Shi Nian's calm eyes suddenly widened. "Young Master, I have confidence that I can lead Canghui Academy into the finals, but… the championship?"
He wanted to say, You might as well kill me now.
But he couldn't read Dugu Feng's temperament. If he spoke carelessly, the young master might really kill him on the spot.
Old Snake chuckled beside them. As expected of our young master — nothing he does is without purpose.
"Heh." Dugu Feng stepped forward and patted Shi Nian's shoulder. "I believe in you....and you should believe in the strength of the Dugu Clan."
With that, he turned and left, leaving Shi Nian standing there, completely dazed.
Old Snake smirked. "Don't you have that Seven-in-One Fusion Technique? From what I've seen, your Canghui Academy team already has seven gemstone-type spirit masters. If their spirit abilities can fully synchronize, who in the tournament could possibly stand against them?"
Shi Nian's heart sank. So, that's what this is about.Old Snake had clearly dug up every detail about Canghui Academy.
The Seven-in-One Fusion Technique — it was his masterpiece, the pinnacle of his illusion-type skills.
Shi Nian sighed. "Among those seven students, one has just reached level thirty-nine, on the verge of breaking through to Soul Sect. The other six are still far behind. Even in two years, it's hard to imagine more than one reaching that level.
With this setup, the Seven-in-One Fusion can win against most teams of Soul Ancestors… but the Spirit Hall has produced monsters lately.
I suspect that in two years, there will be Soul Kings participating... maybe more than one."
He let out another long sigh.
He had joined the academy to test his theories, to perfect his Fusion Technique and through it hoping to astonish the entire continent.
But ever since the Heaven Dou City duel between Yan and Dugu Feng, the entire empire had been shaken.
His confidence in winning the championship… had wavered.
Old Snake sneered. "What's there to fear? You have the Dugu Clan at your back. With our resources, cultivating a few Soul Ancestors won't be difficult. Whatever you need, you'll have it.
Push them hard!
I've reviewed your students' files. With enough resources, one or two breakthroughs are guaranteed. And if they're all gemstone-type spirit masters… so what? We'll just poach a few geniuses from other academies.
Two years is plenty of time to build a team that's half filled with Soul Ancestors!"
He waved his hand grandly, brimming with confidence.
Shi Nian's heart pounded faster.
So that's how it is.
If that's the case, he would show no restraint.
Recruiting people wasn't difficult — as long as there was money, power, and a bit of fear.
With the Dugu Clan behind him, what did he have to be afraid of?
His blood began to burn. If we take the championship… my name will resound across the continent.
On the training field, Dugu Feng's mood was bright.
He had distributed two more of his Pearls, leaving only one inside his body.
Eight in total.Two were bound to his twin Serpents.
Yan, Shi Nian, and Zhu Zhuqing each carried one.Zhu Zhuyun had two within her, and Dugu Feng kept the last.
He frowned slightly. Zhu Zhuyun doesn't need two — I'll take one back soon. It's a waste otherwise.
So now, his eight Pearls were divided among two ten-thousand-year soul beasts, two Soul Ancestors, one Soul King, and one Soul Sage.
Each held less than twenty percent of its original energy after splitting.
Now came the long, painstaking process of replenishing that energy.
From observing the rate of recovery, Dugu Feng estimated it would take several years for the pearls to fully recharge.
But that slow absorption was also strengthening his body — bones, meridians, and even his external spirit bones were being tempered continuously.
He had already made up his mind about his fourth spirit ring — it would be a ten-thousand-year ring!
But a ten-thousand-year ring came with intense spiritual shock.
Which meant he needed to strengthen his mental fortitude.
He would have to refine his Jade Phosphor Crimson Venom, a poison that attacked both body and spirit. It would be his key to resisting the mental backlash.
It was his one clear weakness: his spiritual power wasn't strong enough.
Ideally, he needed to find a spiritual-type immortal herb, perhaps the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew?
He had originally planned to create a distraction in Heaven Dou City and lure Dugu Yan into danger, force Dugu Bo to act, and then slip away to seize the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for himself.
But now… Dugu Feng had changed his mind.
It was time to reclaim the Snake Branch of his family.
If Dugu Bo could serve Tang San as an ally, then why couldn't he serve the Dugu Clan?
Dugu Feng recalled his father's earlier question — "How do you view the Snake lineage?"
He had answered, "So long as it strengthens the family's legacy, I support it."
The truth was, the clan needed a Titled Douluo.
Especially with Bibi Dong growing ever stronger and the continent was heading toward chaos.
If he could control Dugu Yan, he could control Dugu Bo.
And if I control Dugu Bo… Dugu Feng's eyes gleamed. The Dugu Clan's future will be unshakable.
But such plans couldn't be rushed.
So he cultivated while refining his ideas, discussing them later with his father, Dugu Shuo.
To his relief, Dugu Shuo agreed and even seemed confident about subduing Dugu Bo himself.
Having a capable father truly made things easier.
One day, while Dugu Feng was meditating, Old Snake interrupted and took him outside the city.
At the eastern gate of Heaven Dou City stood a gathering of powerhouses.
His father, Dugu Shuo, was there and so were Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, Dugu Bo, Ge Long, Feng Bailong, and Meng Shenji.
Almost all the top figures of the Heaven Dou faction had arrived.
Dugu Feng quickly stood behind his father.
Every face was grim — no pleasantries, no small talk.
Something serious was happening.
Could it be… Has the Clear Sky Clan clashed with Bibi Dong already?
But then he noticed that there was no one from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Neither Yu Yuanzhen nor Yu Luomian were present.
Are we… waiting for them?
A few moments passed. The gates remained silent.
Ning Fengzhi's expression hardened. "Uncle Jian, lead the way ahead. If you encounter any Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall, tell them the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to mediate between both sides."
Sword Douluo nodded and soared into the sky, disappearing in a streak of light.
The rest of the group quickly moved eastward.
Old Snake leaned close to Dugu Feng and murmured, "There's been fighting near the Clear Sky C lan's mountain gate. And it's not small. It sounds like several Titled Douluo!"
Dugu Feng's eyes lit up. So it's true…
He couldn't help but smile faintly. Good. Let them fight. The world needs its storms to remind it who stands at the top.
Ning Fengzhi's calm voice broke through the tension.
"When the first rumors reached me, I made contact with the Clear Sky Clan.
Over the years they've remained secluded, but their strength has grown immensely.
Though they may not have the seven Titled Douluo that rumors claim, their Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Elders have indeed all ascended to the Titled realm."
His words sent ripples of excitement through the group.
Ge Long and Meng Shenji's eyes brightened with hope.
A powerful Clear Sky Clan meant a balance of power.
As long as they could hold Spirit Hall at bay, the Heaven Dou Empire would have peace.
They just prayed the Clear Sky Clan wouldn't act too rashly because another loss of Titled Douluo now would be unbearable.