Chapter 106: The Dungeon
Just as Wen Xingguo was about to make a move, Zhu Han stretched out her little hand to stop him, her face serious as she said, “Wait, bad uncle…”
Wen Xingguo was stunned, and truly paused his action.
Zhu Han continued, “Master said, you’re not going to be his underling, but mine. How about it? If you become my underling, I’ll give you the best steamed corn bread my mom makes.”
Pfft!
Wen Xingguo spat blood again in frustration, roaring, “One steamed corn bread and you want me to be your underling?”
Zhu Han pouted, displeased. “Isn’t one enough? Fine, I’ll give you two, but no more than that!”
Pfft!
Wen Xingguo collapsed, admitting defeat.
Gu Feng gave Zhu Han a thumbs-up, praising, “Well done.”
Seizing the moment, Zhu Han said, “Master, isn’t Hanhan amazing?” Then she fixed her big eyes on Gu Feng, waiting for praise.
Gu Feng smiled warmly, “Hanhan is amazing. Even a Grand Spirit Master got beaten down by Hanhan. How could she not be?”
Zhu Han sensed an opportunity and pressed on, “Really, Master? Then will you reward Hanhan?”
Gu Feng sighed, aware the main point had finally arrived.
“Of course I’ll reward Hanhan. What would you like?”
Zhu Han’s eyes locked onto the large iron pot in Gu Feng’s hand. “Master, I want this big iron pot.”
Gu Feng was momentarily taken aback, then said with disbelief, “Hanhan, what will you do with that big iron pot?”
With excitement and yearning, Zhu Han answered, “Master, just give me this pot. I want to use it to hit bad guys. You used it just now to hit bad guys, it looked so cool!”
Pfft!
Hearing this, Wen Xingguo spat blood again, utterly overwhelmed and frustrated, feeling that all his grievances in life were culminating right here—and yet he was powerless.
Wen Xingguo, who had cultivated to Grand Spirit Master level three, was no fool; he could see through Gu Feng’s game. From start to finish, Gu Feng had never been serious.
Gu Feng laughed, patting Zhu Han’s head. “Alright, the big iron pot is yours. Take it!”
Zhu Han excitedly took the iron pot, but with a loud thud, it dropped to the ground.
“Wow! It’s so heavy, Master! Hanhan can’t lift it.”
Her eyes shone with a pitiful look that made it hard not to help her.
Gu Feng laughed until tears came to his eyes. She was a clever little treasure. Before, she was just talkative; now that they were familiar, she was showing her true self.
He exchanged a low-grade spirit stone for ten portions of Vitality Pills and handed one to Zhu Han. “Take this and cultivate with the method I taught you. Soon, you’ll be able to lift it.”
Long Xue’er peered curiously at the powder in Gu Feng’s hand. “Is this the powdered form of Vitality Pills?”
Her curiosity about Gu Feng grew stronger.
Gu Feng nodded, “You could say that.”
Zhu Han happily swallowed a portion of the powder. Without even sitting cross-legged, she began to circulate her cultivation method while standing.
In the blink of an eye, a surge of aura flickered around her.
Everyone was stunned.
“Warrior level one now.”
“Ding! Your disciple has reached level one. Reward: a beginner set of equipment (exclusive to disciples).”
From a distance, Wen Xingguo, who had been planning to sneak away, stopped in his tracks, his body trembling as he turned to look at Zhu Han.
Zhu Han swallowed another dose of the powder and continued cultivating.
Within ten breaths, another aura flashed.
“Warrior level two.”
Miao Yun stared at her daughter in amazement. Was it innate martial talent? Or was it Gu Feng’s cultivation method and pills that were miraculous?
No matter which, Miao Yun knew her daughter’s future achievements would be immeasurable.
Unversed in martial arts himself, Uncle Zhu still sensed from everyone’s shock that his daughter was extraordinary. He puffed out his chest with pride.
Zhu Han then took three doses in a row, reaching warrior level five, after which the effect plateaued—warrior level five was a significant threshold.
“Ding! Your disciple has reached level five. Reward: beginner weapon, a Water Demon Staff.”
“What’s a Water Demon Staff?”
“It’s a weapon for mages. Your disciple is sensitive to water-type talent; she’s a natural-born mage, though she can also be a battle mage.”
“What kind of profession is mage?”
“There’s no such profession in the Great Wilderness.”
Zhu Han consumed the remaining powders and finally reached warrior level six.
She opened her eyes excitedly and grabbed the big iron pot again.
