Picking Up Pills, Rapid Advancement

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

After exchanging them for thirty-six thousand Gold Coins, Gu Han cupped his hands in thanks, then found an excuse to leave.

Thirty-six thousand Gold Coins were not much. They were not even enough to bid on Foundation Building Spirit Liquid at the Second-Grade Pill level in Wutan City.

But in his hands, they could serve a far greater purpose than eighteen hundred Merit Points.

"Goodbye. Come find me anytime if you need anything."

Mo Feng's heart was bleeding, but he maintained a polite facade.

If he exchanged these Merit Points with the family, he would lose more than five thousand Gold Coins. That was no small sum.

Once Gu Han vanished around the corner, Mo Feng's expression immediately changed. He promptly headed for the Inner Sect with his Token in hand.

Although Mo Yu was the Great Elder's Personal Disciple, his cultivation was only at One Star Dou Master, so he usually spent his time in the Inner Sect area.

"Eldest Young Master."

Mo Feng found Mo Yu and discovered that Mo Qing was there as well. He immediately reported the situation.

"So he does not bear hostility toward our Mo Family?" Mo Yu lifted his teacup.

"Isn't that normal?" Mo Qing did not find it surprising. He sneered. "Big Brother, you are the Great Elder's Personal Disciple, and Grandfather is a Dou Ling expert. Gu Han only refused to show me respect because he was short-sightedly eyeing the reward for first place in the Preliminary Disciple Competition. But he could not possibly hate us."

"If I tell him I can give him even more than the first-place reward, he will definitely wag his tail like a dog."

"Not necessarily. Geniuses all have their pride." Mo Yu took a sip of tea, looking equally pleased with himself. "But you are right. When facing our Mo Family, if he can befriend us, he certainly will not want to offend us."

"In that case, we will first become friends with him on the surface. We can give him a few small favors, then use him wherever he proves useful."

"If he fails to appreciate our kindness and is destined to become our enemy in the future, then we will find an opportunity in advance..."

Mo Yu did not say what they would do when they found that opportunity, but Mo Qing and Mo Feng both understood.

Thus, their attitude toward Gu Han was temporarily decided.

"Let him live a few more days." Mo Qing sneered, then changed the subject. "He really got lucky, actually breaking through to Dou Zhe in one go. Has my Qi Gathering Powder not arrived yet, Big Brother?"

"Although Qi Gathering Powder only helps cultivators at the Ninth Stage Dou Qi break through to Dou Zhe, it is still a Fourth-Grade Pill, and one that is unavailable even for money. The family needs time to arrange it as well. Wait a little longer, cultivate diligently, and adjust your condition properly."

Mo Qing agreed aloud, but inwardly dismissed the matter.

Meanwhile, on the mountain path leading from the Outer Disciple area to the Probationary Disciple area, Liu Ling held a large bouquet of flowers and stopped Nalan Yanran, who was heading down the mountain with two maidservants. "Yan Ran, where are you going?"

"I'm returning to my family. I have not seen Grandfather or my Parents in a long time." A polite smile appeared on Nalan Yanran's face.

"I'll accompany you?" Liu Ling said at once.

"That would not be appropriate." Nalan Yanran's delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Liu Ling's heart warmed. With a gentle smile, he said, "Indeed, it is not appropriate for now. I was too rash."

For now?

Nalan Yanran felt that Liu Ling had misunderstood something.

But considering that he was Gu He's disciple and a Third-Grade Alchemist, she found it inconvenient to say too much.

"I'm in a hurry to return. Once Teacher returns to the sect, I will return as well. Is there anything else?" Nalan Yanran's smile grew even more courteous.

"Didn't I advance to Third-Grade Alchemist?" Liu Ling handed over the flowers in his hand. "I have always wanted to give you a gift. I heard that Cloud Song Flowers are your favorite, so I prepared this gift long ago."

Nalan Yanran:?

It was the first time she had encountered someone celebrating his own happy occasion by giving someone else a gift.

"Thank you." Nalan Yanran accepted the flowers.

