"Could Yun Yun losing her belongings while bathing in the hot spring really be considered an opportunity?"
Gu Han felt the Black Tortoise Shell's prediction was somewhat absurd.
How could picking up something left behind by someone during their bath possibly bring him any benefits?
At most, Yun Yun might praise him and then ask, "Why have you come here to bathe again?"
He didn't believe that a mere outer sect Dou Fighter like himself could have a private meeting place with a lofty Dou Emperor sect master.
"However, it has indeed been many days since I last bathed," Gu Han thought to himself.
Whether it was an opportunity or not didn't concern him much.
His main purpose was simply to take a bath, relax, and wash away the grime.
In the blink of an eye, six hours passed.
At the top of a large tree in the eastern peak of First Summit, Gu Han formed hand seals while bathing in purple energy, then suddenly opened his eyes.
In the core area of his pitch-black pupils, a layer of purple light condensed, resembling pupils within pupils - no wonder this secret method was called Purple Qi Double Pupils.
Gu Han felt the world around him instantly become much clearer, with additional indescribable colors appearing.
"Finally reached the beginner stage."
Gu Han let out a light sigh of relief.
This was the most time-consuming technique among all the Dou Skills and secret methods he was currently cultivating to reach the beginner stage.
Reaching the beginner stage meant the first level was complete, and he could begin cultivating the second level.
When activated, it could observe a person's essence, energy, and spirit to determine their cultivation realm.
If someone tried to disguise themselves or use camouflage in front of him, this Aura Observation Pupil Technique could see through it. (Effective against same realm and below.)
"When I master the third level, that will be the minor achievement stage, allowing me to perceive opponents' weaknesses and examine special bloodlines."
Gu Han felt he still had a long way to go.
Withdrawing his hand seals, he nimbly jumped down from the tree and headed toward Fifth Summit.
He had already mastered three steps of Serpentine Nine Steps, reaching the minor achievement stage long ago. Mastering one more step would allow him to use it proficiently.
"Swish!"
Gu Han directly used Serpentine Nine Steps for travel.
Instead of taking the main paths, he moved through the forest, his speed rapid yet completely unaffected by obstacles.
Another day of serious cultivation followed until halfway through the Xu hour, when Gu Han went to the cliff cave on Third Summit.
Not rushing to bathe, he first returned to the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm and took out the Icy Spirit Spring to consume.
This Icy Spirit Spring was what he obtained after saving Di Ming Shu by going to the inner sect to exchange with Qian Hao.
The value was completely unequal, but for Qian Hao it was worth it because he successfully gained favor with his "goddess."
"Boom!"
A cold current surged through his meridians, and Gu Han immediately activated Mystic Ice Force, guiding this energy into his Qi Cyclone.
Sitting on the Essence Crystal Jade Marrow with Century Cold Jade on his lap, the Icy Spirit Spring circulated within his body.
Breaking through to Six-Star Dou Fighter proceeded as naturally as water flowing downhill, without the slightest difficulty.
After his realm stabilized, Gu Han focused his mind and activated the Aura Concealing Secret Method.
The next moment, the aura emanating from him began to weaken, eventually stopping at the peak of Four-Star Dou Fighter.
"Although Yun Yun is a Dou Emperor, her soul realm probably isn't superior to mine. Unless she injects Dou Qi into my body, she shouldn't be able to detect my true realm."
Having completed concealing his strength, Gu Han emerged from the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, stripped down to his underwear, and settled into the hot spring, his body faintly visible through the steam.
At the same time, within the main hall atop Cloud Mist Mountain, Yun Yun sat upright in the sect leader's seat in the inner chamber. After spending two hours handling all sect affairs, she prepared to continue her cultivation.
Sweeping her spiritual sense to confirm no one else was in the hall, Yun Yun stretched lazily.
Her perfect curves were accentuated, making it seem as though her robes might tear at any moment.
"I'll take a bath first to relax."
Rubbing her temples, Yun Yun decided cultivation didn't need to be rushed.
Having recently exposed the spies the Golden Goose Sect had planted within the Cloud Mist Sect, many incidents had kept her quite busy. Now with some free time, it was appropriate to unwind.
Leaving the main hall, Yun Yun summoned her Dou Qi Wings and soared into the sky, swiftly arriving at the cliff of the third peak.
