At the border of the Star Luo Empire, a figure streaked across the sky like lightning. A dragon was soaring rapidly through the air. In just one afternoon, it had reached the borderlands of the Star Luo Empire. After the black dragon circled once in the sky, its massive form instantly transformed into a plume of purplish-black smoke, which slowly dissipated into the horizon.
Landing on the ground, an inn came into view in the distance. Mo Chen pointed toward it and said softly, "Let's rest here for a bit. Once we pass this point, we will be entering the outskirts of Divine Eagle Valley."
Xiaoxue nodded blankly upon hearing this, then followed Mo Chen silently toward the inn.
The moment they stepped through the inn's doorway, a pungent, overpowering stench hit them. They took a closer look, and the sight was truly astonishing. The entire main hall was a wreck; over a dozen drunks lay sprawled across the tables in an unconscious stupor, their snoring deafening. Empty wine bottles were scattered everywhere on the floor, as if a fierce battle had just taken place. Furthermore, the air was filled with a relentless cacophony: rowdy brawling, loud shouting, and the crisp clinking of wine cups colliding.
Xiaoxue froze for a moment, her beautiful brows knitting together; she was clearly disgusted and repulsed by this incredibly filthy tavern. Mo Chen keenly sensed the shift in her mood, so he lowered his voice and asked gently, "Xiaoxue, do you know where the best place to get information is?"
Xiaoxue shook her head.
Mo Chen withdrew his gaze from her and turned it toward the chaotic interior of the tavern. His eyes swept over the drunkards immersed in their world of alcohol, some shouting boisterously, others drinking themselves into a stupor.
"Don't let these guys' obsession with alcohol fool you. Don't underestimate them. They live here year-round, and they know every blade of grass, every person, and every event in these parts like the back of their hand," Mo Chen murmured, strolling toward the tavern bar.
Once at the bar, Mo Chen ordered two bottles of wine. With the bottles in hand, he turned without hesitation and walked toward a table where a group was conversing.
"Hey brothers, come on, let’s have a drink!" Mo Chen said with a bright smile, enthusiastically leaning into the group and placing an unopened bottle of wine onto their cluttered table.
However, these people were currently so intoxicated and excited that they didn't even notice a new person in their midst. Just then, the man at the head of the table suddenly stood up, lifted a foot in an exaggerated motion, and planted it firmly on the table. He swayed, his eyes hazy with drink, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Brother, go out and ask anyone you want! In these parts, who doesn't know the name of Wang Ergou, the 'Local Tyrant'?"
The people around him echoed, chiming in, "That's right! Brother Ergou is famous here—everyone knows him!"
Their faces were flushed red from alcohol, and they leaned unsteadily against their chairs; some had even slumped onto the tables, snoring loudly. Mo Chen, however, remained sober. He calmly picked up the wine jug and filled their glasses.
Once everything was set, Mo Chen casually opened the conversation, planting questions here and there, attempting to extract the information he needed. These men, far too drunk to maintain any defenses, seemed to lose all caution. They spilled everything they knew, pouring out their secrets to Mo Chen like beans from a bamboo tube.
Wang Ergou raised his eyebrows with a hazy gaze, grinned, and mumbled to Mo Chen, "Brother... you... you actually want to enter Divine Eagle Valley? Haha! Let me tell you, that place is incredibly eerie. Without a professional guide, no one is getting in." After saying this, Wang Ergou swayed as he stood up, waved his hand at Mo Chen, and then plopped heavily back into his chair.
After a brief pause, Wang Ergou seemed to recall something important. "But... I do know where you can find a guide."
At this, Wang Ergou picked up his glass and downed the wine, his throat making a satisfying gulping sound. He suddenly seemed energized, straightened his back, stared intensely at Mo Chen, and whispered, "Do you know about the underground black market here?"
"Deep inside the black market is an underground fighting ring. There’s a guy there named Danyu. That kid is the only guide you’re going to find right now."
Acting on the intelligence revealed by Wang Ergou, Mo Chen had brought Xiaoxue to the underground black market. The moment they stepped inside, scene after scene crashed into Xiaoxue like a tidal wave, shaking her simple and firm worldview. Living human beings were being treated like cargo, locked in cold iron cages, each with a clear price tag. There were also many Soul Beasts, their eyes vacant and bodies shivering, huddled in the corners of their cages, afraid to move. They might once have been creatures living freely in the vast world, but now they were mere commodities to be bought and sold.
Xiaoxue bit her lip and clenched her fists silently. Her heart was a churning sea of unrest. Everything before her was not only striking at her perception of the world but also challenging her moral bottom line. Mo Chen, however, was entirely different; he seemed accustomed to such sights. His cold face showed no expression, as if this were the most ordinary daily occurrence.
Perhaps sensing Xiaoxue’s fear and unease, Mo Chen sighed softly and walked over to her side. He looked down into her eyes, which were filled with fury and grief, and said softly, "Finding it hard to accept? There is no choice; this world has always been this complex. Wherever there is a beautiful, light-filled side, there will inevitably be ugly, hidden truths lurking in the shadows. What we see now is merely a tiny corner of this vast world’s dark side."
