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Li Luochen arrived at Sunset Forest and immediately headed toward the area shrouded in seven-colored poisonous mist. Without hesitation, he stepped inside.
Thanks to his consumption of both Ice and Fire Immortal herbs, Li Luochen was immune to all poisons—unless Dugu Bo personally used his life-bound lethal toxins combined with his powerful soul energy. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't be poisoned.
At this moment, Dugu Bo, who had been meditating near the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well, sensed a familiar presence approaching. His eyes opened slowly.
"Hey, Grandpa! Long time no see. Have you been in seclusion here by the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well this whole time?"
In an instant, Li Luochen appeared beside Dugu Bo.
"What brings you here to visit this old man? Don't you have better things to do?"
Dugu Bo remained seated cross-legged, a large furnace before him. He was currently refining medicine. Since obtaining the inheritance of the "Breaking Clan," he had grown increasingly interested in both alchemy and poison crafting.
His spirit's flaws had been resolved, and just a few days ago, his soul power had broken through to level ninety-seven. Now, he was stabilizing his new realm. With nothing else to do, he passed the time by refining medicines.
"You say that as if I'm not allowed to visit my own grandfather. Yanzi is currently at the main campus of Shrek Academy in Tian Dou City, showing Lan'er around.
As for me, I'm at the old site of Shrek Academy, recruiting the final batch of students. In about half a year, I'll head to Tian Dou City. But I've discovered something interesting, Grandpa, and I need you to accompany me to Suotuo City."
Li Luochen didn't reveal too much. After all, someone as sharp as Dugu Bo could easily guess what he was thinking.
The last time Li Luochen had been in Fasinuo Province, he had spotted a hundred-thousand-year soul beast undergoing humanoid transformation. Though he had only glimpsed it from afar and sensed its aura, he didn't know exactly what kind of soul beast it was.
A humanoid-transformed soul beast in its juvenile stage—wasn't that essentially a walking spirit ring and spirit bone? It was impossible for Dugu Bo not to feel tempted. Moreover, Dugu Bo himself lacked a torso bone. While his granddaughter already possessed two hundred-thousand-year spirit bones, he still felt young enough to pursue one.
This would help him quickly reach level ninety-eight. At that level, unless the Twin Limits of the Soul Master world emerged, he would be an unstoppable force.
{T/N: Referring to Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu. Bo Saixi isn't counted as she's bound to Sea God Island.}
"I've found Tang Hao's son. The people of the Hao Tian Sect have always been unreasonable. As for me, I'm a cautious person, so I've come to ask you to back me up."
Li Luochen explained. After all, he wanted to prepare for every possibility. With Dugu Bo's strength at level ninety-six and his possession of a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, Tang Hao—already gravely injured—wouldn't dare to act arrogantly in front of him.
Li Luochen had considered killing Tang Hao outright, but detonating all nine rings at once would be too extreme. It might even leave Dugu Bo severely wounded or dead, which wasn't worth the risk. Li Luochen decided to play it safe.
Even though Tang Hao was injured, he still had the power to take others down with him. Unless Li Luochen called on both his first and second masters to help, a decisive kill might not be possible.
But Li Luochen was considering keeping Tang Hao alive for himself to kill later. The Killing God Domain required murderous intent to evolve, and Tang Hao's murderous aura was particularly potent. Killing him might benefit Li Luochen's own Killing God Domain.
Li Luochen felt confident. If Tang Hao were to die, so be it. He was now Asura's favored candidate. Back when he absorbed the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, he nearly died, but Asura secretly intervened through the Killing God Domain to neutralize the evil forces, fusing them into his murderous intent.
There was no way Li Luochen could have done that on his own—it was a testament to Asura's power. As expected of the Asura God, he truly protected his favored.
Initially, Li Luochen had planned to absorb the Golden Dragon torso bone after reaching the Title Douluo level, as it was a divine-level spirit bone. He didn't think it belonged to some ordinary divine official or third-tier deity.
The dragon bone likely contained remnants of the Golden Dragon's soul. He decided to take a gamble and see if Asura would assist him again. If Asura intervened once more, Li Luochen would fear nothing and walk boldly through any challenge.
