Dugu Feng froze for a moment—so that was it. Last night had been the first time his predecessor's body suffered a venom backlash.
But contrary to Dugu Shuo's assumption, it wasn't that the previous owner had stubbornly clung to life. Rather, he himself had crossed over, taking over the body.
This Dugu family was truly ruthless. Just to secure an heir, so many lives had been lost.
The sparse memorial tablets didn't represent many people, but behind each name lay countless lives—a family that relied on brutal methods to pass down its legacy.
"Yes, Father!" Dugu Feng did his best to maintain his predecessor's demeanor, careful not to reveal any flaws.
"Kowtow to your grandfather and great-grandfather. Do not disappoint their expectations!" Dugu Shuo commanded.
Dugu Feng glanced at the names above—Grandfather Dugu Hao and Great-Grandfather Dugu Hai.
Without hesitation, he knocked his head three times. From now on, he was truly a member of the Dugu family.
A sharp thought crossed his mind—had his great-grandfather been involved in the fallout between his grandfather and Dugu Bo?
When brothers fell out, parents often played a significant role—whether due to favoritism or because all the family's resources had been funneled to one side.
From his memories, he already knew what his father had meant by "Serpent Cultivation" and "Venom Cultivation." These were the two paths Dugu family Spirit Masters could take.
One was the Control path—Serpent Cultivation—the route Dugu Bo had taken.
It focused on maximizing the control abilities of the Azure Phosphorus Serpent Spirit. For example, Dugu Yan, whom he was familiar with, had her first two Spirit Rings as enhancement skills rather than offensive ones, delaying the onset of venom backlash.
Of course, poison was the innate talent of the Azure Phosphorus Serpent.
Even if one deliberately developed control-based skills when absorbing Spirit Rings, toxins would still accumulate. Once a certain cultivation level was reached, venom backlash was inevitable.
The other path was the Assault path—Venom Cultivation. Here, every Spirit Ring was attached to a venom-attribute Spirit Beast, endlessly enhancing the overwhelming power of the poison to pursue the greatest strength with relentless aggression.
But the venom was tyrannical—the sooner the backlash came, the sooner death followed. It was a race against time.
Their lineage was clearly the Venom Cultivation path.
A chill ran down Dugu Feng's spine—this path was terrifying.
After a long silence, his heart hardened. Damn it, if the poison can't kill me, I'll just grow stronger. I'll become the Venom King. I'll seize the Immortal Herbs! Dugu Feng swore fiercely in his mind.
Born into the Dugu family, he couldn't just let Dugu Bo become Tang San's lackey!
"What is Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom?" Dugu Shuo suddenly asked.
"Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom is the innate toxin of the Azure Phosphorus Serpent. The poison is finer than a hair, invisible to the naked eye, and carries a pungent, fishy odor. When concentrated, it takes the form of a purple mist."
"When attacking, it enters the enemy's body through their skin, mouth, or nose, rapidly corroding their flesh. Within moments, the enemy will dissolve into pus and perish!"
A cold glint flashed in Dugu Shuo's gloomy eyes. "How is Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom used?"
"Initially, it is expelled from the mouth, making it easy to detect. With deeper mastery, it can be released from the hands, swift as a blade. At advanced levels, any strand of hair on the body can release the toxin—silent and undetectable!"
Dugu Feng answered rapidly, as if by instinct, under this sudden interrogation.
Just how much torture did my predecessor endure? he inwardly complained.
"What is Azure Phosphorus Scarlet Venom?"
"Azure Phosphorus Scarlet Venom is the advanced toxin of the Azure Phosphorus Serpent. It targets the enemy's spiritual power—odorless, tasteless, and even more concealed than Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom. It can control, bewilder, and corrode the enemy's mind!"
"What is—"
"What is—"
"What is—"
The father and son engaged in a rapid-fire Q&A session that lasted over a dozen questions.
Dugu Feng's face flushed red as his mind focused intensely, the memories of his previous life rapidly merging with his soul. He felt as though his very spirit was ascending—burning with a searing heat.
What's happening? Please don't explode.
Boom!
Dugu Feng's mind buzzed as a pearl the size of an egg appeared in his vision—lustrous, translucent, and shimmering with light.
Isn't this my family heirloom pearl? It came through the transmigration with me!
The pearl now spun rapidly in his lower abdomen—his dantian region. Excitement surged through Dugu Feng. Is this my golden finger?
Though inwardly thrilled, he maintained perfect composure, mechanically answering Dugu Shuo's questions while processing this discovery. The recent soul fusion had granted him complete mastery of the original Dugu Feng's knowledge. No test could intimidate him now.
Dugu Shuo's expression turned grave, his eyes sharpening. "Define Overlord Venom."
"Overlord Venom is a composite toxin—the pinnacle achievement of our Dugu family's Poison Cultivation Lineage," Dugu Feng recited with childlike solemnity, adopting the somber expression his predecessor had learned—Dugu Shuo despised smiling faces. "Through strategic Spirit Ring combinations, toxins evolve progressively, potentially manifesting as Overlord Venom as early as the Soul King stage."
"True to its name, this venom dominates all poisons—even a Titled Douluo cannot purge it. However..." The boy's small face darkened appropriately, "only those with exceptional talent may cultivate it. The venom claims its practitioner before it ever poisons others."
As he described the venom, Dugu Feng privately marveled at his family's profound toxicological research. Their desperate measures to escape venom's torment were impressive, though ultimately futile—they'd still poisoned themselves.
Suddenly, Dugu Shuo dropped to his knees before the ancestral tablets of Dugu Hao and Dugu Hai. "Father! Grandfather!" he proclaimed, voice trembling. "Feng has mastered our family's legacy beyond my own capabilities. He manifested venom sickness at four—our earliest recorded case!"
The man's fanatical fervor radiated palpably. "He will master Overlord Venom! Our Poison Cultivation Lineage shall regain its glory!"
This father's insane, Dugu Feng observed warily. He'd sacrifice anything for venom cultivation. But with this heirloom pearl... maybe I won't die from his experiments. What exactly does it do? Need to figure that out...
He itched to investigate but dared not move under his fanatical father's watch.
Dugu Shuo remained lost in ecstatic visions for an extended moment before finally regaining composure. "Come, Feng," he said, leading the boy outside.
At the doorway stood a middle-aged man who'd appeared unnoticed—no recollection of this person existed in Dugu Feng's memory.
"Greetings, Clan Leader. Greetings, Young Master." The newcomer wore emerald robes, his stunted, skeletal frame giving him a dwarfish appearance. Most striking were his jewel-like green eyes—undeniable proof of Dugu lineage.
"Old Snake," Dugu Shuo said impassively, "begin Feng's training."
"But Young Master is only four—" The green-eyed Dugu She hesitated, his gaze shifting nervously.
Dugu Shuo cut him off. "The venom sickness has already manifested."
"Ah—" Dugu She froze for a moment, then looked at Dugu Feng with pity. The poison had already flared up at just four years old—the boy wouldn't get to enjoy a single good day.
What sin had the young master committed to deserve this?
With sympathy, he took Dugu Feng's hand and said, "Young Master, my name is Dugu She. You can call me Old Snake. Don't be afraid—I'll help you resist the poison flare-ups."
"Mm, I'm going now, Dad!" Dugu Feng bid farewell to Dugu Shuo.
After Dugu Shuo nodded, Dugu She led Dugu Feng around the ancestral hall and into the backyard.
Dugu Feng noticed that green was the most common color in the Dugu household—so much so that it unsettled him.
Would his own hair turn green in the future? Surely not... Right? If he could just obtain a Soul Bone, he could at least stabilize the poison for a while.