Upon hearing Gu He's words, the little creature, who had been dancing joyfully, froze for a moment before fluttering up to his eyes, her emerald-green pupils blinking curiously.
Then, under Gu He's watchful gaze, the wings on her back trembled slightly, and a dazzling array of colorful lights erupted from her body.
Gu He had been observing her with interest, but his expression abruptly shifted.
A terrifying pressure—one that seemed to crush the very soul—radiated from the tiny being, causing Gu He's spirit to tremble uncontrollably.
His face paled. "This… this is a Spirit Realm soul!"
His own soul had already reached the peak of the Mortal Realm. If he could feel such overwhelming suppression, there was no doubt—this was the power of the Spirit Realm.
As the tearing sensation in his soul intensified, Gu He hurriedly called out, "Quick, Cai'er, stop!"
Hearing his voice, the little creature blinked in confusion before withdrawing the terrifying soul pressure, letting it recede like a fading tide.
"Hah…"
Once the oppressive force vanished, Gu He exhaled deeply, his body relaxing.
The experience had been harrowing—like a lone boat caught in a stormy sea, on the verge of being swallowed by the waves at any moment.
After a moment of recovery, his expression gradually steadied, though a trace of astonishment remained in his eyes as he studied the little being before him.
'This little one actually possesses a Spirit Realm soul!'
It was nothing short of unbelievable.
Though his own soul had reached the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm, that final step into the Spirit Realm was as difficult as scaling the heavens.
The gap between the peak Mortal Realm and the Spirit Realm was akin to the difference between a Dou Ancestor and a Dou Venerable—an insurmountable chasm in strength.
Moreover, the key to advancing from a seventh-tier to an eighth-tier alchemist lay precisely in attaining a Spirit Realm soul.
If Gu He wished to reach that level, he had no choice but to elevate his soul power to the Spirit Realm.
And yet, this tiny creature's soul power was likely even stronger than that of an ordinary eighth-tier alchemist!
As Gu He stared at Cai'er, surprise flickered in his eyes.
Suddenly, a thought struck him.
'A Spirit Realm soul, capable of leaving the body and taking human form… Could this little one be a soul entity?'
But upon closer inspection, she didn't resemble a mere soul. After all, how could a soul entity condense that green orb capable of extending one's lifespan?
"Yaah!"
Noticing Gu He's intense gaze, Cai'er seemed to grow shy. With a flutter of her wings, she darted to the top of his head, grabbing a lock of his hair and swinging playfully, humming a cheerful tune.
Seeing this, Gu He couldn't help but feel a pang of helplessness. 'This little one truly has the heart of a child—so mischievous.'
Time passed swiftly. After an hour, Gu He soothed the little creature, assuring her that she would be released soon, before finally exiting the system space.
Through rigorous testing over that hour, Gu He had managed to uncover some of Cai'er's abilities:
First, her body contained an immense life force, allowing her to condense those green orbs—each capable of extending a Dou Ancestor's lifespan by a hundred years.
She could produce one per day. However, whether the effects stacked or diminished with multiple consumptions remained untested.
Second, she possessed a Spirit Realm soul of terrifying power. At full strength, she could rival a Dou Venerable. Below that level, opponents wouldn't even have a chance to resist—her soul pressure alone could instantly crush them.
Third, she was adept in profound soul techniques, capable of weaving illusions and concealing her presence.
Even a typical Dou Venerable could become utterly lost in her illusions. Additionally, she could erect soul barriers, isolating internal soul fluctuations from external detection.
Fourth, she could absorb stellar energy and condense the essence of heaven and earth.
This was the ability Gu He valued most. With it alone, he could create a cultivation sanctuary rivaling—or even surpassing—the secret realms of the Eight Great Ancient Clans.
These were the abilities Gu He had discerned so far.
The more he learned, the more awed he became.
'This little one truly lives up to being an ancient rarity. Any one of these abilities would shake the entire Dou Qi Continent—yet she possesses all four!'
'No wonder the supreme forces of antiquity fought so fiercely over her kind.'
Of course, alongside her powers, Gu He also discerned her current condition.
The Nine-Colored Holy Lotus, in its prime, had strength comparable to a Dou Saint, with a soul power reaching the terrifying Heavenly Realm.
But now, due to damaged origins, Cai'er could only contend with an average Dou Venerable.
To restore her, she needed natural treasures of the highest grade. Given her current state, only eighth-tier treasures would suffice.
'And yet, even in this diminished state, she's already so formidable. If her origins were fully restored… just how terrifying would she become?'
After all, the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus at its peak had been a match for Dou Saint!
The thought sent a surge of excitement through Gu He's heart—but it was quickly tempered by reality.
"Sigh… the road ahead is long." Seated in the pavilion, he poured himself a cup of tea, exhaling softly.
At his current strength, obtaining eighth-tier treasures was nearly impossible.
"One step at a time. With the system, my growth will accelerate. Eventually, I'll restore her completely."
Remembering the sorrow and reluctance in Cai'er's eyes when he mentioned leaving earlier, he silently steeled his resolve.
"For now, the priority is finding her a proper place to stay."
The system space was desolate and silent—hardly a suitable home for such a lively little being.
Moreover, keeping her locked away would be a waste of her abilities.
Just her power to condense heaven and earth's energy could create an unparalleled cultivation ground. If the Little Fairy Doctor and the others trained there, their progress would skyrocket.
...
'But where should I place the little one?' Inside the gazebo, Gu He frowned in contemplation. He would much prefer to keep the little one
'But where should I place the little one?' Inside the gazebo, Gu He frowned in contemplation.
