"Hahaha! The leader of the Heaven Dou Empire's younger generation! From now on it all depend on you nephew!"
Ge Long burst into hearty laughter.
He stepped forward, clapping Dugu Feng on the shoulder, his expression full of warmth and approval.
Even Ning Fengzhi approached with a gentle smile.
"Rongrong is training at Shrek Academy in Suotuo City," he said. "You and Rongrong have always gotten along so well. You should go see her sometime."
He truly hadn't expected Dugu Feng's talent to be so astonishing.
To think this youth had actually survived the Slaughter City's trial.
If Dugu Feng could one day break the Dugu family's martial spirit flaw, then he, Ning Fengzhi - would have found the perfect son-in-law.
And now, saying this in public, mentioning his daughter so openly, left everyone present exchanging meaningful looks.
The implication couldn't be clearer.
"Thank you, Uncle Ning. In a few days, I'll definitely visit Rongrong."
Besides Ning Fengzhi, another elder's heart was stirred. It was Ye Qingxin.
Dugu Feng was the perfect match for her granddaughter as well!
Their families were close allies; why not bind them further by marriage?
As for the Dugu clan's poison-attribute martial spirits and their side effects on partners, Ye Qingxin had noticed subtle changes in Dugu Shuo recently.
It seemed… the Dugu family might have truly found a way to control the poison's influence.
Everyone's thoughts shifted, calculations running in their minds.
The Dugu clan was suddenly at the center of attention.
And Dugu Feng, he was the center of that center.
After some time, the chatter subsided, and the group gradually dispersed, returning to Heaven Dou City.
When they were near the Dugu Mansion, Dugu Shuo suddenly turned to Dugu Bo.
"Second Uncle, I have an important matter to discuss with you. Do you have a moment?"
"Come with me," Dugu Bo replied curtly.
Dugu Feng and Old Snake followed behind.
"I'm going to confirm something with your second granduncle," Dugu Shuo's voice echoed in Dugu Feng's mind through of sound transmission.
Feng's heart leapt.
He had once told his father that Dugu Bo's breakthrough to Titled Douluo must have come from a unique opportunity.
Of course, Dugu Feng knew what that opportunity wasth. It was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!
A natural paradise filled with rare immortal herbs, a place that could refine medicine and suppress Dugu Bo's poison.
Even if Dugu Bo never cured his venom entirely, that place alone could keep him alive for more than a century.
The poison, suppressed by the twin energies of ice and fire, was what had allowed Dugu Bo to cultivate to the Titled Douluo realm.
Dugu Feng had only hinted at this before but he hadn't expected his father to bring it up so soon.
The four of them soon arrived at Dugu Bo's residence.
As they stepped into the hall, Dugu Feng's eyes fell upon a familiar figure.
Dugu Yan.
"Ah, Yan Yan's home too," Dugu Shuo greeted pleasantly.
Dugu Yan responded with a cold nod, immediately clinging to Dugu Bo's arm.
"Grandfather, why are they here?"
"Yan Yan," Dugu Shuo said calmly, pretending not to notice her tone, "I came to speak with Second Uncle about something important. Since you're here, you might as well listen...it concerns the future of our Dugu family."
Dugu Bo sat down in the main seat of the hall. Dugu Yan poured him a cup of tea before standing beside him protectively.
"Speak."
"Second Uncle," Dugu Shuo began, "I came today to bring you good news. Please, take a look at my current cultivation."
As his words fell, a powerful pressure erupted from his body.
Boom!
The tea cup slipped from Dugu Bo's hand, shattering on the floor. His eyes widened as if he'd seen a ghost.
"You… you've reached Spirit Douluo!"
The shock on his face made Dugu Feng smirk inwardly.
Your son is dead, yet my father keeps advancing.
"The ancestors bless us," Dugu Shuo said calmly. "I was fortunate to break through to Spirit Douluo. I've simply been hiding my realm using mixed-poison techniques."
The Overlord Poison—a fusion of five poison-attribute soul rings.
Dugu Shuo only had four, but even fourfold poison fusion was terrifyingly potent.
So potent, in fact, that it could even conceal his true level from spiritual detection.
Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan's faces both darkened, a flicker of jealousy and resentment flashing in their eyes.
After a moment, Dugu Bo narrowed his gaze.
"I see… So you've really been hiding your strength. Tell me—did you find a way to suppress the poison of our martial spirit?"
He had already suspected something. And now, seeing the rapid growth of the poison branch, his guess was confirmed.
"I knew nothing could escape Second Uncle's eyes," Dugu Shuo said with a smile.
"In fact, Uncle, Elder Scorpion has also broken through to Spirit Sage, and Feng'er's cultivation is rising rapidly and he's even gained the Killing God Domain.
All of this stems from one thing...the resolution of our poison's affliction.
And we must thank both the Elephant Armored Sect and the Clear Sky Clan for it…"
Dugu Shuo began to recount the story.
"When Feng'er first awakened his martial spirit, Old Snake took him into the Sunset Forest to hunt a spirit ring. By chance, they encountered members of the Elephant Armored Sect chasing Xiahou Mang.
In the end, Old Snake obtained Xiahou Mang's head bone, which I later absorbed. It was then that I had a bold idea—to force my venom into the soul bone.
The result… you can see for yourself. This method can suppress the poison. It may not cure it completely, but it lessens the pain and delays its flare-ups."
Dugu Shuo spoke plainly, without hiding anything, his forthrightness caught both Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan off guard.
They had expected him to bargain, to demand something in exchange.
Instead, he simply revealed the secret.
For a moment, both grandfather and granddaughter were left speechless.
Dugu Shuo ignored their silence. From his storage soul tool, he took out a folded sheet of paper.
"Second Uncle, the poison of our Dugu bloodline has already fused with our bodies.
This," he said, extending the paper, "is a formula I've developed...it is a method using medicinal herbs to assist in expelling the venom."
Dugu Bo's sharp eyes locked onto him, his thoughts unreadable.
He didn't take the paper immediately.
The two stared at each other for a long moment, tension thick in the air.
Dugu Bo prided himself on his own skill in refining medicine and he wasn't about to admit inferiority.
If he knew the method was to force poison into the soul bone, then he could formulate his own supporting elixirs.
Why should he owe his nephew a favor?
"Second Uncle," Dugu Shuo said seriously, "take it... if not for yourself, then for Yan Yan.
I know your alchemy is impressive, but you must admit that your research into poison isn't as advanced as mine.
Even Emperor Xue Ye's poisoning… I discovered it, not you."
That last line hit like a slap to the face.
Everyone knew you didn't humiliate a man in front of his family but Dugu Shuo had no mercy!
Dugu Bo's face turned black with rage.
After Dugu Shuo's warning, he had quietly investigated Xue Ye himself and indeed, the emperor showed traces of poison.
Yet even now, Dugu Bo had no idea how to cure it.
To be called out in front of his granddaughter, how could he not be furious?
Still, when he raised his hand, a wisp of soul power flickered from his fingertips aimed at the paper.
At the last instant, the force shifted, becoming gentle instead of destructive.
The sheet floated safely into his hand.
He snorted coldly.
"Fine. For Yan Yan's sake."
But deep down, he knew the truth.
Dugu Shuo's poison was stronger than his.
And now, though unwilling , even Dugu Bo had to admit it.