Banquet

Gu He hurriedly said modestly, "I was just lucky. In the Monster Mountain Range, I found a cave dwelling built long ago by a Dou Wang before his death. Some of the things inside were very helpful for cultivation, which was why I broke through so quickly."

"Luck is part of your strength too. Not everyone has the courage to enter the Monster Mountain Range alone, much less find a Dou Wang's cave dwelling within it." Teng Shan did not think much of Gu He's modesty.

"I came this time for another reason as well. I have already broken through to become a Sixth-grade Alchemist, but my success rate in refining pills is rather low. So I need you to help gather a few old friends and see whether any of them are willing to sponsor me with some medicinal ingredients, so I can completely stabilize my realm as a Sixth-grade Alchemist."

Gu He's words set Teng Shan's thoughts racing. Gu He had returned without informing the Misty Cloud Sect and had come straight to the Miter Auction House. He had not even told the Misty Cloud Sect about breaking through to become a Sixth-grade Alchemist. Was he planning to establish himself independently? The people he wanted to gather were most likely meant to deal with the Misty Cloud Sect's backlash. The skies over the Imperial Capital were about to change.

Of course, Gu He had no idea that one attitude of his had made Teng Shan overthink things. However, people living in the Imperial Capital naturally tended to think more, and they had an astonishingly keen sense for sensitive matters. Perhaps Gu He had not noticed it himself, but he was unconsciously shedding his identity as a member of the Misty Cloud Sect.

Teng Shan nodded with a solemn expression and promised seriously, "I will organize everything as soon as possible."

Seeing Teng Shan suddenly turn so grave, Gu He patted his shoulder. "There's no need to rush. It's fine to take a little more time."

After entering, Teng Shan continued leading Gu He to the small courtyard where he had drunk tea last time.

The two familiar tea masters had already prepared the tea and poured it into three cups, respectfully serving them to Teng Shan, Gu He, and Xiao Yi Xian.

"Xian'er, give it a try. This is your master's favorite, Jade Dew Tea." Gu He invited Xiao Yi Xian to taste the tea handed over by the tea master.

After serving the tea to the three of them, the tea master respectfully withdrew. Once they had finished tasting it, Ya Fei entered from outside.

"Greetings, Pill King. Greetings, Great Elder." After bowing to Gu He and Teng Shan, Ya Fei turned a puzzled gaze toward Xiao Yi Xian.

"This is the Pill King's disciple. You must treat her well and not neglect her," Teng Shan introduced.

A trace of envy flashed through Ya Fei's eyes. She then approached Xiao Yi Xian and said, "What a lovely little sister. If you do not mind me taking advantage of you, you can call me Sister Ya Fei. What is your name?"

Other than the mercenaries of Qingshan Town and Gu He, Xiao Yi Xian had never interacted with a mature, alluring woman like Ya Fei. She herself was only fifteen or sixteen, so she replied somewhat bashfully, "My name is Xiao Yi Xian. I used to live in Qingshan Town."

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian already conversing with Ya Fei, Gu He believed that with Ya Fei's social skills, she would not make Xiao Yi Xian feel neglected. He silently praised Teng Shan for his thoughtfulness in specifically bringing Ya Fei over to keep Xiao Yi Xian company.

After that, Gu He merely reminisced with Teng Shan about old times. They did not discuss much related to pill refinement, as they both knew that such matters would only be worth discussing once the important figures had all arrived.

As news of Gu He's return spread, the Imperial Capital began to churn with unrest. In particular, Gu He's two visits to the Mittel Family caused outsiders to speculate about the relationship between Pill King Gu He and the Mittel Family.

After giving Teng Shan instructions on a few simple matters, Gu He politely declined Teng Shan's offer to stay the night. He only asked Teng Shan to sell him the best Ring currently available at the auction house, then took Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Lan to the Misty Cloud Sect's base in the Imperial Capital.

The Misty Cloud Sect did not wish to stir the Jia Ma Royal Family's sensitive nerves, so only three outer disciples were stationed at its base in the Imperial Capital.

