While defending, Yan's massive, giant-like body took another heavy step forward, still trying to close the distance to Dugu Feng.
But what greeted him was a storm of sword-like finger strikes.
Each finger thrust left shallow white marks across his rock-hard body. The marks that seemed harmless at first glance.
Yet within those faint scratches, microscopic traces of poison were already eating their way into his flesh.
One of Dugu Feng's three green phantoms from his third spirit skill wrapped itself around Yan. But under Yan's blinding blue flames, the phantom melted into nothing almost instantly.
Even so, Dugu Feng's eyes lit up.
The Jade Phosphorus Phantom Kill's greatest power wasn't in binding, but in that split second of contact. The phantom's form was covered with tiny, needle-like spines made to pierce through defenses.
Even the smallest crack was enough for Dugu Feng's venom to seep in—whether carried by his strikes or drifting in the air.
"Poison Burst!"
The second spirit ring flared to life.
Inside Yan's body, the poison that had seeped in earlier detonated all at once.
Outwardly, his rocky surface didn't show much, it was far too resilient but even a subtle inner explosion allowed more toxin to slip deeper into his body.
"Now it's my turn to say… this is the end."
Dugu Feng's voice was calm, his expression unmoved as his hands blurred with motion.
The Finger Strikes rained down relentlessly, each faster than the last.
Yan was only five steps away from Dugu Feng. Just five steps.
Yet those five steps felt like an unbridgeable gulf with each of Dugu Feng's precise strikes pinned him in place, his body trembling with every impact.
He could feel the venom surging inside him, and he was already using every bit of his magma fire to suppress it.
In Yan's mind, victory was simple, but only if he could just get close, with his terrifying close-combat strength, he would win.
But Dugu Feng's attacks were too fierce, too continuous, leaving no opening to advance.
Only now did Yan realize the absurdity of it all.
Wait… who's supposed to be twelve levels higher than who?
Dugu Feng had blocked his fourth spirit skill head-on, unleashed a third skill that pierced his defenses, and still kept up this barrage of poisonous strikes.
He had used at least a hundred Jade Phosphorus Finger Strikes, and his poison-filled domain still blanketed the stage and yet his soul power… hadn't weakened in the slightest.
Yan, on the other hand, was nearly drained just from resisting.
"What… what's going on!?"
He roared inwardly, unwilling to believe it.
But Dugu Feng's confidence only grew.
This was all due to ther Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone. It was far from ordinary!
Not only did it grant two powerful abilities, but it had also opened all eight extraordinary meridians in his body, making his soul power recovery speed frighteningly fast.
And with his Poison Pearl amplifying it even further, his energy flow outlasted Yan's easily.
Yan tried one last desperate push.
But his focus faltered and slowly his mind began to fog.
Dugu Feng's toxins weren't limited to the body; his Jade Phosphorus Crimson Venom attacked the spirit itself.
Yan's movements became sluggish, uncoordinated. The magma bubbles and flames that had once surged around him began to vanish.
His amplification skill faded, and his body returned to its normal size.
Another Finger Strike struck squarely on his chest.
Yan stumbled backward, step after step, his massive form trembling. A faint, sickly stench of decay spread around him.
"We surrender! Dugu Feng—help Yan detoxify!"
A sharp voice called from the edge of the arena. It was Xie Yue.
He hadn't expected the battle to reach such a brutal point.
That the first to collapse… would be Yan.
Dugu Feng stopped his attack.
With a casual wave of his hand, a small emerald pill appeared between his fingers.
He approached Yan, his tone calm and commanding.
"Eat it. If you don't detoxify now...you'll die."
Yan's lifeless eyes flickered with humiliation.
He, a member of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, had lost. Lost to a mere Soul Elder!!!
The defeat stung worse than the poison itself.
After a moment of silence, he gritted his teeth, took the pill, and swallowed it down.
The burning pain within him began to ease almost instantly.
"...Thank you. You're strong...truly strong. Today, I've witnessed the power of the Dugu Clan's poison. We'll meet again."
Yan's tone carried the pride of one who refused to break completely. Even as he circulated his soul power to purge the venom, he held himself tall, representing Spirit Hall demanded dignity.
Dugu Feng smiled faintly.
"You're a close-combat powerhouse—only unlucky that your attribute was restrained by mine. You're strong as well."
As the victor, he spoke with the poise of one who dominated through strength alone.
But inwardly, he smirked.
Thank me? You're already mine.
That pill he had fed Yan wasn't just an antidote—it was a Poison Pearl, a seed of control.
From this day forward, Yan—the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall—was his pawn.
Through Yan, his reach would extend into Spirit Hall itself.
Yan's expression softened slightly, Dugu Feng's calm reassurance easing his bruised pride.
Yes… it was only elemental restraint. If the captain or Hu Liena had fought, things might have been different.
Slowly, his confidence began to return.
The duel ended, but the stands exploded into thunderous cheers.
The entire arena had turned into a sea of excitement and triumph.
Dugu Feng's name echoed across the capital.
This victory was even sweeter than when he had defeated Yu Tianheng.
Because this time, he had defeated a Spirit Hall prodigy.
He hadn't just won for himself but he had won for the Academy, for the Heaven Dou Empire itself!
The atmosphere was electric.
But where there was joy, there was also resentment.
Yu Tianheng's eyes were filled with venom as he glared at Dugu Feng, the man basking in cheers and glory that should've been his.
That was supposed to be his triumph, his fame.
Yet now, every time people spoke of him, it was as Dugu Feng's defeated opponent, the stepping stone of his legend.
His grandfather's furious reprimand after his last loss still echoed in his ears—The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan does not tolerate disgrace!
And today… he'd lost again, humiliated once more.
Worse was that Dugu Feng had succeeded where he had failed!
Yan had defeated him, but Dugu Feng had defeated Yan.
"Enjoy your victory while you can," Yu Tianheng thought darkly. "You've crossed Spirit Hall. When the Pope's wrath descends, your Dugu Clan won't escape retribution."
He sneered inwardly, waiting for that inevitable downfall.
In the crowd, Dugu Yan also stood frozen, her expression dazed.
Had Dugu Feng truly become this strong?
She'd always believed that by maintaining a lead in soul power and focusing on her own snake venom, she could surpass him.
But now after witnessing his complete suppression of Yan, even she couldn't lie to herself anymore.
Even a Soul Ancestor like Yan couldn't defeat him.
Is poison cultivation truly the right path?
The question gnawed at her heart.
The truth stood before her, undeniable and brutal.
Dugu Feng's strength had become terrifying.
Her grandfather's words about the superiority of the serpent lineage…She couldn't help but doubt them now.
Was the Snake Control Path really stronger?
The evidence said otherwise.
On the stage, the cheers hadn't stopped.
Feng Ling and Feng Li, leading a group of academy students, charged onto the platform.
"Brother Dugu! We're under orders from Instructor Ge!" Feng Ling shouted, grinning ear to ear.
"We're here to let you feel your classmates' passion!"
The students surrounded Dugu Feng in excitement - the hero of the Academy, the poison lord who humbled Spirit Hall itself.