Encountering Dugu Bo Again

Yu Tianlong stepped forward, looking at the massive Flame Lion King on the ground, then at the two Luo Sanpao beside him that were working in perfect sync, a satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Well done."

Little Gold deactivated its Golden Dragon Body state; although the consumption had been significant, its spirit remained high. It walked to the side of the Flame Lion King's carcass, lowered its head, and began to greedily devour the flesh and blood, which was rich with potent fire-attribute energy and Bloodline Power.

Little Silver walked to the Flame Lion King's muzzle, absorbing the residual fire essence within its body. For it, the innate fire of this ten-thousand-year Flame Lion King was a rare and exquisite feast.

Yu Tianlong sat cross-legged, guiding the black ten-thousand-year soul ring as it slowly drifted toward him.

The soul ring settled onto his body.

A scorching, explosive surge of Soul Power flooded into his body like molten lava!

It was the Soul Power belonging to the ten-thousand-year Flame Lion King—domineering, searing, and filled with a desire for destruction!

But just as it had been when he absorbed the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's soul ring, the feedback power from Little Gold and Little Silver acted as a guide, and this violent surge of Soul Power was quickly tamed, transforming into pure energy that fused into his limbs and bones.

His Soul Power began to climb rapidly.

Level thirty-six... level thirty-seven... level thirty-eight...

When the soul ring was completely absorbed, Yu Tianlong opened his eyes, two golden flames seemingly dancing within his pupils.

"Level thirty-eight." He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body, and a satisfied arc formed on his lips. "Only two more levels until I reach the Soul Ancestor rank."

He stood up, looked at the carcass of the Flame Lion King that had been "divided up" by Little Gold and Little Silver, then looked at the two Luo Sanpao beside him, whose auras were clearly a cut stronger than before, and his heart was filled with confidence.

Yu Tianlong had just finished absorbing the Flame Lion King's soul ring and was preparing to stretch his limbs when he suddenly sensed a gaze landing on him.

He whipped his head around, his internal Soul Power instantly surging, while Little Gold and Little Silver simultaneously entered a combat stance, emitting low, warning growls in that direction.

But when he saw who it was, all his defenses vanished in an instant, replaced by surprise.

Standing under the shade of a tree not far away was a figure dressed in dark green robes.

The man's dark green hair was somewhat disheveled, and his face looked a few years older than it had months ago, with several new wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. However, those emerald-green eyes were startlingly bright at this moment, staring at him unblinkingly, filled with incredulous joy.

"Senior Dugu!" Yu Tianlong blurted out, his voice laced with irrepressible excitement.

Dugu Bo did not answer immediately. He stood where he was, looking Yu Tianlong up and down as if confirming whether the person before him was truly real.

After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse and trembling slightly: "You brat... you really are still alive."

His tone sounded calm, but Yu Tianlong noticed that his eye sockets were slightly red.

"I knew it, you wouldn't die so easily." Dugu Bo strode over, stopped in front of Yu Tianlong, and raised his hand as if to pat his shoulder, but he left it hanging in mid-air before pulling it back, ultimately letting out a heavy sigh.

"Good... it's good that you're alive... it's good that you're alive..."

Yu Tianlong looked at Dugu Bo's face, which was significantly more haggard than it had been months ago, and a warm current surged through his heart. He knew that this old man truly cared for him.

When he had been betrayed by his family and misunderstood by the entire world, there was still someone worrying about him and running around on his behalf.

"Senior Dugu, I've made you worry." Yu Tianlong bowed deeply.

"None of that empty stuff." Dugu Bo waved his hand, though he couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes. "Come, let's find a place to sit and talk. You need to tell me exactly what happened over these past few months."

The two found a relatively flat rock and sat down. Yu Tianlong told Dugu Bo his experiences exactly as they had happened.

From how Yu Yuanzhen had revealed his true colors in the Star Dou Forest, to how Yu Xiaogang's Luo Sanpao had attempted to devour Little Gold only to be suppressed by dragon might, to his escape into the Star Dou Forest Core Area using Space Jump, where he was saved by Di Tian and the other fierce beasts and spent a month recuperating by the Lake of Life.

Of course, he omitted the parts regarding the Golden Dragon King and Silver Dragon King bloodlines, saying only that he was lucky enough to encounter some friendly high-level soul beasts, without going into detail.

Dugu Bo listened in silence for a long time.

Then, he slammed his fist into the rock beside him, cracking the hard volcanic stone!

"Beasts!" he cursed through gritted teeth, his eyes filled with rage.

"That old thing, Yu Yuanzhen! To think he could do such a thing! To protect his trash of a son, he would even stifle the genius of his own family! And then he turns around and slanders you as a traitor! Does he have no shame left?!"

"Since he dared to do it, he never intended to keep his face," Yu Tianlong sneered. "He figured I was dead anyway, and since the dead can't speak to defend themselves, he can say whatever he wants."

"Then what do you plan to do?" Dugu Bo looked at him. "Just let it go?"

"Let it go?" A cold glint flashed in Yu Tianlong's eyes. "How could I let it go? I, Yu Tianlong, am no saint. If someone is good to me, I will repay them a hundredfold; if someone tries to harm me, I will never let them have an easy time. Yu Yuanzhen, Yu Xiaogang—I will make that father and son pay the price sooner or later."

He paused, his tone returning to calm: "But not now. I'm only level thirty-eight. Even with Little Gold and Little Silver, I'm no match for a Title Douluo. I need time, I need resources, and I need to become stronger."

Dugu Bo looked at him, a flash of approval in his eyes:

"The fact that you can think this way shows that you haven't been blinded by hatred. Very good. Only by enduring for a moment can one achieve great things. Tell me what resources you need. Although I, Dugu Bo, am not from a wealthy or noble family, I can still provide the resources you need for cultivation."

"Thank you, Senior." Yu Tianlong felt a warmth in his heart, then changed the subject: "But before that, there is something more important I need to do."

"What is it?"

"Senior, you sent me a message before saying that you discovered a strange place in the Sunset Forest—a place where a Cold Pool and a Fire Pool coexist, surrounded by all sorts of exotic plants. Do you still remember where that place is?"

Dugu Bo was stunned for a moment, then realized: "You mean that place! Of course I remember. I've been there several times over the past few months, but I don't recognize most of the plants inside, and I didn't dare touch them for fear of poison. Why do you ask?"

Yu Tianlong stood up, his gaze burning as he looked at him: "Because that place might be the key to my true rebirth."

Seeing the seriousness in his expression, Dugu Bo stopped asking, stood up, and brushed the dust off his clothes: "Fine, I'll take you there. Follow me."