Before long, the dense forest began to thin, and flickering firelight appeared ahead again.
"A military camp?" Xuan Ming spotted several military banners of the Heaven Dou Empire at a glance.
This was the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire. Could this be where the Heaven Dou Empire's army was stationed?
Upon seeing the camp, Dugu Bo not only failed to slow down but plunged straight into it.
He no longer had the strength to keep fighting Chrysanthemum and Ghost. If the battle continued, he would die from the backlash of his own deadly poison before Yue Guan could deliver the killing blow!
His only chance of survival now was to use this Heaven Dou Empire military camp to hold Yue Guan and his companion back.
"On alert!"
After Dugu Bo charged in, the previously quiet camp instantly sprang into motion. Soldiers gathered in dense ranks, and firelight soon illuminated the entire camp.
"What's happening?"
In the central command camp, the most heavily guarded area, Prince Xue Xing immediately summoned his generals upon hearing the commotion.
"A surprise attack by the Star Luo army?"
"Your Highness, someone spotted Spirit Hall's Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo," a soldier reported.
"They seem to be pursuing someone."
"Pursuing someone?" Prince Xue Xing knitted his brows.
Who warranted two of Spirit Hall's Titled Douluos personally hunting them down?
"Your Highness, they're charging recklessly through our camp. If we don't stop them, our formations will fall into chaos. I fear Star Luo might seize the opportunity to launch a surprise attack," a general said.
Prince Xue Xing considered this, then led his generals out of the command tent.
"Might I ask what brings Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo to our military camp?"
Amplified by Soul Power, Xue Xing's voice quickly spread. Dugu Bo, fleeing ahead of his pursuers, happened to land not far from the command tent.
"Spirit Hall is apprehending a wanted criminal. We ask for your cooperation!" Yue Guan called out.
"A wanted criminal?" Prince Xue Xing and his generals warily closed in around Dugu Bo's position.
Severely injured, Dugu Bo no longer had the strength to run. He could only stand where he was and suppress the backlash with everything he had.
"Poison Douluo?" Prince Xue Xing froze.
Why were Chrysanthemum and Ghost hunting Dugu Bo?
"Prince Xue Xing?" Dugu Bo was somewhat surprised as well.
Before either could say anything, Yue Guan and Gui Mei caught up.
"Old Poison, you have nowhere left to run."
Seeing that Dugu Bo was already an arrow at the end of its flight, Yue Guan wasted no more time and moved to strike.
At this, Prince Xue Xing raised a hand. The generals surrounding them stepped forward, blocking Yue Guan's path.
The leading general was an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo, while the remaining generals were all Seven-Ring Soul Sages. Faced with such a lineup, Yue Guan had no choice but to stop.
"Prince Xue Xing, what is the meaning of this?" Yue Guan asked.
"Please calm yourself, Chrysanthemum Douluo." Prince Xue Xing walked to Dugu Bo's side.
"Poison Douluo is an old acquaintance of mine. What happened to drive you both to such lengths that you would attack him even after entering our military camp?"
Dugu Bo said nothing. Although he knew Xue Xing, it was through his son, who had died young from deadly poison. There was little friendship between them.
He was extremely surprised that Xue Xing would step forward to help at a time like this.
"Spirit Hall's affairs are no concern of yours," Yue Guan said flatly.
Trying to kill someone after failing to recruit them was hardly something to boast about.
"Spirit Hall's affairs are certainly not mine to interfere with. However, this is the Heaven Dou Empire's central command camp. With Your Eminences forcing your way here, I cannot simply stand by," Prince Xue Xing said.
"Moreover, Poison Douluo is a guest elder of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. If Your Eminences wish to kill him, surely you owe us an explanation."
"A guest elder?" Yue Guan paused and glanced back at Gui Mei.
Gui Mei shook his head. He had never heard of any such thing.
Dugu Bo was busy suppressing the poisonous backlash and had no time to speak.
"Xue Xing, don't spout nonsense. I've never heard anything about Dugu Bo becoming a guest elder of your Heaven Dou Imperial Family," Yue Guan said.
"There is something you do not know, Chrysanthemum Douluo. Poison Douluo's son and I were once good friends. This arrangement dates back many years, before Poison Douluo became a Titled Douluo, so naturally it was never publicized," Prince Xue Xing said.
Yue Guan frowned deeply. "Even so, this matter..."
"Your Eminence, this is the camp of two hundred thousand soldiers of the Heaven Dou Empire!" Prince Xue Xing reminded him.
"As highly respected Titled Douluo elders of Spirit Hall, surely Your Eminences would not act recklessly?"
"You!" Yue Guan's expression changed.
Two hundred thousand soldiers. If fighting broke out, he and Gui Mei were certainly capable of escaping, but they could not shoulder the responsibility of rashly starting a battle with the Heaven Dou army!
"Xue Xing, are you truly determined to oppose Spirit Hall?" Yue Guan demanded coldly.
"You must be joking, Your Eminence. How would I dare?" Prince Xue Xing cupped his hands in a bow.
"I have absolutely no intention of opposing Spirit Hall. However, this is our army's camp. If Your Eminences fight here, our soldiers will not be able to withstand it. Thus, I ask that you both think twice."
"..."
After a long silence, Yue Guan turned to Gui Mei.
Gui Mei merely shook his head.
Xue Xing clearly intended to protect Dugu Bo. If the two of them continued fighting, they might have a chance to kill this Old Poison, but neither could bear the trouble that would follow.
