Targeting the Heaven Dou Empire! Dugu Yan's Cry for Help?

Meanwhile, Ning Chen stood atop the Emperor-Slaying Sword, speeding through the sky as the wind howled past his ears.

Ning Chen kept considering his next plan.

This trip to Sunset Forest had a clear objective: the Immortal Herbs within the Ice Fire Yin Yang Eyes.

Of course, the Ice Fire Yin Yang Eyes were currently occupied by Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo was a seventy-eight-year-old man known as the Poison Douluo, with Soul Power as high as rank ninety-one.

That old man had a strange temper, killed without blinking, and loved using poison most of all.

Ning Chen knew that he was only rank forty-four. Taking a Titled Douluo head-on would be suicidal.

But Ning Chen was not worried in the slightest.

He was a transmigrator who knew how the plot would unfold. That was his greatest trump card.

Though Dugu Bo was powerful, he had a fatal weakness.

His Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul carried a potent poison that would backfire on its wielder.

Dugu Bo was surely suffering torment worse than death from the poison every day.

More importantly, Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, had inherited the same condition.

Dugu Bo had once watched his own son die from poison. He would never be able to accept his granddaughter following the same path.

Ning Chen sneered. As long as he got a hold on Dugu Yan's illness, he would have Dugu Bo in his grasp.

If Dugu Bo was absent when he reached the Ice Fire Yin Yang Eyes, that would be the best-case scenario.

If Dugu Bo was there, then Ning Chen would negotiate with him. He had a way to treat both grandfather and granddaughter.

Dugu Bo loved Dugu Yan dearly. Once he heard that her illness could be cured, he would definitely cooperate obediently.

But what if that old poison freak had no sense of honor and insisted on fighting?

Ning Chen rubbed his chin. Then he could only bring out his backing.

He was the personal disciple of Spirit Hall's Pope, Bibi Dong—the Holy Son of Spirit Hall.

No matter how arrogant Dugu Bo was, he would not dare casually kill Spirit Hall's Holy Son unless he wanted Bibi Dong to hunt him to the ends of the earth.

Thinking of Bibi Dong, Ning Chen sighed.

He had slipped out in secret this time. Bibi Dong was surely furious.

Perhaps all of Spirit Hall was searching the world for him right now.

He needed to settle this quickly. Once he obtained the Immortal Herbs and Spirit Bones, he had to hurry back and apologize.

As he thought, Ning Chen increased his flying speed.

Two days later, around dusk.

Ning Chen entered the territory of Sunset Forest.

Dark clouds filled the sky, and before long, a light rain began to fall.

Raindrops struck Ning Chen's face, carrying a faint chill.

Because of the rain, Ning Chen could only lower his altitude and fly close to the ground.

After flying for a while, the rain grew heavier and heavier.

Ning Chen looked around and spotted a massive ancient tree ahead. Its thick, lush branches were perfect for sheltering from the rain.

He controlled the Emperor-Slaying Sword and landed steadily beneath the tree.

He then put away his Martial Soul, stood beneath the trunk, and watched the downpour outside.

"Damn it, this weather is terrible," Ning Chen complained.

"Ever since I entered the Heaven Dou Empire's territory, this rain hasn't stopped."

His clothes were soaked through and clung uncomfortably to his body.

Ning Chen circulated the Soul Power within him, and dark-red flames emerged over his body. The temperature around him instantly rose.

In less than ten seconds, his clothes had dried.

Ning Chen withdrew the flames and leaned against the tree trunk to rest.

As he watched the curtain of rain outside, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

"Not good."

Ning Chen abruptly straightened, suddenly remembering something.

The poison in Dugu Bo's body flared up whenever it was gloomy and rainy, and each episode was incomparably painful.

To suppress the poison, Dugu Bo would surely remain near the Ice Fire Yin Yang Eyes, using its extreme cold and extreme heat auras to ease his pain.

"Damn it, my luck is terrible."

"It seems highly likely that Dugu Bo is at the Ice Fire Yin Yang Eyes."