He would much prefer to keep the little one in his own courtyard. However, his yard was far too busy—almost every month, elders from the Misty Cloud Sect would visit him to request pills.
This was part of his duty as an honorary elder of the Misty Cloud Sect.
Having enjoyed the sect's generous treatment, he found it difficult to refuse their requests.
Moreover, Gu He held some sentiment toward the Misty Cloud Sect.
After all, without the Misty Cloud Sect's unwavering support, he would never have attained the title of Pill King so swiftly.
Thus, even though he no longer truly needed the Misty Cloud Sect, he had never considered severing ties with them.
Of course, if circumstances forced his hand, Gu He was pragmatic enough to walk away without hesitation.
Since outsiders frequently visited his courtyard, it was impossible to keep the Cai Lian there.
Given the little one's extraordinary abilities, the ideal location would be somewhere secluded—far from prying eyes.
The mountain range where Gu He often secluded himself for training seemed a viable option.
However, it was somewhat distant from the Misty Cloud Sect.
The Cai Lian's heaven-defying talents made her invaluable to Gu He.
If she were placed too far away, he wouldn't be able to reach her swiftly in case of an emergency.
That simply wouldn't do.
Admittedly, with the Cai Lian's strength, even an ordinary Dou Venerable wouldn't pose a threat.
In this remote corner of the northwest, where powerful figures were scarce, danger should be minimal.
But what if a wandering expert happened to stumble upon her?
"Better safe than sorry."
To Gu He, Cai Lian was now irreplaceable.
He refused to consider any location that carried even the slightest risk.
After pondering several alternatives, he ultimately dismissed them all.
Half an hour later, Gu He set down his teacup and turned his gaze toward the rear of the Misty Cloud Sect.
That was the sect's forbidden zone—the back mountain.
"Perhaps the back mountain would be suitable." A glimmer of realization brightened Gu He's deep, contemplative eyes.
The Misty Cloud Sect derived its name from Misty Cloud Mountain, yet the sect occupied only a tenth of the mountain's expanse.
Since the sect was established at the mountain's front, the remaining area was referred to as the back mountain.
Now, Gu He considered placing Cai Lian there.
With his soul power at the peak of the mortal realm, he could envelop the entire Misty Cloud Sect in his perception.
If he willed it, nothing on Misty Cloud Mountain could escape his notice.
Moreover, Cai Lian's soul had reached the spirit realm.
In moments of peril, she could instantly alert him through their soul connection.
From a safety standpoint, the back mountain was undoubtedly the best choice.
Additionally, as the sect's forbidden area, entry was strictly prohibited without the sect leader's authorization.
This meant the back mountain remained untouched by human activity, inhabited only by fourth and fifth-tier magical beasts—creatures far beneath Cai Lian's notice.
Even if a high-ranking sect member entered with permission, Cai Lian's soul illusions would render her invisible to them.
With her spirit realm soul power, even Yun Shan, the former sect leader, would succumb to her illusions without resistance.
Furthermore, the back mountain's proximity to his courtyard ensured that Gu He could arrive instantly if needed.
It would also be convenient for training his disciples within her domain.
After thorough deliberation, Gu He made his decision.
Cai Lian would reside in the Misty Cloud Sect's back mountain.
Without further hesitation, he unleashed his soul power, scouring the back mountain for the perfect location—a place with favorable geomantic energy, akin to the valley in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
…
The vast forest stretched endlessly, dappled sunlight filtering through the dense canopy.
Monstrous roars echoed through the trees, and dried leaves rustled as they drifted to the ground.
Deep within Misty Cloud Mountain lay an ancient, untouched woodland, its towering trees piercing the clouds, blotting out the sky.
Here, fourth and fifth-tier magical beasts prowled, hunting for prey.
In the shadowy depths, bestial snarls shattered the silence at intervals.
Creatures below the sixth tier were inherently violent, driven by bloodlust and a primal urge to kill.
Frequent clashes between these beasts disrupted the tranquility of the primeval forest.
Yet, in the heart of the Misty Cloud Sect's forbidden zone, an eerie stillness prevailed.
Any beast that ventured near would tremble in terror before fleeing in haste.
In the world of magical beasts, strength reigned supreme.
Clearly, this silent domain belonged to the ruler of this territory—the Valley Python.
The valley was nestled between steep cliffs, with only a single entrance.
Inside, the air thrummed with energy, and lush vegetation flourished.
In one corner lay a deep, icy pool, spanning dozens of feet in width and plunging over ten feet deep.
At the pool's bottom rested a massive creature—a colossal serpent, its body sheathed in azure scales, stretching over ten feet long.
Upon its fearsome head stood a single, spear-like horn, glinting with a cold, piercing light, as though it could rend the world asunder.
The serpent exuded a savage, oppressive aura—undeniable proof of its status as a peak fifth-tier magical beast.
Within Misty Cloud Mountain, such a creature was the undisputed overlord of these wilds.
Its presence alone ensured the valley remained a rare oasis of silence in the back mountain.
At this moment, the giant python lay motionless at the pool's depths, eyes shut in peaceful slumber.
Then—
A razor-sharp surge of soul power swept through the valley, pausing above the water.
"Hmm, this valley is perfect."
A cheerful voice rang out, followed by the sudden appearance of a white-robed figure at the pool's edge.
The man made no effort to conceal his presence.
Sensing the intrusion, the slumbering python's eyes snapped open, fury flashing within its massive pupils.
With a thunderous hiss, it erupted from the icy depths.
"BOOM!"
The once-placid pool exploded in a towering geyser, sending a colossal column of water soaring into the sky.
…
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