With things having reached this point, they could only report the matter to the Elder Hall for further deliberation.
Chapter 10: Clear About Gratitude and Grudges
"Thank you for today, Prince Xue Xing."
With Xue Xing threatening them with the Heaven Dou Empire's army, Yue Guan and Gui Mei could no longer attack and had no choice but to leave.
After regulating his breathing for a long time, Dugu Bo finally managed to barely suppress his poisonous backlash.
"There is no need for that, Senior Dugu." Xue Xing cupped his hands in a bow.
"But may I ask why those two Spirit Hall elders were hunting you?"
"Nothing more than flying into a humiliated rage after failing to recruit me," Dugu Bo said.
"I see..." Xue Xing nodded, unsurprised.
He knew Dugu Bo's temperament. He would not rashly provoke Spirit Hall.
In the years since the new Pope, Bibi Dong, had taken office, Spirit Hall's expansion had never stopped. First, it had struck the Clear Sky Sect with an iron fist. Then, the major Soul Master sects had been suppressed one after another, and Spirit Hall had seized considerable territory from both empires.
Naturally, Spirit Hall would not pass up an unaffiliated Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Xue Xing invited Dugu Bo into the command tent to rest and ordered the soldiers to remain on heightened alert in case Yue Guan and his companion returned.
"You know each other?" Xuan Ming asked.
"He knew my son," Dugu Bo said.
"I also spend some time in Heaven Dou City now and then. We're somewhat acquainted."
"Are you really a guest elder of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family?" Xuan Ming asked.
Dugu Bo paused. "I will be from now on."
Under those circumstances, Xue Xing naturally needed a legitimate pretext to intervene.
Even if Xue Xing had other designs, he had still saved his life.
With the status of a guest elder of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, Spirit Hall would no longer attack him so openly.
Ultimately, what had happened today could not bear the light of day.
"Right, use that domain of yours on me," Dugu Bo said.
"What for?" Xuan Ming asked.
"Just use it when I tell you to. Why all the useless chatter?" Dugu Bo said.
Turning on me as though he didn't know me!
Very reluctantly, Xuan Ming released his white light, enveloping Dugu Bo within it.
"As I thought..." Dugu Bo opened his eyes, his feelings extremely complicated.
If he offered no resistance and allowed this white-light domain to suppress him, even the poisonous backlash inside his body would be suppressed!
This domain was far too overbearing!
"What other abilities does your domain have?" Dugu Bo asked.
"It just has a suppression effect," Xuan Ming said.
"Are you sure?" Dugu Bo was somewhat doubtful.
His cultivation was too high, so the effect this boy's domain could exert on him was extremely limited. If he deliberately broke free, the domain could only suppress him for an instant.
Besides, the sensation of his entire body sinking into a mire, unable to move, with even his breathing suppressed, was simply too unbearable. There was no way he could truly offer no resistance at all.
"Would I lie to you?" Xuan Ming was somewhat speechless.
His domain really did only have a suppression effect. However, that suppression had no limit, nor was it percentage-based. Against someone stronger than him, it could only cause a momentary disruption like tonight. Against someone weaker, directly crushing them to death was not impossible.
Once enveloped by his white light, not only Soul Power but even breathing and blood flow would slow down until they stopped completely!
And once breathing and blood circulation stopped, a person would naturally die.
"Can this domain of yours affect you as well?" Dugu Bo asked.
"Myself?" Xuan Ming froze, suddenly struck by a bad feeling.
Sure enough, the next instant, a sharp pain came from his wrist.
Looking down, he saw that the Nine-Section Jade had bitten two tiny red marks into his wrist.
"You!" Xuan Ming instinctively summoned his Blood Spear, ready to fight Dugu Bo to the death.
"Calm down. First, try using your domain to suppress the deadly poison in your hand. See how far you can go." Dugu Bo released the pressure of his Soul Power, pinning Xuan Ming firmly in place.
"If you can't suppress it, I will detoxify you myself."
Xuan Ming took a deep breath, released his white light with all his strength, and shrank the domain until it encompassed only his bitten right arm.
"..."
Time ticked by, and Dugu Bo watched Xuan Ming's condition constantly.
Finally, just as he was about to intervene and neutralize the poison, Xuan Ming stopped.
"What?!" Dugu Bo's eyes filled with shock.
Two drops of dark green venom had actually been squeezed out of the puncture wounds the Nine-Section Jade had left on Xuan Ming's wrist!
He could actually force the Nine-Section Jade's deadly poison out?
Xuan Ming kept his head lowered, panting heavily.
It was not that he had never considered suppressing the deadly poison through this special domain, but he was not sure whether the domain would crush him to death as well!
Toxins spread through the blood. To suppress them, he first had to stop the blood from flowing, then slowly suppress and expel the toxins.
If he failed to stop the poisoned blood before the toxins spread, once the deadly poison reached his heart meridians, he could not possibly stop all the blood around his own heart. That was why, ever since the Nine-Section Jade had coiled around him, he had been trying to contract his domain inside his body, guarding against precisely this Old Poison suddenly turning on him!
He had even prepared himself to sacrifice this hand!
But after everything they had experienced tonight, the two of them could at least be considered people who had faced life and death together.
He had never imagined this Old Poison would strike at him at a time like this!
The deadly poison had nearly flowed past his right hand.
"I have met Soul Masters with domains before, but this is the first time I've seen someone like you, who can apply a domain to himself," Dugu Bo said.