Dugu Bo Visits

Qian Renxue wasted no time on pleasantries. She stepped forward quickly, her fair and slender fingers gripping Duanmu Ci's forearm directly.

Her force carried an undeniable urgency, her voice lowered to a near whisper, filled with earnestness and helplessness:

"Brother Ci! How many times must I say it—call me Qinghe! If it weren't a dire emergency, would I dare disturb your teaching plans?"

Duanmu Ci's heart twitched inwardly.

Thankfully, he knew this skin was hiding a woman's body; otherwise, having a grown man grab his arm like this...

He feared he'd have slapped a Rasengan right in their face.

Suppressing his discomfort, he forced patience into his tone: "Brother Qinghe, what exactly is the matter?"

Qian Renxue glanced around warily, confirming Nasha and the others were far enough away, then leaned in abruptly. Her warm breath nearly brushed Duanmu Ci's ear as her words tumbled out like rapid fire:

"The 'Jinchuriki' project is stuck on the sealing—extremely unstable. All test subjects exploded. His Majesty... is waiting to see 'possibility.' The pressure is crushing.

Brother Ci, I must beg you to come in person and guide us through this." Her voice carried a thread of anxiety.

"Sealing Jutsu is profound and vast. How long has it been? Rushing growth will only backfire." Duanmu Ci frowned slightly.

The core of his improved "Spirit Beast Jinchuriki" model lay in absorbing the beast's vast soul power the instant it was killed, then stabilizing it into a human body with the Uzumaki Clan's advanced sealing techniques.

"Do you think I don't know that?" Qian Renxue's voice sharpened with urgency, "But His Majesty... needs to see 'hope'—a 'hope' that can convince him to invest massive resources. Time.

Brother Ci, we have no time." As for which "His Majesty" she meant—Xue Ye or the one in Martial Soul City—Duanmu Ci saw through it like a mirror.

'So Martial Soul Hall's hunger for this "Jinchuriki" is about to burn through the roof...' Duanmu Ci sneered inwardly.

If they could safely bestow the power of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast onto a Titled Douluo, the qualitative leap in Martial Soul Hall's high-end combat strength would be enough to overturn the continent's balance.

At that point, all this lurking and infiltration would lose meaning. Overwhelming Thunder—unified by force—would be the only option.

Bibi Dong's ambition was being catalyzed at breakneck speed by this plan.

"Want to see results? Where are the test subjects? You're not just talking empty words, are you?" Duanmu Ci cut to the chase, his tone indifferent.

Qian Renxue's eyes flashed with sharp light. Without hesitation, she raised her hand in a signal.

Shua!

The air seemed to twist under an invisible force. A tall, imposing figure tore through space itself, appearing beside Qian Renxue without warning.

This man stood over two meters tall, clad in an ancient-style golden battle armor. His pale blue eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and his entire being radiated a restrained yet immensely heavy soul power fluctuation.

He simply stood there, and the pressure of a Titled Douluo began to seep faintly into the surroundings.

"Brother Ci," Qian Renxue introduced solemnly, her voice carrying the weight of entrusting a great task, "This is the hidden powerhouse of our Heaven Dou Empire's Worship Hall, Lord She Long. A ninety-third-level Assault System Titled Douluo, title: Snake Lance.

After deep deliberation, His Majesty has decided that Lord She Long will bear the power of the first Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

This is the empire's utmost secret, the cornerstone of our future. Brother Ci... everything rests on you." She stared at Duanmu Ci with burning intensity, filled with trust and expectation.

'Snake Lance Douluo She Long?' Duanmu Ci understood instantly.

A Martial Soul Hall elder, Qian Renxue's direct guard—the "unlucky one" from the original story who was killed by Yang Wudi despite the level gap.

His strength was indeed at the bottom among Titled Douluo, but as the first test subject to bear a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's power, he barely qualified—provided the seal was stable enough.

Qian Renxue gripped Duanmu Ci's arm again, pulling herself closer.

Her face bore a sincerity that seemed to bare her soul, her lowered voice dripping with "trust" and "risk":

"Brother Ci! Lord She Long's identity is one of the empire's highest secrets.

Introducing him to you today has already risked everything on my part.

This matter must be handled with utmost caution—never a word leaked.

For the empire's future, for our shared aspirations... everything depends on you, Brother Ci." Her eyes were earnest, as if she were entrusting her very life to Duanmu Ci.

Feeling the force on his arm and her proximity, Duanmu Ci's face remained impassive, but his mind was crystal clear.

'Playing the act to the hilt... This "Heaven Dou Empire Worship Hall" routine comes so easily to her lips.'

Still, since Martial Soul Hall was so desperate for 'results,' he might as well play along.

After all, he was curious too—just how much power could this 'Douluo version Jinchuriki' unleash...

"Alright, alright, my lips are sealed, don't worry." Duanmu Ci waved a hand. "A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast—do you have a target?"

