"What…?"
Nalan Yanran was visibly startled by Gu He's words, not understanding what he meant.
Though she had heard about the process of empowerment from the Little Fairy Doctor, she was unfamiliar with the actual steps involved.
Seeing the solemn expression on Gu He's face, Nalan Yanran hesitated for only a moment before complying. She trusted him implicitly. Slowly, she moved into a squatting position in front of him.
"Yanran," Gu He reminded, his voice steady, "Next, I will perform the dou qi empowerment."
"It will be painful. You must endure it."
At his warning, Nalan Yanran's heart tightened.
'Painful?'
As the young mistress of the Nalan family, she had rarely experienced true suffering. The mere mention of it instinctively stirred fear within her.
But then she thought of the initiation ceremony—how it would cause her cultivation to soar. A resolute gleam flashed in her eyes.
'What's a little pain?'
'If enduring it makes me stronger, then so be it.'
Lifting her head, her delicate face hardened with determination. "Teacher, you may proceed. Yanran is not afraid of pain."
Gu He observed her resolve and nodded approvingly. "Good. I shall begin shortly."
Still, he couldn't suppress a hint of concern. "If the pain becomes unbearable, do not force yourself. Damaging your meridians would do more harm than good."
Nalan Yanran's expression grew even more solemn, but she nodded firmly. "I understand."
"Mm."
Satisfied, Gu He moved behind her. "Yanran, focus now. Concentrate on refining the dou qi I channel into your body."
Without delay, Nalan Yanran closed her eyes and steadied her mind, bracing herself.
Gu He wasted no further time. Placing his right palm against her back, he activated the Empowerment Technique, initiating the dou qi transfer.
With a thought, an immense surge of dou qi gathered within his arm, coalescing in his palm before flooding into Nalan Yanran's body.
Nalan Yanran had been mentally preparing herself, curious about how this empowerment would feel.
Then—searing heat erupted at her back.
A torrent of dense dou qi violently rushed into her meridians, accompanied by a tearing agony that made her face contort instantly.
'Pain!'
'It hurts!'
Never had she endured such torment. For a moment, her mind blanked out.
"Yanran! Focus! Refine the dou qi in your body!"
Gu He's stern voice snapped her back to awareness.
Realizing the overwhelming dou qi surging inside her, Nalan Yanran hastily activated her cultivation technique, desperately refining it.
As she did, she grasped just how vast this dou qi was.
In mere moments, her dou qi vortex swelled to its limits, brimming with power.
"Boom!"
A muffled sound echoed within her as her aura surged—Eight-Star Dou Practitioner Realm!
Nalan Yanran was elated. She had broken through from the Seven-Star Dou Practitioner Realm in such a short time!
Encouraged, she ignored the excruciating pain and intensified her refinement.
Seconds later—
"Boom!"
Nine-Star Dou Practitioner!
Another breakthrough!
But Nalan Yanran was far from comfortable. Sweat drenched her forehead, her face pale with strain.
The empowerment process was unbearably painful.
If not for the rapid increase in strength, she would have collapsed already.
'No! I must endure!'
'I must breakthrough!'
Her beautiful eyes burned with determination.
Yet the meridian-rending agony was sapping her will.
Soon, her aura shifted once more—Peak Nine-Star!
"Teacher… I… can't take it anymore!"
The pain had become unbearable. If she pushed further, her meridians might shatter, leaving her crippled.
She had reached her limit.
Hearing her plea, Gu He immediately withdrew his hand, halting the transmission.
"Haaah…"
The moment the dou qi flow ceased, Nalan Yanran's legs gave out. She slumped to the ground, gasping for breath.
That brief period had felt like an eternity.
Yet, when she sensed her current cultivation level, joy surged through her.
"Peak Nine-Star Dou Practitioner!"
In mere moments, she had leaped from Seven-Star Dou Practitioner to the threshold of the Dou Master realm!"
This was insane!
Nalan Yanran was awestruck.
'No wonder Junior Sister Xian'er and Liu Ling advanced so rapidly under Teacher's guidance.'
At this rate, even a pig would become a powerhouse under Gu He's tutelage!
[Ding! Detected that the host has granted the fourth disciple, Nalan Yanran, one hour of dou qi. Congratulations! Triggering a 8,760-fold refund—host gains one year of cultivation dou qi! (Equivalent to Six-Star Dou Ancestor)]
[Note: One year's cultivation dou qi has been deposited into the system space. Host, please check at your convenience.]
The system's voice echoed in Gu He's mind.
He sighed inwardly.
'Nalan Yanran is still too weak.'
Or rather, he had grown too strong.
The gap between them was like heaven and earth.
She couldn't even endure one hour of his dou qi transmission.
Shaking his head, Gu He realized he would need to train her rigorously in the coming days.
Otherwise, she'd soon become useless for empowerment.