It was only a bouquet, so there was no need to refuse it.

If it had been something valuable, she definitely could not accept it, lest he misunderstand.

"The flowers are beautiful, but the person is even more beautiful." Liu Ling did not hide his admiration in the slightest.

Nalan Yanran felt uncomfortable all over. After thanking him again, she said, "I'm pressed for time, so I'll be leaving first."

"Alright. When you get home, make sure to put the flowers in a vase." Liu Ling gave one final reminder and did not continue pestering her.

Holding the bouquet, Nalan Yanran continued down the mountain with her two maidservants.

Liu Ling stood where he was and watched her leave. Only after she disappeared from sight did he turn and head back up the mountain, smiling.

"Once she discovers the Spirit Awakening Pill, Yan Ran will definitely be pleasantly surprised. What a pity I will not get to see her expression."

"If I did not do it this way, she definitely would not accept the pill I gave her. I'm truly clever."

In high spirits, Liu Ling walked upward. Before long, he passed a disciple in Outer Disciple attire who was heading down the mountain.

They exchanged a glance without speaking, each treating the other as an irrelevant stranger.

No, in Gu Han's eyes, Liu Ling was a Fortune-Bringing Child.

"I do like Cloud Song Flowers."

"But I like Cloud Song Flowers that grow freely amid wind and rain, that drift away with the wind even when they wither."

"Not Cloud Song Flowers plucked, wrapped, and placed in a vase for others to admire, their fate held in someone else's hands."

At a bend in the downhill path, Nalan Yanran's expression was unsightly. She then threw away the bouquet in her hands.

The two maidservants exchanged glances, neither daring to speak.

If Liu Ling had been trying to flatter her, then today he had truly kicked an iron plate.

Ever since learning that she had an Engagement, their Young Miss cared most about "fate" and "freedom."

"Let's go."

Nalan Yanran's expression was cold as she continued down the mountain.

Not long after their group left, Gu Han appeared nearby.

Following the Opportunity prompt, he soon spotted a bouquet of Cloud Song Flowers before the crown of a small tree on a steep slope. He immediately retrieved it, taking a jade bottle from the very center of the bouquet.

"There are actually three pills. They will last for a month."

After opening the jade bottle and taking a look, Gu Han thought to himself that Alchemists truly were extravagantly wealthy.

He stored the jade bottle in the Xuanwu Secret Realm, casually tossed the Cloud Song Flowers farther away, then changed direction and headed for the third mountain peak behind Misty Cloud Mountain.

After winding through all kinds of mountain paths for roughly two hours, he finally arrived at his destination.

By then, the weather around the mountain had already begun to change, but the Yin Wind mentioned in the Opportunity had not yet risen.

Gu Han was not in a hurry. With a thought, he entered the Xuanwu Secret Realm and began arranging a simple bed, Cushion, Desk, and other items.

He would cultivate outside, then enter the secret realm space whenever he needed rest, ensuring absolute safety.

Time flew by, and ten days quickly passed since Gu Han had come to Third Peak to cultivate.

Gu Han confirmed that his comprehension truly was exceptional. With the Yin Wind Illusion Realm's assistance, he had already cultivated Mysterious Ice Force to mastery.

Having completely absorbed the remaining medicinal power of the Jade Spirit Fruit, he had broken through to Two Star Dou Zhe and even touched the threshold of the Three Star bottleneck.

If he took the Spirit Awakening Pill, the results would be even better, but Gu Han was in no hurry to do so.

Crack!

Gu Han stood before a boulder at the mountaintop and used Mysterious Yin Finger.

Bolstered by icy Dou Qi, his finger was as hard as steel. It pierced into the mountain rock as easily as tofu.

When he withdrew his finger, a hole had appeared in the boulder, its surface covered in a layer of frost.

"Mysterious Yin Finger has also reached mastery."

Gu Han revealed a satisfied expression. With a thought, he returned to the Xuanwu Secret Realm to regulate his breathing and inspect today's Opportunity.

"Hm?"