Douluo: Manifesting the Black Abyss and White Flower at the Start

In Nan Shuishui's view, Lu Jingming was not only of good character but also exceptionally handsome and distinguished in temperament.

Judging from the attitudes of Xue Di and Bing Di toward him, as well as his background from Haiyuan City, Nan Qiuqiu had truly married up.

Added to that, being able to injure a titled Douluo while still at the Soul King level—such terrifying talent and strength—made him all the more remarkable.

After much consideration, Nan Shuishui was actually quite happy to have such an outstanding young man as her son-in-law.

However, a woman's intuition told her that Lu Jingming was a massive pitfall. If her naïve daughter fell in, it would be hard to climb out!

More importantly, Nan Qiuqiu's giving herself away for free was far too obvious. They hadn't even known each other long, yet she was already getting intimate. If Lu Jingming made the slightest move, would Qiuqiu obediently bathe and jump into his bed?

So now, she was a bit conflicted about whether to stop Nan Qiuqiu from getting closer to Lu Jingming.

When Xue Di and Bing Di emerged from the ancient well, everyone could clearly feel that the cold air that had been constantly emanating from the well had diminished greatly.

Lu Jingming immediately looked at Bing Di. Observing carefully, although Bing Di's appearance hadn't changed noticeably, her aura had become deeper.

Though she hadn't recovered to her peak due to losing her original body, with the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow—a supreme ice treasure—her return to full strength was only a matter of time.

With the Profound Ice Marrow in hand, Lu Jingming talked with Nan Shuishui about the Extreme Ice Divine Crystal Mine. Nan Shuishui, of course, wouldn't refuse such a benefit and was quite grateful. After all, without Lu Jingming and company, the Earth Dragon Sect would have struggled to extract even a single crystal, let alone mine the vein for resources and money.

After an open exchange, they reached a consensus. Lu Jingming then took his leave, preparing to depart from Dragon City.

"Ah! You're leaving already? Won't you stay and have fun for a few more days?" Nan Qiuqiu's face fell, her eyes full of reluctance when she heard of Lu Jingming's departure.

She had hoped to spend more time with him and deepen their understanding of each other.

"We still have important matters to handle and can't stay long. If you have the chance, you're welcome to visit Haiyuan City. I believe you won't be disappointed."

Lu Jingming smiled. He still had much to do, and though Dragon City was unique, there was no longer any reason for him to linger.

"Okay, I'll definitely visit!" Although a bit depressed, Nan Qiuqiu quickly perked up.

Her affection for Lu Jingming had soared due to his heroics and good looks, but she wasn't yet hopelessly infatuated.

Mainly, she just regretted the brief time they'd had together.

Nan Shuishui and Nan Qiuqiu personally escorted Lu Jingming and his party out of Dragon City, quietly watching their figures recede into the distance.

"Mom, I want to train hard and then travel the continent." Staring after Lu Jingming and his companions, Nan Qiuqiu suddenly said with determination.

She'd never slacked in her cultivation before, but now she was filled with a true desire for strength.

The harrowing experience of being attacked by evil soul masters and now having a clear goal gave her real motivation.

"Alright, Mom will help you!" Nan Shuishui was momentarily surprised, then smiled with relief.

She gently stroked Nan Qiuqiu's pink hair. Though she wasn't sure whether letting Qiuqiu continue to interact with Lu Jingming was a blessing or a curse, at least Qiuqiu now had motivation to grow stronger—which could only be good for the Earth Dragon Sect.

After all, in this Douluo Continent where strength was everything, the stronger Nan Qiuqiu became, the more secure the sect's future would be.

Ultimately, Nan Qiuqiu was the next sect leader—her limits were the sect's limits.

…

Once again entering Sunset Forest, Lu Jingming and his group were confident and daring, flying straight toward the forest's core from high above.

Though vast, Sunset Forest had no soul beasts strong enough to threaten them.

Even the intimidating multicolored miasma in the sky posed no real harm.

