"Wh-what?"
Perhaps disbelieving, or perhaps not hearing clearly, Chief Steward Li suddenly stammered.
"I said, I have a Cultivation Technique."
Gu Han repeated.
With a whoosh!
The Seventh Prince instantly stood up, his body trembling with excitement.
"Then you..."
Beside him, Chief Steward Li's face suddenly turned crimson.
"You can give..."
Seeing his expression, Gu Han subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew he had won the gamble; although Chief Steward Li's words were sharp and somewhat overbearing, he wasn't inherently bad, otherwise he wouldn't have reacted this way.
"This one understands!"
Seeing Gu Han remain silent.
Chief Steward Li gritted his teeth, swept his large sleeve, gathered the few beast cores beside the Seventh Prince, and swallowed them directly!
In an instant.
His face turned pale.
His Cultivation Technique leaned towards the yin and soft, and the fiery energy in these beast cores was vigorous; swallowing them rashly naturally put a considerable burden on his body.
"Chief Steward Li."
The Seventh Prince sighed.
"You don't have to... Alas!"
"Your Highness, no need to say more."
Chief Steward Li looked at Gu Han, "Back then, this one was bullied like a dog. If it weren't for the Imperial Consort's rescue, this one wouldn't be where he is today! The Seventh Prince is the Imperial Consort's only flesh and blood. As long as he can be saved, let alone swallowing beast cores, even if you ask this one to kneel, or ask for this one's life, this one will not hesitate!"
As he spoke.
His knees buckled, and he was about to kneel!
Dr. Xue couldn't bear to watch.
However, since the Cultivation Technique belonged to Gu Han, he felt he had no right to speak and naturally couldn't advise.
"I actually wanted to say."
Gu Han had a headache and quickly stopped him.
"Even if you didn't eat the beast cores, I would still have brought out this Cultivation Technique."
"You..."
Chief Steward Li's expression stiffened.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"Didn't get the chance."
"..."
Thinking of his own embarrassment just now.
Chief Steward Li wanted to die.
"Hahahaha..."
To the side.
A Sha laughed heartily, seeing his discomfited look.
"Alright!"
Gu Han was about to speak when he saw Dr. Xue stand up, "The person outside is here to see this old man, I can't let him wait too long."
"Senior."
Gu Han hurriedly said, "You don't have to..."
"No matter."
Dr. Xue waved his hand.
"Being able to completely resolve the Seventh Prince's problem can also be considered fulfilling a long-cherished wish of this old man."
Such a Cultivation Technique was incredibly precious.
To avoid suspicion, he found an excuse to leave.
"Alright."
Gu Han shook his head helplessly, no longer hesitating, and recited the contents of that Cultivation Technique to the Seventh Prince without missing a single word.
Nine Nether Ice Soul Art!
Ranked as Heaven Rank Medium Grade!
For a moment.
Both the Seventh Prince and Chief Steward Li listened, enthralled.
"This..."
After a long while.
Chief Steward Li finally looked at Gu Han, his face filled with surprise and uncertainty.
"This one has lived for so many years, and has never seen such... such a miraculous Cultivation Technique, this..."
"Of course you haven't seen it."
Gu Han's words were shocking.
"This is a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique."
Heaven Rank!
Hiss!
Subconsciously, the two of them gasped, frozen on the spot!
Let alone Heaven Rank.
Throughout the Great Qi Dynasty, the most precious Cultivation Technique was only Profound Rank High Grade, obtained by chance by the Great Qi's founding ancestor, treasured by the royal family, and passed down to this day, never easily shown to others.
As for Heaven Rank.
Let alone seeing it, they dared not even imagine it!
At this moment.
Gu Han's image in their eyes suddenly became unfathomably profound.
"Gu Brother..."
The Seventh Prince suppressed the excitement in his heart.
"This Cultivation Technique is so precious, why would you..."
"It's simple."
Gu Han smiled.
