The system prompt in his mind pulled Gu Han back to reality from his brief daze.
He looked at the people unconscious all around him, and at the vague memory lingering in his mind. Gu Han took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
Thinking of the system's recent reward, he asked it in his mind, full of questions.
"System, what is a Divine Consciousness Seed? And what does the unlocked High-Level Information Database contain?"
[Ding! The Divine Consciousness Seed contains a trace of pure divinity. Absorbing it will greatly increase your spiritual power realm and allow you to begin condensing divine consciousness, laying the foundation for condensing a divine position in the future.] [The High-Level Information Database has only been partially unlocked. It contains deeper secrets of this world, basic information related to the Divine Realm, and clues to the locations of some divine inheritance sites.] [It also contains information on some extremely old Soul Beasts. Host may spend Magic Modification Points to look them up at any time.]
"A Divine Consciousness Seed—the foundation for condensing a divine position."
Gu Han's heart jolted. This reward would make his path ahead much smoother.
Without hesitation, Gu Han said, "Absorb the Divine Consciousness Seed."
A cool force surged into his Sea of Consciousness. His spiritual power, which had been completely depleted for some unknown reason,
not only recovered rapidly but also began to transform. His spiritual power broke through another realm.
He could also clearly feel a bud sprouting deep within his Sea of Consciousness.
At the same time, his perception of the world around him grew clearer. He could even vaguely sense the faint traces flowing through the world.
When Gu Han's consciousness emerged from his Sea of Consciousness, Zhao Wuji and the others also began to wake, one after another. They rubbed their heads, each wearing a bewildered expression.
"What just happened? Why did I suddenly pass out?"
Zhao Wuji shook his aching head and looked around in confusion, feeling as though nothing had happened.
"Yeah. It feels like I had a really scary dream, but I can't remember what it was," Ning Rongrong murmured.
Yu Xiaogang and Tang San woke up as well.
Though Yu Xiaogang had only been unconscious for a little while, he hadn't forgotten his distress over Tang San having absorbed a Ten-Year Soul Ring.
Tang San instinctively checked his Soul Ring. He had desperately hoped everything that had just happened was a dream, but the moment he sensed his Ten-Year Soul Ring, he knew that was wishful thinking.
Seeing this, Gu Han went along with their explanation:
"It seemed like the aura of an incredibly powerful Soul Beast swept past. Its pressure was too much for us, so we all passed out. Fortunately, it didn't seem hostile and left soon after."
The explanation was rather far-fetched, but everyone's memories were hazy, and Zhao Wuji couldn't sense any traces left behind. They had no choice but to reluctantly accept it.
After all, it was entirely possible that powerful Soul Beasts lived in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Only Tang San looked at Gu Han with suspicion.
Though Yu Xiaogang was dejected, he forced himself to pull it together and had Tang San demonstrate his newly acquired second Soul Skill.
At Yu Xiaogang's request, Tang San circulated his Soul Power. His white Soul Ring lit up, and Blue Silver Grass spread out.
Tang San tried to use "Parasite," but its effect was negligible—so faint it was almost impossible to detect, and worlds apart from the control effect he had imagined.
Seeing the result, Yu Xiaogang's face grew even more ashen. His last trace of hope vanished, and he sank dejectedly to the ground without another word.
Zhao Wuji saw this and shook his head. "All right. You've got your Soul Rings, at least. Though... sigh. Let's head back."
The group started back. By the time they passed through a small village, night had fallen, so they decided together to stay there.
The village was tiny, with only one shabby inn.
Everyone was exhausted, and they soon went to their rooms to rest.
As a Soul Saint, Zhao Wuji had keen senses and had already noticed something was off about the inn. A few of the workers had shifty eyes; they were clearly Soul Masters pretending to be ordinary people.
But the strongest among them was only a Soul Elder, so Zhao Wuji didn't take them seriously. He might as well use the opportunity to test everyone's vigilance.
Gu Han had also noticed they were Soul Masters, but assumed they were only protecting themselves and didn't pay them any mind.
Late that night,
several shadows silently crept toward Gu Han and the others' rooms, carrying smoke bombs. They were bandits who had settled in the area, targeting Soul Masters and traveling merchants who stayed at the inn.
"Something's happening," Gu Han whispered to Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu understood at once. They held their breath and pretended to have been overcome by the smoke.
Once the bandits thought they had succeeded, they tiptoed inside to search for valuables. Gu Han and Xiao Wu sprang into action.
Gu Han didn't even use his Martial Soul. With nothing but his Soul King–level physical strength, he took down two of them in an instant.
Xiao Wu's Soft Technique was even quicker. She used Waist Bow to fling one man straight into the wall, knocking him unconscious.
Meanwhile, a faint noise came from Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's room, too.
The whole thing had been swift and clean, with hardly a sound.
The next morning.
When the others woke after the smoke wore off, they saw the bandits tied up in a bundle, their faces bruised and swollen, and Gu Han, Xiao Wu, Tang San, and the others looking perfectly calm. Only then did they understand what had happened the night before.
Zhao Wuji gathered everyone with a stern expression and scolded them harshly:
"Look at yourselves—not an ounce of vigilance! If it weren't for them, you could've lost your belongings, or even your lives."
"As Soul Masters, you can never let your guard down. You were lucky this time, but what about next time?!"
Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others looked ashamed. Oscar shrank his neck, still shaken.
Tang San, however, said nothing. He had been alert from the beginning, and dealing with those bandits would have been easy enough for him.
Just as Zhao Wuji finished his lecture and everyone was preparing to set off again, Gu Han suddenly sensed a familiar aura. Saying he had something to retrieve, he walked back into the inn.
A golden figure appeared silently in the inn room, followed by an effeminate voice:
"Well, what an interesting sight to arrive just in time for."
The visitor was none other than Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan.
His gaze fell straight on Gu Han. He held his fingers in an orchid-like pose and smiled.
"Little Hanhan, you've been out playing for six years. Isn't it about time you came back? You've changed so much I almost didn't recognize you."
"His Holiness the Pope specifically sent me to bring you back for a visit."
Bibi Dong wanted to see Gu Han.
Gu Han's heart tightened. He knew he really had been away too long, and it had been ages since he'd seen his teacher. "And Sister Xue..."
Before you continue