Reaping the Rewards

Just as everyone's nerves drew taut, Lu Xuan spoke in a low voice, overturning their earlier guess.

"Master, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger isn't hunting them at will," Lu Xuan said. "The forest's powerful Soul Beasts have banded together to fight back. They're surrounding the intruder!"

Lu Xuan focused on the surges of Soul Power deep in the woods. "Look over there. Seven or eight distinct auras are tangled together!"

"And two more are deliberately hiding in the shadows," Dugu Bo added with a frown. "The weakest of those Soul Beasts has cultivated for at least fifty thousand years. Several of those immense auras may have reached the hundred-thousand-year level!"

Zhao Yan stared at the waves of Soul Power rolling through the distant trees, astonishment showing on his face. "The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger is that strong?"

He had thought the beast could, at most, threaten Dugu Bo. He had never imagined it could hold its own against several Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts at once.

If he could bring down the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger and absorb its Soul Ring, he would surely gain a terrifyingly powerful Soul Skill.

But the moment the thought arose, Zhao Yan pushed it aside as unrealistic.

His Phoenix Crying Spear Martial Soul had already absorbed eight Soul Rings from fire-attribute Soul Beasts, building on the same foundation throughout.

There was no reason to fuse it with the Soul Ring of a tiger whose attributes clashed with it at the very end.

"What a shame. Not one Soul Bone among these bodies."

While Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin quietly assessed the situation, Dugu Xin had cut open the Soul Beasts' bodies and inspected them one by one.

None of the beasts had been young, yet his search had yielded a single Soul Bone.

"Uncle Dugu, there are several more Soul Beasts fighting over there!" Lu Xuan said just as Dugu Bo prepared to lead everyone away. "If they're locked in battle, couldn't we wait and reap the rewards?"

"You've got some nerve, kid!" Before Dugu Xin could answer, Dugu Bo shot Lu Xuan an exasperated look. "They already know we're here! Ever since we entered this area, those beasts have been fighting to the death while keeping an eye on us."

"If we rush in, they'll stop at once and turn on us together!"

"Then forget it!"

Lu Xuan wanted to profit from their fight, but only if he lived to claim the prize.

He was still only a Soul Elder. Even at full strength, he could handle no more than a Soul Beast barely past the ten-thousand-year mark.

Every combatant over there had cultivated for at least fifty thousand years! If he ventured too close, even the shockwaves from their battle could overwhelm him.

"I'll escort you out first!" Temptation flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes, and he licked his lips. "Once you're safe, I'll come back and keep watch. I might get a chance to collect a few Soul Bones."

"I'll go with you," Zhao Yan offered, looking around at the others. "I may only be at level ninety, but my Phoenix Crying Spear Martial Soul has already transformed, and I have Soul Bones to strengthen me. I'm no weaker than an ordinary level-ninety-four Titled Douluo."

"If Senior Dugu and I go together, we can watch each other's backs!"

Ye Renxin studied Dugu Bo and Zhao Yan. After a moment's thought, he nodded.

"Brother Dugu, Yan, be careful when you go back," he said gravely. "The rest of us can make it back to Suotuo City safely together!"

"All right." Dugu Bo nodded, activated his Martial Soul Avatar, and sped toward the outskirts of Star Dou Forest with everyone in tow.

With a Titled Douluo's Martial Soul Avatar clearing the way, no Soul Beast dared block them.

In just half an hour, the group emerged from the forest.

"This is far enough," Dugu Bo told them. "Head back. I'll wait for the fighting to end, see what's left, then return."

"Brother Dugu, Yan, take care." With that, Ye Renxin prepared to lead the others home.

Lu Xuan did not follow immediately. He took several small porcelain bottles from his storage Soul Tool and handed them over. "Grandpa Dugu, Uncle Zhao. The red bottle holds medicine for injuries. The blue restores Soul Power and stamina quickly. The black conceals your auras, and the white holds a secret medicine for a brief burst of strength when there's no other way out."

He looked at them solemnly. "It doesn't matter if you find no Soul Bones. Just don't get yourselves killed in there!"

"Don't worry." Dugu Bo had not expected Lu Xuan to prepare so many lifesaving medicines in advance, and warmth stirred in his chest.

Zhao Yan glanced at his daughter and smiled faintly. "I'm still waiting to watch Lingling grow up. I won't take foolish risks."

With those medicines in hand, the two men stood a better chance of finding an opportunity.

After saying their goodbyes, Lu Xuan's group continued toward Suotuo City.

"Lu Xuan," Dugu Yan asked, unable to hold back her curiosity, "did you make the medicines you just gave my grandfather and Uncle Zhao too?"

"Of course," Lu Xuan replied. "I gathered a great many rare herbs back then. To formulate the Nine-Flower Jade Dew Pill, I studied all their properties thoroughly."

As he spoke, Lu Xuan glanced at Dugu Xin without thinking.

During those days of pill refining, Dugu Xin had practically become Lu Xuan's personal tester.

Lu Xuan's skill had still been unpolished then. Whenever Dugu Xin took a pill, he never knew what he would get; whether it worked well came down to luck.

He had taken plenty of risks, but the benefits had been substantial too.

Without the physical foundation those trials had given him, even taking that Immortal Pill later would never have brought him so close to becoming a Soul Douluo so soon.

The group let the subject of medicine drop. Once they reached safe territory, they headed straight into Suotuo City.

Unlike before, Suotuo City's streets were crowded and far livelier than usual.

"Why is Suotuo City so busy today?" Dugu Yan asked as they passed through the gate. "Is something important happening?"

"Yanyan." Lu Xuan lightly touched her arm and signaled with his eyes for her to be quiet.

Dugu Bo and Zhao Yan were still deep in the forest, waiting for an opening. Whatever was happening in the city, their group had no business getting caught up in another disturbance.

"It's all right."

Dugu Xin shook his head gently and reassured them in a steady voice. "If my father and Brother Zhao Yan dared to return to the depths of the forest, they must be confident they can get out safely."

"Instead of worrying ourselves sick here, we should calm down and carry on as usual. Don't let the fighting in the forest consume your thoughts."