"Yes, Master."
After listening to Gu He's explanation, the Golden Feather Giant Eagle and the Scarlet Flame Demon Python agreed without hesitation.
Gu He nodded in satisfaction.
Truthfully, given the strength of the Golden Feather Giant Eagle and the Scarlet Flame Demon Python, dealing with the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus would have been effortless.
What worried Gu He was whether the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus would retaliate if it sensed hostility from them. These two might not grasp the severity of the situation, and if they accidentally harmed the lotus's body, the consequences would be disastrous.
Though Cai Lian's abilities defied the heavens, her physical form was still that of a medicinal herb.
Gu He wasn't sure if the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus had any self-protection mechanisms.
But just in case, he decided to warn them in advance.
If anything happened to the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus, rendering it unable to manifest its powers, Gu He would be heartbroken.
Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the Void Beast nestled in his arms.
He realized the little creature hadn't responded earlier.
When he looked down, he saw the Void Beast staring intently at the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus in the center of the Cold Pool, its silver eyes gleaming with fervent light.
Gu He frowned. 'This little thing has quite the nerve—even after my warning, it's still eyeing the holy lotus?'
"Whack!:
Without hesitation, he flicked the Void Beast's smooth head.
"Woooo?"
Startled, the Void Beast snapped out of its daze. Seeing that it was Gu He who had struck, it let out a pitiful whimper.
"You little rascal, were you even listening to me? What were you thinking about?"
Gu He glared at it, then repeated his earlier instructions, adding a stern warning: "None of you are to lay a finger—or claw—on the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus. Otherwise, I'll skin you alive."
"Woooo..."
Trembling, the Void Beast shrank further into Gu He's embrace, letting out a soft whine.
Then, a childish voice emerged from its mouth: "Master… can I cultivate above the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus?"
Seeing Gu He raise his hand threateningly, the Void Beast hastily added, "I promise I won't harm it!"
Gu He's frown deepened. "Why are you so fixated on cultivating there?"
The Void Beast glanced toward the lotus, its silver eyes burning with excitement.
"Master, I sense an incredibly powerful void energy emanating from it. If I can absorb it, my strength will grow rapidly."
"Void energy?"
Gu He's expression shifted to surprise. 'Could the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus possess spatial abilities as well?'
Focusing his mind, he extended his soul power, carefully probing the space above the lotus.
"It really is spatial energy!"
A moment later, he withdrew his senses, his eyes widening in astonishment.
As a sixth-rank Dou Ancestor, he had already begun to grasp the laws of space. The intense spatial fluctuations above the lotus were unmistakable.
"Will it truly benefit you?" After a brief hesitation, Gu He leaned closer to the Void Beast in his arms.
"Master, if I can cultivate there, I'll break through very soon!" The Void Beast nodded eagerly.
Gu He was finally swayed.
The Void Beast's abilities were undeniably extraordinary. Once fully matured, it could rival even the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus.
He had been troubled over where to find spatial treasures to aid the Void Beast's growth.
Yet now, the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus had presented him with another pleasant surprise.
After a moment of contemplation, Gu He approached the edge of the Cold Pool and called out to the lotus: "Cai'er, if Xiao Yin cultivates above you, will it cause any harm?"
Though strengthening the Void Beast was important, Gu He still prioritized the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus.
If its cultivation would interfere with the lotus, he wouldn't hesitate to refuse.
The Void Beast seemed to understand this, its silver eyes filled with longing as it stared at the lotus.
As soon as Gu He finished speaking, a green light flickered above the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus, and Cai Lian petite figure materialized.
"Yaah!"
"Void power."
"No harm."
Cai Lian floated above the lotus, waving her tiny hands as she answered Gu He in her childish voice.
Relieved, Gu He let out a sigh.
Beside him, the Void Beast trembled with excitement, its silver head shaking so vigorously that Gu He couldn't resist giving it another light smack.
"Go on then. But remember—do not disturb the Nine-Colored Holy Lotus!"
Worried about its impulsive nature, he issued a final warning.
"Understood, Master!" With a cheerful cry, the Void Beast vanished from Gu He's arms in an instant.
Gu He's soul power detected its presence above the lotus a second later.
"This little thing is absurdly fast."
Shaking his head in amusement, he turned his attention to the Scarlet Flame Demon Python and the Golden Feather Giant Eagle.
"The energy of heaven and earth in this valley is incredibly dense. While you remain here, focus all your efforts on cultivation."
His gaze sharpened as he addressed the Golden Feather Giant Eagle.
"Especially you, Xiao Jin. Right now, you're the weakest. If you don't break through to the seventh rank, don't even think about leaving to play."
Xiao Jin had always been mischievous, and Gu He's words struck him like a hammer.
Hearing the disappointment in his master's tone, Xiao Jin's spirits sank.
But the thought of being confined to the valley until he improved only fueled his frustration.
'I was Master's first contracted beast! How did I end up at the bottom?'
Gritting his teeth, he swore inwardly: 'Just wait. One day, I'll surpass them all and reclaim master's favor!'
With renewed determination, he replied firmly, "Understood, Master!"
Satisfied, Gu He gave a final nod before flickering into motion. In a flash, he soared through the sky, exiting the valley through the gap in the barrier.
Behind him, the opening in the soul barrier gradually sealed shut.
…
Meanwhile, in the Main Hall of the Misty Cloud Sect…
"Master! Master!"
Nalan Yanran sprinted into the hall, her face alight with excitement.
Inside, Yun Yun, who had been engrossed in sect affairs, blinked in surprise at her disciple's exuberant entrance.
