The Elephant Armored Sect's Expectations, Dugu Bo's Medicine Garden

White Elephant City lay in a remote region, but it was still somewhat famous across the Douluo Continent.

This was because it was home to the Elephant Armored Sect, one of the Seven Great Sects. It was said that White Elephant City had also been named after the first sect master of the Elephant Armored Sect.

Today, the Elephant Armored Sect was decorated with lanterns and banners, filled with an atmosphere of celebration.

Ten chairs stood in the Elephant Armored Sect's council hall. Everyone seated there appeared rather old, with even the youngest looking to be around forty.

Yet they were all exceptionally tall and vigorous. They were the elders of the Elephant Armored Sect, the foundation upon which the sect stood.

"By my reckoning, the Sect Master and the others should be back soon."

A bald man with his upper body bare looked at the youngest man and said, "This time, the Sect Master went to Spirit City and reached an agreement with Your Excellency the Pope."

"With Spirit Hall's help, the future development of our Elephant Armored Sect will be bright indeed."

Another elderly man with a goatee spoke in agreement. He was none other than the Elephant Armored Sect's First Elder.

"Indeed. The Sect Master's Soul Power Level has already reached level 89. If he advances one more step and becomes a Titled Douluo, then with Spirit Hall's assistance, it will be time for our Elephant Armored Sect to move up in the rankings."

The only woman in the hall was the Elephant Armored Sect's Fourth Elder.

Like the other elders, despite being a woman, she had no delicate figure. Broad-backed and thick-waisted, she smiled and said, "Not merely move up a little."

"I believe that with Spirit Hall's help, it will only be a matter of time before the Sect Master breaks through to become a Titled Douluo."

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Three Upper Sects, has only one Titled Douluo."

"Reporting to the elders, Hu Yan Li has returned," a sect disciple reported.

"What are you waiting for? Bring him in at once."

"That brat Hu Yan Zhen must have sent his son ahead to report the good news while he lingers behind, waiting for us to welcome him."

"As he should. Sect Master Hu Yan has made this cooperation possible, so we elders ought to show our appreciation."

"Indeed. Hu Yan Zhen has proven his capabilities. In the future, we should interfere less with the sect's affairs and leave them entirely to him."

As they spoke, Hu Yan Li had already entered.

But when they saw Hu Yan Li's bloodshot eyes and utterly distraught appearance, their expressions changed.

"Li'er, what happened? Did you neglect your cultivation again and get beaten by your grandfather?"

"Let me tell you, your grandfather did it for your own good. You will be the one leading the sect in the future, so you must never slack off."

The female Fourth Elder asked anxiously, "Hu Yan Li, where is your grandfather?"

At once, Hu Yan Li burst into tears. "Elders, Grandfather was killed."

What?

The elders had never expected this.

Sunset Forest, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes.

After Dugu Bo discovered that this place was rich in spiritual energy and that the Spirit Medicines planted here grew better than those outside, he set up a barrier around the area to prevent soul beasts from damaging them.

Looking at the Spirit Medicines covering the ground, Dugu Bo was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

This place had helped him tremendously.

Especially that spring, which was extraordinarily special. The two extreme attributes of ice and fire intertwined within it, helping Dugu Bo suppress the deadly poison in his body.

Dugu Yan looked at the Spirit Medicines on the ground, half of which had already been dug up, and said regretfully, "Grandfather, these are all the fruits of your many years of labor. Are you really going to dig them all up?"

"Yan'er, only things that can help us grow stronger are what we truly need."

"Absorbing that Heaven Restoring Pill not only detoxified you, but also raised your Soul Power. Its benefits are far greater than those of these Spirit Medicines. This deal can only make us money, never lose it."

After returning from the Auction Pavilion, Dugu Bo seemed as though he had been injected with boundless energy. He swore that he would bid for treasures at the next auction and rid himself of the title of weakest Titled Douluo.

Sure enough, the moment he heard there would be a second auction, Dugu Bo hurriedly brought Dugu Yan to the medicine garden to dig up spirit herbs as bargaining chips for the next auction.

Dugu Yan could not help but marvel at the Auction Pavilion's magic. It had caused her grandfather's attitude to take a complete turn.

One had to know that her grandfather had spent his entire life among poisons, dedicated to studying every kind of poison and antidote.

This medicine garden was her grandfather's treasure. Whenever he had brought her here before, he had repeatedly warned her to be careful and not damage the Spirit Medicines.

She still remembered that when she was young, she had picked one flower out of mischief. Her grandfather had flown into such a rage that he beat her until her bottom blossomed.

Yet now, he was enthusiastically digging up every Spirit Medicine he had spent years cultivating, roots and all.

"Grandfather, aren't you digging up too much? One Heaven Restoring Pill costs seventy thousand Auction Points. What you've dug up is enough to buy several," Dugu Yan said, pushing Dugu Bo's shoulder.

"Little girl, what do you know?" Dugu Bo squatted on the ground without turning around, raising his shovel to dig up another Spirit Medicine.

"At the last auction, I was too conservative and brought too few Spirit Medicines. Otherwise, we could have fought for that Battle Armor—Sage's Blessing."

"At this second auction, I must bring enough bargaining chips—Auction Points, soul bones, Battle Armor, and the like."

"Perhaps then your grandfather can even strive for a higher Soul Power Level."

Dugu Yan thought for a moment before saying seriously, "Grandfather, but you saw it too. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Spirit Hall, and other great sects will be attending the auction. Can we really have more money than them?"

"What if we dig up all these Spirit Medicines but still fail to bid for suitable soul bones or Battle Armor?"

"Yan'er, you have a point." The disappointment on Dugu Bo's face vanished in an instant, replaced by renewed fighting spirit. "But we still have to dig them up. Only by digging them up do we have a chance. If we do not, we will not even have a chance."

"Yan'er, help me dig too." As he spoke, Dugu Bo took another shovel from his Soul Tool and handed it over.

"Alright." Dugu Yan rolled up her sleeves. I may not know how to grow Spirit Medicines, but do I not know how to dig them up?

"Yan'er, don't dig up those unknown Spirit Medicines by the spring," Dugu Bo instructed.

"Why not?" Dugu Yan asked in confusion. "You're digging up everything you painstakingly planted. Those unknown spirit herbs grew on their own, so it would be a waste not to dig them up."

"Yan'er." Dugu Bo spoke earnestly. "Although I do not recognize those spirit herbs, the fragrance they emit is even richer and more concentrated."

"I estimate that they may be more valuable than the ones I planted. Once I consult the ancient texts and find information on them, we can decide what to do."

"I understand, Grandfather."

Time flowed like water. From dawn to dusk, it was nothing more than the sun rising and setting.

The fiery clouds dyed the horizon red, and a crimson glow shrouded the land. The area around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes was also bathed in scarlet. Just as Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan stretched lazily, having finally dug up all the Spirit Medicines after a hard day's work—

Within Sunset Forest, a dark figure was rapidly weaving through the trees, continuously drawing closer to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes.

PS:

I actually tested positive...

Is the second wave about to begin?

Is everyone doing alright?