With the Asura God, the enforcer of the divine realm, backing him, what did he have to fear? He could confidently declare, "Come at me!"
However, to be safe, Li Luochen decided to wait until after scaring off Tang Hao before absorbing the torso bone. It was the safest option, and having Dugu Bo present to guard him during the process was ideal—he was the most trustworthy person.
After all, Dugu Yan had long since aligned herself with him; they were all on the same side. The only thing puzzling Li Luochen was why Dugu Yan's belly hadn't shown any signs of change despite his efforts. How had she not conceived yet?
"The son of that madman? So that soul beast has been reserved for his son, has it? In that case, let's go take a look. You're also a weapon-type spirit user. Those bastards from the Hao Tian Sect aren't good people.
Back in the day, they wiped out countless top-tier weapon-spirit families. Hmph, 'the greatest weapon spirit'? 'The number one sect'? They only gained such arrogance because of Tang Chen.
You're still young, boy—you haven't seen how those from the Hao Tian Sect strut around. That idiot Tang Lie always looked down on others through his nose. Chen, you must work hard. I hope you can knock them off their pedestal as the strongest.
The greatest weapon spirit belongs to Tang Chen, not the Hao Tian Hammer. Tang Hao, that madman, could have inherited Tang Chen's legacy, but instead, he was exiled from the sect? What corruption."
Dugu Bo sighed. After all, he was quite old. He had achieved the rank of Title Douluo at sixty-five and had roamed the soul master world in his youth. By then, Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu were already towering figures in the soul master world.
Dugu Bo was considered a genius, with an innate soul power of level nine—the most talented individual to emerge from the Jade Phosphorous Snake family. Unfortunately, the flaws of his spirit had slowed his cultivation due to the toxic burden.
Though he became a Title Douluo at sixty-five, he remained stuck at level ninety-one when he met Li Luochen. His life had been ticking away, but meeting Li Luochen had turned his fortunes around. His spirit's flaws were resolved, his granddaughter was cured, and she had found love. Even though his Jade Phosphorous Snake spirit had been severed, it wasn't a significant issue.
Perhaps he could indulge in youthful ambition one last time and pass on his Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake King spirit. However, if he had children now, would Yan Yan call them "uncle" or "aunt"?
Wouldn't she scold him to death? But not passing on his spirit would be a shame.
"Alright, Grandpa, let's go. But before we leave, I'll soak in the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well to cleanse myself."
With that, Li Luochen stripped off his clothes and entered the spring to wash away the lingering aura of the Blue Silver Emperor.
Not long after, Li Luochen emerged. Once Dugu Bo finished refining this batch of medicine, they could depart.
It was nighttime, and there was only one day and night left before Shrek Academy's opening. Li Luochen needed to return quickly, or Old Zhao would get beaten up.
Old Zhao had been very kind to him, and Li Luochen had helped him reach the Soul Douluo stage ahead of schedule. In the future, he might even help Old Zhao dismantle the "Force Clan."
However, even as a Soul Douluo, Old Zhao was no match for Tang Hao and would still get thrashed. Therefore, Li Luochen decided to help Old Zhao avoid this beating.
After finishing the refinement, Dugu Bo packed up the alchemical furnace, and together, they departed.
Currently, only three people could enter the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well: Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo, and Li Luochen. Dugu Yan spent her time either cultivating or studying medicine, which Li Luochen referred to as her "side hustle."
Especially fond of Flender and Liu Erlong's daughter, the little girl was now three years old. Dugu Yan applied her knowledge of pharmacology to create the most suitable foundation-building medicinal baths for her.
Although the little girl hadn't awakened her spirit yet, her physical condition had greatly improved. Her daily meals were supplemented with whale jelly and rare herbs.
Dugu Yan ensured that Liu Lan'er's innate soul power would reach its maximum potential. Both Flender and Liu Erlong possessed top-tier animal spirits, so whichever one she inherited would be excellent.
If she inherited a dragon spirit, Dugu Yan could take her as a disciple and personally guide her cultivation.
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