**Chapter 51: Stillborn**
Gu Ziyi would attempt to go to the Sunset Forest alone.
As for Dugu Bo, the future owner of the 'Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well,' he likely hasn't found any trace of it at this point. This is because Dugu Bo's son, Dugu Xin, is only 20 years old at this time.
Dugu Bo wouldn't find the 'Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well' until after Dugu Xin's death, using it to suppress his own toxins. His son was poisoned to death by the venom of his own Martial Spirit, the Green Scale Serpent Emperor, because Dugu Bo hadn't yet discovered the existence of the 'Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.'
Dugu Bo only discovered the well after his son had died.
Dugu Xin's death wouldn't occur until well after the birth of Dugu Yan.
There's still a long way to go until she is born!
So, at this moment, Dugu Bo likely hasn't found the 'Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.'
But before going to Sunset Forest, Gu Ziyi needed to perform an experiment to ensure his safety.
Specifically, he wanted to determine if his Invisibility Talisman was effective against Soul Beasts.
Gu Ziyi had asked Yue Guan to help test it first. After using the Invisibility Talisman, as long as he didn't make any noise, even Yue Guan couldn't find him.
The results of this test gave him the confidence to venture into Sunset Forest, but he still needed to test it against Soul Beasts.
After all, some Soul Beasts don't rely on sight to locate their prey.
Not far north of Spirit City, there's a caged Soul Beast Forest meant for beginners.
After a bit of preparation, Gu Ziyi set out for it. Leaving for only a day or two wouldn't be a problem.
Now, he no longer needed to accompany Bibi Dong daily as long as he provided her with enough talismans.
Now, Gu Ziyi could make talismans that would last up to a week.
Moreover, with Bibi Dong's training and studies progressing steadily, Qian Xunji's supervision over them had become looser. As long as they met the established goals, he rarely taught them personally.
In the original work, Bibi Dong even had time to romance Yu Xiaogang without her teacher discovering it! It's clear that Qian Xunji trusted Bibi Dong and supervised her quite loosely.
Gu Ziyi had a token from Qian Xunji. Though not as authoritative as Bibi Dong's decree, it was sufficient for daily use.
With the token in hand, he easily entered the Soul Beast Forest.
However, a few hours later, Gu Ziyi withdrew from the forest in a state of disarray.
"Aya, the plan died halfway!"
"The plan to go to Sunset Forest alone was stillborn!"
"The Invisibility Talisman can't evade all Soul Beasts. If I went to Sunset Forest alone, I'd be courting death."
"It seems I'll have to find another way!"
As Gu Ziyi walked out, he appeared a bit disappointed, though also slightly relieved.
After all, even if the Invisibility Talisman had worked against the Soul Beasts, Gu Ziyi felt it would still be highly dangerous to venture alone into Sunset Forest.
Now, there was no need to consider a solo adventure in Sunset Forest.
…
Meanwhile, Gu Ziyi's original plan for Sunset Forest had failed miserably.
At Haotian Academy, founded by the Haotian Sect…
"I want to announce that from today onward, my younger sister will join our Haotian Team."
"You all must know she has been practicing for a long time, and her Noble Ring is as powerful as the world's strongest auxiliary Martial Spirit, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"
"With my sister joining, our Haotian Team will undoubtedly become even stronger!"
"We will definitely win the championship in the Soul Master Competition three years from now!"
That day, Tang Hao brought his younger sister, Tang Yuehua, to Haotian Academy and had her join the Haotian Team.
Tang Hao wanted his sister to join the team so they could compete together in the tournament, fostering a tacit understanding between them and fully preparing for the upcoming Soul Master Competition.
Since Tang Yuehua could finally cultivate, whether due to accumulated experience or otherwise, her cultivation speed in the first year had been remarkably fast.
She rose by 6 levels in her first year, 5 levels in her second, and 4 levels in her third.
Her talent was fully realized.
Today, Tang Yuehua is already a Level 27 Grandmaster of the Soul.
The additional 2 levels were due to the high-quality Soul Rings she possessed.
Although a Level 27 Grandmaster might seem a bit weak, Tang Yuehua's auxiliary Martial Spirit is extremely effective, making her low level irrelevant for joining the team.
Originally, Haotian Team had no auxiliary Soul Masters; they were all battle Soul Masters. The whole team possessed the same Martial Spirit – the Clear Sky Hammer – and adhered to extreme strategies.
Haotian Academy's team had always refused to admit outsiders, especially under Tang Hao's leadership.
But with Tang Yuehua joining, there was no issue.
This way, even if a Soul Sect member (Level 41–50) was removed and replaced with her, who was only Level 27, the team's overall strength would be much stronger with her than without.
Moreover, Tang Yuehua's power is still increasing rapidly. In three years, she may even surpass Level 40 and become a Soul Sect!
"Hello, everyone, please take care of me from now on!"
After Tang Hao's introduction, Tang Yuehua greeted everyone with a smile.
She was also thrilled to join the team.
It's a pity her cousin Bai Lu couldn't join the Haotian Team.
And not just her cousin Bai Lu – even the younger generation from the four main single-attribute families affiliated with Haotian Sect have never been allowed to join the Haotian Team.
The Haotian Academy might allow them admission, but no one from outside the Haotian Sect can join the Haotian Team.
If members of the four primary single-attribute families wish to participate in the Soul Master Competition, they must join another advanced Soul Master academy and find a way to join that academy's team.
Bai Lu did indeed join an Advanced Soul Master Academy and successfully joined its team.
However, the strength of her team isn't strong enough to achieve good results in the tournament.
Naturally, the rest of the Haotian Team gave Tang Yuehua a warm welcome.
Since learning that she could cultivate and about her cultivation speed over the past few years, as well as the powerful auxiliary effects of her Martial Spirit, the attitude of the Haotian Sect members toward Tang Yuehua had already changed, and they became much more enthusiastic about her.
Of course, this doesn't mean they previously treated her poorly, but it was inevitable that their gazes reflected a sense of pity and sympathy for her situation.
However, such changes didn't bring Tang Yuehua much happiness.
At first, she was indeed overjoyed, but as time passed, she understood that the reason for everyone's attention was due to her newfound usefulness.
No one cared even if she had run away from home.
Even her father was indifferent, but now she was strictly required to practice diligently and basically had little time to enjoy herself.
She just hoped her second brother, Tang Hao, wouldn't be as strict with her at Haotian Academy as their father had been in the sect.
…
(End of chapter)
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