Hell Slaughter Field, challenge in progress.
At the same time, Long Xingyu had completed Lin Feng's mission.
Meanwhile, in Sunset Forest, the Heaven Dou Empire had already established a defensive line on the other side, sealing off the outer perimeter so completely that not even water could get through.
The whole process could barely be called familiar territory. Many years ago, they had carried out similar operations beyond the distant Star Dou Great Forest.
The only difference was that one had been done to prevent Soul Beasts from spilling out, while the other was meant to guard against an unknown enemy.
So far, the Heaven Dou side still had no intelligence at all about the Holy Demon Federation.
For that very reason, the next step was infiltration. They sent out many scattered teams to gather as much information as possible.
However, with the bigger picture in mind, not one of these people was strong. Some weren't even Soul Masters, and looked more like cannon fodder.
"An exploration mission? A hundred Gold Soul Coins as the bounty?"
"If we bring back valuable intelligence, the reward will be calculated separately?"
"I'm in... The top reward could even be a Soul Bone! Sponsored by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"Rongrong's family is so rich. No wonder they're one of the Upper Three Sects. What do you think, should we give it a try?"
In front of Heaven Dou City's gates, a new bounty poster had been put up on the notice board. Its subject was Sunset Forest.
The Empire's official legions and the Soul Masters of the sects were all extremely valuable resources, and of course, they were reluctant to waste them.
So, if they didn't want to expend their own forces but still wanted to conduct reconnaissance, what should they do? The answer was, "Money makes the world go round."
At Qian Renxue's suggestion, the Empire issued a bounty, inviting all sorts of unaffiliated Soul Masters and even experienced ordinary teams to investigate Sunset Forest in exchange for rewards.
As soon as the notice went up, the whole country was in an uproar.
Countless people answered the call, gathering toward Sunset Forest.
Even many mercenary groups who made their living in the Star Dou Great Forest, hunting low- and mid-rank Soul Beasts, were drawn in.
Naturally, word reached Shrek as well. They had happened to come into the city to buy supplies that day and saw the mission details.
Flender, who loved money more than life itself, immediately got a different idea. He wasn't sure what the Empire was planning, but the rewards were certainly generous!
"Idiot. Do you think the Imperial Family is stupid?"
"A mission like this definitely won't be low-risk."
"Besides, the details clearly have something to do with the missing Poison Douluo and Bone Douluo. If you want to die, don't drag me into it."
Yu Xiaogang shot Flender an unhappy glance. Out of cowardice and caution, he had no interest in the mission at all and warned Flender to be careful.
Nearby, the equally greedy Xiao Wu was itching to go. She quietly egged Tang San and Oscar on, looking like she wanted to take the mission.
"Forget it. I think Teacher has a point."
"Even a Titled Douluo got into trouble. It'd be too risky for us to go."
"And those generous rewards later on are obviously bait. I bet the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect never intended to pay them out."
"If we're just after a few hundred Gold Soul Coins, we'd be better off fighting a few matches at the Soul Fighting Arena. Come on, let's get into the city..."
Tang San shook his head, agreeing with his teacher.
Xiao Wu pursed her lips at that, but she didn't dare argue outright.
Oscar, however, had other thoughts about Ning Rongrong, and Bone Douluo was one of Ning Rongrong's elders.
An unrealistic thought floated through his mind: if he could find relevant clues, might he win the beauty's heart?
"What exactly are those idiot nobles in the Heaven Dou Empire up to? Should we find a way to send word back home?"
Dai Mubai was standing nearby, stroking his chin as he pondered. Though he was at odds with his older brother, Dai Weisi, he was still a prince of the Star Luo Empire.
Seeing the rival Heaven Dou Empire plunge into ever-greater chaos, he began considering whether to use some connections and try to profit from the situation.
Everyone in the Shrek group had their own thoughts.
They were still weighing which was greater: the benefits or the risks.
At the same time, within Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Dugu Yan had already started making plans of her own after learning about the imperial mission.
Among those most anxious and concerned about how things were unfolding, apart from the Imperial Family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, this girl was surely next.
The Jade Phosphor Snake bloodline had always been sparse, and her grandfather, Dugu Bo, was her only family. How could Dugu Yan not be worried? Before, she had been too insignificant to have any say in the decision.
But now, the Empire had offered a new approach.
So many teams were heading to Sunset Forest to investigate.
If she quietly slipped in with them, surely nothing would happen. Could she really be unlucky forever?
It was one thing when she hadn't had the idea. But once it entered her head, she couldn't let it go.
Even though her boyfriend, Yu Tianheng, had specifically warned her not to do anything stupid, Dugu Yan still refused to listen.
Taking advantage of a brief opening, she quietly slipped out of the Royal Academy. After a quick disguise, she easily made her way into Sunset Forest.
By the time the Heaven Dou Imperial Family realized she was gone, no one knew where she had gone. Other than regretting that, if Poison Douluo had survived, it would be difficult to explain things to him later, they had no way to remedy the situation.
And so, Dugu Yan went deeper into the forest alone.
Compared with everyone else, she knew the place like the back of her hand.
In the past, she had gone to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well with her grandfather countless times. She knew the surrounding terrain like the palm of her hand.
She had memorized every narrow path and every hard-to-spot cave. Now, that knowledge came in handy.
"I don't believe Grandpa could die so easily!"
"He must still be alive! That's right! He's definitely still alive!"
Along the way, Dugu Yan kept hypnotizing herself, steeling her resolve.
It took her more than half a day to reach the depths of the forest, where there was no one else in sight.
Relying on her nimble movements and knowledge of the terrain, she was just about to reach her destination.
But at that moment, Dugu Yan, still in stealth, felt her scalp prickle. A surging torrent of Soul Power suddenly pressed in on her!
"Oh? A little mouse actually managed to sneak all the way here?"
The voice belonged to a clear, youthful man. He was nowhere to be seen, yet the pressure was suffocating.
Dugu Yan's face filled with terror. Realizing she had been discovered, she was so frightened she nearly burst into tears.
Like any Soul Master, she knew it was utterly useless, but still decisively activated her Martial Soul.
An ordinary Jade Phosphor Snake, similar to the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, appeared before the mysterious powerhouse. An astonished voice soon followed.
"You're... Dugu Yan?"
The rustling of leaves filled the air.
The next moment, Dugu Yan stared in stunned confusion.
Long Haochen's handsome figure swept through the foliage, emerging before her and hovering a short distance away.
Who was this handsome guy? Why did he know me? It looked like he had come from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Could he be the one who harmed Grandpa?
In an instant, countless thoughts raced through Dugu Yan's mind, flickering by like scenes in a revolving lantern. Yet in the end, she remained frozen in a daze, until Long Haochen spoke again.
"Great! We've been waiting for you for ages!"
"Come with me. Your grandfather just happened to be out."
"Hey, what are you standing there for? Hurry up... Did I scare you? Don't worry, I mean no harm."
"Although Senior Dugu and we had some misunderstandings before, we're on the same side now..."
Before you continue