Chapter 69: Cleansing the Poison
"Old Nine, have you found Yang Wushuang?"
Dugu Feng suddenly asked.
Old Nine looked surprised, but immediately replied, "After returning from Soto City, we thoroughly searched Heaven Dou City.
We confirmed that the owner of an apothecary on Tianhuang Street is Yang Wushuang himself. But because of Spirit Hall backing him, the Patriarch ordered that we not move against him."
Dugu Feng nodded. As long as they had located him, that was enough.
As for the Po Clan—he already had plans for them.
There could only be one poison master clan on the continent—the Dugu Family.
They would either submit or perish.
His eyes grew cold at the thought.
The Sunset Forest was close to Heaven Dou City. Before long, Dugu Feng and the father-son duo of Old Nine and Young Nine arrived at the vast cavern where they had met last time.
To Dugu Feng's surprise, Dugu Shuo was already waiting.
It seemed Old Nine had a secret channel of communication—likely using the centipedes that crawled through the tunnels.
For once, the Patriarch was without his usual calm composure. His face was alight with excitement.
Even with his years of cultivation, after three years apart, seeing his son return safely left him visibly moved.
"You actually came back alive from the City of Slaughter, Feng'er!"
He felt in his bones that their family's fortune was about to rise again.
Dugu Feng said nothing, but his body shone with blazing white light as he activated his martial soul.
A wave of killing intent erupted, thick with bloodlust, frost, and dread—engulfing everyone present.
Though Old Nine, Young Nine, and Dugu Shuo were all stronger, all three froze where they stood, visions of mountains of corpses flashing through their minds.
Before them stood not a youth, but a god of death.
Dugu Feng dissipated the aura and gave a faint smile. "I worried you, Father.
The City of Slaughter is the remnant domain of the Asura God. Those who pass its trials earn his inheritance—what's called the Killing God Domain.
It strengthens oneself and weakens one's enemies. That is what I have brought back."
"The domain of a god?"
Dugu Shuo, Old Nine, and Young Nine felt as though they had stepped into a dream.
For such a legend to manifest within their family—the heavens themselves had blessed them.
"Feng'er, if you could survive that accursed place, there's nothing in this world you cannot overcome. Tell me—what happened to you these past three years?"
Eager, Dugu Shuo pressed on.
Dugu Feng began recounting his journey in detail—how he and Old Scorpion had trained under the Serpent King Eagle on the northern plains, then ventured into the icy mountains of the far north.
He spoke of his encounters with the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, the horrors of the City of Slaughter, and ultimately, his meeting with the King of Slaughter himself.
He also mentioned—carefully—his knowledge of the two existing Killing Gods, Tang Hao and Bibi Dong, and the deal he'd struck with the King.
As for how he'd learned of Tang Hao and Bibi Dong's ascension to divinity, he credited it entirely to the late Tang Cheng.
Twin gasps came from Old Nine and Young Nine, followed by awe.
"Sixty consecutive victories, then you orchestrated the fall of Tang Cheng and outwitted the King himself… Young Master, you are truly remarkable.
I have no doubt—you will raise the Dugu Family to the summit of this continent!"
Old Nine's red beard trembled; his blood burned with pride.
Even for him, such feats would have been impossible.
"No wonder so many sects send their prodigies to the City of Slaughter, only for them never to return," murmured Young Nine with a shiver. "To think that no soul skills could be used, and that venomous madness seeps into one's very mind—what a nightmare."
Dugu Shuo was silent for a while, processing it all. "Tang Hao and Bibi Dong are now gods of slaughter… their strength must be unimaginable.
But the Haotian Sect hides in the open, while we remain in the shadows—our position is safer.
However, the message you retrieved from that Xiahou clansman—that Tang Bo still lives—concerns me deeply. He's been hidden too long. Whatever he's plotting will not be simple.
Old Nine—make sure our scouts watch Heaven Dou closely. The safety of the clan depends on it."
"Yes, Patriarch," Old Nine and Young Nine said together, faces solemn.
The day's revelations had shaken them to their cores. They had just learned of the moves of gods and the mightiest forces on the continent—while realizing that their family was still far from that level.
After a moment, Dugu Feng said, "Father, allow me to help purge our family's poison. My external soul bone can absorb and refine toxins—it can selectively draw out the chronic poison from their bodies."
Dugu Shuo nodded, his eyes bright. "Good. Begin with the Nine-Heaven Centipede branch first. But remember—pace yourself.
Once that's complete, return to the academy and rest.
Oh, and deal with Yang Wushuang and the Po Clan as you see fit. The Centipede Masters are at your disposal."
Dugu Feng sighed inwardly. Though he had already planned to strengthen the family, his father's tone—so casual in assigning him half the world's troubles—still felt absurdly trusting.
Then again, he reflected, trust was the only way his father knew how to show affection.
If only the man knew that when Old Scorpion first reported his plan to enter the City of Slaughter, Dugu Shuo's exact words had been—"My son's life is too tough to die."
Truly, his father's faith bordered on madness.
To Dugu Shuo, Dugu Feng's survival through poison outbreaks and near-death trials was proof enough—this was destiny, the culmination of generations of struggle.
His son was the divine spark meant to carry the family forward.
With that conviction, what was there to fear?
After Dugu Shuo departed, Old Nine and Young Nine looked at Dugu Feng with nervous anticipation.
Seeing their hope, he nodded and unleashed his external soul bone. The twin Scorpion Pincers burst forth from his arms, glowing faintly, as he combined them with the energy of his Dan Pearl to begin treatment.
Through this method, he could alleviate their chronic poisoning while simultaneously allowing his Dan Pearl to absorb their toxins—a double benefit.
The Nine-Heaven Centipede line had nine soul masters in all: Old Nine and Young Nine, one Soul King, three Soul Elders, one Soul Master, and two Grand Soul Masters.
Each day, Dugu Feng treated two of them. Five days later, all were cured.
Afterward, he continued within the ancestral hall, purging the poison from other branches of the clan. His efforts earned the family's complete loyalty and respect.
To them, this young heir was no longer merely talented—he was their salvation.
Finally, he turned his healing technique on his father.
Through the connection, he learned for the first time Dugu Shuo's true power—level seventy-eight.
He also discovered something astonishing. His father had deliberately concentrated much of his lingering poison into his head's soul bone, willingly courting danger rather than letting it spread—utterly fearless, perhaps reckless.
Dugu Feng could only shake his head in disbelief.
(END CHAPTER)
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Bankai10