Chapter 4: Poison Flare
Sure enough, before long, the Bamboo Leaf Green Snake stopped moving.
And surprisingly, its venom seemed to have no effect on him at all. Is this what they call fighting poison with poison? Dugu Feng wondered.
Enduring the pain, he grabbed the lifeless snake in his hand.
"Here," Old Snake said, handing him a short knife. "Take out the gallbladder and eat it first to replenish your energy."
Dugu Feng quickly accepted the knife. Of course—he had to do it himself.
He had long since given up on the notion of being treated like a true young master. The days of being waited on hand and foot were over.
It was his first time killing a snake, but his inherited knowledge of a serpent's anatomy was perfect.
The most valuable part of a snake was always its gallbladder.
Gripping the knife tightly, Dugu Feng cut downward from the serpent's head, slicing its body open.
It sounded easier than it was; with no strength left, he had to use every ounce of power he had, nearly collapsing from the effort.
After a few tries, he managed to pry the gallbladder free.
It was oval and glistening. One quick look and he popped it into his mouth, ignoring the stench.
He bit down gently. The gallbladder burst, flooding his mouth with intense bitterness.
He clenched his jaw shut and swallowed it all.
"Young Master, your poison flared last night," Old Snake said. "That means the bloodline of your Jade Phosphor Serpent martial spirit has already begun to influence and reshape your body. Even if your martial spirit hasn't awakened yet, your bloodline power is already active.
"It will gradually strengthen your physique. Remember, serpents have excellent digestion. You'll be fine.
"This snake meat will be your food for today—it's more than enough to fill you."
Old Snake spoke calmly, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes—and even a trace of genuine shock.
For a child to overcome his fear and kill a snake on his first try… it was extraordinary.
But then he sighed inwardly. To poison-flare at four years old—could this child even survive?
Dugu Feng had no choice but to comply. He began cutting the snake meat into small pieces slowly, eating bit by bit.
They really don't treat kids like humans here.
Half an hour later, he had eaten the entire snake and now felt painfully full.
Old Snake, perhaps softening for once, placed a hand on his back and began massaging his body with soul power.
The flow of soul power was warm, like basking in sunlight—
No, even better than that. The heat spread through Dugu Feng's muscles and meridians, relaxing every cell of his body until he felt completely at ease.
It was like circulation therapy—loosening his limbs and calming his organs.
The snake meat digested quickly under the warmth.
Dugu Feng closed his eyes, enjoying the fleeting comfort, while focusing his mind toward the dan pearl. Earlier, when the snake had bitten him, he could have sworn he felt it pulse inside his body.
Now, as he observed, the faint green thread within the pearl had become brighter.
So that Bamboo Leaf Green Snake's poison had been absorbed by the dan pearl after all.
As his body digested food, the pearl spun faster. Wisps of energy merged into it, infusing that same green thread.
It seemed the pearl required not only venom but other forms of energy as well.
Still, it was a slow process. When will this thing ever fill to capacity?
Then again, he was only four years old. His martial spirit hadn't even awakened yet. There was no need to rush.
Hours passed.
Under the soul power massage, Dugu Feng dozed off, letting the food turn into energy.
When the session ended, he stood and flexed his limbs. His body brimmed with vitality, each motion steady and powerful. He felt refreshed—more alive than ever.
Looking outside, night had fallen. The sky was pitch-black and silent, though faint hisses and crawling sounds echoed nearby.
The Dugu estate was clearly home to more creatures than people.
Thinking over the events of the day, he felt as if he were dreaming.
To possess great power and follow his own will—in this Douluo world, that had always been his dream.
Standing by the doorway, gazing up at the starry night, he couldn't help imagining his future.
"Young Master, it's the third watch," came Old Snake's quiet voice.
The third watch—it was around eleven at night.
"What about it?"
The words had barely left his mouth before realization struck. Poison flare from the Jade Phosphor bloodline usually occurred either on rainy days—or after the third watch of the night.
The thought had barely formed when sharp, stabbing pain erupted at the soles of his feet. It felt like countless needles piercing him all at once. The sudden agony made him jump uncontrollably.
He quickly dropped to his cushion again, his body's muscles tightening, spasming violently. Tremors ran through his arms.
"Young Master, does it hurt badly? Earlier today, you were bitten by the Bamboo Leaf Green—its residual venom will help neutralize your own.
If the pain is too great, say so. I'll let another snake bite you," Old Snake said, his voice tense, holding a clay jar at the ready.
Everything that happened earlier had been preparation for this very moment—to help Dugu Feng endure his first poison flare.
For a member of the Dugu Clan, once the poison awakened, pain would come every night.
The only difference was whether one survived it or not.
Old Snake raised the jar, ready to release another snake—this was the clan's method of poison suppression. The Jade Phosphor venom, being domineering, would attack and burn through lesser toxins introduced to the body, thereby consuming part of its own energy.
But this was also a double-edged sword. The same Jade Phosphor venom would absorb those other toxins, strengthening itself. One day, it would overwhelm the host completely.
Sweat poured down Dugu Feng's forehead. His body curled up into a ball as waves of needle-like pain spread into his head.
His eyes bulged wide open.
So this was the horror of the Jade Phosphor Serpent martial spirit? Dugu Yan hadn't even flared until she was twenty.
What kind of sin did this body commit—to suffer poison flare before even awakening its martial spirit?
Still… without it, he wouldn't have crossed worlds.
"Bite! Bite! Bite!"
Through chattering teeth, he barely forced out the words.
His skull felt like it would explode. His body burned with acid pain.
At that moment, nothing else mattered—he only wanted the agony to lessen, even if it meant being bitten again.
Crash!
The clay jar shattered. The Bamboo Leaf Green Snake slithered out, hissed twice, and without hesitation sank its fangs into his arm.
The shift in sensation brought temporary relief.
The pain dulled slightly.
Dugu Feng sucked in deep breaths, turning his head to look. The snake was already dead.
During the flare of his Jade Phosphor Serpent poison, even such a venomous snake couldn't survive direct contact.
If the poison can't kill me, it will only make me stronger, Dugu Feng told himself, his mind clearing through sheer willpower.
I have my dan pearl—what is there to fear?
He could already sense the faint green thread inside the pearl thickening, growing denser.
It seemed the pearl had benefited from the poison flare as well.
Inside his body, energy drained rapidly. The youthful vigor from earlier faded, hunger gnawing at him once more.
Between resisting the venom and nourishing the dan pearl, his energy was being consumed rapidly—the pearl grew stronger with him, feeding on his strength.
(END CHAPTER)
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