Fake? Xue Qinghe's Fury!

Crown Prince's Palace.

Reception room.

Xue Qinghe took out a palm-sized, crystal-clear sapphire-blue triangular pyramid. Its surface bore rippling patterns like water.

"This is what you wanted."

"Now let's discuss the deal you mentioned before."

Chu Lan held the triangular pyramid suspected to be the "Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud" in his hand.

After examining it, he poured Soul Power into it.

However...

Nothing happened!

Chu Lan's expression darkened. He glanced at Xue Qinghe and set the triangular pyramid back down.

"What deal did you want to discuss with me?"

Xue Qinghe frowned. "The premise of a deal is that both parties possess something the other needs. So... do you have what I need?"

"And can you give me what I want?" Chu Lan narrowed his eyes at Xue Qinghe.

Xue Qinghe said in a low voice, "What do you want?"

Chu Lan rose to his feet, straightened his collar, and said blandly, "Forget it. I don't make deals with people who lack integrity. You no longer have any credibility with me."

"What do you mean by that?" Xue Qinghe abruptly stood up, feeling as though his character had been insulted.

"You think I don't know what the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud does? You brought out a fake to fool me!" Chu Lan pointed at the "Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud" on the table, his face filled with disdain.

"Looks like there's no way you can hand over the real Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud within a month."

"Our agreement is canceled."

"But!"

"You killed one of my people without giving me the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, so you owe me a favor."

Chu Lan's expression remained blank.

As for Xue Qinghe's icy gaze, he ignored it completely.

"If you can give me the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, then all grudges between us will be written off. From then on, we'll keep out of each other's way."

"Of course..."

"If you fail to obtain the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, you can still come find me for tea."

"However, you'll have to reveal your true form."

Chu Lan gave a teasing smile and left directly.

Xue Qinghe did not stop Chu Lan from leaving.

After Chu Lan left, he picked up the "Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud" and examined it carefully, his brows tightly furrowed.

As for this national treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, he had only heard of it. He did not even know how to use it or what it specifically did, much less how to tell a real one from a fake.

Therefore...

Even after inspecting it for a long time, he remained utterly baffled.

"A fake?"

"Chu Lan has no reason to lie, so there's only one possibility... Damn it!"

"I've been played!"

Xue Qinghe's face darkened.

He should have realized it sooner!

As a national treasure, there was only one Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. How could it possibly have been left sitting in the treasure vault?

If it was not in the treasure vault, then it could only be with one person—Xue Ye!

Bang!

Xue Qinghe violently smashed the "Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud" to the ground!

A crisp sound echoed through the reception room as fragments scattered across the floor.

"It really was fake!"

Xue Qinghe clenched his teeth, furious beyond measure.

Lately, nothing had gone his way!

First, Chu Lan had exposed his identity and threatened him. Then he had been deceived, and now Chu Lan had even humiliated him, making him out to be a liar!

Outside the gates of the Crown Prince's Palace.

Chu Lan left in Moonlight Pavilion's carriage, while Tang Yuehua had been waiting inside.

The moment she saw Chu Lan's expression, Tang Yuehua sensed something was wrong. Thus, she said nothing, unwilling to provoke him further.

Time passed swiftly. Three months later.

Within the Star Dou Great Forest, an old man and a young man moved rapidly through the woods.

They were none other than Chu Lan and Dugu Bo.

They had now crossed the mixed zone and entered the core zone.

"It's only your fifth Soul Ring. Was there really any need to venture this deep...?"

Dugu Bo stared at Chu Lan speechlessly.

Chu Lan's Soul Power had now reached level fifty.

With his powerful physique and resilient spiritual power, he had chosen a Soul Beast between thirty thousand and fifty thousand years old—and it had to possess an exceptionally powerful bloodline!

Like the Sacred Nether White Tiger he had absorbed for his fourth Soul Ring!

"Although the mixed zone has Soul Beasts I need, the area is too vast, making them hard to find."

"The core zone is dangerous, but the Soul Beasts gathered here are all powerful rare Soul Beasts with strong bloodlines."

"The area is smaller, so they're easier to locate."

Chu Lan swept his gaze across the surroundings, remaining cautious to prevent a Soul Beast from suddenly rushing out to attack him.

"You really treat this old man like a pack mule!"

"You look down on the perfectly good Sunset Forest and insist on coming to the Star Dou Great Forest!"

Dugu Bo shook his head with a sigh.

What a hassle!

"Hey... can you stop complaining already? You're a Titled Douluo!"

Chu Lan curled his lip and gave him a contemptuous look.

"You still remember that I'm a Titled Douluo!"

"How do you speak to a Titled Douluo? Do you even know how to write the word 'respect'?"

Like an old child, Dugu Bo bared his teeth and claws, pouncing at Chu Lan with a vicious expression.

"This Titled Douluo still needed a kid like me to save his life!"

"Without me, you'd still be stuck at level ninety-one, with no chance of reaching level ninety-three in this lifetime!"

Chu Lan shot back without any courtesy.

Dugu Bo had only been able to reach level ninety-three thanks to that Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid!

The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid could stabilize one's foundation, replenish one's vitality, remove impurities from the body, cleanse the meridians, and consolidate the foundation of one's Soul Power. It was suitable for every Titled Douluo whose cultivation had been progressing slowly!

Moreover, Dugu Bo's body had suffered years of toxin erosion, leaving him riddled with hidden injuries. He had desperately needed an Immortal Herb like the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid!

Dugu Bo's cultivation had now soared, his hidden injuries had completely vanished, and his potential had risen as well.

In the future, he might even break through to level ninety-five.

Just as the two bickered and roughhoused, a beastly roar suddenly came from the forest ahead.

They both turned toward it at once.

"Get behind me!"

Dugu Bo immediately shielded Chu Lan behind him. His brows drew together as his vigilance rose to its peak.

He had only visited the core zone of the Star Dou Great Forest once, when he had come to seek his ninth Soul Ring before breaking through to Titled Douluo!

But even that single visit had taught him just how dangerous the Star Dou Great Forest's core zone was!

Tiger Soul!

Chu Lan summoned Tiger Soul and gripped it in advance.

If anything unexpected happened, he would not be caught unprepared.

The two moved swiftly. Once they reached the source of the roar, they saw two enormous bears with dark golden fur.

Not far away stood another similar bear, though smaller in size, walking farther away.

"I get it..."

Dugu Bo studied the scene before him and muttered.

"What do you get?"

Chu Lan was thoroughly puzzled.

"These two bears are males. They're fighting for mating rights with that female bear."

Dugu Bo smiled confidently.

Chu Lan froze.

What an odd train of thought...

But it was actually possible!

"This bear species is..."

Chu Lan took out the Encyclopedia of Soul Beasts, opened it, and began searching for information on the Soul Beasts before them.

"You're reading now?" Dugu Bo was somewhat dumbfounded.

"Sharpening the spear before battle is better than not sharpening it at all." Chu Lan rolled his eyes at Dugu Bo and kept flipping through the pages. Soon, he found the information on the bears before them.

"These are Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bears, extremely powerful Soul Beasts. Among Soul Beasts of the same age, few can match them!"

"Senior, it's your turn. Go!"

Chu Lan pointed at the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bears and shouted in a low voice.

"Get lost!"

"Do you take me for your servant?"

Dugu Bo glared at Chu Lan, snatched the book away, and began reading it on his own.