"Tonight is bound to be a hard battle."

Still, Ning Chen did not retreat. Since he had come this far, there was no reason to return empty-handed.

He waited beneath the tree for roughly ten minutes.

The rain gradually weakened, becoming a soft drizzle.

Ning Chen stopped wasting time. He raised his right hand and said:

"Emperor-Slaying, come forth!"

The dark-red Emperor-Slaying Sword then appeared out of thin air, floating before him.

Ning Chen leaped onto the sword. With Soul Power coursing through it, the Emperor-Slaying Sword became a streak of light and carried him toward the depths of Sunset Forest.

Sunset Forest was one of the largest Soul Beast habitats within the Heaven Dou Empire.

It contained countless varieties of Soul Beasts and dangers at every turn.

Ning Chen remained highly vigilant, extending his spiritual power to sense every movement around him.

After flying for about half an hour, Ning Chen heard a faint sound coming from below.

He immediately slowed down and stopped in midair.

Listening carefully, it seemed to be a woman's cry for help.

"Help!"

"Is anyone there?!"

Ning Chen raised a puzzled brow. Why would a woman be crying for help deep within Sunset Forest on such a rainy day?

He then guided the Emperor-Slaying Sword down silently, moving toward the source of the sound.

Ning Chen parted the dense leaves and saw a young woman in green fitted clothes sitting collapsed in the mud below.

She appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old. She was beautiful and had an excellent figure.

But at that moment, her face was filled with terror, and she was deathly pale.

A deep claw wound marked her calf. Blood was pouring from it, staining the rainwater around her red.

A massive Soul Beast stood more than ten meters in front of the girl.

The Soul Beast was nearly five meters long, entirely black, and covered in dark-purple markings.

Its eyes glowed a ghostly green as it stared fixedly at the girl on the ground, occasionally letting out low growls.

Ning Chen recognized the Soul Beast at a glance.

"A Shadow Ghost Leopard."

Judging from its size and markings, this Shadow Ghost Leopard had nearly eight thousand years of cultivation.

Shadow Ghost Leopards were agility-type Soul Beasts. They were incredibly fast, possessed tremendous attack power, and were exceptionally troublesome opponents.

Ning Chen shifted his gaze to the girl on the ground. Three Soul Rings circled around her—two yellow and one purple—and her Soul Power seemed to be only rank thirty-six.

A phantom of a massive green serpent faintly emerged behind her.

The giant serpent flicked its tongue, radiating a foul stench.

The moment Ning Chen saw that Martial Soul, his heart jolted.

"This is... the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul?"

"Holy shit, isn't this Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan?"

Ning Chen immediately confirmed the girl's identity.

In all of Douluo Continent, only Dugu Bo's family possessed the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul.

Ning Chen's thoughts raced. Why was Dugu Yan here?

She should have been the vice-captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Imperial Battle Team and normally stayed in Heaven Dou City.

Besides, the depths of Sunset Forest were so dangerous. How could a rank thirty-six Soul Elder dare enter alone?

Most importantly...

Dugu Bo was extremely protective of his family and treated this granddaughter like the apple of his eye.

Dugu Yan was in such grave danger, so why was Dugu Bo nowhere nearby?

Ning Chen released his spiritual power and carefully searched the surroundings.

There was no trace of a Titled Douluo's aura. Dugu Bo truly was not nearby.

"But... what exactly is going on?"

Ning Chen's heart was filled with doubt.

But doubts aside, Ning Chen knew that his opportunity had arrived.

He had just been wondering how to get a hold on Dugu Bo, and now Dugu Yan had delivered herself right to him.

As long as he saved Dugu Yan, he would earn an enormous favor.

When it came time to negotiate at the Ice Fire Yin Yang Eyes, he would have even greater leverage.

In the clearing below, Dugu Yan gritted her teeth and endured the agonizing pain in her calf.

She stared fiercely at the Shadow Ghost Leopard opposite her and shouted:

"Beast, don't come any closer!"