Opportunity, Opportunity, Still Opportunity

"Mysterious Ice Force."

Gu Han spread out the scroll and began studying it.

Normally, as long as cultivation methods shared the same attribute, one could switch to a higher-grade method later. It was unlike the Burning Art, which could never be changed after cultivation began, so he could cultivate it without worry.

The first conversion of Dou Qi did not take long. Whether it was because his soul had broken through or because his comprehension was naturally high, Gu Han completed the initial stage after only one hour. His entire bearing changed.

"Ice Attribute."

Gu Han focused inward and could feel the Dou Qi in his body traveling through his meridians along a special route before finally gathering within the Qi Vortex in his dantian.

The originally attribute-less milky-white Dou Qi had become blue-white Ice Attribute Dou Qi. Under Gu Han's control, it rapidly circulated and transformed into a stream of Dou Qi that gathered at the acupoints in his palm.

Releasing Dou Qi externally was something only a Da Dou Shi could accomplish. Even though Gu Han cultivated a Mysterious Tier Low Grade Cultivation Method, he still lacked that ability. Yet a layer of blue light emerged over his palm, forming a thin sheet of ice that gave off a faint chill.

He could accomplish this thanks to the Jade Spirit Fruit. After tempering all the meridians in his body, it had opened several acupoints, and Gu Han had chosen to open those in his hands and the soles of his feet.

"I've only reached the initial stage, yet the Qi Vortex is already circulating three times faster. Its capacity has doubled, but I don't feel like I'm about to break through."

Gu Han was satisfied with the Mysterious Ice Force. A Mysterious Tier Low Grade Cultivation Method was undoubtedly far superior to a Yellow Tier one.

Cultivation methods affected cultivators in every aspect. First was the Qi Vortex's capacity for Dou Qi, which was endurance.

Second was the difference in Dou Qi quality. At the same realm, when using the same Dou Technique, someone cultivating a Mysterious Tier Cultivation Method might only need ten percent of their Dou Qi, while someone cultivating a Yellow Tier Cultivation Method would need several times as much.

Third was the boost to cultivation speed. Before reaching the Dou Ling Peak, a cultivator's absorption of Heaven and Earth Energy still depended on talent, but cultivation methods affected the conversion rate after absorption. This was also why mediocre cultivators with high-grade cultivation methods could cultivate faster than geniuses.

Fourth was the combat boost. The higher the grade of the cultivation method, the faster Dou Qi could circulate and the faster Dou Techniques could be unleashed.

There were also various smaller factors. It was precisely because of these effects that high-grade cultivation methods were so highly valued across the Dou Qi Continent.

"At least I'm off to a good start."

Gu Han settled down and continued cultivating. The clear sensation of his strength increasing was addictive, leaving no room for restlessness.

Of course, that had something to do with talent. If it were one of those Wastes who could not advance even One Star in a year, they would definitely find it dull and tedious.

This cultivation session lasted ten hours.

Even when hungry, Gu Han did not go out. Instead, he ate a Second-Grade Pill, a Bigu Pill.

As someone from Huaxia, he was something of a gourmet. In his eyes, the food on the Dou Qi Continent was less convenient than a single Bigu Pill.

"Check today's opportunities."

Five Bigu Pills still lay in his Storage Ring. Gu Han intended to continue cultivating in seclusion, but before that, he would first check today's opportunities.

If there were any opportunities that required him to go out and obtain them, he would leave immediately.

[Mo Yu learned that you had broken through to the Dou Zhe realm and instructed Mo Qing and Mo Feng to befriend you. If you accept the Mo Family's goodwill, they will outwardly become friends with you, use you if you prove useful, and wait for an opportunity to strike if you do not. If you refuse the Mo Family's goodwill, they will strike when you leave the sect.]

[Zhang Chuchen, a Steward at the Outer Sect Training Hall, appears to be forty, but is actually only thirty. His current appearance is due to being schemed against before a match by someone he trusted while competing with Yun Leng's adopted son, Yun Qing, for the rank of Core Disciple. A special Snake People Race snake venom was left in his dantian. This venom is more like a Bloodline seal and cannot be detected through conventional means by ordinary Alchemists below Seventh Grade. A single Fourth-Grade Pill, the Clear Bright Pill, is enough to remove it, allowing him to accumulate strength and break through to the Dou Ling realm.]

