Salas fought through the dizziness, turned, and led the Spirit Hall party away at a brisk pace.
He had barely crossed the hall's threshold when he suddenly stumbled. The world before his eyes began to twist and spin, and even the corridor pillars seemed to dance.
"Your Eminence?"
The deacon beside him hurriedly caught him.
Salas dazedly raised his head, only to see that the deacon supporting him had turned into a captivating, seductive woman-her almond eyes brimming with springtime desire, her red lips luscious.
His breathing abruptly quickened, and a burning heat shot from his lower abdomen through his entire body.
"Beauty... what brings you here..."
Salas's gaze grew hazy. His rough hand uncontrollably stroked the deacon's chest, rubbing back and forth over those firm muscles.
"This waist... what a delight!"
"Your Eminence?!"
The middle-aged deacon was so frightened that his voice cracked. He froze in place, not daring to move.
The other seven deacons all sucked in a cold breath at the sight.
Salas only grew more excited, panting as he pulled the man into his embrace. "Beauty, let this bishop give you some proper loving..."
As he spoke, he actually reached to yank open the other man's collar.
"His Eminence has been poisoned!"
An older deacon reacted first. He grabbed Salas's shoulder, trying to restrain him.
However,
As a Soul Douluo expert, Salas possessed truly formidable strength. He suddenly glared at the older deacon, bestial lust churning in his bloodshot eyes.
His arms abruptly exerted force, flinging the older deacon away. The man struck a corridor pillar with a dull thud.
Before the others could react, Salas lunged at the middle-aged deacon beside him like a wild beast gone out of control. His arm clamped around the man's waist like iron pincers, and he slammed him against a corridor pillar.
Pain shot through the middle-aged deacon's back from the impact. He was just about to cry out when Salas's face, puffing hot breath, blocked his mouth and nose.
"Little beauty... let this bishop have a kiss..."
Salas's eyes were unfocused, drool hanging from the corner of his mouth. His rough hands pinned the man's struggling shoulders tightly, and spittle sprayed onto his face.
"Your Eminence! Snap out of it! It's me, Old Li!"
The middle-aged deacon was scared out of his wits. He desperately twisted his body, bracing both hands against Salas so hard that his knuckles turned white.
He could clearly feel the scorching heat of the other man's body,
Salas's lips were already about to touch his cheek, and the stubble prickled his skin until it tingled.
The surrounding deacons completely panicked!
Some hurried to help the older deacon, while others anxiously circled the pair, yet none dared rashly unleash a Soul Skill.
Whatever Salas was doing, he was still a Platinum Bishop. If they truly injured him, none of them could bear the responsibility.
"Get away! Don't touch my beauty!"
Feeling the man struggling in his arms, Salas roared with growing agitation.
He freed one hand to tear at the middle-aged deacon's clothes, while his other hand abruptly pressed down on the back of the man's neck, forcing that face closer to his own.
"Quick! Do it!"
The older deacon finally recovered enough to clutch his chest and shout, "Work together to restrain Lord Salas! I'll take responsibility if anything happens!"
Hearing this, the other deacons no longer hesitated and began channeling their Soul Power.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Thorn Bind!"
The first to act was a plant-type Soul Master deacon. He slammed both hands against the ground, and dozens of thorn-covered vines burst from the earth, coiling around Salas's legs.
"Aah!"
Salas roared in pain. Looking down, he saw that the thorns had already pierced his bishop's robes, cutting bloody lines into his legs.
Unable to unleash his Soul Skills, he found it difficult to break free of the thorns' restraints.
"Third Soul Skill, Gravity Suppression!"
Another deacon seized the opportunity and formed a hand seal. A yellow ring of light spread from his palms, pressing heavily upon Salas's shoulders.
Salas's knees buckled, and he fell to the ground.
The middle-aged deacon pinned against the corridor pillar successfully escaped. Scrambling and crawling, he hid behind his companions, his face deathly pale as he straightened his torn-open clothes.
His eyes were filled with terror. What had just happened had left him with a psychological scar...
"His Eminence is damaging Spirit Hall's image far too much like this. Knock him out first!"
The older deacon stood up, clutching his chest, and said urgently, "Old Zhao, you do it!"
A deacon with a composed face nodded and crossed his hands before his chest. A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring lit up in sequence. "Fifth Soul Skill, Soul Suppression Curse!"
A pitch-black wave of light spread from his palms, enveloping Salas.
Salas gave a muffled groan and collapsed limply.
Before passing out, he dimly saw that the "beauty" hiding behind someone else seemed to have grown a beard...
"Go, quickly!"
The older deacon swept his hand.
Several of them hastily hoisted the unconscious Salas between them and fled in disarray beneath the mocking gazes of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciples.
Inside the hall.
Watching the scene through the window, Dugu Bo laughed. "What do you think of the effects of my 'A Moment of Spring Night'? By tomorrow, the entire continent will know that Spirit Hall's Platinum Bishop publicly molested a male deacon."
Yu Yuanzhen shook his head with a helpless laugh. "Old Poison, this poison of yours..."
"What a pity. If Salas hadn't passed out, something even more explosive would have happened."
Dugu Bo laughed wickedly.
Yu Tianming watched the departing Spirit Hall party thoughtfully. "After this incident, Salas probably won't keep his position as Platinum Bishop. At the very least, he'll be demoted one rank."
Salas had not only failed his mission but also brought great disgrace upon Spirit Hall. This was no small matter, and he would certainly face severe punishment.
Dugu Yan burst into laughter. "Even if he stays a Platinum Bishop, he probably won't have the face to come back."
Ye Lingling said softly, "Spirit Hall might send an elder next time."
"Regardless, Spirit Hall won't come knocking again anytime soon. That will buy us some time." Yu Yuanzhen clapped his hands.
Dugu Bo nodded in agreement. "Let's visit the herb garden first, resolve the hidden danger of Yanyan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison, and take a look at the Immortal Herbs while we're there."
Now that he knew what the Immortal Herbs could do, Dugu Bo could hardly wait to return to the herb garden.
"Good!"
Yu Yuanzhen's eyes lit up as well. "Then let's leave now."
Dugu Bo nodded.
Afterward, Yu Yuanzhen took Yu Tianming and Ye Lingling, while Dugu Bo took Dugu Yan, and they flew straight toward Sunset Forest.
Deep within Sunset Forest.
Dugu Bo led the group through a dense forest shrouded in miasma. The earth beneath their feet gradually grew damp, then suddenly turned bitingly cold.
"Stay close."
Dugu Bo swept his sleeve, and the thick poisonous mist ahead parted on its own to reveal a narrow path.
Fine arcs of lightning wreathed Yu Yuanzhen, shattering any poisonous insects that tried to approach. "Old Poison, this poison formation of yours is impressive. Even an ordinary Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast would be poisoned to death if it entered, wouldn't it?"
Dugu Bo proudly stroked his beard. "Naturally."
"My herb garden is a treasure land. How could I let those Soul Beasts ravage it?"
They followed him around a cliff face, and the sight before them abruptly changed.
At the center of the valley,
One half was blazing hot as fire, the other freezing cold as ice. The red and blue spring waters remained sharply distinct yet formed a harmonious whole, creating a natural taiji pattern.
All around the spring, rare medicinal herbs grew luxuriantly, with no shortage of Immortal Herbs among them.
"This is... the legendary Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?" Yu Tianming's gaze stirred, and excitement rose within him unbidden.