After leaving the Star Dou Forest, Yan and Yue Guan went directly to the Sunset Forest, east of Heaven Dou City.
Upon arriving in the Sunset Forest, the two of them headed straight for the heart of the forest.
Deep within the forest, the air seemed to grow heavier, and a peculiar aura faintly spread throughout the surroundings.
The two of them stopped simultaneously.
Yan reminded:
"Teacher, ahead is Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison Array. Once we get through that poison array, we'll reach the conical mountain soon."
"Alright."
Yue Guan's eyes were sharp like a hawk's, scanning everything around him with anticipation in his heart.
Yan's body was already immune to all poisons, and having absorbed the Ten-headed Fierce Serpent Naiden, he naturally had no fear of any serpent venom.
But Yue Guan did not possess such a constitution, so he needed to take a Detoxification Pill.
They had made all the necessary preparations before coming here.
Yue Guan took the Detoxification Pill, ready to enter the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison Array together with Yan.
"Hahaha~"
Suddenly, a sinister laugh pierced through the dense forest, shaking their eardrums.
That laugh carried a hint of arrogance and wildness.
"Chrysanthemum Guan, what are you and this kid sneaking around here for?"
A green figure slowly walked out from the shadows it was the Title Douluo renowned for his mastery of poison, Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo was clad in a black robe, his face stern, eyes gleaming with wisdom and cunning. A faint green poisonous mist swirled around him, making it dangerous for anyone to approach lightly.
Yue Guan let out a cold laugh.
"Dugu Bo, so you really are here."
"What? Did you come looking for me on purpose? Or is there some special reason you've come to the Sunset Forest this time?"
The corners of Dugu Bo's lips curled into a devilish smile, though his gaze carried a trace of seriousness.
Yue Guan didn't respond directly. Instead, he turned to look at Yan, signaling him to stay alert.
Yan nodded slightly, soul power quietly surging within him, ready for any unexpected developments.
The poisonous mist emanating from Dugu Bo grew denser it was clear he too was prepared for battle.
He hadn't expected Yue Guan and Yan to show up here again.
At the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, Dugu Bo had personally witnessed Yan single-handedly defeat the Shrek Academy team and knew that Yan's strength was not to be underestimated.
That event had occurred less than three years ago. Even if Yan had improved significantly since then, he was still far from being a match for a Title Douluo like him.
Dugu Bo was confident if he wanted to kill Yan, it wouldn't be difficult.
He didn't intend to miss this opportunity.
Thanks to Tang San's reminder, he had realized that Yan was most likely the Herb thief who had intruded into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
That was something he could not tolerate.
Dugu Bo stared at Yue Guan and Yan, finally fixing his gaze on Yan.
A murderous glint flashed in those green eyes.
"Kid, if I'm not mistaken, the one who snuck into my garden and stole herbs last time was you!"
Hearing this, Yan and Yue Guan exchanged smiles.
Yan sneered.
"What do you mean your garden? That's rich. Why don't you just say the entire Sunset Forest belongs to you?"
Dugu Bo grew even more furious.
From their expressions, it wasn't hard to tell that his guess was right.
"So it really was you! You dared to steal the herbs I so carefully tended? I won't let you off. You injured my granddaughter during the tournament too today, we settle old and new scores together!"
With Dugu Bo's furious roar, the aura around him instantly turned cold and violent, as if even the space itself had frozen.
Behind him, a ghastly emerald light erupted abruptly. Accompanied by a chilling hiss that shook the heart, an enormous Jade Prosperous Serpent Emperor manifested, hovering in midair.
Its massive serpentine body coiled and twisted, distorting the air around it with its immense size, forming ripple-like waves of emerald light intertwined with poisonous mist and soul power.
Its entire body was covered in shimmering green scales, each exuding an aura of deadly poison and death.
From its gaping maw protruded two rows of fangs as sharp as swords, dripping with viscous green venom.
That venom just a single drop was enough to instantly render a soul master powerless, or even kill them.
A suffocating stench of blood and poison pervaded the air.
Its jade-like eyes glinted coldly, locking firmly onto Yan and Yue Guan.
Faced with such a terrifying Martial Soul, Yue Guan's expression changed slightly. He swiftly released his Martial Soul and soul rings, preparing for battle.
When Dugu Bo saw Yue Guan's Martial Soul, his eyes lit up.
That massive Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum appeared even more solid than before, the golden light it emitted even more dazzling.
It was clear Yue Guan had grown stronger.
Unwilling to be outdone, Yan also released his Martial Soul.
When Dugu Bo saw Yan's Martial Soul, he was utterly stunned.
The last time he saw Yan's Flame Lord Martial Soul was during the Spirit Master Tournament.
He hadn't expected that it had undergone such drastic changes.
The Flame Lord had become not only more solid but also as tall and powerful as a true Martial Soul Avatar. The red flames it once emitted had now turned into crimson-golden flames.
Under the radiance of that crimson-golden light, the chilling aura released by the Jade Prosperous Serpent Emperor was completely dispelled.
Even the emerald ripples formed from poison and soul power began to tremble violently.
The Jade Prosperous Serpent Emperor appeared to be suppressed by the crimson-golden light radiating from the Flame Lord.
Dugu Bo felt an intense burning sensation and his pupils dilated uncontrollably.
"What's going on? My Martial Soul is the Jade Prosperous Serpent Emperor! How could it be suppressed by his Flame Lord Martial Soul?! This is impossible! Could it be that he consumed some immortal herb that caused his Martial Soul to evolve into this state?"
Dugu Bo was in disbelief, filled with both rage and frustration.
Just as he was trying to make sense of it, Yue Guan made his move.
"Dugu Bo, today, let's settle this once and for all."
Before Yue Guan even finished his sentence, he charged straight at Dugu Bo.
"Chrysanthemum Guan, don't be arrogant! A year from now will be the anniversary of your death!"
Dugu Bo was confident because Tang San had previously purged much of the harmful poison from his body, allowing him to better unleash his full strength.
Moreover, he had in his possession the Parent-Child Chasing Soul Deathbringer Ball gifted by Tang San.
That formidable hidden weapon could not only save his life at a critical moment but might even severely injure Yue Guan.
As both their seventh soul rings flashed, Dugu Bo and Yue Guan simultaneously activated their Martial Soul Avatars.
Charging at Yue Guan, Dugu Bo's eyes remained fixed on Yan.
He couldn't accept that the crimson-golden flames from this young soul master could suppress his own power.
He was determined to kill this Herb thief and vent the fury in his heart.
Just as Dugu Bo engaged Yue Guan, an emerald-green light blade shot toward Yan at lightning speed.
To Dugu Bo's surprise, Yan didn't evade with his blazing wings like last time.
He seemed completely unafraid, apparently intending to fight alongside Yue Guan.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo was secretly delighted.
That emerald blade was condensed from the Jade Prosperous Serpent Emperor's venom and his deep soul power.
He believed that while Yan might withstand the serpent's poison, he could not bear the brunt of that powerful soul force.
If struck by that emerald blade, death was certain