Staring at Manager Li not far away, Gu Han's heart instantly tightened, and he subconsciously gripped the long sword in his hand.

Strong! Very strong!

This elderly man,  with a soft and eerie tone, gave him an extremely dangerous and utterly irresistible feeling!

He moved a step lightly.

A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.

In an instant, he blocked the entrance of the cave behind him.

There.

Ah-Sha was still asleep.

Since the battle with Gu Commander two days ago, Ah-Sha had been unusually asleep until now. Gu Han thought it was because she was too exhausted, so he simply carved out a cave here to let her rest well.

The aura of the Little Snake lingered.

Few people or demonic beasts dared to approach here, making it a relatively safe place for the time being.

As for that fruit.

Naturally, he had already picked it and eaten it.

However.

Although the fruit was miraculous and helped him successfully break through the Qi Condensation Stage, it only allowed him to step into the second level of Meridian Opening, far inferior to the venom of the Little Snake.

Thinking it over without any clue.

He could only attribute the reason to the liquid Spiritual Power in his body and the meridians that were far wider than ordinary people.

"Kid!"

Seeing Gu Han not speaking, Manager Li became a bit impatient.

"I asked you a question, where did that Fierce Sun Fruit go!"

Fierce Sun Fruit?

Is that the name of the fruit?

"I don't know."

Naturally, Gu Han wouldn't admit it.

"I haven't seen any Fierce Sun Fruit you're talking about."

"Sly kid!"

Manager Li raised an eyebrow.

"You dare to lie to me? If you haven't seen it, where did the aura of the Fierce Sun Fruit on you come from! Confess honestly!"

"……"

Gu Han was speechless.

Is this guy a dog?

He could even smell that?

"Hand over the fruit obediently, and if I'm in a good mood, there will be benefits for you. If you dare to talk nonsense again, hehe, I'll show you what I'm capable of!"

As he spoke.

A cold aura pressed down!

"You're too late."

Seeing him being so aggressive, Gu Han naturally understood that today's matter wouldn't end peacefully, so he simply stopped hiding and spoke the truth.

"The fruit is gone."

"What do you mean?"

"I ate it."

"What did you say!"

Manager Li screamed.

"Ate it? Kid, even arrogance has its limits! The Fierce Sun Fruit's effects are so potent that even those in the Yuan Gathering Realm must refine it carefully. With your mere Meridian Opening cultivation, can you withstand that violent firepower?"

"Believe it or not, I ate it!"

"Good, good, good!"

Manager Li sneered.

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, your mouth is tough, then don't blame me for bullying the weak and teaching you a lesson!"

With that said.

The cold aura instantly intensified several times!

Gu Han, as if facing a formidable enemy, gritted his teeth, and his cultivation level instantly operated at full force, with the Great Expansion Sword Qi ready to strike!

"Stop!"

Suddenly.

A stern shout came from afar, timely stopping Manager Li.

It was Doctor Xue.

"Manager Li!"

He approached with a slightly stern expression.

"What are you doing!"

"Old Xue, you don't know."

Manager Li glared fiercely at Gu Han and recounted the events.

"This kid has a bad temper, I had no choice…"

Opposite.

Gu Han looked at him coldly.

I have a bad temper?

You should look at your own behavior!

"Enough!"

Doctor Xue frowned deeply as he listened.

"This matter, you were reckless! He was here first, so the Fierce Sun Fruit rightfully belongs to him. If he doesn't want to give it, you can't forcibly take it, it's very inappropriate!"

"Yes!"

Manager Li quickly smiled apologetically.

"Old Xue's lesson is right, I was just worried about the Seventh Prince's safety and acted without thinking."

But in his heart, he didn't agree.

This Doctor Xue, everything is good, just too soft-hearted, a pushover.

"Young friend."

Doctor Xue pondered for a moment and looked at Gu Han.

"Although the Fierce Sun Fruit is precious, it is known for its firepower, and its medicinal power is not as great as imagined for improving cultivation. Moreover… given your cultivation level, this thing is just a chicken rib to you."

Known for its firepower?

Gu Han suddenly understood.

No wonder the fruit's enhancement was far below expectations; this was the reason.

"Young friend."

Doctor Xue continued, "This Fierce Sun Fruit is of great use to me. How about you let me have it? Rest assured, I won't let you suffer a loss and am willing to exchange it with equivalent cultivation resources!"

"……"

Gu Han actually regretted it a bit.

Ate it too early!

If he had kept the fruit until now, the cultivation resources he could exchange for might have pushed his cultivation to the third or even fourth level of Meridian Opening!

"Senior."

Doctor Xue's attitude was kind, not oppressive, so Gu Han naturally wouldn't respond coldly.

