"There's actually such an interesting secret technique…"
After fully absorbing the information in her mind, the Little Fairy Doctor's eyes widened in astonishment, a strange glint flickering in her bright pupils.
For the first time, she learned that such a secret technique—one capable of controlling poisonous insects—existed in this world.
Her gaze then fell upon the Shadow Poisonous Insect eggs inside the brocade box, burning with excitement.
The Insect Control Technique paired with these Shadow Poisonous Insect eggs was a match made in heaven!
"Teacher, I'll take these Shadow Poisonous Insect eggs with me."
Unable to contain her excitement, the Little Fairy Doctor carefully stored the brocade box, bid Gu He farewell, and hurried straight to her room.
The moment she took the brocade box, a system notification echoed in Gu He's mind:
[Ding! Detected that the host has granted eighteen Shadow Poisonous Insect eggs to the second disciple, the Little Fairy Doctor. Congratulations to the host for triggering a 8,000 fold refund—obtaining eighteen Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas.]
[Ding! The Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas have been deposited into the system space. Host, please check at your convenience.]
Hearing the prompt, Gu He was momentarily stunned.
''Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas?''
What kind of poisonous insect was this?
Truthfully, Gu He knew very little about poisonous insects. His knowledge of the Shadow Poisonous Insects had come entirely from the Miteer Auction House.
Thus, at this moment, he was completely unfamiliar with the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada.
Without hesitation, Gu He immersed his consciousness into the system space to investigate.
Upon entering, his attention was immediately drawn to a crimson light cluster floating in the space.
[Ding! Would the host like to sign a master-servant contract with the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada eggs?]
The moment his consciousness touched the crimson light, another system prompt sounded.
"Sign the master-servant contract!" Gu He commanded without hesitation.
As soon as the words left his lips, a drop of scarlet blood essence separated from his body, drifting toward the crimson light cluster.
"Boom!"
The instant the blood essence made contact, the crimson light erupted in a dazzling scarlet glow, unleashing a fierce, bloodthirsty aura.
The blood essence shimmered, transforming into a bloody sigil that slowly merged into the light cluster.
Moments later, Gu He's expression shifted slightly—he could now sense an inexplicable connection between himself and the crimson light.
Within it, eighteen nascent lifeforms pulsed with vitality, their faint consciousness brushing against his mind.
Simultaneously, a stream of information flooded into his thoughts—details about the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada.
[Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada: Vicious, brutal, and bloodthirsty. Highly toxic, possessing the innate ability to temporarily conceal its form. Upon reaching maturity, its strength rivals that of a seventh-tier magical beast.]
After absorbing the information, a flash of surprise crossed Gu He's eyes.
True to its name, the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada was a creature of unparalleled ferocity—a truly deadly insect.
Yet, for Gu He, the more bloodthirsty and powerful it was, the better.
With the system's master-servant contract in place, he could command these cicadas at will, even without the Insect Control Technique.
"System, extract the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada eggs."
Following his order, the crimson light cluster flickered before vanishing into his body as a streak of red light.
In its place remained eighteen blood-colored eggs, each the size of a pigeon's egg.
"The hatching of the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada requires absorbing vast amounts of natural energy. Perhaps the valley behind the mountain would be the ideal place for them."
With this plan in mind, Gu He vanished from the courtyard in an instant.
…
Ten Miles Outside Qingshan Town
The night sky was adorned with a lone crescent moon, its pale silver light casting a faint glow over the land.
Within a secluded grove, the flickering flames of a campfire danced, offering a sliver of warmth against the silent darkness.
Beside the fire, a black-clad youth leaned against a tree trunk, idly poking at the embers with a stick.
This youth was none other than Xiao Yan, who had departed from Wu Tan City half a month prior.
The initial thrill of his journey had long since faded, leaving only a quiet solitude in its wake.
Tossing another log into the fire, Xiao Yan propped his chin on his palm and asked lazily,
"Teacher, where exactly are we heading?"
"The Magic Beast Mountain Range," came the aged voice from the ring on his finger.
"But couldn't we have entered the Magic Beast Mountain Range near Wu Tan City? Why travel so far?"
"This region lies in the eastern part of the range. Crossing it will bring us to the Tagore Desert—the final destination of your training," Yao Lao explained with a chuckle.
"Cross the Magic Beast Mountain Range?!" Xiao Yan's lips twitched into a dry smile. "At my current strength, I can barely handle a few young first-tier magical beasts at best. Staying on the outskirts is one thing, but crossing it entirely seems... impossible, no?"
"True potential only emerges in the face of danger," Yao Lao replied indifferently. "I intend for you to break through to the Dou Practitioner within the Magic Beast Mountain Range."
"Wha—? So I'll be spending the rest of my training there?" Xiao Yan's face immediately soured.
"I estimate a year will suffice. The remaining six months will be spent in the Tagore Desert."
"The Tagore Desert…" Xiao Yan muttered before sighing in resignation. 'Well, at least with teacher protecting me, I won't end up as beast food... right?'
After a brief silence, Xiao Yan's thoughts drifted to Nalan Yanran, prompting another question.
