Chapter 107: Yan the Servant
While defending himself, Yan—his body towering like a giant—continued to stride forward, still trying to get close to Dugu Feng.
What greeted him instead was a storm of sword-like finger strikes.
Each strike left only a shallow white mark on his body, but the toxins hidden within kept corroding his flesh.
The third soul skill's phantom managed to entangle Yan for a moment, but in the blue-white flames of his high-temperature fire, the phantom quickly vanished.
Yet a spark of excitement flashed through Dugu Feng's eyes.
The Jade Phosphor Phantom Skill was strongest at the moment of binding, bristling with sharp barbs meant to pierce defenses.
Once even the tiniest pore opened, his toxic strikes and the airborne poison both exploited it instantly.
"Poison Burst!"
Dugu Feng's second soul ring lit up.
The toxins that had already seeped in suddenly exploded within Yan.
His skin barely showed any change—too little poison had gotten in.
Still, even this slight burst let more toxins pervade his body.
"Now it's my turn to say 'it's over'."
Dugu Feng smiled coolly, still unleashing his Jade Phosphor Finger Strikes without pause.
Yan was just five steps from Dugu Feng, but those five steps became mountains under the onslaught of toxic force—he could not move forward.
He could feel the poison within now.
He channeled his magma and flame soul power with all his might in a desperate effort to resist.
In Yan's mind, he believed if he could just reach Dugu Feng, his melee would guarantee victory.
But Dugu Feng's attacks were simply too fierce and endless, nearly locking his movements entirely.
Only now did reality hit him:
Who was actually twelve ranks stronger than whom?
Dugu Feng had endured his fourth soul skill head-on, then unleashed his own third skill to break Yan's defense.
By this point, over a hundred finger strikes had been cast.
Yan's soul power was nearly drained defending against the poison, while Dugu Feng's reserves seemed infinite.
"What's going on?"
Yan was thoroughly unwilling.
Confidence surged within Dugu Feng. This battle only made him more certain of victory.
The Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone was not for nothing.
It provided him two soul skills and had opened the Eight Extraordinary Meridians throughout his body, making his soul power recover at a frightening rate. Supported by his Dan Pearl, he had actually not lost out to Yan in this regard at all.
Yan mustered one last desperate assault—but his mind was confused now.
Dugu Feng's poison did not only target the body; the Jade Phosphor Scarlet Poison also attacked the spirit.
Yan's movements were faltering, his molten hell long gone, the boost from his third soul skill fading, his form shrinking back to normal height.
Another Jade Phosphor Finger Strike landed squarely on his chest. Yan was finally forced to stagger back, a rancid poisonous smell rolling off him.
"We concede, Dugu Feng—help Yan detoxify!"
A black-haired youth called from the edge of the arena—naturally, this was Xie Yue.
He had never expected things to turn out so violently, nor that Yan would be the one unable to endure.
Dugu Feng ceased his attacks.
With a wave of his right hand, a green jade-colored pill appeared in his palm.
He strode to Yan's side. "Take it. If you don't, you'll die from the poison."
Yan's eyes were vacant—he almost wished for death.
He was one of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation. Yet he'd lost to a Soul Elder like Dugu Feng.
Yan felt desolate and wretched.
After suffering a little longer, he finally obeyed Dugu Feng and swallowed the antidote.
"Thank you. You're incredibly strong. Today I have witnessed the might of the Dugu Clan's poison. We will meet again."
Yan channeled what soul power remained to recover from his wounds, struggling to maintain his dignity—he represented Spirit Hall, after all.
"You're a powerful melee soul master—my soul skills just happened to counter yours. You're strong as well."
Dugu Feng smiled. As the victor, he acted with the victor's grace.
And truly, there was no need for thanks.
Now that Yan had taken his dan bead, he had become "Servant Yan."
A member of the Golden Generation now lay under Dugu Feng's control.
His influence had finally reached into Spirit Hall's core. Whatever Spirit Hall did in the future, he would be the first to know.
Yan's expression eased a bit—Dugu Feng was right: it was about soul skills, not worth. If the captain or Nana had played, Yan would have surely lost too.
He regained some confidence.
Meanwhile, with the match over, the whole arena erupted in jubilant chaos.
Dugu Feng's name filled the skies.
This was far more satisfying than defeating Yu Tianheng.
This time, Dugu Feng had beaten the visiting genius from Spirit Hall, bringing glory to both his academy and the Heaven Dou Empire.
The mood was electric.
Of course, not everyone was happy.
Yu Tianheng glared at Dugu Feng. There Dugu Feng stood, arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's adulation—the same honor Yu Tianheng thought should be his.
Now, the man responsible for his disgrace was the one enjoying it.
And every mention of Dugu Feng now included Yu Tianheng as a footnote—beaten by someone who'd crossed an entire rank range.
After his last loss, his grandfather had scolded him harshly—it was still vivid in his memory.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could tolerate no dishonor.
Even the most useless uncle, with only 0.5 innate soul power, had made a name for the clan.
And now, Yu Tianheng had suffered a fresh humiliation.
He had challenged Yan and lost.
Dugu Feng had challenged Yan and won.
Although many had lost to Yan, and no one could blame him—Yan was just too strong—Yu Tianheng himself could not accept it.
"Dugu Feng, don't get cocky. Now that you've ruined the Pope's plan, your clan is doomed to suffer retribution!"
Yu Tianheng thought darkly, hoping for disaster to befall the Dugu Clan.
He wasn't the only one let down—so was Dugu Yan.
She stared in a daze. Was Dugu Feng really this strong now?
She had always thought that by training hard and keeping a lead in soul power, her actual combat ability would outpace Dugu Feng's.
But now, even Yan at level forty-eight couldn't defeat him!
Dugu Yan lapsed into silence. No matter how proud or stubborn she was, she couldn't help but wonder—was the path of poison really the right one?
The evidence was there:
Dugu Feng was just too terrifying.
She even began to question her grandfather's words.
Could the serpent's path really ever match such power?
On the dueling stage, Feng Ling and Feng Li suddenly burst onto the arena with a group of students.
"Brother Dugu, Teacher Ge ordered us to show you just how much your classmates appreciate you!"
They surrounded Dugu Feng.
(END CHAPTER)
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