Over the next few months, Gu He gradually calmed himself and refined pills.
Unfortunately, the medicinal ingredients he had gathered were only enough to refine low-grade seventh-tier pills. He could not refine anything of a higher tier, dashing his hopes of further strengthening the Sky Demon Puppet. After all, once seventh-tier pills were involved, the required ingredients could not be obtained simply by trading gold coins. Being able to acquire enough ingredients for low-grade seventh-tier pills within a year already left Gu He quite satisfied.
In such a relaxed state of mind, Gu He instead found that he was mastering his strength much faster. Three months after returning to the Small Valley, he felt that he had completely mastered his Dou Qi. Moreover, as he was already at the peak Dou Zong, unless he broke through to Dou Zun, further energy absorption would at most make his Dou Qi increasingly refined.
It seems I need to enter seclusion and seek that sliver of opportunity for a breakthrough, Gu He murmured inwardly.
"Qing Lin, your master is going into seclusion. This seclusion will last quite a while—perhaps a year, or even longer. You're already nearing the peak Dou Master. I've taught you nearly all the fundamentals, so from now on, you'll have to cultivate properly on your own," he said after finding Qing Lin first.
"Mm, rest assured, my lord. I already understand the methods for breakthroughs and cultivation for Dou Masters and even Da Dou Shi. Next, I just need to quickly digest the energy transmitted by my eyes. By the time you come out, maybe I'll give you a surprise!" Qing Lin said confidently, raising her head.
"Then I'll look forward to seeing how Qing Lin has changed when I emerge again." Gu He smiled and pinched Qing Lin's