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Early the next morning, Ye Lan let out a deep yawn and ambled leisurely toward the training grounds of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Last night, the banquet he shared with the members of the Heaven Dou First Team had simply run far too late!
With the notable exceptions of Ye Leng Leng and Zhu Zhuqing, absolutely everyone had been determined to challenge Ye Lan to a drinking contest!
Fortunately, by relying on the ceaseless vitality generated by his Blue Silver Grass to counteract the alcohol, Ye Lan successfully managed to drink every last one of them under the table.
One must understand, the sheer difficulty of intoxicating a blue whale cannot be compared to that of a mere human; the required alcohol intake is on a completely different scale.
Upon arriving at the training grounds, Ye Lan was surprised to discover that the three elders of the Education Committee, whom he had not seen in quite some time, were actually present on the field.
The moment Ye Lan appeared, Osro instantly rushed over to his side.
"Captain Ye! Captain Ye! Are you planning to join us in the Sunset Forest to hunt for Spirit Rings? As it stands, everyone on the Heaven Dou First Team, aside from Xiao Xue, has now reached the tenth-rank bottleneck."
"Your own theory has already made it clear that one should break through to the next realm as soon as possible, otherwise it will significantly slow down one's cultivation progress."
"Because so many members of the first team need to acquire their Spirit Rings, the three elders from the Education Committee, out of significant safety concerns, will be personally leading us to the Sunset Forest to hunt for them this time."
"It's just a shame that Captain Tianheng isn't here. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has already arranged for his next Spirit Ring."
Ye Lan contemplated this for a moment before slowly shaking his head.
Just then, Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin approached Ye Lan.
"Xiao Lan, your spiritual herbs have truly left the three of us utterly astounded. The rate at which the Heaven Dou First Team's strength has improved is nothing short of fantastical," Meng Shenji exclaimed with great admiration.
Ye Lan gave a slight nod and said, "Greetings, Elder Meng, Elder Bai, and Elder Zhi Lin."
"In truth, these spiritual herbs were all a gift from Grandpa Dugu, and these particular herbs are… " Ye Lan's words trailed off as a thought suddenly occurred to him, and he did not continue.
If Yanyan ever found out that he had already completely used up her dowry, he couldn't imagine how she would possibly react, though Ye Lan was, at least, somewhat mentally prepared for it.
However, currently caught in such a messy and complicated predicament, Ye Lan did not dare to proactively take that step himself.
Therefore, he refrained from explicitly telling the three elders that this was, in fact, the dowry that had been gifted to him by Grandpa Dugu.
Bai Baoshan then said, "Xiao Lan, are you not joining us on the hunt in the Sunset Forest? With the three of us present, I can absolutely guarantee your safety."
Bai Baoshan's incredibly burly physique lent his words a great deal of credibility.
Ye Lan explained, "I still have some unfinished business to attend to, and besides, I have already chosen the target for my third Spirit Ring."
"Its location is somewhere within the Star Dou Great Forest. That place is far too dangerous, and for that reason, the fewer people who go, the better."
Zhi Lin said, "Xiao Lan, for you to go to the Star Dou Great Forest to acquire a Spirit Ring is much too dangerous! I truly cannot rest easy knowing you are going there."
At this moment, Dugu Yan stepped forward and declared excitedly, "Then I will accompany Ye Lan to the Star Dou Great Forest! I will ask my grandfather to come along, and that way we won't have to be afraid of encountering a hundred-thousand-year-old Spirit Beast!!"
Hearing Dugu Yan's proposal, Meng Shenji said, "Very well! With Senior Dugu present, I can certainly rest assured about your safety."
Xiao Xue looked toward Ye Lan and proactively offered, "Ye Lan, I will accompany you as well!"
Xiao Xue thought to herself: With Uncle Yu and Uncle Ci's protection, Ye Lan's safety will be properly guaranteed.
I will absolutely not permit a situation like Titan's previous sneak attack to ever happen again!!
Ning Rongrong said with a cheerful grin, "Ye Lan, I'm going too, then!! I can go ask Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone to come along with us!!"
Ye Lan hurriedly replied, "Rongrong, having Grandpa Dugu accompany us is more than enough. Let's not trouble Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone."
"Alright then!" Ning Rongrong said, a touch of regret in her voice; she found herself missing her relatives from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Ye Lan gently rubbed Ning Rongrong's head.
The reason Ye Lan had turned down Ning Rongrong's invitation for Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone was because there were already far too many Titled Douluo going on this expedition to the Star Dou Great Forest!
If Poison Douluo, Serpent Lance Douluo, Porcupinefish Douluo, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo were all to go, setting aside the high probability that they might end up fighting each other, the consequences would be severe.
If so many Titled Douluo entered the Star Dou Great Forest at once and were sensed by the host of powerful beasts in the Lake of Life, they would likely assume that humanity was launching a full-scale invasion!
