"Dugu Shuo, given your nature of never acting without personal gain, you must have ulterior motives for so generously revealing the detoxification method to me. Stop beating around the bush—just say it!" Dugu Bo cut straight to the chase to salvage his pride.
Dugu Shuo's expression turned serious this time.
"Second Uncle, I'll be blunt then.
After you left the family, you somehow managed to break through to the Titled Douluo rank. I suspect you must have stumbled upon some tremendous opportunity.
I hope you can share this opportunity with the family!"
This time, it was Dugu Shuo who fixed his gaze intently on Dugu Bo.
Sure enough, Dugu Bo's expression shifted, revealing shock.
It seemed Feng'er had guessed correctly. His second uncle's understanding and research into poison were even inferior to his own. The higher one's cultivation, the more potent the toxins became during the process.
How had Dugu Bo managed to suppress the poison's backlash during the Soul Saint and Soul Douluo stages?
Now, judging by Dugu Bo's reaction, it was finally confirmed.
Besides Dugu Bo, he also glanced at Dugu Yan, whose expression mirrored the same astonishment. It appeared she was also aware of this opportunity.
"Keh keh!"
Dugu Bo let out two sinister laughs.
"How did your Poison Cultivation Lineage treat me?
I reached the Titled Douluo rank without using a single resource from the family. I wish every last one of you were dead.
Do you really think revealing a detoxification method will make me obey you?"
Dugu Feng thought to himself that Dugu Bo's hatred for the family truly knew no bounds.
"Second Uncle, are you still so deluded even now? Are control-type snakes truly stronger than assault-type poisons?
Feng'er, at the Soul Expert rank, defeated Yan, who was close to the Soul King level.
If it were an assassination, Feng'er could kill a hundred Yans.
And your nephew here is already a Soul Douluo.
In an assassination scenario, even a Titled Douluo might fall.
I told you the detoxification method out of my duty as the family head.
But if Second Uncle refuses to share this opportunity with the family, I also have the strength to take it by force!"
"Are you threatening me?" Dugu Bo abruptly stood up, his eyes flashing with ferocity.
"Second Uncle, you probably don't realize just how powerful venom cultivation can be at its peak. I've been in this hall for quite some time now.
Care to guess who will walk out of here alive if we fight?"
Dugu Shuo remained composed.
Dugu Feng broke into a cold sweat for his father.
He had been wondering how his father planned to convince Dugu Bo to hand over the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
He never expected him to confront Dugu Bo head-on like this.
Suddenly, Dugu Yan beside Dugu Bo trembled, her eyelids fluttering before she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Second Uncle, you can't defend against my poison!
Once Yan'er is poisoned, her condition might worsen prematurely. Who knows if she can withstand it?"
Dugu Shuo spoke coldly.
"Fine, fine! I underestimated you, Dugu Shuo. You've truly lost your mind, daring to lay a hand on Yan Yan!"
Dugu Bo's eyes blazed with emerald light.
With a slight lift of his hands, an overwhelming force surged toward Dugu Shuo, Dugu Feng, and Old Snake.
Dugu Shuo and Old Snake were sent flying backward by Dugu Bo's Soul Power, crashing into the hall's walls with a dull thud.
The force directed at Dugu Feng, however, was much lighter—Dugu Bo intended to capture him.
After all, he knew Dugu Feng was Dugu Shuo's most treasured weakness.
Dugu Feng smirked.
Two Emerald Dragon Snakes materialized, swiftly growing to two meters in length.
The serpent coiled around his body, shielding him from the surge of Soul Power.
"Huh? Such a formidable Nine-Section Jadeite!"
Dugu Bo was astonished. Though he also possessed a Nine-Section Jadeite, it was practically trash compared to Dugu Feng's.
Dugu Feng took two steps back and spoke rapidly, "Second Grandfather, when I obtained my third Spirit Ring, I discovered that the Sunset Forest could be called the Forest of Poison Soul Beasts. The variety of poison-attribute Spirit Beasts there is no less than that of the Star Dou Great Forest. Yet you, Second Grandfather, spend most of your time near Heaven Dou City. I suspect your opportunity lies in the Sunset Forest! And the Sunset Forest isn't that large—there are only a few special places. Even if you refuse to share it with the family, how long can you keep it hidden?"
At these words, Dugu Bo's expression changed again, his eyes flashing with killing intent.
The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was his most treasured secret. Once Yan Yan grew stronger, she would also need it to suppress her toxins. This was his and his granddaughter's lifeline—their guarantee for a longer life. Yet Dugu Feng had guessed it.
Just as he was about to strike, Dugu Shuo stood up, blood at the corner of his lips, his hair disheveled.
"Second Uncle, I already told you—you can't defend against my poison, yet you still used Soul Power!" His eyes gleamed brightly. "Can you feel the symptoms of the poison now? Is there a numb itch under your ribs? Are your meridians aching? If you delay any longer, the accumulated toxins in your body will erupt completely. Yan Yan will also experience her first toxin outbreak. Before that happens, at most you can severely injure me, but you won't be able to kill me. Hahaha!"
Dugu Shuo laughed heartily. The rhomboid scales on his forehead shimmered with four dazzling colors, transforming into rippling waves that shielded both Dugu Feng and Old Snake.
The hatred in Dugu Bo's eyes confirmed that Dugu Shuo was right. He practiced Serpent Cultivation, and his preferred Soul Skills were pure Soul Power attacks—because every use of poison deepened its fusion into his body. He never expected his nephew to be so shameless, insane, and ruthless.
Dugu Bo had always considered himself ruthless, adept at eliminating threats, and notorious for his methods. But today, he realized he was far inferior to his nephew. The moment they entered the hall, they had poisoned him and his granddaughter. Even though he loathed the Poison Cultivation Lineage, he had never considered killing them—only waiting for them to die on their own.
A chill ran through Dugu Bo's heart, filled with regret.
Madmen!
He had known they were madmen, yet he had still let them in. But the truth was, his last suspicion—that Dugu Shuo might have found a way to detoxify—had tempted him with the possibility of uncovering the method. That was why he had let his guard down.
Just then, Dugu Yan on the ground twitched.
Dugu Bo instantly calmed down, forcibly suppressing his rage.
"My opportunity is a medicinal garden at the center of the Sunset Forest that can suppress toxins. It can be shared with your Poison Cultivation Lineage. Now, detoxify Yan Yan immediately!" Dugu Bo said coldly. Dugu Yan was on the verge of a toxin outbreak.
Dugu Shuo and Dugu Feng exchanged a glance, both inwardly relieved.
Dugu Shuo said, "Second Uncle, this is a wise decision. I'll detoxify Yan Yan now."
Without any visible movement, the rhomboid scales between his brows flickered, and Dugu Yan's breathing stabilized.
Dugu Bo checked his own body—the sensation of toxin outbreak was gradually fading.
He actually hadn't noticed how Dugu Shuo had released the poison?
Could Mixed Poison truly be this formidable, making even him unable to detect it?
He suddenly recalled the Mixed Poison that had afflicted Xue Ye the Great - he hadn't sensed that either.
At this moment, Dugu Bo truly felt he had underestimated the Poison Cultivation Lineage.
(End of Chapter)