Mo Chen patted Xiaoxue’s shoulder gently and, without lingering, led her forward. They passed through the corridor to the very end.
When they pushed open the heavy door and stepped into the basement, a wave of noise crashed into them, helping to shake Xiaoxue from her daze. She frowned slightly, working to adapt to the assault on her senses. The basement was packed, with every seat taken. People were whispering, shouting, and cheering with intense fervor. In the center, a massive iron cage stood out; two men were locked in a fight to the death.
Avoiding the crowd, the two found a relatively open spot and sat down. Their eyes focused on the cage, locked onto the two men brawling inside.
"Danyu, today is your death day!" With a roar, Wang Gang flashed forward like a released arrow toward Danyu, who was still sitting in contemplation. He gripped a cold-glinting meteor hammer, swinging it in a sharp arc that hissed through the air, heading straight for Danyu.
Seeing this, Mo Chen couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "This Danyu is quite interesting..."
Mo Chen’s own Martial Soul was the Torch Dragon. Just how powerful that Soul was, perhaps no one knew but Mo Chen himself. Yet, at this moment, he unexpectedly sensed a faint trace of dragon aura coming from Danyu. Although the aura was extremely weak and perhaps flawed, Mo Chen’s acute perception of Dragon-type Martial Souls allowed him to be certain that Danyu’s Martial Soul was undoubtedly a dragon type!
Wang Gang launched a fierce assault like a storm, his meteor hammer whistling as it smashed toward Danyu. Faced with such a brutal blow, Danyu did not dodge or parry, standing perfectly still. With a loud "bang" that echoed through the room, the entire cage seemed to tremble. Amidst splashing water, the crowd watched in shock as Danyu’s body instantly turned into a pool of water after the heavy hit!
The scattered water seemed drawn by a mysterious power, rapidly converging. In a blink, the pulverized body of Danyu reformed at a speed visible to the naked eye, returning to normal.
"It’s useless. If you keep fighting, you’re the one who will die," Danyu said emotionlessly, as if the battle had nothing to do with him. Having experienced too much bloodshed, he had become numb to life and death, so his voice lacked even a hint of emotion.
"Shut up!" Wang Gang roared, clearly enraged by Danyu’s indifference. After his first strike missed, he swung the heavy meteor hammer again, smashing it toward Danyu with a sharp wind. Danyu remained standing there like an immovable mountain. Faced with the storm of attacks, he didn't even frown, calmly letting the strikes land on him.
As time passed, Wang Gang’s movements slowed as his stamina drained. Suddenly, Danyu’s eyes sharpened, capturing the fleeting opportunity. The water flowing around his hands surged with mysterious power, instantly condensing into a cold, gleaming spear. Danyu flicked his arm, and the water spear shot out like lightning, piercing Wang Gang.
With a muffled "squelch," the spear easily passed through Wang Gang’s body. Blood splattered, staining the ground. Wang Gang stared with wide, disbelieving eyes, looking down at the water pillar that had skewered him; he couldn't fathom how something as seemingly weak as water could possess such terrifying lethality.
"I said, if you keep fighting, you’re the one who will die," Danyu said again, his voice as calm as ever. Even having taken Wang Gang’s life, he didn't spare the man a single glance of pity. He withdrew his hand, and the water spear dissolved as if it had never existed.
Exiting the cage and collecting a heavy bag of gold soul coins, he didn't even look back, choosing to leave without a second thought.
Xiaoxue tapped Mo Chen’s shoulder, leaned toward his ear, and whispered, "Is this the Danyu we were looking for?"
Mo Chen nodded silently, stood up, and kept his eyes on the departing figure, signaling for Xiaoxue to follow.
"From that short exchange, his Martial Soul is definitely a dragon. And based on my observation, it’s a water-type," Mo Chen explained in a low voice as they walked quickly.
"Oh? Is that so..." Xiaoxue nodded thoughtfully.
"But if we get into a fight later, it will be dangerous. Based on the strength he just displayed, his Soul Power is at least level 79—only a step away from being a Soul Douluo. If we fight, I might not be able to protect you. Find a safe place to hide," Mo Chen warned seriously.
Xiaoxue’s heart tightened, but she nodded firmly. "Don't worry, I won't hold you back."
They followed Danyu through the bustling black market, around winding alleys, and finally to a quiet, dense forest outside the city. Danyu stopped, turned to face the empty path behind him, and sighed deeply. "Sigh... since you've been following me for so long, you might as well show yourselves and have a talk!"
Since he had been discovered, Mo Chen stopped hiding. Danyu squinted, his gaze piercing toward Mo Chen, and asked, "What do you want?" His voice was clear and melodious, yet carried a hint of vigilance.
Mo Chen didn't mince words. "You’re the guide, aren't you? Name your price. We need to go to Divine Eagle Valley." As he spoke, he stared directly into Danyu’s eyes.
Then, something astonishing happened. A dazzling blue light flashed in Danyu’s calm eyes, and the two slight bumps on her forehead began to glow. The light grew more intense until it enveloped them completely. Finally, amidst a brilliant shimmer, the bumps transformed into two crystal-clear, glowing water-blue dragon horns that stood proudly atop Danyu’s forehead.