"Awooo!"
A chaotic sound echoed through the forest, and soon several dozen figures emerged.
Their fur was smooth, shimmering with a faint green glow. Their teeth were as sharp as blades, radiating an intimidating aura.
"It's the Greenwood Quewolves!"
"Why are we encountering these beasts in this area?"
Nalan Su's expression darkened slightly, but he showed no panic.
Greenwood Quewolves were pack magical beasts that typically inhabited the deeper regions of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, rarely venturing to the outskirts.
Deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range lived the Greenwood Quewolf King, a peak fifth-tier magical beast equivalent to a peak Dou King, ruling as a regional overlord.
The Greenwood Quewolf King led the pack, with several fourth-tier magical beasts serving as sub-leaders, each commanding a certain number of pack members within their respective territories.
These wolf leaders typically led four to six smaller packs, with the alpha of each pack being a third-tier magical beast comparable to a Dou Grand Master.
The group before them was one such smaller pack, with the alpha wolf being the strongest present.
As a nine-star Dou Grand Master, Nalan Su naturally had no reason to fear.
"Formation!"
The Nalan family guards were well-trained, immediately gathering to form a circle. Groups of four created small battle formations resembling miniature walls while simultaneously releasing an aura of combat readiness.
The several dozen Greenwood Quewolves felt the pressure, their fierce gazes immediately shifting.
"Awoo~"
A large tree suddenly exploded, and from the shower of wood splinters and dust emerged a noticeably larger Greenwood Quewolf, radiating the aura of a third-tier magical beast.
Nalan Su channeled his Dou Qi, raising his hand to form a phantom tiger head that roared, then spoke: "Greenwood Quewolves, we will depart tomorrow. There's no need for conflict."
The third-tier Greenwood Quewolf's eyes flashed with human-like calculation and cunning. After staring down Nalan Su for a moment, it raised its head and let out a howl.
The next moment, the pack of Greenwood Quewolves retreated like a receding tide, quickly disappearing without a trace.
Seeing this, Nalan Su didn't relax, instead ordering: "Tonight, two squads per group, rotating every hour. Keep vigilant for this family head."
"Yes!" the Nalan family guards acknowledged in unison.
Nalan Su restrained his aura and turned to Gu Han with a friendly smile: "Young friend, my apologies for the disturbance. Such occurrences are common when traveling."
"Rest well tonight. Our Nalan family will handle security matters."
"Family Head Nalan, you're too kind. If necessary, I shall naturally contribute my share." Gu Han replied with a cupped fist salute, his tone serious.
"Young friend, no need to be so formal. You're Yanran's junior brother, why not call me Uncle?" Nalan Su actively sought to closer their relationship.
When the head of a Dou King family showed goodwill, Gu Han naturally wouldn't be arrogant. He was merely a genius who hadn't fully matured yet, so he called him "Uncle."
As for "Father's Elder Brother" - that was impossible. His relationship with Nalan Yanran wasn't that close.
After exchanging pleasantries with Nalan Su, Gu Han returned to the carriage and sat cross-legged to cultivate.
Over the next few hours, the Greenwood Quewolf pack returned several times, creating considerable commotion.
The Nalan family had ample experience dealing with such situations. As long as the guard squad didn't sound an alarm, everyone else simply focused on sleeping and resting.
Gu Han willed himself back into the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, leaving behind a phantom projection as cover. This was a special technique he had mastered after reaching perfection in the Mystic Ice Force, combined with the power of the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm - similar to a mirage.
At this moment, if someone were to touch him, their hand would pass right through his body.
Within the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, his perception had instead become sharper, allowing him to clearly grasp everything within a ten-meter radius.
This included the conversation between Nalan Su and his confidant.
"This isn't the usual territory of the Quewood Wolves. For the pack to appear here and be so wary of us, there must be some change in the surroundings."
"Either there's been a shift in power within the wolf clan, or a rare treasure has emerged. Go and investigate."
This confidant was an elder of the Nalan family, from the same generation as Nalan Jie, with strength reaching the Seven-Star Dou Spirit level, tasked with secretly protecting the family head, Nalan Su.
