Douluo: Starting by Forging a Gun Chapter 36

"Xiao Feng, you really are my lucky star."

Shen Feng winced in pain and feigned confusion, saying, "Old man, what's gotten into you? Why so excited?"

"You're about to break my shoulder with those pats."

Dugu Bo laughed heartily. "I know where there are divine herbs, and quite a few of them, too."

"As long as you brat can cure me and Yan Yan, I promise you that for the rest of my life, I will cherish you like my own grandson."

"As long as I am alive, I will never allow anyone to touch a single hair on your head, not even your parents!"

Dugu Bo's words were incredibly domineering, but Shen Feng felt like he was being forcibly taken advantage of.

However, the fact that Dugu Bo could say such things meant that his goal had already been achieved.

From this moment on, his future would be boundless, while those who stood against him would have no future at all.

"Old man, then we have a deal."

Shen Feng bared his teeth in a wide, happy grin, for the path ahead was now clear.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—it's mine, it's mine, it's all mine.

Three days later, in the morning, all the core figures of the Soul Hunting Guild gathered in front of the north gate of Soul Hunting Town.

Shen Rui, Ling Na, Zhao Wuji, Shen Feng, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Liao Yong, and so on.

Oh, right, there was also one more core figure: the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.

Three days ago, after Shen Feng and Dugu Bo had discussed the specific treatment plan, Dugu Bo invited Shen Feng to accompany him to the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City.

Of course, Shen Feng knew that the true destination was the Sunset Forest near Heaven Dou City.

Because only by going there could they find the immortal-grade medicinal herbs required to completely cure Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo also took this matter very seriously; for the safety of himself and his granddaughter Dugu Yan, even though Shen Feng had told him which immortal herbs could cure his hidden ailment, he insisted on taking Shen Feng with him to ensure nothing went wrong.

With no other choice, Shen Feng had to accompany him on this trip.

In reality, deep down, Shen Feng wanted to go; after all, he had been busy for half a year, wasn't it all for this final moment of harvest?

To achieve this, Shen Feng had even factored in Dugu Bo's caution and prudence.

Through his unremitting efforts, he had finally brought about a result that everyone was satisfied with.

Dugu Bo would have peace of mind once his body was healed, and Shen Feng would obtain the resources for his rise.

Before departing, Ling Na pulled Shen Feng aside for a final farewell.

"Xiao Feng, this journey is thousands of miles long, you must be careful."

"On the road, you must listen to what the honorable Dugu says, don't go looking for trouble, and definitely don't do anything dangerous that is beyond your capabilities."

A mother's instructions are never-ending, and Shen Feng could only nod patiently, promising one thing after another.

As for whether he would actually do as his mother said later, only heaven knows.

Shen Rui smiled slightly. "Alright, Na Na, it's about time; we should let Xiao Feng and the others get going."

"If they don't leave now, the honorable Dugu will come to snatch them away."

Dugu Bo kept a straight face and feigned seriousness. "Shen Rui, you brat, don't go slandering people; when have I ever done something as wicked as snatching people?"

"Besides, I am a big shot, after all; would I lower my status by snatching people myself?"

"If I were to snatch anyone, I'd just open my mouth, and you little guys would snatch them and send them to me."

"Hahaha!"

With a Title Douluo leading the jokes, the atmosphere suddenly became filled with laughter, and even the sorrow of parting was diluted quite a bit.

"Alright, all good things must come to an end. Xiao Feng, it's time for us to go."

Hearing Dugu Bo's words, Shen Feng immediately walked to his side and headed north with him.

"Xiao Feng, you must listen to the honorable Dugu."

A mother worries when her child travels far; watching Shen Feng's departing back, Ling Na still couldn't set her heart at ease, and her eyes were filled with tears.

Shen Feng waved his hand without looking back, his voice slightly choked. "Don't worry, I know."

Watching Shen Feng's increasingly sturdy back, Shen Rui reached out and pulled Ling Na into his arms.

"Xiao Feng has grown up; it's time for us to let go."

"Our Xiao Feng is likable; even a powerhouse like a Title Douluo treats him with such care."

"Xiao Feng is also very sensible, so you don't need to worry too much."

