Crippling Dugu Bo, Learning the Location of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well

Ye Zhou left with the soul bone. Watching his departing figure, Xue Ye's expression gradually turned cold.

"That brat was so reluctant when he agreed before, yet once he received the soul bone, he became so confident and eager!" Xue Ye said coldly.

"Indeed. I had thought he was a lad loyal to the royal family. I was even glad at the time that I had snatched him away from Spirit Hall. Who would have thought that after joining the Maoshan Sect and becoming its Young Sect Master, he would no longer be of one mind with our royal family? He insists on benefits before he is willing to help with anything," Prince Xue Xing said indignantly.

Qian Renxue escorted Ye Zhou for part of the way. When she returned and saw that both Xue Ye and Prince Xue Xing looked displeased, she asked why. Learning that they were both dissatisfied with Ye Zhou, she was delighted inwardly, though she showed no joy on her face. She explained on Ye Zhou's behalf, "Junior Ye is still young and does not understand matters of the military and state. He merely feels that Mr. Dugu caused trouble himself, yet we have to clean up after him, so he thinks it is not worth it. That is understandable."

Upon hearing Qian Renxue mention that Dugu Bo had brought this upon himself, Xue Ye and Prince Xue Xing both let out heavy sighs. Wasn't that exactly the case?

Their resentment toward Dugu Bo deepened even further.

Still, as they had said, no matter how much they cursed him in their hearts, they still had to save him!

"Qinghe, keep an eye on this. Coordinate the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Maoshan Sect properly. When the time comes, pressure Spirit Hall together and make them release him," Xue Ye instructed Qian Renxue.

"Yes, Father," Qian Renxue replied with a bow.

Elsewhere, at the Maoshan Sect.

Ye Zhou returned and learned that Shi Jian was in secluded cultivation, so he did not disturb him.

Looking at the thirty-thousand-year Phantom Spirit Cat Right Leg Bone on the table before him, Ye Zhou reached out and stroked it, feeling the abundant Soul Power contained within. He nodded.

If I absorb it, my Soul Power might break through to over level thirty. Even if I still need to absorb a soul ring to advance, the compressed Soul Power will not be lost. It is just... its age is still a little too low, and its soul skill is not particularly good. With that thought, Ye Zhou put it away.

Rather than immediately going to win over Shi Jian as he had promised Xue Ye, Ye Zhou stood and gave Yue Buqun an order.

Having received his assignment, Yue Buqun bowed and withdrew.

That night, a person entirely shrouded in a cloak arrived at the Maoshan Sect's residence.

He pulled back the cloak, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in magnificent robes but still sporting an unkempt beard. It was none other than Yan Chixia, Spirit Hall's Sword-wielding Elder.

"Swordsman Yan, I have actually wanted to tell you this for a long time. Your Spirit Hall elder robes look really impressive. They are much better-looking than what you wore before." Ye Zhou gave Yan Chixia a thumbs-up.

"Hmph, clothing is merely an external thing. Whether I dress well or poorly, I am still myself. Speak. Why did you call me here?" Yan Chixia snorted, then sat down without ceremony and poured himself a cup of tea.

"It is about Dugu Bo. Today..." Sitting opposite Yan Chixia, Ye Zhou told him how Xue Ye had summoned him, given him a soul bone, and asked him to find a way to persuade Shi Jian to join him in pressuring Spirit Hall, all in an attempt to save Dugu Bo.

After hearing this, Yan Chixia muttered, "I knew the Heaven Dou Royal Family would not simply watch Dugu Bo fall into danger. But Dugu Bo attacked Yue Guan. If I just release him like this, I will have a hard time explaining it within Spirit Hall."

"I never said Swordsman Yan should simply release him. Here is what I think: since the Heaven Dou Royal Family wants to pressure you into releasing him, we can take the chance to demand compensation from them—or simply give them a crippled Dugu Bo," Ye Zhou said.

"A crippled one? You mean for me to cripple Dugu Bo's Soul Power?"

"Exactly. I have thought it over carefully. Dugu Bo's existence is a threat to us. Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo cannot remain in Heaven Dou City forever. Ghostly and Yue Guan more or less listen to you as well. Counting it all up, Dugu Bo is the only one outside our control.

"Even the weakest Titled Douluo is still a Titled Douluo. Moreover, his poison is far too lethal to low-level soul masters. Without a reason, it would be difficult for us to attack him without alerting others. Now that we have a legitimate reason, and you have already captured him, Spirit Hall can openly cripple his Soul Power in the name of avenging Yue Guan. Once he becomes useless, the Heaven Dou Royal Family will have no one to rely on but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Maoshan Sect."

Ye Zhou explained his reasoning to Yan Chixia.

Yan Chixia frowned slightly. "That is not impossible. Given Dugu Bo's actions, crippling his Soul Power would already be showing him mercy. To be honest, before I came here, Yue Guan was still shouting that Dugu Bo should be executed."

"Heh, Chrysanthemum Douluo truly hates him. There is one more matter, Swordsman Yan. Could you find a way to interrogate Dugu Bo and ask him for the location of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well? That would save me from spending offerings to summon a map," Ye Zhou said with a smile.

"I already interrogated him. I questioned him indirectly, asking whether he knew where to find certain medicinal herbs, but his mouth was tight and he refused to say anything. As for me... I could not bring myself to torture him, so I let the matter go. But for some reason, Yue Guan learned about it. He voluntarily interrogated Dugu Bo for me and even used his granddaughter as leverage. In the end, Dugu Bo had no choice but to mark out a location." Yan Chixia took out a piece of parchment from his robes and handed it to Ye Zhou.

"The place you want to go is here."

A map!

Ye Zhou accepted the parchment, unfolded it, and memorized the location.

"Great, we are going to strike it rich this time." Ye Zhou said excitedly.

Then, with a somewhat serious expression, he asked Yan Chixia, "Chrysanthemum Douluo knows this location too. Will he...?"

"No. He does not think Dugu Bo's herb garden is anything remarkable." Yan Chixia shook his head.

"Even so, just in case, we should secure the Immortal Herbs as soon as possible. That way, we can rest easy. Later, we can find an opportunity to compensate Chrysanthemum Douluo as well, as a reward for his efforts in the interrogation," Ye Zhou said.

"Fine. Should I accompany you, or should Shi Jian?" Yan Chixia asked.

"Uncle Jian is in secluded cultivation. It would be safer for Swordsman Yan to return to the Martial Soul Holy Hall. Daoist Qian He will be back soon, so let him accompany me," Ye Zhou said after thinking it over.

"Fine. Then be careful of the Poison Array Dugu Bo left there. I will be going back first." Yan Chixia set down his cup and stood.

"Mm, we will be careful. Take care, Swordsman Yan." Ye Zhou rose and clasped his hands.

"Mm." Yan Chixia nodded, wrapped himself in his cloak once more, and vanished with a flash.

Not long after Yan Chixia left, Daoist Qian He returned to the sect. He had already instructed He Shen regarding the acquisition of Blue Tyrant Academy.

After returning to Maoshan and learning from Ye Zhou about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he did not even have time to sit down and rest before taking Ye Zhou out again, racing toward Sunset Forest.