Douluo Continent: I am the Ice Archer, my ice power is invincible.

Chapter 9 Dugu Bo, you're pretty awesome!

The three traveled by carriage to Sunset Forest and arrived at their destination more than half a month later.

Led by Lin Zhiruo, Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er entered Sunset Forest.

This place is about two hundred miles east of Tiandou City, where the climate is pleasant and spring-like all year round.

Sunlight filters through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows and draping the vast forest in a golden cloak.

The air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers and the aroma of earth, occasionally punctuated by the roars of unknown beasts, adding to the mystery and wildness.

"Xiao Han, hurry up and find whatever herbs you're looking for. Once you find them, we'll leave."

"Okay, if there's nothing on the outskirts, let's look towards the center of the forest."

"I just can't do anything with you. I'm not bringing you next time."

Although there are many soul beasts in Sunset Forest, not many have a cultivation level of more than ten thousand years.

Lin Zhiruo possesses the strength of a Soul Saint and an extremely fast flight speed, so she is not worried even if she takes two children to the center of the forest.

The three of them traversed the forest, encountering many spirit beasts along the way.

Lin Zhiruo's powerful aura deterred even thousand-year-old soul beasts from approaching her easily.

Several spirit beasts that tried to approach were chased away by her.

"Xiaohan, have you finished gathering the herbs?"

"Mom, don't rush me. Who knows when we'll be able to come back here again? Let me pick a few more plants."

Xiao Han picked a few medicinal herbs and carefully placed them into the soul tool.

Those herbs did have some effect, but compared to the immortal herb, they were nothing.

As the three approached the heart of the forest, they began to feel the change in temperature.

"It seems to be getting hotter and hotter, so let's call it a day. We should head back now."

"Mom, can we go a little further ahead? There might be a surprise up there."

Xiao Han had a strong premonition that this place was not far from the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire.

Seeing that Lin Zhiruo was a little angry, Shui Bing'er said:

"Dean Lin, now that we're here, let's walk a little further with Xiaohan."

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er exchanged a smile and gave her a grateful look.

The three continued walking towards the center of the forest.

As we were walking, a pungent smell suddenly came from ahead.

"Xiao Han, don't go any further!"

Lin Zhiruo grabbed Xiao Han with one hand and Shui Bing'er with the other, and instantly retreated to a distance of 100 meters.

"That strange smell just now, it seemed like poison."

Xiao Han also smelled the strange odor, and a bad premonition immediately arose in his heart: Could it be the Azure Scale Serpent Poison Array set up by Dugu Bo? Has he already discovered the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well?

Lin Zhiruo frowned, as if she realized something, and immediately became nervous.

"Xiaohan, Bing'er, it's dangerous here, let's go."

Just as they were about to leave, an invisible force instantly enveloped the three of them.

Even if Lin Zhiruo wanted to resist, she couldn't move an inch.

A ghostly green figure emerged slowly from the depths of the dense forest, each step seemingly on an invisible rhythm, the surrounding air slightly distorted by the surging soul power within him.

A cold light flashed in those deep eyes.

"Who are you? How dare you trespass on my territory!"

The man's voice was deep and hoarse, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Although Xiao Han couldn't see the face clearly, he knew it was Dugu Bo.

Unexpectedly, he discovered the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire so early.

Lin Zhiruo's expression turned solemn as she recognized the person as Poison Douluo Dugu Bo.

She knew that Dugu Bo's strength was unfathomable, and his Azure Scale Serpent Emperor Poison was unparalleled in the world. If she was not careful, she would be doomed.

Lin Zhiruo forced herself to remain calm and tried to defuse the potential crisis with words.

"Senior Dugu, I am Lin Zhiruo, the vice dean of Tianshui Academy. We had no intention of offending you; we simply wandered into this place by mistake. Please forgive us."

"Tianshui Academy?"

Dugu Bo glanced coldly at Lin Zhiruo, sensing the icy aura emanating from her, and knew she wasn't lying.

Years ago, Dugu Bo met Dean Zhao of Tianshui College, but they were not familiar with each other.

"What are you doing here?"

"We've come to find the Soul Beast."

Before Lin Zhiruo could answer, Xiao Han preemptively replied.

He knew that Dugu Bo was very suspicious, and if Dugu Bo found out that they had come to look for medicinal herbs, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Yes, we've come to find the Soul Beast."

Lin Zhiruo knew that Xiao Han was always smart, and he must have his reasons for saying that, so she agreed with him.

Dugu Bo glanced at Xiao Han, guessing that he wouldn't dare to lie.

Little did he know that this six-year-old boy was eyeing his medicinal herb garden.

"Ahead lies a poison array I've set up; even a soul beast with ten thousand years of cultivation wouldn't dare approach it easily. If these two children step into the array, they will surely die. This is not a place for you; leave now."

"Thank you for the reminder, senior. We'll be leaving now."

As soon as Lin Zhiruo finished speaking, Dugu Bo disappeared from sight; he was simply too fast.

"Xiaohan, Bing'er, let's go!"

Lin Zhiruo, along with Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er, flew directly out of Sunset Forest.

The three were still in shock after landing.

Shui Bing'er asked:

"Dean Lin, who was that old man just now?"

"He is Poison Douluo Dugu Bo."

"So he's a Title Douluo, no wonder he's so powerful."

"Dugu Bo is a loner who prefers to be alone and is renowned for his poisons. It is said that he is ruthless and has thus made many enemies."

Recalling what had just happened, Xiao Han felt lingering fear and some self-reproach.

"Mom, I'm sorry, I'm the one who put you in danger."

"Xiao Han, you don't need to blame yourself. This was just an accident. We have no grudge against Dugu Bo. Dean Zhao even introduced me to him before. Even if he doesn't remember me, he won't make things difficult for us if he knows we are from Tianshui Academy."

"Um."

Xiao Han felt a little better after that.

However, this experience only fueled his desire to obtain the immortal herb.

"By the way, Xiaohan, why did you just say we were here to find soul beasts?"

"Mom, don't you find it strange? Dugu Bo set up a poison array in the center of the forest, as if he's deliberately protecting something. Neither people nor spirit beasts can get close to the poison array. I guess there might be something extremely precious inside, maybe some rare flowers or herbs. If he finds out we're here to collect herbs, he might want to kill us."

After hearing Xiao Han's explanation, Lin Zhiruo felt a chill run down her spine.

"Xiao Han, you're so young, yet you're so thoughtful. You should use that intelligence in your cultivation; you can't keep taking risks."

"Okay, I understand."

A few days later, the three returned to Tianshui Academy.

Lin Zhiruo told Dean Zhao about their experiences in the Frozen Forest and Sunset Forest.

Dean Zhao felt fortunate after hearing this.

"I never expected you to run into Dugu Bo. Luckily, it was just a false alarm. Xiao Han and Bing'er are the future hope of our Tianshui Academy. They will surely shine in the Soul Master Competition ten years from now."

(End of this chapter)