"Now!"
Gu Han landed on the ground, swiftly uprooted two stalks of Azure Flame Grass, and stored them in the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, placing them atop the Essence Crystal Jade Marrow.
After completing this, he slapped the ground forcefully, using the momentum to leap into the air and swiftly ascend to a high altitude.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye, leaving no opportunity for the Nalan family Dou Spirit and the Tier 4 Mu Kui Wolf to react.
Their attention was entirely focused on each other, completely unaware that someone would suddenly descend from the sky and snatch the Azure Flame Grass they were waiting to mature.
By the time they realized what was happening, Gu Han had already flown to a height of over ten zhang, leaving behind a dark silhouette with pure blue wings.
"A Dou King expert!?" The Nalan family Dou Spirit's eyes narrowed.
Judging by the released aura, it indeed resembled a Dou King.
But if a Dou King expert wanted to seize the Azure Flame Grass, they could simply reveal their identity to make him and the Tier 4 Mu Kui Wolf retreat. There was no need to strike unexpectedly before the grass fully matured.
"Roar!"
Compared to the Nalan family Dou Spirit, the Tier 4 Mu Kui Wolf clearly didn't overthink things and immediately mobilized the Dou Qi within its body to attack.
A large amount of Dou Qi surged into the ground, channeled through root systems into nearby trees. The leaves atop these trees glowed with a green light, transforming into dozens of wind blades that shot toward Gu Han.
Sensing the whistling sounds from behind, Gu Han focused his mind and entered the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, leaving behind an afterimage in his original position.
All the wind blades passed through the afterimage, disappearing after flying a considerable distance.
Gu Han returned to the outside world and executed Serpentine Nine Steps, moving several zhang away after a few flashes.
He glanced back at the Tier 4 Mu Kui Wolf, flapped his wings, and continued flying southwest.
"I thought the Mu Kui Wolf had hit him, but it was just an afterimage."
"With speed like that, he must be a Dou King expert."
The Nalan family Dou Spirit subconsciously held his breath, relieved that he hadn't attacked.
That Dou King was flying southwest, clearly intending to observe the battle between the two Tier 5 Mu Kui Wolves.
No wonder he didn't waste time with them, simply taking the Azure Flame Grass before leaving.
"Consider yourself lucky, beast." The Nalan family Dou Spirit turned to look at the Tier 4 Mu Kui Wolf still roaring in helpless rage.
If that Dou King expert hadn't been in a hurry to leave, he would certainly have returned to slay this Mu Kui Wolf.
"Awooo~"
The Mu Kui Wolf suddenly turned its head, killing intent flashing in its eyes.
The Nalan family Dou Spirit: "..."
Meanwhile, Gu Han circled around, changed back into his regular clothes, and reunited with Zhang Chuchen. This time, no unexpected incidents occurred along the way.
"Junior brother, this is a gift of gratitude from my master."
On their way down the mountain, Zhang Chuchen took out a scroll and handed it to Gu Han.
"A Mystic Low-Rank Ice Attribute Sword Skill Battle Technique, Snowfall Sword Shadows!"
"This battle technique is his personal possession. You can learn it without worry, just don't teach it to others."
"Since it's a gift from the Punishment Elder, I won't stand on ceremony." Gu Han didn't hesitate with Zhang Chuchen, accepting the scroll and storing it in his Storage Ring.
The two chatted as they returned to the forest's edge, where the sun had already risen in the east and the Nalan family team was preparing a meal.
After saying a word to Gu Han, Zhang Chuchen concealed himself in the shadows again, while the latter openly returned.
"Nephew, you're back." Nalan Jie approached with a smile. "No injuries, I hope? I have some excellent healing pills here."
"You're too kind, Uncle Nalan. I'm doing well." Gu Han took out the corpse of a late first-stage Mu Kui Wolf. "I was practicing my Dou Skill. This Mu Kui Wolf can be prepared and roasted for lunch."
