9: Chapter 9: Extraordinary Comprehension, Thanks to Your Care

"Mind-Awakening Pill!"

Gu Han's eyes grew increasingly bright.

This was a third-grade pill. Its effect was to increase sensitivity to the world's energy while in a cultivation state and moderately increase the speed of energy absorption.

In three years, Liu Ling would be a fourth-grade Alchemist under the tutelage of Pill King Gu He, so it was not surprising that he could refine third-grade pills now.

It was just that such a pill would actually be thrown away by Nalan Yanran without her knowing.

The Young Sect Leader did not lack such pills. Rather than letting a flying magical beast benefit, it was better to benefit him.

But the second piece of information was even more of a surprise.

"A time-limited special location suitable for Ice Attribute Dou Qi practitioners, and it's still within the range of the Cloud Mist Sect. I can't miss this."

Gu Han stopped cultivating and took out the scroll recording the cultivation method for the Xuan-rank Low-tier Dou Technique, Profound Yin Finger, from his storage ring.

Before heading to the peak where the Profound Yin Wind descended, he wanted to memorize the cultivation method for the Profound Yin Finger first, ideally reaching the entry level.

[Profound Yin Finger, a Xuan-rank Low-tier Dou Technique created by the Dou Wang Expert, Old Man Xuan Yin. When cultivated to Great Success, it can freeze human blood and meridians from a distance. A high-level Dou Practitioner can penetrate a Dou Master's gauze, and a high-level Dou Master can affect a Great Dou Master's armor. If Ice Dou Qi is added, it can affect the circulation of Dou Qi, coming with an acupoint-sealing and body-freezing effect.]

"What a... sinister Dou Technique."

After memorizing the cultivation method, Gu Han sighed inwardly.

Once cultivated to Great Success, if used well, this Dou Technique could allow him to take down opponents above his level through underhanded means.

If bolstered by Ice Dou Qi, it could freeze an opponent even in a direct clash. Furthermore, this Dou Technique actually recorded many human acupoints for underhanded strikes.

"It's very suitable for a steady person like me."

Gu Han began to study it seriously. Following the records on the scroll, he attempted to circulate his Dou Qi through specific paths and methods, coordinating it with hand seals.

If a Dou Technique could be trained to Great Success, there would be no need to use hand seals to perform it.

Bang!

Near the Outer Sect Cultivation Hall, inside a small cottage built between two giant rocks, Gu Han left an inch-deep mark on the secret chamber's door with a finger, which was also covered in a layer of frost.

With the empowerment of Profound Ice Strength, the effect of the Profound Yin Finger was unexpectedly strong.

"Could it be... I'm a genius?"

After three hours of solitary research, he had actually successfully reached the entry level (First Layer) of a Xuan-rank Low-tier Dou Technique.

If he cultivated under the Yin Wind, it probably wouldn't take long to reach Small Success (Third Layer), Proficiency (Fifth Layer), Great Success (Seventh Layer), Mastery (Ninth Layer), and even Perfection.

Retracting his hand, Gu Han pushed open the door and walked out, deciding to use his merit pointss to exchange for some pills and daily necessities.

It was worth mentioning that one merit points was equivalent to ten gold coins. However, merit pointss could be exchanged for gold coins, but gold coins could not be exchanged for merit pointss.

There were people in the sect who specialized in buying merit pointss with money; one merit points could be exchanged for fifteen gold coins.

Unfortunately, Gu Han did not know such people, so he could only spend his merit pointss directly.

But he didn't mind. With his transcendent comprehension and the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, he didn't need to hire teachers or go to the cultivation hall, so he basically had no use for merit pointss.

"Give me a serving of Purple Cloud Steak and a serving of Sand Treasure Rice."

After purchasing ten fasting pills and some daily necessities at the Affairs Hall, Gu Han arrived at the Outer Sect Disciple cafeteria.

Here, one could buy Tier 1 magical beast meat, which only Outer Sect Disciples could eat, and spiritual rice that tasted excellent and contained a bit of world energy.

"Eh? Are you Junior Brother Gu Han?"

