The next morning, when Lu Chen awoke, Bibi Dong was already up.
After a night's rest, she was clearly in much better shape.
The Rakshasa Evil Thought that had been triggered by the name "Xue Qinghe" the day before had been suppressed once more.
And since Lu Chen had stayed by her side through the night, its influence had not spread any further.
After washing up, Lu Chen had breakfast with Bibi Dong.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei were ready as well.
After breakfast, Bibi Dong did not linger at the Spirit Saint Hall.
She had come to Heaven Dou City specifically for the opportunity Lu Chen had told her about, so she naturally would not waste time here.
Before leaving, however, they all put on simple disguises.
Bibi Dong changed out of her conspicuous outfit, while Yue Guan and Gui Mei also restrained their auras.
Lu Chen likewise avoided looking like a core disciple of the Spirit Hall and simply followed quietly at Bibi Dong's side.
They were not doing this because they feared anything.
There was simply no need to attract the attention of the Heaven Dou Empire.
If word got out that Pope Bibi Dong and Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo had appeared in Heaven Dou City together, Xue Ye would certainly lose sleep.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Family would inevitably wonder whether the Spirit Hall was planning something, bringing nothing but unnecessary trouble.
Their destination was Sunset Forest.
The less attention they drew, the better.
Salas personally saw them to the entrance of the hall, still as respectful and cautious as ever.
He did not know where Bibi Dong was going, and he did not dare ask.
The scene he had witnessed the day before still lingered in his mind. Now, when facing Bibi Dong, he hardly dared raise his head.
Bibi Dong gave him a few brief instructions to continue handling the affairs of the Heaven Dou City Spirit Saint Hall, then left with Lu Chen.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei followed alongside them.
The four did not take an ostentatious carriage. Dressed simply, they left the Spirit Saint Hall and headed for the city gates.
Heaven Dou City was already bustling that early in the morning.
More and more people filled the streets, while vendors were setting up their stalls.
Walking beside Bibi Dong, Lu Chen occasionally glanced around but never let his gaze linger.
Once they left Heaven Dou City, the crowds gradually thinned.
Yue Guan glanced ahead and said with a smile, "Xiao Chen, I hope this opportunity of yours is as astonishing as your Soul Ring."
"I don't know exactly what it is either," Lu Chen said. "I just feel a strong pull from my Martial Soul."
The words were half true and half false, but they sounded natural enough.
"We'll find out when we reach Sunset Forest," Gui Mei said quietly.
Bibi Dong looked at Lu Chen, her tone calm. "There's no need to rush. Since it's a guiding sense from your Martial Soul, just follow your instincts."
Lu Chen nodded. "Yes, teacher."
After leaving Heaven Dou City, the four headed straight for Sunset Forest.
Sunset Forest was much closer to Heaven Dou City than Star Dou Forest, but reaching its depths was still no easy task.
Though it was not as vast as Star Dou Forest, it was home to countless Soul Beasts, and its complicated terrain made many areas dangerous in their own right.
Walking beside Bibi Dong, Lu Chen kept his expression calm, though his thoughts remained fixed on the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Without a more precise lead, they could easily waste a great deal of time searching Sunset Forest.
Fortunately, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had some unmistakable features.
A valley, a Poison Array, and Jade Phosphorus Seven Absolute Flowers.
If they found those, they should be able to confirm the location.
After traveling for some time, the four finally reached the outskirts of Sunset Forest.
Bibi Dong stopped and turned to Lu Chen.
"Can you sense the exact location now?"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei looked at him too.
Lu Chen closed his eyes, pretending to concentrate on sensing it.
He slowed his breathing and furrowed his brow slightly, as if he were truly communicating with his Martial Soul.
Bibi Dong did not hurry him.
Yue Guan was curious, but he waited quietly as well.
Only after a moment did Lu Chen slowly open his eyes.
"Teacher, I can only sense the general area."
"Tell me," Bibi Dong said.
Lu Chen gathered his thoughts before speaking. "It should be a valley. Jade Phosphorus Seven Absolute Flowers grow in thick clusters at the entrance. They're poisonous, so ordinary Soul Masters would have a hard time getting close."
At the words "Jade Phosphorus Seven Absolute Flowers," Yue Guan's expression immediately turned more serious.
Lu Chen continued, "It should be somewhere deep in Sunset Forest. I can't be completely sure of the direction yet, but once we get close, I should be able to sense it again."
When he finished, he quietly watched Bibi Dong.
The search area was still quite large.
There was more than one valley in the depths of Sunset Forest, and plenty of places were poisonous.
Still, compared to having no leads at all, they now had a clear target.
Bibi Dong thought for a moment, then said, "In that case, we'll head deeper in."
Yue Guan nodded. "Places where Jade Phosphorus Seven Absolute Flowers grow in dense clusters are uncommon. If we come across those poisonous plants nearby, it shouldn't be hard to tell."
"Let's go in first," Gui Mei said quietly.
The four did not linger and soon entered Sunset Forest.
The outskirts were relatively peaceful. A few low-level Soul Beasts sensed their presence from afar and quickly fled.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei did not even bother to glance at them.
The deeper they went, the more clearly they could sense the Soul Beasts.
From time to time, Soul Beasts watched them from the shadows.
Some instinctively sensed the danger and retreated.
Others were more vicious. After watching for a moment, they attacked outright.
But these attacks barely amounted to anything.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei walked at the front. Whenever a Soul Beast approached, the two did not even need to truly attack. A trace of pressure from a Titled Douluo was enough to send the creatures fleeing in terror.
Those that occasionally came too close were simply sent flying with a casual strike.
Watching this, Lu Chen was not particularly surprised.
Sunset Forest was fraught with danger for ordinary Soul Masters, but in the presence of three Titled Douluos, that danger was naturally reduced to a minimum.
Especially with both Yue Guan and Gui Mei there—one in the open, one in the shadows—they would hardly give any Soul Beast the chance to approach Bibi Dong or Lu Chen.
Along the way, Lu Chen played along with the "sensing" he had mentioned earlier, occasionally stopping to determine their direction.
He could not act too certain, or he would seem strange, but he could not be completely aimless either, or they would just be wandering around for nothing.
So, relying on his memories of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's features, he gradually led them deeper into the forest.
On the first day, they did not find a single valley that matched the description.
At dusk, the four casually found a safe place to rest.
Yue Guan glanced at Lu Chen and said with a smile, "Don't rush, Xiao Chen. Sunset Forest may not be all that large, but finding a hidden valley isn't something you can do in a day or two."
Lu Chen nodded. "I understand."
Bibi Dong added, "If your sense changes, tell me right away."
"Yes, teacher," Lu Chen replied.
Before you continue