"Thank you, Senior Brother."
After exchanging for thirty-six thousand gold coins, Gu Han expressed his gratitude with a formal salute and then found an excuse to leave.
Thirty-six thousand gold coins weren't much—not even enough to bid for a second-grade Foundation Establishment Elixir at the auction in Wutan City.
But in his hands, they could accomplish far more than eighteen hundred Merit Points.
"Take care. Feel free to come to me anytime if you need anything."
Mo Feng's heart was bleeding, but he maintained a polite facade.
If he had exchanged these Merit Points with his family, he would have lost over five thousand gold coins—no small sum.
As soon as Gu Han disappeared around the corner, Mo Feng's expression shifted. He immediately headed to the inner sect with his token in hand.
Although Mo Yu was the Grand Elder's personal disciple, his cultivation was only at the one-star Dou Master level, so he usually operated within the inner sect.
"Young Master."
Mo Feng found Mo Yu and noticed Mo Qing was also there. He promptly reported the situation.
"So, he doesn't hold any hostility toward our Mo family?" Mo Yu set down his teacup.
"Isn't that normal?" Mo Qing wasn't surprised and sneered. "Elder Brother, you're the Grand Elder's personal disciple, and Grandfather is a Dou Spirit expert. Gu Han only disregarded me because he's shortsighted and fixated on the rewards for first place in the Provisional Disciple competition. But he wouldn't dare oppose us."
"If I offered him even greater rewards for first place, he'd surely wag his tail like a dog."
"Not necessarily. Talented individuals often have pride," Mo Yu took a sip of tea, his expression smug. "But you're right. When facing our Mo family, he'd rather befriend us than make an enemy."
"In that case, let's pretend to befriend him on the surface. We can offer small favors and use him where we can."
"If he proves uncooperative and destined to be our enemy in the future, we'll find an opportunity to..."
Mo Yu didn't finish his sentence, but Mo Qing and Mo Feng understood.
Their stance toward Gu Han was temporarily settled.
"Let him live a little longer," Mo Qing sneered, then changed the subject. "He's really lucky to break through to Dou Practitioner in one attempt. Elder Brother, hasn't my Qi Gathering Powder arrived yet?"
"Although Qi Gathering Powder only helps a ninth-stage Dou Disciple break through to Dou Practitioner, it's still a fourth-grade pill and extremely rare. The family needs time to allocate it. Be patient, focus on your cultivation, and prepare yourself."
Mo Qing agreed outwardly but paid little heed inwardly.
Meanwhile, on the mountain path from the outer sect to the Provisional Disciple area, Liu Ling, holding a large bouquet of flowers, stopped Nalan Yanran, who was descending the mountain with two maids. "Yanran, where are you headed?"
"I'm returning to my family. It's been a long time since I've seen my grandfather and parents," Nalan Yanran replied with a polite smile.
"Shall I accompany you?" Liu Ling offered immediately.
"That wouldn't be appropriate," Nalan Yanran frowned slightly.
Liu Ling's heart warmed, and he smiled gently. "You're right, it's not appropriate for now. I was too hasty."
For now?
Nalan Yanran felt Liu Ling had misunderstood something.
But considering he was Gu He's disciple and a third-grade alchemist, she didn't press the issue.
"I'm in a hurry to return. I'll come back to the sect once my teacher returns. Is there anything else?" Nalan Yanran's smile grew even more polite.
"I've just advanced to a third-grade alchemist," Liu Ling said, presenting the bouquet in his hand. "I've always wanted to give you a gift. I heard your favorite is the Cloud Song Flower, so I prepared this for a long time."
Nalan Yanran: ?
This was the first time she encountered someone giving others a gift to celebrate their own achievement.
"Thank you," Nalan Yanran accepted the flowers.
It was just a bouquet—no need to refuse it.
If it were something valuable, she definitely wouldn't accept it, to avoid any misunderstanding.
"The flowers are beautiful, but the person is even more beautiful," Liu Ling didn't hide his admiration.
Nalan Yanran felt uncomfortable all over. After thanking him again, she said, "I'm in a hurry, I need to go."
"Alright, make sure to put the flowers in a vase when you get home," Liu Ling reminded her before letting her go without further persistence.
Nalan Yanran carried the bouquet and continued down the mountain with her two maids.
Liu Ling stood in place, watching until she was out of sight before turning to go up the mountain, a smile on his face.
"When she discovers the Mind Awakening Pill, Yanran will be so surprised. It's a pity I won't get to see her reaction."
"If I didn't do it this way, she would definitely refuse the pill I gave her. How clever of me."
Liu Ling walked uphill in high spirits. Not long after, he passed by an outer sect disciple heading down the mountain.
They glanced at each other but didn't speak, each considering the other irrelevant.
No—in Gu Han's mind, he saw Liu Ling as a lucky benefactor.
"I do like Cloud Song Flowers."
"But I like those that grow freely in wind and rain, even if they wither and scatter with the wind."
"Not those plucked, packaged, and placed in vases for admiration, with their fate controlled by others."
At a turn on the downhill path, Nalan Yanran's expression darkened as she tossed the bouquet away.
The two maids exchanged glances but didn't dare to speak.
If Liu Ling was trying to flatter, he had certainly missed the mark today.
Ever since learning about her engagement, their young mistress had been most concerned with "fate" and "freedom."
"Let's go."
Nalan Yanran's expression remained cold as she continued down the mountain.
Shortly after they left, Gu Han appeared nearby.
Following the clue to an opportunity, he soon spotted a bouquet of Cloud Song Flowers in front of a small tree on a steep slope. He quickly retrieved it and took a jade bottle from the center of the bouquet.
"Three pills—enough for a month."
After opening the jade bottle for a look, Gu Han thought to himself how lavish alchemists could be.
He stored the jade bottle in the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, casually tossed the Cloud Song Flowers farther away, and changed direction toward the third peak behind Cloud Mist Mountain.
Weaving through various mountain paths for about two hours, he finally reached his destination.
The weather around this peak had already begun to change, though the ominous wind mentioned in the opportunity clue hadn't started yet.
Gu Han wasn't in a hurry. With a thought, he entered the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm and began setting up a simple bed, meditation cushion, desk, and other essentials.
He would cultivate outside and rest inside the mystic realm, ensuring absolute safety.
Time flew like a fleeting steed. Ten days quickly passed since Gu Han began cultivating at the third peak.
Gu Han confirmed that his comprehension was indeed exceptional. With the aid of the Yin Wind environment, he had already mastered the Mystic Ice Force to a high level.
Having fully absorbed the residual medicinal effects of the Jade Spirit Fruit, he had broken through to a two-star Dou Practitioner and was touching the bottleneck to three stars.
Taking the Mind Awakening Pill could yield even better results, but Gu Han wasn't in a rush to do so.
"Snap!"
Gu Han stood before a rock at the mountain peak and executed the Mystic Yin Finger.
With the Frost Battle Qi enhancing him, his fingers became as hard as steel, piercing into the mountain rock as if it were tofu.
When he withdrew his fingers, a hole remained in the rock, its surface covered in a layer of frost.
"The Mystic Yin Finger has already been cultivated to perfection."
Gu Han showed a satisfied expression, then with a thought, returned to the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm to meditate and check today's opportunity.
"Hmm?"