Five Years of Cultivation

Watching Xiao Yi Xian crouch before him, Gu He smiled faintly before slowly pressing his palm against her back.

"System, begin transferring cultivation to Xiao Yi Xian." Gu He closed his eyes and silently commanded in his heart.

At Gu He's command, a stream of Dou Qi within his body began gathering toward his palm before pouring into Xiao Yi Xian's body.

Xiao Yi Xian had been curiously wondering what her teacher intended to pass on to her when she suddenly felt a massive surge of energy rushing madly into her body through his palm.

At the same time, intense pain swept through her body.

"Focus your mind and remain calm. Do your best to receive this power."

"If you can't endure it, speak up."

Gu He's somewhat stern voice sounded beside Xiao Yi Xian's ear.

Hearing this, the panic in Xiao Yi Xian's heart instantly subsided. She forcibly endured the pain within her body and focused on absorbing the power.

As the power from Gu He's palm poured into her, Xiao Yi Xian's cultivation rapidly rose.

With a muffled bang, Xiao Yi Xian broke through to the sixth stage of Dou Qi!

A moment later, Xiao Yi Xian's aura changed once more as she broke through to the seventh stage of Dou Qi!

At this moment, perhaps because the external power was too violent, a trace of pallor had appeared on Xiao Yi Xian's pretty face.

Yet Xiao Yi Xian still clenched her pearly teeth and held on.

Before long, Xiao Yi Xian's aura changed once again.

Eighth stage of Dou Qi!

Ninth stage of Dou Qi!

"Ah..."

Just as she was about to break through to the Dou Zhe realm, Xiao Yi Xian finally could no longer endure it.

She felt that if this continued, her body would explode. Unable to hold back, she cried out.

"Teacher, this disciple can't bear it anymore."

Hearing Xiao Yi Xian's voice, disappointment flashed through Gu He's eyes. However, he did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately stopped pouring Dou Qi into her.

Xiao Yi Xian had already reached her limit. If he forcibly continued the empowerment, it would damage her body.

"Ding! Detected that the host has granted Second Disciple Xiao Yi Xian two days of cultivation. Congratulations, host, for triggering a thousandfold return and receiving Five Years of Cultivation." (Note: Five Years of Cultivation corresponds to a nine-star Dou King)

"Five Years of Cultivation has been placed in the System Space. Please collect it."

Hearing the system notification, Gu He's thoughts shifted, and he immediately entered the System Space.

He then saw a sphere of energy light floating in the void.

"With these Five Years of Cultivation, I'll definitely be able to break through to the Dou Emperor realm!"

Looking at the energy sphere in the void, excitement filled Gu He's eyes.

"Ding! Would the host like to fuse with Five Years of Cultivation?"

The instant Gu He's consciousness touched the energy sphere, a system notification sounded in his mind.

"No!"

After refusing without the slightest hesitation, Gu He's consciousness quickly withdrew from the System Space.

Breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm would inevitably stir up a massive Dou Qi storm and cause an enormous commotion. He had to find a quiet place to make his breakthrough.

Slowly opening his eyes, Gu He saw Xiao Yi Xian still immersed in digesting the energy within her body.

Gu He could sense that Xiao Yi Xian had already reached the verge of breaking through to the Dou Zhe realm.

Unfortunately, her body was simply too weak to withstand any more Dou Qi being poured into it.

Gu He did not disturb Xiao Yi Xian. He quietly sat at the table and drank fragrant tea.

Half an hour later, Xiao Yi Xian slowly opened her eyes. After sensing the power contained within her body, excitement appeared in her beautiful eyes.

Peak ninth stage of Dou Qi!

In such a short time, she had gone from the fifth stage of Dou Qi to the ninth stage!

This was simply unbelievable!

Xiao Yi Xian slowly turned her beautiful eyes toward Gu He, gratitude filling them.

Naturally, she knew that this immense change had only been possible because of her teacher's help.

"Teacher, thank you." Xiao Yi Xian stood, walked before Gu He, and respectfully bowed.

"How do you feel?" Gu He set down his teacup and asked with a gentle smile.

"Mm... I feel like I've become so powerful." Xiao Yi Xian stretched her slender arms, her face full of confidence.

"Powerful..." Gu He fell silent.

Such a powerful ninth stage of Dou Qi...

Truly terrifying!

"Good disciple, do you know of any quiet places in Qingshan Town? Your teacher needs to find somewhere to make a breakthrough." After a moment of silence, Gu He smiled and asked Xiao Yi Xian.

He remembered that in the original story, Xiao Yi Xian seemed to know of a secluded valley in the Monster Beast Mountain Range.

It should be an excellent place to break through to the Dou Emperor realm.

"Teacher, are you about to break through?"

Xiao Yi Xian froze for a moment. After thinking about it, she blurted out, "There's a valley that would definitely be suitable for your breakthrough, Teacher."

A smile appeared on Gu He's lips.

One hour later.

Above a valley on the outskirts of the Monster Beast Mountain Range, Gu He slowly descended with Xiao Yi Xian in his arms.

"Teacher, this is the place." Xiao Yi Xian pointed at the valley before them and said with a smile.

Gu He slowly withdrew the fiery red wings behind his back and looked into the valley, surprise appearing in his eyes.

This was a place with extremely abundant energy.

Various precious medicinal herbs even grew within the valley.

Waves of medicinal fragrance mingled with the mist, making one feel refreshed and at ease.

Sniffing the medicinal scent permeating the air, Gu He nodded in satisfaction. "Mm, this truly is a good place."

Gu He then headed directly into the valley, with Xiao Yi Xian following closely behind him.

A short while later, Gu He arrived before a natural cave and said to Xiao Yi Xian behind him, "Disciple, your teacher will be entering seclusion for some time. During this period, you must diligently practice the Art of Alchemy your teacher passed on to you."

A trace of reluctance flashed through Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes, but she obediently nodded. "Understood, Teacher."

"Mm. After I emerge from seclusion, I'll properly assess you."

With a gentle smile on his face, Gu He rubbed Xiao Yi Xian's soft hair, trying his best to look stern. "If you haven't improved, your teacher will punish you."

"Teacher, don't worry. This disciple definitely won't disappoint you." Xiao Yi Xian nodded her little head, her tone resolute.

"Good." Gu He nodded in satisfaction before slowly walking into the cave.

As Gu He disappeared, a thunderous rumble suddenly erupted from the cave. A pile of huge rocks then rolled down, sealing the cave entrance completely in an instant.

The cave was pitch-black. With a thought, Gu He took out several luminous stones and embedded them into the cave walls, immediately making the dark cave much brighter.

After briefly tidying the messy cave, Gu He found a bluestone and slowly sat cross-legged upon it.

Gu He then sent his consciousness into the System Space. Looking at the sphere of energy light, he silently commanded, "System, begin absorbing Five Years of Cultivation."

Outside the cave, Xiao Yi Xian stood for a long time as she looked at the sealed entrance, a trace of determination appearing in her eyes.

"Teacher, I won't disappoint you."