Unbeknownst to the black shadow, Gu Han had already forgotten about him. Of course, it was selective forgetting.
In the meantime, a hundred-zhang-sized spirit pool flickered in and out at Gu Hanâs forehead. It swirled with misty radiance, as if crafted from transparent profound crystal. A shallow layer of spirit liquid already covered its bottom.
Next, it was a matter of following the steps. Completely filling the spirit pool with spirit liquid, after which he could smoothly break into the Spirit Profound realm. Of course, without the aid of external medicines, itâd likely be much harder than cultivating to the peak of the Acupoint Unsealing realm.
Gu Han gently exhaled, returning to reality. A conversation immediately reached his ears.
âJunior Sister, you should eat a little less,â said Zuo Yang with slight dissatisfaction.
âSenior Brother, I-Iâll have just one more piece, just one!â said Yu Miao with a hint of grievance and bashfulness.
Slowly opening his eyes, Gu Han registered the scene before him, the corner of his mouth twitched violently. Full of heartache, Zuo Yang watched the spirit food in the huge black pot rapidly shrinking. Yu Miao had long shed her previous image of a refined and gentle lady, scarfing down on a piece of beast meat.
Ah Shaâs little face was buried deep beneath a piece of beast meat. In just a short while, her cultivation had already broken into the third stage of Acupoint Unsealing, steadily climbing upward.
Noticing Gu Han had woken up, she exclaimed in a muffled voice, âYoung Master, eat quickly! Itâs so delicious!â
Yu Miao also nodded repeatedly, involuntarily reaching toward the big black pot again. âYeah! Itâs all thanks to you for joining us! Senior Brother usually wouldnât make these things for me to eat.â
Zuo Yang couldnât hold back anymore. âJunior Sister, leave some for Junior Brother!â
Gu Han swept a glance over the big black pot.
There isnât much meat left!
Without another word, he immediately joined in, or heâd be left with nothing but the soup. Besides, if he didnât eat his fill, how could he make up for these past few days of running around?
Like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds, the three of them devoured the meal, not even leaving a drop of soup.
Ah Sha licked her fingers, still not satisfied. âItâs so good...â
Now, she had successfully broken into the fifth stage of Acupoint Unsealing, enough to match the cultivation years of others
.
Although Gu Han ate the least, he had also reached the Essence Gathering Supreme Stage. He was just half a step away from breaking through.
Having gained so many benefits, he felt very satisfied. âThank you for the hospitality!â
Zuo Yang waved his hand. âThereâs no need for that! Weâre family, no need for such formalities.â
Gu Han suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. â
Ahem...
Iâve decided not to join Fengwu Court after all.â
With that one sentence, everyone instantly froze. The smile on Zuo Yangâs face gradually faded, and although Yu Miao still maintained her gentle and refined posture, her gaze became somewhat scary.
Instinctively sensing the danger, Ah Sha quietly slipped back to Gu Hanâs side. âYoung Master...â
Zuo Yangâs gaze turned profound. âJunior Brother, do you know how much effort I put into this spirit food pot? You wouldnât be planning to dine and dash, would you?â
âI-I already thanked you! And...â Gu Han was speechless and pointed at Yu Miao. âShe ate more than me!â
Everyone froze again.
Yu Miaoâs expression became cold and nonchalant. âNever mind. Fengwu Court is not an unreasonable place. You may leave if you want, but youâll have to compensate for the broken profound jade.â
Ah Sha was confused. â
Huh?
Didnât you say thereâs no need to compensate?â
Zuo Yang said flatly, âYes. Although Fengwu Court is small, it still has rules. We can forgive
our junior brother
for breaking it. However, if itâs an outsider, wouldnât Fengwu Court become a laughingstock when word gets out?â
The corner of Gu Hanâs mouth twitched.
Fengwu Court is already in this state, and theyâre still afraid of being laughed at?
Gu Han sighed. âWhy are you so insistent? From start to finish, I never said I wanted to join Fengwu Court, right? Even that examination was something I was forced to do.â
In fact, his only reason for joining the Fengwu Court was for the chief disciple status. However, it turned out that the title carried less weight than an ordinary disciple of Yuqing Sect, offering almost no help in acquiring that pill. As much as he liked the atmosphere of Fengwu Court, he naturally wouldnât stay.
Zuo Yang waved his hand. âNo problem then! To stay or leave is your decision!â
Inadvertently, he gently stroked the hilt of his knife, seemingly about to start chopping if the conversation didnât go well.
Gu Hanâs eyelids twitched.
Ah Sha asked timidly, âHow much is that profound jade worth?â
Yu Miao smiled a bit unnervingly. âNot much. Just a few million spirit sources.â
Ah Sha was stunned.
A few million?
This had already exceeded her ability to calculate.
Gu Hanâs heart sank as he heard very clearly: it wasnât essence crystals, but spirit sources!
âThis is just deliberate extortion!â he protested.
Zuo Yang had already pulled out that sharp knife, twirling it with an honest smile on his face. â
Hehe,
Whether you compensate is up to you. We wonât force you.â
Gu Han clicked his tongue.
Heâs already taken out the knife, and thatâs not forcing?
It was becoming increasingly clear that he probably wouldnât leave.
