5: Chapter 5: You're in a hurry, but it's good for unity.

"Brother, how could it have been stolen!?" Mo Qing's tone became urgent, a flicker of flame rising in his eyes.

A jade spirit fruit was even better than Qi Gathering Powder; while ensuring a one-hundred-percent chance of breaking through to Dou Practitioner, it could also strengthen one's meridians.

The stronger the meridians, the higher the level of cultivation methods one could practice in the early stages, and the faster the speed of devouring heaven and earth energy to transform it into Fighting Qi to increase strength.

"How should I know?" Mo Yu's eyes were dark, many thoughts flashing through his mind. "That place, even Father didn't know about it; only Grandfather and I knew. In the past ten-plus years, Grandfather only went in to check three years ago, and there was no problem then. After that, he only took me to see the entrance once a month."

"This is definitely no accident. Someone has been watching from the shadows for a long time, waiting for the right moment to intercept the prize."

"Who is it!?" Mo Qing's chest heaved with anger. "Brother, go find the Great Elder and have the Punishment Hall conduct a thorough investigation. This is a major theft; I want to tear that thief into ten thousand pieces."

"Calm down." Mo Yu frowned slightly and shouted in a low voice, "That Spirit Nurturing Ground was discovered by Grandfather by accident fifteen years ago. He kept it hidden and privately transplanted the jade spirit fruit tree to cultivate it; otherwise, it should belong to the sect's assets."

"Even if we were to report this to Master, we could only pretend to have discovered a Spirit Nurturing Ground and a jade spirit fruit tree to exchange for merit, rather than confessing. That would instead lead to Grandfather being punished, and in the end, it would all be for naught."

"Then we're just going to endure this!?" Mo Qing was frantic inside.

On the path of cultivation, being one step ahead means being ahead at every step. A single jade spirit fruit could make his future much brighter; this was a grudge over obstructing his path.

"Naturally, we won't just endure it like this." A trace of killing intent flashed through Mo Yu's eyes.

Aside from giving one jade spirit fruit to Mo Qing and bringing two back to the family, the other two were for him to request Pill King Gu He to refine a fifth-grade pill that could increase his cultivation speed.

That petty thief taking all five jade spirit fruits in one go was also obstructing his path to becoming stronger.

"For now, it's not suitable for us to make a scene about this. The jade spirit fruit tree is there, and it's more valuable than the jade spirit fruits. I don't believe that villain won't be tempted; they'll surely arrange for someone to watch it in secret."

"Furthermore, I will have the family keep an eye on the situation regarding jade spirit fruits within the borders of the Jia Ma Empire, and I'll ask Teacher to collect them for me under the pretext of needing to refine pills."

"A heavenly treasure like this will surely cause a stir if it surfaces. When that happens, we'll follow the clues..."

Mo Yu didn't say the rest, but Mo Qing understood; when that time came, they could take their revenge.

Since that person had stealthily plucked the jade spirit fruits, their strength and background were likely ordinary; the Mo family could certainly handle it.

"Then what about my breakthrough to Dou Practitioner?" Mo Qing's expression was ugly. "Relying on myself, won't I be slower than Gu Han?"

"If he can become a Dou Practitioner before the age of fifteen, he'll be about the same as you, Brother."

Hearing this, Mo Yu sneered. "You're my brother; can't you have a bit more perspective? His talent isn't inferior to mine, but in terms of background and resources, can he compare to me?"

"Besides, there's also Mo Feng moving against him. Talent isn't something that can't be destroyed."

"Think back to Zhang Chuchen, who once surpassed Father... heh."

"Without the jade spirit fruit, the family will prepare Qi Gathering Powder for you."

Thinking of Gu Han's fate, Mo Qing's mood instantly improved significantly; moreover, he still had the backup Qi Gathering Powder.

Just then, a voice came from outside: "Mo Feng requests an audience with the Young Master."

"Come in," Mo Yu said.

A handsome, tall, and thin young man walked in, cupping his hands and bowing. "Mo Feng greets the Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master."

"Within the Cloud Mist Sect, there's no need for such formalities." Mo Yu's face changed to a gentle smile as he made a lifting motion with his palm. "How goes the matter I entrusted to you?"

