Dugu Yan stood to the side with her arms crossed. Though she still had faith in Yu Tianheng, thinking of Meng Chen's absurd Soul Ring configuration kept her from chiming in.
Yu Feng sidled up to Yu Tianheng and whispered, "Brother Tianheng, let me know before you challenge him next time so I can bet on Meng Chen in advance."
"Get lost!"
Yu Tianheng raised his foot to kick him, but Yu Feng had been prepared and swiftly ducked behind Osler.
As everyone fooled around, Ye Lingling walked over to Meng Chen and took the initiative to greet him.
"Meng Chen, congratulations on breaking through to Soul Ancestor."
Meng Chen turned to her with a smile. "Sister Ling Ling, long time no see."
He called her Sister Ling Ling so naturally that Ye Lingling froze for a moment.
Six years ago, her mother had wanted to adopt Meng Chen. If it had worked out back then, Meng Chen truly should have called her sister.
Although the two had missed out on six years of growing up together, she did not dislike that form of address.
"Mother already knows that you've broken through to Soul Ancestor."
"She asked me to ask whether you have time to visit our home tomorrow. While you're there, you can also check whether any pages are missing from those medical texts."
Meng Chen did not think much of it and agreed right away.
"Alright, I'll come by tomorrow morning."
Ye Lingling nodded and arranged a time with Meng Chen.
However, after hearing their conversation from the side, Dugu Yan felt that things were not so simple.
Ye Cixin had not invited him earlier or later, but had chosen to invite Meng Chen to the Ye Residence right after he broke through to Soul Ancestor. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like she was trying to get a head start on claiming him.
But there were too many people around to question it now, so she merely planned to interrogate Ye Lingling properly after they returned.
After parting ways with Yu Tianheng and the others, Meng Chen returned to the dormitory building, where Xiao Wu was still awake.
Though it was already late, she sat in the living room clutching the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, with food she had saved for Meng Chen laid out on the table.
When she saw Meng Chen push open the door and enter, Xiao Wu smiled and immediately rose to greet him.
"A-Chen, what did that prince want with you? Why are you back so late?"
"He wanted to recruit me and offered some resource channels, but I didn't agree to join the royal family."
Meng Chen briefly explained what had happened that night, then brought up his visit to the Ye Residence the next day.
The moment Xiao Wu heard that Ye Lingling had personally invited Meng Chen, she immediately hugged his arm tightly.
"I'm going too."
"The last time you went to the Ye Residence alone, you were acting strange when you came back. This time, I'm coming with you."
Meng Chen thought of Ye Cixin's overly enthusiastic hospitality.
If he went alone again, he might not be able to handle it. Bringing Xiao Wu would be safer.
Meng Chen pinched Xiao Wu's cheek. "Alright, I'll take you with me tomorrow."
"But Aunt Ye only invited me to look through medical texts. You're not allowed to cause trouble."
"I wouldn't cause trouble."
Satisfied, Xiao Wu released him and urged Meng Chen to eat.
By the time Xiao Wu returned to her room to rest, night had completely enveloped the academy.
Meng Chen did not go to sleep. Instead, he went to the study and recopied several precious medicinal herbs recorded in the Ye Family's medical texts.
Although he had already taken the immortal herbs from the Icefire Yin Yang Well, there were still many medicinal herbs there that were difficult to find in the outside world.
Moreover, Ye Xishui intended to set up a soul tool array around the outskirts of the Icefire Yin Yang Well, turning it into a hidden research site.
This could not be delayed for too long. Otherwise, once Dugu Bo strengthened his defenses, entering the herb garden would only become more troublesome.
Meng Chen put away the list of medicinal herbs. "Aunt Ye, let's go."
A scarlet glow lit up the study, and Ye Xishui appeared.
Meng Chen said to Ye Xishui, "It has been some time since Dugu Bo discovered that his herbs were stolen. If that old poisoner isn't stupid, he'll most likely be guarding the herb garden tonight. I'll have to trouble you then, Aunt Ye."
Ye Xishui nodded, and the power of space enveloped them both.
Scarlet light flashed. Meng Chen felt the world spin around him, and before long, they had traveled from Heaven Dou Royal Academy to the skies above Sunset Forest.
The two did not descend directly into the Icefire Yin Yang Well. Instead, they stopped outside the mountain hollow.
