"A space!?"
A flicker of astonishment flashed in Gu Han's eyes.
After channeling his spiritual sense into the Black Tortoise Shell, he discovered he could connect to a special space—three meters in length, width, and height, totaling twenty-seven cubic meters, roughly one-fifth the size of Room A1.
Before he could explore this space further, a stream of information flooded his mind.
Because he had broken through to become a Dou Practitioner, the Black Tortoise Shell had regained some of its power and unlocked the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm.
It was a small, growing world where the space would expand as his soul power increased.
When he reached the one-star Dou Practitioner level, his soul realm had already reached the early Mortal Realm stage with the help of the turtle shell.
"Indeed." A surge of fervor rose within Gu Han.
The transmigrated seniors were right—cheating once feels great, and cheating all the time feels even better.
"Store!"
Gu Han took the Jade Spirit Fruit from his Storage Ring and stored it in the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm.
He was the cautious type; incidents like Xiao Yan's Heaven Demon Phoenix essence blood being discovered by Feng Qing'er from within his ring had to be nipped in the bud.
From now on, items that could be seen in the open and weren't precious would go in the Storage Ring, while everything else would be kept in the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm.
"And that Jade Spirit Fruit Tree." Gu Han's mind began to stir.
He knew his limits and hadn't planned to lay hands on the Jade Spirit Fruit Tree anytime soon.
But now that he possessed a portable mystic realm where living things could be stored—and where the energy of heaven and earth would soon become three times denser than the outside world—he couldn't let such a treasure remain out in the open.
"However, since the Jade Spirit Fruit was just stolen, the Mo family is sure to be watching. It's still not the time to act. I'll check the opportunities first."
Gu Han reined in his thoughts and communicated with the Black Tortoise Shell once more.
The next moment, two pieces of information surfaced in his mind.
[In Room 99 on the second floor of the Skill Transmission Hall, there is a low-grade Profound Tier ice-attribute skill called the Mystic Ice Force, perfectly suited for your current cultivation.]
[After Mo Yu discovered the theft of the Jade Spirit Fruit, he flew into a rage. He has stationed people to watch the entrance of the path and plans to use his family and master's influence to gather information on the Jade Spirit Fruit, hoping to track down the thief.]
"Truly a timely rain."
A faint smile appeared in Gu Han's eyes.
The Black Tortoise Shell had mentioned that the opportunities it provided were both urgently needed and within his ability to obtain.
These two pieces of information made him understand this even more deeply.
Since there was a suitable skill available, he would acquire and cultivate it as soon as possible.
"Thud!"
Gu Han arrived at the secret chamber's entrance and pressed his token against it.
Pushing the door open and stepping outside, he noticed that someone from Room A2 across the way had also just opened their door and emerged.
Their eyes met, and both Gu Han and Nalan Yanran showed a flicker of surprise.
They hadn't expected to encounter the person they'd met yesterday morning again today.
Gu Han nodded in acknowledgment, then turned and headed out of the cultivation chamber.
A glint of curiosity flashed in Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes, but she remained silent and also made her way out.
"Honored Steward."
Gu Han approached the registration desk and returned his cultivation chamber token.
The middle-aged man, who had been dozing, opened his eyes. Seeing Gu Han's healthy complexion, a spark of light gleamed in his gaze.
"You successfully broke through?" the middle-aged man asked, taking the token to confirm.
"Yes," Gu Han replied straightforwardly.
"Good, well done." The middle-aged man nodded with a smile, completed the registration, and returned Gu Han's identity token. "You can now go to the Outer Sect Affairs Hall to complete your registration as an outer sect disciple. There, you'll receive the outer sect disciple uniform and a sword."
"Given your age, you may also qualify for additional benefits provided by the sect."
"Thank you, Steward." Gu Han accepted the token and stored it away before looking up to inquire, "May I know the steward's name?"
"This steward's surname is Zhang, you may call me Steward Zhang." Steward Zhang's attitude was quite amiable.
"This disciple will remember." Gu Han responded earnestly, then turned and walked toward the training hall entrance.
