Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, two days have passed.
On the cliff, Gu He was enveloped in purple flames, resembling a cocoon of purple light. Beside him, Xiao Jin stood guard, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.
As time passed, the purple light cocoon gradually darkened. Suddenly, without warning, the cocoon transformed into strands of purple flames that penetrated Gu He's body and vanished.
Moments later, Gu He slowly opened his eyes, and a flash of lightning crossed his pitch-black pupils, resembling a thunderstorm. At that instant, the air at the edge of the cliff crackled faintly.
As his eyes opened, a majestic aura, as if dormant for countless years, rose like a waking army, roaring towards the heavens with a world-shaking intensity.
Under this overwhelming aura, several times stronger than before, the entire cliff trembled slightly. Thick cracks spread from where Gu He sat, spider-webbing across the cliff until they covered every corner.
"Crack!"
The bluestone beneath him emitted a faint sound, and small cracks suddenly appeared, rapidly spreading across its surface. With a low rumble, the bluestone shattered into countless pieces. Yet, Gu He, seated cross-legged, remained unmoved. His legs hovered in the void, suspended mid-air without any external support.
"Indeed, after being tempered by the divine flame, my dou qi has become exceptionally pure," Gu He murmured, slowly spreading his hands. He felt the torrential surge of dou qi within him, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. A sense of invincibility, as if the world lay in the palm of his hand, welled up in his heart.
Simultaneously, a powerful soul power erupted from his body, sweeping outward like a storm in all directions. The majestic soul power quickly spread beyond the cliff, enveloping the entire mountain range. As it expanded, Gu He observed the situation within the mountains.
The soul power didn't stop there; it continued to surge beyond the mountains, affecting the land within a hundred-mile radius. However, it seemed to reach a limit. When the soul power could expand no further, Gu He willed it to retract. Like a receding tide, it swiftly returned to his body in mere breaths.
With all the soul power back within him, Gu He exhaled a long breath, stood up, and felt a refreshed vitality. The sensation of breaking through was truly unforgettable!
He then turned to Xiao Jin beside him, a smile on his lips. During this period, Xiao Jin had remained by his side, never straying even half a step.
This was rare for the usually playful creature. After all, it was still a beast, and despite its intelligence, it couldn't entirely suppress its active nature. Yet, for Gu He's safety, it had stubbornly stayed put.
"Master, I'm hungry..." Xiao Jin's immature voice carried a hint of grievance as it saw Gu He awaken.
Gu He was momentarily taken aback, then looked at Xiao Jin apologetically. "I'm sorry for making you wait," he said, taking out several fourth-grade pills from his spatial ring and tossing them to Xiao Jin.
Xiao Jin caught them mid-air, swallowing them with precision, then nuzzled against Gu He, expressing its satisfaction.
Gu He chuckled, gently stroking the golden feathers on Xiao Jin's head. "Let's go. It's time to return to the Misty Cloud Sect."
It had been ten days since he left, and he wondered if his two disciples had been slacking off. As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Jin spread its wings and soared into the sky. Gu He leaped lightly, landing on its back, and the duo swiftly made their way toward the Misty Cloud Sect.
…
Half an hour later, they arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect.
Gu He's figure descended gracefully into the courtyard, with Xiao Jin perched on his shoulder. He made no effort to conceal his presence.
As soon as he landed, the Little Fairy Doctor rushed into the courtyard, her face lit with joy. She threw herself into Gu He's arms, exclaiming, "Teacher, you're finally back! I was so worried!"
Gu He smiled, patting her back gently. "Didn't I say I'd only be gone for a few days? There was no need to worry."
The Little Fairy Doctor pouted, her voice tinged with complaint. "Hmph! You said it would only take two or three days, but it's been ten! How could I not worry?"
Gu He's expression turned slightly embarrassed, and he felt a pang of helplessness. He hadn't anticipated that breaking through after consuming the Emperor Pill would take so long. "Well, your teacher is back safe and sound, isn't he?" he said, ruffling her hair comfortingly.
Hearing this, the Little Fairy Doctor reluctantly let go of him.
"During my absence, I hope you two haven't neglected your cultivation," Gu He remarked casually as he walked toward the gazebo.
The Little Fairy Doctor's face lit up with confidence. "Teacher, I haven't been lazy! I've already broken through to the Six-Star Dou Master Realm. Give me another ten days, and I'll reach the Seven-Star Dou Master Realm!"
Gu He nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. "Good. It seems you haven't slacked off in my absence."
The Little Fairy Doctor picked up the teapot, pouring a cup of tea for Gu He. "As your disciple, I would never be lazy," she said obediently.
Gu He took a sip of tea and asked, "Has anyone come looking for me during this time?"
The Little Fairy Doctor thought for a moment. "Senior Brother Liu Ling came by a few times. He said to notify him immediately when you returned. He should be close to breaking through to the dou master realm."
"That kid is finally about to breakthrough?" Gu He's eyes gleamed with relief. It was about time for Liu Ling to make progress after consuming so much of his burning blood powder.
It had been a month since Gu He last bestowed him with the power of initiation. If Liu Ling succeeded in breaking through, Gu He could reward him further. This time, passing on his skills or dou qi might even help him reach the Dou Ancestor realm in one go.
At this thought, a smile crept onto Gu He's lips.
"By the way, teacher," the Little Fairy Doctor added, "the Sect Master came to see you three days ago."
"The Sect Master? She must have broken through by now, right?" Gu He asked, his expression turning curious. "What did she want?"
…
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