"Swish!"
The sound of tearing air echoed.
Gu Han struck with swiftness, precision, and ruthlessness.
To kill a snake, strike seven inches—not literally seven inches from its head, but a proportional measurement. Like ordinary snakes, the Wind Nether Snake's heart lay at this vital point, calculated proportionally between sixty and ninety centimeters from its head—the lethal cardiac region.
Within the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, Gu Han had already locked onto the Wind Nether Snake's seven-inch spot. The moment it lunged to bite flesh, he struck from behind. The serpent had no time to react before icy, rigid fingers pierced its heart.
"Thud."
With its heart impaled, the Wind Nether Snake instantly lost all strength, its body going limp.
But Gu Han remained vigilant. With a wave of his hand, he stored both the Wind Nether Snake and the Earth Barbarian Bear into his Storage Ring.
After completing this, he took a deep breath and continued hurrying toward the summit of the third peak.
Meanwhile, directly above the area on the fourth peak where Moonshadow Grass once grew, an eagle's cry resounded.
Following this, a massive figure descended from the sky, landing precisely where the Moonshadow Grass had flourished. It measured over ten feet in length, with a wingspan exceeding twenty feet, and was covered in azure feathers.
This was the Cloud Mist Eagle, a Magical Beast native to Cloud Mist Mountain—a flying creature not particularly skilled in combat. Due to difficulties in reproduction, their numbers were scarce, and the species maintained a good relationship with the Cloud Mist Sect.
Only the direct disciples of the Cloud Mist Sect had the chance to raise a Cloud Mist Eagle as a flying mount from a young age. Even Nalan Yanran, the young sect master, had not previously qualified to keep one.
"Screech!"
Discovering the Moonshadow Grass patch now barren, the Cloud Mist Eagle let out an angry cry that echoed throughout the mountain range.
After a while, the eagle approached a nearby pit, its sharp eyes scanning the battle scars and bloodstains. It keenly detected and memorized the fur of the Earth Barbarian Bear and Howling Moon Wolf. Henceforth, upon encountering these two Magical Beasts, it would show no mercy.
Agitated, the Cloud Mist Eagle soared into the air and soon descended atop Cloud Mist Mountain.
A night-watch disciple, roused by the commotion, approached drowsily, his gaze settling on a message tube attached to the eagle's leg.
"Huh?"
Retrieving a special bamboo slip engraved with the sect master's exclusive insignia from the tube, the disciple snapped to full alertness. Cradling the slip respectfully with both hands, he carried it to a side hall and placed it into a pool of peculiarly clear spring water.
Instantly, characters appeared on a wooden tablet beside the spring: Nalan Yanran.
This indicated the jade slip had been sent by Yun Yun via the Cloud Mist Eagle for Nalan Yanran.
"The young sect master returned to the Nalan family ten days ago. We must arrange for someone to deliver it," the night-watch disciple murmured.
Picking up the slip, he sought out Yun Chang, the inner sect steward on duty at the communication hall that night, and reported the matter.
"A letter from the sect master to the young sect master?" Yun Chang accepted the slip, his tone turning serious. "Go, summon Ka Long at once."
"As you command," the disciple replied, bowing before withdrawing.
Shortly after, a man dressed in Cloud Mist Sect inner disciple attire entered the communication hall and bowed to Yun Chang. "Greetings, Steward."
"Mm. Personally deliver this to the young sect master at the Nalan family," Yun Chang instructed, handing over the slip.
"Yes," Ka Long responded, accepting it. "Does the Steward have any other orders?"
"None. Make haste," Yun Chang dismissed him with a wave.
Ka Long bowed and retreated, but instead of heading directly to the Nalan family, he made his way toward the core disciples' residential area.
"Outer Sect Disciple Ka Long requests an audience with Senior Brother Liu Ling." Ka Long arrived before an elegantly situated small courtyard.
"What is it?" Liu Ling's voice came from within the courtyard.
"The sect has commanded me to deliver the sect leader's letter to the Young Mistress," Ka Long replied.
The door to the house in the courtyard swung open, and Liu Ling emerged, his eyes shining intensely: "Is this true?"
Meanwhile, Gu Han had already returned to the peak of the third mountain and immediately entered the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm.
