Early the next morning.
At first light, Xuan Hao greeted Gui Mei in the shadows, saying only that he had some personal business to attend to over the next few days. Gui Mei did not need to follow or worry; he could stand by at the hotel or return to Spirit Hall for tea.
Although Gui Mei was somewhat uneasy, he thought of this little troublemaker's bellyful of devious ideas and his ability to hoodwink even a Titled Douluo into limping along, and let him go.
Xuan Hao treasured his life and would never gamble with it. Otherwise, he would not have fled Spirit City outright for fear that Bibi Dong would tear him into eight pieces.
After settling matters with his "bodyguard," Xuan Hao took Na'er straight to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Dugu Yan had already been waiting at the academy gates for some time. When the two arrived, she wasted no words and led them along the trail through the hills behind the academy to meet Dugu Bo, who was already waiting there.
"Let's go."
Dugu Bo glanced at Xuan Hao, swept his wide sleeve, and stirred up a surge of soul power, carrying them swiftly out of sight into the morning mist.
Sunset Forest.
Although it was not as vast as Star Dou Great Forest, its vegetation was dense, and venomous insects and ferocious beasts abounded.
After more than half a day of trekking, they finally reached the forest's innermost region.
Ahead, an eerie emerald-green poisonous miasma shrouded the entire mountain like a natural barrier. Not a blade of grass grew around it, and white bones lay in heaps.
"Stop."
Dugu Bo raised a hand to halt them, then took two pills from inside his robe and handed them to Xuan Hao and Na'er.
"Hold these