22: Chapter 22 The Mystery of the Poisonous Miasma, A Threat to the Royal Family

Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Ji Xuan finished another stage of tempering in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and came ashore to replenish his consumption.

He and Gold Crocodile Douluo sat around a campfire, roasting a few skewers of Spirit Beast meat. Grease dripped onto the fire, sizzling and emitting a rich aroma.

Ji Xuan picked up a skewer of roasted meat, blew on the rising heat, and took a gentle bite.

The meat was delicious, just missing a bit of seasoning.

Just then, a deep, resonant voice, carrying surging Soul Power, came from afar:

"Senior Dugu, are you inside?"

Ji Xuan looked up and exchanged a glance with Gold Crocodile Douluo.

Ji Xuan put down the roasted meat, his tone calm: "Dugu Bo has been completely silent for so long; the outside world has finally noticed."

Gold Crocodile Douluo nodded slightly, his vast Mental Energy spreading out silently, instantly probing the situation outside clearly.

"Thirty-one people, all from the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. The leader is a Spirit Douluo, hmm... that Snake Lance kid is also hiding in the back, peeking."

"Junior Martial Uncle Golden Crocodile, no need to pay them any mind. There is a poisonous miasma isolating the perimeter; they cannot get in."

Ji Xuan pondered for a moment and continued: "Why don't you send a voice transmission to Elder Snake Lance regarding Dugu Bo's situation, and let him go back to inform Big Sister."

"Very well."

Gold Crocodile Douluo nodded slightly and immediately sent a voice transmission to Snake Lance Douluo in the distance.

He was now a level 99 Limit Douluo; the group of royal personnel outside, with only a Spirit Douluo at best, naturally felt nothing.

A moment later, the majestic voice of Gold Crocodile Douluo rang out in the mind of Snake Lance Douluo, who was at the back of the royal team.

His expression tightened, he listened carefully, and then quietly withdrew without drawing attention.

Outside the valley, Meng Shenji called out several more times, but only his own echo responded.

Meng Shenji sighed helplessly, knowing that it was futile to keep shouting. He waved his hand at the royal secret guards behind him:

"Let's withdraw. The poisonous miasma here is strange; it is not something we can force our way through. We will report back to Your Majesty first."

...

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Crown Prince's palace.

"Young Lord, Dugu Bo has been executed in the Sunset Forest. It was Elder Gold Crocodile who personally took action."

Snake Lance Douluo's figure appeared quietly, reporting respectfully to Qian Renxue.

"Grandpa Gold Crocodile?" A trace of surprise flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes. "How could he be in the Sunset Forest?"

"Replying to Young Lord, it is like this..."

Snake Lance Douluo immediately recounted the matter of Ji Xuan going out for training, being protected by Gold Crocodile Douluo, and encountering Dugu Bo.

Of course, regarding the core secret of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Gold Crocodile Douluo did not mention it in the voice transmission, only saying that Ji Xuan was in seclusion there.

"So that's how it is... I understand. You may step down first."

Qian Renxue waved her hand.

"Yes, Young Lord."

After Snake Lance Douluo withdrew, a slight arc appeared on the corners of Qian Renxue's lips:

"Little Brother Ji Xuan, you really have helped your big sister a great deal."

With the variable that was Dugu Bo gone, there were far fewer obstacles to her plan.

A cold light flashed in her eyes, and she ordered towards the empty shadows of the great hall:

"Elder Porcupinefish, from today onwards, the dosage can be appropriately increased."

"Yes, Young Lord."

From the shadows came the low and respectful response of Porcupinefish Douluo.

...

Two days later.

Having found nothing after a thorough search, Meng Shenji and the royal secret guards withdrew from the Sunset Forest and returned to Heaven Dou City to report.

In the Golden Throne Hall, the atmosphere was heavy.

After entering the hall, Meng Shenji knelt on one knee, his tone heavy: "Your subject... has failed Your Majesty's commission."

"Official Meng, please rise and speak."

"Many thanks, Your Majesty."

"Tell me the situation."

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject led the secret guards to search almost the entire Sunset Forest, but there was one high mountain shrouded in strange poisonous miasma that we could not enter."

Meng Shenji paused and continued:

"But I called out to Senior Dugu inside the mountain many times and received no response."

Emperor Xue Ye sat on the dragon throne, his brows locked, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of the dragon throne.

The unexplained disappearance of a Titled Douluo Guest Elder was an immeasurable loss for the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

If news of Dugu Bo's situation spread, the Heaven Dou Empire would inevitably face turmoil.

