Sunset Forest, Dugu Bo Appears

The elders gathered in the Worship Hall, clearly having something important to discuss.

Great Enshrined Qian Daoliu slowly walked to the front and calmly surveyed everyone.

"Everyone, I imagine you've already heard the news from Golden Crocodile. What do you think?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo was the first to stand. "Big brother, I saw it with my own eyes. Little Ban's Soul Ring really did change from yellow to purple. I believe the divine trial truly exists."

"I agree with Second Brother."

Lingyuan Douluo nodded. "There have been legends since ancient times that gods once passed down their legacies on Douluo Continent. Isn't that exactly what our Spirit Hall is?"

"Exactly."

Mighty Lion Douluo nodded. "In any case, we absolutely cannot reveal Ban Shu's existence until he's grown stronger."

Qian Daoliu turned to look at the Angel God Statue. As the Angel Priest, he naturally knew more than they did about what the so-called divine trial entailed.

At the same time, he understood just how valuable a divine inheritor was. To put it bluntly, Ban Shu could even establish an organization on par with Spirit Hall.

After listening to his brothers, Qian Daoliu said nothing. He slowly walked to the Angel God Statue, knelt before it, and closed his eyes in prayer.

A short while later, the Angel God Statue gave off a few faint glimmers. Then Qian Daoliu opened his eyes. Through that prayer, he had received the answer he wanted from his patron god.

Without another word, Qian Daoliu strode out of the Worship Hall. The elders behind him looked at one another, none of them understanding what he intended to do.

Only Golden Crocodile caught on. He hurried after him.

After leaving the Worship Hall, Qian Daoliu flew straight to the Pope Palace. Golden Crocodile Douluo and the others followed close behind.

"Father?"

Qian Xunji, who was working in the Pope Palace, was astonished to see Qian Daoliu emerge from the Worship Hall.

Qian Daoliu paid him no mind. Once Golden Crocodile and the others had arrived, he used his Soul Power to block all information from escaping the area. Only then did he speak.

"Ji'er."

"Father." Qian Xunji hurried forward and bowed respectfully.

"Starting today, Ban Shu will serve as Spirit Hall's Saint Son. Notify all the Titled Douluo elders. For now, keep this secret from everyone below their rank."

"I understand!"

Qian Xunji nodded quickly, then looked at Qian Daoliu in confusion. "Father, why the sudden decision?"

"It's the Angel God's will."

After saying this, Qian Daoliu fell silent and strode away.

"The Angel God?"

Hearing this, Qian Xunji didn't dare delay. He went to make the announcement himself.

"Big brother, there's one more thing."

Back in the Worship Hall, Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly remembered what Ban Shu had told him. "Ban Shu said that his god guided him to Sunset Forest, and that there are Immortal Herbs inside."

"Immortal Herbs?"

Qian Daoliu paused. He knew what they were, of course, but at his level, they would offer him little improvement. They would be quite useful for others, though.

"In that case, I'll go with him to Sunset Forest myself."

Qian Daoliu made the decision on the spot. With the Angel God's instructions, he would protect Ban Shu with everything he had.

"What?"

The other elders were all astonished by Qian Daoliu's words. It seemed Ban Shu really was important; otherwise, the Great Enshrined, who hardly ever left the Worship Hall, wouldn't have gone in person.

"Teacher, are you saying I'm the Saint Son now?"

Ban Shu stared blankly as he accepted the token of Spirit Hall's Saint Son from Qian Xunji. Everything had happened so quickly that his mind had gone completely blank.

"That's right."

Qian Xunji nodded and smiled as he patted Ban Shu on the shoulder. "My father—that is, Great Enshrined Qian Daoliu—said so himself. You're the real deal."

"But why?"

"My father said it was the Angel God's will."

At that, Ban Shu finally understood. So that was it. They might not know about the God of Destruction, but the Angel God did, didn't she?

In truth, the argument between the God of Destruction and Asura God had already spread throughout the Divine Realm. They were fighting over an inheritor, both eager to retire early. There was no way the Angel God hadn't heard about it.

After all these years, they'd finally come across someone worthy. Either of them would make a fine successor, so of course they'd fight tooth and nail for him.

And now Qian Daoliu had suddenly announced that he had a divine inheritor here. The meaning was clear: the one the God of Destruction and Asura God wanted was in her territory. What else could she do but treat him like a treasure?

An exploration team made up of Qian Daoliu, Qian Xunji, Golden Crocodile Douluo, Ban Shu, and Bibi Dong had arrived outside Sunset Forest.

With a lineup this impressive, I'd believe you if you said they were going to fight Di Tian.

"Xiao Ban, are you sure it's in there?"

Qian Daoliu looked at Sunset Forest. He knew this place, and there was nothing remarkable about it.

"Mm."

Ban Shu nodded. "I'm sure. That god told me so."

"All right. Stay here and don't wander off. I'll be right back."

Qian Daoliu nodded and summoned his Angel Spirit. Pure white wings spread from his back. A breeze swept past, and he vanished in an instant.

"So fast!"

Ban Shu marveled inwardly. As expected of a level-ninety-nine Titled Douluo. It looked like they'd find the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well soon.

In the forest, Qian Daoliu released his spiritual power in every direction, continuously searching for anything that seemed out of place.

After scanning more than half the forest, he finally sensed an unusual aura deep within, in a basin surrounded by mountains.

When he reached the place he had detected, Qian Daoliu looked at the poisonous miasma encircling it and frowned slightly. "Is this the place? To think..."

"Who are you?"

At that moment, a figure hurried over. Seeing Qian Daoliu's back, he couldn't help but call out, "Sir, please turn back. This is where I practice with poisonous miasma. Go any farther and you could lose your life!"

"Oh?"

Qian Daoliu slowly turned around, his voice utterly calm. "Then I'd like to see just how dangerous your poisonous miasma is."

That man was none other than the future Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo. A faint green tinge had already appeared at the tips of his hair, a clear sign that the poison had begun to eat away at him. He simply hadn't realized it yet.

He was only checking whether the nearby area was suitable for practicing poison arts. He still knew nothing about the secrets of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

"Why won't you listen?"

Dugu Bo was helpless. Although he had an eccentric personality, he didn't kill people indiscriminately. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been studying poisons in these remote mountains.

"The poison here is extremely potent. Even an ordinary Soul Saint couldn't withstand it. Hurry up and leave."

At this, Qian Daoliu chuckled. "A Soul Saint? Why don't you take a look at my cultivation and see what level I'm at?"

As his words fell, the aura of a Titled Douluo erupted from Qian Daoliu.