Prevent Dugu Bo and Tang San from Meeting (Seeking Follow-ups)

Ning Fengzhi now viewed Lin Yi as a treasure of the sect, and as the greatest contributor who had solved a problem that had plagued the sect for hundreds of years, he naturally refused him nothing. He only repeatedly urged him to be careful and asked him to pass on the message to Ning Rongrong that everything was well at home and that she should focus on her cultivation with peace of mind.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin still insisted on escorting him personally.

This time, he no longer concealed his tracks, summoning the Seven Kill Sword directly and taking Lin Yi with him as they traveled by sword.

The speed of a level 96 Super Douluo riding a sword could be described as lightning-fast; the mountains and rivers below retreated in a blur, and in less than half a day, they had arrived at the borders of Suotuo City.

However, when the two followed their memories to find that familiar village, what they saw was a scene of desolation, with the buildings long since abandoned. The already simple schoolhouses were even more dilapidated, overgrown with weeds, and there was no trace of the academy left.

"Hmm? They moved?" Chen Xin frowned slightly.

Lin Yi understood the situation in his heart; calculating the time, the Shrek group should indeed have arrived in Heaven Dou City by now and settled into the new Shrek Academy, renamed from the Blue Tyrant Academy.

He put on a timely look of "contemplation" and said to Chen Xin, "Teacher, perhaps Dean Flender and the others moved to Heaven Dou City to seek better development opportunities for the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

I remember there is an academy in Heaven Dou City called 'Blue Tyrant' that has ties to the Dean; perhaps they went there."

Chen Xin nodded, harboring no suspicions.

The sword light rose once more, changing direction to fly straight toward Heaven Dou City.

The imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire was far more prosperous than Suotuo. Following the directions they had inquired about, the two soon found a sizable complex of academy buildings in the west of the city, and on the brand-new plaque, five large characters were written in a bold, sweeping hand—Shrek Academy!

Sensing several familiar auras emanating from within the academy, Chen Xin brought Lin Yi and landed directly in the courtyard.

Their arrival immediately startled the academy's leadership. Flender, Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wuji hurried out to meet them.

Seeing the Sword Douluo arrive in person, the group was shocked and quickly stepped forward to bow respectfully.

"Your Excellency Sword Douluo!" Flender pushed up his glasses, a professional, enthusiastic smile plastered on his face. "We did not know of your arrival and failed to welcome you properly; we hope you will forgive us!"

Chen Xin nodded slightly in return. His gaze swept over the brand-new academy environment, and he said indifferently, "No need for formalities. This old man is here to return Lin Yi so he may continue to protect Rongrong."

Only then did everyone's eyes fall upon Lin Yi.

Although Lin Yi still maintained the youthful appearance of his disguise, they could all feel that after several months, this guard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect seemed to possess an indescribable, profound temperament, and his soul power fluctuations seemed more robust as well.

"Brother Lin Yi, you're back!" Zhao Wuji laughed heartily. He had a very good impression of Lin Yi, especially after the incident in the Star Dou Great Forest, where he felt he owed Lin Yi a debt for his healing.

Yu Xiaogang also nodded at Lin Yi, his eyes complex.

He still harbored resentment over Lin Yi's refusal to assist with the training, but he also knew the other party had a deep background and dared not show his dissatisfaction.

"Rongrong and the others are currently cultivating in the simulated environment; everything is well," Flender said hurriedly, fearing that the Sword Douluo might think they were mistreating Ning Rongrong.

"Hmm." Chen Xin responded. He did not care for these trivial matters; having confirmed Ning Rongrong's safety and delivered Lin Yi, he had no intention of staying. "Since that is the case, the person has been delivered, and this old man will take his leave."

"Why not stay a while longer, Your Excellency, and let us fulfill our duties as hosts?" Flender quickly offered a polite formality.

"No need." Chen Xin was concise. He nodded slightly to Lin Yi, and the next moment, the sword light soared into the sky, disappearing into the horizon in an instant—he came as quickly as he left.

Lin Yi knew that his teacher, the Sword Douluo, was in a hurry to return to help Ning Fengzhi hunt a soul beast to obtain his eighth soul ring.

After seeing off the Sword Douluo, Flender and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief; the pressure of facing a Super Douluo was truly immense.

He turned to look at Lin Yi, his smile growing even wider. "Lin Yi, you've returned at just the right time!

