking magical beasts dared to linger in the area anymoreone by one, they withdrew to other regions. Now alone, Zi Yan silently sat cross-legged on the ground, activating her cultivation technique to refine the vast medicinal energy previously stored within her body. When the day of Gu He and Zhu Lis agreed-upon meeting arrived, Zhu Lis figure appeared in the small valley precisely on time. Whats going on? Zi Yans cultivation... how did she go from the peak of Nine-Star Dou King to Seven-Star Dou Ancestor in just one day?! Sensing the aura emanating from Zi Yan, Zhu Li was filled with disbelief. Elder Zhu Li, youre here! Noticing his arrival, Zi Yan slowly stood up, smiling at him. Zi Yan, your cultivation level...? Zhu Li couldnt hold back his curiosity and immediately asked. Hearing his question, Zi Yan responded without hesitation, Elder Zhu Li, my cultivation was boosted by my Master! He also helped me refine the medicinal energy that had accumulated in my body! I see... Zhu Li nodded in response, but at the same time, he discreetly used his soul power to probe Zi Yans condition. In his mind, such rapid advancement in cultivation usually resulted in unstable foundations, akin to forcibly pulling up seedlings to help them growpotentially damaging ones future potential. His investigation was purely out of concern for Zi Yans well-being. However, to his surprise, he soon discovered that Zi Yans aura was incredibly stable. Her Dou Qi was dense and solid, showing no signs of weakness or instability. Realizing this, Zhu Li finally felt relieved. At the same time, Gu Hes image in his mind became even more enigmatic. Good! Its great that your cultivation has improved! Good! Its great that your cultivation has improved! Zhu Li was so pleased that he repeated himself twice in excitement. Now that Zi Yans bloodline power had been fully activated, the adverse effects of the Transformation Herb had almost entirely dissipated. Although she was currently only at the Seven-Star Dou Ancestor level and still far weaker than the younger generation of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, her royal bloodline ensured that she would eventually catch up. In fact, surpassing even some of the clans older powerhouses was entirely within her reach. What Zhu Li hoped for was that once Zi Yans cultivation improved, her royal bloodline would grant her unparalleled prestige within the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. One day, the members of the other three Dragon Islands might willingly submit, allowing the dragon clan to finally unite as one. Zi Yan, since everything else has been taken care of, I will now take you back to the clan! Zhu Li said, his voice filled with excitement. Old manoh, no, I mean, Elder Zhu Libefore my master left, he told me to give you something, Zi Yan replied, correcting herself mid-sentence. As Zhu Li finished speaking, Zi Yan didnt respond immediately. Instead, she retrieved three jade bottles from her storage ring and handed them to him. These are from your master? Seeing the three jade bottles, a flicker of curiosity and doubt appeared in Zhu Lis eyes. In the next moment, he extended his hand, instantly drawing the three jade bottles toward him. Slowly, he opened the stopper of one of them. The moment the seal was broken, an incredibly dense medicinal fragrance filled the air. A deep blue pill shot out of the bottle, but before it could fall, it swiftly transformed into a blue flood dragon, about the length of an arm, radiating an immense spiritual energy. A Grade Nine Treasure Pill?! Upon seeing the pill take the form of a blue flood dragon, Zhu Lis expression turned to one of utter disbelief. His hand immediately reached out, swiftly grabbing the blue flood dragon and shoving it back into the jade bottle before it could escape. Zi Yan, are you saying this Grade Nine Treasure Pill was truly left for me by your master? Zhu Li asked, still in shock. Elder Zhu Li, you got it wrongits not just one, but three Grade Nine Treasure Pills! Theyre all from my master! Zi Yan corrected him, placing her hands on her hips and speaking in a childish yet proud tone. Three?! Zhu Lis eyes widened to an extreme, and the astonishment on his face could no longer be described with words. A Grade Nine Treasure Pill was something that even true Dou Saints would greatly benefit from. Yet, Gu He had casually gifted not just one, but three. How could Zhu Li not be utterly shocked? Quickly, he checked the remaining two jade bottles, and after confirming that Zi Yan was telling the truth, his astonishment only grew deeper. Suppressing his overwhelming emotions, Zhu Li asked, Three Grade Nine Treasure Pills... Zi Yan, could it be that your master is a grandmaster alchemist? Hearing his words and recalling his previous reaction, Zi Yan mimicked Gu Hes earlier tone, nodding smugly. Of course! My masters greatest talent is alchemy! Seeing her nod in confirmation, Zhu Li was overjoyed. A grandmaster alchemist capable of refining Grade Nine Treasure Pills... And Zi Yan actually became his disciple! The heavens truly bless the Ancient Void Dragon Clan! (End of Chapter) Get early access to 20 chapters on Patreon and read up to 65 chapters weekly. Join the community and support ongoing releases. Patreon: /anish_44 Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 515: The Ancient Void Dragon Clan! Chapter 515: The Ancient Void Dragon Clan! Chapter 515: The Ancient Void Dragon Clan! "Elder Zhu Li, these three ninth-grade treasure pills are all meant to enhance cultivation!" Zi Yan continued. "My master told me not to take them. The medicinal power of these pills is something I can''t handle yet. He also said that you, Elder Zhu Li, would know how to distribute these pills properly!" "Of course. You can only absorb the medicinal power of such pills when you reach the level of a mid-level Dou Venerate or higher," Zhu Li nodded upon hearing Zi Yan''s words. "These pills are for boosting cultivation, and there are three of them. One can be given to the Grand Elder, another to the Second Elder. Perhaps after consuming them, their cultivation can advance further, significantly enhancing the strength of the East Dragon Island. As for the third pill, we''ll keep it in reserve. When your cultivation reaches the mid-level Dou Venerate stage, you can take it." With these words, Zhu Li determined the final distribution of the three pills, considering the Grand Elder, the Second Elder, and Zi Yan, but not himself. "Elder Zhu Li, with this arrangement, wont you end up with nothing?" Zi Yan asked, puzzled. "The Grand Elder and the Second Elder far surpass me in cultivation. Their strength is crucial to the East Dragon Island. And you, Zi Yan, are the hope of our Ancient Void Dragon Clan. Only when you become strong can our clan hope to end this fragmented state. So, what does it matter if I dont get a share of these pills?" Zhu Li replied sincerely. Hearing Zhu Li''s words, Zi Yan felt a slight stir in her heart. She gently persuaded him, "Elder Zhu Li, you dont need to save that third pill for me. By the time I reach mid-level Dou Venerate, my master will surely have no shortage of such pills! So, you should take the third pill for yourself and strive to improve your cultivation." "Lets think carefully about this," Zhu Li replied, still not agreeing outright. Instead, he reached out and tore open a massive spatial rift in front of them. "Lets return to the clan first!" After opening the spatial rift, Zhu Li smiled and said to Zi Yan. "Alright." Zi Yan nodded and followed behind Zhu Li. Soon, both Zhu Li and Zi Yan stepped into the spatial rift. As Zi Yan entered, a soft whoosh sounded, and her figure disappeared along with the spatial rift. ... Inside the spatial rift was a peculiar passage filled with a faint silver light. The passage extended to an unknown end, and Zi Yan and Zhu Li flew swiftly through it. This spatial passage was vastly different from the spatial travel used by ordinary Dou Venerate experts. When ordinary Dou Venerate experts tore through space, they merely entered the void, creating short-distance spatial jumps. But what Zhu Li had done was construct a long-distance teleportation channel between two faraway locations. Such a feat was usually only achievable by those who had truly reached the Dou Saint level. Of course, for the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, which innately controlled spatial power, this was nothing extraordinary. Zi Yan wasnt particularly curious about this spatial passage. During her training period, she had used many city teleportation channels, and the scenes inside were similar to this. Moreover, due to her natural affinity for spatial power, Zi Yan felt no pressure traveling through such a place. After nearly two days of traveling through the spatial passage, Zhu Li slowed down again. At the end of Zi Yans vision, a silver light circle appeared. "Were finally here!" Seeing the silver light circle, Zi Yan complained. Although she often traveled in such environments, she didnt particularly like it. Not long after, the two figures turned into beams of light and rushed into the silver light circle. As Zi Yan rushed into the light circle, her vision blurred momentarily before suddenly brightening. The monotonous silver was replaced by lush greenery and towering mountains, filling her eyes with vibrant colors. "This is..." Hovering high in the sky, Zi Yan widened her eyes as she took in the sight before her. What lay ahead was more accurately described as an island rather than a landmass. The island was vast, and above it, a faint silver bowl-shaped light barrier enveloped the entire area. When Zi Yan looked beyond the barrier, she was stunned. Outside was a dark, chilling void that would terrify any ordinary person. This island was actually floating within the void! "Wow, so this is where my clan lives!" Seeing this, Zi Yan''s face lit up with joy and curiosity about this new environment. Indeed, the Ancient Void Dragon Clan''s feat was remarkable. While the island''s size couldn''t compare to the spaces created by Dou Saint experts, it was far more concealed. The void was filled with unknown dangers and terrifying spatial storms, a place even Dou Venerate experts wouldn''t dare to venture recklessly. Establishing their habitat here ensured absolute safety, which was why the Ancient Void Dragon Clan rarely made appearances in the Central Plains. "Zi Yan, follow me." Zhu Li led Zi Yan through the silver light barrier, heading toward a stone hall on the island. Currently, very few members of the East Dragon Island were aware of Zi Yan''s royal bloodline. Zhu Li had deliberately kept this information hidden. He didn''t want the other three dragon islands to learn about Zi Yan before she had a chance to grow stronger. He couldn''t predict what the three Dragon Kings, who possessed branch royal bloodlines, might do if they discovered Zi Yan''s existence. Following Zhu Li, Zi Yan could sense numerous powerful auras on the island. Nearly 80% of them had reached the Dou Venerate level. Sensing these powerful auras, Zi Yan suddenly felt how weak she was in comparison. Even an ordinary clan member could easily overpower her. However, none of the auras she sensed surpassed Zhu Li''s strength. Walking through the ancient stone hall''s corridor, Zhu Li turned to Zi Yan, who had a complex expression, and said, "Zi Yan, your bloodline has been awakened. With your current cultivation speed, it won''t be long before you grow stronger. When that time comes, I look forward to witnessing the ascension of our clan''s new Dragon Emperor!" "Becoming the Dragon Emperor?" Seeing Zhu Li''s confidence in her, Zi Yan''s eyes filled with determination. (End of chapter.) Get early access to 20 chapters on Patreon and read up to 65 chapters weekly. Join the community and support ongoing releases. Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44 Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 516: The Shock of Qing Shan and Zhu Mo! Chapter 516: The Shock of Qing Shan and Zhu Mo! Chapter 516: The Shock of Qing Shan and Zhu Mo! Soon, Zhu Li led Zi Yan deep into the ancient stone hall. Before them now stood another grand hall, and at its center was a towering altar. Upon arriving, Zhu Li came to a halt. Standing in place, Zhu Li suddenly produced two golden jade talismans in his hand and crushed them. As the two golden jade talismans shattered, Zi Yan, standing behind Zhu Li, could clearly sense a familiar bloodline energy emanating from them. At the same time, in two secluded stone halls on the dragon island, two elderly men who had been meditating suddenly opened their eyes. The space around them twisted violently, and their figures vanished from the halls where they had been in seclusion. In the next moment, two spatial fluctuations appeared in front of Zi Yan and Zhu Li, near the towering altar. The two elderly men who had just disappeared from the other stone halls now appeared before Zi Yan. The two elderly men, though white-haired, had sharp and piercing gazes. "Zhu Li, why have you summoned us both at the same time? Has something" One of the elders, holding a dragon-shaped cane, began to question Zhu Li. But when his gaze fell upon Zi Yan, his words abruptly stopped, and his eyes froze in shock. "Royal bloodline!" The elder with the dragon-shaped cane exclaimed with great excitement. The other elder beside him was equally astonished, seemingly unable to believe what he was seeing. Witnessing the intense reactions of the two elders, Zhu Li spoke directly, "Elder Qing Shan, Elder Zhu Mo, this is Zi Yan, the only remaining royal bloodline of our Ancient Void Dragon Clan. She has returned!" "It truly is the royal bloodline!" "Haha, I never thought I would live to see the day when our clan''s royal bloodline would return!" After receiving confirmation from Zhu Li, the two elders no longer doubted what they were seeing and erupted into joyous exclamations. "This old man, Qing Shan, pays homage to the Dragon Emperor!" "This old man, Zhu Mo, pays homage to the Dragon Emperor!" Having confirmed Zi Yan''s royal bloodline, the two elders immediately knelt and performed a formal bow to her. "Paying homage to the Dragon Emperor!" Seeing this, Zhu Li also knelt and bowed to Zi Yan. Watching these three elderly "grandfathers" bowing to her, Zi Yan''s small face showed a hint of panic. She quickly reached out to help Zhu Li up, saying nervously, "Elders, what are you doing? Please, rise!" "Thank you, Dragon Emperor!" Despite Zi Yan''s efforts to help him up, Zhu Li did not rise immediately. Instead, he completed his bow before standing up. Seeing their attitude, Zi Yan sighed helplessly, "Elders, I''m not the Dragon Emperor yet. Have you ever seen a Dragon Emperor as weak as me?" Hearing Zi Yan''s words, Qing Shan, the elder with the dragon-shaped cane, shook his head sincerely and said, "You are the only one in our Ancient Void Dragon Clan who possesses the royal bloodline. Who else is qualified to be the Dragon Emperor but you?" "That''s right. Only those with the royal bloodline can be revered as the Dragon Emperor. As for strength, it doesn''t matter. We believe that the royal bloodline will eventually grow to an extraordinary level!" Zhu Mo added in agreement. Zi Yan could sense from their words that Qing Shan and Zhu Mo, like Zhu Li, were deeply loyal to the royal bloodline and the Dragon Emperor lineage. At this moment, recalling what Zhu Li had told her about the current state of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, she felt a wave of emotion. If not for the unwavering dedication of these three elders, the royal bloodline might have been completely forgotten by the clan. Now, Zi Yan''s cultivation was only at the seven-star Dou Zong level, insignificant within the entire Ancient Void Dragon Clan. Yet, these three elders of the East Dragon Island, who had reached the Dou Saint level, treated her with such reverence. "Elders, I, Zi Yan, will strive to grow stronger as quickly as possible. One day, I will reunite the divided clan and restore the glory of our Ancient Void Dragon Clan!" Though her voice still carried a hint of childishness, none of the three elders found it amusing. Her young yet determined words radiated a sense of hope. "By the way, Elder Qing Shan, Elder Zhu Mo, during my journey to bring the Dragon Emperor back, we encountered her master. Not only does he possess the profound cultivation of a high-level Half-Saint, but he is also a grandmaster-level alchemist. Before we left, he entrusted the Dragon Emperor with three ninth-grade treasure pills as a gift to our clan!" Zhu Li briefly recounted their encounter with Gu He. After speaking, Zhu Li took out the three jade bottles containing the ninth-grade treasure pills that Zi Yan had given him earlier. "What? A grandmaster-level alchemist, and he gifted three ninth-grade treasure pills!" "To think that the royal bloodline, while wandering outside, could receive such noble assistance! Truly, the heavens favor our Ancient Void Dragon Clan!" Hearing Zhu Li''s account, Qing Shan and Zhu Mo once again expressed their astonishment. "Each of you, take one of these ninth-grade treasure pills. I hope they will help you break through in your cultivation!" After Zhu Li finished speaking, Zi Yan added, "Elder Zhu Li, since you acknowledge me as the Dragon Emperor, I now order you to take one and refine it!" Hearing Zi Yan''s commanding tone, Zhu Li smiled wryly and handed one jade bottle each to Qing Shan and Zhu Mo. "Since the Dragon Emperor has spoken, I will take this ninth-grade treasure pill," Zhu Li said slowly. Qing Shan and Zhu Mo quickly inspected the jade bottles and confirmed that they indeed contained ninth-grade treasure pills. Their excitement grew even more intense. Their gazes toward Zi Yan shifted slightly. Previously, Zi Yan was seen as a young royal bloodline holder with the potential to grow into a powerful figure and become the revered Dragon Emperor of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. However, she was still a weakling in terms of cultivation. But now, knowing that she had the backing of a grandmaster-level alchemist, her status in the eyes of the three elders of the East Dragon Island had changed. After some discussion, Qing Shan, Zhu Mo, and Zhu Li decided that Qing Shan and Zhu Mo would continue their seclusion, aiming to quickly absorb the ninth-grade treasure pills. If Qing Shan could use the pill to break through to the three-star Dou Saint level, the East Dragon Island would have a stronger foundation to stand against the three Dragon Kings. (End of chapter.) Get early access to 20 chapters on Patreon and read up to 65 chapters weekly. Join the community and support ongoing releases. Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44 Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 517: Establishing Void Gates Across the Land! Chapter 517: Establishing Void Gates Across the Land! Chapter 517: Establishing Void Gates Across the Land! Zhu Li gathered some clan resources for Zi Yan''s cultivation. Zi Yan could train at the Ancient Dragon Clan''s altar or in the dark void space outside. The void space was filled with astral winds and spatial turbulence. Stronger gusts could tear apart a Dou Zun-level expert. Only the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, skilled in spatial powers, ventured here. Others avoided it. For the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, this place was ideal. The spatial turbulence helped them hone their spatial control and strengthen their bodies. This was why Gu He supported Zi Yan''s return. The void space would boost her physical strength faster than most treasures or medicines. In public, Zhu Li and other East Dragon Island elders still called Zi Yan by her name. Addressing her as Dragon Emperor would alert the other three Dragon Kings. After three days on East Dragon Island, Zi Yan had settled in. The clan had no travel restrictions. Most members could enter the void space to train, though they usually stayed near the island. On the third day, Zi Yan decided to go out alone. She passed through the silver light barrier and headed to an area with fewer astral winds and spatial turbulence. Fewer clan members trained there. After five hours, Zi Yan stopped, confirming no one followed her. She glanced back and said, "Elder Zhu Li, I said I wanted to train alone. You dont need to follow me!" The void space remained still, with only the usual spatial turbulence. After waiting a moment, Zi Yan felt at ease. She took out one of the three Void Talismans Gu He had given her and crushed it. Gu He''s projection appeared, suppressing its aura. "Master, you''re here!" Zi Yan said, her face lighting up. "Not bad. In just two days, you''ve made progress. The void space suits the Ancient Void Dragon Clan well," Gu He said, pleased. Zi Yan smiled and reported, "Master, I delivered the three pills to the elders. Theyre loyal to the Dragon Emperor''s lineage." "Good. With those pills, East Dragon Island''s strength will grow significantly," Gu He replied. Hearing Zi Yan''s words, Gu He smiled and nodded. Although Zi Yan''s identity hadn''t been publicly announced by Zhu Li, her royal bloodline would eventually be discovered by other East Dragon Island members. Once the news spread, the other three Dragon Islands would soon find out. By enhancing the strength of Qing Shan, Zhu Mo, and Zhu Li, they could avoid being completely overwhelmed when facing the three Dragon Kings. "Zi Yan, I will leave a teleportation array here. If you miss me or encounter any trouble, just crush the Void Talisman, and I will come as soon as possible," Gu He said. As he spoke, his hands formed intricate seals. A familiar purple light circle appeared in the dark void space. However, after fully manifesting, it quickly faded and became invisible. "Master, you said that whenever I want to return to you, you will come and take me away, right?" Zi Yan asked with anticipation after the purple light disappeared. "Yes," Gu He nodded gently. "But you must first focus on your training on the island for a while." "Master, don''t worry. Zi Yan will train hard and strive to become a powerful figure, uniting the divided Dragon Islands," Zi Yan replied earnestly. --- In the Northwest Continent, Gu He''s true body changed direction after learning about the conversation between his projection and Zi Yan. He headed toward the Black-Corner Region. If Zi Yan ever grew tired of staying on the Ancient Dragon Island, she would likely want to return to the Jia Nan Academy. Therefore, Gu He decided to set up a Void Gate near the academy. After changing his route, the Black-Scaled Frost Python took about four days to reach the vast forest behind the Jia Nan Academy''s inner court. Although the forest was home to many magical beasts, most were only at the fourth or fifth tier. Sixth-tier beasts were rare. Otherwise, the academy''s students wouldn''t dare venture here. Gu He had the Black-Scaled Frost Python stop in the sky about a hundred miles from the academy. After arriving, he immediately set up a Void Gate. "Yun''er, I need to visit the Jia Nan Academy. Wait here for me," Gu He said to Yun Yun before leaving. Moments later, Gu He appeared silently in Su Qian''s study. "Elder Gu He, you''re back!" Su Qian was startled at first but quickly smiled with delight upon seeing Gu He. (End of Chapter) Get early access to 20 chapters on Patreon and read up to 65 chapters weekly. Join the community and support ongoing releases. Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44 Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 518: Recent Developments at Jia Nan Academy! Chapter 518: Recent Developments at Jia Nan Academy! Chapter 518: Recent Developments at Jia Nan Academy! "Elder Gu He, it''s been almost two years since you left!" Su Qian stood up, greeting Gu He with a warm smile. "Yes, nearly two years," Gu He nodded, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "How is Zi Yan doing? Didn''t you say she and Han Yue would return from their training in about two years?" After exchanging a few pleasantries, Su Qian brought up a topic close to his heart. Gu He chuckled softly. "Zi Yan has returned to her clan, the Ancient Void Dragon Clan." "The Ancient Void Dragon Clan!" Su Qian''s expression showed a flicker of realization. He had long suspected Zi Yan''s identity, given her extraordinary physical strength for a young girl. "Returning to her clan is good. That''s where she truly belongs," Su Qian said with a tinge of melancholy. "However, shell likely return for a visit in a few months," Gu He added, noticing Su Qian''s reaction. "Shell be back in a few months?" Su Qian''s face lit up with joy. "As for Han Yue, it might take her another three years to return," Gu He continued. "Shes likely heading toward the central region of the Central Plains now." "Isnt it too dangerous for her there? The Central Plains is filled with powerful experts," Su Qian frowned, concerned. "Grand Elder, Han Yue has already reached the Dou Ancestor level. If she keeps a low profile, she can ensure her safety in the Central Plains," Gu He explained without hiding anything. "Han Yue has reached Dou Ancestor? Thats impossible!" Su Qian''s eyes widened in disbelief. However, recalling the rapid progress Zi Yan and Han Yue had made under Gu He''s guidance, his skepticism faded. "Elder Gu He, if Han Yue has reached Dou Ancestor, what about Zi Yan? Has she reached the seventh rank?" Su Qian remembered Zi Yan was already a seven-star Dou Emperor when she left. With her previous growth rate, she might have reached Dou Ancestor as well. "Zi Yan has already reached the high-level Dou Ancestor realm, surpassing Han Yue by several stars," Gu He replied. "Is that so?" Su Qian stared at Gu He intently, trying to gauge his true strength. "Haha, Elder Gu He, both your disciples have reached Dou Ancestor. Surely your own strength isnt just at the peak of Dou Emperor, is it?" Su Qian laughed. Gu He smiled faintly. "What do you think, Grand Elder?" He avoided giving a direct answer. Su Qian finally understood that Gu He''s displayed strength was merely a facade. Jia Nan Academy had already gathered some information about Gu He''s background. After all, the news of Yunlan Sect producing three Dou Ancestor-level experts had spread widely in that region. Now, even parts of the Black-Corner Region had heard about the events in the Jia Ma Empire. With Jia Nan Academy''s extensive intelligence network, they naturally knew even more. Moreover, during Gu He''s time at the academy, he had helped several elders stuck at the peak of Dou Emperor by refining the Breakthrough Ancestor Pills. As a result, the academy now had more than just Su Qian as a Dou Ancestor. Two others had also broken through to the Dou Ancestor level. After chatting with Gu He for a while, Su Qian suddenly remembered something and cautiously said, "By the way, Elder Gu He, there''s something I need to tell you. I hope you won''t take offense." "Grand Elder, feel free to speak," Gu He replied casually, waving his hand. "Elder Gu He, your identity as a Yunlan Sect elder is no longer a secret at Jia Nan Academy. Most students are aware of it. Also, over a year ago, some explosive news about Yunlan Sect from the Jia Ma Empire reached the Black-Corner Region..." "Grand Elder, just say what you need to say," Gu He interrupted with a laugh, seeing Su Qian''s roundabout approach. "Alright," Su Qian chuckled awkwardly, then continued, "Elder Gu He, the young man from the Xiao family who had a duel with Nalan Yanran, Yun Yun''s disciple, has now been admitted to the inner academy." "Haha, so that''s what you were getting at!" Gu He''s expression relaxed completely. The duel between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran was a trivial matter to Gu He. After all, Xiao Yan had already admitted defeat at the time. As for what followed, Nalan Yanran, unaware of Xiao Yan''s true strength, had used her Dou King-level power. Yao Lao, desperate to save his disciple, had empowered Xiao Yan to withstand Nalan Yanran''s fatal strike. That was understandable. If Yao Lao had controlled Xiao Yan''s body to attack Nalan Yanran instead of just defending, both Yao Lao and Xiao Yan would have vanished from the world by now. "Grand Elder, let the younger generation handle their own affairs," Gu He said magnanimously. "Thank you, Elder Gu He!" Su Qian was visibly relieved. Now that Xiao Yan was at Jia Nan Academy, his progress had been remarkable. In just a year, he had advanced to the five-star Great Dou Master level, and his combat prowess was among the best of his peers. His only major flaw was his poor stamina compared to others of his level, often seen consuming pills to replenish his Dou Qi during battles. "Grand Elder, I came mainly to update you on Zi Yan''s situation. Now, I must return to Yunlan Sect," Gu He said, preparing to leave. "Very well. Farewell, Elder Gu He!" Su Qian replied politely. As Su Qian finished speaking, the space around Gu He twisted violently, and he vanished from sight. Leaving Jia Nan Academy, Gu He returned to the Black-Scaled Frost Python in minutes. He then commanded it to head straight back to Yunlan Sect. (End of Chapter) Get early access to 20 chapters on Patreon and read up to 65 chapters weekly. Join the community and support ongoing releases. Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44 Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 519: Returning to Yunlan Sect with the Child! Chapter 519: Returning to Yunlan Sect with the Child! Chapter 519: Returning to Yunlan Sect with the Child! Half a month later, within the Nine-Colored Valley of Yunlan Sect. Liu Ling was seated cross-legged in meditation when suddenly, the space in front of him began to distort violently. On the other side, Qing Lin had already been holding Cai''er, her gaze fixed on the distorted space. Sensing the fluctuations, Liu Ling slowly opened his eyes. Under the watchful eyes of Liu Ling, Qing Lin, and Cai''er, three figures emerged from the distorted spaceor more accurately, four. Little Yu Chen was standing in Gu He''s arms, curiously surveying her surroundings. "Master, Mistress, Uncle Black Scaled, you''re back! Oh, who is this little one? She''s so cute!" Qing Lin happily ran toward Gu He, but the moment she noticed the little Yu Chen in his arms, her eyes lit up with affection. "My name is Gu Yu Chen!" The little one, seeing Qing Lin bouncing over excitedly, spoke her name in a childish, milky voice. "Gu Yu Chen? Could this be Master and Mistress''s child?" "Master and Mistress have been away for over a year and a half. If you think about it, the timing matches!" Hearing little Yu Chen''s tender voice, Qing Lin was momentarily stunned, but then her face brightened even more. "Little Yu Chen, come here, let your Qing Lin sister hold you!" Qing Lin spread her arms excitedly, calling out to Yu Chen. However, Yu Chen''s attention was not on Qing Lin. Her gaze had been fixed on Cai''er, who was hopping around on Qing Lin''s palm, and hadn''t moved since. "Yi ya, yi ya!" "The master has a child!" "Do you want to play with me?" Noticing the little one''s gaze, Cai''er lightly hopped from Qing Lin''s hand to Gu He''s arm, now just a short distance away from Yu Chen. "Play... want to play!" Seeing Cai''er move to Gu He''s arm, Yu Chen quickly followed with her eyes, her small, delicate hand slowly reaching out to grab Cai''er. Cai''er, seeing this, lightly hopped again, dodging Yu Chen''s outstretched hand. "Haha, haha, so fun!" Yu Chen, somewhat stubborn, reached out again, but Cai''er easily avoided her once more, this time moving to Gu He''s other arm. "Huh? Where did it go?" Seeing Cai''er disappear, Yu Chen turned her head, searching for her. Witnessing this scene, Qing Lin, who had been completely ignored, couldn''t help but laugh. By this time, Liu Ling had also walked over. After paying his respects to Gu He and Yun Yun, his gaze also settled on Yu Chen. "Little Yu Chen, let your brother hold you, okay?" Liu Ling''s eyes were gentle, his lips curving into a crescent moon as he spread his arms, saying the same thing Qing Lin had earlier. "No, I want to play with her!" Hearing Liu Ling''s words, Yu Chen glanced back at him, pouted, and then ignored him, still reaching out to grab Cai''er. Seeing this, Liu Ling could only smile awkwardly. "Daddy, put me down! I want to play with her!" Yu Chen''s soft little feet wriggled in Gu He''s arms as she tried to get down. "Alright!" Hearing Yu Chen''s words, Gu He smiled, then slowly crouched down to place her on the ground, instructing Cai''er to keep an eye on her. Upon hearing Gu He''s instructions, Cai''er lowered her flight altitude and began circling around little Yu Chen. Soon after, Yu Chen started toddling after Cai''er, her steps unsteady. Seeing this, Liu Ling and Qing Lin, feeling a bit competitive, followed along. Eventually, after Liu Ling and Qing Lin kept bringing out small trinkets, Yu Chen finally began to pay attention to them. Liu Ling crouched down, holding a small wooden tiger carving about the size of a palm, and waved it in front of Yu Chen, saying softly, "Little Yu Chen, you have to call me ''brother'' and call her ''Qing Lin sister''! If you do, this tiger will be yours." "Okay, brother, Qing Lin sister!" Lured by the wooden carving, Yu Chen called out to Liu Ling and Qing Lin in her sweet, childish voice. "Haha!" Hearing this, Liu Ling, satisfied, handed the wooden carving to Yu Chen. Just as he was about to say something more, Yu Chen had already taken the newly acquired carving and run off to show it to Cai''er. Her actions left Liu Ling and Qing Lin feeling a bit deflated. "Junior Sister, it seems we''re getting old!" Liu Ling forced a smile and uttered a somewhat melancholic remark. "Old? What are you talking about?" Hearing this, Qing Lin shot Liu Ling a glare and retorted, "It''s you who''s old, Senior Brother! I''m not old at all!" After saying this, Qing Lin ran back to Yu Chen to continue playing with her. "Haha, husband, look at them!" On the other side, Yun Yun watched Yu Chen playing, her eyes filled with joy. Yun Yun had always been naturally serene. Before meeting Gu He, her stunning beauty was like that of a flower fairy secluded in the mountains, exuding an ethereal charm. Now, her deeply ingrained calmness was complemented by a touch of maternal warmth. "Yu Chen is adapting to her surroundings quite quickly!" Gu He responded gently to Yun Yun. That evening, back at Yunlan Sect, Yun Yun, who seemed like an otherworldly fairy, once again prepared a meal for Gu He and the others. Qing Lin, being thoughtful, came over to help. ... After dinner, Yu Chen continued playing with Cai''er in the Nine-Colored Valley, while Gu He called Liu Ling and Qing Lin aside. Gu He first looked at Liu Ling and said slowly, "Liu Ling, didn''t you say before that you wanted to refine a Shapeshifting Pill? Have you succeeded yet?" Gu He could tell at a glance Liu Ling''s current state. His cultivation had improved by two stars compared to a few months ago, reaching the level of a Seven-Star Dou Emperor. This was the result of the powerful cultivation speed brought by a Heaven-tier advanced technique, and this was despite Liu Ling spending most of his time studying alchemy. Moreover, Liu Ling''s soul realm had now surpassed that of most ordinary people, reaching the late Mortal Soul stage. Hearing Gu He''s question, Liu Ling lowered his head slightly and replied, "Master, I attempted to refine it once before, but I failed. So, I plan to wait until my cultivation is stronger before trying again with the second set of ingredients." "Liu Ling, actually, the failure in refining has little to do with your cultivation level. The Shapeshifting Pill is a high-tier seventh-grade pill, and refining it requires a vast and complex array of spiritual herbs. The reason for the failure is due to slightly insufficient soul power," Gu He explained slowly, seeing the slight disappointment on Liu Ling''s face. "However, with your current soul realm, you have already met the requirements for refining the Shapeshifting Pill. You need to relax your mindset and not worry about things like running out of ingredients if you fail." (End of Chapter) Get early access to 20 chapters on Patreon and read up to 65 chapters weekly. Join the community and support ongoing releases. Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44 Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 520: Liu Ling’s Growth! Twenty-Two Years of Cultivation! Chapter 520: Liu Lings Growth! Twenty-Two Years of Cultivation! Chapter 520: Liu Ling''s Growth! Twenty-Two Years of Cultivation! After finishing his earlier statement, Gu He initially intended to take out another set of ingredients for refining the Shapeshifting Pill from his system space for Liu Ling. However, upon remembering that Liu Ling had not received any cultivation transmission for over a year and a half, he hesitated and stopped. Moreover, Gu He suddenly realized that he actually had a Shapeshifting Pill in his possession. Judging from Liu Ling''s determination regarding the pill, Gu He guessed that Liu Ling simply wanted to obtain the Shapeshifting Pill, rather than attempting to refine it himself and challenge the difficulty of a high-tier seventh-grade pill. Thinking this, Gu He''s mind stirred, and a jade bottle containing the Shapeshifting Pill appeared in his hand. He handed it to Liu Ling, who was still pondering his earlier words. Gu He passed the jade bottle over and said directly, "Liu Ling, I happened to acquire a Shapeshifting Pill during my time in the Central Plains. Ill give it to you now. I hope you can study this finished pill carefully!" Hearing the words "Shapeshifting Pill," Liu Ling''s eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly raised his head. "Thank you, Master!" Liu Ling took the jade bottle and swiftly opened the stopper, peering inside. "I never expected Master to already have a Shapeshifting Pill!" Looking at the pill lying inside the bottle, Liu Ling felt a surge of excitement. At the same time, a system notification sounded in Gu He''s mind. "Ding! Detected that the host has gifted the Shapeshifting Pill, a seventh-grade pill, to the first disciple, Liu Ling. Congratulations, host, for receiving a ten-thousandfold return: 10,000 seventh-grade Shapeshifting Pills!" "10,000 seventh-grade pills have been deposited into the system space. Please check and collect them, host!" Hearing this system notification, Gu He felt little emotion. At this point, for Gu He, seventh-grade and eighth-grade pills were nothing more than numbers. They held little significance for him, but for his disciples, these items were priceless treasures. "Liu Ling, Qing Lin, it''s been almost a year and a half since I last went out. Both of your cultivation progress has been excellent!" After giving the Shapeshifting Pill, Gu He continued, "This time, I will transmit cultivation to you once more. Liu Ling, you go first!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling''s expression instantly turned serious. He quickly stored the Shapeshifting Pill he had just received and sat down cross-legged on the floor in front of Gu He. Seeing this, Qing Lin instinctively stepped back to give them space. With a wave of his hand, Gu He created a sealed space about two zhang in size, enveloping himself and Liu Ling. Gu He chose to seal the space for two reasons: first, to prevent any potential destruction or anomalies caused by Liu Ling''s breakthrough from affecting the outside world or attracting the attention of others in Yunlan Sect; and second, to ensure that during the cultivation transmission, Liu Ling''s breakthrough would rely entirely on the energy transmitted by Gu He, without absorbing energy from the surrounding environment. This way, the effect of the transmission would be maximized. Once everything was prepared, Gu He placed his hand on Liu Ling''s head. Feeling Gu He''s hand on him, Liu Ling immediately began circulating the Heaven-tier advanced cultivation technique, the Divine Flame Art. The Green Lotus Core Flame also began continuously tempering his body and soul. "System, transmit cultivation to my first disciple, Liu Ling!" With a low shout in his mind, Gu He''s hand on Liu Ling began to rapidly transfer a surge of intense energy into Liu Ling''s body. As this torrent of energy flooded into his body, Liu Ling calmly circulated the Divine Flame Art, directing the energy throughout his body before channeling it back to his dantian. "Crack!" In less than two minutes, a muffled sound emanated from Liu Ling''s body as his cultivation broke through from Seven-Star Dou Emperor to Eight-Star Dou Emperor. After reaching Eight-Star Dou Emperor, the speed of Liu Ling''s rising aura showed no signs of slowing down, rapidly advancing toward the peak of Eight-Star Dou Emperor. Soon, his aura reached the peak of Eight-Star Dou Emperor. "Snap!" This time, Liu Ling did not linger at the peak of Eight-Star Dou Emperor. Instead, he broke through directly to become a Nine-Star Dou Emperor powerhouse. After breaking through to this level, Liu Ling showed almost no signs of strain. In fact, the speed at which he circulated his cultivation technique only increased. Ten minutes later, the remaining trace amounts of energy within the two-zhang sealed space suddenly began to boil violently. "Is he about to break through from Dou Emperor to Dou Ancestor so quickly?" Feeling his own cultivation level, Liu Ling became extremely excited. His entire breakthrough to Dou Ancestor was incredibly fast, just like Zi Yan''s breakthrough last time. The moment the heavens and earth began to show signs of anomaly, they instantly dissipated. "Haha, he''s already reached Dou Ancestor, and this kid is still fine! It seems he can absorb a lot more cultivation this time." Seeing Liu Ling''s condition after breaking through to Dou Ancestor, Gu He chuckled inwardly and immediately increased the intensity of the cultivation transmission. As Gu He increased the transmission, Liu Ling also became more focused. Even after reaching Dou Ancestor, the speed at which his aura rose remained incredibly fast. In a short time, he reached the peak of One-Star Dou Ancestor. Two-Star Dou Ancestor! Peak of Two-Star Dou Ancestor! Three-Star Dou Ancestor! Peak of Three-Star Dou Ancestor! Four-Star Dou Ancestor! This rapid ascent only began to slow down when Liu Ling''s cultivation reached the peak of Four-Star Dou Ancestor. Gu He, who had been closely monitoring Liu Ling''s condition, reduced the speed of energy transmission slightly upon realizing that Liu Ling was nearing his limit. Once Liu Ling broke through to Five-Star Dou Ancestor, Gu He immediately stopped the transmission and withdrew his hand. At the same time, a system notification sounded in Gu He''s mind. "Ding! Detected that the host has granted the first disciple, Liu Ling, eight days of cultivation. Congratulations, host, for receiving a thousandfold return: twenty-two years of cultivation! (Note: These twenty-two years of cultivation correspond to a high-level Dou Saint!)" "Ding! Twenty-two years of cultivation have been deposited into the system space. Please check and collect them, host!" This time, although the system only returned twenty-two years of cultivation, Gu He was still very pleased. Currently, his cultivation had reached the level of a high-level Half-Saint. Even Zi Yan, who received a three-thousandfold return, only gained a little over a hundred years of cultivation. For Liu Ling to achieve this level was already quite impressive. It showed that Liu Ling had grown significantly and was catching up to Xiao Yixian, Zi Yan, Cai Lin, and Han Yue at an astonishing rate. To be precise, Liu Ling had already caught up to and surpassed Han Yue. The main reason for this was closely related to the Divine Flame Art that Gu He had taught Liu Ling. The Divine Flame Art was not only far superior to other techniques in terms of cultivation speed, but its Divine Flame Tempering chapter also contained methods for using one''s innate flame to temper the body and soul. Under the continuous tempering of the Green Lotus Core Flame, Liu Ling''s body and soul had been refined to the point where he could absorb eight days of Gu He''s cultivation in one go. (End of Chapter) Get early access to 20 chapters on Patreon and read up to 65 chapters weekly. Join the community and support ongoing releases. Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44 Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 521: Enhancing the Strength of Yunlan Sect! Chapter 521: Enhancing the Strength of Yunlan Sect! Chapter 521: Enhancing the Strength of Yunlan Sect! "I actually broke through to the five-star Dou Ancestor level in one go! It''s a bit hard to believe!" Liu Ling examined his physical condition, his face showing a mix of surprise and doubt. Combined with his actions, he looked somewhat silly. Seeing Liu Ling''s somewhat silly expression, Gu He couldn''t help but laugh. "Stop doubting it. You are now a five-star Dou Ancestor!" "Hehe, Master, it''s just that my cultivation breakthrough was too sudden!" Liu Ling awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Alright, now go out and call your junior sister over!" Gu He waved his hand. "Yes, Master!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling quickly stood up from the ground. At that moment, a gap the size of a person appeared in the two-zhang-wide spatial seal surrounding them. Liu Ling swiftly walked out through the gap. After Liu Ling exited, he glanced at Qing Lin, who immediately understood his meaning. She then stepped through the gap and came before Gu He, sitting down cross-legged. "Master, your disciple is ready!" Qing Lin looked up at Gu He and said obediently. Seeing this, Gu He nodded slightly, then placed his hand gently on Qing Lin''s forehead. Over the past year and a half, not only had Qing Lin''s cultivation improved significantly, but she had also grown taller. However, she still hadn''t gained much weight and looked as thin as ever. "System, transfer cultivation to my fourth disciple, Qing Lin!" As Gu He''s inner voice rang out, a tremendous amount of energy quickly flowed from his palm into Qing Lin''s body. Qing Lin''s aura surged as Gu He transferred his cultivation to her, eventually reaching the six-star Dou King level. Perhaps a year or two ago, Qing Lin''s cultivation was far behind the others. However, after her special physique was activated and she began practicing the Heaven-tier, "Heavenly Serpent Art," bestowed by Gu He, her cultivation progressed at an astonishing rate. Now, she had surpassed Han Xue, who had started cultivating from a young age. Perhaps it wouldn''t be long before she caught up to her other senior sisters. Although Gu He only received one year of cultivation in return for transferring energy to Qing Lin, it was better than nothing. After transferring cultivation to Qing Lin, Gu He removed the two-zhang-wide spatial seal. Once Gu He finished transferring cultivation to Qing Lin, Liu Ling also approached. "Here are six seventh-grade pills. Each of you gets three!" After Liu Ling arrived, Gu He directly took out six exquisite jade bottles. "Seventh-grade pills!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Qing Lin was extremely surprised. In the Jia Ma Empire, sixth-grade pills were already extremely rare, and seventh-grade pills were practically unheard of. However, when she remembered that her senior brother Liu Ling had already broken through to the seventh-grade alchemist level, she felt relieved. As for Liu Ling, he wasn''t shocked at all because he already had three seventh-grade pills on him. "Thank you, Master, for the reward!" Liu Ling and Qing Lin both thanked Gu He in unison before slowly accepting their respective jade bottles. As they took the jade bottles, since the number of items gifted at once exceeded the return limit, Gu He quickly selected the items for the system''s return. Immediately, three system notifications sounded in his mind. "Ding! Detected that the host has gifted one seventh-grade pill to the first disciple, Liu Ling. Congratulations to the host for receiving a ten-thousand-fold return: one ninth-grade treasure pill!" "The ninth-grade treasure pill has been sent to the system space. Please check, host!" "Ding! Congratulations to the host for gifting one seventh-grade pill to the fourth disciple, Qing Lin. Congratulations to the host for receiving a ten-thousand-fold return: one ninth-grade treasure pill!" "The ninth-grade treasure pill has been sent to the system space. Please check, host!" "Ding! Detected that the host has gifted one seventh-grade pill to the fourth disciple, Qing Lin. Congratulations to the host for receiving a ten-thousand-fold return: ten thousand seventh-grade pills!" "Ten thousand seventh-grade pills have been sent to the system space. Please check, host!" With the acquisition of two more ninth-grade treasure pills and ten thousand seventh-grade pills, Gu He''s mood was greatly uplifted. Although the returned seventh-grade pills were no longer of much use to Gu He himself, he could still distribute them as rewards to the disciples of the Yunlan Sect. Prior to this, Gu He had already deposited a large number of fourth-grade, fifth-grade, and even sixth-grade pills into the sect''s treasure vault. These pills were distributed as regular cultivation resources to every disciple and elder, of course, with the amount one could receive being based on their cultivation level. The higher the cultivation level of the disciple or elder, the more pills they could receive within a set period. After these pills were distributed, within a year or two, the strength of the Yunlan Sect''s disciples and elders had undergone significant changes. Firstly, several elders who had previously been at the Dou King level had, thanks to these high-grade sixth-grade pills (considered premium in the Jia Ma Empire), broken through to the Dou Emperor level. The total number of Dou King elders had surpassed one hundred, and many young disciples had also greatly advanced in strength due to these resources. This level of strength was already considered formidable in the Jia Ma Empire and its neighboring countries. However, compared to the major powers of the Black-Corner Region, the number of Dou King and Dou Emperor experts in the Yunlan Sect still seemed quite ordinary. Naturally, Gu He wanted the Yunlan Sect to grow stronger as well, as this would bring much joy to Yun Yun. With this in mind, Gu He decided that upon his return, he would begin depositing some seventh-grade pills into the sect''s treasure vault. However, these seventh-grade pills would not be made known to everyone. Only those with clean backgrounds and long-standing service in the Yunlan Secttrue "veterans"would be eligible to exchange for these seventh-grade pills based on their cultivation progress or other merits. Moreover, they would be required to maintain confidentiality and not actively spread word of this matter. Having made his decision, and with Nalan Yanran, the sect leader, currently absent, Gu He entrusted Liu Ling with the task of executing this plan. "Liu Ling, take this spatial ring. It contains five hundred seventh-grade pills!" Gu He handed the spatial ring containing five hundred seventh-grade pills to Liu Ling and explained his thoughts on the matter. "Five hundred seventh-grade pills! Am I hearing this correctly?" After hearing Gu He''s words, Liu Ling couldn''t help but cover his mouth in shock. Previously, when Gu He had given him three seventh-grade pills, he hadn''t felt much. But now, five hundred seventh-grade pills were being placed in his hands. How could he not be astonished? (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 522: Developing the Yunlan Sect! Chapter 522: Developing the Yunlan Sect! Chapter 522: Developing the Yunlan Sect! Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Liu Ling assured Gu He, "Master, don''t worry. I will handle this matter flawlessly!" "Good! I''m glad you have such confidence!" Hearing Liu Ling''s assurance, Gu He nodded with a smile. ... Early the next morning, Liu Ling left the Nine-Colored Valley and headed straight to the sect''s main hall. Although Liu Ling was still young, his status in the Yunlan Sect was extremely high. After all, he was the senior brother of the sect leader, Nalan Yanran, and his alchemy skills were exceptional. What the outside world knew was that he had already broken through to the sixth-grade alchemist level, surpassing even Fa Ma, the president of the Imperial Capital Alchemist Guild. "Greetings, Senior Brother Liu Ling!" "Greetings, Senior Brother Liu Ling!" As soon as Liu Ling arrived at the main hall, the two disciples on duty at the entrance greeted him with great respect. "Hmm!" Hearing the greetings from the two disciples on duty, Liu Ling didn''t put on any airs and responded with a smile and a nod. Then, Liu Ling stepped directly into the main hall. Previously, when Nalan Yanran chose to go out to train with Xiao Yi Xian, she had instructed the Grand Elder, Yun Leng, to handle the various trivial matters of the Yunlan Sect in her absence. At this moment, as Liu Ling entered the hall, Yun Leng was discussing some matters with several other elders. Seeing Liu Ling suddenly walk in, they immediately stopped their discussion and greeted him with smiles, their eyes filled with admiration. "Junior Nephew Liu Ling, what brings you here today?" Yun Leng greeted him in a gentle tone. "Grand Elder, I''m here because I have good news!" Liu Ling responded with a smile, then walked straight up to Yun Leng. "Good news?" "Do tell!" Hearing Liu Ling''s words, Yun Leng''s mind raced with curiosity, filled with speculation. "Ahem! Ahem! Everyone here is a veteran of the Yunlan Sect, so I won''t beat around the bush!" After stopping beside Yun Leng, Liu Ling turned to face the people in the hall, cleared his throat, and said, "I''m here on behalf of my master to bring some items to replenish the sect''s treasure vault!" "Elder Gu He has sent you to bring treasures for the sect''s vault?" "What is it?" Hearing Liu Ling''s words, all the elders, including Yun Leng, couldn''t help but show joy on their faces. After all, Gu He had already replenished the sect''s vault twice before with many fourth to sixth-grade pills. Now, after two years, they were finally witnessing this moment again. "Although all of you are elders of the Yunlan Sect, I still need to remind you in advance. What happens today is a secret of the Yunlan Sect and must not be disclosed to the outside world for the next few years!" While saying this, Liu Ling still wore a smile, but everyone in the hall could sense a serious tone in his words. Shortly after Liu Ling finished speaking, Yun Leng stepped forward and said, "Junior Nephew Liu Ling, rest assured. Since this is a sect secret, we will never casually disclose it. Anyone who violates this will be dealt with according to sect rulesno mercy!" After Yun Leng''s declaration, the other elders in the hall also voiced their assurances. Seeing that everyone had made their stance clear, Liu Ling took out the spatial ring given to him by Gu He. "Elders, this time, my master has returned from his travels in the Central Plains with a batch of treasures. This ring contains five hundred seventh-grade pills, all of which will be deposited into the sect''s treasure vault!" Liu Ling raised the spatial ring and spoke slowly, "The value of five hundred seventh-grade pills should be clear to all of you." "Five hundred seventh-grade pills? This..." Hearing Liu Ling''s words, all the elders in the hall were stunned. They had initially thought that what Gu He had sent Liu Ling to bring would be similar to beforepills ranging from fourth to sixth grade. They never expected it to be five hundred seventh-grade pills. In the Jia Ma Empire, a single seventh-grade pill could be considered a priceless treasure, something that couldn''t be bought with money. Yet now, five hundred of them had appeared at once. Under the watchful eyes of the Yunlan Sect elders, Liu Ling directly took out all five hundred jade bottles from the spatial ring and arranged them densely on the floor in front of him. In the next moment, Liu Ling''s aura erupted, and the pressure of a five-star Dou Ancestor washed over everyone present. Then, Liu Ling quickly formed several hand seals, setting up a rudimentary spatial seal within the hall. "This... such a powerful aura!" "This aura... even the old sect leader, who had reached the Dou Ancestor level, probably didn''t possess such strength!" "Junior Nephew Liu Ling has already become this powerful?" "Previously, Junior Nephew Xiao Yi Xian had already reached the Dou Ancestor level, and Junior Nephew Liu Ling is her senior brother. It would be strange if his cultivation were lower than hers. I always found it odd, but it turns out Junior Nephew Liu Ling has been keeping his cultivation hidden all this time." "To reach the Dou Ancestor level at such a young age, and to be a sixth-grade alchemist as wellJunior Nephew Liu Ling''s future is limitless!" "With Junior Nephew Liu Ling here, our Yunlan Sect will undoubtedly become the most powerful sect in the entire Northwestern Continent within a few decades!" At this moment, the elders in the hall, upon learning of Liu Ling''s cultivation level, were all extremely excited, envisioning the glorious future of the Yunlan Sect. Liu Ling, however, did not let the elders'' words go to his head. Instead, he continued calmly, "Elders, please inspect these seventh-grade pills. Afterward, we will enter the sect''s treasure vault together, and I will deposit all these pills into it." As soon as Liu Ling finished speaking, seven or eight elders immediately stepped forward and randomly selected a jade bottle to open. Instantly, an incredibly rich medicinal fragrance wafted out from the bottles, accompanied by faint energy fluctuations. "They really are all seventh-grade pills!" After sampling a few bottles, even the elders who had initially harbored some doubts were now completely convinced. "Each elder present may take one of these pills. In the future, according to the newly established rules, they will be distributed based on time and merit. Additionally, these pills will be incorporated into the sect''s reward system. Disciples and elders who perform exceptionally well or make significant contributions to the sect will be rewarded accordingly..." After the elders had inspected the pills, Liu Ling added a few more instructions. Having said this, Liu Ling distributed one seventh-grade pill to each elder, then collected the remaining pills. Together with Yun Leng, he led the elders toward the Yunlan Sect''s treasure vault. (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 523: Liu Ling Goes Out! Chapter 523: Liu Ling Goes Out! Chapter 523: Liu Ling Goes Out! After saying this, Liu Ling directly distributed a seventh-tier medicinal pill to each person, then collected the pills again. Together with Yun Leng, he led the group of elders toward the treasure vault of the Yunlan Sect. The Yunlan Sect''s treasure vault was located in a secluded mountain cave, guarded outside by two elders with the strength of high-level Dou Wangs. After Yun Leng, Liu Ling, and the group of elders arrived, Liu Ling personally placed the remaining 400-plus seventh-tier medicinal pills into four different storerooms within the cave. Each jade vial was marked with a simple spatial imprint. Once this was done, Liu Ling taught Yun Leng and two other senior elders the seal-breaking technique to easily open the outer seals on every jade vial in the cabinets. "Great Elder, from now on, the treasures in these four storerooms will be managed jointly by the three of you. Every pill distributed must be recorded!" After completing these tasks, Liu Ling reiterated some matters. After all, these precious seventh-tier pills were meant to develop the strength of the Yunlan Sect''s members. It wouldnt do if they were embezzled by those with ill intentions. "Rest assured, Nephew!" Hearing Liu Ling''s words, Yun Leng nodded heavily in assurance. Yun Leng naturally understood the meaning behind Liu Ling''s words. The four storerooms still contained nearly 500 seventh-tier pills, and keeping distribution records was essential for proper accounting. As the Great Elder of the Yunlan Sect, and now entrusted by Nalan Yanran to handle the sect''s affairs, Yun Leng had long regarded the Yunlan Sect as his home. He could clearly see the potential displayed by Liu Ling, Nalan Yanran, and Xiao Yixian. Given time, these three would undoubtedly become top-tier powerhouses, and the Yunlan Sect''s strength would continue to rise. Naturally, he wouldnt entertain any crooked thoughts over these pills. "Then Ill take my leave now!" "Take care, Nephew!" After Yun Leng spoke, Liu Ling left the sect''s treasure vault without delay. ... Once out of the treasure vault, Liu Ling headed straight for the direction of Nine-Colored Valley. However, upon returning to Nine-Colored Valley, he found no trace of Gu He or Yun Yun. Even Xiao Yuchen was nowhere to be seen. "Qing Lin, do you know where Master and Mistress went?" Liu Ling asked Qing Lin directly. "Senior Brother, Master and Mistress left Nine-Colored Valley shortly after you did. They probably went to visit Grandmaster!" Qing Lin replied casually upon hearing Liu Ling''s question. Just as Qing Lin finished speaking, Gu He and Yun Yun returned to Nine-Colored Valley with Xiao Yuchen through spatial travel. As Qing Lin had mentioned, Gu He and Yun Yun had indeed taken Xiao Yuchen to visit Yun Shan. Thanks to Yun Yuns relationship, Gu He was extremely generous toward Yun Shan, gifting him several eighth-tier and seventh-tier medicinal pills. Yun Shan was overjoyed upon receiving these pills from Gu He and kept him engaged in lengthy conversation. In his heart, he held immense approval for this disciple-son-in-law. ... "Master, you''re back!" "Ive completed all the tasks you assigned me last night!" Liu Ling walked over and greeted Gu He cheerfully. "Mm." Hearing this, Gu He gave a slight nod. Noticing the look in Liu Lings eyes, he asked directly, "Liu Ling, is there something else?" "Master, there is indeed something else Id like to say!" Seeing Gu Hes inquiry, Liu Ling nodded. "Id like to go out for a while!" Hearing this, Gu He responded without hesitation, "Will it be far?" By this, Gu He meant that if Liu Lings destination was distant, he could use the Void Gate to send him there. "Not far, just within the Jia Ma Empire!" Liu Ling shook his head. "Alright then!" Gu He nodded slightly and then said, "Since it''s within the Jia Ma Empire, I wont escort you." "Master, Ill go prepare then!" Pleased with Gu Hes approval, Liu Ling was in high spirits. For this trip, Xiao Jin was still in seclusion, so Liu Ling chose not to bring him along and instead left the Yunlan Sect alone. With his current five-star Dou Zong cultivation, Liu Ling could now tread the void without relying on Dou Qi wings for flight. In the blink of an eye, he had already traveled beyond the boundaries of the Yunlan Sect. "Yue Mei, Ive finally obtained the Human Transformation Pill. Wait for me!" Standing in the sky, Liu Ling curled his lips into a faint smile as he gazed in a certain direction. The direction he was looking at was none other than the border of the Jia Ma Empirethe Tagor Desert. ... Meanwhile, Gu He, having returned to the Yunlan Sect, decided to enter seclusion again three days later. He approached Yun Yun and said directly, "Yun''er, your husband may need to go into seclusion for a while." Yun Yun, understanding the demands of cultivation, was not unreasonable. Moreover, Gu He had been by her and their daughters side all this time, neglecting his training for quite a while. "Husband, go ahead," Yun Yun agreed with a nod. Hearing her response, Gu He gently kissed her smooth, fair forehead and said softly, "I wont be gone for long. If anything happens, just crush the Void Jade Talisman, and my true self will return as quickly as possible through the Void Gate." "Mmm." As Gu He kissed her forehead, Yun Yun noticed Xiao Yuchen watching them curiously from the side, causing her cheeks to flush with embarrassment. She responded in a low voice before lightly pushing Gu He away. "Husband, you should go now." Seeing this, Gu He chuckled awkwardly, then swiftly formed a series of profound hand seals. As the seals took effect, a violet circle lit up on the ground before them, filled with swirling purple runes. This Void Gate was the first one Gu He had set up after returning to the Jia Ma Empire. The nearest Void Gate beyond this one was over five thousand miles away, located in a quiet mountain range in the northwestern continent, surrounded only by a few small nations. And that was precisely where Gu He intended to go this time. Soon, Gu He stepped into the violet circle and activated the Great Void Teleportation Art. Under the watchful eyes of Yun Yun and Xiao Yuchen, the violet circle suddenly flared with intense purple light, completely obscuring Gu Hes figure. Then, just as quickly, the light dissipatedalong with Gu He, who had already vanished from Nine-Colored Valley. ... Five thousand miles away from the Yunlan Sect, in a small valley nestled within a mountain range, a violet light suddenly flashed. A figure in white robes appeared in the valleynone other than Gu He, who had just departed from Nine-Colored Valley. Thanks to the Void Gate, he had traversed the vast distance in an instant. (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 524: Gu He Begins Seclusion Chapter 524: Gu He Begins Seclusion Chapter 524: Gu He Begins Seclusion This time, Gu He planned to use the 123 years of cultivation returned by Zi Yan along with the combined 22+ years from Liu Ling and Qing Lin to attempt breaking through to advanced Half-Saint level and make his bid for the true Dou Saint realm. After arriving in the valley, Gu He first located a large flat bluestone to serve as his meditation platform. Sitting cross-legged, he immediately began absorbing the modest amount of cultivation energy returned by Qing Lin. This relatively small amount only required about half a day to fully absorb and integrate. Without wasting any time, Gu He then turned to the more substantial 22 years of cultivation returned by Liu Ling. Thanks to his current state - where his Dou Qi had already undergone nine cycles of compression and refinement - absorbing this quantity of energy posed no difficulty. The process flowed smoothly, and after approximately seven days, he had completely refined and assimilated all 22 years worth of cultivation. Now Gu He''s power had reached the absolute peak of advanced Half-Saint level. He stood at the threshold, needing just one final push to cross over into the one-star Dou Saint realm. "System, extract the 123 years of cultivation returned by Zi Yan!" With this mental command, a tremendous surge of purple energy erupted from his system space and flooded into his body. The impact caused a dull internal explosion as the vast power began circulating through his meridians. This energy proved far more violent than the previous batches, raging through his body like a tempest. However, after continuous tempering by his Lifebound Divine Flame, Gu He''s physical form - from bones to meridians - had reached incredible resilience. Even this torrential energy couldn''t threaten him. Gu He immediately summoned his Lifebound Divine Flame, using it to carefully parcel out and refine the wild energy into manageable portions. While his refining speed was impressive, the sheer volume - equivalent to 123 years of cultivation at his current level - meant the process would require about a month to complete. Northwestern Border of Jia Ma Empire - Stone Desert City After several days of steady travel, Liu Ling finally arrived at the outskirts of the vast Tagor Desert. In this remote border region, the Big Brother Mercenary Group now dominated, with influence extending across more than a dozen cities and throughout the nearby Magical Beast Mountain Range. Despite the organization''s rapid expansion and growing power, its headquarters remained in this modest desert-border town. Liu Ling didn''t pause here though - he passed directly over the city, continuing his journey deeper into the desert wastes. The desert sky stretched clear and endless, dominated by a blazing sun that scorched the golden sands below. The heat was so intense it made the very air shimmer and distort above the dunes. Travelers in Tagor Desert faced two primary dangers: the magical beasts lurking beneath the sands, and the native snake-people who called this harsh environment home. Since the snake-people''s large-scale invasion of human cities two years ago, the residents of the Jia Ma Empire''s borderlands had witnessed their formidable power firsthand. Though the snake tribes had withdrawn for unknown reasons afterward, no one dared underestimate them. Moreover, the Big Brother Mercenary Groupthe largest mercenary organization in the border regionhad established a strict rule prohibiting its members from entering the desert to hunt or traffic female snake-people. As a result, humans hadn''t ventured deep into the desert for quite some time. Yet now, under the scorching sun, a tall figure in blue robes walked calmly across the sky at an impossible altitude. This was Liu Ling, who had entered the desert in search of Yue Mei. With his cultivation level, Liu Ling could easily avoid detection by ordinary snake-people. Holding a map marked with eight red dots representing the eight major snake tribes, Liu Ling''s finger paused on one near the edge. "This should be Yue Mei''s tribe," he murmured. Confirming his direction, Liu Ling set off toward the marked location. Though flying high above, his powerful spiritual senses allowed him to monitor the desert below. After half an hour of travel, his senses detected numerous lifeforms ahead. Slowing his pace, he soon spotted ancient, towering walls in the distance. On the battlements stood over a dozen stern-faced snake-women, their sharp eyes scanning the sands. Their sun-darkened skin, striking features, and distinctive diamond-shaped pupils gave them an exotic allure. Most captivating were their sinuous waistsso mesmerizing that human men watching their dances often found themselves embarrassingly aroused. But Liu Ling had no interest in such distractions. Concealing his presence with spiritual energy, he flew silently over the walls. In his memories, Yue Mei had been the leader of this tribe, a high-level Dou King. Yet after searching extensively, Liu Ling couldn''t detect any Dou King-level auras within the settlement. Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 525: Delving into the Serpent Tribe! Chapter 525: Delving into the Serpent Tribe! In Liu Ling''s memory, Yue Mei was the chieftain of the Serpent Tribe, with her cultivation having reached the level of a high-ranking Warlord. However, after searching the Serpent Tribe for a long time, Liu Ling was unable to sense the presence of a Warlord''s aura. "If she''s not in the Serpent Tribe, where could she have gone?" Unable to find Yue Mei, Liu Ling, hovering in the sky, couldn''t help but furrow his brows. In the next moment, Liu Ling completely concealed his aura. His altitude kept dropping, and soon he arrived at the area enclosed by the towering city walls below. Since he couldn''t sense the aura of a Warlord, Liu Ling decided to go down personally and find a couple of Serpent Tribe members to inquire about the situation! ... As he continued to descend, Liu Ling noticed that the number of guards in the Serpent Tribe seemed extremely sparse. Moreover, aside from the serpentine beings near the city walls, the overall strength of the serpentine beings within the Serpent Tribe was particularly low, with most being the elderly, weak, women, and children. Liu Ling''s arrival still went unnoticed by any serpentine beings. "Roar!" Just as Liu Ling was about to enter a tent to find a serpentine being to learn more about the situation, a strange howl, resembling that of a wolf or a fox, suddenly echoed from the sky. Hearing the howl, Liu Ling''s eyes showed a hint of surprise as he glanced around and noticed a peculiar, pitch-black large bird circling several hundred meters to his left. Apparently, it was some kind of aerial alert set up by the serpentine beings. "Alert! Alert! Intruder in the sky, ready your javelins, apply poison, and prepare to launch!" With the alarm cry from the strange bird, a cold and commanding shout immediately rang out from the city walls of the tribe. Hearing this order, the initially somewhat panicked serpentine guard troops suddenly became quiet. They quickly coated their javelins, which were worn at their waists, with venom and then glared menacingly at Liu Ling, who was standing in mid-air. "I didn''t expect to be discovered by a bird!" Liu Ling let out a helpless chuckle, and then his figure flashed directly towards the female serpentine being who had just issued the command. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! How incredibly fast Liu Ling was! The dozens of javelins coated with venom couldn''t catch his figure at all and all landed in the patch of sky where he had previously been. By the time the poisoned javelins fell, Liu Ling had already stood on the city wall, three meters in front of the serpentine captain. "Y-you are a human Warlord?" Seeing Liu Ling flash beside her in an instant, the serpentine woman''s eyes immediately showed a hint of fear. Although Liu Ling had reined in his momentum and not let it emanate, his ability to steadily hover in mid-air without relying on any external force, as well as his nearly terrifying speed, had already revealed his strength. At this moment, after the serpentine woman''s exclamation, more than ten surrounding serpentine beings shouted and charged at Liu Ling with their javelins. "Back off, you are no match for him. Don''t come to your deaths!" Seeing a large number of serpentine beings surrounding, the serpentine woman in front of Liu Ling shouted loudly. After saying this, the serpentine woman carefully examined Liu Ling, and suddenly, a strange gleam flashed in her eyes as she exclaimed again: "I recognize you, you are the leader of the Elder Brother Mercenary Group from Stone Desert City!" This serpentine woman, named Yue Shu, had a cultivation level of an eight-star Great War Master. During the great battle two years ago, she had followed Yue Mei to the foot of Stone Desert City and had seen Liu Ling several times. So at this moment, after confirming repeatedly, she directly revealed Liu Ling''s identity. "It seems I''m just too handsome, and so many people remember me!" Hearing Yue Shu''s words, Liu Ling deliberately replied in a frivolous manner. In response to Liu Ling''s frivolous remark, Yue Shu did not react otherwise. Instead, she furrowed her brows and asked cautiously, "What brings you to our Serpent Tribe this time?" After guessing Liu Ling''s current cultivation, Yue Shu felt a great deal of fear towards him. The appearance of a Warlord from another tribe in the heart of their Serpent Tribe was an extremely dangerous matter. Upon hearing Yue Shu''s question, Liu Ling spoke frankly, "I''ve come to find your chieftain, Yue Mei!" "Looking for Lady Yue Mei?" Hearing Liu Ling''s response, Yue Shu''s brows furrowed even more. "Looking for Lady Yue Mei!" Some of the surrounding Serpent guards, having overheard Liu Ling''s answer, began to discuss among themselves. "Do you know where Yue Mei is now?... Rest assured, I mean no harm. I''ve come to bring her a Shapeshifting Pill!" Seeing the reactions of the serpentine beings, Liu Ling explained calmly. "Shapeshifting Pill!" Upon hearing Liu Ling''s words, Yue Shu''s face showed a look of great astonishment. The Shapeshifting Pill was a kind of elixir that was nothing short of divine to the serpentine beings. With it, they could shed their serpentine forms and possess both the robust physiques of serpentine beings and the cultivation talents of humans. Suppressing her excitement, Yue Shu suspiciously asked again in a loud voice, "Why should I believe you?" Hearing the attitude of the serpentine beings, Liu Ling was no longer in the mood to explain. He directly unleashed the full might of a Warlord and whispered, "Do you really have a choice?... As long as you tell me where Yue Mei is, I won''t make things difficult for you!" As Liu Ling unleashed the full might of a Warlord, the surrounding Serpent guards, including Yue Shu in front of him, all felt an immense pressure. Under this immense pressure, Yue Shu looked troubled and said with difficulty, "Mr. Liu, these are secrets of our Serpent Tribe. We can''t tell you!" "Secrets?" "Could it be that the Serpent Tribe is planning to wage war again?" Liu Ling speculated. "How could he know that?" Hearing Liu Ling''s words, Yue Shu''s face immediately became flustered. "Judging by your reaction, even if you don''t speak, I know I''m right!" Liu Ling said confidently. "You''ve misunderstood. This time, our Serpent Tribe is not planning to wage war against the Jia Ma Empire. Instead, we intend to expand into the Demon Beast Mountains and the surrounding desert nations!" Yue Shu quickly explained. "Not waging war against the Jia Ma Empire, that''s good!" Liu Ling muttered after a moment of thought. "So your chieftain and the others in the tribe have been sent out to fight, right?" Liu Ling continued to ask. "Um!" Hearing Liu Ling''s question, Yue Shu fell silent immediately. "Alright, you don''t need to say anything more. I''ll leave here right now!" Seeing this, Liu Ling knew that even if he continued to ask, the serpentine beings wouldn''t tell him anything. He didn''t want to press them further, so he simply stopped questioning. (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 {I am sorry for irregular updates for this fic. i was busy preparing for next month as one of the fic is ending, so i was preparing stock for next fic. regular updates will start from 26/04/2025} Chapter 526: The Movements of the Snake People! Chapter 526: The Movements of the Snake People! This time, when Liu Ling left Yunlan Sect, it was completely different from the previous times. His extremely high cultivation level greatly boosted his confidence. With his current strength as a Five-Star Dou Ancestor, coupled with the cultivation of the high-grade Tianjie skill, Shenhuo Jue, and the refining of his innate divine fire, even if he encountered some high-ranking Dou Ancestors, he was confident that he could retreat safely. Moreover, Liu Ling was now well aware of just how powerful his master, Gu He, truly was. Even if he were to be overmatched, he still had his master to fall back on. At this moment, after leaving the Meisha Tribe, Liu Ling headed straight towards the deeper parts of the desert. ... "Phew!" Sensing that Liu Ling had already left, the Snake Woman Yue Shu couldn''t help but let out a sigh of relief. The immense pressure she had felt while facing such a terrifying Dou Ancestor-level cultivator like Liu Ling had been overwhelming. "Lady Yue Shu, was that human really already at the Dou Ancestor level?" a Snake person asked Yue Shu doubtfully. "He looks so young. It seems unlikely that someone so young could become a Dou Ancestor-level strong cultivator, right?" "I''m puzzled too. Although his strength was already formidable two years ago, it should not have reached the Dou King level yet... However, the power he just displayed and the aura he exuded were even more terrifying than that of the Great Elder!" Yue Shu replied to the other snake people with a grave expression. Although she expressed her doubts about Liu Ling''s cultivation level, she did not harbor much skepticism in her heart. Liu Ling was nothing short of a legendary figure at the edge of the desert. Some people had compared his cultivation level when he first entered the Stone Desert City, and his talent for cultivation could be described as extremely terrifying. Moreover, with the recent news of Yunlan Sect''s skyrocketing reputation in the Jia Ma Empire and the event of having three Dou Ancestors in one sect, Yue Shu''s horizons had been broadened significantly. After pondering for a while on the spot, Yue Shu ordered loudly, "Send someone immediately to deliver the news of this person''s intrusion into the depths of the desert to Lady Yue Mei, and also send someone to the temple!" The current reputation of the Jia Ma Empire had almost reached its peak in hundreds of years, and the Snake People had long been aware of the news of the three Dou Ancestors in one sect. Therefore, the Snake People had to be extremely attentive to anyone coming from the Jia Ma Empire. "As you command!" Upon hearing Yue Shu''s order, the surrounding snake people respectfully replied. ... The internal communication within the Snake People''s tribe relied on some flying birds, which were quite fast in delivering messages. However, compared to Liu Ling''s Dou Ancestor-level cultivation, the speed of those messenger birds was far from comparable. Liu Ling, deep in the desert, had no idea what had happened in the Meisha Tribe. After another two days of traveling in the desert, a huge city finally began to appear faintly at the end of the horizon. As Liu Ling approached the city, he noticed that among the uniform expanse of yellow sand surrounding the city, which could be described as magnificent, there were now many large stones. Beyond these scattered rocks lay the temple city of the Snake People. During these two days, Liu Ling was not solely focused on traveling. Along the way, he had almost managed to find out the reason why the leaders and elite troops of the various Snake People tribes had left their tribes. It turned out that the leaders of these Snake People tribes had all received a summons from Queen Medusa. The tribal armies had only marched to a place five hundred miles away from the temple, with only eight leaders entering the temple. At this moment, Liu Ling stood high in the sky, gazing into the distance at the huge city standing in the desert. The massive city in front of him had its city gates tightly closed. On the city walls, fully armed Snake People guards patrolled back and forth. Above the city walls, more than ten pitch-black large birds circled around, their sharp eyes constantly scanning the area outside the city. The slightest movement would cause these creatures to sound the alarm. The Medusa Queen''s temple has a defensive force that far surpasses that of the other snake tribes. Among the snake guards, there are occasionally some snake people with rather strange attire. These snake people, with their indifferent expressions, stand like pillars on the city walls. No other snake dares to step within several zhang of these strange snake people, clearly showing a great deal of fear and respect for them. "These guys must be Medusa''s personal guard. They are indeed elite!" Liu Ling''s gaze swept over the strange snake people, and he muttered to himself. Though these guards are strong, they are nothing to Liu Ling at his current level. Having arrived at the temple, Liu Ling briefly pondered, then extended his soul power to envelop himself, trying to conceal some of his aura, before continuing to move forward. ... At this moment, inside a large hall within the Medusa Queen''s temple, the leaders of the eight major snake tribes have all gathered. At the very end of the hall, on a purple crystal throne, sits a graceful red figure. The woman on the purple throne is dressed in a luxurious red brocade robe. Beneath the robe, her voluptuous and shapely figure, like a ripe peach, exudes a subtle charm. Her long, dark hair casually cascades down from her fragrant shoulders, reaching her slender waist. Beneath the red brocade robe, her smooth, plump, and enticing thighs are casually crossed, stirring endless fantasies in the onlookers'' minds. At present, the seven male snake tribe leaders who have entered the hall do not dare to look directly at this alluring red figure, for fear of offending the noble woman on the throne. Even the female snake tribe leader, Yue Mei, dares not be too casual with her gaze. "Leaders, if the negotiations with the Jia Ma Empire fail this time, we will begin to prepare for an attack on the countries on the other side of the desert!" Medusa Queen''s clear and cold voice, filled with immense authority, resounds throughout the hall. The leaders in the hall all have grave expressions regarding Medusa Queen''s decision. The content of Medusa Queen''s negotiations with the Jia Ma Empire is to request passage next to the Jia Ma Empire''s fortress, which is located at the border of the desert and the Demon Beast Mountain Range, in order to migrate the Snake People to the depths of the Demon Beast Mountain Range for habitation. However, the probability of the Jia Ma Empire agreeing to such a request is extremely low. The Demon Beast Mountain Range, where the Snake People plan to migrate, does not belong to the territory of the Jia Ma Empire. However, the Jia Ma Empire has almost no military deployment in that area. Instead, there are only some mercenaries and members of powerful families who enter that part of the Demon Beast Mountain Range to hunt for demon beasts. If the Snake People were to relocate there, conflicts with these mercenaries are highly likely. Moreover, the Jia Ma Empire would constantly have to guard against the Snake People''s possible encroachment into the Jia Ma Empire''s territory. Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 527: Liu Ling: Yue Mei, Come with Me! Chapter 527: Liu Ling: Yue Mei, Come with Me! If the Serpent People were to relocate there, it would likely lead to conflicts with the mercenaries. Moreover, the Jia Ma Empire would constantly have to guard against the Serpent People extending their influence into the empire''s territory. Thus, it would be very difficult to get the Jia Ma Empire to agree to let the Serpent People pass through to migrate to the Demon Beast Mountains. Another option would be to go around to the other end of the desert and compete with other small nations for territory. This might not seem too difficult. However, the long journey and the unfamiliarity of the Serpent People with that desert region, coupled with the scarcity of survival resources along the way, would likely result in many casualties among the Serpent People. It would be a very perilous endeavor. If the Jia Ma Empire does not agree, then they would have to try to implement the second plan as much as possible. "Roar!" "Roar!" Not long after Queen Medusa finished speaking, the sounds of many strange birds were heard from outside. Upon hearing these noises, the expressions of Queen Medusa and the other leaders in the hall changed. "Could it be that humans have intruded?" Queen Medusa muttered to herself, then quickly flashed out of the hall. Soon, Queen Medusa and the eight Serpent People leaders arrived on the outer city wall. At that moment, several hundred meters above the city wall, a tall young man stood in the void, exuding the aura of a Dou Ancestor. Liu Ling lowered his altitude and arrived outside the temple. At first, his expression was quite relaxed, but when he sensed the powerful aura emanating from Queen Medusa as she emerged, he became a bit uneasy. "Why does Queen Medusa seem so much stronger than before?" Liu Ling wondered to himself. However, when he saw Yue Mei also flash out of the hall, a wave of joy surged in his heart. "It''s him, the apprentice of that mysterious strong man?" Queen Medusa was the first to emerge, and she immediately recognized Liu Ling''s identity when she saw him. "Five-star Dou Ancestor!" "How could he have advanced so quickly?" At the same time, Queen Medusa also detected Liu Ling''s cultivation level and was extremely shocked. Just two years ago, Liu Ling hadn''t even reached the level of Dou King. In just two years, he had leaped over two major realms, Dou King and Dou Emperor, which was truly inconceivable to Queen Medusa. At that moment, as Queen Medusa was about to question Liu Ling about his intrusion into the heartland of the Serpent People and his arrival at the temple, she was interrupted by Liu Ling''s voice. Just as Queen Medusa was about to question Liu Ling, "Yue Mei!" Liu Ling called out excitedly. "It''s Liu Ling!" Yue Mei, who had emerged from the temple, immediately showed a look of surprise upon hearing the familiar call, but it quickly faded. Because, the other leaders and Queen Medusa all turned their gazes onto Yue Mei due to Liu Ling''s shout. "Liu Ling, why did you come here? This is not a place for you!" Yue Mei quickly said to Liu Ling, then turned to Queen Medusa and pleaded, "Your Majesty, this person came here by mistake. Please don''t take it to heart!" Yue Mei''s behavior was clear to anyone with eyes; she had a special relationship with Liu Ling. "Yue Mei, you don''t need to speak just yet. Let him explain why he''s come here," Queen Medusa said, her jade hand lifting gracefully as she issued a voice that was both cold and authoritative. Liu Ling felt a bit nervous upon hearing Queen Medusa''s words. He had chosen to reveal himself, thinking that even if he was discovered, the Serpent People wouldn''t be able to do anything to him given his cultivation level. But now, things seemed off. Queen Medusa''s power had increased dramatically since their last encounter. If she decided to attack him, Liu Ling was likely no match for her. He might have to shatter the void jade talisman again and ask his master for help. However, as far as Liu Ling knew, Gu He had already agreed with another strong being not to attack the Serpent People anymore. They had a pact. Now, by entering the Serpent People''s territory and coming directly to their temple, Liu Ling was essentially breaking that agreement. "No matter what, Queen Medusa knows how formidable my master is. Even if she doesn''t think about herself, she should consider her people. What would happen if she harmed me?" After some thought, Liu Ling felt less anxious and stated his purpose directly. "Yue Mei, didn''t I promise you before that I would bring you a transformation pill? Here it is!" Liu Ling smiled as he spoke, then took out the transformation pill from his storage ring. "Transformation pill!" "I knew he would bring me a transformation pill!" Upon hearing Liu Ling''s words, Yue Mei''s eyes misted over with emotion. Not only was Yue Mei''s reaction strong, but the other Serpent leaders and countless Serpent soldiers around them also reacted intensely to the sight of the transformation pill in Liu Ling''s hand. The value of a single transformation pill was immeasurable to the Serpent People. Swallowing it meant a chance to transform into a human form, shedding their serpent tails and gaining both the robust physique and long lifespan of Serpent People, as well as a cultivation talent comparable to humans. Queen Medusa, who was only at the peak of Combat Emperor at the time, had ultimately chosen to borrow the Blue Lotus Core Fire from Gu He, enduring the trial by, and barely survived to successfully transform and break through to the Combat Ancestor realm. "Yue Mei, didn''t you say that when you could transform into a human form, you would agree to go live in the human world with me?" Liu Ling spoke softly, taking steps closer to Yue Mei. Queen Medusa remained silent on the side, so the other Serpent leaders didn''t make any moves to attack as Liu Ling approached. Soon, Liu Ling reached the massive city wall and stood close to Yue Mei, offering her the transformation pill. "Yue Mei, come with me!" Liu Ling said gently, his eyes bright with a warm smile. Seeing this, Yue Mei felt very happy. She slowly raised her hand to take the transformation pill from Liu Ling. Just as she was about to reach for it, a Serpent leader named Mobas suddenly spoke up: "Yue Mei, do you really want to leave with this human?" "Haven''t you forgotten the plight of our Serpent People? As the leader of the Meisa Clan, shouldn''t you stay and help at a time like this?" (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 528: The Migration of the Serpent People Chapter 528: The Migration of the Serpent People "Haven''t you forgotten the plight of our Serpent People? As the leader of the Meisa Clan, shouldn''t you stay and help at a time like this?" Mobas continued. "Yue Mei, no matter whether we can successfully negotiate with the Jia Ma Empire or not, your people will need you in the final migration!" The Serpent leader Yin Shi and several others also chimed in. Hearing these words, a flicker of hesitation crossed Yue Mei''s eyes, and her hand, which was about to grasp the transformation pill, slowly retracted. Throughout this process, Queen Medusa remained silent. She should have taken immediate action against Liu Ling, the human who had intruded into the vicinity of the temple. However, Queen Medusa''s memory of the past was particularly vivid, and the powerful figure standing behind Liu Ling filled her with great apprehension. If she were to harm Liu Ling, the entire Serpent People might be annihilated. Moreover, Queen Medusa did not wish to interfere in the personal relationship between Liu Ling and Yue Mei. Even though the Serpent People were currently in a critical period and Yue Mei''s presence would be of great help, Queen Medusa did not issue any orders for her to stay. Instead, she allowed Yue Mei to make her own choice. "Yue Mei, what''s wrong? What is the Serpent People negotiating with the Jia Ma Empire?" Seeing Yue Mei''s hand retract, Liu Ling quickly asked. "Liu Ling, our Serpent People want to leave this barren desert and migrate to the Demon Beast Mountains. We need to pass through the Jia Ma Empire''s fortress to do so. If the Jia Ma Empire does not agree, we will have no choice but to cross the vast desert to reach the other side of the Tagor Desert. Along the way, we will face many hardships, and my people need me for now!" Yue Mei explained to Liu Ling with an apologetic tone. "Pass through the Jia Ma Empire''s fortress to migrate to the Demon Beast Mountains?" Upon hearing Yue Mei''s words clearly, Liu Ling''s originally tense face instantly lit up with a smile. "Haha, Yue Mei, it''s just about borrowing a path to the Demon Beast Mountains, right? I agree!" Liu Ling responded nonchalantly with a smile. "You agree, but will the people of the Jia Ma Empire agree?" Yue Mei asked curiously, hearing Liu Ling''s laughter. At this moment, even Queen Medusa, who had been indifferent, couldn''t help but focus her attention on Liu Ling. Queen Medusa believed that Liu Ling had the capability to help. After all, a world-class strong man stood behind Liu Ling, and that strong man was the key factor troubling Queen Medusa. Without the interference of Liu Ling''s backer, it would have been much easier for the Serpent People to leave the desert and live in more fertile lands. However, the strong man behind Liu Ling was like a mountain pressing down on Queen Medusa, making her, even with her current cultivation at the peak of Dou Ancestor, not dare to act rashly. Now, seeing that Liu Ling intended to help the Serpent People, Queen Medusa felt a glimmer of hope. "Of course it counts. As long as I speak to the royal family, they will give me this face!" Liu Ling nodded confidently. "Really? If that''s the case, that''s wonderful!" Yue Mei was very excited after hearing Liu Ling''s words. At that moment, she couldn''t help but want to tightly embrace the confident young man in front of her. Seeing Yue Mei''s happiness, Liu Ling felt very happy as well. Immediately, he once again extended the transformation pill, pretending to look aggrieved and said, "Yue Mei, can you take the transformation pill now?" "Sure!" This time, without any hesitation, Yue Mei quickly took the transformation pill from Liu Ling''s hand. "Do you really intend to help our Serpent People?" After Yue Mei took the transformation pill, Queen Medusa, who had been silent, suddenly spoke to Liu Ling, seeking confirmation. "Of course, but..." Liu Ling paused for a moment as he spoke. "Go ahead, is there some condition? If you want Yue Mei to leave with you, as long as she is willing, I will not stop her. If there are any other conditions, you can name them. As long as they are within a certain scope, we will consider them," Queen Medusa said, frowning slightly. "Your Majesty, you are mistaken. I, Liu Ling, would never use Yue Mei as a bargaining chip under any circumstances. If she does not wish to leave with me, I will not force her. However, if she is willing to go with me, no one can stop us!" Liu Ling spoke with unwavering determination. Hearing Liu Ling''s words, tears welled up in Yue Mei''s eyes. No matter how hard she tried to suppress her emotions, the happiness in her eyes was unmistakable. "What I was about to say concerns the Serpent People''s migration to the Demon Beast Mountains!" "Although that area of the Demon Beast Mountains does not belong to the Jia Ma Empire, there are some people from the empire who live nearby. Most of them are mercenaries. Once they know the Serpent People have moved there, they should not go to that area again. I need Your Majesty to promise that the Serpent People will never take the initiative to cross the border and attack the ordinary humans living at the foot of the Demon Beast Mountains!" Liu Ling continued, adding a few more words. After listening to Liu Ling''s words, Queen Medusa remained silent for a second before responding with an extremely serious expression, "I, the Queen of the Serpent People, swear by my soul and the name of my position that if the Jia Ma Empire allows our people to pass through and migrate to the Demon Beast Mountains, the Serpent People will never take the initiative to harm the people of the Jia Ma Empire! If I break this oath, may my soul burst..." Queen Medusa''s oath was very precise. She only promised not to take the initiative against the people of the Jia Ma Empire, without saying that they would never harm them at all. If there were people from the Jia Ma Empire who harboredand harmed the Serpent People, the Serpent People''s retaliation would not be a violation of the oath. "I, Mobas, swear by my soul and the name of the Serpent Tribe Chief that if the Jia Ma Empire allows my people to migrate, we will never take the initiative to harm the people of the Jia Ma Empire..." "I, Yin Shi, swear by my soul and the name of the Serpent Tribe Chief..." At that moment, after Queen Medusa had sworn, the seven Serpent leaders around her also made solemn vows one after another. Seeing how straightforward the Serpent Queen and the other leaders were, Liu Ling also spoke very frankly, "Good! Since you have all made your vows, I will not let you down. I will go back to the Jia Ma capital and talk to the royal family about this matter. You should organize your people and prepare for the migration!" (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 529: Explanation! Chapter 529: Explanation! Seeing how straightforward the Queen and several leaders of the Snake-People Tribe were, Liu Ling also responded enthusiastically, Good! Since you have already made your vows, I will not let you down. Next, I will return to Jia Ma Imperial Capital to discuss this matter with the royal family. As for you, organize your forces and prepare for the migration. After saying this, Liu Ling looked at Yue Mei and gently said, Yue Mei, come with me. I want to witness the moment you transform into human form! Hearing Liu Lings words, Yue Mei was tempted, but her gaze hesitated as she looked toward Queen Medusa. Noticing Yue Meis gaze, Queen Medusa softly opened her red lips and said, Yue Mei, if you wish to go with him, then go. Whenever you miss your people, you can come back to see them. You will still be the leader of the Mei Snake Tribe! Thank you, Your Majesty! Yue Mei expressed her gratitude upon hearing Queen Medusas words. Lets go! Liu Ling extended his hand. Seeing this, Yue Mei also stretched out her delicate hand to tightly grasp Liu Lings. Soon after, Liu Ling and Yue Mei flew away from the city walls. About a hundred meters away, Liu Ling turned back and said, I will be back within a month. By then, the Jia Ma Empire will surely agree. Make your preparations early! ... Watching Liu Ling and Yue Mei disappear from view, Queen Medusas emotions were complex. She had not anticipated that the hope for the Snake-People Tribes migration would ultimately rest on Liu Ling. Queen Medusas idea of relocating to the Demon Beast Mountain Range was actually suggested by Gu He in the past. Back then, Gu He not only granted her the Heavenly Snake Art, a Heaven-ranked cultivation technique suitable for her, but also casually mentioned the idea of relocating the Snake-People Tribe. Queen Medusa happened to remember Gu Hes words and, after much consideration, decided to proceed with this plan. Spread the word. During this time, have our people prepare their gear for migration! Queen Medusa abruptly ordered the seven Snake-People Tribe leaders around her. As you command, Your Majesty! Understood! Upon hearing Queen Medusas orders, leaders like Mo Ba Si and Yin Shi immediately responded with respect. ... Meanwhile, Liu Ling, having taken Yue Mei away from the Snake-People Tribe''s sanctuary, temporarily arrived at the location where the Mei Snake Tribe''s forces were stationed, as per Yue Meis request. Looking at the distant sandy area filled with countless figures, Liu Ling held Yue Meis slender waist and quickly descended toward them. Look, its Lord Yue Mei! The sound of the wind as they descended immediately caught the attention of numerous Mei Snake Tribe members below, causing them to look up at the sky. Who is that man, and why is Lord Yue Mei so close to him? Observing Liu Ling holding Yue Meis waist in the air, the elite Mei Snake Tribe troops stationed there were puzzled. As Liu Ling approached, a female Snake-Person among them thought in surprise, That mans appearance seems similar to the human intruder described earlier. How did he end up with Lord Yue Mei? Before long, Liu Ling and Yue Mei landed on the sandy ground, standing amid the Snake-People. "Pay respects to Lord Yue Mei!" "Pay respects to Lord Yue Mei!" Due to the intimate interaction between Yue Mei and Liu Ling, the Snake-People did not show any hostility toward Liu Ling. Instead, they bowed respectfully to Yue Mei. Raising her hand, Yue Mei commanded, All of you, rise! Lord Yue Mei, is this the human man who was reported to have intruded into our Snake-People Tribe? A female Snake-Person, who was the strongest among the group with an eight-star Dou Spirit cultivation level, pointed at Liu Ling and asked. Yue Zhu, his name is Liu Ling. Yes, he is the man you mentioned, but he did not come to harm our Snake-People Tribe; rather, he came to help us! Yue Mei nodded and explained in response to the female Snake-Person''s question. To help us? As Yue Mei''s words fell, the Mei Snake Tribe members present remained puzzled. He has already promised Her Majesty the Queen that he will persuade the Jia Ma Empire to permit our Snake-People Tribe safe passage. When the time comes, we will be able to leave this barren desert and migrate to the fertile Demon Beast Mountain Range! Yue Mei continued, Her Majesty the Queen has already ordered everyone to prepare for the migration. So that''s the case! Yue Meis words were highly persuasive. Even though the Snake-People had their doubts earlier, they now set them aside completely, fully trusting Yue Mei. Having learned that Liu Ling was there to assist the Snake-People Tribe, the Mei Snake Tribe members'' gazes toward Liu Ling began to shift. Turning toward the female Snake-Person who had asked earlier, Yue Mei took a step forward and gravely said, Yue Zhu, I may not often be in the tribe in the future, so the matters of the Mei Snake Tribe will need to rely more on you for the time being! What! Lord Yue Mei, youre leaving the tribe? Hearing Yue Mei''s sudden announcement, the female Snake-Person named Yue Zhu was extremely surprised. At the same time, she felt immense pressure regarding Yue Meis arrangement. After all, with her Dou Spirit cultivation level, her abilities were limited. If Yue Mei were to be absent for an extended period, she feared she would struggle to handle many matters properly. Lord Yue Mei, if you leave, Im worried I wont have the ability to manage the tribe well! Yue Zhu said anxiously. Dont worry; no one is born with abilities fully developed! Seeing Yue Zhus reaction, Liu Ling interjected, I wont say anything overly encouraging, but I hope these three pills can give you some assistance. After saying this, Liu Ling directly retrieved three jade bottles from his storage ring and handed them to Yue Mei. Understanding Liu Lings intentions, Yue Mei accepted the bottles and approached Yue Zhu, passing the three jade bottles into her hands. These three pillstwo are Sheng Ling Pills and Dou King Pills, which help cultivators break through a star level during the Dou Spirit and Dou King stages, respectively. The last pill is intended to greatly assist in breaking through to the Dou King realm! Liu Ling explained in detail, having long seen through Yue Zhus true cultivation level. This! Hearing Liu Ling''s explanation of the three pills, Yue Zhu was overwhelmed with excitement. The potency of these pills was so immense that only fifth- or sixth-tier pills could achieve such effects. Master Liu Ling, Lord Yue Mei, these pills are far too valuableI cannot accept them! Realizing their worth, Yue Zhu hurriedly tried to return the jade bottles to Yue Mei. In response, Yue Mei gently pushed Yue Zhu''s hands back and smiled, Yue Zhu, keep them. Liu Ling is an alchemist; these pills are nothing significant to him! (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 530: Liu Ling’s Ambitious Aspirations! Chapter 530: Liu Ling''s Ambitious Aspirations! Under Yue Mei''s persuasion, the snake-woman Yue Zhu finally accepted Liu Ling''s gifts and agreed to take on the responsibility of managing the tribe during Yue Mei''s absence. At this moment, upon learning that Liu Ling was an alchemist capable of refining sixth-tier pills, the Mei Snake Tribe members regarded him with even greater respect. Yue Zhu, who had just received Liu Ling''s gifts, was even more astonished. Not only did she learn that Liu Ling was a sixth-tier alchemist, but also that he was a powerful cultivator at the Dou Ancestor level. Thus, she wholeheartedly blessed Yue Mei''s decision to follow Liu Ling. Moreover, given Liu Ling and Yue Mei''s relationship, Yue Zhu believed that Liu Ling would undoubtedly assist the Mei Snake Tribe and the Snake-People Tribe in the future. At this moment, Yue Zhu already regarded Liu Ling as a benefactor of the Mei Snake Tribe and even the entire Snake-People Tribe. Yue Zhu, stay here and await Her Majesty the Queen''s orders. Ill be leaving now! After giving final instructions to Yue Zhu and the other Snake-People, Yue Mei left with Liu Ling, heading toward the edge of the desert. ... When Liu Ling and Yue Mei arrived at a relatively large oasis near the desert''s edge, Liu Ling eagerly said to Yue Mei, Meier, take the Transformation Pill here. Ill guard you! Hearing Liu Ling''s words, Yue Mei gazed at him with a hint of charm, wrapped her slender arms around his neck, and softly said, Alright, Im looking forward to seeing your reaction when my snake tail disappears! Looking into Yue Mei''s tender eyes, Liu Ling flashed a bright smile and said, Whatever reaction you want from me, thats what youll get! With that, Liu Ling gently hooked his hand around Yue Mei''s back, pulling their bodies close together, their hearts racing. Even Yue Mei, who was usually composed, blushed slightly at Liu Ling''s actions. She placed a hand on his chest and shyly said, Alright, Liu Lang, Im going to take the Transformation Pill now! Hearing this, Liu Ling slowly released his hold. Yue Mei swayed her snake tail as she gracefully entered a clear lake ahead. She then swallowed the Transformation Pill that Liu Ling had given her earlier. As the Transformation Pill entered her body, a surge of immense energy instantly coursed through Yue Mei. Fortunately, while the energy was vast, it was also gentle. This energy rapidly flowed through Yue Mei''s body, gradually permeating her flesh, tendons, and bones, transforming her physique. A wave of heat surged through her, prompting Yue Mei to tear off her already minimal clothing and toss it aside. At this moment, the clear lake began to bubble with white steam due to the high temperature emanating from Yue Mei''s body. As the bubbles burst, white mist spread across the water''s surface, and Yue Mei''s entire body submerged beneath the lake. Seeing Yue Mei disappear beneath the water, Liu Ling''s eyes showed a hint of concern. He stepped onto the lake''s surface, using his soul power to carefully observe. Just as Liu Ling was about to dive into the water to search for Yue Mei, a snow-white figure of a woman suddenly emerged from the lake, appearing before him. The moonlight shimmered on the surface of the lake as droplets of water clung to the soft, porcelain-like skin of the woman. They slid down her delicate shoulders, tracing the curve of her slender waist before dripping into the water below, creating ripples that spread across the lake. Seeing Yue Mei''s figure emerge from the water, Liu Ling let out a breath of relief and halted his steps before he could enter. At that moment, Yue Mei casually ran her fingers through her long, wet hair before slowly turning around. As her body turned, her flawless, bare figure was fully exposed to Liu Lings gaze. His breath hitched, blood rushing through his veins at the sight. Her body, as if sculpted from the finest white jade, was nothing short of a masterpiece. Her ample curves stood proud in the cool night air, while the moonlight cast a glow upon her faceexuding an intoxicating mix of charm and allure. In her captivating eyes, a trace of misty seduction shimmered like ripples on water. Lost in the mesmerizing sight before him, Liu Ling muttered under his breath, "Meier, you really are a vixen." "Hehe!" Hearing his reaction, Yue Mei let out a sultry, bone-melting chuckle. What truly shocked Liu Ling, however, was what he saw beneath her waist. The thick, serpent-like tail that had once defined her was gone. Instead, the clear lake water revealed a pair of long, slender legssmooth, flawless, and dazzlingly white. "Meier, you did it! You''ve successfully taken human form!" Seeing this, Liu Lings face lit up with excitement. Without hesitation, he leaped into the water... After Yue Mei successfully transformed into a human, Liu Ling brought her to the Jia Ma Empire. Their first destination was Rock Desert City. When they arrived, Kashida, the acting leader of the Elder Brother Mercenary Group, along with several other mercenaries, were stunned at the sight of Yue Mei standing beside Liu Ling. These mercenaries had seen Yue Mei two years agoback when she was nothing more than a prisoner, kept under watch at the mercenary groups headquarters. Yet now, two years later, she had become their leaders wife. "Captain, does this mean youre staying for good this time?" Kashida asked expectantly. Though the Elder Brother Mercenary Group had grown rapidly in Liu Lings absence, Kashida always felt that something was missing without him. Liu Ling didnt hesitate. "Of course not. Do you think the Elder Brother Mercenary Group can stay confined to such a small place forever?" "Captain, you mean...?" Hearing Liu Lings response, Kashida wasnt disappointedinstead, he was thrilled. Because Liu Lings words meant only one thing: he was finally ready to personally expand the mercenary groups influence. Liu Lings gaze was firm as he spoke. "Kashida, Ive heard that in the distant Central Plains, theres a powerful organization known as the Pill Towera sacred place for alchemists across the continent. My goal is to one day create something similar for mercenariesa sanctuary for all mercenaries across the land! A complete, unified mercenary system!" "A sanctuary for all mercenaries..." Kashida was speechless for a long moment. He had never expected his captain to possess such grand ambitions. At the same time, he felt a sense of relief. His own strength might not be able to keep up with Liu Lings growth, but he knew one thingLiu Ling was someone who valued loyalty. And as Liu Lings most trusted subordinate, Kashida was certain of one thing: Liu Ling would never forget him. (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 531: Liu Ling Returns to Yunlan Sect with Yue Mei! Chapter 531: Liu Ling Returns to Yunlan Sect with Yue Mei! "Commander, your ambition is admirable. Cassida is in awe!" Cassida lowered his head respectfully, expressing his reverence to Liu Ling. Cassida, make sure everyone follows the rules I set earlier. Anyone who doesnt abide by them will not be allowed to join our mercenary group. What I want to build is an orderly mercenary guild... Liu Ling continued giving Cassida instructions. Dont worry, Commander. I understand your intention... I wont recruit mercenaries without principles! Cassida promised after hearing Liu Lings words. Good! For now, I need you to manage the group in my place, Liu Ling said straightforwardly without hiding anything. I need to return to the imperial capital and discuss with the Jia Ma royal family about allowing the Snake-People Tribe to migrate through their territory into the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Hearing this last part, Cassida became even more excited. Judging by Liu Lings casual tone, Cassida had no doubt that Liu Ling had the power to make it happen. Hes still so young, yet he already has the ability to make such significant decisions. In time, hell surely soar to great heights... Cassida thought to himself. After saying this, Liu Ling took Yue Mei and soared into the sky, leaving the headquarters of the First Brother Mercenary Group. Though the empires border was far from the capital, with Liu Lings current strength, even at a relaxed pace, he and Yue Mei arrived near the imperial capital by the tenth day. Liu Ling didnt head straight into the capital but instead took Yue Mei back to Yunlan Sect first. ... Liu Lang, are we really going to meet your Master, Madam, and junior sisters just like this? High in the sky, Yue Mei gazed at the towering mountain peak that pierced the clouds. She felt a little uneasy. On the journey, Liu Ling had explained his background to her, and only then did Yue Mei learn that he was the disciple of Gu He, the most renowned Alchemist King in the Jia Ma Empire. She also learned that Yunlan Sect didnt just have three Dou Ancestor-level experts. Including Liu Ling, there were now four Dou Ancestors. Noticing Yue Meis worry and other emotions, Liu Ling chuckled softly, gently holding her hand to reassure her. Meier, dont worry. My Master and Madam are both open-minded peoplethey wont interfere in our relationship. As for my junior sisters, you have even less to worry about. After all, they all have to call me Senior Brother. Mhm! Hearing Liu Lings comforting words, Yue Mei relaxed quite a bit. Soon, Liu Ling boldly flew with Yue Mei above the mountain gate of Yunlan Sect. Look, its Senior Brother Liu! The woman beside him must be his partner. Shes so beautiful! So Senior Nephew Liu has a companion now. If this news spreads, countless noble families in the Jia Ma Empire will be heartbroken! Not just the noble familiesthe royal family wanted him to marry into royalty and become a prince consort, didnt they? But he turned them down! Senior Nephew Liu rejected the chance to become a prince consort and chose her instead. I wonder who she is. Even though the woman looks a bit older than Senior Nephew Liu, she has the strength of a Dou King. In that case, shes definitely worthy of him! As Liu Ling and Yue Mei flew over the various buildings, the disciples and elders of Yunlan Sect who saw them began to whisper and discuss animatedly. Being held by Liu Ling as they flew over Yunlan Sect, Yue Mei was once again struck by the sects power. Along the way, she sensed the presence of at least thirty Dou King-level experts in Yunlan Sect. She even felt two or three Dou Emperor auras. The disciples of Yunlan Sect alone would be considered elites if placed in the outside world. Back in the Snake-People Tribe, aside from the Grand Elder and Queen Medusa, there were no visible Dou Emperor-level experts. Below them, only the eight tribe chiefs and the captain of Queen Medusas personal guard had reached the Dou King level. Had the Snake-People really gone to war with the Jia Ma Empire, and if Yunlan Sect had gotten involved, the tide of battle would have shifted instantly. The Snake-People Tribe would have been crushed with no room to resist. Very soon, Liu Ling brought Yue Mei to the small courtyard that had previously belonged to Gu He. Bringing Yue Mei here, Liu Ling spoke gently, Meier, wait here for a moment. Ill go see Master and Madam first. Mhm! Hearing Liu Lings words, Yue Mei nodded obediently. Nine-Colored Valley was one of the most secret places within Yunlan Sect. After giving it some thought, Liu Ling decided to have Yue Mei wait there while he returned to report to Gu He first. ... Inside Nine-Colored Valley, Liu Ling immediately went looking for Gu He upon returningonly to find that Gu He was not in the valley. Madam, do you know where Master went? Liu Ling respectfully asked Yun Yun when he found her. Your master went out. He might already be outside the Jia Ma Empire by now, Yun Yun said bluntly. Master isnt in the Jia Ma Empire anymore? Liu Lings face showed a hint of disappointment upon hearing her reply. Liu Ling, why were you looking for your master? Yun Yun asked with concern when she saw his troubled expression. Madam, its like this... Liu Ling didnt hide anything and told her about bringing Yue Mei back, as well as the matter of agreeing to help the Snake-People Tribe migrate into the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Hehe, your master had actually planned to arrange a marriage for you, but I didnt expect you to handle it yourself so quickly! Well done! Go ahead and bring her over so I can take a look, Yun Yun said with a pleased smile after hearing his explanation. She didnt seem to care about Yue Meis identity as a member of the Snake-People Tribe. Ah! Madam, youre really allowing me to bring her into Nine-Colored Valley? Liu Ling asked in surprise. You silly child. Since Yue Mei is the one youve chosen as your wife, then shes one of us. Why wouldnt it be allowed? Yun Yun replied with a smile. Also, the Snake-People Tribe agreeing to migrate into the Demon Beast Mountain Range is actually a very good move. Your master mentioned it once before as well, so I believe he would support it. Just go directly to the royal family and discuss it with them. With just a few short sentences, Yun Yun cleared away all of Liu Lings earlier worries. Thank you, Madam! Liu Ling gave a deep bow of gratitude, then quickly left Nine-Colored Valley, heading back to Gu Hes courtyard to bring Yue Mei over. Moments later, Liu Ling transformed into a streak of light and landed beside Yue Mei. Meier, Madam wants to meet you! Also, she already approved of me going to negotiate with the royal family! Liu Ling said joyfully as he arrived at her side. (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 532: Recognition! Entering the Palace for Negotiations! Chapter 532: Recognition! Entering the Palace for Negotiations! They agreed? Thats wonderful! Hearing Liu Lings words, joy lit up Yue Meis eyes and face as she threw herself excitedly into his arms. She hadnt expected that all the concerns shed had would be resolved so smoothly. Not only did Liu Lings elders accept her identity, they also directly approved of Liu Ling going to negotiate with the royal family regarding the Snake-People Tribes migration through the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Lets go! With Yue Mei in tow, Liu Ling quickly flew toward the rear mountain and Nine-Colored Valley. As they reached the depths of the rear mountain, Yue Mei soon sensed an aura only slightly weaker than Liu Lings. She immediately understoodthis was definitely another Dou Ancestor expert, though she couldnt quite tell whose aura it was. Before long, Liu Ling arrived above the invisible barrier of Nine-Colored Valley. But since he held the seal technique to enter, Liu Ling quickly opened a passage and brought Yue Mei inside. ... Inside Nine-Colored Valley, Liu Ling immediately saw Qing Lin and, beside her, the young Xiao Yuchen playing tag with Caier. Qing Lin, Xiao Yuchen, and Caier all paused when they noticed Liu Lings arrival. Qing Lin, what are you standing there for? Come on, come say hello to your sister-in-law! Liu Ling grinned and waved her over. Qing Lin was momentarily stunned, then broke into a bright smile and greeted Yue Mei happily, Hello, Sister-in-law! Im Qing Lin! Hello, Qing Lin! Yue Mei responded warmly and politely with a wave. From the moment Yue Mei decided to enter Yunlan Sect with Liu Ling, her formerly unruly nature had been reined in. While she still dressed alluringly, she now gave off a dignified and composed air. Yiya! Yiya! Caier, hearing the conversation among Liu Ling, Qing Lin, and Yue Mei, fluttered over to Qing Lins shoulder and chirped cheerfully to Yue Mei, Hello, Sister-in-law! Im Caier! Trailing behind Caier, Xiao Yuchen mimicked her adorably and called out in a childish voice, Hello, Sister-in-law! Im Gu Yuchen! Hearing the sweet voices of these two little oneswho looked as perfect as porcelain dollsYue Mei couldnt help but feel her heart bloom with happiness. Her first impression of Liu Lings home became a warm and favorable one. Caier, Yuchen, you two are so adorable! Yue Mei walked up beside Qing Lin and playfully teased the two little ones. After everyone got acquainted, Liu Ling took Yue Mei by the hand and led her to meet Yun Yun. The moment Yue Mei saw Yun Yun, she couldnt help but gasp in her hearthow could there be a woman this beautiful in the world? Moreover, from Yun Yun, Yue Mei could sense an indescribable auragraceful and noble, yet detached like a celestial being. Though she seemed calm and leisurely, there was also a wisdom and serenity in her that felt as if she overlooked all worldly things. Not only that, Yue Mei could also sense that Yun Yun was at least a Dou Ancestor. However, her aura was deeply restrained, and Yue Mei couldnt determine her exact level. Meier, this is Madam, Liu Ling said gently to remind her, before respectfully bowing and greeting, Greetings, Madam! Greetings, Madam! Yue Mei followed Liu Lings lead and greeted Yun Yun. Rise. Seeing their respectful bows, Yun Yun smiled and raised her hand slightly. Yue Mei, Liu Ling, since your master is currently not in the sect, Ill present some gifts on his behalf as your meeting gift, Yun Yun said. Though they had just met, Yun Yun immediately brought out two itemsa finely crafted sword and a pilland handed them to Yue Mei. Seeing what Yun Yun offered, a faint blush appeared on Yue Meis cheeks, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. Since Yun Yun was offering her a gift, it meant she had already acknowledged her. Thank you, Madam! Yue Mei, without hesitation or pretense, smiled sweetly and accepted the gifts with both hands. After meeting Yun Yun, Liu Ling took Yue Mei for a walk around parts of Nine-Colored Valley. With the earlier tension now gone, Yue Mei suddenly noticed just how dense the energy in the valley wasit was at least dozens of times more concentrated than the outside world. While marveling at this, she spotted a golden-haired little boy sitting cross-legged in meditation. Her expression froze slightly as she remembered the time when her cultivation was sealed by Xiao Jin and she was confined in Liu Lings courtyard. Her lips couldnt help but curl into a soft smile. Noticing her expression, Liu Ling knew exactly what she was thinking. With an embarrassed smile, he said, Meier, thats Xiao Jin. Hes been in seclusion latelyshould still be a while before he finishes. So his name is Xiao Jin? What a cute name! Yue Mei replied with a smile. That time, Xiao Jin had practically played matchmaker, indirectly bringing the two of them together. After spending some time in Nine-Colored Valley, perhaps due to the first-time exposure to such rich energyand combined with the lingering medicinal effect of the transformation pillYue Mei felt a loosening in her cultivation bottleneck. Sensing this, she immediately began cultivating within the valley. After just two days, her strength directly broke through to the late stage of Nine-Star Dou King. It likely wouldnt be long before she had the chance to attempt a breakthrough into the Dou Emperor realm. Two days later, Liu Ling decided not to delay any further. He planned to head directly to the royal palace to negotiate, and Yue Mei accompanied him. ... Jia Ma Empire, Imperial Capital, inside a grand and magnificent palace hall. Your Highness, I have important matters to report! The Empires Imperial Princess Yao Ye was reviewing some documents when a voice came from outside. Upon hearing the report, Princess Yao Ye called out, Speak! Lord Liu Ling of Yunlan Sect requests an audience with Your Highness to discuss important matters! the voice outside responded loudly. Liu Ling? Hearing the name, Yao Ye immediately set aside the documents she had been reading and stood up, walking swiftly toward the hall entrance. These days, Yunlan Sects standing in the Jia Ma Empire had completely overshadowed that of the royal family. Even though Yao Ye held the esteemed position of Imperial Princess and was already acting as regent, she wouldnt dare to take someone like Liu Ling lightlyhe was a major figure in Yunlan Sect. Hurry, let Mr. Liu Ling in at once! Yao Ye held Liu Ling in high regard. Back in the Alchemist Assembly, Liu Lings alchemy skills had already impressed everyonehe wasnt inferior to the President of the Alchemist Association. Now, two years had passed, and according to the word from Yunlan Sect, Liu Ling had already advanced to become a sixth-tier alchemist. (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 533 – Jia Xingtian Steps In! Chapter 533 C Jia Xingtian Steps In! Sir Liu Ling is currently waiting outside the palace. I will go fetch him at once! Upon hearing Princess Yao Yes command, the guards at the main hall entrance immediately responded. No, I shall go personally! Yao Ye shook her head, visibly excited, and said to the guard, You, go quickly and have a banquet prepared. Do not show the slightest discourtesy to Sir Liu Ling. Make sure its done according to the highest standard! After giving a few more instructions, Yao Ye hurriedly stepped down from the grand hall and quickly made her way toward the palace gates. From where she had beenat the upper hall of the inner palaceto the palaces main gates was several li away. Yet she covered the distance in under ten minutes. She didnt ride a carriage, nor did she mount a horse. She ran the entire way, clearly unwilling to make Liu Ling wait a moment longer. From afar, near the magnificent gates of the imperial palace, Yao Ye spotted a man and a woman standing side by side. Who is that woman standing with Sir Liu Ling? Curiosity flickered in her heart when she noticed the woman beside him. As Yao Ye drew nearer, over a hundred guards stationed at the gate immediately bowed their heads and offered formal greetings. ... Forgive me for keeping you waiting, Sir Liu Ling. I offer my sincerest apologies, Yao Ye said apologetically once she was about ten meters from him. Princess, youre too kind. The palace is vast, and for you to come personally so quickly already shows great respect toward me, Liu Ling replied calmly and courteously. Sir Liu Ling, may I ask who this young lady beside you is? Yao Ye stepped forward curiously. This is my partner, Yue Mei, Liu Ling replied frankly. Partner! Yao Yes heart skipped a beat, and her expression became momentarily complicated. She hadnt expected that Liu Ling already had a partner. Back when Gu He and Yun Yun were getting married, Jia Xingtian had mentioned wanting to arrange a marriage between her and Liu Ling, intending to bring Liu Ling into the royal family as a consort prince. However, Gu He had declined, stating that he intended to bring the princess into the Yunlan Sect instead, putting an end to Jia Xingtians plan. Yao Ye held no romantic feelings for Liu Ling. Her admiration was purely based on respect and a desire to build a strong relationship. Her heart was fully committed to stabilizing the royal familys foundation. Had Gu He agreed to the arrangement back then, Yao Ye believed she wouldnt have refused the marriage. After a moment, she suppressed her thoughts and spoke calmly, Miss Yue Mei, to be chosen as Sir Liu Lings partneryou are truly fortunate. Yue Mei smiled softly and nodded in response. Liu Ling, meanwhile, gently squeezed Yue Meis hand and said with a smile, You flatter us, Princess. The truth is, I am the lucky one. That gesture filled Yue Mei with a deep sense of warmth and security. Princess, the reason I came today is to discuss a matter with the royal family, Liu Ling said, ready to get to the point. Sir Liu Ling, I have already ordered a banquet to be prepared within the palace. Let us speak over wine and food, Yao Ye replied, making a graceful gesture. In that case, Princess, please lead the way. Liu Ling did not refuse. There was plenty of timeno need to rush. Soon, Liu Ling and Yue Mei followed Yao Ye into a grand hall. A full banquet of fine wine and delicacies had already been prepared, clearly demonstrating how much importance Yao Ye placed on Liu Ling. She had not shown even a hint of neglect. Along the way, Yue Mei could clearly feel the aura surrounding Liu Ling. Even a royal princesssomeone who ruled as regent of a nationtreated him with such respect. That only strengthened her confidence in the success of their upcoming discussion. "A Dou Ancestor has entered the palace!" In a secret chamber deep within the royal palace, an elderly figure sitting cross-legged suddenly opened his eyes. Without hesitation, he swiftly moved toward the hall where Yao Yes banquet was being held. When Jia Xingtian arrived at the entrance of the grand hall, he immediately sensed that the powerful aura from earlier belonged to none other than Liu LingGu He''s disciple. "Imperial Grandfather, youve left seclusion!" Seeing Jia Xingtian appear suddenly at the doorway, Yao Ye respectfully stepped down from her seat and gave a deep bow. The other members of the royal family quickly followed suit. As for Liu Ling, he simply cupped his hands with a smile and said, Elder Jia, youre here. Rise, all of you. Jia Xingtian forcibly suppressed the surprise in his heart and turned to Liu Ling. Liu Ling, what brings you to my palace today? Heh, Elder Jia, I was just about to explain this to Princess Yao Ye. Since youre here, I might as well say it now, Liu Ling said with a light laugh. To be honest, the purpose of my visit is to discuss with the royal family whether the Snake-People Tribe can be granted passage to migrate into the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Grant the Snake-People passage... to migrate into the Demon Beast Mountain Range? The moment those words left Liu Lings mouth, the expressions of Jia Xingtian and Yao Ye both grew serious. The implications were immense. Coming from Liu Ling, such a proposal was unexpectedand revealing. It meant Liu Ling had a close relationship with the Snake-People Tribe. But Liu Ling wasnt just anyone. He was Gu He''s prized disciple, the senior brother of Yunlan Sects current leader, Nalan Yanran. If someone like him was on close terms with the Snake-People Tribe... then perhaps even the Yunlan Sect was leaning toward supporting them. Noticing the change in their expressions, Liu Ling calmly spoke again. Elder Jia, Princess Yao Yedoes this proposal pose any difficulty for you? "Liu Ling," Princess Yao Ye said after a brief pause, Why is it you who has come to discuss this matter with the royal family on behalf of the Snake-People Tribe? Jia Xingtian remained silent, deep in thought. Because Meier is a member of the Snake-People Tribe, Liu Ling replied softly, his tone full of affection. I dont want to see them suffer any longer in that barren desert. Miss Yue Mei is from the Snake-People Tribe? Yao Ye exclaimed in surprise. In her understanding, Snake-People always had long, powerful serpentine tails. But Yue Mei had none. Liu Ling, if Im not mistaken, Jia Xingtian finally spoke, this companion of yours must have taken the legendary Tier-7 pillthe Shapeshifting Pillto assume a human form, yes? A thoughtful expression crossed his face. He had already noticed Yue Meis Dou Wang peak-level aura when they entered. Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 534 – Agreement Reached! Return Journey! Chapter 534 C Agreement Reached! Return Journey! Liu Ling, I suppose the young lady beside you must have taken the legendary Tier-7 Shapeshifting Pill to transform into a human form, correct? Jia Xingtians expression was contemplative. He had already noticed Yue Meis peak Dou Wang aura the moment she entered. Indeed. Elder Jia, as expected of someone with great insight. Meier did consume a Tier-7 Shapeshifting PillI requested it from my teacher, Liu Ling responded with a smile. Shapeshifting Pill... a Tier-7 medicinal pill? As Jia Xingtian and Liu Ling spoke, Yao Yes mind spun rapidly. Not long ago, Yunlan Sects Grand Elder Yun Leng had sent out widespread invitations for a banquet to celebrate Dan Sects Gu He advancing to a Tier-7 alchemist. Yao Ye and Jia Xingtian had attended that event. However, Gu He did not make a public appearance, with Yunlan Sect claiming he was in secluded cultivation, and no Tier-7 pills were shown during the event. As a result, many had doubted whether Gu He had truly reached Tier-7. But now, hearing the conversation between Jia Xingtian and Liu Ling, there was no doubt leftDan Sects Gu He had indeed broken through to become a Tier-7 alchemist. That changed everything. Gu Hes status and influence were now on a completely different level. With a single word, a Tier-7 alchemist could shake the entire Jia Ma Empire to its core. And the fact that Liu Ling could obtain such a pill from Gu He spoke volumes about how much his teacher valued him. What should I choose? Yao Ye was deeply conflicted. If she agreed to Liu Lings request, the Snake-People Tribelong at odds with the Jia Ma Empirewould gain a foothold in the Demon Beast Mountain Range, posing a constant threat to the empires borders and public safety. But if she refused, she would risk offending Liu Ling. If Liu Ling bore a grudge and swayed the Dan Sects support against them, it could spell disaster. The royal family might fall to nothing more than a single sentence from the Dan Sect. As she wrestled with indecision, Jia Xingtian suddenly spoke. Liu Ling, your teacher and I go way back. Since this is your request, of course Ill help! Surprisingly, Jia Xingtian did not voice a single objection. He agreed outright to Liu Lings proposal for the Snake-Peoples migrationand didnt ask for any conditions in return. So this is what I still need to learn from Grandfather... A sudden realization struck Yao Ye. Jia Xingtian showed no hesitation at all. Because once Liu Ling made the request, there was no way he would back down without results. If the royal family opposed him, they risked offending the entire Yunlan Sect. The losses from that would far outweigh anything the Snake-People Tribe could do from within the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Jia Xingtians straightforward acceptance silently strengthened the bond between the royal family and Liu Ling. He didnt bring up favors or debtsbut Liu Ling would undoubtedly remember this kindness. Grandfather, in that case, Ill issue the necessary orders as soon as possible, Yao Ye immediately declared her support. Liu Ling, satisfied with their attitude, rose from his seat and cupped his hands in gratitude. Many thanks to Elder Jia and Your Highness. Thank you both so much! Yue Mei also stood up joyfully, expressing her thanks with a bright smile. Its nothing. No need for such formality, Jia Xingtian chuckled, waving it off. Yao Ye lifted her wine cup, turned toward Liu Ling, and smiled. Sir Liu Ling, you rarely visit the palace. You must let us treat you properly this time. Lets have a toast! Very well, thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness. Thank you, Princess! Lets drink together! Liu Ling, Yue Mei, and Jia Xingtian each took the cups handed to them by the attendants and downed the wine in one go. That day, Liu Ling and Yue Mei remained at the palace banquet for four to five hours before departing. During the banquet, Liu Ling also shared with Jia Xingtian and Princess Yao Ye that Queen Medusa and several of the Snake-People Tribes leaders had personally sworn oaths. They had pledged that if the Snake-People ever violated the agreement or brought harm to the Jia Ma Empire, heLiu Lingwould personally hold them accountable. After learning this, both Yao Ye and Jia Xingtian felt much more at ease. Liu Lang, I never imagined you held such sway. One word from you, and the Jia Ma royal family actually agreed to everything! After leaving the palace, Yue Mei looked at Liu Ling with a hint of admiration in her eyes, gazing up at him like an adoring fan. The Snake-People Tribes migration out of the desert was a matter of survival for the entire race. Even Queen Medusa had felt pressure, unsure of success. But with Liu Lings involvement, everything had been handled so easilyhow could she not admire him? Seeing the starry-eyed look in Yue Meis eyes, Liu Ling grinned and said, Heh, Meier, this whole thing went so smoothly not because of mebut entirely thanks to my masters influence. My master is a member of the Dan Sect. A Tier-7 alchemist. If he so much as coughs, the Jia Ma Empire would shake. The royal family didnt really have a choicethey had to agree, Liu Ling said with great pride. Hearing this, Yue Mei wrapped her soft arms around his neck, leaned in close, and whispered sweetly, Still, its only because you went to speak with them that they agreed. No matter what, the Snake-People Tribe will remember your help. I dont care whether they remember me or not, Liu Ling replied seriously, his eyes fixed on hers. I just wanted to ease your worriesI dont want you to be unhappy. Liu Lang... youre so good to me. Warmth flooded Yue Meis heart. Overcome with emotion, she pressed her cheek gently against Liu Lings chest. The next morning, Liu Ling set off with Yue Mei, leaving Jiucai Valley and heading back toward the Tagore Desert to inform the Snake-People Tribe of the successful negotiations. Xiao Jin was still in seclusion and didnt accompany them. After about ten days of travel, Liu Ling and Yue Mei finally arrived at the Snake-People Tribes sacred templea few days earlier than the previously agreed-upon one-month timeframe. By now, under Queen Medusas orders, the tribe had nearly completed preparations for the migration. All that remained was the Queens final command. Queen Medusa, Ive completed the negotiations with the Jia Ma royal family, Liu Ling announced the moment he arrived at the temple, speaking to Queen Medusa and the gathered tribal leaders. You may now begin the migration. Once you reach the fortress, the garrison there should have already received orders from the imperial capitalthey wont clash with the Snake-People. Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 535: One-Star Dou Saint! Chapter 535: One-Star Dou Saint! Hearing Liu Lings words, Queen Medusa and the seven surrounding Serpent Tribe leaders were all extremely excited. The Serpent Tribe had endured this barren desert for so many years, and today, they finally had the opportunity to leave. Thank you, Commander Liu! Queen Medusa offered her heartfelt thanks. If they could successfully relocate to the Magical Beast Mountain Range this time, she would have the Serpent Tribe completely let go of past grievances with the Jia Ma Empire and strive for genuine peaceful coexistence in the future. After Queen Medusa spoke, the other seven Serpent Tribe leaders also gave slight bows to express their gratitude to Liu Ling. Its nothing! Faced with the thanks from the Serpent Tribes high-ranking members, Liu Ling casually waved his hand and said, Ive completed the task I promised, so I wont stay here any longer! With that, Liu Ling and Yue Mei left the temple directly. After leaving Queen Medusas temple, Liu Ling, along with Yue Mei, headed to the Charm Snake Tribe to help them with their relocation. Relocating an entire tribe was nothing like the previous march of the Serpent Tribe army, which had moved at a lightning-fast pace. This time, they had to move the elderly, the weak, women and children of the tribe, along with essential survival resources and other items crucial to the tribes survival. As a result, the process was much slower. The massive amount of supplies the tribe needed couldnt simply be stored in storage rings. First of all, those rings didnt hold that much, and secondly, storage rings were extremely luxurious items. In the human world, those from ordinary families rarely had the chance to even see one. Even cultivators at the Dou Fighter or even the Da Dou Shi level might not own one, let alone members of the Serpent Tribe, for whom they were even rarer. Therefore, the Serpent Tribe had to rely on the most primitive methods of transportation. Although the desert environment didnt allow for keeping beasts of burden like in the human world, where carts pulled by animals were common, the Serpent Tribes physical strength more than made up for it. Their method was to have the strongest adult serpentfolk tie themselves to ropes and pull simple carts with two wheels, loaded with supplies, to move forward. Some of the elderly, infirm, and young serpentfolk were even placed on the carts to prevent exhaustion from long periods of travel, which could lead to physical ailments. Among the main group, serpentfolk wielding weapons guarded the perimeter to respond to any potential threats. It was Liu Lings first time witnessing such a scene. Watching the Charm Snake Tribe prepare for relocation, his first thought was that staying in the desert really meant extreme water scarcity. Most of the goods loaded onto the cartsabout seventy to eighty percentwere water, as they were about to travel through the desert for an extended period. Under the blazing sun, serpentfolk would lose water rapidly, making water their most essential resource. Though the relocation process would be extremely arduous, Queen Medusa had likely already thought of ways to solve the various challenges. These werent issues Liu Ling needed to worry about. After storing enough water in his own storage ring, Liu Ling, together with Yue Mei, began escorting the relocation convoy toward the deserts edge and the direction of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. This full-scale migration of the Serpent Tribe progressed very slowly. Even after more than ten days, the vanguard of the tribe had only completed less than half the journey. It would take at least another half month before they could truly enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range. ... At the same time, over five thousand li from the Yunlan Sect, a massive vortex of heaven and earth energy was slowly forming above a small mountain valley. In less than a minute, the vortex expanded to tens of thousands of feet across. Even from dozens of li away, one could see this strange spectacle. Moreover, an extremely terrifying pressure began to continuously spread from within the valley. This mountain range did not belong to any one nation, but was divided among three or four different countries. At this moment, following the manifestation of this strange phenomenon in the heavens and earth, countless people within those three or four countries took notice of the situation. Many assumed that some rare treasure or ancient ruin had appeared. Hurry, go check it out! If it really is a ruin, our Che Chi family can seize the opportunity and strengthen our clans power! Then, within a thousand li radius, our Che Chi family will reign supreme! Is this truly the emergence of an ancient ruin? If so, then this terrifying pressurecould it be released by an ancient expert from within? With such an ancient expert present, these fools still dream of seizing treasures from the ruin? Laughable! Though most people were acting blindly in that moment, there were still a few who remained clear-headed. Upon sensing that overwhelming pressure, they had no intention of approaching the center of the mountain range. Because, at that moment, the magical beasts within the mountain range reacted in the most honest wayfleeing wildly in all directions. Not a single beast dared to approach the center. At the heart of the valley, Gu Hewho had entered seclusion over a month ago to cultivatesuddenly opened his eyes. At that moment, a muffled bang unexpectedly rang out from within his body. As that sound echoed out, a powerful energy wave burst forth. The massive green stone slab beneath Gu Hes seated form cracked open, and soon after, the entire valley trembled violently under the enormous force, with rocks cascading down. Any falling stone that came within ten feet of Gu He would suddenly shatter into dust without warning, drifting into the air. Just the natural wave of energy emitted from Gu Hes body was enough to destroy the entire valley. Ive finally broken through, Gu He murmured in a low voice, feeling the change in his strength after opening his eyes. At this moment, Gu Hes cultivation had surpassed the Half-Saint levelhe had become a true Dou Saint! Though the difference between Half-Saint and Dou Saint was only a single character, the gap between them was immense. While a Half-Saint could also claim the title of Dou Saint and indeed possessed strength far beyond the peak of a Dou Zun, in strict terms, they were merely false saints. Only by reaching the level of One-Star could one truly be called a Dou Saint! The so-called lower, middle, and upper stages of the Half-Saint realm might seem like minor distinctions, but crossing them was far from easy. For example, Bone You, the second hall master of the Hall of Souls who had been implanted with a puppet seed by Gu He some time ago, had spent at least several decades to reach the Half-Saint realm. Yet, before encountering Gu He, he had only just reached the high-level Half-Saint stage. If not for consuming a tier-nine pill provided by Gu He, Bone You would likely have needed another dozen years to break through to Dou Saint. This clearly demonstrated the vast difference between a One-Star Dou Saint and a high-level Half-Saint. (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 537 – Reviving the Heavenly Flame! Chapter 537 C Reviving the Heavenly Flame! On Gu Yous end, there was no need to travel to the Central Plains to seek out some powerful Dou Venerate. Now that he had broken through and become a one-star Dou Saint, his status in the Hall of Souls allowed him to kill any Dou Venerate within the organization under any pretense, and no one dared to question it. Soon after, Gu You summoned the four Hall of Souls Dou Venerates stationed at his branch and began questioning them about certain matters. Suddenly, one of them hesitated slightly in his response. Without a word, Gu You raised his palm and smashed it down upon the mans skull, instantly killing him. Witnessing this, the remaining three Dou Venerates didnt even dare to breathe too loudly. Out! After finishing off the man, Gu You barked at the rest. The three remaining Dou Venerates quickly departed in silence. Once they had left, Gu You collected the corpse of the slain Dou Venerate and tore open a spatial rift before swiftly leaving the Hall of Souls branch. Within just one day, the Hall of Souls Second Heaven Venerable Gu You, Fourth Heaven Venerable Blood River, and Ninth Heaven Venerable Demon Rain gathered all the medicinal ingredients Gu He had requested. The three met and handed everything to Gu Youthe strongest and fastest of themwho then set off toward the Northern Region of the Central Plains with the ingredients and the body of the Dou Venerate. ... Back in the Nine-Colored Valley, Gu He emerged from seclusion after seven days and used the Great Spatial Shift Technique to head toward the Northern Region of the Central Plains. His destination was the same mountainous region where Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and Han Xue had once undergone their training. Subordinate greets the master! As soon as Gu He arrived, Gu Youwho had been waiting in advanceimmediately bowed deeply with utmost respect. Rise, Gu He said casually, lifting a hand. Give me the items. Yes, Master! At Gu Hes command, Gu You quickly took out the corpse of the Dou Venerate and the ingredients required to refine the Bone-Merging Blood Pill from his storage ring. Very well. You may return. Gu He waved his hand after receiving the materials, signaling for Gu You to leave. Once Gu You departed, Gu He summoned the Dragon Soul Cauldron on the spot and began the pill refinement process. This time, he spent several days refining and ultimately succeeded in producing a Bone-Merging Blood Pill of five-colored pill lightning grade. Just like the last time, the moment the pill was completed, the powerful energy fluctuations drew countless cultivators rushing toward his location. Naturally, Gu He didnt linger. After storing the pill and cauldron, he immediately used the Great Spatial Shift Technique once more, returning to a spatial gate he had previously left behind in the northwest continent. Upon arriving, Gu He gently traced his finger across a white storage ring. Instantly, the seal on the ring was undone. The moment the seal was released, a powerful soul force surged out and quickly took the form of an old man in white robes standing before Gu He. Venerable Tianhuo, it mustve been stifling inside that ring for so long, Gu He said with a faint smile. Tianhuo Zunzhe waved his hand and chuckled. Stifling? Not at all. I once spent hundreds of years alone beneath a sea of lava. Compared to that, a year or two inside this ring was nothing. Just as he finished speaking, his eyes widened in shock. Gu brother, your cultivation...? Tianhuo Zunzhe asked in astonishment. He could sense an incredibly powerful aura from Gu Heone that was nearly on par with those two white-scaled lizardmen from deep beneath the magma. By sheer luck, Ive stepped into the Dou Saint realm, Gu He replied calmly. Dou Saint! Upon hearing Gu Hes words, Venerable Tianhuo immediately understood. His gaze toward Gu He now carried even more respect. I didnt expect Brother Gu to possess such an astonishing cultivation talent! Venerable Tianhuo sighed in admiration. Just luck, Gu He replied modestly before taking out the body of the Dou Venerate that Gu You had brought. This is... whose body? Seeing Gu He take out a corpse, Venerable Tianhuo looked puzzled. Its yours, Gu He said with a smile. My body... Brother Gu, you mean...? As realization dawned, the confusion on Venerable Tianhuos face instantly turned to wild joy. Catch! Without waiting for more questions, Gu He tossed him the beast-shaped Bone-Merging Blood Pill that he had refined earlier, radiating immense vitality. This... is this the legendary Bone-Merging Blood Pill? Venerable Tianhuo caught the beast-shaped pill and stared at it intently. Thats right. This is an eighth-tier Bone-Merging Blood Pill. It can breathe life into a dead body. Once you fuse with it, the body will regenerate into your former appearance, Gu He confirmed with a nod. Many thanks, Brother Gu! Venerable Tianhuo cupped his fists with gratitude, holding the pill carefully in both hands. Save your thanks for after the resurrection. Now, split off a strand of your soul, Gu He said, waving his hand. Without hesitation, Venerable Tianhuo separated a wisp of his soul, sending it drifting toward Gu He. Seeing it, Gu He immediately grabbed the soul strand and slapped it into the Dou Venerates body with a palm strike, forcefully inserting the soul within. Venerable Tianhuo, Ill now refine the body. Once its done, swallow the pill and enter it to begin the fusion. After reminding him, Gu He took out several auxiliary materials and infused them into the body to support the refining process. Then, Gu He summoned his natal divine flame. Wrapped in soul power, it surged out and engulfed the entire corpse. What kind of Heavenly Flame is this? Its power is far greater than the Fallen Heart Flame! Seeing Gu Hes divine flame, Venerable Tianhuos heart pounded. From it, he felt an aura several times more terrifying than any flame he had ever encountered. Venerable Tianhuo, focus. Dont let your mind wander, Gu He reminded him upon noticing his reaction. At his words, Venerable Tianhuo quickly suppressed his excitement and concentrated on observing the refinement. Gu Hes divine flame was incredibly potent. In just two hours, all the auxiliary materials were fully refined, their energy completely absorbed into the body of the Dou Venerate. Once the preparations were done, Gu He shouted, Now! Upon hearing the cue, Venerable Tianhuo immediately swallowed the Bone-Merging Blood Pill. His soul form turned into a streak of light and shot into the prepared body of the Dou Venerate. (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 538 – Protecting Qinglin! Chapter 538 C Protecting Qinglin! As soon as Gu He gave the word, Venerable Tianhuos soul swallowed the Bone-Merging Blood Pill. His ethereal form then transformed into a streak of light and shot into the body of the Dou Venerate. Boom! The very instant his soul entered the body, the corpse trembled violently. Its previously shut eyes snapped open, releasing a strange gleam of light. Venerable Tianhuo, prepare yourselfits going to hurt, Gu He reminded calmly. Then, fully focused, Gu He began to carefully temper the body using his soul-wrapped natal divine flame. Even though Gu He did his best to suppress the fires intensity, the terrifying heat still caused the bodys flesh to burn away rapidly. Ahhh! AHH!! Inside the body, Tianhuos soul had already bonded with it. The searing agony surged through his mind like a wave of fire. Seeing his pain, Gu He poured out more soul force and weakened the divine flame further. With the fires intensity reduced, the areas where flesh had been burned away began to regenerate rapidly, even covering the exposed bones with new muscle and sinew. This was the miraculous effect of the Bone-Merging Blood Pill he had taken earlier. It was said the pill could regenerate bone and revive the deadand it wasnt an exaggeration. For anyone below the Dou Saint realm, the pill''s effects were phenomenal. But once someone entered the Dou Saint stage, both their body and soul structure changed so drastically that even an eighth-tier pill couldnt produce the same results. As Gu He refined the body, its flesh continued to burn away and regrow repeatedly. After more than ten cycles of this, the regeneration finally began to outpace the fires destruction. Even the skin was gradually formed under the flames baking. By the end, the bodys appearance had completely shiftedfully transformed into Venerable Tianhuos form. With this step completed, Gu He withdrew the divine flame wrapped in soul force. All that was left now was to let Tianhuo''s soul complete the final fusion with the new body. Once successful, he would truly be reborn from the ashes. After a while, the body slowly opened its eyes. Venerable Tianhuo looked at his new form with wonder. The next moment, he stretched out his arm, trying various movements. Though still a little stiff due to the new fusion, he was visibly regaining control. He then took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the world with near greed, and sighed with emotion. To feel the sensations of the flesh again... its truly wonderful. Congratulations, Venerable Tianhuo. Welcome back to life, Gu He congratulated from the side. At his words, Tianhuos gaze lifted toward Gu He. Without hesitation, he clasped his fists and bowed deeply. Brother Gu, I owe this life to you. If theres anything you need in the future, just say the word! Gu He had a good sense of Tianhuos character. Helping him in such a way would certainly earn lasting gratitude. Seeing the sincerity, Gu He didnt bother with pleasantries. He spoke bluntly: Venerable Tianhuo, I didnt revive you for nothing. I need you to secretly protect one of my disciples. Shell be training outside soon. You must follow her from the shadows and only reveal yourself if shes in real danger. This will likely last for around three years. Is that acceptable? As soon as Gu He finished, Tianhuo responded without hesitation, Brother Gu, I will guard your disciple with my life. Not just for three yearseven ten or several decades is no issue! Very well, its settled. Now come with metheres somewhere we must go. As he spoke, Gu Hes hands moved rapidly, forming several mysterious seals. In response, a large violet magic circle, roughly three zhang wide, lit up beneath their feet. Chapter 539 C Guarding Qinglin! What is this? Hearing Gu Hes words and seeing the purple magic circle light up beneath his feet, Venerable Tianhuo felt a wave of confusion rise in his heart. Before he could ask further, the magic circle suddenly flared with dazzling light. In the next instant, both Gu He and Tianhuo vanished from the spot. When the two reappeared, they were already standing within the Nine-Colored Valley. This place is... The moment he arrived, Venerable Tianhuo could immediately sense that the ambient energy within the Nine-Colored Valley was dozens of times denser than outside. However, at his current level, such an increase had minimal impact on his cultivation. What truly astonished him was the technique Gu He had just usedthe Great Spatial Shift Technique. It had taken less than a second to arrive at an entirely unfamiliar location. Tianhuo had never even heard of such an extraordinary method. If he knew that, in just that brief moment, they had crossed tens of thousands of kilometers, he wouldve been shocked speechless. Brother Gu, what an incredible spatial movement technique! Tianhuo praised in amazement. Just a minor trick, Gu He replied casually, not elaborating further. At that moment, within the Nine-Colored Valley, Liu Ling had already returned with Yue Mei. When they learned that Gu He had come back, Liu Ling quickly brought Yue Mei to greet him. Upon seeing that this kid had returned with a wife, Gu He was pleased. Right upon their meeting, he rewarded Yue Mei with over a dozen pillsfour of them being tier-seven, while the rest were tier-six and tier-five pills. As for Liu Ling and Qinglin, since it had been over a month since their last cultivation transfer, Gu He gave them each another three tier-seven pills. After the system''s return conversion, these six tier-seven pills brought Gu He a reward of four tier-nine treasured pills and twenty thousand tier-seven pills. Only after giving out the rewards did Gu He begin introducing Venerable Tianhuo to the group. Junior Liu Ling greets Senior Tianhuo! Junior Qinglin greets Senior Tianhuo! Junior Yue Mei greets Senior Tianhuo! After Gu Hes introduction, all three respectfully bowed to greet him. Seeing their sincere and courteous attitudes, Tianhuo felt more at ease. From the moment he entered the Nine-Colored Valley, the atmosphere and the behavior of Gu Hes disciples quickly dispelled any remaining stiffness or unease in him. (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 539: The Mercenary Guild Proposal! Chapter 539: The Mercenary Guild Proposal! Liu Ling and Qinglin now both knew that Gu He was likely the legendary Saint, so neither of them was surprised that he had friends at the Dou Venerate level. As for Yue Mei, although she couldnt detect any powerful aura from Gu He, she could clearly sense the overwhelming pressure emanating from Tianhuo Venerable. This Tianhuo Venerable, his cultivation is truly terrifying. Just his presence is dozens of times stronger than Her Majestys. Perhaps two years ago, when we suddenly withdrew from the attack on the Jia Ma Empire, it was because Her Majesty discovered that the Yunlan Sect had such a powerful individual! Yue Mei thought to herself. ... Master, didnt you once tell me that theres a Pill Tower in the Central Plains? Its a sacred place for all alchemists! That evening during dinner, Liu Ling suddenly brought it up. Oh? Liu Ling, are you interested in the Pill Tower? Gu He smiled and responded casually. No. Liu Ling smiled and shook his head at Gu Hes question. He and Xiao Yixian had both received the inheritance of a ninth-tier alchemist from Gu He. They already possessed considerable alchemy insights and knowledge of ninth-tier pill formulas. Joining the Pill Tower would mainly offer access to ancient and vast alchemy recipes, but their inheritance already included many such formulas. So, there wasnt much need to join the Pill Tower. Master, since alchemists have a sacred place, a place of protection and order, I was thinkingshouldnt mercenaries across the continent have one too? A place of sanctuary and a system to establish order? Liu Ling continued. Tell me your idea. Hearing this, Gu He became interested. Master, I want to build a Mercenary Guild. Like the alchemists, well have a president, elders, and other positions to directly manage the guild. When the Mercenary Guild grows large, we can attract other mercenary groups to register with us. Our guild will be responsible for accepting commissions and issuing missions to these groups. The mercenaries wont know who issued the missions. Well take at most 20% of the reward. These groups will earn points based on mission completion, which can be used to rank them... The ultimate goal of these groups is to establish order in the mercenary world and protect the interests of every mercenary. Hehe, Master, thats roughly what Ive thought of so far. Its not very complete yet! Liu Ling rubbed the back of his head and smiled. Not bad. Thats already a very detailed system! Gu He was clearly pleased after hearing Liu Lings plan. On the Dou Qi Continent, alchemists were the most in-demand profession. But for ordinary people, becoming an alchemist was practically impossible. Even if they met the requirements, they often lacked the resources. In contrast, becoming a mercenary had far fewer barriers. Ordinary people without powerful families or sects to rely on could use a platform like the Mercenary Guild to find a path for development. More importantly, it was Liu Lings final statement that struck the deepest chordestablishing order in the mercenary world. That would become the true support for mercenaries and give them a sense of belonging. To think that Brother Gus disciple has such lofty ambition... perhaps protecting him really isnt meaningless. On the other side of the table, Tianhuo Venerable also held a very high opinion of Liu Ling after hearing his proposal. Master, do you really support my idea? Liu Ling asked excitedly after hearing Gu Hes approval. Mm! Seeing the joyful expression on Liu Lings face, Gu He nodded and smiled. Not only do I support it, Ill fully support you. Thank you, Master! A toast to you! Liu Ling put down his chopsticks, picked up his wine cup, and stood up quickly, offering a toast to Gu He. Yue Mei also picked up her cup respectfully and looked toward Gu He. Gu He gently pressed his palm downward and said slowly, Sit and drink. Theres no need for formality between master and disciple. ... Soon, three days had passed since Gu He returned after reviving Tianhuo Venerable. Three days later, Liu Ling came with Yue Mei to bid farewell. Master, I will be leaving today. This time, I intend to begin realizing my plan to establish the Mercenary Guild, Liu Ling said respectfully. Liu Ling, the initial investment to build a Mercenary Guild will definitely be substantial. Take these with you. Understanding Liu Lings intentions, Gu He took out a storage ring and handed it to him. The resources within that ring would make even top-tier forces in Central Plains green with envy. It contained no fewer than ten thousand seventh-tier pills, along with tens of thousands of other grades of pills. On the Dou Qi Continent, ordinary goods could be bought with gold coins, but truly valuable itemswho would trade them for mere gold? Once someone reached a higher level, pills became the most reliable form of currency. Thank you, Master! Liu Ling accepted the storage ring with deep gratitude in his heart. Together with Yue Mei, he bowed respectfully to Gu He. Gu He stepped forward and patted Liu Ling on the shoulder. Stay in touch with me while you''re out. No matter how far away you are, if you ever want to return, Ill come and bring you back. Mm! Hearing Gu Hes words, Liu Lings eyes reddened slightly as he nodded firmly. Just in timeXiao Jin has also come out of seclusion. This time, let him go with you, Gu He said, pointing to the blonde-haired boy standing nearby. After that, Liu Ling, Yue Mei, and Xiao Jin said their goodbyes to the others and left the Nine-Colored Valley. ... Master, didnt you say that once Senior Brother returned, I could finally go out and see the world? After the three had left, Qinglin also expressed her desire to venture out and train. This time, Gu He didnt refuse her and immediately agreed. Qinglin, remember this: the Void Jade Talisman I gave younever lose it. If you encounter danger you cant handle, crush the talisman immediately. I will come to your side at once, Gu He reminded her again. Qinglin had seen Nalan Yanran use a Void Jade Talisman back at the Yunlan Sect and was already aware of its usefulness. Hearing Gu Hes warning again, she nodded heavily and said, Dont worry, Master. Ill remember! (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 540: Turmoil on Dragon Island! Chapter 540: Turmoil on Dragon Island! After Qinglin left the Nine-Colored Valley, Gu He went to see Tianhuo Venerable. Tianhuo Venerable, for the time being, Ill leave Qinglin in your care, Gu He said directly. So Brother Gu didnt want me to help Liu Ling, but instead to protect that little girl Qinglin? Tianhuo Venerables first reaction was one of mild disappointment. Having survived for centuries as a remnant soul beneath the magma, Tianhuo Venerables old acquaintances were long gone. The world had changed. After hearing Liu Lings ambitions, he believed the young man was destined for greatness and wanted to help him start anew. But now, he realized Gu Hes intention was for him to act as a secret bodyguard for a naive little girl. Tianhuo Venerable, Qinglin has little experience with the world, so she needs your guidance. As for Liu Ling, theres no need to worryhis path ahead is already clear, Gu He explained. Well, I suppose this little girl wont get into too much trouble. I wont have too much on my hands. In the end, Tianhuo Venerable convinced himself to accept this arrangement. Tianhuo Venerable, looking after Qinglin may interrupt your cultivation. When she returns from her journey, Ill be sure to Theres no need, Brother Gu. I owe you a great debt for bringing me back to lifehow could I ever repay that? Whats a few years compared to that? Before Gu He could finish offering a future reward, Tianhuo Venerable interrupted him. Upon hearing that, Gu He didnt say anything more. He knew Tianhuo Venerables naturehe was a man who repaid kindness with sincerity. Brother Gu, Ill take my leave then! With that, Tianhuo Venerable quickly bid farewell, exited through the opening in the Nine-Colored Valleys barrier, and secretly followed after Qinglin. Watching the now quiet and somewhat empty Nine-Colored Valley, Yun Yun sighed and said, Husband, all the children have gone out now. Gu He stepped forward, gently took her pale hand in his, and said softly, Haha, Yuner, the children have grown up. They all want to pursue what they dream of... In a few more years, even little Yuchen might want to see what lies beyond the Yunlan Sect. At present, little Yuchen was only a few months old. Gu He hadnt even mentioned anything about cultivation to her yet. After Liu Ling and Qinglin left, life for Gu He and his small family became very peaceful. Gu Hes cultivation had already reached the level of one-star Dou Saint. So long as the continents top experts didnt appear, he felt no threat at all. During this period, he had no intention of entering closed-door cultivation, and instead focused on being present for little Yuchens growth. As time passed, several more months went by, and little Yuchen finally celebrated her first birthday. Before her birthday, Gu He had made preparations in advance. On the day of her birthday, Gu He and Yun Yun brought the little one to the Yunlan Sect so she could meet most of its members. To ensure little Yuchen didnt grow up lonely, Gu He and Yun Yun temporarily moved out of the Nine-Colored Valley and settled into a courtyard within the Yunlan Sect, allowing her to meet many children her age. The elders and disciples of the Yunlan Sect, upon learning of little Yuchens identity, treated her with great affection and care. Not long after, all of Jia Ma Empire came to know that Gu He of the Pill Sect and former Yunlan Sect leader Yun Yun had a daughter. This little girl was born with a golden spoon in her mouth, and people across the empire envied her immensely. In peaceful days, time always passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, another month had gone by since little Yuchens birthday. One month later, on a certain day, Gu He suddenly sensed the activation of a Void Jade Talisman. Which one of the kids is it this time? Sensing the summon, Gu Hes projection instantly teleported to the location. ... Void Space East Dragon Island. Outside the massive, overturned-bowl-shaped silver energy barrier, a densely packed group of figures had gathered. The auras emanating from these figures were all quite powerful. Most of them wore dark-gold armor engraved with dragon patterns. The dragon motifs seemed to writhe and flow, as if alive, exuding a vast and fierce draconic might. Among them were also several shirtless individuals, each with extremely muscular physiques, giving off an overwhelming sense of brute strength. Theyre from West Dragon Island and South Dragon Island! Voices filled with anger erupted from within East Dragon Island upon seeing the intruders. Xiaao, you actually dare to lead people into East Dragon Island? Quite the bold move! High in the sky above East Dragon Island, space twisted as several figures appeared. Leading them was Elder Zhu Li. His stern, unsmiling face now carried an imposing severity, naturally emanating a commanding presence. Several other formidable elders stood by his side. Zhu Li, dont take it out on me. Im just following orders. We only came to invite the noble one with royal blood to visit West Dragon Island, came a booming voice from beyond the void. A burly man in dark-gold armor with thick eyebrows stepped forward. As his feet touched the ground, even the void itself seemed to tremble. He glanced toward Zhu Li inside the barrier and let out a hearty laugh. I suppose the West Dragon King wants to imprison the royal bloodline on West Dragon Island? Hmph! Hes merely a collateral descendant of the royal line, and yet he dares to call himself the Dragon King. Is he not afraid of embarrassing himself? Zhu Li said coldly. If you want the royal bloodline, thats impossible! Although the news of Zi Yans return to East Dragon Island hadnt been officially announced, her aura had still been sensed by many. Over the past half-year, other Dragon Islands had received the information through spies planted in East Dragon Island. That led to todays scene of West and South Dragon Island forces pressing at the borders. The man known as Xiaao replied indifferently, Now that the Ancient Dragon Clan has split into four, no matter what you say, the West Dragon King still possesses royal blood. That alone gives him more authority than any of your common-blooded leaders. To be honest, your East Dragon Island is the one that should not exist. Of the four islands, yours is the only one without a leader of royal descent. Such a presence will never be acknowledged! Zhu Li raised his eyes slightly. Whether were acknowledged or not isnt for the other three Dragon Kings to decide. In the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan, there were never North, South, East, or West Dragon Kings. There was only the Dragon Emperor. As for the rest, none have the qualifications to enforce the clans laws. (End of Chapter) Get early access to my chapters and read more frequently by joining my Patreon! You''ll unlock 20 chapters immediately and can enjoy up to 65 chapters weekly. Support my ongoing work and become part of my reader community. Patreon: /anish_44 Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 {Hey everyone, Im currently facing some financial difficulties, and if youre able to offer monetary support, it would mean a lot. Your generosity truly helps me keep going, and I deeply appreciate it. Thank you!