The Gravely Wounded Titled Douluo

The edges were filled with towering trees, their trunks rising straight toward the sky, their feather-like branches and leaves clustered around the treetops, dotting the entire forest like stars.

This was the Star Dou Great Forest, the strongest soul beast territory on the Douluo Continent.

The three of them planned to cross the forest's outer region and head for Gengxin City.

With Dugu Bo's intimidating presence, the soul beasts in the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest sensibly cleared a path for the three of them.

"What's wrong, Yan Yan Jie? You've seemed so listless On the Road."

"I don't understand. How could you let that crooked merchant go?" Dugu Yan was quite puzzled. Provoking a Titled Douluo could be a major or minor matter, but Ning Rongrong had brushed it off so lightly, which was strange.

She said she would send people to monitor him, but in reality, she had no intention of doing so at all.

"It doesn't matter. He's just Flender." Knowing what Dugu Yan was thinking, Ning Rongrong smiled. "That stuff about having the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan backing him is all fake."

"Among the Golden Iron Triangle, there really is someone from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Oh, that's Yu Tianheng's uncle—a man named Yu Xiaogang."

"However, because of his Martial Soul mutation, he'll probably never be able to break through Level 29 and become a Soul Elder in his entire life."

"Yu Xiaogang, the theoretical Grandmaster?"

Dugu Bo also recalled Yu Xiaogang, whom the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had called useless.

"Grandpa, you know him?" Dugu Yan looked up at Dugu Bo, who was pinching his chin in thought.

"Yeah! He seems to have some title like theoretical Grandmaster. He's pretty famous, though I don't know whether he actually has any learning."

"Still, I also find the origin of his theoretical Grandmaster title rather strange. It seems like he didn't do anything, yet his reputation suddenly spread."

"Spirit Hall, perhaps!" Ning Rongrong chimed in. "Things like the Ten Core Theories—the first ones to recognize them were Spirit Hall."

"Huh, then he must have some real ability?" Spirit Hall was such a colossal force. Any theory recognized by Spirit Hall seemed far from simple!

Whether Yu Xiaogang was Level 29 or not, being recognized by Spirit Hall proved his capability.

After all, even the rankings of the Upper Three Sects had been recognized by Spirit Hall.

That showed just how credible Spirit Hall was.

"Who knows about that?" Ning Rongrong shrugged.

As for Yu Xiaogang, Ning Rongrong could not be said to bear him any malice, nor did she hold any goodwill toward him.

He was a stranger. If he had not had some sordid connection with Pope Bibi Dong, who would care about him?

He called himself a theoretical Grandmaster, yet he did not even know about the soul shock of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

On the other hand, he knew more about secrets such as godhood, Sea God Island, the Angel Martial Soul, and so on.

How he came by that knowledge... those who understood, understood.

As for the Ten Theories he proposed, opinions differed.

Most transmigrators believed that he had plagiarized others' achievements and claimed them as his own.

Still, it could not be said that there was nothing worthwhile about them.

Breaking the knowledge monopoly of the clans and Spirit Hall could be considered a contribution.

Thinking of this, Ning Rongrong looked at Dugu Yan and said, "Don't worry about Yu Xiaogang. At most, his theories are useful to commoner soul masters. For us, they're all things we already know."

"Compared to that, I care more about the title Golden Iron Triangle."

"Golden Iron Triangle?" Dugu Yan looked surprised.

"The Three-in-One Martial Soul Fusion Skill is extremely rare. The Golden Iron Triangle earned its name through that Martial Soul Fusion Skill," Ning Rongrong said.

"That's also why I didn't have Senior Dugu make a move and simply let the matter pass. Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill is very special."

"Isn't Yu Xiaogang only Level 29? It might still be able to rival a Titled Douluo."

"Even though Yu Xiaogang, the main force, is weak, the Martial Soul Fusion Skill formed by the three of them has reached the level of a Soul Douluo."