After a long silence, he glanced at Ah Sha and clenched his teeth. âFine! I will stay, but you have to agree to one condition of mine.â
Zuo Yang put away the sharp knife, laughing heartily as he shifted his tone. âThatâs great! Junior Brother, just say it!â
Yu Miao also instantly regained her gentle and refined expression. âIndeed! Weâre all family. Your concerns are our concerns!â
Gu Han didnât hide it from them. âI want to go to Ruyi Tower to buy that pill refined by the Ghost Physician.â
Naturally, he was very unwilling to be coerced by the two, so he simply threw this big problem at them.
After hearing Gu Hanâs explanation, the two exchanged a glance, suddenly understanding. âSoul deficiency?â
From the first moment they saw Ah Sha, they vaguely felt something was off about the little girl. Nevertheless, their full attention was on Gu Han, so they didnât pay much mind. They never expected that Ah Sha actually had this rare, incurable disease.
Ah Shaâs gaze dimmed. âYoung Master, sorry, Iâve burdened you again...â
Gu Han ruffled her hair, his smile not reaching his eyes. âDonât say that. Our senior brother and senior sister are here. If I encounter trouble, they canât just stand by. If they can help us solve this problem, staying isnât an issue. To be honest, Senior Brotherâs culinary skills are quite good!â
Now, it was Zuo Yang and Yu Miaoâs turn to be awkward.
After giving Gu Han a troubled look, Yu Miao pulled Zuo Yang aside, muttering incessantly, âSenior Brother, are we really helping them?â
âNonsense!â
âBut...â
âIf you let him leave, will Senior Sister let you off when she comes back?â
â
Haa...
â
Gu Han felt quite satisfied seeing this and deliberately called out, âSenior Brother, Senior Sister, if itâs too difficult, just forget it?â
Zuo Yang suddenly turned back, somewhat hesitant. âKid, I can help you! But you have to answer a few questions for me first!â
Gu Han was startled. â
Huh?
You really have a way?â
He originally wanted to put them on the spot. Who wouldâve expected them to actually have a solution?
Zuo Yangâs eyes were almost red. âLet me ask you. Did you cultivate the Supreme Stage?â
Gu Han didnât hide it. âYes.â
Zuo Yang asked again, âThen, how big is the spirit pool you just opened..?â
Zuo Yang had made up his mind: if Gu Hanâs spirit pool exceeded seventy zhang, heâd give him the solution.
Gu Han was silent for a moment, but the next moment, his spirit power ran amok. An overbearing, almost sky-piercing, aura surged from him.
Zuo Yang and Yu Miao exchanged a glance, unable to conceal the shock in their eyes.
Didnât he just break through?! Could there really be an Essence Gathering realm cultivator this strong in the world?!
Gu Han retracted his aura. âSenior Brother, Senior Sister, what do you think?â
Zuo Yang fell silent.
What do I think? Definitely more than seventy!
After a long while, Zuo Yang said, âI can help you, but you also have to promise me one thing.â
Gu Han agreed without even thinking. âFine.â
Zuo Yang was stunned at how easily Gu Han agreed. âArenât you going to ask what it is?â
Gu Han ruffled Ah Shaâs hair again. âWhatever it is, I agree.â
Zuo Yang looked at Gu Han a few more times, as if seeing him anew. âGood. This matter is related to Senior Sister. Itâs not urgent. When she returns, sheâll explain it clearly to you.â
Gu Hanâs heart stirred. âSenior Sister?â
Only then did he remember that Fengwu Court had three people.
âWhen will she be back?â
Yu Miao sighed. âHer? She hasnât been back in ten years...â
Gu Han frowned slightly.
Ten years?
âThen, who is the master of Fengwu Court?â he asked.
The two also looked bewildered. âWhat master? When we came, there was only Senior Sister alone. We never saw any master.â
A sense of powerlessness washed over Gu Han. âHow did you two come here?â
Zuo Yang proudly patted the sharp knife at his waist. âMe? Senior Sister said my culinary skills are unmatched in the world!â
Yu Miao also smiled. âMe too! Senior Sister said my tailoring skills are peerless!â
Gu Han felt a headache coming.
Of course the people of Fengwu Court are unreliable. Why did I even ask...
He stared suspiciously at the two. âDo you really have a way to get that pill? Youâre not tricking me again, are you?â
Zuo Yang hesitated again. âThis...â
Yu Miao sounded somewhat helpless. âSenior Brother, Junior Brother has already agreed to stay. Just give it to him!â
Zuo Yang clenched his teeth, flipped his hand, and took out something from his storage ring. âFine!â
It was about three chi long, pitch black, and covered in some mucus, making it impossible to tell what it was. Instantly, an unbearably foul, sour, and fishy odor permeated the area.
Ah Sha pinched her nose as her face paled. âYoung Master, itâs so smelly!â
Yu Miao instantly backed away. âSenior Brother, hurry up and give it to him!â
Zuo Yang sighed heavily, giving that stick-like object one last, reluctant look, his heart bleeding with pain. Then, he reluctantly handed it to Gu Han. â
Ugh!
Junior Brother, here! You take this thing and exchange it for the pill.â
Gu Hanâs face instantly turned green as he almost vomited up the beast meat he had just eaten.