"Mind Awakening Pill!"
Gu Han's eyes grew increasingly bright.
This was a third-grade pill with the effect of increasing sensitivity to the surrounding heaven and earth energy while cultivating and moderately boosting the rate of energy absorption.
It wasn't surprising that Liu Ling could refine third-grade pills now, since he would become a fourth-grade alchemist in three years under the tutelage of Pill King Gu He.
What was astonishing was that such a pill had been discarded by Nalan Yanran without her knowledge.
The young sect leader didn't lack such pills, and rather than letting them benefit flying magical beasts, it was better to let him benefit from them.
But what was even more delightful was the second piece of information.
"A time-limited special location suitable for ice attribute Dou Qi cultivators to train, and it's within the Cloud Mist Sect's territory—I can't miss this."
Gu Han stopped cultivating and retrieved from his Storage Ring the scroll recording the cultivation method for the Low-Level Profound Fighting Skill, Mystic Yin Finger.
Before heading to the mountain peak where the Mystic Yin Wind descended, he needed to memorize the cultivation method for Mystic Yin Finger thoroughly, ideally achieving initial mastery.
[Mystic Yin Finger, a Low-Level Profound Fighting Skill, created by the Dou King expert Xuan Yin Old Man. When cultivated to great accomplishment, it can freeze a person's blood and meridians from a distance. High-level Dou Practitioners can penetrate a Dou Master's Fighting Qi Gauze Armor, and high-level Dou Masters can affect a Dou Grand Master's armor transformation. When infused with Ice Fighting Qi, it can disrupt Dou Qi circulation, with additional effects of acupoint sealing and body freezing.]
"What a treacherous... fighting skill."
After committing the cultivation method to memory, Gu Han sighed inwardly.
Once cultivated to great accomplishment, this skill, if used well, could allow him to ambush opponents above his level.
When enhanced with Ice Fighting Qi, it could freeze an opponent even in direct confrontations. Moreover, this skill surprisingly documented many treacherous acupoints on the human body.
"Very suitable for a cautious person like me."
Gu Han studied it earnestly and, following the scroll's instructions, attempted to execute it by channeling his Dou Qi through specific pathways and methods, combined with hand seals.
If a fighting skill could be cultivated to great accomplishment, it would no longer require accompanying hand seals to perform.
Bang!
Near the outer sect training hall, within a small building constructed between two massive rocks, Gu Han left a one-inch mark on the secret chamber's door with a single finger strike, covered with a layer of frost.
With the enhancement of Mystic Ice Force, the effect of Mystic Yin Finger was unexpectedly powerful.
"Could it be that I'm a genius?"
In just three hours, through self-study, he had successfully achieved initial mastery (first layer) of a Low-Level Profound Fighting Skill.
If he trained under the Yin Wind, it probably wouldn't take long to reach minor accomplishment (third layer), proficiency (fifth layer), great accomplishment (seventh layer), mastery (ninth layer), or even perfection.
Withdrawing his hand, Gu Han pushed the door open and decided to use his Merit Points to exchange for some pills and daily necessities.
It was worth mentioning that one Merit Point was equivalent to ten gold coins, but Merit Points could be exchanged for gold coins, while gold coins could not be converted into Merit Points.
There were people in the sect specifically engaged in buying Merit Points with money, where one Merit Point could fetch fifteen gold coins.
Unfortunately, Gu Han didn't know such people, so he could only use his Merit Points for spending.
But he didn't mind much; with his exceptional comprehension and the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, he didn't need to hire a teacher or use the training hall, so there was basically no need for Merit Points elsewhere.
"Give me one portion of Purple Cloud Steak and one portion of Sand Treasure Rice."
After purchasing ten Grain Avoidance Pills and some daily necessities at the affairs hall, Gu Han went to the outer sect disciple cafeteria.
This was where outer sect disciples could buy first-grade magical beast meat and spirit rice that had excellent flavor and contained a trace of heaven and earth energy.
"Eh, aren't you Gu Han, Junior Brother Gu?"
