Within the valley, Gu He stepped out of the cave with a radiant expression.

  Having attaihe Emperor Realm, he now ranked among the empire's elite. Finally, he possessed a measure of self-defense. With a thought, his crimson wings spread behind him.

  Taking a light step, Gu He asded from the ground and headed towards the valley's exit.

  "Oh?"

  "Why is this girl here?"

  At that moment, Gu He caught sight of a white-robed figure gradually approag the valley from outside.

  It was Xiao Yi Xian. A smile pyed on his lips as Gu He desded toward her.

  "It's been ten days..." "I wonder wheeacher will emerge from seclusion."

  Outside the valley, Xiao Yi Xian made her way toward it at a leisurely pace. Ever since Gu He had entered seclusion, she visited this valley every other day.

  Today marked her fifth visit. "Hopefully, nothing ued occurs." Watg the valley's dire, a hint of appeared in Xiao Yi Xian's lovely eyes.

  She had heard many stories of powerful cultivators losing trol during their breakthroughs.

  Thus, the prolonged seclusion of her teacher gave rise to some anxious thoughts. "Teacher, please don't lose trol... You still owe me a meeting gift." Xiao Yi Xian murmured.

  "My obedient disciple, what ift do you desire?" Suddenly, a gentle voice resounded.

  "Ah!"

  The sudden sound startled Xiao Yi Xia when she saw the white-robed figure beside her, a joyful expressihtened her lovely face.

  "Master, you've ended your seclusion?" Speaking swiftly, Xiao Yi Xian hasteo Gu He's side, linking her arm with his and excimed with a tender voice, "Master, why did you seclude yourself for so long? Your disciple was truly worried..."

  "Hehe." Gu He gently tousled Xiao Yi Xian's hair with a refined air and chuckled softly, "This time, I've successfully broken through to the Dou Emperor Realm. It took just ten days; that's sidered quite swift."

  Gu He remembered vividly that in the inal story, Xiao Yan had spent a whole year in this valley before successfully breaking through to the Dou Emperor Realm.

  Of course, that was due to his protagonist's aura, allowing him to achieve the breakthrough within a year.

  For an ordinary person, even secluding themselves for several years might not guarantee a smooth breakthrough.

  "Dou Emperor Realm?" "Master, did you seclude yourself this time to break through to the Dou Emperor Realm?"

  Hearing Gu He's words, Xiao Yi Xian widened her eyes in astonishment, gazing at him with surprise. "Yes, I'm now a Dou Emperor Realm expert. From now on, in the Jia Ma Empire, I walk with fidence."

  Gu He smoothed Xiao Yi Xian's long hair and chuckled softly. With his status as a Sixth-Rank Alchemist and the strength of a Dou Emperor, no one would dare offend him in the Jia Ma Empire.

  Perhaps, his title in the Jia Ma Empire would ge from Alchemist King Gu He to Alchemist Emperu He.

  "Dou Emperor Realm... Master is actually a Dou Emperor Realm expert..." Excitement shimmered in Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes. Gu He's breakthrough to the Dou Emperor Realm naturally brought her joy. As his direct disciple, his increasing strength meant her own growth in status and position.

  "My dear disciple, have you been sg off tely? Have you diligently practised what I taught you?" At this moment, Gu He remembered something and pyfully inquired of Xiao Yi Xian.

  They had a good retionship before his seclusion, and he had pns to assess her progress afterwards.

  "Master, I don't even have an alchemy cauldron, how I practice..." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian's voice held a tinge of aggrieved se.

  "Uh..."

  Upon hearing her words, Gu He appeared somewhat dazed, then a hint of embarrassment appeared.

  "I fot to give you an alchemy cauldron."

  "But the cauldron I use might not be suitable for you."

  Gu He used the Crimson Serpent Cauldron, a four-mouthed cauldron that Xiao Yi Xian's current strength couldn't utilize. Moreover, in Qing Shan Town, alchemists were scarce, and alchemy cauldrons were even scarcer.

  Realizing this, Gu He softly said to Xiao Yi Xian, "My obedient disciple, let's return to Yun Laomorrow. There, whatever you need, I arrange for you."

  "Returning to Yun La..." Xiao Yi Xian's expression shifted slightly. After a brief hesitation, she nodded slowly. Although leaving Qing Shan Town was a bit hard for her, her passion for alchemy meant she had to apany Gu He to Yun La.

  After all, she was now Gu He's disciple, and he held an honorary elder position in Yun La.

  In a sense, Xiao Yi Xian was now a disciple of Yun La. Seeing her agreement, Gu He smiled and said, "The's go pack our things. We'll leave Qing Shan Town early tomorrow m."

  Saying this, Gu He lifted Xiao Yi Xian's petite form and soared into the sky.

  "Master, before we depart Qing Shan Town, there's a pce I'd like to visit." As they flew over the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Rahin the void, Xiao Yi Xian suddenly had a thought and addressed Gu He.

  "ce?" Gu He asked casually upon hearing her words. "It's a cave left behind by a senior. There should be some treasures hidden inside."

  Excitement shimmered in Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes, "Master, let's go on a treasure hunt."

  "Cave exploration?" Upon hearing Xiao Yi Xian's words, a thought crossed Gu He's mind.

  Could it be the cave that Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan had visited in the inal story?

  Gu He recalled that within that cave, there seemed to be a remnant image of the Purifying Lotus Fme.

  That was a valuable item!

  "Alright." With this thought, Gu He o the Xiao Yi Xian in his arms and responded, "Where is this cave?"

  "It's over there." Xiao Yi Xiaended her delicate hand, pointing in a dire. Following the dire pointed by Xiao Yi Xian, Gu He's wings behind him trembled slightly. He then accelerated, flying directly toward it.