185: Chapter 185 Is This the Real Pill King? Unexpected Changes

"Junior Gu He greets Venerable Yao!"

"I have read what Venerable Yao has written..."

"Junior has thought about going to Venerable Yao's..."

"..."

Gu He stepped forward excitedly, his words incoherent, his whole body trembling with excitement.

"Don't be excited, speak slowly." Yao Lao seemed accustomed to this situation and pressed his hand down.

Gu He only felt a force smoothing out his inner emotions, calming him down, but his heart was still filled with excitement.

"This Pill King Gu He looks like Yao Lao's brain-dead fan," Xiao Yan whispered.

Gu Han, who had been paying attention to him, heard his words clearly, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

For an Alchemist from a self-taught background like Gu He, someone like Yao Chen—who hadn't joined the Pill Tower but became the continent's number one Alchemist through unorthodox means—was a beacon of faith.

Brain-dead fan?

More like a devout believer.

If Gu He were given the treatment Han Feng received, he would probably sacrifice his own soul to Yao Lao.

"In a place like the Jia Ma Empire, you managed to reach the sixth tier through your own exploration. Your talent is good, and you are diligent enough," Yao Chen spoke with a smile. "Little Fellow Gu asked me to give you some guidance, which is fine."

Gu He reacted instantly and looked at Gu Han excitedly. "Gu... Great Elder, the teacher you found for this Elder is Senior Venerable Yao?"

This change in address was quite smooth, and the corner of Gu Han's mouth couldn't help but twitch.

"Not a teacher, just asking Senior Yao Lao to give you some guidance. You have seven days to study with Yao Lao," Gu Han corrected seriously, but it was also a definitive answer.

"A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime, not to mention Senior Yao Lao will teach me for seven days?" Gu He said with a solemn and serious expression. "Regardless of whether Senior Yao Lao acknowledges it or not, from now on, Gu He will observe the etiquette of a disciple."

"However, while Gu He is away, I will not reveal a single piece of information related to you, Teacher, so as not to embarrass you."

Xiao Yan: ?

Holy crap, so Gu He is this kind of person!?

Hiss!

Gu Han was also a bit dumbfounded.

Gu He really knows how to pave his own way.

Comparing Han Feng to him would be an insult to Gu He.

Fa Ma suddenly glanced at Gu He, his eyes full of shock.

This Gu He looks like a man of integrity, but who knew he had such schemes and such thick skin?

Why didn't he think of these words?

"Junior is the same; I will observe the etiquette of a disciple from now on," Fa Ma immediately followed suit.

Naturally, he wasn't qualified to be Yao Chen's disciple.

As for Gu He, if it were several decades earlier, his talent might have been barely enough.

A Personal Disciple was out of the question, but having a connection as a registered disciple would still be good.

"Hehe, there's no need for that," Yao Chen responded easily, familiar with such situations. "I am only providing you with some guidance at the request of little friend Gu."

"You two sit down. Now, refine one pill that you are best at and one that you are least skilled in before me."

Hearing this, Fa Ma and Gu He also knew not to push their luck. They sat down, ready to listen to the teachings.

Gu Han clicked his tongue inwardly and turned to leave.

Regardless, Fa Ma becoming a Guest Elder and Gu He becoming an Elder and the Pill Tower Hall Master was a sure thing.

Once the Cloud Mist Sect developed for a while, he could take a titular position and leave to travel the continent.

Time passed like a white stallion crossing a gap, and in the blink of an eye, the day of the Dou Zong Grand Ceremony arrived.

Within the borders of the Jia Ma Empire, almost everyone with a name or reputation arrived to offer their congratulations.

This was the first new Dou Zong to emerge in the Jia Ma Empire in over a hundred years.

The Jia Ma Empire's imperial family sent an elite army to help the Cloud Mist Sect maintain order.

Cloud Mist Sect disciples and deacons were only responsible for guidance, while the Elders were responsible for receiving experts at the Dou Ling and Dou Wang levels.

It's worth mentioning Yan Shi and Feng Li, two veteran Dou Wangs ranked among the Top Ten Experts of the Jia Ma Empire.