"Teacher, what realm do you think Nalan Yanran has reached by now?"
"When she came to the Xiao family to annul the engagement, she was a three-star Dou Practitioner. It's only been a little over a year since then—at most, she's a six or seven-star Dou Practitioner now," Yao Lao answered matter-of-factly.
Noticing Xiao Yan's expression, Yao Lao teased, "What's wrong? Lacking confidence?"
Xiao Yan immediately shook his head. "Of course not! Just wait and see, Teacher. When the three-year agreement comes, I will win without a doubt!"
"Good! That's the spirit!" Yao Lao's aged face brimmed with pride.
"Not only must you have faith in yourself, but also in your teacher. In this puny Jia Ma Empire, who else can afford to feed you pills like candy?"
"Even that so-called Pill King Gu He from the Misty Cloud Sect—he's nothing compared to me!"
Yao Lao's voice was filled with unwavering confidence.
...
In the blink of an eye, another week had passed.
Today marked only three days remaining until the Misty Cloud Sect's Inner Sect Grand Competition.
Deep within the valley behind the mountain, inside a secluded cave, Gu He had carved out a hidden chamber. Moonstones embedded in the cave's ceiling illuminated the otherwise pitch-black space, casting a soft glow.
At the very heart of the cave lay a secret room, roughly ten feet in size. Currently, Gu He stood before it, his gaze fixed on the dozen or so blood-red insects clinging to the walls.
These creatures, known as Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas, were grotesque in appearance—their bodies armored with crimson scales, a pair of blood-colored wings fluttering faintly on their backs.
Upon closer inspection, one could spot the razor-sharp mouthparts hidden within their jaws.
Outside the secret room, Gu He observed them intently, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he sensed the vicious aura radiating from the insects.
These eighteen Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas had finally hatched after years of nurturing, absorbing the energy of heaven and earth. Their emergence filled Gu He with a quiet satisfaction.
Though small—only slightly larger than ordinary bugs—their strength was undeniable. Each one possessed power equivalent to a Tier 4 magical beast, rivaling a human practitioner at the Dou Spirit level.
However, their intelligence was lacking. Even after Gu He had bound them with a master-servant contract, their dim-witted nature meant they could only follow the simplest of commands.
While this disappointed him somewhat, he could accept it. After all, as long as they remained obedient, their intellect might improve alongside their strength in the future.
Over the past few days, Gu He had studied many texts on poisonous insects, shedding his former ignorance.
From these records, he learned that in ancient times, someone had compiled a Strange Bug List, cataloging hundreds of formidable poisonous insects.
The Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada ranked ninth on that list.
Yet, according to the texts, their individual power was limited—their true terror lay in overwhelming numbers.
A mere dozen or even a hundred would be insignificant. Only when their ranks swelled to tens of thousands would they truly live up to their fearsome reputation.
The mere thought of countless Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas blotting out the sky, an endless tide of slaughter, sent a chill down Gu He's spine.
An adult Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicada could rival a seventh-tier magical beast, equivalent to a human Dou Ancestor powerhouse.
Thousands of Dou Ancestor-level creatures descending upon an enemy? Even the mightiest factions would tremble.
Thus, Gu He's current task was clear—accelerate their maturation and breed them rapidly to expand their numbers.
But that was easier said than done.
First, maturing the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas required vast amounts of heaven and earth energy, a hurdle that would deter most.
Fortunately, Gu He possessed the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus, capable of absorbing starlight and condensing natural energy. The valley's abundant energy was sufficient for now.
However, energy alone wasn't enough.
Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas were inherently savage creatures, driven by a lust for blood. To stimulate their growth, they needed daily feedings of flesh and blood.
With that in mind, Gu He retrieved a magical beast carcass from his spatial ring and tossed it into the secret room.
The scent of blood immediately seized the insects' attention.
"Buzz!"
A frenzied hum filled the chamber. Though the cicadas trembled with hunger, they held back, awaiting Gu He's command.
A pleased smirk crossed his lips.
"Good."
Though lacking in intelligence, their absolute obedience was their greatest strength. They followed orders without question.
"Begin," he commanded.
The moment the words left his lips, the Bloodthirsty Poisonous Cicadas lunged like crimson streaks of lightning, descending upon the carcass.
"Crunch. Crunch. Crunch."
The gruesome sound of gnawing echoed through the chamber. Within moments, the massive beast carcass had been completely devoured—not even bones remained.
Gu He's eyes gleamed with amazement.
Despite their small size, the insects had consumed the entire beast without any visible change in their bodies. Truly bizarre.
Upon closer inspection with his soul force, he detected a subtle shift in their auras—more bloodthirsty, more vicious. A crimson mist now coiled around them, exuding an unsettling presence.
'From now on, I'll need to bring a beast carcass daily,' he mused, slightly exasperated.
Once their numbers multiplied, the demand for flesh would become staggering.
After ordering the cicadas to remain confined, Gu He exited the cave.
The moment he stepped outside, a dense surge of natural energy enveloped him. The valley was now shrouded in a mist-like haze, obscuring visibility. Only by releasing his soul force could he perceive his surroundings clearly.
