An Unexpected Visitor

Across the continent, the major sects restricted their members from going out, while the Two Great Empires poured resources into expanding their military forces.

Yet those who suffered were always the ordinary people who had failed to awaken Innate Soul Power. Along the way, Xu Mingxi and the six elders saw scenes far more desolate than before.

Abandoned farmland, deserted streets, and ruined houses inhabited only by hungry old people and children—Xu Mingxi took in every one of these scenes of devastation, yet there was nothing he could do.

He could not help everyone. He merely slipped a little dry rations into the hand of a child who had nearly bumped into him.

The elders had long grown accustomed to such sights. Commoners who had not awakened Innate Soul Power were far too vulnerable to danger. The slightest disturbance from above could utterly overturn their lives.

"Elders, let's go."

The elders nodded. It was rare for Xu Mingxi to leave the sect, and though this trip was meant to obtain a soul ring—

Besides hunting soul beasts, they also wanted Xu Mingxi to experience the scenery along the way. That, too, was a form of growth for him.

To avoid trouble, the seven of them traveled along country paths, through wilderness and barren forests. Only when they reached the town outside the Star Dou Great Forest did they finally see a trace of prosperity.

No matter how chaotic the times became, they could not dampen soul masters' enthusiasm for obtaining soul rings. The flesh, blood, and materials of certain soul beasts were even prized commodities sought after by nobles and skilled craftsmen alike.

"Mingxi, the sect's records of Moon Lake's location have long been incomplete. We need to find a guide here."

The Star Crown Sect did not lack money, but there were not many Soul Hunting Groups that dared venture into the core area.

The First Elder spent several days making inquiries in town. Many people had heard of Moon Lake, and some even knew its exact location, but no one dared accept the job, no matter how much the First Elder offered.

There was no point making money if one would not live long enough to spend it. Within the Star Dou Great Forest, people were more terrifying than soul beasts.

Just as the First Elder was considering buying a map and leading the group there himself, someone came to him of his own accord.

"I heard you want to go to Moon Lake?"

The First Elder looked at the middle-aged man before him curiously. He did not seem like someone desperately short of money.

The man had long black-and-green hair, and his gemstone-green eyes added greatly to his air of mystery. He wore a plain-looking gray robe and had a blank expression.

The First Elder could tell that although the robe looked simple, its material was anything but cheap.

"You know the place? What do you want?"

"I know it, and I know how to get there."

The man glanced into the private room. The First Elder understood what he meant, nodded, and invited him inside.

Someone who knew Moon Lake's location, was willing to go there, and had come to them voluntarily was certainly after more than just Gold Soul Coins. There were too many prying eyes outside; it was better to discuss matters properly in a private room.

The man followed the First Elder into the private room. Xu Mingxi and the other five examined the person the First Elder had brought in, remaining silent.

The man was likewise studying Xu Mingxi's group, but unfortunately, they were all dressed in black robes, leaving nothing to be seen.

"Go on. What do you want?"

"I want a medicinal treasure that can detoxify poison, or a Soul Bone."

His words shocked everyone present. A medicinal treasure was one thing, but a Soul Bone? It was a treasure so precious it could be called a river of blood. Was he not afraid of it burning his hands?

Detoxification? The First Elder's eyes shifted as though he had thought of something.

"With your appearance, what is your relationship with Dugu Bo?"

"To be honest with you all, I am Dugu Xin. Dugu Bo is my father."

Dugu Xin gave a bitter smile. A Soul Douluo who specialized in poison, yet his own son was about to be poisoned to death—it was truly laughable.

He had noticed the First Elder asking around about Moon Lake throughout the town earlier.

At first, he had not intended to pay any attention. But by coincidence, he saw the First Elder forcefully suppress someone who had been preparing to make a move in secret.

Dugu Xin knew that person. He was the Deputy Leader of the largest Soul Hunting Group active in town, a Soul Saint.

Inquiring about Moon Lake's location was most likely for the purpose of obtaining soul rings. Combined with that level of strength and the number of companions he had—

Dugu Xin felt that he could take a chance. It would be best if he could obtain a medicinal treasure, but if not, he could at least prepare a Soul Bone for Qing'er.

Father has already done too much for me, and he is poisoned as well. I cannot trouble him any further.

As if recalling his wife and father, a faint smile appeared on Dugu Xin's stiff face, only to vanish immediately.

"If you do not have a medicinal treasure, then any Soul Bone below two thousand years will do."

Two thousand years? That was not entirely out of the question.

A Soul Bone of that age would make little difference to any of those present, whether they had one or not.

Given the number of soul beasts available, Soul Bones from one or two thousand-year soul beasts were still fairly valuable, but the Star Crown Sect had quite a few in reserve.

The moment Xu Mingxi, who sat in the middle, heard that the man before them was Dugu Xin, he had wanted to urge his grandfather to agree.

That was the Yin-Yang—no, that was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

The Sunset Forest was so vast that finding its exact location would likely require Dugu Bo in the end.

At the very least, Xu Mingxi himself only knew that it was in the Sunset Forest. To claim that he still remembered the location described in the original work would be giving himself too much credit.

Xu Mingxi signaled with his eyes for his grandfather to agree. After having Dugu Xin leave for the time being, he pulled his grandfather over to sit down.

"Grandfather, Elders, I know why he wants a medicinal treasure for detoxification.

"I saw the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul in the sect's archives. Though powerful, the poison it produces can endanger its own wielder."

"Do you remember Dugu Xin's hair just now? He should already be deeply poisoned."

"Oh? Mingxi, what are you thinking?"

As the future pillar of the sect, Xu Mingxi having his own insights and ideas was exactly what the elders hoped to see.

If the Sect Master and elders could not hold the sect together, then the sect would inevitably be finished.

"I once read about a way to treat Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison. You force the poison into a soul bone.

"However, this method has a drawback. Once the soul bone absorbs the poison, it may never be passed down again."

Xu Mingxi directly spoke of what he remembered. Still, Tang San seemed to have given Dugu Bo some kind of medicine back then, and that was beyond what Xu Mingxi could recall.

"Grandfather, perhaps we can use this opportunity to establish ties with Dugu Bo. He should be close to advancing to Titled Douluo, right?"

The First Elder recalled the sect's intelligence. Dugu Bo had indeed been a Soul Douluo for quite some time.

He was not particularly old either, so he still had a chance of becoming a Titled Douluo. If they could gain the friendship of a Titled Douluo, then sacrificing a Two-Thousand-Year Soul Bone was nothing.

"Good, Mingxi. You will speak with him later."

Old men like them were already nearing the time to step back. In the end, the sect's future would still have to be entrusted to the younger generation.