Nalan Su immediately summoned the cook and had him take away the first-stage Mu Kui Wolf corpse for processing.
"Nephew, rest well in the carriage. I'll have someone call you when lunch is ready."
After having breakfast with Gu Han, Nalan Su's ears twitched slightly as he stood up.
"Please don't mind me, Uncle Nalan." Gu Han rose and cupped his hands in salute. After Nalan Su left, he returned to the carriage.
Entering the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, he sensed the surroundings and confirmed that it was indeed the Nalan Family's Dou Spirit expert who had returned, bearing some injuries.
"A Dou King expert appeared and took the Azure Flame Grass?" Nalan Su sighed inwardly with regret. If he could obtain a Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill, he would have more confidence in attempting his breakthrough to Dou Spirit.
"As you said, Mu Kui Wolves have been appearing nearby, likely due to internal conflicts."
"If two fifth-stage Mu Kui Wolves are fighting, father might have been able to investigate if he were at his peak condition."
Nalan Su let out a long sigh and handed a pill to the old man. "Return to the carriage and recover properly. Matters at the Dou King level are beyond our reach."
Not long after, the Nalan Family caravan set off again.
Apart from having lunch at noon, Gu Han remained in the carriage throughout the day.
As the sun set in the west, the caravan slowly entered Black Flame City - one of the major cities within the Jia Ma Empire, located in the northern province not far from Wu Tan City. The city lord was a One Star Dou King, and the city was renowned as the City of Medicinal Herbs.
"Go, send this letter to the Xiao Family immediately by fast horse."
In one of the Nalan Family's medicinal shops, Nalan Su took out a letter and handed it to his subordinate.
After completing this task, he turned to Gu Han and inquired, "Nephew, the Mitre Auction in Black Flame City is holding a major auction tonight. Would you like to come along and take a look?"
"Thank you for the invitation, Uncle Nalan, but I'll pass." Gu Han declined after brief consideration.
He currently possessed many valuable items and didn't urgently need anything.
Moreover, with limited funds, anything that caught his eye would likely be unaffordable unless he sold some unused items.
"Here's the auction catalog. You can decide after dinner if you change your mind." Nalan Su handed a list to Gu Han. "If you see anything you like, just let me know. As your uncle, I haven't given you a meeting gift yet."
The implication was that he could provide financial support - clearly an investment gesture.
Gu Han didn't refuse outright and accepted the auction catalog.
Returning to his room, he took out the list to examine it.
The finale items included a fifth-grade pill, a Mystic High-Rank Fighting Skill, and information about what appeared to be the birthplace of a Heavenly Flames.
"Heavenly Flames?"
Gu Han shook his head slightly and stored the list in his Storage Ring.
As an ice-attribute Dou Qi cultivator, Heavenly Flames was basically useless to him, unless it was something like Bone Spirit Cold Flame.
Furthermore, if this information was genuine and appeared within the Jia Ma Empire, Xiao Yan would certainly know about it.
After dinner, Gu Han still declined Nalan Su's invitation and returned to his room to focus on cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, it was past midnight.
Gu Han habitually began gathering intelligence.
[The confrontation between the two fifth-tier Mu Kui Wolves was merely an act, intended to lure out the Violet Nether Flame Serpent and other nearby fifth-tier Magical Beasts with malicious intent. However, no Magical Beast took the bait. Instead, the City Lord of Black Flame City, believing it to be real, intervened and was implanted with the Quewood Seal. Injured, he fled back to the city, and for the next year, he could only exert the strength of a one-star Dou Spirit. (This person was one of the Dou Spirits who had schemed against the Xiao Family back in the day.)]
[The final item at the Miteer Auction House was the birthplace of the Heavenly Flames, Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire. It was judged as false information by a group of alchemists, but in reality, a different Heavenly Flames was nurtured there: Yin-Yang Dual Flames.]
Gu Han: !!!