Manjusaka

"When we get back to Spirit Hall, you'll find out."

Guang Ling Douluo gave a cold snort of his own, then turned and headed for the cave entrance without looking back.

That left only a resentful-looking Dugu Bo and a helpless Luo Chen.

But the truth wasn't as bad as Dugu Bo imagined. By rights, as a Titled Douluo who had joined Spirit Hall—and had been brought in by Luo Chen himself—Dugu Bo was certainly entitled to know the answer.

But that was exactly where the problem lay.

The answer? Guang Ling Douluo didn't know either.

As things stood, Luo Chen didn't even have an official position in Spirit Hall.

Qian Daoliu had never discussed the matter with them.

Now that Guang Ling Douluo had left, Luo Chen could only look at Dugu Bo and shrug.

"Let's go, Elder Dugu. We really will have to wait until we're back at Spirit Hall before I can tell you."

With that, Luo Chen didn't hesitate. He turned and strode after Guang Ling Douluo.

Clearly, he had no idea what his position was supposed to be, either.

Left alone, Dugu Bo was utterly bewildered, still no closer to learning the truth.

Did he really have no right to know anything?

He was a Titled Douluo, for heaven's sake. Did they really have to treat him like this? Weren't they worried he might jump ship?

As expected, people never valued what came easily.

Though he wanted to curse them out, Dugu Bo still hurried after the others.

Before long, the three of them emerged from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and returned to the outside world.

Dugu Yan was sitting by the cave entrance, eating the dry rations in her hand. When she saw the three of them, she jolted upright.

"Grandpa, and... Luo Chen, and this senior."

Dugu Yan spoke awkwardly, but seeing the three of them emerge on good terms put her at ease.

From where she stood, the three of them had been down there for three whole days. If they didn't show themselves soon, she really would have sneaked down to check whether something had gone wrong.

"Ahem. Senior Dugu Bo, since you've joined Spirit Hall, then your granddaughter..."

Luo Chen cleared his throat. His meaning was obvious.

Dugu Bo's expression stiffened, but in the end, he nodded.

"I know. Don't worry. We're all with Spirit Hall now. If you want some kind of guarantee or token of loyalty, just say the word."

Dugu Yan: "???"

But before she could ask what on earth was going on, the three of them had already vanished.

Only Dugu Bo's transmitted voice remained: "Yanyan, I'll explain everything when I get back. Stay here for now, and don't leave."

Dugu Yan was still confused, but she nodded when she heard Dugu Bo's words.

She cupped her hands around her mouth and called out:

"Don't worry, Grandpa!"

Meanwhile, the three of them had already traveled far.

"What kind of Soul Beast are you looking for, and how old should it be?"

Flying through the air, Dugu Bo scanned the forest below as he asked the other two.

Normally, a Titled Douluo like him wouldn't need to ask such a basic question.

But the person who needed a Soul Ring this time was far too extraordinary.

Luo Chen's Martial Soul, whose name included the word "god," and his astonishing three Soul Rings from a thousand years ago—either one of those would be a bombshell capable of shaking the entire Soul Master World.

So now, he didn't dare be overconfident.

It was better to leave the choice of Luo Chen's fourth Soul Ring to Luo Chen himself. Otherwise, if anything went wrong, Dugu Bo would be the one to suffer.

At Dugu Bo's question, Luo Chen hesitated briefly.

"I don't have any strict requirements for the specific species."

"But as for the Soul Ring's age, it has to be at least ten thousand years old. Ideally, it should be over eleven thousand."

Luo Chen nodded as he spoke.

Dugu Bo had been expecting this, but he still fell silent.

"Do you know that the difference between a thousand-year Soul Ring and a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring isn't just the number of years?"

After much thought, Dugu Bo still decided to remind Luo Chen.

"I know. Soul Shock, right? I can handle it, Elder Dugu. Don't worry."

"You find the Soul Beast. Leave the rest to me and Grandpa Guang Ling."

Luo Chen smiled as he spoke. He'd known about this for a long time, and he was completely confident he could overcome it. There was no need to worry.

Dugu Bo said nothing more and focused on searching for a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

Beside them, Guang Ling Douluo looked as if he wanted to say something.

In the end, though, he kept quiet.

He chose to trust Luo Chen. The boy always managed to surprise and astonish them old-timers in ways they never expected.

Besides, he felt that no Soul Beast could have much of an effect on a Martial Soul with "god" in its name.

Time passed, second by second. They searched from dusk until deep into the night.

Then the night gave way to the following morning.

At last, in the core of the Sunset Forest's deepest reaches, Dugu Bo brought Luo Chen and Guang Ling Douluo to a stop.

"Well, what do you think? Are you satisfied with the Soul Beast up ahead?"

Standing in midair, Dugu Bo pointed toward the distance.

It was a Soul Beast wreathed in darkness.

Or, more accurately, a flower.

"A Plant-type Soul Beast, the Mandala Flower."

Luo Chen recognized the pure-white Plant-type Soul Beast, its body shrouded in black qi.

Shock flashed through his eyes. If he remembered correctly, this kind of Soul Beast was incredibly rare in the world—almost extinct.

Had they really gotten this lucky?

Dugu Bo seemed to see what Luo Chen was thinking. He lifted his head and curled his lip.

"Heh. I came across it in the Sunset Forest a few years ago. Back then, it was only a thousand-year Soul Beast. I don't know what kind of opportunity it devoured, but in just over a decade, it's grown to twelve thousand years."

"When I first saw it, I simply thought a Plant-type Soul Beast like this was far too rare. And since I didn't need to absorb a Soul Ring, I didn't kill it. Who would've thought it would fall into your hands today, kid!"

At that, Luo Chen looked at Dugu Bo with even greater astonishment.

He wondered whether Dugu Bo was extraordinary, or whether the Sunset Forest itself was.

How had all the rare botanical treasures and Soul Beasts in the area ended up crossing Dugu Bo's path?

Did he have some kind of special constitution?

But outwardly, Luo Chen cupped his hands toward Dugu Bo.

"Thank you, Elder Dugu."

Turning around, he looked at Guang Ling Douluo, who stood beside him with his hands behind his back, looking every bit the expert.

"Grandpa Guang Ling, let's do it."

Guang Ling Douluo didn't waste words. He raised his hand and summoned his Martial Soul: a crystalline ice bow.

This ten-thousand-year Manjusaka was indeed powerful, but Guang Ling Douluo was stronger.

After briefly confirming the Manjusaka's core, Guang Ling Douluo raised his bow.

He drew, aimed, and the third Soul Ring beneath him lit up in an instant.

"Third Soul Skill, Frost Ice Wings!"

(The animation and original work don't show any of Guang Ling Douluo's Soul Skills. They're all purely original creations by the author, so please don't flame me.)