The other two groups of students had been practicing for a long time and quickly completed their Soul Skill Fusion.
This was Shi Nian's group training.
First, two people, then three, then four, slowly fusing until finally reaching seven.
Dugu Feng once asked Shi Nian if an Illusion Fusion with more than seven people could be created.
Shi Nian's answer was that the more people involved in the fusion, the greater the stacked spiritual power, and the higher the requirements for the participating Soul Masters.
Theoretically feasible, but the difficulty of actual fusion would increase exponentially.
It required not only strength but also synergy and mastery over spiritual power.
Dugu Feng kept these words in mind.
There was still plenty of time ahead, and Gem Academy could continuously nurture Soul Masters with Illusion Control Soul Skills.
All of them could join in the training and fusion.
Who knew what level they could ultimately achieve?
Dugu Feng vaguely felt a sense of anticipation.
While Ning Rongrong joined the training for the Seven Shura Illusion Realm, Dugu Feng also began his own cultivation.
After activating his Martial Soul Avatar, a four-colored glow—purple, green, gray, and blue—shimmered at the center of his forehead.
These lights eventually condensed into a radiant, multicolored stream.
The luminous energy overflowed, rippling from head to toe across Dugu Feng's entire body.
From a distance, Dugu Feng appeared completely enveloped in this radiance, and under its glow, even the surrounding air seemed to distort like rippling water.
This was Dugu Feng unleashing the Four-Colored Mixed Poison.
The pinnacle of toxicity manifested as dazzling brilliance, akin to divine light and celestial clouds.
The poison, mixed with Soul Power, flowed through his body, growing stronger with each cycle through his meridians.
At the same time, it further acclimated Dugu Feng's body to the intense toxicity.
After a while, he exhaled deeply.
Dispelling his Martial Soul Avatar state, the toxins within him dispersed into his bones, meridians, and Soul Bones.
If other members of his clan knew about this, they would likely be terrified.
Dugu Feng was voluntarily dispersing toxins into his bones and meridians.
Yet this was precisely his method of cultivation.
The root of poisoning lay in the toxins' destructive effects on the body—harming oneself before harming others.
Dugu Feng possessed three External Soul Bones and one right leg Soul Bone.
Normally, these could all bear the toxins, sparing him the suffering of poisoning.
But since the age of four, he had endured constant poisoning, which brought immense benefits to his body, making his physical resilience far surpass that of ordinary people.
Thus, Dugu Feng began using toxins to temper his body.
The toxins in his bones, meridians, and blood were maintained at their limits every day.
Just as before, he still suffered poisoning once daily.
Yet these toxins were entirely under his control—with a single breath, he could draw all the poison back into his Soul Bones.
This state was deeply satisfying to Dugu Feng.
There was no life-threatening danger, yet his strength continued to grow.
At the same time, his understanding of poison deepened.
"Poison isn't so terrifying after all—it has instead become an aid in my cultivation!"
The Sea of Spirit at Dugu Feng's forehead was exceptionally active.
He was both comprehending poison and cultivating his spiritual power.
Dreamlike radiance also shimmered within his Sea of Spirit.
This was the Azure Phosphorus Scarlet Venom.
The innate toxin of the Azure Phosphorus Serpent Spirit, yet Dugu Feng used it to cultivate his spiritual power.
During this period, his physical resilience and spiritual power advanced simultaneously.
Dugu Feng felt his progress was astonishing.
Perfection—he must walk the path of poison to its absolute limit.
Dugu Feng was resolute.
Time passed, and Dugu Feng and Ning Rongrong remained at Gem Academy.
Both sides focused diligently on their cultivation.
Only when the Shrek Seven Devils went together for Soul Duels would Dugu Feng accompany them.
He would rest briefly while observing the matches.
Several months passed in this manner.
The Soul Master Competition was now imminent.
On this day, just five days remained before the preliminary rounds of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament were set to begin.
Dugu Feng received good news—another student with the Gem Spirit had broken through to the Soul Ancestor rank.
With this, the entire Canghui Academy team now had seven Soul Ancestors.
Little Snake, with the Martial Soul Azure Phosphorus Serpent, had reached Soul Power Level 44.
Dugu Mo, with the Flower Spider Martial Soul, had reached Soul Power Level 42.
These were the two Soul Ancestors from the Dugu Family.
The remaining Soul Masters with Gem Spirits, including team captain Zhang Jingyang, totaled four Soul Ancestors. Adding Ning Rongrong made five.
Dugu Feng could imagine that during the finals, the final trump card—the Seven Shura Illusion Realm—would be executed by seven Soul Masters: five Soul Ancestors and two Soul Experts.
And these two Soul Experts had already reached Level 39.
The lineup was formidable, with Soul Power Levels surpassing most other teams.
As the competition approached, Dugu Feng familiarized himself with the tournament format.
The entire Heaven Dou Empire would compete for fifteen slots to advance to the finals in Spirit City.
Under the Heaven Dou Empire were four duchies and one kingdom, which would divide ten slots among themselves.
The remaining advanced academies would all participate in the preliminary rounds in Heaven Dou City, competing for the last five slots.
In other words, Gem Academy needed to rank within the top five in the Heaven Dou City preliminaries.
Dugu Feng appointed Shi Nian as the team leader for the competition, responsible for reminding them of the rules, gathering information on opponents, and strategizing for each Soul Duel.
Shi Nian was already hard at work.
On the day before the competition,
Dugu Feng and his father, Dugu Shuo, once again entered the imperial palace—this time due to Xue Ye the Great's poisoning.
As soon as they entered the palace, they encountered Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo was not riding in a carriage. Instead, he walked alone toward Xue Ye the Great's chambers, clad in a large green robe.
"Second Uncle, come into the carriage for a word!"
Dugu Shuo leaned out and called to him.
Dugu Bo cast a cold glance at the carriage before boarding.
"Second Uncle, Prince Xue Xing has always been close to you. Surely you've already discussed the matter of Xue Ye the Great's health?"
Dugu Shuo probed.
Dugu Feng sat silently to the side. Xue Ye the Great had suddenly collapsed the previous day.
After examination by healing Soul Masters, it was concluded that the emperor had simply overexerted himself.
No signs of poisoning or external attacks were detected.
Now, Xue Ye the Great had regained consciousness and appeared normal again.
Yet, Prince Xue Xing still summoned Dugu Shuo to the palace for another examination.
"Xue Ye the Great's health has been deteriorating over the years. Xue Xing suspects he's been poisoned with a slow-acting toxin.
But every time you examine him, you reassure them. If Xue Ye the Great dies from poisoning, you'll be partially responsible."
Dugu Bo's mocking tone was sharp.
Had it not been for Dugu Shuo's instructions, Dugu Bo would have long since revealed the truth about Xue Ye the Great's poisoning.
But now, with the emperor's collapse, it was clear his life would be in danger within the next few years.
Dugu Bo could no longer hold back.
Prince Xue Xing had shown him kindness, and Dugu Bo simply couldn't stand by and watch Xue Ye the Great die.
Dugu Feng silently pondered Qian Renxue's actions. Yang Wushuang was dead, but the poison had already been administered to Xue Ye the Great.
The Seven-Colored Mottled poison was formed by mixing non-toxic herbs. After application, it only required a specific fragrance as a catalyst to continuously activate the Deadly Poison's effects.
Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, frequently interacted with Xue Ye the Great, making it extremely convenient for her to emit this fragrance.
(End of Chapter)