The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and Dugu Bo

The result of Mo An and Ning Rongrong's two-person treasure hunt reached Ning Fengzhi that very night. The one who told him was none other than Ning Rongrong, who was delighted with her victory.

At dinner, Ning Rongrong animatedly recounted how she had used her wits to snap up an overlooked treasure valuable enough to beat the competition and win the treasure hunt.

Mo An, meanwhile, focused on the unusually delicious meal. After running around all afternoon, he deserved something good to reward himself.

"Oh, right, Dad. This is the branch that helped me win. Neither Mo An nor I can tell what it is. Could you take a look?"

Having finally finished recounting her triumph, Ning Rongrong took the pitch-black branch from her Storage Soul Tool and pressed it into Ning Fengzhi's hand.

Ning Fengzhi picked up the branch and examined it carefully for a long while before explaining to Ning Rongrong and Mo An:

"This is a branch a twenty-thousand-year-old plant-type Soul Beast, the Light-Storing Tree, uses to store its light-element power. Aside from its Soul Ring, it's the most important part of the tree, and it has a wide range of uses."

"For Rongrong to have found it at a bargain, I imagine the Soul Master who hunted the Light-Storing Tree didn't recognize its value. That's how it ended up at the Free Trade Market."

"Unfortunately, this branch was stored improperly. No, it seems it wasn't preserved at all, so much of the light-element power inside has drained away. Even so, it's still a rare treasure. With the right buyer, it could probably fetch several thousand Gold Soul Coins."

After explaining the branch, Ning Fengzhi returned the Light-Storing Tree branch that had brought his daughter victory. Several thousand Gold Soul Coins were nothing to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and it would make a fine keepsake for Ning Rongrong.

As a top-tier power wealthy enough to rival a nation, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was quick to find things. It soon located the canyon Mo An had described, nestled among mountains and shrouded in terrifying poisonous mist.

As soon as Mo An heard the news, he asked to go and see it.

Before taking Mo An into the Sunset Forest, Ning Fengzhi, who did not want to make an enemy of Dugu Bo, cautioned him once more to think it through carefully.

Mo An could only complain inwardly. I'm a Soul Scholar without even a Soul Ring. Can I really decide how this goes?

In the end, won't we still have to follow you and Sword Douluo?

As Mo An saw it, Ning Fengzhi's repeated warnings were a sign of respect, not proof that Mo An could truly make the decision.

He had also made up his mind. On this trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he would seek a chance to speak with Dugu Bo, then offer him some Immortal Herbs and help detoxifying him in exchange for ownership of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He hoped to gain Dugu Bo as a staunch ally and raise his standing within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Because they might end up confronting Dugu Bo, Ning Fengzhi refused Ning Rongrong's request to come along. He took only Mo An and entered the Sunset Forest with Sword Douluo.

On a mountain in the middle reaches of the Sunset Forest, Ning Fengzhi pointed toward the canyon ahead, shrouded in dark green poisonous mist.

"Little An, that's the place recorded by your clan."

Standing beside Ning Fengzhi, Mo An gazed ahead with excitement. His Ink Jade Divine Bamboo Martial Soul appeared in his hand, and he saw the spiritual energy of heaven and earth flowing through the canyon, along with pinpricks of light twinkling in its depths.

Those twinkling lights were likely Immortal Herbs.

Fainter lights also glimmered in the poisonous mist around the canyon's edge, probably from poisonous plants growing there.

"This mist is strange indeed. Poison this potent is rarely seen in the world. Judging by its aura, Dugu Bo has certainly been here."

Sword Douluo drew over a wisp of poisonous mist from a distance. After sensing it carefully, he gave his firm assessment.

Ning Fengzhi said nothing. He summoned his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul and looked ahead as well. The pagoda told him that an extraordinarily precious treasure lay ahead—one more valuable than every treasure in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

No wonder the Azure Bamboo and Breaking Clans believed this place held treasures like Immortal Herbs, as unbelievable as they sound.

What a shame Dugu Bo has already claimed it.

Ning Fengzhi sighed inwardly and turned to Mo An, hoping he had taken the warning to heart.

"Uncle Ning, I'm certain there's a good chance Immortal Herbs are here. I'd like an opportunity to speak with Dugu Bo on equal terms. Could you give me that?"

Noticing Ning Fengzhi's gaze, Mo An put away his Martial Soul and made a request that was hardly unreasonable.

Ning Fengzhi did not believe Immortal Herbs existed, so the information Mo An had produced about them would not entice him. Dugu Bo was different. He had seen Immortal Herbs with his own eyes, and the information would certainly catch his interest.

Ning Fengzhi had assumed all along that they would have to fight Dugu Bo head-on. At Mo An's request, he asked in disbelief, "All you want is a chance to speak on equal terms?"

"Yes. Just a chance to speak on equal terms. I want to talk with Poison Douluo. If it works, it works. If not, we'll leave."

Confident he could persuade Dugu Bo, Mo An nodded, confirming that was exactly what he meant.

Ning Fengzhi's smile broadened. He thought Mo An had finally listened and no longer intended to wrest this precious land from Dugu Bo.

"Uncle Jian, sorry for the trouble, but could you announce our presence to Poison Douluo?"

The moment Ning Fengzhi finished speaking, a mighty aura surged from Sword Douluo and swept into the canyon ahead.

At the release of Sword Douluo's terrifying presence, the Soul Beasts living on the mountain fled as fast as they could, afraid the fearsome figure on its summit would kill them if they were too slow.

For a moment, the spectacular sight of ten thousand beasts stampeding filled the mountain.

Dugu Bo sat cross-legged beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, using the strange magnetic field where ice and fire intertwined to suppress the Jade Scale Snake Poison within him. Suddenly, he sensed a mighty aura coming from outside the canyon, aimed straight at where he sat.

They're coming for me.

Dugu Bo snorted coldly and sprang out of the canyon. On a nearby mountaintop, he saw Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi, along with a child.

As Dugu Bo scrutinized the three of them, Mo An got his first look at Dugu Bo.

He was lean and tall, like a javelin. His hair and beard were dark green, and his eyes gleamed like emeralds. His cheeks were sunken, his green hair was a tangled mess, and he wore only a plain gray robe. He looked like a mad scientist with no interest in grooming.

"Your Excellency Dugu, Ning Fengzhi, sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, greets you."

Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, clasped his hands, and greeted Dugu Bo warmly.

At present, only a handful of Titled Douluo were publicly known on the Douluo Continent. Each deserved respect; each stood above countless others.

"Hmph. Is this how you greet someone?"

Dugu Bo's manner was far from friendly. Truthfully, if Sword Douluo, famed throughout the land, had not been standing there, he would already have attacked Ning Fengzhi.

"Your Excellency Dugu, I apologize for disturbing you without warning, but I—"

Dugu Bo was not one for pleasantries. He cut Ning Fengzhi off. "If you have something to say, say it. There's no need for false courtesies."

"Very well. A young friend of mine has something he'd like to discuss with you. Would you grant him a chance?"

Ning Fengzhi took no offense at the interruption; Dugu Bo's reclusive nature was well known. Smiling, he gestured toward Mo An and explained why he had called Dugu Bo out.

"Oh?" Dugu Bo turned a scrutinizing gaze on the child beside Ning Fengzhi. "He has something to discuss with me?"

Mo An stepped forward without a trace of fear. "Yes. I hope you'll give me a chance, Senior Dugu."