Under Shen Rui's comfort, Ling Na's emotions gradually calmed down, and she nodded weakly.

"Brother Rui, when do you think Xiao Feng will return from this trip?"

Shen Rui looked up at the sky, a trace of worry appearing on his calm face as he unconsciously tightened his fists.

"When it is time to return, he will naturally return."

His own child being taken away by a Title Douluo, and potentially doing something dangerous—how could Shen Rui not be worried?

But he had no choice. Dugu Bo was a nine-ring Title Douluo; what would it matter even if he refused?

Now that the other party had such a good attitude and was extending an invitation in a calm and collected manner, if you didn't agree, what would follow would inevitably be coercion by force.

The weak have no say; that is reality.

It was only because Dugu Bo hadn't bared his fangs yet; otherwise, the entire Soul Hunting Guild combined wouldn't have the slightest chance of resistance.

Zhao Wuji stepped forward and patted Shen Rui on the shoulder: "Little brother, we need to work even harder."

Shen Rui nodded, his gaze becoming increasingly firm: "Title Douluo."

At this moment, Oscar, standing in the crowd, also silently clenched his fists, his eyes firm and cold.

Xiao Feng, I will definitely work hard.

If you encounter an accident this time and never return, I will make the Jade Phosphorous Serpent disappear from this world forever.

I, Oscar, swear it!

"Brother Ao, are you worried about Brother Feng too?" Ma Hongjun asked cautiously from the side.

Oscar turned his head to glance at Ma Hongjun, his expression blank and his eyes like a stagnant pool: "Let's go, it's time for us to go back and cultivate."

Ma Hongjun shivered violently: "Brother Ao, please have mercy."

Ma Hongjun had returned over five months ago. After more than two months of searching, he had successfully obtained the Blazing Falcon soul ring as he had wished.

The replenishment of his Phoenix bloodline had also caused subtle changes to his martial soul; not only did he gain the ability to fly, but even his Evil Fire was effectively suppressed.

Having received the benefits and having witnessed Shen Feng and Oscar brutally crush Dai Mubai with his own eyes, he had been determined to follow Shen Feng and Oscar ever since he walked out of the Star Dou Forest.

To allow Ma Hongjun to grow better, Flender eventually compromised and let him join the Soul Hunting Guild, just like Zhao Wuji.

Four people came, but only one returned. Flender seemed to age significantly in an instant, even joking that Shrek Academy was becoming a talent cultivation base for the Soul Hunting Guild.

However, he also knew that by staying by Shen Feng's side, Ma Hongjun could receive better training than at Shrek Academy; Oscar was the most vivid example.

Therefore, he didn't object much, only asking Zhao Wuji, the former vice-dean of Shrek Academy, to look after Ma Hongjun a bit more.

Because Shen Feng had been tied up in the laboratory by Dugu Bo during that time and had no time to manage Ma Hongjun, he had pushed him onto Oscar.

After being severely disciplined by Oscar a few times, Ma Hongjun had unexpectedly become a qualified "cowardly Ao" follower.

A phrase he often kept on his lips was, "Brother Ao, please have mercy."

Sure enough, a young tree won't grow straight without pruning, and a person won't behave without being disciplined.

As long as one is raised from a young age, how many people are born as bad seeds?

Even if there are, it's just because they weren't beaten hard enough.

At this moment, following Dugu Bo and gradually moving away from Soul Hunting Town, Shen Feng slowly came to a halt.

Dugu Bo was slightly stunned: "Xiao Feng, what's wrong?"

Shen Feng said nothing, knelt down facing Soul Hunting Town, and kowtowed three heavy times.

"Dad, Mom, wait for me to come back."

Dugu Bo sighed: "Since you're so reluctant to leave them, why didn't you let them come along?"

"I, the old man, still have some connections in the Heaven Dou Empire; it wouldn't even be a problem for me to help you open the Soul Hunting Guild in the Heaven Dou Imperial City."

Shen Feng slowly stood up and shook his head slightly: "No need. The Soul Hunting Guild is a gathering place for rogue soul masters; it's not suitable to develop under the nose of major powers, and it wouldn't be able to develop at all."

"The border of this Star Dou Forest is the best place for the Soul Hunting Guild to develop."

Dugu Bo nodded, agreeing with Shen Feng's view.

