"You said you discovered what!?"
Yun Yun sat up straight in surprise, her exquisite figure wrapped in sheer gauze faintly visible through the steam, her curves appearing even more alluring.
The thin layer of gauze, having been soaked by water, not only failed to block the view but instead added a unique seductive charm to Yun Yun.
Unfortunately, this scene couldn't be witnessed by anyone else. Even Gu Han, who was in the same hot spring, had his view blocked by the stone partition.
Of course, if he entered the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, he could clearly sense Yun Yun's presence.
But such perception was similar to a 3D radar - nothing particularly interesting to observe.
Besides, Gu Han wouldn't do such a thing anyway.
"I discovered a Spirit Accumulation Ground," Gu Han repeated his answer.
"Where?" Yun Yun pressed urgently, her tone excited.
Any place that could be called a Spirit Accumulation Ground was extraordinary, representing at least three times the ambient energy concentration compared to the surrounding area.
The locations where Cloud Mist Sect's outer and inner sect training rooms were built couldn't even be considered Spirit Accumulation Grounds. They were merely the areas with relatively the richest spiritual energy in the outer and inner sectors, enhanced with arrays to barely achieve the effects of a Spirit Accumulation Ground.
"In a deep valley pass within the First Mountain Range," Gu Han leaned against the pool wall, resting both arms on the bank, appearing quite relaxed.
He didn't particularly care about rewards; his primary concern was preventing the Mo Family from obtaining rewards and wasting that Spirit Accumulation Ground.
"Within the Cloud Mist Sect's territory?" Yun Yun showed a trace of surprise.
The Cloud Mist Sect dispatched supervisors and disciples annually to sweep through the mountain ranges in the rear, harvesting spiritual herbs and dealing with mature magical beasts.
Unless this Spirit Accumulation Ground had just formed, it should have been discovered long ago.
"This little fellow's luck is quite good," Yun Yun's lips curved slightly as she inquired, "Discovering a Spirit Accumulation Ground is a great merit. What reward would you like?"
Offering a reward?
"As a disciple of Cloud Mist Sect, this is what I should do," Gu Han answered righteously.
"If you don't want it, then I won't give any," amusement flickered in Yun Yun's eyes.
"The state has its laws, the sect has its rules. The Sect Master rewards and punishes fairly - I must support this," Gu Han immediately changed his tune, speaking seriously, "Whatever the Sect Master gives, I will accept."
This wasn't foolishness - quite the opposite, it was quite shrewd.
If he really made demands himself, asking for too much would make Yun Yun think him greedy, while asking for too little would make her look down on him as inexperienced.
By letting Yun Yun decide the reward, giving too little might chill a disciple's heart, while giving too much would pain her - but it certainly wouldn't be too bad.
Given the talent he had currently displayed, Gu Han believed Yun Yun wouldn't be stingy with him.
And indeed, that was the case.
After brief consideration, Yun Yun said, "When you break through to Dou Master, you may claim a Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill from me. As for whether it will be one-pattern or two-pattern, we'll see then."
The Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill was among the top-tier Fourth-Grade Pills, with extremely demanding refining conditions. It came in three grades, each requiring one to three different flames.
Each grade would form a pill pattern circle on the pill's surface. A one-pattern pill could boost a Dou Master's cultivation by one to two stars; a two-pattern pill could enhance cultivation by two to three stars and help a nine-star Dou Master break through to Dou Grand Master.
The three-pattern version was comparable to a Fifth-Grade Pill. When consumed by a Dou Grand Master, it had a certain probability of temporarily boosting strength by three stars, but could also backfire from the medicinal effects, reducing cultivation by one to two stars.
"Thank you, Sect Leader." Gu Han didn't bother with false modesty.
Such a treasure was exactly what he wanted.
"Now then, first take this sect leader to the Spirit Accumulation Ground." A trace of cunning flashed in Yun Yun's eyes.
"As the Sect Leader commands." Gu Han didn't overthink it, having already finished his bath.