While waiting for a disciple to bring his food and rice, a plain-looking young man dressed in the Outer Sect Disciple uniform looked Gu Han over with a look of surprise.

"You are?" Gu Han showed a puzzled expression.

"My name is Mo Feng." The young man showed a friendly smile. "You probably haven't heard of me; I'm Mo Qing's cousin."

Although he said he was a cousin, Mo Feng and Mo Qing were already distantly related. He was from a branch lineage that had been sent to other towns to expand the family. Privately, they referred to themselves as 'subordinates,' being little more than slaves, though slightly better than those born into the household.

"Is there something, Senior Brother?" Hearing Mo Qing's name, Gu Han's gaze and expression didn't change at all.

Mo Feng observed secretly. Sensing that he didn't seem hostile toward Mo Qing, he continued, "I heard my cousin warned you not to win before the Preparatory Disciple competition. I've already severely criticized him after finding out."

"He was pampered growing up in the clan, so his temperament is a bit rash, but he's not a bad person. Junior Brother Gu, please don't take it to heart."

"Senior Brother worries too much." Gu Han's tone held no displeasure. "I won the competition, and Junior Brother Mo Qing didn't do anything. We are fellow disciples; I won't take it to heart."

Hearing how sincere he sounded, a trace of contempt flashed through Mo Feng's eyes. He smiled and said, "Junior Brother is magnanimous, but as your Senior Brother, I must show some gesture."

With that, he shouted toward the service window, "Han Qing, add three more dishes: Cedar Venison, Azure Flame Bear Paw, and Mo City Cloud Pigeon Soup."

These dishes were worth nearly dozens of gold coins. For a Dou Practitioner, spending that much on a single meal was quite a lavish gesture.

Gu Han declined repeatedly, but he couldn't refuse Mo Feng and was forced to accept.

Once they had their fill of food and drink, Mo Feng said with a smile, "Junior Brother, consider this meeting a case of 'no discord, no concord.' I admire you very much; from now on, we are friends."

"In the Outer Sect, if you encounter any difficulties, feel free to come to me. Even if I can't handle it, there's still the Mo Clan behind me."

These words carried a bit of a muscle-flexing intent.

Gu Han's expression didn't change at all, but his tone suddenly became serious. "Thank you, Senior Brother. I actually do have something I'd like to ask about."

Mo Feng: "..."

This guy really doesn't treat himself as an outsider.

But he wasn't afraid of the guy making requests; he was afraid he wouldn't.

It would be excellent to be able to control this genius with just a few small favors.

"Junior Brother, feel free to speak." Mo Feng acted calm and composed.

"I want to exchange merit pointss for gold coins," Gu Han replied.

"Oh?" Mo Feng's eyes lit up.

This wasn't a problem at all; it was practically sending money his way.

The Mo Clan did not lack gold coins, but they lacked merit pointss that could circulate directly within the sect. He could make a profit from the price difference.

"I heard that one merit points can be exchanged for up to twenty gold coins at most." Gu Han's tone carried a hint of trust. "Senior Brother comes from the Mo Clan, which has a massive business and certainly won't lack these. Please help me out."

Mo Feng: ?

Exchanging one merit points for twenty gold coins was a price only reached when high-level cultivation techniques or pills refined by Pill King Gu He appeared in the sect and people were in urgent need.

If he agreed, he would be a total sucker.

But looking at Gu Han's trust-filled eyes, he couldn't refuse for a moment.

He couldn't boast about the Mo Clan one second and then be unable to handle a small matter the next.

Thinking that Gu Han was just a newly joined Outer Sect Disciple and probably couldn't produce many merit pointss to exchange, he figured he wouldn't lose much by agreeing.

At this thought, Mo Feng agreed readily. "No problem. How many do you want to exchange?"

"One thousand eight hundred," Gu Han answered.

Originally, he had accumulated one thousand five hundred merit pointss and spent one hundred at the cultivation hall.

But after becoming an Outer Sect Disciple, his monthly allowance as a genius was five hundred merit pointss.

He would keep one hundred for emergencies and exchange the rest for money.

"So it's only one thou... how many?"

Mo Feng's pupils constricted, and he showed an expression of disbelief.

This guy was going to bleed him dry.