Chapter 32: Hu Yanzhen of the Elephant Armored Sect
The Grand Battle Arena Council, held once every six years by the ruling powers, was about to convene.
It was a grand meeting involving all major factions across the continent.
And because the Yu Clan—supported by the Clear Sky Sect—had withdrawn, a significant share of interests had been left vacant. It was destined to be a fierce struggle between dragons and tigers.
Dugu Shuo's eyes were cold. "Whoever dares make a move should be prepared to lose a few teeth.
When it comes to poison, let's see who can master it better!"
He snorted coldly.
Eventually, the two reached a wider cavern deeper within the underground tunnels.
"Greetings, Clan Chief. Greetings, Young Master!" Two figures were already waiting.
One was an old man with reddish eyebrows and beard, his appearance both fierce and intimidating. Even more striking was his hair—it was entirely blood red, cascading neatly behind him. Dugu Feng couldn't help but steal a longer glance.
Behind him stood a man in his thirties who looked somewhat similar, likely his son.
Dugu Shuo gave a curt nod. "Old Nine, this time, I'll need you to act."
Dugu Feng guessed the man was called Old Nine because his Martial Soul was the Nine Heavens Centipede.
Old Nine's expression changed instantly. "Clan Chief, even when the Clear Sky Sect withdrew and chaos filled the land, we weren't summoned. Now… who dares to provoke our clan?" he said angrily.
The man behind him also looked shocked. If they were called into action, it meant the clan faced a life-or-death crisis.
"There's a powerful poison master in Heaven Dou City," Dugu Shuo said with a sneer. "His methods resemble those of the Breaking Clan. It might be one of the Yang brothers—Yang Wudi or Yang Wushuang.
They've given some power the courage to challenge us."
Old Snake had once said that the Dugu family's true deterrent lay in the terror of their vengeance. Anyone who didn't wipe them out entirely would face endless retaliation by poison—something no power dared invite, since poison was near impossible to cure.
But if an enemy possessed someone stronger—someone who excelled even more in poisoncraft—who could both administer and neutralize venom superior to theirs, then they'd have no reason to fear the Dugu family anymore.
Clearly, such a situation had now arrived.
"The Breaking Clan has always remained secluded in the Star Luo Empire," Old Nine said coldly. "Yang Wushuang vanished when the Clear Sky Sect retreated… could he have joined another faction?
Clan Chief, I'll find him. No one in Heaven Dou City will dare poison on our territory!"
Dugu Feng smirked inwardly at Old Nine's arrogance.
"Father," he said cautiously, "if it's Spirit Hall making its move, then it must be tied to the Six-Clan Council. During that meeting, they could exploit allies like the Holy Dragon Sect or the Elephant Armored Sect."
Both Old Nine and his son exchanged glances, their eyes settling on Dugu Feng. It was their first time truly studying the young heir.
Dugu Shuo clasped his hands behind his back, paused in thought, and nodded. "Feng'er, your reasoning makes sense.
Old Nine, you'll accompany us on this journey. Stay in the shadows and uncover the identity of this poison master."
Old Nine's eyes widened. The Clan Chief actually took the Young Master's insight seriously?
Dugu Shuo had always ruled decisively, leaving no room for others to advise him—yet this time, he listened to his son.
"Yes, Clan Chief!" Old Nine bowed deeply.
"From now on," Dugu Shuo added, "if anything happens to me, you, Xiao Nine, and all possessing the Nine Heavens Centipede Martial Soul will obey Feng'er's command."
That was why he had brought his son here—preparation for the worst.
Old Nine and his son's expressions darkened gravely. "Yes, Clan Chief."
Dugu Feng's heart tightened. His father clearly sensed the crisis looming since Emperor Xue Ye's poisoning—but what would his next step be?
The following day, the delegation for the Six-Clan Council would depart.
To Dugu Feng's surprise, the meeting's location was a familiar one—Suoto City.
A coincidence? Or was Suoto City chosen for a reason?
Suoto City was one of the most important cities in the Barak Kingdom, second only to its capital.
And Barak Kingdom shared a direct border with the Star Luo Empire.
Suoto was the gateway—Star Luo's first major city upon entering Heaven Dou territory.
Situated on the fertile Lima Plains, it was also Barak's grain hub—a natural logistics stronghold.
More critically, if the border fell, Suoto City would be the first line of defense.
"Shrek Academy was built there… Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing—their presence in that city isn't coincidence," Dugu Feng thought to himself.
Of the three families controlling the Grand Battle Arena, the Zhu Clan and the White Tiger Sect (the Dai Clan) were both from the Star Luo Empire. Hosting the council in Suoto was clearly a gesture to accommodate them.
Outside Heaven Dou City.
Dugu Shuo, Dugu Feng, Little Snake, Old Snake, and Old Scorpion stood beside a massive carriage alongside five Dugu Clan soul masters, waiting to depart.
The luxurious carriage, drawn by eight warhorses infused with beast blood, was over three meters wide and could easily hold a dozen people. It would serve as their transport for the journey.
Old Snake had already introduced the five accompanying soul masters—all had poison-affinity Martial Souls: two Ice Toads, one Jade Phosphor Scorpion, one Cavern Centipede, and one strikingly colorful Flower Spider—deadly despite its beauty.
All were members of their clan—a veritable gathering of the "Five Venoms."
Ahead of them stood another carriage belonging to the Ge Family. Ge Ying was outside, while his father, the Contra-level powerhouse Ge Long, was likely inside.
They had been waiting for some time when another carriage approached from the distance.
This one was visibly taller and bulkier than the others.
The carriage halted with a heavy creak, and then—a massive figure leapt down. The man stood well over two and a half meters tall, his skin dark, his eyes like bronze bells. When his feet hit the ground, the earth itself trembled.
His hair and beard were stark white, his age easily sixty or more.
Boom… boom… boom!
More thudding followed as ten-some figures jumped down from both sides of the carriage. Each was over two meters tall. Dugu Feng counted—thirteen men, plus the elder made fourteen.
He couldn't imagine what kind of horses had managed to pull such a load.
They assembled into several lines, forming a wall of human muscle that advanced slowly toward them—an unmistakable display of dominance.
Only one faction could arrive in such fashion: the Elephant Armored Sect.
Dugu Feng exchanged a glance with Old Snake. A sharp glint passed through both their eyes.
The Elephant Armored Sect had brought too many men—confirming their suspicions that these weren't friendly visitors.
"Apologies for the delay, my friends," the towering elder boomed with laughter. "Unlike you, we had to travel from beyond Heaven Dou. Forgive us, forgive us!
The meeting will include representatives from the Five-Element Alliance as well—Thunder Academy's delegation will arrive shortly."
His rich voice shook the air as he greeted everyone with clasped fists. It was Hu Yanzhen, the sect master of the Elephant Armored Sect.
Dugu Shuo merely nodded coldly, saying nothing.
"This must be young Feng, yes?" Hu Yanzhen said, grinning broadly as he stepped closer to their carriage. "If there are duels between the clans this time, I suspect young Feng will shine brilliantly.
I heard both sword brats from the Wind Sword Sect lost to him at the Heaven Dou Imperial Junior Academy. The Dugu Clan truly breeds talent!"
He smiled genuinely—or so it seemed—but Dugu Feng caught an undertone that chilled him.
He couldn't tell if it was premonition or intuition, but Hu Yanzhen's admiration sounded more like pity, as if lamenting that such a gifted youth wouldn't live long.
We'll see who dies first, Dugu Feng thought coldly.
(END CHAPTER)
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