"You helped me, so naturally I'll help you, right, A Sha."
"En!"
A Sha's small face was full of seriousness.
"Young Master said, kindness, repay tenfold, hatred, also repay tenfold!"
"..."
The Seventh Prince fell silent.
He naturally understood that Gu Han bringing out this Cultivation Technique not only exposed his own secret but also took an enormous risk. If even a hint of news leaked, it would undoubtedly be a colossal disaster! Yet Gu Han still didn't hesitate, solely to repay the small kindness he had casually shown earlier!
Kindness, repay tenfold.
Hatred, also repay tenfold.
Pondering these two sentences, the Seventh Prince suddenly bent at the waist, bowing deeply!
"Great kindness, words cannot express gratitude!"
"Gu Brother, rest assured, you saved me, I will never do anything as despicable as betraying your kindness! What happened today will absolutely not be leaked in the slightest! If I violate this oath, may heaven and earth punish me!"
"Seventh..."
"Just call me Jiang Feng!"
The Seventh Prince suddenly felt.
His identity as a Prince was nothing in front of Gu Han.
"Brother Jiang."
Gu Han pulled A Sha, intending to leave.
"No need for thanks."
"The Cultivation Technique has been given to you. The sooner you cultivate, the sooner you can escape the suffering of the cold poison. Let's... meet again in the Royal Capital!"
"Wait... wait!"
Suddenly.
Chief Steward Li called out to him, gritted his teeth, and also bowed deeply.
"This one... offended you greatly before, please don't take it to heart! You saved the Seventh Prince, this one owes you a life! In the future, if there's anything you need, this one will not hesitate!"
"Chief Steward Li."
Gu Han felt a bit emotional.
"Actually, besides being sharp-tongued, mean, narrow-minded, and liking to bully others with your power, you don't have any other flaws."
"..."
Chief Steward Li's mouth twitched continuously.
This... is called having no flaws?
To the side.
The Seventh Prince shook his head with a wry smile, then carefully recalled the contents of the Cultivation Technique, and boundless waves surged in his heart once more!
From this day forward.
That Seventh Prince, whose fate was uncertain, was gone!
His destiny would be completely changed because of Gu Han!
...
Outside.
Chen Ping's honest nature naturally earned Dr. Xue's favor.
"Thank you, Old Xue, thank you, Old Xue!"
Having received the Medicinal Pill personally refined by Dr. Xue, he thanked him profusely, bowing repeatedly, and then left joyfully.
Dr. Xue was very famous in the Great Qi Dynasty.
The Medicinal Pills he refined were enough to raise Chen Ping's contribution ranking in Jubao Pavilion to the top three!
Inside the alley.
Several people watched Chen Ping's departing figure, their eyes almost spewing with jealousy.
"I didn't expect that fellow to pick up such a bargain!"
"Alas, why didn't we think that the shabbily dressed young man really knew Old Xue!"
"Bah! What a pretentious city lord's daughter!"
"Saying all this is useless!"
One person said bitterly, "Let's first think about what to do. Such a huge benefit can't be gained by him for free!"
"How about."
Another person's eyes flashed with a cold light.
"We..."
"This... what if Jubao Pavilion investigates?"
"Find more people, do it discreetly. This place is so far from the Royal Capital, they won't be able to investigate a thing!"
"Good, let's do that! But there are too many people here, let's wait until he leaves the city!"
...
Inside the Small Courtyard.
Dr. Xue sent Chen Ping away and sat quietly on the stone stool, gently caressing a piece of ancient-looking broken jade, his gaze dim.
"Senior."
Seeing this, Gu Han was a bit surprised.
"You are..."
"En?"
Dr. Xue suddenly snapped back, putting away the broken jade.
"This old man felt something and recalled some past events. As for the Seventh Prince..."
"He's fine now."
"That's good!"
Dr. Xue let out a long sigh of relief.
