The twilight in the Spirit Hunting Forest grew deeper and deeper.
The last rays of the setting sun filtered through the dense canopy.
Lin Qingmo dragged his tired little legs as he followed behind the black-robed Bibi Dong.
Disappointment was hard to hide on his face.
"Master, we’ve been wandering around all afternoon. How come we can’t even find a single suitable Evergreen VineSpirit Beast?"
Lin Qingmo’s head drooped.
Even his blue hair seemed a bit wilted.
The plant Spirit Beasts they encountered during this time were either too low in cultivation years, only a few decades or a hundred or two hundred years old.
Absorbing them would simply be a waste of a spirit ring slot.
Or their attributes simply didn’t match.
Most of the plant Spirit Beasts they found possessed poison or attack attributes.
They didn’t fit his life-attribute path at all.
He had originally been excited, thinking that with a Titled Douluo master leading the way, finding a suitable Spirit Beast would be as easy as reaching into a pocket.
In the end, they had searched for half a day.
His legs were nearly broken from all the running.
Yet he still hadn’t found a satisfactory one.
This could only be attributed to the limitations of the Spirit Hunting Forest.
Excellent Spirit Beasts were far rarer here than in the wild.
Bibi Dong stopped in her tracks.
The shadow of her hood concealed her expression.
"There aren’t many plant-type Spirit Beasts in the Spirit Hunting Forest to begin with, and those with both the right age and matching attributes are even scarcer."
Her tone carried a trace of subtle, gentle comfort.
"It’s getting late; there’s no point in continuing the search tonight."
"Why don’t we rest for the night? Tomorrow, I will take you to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest to have a look."
"The Star Dou Great Forest?!"
Lin Qingmo’s eyes lit up.
His sense of disappointment vanished instantly.
Excitement flickered in his blue-silver pupils.
"Master, are we really going to the Star Dou Great Forest?"
The Star Dou Great Forest!
That was one of the top Spirit Beast hunting grounds on the Douluo Continent.
Not only was there a vast variety of Spirit Beasts, but their cultivation years were generally much higher.
Maybe he really could find the Immortal Herb of his dreams there.
Even if he couldn’t find an ultimate one,
there was a high probability of finding a high-quality life-attribute Spirit Beast!
"Of course it’s true."
Bibi Dong’s voice carried a hint of a smile.
"The Spirit Beasts on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest aren’t too powerful."
"With me here, you’ll be safe."
"Furthermore, there are far more plant-type Spirit Beasts there than in the Spirit Hunting Forest. We should be able to find something you’re satisfied with."
In truth, she didn’t plan on finding a suitable Spirit Beast for Lin Qingmo this way.
She intended to use the power of the Spirit Hall.
"Master, you’re the best!"
Lin Qingmo instantly turned into a little sycophant, circling Bibi Dong twice.
With a beaming face, he switched into full praise mode.
"Sister Donghuang is beautiful and powerful, and you dote on me so much. You’re simply the best master in the World!"
"When I get stronger in the future, I will definitely show you my filial piety."
"I’ll defeat all rivals under heaven for you and make you the most noble person on the Douluo Continent!"
Under the black robe, Bibi Dong was amused by his flattering manner and let out a soft chuckle.
"Heh, you little rascal."
Her cool voice had indeed softened considerably.
"Hehe, everything I said comes from the heart!"
Bibi Dong said no more.
With a wave of her hand,
several streaks of spirit power shot out, clearing the surrounding bushes.
She then casually set up a campfire.
She took a tent out of her storage spirit tool.
"We’ll rest here tonight. I’ll take the watch."
"Go to sleep early, conserve your energy, and we’ll set out first thing tomorrow morning."
"Got it! Thanks, Master!"
Lin Qingmo unceremoniously crawled into the tent.
Exhaustion instantly surged into his heart.
"Ha~"
He let out a yawn.
Before long, he had fallen into a deep sleep.
A satisfied smile still lingered at the corners of his mouth... Late at night.
The Spirit Hunting Forest was silent.
Only the occasional crackle of the campfire and the distant, sporadic cries of Spirit Beasts could be heard.
Bibi Dong sat quietly by the campfire.
Her black robe fluttered gently in the night wind.
"Hmm?"
A slight movement caught her attention.
Her gaze fell upon the soundly sleeping Lin Qingmo.
Several pale green blades of grass quietly emerged from Lin Qingmo’s clothes.
