Chapter 25: Fried Scorpions
If Huyan Zhen already believed Huyan Lie was dead, then they surely had guesses about Tuoba Lan's fate as well.
The Saint Dragon Sect would have reached the same conclusion—Tuoba Lan was dead.
"The Saint Dragon Sect's forces are based near Spirit City. The clan mainly relies on Great Spirit Arena channels to gather news, and so far, nothing unusual.
My guess? They're avoiding association with the Elephant Armored Sect. That's why even now, the latter hasn't publicly declared alignment with Spirit Hall," Old Scorpion analyzed thoughtfully.
Dugu Feng listened, brow furrowing in thought.
During the future tournaments, the Elephant Armored Sect is publicly allied with Spirit Hall. So why hide it now?
Secret allegiance could only serve strategic purpose—to act when it mattered most.
Could it be tied to the Great Spirit Arena's hidden profits?
The portion once belonging to the Clear Sky Clan would be up for grabs in less than a year, during the next major power meeting.
So Spirit Hall wants that open seat?
Very likely.
After all, it was Spirit Hall who'd forced the Clear Sky Clan's withdrawal.
Claiming those profits would even seem justified.
Among the seven clans controlling the Great Spirit Arenas, the Saint Dragon Sect was already one of Spirit Hall's pawns.
If that vacant share went to Spirit Hall, combined with their alliance through the Elephant Armored Sect and the Five Elements Alliance—
Half the Arenas would fall under their rule.
So that's Bibi Dong's true ambition.
The Great Spirit Arenas weren't just a business—they represented unimaginable wealth and the governing laws of the soul master world.
Dugu Feng felt he'd finally glimpsed Bibi Dong's strategy—gain financial power first.
With money came control, armies, expansion—dominion.
But then, a chill ran down his spine.
In the future, the Dugu Clan… vanishes.
Only Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan remained. No mention of the rest.
If Bibi Dong's hunger went further, why not have the Elephant Armored Sect betray its allies, erasing a rival power?
The thought made him uneasy.
The Saint Dragon Sect's silence despite their massive losses could only mean one thing: fear. They didn't want to draw attention, to be tied to any secret dealings with the Elephant Sect.
Such patience meant Bibi Dong's ambitions ran deep—like a serpent waiting to strike.
When Dugu Feng finally spoke, his tone was grim. "Bibi Dong has ruled Spirit Hall for six years now. Once her internal unity is solidified, she'll turn outward. The Elephant Armored Sect is just her first move. Our clan must stay wary."
Heartless, ruthless, brilliant, mad—none of those words exaggerated her nature. He wouldn't underestimate her.
Old Scorpion gaped at the young master's reasoning.
From the absence of information alone, he had pieced together an entire web of political schemes.
What a terrifying prodigy!
Sheer admiration filled his chest.
"Young Master, I'll report this to the Patriarch immediately," he said excitedly. "Ah, before I forget, I brought you some snacks. Try them!"
Before Dugu Feng could reply, a plate appeared in front of him.
The sight made his scalp prickle.
He'd eaten snake meat for two years straight.
Now this? Scorpions?
What next—spiders? Frogs? Centipedes?
And indeed, the answer was yes.
Before enrolling, his father Dugu Shuo had thoroughly briefed him on the clan's Tyrant Poison cultivation path.
The first five soul rings had to come from five poisonous beasts—the Five Jade Phosphor Venoms—developed from generations of experimentation to create their ultimate poison mix.
Snake, Scorpion, Spider, Centipede, and Toad.
And his second ring was destined to come from a venomous scorpion-type beast.
Old Scorpion noticed his disgusted expression and frowned. "Young Master, these are premium soul beast scorpions! Do you know how hard they are to capture?
First we starve them for a month, then drown them in saltwater, and finally deep-fry them to perfection.
Look—crispy, golden, light but fragrant! People would kill for these, yet here you sit acting reluctant!"
Dugu Feng stared blankly. He knew full well that fried scorpion was considered a delicacy—even on Earth.
At least the snake meat had been cut into pieces so he didn't have to see what it was.
But this—whole bodies intact—triggered a spiritual discomfort even he found hard to describe.
Forget it, he sighed. It's all for cultivation.
He grabbed a small scorpion, popped it into his mouth, and bit.
Crisp. Salty. Slightly nutty.
Crunch by crunch, he emptied the plate.
"How do you feel, Young Master?" Old Scorpion asked eagerly. "The heat broke down most of the toxin, but there's still a trace—just enough to help you adjust to mixed serpent-scorpion venom for your second ring."
That was the true reason behind this "snack"—a preparatory exercise before absorbing his next spirit ring.
They could then test different scorpion species according to his tolerance level.
Closing his eyes, Dugu Feng focused, gauging the sensation inside his body.
A faint thread of gray poison spread through him, blending into his soul power, then seeping into his flesh—and finally, a portion was drawn into the dan pearls.
He frowned. "Feels like nothing. Tasty though."
Old Scorpion's face lit up. No reaction means high resistance! Excellent!
Rubbing his hands, he drew out a giant leather sack—nearly as tall as a man.
"All yours! Keep eating when you have downtime. It's full of fried scorpions. Oh, and Young Master—give some thought to which kind of scorpion beast you want for your second ring. I know every subspecies on the continent!" he boasted proudly.
Dugu Feng opened the bag—sure enough, piles upon piles of glittering golden scorpions filled it.
This madman had wiped out an entire colony of soul beasts for this.
But, admittedly, they looked and smelled incredible.
He sealed the bag and tucked it into his storage belt.
As for Old Scorpion's bragging, he smirked inwardly. You "know every type," huh? Ever heard of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion?
Maybe, eventually, that would be his next target.
Moments later, Old Scorpion departed.
Dugu Feng resumed his sitting posture, channeling his breathing.
The whale gel's energy had long settled in his system, and now, coupled with the fried scorpions, his reserves were overflowing.
This was when the dan pearls came alive.
They began absorbing and refining the energy, producing the familiar warmth that spread through his body, strengthening it steadily.
"The energy's at thirty-eight now," he muttered. "Still sixty-two to go for full capacity. The Whale Gel only boosted it by one percent… ah well. Slow progress beats none."
A grin crossed his face. "Good. Keep at it. One day I'll forge a hundred, maybe two hundred dan pearls.
Come at me all you want—ten pearls exploding will be plenty. If that doesn't kill you, twenty will."
Chuckling to himself, he smiled with satisfaction.
Thus began Dugu Feng's life at the academy—utterly different from what others imagined.
While his peers laughed, competed, and played, he remained quiet, almost unseen.
He skipped most classes, attending only those he deemed genuinely useful.
And every spare moment went to one thing: relentless cultivation.
(END CHAPTER)
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