Upon arriving, Gu He naturally received an enthusiastic welcome. He instructed one of the Misty Cloud Sect disciples to return to Misty Cloud Mountain and report that he had returned and would head back to Misty Cloud Mountain tomorrow. Ignoring the ingratiating expressions of the other two outer disciples, he entered the courtyard.

It was already noon outside. After having lunch with Xiao Yi Xian, Gu He instructed her on how to use the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk. After preparing the most suitable dosage for her, he left her in her room to cultivate.

Gu He also returned to his assigned room to cultivate. Although most of his Dou Qi was sealed and cultivation could not increase his strength, he could still adapt to the power he had just gained as a Dou Emperor Two Stars. Once that strength was stabilized, Gu He should have acquired enough medicinal ingredients to refine the Imperial Pill, allowing him to continue raising his strength.

Time passed as Gu He cultivated, but before long, he was interrupted by a Misty Cloud Sect disciple outside the courtyard. Gu He knew that unless there was something urgent, this disciple would not disturb him so easily.

He therefore opened the door and asked sharply, "What is it?"

"Great Elder Teng Shan of the Mittel Family has sent someone to invite the Pill King to a banquet at the Nalan Family at six this evening," the disciple outside said cautiously.

"Mm, I understand. Go reply that I will certainly arrive on time tonight." Gu He appeared indifferent on the surface, but inwardly, he marveled at Teng Shan's efficiency.

The Misty Cloud Sect disciple outside respectfully acknowledged the order, then turned and left to reply to the Mittel Family's envoy.

Returning to his room, Gu He quietly considered how he should act that evening in order to obtain as many medicinal ingredients as possible from those old foxes. He then took some time to transfer the Water Attribute Dou Skills in his Ring, along with Xiao Yi Xian's clothes, into the newly purchased Ring, intending to give it to her.

Evening soon arrived. Gu He called Xiao Yi Xian out of her room and decided to take her to meet the top predators of the Imperial Capital.

He gave Xiao Yi Xian the new Ring. Since he would formally introduce her to the Imperial Capital's upper circles tonight, she would surely receive countless gifts, and having a Ring would make things much more convenient.

After choosing their clothes for the dinner banquet, Gu He rode in a carriage bearing the Misty Cloud Sect's insignia to the Nalan Family.

When Gu He arrived, although there was still quite some time before the banquet began, quite a few people had already gathered at the Nalan Family residence.

Sweeping his gaze around, he discovered that the Dou Wang experts of the Imperial Capital's Three Great Families, along with some of their outstanding younger members, had already arrived.

Nalan Su, the current head of the Nalan Family, was in charge of receiving guests at the entrance. Seeing Gu He step down from the carriage, Nalan Su hurried two steps forward and gestured him inside. "Pill King, having you hold a dinner banquet at the Nalan Family truly brings honor to our humble home! Please. This must be the Pill King's disciple. As expected, her talent is exceptional. At such a young age, she is already a Dou Zhe."

"Haha, Nalan, after so long without seeing you, you are still as polite as ever!" Gu He said with a sigh before continuing, "I did not expect the news to spread so quickly. This is Xiao Yi Xian. If she comes to the Imperial Capital in the future, I hope you will look after her a little. Xian'er, this is Uncle Nalan."

"Greetings, Uncle Nalan." Xiao Yi Xian had come here mainly to broaden her horizons, so she did whatever Gu He asked of her, trusting that he would not harm her.

"Good. This is a necklace that conceals one's cultivation. Anyone below the Da Dou Shi realm will be unable to discover your true strength. Consider it a meeting gift from your uncle." As Nalan Su spoke, he took out a gemstone necklace from his Ring and handed it to Xiao Yi Xian.

Gu He signaled Xiao Yi Xian to accept the necklace and thanked Nalan Su.

Gu He knew this was also a social tactic. It was inconvenient for them to directly give things to curry favor with him, so they gave them to Xiao Yi Xian instead. Xiao Yi Xian would surely receive many more gifts after entering. Though they might not all be as precious as the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk or this necklace, they still represented their goodwill and their stance.