} Chapter 541: Chaos on Dragon Island! Chapter 541: Chaos on Dragon Island! Hehe, I cant be bothered to waste words with you, old man. Im here on orders this time, so hand over the one with royal blood. Otherwise, Im afraid things wont end so easily, said the burly man named Xia Ao, curling his lip. As Xia Aos words fell, an elder with black and white hair beside Zhu Li shouted coldly, Xia Ao, with your ability, you dare to speak so arrogantly in front of Elder Zhu Li? As soon as he finished, the elder clenched his hand slightly, and a vast, terrifying energy rapidly condensed. Heh, Qi You, when it comes to combat power, your East Dragon Island is the weakest of the four. If our West Dragon Islands Dragon Armor Army launches a full-scale invasion, your East Dragon Island wont last long. Seeing the black-and-white-haired elder beside Zhu Li about to strike, Xia Ao waved his hand. The figures in dark gold dragon armor behind him stepped forward. Their overwhelming pressure gathered together and surged toward East Dragon Island. Seeing this, Elder Zhu Lis expression turned extremely grim. His calm gaze swept across the floating figures in the air before slowly saying, Xia Ao, since youve brought the Dragon Armor Army from West Dragon Island, then who is leading the Barbaric Dragon Army of South Dragon Island? Haha, as expected of Elder Zhu Li. Even though I was hiding nearby, you still noticed me! As Elder Zhu Lis voice faded, the pitch-black void space twisted. An elderly man clad in rough hide clothing with pale white skin suddenly appeared out of thin air. He smiled at Elder Zhu Li from within Dragon Island. So its Elder Man Yan, Zhu Li said calmly, glancing at the old man. His voice remained emotionless. Man Yans aura had also reached the level of Half-Saint, though it was still slightly weaker than Zhu Lis. Xia Aos strength was even lower, merely at the peak of Dou Venerate. If it were only these people who had come this time, Zhu Li wouldnt be particularly worried. Elder Zhu Li, hand over the person. Were acting under orders as well. The Ancient Void Dragon Clan has already fallen into this state. Trying to unify again would be next to impossible. The Three Dragon Kings will never allow it to happen, said Man Yan with a sigh. The royal bloodline will never be handed over to you! You and Xia Ao better get off East Dragon Island immediately! Zhu Li rejected the proposal without hesitation. Hmph! Man Yan, there''s no need to waste words with him today. Lets act directly. As his voice dropped, a brilliant golden light exploded from the dark gold dragon armor on Xia Aos body. A terrifying aura, like a storm, swept out from him. A deep dragons roar faintly echoed from the golden light. Dragon Armor Army, move out! Bring the one with royal blood back with us! Xia Ao roared and waved his hand. Behind him, the many figures clad in dragon armor shouted in unison. Their fierce auras erupted and turned into streaks of light that surged toward the protective barrier of East Dragon Island. Sigh... lets begin. Seeing this, Man Yan of South Dragon Island also sighed. As his command rang out, the tall figures with bare upper bodies nodded heavily. They clenched their fists, and their arms rapidly transformed into dragon claws covered in light purple scales. In a flash, they rushed toward East Dragon Island. Stop them! Seeing the masses charging toward the island, Elder Zhu Lis expression grew dark as he shouted in a low voice. Yes! As Zhu Lis shout fell, numerous blurred figures shot out from Ancient Dragon Island. In an instant, vast and powerful auras swept across the skies. The muffled booms of bodies colliding and the thunderous explosions of energy echoed endlessly across the heavens. Taking advantage of the chaos, Xia Ao, commander of the Dragon Armor Army from West Dragon Island, led a group of over a dozen armored experts directly toward an ancient stone hall below Dragon Island. It was clear Xia Ao was heading straight for Zi Yan. Xia Ao, get back here! Seeing this, Elder Zhu Lis eyes burned with fury. His figure flashed like lightning, appearing in front of Xia Ao and intercepting him. At the same time, the commander of the Barbaric Dragon Army from South Dragon Island, Man Yan, began to erupt with deep purple dragon scales all over his body. His skin was pale gray, and his arms transformed into sharp dragon claws. In just moments, he had taken on the form of a half-dragon beingwith a dragons body, claws, and limbs. Once his transformation was complete, a terrifyingly savage aura surged out from within him. The surrounding space twisted and distorted from the pressure. Zhu Li, your opponent is me! Man Yans eyes turned a dark purple due to the transformation. With a smile, he stepped lightly onto the ground. Instantly, intense ripples spread through the space. His figure shot forward like lightning. In a flash, he appeared before Elder Zhu Li and swung his dragon claws. A devastating energy wave exploded outward. Elder Zhu Li quickly raised his hand to counter. Although Man Yans strength was slightly lower, Zhu Li found it difficult to shake off his entanglement in a short amount of time. Taking advantage of this, Xia Ao flashed around the two and darted straight toward the massive stone hall deep within Dragon Island. Stop Xia Ao, quickly! Seeing Xia Ao break away, Elder Zhu Li roared. Immediately, three or four powerful figures from East Dragon Island flashed out from behind. All of them were high-level Dou Venerates. They intercepted Xia Ao and blocked his path. Even though Xia Ao was a peak Dou Venerate, he had ventured deep into enemy territory alone. Surrounded by more and more strong cultivators from East Dragon Island, he was unable to advance any further. Boom! Boom! Boom! At that moment, all of East Dragon Island erupted with thunderous explosions. Battlefields formed across the skies above the island. The once peaceful and quiet atmosphere was completely destroyed. West and South Dragon Islands had dispatched their elite forces. Their combined strength was enough to wipe out any top-tier force in the Central Plains. At first, East Dragon Island was caught off guard by the sudden assault. But fortunately, the island had no shortage of strong experts. After the initial chaos, they finally managed to barely stabilize the situation. Moreover, West and South Dragon Islands had only brought around ten to twenty percent of their elite forces. Faced with the full resistance of East Dragon Islands strength, both the Dragon Armor Army and the Barbaric Dragon Army gradually began to fall into a disadvantage. Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 {Hey everyone, Im currently facing some financial difficulties, and if youre able to offer monetary support, it would mean a lot. Your generosity truly helps me keep going, and I deeply appreciate it.} Chapter 542: The True Strength of East Dragon Island! Chapter 542: The True Strength of East Dragon Island! In the skies above, violent surges of energy rippled like deep, rumbling thunder, constantly spreading through the heavens and echoing across Dragon Island. Deep within the island, inside an ancient stone hall, a look of deep concern filled Zi Yans face. At this moment, Zi Yan had sensed the commotion outside and was eager to go out and take a look. However, the four elders of East Dragon Island beside herall powerful cultivators at high-level Dou Veneratewere staring at her intently. Dragon Emperor, your current strength is still too weak. Going out now would be extremely dangerous. Please wait until the Third Elder has repelled the armies from West and South Dragon Islands before you make your move, one of the elders advised respectfully. For the sake of your own safety, please dont go outside! the other three elders said in unison. Seeing their reaction, Zi Yan understood that going out was out of the question. Reluctantly, she stayed inside the stone hall. Meanwhile, on East Dragon Island, the forces from West and South Dragon Islands were already showing signs of retreat. However, just then, in the void outside the island, beams of cyan light suddenly lit up. These beams rapidly expanded, and one figure after another emerged riding the cyan glow, each emanating a terrifying aura as the sound of wind splitting echoed across the sky. Looks like were latebut not too late for the main event! said a figure in cyan robes, smiling as he looked down upon the chaotic battlefield of Ancient Dragon Island. Qing Yan! Upon seeing the cyan-robed elder, Zhu Li''s brows furrowed slightly. Qing Yan''s strength was even greater than Xia Ao''s from before, having reached the peak of Six-Star Dou Venerate. With Qing Yan and the elite troops from North Dragon Island now joining the fray, the advantage East Dragon Island had just gained was instantly wiped away. As Qing Yan appeared, he first glanced at Zhu Lis grim expression and smiled. Then, his gaze shifted toward the depths of Dragon Island. Elder Man Yan, keep Zhu Li occupied. Ill personally take the one with royal blood, Qing Yan said calmly. As soon as he spoke, his figure blurred into a streak of light and shot toward the depths of the island. Zhu Lis face twisted with rage when he saw this, but before he could give chase, Man Yan stepped forward again. His dragon claws tore through space as he struck at Zhu Li with overwhelming force. Bastard! Blocked once more by Man Yan, Zhu Li roared in fury. Boundless Dou Qi erupted from within him as he launched a fierce counterattack. Meanwhile, Qing Yan, with the power of a peak Six-Star Dou Venerate, had entered the battlefield. East Dragon Island had no available strength to intercept him. Haha! Qing Yan, step aside. Im taking the royal-blooded one back to Lord of West Dragon Island! Just as Qing Yan rushed toward the inner sanctum of Dragon Island, a thunderous voice rang out across the skies. Suddenly, a burly black-faced man with a body like a giant ape appeared from a hidden point in the sky. With a sweep of his massive palm, a terrifying force slammed into Qing Yan and sent him flying backward. Xuan Mo! Qing Yans heart trembled as he looked at the black-faced man who had struck him. Shock and disbelief filled his face. If Xuan Mo hadnt held back just now, Qing Yan might not have just been sent flyinghe might not have walked away at all. Haha! The Grand Commander is here! Lets see how you all plan to fight us West Dragon Islanders for the royal blood now! At a distance, Xia Ao, who had been steadily pushed back, was overjoyed to see the newcomer. The black-faced giant man was named Xuan Mo, the Grand Commander of the Dragon Armor Army of West Dragon Island. His cultivation had reached the early stage of Two-Star Dou Saint, making him incredibly powerful. On Zhu Lis side, seeing the black-faced man, his heart also trembled slightly. He hadnt expected the three Dragon Islands to send such a formidable lineup. It was clear they were determined to obtain the royal blood at all costs. It seems the true strength of the First and Second Elders can no longer remain hidden, Zhu Li thought with a heavy sigh. The next moment, just as Xuan Mo dashed toward the stone hall where Zi Yan was located, a terrifying aura suddenly erupted from an inconspicuous stone hall deep within East Dragon Island. Then, a gray-robed elder shot out of the hall and rose into the sky, blocking Xuan Mos path. This elder was none other than Zhu Mo, East Dragon Islands Second Elder, who had long been rumored to be in seclusion. Zhu Mo! Youve actually reached the peak of Two-Star Dou Saint? Thats impossible! Xuan Mos face was filled with disbelief as he sensed the aura emanating from Zhu Mo. According to the information the other Dragon Islands had gathered, East Dragon Islands First Elder, Qingshan, was only at mid Two-Star Dou Saint, and Second Elder Zhu Mo was said to be merely a One-Star Dou Saint. To think your cultivation reached this level during your seclusion! After confirming Zhu Mos aura once more, Xuan Mo had no choice but to accept the truth. Now that I, Zhu Mo, have emerged from seclusionXuan Mo, you wont take a single step forward! Without wasting words, Zhu Mo launched a ferocious attack toward Xuan Mo. Seeing him charge in, Xuan Mo''s face twisted into a snarl. With a furious roar, he punched out with terrifying force, draining the air within a hundred feet in an instant. Zhu Mo, now in close range, didnt back down. His arm, transformed into a dragon claw, collided directly with Xuan Mos fist. A deafening metallic crash reverberated across the sky above Dragon Island. Their clash unleashed a terrifying shockwave that swept out violently from above. Within a radius of a hundred feet, both sides nearby experts were sent flying by the storm, their blood surging wildly. Amidst the energy backlash, Xuan Mo, the Grand Commander of West Dragon Islands Dragon Armor Army, was clearly at a disadvantage. He staggered backward several steps. With each step, the ground beneath him collapsed into patches of dark void. His strength... it''s actually this overwhelming! Xuan Mo was shaken. His physical strength was famous even within the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. Even at early Two-Star Dou Saint, when it came to brute power, those slightly stronger than him still couldnt suppress him easily. But this time, just one exchange left his blood churning. Zhu Mo! Even if you''ve reached the peak of Two-Star Dou Saint, do you really think you can defeat the West Dragon Kingor the other two Dragon Kings? You wont be able to protect the royal blood. East Dragon Island should prepare for whats coming! After realizing his disadvantage, Xuan Mo decisively prepared to retreat with his men. Whether I can or notyou can have the West Dragon King come and try! Just as Xuan Mo threw out his parting threat, a new voice echoed from the islanda deep, ancient voice filled with terrifying pressure. Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Hey everyone, Im currently facing some financial difficulties, and if youre able to offer monetary support, it would mean a lot. Your generosity truly helps me keep going, and I deeply appreciate it. Chapter 543: A Temporary Retreat! Chapter 543: A Temporary Retreat! Whether I can or not, you can let the West Dragon King come and try! Just as Xuan Mo threw down his threat, a chilling, ancient voice filled with overwhelming pressure echoed across Dragon Island. In the next instant, following Zhu Mo, a gray figure leaning on a dragon-shaped cane shot out from one of the great halls deep within the island and ascended into the sky. This aura... a Three-Star Dou Saint! Up in the sky, Xuan Mos eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the elder now floating before himEast Dragon Islands First Elder, Qingshan. Three-Star Dou Saint! How did Qingshan become so terrifying? I thought Zhu Mo had made incredible progress after so many years in seclusion, but I didnt expect that old Qingshans cultivation had advanced this far as well! This kind of aura... its nearly on par with the Dragon Kings themselves! And the Dragon Kings have royal blood in their veinshow did Qingshan manage this? At that moment, shock spread across the faces of all the experts from West, South, and North Dragon Islands who saw Qingshan appear. In contrast, the members of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan from East Dragon Island were overwhelmed with joy. With Qingshan and Zhu Mos strength revealed, East Dragon Island finally had the power to contend with the other three dragon islands. Qingshan stood high in the air, a sharp gleam shining from his cloudy eyes. He looked directly at Xuan Mo. Xuan Mo, do you want to fight me? he asked calmly. Hearing this, Xuan Mo quickly waved his hands and said, First Elder Qingshan, someone of your status fighting me wouldnt be appropriate. Lets leave it for another day! As soon as he finished, Xuan Mo issued a swift command. All West Dragon Island forcesretreat immediately! At his order, Xia Ao and the rest of the Dragon Armor Army rapidly withdrew from Dragon Island. The Barbaric Dragon Army commander, Man Yanwho had already broken off from his fight with Zhu Liled his troops toward the void space beyond East Dragon Island as well. As for Qing Yan, the commander from North Dragon Island, his strength hadnt even reached Half-Saint level. Compared to Xuan Mo and Man Yan, he was clearly the weakest. With the other two commanders retreating, he dared not stay behind. Without saying a word, he took his North Dragon Island forces and fled in the opposite direction. Because all four Dragon Islands originated from the same Ancient Void Dragon bloodline, and because East Dragon Island had always dreamed of reuniting the four islands and restoring the clans former glory, Qingshan, Zhu Mo, and the others didnt pursue. Even after the others had retreated, not one of them took chase. ... I didnt expect news about Zi Yan to reach the other three Dragon Kings so quickly, Qingshan sighed as he looked toward Zhu Mo and Zhu Li after the invaders had withdrawn. Hearing his sigh, both Zhu Mo and Zhu Li fell silent for a moment. After all, the four dragon islands were originally one clan. Since their people needed to enter the void space to cultivate, the three of them clearly understood that there were spies from the other islands hidden within East Dragon Island. But there was nothing they could do about it. They couldnt forbid their people from entering the void space just because of Zi Yan. If they did, East Dragon Islands strength would only continue to decline. First Elder, its fortunate that Xuan Mo and Man Yan were intimidated by your and Second Elders strength today. Otherwise, our clan wouldve been dragged into another large-scale war, with countless casualties, Zhu Li said worriedly. This was all thanks to the Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill prepared for us by the Dragon Emperors teacher, Qingshan replied. Without that pill, even dealing with Xuan Mo today would have been extremely difficult. All three Dragon Kings have now sent their forces, he continued. This matter may not be over so easily. But no matter what We absolutely cannot allow the Dragon Emperor to fall into the hands of the other three islands! Mm. Upon hearing Qingshans words, both Zhu Li and Zhu Mo nodded in unison. Just then, from the ancient stone hall below Dragon Island, a small white figure slowly walked out. Elders, have those people from the three Dragon Islands all left? Zi Yan asked. Yes, Dragon Emperor. The forces from the three islands have all retreated, Qingshan replied respectfully. What about our clans casualties from this battle? Although Zi Yan had remained inside the stone hall, she could feel the intensity of the fighting through the fluctuations of energy. She could imagine how fierce the battle had been. And all of it had happened because of her. If not for the need to protect her, East Dragon Island wouldnt have been attacked by the other three dragon islands. That was why Zi Yan now cared deeply about the condition of the East Dragon Island clansmen. Seeing her concern, a glimmer of approval flashed in the eyes of Qingshan and the other elders. Their respect for her grew even deeper. Dragon Emperor, our losses this time were minimal, Qingshan replied. Thanks to the Ancient Void Dragon Clans naturally powerful bodies, fatal injuries were rare unless it was a life-or-death confrontation. Moreover, East Dragon Island had the numbers advantage from the start. Before Qing Yan of North Dragon Island arrived, East Dragon Island had maintained the upper hand against the West and South Islands. And once North Dragon Islands forces joined, they didnt stay long enough to turn the tide. Overall, East Dragon Island had suffered no real losses. Besides, to protect you, Dragon Emperor, even sacrificing ourselves would be an honor, Qingshan added. His loyalty to the Dragon Emperors bloodline was etched into his bones and soul. We are willing to die for the Dragon Emperor! We are willing to die for the Dragon Emperor! We are willing to die for the Dragon Emperor! Following Qingshan, Zhu Li, Zhu Mo, and the other elders echoed his words in unison. Hearing this, Zi Yan was deeply moved. She softly said, I understand your loyalty, Elders. But no matter what, you must also protect yourselves. I still want you all to see the day when the Ancient Void Dragon Clan is united once more. Though her voice was still young and tender, not a single person smiled at it. Instead, every face was filled with solemn respect. By now, Zi Yan had been back with the Ancient Void Dragon Clan for over half a year. Her cultivation had risen from a Seven-Star Dou Ancestor to the peak of Eight-Star Dou Ancestor. Her physical body had also been greatly strengthened by the tempering of spatial turbulence and wind blades. Though her current strength was still negligible compared to the elders of Dragon Island, her rapid progressand more importantly, her heartfelt care for the clanhad given the elders of East Dragon Island boundless hope. Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 544: The Three Dragon Kings Arrive! Chapter 544: The Three Dragon Kings Arrive! Originally, Qingshan and the others thought that by revealing their overwhelming strength and forcing Xuan Mo and his allies to retreat, East Dragon Island would finally enjoy a period of peace. But to their surprise, not even half a month had passed when the forces of the three dragon islands returned once againthis time with even greater momentum. On this day, the void space outside East Dragon Island was suddenly engulfed by countless powerful auras that sealed the entire island. Sensing this movement, a chorus of dragon roars erupted across East Dragon Island. Moments later, the sound of wind splitting echoed through the skies as countless dragon clan experts soared upward. Qingshan and Zhu Mo both wore grim expressions. As Qingshan reached the sky and scanned the scene, he clearly sensed that the number of enemy troops outside the island was at least five times greater than before. With this many top-tier experts, the enemy now had enough power to completely overwhelm East Dragon Island. Under the watchful eyes of the elders of East Dragon Island, three figures slowly stepped through the silver curtain of light and arrived above the island. All three appeared to be middle-aged men. Yet with each movement, they radiated dominance and power, their imposing presence unmistakable. The pressure from their aura alone caused immense strain on the weaker members of the dragon clan. The Three Dragon Kings! Seeing the three figures, Qingshans brows furrowed tightly. Though his own cultivation had reached the late stage of Three-Star Dou Saint, he still couldnt compare to these three. Each of them possessed partial royal blood and had remained at the Three-Star level for many years. Their accumulated power was far beyond his. And now, it seemed very likely that the three had come united, intent on crushing East Dragon Island together. It wasnt just Qingshan. Everyone from East Dragon Island felt the suffocating pressure. Behind the three Dragon Kings, more powerful figures slowly emerged. Among them were two elders even stronger than Xuan Mo, each having reached the mid stage of Two-Star Dou Saint. In total, the three dragon islands had brought three Three-Star Dou Saints and three Two-Star Dou Saints. East Dragon Island, on the other hand, only had one Three-Star Dou SaintQingshanand one Two-Star Dou SaintZhu Mo. In terms of top-tier strength, the three islands now had triple the might of East Dragon Island. Qingshan, youve made quite some progress over the years. Among the three Dragon Kings, one man in a dragon robe gave a calm, friendly smile as he spoke. He was the North Dragon King. His expression always carried a warm, spring-like smile that made him seem gentle and approachable. However, only those who truly knew him understood that this North Dragon King was the most terrifying of the three. Cunning, ruthless, and manipulative, he had masterminded the original split of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, luring the other two kings into dividing the tribe and leaving it severely weakened. As Qingshan looked at the North Dragon King, a trace of instinctive disgust flashed in his old, cloudy eyes. Qingshan didnt respond to the greeting. Instead, he asked coldly, Why have the three of you gathered here today? Why...? Qingshan, dont pretend you dont know, said one of the other Dragon Kings with a dark expression. Bring out the one with royal bloodnow! Absolutely not. Qingshan rejected the demand without the slightest hesitation. Last time, though the three Dragon Kings were excited upon learning that Zi Yan possessed royal blood, none of them acted decisively. They were suspicious of each other and didnt want to see one of the others take her for themselves. Moreover, Zi Yan was weak at the time, and East Dragon Island was ranked last among the four islands. So they believed that letting her stay there posed no threat. But everything changed once Qingshan and Zhu Mo revealed their true strength. With East Dragon Island growing stronger and backing Zi Yan, her royal bloodline had become far more significant. If she continued to grow, her influence could disrupt the balance of powerand even threaten the positions of the Three Dragon Kings themselves. This time, the three Dragon Kings claimed they were merely here to invite Zi Yan away from East Dragon Island. But in truth, their intentions were far darker. They had already resolved to either place her under strict confinementor have her quietly killedto prevent Zi Yan from ever growing strong enough to threaten them. Upon hearing Qingshans firm rejection, the South Dragon King, wearing a golden crown, roared in fury, Enough of this nonsense! Just attack! The moment those words rang out, every member of East Dragon Islands dragon clan immediately tensed up, preparing for battle. Attack, the North Dragon King echoed in a deep voice. Mm. With the agreement of both the North and South Dragon Kings, the West Dragon King gave a small nod of approval. In the very next moment, the three figures launched into motion, streaking toward Qingshan. Clearly, the three intended to strike down East Dragon Islands strongest force firstQingshan himself. In response, Qingshan''s figure shot upward, rising into the pitch-black void space above. The Three Dragon Kings followed swiftly, unleashing fierce and relentless attacks upon him. Faced with this triple assault, Qingshan did not attempt to clash head-on. He did his best to dodge, and only when there was no other choice did he unleash his full power to block the blows. Kill! As the battle between Qingshan and the Three Dragon Kings erupted, powerful experts on both sides surged forward like unleashed beasts. In an instant, the sky above was engulfed in chaos. A fierce, large-scale melee had broken out. Boom! Boom! Boom! The battle was so intense and fast-paced that it dazzled the eye. Though the three dragon islands had more fighters than East Dragon Island, it was clearly no simple matter to overwhelm the defenders. Soon after the clash began, the conflict entered a tense stalemate. Zhu Mo, on his end, displayed the power of a peak Two-Star Dou Sainthis strength even surpassed the three opposing Two-Star Dou Saints. But the West Dragon Islands Grand Commander Xuan Mo, the West Dragon Islands Great Elder Zhu Mu, and the South Dragon Islands Great Elder Lie Shanthese three Dou Saintsteamed up to encircle Zhu Mo. Even with one foot already into the Three-Star Dou Saint level, Zhu Mo found himself restrained and unable to break free. At that moment, South Dragon Islands Barbaric Dragon Army commander Man Yan, along with another peak Nine-Star Dou Venerate, tore through a section of East Dragon Islands army and charged straight toward an ancient stone hall below. Stop them, now! Seeing what Man Yan and the other man were doing, Zhu Mo roared with urgency. Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 545: Zi Yan, Let Your Master Take You to Kill! Chapter 545: Zi Yan, Let Your Master Take You to Kill! At this moment, the commander of the Barbarian Dragon Army on South Dragon Island, Man Yan, along with another expert at the peak of Nine-Rotation Dou Ancestor level, tore through a section of the Eastern Dragon Island armys defensive line. They charged straight toward an ancient stone hall below. "Quick, stop them!" Seeing the movement of Man Yan and the other man, Zhu Mo shouted loudly. Originally, with the strength of Zhu Li, the third elder of Eastern Dragon Island, he could have stopped a Half-Saint level expert like Man Yan. Unfortunately, a few days ago, after persuasion from Zi Yan, Qingshan, and others, Zhu Li agreed to consume the last Grade Nine Precious Pill. He was now in seclusion, refining the pill at a critical moment. If he were forcibly interrupted, he would undoubtedly suffer severe injuries. "Zzz!" As Zhu Mos shout fell, countless lightning-fast figures darted out from the surrounding mountains near the ancient stone hall. They intercepted the intruders from afar. The moment contact was made, a fierce battle broke out again. However, no one was able to withstand Man Yan and the other expert, who was also at the peak of the Nine-Rotation Dou Ancestor realm. After blasting away three figures with a fierce palm strike, Man Yan accelerated again and charged toward the ancient stone hall. "Who dares harm the Dragon Emperor!" Just as Man Yan was about to enter the ancient stone hall, another powerful aura erupted from a different direction. In a flash, a figure blocked his path. "Zhu Li!" Seeing this old rival, Man Yan frowned slightly. But soon, he burst into loud laughter. "Haha! Zhu Li, you old thing! You cant even protect yourselfwhat makes you think you can stop me?!" Under Man Yans observation, Zhu Lis aura was extremely unstable, like someone heavily injured and barely suppressing it. Realizing this, Man Yan launched a series of ferocious attacks without restraint. After just a few moves, Zhu Li was already in very poor condition. Just then, the other expert who had broken through the defenses also arrived. After observing Zhu Lis state, he said directly, "Man Yan, leave Zhu Li to me. You go find that royal bloodline!" "Alright!" Man Yan quickly nodded, then disengaged and rushed toward the entrance of the hall. Seeing Man Yans movement, Zhu Lis eyes turned blood-red. Just as he was about to stop him, he was intercepted by the other expert. Deep inside the massive stone hall, near the altar, Zi Yan was surrounded by four peak Dou Ancestor-level experts. Her face was full of worry. "This is bad!" Suddenly, the expressions of the four guards changed drastically. The next moment, three of them quickly left Zi Yans side and rushed toward the hall entrance. Watching those three elders leave, Zi Yan realized the front lines could no longer hold. Someone was already breaking through and charging toward the ancient hall. With her current strength, if discovered by members of the other Dragon Islands, she wouldnt stand a chance of resisting. At this moment, countless Eastern Dragon Island experts were present. Escaping through space travel was virtually impossible. Zi Yans heart sank. Now, the three Dragon Kings no longer cared how the rest of the clan viewed them. All they wanted was to control her and ensure she posed no threat to their authority. "Master, perhaps... this is the last time Zi Yan will see you..." Zi Yan whispered softly in her heart, then swiftly crushed the Void Jade Talisman that Gu He had given her earlier. She had once heard from Zhu Li that Gu Hes cultivation was at the level of a high-tier Half-Saint. Such a level might make him a formidable force in the outside world or the Central Plains. But in the current chaos on Dragon Island, that strength wasnt enough to change anything. Zi Yan knew Gu Hes limits clearly. Yet she still chose to crush the Void Jade Talisman because she knew it would only summon a projection of him. Even if that projection were destroyed, it wouldnt affect Gu He himself. She simply wanted to see her master one last time before death. As the talisman shattered in her hand, the space beside the altar twisted violently. At the same time, three dull crashing sounds echoed outside the hall where the altar stood. Zi Yan looked up and saw the three Eastern Dragon Island elders who had rushed out earlier. They had been heavily injured and collapsed to the ground, unmoving. Haha! As I thought, shes here! Man Yans figure appeared in Zi Yans line of sight, his tone filled with malicious glee. Someone else is coming? Noticing the distorted space behind Zi Yan, a cold gleam flashed in Man Yans eyes. Without hesitation, he prepared to take Zi Yan down quickly. The last elder protecting her, fearless in the face of death, charged at Man Yan. Foolish! With a single palm strike, Man Yan sent the elder flying. But then, his eyes suddenly narrowed in alarm as he looked behind Zi Yan. There, a figure in white slowly appeared. The man wore white robes and appeared as a middle-aged man. Not only was he strikingly handsome, but his aura was ethereallike an immortal descended from the heavens. Though his expression was calm, there was a storm of fury simmering beneath the surface. A Dou Saint! Sensing the man''s presence, Man Yans eyes widened in shock. He hadnt expected Eastern Dragon Island to call in a Dou Saint from another race. Master! Feeling the familiar aura, Zi Yan turned around in excitement. When she saw Gu He, her emotions surged uncontrollably and tears welled up. She ran over and tightly clung to his leg. Gu Hes projected figure looked down at Zi Yans sobbing form with a furrowed brow and a pained expression. Zi Yan, Im here now. You dont need to be afraid, Gu He said gently, patting her head with its two pigtails. Sir, this is a private matter of our Ancient Dragon Clan, Man Yan warned coldly. I advise you not to interfere. Once the Dragon King deals with that old fool Qingshan, youll be next. Man Yan clearly intended to use the Ancient Dragon Clans authority to pressure Gu He. But the moment he finished speaking, the hidden fury in Gu Hes eyes burst forth. Under Gu Hes gaze, Man Yan suddenly felt a chill crawl down his back. Zi Yan, Gu He said softly, lowering his head with a calm smile, today, your master is going to take you to kill. As soon as he finished speaking, Gu He vanished from where he stood. In Man Yans vision, Gu Hes figure disappeared in an instant. But in the very next moment, a massive fist suddenly filled Man Yans sight, rapidly enlarging. Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 546: Kill Man Yan! Battle Lie Shan! Chapter 546: Kill Man Yan! Battle Lie Shan! As soon as he finished speaking, Gu He vanished from the spot. In Man Yans sight, Gu Hes figure was already gone. But in the very next moment, a massive fist rapidly expanded in Man Yans field of vision. Bang! With a dull thud, Gu Hes fist smashed down hard between Man Yans eyes, crashing into his skull. The tremendous force shattered his entire head in an instant, leaving a mess of blood and gore. Man Yan died on the spot without even letting out a scream. His life force faded away immediately. The Eastern Dragon Island elder who had been struck down earlier and lay nearby on the ground stared in disbelief. After all, Man Yan was a high-tier Half-Saint, and a member of the Ancient Dragon Clan, with an extremely powerful physical body. Yet now, he had been killed in an instant with just one punch from Gu He. Such overwhelming forceenough to kill a Half-Saint instantlywas something even a genuine One-Star Dou Saint would struggle to pull off so swiftly. Zi Yan turned around and saw Man Yans body collapse. She was just as shocked. "Elder Zhu Li said Master was only a high-tier Half-Saint... Wait, that man just said itMaster is actually a real Dou Saint!" The realization hit her suddenly. Man Yan, you bastard! If you dare lay a hand on the Dragon Emperor, Ill blow myself up and drag you down with me! At that moment, a whooshing wind came from outside the hall, accompanied by a voice full of fury and grief. Elder Zhu Li! Hearing the familiar voice, Zi Yan looked up quickly. In her sight, Zhu Li rushed into the hall and appeared in front of Gu He. His robes were soaked in blood, and from his right shoulder to his abdomen, a terrifying claw wound continued to gush blood. Elder Zhu Li! Seeing his battered state, Zi Yan cried out with heartache and hurried toward him. Its the Dragon Emperors master! Dragon Emperor is safe! Thats great! Zhu Li dragged his wounded body to the altar. When he saw Gu He standing there, Man Yans corpse on the ground, and Zi Yan unharmed, the weight in his heart finally lifted. Seeing Zhu Lis condition, Gu He frowned. Youre seriously injured. Zhu Li explained, It was the Grade Nine Precious Pill you gave me. I hadnt fully refined it before I forced myself out of seclusion. The backlash was severe. Otherwise, I wouldnt have had to pay such a price just to kill someone who hadnt even reached Half-Saint. The pills power is nearly depleted after that battle. Whats the situation outside? Gu He asked. The three Dragon Kings have brought countless experts. They want to take Zi Yan away, Zhu Li replied gloomily. The First and Second Elders are doing their best to hold them off, but I doubt they can last much longer. Just then, Zhu Li suddenly realized something. He sensed that Gu Hes aura was no longer that of a Half-Saint, but a true One-Star Dou Saint. So youve broken through to One-Star Dou Saint... No wonder you killed Man Yan so quickly! Zhu Li said in surprise. The previous cultivation level was just a fac?ade, Gu He replied calmly. He didnt want to appear too astonishing, so he had kept it hidden. Before Zhu Li could say anything else, Gu He handed him a jade bottle. Take this pillit should be enough to heal your injuries, Gu He added. What is this? Seeing the jade bottle handed over by Gu He, Zhu Li didnt hesitate and opened it directly. The moment it was opened, an incredibly rich medicinal fragrance filled the air. Just one breath of it made him feel energized and revitalized. A Grade Nine Precious Pill again... and one focused on healing! Sensing the pills aura, Zhu Lis hand trembled slightly as he held the bottle. This pill is far too valuable... It would be a waste for me to take it. I should Realizing its worth, Zhu Li instinctively tried to refuse. Elder Zhu Li, please take it quickly! Youre so badly hurtif you dont take it, youll die! Zi Yans childish voice carried a sobbing tone as she pleaded. Elder Zhu Li, the longer we delay, the worse Dragon Islands crisis becomes, Gu He added with a shake of his head. ...Alright then. Hearing the two of them, Zhu Li finally stopped hesitating and poured the pill into his mouth. As soon as the pill entered his body, a massive wave of energy surged forth. However, despite its power, the energy was extremely gentle, permeating Zhu Lis meridians, muscles, and bones. Under the pills effect, his injuries began healing rapidly, and even the terrifying wound across his torso visibly began to close up. Catch this. Gu He flicked his fingers again, sending another pill flying toward the Eastern Dragon Island elder lying on the ground nearby. The elder caught the pill and, without hesitation, swallowed it. After hearing from Zhu Li about the outside situation, Gu He gave him instructions. Elder Zhu Li, once the fight starts, make sure you protect Zi Yan. With that, Gu Hes figure flashed and moved toward the exit of the ancient hall. Just as he set out, another powerful aura emerged from outside the hall. A moment later, an old man in yellow robes appeared in Gu Hes line of sight. Zhu Li, following behind with Zi Yan, frowned deeply the moment he saw him. His expression was filled with caution as he introduced, This is Lie Shan, Grand Elder of South Dragon Island. His strength has reached mid-stage Two-Star Dou Saint. Hmph, no wonder its taken so long to bring the girl out. So you had a foreign Dou Saint hiding in here, Lie Shan sneered menacingly. His gaze swept over Zi Yan, then fixed coldly on Gu He. Originally, Lie Shan had been working with Xuan Mo and Zhu Mu from West Dragon Island to attack Eastern Dragon Islands Second Elder, Zhu Mo. But when he noticed Man Yan had entered the hall and hadnt returned for quite some time, he grew suspicious. Breaking away from the battlefield, he came personally to investigate. This is a matter of the Ancient Dragon Clan, Lie Shan said coldly. I advise you not to interfere. Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 547: Swift and Decisive! Chapter 547: Swift and Decisive! Lie Shan had originally been joining Xuan Mo and Zhu Mu from West Dragon Island in besieging Zhu Mo, the Second Elder of Eastern Dragon Island. But after seeing that Man Yan had gone into the ancient hall and hadnt brought anyone out for a long time, his suspicion grew. He left the battlefield and personally made his way here. This is the Ancient Dragon Clans internal matter. I advise you not to interfere, Lie Shan said coldly to Gu He. So much nonsense. Gu He snorted and, the next instant, unleashed Void Lightning Flash. He transformed into a thick bolt of silver lightning and vanished from sight in an instant. Lie Shan sensed an extremely terrifying spatial force from that silver lightning. But the moment the bolt disappeared, that overwhelming spatial pressure also vanished without a trace. In that split second, Lie Shans earlier contempt for Gu Hes supposed One-Star Dou Saint level vanished completely. He focused his mind and raised his guard, both arms now transformed into dragon claws covered in glimmering scales. He concentrated fully on sensing Gu Hes location. Then Without a sound, a fist silently appeared above Lie Shans head. In the next moment, it came crashing down with a terrifying force. Sensing the fluctuation, Lie Shan reflexively swung his dragon claw to clash with the descending fist. Boom! As Gu Hes fist collided with Lie Shans claw, a thunderous metallic crash echoed through the hall. Amidst that sound came the sharp snap of bones breaking. Lie Shans body was even forced slightly downward by the impact. This cant be happening... Lie Shans eyes were filled with disbelief as he looked at the scales falling from his claw. His dragon-scaled arms were so tough that even a typical Three-Star Dou Saint couldnt damage them, let alone break his bones. Yet Gu He, supposedly only a One-Star Dou Saint, had managed to do itbarehanded. That meant his raw strength and durability surpassed even those of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan, known for their physical might. Lie Shan simply could not accept it. Youre not human! he roared, now convinced Gu He must be some monstrous beast clans powerhouse. But Gu He ignored the insult. His assault didnt stop. With a thought, he summoned his natal divine flamealready fused with his soul. The temperature in the hall soared the moment the flame appeared. Heavenly Flame! Seeing the swirling purple fire circling Gu He, Lie Shan was stunned once again. The next second, the purple flame surged outward, forming a fire net that swiftly enveloped Lie Shan. What kind of flame is this?! Feeling the searing heat, Lie Shan shouted in alarm. To burn your corpse. Gu He sneered as he watched Lie Shan thrashing inside the fire net. Without hesitation, he began forming hand seals, urging the divine flames power. The temperature inside the fire net spiked violently and the net began to shrink rapidly. You just wait even if I lose to you, youll still die today! Lie Shan howled, his voice twisted in fury and desperation. As the purple fire net continued shrinking inward, Lie Shan didnt just sit and wait for death. He transformed into a half-human, half-dragon form and gathered a massive shield of Dou Qi around his body, attempting to forcefully break through the encirclement. Zzz! The moment Lie Shan''s body made contact with the purple fire net, the Dou Qi shield was instantly sliced apart. Then, the purple flames clinging to the net made direct contact with his flesh. Ahhh! As soon as the flames touched his body, they surged across him uncontrollably, spreading in an instant. Inside the massive ancient hall, a piercing dragons roar of agony echoed. ... Above Eastern Dragon Island, the elder in green robes from West Dragon Island unleashed a powerful Dou Qi attack. Then he sneered at Elder Zhu Mo, Old man Zhu Mo, things have reached this point, and youre still resisting? You know that continuing this fight will only drain Eastern Dragon Islands strength completely. Zhu Mo blocked the strike with a swipe of his dragon claw and replied calmly, For traitors who forget the clans rules, even if Eastern Dragon Island is reduced to its last warrior, we will never let you off. Hah. Once the three Dragon Kings finish off that old man Qingshan, lets see if you can still act tough, the West Dragon Island elder, Zhu Mu, said with a cold chuckle. By now, Lie Shan shouldve dealt with the royal-blooded girl you were hiding, dont you think? Zhu Muif you stop me again, I swear Ill kill you today! Zhu Mos face turned pale at those words. He clenched his teeth, his killing intent surging. Haha! Zhu Mo, if you surrender now, West Dragon Island can let bygones be bygones. Hell, Id even let you take over my position as commander! said the black-faced brute, Xuan Mo, commander of West Dragon Islands forces, with a wicked grin. Though their cultivation wasn''t as strong as Zhu Mos, the two together were more than capable of dealing with him, especially after he had exhausted so much strength already. Never! Zhu Mo didnt hesitate to reject the offer. As soon as the word left his mouth, he launched another wave of fierce Dou Qi toward Xuan Mo and quickly tried to break past them. Zhu Mu, of course, wasnt going to let him escape. He rushed forward to support Xuan Mo and block Zhu Mos advance. Just then, from deep within Dragon Island, an ear-splitting dragons roar suddenly echoed across the land. Hearing the sound, many powerful cultivators hovering above the island turned their heads. In their sights, a massive hole had burst open in the roof of the ancient hall. From it, a figure wrapped in purple flames emerged, struggling violently as he rose into the sky. Its Lie Shan?! How is this possible?! Seeing the painfully burning figure in the air, Zhu Mu and Xuan Mos eyes widened in utter disbelief. But what happened next was even more shocking. Just as Lie Shan managed to escape the ancient hall and flew a short distance A flash of silver light streaked past his body. Then, a bloodstained hand pierced cleanly through Lie Shans chest. Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 548: Turning the Tide! Chapter 548: Turning the Tide! The next moment, something even more unbelievable happened. Just as Lie Shan had flown a short distance out of the ancient hall, a flash of silver light streaked past him, and a bloodstained hand directly pierced through his chest. "Ah!" As his chest was penetrated, Lie Shan''s roar weakened significantly. The purple flames surged along the wound, igniting his internal organs. His entire body was now scorched and bloody, charred black in many places. Lowering his head to look at the blood-red hand that had pierced through him, Lie Shans eyes were filled with unwillingness. The life force within him rapidly faded. This time, Gu He was fully aware of the urgency. The existence of this projection only lasted half an hour, so Gu He had to fight quickly and decisively. With Gu He attacking at full strength, the mid two-star Dou Saint Lie Shan was completely outmatched. Gu He withdrew his hand from Lie Shans chest without sparing him another glance. His gaze shifted toward the distant void above Dragon Island. There, four figures were constantly flashing about, each movement creating massive energy ripples. Gu He understood that battlefield was the true key to deciding this war. Judging by the situation, Qingshan, who was being besieged by the three Dragon Kings, was already at the end of his strength and could not hold on much longer. "Lie Shan is dead!" Upon seeing Lie Shan''s corpse plummeting from the sky, Zhu Mu, Xuan Mo, and all the Ancient Dragon Clan members who witnessed it showed expressions of horror. Lie Shans strength, at the mid two-star Dou Saint level, was something most of the Ancient Dragon Clan could only look up to. Yet now, he had been pierced through with a single blow and burned to death by flames. "Who is that person, to actually kill Lie Shan?" Xuan Mo said in astonishment. "Lie Shans strength was comparable to mine. Even if he fought old man Zhu Mo one-on-one, he wouldnt have been defeated so quickly, let alone killed... That mans strength, relying on that unknown Different Fire, might even be able to contend with the Dragon Kings!" Zhu Mu analyzed. On Zhu Mos side, seeing Gu He kill Lie Shan, he too was deeply shocked. However, when he saw Zhu Li and Zi Yan come out from the ancient hall and stand beside Gu He, a sudden realization flashed in his eyes. "Could it be that this man is the Dragon Emperors master? But when Zhu Li returned last time, didnt he say that the Dragon Emperors master was unparalleled in alchemy but only at the high Half-Saint level? How did he now become a genuine one-star Dou Saint?" Zhu Mo wondered inwardly. Glancing at the distant battlefield high above Dragon Island, Gu He withdrew his gaze. His soul power burst forth, instantly sensing the cultivation levels of everyone on Dragon Island. After a quick analysis, Gu He took out a spatial ring and handed it to Zhu Li behind him, instructing, "These are healing pills. Distribute them to the injured clansmen later." After saying this, Gu He''s figure flashed and appeared directly in the sky where Zhu Mo, Xuan Mo, and Zhu Mu were fighting. Seeing Gu He approaching, Xuan Mo and Zhu Mu instinctively took two steps back. Arriving at the scene, Gu He did not immediately attack Xuan Mo and Zhu Mu. Instead, he tossed a jade bottle to Zhu Mo. "The pills inside can quickly restore you to peak condition," Gu He reminded him. Then he once again transformed into a thick silver lightning bolt, shooting toward the sky above Dragon Island, leaving a wide black trail across the heavens. Meanwhile, after catching the jade bottle Gu He threw, Zhu Mo did not hesitate and swallowed its entire contents in one go. As the bottles contents entered his body, the minor wounds on Zhu Mo, along with his depleted Dou Qi and stamina, rapidly recovered. Previously, it had been Zhu Mu, Xuan Mo, and Lie Shan jointly besieging Zhu Mo for some time, causing him to expend a tremendous amount of energy. That was why, after Lie Shan withdrew from the battlefield, Zhu Mo continued to be restrained by Zhu Mu and Xuan Mo. Now that he had returned to peak condition, the combined efforts of Zhu Mu and Xuan Mo would no longer be enough to defeat him. Elsewhere, because East Dragon Island was fighting on its home ground and had a large number of people, they were able to hold their ground against the allied forces of the Three Dragon Islands without showing any signs of defeat in the short term. As for Zi Yan, with Zhu Li a powerhouse half a step into the one-star Dou Saint realm personally protecting her, she was not in any danger. Moreover, as Zhu Li continued to distribute the healing pills that Gu He had left behind to the Ancient Dragon Clan members of East Dragon Island, casualties were greatly reduced. Some who had been critically injured and on the verge of death, though not fully recovering after taking the pills, were at least pulled back from the brink of death. ... "Bang!" In the void high above Dragon Island, Qingshan swung his dragon-shaped staff, smashing it against the dragon arm of a middle-aged man wearing a crown. The tremendous impact forced the man back three or four steps before he could steady himself. However, just as Qingshan barely stabilized his stance, another figure ghosted in like a phantom. A viciously sharp palm strike mercilessly blasted toward him. Sensing the extreme ferocity of the incoming strike, a look of struggle flashed across Qingshans bloodless face. In the next moment, he shot his staff out heavily to meet the palm strike head-on. "Pu!" When the staff collided with the palm wind, a ferocious force rebounded from it, forcing Qingshans body several steps forward and causing a mouthful of blood to spill from the corner of his lips. At this point, Qingshan had already transformed into a half-human, half-dragon form. His injuries were extremely severe a large chunk of flesh had been torn from his left arm, exposing pale white bone. His back and abdomen each bore massive, blood-gushing wounds so deep that the bones were visible, making him look terrifyingly tragic. Staring at the utterly exhausted Qingshan, the West Dragon King among the three Dragon Kings sneered and said, "Qingshan, to have cultivated to this extent, your talent isnt bad. If you submit to this king, I can spare your life!" "Heh." Hearing this, Qingshan bared his bloodstained teeth and laughed coldly. "You three traitors who split the clan dare call yourselves kings? How dare you? How could you face the old Dragon Emperor after doing such things?" At the mention of the old Dragon Emperor, an unnatural expression appeared on the faces of the three Dragon Kings. After a moment of silence, the West Dragon King slowly spoke, "His Majesty the old Dragon Emperor has been missing for thousands of years. He is likely no longer in this world. The Ancient Dragon Clan has been divided for too long it must be unified quickly. But you, and those stubborn fools from East Dragon Island, are obstacles in the path to unity!" (End of this chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 549: Facing the Three Dragon Kings Directly! Chapter 549: Facing the Three Dragon Kings Directly! When Qingshan mentioned the words "Old Dragon Emperor," the expressions of the three Dragon Kings turned slightly unnatural. After a moment of silence, the Western Dragon King slowly spoke, "His Majesty the Old Dragon Emperor has been missing for thousands of years. He is likely no longer in this world... The Ancient Dragon Clan has been divided for far too long. It must be unified as soon as possible, and you, along with those stubborn fools from East Dragon Island, are obstructing the path to unification!" "Absurd! His Majesty the Dragon Emperor carries the true royal bloodline, while you are nothing more than side branches!" Qingshan roared angrily. "Hehe, Qingshan, do you think the strength of East Dragon Island can withstand the allied forces of our three islands? I fear that by now, that little brat with the royal bloodline has already been captured by our people!" The Western Dragon King laughed. Hearing the Western Dragon King''s words suggesting that Zi Yan might have already been captured, Qingshans gaze instantly turned incomparably desolate. That sentence inflicted pain far greater and more excruciating than the terrifying injuries covering his body. "Both of you, attack now. Lets finish him quickly. No more delaysotherwise, unforeseen changes might occur," the Northern Dragon King said impatiently upon hearing the exchange between the Western Dragon King and Qingshan. Upon hearing the Northern Dragon Kings voice, the Western and Southern Dragon Kings hesitated briefly, then both nodded grimly. "Even if I die, I won''t let you three traitors have it easy!" On Qingshan''s side, his heart was already steeled for death, and the energy within his body turned violently turbulent. "Damn it, the old man is going to self-destruct!" Seeing Qingshan''s condition, the Northern Dragon King panicked and, after a cold shout, was the first to bolt into the distance. Behind him, the Western and Southern Dragon Kings also cursed loudly as they fled in different directions. No one was jokingan explosion from a three-star Dou Saint expert would be so destructive that even a four-star Dou Saint would not dare to endure it head-on. "Elder Qingshan, wait! Zi Yan is fine!" Just as the three Dragon Kings were simultaneously fleeing, a hurried voice suddenly rang out across the space. Hearing this voice, Qingshan froze for a moment and temporarily suppressed the raging energy within his body. The three Dragon Kings also turned their heads to look. In their field of vision, a thick bolt of silver lightning shot out from the void, and in the next instant, the silver lightning transformed into the figure of a middle-aged man in white clothing. Seeing this, the three Dragon Kings immediately stopped moving. "Who dares to interfere in the affairs of my Ancient Dragon Clan?!" The sudden appearance of the white-clothed man startled the three Dragon Kings, but after sensing Gu He''s cultivation level, and seeing that Qingshan had ceased his attempt at self-destruction, they relaxed internally. In the next moment, the three of them lightly lifted their feet and moved a few steps closer. "And who might you be?" Qingshan asked suspiciously toward Gu He. "I am Zi Yan''s master. I sensed her call just now and rushed over. Lieshan from Southern Dragon Island has already been killed by me. As for the other strong opponents from the three islands, Elders Zhu Mo and Zhu Li should be able to handle them for the time being! There shouldn''t be any issues in the short term!" Gu He quickly explained the situation to Qingshan without bothering to respond to the three Dragon Kings. "The Dragon Emperor is safethat''s wonderful!" Hearing Gu He''s words, Qingshan bared his blood-stained teeth in a smile. "Elder Qingshan, here is a healing pill. Quickly take it. Theres still a fierce battle ahead!" As Gu He spoke, he handed over a jade bottle containing a Grade Nine Treasure Pill to Qingshan. At this moment, the Southern Dragon King among the three Dragon Kings suddenly flew into a rage and shouted loudly, "You really killed Lieshan?!" "Dont listen to his nonsense! Although Lieshan is weaker than us, he at least has mid-stage Two-Star Dou Saint strength. How could he possibly die at the hands of a mere One-Star Dou Saint?" Seeing that the Southern Dragon King''s mindset was wavering, the Northern Dragon King immediately spoke up, "Lets deal with these two quickly!" "Master of the Dragon Emperor, todays battle will be extremely dangerous. You should not get involved in this mess. Since the Dragon Emperor is safe, I will fight to the death to hold these three off. I hope you can take the Dragon Emperor and leave Dragon Island. Raise the Dragon Emperor properly. Once she has grown strong, return and reclaim Dragon Island!" Qingshan spoke to Gu He with utmost solemnity. His eyes once again revealed a determination to die. The three Dragon Kings were all peak-level experts of the continent. Among them, the Western and Southern Dragon Kings had already reached the late stage of Three-Star Dou Saint. The Northern Dragon King was even stronger, having half a foot into Four-Star Dou Saint territory. Facing the three together, even a Four-Star Dou Saint would find it extremely difficult. "Elder Qingshan, just take the pill first. Dealing with the three Dragon Kings wont be that hard if we join forces!" Hearing Qingshans words, Gu He shook his head and spoke in a rather relaxed tone. After speaking, Gu He immediately summoned his natal divine fire, fused with his soul. As Gu Hes divine fire was summoned, the entire dark void was instantly bathed in a purple blaze. "An Heavenly Flame!" "What kind of Heavenly Flame is this? It looks extremely powerful!" "Theres no record of such a Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking!" Seeing Gu He summon his natal divine fire, the three Dragon Kings and Qingshan were all startled internally. In the next instant, under Qingshan''s gaze, Gu He controlled the divine fire to transform into a purple three-headed fire dragon. Each dragon head carried a vicious gleam in its eyes, each locking onto one of the three Dragon Kings. With the appearance of the three-headed purple fire dragon, the temperature in the entire space skyrocketed. Even Qingshan, standing closer, had to activate his Dou Qi to resist the intense burning heat. The power released by the three-headed purple fire dragon was already comparable to that of a Three-Star Dou Saint. Seeing the strength that Gu He displayed, Qingshan''s eyes reignited with hope. Without hesitation, he swallowed the entire jade bottle that Gu He had given him. The moment the jade bottle entered his body, a massive yet incredibly gentle surge of energy burst forth inside Qingshan. Under the influence of this energy, the injuries on Qingshans body began to heal rapidly. The missing flesh on his arms regrew before his eyes, and the other two deep wounds across his body also closed up quickly. Even the areas where his dragon scales had fallen off began to sprout new scales at a speed visible to the naked eye. "To have such a powerful healing effect... Could it be that the old man Qingshan has taken a Grade Nine Treasure Pill?" Seeing Qingshans aura stabilize, the three Dragon Kings were once again shocked internally. They had not expected that Zi Yans master, who had suddenly appeared, would have such a terrifying background Possessing not only a powerful Heavenly Flame but also a precious and rare Grade Nine Treasure Pill. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 550: The Power of the Natal Divine Fire! Chapter 550: The Power of the Natal Divine Fire! "To have such a powerful healing effect... Could it be that old man Qingshan swallowed a Grade Nine Treasure Pill?" Seeing Qingshans aura gradually stabilize, the three Dragon Kings were once again shocked. They hadn''t expected that Zi Yans suddenly-appearing master would have such a tremendous backgroundnot only wielding an immensely powerful Heavenly Flame, but even able to produce a rare and priceless Grade Nine Treasure Pill. "Who exactly are you?" The Western Dragon King narrowed his eyes, staring at Gu He like a venomous snake, trying to see through him. "Why bother asking so much? You can ask again on your way to the underworld!" Gu He sneered, not bothering to answer. He swiftly formed hand seals and directly commanded the purple fire dragon, formed from his natal divine fire, to attack the three Dragon Kings. Hearing such a reply, the already proud three Dragon Kings were all enraged. "Who cares who he is? Anyone who dares to block the unification of our Dragon Clan must pay the price!" The Western Dragon King roared explosively. His figure moved first, attempting to dodge around the purple fire dragon and attack Gu He directly. The Southern Dragon King and the Northern Dragon King also quickly moved, charging toward Qingshan and Gu He. "Go!" Gu Hes hand seals shifted, and the three-headed purple fire dragon darted forward like lightning, intercepting the Northern Dragon King, who was leading the charge. "Roar!" The three dragon heads opened their massive jaws simultaneously, viciously snapping toward the Northern Dragon King''s body. The Northern Dragon King, with his dragon claw-arm, gathered a terrifying gust of wind, aiming to obliterate the purple fire dragon. When the huge gust slammed into the purple fire dragon, a violent energy shockwave burst forth. In an instant, the purple fire dragons body shattered, and the three heads quickly dissipated. However, even though the purple fire dragons form was destroyed, the amorphous purple flames surged again, rushing toward the Northern Dragon King. Under Gu Hes control, the purple flames in the void writhed strangely as they neared the Northern Dragon King. Then, over a dozen purple fire pillars shot down from above, connecting together into a giant cylindrical fire array that completely trapped the Northern Dragon King inside. "A mere fire formation dares to trap me?!" Glaring viciously, the Northern Dragon King swung his scale-covered dragon claw, unleashing a powerful blow toward the fire curtain. The heavy impact caused the fire curtain to visibly cave in, rippling with countless waves. However, though the fire curtain appeared shaken, it showed no sign of breaking. Instead, the scorching heat adhering to his dragon claw caused him excruciating pain. In the next moment, countless purple fire beams burst out within the fire array. First, they struck the surrounding fire curtain, then reflected back, crisscrossing toward the Northern Dragon King''s body like a web. After bouncing off the curtain, the fire beams grew even sharper and more intense. The terrifying heat instantly ignited the air inside the formation. In the blink of an eye, the Northern Dragon King was engulfed by blazing purple flames, which wildly burned his body. "What terrifying flames!" Elsewhere, the Western Dragon King and Southern Dragon King both changed expressions slightly. Even though the array separated them, they could still feel just how terrifying the heat inside was. At this moment, even a One-Star Dou Saint would not be able to survive inside for more than a minute. Inside the fire array, the Northern Dragon King''s expression was extremely grim. He quickly realized that this fire wasnt just high-temperatureit could even burn Dou Qi directly. The defensive energy he tried to project had barely formed before it was consumed by the flames. Were it not for his exceptionally tough body, he would already be charred black by now. Under such conditions, the Northern Dragon Kings internal Dou Qi was being depleted at an alarming rate. "This Heavenly Flame is terrifying! You two, hurry and attack! He''s only a One-Star Dou Saint!" Seeing the Western and Southern Dragon Kings hesitating outside the fire formation, the Northern Dragon King roared furiously. "Western Dragon King, you go deal with Qingshan! I''ll handle this kid!" Understanding the seriousness of the situation, the Western and Southern Dragon Kings quickly assigned their targets. Soon, the Western Dragon King charged toward Qingshan, engaging him in battle. Meanwhile, the Southern Dragon King rushed toward Gu He. The Southern Dragon King swung his dragon-clawed arm, gathering an immense beam of Dou Qi and slashing it toward Gu Hes head. Seeing this, Gu He stopped forming hand seals and suddenly slammed his palm toward the incoming attack. Although Gu He only possessed One-Star Dou Saint cultivation, the Dou Qi he cultivated through a high-grade Heavenly Rank technique was condensed to a terrifying degreefar surpassing ordinary One-Star Dou Saints by at least tenfold. The Dou Qi beam he casually released completely matched the attack of the Southern Dragon King, a late-stage Three-Star Dou Saint. The two powerful beams of Dou Qi collided in the void, illuminated by the purple flames, exploding into a massive shockwave. Witnessing that Gu Hes attack could neutralize his own, the Southern Dragon King couldnt help but reevaluate him seriously. However, the pride of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan lay in their incomparably tough bodies. Seeking a swift battle, the Southern Dragon King immediately decided to fight by trading injuries. Amidst the chaotic energy shockwaves, the Southern Dragon King''s figure remained unaffected. He charged directly through the explosion, his dragon claw reaching rapidly toward Gu He. Yet Gu Hes reaction was completely unexpected. Instead of retreating, he stepped forward, clenched his fist, and punched straight at the incoming dragon claw. In the next instant, dragon claw and fist collided with a deafening clang like metal striking metal. Upon impact, Gu He only staggered back two steps. In contrast, the Southern Dragon King was sent retreating more than ten steps before he could steady himself. It was obviousGu He had overpowered the Southern Dragon King in pure strength! "How is this possible?!" Staring at his slightly numbed dragon claw, the Southern Dragon King''s heart was filled with shock. The Ancient Void Dragon Clan had always prided themselves on having the strongest physical bodies across the continent. With his physique, even the direct attacks of a Four-Star or Five-Star Dou Saint wouldn''t easily damage him. Yet Gu He, with nothing but his bare fist, had gained the upper hand in a head-on clash. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 551: Breaking the Formation, Coordinated Strike! Chapter 551: Breaking the Formation, Coordinated Strike! "How is this possible?!" Looking at his slightly numbed dragon claw, the South Dragon King was deeply shaken. The bodies of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe had always been the strongest across the continent. With his physique, even attacks from a Four-Star or Five-Star Dou Saint couldn''t directly damage him. Yet Gu He had gained the upper hand in a direct clash using only his bare fists. "The Ancient Void Dragon Tribe''s body... isnt so impressive after all!" After exchanging a blow with the South Dragon King, Gu He now clearly understood the level of his current physical strength. With just a One-Star Dou Saint cultivation, he was able to go toe-to-toe with a Four-Star Dou Saint known for physical might. That was the enormous benefit of the Divine Flame Tempering Body Chapter within the Divine Flame Art. Not only had it made Gu He''s body incredibly powerful, even his soul force now far surpassed others of the same level. At this point, if Gu He had mastered a soul-based attack, dealing with the Ancient Void Dragon Tribewhose strength lay in their bodies but lacked soul defenseswould have been even easier. Even so, Gu He felt completely confident in defeating the three Dragon Kings. His true body had already used the Great Void Shift technique to reach the void gate he had agreed upon with Zi Yan. The moment he arrived, he had begun sprinting at full speed through the void, aiming to reach East Dragon Island as fast as possible. Right now, the strongest of the threeNorth Dragon Kingwas temporarily trapped and rapidly drained by the True Flame Array cast with Gu Hes divine flame. On the South Dragon King''s side, after just one clash, he was already on the losing end. Continuing the fight would only end in Gu He''s victory. As for the West Dragon King, he was being completely held in check by Qingshan. No need to worry there. As long as Gu He''s true body arrived before this projection vanished, the entire battle situation would flip completely. "I dont believe a mere One-Star Dou Saint can truly be my match!" The South Dragon King growled, shaking off his numb dragon arm. Then his figure flashed once more as he charged toward Gu He. In an instant, the void around the massive purple flame array erupted into violent energy waves. The South Dragon King against Gu He. The West Dragon King against Qingshan. This battlefield was not one that anyone below Dou Saint could even step into. Even a One-Star Dou Saint would be courting death just by entering. Of course, Gu He was the exception. Among these five top-tier experts, four were Three-Star Dou Saintsyet Gu He, with just One-Star Dou Saint cultivation, had become the centerpiece of the battlefield, fighting two enemies alone. After more than ten minutes of fierce battle, the South Dragon King had begun to suffer injuries. Two or three wounds had already appeared on his body. Yet rather than weakening, his combat power seemed to increase slightly from the pain. Meanwhile, the fight between West Dragon King and Qingshan had reached a white-hot intensity. Qingshan was exchanging injury for injury with his reckless style, while the West Dragon Kingknown for his fear of deathwas too cautious and kept falling behind. Ironically, it was the North Dragon King, trapped first by Gu He''s projection, who now appeared in the best condition. He hadn''t sustained any serious injuries, and the power of the purple flame formation trapping him was diminishing. This was because Gu He had to split his focus fighting the South Dragon King, causing the formations strength to drop. As a result, the North Dragon King''s energy was being drained more slowly. "Damn it!" Inside the formation, the North Dragon King looked out at the battlefield, anxiety flooding his eyes. If the South and West Dragon Kings lost, he wouldn''t be able to escape either. "You two! Find an openingtear this formation apart with me! If we launch a combined attack, we still have a chance to win!" He roared outward from the formation. Hearing the North Dragon Kings desperate shout, both the South and West Dragon Kings exchanged a sharp glance. The next moment, both of them unleashed terrifying energy attacks at their respective opponents. Then, with perfect timing, they simultaneously dashed toward the same point at the edge of the flame barrier. The North Dragon King, on his end, forced his way through the flaming pillarsbraving the searing purple fireas he charged toward that same edge. What followed was the combined strike of the Three Dragon Kings. Two pairs of indestructible dragon claws, infused with savage might, slammed down hard upon the purple flame barrier. "BOOOOMMMMM!" The three Dragon Kings attacks focused on a single point. Instantly, under the combined pressure from both inside and outside the purple flame barrier, violent ripples surged across its surface. When the energy finally exploded outward, the flame curtain was torn open, revealing a gap. Seeing the opportunity, the North Dragon King immediately slipped through. Howeverjust before the three Dragon Kings launched their joint strikea streak of silver lightning had silently appeared behind the South Dragon King, morphing in a flash into a white-robed man. Crack! As the fire curtain was pierced, Gu He lashed out with a heavy palm strike, landing squarely on the back of the distracted South Dragon King''s skull. Though the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe had incredibly tough heads, once damaged, those injuries were often devastating. The South Dragon King let out a piercing roar of agony. His neatly combed hair now hung messily behind his head, and he looked completely disheveled. Although his skull wasnt shattered by the blow, both the North and West Dragon Kings could immediately telljudging by his pained crythat he had taken serious damage. His strength was rapidly plummeting. If he took a few more hits like that, he might very well fall here. The South Dragon King turned and swiftly retreated, dodging away from Gu He. The three Dragon Kings were now tied together in battle. Naturally, the North and West Dragon Kings couldnt stand by idly. They immediately struck out together, forcing Gu He back several steps. "Ill kill you!" the South Dragon King hissed, gritting through the searing pain as his eyes glared venomously at Gu He. Stop holding backgo all out and kill him! the North Dragon King bellowed. Upon hearing his command, the other two gave solemn nods. Then, the three of them extended their palms, facing each other from a distance, as if connecting through some mysterious bond. "Be careful!" Qingshans anxious voice rang out from the other side of the battlefield. "This is the Three Dragon Kings Coordinated Strike Technique! Even a Four-Star Dou Saint would struggle to withstand it!" He hadnt expected that, because of Gu Hes pressure, these three Dragon Kingswho were practically estranged and hostile to one anotherwould be forced to use the Coordinated Strike Technique they had practiced long ago during the time of the unified dragon race. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 552: Self-Destruction! Chapter 552: Self-Destruction! "Be careful! Thats the Three Dragon Kings Coordinated Strike Technique! Even a Four-Star Dou Saint would struggle to withstand it!" Qingshans anxious voice rang from the other side of the battlefield. He never expected that Gu He''s appearance would actually force the already fractured and mistrustful Three Dragon Kings to bring out the ancient joint technique they had once trained during the unification of the dragon race. Watching the Three Dragon Kings madly channeling energy, Gu He frowned slightly. He hadnt expected them to still be hiding such a move. With his current cultivation at One-Star Dou Saint, he could manage against a Three-Star Dou Saint. But if their joint technique truly reached the level of a Four-Star Dou Saint, things would become problematic. "It seems... there''s no other choice!" A decisive light flashed through Gu He''s eyes. Then he turned toward Qingshan and shouted, "Elder Qingshan, retreatnow!" Without waiting for a reply, Gu Hes projection flickered and darted straight toward the Three Dragon Kings. At the same time, the energy inside his body suddenly grew violently chaotic. "What?!" Qingshan had barely registered Gu Hes voice when he sensed something unusual. "Dragon Emperors master... he''s planning to self-destruct to deal with the Three Dragon Kings!" Qingshans voice trembled as he spoke, a thin mist gathering at the corners of his eyes. He was both happy and proud that Zi Yan had a teacher like this, but at the same time, a deep sorrow welled up within him over Gu Hes sacrifice. After a brief moment of hesitation, Qingshan made up his mind. He turned and quickly retreated. Because if Gu He self-destructed and Qingshan was also caught in it, East Dragon Island would have little hope left. Qingshan knew very wellthis self-destruction wouldnt kill the Three Dragon Kings outright. But it would seriously injure them. That would buy East Dragon Island precious time to recover. "Master of the Dragon Emperor... the Ancient Dragon Tribe will never forget your grace!" As he withdrew, Qingshan slowly closed his eyes, unwilling to witness the final moment. On the other side, the Three Dragon Kings were still focusing on casting their terrifying joint technique, but they soon sensed the rampaging, violent aura erupting from Gu Hes body. "He''s going to self-destruct?! This guy is insane!" "Hes just a One-Star Dou Saint. How much damage can a self-destruction even do?" "Dont underestimate him! His Dou Qi might be One-Star, but the purity and density of it rivals even Three-Star Dou Saints. Who knows how he cultivated!" Realizing what was happening, the Three Dragon Kings each reacted differently. The North Dragon King looked fearless. But the West and South Dragon Kings were badly woundedespecially the South Dragon King, who had taken a serious hit to the head earlier. They were in no condition to endure a massive impact. If they were injured again, and the others turned on them... things could end very badly. As Gu He charged forward recklessly, the South Dragon King was the first to falter. Even before their joint technique was released, he turned and fled. With him gone, the technique instantly collapsed. The West Dragon King followed soon after, quickly retreating as well. Just as the North Dragon King opened his mouth to curse them for being cowards Gu Hes white-robed form in front of him exploded. A terrifying wave of energy, filled with destructive power, surged outward violently. The North Dragon King was closest. He tried to escape, but it was too late. After only a few steps, the explosion fully detonated, engulfing him entirely. Even the South and West Dragon Kings, though they had fled earlier, were both overtaken by the expanding energy blast. Anything caught by the wave was instantly annihilated. After Gu Hes self-destruction, the void space around them fell into dead silence. Even the brilliant purple flames that had once lit up the area vanished without a trace. "What happened over there?!" "That energy shockwave was terrifying!" "And within that wave... there was a furious, wrathful aura!" Gu Hes self-destruction created a shockwave so immense that it spread across a vast distanceso far, in fact, that even the Ancient Dragon warriors battling in the skies over Dragon Island took notice. As the roaring tremor echoed out, the warriors of all four Dragon Islands suddenly paused mid-battle, eyes turning to the distant void. Each of them understood clearly: the true deciding factor of todays war wasnt the thousands of Ancient Dragon soldiers fighting here. It lay with those five who clashed in the distant void. Once the outcome there was decided, this battlefields fate would be sealed as well. ... Within the distant void, the blast from Gu Hes self-destruction had swept across a massive area. Then, from the shattered black space, came a thunderous dragon roarone filled with mad, murderous fury. Boom! Not long after the roar, a massive dragon clawdozens of meters in lengthcrashed out from the broken space. And then, three colossal dragonseach spanning thousands of metersburst into view. Their enormous blood-red eyes radiated intense hatred, locked firmly onto the direction where Gu He had detonated. These were, of course, the true forms of the Three Dragon Kings. But at this moment, the condition of all three was extremely wretched. Their gigantic dragon bodies were soaked in blood that flowed like streams. Enormous dragon scales, each the size of a grown man, had shattered across their bodies. Wounds as deep as ravines carved through their flesh, some even exposing stark white bone beneath. It was obvious they had survived Gu Hes devastating explosionbut the cost had been massive. The three dragons hovered in the void, radiating an overwhelming dragon might so thick it seemed to shake the heavens and earth themselves. Their roars of rage thundered like explosions across the broken space and echoed far into the distance. Self-destruct? So what? What could he even do to me? The North Dragon King, in his dragon form, scoffed with contempt. But even as he spoke, his crimson eyes turned toward Qingshan, who now stood some distance away. Qingshans heart sank. Seeing that not even one of the Three Dragon Kings had fallen, he couldnt help but feel regret over Gu Hes sacrifice. Yet, despite that, his current condition was far better than any of the three. And hearing the North Dragon Kings mocking words, Qingshan let out a sudden dragon roar of his own. His body surged with energy as he transformedinto a Taixu Ancient Dragon just as massive as the Three Dragon Kings. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 553: Victory! Chapter 553: Victory! "He self-destructedso what can he do to me?" the Northern Dragon King scoffed, his massive dragon form filled with disdain. As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Qingshan, who stood some distance away. Seeing that none of the Three Dragon Kings had died, Qingshan felt a pang of regret over Gu Hes self-detonation. However, his condition was currently far better than any of the Three Dragon Kings. Upon hearing the Northern Dragon Kings mocking voice, he let out a fierce dragon roar and transformed into a Taixu Ancient Dragon just as massive as the other three. At that moment, a thick silver bolt of lightning suddenly shot out from the void again. Before the stunned eyes of the Three Dragon Kings and Qingshan, the lightning morphed back into Gu Hecompletely unscathed, as if nothing had happened at all. "Impossible!" The Three Dragon Kings exclaimed in unison, utterly shocked to see Gu He return unharmed. Naturally, they didnt know that the Gu He who had self-destructed earlier was merely a projection. When the projections time was about to end, Gu He chose to make it self-detonate to maximize its value. The impact of the projections self-destruction was significant. All three Dragon Kings had suffered heavy injuries, and with every passing second, their combat strength was dropping sharply. Qingshan, although surprised to see Gu He emerge unhurt, was inwardly overjoyed. With both his and Gu Hes current states, defeating the Three Dragon Kings was no longer a difficult task. The next moment, Qingshans figure rapidly flashed toward the Three Dragon Kings. The Dragon Kings, snapping out of their daze, opened their ferocious maws and unleashed three enormous beams of light, each hundreds of meters thick. The beams erupted with a terrifying level of destructive power. Even Gu He didnt dare take them head-on. As the three beams surged toward him, he pushed his movement technique to its absolute limit, narrowly dodging the trio of massive light pillars. Boom! The moment Gu He escaped the center of the encirclement, the three beams collided with each other, setting off a terrifying wave of energy. What?! Seeing their attacks miss, the Dragon Kings were visibly enraged. In the next instant, Qingshans counterattack arrived with incredible speed. Since the Northern Dragon King was closest, he took the brunt of itan immense energy blast slammed into his already heavily wounded body, worsening his injuries further. Argh! Damn it! Sensing the worsening state of his body, the Northern Dragon King was furious. He hadnt expected that even with the Three Dragon Kings joining forces, they would lose to East Dragon Island. Soon, the battle erupted into chaos once more. Under these circumstances, both Qingshan and Gu He nearly had the power to take on two opponents each. In one-on-one clashes, any of the Dragon Kings were being thoroughly suppressed. It didnt take long before the Three Dragon Kings injuries reached an extremely severe state. At this level of trauma, it would likely take over a decade to fully recover. We cant keep fighting! At this rate, well die here today! With those two on East Dragon Island, we wont get another chance! Now completely demoralized, the Three Dragon Kings began to retreat. Retreat! The Western Dragon King forced down his inner fear and roared angrily, his figure rapidly pulling back. Beside him, the Southern Dragon King, also panicked, quickly followed suitboth of them fleeing even faster than the Northern Dragon King. "These two cowards!" The Northern Dragon King, seeing the Western and Southern Dragon Kings begin to flee, immediately coughed up a mouthful of golden blood. His speed suddenly surged, and with a few blinks, he vanished into the void space. Although Gu He possessed the combat strength of a three-star Dou Saint, the Three Dragon Kings were all at the late stage of three-star Dou Saint level. With their powerful Taixu Ancient Dragon physiques and mastery over spatial force, if the three of them wanted to escape, even Gu He couldnt stop them. "The Three Dragon Kings ran away!" "Yeah, they actually lost!" The moment the Three Dragon Kings fled, those still fighting desperately on East Dragon Islandsuch as Xuan Mo, Zhu Mu, and otherswere immediately informed. The moment they heard the news, chills ran down their spines. In the next instant, they shot into the air, fleeing in all directions along with several elders from the three islands. Staying any longer would be suicidal. "Master is way too strong!" Watching the tide of battle shift, Zi Yans heart surged with admiration for Gu He. As the ancient dragons of the Three Dragon Islands fled in panic, Zhu Li and Zhu Mo did not give chase. Instead, they immediately began counting the casualties on East Dragon Island. Thanks to the large supply of healing pills brought by Gu He, the losses on East Dragon Island in this battle were relatively minor. "Your Majesty, Dragon Island is safe. The forces of the Three Dragon Islands have all retreated. However, quite a few of the ancient dragon clan members have chosen to stay with us on East Dragon Island," Zhu Mo reported respectfully to Zi Yan shortly after. He was referring to those who had knelt earlier. "Very well. Take them in for now but keep a close watch. Some of them may be spies from the Three Islands," Zi Yan nodded lightly. "Yes. But what about the Three Dragon Kings?" The Grand Elder nodded in response, then hesitated. As long as the Three Dragon Kings lived, they would remain the greatest obstacle to unifying the ancient dragon clan. "Zhu Mo, the Three Dragon Kings are already severely wounded. It will take them more than ten years to fully recover," Qingshan suddenly appeared in the sky above Dragon Island and spoke slowly. Upon hearing this, the entire Dragon Island erupted in cheers. Afterward, Zhu Li, Zhu Mo, Qingshan, and the others quickly began explaining Gu Hes identity to the ancient dragon clan members of East Dragon Island. Through their explanation, these clan members learned that Gu He had, with only a one-star Dou Saint cultivation level, defeated Dragon Kings who were late-stage three-star Dou Saints. And the enormous number of highly effective healing pills had all come from Lord Dragon Emperors teacher. At that moment, everyone on East Dragon Island looked at Gu He with eyes full of respect. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 554: Zi Yan Breaks Through to Three-Star Dou Venerate! Chapter 554: Zi Yan Breaks Through to Three-Star Dou Venerate! Inside the ancient hall, Gu He looked at Zi Yan and spoke gently, "Zi Yan, now that the Three Dragon Kings have been severely wounded, they likely wont have the will to attack East Dragon Island again anytime soon." Hearing this, Zi Yan bowed her head gratefully. "Its all thanks to Master. Without your intervention, I might not have made it out this time..." "Zi Yan," Gu He interrupted softly, "regard the matter of Dragon Island as your trial mission. From this point forward, I will no longer intervene in this region. Before the Three Dragon Kings recover, you must grow stronger and eliminate them yourself. Unite the Ancient Dragon Clan!" The moment Gu He issued this new trial task, Zi Yan''s expression turned incredibly solemn. Around her, Qingshan, Zhu Li, Zhu Mo, and the others all fell silent upon hearing Gu Hes words. "Master, Zi Yan will complete this mission without fail!" Zi Yan replied loudly. Unifying the Ancient Dragon Clan had always been her destiny. Even if Gu He hadnt assigned her the task, she would still strive toward that goal. Now that she had seen the true faces of the Three Dragon Kingsruthless and willing to kill her at any chanceshe knew there could be no peace. Thanks to Gu Hes injuries to them, they would need at least ten years to recover. Zi Yan immediately set herself a goalto surpass them within that time. After explaining a few final matters, Gu He requested to be alone with Zi Yan for a while. Hearing this, the elders of East Dragon Island tactfully exited the grand hall. Soon, only Gu He and Zi Yan remained inside. Once everyone had left, Gu He quickly formed several intricate seals, casting a protective barrier over the hall. "Zi Yan, your recent progress has been remarkable. I hope that this time, through this transfer of power, youll be able to break through," Gu He said frankly. Hearing this, Zi Yan immediately moved forward and sat cross-legged in front of him. "Master, over this period, Ive spent much of my time enduring spatial storms and winds. My physique has improved significantly," she replied seriously. "Good. Prepare yourself now. I will begin the transfer," Gu He nodded. With those words, he placed his palm gently on Zi Yans smooth forehead. Seeing this, Zi Yan promptly closed her eyes and focused her mind. "System, transfer power to fifth disciple Zi Yan!" As Gu He silently commanded, an immense surge of energy flowed from his palm into Zi Yans body. Sensing the overwhelming force, Zi Yan immediately began circulating her cultivation method to absorb it. In just a few short minutes, her cultivation broke through to the peak of the Dou Sect realm. Even after reaching that level, her aura showed no signs of slowing. After a brief buildup, she directly broke through the Dou Sect stage and advanced into the Dou Venerate realm. Sensing her rapid progress, Gu He subtly adjusted the pace of the power transfer, accelerating the energy flow. Under this immense influx, Zi Yans rising momentum continued unabated. After about ten more minutes, a deep internal rumble echoed from her bodyshe had reached Two-Star Dou Venerate. And she didnt stop there. She soared all the way to the peak of Two-Star Dou Venerate! Three-Star Dou Venerate! At last, after stepping into the realm of a Three-Star Dou Venerate, Zi Yan could no longer absorb any more energy. Gu He also withdrew his palm from her forehead, ending the power transfer. Just then, a prompt from the system echoed in Gu He''s mind. "[Ding! Detected that host has granted fifth disciple Zi Yan eight days worth of cultivation. Congratulations, host! You have received a 2000x return: 44 years of cultivation! (Note: 44 years corresponds to the level of a One-Star Dou Saint!)]" "[44 years of cultivation has been deposited into the system space. Please check and collect it in time!]" Gu He was slightly stunned. Now that his own cultivation had reached the true Dou Saint level, the energy Zi Yan absorbed in one go amounted to only eight days'' worth of her growth. The return from the system was a mere few decades of cultivation. At least for now, only Xiao Yixian and Queen Medusa could still offer him system returns on this scale. With her advancement, Zi Yan had officially entered the top tierher cultivation now on par with Xiao Yixian. "Master, I didnt expect Id break through all the way to Three-Star Dou Venerate this time!" Zi Yan exclaimed excitedly after stabilizing her aura. "Zi Yan, Three-Star Dou Venerate is still far from your ultimate goal. You must continue working hard," Gu He gently patted her head in reminder. "Dont worry, Master!" Zi Yan responded with great seriousness. "Though the Three Dragon Kings are seriously injured, the power they can unleash is still considerable. Stay on guard." "After you leave, tell Qingshan and the others that Ill be staying on Dragon Island for a while," Gu He instructed. This was his way of deterring the Dragon Kings while keeping his real movements hidden, even from Qingshans groupespecially since East Dragon Island still harbored spies from the other islands. "Understood, Master!" Zi Yan nodded immediately, fully grasping his meaning. Soon after, Zi Yan left the hall on her own. Gu He, after watching her go, left behind a Void Gate within the grand hall. Then he activated the Great Void Teleportation Technique and returned to the Yunlan Sect. ... "Dragon Emperor is out!" "Look! The Dragon Emperor has emerged!" "Her cultivation has already reached Three-Star Dou Venerate. What in the world happened in such a short time?" "Not even an hour passed, and the Dragon Emperor went from Eight-Star Dou Sect to Three-Star Dou Venerate?" Zi Yan had just exited the hall when many elders immediately sensed the change in her aura. All of East Dragon Islands elders, including Qingshan, were left stunned. "Elders, my master gave me a pill just now. After taking it, my cultivation advanced greatly," Zi Yan casually explained. Then she added, "My master plans to remain in the ancient hall for secluded cultivation. Until he emerges, please make sure no one disturbs him." (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 555 Cai Lin! Chapter 555 Cai Lin! Elders, just now my master gave me a medicinal pill. After I took it, my cultivation immediately broke through quite a bit! Zi Yan casually explained. She then continued, My master intends to enter secluded cultivation in this ancient hall for a period of time. So, before he emerges from seclusion, I hope no one disturbs his venerable self! Hearing Zi Yans words, all the East Dragon Island elders present spoke in unison: We shall respectfully obey the Dragon Emperors command! For an expert like Gu He to be able to stay temporarily on East Dragon Island was something these East Dragon Island elders could only dream of. Unexpectedly, it had now come true, so they naturally had to serve him respectfully. As for Zi Yan, the cultivation speed she displayed had already allowed many members of the Ancient Dragon Tribe to see hope. According to her current cultivation level, she could already match some of the weaker elders. Following this trend, perhaps in a few more years, Zi Yan would be able to reach the strength of those veteran elders. After Zi Yan issued the order, the great hall where Gu He had set up a seal was designated as a forbidden area of East Dragon Island, and no one was allowed to enter. Zi Yan understood that to truly unify the Ancient Dragon Tribe, her cultivation as the Dragon Emperor possessing the royal bloodline was the most crucial factor. When her cultivation reached the Dou Saint realm, countless members of the three islands'' tribes would likely come to pledge allegiance. Right now, she was still too weak. ... In Nine-Colored Valley, Gu He had just returned and recounted some of the events that had occurred on East Dragon Island to Yun Yun. Hearing that Gu He had actually repelled three three-star Dou Saint experts with the cultivation of a one-star Dou Saint, the expression on Yun Yuns face changed dramatically. She had been constantly worried whether Gu He would be injured. It wasn''t until the end, when she heard that Gu He was completely unharmed, that she slowly let out a sigh of relief. Husband, these three Dragon Kings of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe, will they still have other trump cards? Yun Yun asked with some concern. Hearing Yun Yuns words, Gu He also began to ponder seriously. In another timeline, it seemed the North Dragon King ultimately used some kind of Dragon Transformation Demonic Formation. He devoured the flesh and blood of many experts from the three dragon islands, and directly stepped into the terrifying level of a six-star Dou Saint. However, in that timeline, it was because the South Dragon King and West Dragon King had their limbs severed by Zi Yan using the Dragon Slaying Sword, and their strength was greatly damaged. This allowed the less severely injured North Dragon King to find an opportunity to devour the flesh and blood of these West and South Dragon Kings in one fell swoop. Obviously, the current North Dragon King did not meet that condition. During the self-detonation of Gu Hes projection just now, the North Dragon Kings injuries were the most severe among the three Dragon Kings. However, for a deranged person like the North Dragon King, although he no longer had the strength to act against the other two Dragon Islands, there was no guarantee he wouldnt directly target the North Dragon Island, the members of his own governed Dragon Island. Moreover, Gu He also needed to be wary of whether, after suffering such a great loss this time, these three Dragon Kings would seek external help. He considered if they might call upon the Heavenly Demon Phoenix tribe or the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python tribe for assistance. The strength of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix tribe and the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python tribe could not be underestimated. Especially the current Heavenly Demon Phoenix tribe; its patriarch, Huang Tian, might have already reached the cultivation level of a five-star Dou Saint. This level of strength was much stronger than Hun Miesheng, the Hall Master of the Central Plains'' hegemon, the Hall of Souls. If the three Dragon Kings managed to persuade Huang Tian to act, Gu He had no confidence in being able to deal with him. Thinking of this, Gu He couldnt help but frown. Seeing Gu Hes expression, Yun Yun became even more worried, because this was the first time in all these years she had seen Gu He frown like this. Husband, is it that those three Dragon Kings still have some trump cards? Yun Yun asked further. Mm, if those three Dragon Kings really do as I just thought, they could very likely bring out combat power equivalent to a five-star Dou Saint! Gu He nodded and said. A five-star Dou Saint! Hearing Gu Hes words, Yun Yun was also startled. She knew Gu Hes strength clearly. At most, he could only contend with an ordinary four-star Dou Saint. Against a slightly stronger four-star Dou Saint, he could at best ensure he wouldnt suffer a humiliating defeat and would have a chance to escape. However, against an expert at the five-star Dou Saint stage, Gu He had no confidence at all. Yuner, dont worry. Although I cant defeat that five-star Dou Saint right now, give me some more time, and I will definitely be able to do it! Gu He said softly, holding Yun Yuns hand. Husband, go into seclusion with peace of mind. I will handle things with Yu Chen here! Yun Yun said considerately. Mm! Yuner, your husbands seclusion this time wont be too long! Gu He promised, kissing Yun Yuns fair cheek. After this, Gu He directly used the Void Great Teleportation Technique and teleported to a desolate mountain more than twenty thousand li away. Arriving at this desolate mountain, Gu He immediately set up a simple seal and then sat down cross-legged. System, advance those forty-four years of cultivation! As Gu Hes low shout fell in his mind, a purple beam of light immediately shot from the System space into Gu Hes body, transforming into a vast surge of energy. Feeling this immense energy appear within his body, Gu He quickly circulated his cultivation technique, rapidly refining these energies. Soon, a full nine days had passed since Gu He began this seclusion. During these nine days, Gu He had completely absorbed and refined all forty-four years of cultivation returned from Zi Yan. However, even after refining these forty-four years of cultivation, Gu He still hadnt broken through to a two-star Dou Saint. Still a little bit short. If I had another ten-plus years of cultivation, I should be able to break through! Gu He opened his eyes and murmured softly. At this moment, Gu He couldnt help but think of Cai Lin. Back then, the first time he transferred cultivation to Cai Lin, it had allowed her to break through to the peak strength of a nine-star Dou Ancestor. Now, a year and a half had already passed. Perhaps Cai Lin was already able to receive more energy and break through to the Dou Zun realm in one go. Thinking of this, Gu He immediately sensed the location of the Void Jade Talisman. He discovered that there was no Void Jade Talisman in the Demonic Beast Mountain Range, but the one in the desert indicated its presence. Furthermore, just as Gu He was sensing the Void Jade Talismans location, he found that the position of the talisman appearing in the desert was changing rapidly. From the looks of it, it was moving closer to the Medusa Temple. Gu He already knew about the Snake-People Tribe migrating to the Demonic Beast Mountain Range. Seeing the Void Jade Talismans location changing so quickly now, Gu He couldnt help but guess that perhaps Cai Lin was traveling back and forth to the temple to retrieve something. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 556 Transferring Cultivation to Queen Medusa! Chapter 556 Transferring Cultivation to Queen Medusa! After perceiving the direction of the Void Jade Talisman, Gu He quickly used the Void Great Teleportation Technique to return to Nine-Colored Valley. Shortly after this, he set off towards the Tagor Desert. ... In the great Tagor Desert, after Queen Medusa returned to the temple, she did not walk towards the main hall, but slowly headed towards a bamboo forest. After traversing a few quiet paths, Queen Medusas steps halted before a bamboo house hidden in the deepest part of the bamboo forest. Great Elder, the tribe members have now all completed their migration. Please, Great Elder, also move to the Demonic Beast Mountain Range! Queen Medusa said very politely towards the inside of the bamboo house. Your Majesty the Queen, after so many years, the living environment of our Snake-People Tribe has finally been changed by Your Majestys hands! An aged voice came from within the bamboo house. Then, as the bamboo door opened and closed, an old woman appeared before Queen Medusa. This old woman was precisely the Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe. Previously, when the entire Snake-People Tribe migrated, only this Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe remained here, watching over the other three Snake-People Tribe elders who had fallen into a deep slumber. Your Majesty the Queen, that senior is unaware of our Snake-People Tribes migration. What if that senior comes looking for you? the Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe asked with some concern. Hearing this, Queen Medusa was slightly stunned for a moment, then immediately said: Regarding our Snake-People Tribes migration, the surrounding areas, even people from other empires, have already received the news. It wouldnt be difficult for my venerable Master to find out about this matter! Alright, since Your Majesty the Queen has already made plans, this elder will not say more! The Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe nodded and said. Great Elder, you should first take the other three elders back to the Demonic Beast Mountain Range. I still have some matters to attend to at the temple! Queen Medusa said softly. After saying this, Queen Medusa left the bamboo forest. After leaving the bamboo forest, Queen Medusa went directly to the temple. Inside the temple, she inscribed a few lines of text, the general meaning of which was, To esteemed Master, your disciple, Cai Lin, has now migrated with the entire tribe into the Demonic Beast Mountain Range. Your disciple will also be in the Demonic Beast Mountain Range... Just as Queen Medusa finished inscribing this information and was preparing to leave, the space in front of her suddenly distorted violently. Who is it? Detecting this situation, Queen Medusa instantly became vigilant. Vast Dou Qi energy condensed in her fair palm, ready to unleash a powerful attack at any moment. But as a white figure walked out from the distorted space, Queen Medusas guarded expression completely vanished, replaced only by boundless, pleasant surprise. Master, Master is here! Cai Lin pays respects to Master! Queen Medusa immediately took a step forward, then bowed deeply to Gu He in a grand salute. Rise, Cai Lin! Gu He said softly, raising his hand slightly. Master, your disciple was just leaving a message here to inform you about the Snake-People Tribes migration. I didnt expect you to arrive at this very moment! Cai Lin recounted very excitedly. Your master already knows about this! Gu He nodded and said. Its very good that the Snake-People Tribe was able to move to such a fertile place! Cai Lin, do you know where your branch of the Snake-People Tribe originated? Gu He continued. The origin of our Snake-People Tribe? Hearing Gu Hes words, a look of confusion appeared on Queen Medusas face. Master, your disciple does not understand! Queen Medusa shook her head and said. Cai Lin, you should have heard of the Central Plains, right? Its a place tens, even hundreds of times larger than the Northwest Continent! Gu He explained. In the Central Plains, there are three great Demonic Beast families: the Ancient Void Dragon tribe, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix tribe, and the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python tribe. And within that Nine Serene Deep Ground Python tribe, there are thousands upon thousands of Snake-People tribes about the size of yours! The Nine Serene Deep Ground Python tribe, thousands upon thousands of Snake-People tribes! Hearing Gu Hes words, Queen Medusa felt extremely shocked in her heart because the records of the Snake-People Tribe contained no information regarding this aspect at all. In that case, the Nine Serene Deep Ground Pythons should be very strong? Although the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python tribe is strong, they are no match for your Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline, Gu He continued to explain. Though both are descendants of the Ancient Heavenly Serpent, the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python tribe has propagated wantonly over many years, leading to a severe loss of their ancient bloodline within their bodies. They simply cannot compare to your Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline. Your branch of the Snake-People Tribe has an even more diluted bloodline; for it to produce a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline like yours is truly a miracle! Perhaps, one day, when you become a Saint, your branch of the Snake-People Tribe will become the main lineage for all Snake-People! Become a Saint? Hearing Gu Hes words, Queen Medusas face showed some shame. She quickly waved her hands and said, Master, please dont tease me. Ever since you last transferred cultivation to me, allowing your disciples cultivation to reach the peak of the Dou Ancestor level, my cultivation has not progressed at all since then. I still havent been able to break through to the Dou Venerate realm! Cai Lin, your talent is something your master values; how could it be poor? Gu He analyzed. When the time is right, your master will take you to the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python tribe to give you a chance to evolve into the legendary Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python! As for your current state, it cannot be said that youve made no progress. After all, ordinary geniuses need several years, even over a decade, to break through to Dou Venerate. Youve only had a year and a half, so not breaking through to Dou Venerate is actually a very normal phenomenon! Furthermore, although you havent broken through during this period, you have polished your foundation very well. I believe that if I transfer cultivation to you again, breaking through to Dou Venerate should be a very easy matter for you! Master, you intend to transfer cultivation to me again? Queen Medusa asked in surprise. Thats right! Cai Lin, dont be alarmed, Gu He explained upon seeing Queen Medusas reaction. This bit of cultivation power transferred to you is merely a drop in the ocean for your master. However, this drop in the ocean can accelerate your growth by more than ten years, even several decades, and there will be no negative side effects! Is that so? Hearing Gu Hes words, Queen Medusa didnt know what else to say. Dont overthink it. Prepare yourself; your master is about to begin transferring cultivation to you! Gu He said decisively. Alright! Under these circumstances, Queen Medusa did not refuse Gu He and directly sat down cross-legged in front of him. On Gu Hes side, after Queen Medusa sat down, he quickly extended his palm and placed it on her fair forehead. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 557: Queen Medusa Breaks Through to Four-Star Dou Venerate! Chapter 557: Queen Medusa Breaks Through to Four-Star Dou Venerate! "Alright!" In this situation, Queen Medusa did not reject Gu He. She sat cross-legged in front of him without hesitation. As soon as she sat down, Gu He swiftly extended his palm and placed it on Queen Medusas fair forehead. "System, transfer cultivation to my seventh disciple, Cai Lin!" As Gu He gave the command in his mind, an enormous surge of energy began flowing endlessly from his palm into Queen Medusas body. "Boom!" The energy was incredibly vast. The moment Queen Medusa sensed it, she immediately began circulating the Heavenly Serpent Technique, refining and absorbing the continuous influx of energy into her dantian. As the energy continued to pour in, the aura around Queen Medusa surged rapidly and soon reached a critical threshold. At that moment, a strange wave of energy erupted from her body. In the sky above the Medusa Temple, a massive energy vortex several hundred meters wide began to form. It took shape at astonishing speed, greedily drawing in the surrounding natural energy like a whale swallowing water. Seeing this, Gu He sighed internally. If Queen Medusa had broken through using the natural energy of the world, the amount of energy he would need to provide would be significantly reduced. With that thought, Gu He multitasked, forming several hand seals with his other hand to rapidly deploy a sealing formation within the Medusa Temple, isolating Queen Medusas breakthrough aura and preventing external natural energy from flowing in. At that moment, outside the Medusa Temple, the massive energy vortex in the sky instantly drew the attention of the Serpent Tribes Grand Elder, who had only just left the temple area. "Whats going on? Why is such an enormous fluctuation of natural energy appearing? Could it be... Her Majesty the Queen" Staring at the huge vortex in the sky, the Grand Elders aged face first showed confusion, but quickly lit up with joy. "Haha! This must be a heavenly phenomenon caused by Her Majesty breaking through to the Dou Venerate realm!" The Grand Elder laughed aloud, deciding not to leave and instead planning to wait and offer her congratulations the moment Queen Medusa succeeded. However, she had only laughed twice when the massive energy vortex in the sky abruptly began to dissipate. "Wh-what? It just started and its already vanishing?" Seeing this change, unease rose in the Grand Elders heart. Normally, a breakthrough required massive amounts of natural energy to stabilize the new level. But this time, the vortex vanished just seconds after appearingcompletely illogical. "It cant be that Her Majesty failed the breakthrough... No! Impossible! With Her Majestys blessings and fortune, theres no way she would fail so easily!" The Grand Elder shook her head and forcefully suppressed her wild thoughts. Inside the temple, after sealing off the space, Gu He increased the rate of energy transmission. When Queen Medusa reached a certain limit in her absorption, a muffled boom echoed from her body. Then, all the massive energy that had accumulated throughout her body surged like a tide into her dantian. "Excellent. She broke through to Dou Venerate that quickly!" Seeing Queen Medusas state, Gu He felt a surge of delight and increased the energy output once more. Even after reaching the Dou Venerate realm, Queen Medusas cultivation level continued to soar without slowing down. Before long, she had reached the peak of One-Star Dou Venerate. Two-Star Dou Venerate! Peak Two-Star Dou Venerate! Three-Star Dou Venerate! Peak Three-Star Dou Venerate! Four-Star Dou Venerate! In the end, Queen Medusa broke through to the Four-Star Dou Venerate level, which was the limit of what she could currently endure. At that moment, Gu He promptly ended the energy transfer. Right after, a system notification rang out in Gu He''s mind. "[Ding! Detected that the host has bestowed eleven days'' worth of cultivation to the seventh disciple, Cai Lin. Congratulations to the host for receiving a thousandfold return: thirty years of cultivation! (Note: These thirty years correspond to the cultivation level of One-Star Dou Saint!)]" "[Ding! The thirty years of cultivation have been delivered to the system space. Please check and collect them promptly!]" Although the amount of energy Queen Medusa absorbed this time was even greater than what Zi Yan absorbed previously, the return multiplier was only half as much, resulting in a smaller cultivation rebate. Still, with these thirty years of cultivation, Gu He should be able to successfully break through to Two-Star Dou Saint. As for Queen Medusa, her cultivation had now reached an entirely new level. From the very beginning, she had held the highest cultivation level among Gu He''s disciples. Though she had been temporarily surpassed by Little Doctor Immortal, she had now reclaimed her place. With her strength at Four-Star Dou Venerate, she was practically unrivaled across the entire Northwest Continent! "Thank you, Master, for transferring your cultivation!" Having stabilized her aura, Queen Medusa quickly knelt to Gu He in deep gratitude. "Get up. Havent I told you theres no need for such formality between master and disciple?" Gu He said with a trace of displeasure upon seeing her do that. Sensing his displeasure, Queen Medusa immediately rose, though her eyes still brimmed with gratitude. "Master, with my current strength, I seem to have reached Four-Star Dou Venerate. Yet I still cant see through your cultivation at all. May I ask... what level are you truly at?" Queen Medusa asked with a trace of anticipation in her eyes. Hearing her question, Gu He paused briefly, then replied, "My cultivation is no longer within the Dou Venerate realm." "Not within the Dou Venerate realm!" "Master has reached such a level already..." Queen Medusa was shocked by Gu Hes response. However, doubt quickly crept into her heart. "Master, wasnt that expert in Shi Mo City about the same level as you? Back then, you even gave him a Dou Venerate Pill, which could help a Dou Venerate expert increase by a full star!" Queen Medusa asked, puzzled. "I did give him a Dou Venerate Pill," Gu He replied, "but he didnt use it for himself. He took it back for one of his disciples." "So thats how it was!" Upon hearing the explanation, Queen Medusa nodded, half understanding. After chatting with Gu He for a while, the confidence that had just flared up within Queen Medusa was doused once again. If Gu He was no longer within the Dou Venerate realm, and that person from before had been even stronger than Gu He, then perhaps he had already reached one of those legendary realms. Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 558: Mid Two-Star Dou Saint! Chapter 558: Mid Two-Star Dou Saint! "So thats how it is!" Queen Medusa nodded, half-understanding after hearing Gu He''s explanation. After their conversation, the confidence that had just ignited in Queen Medusa''s heart was once again extinguished. If Gu He was already beyond the Dou Venerate realm, and that man had been even stronger than Gu He, then he must have already stepped into one of those legendary realms. Such an existence could still easily destroy her with a wave of the hand, even now that she had reached Four-Star Dou Venerate. Previously, Liu Ling had chosen to help the Snake-People tribe migrate to the Magic Beast Mountain Range. This act had greatly improved the relationship between Liu Ling and the Snake-People, and it also eased tensions between the Jia Ma Empire and the tribe. The two sides were no longer hostile as they had been in the past. Because of this, Queen Medusa no longer harbored much hatred in her heart. Now, what she truly cared about was how to lead her tribe toward a better lifeand she still longed for the day when she could become the legendary Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. Cai Lin, after passing my energy to you this time, it may be years before I return again. These pills will help with your daily cultivation. As he spoke, Gu He took out ten jade bottles from his system space and handed them to Queen Medusa. Inside those ten bottles were seven tier-7 pills and three tier-8 pills. However, the tier-8 pills were products from the rebate system and could not be used to gain further returns. "Thank you, Master." Queen Medusa did not refuse. She first bowed deeply to Gu He, then extended her fair hand and accepted the ten bottles. As soon as she received them, the systems notification echoed in Gu Hes mind. "[Ding! Detected that the host has gifted seven types of pills to the seventh disciple, Queen Medusa. You have two rebate chances remaining this month. Please make your selection.]" Gu He paid little attention to the prompt and casually chose two of the pills. Moments later, two more notifications sounded in his mind, informing him that he had received one tier-9 treasure pill and ten thousand tier-7 pills. Even with such a massive amount of resources, Gu He no longer felt anything. The pills returned to him by the system were like rice or wheat to an ordinary familyabundant and routine. "Master, where do you usually stay? If I ever have the chance, can I come find you?" After putting away the pills, Queen Medusa looked at Gu He with hopeful eyes. Gu He replied, "The place where I reside is extremely, extremely far from here. When you reach the Saint realm, Ill take you there." "Alright." Queen Medusa never disobeyed Gu He. Though she felt reluctant, she still nodded in agreement. The Saint realm was still a distant goal for Queen Medusa. Though she had just broken through from peak Dou Sect to Four-Star Dou Venerate after receiving Gu Hes energy, leaping over many stages in the process, she believed this rapid advancement was only possible because of the vast gap between her and Gu He. As her strength increased, the energy required to advance further would become immeasurable. At that point, Gu He couldnt possibly lower his level to assist her again. And even if he could, she would never accept it. "Ill be going now. Choose your path wisely." After saying that, Gu He tore open space and vanished from the Medusa Temple. The moment he disappeared, the seal within the temple also lifted. "Master..." Queen Medusas gaze lingered on the spot where Gu He had vanished. Moments later, an elderly woman appeared at the entrance of the temple. The one who had arrived was none other than the Grand Elder of the Snake-People Tribe. "This aura... Her Majesty the Queen has truly broken through to Dou Venerate!" "Congratulations to Her Majesty on breaking through to the Dou Venerate realm!" Upon reaching the entrance of the Medusa Temple and sensing the powerful aura emanating from within, the Grand Elder was overwhelmed with emotion and immediately knelt to the ground. Seeing this, Queen Medusa quickly said, "Grand Elder, what are you doing? Please, rise!" "Im just too happy, too excited... Your Majesty, to break through to Dou Venerate at such a young age, you now possess a lifespan of a thousand years. Our Snake-People Tribe will flourish for a long time to come! And if one day you go even further and reach the legendary Saint realm..." the Grand Elder said excitedly as she stood up again. "There will be a day when I reach the Saint realm," Queen Medusa murmured softly. After taking one last look at everything inside the temple, Queen Medusa left the Medusa Temple, taking the Grand Elder and the three unconscious elders with her as they headed toward the new Snake-People settlement in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. There, a brand-new Medusa Temple had already been established. ... Meanwhile, after leaving the Medusa Temple, Gu He opened a portal in the Tagor Desert and used the Grand Spatial Displacement Technique to travel to a distant location, where he once again entered secluded cultivation. This time, after spending three to four days absorbing the thirty years of cultivation returned from his transmission to Queen Medusa, Gu He successfully advanced to the Two-Star Dou Saint level, even reaching the mid-stage of Two-Star Dou Saint. With his current strength at mid Two-Star Dou Saint, if he were to encounter the Three Great Dragon Kings again, he wouldn''t even need Qingshans helphe could handle them on his own. Even against an ordinary Five-Star Dou Saint expert, he would still be able to put up a solid fight. However, the leader of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, Huang Tian, was no ordinary Five-Star Dou Saint. His strength far surpassed even Hun Miesheng, the Hall Master of the Hall of Souls. To the outside world, Hun Miesheng was believed to be at the peak of Four-Star Dou Saint. But Gu He knew that this was just a fac?ade due to the pact among the great imperial clans. The agreement between the major imperial clans was that those with cultivation at Five-Star Dou Saint or higher were not to act lightly. Hun Miesheng''s true strength was actually at early Five-Star Dou Saint, whereas Huang Tian of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan had reached the terrifying level of late Five-Star Dou Saint. Combined with his races powerful body and unmatched speed, his combat power was considered the pinnacle of the Five-Star Dou Saint tier. Of course, if Gu He were to reach Five-Star Dou Saint himself, then Huang Tians so-called pinnacle would not even be worth calling the floor in Gu He''s eyes. Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 559: Danxue Mountain! Chapter 559: Danxue Mountain! Hun Miesheng''s true cultivation was at the early stage of Five-Star Dou Saint. Meanwhile, the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan''s Huang Tian had reached the terrifying late stage of Five-Star Dou Saint. Combined with the powerful physique of the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan and their unparalleled speed, Huang Tians combat strength could be considered the pinnacle among Five-Star Dou Saints. Of course, if Gu Hes cultivation had also reached the Five-Star Dou Saint level, then what Huang Tian considered a ceiling wouldnt even be a floor in Gu Hes eyes. After completing his breakthrough, Gu He did not return to the Yunlan Sect. Instead, he directly used the Void Great Teleportation Technique and reappeared inside the ancient hall on East Dragon Island. This ancient hall was known by the Ancient Dragon Clan as the Dragon Emperor Hall. Ever since Zi Yan had declared her master would go into seclusion there, no one from the Ancient Dragon Clan had dared to enter it. Outside the hall, more than a dozen powerful Ancient Dragon experts stood guard. Once Gu He returned to the Dragon Emperor Hall, he immediately lifted the seal. As the seal vanished, the experts standing guard outside instantly sensed the terrifying aura radiating from Gu He. This aura... it must be from Lord Dragon Emperors master. Its so powerful! Yeah, it seems even stronger than it was before! The dragon clan guards all whispered among themselves, but none of them dared step into the hall. Soon after, Gu He slowly walked out from the hall. Zi Yan, along with the Grand Elder, Second Elder, and several others from East Dragon Island, all arrived quickly to greet him. Master! Zi Yan knew very well that Gu He hadnt truly gone into seclusion there. He had left earlier using secret techniques, so seeing him again now filled her with excitement. The other Ancient Dragon Clan members, unaware of this, believed that Gu He had been in closed-door cultivation for over ten days and had just emerged. Greetings, Master of the Dragon Emperor! Greetings, Master of the Dragon Emperor! The elders of East Dragon Island bowed one after another. Their respect was sincere and not just because of Gu Hes title. Congratulations on your breakthrough! Qingshan and Zhu Mo immediately noticed Gu Hes cultivation had advanced from early One-Star Dou Saint to mid-stage Two-Star Dou Saint. They both stepped forward to offer congratulations. Although they appeared calm on the surface, their hearts were filled with shock. It had only been less than a month, yet Gu He had made such a huge leap. This speed was truly terrifying. However, when they recalled how Gu He had given the Ancient Dragon Clan three ninth-grade treasured pillspills they themselves had consumed and benefited fromthey quickly came to terms with it. At that moment, Qingshan thought back. Back when Gu He was just a One-Star Dou Saint, he had shown the power to contend with the Three Great Dragon Kings. Now, having advanced further, the Dragon Kings wouldn''t be a match for him. Qingshan himself stood even less of a chance. Just a lucky breakthrough, Gu He replied casually. Then he turned to the elders and suddenly asked, Do any of you happen to know where the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan resides? The Sky Demon Phoenix Clan? Upon hearing Gu He suddenly ask about the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan, Qingshan and the other elders of East Dragon Island were visibly puzzled. Even Zi Yan showed a bit of confusion. However, although they didnt know why Gu He was interested in the Sky Demon Phoenix Clans whereabouts, Qingshan and the others didnt question him further. They simply shared everything they knew. Sir, Qingshan said with a sigh, In recent years, our Ancient Void Dragon Clan has rarely shown itself on the Central Plains. Ever since the old Dragon Emperor disappeared and the Three Dragon Kings split the clan into factions, we''ve fallen into internal chaos. Our reputation has faded somewhat... perhaps even less than that of the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan. He continued, The Sky Demon Phoenix Clan resides in the northeastern part of the Beast Region. The place they live has a rather refined nameDanxue Mountain. As Qingshan finished speaking, Zhu Mo added, Ive been to Danxue Mountain once. It stands tall amid the vast, undulating mountain ranges of the Beast Region. The terrain is steep and treacherous, with cliffs and deep ravines crossing in all directions. Towering peaks rise into the clouds, and the whole area feels like youre walking through the heavens. Shrouded in mist, echoing with birdsong and monkey cries, with streams flowing through deep valleys... Its a stunning place. According to legend, Danxue Mountain was once the habitat of the ancient Heavenly Phoenix. As their descendants, the Sky Demon Phoenixes have continued to dwell there ever since. Danxue Mountain... the resting ground of the ancient Heavenly Phoenix. Hearing that key detail, Gu He couldnt help but frown slightly. If that was true, then the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan likely had a deep foundation. Their ancestral land at Danxue Mountain must contain many secrets. Sir, Qingshan said, Our clan and the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan have been enemies since ancient times. Back in our prime, our kind even fed on them. But as for now... He paused mid-sentence. Zhu Mo took over, saying, The Sky Demon Phoenix Clans current leader, Huang Tianif hes still alivehas probably reached the mid-stage of Dou Saint. Not even the Three Dragon Kings would be a match for him. If we werent living in the Void Realm, and if word of our internal strife had spread beyond, I fear the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan wouldve long since taken revenge and launched an all-out assault while we were weak. After hearing their concerns, Gu He replied calmly, Elders, thats exactly why I asked about this. Elder Qingshan, last time, you and I defeated the Three Dragon Kings. They already have a clear understanding of East Dragon Islands current strength. Given their personalities, do you think they would stand by and watch us nurture Zi Yan into a true Dragon Emperor capable of suppressing all dragon clan experts? Isnt it possible that, for their own selfish goals, they might ally with outsiders to attack East Dragon Island? As Gu He spoke, he had already activated a sound-isolating barrier with his power. No one outside the group could hear their conversation. Sir, are you saying the Three Dragon Kings might seek out the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan and use them to strike against East Dragon Islandand the Dragon Emperor herself? Qingshan asked in surprise. I dont think thats likely, Zhu Mo said with a frown. The Three Dragon Kings wouldnt go so far as to invite disaster into their own home for a bit of personal gain. Master, Zi Yan added, Given the long-standing grudge between our clan and the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan, if they learned about our current state, then after dealing with East Dragon Island, theyd surely target the other three dragon islands too. If the Three Dragon Kings really did that, itd be like lifting a rock just to smash their own feet. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 560: The Ruins! Chapter 560: The Ruins! Master, given the deep grudge between the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan and our Ancient Dragon Clan, if they learn of our current state, theyll definitely move against the other three dragon islands after dealing with East Dragon Island. If the Three Dragon Kings really ally with them, its basically lifting a rock to smash their own feet! Zi Yan analyzed. In her heart, she still didnt believe the Three Dragon Kings would do such a thing. However, since Gu He had raised the concern, Zi Yan would remain cautious from now on and keep an eye on the movements of the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan. Gu He also understood clearly. Without any solid evidence, it would be hard for Zi Yan, Qingshan, and the others to accept his speculation. In their minds, even if the Three Dragon Kings had split the clan, crowned themselves kings, and suppressed the royal bloodline, they still wouldnt go so far as to completely betray their own race. So, after stating his warning once, Gu He didnt press the matter further. Zi Yan, Ill be heading to the Beast Region shortly, Gu He said. With that, he departed directly from East Dragon Island. ... Above the azure sky, not a single cloud could be seen. The vast expanse looked like a giant blue mirrorcrystal clear and boundless. Warm sunlight poured down over the mountains and land below. At that moment, a massive shadow suddenly blanketed the sky. As the shadow moved, countless magical beasts below looked up in fear. Some of the stronger ones mustered the courage to glance at the skyonly to see a colossal black flood dragon, thousands of meters in size. It was the Blackscale Ice Flood DragonGu Hes mount. Now, the Blackscale Ice Flood Dragon had already reached the strength of a Three-Star Dou Venerate, qualifying as a powerful figure in its own right. Gu He stood atop the flood dragons back, flying swiftly toward his destinationthe Beast Region. The Beast Region housed nearly seventy percent of all magical beast clans across the Dou Qi Continent. It was a land ruled by beasts, and among them, three dominant clans sat at the top of the pyramid: the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan, and the Nine Nether Earth Python Clan. Among the three, the Ancient Void Dragon Clan hadnt appeared publicly in many years. The Nine Nether Earth Pythons had large numbers, but in terms of top-tier power, they were slightly weaker than the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan. Though the Beast Region wasnt as vast as Central Plains, its size was still astonishing. Its endless mountain ranges, layer upon layer, stretched far beyond the eye could see, exuding a wild and untamed atmosphere unique to this land. While the region was commonly referred to as Ten Thousand Great Mountains, that number was only an estimate. In reality, the number of mountains was far greaterextending into places unreachable by humans. Over the ages, countless treasures had been buried deep within these limitless peaks, waiting to be discovered by those fated. After reaching the Beast Region, Gu He witnessed a rare sight: shape-shifted magical beasts appearing frequently. In this land, such powerful beings were a common occurrence. However, it wasnt just beast experts who roamed heremany human cultivators also came to the Beast Region to train or seek fortune. After flying across the vast, mountainous landscape for an entire day, Gu He and the Blackscale Ice Flood Dragon suddenly spotted something unusual far ahead. A glaring, bone-white color emerged in the distanceits stark contrast with the lush green mountains made it appear especially out of place. Could this be the Bone Mountains? Gu He murmured to himself, staring at the pale sight before him. The Bone Mountains held a notable reputation within the Beast Region. This was because they contained a terrifying Sea of Bonesan area where countless beast skeletons had been discarded over the ages. As time passed, these bones gradually released trace amounts of strange beast energy from within. This energy was useless to humans but served as an excellent supplement for magical beasts. As a result, the Bone Mountains had become a favored gathering place for many beast clans. In Gu Hes memory, deep within the Bone Mountains was an ancient ruin that had yet to fully appear in the world. Some ancient ruins emerged suddenly after long periods not because they were buried underground, but because they existed in separate, isolated spaces. Many were sealed off by powerful spatial barriers. As countless years passed, the strength of those seals gradually weakened. And when the seals completely dissipated, the ruins would resurface once again. Of course, not all ruins required waiting for a natural reappearance. If one knew a ruins exact location, they could try to locate its seal and destroy it manuallyallowing the ancient site to re-emerge. The ruin within the Bone Mountains was actually somewhat well-known across the Central Plains. It was hidden within a spatial seal that, from time to time, developed fractures due to unstable space fluctuations. During these periods, many powerful individuals had attempted to break in. But most ended up escaping in miserable defeat. The reason? Until now, no Dou Venerate had dared to enter. The spatial seal had a restricting effectif a Dou Venerate tried to force their way in, it would trigger a violent backlash. These seals were originally set by a Dou Saint. Even after countless years, the average Dou Venerate still didnt dare to test them with their life. As for true Dou Saints, they either didnt pay attention or found such ruins beneath themunworthy of their time. Thinking about the things hidden within that ruin, Gu He suddenly changed his plan. He temporarily gave up on heading to the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan. Instead, he decided to open the ancient ruin in the Bone Mountains and retrieve the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit stored inside. Zi Yans current cultivation was slightly higher than the version of her from another timeline who had consumed the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit. Even so, it would still be difficult for her to refine the fruit on her own. But with Gu Hes Natal Divine Flame assisting the refinement, it wouldnt be a problem at all. With that thought, Gu He immediately used the Void Thunderflash Technique. His figure turned into a thick bolt of silver lightning and vanished into the void. Before long, he arrived at the heart of the Bone Mountains. Along the way, he had already asked for directions and learned that the entrance to the ruin lay between two nearby peaks, suspended in the sky between them. Arriving at the mountain''s center, Gu He instantly noticed the peculiarity of the space in front of him. The air there shimmered slightly with folds of spatial distortion. The power of this spatial seal... breaking through it shouldnt be too difficult. After sensing the intensity of the seal, Gu He summoned his Natal Divine Flame. Under his control, a purple sea of fire surged forward and rushed straight toward the wrinkled space ahead. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 561: Treasure Hunt! Chapter 561: Treasure Hunt! After sensing the power of the spatial seal, Gu He immediately summoned his Natal Divine Flame. Under his control, a sea of violet flames surged toward the slightly distorted section of space. At the same time, Gu Hes body once again transformed into a thick bolt of silver lightning, flashing straight toward the sealed space. Before long, under the intense scorching of the violet sea of flames, cracks began to appear in the spatial seal. A vast spatial fluctuation swept out in all directions. Each wisp of this fluctuation was powerful enough to kill a peak Dou Ancestor. Even lower-ranked Dou Venerates likely couldnt withstand it. Yet despite the terrifying spatial shockwaves, the violet flames remained largely unaffected, continuing to scorch fiercely. Soon, more and more spatial fissures began to emerge. Seeing this, Gu He finally withdrew his Natal Divine Flame and smashed a heavy punch into the spatial barrier. With that strike, the ancient seal that had existed for countless years completely shattered. An enormous spatial storm erupted, raging outwards. Several towering mountains nearby were flattened instantly. Countless beast bones and corpses below were reduced to dust in the shockwave. Gu He stood unmoving amid the chaos, enduring the violent storm with ease. Moments later, a towering silhouette emerged from within the sea of bonescolossal as a mountain. From afar, it resembled an ancient beast lying dormant in the bone sea, striking fear into the hearts of all who beheld it. It was a great hallso massive it resembled a mountain peak. Compared to this enormous structure, even the branch halls of the Soul Hall in the Black-Corner Region seemed insignificant. The halls surface was entirely crimson, as if wrapped in flame. In the eerie white of the bone sea, it stood out strikingly. No wonder a spatial seal was used to hide it. A structure of this scale would stand out no matter where it was placed! Gu He couldnt help but shake his head as he looked at the crimson hall. A Dou Saint from ancient times had built such a massive ruinsurely, it held tremendous treasures. The next moment, Gu He moved directly to the crimson stone gate. As he approached, he gently raised his hand toward the massive dooreasily weighing tens of thousands of kilogramsand it shattered instantly. He stepped inside without hesitation. Not long after, the dark passage suddenly lit up red. The solid floor slowly cracked open, and scalding crimson magma surged out. At the same time, brilliant blue fire columns violently erupted from the walls of the wide tunnel. Gu He didnt spare a glance at the blue flames. In a flash, he dove straight into the magma below. Though it was his first time here, Gu He knew from memory that the real entrance to the ruin wasnt at the end of the fiery pathbut beneath the molten layer. Soon, he passed through the magma and landed once again on a cold, solid floor. Above him, dozens of meters overhead, the crimson magma twisted and coiled like massive serpents suspended in ringsany ordinary person following the normal route wouldve been trapped in that fiery path for who knows how long. Now, Gu He stood within a vast stone corridor that extended deep into the distance, where a faint view of a plaza could be seen. With just a few flickers of movement, Gu He crossed the stone corridor and stepped onto the plaza. Looking up, he saw at the far end of the plaza an extremely thick stone gate. In front of it stood ten upright figures, unmoving for ten thousand years. Their bodies were as straight as spears, their skin a radiant silver, eyes hollow, expressions blank. Earth Demon Puppets! Gu He was extremely familiar with these mummy-like beings. Back in the day, he had personally refined one himself, though he later deemed it too mediocre and abandoned it. Afterward, Gu He passed on the Heavenly Demon Puppet secret technique to Liu Ling, trading it back for a more practical ancient puppet technique. The puppets outside the stone gate had bodies that gleamed with dazzling silver lightclearly still at the Earth Demon Puppet level, with strength likely at the peak of the Dou Ancestor realm. That already made them quite formidable. No wonder, during previous activations of this ruin, those who entered without any Dou Venerate were completely wiped out. Ten peak Dou Ancestor puppetswithout a Dou Venerate, how many Dou Ancestors could possibly break through? Upon arriving, Gu He didnt hesitate. He walked straight toward the stone gate. The moment the puppets detected him, they lunged with their long spears. But Gu He simply waved his palm once, and five puppets turned to dust. With a second strike, the remaining five were obliterated as well. This stone gate was also reinforced with a spatial seal. Once the puppets were destroyed, a series of grinding mechanical sounds echoed from within the gate, and the heavy door slowly creaked open. As the gate opened, an ancient, desolate aura slowly drifted out. Sensing this aura, a smile spread across Gu Hes face. Without hesitation, he stepped through the gate. Beyond it was a colossal great hall, so vast that standing within it made Gu He seem minuscule. Around the hall stretched numerous deep corridors, their ends fading into shadow. Gu He proceeded through several corridors. Occasionally, he came across pills, Dou Techniques, and cultivation methods. The pills were all high-grademostly sixth-tier and above. The scrolls for Dou Techniques and cultivation arts were no less valuable, mostly of Earth rank. Gu He took them all without hesitation, storing them directly into his system space. Before long, Gu He arrived at the central core of the hall. Here, the fragrance of medicinal pills was dozens of times stronger than elsewhere. Right before him stood an ancient palace building. Its exterior carried an overwhelming archaic presence. Above its entrance were two grand characters, bold and majestic: Pill Hall! This was exactly what Gu He had been searching for. Without delay, he entered. The first floor of the Pill Hall contained numerous alchemy rooms. The pills inside were on par with those in the other corridors and pavilions. Since there was no one else competing for them, Gu He simply cleaned out the entire floor. Only after completely looting the first floor did he slowly ascend to the second level of the Pill Hall. Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 562: Pill Beast! Main Hall! Chapter 562: Pill Beast! Main Hall! The first floor of the Pill Hall contained many alchemy rooms. The pills here were of similar grade to those found in the corridors and towers below. Since no one was around to compete with Gu He, he cleared out the entire floor with ease. After looting all the treasures from the first level, Gu He slowly ascended to the second floor. As soon as he stepped into the second level, he noticed that the air was laced with poison. However, the toxin wasnt even strong enough to approach himit was completely blocked outside his body. The pills on the second floor were of noticeably higher quality than those on the first. Gu He spread out his soul power and swept up all the pills he detected, storing them into his system space. In no time, the entire second floor was picked clean. He soon found the path leading to the third level and stepped onto it. The third floor of the Pill Hall was incredibly vast. Its surroundings were filled with many large alchemy chambers, grander in design and atmosphere than the lower levels. However, the poisonous air here was far more intense. It could even corrode Dou Qi and posed a genuine threat to ordinary Dou Venerates. Gu He stepped toward the first alchemy chamber within sight. The room was spacious and tidy. With just a glance, he spotted an ancient pill recipe and a sealed bottle of pills. Judging from the faint medicinal fragrance leaking from the bottle, they were likely seventh-tier pills. As for their effects, he would need to inspect them more closely. After raiding several more chambers, Gu He suddenly detected a white figure flicker inside one of the distant rooms. Looking closely, he saw a small creature covered in snowy fur. It resembled a cat but was much rounder and plumper, giving off a clumsy and docile appearance. Yet it emitted no energy fluctuations and seemed like nothing more than a normal beast. But Gu He knew exactly what it wasthis was a Pill Beast, formed from an eighth-tier pill that had undergone the Nine-Colored Pill Lightning. Despite its ordinary appearance, it was the result of a powerful pill gaining sentience. At that moment, the little creature also noticed Gu He. It turned and tried to flee, hoping to escape his line of sight. Heh, trying to run after bumping into me? With a single thought, Gu He locked the surrounding space. The Pill Beast froze mid-step, completely unable to move. Its eyes bulged in panic, limbs twitching helplessly. Gu He extended his hand toward the creature and drew it into his grasp with a light wave. Even in his hand, the small beast continued trembling and struggling violently. This was only an eighth-tier pill that had survived Nine-Colored Pill Lightning, yet its spiritual awareness was already this developed. If it were a ninth-tier pill, the resistance would be even stronger. Fortunately, all the pills Gu He had received from the system were returned directlynone developed sentience or resisted him. After storing away the Pill Beast, Gu He resumed scouring the chambers on this level. Before long, he collected another five or six eighth-tier pills. However, he didnt come across any more Pill Beasts. A pill needed to at least endure Seven-Colored Pill Lightning to have a chance of forming a beast. Once he cleaned out the entire third floor, Gu He leisurely exited the Pill Hall. This time, he had harvested a total of eleven eighth-tier pills, one to two hundred seventh-tier pills, and several thousand sixth-tier pills. Although this was still far fewer than the enormous quantity in his system space, those were system returns. These, on the other hand, could all be subjected to ten-thousand-fold returns later. Leaving the Pill Hall, Gu He began searching for the location of the ruins main hall. The ancient ruins turned out to be more complex than he expected. The winding corridors made it feel like navigating a giant maze. Fortunately, Gu Hes spiritual sense was strong, allowing him to sense far into the distance. Along the way, he even found a map. Thanks to that, the feeling of being lost only lasted about ten minutesthen Gu He finally located the place hed been searching for. After stepping out from a corridor, Gu Hes view suddenly widened. He walked forward a bit more, and finally, an enormous ancient main hall came into sight. The entire hall gleamed with a bronze-gold hue. Years of erosion had deepened the luster, and from each stone slab exuded an aura of time-worn antiquityan oppressive sense of age that seemed to silence everything around it. The hall was vast. A human standing inside appeared as small as an ant. At the very center of the hall floated ten massive orbs of light. Suspended in mid-air, these glowing spheres were dazzling and radiant, and within the blinding brilliance, one could faintly glimpse scroll-like objects hidden inside. At the center of these ten light orbs stood a stone pedestal. Atop it sat a skeleton, jade-white from head to toe, legs crossed, fingers locked in a hand seal. Gu He instantly understoodthis corpse had once belonged to a Dou Saint, and not an ordinary one at that. Otherwise, its body wouldn''t still emit such powerful energy after so many years. Upon seeing the skeleton, Gu He stepped directly into the grand hall. As he walked in, he noticed that around the towering stone pedestal were over a dozen figures sitting cross-legged. Their bodies were entirely stone-gray, resembling statues from afar, their eyes shut tight. It was impossible to tell how long they had remained like this. These were puppetsand each of them possessed the strength of a Dou Venerate. If a group of Dou Ancestors had made it here instead, they likely wouldnt have been able to take anything from this place. Gu He didnt even glance at the puppets or the ten floating orbs of light. His gaze was fixed squarely on the skeleton atop the pedestal. That corpse was the most valuable treasure in this main hallbecause hidden within its body was a Heaven-rank Dou Technique. After observing for a few moments, Gu He stretched out his hand and grasped toward the skeleton. Instantly, all the surrounding seals shattered. The ten orbs of light fell to the ground, and the jade-white skeleton was quickly pulled toward him. At that moment The dozen Dou Venerate-level puppets sitting around the pedestal suddenly stirred. In an instant, they launched an attack on Gu He, who was absorbing the skeleton. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 563: The Ancient Forest! Chapter 563: The Ancient Forest! At the same time, the dozen or so puppets with Dou Venerate-level strength that had been seated cross-legged suddenly moved, launching attacks toward Gu He, who was in the midst of absorbing the remains of the Dou Saint. Facing the assault of these puppets, Gu He remained unfazed. He accelerated his movements, and in an instant, the Dou Saints remains were drawn over and stored into his system space. Only after all of this was done did the attacks from the puppets fully activate. Gu He, with his back turned to them, simply walked out of the hall. As soon as he stepped out of the grand halls doorway, the puppets suddenly seemed to lose their target. One by one, they returned to their original positions, resuming their cross-legged postures atop their mats. ... By now, nearly all the treasures in the grand hallpills, battle techniques, cultivation methodshad been looted by Gu He. What remained to be found was the primary goal of this expedition: the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit. According to the map he had previously obtained, Gu He passed through more than a dozen corridors and finally arrived at the end of the last passage. There, he found an extremely ancient stone gate, densely covered in moss. The greenish hue gave off a sense of the ages gone by. Rumble! With a wave of Gu Hes sleeve, a deep grinding sound echoed as the moss-covered, heavy stone gate slowly creaked open. A thick wave of medicinal fog, sealed for countless years, poured forth, invigorating Gu Hes spirit. Smelling the rich fragrance, a gleam of delight flashed in Gu Hes eyes. He exerted more force and fully opened the stone gate. In the instant the gate opened, dazzling light burst out from within, so intense that Gu He had to narrow his eyes. Only after the brilliance faded slightly did he open them again. Behind the stone gatewhere there should have been a stone chamberinstead appeared a vast forest: an ancient forest composed entirely of rare medicinal herbs! Everywhere he looked were massive patches of herbs that were incredibly rare in the outside world. Even Gu He, with his experience, had never seen such abundance. As Gu He stepped into the forest, he didnt try to harvest everything indiscriminately. Instead, he carefully selected the herbs before beginning to pick. The age of the herbs here was also generally much older than those found outside. ... This expansive ancient forest was filled with drifting fragrances, and a faint mist hovered in the air. Occasionally, small beasts darted out from the underbrush. The peaceful atmosphere resembled that of a celestial realm. Moreover, after countless years of evolution, this ancient forest had developed into a world of its own. It harbored many magical beasts, most of which were ancient species with formidable combat strength. For over twenty minutes, Gu He continued harvesting herbs without encountering the forests endproving how grand the handiwork of that ancient Dou Saint truly was. Along the way, Gu He spotted many magical beasts within the forest. However, using his soul power to mask his presence, he avoided being discovered and did not kill a single beast. As he continued deeper, it wasnt long before a lake nearly ten zhang across appeared in his vision. The lake water was exceptionally clear, yet its bottom could not be seen. In the center of the lake was a small patch of floating land, like a tiny island. Atop that island stood a very peculiar-looking small tree. The tree was entirely silvery-gray. Its entwining branches resembled vines, twisting into strange arcs. From a distance, the shape of the plant looked like a large, pregnant woman with a swollen belly. And within the belly-shaped structure formed by those branches, a radiant golden light faintly shimmered. "So there really is a Soul Infant Demon Tree here!" Seeing the oddly shaped plant, Gu He spoke joyfully. The Soul Infant Fruit nurtured by this tree was a rare treasure for tempering the soul. It not only benefited humans but also had powerful effects on magical beasts. Because of this, such a treasure was almost always guarded by some beast. As Gu He began approaching the Soul Infant Demon Tree, the once-calm lake suddenly erupted with massive waves. From within the water, a giant shadow swiftly surfaced. With a loud splash, it broke through the lake''s surface, revealing enormous eyes that stared at Gu He with ferocity. The creature was shaped like a serpent. Its long, lean body was covered in cyan-colored scales. Though only a small portion was above the water, it was clear the beast was massive. On top of its head was a long jet-black horn. Strange patterns marked the horn, and faint blue light flickered along its surface. A Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon. This ancient magical beast was something Gu He had only seen recorded in ancient texts. In the distant past, it was well-known for its strength. It was said that the Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon carried the bloodline of the dragon race. If it could wash away impurities and survive multiple lightning tribulations, it might eventually evolve into a being with the bloodline of a Primordial Void Dragon. But in todays Dou Qi Continent, such creatures were practically extinct. "To think its actually a Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon," Gu He said with a light smile as he looked at the massive beast. Then he added, "Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon, Im taking the Soul Infant Fruit. For the many years youve spent guarding the Soul Infant Demon Tree, if you want any form of compensation, feel free to ask." After speaking, Gu He unleashed the full force of his auraone that only a Dou Saint could possess. The Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon was only at the peak of the seventh rank. The moment it felt Gu He''s power, the fierceness in its massive pupils vanished. In its place appeared a very human-like mix of reluctance and fear. A second later, the creature lowered its head and quietly sank back beneath the surface of the lake. Seeing it submit so easily, Gu He retracted his aura and stepped onto the small island at the lakes center, coming to stand beside the Soul Infant Demon Tree. Up close, Gu He noticed that nestled within the belly-like formation of overlapping branches were two golden fruits, each about the size of a fist. They looked just like infantsremarkably lifelike, almost as if they were real. A faint, delicate fragrance drifted from them, filling Gu He''s soul with a subtle joy and comfort. Without wasting time, Gu He cut off a thick branch from the Soul Infant Demon Tree and quickly carved two rough wooden boxes. The Soul Infant Fruit was extremely specialit couldnt be stored in any ordinary container. If placed in anything else, it would gradually evaporate. The only material that could store it safely was the very wood of the demon tree itself. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 564: Beast Spirit Barrier! Chapter 564: Beast Spirit Barrier! Without any delay, Gu He cut off a thick branch from the Soul Infant Demon Tree and quickly crafted two rough wooden boxes. The Soul Infant Fruit was extremely uniqueit couldnt be stored in any other container, or else it would slowly dissipate. The only thing that could hold it safely was the wood from the tree itself. After finishing the boxes, Gu He carefully cut through the overlapping branches and neatly clipped off the two sections bearing the fruits. He gently placed them into the wooden boxes. With a flip of his palm, he stored them into his storage ring. "This tree trunk... it seems I can take it too." After collecting the fruits, Gu Hes eyes shifted to the body of the tree itself. The next moment, Gu He rose into the air. A surge of energy erupted from his palm, and with brute force, he lifted the entire island from the lake and suspended it in the air. In a flash, the huge chunk of moist soil, along with the Soul Infant Demon Tree, was stored into his system space. After finishing all of this, Gu He didnt immediately leave. Instead, he spoke calmly toward the Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon hiding beneath the lake. "Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon, although the Soul Infant Fruit is excellent for strengthening the soul, magical beasts focus mainly on cultivating their bodies. Soul enhancement isnt especially effective for you." "I have two types of pills here that are specifically used to temper a beasts physical bodythey should help you quite a bit. Also, since you carry ancient dragon blood, transforming is especially difficult. Ill give you a Transformation Pill as well, in exchange for the Soul Infant Fruit." Transformation Pill! The moment Gu He said this, a flash of brilliance appeared in the eyes of the Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon beneath the lake. A moment later, Gu He, still hovering above the water, took out three jade bottles and tossed them toward the lake. Just before they reached the surface, a giant bloody maw suddenly burst from the water. With a splash, the mouth snapped shut, swallowing the three jade bottles in one gulp before disappearing back beneath the lake. Gu He, having delivered the Transformation Pill, left the area quickly and resumed his search deeper into the ancient forest. As he ventured further, the magical beasts he encountered grew stronger. He even came across a mid-tier eighth-rank beast. Most of these magical beasts were guarding precious natural treasures. For those who were docile, Gu He would leave a bit of compensation after taking the items they protected. But for the ferocious and unreasonable ones, Gu He had no choice but to teach them a lesson. In just a short time, the harvest he gained was tremendous. Compared to the medicinal herbs he had obtained by looting all the sects of the Black-Corner Region, this ancient forests yield was on a completely different level. As he continued his exploration, Gu Hes soul power swept through the forestuntil he suddenly noticed a massive region ahead. Strangely, not a single magical beast existed in that area. This discovery piqued Gu Hes curiosity. He swiftly headed toward the zone he had just sensed. A place so large without any beasts usually meant one of two things: First, the area might be too barren and lacking in resources, making it unfit for beasts to inhabit. Second, there might be something present in that place which all magical beasts greatly fearedso much so that none dared to approach. Considering the second possibility, Gu He began a more careful search. Yet even with his soul probing the surroundings, he couldnt find any particularly powerful or well-hidden magical beast. Suddenly, Gu He furrowed his brows and slowly walked toward a vast patch of smooth, lush green grass ahead. At first glance, the area looked completely ordinary. But Gu He sensed faint spatial ripples emanating from it. "Could this be... the Beast Spirit Barrier that conceals the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit?" Recalling the memory in his mind, Gu He suddenly thrust his palm forward, suppressing his power to unleash a wide, sweeping beam of Dou Qi. Boom! Under the force of that vast Dou Qi energy, countless patches of grass were uprooted, and even the surrounding space trembled violently. But when the energy reached a certain spot, it was as if it had slammed into a thick, invisible wall. A loud impact echoed before the energy scattered into the air. Seeing the attack blocked, Gu He narrowed his gaze on the empty space where his Dou Qi had vanished. Suddenly, a golden light appeared out of thin air. It formed the shape of an inverted bowlrounded at the top, covering an area of about ten zhang. Seeing this golden barrier, Gu He spoke with some surprise, "So this is a Beast Spirit Barrierformed only when exceptionally powerful magical beasts perish!" This kind of barrier could only be opened by someone who shared the same bloodline as the beasts that created it. If one tried to break through by force, the space inside would destabilize, destroying everything within. Gu He remembered that this particular Beast Spirit Barrier had been formed from the deaths of a powerful Taixu Ancient Dragon and an ancient Heavenly Phoenix. He didnt possess the blood of a Heavenly Phoenix But he did have a drop of Zi Yans essence blood. Gu He quickly used that drop of blood to draw a mark onto the Beast Spirit Barrier. Under his watchful gaze, the area touched by Zi Yans blood began to ripple with strange spatial fluctuations. A moment later, a faint purple crack slowly tore open on the golden barrier. As the crack appeared, Gu He didnt hesitate for a secondhe stepped right in. The moment he entered, the golden light rippled, and the crack vanished instantly. Upon entering the Beast Spirit Barrier, Gu Hes surroundings changed immediately. The lush forest was gone. In its place stretched a desolate plain. The plain was vast, covered in blood-red sand, as if dyed by centuries of slaughter. Amid the red, there were patches of bone-whitelike bleached ash. Looking ahead, Gu He spotted a massive, ancient stone altar at the center of the plain. It stood over a hundred zhang tall. A faint pressure radiated from it, but it didnt affect Gu He at all. With a flash, he appeared atop the altar. Up close, the ancient, timeworn atmosphere of the altar swept over him. He stood at its midpoint. Looking up, he could see a staircase of green stone stretching all the way to the summit. Without pause, Gu He flickered once again, arriving at the top. There, in the center of the altar, was a stone platform colored gold and purple. At its center was a half-foot-wide groove. And within that groove A tiny sapling had begun to grow. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 565: The Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit! Chapter 565: The Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit! When Gu He reached the summit of the altar, he could clearly see a golden-purple stone platform at the center. Atop this platform was a half-foot-deep recess, and from within that recess, a tiny sapling had sprouted. Though no thicker than a thumb, the sapling curled and coiled like a miniature dragon. Suspended at the top of the tree was a single fruit. The fruit was roughly the size of a palm and glowed with golden and purple hues. Upon closer inspection, the purple half resembled a miniature, coiled Primordial Void Dragon, while the golden half took the form of a dancing Ancient Heavenly Phoenix. This must be the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit! Even Gu He, calm as he was, felt his heart stir at the immense energy emanating from the fruit. Its power even surpassed some Tier-9 pills. Consuming it directly could lead to a massive breakthrough in strength. However, the effects varied greatly depending on the usersomeone with Void Dragon or Heavenly Phoenix bloodline would benefit far more than an ordinary person. Gu He had come for this fruit specifically to prepare it for Zi Yan. This would be a monumental opportunity for her. If everything went smoothly, Zi Yans strength could leap all the way to the three-star or even four-star Dou Saint realmsurpassing Gu He himself. And of course, Gu He would receive his share of karmic return for this offering. In the next moment, Gu He took out a specially crafted jade bottle. He extended it toward the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit and gently inhaled. The fruit dissolved into a stream of golden-purple liquid and was drawn into the bottle. After leaving the Beast Spirit Dome, Gu He continued to scour the ancient forest for more medicinal herbs. While he was sweeping through the regions rare plants, outside the ruins in the Bone Mountain Range, more and more people began to discover the site. Excited, numerous human and magical beast powerhouses rushed toward the grand halls entrance. Most of them had no idea about the fire paths secrets. They fought their way forward, trying desperately to reach the end of the fiery road. A few who did know the truth quietly entered the magma below, keeping their knowledge to themselves. After all, the fewer people who knew, the fewer rivals they''d have. Soon, several humans and magical beast experts reached the area beneath the fire path and charged toward the square. The puppets are gone. Looks like a top expert got here before us! When they reached the square, they were surprised to find the puppets guarding the entrance had vanished. The ancient stone gate had already been opened. Lets go! This ruin is massive. Even if someone got here first, they couldnt have taken everything! After a brief pause, the group pressed forward and rushed through the opened gate. By this time, Gu He had collected enough herbs. He left behind a spatial gate and activated the Great Void Displacement Technique, warping directly back to East Dragon Island within the Void Realm. Those who entered the Dou Saint ruins after Gu He searched the grand hall for a long while. In the end, they were forced to admiteverything had already been taken. Not a single pill, combat technique, or cultivation scroll remained. Only when someone discovered the ancient forest behind the stone gate did they regain a shred of hope. That part of the ruins still had herbs left untouchedones Gu He hadnt bothered with. To the Dou Zong-level humans and magical beasts, even these leftovers were considered valuable gains. ... Originally, Gu He had intended to investigate the Heavenly Demon Phoenix tribe next. But after unexpectedly acquiring the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit, he decided to focus first on advancing Zi Yans cultivation. Even if the Three Dragon Kings contacted the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan, they couldnt move faster than he could prepare Zi Yan. After returning to East Dragon Island, Gu He gave Zi Yan a few medicinal herbs to help adjust and strengthen her body. Once the proper time came for absorption, he brought out the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit. ... Zi Yan, Eldersdo you recognize this item? Gu He took out the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit and asked calmly. This... could it be the legendary Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit?! The moment they saw the fruit, Qingshan, Zhuli, and the others widened their eyes in shock, their gazes filled with delight and awe. Thats right, Gu He nodded, seeing their expressions. Though the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit had only appeared a handful of times in the history of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe, Qingshan and the others recognized it at a glance. To think you actually obtained such a priceless treasure... Youre truly someone blessed by fate, Qingshan marveled with a click of his tongue. This Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit was something I acquired during the recent expedition to the Beast Domain, Gu He said simply, then briefly described the Beast Spirit Barrier and the ancient ruins. I see... Hearing Gu Hes explanation, a trace of sorrow appeared on the faces of Qingshan, Zi Yan, and the others. The ancient Void Dragons who had perished within the Beast Spirit Barrier had once been their revered ancestors. Zi Yan, youll be the one to consume this Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit. Do your best to make full use of its power. Gu He declared this with firm decision. Master... Zi Yans expression immediately turned serious upon hearing his words. For the Dragon Sovereign to absorb the fruit is indeed the best choice, Qingshan said excitedly, understanding Gu Hes intention. Zi Yan carried the royal bloodline of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe. Once she entered her maturity, she would ascend as the new ruler of the clan. Given her lineage and high potential at a young age, she was the ideal candidate for absorbing the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit. Indeed, sir. The Dragon Sovereign is the most suitable for this, Zhuli agreed, but... the success rate of absorbing the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit is quite low. Yes, Qingshan added with a nod. Historically, there have only been two successful cases. One was when the Heavenly Phoenix tribe obtained the fruit. That led to the birth of a super powerhouse in their ranksso strong that our Ancient Void Dragon clan was completely suppressed during that era. Thankfully, centuries later, our own clan obtained a Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit and managed to restore the balance. But during the final war between the two clans, those two super-bloodline warriors perished together in battle. Since then, the Heavenly Phoenix tribe gradually faded from the world. The Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit also vanished from history. This is the first time in my life Ive seen it with my own eyes. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44 Chapter 566: Ten Thousand Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruits! Chapter 566: Ten Thousand Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruits! Qingshan nodded and said, Since that day, the Heavenly Phoenix clan gradually faded from existence, and the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit never appeared again. This is the first time in my entire life that Ive seen it with my own eyes! Dont worry, Gu He said. Although Zi Yans cultivation isnt especially eye-catching among the Ancient Void Dragon clan, she already possesses the foundation needed to absorb the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit. Ill supervise the entire process myself. If anything goes wrong and shes unable to refine it, Ill step in to assist. With your confidence, were reassured, Qingshan nodded. He knew very well that Gu He would never do anything to harm his disciple. If he had decided to let Zi Yan refine the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit, it meant he was confident in its success. Master, Zi Yan said solemnly, dont worry. Ill give it everything I have to absorb the fruits power. I wont waste a single bit of it. Good! Prepare yourselfwe begin the refinement today, Gu He nodded. ... Very soon, Zi Yan was escorted by Gu He, Qingshan, and the others to the altar inside the Dragon Sovereign Hall. Zi Yan, begin. Gu He lifted the golden-purple liquid energyrefined from the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruitwith his soul power and placed it in front of Zi Yan. Seeing this, Zi Yan, seated cross-legged on the altar, opened her small mouth. A wave of suction pulled the gold-purple liquid directly into her belly. At that very moment, in Gu Hes mind, a system prompt suddenly echoed. Ding! Detected that the host has gifted the fifth disciple Zi Yan a Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit. Congratulations! You have received a ten-thousand-fold return1,0000 Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruits! One thousand Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruits have been delivered to the system storage space. Host, please check. One... thousand... Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruits?! Gu Hes expression froze. A thousand Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruitswhat kind of concept was that? As Qingshan and Zhuli had just said, this fruit had appeared only a handful of times in the entire history of the Ancient Void Dragon clan. Only two had ever been successfully absorbedand both times, they had given rise to peerless powerhouses. And now, with the systems return, Gu He had obtained a thousand of them in one go. Even if the success rate was only one percent, distributing these fruits across the Ancient Void Dragon clan would yield terrifying results. Once someone awakened the Ancient Dragon-Phoenix bloodline, as long as they didnt die prematurely, their future as a top-tier powerhouse would be guaranteed. Even those who didnt awaken the full bloodline but absorbed part of the fruits energy would still experience an overwhelming boost in strength. At this moment, Gu Hes mind was running at full speed, calculating how best to use the thousand Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruits. On the altar, the golden-purple energy was already flowing through Zi Yans body. She sensed the massive wave of power and immediately activated her cultivation method, trying to absorb it into her meridians, flesh, and bones. However, the sheer magnitude of this energy far exceeded her expectations. It was many times greater than even the energy Gu He had transferred to her before. As the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruits energy spread through her body, Zi Yans refinement speed quickly fell behind the speed at which the energy was surging through her. Before long, strange crystalline layers, shimmering like ice crystals, began to form within Zi Yans body. Due to these strange formations, the speed at which Zi Yan could circulate her cultivation method sharply dropped. This triggered a chain reaction. The crystalline layers began to multiply rapidly, and in just a short while, they had spread enough to cause Zi Yans consciousness to grow hazy. The energy from the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit is simply too vast. The Dragon Sovereigns refinement speed cant keep up with its rate of penetration! Down below the altar in the great hall, Qingshan and the others wore visible expressions of concern as they witnessed this scene. Shes still just a bit short of whats needed... Gu He had also noticed the problem. In the next moment, a surge of violet flame erupted from his body. Seeing Gu He summon his natal divine flame, Qingshan and the others immediately understood what he intended. These Dragon-Phoenix crystalline layersformed from the energy of the fruitcould only be counteracted by heaven-and-earth treasures like Heavenly Flames. Moments later, under the watchful gaze of Qingshan, Zhuli, and Zhu Mo, Gu Hes soul power surged outward, wrapping around the violet flame as he carefully guided it toward the unconscious Zi Yan seated on the altar. Even with the flame tightly sealed by Gu Hes soul power, the temperature within the hall began to rise steadily. After adjusting the flames intensity, Gu He directed a wisp of the divine fire into Zi Yans body. Inside, the Dragon-Phoenix crystalline layers began to emit faint, peculiar glimmers. The glowing crystal light flowed like a liquid, radiating a terrifying energy that made the heart tremble. The violet flame wrapped in Gu Hes soul power made direct contact with the solidified crystalline layers. At first, there was no reaction. The crystal didnt show any signs of melting. But Gu He remained calm. He had intentionally suppressed the flames power earlier to avoid harming Zi Yan. In fact, he hadnt even released one-tenth of its full strength. Now, having tested the reaction, he began to raise the temperature. As the divine fire grew hotter, faint hissing sounds emerged where it touched the crystals. And finally, under the intense contact, the impossibly tough crystalline energy began to soften. A droplet of violet-golden liquid slowly emerged at the point of contact. The Dragon-Phoenix crystals are melting! Though tiny, that droplet didnt escape the eyes of Qingshan and the others. Suppressed but joyous voices rang out instantly. Whew... Grand Elder Qingshan quietly exhaled. The tightly clenched fist in his sleeve slowly loosened. This was just the first step, but it proved Gu Hes flame was capable of melting the Dragon-Phoenix crystalline layers. And that was already a tremendous success. If they simply maintained this, it was only a matter of time before all the crystalline layers were completely melted away. After confirming the optimal temperature, Gu He separated ten more wisps of violet flame, wrapping them carefully in soul power and guiding each into different parts of Zi Yans body. (End of Chapter) Want More Chapters? Get Early Access Now! Join my Patreon and unlock 20 chapters instantlyplus, youll gain access to 60+ chapters weekly across 8 fics! Your support helps me continue creating and keeps the stories coming. ???? Patreon: /anish_44 ? Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44