Though everything below appeared no different from before, Meng Chen quickly noticed a faint fishy sweetness mixed into the smell of sulfur in the air.
Poison!
Once someone intruded, the poisonous mist would spread with the heat and seal off the entire mountain hollow.
"Looks like Dugu Bo really has been waiting for us."
A glint flashed in Meng Chen's eyes.
He took out the Aromatic Silk Beauty. A layer of anti-poison radiance enveloped him and Ye Xishui, keeping the surrounding toxins at bay.
Ye Xishui, meanwhile, looked toward the stone wall on the right side of the hollow. Though there were no Soul Power fluctuations there, she had long sensed a figure concealing his aura.
"That old poisoner is hiding by the stone wall on the right. Shall I drag him out?"
"Not yet."
Meng Chen did not expose Dugu Bo. Instead, he and Ye Xishui descended straight into the herb garden.
The instant their feet touched the ground, the poison array around them activated.
Dense green poisonous mist poured out from cracks in the mountain walls, then sealed the exit above. Even the vapor rising from the Icefire Yin Yang Well was dyed green.
Yet whenever the poisonous mist came within thirty feet of the Aromatic Silk Beauty, it automatically retreated to either side.
Meng Chen looked around and found that Dugu Bo had marked the spots where immortal herbs had been picked last time.
Several bait herbs had also been placed beside the soil, clearly intended to determine whether the intruder would continue harvesting.
"Poison Douluo, after waiting so long, aren't you going to come out and meet us?"
Meng Chen's voice echoed through the herb garden, but the stone wall to the right remained still.
However, a few breaths later, a highly venomous python crawled from a crack in the rocks, bared its fangs, and lunged at the back of Meng Chen's neck.
Meng Chen did not turn around. The Thunder Hell Vine had already risen from the ground and accurately wrapped around the venomous python.
Lightning erupted, and the python instantly dissolved into a cloud of poisonous mist.
"Your reactions are quite fast."
An aged voice came from the right, and Dugu Bo finally revealed himself.
He stood atop the stone wall, his dark green robe fluttering in the wind, his emerald hair draped over his shoulders. Nine Soul Rings rose around him one after another.
"I waited so long, thinking a few sneaky rats would show up."
"But I never expected the one who stole my herbs to be some brat still wet behind the ears."
Dugu Bo did not attack immediately. Instead, he focused his attention on Ye Xishui.
He could not discern this woman's Soul Power cultivation, nor could he sense any martial soul aura from her.
But someone who could ignore the outer poison array and accompany Meng Chen into the herb garden could not possibly be ordinary.
Dugu Bo raised his right hand, and the poisonous mist throughout the mountain hollow began to contract.
Though he had confidence in his Serpent Emperor Poison, rashly attacking an unknown powerhouse would not be wise.
"Speak. Who are you, and why did you steal my herbs?"
"If you cannot give me an answer that satisfies me, neither of you will leave tonight."
Hearing the threat, Ye Xishui raised her hand, ready to suppress Dugu Bo.
But Meng Chen reached out to stop her and walked over to the Aromatic Silk Beauty himself.
"Senior, I was indeed in the wrong for taking them without permission."
"That is why I returned tonight: to compensate you for your losses and discuss a deal with you."
Dugu Bo snorted coldly.
"You stole more than a dozen of my precious medicinal herbs, and now you think one mention of compensation will make it all go away?"
"Hand over every one of those herbs first, then sever one of your arms. Only then might I consider letting you leave alive."
At those words, the space around Ye Xishui immediately twisted faintly.
Though she had not released her martial soul, a pressure far exceeding that of a Titled Douluo had already enveloped the herb garden.
Dugu Bo's body sank, and the stone wall beneath his feet cracked.
He immediately released his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul to resist, but the pressure continued to intensify, pinning him in place.
"Aunt Ye, don't attack yet."
Meng Chen spoke again, and only then did Ye Xishui withdraw her power.
Though the pressure had lasted only a few breaths, Dugu Bo had already confirmed that this woman's cultivation was far above his own.
He did not retreat. Instead, he kept his eighth Soul Ring ready to activate at any moment.
"No wonder you dared to trespass into my herb garden. You have a powerhouse behind you."
"But if you think you can seize it by force through superior cultivation, then even if I destroy this place, I won't let you have your way."
Before you continue