[Yu Xiaogang took out the storage soul tool and exchanged a glance with Yu Yuanzhen. Seeing the encouragement in his father's eyes, Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly and slowly opened the storage soul tool.]
[The moment he looked inside, the anticipation on his face instantly froze.]
[His expression stiffened.]
[His eyes widened in disbelief, and his mouth hung slightly open as though he had forgotten how to breathe.]
[Even the hand holding the storage soul tool began trembling uncontrollably.]
["What's wrong?"]
["What's inside?"]
[Seeing Yu Xiaogang's unusual reaction, Bibi Dong immediately stepped forward with concern written across her face.]
[In her eyes, Yu Xiaogang had always been calm and composed. Unless something truly unbelievable had happened, he would never lose his composure like this.]
["Inside... it's..."]
[Yu Xiaogang swallowed hard, but his throat felt painfully dry.]
[He tried several times to speak, yet no words came out.]
["Stop stammering and tell us what's in there!"]
[Bibi Dong became even more anxious.]
[Fortunately, Yu Xiaogang quickly recovered enough to respond.]
[Without saying another word, he stepped back twice.]
[The next moment, he waved his hand.]
[Boom!]
[A small mountain suddenly appeared before the three of them.]
[The entire cave was illuminated by a dazzling glow.]
[Bibi Dong immediately recognized the familiar radiance.]
[She had seen it only a short while ago.]
[It was the light emitted by a Spirit Bone.]
[However...]
[This time, the light did not come from a single Spirit Bone.]
[Instead, it came from an entire mountain of Spirit Bones piled together.]
[The cave instantly fell into complete silence.]
[Yu Yuanzhen and Bibi Dong froze on the spot.]
[Their reactions were no different from Yu Xiaogang's moments earlier.]
[Their eyes widened.]
[Their mouths fell open.]
[Their bodies trembled slightly as they stared blankly at the mountain of Spirit Bones before them.]
[The only sound inside the cave was the heavy breathing of the three of them.]
[Not one of them could utter a single word.]
---
Black World
The moment Yu Xiaogang poured out the mountain of Spirit Bones, the entire world erupted into chaos.
"My heavens! That's... that's an entire mountain of Spirit Bones!"
"Quick! Head to Sunset Forest immediately!"
"We have to find that storage soul tool!"
"But... there's still the Radiant Elemental Dragon guarding it!"
"Who cares about the Radiant Elemental Dragon? With so many Spirit Bones, do you think a single Spirit Beast can stop all of us?"
"That's right! Everyone on the continent has seen the Heavenly Curtain. Countless Spirit Masters will rush to Sunset Forest. We can overwhelm it with sheer numbers!"
"I think we'd better stay out of this."
"The Upper Three Sects and Spirit Hall will definitely fight over those Spirit Bones."
"People like us would only become cannon fodder."
"...But what if we're lucky enough to grab just one?"
"..."
Discussions erupted throughout every corner of the Douluo Continent.
Countless Spirit Masters abandoned whatever they were doing and immediately rushed toward Sunset Forest.
---
Heaven Dou Empire
"Move immediately!"
"Send every available soldier!"
"Sunset Forest belongs to the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Those Spirit Bones belong to us!"
The Heaven Dou Emperor's breathing had become heavy with excitement.
His eyes were burning with desire.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The generals accepted the order without hesitation.
Within moments, troops from every direction began marching toward Sunset Forest.
---
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School
"Uncle Jian."
"Uncle Gu."
"Let's leave immediately."
At this moment, Ning Fengzhi had completely shed his usual refined demeanor.
His expression was sharp and determined.
Standing beside him, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo wore equally serious expressions.
Their eyes remained fixed on the mountain of Spirit Bones displayed on the Heavenly Curtain.
Even they could not suppress the greed in their hearts.
Bone Douluo sighed.
"I never imagined I'd live to see the day when Spirit Bones could be described as being piled into a mountain."
Sword Douluo frowned thoughtfully.
"If I remember correctly..."
"Dugu Bo lives near Sunset Forest."