"In response to the Young Master, your subordinate has come to report on this very matter." Mo Feng lowered his head even further. "I waited at the path to the Scripture Hall, but no one appeared for a long time. After investigating Gu Han's residence, I learned that he headed to the Outer Sect Cultivation Hall early this morning."

"What is he doing at the Cultivation Hall!?" Mo Qing frowned subconsciously. "Having obtained the Black Iron Token, shouldn't he have gone immediately to exchange for a new Dou Technique, or even select a cultivation method to prepare for his breakthrough?"

"Then there is only one explanation." Mo Yu's gaze darkened slightly. "He is preparing to break through to Dou Practitioner."

"What!?" Mo Qing stood up excitedly. "On what grounds? If he succeeds, won't he become a Dou Practitioner even faster than you, Brother?"

Mo Yu: "..."

Gu Han was only brought back to the sect to cultivate after his aptitude was tested at the age of six, whereas Mo Yu had begun cultivating under the supervision of family elders at the age of four.

If Gu Han could succeed, in terms of pure talent, he would indeed be quite a bit stronger than him.

"Go and keep an eye on the Cultivation Hall." Mo Yu subconsciously rubbed his hands. "If Gu Han fails his breakthrough, find another opportunity to strike."

"If he succeeds, don't do anything; come and report to me immediately."

"Yes." Mo Feng took his orders and withdrew.

"Brother, if he succeeds, the threat will be too great." Mo Qing spoke impatiently, his eyes filled with undisguised jealousy. "We can't let him get ahead."

"Look at you getting anxious again." Mo Yu glared at Mo Qing. "Ultimately, your current conflict is because you warned him not to win before the Preparatory Disciple competition, and he didn't listen. It's just that you're unhappy with him; he doesn't have much of a conflict with you or the Mo family."

"If he successfully breaks through, he will surely catch the eyes of many Deacons and Elders. Why should we exert ourselves to deal with him?"

"We should befriend him and become his friends."

"What if he doesn't know what's good for him?" Mo Qing asked subconsciously; he still wanted to suppress Gu Han.

"I've said it before: within the sect, one cannot do things detrimental to unity." Mo Yu took a sip of tea. "But outside the sect is different."

Time flew by like a white horse passing a crack; in the blink of an eye, ten watches had passed.

Inside Class A No. 1 of the Outer Sect Cultivation Hall, aside from eating the food brought by the sect servants at mealtimes, Gu Han spent the rest of his time cultivating.

"Phew."

Exhaling a mouthful of turbid air, Gu Han slowly opened his eyes.

After a day and night of cultivation, coupled with the medicinal effects of the jade spirit fruit, his realm had completely stabilized and even grown somewhat.

The urgent priority was to practice a Fighting Qi cultivation method to increase his cultivation speed; perhaps he could use the medicinal power to continue breaking through in a short time.

"The Black Iron Token allows one to enter the first two floors to select a cultivation method or Dou Technique."

"I hope I can choose an Ice-attribute cultivation method that suits me."

On the Fighting Qi Continent, a person's attribute depends on their soul. Generally speaking, a soul only possesses one attribute, and it's impossible to have other attributes mixed in.

However, Alchemists are an exception; their own attribute must be fire, and it must also be mixed with a trace of wood energy. This point alone limits the rarity of this profession.

Gu Han had no chance of becoming an Alchemist; his Fighting Qi attribute, like Hai Bodong's, was the Ice attribute.

"To choose a good cultivation method, one either needs good luck or to take a teacher to guide them."

"With my talent, it wouldn't be hard to find an Elder to take as a teacher, but the Cloud Mist Sect doesn't have any Ice-attribute Elders, so it's not suitable for me. Instead of taking a teacher here, I might as well go find Hai Bodong."

"But it doesn't matter; I have my own advantages."

Gu Han sank his divine sense into the Xuanwu Shell deep in his consciousness, preparing to obtain a fortuitous opportunity.

Having broken through to Dou Practitioner, he could obtain two opportunities every day.

But the next moment, his brow furrowed.

"Eh, this is..."