Rising from the hot spring, he circulated the Mystic Ice Force. Ice-attribute Dou Qi flowed through his meridians, instantly freezing the water droplets on his body's surface. With a slight shake, they all scattered to the ground.
After changing into outer disciple attire, Gu Han asked: "Sect Leader, may I approach now?"
"You may, come over."
"Would it be disrespectful?"
"How could you possibly be disrespectful?"
This was true - there was really nothing he could do against a Dou Emperor at his current level.
He urgently needed an Amethyst Winged Lion King to seal Yun Yun's power before he could gain the upper hand.
"Will the Sect Leader fly us there?"
Gu Han walked around the stone slab to the other side, his gaze sweeping over the hair ornament securing Yun Yun's dark tresses.
"I never expected you to ask such a foolish question." Yun Yun extended her jade-like hand, placing it on Gu Han's shoulder.
If they weren't flying together, would she, a sect leader, really accompany Gu Han on foot?
Dou Qi emerged behind her, condensing into cyan wings, while wind-attribute natural energy enveloped both her and Gu Han.
The next moment, the two swiftly flew out of the cave, reaching high altitude within a few breaths.
"Aren't you afraid?"
Yun Yun noticed Gu Han's heartbeat remained steady.
"The scenery is quite nice."
Gu Han watched with interest the continuous mountain ranges below that belonged to the Cloud Mist Sect's private property.
"When I first took Yanran flying, she was terrified." Yun Yun's eyes smiled, lacking her usual sect leader authority.
"What about you, Sect Leader?" Gu Han inquired.
"What?" Yun Yun blinked.
"How did you react during your first flight?" Gu Han asked.
Yun Yun couldn't help but recall when she was ten, pestering Yun Shan out of curiosity to take her flying.
But Yun Shan refused, saying she was too timid and unsuitable for flying. However, after her persistent badgering, he eventually had a Dou King named Yun Ni take her flying.
The result was her screaming in terror with a pale face. For a long time afterward, she suffered from acrophobia, only overcoming it after breaking through to Dou King and being able to form Dou Qi Wings for flight.
"Seeing how skilled this sect leader is at flying, do you even need to ask?"
Yun Yun avoided answering directly, performing several difficult maneuvers in midair with Gu Han. After an accelerated dive, they could already see the first mountain range.
Since Gu Han could fly himself, he felt no fear whatsoever. While carefully experiencing the flight, he said: "I understand."
The corners of Yun Yun's lips curled up, thinking she had intimidated Gu Han, only to hear him say: "The Sect Leader is beating around the bush, unwilling to answer directly. It seems you were quite frightened during your first flight."
Yun Yun: "..."
This guy suddenly became so clever again.
"That location." Before Yun Yun could find fault, Gu Han pointed toward a spot.
With a movement of the wings behind her, Yun Yun swiftly flew above a valley. After several flashes, they arrived above a concealed open cave entrance.
Without needing further guidance from Gu Han, Yun Yun could already sense the exceptionally dense natural energy below and flew directly into the cave entrance.
Before long, they reached the Spirit Accumulation Ground and saw its environment.
The Mo Family, preparing to report the Spirit Accumulation Ground, had naturally tidied the place in advance, making it appear from the outside as just a natural Spirit Accumulation Ground.
However, Yun Yun was a Dou Emperor Expert with exceptionally powerful and keen perception. Her gaze fell upon the spot where the Jade Spirit Fruit Tree had originally been planted, and with a wave of her hand, she unleashed a wind-attribute sword aura.
Boom!
A pit dozens of meters deep instantly appeared.
Gu Han: "..."
He recalled how he had spent half a day digging with a hoe and shovel that day.
In comparison, it was truly pitifully weak.
Yun Yun approached the edge of the pit, her eyes settling on a particular spot as she uttered words that shocked Gu Han.
"Originally, there should have been a piece of Essence Crystal Jade Marrow here!"