'What use is one year of cultivation to me now?'
Moreover, as his own strength continued to rise, even an hour might soon be too much for her—or even for the Little Fairy Doctor and Liu Ling.
Their progress was far too slow compared to his.
This was becoming a vicious cycle.
No matter how much he enhanced their physiques and cultivation bases, it wouldn't be enough.
Gu He frowned.
'I must find a solution.'
Otherwise, his own growth would inevitably stagnate.
...
After recovering, Nalan Yanran turned around and noticed that Gu He had already arrived at the gazebo, quietly pouring himself a cup of tea.
Suppressing the excitement in her heart, she walked toward the gazebo with a faint smile, her heart brimming with gratitude.
'If not for Teacher Gu He's guidance, I wouldn't have broken through to the peak of the Nine Star Dou Practitioner so quickly.'
Yet, just as she was about to express her thanks, she saw Gu He frowning deeply, his mood visibly troubled.
Nalan Yanran froze, her smile vanishing instantly, replaced by a look of shame.
'Teacher must be disappointed in me…'
She bit her lip, recalling how she had sworn to endure during the skill-imparting ceremony—only to collapse almost immediately.
Seeing Gu He's displeasure, she assumed it was due to her poor performance.
After a moment of hesitation, she approached him with lowered eyes and whispered, "Teacher… I'm sorry."
Gu He, lost in thought, only noticed her presence upon hearing her voice. He glanced at her in confusion. "Why are you apologizing?"
Nalan Yanran's voice was tinged with guilt. "I… let you down earlier."
Realizing she was referring to the ceremony, Gu He shook his head. "It's not your fault."
Nalan Yanran was Yun Yun's direct disciple for a reason—her talent far surpassed her peers.
But Gu He knew the truth of the matter.
He studied her for a moment before speaking. "However, your current strength is indeed lacking. If you wish to advance swiftly, you must strengthen your physique."
"The Jade Bone Powder I gave you last time is highly effective for body tempering. Use it daily after training—it will not only fortify your body but also greatly aid your cultivation."
"Don't hesitate to use it sparingly. Once you run out, come to me for more."
Nalan Yanran blinked, stunned, before nodding numbly. "I… understand."
But inwardly, she was shocked.
'Jade Bone Powder… isn't that incredibly expensive?'
As a fourth-grade spiritual liquid, each bottle cost at least 150,000 gold coins at the Miteer Auction House. Gu He had given her eighteen bottles previously, yet she had only dared to use two.
Even as the young mistress of the Nalan family, she couldn't bring herself to squander such a precious resource.
Yet here was Gu He, offering an endless supply without hesitation.
The realization left her both awed and deeply grateful.
'This kind of treatment… even as the Sect Master's direct disciple, I've never received such favor.'
Suddenly, she understood how Little Fairy Doctor and Liu Ling had progressed so rapidly.
'With Teacher Gu He's guidance and an abundance of spiritual liquids… even a mediocre talent could become a genius.'
For the first time, she felt a surge of fortune at having become his disciple.
Gu He, unaware of her thoughts, hesitated briefly before retrieving an object from his system space—a massive lotus, nearly ten feet long, its petals shimmering with a hazy, multicolored glow.
The lotus seemed almost sculpted, its petals pulsing with surges of terrifying dou qi that converged at its center.
This was the Seven-Colored Holy Lotus, obtained from the Magic Beast Mountain Range's valley.
Capable of gathering natural dou qi, it would significantly enhance cultivation speed—perfect for someone at Nalan Yanran's level.
The moment it appeared, Nalan Yanran's gaze locked onto it.
'How beautiful…'
A refreshing fragrance wafted from the lotus, and she inhaled deeply, her expression turning dreamy.
Holding the lotus, Gu He spoke. "Yanran, this Seven-Colored Holy Lotus is my third gift to you."
"F-For me?" Nalan Yanran's eyes widened in disbelief.
Though she didn't recognize the lotus, its radiant appearance and potent medicinal aura told her it was no ordinary treasure.
"Teacher… what is this? Some kind of divine herb?"
Gu He smiled. "The Seven-Colored Holy Lotus is a rare herb, but its true value lies not in alchemy."
"It can autonomously gather the dou qi of heaven and earth. Plant it in your courtyard, and the dou qi there will become at least ten times denser than the outside world."
"T-Ten times?!"
Nalan Yanran's breath hitched, her lips parting in shock.
The Misty Cloud Sect was revered as the Jia Ma Empire's cultivation holy land precisely because the dou qi on Yunlan Mountain was three to four times denser than elsewhere.
Yet this lotus could amplify it tenfold in her own yard?
Her mind reeled.
'This… this is a sect-protecting treasure!'
And Gu He was giving it to her—as a mere meeting gift?
For the first time in her life, Nalan Yanran felt her worldview shatter.
...
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