It would be a complete disaster if the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King were to be lured out as a result.
Ye Leng Leng said, "Zhuqing, let's go with Ye Lan to the Star Dou Great Forest together!"
"En!" Zhu Zhuqing nodded her head emphatically.
She would follow her teacher wherever he went.
When Meng Shenji saw that every one of the girls wanted to go along with Ye Lan, he cast a strange glance in his direction. Youth is wasted if not spent in pursuit of romance!
Meng Shenji laughed heartily and said, "Xiao Lan, in that case, I wish you a pleasant journey. I will take the other members of the Heaven Dou First Team to the Sunset Forest to hunt for their Spirit Rings!"
"Alright, have a safe journey." Ye Lan and the five young women waved their farewells to the three elders.
After Ye Lan and the others had descended from the Imperial Fight Mountain, Ye Lan shouted toward the distant mountain range, "Uncle Wolf!!"
A meteor immediately streaked across the sky!
In just a short while, Silver Wolf rushed to appear before Ye Lan.
"Xiao Lan?! Is something the matter?!" Silver Wolf asked.
"Uncle Wolf, this immortal herb, the 'Starlit Phantom Dream,' is for you! Thank you for saving my life last time!" Ye Lan said as he handed a fantastical, dreamlike immortal herb that radiated with starlight to Silver Wolf.
The very moment he laid eyes on the 'Starlit Phantom Dream,' Silver Wolf's Spirit, the 'Moon Shadow Wolf,' began to pulse with shimmering fluctuations.
Sensing the intense and continuous craving coming from his 'Moon Shadow Wolf,' Silver Wolf knew that this immortal herb, the 'Starlit Phantom Dream,' was immeasurably precious!!
To him, its value was certainly no less than that of a hundred-thousand-year-old Spirit Bone!
Although Silver Wolf desperately needed this immortal herb, he still waved his hands in refusal and quickly said:
"Xiao Lan, this immortal herb is far too valuable!! Protecting you is merely my duty; there is no need to repay me with such a precious herb."
Seeing Silver Wolf reject Ye Lan's kind gesture, Xiao Xue took the initiative and spoke up.
"Uncle Wolf, please accept the immortal herb Ye Lan is offering you. Only after your strength has improved can you better protect Ye Lan!"
Silver Wolf's gaze followed the sound of her voice to the blonde-haired girl standing beside Ye Lan, and his pupils trembled.
Isn't this the Young Miss who has been missing for so many years?!
Silver Wolf's heart began to beat violently. Before he had become the vice-commander of the Knights of the Holy Emperor, he had seen the nine-year-old Qian Renxue.
This Xiao Xue looked so much like the Young Miss, all grown up.
No, she is the Young Miss!
After Silver Wolf sensed the fluctuations from Xiao Xue's Spirit, the way he looked at Ye Lan changed once more.
Even the Young Miss of Spirit Hall has come to his side?
It seems that Xiao Lan is truly destined to become the future Holy Son of Spirit Hall!
At that moment, Ye Lan spoke up, "Uncle Wolf, Xiao Xue is right. After your strength improves, my safety will be even more secure."
"Very well! In that case, I won't be polite."
Silver Wolf accepted the 'Starlit Phantom Dream' and nodded with deep gratitude.
Xiao Lan was far too good to him!!
Being able to serve at the Holy Son's side was the luckiest thing to ever happen in his life; his future prospects were boundless!
A resource of this level would never be allocated to a Spirit Douluo in Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall simply had too many Titled Douluo for that to happen.
"Uncle Wolf, why don't you find a safe location to absorb the immortal herb right now, and then you can accompany me to the Star Dou Great Forest," Ye Lan suggested.
Silver Wolf nodded, then transformed back into a meteor and flew off into the distance.
After watching Uncle Wolf depart, Ye Lan turned to Dugu Yan and said, "Yanyan, could you please go and ask Grandpa Dugu to come over."
Ye Leng Leng added, "Yanyan, I will go with you."
"Okay!" Dugu Yan wrapped her arms around Ye Leng Leng's and shot Ning Rongrong a look of triumph.
This infuriated Ning Rongrong, who immediately hugged Ye Lan's arm and bared her teeth and claws playfully at Dugu Yan!!
Dugu Yan gave Ye Lan a pitiable look.
"Yanyan, Leng Leng, please hurry back. We will wait for you right here," Ye Lan said, gently squeezing Ning Rongrong's cheek.
A long while later, Dugu Bo arrived beside Ye Lan, accompanied by Ye Leng Leng and Dugu Yan.
Dugu Bo stretched his body out and said excitedly, "Xiao Lan, when are we departing?! It has been far too long since I have last been to the Star Dou Great Forest. I must really stretch my legs this time."