"If that's true, he may be the first person to obtain the storage soul tool."
Ning Fengzhi merely smiled calmly.
"Don't worry, Uncle Gu."
"Dugu Bo isn't that foolish."
"Even if he reaches it first, he'll only dare keep a few Spirit Bones for himself."
"The rest will inevitably be thrown out for everyone to fight over."
Bone Douluo looked puzzled.
"Why are you so certain?"
Ning Fengzhi's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Because Dugu Bo is only one Titled Douluo."
"Among Titled Douluos, his strength is near the bottom."
"He simply doesn't have the power to keep such an enormous treasure."
"He might be able to escape..."
"But can his family?"
Ning Fengzhi's eyes flashed with certainty.
"As long as Dugu Bo isn't currently with his granddaughter, Dugu Yan..."
"...every major force that knows he lives in Sunset Forest will immediately seize Dugu Yan as leverage."
Bone Douluo slowly nodded.
"I understand."
Ning Fengzhi's prediction was already becoming reality.
---
Heaven Dou Imperial Academy
"Let me go!"
"Release me!"
Dugu Yan struggled desperately.
At that moment, two Spirit Masters—a man and a woman—stood beside her.
The female Spirit Master had completely restrained Dugu Yan, leaving her unable to escape.
"Stop struggling."
"You should understand what this Heavenly Curtain means."
The female Spirit Master's expression remained cold.
"The eyes of the entire Douluo Continent are now fixed on Sunset Forest."
"Every major force is joining this battle."
"Your grandfather lives there."
"He will almost certainly be the first person to obtain that storage soul tool."
"To prevent him from escaping with those Spirit Bones..."
"...we have no choice but to keep you under control."
She paused before adding,
"In fact, we're protecting you."
"The common Spirit Masters without powerful backers won't be nearly as reasonable as we are."
Fear completely filled Dugu Yan's heart.
No one understood better than she did how much her grandfather loved her.
That affection had now become his greatest weakness.
Normally, no one dared target her because offending Poison Douluo wasn't worth the risk.
After all, everyone knew the saying:
"Even if Poison Douluo can't defeat you, he can make sure you're the last survivor in your entire organization."
But things were different now.
Faced with a mountain of Spirit Bones...
No force on the continent could remain indifferent.
Tears welled up in Dugu Yan's eyes.
"Grandpa..."
"You must stay safe..."
Unable to break free, she could only pray silently in her heart.
---
Sunset Forest
At that very moment, Dugu Bo was racing toward the treasure's location at full speed.
A mountain of Spirit Bones.
No one understood better than he did what such a treasure represented.
The instant he realized what was happening...
He also remembered something terrifying.
Many people knew he lived inside Sunset Forest.
Which meant...
His granddaughter was now in danger.
Even though he knew Dugu Yan might already have become a hostage...
He couldn't return to Heaven Dou City.
Not yet.
He had to obtain those Spirit Bones first.
Otherwise, if someone else acquired them and disappeared...
Every force on the continent would assume Dugu Bo had hidden the treasure himself.
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down.
"Stay calm."
"This is both a disaster..."
"...and an opportunity."
"There are enough Spirit Bones here for everyone."
"If I secretly keep a few, no one will notice."
"With a complete set of Spirit Bones..."
"...even if I can't defeat my enemies, escaping won't be a problem."
"Once I become stronger, no one will dare threaten Yan Yan again."
"I'll leave several Spirit Bones for Yan Yan."
"As for the rest..."
"They can fight among themselves."
"Yes..."
"That's exactly what I should do."
Even as a Titled Douluo, Dugu Bo's hands trembled uncontrollably.
Throughout his entire journey as a Spirit Master, he had experienced countless dangers and opportunities.
But never...
Never had he faced a crisis—or an opportunity—on such an unimaginable scale.
Still...
He believed he could survive this storm.
And if anyone dared harm his precious granddaughter...
Dugu Bo's eyes filled with murderous intent.
He would make them understand exactly why he was known as Poison Douluo.
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