Chapter 24: First Meeting with Dugu Bo
Qin Ming led Dragon Chen and the others into Sunset Forest.
Their goal was to find a thousand-year Spirit Beast with self-healing abilities to help Ye Lingling obtain her third spirit ring and further enhance her healing capabilities.
They ventured deeper into the forest, gradually approaching the areas where thousand-year Spirit Beasts might appear.
Suddenly, a swift, shadowy panther, its body covered in dark black markings, darted out from the trees.
Its eyes were like two cold stars in an abyss, glinting with a ferocious light.
Qin Ming quickly warned everyone:
"Everyone, be careful! It's a thousand-year cultivation Shadow Demon Panther!"
Feline Spirit Beasts possess good self-healing abilities, and this Shadow Demon Panther, with its thousand-year cultivation, was precisely the target Spirit Beast they were searching for on this trip.
Seeing this, Dragon Chen unhesitatingly released his Dark Night Magic Lyre Spirit, shielding Ye Lingling behind him.
Yu Tianheng also released his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit, lightning power swirling around him with an imposing aura.
Dugu Yan's Bi Lin Snake Spirit also quietly attached to her body, ready to launch an attack at any moment.
Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, and Oslo also released their respective Spirits.
The few of them quickly surrounded the Shadow Demon Panther.
The Shadow Demon Panther was agile, like a ghost in the darkness, possessing extremely fast speed, making it difficult to deal with.
It roared, lunging fiercely at Oslo, who was closest to it.
Oslo, possessing the Ghost Panther Spirit, was also very fast, dodging the attack with a sidestep.
Just then, the sound of a lyre rang out.
Accompanying the release of Dragon Chen's second Spirit Ability, a giant Nine-tailed Fox appeared above the Shadow Demon Panther's head.
The Shadow Demon Panther's speed immediately slowed by a few points, and its eyes became hazy.
Seeing this, Yu Tianheng immediately released his lightning power.
Blue-purple snake lightning continuously exploded on the Shadow Demon Panther's body, paralyzing it.
The other few also seized the opportunity to launch a pincer attack on the Shadow Demon Panther.
Under Dragon Chen's restriction and the combined assault of the others, the Shadow Demon Panther gradually weakened and collapsed to the ground.
"Lingling, quickly deliver the final blow."
"Okay."
Ye Lingling stepped forward, swinging her sharp blade, striking the Shadow Demon Panther directly in the throat.
The Shadow Demon Panther completely lost its breath.
The battle ended, and Qin Ming walked towards everyone.
He had not intervened against the thousand-year cultivation Shadow Demon Panther, precisely to train the team's coordination abilities.
"You all performed well; your coordination was very tacit."
The few of them exchanged smiles.
Ye Lingling said:
"Are any of you injured? I'll treat you."
"We're fine. Lingling, adjust your state and prepare to absorb the spirit ring."
A wisp of mist slowly rose from the Shadow Demon Panther's corpse, gradually condensing into a thousand-year spirit ring emitting purple light in the air.
After Ye Lingling adjusted her state, she drew the spirit ring towards her, then prepared to absorb it.
The other few also took a short rest.
Dragon Chen quickly recovered to his optimal state.
He had intended to stay by Ye Lingling's side, watching her awaken from absorbing the spirit ring.
But now, he had something more important to do.
"Teacher, Lingling will need some time to absorb the spirit ring. I'd like to gather some herbs nearby."
Qin Ming looked around.
This place didn't seem like an area where high-grade Spirit Beasts frequently appeared.
"Go ahead, but don't go far. Just stay in this vicinity."
"Okay."
Dugu Yan came to Dragon Chen's side and said with a laugh:
"Teacher, Long Chen and I will go together."
"I'll go too. It's better with more people to look out for each other."
Yu Tianheng also walked over.
Qin Ming considered for a moment, nodded, and instructed:
"Be careful, don't go too far, make marks along the way, and return immediately if you encounter danger."
"Understood."
The three responded and then left the group.
Dragon Chen walked at the front, heading directly towards the forest center.
He knew that as long as he found the Bi磷 Snake Venom Array laid out by Dugu Bo, he might attract Dugu Bo's attention.
The three continued forward, going further and further, getting closer and closer to the forest center.
Yu Tianheng suddenly said:
"Are we going too far?"
"The medicinal herbs I'm looking for aren't in the outer reaches of the forest. Don't worry, I've made markers along the way; we can just follow them back later."
"Alright. But we still shouldn't go too far, or Teacher and the others will worry."
"Yes, we'll try to get back before Lingling finishes absorbing her spirit ring."
The three continued forward.
Suddenly, a strong spirit power fluctuation emanated.
Yu Tianheng's expression changed, and a feeling of unease welled up in his heart.
"Someone's nearby."
"Yes, I feel it too."
Dragon Chen sensed a chilling and terrifying aura.
Dugu Yan looked around, a complex expression appearing on her face.
Suddenly, a cold, green figure appeared before the three of them.
That icy aura instantly dropped the surrounding temperature by several degrees.
Upon seeing that figure, Dugu Yan was first startled, then revealed a look of joy.
"Grandpa!"
The person who arrived was Dugu Bo.
He wore a black robe, his face was stern, and his eyes gleamed with wisdom.
Dugu Bo saw Dugu Yan, frowned slightly, and asked:
"Yan Yan, why are you here?"
Dugu Yan quickly stepped forward, embracing one of Dugu Bo's arms, and whined:
"Grandpa, I was just about to ask you, why are you here?"
"I came to find some medicinal herbs."
"What a coincidence, we're also here to find medicinal herbs."
After Dugu Yan finished speaking, she pointed at Yu Tianheng and Dragon Chen, introducing them:
"Grandpa, these two are my teammates. This is Yu Tianheng, from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and he's the captain of our school team. This is Dragon Chen, the expert at refining detoxification pills whom I once mentioned to you."
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo's gaze swept over Dragon Chen and Yu Tianheng, carrying a hint of doubt and wariness.
"Yan Yan, you three specifically came to find medicinal herbs, just the three of you?"
"No. We came to help our teammate Ye Lingling obtain her third spirit ring. We've already killed the Spirit Beast, and while she's absorbing the spirit ring, we accompanied Dragon Chen to find medicinal herbs."
Dugu Bo nodded, his gaze lingering on Dragon Chen for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
He naturally knew how troublesome the poison Dugu Yan had contracted was, and yet this seemingly thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy could refine detoxification pills that had a certain detoxifying effect. It was indeed not simple.
Before this, Dugu Bo had already heard Dugu Yan mention Dragon Chen.
However, being arrogant by nature, he hadn't taken Dragon Chen seriously.
Now that he saw Dragon Chen, he found that there was an indescribable feeling about this young man.
"Boy, the pills you refined have some inhibitory effect on the Bi Lin Snake Venom in Yan Yan's body. Who did you learn from?"
Dugu Bo looked at Dragon Chen, his cold gaze chilling to the heart.
But Dragon Chen showed no fear, stating calmly:
"I learned it at an ordinary medical clinic in Heaven Dou City. It's nothing worth mentioning."
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