Chapter 30: Poison Examination
According to how the story would later unfold, Emperor Xue Ye had indeed been poisoned.
The poison was a complex mixture of toxins, so intricate that even Dugu Bo couldn't detect it at first.
Only after sharing knowledge with Tang San about compound poisons did he realize what it was. But even then, he could only fight poison with poison, never truly curing it.
In the end, it was Yang Wudi who restored the emperor's health.
Of course, Yang Wudi succeeded precisely because the poison had been administered by Yang Wushuang—Yang Wudi's own brother and the traitor of the Breaking Clan.
When the Clear Sky Sect went into seclusion, the affiliated single-attribute clans were besieged by all sides.
Yang Wushuang had been captured by the Spirit Hall and defected to them. He assisted Qian Renxue in poisoning both the Second and Third Princes.
Now, they were likely plotting to poison Emperor Xue Ye himself.
Dugu Feng couldn't tell if the plan had already been set in motion.
Lost in thought, he barely noticed as the carriage rolled smoothly through the palace gates, stopping only before the emperor's private chambers.
The Royal Guards had already sent word of their arrival.
Accompanied by palace attendants, Dugu Feng and Dugu Shuo entered the chamber.
It was an awe-inspiring palace, held up by eight towering golden columns that supported a vast domed ceiling. Empty yet grand, it radiated authority.
At the center, seated upon a golden-red dragon throne, was a man in royal robes, his head crowned with a radiant golden diadem. His presence radiated control and confidence—this was none other than Emperor Xue Ye himself.
Beneath the throne stood several attendants and royals with bowed heads.
Among them, Dugu Feng immediately recognized one familiar face—Prince Xue Beng. The restless prince fidgeted, scratching his ear, looking like he wanted to escape as soon as possible.
Xue Beng attended the same academy as Dugu Feng—the Heaven Dou Imperial Junior Academy—though he was three years older and in a higher class.
They'd met a few times and exchanged mere nods.
At school, Xue Beng acted every bit the spoiled noble, though his arrogance was reserved for small-clan and low-status students.
Toward prestigious names like Ning Rongrong, Feng Ling, Feng Li, and even Dugu Feng, he maintained at least a semblance of equality.
Now, when he saw Dugu Feng glance his way, Xue Beng grinned openly, showing no trace of nervousness despite being in his father's presence.
Dugu Feng had to admit—the boy acted well.
"Greetings to Your Majesty!"
Father and son approached the dragon throne and bowed deeply.
Emperor Xue Ye waved his hand with a warm smile. "Duke Dugu, no need for formality. Please, have a seat."
Dugu Shuo nodded, taking a chair to the side.
Dugu Feng stood quietly behind his father, raising his eyes slightly. He saw Xue Beng and several others facing them: an elder, a youth, and a young girl.
"Thank you for coming, Duke Dugu," the elder said suddenly.
"Prince Xue Xing is too polite."
The elder's voice was firm and resonant, his golden robes embroidered with soaring dragons—it was indeed Prince Xue Xing.
He stepped forward and sat near Dugu Shuo, extending his left hand for examination.
Dugu Feng watched closely.
A moment later, a faint green, diamond-shaped scale pattern appeared on Dugu Shuo's forehead. A surge of multicolored light burst forth, enveloping Prince Xue Xing entirely.
Even from a distance, Dugu Feng could feel a heavy pressure from the light.
It shimmered in four distinct hues—violet, gray, gold, and black—radiating a mysterious, powerful energy.
Under its glow, Prince Xue Xing remained calm and composed.
After a short scan, Dugu Shuo dispelled the light, and the prince stood up unharmed.
Next came the young man's turn.
"Thank you for your trouble, Duke Dugu," the youth said with a courteous smile, even nodding toward Dugu Feng.
His expression was so genuine and warm that it could almost disarm anyone's suspicion.
This was Qian Renxue—disguised as Prince Xue Qinghe.
The very culprit behind the poisonings. Prince Xue Xing and Prince Xue Beng must have already harbored deep suspicions about her.
Dugu Feng thought privately, If I exposed Qian Renxue right now… what would happen?
Surely, two Titled Douluos would descend from the skies to rescue her—and likely kill both him and Dugu Shuo before leaving.
Just imagining the scene made Dugu Feng's pulse race.
But if Emperor Xue Ye really had been poisoned, and Dugu Shuo discovered it now—then Qian Renxue would mark the entire Dugu clan for death.
The Spirit Hall would inevitably target their family, if they hadn't already planned to.
After all, within the Heaven Dou Empire, only the Dugu family—and Dugu Bo himself—had the knowledge to counteract such toxins.
That must be why later, Dugu Bo constantly clashed with Chrysanthemum Douluo. It wasn't coincidence—it was Spirit Hall's extermination plan at work.
And judging by later events, Dugu Shuo's lineage didn't survive. Yet here Emperor Xue Ye treated him with respect...
Did that mean his family was wiped out sometime before the Soul Master Tournament arc?
And if he connected that to the Elephant Armored Sect's later betrayal...
Damn, Dugu Feng thought, I'm getting close to the truth.
Qian Renxue's face remained serene, her smile tender—but inwardly, she must have wished for Dugu Shuo to die on the spot.
Dugu Feng forced himself to stay expressionless.
"No need for thanks, Crown Prince," Dugu Shuo said calmly.
He performed the same scan again—nothing out of the ordinary appeared.
Then came Xue Beng's turn, and finally, the young girl beside him—Xue Ke, Xue Beng's sister.
All clean.
That was just the appetizer. The real test was yet to come—Emperor Xue Ye himself.
Dugu Shuo approached the throne, with Dugu Feng following close behind.
The multicolored aura expanded once more, blanketing the emperor in shimmering light.
Though nothing seemed unusual outwardly, Dugu Feng felt the tension rising in the hall.
"Haha! You all worry too much," Emperor Xue Ye said with a hearty laugh. "With the Dugu Clan here, who in the world could poison me?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty bears the hopes of all citizens," Prince Xue Xing quickly agreed, though his eyes stayed glued on the glowing aura enveloping the emperor.
He already suspected Xue Qinghe.
With both royal brothers dead, the only remaining obstacle to Xue Qinghe's succession was Emperor Xue Ye himself.
Hence, each time a poison inspection occurred, Prince Xue Xing's nerves stretched taut.
Xue Beng still looked carefree, apparently unconcerned.
Xue Ke, the youngest, about Dugu Feng's age, sat demurely, her innocence untouched by politics. She truly seemed the least scheming person in the entire hall.
Qian Renxue continued her flawless act, perfectly composed. Dugu Feng couldn't help but admire her psychological fortitude.
Then suddenly—he felt the energy bead in his body begin to spin faster.
Soul power surged violently through his meridians.
Alarmed, he forced himself to calm down, suppressing the bead's restless vibration.
But he could sense the source clearly—it was coming from Emperor Xue Ye.
There was no doubt now.
The Emperor was poisoned.
And the toxin's potency was extraordinary, strong enough to make his inner energy bead react.
A storm was coming.
If even the slightest hint emerged that the Dugu family had discovered the truth, Spirit Hall would annihilate them on the spot.
This poison touched directly on Bibi Dong's ambition—and Qian Renxue's plan to seize the throne.
(END CHAPTER)
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