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After fourteen days of intense competition, the qualifier round finally came to an end.
The Emperor Team had won thirteen consecutive matches and was crowned the champion, securing first place in the qualifier round. The Shrek Team, on the other hand, had won ten consecutive matches and drawn one, claiming second place in the qualifier round. Following closely behind were the Divine Wind Academy, the Blazing Academy, and the Skywater Academy.
The qualifier round concluded after an impassioned speech from the Emperor, but the audience hadn't had enough excitement. This was mainly because Fang Xuan, the most popular candidate in the entire tournament, wasn't able to participate in the final match between Shrek Academy and the Heaven Dou Academy due to various reasons. This left many people feeling regretful.
Where had Fang Xuan gone?! Everyone was puzzled, trying to guess his whereabouts.
However, according to the Emperor Team's explanation, Fang Xuan...
"He must have gone to visit a prostitute"
In the Setting Sun Forest, ancient trees stood tall like a vast sea, while the green grass resembled a cloud-like carpet. Sinister and enormous figures roamed through the forest, and deep within, the faint roars of wild beasts shook the heavens and the earth.
A vigorous figure darted through the forest with nimble movements.
His black hair flowed like clouds, his eyes sparkled like stars, and his excessively handsome face resembled that of an elegant youth in a painting. However, despite his appearance, his expression was grave, as traversing the Soulbeast Forest alone was an extremely perilous endeavor. He remained focused and couldn't afford to be careless.
This person was Fang Xuan.
He needed to clarify that he wasn't visiting a prostitute. Instead, he was engaged in something very serious.
"Achoo"
Suddenly, as Fang Xuan leaped over a stream, he sneezed loudly, as though he had been cursed by the heavens. His body tilted, and he fell into the stream with a splash, emerging as a drenched rat.
"Damn it. Who's badmouthing me behind my back?"
Drenched and disheveled, Fang Xuan climbed up from the shore. His lips twitched, and his eyes burned with anger as infuriating figures involuntarily appeared in his mind.
"It must be Yu Tian-heng and his bunch of trash. They were beaten the moment they left my side and probably started drawing circles to curse me and spread rumors to tarnish my reputation."
Fang Xuan raised his fists in anger, deciding that he would teach those good-for-nothing a lesson when he returned.
Golden Soulforce emanated from his body, evaporating the water droplets clinging to him. Fang Xuan casually swung his hair, and his Firmament Wings unfolded on his back. With a powerful flap, he soared into the depths of the forest.
Arriving at Dugu Bo's residence after some time, Fang Xuan was met with a surprise.
"Fang Xuan, you stinking brat, why are you here without notice?"
Dugu Bo, engrossed in tending to his plants and flowers, expressed astonishment upon seeing Fang Xuan. Then, suspicion crept into his gaze. He felt that the young man was up to no good.
"It's nothing serious. I just came to check on how your immortal herbs are growing," Fang Xuan said with a smile.
"Get lost" Dugu Bo grumbled, his anger palpable.
"Wow! This supreme-grade lingzhi looks so plump already. If I don't eat it soon, it won't taste good. Is that a hundred-year-old king herb? How did I miss it the last time I was here? Darn it. Could that be a Nine-Treasure Immortal Orchid? I feel like gouging my eyeballs out, throwing them on the ground, and stomping on them until they explode"
Fang Xuan's envious gaze scanned the assortment of immortal herbs in the medicinal garden. His eyes reddened, and he beat his chest and stomped his feet in frustration, regretting not clearing everything out during his previous visit.
"Old monster, you can't consume all these herbs by yourself. How about sharing half with me?" Fang Xuan looked at Dugu Bo with an innocent expression.
"You wish! Go play somewhere else" Dugu Bo retorted, his annoyance evident.
"Uh..." Dugu Bo's face darkened as he found himself at a loss for words.
Since Fang Xuan had cured the poison in Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan's bodies, their relationship had become much more harmonious. In addition, Fang Xuan was the captain of the Dugu Yan team, while Dugu Bo was a guest elder of the Heaven Dou Empire, and Fang Xuan was a prince of the empire. Their relationship had grown closer over time.
According to Fang Xuan's understanding, Dugu Bo's possessions were also his, so he could take any herb he wanted.
"Old monster, give me this King Herb. I only want this one" Fang Xuan's eyes gleamed with envy. He had already reached out to pluck the King Herb like a carrot and stuffed it into his pocket.
"No way! Don't even think about it" Dugu Bo retorted, hastily reaching out to grab the other half of the King Herb, preventing Fang Xuan from taking it.
Fang Xuan frowned and said unhappily, "Old monster, you're a Titled Douluo. Don't be so stingy. I've already plucked this King Herb. It belongs to me now. Let go!"
Dugu Bo grumbled, "This is the King Herb I painstakingly cultivated. Just because you plucked it, doesn't mean it's yours. Don't be ridiculous. Regardless of what you say, it's still mine."
Fang Xuan insisted, "Mine"
Dugu Bo countered, "Mine"
Fang Xuan: "Mine"
Dugu Bo: "Mine"
...
Finally, there was a tearing sound as King Herb split into two.
Fang Xuan and Dugu Bo were stunned. They first looked at the halves of the King Herb in their hands, then stared at each other with comical expressions, as if to ask, "What just happened?"
"Alright, let's stop fooling around. Old monster, I didn't come to the Setting Sun Forest just to plunder your herb garden. Don't worry; I won't touch a single one of your precious herbs this time. I'm here because I have an important matter to discuss, and I need your help."
After a moment, Fang Xuan turned serious. His eyes gleamed mysteriously as he looked at Dugu Bo with a smile. "Old monster, do you want to embark on something grand with me?"
"Uh... something grand?" Dugu Bo was taken aback. The way Fang Xuan phrased it sounded rather dubious. After all, only villains spoke in such a manner. Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow and gave the smirking Fang Xuan a dubious look. This kid was definitely up to something shady.
Dugu Bo's thoughts, however, were interrupted when Fang Xuan noticed a herb behind his back and tried to discreetly pluck it.
"There's no way. You stinking brat, put down that hundred-year-old lingzhi first..."