Chapter 150 – The Cold Poison
Among the many recent developments, one stood out above all others.
The Spirit Hall had issued a new decree: a harsh crackdown on evil soul masters. Anyone who could provide valuable information would be rewarded with a spirit bone.
What rank of spirit bone was not specified, though Dugu Feng guessed most would be below ten thousand years.
He chuckled quietly to himself. "So, this is Bibi Dong venting for Hu Liena, is it?"
He wondered if Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, upon hearing this, would find themselves suddenly aligned with the Spirit Hall in mutual hatred.
Meanwhile, Tang San, Yu Xiaogang, and the entire Shrek Academy had already arrived in Heaven Dou City, following the same path as in the original timeline.
They sought to join the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy under the pretense of an alliance.
But as before, they crossed paths with Prince Xue Beng, and then Xue Xing and Dugu Bo appeared—driving them out.
Thus, the "Golden Iron Triangle" reunited, and the Shrek Academy merged with the Blue Tyrant Academy.
This time, however, the past episode of Dugu Bo kidnapping Tang San and revealing the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well never occurred.
After all, Tang San's parentage as Tang Hao's son had already been revealed during the duels at Soto City.
Neither Dugu Yan nor her grandfather were foolish enough to target him now.
As for the neutralizing of Dugu Yan's poison at that time, Dugu Shuo had already discussed the problem with Dugu Bo.
They concluded that the main reason for its failure was Ma Hongjun's phoenix flames.
Fire, when strong enough, was the natural enemy of poison—that much was known to all poison masters.
And besides, Dugu Yan's technique had been too concentrated and crude. It was no surprise it had been dispersed.
The Shrek Seven Devils trained peacefully within the Blue Tyrant Academy. Without the opportunity of the immortal herbs, their progress was slow but steady.
Yu Xiaogang frequently led them to the Great Spirit Arena of Heaven Dou City, earning them some recognition through their battles.
Through the pearls, Dugu Feng could sense with full clarity the progress of Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
With the Sunset Forest so close to Heaven Dou City, every movement of the Shrek Seven fell easily within his perception.
The feeling of observing everything from the shadows gave him a twisted sense of amusement—it was almost addictive.
He continued cultivating in silence, taking perverse satisfaction in watching events unfold.
Whatever happened above ground, he remained motionless within his underground sanctuary.
Time streamed past like flowing sand.
Months went by.
The fox tail external spirit bone had completely fused into his body, yet Dugu Feng did not cease his training.
His focus merely shifted—to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
There, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass awaited him.
After absorbing the power of the Scarlet-Eyed Ice Frog to form his fourth ring, he had intended to refine that plant's cold poison.
But fate had diverted him: first to Soto City, then to the business with Hu Liena's external bone.
Now, finally returning, excitement surged through his veins.
He approached the Octagonal Ice Grass eagerly.
His fourth spirit ring shone to life—black and imposing, a ten-thousand-year ring radiating with deadly might.
This time, he refrained from summoning his external spirit bones.
Instead, he would test something new—using only his body to endure and assimilate its cold poison.
He extended his right hand into the icy aura within ten meters of the plant.
Instantly, a wave of frost engulfed him.
Within moments, frost clung to his skin like morning dew upon grass—a living statue sealed in white.
For a heartbeat, his mind went blank, paralyzed.
His thoughts dulled, his nerves numb—
the poison had penetrated.
It lasted only an instant.
His fourth ring trembled violently.
Clarity returned.
The chill had entered his meridians, coursing rapidly through his body, both cold and venomous—seeking to freeze his flesh and corrode his mind.
Yet as Dugu Feng attuned himself to it, he realized his body was absorbing the cold.
Every muscle fiber, every bone drank in the frost, transforming it bit by bit.
His spirit power wove with the cold toxin in perfect harmony.
Then the realization struck him—the Scarlet-Eyed Ice Toad's bloodline had changed his physique profoundly, enhancing his tolerance for both cold and poison.
The speed of refinement was now tenfold what it had been when he was just a Spirit Elder.
The frost upon his skin melted away, all of it drawn inward, refined and fused.
Sensing the intrusion, the Ice Grass trembled violently in anger.
Its crystalline petals gleamed fiercely, and shards of freezing light spread outward once more, enveloping him in a new, stronger tide of bitter cold.
The battle began anew.
The grass refused to accept defeat—
how could a human soul master endure its extreme frost?
But Dugu Feng weathered its fury calmly, refining bit by bit, tempering body and soul alike.
Though he still dared not step within ten meters of the plant's roots, merely withstanding its aura unaided was already an immense feat.
His heart remained tranquil—ancient and cold like still water.
It reminded him of his childhood under Old Snake's brutal tutelage—living on snake gall, flesh, and blood merely to survive.
Now, he would live off cold.
He would devour the frost itself.
He was determined to refine the Ice Grass completely.
That day, Dugu Bo arrived.
At the sight of Dugu Feng blanketed in frost, he froze in alarm.
Don't tell me this brat's dying here!
That plant contained a superlative extreme cold—Dugu Bo himself dared not linger near it for long.
If poisoned by its chill, even he, a Titled Douluo, would need hours of concentration to purge it.
Approaching cautiously, he realized the boy was breathing steadily.
No—the fool was absorbing the cold.
"Madman," Dugu Bo muttered under his breath. "You're a damned lunatic!
Is your own venom not deadly enough? You want to die faster by seeking new poisons?"
He inhaled sharply.
His understanding of the Jade Phosphor Serpent's venom had always centered on suppression and avoidance—not mastery through suffering.
He could hardly fathom this suicidal philosophy of embracing poison.
Finding no sign of danger, Dugu Bo simply picked a spot to meditate himself—his toxin eruptions had begun acting up again.
Night fell.
His toxin surged—but he endured it calmly this time.
When dawn broke, his face eased with satisfaction.
Ever since he'd concentrated his poison into his spirit bones, his soul power had finally broken its long stagnation. After more than a decade without progress, he'd advanced to level ninety-two.
The venom within his body no longer threatened his life.
He sneered inwardly.
To solve the poison and still aspire to increase its potency? That boy would poison himself to an early grave.
Dugu Bo left soon after, ignoring Dugu Feng—who ignored him in turn.
Time ebbed quietly. Each time Dugu Bo returned, he found Dugu Feng unchanged—still standing motionless, encased in frost, endlessly refining the cold.
Half a year passed.
Finally, one day, Dugu Feng stood unveiled in the open air—no frost coating his skin.
Dugu Bo was astonished.
He stood calmly beside the icy spring, sharp-eyed and statue-still, his aura cold as frozen steel.
Even Dugu Bo shivered faintly in his presence.
This young man now radiated the same biting chill as the Ice Grass itself.
"You really do know how to train," Dugu Bo said with a wry chuckle. "Prince Xue Xing has visited several times already—wants you to join the Emperor Battle Team for the upcoming Continental Soul Master Tournament.
Your father's refused him each time.
He even came begging me a few days ago."
(END CHAPTER)
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