"Steward Zhang, the token." Nalan Yanran arrived at the registration desk and returned the token for room A-2.
Steward Zhang completed the registration meticulously: "All set, Young Sect Master."
"Mm." Nalan Yanran gave a slight nod, waiting until Gu Han's figure disappeared through the doorway before asking, "Who is that person?"
"Gu Han, the first place winner in the Provisional Disciple Competition the day before yesterday." Steward Zhang answered respectfully.
"So that's Gu Han." A flicker of surprise passed through Nalan Yanran's eyes.
She had heard her teacher Yun Yun mention that Gu Han possessed exceptional cultivation talent, not inferior to her own.
At the time she hadn't thought much of it, but now upon careful comparison, it seemed he might even surpass her.
She had begun cultivating Dou Disciple from her fourth birthday, and had successfully broken through to Dou Practitioner not long after her thirteenth birthday.
Gu Han had started cultivating when he was over six years old, and now before even turning fifteen, he had successfully broken through to Dou Practitioner.
Moreover, she had the guidance of family elders and her teacher Yun Yun.
"He doesn't possess the common five elements or wind and thunder attributes, but the relatively rare ice attribute. The Cloud Mist Sect has no suitable teacher for him, otherwise he would certainly become a direct disciple." Nalan Yanran thought to herself, considering she should inform her teacher about this matter.
If Yun Yun learned that Gu Han's cultivation talent slightly surpassed her own, she would likely find ways to nurture him - this would become strength for the Cloud Mist Sect in the future.
Unaware of Nalan Yanran's thoughts, Gu Han had already arrived at the Outer Sect Affairs Office.
"Honorable Steward, this disciple has broken through to Dou Practitioner and applies to become an outer sect disciple." Gu Han approached the service counter.
"Wang Hao, handle this for him." An elderly man dozing in a recliner didn't even open his eyes, simply turning over.
A decent-looking, burly man stood up from nearby, his expression meticulous as he pointed to a black stone tablet about ten feet tall: "Junior brother, please place your identity token in the Testing Magic Stone Tablet's groove, then channel your Dou Qi."
Gu Han approached the Testing Magic Stone Tablet and followed instructions.
As he channeled his Dou Qi, the black stone tablet soon emitted intense light, with a line of large characters appearing on its surface.
[Gu Han, One-Star Dou Practitioner]
"Gu Han, One-Star Dou Practitioner."
Wang Hao announced the result, reaching out to take Gu Han's identity token.
"You handle his paperwork." The old man waved dismissively.
But the next moment, his eyes snapped open as he flashed to the wooden desk, examining Gu Han up and down: "Are you that Gu Han who took first place in the Provisional Disciple Competition?"
The Cloud Mist Sect was divided into Provisional Disciples, Outer Sect Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, and Core Disciples.
Provisional Disciples were cultivators at the Dou Disciple stage. If they failed to reach the seventh level of Dou Disciple before eighteen, they would become sect servants or be sent down the mountain to work in Cloud Mist Sect enterprises. The Provisional Disciple Competition was only open to disciples under eighteen.
Provisional Disciples who broke through to Dou Practitioner could become Outer Sect Disciples. Those who failed to reach Dou Practitioner before twenty-five would be assigned outside the sect.
Outer Sect Disciples who broke through to Dou Master before thirty could become Inner Sect Disciples, otherwise they would be assigned as stewards outside the sect.
Those who reached Dou Grand Master before forty could become Core Disciples or choose to become Outer Sect Stewards.
A Dou Spirit can choose to become an inner sect steward, while peak Dou Spirits and Dou Kings become elders.
"Reporting to the steward, it is indeed this disciple," Gu Han replied with an unchanged expression.
"I recall you are fifteen this year?" the old man inquired.
"There are less than four months until my fifteenth birthday," Gu Han answered meticulously.
"Good." The old man beckoned to Gu Han. "Come here, I'll handle your registration."
Gu Han instinctively glanced at the young man holding his identity token.
"Pay him no mind." The old man snatched the identity token. "You're a prodigy. This boy isn't qualified to issue an outer sect disciple token for you."
Gu Han: "..."
Wang Hao: "..."