Bone Douluo Heavily Injured, Dugu Bo's Death Exposed

Two days later.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Council Hall.

A refined, elegant middle-aged man with a face like polished jade sat upright in the sect master's seat. It was Ning Fengzhi.

On either side below him, Sword Douluo Chen Xin sat as still as a pine, while Bone Douluo Gu Rong emanated a deep, steady aura.

"Reporting to Sect Master, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

A young man bowed as he made his report.

"Qinghe is here? Let him in at once."

"Yes."

Before long, Xue Qinghe strode calmly into the hall.

"Teacher." He respectfully performed a disciple's salute, then turned to the Two Title Douluo. "Greetings, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo."

The Sword and Bone Douluo gave slight nods in return.

"No need for such formality, Qinghe." Ning Fengzhi smiled warmly. "What brings you here today?"

"Teacher, this is what happened..."

Xue Qinghe's expression grew several shades more solemn as he slowly explained the purpose of his visit.

Ning Fengzhi pondered in silence. Naturally, he knew about Dugu Bo's disappearance.

Yet in his mind, this matter brought more benefits than drawbacks to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Having lost its only Title Douluo retainer, the Heaven Dou imperial family would inevitably have to rely even more heavily on his sect.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's standing within the Heaven Dou Empire would rise accordingly.

But since Xue Qinghe had come personally to ask for help, as his teacher, Ning Fengzhi could not conveniently refuse, whether by sentiment or reason.

"Since that is the case..." Ning Fengzhi looked toward Bone Douluo. "I'll have to trouble Uncle Gu with making a trip."

"Thank you, Teacher. Thank you, Bone Douluo." Xue Qinghe bowed in gratitude.

Gu Rong gave a slight nod and slowly rose to his feet.

The Bone Dragon Martial Soul appeared. Ripples spread through the space before him, forming a spatial passage. Gu Rong stepped into it, and with a flash of light, his figure vanished from the hall.

"Qinghe, rest in the sect for now. Uncle Gu will return shortly."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Teacher."

Outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

A wave of spatial fluctuations quietly spread as Gu Rong stepped out of the void.

"This poisonous miasma really seems to be that old poison freak's handiwork..." he thought to himself. "Could he truly be inside?"

Gu Rong stared at the poisonous miasma before him, his brows slightly furrowed. The poisonous fog was clearly mixed with Jade Phosphorous Serpent venom.

Gu Rong did not dwell on it further. Another Space Rift tore open before him, and his body slipped inside.

Inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Ji Xuan was currently tempering his body in the middle of the spring.

Golden Crocodile Douluo was cultivating in the distance when he suddenly sensed the Soul Power fluctuations of a level ninety-five Title Douluo.

His eyes snapped open, his gaze shooting toward the mountaintop like lightning.

Golden Crocodile immediately rose to his feet. The Golden Crocodile King Martial Soul appeared behind him, nine soul rings circling beneath his feet as his figure vanished from the spot in an instant.

Above the mountaintop.

Gu Rong had just stepped out of the spatial passage and was still surprised to find that this place was actually a hidden valley when a chill suddenly shot from his spine to the top of his head!

"Not good!"

Gu Rong's pupils contracted sharply. A golden streak of light shot into the sky from the valley floor, moving at an incomprehensible speed!

"This... Martial Soul, and a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring! It's that one from Spirit Hall!"

Without hesitation, Gu Rong mobilized his Soul Power to construct a spatial passage...

Just as half his body entered the passage, the golden streak had already arrived behind him.

Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly lashed out, clawing at Gu Rong!

"Pfft—"

Gu Rong was struck as though by a heavy blow, violently spitting out a mouthful of blood. A claw wound deep enough to expose bone appeared across his back.

Borrowing the force of that impact, he forcibly completed the spatial traversal and vanished from the mountaintop.

"Hmph, he ran fast enough."

