Chapter 39: The Overlord's Poison — Killing Becomes an Art
The two Nine-Segment Emerald Serpents continued to coil in the air.
Inside their bodies, the twin energy beads released a subtle suction force, drawing in faint strands of colorful poisonous energy from between the rotting bones.
That shimmering toxin was none other than the Overlord's Poison—the highest-quality venom the energy beads could absorb.
Suddenly, Dugu Feng's eyes widened in alarm.
"Stop, stop! Come back!"
The green energy inside the beads was surging wildly, swelling so fast it made him feel as though balance were slipping away.
These weren't poison cores—they were energy beads. If they were poison cores, they could absorb endless venom.
But the beads were akin to the inner cores of serpent-type soul beasts, composed of poison, energy, and soul power together.
Absorb too much toxin, and the delicate equilibrium would break, the venom poisoning the host from within.
He had already been cautious while drawing in the energy, but this particular poison's quality was monstrous. Against the current grade of his inner beads, it was far too potent.
The two serpents wobbled dizzily, wrapping themselves weakly around Dugu Feng's wrists.
Suppressing his excitement, Dugu Feng hurried back to the carriage.
The moment he stepped inside, he froze in shock.
A pool of black blood hissed and bubbled before Dugu Shuo. At his side, Old Snake and Old Scorpion looked tense.
"Father!" Dugu Feng rushed forward in alarm.
Dugu Shuo slowly opened his eyes, which blazed with fierce excitement. He smacked his lips and said hoarsely, "Do not panic, Feng'er. It's merely backlash from channeling the Overlord's Poison through external aid.
But… killing through the Overlord's Poison—ah, that truly is an art. You wouldn't understand that exquisite harmony between poison and one's spiritual power!"
His expression melted into blissful satisfaction.
Dugu Feng stood there speechless.
It was the first time he'd ever seen his father wear such a colorful expression—like someone savoring the afterglow of forbidden joy.
He truly was a lunatic.
Then again, thinking back on how his father had manipulated the lives of the Elephant Armored Sect like puppets, he couldn't deny—it must have been an indescribable sensation.
"Feng'er," Dugu Shuo said eagerly, "keep consuming whale glue. If you run out, ask Old Snake for more.
To withstand the greatness of the Overlord's Poison, your meridians and flesh must grow tougher. When you obtain your second soul ring, aim for one beyond a thousand years!"
Dugu Feng nodded. His cultivation had been progressing well, but there was room for more intensity—especially after witnessing the Overlord's Poison firsthand.
Strengthening his body now would prevent him from facing the same limitation as his father—who, at his fifth ring, still couldn't merge a fifth poison-type soul beast.
"Yes, Father. The ten-thousand-year whale glue I won from the Academy duel will last me for a while," Dugu Feng replied.
Ning Rongrong had been generous with that reward—perhaps too generous.
She was probably hoping he'd overdose and die in bed someday.
Truly malicious.
After speaking, Dugu Shuo closed his eyes again, lost in that euphoric memory.
Dugu Feng sat beside Little Snake and centered his thoughts, feeling into the serpents' inner beads.
Instantly, his entire spirit trembled.
The green energy in both beads had surged from fifty-five all the way to eighty-six—and its hue had darkened into black-green.
What the—!
It used to increase just one point per month. Now it had jumped thirty-one in one go!
That equaled years of poisonous accumulation.
Utterly terrifying.
He finally understood. The poison capacity of the beads had reached its limit.
No wonder he'd sensed instability earlier.
This meant the remaining fourteen percent of the space within could only hold soul power and physical energy.
Once those were filled, the beads would evolve again.
Dugu Feng's heart raced with joy.
Condensing poison had always been the hardest part. His current cultivation level only produced limited venom each day, and excess buildup risked corroding his body.
But now that the poison quota was filled, all that remained was to cultivate and feast—to saturate the beads with energy and soul power.
He grinned. The moment they evolved, his physical strength would be enhanced in return.
He rolled up his sleeves and pulled something from his storage belt—a platter of fried scorpions.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
He devoured them one after another.
"How satisfying!"
Then he uncorked a waterskin and gulped it down.
"Haha, the young master has learned well from me," Old Snake chuckled. "Not wasting a single bite of bamboo viper or scorpion. That waterskin—it's snake blood, isn't it?"
He pulled out a lump of whale glue and said, "Your soul power isn't strong enough to melt this. Allow me."
Dugu Feng didn't refuse. Once melted, he swallowed it in one gulp.
Instantly, his qi and blood surged; sweat pearled on his forehead.
He quickly steadied himself, circulating his soul power through every meridian again and again.
After ten full cycles, his strength increased slightly more.
Then, as the inner beads spun, they absorbed half the gathered soul power.
Seeing the energy rise even a little, Dugu Feng felt renewed confidence—and cycled his power again.
Beside him, Little Snake watched with admiration.
The young master truly deserved the name. Eating and drinking so wildly—and yet his physique remained flawless.
Curious, Little Snake thought gloomily, Why is it that when I eat more, I just grow taller? I really don't want to keep growing!
Unable to figure it out, he gave up thinking altogether and focused on cultivation.
Still, another thought crept up on him.
After witnessing two Titled Douluo today, which one should he plan to assassinate first?
Neither seemed like good people. Little Snake pondered with terrifying earnestness and slipped into meditation.
Meanwhile, inside the Thunder Academy carriage…
After Yu Yuanzhen entered, the rest of the Thunder Academy soul masters wisely pitched tents outside.
They all knew their patriarch's greatest trait—a temper that lived up to his title.
After all, his title was Thunder.
No one dared approach lightly.
Only Yu Luomian stepped inside.
"Big brother," he began, flopping down with a sigh, "you could've warned me about the Elephant Armored Sect and the Dugu Clan! I nearly had a heart attack!"
Yu Yuanzhen, now free of his thunder aura, looked far more human. His blue robes gleamed faintly as his sharp gaze fixed on his younger brother.
"If you have time to be scared," he said coldly, "you should spend it cultivating. At your pace, when will you ever reach Titled Douluo?"
Yu Luomian smiled awkwardly. "Brother, how could my talent compare to yours? Advancing a single level as a Contra takes me years. I'll be lucky to ever reach Titled Douluo.
I'd rather focus on training Tianheng and Tianxin—I want to live to see them reach that rank instead."
(END CHAPTER)
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