Chapter 178: Absorbing the Ten Thousand Years of Mysterious Ice Marrow
"Speaking of which, do I just chew on this thing?"
On the way, Glowing Feather Douluo held a small piece of Mysterious Ice Marrow in his hand, feeling the terrifying chill on it. It felt harder than stone, and it must be very uncomfortable for his teeth.
"Of course not." Xue Di appeared, sitting on Gu Han's shoulders with her legs crossed, and said, "Soul beasts can swallow and chew this thing directly, but humans are different. Even if you have a high level of cultivation, you need to use a method."
"What method?" Glowing Feather asked.
"Dilute it. Mix the melted ice with water to dilute the coldness, then consume it. With your high cultivation and your spirit's inherent top-tier ice attribute, a one-to-one ratio is sufficient. Most people need a one-hundred-to-one ratio."
"Even you need to do it in stages. Ideally, every three days. Be careful of cold poison buildup. Find a warmer environment or consume warming herbs to neutralize it."
"Also, while this Ten Thousand Years Mysterious Ice Marrow is a good thing, excessive consumption can overdraw your vitality. For us soul beasts, a period of dormancy is enough, but I'm not sure about humans. So, I advise you to consume less."
"Overdraw your vitality?"
Glowing Feather blinked, looking at the ice marrow in his hand. The flavor instantly soured. Consuming this stuff could even shorten one's lifespan.
"Uh, that's okay. Perhaps humans don't have this limitation. After all, humans and soul beasts have different constitutions."
In reality, Xue Di couldn't be sure whether humans would experience the same overdraft of vitality after absorbing the Ten Thousand Years Mysterious Ice Marrow as soul beasts do.
But most likely, it shouldn't be a problem, given their different constitutions.
Just like how every time a soul beast breaks through the 100,000-year mark, it has to survive a natural tribulation.
For humans, after level 95, a breakthrough only requires reaching a certain level of resonance and understanding with their spirit.
"Don't worry too much. While this Profound Ice Marrow will overdraw your vitality, it will also help you break through. After level 90, a human's lifespan increases with each level. With this trade-off, you're actually not at a disadvantage."
"That's true."
Glowing Feather nodded slightly. Besides, how much vitality can this 10,000-year Profound Ice Marrow overdraw?
If he doesn't take it, he'll be stuck at level 97. If he takes it, his spirit will evolve to its ultimate attributes, and his upper limit will rise accordingly. With a higher upper limit, his level will follow. With a higher level, it's just a mere loss of vitality.
"Senior Glowing Feather, I found this item in a ruin. While my Yang Shen can enter, it's too dangerous for my main body. When I reach a certain level of strength, I'll take you there. Perhaps there will be a greater surprise."
Gu Han didn't mention the Ice God Ruins. To be more precise, it wasn't the right time yet. Once he became a Titled Douluo and could withstand the dangers within, he and Glowing Feather would join forces and break in.
If Glowing Feather could then receive the inheritance, everyone would be happy. If not, it wouldn't be such a blow to his spirit.
"What surprise?"
Glowing Feather looked up curiously.
Gu Han smiled mysteriously. "You'll know when I reach level 90."
Glowing Feather curled his lips at this, but didn't intend to question further.
From his understanding of the boy, if he didn't want to talk, asking would be pointless.
In Shuofeng City,
Gu Han reunited with Bibi Dong and the others. Glowing Feather took some whale glue and a 70,000-year-old soul bone and said goodbye, preparing to head to the Yin-Yang Eye of Ice and Fire, where he intended to absorb the Ten Thousand Years Mysterious Ice Marrow.
As for Gu Han, he and Bibi Dong strolled around Shuofeng City for a few rounds.
Due to Gu Han's current achievements, not only had Qinghe Village erected a statue of him, but even Shuofeng Junior College, where he had once studied, also had one.
The grandson of the former city lord, now only a level 20 Great Spirit Master, boasted daily about having once sparred with Gu Han and even withstanding a punch.
The public humiliation of being beaten in those days had now become a source of honor for this fat man.
Gu Han had nothing to say about this, simply shrugged it off.
Meanwhile, the two of them made a separate trip back to Qinghe Village.
Qinghe Village was now more than twice as large as it had been in the past, and life was improving. This was causing surrounding villages to flock here. At this rate, it would become a small town within ten years.
Old Gu's prestige was growing, and everyone respected him greatly. Even the Lord of Shuofeng City treated him with respect, visiting him on holidays and other occasions.
The old man, nostalgic for the past, declined requests to build him a new house. He lived in an old house with a small courtyard, where he grew some vegetables, raised a small yellow dog, and a few chickens. When the weather was nice, he would sleep on a recliner outside. When it was cold, he would light a stove inside and roast chestnuts and sweet potatoes.
Old Gu relished this comfortable life.
"Grandpa, I'm back to see you."
Gu Han opened the door with familiarity, finding Old Gu lounging on a recliner, basking in the sun.
As for knocking? Why knock when you're returning home?
"Haha, it's Xiaohan back. Oh, and Dong'er too! Come on, come on, come inside and sit down."
Old Gu looked up in surprise at Gu Han's voice. However, when he saw Bibi Dong, his smile widened even further.
The old man already considered Bibi Dong his grandson's wife, and he was naturally delighted to see her come along.
"Grandpa Gu, my junior apprentice and I are here to see you. How are you?"
This wasn't Bibi Dong's first visit; she'd come back with Gu Han several times a year, so she was naturally familiar with the old man. She stepped forward, took his arm, and led him inside.
"Haha, good, good, old man, I'm fine. Don't worry."
Old Gu's laughter was full of energy, and his complexion was bright. He looked healthy and relished everything he ate.
Gu Han followed him into the room, closing the door behind him.
The room still had the same old furnishings, but Gu Han had replaced the old bed with a kang (a heated kang), as this place was close to the Far North and the winters were quite cold.
So Gu Han, according to his memories from his previous life, got out this thing called a kang and replaced the previous bed.
The stove in the room was burning vigorously, and the teapot on it was steaming and making a "squeaking" sound.
Old Gu brought a stool to Bibi Dong, motioned for her to sit down, and then he sat down next to the stove.
"Dong'er, Xiaohan didn't bully you, did he? If he bullied you, tell grandpa, and I will definitely hit him with the soles of my shoes."
Gu Han was getting a stool to sit down, and the corner of his mouth twitched when he heard this.
Bibi Dong looked at Gu Han with amusement, then waved her hand and smiled: "No, my junior brother treats me very well."
"That's good, I don't think this kid would dare."
Old Gu naturally knew what kind of person Gu Han was, he was just making small talk and said it casually.
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[end of the chapter]