Following, Arriving at Suoto Again

"You bastard! What kind of nonsense are you spouting? My grandfather is a Titled Douluo; how could he possibly be dead? Did you just pick up this Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch somewhere?"

Dugu Yan did not believe a word of what Su Zhen said. Ning Fengzhi had told her that Dugu Bo was in secluded cultivation within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and she was far more inclined to believe Ning Fengzhi's version of events.

"This Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch was indeed given to me by Senior Dugu before he passed. Six years ago, Senior Dugu was struck down and left mortally wounded. I encountered him in his final moments, and he entrusted all of his heritage to me. He also hoped that I would come to Heaven Dou City to look after you."

Su Zhen walked up to Dugu Yan, completely ignoring the emerald-green poisonous mist permeating the air around her.

"That's impossible, you're lying to me! Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect told me himself that my grandfather is in secluded cultivation at their sect. How could he have passed away like you say?"

Dugu Yan looked at Su Zhen as he approached, shock written all over her face. Her Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison was having absolutely no effect on this man.

"Oh? Ning Fengzhi told you Senior Dugu is in secluded cultivation? Then what if I told you that Senior Dugu died from a sword wound?"

"What did you say?"

Dugu Yan found Su Zhen's words impossible to believe. If her grandfather had truly died by the sword, the only sword-wielder on the entire Douluo Continent with such strength would be Sword Douluo Chen Xin of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Yet, when she had been hunted by enemies before, it was Ning Fengzhi who had saved her. Their stories were diametrically opposed, and she did not know whether to trust Ning Fengzhi or the Su Zhen standing before her.

"What proof do you have that what you're saying is true?"

Dugu Yan was actually already leaning toward Su Zhen's account, but she needed him to produce tangible evidence. Her grandfather had always been a lone wolf, and the possibility of him suddenly joining another faction was slim, yet she still desperately hoped Su Zhen was lying.

"Sigh, why must you be like this, girl?"

Su Zhen let out a sigh, a flash of light crossed his soul tool ring, and an ice coffin appeared before Dugu Yan.

"What is this?"

"The remains of Senior Dugu."

When he left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring six years ago, Su Zhen had recovered Dugu Bo's body and kept it preserved, specifically for the day it would be needed for Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan looked at the ice coffin radiating a chilling aura, her entire body trembling uncontrollably. She was afraid—afraid that this coffin contained the grandfather she had missed so dearly for six long years. She deactivated her Martial Soul Possession and reached out to touch the lid.

She closed her eyes and pushed with all her might, sliding the heavy lid aside.

"Open your eyes and look. Your grandfather has been waiting for you for six years."

Su Zhen walked behind Dugu Yan and whispered into her ear.

Su Zhen's whisper acted like a pair of cold hands prying open Dugu Yan's tightly shut eyes. When those emerald-green eyes caught sight of the green hue within the coffin, they were instantly flooded with tears.

When Dugu Yan reached out and grasped Dugu Bo's cold, lifeless hand, she broke down into uncontrollable sobs. All the strength she had maintained until now dissolved into six years of longing and grievances. She collapsed against the side of the coffin, weeping softly, completely indifferent to the bone-chilling cold radiating from it.

The sound of weeping in the forest continued for a long time. Su Zhen and his two companions stood to the side, watching the tragic scene of the grandfather and granddaughter's reunion.

"My condolences."

Su Zhen placed a hand on Dugu Yan's trembling shoulder and offered a soft word of comfort.

Dugu Yan stopped crying, perhaps exhausted from the grief, and stood up to look at Su Zhen.

"Su Zhen, can you tell me everything that happened before my grandfather passed away?"

"Of course. Six years ago, when I went to the Sunset Forest to hunt for a soul ring, I encountered Senior Dugu, who was mortally wounded. He had been cleaved in two by a sword, yet he was still clinging to life while nursing his wounds under a tree. However, a biting sword intent was coiled within his wounds; no matter how potent the medicinal herbs were, they could not save him. I happened to be returning home with my elders at the time. Senior Dugu entrusted everything he had to me and tasked me with coming to Heaven Dou City to look after you."

Su Zhen paused for a moment before continuing.

"But five years ago, when I came to Heaven Dou City to find you, I was intercepted by people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. They did not want me to have any contact with you. If my elders hadn't been with me at the time, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect likely would have kept me there. Now, my strength is sufficient for me to come for you, so I hung the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch at my waist, hoping you would find me."

"As it turns out, you followed."

Listening to Su Zhen's account, Dugu Yan felt that Ning Fengzhi's intervention to save her earlier now made sense, but one doubt remained.

"You said the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect blocked you from finding me, but when I was being hunted by enemies, it was Sect Master Ning who saved me. Why wouldn't he have cut the weeds and pulled up the roots?"

Dugu Yan asked her final question. She had noticed the sword marks on Dugu Bo's remains; those were marks only a sword master like Chen Xin could leave. There was no doubt that Dugu Bo had been killed by the Sword Douluo, but she couldn't understand why the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would protect her.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is a sect dominated by support-type soul masters and lacks battle soul masters. That is why they frantically recruit powerful soul masters who don't belong to other factions. Your grandfather was likely killed because Sword Douluo failed to recruit him. Since they couldn't recruit your grandfather, recruiting you is the same thing. If a high-level Jade Phosphorous Serpent martial soul, capable of reaching the Titled Douluo level, takes root in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they could add another Titled Douluo to their ranks in a few decades."

"Besides, Ning Fengzhi has quite a few sons."

Dugu Yan was no novice in the soul master world; she understood the implication behind Su Zhen's last sentence. Ning Fengzhi didn't just want her combat power; he wanted the bloodline of the Dugu family. She knelt on the ground, her fists clenched so tightly they creaked. The hatred for her kin's murderer and the resentment toward those who coveted her fueled a rage that soared to the heavens.

"Come with me. I will take you to seek your revenge."

Su Zhen walked up to Dugu Yan and extended his hand toward her.

Dugu Yan looked up at the youth who was roughly her own age. His handsome face, framed by his black combat attire, was filled with dominance and majesty. The light blooming behind him shone upon her face, feeling so incredibly warm.

Dugu Yan grabbed Su Zhen's hand and stood up from the ground.

"Yanzi, I can call you that, right? From now on, I am your family. One day, I will let you take your revenge with your own hands."

"The faction I belong to is called the Thunder God Palace. It is a hidden sect, and I will help you grow strong quickly."

Dugu Yan listened to Su Zhen's bold declaration and nodded gently. She needed a backer she could rely on right now. Although she had never heard of the Thunder God Palace, the fact that they did not fear the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect meant they must possess significant strength.

"Let's go. To Suotuo City."

The four of them walked through the forest toward Suotuo City.

Because Su Zhen needed to complete his second trial of the Thunder God, the group traveled to Suotuo City on foot. After nearly ten days of walking, the four of them finally stood beneath the city walls.

"Suotuo City, I've returned."

Su Zhen gazed at the three characters for Suotuo City on the gate, a raging fire igniting in his eyes.

Everything would begin here.