"Look at you, getting anxious again."
Gu Han pushed the wooden box containing the Jade Spirit Fruit back, releasing an icy aura from his body that traveled along his hand to the box, freezing it shut.
"How is this accepting a reward without merit?"
"I'm giving you the reward in advance, and I'll ask for the merit later."
"I'm optimistic about you. I'm betting on your future, and on the mysterious connections you have behind you."
At this point, Gu Han looked at Xiao Yan, his gaze turning serious. "Or is it that Brother Xiao Yan, soon to be an Alchemist backed by a mysterious and powerful Alchemist, looks down on a common cultivator like me and is unwilling to be my friend?"
If he hadn't known through the opportunity guide that Xiao Yan was interested in befriending him, he wouldn't have used such a direct method, nor would he have said something so pointed.
"No, I just genuinely feel this item is too valuable," Xiao Yan denied at once, a hint of frustrated anger from being misunderstood on his face.
From Nalan Yanyun, he knew that the compensation from the Nalan Family and the Cloud Mist Sect was all due to Gu Han's righteous words.
This was a person with an incredibly strong moral compass—so righteous it was almost unnatural, so righteous that it made Yao Lao exclaim, "The Cloud Mist Sect has produced a saint."
But while he was righteous, he wasn't sanctimonious; he could also unleash thunderous fury against his enemies.
If he were to be compared to a character from the novels of his past life, Gu Han was like Guo Jing, but far smarter and more talented.
How could he possibly be unwilling to befriend such a person, someone to whom he could completely entrust his back?
"Then that's settled." A hint of a smile appeared in Gu Han's eyes. "Or is Brother Xiao Yan suggesting that you won't be able to become a Sixth-Rank or even a Seventh-Rank Alchemist in the future, or that you can't ask an Alchemist of that level to help me?"
"Teacher, do you think I can become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist?" Xiao Yan asked inwardly.
"Are you looking down on me, or are you looking down on yourself?" Yao Chen's tone was proud.
He couldn't be certain about an Eighth-Rank Alchemist, as that involved a Spirit Realm soul, but if Xiao Yan couldn't even become a Seventh-Rank Alchemist, it wouldn't be because Xiao Yan was too useless, but because he, Yao Chen, was useless, had poor judgment, and couldn't teach.
"That's true. Even if I can't do it, don't I still have you, Teacher?" A fawning laugh echoed in Xiao Yan's mind. Outwardly, he cupped his fists solemnly at Gu Han. "Brother Gu Han, in that case, I won't be polite."
"Rest assured, if there's ever a time you need my help, I will not refuse."
Gu Han thought: It's a pity I don't have a phone to record this moment and post it on a short video app from my past life. It would definitely go viral.
To receive such a promise from the future Yan Di was a ticket to walk sideways across the Dou Qi Continent and the future Great Thousand World.
At the very least, during the Great Ruler era, out of 1551 chapters, he could walk sideways for 1547 of them.
In the future Endless Fire Territory, he would be an existence who, like Hai Bodong, could have Xiao Yan light his cigarette with a Heavenly Flames and sit at the main table during meals.
"Very good." Gu Han stood up and returned the salute. "Brother Xiao Yan, rest assured, if you help me, I will not let you suffer a loss."
"I wish you a brilliant future. May you be dazzlingly impressive the next time we meet."
Leaving these words behind, Gu Han departed crisply.
Xiao Yan watched him the entire time until his figure was out of sight, then asked in his mind, "Teacher, I feel like there was a deeper meaning to Gu Han's last words, but I can't figure it out."
"That's because you haven't become an Alchemist yet, so you naturally don't know what that status entails," Yao Chen said with a light chuckle. "This Gu Han is indeed just as he appears—a forthright person."
"You don't think that just because you're friends, or even brothers, you can ask an Alchemist to work for free, do you?"
"Isn't that the case?" Xiao Yan was a bit stunned.
"You're wrong, completely wrong," Yao Chen began to explain. "Alchemists have their own rules. If you want to ask an Alchemist to refine a pill, it's not as simple as just paying the fee. Otherwise, how would the transcendent status of an Alchemist be reflected? Would we Alchemists just become laborers?"
"Before paying the Alchemist's fee, you must first present something that can move the Alchemist to act. The more powerful the Alchemist, the more rules they have."
