Three days later, the eight Elders gathered in the Council Hall.
The future of the sect hung in the balance—caution was paramount.
"So… you two wish to come as well?"
Ning Bowen regarded Chen Junting and Ning Tian, who had arrived together. Though surprised, he readily agreed. With the sect's full elite combat strength mobilized, protecting two children would be effortless.
Once the ice-attribute soul engineering devices were secured, the eight Title Douluos set off at once—escorting Ning Bowen, Ning Tian, and Chen Junting toward Sunset Forest.
Located east of Tian Dou City in the northern reaches of the Tian Dou Empire, Sunset Forest lay within a temperate zone—not frigid, but far from tropical. Since both regions belonged to the Tian Hun Empire, the journey from Nine Treasures City was short. Departing in the afternoon, the group reached a remote border town near Sunset Forest by nightfall.
"Up ahead is Sunset Town," Ning Bowen announced from his flight soul engineering device. "We'll rest here briefly, gather intelligence, then proceed."
"Understood."
The group cloaked themselves midair, leaving only Ning Bowen and Ye Xuanji to descend with Chen Junting and Ning Tian.
Sunset Town, though remote and off major trade routes, had once thrived—thanks to Sunset Forest's abundance of decade- and century-level soul beasts. Millennium beasts were rare, making the town a hub for soul-hunting teams.
But as the four entered, they found not bustling markets, but eerie desolation.
Shops stood shuttered. No hunting teams gathered in the squares. Only a few scattered pedestrians wandered the streets—no trace of the lively commerce they'd expected.
"What happened here?" Ning Tian frowned, turning to Chen Junting. "Why so quiet? Have the soul beasts gone extinct?"
"I think they can answer that," Chen Junting said, nodding toward a nearby alley.
Ning Tian followed his gaze: several figures in dark green cloaks and masks surrounded a townsman, questioning him intently. She recognized them instantly—Shrek Academy's insignia was unmistakable.
"They seem to be investigating something," Chen Junting noted.
"Those are members of the Shrek Guardians," Ning Bowen added.
"The Shrek Guardians? What's that?" Ning Tian asked.
Ning Bowen ignored her, addressing the air instead: "Something serious has occurred here."
"Sect Master."
Zhang Ming materialized beside them, having eavesdropped undetected on the inspectors. "Half a month ago, townsfolk began vanishing. At first, no one cared—but as disappearances multiplied and no bodies were found, panic set in."
Chen Junting's eyes narrowed. "This reeks of evil soul masters."
He glanced at Ning Bowen and Ye Xuanji—their subtle nods confirmed his suspicion.
But Ning Bowen had no intention of intervening. "The Shrek Guardians are already handling it. Our priority is the immortal herbs." He turned decisively. "We leave now. Uncle Ye—take Junting and Xiao Tian into the forest."
Ye Xuanji nodded. Though he despised evil soul masters as much as anyone, he understood the Sect Master's pragmatism. "Hold on," he told the two youths.
Placing a hand on each of their shoulders, he soared skyward—vanishing in a streak of starlight.
Zhang Ming followed with Ning Bowen moments later.
---
Shortly After Their Departure – Sunset Town
Among the Shrek inspectors, a muffled female voice spoke from behind a mask:
"Senior Sister, did you learn anything useful?"
"No," the leader—addressed as "Senior Sister"—shook her head, eyes fixed on Sunset Forest. "But based on reports, those evil soul masters are likely hiding in there."
"In Sunset Forest!?"
---
The Next Morning – Sunset Forest
A thin mist veiled the forest as Chen Junting's group entered, following the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well map.
But the soul beast population was even worse than described—century-level beasts were nearly absent. Soon, Sunset Forest would cease to be a soul beast habitat altogether.
"The environment here is catastrophic," Ning Bowen murmured. "The miasma has already begun suffocating these creatures."
"Whoever engineered this is utterly ruthless," added Yang Zihan, descendant of the Breaking Clan. Her expertise in toxins was unmatched. "This miasma stems from Jade Phosphor Absolute Seven and Nine Flowers. No soul beast can survive it. If this continues, the entire forest will become a lifeless poison wasteland."
Her eyes hardened with cold fury.
"Sect Master! Yang Jie!"
A streak of azure light shot toward them.
As it settled, Qing Lan appeared. "The miasma cluster lies ahead."
"Then we'll survey it from above," Ning Bowen declared.
He activated his flight device, ascending swiftly. The seven Title Douluos followed. Ye Xuanji summoned three Star Saint Swords, carrying Chen Junting and Ning Tian aloft.
As they rose, the haze below thinned—visibility sharpening. From the canopy, Sunset Forest's true face revealed itself: serene on the surface, yet brimming with hidden peril.
The deeper into the forest, the denser the mist grew—until near the core, even vegetation vanished beneath swirling, colorful clouds of poison.
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