"Does Young Master Gu Han recognize me?"
Ya Fei covered her mouth with a light laugh, surprise flashing in her eyes.
She was certain she had never met Gu Han before.
But since she came from the capital, perhaps Gu Han had seen her before?
Ya Fei was extremely confident in her appearance and temperament, even considering it a burden.
If only her cultivation talent were half as outstanding as her looks, she wouldn't have to struggle to maintain her position beyond being just a pretty face.
"As the member of the Miteer family's younger generation most skilled in business management, I've naturally heard of you," Gu Han replied without changing expression.
Unable to read anything from his face, Ya Fei asked curiously, "Young Master Gu, what brings you to me?"
"Since Miteer is here, have there been any news about the Great Elder Ice Emperor in recent years?" Gu Han went straight to the point.
Ya Fei suddenly understood - this young man before her was an ice attribute cultivator who wanted to meet Hai Bodong, the Ice Emperor from the same generation as the Cloud Mist Sect's former sect leader.
"The Great Elder has been missing for over a decade, something everyone in the Jia Ma Empire knows," Ya Fei sighed softly, crossing her legs and revealing a glimpse of her black silk-clad beautiful leg beneath the cheongsam. "If there were any news, this humble woman would certainly inform Young Master Gu."
"With Young Master Gu's talent, I believe the Great Elder would be willing to meet you."
"What a pity," Gu Han sighed lightly. "I hope I get the chance to meet him."
"Miss Ya Fei, what is your clan's Great Elder's personality like? If I happen to meet him by chance, how should I greet him without being considered rude?"
Ya Fei: "..."
I'm only in my twenties myself. I was just ten when Hai Bodong disappeared and only saw him from afar once within the clan. What could I possibly know?
"According to the clan leader, the Great Elder is someone cold on the outside but warm on the inside," Ya Fei said, taking a purple-gold card from her storage ring and placing it before Gu Han. "This represents honored guest status in our Miteer family. If you happen to meet Elder Hai, showing him this card should make him treat you as a junior."
She didn't sound very confident with her last sentence.
After all, so much time had passed, and Hai Bodong had never returned to the Miteer family. Even if he hadn't met the fate most people speculated - that he had fallen - he probably no longer cared about the Miteer family.
But as the clan's Great Elder, the purple-gold card representing honored guest status should still carry some weight before him.
Moreover, Ya Fei genuinely didn't believe Gu Han would be lucky enough to encounter Hai Bodong.
"Thank you," Gu Han accepted the funds card without hesitation.
With such a good item, he could get discounts when buying from the Miteer family in the future, enjoy free accommodation at the Miteer Auction House, receive the highest level of service, and even borrow gold coins.
If Xiao Yan had this card, he wouldn't need to borrow money from Nalan Yanran at all.
Ya Fei: "..."
Although she had intended to proactively befriend Gu Han, she felt like every step was actually within the other party's designs.
"I'll drink to you," Gu Han raised his wine glass.
Flattered, Ya Fei drained her glass in one go, covering her mouth with a light laugh. "Young Master Gu, will you be participating in the Cloud Mist Sect's outer sect competition?"
"Yes," Gu Han nodded. He absolutely had to take first place.
"When the time comes, I'll return to the capital and go with my clan elders to watch. I look forward to seeing Young Master Gu's heroic bearing," Ya Fei laughed, her body trembling slightly like a bewitching fairy.
Everyone present couldn't help but glance at her.
The women inwardly cursed "fox spirit," while the men all envied Gu Han for gaining the fairy's favor.
But after obtaining the card, Gu Han's enthusiasm faded, behaving much like someone who takes what they want and leaves without sentiment.
This left Ya Fei somewhat frustrated, but since her objective for this trip had been achieved, she didn't press further.
Halfway through the banquet, after drinking the toast offered by Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, Gu Han left early.
"Hmm?"
As soon as he entered the room in the courtyard, Gu Han's gaze fell upon the main seat in the living room, where a beautiful middle-aged woman was seated—it was Ling Xiao.
