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 also part of your strength. 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 take Gu He's modesty seriously.

"I have another reason for coming this time. I've already broken through to become a Sixth-grade Alchemist, but my success rate in refining pills is rather low. I need you to gather several old friends and see whether any of them would be interested in sponsoring me with medicinal ingredients, so I can thoroughly stabilize my realm as a Sixth-grade Alchemist."

Gu He's words sent 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 his breakthrough to Sixth-grade Alchemist. Was he preparing to establish himself independently? The people he intended to gather would most likely be meant to deal with the Misty Cloud Sect's backlash. The Imperial Capital was about to change.

Of course, Gu He had no idea that a single attitude of his had made Teng Shan overthink things. But people who lived in the Imperial Capital were naturally prone to thinking too much, and their instincts were especially sharp when it came to 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 grave expression and solemnly promised, "I'll arrange everything as soon as possible."

Seeing Teng Shan's expression suddenly turn serious, Gu He patted him on the shoulder and said, "There's no need to rush. It doesn't matter if it takes a little more time."

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

The two familiar tea masters had already brewed the tea and poured it into three cups, which they respectfully presented to Teng Shan, Gu He, and Xiao Yi Xian.

"Xian'er, have a taste. This is your master's favorite, Jade Dew Tea." Gu He invited Xiao Yi Xian to try the tea the tea master had offered her.

After handing 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 saluting Gu He and Teng Shan, Ya Fei turned a puzzled gaze toward Xiao Yi Xian.

"This is the Pill King's disciple. Be sure to treat her well and do not neglect her," Teng Shan introduced.

A trace of envy flashed through Ya Fei's eyes. She then walked over to Xiao Yi Xian and said, "What a lovely little sister. If you don't mind letting me take advantage of you, you can call me Sister Ya Fei. What is your name?"

Aside from 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 that Xiao Yi Xian had already begun talking with Ya Fei, Gu He trusted that Ya Fei's social skills would keep Xiao Yi Xian from feeling neglected. Inwardly, he praised Teng Shan for his thoughtfulness in deliberately bringing Ya Fei over to keep Xiao Yi Xian company.

Afterward, Gu He simply reminisced with Teng Shan and did not discuss much related to pill refining. 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 stir. In particular, Gu He's two visits to the Mite'er Family made outsiders unable to help speculating about the relationship between Pill King Gu He and the Mite'er Family.

After giving Teng Shan instructions on several simple matters, Gu He declined Teng Shan's invitation to stay the night. He merely 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 outpost in the Imperial Capital.

Unwilling to provoke the Jia Ma Royal Family's sensitive nerves, the Misty Cloud Sect had stationed only three outer disciples at its Imperial Capital outpost.

Upon arriving, Gu He naturally received a warm welcome. He instructed one of the Misty Cloud Sect disciples to go to Misty Cloud Mountain and report that he had returned and would return 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 gathered enough medicinal ingredients to refine the Imperial Pill, allowing him to continue increasing his strength.

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

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

"Great Elder Teng Shan of the Mite'er Family has sent someone to invite the Pill King to a banquet at the Nalan Family at six tonight," 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 and turned to deliver the reply to the Mite'er Family's messenger.

Gu He returned to his room and secretly pondered how he should act that evening to pry as many medicinal ingredients as possible from those sly old foxes. He then took some time to transfer the water attribute cultivation Dou Techniques and Xiao Yi Xian's clothes from his own Ring into the newly purchased Ring, intending to give it to Xiao Yi Xian.

Evening soon arrived. Gu He called Xiao Yi Xian out of her room, deciding to take her to meet the Imperial Capital's top predators.

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

After choosing their clothes for the banquet, Gu He took a carriage bearing the Misty Cloud Sect's emblem to the Nalan Family.

When Gu He arrived, there was clearly still quite some time before the banquet began, yet the Nalan Family had already received many guests.

A quick glance showed him that the Dou Wang experts of the Imperial Capital's three great families, along with some of their outstanding juniors, had all 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 forward two steps to meet him, extending a hand to usher Gu He inside. "Pill King, having you hold a banquet at the Nalan Family truly brings glory to our humble home! Please. This must be the Pill King's disciple. As expected, her talent is extraordinary. At such a young age, she is already a Dou Zhe."

"Haha, Nalan, after all this time, you're still as polite as ever!" Gu He said with a sigh, picking up the conversation. "I didn't 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, Nalan. Xian'er, this is your Uncle Nalan."

"Greetings, Uncle Nalan." Xiao Yi Xian had come here mainly to broaden her horizons, so she did whatever Gu He told her to do, 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 detect your true cultivation. Consider it your uncle's greeting gift." As he spoke, Nalan Su took out a gemstone necklace from his Ring and handed it to Xiao Yi Xian.

Gu He signaled for Xiao Yi Xian to accept the necklace and expressed his thanks to Nalan Su.

Gu He knew this was also a social tactic. They could not directly give him gifts to curry favor with him, so they gave them to Xiao Yi Xian instead. He believed Xiao Yi Xian would receive many more gifts once they entered. Though they might not all be as valuable as the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk or this necklace, they still represented their goodwill and their stance.