"You performed well this time. It will surely help you grow significantly.
Moreover, only through battle can one truly grow. You'll become increasingly powerful in the future!" Dugu Feng didn't hold back his praise.
The Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb also sensed Dugu Feng's goodwill.
Its leaves swayed slightly, and the ice crystals in its pistils shimmered continuously, allowing Dugu Feng to feel its joy.
Soon, Dugu Feng returned to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
The moment he descended from the mountaintop, he saw Dugu Bo standing there, dumbfounded.
"You're a Soul King now?" Dugu Bo exclaimed in shock.
During this period, he had visited the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well several times and often saw Dugu Feng cultivating near the Cold Spring and Fire Spring.
However, Dugu Feng had always been in his Martial Soul Avatar state back then, with the Four-Colored Soul Poison shielding his spiritual energy.
Since Dugu Bo saw him cultivating, he didn't disturb him. After suppressing his poison flare-ups here, he would leave.
Now, seeing Dugu Feng suddenly, the surging Soul Power fluctuations emanating from him unmistakably indicated the level of a Soul King!
He seemed to be about seven years younger than Yan Yan—only sixteen years old now!
Dugu Bo was utterly stunned!
"Greetings, Your Excellency. I was fortunate to break through and just absorbed a Spirit Ring," Dugu Feng replied calmly.
Dugu Bo's pupils contracted as he noticed another peculiar detail.
In Dugu Feng's hand was actually that Cold Poison Herb—he remembered it grew right beside the Cold Spring.
Both that herb and its counterpart near the Fire Spring, which contained fire poison, had been tested by him before. Even with his Soul Power, it had taken him great effort to purge the cold and fire poisons after coming into contact with them.
Yet Dugu Feng was holding it effortlessly in his hand.
What kind of monster was he?
His gaze fixed tightly on the Cold Poison Herb as he coldly demanded, "How did you do this?"
Ignoring Dugu Bo, Dugu Feng first walked to the Cold Spring and Fire Spring and placed the Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb there to restore its medicinal potency.
"That Fire Poison Herb must have been taken by you as well!" Dugu Bo said indignantly.
A portion of the herbs here had already gone missing, and he knew very well that Dugu Shuo had used them for the Dugu Family.
Now, seeing Dugu Feng holding herbs that even he dared not touch with his bare hands, Dugu Bo immediately felt unbalanced.
This was his herb garden, yet he couldn't utilize these herbs.
Meanwhile, the other party was using them to rapidly boost their strength.
"By risking my life to refine the cold and fire poisons, turning poison into my own strength—this is the ability of our Poison Cultivation Lineage," Dugu Feng turned his head and replied indifferently.
Dugu Bo's expression stiffened.
"Are you saying I'm afraid of death?" he snapped angrily.
"I'm telling Your Excellency that the ability to utilize these poisonous herbs comes from the accumulated knowledge of our Poison Cultivation Lineage.
Every herb here is uniquely gifted by nature.
My father's ability to concoct poison-extracting medicine stems from the family's generational accumulation.
Back in Heaven Dou City, killing Yang Wushuang allowed our family to obtain the Destruction Clan's alchemy methods.
The family's knowledge has been continuously expanding.
Your Excellency, you've been plagued by poison for so many years, yet you've never considered solving it through herbs.
You don't recognize these herbs, but would the Destruction Clan's members know?
Could the Spirit Hall's archives have records? What about the Clear Sky Sect or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's archives?
Yet, you've always avoided the issue and never sought a solution!"
Dugu Feng spoke bluntly without holding back.
This struck a nerve in Dugu Bo's heart.
Ever since discovering this treasure trove, his only thought had been to suppress his venom flare-ups here.
Even if the toxin issue wasn't resolved, he could still live past a hundred years.
As long as his granddaughter cultivated to a certain level, she could do the same.
Other solutions? He truly hadn't considered any.
"Daring to flaunt your sharp tongue in front of me—have you forgotten who I am?"
Dugu Bo was furious, his pride wounded. He refused to admit his own incompetence.
Refused to admit he had been running away.
Refused to admit that this treasure trove had both saved and imprisoned him.
Green light flared in Dugu Bo's eyes as he raised his right hand, unleashing a surge of purple Soul Power.
He was going to teach Dugu Feng a lesson.
Such insolence!
Yet Dugu Feng stood there as if unbothered.
A ripple of white light pulsed outward.
The Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb had returned to its domain, instantly revitalized.
The surging icy force effortlessly dissolved Dugu Bo's Soul Power into nothingness.
Dugu Bo froze for a moment. "No wonder you're so bold—you're relying on the protection of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. Do you really think that makes you untouchable?"
"Your Excellency, do you truly believe I'm just spouting empty words?
I'm telling you that as long as we continue researching venom, the Martial Soul Defect of our Dugu Family can be completely resolved.
My father cultivated to the Soul Douluo realm, and so did Old Snake—that's proof enough.
Freeing the Azure Phosphorus Serpent Spirit from the constraints of the Martial Soul Defect, ensuring future generations never suffer from venom flare-ups again—it's absolutely possible.
Think carefully, Your Excellency!"
With that, Dugu Feng sat cross-legged and began cultivating.
Dugu Bo's expression flickered between dark and uncertain.
The Poison Cultivation Lineage was full of madmen, but these madmen were increasingly likely to succeed.
Dugu Feng was even more monstrous than his father, Dugu Shuo.
He had to admit—he saw potential in Dugu Feng.
Perhaps the Martial Soul Defect really could be solved.
For a moment, he hesitated, then cast a deep glance at Dugu Feng before turning and climbing back toward the mountain peak.
Maybe he really needed to consider Dugu Feng's words.
A cold smirk curled at Dugu Feng's lips.
By positioning himself near the springs, he had already secured an unbeatable advantage.
That was why he dared to provoke Dugu Bo.
He wasn't the least bit worried about Dugu Bo attacking.
If the Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb couldn't hold out, he could simply leap into the waters of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
His body, tempered by ice and fire, would suffer no harm from the springs.
Judging by Dugu Bo's expression as he left, he must have been deeply shaken.
Dugu Feng was confident—sooner or later, he would make Dugu Bo obey him completely.
His earlier words had been deliberate, meant to undermine Dugu Bo's confidence.
To make him lose faith in himself, ensuring he would have no choice but to rely on the Poison Cultivation Lineage in the future.
Dugu Feng dismissed these thoughts, refocusing.
He let the Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb recover its energy beside him.
Then, with a leap, he plunged into the convergence point of the Extreme Cold Yin Spring and the Blazing Yang Spring.
Dugu Feng intended to use the springs' energy to rapidly restore his strength while cultivating his Overlord Venom.
The growth of Overlord Venom was extremely dangerous.
It could spiral out of his control at any moment.
He planned to use it to further deduce the fusion and evolution of Mixed Poison.
To deepen his understanding of venom.
He was certain now—the power of Overlord Venom was directly linked to his comprehension of poison.
Previously, five Spirit Rings had formed his Overlord Venom. If his sixth and seventh Spirit Rings continued to fuse venom-attribute rings,
Overlord Venom would evolve once more.
By then, the derived power would multiply exponentially.
Dugu Feng never fought unprepared battles—he needed to continue strengthening himself.
Feeling the Scorpion Pincers and Eight Spider Lances continuously converting the ice-fire energy and absorbing it into his body was incredibly soothing.
The energy neutralized by the External Soul Bone naturally merged into his Soul Power.
Dugu Feng slowly began his cultivation.
(End of Chapter)