The remaining guards went weak.
They lifted Xue Beng's corpse and hurried out of the hall.
Xue Ye looked back at the bloodstained floor.
It would be difficult for the imperial guards alone to capture a powerful Soul Master.
That man had subdued an entire squad of guards without even releasing his Martial Soul. His cultivation was at least above Soul Saint.
Even if ordinary soldiers found him, they would only be going to their deaths.
Xue Ye considered for a moment, then turned toward Prince Xue Xing, who stood before the assembled officials.
"Brother."
Prince Xue Xing stepped out from the crowd.
"I am here, Your Majesty."
"You are close to Poison Douluo."
Xue Ye said, "Go see Dugu Bo yourself and ask him to track down the killer."
"As long as he can bring this man back to the palace, any terms are negotiable."
Prince Xue Xing glanced at the blood on the floor.
Xue Beng was the prince he had supported all along.
Over the years, he had poured considerable effort into protecting Xue Beng.
Now that Xue Beng had been killed, all his original plans had been thrown into complete disarray.
"I will go see Mr. Dugu at once."
Outside Heaven Dou City.
A secluded manor stood among the wooded hills.
Prince Xue Xing stepped down from his carriage.
He had brought no attendants and entered the manor alone.
After passing through two corridors, Prince Xue Xing found Dugu Bo beside a pond.
Dugu Bo wore a dark green robe.
He had a slender build, with long, dark green hair hanging loose down his back.
Even his eyes were a deep green.
Several medicinal herbs grew beside the pond.
Dugu Bo was bent over, inspecting the growth of one of them.
Prince Xue Xing approached him.
"Mr. Dugu."
Dugu Bo did not turn around.
"What brings you here today, Your Highness?"
Prince Xue Xing said, "Xue Beng is dead."
Dugu Bo stopped inspecting the herb.
He straightened and turned toward Prince Xue Xing.
"The fourth prince is dead?"
Prince Xue Xing nodded.
"Early this morning, someone beheaded him in the street in Heaven Dou City."
"The imperial guard squad responsible for protecting him was also defeated by the killer in a single move."
A measure of surprise entered Dugu Bo's eyes.
In his view, the guards around Xue Beng could hardly be called powerful.
But killing a prince within Heaven Dou City was no different from openly provoking the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
No ordinary Soul Master would have such nerve.
"Who is the killer?"
"We don't know."
Prince Xue Xing said, "According to the imperial guards' descriptions, he was a white-haired man who looked very young."
"A golden-haired woman was with him."
"His Majesty has already ordered Heaven Dou City sealed off, but I fear the imperial guards are no match for him."
Dugu Bo understood why Prince Xue Xing had come.
"You want me to take action, Your Highness?"
Prince Xue Xing nodded solemnly.
"Xue Beng was of imperial blood, after all."
"The killer slew him within Heaven Dou City. If we let this man leave unscathed, where would that leave the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's dignity?"
"Please help the imperial family find this man, Mr. Dugu."
Dugu Bo clasped his hands behind his back.
Prince Xue Xing had once saved his life.
Over the years, though he had been unwilling to join the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, he had continued to serve as its guest elder.
Now that Prince Xue Xing had come in person, he naturally could not ignore the matter entirely.
"Very well."
"As long as he hasn't left the vicinity of Heaven Dou City, I can find him."
Prince Xue Xing's expression eased somewhat.
"You must not be careless, Mr. Dugu."
"The imperial guard squad was utterly powerless against him."
"This man may be stronger than we expect."
Dugu Bo gave a soft snort.
"How strong could someone who only dares to attack a junior possibly be?"
"The gap between a Titled Douluo and ordinary Soul Masters cannot be measured by numbers."
"Just because those imperial guards couldn't withstand a single move from him doesn't mean I can't."
Dark green Soul Power rose from Dugu Bo's body.
Ripples immediately spread across the pond.
The nearby medicinal herbs swayed as well.
"Go back and await word, Your Highness."
"I will find the man who killed Xue Beng before the day is out."
Dugu Bo lightly tapped the ground with his toes.
He vaulted over the manor's wall and soon vanished into the wooded hills.
Prince Xue Xing watched him leave, still unable to feel completely at ease.
That killer had dared to commit murder in public in Heaven Dou City, and afterward, he had not concealed his trail.
Either he acted with wild arrogance.
Or he simply did not regard the Heaven Dou Imperial Family as worth his notice.
Sunset Forest.
Towering trees blocked the sunlight.
Moss and vines grew thickly over the damp soil.
Qian Daoliu walked ahead.
Qian Renxue followed beside him, her gaze sweeping their surroundings from time to time.
Since entering Sunset Forest, they had already encountered several Soul Beasts.
But the moment these Soul Beasts approached, Qian Daoliu's aura frightened them away.
"Grandfather."
Qian Renxue raised a hand to push aside a branch blocking her path.
"Why did we come to Sunset Forest?"
"Dugu Bo may be a Titled Douluo, but he isn't particularly strong among Titled Douluo."
"Even if we want to find him, there's no need to enter the forest ourselves."
Qian Daoliu stopped.
"I didn't come here just to find Dugu Bo."
Qian Renxue walked up beside her grandfather.
"Then what did you come for?"
"Deep within Sunset Forest lies a hidden treasure land."
Qian Daoliu looked at the rolling mountain ranges around them.
"A great many precious medicinal herbs grow there."
"Several of its Immortal Herbs can improve a Soul Master's talent, strengthen their Martial Soul, and even completely transform a person's foundation."
Surprise appeared in Qian Renxue's eyes.
Medicinal ingredients that could increase a Soul Master's cultivation speed were not uncommon.
The Soul-Gathering Pills and Golden Sun Grass Ning Rongrong carried had similar effects.
But those medicinal ingredients could only provide Soul Power.
Changing a Soul Master's talent was by no means something ordinary spiritual medicines could accomplish.
"Do herbs like that really exist?"
"Of course they do."
Qian Daoliu continued deeper into the forest.
"The Golden Sun Grass you took yesterday was only close to five hundred years old."
"Any single Immortal Herb growing here is beyond comparison with Golden Sun Grass."
"If we obtain an Immortal Herb suited to the six-winged angel Martial Soul, the time you need to break through to Titled Douluo will be greatly shortened."
Qian Renxue immediately understood the importance of this treasure land.
"Where is that Medicinal Garden?"
Qian Daoliu looked up into the distance.
He only knew that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was in Sunset Forest.
Dugu Bo had laid a poison array around the Medicinal Garden.
As for its exact location, the original novel had not provided a clear route.
Sunset Forest covered a vast area.
Finding a hidden valley in a short time would not be easy.
"Let's keep searching farther in."
"There should be a large expanse of poisonous mist near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
Qian Renxue released her Soul Power, shutting out the moisture coming from the surrounding vegetation.
They passed through the woods and crossed two mountain ridges in succession.
The number of Soul Beasts around them gradually dwindled.
Qian Daoliu extended his Spiritual Power, carefully sensing the surrounding auras.
There were indeed several places nearby where poisonous creatures gathered.
But the toxins in those places were quite ordinary, nowhere near the level of a poison array laid by Dugu Bo.
Another hour passed.
Qian Daoliu arrived at the edge of a cliff.
The mountains ahead stretched together in an unbroken chain.
Dense woodland extended to the limits of his vision.
Qian Renxue stood beside him.
"Grandfather, I haven't found any poisonous mist."
Qian Daoliu frowned slightly.
Finding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well using only his vague memories of the original novel was still too slow.
If Dugu Bo were here, things would be much simpler.
Before you continue