Our new Shrek Academy has just gotten on the right track, and we are in dire need of capable instructors.

With your ability and background, if you are willing to stay and serve as an instructor, the compensation would absolutely..."

"Many thanks for your kind offer, Dean Flender." Before he could finish, Lin Yi refused directly, his reason remaining sound. "This Humble One's duty is to guard the Young Lady, not to teach. Furthermore, the sect has matters that require attention, and I must balance my own cultivation; I cannot spare the time to serve as an instructor. I hope the Dean will forgive me."

A flash of disappointment crossed Flender's face, but he dared not force the issue and could only offer a dry laugh. "Understood, understood."

Lin Yi said no more, and after asking for the location of his quarters, he headed straight there to settle in.

Later that evening, the Shrek Seven Devils, having finished their day's cultivation, also received the news of Lin Yi's return.

The group gathered together for dinner.

Dai Mubai's soul power had already reached level 40, waiting only to obtain a soul ring to advance to a Soul Ancestor.

Tang San followed closely behind at level 39, Xiao Wu and Oscar were both at level 38, Zhu Zhuqing was at level 37, Ma Hongjun was at level 36, and Ning Rongrong, who had not slacked off during the time Lin Yi was away, had reached level 35.

Such a rate of progress would be considered terrifying at any advanced soul master academy, and it was sufficient to show that Yu Xiaogang's "devil training" was highly effective.

Seeing Lin Yi return, Ning Rongrong felt a complex mix of emotions; she huffed and did not speak to him voluntarily, though her eyes drifted toward him from time to time.

Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others greeted Lin Yi politely. After experiencing the Bu Le incident and the crisis in the Star Dou Great Forest, they had developed a genuine respect for this powerful and well-connected guard, rather than the initial alienation and scrutiny.

Lin Yi observed everyone's progress, calculating silently in his heart.

At this rate, if they obtained the immortal herbs, the strength of the Shrek Seven Devils by the time the Soul Master Tournament began should reach the level of the original work, or perhaps even slightly exceed it.

However, it was a pity that he had already intercepted the immortal herbs...

He briefly inquired about Ning Rongrong's cultivation, and after confirming she was unharmed, he stopped paying too much attention to her.

Now that Shrek Academy had moved to Heaven Dou City and was located in the heart of the empire, its safety was greatly improved. With the three Soul Saints—Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Liu Erlong—presiding, they certainly did not need him to guard them closely at all times.

His thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.

Early the next morning, Lin Yi left Shrek Academy alone and headed straight toward the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. He remembered clearly that the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo, as a guest of the Heaven Dou Empire, had his residence near the palace.

Using the identity token of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he easily passed the inspection of the outer guards and arrived before Dugu Bo's somewhat gloomy and lonely mansion.

After announcing his name, it was not long before Dugu Bo, dressed in a dark green robe with a gloomy expression, walked out. Seeing Lin Yi, a flash of surprise and an imperceptible wariness crossed his eyes.

"Is it you, brat? What, didn't Sword Douluo come?" Dugu Bo's tone was unkind, clearly still harboring resentment over his herb garden being raided.

"Teacher has returned to the sect." Lin Yi's expression was calm as he cupped his hands in a salute. "This humble one has come alone today to share some information and to make a request."

"Oh?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow, signaling for him to continue.

"Is Senior planning to go find a youth named Tang San in the near future?" Lin Yi cut straight to the point.

Dugu Bo's pupils constricted, his face showing surprise and suspicion: "How do you know that?"

He was indeed planning to find Tang San. Ever since his herb garden had been ransacked by Lin Yi, the backlash of the toxins within his body had become increasingly severe. Recalling the boy he had seen at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy who could neutralize his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison, he had been tempted to capture him, force the method of detoxification out of him, or simply kill him.

Lin Yi thought to himself that it was as expected, then said in a deep voice: "Senior, I advise you, it is best not to touch that Tang San."

"Why?" Dugu Bo's voice turned cold. "Just because he might have some connection to your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Brat, don't think that just because you have Sword Douluo backing you, you can boss this old man around!"

"That is not the case." Lin Yi shook his head. "I am stopping you for your own good, Senior. Do you know the identity of that Tang San?"

"What identity?"

"His father is Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect."

These five simple words exploded in Dugu Bo's ears like a thunderclap!