"Naturally!" Qian Renxue's eyes gleamed.

"Deep in the inner region of the Star Dou Great Forest, an Azure Python that just crossed the hundred-thousand-year threshold. Its movements are under constant surveillance by our elites."

"Star Dou Great Forest? Inner region? No way!" Duanmu Ci waved his hands hastily, his tone firm.

He'd just snatched Tianmeng from their lair, and now he was supposed to wander near the crime scene?

He was confident in his increased strength, but not arrogant.

Di Tian, Bear Lord...

That place held more than just a few ferocious beasts.

If the Shadow Clone followed along, that would be fine too, but if Qian Renxue, this "Crown Prince," ran into trouble deep in the Star Dou Forest, Qian Daoliu would probably go mad, and he might end up following in Tang Hao's footsteps, starting a career of "hide-and-seek across the Douluo Continent."

"Right, right, right! Big Brother is wise! We can't go! That place is terrifying! Bear Lord will tear me into pieces and eat me as a snack!"

In his mind, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm screamed in terror, its snow-white body trembling and curling into a ball in the sea of spirit.

"Do you even need to say it? I'm guessing the entire core circle is digging three feet deep looking for me right now." Duanmu Ci shot back irritably through his mental power.

Qian Renxue clearly misunderstood him: "Don't panic, Brother Ci! This trip isn't just Lord She Long alone! There are also powerful reinforcements coming along, and I will personally oversee it! Your safety is absolutely guaranteed!"

Her tone was firm, and in her heart, she was counting on the two trump cards sent by her grandfather, Qian Daoliu—the Worship Hall's Qian Jun and Falling Devil, both peak-level ninety-sixth-rank Douluo! With the Coiling Dragon Staff in hand, the brothers working together could briefly contend with a ninety-eighth-rank powerhouse when unleashing their Martial Soul Fusion Skill!

With them and Snake Lance Douluo, plus Duanmu Ci's own strength... in her view, this trip had manageable risks and huge rewards.

"Change the location! Sunset Forest! A seventy- or eighty-thousand-year one will do for now!" Duanmu Ci was unmoved, his attitude resolute. "Or... you guys go and drag that big serpent out for me!"

"Why?" Qian Renxue frowned sharply, her piercing gaze as if trying to see through Duanmu Ci.

His stubborn resistance was too abnormal; it was definitely not just about "fearing danger."

"Brother Ci, what exactly are you worried about? Just say it! Within the Heaven Dou Empire, or even across the continent, I'm confident there aren't many troubles I can't solve!" She stepped forward, her aura pressing, her words exuding absolute confidence and a tone that brooked no refusal.

The Pope's daughter, the Grand Supporter's granddaughter, the Angel God's heir... she had that confidence!

Duanmu Ci was forced into a corner by her. Can you solve it? Can you shove Di Tian back to sleep? Can you pretend the Silver Dragon King doesn't exist?

He grumbled inwardly but couldn't say it out loud. Seeing Qian Renxue's stance of "you're not leaving until you explain," his mind raced, and he finally relented:

"Forget it!" He flipped his wrist, and a seemingly ordinary green jade pendant appeared in his palm. Its texture was warm and smooth, with faint energy flowing inside.

"You go ahead first. Keep an eye on that Azure Python. When Lord She Long is about to start absorbing at the critical moment—" He handed the jade pendant to Qian Renxue. "Crush it. I'll teleport over immediately." This was his Shadow Clone.

This was the safest plan he could think of after weighing the pros and cons: he only needed to appear during the final sealing step, for a very short time.

Activate the maximum-range Mental Probe for early warning. Once he sensed the aura of a core circle beast approaching, he'd immediately activate Kamui and roll everyone out!

"Big Brother! Are we... really going?" Tian Meng wailed in the mental sea, his voice tinged with tears.

"Shut up! Big Brother knows what he's doing!"

"Alright... alright... Big Brother, you have to be fast! If something feels off, we run immediately!" Tian Meng agreed with sobs, curling up even smaller.

"Good!" A faint, barely noticeable glint flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes. Without hesitation, she took the jade pendant, her fingertips brushing over its smooth surface, and carefully stored it away.

"I'll do as Brother Ci says! This matter, I leave to you!" She gave Duanmu Ci a deep look, her gaze complex—part satisfaction at achieving her goal, part curiosity about the real reason behind his "caution."

Duanmu Ci waved his hand, signaling she could leave. Qian Renxue said no more, turned, and disappeared quickly into the depths of the corridor with Snake Lance Douluo.

"Brother Mu, what did the Crown Prince want with you? So mysterious." Nasha sidled up, her big eyes full of curiosity.

"Nothing much, just asking about some Soul Tools." Duanmu Ci brushed it off casually, his mind already far away. He steadied himself and refocused on the lesson in front of him.