After pondering for a moment, Dugu Bo said in a teasing tone: "I suppose I count as a rogue soul master too. If you brat really cure my hidden ailment this time, then I'll join your Soul Hunting Guild as well."

Shen Feng was startled, then immediately overjoyed: "Old man, are you serious?"

Dugu Bo nodded solemnly: "My word is my bond; this is no joke."

"However, I won't take a low position. After all, my status is what it is; I can't lose face, right?"

Shen Feng laughed: "No problem, my Grand Elder!"

"Hahaha, you brat, you're being cheeky again."

"Let's go. This journey is ten thousand miles long; you're going to have a rough time."

"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Being able to travel with an elder like you, a Title Douluo, is a great opportunity that countless people would beg for. How could it be called a rough time?"

"Hahaha, you brat, if you know how to talk, say more of it. This old man loves to hear it."

Dugu Bo laughed; he laughed very happily and very proudly.

Shen Feng also laughed; he laughed very happily and very proudly as well.

What was there to fear about Dugu Bo? Isn't he just a Jade Phosphorous Serpent that can explode its scales? If you stroke his scales the right way and make him feel comfortable, wouldn't he be harmless?

Having lived two lives, was a little Dugu Bo not easy to handle?

Heaven Dou City was the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, located in the northeast-central part of the empire. It was the political core of the entire Heaven Dou Empire and one of the two largest cities on the continent. On the Douluo Continent, only the Star Luo Empire's imperial capital could compare to it.

Shen Feng and Dugu Bo set off from the Star Dou Forest. To reach Heaven Dou City, they needed to head north, first crossing the entire territory of the Bala Kingdom, then passing through the Silves Kingdom north of the Bala Kingdom, and finally heading east, deep into the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire, before they could reach the imperial capital.

The journey ahead was long. The Bala Kingdom, the smallest of the four kingdoms under the Heaven Dou Empire, spanned 800 kilometers across its entire territory. Sylves was slightly larger, at about 1,000 kilometers, and reaching the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire would require traveling another 2,000 kilometers.

The total journey was 3,800 kilometers, and that was merely the straight-line distance between points. If one were to account for the detours taken to cross mountains and ridges, the actual distance would be far more than ten thousand li.

From this, one could see just how vast the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire truly was.

Two months later, at dusk, Shen Feng and Dugu Bo appeared, travel-worn, on the official road outside Heaven Dou City. Looking from afar, they could already see the city walls of Heaven Dou City with their fluttering banners.

As one of the two largest and most prosperous cities on the continent, the walls of Heaven Dou City stood a hundred meters high, constructed entirely from the hardest granite.

On and off the walls, the patrolling soldiers were all clad in full armor, holding long spears; the murderous aura emanating from them was enough to show their elite nature.

The towering main gate was ten meters high and fifteen meters wide, wide enough for five carriages to pass through side by side. On both sides of the main gate were six auxiliary gates, each five meters high and wide. Pedestrians could only enter through the auxiliary gates, while the central main gate remained tightly shut, seemingly not opened easily.

Before long, Shen Feng and Dugu Bo were standing before the towering gates of Heaven Dou City.

Looking at the familiar gate before him, the corners of Dugu Bo's mouth curled up slightly, and he revealed a faint smile, clearly in a good mood.

"Xiao Feng, this should be your first time in Heaven Dou City, right? How does it feel? Shocking, isn't it?"

Shen Feng nodded slightly: "It is indeed quite shocking. This is my first time seeing such tall city walls."

Shen Feng had certainly seen many buildings over a hundred meters tall, and in his past life, there were countless skyscrapers that exceeded that height. However, this was truly his first time seeing a massive, hundred-meter-high wall that stretched for over ten li.

This magnificent structure, resembling a giant beast, exerted a sense of oppression that no hundred-meter skyscraper could ever compare to.

Dugu Bo laughed heartily: "This is nothing yet; the city inside is even more prosperous and even more shocking."

"It's getting late, let's enter the city. We'll rest here for the night, which will also allow me to play the host, and tomorrow I will take you to my secret base."

Shen Feng nodded and replied with a playful smile: "Resting for the night is fine, but this banquet cannot be handled perfunctorily."