Needle Against Wheatblade—Whoever Backs Down Is a Dog

News of Spirit Hall sealing off Sunset Forest quickly reached the ears of the major powers.

Faced with Spirit Hall's overbearing actions, the continent's top factions still hesitated. Immortal herbs were certainly precious, but were they truly worth going up against a behemoth like Spirit Hall for?

Yet the most miserable one was still Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo had practically begged heaven and earth, hoping the other factions on the continent would not act so quickly. Yet the very next day, news came that Sunset Forest had been sealed off.

He went numb.

"Supreme Douluo, this old man really thanks you!"

"You're not some living father—you're a living ancestor!"

"My herb garden!"

Dugu Bo threw back his head and howled. At his age, he suddenly felt the urge to cry.

Little did he know that the upcoming Sky Screen broadcast—

Would break Dugu Bo so thoroughly that he would want to hang himself.

Sky Screen timeline—

"Ding! The host has taught the disciple through words and example. The disciple's temperament has improved."

"The role of a teacher is to impart the Dao, teach skills, and resolve doubts. You corrected the disciple's mistaken thinking and changed her actions. This counts as resolving doubts."

"Reward: one sword manual. Please claim it."

"You have successfully triggered a phased growth mission."

"Phased Growth Mission (I): Help the disciple improve her aptitude and strengthen her body. Reward: Hundred Flowers Canon (Medical Canon)."

"Phased Growth Mission (II): Help the disciple raise her cultivation to Soul Emperor. Reward: one selectable Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring."

"Phased Growth Mission (III): Help the disciple understand and skillfully apply her own martial soul. Reward: all Soul Ring ages increased by ten thousand years."

Lu Xuan was slightly taken aback and fell into thought.

So the disciple's growth in temperament also gave rewards?

Deep within his sea of consciousness, he found the sword manual rewarded by the system and discovered that it looked rather familiar.

Nine Swords of Dugu (Fantasy Upgraded Version)

Lu Xuan opened the sword manual. In an instant, a flood of information surged into his mind. He saw a little figure dancing gracefully—Sword-Breaking Stance, Blade-Breaking Stance, Spear-Breaking Stance, Whip-Breaking Stance, Rope-Breaking Stance, Palm-Breaking Stance, Arrow-Breaking Stance, Qi-Breaking Stance...

Nine sword forms, over three hundred variations, all distilled into a single principle:

No form triumphs over form. Attack without defending; strike after the enemy moves, yet arrive first!

Among them, the Arrow-Breaking Stance was known for breaking every hidden weapon beneath heaven. It truly was Tang San's strict father.

A flash of understanding passed through Lu Xuan's eyes.

His hands suddenly itched, but unfortunately, Bibi Dong was the only one before him.

Sigh, reaching the peak really wasn't a good thing. There was no one left to pick a fight with me...

Still.

He truly had not taken this disciple in for nothing. Her reward drop rate was ridiculously high.

Lu Xuan suddenly did not find foolishness so annoying anymore. The more he looked at the sweet and naive Bibi Dong, the more pleasing she became. If she were not foolish, where would she get so much room to improve and drop rewards for him?

Lu Xuan casually pointed at the immortal herbs within the Icefire Yin Yang Well and said to Bibi Dong:

"The Hundred-Thousand-Year Immortal Herbs here can cleanse your marrow, refine your body, and improve your aptitude. You may choose one to absorb."

"If you are lucky, your martial soul may even evolve."

Bibi Dong was somewhat at a loss. Lu Xuan had been far too good to her, to the point that she felt unworthy of it. She had received so much without giving anything in return, and her conscience could not rest easy.

"Teacher, aren't you afraid that everything you give may bring you no return in the future?"

Bibi Dong bit her lip and asked cautiously.

Lu Xuan could not be bothered to indulge her.

"I told you to choose, so choose. Why so much nonsense!"

"Each person can absorb at most one immortal herb. Remember to choose the one that suits you best!"

