Found it.
We had to run!
The four of them ran fast. After all, they were deep in Sunset Forest.
One wrong step, and they could run into a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. If they didn't run, what were they supposed to do?
Xu Xiao gazed at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, so near yet so far, and sighed. What you couldn't have would always haunt you—that was exactly how he felt now.
The thing was right in front of them. They could look, but not touch. They couldn't get it.
The four of them didn't slow down until they reached a relatively safe place.
"Big brother, was the place surrounded by poison just now the one we were looking for?" Gui Mei asked as they walked.
All four of them had only one Soul Ring—or rather, Gui Mei hadn't even obtained his first Soul Ring yet. He was still at level ten Soul Power.
The fact that they had made it here so cautiously was already a stroke of incredible luck.
Xu Xiao nodded. "That's the place. It took us nearly two months of searching to find it."
"Sunset Forest is dangerous, and that place is hidden. If we can develop it, it'll be the perfect base for us."
"It's a shame we're too weak to get inside right now."
Xu Xiao sighed. Finding it had already come down to luck. To get inside, they'd need strength.
Dugu Bo nodded in agreement. "Big brother, I have a feeling that once I reach level thirty, I'll be able to develop a poison pill that can keep the toxins out for a short time."
Xu Xiao shook his head. "Dugu, you're oversimplifying things. That poison isn't so easy to deal with."
It was the poison of the Jade Phosphorus Seven-Absolute Flower. Ordinary people really had no way of dealing with it. Even Xu Xiao couldn't do anything about it right now. They'd need someone to take them inside.
The main problem was that they were too weak—so weak that even Xu Xiao found it frustrating.
The other three looked crestfallen, weighed down by the helplessness of guarding a mountain of treasure they couldn't reach...
Xu Xiao sighed too. Did they really have to find a protector?
But right now, aside from Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect, there were only a few other major powers and the imperial family.
No, wait. That wasn't right.
How had he forgotten about that person?
He really was an idiot!
Xu Xiao smacked his own head.
Aside from Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect, there was another incredibly powerful expert around at this time.
That man had dared to challenge Qian Daoliu. Though he had eventually died, his family background was uncomplicated, and all he cared about was the sword.
Xu Xiao figured the other man didn't have to become their protector. Even getting some help would be enough. And if he could get more, that would be fine too.
Thinking this, Xu Xiao looked at Dugu Bo and said, "Let's get out of here first!"
It was still too dangerous to stay in Sunset Forest.
The four of them had a safe place to stay on the outskirts of Sunset Forest. They made their way back there carefully.
Once they arrived, Xu Xiao looked Dugu Bo in the eye. "Dugu, do you know Chen Jianjun?"
Dugu Bo was astonished. His big brother was incredible—he even knew that person.
Dugu Bo nodded. "Big brother, when my father was still alive, he took me to visit Senior Sword Douluo."
"My father was fairly well acquainted with him."
Xu Xiao was overjoyed!
He hadn't expected an unexpected bonus like this. Dugu Bo's late father had connections like that?
Great, great. This would make the bluff even more convincing.
"Can you meet him?"
Xu Xiao was confident that if he could get his things into Chen Jianjun's hands, the man would come looking for him.
Dugu Bo nodded, then shook his head. "Big brother, I'm not sure. My father has passed away, so I don't know if he'll still see me."
Xu Xiao asked, "Could you at least deliver a letter to him?"
Dugu Bo nodded at once. "That won't be hard."
Xu Xiao was delighted. He immediately took out paper and a brush, wrote a few lines in sweeping strokes, then handed them to Dugu Bo.
"Dugu, I want you to deliver this to Chen Jianjun."
"Once he reads it, he'll definitely come to see you. Then bring him to me."
Dugu Bo scratched his head. Just a single sheet of paper? He wasn't sure he believed it.
But even though he had his doubts, Dugu Bo still nodded. "Big brother, I'll go right away."
With that, Dugu Bo left.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei were both dumbfounded. How did their big brother know so many important people?
"Big brother, who is Chen Jianjun?" Yue Guan asked.
Gui Mei looked over curiously too.
Xu Xiao clasped his hands behind his back. "A living legend who's still alive today. Apart from Qian Daoliu, he's the strongest in the way of the sword. He should currently be a level ninety-seven Titled Douluo."
Hiss!
The two of them sucked in a sharp breath. N...ninety-seven? A Titled Douluo?
"Big brother, are you really sure about this? We don't want to play with fire and burn ourselves," Gui Mei said, a little worried.
Xu Xiao shook his head gently. "A swordsman is a sovereign."
"Chen Jianjun's sword won't let it be shrouded in dust!"
If he hadn't suddenly remembered, Xu Xiao would have almost forgotten that this man existed.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei had nothing more to say.
A week later, Dugu Bo appeared in front of a luxurious mansion in Heaven Dou City.
"Please announce my visit. The Dugu Family has come to pay its respects to Seven Kill Douluo with sincere intentions!"
Dugu Bo spoke earnestly. For Xu Xiao's grand plan, he didn't dare act proud. Besides, the other man was a Titled Douluo. Dugu Bo naturally had to show him respect.
The young servant heard that he was from the Dugu Family and wasn't sure what to do, so he went to inform his master.
When Chen Jianjun heard it was someone from the Dugu Family, he hesitated.
The Dugu Family had fallen on hard times. Even if they'd once shared a connection, that connection had surely weakened by now.
After hesitating for quite a while, Chen Jianjun said, "Bring him in. I'll see him."
After this meeting, he would have nothing more to do with the Dugu Family.
That was what Sword Monarch Chen had decided. Some ties had to be severed. He'd help them one last time, since they hadn't been that close to begin with. He could consider himself to have done all he could.
When Dugu Bo learned that the other man would see him, his tense heart finally relaxed. Thank goodness he hadn't ruined his big brother's plan.
When Dugu Bo met Chen Jianjun again, he was a little cautious.
"A boy from the Dugu Family?" Chen Jianjun took a light sip of tea, not even glancing at Dugu Bo below him.
"This junior is Dugu Bo. I pay my respects, Senior. May you enjoy good health!" Dugu Bo bowed respectfully.
Chen Jianjun shook his head gently. "There's no need for formalities. Tell me, what brings you here?"
Dugu Bo could tell the other man didn't care much for him. He quickly came to terms with it. His family had fallen on hard times, and the other man had every right to act this way. It was only natural.
Dugu Bo wasn't annoyed. He said quietly, "Senior, I came to deliver a letter to you."
Oh?
Chen Jianjun paused. He hadn't expected Dugu Bo to come see him just to deliver a letter.
"Heh. Do you know this is your last chance?"
"And all you want is to deliver a letter?"
Chen Jianjun's words drew a solemn nod from Dugu Bo.
"Yes, Senior. I came just to deliver a letter."
"I understand that you seeing me this time is already more than I could have asked for, but I don't regret it!" Dugu Bo spoke sincerely.
Seeing this, Chen Jianjun said no more. It was the other man's choice, and he would have to bear the consequences of whatever choice he made.
"Take out the letter."
He wanted to see what kind of letter could make someone from the Dugu Family willingly go this far.