Chapter 18: Enrollment
Moments later, Dugu Shuo's aura steadied, and a helmet appeared atop his head.
Just as Dugu Feng thought the absorption was complete, faint violet light suddenly rippled across his father's body. A green diamond-shaped scale surfaced on his brow.
Purple light began to gather toward his head.
Dugu Shuo was attempting to test his son's theory.
The toxins in his meridians, blood, and even hair had long merged with his body, eating away at his vitality day by day.
The poison was now part of him—expelling it would not be easy.
He frowned, starting from the least dangerous spot—his arm. Slowly, he drew a small trace of surface-level toxin with his soul power and guided it into the newly absorbed soul bone.
A moment later, his expression eased.
His eyes grew complex as he looked at Dugu Feng and Old Snake. "Feng'er's method works—and the earlier it's used, the better. For people like Old Snake and me, our bodies have been intertwined with venom for too many years. Forcing it out won't be easy.
Just now, I used soul power to transfer some of the poison—it worked, but it will take time. I'll use certain herbs to accelerate the process. Even if it weakens my cultivation, I must drive the toxin into the soul bone."
Determination shone in his eyes.
A soul master's crafted venom was a strength when fused into soul power—but the remnants embedded in the body were pure poison. Running soul power inevitably allowed toxins to seep deeper into blood, bones, and organs.
As a Soul Sage with decades of cultivation, Dugu Shuo's physical body was saturated beyond measure.
"Feng'er, if you had absorbed this soul bone early, before the poison rooted deeply, you could push your toxins into it each day. By adulthood, you might never suffer poison flare again," Dugu Shuo said regretfully.
"Father, don't worry," Dugu Feng replied. "Your strength will grow, and you'll acquire more soul bones in time."
He smiled lightly, thinking privately, My goal's a hundred-thousand-year soul bone anyway.
Dugu Shuo nodded, falling silent, but the decision was made—he would begin seeking more of those treasures.
Beside him, Old Snake looked deeply moved. To think there was finally hope for their clan's curse—perhaps not immediate freedom, but a solution nonetheless.
Given the clan's wealth and power, it was only a matter of time before they found another soul bone.
Soon afterward, Dugu Feng left the ancestral hall.
It was time to return to cultivation. His focus now—the first soul skill: Jade Phosphor Violet Poison.
In the training ground, Dugu Feng stood alone.
His soul ring flared bright yellow for the first time.
"Jade Phosphor Violet Poison!"
He exhaled, releasing a dense cloud of violet mist.
In that instant, he could feel the surge of energy coursing through his whole body, focusing into the poison and then shooting outward.
This was the power of a true soul skill.
He practiced repeatedly until his soul power was exhausted, then sat quietly to meditate, using his dan pearl's warmth to restore energy and nourish the twin Nine-Sectioned Jades wrapped around his wrists.
The same routine played out daily.
After half a month of observation, he noticed tremendous progress—the dan pearl's nurturing had accelerated his serpents' growth.
By now, faint ripples of soul power had manifested within them—they had become true soul beasts.
With that power, training them to fly was far easier.
Thanks to Dugu Feng's understanding of aerodynamics, the two tiny jade serpents could now glide awkwardly for over two meters—a small victory that made him genuinely happy.
Each day, seeing their bright red eyes glimmer with intelligence filled him with quiet pleasure.
Their bond deepened; they responded to his thoughts instinctively, moving and striking as if extensions of his own arms.
Now, he needed only to strengthen them further.
Following his clan's taming methods, he fed them soul beast meat infused with his energy, fueling rapid growth.
Two months passed in a blur.
Dugu Feng's cultivation advanced to level thirteen.
And now, it was time to begin his education.
His school: Heaven Dou Royal Junior Academy—also known as the Preparatory Division of the Royal Advanced Academy.
It trained children aged six to twelve in the ways of soul mastery.
To his surprise, it was located outside the city gates. Though he knew it was reserved for nobles, the academy's purpose—at least in theory—was to cultivate the empire's strongest young elites.
Unfortunately, it had long since become a playground for arrogant aristocrats.
If not for that, the council of deans in the future would never have begged Flender and others to join—they simply couldn't handle the pampered noble heirs.
That morning, under clear blue skies, Old Snake accompanied Dugu Feng out of Heaven Dou City, arriving at the lakeside foothills of the academy.
The scenery was picturesque—mountains rising high, dense forests, shimmering waters reflecting sunlight. The simulated environments for training were numerous and well-crafted.
The higher sections of the mountain hosted the Advanced Academy.
But near the tranquil lake at the base sat a cluster of bright yellow, three-story buildings—this was the Junior Division.
Everything was impeccably organized—training fields, combat arenas, cafeterias, simulated zones—all structured to provide the best conditions on the continent.
Old Snake led him to one of the teaching buildings.
"Welcome, Senior Dugu. Welcome, Brother Feng!"
A handsome blond youth stood waiting outside.
Old Snake had already visited earlier to arrange everything.
The man's elegance caught Dugu Feng's attention—almost unnaturally handsome, poised and confident.
"Young Master," Old Snake said, smiling, "this is Teacher Ge, your homeroom instructor. Don't be fooled by his youth—he's already a Soul King."
The surname "Ge" immediately clicked in Dugu Feng's mind—Ge Long, the Empire's foremost military general.
The Ge Clan was one of the seven powers controlling the Great Spirit Arenas, representing the Heaven Dou royal family itself.
This teacher was undoubtedly one of them.
"Greetings, Teacher Ge," Dugu Feng said respectfully.
Seeing their familiarity, Old Snake nodded. "Young Master, Teacher Ge, I'll leave you to it. I have matters to handle back home."
With that, he departed swiftly.
He wasn't worried—this was merely the Junior Academy, and the Ge and Dugu families had always stood united in alliance.
The purpose of enrollment was simple: to integrate with the young heirs of other powers, heirs who would one day rule the factions of the Heaven Dou Empire.
And Dugu Feng, by blood and destiny, was one of them.
(END CHAPTER)
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