Reuniting with Yun Yun! A Shocking Declaration

"Yun Yun lost something while soaking in a hot spring, and that counted as an opportunity?"

Gu Han felt that the Black Tortoise Shell's foresight was somewhat frivolous.

Could picking up something someone had left behind while bathing really bring him some benefit?

At most, Yun Yun would praise him, then ask, "Why are you here bathing again?"

He did not believe that a mere Outer Disciple Dou Zhe like himself and an exalted Dou Emperor Sect Leader could have a private meeting place.

"Still, it has indeed been many days since I last bathed," Gu Han thought.

He did not care whether it was an opportunity or not.

He mainly wanted to soak in a bath, relax, and wash away the grime covering his body.

In the blink of an eye, six hours passed.

At the top of a large tree in the Eastern Region of First Peak's summit, Gu Han formed hand seals with both hands. Bathed in Purple Qi, he suddenly opened his eyes.

Within the depths of his black pupils, a layer of purple radiance condensed, like pupils within pupils. No wonder this secret method was called Purple Qi Heavy Pupils.

Gu Han felt as though the world before him had suddenly become much clearer, with several indescribable colors added to it.

"Finally, I've entered the first stage."

Gu Han let out a soft breath.

Among all the Dou Techniques and secret methods he was currently cultivating, this one had taken the longest to reach the entry stage.

Reaching the entry stage meant that the first layer was complete, and he could begin cultivating the second layer.

Once activated, it allowed him to observe a person's essence, energy, and spirit, thereby judging their cultivation realm.

If someone disguised or concealed themselves before him, this Qi Gazing Eye Technique could see through them. (Those of the same realm or lower.)

"Once I cultivate the third layer, it will reach minor mastery. Then I'll be able to discern my opponent's flaws and investigate the peculiarities of their bloodline."

Gu Han felt that he still had a long road ahead of him.

Dropping his hand seals, he nimbly leaped down from the tree and headed toward Fifth Peak.

He had already mastered three steps of the Nine Snake Steps, reaching minor mastery long ago. Once he grasped one more step, he would be able to use it proficiently.

"Whoosh!"

Gu Han directly used the Nine Snake Steps to travel.

He did not take the mountain paths, instead weaving directly through the forest. He moved extremely quickly, yet the obstacles around him did not hinder him in the slightest.

What followed was another day of diligent cultivation. When more than half of the Dog Hour had passed, Gu Han headed to the cliffside cave on Third Peak.

Rather than immediately taking a bath, he first returned to the Xuanwu Secret Realm and took out the Cold Spring Spirit Water, swallowing it.

He had obtained this Cold Spring Spirit Water after saving the Earth Nether Rat and going to the Inner Sect to trade with Qian Hao.

The values had been completely unequal, but it had been worthwhile for Qian Hao because he had successfully gained the favor of his "goddess."

"Boom!"

A surge of cold rushed through the meridians within his body. Gu Han immediately circulated the Mysterious Ice Force, guiding that power into his Qi Vortex.

He sat atop the Primal Crystal Marrow, with the Hundred Year Cold Jade resting on his lap as the Cold Spring Spirit Water coursed through his body.

Breaking through to a Six-star Dou Practitioner was simply a matter of course, without the slightest difficulty.

Once his realm had stabilized, Gu Han's thoughts shifted, and he activated the Qi Concealing Secret Method.

The aura emanating from his body began to weaken the next moment, dropping all the way to the peak of Four-star Dou Practitioner.

"Although Yun Yun is a Dou Emperor, her Soul Realm should be inferior to mine. Unless she sends Dou Qi into my body, she won't be able to detect my true realm."

Having finished concealing his strength, Gu Han left the Xuanwu Secret Realm, stripped down until only his underwear remained, and sat in the hot spring. His body flickered in and out of view amid the steam.

Meanwhile, inside the Sect Main Hall atop Misty Cloud Mountain, Yun Yun sat upright in the Sect Leader's seat within the Inner Hall. After spending two hours handling all the sect's mundane affairs, she prepared to continue cultivating.

After sweeping the hall with her divine sense and confirming that no one else was inside, Yun Yun stretched lazily.

Her perfect curves were outlined, and it felt as though her robes might burst apart at any moment.

"I'll take a bath first and relax."

Rubbing her brow, Yun Yun felt there was no need to rush her cultivation.

Ever since she had uncovered the spies planted in the Misty Cloud Sect by the Golden Goose Sect, many things had happened and kept her busy for quite some time. Now that she had some free time, she ought to relax.

