Sunset Forest, Jingliu's Mara-Struck State Flared Up

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Xu Yuan had been carried along by big sister Jingliu the entire way.

The two traveled east, crossing the Great Star Dou Forest, their destination located a hundred li east of Heaven Dou City.

Sunset Forest.

Sunset Forest was one of the Heaven Dou Empire's major wild Soul Beast habitats. Though it was not as vast as the Great Star Dou Forest, it still boasted no shortage of high-level Soul Beasts.

When it came to hunting Soul Beasts, Sunset Forest was a uniquely exceptional treasure land.

That was because...

One of the world's three great treasure basins lay here.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!!!

Douluo Continent had three great treasure basins, each gathering the essence of heaven and earth and blessed with unparalleled conditions.

They were—

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Heaven and Earth Valley of Sentiment.

Thousand Suns Burial Dragon—the Burial Ground.

As for the Lake of Life in the Great Star Dou Forest, it was not considered a treasure basin, though it was still an energy-rich land.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was also known as a paradise for plants.

It contained the power of ultimate ice and fire. It was dangerous, yet it nurtured countless heavenly treasures. Any plant within could grow ten times faster.

It awaited those fated to recognize true gold with discerning eyes.

Before long, Jingliu brought Xu Yuan close to their destination.

As far as the eye could see, the sea of green stretched boundlessly. The trees at the outskirts stood nearly twenty meters tall, thick and luxuriant.

The roars of Soul Beasts could occasionally be heard.

"Is this the place, little brother?"

Jingliu stood in the air, wisps of moonlight shields flowing around her to protect them from the fierce winds.

Night was approaching. Ordinary Soul Masters would never dare hunt Soul Beasts after dark.

As the ancients said, never enter a forest at dusk.

But Xu Yuan was not worried in the slightest. With a Peerless Douluo like Jingliu at his side, he felt completely safe.

"Yes, big sister. This is the place."

Xu Yuan nodded.

Jingliu gave a slight nod and was about to continue onward with Xu Yuan when a thought suddenly struck her.

"Little brother, I was so focused on getting you here to hunt a Soul Ring that I forgot your physical condition is far inferior to mine."

"There is no need to rush the hunt. How about... we find somewhere to rest for now and set out again tomorrow?"

After hearing Jingliu's suggestion, Xu Yuan thought it over and agreed.

Sunset Forest was ultimately not comparable to the Great Star Dou Forest. The latter had more Soul Beasts, and his first Soul Ring needed to be selected carefully.

Having made up their minds, the two swiftly descended.

Before long, Jingliu led Xu Yuan to an open area beside a stream.

The surroundings were lush and verdant, with no bushes blocking their view.

There was no need to worry about a nighttime Soul Beast ambush because... Jingliu had not concealed her aura the entire time.

Forget Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts—even Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts...

Even ferocious beasts might not be able to withstand a single move from her!

Xu Yuan hurried forward, swiftly grabbing several Soft Bone Rabbits that had fainted from fright.

"Rabbits are so cute. They must be grilled spicy."

Then he gave them another stab and began preparing the ingredients.

He skinned them, drained their blood, removed their organs, and washed them clean.

Under Jingliu's perception behind her black silk blindfold, Xu Yuan threaded the Soft Bone Rabbit meat onto wooden skewers and brushed them with fragrant oil.

Then he started a campfire and began grilling them.

Seeing this, Jingliu planted her three-foot-seven-inch Tanhua Sword into the ground and sat quietly, her icy, dreamlike figure slender as snow.

The moonlight shone faintly upon Jingliu's white hair.

Jingliu parted her lips, her tone cool.

"Little brother, since fate has brought us together on this journey, there is something I wish to ask."

"You are so young... why did you embark upon the path of the sword?"

In Jingliu's eyes, Xu Yuan's age of around ten was comparable to the childhood of someone from the Xianzhou. Of course... they could also take to the battlefield and kill enemies.

Hearing that, Xu Yuan spoke while grilling the meat.

