Chapter 84: Fooling Qian Renxue
Dugu Feng smirked quietly to himself—the deed was done.
And now, the Heaven Dou Empire stood tall on the moral high ground.
No matter how loudly Salas complained, there was nothing he could really do against the Empire.
That had been Prince Xue Xing's intention from the start.
Salas hesitated. Should he admit that Yang Wushuang had indeed joined the Spirit Hall?
Did Prince Xue Xing actually have evidence, or was he bluffing?
"Rumors are just rumors. Yang Wushuang was a lackey of the Clear Sky Sect—how could he ever have joined the Spirit Hall?
Prince Xue Xing, you're making baseless accusations!"
Salas shook his head. In the end, he decided to obey Qian Renxue's standing orders and deny that Yang Wushuang belonged to the Hall.
"In that case, Bishop, this matter need not concern you. Clan Chief Yang of the Breaking Clan is here—we will handle it ourselves."
Salas was helpless now. The man was dead.
Had Yang Wushuang still been alive, he would have caused an uproar and demanded custody of him. The Spirit Hall wasn't afraid of the Heaven Dou Empire's objection.
But now, the body had crumbled to white bone—too late for anything.
Dugu Feng didn't bother with how they cleaned up the mess.
Instead, he walked up to Qian Renxue, still disguised as Xue Qinghe.
"Brother Xue, last time you invited me to visit the Crown Prince's palace, but I've been buried in cultivation. Please forgive me for not coming!" Dugu Feng said with a bright smile.
Qian Renxue's expression softened immediately, her demeanor calm and warm. "No need to apologize. I've heard about your hard work at the Royal Academy—training diligently alongside Rongrong.
To reach Spirit King level at such a young age is extraordinary. You will undoubtedly become one of Heaven Dou's future pillars of strength.
And for avenging my second and third brothers, your Dugu Clan's assistance… I offer my heartfelt thanks."
Her words were kind, but her heart bled inside. She knew the Dugu Clan had joined the battle too—she had seen the poison's effect herself, the way Yang Wushuang's body had disintegrated into bone.
Still, she maintained the perfect façade of composure and gratitude.
Qian Renxue's acting was flawless. After so many years of infiltration, no one had ever seen through her disguise—not even Ning Fengzhi.
His Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was a gem-type martial soul capable of perceiving even the faintest energies, yet he had never detected anything amiss with her.
Her soul bone helped, but her performance was impeccable.
"Brother Xue, what level have you reached now?" Dugu Feng asked curiously.
Qian Renxue smiled modestly. "I can't compare to you, Brother Feng. I'm still at level thirty-eight, not yet a Soul Ancestor. You'll surpass me soon enough!"
The identity she presented to the world—Xue Qinghe, age twenty—was officially a Spirit King, while in truth, she was already a Spirit Emperor.
Dugu Feng's eyes glinted with thought.
It seemed her soul bone was of incredible quality—enough to mask both her spirit and power level perfectly.
"Thirty-eight is already excellent. Training is arduous work, and absorbing rings is always life-threatening.
As the Crown Prince, your duty lies not merely in cultivation, but in strengthening the empire—governing the realm, expanding the army, developing spirit master education, and raising more talents. That's what truly matters!" Dugu Feng said smoothly, his tone full of admiration.
He was flattering her deliberately—steering her focus away from rapid cultivation.
Her long years of covert work had already delayed her godhood. With a bit of calculated persuasion, he could hinder her progress even more.
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Feng. In time, I'll visit the Royal Academy myself to meet all you talented young spirit masters," Qian Renxue said with a faint smile.
Exactly what Dugu Feng wanted to hear.
Encouraging her to invest her attention in politics and education would help him close the power gap between them.
"Yes, the academies are the cradle of future spirit masters. If Your Highness takes personal interest, those graduates will surely serve you with loyalty," he added eagerly.
He wanted to anchor her mind deeper into the illusion of influence and expansion—
and buy himself the time he needed to catch up in strength.
Clearly, he'd have to think of more ways to keep fooling her in the days ahead.
As they spoke, Ge Long was already ordering soldiers to clear the battlefield ruins.
Salas and the four clans had all dispersed.
"Brother Xue, until next time—I'll visit the palace again when I can," Dugu Feng said with a friendly bow before leaving with Elder Snake and Elder Scorpion, heading back to the Dugu estate.
Inside the main hall, Dugu Feng sat at the chief seat. Sometime later, Xiao She entered, carrying an array of dishes. Plate after plate filled the table.
After such an exhausting day, Dugu Feng was starving. He eagerly began to eat.
"Young Master, this battle has greatly elevated the family's prestige. Our influence in Heaven Dou City will only grow stronger.
And—we've retrieved Yang Wushuang's soul tools!" Elder Snake reported excitedly.
Even now, his voice trembled with satisfaction.
After all, Yang Wushuang had been a Contra-level poison user—defeated through their clan's intricate scheming.
Destroying such a master, seizing his inheritance, and strengthening their own poison legacy—it was the sweetest victory imaginable.
As mastermind, the Dugu Clan fully deserved the spoils.
And given how toxic the site had become, no one else dared to even step inside, let alone search for loot.
"Did you find any of the Breaking Clan's alchemy or poison manuals?" Dugu Feng asked.
"There are indeed several! The Breaking Clan specialized in refining potions—some for body nourishment, healing, and meridian reinforcement.
As for poisons, there's a handwritten journal detailing various herb combinations and theories on compound toxins," Elder Snake replied, handing him a slim book.
Dugu Feng took it eagerly and skimmed through.
"Two herbs that are harmless alone can become deadly when mixed… Alchemy is all about such interactions."
In half an hour, he'd finished reading the entire booklet, scanning each line meticulously.
The contents included fundamental theory as well as specific herb pairings.
"This truly is the accumulated wisdom of the Breaking Clan. Yang Wushuang was indeed a genius," Dugu Feng said with satisfaction.
There were even sections detailing research he'd done under Spirit Hall funding.
"The multicolored poison blend recorded here—that must be the very toxin used on Emperor Xue Ye," he murmured, committing the knowledge to memory.
"Elder Snake, there's still one more thing you need to do," he continued. "The Spirit Hall will undoubtedly investigate Yang Wushuang's death and may even retaliate. We must divert their attention—give them something else to chase."
A glimmer of cunning flashed in his eyes.
Elder Snake and Elder Scorpion exchanged a glance. "What does the Young Master plan to do?" they asked curiously.
"Simple," Dugu Feng said evenly. "We'll create a greater threat.
Everyone on the continent knows there are supposedly only a dozen Titled Douluo in existence—unbelievable.
Let's spread a new rumor: a figure wielding a Clear Sky Hammer was sighted in the Star Dou Forest, having just broken through to Titled Douluo rank.
Suspected to be the Fifth Elder of the Clear Sky Sect!
If several elders of the sect have all become Titled Douluo, then counting Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, the Clear Sky Sect alone would possess seven Titled Douluo."
Dugu Feng's expression hardened with purpose.
(END CHAPTER)
Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
Hurry up! The promotion ends on March 2, 2026.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Bankai10