First Encounter with Dugu Bo

Dugu Bo descended from the sky and blocked the group's path.

Seeing the figure suddenly appear before her, Qian Renxue froze for a moment. Then she stepped out from behind the guards' protection and bowed to the old man. "Qinghe greets Your Excellency Poison Douluo. May I ask what brings you here?"

Dugu Bo first glanced at Su Yu before turning to Qian Renxue. "I was merely passing through. Seeing His Highness the Crown Prince, I became rather curious. The dignified Crown Prince actually accompanied a six-year-old child to Sunset Forest to obtain a soul ring..."

Seeing the teasing smile on Dugu Bo's face, Qian Renxue maintained a calm expression. "Your Excellency jests. Let me introduce him. His name is Su Yu. He possesses level nine Innate Soul Power, and his martial soul is a Brass Book."

"Su Yu, this is Senior Dugu Bo. His title is Poison, and he is an imperial consecrated."

In truth, even without Qian Renxue's introduction, Su Yu could have recognized him.

After all, even from far away, that pungent, fishy stench could reach Su Yu's nose.

Su Yu stepped forward to Qian Renxue's side and bowed. "Junior Su Yu greets Your Excellency Poison Douluo."

Dugu Bo nodded in return. "A Brass Book? That is a martial soul I have never heard of. Did it undergo a beneficial mutation...? Boy, summon it and let me have a look."

Su Yu first turned to look at Qian Renxue. After receiving her signal, he summoned his martial soul.

A book forged entirely from brass appeared in Su Yu's hand, while a yellow soul ring rose beneath his feet.

At the same time, Su Yu exuded the bearing of one long accustomed to high status, appearing incomparably imposing.

Dugu Bo stroked his beard. "Interesting. What is your first soul skill?"

Ordinarily, asking about the effects of another person's soul skills upon first meeting was already quite rude.

However, the status of a Title Douluo had long transcended ordinary conventions, enough to disregard most rules.

Seeing that Qian Renxue did not intervene, Su Yu could only roughly repeat what he had said before, though he did not demonstrate it in detail.

Qian Renxue secretly praised him. Before the strong, he was neither servile nor overbearing. Even when discussing his own secrets, he knew to reveal only half and conceal the rest.

To manage this at such a young age, he must have developed this premature maturity because he had no father or mother and lived alone.

At that thought, Qian Renxue could not help recalling her own childhood. A wave of sorrow rose within her, and she felt even more sympathy for Su Yu.

"Making rules? That is even more interesting..."

Dugu Bo, who had always acted solely according to his own whims, was now deeply intrigued. He even wanted to abduct Su Yu and study him carefully.

"Your Excellency Poison Douluo, Qinghe brought Little Yu here to obtain a soul ring under Father Emperor's instructions. Father Emperor is also very interested in his martial soul and soul skills. If Your Excellency has no other business, Qinghe will take Little Yu back first. It would not do to keep Father Emperor waiting too long."

Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes, and a dangerous aura radiated from him. "What? Is His Highness the Crown Prince afraid that I will abduct him?"

"Your Excellency misunderstands. Qinghe would never dare."

Dugu Bo snorted and waved his hand. "Hmph! Go on, then."

"Qinghe takes his leave."

After everyone vanished from his sight, Dugu Bo muttered to himself, "Level nine Innate Soul Power is indeed not low, but is it really worth Xue Qinghe and Xue Ye valuing him so highly?"

"Making rules... I have never heard of a martial soul or soul skill of this type..."

"Heh heh, that little brat probably concealed something..."

Dugu Bo was not surprised by that. It was only natural for people to be on guard.

After pondering for a moment, Dugu Bo shook his head. "Forget it. I will stop thinking about it and go back to see Yanyan!"

Once they had left Dugu Bo's sight, Qian Renxue and her group hurried back to Heaven Dou City without stopping, afraid that something else might happen along the way.

When they arrived before the Crown Prince's Residence, Qian Renxue instructed him, "Little Yu, I need to go meet Father Emperor next. Stay in the residence. Before long, Father Emperor may summon you to the palace for an audience."

"Rest assured, Brother Xue. I know what to do."

After watching Su Yu get out of the carriage, Qian Renxue rubbed her brow and ordered, "Set off."

"As you command."

The coachman raised his whip and drove the carriage toward the imperial palace.

After arriving at the palace, Qian Renxue stepped out of the carriage, passed through layer after layer of palace gates, and arrived at the Imperial Study.

After receiving Xue Ye's summons, Qian Renxue entered under the guidance of an eunuch.

"Qinghe, did this trip go smoothly?"

Qian Renxue looked respectful as she replied, "Reporting to Father Emperor, the process of obtaining the soul ring went smoothly enough, but an unexpected incident occurred on the way back."

Xue Ye frowned slightly. "What happened?"

"On the way back, your son encountered Your Excellency Poison Douluo."

After recounting the entire matter, Qian Renxue added, "Father Emperor, your son believes that we should temporarily postpone the engagement between Imperial Sister and Su Yu."

"Oh? Tell me your thoughts."

"Father Emperor, we can still allow Ke'er and Su Yu to cultivate their relationship first. But if we directly announce their engagement, I fear it may arouse others' suspicions."

"The reason Your Excellency Poison Douluo noticed Su Yu's unusual qualities was likely because he saw your son among the soul-hunting party."

"In Your Excellency Poison Douluo's view, level nine Innate Soul Power is certainly exceptional, but it should not warrant such treatment."

"If we then announce Ke'er's engagement to Su Yu..."

Hearing this, Xue Ye's gaze flickered. He neither agreed nor refused, merely sitting on the dragon throne like a statue, seemingly lost in thought.

As Xue Ye pondered, Su Yu in the Crown Prince's Residence was likewise deep in thought.

To be honest, Su Yu had already planned to make contact with Dugu Bo.

After all, the Immortal Herbs of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well were an exceptionally rare opportunity in Douluo One.

Without Immortal Herbs, let alone becoming gods, whether the Shrek Seven Devils could even become Title Douluos was questionable.

There was no need to mention Ning Rongrong, who possessed an innate defect. Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing would most likely be unable to escape their predetermined fates either.

As Ma Hongjun's Soul Power Level increased, his evil fire would grow ever stronger, and he would likely be unable to avoid death in the end.

As for Xiao Wu and Tang San, according to conspiracy theories, Tang San becoming the Asura God was practically a certainty, while Xiao Wu would likely be unable to escape the fate of becoming the Asura Sword Sheath.

Oscar, with his Innate Full Soul Power, could be considered promising material, but things probably would not come as easily for him as they had in the original work.

From this, the importance of Immortal Herbs was clear.

But the problem was that Su Yu did not possess the relevant knowledge about Immortal Herbs.

He only remembered their general appearances, having long forgotten the harvesting conditions and methods of consumption for most of them.

Su Yu pressed his temples and began squeezing his brain dry, trying to recall the relevant memories.

Spicy Cabbage and Mysterious Ice Grass had to be harvested with jade tools and iron tools... Which one was supposed to use iron again?

For Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, the dew had to be dripped into the eyes... No, how were three drops of water supposed to be divided? Or was it meant to be drunk?

"Tsk, is this a sign of senile dementia?"

After a moment, Su Yu gave up struggling and instead began considering how to obtain knowledge about Immortal Herbs from Chrysanthemum Douluo through Qian Renxue.