"There. This is Autumn Water Dew, which can greatly strengthen the spirit and the eyes. This is Qiluo Tulip, which can break through the limits of a martial soul. For example, after a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul user takes it, their martial soul can evolve into a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. This is Narcissus Jade Muscle and Bone, which strengthens the body and also beautifies the complexion..."

"Choose carefully. Absorb it immediately once you have chosen!"

Bibi Dong's beautiful pink-rose eyes looked deeply at Lu Xuan. Though his attitude toward her had always been poor, everything he did was for her sake.

She suddenly found her cold-faced but warm-hearted teacher rather adorable.

Bibi Dong cautiously approached the immortal herbs and began to choose.

Lu Xuan glanced over and realized that this sweet little fool was not quite as stupid as he had imagined. She even knew to release her martial soul and use its feedback to select an immortal herb.

Outside the Sky Screen.

The viewers erupted once more.

"Holy shit, the herbs in there are actually Hundred-Thousand-Year Immortal Herbs! I've never even heard of them. Could they be rarer than hundred-thousand-year soul beasts?"

"Of course! Even a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring or soul bone can't make a martial soul evolve!"

"Improving aptitude, evolving martial souls... This doesn't merely bring tremendous benefits to oneself; it also benefits a family's descendants without end!"

"Supreme Douluo actually gave such immortal herbs directly to Her Majesty the Pope? Just how favored is Her Majesty the Pope by Supreme Douluo?"

Outside Sunset Forest, within a concealed residence.

When Ning Fengzhi heard that Qiluo Tulip could break the thousand-year limit of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and evolve it into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, he abruptly rose to his feet. He stared fixedly at the Sky Screen, his eyes reddening.

What weighing the pros and cons? What calculating gains and losses!

The opportunity was right before him. If he did not fight for it, he would become a sinner of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the future!

No matter what difficulties he faced now, no matter what achievements he made in the future, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's history would only record that Ning Fengzhi had shrunk back in fear and abandoned the chance to break the martial soul's limits and fulfill the sect's thousand-year wish! He would be nailed forever to the pillar of shame!

"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone..."

Ning Fengzhi's voice was hoarse.

He said nothing more, but Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo already understood his meaning.

"Fengzhi, even if it is a dragon's pool and tiger's den, I will protect you as we make the trip!"

Gu Rong smiled and joked:

"These old bones of mine are still quite sturdy, you know~"

Sword Douluo stroked his long sword and said calmly:

"My sword is still sharp as well."

To the side.

Yu Yuanzhen, the sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, and the Clear Sky Sect's Third Elder, shrouded in a black robe, both fell silent.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had already made its stance clear. What would they do?

After a long while.

Yu Yuanzhen said, "Let's try it."

The Clear Sky Sect's Third Elder also said in a deep voice:

"This old man has long wanted to crush Spirit Hall's arrogance!"

Ning Fengzhi straightened up and smiled faintly.

"Good. Then let us charge through the wall of bronze and iron erected by Spirit Hall!"

Within Sunset Forest.

Dugu Bo's expression was gloomy.

He could not get out.

Spirit Hall had laid down a net from heaven to earth. There were at least four Titled Douluo, and faintly, he could sense an aura that made his heart tremble.

In a one-on-one fight... he could not beat a single one of them.

In a group fight... Yanyan could start preparing to collect his corpse.

He had already been driven into a desperate corner.

His only way out was to abandon the Icefire Yin Yang Well and flee in disgrace like a stray dog.

Yet as he looked at the Sky Screen.

Dugu Bo's heart was filled with unwillingness.

Since immortal herbs possessed the heaven-defying effect of changing one's fate and could break the thousand-year limit of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, then why could they not make up for the flaws of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul?

He had already experienced the agony of a white-haired man sending off a black-haired man.

Did he have to watch helplessly as Yanyan, that girl, met a tragic end as well?

A fierce glint flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes.

PS: There's another chapter coming later.