As for Nalan Yanran, she felt deeply uneasy at this moment.
'The task Teacher will assign me… surely it won't be too difficult, right?'
After hearing the mission Gu He had given the Little Doctor Fairy, Nalan Yanran couldn't help but feel a twinge of worry.
She had no idea where Gu He would send her—or what kind of trial he would assign.
Among the three of them, her strength was currently the weakest, having only recently broken through to the Dou Grandmaster realm. If Gu He assigned her a mission beyond her capabilities, she genuinely feared she might fail.
Yet, if the task were too easy, Nalan Yanran would feel disappointed all the same.
After all, she was proud by nature—unwilling to admit she was inferior to others.
Naturally, Gu He paid no attention to the thoughts swirling in Liu Ling and Nalan Yanran's minds.
Following the same treatment as Liu Ling, he retrieved a Longevity Pearl from his spatial ring and handed it to the Little Doctor Fairy.
Then, he spoke again:
"Xian'er, come and kneel before your teacher."
The Little Doctor Fairy's beautiful eyes shimmered with anticipation as she obediently knelt before him.
Gu He placed his familiar palm atop her head and activated the Empowerment Technique, transferring the advanced-level Earth-rank dou technique—Nether Claw—directly into her mind.
Before she could react, a torrent of information surged into her consciousness. She quickly steadied herself, focusing intently on absorbing the knowledge.
After a while, she finally finished processing the vast influx of memories.
'Nether Claw!'
'An Earth-rank High-Level dou technique!'
Upon realizing that Gu He had bestowed such a powerful technique upon her, the Little Doctor Fairy, much like Liu Ling before her, felt an overwhelming surge of gratitude.
Once Gu He motioned for her to step back, he turned to Nalan Yanran and beckoned her forward.
Nalan Yanran had been anxiously waiting her turn. Hearing her teacher's summons, she stepped forward without hesitation.
As Gu He observed her, his thoughts drifted to the Three-Year Agreement between her and Xiao Yan—and by extension, his own promise to Yun Yun.
'She needs more pressure,' he mused.
With that in mind, he spoke solemnly: "Yanran, your training ground will be the Magic Beast Mountain Range."
"Your trial consists of three tasks:
First: Reach the Five-Star Dou Spirit realm.
Second: Hunt and collect the cores of a hundred third-tier magical beasts and ten fourth-tier beasts.
Third: Gather thirty fifth-tier herbs and ten sixth-tier herbs."
Upon hearing her mission, Nalan Yanran froze.
The Magic Beast Mountain Range were a perilous land, teeming with savage beasts. A single misstep could mean death beneath their claws.
And…
'Reach the Five-Star Dou Spirit realm?!'
She had only just become a Dou Grandmaster!
For a moment, she nearly wanted to cry.
'This… I might not be able to do it!'
Her pink lips trembled slightly, but after a brief hesitation, she swallowed her protests and bowed her head.
"This disciple obeys!"
Seeing her compliance, Gu He nodded in satisfaction.
The Three-Year Agreement was of utmost importance—not just for her, but for his own promise to Yun Yun. Naturally, he had to ensure Nalan Yanran was sufficiently prepared.
Xiao Yan had begun his training as a mere Dou Practitioner, enduring countless life-and-death battles. His combat experience was vast.
If Nalan Yanran wished to defeat him, she needed more than just cultivation—she needed real combat experience.
Hunting magical beasts would forge her in battle.
As for the Five-Star Dou Spirit requirement, Gu He believed it was within her reach.
Nalan Yanran's talent far surpassed Liu Ling's. Even if she had only just broken through to Dou Grandmaster, the Purple Spirit Pill would swiftly elevate her to Three-Star Dou Grandmaster.
Since Liu Ling's mission targeted the Dou Spirit realm, Nalan Yanran's goal had to be higher.
Even if she ultimately fell short, the pressure alone would drive her forward.
At the very least, Gu He needed her to reach the Dou King level—or higher—before the Three-Year Agreement concluded.
Following the same procedure, he bestowed upon her a Longevity Pearl and then called her forward.
As she knelt, he placed his hand on her head and transmitted another technique—Void-Splitting Sword Art.
A flood of knowledge surged into her mind, and Nalan Yanran immediately focused on absorbing it.
When she finally opened her eyes, her beautiful pupils trembled with shock.
'Void-Splitting Sword Art!'
'An Advanced Earth-rank dou technique!'
For a moment, she even forgot about her daunting mission.
A fierce confidence surged within her.
'With this sword art… what monster could stand in my way?'
'I, Nalan Yanran, will cut them down with a single strike!'
After assigning their trials, Gu He swept his gaze over the three of them and spoke gravely:
"If you have any objections or doubts about my arrangements, voice them now. Once your training begins, there will be no turning back. Violators will be expelled from my lineage!"
Hearing his stern tone, Nalan Yanran, the Little Doctor Fairy, and Liu Ling exchanged glances before shaking their heads in unison.
No objections.
"Then it is settled."
Satisfied, Gu He waved his hand—and a cascade of jade bottles clattered onto the ground.
"These contain Marrow-Cleansing Liquid and Amethyst Source refined by me. Each of you shall receive ten bottles."
The Marrow-Cleansing Liquid was a potent body-tempering medicine, crafted with a trace of Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Core Milk and various rare herbs.
At its peak, it rivaled fifth-tier spiritual liquids—its effects even bordering on sixth-tier.
The three disciples stared at the bottles in a daze.
They were familiar with the Amethyst Source and its benefits.
As for the Marrow-Cleansing Liquid, though they had never heard of it, they had absolute faith in their teacher's creations.
Without hesitation, they divided the bottles among themselves, offering grateful bows.
With instructions given, techniques imparted, and resources distributed, there was nothing left to say.
"Once you leave the sect, you will be handling affairs on my behalf. We may not meet for some time… Take care of yourselves."
Gazing at his four disciples, Gu He let out a quiet sigh.
…
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