The Stirring Shrek! Dugu Yan's Swift Surrender?

The Hell Slaughter Field, the challenge is underway.

And just as Long Xingyu completed Lin Feng's mission.

On the other side, in the Sunset Forest, the Heaven Dou Empire had already deployed its defensive lines, sealing off the perimeter until not even a drop of water could leak through.

The entire process could barely be called familiar; years ago, similar operations had been carried out outside the more distant Star Dou Great Forest.

The only difference was that one was to prevent the overflow of spirit beasts, while the other was for an unknown enemy.

Up to this point, intelligence regarding the [Holy Demon Federation] remained at zero for the Heaven Dou side.

Precisely because of this, they began to implement infiltration, dispatching many scattered small teams to gather as much information as possible.

However, out of consideration for the big picture, none of these people were experts; some weren't even spirit masters, looking much like cannon fodder.

"Reconnaissance mission? A bounty of one hundred Gold Soul Coins?"

"If valuable intelligence is brought back, additional rewards will be calculated?"

"I'm going... the highest reward is a spirit bone! Sponsored by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"Rongrong's family is too rich. They truly deserve to be one of the Upper Three Sects. What do you say, should we give it a try?"

In front of the Heaven Dou City gates, a new bounty poster was posted on the bulletin board, the content concerning the Sunset Forest.

The empire's official legions and the spirit masters within the sects were extremely precious resources, so naturally, they were unwilling to waste them.

So, if they were unwilling to consume their own strength but still wanted to conduct reconnaissance, how should they proceed? The answer is "money makes the mare go."

Proposed by Qian Renxue, the empire issued a bounty order, inviting all kinds of freelance spirit masters and even experienced ordinary teams to head to the Sunset Forest to investigate, trading information for benefits.

Once the notice was posted, it quickly caused a nationwide stir.

Countless people responded, gathering toward the Sunset Forest.

Even many mercenary groups that frequented the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt low-to-mid-level spirit beasts were attracted to participate.

Naturally, the news reached the ears of Shrek, who happened to be entering the city for supplies today and saw the details of the mission.

Flender, who loved money as much as his own life, immediately had other thoughts. Although he wasn't sure what the empire was up to, the rewards were indeed generous!

"Idiot, do you think the royal family is stupid?"

"The risks of this kind of mission are absolutely not low."

"Furthermore, the content is clearly related to the missing Poison Douluo and Bone Douluo. If you want to die, don't drag me into it."

Xiao Gang glanced at him with dissatisfaction. Out of cowardice and caution, he was completely uninterested and warned Flender to be careful.

Beside them, the equally greedy Xiao Wu was eager to try, whispering to encourage Tang San and Oscar, looking like she wanted to take the mission.

"Forget it, I think Teacher is right."

"Even Title Douluo have met with trouble; the risk for us to go is too high."

"Besides, those generous rewards later are clearly bait. I suspect the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect never intended to give them out."

"If it's just for a few hundred Gold Soul Coins, it's better to fight a few matches in the Spirit Fighting Arena. Alright, let's hurry into the city..."

Tang San shook his head, agreeing with his teacher's view.

Xiao Wu pouted upon hearing this, but she didn't dare to refute him directly.

Oscar, on the other hand, had special feelings for Ning Rongrong, and Bone Douluo was an elder to her.

In his mind, unrealistic considerations emerged: if he could obtain relevant clues, would he be able to win the beauty's heart?

"What on earth are those idiot nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire playing at? Should I find a way to pass the information back home?"

Dai Mubai was also on the side, stroking his chin in thought. Although he had conflicts with his brother Dai Weisi, he was still a prince of the Star Luo Empire.

Seeing the opposing Heaven Dou Empire causing an increasingly large mess, he began to consider using some connections to try and gain benefits from it.

The Shrek group each had their own thoughts.

They were still weighing whether the benefits or the risks were higher.

Meanwhile, within the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Dugu Yan, having learned of the empire's mission, had already formed different plans.

If one were to ask who was the most anxious and concerned about the development of the situation, besides the royal family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it would be this girl.

The Jade Phosphor Serpent bloodline had always been thin, and her grandfather Dugu Bo was her only relative; how could Dugu Yan not be anxious? Previously, her status was low and her words carried no weight, making it impossible for her to influence any decisions.

But now, the empire had provided a new path.

With so many small teams heading to the Sunset Forest to investigate.

If she quietly mixed in, nothing should happen, right? Could a person really be unlucky forever?

It was fine when she had no ideas, but once the thought took root, it could no longer be contained.

Even though her boyfriend Yu Tianheng specifically warned her not to do anything stupid, Dugu Yan still wouldn't listen.

Taking advantage of a gap, she quietly slipped out of the Royal Academy, disguised herself simply, and easily mixed into the Sunset Forest.

By the time the Heaven Dou royal family discovered she was gone, they had no way to remedy the situation, other than feeling annoyed that if Poison Douluo happened to survive, it would be difficult to explain later.

Just like that, Dugu Yan ventured deep inside alone.

Compared to the others, she could be considered well-versed in this terrain.

Having accompanied her grandfather to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well countless times in the past, she knew the surrounding environment like the back of her hand.

Every winding goat path and every inconspicuous cave was etched into her memory, and now, it all came in handy.

I don't believe it, Grandfather would never die so easily!

He must still be alive! That's right! He must still be alive!

Along the way, Dugu Yan kept hypnotizing herself, using it to strengthen her resolve.

It took a full half-day before she finally reached the depths of the forest, where no one else was to be seen.

Relying on her agile movement techniques and her mastery of the terrain, she could see that she was nearing her destination.

But just then, Dugu Yan, currently in a state of stealth, felt her scalp tingle as a surge of "Soul Power," vast as a flood, suddenly pressed down upon her!

"Oh? To think a little mouse could scurry all the way to this location?"

The voice was crisp and masculine; though the speaker was nowhere to be seen, the pressure was suffocating.

Dugu Yan's face was filled with terror as she realized her tracks had been discovered, and she was so frightened she was on the verge of tears.

Following the "fine tradition" of a Spirit Master, she decisively activated her Martial Soul, even though she knew it would be of no use.

A common Jade Phosphor Serpent, similar to the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, manifested before the mysterious powerhouse, quickly drawing a surprised reaction.

"You are... Dugu Yan?"

The sound of rustling leaves echoed through the air.

The next second, amidst Dugu Yan's bewilderment and shock.

The handsome and dashing figure of Long Haochen pushed aside the foliage and flew out, hovering not far before her.

Who is this handsome guy? Why does he know me? He seems to have come from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—could he be the culprit who harmed Grandfather?

In an instant, thoughts raced through Dugu Yan's mind like a revolving lantern, but she remained stunned and sluggish until Long Haochen spoke again.

"Great, we've been waiting for you for a long time!"

"Come with me, your grandfather just happened to step out."

"Hey, why are you just standing there? Hurry up... were you scared? Don't worry, I mean no harm."

"Although we had some misunderstandings with Senior Dugu before, we are all on the same side now..."