"Gu Han pays respects to Senior," Gu Han greeted with proper etiquette.
This was no uninvited senior, but rather a quasi-Earth Rank ice-attribute cultivation method and Dou Skill.
"Boy Gu, come closer," Ling Xiao said with a kindly smile, gesturing for Gu Han to take a seat.
After he sat down, Ling Xiao took out two boxes and placed them on the table.
"What is this?" Gu Han showed an appropriately surprised expression, refraining from reaching for them blindly.
"Open them and see," Ling Xiao picked up her teacup.
After a moment's hesitation, Gu Han opened the boxes.
[Ice Soul Mystic Classic]: A Profound Rank high-grade ice-attribute cultivation method. After cultivation, it can condense ice souls in the Dantian and heart, simulating some effects of a Dou Crystal. It allows the mind to remain as calm as ice, maintaining composure. Detonating one ice soul can temporarily surge one's strength, with the degree of increase depending on the ice soul's intensity. There are no side effects, but the ice soul must be re-condensed.
[Heavenly Cold Seal]: A Profound Rank high-grade ice-attribute Dou Skill. It consists of three forms: Cold Seal, Heaven Seal, and Heavenly Cold Seal. It condenses the cold energy of heaven and earth into seals, carrying effects of freezing and temporarily sealing Dou Qi.
"This!" Gu Han's pupils contracted sharply.
"Senior, what is the meaning of this?"
"They're for you," Ling Xiao waved her hand casually. "The Ice Soul Mystic Classic and Heavenly Cold Seal were derived from an Earth Rank high-grade cultivation method and an Earth Rank high-grade Dou Skill respectively, so they carry some of the essence of Earth Rank techniques. When mastered to perfection, they can rival low-grade Earth Rank methods. Thus, calling them quasi-Earth Rank cultivation method and Dou Skill is not an exaggeration."
"Senior, one shouldn't accept rewards without merit," Gu Han pushed the two wooden boxes back. "I cannot accept these."
"You've already refused to become my disciple, will you reject this too?" A flicker of approval passed through Ling Xiao's eyes as she smiled lightly. "If you insist on not accepting rewards without merit, then just remember this favor."
"If you had taken me as your master, what you'd receive now would be Earth Rank cultivation methods and Dou Skills. I would have used my accumulated merits over the years to exchange for your learning opportunity. It's a pity your heart remains with the Cloud Mist Sect."
"But I admire your character and can't bear to see your talent buried in a small place like the Jia Ma Empire."
"Seize the opportunity I'm giving you and strive to become stronger. If we meet again in the Central Plains someday, that would be worthy of my regard for you."
"Grasp this chance to grow stronger. Perhaps in the future, you might have the opportunity to help me."
"Without strength, everything is just empty talk."
As her voice faded, Ling Xiao's figure dissipated like snowflakes, eventually disappearing completely.
This was the scene Gu Han's eyes, unable to keep up with her extreme speed, perceived.
"Thank you, Senior."
"I have no way to repay Senior's teaching grace."
"If the opportunity arises in the future, this junior would brave mountains of blades and seas of fire to repay you!"
With a solemn expression, Gu Han stored the two boxes.
After glancing at the sky, he went to sit on his bed and began cultivating by switching to the Ice Soul Mystic Classic.
As both were ice-attribute cultivation methods, and Gu Han had already mastered the Mystic Ice Force to perfection, transitioning to the Ice Soul Mystic Classic faced no obstacles whatsoever.
After several hours, he clearly felt his Dou Qi becoming more condensed, and the rotation speed of his Qi Cyclone began to accelerate.
The speed of absorbing heaven and earth energy and converting it into Dou Qi had increased!
The quality of Dou Qi has improved!
The output efficiency will also be greater.
Even though he had just begun and had yet to condense the Ice Soul, Gu Han felt his strength had increased by at least ten percent.
"Hah!"
Exhaling a breath of turbid air, Gu Han looked out the window and saw the bright moon hanging high in the sky.
"It's time to obtain another opportunity."
"Hmm, this opportunity is quite remarkable."