“Wow! Master, I can lift the big iron pot now!”
Gu Feng prepared to exchange a Vitality Pill worth one spirit stone for Zhu Han.
“Ding! Your disciple has reached the growth limit. She needs thirty days of consolidation time and cannot level up further. It’s recommended to learn martial skills or magic.”
“My disciple is a natural mage, right? Then magic it is!”
“Ding! Basic magic: Rising Mist. Level one magic: Water Orb. Level three magic: Water Arrow. Level five magic: Water Column.”
“Disciple, since you’re already a level six martial artist, come, I’ll teach you some skills.”
“Wow! Master, can I learn skills now? I want to learn some really powerful ones.”
Gu Feng sighed. “Guaranteed to be powerful.”
The system taught simply and quickly, ensuring mastery.
Of course, personal understanding was crucial. For example, that cultivation method was detailed, but if Zhu Han were too slow-witted, she wouldn’t learn.
Zhu Han eagerly and expectantly leaned her head toward Gu Feng. “Master, come on!”
Long Xue’er burst out laughing at the sight.
Gu Feng pointed a finger at Zhu Han’s forehead and transmitted the incantation for the Rising Mist technique.
“Wow! Rising Mist, Master, I learned it!”
“Learned it?” Everyone was astonished except Gu Feng. So fast?
“Master, I’ll show you.”
Zhu Han began chanting the incantation: “Water spirit immersed in heaven and earth, hear my prayer, touch my heart’s voice. I am your sincerest companion, transform into mist and nourish all things.”
“Rising Mist!”
While everyone wondered what Zhu Han was doing, white mist suddenly rose from the ground, faint at first, then thickening, enveloping a five-meter radius.
“This is truly a martial skill. No, this isn’t martial skill—it’s sorcery!” Wen Xingguo shouted in shock, his eyes locked on Gu Feng, since everything Zhu Han did was learned from him.
Zhu Han’s spiritual energy was limited; under the blazing sun, the mist quickly dissipated.
Proudly, Zhu Han looked at Wen Xingguo. “See? I’m amazing, right? Becoming my underling won’t be a hardship for you.”
Gu Feng scolded her, “Be serious, you haven’t finished learning yet.”
He then taught Zhu Han Water Orb, Water Arrow, and Water Column.
As Zhu Han learned the spells, her brow sometimes furrowed, sometimes lit up. Half an hour later, she had mastered them all.
Surprisingly, Wen Xingguo didn’t leave. Instead, he watched with anticipation as Zhu Han learned.
“Master, Hanhan has learned them all! Let me show you!”
The phrase “old man” made Gu Feng roll his eyes.
Long Xue’er chuckled quietly beside him.
Gu Feng frowned at her, “What are you laughing at? You’re an elder too, or is it Hanhan’s master?”
Long Xue’er immediately stopped laughing and shot Gu Feng a glare.
Zhu Han finished chanting the Water Orb incantation. Under everyone’s astonished gazes, she conjured a water orb in her hand.
Dragging the orb, she looked at Wen Xingguo. “Bad uncle, your face got dirty when the pot hit you. Let me wash it for you!”
With that, she dashed toward Wen Xingguo, surprisingly fast.
Wen Xingguo could have dodged but thought better of it and let the orb hit him, soaking him thoroughly.
“Wow! So powerful! Water Orb is that strong! Bad uncle, try Water Arrow next.”
In no time, Zhu Han completed the Water Arrow spell.
A shimmering arrow of water glinted coldly, reflecting a rainbow of colors in the sunlight.
Gu Feng stopped Zhu Han, “Try hitting that little tree with the Water Arrow.”
Pouting but not refusing, Zhu Han shouted, “Go, Water Arrow!”
Whoosh!
Splat!
The water arrow left a small hole in the tree, the remaining water losing its piercing power and falling as droplets.
“Wow! Master, Hanhan is amazing! What about Water Column?”
Zhu Han then performed Water Column, blasting up a large stone the size of a big bowl.
Gu Feng praised, “Not bad, but this is just the beginning. These are low-level spells with little damage. Also, you must learn to complete the incantations instantly—instant casting, understand?”
Zhu Han nodded, half-understanding.
Gu Feng said to the others, “That’s about enough. Shall we set off?”
Wen Xingguo suddenly shouted, “Wait!” Then glancing at Gu Feng, he walked toward Zhu Han. “You wanted me to be your underling? I agree.”
“Wow! Really? Bad uncle!”
“Really.”
Gu Feng smiled. “Good eye.”