After a long silence, Emperor Xue Ye spoke slowly, his voice tinged with a trace of fatigue: "I understand. Official Meng, you have worked hard. Go and get some rest."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Meng Shenji saluted and withdrew.

Emperor Xue Ye turned his gaze to Xue Qinghe below and asked in a deep voice: "Qinghe, regarding the matter of... Senior Dugu, what is your view?"

Xue Qinghe stepped forward, his expression grave:

"Father, Senior Dugu has been missing for nearly two months, and multiple searches have yielded no results. He has always deeply cherished his granddaughter; it is impossible for him to leave quietly for so long."

"In this child's opinion, I fear... he has truly met with an accident."

Emperor Xue Ye leaned back on the dragon throne and sighed deeply.

Having lost their only Titled Douluo Guest Elder, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's high-level combat power immediately appeared stretched thin.

"Qinghe, regarding the high mountain shrouded in poisonous miasma that the Education Committee Member Meng mentioned just now, go and discuss it with your teacher, School Master Ning, to see if a Titled Douluo can be sent to assist in the investigation."

"Yes, Father."

Emperor Xue Ye nodded with satisfaction: "Go, and remember to be sincere in your attitude."

"This child understands."

...

Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

"Young Miss Dugu, I have searched the Sunset Forest once, and have not found any traces of Senior Dugu."

"I understand..." Dugu Yan nodded, her expression desolate.

After such a long time, she had long since prepared herself mentally.

Meng Shenji looked at her state, unable to bear it, and gently comforted her:

"Young Miss Dugu, rest assured, the Imperial Family will retain all of Senior Dugu's treatment and honors. All your expenses and costs in the academy will also continue to be covered by the Imperial Family. If you have any difficulties, you can come to us three Education Committee members at any time."

"Thank you, Education Committee Member, I will return to my dormitory first."

She did not say anything more and turned to leave the Education Committee office.

Returning to the empty dormitory, she locked the door gently and leaned her back against the door panel.

"Grandpa..." Dugu Yan murmured, her fingertips digging deep into her palms. "I will definitely find out. If you were harmed by someone else, Yanyan will definitely do everything possible to avenge you."

Dugu Yan walked to the window, her gaze involuntarily cast towards the training ground in the distance.

"Why hasn't Tianheng returned to the academy for two days..."

She had not failed to notice the anomalies these past few days. Ever since her grandfather went missing, Yu Tianheng's eyes had shown more evasion, and recently, he had even disappeared completely.

"Is it because Grandpa is no longer here..."

She whispered to herself, a bitter arc appearing on her lips.

Those gentle considerations and those sworn oaths of the past seemed so fragile in the face of reality.

That's right... Tianheng is the future heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and I, having lost my grandfather, have nothing.

Dugu Yan shook her head self-deprecatingly. She had completely recognized the reality: on this continent, without strength, one is destined to be abandoned.

She took a deep breath, and her eyes became firm.

She had to pull herself together. Only by possessing powerful strength could she find out the truth of her grandfather's disappearance.

...

Prince Xue Xing's Mansion.

"Royal Uncle, has Senior Dugu really met with an accident?"

Xue Beng rushed into Prince Xue Xing's study, a look of panic on his face.

Prince Xue Xing stood up, his face filled with unprecedented gravity, and sighed:

"Although I do not wish to believe it, Senior Dugu... I fear he is truly in grave danger."

"This... how can this be." Xue Beng stumbled back half a step. "Senior Dugu is a Titled Douluo. Who could make him disappear without a sound? Could it be..."

"Beng'er, be careful with your words." Prince Xue Xing interrupted him.

"Royal Uncle, then what should we do? Sit and wait for death?"

Xue Beng's voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling.

"Rest assured, Beng'er. As long as His Majesty is still here, Xue Qinghe will not dare to move against you openly. This is the art of kingship, and it is also where our chance of survival lies."

He looked at Xue Beng, his tone unprecedentedly serious:

"From today onwards, you must be even more careful. I will strengthen the guards around you, but you must also be vigilant at all times."

"Also... keep an eye out in secret for who in the court is dissatisfied with the Crown Prince. We need to unite all forces that can be united."

Xue Beng took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the fear in his heart, and nodded.

"I understand, Royal Uncle, I will be careful."

Xue Beng clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his flesh.

His two older brothers disappeared inexplicably. If it wasn't done by his eldest brother, who else could it be?

He had always pretended to be a wastrel just to lower his eldest brother's guard and protect himself.

Now that Dugu Bo had inexplicably disappeared, he felt a sense of crisis coming at him head-on.