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"By the way, Grandpa, could you lend me that storage-type soul-guided tool that can hold living things? I want to gather some immortal herbs for my teachers and two younger brothers."
Li Luochen asked Dugu Bo, who, without hesitation, tossed the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse to him. Dugu Bo then continued pondering the concept of a soul core.
After receiving the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse, Li Luochen began systematically collecting the immortal herbs he needed, following the guidelines in the Herb Record:
- Wind-Chanting Eagle Beak Flower
- Vajra Fruit
- Nine Treasure Fire Dragon Ganoderma
- Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng King
- Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid
- Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower
- Strange Velvet Chrysanthemum
- Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone
- Dragon Ganoderma Leaf
- Yearning Heartbroken Red
He planned to take these immortal herbs back for his teachers and younger brothers to consume. Li Luochen remembered that Principal Flender's spirit power was nearing the Spirit Douluo level, while Aunt Erlong (soon-to-be stepmother) was approaching the Spirit Sage level.
It would be perfect to let them advance first and then acquire their soul rings. With Elder Dugu Bo around to provide support, there wouldn't be any issues.
After finishing everything, he carefully preserved the roots and seeds of the herbs so they could regrow later. Then, accompanied by Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, he left the Ice and Fire Dual Eye. As they exited through the toxic miasma, Dugu Bo added an extra layer of protection using his newly evolved Jade Phosphorous Mixed Poison to safeguard the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"By the way, Grandpa, do you know if there's a twenty-thousand-year earth-attribute dragon-type soul beast suitable for me in the Sunset Forest?"
Dugu Bo thought for a moment and then nodded as a massive figure came to mind.
"Yes, I'm certain it's an earth-attribute dragon-type soul beast, just over twenty thousand years old. I can't recall its exact name at the moment, but that creature is over sixty meters tall, with a body as large as a small mountain. Its thick, earth-yellow scales are irregularly shaped, and its enormous head takes up nearly a quarter of its entire body.
I once witnessed it defeat and kill a sixty-thousand-year soul beast, carrying the corpse away afterward. I followed it briefly—it resides in the rocky mountains in the southeastern part of the Sunset Forest.
It's one of the dominant beasts of the Sunset Forest. Even the White-Eyed Demon Tiger King wouldn't dare provoke it."
From Dugu Bo's description, Li Luochen could confirm that this was a Tyrant Dragon—the king of sub-dragon species. Its earth-yellow body was likely a hybrid descendant of the Tyrant Dragon and Mountain Dragon lineage, possessing both Golden Dragon and Mountain Dragon bloodlines. This variant Tyrant Dragon would be an ideal soul ring for Li Luochen.
To play it safe, he'd need to boost his spiritual power first. When the time came, he'd enlist the help of Principal Flender, Aunt Erlong, and Grandpa Dugu Bo to hunt down this Tyrant Dragon. Acquiring its soul ring would likely grant him an extreme-level ability.
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Tian Dou City, Blue Tyrant Academy
It had been many days since he last returned. Li Luochen wondered whether Principal Flender had managed to get Aunt Erlong pregnant yet.
'Ah, forget it,' he thought. 'Why should I care so much about their affairs? It's like the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is.'
The gatekeepers of Blue Tyrant Academy recognized Li Luochen and let him pass without question. Li Luochen brought Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo to the small wooden cabin behind where Liu Erlong resided.
At this moment, Flender and Liu Erlong weren't engaged in any intimate activities. Flender was lying on a recliner, resting with his eyes closed, while Liu Erlong was watering the flowers.
When Flender noticed someone approaching, he stood up. No sooner had he steadied himself than a figure rushed toward him.
"Hi-hi-hi, Principal!!!"
Li Luochen charged forward and hugged Flender tightly. Flender had been his mentor, helping him immensely. He often gave Li Luochen special attention, and a significant portion of Li Luochen's medical knowledge came from the medical books Flender had lent him.
"Haha, you little rascal! Why are you so enthusiastic after not seeing me for over a month?"
Flender felt proud of this child, his most outstanding student from Shrek Academy. He took great pride in Li Luochen.
"It's been too long since I've seen you, Principal! Hey, hello, Aunt Erlong!"
Liu Erlong set down her watering can and walked over, embracing Flender's arm affectionately. She looked at Li Luochen with maternal warmth and kindness.
"Uh… Principal, should I start calling you 'Mother-in-Law' now?"
Li Luochen smirked mischievously as he spoke, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"That's right—you can," Flender said, gazing at Liu Erlong with deep affection. "By the way, why have you come back with Lord Dugu? Is there something important?"
Flender and Liu Erlong had already noticed Dugu Bo earlier. After all, when Li Luochen had previously brought Dugu Yan to visit them (or rather, to catch them red-handed), he had introduced their relationship. They knew Dugu Bo wasn't an enemy.
"Hehe, I've come to bring opportunities! Principal, you're close to reaching Spirit Douluo, and Aunt Erlong is nearing Spirit Sage, right? I have some treasures that will help you quickly reach your bottlenecks and possibly even evolve your martial souls."
Li Luochen got straight to the point, pulling out the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse and presenting the Wind-Chanting Eagle Beak Flower and the Nine Treasure Fire Dragon Ganoderma—two lower-tier immortal-grade herbs. Before Flender could ask anything, Li Luochen interrupted again.
"Principal, this Wind-Chanting Eagle Beak Flower is a treasure for flying bird-type martial souls. There's a chance it will grant wind attributes. First, eat the pistil, then the petals—but don't eat the stem or roots. Afterward, sit down and refine it immediately.
And Aunt Erlong, this Nine Treasure Fire Dragon Ganoderma will strengthen your Crimson Dragon martial soul and enhance your fire attribute. Just chew it thoroughly and swallow it."
After accepting the immortal herbs, Flender and Liu Erlong exchanged glances and then began consuming them. They trusted that Li Luochen wouldn't harm them.
"Grandpa, do you think there are any soul beasts in the Sunset Forest suitable for Principal Flender and Aunt Erlong?"
Li Luochen turned to Dugu Bo for the Nth time, seeking advice. Dugu Bo stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"Yes, there's the seventy-thousand-year Sky Dome Divine Eagle, one of the dominant beasts of the Sunset Forest, located in the southern jungle. As for the seventh soul ring for the daughter of the Dragon Elder family, there are several options:
A forty-five-thousand-year Scarlet Flame Python, a fifty-thousand-year Blazing Unicorn Serpent…"
The Sunset Forest was being harvested again. One dominant beast, the Boundless Venom Python, had already fallen, and now others were destined to follow.
Li Luochen hadn't expected the Sunset Forest to house such powerful soul beasts. He had thought the White-Eyed Demon Tiger King was already formidable, but now he realized how absurdly strong some of them truly were.
Li Luochen wondered if there might even be hundred-thousand-year soul beasts in the Sunset Forest. After all, hundred-thousand-year soul beasts possessed intelligence comparable to humans. If they didn't want to be discovered, they likely wouldn't be.
The only Title Douluo residing in the Sunset Forest was Dugu Bo. However, given Dugu Bo's previous mental state, it would have been difficult for him to detect hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. Now, however, Dugu Bo's martial soul had evolved, his spirit power had increased, and his strength had skyrocketed.
With his current abilities, Dugu Bo could rival a level 96 Super Douluo. While he might not be able to defeat one outright, he could certainly remain undefeated. Remember, Dugu Bo was still at the peak of level 94 as a Title Douluo—not quite at the Super Douluo level yet.
The leap between Title Douluo and Super Douluo was truly a qualitative transformation.
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