"It's not that I'm unwilling, but the fruit… I really ate it."

"Kid!"

Manager Li screamed again.

"You…"

"Enough!"

Doctor Xue looked at him displeasedly and shook his head.

"Since the young friend is unwilling, I won't force it. Manager Li, let's go."

"This… sigh, alright!"

Manager Li was somewhat unwilling, glaring fiercely at Gu Han again.

"Kid, don't let me see you again!"

Gu Han remained expressionless.

A threat?

He naturally wasn't afraid.

Although he had vaguely guessed Manager Li's identity from his tone and address, he didn't have much feeling for the Great Qi Dynasty's royal family.

Since childhood.

Gu Tian had taught him a principle.

A man stands between heaven and earth.

Respect, but do not fear!

"Young Master…"

At this moment.

A soft and weak voice came from behind, and Ah-Sha staggered out, still looking sleepy, as if two days and nights of rest hadn't replenished her energy.

"Ah-Sha?"

Gu Han's face lit up with joy, and he quickly supported her.

"You're awake? Don't move around, your foot is still injured!"

"Young Master, I'm so hungry…"

She had no cultivation to rely on, just an ordinary mortal body, and hadn't eaten or drunk for so long, naturally feeling weak.

"Hungry? Alright, I…"

"Young friend."

At this moment.

Doctor Xue's voice came again, but he had returned and walked up to Gu Han.

"Senior."

Gu Han's heart tightened, and he quickly shielded Ah-Sha behind him.

"The fruit, I really ate it!"

"It's not about that."

Doctor Xue smiled and took out a jade bottle from his storage ring.

"I see this young girl is seriously injured, this is a medicinal powder I concocted in my spare time, I'll give it to you."

"Thank you, senior!"

Gu Han breathed a sigh of relief and accepted the jade bottle without pretense.

Just by looking at the exquisite jade bottle, one could tell the preciousness of the medicinal powder inside, far superior to the ordinary medicinal pills he obtained from Gu Commander.

In the distance.

Manager Li's face was dark, wanting to explode but not daring to.

Hmph!

Lucky kid!

He actually encountered Doctor Xue, such a famous pushover in the Great Qi Dynasty, lucky him!

"Thank you, grandpa!"

Ah-Sha peeked out from behind Gu Han and weakly expressed her gratitude.

"Good, good!"

Hearing the word "grandpa," Doctor Xue seemed to think of something, his expression momentarily dazed.

"Little girl."

Retracting his thoughts, his eyes softened even more.

"You are well-mannered, this medicinal powder is not given in vain… huh?"

Mid-sentence.

His brows suddenly furrowed.

"Something's wrong!"

"Senior, what's wrong?" Gu Han's heart skipped a beat.

"It seems…"

Doctor Xue scrutinized Ah-Sha carefully and pondered for a moment.

"Girl, come here, let me take a look."

"Ah?"

Ah-Sha looked timidly at Gu Han.

"Young Master…"

"Go ahead."

Gu Han smiled, "This senior means no harm."

He naturally understood that whether it was Doctor Xue in front of him or Manager Li, their cultivation was unfathomable, far surpassing his. If they intended harm, they could act directly without resorting to tricks.

Doctor Xue's large hand slowly covered Ah-Sha's forehead.

A faint milky white halo flowed continuously.

After a while.

"Sigh…"

Doctor Xue withdrew his hand, looking at Ah-Sha with a bit of pity in his eyes.

"Poor girl."

"Senior."

Gu Han's heart tightened.

"What's wrong with Ah-Sha?"

"If I'm not mistaken, this girl should be suffering from the legendary Soul Deficiency Syndrome!"

"Soul Deficiency Syndrome? What's that?"

"The soul is the essence of a person, whether cultivator or mortal, the soul is tightly locked within, with no leakage. But those with a deficient soul are muddle-headed, slow-witted, and in severe cases, even show signs of idiocy…"

The more Gu Han listened, the colder his heart became.

It matched!

Everything matched!

Since he found Ah-Sha ten years ago, she had always been in this state of mental dullness.

"Ten years, huh?"

After listening to Gu Han's account.

Doctor Xue's frown deepened.

"According to records, those with Soul Deficiency Syndrome continuously lose soul force and can't live beyond three years, but this girl…"

Beside him.

Ah-Sha looked at him weakly, listening with a confused expression.

"Senior!"

Gu Han listened anxiously.

"Can you cure this Soul Deficiency Syndrome?"

"I'm not skilled enough…"

Gu Han's eyes dimmed.

His heart instantly sank to the bottom.

"However…"

Doctor Xue's next words reignited his hope!