After lingering at the city gate for a while, Lin Changgeng prepared to head to Sunset Forest with Wang Qiu'er.
In less than an hour, they reached a spot in Sunset Forest. Green poisonous miasma covered the surrounding area, making it obvious that this was the work of a poison-type Soul Master.
"Tsk, such a huge cloud of poison. Want your big sister to take you in?" Wang Qiu'er asked Lin Changgeng as she eyed the mist.
"No need. I can fly myself," Lin Changgeng declined.
"Ugh, you're such an unlovable brat," Wang Qiu'er grumbled. A child ought to act like a child. He spent every day behaving like a miniature adult. There was nothing cute about that.
Then the two of them took flight.
Viewed from above, a valley lay below them, with a hot spring at its bottom.
The hot spring wasn't large, but it was divided into two sections. Within the oval pool, the spring water was milky white on one side and vermilion on the other.
Stranger still, although they occupied the same pool, the two colors remained as clearly divided as two rivers, neither encroaching on the other, each staying on its own side.
The billowing steam rose from the point where the two springs met, climbing continuously until it reached the mouth of the valley, where it slowly dispersed.
Beside the hot spring grew medicinal herbs in a riot of colors, vying for splendor amid the scenery of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Any single one would fetch an astronomical price.
"Finally here. It really does deserve first place on the Douluo Continent's must-eat list." Lin Changgeng's eyes lit up as he gazed at the hot spring below.
As the number one entry on Douluo's must-eat list, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well offered not only immortal herbs, but lovely scenery as well.
Even though he had come prepared, Lin Changgeng was still captivated by the view before him.
Wang Qiu'er, however, was drawn to the immortal herbs growing all over the ground.
"Octagonal mysterious ice grass, infernal delicate apricot, singular velvet sky chrysanthemum? There are quite a few treasures here."
Wang Qiu'er strolled leisurely around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, naming the medicinal herbs as readily as someone counting the treasures in her own home.
Hearing Wang Qiu'er's voice, Lin Changgeng snapped out of his daze. He had come to eat immortal herbs, not to be a tourist.
Yet the sight of all those immortal herbs left Lin Changgeng in a dilemma.
There were simply too many that suited him.
Singular velvet sky chrysanthemum could strengthen his body, open his meridians, and make him as indestructible as diamond.
Octagonal mysterious ice grass and infernal delicate apricot, one ice and one fire, could temper his body with ice and fire when consumed together, rendering him immune to all poisons and impervious to water and flame.
Narcissus jade muscle bone could increase his soul power and toughen his bones, making it another excellent choice for him.
Any of them would benefit him greatly. His martial soul wasn't picky, after all. In terms of compatibility, singular velvet sky chrysanthemum suited him best, but he really coveted octagonal mysterious ice grass and infernal delicate apricot.
However, he was only six years old, and his soul power was only at rank seventeen. He could only choose one option to consume.
"Which should I pick?" Lin Changgeng scratched his head, unable to decide.
Just as Lin Changgeng was about to ask Wang Qiu'er, a voice rang out nearby.
"You two brats haven't even grown your hair yet, but you've got some nerve."
"You dare trespass in this old man's medicinal garden and set your sights on my herbs?"
"Have you grown tired of living?"
Lin Changgeng turned and saw a wild-no, an old man emerge from the poisonous mist.
The man was tall and thin, with dark green hair and beard. He wore green battle armor, his face expressionless.
Without a closer look, Lin Changgeng would have thought some wild man had wandered out.
With every sentence the old man spoke, another soul ring rose from his body.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black.
Nine soul rings, two yellow, two purple, and five black, slowly revolved around him.
The oppressive aura of a Titled Douluo spread outward.
Poisonous mist swirled, the green vapor creeping toward the two of them and corroding little pits into the ground wherever it passed.
"Oh, isn't this Dugu Bo?" Lin Changgeng grinned once he recognized the old man. The weakest Titled Douluo. Without Wang Qiu'er, he might have been afraid, but with her here, what did he have to fear?
Although Dugu Bo was the weakest among Titled Douluos, even the smallest loaf was still bread. He merely couldn't beat other Titled Douluos. Below that level, he could kill anyone he pleased.
"You've heard of this old man's name?" Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes, utterly confident.
A woman and a child.
The woman looked young. Even if she was a Soul Master, how strong could she be?
The child looked as though he had only just awakened his martial soul, at most.
A pair like this was no different from ants before a Titled Douluo like him.
"I have. The weakest Titled Douluo." Lin Changgeng nodded.
"Why, you!" Dugu Bo pointed at Lin Changgeng. He had only intended to frighten Wang Qiu'er and Lin Changgeng, never expecting the boy to be so arrogant.
"Fine, fine, fine! This old man intended to let you leave, but since you're so arrogant, I can't let you live!"
As his words fell, Dugu Bo prepared to attack.
"Is that so?" Lin Changgeng's expression didn't change. He tilted his head up and said, "Qiu'er, go give him a couple of slaps."
A smile curled at the corner of Wang Qiu'er's lips, and she took a step forward.
Soul rings rose from beneath her feet.
Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black, red.
Nine soul rings slowly revolved around her.
Dugu Bo paid little attention at first, but when he saw that Wang Qiu'er was also a Titled Douluo-and had a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring-he instantly broke into a cold sweat.
Across the entire continent, the Titled Douluos who possessed Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings could be counted on one hand!
Yet the woman before him was not only a Titled Douluo with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, but so young as well. When had someone like her appeared on the continent?
Only then did Dugu Bo realize he had kicked an iron plate.
His face turned deathly pale, and he was already scrambling for an excuse to flee.
"Why aren't you talking anymore? Weren't you going to keep us here as fertilizer?" Seeing Dugu Bo's ashen face, Wang Qiu'er decided to tease him.
Dugu Bo's already pale face grew even whiter.
"S-Senior, forgive me!" He hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed so low that his waist nearly reached the ground. "This old man had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai! I didn't know you had graced us with your presence. Please forgive my offenses, Senior!"
"This medicinal garden... if it has caught your eye, Senior, then it's yours!"
"This old man is just the gatekeeper! Use whatever you like, take whatever you like, Senior. Please don't hold back!"
His attitude turned a full one hundred and eighty degrees, faster than turning a page.
Watching from behind her, Lin Changgeng's mouth twitched.
Wang Qiu'er, however, was amused by Dugu Bo.
"I preferred that proud, untamable look you had earlier. Sorry for the trouble, but could you bring it back?"
"You must be joking, Senior. I had too much to drink earlier. Please don't mind a drunk man's ramblings."
Knowing he was no match for Wang Qiu'er, Dugu Bo wouldn't dare push his luck. If he really went back to his earlier attitude, she might beat him to death.
"Pfft." Lin Changgeng couldn't help laughing before he said, "All right, Sister Qiu'er, stop teasing the old man. It wasn't easy for him to cultivate his way to Titled Douluo, either."
"Oh." Wang Qiu'er pursed her lips. "I'll spare your life. Don't be so quick to attack people in the future."
Hearing this, Dugu Bo looked toward Lin Changgeng. Just which faction's disciple was this boy, who could make a Titled Douluo with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring spare him with a single sentence?
By rights, someone so young with such a terrifying soul ring configuration shouldn't have been unknown.
Yet as far as he knew, none of the continent's factions had anyone like her-not even Spirit Hall.
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