Chapter 8: Feng'er, You Will Dazzle the World!
"Go, begin your cultivation."
Dugu Shuo waved his hand.
"Yes, Father!" Dugu Feng bowed deeply before quickly exiting the ancestral hall.
Inside his dantian, the dan pearl was in turmoil.
With his martial spirit awakened, soul power now flowed rapidly through his meridians, threads of energy seeping into the dan pearl.
The egg-sized pearl trembled violently.
Just as he neared his room, his vision flickered.
Next to the original dan pearl, another one had appeared—identical in size.
However, its energy was only about one-third full, though its quality was higher and more refined.
Dugu Feng's mind buzzed. So when his dan pearl reached full capacity, it evolved by dividing itself?
Could it become two, then four, then eight?
And with the immense uses of the dan pearl, the more there were, the less he'd need to fear poison flares.
I'll forge countless dan pearls!
Dugu Feng couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
After all, dan pearls could even control people. Didn't Dugu Bo use one to control Tang San?
Heh, this will be fun.
He entered his room and sat cross-legged to cultivate his soul power.
Old Snake had already taught him the method long ago. His innate full soul power was nearly overflowing—it was easy to sense.
As he calmed his mind and focused inward, soul power began circulating swiftly through his meridians.
Strands of spirit energy from the world streamed into his body, reinforcing his soul power.
Perhaps nurtured by the dan pearl, his meridians were resilient; even narrow channels had opened up.
The flow of energy was smooth and unimpeded.
Each completed cycle strengthened his power slightly—but every bit of excess was absorbed by the dan pearls.
With innate full soul power, his level wouldn't rise again until he obtained a soul ring.
The energy he refined now only benefited the two pearls within him.
He didn't know how much time passed. When the faint ache of strain tingled in his meridians, he stopped immediately.
He had reached his limit—pushing further would do more harm than good.
The dan pearls hadn't visibly grown stronger, but their energy had become purer and denser.
Filling them again to capacity for another evolution wouldn't be easy—it would take patience and time.
Rising from his meditation, Dugu Feng stepped into the training yard.
His father had told him to spend a month mastering his soul power circulation.
That wasn't just about cultivation—it was about fighting.
Only in battle did soul power truly surge to its limits.
Though he had no soul ring yet, he could still use raw soul force to enhance his attacks.
"Young Master, take this!"
A voice suddenly came from above. A figure dropped from the canopy—it was Little Snake.
He handed Dugu Feng a short sword.
Startled, Dugu Feng blinked. Little Snake had grown more and more elusive; he hadn't sensed him at all.
That was shocking, given Dugu Feng's sharp senses—his soul power at level ten and the dan pearl's nourishment gave him heightened perception.
For him not to notice meant Little Snake had masked every sign of life—no breath, no warmth. Truly the body of a natural-born assassin.
Dugu Feng examined the short sword. It was beautifully crafted—three fingers wide, six and a half inches long, with a hilt of three and a half inches, just the length of his forearm and hand combined.
"This is for you to train your control," Little Snake said seriously. "Channel your soul power into the blade and attack with it."
Dugu Feng instantly understood.
He followed Little Snake to an ancient tree as thick as a man's waist. Its bark bore countless sword marks—clearly used for training before.
"The only sword technique we need to master is the Serpent's Belly Strike," Little Snake explained.
"It's inspired by how a snake's belly glides and propels forward. The strike doesn't need brute strength—merely piercing the skin is enough to deliver the poison."
As he spoke, a nearly identical short sword appeared in his own hand. His body quivered slightly, then flashed.
Dugu Feng saw only a flicker of light—when it vanished, a white speck marked the ancient tree's trunk, and Little Snake had already retreated several steps.
"One strike, then retreat. Once poison enters, the enemy will die soon enough. Never risk their last counterattack." His tone was cool and emotionless, as if the old tree before him were a real target.
The sword was the tool—but the true killer was poison.
Dugu Feng gripped his sword, channeling soul power into it through his arm.
He imagined the movement of the Jade Phosphor Serpent: head raised, body coiled, belly pressed to the earth—springing forward faster than sight, striking and recoiling before prey could react.
"Bang!"
His first slash landed, but the shock rattled his palm painfully.
He'd forgotten to release the force.
The technique required using recoil to retreat, flowing with the force.
On his second try, it went much smoother.
Soul power coursed through his body with striking agility; his mind could feel every muscle fiber as he practiced. This was the advantage of soul power—it refined control and speed.
Moreover, under combat-like intensity, his energy circulation was far faster.
Normally, soul power flowed like a calm stream—but in battle, it surged like a raging river.
They were two entirely different states.
"Young Master, your speed is incredible," Little Snake said, astonished. "Is your body actually tougher than mine?"
The assassin rarely spoke so much—his surprise was genuine.
Dugu Feng's taller, sturdier physique came from his bloodline. Little Snake's smaller frame was better for stealth, and he never believed himself inferior.
After all, his bones were dense, his meridians sturdy, his muscles honed through years of hard training. At his level, how could the young master surpass him?
But Dugu Feng's movements—though not yet refined—were unnaturally swift.
He couldn't have known that Dugu Feng's body was constantly nourished by two dan pearls—treasures reserved for Titled Douluo.
For a six-year-old, it was an absurd advantage.
Dugu Feng kept a calm, aloof expression. There was no need to explain.
Outside the training field, Dugu Shuo murmured to himself:
"You've survived where so many died… truly extraordinary. From four to six, enduring two years of serpent venom torment—your talent is unmatched.
"With innate full soul power, you can cultivate your way to Titled Douluo so long as you live."
His gaze turned distant and cold.
"But the world grows more turbulent. Survival will not be so easy.
Next year's Grand Duel of the Six Families—everyone covets the spoils left behind by the Clear Sky Clan. Only those with sharp enough fangs will feast."
A slow, eerie smile crossed his lips.
"Feng'er, you will shine brilliantly."
(END CHAPTER)
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