A Path to Death? A Dou Emperor Opportunity

"But there was no need to rush."

Gu Han formed hand seals with both hands, putting his body into a cultivation state while focusing intently on the Black Tortoise Shell.

Yun Yun would return to the Misty Cloud Sect in seven days. He did not need to hurry back to Misty Cloud Mountain to keep watch on Kalon now.

Once the Yin Wind disappeared five days later, there would be no reason to linger here. It would not be too late to return then.

And those five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Before the Nalan Family residence in the Imperial Capital of the Jia Ma Empire, a carriage had already been prepared.

After packing her things, Nalan Yanran left her courtyard with two maidservants.

Liu Ling had been waiting at the entrance for some time. He stepped forward with a smile. "Yan Ran."

"Senior Brother Liu Ling." Nalan Yanran nodded with a polite smile.

"Yan Ran!"

Just as Liu Ling was about to say something, an aged yet vigorous and imposing voice came from nearby.

"Grandfather." Nalan Yanran broke into a smile and quickly walked toward Nalan Jie. "Yan Ran thought I might not get to see Grandfather when I returned this time."

"This Burning Poison is troublesome. Even Grandfather himself cannot say how long he will need to remain in seclusion." Nalan Jie stroked his beard, amusement in his eyes.

He was extremely fond of this talented granddaughter of his, who had been accepted as a disciple by the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect.

"Grandfather looks well. Your cultivation has improved again, hasn't it? Congratulations, Grandfather."

Nalan Jie threw back his head and laughed heartily.

Back then, he had taken a desperate risk to increase his strength and had been afflicted with this Burning Poison.

Fortunately, he could suppress the Burning Poison with his powerful Dou Qi. Although it occasionally made him suffer, enduring it would improve his cultivation. Whether it was a blessing or a curse was hard to say.

"Liu Ling pays his respects to Elder Nalan." Liu Ling stepped to Nalan Yanran's side and cupped his fists to Nalan Jie.

"You are Pill King Gu He's disciple?" A hint of pressure entered Nalan Jie's gaze.

"My master is indeed the Pill King." Liu Ling straightened his back.

"You are quite a fine young man." Nalan Jie nodded in praise.

Liu Ling took this as Nalan Yanran's grandfather recognizing him, and a smug look appeared on his face.

But before he could respond, Nalan Jie said to Nalan Yanran, "Come with me."

With that, he turned and left, ignoring the expressions of both Nalan Yanran and Liu Ling.

Thinking of something, the smile on Nalan Yanran's face instantly vanished.

After taking a deep breath, she followed Nalan Jie. The grandfather and granddaughter entered a courtyard next door.

"Yan Ran, you have an Engagement. Do not become too entangled with outsiders." Nalan Jie immediately reprimanded her. "When you have time, you should go to Wutan City and visit your fiancé."

"Grandfather!" The fire in Nalan Yanran's chest was instantly ignited. She raised her head and looked directly at Nalan Jie. "I said when I learned of this Engagement that I would not acknowledge it!"

"My own life should be decided by me, not tied to some strange man because of a promise made by our elders."

"Besides, I am now the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect!"

"You are using the Misty Cloud Sect to pressure me." Nalan Jie's anger flared as he spoke coldly. "You have really grown bold."

"Grandfather, you were the one who first used your status as an elder to pressure me." Nalan Yanran clenched her fists. "In any case, I will not acknowledge this Engagement. If you insist on forcing me, then pretend you never had this granddaughter."

Without waiting for Nalan Jie to say anything else, Nalan Yanran turned and left.

"Bastard!" Nalan Jie raised a hand, his chest heaving with anger, but in the end, he did nothing.

Suddenly, a piercingly cold pain came from his chest, making him uncontrollably spit out a mouthful of black blood.

"Not good!" Nalan Jie immediately sat cross-legged and circulated his Dou Qi to suppress the Burning Poison.

"Father!"

Nalan Su, who had been hiding in the shadows, appeared and raised a hand, taking out a medicinal pill and feeding it to Nalan Jie.

"Phew." A few breaths later, Nalan Jie opened his eyes, still shaken. "Su'er, I have you to thank this time."