Golden Crocodile Douluo's figure emerged. As he watched the spatial fluctuations gradually settle, the cold gleam in his eyes had yet to fade.

Golden Crocodile Douluo withdrew his gaze, his Soul Power gradually subsiding as he returned to the bottom of the valley.

Sensing the disturbance, Ji Xuan rose from the spring as well, droplets of water sliding down his well-defined body.

Ji Xuan stepped ashore and asked in confusion, "Martial Uncle Golden Crocodile, what was that just now?"

"It was Bone Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. His martial soul is rather strange, and he actually managed to escape."

Golden Crocodile frowned slightly. "He should have seen my martial soul. It seems Dugu Bo's matter can no longer be kept hidden."

Ji Xuan shook his head slightly. "It doesn't matter. It would be exposed sooner or later anyway."

"Besides, both the Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will be enemies of Spirit Hall in the future."

"So what if they learn the truth? Before absolute strength, such forces are nothing more than chickens and dogs."

A cold gleam flashed in Ji Xuan's eyes as he continued, "Once we bring these Immortal Herbs back to the Worship Hall, Spirit Hall's overall strength will surely undergo a transformation."

"By then, those who know what is good for them may yet be spared. But if they insist on opposing Spirit Hall..."

The corners of Ji Xuan's lips curved upward. After a brief pause, his voice turned cold. "Then we'll simply cut them down with a single sword strike."

Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded, approval showing in his eyes.

Ji Xuan's decisive, ruthless nature suited his tastes perfectly. His big brother, Qian Daoliu, was simply far too rigid.

Inside the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe were conversing.

Suddenly, a spatial passage appeared within the hall.

"Uncle Gu has returned."

Ning Fengzhi looked toward the ripples spreading through space in the hall and rose with a smile to greet him.

Xue Qinghe rose as well, a trace of barely perceptible surprise flashing deep within his eyes.

Gu Rong had actually escaped from Grandfather Golden Crocodile's grasp...

"No, Old Bone's aura..."

At that moment, Chen Xin abruptly stood up. His usually placid face was now tightly furrowed.

The spatial passage shook violently as Gu Rong staggered out, a savage claw wound on his back so deep that bone was visible.

Blood had soaked the clothes on his back red, and his aura was extremely weak.

Chen Xin hurried forward and supported Gu Rong, urgently asking, "Old Bone, what exactly happened? Who injured you so badly?!"

"Cough... cough. It was... Spirit Hall's Golden Crocodile."

Gu Rong was still deeply shaken. If not for the considerable distance between him and Golden Crocodile Douluo, he would never have had time to escape. Golden Crocodile's strength was simply too terrifying...

"Spirit Hall?!" Ning Fengzhi's expression became exceedingly grave. "Uncle Gu, what exactly happened?"

"At the time..."

Gu Rong slowly recounted what had happened earlier.

With every sentence he spoke, Ning Fengzhi's expression grew more solemn.

When Gu Rong finished, Ning Fengzhi said heavily, "It seems... Dugu Bo truly was likely killed by Spirit Hall."

Ning Fengzhi turned his gaze toward Chen Xin. "Uncle Jian, take Uncle Gu to heal first."

After Chen Xin and Gu Rong left the hall, Xue Qinghe stepped forward at the appropriate moment, his face showing just the right amount of shock and anger.

"Spirit Hall actually dared to attack an imperial consecrated official! Teacher, I will return at once and report this matter to Father Emperor."

"Go." Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly.

"This student takes his leave."

Xue Qinghe gave a solemn salute. As he turned and departed, his pace carried just the right degree of urgency.

After Xue Qinghe left, Ning Fengzhi stood alone in the hall.

A moment later, he instructed the guards outside, "Pass down the order."

"From today onward, all disciples outside the sect are to exercise twice the usual caution and closely monitor Spirit Hall's movements."

"Yes."

After a moment, Ning Fengzhi let out a soft sigh and muttered to himself, "A storm is coming..."