Leaving the Sect Main Hall, Yun Yun formed Dou Qi Wings and flew into the sky, swiftly arriving at the cliff of Third Peak.

"Hmm?"

Upon reaching the cave entrance, Yun Yun immediately sensed someone inside.

Other than her, only one person currently knew about this place.

"That little fellow still dared to come here."

The corners of Yun Yun's lips curved into an inexplicable smile. She flew into the cave, dismissed her Dou Qi Wings, and slowly walked deeper inside.

Before long, the hot spring pool appeared before her. Steam curled through the air, and a youth sat within it with his eyes closed, bathing bare-chested and revealing a lean, sturdy physique.

With her hands clasped behind her back, Yun Yun examined him with great interest.

"Hmm?"

Gu Han had noticed Yun Yun the moment she arrived at the cave entrance, but he had pretended not to know. Only now did he "notice" something unusual and open his eyes.

Their gazes collided in the air. Gu Han instinctively straightened up and cupped his fists. "Gu Han greets Sect Leader."

Yun Yun's delicate willow-leaf brows rose slightly.

This Gu Han was becoming increasingly unruly. He was no longer even willing to refer to himself as an Outer Disciple.

"Gu Han, why have you come here?" Yun Yun's voice carried a trace of pressure.

Unmoved, Gu Han replied solemnly, "This disciple came to bathe."

Yun Yun: "..."

This brat was quite good at playing dumb.

"If you wanted to bathe, why didn't you use the open-air hot spring on the other side?" Yun Yun asked in return.

"It's quiet here. I'm less likely to encounter danger, and I don't have to worry about running into someone halfway through my bath." Gu Han answered with complete confidence. "Besides, Sect Leader, you never said I couldn't come here again."

"This place isn't a sect forbidden ground either. Since Sect Leader and I discovered it by chance, it naturally belongs to us both."

"You certainly have some nerve." Yun Yun took a step forward, and her aura strengthened slightly. "To speak to This Sect Master like that."

"Who in the entire Jia Ma Empire doesn't know that Sect Leader is fair and impartial?" Gu Han first placed a lofty hat upon Yun Yun, then added, "If Sect Leader says I may not come here again, then as an Outer Disciple, I shall naturally obey."

The implication was clear: would a grand Sect Leader really fight an Outer Disciple over a place to bathe?

"You may come here in the future." Yun Yun was forced into it, and she gave a soft snort inwardly.

She suddenly raised her eyes, forming sword fingers with one hand and swiping them toward the ceiling of the cave.

Wind Attribute Heaven and Earth Energy was stirred. Countless streams of Sword Qi condensed from thin air, grinding away the cave ceiling and forming a smooth, semicircular stone dome.

A stone slab several zhang long and wide, and one zhang thick, was carved out by the Sword Qi and fell straight down.

Just before it could smash into the hot spring pool, it was caught by a force of Wind Attribute Energy and slowly lowered into the water.

Once the stone slab had fully sunk into the hot spring, the pool was divided into two areas, blocking Yun Yun and Gu Han from seeing each other.

If either wanted to reach the other's side, they would have to get out and walk around the stone slab.

"But!" Yun Yun's voice rang out again as she withdrew the pressure of her aura. "You may only remain on your side. Without This Sect Master's command, you are not allowed to come over."

"Sect Leader's command shall naturally be obeyed." Gu Han answered seriously.

With a thought, Yun Yun put away her outer garments and entered the hot spring wearing only a thin gauze robe.

Once most of her body was submerged in the water, she closed her eyes comfortably, feeling all her exhaustion melt away.

For a moment, the entire cave became exceptionally quiet.

Knowing that a youth was on the other side of the stone slab, an unusual feeling arose within Yun Yun's heart.

With her former temperament, she would either have forcibly driven Gu Han away or never returned to this place again.

Why had she chosen to share it with him this time?

"Gu Han, This Sect Master sees that you are not far from becoming a Five-star Dou Practitioner. It seems you have not slacked off during this time," Yun Yun said.

If she did not speak, it was too quiet. Then her thoughts would wander, and the more she thought, the stranger her body felt.

"I have Sect Leader to thank for the Snow Lotus Pill you bestowed upon me," Gu Han replied. "That was how I was fortunate enough to break through."

Fortunate?

Yun Yun's lips twitched slightly. "Then your luck is quite good."

"My luck is indeed quite good." Gu Han felt there was nothing wrong with that statement. "This morning, I was fortunate enough to discover a Spirit Gathering Land."

Yun Yun: ???