"Tang Hao... Clear Sky Douluo?!" Dugu Bo's face turned deathly pale in an instant, his eyes filled with shock and lingering fear. That was the ruthless man who dared to hammer even the Pope! If he were to touch his son... Dugu Bo dared not imagine the consequences! He feared that even the entire Heaven Dou Empire would not be able to protect him!

Seeing the sudden change in Dugu Bo's complexion, Lin Yi knew his goal of intimidation had been achieved.

He continued: "That warning is the first thing. Secondly, I learned from my teacher, Sword Douluo, that you are poisoned, Senior. The root cause lies in your martial soul, and it is not something that can be solved by ordinary medicine.

If you trust this humble one, perhaps... perhaps I have a solution, or at least a way to alleviate your suffering. Of course, as a condition, you must agree to a few terms."

Lin Yi's words were half-truth, half-deception. He did indeed know that the root of Dugu Bo's poison lay in his martial soul. In the original story, Tang San used the herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, and the Infernal Delicate Apricot to help him temporarily suppress it, promising to solve it completely after becoming a god.

He was thinking that if he himself became a god in the future, he could also help him solve it.

His deeper reasons for preventing Dugu Bo from finding Tang San were twofold:

First, he did not want Tang San to know of the existence of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Although he had already taken most of the immortal herbs, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well itself was a treasure trove for cultivation and an excellent place for his own practice.

If Tang San were to find out, given his personality and protagonist halo, there was no guarantee that complications wouldn't arise, or that it might even be turned against him.

Second, he needed to maintain a relatively "good" relationship with Dugu Bo so that he could borrow the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for cultivation at any time. Stopping him from bothering Tang San was a favor, and it also severed the potential connection between Dugu Bo and Tang San. As long as Dugu Bo did not interact with Tang San, Tang San would lose the opportunity to quickly learn about immortal herbs, obtain the External Soul Bone evolution, and gain the support of a powerful fighter like Dugu Bo! The battle for godhood still required advance planning...

Dugu Bo stared fixedly at Lin Yi, seemingly judging the truth of his words. The identity of Tang Hao's son made him wary, while the "detoxification" Lin Yi proposed gave him a glimmer of faint hope.

The poison in his body was indeed on the verge of becoming impossible to suppress.

After a long silence, Dugu Bo finally spoke slowly, his voice hoarse: "You say... you have a way?"

"I dare not say it can be cured completely, but there is at least a possibility of alleviation and control." Lin Yi did not overpromise. "This requires time and your cooperation, Senior. But the premise is, if you don't want to die, you had best stop thinking about Tang San. Of course, this is just a reminder.

The condition is that if I have a need, you must take me into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well at any time. On one hand, it is for my own cultivation, and on the other, it is to facilitate research into a method to resolve your poison."

Lin Yi made the request to be taken into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, but this time the reason was more compelling, even using the guise of treating Dugu Bo's illness.

Dugu Bo's expression shifted uncertainly. He did not fully believe that Lin Yi could solve his problem, but the deterrence of Sword Douluo, the terror of Tang Hao, and the torment of his own poison left him with no better choice. At the very least, the boy before him had a deep background and seemed to have many methods; perhaps... there really was a glimmer of hope?

"...Fine!" Dugu Bo finally gritted his teeth. "This old man will trust you once! I will not touch that Tang San! And I can take you to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! But if I find out you are playing me for a fool..." A fierce light flashed in his eyes; he didn't finish the sentence, but the threat was self-evident.

"Rest assured, Senior, this humble one is not a person who speaks empty words." Lin Yi felt relieved; his goal was achieved. "Since that is the case, I will not disturb you further. Once I have prepared, I will head to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and we can discuss it in detail then."

Leaving Dugu Bo's residence, Lin Yi looked back toward the palace, a subtle curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Tang San's opportunity with the immortal herbs had been intercepted, and his fate with Dugu Bo had been severed in advance.

Without the baptism of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the assistance of the immortal herbs, Tang San's growth rate would inevitably be significantly affected.

As for himself, he now held the rights to use the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, possessing resources and trump cards far exceeding those in the original story.

With one rising and the other falling, his path to becoming a God King in the distant future had gained a few more percentage points of certainty.

He turned and walked toward Shrek Academy.

Before that, he still had to confirm a few things. Ning Rongrong was his fiancée, and he couldn't afford to have his home stolen... that would be a loss that outweighed the gain.