"Father, why are you being so polite with your son?" Nalan Su looked calm, but his eyes revealed a shrewd glint. "Do not be too angry over Yan Ran's matter. She is talented, apprenticed to Sect Leader Yun Yun, and pursued by Pill King Gu He's disciple, yet she is expected to marry a strange Waste of a man. Of course she would be upset."

"Do not think I do not know what you are thinking." Nalan Jie glared at Nalan Su. "Let me tell you, if not for Xiao Lin back then, I would have died from this Burning Poison long ago and would not have lived until today."

"Now that the Xiao Family has declined, if our Nalan Family refuses to honor the Engagement, what will everyone in the Jia Ma Empire think of the Nalan Family?"

"A man cannot stand without trust. This matter absolutely cannot be changed."

Nalan Su opened his mouth, but ultimately gave up trying to persuade him.

He knew his old father's temperament. Once he made a decision, it could not be changed. If they continued arguing, his father might be angered into another flare-up.

Hopefully, Yan Ran would find a way to resolve this herself. The Misty Cloud Sect could not possibly stand by and do nothing.

At the same time, atop the Third Peak.

Mysterious Yin Finger.

Gu Han pointed at a rock, but stopped when his finger was still an inch away.

Crack!

A frigid current surged from his fingertip and poured into the rock, instantly freezing it. The rock then flew backward and struck a slightly larger boulder, shattering the latter into pieces.

During this time, Gu Han had successfully advanced his proficiency in both Mysterious Ice Force and Mysterious Yin Finger to the proficient level. His Three-Star Dou Zhe cultivation had fully stabilized and even improved slightly.

The Yin Wind on the mountain had begun weakening three days ago and had now nearly vanished. The speed of his cultivation advancement had noticeably slowed, prompting him to take the first Spirit Awakening Pill.

"There is no point in staying here any longer. It is time to return."

Gu Han lowered his hand. After regulating his breath slightly, he prepared to return to Misty Cloud Mountain.

Before that, however, he decided to inspect the Opportunity atop the Third Mountain once more.

Over the past few days, he had only found some Second-Grade Spirit Herbs and First-Grade Magical Beasts. The gains could only be called better than nothing.

[Nalan Yanran will depart for Misty Cloud Mountain today at the Si Hour and three quarters. Liu Ling will accompany her throughout the journey. When she bids Nalan Jie farewell, she will be reminded not to forget her Engagement with Xiao Yan and told to visit her fiancé in Wutan City when she has time. This will make her resolve to use the Misty Cloud Sect's power to settle the Engagement.]

"She has made up her mind to cancel the Engagement?"

Gu Han frowned instinctively. If this had happened to the neighboring God King, it would already have been a path to death.

As a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect who had received the sect's favor, he had yet to figure out how to intervene in this matter perfectly.

"I should focus on improving my strength first."

Gu Han shifted his attention to the second Opportunity.

[At an altitude of Hundred Feet on the Third Mountain, there is a hot spring within a cave. At the bottom of the hot spring lies a hundred-year jade embryo. Influenced by the Yin Wind for many days, it will transform into Hundred Year Cold Jade at the Midnight Hour today. From then on, the hot spring will become a Cold Spring, making it highly suitable for Yin Attribute and Ice Attribute Dou Qi Cultivators to cultivate in.

The cave has two entrances. One is located on a sheer cliff face, while the other lies at the bottom of the open-air hot spring and requires diving to reach.

Hundred Year Cold Jade: When worn by Ice Attribute and Yin Attribute cultivators, it increases the cultivation speed of a Dou Zhe by thirty percent, a Dou Master by twenty percent, and a Da Dou Shi by ten percent.

If one swims out from another Cold Spring at the Midnight Hour and a quarter, one can gain the favor of a Dou Emperor.]

Hundred Year Cold Jade—this truly was a pillow delivered just when he was sleepy.

With this thing, it would not matter even if the Yin Wind never came again.

And there was even a chance to gain the favor of a Dou Emperor.

"However, within the Misty Cloud Sect, whose favor could I gain?"

"Yun Yun?"

"It should not be her."