Dugu Yan: How Could My Grandfather Be in Trouble?

"So, I need you to come with me."

"Me?"

"A treasure trove like the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well might already be occupied by some powerhouse. It wouldn't be safe for me to go alone."

"Your portal can whisk us away at any moment, and your strength provides me with a high level of security."

Ti Bao tilted her head.

"Dean, aren't you capable of defeating a hundred-thousand-year soul beast?"

A flicker of fear crossed Ye Qiong's eyes.

"My body isn't immune to poison."

"If the opponent happens to be a master of toxins, I might end up lying dead before I even catch a glimpse of what the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well looks like."

"That would be too embarrassing."

Ti Bao couldn't help but chuckle.

She hadn't expected that her Dean, despite his formidable strength, would be so excessively cautious.

With that, she nodded and said with a smile:

"Fine, I'll go with you. Leaving now?"

"Right now."

Upon hearing this, Ti Bao raised her right hand. The next second, a golden triangular gate slowly pulled open in the center of the office.

Seeing this, Ye Qiong stepped quickly into it.

Sunset Forest.

The surroundings were silent, save for the faint sounds of birds and beasts.

However, at that moment, a golden rift suddenly tore open in the air, startling the nearby wildlife.

The rift vanished in a flash, and the next second, two figures appeared in the woods.

It was Ye Qiong and Ti Bao.

Ye Qiong looked around, and after confirming the location was correct, he let out a sigh of relief.

"We've arrived. This should be the Sunset Forest."

Ti Bao stood beside him.

"Dean, where exactly is the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well located?"

Ye Qiong shook his head and pulled a map from his robes.

"I only know we are in the Sunset Forest, but I don't know the exact coordinates."

"However, I have a clue: as long as we find a mountain that is half-covered in ice and half-engulfed in flames, we'll be there."

Ti Bao heard this, tapped her chin with her finger, and looked thoughtful.

"A mountain that is half ice and half fire shouldn't be too hard to identify."

"Exactly. Such a feature is very distinct, and since it's a mountain, we should be able to find it quickly if we search carefully. Let's go."

After saying this, Ye Qiong put away the map and took the lead, walking forward.

Seeing this, Ti Bao followed after him.

A clearing on the outskirts of the Sunset Forest.

A thousand-year-level soul beast lay in a pool of blood, transforming into a purple soul ring.

A young girl sat cross-legged beside the carcass, closed her eyes, and circulated her soul power to draw the soul ring toward her.

A little further away, a middle-aged woman stood with her arms crossed, watching the girl.

"This soul ring is seventeen hundred years old. Will Yue'er really have no trouble absorbing it?"

The one speaking was another girl who looked identical to the one on the ground.

She was the girl's older sister, Shui Bing'er, and the middle-aged woman was the Dean of Tianshui Academy.

At this moment, she was watching her younger sister, Shui Yue'er, her face full of worry.

The Dean shook her head.

"Bing'er, Yue'er's physical constitution is different from ordinary soul masters. She has practiced in an extremely cold environment since she was young, and her meridians are much tougher than those of her peers. It's just a seventeen-hundred-year soul beast; she can handle it."

Shui Bing'er wanted to say something more, but a girl with long green hair leaned in from the side.

"Student Shui Bing'er, don't you worry. My grandfather has even praised Student Shui Yue'er's constitution; she will be fine."

Shui Bing'er glanced at her and offered a forced smile.

"Thank you, Dugu Yan."

The girl called Dugu Yan waved her hand, her gaze drifting back to Shui Yue'er as her thoughts wandered far away.

Why hasn't Grandfather returned yet?

He had clearly promised to bring her to the Sunset Forest to find a place to suppress her toxicity.

Instead, he had left her at the wooden cabin on the outskirts, telling her to wait while he went deep into the forest to scout the path alone.

She had been waiting for two whole days now.

These past two days, she had been bored out of her mind.

Fortunately, some people from Tianshui Academy had passed by, allowing her to join them.

The dean of Tianshui Academy was bringing Shui Yue'er to hunt for a spirit ring, and since she was already somewhat acquainted with the group, it was only natural that she tagged along.

Wait, could something have happened to Grandfather?

However, she quickly dismissed the thought.

How could that be possible?

Her grandfather was a Titled Douluo; there were only a handful of people on the entire Douluo Continent capable of harming him.

She was just scaring herself.

Inside the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

A figure slammed heavily into the ground, coughing up a streak of blood.

It was an old man.

He struggled to crawl up, but the excruciating pain in his chest made it impossible for him to even straighten his back.

He could only glare with indignation at the gray-haired man standing before him.

At this moment, the gray-haired man was resting a baseball bat on his shoulder with one hand, his posture casual and indulgent.

He was none other than Ye Qiong.

"Poison Douluo? You don't look like much."

Ye Qiong tapped his shoulder lightly with the baseball bat, his eyes filled with a hint of disdain as he looked at the old man.

Dugu Bo gritted his teeth, barely managing to prop up his upper body.

"Who... exactly are you?"

Ye Qiong smiled, patting the baseball bat with his left hand.

"Me? I'm just a passing Pathfinder."

Dugu Bo's pupils constricted sharply. He had never heard the word "Pathfinder" before.

But he had no time to ponder it; the broken ribs in his chest made even breathing a struggle.

Ye Qiong looked around, then glanced back at Dugu Bo.

"Although you found this place first, treasures of heaven and earth have always belonged to the strong, and you have already lost."

Dugu Bo laughed in extreme anger.

"You arrogant brat, how dare you!"

"You are merely a Spirit Saint; you must have used some secret technique to defeat this old man. If we were to compare true cultivation, you wouldn't even be worth a single hair on my head."

Ye Qiong shrugged and waved his hand indifferently.

"Just tell me whether you lost or not. If you're not convinced, you are welcome to challenge me at Omphalos Academy in Soto City anytime."

Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes, just about to say something more, when his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the valley entrance.

He saw a woman walking slowly from the entrance, her demeanor incredibly composed.

Yet, the aura radiating from her made Dugu Bo feel as if he were looking at an ancient goddess!

Dugu Bo weighed the situation for a moment.

In the end, he swallowed the harsh words that were about to spill from his lips.

As long as the green hills remain, there will be firewood to burn!

In a word: run!

Thus, he struggled to climb up from the ground and stared at Ye Qiong, asking, "Little brat, give me your name."

Ye Qiong smiled, making no effort to hide it.

"I do not change my name or surname wherever I go; I am Ye Qiong."

Dugu Bo glared at Ye Qiong through gritted teeth, as if trying to etch his appearance deep into his memory.

"Ye Qiong... is that so? Very well. I have noted today's humiliation."

Having said that, he spoke no more. Dragging his injured body, he turned and walked toward the valley exit without looking back.

Watching his silhouette disappear at the mouth of the valley, Ye Qiong finally put away his baseball bat and looked at Ti Bao.

"The nuisance is finally gone. I didn't expect him to be so fragile; it wasn't quite satisfying enough."

Hearing this, Ti Bao looked at Ye Qiong and offered a helpless smile.

Who was it that had dragged her here earlier, claiming to be afraid?

Just then, Ye Qiong pulled a booklet from his embrace.

"Here, this manual is for you."

Ti Bao took the booklet and, upon seeing it, was instantly startled.

"This is..."