Chapter 70: Reunion with Ning Rongrong
Freed from the torment of recurring poison outbreaks, his father now had a real chance at achieving the rank of Soul Douluo.
The Poison Branch of their clan was finally on the verge of producing a true powerhouse.
A Soul Douluo who cultivated hybrid poisons—such strength would shake the world.
Half a month passed, and the first round of detoxification ended.
Dugu Feng called it "life-saving detoxification."
It didn't cure the poison completely, but it removed a large portion of deep-rooted toxins and significantly reduced the agony of future flare-ups.
After this, their family's mortality rate would fall drastically, and passing down the bloodline would become far easier.
His Dan Pearl, having absorbed so many lingering poisons, grew stronger—its energy increased by five points. Combined with the energy drawn from the Fierce Sun Serpent's inner core, the total reached sixty-eight percent.
Progress was swift.
Next, it was time to return to the academy, rest, and plan for Yang Wushuang—and, more importantly, the immortal herbs.
Dugu Feng's thoughts flickered like lightning.
He withdrew from his storage soul guide a worn, yellowed book—clearly well-used and read many times.
It was a gift from his father, the family's most valuable legacy: records of rare herbs—treasures that Dugu Feng had been obsessed with.
There was one mystery that had always puzzled him: why Dugu Bo knew nothing of immortal herbs.
For a clan that had studied and refined poisons for generations, how could the herbs within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well remain unknown to them?
Even the Fragrant Silk Beauty, directly associated with toxins, was known by Yang Wudi of the Po Clan. Yet Dugu Bo—the clan's most famous poison master—hadn't recognized it. How absurd!
Now Dugu Feng understood. Though Dugu Bo carried the family's name, he was a self-made wild Titled Douluo.
He had left the clan long before inheriting any true family traditions. He had grown strong on his own, without their legacy—so it was no wonder he'd never learned of those plants.
Flipping open the yellow book, Dugu Feng studied the pages filled with depictions of rare medicinal herbs—their properties, uses, and interactions.
Eight-Petal Ice Crystal Grass, Fiery Apricot Blossom, Celestial Chrysanthemum, Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma, Clear Dew of Moon's Reflection—the collection was vast.
He'd spent recent weeks memorizing every word.
However, he now had to be cautious. After the battle between Dugu Bo and Chrysanthemum Douluo, the old man vanished, leaving no trace.
Even if the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was still there, it wasn't a place he could risk visiting freely.
His gaze darkened, lost in thought.
Days later, under clear skies, he arrived at the Heaven Dou Royal Junior Soul Master Academy.
Wearing his teal soul master robe, Dugu Feng stepped back onto the familiar campus he had left for years.
The lively, peaceful energy in the air greeted him warmly.
A slight smile surfaced—it felt good to return to a world suited to his age.
He made his way toward the teaching building.
As he climbed to the third floor of his old class, a burst of chatter and laughter reached his ears.
Still the same as ever, he thought with amusement.
When he walked through the doorway, silence fell. Every student turned toward him.
"Who are you? What class are you from, barging into ours?"
A clear, confident voice snapped at him.
The speaker was a young girl in a white dress—short hair at her shoulders, sharp yet elegant features, skin smooth like porcelain. Her presence exuded the unmistakable grace of a princess.
Ning Rongrong.
"Don't recognize me?" Dugu Feng asked casually, a hint of amusement in his tone.
The moment she heard his voice and saw his piercing violet eyes beneath strands of green-tinted hair, memory flashed through her.
Though he had grown taller, more mature, there was no mistaking him.
"You're… Dugu Feng!"
"Not bad," he said, smiling faintly. "Didn't forget an old classmate."
He sat beside her. Ning Rongrong's desk, unsurprisingly, had both adjacent seats empty.
Behind them sat two members of the Wind Sword Sect—Feng Ling and Feng Li, who had chased her around for years to no success.
Ning Rongrong eyed Dugu Feng cautiously. Something about him felt sharp, dangerous—even his glance had the same intensity as her Sword Grandpa's gaze when training disciples.
What in the world has he been through?
"Dugu Feng, where have you been these three years? Why didn't you return to school?" she finally asked, curiosity lighting her eyes.
At that question, the entire class began listening intently.
Dugu Feng had once been a rising star—his sudden disappearance had sparked endless rumors, but as years passed, most forgot him entirely.
Now he'd returned, calm and self-assured. Everyone wanted to know.
"In school, one can only grow so far," Dugu Feng replied evenly. "My family arranged special training for me."
"Special training? You're still just a kid," scoffed Feng Ling from behind. "You should have stayed to prepare for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament!"
"Exactly," Feng Li chimed in. "What's your level now, anyway?"
"Not high," Dugu Feng said lightly. "Only level twenty-seven."
The words hit them like slaps.
"That's impossible! We've trained non-stop and barely reached twenty-one!"
"There's no way you're that far ahead!"
The brothers' voices trembled with disbelief.
Ning Rongrong stared at him, mouth forming a small O.
She herself was level twenty-two, one of the brightest in the sect's younger generation—a treasured princess even among the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Yet compared to Dugu Feng, the gap was enormous.
He was beyond what her pride could easily accept.
"Don't believe me?" Dugu Feng grinned. "We could always have another spirit duel—maybe make it interesting with a little wager?"
Both Wind Sect boys froze, recalling past humiliations. Not again. They weren't foolish enough to challenge him a third time.
They turned silently toward Ning Rongrong in despair.
Her eyes sparkled instead. "Dugu Feng, can you teach me how you cultivate? I want to train like you!"
Her voice softened into something near pleading—almost… sweet.
Crack… crack…
Behind her, Feng Ling and Feng Li could practically hear the sound of their hearts breaking.
They'd been hopelessly devoted for four years, and yet, with only a few words, Dugu Feng had drawn the little princess's full attention.
Unfair! Absolutely unfair!
"If you want compensation, whatever you need, my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can provide it!" Ning Rongrong declared proudly when he didn't reply.
Her fiery determination made Dugu Feng chuckle inwardly.
"So you really want to get stronger, huh? Then watch how I train. But I warn you—it's not easy."
Ning Rongrong puffed out her cheeks. "Hmph! I'm not the type to be scared of hardship. I can handle anything!"
She refused to let him think she was just a decorative vase.
"Fine," Dugu Feng said with a knowing smile, eyes glinting. "Let's see what you're made of."
(END CHAPTER)
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