Dugu Bo's Grievance

That cold, domineering pressure was like a tangible swamp, instantly enveloping the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well valley. Even the active elements of ice and fire in the air seemed to freeze.

Accompanied by an angry shout, a dark green figure appeared like a ghost in the poisonous miasma at the valley entrance. It was none other than the owner of this place, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo!

He had evidently sensed something amiss in the herb garden through some means and hurried back.

At that moment, his emerald-green, serpentine eyes were fixed on Lin Yi, who was quickly gathering Immortal Herbs. His gaze lingered on the Aromatic Silk Beauty that had just disappeared into Lin Yi's hands, then swept over the herb garden, now visibly emptier. A towering blaze of fury surged straight to his head!

These Immortal Herbs were essential to suppressing the poison in his body and prolonging his life. More than that, they represented his hope of breaking through in the future!

"Little thief! Pay with your life!"

In his fury, Dugu Bo didn't even have time to take a close look at the white-robed man beside Lin Yi, whose aura was so well-concealed. His withered hand shot out, fingers curling into claws, and dense dark-green miasma instantly gathered into the phantom of a vicious Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. Trailing a pungent, corrosive wind, it lunged viciously for Lin Yi's back!

A Titled Douluo's strike in a fit of rage—how terrifying was its power? If it landed, even with Lin Yi's formidable physique, he would be dead or crippled!

Yet just as the phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor was about to touch the hem of Lin Yi's robe—

"Hum!"

A clear sword chime rang out, as if from beyond the heavens, yet also from the depths of the soul.

Without any visible movement, a concentrated, utterly pure silver sword intent appeared out of thin air behind Lin Yi, striking before the attack could land.

The sword intent had no physical form, yet it was sharper than any divine weapon. It hovered there in silence, as if it had existed since time immemorial, embodying the rule of severing all things!

"Chhk—"

The ferocious phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor touched that thread of silver sword intent and vanished soundlessly, like snow beneath the blazing sun. It couldn't even stir a ripple. The dense miasma was purified and dispelled by an invisible force as well, as if it had never appeared.

Dugu Bo's sure-kill strike had been casually nullified!

His charging body abruptly froze, and the fury on his face was instantly replaced by utter shock.

He stared at the slowly fading silver sword intent, then at the white-robed old man, who had somehow turned around and was now looking at him with a calm expression.

"Se... Seven Kill Sword Intent?!" Dugu Bo's voice carried a barely perceptible tremor. He recognized this peerless sword intent—and the identity of the man before him. "Sword... Sword Douluo?!"

Chen Xin's expression remained calm. His gaze fell on Dugu Bo like two invisible swords. He said nothing, but the formless pressure made Dugu Bo feel as though countless sword auras hung above his head, ready to fall at any moment and cut him to dust!

A level ninety-one Soul Douluo facing a level ninety-six one—and one who was the greatest attacking Titled Douluo under heaven! The difference between them was like a chasm!

Faced with this absolute disparity in strength, all of Dugu Bo's fury and indignation were forced back down.

He had no doubt that if he dared make the slightest move, the Seven Kill Sword would pierce his heart the very next instant.

He forced out a smile more miserable than a sob, suppressing every trace of his Soul Power and poisonous aura. Then he bowed respectfully to Chen Xin. "I didn't know Sword Douluo had graced us with his presence. I was rash just now and have greatly offended you. I hope you'll forgive me, Your Excellency!"

He adopted the humblest posture, but his heart was full of uncertainty. Why had Sword Douluo Chen Xin appeared in his herb garden?

And why had he brought a boy with him?

Damn it, that boy was picking his Immortal Herbs! Had the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect taken a liking to this place too?

Only then did Chen Xin speak, his voice cool and utterly detached. "Dugu Bo, this is my disciple, Lin Yi. I brought him out to gain experience. He's young and ignorant, and wandered in here by mistake, not knowing the place had an owner. He picked a few of your herbs. That was wrong of him."

It sounded as if he were criticizing Lin Yi, but in fact, he was making Lin Yi's identity clear: he was Chen Xin's disciple! By calling it "wandering in by mistake" and "a few" herbs, Chen Xin made light of the intrusion and theft of the Immortal Herbs.

The corner of Dugu Bo's mouth twitched. "A few" herbs?

He wasn't blind. That brat had nearly stripped his entire herb garden bare!

Especially those few most precious ones... But he didn't dare protest. He could only play along. "Not at all, not at all! Since he's Sword Douluo's esteemed disciple, then... then I'll consider these herbs a gift to my young friend."

His heart bled as he said it.

He had cultivated and guarded these Immortal Herbs for countless years. They were the foundation of his continued life!