"There's more to the Mo Family."

A trace of killing intent flashed through Gu Han's eyes.

In other words, whether he was willing to be their friend or not, Mo Yu and Mo Qing intended to kill him.

But if he agreed to be their friend, they would use him first, then kill him when the time was right.

"It's just acting." Gu Han concealed his emotions.

When it came to manipulating people's hearts and plotting grand strategies, the people of Huaxia were the ancestors of the Heavens.

"But this Steward Zhang..."

Zhang Chuchen's face appeared in Gu Han's mind.

He had not expected this Steward to be a young man of only thirty.

Snake People Race snake venom seemed to have the effect of making people age?

"I can try making friends with him. If he truly is a good person, I can return the favor at the proper time."

Taking out a Bigu Pill and swallowing it, Gu Han resumed cultivating.

Another benefit of taking Bigu Pills was that he did not need to use the toilet.

As an Ice Attribute Dou Qi Cultivator, he could generate the water his body needed while circulating his cultivation method.

Once his strength reached the Da Dou Shi realm in the future, he would be able to completely refine anything he ate.

In the blink of an eye, another six hours passed, and midnight had just passed.

With a thought, Gu Han immediately checked today's opportunities.

[Zhang Chuchen reached Nine-Star Da Dou Shi at the age of twenty-six, but his cultivation had not advanced an inch in the past four years. He requested to become a Steward at the Outer Sect Training Hall, causing his master, Yun He, great regret. Yun He has been secretly searching for a solution for him.]

[Nalan Yanran, the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, has grown unbearably annoyed by the pursuit of Pill King Gu He's disciple, Liu Ling. She secretly went to cultivate in a Training Room at the Outer Sect Training Hall and will be discovered today because she returns too late.]

"Yun He." Gu Han opened his eyes, a faint gleam flickering within his dark pupils.

Yun He was an Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect and the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall. She possessed the strength of a Seven-Star Dou Wang and ranked among the sect's strongest.

Within the Misty Cloud Sect, the Sect Leader's faction was the Dove Faction. They advocated steady development, mutual benefit with the major forces, and dedicated cultivation.

The Great Elder's faction, along with most of the Elder Council, belonged to the Hawkish Faction. They advocated vigorous expansion and did not mind some plunder.

Yun He, the Elder of the Punishment Hall, was neutral, but she was closer to Sect Leader Yun Yun. As such, her relationship with Great Elder Yun Leng was merely ordinary.

"If I help Zhang Chuchen, I can also gain Yun He as a supporter." Gu Han pondered in secret.

As for the second piece of information, it cleared up the doubts in his heart. He had wondered why Nalan Yanran came to cultivate at the Outer Sect Training Hall, always arriving late and leaving late in such a hurry.

So she had been driven crazy by that simp.

Nalan Yanran would be exposed today. If he went and gave her a reminder or two, he could naturally gain her favor.

Gaining the favor of the Nalan Family's direct-line Young Miss and the Misty Cloud Sect's Young Sect Master was indeed an opportunity.

"Cultivate!"

Gu Han had absolutely no intention of interfering.

Nalan Yanran's favor was not important.

In the blink of an eye, another twelve hours passed.

[Nalan Yanran was discovered by Liu Ling while cultivating at the Outer Sect Training Hall. In a terrible mood, she decided to return to her family and hide for a while, then return to the sect after Yun Yun comes back from her trip in ten days. At 11:45 a.m., without realizing it, she will throw away the Spirit Awakening Pill Liu Ling gave her, where it will be discovered and eaten by several First-Class Flying Magical Beasts.]

[At the peak of the third mountain on the Back Mountain of Misty Cloud Mountain, Yin Wind envelops the area during a specific season every year. This year, it will descend during the Wei Hour in the afternoon and disappear after lasting half a month. It provides roughly double the cultivation boost for cultivators who practice Ice Attribute, Yin Attribute, or Dark Attribute Dou Qi cultivation methods and Dou Techniques.]

"Oh!?"

Gu Han opened his eyes.

"Looks like I have to go out today."