Soul King Dugu Yan

No outsider knew what Yu Yuanzhen and Dugu Bo had discussed. All anyone knew was that Yu Tianheng later went to Thunder Academy.

In the early morning, while many people were still asleep, they had already left the dormitory area.

At the edge of a secluded, tranquil grove on the back mountain behind Heaven Dou Academy's dormitories, three youths were fighting, while a handsome white-haired youth watched from the side.

Their fierce battle was a clash of flesh against flesh, and both sides fought to their hearts' content. Only one side was somewhat disgruntled—the ones getting beaten were them, so of course they were unhappy.

Over the past year, the four of them had usually come out to train together in the mornings and often sparred with one another. However, Oscar mostly watched from the side; only the Shi Brothers took the beatings.

Neither side used their Martial Souls. They were simply competing in physical strength and technique. Over the past year, Dugu Chen and the others had all improved tremendously.

After a period of intense fighting,

Shi Mo and Shi Mo slightly bent their knees, braced their hands against them, and panted as they admitted defeat.

Though they were fighting two against one, they were still the losing side. Only their exceptionally resilient mental fortitude kept them from giving up long ago.

The gap between the two of them and Dugu Chen was simply far too great.

"Brother Chen, I feel like your strength has increased again. Sometimes I wonder whether you're even human!" Shi Mo said.

Oscar and Shi Mo, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Dugu Chen calmly replied, "My fight with Yu Xiaolong yesterday gave me a small breakthrough, that's all."

The three of them rolled their eyes in unison. They wanted breakthroughs like that too!

Dugu Chen helped the two brothers over to a patch of level grass and slowly sat down.

The soft green grass felt extremely comfortable, making one want to simply lie down.

Looking at Oscar beside him, Dugu Chen said, "Oscar, your body can only be trained to this extent for now. Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll overload yourself. After fighting alongside us these past three months, you've gained plenty of combat experience. Your task now is to focus entirely on increasing your cultivation."

Oscar nodded after hearing this. Dugu Chen had personally arranged his training plan, and he trusted him completely. Thinking that he was only one step away from becoming a powerful Battle Soul Master, his heart burned with excitement.

"Rongrong, didn't I tell you they'd be here?"

As a crisp, pleasant voice rang out, Dugu Chen turned around and saw Dugu Yan approaching with Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling.

"Brother Chen, do you all get up this early to cultivate?"

Seeing the sweat stains on them and their rumpled clothes, Ning Rongrong asked in confusion. If Dugu Yan had not dragged her out of bed, she would still be dreaming at this hour!

"If you want strength, you have to put in twice the effort."

Oscar was the one who spoke. Only he himself knew how much he had sacrificed to gain strength.

Looking at Oscar's resolute expression, Ning Rongrong had not expected this pretty boy to say something like that.

Over the following period, the seven of them cultivated and studied together, developing excellent teamwork.

Two months later.

The outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Three figures appeared within this ancient forest, which had existed for countless years.

One of them was older, with gray-white hair and a faint smile on his face. He wore a casual dark-green robe, and his body stood tall and straight. A dangerous aura inadvertently radiated from the old man, driving away the surrounding Soul Beasts.

There was also a bright young girl of around sixteen or seventeen. Her expression was calm as she looked at the Soul Beast that had long since died on the ground.

The dead Soul Beast was a giant python, a full thirty meters long, its entire body emitting an emerald-like glow.

At that moment, a dazzling black Soul Ring floated above it. Its color was deep and dangerous, yet strangely mesmerizing.

However, the dark-red flaming spear embedded in the Soul Beast's body ruined that sense of beauty.

The youth at the side stepped forward, planted his foot on the giant python's body, and yanked out the spear. Instantly, a large amount of blood gushed from the python's fatal wound.

The youth seemed to have anticipated it. He slightly turned his head and avoided the spray of blood.

"This Emerald Demon Python is around fifteen thousand years old. It's perfectly suited for Senior Sister," the youth said.

"Junior Brother, you've worked hard. When we get back, Senior Sister will thank you properly." The girl smiled at the youth, then mischievously winked at him.

The three were Dugu Chen, Dugu Yan, and their personal bodyguard, Dugu Bo.

Half a month ago, Dugu Yan had broken through to Soul King. The three of them had searched for seven days before finally finding this Soul Beast.

Dugu Chen lightly coughed and reminded her, "Teacher and I will protect you. Just absorb it without worry. Be careful of the spiritual shock from the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring and hold fast to your mind. With Senior Sister's current strength, there won't be a problem."

"I'll trouble Grandpa and Junior Brother, then." Dugu Yan nodded and sat down cross-legged.

Elsewhere in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Three people were resting on a sandy bank near a stream.

They were Hu Liena and Xie Yue of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation. The two had successively broken through level forty, and Chrysanthemum Douluo had brought them to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Beasts.

"Elder Ju, thank you for bringing my brother and me here to hunt Soul Beasts," Hu Liena said to Chrysanthemum Douluo, who stood nearby in white robes.

"The Holy Maiden need not thank me. I am merely carrying out the Pope's orders." Chrysanthemum Douluo's somewhat effeminate voice rang out.

"No matter what, my sister and I will remember Elder's kindness." The cold Xie Yue spoke from the side.

Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded in satisfaction. Being respected like this truly put him in a pleasant mood.

After a while, the three set out again, heading in the direction of Dugu Chen's group.

"Hmm—"

Dugu Bo, who was standing guard, sensed an aura no weaker than his own approaching and immediately moved in front of Dugu Yan.

"Chen'er, be careful. Someone is coming."

Dugu Chen came to Dugu Bo's side and secretly went on guard.

"Old Poison, I never thought I'd run into you here." A familiar voice sounded, and Dugu Bo's expression abruptly changed.

"Ju Hua Guan, do I need to report my whereabouts to you?" Dugu Bo sneered.

Chrysanthemum Douluo, clad in white, appeared before Dugu Chen together with Hu Liena and Xie Yue.

Dugu Bo stared intently at Chrysanthemum Douluo, not daring to act rashly. As fellow Titled Douluo, the instant their auras came into contact, they locked onto each other. If either made a move, they would immediately draw the other's fierce assault.

At their level, once one fell into a disadvantage, turning the situation around was harder than climbing to the heavens.

Moreover, his granddaughter was at a crucial point in absorbing her Soul Ring, so Dugu Bo would not act lightly.

"Old Poison, your mouth is still as irritating as ever!" The effeminate voice carried an added note of cold severity.

"Ju Hua Guan, you know the situation perfectly well. Leave now. If anything happens to my granddaughter, I guarantee Spirit Hall won't have a day of peace." Dugu Bo's words overflowed with killing intent.

For the sake of his granddaughter, he would not care in the slightest about anyone else's life or death.