The three traveled by carriage to Sunset Forest, arriving at their destination more than half a month later.
Led by Lin Zhiruo, Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er entered Sunset Forest.
It lay roughly two hundred li east of Heaven Dou City, with springlike weather all year round and a pleasant climate.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, scattering mottled patches of light and shadow and draping this vast forest in a golden cloak.
The air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers and the rich scent of earth, occasionally mingled with the roars of unknown beasts, adding an air of mystery and wildness.
"Xiao Han, hurry up and find whatever herbs you need. Once you've found them, we'll leave."
"Okay. There aren't any on the outskirts. Let's head toward the Forest Center and take a look."
"Honestly, I don't know what to do with you. I'm not bringing you here next time."
Although Sunset Forest was home to quite a few Soul Beasts, not many had cultivation levels above ten thousand years.
Lin Zhiruo possessed Soul Saint-level strength and could fly at tremendous speed. Even taking two children into the Forest Center, she had nothing to worry about.
The three moved through the forest, encountering many Soul Beasts along the way.
Lin Zhiruo's powerful aura kept those thousand-year Soul Beasts from daring to approach carelessly.
The few Soul Beasts that tried to come closer were all driven away by her.
"Xiao Han, are you done gathering your herbs yet?"
"Mom, stop rushing me. Who knows when we'll come here again? Let me pick a few more."
Xiao Han picked several herbs and carefully placed them into his Soul Tool.
Those herbs did have some use, but compared to Immortal Herbs, they were hardly worth mentioning.
The three drew closer and closer to the Forest Center, and they could feel the temperature changing.
"Xiao Han, it seems to be getting hotter. Let's stop here. It's time for us to head back."
"Mom, can we go just a little farther? There might be a surprise ahead."
Xiao Han had a powerful feeling that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was not far from here.
Seeing that Lin Zhiruo was somewhat angry, Shui Bing'er said:
"Dean Lin, we've already come this far. Let's accompany Xiao Han a little farther."
"Fine, I'll listen to you."
Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er exchanged smiles and gave her grateful looks.
The three continued toward the Forest Center.
As they walked, a pungent smell suddenly wafted over from ahead.
"Xiao Han, don't go any farther!"
Lin Zhiruo grabbed Xiao Han with one hand and Shui Bing'er with the other, instantly retreating a hundred meters.
"That strange smell just now seemed to be poison."
Xiao Han had smelled it too, and a sense of foreboding immediately rose in his heart. Could it be the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison Array Dugu Bo had set up? Had he already discovered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?
Lin Zhiruo frowned deeply, as though she had realized something, and immediately grew tense.
"Xiao Han, Bing'er, this place is dangerous. Let's go."
Just as they were about to leave, an invisible force instantly enveloped all three of them.
Even though Lin Zhiruo wanted to resist, she could not move in the slightest.
A ghostly dark-green figure slowly emerged from the depths of the dense woods. Every step he took seemed to fall upon an invisible rhythm, while the air around him faintly distorted from the Soul Power surging within his body.
Cold light flickered in his deep-set eyes.
"Who are you people? How dare you trespass on my territory!"
His voice was low and raspy, carrying unquestionable authority.
Though Xiao Han could not make out his face clearly, he knew that this man was Dugu Bo.
He had not expected him to discover the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well so early.
Lin Zhiruo's expression turned grave as she recognized the man as Dugu Bo, the Poison Douluo.
She knew full well that Dugu Bo's strength was unfathomable, and his Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison was unrivaled under heaven. One wrong move could lead to eternal damnation.
Lin Zhiruo forced herself to remain calm, trying to defuse the potential crisis with words.
"Senior Dugu, I am Lin Zhiruo, Vice Dean of Skywater Academy. We meant no offense. We merely wandered in here by mistake, and I hope you can forgive us."
"Skywater Academy?"
Dugu Bo gave Lin Zhiruo a cold glance. Sensing the icy aura around her, he knew she was not lying.
Many years ago, Dugu Bo had met Dean Zhao of Skywater Academy, though they had not been familiar with each other.
"What are you doing here?"
"We came to look for Soul Beasts."
Before Lin Zhiruo could answer, Xiao Han spoke first.
He knew Dugu Bo was highly suspicious. If Dugu Bo learned at this moment that they had come seeking herbs, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Yes, we came to look for Soul Beasts."
Lin Zhiruo knew Xiao Han had always been clever. Since he said so, he must have had his reasons, so she followed his lead.
Dugu Bo glanced at Xiao Han, figuring that the boy would not dare lie to him.
How could he have known that this six-year-old boy was coveting his herb garden?
"The poison array ahead was laid down by me. Even Soul Beasts with ten thousand years of cultivation do not dare approach it lightly. If these two children enter the poison array, they will surely die. This is not a place you should be. Leave at once."
"Thank you for the warning, Senior. We'll leave immediately."
The moment Lin Zhiruo finished speaking, Dugu Bo had vanished. His speed was simply too fast.
"Xiao Han, Bing'er, let's go!"
Lin Zhiruo took Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er and flew directly out of Sunset Forest.
After landing, the three were still shaken.
Shui Bing'er asked:
"Dean Lin, who was that old man just now?"
"He was Dugu Bo, the Poison Douluo."
"So he was a Titled Douluo. No wonder he was so powerful."
"Dugu Bo is reclusive and prefers to be alone. His poison is unrivaled under heaven. I've heard his methods are ruthless, which is why he has made many enemies."
Thinking back on what had just happened, Xiao Han still felt lingering fear, along with some guilt.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I was the one who led you into danger."
"Xiao Han, you don't need to blame yourself. It was only an accident. We have no grudge against Dugu Bo. Dean Zhao even introduced me to him before. Even if he doesn't remember me, once he knows we're from Skywater Academy, he won't make things difficult for us."
"Mm."
Only then did Xiao Han feel a little better.
However, this experience only intensified his desire to obtain the Immortal Herbs.
"By the way, Xiao Han, why did you say we had come to look for Soul Beasts?"
"Mom, don't you find it strange? Dugu Bo set up a poison array in the Forest Center, as if he were deliberately guarding something. Neither people nor Soul Beasts can get close to that poison array. I guessed there might be something extremely valuable inside, perhaps rare flowers or exotic plants. If he found out we came to gather herbs, he might develop murderous intent."
After hearing Xiao Han's explanation, Lin Zhiruo felt a chill run down her spine as she considered it carefully.
"Xiao Han, you're so young, yet you've thought things through so thoroughly. Put that cleverness into cultivation, and don't take risks again."
"Mm, I understand."
A few days later, the three returned to Skywater Academy.
Lin Zhiruo told Dean Zhao about everything the three of them had experienced in Ice Sealed Forest and Sunset Forest.
After listening, Dean Zhao felt relieved.
"I never expected you to run into Dugu Bo. Fortunately, it was only a false alarm. Xiao Han and Bing'er are the future hope of Skywater Academy. At the Soul Master Tournament ten years from now, they will certainly rise to prominence and shine brilliantly."
Before you continue