Demon Subduing Douluo

Dugu Bo wanted to grin, but the pain in his chest made him hold back. Unable to suppress a sharp intake of breath, he raised a hand to his chest before slowly speaking.

"It's all right. I'm the one who slowed your revival down again."

"Then please don't push yourself so hard. I still have a trump card, and my brother will be back soon."

"Tell him to take his time. There's no hurry. Let him recover from his injuries first. We still have time."

"Hmm?" Ah Yin was just about to nod when she suddenly realized something.

"Wondering how I knew? The way you looked so anxious yesterday was exactly like my family when they worry about me."

At this, Dugu Bo looked toward the distant town. "By comparison, you're the ones who seem more human."

Dugu Bo fell silent at that. Time-how much time did they really have left?

In Spirit City, a Purple-Robed Bishop passed through gate after gate and walked down a long corridor before kneeling outside the Pope's Hall. Its doors were tightly shut, and an overpowering reek of blood seeped through the cracks, mingling with the scent of medicinal herbs. All of it bore witness to what the person inside had just endured.

"Your Holiness, a battle report has arrived from the operation in Sunset Forest. This time... it failed. Poison Douluo possesses an extraordinary poison capable of stripping away Martial Souls. Hammer Douluo, Tang Zong, has had his Martial Soul stripped away and lost his combat ability. He and Snow Douluo, Li Hanshuang, are waiting outside the hall. Will you summon them?"

The hall remained silent for a long time, so long that the Purple-Robed Bishop's bent waist began to ache slightly. He wondered whether his words had gone unheard. But he did not dare move, and cold sweat had already seeped onto his forehead.

Then a cold, clear voice rang out. "Deploy Demon Subduing Douluo, and send three other rank ninety-three Titled Douluo. Their objective is to capture Dugu Bo alive. I want him brought before me in chains within three days!"

"Yes!"

Only after backing out of the corridor did the Purple-Robed Bishop dare straighten up. "The Pope's presence was so oppressive today. I'd better hurry and find Demon Subduing Douluo."

He arrived at the training grounds and, sure enough, saw a figure holding up a thousand-jin boulder.

"Demon Subduing Douluo, the Pope has issued an order!"

The imposing figure, over two meters tall, tossed the boulder aside. But rather than the crash of something hard striking the ground, it landed with a smack. The boulder fell like a lump of dough and even bounced a few times.

This was precisely Demon Subduing Douluo's ability. Anything his hands touched, even people, would turn soft in his grasp.

The Purple-Robed Bishop hurried up to him and handed him the token. "The Pope has ordered men sent to Sunset Forest to capture Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo."

"Mm." Demon Subduing Douluo nodded and accepted the token. "Which direction is Sunset Forest?"

The Purple-Robed Bishop slapped his forehead, remembering that Demon Subduing Douluo had no sense of direction, and hurriedly spoke.

"Demon Subduing Douluo, there's no need to hurry. Please wait briefly at the shop entrance. Three other Titled Douluo will be joining you shortly."

Demon Subduing Douluo nodded at this and headed right, leaving the Purple-Robed Bishop standing there alone.

Demon Subduing Douluo is heading to the Great Hall's entrance, isn't he? Isn't he going the wrong way?

Just as he thought this, he saw Little Cat Douluo walk past him again, heading in another direction...

That evening, the birds of Sunset Forest rose into the air all at once. Flock after flock became dark shadows that blotted out the sky and sun, shattering the sunset as they fled desperately in the direction opposite the Mountain Valley.

Four figures exuding formidable auras arrived at the outskirts of Sunset Forest, followed by a dark mass of people. Judging by their auras, they were all at least rank seventy-eight. They made no attempt to conceal themselves, as though announcing to those inside, We're here!

Upon reaching the forest's edge, Demon-Sealing Douluo raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop.

"Spread out."

The other Titled Douluo nodded in acknowledgment, each leading a unit off in a different direction, intending to seal off Dugu Bo's escape routes completely from all four sides.

Their arrival could not possibly escape Ah Yin, whose roots had already spread throughout the forest. The Blue Silver Grass by the spring, over half a meter tall, abruptly stiffened.

"They're here!"

Dugu Bo nodded solemnly and tried to rise, only to stagger.

"I can sense them. This time, they've sent four Titled Douluo alone, and one of their auras is stronger than yours at your peak," Ah Yin said anxiously.

"How about we leave? Let them have this place," Dugu Bo said to Ah Yin.

But several seconds passed before Ah Yin replied. "We may not be able to leave, Brother Dugu. All of Sunset Forest has been surrounded, starting from its outskirts. The encirclement is slowly tightening, and everyone in it is at least a rank seventy- or eighty-something Soul Master."

"It looks like they're only after me this time. Or rather, they're after Cold Ash Soul Separation."

"Why don't we just give them the formula?"

Dugu Bo shook his head. "If we tell them the formula, we'll be even more certain to die here. Spirit Hall won't allow anyone outside their ranks to retain control of such a terrifying poison.

"Ah Yin, sense where those four Titled Douluo are. We'll find a weak point and break through."

Ah Yin pointed in a direction. In her perception, the Titled Douluo in that direction had the weakest Soul Power fluctuations. Then she quickly drew herself into a seed.

Dugu Bo placed Ah Yin inside his Wishful Hundred Treasure Pouch.

He began fleeing in the direction Ah Yin had indicated.

The birds in the woods had long since flown away. Everything around him was silent except for his own panting.

Nearly an hour passed like this before the woods ahead suddenly darkened.

"Cough, cough..." Dugu Bo stopped short and looked up at the dark figure crouched on a branch.

The person wore a coat of black feathers, his eyes so red they looked bloodshot. Dugu Bo had heard of him: Dark Crow, a Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall.

This really is bad. To think I'd run into him in this direction... Dugu Bo's heart lurched.

"Poison Douluo, you certainly took your time. Coming through my position-did you take me for a soft persimmon to squeeze?"

Dark Crow tilted his neck and said hoarsely, "The Pope ordered you captured alive. Come back with me obediently, and you'll spare yourself some suffering."

"Captured alive? Go back with you and end up neither human nor ghost?" Dugu Bo grinned.

"That depends on you. Cooperate, and with a little luck, you might even get to leave an intact corpse."

But Dugu Bo no longer wanted to waste words on him. Those few exchanges had given him enough time to regulate his breathing. Soul Rings lit up beneath his feet, and the phantom of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor appeared behind him.

"Human-Snake True Form!" Time mattered now. He had to break through quickly.

Dark Crow chuckled. "I already knew you had that move."

As he finished speaking, the Seventh Soul Ring behind him flashed, and he transformed into a flock of crows that scattered in every direction, refusing to confront Dugu Bo head-on.

Seeing this, Dugu Bo tried to keep running toward the outskirts of Doomsday Forest to escape. But the crows Dark Crow had transformed into always kept close behind him, even using themselves as weapons to slam into him.