Seeking Dugu Bo Beyond the Poison-Shrouded Valley, Pursuing an Alliance Deep in Sunset Forest

"Then, elder brother, when do we leave?"

Golden Crocodile rose and looked at Qian Daoliu as he asked.

Qian Daoliu drew his gaze back from the window and settled it on Golden Crocodile, his voice steady.

"In three days, we set out for Sunset Forest."

Golden Crocodile nodded. "Very well."

"A Ling, Jiang Mo."

Qian Daoliu turned to the two of them, and both immediately straightened.

"Within three days, you must thoroughly master the Ice Art and the Thousand Jun Staff Art. Then take the resources the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan paid as compensation back to Spirit City and hand them over to the Elder Hall for storage."

Guang Ling had been polishing an ice-blue arrow. At those words, he bowed and replied,

"As you command, elder brother."

With the Coiling Dragon Staff resting on his shoulder, Jiang Mo chimed in with a deep, rumbling voice.

"Don't worry, elder brother. I guarantee we'll bring everything back without losing so much as a hair!"

Qian Daoliu nodded, his gaze passing over them.

"And do not slack off in practicing your cultivation techniques. Your future gains in combat strength depend on them."

"Yes!"

The two answered in unison.

A flicker of anticipation crossed Guang Ling's eyes. Ice-blue soul power quietly flowed around his fingertips; clearly, he could hardly wait to delve into that ice cultivation technique. Jiang Mo rubbed his hands together and spun the Coiling Dragon Staff in his palm, itching to find an opponent and test his new staff art right away.

"Also, since Yue Guan is coming, have him accompany us. He's in charge of studying the Pill Formula, so this will be a good chance to inspect the medicinal herbs firsthand. Yue Guan understands medicinal properties far better than that lone wolf Dugu Bo."

"Yes."

After the three left, Qian Daoliu returned to the window and gazed at Heaven Dou City's bustling streets, holy soul power rippling faintly around his fingertips.

Recruiting Dugu Bo concerned more than medicinal herbs. It also concerned the system quest reward—that Ancient Medicinal Herb Seed Compendium would be enough to free Spirit Hall completely from its dependence on outside herb supplies.

He looked toward Sunset Forest, wreathed in clouds and mist, lightly tapping the windowsill as he considered Dugu Bo.

[System notification: Host's plan to recruit Dugu Bo detected. Side quest triggered: "The Poison Douluo's Invitation."

[Quest objective]: Recruit Dugu Bo into Spirit Hall.

[Quest reward]: Nine Yin Manual.

A smile curved Qian Daoliu's lips.

The system notification quietly chimed. It seemed the system also recognized Dugu Bo's value.

Understanding flickered in Qian Daoliu's eyes. This journey apparently held far greater significance than he had expected.

Early three mornings later, an enormous but discreetly decorated carriage stood ready outside Heaven Dou City's Spirit Temple.

Dressed in plain robes, Qian Daoliu stepped into the carriage first, followed closely by Golden Crocodile and Bibi Dong.

Holding a brocade box containing a pill furnace, Yue Guan hesitated briefly before climbing aboard as well.

Last came Xiao Wu’s Mother, bracing herself against the doorframe. Xiao Wu, a soft bone rabbit, nestled in her arms, her ruby-like eyes curiously studying the carriage.

"Let's go."

Qian Daoliu's voice came from inside. The driver gave a short call, and the carriage slowly began moving toward Sunset Forest.

Inside the carriage, Yue Guan was looking down as he organized the Pill Formula when, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the soft bone rabbit in Xiao Wu’s Mother’s arms stir. Then a soft, sweet voice rang out.

"Mom, the trees outside are so tall!"

Yue Guan's hand jerked, scattering the Pill Formula across the floor.

He snapped his head up. The snow-white rabbit was looking around with wide red eyes, while the woman holding her, though pale, faintly radiated the pressure of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast-the aura of one who had taken human form and begun cultivating anew!

"Th-this is..."

Too shocked to speak, Yue Guan turned to Bibi Dong, his eyes filled with questions.

Bibi Dong brushed her fingertips over the silver patterns on the carriage curtain and calmly explained,

"This is Xiao Wu's mother, a hundred-thousand-year soft bone rabbit who took human form and began cultivating anew. This is her daughter, Xiao Wu, who has ninety thousand years of cultivation. They've reached an agreement with Teacher and will remain in Spirit Hall."

Yue Guan's mouth formed an O, and cold sweat trickled down his temples.

A hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form? And under Spirit Hall's protection?

If word got out, it would unleash a storm across the continent! He instinctively drew his neck in, feeling as though he had heard a secret that could cost him his head.

Xiao Wu’s Mother gave Yue Guan a gentle smile.

"There's no need to be alarmed, Elder Yue Guan. Neither my daughter nor I mean any harm."

Yue Guan hurriedly waved his hands and gave a strained laugh.

"Of course, of course..."

Nestled in her mother's arms, Xiao Wu curiously examined Yue Guan's chrysanthemum-covered robes with her ruby-like eyes.

"Teacher Yue Guan, why are there flowers embroidered on your clothes?"

Xiao Wu could not help asking.

An alluring, uncanny smile appeared on Yue Guan's face, and a pale golden chrysanthemum formed at his fingertips.

"Because my martial soul is the singular velvet sky chrysanthemum. When you grow up, shall I teach you how to make rouge from flower petals?"

Xiao Wu nodded, only half understanding, prompting Bibi Dong to burst into laughter.

For the rest of the journey, Yue Guan did not speak to Xiao Wu or her mother. He merely bent his head over the Pill Formula, as though the soul beast mother and daughter did not exist.

Watching Qian Daoliu rest with his eyes closed, Golden Crocodile could not resist asking,

"Elder brother, do you think Dugu Bo will refuse outright to see us?"

"He will."

Qian Daoliu opened his eyes, confidence gleaming in their golden depths.

"But he'll be even more curious about why we dare seek him out now. After all, when Spirit Hall's Second Worship and Great Enshrined arrive at his door together, it certainly isn't for idle conversation."

After three days on the road, the carriage finally reached the edge of Sunset Forest.

Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky and sun. The damp scent of vegetation filled the air, occasionally punctuated by the roars of soul beasts.

Outside the window, an emerald-green venomous snake darted out of the grass, only to convulse and die when it came within thirty feet of the carriage.

Golden Crocodile frowned.

"What potent poison. It seems we've already entered Dugu Bo's territory."

"Let's get out here."

Qian Daoliu pushed open the carriage door. The moment his feet touched the ground, he detected a faint, sickly-sweet scent-the distinctive odor of poisonous substances.

Golden Crocodile released his martial soul, and the phantom of the Golden Crocodile King appeared behind him.

"Dugu Bo's poison certainly lives up to its reputation. He's set up defenses before we've even ventured deep inside."

They followed a narrow forest trail. The deeper they went, the thicker the air became. Pale purple dewdrops gradually condensed on the leaves, raising wisps of white smoke as they dripped onto the ground.

Xiao Wu’s Mother held her daughter closer. The soft bone rabbit martial soul was especially sensitive to toxins, and Xiao Wu had already begun nuzzling anxiously against her mother’s clothes.

When they reached the entrance to a gorge, dense mist abruptly shrouded the path ahead. Scattered bones could just be made out within it-clearly the remains of soul beasts that had strayed into the poison formation.

"Dugu Bo! Come out!"

Golden Crocodile stepped forward, his golden soul power shaking the air.

"We have some business to discuss with you!"

The purple mist churned a few times, but no one answered.

Yue Guan stepped forward, two purple and seven black soul rings lighting up around him. After Qian Daoliu had given him the Pill Formula, Yue Guan had tested the pills he refined by taking them himself. Fortunately, he had succeeded.

A singular velvet sky chrysanthemum bloomed in his palm, its pale golden soul power dispersing the surrounding poisonous mist.

"Dugu Bo, I'm Yue Guan. I've come under orders, not to provoke you, but to discuss a trade involving medicinal herbs."

His voice was gentle, yet carried fluctuations of soul power that pierced the purple mist and reached its depths.

"Spirit Hall is willing to exchange rare poisonous herbs for several medicinal herbs from your Medicine Garden. If you're interested, please come out and meet us."

Deep within Sunset Forest, in a valley filled with faint poisonous fumes, a dark-green figure crouched beside the Medicine Garden, carefully watering a purple plant. Upon hearing the voice, he gave a cold snort.

Before the purple mist had stopped churning, a hoarse voice emerged from within, tinged with wariness.

"People from Spirit Hall? Hmph. We haven't settled our old score yet. What have you come for today?"

Qian Daoliu stepped forward. Pale golden soul power spilled like sunlight into the purple mist, forcing it back three feet.

"Dugu Bo, there's no need to revisit the past. I've come today to cooperate—the medicinal herbs I need may be growing in your Medicine Garden."