Sunset Forest, Meeting Poison Douluo

Su He watched Bibi Dong's departing figure, then stopped lingering as well. After briefly greeting the three members of the Golden Generation, he left Spirit Hall Junior Spirit Master Academy.

It was already difficult for him to find a suitable opponent here. Even the fifth-year students, the highest-ranked in the junior academy, rarely possessed exceptional talent, and the strongest among them were only Level 22.

Moreover, spirit masters with ordinary martial souls faced immense pressure when confronting a genius Spirit Hall spirit master like Su He, who possessed a top-tier martial soul. There was no need for Su He to spar with them. Even the three members of the Golden Generation had been defeated when they joined forces against him. Su He could even apply to graduate early; there was little point in staying any longer.

Upon returning to his residence, Su He chose to claim the system mission reward.

As he felt one level of soul power instantly pour into his body, Su He immediately entered seclusion. He could not afford the slightest carelessness in refining his soul power. Every strand of soul power within him had to be condensed to the utmost limit.

This was also why Su He had opened such a vast gap between himself and spirit masters of the same rank. Many people pursued cultivation speed so relentlessly that their soul power became unstable and hollow, leaving them vulnerable to being defeated by opponents of higher rank. Su He would never allow such a thing to happen. While maintaining speed was important, ensuring quality mattered even more.

Besides, in terms of age, Su He had six more years of cultivation time than Tang San. As long as he made proper use of those six years, with his talent, Su He was confident that he could lead Spirit Hall to glory.

By then, when the Shrek Seven Monsters, deprived of Immortal Herbs, entered Spirit City having barely reached the Soul Ancestor rank, what would they think when they saw five—or even six—soul rings slowly rise around Su He?

Two months had already passed during his seclusion. Su He opened his door and bathed in the morning light.

"I wonder how Sister Xue'er is doing." Countless thoughts ran through Su He's mind. During this time, Pope Bibi Dong's moves had been anything but minor. Of the four Platinum Bishops, three had been replaced, while the Red Cardinals had also undergone a sweeping reshuffle. Those Spirit Hall members who had once been close to Qian Xunji were all reassigned to idle posts and removed.

A new ruler always brought in new officials—an eternal truth.

By now, Su He's soul power had become incomparably condensed. Even though the level of soul power granted by the system was already of exceptional quality, Su He was still not satisfied. Only when his overflowing soul power seemed about to burst through his meridians did he have no choice but to stop cultivating.

He headed toward the palace where his grandfather lived.

Since his teacher, Golden Crocodile Douluo, was still in seclusion, Su He chose to ask his grandfather to help him hunt for a soul ring. Mighty Lion Douluo was also greatly astonished by Su He's cultivation speed and the extraordinary quality of his soul power. Only after carefully examining him and confirming that his foundation remained sound did he burst into hearty laughter.

"As expected of my grandson! With talent like yours, surpassing this old man will be only a matter of time! Hahahahahaha!" Mighty Lion Douluo's hearty laughter showed just how proud he was of Su He.

"Grandfather, this time I want to go to Sunset Forest to obtain my soul ring," Su He suddenly said. "I've heard there are many Thousand-Year Soul Beasts there, and their quality is quite good. My martial soul, Mingming, tells me that Sunset Forest has something we need."

"That naturally won't be a problem." Mighty Lion Douluo did not press him for details and chose to heed Su He's suggestion. "Some martial souls do indeed possess treasure-seeking abilities. Your Fifth Grandfather's Radiant Feather Eye has an exceptional ability to appraise treasures."

Mighty Lion Douluo chose to trust Su He's explanation. He had no way to dispute the guidance given by a martial soul.

The two did not delay any further. That very afternoon, they set out for Sunset Forest, one of the three major soul beast gathering grounds, which was two days away.

That was right—Su He had deliberately come here to make a move on Dugu Bo's Medicine Nursery!

The world's treasures belonged to those capable of claiming them. Before Mighty Lion Douluo, a Level 97 Super Douluo, Dugu Bo—who had only recently broken through to become a Titled Douluo, had merely reached Level 91 soul power, and lacked offensive ability—seemed somewhat inadequate.

After two days and one night of grueling travel, the two arrived at the entrance to Sunset Forest!

"Grandfather, let's head straight for the central region. My martial soul says there's something there that it desperately needs!" Once again using his martial soul as an excuse, Su He began searching for Dugu Bo's residence—the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—based on the descriptions from the Original Work in his memories!

Mighty Lion Douluo suspected nothing. Grabbing Su He by the collar, he charged toward the central region.

A fiery-red figure leaped through the air at tremendous speed, continuously drawing closer to the heart of the forest.

Sunset Forest had no Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. A Level 97 Super Douluo was an invincible force here.

"Stop! Grandfather!" Su He suddenly shouted. He had spotted a patch of land they had flown over that was filled with green mist. Clearly, this was Jade Phosphor Douluo Dugu Bo's Poison Mist Barrier!

"This place is thick with poisonous mist. We shouldn't remain here for long," Mighty Lion Douluo said after they landed. "Fifth Spirit Skill, Blazing Flame Barrier!" A black soul ring instantly lit up. Mighty Lion Douluo activated his defensive barrier spirit skill, and the surrounding poisonous mist was burned to nothing before it could even approach them.

The two continued deeper inside. By then, the poisonous mist had dissipated, and a small cottage appeared before them.

After exchanging a glance, they put on masks. While keeping part of his attention on protecting Su He, Mighty Lion Douluo probed the cottage to see whether anyone was inside.

"Who goes there?" A furious shout suddenly rang out as Dugu Bo strode out of the cottage. "This is my residence. Why have you two come here?"

Unable to determine Mighty Lion Douluo's soul power level, Dugu Bo did not rashly attack. That decision also left him a way to survive today.

"Words are pointless." Mighty Lion Douluo had no intention of wasting time on this newly advanced Level 91 Titled Douluo. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—nine soul rings slowly rose beneath his feet as the Overbearing pressure of Level 97 soul power erupted forth.

This was Su He's first time witnessing his grandfather's oppressive presence. At that moment, he only wanted to say one thing: That was fucking cool!!!

Sensing the other man's strength, Dugu Bo did not dare act rashly.

"May I ask what brings you here, friend?" Dugu Bo asked. "If you are here to help your junior hunt a soul ring, then I will immediately open the Poison Mist Barrier."

"Dugu Bo, I'll give you ten breaths to choose: die, or join Spirit Hall." Mighty Lion Douluo could not be bothered to waste another word on him. The moment he learned that the man before him was Dugu Bo, he had removed his mask and crushed it to powder.

Clearly, Mighty Lion Douluo was confident that he had the ability to leave Dugu Bo here forever!

"Grandfather, what I'm looking for is inside that mist-covered area!" Su He said with certainty.