Ah Yin’s grass blades stretched out cautiously, as if scouting the surroundings.
Then, they slowly moved toward Lin Qingmo’s head, as if guarding him.
Bibi Dong’s eyes instantly turned cold.
An invisible pressure descended upon them!
Ah Yin’s grass blades froze in place.
She felt a lethal threat!
But she did not retreat.
Instead, she wrapped herself even more tightly around Lin Qingmo’s wrist.
It was like a silent protest and protection.
"You should know who I am."
Bibi Dong’s voice lacked any warmth.
"I’m warning you: do not reveal my identity, and do not try to interfere in the matters between me and A-Qing. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind making you truly vanish in every sense of the word."
"..."
Ah Yin’s leaves shook violently, as if expressing her fear.
But she still stubbornly stretched out toward Lin Qingmo.
It was as if she were pleading with Bibi Dong not to hurt him.
Seeing this scene,
Bibi Dong’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
"Don’t worry, I won’t hurt him for now."
Bibi Dong said indifferently.
"He is the disciple I have chosen. I’m still counting on him to tell me more secrets, so naturally, I will protect him."
"As long as you behave yourself and don’t cause me trouble, I can allow you to stay by his side for the time being."
With that,
Bibi Dong ignored Ah Yin.
After scattering some kind of toxin in the vicinity, she left the area.
Ah Yin’s leaves swayed gently.
She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
But she remained vigilant,
quietly guarding Lin Qingmo’s side... Spirit City.
Supreme Pontiff Palace.
Bibi Dong had returned.
She shed her black robe.
And immediately issued an order.
"Summon Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Spirit Kite Douluo for an audience!"
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
The guards outside the hall responded.
Before long,
a slightly disheveled figure walked quickly into the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
It was none other than Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan.
He bore obvious signs of injury.
The wounds he had sustained during the great battle with Tang Hao had not yet healed.
"Yue Guan pays his respects to Your Holiness."
Yue Guan knelt on one knee.
His heart was full of trepidation.
He and Gui Mei had been ordered to hunt down and kill Tang Hao.
In the end, not only did Tang Hao escape,
but they themselves had been heavily injured.
He was worried that His Holiness would settle accounts with them now.
"Your Holiness, you have summoned your subordinate. What are your instructions?"
Yue Guan’s voice carried a hint of caution.
Bibi Dong sat upon the throne and looked at him calmly.
She did not mention the failure to kill Tang Hao.
Instead, she asked, "Yue Guan, have you ever heard of Immortal Herbs?"
"Immortal Herbs?"
Yue Guan was stunned for a moment.
Why was His Holiness suddenly interested in Immortal Herbs?
However, this happened to be his area of expertise.
He quickly raised his head.
A confident smile appeared on his face.
"In response to Your Holiness, I do indeed have some knowledge of them!"
"The so-called Immortal Herbs are miraculous plants that grow in places where the World’s Spiritual Veins converge, containing immense energy...!"
Yue Guan began to talk incessantly.
Starting from the types and characteristics of Immortal Herbs, he spoke with great clarity.
Clearly, he had conducted in-depth research.
Bibi Dong grew a bit impatient listening to him.
When he was halfway through, she raised her hand to interrupt him.
"Enough."
Yue Guan quickly shut his mouth.
He bowed his head respectfully.
He didn’t dare say another word.
"I ask you, have you ever heard of an Immortal Herb called the ’Heavenly Azure Vine’?"
Bibi Dong’s voice carried a hint of majesty.
"Heavenly Azure Vine?"
Yue Guan thought back carefully.
"I am aware of it."
"Very well. No matter what method you use, you must find this Heavenly Azure Vine!"
Bibi Dong’s tone brooked no argument.
"Mobilize the power of the Spirit Hall to search across the Douluo Continent. Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find it!"
"Once found, bring it back to the Spirit Hall immediately. There must be no mistakes."
"Yes! Your subordinate obeys!"
Yue Guan was startled.
He quickly and respectfully accepted the order.
He could feel the importance His Holiness placed on this Heavenly Azure Vine.
Although he didn’t know what His Holiness wanted it for,
he didn’t dare to be the least bit negligent.
"Dismissed. Hurry and see to it."
Bibi Dong waved her hand.
"Your subordinate takes his leave."
Yue Guan bowed, turned, and quickly exited the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
In his heart, he had already begun to calculate how to mobilize the Spirit Hall’s forces to search for the Heavenly Azure Vine.
(End of Chapter)
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