At one of the gates of Tiandou City, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo strolled casually along the walls. Patrolling the city wasn't his job.
But tonight was the Lantern Festival in Tiandou City—crowds filled the streets, bustling with people and carriages.
Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire was worried that some incident might occur, so he had temporarily assigned this guest elder the role of city gate patrolman.
Suddenly, a figure appeared behind Poison Douluo.
This figure flapped its wings—multiple pairs of them appeared from its back—and then slapped Dugu Bo on the shoulder.
"You old poison freak!"
Startled, Dugu Bo instantly spun around. Shocked, he instinctively gathered a ball of green soul power and sent it flying behind him.
But to his surprise, the green soul power was instantly dissolved by a wave of sacred energy from Qian Renfeng.
"You old poison freak, were you trying to kill me?"
Qian Renfeng casually removed the silver mask from his face, and only then did Dugu Bo's serious expression soften into one of surprise.
"It's you?!"
"I knew it—only you could battle Sword Douluo Chenxin and make him submit willingly!"
"But how did you win?! Even Sword Douluo was completely convinced by you?"
Dugu Bo hadn't witnessed the final moments of the battle himself, but he had seen that terrifying final sword slash from Sword Douluo—and that was more than enough.
If it had been him, he wouldn't have stood a chance against that sword.
Qian Renfeng didn't bother explaining. It was simple—he was just stronger. What was he supposed to say to Dugu Bo? "You're just not strong enough"?
"Old poison freak, I need your help with something."
Dugu Bo looked even more surprised. In his eyes, this kid was practically invincible. To think he needed help?
"What is it? If I can help, I'll do it!"
Dugu Bo patted his chest without hesitation.
"It's a small matter. I just don't like someone… or you could call him an enemy."
"He's interested in your medicine valley. If he ever tries to enter, don't let him. Got it?"
"Who is it?"
Dugu Bo's expression instantly turned serious. Qian Renfeng couldn't deal with himself? Just how powerful was this person?
If they tried to force their way into the Medicine Valley, would he even be able to stop them?
"Tang San."
The moment he heard the name, Dugu Bo let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "So it's that kid. You're a little late with the warning."
"He's already left my Medicine Valley."
"He was able to treat the poison in my body—and also the poison in Yan Yan's body. So I promised him he could take one immortal herb from the valley—just one!"
Qian Renfeng's face darkened. Back then, he'd rushed to Tiandou City to spend time with Sister Qian Renxue and had forgotten to give Dugu Bo a proper warning.
"Which herb did that guy take?"
Dugu Bo thought for a moment, then finally recalled. "I think it was... the Lovesick Heartbroken Red?"
"Well, at least that's what he called it. As for what it looked like—it looked like a beautiful red-and-white peony blooming on a rock. A real top-grade immortal herb, no doubt."
"Problem is, I never figured out how to refine it, so it's just been sitting there."
Qian Renfeng finally let out a breath of relief. Luckily, it was only the Lovesick Heartbroken Red. That herb was only really useful to Xiao Wu—it could temporarily help her conceal her soul beast identity.
Even if Dugu Bo or Qian Renfeng had it, they wouldn't be able to fully activate its potential. Still, Qian Renfeng reminded him.
"Don't let that brat back in again."
"Oh right—did you see him pick the herb? You sure he didn't steal anything?"
Dugu Bo broke into a cold sweat. He was a Title Douluo—if he couldn't even sense someone stealing herbs from under his nose, then what was the point of being alive?
"Of course I saw him!"
"But what's the grudge between you and that kid? He's backed by a powerful figure too. If you end up clashing with that person, the outcome is—"
"I know, I know."
Qian Renfeng waved it off with a "been there, done that" look, which irritated Dugu Bo to no end.
"You mean Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect, right?"
"I'll run into him sooner or later. After I finish dealing with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's Title Douluos, he's next!"
Dugu Bo's face stiffened. Talking to this kind of monster was impossible using normal logic.
He had just said that the man behind Tang San was really powerful, yet this kid still wanted to go beat him up?
Wasn't the normal response supposed to be "Don't provoke him"? Monster!
"You're not seriously planning to challenge every Title Douluo one by one… and then tell everyone you're the Angel Douluo, are you?"
"Yep."
Qian Renfeng nodded and put on a deliberately fierce expression. "If you forget I'm the Angel Douluo, I'll have to beat you up again!"
"Hmph!"
That night.
Qian Renfeng lay in the second courtyard "Xue Qinghe" had rented for himself, eyes closed, resting. A cool breeze drifted through the gate, carrying a touch of autumn.
"Come out. No need to hide around me."
Moments later, a ghostly figure silently landed in the courtyard like a falling maple leaf, almost unnoticed.
This figure wore a black robe, and in the dim night, it was impossible to tell what was concealed beneath it. Faint soul energy swirled around him, accompanied by an eerie whisper.
"Second Young Master, the Pope has issued a command."
"She requests that you return to Spirit Hall immediately—so she can personally guide your training."
Ghost Douluo was surprised. His concealment skills were among the best in Spirit Hall—perhaps even the entire Douluo Continent. Even the Pope's guards wouldn't notice him without a deliberate search.
Yet the Second Young Master had noticed him in an instant.
It was… terrifying. More terrifying than a ghost.
Qian Renfeng sneered, "The Pope's command?"
"As an Elder of the Worship Hall, I am not subject to the Pope's orders."
With that, Qian Renfeng took out a golden angelic token and casually tossed it to Ghost Douluo. It landed with a crisp thud, giving him a clear view of its markings.
A twisted, human-like grin formed on Ghost Douluo's face. "That's the Grand Worship's token—not yours."
"His command does not override the Pope's, Second Young Master."
Suddenly, a radiant light flashed in the courtyard.
Ghost Douluo—who had just claimed that the Grand Worship's command couldn't override the Pope's—started convulsing violently, crying out in pain.
He screamed in agony, completely overwhelmed.