"I don't understand." Dugu Yan shook her head. She had heard of Martial Soul Fusion Skills, but what did that have to do with Ning Rongrong letting them go?

"Yan Yan Jie, let me put it this way. The Golden Iron Triangle have a very good relationship, which is why they produced a Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

"Then does my Dad, Ning Fengzhi, have a bad relationship with his two personal elders?"

"By keeping Flender around, perhaps we can refer to their Martial Soul Fusion Skill in the future."

One had to know that in the future of the Douluo Continent, two Level 99 Titled Douluo had achieved the great feat of sealing a Level 1 god for three days.

Although they had paid with their lives, it also demonstrated the power of Martial Soul Fusion Skills.

Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo could form a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Forget about paying with their lives—under normal circumstances, sealing a Level 3 god should be possible, right?

Hoping father becomes a dragon—wasn't that quite interesting?

Still, research into Martial Soul Fusion Skills could wait for a while.

For now, she would first develop Soul Tools. Gengxin City was the goal.

"So that's how it is!" After hearing Ning Rongrong's explanation, Dugu Yan's mouth twitched slightly.

Why did such a tiny little thing always have so many strange ideas?

Having skipped over the question of whether to kill Flender, the three continued onward through the Star Dou Great Forest.

Ning Rongrong knew far more about the Star Dou Great Forest than Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan did.

There was Di Tian, comparable to Level 99 Qian Daoliu, and the Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena, a First Level God recuperating from her injuries.

Besides them, there were also many Soul Beasts far beyond one hundred thousand years old.

If not for their wariness of the God Realm, the entire continent would likely have been under the pressure of the Soul Beasts.

But now...

Those Soul Beasts beyond one hundred thousand years old should still have been absorbing the energy of some silkworm baby.

Only two watchdogs had been left behind to guard the place.

Following the map in his hand, the three crossed the Star Dou Great Forest without incident.

Just when they were only a day or two away from leaving the forest...

"Roar~"

Like a sound rising from the abyss of hell, it sent chills down their spines. The roar was deep and hoarse, carrying boundless pressure, like a sinister wind howling through a mountain valley.

"W-what was that?" Dugu Yan's entire body broke out in goosebumps. That sound seemed capable of devouring one's soul, filling her with an indescribable fear and despair.

Dugu Bo summoned his Martial Soul. The aura of a Titled Douluo spread out without restraint, and he released a Soul Power barrier, slightly weakening that highly penetrating sound that shook the soul.

"That sound... could it be..." Ning Rongrong's expression changed slightly. "Senior Dugu, we need to leave this place quickly, or we may not be able to escape!"

Ning Rongrong's anxious tone startled Dugu Bo.

Could it be that Ning Rongrong knew what kind of Soul Beast it was?

Dugu Bo did not ask further. He immediately wrapped Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong in Soul Power and rushed toward the edge of the forest at top speed.

After running for some time, they no longer sensed that malicious presence.

Dugu Bo could not help asking, "What exactly was that just now...?"

Before he could finish, rustling sounds came from deep within the forest.

The snapping of branches mixed in from time to time, as though some creature was charging wildly through the woods.

Dugu Bo hurriedly stopped and warily scanned their surroundings.

The sound was getting closer!

A figure shot out like an out-of-control meteor.

His clothes had been shredded by broken branches, leaving scar after scar across his body. Like a spray of blood mist, he crashed heavily to the ground some ten meters away from the three.

"Puh—"

The man spat out a mouthful of blood and immediately fainted.

The nine Soul Rings surrounding him—two yellow, three purple, and four black, symbolizing a Titled Douluo—rapidly vanished as well.

"A Titled Douluo?" There was still a faint trace of life in him, but without treatment, he would likely be finished.

However, Dugu Bo was even more concerned about what could have severely injured a Level 91 Titled Douluo.

"Roar—"

The nightmare-like tiger's roar sounded again, growing ever closer.