Chapter 114: Dugu Shuo Brings Good News to Second Uncle
"Hahaha! The future of the Heaven Dou Empire's younger generation clearly rests on your shoulders, nephew!"
Ge Long laughed heartily as he walked up to Dugu Feng, patting his shoulder warmly, his tone full of approval.
Ning Fengzhi also approached with a faint smile. "Rong Rong is cultivating at Shrek Academy in Soto City. You and she get along quite well—when you have time, go visit her."
He truly hadn't expected Dugu Feng's talent to be so extraordinary—passing the trials of the Slaughter City was nearly unimaginable.
If Dugu Feng could one day break the Dugu clan's martial spirit flaw, he would be the perfect son-in-law in Ning Fengzhi's eyes.
Mentioning his daughter so openly made the others exchange knowing glances and faint, teasing smiles.
The meaning couldn't have been clearer.
"Thank you, Uncle Ning. I'll visit Rong Rong soon," Dugu Feng replied courteously.
Beside them, Ye Qingxin's heart stirred as well. Was this young man not the perfect match for her granddaughter?
The two families were already on close terms—why not strengthen that bond further?
As for the Dugu clan's poisonous martial spirit and its potential effects on a partner… he had already noticed subtle changes in Dugu Shuo lately.
Perhaps the family had finally learned to control their poison's influence.
For a brief moment, everyone's thoughts shifted—now the Dugu Clan stood at the center of attention, and Dugu Feng at its very core.
After some time, the crowd dispersed, the mood calming as they returned toward Heaven Dou City.
Near the Dugu Estate, Dugu Shuo suddenly turned to Dugu Bo. "Second Uncle, I have something important to discuss with you. Would you have a moment?"
"Come with me," Dugu Bo replied bluntly.
Dugu Feng and Old Snake followed them silently.
You're going to confirm what you suspected earlier with your second uncle!
The voice resonated within Dugu Feng's mind—it was his father's transmission, woven with soul power.
Dugu Feng's heart leapt with excitement.
He had once told his father that Dugu Bo's breakthrough to Title Douluo must have been due to a special opportunity.
Of course, he knew exactly what that opportunity was—the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, that mystical place rich with rare medicinal herbs perfect for refining potions.
It also suppressed Dugu Bo's internal toxins; even without fully curing himself, Dugu Bo could live well past a hundred years this way.
It was precisely because the toxins were restrained that he'd managed to become a Title Douluo at all.
Dugu Feng had only hinted at his theory—he hadn't expected his father to confront Dugu Bo so quickly.
The four soon arrived at Dugu Bo's manor.
Barely stepping into the hall, Dugu Feng spotted Dugu Yan.
"Ah, Yan Yan is here too!" Dugu Shuo greeted pleasantly.
She merely nodded coldly and immediately clutched her grandfather's arm. "Grandfather, what are they doing here?"
"Yan Yan," Dugu Shuo said, ignoring her tone, "I've come to discuss something with your grandfather—a matter of great importance for our clan. Since you're here, you may join in."
Dugu Bo sat in the main seat of the hall as Dugu Yan poured him a cup of tea.
"Well then, speak," Dugu Bo said tersely, taking the cup.
"Second Uncle," Dugu Shuo said with a smile, "I've come to deliver good news. Please, take a look at my cultivation level."
His aura erupted with power—strong and tranquil.
With a clang, Dugu Bo's teacup fell to the floor. His expression froze in shock. "You— you reached Soul Douluo level!"
That stunned reaction made Dugu Feng's chest swell with pride.
Your son is dead, but my father keeps rising higher.
"By the ancestors' blessing, it was merely a fortunate breakthrough," Dugu Shuo said calmly, "though I've hidden my strength using mixed poison techniques."
The Bà Dú, Tyrant Poison, was formed from five poisonous-attribute spirit rings combined, though he himself had only four.
Even so, the four-color mixed poison possessed immense power, potent enough to block even spiritual detection.
Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan both looked sour, their faces dark with jealousy and resentment.
Dugu Bo glanced from Dugu Shuo to Dugu Feng and Old Snake, his voice cold. "So I underestimated you all. Tell me—have you found a way to suppress the martial spirit's poison?"
He had suspected as much before, and now the strength of the Poison branch left no doubt in his mind.
"I knew nothing could escape your eye, Second Uncle."
Dugu Shuo smiled. "Elder Scorpion has broken through to Soul Sage. Feng's cultivation advances daily—he even gained the Killing God Domain. None of this would have been possible without solving the poison problem.
And for that, we owe thanks to the Elephant Armored Sect and the Clear Sky Sect. When Feng first awakened his spirit, Old Snake accompanied him to the Sunset Forest to hunt spirit rings. They happened upon Elephant Armored Sect members chasing Xiahou Mang.
The result? Old Snake obtained Xiahou Mang's skull—which I absorbed.
That gave me the idea to drive my toxins into the spirit bone itself.
And as you can see, it works. The toxins are contained. It can't fully cure them, but it eases the pain and delays flare-ups."
Dugu Shuo explained everything frankly, which completely caught Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan off guard.
They had expected him to name his price for such knowledge, not reveal it so readily.
For a moment, the grandfather and granddaughter were left speechless, unable to believe it.
Dugu Shuo paid no mind; he retrieved a piece of paper from his storage soul guide.
"Second Uncle, our clan's toxins have long fused with our bodies. This is my herbal method for purging them."
He handed the page forward.
Dugu Bo fixed him with a hard stare, unable to make sense of his nephew.
He didn't reach for it immediately. For a long moment, tension hung in the air.
He prided himself on his own potion-making skills—second to none. Since he now understood that the key lay in transferring poison into a bone, he believed he could brew his own formula.
Why would he lower himself by taking Dugu Shuo's?
"Second Uncle," Dugu Shuo said softly, "take it—not for yourself, but for Yan Yan.
I know your alchemy is strong, but let's be honest—you've studied poison less deeply than I have.
When Emperor Xue Ye was poisoned, I detected it. You didn't."
One did not strike a man in the face—yet Dugu Shuo had delivered a verbal slap straight to Dugu Bo's pride.
His face darkened immediately.
After the last incident, Dugu Bo had secretly examined the emperor—and found, to his shock, that he was indeed poisoned.
But he still had no idea how to cure it.
Now, being reminded in front of his granddaughter stung bitterly.
That sheet of paper, suddenly, felt heavy as iron in the air. Dugu Bo let out a low grunt and flicked his wrist—it seemed at first he might destroy it with a burst of soul power.
But at the last second, his hand trembled, altering the motion. The paper floated gently into his grasp.
For Yan Yan's sake, he told himself silently.
Even now, he refused to admit it aloud—but in his heart, Dugu Bo knew.
His poison was no longer stronger than Dugu Shuo's.
(END CHAPTER)
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