'This girl… Could she have made another breakthrough in her cultivation?'
"What? You've broken through to the Nine-Star Dou Practitioner?"
A startled voice echoed through the hall as Yun Yun's eyes widened in disbelief. Her seductive red lips parted slightly, her beautiful face frozen in shock.
Just moments ago, Nalan Yanran had rushed into the main hall in excitement, proudly displaying her current cultivation level.
When Yun Yun saw that Nalan Yanran had not only reached the Nine-Star Dou Practitioner but was already at its peak, she was utterly dumbfounded, unable to react for a long time.
She clearly remembered that not long ago, Nalan Yanran had only just broken through to the Seven-Star Dou Practitioner.
Based on her disciple's talent, Yun Yun had estimated it would take at least another month before she could advance to the Eight-Star Dou Practitioner.
'So what was happening now?'
'How had she suddenly soared to the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Practitioner?'
Seeing her teacher's stunned expression, Nalan Yanran couldn't help but feel a little amused. Yet, at the same time, her reverence for Gu He grew even deeper.
'Teacher Gu He's method of imparting cultivation and empowerment was truly heaven-defying.'
Even someone as knowledgeable as Yun Yun had never heard of such a technique.
Nalan Yanran had read countless ancient texts, yet she had never encountered anything like this—directly transferring cultivation to another.
The fact that she had leaped from a Seven-Star Dou Practitioner to a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner in such a short time made her feel as if she were dreaming.
Moreover, the confidence she had lost when facing the Little Fairy Doctor was now restored.
Back then, after witnessing the terrifying speed of the Little Fairy Doctor's cultivation growth, Nalan Yanran had fallen into despair, her self-assurance shattered.
But now, she finally understood.
'Both the Little Fairy Doctor and Liu Ling's rapid advancements were due to Teacher Gu He's empowerment.'
Now that she, too, had become Gu He's disciple, she could finally experience the same miraculous benefits.
With everyone standing on the same starting line, she would never lose to anyone again.
Thinking of this, Nalan Yanran recalled Gu He's instructions, and a glint of determination flashed in her eyes.
Next time she received his empowerment, she would prove herself worthy.
…
Finally snapping out of her shock, Yun Yun fixed her beautiful eyes on Nalan Yanran, her voice filled with bewilderment:
"Yanran, explain this to me at once. How did your cultivation skyrocket so suddenly?"
Nalan Yanran smiled sweetly, not hiding anything, and immediately recounted Gu He's method of cultivation empowerment.
As Yun Yun listened, her astonishment only deepened.
"Imparting cultivation through empowerment… Elder Gu He possesses such a heaven-defying technique?"
This was the first time she had ever heard of such a method—it completely overturned her understanding of cultivation.
Suddenly, a thought struck her, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
"But… won't this method drain Elder Gu He's own cultivation?"
Nalan Yanran was taken aback. She had never considered this before. Now that Yun Yun pointed it out, doubt crept into her heart.
Was Teacher Gu He sacrificing his own cultivation for her sake?
Yun Yun, however, quickly recalled that Gu He was a Dou Ancestor. Even if he transferred some of his power, it likely wouldn't affect him much.
Still, the fact that he was willing to do this for Nalan Yanran moved her deeply.
From her perspective, Gu He had only accepted Nalan Yanran as a disciple for her sake.
Her mind drifted back to their agreement in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
'If, by the end of the three-year contract, Gu He succeeded in training Nalan Yanran to the Dou King level…'
Then she would have to abide by their bet and become… his wife.
The memory of that cave scene flashed through her mind, and a faint blush colored Yun Yun's cheeks.
'So this was his plan all along… No wonder he was so confident.'
With his ability to directly empower disciples, raising Nalan Yanran to the Dou King realm within three years would be effortless.
This bet… was already lost.
The image of Gu He's handsome figure surfaced in her mind, and a complex emotion flickered in Yun Yun's eyes.
Perhaps… she shouldn't have been so cold toward him.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Yun Yun turned back to Nalan Yanran, her tone solemn.
"Yanran, since Elder Gu He is willing to use such methods to help you, you must not disappoint him."
Nalan Yanran's expression turned serious as she replied with conviction:
"Teacher, rest assured. I will never let Teacher Gu He down."
Seeing her disciple's renewed confidence, Yun Yun nodded in relief.
At that moment, Nalan Yanran remembered the Seven-Colored Holy Lotus in her ring. Following Gu He's instructions, she retrieved it and presented it to Yun Yun.
"Teacher, this is the third gift Teacher Gu He gave me. He said… this treasure is for you to decide how to use."
Yun Yun stared at the radiant lotus in astonishment.
"Yanran… what is this?"
Nalan Yanran explained its function exactly as Gu He had described—how it could autonomously gather the world's energy, amplifying cultivation speed tenfold.
Yun Yun's shock deepened.
"You mean… this lotus can concentrate natural energy at a rate ten times stronger than the outside world?"
As the sect Leader, she understood the immense value of this treasure better than anyone.
With this, the Yunlan Sect could nurture countless powerful experts, elevating their strength to unprecedented heights.
In Yun Yun's eyes, this Seven-Colored Holy Lotus was a treasure capable of founding an empire.
"To think he would give away something so precious…"
Her emotions churned, but soon, they settled into quiet resolve.
'If he treating me like this… should I still dwell on the past?'
'Besides… what happened back then wasn't only his fault to begin with…'
As Gu He's image lingered in her mind, Yun Yun whispered softly to herself.
...
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