"In that case, this old man can leave with peace of mind."
"Grandpa Xue."
A Sha's face was full of reluctance.
"Are you leaving?"
"Indeed."
Dr. Xue stroked her head, his face full of reluctance and affection, "Back then, this old man fled to Great Qi due to a disaster and was saved by the Seventh Prince's mother. So I stayed here. It happened that the Seventh Prince suffered from cold poison, so this old man treated him. Unexpectedly, I stayed for twenty years."
"Now that his extreme cold illness is no longer a threat, this old man should go and do some things he wants to do."
Gu Han hesitated to speak.
From the broken jade just now, Dr. Xue also had some secrets, but he was unwilling to say more, so Gu Han naturally couldn't pry.
"Girl."
Dr. Xue thought for a moment, took off a storage ring, and gently placed it in A Sha's hand.
"Be careful, don't hurt yourself again."
"En."
A Sha nodded obediently.
"I remember!"
Seeing her expression, Dr. Xue felt a pang in his heart.
If she hadn't died...
She should be a few years older than this girl.
After calming his emotions slightly, he looked at Gu Han, "You're going to the Martial Academy?"
"En."
Gu Han nodded.
"The Dao of cultivation is endless. Tianwu City is too small. I want to see the outside world, and it's relatively easier to find those Spirit Medicine that can replenish Soul Power in the Royal Capital."
"That's good."
Dr. Xue smiled.
"Tianwu City is indeed too small for you, but the Royal Capital has intricate relationships, and the Martial Academy has many factions. You need to be careful in your actions."
"Thank you, Senior!"
Gu Han thanked him solemnly, then left with the reluctant A Sha.
"Royal Capital."
Dr. Xue gazed at Gu Han's retreating figure.
"I'm afraid even the entire Great Qi is still very small for you..."
...
In a flash.
Several days passed.
During this time.
Gu Han casually found an inn to stay in, healed his injuries, and then immediately left, preparing to head to the Royal Capital.
Along the way.
Everyone's gaze towards him had completely changed.
A month ago.
He was the Gu Family traitor, burdened with the evil reputation of patricide, hated by everyone!
A month later.
He was the first Genius of Tianwu City, who avenged his father and gained the appreciation of a noble from the Royal Capital, about to go to the Martial Academy!
Gu Han remained calm.
Having experienced various things.
His mind had also matured at an extremely fast pace.
...
At the city gate.
Gu Han happened to encounter Liu Yuan, who had just sent Liu Ying off and was returning to the city with several guards.
However.
Neither of them gave the other a second glance.
"City Lord."
Glancing at Gu Han's retreating figure, the guard captain quietly stepped forward, "This kid is too arrogant. Should this subordinate..."
"Do you want to die?"
Liu Yuan gave him a cold look.
"Do you really think Chief Steward Li's words that day were a joke? Our small Tianwu City cannot afford to offend him!"
A few days ago, after Liu Ying returned, she told him about her encounter, and he became even more convinced that Gu Han's relationship with the Seventh Prince was definitely not as simple as it seemed.
Even with resentment in his heart.
He didn't dare to lay a hand on Gu Han.
"Yes! This subordinate spoke out of turn, please punish me, City Lord!"
"No matter."
Liu Yuan sneered.
"He thinks that once he goes to the Martial Academy, his future will be bright? Heh heh, he can't even imagine the dangers of the Royal Capital!"
...
"Young Master."
A Sha looked back at the darkened city wall.
"Are we not coming back?"
"En."
Gu Han didn't look back.
With Gu Tian gone, there was no one left in Tianwu City worth his lingering.
"Let's go."
Glancing at the Great Qi map in his hand, he gently carried A Sha on his back and strode forward.
Before long.
The city wall behind them was no longer visible.
"En?"
Suddenly.
He stopped.
Ahead.
Several people stood there, loitering. Seeing Gu Han, they quickly gathered around, as if waiting specifically for him.