Nalan Su and Xiao Zhan were contemporaries. When Xiao Zhan was young, the Xiao Family was still a Dou King family, only declining shortly after Xiao Yan's birth. Both had received similar cultivation resources in their early years, but diverged later on.
"Yes." The black-robed elder of the Nalan family departed.
A flicker of contemplation passed through Gu Han's eyes, but he had no intention of interfering in this matter.
In the blink of an eye, midnight had passed halfway, and it was time to obtain opportunities again.
"Acquire."
Gu Han visualized the Black Tortoise Shell, calm and composed.
[The Quewood Wolf King was severely injured when a longtime rival—a peak fifth-tier Violet Nether Flame Serpent—ambushed it during its attempt to break through to the sixth tier. The entire Quewood Wolf pack has entered a state of alert, waiting for their king to recover from its injuries. The Violet Nether Flame Serpent was also severely wounded in the wolf king's counterattack, afflicted with the Quewood Seal, and is now being pursued by the Quewood Wolf deputy leader (initial fifth-tier) and its clan members, hiding at
[The Violet Nether Flame Serpent is now gravely injured. While its defense remains at the fifth-tier magical beast level, the strength it can mobilize is less than fourth-tier. Using Essence Crystal Jade Marrow can reinforce the seal to suppress its soul, causing it to fall into a deep sleep]
"Whoosh."
Gu Han opened his eyes, deep in thought.
These two opportunities were merely straightforward intelligence, yet their value was astonishing.
To give a simple example: if he could contact Yun Yun and she came personally, she could immediately capture two fifth-tier magical beasts comparable to Dou Kings—a quite substantial gain.
Of course, Gu Han wouldn't do this. Firstly, he had no way to contact Yun Yun, and secondly, he couldn't properly explain how he knew this information.
The mysterious Dou Emperor act might fool Zhang Chuchen, but it would be exposed before a Dou King.
"Seals are truly remarkable things." A glint flashed in Gu Han's eyes.
A single seal from Queen Medusa had kept Hai Bodong, the Ice Emperor, at the Dou Spirit level for over a decade.
When Yun Yun was struck by the Amethyst Winged Lion King's Amethyst Seal, she became an ordinary person for a period.
That the Violet Nether Flame Serpent was burned by the Quewood Wolves and had its strength impaired was perfectly normal.
"It seems the serpent-shaped magical beast soul that Queen Medusa implanted using a secret technique after her birth was that of a Violet Nether Flame Serpent."
"This is also why, although the Snake Person bloodline is inherently cold and dislikes heat and dryness, Queen Medusa dared to use a strange fire to undergo metamorphosis and break through."
"A peak fifth-tier Violet Nether Flame Serpent..."
Gu Han was quite tempted. This Violet Nether Flame Serpent was at the peak of fifth-tier; one more step would make it sixth-tier, the same level as the one that became Queen Medusa's companion soul back in the day, demonstrating its rarity.
But with his current strength, even with the Flight Fighting Skill, he couldn't possibly lay hands on it.
"I can't, but Zhang Chuchen can."
After brief consideration, Gu Han returned to the carriage and found Nalan Su, who hadn't yet gone to sleep.
"Uncle Nalan, I need to go out for a while." Gu Han got straight to the point.
"Go out? Now?" Nalan Su was very surprised.
There was the threat of Quewood Wolves outside, and Gu Han was only a Dou Fighter—he couldn't even handle a second-tier Quewood Wolf.
"You needn't worry about my safety, Uncle." Gu Han met Nalan Su's gaze with unshakable composure. "The sect will take responsibility."
Nalan Su was momentarily taken aback before understanding dawned.
Even when he, as clan head, traveled outside, the Nalan family knew to arrange hidden guards for protection.
For a prodigy like Gu Han venturing out, the Cloud Mist Sect would certainly assign strong experts to accompany him.
When Nalan Yanran went out, the Cloud Mist Sect would arrange for outer sect stewards to follow her protection—one openly and one covertly. Gu Han's situation should be similar.
Probably this was his first time going out and he wanted to see the Timber Quake Wolf for himself.
With this thought, Nalan Su smiled.
"I'll inform my subordinates. You may move freely, Nephew."
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