Chen Xin could naturally see Dugu Bo's resentment, but he paid it no mind. He continued, "My disciple acted recklessly. I, Chen Xin, owe you a favor for this."

A favor!

A favor from Sword Douluo Chen Xin!

Dugu Bo's heart gave a sudden leap.

That promise was beyond price! In a sense, it was even more precious than the Immortal Herbs that had been taken!

Immortal Herbs were certainly valuable, but what use were they if he lost his life?

With a favor from Sword Douluo, if he ever faced a deadly crisis, he might have a chance at survival!

The ache in his heart eased considerably, and he even began to feel that this deal... might not be a loss after all.

"Your Excellency is too kind. They're just a few herbs, nothing worth mentioning," Dugu Bo said hastily, his expression much improved.

By then, Lin Yi had gathered the last Immortal Herb he was after and walked over to Chen Xin.

He cupped his hands toward Dugu Bo, composed and neither servile nor arrogant. "This junior is Lin Yi. I didn't know this place belonged to you, Senior, and picked some herbs. I've offended you. I hope you'll forgive me."

Dugu Bo looked at Lin Yi, his gaze complicated.

This kid had guts—and a sharp eye!

He'd picked only the best!

And he'd remained so calm in front of Sword Douluo. He really was Chen Xin's disciple.

Chen Xin glanced at Lin Yi, then said to Dugu Bo, "Also, I've observed that the freezing aura around the Ice Eye of this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well would greatly benefit my disciple's cultivation, far more than an ordinary cultivation environment. If he wishes to come here to cultivate using the Ice Eye in the future, I hope you won't stop him."

What?!

He wanted to come back?!

Dugu Bo's eyelid twitched. The anger he had just suppressed began to rise again.

This place was his lair, his herb garden and cultivation ground!

And now an outsider could come and go as he pleased?

But when he looked at Chen Xin's calm yet unquestionable gaze, and felt the faint Seven Kill Sword Intent locked onto him, all his resentment and fury turned to helplessness—and a touch of fear.

A level ninety-one and a level ninety-six were entirely different concepts.

Before overwhelming strength, all his trump cards and poisonous techniques seemed pale and powerless.

Refuse? He had no doubt Sword Douluo would simply take what he wanted by force.

"...If it benefits my young friend's cultivation, then of course I have no objection." Dugu Bo practically ground the words out through his teeth, his heart bitter.

Wonderful. His home had been robbed, and now he had to let the thief come back to cultivate whenever he pleased...

"Then, thank you." Chen Xin gave a slight nod, and the agreement was settled.

He wasn't worried Dugu Bo would go back on his word. Before overwhelming strength, any schemes were futile.

With everything settled, they left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well valley.

Chen Xin was about to take Lin Yi back to Shrek Academy and have him continue staying by Ning Rongrong's side...

"Teacher, I'm not going back to Shrek for now," Lin Yi said in objection.

Chen Xin looked at him, a question in his eyes.

"Teacher, I won't be returning to Shrek just yet." Lin Yi's tone was solemn. "Please take me back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I have something urgent to discuss and need to meet the sect master immediately. It's a matter of great importance. The Immortal Herbs I just gathered will be extremely useful..."

He had in his hands the Aromatic Silk Beauty, which could resolve the flaw in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul, as well as many Immortal Herbs that could greatly improve their strength. This concerned the future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so he had to hand them over to Ning Fengzhi as soon as possible.

As for Shrek, returning a few days late wouldn't matter. The Immortal Herbs were in his hands, so he held the initiative.

Chen Xin gave Lin Yi a long look. Although he didn't know the details, Lin Yi's serious expression suggested the matter was of great importance.

He nodded. "All right."

Without another word, sword intent rose around Chen Xin and enveloped Lin Yi. They became a stunning streak of swordlight, ignored the poisonous miasma outside the valley, shot into the sky, and vanished in an instant.

Dugu Bo was left alone in the ravaged herb garden. He looked at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, now much emptier after more than half its Immortal Herbs had been stripped away. His face turned pale, then green.

He clenched his fists, only to let them fall helplessly at his sides.

"Sword Douluo... Lin Yi... the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect..." he murmured, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. "Forget it, forget it... A favor from Sword Douluo in exchange for all this... It's not that bad a deal..."

He tried to console himself, but only he knew the grievance he felt.

After this, half his herb garden was ruined.

Meanwhile, aboard the Seven Kill Sword, Lin Yi stroked the crucial Aromatic Silk Beauty inside his storage bracelet, his eyes bright.

The structure of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—and perhaps even the future of the entire continent—might undergo earth-shaking changes because of his "snatching" of the opportunity and return. Step by step, he was making his way toward a higher stage.

That was what he thought: it would be better to give the Aromatic Silk Beauty to Ning Fengzhi than to Ning Rongrong...