Chapter 95: Dugu Bo
The Sunset Forest lay in the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Compared to the Star Dou Great Forest, it was far smaller. Due to large-scale hunting by humans, ten-thousand-year soul beasts were rarely seen here. Most of the beasts were of the thousand-year level.
The Emperor Battle Team took less than a day to arrive. Zu Zong's third soul ring—the Pit Demon Spider—had been obtained here, so he was no stranger to the forest.
They entered with Zu Zong and Yu Tianheng leading. Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Oslo, and Yu Feng flanked the sides. Ye Lingling, as the support, stayed in the center. Xiao Wu and team leader Qin Ming guarded the rear.
Zu Zong casually slashed away vines blocking the path and turned to Yu Tianheng. "Tianheng, what kind of soul beast do you plan to choose for your fourth ring?"
Yu Tianheng smiled faintly. "It might be tricky—it depends on luck. For our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul, the target must be a sub-dragon type. Ideally, one with over four thousand years of cultivation and a sub-dragon bloodline."
Zu Zong nodded. His Blue Silver Domain allowed him to sense any place in the forest with Blue Silver Grass. The domain had evolved to its second stage, gaining the ability All Things in Nature, which could assimilate and suppress.
Suppression reduced an enemy's martial soul attributes by ten percent, and soul power output by the same amount. The longer they stayed within the domain, the stronger the suppression—one of Zu Zong's trump cards.
Soul power surged as Zu Zong released the Blue Silver Domain. In his mind, every detail of the surroundings became clear.
Suddenly, he sensed something rapidly approaching.
"So fast," he thought.
Just as he was about to alert the others, the presence stopped. Zu Zong was momentarily surprised, then smiled.
Sure enough, moments later, Dugu Yan appeared.
Yu Tianheng's eyes lit up. "Yan Yan, what are you doing here?"
"My grandfather lives in the Sunset Forest. I've been here with him for the past month," Dugu Yan said softly. She glanced at Zu Zong with a trace of guilt. "Zu Zong, my grandfather wants to see you."
Zu Zong's heart leapt—this was exactly what he wanted. Still, he feigned shock.
"Yan Zi, why would the Poison Douluo want to see me?"
"He might…" Dugu Yan bit her lip, hesitant to continue.
A month ago, Zu Zong had suggested she might already be poisoned. She hadn't believed it at first, but remembering how easily he had neutralized her snake venom and cured Tang San's Bilin Five Poison, she had told Dugu Bo.
Upon hearing it, Dugu Bo was furious, claiming Zu Zong was spreading lies. His anger convinced her he was truly upset.
Not wanting her grandfather to cause trouble for a teammate, she persuaded him not to harm Zu Zong. But today, with Zu Zong coming to help Yu Tianheng hunt his ring, she could no longer stop Dugu Bo. She made him promise not to hurt Zu Zong.
Sensing her unease, Zu Zong said nothing more. Perhaps Dugu Bo would make a move against him, but he wouldn't be harmed. If he could solve the man's poison problem, there was nothing to fear.
As for how to solve it—he would simply steal Tang San's method. His motto was: walk the protagonist's path and leave him none.
"Yan Zi, the Poison Douluo is that way, right?" Zu Zong pointed in the direction she came from.
Then he looked at Xiao Wu. "Wait for me to come back."
Her expression was grave as she nodded. "I'll wait for you."
Just as Dugu Yan was about to tell him not to go, Zu Zong's voice reached her ears. "Although the Poison Douluo's name is fearsome, I believe you won't let him harm me."
Gathering soul power, Zu Zong leapt in the direction Dugu Yan had come from.
Watching his figure disappear, Dugu Yan felt unsettled. She looked at Xiao Wu and said softly, "I'm sorry, Xiao Wu. My grandfather won't hurt him."
Xiao Wu nodded gently, her eyes lingering on the path where Zu Zong had vanished. In a voice so soft it was unclear whether it was meant for Dugu Yan or for Zu Zong himself, she murmured, "I believe you."
Moments later, Zu Zong came to a halt, his senses confirming he had reached the very spot where he had earlier detected Dugu Bo's presence. The quiet of the forest pressed in around him, the rustle of leaves almost unnaturally still.
He cupped his fists and called out clearly, his tone respectful yet steady, "I wonder what important matter Senior Dugu has called this junior here for?"
No answer came. The silence stretched, heavy and unnerving, as if the forest itself were holding its breath.
Then, without warning, the air grew icy. The sudden chill seeped into his bones, making him shiver despite his composure. "This cold, soul-piercing aura… there's no mistaking it—it's Dugu Bo," he thought grimly. He briefly considered using the Blue Silver Domain to pinpoint the man's location but quickly decided against revealing such a card so soon.
He froze again when his instincts screamed that someone was standing behind him. Every muscle tightened, and a wave of extreme danger swept through his body, making the hairs on his neck stand on end. He spun around—yet saw nothing.
When he turned forward again, a figure stood before him as if it had materialized from the very air. The man was clad entirely in green: green hair, green eyes, green armor, and a gaze cold and venomous, like a serpent sizing up its prey. The oppressive presence left no doubt—this was the Poison Douluo himself, Dugu Bo.
Zu Zong cupped his fists again, maintaining proper decorum. "I am Zu Zong. I wonder what business Senior Dugu has with me."
There was still no verbal reply. In a blink, Dugu Bo moved, appearing directly before Zu Zong with uncanny speed.
Sensing the sudden threat, Zu Zong reacted on instinct, using his Instant Step to slip away and reestablish distance between them. The ground blurred beneath his feet.
Dugu Bo, apparently unconcerned by his failed grab, allowed a faint trace of surprise to show. "Your soul skill is intriguing, boy. To instantly match the speed of an agility-type Soul Sage… and without releasing your martial soul. A self-created ability, is it?"
Zu Zong's expression hardened as he summoned the Blue Silver Emperor martial soul, vines flickering faintly around him. "A mere trick," he retorted. "How dare I brandish a blade before Guan Gong."
Dugu Bo's brow furrowed. "Guan Gong? Is he nearby as well?" His sharp gaze swept the surroundings. For someone of his level to remain undetected, they would have to be a formidable Titled Douluo indeed.
"Uh…" Zu Zong felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple. Realizing his mistake, he explained, "Senior Dugu, Guan Gong is a figure from a book I once read, renowned for unmatched blade skills. You praised my speed, so I said I was brandishing a blade before Guan Gong—meaning my speed is far inferior to yours."
Dugu Bo blinked in mild surprise, recognizing it as a compliment, though it didn't erase the fact that he'd been momentarily misled.
"Enough talk, boy," Dugu Bo said, his tone dropping to a cold growl. "You told my granddaughter she was poisoned. Today, whether you like it or not, I'll have to give you a lesson."
Zu Zong's mind sharpened. "He intends to take me with him… which plays into my plans. But I won't go down without testing my limits. This will be a measure of my current strength. The Sharingan and Blue Silver Domain must remain hidden—using them now would barely hinder him. In that case—"
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