While waiting for the disciple to bring the dishes and rice, a plainly dressed young man in outer sect disciple attire looked at Gu Han with a surprised expression.
"Who are you?" Gu Han showed a puzzled look.
"My name is Mo Feng," the young man replied with a friendly smile. "You probably haven't heard of me—I'm Mo Qing's cousin."
Though called cousins, Mo Feng and Mo Qing were actually distant relatives from a branch family that had been assigned to other towns to expand their influence. In private, they referred to themselves as "subordinates," barely a step above household servants.
"Senior Brother, is there something you need?" Hearing Mo Qing's name, Gu Han's expression remained completely unchanged.
Mo Feng observed him carefully and, sensing no hostility toward Mo Qing, continued, "I heard that my cousin warned you not to win before the Provisional Disciple Competition. After I found out, I severely reprimanded him."
"He was spoiled growing up in the clan and can be a bit impulsive, but he's not a bad person. Junior Brother Gu, please don't take it to heart."
"Senior Brother worries too much," Gu Han replied without a trace of displeasure. "I won the competition fairly. Junior Brother Mo Qing didn't do anything. We're all fellow disciples—I won't hold it against him."
Seeing his sincerity, a flicker of disdain passed through Mo Feng's eyes as he smiled and said, "Junior Brother is magnanimous, but as your senior, I must make amends."
He then called out toward the window, "Han Qing, add three more dishes: Snow Pine Deer Meat, Azure Flame Bear Paw, and Desert City Cloud Pigeon Soup."
These dishes cost nearly several dozen gold coins—a lavish expense even for a Dou Practitioner.
Gu Han repeatedly declined, but Mo Feng insisted, leaving him no choice but to accept.
After they had eaten their fill, Mo Feng smiled and said, "Junior Brother, consider this a case of 'no discord, no concord.' I admire you, and from now on, we're friends."
"If you encounter any difficulties in the outer sect, feel free to come to me. Even if I can't handle it myself, the Mo family stands behind me."
His words carried a hint of showing off.
Gu Han's expression remained unchanged, but his tone suddenly turned serious. "Thank you, Senior Brother. There is something I'd like to ask for your advice."
Mo Feng: "..."
This guy really doesn't stand on ceremony.
But it was better that he made a request than not. A small favor could easily win over this genius—a perfect outcome.
"Feel free to speak, Junior Brother," Mo Feng replied with an air of nonchalance.
"I'd like to exchange my Merit Points for gold coins," Gu Han answered.
"Oh?" Mo Feng's eyes lit up.
This wasn't a problem—it was practically handing him money.
The Mo family lacked Merit Points, which circulated directly within the sect, but they had plenty of gold coins. By facilitating the exchange, he could profit from the difference.
"I've heard that one Merit Point can be exchanged for up to twenty gold coins," Gu Han said, his tone tinged with trust. "Senior Brother comes from the Mo family—with your wealth and influence, this must be trivial for you. I'd appreciate your help."
Mo Feng: ?
One Merit Point for twenty gold coins? That was the peak rate, only reached occasionally when high-level techniques or pills refined by Pill King Gu He became available and people were desperate. If he agreed, he'd be a fool.
But faced with Gu Han's trusting gaze, he found it hard to refuse.
He couldn't boast about the Mo family one moment and then fail to handle a small matter the next.
Besides, as a newly promoted outer sect disciple, Gu Han probably didn't have many Merit Points to exchange. Agreeing wouldn't cost him much.
With that thought, Mo Feng readily agreed, "No problem. How many do you want to exchange?"
"One thousand eight hundred," Gu Han replied.
Originally, he had saved up 1,500 Merit Points and used 100 at the training hall.
But after becoming an outer sect disciple, his monthly allowance as a genius was 500 Merit Points.
He set aside 100 for emergencies and exchanged the rest for money.
"Only one thousand left... How much?"
Mo Feng's pupils contracted, revealing an incredulous expression.
This was going to drain him dry.