"Hmm?"
Upon reaching the cave entrance, Yun Yun immediately detected someone inside.
Aside from herself, only one other person currently knew of this place.
"This little fellow dares to come again."
A subtle curve formed at the corner of her lips as Yun Yun flew into the cave, dismissed her Dou Qi Wings, and slowly walked to the innermost area.
Soon, the hot spring pool came into view, steam rising gently. A young man sat within, eyes closed as he bathed, his upper body bare and revealing a lean, muscular physique.
Yun Yun clasped her hands behind her back, observing with interest.
"Hmm?"
Gu Han had sensed Yun Yun's arrival at the cave entrance but had pretended not to notice until now, when he "discovered" something amiss and opened his eyes.
Their gazes met in the air, and Gu Han instinctively straightened up, clasping his fists in salute. "Gu Han pays respects to the sect leader."
Yun Yun's delicate willow-leaf eyebrows arched slightly.
This Gu Han was becoming increasingly impudent—now he wouldn't even refer to himself as an outer disciple.
"Gu Han, why have you come here?" Yun Yun's voice carried a hint of pressure.
Unfazed, Gu Han replied earnestly, "This disciple has come to bathe."
Yun Yun: "..."
This boy was quite adept at playing dumb.
"If you want to bathe, why not use the open-air hot spring on the other side?" Yun Yun retorted.
"It's quiet here, less likely to encounter danger, and I don't have to worry about running into others mid-bath," Gu Han answered confidently. "Besides, sect leader, you never said I couldn't come here in the future."
"This place isn't a forbidden area of the sect. Since both of us discovered it by chance, it should be shared."
"You have quite the nerve." Yun Yun took a step forward, her aura intensifying slightly. "Daring to speak to me, the sect leader, in such a manner."
"Everyone in the Jia Ma Empire knows the sect leader is fair and just." Gu Han first placed a high hat on Yun Yun, then added, "If you say I cannot come here in the future, as an outer disciple, I will naturally comply."
The implication was clear: Would you, the esteemed sect leader, really compete with a mere outer disciple for a bathing spot?
"You may come here in the future." Cornered, Yun Yun snorted inwardly.
She suddenly looked up, raised her hand, and formed a sword finger, sweeping it toward the cave ceiling.
Wind-attribute energy from heaven and earth gathered, countless sword energies materializing out of thin air and grinding the cave roof into a smooth, domed half-circle.
A slab of rock, several zhang in length and width and one zhang thick, was precisely cut out by the sword energy and fell straight down.
Just before it could crash into the hot spring, it was caught by a gust of wind-attribute energy and slowly sank into the pool.
As the stone slab fully submerged, it divided the pool into two separate areas, blocking the line of sight between Yun Yun and Gu Han.
If either wished to reach the other's side, they would have to exit the pool and walk around the stone partition.
"But!" Yun Yun's voice came again as she withdrew her aura pressure: "You may only remain there. Without my command, you are forbidden to approach."
"The Sect Leader's orders shall naturally be obeyed," Gu Han replied solemnly.
With a thought, Yun Yun stored away her outer robe and stepped into the hot spring wearing only a thin gauze garment.
As most of her body submerged into the warm water, she closed her eyes comfortably, feeling all her fatigue melt away.
The entire cavern suddenly became extremely quiet.
Thinking about the young man on the other side of the stone slab, Yun Yun felt a strange emotion rising in her heart.
According to her usual temperament, she would either forcibly drive Gu Han away or never come to this place again.
Why had she chosen to share it this time?
"Gu Han, I see you're not far from becoming a Five-Star Dou Fighter. It appears you haven't been slacking off during this period," Yun Yun spoke up.
If she didn't speak, the silence would make her overthink, and the more she thought, the more she felt her body becoming strangely restless.
"This is thanks to the Snow Lotus Pill you gifted me, Sect Leader," Gu Han replied. "Only through that was I fortunate enough to break through."
Fortunate?
Yun Yun's lips twitched slightly: "Then your luck is quite remarkable."
"My luck is indeed quite good," Gu Han felt this statement was accurate. "This morning, I happened to discover a Spirit Accumulation Ground."
Yun Yun: ???