The external world's energy, leaning toward Yin cold due to the gloomy winds, was being devoured and stored by the mystic realm.
"The heart like clear ice, the six senses greatly settled, forgetting self and maintaining oneness..."
Gu Han skillfully circulated the Mystic Ice Force.
The Fighter Qi Cyclone rapidly rotated, driving Dou Qi to flow through his meridians along a specific pathway, increasing his body's sensitivity to the ice-attribute energy of heaven and earth, swiftly devouring and refining it.
This time, Gu Han focused more intently than ever before, feeling as if the Qi Cyclone was stuck at some kind of bottleneck.
Once, twice, thrice... As he continuously operated the Mystic Ice Force.
Finally, after absorbing a certain amount of Dou Qi, the Qi Cyclone suddenly expanded.
"Three-Star Dou Fighter, achieved."
Gu Han exhaled a breath of clear air, carrying a certain chill with it.
Originally, he had calculated that it would take five more days to take this step, even with the environmental advantage brought by the gloomy winds.
Once the specific season passed, the speed could no longer be maintained, requiring other opportunities.
Unexpectedly, encountering the Wind Nether Snake's ambush and surviving a life-and-death crisis allowed him to complete the breakthrough ahead of schedule.
"Fortune and misfortune are intertwined."
Gu Han ceased his cultivation, preparing to visualize the Black Tortoise Shell.
Visualizing the Black Tortoise Shell was a meditation method he had developed on his own. Its effect on restoring mental energy surpassed direct sleep and could also enhance soul power.
Accumulating earth to form a mountain, gathering sand to build a pagoda—as long as he persisted, even without the ancient cultivators' soul secret techniques, his soul realm might still reach the Spirit Realm, Sky Realm, or even the Emperor Realm.
"Midnight has passed."
Gu Han planned to seize the opportunity first thing today.
Having made a small fortune yesterday, perhaps today he could continue this streak of luck.
[The Cloud Mist Eagle returned with a letter from Yun Yun to Nalan Yanran, which read: "Your master will return from the front lines in seven days. At that time, I will examine your mastery of Dou Skills. If satisfied, there will be a reward."
(This reward is the fourth-grade natural treasure, the Ice Toad Snow Pearl. Wearing the Ice Toad Snow Pearl directly can calm the mind during cultivation; consuming it directly grants immunity to all poisons below the fourth grade and resistance to fourth-grade and higher poisons. Ice attribute cultivators who consume it can add toad poison to their Ice Fighting Qi, and cultivators below the Dou Grand Master realm can gain a certain increase in cultivation.)]
[Ka Long, an inner disciple of the Cloud Mist Sect, is a spy planted by the Golden Goose Sect years ago. Through disguise, he successfully joined the Message Delivery Hall, regularly sending back intelligence gathered within the Cloud Mist Sect to the Golden Goose Sect. This time, he is responsible for delivering Yun Yun's letter to Nalan Yanran. Knowing that Liu Ling is infatuated with Nalan Yanran, he uses this matter to curry favor.]
After a long time receiving two pieces of intelligence related to Cloud Mist Sect members, Gu Han read them very carefully.
Upon seeing the information about the Ice Toad Snow Pearl, a wave of desire rose in his heart.
If this item were given to him, its effects could be maximized.
Unfortunately, it was a gift from Yun Yun to her beloved disciple.
But the second piece of intelligence gave him a glimmer of hope to obtain the Ice Toad Snow Pearl.
"A spy, and one who joined the Message Delivery Hall, a place that frequently handles information."
"This time, I'll take the opportunity of delivering the message to befriend Liu Ling, the disciple of the Pill King, and perhaps even get closer to Nalan Yanran."
"If I directly report this information to Yun Yun..."
Gu Han felt that, having rendered great service to the Cloud Mist Sect, asking for an Ice Toad Snow Pearl would be entirely reasonable.
Yet as a mere outer sect disciple, meeting Yun Yun would be quite difficult.
However, geniuses always enjoy privileges—what seems difficult may not be so hard after all.
But if he were to meet Yun Yun, he couldn't quite explain how he discovered Ka Long's suspicious behavior.
"It seems I need to return to the sect and keep an eye on Ka Long, gather intelligence, and expose him justifiably."