With Xue Di and Bing Di's ultimate ice power, they were naturally resistant to toxins.

Thus, the poisonous miasma pervading the forest was meaningless to them, offering no real obstacle.

Before long, the four reached the area of densest miasma.

Ahead, the dazzlingly colorful miasma billowed like a giant cloud, filling the space with an acrid stench.

Gu Yue frowned deeply. Sunset Forest had once been a vibrant gathering place for soul beasts, but now it was desolate and bleak.

The culprit was this very miasma—it had altered the ecosystem, killed countless soul beasts, and driven the once prosperous forest into decline.

Now in the forest's core, Gu Yue observed carefully and realized this miasma was likely not natural, but deliberately created.

The coverage was too regular, the signs of human arrangement too obvious.

"With miasma this intense, no wonder almost all the soul beasts here are dead. Even a titled Douluo would struggle to withstand such poison if they charged in recklessly!"

Lu Jingming shook his head. Sea God Tang San had really done something reprehensible.

To hide the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Tang San had laid down such a terrifying poison formation, with no regard for the soul beasts' extinction—truly ruthless and lacking compassion.

With Xue Di and Bing Di's cold aura shielding them, the miasma couldn't approach.

Lu Jingming guided the flying soul device down from above.

Crack!

The moment he landed, a chilling sound of bones shattering came from underfoot.

Looking down, he saw the ground littered with bleached bones—remains of soul beasts everywhere.

The bones were streaked with colors, as if silently recounting the agony and torment they had suffered.

"Bastard!" Gu Yue cursed through gritted teeth.

She had always slept in the Star Dou Great Forest and hadn't known the specifics of Sunset Forest.

She'd thought the soul beasts here were wiped out by relentless human hunting over millennia.

But now, seeing it herself, she understood—the real culprit wasn't just human soul masters, but someone else entirely.

The one who set this horrifying poison formation over the forest's core was truly to blame for its extinction.

Not just Gu Yue, but Xue Di and Bing Di's faces darkened as well.

The tragic scene before them was shocking.

Countless soul beasts had died agonizing deaths to this miasma over millennia—the numbers were unimaginable, filling them with anger and helplessness.

Seeing the fate of Sunset Forest, they couldn't help but think of the future of all soul beasts.

Tang San, who set the poison formation, perhaps only wished to protect the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. But he ignored the life and death of soul beasts, causing irreparable destruction to this forest—an undeniable fact.

"This way!"

Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's voice sounded in Lu Jingming's ear. Guided by her, he quickly locked onto the direction of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

The Well was home to countless precious immortal herbs, brimming with life energy.

Despite the miasma, it couldn't escape the detection of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, sovereign of all plant life.

Following Lu Jingming, Xue Di and Bing Di released intense cold, freezing any miasma in their path.

Along the way, everywhere they went was strewn with corpses. Nourished by these remains, all kinds of colorful poisonous plants flourished.

Soon, they arrived at a completely different world.

Before them stretched a sea of lush green.

Green plants densely blanketed the ground, exuding wisps of green mist into the air—the very source of the forest's sky miasma.

These green plants weren't tall, only about half a meter high.

Each had nine strangely shaped leaves—resembling a human hand, but with seven fingers, or sometimes even nine on the larger ones.

Atop each plant bloomed a large green flower, petals dewy and radiant, the stamens constantly releasing green mist.

The mist slowly spread outward, merging with the multicolored miasma, creating a strange and dangerous scene.

"Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes!"

Lu Jingming immediately recognized the plant, and knew the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was just beyond it—their final barrier.

The Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes was one of the most terrifying poisonous plants in the Douluo Continent, a treasure countless poison attribute soul masters dreamed of.

Yet now, so many of them congregated together, covering several kilometers, was truly shocking.

Such a massive gathering meant many had transformed into plant-type soul beasts, some even reaching ten thousand years of cultivation.

These powerful plant soul beasts would clearly be a major obstacle.