"Oh, there's no harm in telling you, big sister."

"At first, it was only so I could survive in this unfamiliar world of Soul Masters, Soul Beasts, and the God Realm. Nothing more."

"So, it was for survival."

Jingliu pondered beneath her black blindfold.

"It was also for the dream of my youth—to use the sword in my hand to carve a bright and clear heaven and earth from this chaotic age."

"Then, it was for fame."

Jingliu said softly, her emotions calm.

"Not just that. If I can learn the sword from big sister, then one day, I will surely claim the title of Sword Champion and repay the grace of your teachings."

"Only then will these abilities of mine not have been wasted."

As he said this, Xu Yuan wore a serious expression while flipping the Soft Bone Rabbit meat in his hands.

"In the end, it was for loyalty and righteousness."

Jingliu's face remained cold as she spoke softly.

Next, offense and defense switched places.

"Big sister, then why do you wield a sword?"

Xu Yuan brushed on another layer of fragrant oil and questioned Jingliu in return.

"I, too, was once trapped by fame and fortune, and lingered for affection, loyalty, and devotion. But in the end... they all left this sword behind."

As she spoke, scenes of her past—when the High-Cloud Quintet had stood together and dominated the battlefield—surfaced in Jingliu's mind.

A trace of madness seeped into her previously calm voice.

"Because a sword is a sword, an instrument that severs life and death."

"It is so pure that it cannot tolerate any foreign thing dulling it."

At that moment, the black silk cloth slipped from her eyes.

Revealing a pair of eerie crimson eyes.

This is bad!!

Xu Yuan raised his guard and silently prepared himself.

"Only by walking the Path of Wrathful Fire, the Path of Miserly Blades, and the Path of Foolish Blood, cutting down every obstacle..."

"Can you understand why you wield a sword."

Before her words had faded, Jingliu had already grasped the Tanhua Sword. "Do you understand now, future 'Sword Champion'?"

The breeze stirred as Jingliu raised her face. Under the moonlight, her crimson eyes became a shadow, dark above and bright below.

Her aura was as deep as an abyss and as oppressive as a prison. Her naked edge silently revealed one fact...

Jingliu's mara-struck state had flared up!

She stepped forward several paces, and the two now stood facing one another with swords in hand.

"I wield my sword to kill enemies! Nothing more."

Moonlight flowed across the Tanhua Sword as a frosty aura spread forth. Looking at it for too long made one's eyes ache.

"Our match begins here."

A streak of bloody red light scattered from the corner of Jingliu's eye. She swung the Tanhua Sword and launched an utterly merciless attack.

Of course, because of their contract, Jingliu had already withdrawn the vast majority of her strength.

Clang!

Xu Yuan gripped Dawnmaker with both hands and held it before him, blocking the Tanhua Sword's slash.

The frigid sword intent assaulted him, yet only stirred his fighting spirit.

Was this not his master personally feeding him moves? What Xu Yuan lacked most right now... was combat experience.

And a clear and flawless Sword Heart!!!

Seeing that her strike had failed, Jingliu immediately changed her move.

The Tanhua Sword swept aside the moonlight, slashing out with a murderous crescent sweep.

Danger!

Xu Yuan countered move for move. A surge of Dawnforce erupted from Dawnmaker as he met her attack head-on without retreating.

Boom!

Silver-white moonlight and golden Dawnforce collided, exploded thunderously, and vanished together.

Seeing this, Jingliu launched an assault like a torrential storm.

Clang clang clang—!!!

The two closed in and swung their swords at once. Pale gold and silver-white energy ripples burst outward as the battle gradually escalated.

The moonlight was cold, and sword qi ran rampant!

Even though Jingliu had restrained most of her aura, her battle with Xu Yuan remained devastatingly destructive.

A terrifying aura instantly spread out, sweeping across the entire Sunset Forest and making every Soul Beast tremble.

And this...

Naturally caught the attention of another Titled Douluo within Sunset Forest.

The Poison Douluo—Dugu Bo.

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