With a thought, he teleported to the medicinal garden.
During this time, he had visited the Miteer Auction House once more, acquiring and planting three additional sixth-tier medicinal herbs.
Now, the garden housed fifteen sixth-tier herbs, not counting the numerous fourth and fifth-tier ones.
Satisfied with their growth, Gu He nodded before departing the valley via the passage opened by Cai'er.
In an instant, he reappeared in his courtyard.
Just as he moved toward the pavilion, his expression suddenly darkened. His gaze snapped toward the mountains behind the Misty Cloud Sect.
"Such a powerful aura..."
His soul force surged outward, locking onto the strange and overwhelming presence.
"This is… the Hall of Soul!"
...
The words Hall of Soul flashed in his mind, and Gu He's expression instantly turned grave.
Though his current strength was formidable—having refined all the accumulated cultivation in the system space over the past few days, reaching the Seven-Star Dou Ancestor level—it meant nothing in the face of the Hall of Soul.
Gu He knew the terror of the Hall of Soul all too well. Against them, his power was insignificant.
For years, he had deliberately concealed his strength, avoiding unnecessary attention so the Hall of Soul wouldn't take notice of him.
But recently, his single-minded focus on improving his cultivation had nearly made him forget—there was a Hall of Soul protector lurking within the Misty Cloud Sect.
From his memories of the original story, Gu He recalled that this protector was named Protector Wu, a low-ranking but formidable figure within the Hall of Soul, wielding the strength of an Eight-Star Dou Ancestor.
The aura he had sensed earlier clearly originated from the back mountains of the Misty Cloud Sect.
A chill ran down Gu He's spine as he realized the implications.
Though the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus ensured the protector couldn't enter the valley, prolonged exposure risked leaving traces behind.
His eyes gleamed with cold intent.
Everything in that valley was vital to him—nothing could be allowed to slip away.
He couldn't be certain whether the protector had noticed anything.
But just in case…
After a brief hesitation, resolve flashed in Gu He's eyes. With a flick of his sleeve, his figure vanished from the courtyard, chasing the fading aura from the back mountains.
…
Not far from the Misty Cloud Sect…
A thick, ghostly wisp of black smoke streaked across the sky at terrifying speed, covering vast distances in mere moments.
But as it passed over a remote mountain range, it suddenly halted.
The black mist condensed, shrinking until it took the form of a shadowy figure with an obscured face.
"Who dares block my path?" the figure—Protector Wu—demanded, his voice grave.
Ahead, suspended in the void, was a radiant blue lotus platform, its azure glow illuminating the sky.
Standing atop it was a white-robed figure, his face concealed behind a silver mask, his presence veiled by the dazzling light.
It was Gu He.
The Qinglian Holy Platform beneath him pulsed with dou qi.
He remained silent.
The Hall of Soul's methods were unpredictable—if this protector escaped, he might leak critical information.
"Who are you?" Protector Wu repeated, his voice hardening.
His cold gaze swept over Gu He, a flicker of wariness in his eyes. He could sense this mysterious stranger's strength was no less than his own.
Yet Gu He still didn't answer. Instead, an overwhelming pressure erupted from his body, crashing toward the protector.
Protector Wu's expression darkened.
"I am of the Hall of Soul!" he snarled. "Think carefully before making an enemy of us!"
"Enough talk." Gu He's sneer echoed as the Qinglian Holy Platform surged forward.
A cyan barrier flared to life around him, shielding him completely.
"Jie jie… Arrogant fool!" Protector Wu's laughter was laced with fury. "Even a Dou Ancestor is nothing before the Hall of Soul! You'll regret this!"
"The Hall of Soul always spouts the same nonsense… No wonder..." Gu He muttered, his tone icy.
He didn't finish his thought— 'No wonder Xiao Yan always escapes them.'
"You've encountered others from the Hall of Soul?" Surprise flickered in the protector's eyes.
Gu He ignored him.
His Dou Qi surged like a raging torrent, distorting the space around him. Only a Dou Ancestor could manifest such power.
Seeing his silence, murderous intent flared in Protector Wu's gaze.
"Let's see if your arrogance is justified!"
With a sharp flick of his fingers, metallic clattering filled the air as chains, sharp as blades, lashed toward Gu He like monstrous tentacles.
Gu He remained calm.
At the last moment, the Qinglian Holy Platform flared, its barrier meeting the chains head-on.
"BOOM!"
The collision sent shockwaves rippling outward, the sheer force flinging the massive chains aside.
Yet the holy platform stood unscathed.
"Such defense!" Protector Wu's eyes widened.
Even a typical Dou Ancestor would've struggled to block that strike—yet this man had done so effortlessly.
"A treasure indeed…" Greed flickered in his gaze.
If he obtained this lotus platform, his power would soar.
"Jie jie jie… Will you hide behind this turtle shell the entire fight?" he mocked.
Gu He didn't react.
Instead, he slowly raised his right hand—
A flame ignited in his palm.
Violet and crimson, its beauty was mesmerizing.
The moment it appeared, Protector Wu's face contorted in horror.
"This is… a Heavenly Flame?!"
…
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