Ye Lan replied, "Grandpa Dugu, there's no rush! Let's wait a little while for Uncle Wolf."
"Uncle Wolf?" Dugu Bo asked, puzzled.
Before Ye Lan had a chance to answer, Dugu Bo sensed two terrifying Spirit fluctuations nearby.
"Who is there?!!" Dugu Bo exclaimed.
Two figures flashed from the shadows to appear before the group. One was tall, slender, and majestic, clad in black and gold armor. The other was powerfully built and imposing, dressed in matte gold armor.
Dugu Bo's expression changed dramatically as he shouted, "Porcupinefish!"
"Serpent Lance!"
"Xiao Lan, all of you get behind me! These two are Titled Douluo!"
At that moment, Xiao Xue shot Ye Lan a meaningful glance while simultaneously using her spirit power to send a telepathic message to Uncle Yu and Uncle Ci.
"Uncle Yu, Uncle Ci, simply explain to Dugu Bo that you are here to protect Ye Lan."
Serpent Lance Douluo could hardly keep a straight face the moment he saw Dugu Bo. Last time, the Young Miss had instructed him to transmit Poison Douluo's location to Spirit Hall.
He had later heard that Chrysanthemum Douluo had taught Dugu Bo a very severe lesson.
If Poison Douluo ever found out that the true culprit was the very 'Xiao Xue' he was now shielding behind him, how would he possibly react?
A gruff voice sounded out.
Porcupinefish Douluo said, "Poison Douluo, do not misunderstand us. We are here to protect Ye Lan."
Dugu Bo looked at Ye Lan in utter disbelief. Since when did Ye Lan receive this level of escort!?
These were two Titled Douluo!
After seeing the look from Xiao Xue, Ye Lan immediately understood her meaning.
Ye Lan said, "Grandpa Dugu, don't worry. Uncle Yu and Uncle Ci heard that I was traveling to the Star Dou Great Forest, so they came specially from Spirit Hall to protect me."
"So that's how it is!!" Dugu Bo exclaimed with sudden realization.
Does Xiao Lan also have backing from Spirit Hall? What could his status possibly be to warrant the protection of two Titled Douluo!
However, it didn't matter.
Xiao Lan is my grandson-in-law now. The stronger his background, the better, hehe.
At this thought, a smile emerged on Dugu Bo's face. He clasped his fists and said, "Gentlemen, it is a pleasure to meet you!"
Seeing Dugu Bo's friendly expression, Serpent Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo also clasped their fists in response.
Dugu Bo was an independent Titled Douluo, without the backing of any major power.
Judging from his actions in protecting Ye Lan, Dugu Bo must have already forged a connection with him.
And since Ye Lan was the Young Miss's beloved, this meant Dugu Bo was now on their side.
Not long after Serpent Lance and Porcupinefish Douluo had appeared, a dreamlike, dark-silver meteor soared in from the distance.
As Silver Wolf flew closer, he looked at Serpent Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo with astonishment.
Elder Yu? Elder Ci?
Xiao Xue truly is the Young Miss of Spirit Hall; otherwise, these two elders would never have appeared here!
Silver Wolf flew before the group, bowed respectfully, and said, "Greetings, Elder Yu, Elder Ci!"
Serpent Lance Douluo gave Silver Wolf a surprised look.
"Silver Wolf, are you about to advance to the rank of Titled Douluo!?" Serpent Lance Douluo asked.
"Yes, I have now reached the eighty-ninth rank!" Silver Wolf replied truthfully.
Porcupinefish Douluo declared, "Excellent!! It won't be long before our Spirit Hall has another elder. When it's time to hunt for your ninth Spirit Ring, you can call on me!!"
"Thank you, Elder Ci!" Silver Wolf said gratefully.
Ye Lan asked with curiosity, "Uncle Wolf, has your Spirit evolved?!"
"Yes! My Spirit has evolved into the 'Star Wolf'! The quality of the 'Star Wolf' is incredibly high, likely comparable to the 'Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon'."
"I have a feeling that it won't be long before I can break through to become a Titled Douluo!"
"When I break through, I'll be able to protect you even better, Xiao Lan!" Silver Wolf said with excitement.
"Wonderful. I will be waiting for the day you become a Titled Douluo, Uncle Wolf!" Ye Lan replied.
Silver Wolf spoke again, "Xiao Lan, Elder Yu, Elder Ci, and Your Excellency, Poison Douluo. The journey to the Star Dou Great Forest is quite long. Why don't I first go to the Spirit Hall's Sacred Palace to borrow a few carriages, while the rest of you wait for me on the main avenue in Heaven Dou City."
"That sounds like a good plan. Grandpa Dugu, Uncle Yu, Uncle Ci, let's set off now!" Ye Lan agreed.
"Yay!! Let's go!!" Ning Rongrong shouted excitedly.
(End of this chapter)