"Take me, for example. Unless someone can offer a Cultivation Method, Dou Skill, or a heavenly treasure that deeply tempts me as payment, I will not act."
"Even if I agree to act, according to the rules, the other party must provide at least two sets of the medicinal ingredients required for the pill."
"If the refinement is successful on the first try, the remaining ingredients also belong to the Alchemist. This is the initial fee."
"If they can't provide a second set of ingredients, they must offer resources of equal value, and even then, the success of the refinement is not guaranteed."
"What Gu Han meant just now was that when he asks you to refine a pill, he will follow the rules."
"Although you have become friends, all he wants is for you not to refuse to refine pills for him in the future."
Yao Lao's explanation gave Xiao Yan a certain understanding of the esteemed status of Alchemists.
"I see." Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his eyes burning with passion. "Gu Han gave me the Jade Spirit Fruit, betting on my future."
"By using the Jade Spirit Fruit now, I'm accepting the payment in advance, acknowledging him as a friend, and will refine pills for him within my capabilities in the future."
"Of course, this is limited to alchemy. Other matters will depend on you," Yao Chen reminded him.
"This disciple understands," Xiao Yan said, his spirits high.
With this Jade Spirit Fruit, he could recover much faster.
In the future, he would definitely have the chance to compete on the same stage as Gu Han and an opportunity to help him.
"If it really comes to it, Teacher, you can help Brother Gu Han refine the pill."
Yao Chen: ?
After all I've said, you've gone and made me cheap.
"By the way, Teacher, you were once a Dou Venerable expert?"
Yao Chen thought: What a fresh question. Not only was I a Dou Venerable, I was a Peak Dou Venerable who had reached the Nine Transformations. One more transformation and I could have broken through to Half-Saint.
"You're too weak. Don't concern yourself with these things." Yao Chen's single sentence sent Xiao Yan into a depressive slump.
Meanwhile, Gu Han had already returned to the Nalan Family's carriage and had bid farewell to Xiao Zhan and the others.
The convoy set off again, quickly leaving Wu Tan City as if it had never been there.
But the impact it left behind was profound.
It was like a stone thrown into a calm lake.
Gu Han paid no mind to any of this. He was focused solely on switching his cultivation to the Ice Soul Mystic Classic.
He would wait until the early morning to obtain his opportunities at the first possible moment, lest he miss out on any benefits or crucial information.
[Xun Er has dispatched Ling Ying to be your secret guardian. If you encounter a danger you cannot resolve, Ling Ying will intervene to save you.]
Gu Han thought: Did I just steal Little Yan Zi's perk?
It seemed this was Xun Er and Ling Ying's investment in him.
To have an eight-star Dou Emperor from the Ancient Clan as a secret guard was the kind of treatment only a seed-level disciple from a top-tier continental power would receive.
[In Qing Shan Town, which is closest to Wu Tan City and near the Magical Beast Mountain Range, there is a woman named Little Fairy Doctor who possesses the Woeful Poison Body.]
"This is indeed a huge opportunity, and I have a chance to obtain it now." A helpless expression appeared on Gu Han's face. "But I already knew that!"
In the original timeline, when Little Yan Zi met the Little Fairy Doctor, there were less than two years left until the three-year agreement.
After the three-year agreement ended, Little Yan Zi fled to the Black Corner Region, entered Jia Nan Academy, and finally emerged from the inner courtyard after refining the Fallen Heart Flame to return to the Jia Ma Empire and annihilate the Cloud Mist Sect. This whole process took more than three years.
After that, Little Yan Zi took Zi Yan to the Magical Beast Mountain Range for a secluded retreat to break through to Dou Emperor, where he coincidentally ran into the Little Fairy Doctor, who by then could already fight Medusa.
In other words, the Little Fairy Doctor, on her own, had advanced from a low-star Dou Fighter to a four-star Aura Ancestor in five years.
If someone with the ability helped her gather poisons to grow stronger, how much faster would her progress be!?
From this perspective, the Little Fairy Doctor was truly a top-tier genius on the continent.
If not for the fate of the Woeful Poison Body—which guaranteed an eventual, painful death that would also blight the life force of the land for a thousand miles—she would truly be a chosen one of heaven.
"Should I go find the Little Fairy Doctor?"
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