This so-called Top Ten Experts list did not include the military or certain city lords; it only listed families, sects, and rogue cultivators.

Originally, Jia Xingtian wasn't included either, but later, for some reason, he was ranked first, with Yun Shan second.

Of course, if they were to re-rank now, Yun Shan would be first, and the second might be Yun Yun or Hai Bodong.

However, those involved knew that in terms of combat power, the second place was Gu Han, and he might even have a chance to compete for first.

"Hahaha!"

Just as the ceremony was about to officially begin, and Yun Shan, Yun Yun, Gu Han, Jia Xingtian, and Hai Bodong were all taking their seats, a burst of laughter suddenly rang out above Cloud Mist Mountain.

Immediately after, a sharp whistling sound seemed to ring out as three figures streaked through the distant sky like meteors, arriving above the Cloud Mist Sect in the blink of an eye.

"Yan Luotian," Hai Bodong called out the identity of the leader.

Countless people in the crowd immediately began to whisper.

Why would Yan Luotian, the Sect Leader of the Golden Goose Sect and the strongest person in the Luo Yan Empire, come to the Jia Ma Empire and the Cloud Mist Sect?

"Yun Shan, I didn't expect you to be able to break through to Dou Zong. Why didn't you send an invitation so this Sect Leader could share in the joy and congratulate you?" Yan Luotian stood with his arms crossed, a smile on his face.

But his eyes were extremely sharp, sweeping over everyone below.

When he saw beauties like Yun Yun, Cai Die, Colorful Glass, and Xiao Yi Xian, his gaze lingered for a long time.

"Invitation?" Yun Shan put his hands behind his back and sneered. "I was afraid to give you one, afraid you wouldn't dare to come."

"Aren't you afraid of being left behind here at the Cloud Mist Sect?"

Although the Jia Ma Empire and the Izumo Empire were the most antagonistic, being sworn enemies, relations with the Luo Yan Empire weren't much better.

The Mu Lan Empire and the Jia Ma Empire had the Tagor Desert and the Snake-People Clan as a buffer, but the Luo Yan Empire directly bordered the Jia Ma Empire, and conflicts broke out from time to time.

In particular, there was a history between the Golden Goose Sect and the Cloud Mist Sect; the former had once been a subsidiary sect of the latter.

After the Cloud Mist Sect declined, the Golden Goose Sect was the first to turn its back and seek refuge with the Heavenly Serpent Mansion.

People always harbor immense hatred for traitors, sometimes even more than for enemies.

Perhaps the Jia Ma Empire's arch-enemy was the Izumo Empire, but the Cloud Mist Sect's arch-enemy was the Golden Goose Sect.

"On this Fighting Qi Continent, there are many places this Sect Leader doesn't dare to go, but they don't include the Cloud Mist Sect," Yan Luotian said arrogantly.

Yun Shan frowned slightly, sensing that Yan Luotian had come with ill intent, likely to give them a show of strength.

"Aren't you afraid of biting your tongue with such big talk?"

Gu Han suddenly spoke, attracting everyone's attention.

"The mountain gate is open today. If you have the guts, come in."

"Just as long as you're not afraid of walking in on your feet and being carried out on your back."

Hmm?

Yan Luotian's gaze fell on Gu Han, showing a bit of displeasure. "You must be the Cloud Mist Sect's newly appointed Great Elder, Gu Han. This Sect Leader has heard of you. Your talent is indeed good; even this Sect Leader couldn't compare to you at your age."

"But on this Fighting Qi Continent, there is no shortage of geniuses who die young."

"To become the Great Elder of the Cloud Mist Sect at such a young age when you are only a Dou Ling... in this Sect Leader's view, it is extremely foolish."

The old man beside Yan Luotian stepped forward and mocked, "Why bother wasting words with him, Sect Leader?"

"With this kind of strength, he dares to be the Great Elder? Even if he could defeat Yun Ling, so what? He's just making the Cloud Mist Sect a laughingstock."

"I am the Great Elder of the Golden Goose Sect. Boy, do you dare to fight?"